Qualified homeowners living within city limits can apply for assistance to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Upgrades will reduce residential energy use and save money for the homeowner. Work, which will be completed by a non-profit agency that has contracted with the City, may include substituting compact fluorescent for incandescent light bulbs, installing low-flow faucets and showerheads, adding solar screens on west-side windows, and improving overall home weatherization.

The City’s Housing and Community Development Department is accepting 100 applications beginning June 10 from low- to moderate-income homeowners. The program is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  The same program was run last summer and the City still needs 100 additional applicants.

Applicants must meet the following criteria: homeowner must live in the home, the home must be located within city limits, homeowner must meet income criteria, and the home must not have previously received significant weatherization assistance.

Eligibility information and application forms, in English and Spanish, are available:
- online
- by calling Gwen Nesbitt at (520) 837-5392
- for pickup at Housing and Community Development Dept., Santa Rita Bldg., 1st Floor, 310 N. Commerce Park Loop

For special accommodations or materials in accessible format or a foreign language interpreter or materials in a language other than English or Spanish, call Rebecca Flores at 837-5013.

Three separate bond rating agencies have recognized the City of Tucson’s efforts to cut spending and enhance revenue by maintaining the City’s rating levels for the sale of bonds. Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings this week issued their ratings for the City’s General Obligation Bonds, Certificates of Participation, Water Bonds and Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF) Bonds.

“Over the last few years, the City of Tucson has had to make some very difficult budget decisions and the fact that the City was able to maintain its rating position is quite an accomplishment,” said Kelly Gottschalk, Chief Financial Officer for the City of Tucson.

While no changes were made to the rating levels, five of the future outlooks were adjusted. Fitch revised the outlook to stable from last year’s negative outlook for the City’s General Obligation Bonds, Certificates of Participation and Water Bonds. An “outlook” assigned from a rating agency indicates the opinion of the rating agency of the likely direction of the issuer’s credit rating over the medium term. In its report, Fitch stated that improving the City’s outlook to stable results from “a stabilization in the City’s financial profile as spending reductions and revenue enhancements have significantly narrowed a structural budget gap and contributed to a better than expected operating results in fiscal 2010.”

Moody’s did change the City’s outlook on HURF senior and junior bonds from stable to negative, which reflects the sizable revenue loss from the state’s budget actions.

“The fact that we were able to move from a negative to a stable outlook for the City’s general and water credits is a significant move, especially in this tough economic environment,” Gottschalk said. “Although not out of the woods yet, the difficult changes that have been implemented to respond to this new economic reality are making a difference and improving the overall stability of the City’s financial position.”

Tucson Water offices will be closed on Friday, May 27, for a mandatory City furlough day and on Monday, May 30, for the Memorial Day holiday.

Services will not be available until Tuesday, May 31. However, account information and payment options are available 24 hours by calling 791-3242, and selecting option 1. Account information or payment options are also available through the Tucson Water web site.

Emergencies that are not related to billing issues may be reported by calling (520) 791-4133.

“Homeowners’ Guide To Using Water Wisely”
Is Promoted As Part Of Summer Water Use Awareness

Residents can request a copy of Tucson Water’s popular “Homeowners Guide To Using Water Wisely” by calling (520) 791-4331 or by sending an e-mail to waterleaks@tucsonaz.gov.

The publication is full of tips, examples and photos to help customers save water indoors and outdoors. There is also a section on how to understand the components of utility services statements and how to read one’s water meter.

“We are about ready to turn the corner into summer, which traditionally reflects the highest monthly demands of the year,” said Fernando Molina, Public Information Officer. “Every household leak that is fixed, every irrigation method that is improved, every gallon that is reused: each contributes to better overall management of our finite resources.”

Tucson Water’s web site is also a resource for information on conservation, water quality, system operations and more.

Tucson Water announced that West Congress Street will remain closed through Friday, May 6, 2011.

Additional time is required to complete repairs to a 36” reclaimed water line that failed on Tuesday, April 19, 2011. The primary reason that repairs will take longer than originally anticipated is due to the need for specialty materials.

According to Fernando Molina, Public Information Officer for Tucson Water, the 36” pipeline is designed specifically for high pressures and reclaimed water use, and must be ordered and shipped from a manufacturer in Alabama. Additional components, such as valves and pipe restraints, also needed to be special ordered or custom fabricated.

Westbound traffic exiting downtown will continue to be diverted to the eastbound and westbound Interstate-10 frontage roads. Eastbound traffic on Congress Street from Grande Avenue is restricted to local traffic only, allowing access to El Rio Neighborhood Health Center and other business located along Congress Street.

(map of affected area)

Pedestrian and bicycle traffic will continue to be rerouted along Bonita Avenue to Alameda. Persons riding bicycles or walking through the area are urged to use caution and follow direction signage in place along the detour route.

Tucson Water crews are responding to a broken 8” water line located at East Ajo Way and Randolph Avenue. As a result of the repair work, the westbound lanes of traffic on Ajo Way are closed at Randolph Avenue. Westbound traffic is being diverted to northbound Randolph Avenue, and then westbound along 48th Street to Country Club Road. The two outside lanes of eastbound Ajo Way remain open. Eastbound lane restrictions are subject to change.

(Google map of affected area)

The water line break is affecting approximately 12 customers in that location. Kino Hospital is not affected by this break.

Repairs are expected to be completed by Saturday morning.

April 21, 4 PM

Tucson Water announced that repair work at Congress Street and Bonita Avenue is likely to continue through next Friday. Traffic restrictions will remain in place for the duration of the work.

Workers have started to upgrade additional water lines in the area of the 36” reclaimed water line that broke on Tuesday morning. In addition to the upgrades, workers will excavate approximately 40 feet along northbound Bonita to uncover a portion of the reclaimed water line to allow for inspection to ensure that it is not damaged. Because the 36” pipeline is a specialty product, the replacement pieces will be delivered from out of state, and is expected to arrive early next week.

Pedestrians and bicyclists will continue to be restricted from Congress Street between Linda Avenue and the Congress Street bridge. Fencing will be installed around the perimeter of the construction area, and signage will be provided to guide pedestrians and bicyclists through a detour route. The detour will route pedestrians and bicyclists along Linda Avenue to Alameda Street, then across Bonita Avenue to the Santa Cruz River Park pathway. From there, pedestrians and bicyclists will be directed through the Garden of Gethsemane park to a path leading to the Congress Street bridge. The detour has been established to ensure the safety of pedestrian and bicyclist traffic passing through the area.

(Google map of area)

Congress Street remains closed to vehicular traffic between Interstate 10 and Avenida del Convento. Westbound vehicular traffic leaving the downtown area will continue to be directed to either the westbound or eastbound frontage roads at Interstate 10. Eastbound traffic on Congress Street is restricted to local traffic east of Grande Avenue. Access to businesses along Congress, including El Rio Neighborhood Health Center, is from eastbound Congress Street and Grande Avenue.

Motorists are urged to avoid this area, and should use 22nd Street or St. Mary’s Road as alternate routes.