In November, Oro Valley residents will be given the opportunity to vote on the Town's proposed $17 million dollar Bond for Naranja Park improvements to be paid for by a $28 million dollar property tax.The Mayor and Council voted 7-0 to place the Town Staff proposal on the ballot after a long session where coaches, soccer moms and youthful participants eloquently cited the need for more fields.
Let's look at some past history
In 2013, when I was the Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board [PRAB], Oro Valley had only two soccer fields in Riverfront Park. These fields were worn out from overplay with 2-3 teams sharing a field during a practice.
Then in the fall of 2013, prior Town Manager, Greg Caton, exploited a town budget surplus of $1.9 million, added $400,000 of Bed Tax funds, and directed the Town Staff to develop a plan for additional fields at Naranja Park recommended by PRAB. Led by Paul Keesler, Director of Infrastructure Services and Kristi Diaz-Trahan, Parks and Recreation Director, the Town proposed building two new, irrigated and lighted soccer fields, a large and small dog park, a graded access road and a paved parking lot.
The Plan was presented to PRAB, unanimously approved and then approved by the Town Council. The new facilities were constructed at Naranja Park in 2014 within budget and have seen strong use and support. The Plan for Naranja Park at full build out was to have 8 soccer fields. PRAB members looked forward to the continued development of the Park.
Now let’s look at some recent history
Fate intervened, however, when Mayor Hiremath and his Majority-4 on Council quickly purchased the El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Club with its 3 golf courses, 31 Tennis courts, 8 racquet ball courts and swimming pool.
PRAB did not support this purchase because it was not what residents said they wanted in the Town's 2013 and 2014 surveys. Further, it was felt that this purchase would divert resources from developing Naranja Park.
The Town Council’s Misplaced Priorities
It would appear that resident concerns were well-founded since the Town has now lost $7 million between the golf course purchase and operating losses. At a cost of $350,000 for a lighted sports field, we could have built 20 new fields with the money the town has lost subsidizing golf. Going forward, the Town is budgeting to lose $2 million per year on golf operations (the equivalent cost of 6 more sports fields for every year that this fiasco continues).
Oro Valley doesn't need a $28 million dollar secondary property tax to build an adequate number of youth fields - the Town has the funds- our Mayor and Council just have the wrong priorities.
Some additional Town Council decisions that were deemed a higher priority than youth sports include:
• $2.1MM to bury TEP power lines along the recently widened Oracle Road = 6 fields not built.
• $2.6MM capital expense in this year's budget for a new Police Station Annex and Evidence Facility = 8 more fields not built.
This year’s budget already includes two additional sports fields
In a positive development, this year's FY 17/18 Town Manager's budget included $1.046 million for two additional soccer / multi-purpose fields in Naranja Park with grading already underway. These two additional fields (#3 and #4 plus the two fields at Riverfront Park) will give the Town a total of 6 well maintained, irrigated and lighted fields…three times what we had in 2013, but short of the total of 8 fields planned that I agree are needed.
Recommendation
My recommendation to residents is to vote NO on the $28 Million Naranja Bond and Property Tax and demand that our Town Council solve the need for fields by budgeting funds in the Town's operating plan. A $1 million dollar investment in FY 18/19 can build fields #5 and #6 in Naranja Park. Along with the two improved fields at Riverfront Park, this will provide the 8 multi-purpose fields we need.
Let's continue the Town's "pay as we go" development of Naranja Park by giving our youth a fair shake at budget time…not by wasting money on the wrong things and then taxing property owners to pay for the fields that our youngsters need.
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Jack Stinnett graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served on Minesweepers and Destroyers. After his military service, he was employed as an engineer and plant manager in the Nuclear Power industry, a factory manager in the automotive industry, Vice-President of a worldwide engine components business, and finished his career as President and CEO of Morris Material Handling in Milwaukee. He and his wife, Connie, moved to Oro Valley in 2011. He was a member of PRAB from 2012-2014, serving as Chairman in 2013-2014. He enjoys woodworking, biking, and visiting his grandchildren.
