Ward 6 Survey
A few weeks ago we sent out post cards inviting Ward 6 residents to take a few minutes and fill out a survey. I had the link in newsletters as well. To your credit, we had over 800 responses. I’m not surprised. In the past 12 years, my office has developed a great rapport with our neighbors. Your willingness to stay connected through the survey is a testament to the relationships we’ve established.
The survey results are in. This graphic shows what’s important to those who took part.
About 60% of you recognize 5G as either important, or very important. Nearly 95% see our water quality as an important or very important issue. 90% feel environmental issues fall into those categories. That tells me the focus my staff and I are giving to 5G, PFAS and the creative ways we’re proposing we address reuse of recyclables are aligned with your concerns.
In response to the survey, we’ll be hosting 3 Zoom virtual meetings to discuss the results with you. We’ll be breaking down the categories so each of the meetings will have its own focus. The first meeting will be on Thursday, July 8th, and will run from 5:30 until 7pm. Here’s the link for you to participate.
Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/81264934434?pwd=NUthV3lHVWQrTWNBeXRUSlZuTVd0dz09
Meeting ID: 812 6493 4434
Passcode: 218442
Our focus during this first meeting will be water quality, climate, and the environmental issues you’ve indicated are important. We’ll briefly share the survey results, some of your comments, and then will have a brief presentation from city staff touching on the topics. Most importantly, it’ll be us hearing more from you on your thoughts related to these issues.
Mark your calendar for July 20th and 27th for the 2nd and 3rd of these survey discussions. I’ll share more about those in upcoming newsletters.
Thanks very much for your active participation in the survey. It was an important tool validating that we’re tracking with the issues of greatest importance to you.
PFAS
Following on with the survey is this reminder of this week’s PFAS meeting. Last week the state allocated $2M for us to build a temporary pipeline extending our TARP treatment plant over to the Santa Cruz River. The purpose is to allow us to continue operating the plant, but to do so without serving the contaminated water to the public. I shared with you last week that shutting down the plant was the result of PFAS concentrations so high that the filtration system in the plant would be overwhelmed. But if we’re diverting the outflow to a reclaim use, the plant can continue operating. That’s important because it allows us to keep the plume from expanding and migrating.
Let me put that $2M from the state into perspective. Between 2011 and 2019, the DOD only allocated a total of $10M nationwide for PFAS research and remediation. The ‘21 appropriation is $300M for “PFAS research and regulation” across a variety of agencies. The Pentagon is estimating their cleanup obligation to be north of $3B “and growing”. Their timeline for the work is 30 years. My timeline for their work is more like get it done in ‘22.
The State of New Jersey just filed a suit against the DOD looking for $300M in damages related to contamination from the Wright-Patterson AFB. There are 5 other states also considering legal action. We’ve gone after 3M and other product manufacturers and have reserved the right to also pursue legal action against others, including the defense department. This is a big deal, and your survey responses validate that you recognize that fact.
The timing of the survey, and the news about PFAS in the community times well with this week’s meeting. We’ll have representatives from ADEQ, the DOD, Tucson Water and our city attorney’s office on the call. After their presentations, we’ll have time for questions.
Here’s a copy of the Tucson Water Release related to the $2M we’re getting from the state. Remember, this is just for the pipeline – not for the longer-term remediation of the PFAS problem.
Read the news releaseTucson Water
Here’s the link for the meeting. We’ll begin at 6pm and end at 7:30. I appreciate your concern, and your involvement in staying current on this issue.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82963073142?pwd=Zm9VMHV1bjduYWFGY0N2MERMeWVIZz09
Meeting ID: 829 6307 3142
Passcode: 129988
Midtown Services
In the past week I’ve had some productive exchanges with a group from the UA College of Public Health. They’re doing a sort of needs assessment targeting some areas in midtown. As a part of our exchanges, they’ve put together a list of services touching a variety of kinds of needs. Here’s a cheat-sheet you can clip and put on your refrigerator as a handy reminder in case someone you know is looking for some assistance. Thanks to Hailey for reaching out and getting this put together.
Teatro Carmen
Herb Stratford has been active in the Tucson film and arts scene for years. Without dating him too badly, he was involved in the early renaissance of the Fox Theater. Now he’s tackling another local iconic space – Teatro Carmen, over on the outskirts of Barrio Viejo.
The building was first constructed in 1915, so it has some significant local history. Herb’s plans include interior rehab and turning it back into a community arts and cultural gathering space. He has an architect lined up and is beginning the work now that the sale of the area has been finalized.
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The building is mud-adobe and is likely the oldest remaining such structure we have that was associated with Spanish-language theatre and film in the Tucson and Pima County area. They’ve had live theater, silent film screenings, boxing matches, and from 1937 until 1986 it was home to the Pilgrim Rest Elks Lodge, a Black social club.
When it’s done, the place will have a flexible seating plan that’ll hold in the range of 300 people. It’ll also include a small local restaurant and an outdoor patio where they’ll host some small community events. We at the Ward 6 office wish Herb and his team well and look forward to being a part of resurrecting this very cool local entertainment space.
Parklets and Streateries
We’re due to have a study session presentation by staff related to parklets and streateries during our August 10thmeeting. In advance of that, we’re still gathering public input related to allowing extensions of premises for outdoor dining, and the creation of public gathering spaces. This is Ermano’s over on 4th Ave. They’re one cool example of how these projects can work.
Our planning folks are doing an online survey to get your thoughts. You can use the link below to weigh in. While many of the policy changes we work through bring a variety of challenges and push back, I think this one is an example of how we can create a series of wins all over the community. But...I could be overlooking something, so please take a minute and share your input.
The first link gives you some background on the idea: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/tdot/sharedspaces
This one takes you to the survey: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/2b5e463461cd47ff843bb9cbb5c13930
Benedictine
So many of you have been a part of the transformation at the Benedictine that I want to continue keeping you up to speed on the project. In 2019, together with your support we helped over 20,000 migrants make their way from their homes in Central America, to begin a new life here in the U.S. Each of them stayed at the Benedictine. It was during that time we were negotiating the terms of a zoning document that was eventually unanimously approved by the Mayor and City Council.
For me, the linchpin of that rezoning was the agreement we reached on designating the monastery as a local historic landmark. It will be with us in perpetuity as a result. In addition, new apartments are going up on the perimeter, and inside the monastery itself will be more residential units in the old nuns’ quarters, a bike repair shop, dog washing stations and a restaurant. There’s more also programmed – watch this news report KVOA aired last week for a great picture of what was, what is, and what’s to come on the site. Thanks to Denelle Confair for carving out the time to join me on a tour of the site.
Inside look at the Benedictine project in Tucson
Vaccine Update
Last week, Homeland Security sent out this advisory extending border travel restrictions through at least July 21st. COVID-19 and now the Delta variant is the reason for the extension. Also last week, the CDC announced that none of the recent COVID deaths in the nation involved people who have been fully vaccinated. Missouri will soon be a test case. Some areas in that state have fewer than 15% vaccination rates. Their hospitals are again filling up with COVID patients. Lots of folks are watching how that develops.
The UA has now shut down their mall vaccination site. But Pima County health continues to recognize the importance of vaccinations and is hosting multiple mobile clinics again this week. Here are those locations:
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You do not need to make an appointment – just show up.
If you’d like information on the Pima County program specifically, use this link: www.pima.gov/covid19vaccine.
Another vaccination opportunity you’ll have is Saturday, July 17th out at the zoo. From 5:30 until 8:30 our partners from Pima County health will be in the grassy activity area behind the carousel administering shots – for free. Also for free is the music they’ve asked me to bring. That’ll be from 6-8. It’d be great to have a crowd stop by and get the vaccinations, enjoy a nice evening out at the zoo and maybe even sing along if you know the tunes.
Two weeks ago we had 130 new cases reported in Pima County. Last week we had 256 new cases reported. This week we had 323 new cases reported in Pima County. A month ago we were seeing over 400 cases per week. The current trend is certainly worth watching.
For the second week in a row, we’re seeing the infectivity rate increase in the UA area, and in Pima County generally. Here’s the trend. Note that we’re above 1.0 again, which means the virus is spreading. In this case, for every person who’s sick with COVID, they’re infecting 1.3 other people. It’s a curious time for the UA to be backing away from vaccinations. And remember, because of the support they got from Ducey last week, they will not be mandating vaccinations for incoming students this fall.
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You can find the most current data at this site: https://covid19.arizona.edu/dashboard.
Let’s hope we don’t see another fall surge as a result of the decision to let students return without being vaccinated. Our health care and front-line workers deserve more science-based and thoughtful consideration.
Supreme Court and the NCAA
In the past few weeks, I’ve been writing about the upcoming changes the NCAA will implement. It’s a local issue because the UA is in the heart of Ward 6, and intercollegiate athletics are a big part of their institutional mission. The issues are related to if, how and to what extent student athletes can be paid.
Last week the US Supreme Court issued a ruling that will likely be a precursor to changes coming to the collegiate sports industry. It’s an industry. They pay coaches millions of dollars to leave in buy outs when they are not successful. It’s an industry.
The ruling said colleges are allowed to give added ‘educationally related’ benefits to college athletes. So they didn’t fully swing open the door to paying athletes, but it’s a slap at the NCAA’s current (former) lock on the amateurism sham. Here’s a very telling quote from Justice Brett Kavanaugh - “Nowhere else in America can businesses get away with agreeing not to pay their workers a fair market rate on the theory that their product is defined by not paying their workers a fair market rate.”
The next shoe to drop will be on July 1st when 6 states are ready to adopt laws allowing student athletes to financially benefit from marketing their name, their image or likeness (NIL). Right now, athletics departments use the athletes to market the programs. Students do not share in any of the revenues. That will change this week. By only changing in Alabama, New Mexico, Georgia, Florida, Texas and Mississippi, schools in those states (largely Southeastern Conference – already big money schools) will have a recruiting advantage. Congress is considering a national law setting guidelines for all colleges and universities. That would include over 1,200 schools. Now that the Supreme Court has affirmed the NCAA is in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, expect action sooner than later. It’s a game changer for intercollegiate athletes.
In anticipation of the congressional changes coming, last week the NCAA issued a statement that was intended to get themselves out of the immediate firing line. It says if you’re in a state that has an NIL law, go ahead and abide by it. If not, go ahead and act as if you did. That is, the NCAA is not going to penalize student athletes who market their names, images, or likenesses. Here’s their statement.
Note the use of the word “should” in several places in the policy. That’s not at all like the NCAA. They mandate everything related to college sports. But their hand is so deep in the financial cookie jar that they’re treading ever so lightly on this one. Be assured, this policy statement is far from their last on this topic.
Differential Water Rates
Last week we voted to begin the process of implementing a differential rate for water charged for people who live inside the city, and those who live in unincorporated areas outside of the city. The vote included a few key items, without which I would not have supported it. One is a delay in the implementation, and the other is a full cost of service analysis. I’ll get to both of those, but first it’s important to place the level of increase into context.
These were the 4 options M&C were considering. Our water rates are charged based on the amount of water you use. The more you use, the more expensive it gets. We live in the desert.
The differential rate M&C approved is Option 7. It’s a 10% increase that escalates by 10% up the Ccf tier. So for example, the typical county resident uses 10 Ccf of water per month. That means you’re paying $3.82 per Ccf, or $38.20. The 10% increase on that same bill takes you up to $45.80, or about a $7 increase. It’s worth noting that a typical city customer uses 7 Ccf of water. One of the goals is to incentivize people to reduce the amount of water they use. If that typical county resident reduces their use by 2 Ccf, their monthly bill will be less than what it is today.
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The importance of a cost of service (COS) study is to demonstrate that the rate we’re charging reflects generally the cost of providing the service. State law describes what a COS includes – ARS 9-511.01 - “The report or supporting data shall include cash flow projections that indicate all anticipated revenues from residential and nonresidential customers and the overall expenses for providing water or wastewater service.”
The table shown above is one piece of that analysis. We’ve asked for a full COS to be done. In addition to the cost information shown in the table, it’ll include costs related to transmission, distribution, pumping, storage by customer rate class. And it breaks down costs by reclaimed vs potable water, peak demands, size of meters, and all that granular information. At the end it’ll let us see if the 10% target is reasonable, and legally defensible. We expect the COS to take about 6 months to complete.
The other part of the action we took was to delay the implementation of the new rates until December 1st of this year. During that time staff will be doing the COS, so the timing of knowing that information and when the rates go into effect should line up pretty well.
Last week I shared that our own code calls for a COS. Here’s that Section. We’re doing it.
On Friday we received this letter from the county. They’ve asked to be a part of the COS study. I feel we should be as open a book as possible and invite their participation. This affects thousands of county residents. This is as close to having a seat at the table as we can give to those folks. One clarification though – the differential rates are as much a policy decision as being one that’s completely driven by the results of the COS. So the eventual rates should be informed by a COS, but the policy is not “based on the development” of the analysis.
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Another reason the delay could be important is related to state shared revenues. The state allocates money to regions based on the percentage of residents who live in incorporated cities or towns. For example, in Maricopa County they’re over 90% incorporated. In Pima County we’re below 70%. That means we’re leaving tens of millions of dollars up in Phoenix that belong here. I’ve told Bud Foster from KOLD in two different interviews – and I said at the city council meeting last Tuesday – that we should be meeting jointly with the Board of Supervisors and talking about ways to encourage incorporation in this region. And we should use this next 6 months to begin that dialogue.
A couple of years ago, Vail residents chose not to incorporate. Their concern was increasing levels of government, hiring police, fire, trash pick-up, and all the other services cities provide. The city and county already have those services in place. There is no need for say the Town of Vail to have to replicate it all. Through a series of intergovernmental agreements we can work with the county to help extend some of what we’re already providing out to the folks in Vail. The county could do the same with Green Valley. We could partner in the foothills. We don’t need a dozen different law enforcement or fire agencies. And we don’t need to continue leaving millions of our dollars in Phoenix.
Adding that $7 to the typical county resident’s water bill isn’t going to compel that person to get excited about either joining the city, or incorporating. But if it can catalyze that person to reduce water consumption, and to catalyze the city and county to begin working together to find ways to increase the percent of incorporated area in this region, then some good can come from it.
Right now there’s talk of litigation, and indications that based on the M&C vote there’s now an unhealthy line drawn between the council and supervisors. That’s bad for the region. And it’s unnecessary. I look forward to the results of the COS analysis, and I look forward to continued positive rapport with colleagues throughout the region.
TEP Transmission Line Extension
Last week, TEP hosted a couple of public presentations related to the transmission lines they’re planning. This is the upgrade from 46Kv to the new 138Kv poles. TEP’s request for a zoning change at the proposed UA/Banner substation was rejected by the zoning examiner. One reason was they don’t have an approved alignment yet. Until that’s clear, the ZE indicated he couldn’t determine the impact on surrounding neighborhoods. With that in mind, TEP shared a new process they’re going to follow which generally will include a hearing in front of the Arizona Corporation Commission in around November of this year. Once the alignment is known, they’ll be back to the city for approval of the substation.
Last week I shared the city ordinance requiring undergrounding for utility lines that run along our gateway corridors. One of those is Kino, and that’s a proposed alignment for these TEP lines. During the meeting last week, TEP committed to undergrounding the existing distribution lines that are along the alignment. The transmission poles are currently proposed to be above ground. These are some simulated images showing what they’re asking for.
This first one is looking north from the peak of the 22nd Street overpass, at Kino. The first picture shows the existing condition, and the second one is what’s being proposed.
In that case, there aren’t any existing distribution lines to be removed. However, these pictures show an example of existing distribution lines on the east side of the street (Broadway/Campbell) in the first photo. In the second photo they’re removed, but the new transmission lines are shown along the west side of the roadway.
Here’s the before/after for Campbell at University, on the west edge of Sam Hughes neighborhood. The span between new transmission lines is about 650’, which is much longer than with the existing distribution lines.
Finally, over in Jefferson Park by the proposed new substation. Before, with existing distribution lines, and after, with those undergrounded and the new transmission lines above ground. It's important to note that the undergrounding of the distribution lines may take up to 4-5 years to complete since it will require coordination with surrounding neighbors.
There’s a long way to go in this process. TEP and the Corporation Commission are taking input. These are the ways you can offer your thoughts:
If you’d like to see more of the visual simulations, they’re available on the TEP website at https://www.tep.com/wp-content/uploads/Kino_DMP-Meeting_0623-242021.pdf.
Traffic & Pedestrian Safety
A quick note of thanks to our DTM and Sign Shop crews who jumped on a request to up our game on the ped crossing signage at 3rd and Alvernon. It’s a heavily used crossing signal and W6 friend Dan shared with me that he has seen plenty of near misses from cars failing to stop. We now have improved signage at the location.
This is a signalized ped crossing going both north and south at 3rd and Alvernon. Please travel through that area slowly and carefully.
Expungement Seminars
Last year the voters approved Prop 207 making the personal use of marijuana legal in Arizona. That was one piece of the law. Another was to make it possible for people who have existing convictions for possession on their records to have those violations expunged. Last week I met with representatives of the Pima County Attorney’s Office, the Ward 3 office, Supervisor Grijalva and others to talk about how we get the word out that people now have this option. Also on the call, and leading the work in assisting people in this effort were representatives from NORML – National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
Each individual will have to file a motion for expungement. The PCAO’s office is helping people through that process. So is NORML. There will be a series of workshops hosted around the city where people with prior convictions can go and get a hand with the legal process. There is no charge for this help.
The first clinic is happening this coming Saturday, July 3rd out at the Harambe Café - this flyer has all the details.
If you can’t make that event, don’t worry. I’ve already offered to work with the PCAO and NORML to host one at the Ward 6 community room. We’re working out the details, following COVID protocols. And I know others who were on the call last week will also be working on facilitating clinics.
If you’d like to get more information about how the whole process works, you can check the county attorney’s website at www.pcao.pima.gov/prop207. And Arizona NORML has a site with more information – https://arizonanorml.org/expungement. I’ll be sure to give plenty of notice ahead of the clinic we’ll be co-hosting. There’s no deadline for getting signed up, so these clinics will begin soon, and will likely be going on through the fall.
New Rules for Asylum Seekers
Last week, the Biden administration announced a change in their border policy that will likely impact the number of asylum seekers we see at the Alitas Welcome Center. It’s an expansion of the Obama-era Central American Minors Program.
In 2014, President Obama began the program through which children whose parents were in the U.S. legally were allowed to apply for admission. The program was ended during the Trump administration. Until now, Biden was accepting applications only from people who had cases pending when the program was shut down by Trump. Now, not only will they fully reopen the program for applicants, they’re also considering children whose parents have pending asylum cases in the U.S. I’m hopeful that this change will significantly impact the number of unaccompanied minors who are being apprehended at the border and housed in the $110M tent Homeland Security has set up, on your dime.
The hope is children will now apply for the program from home and not make the dangerous trip across Mexico to the border.
The blue line in this first chart shows hot Border Patrol encounters with migrants has increased this fiscal year. The brown line is 2020.
In this second chart you can see how those numbers break down. The vast majority of people apprehended are single adults. But over 80,000 of them are unaccompanied minors. It’s that group whose staying in the tent and other detention shelters. And it’s that group who may be positively impacted by this change in policy. The second column is Family Unit Aliens – children who are apprehended while travelling with a parent.
Similarly, Homeland Security expanded the criteria of people who are enrolled in the former Remain in Mexico Trump-era policy who will be eligible for processing into the U.S. They are now including people whose cases had been terminated ‘in absentia’. That group had their cases ended while they were not present at their own hearing.
The combined effect of these policy changes will likely increase the number of migrants being served at the Alitas Center. Donations continue to be things like toiletries, sunscreen, hygiene products, bottled water, electrolytes, and new, unopened underclothes and socks are important needs. Thank you to each of you for caring. Coordinate deliveries with me directly at steve.kozachik@tucsonaz.gov.
Harvard Global Health Institute
I mentioned above that Missouri is now an area we should keep an eye on. Their vaccination rates are some of the lowest in the nation and based on what I can find in the media their ‘vaccine hesitation’ rates are some of the highest. With that, it comes as no great surprise that they’re one of the remaining national hot spots for COVID spread. On the map, Missouri is the red and orange are just up above the top right shoulder of Texas.
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Here it is highlighted.
If science works, we’ll continue to see that area get hit by a renewed outbreak. In Springfield they’ve seen a 225% increase in hospitalizations since June 1st. About a third of those are due to the new Delta variant. And in Britain they say their new surge is almost entirely due to that strain of the virus. I went into Walgreen’s on Saturday and was told their new policy is that if you’ve been vaccinated, you no longer need to wear a mask. It’s an honor system. The World Health Organization still recommends a mask, due to the increase in Delta infections. Use your judgement, based on the circumstances you find yourself in. It’s wise to continue at least carrying a mask so you have it ready in case you feel you need one in a particular setting.
If you’re curious about a particular county somewhere else in the country, you can go to https://globalepidemics.org/key-metrics-for-covid-suppression/ and hover your cursor over any of the areas you see outlined on the map. They represent counties. The data for that area will pop up on your screen.
Here’s our statewide map. These are cumulative numbers. As noted above, they’re slowly increasing once again.
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Sincerely,
Steve Kozachik
Council Member, Ward 6
ward6@tucsonaz.gov
City of Tucson Resources
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