From Steam Pump Ranch to the Semiquincentennial, A Big Year for Local History

Happy Semiquincentennial, Oro Valley! 

Yes, it’s a big year for our nation, and the Oro Valley Historical Society looks forward to sharing the history of how we arrived at this celebration. Before doing so, the Society is reflecting on the past year, which marked its 20-year anniversary.

Celebrating 20 years at Steam Pump Ranch
The Society celebrated its 20th anniversary this past October 18 at historic Steam Pump Ranch with two of its three founders, current and immediate past presidents, the Mayor and Town Council, Chamber Foundation members, board members, and supporters. The event highlighted the Society’s accomplishments and included tours of the Ranch featuring new permanent interpretive signs funded by a grant from the Oro Valley Chamber Foundation. On November 5, the Town Council formally recognized the Society’s 20-year history with a commemorative plaque, now displayed in the Pusch House Museum.

Revitalizing the Heritage Garden
Special thanks are due to the Ranch’s southern neighbor, Home Depot, for its assistance in revitalizing the Heritage Garden. Through its community support efforts, Home Depot provided a new shed, raised bed containers, and volunteers. Additional support came from Oro Valley Catalina Council Scouting America, United Day of Caring volunteers, and school groups. Other garden donations included pavers, a refurbished gate, irrigation, and signage.

Donations and partnerships that expanded interpretation
Additional anniversary-year donations included a descriptive panel now displayed in the Pusch Room at the Museum, detailing the life of George Pusch from Germany to Tucson. The Society also thanked the Arizona Department of Transportation for installing historical signage along Oracle Road directing visitors to the Ranch, and the Town’s Communications Department for assisting with editing oral histories for the Society’s website. Community members also contributed through in-kind and financial donations honoring the 20th anniversary.

Museum exhibits and visitor engagement
During the anniversary year, the Society hosted seven different exhibits in the Pusch House Museum. Visitors included out-of-town and international guests, as well as local residents who discovered the Museum after visiting the Heirloom Farmers’ Market. The Society also provided tours for retirement communities, school groups, local organizations, participants in the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation’s historic ranches tour, and hosted two visits from the Tucson Paranormal Society.

Launching the “Be Our Ranch Guest” program
The Society introduced a new outreach initiative called “Be Our Ranch Guest,” which partners with nonprofit organizations on Saturdays at Steam Pump Ranch. The program allows participating nonprofits to engage with the community and collect donations. Five organizations have participated to date, with at least one nonprofit present each Saturday since the program began.

Naturalist-guided tours at the Ranch
Another addition during the anniversary year was the launch of naturalist-guided tours at Steam Pump Ranch. These tours focus on the area’s geology and the plants, animals, and people who historically lived—and continue to live—on the grounds.

Programs beyond Steam Pump Ranch
The Society’s activities extended beyond the Ranch through speaker programs at the Oro Valley Public Library. Topics included the Huckleberry Loop, meteorites, Hohokam culture, and the historic Empire Ranch. Volunteers also participated in exploratory field trips to the Arizona History Museum, Evergreen Cemetery, the Pioneer Hotel building, Oracle, and Sonoita.

Collaborations that broadened community reach
The Society collaborated with several organizations to expand its mission and outreach. These partnerships included Oracle, Empire Ranch, Florence, Art State Arizona events at the Oro Valley Marketplace, magnet schools, and Rotary’s Taste of Oro Valley at Steam Pump Ranch. The Society also joined the OV Explore mobile app and began using Mailchimp to communicate with supporters through newsletters and email updates.

Recognizing an award-winning local historian
A highlight of the anniversary year was celebrating Jim Williams, past president and historian, who received an Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History. His book, Oro Valley: The First Fifty Years, was recognized for excellence in preserving and interpreting local history. The book is available for purchase at the Pusch House Museum.

Strengthening the Society’s digital presence
Looking to the future, the Society partnered with Red Coyote Services to revitalize its website, https://www.ovhistory.org. A volunteer continues to update the site with information on events, contacts, donations, and volunteer opportunities, making it a central resource for the community.

Plans for America’s Semiquincentennial
As the new year begins, the Society will mark America’s 250th anniversary with exhibits in the Pusch House Museum that explore why the Semiquincentennial matters and how Arizona and Oro Valley fit into the broader story. Naturalist-led walks will continue on the second Saturday of each month, and the “Be Our Ranch Guest” program will continue with Treasures 4 Teachers and GAP Ministries already scheduled to participate.

Events and programs planned for the coming year
A local group has scheduled a Ranch tour in February, and the Society will again participate in the Art State Arizona festival at the Oro Valley Marketplace. Rotary’s Taste of Oro Valley will return to Steam Pump Ranch in April, with the Museum open that evening for attendees.

Continuing the speaker series
Monthly speaker presentations at the Oro Valley Public Library will continue through April. Scheduled speakers include the deputy director and chief operating officer of Biosphere 2, a representative of the Oracle Historical Society, a master gardener, and the president of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation.

Looking ahead to 2026
The Oro Valley Historical Society marked its 20th year in 2025 and now looks ahead to celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary with the community in 2026.

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Eight Key Issues That Will Shape Oro Valley in 2026

As Oro Valley enters 2026, a series of unresolved policy questions and major decisions are converging. This article highlights the eight key most likely to drive debate, influence voters, and shape the Town’s direction over the coming year.

Water infrastructure will reach a major milestone
The  NWRRDS project is expected to be completed later in the year, marking a major step in strengthening Oro Valley’s long-term water supply and system reliability. Essentially, it enables the town to bring CAP water directly to Oro Valley. Currently, the town get's CAP water via the Tucson Water System.

The election that will shape future priorities
The 2026 election will influence policy discussions throughout the year, affecting council focus, the timing of decisions, and the broader public dialogue. Some issues thatr are likely to surface as campaign themes and voter concerns includes

• Town finances: Is there a structural financial problem, or are current concerns tied to timing and long-range forecasts? If a problem exists, when does it emerge, and what options are available to address it?
• Growth and housing: How much additional residential growth should Oro Valley plan for, and what mix of housing makes sense? This includes questions about more homes, housing affordability, density, and the pace of development.
• Annexation and the tax base: Should the Town pursue annexation of retail-intensive or commercially valuable areas as a way to strengthen revenues and reduce reliance on residential taxes?
• Infrastructure and service capacity: Can existing roads, water systems, public safety services, parks, and facilities support additional growth without major new costs?
• Taxes and fees: If revenues fall short of future needs, should the Town consider new or adjusted taxes, fees, or other funding mechanisms?
• Long-term planning priorities: How should policies outlined in OV Path Forward be implemented, and which priorities should be addressed first?

Our guess is that more candidates will file for office. Residents will get a wide view of opinions on these and other items.

Possible new taxes and long-term finances remain central
Debate over potential new taxes is likely to continue, alongside close attention to the Town’s overall financial condition, including forecasts, reserves, and future obligations. The council will consider approving the three new taxes under consideration this month.

A possible Amphi school closure with major community impact
The possible closing of Copper Creek Elementary remains unresolved and is expected to be an early issue in 2026. Amphitheater School District officials have indicated they intend to move quickly toward a decision, and current signals suggest the school is likely to close. At the same time, the proposal has raised concerns among parents and nearby residents about neighborhood impacts, student reassignment, and long-term effects on the surrounding community. Whether that concern translates into organized pushback, and how the District responds, could shape the outcome and keep the issue in the public spotlight.

A tourism strategy that will be built

Findings from the destination marketing study are expected to influence how Oro Valley approaches tourism, branding, and related economic development. A draft plan is now in circulation, but several elements are likely to require further refinement before adoption, including how group and business travel is addressed, how the plan’s return on investment is quantified, and how tourism governance and funding would be structured. Town staff has indicated that the draft will be reviewed in a Town Council work session in late January, with possible action to follow in February.

Planning the Town’s trail network
Continued work on the Trails Master Plan will influence future recreation priorities, trail connectivity, and capital investment decisions across Oro Valley. As the plan moves closer to completion, key questions remain about which trail segments should be prioritized, how new connections will balance recreation with neighborhood impacts, and how improvements will be funded and phased. Council direction on these issues will shape how quickly recommendations move from planning to construction and how the trail system fits into broader transportation, conservation, and quality-of-life goals.

Regional transportation decisions with local impact
RTA Next will continue to be a major topic in the next few months, with long-term implications for transportation funding and infrastructure across the region. March, voters are expected to weigh in on extending or modifying the regional transportation program, which would determine how road improvements, transit projects, and maintenance are funded for decades to come. For Oro Valley, the debate will likely focus on whether the proposed projects align with local priorities, how much funding the Town would receive relative to its contribution, and how regional commitments intersect with other pressing capital needs.

A vote on Oro Valley’s future framework
Completion of OV Path Forward will culminate in a voter decision next November. If approved, the updated General Plan would establish the Town’s policy framework for growth, land use, housing, transportation, and infrastructure for the next decade and beyond. In the months leading up to the election, debate is likely to focus on how the plan addresses growth expectations, preservation of community character, and alignment with long-term financial and infrastructure capacity.

What are your thoughts on the big stories of 2026. 

Let us know of our Facebook page.

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The Top Five Stories That Shaped Oro Valley In 2025

As the new year begins, it’s a good time to look back at the stories that shaped Oro Valley in 2025. Throughout the year, LOVE's 186 articles closely followed debates, decisions, and developments that had lasting impacts on residents and the Town’s direction. These      five stories stood out for their significance, the level of public engagement they generated, and the way they moved long-running issues toward resolution.

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OVCN matter is finally "settled"

After years of controversy over the Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene’s proposed expansion, including fights over rezoning for a sports facility, building height variances, and neighborhood concerns about traffic, noise and character, the long-running saga came to a close in 2025 when the Oro Valley Town Council approved a conditional height of 36 feet for the church’s new sanctuary. The issue drew extensive community involvement, with the Planning and Zoning Commission initially denying the church’s height request and residents urging the council to block expansion, while supporters cited community benefits. By granting a modified height approval and setting expectations for ongoing neighbor engagement, the council brought a resolution to a dispute about what will happen at that property, a dispute that had persisted for several years.

Police Pay Agreement Ends Lengthy Negotiations

One of 2025’s most closely watched local issues was the long, sometimes contentious process to finalize a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Town of Oro Valley and the Oro Valley Police Officers Association. After several months of discussions and multiple competing proposals, in May, prompted by concerns over pay, recruitment, and retention, the Town Council delayed action to obtain detailed cost comparisons and give both sides time to refine their offers. Council and union representatives worked through these differences, and on June 4 the council unanimously approved a new four-year MOU that includes competitive pay increases and cost-of-living adjustments, bringing resolution to a negotiation that drew strong community interest and debate about public safety and fiscal sustainability. 

Oro Valley Moves Forward on New Police Headquarters

In 2025 the Town of Oro Valley took major steps toward a new police headquarters, unanimously approving the purchase of a 50,500-square-foot building at 13101 North Oracle Road to replace the outdated La Cañada Drive facility and consolidate scattered offices into a central location. Council members also adjusted the town’s reserve requirement to free $2.42 million toward the project, reflecting a commitment to fiscal planning and public safety. The site, formerly a medical office complex, was acquired for $3.8 million and will be renovated in phases to include expanded training space, offices and support areas for officers and civilian staff. Town leaders said the move will improve department efficiency, enhance community services and accommodate long-term growth.

Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve to Get a Pond

In 2025 the long-awaited plan for the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve took a significant step forward when the Oro Valley Town Council voted 4-2 to restore a 2.5-acre pond on the former golf course site, reversing earlier concepts that had removed a water feature from the master plan and favoring reclaimed water for the project. The decision followed months of debate over costs, design alternatives and how best to balance restoration with water conservation, with council members and residents weighing the community value of a focal water feature against long-term maintenance and environmental concerns. Staff later reported progress on preliminary pond design and related ADA trail improvements, keeping the project moving toward construction in the near future.  

    

Community Center Sales Tax Moved Into General Fund

In 2025 the Oro Valley Town Council voted to redirect the half-cent sales tax that had been dedicated to the Community Center Fund into the town’s general fund while keeping the Community Center Fund as a reporting mechanism supported by budgeted transfers. The change came after discussion about the flexibility needed to address broader town priorities such as roads and public safety, even as parks and recreation programs remain a focus of budget planning. Council members agreed the transparency of showing transfers to the Community Center Fund would be preserved, allowing residents to track how these revenues continue to support community center and recreation services within the broader financial picture.  

Honorable mentions from 2025

Other stories that shaped Oro Valley in 2025 include: 

• The Town advanced the 2026 General Plan through the OV Path Forward process. Residents will vote on that plan this coming November.
• Town staff updated its five-year financial forecast, identifying a potential funding gap four years from now.  
• The Northwest Recharge, Recovery and Delivery System (NWRRDS), a major regional water-supply project with long-term implications for Oro Valley's water supply received major added funding. That project is expected to be completed at the end of this year.  
• Governance changes also drew attention, including the decision to hire a town attorney who reports directly to council. 
• On the economic and community side, long-delayed activity finally began at the Oro Valley Marketplace, while a Tourism Advisory Commission was created to help shape the town's tourism future. 
• Community life was enriched by the return of a very festive Rockin’ 4 Heroes event in November.

All in all... It was a busy year in Oro Valley.

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Happy Holidays... Here Comes 2026

Bits and Pieces

Airport authority calls for closer tourism coordination with Oro Valley 

Speaking during public comment to the Tourism Advisory Board Monday, Tucson Airport Authority President and CEO Danette Bule said Tucson International Airport is one of the region’s top economic engines and a primary gateway for visitors to Oro Valley and surrounding communities. She said the town's draft Leisure Travel Destination Management Plan appeared to have been developed without coordination with the Airport Authority or Visit Tucson, calling that a missed opportunity. 

Bule urged formal collaboration and data sharing, noting that many visitors arrive through the airport and that the Authority already works closely with other regional partners. Airport Authority Chief Communications Officer Austin Wright echoed those remarks, said the airport can support regional tourism demand, highlighted new airline service and passenger volumes, and emphasized the Authority’s readiness to partner with Oro Valley’s tourism office.

Three finalists for Town Council interviewed yesterday

Council met in Executive Session yesterday to interview three finalists for the position of Town Attorney. The candidates are Matthew Walker, Victoria Torrilhon, and Steven Zraick. While the Town did not release details about the finalists, public records indicate they are experienced attorneys working in the public sector, with backgrounds in municipal or government law and professional ties in Arizona and the western United States. Walker is currently a senior prosecutor with the City of Tucson, Torrilhon is an assistant city attorney with the City of Phoenix, and Zraick is an attorney with prior or current ties to municipal legal work in Prescott Valley. Council held the executive session to discuss qualifications, conduct interviews, and consider contract terms, as allowed under state law.

Some confusion on whether or how the town supports the El Conquistador Resort

During the Tuesday discussion of the draft Destination Marketing Plan, a Tourism Advisory Commission member asked town staff what financial support the Town provides to El Conquistador and Westward Look following Oro Valley’s decision to step away from Visit Tucson. Staff responded that the Town has budgeted incentives for master accounts, along with support for trade shows and familiarization tours, and said those tools have been utilized. Later in the meeting, a speaker representing the Hilton El Conquistador Tucson Resort disputed that characterization, stating for the record that the resort has not received any monetary refunds or support through master account credits, familiarization tours, or trade show funding. Perhaps they were talking "apples and oranges;" however, the town ought to set the record straight.

New tool helps residents track and control water use

The Oro Valley Water Utility has added a new conservation feature to its online customer portal that allows residents to view hourly and daily water use and set customized leak and consumption alerts. The tool is designed to help customers spot unplanned water use early, monitor irrigation and household consumption, and respond quickly to potential leaks. Users can choose how alerts are delivered and set their own thresholds, giving them more control over water use and helping reduce unexpected water bills. Learn more here.

Story of Rockin' 4 Heroes is now online

Watch the story of PJ Quinn and learn why Rockin' 4 Heroes was created.  It is truly an inspiration.

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Technology Supplier Web Attack Affects Town's Meetings Web Page

Provides access to Meeting Videos and Agendas
If you have ever watched a Town meeting video or clicked on an agenda, you may have noticed that the link that opens leads to a third-party provider. That provider is Swagit, Inc., a division of Granicus. In late November, Swagit notified the Town that its system was being actively exploited nationwide and that attackers were able to inject unauthorized content, including explicit AI-generated material, into affected government platforms. As a result, had you clicked on a council meeting video, you might have encountered content that did not belong there or, worse, been inadvertently solicited for personal information. Such risks are an increasing reality in today’s digital environment.

Town acted immediately to reduce risk
The Town acted immediately on November 25 by replacing the Meetings and Agendas page with a workaround that was not entirely dependent on the vendor. However, only the most recent meetings are currently available. The Town’s full archive—approximately fifteen years of meeting history—is not accessible at this time, and there is no indication of when it will return. The Town has stated that the affected portion of the website will remain offline until the vendor confirms that all vulnerabilities have been fully remediated.

Because immediate action was necessary to protect users
In cases like this, the goal of the attacker is typically financial rather than political. By injecting unauthorized links or advertisements into trusted government websites, criminals can generate revenue through advertising clicks, affiliate schemes, search-engine manipulation, or by redirecting users to scam or phishing sites. Government websites carry a high level of public trust and strong search rankings, which makes them especially valuable targets. By exploiting a vendor used by many communities at once, an attacker can scale the impact and increase potential returns without targeting any single town directly.

Town systems not impacted
According to the Town, “The Town can confirm that no Town data, systems, or networks were breached. The incident was isolated to a security vulnerability within a third-party vendor’s platform that hosts our Meetings and Agendas webpage. At no time were Town systems accessed, infected, or impacted.” The affected platform functions as a document library and does not host live records or provide access to Town systems. It hosts public-facing meeting materials and operates separately from Town financial systems, utility systems, public safety networks, and internal databases.

An inconvenience for good reason
While the disruption has been inconvenient, the Town’s response underscores the challenges that come with relying on third-party vendors to provide public access to government records. Although Town systems were not compromised, the outage continues to limit public access to meeting history that residents rely on for transparency and accountability. Restoration of the full archive now depends on the vendor’s remediation efforts, and the Town has indicated that the page will remain offline until the system is confirmed to be secure.

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Oro Valley Police Focus on Shoplifting with Targeted Enforcement "Blitz"

A targeted enforcement action
The Oro Valley Police Department ("OVPD") conducted a two-day organized retail-theft “blitz” in late November that resulted in 11 arrests and the recovery of about $3,000 in stolen merchandise. This was the first deployment of its kind for the department, prompted by an in-depth review of calls for service, arrest patterns, and case loads within the Criminal Investigations Unit. 

Using crime-trend analysis...

OVPD identified locations and times with repeated theft activity and assigned officers exclusively to the operation. The arrests ranged from misdemeanor and felony shoplifting to outstanding warrants, drug-paraphernalia violations, and multi-state fraud, underscoring that retail theft often intersects with other criminal activity. Officers from patrol and investigations worked in coordinated teams to monitor store activity, respond quickly, and make arrests.

Working with retailers with focussed resources targeting shoplifters and organized theft
The blitz relied on cooperation from local retailers that had been reporting repeated losses. OVPD said this partnership is essential, because the police department, not store employee, should determine what constitutes a crime. Every crime report enables officers to intervene, investigate, and connect related incidents when appropriate. OVPD emphasized in discussions with LOVE: “We want you to call us,” noting that some aspects of their property-crime enforcement are intentionally less visible but part of a broader strategy to deter organized theft.

An action that shows how OVPD actions help the retailer's bottom line.. a boost to commercial annexation efforts... a boost to bringing business to Oro Valley 

This type of focused enforcement also strengthens Oro Valley’s position when engaging commercial areas the Town may consider for future annexation. All of these areas are currently served by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which does not typically conduct targeted, analytics-driven retail-theft operations like OVPD’s recent blitz. For retailers, OVPD’s model offers a clear advantage: Reduced losses from theft and a safer, more predictable shopping environment for customers. Both of these directly support a stronger bottom line. 

Demonstrating this level of proactive policing is a meaningful selling point for businesses evaluating the benefits of being located within Oro Valley’s boundaries.

Making shopping an even safer experience this holiday season
These operations are designed not only to protect businesses but to improve the shopping experience for residents. Shoppers need to feel safe while out in public, and visible, strategic enforcement helps assure both residents and retailers that Oro Valley is taking active steps to remain a low-crime, high-quality community. Increased police presence in retail areas during the holidays is part of that strategy, balanced with the need to respond promptly to calls throughout the town.

If you see it... call 911
In discussions with LOVE, OVPD made this point clear: If a resident witnesses shoplifting or suspicious behavior, they should call 911. OVPD stresses that residents should never assume a situation is “too small” to report. Determining whether something is a crime is the department’s responsibility, not the public’s. Quick reporting allows officers to intervene before suspects leave the area and helps investigators link cases that may be part of a larger pattern.

More blitzes in store
Given the success of the late-November blitz, OVPD has already planned similar operations in the near future. These efforts will continue to be driven by crime data and ongoing analysis of property-crime trends. OVPD also encouraged businesses to participate in its Adopt-A-Business program, which pairs each participating business with an officer liaison to strengthen communication and problem-solving.

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