Bits and Pieces

MTCVB Funnels Soccer Corporate Welfare Funds

MTCVB, an organization that is funded, in part, by Oro Valley, is going to be a conduit for giving $280,000 in county funds to major league soccer teams to diffray costs of their holding spring training for 2 weeks in Tucson. (Source) The teams will train at the Kino Sports Complex.  "County officials predict the deal could inject $3.9 million into the local economy from spending by the teams, players, media and fans."
---
How To Get Oro Valley Crime Reports

We asked The Oro Valley Police Department spokesperson Lt. Kara Riley about how we can get access to police incident information. It's published on crimereports.com.   The site holds 30 days worth of information. "I will tell you that it is a great resource, and all calls get downloaded to this program every morning....We are going on our third year of using this and the public seems to really like it."
---

Fall Program Guide Is Available

The Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Department has issued its first ever fall program guide.

"This is the first time the Town has published a comprehensive guide for the entire season, and we plan to produce a similar guide for our spring offerings," said Parks and Recreation Director Kristy Diaz-Trahan. "There are some exciting things happening in Oro Valley, and this is one of the ways we're keeping the community informed." (Source: Oro Valley Press Release)

---
Sex Offender Alert

"Donald Ray, Jr., is a 52-year-old white male, described as 6'01" and 225 lbs with green eyes and gray/balding hair. He resides at 220 E. Catalina Shadows in Oro Valley. Ray was convicted in 1994 of sexual assault, and in 2013 for failure to register as a sex offender. He is classified as a level three sex offender."
---
Did You Know

...that Ventana Medical, a Roche Pharmacutical subsidiary, has 1,150 full-time employees on its Oro Valley campus? (Source)
---

Bits and Pieces

---

This week's Planning and Zoning Commission meeting was cancelled. The agenda for the meeting is set by the Oro Valley Development and Infrastructure Department.  Guess there was nothing to discuss.
---
Next week's Stormwater Utility Commission meeting is a study session They will discuss the origin of the stormwater fee,  current status and alternatives for the future. The meeting is March 13 at 4 PM at the Calle Concordia conference room  at the public works building on Concordia. (Agenda)
---
Drivers Beware: The Oro Valley motorcycle force will be enforcing the the high  visibility enforcement area on Oracle Road between Magee and Suffolk.  Here are the dates and time:

• March 11, 2013 7 - 10 a.m. 
• March 15, 2013 4 - 7 p.m. 
• March 26, 2013 7 - 10 a.m. 
• March 28, 2013 4 - 7 p.m. 
• March 29, 2013 4 - 7 p.m.

---
This months' Oro Valley Economic Develop Status Report is available here.
---
 The construction crew  working on the 288- unit HSL Apartment complex on Oracle at Steam Pump Village punctured a gas line. This caused the evacuation of Baseline School. (Source)
---
Oro Valley's Cafe Torino is expanding with a second unit in the Foothills in May. (Source)
---
MTCVB has a new marketing director,Tim Vimmerstedt. (Source) MTCVB is a major provider of resources to Oro Valley's marketing team.
---

Bits and Pieces

---
"The Oro Valley Aquatic Center is partnering with the Fitter & Faster Swim Tour this spring to provide a swim clinic with six-time Olympic medalist Matt Grevers and NCAA Champion Annie Chandler. The clinic will be held May 19, 2013 at the Oro Valley Aquatic Center, 680 W. Calle Concordia." (Source: Town Of Oro Valley press release)
---
Hold on to your wallets.  Pima County is beginning the process of planning its spending for 2014. Part of that planning is the planning for bond issuances. Yes. Most heavily indebted County in the state by far actually plans how to incur more debt. One of the items being considered is a $30 million bond offering to promote Geo tourism.  "The County is already working with the University to develop a concept for a geotourism center where visitors would get more information on just about any topic that makes the Old Pueblo so special."  (Source)
---
There is a large tract of land that is being bladed that abuts to the west side of Oracle Road, north of steam pump village.  It is being bladed in preparation for the construction of 288 apartment units. These will be known as: "Encantada at Steam Pump."  The apartments are being built by HSL Steam Pump Properties, an operation of developer Humberto Lopez' HSL Tucson-based operation.   We have written previously about this property.  

Next week's Oro Valley Town Council meeting  includes a consent agenda item for allowing the developer "...to utilize a portion of the Town-owned park property adjacent to their project for recreation and drainage purposes."    The park is a small area that abuts the CDO Wash paved trail.   the agreement with the developer requires that they maintain this park. (Source)
---
This week's widely-reported robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank in Rancho Vista also reminds us  that Oro Valley is not immune from crime.   This is not the first time that a robbery has occurred in that area.   The Bank of the West in Rancho Vistoso was robbed in late December.

According to crimereports.org,  a website  into which both the county and the town use to report crime,  there were 32 crime incidents in just one week in Oro Valley.  Most of these are thefts.  A few of these  are assaults.

One of the unfortunate consequences of growth in population and density is a growth in crime.    Last nigh's shooting at Oracle and First is yet another example.  The once quiet suburb of Oro Valley is now becoming a small city.   As it grows so will its crime.
---
Here's a reminder of some upcoming events from Parks and Rec:

Saturday, March 9:  MOVE Across 2 Ranges Hike  (Start in Catalina State Park)
Saturday, March 9:  2nd Saturday at Steam Pump Ranch
Friday, March 15:   Aquatic Center Grand Opening
Saturday, April 13: Settlers Days at Steam Pump Ranch
---
91 trees along Woodshade Trail (goes back to dog park fr RV Blvd) have been identified for removal because they are "dead, dying, infested or diseased."
---

MTCVB: Getting Little For $75,000

---

MTCVB submitted its first quarter report to the Oro Valley Town Council.  It is included as part of the consent agenda for this Wednesday's council meeting.  The report indicates that MTCVB did no marketing that was specific to Oro Valley; rather, it focused on marketing the region or regional  special interests.

The only Oro Valley-specific activity of which we do know is the assistance provided by MTCVB in the design of the Aquatic Center logo that they unveiled in September.

We think that Oro Valley should get far more for the $75,000 than it is spending on MTCVB.  We believe that there should be MTCVB activities specific to Oro Valley.

Here's some of what the report includes:

• “Key Measures of Performance” has 64 sales leads and 8 site inspections.  There are no examples of the sales leads.  Are there any details on the inside inspections.  Were any of these for Oro Valley?
• The report states that Oro Valley is promoted as a leisure and meeting destination within the MTCVB's web-based visitors guide and meeting planners guide.  A visit to the website reveals that neither the home page nor the six tabs present anything on Oro Valley. You would think that Oro Valley would get some visibility for the $75,000 it is giving to MTCVB this year.
•  The report claims that Oro Valley businesses benefit from MTCVB’s “Real Southwest” marketing campaign. Really?  How so?
• The report notes that Oro Valley is promoted by the Tucson Film Office, a division of MTCVB, as a potential destination for television series and photo shoots.  Once again, we ask: "How so?" 
• MTCVB states that Oro Valley is invited to participate in MTCVB’s Tucson-Mexico Trade Coalition meetings. There is no projection or potential examples as to what participation in the meetings would do specifically for Oro Valley. How many companies or citizens of Mexico asked for information or came to Oro Valley?
• MTCVB states that it promotes Oro Valley to National and International Media; yet, there were zero travel articles pertaining to Oro Valley.

Oro Valley deserves more than general regional marketing from MTCVB.  Oro Valley deserves more than some accidental mention as part of a Southern Arizona marketing effort.  Oro Valley is the "Jewel" of Southern Arizona, not an adjunct of the "armpit" to our south.  Oro Valley is an example of the beauty and recreational pleasure available in southern Arizona.  In all respects, it far surpasses anything that the City of Tucson can offer.

The sad thing is that MTCVB is being allowed to raise Oro Valley's contribution to $120,000 next year and $175,000 the following year for shaky performance that can never be verified.

Perhaps allowing MTCVB to put Oro Valley on the "back burner" is satisfactory to those who sit on Council.  After all, the report is a consent agenda item. It won't even be discussed unless one of the council members pulls it for discussion. Frankly, our council members should set a higher set of expectations of MTCVB.  They should demand more for our considerable investment.
---

Holiday Edition: Bits and Pieces

---
MTCVB has booted Marana out.(Source)
---
There are three open solicitations for services to the Town of Oro Valley.  They are:

• Cost of Service Study for the Water Department
• Water Rate Analysis Report
• Benefits Consultant

Click here to can get a copy of each solicitation.   Responses to the first two are due by 4PM on December 7. The response to the third is December 12, also by 4PM.
---
November 9, 2012 HiVE deployment results:

• 37 total traffic stops 
• 25 drivers stopped for moving violations (e.g. running red light, speeding) 
• 6 drivers received citations for moving violations 
• 25 drivers received written warnings 12 drivers were stopped for equipment and/or registration violations 
• 5 drivers received combination citation and warning for non-moving violations.
• 1 collision

(Source: Oro Valley Press Release)
---

Is this an outdoor display code violation?  You tell us.

It is a display outside of "Play It Again Sports" at Oracle and McGee.

(Source: one of our bloggers)
---

Guest View-Don Bristow: Why Is Mayor HIremath So Devoted To MTCVB and the Chamber?

---

Oro Valley resident Don Bristow wrote the following before the TREO announcement that it will not need funds from municipalities. Don's words, however, still have considerable merit in relation to Mayor Hiremath simply getting it wrong regarding the nature of why some question Oro Valley spending on MTCVB and the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce.   It would be good for the Mayor, whose job it is to bring the council together, to watch his words and to not say things that deliberately set council members apart.
----
What was the purpose of the article?

In the August 29, 2012 Explorer article “OV adopts “spend to earn” mentality” Mayor Hiremath and Town Manager Greg Caton state they have witnessed some opposition in funding organizations like Regional Tucson Economic Opportunities (TREO) and Metropolitan Convention Bureau (MTCVB).  "Mayor Hiremath goes on to state he thinks hesitancy to fund such organizations is the result of rhetoric from certain elected officials."

I have attended, what I believe is every council meeting when funding of TREO and MTCVB have been discussed and approved, and never heard any elected officials recommend not funding these organizations.   Mayor Hiremath, who are these elected officials and what is their rhetoric?

Having observed the Mayor and his followers, I suspect they are attempting to discredit Council Members Garner, Zinken and Burns and particularly Council member Garner.  Garner has
continuously requested that specific Oro Valley performance goals, with measurable results, be requirements for funding these organizations.  Thanks to his efforts, these performance measurements now exist.  Is this what Mayor Hiremath calls rhetoric?  The residents of Oro Valley should be thankful that Council Member Garner is concerned that their tax dollars are managed and delivering benefits.

One must also ask, what was the purpose of this article?  The message and tone of the article was one of an opinion piece to justify using the residence tax dollars for TREO, MTCVB, and The Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce (GOVCC).  There was no input from the “certain elected officials.”

Why is Mayor Hiremath so devoted to these organizations while other Tucson area governmental bodies either do not support or are questioning the effectiveness of TREO and MTCVB?

Donald Bristow
Oro Valley
---

Update: MTCVB's Performance Audit Points To Need For Greater Attention To Member Needs and Accountability

---
Pima County established an independent team to evaluate The Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitor's Bureau ("MTCVB") performance.  The County announced last week that it will implement the result so this review.

The team, led by a consultant, issued its report last year (July 27, 2011).  Though, admittedly, the report is a bit dated, it does point to some of the problems that we perceive between Oro Valley and MTCVB.

MTCVB is funded by Pima County, the City of Tucson, and the Town of Oro Valley, .  Both Pima County and the City of Tucson have done "performance audits."  Oro Valley has funded MTCVB using the "blind faith","they are doing a great job", "let's think regionally", "no audit needed here" audit approach.

The County's report does not evaluate the success of MTCVB.  It looks at MTCVB's operations and its relationship with its constituents.

Many people from Tucson and Pima County provided input in the study. No one from Oro Valley did.  Clearly, the study consultant did not think Oro Valley's input would be valuable to the study. In fact, Oro Valley is mentioned only twice in the 124-page document. Fact is: Oro Valley is a the "small dog" in relation to its fellow members.

The study has implications for Oro Valley, since any changes that will impact our town. 

In our prior postings about MTCVB, we have observed both a lack of accountability and a lack of demonstrable performance in relation to Oro Valley from MTCVB.   This report validates our comments.  The following are some the "Key Observations" from pages 8 and 9 of the report:

• There exists a perception with governments that the MTCVB views itself with an apparent sense of entitlement.
• MTCVB has a complacent attitude in dealing with government and is not partnering with officials to produce greater performance results through funding development.
• Last year the MTCVB booked for the community about $170 million in visitor spending principally from new conventions, sports and leisure tourism bookings [Note: There is no support for the dollar estimate provided in the report].
• MTCVB is capable of producing much more with performance productivity recommendations provided throughout this audit.
• MTCVB does not consistently provide transparency, accountability and a focus in communicating out to stakeholders and to the community its performance productivity, including future goals to be achieved. Also missing is the return-on-investment from major marketing initiatives.
• The MTCVB Board of Directors is not fully engaged, energized or pro-active in representing the stakeholder community. 

Report recommendations include:

• Developing a standardized model agreement format that can be applied for each jurisdiction (report page 23)
• Creating MTCVB performance measures based on third party independent validation (report page 25)
• Developing a true brand identity with strong community collaboration from its stakeholders and partners. (report page 40)
• Developing a Marketing Plan in a team effort with strong stakeholder input, beginning in early planning stages (report Page 44)
• Providing funding partners with a comprehensive understanding of what is to be produced as well as the anticipated goal based  results (report page 45)
• Drafting a new mission statement (report page 49)

Our takeaway from the study is that:

• MTCVB should work more closely with its funding partners, like Oro Valley, to develop its plans.
• These plans should include specifically, agreed-upon targets
• MTCVB should provide more concrete proof of the results of its efforts.

Another takeaway is that Oro Valley is a "grain in the sand" when it comes to MTCVB.  We are the smallest contributor with the least representation. We are a "tag along."   Oro Valley has, at best, two voices on the MTCVB Board: Council Member Mary Snider from 2010 to June of 2012 (now Council Member Brendan Burns) and MTCVB Chairman, Lynn Ericson, from the El Conquistador.   They sit among  32-members of the MTCVB Board. 

Our final takeaway is that Oro Valley has to be serious about its involvement with MTCVB.  We are funding it. We are counting on it to bring room bookings to Oro Valley. We are counting on MTCVB to brings swim meets to our new Aquatic Center, as they have promised.  It is important to us.  Active Oro Valley involvement on the part of Oro Valley is imperative, especially as MTCVB makes changes to accommodate the "big dog."
---

Oro Valley Hotel & Suites Bites The Dust

---
The Steam Pump Ranch's Oro Valley Hotel & Suites is in foreclosure.

It is important that all Oro Valley's lodging facility be successful since it is the bed tax that is funding much of the the $5 million aquatic facility reconstruction.

Apparently, the efforts of the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau ("MTCVB"), which were heralded by Mayor Hiremath and Council Member Snider, Waters and Hornat at a June Oro Valley Town Council Meeting, do not extend beyond the assisting the El Conquistador.  In fact, when it comes to MTCVB, the only activities it seems to report in terms of driving tourism to Oro Valley faclities is driving bookings into the El Conquistador.  Could this be because Lynn Ericson, runs both MTCVB and the El Conquistador?

It would be good to see MTCVB serve all Oro Valley-based organizations not just the one that Lynn Ericson runs.
---

You Say: Oro Valley Needs To Use A Regional Markeing Approach

---
We asked in our poll last week:

"Do you believe that Oro Valley can only attract new business or tourism by working with regional partners TREO and MTCVB?"

The responses:

Yes: 42 (53%)
No:  37 (46%)

We would agree. We are sure that Council Member Waters would also agree.  It would be difficult for Oro Valley to "go it alone" in marketing itself.  We are also hopeful that the monies spent on the two specific organizations will be earned through demonstrated results.

Maybe TREO, MTCVB, and even the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce could directly help Oro Valley by locating prospects for the naming rights or sponsorships to the Oro Valley Aquatic Center.
---

Guest View-John Musolf: MTCVB Activities In Report Are Not Oro Valley Specific

---
The Metropolitan Tucson Convention Visitors Bureau ("MTCVB") presented their third quarter report at the May 2 Oro Valley Town Council Meeting.  As John Musolf notes in this "Guest View" There is very little in this report that directly relates to Oro Valley.

The Council's reaction to this report was favorable.

Mayor Hiremath was quick to ask the towns economic development department with the impact has been on our Valley based on some of the activities that have occurred here, activities that are purported to have occurred because of MTCVB's actions, such as the USA Triathlon Federation's Duathlon National Championships held in Oro Valley. The department estimated this to be $2 Million. There was no support provided for this.

The relationship among Lynn Ericson, who is President Of MTCVB and General Manager Of the Hilton El Conquistador, is very cozy.  Erickson and the managers El Consquistador contributed to Mayor Hiremath's 2010 campaign.   Council Member Snider is a member of the MTCVB Board.   There is simply too much inbreeding going on here.

Council Member Garner was the only council member to even attempt to question the MTCVB report. He asked that it be pulled from the "consent agenda" so that it could be discussed. It was. He noted that report is not specific to Oro Valley. He asked MTCVB to provide reports that demonstrate direct benefit to Oro Valley. Council Member Garner would like to see the total impact on Oro Valley. As you will note from John's comments, this report, like other MTCVB reports, don't that.
---
Item B on the consent portion on the Town Council Agenda on May 2, 2012 was for approving the ("MTCVB") third quarter report of performance in relation to the Town of Oro Valley. This report is incomplete and warrants the full attention of the members of the Oro Valley Town Council.  



Let me provide a few examples of why this consent agenda item should be discussed by Council in more detail.

• The report is not routine or non-controversial.

  The shows 83 sales leads and 17 site inspections.
• The report does not provide any examples of the purported 83 sales leads.  Are they all from the same source? Do they count call-backs as 2 leads?  
• Nor does it provide information on the seventeen site inspections. Shouldn't the town ask for a couple of examples of the 17 site inspections for Oro Valley Properties? Who asked for the site inspections? Where and when did the inspections take place?

Another page in the report is “Public Relations Key Measures of Performance for Oro Valley”. It states there were 2 articles pertaining to Oro Valley.

• Arizona Republic (Media Print Article) “Day Trip to Tucson” Makes no mention of Oro Valley
• Explorer Newspapers, Inc.  (Media Internet) Each year the Explorer solicits input from its readers on the “Best of the Northwest” (examples: restaurant, hotel, retirement community, etc.) It then publishes them in its print and on-line versions and some mention Oro Valley. There is no apparent connection between this Explorer Survey and MTCVB. What does MTCVB have to do directly with this activity?

Another page then provides some statistics:

• Events - 6.  None of the events mentioned Oro Valley
• Sports Development - 5.  The 8th Annual Arizona Distance Classic was held on March 25, 2012 in Oro Valley. It does not mention what role MTCVB played in this sports development.
• Convention –  1. Plasma Spectro Chemistry Convention was held at the Hilton El Conquistador January 8-13 in Oro Valley.  Lynn Ericksen is General Manager of the Hilton El Conquistador. Mr. Eriksen is also the Chair of the Board of MTCVB. Was this convention a result of touting of Oro Valley by MTCVB?
• Marketing – 6. None of these marketing efforts mention Oro Valley
• Mexico –  MTCVB states they opened a second visitor center. There is no apparent connection to what it does specifically for Oro Valley. How many citizens of Mexico asked for information or came to Oro Valley as a result of this second visitor center?
• Film – MTCVB touts that they created 3 films. There is no mention whether Oro Valley is highlighted or even mentioned in any of them.
• Air Service – Southwest offers seasonal service between Tucson and Washington D. C./Baltimore. What impact does this specifically have on Oro Valley?

Then MTCVB includes supporting exhibits to illustrate MTCVB performance.

• The first exhibit was an article in the Arizona Republic titled “Day Trip to Tucson”. There is no mention of Oro Valley.
• The second exhibit was from the Explorer Newspaper. Each year the Explorer solicits input from its readers on the “Best of the Northwest” (examples: restaurant, hotel, retirement community, etc.) It then publishes them in its print and on-line versions and some mention Oro Valley. There is no apparent connection between this survey and MTCVB. What does MTCVB have to do with this activity?
• The third exhibit was an article from Media Monitoring titled “Arizona – Where Service Shines Like the Sun”. There is no mention of Oro Valley.
• The fourth exhibit was an article from the Arizona Star titled “Get Moving Tucson”. It mentions the 8th Annual Arizona Distance Classic held on March 25, 2012 in Oro Valley. It does not mention what role MTCVB played in this sports development.
• The fifth exhibit was from Hotel Business Magazine. The Hilton Tucson El Conquistador is extolled by Lynn Ericksen, General Manager of the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador. Mr. Eriksen is also the Chair of the Board of MTCVB.
• The sixth exhibit is from SN news source that promotes Geotourism in Southern Arizona. There is no mention of Oro Valley.
• The seventh exhibit is from SN news source that repeats what the fourth exhibit from the Arizona Star titled “Get Moving Tucson”. It mentions the 8th Annual Arizona Distance Classic held on March 25, 2012 in Oro Valley. It does not mention what role MTCVB played in this sports development.
• The eighth exhibit is from the Dodgers.com web site that talks about an Oro Valley Benefit Game for the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation. What role did MTCVB play in this activity? 
• The ninth exhibit is from the “Vin Scully Is My Home Boy” web site that talks about an Oro Valley Benefit Game for the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Foundation. . What role did MTCVB play in this activity?
• The tenth exhibit is from News 4 Tucson that talks about the new attraction in Oro Valley which is the future upgrading of the aquatics capability for national and international swim competition.

There is no indication of how MTCVB was responsible for performance in any exhibits listed or how they helped Oro Valley’s economic development.

Summary
The point is: The MTCVB third quarter report should not be a "consent agenda" item. MTCVB’s performance should be fully vetted by council in view of the citizens of Oro Valley on a regular agenda item.
---

Oro Valley Needs Its Own Economic Developer

---
In case you missed it, both Tucson are Marana are hiring economic developers. As we have written previously, Marana does not contribute to either MTVB or TREO.  These are two regional economic development groups.

Oro Valley bleeds $125,000 annually to these guys.  In return, Oro Valley gets nothing but meaningless, unsubstantiated quarterly reports which the Mayor rubber stamps.  Mayor Hiremath rubber stamps these reports by putting  the acceptance of these reports on the consent agenda.  This is his way of subverting the intent of having these two useless organizations report in the first place.  The intent was to put these organizations under the microscope.  The Mayor does his best to make sure this doesn't happen. 

It is not happenstance that the Mayor favors MTCVB. It is run by the same person who runs the El Conquistador, who, together with his managers contributed big bucks to the Mayor's 2010 all out "Mayoral Spendathon Election Run".  Let us call it what it is: Cronyism.

Its time to dump contributing to these organizations.

Its time for Oro Valley to hire its own economic developer. 

Its time to put it in the 2012-2013 budget and to not fund two organizations,  MTVB or TREO, that have done so little for so much.
---

Guest View-John Musolf: Oro Valley's MTCVB Investment

---
(Blogmaster Note: Oro Valley contributes $75,000 annually to the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau (MTCVB). It is our contention that this expenditure is not justified. It is the contention of many others that MTCVB, itself, is a poorly functioning, poorly performing organization. Click here to view other postings we have made on MTCVB.)
---
Item A on the consent portion on the Town Council Agenda on February 15, 2012 is for approving (“rubber-stamping”) the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau (MTCVB) second quarter report of performance in relation to the Town of Oro Valley. This report is incomplete and warrants the full attention of the members of the Oro Valley town council. Council should not "rubber stamp" it.

Let me provide a few examples of why this agenda item should be discussed by Council in more detail.

The first page of the first quarter report shows 85 sales leads and 6 site inspections. The report does not provide any examples of the purported 85 sales leads. Nor does it provide information on the six sales leade. Shouldn't the town ask for a couple of examples of the 6 site inspections for Oro Valley Properties? Who asked for the site inspections? Where and when did the inspections take place?

The report includes supporting exhibits to illustrate MTCVB performance. The exhibits are suspect.

• The first exhibit was an article titled “Tourists Pay Wages for 21,000 Tucsonans” published as a guest column for “Inside Tucson Business”. The author, Lynn Ericksen, General Manager, Hilton Tucson El Conquistador and also the Chair of the MTCVB Board of Directors wrote a glowing report on how Destination Marketing Organizations (DMO) such as MTCVB were key to Tucson (No bias from Lynn of course, just “fair and balanced reporting). Oro Valley is not mentioned in the article so why is it in the MTCVB Oro Valley Report?

• The next exhibit “Kansas City On The Cheap” is a web site that offers vacation deals. It talks about Tucson, Arizona. There is no mention of Oro Valley.

• The next exhibit announces that MTCVB has won the 2011 Gold Service Award from Meetings & Conventions Magazine and won it 23 times. What does this have to do directly with representing Oro Valley?

• The next exhibit is from Japan Tours. It has an article that discusses “Why Rent a Luxurious Holiday Rental Property As Opposed to a Resort”? The article gushes on how Ultimate Luxurious Rentals will save vacationers time, income, privacy, etc., especially in Tucson, Arizona. The article touts going to Tucson and expounds on the culture in Tucson. It does mention Oro Valley as an expanding growth area of Tucson (I didn’t think Oro Valley was part of Tucson) and then disparages Oro Valley as a difficult place to travel to (45 minutes).

• The next exhibit is from the Arizona Daily Star Newspaper titled “Tourism Plan Puts Spotlight on Science”. It discusses how biodiversity in Southern Arizona is growing and Tucson should be a Science City destination not just a “fun and sun” destination. There is no mention of Oro Valley.

• The next exhibit is from a web site “Get Me One”. The Article is titled “Visit the Catalina State Park and Other Arizona Attractions”. It mentions Tucson but not Oro Valley.

• The next exhibit is from a web site “I Blog Robot Dot Com”. The Article is titled “Tour the Catalina State Park and Arizona State Park”. It mentions Tucson but not Oro Valley.

• The next exhibit is from a web site “xaminer.com”. The Article is titled “Astounding Nature – Arizona holds the hummingbird capital of the United States”. It does not mention Tucson or Oro Valley.

• The last exhibit is from a web site “bali-catering.com”. The Article is a revised copy of the Japan Tours Article.

There is no indication of how MTCVB was responsible for any exhibits listed or how they help Oro Valley’s economic development.

Why does the Town of Oro Valley continue to donate $75,000 to MTCVB for incomplete or questionable performance?

Where is due diligence by the Town Council?

John Musolf
---

Guest View-John Musolf: MTCVB's Quarter One Report Is Worth Council's Investigation

---
[Blogmaster Note: Oro Valley contributes $75,000 annually to the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau (“MTCVB”). It is our contention that this expenditure is not justified. It is the contention of many others that MTCVB, itself, is a poorly functioning, poorly performing organization.  Click here to see our Tuesday, November 1, 2011 posting on MTCVB to learn more about our thinking.]
-----
Item D On the Consent portion on the Town Council Agenda on December 7, 2011 is for approving (“rubber-stamping”) the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau (“MTCVB”) first quarter report of performance in relation to the Town of Oro Valley. In my opinion, the report is incomplete and warrants the full attention of the members of the Oro Valley town council.
The first page of the first quarter report shows statistics on MTCVB’s performance under Convention Sales, Convention Services, Travel Industry Sales, Communications and Marketing.

Convention Sales         Target         Quarter       YTD
Sales Leads                   350                 92            92
Site Inspections               44                 11            11

At least a few examples (detailed breakdown) of these 92 sales leads should be provided. Are they all from the same source? Do they count call-backs as 2 leads?  Shouldn't the town ask for a couple of examples of the 11 site inspections for Oro Valley Properties. Who asked for the site inspections? Where and when did the inspections take place?

Convention Services                  Target          Quarter      YTD
Meetings/Conventions Serviced      30                     7           7

Which meetings and/or conventions were serviced?

Communications                          Target          Quarter        YTD
Travel Articles                                    31                    9              9

MTCVB included 9 "travel articles" in the supporting exhibits:

• A letter securing of the U S Triathlon Duathon in 2012 in Oro Valley. This is specific to Oro Valley.

• A Smart Meetings Magazine article that refers to the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador. There is no mention of Oro Valley.

• An Explorer News article that observes that the Western National Parks Association is located in Oro Valley and that is looking for volunteers.

• The fourth exhibit is from the Newbienomore blog site which mentions that the Catalina State Park is in Tucson.

• The fifth exhibit is from the Republic-Arizona Central, talking about restaurants. No restaurants in Oro Valley are mentioned.

• An article from the Green Valley News and Sun talking about “Oro Valley Hosts Summer Crafts Fair” at El Conquistador. This is specific to the El Conquistador and Oro Valley.

• The seventh exhibit mentions Mr. Ericksen, General Manager of the El Conquistador, being honored as hotelier of the year.  This is specific to the El Conquistador.

• The eighth exhibit is from “Tucson On The Cheap.” The article mentions the Metropolitan Grill. This is specific to Oro Valley.

• The final exhibit is from the “Group Travel Leader,” but makes no mention of Oro Valley tours.

Other than first exhibit, there is no indication of how MTCVB was responsible for the items listed in the other exhibits or how they help Oro Valley economic development.

Also, The El Conquistador is a member of MTCVB and has a marketing agreement with MTCVB that is independent of the Town of Oro Valley.  So, wherever the El Conquistador is mentioned in any of the exhibits, MTCVB is taking "double credit"for it.

[Blogmaster "Follow the Money" Note: Hilton Manager Erickson contributed $250 each the Campaigns of Snider, Hornat and Waters. Hilton manager Garman contributed $400 to Hiremath's campaign.]

Why does the Town of Oro Valley continue to donate between $70,000-75,000 to MTCVB for incomplete or questionable performance?