Bits and Pieces

Neighborhood meetings to return to in-person

The town will be returning to in-person neighborhood meetings. These are meetings that are held in relation to vetting proposed land use or zoning changes. These meetings are an important first step in vetting these proposed changes. There will also be a capability to join the meeting remotely.  

The return to in-person was proposed by Vice Mayor Barrett at Wednesday's Oro Valley Town Council meeting. Her motion was approved unanimously. 

Barrett asserted that the return to in-person will substantially improve the quality of the dialogue between residents, the applicant, and town staff.

Spring 2022 Parks and Recreation Program Guide now available
ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (Feb. 28, 2022) –– The Town of Oro Valley is pleased to announce that the Spring 2022 Parks and Recreation Program Guide is now available online.

 
This seasonal guide includes details on Oro Valley’s 2022 spring break camp options (registration now open), as well as upcoming community events, volunteer opportunities, facility information and more.

 
The Program Guide was first published on February 23 as the cover of the Explorer Newspaper, and it’s currently available on the Town’s website. Click here to view.

(Source: Town of Oro Valley Press Release)

Oro Valley Popular Annual Financial Report is available

“For the 14th year in a row, the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has awarded the Town of Oro Valley the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its July 1, 2021, budget. The award represents a significant achievement by the Town of Oro Valley, reflecting the commitment of Town Council and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.” (Source)

In addition, the Popular Annual Financial Report  report (“PAFR”) for 2021 is now available. The PAFR is not the official financial report. Rather, it is a report for the rest of us; especially for those of us who don’t have a financial background and don’t want to spend the hours it takes to pour through the schedules included in the official report. 

“The PAFR includes a summary of accomplishments, net assets, activities, revenues, expenditures, debt and financial ratings and a snapshot of historical trends in these areas."

Council appoints new members to some commissions

This past Wednesday the town council appointed members to the following boards and commissions:

Water Utility Commission (WUC) 

Alan Forrest for a partial term expiring December 31, 2023 

Patricia Olson for a first term expiring December 31, 2024 

Budget and Finance Commission (BFC)

John Fortunato for a first term expiring December 31, 2023 

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB)

Cheryl Horvath for a first term expiring December 31, 2023

Joanne Moothart for a first term expiring December 31, 2023

Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC)

Joe Nichols for a partial term expiring December 31, 2022

Congratulations to all.

Bits and Pieces

Council appoints 5 member Finance Commission. 
Last week the town Council appointed a five-member budget committee. The members are:

Cathy Solverson for a term expiring December 31, 2020
John Latchford for a term expiring December 31, 2020
James Beasley for a term expiring December 31, 2020
David Newell for a term expiring December 31, 2021
Susan Rosenberg for a term expiring December 31, 2021

All have at least some background in accounting or finance. Four have lived in Oro Valley for five years or less. One has been a resident of the town for 20 years. None have attended the town's Citizens Academy. Their job will be to take a look at the 2019-20 budget that Town Manager Jacobs will submit later this spring. They will provide their input directly to council.

Is Amphi clamping down on outside facility use?
One of our readers wrote about two schools not allowing use of the outdoor track facilities. "CDO is no longer allowing people who aren't attending school there to use the running track. Cross Middle School is also limiting non students from using their running track."  We wonder if it is the same a Ironwood Ridge?  The town does not have a running track and we have seen none in any of the future plans we have reviewed.

Tennis events on the horizon
The town's El Conquistador Tennis Club, run by longtime tennis pro, Jennifer Fuchs, is hosting two USTA events this month. One is the "USTA Spring Team Championships L 1 BG12". The other is the USTA Level 3 "Go for the Gold."  These events will bring tourism to our community.

Fuchs' company, El Conquistador Tennis LLC, leases the tennis courts from the town. The town maintains the facilities and receives funds from tennis memberships.  You can read more about that arrangement here.

In her recent email to tennis members, Fuchs noted that "The Town of Oro Valley did approve our request and patched the courts this month. They have also budgeted funds to do a complete resurface this spring or early summer. The concept of rebuilding a few courts at a time is always being considered." (Source: Fuchs email of 2-22-19)

Beware: Crime is all around us
The recent suspicious death of a Laurie Draegth on Brearly Drive, the attempted armed robbery by a purse snatcher at Fry's on Oracle and and a recent theft of a credit card from an apartment in Oro Valley, tells us that we need to be very careful both in our homes and when we are "out and about." It is indeed a dangerous world, even in peaceful Oro Valley. One suggestion: Leave the purse and wallet at home. Bring only what you need for the trip you are making. Write us with other ideas.

Free concert tonight at Steam Pump Ranch
Come join SAACA and the Town for the FREE Steam Pump Ranch Concert Series! A concerts will take place tonite. There is an "Family event with fun music Blue Grass music beginning at 5 p.m. and lots of family fun activities for little ones and adults alike. Then from 6:30 – 9 p.m., a second band featuring fun 50s – 90s music for all ages will take the stage. The full event will also include food trucks and Sonoita Vineyards winery. Come for dinner and stay all night!" (Source: Town of Oro Valley)

Guest View: Mike Zinkin ~ Eliminate and ignore citizen participation… It’s in our nature

When Satish Hiremath ran for Mayor in 2010, he desired to do away with all the Oro Valley citizen Boards and Commissions.

Eliminating Citizen Participation
Immediately upon being elected, Hiremath did away with the 5-member Bond and Finance Commission. This citizen commission was tasked with advising the Finance Department during the creation of the budget. It was made up of people familiar with accounting, including business owners. The opportunity for five knowledgeable citizens to advise the Town was eliminated.

Next, the 7-member Development Review Board was abolished and replaced with the 7-member Conceptual Design Review Board (CDRB). However, this was not just a name change because with the establishment of the CDRB they also abolished the 5-member Arts Review Commission, thus eliminating the chance for another five citizens to offer input to the Council.

On tonight’s Town Council agenda (June 7th), the first item on the Regular Agenda is to “Consolidate the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Conceptual Design Review Board.” There is a Public Hearing on this item. If passed, the people of Oro Valley will lose another opportunity to give their input to the Council and Town Staff, as this decision will eliminate another seven people from advising the Council. (Council cannot abolish the Planning and Zoning Commission or the Board of Adjustment as they are both required by State law.)

Ignoring Citizens’ Desires
Doing away with boards and commissions staffed by citizen volunteers is all part of the mayor's pattern of silencing the citizens.  It does not matter what the Citizens desire.  Example:  The June 2014 statistically valid Parks and Recreation survey (paid for by the Town) indicated that out of 34 possible facilities/amenities that the People desired, golf came in at #33. So what did Mayor Hiremath and his puppets do? They bought 3 golf courses in December 2014, just six months after the completion of the survey.

Editor’s Note: There are two Public Hearings scheduled for tonight. (1) Public Hearing on consolidating P&Z with the CDRB. (2) Public Hearing on approving the adoption of the FY 2017/18 budget.

Mike Zinkin has a Bachelor’s degree in history and government from the University of Arizona and a Master’s degree in Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education from California State University, Northridge. He was a commissioned ensign in the United States Navy Reserve in 1969. He worked as an Air Traffic Controller for 30 years. He and his wife moved to Oro Valley after retiring in 1998. Mike served on the Oro Valley Development Review Board from 2005-2009, the Board of Adjustment from 2011-2012, and the Town Council from 2012-2016. During his time on council, he was named as one of 23 Leadership Fellows for the National League of Cities University, he was a member of the National League of Cities Steering Committee for Community and Economic Development, and a member of the Arizona League of Cities Budget and Economic Development Committee.