At their November 6 meeting, the Oro Valley Town Council discussed the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve restoration project and decided to delay the project until fall 2025. This decision was influenced by two main factors: The need to maximize grant funding and the need to align the work with optimal fall planting season. In addition, Mayor Winfield emphasized that the town should use this time “…to come back with detailed cost estimates and potential project expansions that align with grant eligibility.”
Major Goals: Maximize Grant Funding
The council focused on how to best secure matching funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a federal program that provides grants for outdoor recreational projects. Staff highlighted that the earliest possible approval for the grant would be next August, reinforcing the need to pause the project to align with potential funding timelines. The LWCF will only fund project costs that occur after the grant has been approved, making the delay necessary.
And maximize reseeding acreage
During the meeting, residents expressed their concerns about the limited scope of the proposed 15-acre plan. Longtime resident Phil Zalensky said, “If we only do 15 acres, we’re wasting a lot of money for very little gain,” pointing out that untreated areas could allow invasive species to spread.
Restoration has a history of delays
This latest setback is yet another delay in restoring the property. It has been more than three years since the land was given to the town. There have been studies, discussions, and directions provided by the council to staff, but no action has been taken.
The town had commissioned and the council had rejected a master plan study last April. At that time, the council voted to get a new plan focused on restoration, begin design work on the preserve by this past August, and start restoration by January 15. The town commissioned an experienced desert restoration consulting firm, Kimley-Horn. Their consultant, Rebecca Field, presented a restoration plan that the council unanimously approved in September.
Council seeks staff accountability for not following what council asks them to do
Town staff informed the council in previous meetings that securing the LWCF grant would take time. However, they did not clarify that applying for the grant would result in a project delay of an entire fiscal year. Additionally, it appears that staff was aware of the council’s intent to identify recreational projects at the Preserve that could qualify for up to $1.5 million in matching funds. Despite this, staff did not do this. Instead they identified recreational projects that would qualify for the grant of only $784,150. Thus, they did not execute the directive of the council.
And its up to Town Manager Wilkins make it so
The council requested that staff revisit the plan to better align it with their goals. Ensuring clear communication and alignment between the council’s directives and staff proposals is essential, and it is the responsibility of Town Manager Jeff Wilkins to ensure that council priorities are effectively executed. It his job to get it right.
Pause may actually be a good thing
The council passed resolution [panel above right] emphasizes effectively using the existing $4 million budget. In addition, the resolution directs staff to explore enhancements that could qualify the project for matching grants; and to return with detailed cost estimates on alternative seeding methods. As a result, this pause may be a good thing because it will align spending with potential grant funding opportunities and provide the most cost effective plan for reseeding the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve.
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