--- The following is from an Oro Valley Press Release dated April 23: "The Town of Oro Valley is now accepting applications for volunteers to fill a vacancy on the Planning & Zoning Commission. The term will expire 12/31/13.Applicants must be residents of the Town of Oro Valley and must attend the Town’s Citizen Planning Institute during their term, if they have not already done so.The

--- In our posting "The 2012-2013 Oro Valley Budget: Something For Almost Everyone" we wrote that the town budget did not include a reduction of the Utility Tax.  As you'll recall, the current council voted to double the Utility Tax in order to pay for police and related services when there was a budget shortfall in 2010. At the Town Council Meeting on April 18, 2012,  John Musolf suggested

--- The Oro Valley Town Council voted this past Wednesday to self-insure medical expenses.  John Musolf previously about this, describing the program to you. There are several issues which John felt were "left open".   Apparently, these issues were not of concern to the  Council , which voted 6-0 in favor of the plan. The new program will go into effect for fiscal 2013 to 2014. We will not know

--- The following is from an Oro Valley press release. Announces the Greg Coton is now the Oro Valley Town Manager. We wish Greg are best in this job. --- "At its April 18 meeting, the Oro Valley Town Council appointed Greg Caton as town manager. Caton, who had been serving as interim manager for the past ten months, joined the Oro Valley team in November 2010 as the assistant town manager. Prior

--- One of the creative aspects of 2012-2013 Oro Valley Budget is self insurance of the town's medical plan for its employees. This is something that  Saharita, did.  It is a means of reducing employee benefit costs while providing the same level of benefit. The town Council will be discussing this program at Wednesday's Town Council Meeting. The item is included on the Council's consent agenda.

--- The following is a message from Mark Napier. Mark is announcing that he is a candidate for Sheriff of Pima County. Mark's outstanding background in criminal justice, both as a law enforcement officer and an instructor at Boston University, makes him uniquely qualified to be Pima County Sheriff. As you know, being elected to office requires more than simply being qualified. One also must have

--- We learned that Kenneth "KC" Carter, former Oro Valley Council Member, passed on today.   Ken was 84 years old.  He was a retired civil engineer who moved to Oro Valley in 1994.  KC served on Council from 2006 through 2010.  KC remained active in Oro Valley. We have no information on plans for a service or wishes of his family. ---

--- This from an Oro Valley press release: "Beginning May 1, 2012 through Labor Day, any Town resident may call the Inspection & Compliance Division at 229‐4815 to schedule a free inspection. Inspectors will verify that critical features designed to separate children from pools and spas are in place in accordance with the Town’s currently adopted Pool & Spa Code. If they are deficient they will

--- One of the things that we try to do is to keep you informed of situations that may not impact you directly, but do impact your neighbors. On December 12, we posted "Is A Fry's Gas Station Coming To Your Neighborhood." Since that time, the Oro Valley Development and Infrastructure Department has held two public hearings on the matter, recommending that the approval of a conditional use

--- The 2012-2013 Oro Valley Budget has something for everyone who serves the town. The budget has new cars for the Oro Valley Police Department. It has pay raises for everyone who works in town. It has money for MTCVB, and TREO and, now, the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce. The budget  has a "discretionary fund" of $600,000 for Mayor and Council to do whatever they please. The budget has

--- Last week, the Northern Pima County Chamber of Commerce ("NPCC", now called the Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce), hosted a "Policy Committee Meeting"  The "Committee" is run by Chairperson: Jill Owen of Casson Owen Law,  and by Co-Chair and realtor: Lyra Done.  The meeting was held April 5.  The meeting was held at the Golder Ranch Fire District Linda Vista and Oracle meeting hall.

--- Replying to a question posed by the Explorer, Council Member Mary Snider said the the Council should approve the 2012-2013 budget before seating the new members in June.  She supported the opposite two years ago (See the video).  Quoting from the Explorer article: In the 2010 election, Councilwoman Mary Snider was an advocate of delaying the budget adoption until newly-elected council

--- Did you know that the town spent $12,000 on a portable projection screen last year.   The town used the town screen once in October 2011 at the pool and once in November 2011 at James Kreigh Park. --- At no cost to the Town of Oro Valley, volunteers who reside in our community have researched and gathered information to develop the H.E.E.D. website for veterans. H.E.E.D., which stands for

--- This from an Town or Oro Valley Press Release: ---"ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (April 4, 2012) - The Town of Oro Valley is accepting applications for one open position on the Board of Adjustment (BOA). The term expires December 31, 2013. Applicants must be residents of the Town of Oro Valley.The Board of Adjustment is a five-member board that meets on the 4th Tuesday of every month at 3 p.m. This

--- One of the key items on tonight's Oro Valley Town Council agenda is the $94 Million Oro Valley Town Budget. Greg Caton, acting town manager, will present it.  This is about 4% greater than last year's budget. You can view Greg's presentation by clicking here and then locating and downloading Regular Agenda Item 1. The budget is really comprised of various funds. The largest is the General

--- On May 19, 2010 at 1:28:30 of a Town Council Meeting, Mary Snider appealed to the Council to not approve the 2010-2011 budget until the new members of council were seated in June.   You can view and listen to her eloquent appeal. It is our belief that the same situation applies now, in 2012, when there are two new council members seated.  As Mary points out, approval of the budget for a

UPDATE: April 4, 2012 --- The State bill to change the date of all local elections to coincide with State and Federal elections in November passed the Arizona State Senate with an amendment exempting school bond voting. The bill goes back to the Arizona State House for approval as amended. If approved, ax expected, the bill would go to Governor Brewer or signature. If the Governor signs this

--- Friday, John Musolf contributed a very detailed, considered piece defining what he thinks is meant by MUN. As one of our bloggers noted in an email to me: MUN "...would allow developers to apply for rezoning to allow multiple uses on their land.  For example, they could have commercial and apartments/condos on the same parcel.  This would be like the apartments sandwiched between the gated

--- There is confusion between what the Oro Valley Development and Infrastructure Department terms Mixed Use Neighborhood (MUN) and Mixed Use (MU). Having attending the Oro Valley Development and Infrastructure Department's informational meetings on "Mixed Use"and having studied the accepted meaning of "Mixed Use," I have concluded that Oro Valley is talking about something quite different than

--- From time to time, we come across articles or receive comments from our bloggers that are interesting but not always directly related to a posting.  So, we'd thought we would do a periodic posting called : "Bits and Pieces", a potpourri that contains these items.  So, here's our first "Bits and Pieces." --- We came across this announcement. Apparently, TREO had something to do with bringing