Many Agree: Its Time For An Oro Valley Community Center (Part 1)

Oro Valley leaders have been talking about a community center for years.  Now, we think, its time to take action.

There is agreement among Oro Valley's elected officials and many residents of the town that Oro Valley needs a community center.

"It is one of my top three priorities because it will help Oro Valley create a sense of identity." Mayor Hiremath wrote us.

"The development of a community center long precedes me being Mayor. It actually originated when I was on the Board of Directors for the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council (now known as the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance)."

Indeed, the idea of a community center dates back many years. Former Council Member Barry Gillaspie reminded us:

"In regards to a Community Center, it has been in the sights and on the drawing board for many years. In 2008 when we attempted to pass the bond for the Naranja Town Park, the Community Center was a part of an overly ambitious master plan and it got lost in the ensuing debate and vote.

Gillaspie supports the Mayor's objective.  "Now may be the time, I sense that many in our Town would like a Community Center as a core focal point."

Council Member Mike Zinkin agrees that a Community Center is needed. "There is no question that Oro Valley could use a Community Center. A place where the Town can identify with. A place that can meet the needs of the majority of the Citizens."

Council member Joe Hornat agrees: "I think we need a community center here in Oro Valley, I don’t think anyone disputes that or should I say I hope not!!"

According to Council Member Brendan Burns a community center would the town ..as it will enhance a sense of community, provide activities during the hot summer months, and it will provide free programs for the disadvantaged in our society. As a community of excellence, we have not addressed our citizens’ needs."

We spoke with Council Member Bill Garner.  Bill has been and continues to be a long-time proponent of an Oro Valley Community Center.

We asked Mayor Hiremath why Oro Valley needs a community center.  He provided several reasons:

• "As we all know, Oro Valley was developed with the concept of having 'Neighborhood Centers'. The downside of not having a universal go to place, such as a downtown, means that in theory, residents can live an isolated life to a great degree. "  
• "We have no real physical gathering place where residents can go....A community center can help to break down the barriers of isolation and get people to interact with other people thereby creating a closer knit community."
• "A community center can also provide residents with opportunities that may not currently exist or it is not financially feasible for them to participate in."

So, if indeed, Oro Valley's leaders think that Oro Valley needs a community center then are the challenges to make it happen?  Read our Wednesday posting for more.
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What do you think?

Guest View: Mike Zinkin ~ The $6 Million Dollar Bond

The “turn-key” Community Center needs another $6 MM in taxpayer funds
In December 2014, Town Manager, Greg Caton, plus Mayor Hiremath, and Councilmembers Hornat, Snider, and Waters insisted that the Community Center and Golf course purchase was a great deal because it was a “turn-key” operation costing only $1 million dollars and that no debt service would be required. Turns out that this has become just another one of their lies/broken promises.

Through a series of email exchanges with the Town, I recently learned that Town Manager, Mary Jacobs is recommending a $6 MM bond for Community Center expenses, with half to be spent in FY 2018/19 and half in FY 2019/20.

According to Finance Director, Stacey Lemos, the actual cost for this bond, assuming an interest rate of 5% over 20 years will total an estimated $8.7 million dollars.

A Budget Study session will be held on Wednesday, May 2nd at 3 PM in Town Council Chambers. Will the mayor and council consider approving a $6 million bond in order to save golf? We expect that they will since none of their previous efforts to finance the Community Center and Golf Courses have been successful.

The Repeated Lies and Broken Promises of the Town Council

• They promised that the half-cent sales tax increase would cover ALL Community Center costs. It hasn’t.

• They asserted that there would be no debt service. Yet, here we are, three years later, discussing a $6 MM bond for Community Center/Golf expenses.

• They lied when they said that only $1.2 MM would be taken from the General Fund Contingency to jump-start the Community Center Fund. As you will recall, they had to transfer another $350,000 from the General Fund last year to meet Community Center expenses.

• They lied when they promised they would pay back the $1.2 MM to the General Fund with $120,000 a year for the next 10 years.

• They spent $50,000 of taxpayer money on a Golf Study and then completely ignored the recommendations.

Mary Jacobs email stated the following:

“I point you to page iv of the Town Manager’s budget message that outlines how the recommended capital expenditure is being budgeted in FY 18/19.

In addition, the Recommended Budget includes half of the projected $6 million in total planned funding for capital improvements at the Community Center building as well as irrigation system replacement, turf reduction and other improvements on the Canada and Conquistador 18-hole golf courses. The expenditure will be financed via the issuance of a 20 year bond, and debt service will be repaid through the Capital Fund…..it’s a $6 million bond with HALF of it expected to be expended in 18/19, and HALF expended in 19/20.” (emphasis added)

Page 228 of the TMRB
Town Manager Jacobs has requested $3.6 MM for golf course repairs and $2.4 MM in Community Center improvements (TOTAL $6 MM) spread over two years and financed with a 20-year bond

The following information was obtained from Page 228 of the Town Manager’s Recommended Budget (TMRB).

COMMUNITY CENTER (CC) BOND FUNDED IMPROVEMENTS

                                                                     FY18/19                FY19/20                  TOTAL
Community Center Improvements              $1,200,000            $1,200,000              $2,400,000
Golf Course Irrigation Replacement           $1,800,000            $1,800,000              $3,600,000
TOTAL CC BOND IMPROVEMENTS         $3,000,000            $3,000,000              $6,000,000

The Town Council’s Community Center financing plan did not work
The additional half cent sales tax was supposed to offset ALL expenses for the Community Center, including golf, tennis, and the Community Center building. Instead, all of the sales tax revenue is going down the drain for golf. As such, there have been limited funds for capital improvements which is why the Town now wants to bond $3M in the 2018/19 budget and another $3M in the 2019/2020 budget.

How many more millions of taxpayer dollars are they going to spend on this endeavor before they admit that they made a mistake in purchasing the El Con Community Center and Golf Courses?
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Mike Zinkin 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. He was a commissioned ensign in the United States Navy Reserve. He was an Air Traffic Controller for 30 years. He and his wife moved to Oro Valley in 1998. Mike served on the Oro Valley Development Review Board from 2005-2009 and the Board of Adjustment from 2011-2012. He served on the Town Council from 2012-2016 during which time he was named a Fellow for the National League of Cities University, he was a member of the National League of Cities Steering Committee for Community and Economic Development, and a member of the Arizona League of Cities Budget and Economic Development Committee.

Many Agree: Its Time For An Oro Valley Community Center (Part 2)

Monday we wrote about a general agreement among Oro Valley leaders that Oro Valley should have a community center. Today, we explore the challenges to making it a reality. We think that the challenge of moving forward is that the "devil is in the details."

No Agreement On What A Community Center Should Include

There are countless examples of what a community center is. Glendale has one.  Chandler has one. Fountain Hills has one. Scottsdale has several.  In Oro Valley, there is no general agreement on what a community center is and what it should include. Some may say a community center should have a game room. Some may say it should have a multi-use gym. Some may say is should have a senior center.  Some think it should include a teen center. Some believe it can be a home for the Historical Society.  It could be the home of the Parks and Recreation Department. Maybe it could be all of these things.

But, if our leaders "dabble in the details" of what a center should and should not contain, then we may never get agreement.

Mayor Hiremath recognizes this.

"A community center may mean different things to different people," observed Mayor Hiremath, "so I don’t get too hung up on trying to define what one would look like as far as specifics are concerned. For instance, some may think it should contain educational classes for art, photography, writing, sculpting, to name only a few. Others may look for a quiet open air lobby with some sofas and a big screen TV with a coffee bar so they can relax and then there are others that may look more for recreation opportunities such as table tennis, tennis, basketball, weightlifting, etc".

In the Mayor's view: "The community can decide what they would like to see. My goal is to provide the bricks and mortar so that the above things can be made into a reality. Again, philosophically, a community center would help the Town continue on its current path to creating a “sense of place.”

No Agreement On Where It Should Be Located

Some say it should be located in Naranja Park. Others stay it should be located in Steam Pump Ranch.  Some would like to see it located in San Dorado.

No Agreement On What It Will Cost Or How To Fund It

"The major issue moving forward on a community center is revenue. Any community center will run at a significant operating deficit with high operating and maintenance costs." Council Member Burns wrote us.

As Council Member Joe Hornat agrees:

"The questions, as I see them are:

1. What will it cost? 
2. Where would we put it? 
3. How would we come up with the money to build or buy it? 
4. How would we pay for the operating and maintenance on an ongoing basis of the building and the programs that would be part of it?

The answers to those questions are necessary to make this a potential real project."

Council Member Mike Zinkin also agrees:

"Once we define the services we desire from our Center, we now have to decide how we are going to pay for it. Do we look at increasing existing taxes, do we attempt to pass a bond that will expire as soon as it is paid off, do we look at existing revenues and see if we can cut existing programs to pay for it? Do we enter into a private/public partnership?"

Will The Disagreements Of The Past Prevent A Collaborative Effort?

We hope not.  We have every expectation that it will not.

In 2011, the council worked in unity to approve and fund the Oro Valley Aquatic Center.  It was a win for every council member, past and present, and a win for our community.

As Council Member Zinkin wrote to us:  "The Mayor stated during the campaign that a Community Center was one of his highest priorities. Believe it or not, I do not disagree. I would love to work to see a Community Center and will do all I can to see it come to fruition."

What do you think?
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Bohen Questions Accounting Of The Community Center Fund

Generally has a steady balance

For years, the Community Center Fund has languished because of losses incurred in golf. The golf course financial results had performed so badly over the years that it’s earnings plus its sales tax subsidy could not support needed irrigation improvements; improvements in mobility accessibility; an upgrade to the tennis courts; and an upgrade, perhaps revitalization, of the building itself. Indeed, it took the issuance of a bond last fall to make a dent in getting some of these improvements done.

Balance has grown rapidly this year
The fund balance grew from $2.3 million at the end of last August to $4 million, at the end of September. The latest report which is as of February has the balance at $5.4 million. “But how is this even possible?’ asks councilmember Tim Bohen in an email to LOVE, “The Community Center and golf course would need to be quite profitable as a standalone business with no sales tax subsidy to produce this result.”

According to Bohen, once the $25million in parks and recreation bonds were issued, the Community Center Fund began to grow. Councilmember Tim Bowen has been following this. It seems to be an anomaly. 

Staff "stonewalls" Council

Bohen has tried to get an explanation from town staff on why this is the case. Indeed, as you will read in Mike Zinkin’s “Watchdog Report” tomorrow, golf rounds have increased but not among nonmembers. Non member rounds have decreased. It is the nonmember rounds that actually generate additional revenue.

So where is all this good fortune coming from? 

Bohen doesn’t know and, according to him, town staff has not been forthcoming with the answer. What he’s does know is that the town has failed to transfer to the General Fund $120,000 that is due each year to repay (without interest) the initial funding of the Community Center Fund. He also knows that payments for some of the debt service [and eventual repayment] of the parks and recreation bond will be due from the Community Center Fund at a future date.

We are not sure... but we think its all in the "accounting" for transfers out of the fund

We have had not verified what we been provided by councilmember Bohen. What we do know is that, as of February this year, the Community Center Fund was budgeted to have a deficit of $391,000 for the entire year. As of February, it has as a surplus of $2.2 million. That is a swing of $1.8 million. Most of this are funds that were planned to have been transferred out of the Community Center Fund which have not yet been transferred.  So, maybe its all just accounting.

It is no wonder that councilmember Bohen ask questions about this, though. The accounting for this fund is indeed confusing.

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The Community Center Fund is...

The Community Center Fund is one of the accounting buckets the town maintains. Previously, we’ve written about the General Fund, That’s the fund that is use to run the town. That fund includes funding for all Parks and Recreation programs and facilities except the Community Center. The Community Center is financed using its own fund. That is funded by a half percent sales tax. The fund and the sales tax were established when the town bought the golf courses in the clubhouse, which is now called the “Community Center” from HSL properties in 2015.

Mayor Hiremath's Epiphany: Suddenly, An Oro Valley Community Center Is His #1 Priority

"What are your top 3 priorities for the next 4 years?" This question was asked to the 2 Mayoral candidates at the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum. The first words from Mayor Hiremath: "A Community Center."

A Community Center

We were astounded when we heard this.

Mayor Hiremath never has previously acknowledged that a community center is even on his "radar."  Then, suddenly, Mayor Hiremath listed it as his top priority.

According to Hiremath:  "I'm in dialogue with other community partners about maybe doing something at a community center." (Source: Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum)

Council Member Bill Garner has been advocating for a community center for years. His calls have been ignored by the Majority-4.  "I've been investigating a public/private partnership that could put a community center at Steam Pump Ranch," Council Member Garner observed to us some time ago

LOVE, as published in October 2013, has been urging the creation of a community center. The Majority-4 ignored us.

Why is Mayor Hiremath suddenly agreeing with Council Member Garner and with LOVE.   Did Mayor Hiremath suddenly have an epiphany or is there something else's in play?

Is It Baseball, Soccer or Both?

The Mayor also wants to build baseball fields:  "I'm already in contact with major league baseball." At the same time, Council Member Snider wants Oro Valley to build two more soccer fields to accommodate a Major League Soccer team's spring practice. (Source: Video Above)  So, they want 4 more fields?  Does this make any sense?

And a Teen Center

And, yes, Mayor Hiremath wants to build a teen center. "I'm talking to private developers about trying to  partner with us."

Why isn't a Teen Center part of a Community Center?  Research what other communities have done.  You will find that the community center usually has a teen center, a senior center, and a recreation center.
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We ask:

Has Mayor Hiremath and his fellow incumbent candidates actually thought any of this through?

When ideas are spoken by Mayor Hiremath, ideas that the he has never before revealed, one has to wonder:  Did the Mayor have a epiphany? Or is he simply trolling for votes? 
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Editorial: You Don’t Say!

During the April 19th Town Council Meeting, residents were allowed to address the council regarding the proposed $17 million dollar Naranja Park Bond.

One resident stated that if they hadn’t made the poor decision to purchase the El Con Golf Courses and Community Center, we would have the money to fund the Naranja Park ball fields without the necessity of a $17 million bond and secondary property tax.

Another resident made three points in his speech. (1) the town needs to straighten out the financial problems with the golf courses first before looking for any more money from the citizens to fund ball fields, (2) the council shouldn’t allow one financial mistake to add to another, and (3) we the taxpayers shouldn’t have to bear the burden for a limited number of users.

Councilmember Solomon Presents “Alternate Facts”
Clearly upset that some residents had the insight to connect the financial problems of the Community Center and Golf Courses to the current need for a secondary property tax to fund ball fields, Councilmember Steve Solomon launched into a 4-minute lecture attempting to discredit the naysayers and convince the audience that the Community Center is thriving. Below is a sample of his comments that evening.

Solomon said: “The community center is thriving. It is not failing.”

What he didn’t say: The Community and Recreation Center Fund (CRC Fund) is currently $477,986 in the RED. In addition, as of June 30, 2017, the Town will owe $240,000 from the CRC Fund back to the General Fund to begin repayment of the $1.2 million that the council borrowed from the General Fund in March 2015 to jumpstart the CRC Fund.

The council voted to delay the first payment in Fiscal Year 15/16 until FY 16/17 which is why they now owe two payments of $120,000 ($240,000) back to the General Fund. Add this $240,000 to the $477,986 deficit, and the CRC Fund is now $717,986 in the RED. Solomon also didn’t tell you that golf memberships are still nowhere near Troon’s desired 318 members.

Solomon said: “The expenditures for the community center, particularly this year, are down and our revenues are up. Now that’s the kind of trend that you want and it’s been trending that way for awhile now.”

What he didn’t say: Not only is the Community Center Fund $477,986 in the red, but this figure takes into consideration that there was $1.4 million in sales tax revenues dedicated to the CRC Fund in this fiscal year.

Solomon said: “As mentioned, the golf and community center revenues and the dedicated half cent sales tax for this year will cover all of it’s costs. It’s not using any other town funds. It’s not taking money from any other town project or town source.”

What he didn’t say: As reported on LOVE on April 10th in the article “Smoke, Mirrors, and Lower Math,” during the April 5th Town Council meeting, the mayor asked the finance director how much money the Community Center was taking from the General Fund. The answer was that the Community Center was consuming 6% of the adopted budget of $117,368,903. However, with the dedicated sales tax revenue source, the actual effect was 1.6%.

Translated into dollar figures, 1.6% of $117 million is $1.8 million. This is the first time that the mayor and finance director admitted that the half-cent sales tax increase is not covering Community Center expenses. To compensate for this shortfall, they have siphoned almost an additional $2 million out of the General Fund. Therefore, Solomon’s assertion that the Community Center is “not using any other town funds” is demonstrably false.

Remember that NO MONIES other than the .5% sales tax revenues were to be utilized for the Community Center. They now admit that they have spent $1.8 million above and beyond the sales tax revenues.

Solomon said: “The facts clearly show that the claims of the failing golf course and that we can’t afford new playing fields are completely false. The true financial numbers are on our website.“

What he didn’t say: He didn’t tell you what the “true financial numbers” were.

Drum Roll Please -- The True Financial Numbers

• In February 2016, Troon (golf, food, beverage, tennis) lost $61,294.
• In February 2017, Troon lost $110,264.
• Troon’s losses were $48,970 HIGHER in February 2017 than in February 2016.

• Food and beverage was forecasted to make $12,354 in February 2017 but made only $5,553.
• The restaurant has lost $90,501 so far this fiscal year.
• The forecast was to lose only $11,842.

• Troon’s initial forecast for losses in FY 16/17 was $1,534,505.
• They recently had to up that forecast to $2,038,334.
• There has not been one month this fiscal year where their losses have been under $100,000.
• If this trend continues, the $2,038,334 figure will have to be revised again.

Council To Consider Folding Community Center Sales Tax Into General Fund In August

Tax no longer need to support municipal golf and the community center
The Oro Valley Town Council will consider folding the one-half percent Community Center sales tax into the town's General Fund when it returns from summer holiday in August. This will make the funds available for any use; not just use for the community fund or other recreational assets. This tax was enacted ten years ago by a 4-3 council vote when the town acquired the 47-hole El Conquistador Golf facility from HSL Properties. The reason for the tax was to provide a stable, dedicated funding source to support the newly acquired community center and golf operations, which were expected to run at a deficit in the early years. The expectation was that the tax would not be needed after that time.  But, as we all know, a tax, once enacted never goes away, 

Mayor’s proposal: Move the tax to the general fund
At last week’s Council meeting, Mayor Winfield proposed folding the tax into the general fund for several reasons:

• The dedicated sales tax has stabilized the finances of the community center and golf operations, which are now performing better and require less support.
• Moving the tax revenue to the general fund allows the Council to allocate funds to the town’s most pressing needs—including public safety, roads, parks, infrastructure, and community services—rather than limiting it to the community center and golf.
• The current arrangement is perceived as benefiting a narrow interest group.  Yet the tax is collected from all residents and visitors. Integrating it into the general fund “reinforces unity and fairness” and reflects a shift to shared community investment.
• This change would increase fiscal flexibility as Oro Valley nears build-out and construction-related revenues decline, positioning the town for long-term financial health.

Council reactions: Range of opinions, but no support for status quo
Council members expressed support for doing something different with the tax revenues. None supported leaving it as a dedicated source for the community center only: 

• Vice Mayor Barrett supported the Mayor’s proposal:  “I am so pleased with how well golf is doing. For the second year in a row we have not relied on any of the tax money, and that’s what it was basically set up to do ten years ago. ” 
• Council Member Murphy floated the idea of dedicating the tax for all parks and recreation programs. 
• Council Member Greene seemed cautious about making a change:  “I think if we go back historically, this money was designated for the community center and for golf and I think that we need to keep that in mind as we begin to spend it on other issues as they come up. So, I’m for really having a full discussion on this and not acting precipitously on it tonight.”
• Council Member Jones-Ivey leaned toward the parks and recreation fund idea but expressed concern about transparency if the money goes to the general fund: “Sometimes when monies go into the general fund, it really in the past has kind of gotten mired so that transparency is lost. … My question would be: How would we then earmark that money going into the general fund so if something is needed in parks and rec, it can come back?”
• Council Member Robb summed up her support for a change stating, “I agree it’s time to share the wealth on this money.” 

August public hearing. ..Active community involvement
The August meeting will be a public hearing on the proposed change. The community center and golf supporters are expected to pack the hearing and advocate for keeping the tax dedicated to their operations. Historically, they have been successful in persuading the Council to continue support. It remains to be seen whether Mayor Winfield will stick to his position or compromise as he has done in the past when face was significant opposition. 

"Putting to bed" a "bone of contention”

Golf and the community center have been a point of contention since former Mayor Hiremath first brought the acquisition to the council in 2014. The hope is that folding the sales tax into the general fund will help reduce this ongoing debate. 

No discussion of permanently sunsetting the tax
One thing the Council will not consider is ending (sunsetting) the community center sales tax. As it stands, this tax means Oro Valley’s sales tax rate is 2.5% is the highest in southern Arizona. This higher rate may contribute to residents and visitors shopping outside of Oro Valley for big-ticket items, as it is less expensive to shop elsewhere.

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Editorial ~ Remember when?

Today we will take a trip down Memory Lane to see if the assertions made by the mayor and council regarding the Community Center/Golf Courses have proven to be true or false.

2014 Assertion: The Community Center is a Turnkey Operation (False)
Remember how the Mayor told us about the "turnkey" operation we were getting with the purchase of the Community Center? That "turnkey" operation has already drained $2.45 million from our General Fund Contingency.

2015 Assertion: The sales tax increase will cover all Community Center expenses (False)
Remember being told repeatedly by the Town Council that the Community Center Fund (financed with the dedicated sales tax revenue) would cover ALL the needs of the Community Center including golf and tennis and that NO MONEY would be taken from any other fund? [See “2017 FACT” below to see how that turned out.]

2017 Assertion: The Community Center is not using any other Town funds (False)
Remember Councilmember Steve Solomon stating at the April 19th council meeting:

“The Golf and Community Center revenues and the dedicated half cent sales tax for this year will cover all of its costs. It’s not using any other Town funds. It’s not taking money from any other Town project or Town source.”

Once again, Solomon is full of bluster. Read on to learn why.

2017 FACT: Town dips into Bed Tax Revenues to cover Community Center renovations
The Quarterly CIP Report (Capital Improvement Program) for the quarter ending 12/31/17 revealed that the Tennis Court Improvements were budgeted for $75,000. However, the improvements actually cost $96,323. (This is a 28.4% miscalculation).

Where did the additional funds come from to cover the overage? They came from the Bed Tax Fund! (The tax on hotel rooms).

So now we have another fund supporting this “turnkey” operation. This does not include the monies that Councilmember Rodman stated that we will need to borrow ($4.7 - $5 million) to fulfill the recommendations identified in the Town Manager’s presentation to the Council during the February 7th Golf Study Session. Rodman stated, “We’re going to have to finance this no matter what we do.”

Conclusion
Council assertions about the financial sustainability of the Community Center/Golf Course purchase have been, at best, wishful thinking…and at worst, deliberate lies to cover for their reckless decision to purchase this money pit. 

As a side note, the Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force are no longer going to supplement golf at Davis-Monthan.  The Blanchard Golf Course is closing at the end of April.  The U.S. Government has decided to stop paying $400,000 a year to water the golf courses and to discontinue supplementing the $700,000 a year in golf losses.  For how long will Oro Valley continue to supplement the losses at the El Con Golf Courses?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Editor’s Note: Mayor Hiremath and Councilmembers Hornat, Snider, and Waters are up for re-election this year. These are the four “public servants” who made the disastrous decision to purchase the Community Center (including 31 tennis courts and 3 golf courses) and to increase your sales tax in order to meet the expenses. You will have an opportunity to vote them out of office during the primary election in August.

The Watchdog Report: By Mike Zinkin

The Ides of March weren't good for Oro Valley either
Just like Julius Caesar had a bad month of March, so did the Oro Valley Golf and Community Center. The Community Center Fund (CRF) ended the month $346,907 in the red. At 75% through the fiscal year, the fund remains in the red, and the council still owes a $120,000 payment to the General Fund Contingency and $454,808 in promised capital improvements.

Troon-managed facilities (golf, food, beverage, non aquatic center swimming, and some tennis) lost $77,103 in March. They were forecasted only to lose $25,754. They missed their forecast by 33%. How does Troon manage to keep their job with their 2.5 year record of continually poor forecasting? Troon has lost $1,809,051 so far this fiscal year and we still have 25% of the fiscal year remaining. So far, they have upped their year-end forecasted losses from $1,534,505 to $2,038,334 to $2,092,218.

The Overlook Restaurant was forecasted to make $27,021, but lost $3,204. The food and beverage portion of Troon has lost $93,705 through March.

The dedicated Community and Recreation Center Fund is not covering expenses
The CRF fund was suppose to provide ALL the revenues for capital improvements, yet the FY 17/18 budget shows $75,000 coming from the Bed Tax Fund for tennis court improvements, another $75,000 coming from the Water Utility Fund for a water main replacement at the Community Center, and only $50,000 actually coming from the CRF for cart path improvements. In other words, of the $200,000 being spent on Community Center capital improvements, only $50,000 (or 25%) is actually being provided by the "special Community Center fund.”

Solomon’s Fuzzy Math
During the April 19th council meeting, Councilmember Solomon bragged that “7,000 rounds of golf were played” in March. Of course, he didn’t mention that 2,046 of those were member rounds. This is important to note because members do not pay per round, they pay a monthly fee and that fee does not change whether they play one round or 100 rounds. Solomon also neglected to mention that 602 of the 7,000 rounds were complimentary rounds or that golf memberships had increased by just one, from 238 to 239. This is a far cry from the 318 memberships that Troon desired to have by December 2016.

Solomon Speaks with Forked Tongue
Councilmember Solomon also mistakenly crowed during the April 19th council meeting that:

“…the Golf and Community Center revenues and dedicated half cent sales tax for this year will cover all of its costs. It’s not using any other town funds. It’s not taking money from any other town project or town source.”

Of course, none of that was true. Interestingly, after claiming that the dedicated Community Center fund was covering all of the costs, just one week later, during the April 26th budget study session, it was none other than Councilmember Solomon who suggested taking additional monies from the General Fund Contingency to do some upgrades to the Community Center. Councilmember Rodman agreed.

This is a complete turnaround from what they asserted while campaigning – that we didn’t need to worry about Community Center expenses because there was a special fund set aside for those expenses. Additionally, it has always been the Town's philosophy that one time expenses should be paid for with one time revenues. Dipping into the General Fund would certainly be a departure from this philosophy.

A novel idea - Represent your constituents
If Councilmembers Solomon and Rodman desire to spend General Fund Contingency monies, why don't they spend them on Naranja Park? That way their constituents will get something they desire. They NEVER desired a golf course, more swimming pools, or a restaurant. What their constituents desired is spelled out in the June 2014 statistically valid survey.

Councilmember Rodman is a member of the Gallery Golf Club – a club that fired Troon. Oro Valley residents should ponder this question: If Troon was not managing Councilmember Rodman's money responsibly, why does he allow them to mismanage your money?

Et tu Hiremath, et al.

LOVE Exclusive: How Special Interests Can Corrupt Oro Valley Politicians

This is the first of a three part series on the influence of developer and contractor donations on Oro Valley politics
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Satish Hiremath introduced big money fundraising in 2010
Satish Hiremath introduced Oro Valley to the power of money in small town elections in 2010, He funded his campaign at a level five times greater than his opponent. Hiremath raised more than $45,000:

$20,000 from personal loans, which his PAC later repaid

$13,000 from special interests contributors

$12,000 from family and individual contributors

Hiremath won the election by less that fifty votes.

2013: First time HSL donates to Hiremath campaign
Many more donation were to follow.

2012: End of Innocence
In 2012, Hiremath got a taste of developer money as Diamond Ventures entered the scene.

In 2013, HSL Properties jumped on board (panel right).

This was the beginning of the end of innocence in Oro Valley fund raising. What was once a very pleasant, peaceful community was about to become a Developer paradise. Every general plan amendment and just about every zoning change was approved by council from 2010 through 2018.

$59,300 in developer money bought the 2014 election
In 2014. Mayor Hiremath and incumbent council members Hornat, Snider and Waters practiced the big money campaign finance model. This time special interest contributors kicked in $59,300. This was a four fold increase from 2010.

2014 Donations to Hiremath Majority

The top five donors (panel left) pumped $59,300 into the campaign of the incumbents. This is 76% of all contributions from individuals.

They did this at a time when these donors had continuing business dealings with the town, dealings that required council approval.

Here's the big one....

August 2014: Hiremath extols concept of community center... HSL becomes a "community partner"
On August 7, 2014, during a 2014 candidate forum, Hiremath extolled the virtue of Oro Valley having a community center.

At that time, LOVE asked if Hiremath had an epiphany. Up to then, the only council member who had even mentioned the need for a community center was current council candidate, then council member Bill Garner.

We reported in 2013: "Council Member Bill Garner has been advocating for a community center for years. His calls have been ignored by the Majority-4. 'I've been investigating a public/private partnership that could put a community center at Steam Pump Ranch,'" 

Now, suddenly, a community center was Hiremath's idea.  According to Hiremath speaking at the forum: "I'm in dialogue with other community partners about maybe doing something of a community center." (Source: Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum) "

The HSL Community Center
The "other community partner" to whom Hiremath had referred was HSL Properties. HSL was negotiating the purchase of the El Conquistador Resort. They needed to shed the golf courses in order to make the deal financially advantageous for them. At the same time, they wanted to retain five-star resort status. This meant that they needed to be able to offer golf.  The deal they cut with the Town of Oro Valley gave them both.

What Hiremath did not say at that forum was that the "community center" was a clubhouse that served the El Conquistador Country Club, that  the country club was part of the deal and that the seller was his biggest campaign contributor. He also failed to share this salient information during LOVE's September interview with him.

The result of all of this was a 2015 Recall Election and even more special interest money. That's our story next time.
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Use of Half Percent Sales Tax Levy In Limbo

Solomon illness causes decision delay

Last week, the Oro Valley town Council discussed, but did not vote on broadening the use of the half cent sales tax. This tax is dedicated to the town’s golf and community center operation. It amounts to more than $2.6 million annually and its growing.

Winfield wants to broaden use of funds and issue bonds to pay for parks and recreation wants

Winfield’s intent is to used these funds together with potential bond financing “...for construction of parks and recreation, golf, and community center capital projects, and/or other uses as determined by council.”  

The specific measure would continue to dedicate about $2 million to golf and the community center; and use the remainder of sales tax revenues, about $800,000 for other facilities.

Statement of Mayor Winfield in support of measure

“I support broadening the use of half-percent sales tax to support priority town parks and recreation facilities, such as our town golf courses, the community center, Naranja Park, Steam Pump Ranch, Amphitheater School District Partnership, multi-use paths and, potentially, other priorities through bond financing. 

Incredibly, 93% of our community agreed that Oro Valley’s parks and recreation system makes our town a more desirable place to live, although not all residents use priority parks facilities. 

Even though the community is unified about the importance of our parks and recreation system, I believe the creation of the community center fund and the dedicated half percent sales tax, has created in effect “winners and losers,” fueling community division and hampering flexibility to fund the town’s parks and recreation assets, including the golf courses and community center.

For example, the town has owned Naranja Park for twenty years and it is only partially developed. Steam Pump Ranch was purchased by the town in 2004. Several of the structures are on the national register of historic places and urgently need restoration work. 

I believe it is good public policy to broaden the use of the half-percent sales tax to spread investment across multiple parks and recreation facilities. This includes the town’s golf courses, the community center, Naranja Park, Steam Pump Ranch and potentially other priorities.I believe this action will ultimately benefit the greatest number of our residents and help to unify our town. That’s why I support this policy decision.”

Other Parks and Recreation Needs

The town has completed its 2021 Parks and Recreation Ten Year Master Plan. The plan will be reviewed and, after some change, approved by council. The priorities of this plan are shown the panel above.

Public Reaction Mixed
This council item was a public hearing. Reactions of the twenty people who spoke were mixed. Those in favor felt that the town had many other important parks and recreation needs that were long ignored. Those against either did not understand the proposal, since it was not explained to them until after the public hearing; or felt that the golf courses and community center had needs that were supposed to have been met long ago. For example, replacing irrigation and making the community center ADA compliant.

Next step
The council will discuss and vote upon the broadening of use of the half percent sales tax at the May 5 council meeting.

The Watchdog Report: What will it take to get a responsible council?

The end of fiscal year 2016/17 financials have been released and they are disastrous. We all know the Mayor and Council rely on staff to make the decisions, so why doesn't staff do their job and give these elected officials the facts?

What I am about to communicate is not "fake news” as Councilmember Solomon would have you believe, but facts that can be substantiated by Town documents.

Food and Beverage
Food and beverage, primarily the Town-owned restaurant, The Overlook, was forecasted to make $39,589 during the fiscal year, but lost $114,792. Including last year’s losses, this government-owned restaurant has lost over $370,000.

I am aware of a conversation that took place between an entrepreneur and the Interim Town Manager, Finance Director, and Parks and Rec Director for a potential lease. That offer has gone nowhere.

Even the Town's contracted golf study recommended that the Town lease this venture. How many more thousands of dollars (that could be spent on Naranja Park instead) are we going to lose before this Council takes action? I was told by the ex-Town Manager, Greg Caton, that it cost $250,000 to establish a lighted ball field. The $255,000 that The Overlook Restaurant lost last year could have funded one lighted ball field.

The Community Center
The Community Center and Recreation Fund (CRF) finished the year $97,156 in the red. In other words, even with $2.1 million in sales tax revenues, and an additional $350,000 transferred from the General Fund, the CRF ended the year with almost a $100,000 deficit.

Since its inception the CRF has received $1,550,000 from the General Fund and $4,736,926 from the increased sales tax revenues for a total of $6,286,926, and still the fund is almost $100,000 in the hole. How many Naranja Park improvements could be built with this money?

Councilmember Solomon spreads false information

Back in April, Councilmember Steve Solomon asserted that, “The Community Center is thriving. It is not failing.” He also said, “The Golf and Community Center revenues and the dedicated half cent sales tax for the year will cover all of its costs. It’s not using any other Town funds.”

FACT: The Community Center revenues and half-cent sales tax increase did not cover all of its costs. And it is using other Town funds in the form of $1.5 million that has been transferred out of the General Fund to meet Community Center expenses.

Troon Golf and Tennis
The total Troon losses (golf, tennis, non-aquatic center swimming, food and beverage) for FY 2016/17 were $2,512,938. Troon forecasted that the losses would be $1,534,505. This is a $978,433 miscalculation. How many more miscalculations are staff and the Town Council going to allow before they rid the town of Troon?

Trending Upward?
The Town Staff and the Town Council assert that the Community Center is trending upwards. Councilmember Solomon asserted in April: “The expenditures for the Community Center, particularly this year, are down and our revenues are up.” He continued, “Now that’s the kind of trend you want and it’s been trending that way for awhile now.”

FACT: During the prime months for golf (November - March) Troon lost $489,378 during FY 2015/16, and they lost $787,934 during FY 2016/17. That's almost $300,000 more in losses this year than last year. Trending upward?

Fiscal year 2016/17 began the year with $65,770 in monthly Member Dues and ended the year with $58,226 in Member Dues. Trending upward?

Council can no longer blame it on “headwinds”
The Town Staff and the Town Council cannot support their statements that this investment is trending upward. The Council does not do their homework to verify the staff statements.

In April of 2016, Councilmember Mary Snider claimed that my “constant attack on the viability of this property” was “creating a headwind in town” and “impacting the memberships in golf.” Vice-Mayor Waters chastised me to “get on board” with the project.

Since I have not been on council for almost 10 months (during which time the staff and council have repeatedly told the community that the Community Center is doing great) they can no longer blame the problem on “headwinds.”

It’s time for the Town Council to “get on board” and admit the horrendous mistake they made in December 2014 and do something about it…look at the facts, spend responsibly, and stop taxing the citizens.

Mike Zinkin 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. He was a commissioned ensign in the United States Navy Reserve in 1969. He worked as an Air Traffic Controller for 30 years. He and his wife moved to Oro Valley after retiring in 1998. Mike 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. During his time on council, he was named as one of 23 Leadership Fellows for the National League of Cities University, he was a member of the National League of Cities Steering Committee for Community and Economic Development, and a member of the Arizona League of Cities Budget and Economic Development Committee.

Guest View: Tim Bohen ~ The Real 5-Year Plan for the Community Center (Hint: It’s now a 25-Year Plan)

Note: The $6MM Community Center Bond approval is included in the Adoption of the Tentative Budget that the Town Council will be voting on at tonight’s Council meeting.

We have often heard from Town Council that we need to give the Oro Valley Community Center golf investment time to show that its financial viability is trending positively. This was a fair request since the golf purchase was truly a major undertaking. However, three years have now elapsed and time has revealed what the 5-year plan may have been all along.

Another victory for Humberto Lopez (HSL Properties) and golfers
At the end of next the fiscal year, the Town’s obligation to rebate Vestar 45% of the sales taxes collected at Oro Valley Marketplace will end. This information was provided by Town Manager, Mary Jacobs during the Town Council Budget Study Session on May 9th. When Vestar’s tax incentive ends, approximately $800K per year in sales tax revenue from OV Marketplace will now become available to support Town services. This should be great news. I’m sure we can all think of many community-wide uses for this new revenue stream. Perhaps we could use it to actually provide more ball fields or playground equipment for young families since that’s what residents have been requesting.

But wait. Later at the same May 9th budget review, a significant portion of these same revenues ($450-480K per year) was proposed to be effectively passed to HSL and our “Country Club” and fitness members as security for a 20-year bond to improve the Community Center and Golf Courses. And once again, ball fields and playgrounds take a back seat to golf.

The percentage of Oro Valley residents who have $20-$40 monthly fitness memberships is only approximately 3% of our population. And the number of users who visit this facility per day (about 320) is far less than 1% of our town population, as was cheerfully volunteered by Parks and Rec themselves at the same meeting. Do these 9,500 total visits per month in a town of 45,000 include out-of-town visitors from the resort who are coming to enjoy our sales tax subsidized golf?

Lipstick on a Sign
In essence, all the Town did was to cross out the “Country Club” sign in lipstick and write “Community Center” on the sign in the same lipstick and…well, it’s still a Country Club. It’s great that we have a day camp and fitness center members that enjoy the Community Center and make this portion viable. But this benefit clearly goes to relatively few as reported by Parks and Rec themselves. And frankly, this benefit has been, and will long continue to be, dwarfed by the golf losses borne by all.

All that has really changed at El Conquistador since 2014 is the sign out front, a new traffic light, and more importantly, who is now responsible for the long-term upkeep of the combined Community Center and El Conquistador Resort (HSL) golf asset. It’s we taxpayers who will now shoulder an ever increasing load of $3-4 million dollars per year for the next twenty years minimum (0.5% town-wide dedicated Community Center sales tax + 60% of the previously committed OV Marketplace sales tax to Vestar).

Fast Pitch
Our Community Center purchase agreement provides HSL with a 50-year (at $10K per year) Canada golf course improvements option to keep this one course open. Mayor Hiremath has stated that the signer of the purchase agreement, former Town Manager, Greg Caton, always seemed to “hit it out of the park.” It looks like this ball might come down some time around 2040 as far as loan payments, or 2065 as far as our lease with HSL. It’s a tape measure home run for HSL and the golfers either way. As for the vast majority of Oro Valley sales tax payers who don’t use the facility, let’s just say we’ll keep getting hit by the pitch.

Privatized Gains and Socialized Losses
So, upon learning this, how do we as a Town, in good conscience, choose to sink $6M minimum more into a 35-year old building and golf courses over the next three years? Our local economy includes flat golf revenues, rising local construction costs over the short term of this project, and potentially catastrophic decreases in CAP water for southern Arizona over the long term. Losing CAP water may shut all but the most financially healthy Tucson courses.

El Conquistador Country Club memberships are already well below where they need to be. This is maybe the only point everyone in Oro Valley can agree on. So, how exactly will three years of phased construction improve the membership rates? They won’t. Watch your Council brag about the great fiscal position of the Town resulting from their “skillful planning” and fiscal restraint and try to reconcile that with this long term decision. You can’t.

The Watchdog Report: By Mike Zinkin

Part 1. Beware of the Town Manager's Recommended Budget (TMRB)

The TMRB for Fiscal Year 2017-18 is a 4-inch thick notebook that is very time-consuming and difficult to read. A new Council member can easily be overwhelmed by it. I will illustrate the areas (including page numbers) where one might expect to see some savings, although there are none listed. This is noteworthy because the Town Council is proposing a Secondary Property Tax to build ball fields at Naranja Park, yet this TMRB clearly shows that the money is already available. It just needs to be re-allocated.

Page ii – The budget includes the assumption that 300 Single-Family Residential building permits will be issued. Other projected developments includes 3 senior living facilities, a self storage facility, two schools, and continued restaurant, office, and retail space.

Local sales taxes are expected to climb 10% and Licensing and Permit revenues are expected to climb by 28%.

Page iii - Once again, employee raises are set for up to 4%. In dollar figures, that’s $528,000 set aside for raises. Cut the raises in half and you can build a ball field.

The budget compares the current number of employees needed (383) to the 389 employees they had in 2008, leading one to believe that they’ve shown some efficiencies by cutting six positions. However, if one compares the number of employees to 2010 (when Mayor Hiremath and his Majority-4 came into office) that budget called for 340 employees. (Page 81 of the FY 2010-11 budget.) The FY 2017-18 budget calls for 382.92 employees. That’s an increase of 43 positions! Why can’t our town government be more efficient?

Page vi - $30,000 going to the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce, $275,000 going to Visit Tucson (this is $25,000 more than the previous year, despite the fact that our Bed Tax revenues are trending lower.) What exactly are we getting for our $275,000 contribution? They have also “planned for the continued annual contribution of $75,000” to the Children’s Museum and $21,400 to the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SACCA). This totals over $400,000. Why can’t some of this be allocated for another ball field instead?

The top of this page has a request for an additional sergeant to be the OVPD Public Information Officer to serve as the liaison between the Police Department, the media, and the public. We already have a very capable Communications Administrator for the Town. Why do we need an additional Public Information Officer? Isn't one enough? Page vi also shows that the Town is already planning to build two lit multi-use fields at Naranja without a property tax as well as other capital improvements.

Page 3 - The General Fund Revenue projection was off by $1.3 million. They projected $34,468,353 while the actual figure turned out to be $33,141,353. I bring this to your attention as another example of the Town’s recurring inability to properly forecast.

Page 5 – This shows how the Bed Tax fund saw a decrease of $69,211 in its balance. So why are we increasing our contribution to Visit Tucson? They are supposed to be promoting tourism to Oro Valley, yet our Bed Tax fund (hotel rooms) has decreased.

Page 8 – The Community Center Fund which started with $1.2 million when the fund was created in 2014 will end FY 17/18 with just $297.00. I wonder if this was part of their often touted “five-year plan.”

Page 135 – This shows that Troon is estimating $1,822,941 in losses for FY 17/18.

Page 251 - Shows that $75,000 is coming from the Bed Tax Fund for "Community Center Tennis Court Improvements."

Page 252 - $50,000 is set aside from the Community Center Fund for "Cart Path Improvements."

Looking at Pages 251-252 above, there is more funding for Community Center improvements coming from the Bed Tax Fund than coming from the Community Center Fund. This begs the question…What happened to the "special Community Center fund" that was set up to handle ALL the Community Center expenses? No monies were supposed to come from any other funds to support the Community Center.

Page 253 – $500,000 will be spent for a traffic light in front of the Community Center. This is noteworthy because back when the Sheraton (and then the Hilton) owned this building, they had over 400 members and no need for a traffic signal. Yet somehow with less than 250 current members, we suddenly need a traffic signal at this intersection.

CLICK HERE to see the Town Manager's Recommended Budget

Part 2 of this report will be published on Wednesday.

Guest View-Brian Selvy: Revisiting the Cost of a New Community Center

The recalled incumbents vastly overstate the cost of of  a real community center
The "Majority 4" continue to say that a new community center which meets the expectations of Oro Valley residents would cost over $20 Million. Mary Snider mentioned the $20 Million figure again recently, and this was not based on her own research but what a landscape architect told her. A landscape architect isn't the most qualified person to make such an estimate.

Architekton Designed Community Center

Not $20 million but $10 million
Tempe-based Architekton is an architectural design firm that has successfully designed and built many community and recreation centers, YMCAs, and multi-generational centers all over Arizona. They successfully built centers for diverse clients for $90 to $215 per square foot. Even taking into inflation, these centers could all be built for less than $250 per square foot today.

In 2014, the Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Board recommended a 40,000 square foot recreational center. At even the overly conservative price of $250 per square foot, Oro Valley could build a customized community center for $10 Million. At $200 per square foot, which is reasonable, the center would cost $8 Million.

Snider inflates the numbers
To put in perspective how unrealistic and inflated Snider's $20 million number is, consider this: A $20 Million, 40,000 square foot recreation center would come out to $500 per square foot - an absurd price that doesn't pass the giggle test. As a comparison, two LEED Certified Silver
health and wellness complexes at Arizona State University (which require special green building materials and processes) were built for $310 and $335 per square foot, respectively.

A old clubhouse is not what the residents want in a community center
Let's also look at the other aspect of the Snider's statement: We'd have to spend $20 Million to get what Oro Valley residents desired.

Let's break this down. First of all, this implies that the 30 year old El Con racquetball club building is what residents desire: An old building that has converted racquetball courts, a dance studio with 8' high ceilings, workout equipment in hallways, and a non-ADA compliant structure. That in no way is what Oro Valley residents desire.

Second, take a look at the Architekton designed buildings for yourself: these include custom community meeting rooms, indoor sports courts, indoor tracks, fitness facilities, etc. They are what residents of a prestigious town such as Oro Valley want.

Snider's claim that it would take $20 million to give the residents of Oro Valley what they want in a community center is yet another blatant example of the M-4 generating an El Con cover story that doesn't hold water.
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Brian Selvy has lived in Oro Valley for 5 years. He and his wife moved here from a suburb of Los Angeles and chose to settle down in Oro Valley due to the abundant natural beauty, small town feel, good schools, public safety, and slower pace of life. He has a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and an M.S. degree in Systems Architecting and Engineering from the University of Southern California. He and his wife spend the majority of their free time enjoying the constant whirlwind of activity associated with having two young children. Additionally, he enjoys helping coach his daughter's teeball team, hiking, working out, gardening, and reading. Some of his favorite local activities are hiking in the Catalina and Tortolita Mountains and enjoying evenings on the patio at Noble Hops, preferably sipping on a local beer from Dragoon.

Guest View: Mike Zinkin ~ Is Oro Valley still a Town of Excellence?

 

Below is a timeline of how we went from a PROMISE to cut golf losses (with the possibility of closing at least one of the courses), to continuing to operate ALL of them on a pay-as-you-go basis (with no option for bonding), to the most recent decision of foregoing pay-as-you go in favor of bonding.

December 2014
On December 17, 2014, the Town Council, with a 4-3 vote, approved an increase of our sales tax from 2% to 2.5%. The ordinance (14-17) states that the purpose was to fund/supplement the needs of the newly purchased Community Center, with its 45 holes of golf, 2 swimming pools, tennis courts, and a 1980 style building. The ordinance clearly states that this new tax would generate “approximately $1.6 - $2 million dollars annually.”

November 2018
In November 2018, with over-development and golf losses being the two major issues, the Town’s voters decided to elect a new Mayor and Town Council. Mayor Winfield was elected with 9,242 votes and three new council members were elected with 8,000+ votes each. The newly elected Council majority pledged to do something about the golf losses.

What followed were numerous contentious meetings that included approximately 400 citizens who were passionately opposed to closing any of the existing 36 holes.

November 2019
In an attempt to soothe the pro-golf-courses crowd, Mayor Winfield moved on 11/20/2019 that:

“All golf course repairs and improvements to be funded on a pay as you go basis from the Community Center Fund. No bonding will be undertaken for community center improvements.”

In addition, the motion stated that, “Oro Valley will retain a $100,000 minimum reserve in the Community Center fund.”

How approximately 400 citizens were able to overturn the will of over 9,000 citizens is beyond me.

Fast-forward to 2021
The half cent increase in the sales tax is now producing about $2.7 million. This is $700,000 more than what was initially stipulated in the 2014 ordinance. So, what does our “fiscally responsible, citizen-centric” Town Council do? Instead of lowering the sales tax to continue to meet the original needs of $1.6 - $2 million, they decide to use the additional revenues (your tax dollars) to consider bonding.

In May 2021, Mayor Winfield motioned that the additional monies be utilized to BOND for all park improvements including exterior community center and golf course improvements.

So, in the 18 months from November 2019 to May 2021, our Mayor/Council switched gears and decided that now we are going to BOND for Community Center and Golf improvements. This is in direct opposition to what the same Mayor/Council mandated in November 2019. Where did the bonding idea come from?

The code of ethics for the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA), of which our Town Manager is a member , states in Tenet #6 to: “Recognize that elected representatives are accountable to their community for the decisions they make; [ICMA] members are responsible for implementing those decisions.”

Remember that the additional $700,000 currently being generated from the half-cent sales tax is your money. This tax could have been reduced and still continue to be utilized for its original purpose…to supplement the Community Center Fund. Now YOUR money is going to be used to make golf course improvements. Why? Because without additional bond monies, the Community Center debacle that came to us in December 2014 was bound to fail. Without bonding, the money is not there for building and golf improvements despite all of the past assertions that the half cent sales tax would cover all costs.

Time to retire the Town motto
As a result, Oro Valley should retire their motto that we are a “Community of Excellence.” Oro Valley is being run by the staff (who are not accountable to any Citizen). The staff originates and organizes all proposals and is not carrying out Council decisions. It seems that Oro Valley has become just like any other community, taking every cent possible from its Citizens and spending it irresponsibility.

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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.

Council Agrees It's a Priority: Improve Community Center Mobility Access Now

All agreed: Time to act is now

After much discussion last week, the Oro Valley Town Council unanimously agreed to do something now to improve mobility access to the Community Center.  Improving mobility access had been deferred by council for four years because it had become intertwined with a possible redesign of the Community Center.

Resurface.. .improve parking... add a conveyance

Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett  crafted a motion with the help of Councilmember Solomon to get something done now. 

The motion compels staff to make immediate improvements to the mobility accommodations. This includes resurfacing and cleaning up the ramp, repairing electric doors, adding handicap parking. The motion also directs staff to develop a proposal on how to get a "conveyance" into the existing building and to do without any other modifications to the facility. Solomon added, and it was agreed, that this become a funding priority from existing Community Center Funds.

This "fix" has been needed since 2015

Councilmember Solomon presented a timetable [panel right] starting in 2018 showing that there was intention, but not action, to make the Community Center more mobility accessible. He asserted that the current council "...decided to not make community center renovations and the ADA compliance a priority.”

Making the Community Center more mobility friendly was never a priority for any council

Councilmember Solomon's chart is misleading. It notes a date of July 2020. That is the first time that any specific improvement in mobility access was defined by any council. And that happened under the current council.  That improvement was an "elevator." However, the motion that the council passed at that time was to add the elevator only as part of a grand redesign of the Community Center. That redesign yet to happen.

Indeed, as Council Member Bohen noted, a fix for the mobility problem was never a priority of any council. "Something should have been done in 2015" when the town acquired the facility.

Winfield "takes the bullet"

Mayor Winfield observed that the current situation reflects badly on us as a community and on him as the Mayor. “I support universal access. Access for all of us.” Recently, Winfield traveled around the community with a resident who has disability challenges. They toured many of our facilities. Winfield wanted to see our facilities through the eyes of someone else. “I will freely admit that I’ve let the community down in this regard. I could have done a better job.”

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Guest View: Mike Zinkin – Finance the “Needs” instead of the “Wants”

I hope you have been reading recent LOVE postings regarding the spending of the $25 million parks bond. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Why weren’t the Naranja Park plans value-engineered prior to bonding for them?
A motion was passed during the October 5, 2022 Council meeting to have staff “bring back a plan with value engineering ideas that are reflected in the comments that have been made this evening and update Council through regular Council reports of those ideas.”

This sounds like a great idea but why wasn’t this done prior to the demand for the bond? Why borrow money before you value engineer your plan? Why have the staff report via “Council Reports” which are not public (unless one does a records request) rather than delivering the staff report in a public meeting?

The town council needs to amend their park plans
The four council members who were just re-elected campaigned on items that were not yet vetted or value-engineered by the Town staff – and the Town cannot afford those promises. Is this why they rushed it through without any design or cost estimates and had a ribbon cutting ceremony in May to celebrate the expansion of Naranja Park? If these council members are responsible, they will amend their “wants” and work within the Town’s pocketbook.

Originally, the $25 million was to be split between the Community Center and Naranja Park. However, due to unexpected cost increases, there is now not enough money and the Community Center is still not ADA compliant.

Where is the requested staff report on ADA compliance at the Community Center?
As I’ve previously reported, a motion passed 7-0 on April 6th for staff to advise the most effective way to make the Community Center ADA compliant and to make it a priority. It is now more than six months later. Where is the report? Now we are $25 million in debt, with no real plan except to ensure that the pet projects of the splash pad and the pump track are funded.

Community Center is forecast to lose $4 million this fiscal year
Looking at the financials for August 2022, the Community Center Fund (CCF) is forecasted to end FY 2022/23 with a loss of $4,663,936. The Council that has bonded for $25 million with no real engineered plan, decided to ignore community input (the Parks and Rec survey), and instead establish their pet projects and live with a CCF forecast of over a $4.6 million deficit.

The council needs to follow the original plan
The council needs to follow the original plan and split the $25 million between the Community Center and Naranja Park. This town needs a new police station, an ADA compliant Community Center, and re-piping reclaimed water to eliminate the use of potable/drinking water on Town properties (parks and golf courses). But the majority on council want a pump track and a splash pad. I consider this to be an irresponsible use of taxpayer dollars.

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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.