Oro Valley Vista Newsletter Winter 2013

Oro Valley A quarterly publication for the residents of Oro Valley

Volume VII, Issue 10 Winter 2013/14

IN THIS ISSUE: Message from the Mayor Holiday Happenings Volunteers of the Year Nominees Volunteer Recognition - George Royer

Oro Valley Designated Bicycle Friendly Shop OV Holiday Campaign Naranja Park Development Activity

Development is on the rise in Oro Valley! See page 6

OVPD Citizen Academy Alumni Assoc.

OVPD Citizen Academy KC Carter Wash Dedication Water Ways

Oro Valley VISTA Magazine Oro Valley

Oro Valley Mayor & Council Dr. Satish I. Hiremath, Mayor Lou Waters, Vice Mayor Brendan Burns, Councilmember Bill Garner, Councilmember Joe Hornat, Councilmember Mary Snider, Councilmember Mike Zinkin, Councilmember For Mayor and Councilmembers, call: (520) 229-4700.

On the cover: Construction is progressing on

the Encantada Apartments at Steam Pump Village, on the west side of Oracle, just north of BASIS Oro Valley.

Mayor’s Message: Your Voice, Our Future Have you heard about the Your Voice, Our Future project? If not, you’re missing the chance to tell us what you think about what Oro Valley is doing right and where you see room for improvement.

Your Voice, Our Future, formerly referred to as the General Plan Update, is a community call to action, and we need YOUR help!

Every ten years, Arizona state statute requires us to develop and ratify a General Plan. While it may sound unexciting, this document is a roadmap for the next ten years, addressing areas of interest such as parks and recreation, land use, transportation, public safety, conservation and Town services. In short, the focus of the General Plan is your quality of life.

Town Manager

Greg Caton (520) 229-4725 gcaton@orovalleyaz.gov

Since it is based on our core values and vision for the future, it is imperative that we provide ways for residents to tell us what’s important to them.

Design & Production Town of Oro Valley Communications Division Misti Nowak, Communications Administrator (520) 229-4725 | mnowak@orovalleyaz.gov Lisa Gallardo, New Media Developer (520) 229-4721 | lgallardo@orovalleyaz.gov Pia Salonga, Marketing & Communications Specialist (520) 229-4731 | psalonga@orovalleyaz.gov Copyright 2013 by the Town of Oro Valley.

All rights reserved.

We’ve been working very hard to make this process interesting and rewarding for our residents, business owners and stakeholders. For example, a community survey was previously published in the Explorer Newspaper. If you missed the survey, there’s still time to take it online!

Log onto www.YourVoiceOV.com and join the community conversation. You’ll also find many other topics of discussion online, and

the more you participate, the more chances you have to earn rewards such as tickets to the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Catalina State Park and next year’s State of the Town Address.

And in the coming weeks and months, Town staff will be at community events such as the Farmers Market and Concert Series to talk with residents and get their feedback on the future of Oro Valley. If you see Your Voice, Our Future staff at a community event, please stop by and share your thoughts!

If you prefer to share your thoughts in person, call us at 520-229-4800 or email YourVoiceOV@ orovalleyaz.gov to set up a meeting with your group. Invite us to your neighborhood, business or event. We’re happy to meet with you wherever you live, work or play.

Ultimately, the General Plan Update will be ratified by Oro Valley voters in 2016. But right now, the focus is on learning about what’s important to you and what you envision for our town’s future.

However you decide to engage in this process, be sure that YOUR voice is heard!

Respectfully, Dr. Satish I. Hiremath, Mayor

Article ideas are welcome. Please direct all inquiries to Misti Nowak, communications administrator.

The Oro Valley Vista is a quarterly publication published by the Town of Oro Valley.

Town of Oro Valley 11000 N. La Canada Drive Oro Valley, AZ 85737 (520) 229-4700 www.orovalleyaz.gov page 2

DISCUSS • LISTEN • SHARE IDEAS • BE HEARD Oro Valley is planning for the future, and we can’t do it without YOU! Tell us what you love about OUR community and where you see room for improvement.

www.orovalleyaz.gov

Oro Valley VISTA Magazine

Holiday Happenings

The Town of Oro Valley is named “Bicycle Friendly Business” by the League of American Bicyclists

Dec. 6 OV Holiday Tree Lighting at OV Marketplace, 5 – 8 p.m.

Dec. 7 – 8 OV Festival of the Arts, presented by SAACA at OV Marketplace Dec. 14 OV Holiday Parade, 9:30 a.m.

Dec. 24 - 25 Town Hall offices closed for holiday Dec. 31 & Jan. 1 Town Hall offices closed for holiday Jan. 3 Shop OV Holiday Campaign grand prize drawing Photo courtesy of Vice Mayor Lou Waters

OV VOLUNTEERS Seven outstanding individuals have been nominated for the 2013 Volunteer of the Year Awards and will be honored at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Reception on December 12, 6 – 8 p.m. at the Hilton El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort.

Each of this year’s nominees has gone above and beyond the call of duty to better our community through Town-sponsored volunteer opportunities. On December 12, two of them will be named Volunteers of the Year.

2013 NOMINEES Lee Craig John Hickey Terry Lorenzen Scott Ingram Joyce Rychener Winston Tustison Bob Weede

The Town of Oro Valley has been named a “Silver Level” Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) by the League of American Bicyclists.

The League describes a bicycle-friendly business as one that, “welcomes cyclists with trails, bike lanes, share-the-road campaigns, organized rides and Bike to Work Day events.”

With the November announcement of 91 new BFBs in 29 states and Washington, D.C., Oro Valley joins a visionary group of more than 600 local businesses, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies across the United States that are transforming the American workplace.

As part of this new designation, the Town will have access to a variety of free tools and technical assistance from the League to make biking even better in Oro Valley.

2012 Volunteer of the Year George Royer recognized by the League of Arizona Cities and Towns Oro Valley volunteer George Royer has been selected for recognition by the League of Arizona Cities and Towns through its AZ Cities @ Work campaign, designed to educate and inform citizens about the work their local governments do each and every day. George’s profile has been featured on the AZ Cities @ Work web page and in social media.

www.orovalleyaz.gov

Mr. Royer, who was also one of two individuals selected as the Town of Oro Valley’s 2012 Volunteers of the Year, is a long-time volunteer with the Oro Valley Police Department’s Citizen Volunteer Assistance Program (CVAP). Since he began volunteering for the Town in 2003, George has logged more than 6,000 hours in the Police Department, working at the front desk, providing fingerprinting services, working special events and going out on weekly patrols.

Mr. Royer is pictured with Oro Valley Mayor and Council at the 2012 Volunteer of the Year Awards.

More than just the hours he puts in, George is known for his kindness, upbeat attitude and willingness to serve the residents of Oro Valley.

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Oro Valley VISTA Magazine

SHOP ORO VALLEY for your chance to win great prizes!

The Town of Oro Valley is holding a

Shop Oro Valley Holiday Campaign November 1, 2013 to January 3, 2014 Spend at least $25 at any Oro Valley business and enter your receipt into a drawing for prizes sponsored by local businesses.

Winner will be announced weekly on Fridays at 5 p.m.

How to participate:

Bring your receipts to Oro Valley Town Hall: 11000 N. La Cañada Drive Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. or After 5 p.m. drop off your receipts at the 24-hour Water Utility drop box located to the right of the Water Utility office door or Submit your receipts online at https://auth.orovalleyaz.gov/shop-oro-valley-contact-form

Final Prize: Two-night stay at the beautiful Hilton El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort Includes a two-night stay, round of golf for two, or two 50-minute custom spa treatments, and breakfast for two in Sundance Café

Thanks to the businesses offering prizes!

and more!

During this holiday campaign, purchase a $100 OV Dollars gift card from the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce and receive $10 additional OV Dollars ($110 OV Dollars gift card). The OV Dollars card program operates much like a regular gift card, but instead of only being able to use it at one retailer, shoppers can swipe their card at any of the participating businesses in Oro Valley. Cards can be purchased in denominations of $10-$500.

Purchase your OV Dollars at the following locations: Town of Oro Valley Administration Building page 4

11000 N. La Cañada Drive - Oro Valley, 85737 520-229-4700 Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm

Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce 7435 N. Oracle Road, Suite 107 - Tucson, 85704 520-297-2191 Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm www.orovalleyaz.gov

Oro Valley VISTA Magazine

The Town of Oro Valley is proud to announce that Council has approved a resolution authorizing the construction of improvements at Naranja Park.

The newly-approved plan includes the following features/ amenities: •

• •

DOG PARK – (1.1 acres) with separate areas/ entrances for small and large dogs. The park includes a grass interior with dirt perimeter and a ramada in each area.

TWO MULTI-SPORT FIELDS – (300’ x 200’ each) with turf borders and lighting.

PARKING LOT – (180 spaces), chip-sealed, striped and with lighting.

Improvements also include grading 24.6 acres, bringing in electric utility from existing TEP facilities on the east side of the park, an improved parking lot and access road, and connecting potable and reclaimed water lines to existing Water Utility infrastructure.

Naranja Park, a 213-acre property on the north side of Naranja Dr., east of La Cañada, was obtained by the Town through purchases in 1996 and 2000. Identified as an ideal location for a regional park, it became the subject of an extensive master-planning process in 2001, and an initial master plan was adopted by Council in 2002. It had a price tag of $154 million.

Subsequent studies in 2006 and 2007 were conducted to develop a programming and concept design report. But in 2008, when voters were asked to authorize $48.6 million in bonds to construct phase one of the plan, the ballot item failed.

www.orovalleyaz.gov

In the years that would follow, very little progress was made at the undeveloped park, until the fixed-course archery range was built and opened November 1, 2012.

With the success of this effort, and the community support it received, the Town took a fresh, creative look at the development of Naranja Park.

What emerged was a plan for infrastructure phasing and alternate sources of funding. The price tag on the phase one of the project is $2.3 million, and work will begin November 7, 2013. (See funding sources below.)

The newly-approved concept also takes several factors into consideration that the original master plan did not.

The new plan, unlike the original, conforms to the existing terrain, maintaining a viewshed from within the park as well as multiple elevations for fields. The new plan capitalizes on existing utility infrastructure and the incorporation of reclaimed water. It also creates a greater separation between fields and surrounding residential neighborhoods than the original plan. Additionally, the new layout takes into greater account the federally-regulated washes and wetland detention area.

Funding Sources* • $1,403,000 General Fund Contingency Reserves • $400,000 Bed Tax Fund Contingency Reserves • $197,000 Council-designated Reserve in the General Fund • $300,000 Parks & Recreation Impact Fees *$540,000 water infrastructure will be paid from Water Utility and not included in the General Fund or Reserves expenses listed above.

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Oro Valley VISTA Magazine

Wow, look at all the activity!

By Chuck King, building inspector

As you drive through the Town of Oro Valley, there are signs everywhere showing it to be a “thriving” community. Although not at pre-recession levels, there is still a lot of construction under way.

Currently there are two large apartment complexes under construction with more than 500 combined units that will be available for rent in the near future, and a third complex of similar scope has recently begun. One of the two phases of the San Dorado project, which is located on the east side of Oracle Rd. near 1st Avenue will encompass several commercial building pads. There are several businesses already named for this area, including Panera Bread, CVS and a mattress store.

A significant amount of time will be spent on these projects as inspections take place to ensure they’re constructed properly.

Most people have a tendency to take for granted that it “just gets built,” but there are a lot of people involved, including those in design and development, those performing the various tasks of construction, and finally, those ultimately responsible for completion of the project. All of these tasks are necessary regardless of the type of structures being built.

There are highly-skilled and dedicated Town of Oro Valley employees who are watching out for your best interests as the end user. These employees know construction, down to the smallest detail, and verify on a daily basis that the work is being done correctly. Life-safety is always front and center as they watch over these projects, but there are many other elements that they’re attentive to as well.

Crews finish work on the LA Fitness property.

Photo courtesy of Chuck King.

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To this point I’ve noted some of the bigger projects that are under way, but some of this work has resulted in new businesses that have opened Progress is made on the San Dorado development, on recently such as the the east side of Oracle, near First Ave. San Dorado will LA Fitness on the include apartments and several businesses, including northeast corner of CVS and Panera.

Oracle and Hardy.

Another venue which opened in August is the Town’s first live theater, “The Great American Playhouse.” It occupies a portion of the former Ike’s grocery store at Rancho Vistoso Blvd. and Oracle Rd. These numerous projects also bring jobs to the community and workers who spend a portion of their earnings at Town businesses.

All of the ventures noted, along with many new residences and miscellaneous projects being constructed, have kept us all hopping during recent months, and are sure to occupy a great deal more time into the future. We would like to assure the residents of Oro Valley and those who visit our beautiful town that with all that’s going on, the end product is being constructed under the watchful eye of professionals. Our commitment is to be the best at what we do, and our residents are the beneficiaries.

Development Activity

www.orovalleyaz.gov

Oro Valley VISTA Magazine The Oro Valley Police Citizen Academy Alumni Association is a non-profit organization formed to bring together graduates of the Oro Valley Police Citizens Academy while enhancing the relations between the community and the Oro Valley Police Department.

If you are a graduate of the Oro Valley Police Citizen Academy and are interested in attending an Oro Valley Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association Meeting, please contact Ofc. Jodi Stevens at (520) 2292900 or jstevens@orovalleyaz.gov

Oro Valley Police Department

11000 N. La Cañada Drive, Oro Valley, AZ 85737 www.ovpd.org

Town Dedicates Wash in Honor of KC Carter November 1, 2013 Town of Oro Valley officials held a dedication ceremony, naming a wash near Lambert Lane after former Councilmember Kenneth E. (KC) Carter, who passed away April 14, 2012. KC Carter served on the Oro Valley Town Council from June 2004 to June 2010. He was a champion of the Stormwater Utility, garnering public support and laying the groundwork for the storm-ready community we enjoy today.

CITIZEN ACADEMY The Oro Valley Police Citizen Academy is a 36-hour block of instruction designed to give the public knowledge of the Oro Valley Police Department. It consists of twelve classes, taught by sworn police personnel and civilian staff who work in the different divisions.

The instruction is comprehensive, and each week, a different area of the department is covered, including many activities: • Experience a ride-along • See a S.W.A.T. demo • Watch the K-9 in action • Hear about criminal investigations • Meet Oro Valley officers and understand their work

TSO Just for Kids Concert presenting Bims & Wolfie October 5, 2013.

Tucson Symphony Orchestra members dressed as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, or “Wolfie,” his mother, Wolfie’s dog Bims, and Wolfie’s father.

When: Every Tuesday February 11, 2014 - April 29, 2014 Time: 6 – 9 p.m.

Where: Oro Valley Police Tangerine Substation 1920 E. Tangerine Road • There is limited seating available, so sign up today!

• Make a commitment to attend the majority of classes.

• Free of charge.

• CVAP personnel are encouraged to attend.

• Must be at least 18 years of age.

For more information, or to register, contact Ofc. Jodi Stevens, at (520) 229-2900 or jstevens@orovalleyaz.gov

www.orovalleyaz.gov

Heart & Soul Gymnastics Ribbon Cutting October 24, 2013.

Owner and operator Deanna Graham (UA grad) cuts the ribbon at her new studio at 8363 N. Oracle Rd.

page 7

Meter Replacement Program Continues In order to provide a reliable, high-quality water supply, Oro Valley Water Utility continually upgrades and improves our water system and facilities. The Water Meter Replacement Program is an important part of upgrading our water system. The Utility will be replacing approximately 4,000 aging water meters beginning in February 2014. This is actually the third project of its kind.

The Utility has already replaced about 4,500 water meters since November of 2011.

In addition to new meters, the Utility will be installing electronic equipment called SmartPoints. This equipment will transmit meter readings to a secure computer at the Water Utility office, eliminating the need to read water meters in the field. Reading meters electronically increases labor efficiencies, reduces wear on the streets, conserves gasoline and helps the environment in other ways. Installation of the SmartPoints also gives our customers the opportunity to view their own water use on an hourly, daily, weekly or monthly basis through our customer web portal. This capability provides unique opportunities to our customers for early leak detection and water conservation.

More specific information will be provided to the residents whose neighborhoods are included in the upcoming meter replacement project scheduled to begin in February 2014.

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Protect your pipes and plants this winter season

Although hard freezes are not frequent in our area, they do occur. Exposed hose bibs and backflow prevention devices can be affected by freezing temperatures. Make sure that you protect them with removable covers.

A permanent cover such as roofing tar or duct tape can make it difficult

to observe leaks if they do happen and may prevent proper operation of your backflow device. Protect your plants as well. The easiest remedy is to choose varieties that are frost tolerant.

If you do have frost-sensitive plants, place them in a sheltered location.

Walls exposed to the sun during the day are good sources of heat during the night. For other plants, cover with cloth or paper, but not plastic. Remove coverings daily when it has warmed up and do not permanently cover plants for the season as this can be harmful to them. For this information and more please visit Pima County CALS Cooperative Extension.

Expansion of Central Arizona Project (CAP) water The Town of Oro Valley’s Strategic Plan includes developing a water resource plan that preserves the quality of life we enjoy today which is essential to providing for tomorrow’s needs. The Town’s water resource plan includes delivering CAP water to the Town of Oro Valley. In January 2012 the Town began delivering CAP water on the southwest side of the Town at a rate of 1,000 gallons per minute (GPM), about 20% of the Town’s potable water demand. The Town is currently working on a project that will deliver additional CAP water during the first quarter of 2014. The anticipated delivery rate will be approximately 250 GPM at a location near Hardy and Northern. The delivery of CAP water greatly reduces the depletion of the Town’s groundwater, preserving it for tomorrow.

As the Town moves forward with the project, an Open House will be held to provide residents an opportunity to view graphics of the CAP water distribution as well as ask questions.

The date and time of the Open House will be announced once the event has been scheduled.