Scroll down to read Part 1 which was published yesterday and includes my letter to the town manager. The Town’s response and my follow-up email are below.Response from Jessica Hynd on December 20th:
"Town Manager Mary Jacobs has asked that I follow up with you regarding your most recent email. The general public had the opportunity to speak during the special session held on July 12, 2017 when the assessment and recommendation was presented to the Town Council. Additionally, the community can always provide their opinions and feedback regarding the final report through the Ask Oro Valley portal, which is provided to Council bi-weekly."
Unsatisfied with this response, I sent a follow-up email on December 21st. Excerpt below:
"Yes, on July 12, 2017, there was a Study Session. There was one item on that agenda...Presentation and discussion regarding consultant report for Town golf and restaurant operations. However, that agenda says nothing about a Public Hearing on this topic. The minutes show that 7 residents did get up to speak.
Here’s what needs to be considered:
The 7 people who spoke at the July 12th meeting consisted of the President of the Men's Golf Association, followed by 6 residents who live along the golf courses and/or play golf.
The taxpayers did not receive special invitations to this meeting.
This meeting was also held in mid-July when many Oro Valley citizens have left town for cooler climates and many have returned to their second homes in New England and Minnesota. In fact, during the July 12th meeting for people living along the golf courses, one speaker stated that besides living along the golf courses, he was there to speak on behalf of members of the golf club who couldn't attend because they are snowbirds and were away for the summer.
[Including the July 12th meeting] this is now FOUR special meetings where the only people who were heard were residents living along the golf courses and residents who play golf. The Town has allowed them to dominate the discussion.
Yes, the rest of us can always provide our opinions and feedback via the Ask Oro Valley portal, which is provided to Council bi-weekly...but the golf course area residents and golfers also have this option along with all of their special meetings.
Why are the taxpayers, who are being forced to subsidize something that we never requested, being placed so low on the priority list? As a group, we are paying more in taxes to support this misadventure than what the golfers and homeowners living along the courses are contributing, and yet they have been allowed to have a much larger seat at the table than the rest of us. This is unconscionable considering that the taxpayers did not approve the purchase of the golf courses and they never approved the increased sales tax to fund it."
When the questions get tough, the Town exits the conversation
It has been more than three weeks since I sent that email and there has been no response from the Town. Keep in mind that these emails have all been seen by Town Manager, Mary Jacobs, plus the mayor and six councilmembers, and not one of them has taken the time to explain the Town’s rationale for placing taxpayers so low on the priority list and allowing golf members and golf course area residents to dominate the conversation.
This is one more example of both the favoritism and the incompetence of this Town. When I ask tough questions, they exit the conversation and do not respond. They will never admit when they’ve made a mistake or crossed a line.
Best for whom?
The final decision about the golf courses is supposed to be based on “what’s best for the entire community.” From what I’ve seen so far, I suspect it will actually be based on what’s best for the golf members, what’s best for residents living along the golf courses, and what’s best for a Town Council that needs to save face.
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Diane Peters has lived in Oro Valley since 2003, moving here to escape the humidity of the East Coast. She’s been involved in OV politics and development issues since 2006. In 2014, she organized a citizens group, Citizen Advocates of the Oro Valley General Plan, who over a 9-month period, successfully negotiated a controversial 200-acre development project. In her past life, she worked in medical research at various University Hospitals in New England. Her interests include reading, writing, nature photography, travel, art galleries, museums, and politics.
