Bits and Pieces

Colorado River Reservoirs Still Strained

As of August 10, the seven major reservoirs in the Colorado River system are only 39% full, holding 22.5 million acre-feet of water. That’s slightly less than a year ago, when they were at 41%. The two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, remain at just 31% of capacity each. Since the Colorado River is Oro Valley’s primary source of water, these persistently low levels highlight the continuing challenges of long-term water supply. (Source)

Community Academy returns this fall

The Town of Oro Valley’s Community Academy begins October 2 and runs through November 5. This year’s program offers nine classes, including new sessions on water and tourism. The Academy gives residents an inside look at how the Town operates, and many graduates later go on to serve on boards and commissions. Registration is available here.

Community Center Fund: Financial results for year even stronger than anticipated

In our September 3 report, we noted that town staff projected that the Community Center Fund was on track to add about $750,000 to reserves, ending fiscal 2025 with a $2.6 million balance. Final year-end results came in even better. Revenues reached $12.1 million, or 113% of budget, while expenses were 2% over plan. The fund added $1.1 million to reserves and closed the year with a $2.9 million balance. (Source: Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of September 9, 2020)

Oro Valley Welcomes New Economic Development Manager

Sarah Denman has been introduced as the Town’s new Economic Development Program Manager, following Margie’s retirement. In her role, Denman will oversee the Town’s Business Retention and Expansion Program, co-manage the Shop Oro Valley campaign with the Chamber of Commerce, and assist businesses with site analysis, permitting, and resources. She brings experience from working with the City of Tucson, Pima County, Sahuarita, and AmeriCorps. Denman, who moved to Southern Arizona in 2020, holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Arizona and looks forward to supporting Oro Valley’s business community. (Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

Jankowski Named Outstanding Professional of the Year

Deputy Parks and Recreation Director Matthew Jankowski has been honored as the 2025 Outstanding Professional of the Year by the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association. The award recognizes his leadership and innovation since joining Oro Valley in 2018, where he has overseen major growth at the Community Center and Aquatic Center, secured nearly $1 million in upgrades, and helped bring a $1 million grant to develop a skate and bike park at Naranja Park. Jankowski also serves as Vice President of APRA and was recently appointed by Governor Katie Hobbs to the Arizona Outdoor Recreation Coordinating Commission. (Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

Council Approves Broadband Partnership

Last week, the Oro Valley Town Council approved an intergovernmental agreement with Pima County to join the Regional Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Project. The initiative will build a countywide fiber optic ring that enhances public safety communications, supports next-generation 911 services, and opens the door for expanded broadband access. Oro Valley will contribute $200,000 in FY 26–27 and provide in-kind support such as permitting and inspections. In return, the Town gains access to more reliable fiber infrastructure, improved digital equity, and long-term opportunities to attract businesses and expand internet service. (Source: The Oro Valley Town Council meeting of 9-03-25)

RTA Next Plan of $3Billion Vote scheduled for March

The Pima County Board of Supervisors has unanimously referred the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Next plan to the March 2026 ballot. The plan is the result of years of meetings and negotiations among community and business leaders, including contributions from Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield, who served as chair of the RTA Board, and Town Manager Jeff Wilkins, who provided technical input. Supporters describe the measure as a balanced plan that will benefit Oro Valley as well as the broader Pima County community. More information about the projects included in the plan is available at the RTA Next.

Disc Golf at Pusch Ridge Course Challenged by Homeowner Assocations

Town Staff not authorized to allow Disc Golf at Pusch Ridge Course

Several weeks ago we reported that the town was offering Disc Golf at the Pusch Ridge Course for the next four months.  We thought nothing of this. However, according to the homeowner associations that financially support the town’s golf courses, Disc Golf is not an approved use of the course and is causing problems for residents. 

Pusch Ridge Course is a single use facility

Speaking at last weeks Oro Valley Town Council meeting, Ray Dissinger, President of the El Conquistador Homeowners Association, and resident Chuck Crowley, speaking for Tony D’Angelo, President of the Group Friends of Pusch Ridge Golf, noted that the Pusch Ridge Course designation in the 2020 Parks and Recreation master plan is “conservation area/trail park”. They noted that the Pusch Ridge Golf Course is designated in the plan as a single use facility. Further, they note, Disc Golf was not a planned use of the Pusch Ridge Course because it is not golf.

An “inside job” that was 18 months in the works

It appears that town staff moved forward with Disc Golf at the Pusch Ridge Golf Course on their own. They did not seek nor did they get the approval of those homeowner association who financially support it. Nor did they seek or get the approval of the town council.

Staff has been meeting with the group Tucson Disc Golf Club for the past year and a half to make Disc Golf a reality (see panel right). In their Facebook posting, the Tucson Disc Golf Club thanks members of their club for making his happen. According to D’Angelo, one of these people is a manager in the town’s Parks and Recreation Department,. D’Angelo wonders if the town Town Council is aware of the special relationship between the Tucson Disc Golf Club and this town staff member.

No advance discussion of Disc Golf with stakeholders

D’Angelo does not understand why the Parks and Department did not hold at least one meeting between residents and the Tucson Disc Golf Club , sponsor of Disc Golf, to discuss potential problems before starting the operation. He wonders why the town did not introduce their negotiating partners to the residents living adjacent to this facility. 

Is this really a four month test or is their more to it?

Given the fact that the Tucson Disc Golf Club has been working on this for a year and a half and has funded the equipment installation, it is surprising that the Parks and Recreation department has said that Disc Golf is a test for the next four months. D’Angelo wonders why a third party would invest this much for a simple test.  Is it the town’s expectation to operate both real and Disc Golf at the same time in the fall or is the true intention to replace golf with Disc Golf on a permanent basis? 

Disc Golf is already causing problems for homeowners

According to D’Angelo, Disc Golf is already causing problems.  Last week, a home was hit and damaged by several discs in just the first two days of Disc Golf operation. “Most alarming is that [the homeowner] had to stop two young men from climbing a tree to reach his elevated patio so they could retrieve a disc. This is not the only incident of Disc Golf players entering resident fenced patios to retrieve discs unannounced or uninvited.” 

Meanwhile town staff fails to focus on what is important for building a sustainable Pusch Ridge Golf Courxe

While all this has been happening, D’Angelo asserts that town staff  has spent very little time exploring how to make this golf course environmentally sustainable via turf reduction, improved water efficiency or bringing reclaimed water to the facility as staff was directed when the council approved a February 17, 2021 motion to reopen the golf course. There was no direction in that motion to look at alternative uses of the course.

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Councils Have Done Much To Build The Oro Valley Business Base But Results Have Not Happened

Economic Development continues at a slow pace

In March, the town issued seventeen single family residency permits. Also in March, there were few new business projects listed by the town. In total, businesses that are coming to Oro Valley are the same types of businesses that we reported in February.  We concluded then that most businesses that are opening in Oro Valley are focussed on serving the adult community (Read: "Oro Valley is an Adult Community")

Town Councils have tried to do much over the years to bring businesses to Oro Valley

"Rooftops strategy"

The Hiremath led councils embarked on a "grow the rooftops" strategy. The result of that strategy can be seen today with La Posada, a senior living that is is being built north of the CDO Wash, behind Home Depot. Yes. That project will bring more people to our community. But will it bring more businesses to the community or will it simply add to traffic in the area?

Two Economic Development Directors

The Winfield Council now has its second Oro Valley Economic Development Director. Neither the first Director nor the current Director have brought any significant business to our community with one exception, that being Leonardo Electronics. That company, however, has yet to break ground, though the project was announced in December of 2021. (Source: March Town of Oro Valley Economic Development Status Report.)

Easing requirements in economic enterprise zones

The Council, at the urging of former town manager Mary Jacobs and the then current Economic Development Director, eased the permitting codes ("EEZ"). That council approved blading the desert in Innovation Park to create "shovel-ready lots." The hope was that businesses would come to Oro Valley. After all, Oro Valley has an easier permitting process and land that is ready for construction. Well, that hasn't happened either.

A friendlier Planning and Zoning Department

Jacobs, under the Winfield Council, attempted to make it a bit easier for Developers to build in Oro Valley by putting the Planning and Zoning Department under the Director of Economic Development. The goals of Economic Development Department and Planning and Zoning Department are not the same. The Economic Development Department  seeks to build the commercial base of our community. The Planning and Zoning Department is supposed to make sure that whatever is built is built within code specifications. Their job is to protect the community, not to grow it.  Today, the Planning and Zoning Department tries to negotiate between residents and developers, rather than simply doing their code [and Genera Plan] enforcement job.

An example of this relates to the request of the Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene [OVCN] to rezone land next to the church at Concordia and Buena Vista so that they can build a major sports complex. The residents are united against this proposal. They have been steadfast in their position that there is no compromise that will result in their supporting that facility in that area. Yet, many times, the Planning and Zoning Department has talked with the residents, urging some sort of compromise. That is not the Planning and Zoning Department's job. Their job is to process the application in the same manner in which all such applications are processed. 

"Choose Oro Valley" Website

The town created a website that won an award from the Arizona Association of Economic Development. That website is chooseorovalley.com. The focus of that site is to attract bioscience companies, like Roche. It is quite comprehensive. One can see available sites and buildings and tax incentives. It displays Oro Valley's key industries.

The site falsely states that "the population of Oro Valley is balanced across all age segments." We know it is not balanced. Any business with a serious intent is going to look at the 2020 Census Data, like we did, and see that that statement is false. Indeed, even the town’s own Parks and Recreation Master Plan acknowledges that “…the town exhibits an unbalanced distribution among major age segments.”  We are an over 55 community.  Putting false information on the web sit reduces the credibility of all the information on the site.

Shovel ready sites

The first of the two Economic Development Directors convinced the Council that the reason Oro Valley was not being selected by companies was that the town had no “shovel ready sites.” These are sites that are graded without a specific site plan.  So, the town approved blading the desert in Innovation Park to do just that. This happened in September 2020.

Working with the State of Arizona

The town also receives leads from the State. None of these have panned out to date. Many of these leads seem to have more of an industrial need. Something Oro Valley doesn't want. It's important to face reality. Everybody wants clean businesses in technology. What makes Oro Valley unique? We don't know.

From Oro Valley Marketplace to Oro Valley Village Center

Last year the Council approved a bold revisioning of the failed Oro Valley Marketplace. It is call the Oro Valley Village Center. It is being revisioned on the premise that the area needs to build its own population density in order to support businesses in the center. The vision is for hotels and apartments, adding more density to the town. Nothing has happened to the Center since the approval.

The “Business Incubator”

In December of 2020  the University of Arizona opened a “business incubator” in Innovation Park to house startup companies . The hope is that one of the startups will take hold and flourish in Oro Vally, It is too soon to tell if this initiative will pay off.

Council's recent "Economic Vitality" revisit produces nothing new

Last week the Town Council held a study session on its strategic plan. "Economic Vitality" is one area they discussed. As Vice Mayor Barrett noted, the study session was an update of the existing strategy. The session was not a discussion on how to replace it.  The focus of the plan is to do the same things that the town has been doing to meet the following goals:

• Support local businesses
• Attract employers in key business sectors
• Attract commercial businesses to our centers
• Increase visitors (Via $400,000 annually given to  "Visit Tucson" to generate 28,000 hotel room nights. That's $14.29 per night.

To date, these actions have failed to produce significant tangible results

Town Councils have done much to build the business base in this town. Perhaps it is the impact of the Pandemic. Perhaps it is the impact of the three-year economic meltdown that has happened since the Pandemic. Regardless, the town has yet to see results in their efforts to bring significant new business to the community.

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Meet Chris Cornelison... Oro Valley's Acting Town Manager

The Town of Oro Valley's Acting Town Manager is Chris Cornelison. Chris assumed this role after the resignation of Mary Jacobs. We asked him to share a bit about himself with the LOVE community.

Focus on moving the town forward as directed by Council

As you can imagine, Chris is busy, at the moment "ensuring that the organization and the community move forward, committed to the directives laid out by Town Council and community."

12th year serving the community

Chris began working with the Town of Oro Valley in 2010 as a part-time graduate intern. Two years later, he was hired full-time by the Town and served in various roles. He was named Assistant Town Manager in March 2017. More recently, his title changed to Deputy Town Manager "... and then—as you know—with Mary’s departure, I am now serving as Acting Town Manager." He will serve in this role until Council contracts a Town Manager.

UA Eller School Graduate... MPA from UA

Chris earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management, in 2010.  He graduated with a double major: Criminal Justice and Management & Public Policy. He earned a Master of Public Administration from the UA School of Government and Public Policy in 2012, with a dual focus in Finance and Local Government.

Active in the profession and the community

Chris is a current member of the International City/County Manager’s Association (ICMA). He plans to apply this year to become a Credentialed Manager Candidate. He also is a member of the Arizona City/County Manager’s Association (ACMA) and served as the Chair for the 2017 ACMA Winter Conference. Chris currently serves as a member of the Community Advisory Board for the University of Arizona School of Government and Public Policy. He is a Professional Advisor for the UA ICMA Student Chapter.

Focused on four key town departments as Deputy Town Manager

As Deputy Town Manager, Chris provided support to four very important departments: Public Works, Parks & Recreation, Community & Economic Development and Town Clerk. He led negotiation efforts with the Town’s Public Safety Negotiations Committee, and served on the Town’s Budget Committee for the bulk of his tenure with the Town. 

Led "OVSafeSteps COVID Business Assistance Program"

One of Chris' notable projects with the Town was his role as Project Manager for the award-winning OVSafeSteps COVID business assistance program launched 2020. "Helping people and providing support to more than 200 local businesses was a collaborative and rewarding experience. The success of this program was a result of the wonderful team at the Town and our community partners like the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce."

A collaborative work style

Chris describes his work stye as collaborative, honest, direct and fair—"Qualities that I believe will serve me well as I help guide our organization through the coming months."

LOVE thoughts:  Big challenges ahead

It is going to take a while for the town to identify Town Manager candidates. Then, add to that the time it will take for the Council to consider, select, and contract an individual. During this time, big things are happening. This includes possible General Plan Amendments, major public hearings on zoning and  PAD requested changes, and, as we posted this week, key decisions Council needs to make on Parks and Recreation Bond amenities. 

Fortunately, Chris has the direct experience of working with the key departments involved in these efforts. That experience should help him keep the town on a steady course.

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More about Chris Cornelison

"On a personal note, I have been with my wife, Bernadette, for more than 13 years (married for the past 8 years), and we are the proud parents of two wonderful and energetic children, ages 4 (daughter) and 11 months (son). Bernadette currently teaches at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy as an Assistant Clinical Professor, while spending half of her time as a practitioner at a Banner Clinic in Tucson. Between our busy jobs and two kiddos, we are an active household, which we love. It’s fair to say we enjoy the challenge of balancing demanding jobs while juggling home life and demanding little personalities.

When we are not visiting family or friends, we enjoy hiking, attending community events and just spending time helping our children grow."

The Rush To Complete Naranja Park Is On

The rush is on

The Town of Oro Valley at the urging of the the Oro Valley Town Council is rushing to complete Naranja Park. The goal is to complete the buildout of the park by 2024.  The town is moving forward without a council approved conceptual design. They are doing so without knowing what the cost of the buildout is going to be. They are doing so without knowing what the cost of maintaining whatever it is they are building will be. 

They are pressing forward with this massive undertaking at rapid pace. They are doing so that at a time of extraordinary high inflation, significant material shortages, and labor shortages. 

No approved conceptual design… and a council “in the weeds” 

Town staff presented the latest design to council at its April 6 study session.  The design is different from the design presented in the 2020-21 Parks and Recreation Master Plan. That is the plan that kicked off this rush to complete the facility. 

At the study session, Councilmembers presented their views on such items as where the dog park should be located, whether or not the “pump track” was big enough, and why the four new multipurpose fields could not be located a bit closer to the existing fields. Mayor Winfield suggested that staff could reduce one planned restroom if money needed to be saved on the project.

Barrett questions "all-at-once" site preparation cost

The first construction step is to prepare the site. That requires mass grading the site and building the underground utility infrastructure. Site preparation is costly. It does not result in any immediate benefit to the community. This concerns Vice Mayor Barrett.  At the meeting, she asked asked if the cost of this "all at once" site preparation approach would consume a large portion of the $15 million in bond funds that were earmarked for building the park.

Barrett did not receive a direct answer from Town Public Works Director Paul Keesler, who is in charge of the project. Rather, Keesler explained that preparing the entire site was necessary because of the various grades of the existing land. One simply could not grade one area without impacting the other areas.

Barrett then observed: “If we are in a situation where the grading is going to eat most of [the bond money], and we’re still not able to put in at least a significant portion of the amenities, then I think we would need to come back and take a look at it."

Cost of the buildout  is unknown.. Our guess: $21 million

The cost of building the facility is unknown because the town does not know what the facility is going to look like. “Staff is putting in motion plans to get the final maximum bid price of our Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) contractor, Haydon, so plans can be made to start the mobilization and then grading phase.” (Source).

The Parks and Recreation Master Plan estimated estimated a buildout cost $17 million. That estimate is a year old. In today’s dollars that would be $21 million, assuming a construction inflation rate of 20%. $15 million of that will come from the bond that was issued last summer. The remainder will come from town reserves. (Source)

Keesler confirmed that the Naranja Park buildout cost will be significantly more than anticipated even a year ago. "“I can guarantee you that Naranja Park will take the majority of the $25 million in park bond money.” According to Town Manager Jacobs. the cost is expected to be at least $5 million more than the allocated amount of $15 million.

According to Keesler, the biggest risk is the availability and cost of materials. "Everything is crystal ball…” at this point.

Cost of ongoing maintenance unknown

Since the town does not know what the site is going to look like, it does not know the cost of maintaining this extraordinarily large, amenity rich facility in a manner consistent with Oro Valley’s vision as a “Town of Excellence.”

We believe that there is a town requirement that the cost of maintaining major proposed public works projects be estimated before that project is approved by Council. And if there is not a requirement, then it most certainly should be one!

The only certainty: Town's communication outreach plan in place

About the only thing that is certain is the town's communication plan. “Once construction begins, the Hayden [CMAR Contractor] team will be providing weekly project reports to Town staff. The OV Communications team will summarize those reports into reader-friendly updates that will be posted to the project web page located here. Updates will also be included in the Parks and Recreation email blast as needed, and photos will occasionally be posted to social media to keep the community engaged and mindful of the project web page and the progress on this exciting amenity. Site signs will include a QR code to lead residents to the project page as well. To kick off the project and communication efforts, staff is planning a press release, an Explorer article and a podcast episode ahead of the May 31 groundbreaking ceremony.” (Source)

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Bits and Pieces

Pusch Ridge Course has strong use... vastly exceeds expectations

According to Friends Of Pusch Ridge Golf, "Rounds at Pusch Ridge exceeded the last year it was open in the first two months. They met the town’s budget for the year by the end of January. Plus, they exceeded the Friends goal of 10,000 for the season as of this writing. This is also with several days of Disc Golf play instead of traditional golf.

 
We believe it is possible, with Friends help, to end the first season with more than double the town's budget. With luck we might exceed 14,000 rounds! So keep playing and enjoying this gem of the desert." (Source)

Kreigh Playground Reopened
Last week, the Town of Oro Valley announced the reopening of the Kreigh Park recreation area. It has new play structures. Yesterday was the ribbon cutting.

"The updated playground amenities include a jungle gym, slides, swings, climbing structures and interactive music structures. The playground is ADA accessible and has a seating area for adults to keep an eye on little ones.

 
The previous playground equipment was over 20 years old and was identified as needing to be replaced through the Parks and Recreation Master Plan process that was conducted in 2020/21. The playground temporarily closed in early February to replace the equipment." (Source: Town of Oro Valley Press Release, 3-17-22)

Former Economic Development Director Amanda Jacobs now at Fountain Hills

Oro Valley's former Economic Development Director, Amanda Jacobs, is now the Economic Development Director in the Town of Fountain Hills.

"I was looking for a new opportunity where I could continue to serve and make a positive impact in local government,” Jacobs said. “Fountain Hills’ mission aligns with my values, is a well-managed community that is charming, safe and has several economic opportunities making it an ideal location to live and work." (Source)

Good luck Amanda. Thank you for you service to the residents of Oro Valley.

Spring Arts Festival this weekend

There is a Spring Arts Festival this weekend at the Oro Valley Marketplace.

"The 2-day outdoor artisan market in Oro Valley showcases some of the Southwest’s finest artisans in fashion, food, home goods, painting, and visual arts. In addition, pop up music performances and food trucks will be onsite for attendees to enjoy.

 
Our curated arts and crafts market celebrates the ingenuity of independently owned, small businesses and artists who channel their passions into creating one-of-a-kind handcrafted products.

 
Shop with the makers themselves – and learn how they make their unique works of art. Support small, local & sustainable!" (Source)

Riverfront Park light schedule changes start March 27

"Overhead pathway lights have been installed along the multi-use path around Riverfront Park, which will improve visibility for those using the path at night. Because of this, the field lights will now only be programmed while activities are scheduled on the fields. This means the field lights will no longer be programmed on Sunday nights." (Source)

Bits and Pieces

Kreigh Park playground temporarily closing for upgrades
ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (Feb. 3, 2022) –– Oro Valley Parks and Recreation is excited to announce that the playground at James D. Kriegh Park will be replaced with brand-new playground structures, play surface and shade structure.

 
Before the new amenities can be installed, the existing playground and surface need to be removed. Because of that, the playground and ramada will be closed for construction starting Feb. 7. The upgraded playground is expected to reopen in late March.
The existing playground equipment is over 20 years old and was identified as needing to be replaced through the Parks and Recreation Master Plan process that was conducted in 2020/2021.

 

Community input played an important role in the new playground design. Parks and Recreation created a survey for residents to pick different designs and amenities. Over 400 people responded with comments and feedback on the designs. The first option (shown below) received over 65% of the vote, making it the winner.

 
Construction updates along with closure/reopening announcements will be made on the Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Facebook page. During construction, don’t forget that Oro Valley has additional playgrounds at Naranja Park and Riverfront Park.

(Source: Town of Oro Valley Press Release 2-3-22)

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Council approves removing HSL option to lease town courses (if town declares any one of them 
"discontinued")

"On April 23, 2015, the Town Council entered into a Purchase and Sales Agreement for the El Conquistador Country Club and Golf Courses with HSL El Conquistador Golf, LLC (HSL). The agreement contains provisions allowing HSL to lease from the Town the 9-hole Resort (Pusch) Golf Course and/or the La Canada Golf Course in the event the Town decided not to maintain them as golf courses. A similar provision is included for the tennis courts.

In January 2021, HSL opted not to exercise its right to operate/lease the Pusch Golf Course after the Town declared it a discontinued course, effectively extinguishing their option in the Agreement. During the Town Council's discussion regarding the installation of new irrigation for the La Canada and El Conquistador courses, Council expressed interest in inquiring of HSL their willingness to relinquish the same option on the La Canada course.

(source)

 
HSL agreed to do so.  Council approved the measure 6-1 at the meeting this past Wednesday.

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LaCanada awaits repaving after water break

The town has repaired the water line break that occurred on LaCanada, north of Lambert Lane. Contractors are awaiting warmer day temperatures to repave the road.

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Volunteers needed for senior programming task force

"Oro Valley Parks and Recreation is seeking volunteers for a new taskforce to research and provide suggestions/feedback on senior program ideas. If you are interested, please contact Nancy Ellis at nellis@orovalleyaz.gov to request an application. The deadline to apply is February 28, 2022."

(Source)

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El Conquistador Resort hosts Golf Pro Tour All-Star Event on Pusch Ridge Course this month

The  El Conquistador Resort is hosting the second annual Disc Golf Pro Tour All-Star event. It will be held on the Pusch Ridge Golf course on February 11-13, 2022. The event will showcase some of the top disc golfers in the world as they compete in a unique format event that will kick off the 2022 season. Spectator tickets may be purchased here. Read more about this event here.

(source)

Winfield "Doubles Down" On His Support Of Municipal Golf

"No on wants our public courses to succeed more than I do"

“In October 2019, I approved the 36-holes of golf. No one wants our public golf courses to succeed more than I do.” 

Thus began Mayor Joe Winfield’s 8 minute explanation of why he supported spending almost $7.8 million to replace golf course irrigation. The council approved this expenditure by a 6-1 vote last week. 

“I also supported broadening the half percent sales tax, broadening to all parks and recreation, including the golf course irrigation. Delaying repairs will just cost more in the future.”

Reason: "Golf is the most popular sport in our community"

Referring to the public outreach that was on for the 2020 Parks and Recreation Master Plan: “It does identify that golf is the most popular sport in our community.” It also identified many other resident needs parks and recreation items that are important to the community. “We did have a good response to each of these outreach efforts.”

Basis: As validated they the towns "statistically valid survey"

Winfield relies on the a resident survey that was done in the development of the town's Parks and Recreation Master Plan. 

“When I looked at the statistically valid survey, the thing that really stood out to me was that half our community doesn’t use any of these amenities.” Winfield noted that despite this 93% of the community (users and non users) indicated that the “Parks and Recreation System Program makes Oro Valley a more desirable place to live.” 

"Nothing I like to see more than people on our golf courses"

Winfield noted that he doesn’t use many of the town’s parks and recreation facilities but “I know that it is important to our community and I want to invest in all these parks and recreation facilities and amenities, including golf because I know that golf is important to our community. There’s nothing I like to see more than people on our golf courses.”

Winfield stated that 22% of the respondents to the survey use the golf facilities.”I get a little weary of hearing that it is only 300 people. That’s nonsense.” According the Winfield, the national statistic for that is 9%. “And our facility is 22%.”

“I wish this bond was 50 million"

Winfield would like to build every part of the master plan now. “I wish this bond was 50 million.”

Winfield applauded town staff for recommending that $4.5 million of the golf irrigation replacement come from the $25 million parks and recreation bond, with the remaining $4.3 million coming from available reserves.

Mayor Winfield is confident in town staff's ability to get the irrigation rebuilt. “If we leave it to our staff to get the job done, they’ll make it happen.”

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Bits and Pieces

Lots Happening At Pusch Ridge Golf

The town’s Pusch View 9-hole golf course opens November 1. Prior to that, on October 30, the town is hosting a pre-opening golf event. It’s a sold out event! The group, “Friends of Pusch Ridge Golf” is also sponsoring the event. They have also announced three new golf leagues. You can learn more about that here.

Oro Valley average population is aging

This information just for the record. Based on the town’s 2020 Parks and Recreation Master Plan, 32% of residents are over 64. This population segment is expected to increase by about 1 percentage point each year through 2034.  During the same time period, the population of kids under 18 is expected to decrease from 16% to 12%. The vast majority of Oro Valley homes are situated on small lots, are smaller homes and have no place for kids to play. It may well be that the town’s housing stock simply is not attractive for younger families. (Source: 2021 Parks and Recreation Master Plan, section 3.4.1)

Pima County no longer in severe drought

The monsoon rains have significantly changed the state’s official drought designations. Pima County has moved rom sever drought to abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions. This is a huge change from just one year ago. Learn more here.

Five Reasons Parks and Rec Bond Project Priorities Could Change

Yesterday, we discussed the fact the council approved $25 million bond for parks and recreation improvements does not include a specific list of projects that are being funded. As a result, there is no enforceable promise that guarantees that the projects approved for bonding in July will happen.  

Today, we present five reasons why priorities could change.

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The "next council" might have a different set of priorities

The term of the two members of council who voted "no"on the bonding ends in 2024. Thus, they will be in office through the completion of most of the work. All they need are two new members of council who agree with their thinking to change the direction of the use of these bond funds.

Some of the items on the list of projects do not reflect the wishes of the residents

Council Member Solomon is focussed on what residents want. He bases his thinking on a town conducted statistically valid needs assessment that was done by an independent consultant for the town's 2020 Parks and Recreation Master Plan. That survey classified facility needs into three categories (See panel right). Many of the items on the July approved priority list are either low or no priority. "My big objection is that this does not follow the statistically valid survey that was touted 'time and time and time again' through this council. Yet, after all of that, that is not the way priorities were set," according to Solomon speaking a last week’s town council meeting.

The town does not know what each project will cost yet they are raising money to fund the projects now

The town has "put the cart before the horse". The town has no true financial picture of what projects it can and can not afford.  This is because it is just now preparing revised estimates of construction costs, costs that may be much greater because of inflation. Council Member Solomon asked Town Finance Director Gephart last week what these estimates were. Gephart  stated that “I do not have a cost estimate...” of these items “… because we are still working through what this final project list is going to be.”  According to Gephart, the project list cost could well be more than originally estimated.

The town may need even more than $25 million for these projects. Funds may have to come from added sources.

$25 million may not be sufficient to pay for all of the cost of the projects because of inflation. According to Gephart, inflation may stay in the 5-7% range for the foreseeable future because government stimulus money has flooded the market.  “There is concern that with inflation, we are not going to complete all of the projects, amenities that have been approved.”

What happens if the town finds itself short of funds for these projects? According to Town Manager Mary Jacobs: “If we are not able to get everything done on the list, I will come back to council. We also have the opportunity for...” adding funds to complete these projects through future budgets. “Because these projects are going to go on over multiple years… We’ll have to budget the bond monies…and look for supplemental monies."

The town has no idea of what will be the cost of maintaining these facilities

The projects that will be funded by the bond are not fully defined nor have they been fully vetted per town policy.  Policy 1 of the town’s financial and budgetary policies states that all proposed projects should have “…all operations, maintenance and replacement costs shall be fully costed.” Town Finance Director Gephart stated that he had no idea of what these costs would be.

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Council Members Solomon and Green voted against the bond measure. Solomon summed up his reasoning.  "This is a pretty big wish list and we are not going to be able to afford all of this especially considering the operating cost.” After reminding the council that voters have always rejected bonding for parks projects at the ballot box, Solomon noted; "This is not what the community asked for. This bond is rushed through and no real financial analysis." If new council members next year agree with Council Members Solomon and Greene, then the allocation of the bond money will change.

Guest View: Mike Zinkin ~ A Partnership Gone Awry

The Historic Preservation Commission and the Historical Society are two separate organizations

The following Guest View discusses the relationship between the Town’s Historic Preservation Commission ("HPC") and the Oro Valley Historical Society ("OVHS"). These are two separate organizations.

HPC is a town-run commission that “was formed to promote the educational, cultural and economic welfare of the Town of Oro Valley by insuring the preservation of historic buildings, districts, landmarks, structures, documents, photographs and other artifacts that represent the historic background and development of the greater Oro Valley area.”

The OVHS is a non-profit corporation whose mission "...is to promote research, preservation, education and dissemination of history related to the Greater Oro Valley area."

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In 2015, there was an agreed upon plan for OVHS to use the garage at Steam Pump Ranch

"When I [Mike Zinkin] was on the Oro Valley Town Council, I was the liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission and I was part of a group that helped update the Steam Pump Ranch (SPR) Master Plan in 2015. The group was headed up by Kristy Diaz-Trahen, the Parks and Rec Director and Corkey Poster, an architect.

The results of this plan are in the panel at right; and, as you can see in the legend, Item A4 cites a partnership with the Oro Valley Historical Society (OVHS) to dedicate the garage to the OVHS for their offices, gallery, restrooms, and storage.

The OVHS goes back to 2005 when Jim Kriegh (Oro Valley’s founding father), Dr. Pat Spoerl, and  town resident Dick Eggerding, initiated the Society to preserve Oro Valley History and landmarks. In 2006 there was a Memorandum of Understanding between the Town and the OVHS establishing a framework for the partnership. In 2009 a License Agreement was formed to allow the OVHS to, among other things, schedule tours, events, and plant in the Heritage Garden.

The Town has not done much to update and restore Steam Pump Ranch
At one time there was $400,000 in the Capital Improvement Plan to fund Ranch updates. However, it was decided by then Town Manager Greg Caton that the one-time revenues were not going to be as projected, therefore the improvements at SPR were canceled.

Town reneged on its promise to the Oro Valley Historical Society
In May 2020, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board met to discuss updated plans for SPR. Included in this plan was a huge change to repurpose the SPR garage for Parks and Rec office spaces, thereby removing the OVHS from this space, relegating them instead to a one-room office in the Pusch House.

While this room is big enough for some storage, it is not big enough for the offices, meeting space, wet and dry labs, research room, and restroom that they were promised by the Town.

Not even a courtesy call to let OVHS know
This came without even a courtesy call to the OVHS advising them of the change. Imagine the shock to the OVHS who had donated $5,000 to help fund the updated assessment. (This money has since been returned to them and is partially being used to pay for rent on the storage room in the Pusch House, which had never been charged before).

Town Manager, Mary Jacobs cut out the citizen-driven OVHS from Steam Pump Ranch

Just how much office space does the Parks and Rec Department need? They already have space at Town Hall, Naranja Park, and the Aquatic Center. Nowadays, employees are working from home and that is becoming the new normal. But there is no space for the OVHS at Steam Pump Ranch? A facility that is on the National Register of Historic places? This is unconscionable.

What happened to the partnership between the Town of Oro Valley and the OVHS?
To quote from a May 2020 letter sent to the mayor and council by OVHS:

“We ask that the Town Council explain the decision for the Garage Building repurposing. We further ask that the Town and Parks and Recreation at least be honest about their intentions regarding our “partnership.” If this is something you would like to dissolve, at least be respectful and courteous enough to tell us so.”

To the best of my knowledge, the Town has never responded to that letter.

Who’s in charge?
The Historic Preservation Commission was involved in the plan to allow the OVHS to have space in the garage, yet it was the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) that reallocated them to a rent-paying room in the Pusch House. I wonder what Councilmember Steve Solomon thinks about all of this. He is the current Town Council liaison to the HPC.

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Mayor Winfield Proclaims Oro Valley "A Golf Community"...Enthusiastic About Reopening Pusch View Golf Course

Winfield: “We are a golf community.”

Mayor Winfield declared that Oro Valley is a golf community at last week’s council meeting (4h21m 2/17/21 Oro Valley Town Council Meeting) This, he says, is supported by last year’s statistically valid resident survey done as part of the now in-progress Parks and Recreation ten year master plan project. 

This survey was one of several reasons he gave for championing the reopening and three year commitment to operating the Pusch Ridge Course. Other reasons he gave are an uptick in golf usage because of the Pandemic; and his assertion that the town owned golf courses are meeting their subsidy metrics. According to Winfield, the only problem with Pusch View nine hole golf course is that it has been under-promoted.

Winfield "Kicks the Can" down the road

When Winfield and fellow council members Steve Solomon and Mo Greene have their way, the course will operate starting November 1. It will close each year in May.  Three years will be the  horizon for determining what will happen next to the course. By that time, the Mayor will have completed his term. It will be someone else's challenge.

Open space option summarily rejected

The idea of allowing the property to revert to its natural state or turning it into a walking preserve was summarily rejected by Winfield and council at the February 17 council meeting.  They decided that that solution was too expensive. They based that on numbers provided by town staff. No council member challenged these numbers or the basis for them. As LOVE has previously noted, the natural space option is least costly over a five year planning horizon.

Council never considered the Pusch View Course's history of failure

The council did not discuss the operating history of this course during the meeting, a history that includes:

• The Town purchased three financially failed golf courses in 2014 from HSL Properties. HSL's purchase of the El Conquistador resort was financially feasible only if the Town took over these courses. That is what the Town did. The Town council raised the sales tax a half cent to subsidize the losses. The subside continues to this day.
• Once it owned the Pusch View Course, the Town observed that the course was underused and worked to market it. There was no success. 
• In 2016, the Town then tried to turn the course into a family entertainment center, adding things like larger holes on the green and Frisbee Golf. That didn't work to stimulate use either. You can read about the Town's enthusiasm for that here.
• In 2020, Town Council voted to discontinue the course so that the Town could lease the course back to HSL.

Winfield, Solomon and Greene must believe that the pandemic driven resurgence in course use in Oro Valley is going to continue after the Pandemic passes. They may be right. On the other hand, the fundamental reasons the sport of golf is in decline has not changed. Read about those things here.

Tim Bohen was the only council member to speak against reopening the course

Council Member Tim Bohen stated that the Town has excess golf inventory even in today's hot market.  “I just wanted to let the people know at Pusch Ridge Course: I’ve walked their course a couple of times. I’ve talked them. I have sympathy for their plight." He continued: "I really do believe as a responsible entity, we have inventory that we already have that we don’t consume and that is why I can’t support this.”

Winfield did not want a council resolution.  Jacobs insisted they that there be one.

Mayor Winfield stated at several different points during the February 17 council discussion that Town Manager Jacobs had enough information from listening to the discussion to formulate what town staff was to do next. He did not want a formal vote (“resolution”). Town Manager Jacobs insisted that there be one: "You tell me what. I will give you the how." 

RFP to lease Pusch View Golf included in resolution

Two of the three other council members, Vice Mayor Barrett and Council Member Josh Nicolson, successfully fought to insure that the resolution include directing the Town Manager to formulate  a request for proposal ("RFP") for someone to lease the facility.  That RFP will be issued and analyzed over the next seven months if approved by council.

The Resolution to reopen Pusch View Golf Course

Council passed the following resolution by a 6-1 vote: 

Resolved: “Town council directs staff to return with a plan for operation of the Pusch Ridge Golf course to be evaluated within three years as to its continued feasibility, capital improvement requirements while also looking at alternatives to look at water usage and potential new configurations and a third party lease.” 

Town Manager Jacobs will present the plan at the March 17 Town Council Meeting.

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Oro Valley Town Manager's Inaction Caused Pusch Ridge Golf "Crisis"

Failure to act started last May

The Town of Oro Valley knew in April that HSL Conquistador was not going to take over operation of the Pusch Ridge 9-hole golf course. Yet, it continued to move forward with closing the facility despite knowing that it was never the intent of the the council to leave their neighbors who live on or near the course in jeopardy. 

The intent of the Town Council was never to close the course... It was to lease the course to the El Conquistador

On February 18, 2020 The Oro Valley Town Council unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with HSL El Conquistador and HSL Financial Management for the takeover of the Pusch Ridge Course. HSL was to lease the facility from the town, exercising a “discontinued golf” clause in the original 2015 purchase and sale agreement when the town purchased the Community Center, Golf, and Tennis. That Memorandum of Understanding stated that the town was going to discontinue operating the nine hole Pusch Ridge Course on October 1, 2020. The lease agreement was to come before council in the future.

Town Attorney Cohen assured the Town Council that HSL was going to take over operations. All that was left was the negotiation of a lease.

The MOU was negotiated by Town Attorney, Gary Cohen and Town Manager, Mary Jacobs.

 

According to Cohen “HSL is telling us, right now, that they are going to lease this course and that it will be effective October 1.” (Time stamp: 2:04:14 of 2-28-20 Oro Valley Town Council Meeting).

In late April, HSL told Town Manager Jacobs that they were not likely to lease the course

Town Manager Jacobs explained at the February 17 meeting that HSL indicated that they did not have the financial resources to do so.

Jacobs noted that “They were aware that operating the golf course would require a subsidy.”  In other words, HSL did a workup of the financial prospects and decided not to do lease the property, just as they had decided to get rid of it when they sold it to the town in 2015. 

It may even be possible that HSL has bigger plans in mind for that property (Please do use your imagination).

HSL has no pressing need for the course itself. The El Conquistador Resort no longer needs a golf course in order to be rated "five star." It now has a spa that qualifies them for this rating.

The town neglected the golf course, closed it, despite knowing that HSL was not going to take it over

The Town closed the course in April due to Covid. Then, the Town eliminated over-seeding and watering the course. The fairways were brown. Residents who live along the course were "up in arms." They launched an effort to get the grass green again and succeeded Wednesday night. As we reported last Thursday, the Town will consider a detailed plan to operate the course starting in November.

Town Manager Jacobs did not act early... created the crisis... dumped it on Council 

Town Manager Jacobs did not act to immediately include this property in the Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment that she commissioned. She should have done this in May when she knew HSL was not really interested in assuming operation of the golf course. But even if they were interested, the land should have been included in the Needs Assessment and Master Plan. Then, if HSL failed to lease the land, its use could be considered in the larger context of the town - not a one-off decision as is now the case.

It is likely that the council did not know of HSL's lack of interest until September 23. This is when they extended the agreement with HSL for 120 days.  The Town Council, like the rest of us, were "in the dark."

Jacobs' inaction disappointing. She is a strategic thinker.  Is it possible that she did not know that HSL was simply "playing the Town" because HSL is always "playing the Town?" 

All the signs were there. 

They even told her they weren't interested.

The town is where it is today on this because of her inaction. 

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Parks and Rec Draft Master Plan "Connects" Oro Valley

Recommendations link individual trails and trail segments

The Town of Oro Valley is unveiling it 2020 Parks and Recreation draft master plan in a study session before town council this Wednesday. The study is the result of a year long effort at the direction of the Oro Valley Town Council. 

Last week, LOVE summarized the draft master plan facilities conceptual plans. Today, we discuss the “Connectivity Analysis” of the town’s natural and multi-use paved trail system ("Trail System"). 

The town’s trail system is the highest parks and recreation priority

..as identified by Pros Consulting, the firm the town retained to create the master plan. They based their conclusion on community input that includes a random phone survey, community zoom meetings, and written public comment. 

There are fifteen recommendations

Pros has identified missing path trail segments; and opportunities to expand the existing trail system. These are shown as “A through O” on the panel at right. We’re highlighting five. You can read about the others and review the draft master plan here.

Five recommendations make a huge difference
Extend the CDO shared use path into Rancho Vistoso (Item D)
This has to be a relatively inexpensive yet very important step. There is about a half mile of paved path that connects the CDO Linear Park Shared Use Trail  to Big Wash. The trail runs on the east side of the wash. The paved portion runs west of the Oro Valley Hospital. The pavement ends a bit north of the hospital. 

There is about a half mile of unpaved path along the wash that extends from that. It connects to Rancho Vistoso Blvd, west of Vistoso Commerce Loop. 

When this small section is paved, Rancho Vistoso residents will be able to ride a bike to or walk to the Oro Valley Marketplace, Catalina State Park, Steam Pump Ranch, and the Rooney Ranch Shopping Center. If they are really ambitious, they can go all the way to the Tucson Mall and to the east side of Tucson if they want. They will be able to do this without ever being on a road way. 

The estimated cost of completing this trail is $750,000. This will be funded by Pima County.

Pedestrian bridge across the CDO wash (Item J)

This bridge will connect Riverfront Park to the CDO Linear Park Shared Use Trail.  
Currently, the only way to get from the shared use trail to Riverfront Park is to walk or ride along Lambert Lane and on a section of Oracle Road. 

The plan is for a path from the south side of the park to a bridge that crosses the CDO. If you were to walk this now, you would have to walk through the wash, which is not a simple task; and then scale a 10 foot wall to get to the path. Obviously, few had done this. The bridge opens easy access for those who want to park at Riverfront and walk or ride the CDO Linear Park Shared Use Trial. The estimated cost of this bridge is $1 million. However, funds may be available from the county to pay for it.

New shared use path connecting Kreigh Park to the Linda Vista Trailhead (Item L)
The best and really only way to safely access the Linda Vista Trailhead is by car. Otherwise you encounter the perils of walking or riding along Oracle Road. Sucking exhaust from cars on Oracle Road is not a fun thing! This new path would remove the problem providing easy access for all.  The estimated cost of this is $300,000.

New shared use path connecting CDO Linear Park Shared Use Trail to Kreigh Park (Item K)
This path would use existing roadways to connect the CDO Linear Park Shared Use Trail to Kreigh Park. It would access the path on the bridge next to the Oro Valley Country Club, connecting to existing roadways that lead to the park. These are quiet residential roads. The estimated cost is $1 million.

Convert the sidewalk on one side of Rancho Vistoso Blvd to a shared use path (Item A)
Currently, there are narrow sidewalks on either side of Rancho Vistoso Blvd. This item would widen one of these to be a path that would provide safe connection to Honey Bee Canyon Park, Honey Bee Preserve and schools. It will also link to the former Vistoso Golf Course. The estimated cost is $1.8 million.

Total Cost: $10 million

The total cost of the 15 items is approximately $10 million. Some of the funds for this would come from the county or grants.

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Guest View: Mike Zinkin ~ Another Study Commissioned by Town Manager, Mary Jacobs

 

Parks and Recreation Study (2014)
Back in June 2014, the Town did a Parks and Recreation survey to ascertain what amenities and facilities the citizens desired in their Town. This is the survey where golf placed second to last (it placed 33 out of 34 items) only to have the Hiremath people purchase three golf courses (two 18-hole courses and one 9-hole course) just six months later.

Housing Study for Main Streets Project (2016)
When the staff-initiated Main Streets project was still alive, there was a study that told us we needed more single-family housing. That has since gone by the wayside.

Parks and Recreation Study (2020)
In early 2020, when the Vistoso golf property was still in negotiations, Jacobs had a study done to see how the property could be used for Parks and Recreation purposes. The study showed that there was no need for any new parks north of Tangerine as there were plenty of neighborhood parks. This study was a waste of money since the property was not being purchased by the Town, and the Town was not a part of the dealings.

Another Parks and Rec Study (2020)
In June 2020, after many “flash surveys” which did not give Jacobs the results she wanted, she spent more taxpayer money on another Parks and Rec study. (The "Rancho Vistoso Golf Course Feasibility Study").

Town of Oro Valley Apartment Study (Fall 2020)
And now we have another study that tells us that we need more apartments in our Town. You can read that study HERE which includes information on how many apartments we currently have in Oro Valley, how many acres of vacant land are currently zoned for apartments, and concerns voiced by residents during public hearings.

The only valid study
We have a General plan that advises the government what the People desire. Does a “research group” know better than the People? Developers will go with the money and where the banks are lending. Oro Valley belongs to the People, not the developers, the banks, or the wishes of the staff.

Any government can hire a contractor or consultant or research group to give them the results they desire. But there is only one study that is valid because it reflects the desires of the People. It is called the GENERAL PLAN.

The town needs to stop all this government waste and look at the voter-approved General Plan for the answers that they seek.

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Mike Zinkin and his wife have lived in Oro Valley since 1998. He served on the Oro Valley Development Review Board from 2005-2009, the Board of Adjustment from 2011-2012, and the Town Council from 2012-2016. He was named a Fellow for the National League of Cities. He was a member of the NLC Steering Committee for Community and Economic Development and a member of the Arizona League of Cities Budget and Economic Development Committee. He was an Air Traffic Controller for 30 years. Mike has a Bachelor’s degree in history and government from the University of Arizona and a Master’s degree in Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education from California State University, Northridge.

Parks and Recreation Master Plan Is Taking Shape (Part 2)

This article is the second regarding the status of the development of the 2020 Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The first article appeared yesterday.

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Concept plans on display
Mike Svetz from Pros Consulting, the firm that is building the master plan, unveiled five concept plans during his discussion with the Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Commission this past Tuesday.

Concept plans for the towns are site-by-site

He presented one plan for each of the five Oro Valley community parks. This is a sample of what is being proposed:

• Community Center would get a reconfigured parking lot and replaced tennis courts
• Kreigh Park would have basketball courts replacing the racquetball court, a relocated dog park and a new adventure play area
• Riverfront Park would have splash pad and a dog park. Consideration would be given to changing the soccer fields into diamond fields
• Steam Pump Ranch would have an upgraded area that is better organized for seating and possible relocation of the farmers market to the "panhandle" area
• Naranja Park, the town's only truly regional park, would continue on its building path: More fields, as skate park and better buffering to adjacent homes

Svetz included the following critical items in the concept plan. These are items that pose a risk or safety issue:

• Steam Pump Ranch update of the historical buildings' core
• Playground replacement at Kreigh Park
• Stabilizing erosion areas at Naranja Park

Spending is yet to be determine

The cost of the plan and the funding for such have yet to be determined. Regarding cost, Svetz stated that The Parks and Recreation Master Plan will have three "buckets" of spending. One will contain those items that are "life-cycle" replacements. The second will contain items that upgrade the town's parks. The third  will contain the continued spending needed to build Naranja Park.

The plan still has a long way to go...Virtual Meeting on November 12

Residents will have the opportunity to share their thinking. The town will host a virtual meeting on November 12 to discuss community needs, park classification, level of service standards, mapping and the framework for concept plans. The town will seek community input via the town's web site for a month, starting November 18. 

What's not in the plan

The plan does not include anything regarding the former Vistoso Golf Course land. This, we suspect, is because it would be unwise for the town to state a position on this while land sale negotiations, though on hold at the moment, are very much in play. The plan also did not include discussion of the program and cultural aspects of parks and recreation activities.

click to enlarge

How will this plan get the  town get to "Excellent"

The plan is based on a metric of the number of something in relation to a Pros Consulting standard For example, there is now one pickleball court per 7,600 residents. The Pros Consulting target is one per 4,000 residents. Therfore, according to Svetz, there is a need for eight more pickleball courts. That will bring the total to 14.  The panel that follows shows the recommended level by amenity.

What the discussion did not consider is how this plan, if implemented, will improve resident rating of the quality of recreation programs and services. According to a May staff presentation to council, only 2% of residents consider the current situation as "excellent." 91% give a current situation a fair or poor rating. "The national benchmark for excellent is 33%," according to that May staff presentation.

It is important, we think, for the plan to be measured against how it will help Oro Valley achieve excellence, rather than how it can meet or exceed "standards" for each amenity it could provide.