Bits and Pieces

USAT Duathalon Tomorrow

The USAT Duathalon will run through Rancho Vistoso tomorrow.. This is a move of the event from April. (Press Release)  It is a run-bike-run event.  A triathlon includes swimming.

Hiremath and New York Mayor Bloomberg Want Stricter Gun Control

Oro Valley Mayor Satish Hiremath, acting in his capacity as Mayor, has joined Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG). The idea behind the group is to make it more difficult for those who legally want to purchase a weapon to get one.

Hiremath is one of 7 Arizona Mayors to join MAIG. The others are from Avondale,  Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Tempe, Tolleson and Tucson.

Ballfields Coming To Narana Park?

Council Member Mary Snider Mentioned that two ballfields are being considered for the Naranja Town Site.   Apparently, this is under discussion by the Oro Valley Parks and Recs department, with some involvement of town manager Greg Caton.
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Town Will Not Overseed Our Parks This Winter

We have been told by town communication manager Misti Nowak that the town is not planning to over seed our parks this year.

Over seeding is necessary in order for the parks to look nice during our winter months when so many resident and visitors are here in Oro Valley.  The practice  of over seeding was discontinued several years ago.  However, we've been told by the town counsel that there is no budget problem and in fact, a surplus.  So, why not overseed the parks?  Otherwise, the parks look terrible in the winter.   Is this in "In Our Nature?"
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You Gotta Be Kiddin: Vail Wants To Run "On The Cheap"

"The unincorporated area of Vail to our southeast is looking to incorporate. "Citizens for Vail, a pro-incorporation group comprising volunteers living in the area, believes the town can live off just state-shared revenues to provide the bare minimum of services required under state law....

No city hall. No police station. No senior center. No new parks. No performance center. And most important, no increases in property taxes.."(Source)

Are they kidding?   Who would want to live there?

A town's share of the state revenues are based on population. The more people, the more money.  Vail's less expensive land is going to continue to grow.  Growth will drive the need for services.    They may promise no taxes and sparse services now; but that will change once people move in and decide they want more.
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Tucson's General Plan Involvement Process Looks Pretty Sparse Than Oro Valley's

"Prop. 402 concerns the ratification of Plan Tucson as the general plan for the city. The plan is a blueprint designed to guide the city’s growth and development over the next decade...Plan Tucson is the result of years of hard work by city staff and public input, incorporating 64 public meetings and more than 800 comments from stakeholders. The plan covers many areas including housing, public safety, education, business development, environmental quality and historic preservation, all with a focus on sustainability." (Source)

Is this the best they can do?  We expect more public meetings and comments here in Oro Valley as we build our General Plan 2015.
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Dial-A-Ride Setting Records

Oro Valley's Dial-A-Ride set another passenger record last year.

"Fiscal year 2011-12 saw a ridership increase of 123%, from an average of 53 daily passenger trips to 110, and from 14,373 riders annually to 32,061. In FY 2012-13, ridership continued to grow at a rate of 61%. Now, as the Town clears the first quarter of FY 2013-14, this service is still experiencing a growth rate of about 30% and hitting all-time ridership records.

Oro Valley's Assistant Director of Development and Infrastructure Services Aimee Ramsey added, "The fact that our ridership continues to grow is a clear indication that the Town of Oro Valley is doing an outstanding job of meeting the transportation needs of our residents."" (Oro Valley Press Release)
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Short Stuff: Last Week's Council Meeting

Last week's Oro Valley council meeting was brief. Here's some of what transpired:

Call To The Audience

Oro Valley Should Check On It's Liability

Oro Valley resident John Musolf discussed the fact that Oro Valley may be legally liable when something goes wrong with one of the inter-governmantal task forces that it participates.  He referenced the recently report Pima County Drug Task Force settlement.  A wrongful death cost Oro Valley $100,000 from the general fund.  John noted other areas where Liability could occur including the archery center in Naranja Park and the Oro Valley Aquatic center.     John recommended the town look into these and other agreements to understand the potential liability could be.  Councilmember Zinkin and requested  Town Manager Caton  follow-up on John's suggestion.

Later in the meeting, John spoke of the impact of growth in Oro Valley on Amphi school enrollment.  He estimates 600-700 new homes and 764 apartments housing families that will be coming on-line in the near future.  He asked that the town hold public informational meetings with school district to let them know of Oro Valley's growth.  Town Manager Caton stated that the town does inform and communicate with the district.

Oracle Widening Project Update

Robin Rain of ADOT gave an update on the Oracle Road widening project, from Tangerine to the Pinal County line.  When done, the road will look like the section if Oracle south of Tangerine.  Construction, starting in early 2014, will take 2 years.  The road will have 10' shoulders for bike lanes.  There will be 2 wildlife crossings, one in Oro Valley and one north of the Pima County refuse center in Pinal County.  There will be fencing to direct the animals to the crossing.

70 properties will get the benefit of a sound wall, in four areas on the roadway.  The wall will be concrete masonry block, about 15 feet tall in total.  It will have a pattern with different colors and texture on the side viewable from the roadway.

Click here to learn more.

Consent Agenda Approved In Total

The consent agenda, which included inkind support for the USA Triathlon National Duathlon Championships, was approved in total. The event will be held Saturday, October 26, 2013.

"The Hilton El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort will be the host resort, with Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott and the Quality Inn and Suites serving as the overflow hotels. Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., a member of the Roche Group, will serve as the host site for all of the competitions. As this is an open national championship, all Oro Valley residents are invited to compete in this event." (Source)

Liquor License Granted To Molinito

The council granted Molinito Restaurant  (10180 North Oracle Road) a liquor license. There were no public comments.  The Oro Valley Police Department saw no reason not to grant the license.

Stone Canyon Residential Sub Division  Conceptual Plan Approved

The last item on the regular agenda was a public hearing Stone Canyon enclave residential subdivision.  It is a 36 lot single-family detached subdivision on a 13 acre site.  Lot sizes will range from 9,000 square feet to 21,000 square feet. The homes will be 23' high, one story.  It is near the Stone Canyon fitness center.  The Rancho Vistoso PAD development standards are the governing standard for approval.  The Conceptual Design Review Board had approved the plan in August.
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