HomeMy WebLinkAboutPackets - Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (114)
AGENDA
ORO VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
SPECIAL SESSION
September 9, 2025
HOPI CONFERENCE ROOM
11000 N. LA CAÑADA DRIVE
SPECIAL SESSION AT OR AFTER 6:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
DEPARTMENT REPORT ON CURRENT EVENTS
COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT ON CURRENT EVENTS
CALL TO AUDIENCE - at this time, any member of the public is allowed to address the Board on any issue
not listed on today’s agenda. Pursuant to the Arizona open meeting law, individual Board members may ask
Town staff to review the matter, ask that the matter be placed on a future agenda, or respond to criticism
made by speakers. However, the Board may not discuss or take legal action on matters raised during "Call
to Audience." In order to speak during "Call to Audience", please specify what you wish to discuss when
completing the blue speaker card.
CONSENT AGENDA
A.REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE MAY 20TH 2025, REGULAR SESSION MEETING MINUTES
SPECIAL SESSION AGENDA
1.DISCUSSION OF COMMUNITY CENTER FINANCIAL RESULTS THROUGH JUNE 2025
2.DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PROPOSED INCREASES TO PARKS AND
RECREATION FEES AND THE ASSOCIATED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORT
3.DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF A PROPOSED SPORTS FIELD PRIORITIZATION CRITERIA FOR
USE BY THE ORO VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
4.PRESENTATION TO UPDATE AND PREPARE THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
FOR THE RELEASE OF THE COMMUNITY COMMENT (60%) DRAFT OF THE COMMUNITY'S NEXT
10-YEAR ACTION PLAN, KNOWN AS OV'S PATH FORWARD.
ADJOURNMENT
POSTED: 9/4/2025 at 5:00 p.m. by ck
When possible, a packet of agenda materials as listed above is available for public inspection at least 24 hours
prior to the Board meeting in the Town Clerk's Office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The Town of Oro Valley complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If any person with a disability
needs any type of accommodation, please notify the Town Clerk’s Office at least five days prior to the Board
meeting at 229-4700.
INSTRUCTIONS TO SPEAKERS
Members of the public have the right to speak during any posted public hearing. However, those items not
listed as a public hearing are for consideration and action by the Board during the course of their business
meeting. Members of the public may be allowed to speak on these topics at the discretion of the Chair.
If you wish to address the Board on any item(s) on this agenda, please complete a blue speaker card located on
the Agenda table at the back of the room and give it to the Recording Secretary. Please indicate on the speaker
card which item number and topic you wish to speak on, or if you wish to speak during “Call to Audience,”
please specify what you wish to discuss when completing the blue speaker card.
Please step forward to the podium when the Chair announces the item(s) on the agenda which you are interested
in addressing.
1. For the record, please state your name and whether or not you are a Town resident.
2. Speak only on the issue currently being discussed by the Board. Please organize your speech, you will only be
allowed to address the Board once regarding the topic being discussed.
3. Please limit your comments to 3 minutes.
4. During “Call to Audience”, you may address the Board on any issue you wish.
5. Any member of the public speaking must speak in a courteous and respectful manner to those present.
Thank you for your cooperation.
“Notice of Possible Quorum of the Oro Valley Town Council, Boards, Commissions and Committees: In accordance
with Chapter 3, Title 38, Arizona Revised Statutes and Section 2-4-4 of the Oro Valley Town Code, a majority of the
Town Council, Board of Adjustment, Historic Preservation Commission, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board,
Stormwater Utility Commission, and Water Utility Commission may attend the above referenced meeting as a
member of the audience only.”
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board A.
Meeting Date:09/09/2025
Submitted By:Casey Wilson, Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT:
REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE MAY 20TH 2025, REGULAR SESSION MEETING MINUTES
RECOMMENDATION:
N/A
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
N/A
BACKGROUND OR DETAILED INFORMATION:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
SUGGESTED MOTION:
N/A
Attachments
Draft minutes 5-20-2025
D R A F T
MINUTES
PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD
REGULAR SESSION
May 20, 2025
ORO VALLEY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
11000 N. LA CAÑADA DRIVE
REGULAR SESSION AT OR AFTER 6:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Moothart called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Philip Saletta, Member
Maureen Sevigny, Member
Emily Veres, Member
Michael Weisberger, Member
Megan Worzella, Member
Joanne Moothart, Chair
Absent: Matthew Wood, Vice Chair
Staff Present:Rosalyn Epting, Parks and Recreation Director
Joe Andrews , Chief Civil Deputy Town Attorney
Bayer Vella, Planning Manager
Dave Gephart, Chief Financial Officer
Casey Wilson, Recording Secretary
Attendees: Joyce Jones-Ivey, Council Liaison
DEPARTMENT REPORT ON CURRENT EVENTS
Rosayln Epting reported on the following:
Steam Pump Ranch project updates
Vistos Trails Nature update on pond concepts
Vistos Trails Nature Preserve landscape update
Vistos Trails Nature access points and the addition of garbage cans
Pusch Ridge event space update
Naranja Park update on the shade structure and trees planted
Summer camp starts
Scholarships for camps are available
Trivia at the Community and Recreation Center
National trails day hike
Movie on the Lawn at the Community
4th of July event at James Kreigh Park
COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT ON CURRENT EVENT
COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT ON CURRENT EVENTS
Council Member Joyce-Jones Ivy reported on the following:
Courthouse tour
Project grad 21st year update
Memorial event at the Hero’s Memorial at Naranja Park
Please attend the Council meeting on May 21st,2025
CALL TO AUDIENCE
Chair Moothart opened the call to the audience. No speakers were present. Chair Moothart closed the call to the
audience.
CONSENT AGENDA
A.REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE APRIL 20, 2025 REGULAR SESSION MEETING MINUTES
Motioned by Maureen Sevigny, seconded by Member Megan Worzella to approve the April 20th,
regular session meeting minutes
Vote: 6 - 0 Carried
REGULAR SESSION AGENDA
1.DISCUSSION OF COMMUNITY CENTER FINANCIAL RESULTS THROUGH MARCH 2025
Dave Gephart presented. Members asked questions.
2.PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING OV TRAILS CONNECT PROJECT 30% UPDATE -
DRAFT VISION, GOALS, AND PRINCIPLES
Principle planner Bayer Vella presented a power point. Member asked questions and provided input.
Discussion ensued.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Chair Joanne Moothart, seconded by Member Philip Saletta to adjourn at 7:37 p.m.
Vote: 6 - 0 Carried
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the regular session of the
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the regular session of the
Town of Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Board of Oro Valley, Arizona held on the 20th day of May
2025. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present.
___________________________
Casey Wilson
Senior Office Specialist
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board 1.
Meeting Date:09/09/2025
Submitted By:Casey Wilson, Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT:
DISCUSSION OF COMMUNITY CENTER FINANCIAL RESULTS THROUGH JUNE 2025
RECOMMENDATION:
N/A
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
N/A
BACKGROUND OR DETAILED INFORMATION:
N/A
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
SUGGESTED MOTION:
N/A
Attachments
Community Center fund financials
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board 2.
Meeting Date:09/09/2025
Requested by: Bayer Vella, Community and Economic Development
Submitted By:Michael Spaeth, Community and Economic Development
SUBJECT:
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING PROPOSED INCREASES TO PARKS AND
RECREATION FEES AND THE ASSOCIATED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORT
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the Parks and Recreation fee proposal included in Attachment 1.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the community engagement outreach effort regarding the
draft Parks and Recreation fee increase proposal (Attachment 1) and seek a final recommendation from the Parks
and Recreation Advisory Board.
This same proposal was reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) and Town Council at
study sessions earlier this year. Both PRAB and Town Council recognized the need to increase Parks and
Recreation fees and supported the department's proposal. Lastly, Town Council did indicate future support for
updating the fees more frequently than every ten years to keep pace with the costs of parks and
recreation-related projects.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORT
The Town utilized online Zoom meetings to engage as many residents as possible to be a part of the discussion
surrounding several new tax and fee increase proposals (Parks and Recreation fees, Stormwater Utility fees, new
tax categories and rates). Three (3) virtual meetings were held in July with the aim of ensuring the background
and rationale for the proposals were presented to residents in a clear, transparent and understandable manner. A
key objective was to garner community feedback on each proposal.
The first community engagement meeting regarding the Parks and Recreation fee increase proposal was well
attended and included questions and comments regarding both membership and facility/field rentals fees. The
meetings were recorded and are available on the town's website at www.orovalleyaz.gov. Additional details
regarding resident feedback are provided in the "Background or Detailed Information" section of this report as well
as the summary of all resident feedback provided in Attachment 2.
PARKS AND RECREATION FEE PROPOSAL
For background, the draft Parks and Recreation fee proposal represents years of collaboration and work between
Parks and Recreation staff and stakeholders that includes proposed changes in the following areas:
Increasing Facility (Community and Recreation Center, Aquatic Center, etc.) memberships fees1.
Increasing Facility and Field rental fees2.
Establishes lower rates for resident/non-profit organizations and higher rates for non-resident/for-profit
organizations for all fees.
3.
Most membership and rental fees have not been updated in more than 10 years, while significant improvements
have been implemented at many facilities and programs have expanded. For more detailed information, please
see the April 15, 2025, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Study Session memo included in Attachment 3.
After careful consideration of community feedback, the proposal included in Attachment 1 remains the same as
the version considered by PRAB in April as community feedback has been generally supportive of the proposal.
The Parks and Recreation fee increase proposal is consistent with all town policies and guidelines and staff
recommends approval.
BACKGROUND OR DETAILED INFORMATION:
The first community engagement event held in July focused on the draft Parks and Recreation fee increase
proposal. The meeting represented an opportunity for staff to provide background information and rationale for the
proposed increase. The meeting was well attended with resident feedback and questions for both "Facility
Membership" fees and "Facility and Field Rental" fees. Key aspects discussed at the meeting are detailed below,
with a summary of all three engagement events provided in Attachment 2.
Facility Membership fees
Why are only the younger memberships held the same?
There was a resident inquiry regarding why youth memberships and why they aren't being increased at the
same rate as other membership types.
Staff response: There is an ongoing effort to incentivize youth memberships due to generally low
participation rates. Keeping the youth membership fees lower helps achieve the aim of the program.
Nominal increases every year makes sense rather than big jumps every couple of years. Also, better at
accounting for inflation?
Proposal seems to make sense and it would be a good move to be more systematic about yearly rate
increases.
Many residents expressed support for increasing parks and recreation fees nominally every 1–2 years,
rather than more substantial rate increases every few years.
Staff response: Town staff agree that it could be beneficial in the future to incorporate nominal increases
more frequently.
Facility and Field Rental fees
Why are pickleball court rental rates doubling, when others are increasing at a much lower percentage?
Seems to be targeting the pickleball community.
Pickleball rates for commercial indoor facilities are not too far from the proposed raters. Seems like the
proposed rates have gone a little too far for the market. Raters for wholesale supply of players is in the
same ballpark as commercial.
Several questions were raised regarding the proposed pickleball court rental cost increase and whether it is
proportional to other proposed increases.
Staff response: The proposed rate for pickleball court rentals is commensurate with neighboring
jurisdictions and staff consider the rate fair and appropriate.
In determining a new rate structure for pickleball court rentals, staff conducted a comparative analysis of fees
charged by neighboring jurisdictions. It is important to clarify that these rental fees do not apply to members, as
court reservations are included in their membership benefits. The proposed fees would apply only to
non-members, or individuals and organizations seeking to rent courts for external leagues or tournaments.
While the updated rates represent a doubling of the previous fees, it is worth noting that our pickleball court rental
rates have remained unchanged for the past six years—previously set at $5 for residents and non-profits, and $10
for non-residents and for-profit entities.These fees are essential to help address the costs of court maintenance,
electricity, and staff oversight to ensure high-quality play and organized usage of the facilities. Additionally, for
those seeking no-cost options, eight pickleball courts in the community are available to the public at no
charge—four at Naranja Park and four at Riverfront Park.
The meeting was recorded and is available on the town's website at www.orovalleyaz.gov.
After careful consideration of the feedback received from the community, the proposal included in Attachment 1
has not changed from the version considered by PRAB at the study session in April. The community feedback
was generally supportive of the proposed increases as presented and recognized the necessity of increasing
costs to account for parks and recreation-related improvements.
The Parks and Recreation fee increase proposal is consistent with all town policies and guidelines and staff
recommends approval.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Please see Attachment 1 - Department Fee Proposal
SUGGESTED MOTION:
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board may wish to consider one of the following motions:
I move to RECOMMEND APPROVAL of the Parks and Recreation fee proposal included in Attachment 1 based
on a finding that it is consistent with Your Voice, Our Future General Plan and all applicable department policies.
OR
I move to RECOMMEND DENIAL of the Parks and Recreation fee proposal included in Attachment 1 based on a
finding that ____________________.
Attachments
Attachment 1 - Department Fee Proposal Overview
Attachment 2 - Community Engagement Event summaries
Attachment 3 - April 15, 2025 PRAB Study Session Memo
Membership Current Fee Proposed Fee Current NR Fee NR Proposed Fee
Established 2015 - CRC Classic Memberships
Youth $20.00 $20.00 $25.00 $30.00
Senior $30.00 $35.00 $35.00 $45.00
Adult $40.00 $45.00 $45.00 $55.00
Couple $60.00 $70.00 $70.00 $90.00
Family $70.00 $80.00 $80.00 $100.00
Drop-in $5.00 $7.00 $5.00 $10.00
Family Drop-in $14.00 $15.00 $14.00 $20.00
Established 2015 - CRC Premium Memberships
Youth $25.00 $25.00 $30.00 $35.00
Senior $50.00 $60.00 $55.00 $70.00
Adult $60.00 $75.00 $65.00 $85.00
Couple $75.00 $100.00 $85.00 $120.00
Family $100.00 $130.00 $110.00 $150.00
Established 2013 - OVAC Memberships
Youth $20.00 $20.00 $25.00 $30.00
Senior $20.00 $25.00 $25.00 $35.00
Adult $30.00 $35.00 $35.00 $45.00
Couple $40.00 $45.00 $50.00 $65.00
Family $60.00 $70.00 $70.00 $90.00
Drop-in $5.00 $7.00 $5.00 $10.00
Family Drop-in $14.00 $15.00 $14.00 $20.00
Established 2013 - Archery Range Memberships
Youth $20.00 $20.00 $20.00 $30.00
Adult $60.00 $75.00 $60.00 $85.00
Family $135.00 $150.00 $135.00 $170.00
Drop-in $5.00 $7.00 $5.00 $10.00
RENTALS
Location Current Fee Proposed Fee NR Proposed Fee
Established 1999 - FIELDS
Res/Non-Profit Non-Peak Hourly Rate $5.00 $12.00 Previous Non-Peak Time
NR/For Profit Non-Peak Hourly Rate $10.00 $24.00 6:00 am - 5:00 pm
Res/Non-Profit Peak Hourly Rate $10.00 $12.00 Previous Peak Time
NR/For Profit Peak Hourly Rate $20.00 $24.00 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Established 2014 - PARK AMENITIES
Archery Range Facility Areas $10.00 $20.00
Ramada Hourly Rate $10.00 $15.00
Established 2013 - OVAC & CRC LAP LANES
Short Course Lap Lane (OVAC & CRC) Res/Non-Profit $6.00 $7.00
Short Course Lap Lane (OVAC & CRC) NR/For-Profit $12.00 $14.00
Long Course Lap Lane (OVAC & CRC) Res/Non-Profit $12.00 $14.00
Long Course Lap Lane (OVAC & CRC) NR/For-Profit $24.00 $28.00
Established 2008 - SPR RESERVATIONS
Private/non-profit Events $ 175-1,500 $ 350-1,800
Public/for-profit Events $ 225-2,200 $ 700-3,600
New - EVENTS
Naranja Park hourly rate $410.00 $425.00 $625.00
Skate Park and Pumptrack only hourly rate NA $200.00 $400.00
Riverfront Park hourly rate $95.00 $150.00 $250.00
JDK Park hourly rate $70.00 $300.00 $500.00
(SC meet)OVAC hourly rate per ln/hr $6.00 $7.00 $14.00
(LC meet)OVAC hourly rate per ln/hr $12.00 $14.00 $28.00
OVAC Special Event per day $250.00 $350.00 $450.00
(Group) OVAC per ln/hr $6.00 $7.00 $14.00
OVAC After Hours Rental 1-99 $350.00 $400.00 $500.00
OVAC After Hours Rental 100+$500.00 $550.00 $650.00
OVAC Classroom/Ramada Rental $150.00 $200.00 $200.00
Established 2019 - CRC PICKLEBALL COURTS
CRC Pickleball Courts Res/Non-Profit $5.00 $10.00 $10.00
CRC Pickleball Courts NR/For-Profit $10.00 $20.00 $20.00
PARKS & RECREATION FEE INCREASE PROPOSAL
MEMBERSHIPS
New Fees and Revenues Community Engagement Project
Community Engagement Event Summaries
The town conducted three online Zoom Community Engagement Events to provide residents with
background information and provide feedback on three proposals related to increasing the Town’s
revenues. The three proposals include:
1. Revising the Park’s and Recreation Fees (July 9, 2025)
2. Adopting several new taxes including (July 10, 2025):
a. Use tax
b. Commercial Rental tax
c. Telecommunications tax
3. Revising the Stormwater Utility Fee (July 15, 2025)
A summary of the comments, questions and concerns that were provided by residents is provided
below. Additional information is available on www.orovalleyaz.gov.
Facility Membership fees
1. Why are only the younger memberships held the same?
2. Does golf membership fall under any of this? If not, how often are those increased?
3. Nominal increases every year makes sense rather than big jumps every couple of years.
Also, better at accounting for inflation?
4. Proposal seems to make sense and it would be a good move to be more systematic about
yearly rate increases.
5. What is the benefit of having a premium membership?
Facility and Field Rental fees
1. Steam Pump Ranch charges for nonprofit events, does that include the OV Historical
Society?
2. Is there a timeframe associated with new event rates?
3. What were the full-day park rental rates previously?
4. Why are pickleball court rental rates doubling, when others are increasing at a much lower
percentage? Seems to be targeting the pickleball community.
5. Pickleball rates for commercial indoor facilities are not too far from the proposed raters.
Seems like the proposed rates have gone a little too far for the market. Raters for wholesale
supply of players is in the same ballpark as commercial.
6. Is there a difference between resident and for-profit fees for a full-day park rental?
7. How much was spent on [renovating] the pickleball and tennis courts at the Community
Recreation Center?
8. Consider charging more for full-day rentals. Proposal is asking too little even just for the
space.
Community Engagement Event 1 – Parks and Recreation fees
9. Is the charge for pickleball courts only after open play? If a member wants to reserve a court
after open play is there a charge?
10. What are the 2-3 highest revenue sources from the [rental] fees?
Use tax
1. No questions
Telecommunications tax
1. No questions
Commercial Rental tax
1. Being in commercial real estate for 30 years, 28 here in the greater Tucson area, I strongly
advise against the commercial rental tax. Tenants regularly pursue cost savings when
deciding where to lease space and rental tax is a significant issue. While I have been a
champion of the Town of Oro Valley, most of my commercial real estate peers assert that
new taxes are something to be avoided at all costs, considering the challenges to open new
businesses as a whole. Respectfully, this will have the effect of steering commercial renters
out of Oro Valley more than they already are by the perception of the Town being unfriendly
to businesses. Thank you for your consideration.
Other
1. If the RTA fails to pass, would the Town be in a position of having to raise taxes to account for
the loss?
2. Would be helpful for residents to understand that the new taxes will be used for capital
purposes. How does staff confirm they are only used for capital purposes? How can people
be ensured the revenues go where they are intended?
3. Does the town intend on transferring money from the general fund to reserves?
4. Would these funds be used for debt service for capital projects?
5. Is there any chance of raising the sales tax or instituting a property tax down the road?
1. Do homeowners near floodplains or flood prone areas pay more?
2. Smaller, more incremental increases annually would be better than larger increases every
few years.
3. What is the current Stormwater Utility budget?
4. Do developers have more responsibility for stormwater impacts when they increase the
amount of impermeable surface?
Community Engagement Event 2 – New taxes
Community Engagement Event 3 – Stormwater Utility fee
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board AGENDA ITEM: 1.
Meeting Date:04/15/2025
Requested by:Bayer Vella, Community and Economic Development
Submitted By:Michael Spaeth, Community and Economic Development
SUBJECT:
DISCUSSION REGARDING PROPOSED INCREASES TO PARKS AND RECREATION FEES
AND THE ASSOCIATED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORT
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is for discussion only. The formal Parks and Recreation fee proposal will be presented to
the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for action at a future meeting.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The purpose of this report is to provide background and information on two items related to the
draft Parks and Recreation fee increase proposal. The two items include:
1. The Community Engagement Plan (Attachment 1) being conducted for several proposed
town fee increases, including the Parks and Recreation fee increase
2. The draft Parks and Recreation fee increase proposal (Attachment 2)
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORT
The Town will be utilizing online Zoom meetings (used to great success during the OV Path
Forward and Trails Master Plan projects) to engage as many residents as possible to be a part of
the discussion surrounding potential town fee and revenue increases. This process will combine
efforts to reach out to Oro Valley residents regarding three proposed increases (Parks and Rec,
Stormwater, other revenue sources) with the aim of ensuring the background and rationale for the
proposed increases are presented to residents in a clear, transparent and understandable
manner. More detail is provided in the "Background or Detailed Information" section of this report.
PARKS AND RECREATION FEE PROPOSAL
The draft Parks and Recreation fee proposal (Attachment 2) represents years of collaboration and
work between Parks and Recreation staff that includes proposed changes in the following areas:
1. Increasing Facility (Community and Recreation Center, Aquatic Center, etc.) memberships
fees
2. Increasing Facility and Field rental fees
3. Establishes lower rates for resident/non-profit organizations and higher rates for non-
resident/for-profit organizations for all fees.
Most membership and rental fees have not been updated in more than 10 years, while significant
improvements have been implemented at many facilities and programs have expanded. More
information is provided in the "Background or Detailed Information" of this report.
Print Staff Report https://destinyhosted.com/print_ag_memo.cfm?seq=6021&rev_num=...
1 of 5 9/2/2025, 1:20 PM
This item is for discussion only and the formal Parks and Recreation fee increase proposal will be
presented at a future Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting.
BACKGROUND OR DETAILED INFORMATION:
The purpose of this item is to 1) discuss the overall community engagement effort to proactively
get the word out about several proposed fee or revenue increases and 2) provide background
information and additional details regarding proposed Parks and Recreation fee increases.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORT
The ongoing outreach effort involved in developing the Town of Oro Valley's next General Plan,
OV Path Forward, has utilized online Zoom meetings to great success. They have proven to be
more engaging, effective and comprehensive than outreach efforts in similar projects in the past.
The format allows residents who don't have time to attend in-person meetings or those that simply
prefer to participate from the comfort of their home to stay engaged, expanding the Town's ability
to reach more and more residents.
The online Zoom meetings have generated such high levels of participation, they have been used
for other outreach efforts (i.e. Oro Valley Trails Master Plan update). The Town wants to utilize this
format to engage as many residents as possible to be a part of the discussion surrounding
potential fee and revenue increases. This process will combine efforts to reach out to Oro Valley
residents regarding three proposed fee or revenue increases. The increases include:
1. Parks and Recreation fee
2. Stormwater Utility fee
3. Other revenue sources
The aim of the outreach effort is to ensure the background and rationale for the proposed
increases are presented to residents in a clear, transparent and understandable manner.
Following study sessions with each respective board/commission (April/May) and Town Council
(June), staff will be facilitating "Community Engagement Zoom Events" in July for each respective
proposal to present residents with the necessary background and rationale for the proposed
increases. The events are tentatively scheduled as follows:
1. Community Engagement Zoom Meeting 1 - Parks and Recreation fee increases (July 9th)
2. Community Engagement Zoom Meeting 2 - Other Revenues (July 10th)
3. Community Engagement Zoom Meeting 3 - Stormwater (July 15th)
Once the online Zoom events are completed, the formal fee proposals will be presented to each
respective board/commission for recommendation to Town Council.
A communications outreach plan (Attachment 1) has been designed and implemented to
maximize engagement and reach as many stakeholders, interested parties, groups and residents
as possible. The outreach effort will begin in June following the final study session before Town
Council.
Print Staff Report https://destinyhosted.com/print_ag_memo.cfm?seq=6021&rev_num=...
2 of 5 9/2/2025, 1:20 PM
PARKS AND RECREATION FEE PROPOSAL
The Parks and Recreation Department has drafted the attached fee proposal (Attachment 2) in
accordance with Strategic Plan (SP) Objective 2.3.4. which states “Evaluate opportunities (e.g.,
discounts, reservation availability, etc.) that would benefit Oro Valley residents in recreational
amenities and activities.” In addition to the stated SP goal, a majority of membership and field use
fees are the same today as when they were established decades ago, all while operational
expenses have continued to increase dramatically. This proposal considers comparable fees and
rates from other communities within the state, to include our local neighbors, as well as similar
private facilities in the area.
Per Town Council direction, staff have been purposeful in creating fees that are offered at a lower
rate for Oro Valley residents and non-profit organizations, and significantly higher for non-resident
and for-profit organizations.
Facility Membership Fees
Facility membership fees (Community and Recreation Center, Oro Valley Aquatic Center, and the
Naranja Park Archery Range) are the greatest driver of department revenue. Each facility allows
for the purchase of a “Classic” membership which allows the member access to the respective
facility.
Cardio and strength equipment
100+ Group fitness classes per week (including Yoga, Spin, Zumba, Tai Chi, and a wide
variety of cardio and strength classes)
One racquetball court
Lap Swimming pool
15 tennis courts (1-day advance reservations)
10 pickleball courts (2-day advance reservations)
A “Premium” membership is also available, which is more expensive, but allows for access to all
facilities, in addition to:
All Classic benefits
Access to the Oro Valley Aquatic Center
Access to the Pusch Ridge Tennis Center (16 additional tennis courts)
3-day advance tennis court reservation privileges
15% Overlook Restaurant discount
20% discount on hard goods (sports equipment)
25% discount on apparel
Both types of memberships, (Classic and Premium), also have differing price points depending on
whether the purchaser is a resident or non-resident. While this practice has always been in place,
as a part of this proposal, the increase in non-resident fees is substantially higher than the
proposed increase to resident fees across all membership types.
Most membership fees have not been updated for a decade or more. For example:
Community and Recreation Center (CRC) membership fees are the same since the Town
took ownership of the facility in 2015.
The Oro Valley Aquatic Center (OVAC) membership fees are the same since the Town
renovated the facility in 2013.
The Naranja Park Archery Range membership fees are the same since the Town built the
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facility in 2013.
The attached document outlines the proposed fees. One item to note is that even with the
proposed membership fee increases, the CRC and OVAC remain the least expensive of similar
facilities. And to that point, objectively, there is no other similar facility in Tucson that offers as
much value for the money spent as the Town’s Community and Recreation Center. Between the
number of amenities, classes, and equipment, we remain the most economical choice for the
area.
Facility and Field Rental Fees
Facility and field rental fees are applicable to all fields and ramadas in town parks, swim lanes at
facilities, Tennis and Pickleball courts at the Community and Recreation Center, the property at
Steam Pump Ranch, and the Naranja Park Archery Range. Residents, sports teams, user
groups, and outside promoters pay the Town for the ability to reserve a public space for private
use or events. These fees are similar to membership fees in that they have not been updated for
an extended period. For reference:
Field use fees for all Town sports fields remain the same as when first implemented in 1999.
The fee to reserve a lap swim lane at either the Aquatic Center or the Community Center is
the same as when the Town renovated the Aquatic Center in 2013.
The attached documents outline the proposed fees. Similar to membership fees, the proposal
includes lower rental rates for resident/non-profit based users or organizations and higher rates for
non-resident/for-profit based users or organizations. Additionally, the Parks and Recreation
Department works with local user groups to insure they have priority (and will continue to do so) in
their ability to reserve needed space at facilities before those from outside the community have
the opportunity to reserve.
At quarterly meetings to discuss comments and concerns with local sports teams, our local user
groups have made comments that the Town look at increasing field rental fees due to the relatively
low costs associated with rentals. During these meetings, the user groups have been made aware
that staff has been evaluating all department fees, and more information can be expected in the
future. This is positive information as these groups will be the ones paying the increased fees.
Summary
The Parks and Recreation fee proposal (Attachment 2) is the work of a large segment of our
Parks and Recreation staff over multiple years, tracking and recording local municipal and private
comps. Staff has met with the following local primary user groups who will be most impacted by
this proposed increase and all have been understanding and supportive of the proposal. Those
groups include:
El Conquistador Tennis (Town tennis contractor)
Pusch Ridge Archers (Local archery organization)
Oro Valley Community and Recreation Center Advisory Group
Made up of current golf, tennis, fitness, and pickleball members
Oro Valley Sports Alliance members (all local youth sports leagues)
Oro Valley swim team organizations
Additionally, staff consider the recommended proposal as fair, justifiable, and warranted based on
several factors.
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Capital investment in Parks and Recreation amenities over the last five (5) years amounts to
over $40 million dollars in projects.
Naranja Park Expansion – $20 million
Naranja Park Playground – $2 million
CRC Golf course irrigation project – $10 million
CRC Tennis and pickleball court remodel and expansion – $2 million
CRC Parking lot expansion – $400,000
CRC Elevator and entryway project – $2.1 million
PR Golf bridge replacement – $400,000
MUP Improvements – $1.6 million
OVAC Pump room expansion and upgrades – $1 million
Replacement of all equipment and machines within the fitness component of the CRC over
the last five years amounts to over $250,000.
Replacement swim and event equipment at OVAC over the last five years amounts to over
$50,000
The number of facilities programs available to members has doubled since 2018 (60 weekly
opportunities were offered in 2018, currently 110 opportunities are offered).
Enhanced sport field maintenance and scheduling process has provided improved overall
quality and experience for users.
This information is intended to serve as background information for the study session. The formal
Parks and Recreation fee proposal will be presented at a future meeting for possible action.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Please see Attachment 2 - Department Fee Proposal Overview
SUGGESTED MOTION:
This item is for discussion only. The formal Parks and Recreation fee proposal will be presented to
the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for action at a future meeting.
Attachments
Taxes Fees public outreach
ATTACHMENT 2 - DEPARTMENT FEE PROPOSAL OVERVIEW
Proposed fee increases presentation
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Parks and Recreation Advisory Board 3.
Meeting Date:09/09/2025
Submitted By:Casey Wilson, Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT:
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
A PROPOSED SPORTS FIELD PRIORITIZATION CRITERIA FOR USE BY THE ORO VALLEY
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board motion to support the proposal as presented
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The purpose of this document and process is to ensure Oro Valley residents and organizations continue to receive
the opportunity to reserve and utilize Town-owned fields and facilities prior to non-residents and outside
organizations. This proposal recognizes the direction of the Town Council to prioritize Oro Valley residents'
access to recreational amenities and opportunities.
BACKGROUND OR DETAILED INFORMATION:
The Parks and Recreation Department currently works with local organizations to manage and reserve existing
parks and facility space in advance of the general public. The current process for field allocation is not
formalized. This proposal would allow for a consistent and official process which follows the Town Council’s desire
to prioritize Oro Valley residents and organizations. This proposal was created over a period of 10 months, in
collaboration between Town staff and members of local sports organizations. Best practices from local agencies,
as well as those outside of the state, were utilized in this process to ensure this proposal would be applicable
today, as well as into the future.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
SUGGESTED MOTION:
I hereby move to recommend that the Parks and Recreation Director approve and implement the
proposed Sports Field Prioritization Criteria under the authority of OVTC § 3-2-13 to direct the activities of
all Parks and Recreation Programs.
Attachments
Draft field prioritization outline
Draft Field Prioritization Outline
The Town would see the following list of qualifiers to determine/allow for organizations (Org) to be
considered Recognized Sports Organizations (RSO) and eligible to submit for priority field reservations.
1. Org must be primarily serving youth members, >50% of registrants under 18.
2. Org cannot have a standing balance on account.
3. Org must accept individual registration and assign registrants to teams via a draft or random
process to ensure equal opportunity.
4. Org must submit current letter of determination from the IRS that indicates a non-profit status.
5. Org must collectively have their rosters made up of 65% or greater residents within the town
limits of Oro Valley.
6. Org board requires 65% or greater be residents within the Town of Oro Valley, board members
cannot serve on multiple boards submitting priority request. Existing PUG members at time of
implementation may have two (2) years to have board be compliant with 65% requirement.
If an organization meets the above qualifications, it will be listed as an RSO. RSO prioritization will be
determined based on the below scoring system.
1. Historical Presence in Oro Valley – RSO must have an established record that can be proven to
show duration of time in the community.
a. This must be shown via tax/NPO documents
i. Each year shown = 1 point
2. Town of Oro Valley Resident Participation – Verified roster must consist of min. 65% Oro Valley
residents that have been certified by RSO.
a. Full list of registrants must be provided via spreadsheet to TOV. If upon auditing
information is fraudulent the organization will lose its RSO status for a period of 12
months.
i. Each % over 65% = 1 point
3. Number of Participants – Total number of athletes served.
a. 1-100 = 1 point
b. 101-500 = 5 points
c. 501-999 = 10 points
d. 1000+ = 15 points
RSO’s with the highest score will receive the first option to request and reserve fields. Field allocations
will be determined by total participants in each sport and correlate to the total field allocation
percentage. For example:
• Regarding rectangular fields – Soccer has 50 participants, lacrosse has 25, football has 25.
o 50% of rectangular fields would go to soccer and 25% to each lacrosse and football.
• Regarding diamond fields – Baseball has 60 participants and softball has 40.
o 60% of diamonds go to baseball and 40% go to softball.
Organizations will then be prioritized within each sport. If an organization does not need all the fields
they are allocated, the fields will be offered to the next organization in priority for that sport. They will
then go to the next sport in prioritization and continue down the line of prioritization.
Parks and Recreation Advisory Board 4.
Meeting Date:09/09/2025
Requested by: Bayer Vella, Community and Economic Development
Submitted By:Rene Olvera, Community and Economic Development
SUBJECT:
PRESENTATION TO UPDATE AND PREPARE THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE RELEASE OF THE COMMUNITY COMMENT (60%) DRAFT OF THE COMMUNITY'S NEXT 10-YEAR ACTION PLAN,
KNOWN AS OV'S PATH FORWARD.
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is for information and discussion purposes only.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The purpose of this item is to update the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) on where OV's Path Forward is in the 3-year process and to prepare board members for the release of the Community Comment (60%) draft.
This will be the first comprehensive draft of the plan that will be available for review by residents, stakeholders, board and commission members, and Town Council. The primary objective of this BIG Community Review is to ensure
the plan stays true to resident voices and results from Phase 1 of this planning effort.
In Phase 1, over 9,000 comments were collected from residents through the most extensive community engagement effort the Town has conducted to date. Demonstrating that the plan adheres to residents' priorities will be the
primary focus of education and preparing for voters in the 2026 election. These comments also provided guidance for Resident Working Groups to develop the draft goals, policies, and actions in the Community Comment (60%) Draft
during Phase 2.
Key Takeaways
The Community Comment (60%) Draft will be released on September 22nd.
Board members may want to focus on the Community Chapter, which includes draft goals, policies, actions, and maps related to Parks and Recreation.
All comments that strengthen the plan's alignment with resident guidance and ensure the draft plan is on the right track will be incorporated into the
Resident Recommended (90%) Draft.
Board members are tasked with providing their comments by October 31st, then participating in the Resident Working Group meetings at the end of this
year.
The draft will include several topics related to the quality of life for Oro Valley residents, such as parks, trails, water conservation, environmental resources, and development.
When the draft plan is released on September 22nd, board members may want to focus on the Community Chapter, which includes the guiding principle, goals, policies, actions, and maps related to Parks and Recreation. The draft
plan reflects the values and priorities voiced during Phase 1 through several draft actions that touch on:
Updating the Parks and Recreation Master Plan
Park programs for all ages
Shade at all parks
Bike, pedestrian, trail improvements, and more
Additionally, board members will want to review the new land use designation for Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve on the Land Use Map. Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve will go from a land use designation of "Resort and Golf Course" to
"Park," which represents "areas that have been developed or are intended to be developed as recreational facilities." This change does not grant property rights but more accurately represents the approved use of the land.
The Community Comment (60%) Draft will be available for resident review and comment on September 22nd. Once all residents, stakeholders, board, commission, and Town Council members' comments are collected, the final
Resident Working Group meetings will take place. The purpose of these meetings is to achieve consensus on the Resident Recommended (90%) Draft. This Resident Recommended (90%) Draft will be presented to the Planning and
Zoning Commission and the Town Council next year for adoption. The last step will be ratification of the Final Resident Draft by the voters in November 2026.
BACKGROUND OR DETAILED INFORMATION:
The effort to create the next 10-year community action plan is divided into three phases. Residents are the top priority throughout each phase. They are invited to participate, get information, engage, and collaborate to create a plan
that reflects the majority of their voices. The goal of this effort is to empower residents to confidently vote on the plan in November 2026.
Working with residents to create the next 10-year action plan, also known as a general plan, launched in October 2023 with Phase 1: "Let's Talk." The Town's most comprehensive outreach was conducted during Phase 1 to
ensure the plan reflects the views of most residents.
Residents provided over 9,000 responses through a statistically representative survey, events, and online. Resident values, priorities, and expectations for OV's future were surprisingly consistent across all three
engagement tools. This consistency provided a solid foundation for Resident Working Groups to begin transforming the insights gathered in Phase 1 into draft goals, policies, and implementation actions.
Phase 2: "Let's Think" began in January 2025 with around 116 residents, each with varied experiences and perspectives, who contributed further
guidance to shape the draft plan in the Resident Working Groups. All Oro Valley residents were invited to participate and had the opportunity to contribute to topics of interest through online discussions and meetings.
The number one priority is to make sure the draft plan aligns with the resident voices heard in Phase 1. Ensuring
this is achieved starts with the first BIG Community Review of the Community Comment (60%) Draft.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS
Creating the draft plan
The Community Comment (60%) Draft honors the resident voices heard in Phase 1 and includes all the work done by Resident Working Groups in Phase 2. Resident Working Groups provided approximately 900 comments online
and participated in 25 meetings to discuss the resident guidance from Phase 1, draft guiding principles, and each other's ideas to work towards consensus on a 30% draft of the plan. Staff from every Town department supported
residents as they went through this process by providing educational information, answering questions, and reviewing the draft goals, policies, and actions to make sure they would achieve residents' intent.
Resident Working Groups, stakeholders, board and commission, and Town Council comments on the draft goals, policies, and actions (30% Draft) that aligned with resident guidance were incorporated into the
Community Comment (60%) Draft. The purpose of the Community Comment Draft is to provide residents, stakeholders, boards, and commissions with a
comprehensive and refined version of the draft 10-year community action plan. It's crucial to share comments and ideas during this review period and attend the final Resident Working Group meetings before the Resident
Recommended (90%) Draft is presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission and Town Council.
OV’s Path Forward is unique because it is a fully designed web-based plan that anyone can access on OVPathForward.com. For those who prefer a document, there is also a PDF supplement. The PDF will be updated to include
graphics and photos after the community comment period. Similar to the Resident Working Groups, the plan will be divided into four main chapters. Each chapter provides a brief overview of the existing conditions and
the resident guidance that shaped the plan. For ease, each chapter is subsequently divided into topics important to the community, like public safety, environment, water resources, and more. Each topic will
include the associated goals, policies, and actions the Town will implement over the next 10 years.
The image below displays the four main chapters and associated community topics:
In addition to the four main chapters, the plan will include information about the state's legal requirements, including the required maps, and a chapter about amending the plan. The
plan, specifically the land use map, is anticipated to change over the next 10 years.
Community Review
On SEPTEMBER 22nd, the Community Comment (60%) draft will be promoted to the wider community, including all boards and commissions, for review and comment until OCTOBER 31st.
The goal of this discussion is to update and prepare the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) for the release of the Community Comment (60%) Draft. Once the plan is out for comment, board members will be notified by staff
and reminded to read the plan, but may want to focus on the Community Chapter. This will ensure that PRAB members have the opportunity to comment on the draft goals, policies, actions, and maps that directly impact the board's
functions. Some draft actions include:
Updating the Parks and Recreation Master Plan
Proving a broad variety of programs that meet the needs of all ages
Providing shade at parks and over play structures
Adding way-finding signs along multi-use paths and trails to shops, parks, and other activity areas or connecting routes
Additionally, Town staff met with the Rancho Vistoso HOA Chair, Preserve Vistoso President, and interested parties to update the land use designation for the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve to "Park." Land use does not grant
property rights but guides how the community envisions the use of land in Oro Valley. The existing land use for Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve is "Resort/Golf". This land use designation represents "areas where resorts, country clubs,
and golf courses are appropriate," which no longer accurately reflects the use of the property.
Next Steps
Once all comments are collected during this community review period, themes will be generated. Those that align with resident voices will be incorporated into the revised Resident Recommended (90%) Draft.
The combined Resident Working Group will achieve consensus on the Resident Recommended (90%) Draft at its final meetings starting in December. It's essential that board members participate in the BIG Community
Review and attend the final Resident Working Group meetings. All residents are welcome, even if they were not able to attend any previous working group meetings last spring. The Resident Recommended (90%) Draft will be
presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission and Town Council in 2026.
Here's a timeline of where the plan is and where it's heading:
SUMMARY
The Community Comment (60%) Draft will be released on September 22nd. It's important that board members submit comments and attend the final Resident Working Group meetings. Even if you were unable to attend the
meetings last spring, your voice and ideas are needed now, so please do not hesitate to get involved today!
All comments can be submitted online at OVPathForward.com. Here, participants can view and navigate the web-based plan and use easy-access discussion tools to comment and collaborate with others. While reviewing,
participants can also see the step-by-step process of how residents created the draft plan. Similar to Phase 1, it is important that a broad range of residents participate in the BIG Community Review. To increase convenience and
accessibility, there are multiple ways for residents to comment on the draft plan:
HOW TO SUBMIT COMMENTS
Online via OVPathForward.com
Email: Send to OVPathForward@orovalleyaz.gov
Mail or drop-Off: Send or drop-off comments to the lobby of the Community and Economic Development Building (Building D) at 11000 N. La Cañada Drive, Oro Valley, AZ, 85737
Meet with staff: Call 520-229-4800 or email OVPathForward@orovalleyaz.gov to schedule a meeting with staff
Once consensus is achieved on the Resident Recommended (90%) Draft by the Resident Working Groups, it will be presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission and then Town Council next year. The Final Resident Draft will
then be on the ballot for voter ratification in November 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Not applicable
SUGGESTED MOTION:
This item is for information and discussion only.