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City of Tucson Ward 5 Newsletter

Richard Fimbres Councilmember Ward 5
FREQUENTLY USED PHONE NUMBERS Emergency Services TPD & TFD DIAL 911 Permits 791-5550 Housing Assistance 791-4739 TCC - 791-5522 Code Enforcement & Graffiti removal 792-CITY (2489) Trash Pick up & Environmental Services 791-3171 Transportation & Street Maintenance - 791-3154 Tucson Water Billing - 791-3242 Public Info. - 791-4331 Volume 2, Issue 3 August 2011

A LETTER FROM COUNCILMEMBER FIMBRES

Dear Friends: This newsletter marks the end of my time serving as Tucsons Vice Mayor. The term of Vice Mayor is for an eight-month period, a rotation, so that each member of the Council will get an opportunity to serve in the post. My term as your Vice Mayor began in December and ended in August. For eight scheduled meetings of the Tucson Mayor and Council, I had the opportunity to run the meetings and on two occasions for other meetings, I had to chair the meeting in progress. It was a wonderful opportunity and experience, showing your Councilmember, what the position of Tucsons Mayor entails, especially affixing my signature to new laws and ordinances on Tucsons books. During this time, as your Vice Mayor, I had the opportunity to address many groups and organizations, welcoming them to our great city and for choosing the Old Pueblo to host their events. I want to thank Mayor Walkup and my colleagues on the Council, for their support in selecting me to be Vice Mayor, and for their assistance when I had to serve as Mayor Pro-Tempore and run the meetings. I also want to express my appreciation to the City Managers office and the City Attorney for their support during this time. To the department heads who presented items on issues before the Mayor and Council, my thanks for their work as well during my time as Vice Mayor. A special thanks to the City Clerk and his staff for their work and assistance when I had to run the Mayor and Council meetings. The City Clerks office makes sure the meetings go as smoothly as possible.

Personal Blog at: badger73.blogspot.com Also online at Facebook.com/ richardgfimbres

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETINGS (JULY & AUGUST) Tucsons Mayor and Council only has one scheduled meeting in July and for August, but even with two meetings in two months, some of the issues discussed and dealt with included:

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Ward - 5 4300 S. Park Avenue Tucson Arizona 85714

520-791-4231 520-791-3188 E-mail: [email protected]

A review of the 911 system, Tucson Area Remediation Project (1.4-dioxane) update, a proposed alarm fee, development impact fees, the use of Hi Corbett field by the U of A baseball team, the Tucson-Mexico initiative, economic development districts, real estate application fees and review process by the City of Tucson, and the Procurement (P-Card) system. Your Mayor and Council took action on these and other issues during the July and August meetings. There will be town halls, forums and meetings to update the citizens of Ward 5 on these but your help will be needed through your feedback, either by mail, phone calls, E-mail or otherwise. As your Councilmember, I can only do so much, but if I dont get comments, good or bad, the job will only be partially completed. TUCSONS ROADS, LANDMARK & WARD 5 NEIGHBORHOODS On the July 6 Mayor and Council agenda, was a proposal to take the Mayor and Council office surpluses, roughly $240,000 in total, and put those funds towards repairing Tucsons roads. Ward 5 had a surplus of about, $44,000 but that was not all the Ward 5 office had to offer. There was an additional $585,000 in HURF (Highway User Revenue Fund) monies were available for road repair from the sale of two parcels of city owned land on the Southwest corner of 22nd Street and Kino Boulevard, in Ward 5, that the Mayor and Council had approved, unanimously, on June 28. Before this item was on the June 28 Mayor and Council agenda, my office had been approached, by Landmark Properties, about a proposal to build cottagestyle, student housing for the land, in the area of 22nd and Highland. They were directed by this office, to speak to the two neighborhood associations directly affected, the South Park and Millville Neighborhood Associations, and the Tucson Urban League, since it was not a rezoning case. They spoke to some of the property owners in the South Park neighborhood area and made offers to them for there homes and parcels, for which they accepted. They spoke with members of the Millville Neighborhood Association about their proposed idea and received positive feedback. The Ward 5 office was approached by Landmark, about this, and a meeting with the South Park Neighborhood Association leadership, the Millville Neighborhood Association leadership and the Tucson Urban League was coordinated and held on May 16. City staff was also present for this meeting. In prior instances, such as: the Bridges Project and the building of the Costco Store, the 22nd Street widening at Tucson Boulevard, the 18th Street/Park Avenue light mitigation, Tucson Water Update, the Los Montanas proposed renovation and a proposed BMX bike park, my office relies on the input of the neighborhoods directly affected which is paramount in the final decision I make.

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Ward 5 Council Office Staff Executive Assistant Eileen S. Contreras Council Aides Melinda Jacobs Mark Kerr

Help those who are in need. Give to the Community food Bank. For more information, call 520-622-0525

When this office is approached with an idea for a new business, development, Ward - 5 housing project or otherwise, they are referred to the neighborhoods to present their proposals to the leadership and the association members, directly affected, first to 4300 S. Park Avenue get their feedback and input.

Tucson Arizona 85714 My office has also held meetings with neighbors on the proposed changes to the

city charter, the recommendations from the Core Tax Committee; on the next 520-791-4231 Transportation Director, and the 2011 and 2012 budgets. Business forums, with 520-791-3188 owners of businesses in our Ward have been held twice this year alone. Feedback E-mail: from businesses and neighbors, directly affected, is important to me, but digressing. [email protected] This meeting was held so that the Ward 5 office could see if the South Park and Millville neighborhood leadership and the Tucson Urban League would support this proposal by Landmark. Landmark presented their proposal to the leadership, including George Kalil and Roger Becksted from Millville, Maggie Gerring and Pat Garcia from South Park, as well as Jonathan Peck, President and CEO of the Tucson Urban League (TUL) Landmark made their presentation, a 188 unit, 600 room, single story, walled housing facility, which will have on-site management and security, shuttle service to the U of A and to business/shops in Ward 5 and South Tucson and conduct/behavioral provisions in the rental agreements for tenant.
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They are not mini-dorms but housing operated by a company who operated projects in states like Texas, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. (Arizona Daily Star article August 21). Many questions followed their presentation and afterward, those assembled were unanimous in their support. In addition to the commitment to shuttle the students to business/restaurants in Ward 5 and South Tucson, there were other benefits to our community, such as: The purchase of a parcel of land owned by the Tucson Urban League, for which the funding can help them operating the programs and run the services they offer. Commitments from Landmark to encourage the students to work with the neighborhoods with the programs and activities they conduct and for Landmark to work on infill and to get a grocery store and other commercial development, into the area for local residents. Maggie Gerring invited Landmark to the South Park Neighborhood Association, August meeting, where they answered more questions about the time schedule and what would be happening next. No opposition was stated about this project at the meeting. This will be a $20 million dollar construction project on property, long vacated, which only now has a Valero gas station on the corner. Construction sales tax, impact fees, as well as funds for the Tucson Urban League and the neighborhoods will happen through this effort.

Personal Blog at: badger73.blogspot.com Also online at Facebook.com/ richardgfimbres

Those neighborhoods directly affected had given their feedback to my office, something I ran on in 2009 and continue to follow as your Councilmember. WHICH ROADS TO FIX OR POTHOLES TO FILL? So with this funding available for road repair, the question is which roads to work on and potholes to fill. The City of Tucsons roads, in all the neighborhoods and

Wards, need work and for repairs to be made.

Ward - 5 4300 S. Park Avenue Tucson Arizona 85714

Some suggestions have come into my office from your neighbors but I need to hear from other neighborhoods in our Ward, so that the roads needing the most repairs and potholes to be filled. Either call the Ward 5 Council Office, 791-4231, with your suggestions or Email me at [email protected], subject line road repair/ potholes, and write your suggestions.

520-791-4231 520-791-3188 SECOND ANCHOR STORE AT BRIDGES E-mail: [email protected] Final permits are being obtained for the Walmart Supercenter to be constructed as the second anchor stores in the Bridges Development at Kino/36th. I had the opportunity to me with officials who informed me about the progress on this development, part of the Bridges PDA (Primary Development Agreement), approved by Mayor and Council on March 27, 2007, for which my predecessor had brought to the table for consideration then. Construction could begin in the late Fall of this year on the Walmart Supercenter, which will include a grocery store, something the neighborhoods (Las Vistas, South Park, Pueblo Gardens and Western Hills) have wanted and worked for. This Walmart Supercenter will mean the creation of 400 new jobs.
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CROSSWALK CONSTRUCTION AT CAMPBELL/BANTAM Cherry Avenues Neighborhood Association had expressed the need for a Hawk crosswalk signal for Campbell and Bantam. Work began on this effort this month and will be completed shortly. C OF O CHANGES FIRST ANNIVERSARY August marked the first anniversary of the changes, brought by my office, to the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) process for Tucson businesses. Sixty-six new businesses opened their doors thanks to a streamlined, C of O application procedure. The changes to the C of O process, approved unanimously by Mayor and Council, along with other changes, has resulted in $360-million in commercial development and construction permits had been taken out and issued for projects in the City of Tucson since August 2010. Commercial development ongoing, construction and remodeling projects being completed means new opportunities for Tucson, work for our citizens and growth to our economy, something that is sorely needed during these tough economic times. For the City of Tucson government to operate, it relies on sales tax revenue. Since the state cut funding to Tucson, to the total of $69 million in state shared, tax revenue in the last two years alone, as well as more than $12 million in LTAF (road) funding, to deal with their budgetary shortfall. So what is created in Tucson, stays in Tucson, so these changes to the procedures are beginning to spur economic growth and development. COMPLETED BUS STOP IMPROVEMENTS Country Club/23rd Street (NW) new bus pullout and shelter; 22nd Street/Country

Personal Blog at: badger73.blogspot.com Also online at Facebook.com/ richardgfimbres

(Completed Bus Stops Continued)

Ward - 5 4300 S. Park Avenue Tucson Arizona 85714

Club new bus pullout; 22nd Street/Treat (SE) new concrete pad; 22nd Street/ Country Club (SE) new concrete pad and shelter; 22nd Street/Randolph Way (SE) new concrete pad; Country Club/Silverlake (NE) new concrete pad; 32nd/Winsett (SE) new concrete pad and shelter and Irvington/Campbell (SE) new concrete pad and shelter.

520-791-4231 520-791-3188 IN OTHER NEWS E-mail: [email protected] Construction has begun on the Cushing Street Bridge, the first project of Tucsons Modern Streetcar, which is funded solely through federal grants and grant funds from the RTA. Ashton Construction Company, located in Ward 5, won the contract and is employing 100 Tucsonans to build the Cushing Street Bridge. A solution to the parking situation at Le Caves has been put in place with the changes to the parking spaces themselves. Drive over to Le Caves and see and try some of new donuts without the holes. Rodriguez Seafood on South 12th, across from Pueblo High School, finally achieved a resolution to the Hawk signal in front of their business, thanks to my staff. The extra cement placed in front of the north portion of the crosswalk, was http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/ altered, so that Rodriguezs trucks and customers can now make safe left turns onto wardfive 12th With the work by this office, Development Services and its owners, The Airport Inn, located at 2303 E. Valencia, will now be able to remodel their kitchen and offer a bigger selection of food. On another note, John Ferra has joined the Ward 5 team as a management analyst. John was an intern and was offered a position with my office in the effort to serve the constituents. John speaks both English and Spanish and you will be seeing him at many of the neighborhood meetings and community events. Thank you all for your help and support as we strive to inspire the quality of life for all in our city. TUCSONS 2011 PRIMARY ELECTION More than 43,000 ballots were cast in the City of Tucson, 2011 Primary Election, the first conducted through the vote by mail process. In the 2007 Tucson primary election, 31,828 ballots were cast and in the 2009 primary, only 12,196 were cast. This is a significant improvement and good first step towards increased voter participation. The general election is on November 8. Peace. Personal Blog at: badger73.blogspot.com Also online at Facebook.com/ richardgfimbres Richard G. Fimbres Your Ward 5 Councilmember