Bits and Pieces...Election Style

Napier overlooks Barrett’s ten years of hands-on Oro Valley experience

Melanie Barrett has served this community for more than ten years. She first served on the Oro Valley Planning and Zoning Commission. For the past eight years, she has served on the Town Council and as Vice Mayor. During that time, she has been directly involved in the Town’s budgets, land-use decisions, water policy, public safety funding, parks and recreation planning, road maintenance priorities, annexation discussions, and long-range financial planning. She has not watched Oro Valley from the outside. She has governed it. (Watch KGUN 9 Barrett interview here).

That is why a Mark Napier campaign video is so hard to take seriously. In the video, Napier compares his background to Barrett’s by describing her as a “part-time elected official” and listing only “Town Council Member” under her professional experience. That is campaign framing. It is not a fair description of what Barrett has done for Oro Valley. 

Napier has significant professional experience. That is not in dispute. The question for voters is what kind of experience matters most in this election. Napier offers outside executive and law-enforcement experience. Barrett offers direct Oro Valley governing experience. She knows the Town’s issues because she has been working on them for years. To say that she lacks the experience to lead Oro Valley going forward is not just unfair. It is ridiculous. It is patently absurd.

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A commenter on Napier's facebook page had a visceral reaction to his video: "Ignoring someone’s accomplishments and achievements while also putting down stay at home moms is wild. But hey, I can do it too. Without the whole degrading various moms all over town… that’s gross dude." The commenter included a visual which we is on the panel at right. Enjoy.

DeSimone says that a photo of a six story building could jeopardize future "Uptown" annexation efforts
In a campaign video, council candidate Chris DeSimone said that a building shown in some competitors’ campaign materials is not in Oro Valley. He alleges that the building pictured is part of the Uptown redevelopment of the former Foothills Mall in unincorporated Pima County. DeSimone argued that using that building to warn voters about tall buildings in Oro Valley could make future annexation discussions with the developer of Uptown, Bourn Companies, more difficult.

We just do not see the problem.

First, Oro Valley residents have made clear that they do not want tall buildings in Town. Oro Valley’s zoning rules limit building height. Future development inside Oro Valley would be subject to the Town’s zoning and land-use approval process. If the Uptown property were ever annexed, existing buildings and previously approved development rights would only be affected if the Bourn sought new approvals, changed the project, or agreed to different terms as part of an annexation agreement. And these exceptions could be granted as part of the annexation agreement.

Second, Uptown is part of Oro Valley’s long-range annexation discussion, but it is a very long-term target. It is not contiguous with Oro Valley’s current boundaries. Arizona annexation law requires the territory proposed for annexation to be contiguous to the city or town. According to the Town Council’s January annexation discussion, annexing the former Foothills Mall area first would require annexing residential areas that together include roughly 2,500 residents. That would be needed just to bring the Town’s boundary to the mall. It would also make the annexation more complicated, more expensive to serve, and dependent on broad residential participation. 

Residents in that area have not shown interest in becoming part of Oro Valley. LOVE reported in 2020 that the last time the Town tried to convince the Foothills Mall area to join Oro Valley, it received a “resounding no.”  That history matters. It means Uptown may be worth watching as a long-range possibility, but it is not the Town’s practical near-term annexation strategy.

DeSimone says other candidates "might be afraid to answer tough questions"

In a separate campaign posting, DeSimone asserts that he has been more available to voters than the other candidates. He says he is “the one candidate of the seven total” who has held the most public events to encourage input and conversation. That would be a legitimate campaign point if documented. He goes further, saying that the “lack of public engagement” by some competitors “should worry the voters” and suggesting they “might be afraid of answering tough questions.” DeSimone says he will continue meeting with residents monthly if elected and hopes one or two fellow council members will join him. 

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Napier Says Oro Valley Marketplace Lacks Vision and Leadership… But Is He Right?

Does Napier's claim "hold water"?
A campaign video posted on mayoral candidate Mark Napier’s site states that “The Oro Valley Marketplace is not living up to its potential due to failed leadership and no long-term vision for its development.” The claim is not substantiated. It is simply an assertion. The video gives the impression, especially to those who do not know the Marketplace’s history, that the empty storefronts, and there are many, are the fault of the current Town Council.

History says otherwise
LOVE has documented the Marketplace since its inception. Indeed, LOVE’s founding grew out of the efforts of residents who opposed Town financial support for the center. They did not like the agreement the Town made with the developer, Vestar. Vestar was to receive an estimated $23.2 million in rebated sales tax revenue over the center’s first ten years.

These residents fought to place that choice on the ballot so residents could approve or reject it. Bedazzled by the promise of an “upscale” mall like La Encantada in the foothills, and with the support of the Paul Loomis-led council, 58% of residents, in March 2006, voted in favor of the Town’s financial support for the center. They did not get that upscale mall. A subsequent Arizona Supreme Court ruling sharply restricted such arrangements by requiring that public payments provide direct and proportionate public benefits.

The Marketplace was troubled from the beginning
LOVE chronicled this history through 2019. We concluded that the Marketplace was doomed from its inception because it was not an economically feasible venture. Even with ongoing government support, it was, at best, only marginally successful. The only council that could be blamed for its failure, if any council could be blamed, would be the council in office when the decision was made to financially support the center in 2005. Indeed, the Marketplace would never have been built at that time had it not been for the financial support to which the Town had agreed.

The Marketplace struggled throughout its history. There were always vacant storefronts. No upscale stores located there. Its gross revenues fell far short of the plan. After ten years, the center had generated $16.4 million in sales tax revenue for Vestar. That was far less than the projected $23.2 million. Store after store failed. Remember Dick’s Sporting Goods? Best Buy? Ashley Furniture?

During most of those years, from 2010 to 2018, the Town was overseen by the Hiremath Council. That council included current council candidate Rhonda Piña and Joe Hornat, a vocal Napier supporter. The Hiremath Council did nothing to fix the plight of the center. And, really, what could it have done?

The Winfield Council inherited the problem
By 2019, the first full year of the Winfield Council, there were 22 open businesses and 23 empty storefronts. By October, the Marketplace had a new owner. Vestar sold the Oro Valley Marketplace to Town West Realty. The reported purchase price was $45.15 million.

Town West presented a new vision
Town West had a vision. It planned to transform the Marketplace from a primarily retail center into a mixed-use development. Town West believed that only a mixed-use development could provide the density needed to make the shopping center successful. The Town Council agreed. From 2022 to 2023, Town staff and the council worked with Town West to shape the redevelopment into a plan that could revitalize the Marketplace.

Council shaped it the Oro Valley way
The initial proposal from Town West contemplated approximately 730 apartments in two six story buildings. They sought numerous exceptions from the Town’s existing height and setback requirements. These exceptions were not consistent with the Town’s General Plan. Nor were they consistent with what residents wanted. The initial plan included a “public-private partnership” that would have required the Town to underground a wash and build and maintain an entertainment center.

After much work, the final agreement allowed 320 apartments in two three-story buildings, with the buildings limited to 39 feet. It also included a hotel. The agreement added an important condition: The agreement added an important condition: The hotel in Area 4 must receive its certificate of occupancy before certificates of occupancy may be issued for any apartments in Area 4. The initial recreational amenities would be the responsibility of the developer rather than becoming a Town-funded obligation. If the project succeeds, the council can later decide whether it wants to underground the wash to accommodate another hotel and food-court-type concepts in the entertainment district.

Redevelopment is now moving forward
Drive through the Marketplace and you can see that construction is in progress on the north side of the property. It includes one of the two approved apartment buildings, the hotel, intersection and pedestrian improvements, and the neighborhood park. Surf Thru Car Wash is ready to go on the south side. There is also a new restaurant where Red Lobster used to be. 

Napier should explain his alternative
If Napier does not see that as leadership, then we ask: What would he have done, and would it have achieved a better result? We believe that question is legitimate. We see a center that is being revitalized and is on the move again. We see a center whose redevelopment plan was shaped with the input and effort of Town staff and council. We see that as leadership.

But Napier’s video does not agree. So we wonder: What would he have done differently to make this redevelopment a reality? Would he have approved six-story apartment buildings? Would he have approved 720 apartments? Would he have committed millions of dollars in Town money upfront to fund the entertainment center?

Those are legitimate questions Napier ought to answer instead of simply trying to rewrite history.

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“Neighbor Joe” Makes a Good Story But It Does Not Explain Oro Valley’s Finances

A simple story with a serious accusation
Mayoral candidate Mark Napier recently compared Oro Valley to his fictional neighbor Joe, a man who misses his income forecast, withdraws money from savings, postpones home improvements, and reduces maintenance because he cannot afford it. Napier concludes that Joe is in financial trouble and says the Town is being managed in the same way. He then accuses candidates who disagree of being “in denial for personal and political reasons.” It is an effective campaign story. It is not an accurate explanation of Oro Valley’s finances.

Yes. town's financial pressures are real
Napier is right that Oro Valley’s revenue outlook has weakened. The Town substantially reduced its sales tax forecast after collections fell below expectations. The fiscal year 2027 budget took action. Council removed or deferred approximately $11.6 million of proposed capital spending. None of this spending was essential. Council directed General Fund departments to reduce operating and maintenance spending by one-half of one percent. It reduced excess police pension contribution by approximately $1.5 million while maintaining a fully funded police pension, These are real adjustments; responsively done. 

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But, let's get the facts right
But Napier does not see it that way. Instead, his "Neighbor Joe Story" says the Town missed its “income projections” by 12.5 percent. That wording makes it sound as though all Town revenue fell 12.5 percent below budget. It did not. The figure applies only to projected local sales tax revenue. As we have previously explained in several articles, much of that shortfall resulted a construction project that did not begin when Town staff assumed they would. It was a timing issue. It is not evidence of a permanent, long-term revenue decline. Yes, the staff forecast miss was substantial, and staff should be held accountable for it. However, a shortfall in one major revenue category is not the same as a 12.5 percent shortfall in all Town income. 

In fact, the approximately $4 million shortfall represents about 3.7 percent of the Town’s anticipated total revenues.

A Fund balance is not a rainy-day account
The “Neighbor Joe Story” also says the Town regularly takes large sums from “long-term savings just to balance the budget.” That description treats every reduction in the General Fund balance as evidence that the Town is living beyond its means. This is where Napier gets it wrong. A municipal fund balance is not merely a household savings account. It includes money available for planned capital transfers, debt service, and other authorized uses, as well as the amount needed to satisfy the Town’s reserve policy. A decline in the General Fund balance does not necessarily mean the Town has dipped below its required reserve or used emergency savings to pay routine operating expenses, any more than a change in your bank balance means you are going broke.

Which projects and which maintenance?
Also in the “Neighbor Joe Story", Napier says that the Town is delaying or canceling “very significant improvements” and scaling back normal maintenance because it lacks the money. He does not identify which capital projects have been deferred, why they are essential, why they were deferred, or how the delays affect residents. Nor does he identify which maintenance work will not be performed. 

It has been the history of Oro Valley budgeting that proposed capital plans routinely change as projects are reprioritized, redesigned, rescheduled, or moved outside the five-year planning period. A change in proposed capital spending is not, by itself, proof that the Town cannot afford to maintain its essential infrastructure.

A household comparison has limits
A household analogy can make a complicated issue easier to understand, but only when the comparison accurately reflects the facts. A municipality operates multiple funds, receives revenues that are legally restricted to specific purposes, transfers money between funds, pays debt service, and finances assets that may serve residents for decades. Oro Valley’s finances cannot be accurately evaluated by treating the General Fund as a checking account and the entire fund balance as personal savings.

Questions require more than an analogy
Napier has raised fair questions about revenue forecasting, capital priorities, spending discipline, and long-term financial planning. Those questions should be debated. However, declaring the Town to be in serious financial trouble requires more than comparing it to an overspending homeowner. It requires identifying which recurring expenditures exceed recurring revenues, which deferred projects materially affect residents, which maintenance needs are going unmet, and when the Town is projected to fall below its required reserve. The “Neighbor Joe Story" provides none of that.

Challenges are not the same as mismanagement

All candidates agree that Oro Valley faces financial challenges. Sales tax revenues have flattened, staff badly overestimated the timing of major construction projects, and the Town must carefully manage spending as it approaches build-out. Those are legitimate election issues. They do not, by themselves, prove that the Town is financially mismanaged.

The most troubling part of Napier’s “Neighbor Joe” story is his suggestion that those who disagree with his conclusion are “in denial for personal and political reasons.” There is no evidence that Melanie Barrett, during her eight years on the Town Council, ever acted out of personal or political interest in assessing the Town’s finances. Voters deserve a fuller explanation of why Napier would imply otherwise.

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Guest View: Mayoral Candidate Melanie Barrett - A Record of Results and a Plan for What Comes Next

Today, we present the last of seven candidate Guest Views. Today’s View is from mayoral candidate and Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett. Her Guest View is longer than the others. However, we felt it was important to publish it in its entirety because it provides specific information about both her record during the past eight years and the work she believes remains to be done.

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A record of accomplishment
Being your Vice Mayor for the past eight years has been an incredible honor. I look back joyfully at all that we have accomplished together.

We strengthened Oro Valley’s record of public safety

We have frequently been rated the safest city in Arizona and received national recognition as one of the nation’s best and safest places to retire. We supported our police with competitive pay, achieved three police accreditations under award-winning Police Chief Kara Riley, and modernized our court system and building to improve safety.

We strengthened the Town’s finances

...raising our Standard & Poor’s rating two levels to AA+. We paid off the long-neglected police pension liability, saved more than $30 million, and maintained relatively low debt. We also turned municipal golf from annual operating losses of about $2 million into an operating surplus.

We built a major park, enhanced recreation, and added open space

This golf turnaround allowed us to invest in parks and recreation without new taxes. We added miles of paths and trails, improved Community Center amenities, and expanded Naranja Park with a playground, splash pad, pickleball courts, fields, a skate park, and a pump track. We also added Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve to the Town’s park portfolio, protecting it from development and creating a community asset.

We protected Oro Valley’s character and fostered economic development

We supported economic growth through the expansion of Roche Tissue Diagnostics, the annexation of the Westward Look Resort, and the opening of more than 45 businesses this year. We also protected mountain views along Tangerine Road by rejecting proposed six-story apartments and allowing two- and three-story buildings instead. We rejected a development agreement that would have cost the Town more than $6 million in taxes and required one of three promised hotels to be built to help make the project fiscally sustainable.

We invested in a more reliable, diverse water supply

We addressed water concerns through conservation and infrastructure that diversifies our supply. The Northwest Recharge and Recovery Delivery System, scheduled for completion next year, will bring Oro Valley its Colorado River allocation.

These accomplishments were achieved through the Town and community working together. 

Still, there is work to be done
I am running for Mayor so I can continue that work for you.

Build our new police station
We purchased an affordable building to support our police. That building now needs cost-effective design and remodeling. 

Annex commercial corridors
We have also begun planning for annexation to the south near Oracle and Ina to bring additional retail and revenue into Oro Valley. I want to move that plan forward. To succeed, Oro Valley must be a Town that neighboring residents want to join and where they trust they will be heard.

Complete the redevelopment of the Oro Valley Marketplace
A second apartment development and a hotel remain to be built at the Oro Valley Marketplace. The hotel has not yet moved forward, and the Town must continue to uphold the commitments made as part of that development.  

Protect our views and limit building heights

This second apartment project was proposed at five stories and limited by the Town Council to three stories. A future request for additional height remains possible. We need to hold the line on protecting our views and limiting building heights. There is also a proposed building in Stone Canyon with five-story height approval that is now involved in litigation. Oro Valley needs a Town Council committed to limiting building heights where appropriate.

Protect our water supply from risky annexations and high-water-use development
We need to protect our water supply and avoid annexations of state land to the west or north that could affect our water rights. State land could potentially be proposed for a data center. Should such a request come forward, the Town Council must conduct proper due diligence and represent residents rather than outside interests, landowners, or politicians who have supported data centers elsewhere.

Make careful, sustainable investments in parks, trails, and open space
We should continue making modest, incremental investments in parks and recreation as funding becomes available. Those investments must meet resident needs while remaining fiscally sustainable. We also need a better plan for Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve and should continue improving community connectivity through paths and trails.

Together, we must implement our ten-year General Plan without returning to the excessive amendments that were common before my time on the Town Council.

Why I am running for Mayor
I have been honored to represent Oro Valley residents on the Town Council. Because I have never accepted developer donations or been beholden to out-of-town interests, my focus has remained on the residents of Oro Valley. If elected Mayor, I will continue to answer to the residents of Oro Valley.

I hope to continue serving and representing you for four more years as your Mayor. I would be honored to have your vote.

Please visit MelanieBarrett.org to learn more about these issues. Thank you.

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Election 2026 Update: Forum, Ballots, and Campaign Developments

Chamber Forum Set for Tonight
Tonight, the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce will host a candidate forum at the Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene, located at 500 W. Calle Concordia. The event begins with a meet and greet from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., followed by the forum. From 6:00 to approximately 7:00 p.m., council candidates will deliver opening statements, respond to questions, and provide closing remarks under a structured format. From approximately 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., mayoral candidates Barrett and Napier will follow with their forum,

Candidates Napier, DeSimone and Pina using same media company
All candidates have now filed their first quarter campaign finance reports with the Town, detailing both contributions and expenditures. A review of those reports shows that candidates Napier, DeSimone, and Pina are using the same media company, Live the Dream Media, for campaign services. DeSimone’s podcast is with that company, and he serves as its Vice President of Business Development. A review of the campaign websites of the three candidates shows each emphasizes public safety, fiscal responsibility, and maintaining core services.

The candidates tell us there is no collaboration. According to mayoral candidate Mark Napier: “I am not running as a slate with anyone. I am using Live the Dream Media because they have a good reputation in the community and I need their help with social media support. Some candidates may have similar views on issues facing the community. This is not unusual and does not reflect collaboration.”

Chair of Planning and Zoning Commission is paid consultant for DiSimone campaign
We also noted in our review of the finance reports that current Planning and Zoning Commission chair, Anna Clark, is working as a paid consultant to the DeSimone campaign, receiving about $3,500 thru March 31, according to DiSimone's campaign finance report. Clark's position as Chair expires at the end of this year.

Site posts altered images and insulting campaign messaging to demean candidates Barrett, Dailey and Wood
A facebook page that has been active since last year continues to publish content targeting certain Oro Valley candidates and current leadership. The material goes beyond criticism, using insulting suggestion's and imagery to attack individuals. Screenshots provided to LOVE show posts attributed to James Prunty that portrays candidates Barrett, Dailey and Wood in a negative light. In several instances, the content uses images of candidates taken from there websites, alters or distorts them, and overlays disparaging messages, contributing to an overall tone that is attack-oriented and never issue-focused. 

Independent voters: Make sure you get a ballot
The Pima County Recorder’s Office mailed a notice to independent voters regarding how to receive a ballot for the primary election. Normally, these voters would not receive a ballot unless they had designated a party affiliation. The notice includes a return envelope. On the form, voters must select which ballot they want (a town-only ballot is available) and indicate where the ballot should be sent if they will not be at their registered address. Ballots cannot be forwarded. The county will mail the ballot on June 24. The election date is July 21.

Guest View-Don Cox: Council Inaction on Growth-“Lean Years Are Coming”

A friend forwarded a copy of a recent post on this blog. After reading it, I felt compelled to submit some thoughts of my own about the post and the Town of Oro Valley in general.

That post was penned by Mike Zinkin. If you have been around the Oro Valley for 20+ years, you probably know that Mike and I have had a few differences over the years. What may surprise you is that in the past couple of years, we have discovered that we agree on many issues. In fact, he and I have been featured jointly on the Jim Horn’s Oro Valley Podcast” in recent weeks. So at this time, I want to ‘dovetail’ on some of his commentary.

In the past 5 years, the governance of Oro Valley has taken a well oiled financial machine, the envy of the vast majority of the municipalities in the United States and placed it on the road to financial failure. Unfortunately we have now moved into the fast lane of that road.

The current Town Manager’s proposed FY 2023/2024 budget is nothing more than documenting the stated desires of the Town Council in writing, and then assigning a cost to it. It does not address the needs of the town. Rather, it reflects the personal desires of the town council members. A “splash pad” did not come from the residents. it came from Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett. A “Pump Track” did not come from the Town residents. It came from, Councilman Josh Nicholson. 

About 3 or 4 months ago you were given a clear ‘red flag message’ when the Director of Public Works, Paul Kessler, announced at a Town Meeting that the estimated cost of the ‘projects’ on the Town Council wish list, which was to be paid for by that $50 million non-resident approved bond, was closer to $100 million. How does Winfield and crew, make a $50 million error on a $50 million bond? The answer to that question is simple. It’s fiscal irresponsibility!!

I have spent a great deal of time examining the Oro Valley proposed FY 2023/2024 revenue budget. It’s available on the Town website for all to see.

Here are some direct quotes from the Revenue Summary: 

“Local sales tax is expected to show gains over the FY 22/23budget, but a slight decline when compared to with the FY 22/23 actual revenue.”
Translation: Our sales tax revenue is going down

“This is largely attributable to construction sales tax, as permitting activity has slowed from the highs we saw during the COVID -19 pandemic.”
Translation: We are building fewer homes. Where have you heard that before? Yours truly!!! 

“The Town is projecting 119 single family residential (SFR) permits for FY 23/24 compared to the 171 SFR permits budgeted for FY 22/23. Commercial development revenues are expected to decrease based on projected building activity.”

Translation: “Commercial follows residential.” We have no residential growth therefore we have no commercial growth.  

Now my friends, is the 1600 hundred pound elephant in the room

The current Town Council majority has not approved a single residential development in Oro Valley (with the exception of a 64 +/- project that was already approved by Pima County before it was annexed)! No new commercial development has been approved in the same period. The exception to the latter statement is the Marketplace re-development which they gutted for no logical reason. The 2018 campaign promise of a “Moratorium on Growth”, which was later denied by Melanie Barrett, has become a reality.

From the time of Council approval, it takes an average of 3 years for projects to start generating construction sales tax. Construction sales tax is currently running about $6,000,000 a year. Translation: This Town Council majority has created an eight year void in the Construction Sales Tax pipeline. That’s $6 million a year that is going away for a minimum of 8 years. And that money is not replaceable.

Prepare yourselves for some very lean years in our immediate future if we don’t come up with a way to generate more income for the Town.

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Don Cox moved to Oro Valley in 1997.  He has served on various town committees including an extended stint as a chair and vice chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission.  He is a member of the Oro Valley Optimist Club and the Arizona Youth Partnership.

Four More Years? Yes or No? It’s Up To You

Oro Valley votes for mayor and council tomorrow  
Tomorrow, Oro Valley votes on who will be their Mayor and town council. 

It is a “winner take all scenario for Mayor

The mayor will either be former Police Chief Danny Sharp or Current Mayor Joe Winfield. Four years ago, Winfield won a landslide victory over then Mayor Satish Hiremath. Winfield received more than 58% of the 15,817 votes cast. Four years earlier, Hiremath won a landslide victory over his opponent, receiving more than 62% of the 11,027 votes cast. This earned him a second term as Mayor. 

We’ve covered the mayoral candidates and their views during the past four weeks. Still, we think it important to hear a bit from their supporters on why they support their candidate.

Sharp supporters say Danny is the best candidate

Mary Murphy is a six year resident of Oro Valley. She is also a member or the town’s Board of Adjustment. One of the reasons she chose to live in Oro Valley was the town’s outstanding public safety record. Here’s why Mary believes that Danny Sharp would be an excellent Mayor:

• With a forty-year career in law enforcement, he has a documented record of community and service orientation, and as the spouse of a retired first responder, I fully understand the commitments they make on a daily basis.
• While serving as police chief, he was asked to step in as Acting Town Manager for over a year. He took on this additional challenge without hesitation. That the Town looked for him to take on this task, and his willingness to do it indicate both a high level of competence and a commitment to our community. While filling this role, Danny gained valuable knowledge and insight into all aspects of town operations and funding. This experience is something few mayors have and is critically important here in Oro Valley, considering the current financial climate both locally and nationally.
• Danny was one of the founders of Project Graduation in Oro Valley, a program designed to keep our young people safe on graduation night, and he continues to volunteer his time to this important program. As a mom, this commitment really resonates with me. 
• Danny and his family demonstrate their love of Oro Valley by participating in the “Adopt a Road” program. For years the Sharp family has been clearing trash and debris from a large section of Naranja Drive, helping to keep Oro Valley beautiful. 
• Additionally, Danny is also a member of the Oro Valley Hospital Board, and as someone with a background in the medical field, I find this to be quite admirable. Viewed with his other activities, this shows Danny’s commitment to the town as a whole, one that serves all its residents.

Winfield supporters say that Joe is the best candidate

Jack Stinnett is a long-time resident and former Chairman of the town’s Parks and Recreation Commission. He is passionate about our community and passionate in his support of Joe Winfield. Here are his thoughts:

• The Winfield council has moved Oro Valley forward in every area, and Oro Valley today is the best place to live in Arizona. 
• They have invested in our police officer’s pay and pensions to retain the men and women who keep Oro Valley the safest town in the state. 
• They have improved the town’s financial rating to AA+, and paid off police pension debt that will avoid millions in future pension liabilities. They have used golf savings to improve and expand recreation amenities without any new taxes. Topping it off is our new 202 acre Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve that Joe refused to rezone for high density development. 
• Mayor Winfield’s vision is to grow Oro Valley responsibly. He has self funded his campaign and will decide what is best for residents, NOT Tucson apartment developers, and real estate PACs who have funded his challenger. 
• Finally, Mayor Winfield is the most honest man I know, and we need leaders who tell us the truth even when it is not what we want to hear.

Don’t forget to vote for three open council seats

The Mayor does not make decisions alone. It is the town council of which he is a member, that has the final say. There are six candidates vying for the three open council seats. Here’s who they are:

• Melanie Barrett is the town’s Vice Mayor. One of her focus areas is representing the needs of families with school age children
• Joe Erceg is a business development candidate. Joe wants to bring more sports activities into the community 
• Charlie Hurt has lived in Oro Valley for 16 years. He is a former member and chair of the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission and a former member and chair of the town’s Water Utility Commission 
• Joyce Jones-Ivey is a current council member. She takes pride in being an independent thinker. Joyce does not “go along to just get along.” 
• Josh Nicolson brings a financial perspective to the council. His insight into finance was one of the driving forces in the town fully funding the public safety pension plan 
• Bill Rodman served as council member from 2016 to 2020. Rodman is a proponent of growing the town to support business and to support the town’s finances. He voted for all approved general plan and zoning amendments during his prior tour on council. 

These six have affiliated themselves with one of the two mayoral candidates. But you don’t have to vote for one or all of them simply because they have done that. You can “mix and match.” 

We will be back Wednesday to report preliminary results

These results will likely include about 98% of the total votes cast. However, there will still be “provisional” and possibly late mail in ballots not yet counted. It could take a few more days for those.

So, Oro Valley, it’s election time.

Do your job!

Guest View-Bill Rodman: Melanie Barrett’s Campaign Violation Accusations Are Baseless

The following Guest View is from council candidate and former council member Bill Rodman. Rodman is referring to last week’s Guest View of Melanie Barrett.

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I am more than disappointed in Oro Valley’s Vice Mayor Barrett who never misses an opportunity to tout her Law degree and yet has now accused me and my campaign three times with no basis for those accusations. It would seem that the ethical thing to do would have been to wait for the Town Clerk’s decision on whether the complaints were valid before putting them out to Take Back OV and the Love Blog as though they are valiBill d and have a base . It is very clear to me that her purpose in doing this and filing the complaints was only to try to get our residents to believe them with no evidence this close to the election. Please reread her words and you will see what I mean.

She has stated that my campaign has colluded with the Keep Oro Valley Strong PAC with absolutely no basis for that allegation. She says things like “If there is illegal collusion going on, then a serious campaign finance violation against state law has occurred.” Of course if that were true, it would be a violation, but there is no evidence that collusion took place nor could there be because it never occurred.

She makes a baseless statement that a one person marketing firm cannot have an effective firewall between my campaign and the PAC. There is no basis for that statement. I have never had any conversation or other contact with the PAC or its agent regarding any action or strategy to be taken by the PAC or my campaign. We have been more than careful to be sure to keep that firewall impenetrable.

She makes the statement that the amount of the donations makes any difference as to whether a violation has occurred. As a person with legal training, she should know better. It is either a violation or it is not regardless of the amount.

I would have expected better from our Vice Mayor.

Bill Rodman 

Council Candidate

FormerOro Valley Council Member

Guest View: Barrett Details Alleged Campaign Finance Violation By Council Challengers

Yesterday, LOVE investigated assertions and allegations being made by a PAC in mailers to residents. That article referred to a Campaign Finance Violation complaint filed by Vice Mayor and Council Candidate Melanie Barrett. Today Barrett, in this Guest View, explains her assertions.  LOVE added the subheadings for reader convenience.

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Those hateful and untruthful mailers got me thinking… 

You, like I, may have received the hateful and untruthful mailers being sent out by a political action committee or PAC, Keep Oro Valley Strong (KOVS). 

Upon receipt of these mailers, I began to look closer at the Campaign Finance Reports of this PAC. I wanted to find out who would fund those kinds of lies and slanderous flyers against Mayor Winfield, a man I know to be honest and well intentioned. 

My opponents are likely violating campaign finance laws

Instead, I found something even more concerning..a very likely illegal campaign finance violation being committed between the PAC and the 4 candidates running for office that they are supporting. Accordingly, I have filed a Campaign Finance Violation Complaint on July 11, 2022 with the Town Clerk, and posted it on my Facebook and web site. You see, the PAC is representing itself as an independent entity from the candidates it supports, but is it? If there is illegal collusion going on, then a serious campaign finance violation against state law has occurred. 

The Candidates Guide to Campaign Finance states: “There are certain factors that create a presumption of coordination: - An agent of the person making the expenditure is also an agent of the candidate whose election or whose opponent’s defeat is being advocated by the expenditure. For example, “a political consultant should not advise a candidate and an outside group that conducts expenditures in the candidate’s race.” (State law is ARS 16-922).

It turns out, all four challengers and the PAC are using the same marketing company. It is legally a presumption of illegal collusion. That company is “Campaign Associates of Southern Arizona.” (Casapolitical.com) Under the law, doing this creates a presumption of illegal collusion. The only possible defense to this is proof of following a pre-arranged strict firewall that separates the PAC from the candidates.

That marketing company seems to be a one person organization

Looking more into Campaign Associates of Southern Arizona, I learned some interesting things. The address of this company is someone’s residence in downtown Tucson. This limited liability company was formed on March 18, 2021. This is less than 3 months before Danny Sharp announced his Mayoral Campaign according to The Arizona Corporation Commission (source link). The contact is Matthew Mann, the very same person who designed all 5 websites of the candidates and the PAC. 

A one person organization is too small and conflicted to be able to legally avoid collusion

In law school I learned about firewalls that separate information and treatment of entities. They require a large enough organization to have and strictly maintain the firewall. One person acting as an agent cannot maintain a firewall. It seems unlikely that this small, mysterious company in someone’s apartment run by what appears to be a single individual or a very small organization has the policies and administrative controls to operate an effective firewall. 

If this is true… what does it mean Oro Valley for a former Chief of Police and three council candidates to be in violation of the law?

Simply put, if this highly likely scenario ends up being the case, Danny Sharp, his council candidate slate, and KOVS PAC have been illegally colluding under campaign finance law for the majority of their substantial expenditures. 

There seems to be blatant disregard for not only the facts, but also for the law and state campaign requirements.

That disappoints me from a man I used to respect. 

Update: Latest Candidate Campaign Finance Reports further demonstrate illegal collusion between the candidates and the PAC

This Guest View was written prior to the latest Candidate Campaign Finance Reports being released. The staggering number of donations from developers and special interest groups to the PAC and challenging candidates almost make Quarter One numbers, the ones upon which I based my view, seem quaint. However, the fundamental and serious problem remains: The Candidate Committees seem to be illegally colluding with the KOVS PAC. If anything, this illegal collusion is amplified by greater PAC expenditures.

I will be performing some analysis of the updated financials and filing new campaign finance violations. First, it would be helpful to get the actual information, as several campaign finance reports were flat out mis-filed. Sharp leaves off the required occupation and employer information for many. Rodman includes no disbursements at all. Hurt, the self proclaimed "numbers guy," includes only one page of donations from individuals and is missing approximately $14,000 in donations from individuals. (Likely at least $11,000 of this is coming from HSL properties as it did for Erceg.) More to come when the correct information comes in.

Melanie Barrett

Oro Valley Vice Mayor and Council Candidate

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Note: The subtitles in the view were created by LOVE for reader convenience.

Excerpts from June 28, 2022 Town Council Candidate Forum: Statement of Melanie Barrett

Today, LOVE is presenting the Opening and Closing Statements of Vice-Mayor Melanie Barrett during the Town Council Candidate Forum. LOVE added the subheadings.
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Melanie Barrett Opening Statement

Background
I’m a 13-year resident of Oro Valley. I’m the mother of 4 great children ages 16 to 5. My husband works at Raytheon. I grew up in San Diego and I love to call Oro Valley home and plan to raise my family here.

I originally ran for office [in 2018] because I felt families in Oro Valley needed to be represented and that local government ought to be more responsive to its citizens than to landowners and developers. Now, 4 years later, I’m running for re-election to finish the great track record that we’ve started and continue making Oro Valley the best place to live, work, and play in Arizona.

What we’ve accomplished
We were able to listen to our residents when we partnered with them to purchase what is now Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve as a Town park rather than see it turned into homes, apartments, and large senior care facilities. We need leadership that sees the potential in this and other parks. In the Marketplace, we helped keep Oro Valley beautiful when we asked for a plan that did NOT include 75 foot, 6-story apartments on a viewshed corridor that blocked beloved Catalina mountain views and included the largest buildings north of downtown. Now the developer is working on a plan to add housing, two hotels, and businesses largely within existing heights. This will help the center thrive while keeping the viewshed as our General Plan and residents expect us to protect.

With recreational opportunities expanding within existing revenues and no new taxes, business growth over 12%, new employers like Leonardo Electronics, annexing the Westward Look Hotel, and being ranks the safest city in Arizona, I am very proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to continuing to improve the things that make Oro Valley great while protecting the things that make us special and unique.

Melanie Barrett Closing Statement
I’m glad for tonight because it helped clarify some of the issues and why I’m running for council. I’m thankful to these gentlemen for wanting to run.

It’s a hard thing to run for council, but if these gentlemen running against the current council are elected, we will have no women on the council and we will have no members on the council under the age of 50. We will have no paid police pension because they’ve said they’re against the police pension. They support 6-story apartments in our scenic corridor and no Naranja Park buildout for our residents and families.

Those are things that are important to me, that we keep those things that make Oro Valley special.

We’re doing great things. We’re the safest community in Arizona. We’re moving in the right direction. We’re bringing in businesses and employers, annexing resorts, managing balanced growth in a smart way to balance our financial future and [the needs of] our residents. So, I ask for your vote to be able to continue moving Oro Valley in a forward direction. Thank you.

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Winfield and Council Incumbents Seek Reelection

This morning, Mayor Winfield announced that he and council members Barrett, Joyce-Ivey and Nicolson are running for reelection. The following is his statement.

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Dear Friends, 

It's my honor to serve our community as Mayor for the Town of Oro Valley. Today, I am announcing that I will run for re-election this year and would appreciate your vote. Four years ago, I announced my candidacy to become your mayor because I felt the Oro Valley residents needed to be heard and deep pocket contributors had the appearance of unduly influencing Town Council decisions. I believed that Oro Valley needed "a new direction" where everyone has an equal voice on matters related to its future.

Joining me were Councilmembers Melanie Barrett, Joyce Jones-Ivey, and Josh Nicolson. We ran and were elected as a team and have been honored to serve the citizens of Oro Valley for four years. We will run as a team again in 2022. We will run a self and resident funded campaign to ensure that council decisions are made in the best interest of the Town. We invite you to join us and welcome donations from residents who want an independent Town Council representing them. We want to build upon and and expand the many successes the Town has experienced under our leadership and make Oro Valley the best place to live, work, and play in Arizona.

Your Council has been extremely supportive of Public Safety. In 2019, we approved funding for four new police officers. After conducting a nationwide search for a new police chief we appointed the best candidate for the job, Chief Kara Riley. Her selection was strongly endorsed by residents and Community leaders, and she has since been voted the Best Public Official in Northwest Tucson. Under her leadership the Oro Valley Police Department has thrived and has started an officer wellness program, added a mental health specialist, and texting to reach 911. In 2021 are police officers saved 11 lives. While public safety was under attacked elsewhere, we increased funding for our Police Department.

Our commitment to fiscal responsibility and our police officers led us to solve the problem of our underfunded police pension liability, which will save the Town up to $30 million dollars. When we came into office, the Town had $27 million in unfunded police pension obligations. We recently paid $10 million of our excess reserves, gained through prudent budgeting, towards the debt, and financed $17.6 million at a record-low interest rate of 2.4% to save the Town millions of dollars and guarantee that the police who protect us every day have fully funded retirements.

We have supported responsible growth in the community. In 2020 to 2021, there has been a 12% increase in new business, and 30 new businesses added. We negotiated the annexation of the Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa, bringing new revenues to the Town. We are bringing in new employers like Leonardo Electronics US who will invest $100 million in a new Oro Valley plant and add 170 high-quality jobs to Oro Valley.

We promised to bring common sense solutions to the challenge of the Town's significant golf course losses. We chose to retain the courses, and operate them as municipal courses. Through changing operators, running more efficiently, and increasing play we have been able to save over $1 million every year in golf losses. 

The Parks and Recreation department oversaw the installation of the popular and widely used Naranja Park playground which opened in 2020. The Town also conducted an extensive Parks and Recreation master planning process, including resident surveys, public input, public meetings, staff contributions, professional design, and more. This led the Council to change the "golf and community center" sales tax to be more equitably used for any parks and recreation amenity in our community. Using the money saved by fixing the golf operations and the growth in the recreation tax revenues, the Council approved a $25 million bond at 2.3% interest to fund the highest priority recreation needs. The Park's bond funds will nearly build-out Naranja Park with new fields and amenities, rebuild the Community Center tennis courts and parking lot, rebuild golf course irrigation and add to our expanding multi-use path network to provide pedestrian and bike connectivity to Naranja Park and the Community Center.

The best news is that these substantial recreation investments that benefit the entire community will be mostly funded from savings in Town golf subsidies! There will be no new sales or property taxes required for these expanded amenities. As exciting as these developments are, most are just underway and will take several years to be completed.

I am running with my fellow Councilmembers for re-election because after starting Oro Valley in a new, collaborative direction, we want to finish the job. I want to keep working for you as your Mayor, to make Oro Valley the best place in Arizona for our current and future residents to live, work, and play.

I invite you to join and support our team in running this resident focused and funded campaign for re-election to serve you. Your vote matters, please vote to re-elect Joe Winfield, Melanie Barrett, Joyce Jones-Ivey, and Josh Nicolson!

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Source

Guest View: LOVE Contributor ~ Here we go again

 

Who comprises the community?
In the November 25, 2020 edition of the Explorer, when referring to the potential purchase of the dormant Vistoso Golf Course, Mayor Winfield is quoted as saying, “I think it is very evident by the community that there’s a significant interest about the purchase and maintenance of this property going into the future.” I wondered what community he was referring to – The Vistoso community or the entire Oro Valley community?

One would think that after being mayor for over two years, Winfield would know that the people who come forward to speak at council meetings do not represent the community. They represent themselves and others who might be affected by the pending decision. Residents who speak at council meetings and/or email the council are those who are either adamantly opposed to something or strongly in favor of it.

We’ve seen this show before
In 2019, it was the Canada Hills crowd. The few hundred individuals dressed in green shirts who showed up at every meeting regarding the future of the Town-owned golf courses did not represent the entire Oro Valley community. They represented themselves as they fought to maintain their views and their property values.

The only time the council hears from the community as a whole is during the Town Council election season. The mayor ran for office in 2018 on the platform that he was going to reduce golf, but in 2019, he became intimidated by the “Green Shirts.” Nine thousand voters put him in office, and yet just a few hundred people in one section of town directed his decision on golf.

Two of the three individuals who ran on a slate with the mayor in 2018 also voted to continue operating the Town-owned golf courses. Vice-Mayor Barrett was the only one who voted NO (October 2, 2019 council meeting) and held to her campaign promise to “resolve the financial issues of the Town-owned golf courses” (Source: LOVE, May 22, 2018, Introducing Melanie Barrett) and “work towards minimizing golf losses through reducing the [number of] holes of golf.” (Source: Campaign website, MelanieBarrett.org).

The others caved to those who came to the meetings, instead of doing what the majority of voters elected them to do. As a result, we have the same golf dilemma that we had with Hiremath.

Now a different group has emerged
In 2020, the residents of the Vistoso golf course community want the Town to condemn the Vistoso golf property, pay fair market value for the property (around $3 million) and add the 200+ acres of open space to the Town’s inventory.

Does the mayor know how much this is going to cost the Town in annual maintenance obligations? Does he know if the entire community is on board with the Town purchasing this property?

The mayor and council should not make any decision until they know how the entire Town feels about this issue. A prior council went against the wishes of the community when it purchased the HSL property (the Community Center building and three golf courses) and they were thrown out of office at the next election.

The Vistoso property has been in its current state for a couple of years. There is no hurry to make a decision based solely on the wants of just those who come forward to speak.

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Publisher Note: Mayor Winfield has stated that it is the town's intention to seek grants and contributions to pay for the purchase. In addition, the town commissioned a study that identified the cost of operating the facility under various scenarios. Residents tell us that that study far over-estimates costs by add extraneous items to the facility. Read about this and more this coming Monday.

Vice-Mayor Barrett and Councilmember Jones-Ivey Reveal Their Personal Experiences With Councilmember Solomon’s Uncivil Behavior

Statement from Councilmember Joyce Jones-Ivey
"The short video of Councilmember Solomon [verbally] attacking me has been circulating on social media and supporters have asked me to provide some background. First, this verbal assault was not a unique incident; rather it is representative of how Mr. Solomon speaks down to females he disagrees with or who dare to challenge his positions.

In my first meeting with Mr. Solomon at the 2018 Chamber of Commerce candidate debate, he verbally assaulted me and then candidate Melanie Barrett in front of several bystanders. It seems Mr. Solomon did not agree with our debate positions.

Council Member Jones-Ivey

In the video taken from a 2019 council meeting, we were discussing the OVPD Chief selection process when Member Solomon launched his attack to silence me. There have been numerous other situations when residents were talked down to and disrespected by Member Solomon who, in 2016, ran on civility and collaboration.

I agree that civility and collaboration is exactly what Oro Valley needs and the path to get there is to replace incumbents Rodman and Solomon with Bill Garner and Tim Bohen who will place residents first."

Statement from Vice-Mayor Melanie Barrett

Vice Mayor Barrett

"My fellow councilmember, Joyce Jones-Ivey, has shared her feelings on the video of Steve Solomon yelling at her. This is especially sad because it follows [his] theme of constantly falsely accusing other councilmembers and citizens that we don’t care about public safety.

Joyce is a long-time nurse and the wife of a long-time police officer. She and her family have spent their lives in public service, and she is a wonderful, kind, fair person whom I admire. It is inappropriate to yell at her and insinuate that others do not care about our community and their safety.

The first time I met Councilmember Solomon was at a debate, and as Councilmember Jones-Ivey mentions, he began yelling at both of us, and only stopped when a friend stepped in and offered to call security. Since then, he has regularly gone after me in council meetings and has violated the rules of order by which the council operates."

LOVE’s comment
That’s right, Steve Solomon’s behavior was so violent, that a bystander had to intervene and threaten to call security during the 2018 incident and Mayor Winfield had to threaten to have him removed from council chambers during the 2019 incident. Solomon is unfit for public office and needs to be voted out in the August 4th election.

Winfield and Barrett To Vote '2 and Only 2': Garner and Bohen

Statement of Mayor Joe Winfield
Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield issued a statement that was published in the Explorer today.  Winfield is voting for '2 and only 2' in this election. The two are Bill Garner and Tim Bohen.

The following is the text of his statement:

"I had not intended to endorse candidates in the Council's primary election. However, I cannot reman silent while the two best candidates are maligned in costly attacks and mailers.

I will vote for Tim Bohen and Bill Garner in the Town Council primary election. I believe these gentlemen will always place residents first through fiscal responsibility, supporting public safety and defending the General Plan.

Please join me in voting for Bill Garner and Tim Bohen!"

Statement of Vice Mayor Barrett
In an email sent to the Explorer, Vice Mayor Melanie Barrett issued the following statement in support of Garner and Bohen.

"The non-partisan Town election is often decided in the Primary. This year the primary is on August 4th. I plan to vote for two individuals in the Primary election: Tim Bohen and Bill Garner."

Her message continues: "Both Bill Garner and Tim Bohen have committed not to accept large donations from special interests and developers, and will be focused on meeting the needs of our residents. They will seek citizen input, keep Oro Valley safe and financially secure, and honor our voter approved General Plan.

I would like to invite my fellow residents to join me in voting for Bill Garner and Tim Bohen on August 4th."
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Guest View: Diane Peters ~ Vice-Mayor selection reveals the hypocrisy of Councilmembers Pina and Solomon

During the December 4, 2019 Town Council meeting, the annual discussion took place regarding who would serve as vice-mayor for 2020. Melanie Barrett served as vice-mayor in 2019. Just one year. Prior to that, Lou Waters served as vice-mayor from 2012-2018. Seven years. Keep that in mind as you continue reading.

Councilmember Jones-Ivey nominated Melanie Barrett to serve for another year, seconded by Mayor Winfield. Councilmember Solomon nominated Bill Rodman, seconded by Councilmember Pina.

Discussions began and the hypocrisy ensued.

Councilmember Solomon’s argument:

“…it’s appropriate that since Councilmember Barrett has already served a year as Vice-Mayor, that it’s time to let another council member step in and serve in that capacity.”

Councilmember Pina’s argument:

“I think that Councilmember Rodman would bring a different perspective to work with the mayor so I’m in favor of Councilmember Rodman being the Vice-Mayor for the following year…Why not give someone else the opportunity?...Why not do something different and have someone that would give a different perspective?”

Mayor Winfield pointed out that regardless of title, they all have the opportunity to share their perspectives and they each have one vote.

A tangled web
According to Pina and Solomon, the necessary criteria for the vice-mayor is:
• they should not serve more than one year
• it should be someone who has different views than the mayor

Interestingly, they felt much differently about this “criteria” when they were in the majority on council.

Lou Waters was the vice-mayor when Pina-Rodman-Solomon were sworn in on 11/16/16 and he had served as vice-mayor for five years at that point (2012-2013-2014-2015-2016).

Yet when Waters was nominated for vice-mayor again for 2017 and 2018, Pina and Solomon never argued that someone else should be given the opportunity or that it should be given to someone with a different perspective than the mayor. They elected Waters with a 7-0 vote to serve as vice-mayor in 2017 and 2018.

In fact, on December 6, 2017 it was none other than Councilmember Steve Solomon who nominated Waters to serve as vice-mayor for 2018…despite Waters already having served as vice-mayor for 6 years at that time. Solomon was just fine with Waters serving as vice-mayor for a 7th year.  (See referenced minutes from 12/6/17 meeting below):

Now that Pina and Solomon are in the minority, they’ve suddenly decided that it’s imperative to give someone else a chance. Waters can serve as vice-mayor for 7 straight years but Barrett can serve for only one year.

Voting Results
Mayor Winfield held a roll-call vote. The vote was 5-2 for Barrett as Vice-Mayor for 2020.

• YES votes: Winfield, Barrett, Jones-Ivey, Nicolson, and Rodman (yes, Rodman)
• NO votes: Pina and Solomon
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Diane Peters has lived in Oro Valley since 2003, moving here to escape the humidity of the East Coast. She’s been involved in OV politics and development issues since 2006. In 2014, she organized a citizens group, who over a 9-month period, successfully negotiated a controversial 200-acre development project. In her past life, she worked in medical research at various University Hospitals in New England. Her interests include reading, writing, nature photography, travel, art galleries, museums, and politics.

Winfield and Barrett Explain Vote In Favor of Area 4 PAD Zoning Amendment

We asked Mayor Winfield and Vice Mayor Barrett why they voted in favor of the Town Centre Area 4 zoning amendment of which we wrote yesterday.. The following is their individual response.
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Response of Mayor Winfield
"Development of Area 4 under any scenario because of the steep terrain and proximity to Oracle Road is a challenging proposition to say the least. I believe voting in favor of the Town Center PAD Amendment was a reasonable compromise because the final plan was respectful of competing interests, created contiguous perpetual open space, provides meaningful recreation opportunities, and I hope will give birth to a neighborhood of individuals and families that love the Town of Oro Valley as much as I do."
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Response of Vice Mayor Barrett: 
"I first heard the Town Centre PAD Amendment proposal at neighborhood meetings over a year ago when I was serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission. At that time, the proposal included apartments that were separated from the commercial, nearly unlimited vertical grading waivers, and many more 2 story homes.

Without the election, it is likely that plan would have been approved. The applicant has met with and worked with neighbors for months to come up with a proposal that addressed many of the neighbors concerns. While many compromises were achieved, including leaving the apartments in the area out of the re-zoning request and limiting the homes to single story, when it came before the council the first time, I had some real concerns.

My concerns primary focused on the vertical grading, the distance between homes, and exceptions that were being made to the Oracle Scenic Corridor Overlay District. The applicant returned 4 months later with a revised proposal which increased the variety of lot sizes, the distance between most of the homes, fixed much of the vertical grading issues, and came into complete compliance with the Oracle Scenic Corridor Overlay District. It also included the addition of trails, 72%
preserved open space that is not on anyone’s property, and an improved recreation area. While this was not a perfect proposal, my position was and is that developer dollars should not run the Town Council, but that reasonable and moderate development should be approved.

This particular parcel was a Planned Area Development Amendment, and did not change the General Plan in any way."
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LOVE clarification:
The General Plan assigns land use in broad categories such as residential, commercial, tech park, and golf course. In the General Plan, Area 4 is designated for residential land use. The change in zoning from one form of residential use to another form of residential use is not a change to the general plan. It is a change in zoning.

Town Council: New and Old Go "Toe To Toe"

11 new faces on 5 Oro Valley commissions
The Oro Valley Town Council appointed 11 new members to five of its boards and commissions at last week's town council meeting. This represents a sea change by bringing fresh insight and energy from Oro Valley's citizen involved community to town affairs.

Favoritism no more
This contrasts sharply with the Hiremath years. During those years, the town eliminated the Art Review Board, The Conceptual Design Review Board, and the Bond and Finance Commission. These totaled "...19 citizens that were removed from being involved in our community," according to Mayor Winfield, in his remarks during last week's council meeting.  In addition, that council eliminated term limits on boards and commissions, assuring virtual life-long appointments for those who were favored by them.

December council decision reinstated commission term limits
Mayor Winfield observed that the decision to return to board and commission term limits at the December 5 council meeting was a return to a policy that had been successful prior to the Hiremath council changing it.

"The intent of restoring term limits was to open the door to citizen involvement." In just one month, the policy change has increased citizen interest in serving on boards and commissions: 42 applications for 13 positions.  This is a marked increase over recent past years when people were discourage from applying to a board or commission because they knew that close allegiance to the Majority-4 was a requirement and because many of those serving were reappointed.

One year too many
At the meeting, Vice Mayor Barrett, in the spirit of increasing community involvement in town affairs, recommended a new member for Planning and Zoning Commission, rather than reappointing Commissioner Hitt to a sixth year of service. She felt that this is far too long given an objective of increasing community involvement in town affairs.

Rodman: We met the goal of increasing involvement 
Council Member Rodman, the liaison to the commission, responded. He and town planner Bayer Vella had selected Hitt for reappointment on the basis that he is experienced.  Rodman felt that the three new appointees to the commission reflected the demographics of the community and added diversity to the commission. "We recommended two women to be on the commission, who are also family demographic." He also felt that Hitt's reappointed reflected the "...younger family demographic."

Rodman asserted that, Hitt, a former Pima County Planner, brings experience to the board that is lacking in the three new appointed members. In addition, he pointed out that the two remaining members, both of whom are experienced, will be "turned out at the end of the year."

Rodman: Term limits should not work against experience 
Rather than focusing on this specific appointment, Rodman then revisited the December 5 decision on term limits.

"To me, I'm disappointed" that people can not serve beyond their current term, even though they are qualified. "That does not make sense for the future of the town. Our job was to select the most qualified candidates. Our job was not to worry about politics and political promises."

Rodman and Pina supported reappointment
Council Member Solomon, speaking in what appeared to be a prepared remark, proffered his support of reappointing Hitt. Tomorrow we will report Solomon's comments since they became noteworthy because of their accusatory nature.

"It's really hard for me to understand how we can bring on three new people and not allow one experienced person stay on board to help them get up to speed," Council Member Pina noted. Pena was not correct in this statement because there are two members continuing on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Thus, they can help the new members.

Winfield: 18 new faces "I have great confidence in."
Mayor Winfield observed that tonight's appointment of 11 new commission members, the future appointment of five people to the budget and finance commission, plus the future appointment of two vacant seats on the Historical Preservation Commission will bring total number of new citizen involvement to 18 people! "These are people that I have great confidence in."

The council approved the proposed board and commission members on a 4-3 vote. Pina, Rodman and Solomon stated that they approved of all the appointments. However, they voted no to express displeasure that Hitt was not reappointed.

You can watch the council discussion via this link.