Bits and Pieces

Oro Valley to get $7 million federal grant for La Canada bridge work 

Town Manager Jeff Wilkins announced Wednesday that Congressman Juan Ciscomani was successful in his efforts to get Oro Valley $7milllion for bridge repairs. The appropriation is included in the Congressional funding bill that is awaiting President Trump's signature. This funding has been years in the making.  This is, indeed, good news. 

Street condition survey underway to guide future pavement planning
The Town of Oro Valley has begun a comprehensive inventory of all Town-maintained roads. The town has engaged a specialized contractor to collect detailed imagery of pavement and transportation assets throughout the community. Over the next week or so, residents may notice data-collection vans driving local streets during daylight hours. The information gathered will be used by Town staff to evaluate current road conditions and update the Pavement Preservation Program. Town Manager Jeff Wilkins said the effort supports Oro Valley’s long-standing, proactive approach to pavement management, helping maintain some of the best roads in the region. The project is funded through Highway User Revenue Funds (HURF). These are state-shared revenues distributed to cities and towns to pay for street and roadway construction, maintenance, and transportation-related improvements.  (Source: Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

"Crimefighter" focuses on crime prevention, digital safety, and community education

The Oro Valley Police Department’s January/February CrimeFighter newsletter highlights several community safety priorities, including steps residents can take to reduce package theft, guidance for families on safer internet use as artificial intelligence becomes more common online, and upcoming public engagement programs. The newsletter also promotes OVPD’s women-only automotive care classes, answers common traffic and vehicle-related questions from residents, and provides crime statistics for the final quarter of 2025 (panel right), offering a snapshot of calls for service and reported incidents. Several community events and safety programs are also listed, reinforcing OVPD’s focus on crime prevention, education, and outreach. (Source)

Former Oro Valley town manager Greg Caton at center of escalating Scottsdale leadership dispute

Former Oro Valley Town Manager Greg Caton is the City Manager of Scottsdale. He is involved in a dispute with Mayor Lisa Borowsky. The conflict intensified in mid-January after Caton placed the mayor’s chief of staff, R. Lamar Whitmer, on paid suspension pending an internal personnel investigation, prompting Borowsky to accuse Caton of undermining her office and to suggest she may seek his resignation. City officials have declined to release details, citing the ongoing investigation, while Caton’s administration has said the action was required under city policy. Whitmer, a longtime Scottsdale political consultant and adviser with past involvement in high-profile and controversial development proposals, is not a low-profile staff member, giving the suspension broader political significance. Caton served as Oro Valley town manager from 2011 to 2016, later held senior management roles in Grand Junction and Durango, Colorado, and joined Scottsdale as assistant city manager in 2024 before being promoted to city manager the following year. (Source: News Reports)

Cycling partnership between Oro Valley and Marana seen as first of several joint economic efforts

The Town of Oro Valley and the Town of Marana have formalized a long-standing collaboration by approving an intergovernmental agreement that establishes a regional bicycling partnership focused on tourism and economic activity. The agreement builds on years of joint efforts, including events such as the Tucson Bicycle Classic and other regional cycling initiatives, and provides a framework for coordinated planning, marketing, and evaluation of economic impacts. Speaking to the Town Council on Wednesday, Economic Development Director Paul Melcher said he hopes that this bicycling partnership will be just one of multiple economic development activities Oro Valley will pursue with Marana, signaling a broader regional approach to future collaboration. (Source: Town of Oro Valley 2-4-26 Town Council Meeting and Oro Valley Media Release)

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Bits and Pieces

Former council member supports OVCN height request 

Former Oro Valley Council Member Steve Solomon spoke in support of the Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene’s (OVCN) request to increase the height of its new sanctuary during a Planning and Zoning Commission hearing on Tuesday. Solomon emphasized OVCN’s positive impact on the community, highlighting its role in hosting town events and charitable initiatives. He referenced the annual Feed My Starving Children event, where “7,000 local residents came to OVCN to volunteer to package over a million packets of meals for starving children.” Solomon urged decision-makers to focus on facts rather than emotions, stating that the building height request aligns with zoning laws and precedents, adding that “disapproval of this request would require compelling facts solely related to the height.” Solomon, a congregant of the church, was the last audience speaker. Shortly thereafter, the commission unanimously denied the request.

One day, BofA building may be able to display colors on its logo… will Target be next? 

Tuesday, the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended allowing Bank of America to follow the town’s sign code (Chapter 28) instead of the more restrictive Rooney Ranch Sign Code, which was established in 1998. The final decision now rests with the Town Council when it takes up this matter at next Wednesday's meeting. If approved by the council, the bank will be able to display its official logo colors instead of the current variation. This raises the question—will Target make a similar request? Years ago, Target was denied permission to use its signature red color on the trademark balls at the store entrance.

UPDATE: The town council unanimously approved the Bank of America request. This approval applies to that property only. Other businesses will have to apply for such change on their own if they wish.

Rockin' 4 Heroes 2025 date

The 2025 Rockin’ 4 Heroes Annual Concert will be held during Veterans Day Weekend in Oro Valley. Bands and other concert-related information will be forthcoming. "For now, save this weekend for us and consult our website or Facebook event page. Stay tuned to LOVE, our website and our various social media platforms for updates! We can’t wait to see you again!" (Source: Rockin' 4 Heroes email)

Big bridge repair grant is still in limbo 

Grants are an important source of revenue for the town. We last reported in October that Oro Valley was pursuing significant funding for infrastructure repairs. Not much has changed since then. In his January executive report to the council, the Town Manager noted that the largest of these grants is “…in a waiting period for the Town of Oro Valley Bridge Repair Project.” This grant totals $7 million. Town Manager Wilkins added, “The good news is that our project remains in a strong position for a final Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations bill. However, it is likely we will not have any additional information to share until mid-March.” (Source: Town Manager Executive Report To Council, January 2025)

The grant is sponsored by Congressman Ciscomani, who, alongside Mayor Winfield, publicly celebrated the project’s inclusion in the bill. However, it remains uncertain whether the funding will survive the final approval process. If it doesn’t, the town will need to find another grant source or fund the project itself—a financial burden that Wilkins described as a “big nut to crack.” 

State seems to be a very poor source of economic development leads

In December, the town received one economic development opportunity from the state. According to Town Manager Wilkins:  “Oro Valley was included in state-wide searches by one prospective business in December 2024. The Town was unable to respond as the project was zoned heavy industrial and required rail service.” (Source: Town Manager Executive Report To Council, January 2025). We cannot recall the town receiving any economic development lead from the state in the past two years which was even close to being something suitable for the community. 

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