2026-10-06 - Mayor and Council

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11:44>> Heat. Heat.

12:23Everyday

12:29fun.

12:33Heat. Heat. N.

13:39Happy.

13:48Everything you

14:08Today, Tuesday, [music] October 6, uh,

14:10study session of mayor and council. For

14:13the record, Councilman Lee will be

14:15participating electronically through

14:17Microsoft Teams. The first item is an

14:20executive session. Madame clerk,

14:23>> item one is notice as an executive

14:24session discussion update on

14:26non-disclosure agreements.

14:27>> May I have a motion to go into executive

14:29session, please?

14:30>> So moved.

14:31>> There's a motion.

14:33>> Second.

14:33>> There's a motion in a second. Any

14:35further discussion? Hearing none. All

14:37those in favor, please indicate by

14:39saying I.

14:40>> I. I.

14:41>> I.

14:42>> Any against? Motion carries. Already.

14:45It'll take about 30 20 minutes

14:49>> or 30.

14:51>> Okay, it'll take about 30 minutes. So,

14:53we'll be back uh in 30 minutes to

14:55continue the rest of slight session.

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18:14>> Black.

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22:54>> Heat. Heat.

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23:51Hey, heat. Hey, heat.

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27:45>> Hello.

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30:44>> baby.

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32:53>> All

33:10right.

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35:26>> We do need a motion to return [music] to

35:28study. There is a motion and a second.

35:31Any further discussion? Hearing none.

35:34All those in favor, please indicate by

35:36saying I.

35:37>> I.

35:37>> I. I

35:39>> any against? Motion carries. Um what is

35:43the council's pleasure for item two?

35:46>> Your honor, appropriate motion would be

35:47to proceed as discussed in executive

35:48session to direct the city attorney and

35:50the city manager to continue to

35:51implement the NDA policy and review

35:53current DNA NDAs that are no longer

35:55necessary for possible termination.

35:59>> Second.

36:00There is a motion and a second. Any

36:03further discussion?

36:06Hearing none. All those in favor, please

36:08indicate by saying I.

36:09>> I.

36:10>> I.

36:11>> Any against? Motion carries. Item three.

36:15Item three.

36:20Time's been set aside to receive an

36:22update on the prosperity initiative, an

36:24intergovernmental and community effort

36:25to disrupt intergovernmental

36:27intergenerational poverty across Tucson

36:29and Pima County through policies that

36:31improve opportunity.

36:33>> All righty. I wanted to um make sure

36:36that

36:37uh we had this presentation in front of

36:40us. I know that our teams in the city of

36:44Tucson have been working very hard to

36:47put this action plan together. Um I also

36:51want to thank Vice Mayor Santa Cruz for

36:55bringing and working so hard with uh

36:59Puma County's Bonnie Bazata. um and

37:03partnering with Puma County to pass the

37:06prosperity initiative. When we adopted

37:09the city of Tucson mayor and council

37:11adopted the prosperity initiative in

37:13January of 2024,

37:15we made a commitment to address the

37:18conditions that create and perpetuate

37:21poverty. Not just respond to the

37:23symptoms, but get to the root causes of

37:27poverty.

37:29I personally believe that every child,

37:32every person and every family in Tucson

37:36deserves a good quality of life and

37:38economic opportunity and that as policy

37:42makers, mayor and council in partnership

37:45with other governments, in this case

37:46Puma County, can create policy to create

37:51prosperity in our community.

37:54I know firsthand what it is to live with

37:57a lack uh of opportunity and to live in

38:01poverty. I also know that it's getting

38:04even harder for families to get ahead as

38:07they face rising costs and housing and

38:12uh food

38:13that paychecks are harder and harder to

38:17stretch.

38:19And um I think that it's important that

38:22we as a mayor and council in the city of

38:24Tucson look at how we are using the

38:26resources we have. We have so many great

38:29programs and people doing this work

38:31across our city. Uh the question is how

38:35we connect that work and make sure that

38:37we are putting the resources where they

38:40have the greatest impact. Um, I think

38:43the data can help us do that and I'm

38:45interested in hearing from departments

38:48what data they are using to measure

38:50success for each goal. Um, each goal in

38:54the action plan has different outcomes

38:56we are trying to achieve and our

38:58departments are already collecting and

39:00using a lot of information to measure

39:03their work. And I know that for those

39:07that are putting these policies to work,

39:10the data making datainformed decisions

39:12is very very important. Um but yeah, I I

39:17actually think that um the impact of how

39:21it is impacting the neighborhoods uh the

39:25the children, the families in our

39:29community,

39:30we can see. And so um part of the

39:35prosperity initiative is not a it's not

39:38an initiative that lives alone. It is an

39:41initiative

39:43where all of the departments within the

39:45city of Tucson and the strategic action

39:50plans that we've created in all of it.

39:52Right? That's why I'm so happy with the

39:55creation of our office of community and

39:58economic impact because this office

40:01houses all of the um uh policies and the

40:08programs that we have created to make a

40:11difference. So the equity office um the

40:15prosperity initiative lives within the

40:18office of community and economic impact

40:20uh the cultural um the uh economic um

40:26initiatives the like all of the

40:29different programs that we've created

40:31work with one another to create

40:34prosperity in our community. Another uh

40:38extension of of the Thrive Zone that we

40:41created is the 29th Street Thrive Zone.

40:44It's a very good example of what

40:47um you know bringing partners into our

40:50our work can look like. So, in the case

40:53of the Thrive Zone, 29th Street Thrive

40:56Zone, we're bringing together the city,

40:58the community, Coalition for Prosperity,

41:01residents, business owners, um, our own

41:04parks and recreation staff, our Tucson

41:07Police Department,

41:09uh, and many other nonprofit partners to

41:13focus on, uh, an area of our city that

41:17has high poverty and many times gun

41:21crime and violence. And so, how do we

41:25double down and hyperfocus in areas of

41:28our city that [snorts] need um this

41:32investment? So, again, I just want to

41:35thank everyone for the incredible work

41:37that you're all doing. And Vice Mayor, I

41:41don't know if you wanted to open up the

41:42item or go directly uh to city staff to

41:45to see the presentation. Mr. Manager.

41:48>> Thank you, honorable mayor and members

41:49of the council. Joining me here today is

41:51Lena Prell out of our Department of

41:53Housing and Community Development who's

41:55been leading our staff level efforts to

41:58put this uh plan together. And um we

42:01have a presentation for you which

42:02includes the action plan itself and an

42:05indicator dashboard where we'll be uh

42:07tracking uh key metrics and holding

42:09ourselves accountable. Um, in addition

42:12to any feedback you have on direction

42:15regarding implementation and reporting,

42:17we are hopeful that you'd be in a

42:19position to adopt uh the um action

42:22prosperity initiative action plan u by

42:24motion at the toward the end of this

42:26item. Uh but with that, I'll turn it

42:28over to Lena Pel to lead you through the

42:30presentation.

42:31>> Thank you. Good afternoon, honorable

42:33mayor and council. Today I'm going to

42:35give you a brief update on the

42:36Prosperity Initiative, talk through the

42:38Prosperity Initiative action plan we're

42:40bringing forward for adoption, and then

42:42show you the new Prosperity Initiative

42:44indicator dashboard. Um, as a reminder,

42:46the Prosperity Initiative started as a

42:48regional effort to identify policies

42:50that could disrupt intergenerational

42:52poverty here in the city of Tucson and

42:54Pimac County. We're now moving into the

42:56implementation phase and translating

42:58those policies into city actions and

43:00establishing a way to track the broader

43:02conditions we're trying to influence. So

43:04the city action plan tells us what the

43:07city is doing and plans to do. And the

43:09dashboard helps us understand those

43:10broader conditions that we're trying to

43:12influence. As a reminder, like the mayor

43:14said, the prosperity initiative was

43:16developed as a partnership between the

43:17city of Tucson, Pimac County, and our

43:19community coalition for prosperity and

43:22was adopted by mayor and council back in

43:242024. The initiative identified 13

43:27evidence-based set of policies intended

43:29to address conditions that contribute to

43:31intergenerational poverty and improve

43:33economic mobility. Those policies cover

43:35a lot of ground, including housing,

43:38health, education, workforce, economic

43:40opportunity, neighborhood conditions,

43:42transportation, and many other factors

43:44that affect people's ability to thrive.

43:47Since the prosperity initiative was

43:48adopted, we've been working the on the

43:50transition from that regional policy

43:52framework into implementation. So, we

43:54brought a draft of the city action plan

43:56to you all in April. Since then, we've

43:59worked with city departments and offices

44:00to refine the plan and identify the

44:02actions that the city can realistically

44:04undertake through our existing

44:06authority, operations, programs,

44:08partnerships, and future budget

44:10decisions. The main changes from the

44:12April draft include an additional data

44:15chapter requested by the mayor, a

44:17revised organizational structure given

44:19the new office of community and economic

44:21impact, and additional actions presented

44:23by departments that were missing or

44:25excluded from the original draft.

44:27There's also in your materials appendix

44:30A that includes action items by

44:32department so departments can easily

44:34access their responsible items. And one

44:36important note, we know the city isn't

44:38responsible for solving every factor

44:40that affects economic mobility, but

44:42we're responsible for understanding what

44:44we can do within our own systems,

44:45programs, policies, partnerships, and

44:47investments. The action plan gives us

44:49this three to five year framework uh and

44:52framework for that work. It organizes

44:54the city's actions around four broad

44:56goals. Uh

44:59>> not it's just the indicator dashboard.

45:01Yeah. [laughter]

45:02Um so the four goals are goal one

45:05promoting inclusive safe and healthy

45:07opportunity rich neighborhoods. Goal two

45:09addressing root causes of poverty

45:11through prevention. Goal three expanding

45:14economic and community mobility. And

45:16goal four ensuring equitable and

45:18accessible city systems.

45:20Within those goals, we've also tried to

45:22be realistic about implementation. The

45:24plan distinguishes work distinguishes

45:27between work we're already doing,

45:29actions that can be advanced in the near

45:30term and longer term opportunities that

45:32may require additional resources or

45:34structural changes. And there's a

45:36significant amount of prosperity

45:38initiative work already happening across

45:40the city. The action plan helps us

45:42identify that work, connect it to

45:44broader framework, find opportunities to

45:46coordinate it better, and identify gaps

45:48or opportunities for future investment.

45:50It also gives departments a framework

45:52for developing their own implementation

45:54plans. So following hopeful adoption

45:56today, we'll work with departments to

45:58identify the their priority actions from

46:00the list of actions that they've uh

46:02committed to in the action plan. And we

46:05will identify responsible staff in the

46:07department, partnering departments or

46:09outside organizations, how those

46:11departments will measure and create

46:14metrics if they're already tracking them

46:15or new metrics need to be uh addressed

46:18and any resource needs. We'll continue

46:20to use the city prosperity initiative

46:22work group to support coordination

46:23across department work. The other major

46:26piece of work I want to show you today

46:27is the joint city county prosperity

46:29initiative dashboard which

46:33um which can be found at this URL here.

46:36Um if the action plan is about what

46:38we're doing then the dashboard is about

46:40what we're seeing. The dashboard gives

46:42us a shared set of indicators that help

46:44us understand the broader conditions

46:46connected to economic mobility across

46:48Tucson and Pima County organized around

46:50the original 13 prosperity initiative

46:52policies.

46:54So this is a public-f facing tool

46:56developed collaboratively by the city

46:59and county staff. It includes 30

47:01headline indicators connected to the 13

47:03prosperity initiative policies. The goal

47:06is really to establish this shared

47:07baseline and give us a way to look on

47:10how these conditions change over time.

47:12So as you can see here, folks can submit

47:14feedback on the dashboard. If they have

47:16questions, comments, or see a bug in the

47:18system, all of those comments and

47:20feedback go to city and county staff.

47:24Um folks can also translate the entire

47:26dashboard into Spanish um quite easily

47:28by clicking the translate button below.

47:30The dashboard is broken down by goal

47:32categories of overall goals uh housing,

47:35health, education, jobs and cross

47:37policies. If I click on the overall goal

47:40page, then it brings me to the overall

47:42goals data page. Here you can see three

47:45indicators which are percentage of

47:47households that are housing cost burden,

47:49poverty rate, and child poverty rate.

47:51For each indicator, data is shown for

47:54both Puma County and Tucson. And the

47:56years currently show 2013, 2018, and

47:592023. The data will be updated on yearly

48:02on a yearly basis uh as new US Census

48:04American Community Survey data or ACS

48:07data is released. There are links to the

48:09sources of the data if people want to

48:11explore further as well as trends

48:13showing whether things are improving,

48:15worsening, or showing no change. Each

48:18tab also has an option to explore the

48:20data geographically with maps as seen

48:22here. Um as well as a learn more about a

48:26selected priority page which you can see

48:30here. So these pages are uh there's one

48:33for each of the different categories. It

48:35gives an overview of the policy grouping

48:37and why these indicators were selected,

48:39some important data in context, the main

48:41aims of those policies, and some

48:43examples of what the city and county are

48:44currently doing related to those

48:46policies.

48:47the and I'll go back to just the

48:49dashboard so we can look at it. Uh the

48:51value of the dashboard is in helping us

48:52see that broader picture and establish

48:54the shared baseline again and understand

48:56whether the conditions we're trying to

48:58influence are changing over time. And

49:00before I move on, I really want to

49:01recognize the people who made this

49:02dashboard possible. Uh this is a great

49:04example of the kind of cross-

49:06departmental and city county

49:07collaboration that the prosperity

49:09initiative is intended to encourage.

49:11Especially want to recognize Vladimir

49:12Berg who's a GIS analyst too at the city

49:15IT. Uh Vladimir did an enormous amount

49:18of work this summer to build out this

49:19dashboard. Uh he built the backbone of

49:22what you're seeing here, the GIS, the

49:23mapping, technical implementation,

49:25design, and data presentation that

49:27turned from this collection of

49:29indicators we chose to this awesome

49:31public-f facing tool. And on the county

49:33side, I also want to recognize Clifton

49:35Fanowong Nelson who's their prosperity

49:37initiative data manager with Pumac

49:39County and who helped with the county

49:41side of the data and dashboard and

49:43bringing that regional context and

49:45perspective together. So in conclusion

49:48with the adoption of the action plan,

49:50our next phase is implementation. So

49:53again, we'll work with departments to

49:54develop their implementation plans and

49:56establish measures for each department

49:58to track, continue cross department

50:00coordination through the prosperity

50:02initiative workg group, and continue to

50:04monitor and communicate progress with

50:06mayor and council. And lastly, continue

50:08work with Pumac County and the community

50:10coalition for prosperity because the

50:12broader prosperity initiative remains a

50:14regional effort. And that's all I have

50:16for today. So thank you and happy to

50:18answer any questions.

50:19>> Thank you so much, Lena. I know that you

50:21put so much work into this and we thank

50:24you um

50:26uh really for the incredible work that

50:28you're all doing and I know that it

50:30takes a many people to get this done. Um

50:34the Coalition for Prosperity, Puma

50:36County, and so many others have

50:38contributed to this work. Um I just had

50:42one question, maybe I should know this.

50:44Um does the action plan, is it inclusive

50:48of Pima County? Are we approving it with

50:51Puma County or is it just the city of

50:53Tucson's portion?

50:54>> It's just the city of Tucson portion.

50:56So, this will be the city of Tucson's

50:58prosperity action plan. Um, when talking

51:00with county folks over there, they're

51:02also going to be working on a similar

51:04action plan that they'll adopt.

51:06>> How do we see implementation of the

51:09goals that you mentioned? Is it four

51:11goals that we mentioned? How do we see

51:13that implementation? Maybe that's a

51:15question for u Mr. Tamir.

51:19Um in terms of implementation, so really

51:21that next step is um meeting with all

51:24departments again and creating

51:25departmental implementation plans so

51:28they can prioritize what uh actions

51:30outlined can they do realistically in

51:32the next let's say one to two years and

51:34what things might have to be on the back

51:36burner for now and identifying who needs

51:38to be involved in the metrics to track

51:40progress.

51:41>> I just want to open it up for my

51:42colleagues on the council with

51:44questions. Council member Cunningham and

51:46then Council Member Dah, Council Member

51:48Schubert and then Vice Mayor.

51:51[clears throat]

51:52>> First of all, great work and um this is

51:55this blueprint helps identify and

51:58clarify the city's responsibilities in

52:00this effort. My biggest thing is that I

52:02don't want [sighs] by setting this

52:04example for the county, what we we need

52:06the county to do is

52:10take on the things that they're capable

52:12of handling. And there's collaborations

52:14that we need for something like this to

52:16work at a large scale that have to do

52:20specifically with the county health

52:21department, have to do specifically with

52:23our school district partners which

52:25operate to some degree in conjunction

52:28with um the Puma County Superintendent's

52:31office and there are some things we need

52:34to do on the justice system side,

52:36especially with the courts and

52:40not to speak in like too general

52:42platitudes.

52:43we've got this specific thing that

52:45probably overreaches what we can

52:47actually control, but at least we're

52:49taking that effort. So, I applaud

52:50everybody who worked on this. But on the

52:52other side, without the county kind of

52:56getting into the specific piece with the

52:58school district's help, with the three

53:00things I mentioned in the courts, we're

53:02not going to see that visible progress

53:04that we need. And so I I'd really like

53:08to be part of the process with the

53:10county um as we go through our dialogue

53:14with them and say, "Hey, here here's

53:15what we're doing, but here's the stuff

53:17that you guys can do where it really

53:19fits together and here's the stuff we

53:22can do when we're looking at um trying

53:25to

53:27trying to have um affordable health care

53:30options for our working. here's what we

53:32can do when we want to have our school

53:35districts every school district

53:37challenge every year for an A school

53:39especially for their high schools. Um I

53:41there's one that we're waiting for the

53:43announcement man and when it happens

53:45it's going to be awesome. So I mean

53:48that's it's just so I'm so excited about

53:50it I can barely burst but if they don't

53:52get the A it's going to be a big bummer.

53:54So I'm not going to put them on blast

53:55yet. Um and then finally um not only

54:00with the school districts but with the

54:01courts we you know it's in the it's I

54:04think on page like 46 of the actual

54:06document about the diversion programs.

54:09Diversion is a big piece of what we can

54:11do on the alternative jail side where we

54:14can put people into kind of a

54:17semivoluntary like a volunttold

54:19situation on on um detox but then that

54:23gives them the opportunity to go to

54:25voluntary RTC and I think that's like

54:28some of the stuff that we're really

54:29looking for. So those are the pieces

54:31that I have but thank you.

54:33>> Thank you Council Member Cunningham. Um,

54:35I think that's why it was important for

54:37chair Allen and I to have meetings,

54:42joint meetings specifically to talk

54:44about prosperity initiative and what we

54:47can focus on. So,

54:51we really do have to rely on each other,

54:53right? We have to rely on Pima County

54:55for its parts and the city of Tucson are

54:58on on our end and what we can do uh to

55:02contribute and advance the priorities

55:06that we have with the prosperity

55:08initiative. So, Council Member Dah and

55:11then Council Member Schubert and then

55:13Vice Mayor.

55:15>> Thank you, Mayor. Uh thanks, Tim, and

55:17everybody who's been involved in this

55:19from all the departments. I think we've

55:20made some great progress. I just have

55:22one question and it's a data nerd

55:25question from someone who doesn't

55:26understand data. When I look at the

55:28dates, I mean mostly so there's some 22

55:312022s, 2023s, 2024 is the latest one. So

55:35we're at least a year and a half out

55:38from looking at the data and we started

55:41this a year ago. So, is there a way of

55:44incorporating data that's not firm yet

55:46so that we can be more upto-date in and

55:49use this as a decision-m and policy

55:51creating tool?

55:53>> Thank you. Um, Council Member D, for the

55:56data and updating, we really do rely on

55:58the US Census Bureau. So, um, we rely on

56:01No, that's [laughter]

56:03>> so on their five-year estimates, which

56:05are usually released every December. So

56:07when the data collection started, we

56:09only had 2023, but our um IT team and

56:12county team were working on updating

56:14with at least the 2024 data um and

56:16keeping that um for like the 2023

56:19uh 2018 2013 moving those up to show

56:22those 5-year differences. Um in terms of

56:25we for some of the things they aren't

56:28directly connected to the American

56:29Community Survey data, and it's just

56:30when they're available. Um, so we're

56:33planning to do those yearly updates to

56:34at least have the most up-to-date data

56:36every year, but there's no guarantee

56:38sometimes when that American Community

56:40Survey data can come out.

56:44>> Council member Schubert.

56:46>> Thank you, Madame Mayor, members of the

56:47council. Thanks for the updates um and

56:50for all the work that has gone into

56:52making sure our prosperity initiative

56:54vision has a clear, attainable,

56:56actionoriented path behind it. I

56:58appreciate all the follow-up work that

57:00staff did over the past few months to

57:01make sure that this plan incorporated

57:04what departments see as their biggest

57:05needs and opportunities as well as where

57:07their cap capacity could be best

57:09utilized. That kind of intentional co-c

57:12collaboration and dedicated engagement

57:14really makes this a strong plan. I'm

57:17also really thrilled to see this

57:18long-awaited new dashboard that we

57:20co-created with Puma County. Shout out

57:22to Vladimir and Clifton. It's really

57:24clear and accessible. I think it will be

57:26a great tool to see how we're

57:27progressing toward our goals. I

57:29especially like the trend column to help

57:30people understand the data more easily.

57:33Um, sometimes the lower number is

57:35better. Um, and sometimes a higher

57:37number is better. That small detail is

57:39going to be super helpful for everyone

57:40who wants a quick scan of how we're

57:42doing. And then I just have a couple of

57:45questions. Um, in April we discussed the

57:48idea of hiring a prosperity initiative

57:51coordinator. Can you share any updates

57:52on staffing or capacity to be able to

57:55carry out this work?

57:57>> Honorable mayor, members of the council,

57:59Council Member Schubert, uh, uh, Lane

58:01Mandal, who's overseeing the Office of

58:03Community and Economic Impact, is u has

58:06that as one of her near-term hires. I

58:09don't believe we've actually uh

58:10advertised quite for that position yet.

58:12We're still working on the position

58:13description um to make sure that when we

58:16when we fill that, we're we're trying to

58:18find the right most robust skill set for

58:20that role. So, it hasn't uh been

58:23advertised as yet, but it is uh

58:24near-term.

58:26>> Thank you so much. Have we identified

58:28funding for FTEEs for prosperity

58:31initiative coordinators or the chief

58:32prosperity officer?

58:34>> Honorable mayor, members of the council,

58:37um every uh position on the OC and I or

58:42OC and EI or chart is currently funded.

58:46So, um that uh that's not a constraint

58:48on us moving forward.

58:49>> Good to hear. And then um as a followup

58:53um are we adequately funding the work

58:54that needs to be done to ensure that the

58:57prosperity initiative is successful?

59:00Honorable mayor, members of the council,

59:02I'm not sure I can claim that we are

59:03adequately funding uh all of the

59:06elements of the prosperity initiative. I

59:08think that does go back to the

59:09conversation with the county and how do

59:11we each leverage our funding uh to the

59:14things we each do best and and not have

59:16so much duplication there. Um but that

59:18will be an active part of the discussion

59:20going into the next budget season is how

59:22do we how do we ramp up where we need to

59:24ramp up.

59:25>> Thank you. And then just one final

59:27question. Um how are we using the

59:29prosperity initiative to assess and

59:31prioritize investment opportunities so

59:33that we're ready when capital becomes

59:35available such as the Puma County bonds

59:37that are starting to be discussed.

59:39Honorable mayor, members of the council,

59:41um we do uh we have taken one step which

59:46is every mayor and council item that now

59:47comes before you not just references the

59:51um plan Tucson but it also references

59:53any significant policy documents

59:55inclusive of the prosperity initiative.

59:57So that's one step we've already taken.

59:59We put that into effect this fiscal

1:00:01year. um with respect to having kind of

1:00:03a comprehensive capital needs assessment

1:00:06that has um how it aligns with all of

1:00:08our priorities that is actually work in

1:00:10progress as well. when we talk in a item

1:00:13a little bit later when we talk about um

1:00:15the voter approved investments. One of

1:00:18the things we'll be talking about is

1:00:19we're putting together that gaps

1:00:21analysis um and kind of an asset

1:00:23condition report card that is um in

1:00:27influenced by both what our staff level

1:00:29operational needs are, but it also over

1:00:32time will incorporate more and more of

1:00:33the um policy direction of mayor and

1:00:36council and some of the key outcomes we

1:00:37are seeking to achieve. So, I can't say

1:00:40that we have in front of you kind of a

1:00:41robust list of all of the things that

1:00:43are unmet needs. Um, we have an initial

1:00:46list and we have some dynamic work

1:00:49there, but we are moving towards

1:00:50something that'll be much more robust

1:00:52and and sharable with the council so

1:00:55that you make sure we're on or not the

1:00:57right track there.

1:00:59>> Thank you so much.

1:01:00>> Welcome,

1:01:01>> Vice Mayor. And then council member

1:01:03Barahas.

1:01:05>> Thank you, Mayor. I also just want to

1:01:06take the opportunity, Lena, for

1:01:08shephering this whole process. I really

1:01:10appreciate your work and being split,

1:01:12you know, into different directions and

1:01:14looking forward um to hiring a

1:01:16coordinator and and you having some more

1:01:19support um to carry that um that work.

1:01:22Uh

1:01:24I had a question about how long do we

1:01:27anticipate taking to put together the

1:01:30individual department level measurements

1:01:32and implementation plans. I imagine

1:01:35we'll also be working with the office of

1:01:36equity for that since this seems to um

1:01:39align to some of that work that was

1:01:41being done in the past. Um and will

1:01:44those indicators be included in the

1:01:46public dashboard in the future or is

1:01:48that going to be more for us internally?

1:01:51>> Thank you, Vice Mayor. um to answer for

1:01:53the departmental implementation plans.

1:01:55We're anticipating to start those

1:01:57conversations uh later this uh November,

1:02:00December, and hopefully have those

1:02:02finalized by springtime, probably like

1:02:04April, May. And then um for the

1:02:07indicators for the different

1:02:09departments, we're still trying to

1:02:11figure out where where those fit best.

1:02:13Um, since this is a joint city county

1:02:15dashboard, um, we might not leave it on

1:02:17here, but have something similar to the

1:02:19city manager dashboard if it's added to

1:02:21that. Um, so it's still public facing,

1:02:24but also can be used internally. Um, and

1:02:27sorry, your last question, there was one

1:02:28more question.

1:02:29>> It was just I mean,

1:02:31>> oh yeah. Um and the timing for that

1:02:34we're going to once we see what

1:02:36departments are already collecting in

1:02:37terms of indicators that'll get us a

1:02:39good idea of what they've already we can

1:02:41easily plug in and what we might need

1:02:43more backend work to collect new

1:02:45information.

1:02:46>> Thank you. Um so with that mayor I had a

1:02:49motion.

1:02:51>> Is it not working? I don't know.

1:02:57No I can't hear anything.

1:03:06All right. With that, I had a motion,

1:03:08mayor, um that I move to adopt the city

1:03:10of Tucson's prosperity initiative action

1:03:13plan and direct staff to proceed with

1:03:15implementation and ongoing reporting

1:03:17through the indicator dashboard and

1:03:19regular updates to mayor and council.

1:03:21>> Second.

1:03:23>> There's a motion and a second. Any

1:03:25further discussion on the motion?

1:03:29I do. I have a couple more questions. Um

1:03:34I guess my uh question is I know that

1:03:37the coalition for prosperity is doing a

1:03:39lot of work with the nonprofits.

1:03:42Um it is their desire to

1:03:45um work also with the business

1:03:48community.

1:03:50How can we assist in that? And how can

1:03:52we present the prosperity initiative to

1:03:56the business community including

1:03:58business groups that will jump on board,

1:04:02right? That will support the prosperity

1:04:04initiative and the uh datainformed goals

1:04:09that we have. Honorable mayor, great

1:04:12question. I was actually in a meeting

1:04:13with um Jenny and Brooke who are the

1:04:15heads of the community coalition for

1:04:16prosperity last week and they were

1:04:18saying a big part of their goals for the

1:04:21next year is to start doing those

1:04:22conversations with our business

1:04:24community and bringing in city and

1:04:25county staff to bring those connections,

1:04:28working with our economic initiative

1:04:29office on the pan county side, bringing

1:04:31in their connections. So we have

1:04:33everyone in the room that we know needs

1:04:34to be in the room to help them start

1:04:36those connections and really um move

1:04:38those things forward. So that's going to

1:04:40be a really big focus for the next like

1:04:42starting in the new year for us. And

1:04:44very similar question to how can we make

1:04:46sure and I think that council member

1:04:48Cunningham was alluding to this. How do

1:04:51we make sure that we have a strong

1:04:54partnership with uh the University of

1:04:58Arizona, Puma Community College, and the

1:05:02school districts? Another great

1:05:04question, honorable mayor. Um for that

1:05:06what we've been doing in the meantime is

1:05:09the community coalition hosts forums

1:05:11every quarter. Um a lot of folks from

1:05:13the University of Arizona, Puma

1:05:15Community College, um our health

1:05:17department and others all go to those

1:05:19and it's a they have a large portion of

1:05:22it is networking and so that's where

1:05:23we've made a lot of our initial

1:05:25connections and we're looking to build

1:05:26on that in the future with uh specific

1:05:29groups. So focusing on education,

1:05:31focusing on health, focusing on

1:05:32workforce for the next year after that

1:05:34too. And the University of Arizona has a

1:05:36lot of access to research which I know

1:05:39the University of Arizona and some

1:05:41professors

1:05:43um really help uh inform the strategies

1:05:48uh that we've adopted. But I think Puma

1:05:52College, you know, they do a lot of

1:05:53workforce training. And then of course

1:05:55the school districts is primary

1:05:57education from P through 12 which is the

1:06:01base of um educational opportunity for

1:06:06families. So I I just wanted to make

1:06:08sure that we continue that work uh so

1:06:11that we can strengthen the prosperity

1:06:14initiative for our community. Council

1:06:15member Vakas, I know you had some

1:06:17questions.

1:06:18>> Thank you. Thank you mayor and vice

1:06:19mayor and Lena for bringing this to the

1:06:21table. Um the only question I had is I

1:06:23love looking at the dashboard the data.

1:06:26Is there any hopes of um ex I guess

1:06:29expanding it the breakdown of possibly

1:06:32to zip codes or to wards and districts.

1:06:37>> Thank you, honorable mayor. Uh council

1:06:38member, yes, we are looking to do more

1:06:41updates. This was kind of just our

1:06:42initial uh push out, but um we are

1:06:46looking at doing at least by zip code.

1:06:48If we do want to do it by districts from

1:06:50the county and the ward, we're going to

1:06:51move towards that. It's really just the

1:06:53back end of cleaning the data and making

1:06:54sure everything is right. But um we're

1:06:57hoping either in the next iteration or

1:06:58the iteration after that. So it will be

1:07:00continuously evolving.

1:07:02>> Perfect. Thank you.

1:07:05>> Right. If there are no more further

1:07:06questions or are there any question

1:07:08additional questions? We're out of time.

1:07:12So, um, we do have a motion on the floor

1:07:15and a second and I would like to make

1:07:17sure that we vote on it. So, um, all

1:07:20those in favor of the motion, please

1:07:22signify by saying I.

1:07:23>> I.

1:07:23>> I.

1:07:24>> I.

1:07:25>> Any against? Motion carries. Thank you

1:07:28so much, Lena. Thank you for all the

1:07:30work. Looking forward to continue work

1:07:33together.

1:07:34All righty. Um, what I'm going to do,

1:07:38I'm not sure if we have um the

1:07:42presenters for item four, which is the

1:07:44Reed Park Zoo update. We do. Okay,

1:07:46perfect. So, we move on to item four.

1:07:49Time has been set aside to receive an

1:07:51update on the Reed Park Zoo master plan,

1:07:53upcoming opening of Pathway to Asia, and

1:07:57future projects to enhance the

1:07:59experience for animals and visitors.

1:08:02Presented by the Reed Park Zoolological

1:08:04Society. executive director

1:08:06Nancy Kluj and our very own Lara Ham.

1:08:10Mr. Manager.

1:08:11>> Right. Thank you, honorable mayor and

1:08:13members of the council. As you

1:08:14indicated, we have Nancy and Lara here

1:08:16to talk uh through this item and a a

1:08:19brief presentation. And as a reminder,

1:08:22you have an action item on consent for

1:08:25tonight to adopt the new master plan and

1:08:27and boundary and associated adjustments.

1:08:30Uh but this study session is to present

1:08:32those items to you and give you good

1:08:35news on the zoo front. So with that, I

1:08:38will turn it over to uh to Nancy to give

1:08:40the presentation.

1:08:42>> Thank you members of the council. Uh

1:08:45it's a pleasure to be here and give you

1:08:46an update. Um I first I wanted to review

1:08:51the governance of the zoo which you're

1:08:53familiar with. Reed Park Zoo of course

1:08:55is owned by the city of Tucson and is a

1:08:57parts part of the parks and recreation

1:08:59department. Um I work for Reed Park

1:09:02Zoological Society as you know and in

1:09:042018 our contract with the city of

1:09:07Tucson was expanded to manage the

1:09:09day-to-day operations of the zoo. It's

1:09:12been a great uh example of a successful

1:09:15public private partnership combining the

1:09:18community engagement and strength of a

1:09:21of the city of Tucson with the ability

1:09:24to focus on zoo trends uh react to new

1:09:28opportunities and fund raise of a

1:09:30medium-sized nonprofit.

1:09:33In 2017, the residents of the city of

1:09:36Tucson passed the future of your zoo

1:09:38initiative with a onetenth of 1% sales

1:09:42tax. That's a penny on $10 to go to the

1:09:46Gene Reed Park Zoo improvement fund.

1:09:48This pays for about 85% of the large

1:09:52capital projects that are informed by

1:09:54the 2018 master plan. Um, and to give

1:10:00you an idea of our reach, uh, we last

1:10:03year we had about 610,000 visits. About

1:10:0777% of those or 470,000 were local and

1:10:12about 23% were non-local. We are the

1:10:15largest attended cultural attraction in

1:10:17southern Arizona and our reach is broad

1:10:20with about 40 to 45% of city of Tucson

1:10:24residents indicating they've visited the

1:10:26zoo in the last 12 months. As a public

1:10:30uh in support publicly supported

1:10:33institution accessibility is very

1:10:36important. We have a number of

1:10:38accessibility programs and I want to

1:10:40thank you mayor Romero for uh

1:10:42encouraging us in that direction and

1:10:45last year uh our success was great with

1:10:4893,000

1:10:50visits either through free or deeply

1:10:52discounted programs.

1:10:55Uh reviewing the timeline of projects

1:10:57completed since 2018. In 2018 the first

1:11:00sales tax project was completed and that

1:11:03was the opening of our squirrel monkey

1:11:05habitat. In 2019, we were able to

1:11:08refurbish the jaguar habitat for new

1:11:10jaguar bella. In 2020, we refurbished

1:11:14the zoo's former tiger habitat for

1:11:16African wild dogs. In 2021, we opened

1:11:19the new flamingo habitat as well as our

1:11:21new front entry plaza. In 2021, we also

1:11:25expanded our Andian bear habitat by

1:11:27about 50% and added a cving den. In

1:11:312023, we welcomed our sloth Gwen to our

1:11:34new slo sloth habitat. Our next major

1:11:38project was the Angel Charity World of

1:11:40Play, which teaches children about

1:11:41wildlife and nature through play in an

1:11:44accessible multi-ensory play and

1:11:47learning zone. We are getting ready and

1:11:50uh welcome all of you to join us in the

1:11:52ribbon cutting for Pathway to Asia which

1:11:54opens November 13th. It will be home to

1:11:58tigers, fruit bats, Asian smallclaw

1:12:01otterters, large gibbons, munchjack

1:12:03deer, red pandas, a komodo dragon, and

1:12:06more with about 90 animals total. We

1:12:09have about 70 animals coming in the next

1:12:11month. So, we are busy as we uh reach

1:12:15substantial completion on the

1:12:17construction of the project this week.

1:12:20Here you see some of the local

1:12:21contractors that have made Pathway to

1:12:23Asia possible. Reed Park Zoo is and from

1:12:26the beginning has been built by Tonins

1:12:29for Tonins.

1:12:32Pathway to Asia completes phase one of

1:12:34the master plan. We started phase two

1:12:37with refining the 2018 master plan phase

1:12:40two getting updated cost estimates which

1:12:43of course have changed significantly.

1:12:46reviewing the underground infrastructure

1:12:48and talking to the Association of Zoos

1:12:50and Aquariums about which animals were

1:12:53available and which ones needed homes

1:12:55and their stories told. With that

1:12:58complete, we are ready to start phase

1:13:00two, Expedition Africa. It takes place

1:13:04all within the current footprint of the

1:13:05zoo with a focus on bigger, more modern

1:13:08spaces for the animals we have with some

1:13:11changes in the collection. Here you see

1:13:13the refined plan for the next 10 years,

1:13:16starting with Pygmy Hippo in 2028,

1:13:20moving on to a great innovative savannah

1:13:22area. Um, that will really make us a

1:13:25leader with having two large savas for

1:13:28giraffe, rhino, hoofstock such as

1:13:31gazels, birds such as ostrich and

1:13:34secretary birds. We will then add an

1:13:36additional elephant barn as our herd

1:13:38grows. Expand our wild dog habitat to

1:13:41give them more space. Add small exhibits

1:13:45for species such as our finick fox, a

1:13:47rock hyrax. Uh expand our lion habitat

1:13:51to be about six times bigger than the

1:13:53current habitat and add a combined wthog

1:13:56custive porcupine and mircat habitat.

1:14:00For generations, Reed Park Zoo has been

1:14:02a place where families can make

1:14:04memories, children learn, and our

1:14:06community comes together. Um, thank you

1:14:09for all of your support in building a

1:14:12zoo that inspires wonder that in

1:14:15advances conservation and provides

1:14:18exceptional care to the animals that are

1:14:21entrusted to our care. So, and that is

1:14:25my presentation. Thank you, Miss Cluj,

1:14:28uh, for the update. And the zoo really

1:14:31is looking, um, really beautiful, and

1:14:35I'm looking forward to the ribbon

1:14:37cutting, to the new area. Um, and I want

1:14:40to thank the voters for really investing

1:14:44uh, funds uh, for for the betterment of

1:14:47the of the zoo. So, I want to open it up

1:14:51if there's any comments or questions.

1:14:53Do you need any action today or is it on

1:14:55the regular session?

1:14:57>> Honorable may, it'll be during the

1:14:58regular session.

1:14:59>> Okay, council member Dah.

1:15:02>> Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Nancy,

1:15:03and Laura. We have a great zoo and the

1:15:06master plan is spectacular. I saw some

1:15:10anti-zoo social media and it got me

1:15:12concerned that there we're doing a

1:15:14boundary expansion, five acres, and I

1:15:17Tim thankfully explained to me that it's

1:15:19already part of the zoo. We just have to

1:15:21put make the boundary correct. And that

1:15:23was part of the old um expansion that

1:15:26was going to take the hill away and

1:15:28instead we expanded the zoo onto former

1:15:31parking lots which was a great solution.

1:15:33So this is great. Thank you for your

1:15:35good work. I can't wait to be at the

1:15:36ribbon cutting and pet a [clears throat]

1:15:38few animals or say hi to them. I suppose

1:15:40[laughter]

1:15:43>> any others vice mayor? I just also

1:15:45wanted to say thank you, Nancy, for your

1:15:46dedication and for um always uh being so

1:15:50uh welcoming and wanting to make sure

1:15:52that we understand the the value and

1:15:55what um the zoo brings to our Tucson

1:15:57community. So, thank you so much.

1:16:00>> All right. Uh Council Member Vahas.

1:16:04Um, I just want to say thank you to the

1:16:06zoo and parks for making sure that the

1:16:10programming is accessible, looking at

1:16:12the numbers and just, you know, from the

1:16:14culture pass to dollar days. I really

1:16:17appreciate that and I hope we could

1:16:18expand on that too when when it opens

1:16:20up. So, thank you.

1:16:23>> Any others? All righty, hearing none.

1:16:26We're all very happy. We're we're all

1:16:28giving you the thumbs up. Thank you so

1:16:30much for the incredible work that you've

1:16:32all been doing. And just uh for my

1:16:36colleagues on the council, I'm going to

1:16:37take a five minute um restroom break and

1:16:40then we can come back uh to item five.

1:16:44I'm not sure if we have item

1:16:47um six, the presenters for item six

1:16:50here.

1:16:51>> Honorable mayor, one of the two is here

1:16:53and we're um keeping an eye on the

1:16:55second one.

1:16:55>> Okay, perfect. So then we will move to

1:16:57item five after a fivem minute break.

1:16:59Thank you all.

1:17:27>> [music]

1:17:41[music]

1:17:45>> Hey, hey, hey.

1:17:46[music]

1:17:59[music]

1:18:10>> [music]

1:18:26[music]

1:18:31>> Hey,

1:18:32hey, hey.

1:18:36Hey, hey, hey. [music]

1:18:43[music]

1:18:48[music]

1:18:56[music]

1:19:01Hey, hey, hey.

1:19:17[music]

1:19:25[music]

1:19:31>> [music]

1:20:23[music]

1:20:33[music]

1:20:45>> out.

1:21:59>> [music]

1:22:16[music]

1:22:21[music]

1:22:36[music]

1:23:05>> Heat.

1:23:07[music]

1:23:15[music]

1:23:20Heat.

1:23:23[music]

1:23:34>> [music]

1:24:08[music]

1:24:39[music]

1:25:18>> Heat.

1:25:40Hey, heat. Hey, heat.

1:27:00>> [music]

1:27:08[music]

1:27:28>> um [music]

1:27:29for a little break. We are moving to

1:27:31item five. Um, time has been set aside

1:27:35to provide an update at the request of

1:27:37Mayor Romero and Council Member Barahas

1:27:39for a presentation by Oscar Medina,

1:27:42manager of the Office of Violence

1:27:44Prevention and Intervention and Tucson

1:27:47Police Department. This update will

1:27:49include the office's violence prevention

1:27:51and intervention initiatives along with

1:27:55expanding youth and young adult

1:27:57engagement efforts. Um, I just wanted to

1:28:00thank you all uh for this update and uh

1:28:05council member Barakas uh for really

1:28:08insisting on making sure that we

1:28:10included youth and young adult

1:28:13engagement in the title of the memo. Um,

1:28:17this update is a safe city initiative

1:28:21update. Um, as we've uh talked about

1:28:24before, safe city initiative is more

1:28:27than just enforcement. Um, we want to

1:28:31address the root causes of violence and

1:28:34taking meaningful action to prevent

1:28:37violence. I want to give a big thank you

1:28:40uh to Oscar Medina, Office of Violence

1:28:44Prevention and Intervention. also uh

1:28:47assistant chief uh Duffy who's here with

1:28:50us on behalf of TPD.

1:28:53Um wanted to focus on youth engagement,

1:28:58right? Um youth engagement goes beyond

1:29:00preventing crime. We want to give our

1:29:03young people the support they need to

1:29:05succeed. I'm excited to see and hear

1:29:08more about the Office of Violence

1:29:09Prevention and Intervention work. And uh

1:29:14this is this is something that we uh

1:29:17came to the conclusion after the work

1:29:19that we've started doing with our

1:29:22community safety, health and wellness

1:29:24program, the work that TPD had been

1:29:27doing in terms of prevention, violence

1:29:29prevention and intervention, the village

1:29:31program with goodwill. I see

1:29:33representatives here of emerge. Um this

1:29:38is work that we are doing together as a

1:29:41community and um need to continue making

1:29:45sure that we um refine and um work with

1:29:51our local partners, Pima County, the

1:29:53state and federal governments to make

1:29:55sure that we have a shared

1:29:57responsibility to fund the work that we

1:30:01know is working. So, with that, um, I

1:30:06wanted to, uh, have our city manager

1:30:08introduce the item and then go into the

1:30:11presentations.

1:30:13Thank you, honorable mayor and members

1:30:14of the council. Um, the mayor did a

1:30:16wonderful job of introducing this item.

1:30:19Uh what I would add to it is also Larara

1:30:21Hamway of our uh director of parks and

1:30:23recreation is uh part of the

1:30:25presentation today um because that's

1:30:27certainly quite a bit of the nexus to

1:30:30our youth and and young adult

1:30:32engagement. And so um and we've been at

1:30:35this for a while as you mentioned. and

1:30:37TPD's had programs for a number of years

1:30:40um uh ranging from community- based

1:30:42policing to data informed police, you

1:30:44know, all all of the things that we've

1:30:46done to try to modernize our approach uh

1:30:49to public safety and that has been

1:30:52complemented with the mayor and

1:30:53council's direction to do things um

1:30:56alongside TPD uh community safety,

1:30:58health and wellness and and other

1:30:59measures. Um this um is our first time

1:31:03to really give you a kind of a robust

1:31:06update on the Office of Violence

1:31:07Prevention and Intervention. Um and it's

1:31:11uh intentionally not siloed. Um that's

1:31:13why you see many hands at the wheel here

1:31:16today to to cover these materials. Uh so

1:31:19without further ado, I'll turn it over

1:31:20to the team uh in each of the three of

1:31:23them have a a segment today to present

1:31:24to you and then of course we'll be glad

1:31:26to take any questions uh either as we go

1:31:28along or toward the end. Uh, I'll turn

1:31:30it over to Oscar.

1:31:33>> Thank you, Mr. City Manager, honorable

1:31:35mayor and council. Thank you for giving

1:31:37me the opportunity to share some updates

1:31:39today from uh the Office of Violence

1:31:42Prevention Intervention. As a fairly new

1:31:44office under the community safety

1:31:46umbrella,

1:31:48the team has been hard at work building

1:31:51relationships and partnerships while

1:31:53also learning from some of the best

1:31:55local and national practitioners in

1:31:57violence prevention and intervention.

1:32:00Today I want to share some of the work

1:32:02our office has been involved with over

1:32:04the past year and where we're headed.

1:32:06We're currently receiving technical

1:32:08assistance and training from the

1:32:09National Institute for Criminal Justice

1:32:11Reform and the National Network of

1:32:13Offices of Violence Prevention as a

1:32:15participant in their violence reduction

1:32:17management institute and I've been I've

1:32:19worked uh with my team to develop a

1:32:22draft road map for our OVPI.

1:32:26I've shared a draft with you, mayor,

1:32:28with our TPD partners, and with our

1:32:30community-based organizations that are

1:32:32providing violence prevention services

1:32:35and opportunities for youth who are at

1:32:37highest risk. I want to start by sharing

1:32:40some of the violence reduction

1:32:41strategies our team is involved in,

1:32:44particularly around youth violence. This

1:32:46summer, our office held its first gun

1:32:48violence prevention youth summer

1:32:50institute. We had 21 young people

1:32:53representing seven different middle

1:32:54school and high schools come together

1:32:56every day for a week at the O PBLO

1:32:59community safety hub. They learned about

1:33:01the root causes of violence, resolving

1:33:03conflict through king and nonviolence

1:33:05principles and how gun violence impacts

1:33:07survivors, their peers, families, and

1:33:10the entire community. The youth the

1:33:13youth institute actually grew out of the

1:33:15first gun violence prevention youth

1:33:17summit which was held last November at

1:33:20the O PBLO activity center which you

1:33:23mayor also attended.

1:33:25That work then led to the start of a gun

1:33:27violence prevention summer institute

1:33:30where 15 of those young people continued

1:33:32with the office through a 4-week paid

1:33:34internship in partnership with the Pima

1:33:37County Onetop and its summer youth

1:33:39employment program. Each youth earned up

1:33:41to $2,000, which means approximately

1:33:44$30,000 went directly to 15 young people

1:33:48through employment and professional

1:33:49development.

1:33:51It is also important to note that some

1:33:52of those youth who participated live in

1:33:55the Viva zones. I want to thank our Puma

1:33:58County one-stop partners for supporting

1:34:01this work and helping us with targeted

1:34:03outreach. We look forward to continuing

1:34:05this partnership next summer. This work

1:34:08is not possible without our partners and

1:34:09the coordinated efforts. I want to

1:34:11recognize some of the community-based

1:34:12organizations that have been

1:34:14instrumental in strengthening Tucson's

1:34:16violence prevention ecosystem. The

1:34:18village program at Goodwill of Southern

1:34:20Arizona, Emerge, Voice to Men Tucson,

1:34:23Scaling Safety, LPKNC, Borderlands

1:34:26Theater, Flowers and Bullets, and the

1:34:28Nonviolence Legacy Program. These

1:34:30organizations are important partners in

1:34:33reaching young people, families, and

1:34:35community members and connecting them

1:34:37with opportunities and support. One

1:34:39recent accomplishment

1:34:41came through a coordinated partnership

1:34:43with Boys to Men, which was awarded

1:34:45$50,000 through the National Association

1:34:48of County and City Health Officials and

1:34:50the Center for Disease Control and

1:34:52Prevention. This work brought together a

1:34:54core group of partners to conduct a a

1:34:56landscape analysis of the existing youth

1:34:59violence prevention services in Tucson

1:35:01while also serve surveying the community

1:35:03about perceptions of youth violence

1:35:06community needs and prevention

1:35:07strategies.

1:35:09During May and June, 116 surveys were

1:35:12collected from youth parents, educators,

1:35:14mentors, and other community members.

1:35:17One of the strongest findings was that

1:35:19the relationships are at the center of

1:35:22youth safety. Respondents identified

1:35:24trusted adults, respected environments,

1:35:27positive activities, and welcoming

1:35:29spaces as some of the most important

1:35:31elements of a safe community. We also

1:35:34heard a need for more youth programs,

1:35:36employment opportunities, and community

1:35:38events, mental health resources, and

1:35:41safe recreational spaces. 28 schools and

1:35:44community sites across Tucson Over the

1:35:47summer, our office also continued our

1:35:49engagement across four Viva zones. We

1:35:52coordinated back to school resource

1:35:53fairs and distributed 300 backpacks

1:35:56filled with school supplies, hygiene

1:35:58products, and classroom supplies that

1:36:00families and teachers often need. We

1:36:03also continued distributing our

1:36:05community safety survey. Those surveys

1:36:07help us understand residents perceptions

1:36:09of safety, their top concerns, and what

1:36:12they believe their neighborhoods need.

1:36:14The community input continues to inform

1:36:16our Viva work. We also recently

1:36:19completed a gate installation at an

1:36:20alley near Grant Alveron in the Garden

1:36:23District. Neighborhood residents had

1:36:25identified access to that alley as an

1:36:27ongoing safety concern through our crime

1:36:29prevention and environmental design

1:36:31resources. We were able to respond to a

1:36:34concern that came directly from the

1:36:35neighborhood. As we continue investments

1:36:38of time and resources in the Viva zones

1:36:40through beautifification and

1:36:42neighborhood cleanup efforts, as we've

1:36:44heard from residents that they value uh

1:36:47safe and clean environments.

1:36:50Another thing I'm particularly uh

1:36:52excited about is that young people who

1:36:54participated in the summer institute are

1:36:57now helping plan our second annual

1:36:59violence reduction youth summit which

1:37:01will take place November 14th at the

1:37:02Dumbar Pavilion. This is important

1:37:05because we don't just want to develop

1:37:07programming for young people. We want

1:37:09young people to help uh we want young

1:37:11people to have a role in shaping

1:37:13violence prevention work. I also want to

1:37:16thank our partners as I mentioned

1:37:17earlier who are helping us plan and

1:37:20participate in this year's summit.

1:37:23Another example of how our office is

1:37:25responding to community concerns is our

1:37:28safe passage pilot work at Tucson High

1:37:31and Roskridge Middle School. A 311

1:37:34concern came in regarding youth

1:37:36congregating and vaping near a corner

1:37:38store

1:37:40during uh before and after school.

1:37:43[clears throat] Rather than looking at

1:37:44this uh as an enforcement issue, our

1:37:47team uh will be working with the scaling

1:37:50safety program uh to focus a training

1:37:53and long sustaining uh commitment to

1:37:56safe passage approach in this area.

1:37:59Lastly, I want to highlight another

1:38:01national learning opportunity for

1:38:02Tucson. Uh TPD, Emerge, and the Village

1:38:06program at Goodwill and our office will

1:38:09make up Tucson's core team participating

1:38:11in an ongoing national technical

1:38:13assistance and nerling lab through Cure

1:38:16Violence Global to support uh with

1:38:19support from the uh Ford Foundation.

1:38:22Through this opportunity, uh, we'll

1:38:24learn alongside eight other cities how

1:38:26communities are strengthening violence

1:38:28intervention efforts at the intersection

1:38:30of community violence and intimate

1:38:33partner violence. This is another

1:38:35opportunity for us to learn from other

1:38:37cities, bring those lessons back to

1:38:39Tucson, and continue strengthening the

1:38:42violence prevention and intervention

1:38:44ecosystems.

1:38:45I'll now pass it over to our assistant

1:38:48chief.

1:38:51Thank you, Oscar. Um, honorable mayor

1:38:54and council members, I'm going to do a

1:38:56quick uh update for us. Um, just a quick

1:38:59recap. I feel like we've talked about

1:39:01the violent crime reduction a lot, so

1:39:03I'm probably going to skip that and go

1:39:05straight to the efforts and any updates

1:39:07that we have. Um, just to recap, we

1:39:10partnered with Goodwill in 2023. And in

1:39:132024, we launched um the village, which

1:39:16is focused intervention referring young

1:39:18people from the ages of 12 to 24 at

1:39:20highest risk of gun violence. Um we also

1:39:23helped launch the first uh Arizona

1:39:26hospital linked violence um in which now

1:39:28Goodwill um responds bedside to. So a

1:39:32couple updates since as of September

1:39:3410th of this year, the village has

1:39:36received 900 referrals. 541 of those

1:39:39from TPD, 203 from Banner UMC, 186 from

1:39:44Pimac County Juvenile Court, and 155

1:39:48from other resources. Uh to your point,

1:39:50Mayor, we have started conversations

1:39:52with Puma County about what that looks

1:39:54like and expanding, and we are working

1:39:55with juvenile courts currently. Um let's

1:39:59see out of those uh referred uh 423 are

1:40:03currently in services and 447 are

1:40:07actively engaged in conversations with

1:40:09the village. Uh the village has also

1:40:12responded to 49 trauma patients and

1:40:14connected participants with academic job

1:40:17readiness behavioral health housing

1:40:19support through goodwill's four youth

1:40:21centers and community partners.

1:40:25uh TPD violence prevention coordinator

1:40:27and two detectives uh have back in June

1:40:30I talked about some places it's focused

1:40:33deterrence some it's other I talked

1:40:35about it previously but in June we

1:40:37launched um our which we altered it a

1:40:41little bit we altered our program and

1:40:43since then we have tried to engage with

1:40:4519 um young adults but we've connected

1:40:47with 13 um all 13 are currently enrolled

1:40:51in services with the goodwill and again

1:40:54it's early so I don't want to jinx

1:40:56oursel, but only one is reaffended. Um,

1:40:58and at the time we had contact with them

1:41:01two to three times a month. So, um,

1:41:04they've all been receptive. They've all

1:41:06been welcoming. Um, the meetings are

1:41:08with two of my amazing detectives. Um,

1:41:11and with Britney, um, sometimes with the

1:41:14village, it all depends on what would

1:41:16work best um, for the situation.

1:41:19Uh we also know that the data shows uh

1:41:2269% of the youth referred to the village

1:41:24has been ex have been exposed to

1:41:26domestic violence and 40% of them were

1:41:28victims themselves. TPD was awarded an

1:41:31$830,000 grant through OJJDP

1:41:35to build a citywide referral system um

1:41:38with JFCS, the Jewish Family Services,

1:41:41Emerge and Goodwill. So we'll all work

1:41:43together to stabilize the violence. Um,

1:41:45we're currently in the six-month

1:41:47planning process and I did learn from

1:41:49Britney on the way here that they had

1:41:51300 applicants. Only nine cities were

1:41:53selected and we were the only city that

1:41:55got the full amount of the grant. Um, so

1:41:58before I finish, I want to give a huge

1:42:01thanks to Britney, uh, Lance Meeks with

1:42:03Goodwill and Anna Harper from Emerge.

1:42:05None of these updates would be possible

1:42:07without them. Um, I also want to

1:42:09introduce, uh, or turn it over to

1:42:12Director Hamway. um she's going to cover

1:42:14parks, but I want to talk briefly about

1:42:17uh TPD and parks relationship and how we

1:42:19work regularly. Um we're in constant

1:42:21communication to talk about any events

1:42:24going on to make sure that we have a

1:42:25presence there. Uh anytime there's

1:42:28little league games or anything going

1:42:29on, we want to make sure that we have a

1:42:31presence in the area or connecting with

1:42:33the community there. Um and constantly

1:42:36working uh to have a better presence in

1:42:38the park um with youth also.

1:42:43Thank you. Thank you, Diana. And also,

1:42:46we've had police officers run through

1:42:48splash pads that are opening, so we

1:42:50appreciate that as well.

1:42:52>> [snorts]

1:42:52>> Um, from the parks and recreation

1:42:55aspect, uh, when it comes to Tucson

1:42:57youth, we cover the full spectrum from

1:43:00employment and workforce development,

1:43:02child care, sports, water safety,

1:43:04inclusive recreation, and free

1:43:05neighborhood programs, as well as

1:43:08long-term park investments that are

1:43:09focused on youth enjoyment.

1:43:12We are often the first job for many

1:43:15youth. This past year, we hired 356

1:43:20um individuals ages 15 to 22. Um what

1:43:23I'm pretty proud of is that we see a lot

1:43:25that come back to us year after year

1:43:27while they're in high school and even

1:43:28through college. We had 59 teens that

1:43:32were in our workforce development

1:43:33program. So that's age 14 and 15 who are

1:43:36in what's called junior staff and

1:43:38training that we're hoping are going to

1:43:40apply to be a wreck worker the next

1:43:42summer, which they have to be age 16.

1:43:45And we don't just hire them. We do

1:43:46extensive training and exposure. What

1:43:48does it mean to be a city employee? We

1:43:50give them first aid, CPR, and if they're

1:43:52lifeguards, then we certify them to how

1:43:55to rescue a life and how to guard a pool

1:43:58safely. Um, we offer safe spaces of care

1:44:03with 976

1:44:05summer campers and 722 currently

1:44:08afterchool participants in our Kitco

1:44:11program. Um, we are a place that parents

1:44:14have confidence that we will keep their

1:44:16kids safe while they're at work. And

1:44:18this year, we're happy to report 132

1:44:21families have or individuals or kids um

1:44:25are covered under our discount program,

1:44:28which means we've made Kidco affordable,

1:44:30an affordable choice for parents who

1:44:32really need that safe space after school

1:44:34for their children. Our facilities offer

1:44:37connection between spring and fall se.

1:44:41We host over 2,000 teams in our city

1:44:44parks. What does that really represent?

1:44:46If you think an average of 10 athletes

1:44:48per team, that's 20,000 children that

1:44:51are going to be after school using our

1:44:54fields, playing, learning the dynamics

1:44:56of being on a team, taking direction

1:44:58from a coach and building a sense of

1:45:00community peer-to-peer and also the

1:45:03families that are involved in those team

1:45:04activities. Thanks to our partnership

1:45:07with Puma County Health Department, this

1:45:09past summer we were able to teach 3,181

1:45:13children how to swim for free. um which

1:45:16we thought was an impressive and

1:45:18impactful amount and even were able um

1:45:21just because Oscar is here and he

1:45:23mentioned the Viva program we were even

1:45:24able to connect thanks to Ward 3 with

1:45:27the Afi Union and offer the some of the

1:45:29young ladies in their program an ability

1:45:31to take advantage of the free lessons at

1:45:33Thompson Pool. Um thanks to our

1:45:36therapeutic recreation division, our

1:45:38inclusive programs allowed 52 children

1:45:40and young adults with disabilities to

1:45:42find a welcoming environment this

1:45:44summer. whether it was to be inclusive,

1:45:45meaning they metriculated into our our

1:45:48normal summer camp or they participated

1:45:50in camp discovery. Um so we're focused

1:45:53on not only inclusive but also adaptive

1:45:55experiences so they also find a place to

1:45:58be safe um to build a community and to

1:46:01have fun. Um, finally, recognizing the

1:46:04value of our neighborhood centers. In

1:46:062024, we eliminated the barrier of

1:46:08paytoplay in um, which meant that any,

1:46:12uh, youth or adult could go to these

1:46:14eight centers for free. We looked at the

1:46:17last fiscal year um, and 966 youth used

1:46:21our free centers. And, uh, just recently

1:46:24talking to Santa Rosa coordinator, he

1:46:27told me on average he has 35 kids that

1:46:29come for the free program. and that is

1:46:31uh in the afterchool and that's at the

1:46:33same time that we have kidco going on.

1:46:36So I think it's a great example how that

1:46:37one location is serving families who

1:46:40need both. They want Kidco which is a

1:46:42little bit more structured and they also

1:46:44want K their kids to come and do the

1:46:46dropin. Um with Proposition 407 as you

1:46:50all are aware we've had lots of

1:46:52different 186 total projects so far

1:46:55delivered playgrounds and splash pads.

1:46:58just this year alone, uh, one new splash

1:47:00pad just opened last Friday, uh, five

1:47:03new playgrounds and nine new or rebuilt

1:47:06sports fields, which I think signifies

1:47:08Parks and Wreck, Mayor and Council's

1:47:10investment in not only the enjoyment and

1:47:12the safety of kids today, but in the

1:47:15future as well. Thank you.

1:47:17>> Thank you so much. Really appreciate the

1:47:19presentations.

1:47:21Um, I want to hand it over to council

1:47:23member Barahas, but I cannot

1:47:26um, you know, gloss over the,

1:47:31uh, data that shows 69% of youth

1:47:36referred to the village program have

1:47:39been exposed to domestic violence. the

1:47:42connection uh between domestic violence

1:47:46and community violence

1:47:49um is really clear and I really want to

1:47:52commend Tucson Police Department um Anna

1:47:56Harper over at Emerge as well as Lance

1:47:59Meeks at the village and all of the work

1:48:02that we're doing um to really expose the

1:48:06root causes of violence in our community

1:48:09and be able to invest in it. The 850,

1:48:13what is it? $830,000

1:48:16um from the federal government is really

1:48:20good news for us to be able to do some

1:48:24digging and do some preliminary work

1:48:27into this connection and then figure out

1:48:30how we do this together. I'm I'm I'm I

1:48:33am not

1:48:34um

1:48:37uh thinking that the city of Tucson will

1:48:40be able to do this incredible work that

1:48:43needs to be done to prevent violence uh

1:48:46in our community and and and to

1:48:48intervene when violence is happening. Uh

1:48:51just us, right? We're going to need the

1:48:54partnerships with our nonprofit

1:48:55partners, with Pima County, with the

1:48:58state of Arizona, and with the federal

1:49:00government investing in the programs

1:49:04that actually work. So, thank you so

1:49:06much. Really appreciate it. With that, I

1:49:08wanted to uh give Council Member Barahas

1:49:10an opportunity to jump in and if there's

1:49:13[clears throat] any questions from my

1:49:14colleagues on the council.

1:49:16>> Thank you, mayor, and thank you to

1:49:17everyone here in the room. As we're

1:49:19hearing, it really truly takes a a

1:49:22village to make this work possible.

1:49:25Our office has had many conversations

1:49:27with young people in our community

1:49:28regarding violence prevention and

1:49:30intervention. In recent months, our

1:49:32community has faced and dealt with

1:49:35incidences of street racing, gun

1:49:38violence, and domestic violence. On

1:49:40April 10th, the three-year-old girl,

1:49:42Anna Garcia, was killed when two young

1:49:45men were street racing. ages aged 22 and

1:49:4916 and they crashed into the family's

1:49:52vehicle near Valencian Country Club,

1:49:54splitting the vehicle in half and

1:49:55injuring others in the car as well.

1:49:57[snorts] On July 19th, there was a mass

1:49:59shooting incident in downtown Tucson,

1:50:01which brought national news and the

1:50:04perpetrator identified as a 21-year-old

1:50:06young man. Community members have also

1:50:08come inside here to mayor and council

1:50:10called to the audience to share their

1:50:12personal grief having lost loved ones

1:50:14due to street racing and gun violence.

1:50:17The family and friends of victims are

1:50:19asking the city to find solutions. We

1:50:21have been working with family members,

1:50:23parents, and siblings who have expressed

1:50:25these tragic losses, including Isabelle

1:50:28Mariscal, who lost her brother to gun

1:50:29violence last year. While solutions must

1:50:32be multiacetated, a youth and young

1:50:35adult engagement is an important

1:50:37component.

1:50:39The perpetrators of this violence have

1:50:40frequently been young men, and the

1:50:42victims are often youth or young adults

1:50:45as well. These families are very

1:50:47interested in both the prevention side

1:50:49of this work, how we can create more

1:50:51positive activities for youth and young

1:50:53adults and how we sustain the support

1:50:57it's needed to make sure our young folks

1:50:59can thrive here in Tucson. And they have

1:51:02important insights on intervention

1:51:04having lived through these tragic losses

1:51:06themselves. For example, the family of

1:51:08Anna Garcia, the father, Manny, he is a

1:51:12coach for the Tucson Raiders League. And

1:51:15he shared with us how youth football and

1:51:17cheerleading are important activities at

1:51:20our parks, specifically Silver Lake Park

1:51:22and soon next year at Santaita Park to

1:51:24keep kids engaged and out of trouble and

1:51:27to be able to provide mentorship

1:51:29opportunities.

1:51:30We have important conversations ahead of

1:51:32us along with actions to take on

1:51:35questions such as how can we better

1:51:37ensure that our city's vibrant nightlife

1:51:38scene remains safe and inclusive? What

1:51:41activities do we need in our parks and

1:51:43recreation centers to provide healthy,

1:51:45fun activities that youth and young

1:51:47adults want to participate in? And how

1:51:49can we better engage with our county and

1:51:51school district partners in this work?

1:51:53As those around the table know, our

1:51:56office has been focused on activating

1:51:57our W five parks, particularly Sanorita

1:52:01Park, where we just held a ribbon

1:52:02cutting on Friday and celebrated the

1:52:05grand reopening.

1:52:07We don't have an official estimate of

1:52:09attendance, but many accounts are saying

1:52:11we had over 4,000 people, and the park

1:52:13has stayed busy since. And I want to

1:52:16thank both TPD and TFD for having a

1:52:19threeon-ree basketball tournament. We

1:52:21won't say who won, but thank you all for

1:52:22being there. We have also been hosting a

1:52:25well-attended Movies in the Park series.

1:52:27Families, teenagers, and young adults

1:52:29attending these events shared with us

1:52:31that they would love more activities in

1:52:33the parks like movies in the parks or

1:52:35outdoor dance nights or the opportunity

1:52:37to play basketball indoors and outdoors.

1:52:40They want well-ared, maintained

1:52:42playgrounds, grass area areas to roller

1:52:45skate, bike, and skateboard just to be

1:52:48active and to have more job

1:52:50opportunities as well. [gasps] Our

1:52:52office will continue to work closely

1:52:54with parks and recreation to identify

1:52:56leisure class programming at our

1:52:57recreation centers in Ward 5. We

1:53:00currently are conducting a survey to

1:53:02receive feedback and we work closely

1:53:05with parks and rec to apply for the

1:53:06Tonatham Nation gaming grants to provide

1:53:09shade structures at some of our hottest

1:53:11basketball courts. And I'm proud to

1:53:13share that our to our Tono ATM vice

1:53:15chairwoman Carla Johnson announced on

1:53:17Friday that we received the grant for

1:53:19both Santaita Park and PBLO Gardens

1:53:21Park.

1:53:23Again, youth voice is important and we

1:53:25move as we move our safe city initiative

1:53:28work forward. A few months ago, I asked

1:53:30if we could appoint a youth

1:53:32representative to the safe city task

1:53:33force and I recommended Desert View High

1:53:36School sophomore Alejandro Beltran to be

1:53:38the first appointee. Alejandro is a

1:53:40leader off and off off and on school

1:53:44in the neighborhood and at Desert View.

1:53:46And I want to thank you, city manager

1:53:48and assistant city manager Liz Morales

1:53:50for appointing Alejandro to the task

1:53:52force. Alejandro is here today on his

1:53:55fall break joining us. Alejandro again

1:53:58has demonstrated leadership on the

1:54:00student council at Desert View as well

1:54:02as his role as LPKNC's youth empowerment

1:54:04council president. He will bring forward

1:54:07perspectives on education, mental

1:54:09health, and student opportunities. I

1:54:11would like to invite him to the podium

1:54:13if he could just briefly introduce

1:54:15himself and share a little bit more

1:54:16about why he was interested in joining

1:54:18the task force. Thank you.

1:54:21Hello honorable mayor, members of the

1:54:23council. My name is Alejandro Beltran. I

1:54:26am a student leader, youth advocate, and

1:54:28proud member of the Tucson community. I

1:54:31am currently I currently serve as

1:54:32student body vice president at Desert

1:54:34View High School. Um I also serve as at

1:54:37other youth leadership roles, including

1:54:39being part of the Governor's Youth

1:54:40Commission and the Safe City Task Force,

1:54:42being a youth representative. Um,

1:54:44through these experiences, I've learned

1:54:46how important it is for young people to

1:54:48not only have a voice, but to also use

1:54:50that voice to create a meaningful change

1:54:53in our schools and in our community.

1:54:56This is why I am proud to be here today

1:54:58to be a youth member of safe city safe

1:55:00city task force and I would like to

1:55:02speak a little bit about that and why it

1:55:04is so important to have that task force

1:55:06and the work that we've done. Although

1:55:07I've only attended uh two meetings uh

1:55:10since I've been appointed, I have seen

1:55:12the incredible uh job that this task

1:55:15force have uh has done over the months

1:55:17that it has been created. First, I want

1:55:20to sincerely thank the mayor and council

1:55:23for giving people in our community,

1:55:24especially young people, a voice in

1:55:26decisions that affect us. Um having a

1:55:29seat at the table shows us that

1:55:30experiences, concerns, and ideas matter.

1:55:34As a young person, I see tireless work

1:55:37that the mayor and council does to

1:55:39address the challenges that our city

1:55:41faces because let's be real, there are

1:55:43many challenges that we have and many

1:55:45challenges that we are trying to fix. Uh

1:55:47we may not always see everything that

1:55:49happens behind the scenes, but we see

1:55:50the effort, the conversations, and the

1:55:53commitment to making Tucson bright and

1:55:55the stronger community. Uh and that is

1:55:57why I believe trust is so important for

1:56:00our city to move forward. The community

1:56:02has to believe that leaders are lead our

1:56:06leaders are listening and that our

1:56:08leaders have to know that the community

1:56:10is willing to be part of the solution.

1:56:15Trust is built through communication,

1:56:17transparency, and giving people a

1:56:19genuine opportunity to participate.

1:56:21That's what makes the Safe City Task

1:56:23Force so meaningful to me. The task

1:56:26force has been working hard to turn

1:56:27community voices into meaningful

1:56:29recommendations. We have helped develop

1:56:32the safe city action plan which provided

1:56:34feedback on public safety policies and

1:56:37strategies and discuss ways to track

1:56:39progress in areas such as crisis

1:56:41response, housing access, and community

1:56:44violence reduction. But our work is

1:56:46about more than plans and policies. It

1:56:48is about hearing different perspectives,

1:56:51listening to community concerns, asking

1:56:53questions, and sharing experiences, and

1:56:55providing feedback. Everyone comes to

1:56:58the table with different experiences and

1:57:00I believe that that is one of the task

1:57:01force strengths. By hearing those

1:57:03different perspectives, we can better

1:57:05understand challenges facing Tucson and

1:57:08working on better solutions. As a youth

1:57:10member, I am proud to bring young

1:57:12people's perspective into these

1:57:13conversations. And that's why I feel

1:57:15like it's important to bring youth

1:57:17because we see things in our schools,

1:57:19our neighborhoods, and communities that

1:57:21may not always be visible to others. as

1:57:23you guys are always working uh with

1:57:26adults in uh different parts of the

1:57:28community, but of course as youth we

1:57:30have a really different perspective. But

1:57:32our responsibility is not just to

1:57:34identify problems. It is to help find

1:57:36solutions. I see my role on the task

1:57:38force not simply as a title but as a

1:57:40responsibility. Our responsibility to

1:57:42listen, speak up, provide honest

1:57:44feedback, and make sure young people's

1:57:46voices are part of the conversation.

1:57:49Young people are not just the leaders of

1:57:50tomorrow. We're the leaders of today.

1:57:53When young people are given a seat at

1:57:54the table, we feel trusted, respected,

1:57:57and empowered to make our community

1:57:58better. No one no one person or

1:58:01organization can create a safer Tucson.

1:58:03It takes our city leaders, families,

1:58:06schools, community organizations, and

1:58:08young people working together. So, I

1:58:10want to thank mayor and council for

1:58:11giving our community that opportunity

1:58:13for creating spaces where our voices can

1:58:16be heard. If we want a safer Tucson, we

1:58:18have to listen to our community, trust

1:58:20our community, and work with our

1:58:22community. I am grateful for the

1:58:24opportunity to serve on the Safe City

1:58:26Task Force, and I look forward to

1:58:28continuing this work alongside our

1:58:29community and our city leaders. Thank

1:58:32you. And if you guys have any questions,

1:58:34I am more than open and willing to

1:58:36answer them. Thank you.

1:58:37>> Thank you, Alejandro. That was

1:58:39wonderful. Thank you so much.

1:58:40>> Thank you.

1:58:42>> That was like an perfect election

1:58:44speech.

1:58:47Yes, Mr. Tamir.

1:58:49>> Honorable Mayor Alejandra, I do have a

1:58:51question for you. How many more of our

1:58:53boards and commissions can you serve on?

1:58:55[laughter]

1:58:56>> I mean, I already serve on the

1:58:58governor's youth commission, which I

1:58:59feel like gives me a really big uh

1:59:02perspective. It's 69 youth across all of

1:59:04the counties of Arizona. Uh where I am

1:59:07part of the substance misuse prevention

1:59:09workforce. uh where we are working I'm

1:59:12current I every commissioner has to do

1:59:14three personal projects um and I am

1:59:16working on my three personal projects

1:59:17and I would love to collaborate with

1:59:19many of our city leaders uh to do those

1:59:21so that many youth around their

1:59:22community have a voice and could attend

1:59:25those uh different events so that they

1:59:27know what substance misuse is. I am also

1:59:30collaborating with other of the youth uh

1:59:32from those from the commission um

1:59:34including uh our environment and also

1:59:37including um domestic violence which is

1:59:39I it's a really also a really important

1:59:41topic. So I really thank the commitment

1:59:43that you guys have and I um I strive to

1:59:46continue to uh support and help our city

1:59:49to become a better place. So, thank you,

1:59:51Alejandro. And I I appreciate that you

1:59:53bring up the state and and the the

1:59:56governor's youth advisory council

1:59:58because I want to make sure, as I said

2:00:01earlier, that we're not doing this

2:00:02alone, that we're working in partnership

2:00:05and collaboration with the state of

2:00:07Arizona as well as with our federal

2:00:10partners and Puma County. One of the

2:00:13topics that we talked about in our joint

2:00:14meeting with Puma County was youth and

2:00:17youth engagement and workforce training.

2:00:19And so I would personally, Mr. manager

2:00:23like to know how do we set up the

2:00:26conversation with Pima County so that we

2:00:29can figure out the ecosystem to youth

2:00:32resources and services

2:00:35including youth employment programming

2:00:38um including

2:00:40um uh workforce training and um the

2:00:46afterchool programming and and

2:00:49engagement of youth and what they want

2:00:51to see uh in terms of entertainment,

2:00:55right? Entertainment and engagement. So,

2:00:58I really would like to see that in our

2:01:00next joint meeting. I know that we

2:01:01focused a lot in it and youth um and I

2:01:06think it was economic development the

2:01:07last joint meeting. How do we how do we

2:01:10create these ecosystem and make sure

2:01:12that we are working with Puma County to

2:01:15find where the gaps exist and we can

2:01:17partner on.

2:01:20I know that vice mayor wanted to get on

2:01:22quue to ask questions. Um, open it up

2:01:26for all of you.

2:01:27>> Uh, thank you, mayor. Um, and thank you,

2:01:29Alejandro. Um, also a Desert View uh

2:01:32alumni, so really um proud to have you

2:01:35um serve the city in this capacity. Um,

2:01:38I just wanted to to thank, you know, the

2:01:40entire team um for all of your work and

2:01:45um getting this in front of us. I I know

2:01:48that a lot of our our gun violence

2:01:51prevention work has focused around the

2:01:53Viva sites. Um but a lot of um the

2:01:57violence that we're seeing is still

2:01:58happening in our southside communities

2:02:00in W one and W five. And so I'm

2:02:02wondering are we expanding um some of

2:02:05this work to reach you know some of

2:02:07these more southside communities um so

2:02:10that we're actually uh um make I guess

2:02:13making a dent in the numbers that we

2:02:15have right now.

2:02:17I can answer for TPD. Thank you,

2:02:19honorable mayor and vice mayor Santa

2:02:21Cruz. Uh all of ours is not um our

2:02:25efforts that I talked about here are not

2:02:27focused in the Viva locations. They are

2:02:30throughout the divisions. They're based

2:02:32on the highest um youth youth at risk.

2:02:35And then all through Puma County, um,

2:02:39a lot of the juveniles that are arrested

2:02:42or taken in there for gun violence are

2:02:44now also being referred to the village.

2:02:46So all of those referrals are throughout

2:02:49um throughout um Tucson. Uh, and all the

2:02:53divisions, interesting enough, the

2:02:54homicides are about even um with all of

2:02:58the divisions. Each division carries

2:02:59about 25%. Um but the shootings uh

2:03:03non-fatal shootings primarily the

2:03:06highest peaks are in um the south side

2:03:08and the west side. So both of them

2:03:11there. So we um we do refer some from

2:03:14the the viv the viva sites but most of

2:03:17us are just whoever is at highest risk.

2:03:20So we are we are not just working in the

2:03:22viva locations currently.

2:03:25>> Any others?

2:03:27>> Oh I'm sorry. Vice Mayor for the

2:03:29>> the Office of Violence Prevention and

2:03:31Intervention.

2:03:34>> We we've um seen in the South Viva

2:03:38zone a stabilization and we're we're

2:03:42seeing um important work that's

2:03:44happening by our law enforcement

2:03:46partners and um we're also uh providing

2:03:49youth services on site um at that uh

2:03:52large apartment complex 6200 South

2:03:54Campbell. Um, but we know that uh

2:03:57violence is um it's it's it's not

2:04:00contained and and doesn't happen in one

2:04:02area. we know that it it travels. Um,

2:04:06and so I'm I'm really um curious and I'm

2:04:08going to I mentioned this to the

2:04:10assistant chief last week uh to sit down

2:04:13with our TPD partners and the research

2:04:15analysis team and and begin to look at

2:04:18uh gun violence and look at any trends

2:04:20and potentially begin to focus in those

2:04:23areas that uh we're seeing an increase

2:04:27in gun violence.

2:04:30I think I'm I'm sitting uh with the

2:04:32correlation of um young people having

2:04:36been exposed to domestic violence. And

2:04:37so again, thank you, Anna Harper, for

2:04:39being here and for all of your work with

2:04:41the merge. And just curious like what is

2:04:44what what's our role, you know, and

2:04:46being a partner in in addressing um the

2:04:49violence that our young people are being

2:04:50exposed to at home. Uh it's

2:04:55as a parent, it's just really hard, you

2:04:57know, to um to to stomach um the

2:05:00experience of other young people at home

2:05:03and um kind of the normalizing of of

2:05:06this violence. So I want to continue to

2:05:08have that conversation and also just

2:05:10create a some strategy for our

2:05:12southside, west side um to really in

2:05:15invest or spend a lot more uh time

2:05:18addressing u gun violence.

2:05:22Thank you.

2:05:25>> All righty. Um, as mayor, I represent

2:05:27every word and so, um, I want I'm very

2:05:33interested in in terms of pinpointing

2:05:36the locations

2:05:38as to where the violence is happening

2:05:40and engaging youth and community in

2:05:43those areas. you mentioned uh chief that

2:05:47um we kind of carry a a same percentage

2:05:50in every um district within TPD. And so

2:05:56I'm really wanting to see where are the

2:05:59areas in every district throughout the

2:06:01city of Tucson and then how we you know

2:06:05focus have a focused approach uh with

2:06:08those areas and working with youth

2:06:10specifically since this item is focused

2:06:14also on youth and youth uh young adult

2:06:17engagement.

2:06:18How do we how do we work with these

2:06:20communities? And again, I want to make

2:06:23sure that we are partnering with Puma

2:06:25County so that we have a um um a

2:06:30strategic approach amongst at least

2:06:33these two jurisdictions and then bring

2:06:35in whatever funding mechanisms from the

2:06:39state and then the work that they do as

2:06:42well as the uh funding mechanisms from

2:06:45the federal government. So, I know that

2:06:47there are some comments, questions on

2:06:49this item and then we're going to have

2:06:50to move forward. I think we could spend

2:06:52two hours on this item and we can

2:06:55absolutely bring it back. So, any of my

2:06:57colleagues? Council member Schubert.

2:07:00>> Thank you, Madame Mayor, members of the

2:07:01council. And I'll try to keep it brief.

2:07:03I'm looking at the time, too. Um, and

2:07:06thank you, uh, Mayor Romero and Council

2:07:08Member Brahas for bringing this item to

2:07:10us today. I want to shout out and

2:07:12express my appreciation for this work of

2:07:14VIVA and community safety, health, and

2:07:16wellness under the safe city plan. While

2:07:18overall violent crime is trending

2:07:19downward in Tucson and across the

2:07:21nation, I understand how the impact of

2:07:23an act of violence alters a life

2:07:25forever. Effective approaches to

2:07:27community safety require the two-pronged

2:07:29approach outlined here. Immediate

2:07:31intervention and trauma-informed care

2:07:33when violence happens paired with

2:07:35long-term evidence-based strategies for

2:07:37violence prevention that addresses the

2:07:39root cause. This is a comprehensive

2:07:41public health approach to addressing

2:07:42violence in our community and I am a

2:07:44strong supporter of adding this tool to

2:07:46our strategy and then I'll just ask one

2:07:48of my questions and probably send the

2:07:50other ones. Um so just a little bit of

2:07:52feedback about the OVPI roadmap. Goal

2:07:54number five focuses on building

2:07:56sustainability of this work through

2:07:58funding, staffing, partnerships and

2:08:00more. Given the extensive work that is

2:08:03already being done by Viva and community

2:08:05safety, health and wellness, I want to

2:08:07ensure staff capacity can meet the

2:08:09long-term goals of this roadmap. Do you

2:08:11have a projected dollar amount that

2:08:13would be needed to sustain and scale the

2:08:15OVPI effectively? Knowing this projected

2:08:18amount can help us as mayor and council

2:08:20consider and prepare for bud budget

2:08:22allocations in the future. And then I'll

2:08:24send the other questions along. Thank

2:08:26you so much.

2:08:30Thank you, Council Member Miranda. I

2:08:32will definitely come back to you with

2:08:33that number. Uh, I'm going to sit down

2:08:36with our community safety director,

2:08:39Brandy Champion, and with um our

2:08:41assistant city manager, Liz Morales, and

2:08:43happy to come back to the table uh to

2:08:46provide a number to sustain uh some of

2:08:48some of [clears throat] this work

2:08:49through a public health approach. I

2:08:51agree. And I think that um we do find

2:08:54ourselves at times um uh limited and uh

2:08:58have to be very strategic and rely uh

2:09:02heavy on our on our partners to provide

2:09:04uh services and opportunities for

2:09:06individuals that are experiencing

2:09:07violence or or victims of violence.

2:09:10Thank you.

2:09:11>> Thank you so much. I'll follow up by

2:09:13email.

2:09:14>> Thank you so much. Any others? All

2:09:17righty. Well, uh thank you so much for

2:09:19the presentation. really appreciate it.

2:09:22Um, Alejandro Beltran, thank you so much

2:09:24for being our youth appointee to the

2:09:28safe city task force. I really do look

2:09:30forward to having these conversations

2:09:33shared at the safe city task force level

2:09:36so that you know as we move forward with

2:09:41uh the office of violence prevention and

2:09:43intervention work and also the work that

2:09:46is being done with the village and

2:09:48emerge and TPD on the correlation of

2:09:52domestic violence and violence in our

2:09:54community that we can keep all of us

2:09:57informed and have the youth voices and

2:09:59all of the other different diverse

2:10:01voices of the safe city task force be

2:10:04part uh of this conversation. So this I

2:10:08know this was an update and uh we have

2:10:11no um motions prepared for this but

2:10:14really appreciate it and thank you for

2:10:16the partnership for um every everyone

2:10:19that works on this day in and day out.

2:10:22Thank you Oscar. Appreciate it. All

2:10:25righty. Um,

2:10:27that item took a little bit longer than

2:10:30we had assigned time for, but that's

2:10:34okay. It was an important conversation

2:10:36we had to have on an important update to

2:10:38safe city. We are moving forward with

2:10:42item six, which is a discuss discussion

2:10:45on PSPRS and a presentation. Time has

2:10:48been set aside to receive an update and

2:10:50discuss the public safety personnel

2:10:52retirement systems. I know that James

2:10:55Mack, PSPRS administrator, is here with

2:10:58us and Anna Rosenberry will uh sit next

2:11:02to him. So, Mr. Manager, the floor is

2:11:04yours.

2:11:05>> Thank you, honorable mayor and members

2:11:06of the council, as we like to do at

2:11:09least once a year. Uh we have invited

2:11:11down uh the administrator of the public

2:11:14safety uh personnel retirement system.

2:11:16Uh and it's uh his first visit to us

2:11:18here at the at the dis. So, welcome uh

2:11:21James Mack. Um also at the dis is our

2:11:24assistant city manager and CFO Anna

2:11:26Rosenberry. And uh we uh do plan to give

2:11:29you a comprehensive update on the

2:11:31financial performance of the PSPRS fund

2:11:34and our section 115 trust once uh we

2:11:37have kind of final numbers in the bank,

2:11:39but we might leak some information to

2:11:41you here about how things went last

2:11:43year. Uh so without further ado, um

2:11:45James, if you'd like to introduce

2:11:46yourself to our team.

2:11:48>> Thank you. I appreciate that. Um name is

2:11:51James Mack. um, director of Arizona

2:11:54public safety and personnel retirement

2:11:56system. I um, thank you all first of

2:11:59all, council for having me here. It's a

2:12:02pleasure to be in the great city of

2:12:04Tucson. It's now my third visit down I

2:12:07guess and so um, getting used to my

2:12:10surroundings here, but I um, I am about

2:12:14uh, four and a half months into the

2:12:16role. So um, I'm enjoying it. I am

2:12:21originally from Louisiana and relocated

2:12:23down for the position.

2:12:26Uh I have oh gosh I don't know 20

2:12:31eight or 29 years of institutional

2:12:35investment experience.

2:12:37I spent the last uh 13 or 14 years

2:12:41um on the public side. Um, I managed a

2:12:46uh a pension fund back in Louisiana that

2:12:49was both um public safety and non-public

2:12:52safety. Uh, and prior to that, I I

2:12:55managed money for the state of Louisiana

2:12:57treasures office. Uh, primarily our

2:12:59fixed income portfolios.

2:13:02Um, while in that role, I did uh I sat

2:13:05on a number of Louisiana's public

2:13:08pension plans from small plans all the

2:13:11way down to about $250 million all the

2:13:14way up to um upwards of $30 billion.

2:13:18So, I got a broad scope of of the public

2:13:22plan uh sector and its challenges and

2:13:26the good that it does. And so, I'm very

2:13:28excited to be here. um and working and

2:13:32fighting on behalf of Arizona's public

2:13:34safety workers. And so I um thank you

2:13:38again for having me. I'm try to keep it

2:13:40brief. It sounds like maybe you guys are

2:13:42running a little bit behind schedule, so

2:13:44[laughter]

2:13:45I don't want to hold you.

2:13:46>> First and foremost, welcome to the city

2:13:48of Tucson. Thank you so much for coming

2:13:50to our uh study session, Mr. Mack. We

2:13:54are really appreciative of you deciding

2:13:58to come to Arizona and really head our

2:14:01PSPs

2:14:03um pension system in in Arizona. Um I

2:14:07did want to make sure that you met

2:14:10Elizabeth Gurbelloo who's the secretary

2:14:13of the PSPs board. She's right there

2:14:15waving over there with her team.

2:14:17Hopefully you get to to meet each other

2:14:20um because uh Miss Gello really helps us

2:14:24run the daytoday of the PSPs board and

2:14:27the needs of the members both in police

2:14:29and fire. Um I know that

2:14:34I've had a long relationship and

2:14:36knowledge of our PSPs

2:14:39um pension system within Arizona. It has

2:14:44always been, I must admit, very

2:14:46exasperating. not being able to, you

2:14:49know, do the work that you do

2:14:51>> uh on the city council now as mayor

2:14:54because we have our own TSRS system, our

2:14:58own pension system that we run and

2:15:00manage and we have much more of a say in

2:15:04terms of how um the management uh and at

2:15:08the same time the funded liability

2:15:11looks like with the decisions that are

2:15:13being made in TSRS. And so, um, I

2:15:17understand that both with our section

2:15:21115 trust as well as,

2:15:25um, the investments that we're making

2:15:27in, um, from general fund to the PSPs,

2:15:33uh, both combined, the 115 trust and the

2:15:36general fund investments that we have a

2:15:4066.5%

2:15:41funded ratio.

2:15:44That's

2:15:45from like 32% funded ratio that used to

2:15:51be the case before we created our 115

2:15:55trust. Every year mayor and council

2:15:59budget approximately I'm trying to look

2:16:02at the numbers.

2:16:05Um, we budget approximately,

2:16:08let me see, $76 million

2:16:11from our general fund and approximately

2:16:1650.3 million from our 115 trust. That's

2:16:21a lot of money that we're putting into

2:16:25PSPRS every single year. And one of the

2:16:29reasons that I do it as mayor is because

2:16:32I want to make sure that we have a PRS

2:16:35PSPs system that is serving the men and

2:16:39women that served us the community. And

2:16:44so I highly believe in pensions and

2:16:47contributing to pensions, but I do hope

2:16:51that our future partnership between the

2:16:53city of Tucson and PSPRS administration

2:16:58um continues to see the funded ratio of

2:17:04our system

2:17:06uh go higher and higher uh so that we

2:17:09can have the security for police and

2:17:12firefighters that served our community

2:17:15that are retired um and that we could

2:17:19see that into the future. So, I just

2:17:21that was my soap box. That's what I will

2:17:23contribute. But, um I I don't know if my

2:17:27colleagues on the council have some

2:17:29feedback, but or if you wanted to

2:17:31contribute in terms of where you want to

2:17:33go as a new administrator.

2:17:36>> Thank you. Thank you, mayor. I can

2:17:37respond. So you did mention two things

2:17:39that are high priorities for me coming

2:17:42into the role. Uh number one is uh

2:17:46funded status of our employers, our

2:17:49partners, right? Um

2:17:52the funding status or lack thereof is is

2:17:55not just an issue in Arizona, but that

2:17:58obviously that's an issue nationally

2:18:00among public pension plans. One of the

2:18:02things that probably keep me up at night

2:18:04the most is um what our funding levels

2:18:07are. Um because you know nationally

2:18:10we're over three and a half trillion

2:18:13dollars in unfunded liabilities as a

2:18:15country um from a public pension

2:18:18standpoint. And so I am proud to say

2:18:21that the aggregate for PSPs is is now

2:18:24over 70% funded for tier one and two um

2:18:29which is outstanding and is is now above

2:18:31the national average especially for

2:18:33public safety workers which tends to

2:18:36skew a little bit lower than for

2:18:38non-public safety. Um, so I am proud of

2:18:40that and that's certainly something that

2:18:42um is always going to be a priority for

2:18:45me and the rest of the staff at PSPRS.

2:18:48Uh, secondly, uh, a big goal of mine is

2:18:52um, ensuring that we have great

2:18:54relationships with our partners um, both

2:18:57our um, employers as well as our other

2:19:01external stakeholders. And so I've spent

2:19:04the last again four and a half months um

2:19:08in [snorts] a lot of meetings with a lot

2:19:10of our stakeholders. Um I've gone to

2:19:13every conference imaginable so far here

2:19:16in the state uh meeting with our

2:19:18stakeholders. Um understanding what some

2:19:21of their challenges are and how we might

2:19:23be able to address those. So a goal for

2:19:26me is to make sure that we have as as

2:19:28good a relationship as we can. um which

2:19:31is part of the reason why I was um

2:19:33excited to come down and meet with you

2:19:35all today. And so anything I can do, I I

2:19:37serve with an open door policy.

2:19:40So anytime anyone needs to contact me,

2:19:43give me a call. I um I won't hesitate to

2:19:47get you on the calendar and whatever I

2:19:49can do to help or answer any questions

2:19:51or point you in the right direction, I'm

2:19:53certainly um excited to do so.

2:19:56>> Thank you, Mr. Mack. And uh the person

2:19:58to your right, Anna Rosenberry, is

2:20:01[laughter]

2:20:01a key person to um make sure that that

2:20:05you know that you meet and work with.

2:20:08With that, Council Member Cunningham, I

2:20:09know that you had some questions and

2:20:11comments.

2:20:13[snorts]

2:20:14>> Welcome aboard. Welcome to Arizona.

2:20:16>> Thank you.

2:20:17>> Actually, thanks for making the drive

2:20:18down early on. That's that's a big nod

2:20:21to us. That means a lot.

2:20:23>> Thank you. Um,

2:20:25so we've got I think we're sitting on

2:20:27about 16 1.6 billion in assets between

2:20:31our 115 and our um and what we have in

2:20:35the trust with the state. My big my

2:20:37first part is is that are we the only

2:20:38ones with the 115 doing that?

2:20:41>> No, you're not the only employer with a

2:20:42115.

2:20:43>> All right. And then I think our 115 is

2:20:46doing really well on the performance,

2:20:47but the trust up up uh up is is also

2:20:50doing pretty well on that performance.

2:20:52What's interesting to me is our

2:20:53dispersements last year were about 120

2:20:55million and the current uh rate prime

2:20:59nationally is 7%. It it bumped up

2:21:01another quarter point last in the last

2:21:04week. Um I know that we're using a sub

2:21:076% right now, but I like the idea at 7%

2:21:11just because it makes the math easier.

2:21:13And if we're if we're using 7% that

2:21:16means we're earning about 112 our

2:21:19employees. If we're matching dollar for

2:21:21dollar, we're putting in another 14.5.

2:21:23So, we're actually putting in about $126

2:21:25million a year to the trust against

2:21:26those $120 million dispersements. So,

2:21:28I'm trying to figure out kind of on the

2:21:31actuarial side, how is it that we're

2:21:33only coming out at 66% funded. I think

2:21:36we're probably doing a little better

2:21:37than that. And I was hoping we could

2:21:39kind of get a maybe get a second opinion

2:21:41or get a little get a little look at

2:21:43that. I'm also curious to seeing what

2:21:46what we're doing left over on our

2:21:47actuarial. We have a lot of people of

2:21:50the 2154 retirees. We have we have a lot

2:21:54of folks that are in in their mid60s and

2:21:56early 70s which kind of changes the

2:21:58expiration on some of those. So that's

2:22:01just stuff that looking into the

2:22:02details. Our job is to make sure you

2:22:04guys do your job right. So we're going

2:22:06to look at those. Well, you got one guy

2:22:08here who's going to be a total dork

2:22:09about looking at all those numbers of

2:22:11course every single year. And I I like

2:22:14that we're coming in at around 112 114.

2:22:18Last year was an anomaly. We I mean we

2:22:20did like 17.4% on the 115, which is

2:22:23insane, but we're not going to have

2:22:25every year. But in that 20-year

2:22:26aggregate, you're seeing that 78%

2:22:28growth. It's pretty steady, and I like

2:22:31it. And I really want to see I don't

2:22:34like it when I'm we're sitting in front

2:22:35of people and we're saying, "Oh, we're

2:22:36only 60% or we're only 70%." When

2:22:39barring some crazy stuff, we're probably

2:22:41in a really good position that I

2:22:43wouldn't trade with anyone. And I like

2:22:45the idea that we can take a look at what

2:22:47our options are on a compens

2:22:50compensatory sta scale with our public

2:22:52safety people because when I first got

2:22:55here we were so underwater with our

2:22:58pension obligations long term. It was

2:23:01hard to do anything and right now I

2:23:03don't think we're there. So that that's

2:23:04kind of my little deal and I really want

2:23:07to take a look at those numbers and took

2:23:08a look at that methodology to see if

2:23:10there's some improvements we can make.

2:23:12It's important for our bond rating and

2:23:14it's important for other things as we

2:23:16examine the financial positions and

2:23:17financial stability of the city.

2:23:20>> Thank you. I I agree. Um [clears throat]

2:23:23I there wasn't quite a question in

2:23:25there, but I'll just uh address your

2:23:27comments and happy to. Um so there are a

2:23:30couple of different uh uh things you

2:23:32pointed out. One, the data I have in

2:23:35terms of of our partners' funding levels

2:23:39uh won't include the 115 trust, right?

2:23:41because that's not something that we

2:23:43manage inhouse. And so, uh, even some of

2:23:46our employers that do have 115 trust, we

2:23:48may not know exactly how much is in that

2:23:50trust because they're all managing it

2:23:52locally. Um, so that's number one, but

2:23:55happy to work through those numbers um,

2:23:58with your team um, and with Anna at any

2:24:00point in the future to look at um, what

2:24:03options are out there and what works

2:24:04best for the city of Tucson. Uh

2:24:07secondly, as you are probably aware,

2:24:09there are a few different views on

2:24:11what's the best use case of a 115. Um

2:24:15and so, you know, every municipality

2:24:18that has one may have a different view

2:24:20on it. Their councils may have a

2:24:21different view on how to utilize that to

2:24:24the best interests of operating their

2:24:27specific budgets. And so, um, I'm happy

2:24:30to walk through that at any point, um,

2:24:33with your team in terms of what makes

2:24:35the most sense for, uh, maximizing the,

2:24:39uh, the value, but also minimizing

2:24:41ongoing risk in terms of the overall

2:24:44plan as well as your 115.

2:24:47>> And I and I have to say I misspoke in

2:24:50terms of the 66.5. That was a year ago.

2:24:54Uh this year as of March 31st, 2026,

2:24:58the funded ratio is 68.4

2:25:01and that's including the section 115. So

2:25:04it it looks better this year than it did

2:25:07last year. And I think that with the 115

2:25:09and the work that you're all doing

2:25:11>> um at PSPRS, we we are looking at better

2:25:14numbers. I know that Councilwoman Lee

2:25:16has a question.

2:25:17>> Thank you, Mayor James. Welcome to

2:25:19Arizona. I'm sure you really miss that

2:25:20Louisiana humidity, but hopefully you

2:25:22like it here. Um, I know that the funds

2:25:26that has been performing really well and

2:25:28there's a lot of people out there

2:25:29talking about market correction and

2:25:31significant market correction with AI

2:25:34and the MAG 7 and all of that. So, just

2:25:36from a high level, how are you all

2:25:38thinking about that risk and and

2:25:40correcting as needed to protect the

2:25:42funds?

2:25:42>> Sure. Thank you. Um, yeah, I do not miss

2:25:45the Louisiana to answer that question.

2:25:48Um I'll answer your question. I'll start

2:25:50off with um I do want to I guess I'll

2:25:54brag a little bit about um our recent

2:25:57performance. So we did finish the fiscal

2:25:5926 year with a 14.5% net return uh which

2:26:04was outstanding um which puts our

2:26:08um our 7-year at 9 12% our 10year at

2:26:149.1%.

2:26:16Um and we are operating now in the um

2:26:20the top 5% of our peers nationally. And

2:26:23so um and that's on a a seven and 10

2:26:27year time frame and we're in top 10% on

2:26:30a three and five year. And so uh we are

2:26:33very proud of the work we're doing. Um

2:26:35to answer your second question from a uh

2:26:38a macro perspective, I am probably um uh

2:26:43the most pessimistic person in the

2:26:45building. Uh um but that's that's

2:26:48usually the case because uh risk risk is

2:26:52always top of mind for me. And so um

2:26:56we've had a number of outstanding years

2:26:58in the markets and um a lot of data

2:27:02points to that we are definitely

2:27:04overheated a bit in a lot of sectors and

2:27:07uh and that we're probably due for some

2:27:10correction coming soon. Now the question

2:27:12is is that in 6 months or is that in 26

2:27:16months? It's hard to say. Um if I had

2:27:19that crystal ball I probably wouldn't be

2:27:20working right now. But um what we do

2:27:24internally in terms of anticipating that

2:27:26is we run uh a number of what you would

2:27:30call Monte Carlo simulation. So, we

2:27:32stress test our portfolio across let's

2:27:35say that we have a 10% or a 20% or even

2:27:39a 30% drop in equities um or even in the

2:27:43bond market. What does that do to our

2:27:45portfolio? And so, we manage our risk in

2:27:48a way that we set ourselves up and

2:27:51prepare for the worst, but obviously

2:27:52like to take strategic um opportunities

2:27:56when they present themselves. So, as you

2:27:58might imagine, a plan our size, we are

2:28:00cross $28 billion. It's hard to be as

2:28:04nimble as you would like to be, right?

2:28:06Because it's like trying to turn an

2:28:08ocean liner. Um, and so what we have to

2:28:10do is just try to maximize our returns

2:28:13on a risk adjusted perspective. And so,

2:28:16as we run those simulations, we feel

2:28:18very good about where we are and that we

2:28:20could sustain um a a market correction.

2:28:24If you're pessimistic and you feel good,

2:28:26then I feel good. So, [laughter] thank

2:28:27you, James.

2:28:29>> I like to refer myself as a realist, not

2:28:31a pessimist. But,

2:28:33>> any other questions, comments? Council

2:28:34member D.,

2:28:36>> thank you, Mayor. And thank you, James,

2:28:38for coming down here. Um, you're

2:28:40obviously very good at this.

2:28:41>> This is more of a thought question.

2:28:43Sure.

2:28:44>> Um, the market's overheated, by the way.

2:28:46What keeps me up at night with my

2:28:48investments is um AI and data centers

2:28:52being taking up too much space of the

2:28:54growth. But the world is overheated in

2:28:57Tucson. We're very concerned about

2:28:59climate change and it has

2:29:00[clears throat] real life impacts that

2:29:02have economic impacts. In Louisiana,

2:29:04hurricanes

2:29:05>> um and floods from the Mississippi.

2:29:08Here,

2:29:08>> remarkably, it's also floods because the

2:29:10storms are more stronger, but it's heat.

2:29:13People are dying in their homes because

2:29:15they can't afford to pay for air

2:29:16conditioning or the air conditioning

2:29:17gets cut off.

2:29:19>> Um, and it's not going to get better.

2:29:21The trends are bad. So, one of the

2:29:23arguments is that we shouldn't be

2:29:25investing in fossil fuels because that's

2:29:27been the engine that's heating up our

2:29:29globe and impacting Arizona. So, it

2:29:32doesn't make sense. And so, the call

2:29:34for, you know, and other people want to

2:29:36devest for other reasons, tobacco, guns,

2:29:39>> um, all sorts of things. But I would

2:29:41argue climate change is the most

2:29:42important thing economically for us to

2:29:44look at in our portfolio. So the thought

2:29:46question for you is um could you do

2:29:49that? How would you do that? And I don't

2:29:51expect an answer now. I would like I

2:29:52would like some thought and and back.

2:29:54And I'm also curious for your fund.

2:29:57>> Who governs that? Who would make the

2:29:59decision? Is that the legislature? Could

2:30:00the governor do it? Do you have a board

2:30:02that oversees you uh that could make

2:30:04that decision on an economic basis?

2:30:07>> Sure.

2:30:07>> Thank you.

2:30:08>> Sure. I I can gladly answer that

2:30:10question. Um the short answer is um it

2:30:15would be a legislative mandate. Um and

2:30:18it's it happens like that not just in

2:30:20Arizona but in other places as well in

2:30:22terms of uh public opinions. For

2:30:24example, nationally most states have

2:30:26some sort of um cap on investments in

2:30:30China for example, right? Um we have

2:30:32that here in Arizona. as of last year

2:30:35actually there's a Chinese devestment

2:30:37statute that went into place that we

2:30:38have to adhere to. Um obviously uh

2:30:42coming from Louisiana if um if my board

2:30:46or the legislature there uh heard you

2:30:49say no longer invest in fossil fuels it

2:30:51might be completely different

2:30:52discussion. Right.

2:30:55>> Right. So, but but my point is um I

2:30:58guess as a fiduciary of a plan, my goal

2:31:01is to uh maximize our returns on a risk

2:31:05adjusted basis. I tend not to get into

2:31:08the um the discussion of from a social

2:31:13standpoint, what may or may not be uh

2:31:16acceptable because uh depending on where

2:31:18you go, that changes. Depending on who's

2:31:20in office, that changes. Um and so when

2:31:24legislation does come down and it

2:31:25mandates that we can and cannot uh

2:31:28invest in particular sectors or

2:31:30industries um usually my answer to that

2:31:34is to try to fight that because it's not

2:31:37the particular social issue that's at

2:31:40hand. It's just that anytime that you

2:31:42begin to tie our hands in terms of what

2:31:44we can invest in then it increases the

2:31:46risk overall of the portfolio. it

2:31:49doesn't allow us to diversify the way we

2:31:51might want to. And so that's usually my

2:31:54focus. Um because I may fall on one side

2:31:58or the other of the social issue, but

2:32:00it's really not about me or about my

2:32:02board in fact. Um and so for us, it's

2:32:04just the legislation that would impact

2:32:07what we can and cannot invest in. On

2:32:10that note, uh that's going to be the

2:32:12last question we take, but I appreciate

2:32:15you coming to Tucson to present to mayor

2:32:18and council. I look forward to continued

2:32:21partnership with our secretary,

2:32:24Secretary Kelloo that does an amazing

2:32:26job uh putting all of it together and

2:32:30does the leg to the leg work dayto day.

2:32:34Uh so, thank you. Welcome to Arizona.

2:32:37Welcome to Tucson. We're really

2:32:39appreciative of you coming to present to

2:32:42us. Come anytime you let us know. We're

2:32:44more than happy

2:32:46>> to have a conversation with you. Thank

2:32:48you,

2:32:48>> mayor. Thank you, council.

2:32:50>> Thank you. [laughter]

2:32:55>> Okay. Thanks.

2:33:00[clears throat]

2:33:02>> Well, it's getting good now, right?

2:33:06>> Thank you. Thank you, Miss Rosenberry.

2:33:08Really appreciate it. Have a a safe trip

2:33:11back.

2:33:13And I see our uh PSPs team coming up to

2:33:17uh to introduce themselves to you. All

2:33:19righty. So, we are going to move on to

2:33:21item seven. Time has been set aside for

2:33:24mayor and council to discuss and provide

2:33:26direction on the voter approved

2:33:28infrastructure investments including

2:33:30propositions 101, 407, and 411. Mr.

2:33:34Manager. Thank you, honorable mayor, and

2:33:36members of the council. Um, this is an

2:33:39item we allocated uh some decent amount

2:33:42of time to. Um, but in order to be

2:33:44efficient, uh, we decided to make the

2:33:47presentation in the form of a video. Um,

2:33:50so you're going to get about 10 minutes

2:33:51of me, and that's pretty spectacular.

2:33:54But we we also have there are no blocks

2:33:58in this one.

2:33:58>> [laughter]

2:33:59>> Um, but what we do have is also our

2:34:01director of uh parks and recreation,

2:34:03Larry Hamway, our director of

2:34:04transportation mobility, Sam Credio. Uh,

2:34:07we have our assistant chief of fire, uh,

2:34:09Paul Moore, and and a cast of thousands,

2:34:12uh, because when we talk about the voter

2:34:14approved investments, they cut across a

2:34:17lot of our service areas. They cut

2:34:18across a number of years. Uh, there's a

2:34:21mix of bond funded projects and sales

2:34:24tax funded p projects. So the the update

2:34:27is provided in your materials. There's

2:34:29also a PowerPoint that we're not

2:34:30presenting. It really is the information

2:34:32for review and then the video tells the

2:34:35story. Once we're through the video,

2:34:37we're happy to answer any questions you

2:34:39have about specific projects or what's

2:34:42next. With that, it's uh roll that

2:34:46beautiful bean footage as it would.

2:34:48Since 2012, Tucson voters have approved

2:34:50a series of ballot measures to [music]

2:34:52provide the funding necessary for Tucson

2:34:55to begin rebuilding its core

2:34:57infrastructure like [music] roadways,

2:34:59parks, and public safety needs.

2:35:05Today's presentation [music]

2:35:06is to give you an update on progress on

2:35:08those voter approved initiatives through

2:35:11fall of 2026.

2:35:18The rebuilding of Tucson's

2:35:20infrastructure really began in November

2:35:222012 with the passage of Prop 409.

2:35:24[music]

2:35:25This city bond program provided $100

2:35:28million to address our most urgent need

2:35:31at the time, which was our deteriorating

2:35:33roadways.

2:35:35The work under Proposition 409 is 100%

2:35:38complete, and in fact, we delivered more

2:35:41work than was promised to the voters.

2:35:44This was an important first step [music]

2:35:46toward investing in Tucson's

2:35:48transportation infrastructure and

2:35:50demonstrating that voter approved

2:35:52investments could deliver measurable

2:35:54results.

2:36:01Just 5 years later, in May 2017, [music]

2:36:04Tucson voters approved Proposition 101.

2:36:08This measure established a 5-year

2:36:10[music] halfsent local sales tax

2:36:12directing funding toward roadway

2:36:14improvements and public safety. A total

2:36:17of 894 lane miles of roadway

2:36:20improvements were promised to voters. To

2:36:22date, [music] 860 lane miles have been

2:36:25completed, including all of the lane

2:36:27miles that were promised on local

2:36:29streets and [music] the vast majority of

2:36:30the arterial lane miles have also been

2:36:32completed. That puts the roadway program

2:36:35at approximately 96% complete [music] as

2:36:38we speak. The public safety portion is

2:36:41now 92% complete overall. All voter

2:36:45promise public safety vehicles and

2:36:47equipment [music]

2:36:47have been delivered and we have

2:36:49completed a number of police and public

2:36:51safety facility improvements.

2:36:54Recent accomplishments [music] include

2:36:56the newly built fire station 14, the TPD

2:37:00East Side Annex, and [music] the

2:37:02Southside Public Safety Complex, which

2:37:04brings both police and fire services

2:37:06together under one roof. Work is also

2:37:10moving forward on the final major fire

2:37:12station projects, including the

2:37:14replacement of Fire Station 3, Tucson's

2:37:17oldest fire station, originally built in

2:37:191958.

2:37:21Equipped with modern firefighting and

2:37:23rescue equipment, [music] these

2:37:25additions strengthen the department's

2:37:26ability to respond to structure fires,

2:37:28vehicle collisions, and other

2:37:30emergencies. [music]

2:37:36Shortly after the passage of Prop 101

2:37:39and the sales tax, [music] Tucson voters

2:37:42passed Proposition 407, a $225 million

2:37:46bond package for parks and connectivity

2:37:49improvements throughout Tucson. Of that

2:37:52Prop 407 investment, over 133 million

2:37:55was committed to the parks program. And

2:37:58to date, 184 of the program's 343

2:38:01projects [music] have been completed.

2:38:04Recent investments include major

2:38:06renovations of Waqin Marietta Park, a

2:38:10playground, and other investments at

2:38:12Palaverie Park, the new band shell at

2:38:15Armory Park, and a new basketball court

2:38:18at Keeling [music] Park. We've even

2:38:21installed a new dog park, Wagging Tales,

2:38:24out on the east side. and we've

2:38:27developed and delivered a new park

2:38:29[music]

2:38:30at Bario Nepal.

2:38:32And we were thrilled to celebrate the

2:38:34grand reopening of the fully remodeled

2:38:37Sanorita Park just last week.

2:38:42Proposition 407 also committed $92

2:38:45million to the strong connections

2:38:47program supporting bicycle boulevards,

2:38:50pedestrian improvements, greenways,

2:38:52sidewalks, and other low stress

2:38:55transportation. and connections. So far,

2:38:58this part of the program has completed

2:39:0010 [music] bicycle boulevards, one

2:39:02pedestrian safety project, and one

2:39:04shared use path. Seven additional

2:39:07projects are currently under

2:39:08construction with 31 more in design.

2:39:17In May 2022, Tucson voters then approved

2:39:20Proposition 411, which [music] extended

2:39:23the halfsent local sales tax originally

2:39:25created under Prop 101 for an additional

2:39:2810 years. [music]

2:39:2980% of the revenue is dedicated to

2:39:32improving every city-maintained

2:39:34neighborhood road in [music] Tucson.

2:39:38Through August of 2026, Proposition 411

2:39:41has resurfaced 41 and a half% [music] of

2:39:44Tucson's local streets with another 7.8%

2:39:47currently under construction through

2:39:49[music] your voter approved investments.

2:39:52We not only stopped the degradation of

2:39:55our local roads, [music] we began to

2:39:58recover their condition through Prop 409

2:40:01and Prop 101. We began to see our roads

2:40:05begin to improve.

2:40:07And recently, [music]

2:40:09you can see the impacts of the Prop 411

2:40:12investments when you're driving through

2:40:14our city and you see new pavement almost

2:40:18everywhere you go.

2:40:20We still have a lot of work to do

2:40:22[music] to get to every local road in

2:40:25Tucson as we promised, but you can

2:40:28already see the impacts [music] of these

2:40:30investments in bringing our overall

2:40:33roadway network up to a fair and on its

2:40:36way to a good condition.

2:40:39The remaining 20% of Prop 411 funding

2:40:42supports traffic saving improvements

2:40:44through the Safe Streets [music]

2:40:46program. To date, 23 Safe Streets

2:40:50projects have been completed with

2:40:51another 33 currently in construction or

2:40:54design.

2:40:56Completed projects include the new cycle

2:40:58track on Stone Avenue in downtown

2:41:00Tucson, a pedestrian crossing at Uklid

2:41:03and Second Street, intersection

2:41:05improvements at Pantano Parkway and Golf

2:41:07Links Road, and a new Hawk crossing at

2:41:10Oracle Road and [music] Alurus Street.

2:41:13As part of the process of putting

2:41:15Proposition 411 in front of Tucson

2:41:18voters, [music] the mayor and council

2:41:20also made public commitments of using

2:41:23general fund dollars and highway user

2:41:26revenue fund dollars [music] for

2:41:28specific investments to improve Tucson's

2:41:30infrastructure in both our collector

2:41:33streets and our public safety. So,

2:41:36picking up where Prop 101 left off,

2:41:40additional $90 million of general fund

2:41:43fund balance was [music] allocated to

2:41:45needs of Tucson Police, Tucson Fire, and

2:41:49our public safety communications

2:41:50department. These additional public

2:41:53safety investments include [music]

2:41:54things like additional personal

2:41:57protective gear for our firefighters,

2:42:00further modernization of our equipment

2:42:02fleet, including our ambulance fleet,

2:42:05and the upcoming transition of our

2:42:07computer aided [music] dispatch system,

2:42:10which serves our 911 functions to a new

2:42:14modern platform that will serve us into

2:42:16the future.

2:42:18for the collector street program. $15

2:42:21million a year over five years was

2:42:23allocated from both general fund and

2:42:26hurf sources in order to make

2:42:28investments in specific collector

2:42:30streets in the city. [music]

2:42:32Think about Tucson Boulevard Road. These

2:42:36are investments made possible [music]

2:42:38not through the Prop 411 direct revenue,

2:42:42but by the commitment made by the mayor

2:42:43and council to allocate funding from the

2:42:46general fund and HERF [music] to those

2:42:48projects.

2:42:54So, what's next for Tucson's

2:42:56infrastructure?

2:42:58In the coming year, the city will issue

2:43:00a Tucson asset report card providing a

2:43:03clear picture of the condition of

2:43:05city-owned infrastructure and

2:43:07facilities. [music] This will allow us

2:43:09to program future funding to meet the

2:43:12needs of our infrastructure. [music] We

2:43:15will also be investing in asset

2:43:17management and condition assessment

2:43:18programs in order to better illustrate

2:43:21[music] what the gaps are in our funding

2:43:23and what the needs are of our community.

2:43:26These tools will help guide future

2:43:29decisions, identify remaining needs, and

2:43:32continue our commitment to [music]

2:43:34transparency and accountability.

2:43:42As you can see, these investments

2:43:44represent more than just a series of

2:43:46projects. They reflect the relationship

2:43:49between the city of Tucson and its

2:43:51citizens and the trust [music] that was

2:43:53provided into the city to deliver the

2:43:56work that was promised to be transparent

2:43:58[music] and accountable in how we use

2:44:01public money and to provide [music] the

2:44:04infrastructure that Tonins want and

2:44:06deserve in their city.

2:44:18Good job. Thank you so much. That is a

2:44:20great presentation. I hope it's

2:44:21available um on our YouTube page uh for

2:44:26the community to be able to uh to take a

2:44:29look at and um that we can share it with

2:44:32our employees. I always forget the work

2:44:35that we do, Mr. Tamir. and um being able

2:44:40to remember that when we pitched

2:44:43Proposition 411 to the voters, mayor and

2:44:46uh and council also committed in

2:44:49investing $90 million from our savings

2:44:53account in our general fund uh for

2:44:56police and fire and invested 20% of a

2:45:0210-year

2:45:03half um halfsent sales tax for um

2:45:08mobility and connectivity for

2:45:11pedestrians and bicyclists. So, uh I'm

2:45:14really happy every time that I go visit

2:45:17a friend or or am out and about to see

2:45:21the uh investments made in our

2:45:24neighborhood roads. Um because many of

2:45:28these roads, many of these investments

2:45:31well or lack of investment uh we had not

2:45:34seen investments in residential roads in

2:45:3830, 40, 50 years in some uh in some

2:45:43cases. So I'm I'm glad to see those

2:45:47investments. And usually um I poke fun

2:45:50at people because I'm I'm like, you

2:45:53know, um the street streets in Tucson

2:45:58didn't start crumbling when I was

2:46:00elected mayor. As a matter of fact, we

2:46:02started the work in uh turning that

2:46:07trend of investments in our city by

2:46:12passing bonds and um uh halfsent sales

2:46:16taxes and all of the all of the

2:46:18investments that we've seen. So anyway,

2:46:20I'm I went on a tangent, but uh just

2:46:23remembering the work that we've done and

2:46:26the video that you have in front of us

2:46:28uh made me remember that these things.

2:46:30So I don't know if you want to continue

2:46:33reporting or if it's time for mayor and

2:46:35council Q&A.

2:46:37>> Honorable mayor, we'd be happy to take

2:46:38any questions andor um if barring any of

2:46:42those. Um I I did ask each of the

2:46:44directors kind of talk about what's next

2:46:46so we can know what's to look forward

2:46:47to. But u at your pleasure.

2:46:49>> What next? Yes.

2:46:50>> Let's do the what next. Uh Lara, are you

2:46:53are you good?

2:46:55>> I'll try.

2:46:55>> We're

2:46:56>> sorry.

2:46:56>> You're fine. No worries.

2:46:58>> Um so this year actually has been pretty

2:47:01momentous as the video shared. Palvery

2:47:04um new uh playground and really a lot of

2:47:09uh infrastructure investment with

2:47:11irrigation. Uh Escare Park. We opened uh

2:47:16this just a few weeks ago and then last

2:47:18weekend Sanorita. I mean just amazing

2:47:21projects that we kicked off last year

2:47:23and now get to celebrate. On October

2:47:2615th we'll be celebrating Jacob's Park

2:47:28reopening as well which will bring a

2:47:31forplex of softball fields which we

2:47:33anticipate are going to be largely used

2:47:35by Fast Pitch Girls softball as well as

2:47:38a brand new skate park there. Um big

2:47:41projects, the largest projects are ahead

2:47:44which um Robert Price,

2:47:47Lincoln Park, which is adding an

2:47:49additional four fields there, and Udo

2:47:52Park um with um our first massive

2:47:56inclusive playground to come, which I'm

2:47:58really excited to see what how that

2:48:00shapes up. And um the finalization of a

2:48:04lot of splash pads. By the time we're

2:48:06done, we'll have 29 total splash bats in

2:48:08the city of Tucson, which I think is

2:48:10pretty spectacular for families. Um, so

2:48:14we are currently um pretty much about

2:48:1893% of phase 1 in 60% of phase 2 and

2:48:23we've already started about 20% of phase

2:48:253. Um, so I we feel that we're pretty

2:48:28much on target with uh delivery of our

2:48:31projects and we continue to pursue

2:48:33additional partner funding. We just

2:48:36recently um and thanks to mayor and

2:48:38council, you approved for us to apply

2:48:40for land water conservation funding for

2:48:43El Po

2:48:45and we are in the process of also

2:48:47putting an outdoor recreation legacy um

2:48:51fund application together for UD Doll

2:48:54Park. And all of that is to help us to

2:48:56just match up dollars to the existing

2:48:59407 money but also build capacity within

2:49:02407 to help us um deliver on the

2:49:04projects overall. Happy to answer any

2:49:07questions.

2:49:09>> Thank you.

2:49:11>> Yes. Thank you, mayor. Thank you, Mr.

2:49:12Manager. And good afternoon, uh mayor,

2:49:15members of the council. So, we have some

2:49:17exciting projects to look ahead to. Uh,

2:49:19as the manager noted in his video, uh,

2:49:22we are closing out 101 and the the next

2:49:25big package of projects that will kick

2:49:27off will be our downtown package, which

2:49:29is anticipated uh, this fiscal year to

2:49:32start construction. It includes the

2:49:34reconstruction of Church Avenue, which

2:49:36is uh, you're welcome.

2:49:39And, uh, that's a very important project

2:49:41uh, you know, for downtown, for the TCC

2:49:44um, and just overall for our our

2:49:47downtown area.

2:49:48>> [snorts]

2:49:48>> We are uh making substantial progress on

2:49:52the paving of Fifth Street. As a

2:49:54reminder, Fifth Street included uh major

2:49:57waterline uh work that has now been

2:49:59completed and we are putting down the

2:50:01final uh lift of pavement working our

2:50:04way east from Country Club. Um also that

2:50:08project includes the layering of a 407

2:50:11pedestrian and walkability project. So,

2:50:13we are also uh delivering that project

2:50:16at the same time that we're delivering

2:50:17the the Fifth Street um 101 paving

2:50:20project. And so, that project will

2:50:22continue marching east all the way to

2:50:24Wilmont. Uh speaking of 407, uh uh we

2:50:27are working on all of the projects that

2:50:29are included in the plan. Now, we've

2:50:31assigned project managers and they're at

2:50:32various levels of of uh planning or

2:50:35design. Uh the 6th Avenue protected bike

2:50:37lane is one that I will mention that is

2:50:39uh approaching completion and we'll be

2:50:42looking forward to celebrating the

2:50:43completion of that. And then lastly, um

2:50:45actually before I move off 407, I do

2:50:47want to mention that as part of the

2:50:48strong connections program, we're also

2:50:50using this opportunity to layer

2:50:52investments. And so as we're doing um

2:50:55road work in neighborhoods, we're

2:50:57looking for opportunity to make sure

2:50:58that we get the bike boulevard

2:51:00infrastructure in at the same time.

2:51:02Also, as part of our collector program,

2:51:04we are looking at uh layering those

2:51:07investments uh with the the safe streets

2:51:10dollars that are in 411. And then

2:51:12lastly, just talking about the the

2:51:13neighborhood street investment. Um that

2:51:15has been one of the most significant

2:51:17investments that our community has made

2:51:19to our local street network. And by the

2:51:21end of this fiscal year, we anticipate

2:51:23to be 50% or more complete with the

2:51:26program uh that is asphalt on the

2:51:28ground. and you know looking ahead to

2:51:30finishing strong the last five years.

2:51:32And so with that, mayor, I'd be happy to

2:51:33answer any questions. Thank you.

2:51:37>> There are certain streets that I've been

2:51:39advocating for a long, long time, as my

2:51:42colleagues know. Um, but I'm really

2:51:46happy to hear that church is in the next

2:51:50package, especially because it's such a

2:51:52wide road and it needs uh pedestrian and

2:51:57bicycle um improvements and

2:51:59infrastructure on it. Silverbell is

2:52:02another one, but we started with

2:52:04Irvington, which is something we all

2:52:06wanted to make sure we invested uh and

2:52:09that's through RTA Next. But um I guess

2:52:12for me is we are doing all of these

2:52:16investments in our roads and our parks.

2:52:20I want to know that there is a

2:52:22maintenance plan that by the end of five

2:52:26years we're not going to be in the same

2:52:28place where we were um you know before.

2:52:32So

2:52:34I want to know if there are innovations

2:52:38in maintenance work as we move forward.

2:52:42Are we giving you enough funds to make

2:52:46sure that those maintenance for our

2:52:48roads or for our park um is there and um

2:52:54yeah if there's a plan put in place.

2:52:58>> I'll start off and then they'll clean up

2:53:00after me here. Honorable mayor, members

2:53:02of the council, I would say we have done

2:53:06adjustments to the parks and recreation

2:53:08bus uh budget over the last three years

2:53:11or even five years in order to um try to

2:53:14scale up to the maintenance requirements

2:53:17of the new assets. I cannot sit here and

2:53:20tell you today there's enough. I cannot

2:53:22tell you that we have um allocated

2:53:25enough maintenance dollars to maintain

2:53:27all these new assets. So that's this is

2:53:29going to be our ongoing challenge every

2:53:31year is to make sure that we are keeping

2:53:34up with those maintenance requirements

2:53:35and providing the resources to parks and

2:53:37recck. So we we we we exceeded the

2:53:40commitment that was made when Prop 407

2:53:42was put on the ballot. There was a

2:53:43commitment to adding a certain amount of

2:53:46maintenance budget. We have exceeded

2:53:48that and we still need more. So that's

2:53:51going to be an ongoing discussion uh to

2:53:53the roadway side of the equation by

2:53:56improving all this pavement. so

2:53:58substantially, we're going to see some

2:54:00of the maintenance costs go down. And

2:54:03when we bring you that asset report card

2:54:05and what it looks like as far as gaps

2:54:07go, I think what you're going to find is

2:54:09those neighborhood streets, which we

2:54:11still have five more years of a program

2:54:13to go, are going to be in a in a good

2:54:15condition. They will still need

2:54:17investment beyond that. That's not yet

2:54:19identified funding, but that is that's

2:54:21five years out problem. The concern we

2:54:24have right now and over the next few

2:54:26years is what we have as far as

2:54:28available HERF fund uh revenue coming in

2:54:33is not enough to bring all of our

2:54:35collector streets up to good condition

2:54:37and the bigger gap is on our arterial

2:54:40roads. So Sam's team has been putting

2:54:43together what do those gaps look like.

2:54:45So we do have a plan but our plan will

2:54:47fall short without some additional

2:54:49identification of investment. Uh would

2:54:51you like to add to that Sam or or Lara?

2:54:54>> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Manager. Uh mayor,

2:54:57excellent question and everything that

2:54:59the manager just said is is absolutely

2:55:00correct. I do want to mention that as

2:55:02part of Proposition 411, we did build in

2:55:05some preservation treatments. Those are

2:55:07your lowest cost treatment. That

2:55:09involves doing crack sealing and fog

2:55:11sealing in your in your first few years.

2:55:13There are going to be neighborhoods that

2:55:14we touch twice within the 10-year

2:55:16program because we want to keep those

2:55:18good roads good. Um, but that sustained

2:55:22preventative maintenance will require an

2:55:24additional investment in order to keep

2:55:26all of those roads good. Now, we do have

2:55:28a great team down at our street

2:55:30maintenance division. Uh, they do have

2:55:32the ability to do some crack sealing and

2:55:34fog sealing. And in fact, we have

2:55:35deployed a special projects team that's

2:55:38not only helping with the delivery of

2:55:39Prop 411, but also helping keep up on

2:55:41some of that regular maintenance. So, by

2:55:43not having to be out there filling

2:55:45potholes all the time, it does allow us

2:55:48to uh use our team to keep the good

2:55:50roads good.

2:55:52>> All righty. I think the only thing mayor

2:55:55and council I would add is that we see

2:55:58some similarities as well as we invest

2:56:01in some of our pools, we replace the

2:56:04playgrounds that are older. Um but also

2:56:06we've been looking at how to be a little

2:56:08more efficient on the staffing and then

2:56:10realign to where we know that we have

2:56:12the need. Um so that's an ongoing effort

2:56:16within the department and then certainly

2:56:18the good conversations that we have with

2:56:20the city manager's office to highlight

2:56:21what we forecast ahead. Um but he is

2:56:24correct that we have seen some increases

2:56:27that come to the the budget already and

2:56:29we've been making sure that we're

2:56:31utilizing that properly.

2:56:34and mayor

2:56:34>> the park side I I also am concerned

2:56:37about like the copper thefts that affect

2:56:40our lighting that affect you know and

2:56:42just to make sure that we're thinking of

2:56:44that and how we I don't know if there if

2:56:48there's any form of prevention work that

2:56:50we can do in in those pieces but those

2:56:54things cost the taxpayer money and I

2:56:58just want to make sure that we're

2:56:59thinking through how to maintain and

2:57:01operate but also how to do some

2:57:04preventative work on that inter

2:57:07>> um

2:57:07>> go ahead.

2:57:08>> Thank you for that recommendation,

2:57:09mayor. Um and council, the staff have

2:57:12worked specifically with facilities

2:57:14maintenance as well to walk through some

2:57:17sites and figure out some hardening uh

2:57:19whether it's additional rod iron or as

2:57:22simple for some sports lighting boulders

2:57:25on top of boxes. I mean,

2:57:27>> whatever it is that we can deploy uh to

2:57:29try to do to prevent that, we we

2:57:31currently are. Thank you.

2:57:34>> Thank you. Tim, you were going to say

2:57:35something.

2:57:36>> Honorable mayor, members of the council,

2:57:38what I was going to add is on the public

2:57:39safety side, we hadn't touched on what

2:57:41the future looks like for that. Um, we

2:57:45while and you saw one uh graphic where

2:57:48we showed the overall TPD marked fleet

2:57:50had gone from everything's needs

2:57:52replacement to the majority are now in

2:57:55excellent condition. But that that's

2:57:57that's ephemeral. That's going to

2:57:59require some additional funding moving

2:58:01forward. And similarly on the T Tucson

2:58:04fire side of the equation. So we have a

2:58:06pretty good plan for the next couple of

2:58:08years to get through the CAD transition

2:58:10uh to receive additional apparatus and

2:58:13vehicles that are scheduled over the

2:58:15next couple of years that are funded.

2:58:17And then our challenge will be continue

2:58:19to build that general fund capital fund

2:58:22that we started two years ago and we've

2:58:23started adding money to it. It needs to

2:58:27be doubled or tripled or quadrupled in

2:58:29size in order to meet the need. But that

2:58:32that is our strategy right now is to

2:58:33just start chipping away at it. But

2:58:35we've already made significant progress.

2:58:37We just don't want to slide backwards if

2:58:39we can. Thank you, Mayor.

2:58:41>> I know Vice Mayor wanted to get on Q,

2:58:43Vice Mayor, and then Council Member Dah,

2:58:45and then Council Member Schubert.

2:58:47>> All right. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I want

2:58:48to know where this greenhouse is in city

2:58:51hall, Mr. City Manager.

2:58:54[laughter]

2:58:57>> Second floor.

2:58:59[laughter]

2:59:00All right. Well, um I so you know, thank

2:59:02you for the presentation. I know that

2:59:04most of our neighborhoods who've gotten

2:59:06their roads done are really happy about

2:59:08the work, including my neighbors that I

2:59:10can wave at now um when I'm walking down

2:59:13the street. Um I know that we've heard

2:59:16that folks um prefer the Milan fill than

2:59:21just the surface treatment and so just

2:59:23curious what that's going to look like

2:59:25moving forward. Mr. CRIO. Um I do want

2:59:28to thank you know all the city staff for

2:59:30uh leveraging other funding um so that

2:59:34we're not just doing the roads but we're

2:59:36looking at the entire um infrastructure

2:59:39around it and how it works together. So

2:59:40thank you for um innovating in that

2:59:43space. Um I know it's been uh really

2:59:46exciting to see the level of investment

2:59:48in our parks. I want to congratulate

2:59:51Council Member Barakas and the W 5 team

2:59:54at for the celebration at Sanorita Park.

2:59:56Um it was kind of overwhelming to even

2:59:59move around. Um but I look forward to

3:00:02taking my kids there to to play in the

3:00:04playground. Um I I know that um you know

3:00:08we started off especially in ward one

3:00:10with zero splash pads. Now we have two

3:00:12and we have four more on the way. But we

3:00:14have been running into a lot of

3:00:16vandalism at our splash pads. So, how

3:00:19are we thinking about Yeah. any kind of

3:00:21retrofits to really minimize that from

3:00:23happening? Um, and then just curious if

3:00:26we have an update um for the pool at

3:00:28Mission Manor, the aquatic center, and

3:00:30the splash pad and where we're at with

3:00:31that. That's it, Mayor. Thank you.

3:00:37>> Thank you, Mayor, Vice Mayor, Santa

3:00:39Cruz. Uh so the question about uh milan

3:00:42overlay versus surface treatments does

3:00:44come up and and it's a good one and um I

3:00:47got I have Jim Degrude in the audience

3:00:49that could give you a dissertation on

3:00:50this. Um so I'm not going to ask him to

3:00:52come to the podium. Jim's been a great

3:00:54asset to us and we've really been

3:00:56pushing the mill and fills on our worst

3:00:58streets. Um, and we've been getting

3:01:00really good pricing, but at some point

3:01:02there's this kind of break even point

3:01:04where the streets and it's it's bad, but

3:01:06it's not so bad that we want to we we

3:01:09want to completely rip it out and put

3:01:11new pavement. It's got some life that

3:01:13can be extended by doing some surface

3:01:15treatments. And so, we're trying to find

3:01:17balance in that. Um, but by and large,

3:01:19for our worst streets, we are utilizing

3:01:21Milanfill, and we're going to continue

3:01:22to do that as long as the prices sustain

3:01:25and we can keep, you know, things going

3:01:26at a at a relatively good pace. Um what

3:01:29we expect though is that because we've

3:01:31addressed some of our worst OCI streets

3:01:34first in the five years program, the

3:01:36next five years, the streets that we're

3:01:38treating are are going to be a little

3:01:39bit better than the first five. And so

3:01:41we'll be able to utilize the various

3:01:43treatment types that we have available

3:01:44to us to extend the life of the pavement

3:01:47and provide a good surface for all

3:01:49users.

3:01:52Um in regard to the vandalism, a lot of

3:01:55it has been with the push button

3:01:58and um we were just recently um at the

3:02:01national conference looking at different

3:02:04solutions or different design models for

3:02:06them. Um and we're making it clear for

3:02:08the future designs. We want um basically

3:02:11as simple as a recess button versus an

3:02:14extruded button and the housing to not

3:02:19be um to have a a basically a line of

3:02:22connection. Um we think that's going to

3:02:25help out a lot. Um, we have been also

3:02:29using some CCTV cameras there as well at

3:02:32different plaids that keep getting

3:02:34vandalized so we can figure out um, and

3:02:38work with TPD on the source of who's

3:02:41doing it. Is it teens? Is it other

3:02:43folks? Um, but we really do feel like

3:02:46selecting some different sorts of um,

3:02:48play equipment or infrastructure

3:02:50equipment will help to decrease the

3:02:53units from being prone to vandalism. And

3:02:56in regards to Mission Manor, we have um

3:02:59gotten the vendor back onto a schedule

3:03:01and right now what we want is to be open

3:03:05uh April 1st is when splash pad season

3:03:07opens and that would be our target have

3:03:10the whole facility open on that date.

3:03:14>> Thank you uh Council Member Doll.

3:03:16>> Thank you, Mayor. Thank Thank you all

3:03:19the team for these reports. I have one

3:03:21road stretch. [snorts]

3:03:23Ear earlier at the at at the table here,

3:03:26we heard that there's a foreign investor

3:03:27who's looking to build a hotel at Maine

3:03:30and Speedway. Um he's bought up all the

3:03:33land. Uh and

3:03:35the three blocks of Maine from Speedway

3:03:39to Dman, we get so many complaints

3:03:41about. I complain to myself every time I

3:03:43drive on it. And that area north of

3:03:45there especially has turned into a

3:03:49important um mineral district where

3:03:52companies who were first involved with

3:03:54the gem and mineral show now are

3:03:55creating show show. They're buying motel

3:03:58crappy motel and turning them into

3:04:00showrooms. All the warehouses are being

3:04:03bought up. They really appreciated the

3:04:05neighborhood streets and they noticed

3:04:06that. That was one of their first

3:04:08complaints. But this is something that

3:04:10they're going to focus on this this

3:04:11fall. They're having a show. So they'll

3:04:12be part of the show in so anything we

3:04:15can do just three blocks. [laughter]

3:04:18>> Um

3:04:19>> which one is this Kevin?

3:04:20>> It's on Maine north of Speedway.

3:04:22Speedway to Dman.

3:04:23>> Speedway to Dman. Yeah.

3:04:25>> Yeah. Yeah. Um Mr. Pang from Taiwan has

3:04:28>> Oh yeah. No. I complain to myself when I

3:04:30drive that too. [laughter]

3:04:32>> Yeah. Mr. Ping goes.

3:04:35Sorry. Bad joke. Um Tim, I'm real

3:04:38interested in the asset mapping and

3:04:39where we go from here. I think we gave a

3:04:42public service a short shrift and I know

3:04:45that Puma County is first on the docket

3:04:49for a bond election, but down the road

3:04:51when we start thinking about sales tax

3:04:53and bonding, um I really think there's a

3:04:56need both in the fire department and in

3:04:59the um public safety communications and

3:05:01even in police for better equipment and

3:05:04and staffing. Um I've also it also

3:05:08occurred to me are buil are are

3:05:10buildings part of the infrastructure

3:05:12that you'll be asset mapping to see

3:05:13whether we need to replace the major

3:05:15things or is that something else?

3:05:17>> Uh honorable mayor, members of the

3:05:18council. Yes. Uh it includes our

3:05:20buildings

3:05:22all of our fixed assets.

3:05:23>> I would encourage um if it can be worked

3:05:26in some energy audits. I I think um the

3:05:30marketplace for both efficiency, you

3:05:32know, better insulation and for solar

3:05:35and batteries is is a changing market

3:05:38and some of that might actually be an

3:05:41investment that pays for itself over

3:05:42time. Um thank you, mayor.

3:05:47>> Um who else had their hand up? Council

3:05:49member Schubert.

3:05:50>> Just a few comments. Um, I want to

3:05:53highlight something really positive

3:05:54about this item because this right here

3:05:56is exactly how we rebuild trust in local

3:05:59government. Voters approved propositions

3:06:01101, 407, and 411 because the city made

3:06:05specific commitments about how their tax

3:06:07dollars would be spent. And what we're

3:06:09seeing today is the city following

3:06:10through on those commitments, delivering

3:06:12safer streets, better pavement, improved

3:06:15park and recreation facilities, and

3:06:17stronger walking and biking connections

3:06:19across Tucson. There is a really

3:06:21important positive loop here. We ask

3:06:23voters to invest in their community.

3:06:25Voters place their trust in us. And then

3:06:27we demonstrate that we deserve that

3:06:28trust by delivering what we promised

3:06:30transparently, on time, and with public

3:06:33oversight. When people can drive down a

3:06:35newly paved neighborhood street, take

3:06:37their kids to an improved park, or use a

3:06:39safer walking or biking connection, and

3:06:42know that's what I voted for, that's

3:06:44when our government becomes tangible and

3:06:46accountable. It makes it easier for

3:06:48voters to trust us the next time we come

3:06:50to them what they need. Trust in

3:06:52government is rebuilt slowly by making

3:06:54commitments, keeping them, and showing

3:06:55people the results, not just telling

3:06:57them what we'll do. This is what that

3:06:59looks like. And just want to give kudos

3:07:02to everybody involved. Thank you so

3:07:04much.

3:07:05>> Thank you. Any others that won't have

3:07:07questions? Comments? Council member

3:07:08Cunningham.

3:07:10So, there's some asset management stuff

3:07:12that I think we talked about for a long

3:07:14time that um I don't want you to quit on

3:07:18as long as I'm not in case I'm not here.

3:07:22Um, one is for roads, SAM, in-house fog

3:07:26seal. Um, if we can we can work managing

3:07:30in an in-house fog seal every 3 years,

3:07:32especially on residential roads, I think

3:07:34that'll actually save us money on

3:07:36long-term maintenance. In fact, [snorts]

3:07:38I I' I'd venture to say that if we're

3:07:40fog sealing residential roads every

3:07:42three years throughout the city and we

3:07:45can get one [clears throat] or two crews

3:07:46that are inhouse or one contractor

3:07:49that's year round um that they're in

3:07:52charge of it, we're not going to have

3:07:54those residential dilapitations that

3:07:56we're expecting. And now that we're

3:07:58getting caught up with all the

3:08:00residential work we're doing, I'm

3:08:02already thinking about, okay, let's

3:08:04anybody who's up who's five years past,

3:08:06let's see if we can get them fog sealed

3:08:08now. And we'll never have to those

3:08:12milling fills will be 50 years apart

3:08:13instead of 10 15 years apart. And if you

3:08:15do the numbers, it's cheaper to fog seal

3:08:17every 3 years. So that's my first thing.

3:08:20And having to do it where we don't have

3:08:22to award another contract every year, go

3:08:24through procurement every year. I'd love

3:08:26to see that in-house. Speaking of

3:08:28in-house, what if we did that for roofs,

3:08:30too? We could foam roofs every three

3:08:33years or every 5 years in this case. Um,

3:08:36foaming a roof actually

3:08:39ensures and prevents a lot of other

3:08:41damage and ancillary damage to buildings

3:08:43that we have. Um, as someone who just

3:08:46got recently into the business of asset

3:08:48management, I've learned how much you

3:08:50save by foaming roofs and how much

3:08:52faster it goes. Also, when we add solar

3:08:56to those roofs, thank you, Mr. Dah. We

3:08:59can foam those we can foam that roof and

3:09:02preserve at least water damage inside of

3:09:04the building and ancillary water damage

3:09:06inside of the building. So, I really

3:09:08like that that

3:09:10piece. Um,

3:09:13the other one that I think uh we we just

3:09:17kind of have to see long term is I truly

3:09:21believe that if we can figure out the

3:09:23right Bermuda strain for our parks,

3:09:25we'll probably have an easier time

3:09:28maintaining them. Um, I think there's a

3:09:31needle to thread where we don't. But I

3:09:33don't I don't really like us I like us

3:09:36minimizing how much overseating we do

3:09:38every year. um that ryrass

3:09:40time that that 60 days of ryrass that we

3:09:43do just almost isn't worth it at this

3:09:45point. Um there are strains of Bermuda

3:09:49grass now that even at 50° soil

3:09:51temperature can be can stay green and if

3:09:54we can do that I think there's an

3:09:56opportunity. The temperature is getting

3:09:58warm. there's one one hidden piece to it

3:10:02and is that that is that ultimately

3:10:03Bermuda grass is going to last year

3:10:05round or close to it 11 you know 10 and

3:10:08a half months anyway and so I think

3:10:10that's a big piece of our maintenance

3:10:12cost one of the sol uh one of the solves

3:10:16for the buttons is if the button goes

3:10:19out fine let's have a QR code that

3:10:22somebody can log in from any phone and

3:10:24they can turn the button on we'll still

3:10:26maintain the buttons so that they're

3:10:28accessible But at least if someone who

3:10:31does have access to a a smartphone can

3:10:35log into a certain app and turn the

3:10:36light on if the button's broken, at

3:10:38least we still have working buttons and

3:10:40we don't have to go out there and fix

3:10:41them all the time. Uh I and we will have

3:10:44some accountability on who's using it,

3:10:45which is a good thing. So I'm all about

3:10:48like workarounds. I think there's

3:10:50workarounds for stuff like that and

3:10:52being able to with what we're paying for

3:10:55the damn buttons. I'm sure we can put in

3:10:57a remote access point to do that. Um,

3:11:02and I think that's all of my thing

3:11:05except for when we're talking about um

3:11:08the different types of surfaces, whether

3:11:09we're doing microsurface, whether we're

3:11:11doing mill and fill or whether we're

3:11:12doing um rebuilds.

3:11:16I think the biggest piece we can think

3:11:18about is

3:11:20why don't we add in that idea that we're

3:11:23going to have that fog seal because we

3:11:26may have be in a situation where we need

3:11:28we need to do a rebuild or we need to do

3:11:30a milantfill but if we know that we're

3:11:34going to do a rebuild that's going to

3:11:36get a fog seal 3 to four years later

3:11:39that's a whole different discussion on

3:11:40whether or not that road how long that

3:11:43road lasts and I think you millennials

3:11:45can build an AI program that tracks that

3:11:48and tracks that maintenance that gives

3:11:50us the best score to keep our road

3:11:54scores highest. Lastly, asset management

3:11:57partnerships. Thank you Tucson area

3:12:00pickle ball for giving us a model on how

3:12:03we can do an asset manage partner

3:12:05partnership. We can do that type of

3:12:07thing with basketball courts, tennis

3:12:09courts. We can do that thing with uh

3:12:13sides of the road with nonprofits. Not I

3:12:16don't really want non registered vendors

3:12:18in the medians. I just think that's too

3:12:20dangerous. But at least on the side of

3:12:22the road and cleaning up the sides of

3:12:24the roads, making sure the sidewalks are

3:12:26clean, we can go with asset manage

3:12:29partnerships with nonprofits and we can

3:12:31probably save a bundle on what we're

3:12:34paying through the procurement process.

3:12:35So those are some things that that I

3:12:37think will help us with the asset

3:12:39management. We probably need to game out

3:12:41as we expire this debt how we can go

3:12:44back to the voters for these bonds

3:12:45without with when we don't have to raise

3:12:48taxes or taxes will stay flat. And I

3:12:50think we want to game that out in this

3:12:52asset management process. So there's

3:12:54your stuff. Thank you for indulging.

3:12:57>> Yeah, I'm glad that you finished on that

3:12:59note in terms of like how do we plan as

3:13:03a city what's next, right? because

3:13:05that's what council member was saying.

3:13:07How can we um move forward and put

3:13:12either a bond or a sales tax question in

3:13:17front of the voters that will just

3:13:20continue to make sure that we're

3:13:23creating opportunities to invest in

3:13:25ourselves. Um the bonds I think both

3:13:30council member Schubert and and uh Dah

3:13:33mentioned Puma County is working right

3:13:36now in terms of bonds and bond work.

3:13:40It's going to be important for the city

3:13:42of Tucson to have a list based on input

3:13:46from the community of what we would like

3:13:50to see investment from Puma County from

3:13:53bonds into the city of Tucson. Um so

3:13:56prepare ourselves for that. Uh make sure

3:13:59that the city of Tucson is getting its

3:14:01return on investment. Making sure that

3:14:04it is equity focused and that we are

3:14:07creating uh prosperity for our city as

3:14:11we prepare to present you know to to the

3:14:15bond committee what we'd like to see

3:14:17investment on. And then I see that,

3:14:21you know, we see the reporting that we

3:14:24went out for a bond in November of 2012

3:14:27and then 2017, 2018, 22. We are due to

3:14:33go out to the community to ask them what

3:14:36they want to see investment in um as we

3:14:41move forward and what are the biggest

3:14:43needs uh for our community. I know that

3:14:45you mentioned arterials are a big

3:14:48concern for Department of Transportation

3:14:51mobility like what's next? So, thank you

3:14:55so much for the presentation. That was a

3:14:57great video, Mr. Tamir, and great

3:15:01presentation for us. Really appreciate

3:15:03it.

3:15:05All righty. So, we're going to move

3:15:06quickly into item eight. Time has been

3:15:08set aside to provide direction regarding

3:15:11a sightsp specific sales tax incentive

3:15:13request for Simon CR LLC, the

3:15:17development of a retail center on Old

3:15:19Vale Road and distribution way. Mr.

3:15:22Manager,

3:15:23>> thank you honorable mayor and members of

3:15:25the council. Uh joining me at the table

3:15:27is our chief economic [clears throat]

3:15:28development officer, Mike Chicowski, and

3:15:32uh this is the start of a journey should

3:15:35you choose to go down this path. Um, so

3:15:38I'll turn it over to Mike.

3:15:40[clears throat]

3:15:41>> Thank you, Mr. Manager, Ma Madame Mayor

3:15:43Romero, members of the council. Hope

3:15:44you're all doing great today. Uh,

3:15:47appropriate again as is usual for a

3:15:49conversation after we're discussing of

3:15:51roads and especially the considerate

3:15:53consideration of old veil road in this

3:15:55and the ex significant retail

3:15:58development that we're experiencing on

3:16:00the southeast part of town. Ward for um

3:16:03also want to make sure and thank Bill

3:16:05Kelly for significant actually majority

3:16:08of this development. Um but today item

3:16:10before you today is consideration of a

3:16:12sight specific sales tax incentive with

3:16:14Simon CRA. General terms of this

3:16:17incentive as you are all well familiar

3:16:18we've done this several times over the

3:16:19last several months. reimbursement of a

3:16:21portion of city sales tax capped at the

3:16:232% rate to offset eligible on or

3:16:26off-site public improvements, permit

3:16:28impact fees, and or workforce training

3:16:30or any combination of those. Again, this

3:16:32is the first step in the process. With

3:16:34your direction today, we will request

3:16:36$5,000 application fee and uh initiate

3:16:41thirdparty economic analysis, bringing

3:16:42those results to a future council

3:16:44meeting for your consideration.

3:16:46Uh um this will come back to council a

3:16:49few more times including presentation of

3:16:50the economic analysis, notice of intent

3:16:52to enter into a development agreement

3:16:54and then the final uh consideration of

3:16:56that development agreement. And as a

3:16:58reminder, very low risk for the city of

3:17:00Tucson. No incentive, no dollars shall

3:17:03be paid out until the developer does

3:17:04what they say they're going to do. They

3:17:06build what they say they're going to

3:17:07build and then we get a full certificate

3:17:09of occupancy on this. In this case, the

3:17:11developer is proposing development of

3:17:13new approximately 500,000 square feet of

3:17:16retail space with two anchor stores, two

3:17:19junior anchors, and space for businesses

3:17:21from 2,600 ft² up to 26,000 square ft. I

3:17:25will remind you those anchors and junior

3:17:28anchors are all in the the 25,000 plus

3:17:31up to 50, 60, 70,000 plus depending on

3:17:35what they're able to recruit out there.

3:17:37Again site is located on old east old

3:17:40veil road. We're seeing tremendous

3:17:42growth in the area. In addition to

3:17:43serving ward four residents, this retail

3:17:45will also attract significant of number

3:17:47of shoppers from outside the city limits

3:17:49as we are already seeing in this area

3:17:51including areas in Corona, Tucson, Vale,

3:17:54and Benson. Um, I do want to make sure

3:17:57you are aware staff recommends in this

3:17:59case proposing an incentive of up to 30%

3:18:02of city sales tax limiting to the two

3:18:05anchor stores and the two junior anchors

3:18:07only. Um, which would equate to a back

3:18:10of the napkin sketch of about $2

3:18:13million. Obviously, the economic

3:18:14analysis will determine those final

3:18:16terms should you provide that direction.

3:18:18Again, no incentive shall be paid until

3:18:20these four stores are built and have the

3:18:23full certificate of occupancy on that

3:18:25which will help attract other retail to

3:18:28the area as well. So with that, happy to

3:18:30answer any questions and we have Bill

3:18:32Kelly here as mentioned with Diamond

3:18:34Ventures who has done a significant

3:18:35amount of development in this area and I

3:18:37want to thank him very much for all of

3:18:39his efforts actually for everything he's

3:18:40done over the year. I do complain every

3:18:42time he calls me every day but it is

3:18:44definitely worth it. Thank you, man.

3:18:48All righty, Councilwoman Lee.

3:18:50>> Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Mike

3:18:52and Bill. I also want to acknowledge

3:18:53your presence here today and all of the

3:18:55work and the great stuff that you're

3:18:56you're building out in the southeast

3:18:58side of town. It really makes a

3:18:59difference. And um we need jobs, y'all.

3:19:02The the younger people are struggling to

3:19:04find entry- level jobs. I'm speaking

3:19:06from personal experience here. So, I'm

3:19:08really excited about these opportunities

3:19:10for Tonins to have jobs and um just all

3:19:13of the good stuff that this development

3:19:15is going to bring. Thank you, Mike, for

3:19:17queuing up Old Veil Road. I know you're

3:19:19listening to me. Tim is listening to me.

3:19:20The mayor is listening to me. Everyone

3:19:22is listening to me. Switch from

3:19:23complaining about Irvington to now the

3:19:25need to address Old Veil Road. But it

3:19:26really is significant with all of the

3:19:28growth. This is the Costco location. And

3:19:30right now, it's a old two-lane road, and

3:19:33I'm really really concerned about

3:19:34capacity. So, I'm telling everyone who

3:19:36will listen, we have to figure out how

3:19:38to layer funding and come up with a

3:19:39strategy to build out the infrastructure

3:19:41that is going to be needed in this area

3:19:42to support the growth that's happening.

3:19:44But overall incredibly supportive, very

3:19:46excited about moving this forward. So,

3:19:48um I would like to move mayor that we

3:19:50proceed with beginning this process.

3:19:52>> So, there's a motion in a second. Any

3:19:54further discussion? I too want to uh

3:19:59thank Bill Kelly um for really working

3:20:04this area and bringing

3:20:07uh

3:20:09really uh considerable economic activity

3:20:12and growth uh to an area where we have

3:20:14seen a lot of housing built. Um I'm

3:20:18really supportive of moving forward. I

3:20:21want to see what the economic um the

3:20:23independent economic uh analysis says. I

3:20:27also think we should recognize the

3:20:30larger opportunity developing in the

3:20:32area along Old Vil Road Corridor with

3:20:35Costco moving forward and nearby

3:20:38additional investments being proposed

3:20:40here. I too want to advocate for Old

3:20:44Veil Road. I agree that uh there's a lot

3:20:48of economic activity and a lot of

3:20:50buildout

3:20:52um in this area and we need to make sure

3:20:54that we are building the road to the

3:20:58capacity that is being built in terms of

3:21:00economic activity. Um

3:21:04I also want to be clear about what we're

3:21:06doing today. Moving this forward does

3:21:09not commit commit us to the final

3:21:11incentive amount. It allows us to get

3:21:15the independent financial and economic

3:21:18analysis so that when it comes back to

3:21:20mayoring council, we can make an

3:21:22informed decision in terms of what the

3:21:25incentive

3:21:27uh will do. Um I am a huge believer that

3:21:32when we incentivize

3:21:34economic development that there needs to

3:21:36be a return on our investment and the

3:21:39taxpayer funds being allocated to the

3:21:42project. So job creation, infrastructure

3:21:46improvement, economic activity, all of

3:21:49those are going to be

3:21:53uh brought to us when the econ

3:21:55independent economic analysis is built.

3:21:58So I'm happy that we're moving forward.

3:22:01I'd love to see the numbers that come

3:22:03back to us. And of course, part of the

3:22:06incentive when I was around when we

3:22:10pitched uh to create this incentive,

3:22:14uh the whole idea was to be able to

3:22:17create highwage long-term jobs and a a

3:22:23return on the investment for the

3:22:25taxpayer. uh we need to make sure that

3:22:29the jobs that are being created here

3:22:31will be highwage long-term jobs and so

3:22:35that's why the incentive was created and

3:22:37that's what I would like to see and I'm

3:22:38sure that's what the independent

3:22:41economic analysis will bring us. So um

3:22:44thank you all so much really looking

3:22:46forward to it. Thank you, Mike, for your

3:22:49um dedicated work on this. And if

3:22:52there's no other um comments or

3:22:55questions,

3:22:57um all those in favor of the motion,

3:22:59please signify by saying I

3:23:01>> I

3:23:02>> against motion carries.

3:23:04>> Uh thank you, mayor. I was just glad you

3:23:06didn't bring up that we're not bringing

3:23:07IKEA at this point. So, we're still

3:23:09working.

3:23:09>> I was going to say that I have been

3:23:12begging Bill Kelly.

3:23:14>> Bill Kelly. I have been begging him for

3:23:16an IKEA. [laughter] Um, I still I still

3:23:20hold I still hold hope. I still hold

3:23:22hope. Thank you. [clears throat]

3:23:26All righty. Uh, we are moving forward

3:23:29then with item nine. Time has been set

3:23:33aside for discussion and direction

3:23:34relating to matters pending in front of

3:23:36the Pima County Board of Supervisors and

3:23:39other regional jurisdictions.

3:23:47Okay,

3:23:50>> Mr. Manager.

3:23:52>> Thank you, honorable mayor and members

3:23:53of the council. Joining us at the table

3:23:55is Stephanie Zamora, who will give you

3:23:57her update on the Pimac County and other

3:24:00local jurisdictions.

3:24:02>> Thank you, Mr. Manager. It's so good to

3:24:03see you all. Um uh honorable mayor,

3:24:06members of the council, the regional

3:24:08report reflects that Puma County

3:24:10approved a 120-day moratorum on new data

3:24:13center development while it develops um

3:24:15updated zoning standards and includes a

3:24:17public health framework within that. The

3:24:19county also accepted a federal uh safe

3:24:22streets and roads for all grant. Uh the

3:24:24approximately $3.8 8 million total

3:24:27project will include safe routes to

3:24:28school and safe streets programs uh

3:24:30transportation safety outreach and

3:24:32education and open streets demonstration

3:24:35initiative and uh in Morirana the town

3:24:37is advancing an 8.75 million PAS

3:24:41treatment project at its pioneer well

3:24:43which is supported by both WIFFA and ADQ

3:24:45funding and both Morirana and Sawarita

3:24:48have now approved their master IGAS with

3:24:50the RTA to implement the RTA next and

3:24:53with that honorable mayor that wraps up

3:24:54the uh Puma County and regional report.

3:24:57>> Also, we want we're discussing a joint

3:24:59meeting with the Pima County Board of

3:25:01Supervisors. I think that there was um

3:25:04um Clerk Stler was searching for a date

3:25:08that made sense for everyone, which is

3:25:10really hard.

3:25:12>> We did. We set one um November

3:25:16>> 19th.

3:25:16>> Okay.

3:25:18>> So, we have a joint meeting with the

3:25:21board of supervisors. That's November

3:25:2319th, 10:30 a.m. So, put on your

3:25:27calendars.

3:25:29I'm looking forward to it because I I

3:25:31I'm

3:25:33really liking the conversations that

3:25:34we're having and it seems as though

3:25:38there's concrete steps coming out of

3:25:40them. Um, they're kind of clunky because

3:25:44there's two board of supervisors and two

3:25:47elected bodies which make it a little

3:25:49clunky. But I know that we are moving

3:25:51forward and that's something that Mr.

3:25:54Tamir and and Janesh are are um um

3:25:58really helping us with with that. Is

3:26:00there any questions or comments on this

3:26:03item? I'm going to just move us on to

3:26:06item 10. Um, time has been set aside for

3:26:09an update on state and national

3:26:11legislation, regional committees,

3:26:14executive and administrative orders, and

3:26:16directions on any associated litigation.

3:26:20Uh, before I turn it over to Mr. Tamir,

3:26:22I want to flag changes the Trump

3:26:24administration is proposing to the 2030

3:26:27census through federal rulemaking. Uh

3:26:31the proposal would count only citizens

3:26:34and green card holders, leaving out

3:26:37other people who live in our community,

3:26:40including some who are here illegally.

3:26:44It would also remove race and ethnicity

3:26:47questions. An accurate count helps

3:26:50determine Tucson's representation in

3:26:52Congress and federal funding, and it

3:26:54helps us plan for services our residents

3:26:57need. These changes could leave us with

3:27:00an incomplete picture of our community

3:27:03and affect the federal funding available

3:27:05to support those services. Um that

3:27:09includes HUD and CDBG funding

3:27:12allocations to our city. Public comments

3:27:15are due October 13th and municipalities

3:27:18are planning to submit comments opposing

3:27:21the proposed changes.

3:27:24I know that we have uh gotten some of

3:27:28you asked the same question right about

3:27:31the census changes and Mr. Tamir I just

3:27:34wanted to make sure that we have a plan

3:27:37to s to submit our opposition

3:27:41>> mi Mr. Lesque.

3:27:43>> Thank you, honorable mayor. Um, we have

3:27:45discussed this internally and we are

3:27:47working with our our litigation partners

3:27:49and just for clarity of the record, the

3:27:51um the uh date has been extended to

3:27:54November 2nd, which gives us a little

3:27:56bit more time, but uh we will be working

3:27:58with our with the mayor and council's

3:28:00approval. will be working with our

3:28:02litigation partners to submit a combined

3:28:04um uh comment uh consisting of the the

3:28:08the items that you'd already discussed

3:28:10as well as other arguments that I think

3:28:12are are available for us.

3:28:16>> Thank you, Mr. Tamir.

3:28:19>> Okay, I have Amora.

3:28:21>> Yes. Uh well, thank you, honorable

3:28:23mayor, city manager, and city attorney,

3:28:25and members of the council. Um just a

3:28:27couple notes on the federal front and

3:28:29the state front. Congress is scheduled

3:28:31to return the week of November 9th. And

3:28:33when lawmakers return, they're expected

3:28:35to address a few things. Um, primarily

3:28:37fiscal year 27 government uh funding,

3:28:40the annual defense authorization bill

3:28:41and surface transportation

3:28:42reauthorization

3:28:44among other pending issues. Um, and as

3:28:46we've been updating, current government

3:28:48funding and transportation authorization

3:28:50expire December 11th. Um, on the state

3:28:53front, uh, a couple things. Two courts

3:28:55recently ruled against the EPA's August

3:28:592025 uh termination of the solar forall

3:29:01grants. The state of Arizona is awaiting

3:29:03uh EPA's next steps to determine whether

3:29:06it's $156 million solar for all

3:29:09Arizonans program which Tucson

3:29:10participated in uh can resume. Uh

3:29:14additionally, early ballots go out uh

3:29:17tomorrow as we head toward the November

3:29:193rd general election. Um, and as we

3:29:21monitor outcomes, we are also developing

3:29:23uh the forthcoming state legislative

3:29:25agenda that will inform uh positions and

3:29:28our strategic leg uh legislative

3:29:29advocacy in the session to come. And

3:29:32with that, honorable mayor, that

3:29:33concludes my remarks.

3:29:34>> Thank you, Miss Samura. I really

3:29:35appreciate any questions, comments.

3:29:38Council member Vakas,

3:29:40>> I was wondering if you had any updates

3:29:42regarding TUSD school closures.

3:29:46Honorable uh mayor and members of the

3:29:48council, I don't have that uh with me,

3:29:50but we can certainly um provide uh

3:29:53response to that to the mayor and

3:29:54council offline.

3:29:56>> Council member Barakas, I know that TUSD

3:29:58was very deliberate about reaching out

3:30:00to the council offices for

3:30:02representation in a committee, a

3:30:05community committee. Um so I'm not sure

3:30:09if your offices are participating

3:30:12in that effort. Um, but an important

3:30:16conversation. I I think that it's

3:30:18important for the city of Tucson to

3:30:21partner with TUSD to think innovatively

3:30:25on how we use uh school grounds

3:30:31uh that might

3:30:33have to be closed uh because of the

3:30:36unfortunate financial situation

3:30:40um that every school district around

3:30:43across our region is having to face. So,

3:30:46uh, maybe pay some attention in terms of

3:30:49how we, um, communicate with TUSD school

3:30:53board and other school districts that

3:30:55are having to, um,

3:30:58close schools because of vouchers and

3:31:01other other um, uh, financial

3:31:04disinvestments from the state and

3:31:05federal government. Thank you. Good um

3:31:10um, good question. All righty. So, we

3:31:14move on to Thank you, Miss Amora. Really

3:31:16appreciate it. We move on to item 11.

3:31:19Does anyone have any items to remove

3:31:21from the consent agenda at today's

3:31:23regular meeting?

3:31:26Item 12. Does anyone have any items for

3:31:28future agendas?

3:31:30Seeing none, study session is adjourned.

3:31:34The next regularly scheduled meeting is

3:31:37on Tuesday, October 20th. So, we are

3:31:40going to be adjourned till 5:30 p.m.

3:31:43today. So, we have about an hour to

3:31:46stretch our legs and uh come back at

3:31:505:30 for regular session. Thank you.

3:32:36Heat. Hey, Heat.

3:33:16>> [music]

3:33:27[music]

3:33:35[music]

3:33:45[music]

3:33:45>> Heat. Hey, Heat.

3:33:52>> [music]

3:34:04[music]

3:34:10[music]

3:34:19[music]

3:34:25[music]

3:34:30[music]

3:34:36[music]

3:34:38>> Heat. Heat.

3:34:44That's

3:34:51[music]

3:34:58[music]

3:35:07[music]

3:35:19>> [music]

3:35:27[music]

3:35:33[music]

3:35:56[music]

3:36:07[music]

3:36:17[music]

3:36:28[music]

3:36:39[music]

3:36:49[music]

3:37:02[music]

3:37:13[music]

3:37:23[music]

3:37:28>> Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey.

3:37:34>> [music]

3:37:47[music]

3:37:53[music]

3:38:05[music]

3:38:12[music]

3:38:21[music]

3:38:27[music]

3:38:38[music]

3:38:50[music]

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3:39:04[music]

3:39:10[music]

3:39:15[music]

3:39:48[music]

3:39:53[music]

3:40:01[music]

3:40:06[music]

3:40:19[music]

3:40:29[music]

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3:40:56[music]

3:41:18[music]

3:41:38[music]

3:41:51[music]

3:43:02[music]

3:43:08[music]

3:43:14[music]

3:43:19[music]

3:43:25[music]

3:43:36[music]

3:43:41[music]

3:44:14[music]

3:44:37[music]

3:44:45[music]

3:45:19[music]

3:45:24[music]

3:45:31[music]

3:45:46[music]

3:45:51[music]

3:45:56[music]

3:46:00>> Hey, hey, hey.

3:46:01[music]

3:46:07[music]

3:46:15[music]

3:46:31>> [music]

3:46:39[music]

3:46:49[music]

3:46:57[music]

3:47:06[music]

3:47:09>> Hey, hey,

3:47:17[music]

3:47:19hey.

3:47:24>> [music]

3:47:37[music]

3:48:00[music]

3:48:25>> Hey,

3:48:34hey, hey.

3:48:43>> [music]

3:48:52[music]

3:49:03[music]

3:49:08>> Heat. Heat.

3:49:11[music]

3:49:27[music]

3:49:56Heat. Heat. N.

3:50:34>> [music]

3:50:48[music]

3:50:58[music]

3:51:08[music]

3:51:22[music]

3:51:23>> Back.

3:51:33[music]

3:51:34Hey. Hey.

3:52:08Everything.

3:52:52>> [music]

3:53:20[music]

3:53:26[music]

3:53:31[music]

3:53:37[singing]

3:53:39[music]

3:54:02>> Hey,

3:54:05[music]

3:54:13[music]

3:54:22>> [music]

3:55:11[music]

3:55:17[music]

3:55:23[music]

3:55:31[music]

3:55:48>> Hey,

3:55:57hey, hey.

3:56:20>> [music]

3:56:45>> Hey,

3:56:47[music]

3:56:49down.

3:56:52[music]

3:57:03>> [music]

3:57:37[music]

3:58:01[music]

3:58:13>> Heat. Heat.

3:58:37Heat. Heat.

3:59:13Hey.

3:59:47Hey,

3:59:49hey, hey.

4:00:24Heat.

4:00:40Heat. [music]

4:00:52>> [music]

4:01:04[music]

4:01:08>> Hey. [music]

4:01:14Hey. Hey.

4:01:16>> [music]

4:01:22[music]

4:01:33[music]

4:01:40[music]

4:01:46[music]

4:01:53[music]

4:02:00[music]

4:02:06[music]

4:02:18[music]

4:02:23>> Hey,

4:02:26[music]

4:02:29hey, hey.

4:02:38>> [music]

4:02:48[music]

4:02:54[music]

4:03:14[music]

4:03:45[music]

4:04:02>> Hey, hey, hey.

4:04:07[music]

4:04:19[music]

4:04:43>> [music]

4:04:51[music]

4:05:04[music]

4:05:14[music]

4:05:23[music]

4:05:27[music]

4:05:33[music]

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4:06:12[music]

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4:08:02[music]

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4:10:56[music]

4:11:04[music]

4:11:15[music]

4:11:26[music]

4:11:43[music]

4:11:49[music]

4:12:49[music]

4:12:55[music]

4:13:05[music]

4:13:14[music]

4:13:20[music]

4:13:27[music]

4:13:33>> Hey, hey, hey.

4:13:35[music]

4:13:41>> [music]

4:13:46[music]

4:13:59[music]

4:14:09[music]

4:14:19[music]

4:14:34[music]

4:14:41[music]

4:14:47[music]

4:14:48>> Hey,

4:14:52[music]

4:14:58[music]

4:14:59hey, hey.

4:15:05>> [music]

4:15:24[music]

4:15:32[music]

4:16:21[music]

4:16:46[music]

4:17:01[music]

4:17:14[music]

4:17:45>> Feel

4:18:03it.

4:18:22>> [music]

4:18:31[music]

4:18:41[music]

4:18:55[music]

4:18:57>> Hey,

4:19:02hey, hey.

4:19:44down.

4:19:57Hey

4:20:40>> [music]

4:20:40>> You're going to kill me.

4:20:47[music]

4:20:55Hey,

4:21:01[music]

4:21:10hey, hey.

4:21:33>> [music]

4:21:39[music]

4:21:44[music]

4:21:54[music]

4:22:48[music]

4:23:44[music]

4:23:49[music]

4:23:49>> Hey.

4:23:56>> [music]

4:24:14[music]

4:24:21[music]

4:24:30[music]

4:24:49[music]

4:25:08[music]

4:26:21>> Hey,

4:26:27hey, hey.

4:26:57Heat.

4:27:15Hey, Heat.

4:27:32Hey,

4:27:34hey, hey.

4:28:10>> [music]

4:28:24[music]

4:28:29[music]

4:28:33>> Hey,

4:28:36hey, hey.

4:28:41>> [music]

4:28:52[music]

4:28:53>> Hey,

4:29:01hey, hey.

4:29:02[music]

4:29:09>> [music]

4:29:15[music]

4:29:21[music]

4:29:23>> Heat. Heat.

4:29:28[music]

4:29:33>> [music]

4:29:48>> Heat. Heat. [music]

4:29:57>> [music]

4:30:06[music]

4:30:11[music]

4:30:23[music]

4:30:31[music]

4:30:53[music]

4:31:14[music]

4:31:24[music]

4:31:35[music]

4:31:44>> Hey.

4:31:50>> [music]

4:31:57[music]

4:32:19[music]

4:32:25>> Heat. Heat.

4:32:49>> [music]

4:32:54[music]

4:33:02[music]

4:33:10[music]

4:33:15[music]

4:33:27>> Hey. Hey. Hey.

4:33:31[music]

4:33:50[music]

4:33:57>> [music]

4:34:05[music]

4:34:15[music]

4:34:30[music]

4:34:36[music]

4:34:51[music]

4:35:00[music]

4:35:08[music]

4:35:21[music]

4:35:30[music]

4:35:39[music]

4:35:48[music]

4:35:55[music]

4:36:15[music]

4:36:35[music]

4:36:41[music]

4:36:46[music]

4:38:09[music]

4:38:18[music]

4:38:32[music]

4:38:43[music]

4:38:49>> Heat. Heat. [music]

4:39:17>> [music]

4:39:34[music]

4:39:39[music]

4:40:07[music]

4:40:18[music]

4:40:23[music]

4:40:31[music]

4:40:39[music]

4:40:57[music]

4:40:59>> So meeting of October Six. Council will

4:41:03stand in session. And we do need to go

4:41:05to roll call. [clears throat]

4:41:08>> Council member Cunningham

4:41:10>> here.

4:41:11>> Council member Dah

4:41:12>> here.

4:41:13>> Councilwoman Lee

4:41:14>> here.

4:41:14>> Council member Barahas

4:41:15>> here.

4:41:16>> Council member Schubert

4:41:17>> here.

4:41:18>> Vice Mayor Santa Cruz

4:41:19>> here.

4:41:19>> Mayor Romero

4:41:20>> here. Before we go to item two, the city

4:41:23attorney will go over rules of decorum

4:41:26for mayor and council meetings. Mr.

4:41:28Attorney. Thank you, honorable mayor,

4:41:29members of council. Arizona's open

4:41:31meeting laws provide that members of the

4:41:33public may attend and listen to the

4:41:34proceedings during tonight's public

4:41:36meeting of the mayor and council.

4:41:37Arizona law also allows the mayor and

4:41:39council to enforce rules and procedures

4:41:41for public attendance of the meeting to

4:41:43ensure orderly behavior and to prevent

4:41:44unnecessary interference with the public

4:41:46meeting. Here are the rules that apply.

4:41:48The rules require decorum and orderly

4:41:50conduct by the members of the audience.

4:41:52No person attending the meeting shall

4:41:53engage in conduct that disrupts or

4:41:55otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of

4:41:57the meeting, including any statements or

4:41:59conduct that interrupts the persons who

4:42:00might be addressing the mayor and

4:42:01council or that disrupts the discussions

4:42:03of the mayor and council. The mayor has

4:42:05the authority to ensure compliance with

4:42:07the rules of orderly conduct. If

4:42:08disorderly conduct or disruptive conduct

4:42:10continues after a warning, and this is

4:42:12that first warning, the mayor may direct

4:42:14the removal of persons from the chambers

4:42:16and or reassess the meeting itself. If

4:42:18disruptive behavior makes it necessary

4:42:19to clear the chambers, the persons who

4:42:21disrupted the meeting will not be

4:42:22allowed to return to the chambers for

4:42:24the remainder of tonight's meeting. As a

4:42:26final note, please be aware that

4:42:27interfering with or preventing this

4:42:29lawful public meeting from being carried

4:42:30out in an orderly manner not only

4:42:33violates the rules of participation, but

4:42:34also violates title 13 of the Arizona

4:42:36Revised Statutes.

4:42:39>> Item two,

4:42:41invocation, pledge of allegiance, and

4:42:42appointments to boards, committees, and

4:42:44commissions. We will start with a land

4:42:47acknowledgement today. Let us begin by

4:42:49grounding ourselves in acknowledging

4:42:51these lands. The city of Tucson is on

4:42:54the lands that have been stewarded by

4:42:55the Tono Otam since time in memorial and

4:42:58the Pascoyaki people who have lived in

4:43:01the Sonoron Desert for thousands of

4:43:03years. Please rise for the pledge of

4:43:05>> allegiance.

4:43:11To the flag of the United States of

4:43:13America and to the stands, one nation

4:43:18under God, indivisible, with liberty and

4:43:22justice for all.

4:43:27>> Item 2 C1 and 2C2 are presentations. Our

4:43:33first presentation would uh will be the

4:43:36Tucson water day and then our second

4:43:38presentation would be the domestic

4:43:41violence awareness month. Our first

4:43:43group to join us up um on the mic area

4:43:47is the Tucson water representatives.

4:43:50With us today is Tucson Water Director

4:43:52John Kimick, Deputy Director Scott

4:43:55Schlywild

4:43:57Slywilder,

4:43:59uh Deputy Director Sylvia Ampano, and

4:44:01the many hardworking Tucson Water

4:44:03employees who will join us tonight. I

4:44:06believe also we have longtime community

4:44:09advocate and former Sunnyside board

4:44:12member Eva Dong. And we also invited uh

4:44:17Sunnyside board member uh and community

4:44:20activist Bobby Harameo who is currently

4:44:24um at Lasagawa's meeting and wasn't able

4:44:28to join us today. If my colleagues on

4:44:30the council want to join me as well,

4:44:32please join me up there.

4:44:37[clears throat]

4:44:49All right. Blue for blue. Blue for

4:44:51water.

4:44:53>> All righty. And if you'd like, you can

4:44:55all squish in. We don't bite.

4:44:59>> Okay.

4:45:00Thank you all so much for coming. We

4:45:02really appreciate it. We all know that

4:45:05water is life and the city of Tucson has

4:45:09had the responsibility to deliver water

4:45:12to the residents of our beautiful city

4:45:14for

4:45:16125 years as a public utility. Thank you

4:45:22all so much for working day in and day

4:45:25out making sure that we deliver uh

4:45:27clean, safe, reliable water for all of

4:45:30our residents. So with that, on behalf

4:45:32of the city of Tucson and the office of

4:45:35the mayor,

4:45:37um I'd like to read this proclamation.

4:45:39Whereas water has sustained life in

4:45:41Tucson Tucson's basin for thousands of

4:45:44years, shaping the cultures, community,

4:45:48identity, and future of our region.

4:45:51Whereas on October 16th, 1882,

4:45:54approximately 200 residents gathered at

4:45:57Porter Hotel on North Tulle Avenue for a

4:46:01water banquet featuring an elaborate

4:46:04menu of soups, seafood, roasted meats,

4:46:08game, vegetables, desserts, and fresh

4:46:12Santa Cruz River water and champagne

4:46:16reflecting the new foods and goods made

4:46:20available. ailable to Tucson through the

4:46:22arrival of the Southern Pacific

4:46:24Railroad. And whereas this event

4:46:27celebrated new and vibrant economic

4:46:29prosperity and commemorating the

4:46:32introduction of a new water system by

4:46:34the Tucson Water Company, a crowning

4:46:37milestone in Tucson's development. And

4:46:40whereas the early water system drew from

4:46:43a source near the Santa Cruz River south

4:46:46of the historic city where water was

4:46:49conveyed by aqueduct and gravity into

4:46:52Tucson beginning a long legacy of

4:46:55engineering, public service and

4:46:57adaptation in the Sonoron Desert. And

4:47:00whereas on July 24th, 1900, the city of

4:47:04Tucson purchased the Tucson Water

4:47:06Company, beginning more than 125 years

4:47:09of municipal water service and

4:47:12responsible Sonor and Desert stewardship

4:47:14of our community's most essential

4:47:16resource. And whereas generations of

4:47:19Tucson Water employees have long

4:47:21protected public health by providing

4:47:24safe, clean, and reliable drinking

4:47:26water, monitoring water quality,

4:47:29protecting and restoring groundwater,

4:47:31aquifer cleanup, and continued

4:47:33investment in infrastructure necessary

4:47:36to serve a growing community. And

4:47:38whereas Tucson has demonstrated that a

4:47:41desert city can grow responsibly while

4:47:43using water wisely through conservation,

4:47:46reclaimed water, groundwater recharge,

4:47:49long range planning, and a shared

4:47:52community commitment to stewardship.

4:47:55And whereas the Water Bank of Tucson

4:47:57stores Colorado River water underground

4:47:59for future recovery and use,

4:48:01strengthening Tucson's preparedness and

4:48:03long-term water reliability amid drought

4:48:06and changing Colorado River conditions.

4:48:09And whereas Tucson Water advances

4:48:12affordability, equity, conservation, and

4:48:15climate resilience through customer

4:48:17assistance,

4:48:19um rebates, multilingual education,

4:48:22water waste prevention, rainwater

4:48:25harvesting, green storm water

4:48:27infrastructure, recharge projects, and

4:48:30integrated onewater planning. And

4:48:32whereas Tucson's water continues to

4:48:34advance the next generation of water

4:48:36reuse through the Pure Water Tucson

4:48:39program, preparing for a future in which

4:48:41highly treated, recycled water will

4:48:43become a safe, reliable, local,

4:48:46sustainable, and droughtresilient

4:48:48drinking water source, also known as

4:48:51advanced water purification.

4:48:54Whereas Tucson's water achievements have

4:48:57been made possible by generations of

4:49:00dedicated employees, elected leaders,

4:49:02tribal and regional partners, community

4:49:05organizations, youth, businesses, and

4:49:08residents committed to protecting our

4:49:11shared water future on behalf of the

4:49:13city of Tucson. And whereas as Tucson

4:49:15Water looks towards the future, it

4:49:18continues to honor its history while

4:49:20advancing new technology, long range

4:49:23planning, and public partnership to

4:49:26ensure that safe, clean, reliable, and

4:49:28sustainable water remains available for

4:49:32future generations.

4:49:34All righty.

4:49:36Now therefore, I, Raa Romero, mayor of

4:49:39the city of Tucson, Arizona, do hereby

4:49:41proclaim October 6, 2026 to be Tucson

4:49:45Water Day in the city of Tucson and

4:49:49encourage all residents to recognize

4:49:51Tucson's water service, continued

4:49:54innovation, and enduring commitment to

4:49:56protecting our community's most

4:49:59essential resource and create

4:50:02opportunities for future generation.

4:50:05Thank you so much and congratulations.

4:50:12>> So, Mr. Kimick, it it it looks like an

4:50:15engineer wrote this proclamation.

4:50:17[laughter]

4:50:19If you'd like to say words and then I'll

4:50:21also like to invite Eva Dong,

4:50:24representative of our community, to say

4:50:26a couple of words.

4:50:27>> Yes. Thank you, honorable mayor, members

4:50:29of council. This is uh this is something

4:50:31that uh as Tucson Water employees, we we

4:50:34often say once you get into the water

4:50:35business, you never really leave it

4:50:37because it is a passion. We're one of

4:50:39those few departments in the city where

4:50:41we are inside people's homes. We're

4:50:43inside those businesses. So, it ends up

4:50:46being a passionate u commitment of

4:50:49public service that we do. So having

4:50:51this uh October 16th known as Tucson

4:50:54Water Day, hopefully forever uh to

4:50:56celebrate the banquet that occurred in

4:50:58downtown Tucson in 1882 is uh I'm just

4:51:01going to say it's cool, right? So So we

4:51:05uh for everybody who's in the audience

4:51:07uh today, we actually have a little gift

4:51:10for you. Hopefully we have enough for

4:51:12everybody. So I don't know if you can

4:51:14grab that box by Roy.

4:51:20Yeah.

4:51:22[applause]

4:51:24>> So, we had we had some more of our 125th

4:51:26anniversary coined of being the Tucson

4:51:28Water Department. 1882, we were Tucson

4:51:30Water Company and then the full city

4:51:32department in 1900. So, we'll have staff

4:51:35if you guys want to pass these around.

4:51:37Thank you so much for being here and

4:51:39please remember October 16th, not only

4:51:41this year, but every year as a Tucson

4:51:44Water Day and and hopefully the the

4:51:46greatness we bring to all of your lives

4:51:48here in this community. Yeah.

4:51:51[applause]

4:52:04>> Thank you. It's really an honor to be

4:52:06here today with all of you, all of the

4:52:08employees that over the decades have

4:52:10been really working hard with us. Um my

4:52:13name is Eva Kario Dong. I live on the

4:52:15south side and super fun site um all my

4:52:18life and that's how people usually think

4:52:19of us as being on the super fun site but

4:52:22it's a lot more than that especially um

4:52:25recently in the last few decades um the

4:52:28city of Tucson water department has done

4:52:30an incredible job in helping us make

4:52:32sure that we are cleaning up our

4:52:35aquifers and not only drinking safe

4:52:38water ourselves but continuing to make

4:52:39sure that our generations to come will

4:52:42also have the opportunities to to drink

4:52:44this the the uh clean water that we all

4:52:47need to survive. And not only that, not

4:52:50only are they cleaning the water, but

4:52:52they're also doing all the kind of

4:52:54things that are going to help us as far

4:52:56as generations to come. Um they have

4:52:58been already, as you have heard in the

4:53:00proclamation, the different things that

4:53:02they have done to conserve our water. U

4:53:05it has been phenomenal. um you know some

4:53:08of that we didn't even know until we

4:53:09started having meetings and we found out

4:53:10we had all this water stored up which

4:53:13you know now is so critical because of

4:53:15what's going on with central Arizona

4:53:18project but um I just I just want to say

4:53:20thank you also to the mayor and the city

4:53:23council that have allowed the city uh of

4:53:26of Tucson water department to do what

4:53:28they need to do to help us to make sure

4:53:31that we all stay um you know in a safe

4:53:34environment and in a healthy environment

4:53:36Water is so critical as you all know. Uh

4:53:39we can't live without it. We can't do

4:53:40hardly anything without water. And so I

4:53:43really appreciate you, Mayor Deina and

4:53:46the rest of the city council for all

4:53:48that you have done throughout the

4:53:50decades or throughout the years um

4:53:52throughout the months helping us because

4:53:54every month there seems like there's

4:53:55something new and something good

4:53:57happening u with all of you and with the

4:53:59city of of Tucson water department. So

4:54:01thank you once again to everybody. Um,

4:54:04you know, I'm very happy that that this

4:54:07is being done, the proclamation is

4:54:10happening because you all deserve it

4:54:11with all your hard work. Thank you.

4:54:20>> We can we get on in tighter so we can

4:54:22take a picture. See if we can. See if we

4:54:25can.

4:54:26>> See if we can.

4:54:30[clears throat]

4:54:32>> I'll do this. I'll do this. Yes.

4:54:35[laughter]

4:54:37[clears throat]

4:54:46>> Thank you.

4:54:49>> And we have one more proclamation to go.

4:54:54I'll see you this week.

4:54:55>> Yeah, tomorrow.

4:54:56>> I'll be there. I'll be there.

4:55:03>> All righty. I'd like to invite up Anna

4:55:06Harper, Karina Vay, Jose Romero, April

4:55:10Barbosa, L'Oreal Decoa,

4:55:13Shironda Jordan, Kayla Walker, Tmaine

4:55:17Ravenel. Also, I know that we have our

4:55:19chief, Chief Prito, here with us and any

4:55:22members of our Tucson Police Department

4:55:25that want to join us. Not sure if others

4:55:29like Caitlyn Mon from the Southern

4:55:31Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault is

4:55:34here. Larry Stark Starks of Tucson

4:55:37Junth. Lance Meeks with Goodwill

4:55:40Industries. Beatatrice Sanchez Padilla

4:55:42Consul

4:55:44Kera the Mexico and Tukon Brandy

4:55:47Champion.

4:55:49Um,

4:55:51and all other community partners. I I

4:55:54also see the consul consul of Mexico.

4:55:59Um, I'm not sure if you're here for this

4:56:00one, but [laughter]

4:56:01I want to invite all of you uh to join

4:56:05us.

4:56:07>> Do you like the purple frame?

4:56:10>> Since I didn't wear purple.

4:56:12>> Yes. All righty. And Chief, here you go.

4:56:17All righty. This um is a really

4:56:20important um uh proclamation. And this

4:56:25is uh proclaiming the month of October

4:56:282026 as domestic violence awareness

4:56:31month in our community. This is work

4:56:35that um we have so many community

4:56:38partners um that do this incredibly

4:56:42important work including our consul

4:56:45Mexico and his office and all of the

4:56:48nonprofit partners TPD and many offices

4:56:51within the city of Tucson. I would wish

4:56:54that we don't have to proclaim a month

4:56:58dedicated against domestic violence. The

4:57:01work that you're all doing is precisely

4:57:04to not have this violence uh perpetrated

4:57:08to children and families and women in

4:57:12our community. And so we are all working

4:57:15very very hard. So this um uh

4:57:20recognition is not that we don't have to

4:57:22do this anymore, right? So uh but in the

4:57:26meantime,

4:57:27uh the work that each and every one of

4:57:29you do is incredibly important for our

4:57:33community. So therefore,

4:57:38um let me read the proclamation on

4:57:40behalf of the city of Tucson and the

4:57:42office of the mayor. Let me see if I

4:57:45have it here.

4:57:47Whereas domestic violence occurs in ep

4:57:50epidemic proportions across the United

4:57:53States, affecting more than six million

4:57:55people each year. Whereas October is

4:57:58domestic violence awareness month, a

4:58:01time to honor survivors, remember lives

4:58:04lost to domestic violence, and recommmit

4:58:06us to building communities where

4:58:08everyone can live in safety and without

4:58:11violence. And whereas families who have

4:58:14lost loved ones to domestic violence

4:58:16have asked us to remember the people

4:58:18they loved, speak their names, and carry

4:58:21their stories forward. And whereas

4:58:23domestic abuse causes lasting harms to

4:58:26children, adults, and families in our

4:58:28community, affecting their physical and

4:58:31emotional well-being and financial

4:58:34stability. And whereas for more than 50

4:58:37years, Emerge Center Against Domestic

4:58:39Abuse has walked alongside survivors and

4:58:42families in southern Arizona, offering

4:58:45shelter, support, and opportunities for

4:58:48healing while working with our community

4:58:50to prevent violence. And whereas in

4:58:52fiscal year 26, Emerge served 5,63

4:58:58individuals experiencing domestic abuse,

4:59:01answered 6,75

4:59:04hotline calls, a 34 34% increase over

4:59:09fiscal year 2025, provided 10,021

4:59:13emergency shelter bed nights, and

4:59:16offered community-based services to 20

4:59:1925,57

4:59:21people. And whereas in 2025, the Tucson

4:59:26Police Department received 14,418

4:59:31domestic violence calls for service and

4:59:34documented 7,939

4:59:37incidents. And whereas Emerge received

4:59:401,868

4:59:42law enforcement referrals with

4:59:44approximately 90% coming from the Tucson

4:59:48Police Department and Puma County

4:59:50Sheriff's Department. 74% of those

4:59:53referred screened as high risk.

4:59:57through

4:59:59appraise through appraise emerge served

5:00:022,186

5:00:04DV victims and provided 7,924

5:00:08hours of case management.

5:00:11And whereas even as extreme funding cuts

5:00:14threatened services for survivors,

5:00:17Emerge alongside our community remains

5:00:19committed to helping people find safety,

5:00:23support, and a path towards healing. And

5:00:26whereas emerge center against domestic

5:00:28abuse and the city of Tucson, TPD, city

5:00:31of Tucson's community safety program and

5:00:34other partners are committed to a

5:00:36comprehensive response to end domestic

5:00:40violence in our community. Now

5:00:42therefore, I, Raa Romero, mayor of the

5:00:45city of Tucson, Arizona, do hereby

5:00:47proclaim the month of October 2026 to be

5:00:51domestic violence awareness month and

5:00:53encourage everyone in our community to

5:00:56wear purple on Thursday, October 22nd to

5:01:00for wear purple day as a visible support

5:01:04for survivors, remembrance of life,

5:01:06lives lost, and our shared commitment to

5:01:09ending domestic violence.

5:01:12and also contribute to your nonprofit

5:01:14organiz organizations. That's just me

5:01:16putting an aside. [laughter] In witness

5:01:19whereof, I have here unto set my hand

5:01:21and cost the seal of the city of Tucson,

5:01:23Arizona to be affixed this sixth day of

5:01:26October, 2026.

5:01:28Uh congratulations on the incredible

5:01:31work that you do and thank you so much

5:01:33for your service. [applause]

5:01:41Um, mayor, I see uh Creser sitting in

5:01:45the back and I wanted to include

5:01:48fine.

5:01:50Um,

5:01:53I thought Eman was gonna say something

5:01:55to

5:02:03um, I'm just going to make a brief

5:02:05comment and then I'm going to pass to my

5:02:06colleague who will give a fuller uh,

5:02:08statement on behalf of Emerge. on behalf

5:02:11of the 89 people, that's 30 adults and

5:02:1459 children living in our shelter today,

5:02:18and the nearly 6,000 people we serve

5:02:21annually.

5:02:22I want to thank the mayor and council

5:02:25for your unwavering support for our

5:02:27services, your encouragement to keep

5:02:30going, and finding um out ofthe- box

5:02:34ways to fund our work.

5:02:37I also want to thank your staff who have

5:02:41worked really hard to partner to learn

5:02:44about the issues and ensure that they're

5:02:47doing what they can to contribute. I

5:02:50also want to thank Assistant City

5:02:53Manager Liz Morales for your support and

5:02:56leadership and helping to sustain

5:02:59critical work overall, but recently

5:03:03helping to ensure that we can sustain

5:03:06our work to address firearms and

5:03:08domestic violence. We have many partners

5:03:11in the community who help us to sustain

5:03:13a system of support for survivors. And

5:03:16certainly Emerge is not the only place

5:03:19that survivors come when they need help.

5:03:22But I also want to recognize and thank

5:03:25our core partners at the Tucson Police

5:03:27Department, the Center against Sexual

5:03:30Assault, Goodwill of Southern Arizona,

5:03:33the Juneen Festival Planning Committee,

5:03:35Gonul de Mexico, the city of Tucson

5:03:38Safety, Health and Wellness Team, and

5:03:40Indivisible Thano.

5:03:43And now I'm gonna um introduce April

5:03:46Barbosa who is the coordinated community

5:03:49response team manager for Emerge and she

5:03:52and her husband are the founder of

5:03:55Rosa's legacy and the parents of Rosa

5:03:58Barbosa.

5:04:03Um good afternoon everybody. My name is

5:04:05April Barbosa and I'm the coordinated

5:04:07community response project manager at

5:04:09Emerge and I'm honored to be here today

5:04:12representing Emerge. October gives us an

5:04:15opportunity to bring attent bring

5:04:17attention to domestic violence, but what

5:04:19matters just as much is what we do when

5:04:21October is over. Survivors need us every

5:04:24day. Supporting survivors means

5:04:26listening without judgment. It means

5:04:29believing them, respecting their

5:04:30choices, providing options, and

5:04:32understanding that we do not get to

5:04:34decide what safety looks like for

5:04:36someone else. At Emerge, we see that

5:04:38need every day. In the last fiscal year

5:04:40alone, Emerge served more than 5,000

5:04:43people experiencing domestic abuse and

5:04:44answered more than 6,000 hotline calls,

5:04:47a 34% increase from the year before. And

5:04:50in my role, I see how important it is

5:04:52that survivors are not left to la

5:04:54navigate complicated systems alone. It

5:04:57takes advocates, law enforcement,

5:04:59courts, health care providers, schools,

5:05:02and community partners working together

5:05:04with survivors at the center. And while

5:05:06our work must always center survivors

5:05:08who are here and need our support, we

5:05:10must also make space to remember those

5:05:12whose lives were taken by domestic

5:05:14violence and the families who continue

5:05:16to carry that loss. I am one of those

5:05:18family members. My daughter Rossado was

5:05:21only 18 years old

5:05:25when her life was taken by domestic

5:05:28violence.

5:05:30She was a daughter, a sister, a friend,

5:05:33and a young woman with an entire life

5:05:35ahead of her. When we say their names

5:05:37and remember their lives, we remind the

5:05:40world that they were so much more than

5:05:41what happened to them. So when October

5:05:44ends, let the work continue. Keep

5:05:46listening, keep believing, keep

5:05:49supporting survivors, and keep working

5:05:51together to build a community where

5:05:53everyone can live safely because

5:05:55survivors deserve more than a month of

5:05:57awareness. They deserve our commitment

5:05:59every day of the year. And as we

5:06:01continue domestic violence awareness

5:06:03month, I also want to share a couple of

5:06:04upcoming opportunities to connect with

5:06:07Emerge. On October 10th from 10:00 a.m.

5:06:10to 5:00 pm at Sam's Club, we'll be

5:06:12holding Stuff the Bus where we hope to

5:06:14fill a Sunron bus with everyday

5:06:16essentials for survivors of domestic

5:06:17abuse and their children. [snorts] On

5:06:19October 17th from 8 to 11:00 a.m. at

5:06:22Reed Park, we'll have our Footsteps for

5:06:24Healing Walk, a free community event

5:06:26honoring survivors and families impacted

5:06:28by domestic abuse and other forms of

5:06:30violence. Um, also [snorts] October 22nd

5:06:33is Wear Purple Day. More information

5:06:35about all these events, including items

5:06:38needed for stuff the bus and

5:06:39registration for the walk, can be found

5:06:41under the events section on Emerg's

5:06:42website. And thank you all for being

5:06:45here today and for recognizing domestic

5:06:48violence awareness month [laughter] and

5:06:49us.

5:07:02>> [snorts]

5:07:04>> I'm gonna introduce and bring up a

5:07:06lieutenant over our family crime section

5:07:08who oversees our domestic violence unit.

5:07:11Um, but I'll just I'll just kind of

5:07:13start by just appreciating and

5:07:15recognizing um the detectives that

5:07:18Tucson Police Department has that are

5:07:19dedicated to intimate partner violence

5:07:22and also to our of course all the

5:07:24community partners that are here today

5:07:25and sharing with us to include Emerge

5:07:28and Goodwill and the Mexican consulate.

5:07:32Um we are we are incredibly grateful to

5:07:34have the support of you all. So, with

5:07:35that, um, I will have Lieutenant Baroot

5:07:39say a little something.

5:07:44>> Thank you, Chief. Thank you, honorable

5:07:46mayor and, uh, council members. Uh, so I

5:07:48oversee the special victim section,

5:07:50which includes our domestic violence

5:07:52units. We have some of our hardworking

5:07:54DV detectives here tonight. You heard

5:07:56some of the stats that come their way to

5:07:58investigate. They do a great job with

5:07:59that, but resources are limited. We do

5:08:01what we can. Um, this month is a time to

5:08:04recognize survivors and reaffirm our

5:08:07commitment to addressing domestic

5:08:09violence in the Tucson community. For

5:08:11law enforcement, responding to domestic

5:08:13violence is about much more than

5:08:16answering a call for service. We often

5:08:19encounter victims during some of the

5:08:20most dangerous and vulnerable moments of

5:08:22their lives. And how we respond to these

5:08:25moments matter. So knowing these

5:08:27domestic violence incidents often go

5:08:30unreported

5:08:31uh to law enforcement, it rarely

5:08:33decreases in severity as well. It is our

5:08:36responsibility as law enforcement to

5:08:38investigate these crimes thoroughly,

5:08:41hold offenders accountable and connect

5:08:43survivors with critical resources.

5:08:46We need to work alongside our advocates

5:08:49advoc advocacy partners and community

5:08:51partners to help break the cycle of

5:08:53domestic violence. We also recognize

5:08:55that leaving an abusive relationship is

5:08:57rarely a simple thing and every

5:08:59survivor's circumstances are different.

5:09:02Our role is to approach victims with

5:09:04professionalism, compassion, and respect

5:09:07while prioritizing their safety. This

5:09:10month and throughout the rest of the

5:09:12year, the Tucson Police Department

5:09:13stands with domestic violence survivors

5:09:16and remains committed to making our

5:09:18Tucson community safer for everyone.

5:09:20Thank you.

5:09:22>> [applause]

5:09:25>> And may I also include a very special

5:09:28thanks to Assistant Chief Duffy uh in

5:09:31charge of investigations and the entire

5:09:34team, the special victims team uh

5:09:37including uh Lieutenant Baroot, domestic

5:09:40violence unit Sergeant Leonard, DV

5:09:43Detective Hancock, DV Detective

5:09:45Castillo, DV Professional Staff

5:09:48Investigator Madrial, DV Professional

5:09:51Staff in Invest investigator Rob DV

5:09:53community service officer Royal Sergeant

5:09:56Aaron Hackett and many many others in

5:09:59the Tucson department uh police

5:10:01department team and all of you for being

5:10:04here for doing this work day in day out

5:10:08many times 247. So with that if we can

5:10:11get scrunch up together and get a a

5:10:15picture. Anyone else?

5:10:17>> I'm sorry. Um,

5:10:21we have

5:10:47Fore

5:11:50So

5:12:43Polic.

5:13:18Make sure the camera you can see the

5:13:19camera.

5:13:21Brilliant.

5:13:32[laughter]

5:13:48>> Tippy toes. One, two, three.

5:13:53>> Thank you.

5:14:06How are you?

5:14:32>> [clears throat]

5:14:45>> Thank you all so much. really appreciate

5:14:48um the time afforded to this always very

5:14:52important item. Item three,

5:14:56mayor and council report summary of

5:14:58current events. City managers

5:14:59communication number 285 dated October

5:15:036th is received into and made part of

5:15:05the record. This time has been scheduled

5:15:07to allow members of the mayor and

5:15:08council to report on current events.

5:15:11These are to be current event of

5:15:13activities, not position statements on

5:15:15policy issues. Does any council

5:15:18colleague have anything to report at

5:15:20this time? All righty. So, we will start

5:15:23with the vice mayor and then come on

5:15:25down the line.

5:15:27All right. Thank you, mayor. Um, so at

5:15:29the end of September, uh, Tucson

5:15:31delegation of city staff, um, my

5:15:34colleagues, Council Member Schubert,

5:15:35council member Barakas, uh, Sunran, TPD,

5:15:39um, traveled to Albuquerque to study

5:15:41Albuquerquekey's rides, uh, transit

5:15:43safety program and ambassador model. Um,

5:15:46the two systems have a lot in common,

5:15:48uh, including fair free service since

5:15:502020, the transit app, and similar

5:15:52safety challenges through Tucson Sunran.

5:15:56Um although Tucson Sunran is uh is

5:15:59contracted while Albuquerque ride is a

5:16:02city department. The group uh of us to

5:16:05the transit center um

5:16:08uh looked at their their maintenance

5:16:10facilities. [clears throat] We rode

5:16:11along the the volunteer transit

5:16:13ambassadors um as well as the Tracy the

5:16:16transit safety officers um who serve as

5:16:18a direct line uh to police. There's um a

5:16:22lot of exciting uh programs that they

5:16:26have like adopt the stop program um and

5:16:29a lot of partnerships with volunteers,

5:16:31churches and businesses as well as

5:16:33nonprofits that I look forward to

5:16:35continuing um as part of our

5:16:37conversation around uh transit safety.

5:16:39So, I want to thank all the city staff

5:16:41who helped organize uh this uh study

5:16:44tour. Um, I also had the opportunity to

5:16:46attend um and greet neighbors at the

5:16:49Fiesta de May and the 10th annual

5:16:52closing

5:16:53um the 10th annual deaf awareness week

5:16:56um where we got to present a

5:16:57proclamation. So, thank you mayor for

5:16:59getting that um

5:17:02preparing that um to share with the

5:17:04community. they were really happy to

5:17:06have us there always trying um pulling

5:17:08us into the conversation about how do we

5:17:09make things more accessible even in our

5:17:11city government so that they can

5:17:13participate. Um I also had the

5:17:16opportunity to um tour Ben's bowels and

5:17:19see the work that they've been doing

5:17:20across the city and I look forward to

5:17:23partnering with them um to continue

5:17:26their be kind mission um with our own

5:17:28internal city work. Uh we got to um

5:17:33uh tour Wakefield M school with um

5:17:36school board member uh Dr. Robbie and

5:17:38got to see the amazing work that's

5:17:40happening at Wakefield and within the

5:17:42TUSD community and look forward to

5:17:44continuing to to partner with them as

5:17:46well. Um we had the opportunity to a

5:17:50plaque unveiling ceremony for our former

5:17:53council member Richard Fimbras um and

5:17:56share a few words. And then I just

5:17:58wanted to congratulate um council member

5:18:00Barahas and her family for the grand

5:18:02opening of Blue Na Soloul. Um thank you

5:18:05for all the the love and commitment that

5:18:07you have for community. So looking

5:18:09forward to having that as a community

5:18:11space. Um, but this week I would love to

5:18:15invite folks to spaces for solidarity

5:18:18honoring Lorraine Lee. Wednesday,

5:18:19October 7th from 4 to 6:00 p.m. at the

5:18:22Lotus Lounge Student Space um located at

5:18:25the University of Arizona main campus.

5:18:27Lorraine Lee is a beloved UFA alumna and

5:18:31proud chana and Asian um American woman

5:18:34who advanced social justice through her

5:18:36work with chosa

5:18:38where she championed affordable housing,

5:18:40access to education and youth

5:18:41leadership. She's a lifelong southsider

5:18:45um who also led the Puma County Board of

5:18:47Health's TCE subcommittee in the 1990s

5:18:50drawing attention to the health in um

5:18:52impacts of the the contamination that

5:18:55happened on the south side. Um, and

5:18:58finally, just want to wish all of our

5:19:00Tucson students a happy fall break. I

5:19:02hope they enjoy their break and have

5:19:04fun. Thank you.

5:19:06>> Thank you, Vice Mayor, Council Member

5:19:07Cunningham.

5:19:08>> A lot going on. First, I want to start

5:19:11with the rumors about the Albertson

5:19:12shelter at Broadway and Harrison. Um,

5:19:16there's that isn't what that's not

5:19:18what's happening. Uh, let's just start

5:19:20by saying it's not true. I spoke to the

5:19:22commercial uh broker for the property.

5:19:24Uh the goal is for mix mixed use of

5:19:26retail. I think they actually have

5:19:28someone in mind. Um but the rumor ran as

5:19:31a result of a article in the Daily Star

5:19:34that uh used this property as a generic

5:19:38example of something that may come and

5:19:40we've got to be very careful with what

5:19:42kind of information we get out in

5:19:43public. Um, uh, we definitely had the

5:19:47opportunity to have folks, um, make

5:19:50comments about, uh, some of the, uh,

5:19:53proposed changes to the code at Park

5:19:55Place, but that had nothing to do with

5:19:57Broadway and Harrison. Um the I want to

5:20:00let well I want to welcome everyone to

5:20:04join the leadership for operations

5:20:06division east the police command on the

5:20:07east side for an active community

5:20:09information meeting uh featuring

5:20:11speakers from uh Tucson police Tucson

5:20:13fire and the city of Tucson departments

5:20:15representatives will be stationed at

5:20:16tables uh to provide information answer

5:20:20questions that meeting takes place at

5:20:22the word 2 office 7820 East Broadway

5:20:24from October 22nd to from 6:00 to 7:30

5:20:27p.m. I want to congratulate Lazloveris

5:20:30for completing another successful

5:20:32Arizona Symphonic Wind system season. Uh

5:20:35Maestro Vera and his all volunteer

5:20:36community concert band have been

5:20:38presenting these concerts at UD Doll

5:20:39Park since 1986. We look forward to the

5:20:42uh uh the concert series uh continuing.

5:20:47Uh I want to invite people to Trunk or

5:20:48Treat. Uh it's a family and dog event

5:20:51hosted by our W 2 office next with our

5:20:53next door neighbor camp Bowwow. Uh, come

5:20:55out to the parking lot on Saturday,

5:20:57October 10th from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. for

5:20:58a costume contest, music games, and

5:21:00treats from local vendors. Special

5:21:02thanks for for Tucson Fire and Tucson

5:21:04Police for collaborating with us.

5:21:06There's also going to be a pirate parade

5:21:08uh calling all Buccaneers and the land

5:21:10lovers. And are you ready? Um games,

5:21:14treats, costume contests, and pirate fun

5:21:16at the Palib Park pirate parade. Don't

5:21:18delay it to come out October 10th from 4

5:21:20to 6 pm uh at Palbert Park. It's 425

5:21:23South Man Avenue. Um, really quick about

5:21:26Tucson Water Day. One thing I want to

5:21:28shout out to Tucson Water. They're one

5:21:30of the best um,

5:21:33they're one of the best utilities in the

5:21:35country, and they they've shown that

5:21:36time and time and again. So,

5:21:37congratulations on your 126th year. But

5:21:40right now, I wouldn't trade Tucson's

5:21:42water position with any other city in

5:21:44the country. I want to give a shout out

5:21:46to our local girl, Kaylee Matthews.

5:21:48She's participating on The Voice. She

5:21:50got a four turn. She got a fourchair

5:21:52turnaround and selected Queen Latifah's

5:21:55team on the voice and everybody in

5:21:57Tucson should get behind her because

5:21:59that's pretty awesome. Um, I also want

5:22:02to talk about the East Side Puma uh

5:22:05animal

5:22:06control center. Uh, it had its grand

5:22:09opening last week. Uh, shout out to

5:22:11Steve Kazachic who made all that happen.

5:22:13We have a really great place to adopt a

5:22:15pet on the east side at Broadway and

5:22:17Cobb. I want to give a shout out to my

5:22:19friend George Larson who celebrated his

5:22:21retirement on Sunday and I wish him the

5:22:23best. Finally, two other events we two

5:22:26other groups um Tunadito celebrated

5:22:29their 30th anniversary um and the

5:22:32community coalition celebrated its 30 uh

5:22:3530th anniversary. So, congratulations to

5:22:37all them. We attended some of those

5:22:38events and and again really good things

5:22:40going on. It's it's October. It's busy.

5:22:43[snorts]

5:22:44>> Super busy. Uh Council Member Dalton.

5:22:46>> Thank you, Mayor. There's so many events

5:22:47going on. I'm not going to announce any

5:22:48of them, but invite you to see our

5:22:50newsletters, which you can see on uh the

5:22:52W3 website. You can sign up to get it in

5:22:54your inbox on Fridays. Lots of events um

5:22:57and other information in the W3

5:22:59newsletter.

5:23:00>> Council Lee,

5:23:01>> well, in case you need more things to

5:23:03do, I will throw one more thing on the

5:23:05on the table here. Um the city's annual

5:23:07booash is happening on October 17th.

5:23:11This is a citywide event. It just

5:23:12happens to take place inside of Ward 4.

5:23:15It's again October 17th from 5 to 8:00

5:23:18PM. And just shout out to the parks and

5:23:20rec staff. They always do such an

5:23:22amazing time at this event. Um wear

5:23:24costumes. There's going to be trunk uh

5:23:26trunk or tree, carnival games, um a

5:23:28haunted playground, and more. Food is

5:23:30going to be available for purchase. And

5:23:32that is at the Lincoln Park Soccer

5:23:33Fields at 4325 South Pantano Road.

5:23:36Thanks, Mayor.

5:23:37>> Bubash is always fun. It's a good day.

5:23:41>> Council member Barakas.

5:23:43>> Thank you, Mayor. Hi community. I would

5:23:45like to share some updates with you all.

5:23:47I would like to first thank everyone who

5:23:49joined us for the grand reopening

5:23:51celebration at Santaita Park this past

5:23:53Friday, October 2nd, and for our movies

5:23:56in the park also at Santarita Park on

5:23:58Saturday, October 3rd. We had more than

5:24:015,000 community members join us

5:24:03throughout the weekend, and it was

5:24:04incredible to see so many families,

5:24:06neighbors, kids, and community members

5:24:09come out to play and celebrate with us.

5:24:11The grand reopening marked the

5:24:13completion of a major 8 million

5:24:15renovation and the beginning of an

5:24:17exciting new chapter for Santarita Park.

5:24:20Some of the new amenities include a

5:24:22brand new splash pad and fully shaded

5:24:25playground with new structures and

5:24:26seating, more than 300 newly planted

5:24:29trees and shrubs, plus new asphalt and

5:24:31decomposed granite walking paths, a

5:24:33community designed public art mosaic

5:24:35that adds a unique piece of Tucson's

5:24:37history to the park, and much more. This

5:24:40project was more much more than

5:24:42construction and new amenities. It was

5:24:44about listening to the community and

5:24:46cultivating a space that reflects what

5:24:48residents especially our families want

5:24:50and need. A huge thank you to Parks and

5:24:54Recreation Director Lara Hamway and

5:24:56team, Tucson Police Department, Captain

5:24:58Wine, Sergeant Busamant, and team, our

5:25:01various city departments, the Razo

5:25:03Construction, local businesses, little

5:25:05leagues,

5:25:07sports and and um other teams, skate and

5:25:09bike collectives, who we have genuine

5:25:11BMX, BMX group in the room tonight, some

5:25:15nonprofits, friends of Santaita Park,

5:25:17Bario Santaita, Wesoa Neighborhood

5:25:20Association,

5:25:22other community organizations and

5:25:23everyone who has sat at the table with

5:25:25us throughout this process. You helped

5:25:28think beyond a construction project. You

5:25:30helped us think about what a park means

5:25:31to our community. Our office is working

5:25:35closely with parks and recreation to

5:25:36identify leisure class programming at

5:25:38our recreation centers in Ward 5. I

5:25:41would encourage you all to take the

5:25:42survey and voice what you would like to

5:25:45see our at our W five rec centers. Also,

5:25:48I have some good news to share. I'm

5:25:50proud to announce that on Friday, the

5:25:52Tana Atam vice chairwoman Carla Johnson

5:25:56shared that board 5 received two shade

5:25:58structures for our basketball courts,

5:26:02one at PBLO Gardens and one at Santaita

5:26:05Park. I worked alongside alongside

5:26:07Director Hemway from Parks and Recre to

5:26:09apply for the grant. And this zip code

5:26:1385713 is one of the hottest has some of

5:26:16the hottest temperatures in the city. So

5:26:17having these amenities in our

5:26:19neighborhoods will make them more

5:26:20livable and enjoyable.

5:26:22Last um our last movies in the park will

5:26:25happen on Saturday, October 24th at 6:00

5:26:28p.m. at Gunny Baretta's Park right next

5:26:30to Sunnyside High School. Please bring

5:26:32your family, friends, blankets, and lawn

5:26:34chairs and and enjoy one more night of

5:26:36community fun and movie and a movie

5:26:39under the stars for free. We'll be

5:26:41showing the movie Cocoa. I would like to

5:26:44thank our sponsor TE and our partners

5:26:46Parks and Recreation TPD, many

5:26:48ponderosas and the Community Food Bank

5:26:50of Southern Arizona for helping make

5:26:52these free community events possible.

5:26:54Hope to see you all there. In honor of

5:26:57International Day of the Girl, please

5:26:58join many ponderosas for their fifth

5:27:00annual day in my uniform event this

5:27:02Saturday, October 10th, beginning at

5:27:0410:00 a.m. at Puma Community College.

5:27:07This inspiring event is designed to

5:27:09empower young girls and women ages 3 to

5:27:1118 in our community by giving them the

5:27:14opportunity to explore a variety of

5:27:16career paths and to connect directly

5:27:18with successful women who are making a

5:27:20difference in their fields. You can

5:27:21register directly with mini ponderosas

5:27:23to participate. I want to recognize and

5:27:26congratulate Garcia Cleaners and Shirt

5:27:28Laundry here in Ward 5 as they prepare

5:27:31to close their doors at the end of this

5:27:33month after incredible 117 years of

5:27:36serving our community. Garcia Cleaners

5:27:39has been a longtime institution here in

5:27:40Tucson, serving generations of families

5:27:43and becoming a cherished part of our

5:27:45community. As a family prepares to close

5:27:47at the end of October, they will be

5:27:50ironing their last shirt and pressing

5:27:52their last pair of pants. We are

5:27:54grateful for their 117 years of hard

5:27:56work, dedication, and service to Tucson.

5:27:59Lastly, I would like to congratulate

5:28:01Detective Steve Horn, who's in the room

5:28:04today. Steve Horn, after 31 years of

5:28:07dedicated service, he will be retiring

5:28:09on October 29th. Tonight marks his last

5:28:12city council meeting, bringing an end to

5:28:15an incredible chapter. Detective Horn

5:28:17began working city council meetings in

5:28:191999

5:28:21before my time here [laughter] and has

5:28:24been a familiar presence ever since.

5:28:26Please, Tucson, let's give him a round

5:28:28of applause.

5:28:29[applause]

5:28:37We wish you the best of luck on your

5:28:38retirement journey. Thank you.

5:28:41>> Thank you, Council Member. Council

5:28:42member Schubert.

5:28:44Thank you, Madame Mayor. members of the

5:28:46council and thanks to everybody who's at

5:28:48the meeting tonight. I'm going to start

5:28:50my current event report with a traffic

5:28:51violence update summarizing the um

5:28:55crashes that have occurred since our

5:28:56last council meeting in an effort to

5:28:58keep this at the forefront of our minds

5:29:00as we work on solutions.

5:29:02Hopefully some sometime in future

5:29:05meeting maybe I won't have any crashes

5:29:07to report. Um okay, so on September 24th

5:29:10a pedestrian was transported to the

5:29:12hospital with serious injuries. On

5:29:14September 25th, there was a three

5:29:16vehicle crash that sent one person to

5:29:18the hospital with serious injuries. On

5:29:20October 2nd, a 20-year-old man died

5:29:23after his car slammed into a local

5:29:25business during a suspected high-speed

5:29:27street race. On October 3rd, a

5:29:3052-year-old woman died in the hospital

5:29:32from injuries after being struck by a

5:29:34pickup truck while crossing the street

5:29:36late the night before. And yesterday,

5:29:38October 5th, a pedestrian was hit and

5:29:41killed.

5:29:43[sighs] Moving on to current events. Um

5:29:46just an update about the ward 6 chill

5:29:48space, the cooling center that we've

5:29:50been operating out of our office. Um it

5:29:53will be continuing all year. For the

5:29:55month of October, the chill space will

5:29:57be briefly closed while the staff

5:29:58regroups and sets up our new structure.

5:30:00We will reopen on November 2nd as a

5:30:03resource and shower center. On-site

5:30:06resources will be stacked so people can

5:30:08access multiple services from different

5:30:10community agencies and also shower all

5:30:12in one visit. I'll provide updates as we

5:30:14get closer to reopening. I want to give

5:30:17a huge shout out to Victoria Devasto for

5:30:19creating and implementing impactful

5:30:21programming that has helped hundreds of

5:30:22community members. As [snorts] part of

5:30:24the windown of the cooling center

5:30:26season, staff spent much of their final

5:30:28cooling center week handing out

5:30:30information about resources and similar

5:30:32day sites that people can utilize while

5:30:34the space is on intermission. We're

5:30:36happy at the W 6 office to share a handy

5:30:38rundown of some no barrier mutual aid

5:30:40and resources throughout the city

5:30:42compiled by our chillspace staff. You

5:30:44can find a list in our latest email or

5:30:46feel free to reach out to the W 6

5:30:48office. Here's some of our closing

5:30:50numbers. And again, we um had the center

5:30:52open from the last week of May um until

5:30:55the end of September. So between those

5:30:58months, um total number of visits was

5:31:002,250.

5:31:03Total unique visitors was 300. Um and

5:31:06just a note from staff that they were

5:31:08really proud of how many regulars

5:31:09appreciated and trusted the space enough

5:31:11to return frequently. [snorts] We

5:31:13provided 874 showers.

5:31:17The highest temperature recorded was

5:31:19110° on Wednesday, August 26th. The

5:31:22highest number of visitors in one day,

5:31:24was 49 on Thursday, August 27th. The

5:31:28chill space is just mostly using our

5:31:30kitchen, so it was a full kitchen. Um,

5:31:32the last full week of August, one of the

5:31:34hottest of the summer, had us averaging

5:31:35more than 40 visitors every day. Of

5:31:38particular interest to our office, as we

5:31:40often Oh, and then moving on to another

5:31:42item that is unrelated. Okay. of

5:31:45particular interest to our office as we

5:31:46often work with constituents

5:31:48experiencing issues coexisting with

5:31:49fraternities living in their

5:31:51neighborhoods. Uh just want to announce

5:31:53that the University of Arizona has hit

5:31:55pause on all fraternity activities,

5:31:57citing a wave of misconduct

5:31:59investigations, including physical

5:32:00assault, hazing, drugs, and alcohol in

5:32:03nearly half of its chapters. In an

5:32:05internal memo obtained by local media,

5:32:08the university's dean of students,

5:32:09Chrissy Lieberman, said her office is

5:32:11investigating multiple reports of

5:32:13misconduct, ranging from physical

5:32:15assault, drugs and alcohol, hazing, and

5:32:18creating unsafe environments for

5:32:19students. A portion of the memo states,

5:32:22as you know, the value of the Greek

5:32:24experience is under scrutiny nationwide.

5:32:26It is time for the University of Arizona

5:32:28Greek community to step up and set an

5:32:31example for good. it's time to have

5:32:33difficult conversations with each other

5:32:34and the members of the community. Um, so

5:32:37our office works closely with neighbors,

5:32:39neighborhood associations, and the

5:32:41University of Arizona on issues related

5:32:43to Greek organizations. So, we're

5:32:45definitely going to be following this

5:32:46development with great interest. And if

5:32:48you aren't signed up for the W 6

5:32:50newsletter, that's where we'll be

5:32:51putting updates. And then just a couple

5:32:53of upcoming events at the W 6 office.

5:32:56Um, tomorrow, which is Wednesday,

5:32:58October 7th, from 6:00 to 7:30, we're

5:33:01holding an elections 2026 town hall.

5:33:04Join us for a town hall focused on

5:33:06voting and elections. This session will

5:33:08include an overview of staffing,

5:33:10security, and emergency protocols for

5:33:12voting sites leading up to and on

5:33:14election day, November 3rd. Plan

5:33:16[snorts] speakers include leaders from

5:33:18the Pima County Elections Office, the

5:33:20County Attorney, and Tucson Police

5:33:22Department, all of whom will be

5:33:23available to answer questions. And this

5:33:25is a hybrid session, so you can RSVP to

5:33:28receive the virtual link. And if you

5:33:30plan to join in person, we need you to

5:33:32RSVP so we can make sure we have enough

5:33:33room. And you're also welcome to send

5:33:35questions in advance. And then finally,

5:33:38join the office of council member me,

5:33:41Miranda Schubert, and Kevin Dah. Um,

5:33:44also the office of attorney general

5:33:46Chris Maize, Southern Arizona Legal Aid,

5:33:48and the city of Tucson code enforcement

5:33:50for a tenants rights info session. This

5:33:53is to learn about the rights of renters

5:33:54to safe and clean housing. Um,

5:33:58so that's going to be on October 15th.

5:34:00Groups are going to be tableabling from

5:34:025:00 to 5:30 and the presentation will

5:34:04begin at 5:30. There's going to be

5:34:06dinner provided and it's going to be at

5:34:08the W 6 office, also hybrid. So, um,

5:34:11details are in our newsletter. Feel free

5:34:13to reach out. And that concludes my

5:34:15current event report. Thank you.

5:34:16>> Thank you, council member. Um, well, I

5:34:19just wanted to remind uh the community

5:34:22that we will be receiving vote uh your

5:34:26ballot by mail soon. Um, November 3rd is

5:34:30election day and the deadline to return

5:34:33your ballot is October 27th.

5:34:36Um, I want to remind everyone that our

5:34:39elections are safe and it is safe to

5:34:43return your ballot by mail. Also, I

5:34:46wanted to share that um La Rosa is

5:34:51celebrating its first anniversary and

5:34:54they're going to have a celebration. La

5:34:56Rosa uh has welcomed more than 100,000

5:35:00concert goers and created nearly 100

5:35:04local jobs in a beautiful re-imagined

5:35:07space. I'm proud to celebrate this

5:35:09locallyowned venue and the people who

5:35:12are investing in Tucson's creative

5:35:15community. The anniversary party starts

5:35:186:00 p.m. and admission is $10 donation

5:35:22to LaRosa Foundation this Friday,

5:35:25October 9th. Also, um this Saturday, uh

5:35:30I will be joining our Tucson poet

5:35:32laurate Logan Phillips for the kickoff

5:35:36of Poets in the Park, a free event for

5:35:39all ages at Armory Park. Doors open at

5:35:443:30 p.m. Let's gather to celebrate

5:35:47Tucson culture, enjoy local artists,

5:35:50explore creativity, and collectively

5:35:52imagine a more vibrant future. With

5:35:56that, we move on to item four, city

5:35:59manager report, summary of current

5:36:01events. City manager's communication

5:36:03number 286 dated October 6th is received

5:36:06into and made part of the record. This

5:36:08time has been scheduled to allow the

5:36:10city manager to report on current

5:36:11events. Mr. Manager,

5:36:13>> thank you, Mayor. Uh just one on M for

5:36:15tonight. And we've uh actually announced

5:36:18this program in study session before.

5:36:20Um, but I wanted to remind uh viewers

5:36:23and the audience about our ready,

5:36:25steady, open program. It's a new program

5:36:29designed to support local businesses.

5:36:31Uh, the mayor and council recently

5:36:33approve recently approved a one-year

5:36:35pilot program to provide assistance to

5:36:38businesses before, during, and after

5:36:41construction of city capital project.

5:36:44The program aims to provide enhanced

5:36:46communications and outreach for city

5:36:48construction work zones, support to

5:36:51small businesses through the city's

5:36:52office of community and economic impact,

5:36:55and one-time grants to eligible small

5:36:58local businesses on selected city

5:37:01project corridors. I bring it up tonight

5:37:03because applications for round one

5:37:05grants are open now through November

5:37:081st, 2026. There's a number of criteria

5:37:11you have to meet. Those are available on

5:37:13the website. And in addition, there's

5:37:15prospective applicants are encouraged to

5:37:17attend upcoming technical assistance and

5:37:20education webinars via Microsoft Teams.

5:37:22There three upcoming Thursday, October

5:37:258th at 2 p.m., Wednesday, October 14th

5:37:28at 10:00 a.m. and Tuesday, October 20th

5:37:31at 1 p.m. You can find webinar links,

5:37:34info on the program, eligibility

5:37:36requirements, etc. at

5:37:38tucsonaz.gov/departs/ gov/dep

5:37:40departments/transportation-mobility/resteadyopen.

5:37:45So, or you can just type in

5:37:48readysteadyopen and I'm sure it'll pop

5:37:50up there. So, thank you, mayor.

5:37:52>> Thank you, Mr. Manager. Item five,

5:37:55liquor license applications. City

5:37:56manager communication number 287 dated

5:37:59October 6 is received into and made part

5:38:02of the record. Madame clerk, please read

5:38:04the liquor license agenda. Your honor,

5:38:07on the evening's agenda, we have two

5:38:08applications for new licenses, one

5:38:10application for a person location

5:38:11transfer and 15 applications for special

5:38:13events. All applications are in

5:38:14compliance with city requirements. An

5:38:16appropriate motion would be to forward

5:38:17items 5B 1 through3 and 5C 1-15 to the

5:38:20state liquor board with a recommendation

5:38:22of approval. I have a motion, please.

5:38:24>> So moved.

5:38:25>> There's a motion and a second. Any

5:38:27further discussion on this? Seeing none,

5:38:30all those in favor, please signify by

5:38:32saying I. I. Any against? Motion

5:38:36carries. Item six.

5:38:39Call the audience.

5:38:41Madame clerk, please read the

5:38:43announcement. At this time, any member

5:38:45of the public is allowed to address the

5:38:46mayor and council on any issue except

5:38:48for items scheduled for a public hearing

5:38:49at the meeting. Call to the audience

5:38:51will last for 30 minutes and speakers

5:38:52are limited to threeinut presentations.

5:38:54The green light will turn on when you're

5:38:56called to speak. It will turn yellow

5:38:57when you have 30 seconds remaining and

5:38:58it will turn red and beep when your time

5:39:00is up. At that time, please conclude

5:39:01your comments.

5:39:03Thank you so much. Our first speaker is

5:39:05JP Salvater.

5:39:21Madame Mayor, JP Salvadira,

5:39:24uh, Tucson resident, uh, not retained.

5:39:28Uh,

5:39:32Councilman, uh,

5:39:34city clerk Lush Lush. Um,

5:39:40there are several very important items,

5:39:42uh, that are pressing on my mind.

5:39:45Uh, overlooked in transportation,

5:39:47mobility, streets projects was a total

5:39:51lack of following necessary procedure to

5:39:54correct San Antonio neighborhood.

5:39:57When

5:40:00reviewed for paving work, no corrective

5:40:03measures

5:40:05were made for recurring extreme

5:40:09horizontal cracks as subsidance from

5:40:12past decades of overping our local

5:40:15aquifers.

5:40:17private uh the paving company VSS

5:40:21uh employees voiced

5:40:24individual opinions that the entire

5:40:27streets in that neighborhood area had

5:40:30less than 1/2 inch of substrate

5:40:33requiring immediate mill and fill

5:40:36instead of using simple tar and slurry

5:40:39that doesn't level into cracks. they

5:40:42come up afterward that burned through on

5:40:45the first 100 degree days. Uh [snorts]

5:40:48we had um massive horizontal cracks and

5:40:53weeds that broke through uh the uh

5:40:56substandard uh procedure. The fix was

5:41:01two separate water dumps with 50 lb bags

5:41:04of type S lime, a highly corrosive 2.5

5:41:08micron nuisance dust broadcast without

5:41:12permitting during extreme ozone heatwave

5:41:16conditions without any safety hazard

5:41:19notice to neighbors

5:41:22or project more a city disability school

5:41:26and Miles elementary that run 40ft buses

5:41:31through the area along uh Mission

5:41:33Linen's uh fleet of trucks daily.

5:41:37Substandard actions have adversely

5:41:39deteriorated our property values and no

5:41:42current uh comment uh from city

5:41:45officials has been uh forthcoming to

5:41:48cure this insult. Please respond now. No

5:41:53on prop 421.

5:41:55It's not about to EP Foris gifting

5:41:58trees, free moving and movies in the

5:42:00park or continuing lower rates. It's

5:42:04about gifting easement rights uh city

5:42:08fiber optic monopoly

5:42:11and

5:42:13insulting small businesses, minorities,

5:42:16and the general public with continued

5:42:19foreign proxy usery uh cost.

5:42:24>> Thank you JP. appreciate it. Our next

5:42:26speaker is Jennifer Crawford.

5:42:38Dear Mayor and council members, my name

5:42:40is Jennifer Crawford and I live in W 2.

5:42:43I have been a Tucson resident since I

5:42:45was four years old and have worked for

5:42:46Tucson Electric Power for almost 25

5:42:48years. I work in TEP's design department

5:42:52where we in design we design from the

5:42:56substation to the meter base for

5:42:57residential and commercial projects. We

5:42:59create construction drawings that help

5:43:01customers understand what is needed to

5:43:03bring electrical service to new homes

5:43:05and businesses. We develop work packages

5:43:08for our construction crews, assess

5:43:10customers power needs when upgrades are

5:43:12required, support system improvement and

5:43:14maintenance projects, and respond to

5:43:16power and low voltage issues throughout

5:43:18the community.

5:43:20When emergencies occur in the field, our

5:43:22department is one of the first to

5:43:24respond alongside our troubleshooters

5:43:26and line construction crews. We help

5:43:28assess damage, develop restoration

5:43:31plans, and create work orders so crews

5:43:33have the information and material needed

5:43:35to restore power safely and efficiently.

5:43:38Throughout my career at TE,

5:43:41we have sorry, throughout my career, TE

5:43:44has been an exceptional company to work

5:43:46for. The company places a strong

5:43:48emphasis on safety, reliable service,

5:43:52employee well-being, and community

5:43:53involvement. Through TEP's community

5:43:56action team, I have donated hundreds of

5:43:58volunteer hours to organizations

5:44:00throughout Tucson. I am currently an

5:44:02active member of our CAT philanthropy

5:44:05team and have also served on two

5:44:06nonprofit boards as a TE representative.

5:44:10TE cares deeply about our community and

5:44:13remains committed to providing safe,

5:44:15reliable electrical service to homes,

5:44:17businesses, and other customers

5:44:18throughout Tucson. TE employees work

5:44:21long hours throughout the year,

5:44:23especially during monsoon season when

5:44:25outages are more frequent to ensure

5:44:27power is restored as quickly and safely

5:44:29as possible. We want to continue

5:44:31partnering with the city as we have for

5:44:34many years and do what we do best, keep

5:44:36the lights on for our customers and

5:44:38community. I appreciate the opportunity

5:44:40to share my perspective as a longtime

5:44:42Tucson resident and TE employee. Thank

5:44:44you for your time and for your service

5:44:46to the community. Thank you, Keegan

5:44:50Sisterman.

5:44:58>> Good evening, Mayor Romero and city

5:45:00council members. My name is Keegan

5:45:02Sisterman and I'm a junior at Micah

5:45:04Mountain High School. I'm here today to

5:45:06ask you to reconsider the June 9th, 2026

5:45:09parks and recreational fee increases.

5:45:13I'm disappointed that the swim team at

5:45:15Michael Mountain High School will not

5:45:17have a nearby pool to swim at in the

5:45:19future due to increasing costs. Joining

5:45:22this team has really changed my life for

5:45:24the better and seeing the struggle that

5:45:26the team is facing costwise makes me

5:45:29feel like future athletes will not have

5:45:31the same opportunities and experiences

5:45:33that I had. Since joining, I have felt

5:45:36more connected, more confident, and most

5:45:38importantly, had more purpose in my life

5:45:40outside of school. Academic wise,

5:45:44swimming has brought me more focus, more

5:45:46connections, and more friends. In just

5:45:48two years, I've met so many influential

5:45:51people and have had the ability to

5:45:54influence others on the team. I have

5:45:57been in club swim practices since I was

5:46:00in third grade, and I was convinced to

5:46:02join the swim team the summer before my

5:46:05freshman year. I came onto the team

5:46:07struggling with misidentity, low

5:46:09self-esteem, and almost no confidence in

5:46:12myself. Seeing a team so thriving and

5:46:15inviting made me feel like I was in the

5:46:17right place. Soon enough, all my

5:46:20struggles and worries went away because

5:46:22I knew I had two great coaches who

5:46:25believed in me every step of the way and

5:46:28a team of great people who could support

5:46:30each other in anything. After seeing

5:46:33that swimming didn't just feel like a

5:46:35sport, it felt like an addition to my

5:46:37life and a place to grow. I hate to see

5:46:39the team struggle. I believe it can help

5:46:42so many more people and provide others

5:46:44with the same experiences and growth I

5:46:46had. Please reconsider the parks and

5:46:49recreational fees increases to make it

5:46:52affordable for us and our future. Thank

5:46:55you for your time.

5:46:56>> Thank you,

5:46:59Lonnie Chapman. Lonnie Chapman.

5:47:03Lonnie Chapman.

5:47:08>> Thank you. Good evening, Mayor and

5:47:10Council members. Uh my name is Lonnie

5:47:12Chapman and I'm a native Tonin uh and a

5:47:15resident of W 6 and the manager of uh

5:47:18distribution system control at Tucson

5:47:20Electric Power. I'm a second generation

5:47:22TE employee and have been part of the TE

5:47:24family for more than 28 years. As a

5:47:27child, I remember participating in

5:47:28volunteer activities and community

5:47:30events alongside my family's co-workers.

5:47:32Those relationships felt like an

5:47:33extension of our family. And as I grew

5:47:35older, I realized that sense of

5:47:37connection and community was exactly the

5:47:39kind of workplace culture that I wanted

5:47:40to be a part of. When I joined T in 1998

5:47:44as a customer service representative, I

5:47:46viewed it as a temporary opportunity to

5:47:48earn some extra income.

5:47:50What I found, however, was much more

5:47:51than a job. I discovered a career, a

5:47:54purpose, and my own generation of

5:47:56extended family. In 1999, I moved to

5:47:59system control because I wanted to play

5:48:00a more direct role in supporting TEP's

5:48:02mission of providing safe, reliable, and

5:48:04affordable power to the residents of

5:48:06Tucson and the surrounding communities.

5:48:09My department coordinates directly with

5:48:10field employees who respond to outages,

5:48:12and I talk with customers on a regular

5:48:14basis when they have questions or

5:48:15concerns about the electric service they

5:48:17depend on.

5:48:18What continues to inspire me today is

5:48:20the opportunity to connect with both

5:48:21employees and community, excuse me, and

5:48:23customers on a daily basis. Like my

5:48:26colleagues, I appreciate the opportunity

5:48:27to serve the public. Whether helping

5:48:29resolve power quality concerns,

5:48:31supporting our teams through challenging

5:48:32situations, or building trusted

5:48:34relationships with the communities we

5:48:36serve. I find great satisfaction in

5:48:38knowing that the work we do makes a

5:48:41meaningful difference in people's lives.

5:48:43Thank you for your time and for the

5:48:44opportunity to speak today.

5:48:46Thank you.

5:48:49Shartam Sisterman

5:48:53Shartam

5:48:55Sisterman.

5:48:59>> Okay.

5:49:05>> Good evening, Mayor Romero and Tucson

5:49:07Council members. My name is Chowam

5:49:10Sisterman and I'm here tonight speaking

5:49:11on behalf of our local youth swimmers,

5:49:14student athletes, and families. I am

5:49:16requesting that the mayor and council

5:49:18reconsidered the steep pool rental fee

5:49:20increase approved on June 9, 2026

5:49:23agenda. This policy penalizes the

5:49:25student athletes who rely on city pools

5:49:28for daily practices. Swimming builds

5:49:31discipline, promotes physical health,

5:49:33and offers a structure environment where

5:49:36students proudly represent Tucson

5:49:38community. A triple fee height

5:49:40represents an immediate financial crisis

5:49:43for high school swim teams. To put these

5:49:45percentage heights into perspective,

5:49:47consider the real world financial impact

5:49:49on Micah Mountain High School swim team.

5:49:52to rent just four lanes out of six lane

5:49:54pool. Their seasonal cost in 2025 was at

5:49:57a baseline of approximately $2,70.

5:50:01For the current season, the cost has

5:50:03jumped to approximately $5,300.

5:50:06Under this adopted schedule, these costs

5:50:09are projected to climb to 6,000 in 2027,

5:50:137,300 in 2028, and 6 8,600

5:50:18by 2029.

5:50:20Starting July 1st, 2027, the hourly late

5:50:23rate will increase to $20 per lean,

5:50:26eventually scaling to $25 and $30 in the

5:50:30following years. This this aggressive

5:50:33pricing structure sits completely out of

5:50:35line with surrounding Puma County

5:50:37municipalities, which only charged

5:50:39between $3 and $7 per lane per hour.

5:50:43Parks and Recreation Director Larara

5:50:45Hemway recently stated that community

5:50:48group use is a financial burden that

5:50:50diminishes public pool capacity.

5:50:53Respectfully, we view this differently.

5:50:56Public infrastructure funded by

5:50:58taxpayers exists precisely to uplift our

5:51:02youth.

5:51:04These aggressive

5:51:07fees undermine our share goals for youth

5:51:09development, price out lower income

5:51:12families, and strip students of a safe

5:51:14environment. These fee increases will

5:51:17ultimately reduce city revenues rather

5:51:19than increase them. Because these rates

5:51:22are prohibitively expensive, Tucson

5:51:24schools will be forced to either close

5:51:26down their swim programs entirely or

5:51:30transport their students to private

5:51:32pools. Our student athletes are not

5:51:34financial burden to the city of Tucson.

5:51:37They are our future. They are young

5:51:39citizens actively working on their

5:51:41mental health and finding positive

5:51:42community support to stay away from the

5:51:44rising dangers of drugs and gun

5:51:46violence. All while the city continue to

5:51:49subsidize other free public facilities

5:51:52at large. Ultimately, the policy

5:51:54punishes youth who are trying to be

5:51:56productive citizen. I urge you as the

5:51:59city leaders to bring this back on the

5:52:01upcoming council agenda and reconsider

5:52:03the fees increases and stand up for

5:52:05Tucson youth.

5:52:06>> Thank you.

5:52:06>> Thank you, ma'am. Thank you, [applause]

5:52:12>> Councilwoman. I know that you wanted to

5:52:15I know you wanted to address this.

5:52:17>> Thank you, Mayor. I would love to be

5:52:18able to respond and thank you to the

5:52:19Micah Mountain team and family members

5:52:21for coming out tonight. Micah Mountain

5:52:23is in Ward 4. We have a connection to

5:52:25the school. Um, I just wanted to let the

5:52:27community know that learning about the

5:52:29challenges caused by the increase in

5:52:31fees through the W4 framework funding,

5:52:34we put $25,000 as a temporary band-aid

5:52:38to offset some of the upcoming costs.

5:52:40So, we put that money into the Veil

5:52:41Foundation to help offset that. And just

5:52:43procedurally for my colleagues, since I

5:52:46did not vote for the fees, I cannot

5:52:48bring it back for reconsideration.

5:52:51>> All right. Thank you, Councilwoman. Our

5:52:53next speaker is Corin Schwarz,

5:52:56I believe.

5:53:02>> Thank you for your time. It's Karine

5:53:03Schwarz. I am a 26 year resident of the

5:53:08city of Tucson. I've raised four kids

5:53:09here. I have two competitive swimmers

5:53:13currently, and I would like you to

5:53:15reconsider the free pools and supporting

5:53:17youth swimming. Um, my daughter was 15

5:53:21years old, got her first job this year

5:53:22as a lifeguard. City of Tucson was my

5:53:24first job, too. City of Chandler,

5:53:26though. Um, she was very excited. I had

5:53:30many parents warn me that they don't

5:53:31allow their children to be lifeguards

5:53:33anymore because of the free pools and

5:53:35what they have to deal with on a daily

5:53:37basis. Um, she worked all summer and one

5:53:41day during the middle of the week I

5:53:43dropped her a drink by and I watched a

5:53:46man covered in soores, open sores, very

5:53:50ill, weave between children running to

5:53:52get on their shuttle, little kids under

5:53:5410, a daycare, I believe. I almost

5:53:58wanted to take a picture, but I didn't

5:53:59want to impinge on his privacy. But he

5:54:04wandered into the bathroom and I'm

5:54:06assuming didn't use the pool with the

5:54:08open source. I It was a constant source

5:54:10of problem. The free pools. Our homeless

5:54:15need resources. The pools are not the

5:54:17place for our homeless and our children.

5:54:20I [clears throat]

5:54:23really re hope you reconsider the free

5:54:24pools.

5:54:26If you were to charge $2 a person to get

5:54:29into these pools, which I think in the

5:54:30early 2000s, that's what it was when we

5:54:32moved here. If [snorts] 200 people came

5:54:34to the pool, some of the larger pools,

5:54:37that's 400 a day. 10 city pools, that's

5:54:39$4,000 in one day. You guys have a

5:54:42shortage in your budget. These pools are

5:54:44expenses, I'm sure. And we're charging

5:54:46our youth more money, but the public can

5:54:49come in free. We're charging our lap

5:54:50swimmers to come in, but the public can

5:54:53come in free.

5:54:55this this needs to change. And we have

5:54:57great kids that want to be lifeguards.

5:54:58And I heard their parents tell them,

5:55:00"No, they came to our club teams." No,

5:55:03these are 15-year-olds. They don't have

5:55:05the resources or the education to handle

5:55:07this population that is coming into

5:55:09their pools.

5:55:12[clears throat]

5:55:13I also want you to consider if you

5:55:14haven't been to a swim meet, a high

5:55:16school swim meet, come. It is a non-cut

5:55:19sport

5:55:21that's not common in high school sports.

5:55:23These kids, at least half of them are

5:55:25beginner, newer swimmers competing,

5:55:27learning how to compete, getting a

5:55:29healthy, [sighs and gasps] strong sport

5:55:32under their belt that they can do to

5:55:33their 90s. It's a great I encourage you

5:55:35to come and see what these kids are

5:55:37doing in the pool. And I encourage you

5:55:39to charge for the pools and support our

5:55:42youth swimmers in Tucson. Thank you,

5:55:45[applause]

5:55:49Danielle Gutierrez.

5:55:51Danielle Butierrez.

5:55:59>> Sorry I couldn't hear you over the

5:56:01clapping.

5:56:03Mayor Council,

5:56:05my name is Daniel Budetis.

5:56:07I'm here because Tucson and Puma County

5:56:10are failing to meet urgent the urgency

5:56:12of the homeless crisis and families are

5:56:15paying the price. My sister died in the

5:56:17streets. She was a human being. She was

5:56:21loved and I stand here carrying the pain

5:56:23of knowing that while agencies held

5:56:25meetings and discussed programs, she

5:56:28needed help that could actually have

5:56:30saved her. Santa Rita Park looks

5:56:33beautiful. Now demonstrate that same

5:56:36commitment to Reed Park, Anza Park,

5:56:38Armory Park, and Baloa Heights Park.

5:56:41Every neighborhood deserves clean, safe

5:56:43parks. Every child deserves somewhere to

5:56:46play without encountering needles,

5:56:49threats, or open drug use. Moving people

5:56:52from one park to another does not solve

5:56:54the homelessness. Moving suffering out

5:56:58of sight does not make it disappear.

5:57:01I'm concerned this crisis is becoming an

5:57:04industry. more contracts, more

5:57:07administration, more organization

5:57:10whose continued funding depends on a

5:57:13crisis that never ends.

5:57:16Arizona's experience with treating

5:57:18incarceration as an economic opportunity

5:57:21should be a warning.

5:57:24When jobs and revenue depend on keeping

5:57:27beds occupied, we must ask whether the

5:57:30system incentives serve the people

5:57:33trapped in inside it. We cannot build

5:57:36another system that depends on people

5:57:38remaining in crisis.

5:57:41Stop using people's suffering to sustain

5:57:43an industry. My sister's life mattered

5:57:47more than a contract, a funding cycle,

5:57:50or a program's enrollment numbers. I

5:57:53want this city and county to publish

5:57:55what we spend, who receives it, and what

5:57:58happens to the people we claim to help.

5:58:00How [snorts] many obtain stable housing?

5:58:02How many receive treatment? Stay

5:58:05connected to care. How many return to

5:58:07the streets?

5:58:09Enforce park rules consistently. Address

5:58:11dangerous conduct. Pair enforcement with

5:58:14shelter, treatment, and follow-through.

5:58:16Help families with rent, utilities, and

5:58:19emergencies before they lose their

5:58:20homes. Give us a coordinated plan. Name

5:58:24people responsible for delivering it and

5:58:27deadlines the public can measure.

5:58:29Compassion requires action.

5:58:31Accountability requires results. My

5:58:34sister cannot get another chance. The

5:58:36people still out there can stop managing

5:58:39this crisis as though it is permanent.

5:58:41Start helping people get out of it.

5:58:43Thank you.

5:58:45>> Thank you, Mr. Warez.

5:58:48You can you can find, sir, you can find

5:58:50a coordinated action plan with a safe

5:58:53city initiative action plan online. We

5:58:56would be more than happy to have the

5:58:58clerk um office send you that link so

5:59:01that you can take a look. Our next

5:59:04speaker is Alejandro Beltran.

5:59:11Good evening everyone. My name is

5:59:12Alejandro Beltran. I spoke to you guys

5:59:14earlier uh but this is to talk about the

5:59:16great park opening that we had uh last

5:59:19Friday. I am proud to be a young person

5:59:21from Tucson who is actively involved in

5:59:23my community. As a student leader and

5:59:26someone who cares deeply about the

5:59:27future of our city, I believe it is

5:59:29important for young people to have a

5:59:30voice in conversations about our

5:59:32community. I am involved with student

5:59:34leadership uh including being a student

5:59:36body vice president. I've already told

5:59:37you guys and that is why Senator Park is

5:59:40really important to me um because we've

5:59:43seen uh how how beautiful it is from

5:59:46when we opened it on Friday. From a

5:59:48youth perspective, a park is so much

5:59:49more than a piece of land. It is a place

5:59:51where we can play, participate in

5:59:53sports, spend time with our friends,

5:59:56bring our families together, and have a

5:59:58positive place to be. Sports especially

6:00:01give young people opportunities to learn

6:00:03teamwork, responsibility, discipline,

6:00:05and leadership. Sanorita Park gives

6:00:08young people that opportunity. It gives

6:00:10us a place to be active, connect with

6:00:13our community, and create memories.

6:00:15Those spaces matter because they help

6:00:17shape the experiences that we could give

6:00:20to other people growing up in Tucson.

6:00:22But for parks to continue being great

6:00:24great, they also need to be safe. That

6:00:26is why I believe the partnership between

6:00:28the Tucson Police Department and Parks

6:00:30and Recreation is so important. TPD and

6:00:33parks and recreation each play an

6:00:35important role in helping our parks

6:00:36remain uh places where families and

6:00:39young people feel welcome. As a young

6:00:41person, I want to know that when I go to

6:00:43a park, play a sport, attend an event,

6:00:45or spend time with my friends, it is a

6:00:48place where our community is looking out

6:00:50for one another. Uh that takes

6:00:52partnership not just between city

6:00:54departments, but with families, youth,

6:00:56community organizations, and residents.

6:01:00I am also proud to see Tucson continuing

6:01:02to move forward. Our mayor and city

6:01:04council have an important responsibility

6:01:07to make sure our city continues

6:01:08investing in the community and creates

6:01:10opportunities for the next generation.

6:01:13And as part of that next generation, I

6:01:15want to be involved in that progress.

6:01:17And I really thank your guys's

6:01:18commitment, time, and consideration and

6:01:21all of the bond. That's why all of the

6:01:23bond money that our city gets is so that

6:01:25our city could have a bright future so

6:01:28that our parks, our roads look as

6:01:31beautiful as they are as they as we go

6:01:34every year. Thank you so much.

6:01:36>> Thank you, Alejandro.

6:01:38[applause] Samuel Moreno.

6:01:41Samuel [clears throat]

6:01:42Moreno.

6:01:55Good evening, mayor and city council

6:01:57members. My name is Samuel Boreno. I'm

6:02:0013 years old and a nationally ranked BMX

6:02:03rider from Tucson. BMX has been a big

6:02:06part of my life. It has taught me

6:02:08discipline, confidence, perseverance,

6:02:10and probably most importantly, how to

6:02:12keep going when something is difficult.

6:02:14In BMX, you're going to fall. You're

6:02:17going to try something and not get it.

6:02:19Sometimes you'll try it over and over

6:02:22again, but when you finally land

6:02:24something you've been working on, you

6:02:26realize that all those failures were a

6:02:28part of getting better. That's that's

6:02:31something I think every kid can learn

6:02:33from. I'm really grateful for the

6:02:37private facilities and people in Tucson

6:02:40who have given me places to ride and

6:02:42opportunities to progress.

6:02:47I had I had to travel to California,

6:02:50Utah, Pennsylvania, and other places to

6:02:52find facilities where I can continue

6:02:54learning and challenging myself.

6:02:57I'm fortunate that my family has been

6:02:59able to take me to those places, but I

6:03:02know not every kid has that opportunity.

6:03:05I have friends in Tucson who ride BMX or

6:03:07race BMX. A lot of the time, we're only

6:03:10we're the only kids at our schools who

6:03:12do it. I think part of the community is

6:03:16giving kids a place where they can start

6:03:18as beginners, try BMX for the first

6:03:20time, and then have somewhere to keep

6:03:23progressing if they fall in love with

6:03:25it. Tucson has baseball fields,

6:03:28basketball courts, and soccer fields for

6:03:30kids who want to play those sports. I

6:03:32believe BMX and other action sports

6:03:34deserve opportunities like that, too. We

6:03:37do have skate parks and I'm thankful for

6:03:39them. But BMX progression requires

6:03:41places where kids can start at their own

6:03:44level and continue getting better. I've

6:03:47seen how places like the Ara Valley pump

6:03:49track can bring kids of different ages

6:03:52and skill levels together. That's what I

6:03:55would love to see in Tucson. I'm not

6:03:57asking for a place just for me. I'm

6:03:59thinking about the kids who come after

6:04:01me. I want the next kid who discovers

6:04:04BMX to have a place to learn, progress,

6:04:07make friends, build confidence, and

6:04:09chase their dreams right here in their

6:04:11own city. I'm proud to be from Tucson,

6:04:14and I'm proud to ride BMX. I hope we can

6:04:17create more opportunities for kids like

6:04:21me to grow right here at home. And I

6:04:24just want to say thank you, Selena

6:04:25Barahas, for the grand opening at uh

6:04:27Sanorita Park on Friday. It was amazing.

6:04:29I mean, I I've grew up at that park and

6:04:31I just really want to say thank you and

6:04:33uh thank you for listening.

6:04:36>> Thank you,

6:04:38[applause]

6:04:39VC. [clears throat]

6:04:40Baratan

6:04:41Vbec.

6:04:54>> Good evening, mayor and council. My name

6:04:56is Vive. I am a resident of Ward 5

6:04:59and I wish somebody was paying me to be

6:05:01here. Um,

6:05:04it's cool that today's Tucson Water Day.

6:05:06I'm really That was a surprise and

6:05:07that's awesome and I can't wait to be

6:05:09here sometime to celebrate Tucson Power

6:05:11Day when we have a public power utility,

6:05:13too. Um,

6:05:16I was dismayed by this council's vote um

6:05:19to uh turn land over to Rathon. Um, I

6:05:23think it was

6:05:26I understand that like some some folks

6:05:28who voted that way felt that your hands

6:05:29were tied, that there was no choice, but

6:05:31the fact that you had a vote and an

6:05:32opportunity to go one way or the other,

6:05:35that means you had a say in in what

6:05:37happens. And that's why we put you there

6:05:39to vote to do the right thing and not

6:05:42further the city's compliance or

6:05:45participation in and reliance on a war

6:05:48industry. that's rel that's that's

6:05:51leading to the deaths of thousands of

6:05:53thousands of children.

6:05:55Um

6:05:57I am also here uh because I'm concerned

6:06:00about the extension and uh salary

6:06:04increase for uh the city manager that

6:06:06you'll be voting on later tonight. Um

6:06:10during the public process for uh Project

6:06:14Blue, um the the the city manager showed

6:06:19up to those public meetings which were

6:06:21essentially propaganda sessions uh for

6:06:23the for the data center in a

6:06:27condescending and arrogant way. Um, most

6:06:31disturbing I think was the fact that he

6:06:34was unprepared to respond to very basic

6:06:37questions about how um what the what the

6:06:40crackdowns would be, what the penalties

6:06:42would be if the developer violated their

6:06:44agreements. And it was just it was

6:06:47insulting to us as an audience in a

6:06:48community to go there and face someone

6:06:51who was so unprepared for to meet the

6:06:53moment when we were so concerned about

6:06:55the resources being extracted and our

6:06:57energy bills going up and um it just the

6:07:01there was never any public reckoning or

6:07:04any accounting

6:07:06um for that hap for for what happened

6:07:09and that whole process. And so I wonder

6:07:12tonight if you know what is happening is

6:07:16essentially being rewarded. Um and I

6:07:19understand that there's a huge other

6:07:20body of work that the city manager does,

6:07:22right? But that was the way in which

6:07:25many of us interfaced with that position

6:07:29and it was just unacceptable. And

6:07:31because there's been no public reckoning

6:07:34or accounting for that, it makes me

6:07:37wonder how we're supposed to react. um

6:07:40when you go ahead and and extend the

6:07:44contract um approve a salary increase

6:07:47like how do you think that lands on us?

6:07:49Thank you.

6:07:51>> Thank [cheering] you

6:07:54[applause] Linda.

6:07:57Linda Inger brand

6:08:02>> That's okay. It's Norwegian

6:08:05me to get up here.

6:08:12First of all, I want to thank you for

6:08:14allowing me to speak. It means a lot to

6:08:16me. I live downtown. I'm uh I'm a

6:08:21precinct committee person, but it wasn't

6:08:24for downtown, but I live down there. I

6:08:26am out every single day from the time in

6:08:29the morning at 7:00 to see those

6:08:32children at Rontop bus station get on

6:08:35their buses. I see the parents worried

6:08:38about their children. I ride the buses.

6:08:40I have videos of what goes on in the

6:08:43buses with the homeless people who are

6:08:45out of their minds and they're put next

6:08:47to these children. Parents have to go to

6:08:50work. They can't go on the bus. So, I

6:08:53this is what I want done and I feel it's

6:08:55the right thing to do. We need to bring

6:08:57the fairs back. We need to bring the

6:09:00fairs back to protect our children

6:09:02because I'm seeing drug dealers getting

6:09:05on the bus, getting off at a stop,

6:09:08making their thing, making their drug

6:09:09deals, and going on to the next bus

6:09:12stop. They're using it to uh increase

6:09:15their sales. Um, at a bus stop, I was

6:09:20waiting in front of Elcon Mall, and

6:09:22there was sitting on the bus waiting to

6:09:24get on. He had already just shot two

6:09:26girls up with drugs and was about to do

6:09:29himself. I witnessed it. Okay. I didn't

6:09:32want that guy getting on the bus. I I am

6:09:35appalled at what's happening on the

6:09:37buses and I'm appalled at what's

6:09:39happening at the bus station. About

6:09:41three months ago, first of all, I'll

6:09:43tell you for the last three years, I

6:09:44have been feeding the homeless

6:09:46home-cooked healthy food for 35 people,

6:09:49which is costing me $400 a month because

6:09:52I want to see them get off the street.

6:09:54They need decent food. Um, so I was

6:09:57doing that the one day I was waiting to

6:10:00get on the bus when I got attacked and

6:10:02beat up.

6:10:04Okay,

6:10:06this man, thank God for two of my home,

6:10:08he was a big man. He looked like a

6:10:10mountain man. Uh, my two homeless

6:10:12friends pulled him off me and held him

6:10:14until the police came. Five policemen

6:10:17showed up. Not one of them came over to

6:10:19talk to me. They all surrounded him like

6:10:22he was the big thing. I finally I could

6:10:24hardly hold my head up. I went over and

6:10:27I said, "Excuse me, but I'm the one that

6:10:29was uh beaten and and they said, "We'll

6:10:32be with you in a minute." Well, my heart

6:10:34my chest was hurting. I knew I could not

6:10:37wait. I took my self down to the fire

6:10:39company and begged them to take me to

6:10:41the hospital. They did that. I was in

6:10:44the hospital for two days in the

6:10:47emergency trying to save my life. There

6:10:50is too much violence downtown. We have

6:10:52businesses coming leaving. Three left

6:10:55two weeks ago before that others. I talk

6:10:57to them. I try to get them to stay

6:10:59because I I want them there. But we are

6:11:02dying down downtown and Fourth Avenue.

6:11:05It's like a ghost town. We have broken

6:11:07windows. We have graffiti. We have drug

6:11:09deals going on. There are not enough

6:11:11police down there. Uh I thought there

6:11:13were supposed to be two policemen down

6:11:14there uh on a regular

6:11:16>> ma'am. They're three minutes are over,

6:11:17but you did not include any contact

6:11:19information. Can we get a a city clerk

6:11:22to get your number, email address so

6:11:25that we can communicate with you?

6:11:26>> I would love that. I want to work with

6:11:28you, not against you.

6:11:29>> Absolutely. Thank you, ma'am.

6:11:31>> Our next speaker,

6:11:34[applause]

6:11:38we have two additional uh speakers and

6:11:41the time is up, but I I I do want to

6:11:44finish with uh Robert Roy and then Saul

6:11:48Moreno, if they're still here.

6:12:00Good evening. I'm Robert Royce. This is

6:12:03my 379th

6:12:06visit to the city council chamber in the

6:12:09last 25 almost 26 years. Of that 379

6:12:14visits, I've made presentations here and

6:12:19all but about 15. And of that 15, five

6:12:22or six were times when this mayor did

6:12:25not acknowledge me. Let let me remind

6:12:28the mayor that you are a ceremonial

6:12:31mayor and the first duty of a ceremonial

6:12:35mayor is to be a conduit between the

6:12:38people and their government. So I

6:12:41sincerely say an hour a month for call

6:12:46to the audience is not enough.

6:12:50I'm here to oppose the proposition 421

6:12:55which will give uh Fortis

6:12:59Holding Company a 25year

6:13:03license to steal from the people of the

6:13:06city.

6:13:08When I was in sixth grade in the Chicago

6:13:11public schools, I was taught by my

6:13:14teacher that municipal

6:13:18uh utility monopolies were safe

6:13:22investments and therefore the return

6:13:26should be no more than 5% a year.

6:13:30When Fortis came up with the bucks to

6:13:32buy TE,

6:13:35the stockholders took their profits and

6:13:38they left Fortis to put the squeeze on

6:13:42the people. That's a St. John's New

6:13:45Finland company. They have no mercy on

6:13:48us. They are getting subsidized hydro

6:13:52electricity to warm their houses. But

6:13:56they w they are and will continue to put

6:13:59the squeeze on the people of our city.

6:14:02Even if both the Democrats win on the

6:14:05Corporation Commission this year, they

6:14:09still will not have enough votes to uh

6:14:13guarantee us that there won't be any

6:14:15more of these outrageous

6:14:18increases. They're getting 13% this year

6:14:22and knowing they'll probably lose the

6:14:24majority uh in 2028, they're going to

6:14:27come right around and demand another 13

6:14:30or 14%.

6:14:32To the people that ask for a municipal

6:14:36corporation to run the electricity, I

6:14:39cannot support that as long as we have

6:14:41this manager, director government. You

6:14:44call yourself a city council. But if we

6:14:46want a real city council, we must change

6:14:50to a almatic mayor council form of

6:14:54government

6:14:56with an administrative mayor before I

6:14:58will support a municipal

6:15:02electric utility. Thank you.

6:15:04>> Thank you, Mr. Roy. And by the way, uh

6:15:07Mr. Roy, um I am not a ceremonial mayor.

6:15:11I am an elected mayor by the people of

6:15:13the city of Tucson. A ceremonial mayor

6:15:17is elected by mayor and counsel. Um and

6:15:20I am the chief executive officer

6:15:23according to the charter of the city.

6:15:24Please read it. Um our next speaker is

6:15:28Saul Moreno.

6:15:42>> [clears throat]

6:15:43>> Good evening, mayor and council members.

6:15:45My name is Saul Moreno. I'm a found I'm

6:15:47the founder of Genuine BMX and Ride

6:15:49Genuine Foundation, which I got some

6:15:51flyers here if you guys want them. Our

6:15:53mission is to use cycling and action

6:15:55sports to help young people become more

6:15:57confident, resilient, and active and

6:16:00mentally strong. And we're already doing

6:16:03it here in Tucson through our BMX and

6:16:06beginner cycling programs, homeschool

6:16:08programs, school demonstrations,

6:16:11uh, bicycle safety education and

6:16:13community events. We're creating

6:16:15positive opportunities for kids to

6:16:16challenge themselves and discover what

6:16:19they're really capable of.

6:16:22We've brought our programs into six

6:16:24Tucson schools this year, reaching

6:16:26hundreds of students at each school. And

6:16:29the response from students, teachers,

6:16:31families has been extremely positive.

6:16:34But we're teaching goes far beyond

6:16:36riding bicycles.

6:16:38A child tries something new, they

6:16:40struggle, they fall, they get back up,

6:16:43and eventually they accomplish something

6:16:45they didn't think they could do. That

6:16:47builds confidence, that builds p uh

6:16:49perseverance. It teaches them that

6:16:51failure isn't the end. It's part of

6:16:53learning. That's mental strength.

6:16:57And those lessons follow [clears throat]

6:17:00follow a child off the bike and into

6:17:03school their relation into schools in

6:17:05their relationships and in and

6:17:07eventually into adulthood.

6:17:09I've also made it a priority to show up

6:17:12for Tucson. I've attended uh council

6:17:15meetings, worked with Ward 5 and Council

6:17:17Member Selena Barahas, and volunteered

6:17:20my time because I believe that making

6:17:23our community better means being being a

6:17:26part of it.

6:17:27At the recent Sanorita grand reopening

6:17:30and movies at the park, I saw hundreds

6:17:32of kids enjoying themselves, families

6:17:34enjoying themselves, and also

6:17:37I got to see my my son basically get

6:17:40back to the skate park that he started

6:17:42at 3 years old. Um, it was incredible an

6:17:46example of what happens when when we

6:17:49create positive spaces for our youth.

6:17:52Tucson also has an incredible BMX

6:17:55history. Kevin Pza, one of the biggest

6:17:58names in freestyle BMX. Delaney vaugh

6:18:00Corbin Shira have represented Tucson and

6:18:03the United States in the on the Olympic

6:18:05stage. The talent is here. The passion

6:18:08is here and the next gen generation is

6:18:10here.

6:18:12We want we have an opportunity to build

6:18:15on that. We want to help create cycling

6:18:18and action sports facilities where young

6:18:20where a young child can learn to ride at

6:18:23a beginner and can build skills.

6:18:27We're not asking to build a something

6:18:29for genuine BMX. We're asking to work

6:18:31together to invest in two sons of youth.

6:18:34Don't because when a [clears throat]

6:18:36child falls off a bike and learns to get

6:18:38back up, they're learning something much

6:18:40bigger. Don't give up. Get back up and

6:18:42try again. We are proud. We are proud to

6:18:45be citizens of Tucson. Thank you.

6:18:48>> Thank you so much. Really appreciate

6:18:50you. [applause]

6:18:52>> And if you'd like to leave um the

6:18:55flyerformational flyers with our city

6:18:58clerk staff, we would love to. There's

6:19:00one over here. We would love to get

6:19:02those from you. Thank you. Thank you.

6:19:05All righty. So, we [snorts] move on to

6:19:07item seven,

6:19:09consent agenda. Reports from the city

6:19:11manager on the consent agenda are

6:19:13received into part of the record. Madame

6:19:15clerk, you are requested to read the

6:19:17consent agenda. Item 7 A, approval of

6:19:20minutes. Item 7 B, update to fiscal year

6:19:222027 classification and compensation

6:19:24plan. Item 7 C, 2026 Reed Park Zoo

6:19:26master plan update and adoption of

6:19:28property boundary to include pathway to

6:19:29Asia, an existing agreement. Item 7D,

6:19:32amendment four, the IG awarding the city

6:19:34community safety health and wellness

6:19:35program funding from the Arizona healthc

6:19:38care cost containment system state

6:19:40opioid response for fiscal year 26 grant

6:19:43program contract number YH25-0055

6:19:47CTR065754

6:19:49item 7E A National Guard Incident

6:19:52Response Services Memorandum of

6:19:54Agreement item 7F intergovernmental

6:19:56agreement between the city of Tucson and

6:19:57the Arizona Department of Child Safety

6:19:58pursuant to which the Tucson Police

6:20:00Department will provide facilities and

6:20:01services to ADCS's office of child

6:20:04welfare investigations. Item 7G, Puma

6:20:08County on aging agreement for congregate

6:20:11meals at six Tucson parks and recreation

6:20:13centers. Item 7H, approval of the first

6:20:15amendment to master agreement between

6:20:17Fuse Corp Corps and City of Tucson.

6:20:20>> May I have a motion, please?

6:20:24>> So moved.

6:20:25>> Second. There's a motion and a second.

6:20:27Any further discussion on the consent

6:20:29agenda? Hearing none, we do need to go

6:20:32to roll call.

6:20:36>> Council member Dah.

6:20:37>> I.

6:20:38>> Vice Mayor Santa Cruz.

6:20:40>> I.

6:20:42>> Councilwoman Lee.

6:20:43>> I.

6:20:44>> Council member Schubert.

6:20:45>> I.

6:20:46>> Council member Barahus.

6:20:47>> I.

6:20:48>> Council member Cunningham.

6:20:49>> Hi.

6:20:49>> Mayor Romero.

6:20:50>> I. The item on the consent agenda is

6:20:53approved by a vote of 70. Item eight.

6:20:57Public hearing. Substantial amendment to

6:20:59the city of Tucson fiscal year 27 HUD

6:21:01annual action plan program year 2026.

6:21:04City manager communication number 278

6:21:07dated October 6 is received into and

6:21:10being part of the record. This is the

6:21:12time and place legally advertised for a

6:21:14public hearing to approve the attached

6:21:16proposed substantial amendment to the

6:21:19city of Tucson fiscal year 2027 annual

6:21:22action plan reprogramming $ 1.5 million

6:21:26in community development block grant

6:21:28funds from the community facilities and

6:21:31improvement activity to the decent

6:21:33affordable rental and homeowner housing

6:21:36um activity and direct staff to submit

6:21:39the amendment to housing and urban in

6:21:41development, including a summary of any

6:21:45public comments. Uh, do we have any

6:21:47speakers for the public hearing?

6:21:48>> We do not.

6:21:49>> We do not. Um, are there is there anyone

6:21:52here present wanting to speak on this

6:21:55item? JP Salvatra, why did I know that

6:21:57you were coming to the to the mic? JP,

6:22:01>> thank you, Madam Mayor. Sure.

6:22:02>> JP Salvater,

6:22:04uh, Arizona real estate uh, broker. I'd

6:22:09uh like to remind everyone our XYZ gen

6:22:14uh community were not bred to pay rent

6:22:19their entire useful lives.

6:22:22>> I don't need to repeat myself, but I

6:22:24would if uh people don't listen. We need

6:22:30essentially

6:22:32about a billion dollars over the next

6:22:34decade to create a legacy for these

6:22:38children, our children, our community,

6:22:41to sustain our community, and to create

6:22:45the legacy that will give them

6:22:49an an interest rate that's reasonable,

6:22:54not 6.125

6:22:56or anything beyond that, but I mean zero

6:23:00plus something else and only for

6:23:03administrative fees. Uh the Pimac County

6:23:06had a turnkey program many years back

6:23:10over a decade ago. It's degenerated now,

6:23:13but they would allow a family to move

6:23:18into a turnkey property. All the

6:23:21appliances were brand new. uh so there's

6:23:25no no sudden uh shock when something

6:23:29goes out and they can't make a a

6:23:31payment. And they also allowed the the

6:23:36spouse or uh children of that homeowner

6:23:41to take over the mortgage without having

6:23:44them pre-qualify.

6:23:46Okay,

6:23:48it's a no-brainer. We have a wonderful

6:23:51program in town that's actually

6:23:52nationwide. It's called Habitat for

6:23:55Humanity

6:23:57and they've they need our help. You

6:24:00know, this uh 135 million is is like a

6:24:04drop in a bucket when you start

6:24:06considering how to get people into a

6:24:10home when they're young and to establish

6:24:13themselves in our community and to stay

6:24:16here. That's what we want. That's what

6:24:19we look forward to, you know, creating

6:24:22something instead of waiting for the

6:24:24next pandemic and finding out, oh gosh,

6:24:27we don't have enough uh uh

6:24:30people to uh take care of our our our

6:24:34senior community. Uh they the programs

6:24:38aren't there. They've moved on. They've

6:24:40gone somewhere else that gave them a

6:24:42better opportunity. And we shouldn't do

6:24:45this. and HUD and our our federal

6:24:48government have an important direction

6:24:51to take to make these kind of issues

6:24:54predominant in our state. I hope you

6:24:58each agree and uh concern yourselves

6:25:00with uh

6:25:03outfits like Habitat for Humanity and

6:25:05and support their direction and their

6:25:07cause because our model here can go

6:25:10nationwide and that's a beautiful thing

6:25:13for everyone. God bless you.

6:25:16>> Thank you. Is there anyone else in the

6:25:17audience wishing to be heard on this

6:25:20item

6:25:22hearing? None. May I get a motion to

6:25:24close the public hearing?

6:25:25>> Second.

6:25:26>> There is a [clears throat] motion in a

6:25:27second. Any further discussion?

6:25:30>> Who was the motion maker?

6:25:32>> Lane. Okay. Vice Mayor.

6:25:35All righty. Any further discussion on

6:25:38closing the public hearing? Hearing

6:25:40none. All those in favor, please signify

6:25:41by saying I. I.

6:25:43>> I. Any against? Public hearing is

6:25:46closed. Madame clerk, you are requested

6:25:48to read resolution 24188

6:25:52by number and title only. Resolution

6:25:54number 24188 relating to public housing

6:25:56approving the proposed city of Tucson

6:25:58substantial amendment to the annual

6:25:59action plan program year for fiscal year

6:26:0127, HUD program year 26, authorizing and

6:26:04directing submittal of the same the US

6:26:06United States Department of Housing and

6:26:08Urban Development HUD and declaring an

6:26:09emergency.

6:26:11>> What is the council's pleasure on this

6:26:12item?

6:26:15Mayor, I move to pass and adopt the

6:26:16resolution number 24188.

6:26:19>> There's a motion. Second. There's a

6:26:21motion and a second. Any further

6:26:22discussion?

6:26:24Seeing none, we do have to go to roll

6:26:26call.

6:26:27>> Councilwoman Lee,

6:26:29>> I.

6:26:29>> Council member Schubert.

6:26:31>> I.

6:26:32>> Council member D.

6:26:33>> I.

6:26:34>> Council member Barahas.

6:26:35>> I.

6:26:36>> Council member Cunningham.

6:26:38>> I.

6:26:40>> Vice Mayor Santa Cruz.

6:26:41>> I. Maro

6:26:43>> I resolution 24188

6:26:46passes by a vote of 70 item nine

6:26:49>> reszoning ordinance adoption TP

6:26:51NT0924-000019

6:26:54technicians for sustainability parking

6:26:56structure 932 South or Sanderita

6:27:00Avenue R22 I1 city manager communication

6:27:03number 280 dated October 6 is received

6:27:07into and made part of the record this is

6:27:09a request for ordinance adoption to

6:27:11reszone own a.21

6:27:13acre property from R2 residential to I1

6:27:17industrial for the purpose of

6:27:19constructing a commercial vehicle

6:27:21parking and storage structure. The site

6:27:24is located at the southwest corner of

6:27:2619th Street and Santaorita Avenue

6:27:29intersection. Is the applicant or

6:27:31representative of the applicant present?

6:27:44Do we have the representative of the

6:27:46applicant present for technicians for

6:27:48sustainability?

6:27:53All

6:27:53>> righty. So, Miss Clerk, um the applicant

6:27:57is not present. Do we move forward with

6:27:59the item, Mr. Attorney?

6:28:03Your honor, members of council, the c

6:28:06council has several options. They can uh

6:28:08move the item uh for continuance uh to

6:28:12the next meeting uh to a date certain um

6:28:15or they can act on the item if they

6:28:17want.

6:28:18>> All righty. Um what is the council's

6:28:20pleasure on this item? This is um

6:28:23for reasonzoning.

6:28:28>> There hasn't been a motion to move the

6:28:30item.

6:28:32I move to pass and adopt ordinance

6:28:3412274.

6:28:36>> Second.

6:28:38>> Um I agree with the with the motion and

6:28:41um it's a very simple reasonzoning case

6:28:45and we all are very familiar with

6:28:47technicians for sustainability. So I

6:28:50feel comfortable in making sure that you

6:28:53know they will comply with the post

6:28:54requirements. So there's a motion and a

6:28:57second. Any further discussion on the

6:28:59assignment item? Council member

6:29:01Cunningham,

6:29:02>> just want to make sure. Did Did this Why

6:29:04didn't this require a public hearing or

6:29:05did we already have one? I just want to

6:29:06make sure we

6:29:07>> No hearing.

6:29:10>> Mr. Attorney,

6:29:11>> this is just approval. No, no, this is

6:29:13approval. No public hearing.

6:29:16>> It's just a resoning. There's no

6:29:17>> hearing for the last.

6:29:19>> I know. I'm saying usually we have a

6:29:21public hearing on all resonings.

6:29:23Sometimes they're procedural. Is this a

6:29:25procedural resoning or is this something

6:29:27where we that that's all?

6:29:32>> Council member, I can explain the

6:29:33process a little bit. Right now, we have

6:29:35a two-step process in our zoning code

6:29:37freezonings where first mayor and

6:29:39council authorize the ordinance. A

6:29:41public hearing is not required at that

6:29:43time. Sometimes it is requested by a

6:29:45member of the public or a member of

6:29:46council. So, there was no public hearing

6:29:48on this. Um, so it was authorized

6:29:51already by mayor and counsel. It was

6:29:52approved. Uh this ordinance adoption

6:29:55signifies that the applicant has met all

6:29:57the conditions of the resoning that were

6:29:59set by mayor and council. They've

6:30:01demonstrated that through a development

6:30:02package. So now the um resoning can go

6:30:05through the ordinance adoption process.

6:30:08>> I'm good.

6:30:10>> I just want to say that I appreciate the

6:30:12work that has gone into refining this

6:30:14project and addressing some of the

6:30:15concerns raised by nearby residents.

6:30:18This is a relatively small expansion of

6:30:20an existing business, but it's also

6:30:22directly adjacent to residential

6:30:24properties. So, I think it's important

6:30:25that we continue to treat that

6:30:27transition between industrial and

6:30:30residential uses uh thoughtfully.

6:30:33>> Thank you, Mayor.

6:30:34>> All righty. So, any other comments or

6:30:36questions on this item?

6:30:39Hearing none, [snorts]

6:30:40I believe we have to go to roll call.

6:30:46Uh, ordinance number 12274 relating to

6:30:49zoning amending zoning district

6:30:50boundaries in the area located at the

6:30:52southwest corner of 19th Street and

6:30:54Sanorita Avenue intersection in case TP

6:30:57ent 0924000019

6:31:00technicians for sustainability parking

6:31:01structure R2 to I1 and setting an

6:31:03effective date.

6:31:05>> All righty, let's go to roll call.

6:31:07>> Uh, council member Barahas.

6:31:09>> I.

6:31:10>> Council member D.

6:31:11>> I. Council member Cunningham.

6:31:13>> Hi.

6:31:14>> Councilwoman Lee.

6:31:15>> I.

6:31:16>> Council member Schubert.

6:31:17>> I.

6:31:18>> Vice Mayor Santa Cruz.

6:31:19>> I. Mayor Romero.

6:31:21>> I. Ordinance 12274 passes by a vote of

6:31:2570. Item 10.

6:31:28>> Approval of sight specific sales tax

6:31:30development agreement with Tucson and

6:31:31LLC.

6:31:35>> Hold on. I'm I have it confused.

6:31:38All righty.

6:31:40Our

6:31:42city manager's communication number 283

6:31:45dated October 6th is received into and

6:31:48made part of the record. Madame clerk,

6:31:49you are requested to read resolution

6:31:5124192.

6:31:54>> My number and title only. I'm sorry.

6:31:56Resolution 24192 relating to economic

6:31:58development incentives authorizing

6:32:00approving the sight specific sales tax

6:32:01development agreement for the city of

6:32:02Tucson and the Tucson NLC for

6:32:04development of a hotel and retail

6:32:06facility located at 75 East Broadway

6:32:08Boulevard, Tucson, Arizona. Council

6:32:10member Schubert.

6:32:12>> Yes. I move to approve the sight

6:32:14specific sales tax development agreement

6:32:16with Tucson in LLC.

6:32:19>> Second.

6:32:20>> There's a motion in a second to pass and

6:32:22adopt resolution 24192.

6:32:25Um any further discussion on this item?

6:32:28Any questions, comments? Hearing none.

6:32:31Let's go to roll call.

6:32:35>> Council member Schubert.

6:32:36>> Hi.

6:32:37>> Council member Cunningham.

6:32:38>> Hi.

6:32:39Council member Barahas,

6:32:41>> I.

6:32:41>> Councilwoman Lee,

6:32:42>> I.

6:32:43>> Council member Doll,

6:32:44>> I.

6:32:45>> Vice Mayor Santa Cruz,

6:32:46>> I.

6:32:47>> Mayor Romero,

6:32:48>> I. Resolution 24192 passes by a vote of

6:32:5170.

6:32:53>> Item 11, approval of the government

6:32:56property lease excise tax giblet lease

6:32:59agreement with the depot Plaza Hotel

6:33:02LLC. City manager communication number

6:33:04290 dated October 6th is received into

6:33:08make part of the record. Madame clerk,

6:33:10you are requested to read resolution

6:33:1224194

6:33:13by number and title only. Resolution

6:33:16number 24194 relating to economic

6:33:17development incentives and real property

6:33:19authorizing approving the government

6:33:20property lease excise tax lease

6:33:23agreement between the city of Tucson and

6:33:24the depot plaza hotel LLC for the

6:33:26proposed hotel development at 45 North

6:33:28Fifth Avenue.

6:33:31What is the council's pleasure? I move

6:33:33to approve and adopt resolution 24194.

6:33:37Second.

6:33:38>> There is a motion and a second. Any

6:33:41further discussion on this item?

6:33:44Hearing none. Let's go to roll call.

6:33:46>> Council member Schubert.

6:33:47>> I.

6:33:48>> Councilwoman Lee.

6:33:49>> I.

6:33:49>> Council member Cunningham.

6:33:51>> Council member Dah.

6:33:52>> I.

6:33:53>> Council member Brahas.

6:33:54>> I.

6:33:55>> Vice Mayor Santa Cruz.

6:33:56>> I.

6:33:56>> Mayor Romero.

6:33:57>> I. Resolution 24194 passes by a vote of

6:34:0170.

6:34:03Thank you so much. Item 12, amendment

6:34:05number one to the employment agreement

6:34:07with the city manager. City manager's

6:34:09communication number 279 dated October

6:34:126th is received into and made part of

6:34:14the record. Madame clerk, you are

6:34:16requested to read ordinance 12273

6:34:20by number and title only.

6:34:22>> Ordinance number 12273 relating to the

6:34:24city manager authorizing and approving

6:34:26amendment number one to the employment

6:34:27agreement. the city manager and

6:34:28declaring an emergency.

6:34:29>> What is the council's pleasure?

6:34:33>> Mayor, I move to pass and adopt

6:34:35ordinance 12273.

6:34:37>> Second.

6:34:37>> There's a motion and a second. Any

6:34:40further discussion?

6:34:42Uh, Council Member Cunningham.

6:34:45>> First of all, I want to just say that um

6:34:48it's important we pay people what

6:34:50they're worth. It's also important that

6:34:52we um have all the discussion that we

6:34:56have in cases like these. I'm um I have

6:35:00zero

6:35:02misgivings or um

6:35:07issues with the performance of the

6:35:08manager, but I haven't had

6:35:12the full experience to vet this. And I

6:35:17like

6:35:18I have some values that we only do 10%

6:35:21of the time. So, um I'm going to I'm

6:35:24going to I'm going to pass on this one.

6:35:27But, um I think that that it's important

6:35:30to say that if we structured it over a

6:35:34two-year period on the raise, I'd still

6:35:36I'd vote that way. So, I I I I

6:35:38understand the spirit. I understand it,

6:35:40but with all respect to to my

6:35:42colleagues, uh it's just a little too

6:35:44much at once for me.

6:35:46All righty. Any other comments?

6:35:48Councilman Lee and then Council Member

6:35:51Schubert and Vice Mayor.

6:35:52>> Thank you, Mayor. Um, you know, I think

6:35:55every single human being has room for

6:35:57improvement, myself included.

6:35:59Absolutely. Same thing for the city

6:36:00manager. Um, and so I keeping all of

6:36:04that in context as well as looking at

6:36:06the comparables, which we do for every

6:36:08other position that we have within the

6:36:10city of Tucson. Um, this is is in range

6:36:12with that. What I do have in terms of

6:36:15feedback for continuous improvement as

6:36:16we're getting ready to go through this

6:36:18process with our city attorney and our

6:36:20city clerk and then again with our city

6:36:22manager is kind of what I talked about

6:36:25after we came out of the review

6:36:27executive session conversation is how do

6:36:29we get that feedback earlier so that we

6:36:32can identify those opportunities and

6:36:33those targeted improvements and come up

6:36:35with a plan that everyone feels

6:36:37comfortable with in terms of

6:36:39improvement. Um, and so I think that's

6:36:41just some feedback for the process

6:36:43moving forward that I would like to see

6:36:44again those materials in advance so we

6:36:46have time to read everything, come up

6:36:47with our full thoughts and how we want

6:36:49to structure things like this moving

6:36:51forward. So I know Terry is not here at

6:36:53the moment, but I would like to see that

6:36:54move forward for us. But overall, I'm

6:36:56supportive of um moving Tim and the city

6:36:59manager to the range where it is

6:37:01comparable with other jurisdictions.

6:37:04>> Thank you, Councilwoman. And then who?

6:37:05Council member Schubert and Vice Mayor.

6:37:09Thank you, Madame Mayor, members of the

6:37:10council.

6:37:12I want to start by saying that I believe

6:37:14that our city manager should be

6:37:15compensated fairly and competitively.

6:37:18This is an extraordinarily demanding

6:37:19position, overseeing nearly 5,000

6:37:21employees in an organization with a 2.4

6:37:25billion annual budget. But I can't

6:37:27separate this decision from the

6:37:29financial reality we have been asking

6:37:30everyone else in Tucson to accept. We've

6:37:34been told repeatedly, including by our

6:37:36city manager and chief financial

6:37:37officer, that lean budget years are

6:37:39ahead. From our February 3rd study

6:37:42session, and I quote, "Given the tight

6:37:45revenue picture, staff do not expect to

6:37:47have funds available beyond what is

6:37:48needed for the base budget, current

6:37:50program commitments, and the investment

6:37:52plan. Departments have been asked to

6:37:54limit supplemental requests to essential

6:37:56unmet needs. As we work through

6:37:58anticipated funding challenges,

6:38:01we've raised recreation fees and parking

6:38:03rates. This year, we have slowed and

6:38:05frozen hiring. We have constrained

6:38:07departmental spending and reduced

6:38:09programs. We have asked our employees,

6:38:11departments, and residents alike to

6:38:13tighten their belts, to chip in. In that

6:38:16environment, I cannot justify increasing

6:38:19the salary of our highest paid employee

6:38:20by rough roughly 17% in a single year.

6:38:24The proposed $375,000

6:38:26salary represents an increase of

6:38:28approximately $55,000.

6:38:31I recognize that $375 is not wildly out

6:38:35of line with what some other Arizona

6:38:37city managers earn. But we're also

6:38:40constantly reminded that Tucson operates

6:38:42under very different fiscal

6:38:43circumstances. We receive fewer

6:38:46resources from the state and are

6:38:47projected to receive even less in the

6:38:49coming year. We also serve a community

6:38:51with significantly lower household

6:38:53incomes than the rest of the state.

6:38:56Personally, I would be more comfortable

6:38:57delaying this item and negotiating a

6:38:59reasonable increase of 4 to 5% now,

6:39:01accompanied by a clear work plan with

6:39:03measurable KPIs and outcomes for the

6:39:06coming year. Those measures should

6:39:08reflect things Tucson residents urgently

6:39:11need us to accomplish, including

6:39:13measurable progress toward reducing our

6:39:15poverty rate. If we achieved those

6:39:17outcomes, then I would be very open to

6:39:19considering compensation at a higher

6:39:21level at the next review. Competitive

6:39:23compensation is important, but

6:39:26leadership also means demonstrating that

6:39:28the finan the fiscal discipline we ask

6:39:30of our community applies to all of us.

6:39:34Thank you,

6:39:37[cheering]

6:39:38>> Vice Mayor.

6:39:40>> Uh thank you, mayor. Um, and thank you,

6:39:42Council Member Lee, for um, uh, making

6:39:45the motion and for your your comments. I

6:39:47think since I've been in office in 2019

6:39:50and prior staff, there had been a

6:39:52culture in the city of Tucson where we

6:39:54don't compensate the people that work

6:39:56for this organization. And for me, it's

6:39:58more important that we stay consistent

6:40:00across the board, that we said we value

6:40:03um compensating our our city employees

6:40:07in including uh compensation that is

6:40:10measured against comparables around our

6:40:12state and other cities our size. Um yes,

6:40:16we represent an organization with a $2.2

6:40:20billion um budget. Um, we have over

6:40:245,000 employees, but most importantly,

6:40:26we're serving close to 600,000 community

6:40:29members that live in the city that

6:40:30depend on us. That is a huge level of

6:40:33responsibility on a city manager. Um,

6:40:37uh,

6:40:39with the task of of responding to not

6:40:43only everyday fires that we confront,

6:40:45and we know how many of those that we

6:40:47have, but also setting forth the vision

6:40:49of mayor and counsel. Um I have felt

6:40:52that this past year um our city manager

6:40:56Tim Tamir has taken that task very

6:40:58seriously from uh previous evaluations

6:41:02from the year before um where he didn't

6:41:04ask there was no uh salary negotiation.

6:41:08We don't know what our financial

6:41:12um

6:41:14uh what do you call like what it's going

6:41:15to look like next year. um and he might

6:41:19not have an opportunity for another

6:41:20raise for another couple of years. So, I

6:41:22feel comfortable um with the number

6:41:26being put in front of us that it's not

6:41:28exceeding any of the other cities in the

6:41:30state of Arizona. And I want to continue

6:41:33um to work with the city manager and

6:41:35staff um to bring up bring about a lot

6:41:37of um the policy work that we've set

6:41:40forward into the coming year because we

6:41:42know that the need is only going to

6:41:43continue to grow. Um, so just want to

6:41:45thank city manager and and my colleagues

6:41:47um for the work that we all do together

6:41:50and we should um be compensated for it.

6:41:54>> Ma'am, please stop interrupting the

6:41:57meeting. Um, you can you can come to

6:42:01call to the audience next time and and

6:42:03make your opinion heard, but right now

6:42:04you're interrupting the meeting.

6:42:07Um, I I have

6:42:10concerns about how my colleagues that

6:42:14are feeling uncomfortable with this uh

6:42:17race and appropriate pay to our city

6:42:20manager are saying right now. We had an

6:42:24executive session where we had an

6:42:27opportunity to voice concern. the salary

6:42:30was talked about. Um and um we came out

6:42:36and we voted unanimously

6:42:39for what was discussed um for the

6:42:43compensation. So I am frankly very

6:42:46surprised to come to to today

6:42:50um to hear concerns. There were we had

6:42:54more than a week of this issue being uh

6:42:58part of the um agenda and there was no

6:43:04communication from anyone to try to

6:43:07delay this item to try and get a

6:43:11different contract in front of us. I on

6:43:14my end um to agree that this is an

6:43:18organization that has more than 5,000

6:43:22employees that has a $2.4 billion budget

6:43:27that is a 247

6:43:30job. This is not a Monday through Friday

6:43:328 through 5. This is 247

6:43:35365.

6:43:37and looking at the comparables. And and

6:43:40by the way, this particular city manager

6:43:44has made it his

6:43:46um goal to have comparables and market

6:43:51rate adjustments for our own employees

6:43:54for the past two years and before then

6:43:57when he worked as an assistant city

6:44:00manager for Meso Ortega. So he this year

6:44:04alone besides balancing the budget this

6:44:08year alone this particular city manager

6:44:11is giving a cost of living and to market

6:44:15rate increase of $18 million to our

6:44:18employees. He worked with all of us to

6:44:22try and figure out how to present a

6:44:25budget that was equitable. Made

6:44:27investment not only in each and every

6:44:30department but made investments into our

6:44:33employees based on comparable market

6:44:36rate to our employees. So, um I believe

6:44:41that he is doing a lot of work with less

6:44:45money uh coming in from the state and

6:44:49working with each and every mayor and

6:44:51council in the community to try and um

6:44:55really provide the services for our

6:44:58community that they deserve. So, I'm

6:45:02happy about the changes. The creation of

6:45:06the um office of community and economic

6:45:09impact was a huge investment. Um your

6:45:13partnership with uh creating and putting

6:45:16to work the safe city initiative,

6:45:19putting together the safe city action

6:45:21plan. Um, I can go on and on on the work

6:45:26that we have done together to provide

6:45:29our community with the quality of life

6:45:31that they deserve. Do we need to

6:45:33continue working? All of us do. Um, this

6:45:36is work that is not done by one person

6:45:40alone. It is done by all of us and it

6:45:43includes the community. So, I am proud

6:45:47of the work that we've done together.

6:45:48I'm proud of a balanced budget. I'm

6:45:51proud of the innovative uh work that we

6:45:55are putting forward for our community

6:45:58and I look forward to continued

6:46:00difficult work that we will continue to

6:46:04do. So with that um are there any other

6:46:08comments questions on this item? Vice

6:46:10Mayor.

6:46:11>> Uh, mayor, I just wanted to add

6:46:12something because I had heard this from

6:46:14the colleagues that when we're doing the

6:46:15evaluation, if at the same time because

6:46:18that's typically the time, um, that the

6:46:20city clerk, the city manager, the city

6:46:22attorney would ask the council for a pay

6:46:24raise. if when we're doing that

6:46:26evaluation if we could also have that

6:46:27addendum market rate or you know the

6:46:30comparables so that we're looking at the

6:46:33entire um scope of what we're being

6:46:36asked to do during the evaluations just

6:46:38as a just as a process thing moving

6:46:40forward. Thank you

6:46:45>> Mr.

6:46:46Honorable mayor, members of the council,

6:46:48vice mayor, u yeah, that feedback is

6:46:51absolutely heard um in two aspects. Uh

6:46:54the 360deree feedback that was provided

6:46:57for me was provided the day of the the

6:47:01council meeting. Um and we've already

6:47:04made the adjustment that for the city

6:47:06attorney's uh evaluation, which is the

6:47:08next one up, that it would be at least

6:47:09uh several days in advance. So you

6:47:11you'll get it hand delivered to your

6:47:12offices um so you have the time to

6:47:14reflect it. um regarding the salary. Um

6:47:18that information was provided as market

6:47:21but not uh to all of you at the same

6:47:23time. And so uh we have that information

6:47:26available for the city attorney who's

6:47:28the next up and I'll get that all to you

6:47:30um well in advance of your performance

6:47:32evaluation of of the city attorney and

6:47:35the clerk and then myself again uh in a

6:47:37year's time.

6:47:39>> All right. Thank you. Any others?

6:47:42Hearing none, let's go to roll call.

6:47:45Vice Mayor Santa Cruz,

6:47:47>> I.

6:47:48>> Council member Councilwoman Lee,

6:47:50>> I.

6:47:52>> Council member Cunningham,

6:47:54>> no.

6:47:55>> Council member Doll,

6:47:56>> I.

6:47:57>> Council member Braas,

6:47:58>> I.

6:47:59>> Council member Schubert,

6:48:01>> no.

6:48:02>> Romero,

6:48:03>> I. Ordinance number 12273

6:48:06passes by a vote of 52.

6:48:10>> Item 13,

6:48:12>> adjournment. Council will stand

6:48:13adjourned. The next regularly scheduled

6:48:15meeting will be on Tuesday, October

6:48:1720th, 2026 on or after 5:30 p.m. Thank

6:48:21you everyone. Have a nice rest of your

6:48:22week.

6:48:34[music]

6:48:45>> [music]

6:48:57[music]

6:49:11[music]