Westward Look Resort Considers Joining Oro Valley

The "give and take" of annexation
The Town of Oro Valley and Westward Look Resort are considering "marriage." In this case, the marriage is the annexation of Westward Look with the proviso that the resort gets to do something with some of the now vacant land it owns that abuts Ina Road. That something will require an Oro Valley General Plan Amendment and a property rezoning.

Bed tax and sales tax revenues in exchange for GPA
The town will get bed tax and sales tax revenues to support the added services it will provide the resort. Hopefully, these will be substantial once the pandemic is simply a "bad memory." In addition, the town will receive fees during the construction of this project.

A first class resort with a rich history
If annexation occurs, Oro Valley will have the prestige of another four star resort.  It is a Wyndham resort. The resort was acquired in 2012 by Westward Look Resorts LLC for $32 million. This is a Florida based company.

If Westward Look is annexed, Oro Valley will be the home of the oldest resort in the Tucson area, a resort with a rich  history. The resort was founded in 1912.  "By the 1940s, it became a thriving dude ranch, and by the 1960s, it was well on its way to becoming the 244-room property it is today." (source)  Learn more about this legendary resort here.

Three project concepts floated
Westward Look is floating three project concepts, all of which would be built along Ina Road. This is the south side of the property.  (See blue oval on map panel above)

Luxury Apartment complex with boutique retail and restaurant 

Mixed use office, mixed use commercial, restaurant, hospitality and office plaza retail 

Luxury apartments, hotel and residential buildings 

General plan land use and zoning would have to be changed to accommodate these. However, there is no obligation that any of these will be built eventually. Generally, market conditions at the time of construction dictate what is built.

Get engaged now... participate on September 15
There are many questions residents should be asking. This is, after all, a huge move for Oro Valley. The Town is asking residents to get involved. Best way to start is to visit this link to become familiar with the project. Then, participate in a September 15 Zoom meeting. Meeting time is 6 PM.

Short Stuff: Last Week's Council Meeting

Last week's Oro Valley council meeting was brief. Here's some of what transpired:

Call To The Audience

Oro Valley Should Check On It's Liability

Oro Valley resident John Musolf discussed the fact that Oro Valley may be legally liable when something goes wrong with one of the inter-governmantal task forces that it participates.  He referenced the recently report Pima County Drug Task Force settlement.  A wrongful death cost Oro Valley $100,000 from the general fund.  John noted other areas where Liability could occur including the archery center in Naranja Park and the Oro Valley Aquatic center.     John recommended the town look into these and other agreements to understand the potential liability could be.  Councilmember Zinkin and requested  Town Manager Caton  follow-up on John's suggestion.

Later in the meeting, John spoke of the impact of growth in Oro Valley on Amphi school enrollment.  He estimates 600-700 new homes and 764 apartments housing families that will be coming on-line in the near future.  He asked that the town hold public informational meetings with school district to let them know of Oro Valley's growth.  Town Manager Caton stated that the town does inform and communicate with the district.

Oracle Widening Project Update

Robin Rain of ADOT gave an update on the Oracle Road widening project, from Tangerine to the Pinal County line.  When done, the road will look like the section if Oracle south of Tangerine.  Construction, starting in early 2014, will take 2 years.  The road will have 10' shoulders for bike lanes.  There will be 2 wildlife crossings, one in Oro Valley and one north of the Pima County refuse center in Pinal County.  There will be fencing to direct the animals to the crossing.

70 properties will get the benefit of a sound wall, in four areas on the roadway.  The wall will be concrete masonry block, about 15 feet tall in total.  It will have a pattern with different colors and texture on the side viewable from the roadway.

Click here to learn more.

Consent Agenda Approved In Total

The consent agenda, which included inkind support for the USA Triathlon National Duathlon Championships, was approved in total. The event will be held Saturday, October 26, 2013.

"The Hilton El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort will be the host resort, with Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott and the Quality Inn and Suites serving as the overflow hotels. Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., a member of the Roche Group, will serve as the host site for all of the competitions. As this is an open national championship, all Oro Valley residents are invited to compete in this event." (Source)

Liquor License Granted To Molinito

The council granted Molinito Restaurant  (10180 North Oracle Road) a liquor license. There were no public comments.  The Oro Valley Police Department saw no reason not to grant the license.

Stone Canyon Residential Sub Division  Conceptual Plan Approved

The last item on the regular agenda was a public hearing Stone Canyon enclave residential subdivision.  It is a 36 lot single-family detached subdivision on a 13 acre site.  Lot sizes will range from 9,000 square feet to 21,000 square feet. The homes will be 23' high, one story.  It is near the Stone Canyon fitness center.  The Rancho Vistoso PAD development standards are the governing standard for approval.  The Conceptual Design Review Board had approved the plan in August.
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John Musolf Questions Oro Valley's "Balanced Budget"

PLEASE---Take a few minutes to read how this council is spending OUR money. Once again, we are grateful that our friend John Musolf cares enough to raise serious questions on our budget.

Too bad, this town government cares less about the citizens to totally disregard John's valuable insight.

John sent an email to the Mayor,Council and Staff earlier this week. He requested answers to his questions. Read his email here. Note: To make it easier to read, we saw fit to eliminate many of the individual expense tables John included in his analysis.

Please see the next posting to read John's email request and the response from the Oro Valley Interim Assistant Town Manager.

Art
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Mayor and Council

We have seen our federal and state governments spend money with little justification and ignore the taxpayer.

There are many examples of Oro Valley expenditure money set aside in the FY2010/2011 so called "balanced budget" that in my opinion have questionable legitimacy, are not very prudent or should be evaluated in more depth.

I have attached a "balanced budget" analysis that looks at O&M expenses for all departments other than the police. Please make this email part of the public record.

John Musolf
Oro Valley Taxpayer





What is a “Balanced Budget”?

In my opinion, a balanced budget simply means that the town staff has identified the revenue that is available and matched it to the expenditures that the department managers feel is necessary to continue day to day operations. The primary missing element in most budgets is usually justification for these expenditures.

For example, an individual citizen looks at their income and estimates what their day to day expenses will be and tries to balance them with income. If they are successful then they will be in mathematical balance (income = expenses). However, a citizen may have set aside an expenditure for $10,000 for a “dream vacation” in Tahiti instead of money for his children’s college education or his own retirement. So, in spite of the mathematical balance he may not be very prudent about his expenditures. However, this is an individual’s right to spend money as they see fit.

However, the difference is that the elected officials and appointed government staff has a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayer. In tough economic times, governments need to “tighten their belts” and not just balance the taxpayer revenue to meet taxpayer obligations.

Let’s look closer at the Oro Valley FY 2010/2011 “Balanced Budget”.

Miscellaneous Expenses.

How many individual taxpayers (citizens) have a personal expenditure called Miscellaneous Other Operating Expense?

Perhaps, a more detailed explanation of these miscellaneous governmental expenses would be helpful?

00011590 6045 Gen Adm Misc Other Oper 27050
00035120 6045 DIS Permit Misc Other Oper 16000
01077010 6045 Pub Wrk Adm Misc Other Oper 3000
01077160 6045 Pub Wrk Oper Misc Other Oper 4000
03001003 6045 Steam Pump Misc Other Oper 4000

Total 54050


Special Accounts

Is it critical to the town operations that we set aside expenditure money for an Employee Holiday Party especially after giving them two additional holidays?

00011590 6078 Gen Adm Emp Holiday Party 6000

What are these expenditures for special events (not defined) for a couple of departments?

00011210 6089 Town Mgr Special Events 2500
00044010 6089 Park&Rec Adm Special Events 8300

Could the Council temporarily suspend recognition ceremonies for volunteers and just give them a public announcement of “well done”?

00011010 6075 Council Volunt Recog Cerem 12000

Could the Town temporarily suspend the Employee service awards?

00011280 6076 Employee Service Awards 10000

What is this expenditure for?

00011210 6042 Town Mgr Public Info Serv 2400

Memberships and Travel/Training Expenses.

Perhaps a more detailed explanation of the memberships might be helpful. For example, are these memberships required for job certification or performance or are they discretionary to the operation of the department? Has this been vented and documented?

Also, has all the training/travel expense been linked to required meetings or seminars that are required to enhance the ability of the employee to deliver better service to the community? Has this been vented and documented?

The Memberships (Council $55,238) and Travel & Training (Council $41,000).



General Admin Memberships ($3,000) and Travel & Training ($15,000).

For What and for Who?


Office Leases.

The Town Leases Space for the Recreation Department? Have any alternatives been explored?

Recreation Department
Account 00044190 6047 Office Lease $25,250
Account 00044220 6047 Office Lease $30,750


Outside Professional Services.

Perhaps, a more detailed explanation of these Outside Professional Service expenses in the budget would be helpful?

Have any alternatives or reductions to these services been explored or evaluated? Are they critical to the operation of that department and the citizens of Oro Valley?