--- Press Release: Oro Valley Seeking Community Input ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (May 25, 2012) In an effort to increase tourism and spark community development, the Town of Oro Valley is in the process of identifying its strengths and unique characteristics to develop a cohesive brand and message. The success of this process relies on the input of those who live, work and play in the community. To

Generally, we don't comment about articles in the "Explorer." However, one of our bloggers wrote the following: --- "I wanted to express my disgust at the photo of Solomon & Hiremath in this weeks Explorer "OV Councilmen honored" on page 6. Barry gives 8 ELECTED years; Solomon was poo-pointed, failed to get elected, has treated the public with disrespect and is given prime ink space by the

--- Oro Valley is growing. There were more young families living here than ever before. The town's desire to increase employment through its economic development efforts are a statement to young families that Oro Valley wants them to not only live here and but also to work here. Jobs are one half the equation of a successful town.  Jobs enable people to work here. The other half of the

The 2011 Oro Valley Police Department Annual Report was released Friday.  The cover quotes Mayor Hiremath: "“Oro Valley has one of the top—if not THE top—police departments in the state of Arizona.”  Some interesting "bits and pieces" from the report: "Currently, The Town has Neighborhood Watch groups consisting of 3,200 homes." (p. 15) The Crimes Free Multi-Housing "program is similar to

--- The Oro Valley Town Council voted to approved the staff submitted town budget for 2012-2013 by a 6-0 vote (Council Member Bill Garner not present.)  We have previously written about this budget including our position that approval of such should have been done by the new Council seated on June 6, and not the present Council.   No matter.  The budget has been "slammed dunked', approved seven

--- The Oro Valley Town Council voted 5-2, after reconsideration, to approve the Fry's 7 pump fuel station conditional use permit ("CUP").  The station will be located at Lambert and La Canada, near the existing Valero Fuel Station. Neighbors were successful in convincing Fry's to: limit  hours of operation from 5am or 11pm.   operate the station only on an attended basis. build the facility

--- In our posting Monday, we noted that the Arizona State Bill to combine local elections with statewide elections is now law.  Effectively, implementation will move the 2014 Mayor and Council elections from March to September, for the Primary, and from May to November, for the General Election. This would mean that new Council Members would not be seated until January, 2015. This is six months

--- Mayor Hiremath is a "master" of burying important items in the consent agenda portion of the town council meeting.  He mixes unimportant items with important items.  John Musolf's Guest View provides an illustration of one such important item. This one has to do with step pay increases for the Oro Valley Police Department.   This item impacts budget spending for two years. --- "Item E on the

--- Governor Brewer today signed HB2826. It is now law that local elections will be consolidated with statewide elections.  "H. B. 2826 preempts all local laws, ordinances and charter provisions that are contrary tothe consolidated election schedule and beginning in 2014, the bill will subject "any governmentalentity" and "any other district organized under state law" to the consolidated

--- The following is an "open letter" regarding the Fry's Gas Station Conditional Use Permit which will be heard by Council on Wednesday. The letter is from Canada Hills resident, Jim Harrison: --- On Wednesday May 16 the OV Town Council will meet to vote on the proposed Fry’s Gas Station just north of the Valero (a.k.a. Diamond Shamrock) Station on the NE corner of La Canada and Lambert. As

--- Mayor Hiremath has put on the agenda for next Wednesday's meeting a consent item to fund a Participation Agreement with the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce for $25,000. Don Bristow spoke against funding this private organization at the last council meeting. You can read his comments.  We have spoken out against this for the same reason. Essentially, we believe that the Chamber is a private

--- This from an Arizona Daily Star article written by Jonathan Brodesky regarding TREO: "The real issue here is whether TREO serves itself before it serves the community. It's laced in Snell's salary - and those of other TREO staffers - which is significantly higher than those reported on tax forms of people doing similar jobs in Portland, Fresno, Colorado Springs, Albuquerque, Tulsa and El

--- In our posting last week, A Town of Excellence Must Also Have A Heart, we observed that the 2012 2013 Oro Valley operating budget, as recommended by the town manager, eliminated funding for the Oro Valley Recreation Center ("rec center").  The problem we had with that proposal was that it did not consider the impact of the closing of the rec center on those that use it; particularly those

 -- The following is was presented by one of our town's "Super Citizen's" Don Bristow during the "Call To Audience" at the May 2 Town Council Meeting.  The remarks are in reaction to the proposed 2012/2013 budget which includes a $25,000 donation to The Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce ("The Chamber"): We agree with Don.  The Chamber is a private organization. It should receive no funding

--- The Metropolitan Tucson Convention Visitors Bureau ("MTCVB") presented their third quarter report at the May 2 Oro Valley Town Council Meeting.  As John Musolf notes in this "Guest View" There is very little in this report that directly relates to Oro Valley. The Council's reaction to this report was favorable. Mayor Hiremath was quick to ask the towns economic development department with

--- By a 6-0 vote, the Oro Valley Town Council approved the "tentative budget" for 2012/2013. This is an approval of the total spending limit which is approximately $95 million.  Included in this budget is a surplus of $75,000, which is designated for use by Council as it sees fit.  You can click here to get a copy of the budget. The $95 million represents spending on everything the town does:

--- The following is an Oro Valley press release. --- ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (May 1, 2012) - For the second year in a row, the Town of Oro Valley has earned the “Playful City USA” designation from national non-profit KaBOOM! Presented by The Humana Foundation, Playful City USA is a national program advocating for local policies that increase play opportunities for children and is a key platform in

--- First, let me say that I thank and support the Oro Valley Police Force on the street who serve our community and keep us safe.  Great job!! That said, I can not understand why any well run organization would have such fear of an audit; nor why some members of the Town Council insist on voting on the budget (“while they have a majority”) without due consideration of this option.  I have

--- This Wednesday,  the Oro Valley Town Council will likely approve the 2012-2013 Oro Valley Budget.  In doing so, this Town Council will do something that has not been done in years: To approve the budget before the new members of Council are seated. It is the new members of Council who will be subject to this new budget.  Two Council members, Steve Solomon and Barry Gillaspie, who will not be

--- The following is from a Town of Oro Valley press release. We should all be pleased with this formal recognition of yet another activity that makes Oro Valley unique.  Congratulations to Stacy Lemos and her outstanding financial team. --- ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (April 25, 2012) - The Town of Oro Valley has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the