Bits and Pieces

Town preparing for Pusch Ridge Golf decision

In 2021, the town council approved reopening and operating the Pusch Ridge Golf Course for a duration of three years. The conclusion of this three-year period will coincide with the end of spring, marking the point at which the town council will determine its ongoing commitment to operating the course. Earlier this month, town staff conducted a site visit earlier this month. Council members are scheduled to visit the course later this month, and town staff is diligently preparing a comprehensive analysis of the course, slated to be presented to the council in January.

The group Friends of Pusch Ridge Golf (FOPRG) is working with the town, focusing on the future: “The answer should not be whether or not to keep it open but instead what actions need to be taken to make it more environmentally sustainable. It is popular, it serves the community and it is costing the town less to operate than most other recreational assets.” (Sources: Email from Tony D’Angelo, representing FOPRG and Newsletter)

Getting a complete look at what it costs to operate the community center

During last week's town council meeting, Council Member Tim Bohen noted aa discrepancy in accounting related to the operational expenses of running the community center. Bohen highlighted the issue concerning the community center saunas, which have been non-functional for a considerable period. They require new heaters and some electrical repairs. Town is requesting that these replacements be included in the capital budget so that they can be paid from the capital fund, and not from the community center fund.

Bohen is right. As replacing a heater constitutes the substitution of an existing item, it does not qualify as a capital expenditure. The repair costs should be covered by the ongoing revenues of the community center fund and not the town’s capital fund.

Town Council should require that community center financial reports include all expenses, regardless of the fund from which they are paid. This approach would provide a more accurate representation of the true cost of operating the community center.

Barrett Reappointed Vice Mayor 

Congratulations to Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett.  Last week, the Town Council unanimously appointed her as Vice Mayor. This is Barretts fifth year of service in that role.

Liaison assignments unchanged for 2024

Each town council member is assigned a liaison assignment to one of the town volunteer boards and/or to an outside agency. The council approved the following assignments for 2024. These are unchanged from 2023.  

Garcia case being prosecuted by the City of Tucson

In October, the town "transferred" the prosecution of the case of the Town of Oro Valley v Sabrina Garcia to the City of Tucson. The town believes that this transfer prevented a potential conflict of interest with three claims that against the town that total $89.6 million.

The court case and the lawsuit stem from the March 17 vehicular homicide of Olivia Villalobos and the severe injury to her sister near the entrance of Naranja Park.  Garcia is charged with two counts under section 28-672A (M1): Accident that results in a death and accident that results in serious injury. The case is scheduled for a pretrial hearing in Tucson City Court on January 12 at 9am in Judge Verenna's courtroom 9 (case: M1041TR23040476 ).  

Candidate Handbooks available for August council election

Curious about joining the town council? Three seats are up for grabs in this August's election. To secure a spot on the ballot, you must obtain a candidate handbook and gather a minimum of 430 signatures from residents. Schedule an appointment to collect the candidate handbook by reaching out to the Town Clerk at mstandish@orovalleyaz.gov or calling 520-229-4700. Nomination papers can be submitted by candidates starting from 8 a.m. on March 9, 2024, until 5 p.m. on April 8, 2024. (Source: Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

Town to recertify 100 year DAWS designation

Last week, the town council, authorized Oro Valley Water Director Peter Abraham to seek a recertification of the town's state 100-year designated assured water supply (DAWS).  "...the designation needs to be reviewed and an application submitted to the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) to modify the designation every 10-years. During this process the demands on the aquifer over the past 10-years is quantified and a report submitted to ADWR demonstrating that the designation of assured water supply can be modified to provide another 100-years of assured water supply. This only applies to groundwater use." (Source: Town of Oro Valley Council Meeting, 12-6-23, Consent Agenda Item 3). The town currently has this DAWS designation.

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Bits and Pieces

Want to keep you kids safe from social media? Here's you chance.

There is a free social media awareness event on January 14 at 10am.. It is a screening of "Childhood 2.0 Documentary". It is being hosted by the Tucson Police Department and is recommended by the Oro Valley Police Department (Source: 12-29-22 Tweet).  "Life has changed thanks to technology and social media. ...learn about what youth face in today's world and how to keep them safe."

"This event is directed toward parents and their youth who have access to the internet and social media based activities. It is meant to provide parents with awareness information for engaging with their youth about the dangers of the online world. This film includes mature subject matter and may not be suitable for younger children who do not have access to the internet."

Yes. Life has certainly change and social media is a danger to kids.. Its the home of bullying... abuse... harassment.  The screening is free. It is at the TPD Miracle Mile stations. Learn more and reserve a spot here.

Town Council assigns commission and board liaisons for 2023

The Town of Oro Valley has six commissions and boards. In addition, it has seven outside agencies in which it is involved. Each calendar year, the council assigns a council member as a liaison to each. Their job is to attend meetings and report back to the full Council. This year's assignments are in the panel at right. They were approved at the December 7 town council meeting.

Hearing on coffee drive thru next Tuesday

The Planning and Zoning Commission will be holding a hearing regarding allowing a drive through coffee shop across from Bruegger's Bagels at Naranja and La Canada. This is from one or our readers: "I ... want to voice my concerns about the medical plaza going in on Naranja and La Canada. I'm all for it except the proposed coffee shop on the very corner. It will cause havoc with traffic! Traffic is bad enough with all the current building in Oro Valley along with Ironwood HS. If Naranja was widened like La Canada and La Cholla I wouldn't see a problem. Also, we have Bruegger's Bagels adjacent to the plaza where most folks hangout now. I just don't think it's a good idea." Learn more about the project here.

Also next Tuesday, hearing on car wash in the Oro Valley Marketplace

Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing to enable development of a"Surf-Thru Car Wash" on ~1.61 acres located at the southwest corner of Oracle Road and Water Harvest Way, within the existing Oro Valley Marketplace.  It will be located near "In-Out Burger".  Once the building is done... well.. it will look like a car wash.  Learn more about that project here.

And, yet again, also next Tuesday...  hearing on storage and office facility where the giant saguaro use to live

Planning and Zoning Commission will also hold a hearing on allowing a 112,000 square foot mixed use self-storage facility with 4,000 square feet of retail, located near the northwest corner of Tangerine Rd and La Cañada Dr. Once there was a giant saguaro there. It stood majestically directly where the road extension is now. The town moved it to extend La Canada north of Tangerine. They paid an outside company $25,000 to do the job. Three months later, the saguaro was struck by lightening. And died.  Read more about yet another storage facility request here.

Riverfront Park Playground closing for month

"The Riverfront Park playground will be closed from Monday, January 9 to Friday, February 3 for improvements. The Town will be replacing steps and decks on the play structure and removing the recycled rubber fall surface and replacing it with wood fiber. We appreciate your patience during this improvement and we invite you to use the playgrounds at Naranja Park and James D. Kriegh Park." (Source: “This Week In Parks and Recreation” 1-5-23)

Participate in survey on best ways to engage residents in developing the next General Plan
"The Town of Oro Valley invites residents of all ages to participate in a brief survey to identify the best ways to engage the community as the Town prepares for the next General Plan, which will be on the ballot in 2026. The survey, which is open now through January 26, can be taken by multiple members of the household." Access the survey here.  Learn more about the General Plan here.  (Source: Town of Oro Valley Media Release, 1-5-23) 

Bits and Pieces

Council approves video recording of board and commission meetings

This past Wednesday, The Oro Valley Town Council unanimously approved a motion by Council Member Bohen to video record all board and commission meetings. Currently, these meetings are audio recorded. They are difficult to follow when there are presentations being made. Thus, the need for video.  The motions increases governance transparency. It wa unanimously approved by all Council Members.

Town Manager Jacobs: Town's staff wellness program is robust"

"We have a extremely robust wellness program here and the Town of Oro Valley for employees and because we are self insured that’s particularly important so that we keep our employees out of the doctor keep them healthy and that ultimately saves taxpayer dollars so it all works out really well with regularly been recognized for outstanding wellness programs and we were notified that we received the official gold seal of good health keeping renewal awards so again we get it again and the employer resiliency recognition from the wellness council of Arizona and so will be receiving that award." (Source: Town Manager Mary Jacobs report to council at meeting of November 17, 2021)

Great holiday lights display for you to watch...

This year, as in past years, the home at the intersection of Landoran and Golf View Drive in Oro Valley has a simply lovely, fun display. It's hard to describe so we've included a video for you to enjoy. It's really something.

OV SafeSteps program wins PRSA IMPACT Award of Excellence

ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (Nov. 15, 2021) –– The Town of Oro Valley’s OV SafeSteps program has been recognized for exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness in public relations and communications by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) for Southern Arizona.

 
On November 2, the program was awarded a PRSA IMPACT Award recognizing the highest standards in programs that successfully incorporate the four key elements of: research, planning, implementation, and evaluation and demonstrating the value these practices bring to communities. (Source: Town of Oro Valley Press Release)

Proposed Senior Care Facility at Stone Canyon is no more

"The Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement with Spectra Properties for the 51-acre Stone Canyon parcel has been terminated," according to the Stone Canyon Community Association letter of November 24. The project was for a "skilled care facility" and not a resort. In September, the Town's Board of Adjustment unanimously rejected an appeal of a zoning interpretation by Town Engineer Bayer Vella regarding building height. At that meeting, residents were complementary of Vella's detailed study of the matter as well as former Mayor Loomis' comments at the meeting. 

Oro Valley Municipal Golf: How does it compare?

One of ways to understand how well Oro Valley's 36-holes of municipal golf is doing is to compare its "rounds" results to another, reasonably close municipal course.  One of the challenges in doing this is that Oro Valley operates 36 holes of golf while a comparable course operates only 18. Another challenge is that the Oro Valley courses are not strictly comparable because Oro Valley's course has memberships. Member rounds account to 40% of total round played.  Other municipal courses have no memberships.

Considering these differences, we compared Oro Valley Municipal Golf results to that other course, focusing on total non member "played" rounds. For the four months ended October, the other course had 479 non member paid rounds per hole. The Oro Valley course had 323. So, in that regard, the Oro Valley courses are underperforming. 

On the other hand, Oro Valley is outperforming this other municipal course (561 to 479) if total rounds are considered.

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Town Manager Error Causes Delay In Kai Amendment Decision. Possible Legal Violation

Failure to post public hearing notice

The Oro Valley Town council voted to continue the hearing on the Kai General Plan amendment to the January 6th meeting. Oro Valley Town Manager Mary Jacobs failed to post notice of public hearing on the amendment. 

A public hearing on a general plan amendment is required before the council can vote. Jacobs had posted public hearing notice for the rezoning that would have been required if the council approved the general plan amendment; but she did not post public hearing notice for the general plan amendment. This notice of public hearing is published as part of the agenda. (See Agenda Item 2)

Mayor Winfield attempted to shoulder responsibility for this mistake by noting that he is responsible for setting the agenda. 

The legal violation is that the town is required by state statute to hear a general plan amendment before year end. They can make the decision after year end but they must hear it by year end. A hearing on January 6. 2021 does not meet this statutory requirement.

Council assignments approved

The Council approved the council liaison to commission assignments. The assignments are shown in yesterday's LOVE posting.

Barrett to serve second term as Vice-Mayor

The council approved Council Member Melanie Barrett as Vice Mayor for a second term. The vote was 5-1. Council Member Solomon voted "no". Council Member Jones-Ivey was absent.
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Tonight's A Busy Night For Council

Tonight, the Oro Valley Town Council will consider four important items: A staff update on the implementation of the 2016 Your Voice Our Future General Plan; discussion and approval of town board and commission council liaison assignments; the election of the Vice Mayor for 2021; and consideration of the Kai General Plan Amendment. Here's a peak at what is in store.

General Plan Update: 71% of implementation tasks completed

The Town Manager is required to provide an annual progress report on the progress on general plan action items.  There are 310 action items in the plan.  Town Manager Jacobs will report that the town has accomplished 71% of these, either as separate tasks or through ongoing operations. Approximately 75% of the remaining tasks are in progress. 

Proposed board and commission liaison assignments present little change

The proposed council liaison assignments are shown in the panel at right. There are two changes. New members Bohen and Green will replace the assignments of prior members Pina and Rodman, respectively. Bohen will liaison with the Water Commission. Greene will liaison with the Stormwater Utility Commission.

Vice Mayor Selection

The Vice Mayor serves in the role of Mayor when the Mayor is absent.  Melanie Barrett is the current Vice Mayor. We suspect no change here.

"Silverhawke" General Plan Amendment and Rezoning

The town is required to hear general plan amendments by year end. There is one this year. We previously reported on a proposed general plan amendment for the property that in north of and abuts the Silverhawke Development.  It is bounded by Tangerine and First Avenue. 

This property is owned by the Kai Family. They contributed $3,500 to Council Member Solomon's campaign this year.   

Since the first public hearing in October, the applicant revised their request such that approval of the amendment will only require a simple council majority, and not a super, five-vote, majority. 

The applicant is presenting five land use options (shown above, left panel) for the land use rezoning request. This request will only be viable if the council approves the general plan amendment. Council approval of the zoning request will give the landowner the right to pick from any of these options without future council review. 

You can read the details of this proposed amending and the accompanying rezonig here.

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New Liaison Assignments Delayed To January 1, 2020

Implementation delayed
Last night, the Oro Valley Town Council voted 4-3 to make the new liaison council assignments effective January 1, 2020.  Mayor Winfield had proposed that these assignments be effective immediately.  Council Member Jones-Ivey voted with Council Members Pina, Rodman and Solomon to delay the assignments.

Jones-Ivey confused
Jones-Ivey was confused throughout the 45 minute discussion of this motion. At one point, Council reconsidered the vote so that she could make sure she understood for what she was voting.

Not the first time
This is the second time Joyce-Ivey cast a critical vote in agreement with the minority members of council. The other was her insistence that bonding for golf course improvements be considered among the financial alternatives for financing course and community center improvements.

Council To Discuss New Liaison Assignments

This second try should do it
The Oro Valley Town Council will consider changing board and commission liaison assignments at tonight's council meeting.

As previously reported, Council Members Pina, Rodman and Solomon "raked Winfield over the coals" at the October 16 town council meeting for recommending these changes.

The measure deadlocked 3-3 in October. Council Member Joyce-Ivey was not at the meeting to vote.

The proposed assignments

• Amphitheater School District: Jones-Ivey
• Board of Adjustment: Solomon
• Budget and Finance Commission: Nicolson
• Historic Preservation Commission: Solomon
• Parks and Recreation Advisory Board: Jones-Ivey
• Planning and Zoning Commission: Barrett
• Stormwater Utility Commission: Rodman
• Water Utility Commission: Piña
• Other Relationships: Winfield
• Legislative District:
• Visit Tucson
• Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce
• Pima Association of Governments
• Regional Transportation Authority

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Source

Minority Rebukes Winfield Over Proposed Liaison Assignment Changes

Pina, Rodman, and Solomon hold sway
The Oro Valley Town Council did not approve a motion to change the council member liaison alignment to the town's volunteer boards at last week's council meeting. The vote was 3-3 vote (Joyce-Ivey absent),

At stake...
One of the boards, the Planning and Zoning Commission has four vacancies to fill in November. The council liaison is responsible for meeting with candidates and recommending people to fill the vacancies. Under Winfield's proposal, the new liaison would be Vice Mayor Barrett.  Council Member Rodman is the currently liaison and will remain such, unless a change is made at a future meeting.

Minority: "Winfield playing politics"
Pina, Rodman and Solomon claimed that Winfield was playing politics regarding the assignments.

First, Winfield's motion would have moved the annual appointment of liaisons from next January to this October, thus allowing Barrett to be responsible for the Planning and Zoning Commission appointments. Second, Winfield did not inform either Rodman or Solomon of his intent to change their liaison assignment.

Winfield claims that he did not do so on advice of Town Attorney Cohen because Winfield did not want to violate open meeting laws. On questioning, Town Attorney Cohen said that Winfield informing another council member of a motion is not an open meeting law violation. Council Member Pina, whose liaison relationships would not have changed under the proposal, said that Winfield had spoken to her of the "no change". When Winfield said he did not recall that conversation, Pina essentially said: "Lets not go there."

Goodwill among council members gone?
Rodman stated that he had had hopes that the council would act in a harmonious manner, given that they had come to an agreement on the "never-ending" golf situation. That agreement came earlier in the month when the council voted to make essentially only minor changes to the town's golf involvement. Any goodwill with the minority the Winfield had gained through that move, a move that fractured his political base, is apparently lost.

Minority Council Members Rebuke Winfield
Minority council members rebuked Winfield for the manner in which he handled this move and the alleged political nature of the move in remarks that accumulated to 16 minutes. We have included a video of these remarks. Not once did Winfield stop them from speaking, even though their criticism of his actions was not the subject of the motion. Winfield's response was that he wanted to do the reassignments now because he had recently retired and now has more time to devote to the Mayor's job.

"I think to sit here and say that it's ok to do this," noted Council Member Pina. "It's not ok."

Issue is likely to be revisited
The minority's victory is likely only temporary. Winfield can move a similar motion at the next meeting. It will likely pass if all members of the Winfield team are at the meeting.
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