Bits and Pieces

Sign Destruction Continues…Police Involved
Council candidates report that all candidate signs were stolen at corners on La Cholla and Lambert and LaCholla and Naranja.  This appears to be vandalism. However, Robb and Bohen’s signs have been targeted and destroyed in multiple locations, including Pusch View Lane and Oracle.  Tuesday night we learned that a Greene sign at LaCholla and Tangering was sliced with the face cut out. A Murphy sign was on the ground in the same area. 

What is going on people? The police have been notified and are currently investigating the incidents. They are determined to catch the culprits.

Incidents are under investigation by the
Oro Valley Police Department

Follow Up: SRO Program Costs Oro Valley $550,000 Annually
In April, we reported that in 2023/24 the town received $90,000 from the Amphi School District for the School Resource Officers it provides to the district’s schools. According to the Oro Valley Police Department the cost of these officers is $639,885 for this year. Though the years are different, our best guess is that the annual cost of the program to the town is about $550,000. 

Sandbags available during Monsoon season
Last week marked "… the official start of monsoon season, and the Town of Oro Valley wants to make sure residents are monsoon ready. The Town will once again provide free sandbags to residents who may need to protect areas of their homes from storm runoff. Sandbag pickup is located at 9451 N. Egleston Drive, which is behind the fields at James D. Kriegh Park. Sandbags will be available beginning Monday, June 17, through September 30, 2024. The lot is accessible from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. "(Source: Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

CDO shared use path closures to enable water flood control
This week, the Pima County Regional Flood Control District began a Cañada del Oro (CDO) Wash Levee Augmentation Project along share use path.  There will be intermittent closures from N. La Cañada Drive to N. Oracle Road, with completion expected by November 2024, weather permitting. Following the 2020 Bighorn Fire, sediment build-up decreased the wash’s capacity, necessitating this project to restore capacity and enhance flood protection for nearby homes and businesses.  (Source: Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

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Bits and Pieces

Oro Valley’s 21st annual State of the Town Address next week 

" ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (Oct. 19, 2022) – Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield will deliver his fourth State of the Town Address on Thursday, Oct. 27 at the El Conquistador Tucson, a Hilton Resort. The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. Mayor Joe Winfield will share a message based on the four pillars of local government: Economic Vitality and Fiscal responsibility; the Public Safety ecosystem; Public Works; and Parks and Recreation." (Source: Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

Town of Oro Valley publishes “Know Your Town’s Budget” for Fiscal Year 2022/23 

"ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (Oct. 18, 2022) – The Town of Oro Valley’s Adopted Fiscal Year 2022/23 Budget has been published and is now available to residents. On June 15, the Oro Valley Town Council adopted the FY 2022/23 budget of $147.7 million. This is a $14.3 million, or an 8.8% decrease from the adopted FY 2021/22 budget that totaled $162 million. This decrease is due primarily to the Town Council approved one-time payment of $27.6 million in FY 2021/22 to eliminate the Town’s Public Safety Pension Retirement System unfunded pension liability."  View the budget.

(Source: Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

"Rock 4 Heroes"-A Huge Success

This past Sunday, organizers held "Rockin' 4 Heroes"at Kreigh Park. The event featured music and drink. The goal is to raise funds for a heroes memorial that will be be at Naranja Park. The Quinns are the Oro Valley couple that started this because they wanted to thank the first responders for taking such good care of their son when he was battling cancer. Unfortunately their son lost this battle the year before last year's event, but his legacy lives one. There were about 2,000 in attendance.  Read more about this great event next Thursday.

Dave Perry To Retire

Dave Perry is the President and CEO of the Greater  Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce. He has been with the organization for 11 years. Dave and his wife Lisa live in Oro Valley.

Council agrees to move forward with negotiating for some properties for CDO to Greenock trail extension

The Oro Valley Town Council voted to move forward with discussions to acquire two small land parcels from an HOA and the Oro Valley Country Club. The cost, as reported in LOVE this past Wednesday, is $13,000 for these parcels. There are other parcels that need to be purchased from private land owners to complete the extension. The dollar amounts of these purchases have yet to be determined and will be brought before council when such is determined. 

This section of the trail will eventually be joined by other sections to complete a connection to Kreigh Park and to the Linda Vista Trailead.

Town To Consider Small Acquisition That Provides Big Benefit To Community

$13,000 to begin to create CDO Multi-Use Path connectivity
Tonight, the Town of Oro Valley Town Council will consider a small land acquisition. The acquisition is needed so that the town can connect the CDO multi-use path to Greenock Drive. Eventually, from there. the plan is to create a path to Kreigh Park. It is part of the town’s $25 million (now $43 million) Parks Bond Project. The amount of the land acquisition is $13,000. The land to be purchased is not the entire land needed across the wash, but it is a start.

 This trail connection is the only bond project that directly benefits those who live south of the CDO wash. Because of geography, they have no direct trail connectivity to the multi-use path or to any town amenity north of the CDO Wash. They gain no direct benefit from the golf courses’ irrigation replacement and the community center tennis court replacements unless they are paid members of the Community Center. Most of these residents are not.

They will get no benefit from Naranja Park, because they are far from it. They will get no benefit from an anticipated entertainment center in Oro Valley Village Center (formerly known as the Oro Valley Marketplace.) They are far from that. They get no benefit from the now town-owned Vistoso Preserve. They are far from that.

Should be a slam dunk but…

One would hope that authorizing Town staff to move forward with this purchase would be a slam dunk. But given the disastrous bond spending overrun on the golf courses, the tennis courts and the Naranja Park projects, one wonders if the council will flinch and not approve this modest amount; instead, choosing to defer it to “who knows when.”

The reason we say this is that Mayor Winfield stated two weeks ago that the town could delay doing anything on the trail extension to Kreigh Park. Last year, he “nixed” a Parks and Recreation plan concept to connect the multi-use path to Riverfront Park. The council has also ignored an opportunity to expand Kreigh Park. The town owns land that was given to it by the Amphi School District that it can use to expand the park; but it’s chosen not to do so even though it is detailed in the 2021 Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

Neither the mayor nor any council member lives south of the CDO Wash. They don’t live in the original section of Oro Valley. They probably don’t recognize that the town has invested little in this area since rebuilding the aquatic center ten years ago.

At the same time, they seem to not be paying attention to the rapid development in this area of town. There is an Avilla Homes rental property being built in the area. There is the hill ordinance exception being requested to build 45 high density residential homes as we reported Monday. There is a recently completed storage facility. There is the Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene (“OVCN”) mega sports complex request that is going to be heard at some point. All of these projects are turning this section of Oro Valley into a mini-city, something that was never intended when Oro Valley was founded.

There is only one connection to the multi use path for those who live in this area’ and that is at the very end of a small residential section that is hardly accessible to anyone. It would really be nice for the town to step up and show that they have some interest in helping the residents of our community who likely will never benefit from the $43 million is being spent in Parks and Recreation funding.

Bits and Pieces

Oro Vista Apartments Council Hearing Next Wednesday

Next Wednesday, the Oro Valley Town Council will discuss and decide upon rezoning for the Oro Vista Apartments.  However, the item now appears on the Wednesday meeting agenda as a “consent item.”.  That means that the whoever put the agenda together, which most certainly includes both the Mayor and town manager, don’t think a hearing is required.  In fact, unless the item is “pulled” from the consent agenda by a council member, there will be no discussion.

These  apartments are located on the south east corner of Lambert Lane and La Canada, directly east of Noble Hops restaurants. The lot in question is currently a parking lot. The lot is adjacent to apartments that are already there. You can read about these apartments in our prior posting. The town has posted information on this project. “The proposal would allow for a maximum 3-story apartment design on the vacant parcel adjacent to the Noble Hops restaurant.”

You will need to let one of the council members know if you are interested in having this item discussed by council.

Oro Valley Optimist club to hold “Scramble For Youth” 

The Oro Valley Optimist club is holding its annual “Scramble for Youth” on May 1 at Dove Mountain. It is an event to raise money for Oro Valley programs such as Dispose-A-Med, Camp Fury, Project Graduation, and Police Explorers. Next year perhaps the Optimist Club will hold the event at the Oro Valley Community Center, using the town’s municipal golf course. This will bring added visibility to our municipal golf courses. It will support the homeowner’s association and the town council’s efforts to make our municipal golf courses financially successful.

Northwest Explorer sold

Tucson Local Media, owners of The Explorer, has been sold. The Colorado based owner sold it to Times Media Group. This is the “largest family of free newspapers” in Arizona. It is headquartered in Tempe. According to one Phoenix-based news source, the publications that Times Media buys “ ... have not stood our for their journalistic prowess. Former journalists and editors have complained about low pay and how they have to work on too many of the company’s publications at one time.” 

Portion of multi-use path to close in May

A portion of the CDO shared-use path will be closed for repaving in May. It is the section that travels through the Oro Valley Marketplace.  It will close starting May 5 and will reopen in Mid June.

CDO and Ironwood High Schools in top 20% nationally

US News and world report has issued its 2020 rankings of Best High Schools.  Basis Oro Valley ranks #3 in Arizona and #23 nationally.  CDO ranks #1 in the Amphi School District; #10 in Tucson; #53 in Arizona; and #3172 nationally. It has a 92% graduation rate.  Ironwood Ridge ranks #2 in the Amphi School District, #14 in Tucson; #79 in Arizona; and # 4798 nationally. Its graduation rate is 90%.  Oro Valley’s two public high schools are ranked below five other local public high schools: University High, Catalina Foothills, Tanque Verde High, Empire High School, and Vail Academy. All of these schools are in the top 20% of all high schools in the nation.

Bits and Pieces

Its A Small World

Who would have thought it.

We traveled to Palm Desert (Ca) this week.  We visited the mountaintop town of Idyllwild. Its in the San Bernadino National Forest.

There, were found Oro Valley homeowner Larry Everitt tending his shop, "Everitt's Minerals and Jewelry".  Larrt has a home in Rancho Vistoso. He plans to retire there.  He's is considering opening a store in Oro Valley or a neighboring community.

"Everitt's Minerals and Jewelry" has an interesting selection of minerals from the world and jewelry.  It was a fun place to browse. A store like this would be a nice addition to Oro Valley.
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"Tickets on sale for OV’s 40th Anniversary Dinner & Silent Auction

Oro Valley, Ariz. (April 4, 2014) – As part of its 40th Anniversary Celebration, the Town of Oro Valley, in partnership with the Oro Valley Historical Society and the Oro Valley Country Club, will hold a Dinner & Silent Auction on Friday, April 18, 2014.

The event, which will be held at the beautiful Oro Valley Country Club, 300 W. Greenock Drive, will begin at 5:30 p.m. with no-host cocktails, live entertainment and a silent auction to benefit the Oro Valley Historical Society. Dinner (surf and turf combo plate) will be served at 7:30 p.m.

Seating is limited; cost is $50. Tickets may be purchased through the Oro Valley Country Club by phone at 520-297-1121 or in person, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Don’t forget the 40 Days of Deals! Also part of the celebration is the 40 Days of Deals campaign, going on now through April 25. Each day, Oro Valley businesses are offering special deals to customers. To view the 40 Days of Deals calendar, click here or visit us at www.orovalleyaz.gov."(Source Oro Valley Press Release)
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"Oro Valley to host U.S. National Synchronized Swimming Championships this weekend

Oro Valley, Ariz. (April 8, 2014) – The Town of Oro Valley will play host to the 2014 U.S. National Synchronized Swimming Championships, April 8 – 12, 2014 at the Oro Valley Aquatic Center, 23 W. Calle Concordia. This national event, which is hosted in partnership with Tucson Synchro, Tucson Sports and the AZ Synchronized Swimming Association, will feature more than 350 swimmers from 41 teams across the nation in the 13-15, Junior and Senior Divisions. Additionally, the USA Junior National Team will give an exhibition performance on Saturday, April 12 at 11:30 a.m. For complete details, click here or visit www.orovalleyaz.gov." (Source Oro Valley Press Release)
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Wow. Way To Go BASIS School Oro Valley

"BASIS Oro Valley graduated its first group of seniors in 2013; 100% of graduates were accepted to 4-year universities and these 13 students earned over two million dollars in merit-based scholarships.

Among our Upper School students (grades 8 – 12) 15% are AP Scholars, 4% are AP Scholars with Honor, 14% are AP Scholars with Distinction, and 4% are National AP Scholars. BASIS Oro Valley students competed in the National History Day: State Competition earning six first place entries, one second place entry and 14 qualifications for the National History Day National competition where 4 students received metals for ""Outstanding State Entry.""

BASIS Oro Valley students also took second place at the Regional Math Counts competition, first place at the Math Matters competition, and earned one Gold Key and 3 Silver Keys in the National Scholastic Awards. BASIS Oro Valley teachers also earned recognition. Adrienne Fluitt was named a Top 10 Charter School Teacher in AZ and Teresa Shorbe earned the distinction of AZ Teacher of the Year from National History Day. Learn More about BASIS Oro Valley at www.basisorovalley.org. " (Source)
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CDO Shared Use Path Closed Through Saturday

"The CDO Shared Use Path (from La Canada Drive to Oro Valley Marketplace) will be closed completely from Thursday April 10th through Saturday April 12th for pavement sealing and re-striping. It will re-open on Sunday April 13th." (Source)
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Oro Valley Related Theft Suspect Causing Mayhem in Phoenix

A suspect in the January "smash and grab" car thefts at LA Fitness has been cashing stolen checks and using stolen ATM cards in the Phonex area.  Watch the news report.
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Miller To Discuss County Issues Relevant To Oro Valley

Pima County Supervisor Ally Miller will be hosting a Town Hall at 6PM tomorrow in the Oro Valley Branch of the Pima County Library.  "As your representative on the Pima County Board of Supervisors, it is critical I hear your thoughts, concerns, and comments on current issues facing our County," notes Miller in a press release.

Supervisor Miller will present her thoughts on several different areas: Roads maintained by Pima County, which includes La Canada; Pima County debt; and Economic Development.  These are all of importance to those of us living in Oro Valley.

There are also some specific county-involved matters that are of importance to Oro Valley residents. Here's our list of things we'd like to hear about:

• Funding to complete Steam Pump Ranch.  Funds to complete the ranch were supposed to have come from the county in a prior bond funding. The bonding never materialized. All we have now is a beautiful plan and a dust pit ranch.  What is the county's vision of Steam Pump Ranch?  Will they help or should Oro Valley plan to "go it alone."
• Partnering with Oro Valley to create a business incubator in Innovation park.  An incubator is a facility for start ups businesses. There is one, for example, that the University of Arizona operates on the far east side.  Oro Valley's Innovation Park is a prime location for this type of facility.  What will the county do to partner with Oro Valley?
• Oro Valley’s roads are in good shape because Oro Valley maintains them.  What role will the county play in rebuilding Tangerine Road into major East-West road?  What role will it play in continuing to rebuild LaCholla as a new Oro Valley North-South road?
• Completing a spur from the CDO shared-use trail, under Oracle, to Catalina State Park is on the planning horizon.  Our understanding is that this is a project that is the responsibility of the county. Where does this project stand?

What items of direct relevance to Oro Valley would you like to ask Supervisor Miller?

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Bits and Pieces

Next Step In CDO Shard Use Path Up To County

We asked TownCommunications Director Misti Nowak about a connector from the CDO shared use path to Catalina State Park. Here response:

"I have learned that Pima County Flood Control will take the lead on design, construction and funding of this project. Town staff will provide support in coordination with the Arizona Department of Transportation."

We don't know the timetable.

Today, at 9 AM, is the ribbon cutting for the path.
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Oro Valley Businesses Count Down To 40th Anniversary With 40 Days of Deals

To help the Town of Oro Valley count down to its 40th Anniversary Celebration, local businesses have partnered with the Town for 40 Days of Deals. Each day, March 15 - April 25, Oro Valley businesses will offer special deals to customers. To view the 40 Days of Deals calendar, click here. (Source: Oro Valley Press Release)
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Take The PAG Survey

The Pima Association of Governments ("PAG") wants your input. PAG receives and distributes highway funds to Oro Valley and other towns. "PAG, the region’s metropolitan planning organization, recently launched the 2045 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) planning process. When finished, the 2045 RTP will identify goals, challenges, performance targets and projects for the PAG region over the next 30 years, guiding how transportation funds are spent in this community."  Take the survey.
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