A Message from Steve K...05/08/2023

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Date: 05/08/2023

Topics in This Issue:

• Older Americans Month

• Centenarians Luncheon

• More Mass Gun Killings

• Budget Survey Results

• Refugee Donations

• Plastic Program

• Swimming Pool Infill

• More Water

• Wednesdays at the Inn

• UA / TEP Power Purchase Agreement

• BCC Quorum

• Sustainable Tucson

• Brew at the Zoo

• Train Day

Older Americans Month

The month of May is Older Americans Month. Our local go-to for all things Senior is Pima Council on Aging (PCOA.) In this month’s report PCOA included a piece on the importance of staying socially engaged and how that impacts the effects of dementia.

According to the Centers for Disease Control “social isolation was associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia.” We know that COVID was a huge challenge for seniors who were immediately cut off from much of their social involvement. Now that we’re on the back end of the pandemic it’s key that our seniors resume those activities.

The CDC noted a correlation between being socially active and other dementia-fighting factors. Those include better eating habits, increased exercise, better sleep, and increased self-esteem. Getting up and out is the start of lots of positives.

The PCOA piece had these suggestions for seniors to help them get more fully engaged outside of their house:

• Volunteer
• Attend a Memory Café
• Join a local book club
• Connect with family, friends, and neighbors (in person or virtually)
• Stay physically active, consider group fitness or joining a walking group
• Play games such as Bingo, Scrabble, chess or checkers

A few weeks ago, I had a piece in the newsletter on caregiver training. One of the keys to reducing the stress load on caregivers is getting our seniors engaged in stimulating activities. Loss of loved ones, chronic ailments and inability to get around without assistance can lead to a spiral that through isolation leads to dementia. We all lose in that scenario.

We at the ward 6 office are grateful to PCOA for their support of our senior population. More on that in the next item. Please be extra mindful of doing outreach to seniors during the month of May. Doing so could be the start of an enriching habit – for you and for those you reach out to.

Centenarians Luncheon

In honor of Older Americans Month, last Friday, the JCC, TMC, Pima Council on Aging and KOLD joined together in sponsoring the 2023 Centenarians luncheon. It’s the annual event in which Tucson residents who are in their 100^th year, or more are honored. The event this year had about 40 honorees present ranging in age from 99 to 110 years young. It was great getting around the room and meeting many of the centenarians.

One of those being recognized is my mother-in-law – Agnes Paulsen. Over the weekend she turned 102. She’s posing here before the festivities got started with KOLD anchor Dan Marries and my sister-in-law. Everyone was there to have fun and express our respect for those who have seen so much since at least 1923.

Diana from my team and I got to hand out certificates and letters to the centenarians as their bios were being read. This year many of the ‘keys to my longevity’ included faith, ‘clean living,’ support from family members and staying active. It all sounds like good counsel from people who should know – they're living it out.

Thanks to the sponsors for hosting this. During COVID in-person events like this were missing from our lives. It was great to see this resume in person at the JCC.

More Mass Gun Killings

While we celebrate seniors, too many will never get there due to the proliferation of guns in the U.S.

Saturday and Sunday were busy days for more mass murders in which guns were used in the U.S. This is the Gun Violence Archive description of the shopping mall incident that took place in Allen, Texas – very matter of fact, unless you happened to have been there:

In that incident there were 8 people murdered and 7 others wounded. But the weekend had several others you likely didn’t hear about because they’re too numerous these days to get coverage in the press. For example, a man and woman murdered just after midnight Saturday in Indianapolis – suspect on the loose. Others: a man and a juvenile killed, also in Indianapolis on Saturday; 2 guys killed during an argument in a Hampton, Virginia 7-11 parking lot on Saturday; a 44 and a 42 year old guy were killed and a 20 year old wounded in a Philadelphia shooting also on Saturday; 3 were murdered by gunfire in Adelanto, California on Sunday; in St. Louis on Sunday a 17 and 18 year old girl were killed and 2 other teens wounded in a shooting – no suspects in custody.

Stop by the ward 6 office and view the Soul Box display as we make our way towards this year’s Wear Orange memorial for those killed by gun violence. 

Budget Survey Results

Over the weekend I received the survey results from our partners at Kaneen Communications. We used them to assist with the creation and distribution of the survey instrument, receive and compile the results. We appreciate their help in tracking this over the past several weeks. One thing that was clear from the results was that the response rate spiked each time a newsletter went out, so thank you for taking the time to read this each week and thank you for taking part in the survey.

We sent out 37,000 post cards to ward 6 residents with the survey link and QR code that enabled people to respond. In addition, the Metro Chamber included the link in their newsletter. In total there were 1,884 people who responded. That’s a significant response rate so again, thank you for taking part in this.

Of all the responses we received, the vast majority reported that they are ward 6 residents. Here’s a pie chart showing the residency data:

The survey question was simple; assume you’ve got $100 to spend on city services. How would you allocate those dollars. I had provided several options to select from, along with an “other” category so people could do some self-selecting if they felt I had left off an important category. Here are the results:

By far the #1 priority of ward 6 residents is to assure we’re properly investing in public safety. Roughly $20 of the $100 was allocated to police, fire and 911. Also getting significant support is water. Our water department is an enterprise department, charged with paying their own way. But this level of support shows that you understand the importance of water security – PFAS containment, CAP allocations, securing ground and surface water supplies – all of that is a key to managing water as a regional resource. I write about water quite a bit so it’s good to see that’s also a topic that’s top of mind for residents. And then parks got a very good response rate showing the value you place in our open space as public amenities. It’s an important bit of data to have in hand as we finalize our budget. I didn’t miss the ‘unsheltered services’ line when I skipped to parks. I’m gently tying it in with the ‘affordable/new housing’ line. While not 100% aligned, there is a definite overlap in the two areas. Not all our homeless population were simply priced out of their home. Many face complex personal challenges such as behavioral and mental health issues and drug addiction. The need to provide services to address those needs clearly falls in the ‘unsheltered services’ line. And yet we also know Arizona is a target for out of state real estate developers who have been coming in, scooping up mid-level apartment complexes and jacking up the rents. We have no local authority to prevent that as the state legislature has a rent control prohibition in effect. So, the burden shifts to us to add to the housing stock, and to add at levels attainable by mid and low-income earners. We have several initiatives in the hopper – code changes to accelerate infill, city purchase of lots on which we can designate terms of what’s developed, tying some level of affordability to zoning change approvals, overlay districts – several things moving, but we’ve got more to do. Lower down on the list in the survey is ‘planning, permitting and zoning.’ That piece also has a role in the whole housing affordability/unsheltered issue. Every week I field multiple inquiries from developers who have had permits tied up in the queue for far too long. I know this is a major issue for the city manager and for all our planning staff. I’ll toss this plug in here – we're hiring. If you’ve got a planning background, submit your application.

Our environmental services department is also an enterprise unit. That is, they’re charged with paying for their own operations. I was limited to how many categories I could include in the survey so the combined ‘garbage, recycling, reuse’ includes the important climate-related programs we’re pursuing since much of the operational responsibility for them falls to E.S. The plastics program is a prime example. I’ll write more about this below, but we have the 22’ rolloff filled with the plastic you bring to the ward office now emptied 6x per week. Each of those comes with a cost to the E.S. department that they’re right now receiving no compensation for. We also operate programs such as Brush & Bulky, the household hazardous waste collections and work being done out at the landfill area in preparation for zero waste programs such as plastics. So, I’m glad to see you value these kinds of projects and even with E.S. being an enterprise you acknowledge the importance of the recycle/reuse/zero waste initiatives.

The importance you place in the climate/recycle/reuse zero waste area was also shown in the ‘other’ category. About 23% of people responding included areas not specifically named in the list, and 10% of those cited ‘climate change and green energy improvements.’ Those have a tie-in with both E.S. and with the TEP franchise agreement that’s getting so much attention. I’ll touch on it below, but it’s clear from both the survey and from daily letters to the editor in the Star that climate concerns matter to Tucsonans.

Road repair was mentioned by about ½ of the people who commented in the ‘other’ category. I left that off as a line item because we’re already allocating $60M annually for the next 10 years to residential road repair through Prop 411. In addition, 411 has an annual $15M allocation to bikes, walkability, and other roadway safety elements. Those types of things were mentioned by 12% of the people who added comments in the ‘other’ category. We’re on it.

When I reached out to Joan over at Kaneen and asked for their help in pushing out this survey I expected ward 6 residents to be engaged. Getting nearly 2,000 responses in the few weeks this was open is excellent. My team and I appreciate your involvement. Your responses validate much of the work we’re doing, and they highlight areas where we need to continue giving a greater focus. Thanks for taking part. We’ll have another budget update this week. Your feedback will be close at hand.

Refugee Donations

Last week in the newsletter I had some information from the USCIS (our immigration agency) alerting Afghan refugees that if they had been brought here with “Humanitarian Parole” status their 2-year eligibility period is about to expire. That means they become undocumented and, in many cases, unable to work. Thanks to Patricia for sharing this post with me that she ran across after having read the newsletter:

If that’s in fact going to be done the burden still lies with individual refugees to apply for the extension. None of this is automatic. If you know refugee families who are coming up on the 2-year anniversary of their arrival, please alert them that they need to contact one of the intake agencies such as IRC or Lutheran Social Services and get specific information on the process for applying to extend their stay. Or if they’re already in touch with an immigration attorney that’d be a good starting point.

This is an issue because congress has not acted to address our broken immigration policies and processes. Once a person is here with legal status pending the outcome of their application process the challenge is that the process takes longer than they are allowed legal status. And the process is costly financially. These are refugees, not people coming here with high level employment opportunities that allow them to afford legal assistance.

You’ve likely seen reports of Title 42 being lifted. I’m in touch with some of our shelter operators and the description I get of the number of guests being delivered by CBP is that they’re already ‘very slammed.’ The numbers will escalate once the government ends the COVID-based restrictions on entry that Title 42 was to address. So, we will need your donations even more than we have during what has been a relative (very relative) lull in the number of arrivals. We’ve been seeing 300-500 people daily. That could double this week. And it could double without any timely notice. That's the way this works – the phone rings, shelters are advised to be ready for arrivals, and they arrive shortly after. That’d be untenable even if the shelters were fully staffed by paid workers. The reality is they run by volunteer support. It’s nice to see the various congressional people making statements that many of us have been making literally for years; local jurisdictions are doing the feds’ job. We need them to step up and provide funding, and we need them to step up and address the broken federal system. Quit the partisan posturing and get it done. Both major parties have culpability in this mess.

Same drill – hygiene products such as sunscreen, lotion, shampoo, soap, etc. New underclothes and socks. Kids’ travel activities. If you’re inclined to bring clothes, please don’t. Better to just get a gift card for one of the big boxes and we’ll pass that along to our partners over at Casa Alitas. They know the specific needs and can do the shopping. And we’re taking non-perishable food items on behalf of the Community Food Bank. They’re engaged with all this other outreach. We can’t afford to be working in silos.

Congress is certainly good at holding hearings. No significant changes have come from any of them though. Thank you for your continued support in this effort. Without you we’d be seeing street releases with significant impacts locally.

Plastic Program

Last week we were told by a resident that the location of the plastic drop-off bin over at the ward 4 office had been moved. We did a little checking and in fact it has been temporarily relocated from the ward 4 parking area over to Lincoln Park. It’s right around the corner from where it had been, but if you don’t know where to look, you’d have no reason to search around. They’re doing maintenance on and restriping the parking lot at ward 4 and so until June 4^th the bin will be at the first entrance to Lincoln Park, right off from Pantano. Here’s a map showing the location:

I’m told by the ward 4 staff that you east-siders are loving the program. Their rolloff is emptied on Tuesdays. The one over at the fire station off of Mission Road is emptied on Thursdays. Ours at ward 6 is emptied 6 days per week so if you come and it’s missing, just leave your bags against the wall by our back door and we’ll toss it into the bin once it’s back on site. Make sure to tie them up as we don’t want plastic flying everywhere. 

Between all 3 sites last week we gathered 3.9 tons of plastic. We’re now at 88.24 tons collected since the pilot started last August. Once ByFusion is up and operating in Tucson we expect to yield roughly 70 blocks per ton. At that ratio we’re at over 6,000 potential blocks currently sitting in a huge pile of unprocessed plastic.

The service agreement between the city and ByFusion for this award-winning program is scheduled to be voted on tomorrow at the Mayor and Council meeting. In next week’s newsletter I’ll share the details of the agreement and how the vote goes. The pile of plastic is growing by the day waiting for us to get past this step.

While we wait, make note of the drop off locations below and remember that for the next few weeks the ward 4 site is inside the first entry to Lincoln Park off from Pantano.

Swimming Pool Infill

Do you have a backyard swimming pool that’s either rarely or never used? It’s costing you a lot of money to simply maintain, and it’s costing us all precious water through evaporation and refilling. You can turn this:

...into this and end up money and water ahead.

Our planning department estimates that between 20% and 25% of single-family households in Tucson have a back yard pool. The average pool uses about 30,000 gallons of water each year. A partnership between Tucson Water, Metro Water, Oro Valley Water and Marana Water has formed and created this link you can use to see what your pool is costing you, the benefits of filling it in, and what those costs would look like.    Pool removal help

Some of the ways you’ll save money by removing the pool include lower water and sewer bills, lower electric bills, eliminate the expensive chemicals you buy each month, drop in your property taxes and homeowners insurance, and more. In addition, you’ll have the satisfaction of saving water and energy, providing a safer space for kids and grandkids and you’ll open space in your yard for other entertainment opportunities.

Recently we passed a ban on new non-functional turf. Some jurisdictions have bans on pools for new residential construction. We should all be looking for ways to conserve our most important resource. Check the link and see if pool removal makes sense in your situation.

More Water

Each year about this time I start getting emails from UA journalism students asking for interviews to help them with their term projects. These are generally multimedia students looking to get into television news jobs. I try to accommodate them, even though it’s often a time crunch.

This semester I spent a bit of time with a guy who’ll get his masters in journalism this May. Jake O’Rourke produced a 20-minute documentary on PFAS and its impacts in Tucson. I thought he did an excellent job covering not only the source of the contaminants, but how Tucson Water is responsibly treating it, and the challenges we have as a region in assuring a clean and safe water supply as we face an increasingly threatened Colorado River. This is our existential issue and credit to Jake for digging in and reporting all sides of it.

Take a few minutes and watch his video. Even if you’re up to speed on the PFAS and water issue, you’ll likely pick up a new tidbit or two from his project. Here’s the link:   https://www.tucsonpfas.com/

Wednesdays at the Inn

It was great seeing Patty Doer – owner of the Inn – at last week’s music set. I know there were at least 9 neighbors who showed up to relax during the evening. With our great weather they had a full patio going outside. The music will  remain through the end of May. Every Wednesday evening from  5pm until 8pm. I’m happy to be supporting the post-COVID resurgence of the Arizona Inn.

UA / TEP Power Purchase Agreement

Prop 412 is the proposed 25-year extension of the TEP franchise agreement you’ve likely been reading a bit about. It’s a vote by mail election and by now you should have received your ballot. For every mail-in election we also set up an in-person voting opportunity – one per ward for those who’d prefer to walk in. Here are the locations that’ll be open on Tuesday, May 16^th for the 412 vote:

Also note that you can drop off your ballot at the Pima County Recorder’s office – the dates and times are shown in the table above.

Unisource Energy Solutions (UES) serves roughly 100,000 customers in Santa Cruz and Mohave counties. The corporation commission just approved their request for an approximately $11 increase in rates per month for the next 33 months to cover the increased cost of fuel. TEP is asking for a $13 per month increase over the course of the next 12 months for the same reason. They’re also asking the corporation commission for a 12% general rate increase. Both of those decisions are pending in front of the commission.

Some of you have asked me what rates the UA is paying, and if they’re also paying the .75% increase in whatever rate that is for the undergrounding. This is what you get when doing a records request to see their agreement with TEP.

So, I can’t tell you what rates they are paying, but yes they’ll pay the fee on top of what’s redacted from public view.

To assure your mail-in ballot gets to the city clerk on time it should be in the mail by May 10^th.

BCC Quorum

The current rule for our Boards, Committees and Commissions to meet and conduct business is they must have a quorum present. The quorum is defined as at least half the number of members allowed to be appointed. For example, our Environmental Services Advisory Commission allows 13 members. Our Pedestrian Advisory Committee and Transit Task Force are also both allowed 13 members. They each therefore need 7 members present in order to officially meet. The TTF has 9 members appointed. If a few are absent, they can’t meet. ESAC has 8 members appointed. Their margin for absence is 1. And the PAC can’t meet at all because only 6 members have been appointed.

Coming out of COVID other cities are seeing the same sort of thing with BCC’s. A combination of people not wanting to meet in public quite yet, and an inability to find appointees is making it difficult for our citizen commissions to conduct their work.

Last week I asked the M&C to approve a change in how we define quorum for our BCC’s. Instead of basing the 50% on the number of people who could be appointed, we are now basing the quorum threshold at 50% of those appointed. In the examples cited above, TTF now only needs 5 members present to meet. ESAC needs 5 and the PAC needs 4. Those numbers change as new members are appointed.

This is an initiative that I know Tucson Residents for Responsive Government has been wanting to see implemented. We should see the ordinance language at our first meeting in June, making it official.

There are a few quasi-judicial BCC’s that have their own rules about voting and quorum. The Board of Adjustment, Planning Commission and Civil Service Commission are examples. Those are not affected by these changes. But for the vast majority of our over 60 BCC’s this will ease the stress of having to get new members in order for those who are ready to commit their time to do the work they want to do.

Sustainable Tucson

On Tuesday, May 9th at 6pm Sustainable Tucson will hold their monthly zoom meeting. This month’s topic is air quality. Air quality within Pima County specifically. The presenter will be Natalie Shepp, senior program manager at the Pima County DEQ. Her focus will be on air quality issues, local sources causing problems, health effects and some possible solutions. Natalie will of course be open to Q&A following her presentation. I’m predicting you’ll hear something about these issues:

And how about that guy caught on tape shooting his shotgun up in the Catalinas and starting a brush fire. Please use your brain, at least during fire season.

Get the zoom link by clicking here:

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84850390699?pwd=ekN1MCtsZlNXc3RYR0dZdnBXOUlVQT09

Or you can go to www.sustainabletucson.org

Brew at the Zoo

In a couple of weekends, it’ll be time for the annual Brew at the Zoo event out at the Reid Park Zoo. This is one of the main fund-raising events for the critters at the zoo. It’s also an opportunity for you to experience some locally brewed beer, supporting not only the zoo but local businesses.

In addition to beer there will be a variety of hard ciders, ales, lagers – and live music can be heard throughout the zoo as you walk from one sampling table to another. This is a 21+ only event. It’ll run from 6pm until 9pm on Saturday, May 20th. By purchasing a ticket you’re getting access to 16 tasting stations. In addition, Artisan popcorn, pub food and other activities. Use this link to see how to sign up. There are discounts for zoo members so also consider using this event to become a member.   Visit the Event Page to learn more and purchase tickets!

Train Day

Do you remember when you were young how excited you got when you saw, heard, and felt the train go rumbling past? Kids of all ages will have that chance once again on Saturday, May 13^th at the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum. They’re located at the downtown train depot – 414 N. Toole.

In addition to experiencing the real thing roll past the museum folks are hosting a train experience event from 10am until 2pm on that day. The event will feature model trains, railroad memorabilia, kid activities and lots more. It’s a family event.

Stop in – look in the gift shop – we're post-COVID and the train exhibits are getting back to full steam once again.

Sincerely,

Steve Kozachik
Council Member, Ward 6
ward6@tucsonaz.gov

City of Tucson Resources

• COVID-19 Updates: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/covid-19/covid-19-updates
• I Want To... : https://www.tucsonaz.gov/i-want-to