Bits and Pieces

Regional safety data shows rising fatalities and identifies local hotspots 

A presentation from the Pima Association of Governments to the town council last week highlighted a 10-year increase in traffic fatalities across the region, including pedestrians and cyclists, while also identifying crash “hot spots,” many at intersections along corridors such as Tangerine and Oracle. PAG provides data tools and Road Safety Assessments used by Oro Valley staff to evaluate roadway safety and prioritize improvements. Their data also showed some positive trends, including increased bicycle helmet use and declines in unsafe riding behaviors. Travel pattern analysis indicated that many trips through problem areas outside town begin or end in Oro Valley, meaning incidents elsewhere can affect local residents. (Source: The Oro Valley Town Council Meeting, 4-09-26)

Marketplace development continues with new buildings underway

The Town reports that construction at Oro Valley Marketplace continues to move forward, with new apartment buildings now going vertical as part of the ongoing development in the area. The project remains one of the more visible signs of current growth activity, with additional phases, including related infrastructure and nearby improvements, also progressing.  ( OV Edge. 04-10-26)

Wilkins outlines how the need for a traffic signal is evaluated and communicated

Town Manager Jeff Wilkins explained to council last week that traffic signals are installed based on established criteria, including road capacity, safety concerns, conflicting traffic, level of service, pedestrian needs, and standards in the Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices. He added that “typically these will be installed when they meet one or more warrants,” though other factors such as sight distance or “unique safety issues or physical characteristics of the road or the intersection” may also be considered. His explanation was in response to council member questions exactly how it is decided that there should or should not be a traffic light at a location. (Source: The Oro Valley Town Council Meeting, 4-09-26)

OV Path Forward General Plan moves forward to council after unanimous Planning and Zoning Commission Approval

Tuesday night, the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended adoption of the Path Forward General Plan at the conclusion of its second public hearing. Only one resident spoke during the hearing, expressing support for the plan. Commission discussion was brief and generally supportive, with members noting the extensive resident input behind the plan and the work completed over the past three years. The next step is for the plan to be presented to Town Council in May before being placed on the November ballot for voter consideration. (source: Planning and Zoning Commission meeting of April 14, 2026)

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Council And Residents Ask: When Should No Parking Be Waived?

Bagging a"No Parking" sign is not a simple decision

What town staff thought would be a simple decision turned into a lengthy discussion with Council last week. Staff came forward to codify a long-standing practice: Temporarily covering (“bagging”) no-parking signs to allow overflow parking during events. Staff proposed an ordinance to authorize the Town Engineer and Chief of Police to suspend no-parking restrictions under circumstances when nearby parking options have been exhausted and safety can be maintained. Instead of a routine discussion of the item, staff encountered a wary public and a cautious Council, both of which raised a series of questions the proposed ordinance.

Longstanding practice lacks legal authority
The Town Engineer’s office proposed the ordinance after finding that the long-standing practice of staff approving “bagging” no-parking signs had no basis in Town Code. Requests have been reviewed and approved by the Town Engineer and Police Chief, based on the impact that bagging would have on safety. They have been doing this for more than 20 years, granting perhaps ten events each year. It occurs most often in the area around Kriegh Park, the Aquatic Center, and Canyon del Oro High School. Events there can attract a large number of attendees, creating demand for parking that exceeds what is available.

OVCN request brings issue to light
Staff brought the ordinance to Council after a recent request to allow temporary parking in the Calle Concordia/Buena Vista area prompted them to review the code and realize no formal authority existed. While staff emphasized that the proposed ordinance was not tied to any single applicant, they specifically mentioned a request by the Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene for an upcoming event. Street parking in and around OVCN was prohibited by Town Council last year, following significant effort by area residents. As a result, any suspension of those no-parking restrictions is a significant concern for those who live nearby.

Residents raise safety and fairness concerns
Which is why residents who live in the area showed up at the meeting to express their concerns. Three residents spoke, raising strong concerns about safety. They cited increased traffic in their neighborhood and general disruption. They also questioned whether it would be fair for the Town to waive parking restrictions that were put in place to protect them from traffic congestion and safety risks, and to preserve the quiet enjoyment of their property. They noted that more residents would have attended to express similar concerns but chose not to attend out of fear for their personal safety.

Council seeks clearer rules and stronger safeguards
Council discussion reflected many of the same concerns. Members focused on how an ordinance could be written to ensure consistency, fairness, and safety. Several councilmembers questioned how “special events” should be defined, noting that without clear limits the exception could become routine, particularly in areas where events occur frequently. Others emphasized the need to include explicit safety requirements in the code, such as traffic control measures, rather than leaving those decisions solely to staff discretion. Council also raised concerns about notifying nearby residents, the timing of when signs would be covered, and whether recurring events should qualify at all. In addition, they raised questions about who should bear the cost of implementing the temporary changes and whether different types of applicants should be treated differently.

Council delays decision pending revisions
Council took no action on the proposed ordinance. They directed staff to return with a revised ordinance that addresses the concerns raised. They asked staff to refine the definition of qualifying events, incorporate clearer safety requirements, consider a notification process for affected residents, and address issues such as timing, frequency, and cost. During the discussion, staff said the current informal practice would likely continue in the interim, particularly with upcoming events, though no formal direction was given. The item was ultimately tabled, with Council indicating it will revisit the issue later this year, likely after additional review and input from the Town Attorney and staff.

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Oro Valley Staff Targets October Council Approval of New Revenue Sources and Fee Increases

Fee increases and new taxes vetting continues

Resident participation in July’s community outreach meetings on proposed taxes and fee changes was limited. According to Finance Director David Gephart, about 30 residents attended across three online sessions focused on parks and recreation fees (July 9), new taxes (July 10), and the stormwater utility fee (July 15).

Gephart: Fee increases and new revenue sources needed because of rising cost of public safety and roads
Gephart told residents at the July meetings and the Budget and Finance Commission in August that new revenues are needed because costs are rising faster than revenues. Police services have grown 23% since 2021, absorbing 80% of General Fund growth. Road maintenance costs have more than doubled in the same period, increasing 107%. Meanwhile, sales tax revenues have been flat for three years, and a retail leakage study showed Oro Valley loses about $1.8 billion annually in taxable sales to surrounding communities, equal to $45 million in foregone revenue.

Gephart added that the stormwater utility fee currently covers only operations and not capital projects, while parks and recreation fees are being adjusted to better reflect costs. The goal of the proposed changes, he said, is to diversify revenues, reduce reliance on debt, and direct new funding toward capital projects such as police facilities, vehicle replacement, and road maintenance.

Resident outreach met with low attendance
Approximately thirty residents participated in the three sessions. Attendance was low and may not reflect the views of the broader community. Vice Mayor Barrett noted at a June study session that scheduling three meetings close together in July, a peak holiday and vacation period, may have limited participation.

Residents who participated raised concerns about fairness, timing, and process more than about the size of the increases. Parks and recreation questions focused on whether fee changes treated age groups and activities equally. At the new taxes session, participants questioned the need for new revenues now, discussed the possibility of a property tax, and cautioned against rushing decisions before full engagement. At the stormwater meeting, comments focused on development practices near washes and a preference for smaller, steady increases.

Gephart also reported on business outreach
Gephart has met with the Oro Valley Chamber Board, Roche, and other representatives. A Chamber-hosted forum is scheduled for September 11. The Chamber suggested a property tax would be fairer, questioned whether the proposed revenues would be sufficient, and urged more business-friendly policies. Roche’s main concern was the telecom tax, while small businesses and residents expressed worry about the commercial rental tax and its impact on already high rents. Gephart said these discussions have been helpful in identifying concerns.

Budget and Finance Commissioners’ question the rental tax
Commissioners asked Gephart several questions during the August meeting. Gephart said a commercial rental tax would be difficult to pass, and noted that Council had previously advised staff to avoid relying on this tax. Commissioners also noted that higher rents in Oro Valley compared to Tucson and Marana could make such a tax unfair. Gephart acknowledged Oro Valley rents are higher but said the tax would create equity since the Town currently collects nothing from many services such as medical offices and storage facilities.

Commissioners shifted their attention to a tax change not on the agenda: a small sales tax increase. Gephart said that might be considered later as a “step two,” but the first step is to adopt the three tax categories used in neighboring towns. Commissioners also asked about the reliability of revenue estimates. Gephart noted the use tax could generate between $900,000 and $1.8 million annually but is volatile. He acknowledged that if revenues came in low, the Town might need to consider additional measures in the future, but said possible relief could come if required police pension contributions decline.

Gephart: Revenues intended for capital items
Gephart emphasized that revenues from new taxes are intended for capital needs such as improvements at the newly purchased police facility, police vehicle replacement, and continued road maintenance. At present, only stormwater utility fee revenues are legally dedicated to the Stormwater Utility Fund. All other new revenues would go into the General Fund, and Council would need to act if it wished to dedicate them specifically to capital purposes.

Gephart targets October for council vote
Gephart hopes to present a firm vetted proposal to Council in October. This would follow the planned September Chamber forum and review by relevant commissions (the Budget and Finance Commission, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and the Stormwater Utility Commission). Council is expected to discuss the proposals at an October 1 study session, with a possible vote on October 15.

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Other Information:

2025 Town of Oro Valley Taxes and Fees

LOVE Parks and Recreation Fee Proposed Increase

LOVE Stormwater Utility Fee Proposed Increase

LOVE Oro Valley Considers New Local Taxes

LOVE Oro Valley Seeks Input On New Taxes and Fees

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Bits and Pieces

$90 million lawsuit against town commences on tragic Naranja Park entrance death

The Town of Oro Valley has been noticed that it is being sued in the tragic death of Olivia Villalobos and injury to her sister Avry on St. Patricks Day.  “The Town received notice of claims for the accident involving the two young girls hit while walking on Naranja Drive near the park. There are three separate claims totaling over $90 million. The claims have been forwarded to our insurance company who should appoint an attorney to represent us. We’ll plan for a brief executive session on October 4 for the topic.” (Source: Wilkins email to council, 9-14-23). Read about this most tragic accident here.

Don’t get fooled by “AI” voice impersonators

Criminals are employing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for voice impersonation, a concerning development. One common scam involves imitating a family member, like a grandchild, who claims to be in distress and urgently needs cash cards. It’s crucial not to be deceived by this. Instead, independently verify the situation with your friends and family before taking any action.  For more information visit the Safe Circle web site.

Oro Valley is home of High School Southern Arizona State Champions

Bet you did not know that “Other than Salpointe Catholic in 2013, three of the last four Southern Arizona State Champions came from Oro Valley. That includes Pusch Ridge Christian Academy, Ironwood Ridge and CDO. CDO and I-Ridge are part of the Amphitheater Unified School District.” This year’s CDO’s football team looks good enough to challenge for another state title. (Source)

Reader suggests Oro Valley annex for “real business” growth

Oro Valley, along with the rest of Southern Arizona, struggles to attract substantial businesses that can generate high-quality employment opportunities for the community. While retail jobs are beneficial, they often come with lower wages. What steps can be taken to address this challenge? This from one of our readers: “The central issue revolves around the high land costs in Oro Valley, particularly with Venture West and Kai owned properties. In contrast, lands in Casa Grande, Eloy, and the outskirts of Chandler are more budget-friendly. To tackle this, Oro Valley should contemplate annexing 500 acres on its western fringe, converting it into a Tech Park conveniently situated around a 10-minute drive from I-10.”

Town grows by 36 acres

The Town Council voted last week to annex 36 acres of land at La Canada and W Moore. The land is zoned for low density residential use. (See panel right)

Town votes to settle Joplin law suit

Some time ago, we reported on an incident at Naranja Park involving 17-year-old football player Elijah Joplin, who suffered a severe eye injury following a collision with a light stanchion positioned near the field's out-of-bounds line during an event sponsored by Victory Fundraising. It's worth noting that the Town of Oro Valley provided the fields and, to the best of our knowledge, delineated the field boundaries. Adding to the complexity of the situation is a $2 million insurance policy that is being distributed among the parties involved. Joplin subsequently filed a lawsuit against the town and others. In July, the council convened an Executive Session, and last week, they voted to approve what we believe to be settlement documents. (Source: LOVE’s outstanding research sleuth)

Tropical Smoothie coming to Oro Valley 

Last week, the Town Council unanimously granted a "conditional use permit" for a Cafe Tropical Smoothie Drive-Thru at the Canada Crossroads Center, situated at the Southwest Corner of La Canada and Lambert Lane. Samith Patel, the proprietor and operator of this establishment, selected this location because of the presence of various existing restaurants within the center, such as Harvest, Cafe Torino, and Subway. During the meeting, the Council deliberated on modifying the specific details of the proposed facility, with a particular emphasis on minimizing the potential for cars to idle in front of patrons dining outside at Harvest or Cafe Torino.

Register for "CommunityAcademy"

"Would you like to learn more about local government and help shape Oro Valley’s future? Then we invite you to register for Oro Valley’s Fall 2023 Community Academy, which will have a special focus on the upcoming Townwide planning efforts. For 26 years, the Town has been hosting this free, informative and award-winning series. Please register by Oct. 1 to reserve your spot." (Source: Town of Oro Valley Press Release) This is the 26th anniversary of the Academy.

Rothschild Contract "ReUpped"

Last week's Town Council's decision to continue employing Jonathan Rothschild and his law firm as external legal counsel raises some eyebrows, given that the firm was initially engaged during the tenure of the previous town manager. It's noteworthy that Rothschild maintains close ties with the Tucson development community.

New conservator over Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve

Archeology Southwest is now responsible for the easement that protects the 202 acres of the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. Their job is to insure that the land remains as open desert forever. The Conservation Fund had been the administrator.

First Avenue Construction to cause delays starting September 25

The Town “…will remove and replace the asphalt on First Avenue beginning at the Cañada del Oro River bridge and extending east to Oracle Road starting Sept. 25 through Oct. 3. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction during construction hours, which are from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Speed will be reduced to 25 mph. Drivers are asked to find alternative routes during construction hours to avoid long delays.” (Source: Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

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Town Acts To Improve Safety On Naranja Drive...But Residents Want More Now

Teen's death on Naranja Drive spurs action
On March 17, a teen girl was killed by a motorist on Naranja Drive. Her dog was also killed and another teen was injured in the accident. The location of the incident is where Naranja Drive intersects with Pomegranate Drive. That is at the entrance to Naranja Park. The Police Department is working on their investigation. That report will be available this week. We will publish it for all to read.

The town does not consider that road and that area imminently dangerous to bicyclists and pedestrians
According to town Public Works Director, Paul Keesler, that road does not pose an imminent risk to bicyclists and pedestrians. Note, that Keesler is referring to Naranja Drive in total and not to the entrance to Naranja Park, which is where the accident happened:

“Naranja drive, much like many other two lane arterials and collectors within Oro Valley (Shannon, Moore, west Lambert, Buena Vista, for example) does currently provide safe and separate pedestrian travel corridors via paved and soft shoulders. In fact, Naranja Drive between La Canada to First Avenue offers more paved shoulder than many other similar roads within Oro Valley, as well as providing the maximum soft shoulder the surrounding terrain allows. Combined with State Statute 28-735 Overtaking bicycles; civil penalties where vehicular traffic must exhibit caution and space passing a bicycle, these two-lane collectors and arterials do not exhibit a history of frequent pedestrian versus automobile collisions. Yes, providing separated multi-use paths is even safer and better for the traveling pedestrian community, but to make the claim that Oro Valley streets without adjoining MUP’s [Multi-Use Path] or sidewalks pose an imminent risk to the public is not supported by data." 

Public Works Director Keesler:  Town acted immediately to address situation

"This incident was immediately addressed within the Town’s internal Traffic Safety Committee (TSC). The TSC is a consortium that is composed of members from Engineering, PD, Planning, Legal, GRFD, and Safety Management." 

According to Keesler, the town has initiated the following actions:

• Increased Police patrol 
• Added this section of Naranja to the Police traffic complaint hotline – the traffic unit has added it to their list of complaints that they actively work 
• Speed trailer present next week 
• Increased speed enforcement stops to provide education to motorists 
• Continue to work on the MUP, processing this through the Federal system to get under construction
• Will be conducting a speed study next week to confirm the proper posted speed limit. Posting an artificial speed limit that is too high or too low for the design of the street can actually pose additional hazards/problems. That is why the Town adheres to setting speed limits that correspond to the use and design of a particular street. 

Site of the incident is the entrance to Naranja Park.. inherently dangerous to pedestrian travel

We don't know the details of the accident. We are awaiting the police report to learn that. However, we do know that the accident occurred east of the entrance to Naranja Park. The panel at right is a picture of that area, viewed from Pomegranate. 

As you can see from the panel, there is a narrow paved shoulder between the eastbound travel lane and a guard rail. Any pedestrian walking in that area has no escape route if danger is imminent.

There is no pedestrian walking shoulder on the north side of Naranja Drive [see panel below left]. This is because there is a guard rail that abuts an entrance lane to Naranja Park. There is a travel lane for bicycles and a sign that tells drivers to beware of such.  There is no such warning regarding pedestrians. In addition, it appears that the town paved over a soft shoulder where once pedestrians could walk in order to create this exit lane. A pedestrian walking in that area is has no access option.

Finally, there is no cross walk nor is there a pedestrian controlled traffic light. Nor are there any signs to alert drivers to pedestrians going to and from the park. Add to this a 45mp speed limit, which is far too fast for this section of Naranja Drive.

Our conclusion: A pedestrian walking along the roadway in that area has no option to seek safety from traffic regardless of which side of the road they are on.

In comparison, pedestrian access to Riverfront Park access is far safer

The town knows how to create a safe park entrance.  The pedestrian access Riverfront Park is excellent. There, the town built multi-use paths and added pedestrian-controlled traffic light for crossing the roadway.  This access is first-class.

Pomegranate Drive residents want more action now

We asked the council what had been done to improve pedestrian/bicycle safety on Naranja Drive because we saw no changes on that road since the accident. We also listened to three residents who live on Pomegranate Drive.They spoke in the "call to audience" portion of last weeks Town Council meeting. They addressed their concerns about pedestrian safety on that road and made suggestions as to things that could be done immediately. Resident Dr. Diane Stephenson called for an immediate reduction of the speed limit. Another called for markers to be installed to demarcate the turnoff lane into the park, where the accident occurred. There is no pedestrian safe area there. A third decried a rather dismissive email received from Keesler discussing the long term solution of a planned multi-use path.

There is so much more that the town must do to make this entrance pedestrian safe now.

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Parks and Recreation Projects Dominate Initial Cut At Oro Valley 2023-24 Capital Improvement Program

2023-24 Oro Valley Capital Budget-first cut- is almost $47 million

This Wednesday, the Oro Valley Town Council will study a $46.9 million capital budget for fiscal 2024. It is the largest capital budget (CIP) in Oro Valley history. Significant capital spending is being driven by the requirement to spend Parks Bond Funds and Government ARPA funds within the next few years. The result is that much of the spending is on parks and recreation and on water projects.

Parks projects are almost half of all spending

There are twenty-one proposed parks and recreation type projects that total $22.9 million. Two-thirds ($15.1m) of this spending is for continuing the buildout of Naranja Park. Even with this investment, future year capital investment plans call for continuing to add to and improve this facility with two additional fields, restrooms, and an asphalt roadway.  Other proposed parks projects for 2024 include doing the LaCanada Golf Course irrigation at a cost of $2million and adding a $1.7million elevator to the Community Center.

$12 million in proposed water related projects to add efficiency and operating flexibility

There are fifteen proposed water projects that focus on the operations and maintenance of the water utility. These are investments in the the storage and distribution of water. Generally, the cost of each project ranges from $100,000 to $200,000. These estimated total cost of these projects is $2.2 million. Generally, this cost stays the same for each of subsequent nine years. 

There is an added $10million in capital investment that appears to be for one-time projects such as the expansion of the booster station on La Canada ($3.7 million) and continued spending to bring water directly from Avra Valley to Oro Valley (NWRRDS). This will allow the town to reduce its dependence on Tucson Water for getting the town's CAP water allocation. We are guessing that the $5.4 million in ARPA funds are being used for the NWRRDS project.

Proposed spending to keep Oro Valley's roads the best in the county

Oro Valley's roads are the best in the County.. probably in the State. The proposed capital budget would spend $6.2 million on roads. A third of this is spending on the town's pavement preservation program. Also, there are several proposed pavement overlay projects, one road reconstruction and "annexation promised" road improvements at Westward Look.  There is also a budget item of $750,000 for "something" to be done at the very busy Rancho Vistoso and Woodburne Ave intersection  (perhaps a traffic light?).

Remaining capital improvement spending is primarily for public safety

There are two other areas of proposed capital spending. One area is public safety. There is proposed capital spend on an expansion of the town court office ($1.5 million) and on vehicle replacement ($1.9 million). The town court project is proposed to continue into 2025 for the same amount.  The vehicle replacement program also continues at about $2million annually for all of ten years included in the proposed CIP plan.

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Guest View-Kevin Mattocks: If Public Safety Is Important To You…

Mayor Winfield and his incumbent slate of candidates support what Danny Sharp has accomplished.

Now, after two Oro Valley candidate election debates, and their own election material distributions, it's clear Mayor Winfield and his incumbent slate of candidates are the biggest supporters of Danny Sharp and what he's done for this community. They all constantly talk about how Oro Valley is recognized as one of the safest communities in Arizona. Do they now acknowledge that it was Danny Sharp's 20 years of leadership with the Oro Valley Police Department into 2020 that continues this historical recognition of safety?

Mayor Winfield and his incumbent slate of candidates are constantly talking about how great it is that they hired Kara Riley as the Chief of Police. I agree, however, it was Danny Sharp who as Chief of Police recommended to council that an internal Oro Valley Police personnel process be conducted to find our Police Chief. Kara Riley was one of the Oro Valley Police Department members that Chief Sharp mentored and provided the training opportunities to, as part of his succession planning commitment, in order for her to be able to fill the Police Chief position. Mayor Winfield and his incumbent slate of candidates, in spite of Chief Sharp's succession planning and recommendation, spent thousands of dollars conducting an external process. Besides the unnecessary expenditure, this had an immediate negative morale impact on the entire Police force.

When Danny Sharp became a candidate for Mayor, incumbent Mayor Winfield and his incumbent slate of candidates professed their support of public safety by pointing to the town's funding of the police pension fund. They talked about how the excess millions of dollars in the contingency fund was put into the pension fund along with monies borrowed at a low interest rate to avoid future costs. What they don’t mention is the fact that there was a long-term plan in place already to address the pension funding issue. They do say their decision will save "up to 30 million dollars". So, it's "up to" 30 million dollars? When was the last time you were told you could save "up to" something and you actually saved that amount? By the way, zero is up to 30 million dollars, so what will it be? Sure looks like a typical play on words, sleazy sales gimmick we are sick of in national politics.

What Mayor Winfield and his incumbent slate of candidates did not do was use any of the excess contingency funds to address staffing needs in the police department that have been brought up for several years prior. Winfield and his incumbent slate of candidates advertise their funding of “School Resource Officers (SROs) for schools” in their campaign materials. The truth is they eliminated funding for two school resource officers since they took office. Now they say it was due to the schools being closed for "COVID". So why when all the schools opened back up were the School Resource Officers not returned to schools at the same staffing levels as before? Is this reminiscent of the national politics where a crisis is used to institute generally unpopular wishes of the few?

Mayor Winfield and his incumbent slate of candidates now tout their decision leading to Oro Valley Police Officers being the highest paid southern Az force. Again, what they don't mention is that this support for correcting the pay issue didn't happen until May 2022. If Danny Sharp, with decades of public safety support, wasn’t a candidate for Mayor do you think Incumbent Mayor Winfield and his incumbent slate of candidates would be “all in” to support public safety? Where have they been for the last three or four years then?

As has been said before:

If public safety is important to you, it is important to elect a Mayor who will support public safety consistently, and not just every four years as Mayor Winfield and his incumbent slate of candidates do when there’s an election.

Danny Sharp will be the Mayor who will always support public safety to make sure Oro Valley remains the safest community for citizens to live, work and play.

Is Public Safety An Election Issue?

Is Oro Valley public safety an election issue?

It is. According to Candidate Danny Sharp, Oro Valley is not as safe as it once was.

It is not.  According to Candidate and current Mayor Joe Winfield, Oro Valley is the safest community in Arizona.

 

The differences in their thinking were “front and center” at the Greater Oro Valley Chamber Candidate Forum of June 28.

Mayoral Candidate Danny Sharp believes that public safety isn’t as good as it was and isn’t good enough

Danny Sharp made it clear at the forum on two occasions that Public Safety in Oro Valley is not good enough. In his opening remarks, Sharp noted: “When I am elected Mayor I will work to restore public trust by getting the Police Department the staffing needed to address the safety issues in our community and the threats looming from outside.”

Later in the forum, when asked how Oro Valley will be different in four years of his leadership, Sharp said that Oro Valley will be safer: “We talk about Oro Valley being the safest community in the state. Those are based on figures from 2020. I’m concerned about the fact that we don’t have enough police officers to do the job. I’m concerned about the vision that this Mayor and Council has given the police department so we can be understaffed to the point where we have to pull high school resource officers out of our high school. I drive up and down Oracle Road, Tangerine, LaCholla and I don’t see any police cars. I don’t see traffic stops. I see speeders. I see red light runners. I see tailgating in my rear view mirror.

The town is not as safe as it was.. People cant’t go to Riverfront Park and go for a walk without their Catalytic Converter being stolen. Or breaking out their window and stealing their purse. That’s not a safe community”. 

Sharp said that public safety will be a top priority if elected.

Candidate Joe Winfield disagrees: Oro Valley is safe because Chief Riley and her team are getting the job done.

Joe Winfield asserted at the forum that Oro Valley continues to be the safest community in Arizona. He points to FBI statistics and crime scores. He noted that Chief Kara Riley was twice voted best community leader. He noted that Oro Valley has more police per capita than Marana, Tucson and Sahuarita and pays its police officers more than any other town.

According to Winfield, to say that Oro Valley is not safe is a disservice to Chief Riley, the command staff, and the 103 men and women to put their lives on the line every day in service to the community.

Some added information

Three points of information for you to consider. First, the above panel shows the latest publicly reported crime statistics.

Second, in May, Chief Riley addressed the council. As we reported at that time, the objective of the Oro Valley Police Department (OVPD) is to be the best police agency in Arizona. The department is adding four positions in fiscal 2023. Two of these positions are officer positions. One of the four positions will free an officer for field work. That is a net increase of three field officers. Chief Riley stated at that time that the added positions she requested in this year’s budget was everything the department needs to meet its objective.

Third, in June, the OVPD was again acknowledged for excellence. “Special recognition and congratulations goes to Chief Riley and her entire PD Team for successfully completing the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ALEAP). The department was found in compliance with the 170 established standards and will be recommended for accreditation at the next ALEAP Commission meeting, with final approval expected. Oro Valley joins 20 other agencies across the state with this accreditation.” (Source: Town Manager’s Executive Report To Council, July 2022)

You be the judge 

Whether you agree with Danny Sharp’s observations or Joe Winfield’s facts, it is clear that the approaches to public safety of the two will be very different. 

Joe Winfield has been “hands off” when it comes to the OVPD. The OVPD has operated without his direct involvement. He has expressed his confidence in Chief Riley and the police force on numerous occasion. He will not “second guess” her judgment. We expect this behavior to continue. 

A Mayor Sharp will have a more “hands on” role when it comes to the OVPD. How involving that role becomes is yet to be determined.

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Guest View-Tim Bohen: When It Comes To Safety, Foresight Beats Hindsight Every Time

Players injured by light poles at Naranja Park

Some time ago, we learned of an incident in which a player at Naranja Park  ran in to a light pole, causing injury. This is the second time something like this has happened. The poles are not padded and they are mere feet from the playing area. Perhaps, the Town of Oro Valley lacks the experience of running “big time parks.” If they had the experience they should have known and acted on this simple fix to that particulate problem. 

Council Member Tim Bohen has brought this to the attention of the current town council.  We asked Bohen his thoughts on what needs to be done. Here is his response.

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Missed safety issues are costly to the town

“When Oro Valley misses a safety issue, we pay three times when an incident occurs. Also, our reputation for safety suffers

1. We need to investigate the incident 
2. We pay restitution to someone who may be injured 
3. We fix the safety issue so it does not happen again 

Proactive action reduces injury and costs less

When we proactively detect a safety issue we pay once. We fix the safety issue and our infrastructure is in better repair. Oro Valley has slightly lower reserves.   However, the infrastructure on our balance sheet is also improved by an offsetting amount. And we move forward confident that we have acted responsibly. 

With the Town running huge operatonal surpluses, the two safety incidents I have seen resulted in serious injuries and cost our Town needlessly. Everyone knows inadequate safety is costly for the victims. But inadequate safety is also bad business for the Town as we run surpluses. Also, safety issues such as the root cause of the Leonard Lawsuit should never be resolved behind the scenes as we saw on August 18, 2021 [Executive Council Session- details not revealed by town as the Council met in Executive Session to settle this situation].

The lessons learned can be missed

A budget surplus is only a surplus if all of the work for which the budget is allocated is actually done. In these two incidents the Town needlessly deferred a small expense we can afford. Oro Valley later assumed a much larger expense in a later budget cycle while people were needlessly injured on Town property. This failure to act when we should is both tragic for the victims and poor management by the Town.”

Tim

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2020-21 Budget Approved Unanimously

A cautious approach to spending
The Oro Valley Town Council unanimously approved a $105.4 spending budget for this fiscal year. The timing of the spending will depend on the financial impact of the pandemic. Hopefully, according to Town Manager Jacobs, the town will have an idea of how things will play out financially by mid year.

The town has taken a conservative position in this years budget because of the uncertainties of revenues. For example, the budget includes $6.1 million in unallocated spending. In addition, potential spending on capital improvements is being "phased in" during the year. How quickly these projects will happen will depend on the stability and predictability of the town's revenue streams.

           Watch LOVE's one minute budget summary

Budget includes elevator for community center
One of the needs that was unfunded by the Hiremath administration was the need to make the Oro Valley Community Center ADA complaint. One of the compliance measures is an elevator. This is now in the budget. The timing however is a bit unsure. According to Town Manager Jacobs, the location of the elevator will be determined based on the result of the towns Parks and Recreation Master Plan Study. This study is to be completed this fall.

$500K added contribution for PSPRS
The budget includes spending $500k as an additional payment to the State of Arizona Public Safety Pension Retirement Fund ("PSPRS"). This is the same as the added amount paid the past two years under the Winfield Administration. The timing of this payment will depend on the financial impact of the pandemic.

Public Safety challenge gets spending priority
Council was in agreement that public safety funding is critical to maintain. They agreed that public safety spending should be first priority. Town Manger Jacobs staid that "It is my obligation to fix a problem" if she learns of one from Chief Riley. She noted that the town does have contingency reserves to cover unforeseen events.

There were no public hearing discussion
The meeting was a public meeting. No hands were raised.

Effusive thanks to staff
Several times during the discussion, council members thanked staff for their work on the budget. Mayor Winfield summarized the comments: "I want to thank Ms. Jacobs and staff for their incredible work in putting the budget together for this fiscal year...during these unprecedented times of Covid pandemic."

Bits and Pieces

National Housing Slowdown Comes To Oro Valley
According to the Wall Street Journal: "The national housing slowdown is spreading to markets like Las Vegas and Phoenix, where prices still haven’t reclaimed their pre-crisis peaks."

The Long Realty report for Oro Valley for December, shows a slowdown in sales from the previous year.

"In the Oro Valley area, November 2018 active inventory was 265, a 1% decrease from November 2017. There were 58 closings in November 2018, a 17% decrease from November 2017. Year-to-date 2018 there were 851 closings, a 2% decrease from year-to-date 2017.

For those selling, housing for sale inventory 4.6 months, up from 3.8 in November 2017, a further indication of the slow down.

Colorado River Water Restriction Plan Will Impact Oro Valley
Apparently our warnings of potential CAP water restrictions are much more than our conjecture. They are a fact.

As we have posted numerous times on LOVE, CAP water is going to be restricted. Oro Valley's town touted water supply is going to be affected. Oro Valley needs to deal with the reality. It is a strategic issue. This article supports our continuous harping on the subject. The states need to come to agreement on how they will restrict water use or the federal government will step in.

According to Tucson's KGUN9: "Southern California's largest water wholesaler has approved a drought contingency plan that it hopes will help ensure the drought-stressed Colorado River will supply the Southwest for a decade." Notice that the plan is to supply "...for a decade" and not for 100 years, as Oro Valley's water assurances cover.

"Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming that have approved plans to take less water from key river reservoirs, including lakes Mead and Powell."  Arizona, which gets CAP water from Late Mead, has yet to approve the plan which will restrict water use starting in 2020. Arizona will be one of the first states to receive Colorado River water restriction because it was one of the last to join the water use pact.

Linda Vista-Oracle intersection may reopen in 2019!
The west side intersection of Linda Vista and Oracle has been virtually unusable for at least three months. This because Southwest Gas is replacing pipleline along Oracle Road.

There is a traffic light at this intersection that allows one to enter safely onto Oracle without having to jump in front of the high volume of traffic on Oracle.  So, getting this intersection back into operation is important to public safety.

While other intersections have been disturbed, such as Concordia and Oracle, they are now open. But not Linda Vista. We see crews working there, from time to time: Digging holes; filling holes.

Oro Valley town constituent coordinator Jessica Hynd tells us that "The reason it seems the project is sitting stale is due to offsite testing of the newly placed upgraded pipes. As testing is done, crews will return to make adjustments as needed." She also told us that the project should be fully completed by early next year.