In the November 25, 2020 edition of the Explorer, when referring to the potential purchase of the dormant Vistoso Golf Course, Mayor Winfield is quoted as saying, “I think it is very evident by the community that there’s a significant interest about the purchase and maintenance of this property going into the future.” I wondered what community he was referring to – The Vistoso community or the entire Oro Valley community?
One would think that after being mayor for over two years, Winfield would know that the people who come forward to speak at council meetings do not represent the community. They represent themselves and others who might be affected by the pending decision. Residents who speak at council meetings and/or email the council are those who are either adamantly opposed to something or strongly in favor of it.
We’ve seen this show before
In 2019, it was the Canada Hills crowd. The few hundred individuals dressed in green shirts who showed up at every meeting regarding the future of the Town-owned golf courses did not represent the entire Oro Valley community. They represented themselves as they fought to maintain their views and their property values.
The only time the council hears from the community as a whole is during the Town Council election season. The mayor ran for office in 2018 on the platform that he was going to reduce golf, but in 2019, he became intimidated by the “Green Shirts.” Nine thousand voters put him in office, and yet just a few hundred people in one section of town directed his decision on golf.
Two of the three individuals who ran on a slate with the mayor in 2018 also voted to continue operating the Town-owned golf courses. Vice-Mayor Barrett was the only one who voted NO (October 2, 2019 council meeting) and held to her campaign promise to “resolve the financial issues of the Town-owned golf courses” (Source: LOVE, May 22, 2018, Introducing Melanie Barrett) and “work towards minimizing golf losses through reducing the [number of] holes of golf.” (Source: Campaign website, MelanieBarrett.org).
The others caved to those who came to the meetings, instead of doing what the majority of voters elected them to do. As a result, we have the same golf dilemma that we had with Hiremath.
Now a different group has emerged
In 2020, the residents of the Vistoso golf course community want the Town to condemn the Vistoso golf property, pay fair market value for the property (around $3 million) and add the 200+ acres of open space to the Town’s inventory.
Does the mayor know how much this is going to cost the Town in annual maintenance obligations? Does he know if the entire community is on board with the Town purchasing this property?
The mayor and council should not make any decision until they know how the entire Town feels about this issue. A prior council went against the wishes of the community when it purchased the HSL property (the Community Center building and three golf courses) and they were thrown out of office at the next election.
The Vistoso property has been in its current state for a couple of years. There is no hurry to make a decision based solely on the wants of just those who come forward to speak.
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Publisher Note: Mayor Winfield has stated that it is the town's intention to seek grants and contributions to pay for the purchase. In addition, the town commissioned a study that identified the cost of operating the facility under various scenarios. Residents tell us that that study far over-estimates costs by add extraneous items to the facility. Read about this and more this coming Monday.
