Friday, September 27, 2024

Bits and Pieces

Tonight, Marana visits CDO in "Tangerine Road Battle" 
Undefeated Marana High School visits Canyon del Oro (CDO) tonight in what is shaping up to be the biggest game of the season for CDO. Led by new head coach Scott McKee, CDO has turned things around after an opening loss, going on a three-game win streak to bring their record to 3-1. What’s remarkable about CDO’s performance this season is that only a handful of seniors from last year’s state championship team have returned and they have a new coach. Go Dorados!

Council approves seeking $18 million in funding for NWRRDS

The Oro Valley Town Council has approved seeking a loan from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) to fund the Northwest Recharge, Recovery, and Delivery System (NWRRDS) project. This project will enable Oro Valley to bring CAP water from the Avra Valley reservoirs directly to the Town. Currently, that water is delivered to Oro Valley through the City of Tucson water system.

The loan will cover some this fiscal year’s expenditures, which are budgeted at $22.3 million. To date, the project has been funded through a combination of impact fees, groundwater preservation fees, and a previous WIFA grant. This approval allows the town to proceed with the loan application process to secure the necessary funding to continue the project.

The total project cost is estimated at $47.6 million, with $10.2 million anticipated to be spent in the final year of the project in fiscal 2026. The loan being sought will only cover some of this fiscal year’s expenditures, ensuring the project can continue without disruption. We anticipate that the final year’s spending will also need to be funded through a future loan.

Town receives two awards for communications and marketing

The Town of Oro Valley received two national awards for its communications and marketing efforts from the City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA). The first award, a Silver Circle Award for Best Use of Humor, was for a social media video promoting the town's shred event using a "Star Wars" spoof. The second award, an Award of Excellence in the Digital Interactive – Media, Radio, Podcast category, was for the *This Is Oro Valley* podcast series, which provides updates on town services and events. Both projects were recognized for their success in increasing community engagement.

Bark in the Park at Steam Pump Ranch tomorrow
"Calling all dog lovers! Join us this Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, from 5 to 8 p.m. for Bark in the Park, a free community event hosted by Town of Oro Valley Parks and Recreation at Steam Pump Ranch, 10901 N. Oracle Road. Bring your family, friends, and furry companions for an evening of fun-filled activities dedicated to our canine friends! Enjoy a dog costume contest and plenty of opportunities for your pups to make new friends. Participants register on-site for the dog costume contest, with prizes provided by the Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank for the best-dressed dogs." (Source: Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

Today is the last day to register for Community Academy
Today is the last day to register for Oro Valley’s 27th Annual Community Academy. This program offers residents the chance to learn about important topics such as water use, growth, and traffic while helping to shape the town’s future. The academy runs from October 3 to November 4, 2024, with both in-person and online participation options available. Don’t miss this opportunity to get involved in planning Oro Valley’s next 10-year action plan. Register by the end of the day at orovalleyaz.gov.

No council general planning liaisons will be assigned this time around
In 2014, two council member liaisons were assigned to the *Your Voice, Our Future* general plan effort, though their exact role was unclear. We asked Mayor Winfield if he planned to do the same for the current *Path Forward* planning cycle. Mayor Winfield told us that no specific council liaisons would be assigned. Instead, all council members can participate in the general plan process as they choose, and updates on the plan’s progress will be presented to the council periodically.
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