Naranja Park... Building Over Time... Meeting Resident Needs

Naranja Park: A long time in coming
The Oro Valley Town Council approved a plan to develop Naranja Park on November 6, 2013.  This happened after eleven years of wrangling on the part of six town councils and hundreds of residents and non residents on what to put there.

The goal was always to build a regional park out of the 213 acre site: A former crushed rock, sand, gravel, hot-mix asphalt, and ready-mixed concrete facility owned by CalMat.  The town acquired the land in purchases in 1996 and 2000. (Source: 11-7-2017 Town of Oro Valley press release)

There had been thirteen years of thoroughly vetted and eventually rejected grandiose master plans. The amounts of $154 million and $48.6 million were bandied about to pay for what was proposed.  The voters rejected a $48.6 million bond in 2008. The idea of what to put there lay in wait. The, in 2012,  the town opened the archery range that is visible from Naranja. 

In 2013, the town council agreed to move forward with a "pay as you go" plan of $2.3 million.  The town was to bring utilities to the site and to construct: A dog park(1.1 acres) with separate areas/entrances for small and large dogs with a grass interior with dirt perimeter and a ramada in each area; two multi-sport (300' x 200' each) with turf borders and lighting; and a chip-sealed, striped and lit parking lot.

Groundbreaking was on November 27, 2014.  It was a start. Finally, an industrial eyesore was going to be something beautiful.

Then, in 2017, the town got off track again... asking residents to approve a property tax to pay for a bond of $17 million ($28 million in total cash flow) to fund ball fields at Naranja Park.  70% of the residents rejected it. Read more on that here.

  Naranja Park: Its come a long way

Today, Naranja Park has four multi-purpose (soccer) lighted fields, two dog parks, the archery range and a newly opened kids play area.  The play are features a climbing tower and rope climb (both pictured at left), zip lines, a ramada, picnic tables and seating areas. 

There is also a grass centerpiece which, unfortunately, looks like it needs some work as it is quite lumpy. The town has added paved roads and pave parking lots.  It's a work in progress.

Naranja Park: Building it the right way

Naranja Park is being created over many years, involving today's generations in what will be their park, rather than being built at one time based on the wants of one specific generation.

There's a difference in results. Look at the plans in the panel that follows (click to enlarge) These are what what has been proposed over the years.

Imagine if the town built the Naranja Park that was dreamed in 2001. There would be no soccer fields. Instead, there would be baseball and softball fields, fields that are now nicely provided at Kreigh Park. There would be no dog park. There would be no archery range.  

Imagine if it had built what was imagined in 2007. There would be a community center and tennis courts, both of which were opportunistically purchased by the town when it bought the El Conquistador golf courses in 2015.  

The 2015 plan is different from what the town proposed in Prop 454.

And , if the town had moved in any of these directions, it would have been saddled residents with significant bond debt that would last yet another twenty years from now.  Instead, the town has taken a steadier approach, incurring no debt.

Let's hope that the town stays the course because things are shaping up nicely.

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Visit the town site to learn more about Naranja Park.

Mayor Hiremath's View of Sports Tourism In Oro Valley

Mayor Hiremath discussed Oro Valley's sports tourism objective in his 2017 "State of The Town" Speech.  In these remarks, Mayor Hiremath defines Prop 454 as an economic development initiative. The following is excerpted from his speech.
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“Earlier this year, members of the community—including youth sport parents, athletes and Oro Valley user groups—asked Council to take action to construct additional sport fields at Naranja Park. While the Town Council adopted a 2015 Naranja Park Master Plan, our pay‐as‐you‐go approach to phased development was progressing too slowly to keep pace with user demand. So, after many conversations with user groups, stakeholders and a design firm, a proposal that meets the community’s request was presented, along with a plan for financing.

The proposal is a partial build‐out of the Master Plan, and includes only the elements that the community and park user groups have identified as being in greatest demand. The project would be funded through the issuance and sale of $17 million in general obligation bonds to be repaid through a secondary property tax, which sunsets after 20 years.

By law, Town Council cannot impose a property tax—only the voters can. So, this November, Oro Valley voters will decide on Prop 454.

I’m not going to advocate that you vote for or against this bond. But I am going to advocate that you learn the facts of Prop 454 so that you can make an informed decision on Election Day. Please visit the Town’s website to learn what’s included in the project and what it will mean for Oro Valley taxpayers. The fact that this item is even on the ballot for voter consideration is a direct result of Council’s willingness to adapt to the community’s needs. Whether or not it passes will be entirely up to the voters.

And in case you hadn’t heard: Major League Soccer has arrived in Oro Valley!

Thanks to our ongoing partnership with FC Tucson, the Hilton Resort and Visit Tucson, Major League Soccer rolled into Naranja Park in 2016 with Sporting Kansas City and Columbus Crew. And earlier this year, the New York Red Bulls used our fields for practice, and put on a free scrimmage game against FC Tucson.

I am pleased to announce that Major League Soccer will once again return to Naranja Park in 2018!

And here’s some news hot off the press: I’ve just learned that the finish line for the 2018 Tucson Marathon will now be right here, in Oro Valley.

Whether you’re a sports fan or not, it’s important to remember that these major events are coming to Oro Valley because we have invested in the development of recreational facilities that are of such high quality, they meet the standards for national competition, and when they aren’t in use for competition, our residents have daily access to those very same, world‐class facilities.

More importantly, sports tourism is a 9 BILLION dollar industry nationwide. These events bring thousands of athletes and guests into our hotels, restaurants and shops, where their sales tax and bed tax dollars are invested right back into the Town of Oro Valley.

That translates into financial resources to fund Town services and amenities. This is why the Town of Oro Valley continues to invest in economic development opportunities that support our businesses and attract visitors, all while simultaneously improving quality of life for our residents.”

Source: "2017 State of the Town" Speech
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Prop 454: It's All About Sports Tourism

The term "sports tourism" has been bandied about in Oro Valley.  It is used when people refer to the Aquatic Center; the tennis courts at the El Conquistador Country Club; and now Naranja Park-Prop 454.

By now you should have read enough on LOVE's pages to know exactly what Prop 454 is. Our shorthand version: It is a property tax to pay for a bond whose proceeds will be used to accelerate the development of Naranja Park.

The effort to convince residents to vote "Yes" is funded entirely by the development community. This funding includes the "usual suspects" who funded the campaigns of current council members. The driver behind the effort, as unveiled on LOVE, is Mayor Hiremath. From personal experience, we know that he does not always tell you everything you need to know in order to make an informed decision.

So, what if this accelerated development isn't really about us, the residents having an opportunity to use these parks. What if it's really about making Oro Valley a sports tourism destination. In other words, it may not be about the "kids" at all. It may be about "...takin' care of business."

In October of 2014, the late Bill Adler opined his thoughts on sports tourism in Oro Valley at a council meeting. We thought you would want to hear his words.  Bill was a 'patriot' for Oro Valley. He believed that town government should be about serving residents above all else.

In speaking of the plans the town had constructed for Naranja Park, Bill pondered:

"Is the objective [of Naranja Park] to serve people who live here or is the objective to create an economic development incentive to create revenue. I think these are two different things."

We know what sports tourism means to Oro Valley. We have an aquatic center. It is used by a handful of residents at a fairly high cost per season. It is also used for swim meets. And, of course, there the annual Oro Valley Triathalon is staged there. For the ordinary Oro Valley citizen, however, the aquatic center has no direct value.

So what of these improvements at Naranja Park?

Will they too be used by only a handful or residents and sports teams?

We don't know. We can, however, look to other communities. The town of Westfield, Indiana spent millions on sports fields so that they could become a "sports tourism" destination. Residents are disillusioned because they can't use the fields unless they are part of an organized effort. In addition, the facility has fallen far short of revenue projections such that the town has had to support it to the tune of $6 million out of pocket in one year!  Read about their dilemma. Losses like this when added to the losses of the Oro Valley Community Center money pit would be disastrous!

So, vote as you wish; but just be aware the "things are not always what they appear to be.

Tomorrow: Sports Tourism In Mayor Hiremath's own words
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How and Where To Vote In The Prop 454 Election

Oro Valley Special Election November 7, 2017

Oro Valley has consolidated polls for the special election on November 7, 2017. There will only be 7 locations instead of the usual 15 polling locations. They are listed below.

You can find your precinct number on your voter registration card (PCT.)

If you can’t locate your card, you can find your precinct number by going to this link and entering your address.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Early ballots must be received by Pima County by 7 pm on election day or they will NOT be counted.
• You can drop an early ballot off at any polling place in Pima County. (But this delays the final tabulation of results.) 
• If you received an early ballot but prefer to vote at your polling location on election day, you will be required to vote a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot is a regular ballot that is sealed in a special envelope rather than tabulated in the polling place. Since voters have until 7:00 p.m. on Election Day to return an early ballot, the County must verify that you did not return your early ballot before the polling place ballot can be counted. Once that is verified, your provisional ballot is verified and tabulated. (NO double voting)
  
  SUGGESTION: If you have an early (mail-in) ballot, mail it in the return envelope by November 2nd. 

 (Source: AxTheTaxOV)
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Axethetax: 6 Things You Need To Know About Prop 454

The AxeTheTax PAC  identified 6 things they believe you need to know as you consider your vote on Prop 454. These were listed in a release they sent us yesterday
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"6 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PROP 454 THE NARANJA PARK BOND - PROPERTY TAX

• It’s NOT just a $17 million dollar bond. Prop 454 is a 20 year, $28 million property tax (principal & interest.) Full build out of the park is projected to be $33 million (without interest.) Millions more will be required to complete the park master plan.
• It's NOT a request petitioned by the community for more fields. The online petitions that were submitted had only 167 signatures from Oro Valley residents. The remainder of the 10,000 signatures were from other states and foreign countries. The Town did not validate the signatures.
• It’s NOT about the kids. Other than fields for team sports, there's only one playground. The skate and bike park were eliminated. This bond is to fund the infrastructure for a future event center hidden on Town bond materials.
• It's NOT financially supported by parents. Ninety-nine percent of the $36,650 of donations to YES on 454 came from developers, builders and HSL/Humberto Lopez, the man who dumped his revenue losing three golf courses on the Town.
• It’s NOT a park for the community. It's a park for Sports and Event Tourism that will cause light and air pollution, traffic congestion, and noise for the surrounding residential developments.
•  It’s NOT what we requested in the 2014 Parks & Recreation Survey. We asked for playgrounds, ramadas/picnic areas and walkways/paths for our families. We never asked for an event center or golf courses. Let's stay with the "pay as you go plan."
  VOTE NO ON PROP 454"
  (Source: AxeTheTax PAC)

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This Just In! No Surprise ~ Campaign Finance Report for Yes on 454 PAC reveals major funding from the development community.

Before you complete and mail your ballot for the $17 million Naranja Park Bond election, you should be aware of who funded the Yes on 454 PAC. LOVE recently reviewed their Campaign Finance Report (submitted October 11th). Here’s what it reveals.

As usual, anything that is wanted by Mayor Hiremath and his loyal followers (to include the 6 members of his Town Council) is always generously funded by what we like to call “the usual suspects.” Keep in mind that these substantial donations were made in large part by wealthy builders and developers whose development applications will be presented before the Town Council for a vote over the next year. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours?

In a nutshell, Yes on 454 collected $36,600 and spent all of it ($35,886) on the Phoenix consulting firm of Saguaro Strategies (yes, this is the same firm that was hired by the mayor and all six current councilmembers during their election campaigns). The majority of donations came from the development community including Humberto Lopez of HSL Properties.

Humberto Lopez (famous for his “back room deal” with Mayor Hiremath for the town to purchase the run-down community center and golf courses) donated a total of $5000 to the cause. Do you think that he is scratching Hiremath’s back as a thank you for being allowed to unload his money-sucking golf courses on the town?

The attached slide gives the breakdown of these contributions.

How do you feel about wealthy developers having such a substantial say in what goes on in our town? They are pushing for the building of multiple ball fields, nighttime lighting intruding on the surrounding residential neighborhood, plus sports tourism and an event center along with all of the noise and traffic it will bring…all in a residential neighborhood and all to be paid for with your tax dollars. 

Also of note, if it's "For the Kids" where are all the contributions from the parents and coaches?

We urge you to VOTE NO on Prop 454 – The $17 million Naranja Park Bond.

You can read the entire Campaign Finance Report HERE

Axe the Tax Signs are being Vandalized and Stolen

It appears that proponents of Proposition 454 are trying to silence the opposition.

This picture illustrates what Axe the Tax is up against. Notice that the Vote NO sign is bent over while the YES sign right next to it is untouched. There have been other instances in which YES signs have been placed in such a way as to partially block the NO signs.

Additionally, Axe the Tax reports that they have had at least three of their 3 x 3 signs stolen, and in a couple of instances, even the rebar that is drilled into the ground and holding the signs in place was stolen as well. One supporter also reported to the OVPD that their yard sign was stolen.

Signs cost money. The vast majority of donations sent to Axe the Tax have been used to purchase these signs…signs that are now being stolen or vandalized. The placement of these signs also takes hours of volunteer labor.

Signs influence people. Is this the reason that Axe the Tax signs are being vandalized or stolen? What is the Yes crowd so afraid of? They already have the advantage of the town subliminally advocating for the bond on the town website and during the informational Open House. (The town has subliminally advocated for the bond by repeatedly mentioning only the $17 million dollar bond figure, not the full $28 million cost, and by emphasizing the words $4.50 per month in bold print.)

The YES PAC also has an advantage in donations which has allowed them to hire a Phoenix political consulting group, Saguaro Strategies, to run their campaign and to mail full-color postcards to every Oro Valley voter. Oro Valley residents began receiving these postcards this week. The hiring of Saguaro Strategies (the same consultants hired by the mayor and all six current council members during their election campaigns) plus the design and mailing of the postcards costs thousands of dollars!

Despite having all of these advantages, somehow they still feel the need to vandalize or steal the Axe the Tax signs. Perhaps it’s because, despite all these advantages, they’ve noticed that letters to the editor and comments posted on the YES Facebook page are all running heavily against the bond.

When all your money and consultant strategies do not appear to be working, perhaps all you have left is to attempt to silence the opposition.

Guest View: Mike Zinkin ~ Why you should vote NO on Prop 454/Naranja Park Bond

It goes against the Town’s founding principle
Oro Valley was founded in 1974 on the concept that residents would not have property taxes. One of the tenets of Oro Valley has always been that the Town works on a “pay as you go” model. This is how Naranja Park was started and it’s also how the Aquatic Center was built. Since 2010, due to extravagant spending by our Town Council, that concept is now being cast aside.

Proposition 454 is not a decision of being for or against children. Proposition 454 is a question of fiscal responsibility.

Your taxes have already paid for multiple ball fields
Multiple ball fields are already available to provide services to our Citizens. The Amphitheater Public Schools have ball fields that Citizens could use if the Town entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement. Pima County has multiple ball fields for use, all within a reasonable commute. Additionally, funds have been allocated in the FY 17/18 budget to build two lit multi-use fields. With a fiscally responsible government, more funds could be made available.

The Town should maintain the fields we already own
One of the arguments for the bond is that the soccer fields at Riverfront Park are in disrepair. Now ask yourself…Who allowed them to go into disrepair? The Town of Oro Valley did. Instead of repairing them, they want to build new ones. The Town seems to be saying: “Let’s not repair the current fields. Let’s build new ones so we can let them go into disrepair as well.”

Examples of their fiscal irresponsibility
Since 2010, Oro Valley’s population has grown by 4.9%, yet Oro Valley Town staff has grown by 12.4% with every employee receiving a 4% raise for the past 8 years.

Not including vehicles utilized for public safety, the Town owns an additional 153 vehicles.

Since the Town purchased the Community Center and Golf Courses, it has lost over $200,000 in the Town-owned restaurant and over $7 million in the Town-owned golf courses despite increasing your sales tax by 25% ($2 million per year). They now want you to approve a property tax to cover for their poor judgment.

If only they’d listened to the people
You told the Oro Valley government in June 2014 what you desired at Naranja Park. They ignored your wishes and bought a golf course instead. (Remember that of the 34 items listed on the Parks and Recreation Survey, golf came in at #33).

This is not a question of supporting our youth. This is an opportunity to say NO to the poor judgment and continued fiscal irresponsibility that has resulted in a proposal for $28 million in additional taxes. They didn’t listen to you. Why should you reward them for their poor judgment?

The Town’s Misinformation Campaign
This is not a $17 million dollar bond. It is a $28 million dollar bond.

The Town is minimizing what your share of the tax bill will be. They are using a figure of $4.50 per month for a home valued at $250,000. According to the Town website, the MEDIAN price of a home in Oro Valley is $276,600. This means that HALF of the homes are valued at MORE than $276,600.

Send them a message by voting NO on Prop 454. Remember, the money is available to fulfill the desires of the Citizens if it is spent wisely.

A Message on your Property Tax Increase

(A little humor…)

To our Oro Valley friends who have received their property tax bills for 2017, we would first like to say thank you for your past prompt payment. We have so much good work to do that we can’t spend time hounding deadbeats.

Next we want to explain the increases on your bill so that our phones do not ring incessantly with people calling to ask why their taxes went up so much.

First: Our taxing authorities need more money so the rates have increased.

Second: You have approved new bond issues which are now hitting your tax bills. For example, last November, Amphitheater School District proposed a $58MM Bond for school facility and sports field renovations which you approved. So it’s now up to us to collect the money.

Finally: Your house values have risen 5-6% with the improving economy. Using our professional, objective appraisal procedures on Oro Valley homes, we have increased total appraised value by 3%.

Keep in mind that a big part of your home appreciation is due to the terrific amenities that your Mayor and Council have provided. Not every community has two pools, 30 tennis courts, and 45 holes of town subsidized golf.

These facilities attract developers and soon your worthless Sonoran Desert landscape will come alive with Cat and Komatsu earth movers. There will be more construction jobs, more homes will be built, more schools will be needed, and more taxes will be levied. Everyone wins! All of us in your local governments truly feel we can do so much more good if you just give us your money.

Sincerely,

Your Pima County Government

Vote no on Prop 454

PROPerty Tax 454

"Vote NO on Prop 454" signs stolen from Oro Valley Country Club Estates neighborhood

LOVE received a copy of an email recently sent to the mayor and council regarding theft of Axe the Tax signs in the Oro Valley Country Club Estates neighborhood.

Honorable Mayor & Council,

We live in a beautiful neighborhood that surrounds the Oro Valley Country Club. This neighborhood has been a great example of a safe well-maintained neighborhood, relatively free of vandalism, etc., for many years.

Never have we had anything taken from our yard until now. Many of our neighbors, including us, have had "NO on Prop 454” signs taken from our property. Who would go so low to steal signs? Who would be so shallow minded that they can’t handle the fact that others have different opinions? What type of people would be so mean spirited that they can’t allow others freedom of speech, freedom to show, in the form of a sign, what one believes? It’s just plain nasty. These are the type of people you surround yourselves with.

Thank goodness for social media, because we are going to let as many people as possible know what is happening in our once safe neighborhood. Since we have NEVER had these dirty tricks happen in this area even during the most recent Presidential Election, we are to assume, that it must be someone that is new to this small community of Oro Valley Country Club Estates that doesn’t want ours and many other voices to be heard. Very sad.

This has emboldened us to fight even harder to get out the “NO on Prop 454” voters, and to tell others about the thuggery that is happening here in our neighborhood and in Oro Valley.

WE DO NOT WANT OUR PROPERTY TAXES INCREASED! NO ON PROP 454! NO NEW TAXES!

As stated on TOV website, the town is running $2M in the black, and since the Naranja Park so far has been on the “pay as you go” plan, the question needs to be answered. Why is there a need to add a property tax (Prop 454) to Oro Valley residences? We await your response.

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ARS 16-1019. Political signs; printed materials; tampering; classification A. It is a class 2 misdemeanor for any person to knowingly remove, alter, deface or cover any political sign of any candidate for public office or knowingly remove, alter or deface any political mailers, handouts, flyers or other printed materials of a candidate that are delivered by hand to a residence for the period commencing forty-five days before a primary election and ending seven days after the general election.

LOVE Contributor ~ It's not about the kids

The Vote YES on Prop 454 group is marketing their Naranja Park "fundraiser" by using adorable kids to pull at your heartstrings. Use your heads. It's not about the kids.

If you gave your friend or family member $100 and they mismanaged it, would you give them another $100 or would you let them learn a difficult lesson about how to manage money? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I'm a single mom that has managed my money carefully. I'm not against taxes. I'm against the Town Council mismanaging taxpayer funds and I'm against deceptive marketing practices. The budget already has enough money to build baseball diamonds.  Increased property taxes will also make it harder to sell your home in Oro Valley.

Vote NO on Prop 454.

Guest View: Brian Gagan ~ Oro Valley’s epic fiscal mismanagement from the Town Hall to the OVPD. Part 3.

Part 2 (published yesterday) revealed how over-staffing and poor management of the OVPD have cost taxpayers anywhere between $2.8 million and $4.6 million per year.

The Naranja Park Connection
The latest example of the Town’s disregard for fiscal responsibility is the $17 million Naranja Park Bond/Proposition 454. It appears that nobody at town hall is even slightly skilled at procurement analysis and negotiation skills because the costs for quality work and build-out at Naranja Park are currently overstated by approximately 28% to 33% for the current plan.

Is the Naranja Park build-out really desirable or necessary?
The Naranja Park plan was developed without considering the interests of the very citizens who will be forced to fund it and who are being duped into believing that this facility is wanted or needed by the majority of Oro Valley residents.

According to the National Education Association, the national range of team sports participation in public schools is 19-23%. This is a significant minority of students.

Back-scratch fever?
The overstated cost to construct the sports fields alone is only $5 million of the proposed $17 million dollar bond. With interest paid back over the 20-year life of the bond, this is a $28 million dollar unnecessary expenditure.

It’s hard for me to imagine that there are reasons other than back-scratching, favor-mongering, and/or kickbacks on the part of some or all prospective contractors that account for this egregious state of affairs.

Stop the next fiscal folly
In November, voters will have to decide whether to approve $28,000,000 more in spending while increasing taxes on ALL property owners rather than just on those without mathematical skills and those wishing to play softball, football, and soccer.

Remember, this is the same crew that raised our sales tax by $2 million dollars per year in order to fund three losing golf courses. You can have a say in preventing this town’s continued epic fiscal mismanagement by VOTING NO on The Naranja Bond/Prop 454.

Guest View: Nancy Humphry ~ Past financial missteps illustrate why we should Vote NO on Naranja Bond

Is there no end to the financial disasters of the Oro Valley Town Council?
The Naranja Park improvements bond issue, to be voted on November 7, 2017, is a prime example. The Town Council requests the citizens to approve a $17 million bond to be paid back with a 20-year secondary property tax. This dollar figure does not include the interest ($11 million in interest for a grand total of $28 million dollars). Cost for just putting the ballot to citizens: $145,000.

The charming appeal of the children and their parents must be weighed against yet another financial burden being imposed on the citizens of Oro Valley. It is always difficult to say no to the children, but there are alternatives to meeting the children’s desires other than another tax.

Let the Community Center fiasco be a warning
We, the taxpayers, have already had a half-cent sales tax increase imposed in 2015 in order to subsidize the Community Center fiasco. This additional $2 million per year in tax revenue has failed in every regard to cover the Community Center and Golf losses. In addition, there is no “sunset” for this sales tax increase.

The Town Council recently hired a research firm, at a cost of $50,000, to analyze the present financial situation of the Community Center. The results of that study are in and we have now learned that every option will cost millions of dollars with no guarantees of success, as proven by the thorough analysis.

Send them a “Rejection” Letter
Was there no forethought when the Naranja Park property was purchased? Was a feasibility study done? Apparently not. A Naranja Park bond was placed on the ballot once before (November 2008) and was rejected. We the taxpayers in the town of Oro Valley would be wise to reject it again.

A NO vote in November will, hopefully, put an end to this bond issue and cause the Town of Oro Valley to operate within its available cash flow without debt.

Guest View: LOVE Contributor ~ Stop the Spoiled Child Syndrome

There are several reasons that I am against the Naranja Park bond.

The current council does not seem to have a clear direction. There are several large projects already in partial development including The Community Center and Golf Courses, Lambert Lane Park, and the historic Steam Pump Ranch.

Starting another project such as Naranja Park ball fields (or even the new Main Streets Project) is irresponsible with so many other places in town in need of attention.

The Town already has the money for ball fields. Stop the Oro Valley Town Council from acting out the Spoiled Child Syndrome. There is much in Oro Valley that could be enhanced and upgraded without adding another tax. Vote NO on Prop 454.