History Lives This November at Steam Pump Ranch

Digitizing the Historical Society Collection
Thanks to all of you who have visited the Pusch House Museum at historic Steam Pump Ranch so far this fall! We have enjoyed showing you our collection of artifacts, documents, photos, and more, and we aren't done yet. Volunteers are working behind the scenes to digitize our total collection, and we are closing in on finalizing the project. As we have noted, once this project is complete, we will be able to locate everything that we own or that has been donated or loaned to us with the click of a button. Article from the Arizona Journal of History? Check. Picture of George Pusch at the Arizona Constitutional Convention? Check. You ask, and we can find it. This is exciting for us and for those who come to us for historic information.

Museum Exhibits Remain Available on Saturdays
Because of this project, we will not be changing exhibits as frequently as we have in the past, but that will give you time to check out the displays on multiple Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon and know that you don't have to hurry through the exhibit. Everything will still be there when you return, and you can pick up where you left off. As always, our volunteers are on site to help you navigate, answer questions, and provide additional information.

November 14 Walking Tours Explore Ranch History
On Saturday, November 14, you will have the opportunity to take a gentle one-hour walking tour of the Ranch with our naturalist, who will share information about the plants, animals, geology, and geography of our area, along with stories about the people who lived at Steam Pump Ranch from the late 1800s to the early 2000s. Tours depart from the Pusch House Museum at 9:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. They end at the Society-maintained Heritage Garden, where you can see plants that have sustained Tucsonans for thousands of years.

Archaeology Demonstrations and Hohokam History
In addition, we welcome volunteers with Old Pueblo Archaeology who will be in the Garden to demonstrate flintknapping, show us traditional crafts, and answer questions about archaeology and our region's rich cultural history. You can step into a replica Hohokam pit house, learn about the Hohokam people and how they lived, and connect with the history of our region.

Holiday Toy Donations for Foster Children
Also returning to the Ranch this day will be GAP Ministries with their request for unwrapped toys for kids and teens. On their wish list for foster children are dolls, books, Legos, earbuds, craft kits, sports balls, games, radio-controlled cars, makeup sets, mirrors, fidget toys, and trains. Your small donation can ensure a very happy holiday for a child who needs some joy this season.

Museum Closed Thanksgiving Weekend
The Pusch House Museum will be closed on Saturday, November 28. We wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving weekend!

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Path Forward Gets 80% Approval

Meet Oro Valley’s New Mayor and Town Council

A new mayor and three councilmembers take office
Tonight marks a change in Oro Valley's leadership as the Town Council welcomes three newly elected members and a new mayor. Current Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett will become mayor, succeeding Joe Winfield, who chose not to seek reelection. Rosa Dailey, Rhonda Piña, and Matt Wood will take their seats on the Council. All four were elected in July and will serve four-year terms ending in October 2030. They join continuing councilmembers Mary Murphy, Harry “Mo” Greene II, and Elizabeth Robb, whose terms run through October 2028.

Melanie Barrett: From councilmember to mayor
Barrett has served on the Oro Valley Town Council since 2018 and currently serves as vice mayor. An attorney by training, she earned her law degree from Brigham Young University. Before joining the Council, she served on the Town's Planning and Zoning Commission from 2015 to 2018, participating in the development of the 2016 General Plan. An Oro Valley resident since 2009, Barrett brings eight years of Council experience to the mayor's office.

Rosa Dailey: A history of community involvement
Dailey is known locally for her leadership in the effort to preserve the former Vistoso Golf Course property, which became the 202-acre Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. She was also involved in efforts leading to the creation of the Oro Valley Aquatic Center. Her professional background includes insurance adjusting, technical writing, and leadership of a medical research nonprofit organization. During her campaign, Dailey emphasized public safety, fiscal responsibility, water sustainability, and responsible development.

Rhonda Piña: Returning to the Town Council
Piña returns to the Council after previously serving from 2016 to 2020. She brings nearly three decades of banking experience and currently serves as Deputy Director for Workforce Development for Pima County. She also serves on the Tucson Airport Authority Board of Directors. Her campaign priorities included public safety, budget accountability, and strategic economic development.

Matt Wood: From community boards to Town Council
Wood has served on the Rancho Vistoso Homeowners Association Board since 2021 and as its president since 2023. He has also served on the Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, including as its chair. Wood holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and an MBA. During his campaign, he emphasized fiscal responsibility, protecting neighborhood character, maintaining public infrastructure, and considering the financial impacts of annexation and development.

Mary Murphy: Continuing her community involvement
Murphy joined the Council in 2024. Before her election, she served on the Town's Board of Adjustment, reviewing zoning variance requests. Her professional background includes biomedical research, nursing, and dementia care. She has also been active in community organizations, including Rockin' 4 Heroes and efforts supporting the Arizona Heroes Memorial at Naranja Park. As a councilmember, Murphy devotes considerable time to community outreach, attending numerous events and activities throughout Oro Valley to meet with residents and stay connected with the community.

Harry “Mo” Greene II: Medicine, education, and the arts
Greene brings a background in medicine, education, publishing, and community arts. A physician, he has held leadership positions at several medical institutions, including the University of Arizona, and served as publisher of the New England Journal of Medicine. He is also an artist and has served as president of the Southern Arizona Arts Guild and chair of the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council.

Elizabeth Robb: Military service, small business, and community rescue
Robb joined the Council in 2024 after a career that included 13 years of military service in the U.S. Army, reaching the rank of captain. An Oro Valley resident since 1998, she has volunteered for many years with the Southern Arizona Rescue Association. She also operates Elizabeth's Garden, a small business associated with the Oro Valley Farmers Market. Her community involvement includes schools, scouting, and emergency rescue activities.

A new Council begins its work
The November 4 installation will bring together a mayor with eight years of Council experience, three incoming councilmembers with different backgrounds in community service and public administration, and three continuing members. The seven-member Council will be responsible for setting Town policy, approving budgets, adopting ordinances, and providing direction to Town management. Its members will face ongoing decisions involving finances, development, water resources, public safety, and the future of Oro Valley.

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Council Acts Now to Prevent Unintended Data Center Approvals

Council moves to close zoning loophole before leaving office
Last week, the Oro Valley Town Council voted unanimously to ban standalone data centers of any size. Mayor Joe Winfield had brought the issue before Council three weeks earlier, seeking to prevent data centers from being approved under existing zoning regulations without Council review. The outgoing Council moved quickly to close this loophole before the new Council takes office November 4, leaving future consideration of regulations that might allow standalone data centers under specific conditions to its successors.

Sanatorium staff zoning use determination raised similar concerns
The Town is already dealing with the consequences of a zoning interpretation that allows a sanatorium-type facility in the Rancho Vistoso Safeway shopping center area. Town staff determined the use was permitted under existing zoning language, and the Board of Adjustment upheld that interpretation. We believe Council's concern is that broadly written zoning provisions can allow staff to approve uses that neither residents nor Council anticipated for the community.

Council seeks to prevent a similar situation involving data centers
At the October 27 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, town staff explained that standalone data centers of any size were permitted under existing zoning regulations in C-1, C-2 Commercial and Technological Park (T-P) districts. Staff interpreted data centers as falling under the permitted use category of "Technical Services." Under that interpretation, an applicant could propose a standalone data center and receive staff approval if all applicable zoning requirements were met, without Council having an opportunity to approve or reject the use.

Council prohibits standalone data centers
Council voted to change the zoning regulations to prevent that from happening. As a result, such facilities can no longer receive approval under the existing zoning provisions. Any future proposal will require a change in the Town's zoning regulations before a standalone data center could be permitted.

A future Council could change the prohibition
This does not mean Oro Valley will never have a standalone data center.  A future Council could adopt zoning regulations allowing them under specific conditions. As Mayor Winfield noted at the October 28 meeting, such consideration could involve further study of water and electricity demands, noise, environmental impacts, and potential benefits to Oro Valley residents.

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Bits and Pieces

Council prohibits public camping and restricts traffic median use to pedestrians crossing the street
At its October 21 meeting, the Oro Valley Town Council unanimously approved an ordinance  O26-13)  prohibiting camping on public property and restricting activity in traffic medians to active road crossers only. The camping restrictions prohibit activities such as setting up shelters, storing personal belongings, and using parked vehicles as living accommodations, except where specifically authorized. The traffic median provisions prohibit people from standing or remaining in a median for any purpose other than temporarily waiting to cross the street. This includes panhandling, distributing flyers, holding signs, or simply standing in the median. The restriction applies regardless of the person's purpose.

At the meeting, Police officials emphasized that education and warnings would precede enforcement. Public camping violations are Class 1 misdemeanors, carrying potential fines of up to $2,500 or six months in jail. Traffic median violations can result in civil traffic citations and fines after a required warning.

Still Unclear Whether Town's Destination Marketing Efforts Are Producing Financial Benefits
At its October 21 meeting, the Oro Valley Town Council received a quarterly update on the Town's destination marketing program. Community Economic Development Director Paul Melcher reported approximately $70,000 in new hotel room bookings, expected to generate $4,000 to $6,000 in bed and sales taxes. Another $525,000 in potential bookings could generate approximately $42,000 in additional taxes if secured. Destination Marketing Manager Addie Coleman reported a 290% increase in website traffic over the preceding two months, driven partly by paid advertising. 

While these figures indicate some increased marketing activity and some success in attracting bookings, they do not establish whether the program is producing meaningful financial benefits for the Town. 

Pusch Ridge Golf Tournament Set For November 20
Friends of Pusch Ridge Golf will hold its annual fall tournament on Friday, November 20, at the Pusch Ridge Golf Course. The event will feature a 9 a.m. shotgun start, limited to 54 golfers, followed by lunch at 11:30 a.m., catered by Fork N Fire. Registration information will be available soon.  This year's tournament will honor longtime Pusch Ridge golfer Dorothy New, who passed away October 19. (Source)

Oracle Road Lane Closures Scheduled November 2–6
The Town of Oro Valley will conduct routine median maintenance along Oracle Road (SR 77) from Monday, November 2, through Friday, November 6, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily. Crews will begin just south of Suffolk Drive and work north toward Big Wash Overlook Drive, trimming vegetation and removing litter and debris. Drivers should expect intermittent closures of the left northbound lane as the work zone moves along Oracle Road. Motorists are encouraged to allow extra travel time, slow down near work crews, and consider alternate routes. For additional information, contact the Town's Public Works Department at 520-229-4850 or PW@orovalleyaz.gov. (Source: Town of Oro Valley Media Release)
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Tohono Chul Unveils Ambitions Ten Year Plan

A 10- to 15-year vision for the botanical garden
At its October 21 meeting, the Oro Valley Town Council received a presentation from Tohono Chul President and CEO Jamie Maslyn Larson and Board Vice Chair Gayle Mateer outlining an ambitious master plan for the 49-acre botanical garden. The plan envisions significant improvements to visitor facilities, accessibility, educational programs, and dining opportunities while preserving the natural Sonoran Desert setting that has defined Tohono Chul since its founding in 1985. The plan, unanimously approved by Tohono Chul's board in June, provides a roadmap for improvements over the next 10 to 15 years. Construction is not imminent, and additional design, financial planning, and fundraising will be needed.

Community input guides the proposed improvements
The master plan was developed with input from more than 800 participants, including visitors, members, volunteers, and staff. Their priorities included additional shade, improved restrooms, easier access, more educational opportunities, and preservation of the property's historic buildings. One of the most significant proposed changes is a redesigned entrance that would make it easier for visitors to find their way into and through the gardens. A new welcome center, pedestrian promenade, and gently sloping pathways would improve accessibility, particularly for visitors with mobility challenges and families with strollers.

New facilities and expanded educational opportunities
Proposed improvements include renovating the existing bistro, relocating and expanding the Desert Corner Nursery, and creating a new village area featuring locally produced arts, crafts, food, and refreshments. The plan also calls for expanded indoor and outdoor educational facilities, improvements to the Desert Palm Oasis Garden, and additional areas for art exhibits and community gatherings. An outdoor learning area at the Sinagua Garden would support children's programs and adult education. Larson emphasized that proposed new buildings would occupy existing disturbed areas or parking spaces rather than undisturbed desert land.

Growing attendance strengthens Tohono Chul's economic importance
Tohono Chul representatives reported that attendance has increased 76% since before the pandemic, while annual children's participation has grown from approximately 2,200 to more than 13,000. A University of Arizona Eller College study estimated the garden's annual economic impact at $7.35 million in 2025. The organization employs 35 full-time and five part-time employees and operates with an annual budget of approximately $5 million. Representatives also announced that Tohono Chul had recently been listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places, providing additional recognition of its cultural and historical significance.

Implementation will depend on funding and continued planning
The master plan establishes a long-term vision rather than a commitment to begin construction. Tohono Chul is pursuing additional design work, construction planning, business analysis, and fundraising to determine how improvements can be implemented. The organization also hopes to coordinate with Oro Valley on a proposed multiuse pathway along Ina Road and Paseo del Norte that would improve pedestrian and bicycle access to the gardens. The plan seeks to accommodate growing attendance and strengthen Tohono Chul's role as a regional destination while preserving the quiet desert environment envisioned by its founders.

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Oro Valley Seeks $42.5 Million in 2027 County Bond Funding

Council recommends $42.5 million in proposed improvements in Pima County 2027 Bond Election
At its October 21 meeting, the Oro Valley Town Council voted unanimously to advance a list of projects for consideration in a possible November 2027 Pima County bond election. The preliminary list includes nine projects requesting approximately $42.5 million, plus a proposed extension of the Chuck Huckelberry Loop for which costs have not yet been determined. Assistant Town Manager Carl Shaddock explained that the Town submitted its proposals before the County's October 6 deadline to ensure Oro Valley would be included in the initial review. The proposals are not approvals to spend money. They are requests for funding that will compete with projects submitted by other jurisdictions throughout Pima County.

Police headquarters and parks lead the requests
The largest request is $11 million toward the renovation of the Town-owned building at 13101 North Oracle Road into a new police headquarters and regional Emergency Operations Center. The total project is estimated at $21.6 million. Naranja Park completion would receive $10 million for additional sports fields, basketball and pickleball courts, skate park improvements, shade structures, restrooms, and other facilities. Another $6 million would improve James D. Kriegh Park, including field lighting, parking, and redevelopment of existing recreation areas. The Town also seeks $4 million for Steam Pump Ranch improvements, including restoration of the historic Proctor/Lieber House and construction of a northern entrance.

Transportation and flood control projects included
The remaining proposals address infrastructure and regional connections. The Town seeks $4 million to rehabilitate bridges along Rancho Vistoso Boulevard and Tangerine Road over Big Wash and $3 million for a roundabout at Moore Road and La Cholla Boulevard. A proposed extension of the Chuck Huckelberry Loop would improve connections to the Aquatic Center, Linda Vista Trailhead, Tohono Chul, and eventually points north. Two flood control projects totaling $4.5 million would improve drainage along Mutterer's Wash, where nine homes flooded in 2014, and enhance stormwater infiltration at the Gravel Pit Wash basin near Naranja Park. Council also discussed possible additions, including Aquatic Center improvements and a restroom near the Arizona Heroes Memorial.

Oro Valley residents would help pay for county bonds
Shaddock emphasized that Oro Valley property owners would pay their share of any countywide bond program approved by voters, whether or not Oro Valley receives funding for its projects. The Town represents approximately 8% of Pima County's net assessed property value. Based on preliminary estimates, a $200 million county bond program would cost the owner of a $250,000 home approximately $31 annually in additional property taxes. The actual cost would depend on the final bond amount, repayment schedule, and assessed property value. Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett supported submitting the projects while explaining that doing so did not constitute support for a new tax. Her concern was that, if county voters approved the bonds, Oro Valley residents should receive benefits from the taxes they would pay.

County review will determine which projects advance
The Pima County Bond Advisory Committee will review proposals from throughout the county and is expected to develop a preliminary project list in January 2027, followed by public engagement and final recommendations in March. The Board of Supervisors would then decide whether to place a bond package before voters in November 2027. Council supported moving forward with Oro Valley's proposals, subject to further refinement and prioritization. Some projects may be reduced, revised, or eliminated during the County's review. For now, the Town's objective is to secure a place for Oro Valley's capital improvement needs in a possible countywide funding program.

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Council Takes Charge of Annexation

Updates annexation strategy, establishes new evaluation standards and requires direct Council input going forward 
The Oro Valley Town Council unanimously approved an updated annexation strategy at its October 21 meeting, replacing the policy adopted in 2020. Resolution (R)26-50 establishes a framework for evaluating potential annexations over approximately the next five years. The updated strategy goes beyond identifying properties for possible annexation. It establishes which body decides which opportunities the Town will pursue, how their potential benefits and costs will be evaluated, and how Council will monitor progress. The strategy does not authorize any specific annexation. Each opportunity will require separate Council consideration and approval.

Council takes control of all annexation priorities
One of the most significant changes came through an amendment proposed by Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett. The original proposal required Council approval to move properties into or out of the highest priority category, Tier 1, but permitted the Town Manager to move properties between Tiers 2 and 3 or add properties to those tiers. Barrett's amendment, approved by Council, extended Council authority to all tier assignments. Staff will continue evaluating annexation opportunities and making recommendations, but elected Councilmembers will decide which properties receive priority and when those priorities should change. This gives Council direct control over where the Town concentrates its annexation efforts.

Commercial annexations remain the highest priority
The strategy establishes three priority levels. Tier 1 receives active staff attention and resources, with commercial properties near Ina and Oracle Roads remaining the Town's sole active priority. Staff estimates that three shopping centers in this area could generate approximately $1.57 million annually in retail sales tax revenue if annexed individually, before associated expenses. The principal obstacles are establishing legally acceptable annexation boundaries and obtaining sufficient property-owner support. Tier 2 includes potential opportunities involving La Encantada, the Foothills Mall area, and the Oracle Road corridor. Tier 3 identifies longer-term possibilities, including Arroyo Grande and the State Trust Land near Tangerine and Thornydale Roads. As LOVE previously reported, Council voted October 7 to discontinue active pursuit of the latter annexation.

Water costs and community acceptance gain greater importance
The updated  strategy strengthens the criteria used to evaluate annexation opportunities. Potential tax revenue must be weighed against the cost of providing municipal services, infrastructure improvements, and long-term maintenance. Water availability and the cost of securing additional water resources receive explicit attention, particularly when considering undeveloped land that could require substantial new water supplies. The strategy also places greater emphasis on community acceptance, considering the views of affected property owners and residents as well as those already living in Oro Valley. These criteria are intended to help Council determine whether an annexation would provide a lasting financial and community benefit without imposing significant additional costs on existing residents or water ratepayers.

Regular reporting will keep Council informed
The strategy establishes a more structured process for Council oversight. Staff will provide written progress reports twice annually, an annual presentation coordinated with the Town's budget process, and interim updates when significant developments occur. The first annual review is expected in spring 2027. Council will continue to decide whether to pursue proposed annexations, authorize major financial or infrastructure commitments, and approve final annexation ordinances. 

This new approach establishes clearer responsibilities and evaluation standards, giving Council more direct control over decisions that will affect Oro Valley's boundaries, finances, water resources, and municipal services for years to come. 

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