--- ORO VALLEY, Ariz. ( May 18, 2013) - On May 17, 2013 at approximately 5 PM hours Oro Valley Police Department responded to the Bank of America in the 12000 block of north Rancho Vistoso in reference to a bank robbery. The suspect entered the bank and demanded money from a teller. No weapon seen or implied. The suspect is described as a hispanic or white male, unknown age, approximately 6'0

--- The following is from an email message we received: ""Streetcar Named Tucson's Fiasco"" "Interesting piece in today's Az Star about Strretcar delays, and consultants fees. It seems our former Mayor Loomis will be paid almost $400,000 for his consulting work!! How is this possible, why are the citizens of Tucson Metro so apathetic. Don't we all realize the money for these consultants

--- The Oro Valley Planning and Zoning Commission voted last week to approve a UHaul facility for the Ace Hardware located at Tangerine and First Avenue. Their approval occured even though there is no provision in the code for truck rental. There is one for auto rental. Oro Valley planner David Williams noted, at the hearing, that an automobile and/or car are the same as a truck for code

--- Yesterday's post gave the history behind why Chief of Police Sharp reports to the seven member town council and not to the town manager. As we have heard so often from Council Member Mary Snider, we are Oro Valley and we are unique when it comes to our police. Yes. We are unique when it comes to our police.  In most Arizona communities, the chief reports to the town manager for budget and

--- On May 1, Council Member Brendan Burns recommended that the town have the Chief of Police report to the town manager, not to the town council, as is currently the case. This change would return the reporting structure to what it was before March 9, 2011.  Prior to that time, the Chief was appointed and terminated by the Council; however, the daily oversight and performance evaluations were

--- If you get a call from the The Oro Valley Police Department claiming that you are a recipient of a large sum of money, don't believe it.  (KVOA).  It is a carryover from a scam taking place in the county (Pima County press release). Here's the scam:"OVPD's Criminal Investigations Unit is investigating a case where an individual called the victim claiming to be a detective with the Oro

--- Generally, we don't post on a Thursday nor do we ever refer to "Explorer" articles. Today, however, we are going to make an exception. This is because yesterday, the "Explorer" got it wrong and we plan to set the record straight. The Explorer headline screams: "Mayor Hiremath accuses Councilman Zinkin  of fiscal mismanagement in Oro Valley."  The headline is a mark of sloppy journalism.  The

--- "I spoke on the La Mesa RV situation during the first call to audience at last nights council meeting.  In my opinion the Oro Valley Development and Infrastructure Department Administrator should not have approved Vestar's application for a special use permit.  Neither the Rancho Vistoso PAD or Oro Valley's Zoning Codes permitted uses allow this usage.  The Oro Valley Development and

--- Is a UHaul rental center behind Ace Hardware a permitted use under Oro Valley code?  That is one of the questions that the Oro Valley Planning and Zoning Commission will consider at tonight's meeting. Ace Hardware at Placita de Oro Shopping Center (southwest corner of First Avenue and Tangerine Road) is requesting a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to operate a U-Haul business.  "The proposed

--- Council Member Mary Snider announced at last week's Oro Valley Town Council Meeting that "The budget is fine."  Apparently, there is nothing in the budget with which she does not agree; except for the "need" to increase the town's contribution to the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce. Her opinion, however, is not shared by all council members. and residents. Oro Valley Town Manager

--- "The Oro Valley Police Department is proud to announce that Canyon Del Oro High School's two forensics teams took first and third place at the Crime Scene Investigators State Challenge, April 19-20, 2013. Teams from across the state of Arizona converged in Phoenix to compete in a mock crime scene where students solved a crime by applying skills learned during classroom forensics studies.

--- There are a number of important items on tonight's Oro Valley Town Council a meeting agenda.  The agenda includes includes a major change to the building code; presentation of the Oro Valley five-year fiscal forecast; adoption of the proposed $93.9 million budget for 2013-2014; approval of the public participation plan for the town's general plan update; and discussion of what to do with the

--- "Our job is to set policy. Stay at that $50,000 foot level.  Feel free to ask whatever question you would like.  I do not want this to turn into a 'tit for tat'. " That is how Mayor Satish Hiremath opened the Town Of Oro Valley Town Council 2013-2014 budget session last week. Later, the Mayor stated his view of the council's role in the budget process.  His view is that the council provides

--- If we asked you your budget for the year would you add your saving account to it?  Well, that's what the Town Of Oro Valley does, and all other municipalities, in describing the dollar size of their budgets. The actual 2013-2014 Oro Valley Town Manager Recommended Budget is $ 62.2 million in revenues and $60.7 million in spending, a surplus of $1.5 million.  This surplus will bring total

--- Last Week, Oro Valley Finance Chief, Stacey Lemos, reported to town council that actual Oro Valley sales revenues were less than projected because sales tax audit recoveries were less than expected. Her explanation: Some of the contractors being audited are not longer in business. --- Town Council still needs to decide if the town should "repay" the contingency fund for the $2.1 they agreed

--- Last week, the Oro Valley Town Council unanimously approved a conditional use permit ("CUP") for a memory care facility to be built at Oracle and Desert Sky.  The facility will house elderly patients who suffer dementia.  It is an assisted living facility.  There is no designation for this type of facility in the Oro Valley code. Rather, the CUP was approved as a "skilled nursing facility"

--- We asked Oro Valley town finance chief, Stacey Lemos what the status of sales tax payments are between the town and Vestar. Recall that the town owes Vestar 45% of all sales tax receipts up to $23.2 million, earned between 2009 and 2029. Here's Stacey's response: "The Oro Valley Marketplace has generated $6,606,136 in sales tax revenue since FY 2008/09.  They [Vestar] receive 45% as a

--- Is Oro Valley one of the safest communities?  We've been told this is so.  We want to believe it is so.  But, we can't find any published "lists' that say it. On one list of the top 13 Gilbert is #5. Surpise is #13.  On another list, Scottsdale is #7.   On yet another list, Florence is listed as #17.  Three lists. No Oro Valley. Of course, in fairness to our community, if you put all of

--- The Town Of Oro Valley issued a press release yesterday officially launching the new town website.  "The new site was designed with the goal of improving the end-user experience and being more aesthetically representative of Oro Valley." "Increased flexibility means staff will be able to continually customize the site-well into the future-based on the Town's changing needs." Website

--- Oro Valley Town Council will consider three regular session agenda items regarding the annexation of the Oracle/Ina Road area, which includes Tohono Chul Park ("TCP").  The total annexation inludes "107 acres of unincorporated territory located between Chapala Drive to the north, Ina Road to the south, Paseo Del Norte to the west and Oracle Road to the east." First, the council will conduct