Six key events...and counting
We foresee six key events in Oro Valley in 2022. Here's our preview.
The former Vistoso Golf Course purchase and designation as a permanent preserve
We expect that the purchase of the former Vistoso Golf Course will be completed within the next few weeks. After that, the land will be gifted by The Conservation Fund" to the town of Oro Valley. This will happen once the land is designated as permanent open space.
Conversion of the former Vistoso Golf property to a preserve
This land will become a permanent part of the town's parks and recreation system. There's a lot of work that needs to be done to clean it up. A decision needs to be made is on what will happen to the “lake." It is our understanding of the town and residents will work together to clean up the property during the remainder of the year.
The town Council will hold a public hearing on February 16 at 6 pm regarding the proposed Oro Valley Village Center. That center includes what is now in the Oro Valley marketplace plus large apartment buildings and three hotels.
The town is also negotiating an economic development agreement with the developer of this property behind closed doors. If the center is approved, there won't be anything built until at least 2023 or 2024.
2022 Elections
There are two candidates who have declared their intention to run for mayor. They represent two different leadership styles; two different approaches to the community. There are six candidates running for three council seats. These candidates are running as teams of three. The candidates are collecting signatures between now and early April so that they can get on the ballot. Our plan is to provide a snapshot of each candidate so that you can decide whose petitions you want to sign. You can sign up to three petitions, though we don’t think that anything will happen if you sign all six since no one checks the signatures.
A 2022-23 Budget with no "Washington Big Bucks"
The process of preparing the budget for next year will start in February. The process concludes in late June. This ain't “your grandfathers Oro Valley.” Oro Valley services have grown substantially in the past three years; and they will continue to grow as the Town adds even more. The 2022-23 budget faces the challenge of not receiving massive government funding. Well at least it doesn't look that way at the moment. Indeed, if the town needs to start relying on it's own revenue resources for funding, the budget for next year is going to be more challenging than it has been in the past.
2022 Elections
There are two candidates who have declared their intention to run for mayor. They represent two different leadership styles; two different approaches to the community. There are six candidates running for three council seats. These candidates are running as teams of three. The candidates are collecting signatures between now and early April so that they can get on the ballot. Our plan is to provide a snapshot of each candidate so that you can decide whose petitions you want to sign. You can sign up to three petitions, though we don’t think that anything will happen if you sign all six since no one checks the signatures.
A 2022-23 Budget with no "Washington Big Bucks"
The process of preparing the budget for next year will start in February. The process concludes in late June. This ain't “your grandfathers Oro Valley.” Oro Valley services have grown substantially in the past three years; and they will continue to grow as the Town adds even more. The 2022-23 budget faces the challenge of not receiving massive government funding. Well at least it doesn't look that way at the moment. Indeed, if the town needs to start relying on it's own revenue resources for funding, the budget for next year is going to be more challenging than it has been in the past.
Drinking water use on Pusch Ridge Golf Course
When the town reopened the Push Ridge Golf Course it also agreed to irrigate the course. That course uses a tremendous amount of drinking water. Using drinking water to irrigate a golf course is simply not the right thing to do during these times of drought. The Pusch Ridge Golf Course drinking water use simply needs to be investigated and reduced by the Town.
This issue should not be pushed back until 2024 or 2025, which is what appears to be the present plan. Those that support the course are eager to enter into discussions regarding turf reduction and other water use measures. The time to do so is sooner rather than later.
There will be others
We can think of several topics that will become key topics in 2022. One of those is transparency in government. Another is getting back to a normal, non pandemic world. And the beat goes on!
