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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPackets - Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (118)       AGENDA ORO VALLEY PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR SESSION February 18, 2025 HOPI CONFERENCE ROOM 11000 N. LA CAÑADA DRIVE        REGULAR 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   REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 29TH, 2024 REGULAR SESSION MEETING MINUTES   REGULAR SESSION AGENDA   1.ELECTION OF PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD CHAIR EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 19TH, 2025      2.ELECTION OF PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD VICE CHAIR EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 19TH, 2025      3.DISCUSSION OF COMMUNITY CENTER FINANCIAL RESULTS THROUGH DECEMBER 2024   4.PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE PARKS AND RECREATION TRAILS MASTER PLAN UPDATE   ADJOURNMENT   POSTED: 2/13/2025 at 5:00 p.m. by dt 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 Meeting Date:02/18/2025   Submitted By:Casey Wilson, Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE OCTOBER 29TH, 2024 REGULAR SESSION MEETING MINUTES RECOMMENDATION: Move for Approval EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: N/A BACKGROUND OR DETAILED INFORMATION: N/A FISCAL IMPACT: N/A SUGGESTED MOTION: N/A Attachments October 29th minutes  D R A F T MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD SPECIAL SESSION October 29, 2024 ORO VALLEY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 11000 N. LA CAÑADA DRIVE            CALL TO ORDER    Called to order at 6:00 p.m by Vice Chair Moothart   ROLL CALL Present: Antonia Landau, Member Joanne Moothart, Member Philip Saletta, Member Michael Weisberger, Member Megan Worzella, Member Absent: Gary Temple, Vice Chair Emily Veres, Member Staff Present:Rosalyn Epting, Parks and Recreation Director Casey Wilson, Recording Secretary Attendees: Joyce Jones-Ivey, Council Liaison Rebeca Field, Consultant, Kimleyhorn DEPARTMENT REPORT ON CURRENT EVENTS    Updates include the Steam Pump Ranch shade structure progress, elevator improvements at the Community and Recreation Center, and completion of the CDO wash project. The Pusch Ridge pedestrian bridge is also being worked on, along with the trails and tree master plans. The 50th swag shop is now open, and upcoming events at Steam Pump Ranch include Friday night concerts and Second Saturdays. Don’t miss the Movie on the Lawn and mark your calendars for the Snow OV event on December 19th, 2024.   COUNCIL LIAISON REPORT ON CURRENT EVENTS    Thank you to PRAB for the condolences and flowers with regard to her mother passing Please come to the Town Council meeting on November 6th, 2024 Participation in the General plan There will be a public hearing with regard to a Starbucks that would like to reside at Rancho Vistoso and Innovation Drive   CALL TO THE AUDIENCE 10/29/2024 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Special Session 1    Vice Chair Moothart opened the call to the audience. No speakers were present. Vice Chair Moothart closed call to the audience.   CONSENT AGENDA   A.REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2024 REGULAR SESSION MEETING MINUTES       Motion by Member Megan Worzella, seconded by Member Antonia Landau to approve the September 17, 2024 meeting minutes.  Vote: 5 - 0 Carried   REGULAR SESSION AGENDA   1.PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE VISTOSO TRAILS NATURE PRESERVE DESERT ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PROJECT       Rebeca Field gave a presentation. Members asked questions. Discussion ensued.   2.CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF CALENDAR YEAR 2025 PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE       Motion by Member Joanne Moothart, seconded by Member Michael Weisberger to approve the 20254 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting Schedule  Vote: 5 - 0 Carried   ADJOURNMENT    Motion by Member Joanne Moothart, seconded by Member Megan Worzella to adjourn at 6:37 p.m.  Vote: 5 - 0 Carried     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 29th day of October 2024. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. ___________________________ Casey Wilson Senior Office Specialist 10/29/2024 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Special Session 2    Parks and Recreation Advisory Board 3. Meeting Date:02/18/2025   Submitted By:Casey Wilson, Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: DISCUSSION OF COMMUNITY CENTER FINANCIAL RESULTS THROUGH DECEMBER 2024 RECOMMENDATION: N/A EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: N/A BACKGROUND OR DETAILED INFORMATION: N/A FISCAL IMPACT: N/A SUGGESTED MOTION: N/A    Parks and Recreation Advisory Board 4. Meeting Date:02/18/2025   Requested by: Bayer Vella, Community and Economic Development  Submitted By:Alexandra Chavez, Community and Economic Development SUBJECT: PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE PARKS AND RECREATION TRAILS MASTER PLAN UPDATE  RECOMMENDATION: This item is for informational purposes only.  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The purpose of this item is to provide an update on OV Trails Connect, the Town’s Trails Master Plan project, and upcoming phases. The scope of this project will focus on unpaved natural trails and paved multi-use paths within the Town. Examples are provided in the image below; the orange box depicts trails and multi-use paths are shown in blue. It is important to note, paved multi-use paths (MUPs) are distinctly different from sidewalks and bike lanes. Paved MUPs found in Oro Valley include:  The Chuck Huckleberry Loop The path at Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve Paths along and separate from roadways like Tangerine Road and La Cañada Drive. Town staff utilized community comments and values provided by residents during OV's Path Forward Phase 1 outreach efforts to develop the project's name and tagline: OV Trails Connect: Planning Future Trails and Paths. Resident comments and input themes from the Parks and Recreation Master Plan were also used to guide the development of the project's brand. Analysis of residents' comments found that "proximity to nature" and "connectivity" were consistently expressed as top values for the Town. Communications, Planning, and Park and Recreation Staff used these values to develop the logo (image at right) and brand identity for the project that reflects the community's ideals. Planning efforts for this project will encompass conducting technical analysis of existing conditions, network gaps, destination connectivity, signage placement and design, maintenance standards, and identifying future improvement opportunities. Town staff from Planning, Innovation and Technology, and Communication divisions have joined Parks and Recreation staff to build the plan. Kimley-Horn, a local consultant firm, was awarded an RFP to lead the technical analysis efforts and produce the final document. Town staff will be responsible for overseeing and managing the efforts to complete the plan. OV Trails Connect project is organized into four phases shown below. Additional details on these key project phases are included in the Background or Detailed Information Section of this report.  A core objective for the OV Trails Connect project will be community and stakeholder engagement. Outreach efforts will aim to understand the needs and priorities of the community. Working with Oro Valley residents, businesses, and adjacent jurisdictions (Catalina State Park, Pima County, Marana, etc.) will be central to these efforts. Two working groups will be formed to shape the development of OV Trails Connect. These are:  Trails Stakeholder Group - residents, businesses, and local community organizations to help identify the needs and vision for Oro Valley’s trail network. Regional Advisory Group - adjacent municipalities and government agencies to provide technical reviews of drafts and ensure connectivity with regional trail systems. Additional details on the community involvement and outreach efforts are included in the Background or Detailed Information Section of this report. The community engagement plan for OV Trails Connect is provided in Attachment 1. This item is the first of what will be a series of updates to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) and Town Council corresponding with key project phases as the plan is developed. In addition to these updates, OV Trails Connect focuses on including input from residents, trail community groups, and feedback from surrounding jurisdictions throughout the planning efforts. BACKGROUND OR DETAILED INFORMATION: The trail systems and MUP network in Oro Valley (OV) provide a sense of joy to many residents and visitors from all over the world. OV’s dynamic trail systems and MUP network are enjoyed by people of all abilities to connect with nature, people, and places by walking, rolling, hiking, biking, or horseback riding along the Town’s many pathways. The trail systems and MUP network consist of several types of surfaces, including paved paths (shared multi-use paths), “smooth” manipulated landscape trails, and more “primitive” trails with nominal landscape alterations. In total, the Town is responsible for approximately 36 miles of trails within the Town limits. Other existing trails in Oro Valley may fall under the jurisdiction of the State, Pima County, Homeowner’s Association, or private developers. PREVIOUS PLANNING EFFORTS: Oro Valley's first Master Trail Plan was implemented in 2010. These efforts were led by the Town's Trails Task Force, appointed by a previous Town Council and is no longer active. The 2010 plan focused on identifying future projects and action items for staff. Many of these action items guided the Town's efforts to create the trail system and trailheads enjoyed by many to date. OV Trails Connect looks to build on these efforts while also incorporating paved multi-use paths as part of the Town's trails and path network. The Town's trail system has been a focus area for residents in various planning efforts conducted by the Town throughout the years. Resident comments and values voiced during Phase 1 of OV's Path Forward outreach efforts continued to demonstrate trails play an important role in Oro Valley's future. Previous planning efforts include:  Your Voice Our Future General Plan (2016) Oro Valley's Parks & Recreation Master Plan (2021) Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve Master Plan (2023) Town Council Strategic Leadership Plan (FY 2023/24 - FY 2024/25) OV's Path Forward Phase I The Oro Valley Town Council Strategic Leadership Plan (FY 2023/24 – FY 2024/25) specifically identified creating a "Trails Plan" which focuses on “access, connectivity, maintenance, mapping, promotion, and signage” as an objective for the Town (Objective 2.2.1). OV Trails Connect will focus on working with the community to identify the needs, priorities, and ideas for Oro Valley’s trail systems and developing recommendations that will expand recreational opportunities through new and future trails and paths, programs, and improvements. The project scope for OV Trails Connect and coordination with the Town's General Plan update (OV's Path Forward) has not been previously done to this extent in past planning efforts. PROJECT PHASES AND TIMELINE: OV Trails Connect project is organized into four phases. A summary of each phase is provided below. Phase 1: Preparing to Launch is focused on establishing a comprehensive understanding of relevant planning factors such as community destinations, trail access points and network connectivity, and preliminary assessment trail and MUP usage. Phase 1 provides understanding of key planning components and baseline information which will support the efforts in subsequent phases. Phase 2: Community Outreach and Discussion is concentrated on working with residents and public involvement. A core objective for this phase will be actively reaching out to the community through advertisements, networking, and strategic communications to ensure the engagement efforts for OV Trail Connect represent the values and ideas of trail and multi-use path users. Outreach efforts such as a community-survey and facilitated meetings will help to understand the needs and priorities of the community. Working with Oro Valley residents and businesses will be central to these efforts. A detailed summary of these efforts is outlined below in the "Community Engagement and Involvement" section of this report. Phase 3: Bringing It All Together will focus on developing the vision, goals, and principals for OV Trails Connect based on the community values and ideas received during Phase 2. Phase 3 is centered on bridging findings from Phase 1 and Phase 2 to compare existing conditions to desired future conditions. Community values and ideas collected during Phase 2 will be used to evaluate existing trail and multi-use path network, identify connectivity gaps, and develop recommendations for new route and expansion opportunities. Phase 4 Community Review To ensure planning efforts for OV Trails are in alignment with the community's values, review checkpoints with residents, Trail Stakeholder Group, Regional Advisory Group, PRAB, and Town Council have been built into the project timeline at 30%, 60%, and 90% checkpoints throughout the project. The checkpoints provide an opportunity for the public to review and provide comments and feedback on the draft plan at 30%, 60%, and 90% completion of recommendations, and action priorities. The objective for Phase 4 is to provide transparency to the public and to confirm the direction of the draft plan and proposed recommendations prior to finalizing the plan. Phase 4 will run concurrently with Phase 3 efforts to ensure community involvement is at the core of each development stage for the project. The finalized plan will be presented for PRAB’s consideration and Town Council’s approval in the fall. CURRENT PROJECT STATUS Staff is currently completing Phase 1 and will start Phase 2: Community Discussions by the end of February. Phase 2 will focus on community outreach and discussions to develop the vision, goals, and guiding principles for OV Trail Connect. Key tasks include:  Invitations to participate in Trails Stakeholder Group and Regional Advisory Group meetings, Conducting a community-wide survey, Holding table events and trail side chats, Facilitating working meetings with the Trail Stakeholder group and Regional Advisory Group members. These efforts will help continue the conversations started by OV's Path Forward's outreach and comments from previous planning efforts. The community values and comments received during Phase 1 of OV's Path Forward has provided staff with an advantageous head start and a sense of direction for identifying key components for the project. Additionally, the numerous comments on connectivity and gap improvements have aided the baseline information. GIS Analysis and Key Findings As part of the tasks in Phase 1, staff conducted GIS analysis to identify origin and destination nodes based on user-generated data. Strava is a mobile application used by runners, cyclists, hikers, and walkers to track their outdoor activities. The app allows users to record activity metrics such as distance and routes using GPS data. This report includes aggregated and de-identified data from Strava Metro. The attached map (Attachment 2) shown below illustrates trip frequency for runners, walkers, and other pedestrian modes based on user-generated data. The points shown on the map represent origin and destination trips reported in 2024 for pedestrian modes that are above average with respect to the dataset. This information provides a picture of trail and MUP usage in Oro Valley. The key takeaway from this map is identifying the most utilized trails and multi-use paths. GIS analysis of the aggregated data identified the top community nodes where pedestrian trips were most frequently reported is shown in the attached map and image below. These areas include:  Pusch Ridge Tennis Courts with 2830 origin and 2905 destination trips Steam Pump Ranch with 2780 origin and 2820 destinations trips Canada Del Oro Riverfront Park with 1405 origin and 1395 destinations. Another notable takeaway from this is map corresponds to areas where origin and destination points are clustered. Examples of this can be found within the Vistoso Nature Trail Preserve area and along Naranja Drive between Shannon Road and La Canada where a paved MUP is located. Clusters are also found throughout town with varying degrees of concentrations. Similar GIS analysis (Attachment 3) was also performed with data representing cycling modes, such as mountain bikes (off-road terrain) and road bikes (paved roads) to identify the top community nodes where cycling trips are most frequently reported along trails and multi-use paths in Oro Valley. Comparable to the outcomes with the pedestrian dataset, clusters are shown throughout Oro Valley with more concentration of nodes in the northern part of Oro Valley near the Big Wash trail system, as well as corridors with MUPs along major roadways. Areas with trips most frequently reported are shown on the map below and include:  Big Wash trail head with 3330 origin and 3205 destination trips Oro Valley Marketplace with 1405 origin and 1505 destinations trips Northern edge of Town limits within Rancho Vistoso with 1225 origin and 1205 destinations Phase 3 efforts will tackle validating the GIS analysis using insights collected from the community-wide survey and community comments received during trail side chat table events. Findings and takeaways will result in drafting the recommendations and action priorities for OV Trails Connect. Other Methodologies for Usage Many jurisdictions typically rely on trail counters or video footage to capture usage. Both of these options require investments in infrastructure and staff time to review the data collected. Strava provides user-generated data at no cost to municipalities, where staff can sort through large crowdsource data sets to find insights on trail and MUP usage. Staff will authenticate the crowdsource data by using survey findings and insights from the community to verify the findings. Verified findings will be used to complete a detailed technical analysis of current conditions to pinpoint areas where connections can be strengthened to guide the evaluation process in Phase 3: Bringing It All Together. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INVOLVEMENT: Working with residents, community stakeholders, and regional partners to identify connectivity opportunities to destinations, parks, and regional trail systems will be a keystone objective for OV Trails Connect project. This planning project will focus on working with the community to identify the needs, priorities, and ideas for Oro Valley’s trail systems and developing recommendations that will expand recreational opportunities through new and future trails, programs, and improvements. Outreach efforts and community involvement, such as stakeholder meetings, public draft review periods, and public meetings with PRAB and Town Council, will be done in tandem with development of key project milestones. Community engagement touchpoints throughout the project timeline are shown below.  Figure 1: OV Trails Connect project timeline and milestones.  Communication methods and techniques used throughout this project have been selected to ensure a broad spectrum of residents and stakeholders are reached. The aim is to educate the community about the process, garner meaningful input, and ultimately identify the vision, goals, and improvements for planning Oro Valley’s trail systems and MUP network. Staff will use the following engagement tools and strategies: OV Trails Connect project website Community-wide survey Working with Trails Stakeholder Group Articles in OV’s Vista Newsletter Promotion in Play OV weekly email blast Ads and articles in Northwest Explorer Social media posts HOA email and newsletters Collaboration with stakeholders and partners Trail side chats Printed flyers with QR code Coordination with OV Path Forward outreach efforts      Figure 2: Screen capture of OV Trails Connect project page. The objectives for the community engagement efforts are to:  Raise awareness, inform, and educate the community about the Trails Master Plan. Work with residents and stakeholders to identify needs, ideas, and priorities to form the vision, values, and goals for the plan. Work with Regional Advisory Group and experts to share information and gather information to refine the goals, recommendations, and actions for the Trails Master Plan. The timing of communication methods and techniques is key to successfully engaging with the community. Each will be strategically implemented during targeted phases of the project to maximize effectiveness. Trails Stakeholders Group and Regional Advisory Group The Town’s residents are the primary stakeholders in the community engagement effort. The trail systems in Oro Valley are enjoyed by many. This engagement and outreach plan recognizes there are subgroups that include organizations with shared interests ranging from community members to subject-matter experts and regulatory agencies. Engaging with stakeholders representing community interest groups and trail users of all abilities will ensure diversity in the perspectives on the community’s values, ideas, and concerns about Oro Valley’s trail systems and MUP network. Figure 3: Preliminary list of Trail Stakeholder Group members. The “stakeholder list” representing community interest groups and Oro Valley businesses is anticipated to evolve throughout Community Engagement Round 1. Figure 3 provides a preliminary list of stakeholders currently identified that will be invited to participate in developing OV Trails Connect. This list will likely grow after the initial outreach out phase. All stakeholders are welcome to participate. Working collaboratively with neighboring jurisdictions and governmental agencies will also serve as a keystone focus for the master planning efforts. This will ensure plans and efforts are aligned with current and future improvements to regional trails. A Regional Advisory Group (RAG) has been formed to represent the surrounding jurisdictions and agencies to hold collaborative conversations on current planning efforts, standards and best practices, as well as maintenance and assessment strategies. RAG members include:  United States Forest Services Coronado National Forest Arizona Department of Transportation Arizona State Land Department Arizona State Parks - Trails Program Catalina State Park Pima County Pinal County City of Tucson Town of Marana Golder Ranch Fire District Sun Corridor Trail This list is also anticipated to evolve throughout the initial phases of the project. Members of the Regional Advisory Group will be routinely updated throughout the OV Trails Connect efforts at key project milestones to provide comments on the existing conditions assessment, technical analysis findings, and direction of the draft plan. Additionally, members will provide feedback on potential trail corridors, proposed expansions, and recommendations to ensure connectivity to regional trails. NEXT STEPS: Subsequent actions in the upcoming project phases are projected in the timeline below, which is subject to change based on feedback from PRAB and Town Council: Phase 2: Community Discussions: January (Late) - Regional Advisory Group meeting to kick-off outreach efforts February 18 – PRAB meeting to review project progress and recommendations February 19 – Town Council meeting to review project progress and recommendation February (Late) - Trails Stakeholder Group meetings starting after the Community Engagement Round February to March – Community Engagement Round 1: Conducting community-wide survey, publicizing the project and call for stakeholder members, trail side chats, promotion in Vista newsletter, Play OV email blasts, and ads in Explorer newspaper. Phase 3: Bringing It All Together April (Early) - Regional Advisory Group and Trails Stakeholder meetings to review 30% draft Master Plan draft vision, goals, and principles. April (Late) - Community Engagement Round 2: public review and comments of 30% draft Master Plan draft vision, goals, and principles. April 15 – PRAB meeting, 60% draft Master Plan review and recommendation April 16 – Town Council meeting, 60% draft Master Plan review and recommendation May (Early) - Regional Advisory Group and Trails Stakeholder meetings to review 90% draft Master Plan review and recommendation May (Late) - Community Engagement Round 3: Public review and comments of 90% draft Master Plan and recommendations May 20 – PRAB meeting, 90% draft Master Plan review and recommendation May 21 – Town Council meeting, 90% draft Master Plan review and recommendation Phase 4: Community Review: June TBD – PRAB meeting, final draft Master Plan review and recommendation June 19 – Town Council meeting, final draft Master Plan review and recommendation September 16 – PRAB meeting, recommendation for Adoption September 17 – Town Council meeting, Adoption of Master Plan All residents, including board, commission, and Town Council members, are encouraged to participate in OV Trails Connect and join the Trails Stakeholder Group. Sign-up can be done on OVTrailsConnect.com FISCAL IMPACT: N/A SUGGESTED MOTION: This item is for information and discussion purposes only.  Attachments Attachment 1 - OV Trails Connect Public Outreach Plan FINAL  Attachment 2 - OV Trails Project Pedestrian Origin and Destination Map  Attachment 3-Ov Trails Project Cycling  Planning Future Trails and Paths COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & PUBLIC OUTREACH PLAN OV Trails Connect: Planning Future Trails and Paths 1 Introduction Oro Valley has dynamic trail systems enjoyed by hikers, bikers, runners, equestrians, and other users. The trail systems in town are a natural gem for Oro Valley (OV) and the region provides a sense of joy to many residents and visitors from all over the world. The Town of Oro Valley is working on OV Trails Connect a Trails Master Plan for the community. This planning efforts will encompass conducting technical analysis of existing conditions and identifying future opportunities and improvements. Community and stakeholder engagement will be at the core of these efforts. The primary objective for OV Trails Connect project will be working with stakeholders and regional partners to identify connectivity opportunities to destinations, parks, and regional trail systems. This planning project will focus on working with the community to identify the needs, priorities, and ideas for Oro Valley’s trail systems and developing recommendations that will expand recreational opportunities through new and future trails, programs, and improvements. Recent planning efforts for OV’s trail systems include the Parks & Recreation Master Plan conducted in 2021 and the Vistoso Trails Master Plan completed in 2023. Planning for OV’s trails has been identifled by residents as a strategic action item in the Town’s General Plan Your Voice, Our Future. OV Trails Connect will incorporate the goals and objectives of the Town’s Strategic Plan, as well as the Parks & Recreation Master Plan. Purpose This document will serve as guiding framework to conduct community engagement and outreach efforts. The document is designed to be the OV Trails Connect project “action playbook” to create a dialog with the community about Oro Valley’s trail systems. This document will outline actionable engagement tools and strategies that will: • Provide the community and stakeholders with opportunities to voice their ideas and concerns. • Collaborate with a diverse range of trail user groups and residents to understand their needs, share information, and give feedback. • Work with residents and stakeholders to shape the goals and objectives for OV Trails Connect. • Review draft OV Trails Connect direction and proposed recommendations collectively for reflnement and conflrmation. OV Trails Connect: Planning Future Trails and Paths 2 Public involvement efforts will be guided by three phases, shown in Figure 1 as “Community Engagement Rounds.” Outreach activities and strategies will be implemented based on the community engagement round and project phase. Figure 1: Community engagement phases with residents, interest groups, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) and Town Council. Key Stakeholders The Town’s residents are the primary stakeholders in the community engagement effort. The trail systems in Oro Valley are enjoyed by many. This engagement and outreach plan recognizes there are subgroups that include organizations with shared interests ranging from community members to subject matter experts and regulatory agencies. Engaging with stakeholders representing community interest groups and trail users of all abilities will ensure diversity in the perspectives about the community’s values, ideas, and concerns for Oro Valley’s trail systems. The “stakeholder list” representing community interest groups and Oro Valley businesses is anticipated to evolve throughout Community Engagement Round 1. Figure 2 provides a preliminary list of stakeholders currently identifled that will be invited to participate in developing OV Trails Connect. Each will be contacted to share ideas, identify opportunities to expand and improve the trail systems, and help shape goals and action items for the plan. Members of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board (PRAB) and Town Council will be routinely updated throughout the project’s efforts. Additionally, members will be invited to participate in all engagement methods described in the following sections. Review checkpoints with stakeholders, PRAB, and Town Council at 10%, 60%, and 90% have been established in the project to conflrm the direction of the draft plan and recommendations. The flnalized plan will be presented for PRAB’s consideration and Town Council’s approval. Figure 2: Preliminary list of stakeholder groups members. OV Trails Connect: Planning Future Trails and Paths 3 Regional Advisory Group Working collaboratively with neighboring jurisdictions and governmental agencies will also serve as a keystone focus for the master planning efforts. This will ensure plans and efforts are aligned with current and future improvements to regional trails. A Regional Advisory Group will be formed to represent the regional jurisdictions and agencies. Figure 3 provides a preliminary list of groups currently identifled that will be invited to participate in developing OV Trails Connect. This list is also anticipated to evolve throughout the initial phases of the project. Members of the Regional Advisory Group will be routinely updated throughout OV Trails Connect efforts at key project milestones to provide comments on the existing conditions assessment, technical analysis flndings, and direction of the draft plan. Additionally, members will provide feedback on potential trail corridors, proposed expansions, and recommendations to ensure connectivity to regional trails. Communications Methods and Techniques Communication methods and techniques are designed to reach a broad spectrum of residents and stakeholders to educate the community about the process, garner meaningful input, and ultimately identify the vision, goals, and improvements for planning Oro Valley’s trail systems. Figure 3: Preliminary list of Regional Advisory Group members. OV Trails Connect: Planning Future Trails and Paths 4 The timing of communication methods and techniques is key to successfully engage the community. Each will be strategically implemented during targeted phases of the project to maximize effectiveness. Strategies for Community Engagement All key elements used in the development of this Community Engagement Plan will use a blend of up-to-date techniques to engage the public in a variety of methods including in-person, virtual, print, and targeted efforts with trail user groups and stakeholders. The objectives for the community engagement efforts are to: • Raise awareness, inform, and educate the community about OV Trails Connect. • Work with residents and stakeholders to identify needs, ideas, and priorities to form the vision, values, and goals for the plan. • Working with Regional Advisory Groups and experts to share information and gather information to reflne the goals, recommendations, and actions for OV Trails Connect. Online Engagement Tools The project website will be continuously updated as a “hub” for information and engagement. The site will be integrated with the OV’s Path Forward’s main website. This will allow users to interact with dynamic engagement tools like idea walls, maps, discussion boards, and comment sections. Social media posts on the Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Nextdoor channels will be leveraged to increase awareness of the project and opportunity for public input. Coordination with other social media accounts increase post ‘engagement’ results (clicks, likes, shares, and reactions) will be a critical strategy for a successful social media outreach. Print and Electronic Communication Tools Outreach efforts will include using printed and digital ads to reach a wide range of residents. Advertisements will be placed at various levels throughout the process. The following publications will be used: Explorer Newspaper, Sun City Tipster, the Vista Newsletter, and Play OV Newsletter. Coordination with Homeowner Associations will be key to amplifying the outreach efforts. Marketing materials such as printed fiyers with QR codes will be used to guide people to the website, survey, and opportunities to review plan phases. Informational and Involvement Methods Public and stakeholder meetings and other activities will be organized to inform the community of OV Trails Connect efforts and progress. Meeting formats will range from online, hybrid, or in-person depending on the project phase and needs. Activities will look to include piggy-back pop-ups leverage existing events in the community and popular gathering spaces. The anticipated activities with these methods are presentations, handout materials, and interactive engagement stations. OV Trails Connect: Planning Future Trails and Paths 5 Regular presentations to PRAC and Town Council will be a key component to ensure transparency and increase public involvement throughout the project phases. Additionally, these opportunities will also provide a forum to promote any upcoming engagement activities. Accessibly and Accommodations When planning public and stakeholder meetings, and other outreach activities, engagement opportunities will be made as accessible and convenient as possible while considering available resources. For example, • In-person meetings and events will be held in locations accessible to people with disabilities. • Outreach opportunities, whenever possible, will be scheduled at different times, including non-traditional business hours such as weekend and evening events. • Activities will be scheduled to avoid confiict with other community activities and will be held in conjunction with other activities to maximize participation. • Community engagement opportunities will occur in different areas throughout the Town to reach as many people as possible. Opportunities will be actively mapped and evaluated throughout the process to ensure equitable distribution, balance, and inclusion. • Online or hybrid meetings will be conducted and recordings made available when possible. Every effort will be made to accommodate people with special needs who would like to participate. Notiflcations for public meetings will align with Town-approved language regarding accommodations. Accountability and Changes to the Community Engagement Plan The Community Engagement and Outreach Guide will be the “action playbook” used throughout the project. All community engagement methods and outcomes will be documented to track efforts. Documentation will be updated online throughout the process and will include: • The draft and flnal adopted OV Trails Connect Master Plan. • Copies and links to information and education materials. • Summaries and recording, when possible, of public and stakeholder meetings and engagement opportunities to show outcomes. To ensure that the process is inclusive, and goals and objectives outlined in the Community Engagement and Outreach Guide are achieved, the following evaluation system will be utilized: • Staff administering the Community Engagement and Outreach Guide will review the effectiveness of implementation on a regular basis to conflrm goals and objectives are met. • Project progress update reports and presentations will be made to PRAB and Town Council at the end of each phase. This plan is a living document that may need to be changed to respond to lessons learned during implementation. If one method proves more productive or less effective than another, resources will be adjusted accordingly. PRAB and Town Council will be informed of signiflcant changes.