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In 2009 the Tucson Mayor and Council passed a first of its kind ordinance that required all new commercial buildings constructed in the City limits to get half of their landscaping water needs with harvested rainwater.
An estimated 30 percent of water in Tucson is used for landscaping. The ordinance was enacted so that rainwater could replace potable water – an important effort to be more water secure.
The idea is simple. Builders must submit a rainwater harvesting plan that integrates with required grading and landscaping plans. It is the easiest time to plan for water from roofs and parking lots to flow into basins that support trees and plants that will flourish without precious drinking water. The result: healthy landscapes that cool the building, provide habitat, sequester carbon, and look attractive.
The new front of the Bashful Bandit Barbecue Grill displaying their new water harvesting landscape.
Unfortunately, years later, after reviewing a select number of properties who were subject to the new law it was found that the City was not reviewing plans consistently or inspecting the buildings for compliance. The reason given was there was not enough staffing.
The back of the Bashful Bandit Barbecue Grill showing their new water harvesting landscape from the parking lot.
In May 2022, Council and Mayor authorized three new city staff positions so that Planning and Development Service (PDSD) could recover from what was an open secret in the building community – the “groundbreaking” commercial rainwater harvesting code was not being enforced, so almost no one bothered to do one.
Tucson Planning and Development Services Director, Kristina Swallow
This week Mayor and Council heard from our new PDSD Director, Kristina Swallow, who reported that new staff have been able to review and inspect 137 plans for new commercial development.
You can view Director Swallow’s presentation at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzD09odRGs4&t=11954s. An article by Arizona Daily Star’s Tony Davis also goes into details: https://tinyurl.com/yhaprdpr
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Philip Kuras, president of Richland Heights East Neighborhood Association.
Richland Heights East Neighborhood Association (RHENA) recently joined the small but growing group of neighborhoods who are officially removing racist language from their neighborhood’s covenants. Unbeknownst to many Tucson residents, in the first half of the twentieth century, as the federal government was actively creating home loan infrastructure, most new subdivisions in the US had what are known as covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) that contain explicitly racist language banning non-whites from living amongst white Americans.
Not everything in the CC&R is explicitly racist. Some of the conditions have to do with what kind of livestock may or may not be raised in the neighborhood, or how high the buildings may be. However, Philip Kuras, president of Richland Heights East Neighborhood Association, was surprised to see that the racist restrictions were expected to outlast all of the other restrictions. As he told me, “I was stunned to see my neighborhood's CC&Rs. The document expired in 1960 with the explicit exception of restrictions which prohibited minorities from living or owning property in Richland Heights. These restrictions were meant to ’continued and remain for ninety-nine years.’”
Learning about these covenants in September of this year, Mr. Kuras proposed to his fellow members of the RHE neighborhood association board that they officially remove these racist rules as a matter of principle. These racist restrictions are not enforceable by law, of course, since the federal government passed multiple laws in the 1960s to void laws of this kind. Still, Mr. Duras was inspired by the San Carlos Neighborhood Association, whose president, Peter Williams, recently removed the racist remnants of their CC&Rs. This was featured in the 7/17/2023 Ward 6 newsletter.
Copy of declaration of establishment with racist language highlighted.
While the Richland Heights East Neighborhood Association Board arrived at a unanimous decision to follow in San Carlos’ footsteps, with Mr, Duras offering to go through the necessary legal steps to redact the racist verbiage, the conversation that led there represented a variety of viewpoints. Some expressed the concern that this gesture would be only that, and wanted to discuss whether a law that was not enforced or enforceable was worth taking off the books. Some board members raised the issue of whether it was better to keep this racist language in the covenants, for fear that erasing them would erase (and whitewash) their neighborhood’s (and our country’s) deeply racist history. Importantly, all of these issues and more were discussed and treated with concern as the board arrived at consensus about removing the racist restrictions, while also educating their neighbors about them to raise awareness of the nation’s dark history.
Outline of Protective Covenants, John W. Murphey Records (Box 14, Folder 19). Courtesy of University of Arizona Libraries, Special Collections
To learn more about racist covenants, and what you might do in your own neighborhood, visit Mapping Racist Covenants https://mappingracistcovenants.org. To actively help undo the segregation still in effect due to these racist covenants, check out the work being done by nonprofits like Community Investment Corporation https://cictucson.org/ and Pima County Community Land Trust https://www.pcclt.org.
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Council Aide Shannon Jenkins, Ward 3 IAPC Appointee Lydia Hunter, and Council Member Dahl.
We are very grateful for the service of Lydia Hunter, the outgoing Ward 3 appointee to the Independent Audit and Performance Commission (IAPC). After more than five years of service, Lydia is stepping down from this position at the end of the year.
Which means we are looking for another person to service in this position.
But first, a little about Lydia. She is a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and CGFM (Certified Government Financial Manager) at BeachFleischman. In her role on the Commission, she used her extensive experience with internal audits to benefit the City. The City's Internal Audit Manager Aaron Williams, who works closely with the IAPC, told us that "Lydia was a fantastic addition to the commission." We met with Lydia recently and learned she was originally from England, but after moving to Tucson from England she found she loved Tucson so much that she decided to stay. During our meeting, she shared feedback about how the IAPC could be improved.
If this sounds like something you're qualified to do and interested in doing, please let us know! We're very grateful to Lydia for her years of service to the City and our community and wish her the best in her future endeavors.
We need a suitable replacement for Lydia, so if you are interested and qualified we would like you to apply. Just reach out to our office at ward3@tucsonaz.gov or 520-791-4711.
Applicants must meet these requirements:
- Reside within Tucson City limits, and
- Have more than ten years of financial or executive experience -OR-
- Have more than five years of financial or executive experience PLUS another five years of experience in a comparable field, such as project management, grant administration, or compliance reporting or data analysis.
Meetings are usually once a month. The Commission’s main charge is to review and provide comment to the Mayor and Council and the City Manager on the City's Annual Audit Plan. Upon direction from the Mayor and Council, or the City Manager, or upon a majority vote of the commissioners, the IAPC can perform other tasks like provide an independent appraisal of City programs, policies, and functions. Or recommend that the Mayor and Council contract an independent firm to perform such an appraisal. Or recommend that the Mayor and Council contract an independent firm to perform such an appraisal.
Or evaluate recommended improvements that will help safeguard the City's assets.
If this sounds like something you're qualified to do and interested in doing, please let us know! We're very grateful to Lydia for her years of service to the City and our community and wish her the best in her future endeavors.
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A busy night at Voice KTV.
The word “karaoke” is Japanese for “empty orchestra”. Since the late 60s and early 70s, this social activity has been enjoyed globally by people who think they can sing. The karaoke market around the world is estimated to be valued at nearly $10 billion. With this immense popularity, one enterprising Tucson business owner has decided to bring karaoke to Tucson. I am aware that there are bars that do karaoke nights and events in Tucson, but none offer private rooms designed to let you and your party of friends sing your heart out for as long as you can afford to. Enter Eddie Lau owner of the Mandarin Grill. Mr. Lau moved to Tucson when he was 16 from Macao a region in China. He went to Amphi High and graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in business. After a trip to China in 2018 and experiencing the KTV (what a karaoke box is called in China) phenomenon, Eddie decided to open one in Tucson. Thus, Voice KTV was born!
Eddie Lau owner of Voice KTV and the Mandarin Grill.
On the corner of First and East Copper St., people can rent a room for an hour starting at 8:30 pm and sing their favorite songs. There is no worry about being limited on turns or about strangers watching since the rooms are private. There are several different rooms with varying capacities. Their largest is 500 sq ft. and accommodates about 20 people, while the smallest fits about 6.
The interior of one of the many karaoke rooms at Voice KTV.
Eddie states that here in town it is a big hit with college students. According to him, there are only 3 establishments like his in Phoenix, the other places are in New York City, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. They offer wine and beer for sale and if people want to bring in outside food or drinks there is a 30% service charge added to the final bill, unless it's food from the Mandarin Grill, then there’s no fee.
So if you are itching to belt out a few tunes with your friends but are too shy to do it in public or are too worried you won’t have a turn at a regular bar give Voice KTV a call and reserve your spot Monday through Saturday! The large suite starts at $88/hour and the smallest is just $48/hour.
Link- https://www.tucsonkaraoke.com/
The exterior of Voice KTV during the day. It opens at 8 pm.
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DAISY /ID# A752475
Age: 4 years
Qualities:
Daisy is a sweet girl who originally came to PACC injured with a litter of puppies and yet was waggy-tailed and friendly with clinic staff. She did a great job of raising her puppies and they have all been adopted, and now this mama is looking for her own family! Daisy is currently in a foster home, where she is described as generous with kisses, cuddly, and good with cats and other dogs.
Fee:
Daisy has a $0 adoption fee. A $20 license fee applies to adult dogs. Adoption includes spay or neuter, age-appropriate vaccinations, microchip, and a free vet visit.
Contact:
Pima Animal Care Center, 4000 N. Silverbell Rd.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 12pm - 7pm.
Wednesday 1:30-7pm. Saturday and Sunday 10am - 5pm.
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Rillito Bend Neighborhood Association
Saturday 11/18, 1 pm - 3 pm
The Hitching Post Ranch
3922 N. Tucson Blvd.
Samos Neighborhood Association Meeting
Tuesday 11/21, 6:30 pm-7:30 pm
1609 E Spring St.
Keeling Neighborhood Association Meeting
Monday 11/27, 6 -7 pm
Cornerstone Fellowship Church
2902 N. Geronimo Ave.
The Ward 3 office is open open at 1510 E. Grant Rd. from
9 am -1 pm, Monday through Friday. Staff will answer phone messages, emails and requests for meetings by the next business day. Leave your message at 520-791-4711 or email ward3@tucsonaz.gov.
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Benefit Concert for Casa Maria Saturday November 18
Free coffee and breakfast! Sign up and come help us clean up our City November 18 at 8 am
Free Food this Saturday November 18/ Comida gratis este Sabado Noviembre 18
November Calendar for the Donna Liggins Center
We Are Accepting Much Needed Donations For the Wildcat House
Slow Down... And Get Your Yard Sign!
The Ward 3 office has free yard signs available as part of the Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility (DTM)'s SLOW DOWN Program, which is designed to inform drivers that they're traveling on a 25 mph neighborhood street and to remind them that slowing down saves lives.
Ward 3 Is Accepting Donations for the Iskashitaa Refugee Network!
The Ward 3 office is currently accepting donations of art supplies and canning supplies on behalf of the Iskashitaa Refugee Network. We are ONLY accepting jelly jars, Kerr, Mason, or Ball jars for preserving/ canning, with or without canning rings. Feel free to drop by 1510 E. Grant Rd. during our office hours (9 am to 1 pm Monday through Friday) if you'd like to support the work of this wonderful non-profit with a donation.
Prince Food Pantry 7-8:30 am the First Friday of Every Month
Yoga in the Garden Every Saturday at 8 am
Grocery Sharing at Tucson Food Share - 2500 N. Stone Ave.
Groceries are shared Mondays 4:30- 6:00 pm,
Thursdays 6:00 - 7:30 pm, and Saturdays from 8am-9:30am.
https://tucsonfoodshare.org/ has more information about volunteering, donating, or requesting delivery.
Ready, Set, REC! in November
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