A to Z with Nikki Lee: February 28th, 2023

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February 28th, 2023

Friends,  

Earlier this year, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer following a routine mammogram. I will be spending some time in March back in Illinois to support my mom and my family during her treatment. She is in great spirits and is on the path to beating the cancer cells and making a full recovery. She wanted me to remind everyone to make your preventative screenings a priority. I had my first mammogram last year, after turning 40, and please make sure you don’t skip any potentially life-saving screenings.

I will be attending our Mayor & Council meeting remotely, via Teams, in March. My team and I are available to support, as always, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Although I had a prepared article for this month, the nitric acid spill on I-10 on February 14 compelled me to address this pressing issue instead. Specifically, I'd like to share my thoughts on where the City of Tucson should go from here.

This incident required coordination and cooperation among several state, county, and city agencies. State agencies led the efforts to relay information to local agencies, while my team and I worked diligently to disseminate information as quickly as possible.

My goal is to ensure that the City of Tucson assesses its response to the incident and identifies areas for improvement. Therefore, I've created a memo requesting a Study Session item for an upcoming Mayor and Council meeting, directing the City Manager to conduct a comprehensive retrospective. A retrospective is a meeting or review session that occurs after an event or project is completed, with the goal of reflecting on what worked well, what didn't, and how to improve future outcomes.

The limited road infrastructure in the Southeast Region created traffic congestion for over 24 hours without appropriate detour routes. As a region, we must reevaluate our emergency response plan and integrate these discussions into the regional RTA Next and Move Tucson plans. This integration will identify funding sources for crucial road projects within our growth corridors.

Additionally, I've asked the City Attorney to examine regulations concerning the transport of hazardous materials and explore whether local jurisdictions, such as the City of Tucson, can prohibit the hauling of specific materials on residential roads.

I'd like to extend my gratitude to our first responders, who promptly responded to the incident and worked tirelessly to contain the spill. I'd also like to commend the Vail School District for their leadership and response during this incident. As a parent in this district, I was on the receiving end of their decisions and communications, and I must acknowledge their swift and effective response.

My team and I remain committed to continuous improvement, and we are dedicated to identifying opportunities for the City of Tucson to enhance its response to future emergencies.

Important Dates:

• March 4-5th, 2023: Head to the Tucson Festival of Books on the University of Arizona Campus. Meet best-selling authors like Temple Grandin, Robert Crais and Lois Lowry. Explore interactive fun in Science City, stroll the midway packed with booksellers and local food vendors. Admission is FREE! You’ll find it all at the Tucson Festival of Books. Where words and imagination come to life!
  
  
• Tuesday, March 7th: City Council Meeting. Click here and go to "Mayor & Council Meeting Live" to watch! (To watch past meetings, visit the City of Tucson YouTube page. This is also where future meetings will be live streamed).
  
  
• Saturday, March 18^th, 8am-1pm, at Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum: It is a beautiful time of year to be outside, so head over to the west side of town for a morning of hiking and pulling! (Volunteer Sign Up) The team will hike cross-country and up a canyon about a mile to arrive at the site. Work will be done in the sun, often on rocky slopes. All that attend will receive a very cool Save Our Saguaros sticker. Full Pull Site List
  
  
• Saturday, April 8^th, 10am-12pm, at Lincoln Park, Ramada #1: The City of Tucson is updating Plan Tucson, the general plan adopted by Tucson voters in 2013. Help us plan Tucson's future with us by registering to attend a Community Workshop. Virtual and in-person options are available for Ward 4. Please register here.

Flood Safety

Reporting Potholes

Help the City identify street, lighting, drainage, signage, and other transportation related issues such as:

• Maintenance: filling potholes and cracks, sweeping, trimming vegetation
• Traffic Control: signing, lane striping, crossing signal repair
• Reconstruction: asphalt paving, utilities, curbs, ramps and sidewalks

You can contact the City of Tucson's Transportation Department via phone at (520) 791-3154 or by email at TDOTConcerns@tucsonaz.gov with the precise location.

Citizens’ Commission seeking Public Comments About Mayor and Council Compensation

The 2023 City of Tucson's Citizens' Commission on Public Service and Compensation (CCPSC) is seeking public input on its recommendation to increase the salaries of the Mayor and Council. The CCPSC's final recommendation is due by March 15 to be placed on the Nov. 7 general election ballot. Public involvement with the commission is encouraged and welcome by either sending an email to cityclerk@tucsonaz.gov and/or attending Thursday commission meetings at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 23, March 2, and March 9 in Mayor and Council Chambers at City Hall, 255 W. Alameda St.
Read the announcement
CCPSC information

Initial Proposition 411 Project Plan Approved

The Independent Oversight and Accountability Commission (IOAC) approved an initial project plan for Proposition 411 (Tucson Delivers: Better Streets | Safe Streets), the voter-approved, 10-year half-cent sales tax extension to fund neighborhood street improvements and systemwide street safety projects. An estimated $58 million has been allocated for the initial projects and are anticipated to begin by this spring. The IOAC is an oversight group of citizens appointed to select and prioritize neighborhood street projects and monitor expenditures as directed by voters. Within the 10-year program, every neighborhood street in the city limits will be improved. The estimated sales tax revenue over this 10-year period is projected to be $740 million. Of that estimated funding, 80%, or $590 million, will be dedicated to improving the condition of every neighborhood street in the city (Better Streets); and 20%, or $150 million, will be dedicated to safe street improvements that benefit all users and modes (Safe Streets).
Tucson Delivers: Better Streets | Safe Streets
Read the news release

Report Park Issues Using Mobile App

Do you need to report an issue in a City of Tucson park? Download the SeeClickFix app on your phone or report it on the City’s website linked below. With the free SeeClickFix mobile app and web tools, Tucsonans are able to provide Parks and Recreation staff with pictures, specific descriptions, and the details needed to get the job done. In addition, the platform provides requests to be documented in a centralized management system for assured resolution.
SeeClickFix for iPhone
SeeClickFix for Android
SeeClickFix on City's website

Become a Community Service Officer The hiring process is now open to staff the next batch of community service officers (CSOs) for the Tucson Police Department. Applications will be accepted until Monday, March 20, at 5 p.m. CSOs are a vital part of Tucson's public safety team. They help police officers in investigating traffic collisions, non-violent thefts, and other crimes where a suspect isn't present. The starting pay is $21 an hour. This CSO academy starts in July. If you have questions about the position or process or would like to apply, read the job description and visit the recruiting website (links below) or reach out directly to one of the TPD recruiters at (520) 791-COPS (2677). Read the job description and apply TPD Recruiting

Tucson Water Partners with ‘Water Use It Wisely’ Tucson Water last year joined the "Water Use It Wisely" campaign, combining efforts with regional partners to spread the message about water conservation and how to take action to help save every drop. This has been an ongoing statewide campaign since 1999 and currently has 19 regional partners dedicated to delivering water conservation education and awareness in fun and engaging ways. Join in the action and start practicing conservation tips. Learn more and get involved by following the links below. 100+ water-saving tips "Water Use it Wisely" Sign up for "Water Use it Wisely" newsletter Tucson Water

Free Toilet Replacements for Those Who Qualify

Tucson Water's low-income customers who are homeowners can receive up to two free toilet replacements. Leaky, old, and inefficient toilets can be the biggest water wasters inside the home. That’s why Tucson Water offers low-income families free replacement of older toilets that use 1.6 or more gallons per flush (gpf). Follow the top link below to learn about the eligibility requirements.
Free toilet replacement eligibility
Tucson Water

Rainwater Harvesting and Gray Water Rebates Available

The Tucson Water Conservation Program offers rebates for installing rainwater harvesting (up to $2,000) and permanent gray water irrigation systems (up to $1,000). Taking advantage of these opportunities in your home can help conserve water and save you money. A free, three-hour workshop and submission of a project plan are required to qualify. Follow the links below for upcoming workshop dates and Tucson Water's new video "Rainwater and Gray Water Pressurized System - Backflow Prevention Requirement."
Sonoran Environmental Institute rainwater harvesting workshops (English and Spanish)
Watershed Management Group rainwater harvesting and gray water workshops (English)
Pima Smartscape rainwater harvesting workshops (English)
Other free workshops available (not rebate classes)
"Rainwater and Gray Water Pressurized System - Backflow Prevention Requirement" video
SERI loans and grants

What's Happening in Town?

Find life-size LEGO sculptures at the Botanical Gardens' new exhibit
The Tucson Botanical Gardens’ newest exhibition brings the world of LEGO to Tucson with its large-scale sculptures made of the popular plastic bricks. The exhibition features more than 40 sculptures built from over 800,000 LEGO bricks, according to the gardens’ website. The limited-time exhibit opened on Feb. 4 and is set to run until May 14. This is Tucson Article

For the Kids
Visit Children's Museum Tucson for a free night of science and art, including story times and pop-up science experiments. 
When: 5-7 p.m. Thursdays
Where: Children's Museum Tucson
Visit the event page for more information.

7 Plant Sales Happening in Tucson this Spring
Calling all plant parents! Say hello to spring with these upcoming sales and swaps. Spring is officially upon us. What better way to celebrate than with new plants? Plant parents can expand their plant families with these seven upcoming plant sales and swaps happening in the Tucson area. Click here for details!

Free Yoga in the Park at Armory Park
Join Tucson Parks and Recreation at Armory Park, 222 S. 5th Ave., Tuesdays, from 12:30-1:30 p.m., March 7-April 11. Classes will be free for the first six weeks and are for all ages and skill levels. Bring a yoga mat and water. Register by emailing Ariana.Ruiz@tucsonaz.gov or calling (520) 791-4865. Drop-ins are welcome. Armory Parks Center

How Can I Stay Updated?

There are multiple ways to stay updated with my office and the City's work:

• Looking for city updates? Follow the Ward 4 City of Tucson page to learn about core services, projects, events and helpful information about all things Tucson.
• Looking for me? Follow my Councilwoman Nikki Lee page to see what I'm up to around town, articles I write, official events I'm hosting, and more!
• Follow my Council Member twitter account, @CouncilwomanLee.
• Follow my Council Member instagram account: @nikkilee_az.