Bits and Pieces

Catalina Foothills group opposes Oro Valley annexation efforts

During the public hearing on Oro Valley’s Path Forward General Plan, this past Wednesday, Tom Pugh, speaking on behalf of the Catalina Foothills Association, urged Oro Valley officials to stop pursuing annexation efforts involving nearby unincorporated areas. Pugh said the association represents more than 1,700 homes and does not want to become part of Oro Valley. He stated that letters expressing those concerns had previously been sent to the Town and asked Council to respect the wishes of residents living in the Catalina Foothills area.

Unused Preserve funds redirected to pond irrigation and ADA trails
The Oro Valley Town Council voted Wednesday to use about $150,000 in unspent fiscal 2025-26 Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve funds, plus $50,000 from next year’s allotment, for plant and turf irrigation in the pond area as part of the pond restoration project. Council also approved use of a $136,210 Arizona State Parks grant for ADA trails in the same area. Supporters said doing the irrigation work now, while the pond is being built, would be more cost effective and would make it easier to complete other improvements later. 

Council approves Stonegarden Grant funds for police night vision equipment
Wednesday, the Oro Valley Town Council unanimously approved participation in the Operation Stonegarden grant program, authorizing the Police Chief to enter into an agreement with the Arizona Department of Homeland Security to receive up to $38,808 for equipment. The funding will be used by the Oro Valley Police Department to purchase night vision goggles to support regional law enforcement efforts, including coordinated deployments with U.S. Border Patrol aimed at reducing human trafficking, smuggling, and related criminal activity. The grant is reimbursable and tied to specific federal requirements, with the equipment intended to enhance officer effectiveness in targeted operations.

Town extends agreement with Pima County for animal control services

Also Wednesday, the Oro Valley Town Council approved a one year extension of its intergovernmental agreement with Pima County for animal control services, continuing the current arrangement from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The agreement does not include a direct contract payment amount. The service model is based on Pima County retaining licensing fee revenues and covering remaining costs through its own general fund, with no change to the existing terms. The extension allows Pima County to continue enforcing local animal control ordinances and providing sheltering and care services within Oro Valley. During public comment, one resident urged the Town to seek stronger enforcement response provisions for neighborhood complaints involving pet waste and animal control issues.

Town terminates contract legal services to consolidate under Town Attorney 

The Oro Valley Town Council approved termination of its contract with Mesch Clark Rothschild for Town Attorney services, following the establishment of an in house Town Attorney position, currently held by Steven Zraick. The change reflects a shift to consolidate legal services under a single office that reports directly to Council. According to the staff report, maintaining both a contract attorney and an in house Town Attorney created potential confusion over roles, raised ethical concerns about who provides legal advice, and could result in unnecessary costs. The contract termination was made by mutual consent and allows the Town to streamline how legal services are delivered going forward.

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Bits and Pieces

Grant awarded for ADA improvements at Vistoso Trails
The Oro Valley Town Council approved Resolution (R)25-42 in August, authorizing acceptance of a $144,500 grant from Arizona State Parks to fund ADA improvements at the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. The project will cover pathway repairs, new safety signage, and the construction of compacted decomposed granite ADA trails. The Town’s contribution is $8,734.36, or about 5.7% of the $153,234 total cost. LOVE reported on this grant application back in March 2024, and now the funding has been awarded.

YouTuber confrontation moves to Sahuarita...with success

In April, we reported that a “YouTuber” had come to Oro Valley to “bait the cops.” We did not name the individual or their website because we did not want to draw traffic to their site.  That person was at it again—this time in Sahuarita. And this time, however, it looks like it worked. In early August, an incident occurred at the Sahuarita Police Department when the individual was forcibly removed and arrested from a public area by the Chief of Police. This in follow up to what appears to be a terribly botched Sahuarita Police welfare check on a home a year earlier. A video of the arrest incident and of the botch welfare check is available online. 

May 2025 Crime Statistics

Town attorney contract renewed
The Town Council approved Resolution (R)25-35 in August to renew the contract with Mesch Clark Rothschild, P.C. for another year of Town Attorney services. The firm has represented Oro Valley since September 2021, when it was first selected following a competitive process. Since then, the contract has been renewed annually, making this the fourth extension. Under the agreement, the Town pays a fixed rate of $1,025 per council meeting, with additional legal services billed at $200 per hour for attorneys and $120 per hour for paralegals.

School resource officer assigned to Leman Academy
The Town Council approved Resolution (R)25-40, in August authorizing an agreement with Leman Academy of Excellence to assign an Oro Valley police officer as a full-time School Resource Officer (SRO). Leman was awarded a three-year School Safety Program grant from the Arizona Department of Education in 2023 to cover the cost of salary and benefits. The 2025–26 school year is the third year of this grant cycle. The grant reimburses the Town for salary and employee-related expenses, so this does not add costs beyond what is already budgeted.

Another Fiber right-of-way license granted
The Town Council approved Resolution (R)25-38 in August, authorizing a right-of-way license agreement with Ripple Fiber Arizona LLC. The license allows Ripple to install and maintain fiber-optic cable within Oro Valley rights-of-way to provide fiber-to-the-premise service. It runs for an initial 10-year term with three optional five-year renewals. Similar agreements were approved with Wyyerd Fiber and Novos Fiber, making Ripple the third provider licensed since June. Ripple will pay the Town $0.89 per linear foot of conduit installed, with annual reporting to verify total footage.

June 2025 Crime Statistics

Town Manager’s August report to Council highlights Fall start of Naranja MUP and more

The August executive report included several notable updates. The Naranja Drive Multi-Use Path, a $3.99 million project that is 91% grant funded, is scheduled to break ground this fall and be completed by March 2026. The Northwest Recharge and Recovery Delivery System is also progressing, with more than seven miles of pipeline under construction and three recovery wells already drilled. When completed in mid-2026, this project will provide long-term water sustainability for more than 115,000 customers across Oro Valley and neighboring communities. The report also highlighted a record crowd of nearly 10,000 people at this year’s Independence Day celebration. (Source: Town Manager Executive Report To Council, August 2025)

Oro Valley employee guidance is not binding

Did you know that the town disclaims any information you receive in conversation, email, or a meeting with a Town employee? That such information is only preliminary and not binding? That it may not even be correct? According to the town, only a formal written determination from a Town Administrator is official. Staff comments or responses are not the same as legal documents, and the Town says that it cannot be held liable if informal guidance or information is wrong. As a result, you should independently verify information before relying on it. (Source: Town Disclaimer)

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Closing The Loop: Bohen Absolved of Alleged Open Meeting Law Violation That Wasn't

Closing the loop
We will revisit some unresolved issues from time to time—to update you, to "close the loop." Too often, the resolution of an issue does not get reported. Instead, all that is remembered is the accusation, even when it was proven false. Here's an example.

Open Meeting Law complaint against former councilmember Tim Bohen dismissed by State
In 2023, Oro Valley Town Attorney Tobin Sidles filed an Open Meeting Law complaint (OML2023-0020) against former Councilmember Tim Bohen. The complaint alleged that Bohen had improperly disclosed a February 1, 2023, memo written by attorney Jonathan Rothschild. It suggested that Bohen may have shared the memo on social media, potentially violating Open Meeting Law by disclosing privileged information.

Bohen denied the accusation, stating he was not even remotely guilty. Despite this, the complaint was filed and became part of the public record.

The Findings--No basis for complaint
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office reviewed the complaint and determined that no violation had occurred. Key findings include:
- No social media post containing the memo was ever presented as evidence.
- No proof linked Bohen to the alleged disclosure.
- The memo itself did not fall under executive session protections, meaning its release did not violate Open Meeting Law.

In other words, the complaint against Bohen was unfounded and unsubstantiated.

At the time of the complaint, Bohen had voiced concerns about the town’s outside attorney
During his final year on the Council, Bohen raised concerns about the town’s legal representation. The law firm Mesch Clark Rothschild continued to provide services and bill the town even after its contract expired on September 6, 2024. The firm’s contract renewal was not approved until November 6, 2024—minutes after Bohen’s term on the Council had ended. Bohen, who had consistently opposed renewing the firm’s contract, still questions whether the delay was intentional, preventing him from publicly raising concerns before the Council’s decision. 

We've Closed the Loop on This One
Now that the facts are clear, we wanted to ensure this matter is properly addressed. Once an accusation is made, it can remain in the public record—even when the person involved is fully exonerated. In this case, the Arizona Attorney General determined that no violation occurred. That’s why we are closing the loop on this one.
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Bits and Pieces

When it comes to legal advice, Oro Valley is looking more like Tucson

Oro Valley was established with the explicit intention of maintaining independence from the City of Tucson. It is ironic the Town Council reengaged the services of Jonathan Rothschild and his firm. Rothschild, a two-time former Mayor of Tucson, previously demonstrated lack of regard for Oro Valley, as seen in a video clip we posted when he, at one of his Tucson council meetings, he said: "You guys are going to turn into F..ing Oro Valley." 

Despite this, the current council has chosen to involve him in various matters, including the Oro Valley Village Center Economic Development Agreement, the Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene rezoning request, and negotiations for the entitlements at Ross Rulney's Vistoso Highlands Drive upcoming apartment project.  Additionally, either Jonathan or his son serve as a parliamentarian at council meetings and provide legal advice during Council meetings. 

With the arrival of a new town manager, one might have expected that the town council also would have taken a fresh look at outside legal advice alternatives. But they did not do so.

July 30 is now the primary date

The primary date for voting in the Oro Valley Town Council election is July 30th. This is a state-mandated change from the August election date. If you are a registered Independent, you need to order a ballot by calling 520-724-6830; otherwise, you will not receive a ballot. Additionally, you can use this number to have your ballot sent to you if you are an Oro Valley registered voter, regardless of party affiliation, but will not be available to vote in person. 

It is likely that the election will be decided in the primary, so there will be no November general election for the council.

Candidates must make sure that signature petitions signatures collected on or after February 9, 2024 have the July 30 Primary Election date and not the original August 6 date. If signatures are challenged, the court [not the Town of Oro Valley] will make any determination about the validity of those signatures. Be safe: Only sign nomination petition forms with the July 30, 2024 Primary Election date so that your signature will count.

Larceny-Theft is Oro Valley's most serious crime by far

A ten year(2013-2022) look at Oro Valley serious crimes shows that Larceny-theft is more than 82% of all Oro Valley serious crimes. They are the bulk of "Part One" crimes (These crimes include both violent and property crimes). This category encompasses a wide range of theft activities including, but not limited to, thefts of bicycles, motor vehicle parts and accessories, shoplifting, pocket-picking, or the stealing of any property or article that is not taken by force and violence or by fraud.

Fortunately, personal crimes such as home burglary, home invasion, housebreaking, and car theft are much less in occurrence, comprising 9% of all violent crimes.  Still, there is an average of 57 of these each year. So... do keep your home and car locked with nothing of value in it.

Lake Meade and Lake Powell water levels improving

Two years of normal winter monsoons in the West have improved the water levels in both Lake Meade and Lake Powell. Both lakes are at about 35% capacity. The entire system sits at 43% capacity. This is before the winter snow melt from the Rocky Mountains.

The system is a long way from recovering from the 20 year drought.  However, this is a start.

Tucson Bicycle Classic is back this month

The Town of Oro Valley is pleased to announce the return of the Tucson Bicycle Classic to our community on Sunday, Feb. 25, from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Oro Valley race route will be around Naranja Park (810 W. Naranja Drive) and is expected to bring more than 500 professional riders. Some street closures and traffic restrictions will be in effect to ensure the safety of both participants and spectators. Click here for a map.

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Bits and Pieces

$90 million lawsuit against town commences on tragic Naranja Park entrance death

The Town of Oro Valley has been noticed that it is being sued in the tragic death of Olivia Villalobos and injury to her sister Avry on St. Patricks Day.  “The Town received notice of claims for the accident involving the two young girls hit while walking on Naranja Drive near the park. There are three separate claims totaling over $90 million. The claims have been forwarded to our insurance company who should appoint an attorney to represent us. We’ll plan for a brief executive session on October 4 for the topic.” (Source: Wilkins email to council, 9-14-23). Read about this most tragic accident here.

Don’t get fooled by “AI” voice impersonators

Criminals are employing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for voice impersonation, a concerning development. One common scam involves imitating a family member, like a grandchild, who claims to be in distress and urgently needs cash cards. It’s crucial not to be deceived by this. Instead, independently verify the situation with your friends and family before taking any action.  For more information visit the Safe Circle web site.

Oro Valley is home of High School Southern Arizona State Champions

Bet you did not know that “Other than Salpointe Catholic in 2013, three of the last four Southern Arizona State Champions came from Oro Valley. That includes Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, Ironwood Ridge and CDO. CDO and I-Ridge are part of the Amphitheater Unified School District.” This year’s CDO’s football team looks good enough to challenge for another state title. (Source)

Reader suggests Oro Valley annex for “real business” growth

Oro Valley, along with the rest of Southern Arizona, struggles to attract substantial businesses that can generate high-quality employment opportunities for the community. While retail jobs are beneficial, they often come with lower wages. What steps can be taken to address this challenge? This from one of our readers: “The central issue revolves around the high land costs in Oro Valley, particularly with Venture West and Kai owned properties. In contrast, lands in Casa Grande, Eloy, and the outskirts of Chandler are more budget-friendly. To tackle this, Oro Valley should contemplate annexing 500 acres on its western fringe, converting it into a Tech Park conveniently situated around a 10-minute drive from I-10.”

Town grows by 36 acres

The Town Council voted last week to annex 36 acres of land at La Canada and W Moore. The land is zoned for low density residential use. (See panel right)

Town votes to settle Joplin law suit

Some time ago, we reported on an incident at Naranja Park involving 17-year-old football player Elijah Joplin, who suffered a severe eye injury following a collision with a light stanchion positioned near the field's out-of-bounds line during an event sponsored by Victory Fundraising. It's worth noting that the Town of Oro Valley provided the fields and, to the best of our knowledge, delineated the field boundaries. Adding to the complexity of the situation is a $2 million insurance policy that is being distributed among the parties involved. Joplin subsequently filed a lawsuit against the town and others. In July, the council convened an Executive Session, and last week, they voted to approve what we believe to be settlement documents. (Source: LOVE’s outstanding research sleuth)

Tropical Smoothie coming to Oro Valley 

Last week, the Town Council unanimously granted a "conditional use permit" for a Cafe Tropical Smoothie Drive-Thru at the Canada Crossroads Center, situated at the Southwest Corner of La Canada and Lambert Lane. Samith Patel, the proprietor and operator of this establishment, selected this location because of the presence of various existing restaurants within the center, such as Harvest, Cafe Torino, and Subway. During the meeting, the Council deliberated on modifying the specific details of the proposed facility, with a particular emphasis on minimizing the potential for cars to idle in front of patrons dining outside at Harvest or Cafe Torino.

Register for "CommunityAcademy"

"Would you like to learn more about local government and help shape Oro Valley’s future? Then we invite you to register for Oro Valley’s Fall 2023 Community Academy, which will have a special focus on the upcoming Townwide planning efforts. For 26 years, the Town has been hosting this free, informative and award-winning series. Please register by Oct. 1 to reserve your spot." (Source: Town of Oro Valley Press Release) This is the 26th anniversary of the Academy.

Rothschild Contract "ReUpped"

Last week's Town Council's decision to continue employing Jonathan Rothschild and his law firm as external legal counsel raises some eyebrows, given that the firm was initially engaged during the tenure of the previous town manager. It's noteworthy that Rothschild maintains close ties with the Tucson development community.

New conservator over Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve

Archeology Southwest is now responsible for the easement that protects the 202 acres of the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. Their job is to insure that the land remains as open desert forever. The Conservation Fund had been the administrator.

First Avenue Construction to cause delays starting September 25

The Town “…will remove and replace the asphalt on First Avenue beginning at the Cañada del Oro River bridge and extending east to Oracle Road starting Sept. 25 through Oct. 3. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction during construction hours, which are from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Speed will be reduced to 25 mph. Drivers are asked to find alternative routes during construction hours to avoid long delays.” (Source: Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

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Guest View: Mike Zinkin – The darker side of Town government

As previously reported on LOVE, as if the antics of Town Manager, Mary Jacobs, aren’t bad enough (ignoring adopted Town Council Policies, convincing the current Council to set records for fiscal “management” including the highest budget in Town history, two sets of 3% employee raises in 12 months during a pandemic, and $50 million in added bond debt, and, most important, adding a veil of unprecedented secrecy with all the Executive Sessions)…we have recently discovered additional information on another high-ranking member of the Town Staff.

Town Attorney has possible Conflict-of-Interest
Some business associations on the part of the Town Attorney have recently been uncovered.

LOVE readers are aware of the “secret” proposed Economic Development Agreement between the Town and Town West regarding the Oro Valley Village Center (formerly Oro Valley Marketplace). The Executive Session on this topic during the January 19, 2022 meeting was cancelled when some Council members realized that any agreement with Town West was premature since there has been no approved action for the properties. The Town Attorney, Jonathan Rothschild, along with the Town Manager, have something proposed, but the details are being kept a secret.

Here's the problem. The principal characters with Town West are the Humberto Lopez family (HSL Properties), the Horvath family, and their attorney Keri Silvyn. It turns out that Rothschild has financial ties to all of them. In 2011, when Mr. Rothschild was running for the Mayor of Tucson, all the above-named individuals contributed to his campaign. [Click on the below attachment to enlarge it]

Possible lingering effects
Now you might say, “That was over 10 years ago, so what’s the big deal?” The problem is that Mr. Rothschild has had a prior relationship with the people who are the principles in any agreement that the Town might enter into with Town West. Will there be any lingering effects from those past campaign donations? Will Rothchild’s decisions on the Town West deal be in the best interest of the citizens of Oro Valley or will he be beholden to what’s in the best interest of the Lopez family and the Horvath family?

The Council is aware of these campaign contributions, thanks to communications sent to them from Oro Valley citizens.

Accordingly, Mr. Rothschild should recuse himself from any communications and/or dealings with Town West.

Decisions need to be made on what’s best for the residents of Oro Valley.

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Mike Zinkin and his wife have lived in Oro Valley since 1998. He served on the Oro Valley Development Review Board from 2005-2009, the Board of Adjustment from 2011-2012, and the Town Council from 2012-2016. He was named a Fellow for the National League of Cities. He was a member of the NLC Steering Committee for Community and Economic Development and a member of the Arizona League of Cities Budget and Economic Development Committee. He was an Air Traffic Controller for 30 years. Mike has a Bachelor’s degree in history and government from the University of Arizona and a Master’s degree in Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education from California State University, Northridge.

Jacobs Works "Behind Closed Doors" To Craft Economic Development Agreement On Oro Valley Village Center

"Dark of Night" Negotiating
Town manager Mary Jacobs is working "behind closed doors" without council authorization to craft an Economic Development Agreement  ("EDA") between the owner of the Oro Valley marketplace, Town West, and the town of Oro Valley. 

We believe that this agreement relates to the Entertainment District of the proposed Oro Valley Village Center. The cost of that district, according to Town West representative Keri Silvyn, will be from $11-$12 million. It is possible that the EDA may well be for that amount.

Jacobs has been negotiating this EDA since at least the fall of 2020. She has been doing so at a time when the council has yet to approve the many concessions that town staff wants to make regarding this revisioning of the marketplace. We posted about that yesterday.

Only rezoning is supposed to be on the table.. Not "deals"
Indeed, Council has been told that their job at this point is to only discuss the rezoning that has been as requested. Therefore, any EDA between the Town and Town West is premature because it assumes that the council will approve the project as proposed. The council should not be participating in any discussion regarding an agreement on how the Town is going to help make this project financially viable.

Deja Vu 2006: "The Outrageous Giveaway"
We wish to remind everyone of the 2006 "Outrageous Giveaway" involving Oro Valley Marketplace  It was an EDA from which Vestar, the developer and center operator, was to receive 45% of all sales tax revenues during the first ten years,  up to $23.3 million.

In the end, the venture was a miserable failure. In the ten years, the center earned a total of $16.4 million in sales tax revenue, with Vestar getting $7.4 million.

While the Town had agreed to do so, thousands of residents opposed the  "The Outrageous Giveaway." They fought to get the item put on the ballot. It was ultimately approved by the voters, due in part to Vestar's glitzy marketing campaign. However, it was a straight up deal and everyone knew what they were going to get and what it was going to cost. It was not hidden behind closed doors as this one is. (Indeed. LOVE's first post was about this giveaway)

Bohen Asks: Why the secrecy?
Rothchild Responds: Because we can and I recommend it
At last week's Town Council Study Session, Councilmember Tim Bohen asked Town Council Jonathan Rothschild whether keeping these discussions behind closed doors is required by law. Rothschild replied: “What we don’t want to get [into] is a conversation of how much you expect from us or, you know, [what]we want to do because again those are contractual discussions and negotiations. Those are subject to executive session… and what we need to do is to keep [this a] zoning conversation, which is really what tonight’s about separate from that.” (Source: Oro Valley Town Council Study Session, January 19, 4:47:51)

Bohen, once again, asked if this was mandatory. Rothschild stated that it was his strong recommendation. In other words, there is no legal requirement against having public discourse on this.

Council "in the dark"?
We do not know if any council member has been participating in the discussions with Town West on this economic development agreement. We do know, however, that at least one member council, Tim Bohen, has not. Bohen told LOVE: "The draft agreement was never shared with me except a brief view in a meeting with Mary Jacobs near the beginning of my term. And I don’t know if what I was shown is actually current as of today." Bohen asked Town Manager Jacobs for the current draft agreement. As of today, he has not received it.

If Bohen does not know any of the details of the EDA, it is reasonable to assume that the rest of the council does not know the details since "Council members shall be provided equal access to information, documents and materials." (Source: Oro Valley Parliamentary Rules 13.9 INFORMATION)

A pattern of behavior
Jacobs seems to want to keep everything private. And, unfortunately, Mayor Winfield allows her to do so. With Jacobs, the public only finds out what the deal is after the deal is done. By then, there's nothing the public can do about it.

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Vistoso Preserve $1.8 Million Fundraising Target Reaches Million Dollar Mark

"This deal is going to get done"

Mike Ford of The Conservation Fund (“TCF”) updated residents on the status of TCF’s purchase of the former Vistoso Golf Course. “This deal is going to get done.” Ford noted at a Zoom meeting hosted by the group Preserve Vistoso on November 5.

$1 Million raised to date for the purchase of the 202 acres

Ford said that $1 million had been raised to date to fund the purchase. The goal is to raise $1.8 million by the end of the year. Ford believes that the purchase of the land from Rompsen LLC will be completed at that time. TCF will create a conservation easement on the property. 

TCG will employ a third party to that the conservation easement is maintained  in perpetuity. TCF will then donate the land to the Town of Oro Valley where the land will become part of the town’s Parks and Recreation system.

Been a "long road" to get to this point

Ford detailed the path that has been taken to make this purchase a reality. Initially, Rompsen LLC, the property owner, rejected a fair market value offer made by TCF in summer of 2020. That discussion included six acres of land that is zoned for high density residential use.

Negotiations were restarted by the town last spring at the urging of Rancho Vistoso Residents.  Mayor Winfield, Vice Mayor Barrett, Town Manager Jacobs and town outside council Jonathan Rothchild led this

Unlike the  discussion, this discussion separated the six acres of land that is now zoned for his density residential use. The group negotiated on the remaining 202 acres. The fair market value for that property, as agreed to by Rompsen, is a bit less than the $1.8 million being raised. 

Ford stated that the six acres will be sold to a third party by Romspen. That party will develop the land consistent with current HDR zoning.

What Ford did not mention is that the town is a party to the agreement. The details of the town's commitment have yet to be revealed to the public.  

Your help needed
This will be a preserve for all to use, not just those in Rancho Vistoso.  You can help to make it so by donating to TCF. Click here to learn how to do so

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Town Unveils Major Upgrade To Council Chambers

Council cleared up some open items

Last week’s council meeting, was the first in person council meeting since March of 2020.  The council cleared some open items including:

• Approved a resolution to accept an annual subsidy of $34,050 to support the operation of the town’s 9 hole Pusch Ridge Course. The subsidy comes from three homeowner associations that abut the property. The amount will be paid for the next three years.
• Retained Jonathan Rothschild as outside attorney
• Amended the town's water code to penalize water wasting. You can read more about that code here.

Renovated council chambers

The council chambers were renovated and updated to take advantage of the latest technology.  The cost of the renovation was $600,000.   The facility was built and maintained years ago when the town offices were built.  

Click on picture to expand view

Changes include:

• Increased capacity to 190 from 104 persons
• More comfortable chairs
• Improved ADA compliance
• "Loop system" for people with hearing aids
• Better technology including two large monitors and improved lighting for visual quality streaming
• New audio-visual system to enable virtual public participation, boards and commission members, and council members

With the new chambers and in person meeting, the town has changed its council meeting procedures.

The new technology allows residents to participate both in person and virtually. “For agenda items listed as Public Hearings, there is now an option to speak publicly via Zoom if the speaker registers at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting by filling out a “virtual” speaker card. Once a speaker has registered online, they will be provided with additional instructions and a Zoom link on the day of the meeting. The new virtual option also applies to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Adjustment, as they are both held in Council Chambers and have Public Hearings.  

Links to register for a virtual speaker card will be included in each meeting’s agenda, which is posted to the Town’s website one week in advance. ”

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Naranja Park …. Vistoso Preserve… and more…

Council prioritizes projects in the $25 million Parks and Recreation Bond…but not without controversy
The Town Council set priorities for specific parks and recreation projects to be funded by an approximate $25 million bond that will be issued this fall. The projects are listed in the panel that follows. The bond will be repaid by approximately half of the half percent sales tax the town levies to fund the town’s three golf courses and the community center. Town Manager Jacobs and Town Finance Director Gebhart assured the council that the town will have the funds from the sales tax levy to repay these bonds under any foreseeable circumstance. 

The projects that are included in the bond are in addition to projects included in the 2021-22 Parks and Recreation Budget. $1.3 million in this budget is designated spending for Steam Pump Ranch. According to Council Member Bohen this amount is far too little. “Steam Pump Ranch has never been a priority” and there are many unmet needs. 

Council Members Solomon and Greene voted against the priority list. Pointing to the town’s statistically valid survey of resident parks and recreation needs done just last year, Solomon noted that Naranja Park was not even on the list. Solomon stated that the inclusion of massive funding for Naranja Park in this bond simply does not meet the wishes of the residents. 

Solomon is correct that the survey reflects no significant resident interest in building Naranja Park. This has been true since the day the county gave this stone and mortar quarry to Oro Valley. Naranja Park has never been important to the majority of residents. It has only been important to members of council.

Former Vistoso Golf land purchase negotiations continue… Some resolution perhaps in September

Speaking at last week’s council meetings, Rancho Vistoso residents were complementary of Mayor Winfield, Vice Mayor Barrett and Town Attorney Jonathan Rothschild “for their diligent, hard work in bringing this matter to closure.” They were speaking in regards to ongoing negotiations regarding the former Vistoso Golf Course. The matter remains in negotiation. 

 
Speaking after executive session, Town Outside Counsel Rothschild stated that Romspen has “agreed” to a specified price for the property. The Conservation Fund has agreed to purchase the property for the appraised value, which will be known in August.” It is possible that the appraised value will be less than meet amount Romspen wants for the property. Thus, the council likely will have to consider legal options, which may include condemnation, to force a resolution. 

Council Member Solomon said: “We are very close.” Residents hope so. “Its’ been three years”, one resident noted. “Time to bring this to a conclusion.”

Council adjourns until September 7 meeting… Will unveil upgraded council chambers

It will be an “in person” meeting in renovated council chambers. Public participation will be available in person. The town will use Zoom participation for public hearings only. Thus, one who wants to participate in the “call to audience” segment will have to do so in person. Town Manager Jacobs stated that the town will provide more information on how these meetings and those of the town’s boards and commission will take place.

Rothschild “F-bombed” Oro Valley in 2019. Works For Town In 2021

Rothschild’s contract with Oro Valley is up for renewal

Jonathan Rothschild is the current outside council to the Town of Oro Valley. He has been such for about four months. Shortly, his contract for renewal will be before council. 

Rothschild is the lead negotiator for the Romspen Vistoso Preserve Deal

Rothschild has brought his legal skills to bear in moving the negotiations for the eventual creation of what will be a Vistoso Preserve. Discussions between the potential purchaser of the former Vistoso Golf Course, The Conservation Fund, and the owner, Romspen LLC, were stalled when former outside council, Gary Cohen was involved.

The “Oro ‘f…ing’ Valley” open mike incident

We were surprised to learn that Rothschild referred negatively to Oro Valley in 2019. At least, that is our interpretation of remarks he made in a public meeting while he served as Mayor of the City of Tucson. The remarks were made after a measure to annex a portion of the foothills was rejected by the Tucson City Council, 6-1. Rothschild voted to annex the portion so that a 4 story hotel could be built on land located west of Campbell Rd and north or River Rd. The request also would have increased housing density on the other side of Campbell. Annexation was necessary for the project because Pima County would not allow it. (Source [subscription required])

Obviously disappointed, Rothschild is heard on “live mike” after the hearing was completed saying, indirectly to the audience: “You guys are going to turn into Oro ‘f…ing’ Valley.”  After making that remark, the person next to him pushed Rothschilds microphone away, knowing that Rothschilds remark was public. Rothschild’s reaction to that was:  “I don’t give a f…” that his disparaging comment was public. We’ve embedded the video in this posting so that you can watch it yourself.

Rothschild’s comments were made a year after the Hiremath pro growth council was defeated. They were made a year after a new council that vowed to more carefully consider the role of growth in Oro Valley was installed. Now Rothschild works for these new council members. The use of the “f-word”, along with the smirk on his face, indicates to us that he has disdain for those who are careful about approving development-related land use changes.

Will Rothschild consider Vistoso residents' concerns when negotiating the Romspen deal? 

We wonder if he has a pro development predisposition given his disparaging remark about our community. One that he seemed completely unapologetic about when he followed his first “f-bomb” with a second one. We wonder if he will be able to be neutral in growth related initiatives if, indeed, he is predisposed to a growth solution.