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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPackets - Council Packets (1947)ORO VALLEY CONNECTIONS 1822E.INNOVATION PARK DR. OROVAL5 LEY, AZ 85755 r CHAMBERCOLLABORATION COMMUNITY 0.297..2191 OROVALLEYCHAMBER.COM Chair April 10, 2025 Ron Arenas Picture Rocks Cooling, Mayor Joe Winfield and Council Heating and Plumbing Town Manager Jeff Wilkins Vice Chair Town of Oro Valley Susan Swan Swan Pilates Dear Mayor Winfield, Council Members, and Town Manager Wilkins, Secretary zoo Burcham On behalf of the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce, I am writing to express our Kinghorn Low / Financial unwavering support for the Oro Valley Police Department and to underscore the critical Treasurer role that public safety plays in fostering a thriving business environment in our community. Mary Schulz Schulz Financial Group A secure and safe environment is a fundamental pillar for economic prosperity. In a recent survey survey conducted by the Town of Oro Valley, business owners identified the town's safety Directors low crime rates as primary factors influencing their decision to establish operations Bruce Barnett here. This sentiment reflects a broader understanding that businesses flourish in Pima Federal Credit communities where public safety is prioritized. Union Cody Barnhart Comparative data further highlights Oro Valley's commendable safety record. According Northwest Healthcare / to NeighborhoodScout, the violent crime rate of 0.58 violent crimes per 1,000 residents in Oro Valley Hospital Oro Valley is significantly lower than the national average of 4.09, with property crimes Lisa Bayless also notably low at 11.51 per 1,000 residents. Long Realty In contrast, neighboring Tucson experiences a violent crime rate of 5.86 and a property Lydia Camarillo Golder Ranch Fire District crime rate of 29.43. An increased rate of crime has been associated with heightened challenges for local businesses, including increased incidents of retail theft and vandalism, Shelby Francom increased security costs, and a decrease in foot traffic. El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort The proactive initiatives undertaken by OVPD, such as their widely emulated Community Renee Mccuistion Policing model and 'Adopt a Business' program, exemplify their commitment to not only America First Credit Union maintaining low crime rates but also actively supporting the business community. These Maria Parham efforts have been instrumental in ensuring that Oro Valley remains an attractive Splendido at Rancho destination for businesses and residents alike. vistoso Don Pearson We urge Town Council and staff to recognize the indispensable value of our police Roche Tissue department. Adequate support and resources for OVPD are paramount to sustaining the Diagnostics safe environment that our businesses and community members have come to rely upon. James Piper Piper Family Painting We appreciate your continued dedication to the well-being of Oro Valley. Please feel free to contact us should you require any further information or wish to discuss in more detail. Rick Price The Views Golf Club r Sincerely, Emma Reyes Republic Services Brian Stewart Pima Community College Kristen Sharp Es-otficio President/ CEO Paul Melchor Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce Town of Oro Valley Our Mission: We cultivate a vibrant economic region by empowering and uniting the Greater Oro Valley Business Community. Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 4:45 PM To: Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle Subject: FW: No Pond in Vistoso Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 From: Lisa M Fowler Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 4:38 PM To: Town Council <Council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: No Pond in Vistoso WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. As a fairly new resident to Center Pointe, I find it unresponsible to allocate our desert waters to ponds that only benefit the few adjacent lots to it. Please do not fund this project. We all wish we had a functional, solvent golf course that all could see and enjoy, but unfortunately this is not the case. Sincerely, Lisa M Fowler 1 Stine, Michelle From: Terri Wasley Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 4:19 PM To: Town Council Subject: April 16 meeting - Vistoso property pond WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. k Hetlo I understand that one of the items on the agenda for tonight's meeting is the discussion of the pond designs for the pond that is located down the hill from our home. Unfortunately, we are not able to attend the meeting tonight, but I wanted to reach out and tell you how important it is to our area of Oro Valley that this pond is restored to a water feature. It is an eyesore that everyone in this area must drive by every day, and it needs to be addressed. We feel the other option of turning that area into a desert garden is not the best use of that properly and the city's tax dollars. Thank you for your time and consideration and for all you do for this awesome cityH Terri Wasley President (206)898-0823 Northwest Construction Accounting Services, LLC LS Stine, Michelle From: Sent: To: Subject: Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 Sirois, Andrea Tuesday, April 15, 2025 2:42 PM Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle FW: Vistoso Trails pond and community fund From: Hillary Vance Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 1:59 PM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Cc: Phil Butterworth Subject: Vistoso Trails pond and community fund IWARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Dear council members, I am a new resident and purchased my property at , in February 2025 with my husband. We have lived in Tucson since 2013 and now live in this community with our 1 year old. We intend to be long term residents. One of the main reasons we decided to purchase this property was the access to the Vistoso Trails nature area, which we have already been using weekly for recreation. We have enjoyed meeting our neighbors and showing our friends and family the space and talking about the wonderful plans for the area that were shared with us when we moved in. I am incredibly disheartened to read about the extensive delays to the planned renovations and restoration of Vistoso Trails. This area has a lot of potential, and I have colleagues from the University who have asked about my experience living here so far. While I previously raved about the nature area, now I have to tell them that for unclear reasons, the town of Oro Valley is neglecting to act in good faith on the commitments to the residents of this area. This has made them reconsider viewing properties here. The restoration of the pond, as I have come to understand, would be much more environmentally sustainable than the extensive investments that the town is putting into the 3 golf courses (especially the use of drinking water for the golf course at Pusch Ridge!), which are only useful to people who play golf. By contrast, the Vistoso Trails area is available to all residents. I am also disturbed that the taxes on residents for the Community Fund have been going to fund things like pocket parks, which common sense will tell you have little utility for human use, while neglecting Vistoso Trails. I cannot imagine taking my daughter to play in a pocket park, near traffic, when Vistoso Trails is right out my backdoor. Obviously, I also will not be taking her to any of the golf courses that are draining the majority of the Community Funds. This is a Community Center Fund, and fair and adequate attention should be paid to all community spaces, not just ones near which Council Members reside. I hope that I can look forward to the restoration of this former golf course to its natural state, with the proper investment and care that the Town accepted as its responsibility when this community invested $2 to $1 in purchasing the property and turning it over to the Town. It would be extremely disturbing if the town continues to kick the can down the road on this issue. Having just moved here, my attention is firmly on this issue and I will be attending Wednesday's meeting to listen to the discussions. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter, HillaryVance Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 12:42 PM To: Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle Subject: FW: Vistoso trails Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 -----Original Message ---- From: Rose Pierro Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 11:47 AM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Vistoso trails WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. I am opposed to a water structure in our Sonoran desert home of the vistoso trails. A pond is silly as is multiple golf courses in one town. Global warming is real. We will be leaving an empty hole in the ground for our children. Rosemary Oro valley I Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Monday, April 14, 2025 11:46 AM To: Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle Subject: FW: Vistoso Trails Pond Comments Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 From: Michael Sevier Sent: Monday, April 14, 2025 9:16 AM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Vistoso Trails Pond Comments WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. The astonishing sense of fiscal entitlement shown by the Preserve Vistoso group is predictable. With political success, it has morphed into a nascent Taj Mahal. One can expect that Preserve Vistoso will develop an insatiable appetite for future 'improvements'. Spending the Town's collected money. Most of which comes from far beyond the Vistoso Trails adjacent homes. Time to revisit the Vistoso Trail's reason for being. It was never a water park. Don't allow it to become a funding abyss. Mike Sevier Monterey at Vistoso Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Monday, April 14, 2025 11:46 AM To: Stine, Michelle; Standish, Michael Subject: FW: Preserve vistoso Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line:520-229-4714 From: William Elger Sent: Monday, April 14, 2025 9:39 AM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Preserve vistoso WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. We would like the town council to get busy and start meaningful work on vistoso trails nature preserve. Not just more studies and meetings. It is an eye sore in it current condition as well as a safety issue. The town agreed to help restore that old golf course and its time to start spending effort on this and not Naranja park. There are a lot of fed up voters in rancho vistoso. William and Kathy Elger 1 Stine, Michelle From: Sent: To: Subject: Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 Sirois, Andrea Monday, April 14, 2025 11:46 AM Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle FW: Vistoso Highlands Pond area restoration From: Garry Liddell Sent: Monday, April 14, 2025 9:28 AM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Cc: Subject: Vistoso Highlands Pond area restoration WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Hello folks, This is Garry and Mindy Liddell of wanting to first, thank you for your service to our community and to voice our concern for the eyesore at the pond area as you enter Vistoso Highlands and our neighborhoods surrounding this old golf coarse area. We are relatively new full time home owners since July, 2024. We have had several of our friends visit us since moving here and they All have been very impressed with Oro Valley in general, with one exception being a common theme between them which was; "What's Up With The Eyesore As You Drive Into Your Neighborhood Street?", referring to the Vistoso Highlands Pond Area. It made me feel like I wanted to blind fold them as I turned off of Vistoso Blvd onto Vistoso Highlands and then taking if off once we pass the old pond and turn into our lovely gated entry at Keystone Springs. This is the only way into our neighborhood and we so support and desire for the city of Oro Valley to restore this Pond area to where it can once again be pleasing to the eye and fitting with the rest of our beautiful town. We so want to be at your meeting on the 16th to voice our support for the Vistoso Highlands pond area restoration but we will be out of town and cannot attend. Please receive this as our voice of support to bring back some much needed eye appeal to this area where we live and love. Sincerely, Garry & Mindy Liddell Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Monday, April 14, 2025 1:09 PM To: Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle Subject: FW: Vistoso Trails pond feature Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 From: Pamela Jacobs Sent: Monday, April 14, 2025 12:53 PM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Vistoso Trails pond feature WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Dear Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council Members, I am a homeowner in the Oro Valley Rancho Vistoso Highlands neighborhood and am writing in support of bringing back a pond feature in the Vistoso Trails Preserve city park.. In particular, I wish to address comments made at the November 2024 regular Council meeting regarding the re-establishment of a pond feature in Vistoso Trails Preserve city park using reclaimed city water. I took forward to the upcoming City Council meeting to hear your discussion of next steps toward creating a pond. Denying a pond to Vistoso Trails Preserve would create a double standard. Like other OV residents, I am keenly aware that we must respect the scarcity of water and do our part to ensure wise use of this limited resource. But as has been pointed out, the City already provides reclaimed water to two city -owned golf courses. To allow water to existing golf courses while denying reclaimed water to the Vistoso Trails Preserve pond feature is a double standard. Even worse, the City allows use of potable/drinking water for the 9-hole Pusch Ridge course. If water scarcity is truly an issue, the standard being applied to Vistoso Trails should be applied evenly across other venues. Water use and funding for city -owned golf courses does not benefit the overall citizenry of OV. Golf courses favor the able-bodied and well-to-do and provide no recreational opportunities to children and to the disabled. Before buying my home in Rancho Vistoso, I owned a home in the Canada Hills area While I am sure my property value benefited from the irrigation of the golf courses there, I never ever got to set foot on the courses. I do not play golf.- My two grandsons (ages 6 and 3) could not set foot on the courses. My legally blind/disabled neighbor never got access to the courses. My working neighbors with busy schedules never had 4 spare hours to play a round of golf and to access the courses. OV citizens without the financial means to pay green fees never got access to the courses. Truly the city - owned courses, like most golf courses, are designed for a very privileged population. Yet we are all paying taxes that support these city -owned facilities that we will never be able to use.. Water used for a Vistoso Trails Preserve city park pond feature will benefit all OV citizens, regardless of age, disability, work schedules, and ability to pay. Vistoso Trails Preserve is for all OV citizens and not just for those of us who live in the immediate neighborhood. On my daily walking route, I walk up Vistoso Highlands Drive and past the old pond and onto the trails. It is always amazing to me the variety of citizens I see using the trails and riding/driving/walking past the old pond area. Families with children in strollers, youngsters learning to ride their bikes, dog walkers, folks using aids for walking (e.g. canes) are on the trail. And bike riders peddling up and back on Vistoso Highlands Drive past the old pond are often individuals who live outside the Vistoso area. This morning (Monday, April 14) as I walked past the old clubhouse parking lot, I counted 11 cars owned by individuals from outside the neighborhood who were using the trails to walk their dogs, unload their bikes, or get in their daily steps. On weekends, the parking lot has more than double that number. In short, the pond will be enjoyed by any OV citizen using our trails. Think of the number of OV citizens who will have direct access to the benefits of the pond. Filling in the old pond area to create a "desert garden" without any water will not be cheap. And we may still be left with a visual eyesore for years to come. In reviewing the previous trail plans and estimates from May 2023, 1 noted that the cost to remove the old pond structure/shotcrete and fill in the area with dirt could cost several hundreds of thousands of dollars. It seems unlikely that there will be any "quick" win (aka "desert garden") in the near future. It will take years to establish any meaningful enhancement to the area while the city spends lots of dollars upfront with no visible return on investment. And the resulting area will not be what surveys showed that respondents/residents want. Please, enough talk, enough studies. Let's move forward on getting a pond established! Sincerelyyours, Pamela and Doug Jacobs J 2 Stine, Michelle From: Barry Caldwelk, _ Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 8:39 AM To: Town Council Subject: Preserve Vistoso Pond WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. We are very supportive of restoring the Vistoso pond. We believe it will enhance the environment of the surrounding area and that enhance would encourage home sales and an increased sense of pride from existing residents. Thankyoul Barry & Debra Caldwell 1 Stine, Michelle From: Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 8:11 AM To: Town Council Subject: Vistoso Preserve WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Expand and protect this preserve. Build a pond. I vote. Stephan Donovan Stine, Michelle From: JOANNE MICHAELSEN Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 7:18 AM To: Town Council Subject: April 16 meeting WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Mayor Winfield, Vice Mayor Barrett and all Town Council members of Oro Valley, We have learned there is a motion to reconsider the height variance vote that was decided on last meeting discussed. As I write this email, it is not difficult to stress the passion I have felt and along side my neighbors to implore you to please reconsider your vote on this request. A building at a height of OVCN's request will FOREVER change our neighborhood. So many factors are going to change the life we all know here in the Shadow Estates, Campo Bello and Linda Vista areas with what OVCN has proposed to do to our already over capacity neighborhood and roadways. Adding another huge, tall building that blocks the scenery, views and adds more landscape stress to our washes is a disastrous decision. With much passion and enthusiasm, again we ask you to consider this vote. Best Regards, Jerry and Joanne Michaelsen Joanne Michaelsen Stine, Michelle From: Richard Beam Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 3:46 PM To: Town Council Subject: In support of 2.5 acre pond concept with a phased -in approach WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Dear Mayor Winfield, Vice Mayor Barrett and Councilmembers, I am offering a few comments in support of the 2.5 acre Vistoso Nature Preserve with modifications to the Kimley-Horn plan. I estimate a reasonable Phase 1 approach, as outlined below, has an estimated cost of approximately $1,240,000. It offers what is needed to provide a workable water feature without the amenities that could be added over time with annual town expenditures and perhaps grant funds, too. Based on the consultants conceptual submittals, I suggest making the following changes: 1. Postpone amenities such as BBQ grille, ramadas, and new pathways. (phase 2&3). 2. Value Engineer Infrastructure - new turf, 12-inch cover fill, edge treatment. 3. Reduce design -build costs based on reduced scope of work. The larger pond concept actually lessens evaporation based on the civil engineering principle of Surface Area vs. Volume Ratio. Also a larger pond absorbs and retains heat more gradually, while a smaller and/or shallower pond heats up faster, increasing evaporation rates, especially in hot climates like ours. This is also why the 12" cover fill should be reduced to minimize evaporation. This represents a cost of approximately 33% of consultants comprehensive cost structure. It will produce a much needed win for the Vistoso Highlands neighborhood. We can build the rest as funds allow. Regarding funds, it is time to expand the use of the town's 1/2 cent sales tax, which currently is given exclusively to the three golf courses and the main recreation center, all of which are concentrated below Tangerine Road. It is a matter of geographical equity and will cure the enmity towards council members that provide more water to golf in one month than this little static pond would use in a year! Some of it being expensive potable water, too. You might consider what Arizona National and Sun City golf courses do and let their fairways go yellow this time of year, saving huge amounts of water. If you did that with TOOV courses, the water savings would more than fill the vistoso pond many times over! A win -win on water conservation. There is a notion that the pond is an ornamental water feature and against the town's ordinance for this use of water. In fact, the conservation agreement clearly states that the entire "preserve" is actually zoned for recreation. It provides recreation to the area as well as to wildlife which will return upon the pond's reactivation. There is a path forward to rebuild what was once the jewel of Vistoso Highlands. I hope you will vote in favor of the larger pond option and consider some of the reduction in scope as outlined above. Sincerely Stine, Michelle From: Jack Paliokas Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 6:38 AM To: Ask; Town Council Cc: Wilkins, Jeff Subject: Water Conservation & Vistoso Preserve WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Dear Oro Valley Town Council Members, Please pass my thoughts to the Town Council regarding an item being discussed at the April 16 meeting. The Town is considering reintroducing a water feature (pond) to the Vistoso Trails Preserve park, formally the Vistoso Golf Course. As a resident who enthusiastically supported the conservation of the property for recreational use and acquisition by the Town, I do not support the return of a water feature. A man made pond in the Sonoran desert makes no sense, especially given the cost of construction and upkeep. I would support more prudent use of our natural resources and taxpayer dollars, I am a regular user of the Preserve trails for walking and biking, and believe that a minor landfill to hide (or remove the former piping) is all that is necessary and will allow the area to be absorbed back into the desert landscape. Thanks to the Town for conserving the property for recreational use and maintaining the pathways. The most pressing need in my opinion is improving the La Canada Drive pedestrian access path to the Preserve; and, enhancing the crosswalk markings at the two Vistoso Highlands Drive crossings. Thankyou, Jack Paliokas Oro Valley Stine, Michelle From: Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 10:44 PM To: Town Council Subject: Please restore the pond at the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Dear Town Council, I financially contributed to keep the former Vistoso golf course a nature preserve... I am contacting you for the restoration of Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve by voting for the return of a pond feature and I advocate for the use of reclaimed water if necessary. This will return this area of the property to the beauty it once had. Please vote for the 2.5 acre pond concept. Respectfully, Walter J. Olson Stine, Michelle From: Frank Pitts Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 7:10 PM To: Town Council; Horseskip; Janice Eda; Keesler, Paul Subject: Sierra Wash WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Hi Oro Valley Mayor, Council & Mr. Keesler, I am the VP and Landscape Chair of the BOD for Canada Ridge HOA. I've included, Michael Lee, our President and, Janice Edna, of Envision Arizona HOA Management Company in this communication. Last year The Sierra Wash drainage/spillway was redone by OV due to erosion. The part of the Sierra Wash impacting the Canada Ridge HOA is where it passes under W. Naranja Dr between LaCanada and LaCholla on the south side of Naranja. I live at and the Sierra Wash passes just West of my home. John Lynch and the John Spiker approached our HOA 2 years ago about this project and they were adamant about using the HOA property in front of my house to construct this project. I was not excited about the HOA irrigated trees in front of my house along Naranja and the desert vegetation being turned into dirt for years to come. I was raised in Tucson, all my life, I've seen the aftermath of poor construction projects that do not manage the desert landscape after project completion. My folks ran a horse riding Stables where Rams Canyon Subdivision is currently located. The scar going up the Ridge to the south was made in the 80s and it's still very visible from Oracle Rd. I've seen Desert mismanagement for decades. After much back and forth, Paul Keesler, came out to the site and it became apparent to him that site construction was best suited by approaching from the West thru OV owned land. This land was more level and easier to access the wash than the steep hill in front of my house across irrigated vegetation. The wash spillway has been complete for about a year. Just as I suspected the land where the construction equipment was used has been tuned into lifeless dirt. This is a very visible area to anyone driving along Naranja. The construction crews created a road from Naranja down to the drainage and created an acre of lifeless dirt. This specific area is between OV Golf hole 12 and Naranja. I would like to ask OV to plant 15-20 mesquite trees in this area and irrigate them from the existing golf course irrigation system. I believe this will be a low cost project with a high return to our valley of gold. This area has been dramatically changed since before the project and it is an eye sore for our beautiful community. Our HOA has planet over 20 trees along Naranja to help add to and improve our communities beauty. Please do this small thing for OV, Canada Ridge and sustainability. Respectfully, Frank Pitts Oro Valley Sent from AOL on Androidinclude Stine, Michelle From: Garry Alan Smith _ Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 6:31 PM To: Town Council Subject: Council meeting on Wednesday April 16 at 6:OOpm WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Hello Town Council, I have recieved an email that indicates the town council may spend millions on a "pond" very few people will even see. I am against this propsal and may I suggest the funds be put to use eradicating kangaroo mouse infestations in the Rancho Visoso area, and used to help our disadvantaged neighbors, along with doing badly needed road repairs. Dont waste money on a "pond" the resources are desperatly needed elsewhere. Thank you, Garry_ Smith Oro Valley 1 Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 9:20 AM To: Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle Subject: FW: April 16 2025 Oro Valley Council Meeting - Agenda #3 - RV Pond Attachments: Honorable Oro Valley Council Members I1.pdf Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 From: Aziz Ahmed Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 8:55 AM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Cc: Winfield, Joe <jwinfield@orovalleyaz.gov>; Barrett, Melanie <mbarrett@orovalleyaz.gov>; Jones -Ivey, Joyce <jjones- ivey@orovalleyaz.gov>; Nicolson, Josh <jnicolson@orovalleyaz.gov>; Greene, Harry <hgreene@orovalleyaz.gov>; Murphy, Mary <mmurphy@orovalleyaz.gov>; Robb, Elizabeth <erobb@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: April 16 2025 Oro Valley Council Meeting - Agenda #3 - RV Pond WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Honorable Oro Valley Council Members, After decades of working for Medical Device/Pharmaceutical companies I retired in Oro Valley in 2018. 1 own a condo and reside full time in Racho Vistoso area since July 2018 and right across from the "now -extinct" pond. I chose the spot back based on the quiet beauty of the area while working for Ventana Medical systems in 2012-2013. 1 was thrilled and felt lucky to find a place surrounded by natural beauty, and the center piece was the pond across. I am reaching out to the Council Members with just one simple request: Please help the residents of Rancho Vistoso and greater Oro Valley enjoy once beautiful place again. Just looking at the two pictures of the area from years past and now prompt people to take actions. Right now, the "now -extinct" pond looks like a war devastated area in the middle of our beautiful town of Oro Valley. I strongly believe we all want to make the entire Oro Valley, including Rancho Vistoso area remain beautiful and thriving by moving forward with the Pond Restoration Project. Let's get back to 2 If we need to generate additional funds to support the project, we may think about reaching out to businesses in and around Oro Valley such as Ventana Medical Systems, Honeywell Aerospace, Raytheon, etc. In return we can arrange for employee picnics and gatherings by adding facilities around the reclaimed pond. That will allow the pond area open to recreational events for local businesses and residents alike making it a vibrant space. I hope and look forward to a positive outcome regarding the Pond Project in today's meeting. Best regards, Rancho Vistoso, Oro Valley Resident Aziz Ahmed Stine, Michelle From: Standish, Michael Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 10:05 AM To: Stine, Michelle Subject: FW: OVCN Rezone From: Timothy Fagan <tcfaganmd@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 9:56 AM To: Standish, Michael <mstandish@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: OVCN Rezone ' WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. My wife and I built our home at more than 30 years ago. We built there due to the very peaceful setting, mountain views and zoning for farms and ranches. We had horses here for more than 20 years. The proposed OVCN rezone will adversely affect the whole neighborhood with traffic and noise. The currently proposed height increase will affect the views of those who live West of OVCN. The increased noise and traffic will affect the entire neighborhood. Increased rain runoff will adversely affect those downstream along MacCormack Wash. Any increase in height, building footprint or parking will adversely affect the entire neighborhood. None of these changes should be approved. Timothy Fagan, MD Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 1:34 PM To: Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle Subject: FW: Your thoughts? Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Tine: 520-229-4714 From: MIKE ZINKIN Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 1:22 PM To: Town Council <council@orovaIleyaz.gov>; Wilkins, Jeff <jwilkins@orovalleyaz.gov>; Abraham, Peter <pa bra ha m @o rova I leyaz.gov> Subject: Your thoughts? WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Potable Water Usage in March 2025 Remains Excessively High When I reported that potable water usage at the Pusch Ridge Golf Course in January 2025 was 1,385,000 gallons higher than in January 2024, the Town responded by stating they had contacted the Director of Agronomy at Indigo. The explanation given was that a "lack of rain and days with higher winds dry out the golf course, necessitating increased water usage." That may account for January, but in February 2025, potable water usage increased by an even greater margin-2,001,000 gallons more than in February 2024. Are we to believe that conditions remained identically dry and windy? We know that's not the case. Now we've received the data for March 2025. In March 2024, the course used 2,651,000 gallons of potable water. In March 2025, it used 3,989,000 gallons —an increase of 1,338,000 gallons. To date, the Pusch Ridge Golf Course has used 10,210,000 gallons of potable (drinking) water in just three months. The financial cost of this waste is $44,932.54. At an average of $50 per round, the course would need to generate over 8,909 rounds just to recover the cost of wasted water. t There are about 300 members of the Friends of Pusch Ridge —citizens working hard to keep the course open, though arguably for self-serving reasons. Yet, at this pace, the Town is effectively spending over $34,000 per member. Also worth noting: the Pusch Ridge course pays the same water rates as residential users, despite doing nothing to implement water, conservation measures. Clearly, the issue is not solely weather -related. What about irrigation system leaks? If that's the case, it highlights the Town's lack of proper maintenance, which has been a concern in other areas as well. When will these entitlements end? Groups like Preserve Vistoso. argue they are entitled to reclaimed water for a pond. Pusch Ridge advocates insist on a continued supply of potable water to prevent their course from becoming another Rancho Vistoso situation. Is it really too much to ask the Winfield Council to place this matter on an upcoming discussion z Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 1:54 PM To: Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle Subject: FW: Vistoso Preserve Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 From: Jann Nance Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 9:51 AM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Vistoso Preserve IWARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. This Preserve has benefit for everyone and everything in the area - not just the residents who live adjacent. It also serves as a wildlife preserve. Nature is comprised of flora AND fauna and they both need water. Please restore the pond! Jann Nance XTA Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 1:54 PM To: Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle Subject: FW: Vistoso Pond Issue Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 From: Marlene Skibbe Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 12:22 PM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Vistoso Pond Issue WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. I am unable to attend the meeting concerning the Vistoso Preserve Pond issue. I am not in favor of spending that amount of money to restore the pond for these reasons: • Too expensive. Not benefit to the community. (Has anyone actually conducted a survey of # of residents who used the old pond on a regular basis and for what reason?) Occasional photo ops?? Would mainly benefit the people who live around the pond. • Would promote mosquito proliferation and bird flu spreading and consequently require dangerous, costly, monitoring insect abatement spraying, just as is needed at the Sweetwater facility, which has become nothing but a mosquito breeding, unsightly swamp. Bad for the enfironment. Do the mothers and fathers of OV children really want this? Would become just another hang out that our police department would need to patrol. • If we had to close the Hot Tub at the community center, (which, as an 80 year old, was something I enjoyed immensely) because we needed a "lifeguard" to keep it open!! What would the liability of another potential water feature be for us? Do we want to spend millions on a small pond where a child could wander into, unsupervised, and drown? Or would we required by law to keep lifeguards there, too?????? The Conservation Society had no prerequisite to restore the pond as part of their determination to PRESERVE the area. Did everyone forget that the purpose of the Conservation Preserve is to restore the area to the original land use. That Pond was NOT a natural feature!! My suggestions • Fill it in with fill that nearby builders will contribute. At the least costly amount. 0 Grass it over. Make it a lovely, quiet park. Maybe a few trees: Better for the environment. • Put up a few ramadas and shelters where FAMILIES and Seniors can enjoy year round as a gathering and meeting/picnic place, observe the birds, and shelter from the sun. Forget the pond. It would be a costly major on -going liability! • And finally, please do more for the seniors who cannot and do not want to play pickleball or golf. We have enough outdoor soccer fields and pickleball courts. What about using the filled - in pond area for a lovely venue for small evenings of chamber music. Perhaps a small stage? Have you seen how popular that is at River Front Park??ave you seen how populHaa Please use our tax money wisely!!! Marlene Skibbe Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 3:33 PM To: Stine, Michelle; Standish, Michael Subject: FW: Ponds on the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 -----Original Message ----- From: Tom Tweed Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 3:22 PM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Ponds on the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Dear Council —We are writing to express our feelings about the ponds. We first bought in this area in 1998 and our main attraction were the ponds in this area. They were there for everyone to visit and use. Lots of prom and graduation photos were taken in front of those ponds and it was so wonderful to see. We don't need parking lots, gazebos and all of that. It is a serene setting with just the ponds. The maintenance cost of these ponds is far less than the ones on the golf courses and are there for everyone not just golfers. We all pay taxes so some of these taxes should go to the Vistoso Trails.__ Please consider bringing back her ponds. Were loved them Pam and Tom Tweed Oro Valley, AZ Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 11:13 AM To: Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle Subject: FW: POND CONCEPTS AT THE VISTOSO TRAILS NATURE PRESERVE Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 From: Dan Faust Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 10:37 AM To: Town Council <Council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: POND CONCEPTS AT THE VISTOSO TRAILS NATURE PRESERVE WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. We strongly support the return of a pond feature at the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve and request a motion to move forward with the pond design and construction. The pond feature would use a very small amount of reclaimed water compared to the amount used at the city golf courses and two parks. The city has owned the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve for nearly three years and the restoration work has been delayed too long! Daniel and Patricia Faust Stine, Michelle From: Sent: To: Subject: Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 From: Bill Greenheck Sirois, Andrea Wednesday, April 16, 2025 4:44 PM Standish, Michael, Stine, Michelle FW: Vistoso Trail Preserve Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 4:43 PM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Vistoso Trail Preserve WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Hello, I live on West Highlands Drive. I would love to see the pond restored, as do many of my neighbors. But my main concern is re -vegetation of the fairways that are now dirt eyesores. There is only one fairway that has repaired the damage done to it. That is the one of the sixth hole. For some reason the Palos Verde trees have proliferated on that scarred landscape. I cannot think of anything that should be a bigger priority for the preserve than helping to restore it to its former natural vegetation. I am at a Loss as to why no work has been done on this for three years. If anyone reads these messages and responds to them, I would love to know the answer to that, and hope there is indeed a plan to get moving on it. Thank you, Sincerely William and Sandra Greenheck Stine, Michelle From: S. Dayane Olivas Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 3:44 PM To: Town Council Subject: OVCN Expansion IWARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Dear Town Council, I cannot attend today's meeting regarding the OVCN expansion plans, so I am emailingyou to ensure you understand my position as well as the position of many of my neighbors in Shadow Mountain Estates. We strongly oppose this expansion, as has been explained to you all numerous times now. I don't understand why the fact that the people who will be most affected by this are not being HEARD or considered. I will repeat it again- the residents of Shadow Mountain Estates STRONGLY urge you to do the right thing here and encourage OVCN to look at expansion in other areas of Oro Valley which will not disturb established neighborhoods. This is an issue which many of us, including all of my retired neighbors who VOTE, will consider in the next election cycle. Thank you for your time and consideration. Respectfully, Sandra Olivas Castaneda Stine, Michelle From: Chris Lane Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 3:47 PM To: Winfield, Joe; Barrett, Melanie; Jones -Ivey, Joyce; Nicolson, Josh; Greene, Harry, Murphy, Mary; Robb, Elizabeth; Town Council Subject: Agenda Items #3 & #7 for April 16 (AGAINST) WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing Dear Mayor & Council Members, While I support the restoration of Vistoso Trails, I strongly urge the Council to reconsider moving forward with a pond restoration (agenda item #3) given the region's long-term water challenges. The argument that Oro Valley doesn't have a "water problem" because other facilities use large amounts of water misses the point entirely. The fact that millions of gallons are already being used on golf courses is not a justification to add another non -essential water feature. Instead, it highlights an even greater need to take conservation seriously. Water scarcity remains a critical concern for Arizona, and responsible stewardship means making smarter choices —not repeating past ones. The comparison between pond evaporation and golf course irrigation sidesteps the real issue: whether adding a new water feature aligns with the Town's broader environmental and sustainability goals. A pond, even if using reclaimed water, still represents a permanent, evaporative loss of a finite resource in a desert climate. Restoring beauty to Vistoso Trails doesn't have to come at the cost of water waste. Sustainable options like a native desert garden orxeriscaped green space could offer ecological benefits and communityvalue without undermining conservation efforts. Regarding agenda item #7, the Community Center Fund should prioritize equitable use across Oro Valley, but not at the expense of environmental responsibility. Redirecting those funds to subsidize a new water feature sets a poor precedent and risks politicizing resource allocation. Let's restore Vistoso in a way that honors both the community's vision and our shared obligation to future generations. Thanks foryour consideration, Chris Lane Rancho Vistoso resident Stine, Michelle From: Sent: To: Subject: Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 Sirois, Andrea Thursday, April 17, 2025 9:01 AM Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle FW: I do not support wasting water for recreational ponds From: Geoffrey Swett Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 6:09 PM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: I do not support wasting water for recreational ponds iWARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council: It has come to my attention that residents near the Vistoso Trails area want to convert the former golf course ponds into recreational ponds. Unfortunately we live in a desert and while we may have a water allocation, that doesn't mean we should be wasting a precious resource. Further, I am sure operating the pond would be an additional expense which the City can't really afford. Therefore please vote to save our water and dollars. Thank you for your consideration. Geoffrey H. Swett Oro Valley Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2025 9:00 AM To: Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle Subject: FW: Preserve Vistoso Pond Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct line: 520-229-4714 From: Marc Enzor Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2025 8:48 PM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Preserve Vistoso Pond WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Good evening Mayor and Councilmembers, My name is Marc Enzor and I'm a proud resident of Oro Valley. Oro Valley is one of Arizona's most beautiful and livable communities. It's not just the breathtaking views of the Catalinas or the stunning desert landscapes —it's the sense of peace, pride, and safety we all feel living here. In fact, Oro Valley is consistently ranked among the safest towns in the entire state and even the nation. And that doesn't happen by accident. You, as a council, have done a remarkable job protecting the charm and integrity of our town as it has grown. But there's one spot that stands in sharp contrast to everything Oro Valley represents. As soon as you turn onto Vistoso Highlands Drive, you're hit with an eyesore —a dry, dusty crater where a beautiful pond once lived. It's not just an eyesore. It's a missed opportunity. I understand there's a proposal to spend nearly a million dollars to plant some trees in that hole in the ground and call it a desert garden. But I have to be honest: trees aren't going to cut it. That space has the potential to be so much more than a landscaped pit. It is worth a bigger investment. I What if we brought back the pond? What if we gave Oro Valley its own version of Fountain Hills —a scenic, public space where families gather to watch ducks glide across the water, where parents grill burgers, kids toss pebbles, and neighbors connect? Restoring the pond would be more than just beautification —it would be a gift to our community. A symbol of what Oro Valley stands for: nature, family, and pride in our surroundings. It would raise nearby property values, draw in visitors, and give us all a space to enjoy for generations. We don't need a hole filled with trees. We need a vision. We need water, life, and a community gathering place. A beautiful 2.5 acre pond, that the community even helped fundraised for. Please, let's bring the pond back. Sincerely, Marc Enzor President phone: 520-222-8345 web: Guardian]T com email: Marc@QuardianiT.com When was your last IT & Cybersecurity Audit? Ask us for a FREEAudit today! Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2025 11:12 AM To: Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle Subject: FW: Vistoso Trails Preserve and Pond Proposal Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line:520-229-4714 From: ShannonPetrovichl Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2025 9:14 AM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Vistoso Trails Preserve and Pond Proposal WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Dear Town Council, We tried to attend the meeting last evening but it was overcrowded, and there was no parking, so we came home. We would like to register our support for the One Acre Pond Proposal and that a portion of the 1/2 cent sales tax we all pay would be used to renovate the existing pond area and to support the yearly maintenance. We live on the Preserve and it is an amazing resource for our community. It is used by many thousands, if not tens of thousands of residents throughout the year. It supports the wellbeing of people, and provides an invatuable green space for us and the local wildlife and bird life. By contrast, the three other golf courses the town supports are used by golfers; a smaller and smaller percentage of our population overtime. Golf courses are in fact unfriendly towards the thousands of us who don't golf, so I resent spending tax dollars to support them. If they can't make it, they should deal with that fact like any other business. And especially to hear that one golf course now utilizes potable water; that is unacceptable in these times of severe drought! The preserve pond will support birdlife and wildlife and provide a lovely area to stop on the path and rest. The pond and the path will continue to be available to ALL of our residents, and the wildlife in our area. This value far exceeds the costs and should be supported. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Shannon and Daniel Petrovich Oro Valley, AZ Shannon Petrovich, LCSW, LISAC, BCD Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Friday, April 18, 2025 11:36 AM To: Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle Subject: FW: The Sonoran Desert Attachments: Oro Valley Letter 15 Aug 24.docx Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 From: t m Sent: Friday, April 18, 2025 9:48 AM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Cc: Standish, Michael <mstandish@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: The Sonoran Desert ' WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Hello Oro Valley Town Council, I arrived for your 5pm council meeting on Wednesday but unfortunately was not able to stayfor when the public comments were scheduled after 6pm. I wanted to follow up with a comment I offered in person to your council last August 2024 re the median strip through Hwy 77 in Oro Valley and the desert flora placed there to beautify. As you may recall, and for the benefit of newly elected Councilmembers Murphy and Robb, I expressed my observation of the saguaro and barrel cactus and the other plants who somehow defy the extreme pollution and live in the strip in between 6lanes of high volume traffic. These supposedly protected desert plants are exposed to auto and truck exhaust 24/7. In particular, there are three stately saguaro cactus planted in the strip with no native vegetation around their base; this is unnatural. If the saguaro could talk, what would they say? In my letter submitted to you last August, I suggested relocating these majestic desert plants to a natural setting where they can live their lives. The median strip along Hwy 77 can be beautifully decorated with metal art, for example, and large rocks for a protective barrier. Oro Valley's website banner has a beautiful natural scene. Why not relocate these plants to a setting like that? But I have noticed the razing of the natural desert along La Cholla for new housing developments. What happens when the last square foot is "developed"? I did not receive any feedback from anyone on the town council after my August 2024 public comment. I still welcome someone on the council to reach out re this issue to discuss and explore the possibilities. It is just one median strip among many in OV that have this same landscaping, unfortunately. But for the sake of the Sonoran Desert, this small step would show that someone cares for the desert and not just for using these plants as props. Attached is the letter I would have presented in person to Councilmember Murphy and Councilmember Robb this week. The letter's text is the same as last August's. Blessings for Easter and Passover, Yours Truly, Ann Rose Dichov 16 April 2025 Mayor Winfield Vice Mayor Barrett, Councilmember Greene, Councilmember Jones -Ivey, Councilmember Nicolson, Councilmember Murphy, Councilmember Robb O ro Va lley Town H a 11 11000 N La Canada Drive Oro Valley, AZ Dear Mayor Winfield and Councilmembers, I enjoy Oro Valley's shopping centers along Hwy 77/Oracle Road and the view of the Catalinas from any of those centers. It is in the spirit of honoring the Sonoran Desert that I write about the Landscaping observed in the median strip that stretches for miles through Oro Valley between six Lanes of busy traffic. Along the miles, the median strip varies from having lush desert gardens in the area of Pusch Ridge to places where the strip only contains large gravel such as near the Oro Valley Marketplace. The areas I want to bring to your attention include sections of the median strip near the intersections with Camino Greenfield, Hardy, and Magee. There are other areas as well where mature desert plants are living in isolation surrounded by asphalt and exhaust. For example, three stately saguaro cactus are in the median, separated and isolated without any desert vegetation nearby, only large gravel or denuded desert. At least two palo verde or mesquite trees in the median blew over from the storms this summer. While the trees were cut back, the partially uprooted stumps remain in the median. The barrel cactus in this area are suffering. At least one large barrel cactus has keeled over, its pretty blossoms still intact. These plants deserve much better. I would suggest the median have large gravel than to see these plants suffer. Would you please consider transplanting the most vulnerable of these desert plants to a natural area where they are no longer isolated in the median between six lanes of busy traffic? The large gravel in the median is not unappealing, does not obstruct drivers'views,is low maintenance and is suited to the busy road. I have learned that this long stretch of median strip may be under the jurisdiction of the town of Oro Valley, Pima County, and the state of Arizona. With your connections at the county and state, I hope your team can consider the dreadful existence of life in a median strip and consider relocating and saving these desert plants. Sincerely Yours, Ann Rose Dichov Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Monday, April 21, 2025 11:26 AM To: Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle Subject: FW: Thank You Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 From: Aziz Ahmed Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2025 10:08 AM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Cc: Winfield, Joe <jwinfield@orovalleyaz.gov>; Barrett, Melanie <mbarrett@orovalleyaz.gov>; Jones -Ivey, Joyce <jjones- ivey@orovalleyaz.gov>; Nicolson, Josh <jnicolson@orovalleyaz.gov>; Greene, Harry <hgreene@orovalleyaz.gov>; Murphy, Mary <mmurphy@orovalleyaz.gov>; Robb, Elizabeth <erobb@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Thank You WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Honorable Oro Valley Council Members, Along with all of Rancho Vistoso, forty percent of Oro Valley residents, I appreciate and thank you for approving the motion to go forward with the 2.5-acre pond. The project will no doubt be challenging through the various phases to completion and maintain the pond afterward. I believe all the residents will pull together to make the project successful and support the council in all the efforts needed. Simply because it keeps Ranch Vistoso and Oro Valley beautiful. Best regards, Aziz Ahmed Rancho Vistoso, Oro Valley Resident I am unable to attend the meeting concerning the Kstoso Preserve Pond issue. I am not in favor of spending that amount of money to restore the pond for these reasons: • Too expensive. Not benefit to the community. (Has anyone actually conducted a survey of # of residents who used the old pond on a regular basis and for what reason?) Occasional photo ops?? • Would mainly benefit the people who live around the pond. • Would promote mosquito proliferation and bird flu spreading and consequently require dangerous, costly, monitoring insect abatement spraying, just as is needed at the Sweetwater facility, which has become nothing but a mosquito breeding, unsightly swamp. Bad for the environment. • Do the mothers and fathers of Oil' children really want this? • Would become just another hang out that our police department would need to patrol. + If we had to close the Hot Tub at the community center, (which, as an 80 year old, was something I enjoyed immensely) because we needed a "lifeguard" to keep it opens ! What would the liability of another potential water feature be for us? Do we want to spend millions on a small pond whereA. child could wander into, unsupervised, and drown? Or would we required by law to keep lifeguards there, too?????? 1 The Conservation Society had no prerequisite to restore the pond as part of their determination to PRESERVE the area. Did everyone forget that the purpose of the Conservation Preserve is to restore the area to the original land use. That Pond was NOT a natural feature! ! My suggestions • Fill it in with fill that nearby builders will contribute. At the least costly amount. • Grass it over. Make it a lovely, quiet park. Maybe a few trees. Better for the environment. • Put up a few ramadas and shelters where FAMILIES and Seniors can enjoy year round as a gathering and meetinglpicnic place, observe the birds, and shelter from the sun. Forget the pond. It would be a costly major on going liability! • And finally, please do more the seniors who cannot and do not want to play pickleball or golf. We have enough outdoor soccer fields and pickleball courts. What about using the filled -in pond area for a lovely venue for small evenings of chamber music. Perhaps a small stage? Have you seen how popular that is at River Front Park?? Please use our tax money wiselylll �d Stine, Michelle From: Sent: To: Subject: Follow Up Flag: Flag Status: Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 Sirois, Andrea Thursday, April 17, 2025 12:52 PM Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle FW: Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve Follow up Flagged From: ridge004 University of Minnesota Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2025 11:57 AM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov>; Winfield, Joe <jwinfield@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Just a quick note to support the need for action at the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. I regard it as a significant asset for the city, one that I use regularly. I am in favor of retaining the pond at some level. Thanks for all you do for the city, Pat Ridgely (Vistoso Vi(lage) Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 10:31 AM To: Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle Subject: FW: Agenda Item 7 - Regular Town Council Meeting 4/16/25 Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged FYI Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manages, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 From: Tony DAngelo _ Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 8:27 AM To: Barrett, Melanie <mbarrett@orovalleyaz.gov> Cc: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Re: Agenda Item 7 - Regular Town Council Meeting 4/16/25 WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Vice Mayor Barrett, Thank you for your prompt response. I will welcome any additional background information you might be able to provide before the meeting. Without it, it will be very difficult for anyone to offer relevant support or opposition to what you may have planned. Am I correct in the fact that should any member of the public wish to speak on this agenda item, it will be before there is any discussion among council members and your action to propose a motion to act? I hope you can appreciate the disappointment I have with the tone and content of the Preserve Vistoso email. I know of no organized opposition to the efforts of Preserve Vistoso to restore the former Golf Club at Vistoso to a beneficial Town asset. Yet they made a point to assert that somehow efforts by residents living near the El Conquistador Golf facilities to protect their home values and work to make the Community Center and golf operations a success in some way has hurt the rest of the Town and their efforts in particular. This suggests the action you may take on Wednesday will require taking from one Town owned asset to give to another. You should be very proud of the turnaround of Town owned golf. It is also important to emphasize that over the ten years the Town has owned and operated Pusch Ridge Golf, only 3% of the collected Community Center Fund tax has been spent at Pusch Ridge. Most of that was during the early years of operations and for the replacement of the cart path bridge. The Community Center Fund tax seems to have worked as it was originally intended, supporting expected operational shortfalls in the first few years and to fund required capital to improve the facilities. Please understand that we are prepared to work with the Town to assure all parks and recreational assets thrive and benefit the whole community. As you know, I have participated in the Working Group tasked with exploring economic development over the next ten years. It remains my belief that we should focus on generating more revenues within the tax structure we have to fund all the requirements of the Town. Respectfully, Tony D'Angelo On Apr 14, 2025, at 8:43 PM, Barrett, Melanie <mbarrett(aorovalleyaz.¢ov> wrote: I appreciate your thoughts, Tony, however when Town council members put an item on the agenda, we cannot suggest legal action. That can only be done in a Town Council meeting, so it is different than an agenda that came from the staff. Preserve Vistoso doesn't have any information about this agenda item other than that it is on the agenda, the same as you. I believe some may have their own opinion. I will endeavor to get some more background information added to the agenda, but will still not be able to suggest action until during the meeting. Thanks, Melanie Barrett Vice Mayor Town of Oro Valley mbarrett Morovalleyaz.gov 11000 N. La Canada Dr. Oro Valley, Arizona 85737 From: Tony DAngelo Sent: Monday, April 14, 2025 1:34:21 PM To: Town Council <council@orovallevaz.¢ov> Subject: Agenda Item 7 - Regular Town Council Meeting 4/16/25 WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Mayor Winfield and members of the Town Council, It has come to my attention that the Town Council will be considering a major change to the use of the Community Center Fund at the regular Town Council meeting on April 16: 7. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE COMMUNITY CENTER FUND What is disturbing is the lack of "specifics" listed in on the posted agenda. My attempts to receive clarification of the intent by a council member requesting this agenda item has so far been ignored. Looking at the Arizona Open Meetings Statute 38-431.02., it states: H. Ads required under this section shall list the specific matters to be discussed, considered or decided at the meeting. Except for a meeting through technological devices, the agenda shall also include notice of the time that the public will have physical access to the meeting place. The public body may discuss, consider or make decisions only on matters listed on the agenda and other matters related thereto. Apparently the special interest group, Preserve Vistoso has information NOT available to the general public (see screenshot of email they sent to members below) This seems inconsistent with the intent of the Open Meetings statute and I respectfully ask that no actions be taken on the current use of the Community Center Fund until the public is fully informed in advance of a public meeting of the intended changes and implications with regards to current uses. It is only fair that the public has sufficient information and time to offer the Town Council its thoughts on any changes in the intended uses. Respectfully, Tony D'Angelo Resident, Oro Valley The Preserve "nn/se 1stOS0 Tc klwa -'f^-ilia eY J?_y On Wednesday, April 16 at 6:00pm the Tom Council will discuss two agenda items that are very Important to the restoration of Vistosa Trails Nature Preserve. We need a massivo turnout lot both agenda Items, which we will explain in this cnmm6nication. Agenda Hem a3: Two proposed pond designs provided by consultant Kinney. Horn. Agenda Hem 97: The use of funds captured by a Y, cent sales tax that resides In the Community Center Fund. Stine, Michelle From: Standish, Michael Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2025 3:50 PM To: Stine, Michelle Subject: FW: Charles Stack's comments to TOV Council regarding "Pond Concepts" Agenda Item Attachments: TOV Pond Attachment.pdf Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged From: Charles Stack Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2025 2:03 PM To: Standish, Michael <mstandish@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Charles Stack's comments to TOV Council regarding "Pond Concepts" Agenda Item IWARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Mike, I wish to provide my comments to the Mayor, Vice Mayor and Town Council on this Agenda Topic for the upcoming Town Council Meeting, April 16, 2025. Specifically - REGULAR AGENDA 3. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING POND CONCEPTS AT THE VI: To: Mayor Winfield, Vice -Mayor Barrett, and Town Council From: Charles R. Stack, MPH, BCES SUBJECT: Comments regarding Pond Concepts Agenda Item Dear Colleagues: As you know, I am the appointed Citizen Representative for Oro Valley to the Environmental Planning Advisory Committee of the Pima Association of Governments (EflO), and I have spoken out in past Council meetings in opposition to rebuilding the old, abandoned pond that lies on the property of Vistoso Traits Nature Preserve (VTNP). I have several scientific and public health concerns that I wish to share with the Town Council, including: a) Cost - I am a recognized expert in rehabilitating earthen structures like the old golf course pond, and this project will require extensive civil and construction work in order to be rehabilitated to retain water and be safe & attractive. The old recirculation and piping components are likely so degraded as to be unusable, and the pond wilt need to be excavated, portions (sidewalls and rip rap) demolished, and entire basin completely rebuilt. This is NOT a simple nor inexpensive project that the public seems to demand, and I oppose this. Mayor Winfield's plan for a "desert garden" is far superior in terms of affordability, and itwill be more compatible with the Sonoran Desert biome. My attachment ("TOV Pond Attachment") has a few project photos for pond rehabilitation projects I have performed in the past for major industrial clients, and these show you the type of materials required for this work. b) Safety - An open water pond will likely attract trespassers who may cause harm to themselves or the community. The Center Pointe Vistoso public pool has had ongoing problems with young trespassers who swim, use alcohol/drugs and destroy our pool property. This has forced our HOA to install closed circuit TV systems and hire security ("TOV Pond Attachment" shows budget item). Mayor Winfield is aware of these risks and costs, and I wish to validate his concerns. Also, residents of Sun City have reported trespassing and illegal fishing in their golf course ponds, please see attached posting from Next Door in the "TOV Pond Attachment." c) Environment -Proponents for rebuilding and refilling this pond do not seem to realize that reclaimed wastewater, used to irrigate regional golf courses, is loaded with residual PFAS and other "forever chemicals" that our conventional sewage treatment processes do not remove. Mr. Tony Davis of AZ Daily Star wrote a detailed story about this, please see: https://tucson.com/instagram/article 60441ba0-cea8-11ef-b408-db9df9d71942.html StoringPFAS contaminated water on the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve imperils our groundwater supply, wildlife and public health. The entire article is included in the "TOV Pond Attachment" for your convenience. The only way to avoid filling a rebuilt pond with PFAS-contaminated water would be to use fresh CAP or groundwater, and since we have extreme evaporation during summer months, the pond will need to be continuously refilled. This will bean added cost to the Town of Oro Valley, and I believe a wasteful extravagance for a "vanity project." Open ponds are NOT a natural feature of the Sonoran Desert (for example, they do not have "water features" at the Sonoran Desert Museum), and filling the pond with PFAS contaminated reclaimed wastewater will threaten the groundwater in the event of pond liner leaks and application of this water onto portions of the VTNP. One waythat the TOV Council could possibly convince the community of the unfeasibility of this plan would be to fund a "techno-economic analysis" with a competent engineering company, or perhaps the UA. An independent reviewer could provide the TOV with budget costs for rebuilding and relining the pond, environmental risk assessment, and assessment of community risks from vandalism and other security issues. I myself would love a neighborhood pond, but this is not Wisconsin or other state where such features are part of the normal ecosystem. Buildingthis pond would be like pushing a square peg into a round hole. The original pond was a component of a for -profit business (golf course) that ultimately failed, and I recommend that we move on from that past. Therefore, I strongly urge the TOV Mayor and Town Council to resist pressure to pursue a "pond concept." The Mayor's Desert Garden concept is a fine alternative that will support pollinators, wildlife and also be aesthetically pleasing. lam looking forward to seeing plans for what this garden would look like! As always, I offer my advice to the Town of Oro Valley at no cost or obligation, and am always available for questions. I enjoy representing Oro Valley at the PAG meetings and invite you to let me know your thoughts and concerns. Thank you for your attention to my comments. Charles R. Stack, MPH, BCES, M.ASCE EPAC-PAG Representative for Oro Valley Charles Stack pond rehabilitation projects • Tyler Mountain Water, Paducah KY (Siemens Water/US Filter) • ConAgra Potato Processor anaerobic lagoon (NeoChloris Inc.) CSm th U Charles Stack has successfully completed the course PFAS in Wastewater and Biosolids: How Water Utilities Can Start Breaking the Cycle CDM Smith Inc 75 State Street — Surte 701 Boston, MA 02109 FL PE CEP s 108 April 3rd, 2025 Course Code: C1316 Credit: I PDH Certificate of Attendance U.S. EPA's Tools & Resources Webinar Series Addressing Emerging Contaminants in Wastewater Treatment Systems March 19, 2025 Charles Stack This certificate represents participation in the one -hour webinar mentioned above as part of EPA's Tool & Resources Webinar Series. The webinar included a presentation by EPA staff in the Office of Research and Development. JaStED SigTFs s 2• Lua Matthews State Liaison/Webinar $eriea Coordinator �q� pcn'tE�'S US EPA Ojf eoj Rem.chand Dne6pmc , Sheryl He e R ai Ciry OroWey 1Sep-Etllletl ® This is a plea to the parents of the young boys illegally fishing in the Sun City golf ponds. The residents of Sun City have been trying to get them to quit trespassing and harming our beautiful koi fish for the past few years. We have new "No Trespassing and No Fishing Signs" up all around, yet they are still coming. They are coming late at night, in the dark with flashlights. This disturbs the residents around. They feel they are unsafe. In the past, when the boys were caught and asked to leave they were disrespectful and confronting to the senior citizens living nearby. The boys have been also disrespectful to the fish they are catching by tossing them around, taking selfies in different positions, using barbed hooks, and polluting the pond waters with full loaves of bread they use for chumming. These are not always one or two boys, there have been up to 8+ gathering together. These seniors do not need to have those threats out their door. The bays are not just disturbing the peacefulness, they are disturbing the wildlife and birds our citizens enjoy. We are asking the police to help by swinging by the ponds in the dark hours. If any Sun City resident spots them fishing, please get their license plates and report them immediately to 911. These photos were taken this morning. The boys were not seen before 7:00 p.m. last night. This happened afterward. They do not have permission to fish in the ponds, they cannot obtain permission from any of the management as they often claim. Sun City recently voted to stop all fishing in the ponds and to add the new No Trespassing signs. Reserve Income Statement Budget Center Pointe Vistoso Community From 07/01/2023 - 07/31/2023 Current Period Year-to-date Annual Actual Budget Variance Actual Budget Variance Budget Revenue Reserve Revenue 8000- Reserve Contribution 16,980.92 16,980.92 0.00 118,866.44 118,866.44 0.00 203,771.00 Income 8005-Reserve Interest 2,253.73 0.00 1,253.73 5,428.83 0.00 5,428.83 000 Income 8010-Reserve Resale 0.00 0.00 0.00 5,148.00 0.00 5,148.00 0.00 Contribution 8015- Reserve View Fence 0.00 0.00 0.00 162,00 0.00 162.00 0.00 Painting Toni: Reserve Revenue 19,234.65 16,980.92 1,253.73 129,605.27 318,866A4 10,738.83 203,771.00 Total: Revenue 18,234.65 16,980.92 1,253.73 129,605.27 118,866.44 10,738.83 203,771.00 Expense Reserve Expense 9000-Reserves- Gen eral 4,174.74 0.00 4,174J4 12,058.19 0,00 12,058.19 0.00 9015- Reserves -Pool/Spa 0.00 0.00 0,00 3,816.45 0.00 3,816.45 c00 Repairs 9021-Reserves-Pool Security 12,720.55 0.00 12,720.55 12,720.55 0.00 12,720.55 a00 9022-Reserves-Parking Lot 2,656.23 0.00 2,656.23 8,206.81 0.00 8,206.81 0.00 Gate 9030 - Reserves - 0.00 0.00 0.00 18,590.28 0.00 18,590.28 0.00 Roads/Streets 9055- Reserves -Landscaping 0.00 0.00 0.00 35,640,00 0.00 35,640.00 0.00 Project Total: Reserve Expense 19,551.52 0.00 19,551.52 91,032.28 0.00 91,032.28 0.00 Total: Expense 19,551.52 0.00 19,551.52 91,032.28 0.00 91,032.28 0.00 Net Income (1,316.87) 16,980.92 (18,297.79) 38,572.99 118,866.94 (80,293.45) 203,771.00 Wed August 16, 2023 Page 1 of 1 12:29:41 PM 4 https://tucson. com/instagram/tuc son-water-treated-wastewater-drinking-water- plans-pfas-removalcosts- challenges/article_60441 ba0-cea8-11 ef-b408-db9df9d7l942.html Wastewater Tucson eyes for drinking water contains 'forever chemicals' New research finds much treated wastewater across the U.S. is contaminated with 'forever chemicals." Tucson just signed an agreement with the federal government to get $86.7 million to build a plant to treat sewage effluent to drinking quality. In part, that's intended to serve an area on the metro area's northwest side whose wells have been closed due to contamination by the PFAS compounds known as forever chemicals. The utility says the recycled water the plant will treat starting in the early 2030s has already been treated at the Pima County -run Tres Rios wastewater plant and will get further "purification" to make it drinkable. But records show the partially treated wastewater contains HAS compounds that may have to be removed themselves, before the fully treated water is served to the public. While it's far too early to say how the utility will deal with the PFAS, an outside expert and a new study in another state indicate the price tag would be very high. The planned Tucson facility would convert about 2.5 million gallons a day of treated wastewater into drinkable water, though a process called advanced water purification. The 2.5 million gallons represent between 2% and 5% of the city's total drinking water supply, Tucson Water Director John Kmiec has said. Tucson is hardly alone with having to deal with HAS in its treated sewage effluent. Two studies, one released Monday, showed in different ways that PFAS compounds are regularly present in municipal wastewater around the country. One of the studies, done for the National Academy of Sciences, found that wastewater contaminated with PFAS had found its way into drinking water systems all over the country serving up to 23 million people. The other study, done for, Minnesota's state Water Pollution Control .Agency, found that the cost of removing all PFAS from the state's wastewater and then destroying the PFAS so it couldn't pollute anywhere else was so high, it could spike homeowners' monthly sewer bills by up to 10 times. "Without an alternative source of funding, PFAS removal and .destruction from municipal wastewater will be unaffordable for the foreseeable future" in Minnesota, the agency concluded. Tucson Water officials, asked how they would deal with PFAS found in Pima County's treated wastewater, said in an email that over the next few years, they will work with the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department to gather "all wastewater and -,recycled water quality information," in line with new state regulations. Arizona's regulations, approved last year, allow local governments to. begin "direct potable reuse" of treated effluent for drinking. "The final treatment process will not be established for some time, so we cannot provide operational costs or data at this time," Tucson Water said. Tucson Water told the Arizona Daily Star its goal for the future "advanced water purification" program is to produce water that not only meets and exceeds government drinking water standards but includes a "multi -barrier treatment approach" that would address unregulated compounds as well. And Pima County's deputy wastewater director, Jeff Prevatt, told the Star he is "extremely confident" Tucson Water will be able to produce "high purity, PFAS free water." Tucson can't afford it, Kozachik says. A California scientist and wastewater expert said this "is going to be one of the most expensive options" that exists for providing alternative water sources. "It can be done. The PFAS and the cost is not a reason not to do it," Arturo Keller, a professor at the University of California's Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, told the Arizona Daily Star. "It's generally thought membrane technologies for it such as reverse osmosis can treat and remove it. But they need to monitor it constantly to make sure there isn't any breakthrough of the PFAS (into the environment)." "The whole treatment train is very energy intensive," using membranes, ozone and reverse osmosis, adding to the cost of the system, Keller said, though proponents say it will be far less expensive than desalinating seawater and shipping it from the Pacific Ocean or the Gulf of California to Arizona. Former Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik, who was the first local official to publicly raise concerns about PFAS contamination of groundwater, told the Star he doesn't believe the city will be able to afford large-scale_ treatment of effluent to drinking water quality. "There is no way they can afford the financial costs of pulling PFAS and other emergent pollutants out of wastewater," Kozachik said Friday. "The city cannot afford toilet to tap with these remediation costs built in. And the Department of Defense certainly is not going to pay billions at wastewater treatment plants all over the country." (Military bases in Tucson are under investigation for letting PFAS compounds previously used in firefighting foam contaminate groundwater.) Tucson's goal: large-scale treatment A dozen PFAS compounds have been found in the effluent departing the Tres Rios plant for the Santa Cruz River since 2022, records from Pima County Wastewater Reclamation Department show. Only one of those compounds was at high enough concentrations to exceed the recently installed federal drinking water standards for PFAS compounds. But only four of those compounds even have federal drinking water standards, as approved last spring by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Environmentalists, outside scientists and various industry officials are currently locked in a debate over whether the current standards are adequate, not strict enough or too strict. While 2% to 5% of Tucson's supply may not seem like a lot of water, Kmiec and other city officials have made it clear that if a small plant like this one works out well, it could serve as a pilot project for a much bigger plant in the future. That's if one is needed to augment the city's highly vulnerable groundwater and Colorado River supplies. The One Water plan that the Tucson City Council approved about a year ago calls for large-scale treatment of sewage effluent for drinking in a high-tech plant, but contains no timetable for when such a plant would be built. In addition, many other Southwestern cities, including Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Diego, are looking closely at building similar plants to treat their own sewage effluent to drinking quality. They, like Tucson, face a future of less water from their current sources due to overpumping of groundwater, drought and climate change. But the two studies, one new and one two years old, suggest that HAS is a common contaminant in wastewater that is expensive to remove. The newest study, prepared by scientists for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Scientists, was released Monday. That was the day before the Tucson City Council unanimously voted to strike an agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to leave behind more than one- third of its annual Colorado River supply in Lake Mead over a decade in exchange for getting the $86.7 million to build the treatment plant. The new study found elevated levels of all six regulated PFAS compounds in wastewater samples taken nationally. It looked at effluent from eight large treatment plants around the country whose treatment technologies are heavily used. About PFAS PFAS compounds are a large family of synthetic organic substances first produced in the late 1930s. They contain a series of partially or fully fluorinated carbons. Because of the carbon -fluorine bond, these compounds don't readily degrade through natural processes. "They are thermally, chemically, and biologically stable" and don't naturally biodegrade, the Tucson Airport Authority wrote in a recent assessment of the presence of PFAS compounds at the Tucson International Airport site. Scientific studies have found that exposure, even at low levels, to certain PFAS chemicals may result in adverse health impacts to the immune system, the cardiovascular system, human development such as decreased birth weight and suppression of vaccine response in children, the EPA -Airport Authority agreement said. Other studies have linked PFAS compounds to liver and kidney cancer. Asked how the PFAS compounds find their way into Pima County sewage treatment plants, County Regional Wastewater Reclamation official Jeff Prevatt said, "PFAS can be found in non-stick cookware, textiles, firefighting foams, leather treatments, paper products, packaging for food, waxes, cosmetics, carpet and many other products. "Because of their use in many commercial and household products, they are ubiquitous throughout society and inevitably present in the wastewaters entering municipal wastewater treatment facilities," he said. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base used to regularly use PFAS compounds for firefighting foam until about 2017. Before then, it would send PFAS compounds into the sewers, it acknowledged in 2018. That study found that PFAS was, however, only a small percentage, probably less than 10%, of all the "organofluorine" compounds typically found in wastewater. Most of the orgnoafluorines are commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals, while others are extensively used in modern commerce for refrigeration, agrochemicals, nonstick and greaseproof coatings and fluoropolymers. They are a family of high -density plastics used in industries, including aerospace, automotive, electronics, and medical applications. Generally, conventional wastewater treatment doesn't do a good job of removing such compounds including PFAS, operating at less than 25% efficiency, the study said. "The rule in general is that smaller molecules (in these compounds) are more likely to get through the membrane pores, while larger ones will be removed, regardless of whether they have fluorine or not. It is likely that some of the pharmaceuticals that have fluorine are small enough to sometimes pass through," said Keller of the University of California at Santa Barbara. Ironically, what's known as "short -chain" PFAS compounds, which in recent years have been seen as more environmentally benign replacements for traditional "long -chain" PFAS compounds, are moredifficult to treat than their long -chain counterparts, he said. "Short -chain PFAS are smaller molecules, so there is higher likelihood of passing through the membrane" in a treatment plant," he said. "Although initially there was the thought that short -chain PFAS compounds were more benign alternatives, some new studies are showing concern even with these replacements. However, the additional treatment is likely to remove the residual short -chain PFAS compounds," he said of the use .of more sophisticated plants for treating wastewater to drink." This study looked at the impacts of contaminated wastewater at a different step in the process compared to what Tucson Water and other utilities are considering or planning to treat for drinking. The new study showed how much wastewater going downstream in.rivers after being treated in sewage plants is inadvertently contaminating other drinking supplies. A 2023 study coming out of Minnesota's Water Pollution Control Agency, meanwhile, estimated the high costs of removing all PFAS from all the wastewater kept in all the state's 283 municipal sewage treatment plants. The study examined costs of first removing leaves and brush and other organic matter from the wastewater so the membranes used to remove the PFAS would work and then of actually removing the PFAS. Finally, it looked at the costs of destroying the PFAS by breaking it down into its elemental compounds, typically carbon and fluorine. Put together, removing and destroying the PFAS cost a range of.$14 billion to $28 billion. For the individual Minnesota homeowner, a massive sewage treatment project of that nature, conducted statewide, would raise the typical Minnesota homeowner's sewer bill from a current range of $30 to $49 a month to $300 to $400 a month, said Scott Kyser, a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency environmental engineer. That's even though the PFAS concentrations in the wastewater are generally, typically in the range of "single digit" parts per trillion, Kyser said. "Broadly speaking, the concentrations are similar to those in every other state; single digit part per trillion," he said. "That's part of the reason why it's so expensive. The concentrations are so low, it's hard to treat." Tucson Water told the Star its goal for the future "advanced water purification" program is to produce water that not only meets and exceeds government drinking water standards but includes a "multibarrier treatment approach" that would address unregulated compounds as well. "These multi -barrier treatment processes will target a wide list of organic and inorganic chemical compounds, as well as microbiological impurities," the utility said. Tucson Water's own internal operating standards for the quality of water it serves "have historically been more conservative than the EPA in regard to PFAS compounds," the utility told the Star. Separately, the Pima. County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department will begin a pilot project that will be the nation's first "real -world demonstration" of a PFAS reduction technology for municipal wastewater, Prevatt, its deputy director, told the Star. It will be conducted at the -University of Arizona's WEST Center, with various wastewater utilities from around the state participating, he said. The center, which develops new technologies dealing with water scarcity and reuse, lies near the county's Aqua Nueva wastewater plant. In the mid-2010s, the county department and Tucson Water joined to build and operate a pilot, advanced water treatment project to transform effluent from the Aqua Nueva plant and others in Phoenix and Flagstaff "into high purity drinking water," Prevatt said. "All of the results from that project demonstrated the complete removal of PFAS compounds. I am extremely confident the (future advanced water treatment process developed by Tucson Water will achieve similar results, producing high purity, PFAS free water," he said. Contact Tony Davis at. Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 2:25 PM To: Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle Subject: FW: Support Pond Design and Development of Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve From: Mark Branger Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 2:23 PM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Support Pond Design and Development of Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve t WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. As a resident of Oro Valley, I am writing to support the return of a pond feature to the Vistoso property and request a motion to move forward with a pond design. I also support we get our fair share of this Parks and Recreation fund for the restoration of Visoso Tails.Vistoso Trails should receive the benefit of the recreation impact fees paid by developers. I am advocating that all future development impact fees for the more than 500 approved residential development plans in Rancho Vistoso be spent to restore and maintain Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve. Everyone benefits from the restoration and maintenance of the nature preserve. Thanks for your service and for the consideration of these requests. Mark Branger Stine, Michelle From: Sent: To: Subject: Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct line: 520-229-4714 Sirois, Andrea Thursday, April 24, 2025 11:29 AM Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle FW: Pond on the Preserve Vistoso From: Dave Hall Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2025 11:14 AM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Pond on the Preserve Vistoso IWARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. It saddens me that you are willing to waste 3 million plus for a pond in the desert. We are in a drought and will be for a long time and you want to fill a pond full of millions of gallons of water. When we as citizens have to tighten our belt to afford food, home etc.. You waste money. Maybe you should look at tightening your spending. Member of the preserve Stine, Michelle From: Sent: To: Subject: Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 Sirois, Andrea Thursday, April 24, 2025 11:27 AM Standish, Michael; Stine, Michelle FW: Vistoso Preserve From: Dave Hall Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2025 11:17 AM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Vistoso Preserve WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. You have now voted to waste money on a pond. Are you ever going to fix all bathrooms and the walking path. Many path squares are marked for repair (done last year) but yet remain in disrepair. Think about fixing the current issues and not wasting money on a pond the desert. Preserve Member Stine, Michelle From: Sirois, Andrea Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2025 12:08 PM To: Stine, Michelle; Standish, Michael Subject: FW: Pond on Presery Sincerely, Andrea Sirois Executive Assistant Town Manager, Mayor and Council Town of Oro Valley Direct Line: 520-229-4714 From: Dave Hall Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2025 11:50 AM To: Town Council <council@orovalleyaz.gov> Subject: Pond on Presery WARNING: External Sender. Read Carefully. Report phishing. Received this today from the Water Director. Did anyone talk to the director prior to voting for a million dollar spending spree on water that we will be short in the future. A message from our Director: For 2025, the Bureau of Reclamation has maintained the Tier 1 water shortage designation for many Colorado River water users, including Arizona. This means Arizona's Colorado River allocation remains the same as it was in 2024—approximately 30% less than the state's full allocation. Although Oro Valley will not experience reductions in Colorado River water deliveries this year, future reductions are expected. Fortunately, the strong conservation ethic of our residents enables the Water Utility to continue meeting the community's water resource needs well into the future. Despite a population increase from nearly 33,000 in 2000 to nearly 48,000 residents in 2024, our overall water consumption remains about the same as it was in 2000. This achievement is thanks in large part to community support and strategic investments in water infrastructure aimed at diversifying the Utility's water resource portfolio beyond groundwater. In 2006, reclaimed water deliveries for turf irrigation began, followed by Colorado River water deliveries in 2012 to supplement the town's drinking water supply. These efforts have significantly reduced groundwater pumping —from over 10,000 acre-feet per year in 2005 to under 5,000 acre-feet per year in 2024. To ensure long-term water sustainability, additional infrastructure investments are currently underway. In summer 2026, the Northwest Recharge Recovery and Delivery System will be commissioned, allowing the Utility to deliver even more Colorado River water and further reduce groundwater reliance to unprecedented low levels. Thank you for your continued support and willingness to invest in your community water system — ensuring our ability to serve current and future generations. To access the full newsletter click here: btmnews letter-spring25-draft. pdf Looking forward, Peter A. Abraham, P.E. I Water Utility Director Preserve member