Hello Tucson, 

Materials for the Mayor and Council meeting tomorrow are now posted at this link: M&C agenda

We have two Executive Sessions with implications for Ward 6, a proposed settlement with Goodman regarding the acquisition and development of the NW corner of Euclid and Speedway (a negotiation recently impacted by new state legislation directing cities to allow densification within one mile of any city Central Business Districts) and proposed development of the site adjacent to the MLK Housing property downtown. Both of these efforts have been through extensive consideration and process and require Mayor and Council final direction.  

Also, during Study Session, we will discuss the most recent proposal for an RTA Next ballot measure as well as a sales tax question to fund essential city needs which have lost funding due to the state’s adoption of a flat tax under Governor Ducey. The following are some key excerpts from the City Manager’s Memorandum for the item tomorrow:  

Over the last decade, the Arizona's Legislature has enacted laws that have reduced local control and created financial challenges for cities, including Tucson. The introduction of a flat 2.5% income tax by former Governor Doug Ducey has significantly reduced statewide tax collections, directly impacting state-shared revenues that are vital to city budgets, such as Urban Revenue Sharing (URS) distributions to Arizona's cities and towns. For FY25, URS distributions to cities and towns have dropped by almost 19%, which will result in a $27.4 million cut to the City of Tucson. The decrease in state-shared revenue caused by the flat tax, coupled with inadequate adjustments to the State Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) and a decline in the Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF) distribution, intensifies the fiscal challenges Tucson faces in maintaining essential services and infrastructure. Projections for FY26 and FY27 indicate additional reductions in state-shared revenues, further straining the City's ability to meet its obligations and forcing the City to consider potential reductions in services. Staff is now projecting that the City will experience a nearly $400 million loss in state-shared revenue over the next 10 fiscal years... 

To address these challenges, Tucson must reassess budget priorities, explore alternative revenue streams, and implement cost-saving measures to sustain essential services. Swift action is crucial to navigate these financial challenges and ensure a stable future for our community...  

By coalescing community priorities with organizational need, the proposed Safe & Vibrant City ballot package invests in five vital areas:  

 Affordable Housing & Shelter (17.50%)  

 Neighborhood & Community Resilience (16.75%)  

 Enhanced Emergency Response (22.75%)  

 Technology Investments (12.25%)  

 Capital Investment for First Responders (30.75%) 

The City Manager’s Memorandum provides further details on all the above investment categories. Final Mayor and Council action on the proposition will be on our September 11 agenda. 

On the Regular Agenda there are two Ward 6 Zoning items, one for a proposed Special Exception of a Marijuana Dispensary at Speedway and Sahuara Avenues and a Zoning to the NE of Catalina Avenue and 2nd Street. Per the Zoning Examiner’s report: The proposed Preliminary Development Plan (PDP) identifies the existing on-site development, as no new development is proposed as part of this rezoning. The PDP shows the two parcels being split into four parcels, with the existing single-family homes occupying their own, individual parcel. Rezoning of the lots as depicted allows each resulting parcel to be sold individually. Because the minimum lot size requirement for R-1 zoning specified in the UDC is 7,000 square feet, R-2 zoning will be necessary as all four proposed lots measure between 5,500 and 6,500 square feet. 

Gun Violence 

TPD Chief Kasmar submitted an Op Ed to the Arizona Daily Star regarding gun violence which I hope you’ll take the time to read:

Two recent mass shooting events have once again brought home to people the seriousness of gun violence in our community and how vital it is that we work together to prevent it.  

At TPD, we’ve added a second homicide unit to investigate fatal shootings. Our clearance (solve) rate for homicides is among the highest of any major U.S. city — over 90% in 2023.  

We’ve also changed how we investigate non-fatal shootings. These often involve uncooperative victims, increasing the difficulty of obtaining a conviction. Since adopting our new approach, which came out of our participation in the U.S. Department of Justice National Public Safety Partnership program (PSP), we’ve solved more than three times as many of these cases as before.  

In non-fatal shootings, when we identify the suspect, we work with prosecutors to bring forward whatever charges are available to us, and if a conviction on aggravated assault is unlikely due to the victim’s refusal to cooperate, then prohibited possession, unlawful discharge within city limits, or some other charge may be our only means of holding them accountable.  

What we’re finding in many of these cases is that the suspect has a known history of violence and criminal activity and is a prohibited possessor — generally, a convicted felon whose rights have not been restored. Furthermore, we’re finding that previous arrests for prohibited possession have not deterred these offenders from continuing to possess firearms or from using them to commit crimes. The message has not gotten through.  

Repeat violent gun crimes need to come with significant consequences. When a felon with a history of violence continues to flout the law and carry a firearm, that’s a serious matter. TPD is committed to working with prosecutors and the courts to ensure that it’s treated as such, every time.  

Another challenge we’re seeing is the increasing number of young — sometimes very young — juveniles who are either committing gun violence themselves or who are associated with those who are. Here too, we see the same names come up again and again.  

Here too, gun violence needs to carry significant consequences, with the addition of significant resources, to hopefully bring about rehabilitation. It’s tragic to see someone so young act with no apparent regard for human life. Yet releasing a repeat violent offender — even a young one — back to the environment they came from does not work.  

TPD’s focus is on evidence-based policing and the smart use of technology. Our officers and detectives work hand in hand on violent gun crime cases, each contributing their own special skill set, and are very effective at catching offenders. Our department has been named a Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) by the U.S. Department of Justice. We contribute to NIBIN, the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, which helps link guns with crime scenes. POPP (Problem-Oriented Precision Policing) and VIVA (Violence Interruption and Vitalization Action) are two of our place-based methods for disrupting gun violence hotspots. POPP has officers visibly present in problem areas, while VIVA relies on partnerships with businesses, property managers, other city departments, and service providers to disrupt the infrastructure that supports criminal activity. A legacy program, the Crime Free Multi Housing Program, helps property managers, owners, and tenants alike keep illegal activity out of their immediate surroundings. Our new communications hub, CSARC, the Community Safety, Awareness, and Response Center, will be able to provide real-time actionable intelligence to the field by incorporating cameras, license plate readers, and other technologies, as well as advanced analytical support, to improve community and staff safety. Mayor and Council approved this expansion last October to combat street racing and violent crime.  

TPD also works with partners in the community who can credibly interact with and provide guidance for at-risk youth.  

At TPD, we work to advance the profession of policing on a daily basis. We are quick to adopt proven methods and technologies. We are a leader nationally. But no amount of policing can solve what is essentially a public health crisis with many contributing factors: easy access to firearms, a history of violence and criminal activity, and cultural, environmental, and psychological factors.  

Other solutions need to come into play.  

Businesses that cater to minors need to close at a reasonable hour.  

Schools need funding for counselors, psychologists, and social workers to address aggressive behavior and its root causes. So do juvenile justice facilities. Outside the schools, individual and family counseling need to be widely available. So do after school activities. If only these services were as easy to come by as guns.  

Cultural messages need to shift away from cycles of violence and revenge and toward respect, tolerance, understanding, and making it safe for young men to share their feelings with others, rather than acting out.  

And we need common sense gun laws, such as red flag laws, that remove firearms from people determined to be a danger to self or others.  

These are far beyond what a police department, or a city government, can do. But they are not beyond the reach of a caring community, especially with investment and support from state and federal partners.  

Gun violence, wherever it occurs, is tragic. What we’ve been reminded of recently is that it’s never just confined to certain areas. It can, in fact, erupt anywhere, and impact anyone. 

The Ward 6 team will be continuing to identify-- with TPD, the city attorney and others-- any and all actions which Mayor and Council can take to help reduce gun violence in Tucson. I am seeking a Study Session for September 25 to continue our work together. link OPED

DM Flights 

Last week we shared the Environmental Impact Statement filed by Davis Monthan Air Force Base; the flight path alterations proposed do not include changes impacting the Tucson area, however we are confirming the status of our existing agreement with DM to be sure we don’t miss any plans/proposals for modifications. We will alert you if any changes or concerns are identified. 

Flood Control 

Also, for September 25 or an early October meeting, Mayor and Council will hold a Study Session for updates on the plans of the Regional Flood Control District. Ward 6 has some of the most heavily impacted neighborhoods (including Palo Verde and the Garden District) on the district map in need of mitigation and investment. 

The City of Tucson has programs available for low-income homeowners to provide financial and technical assistance to households faced with an urgent housing repair situation. Eligibility is limited to owner-occupied homes within the City of Tucson, individuals or families of limited income or assets with homes with hazardous and/or unsanitary conditions which threaten the life or health of their present occupants.  

The City of Tucson has revised its residential rehabilitation program policies to be more responsive to critical needs in the community. This new priority placement system will evaluate the severity of needed repairs and create a waitlist based on a weighted score. The Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) will continue to provide all existing services offered and this new prioritization system only applies to the Tucson Housing Repair Program (THRP).  

To be eligible, the applicant must own and occupy the home to be repaired when the problem is identified. The property must be free of any property liens, and the property must have clear title to be eligible. Mortgage payments and tax payments must be current.  

Priority points will be assigned for older adults (62+) and persons with a disability in the selection of the applications. Repairs up to $15,000 will be made in the form of a grant and rehabilitation projects up to $25,000 will have a recorded 5-year lien for the amount over $15,000.  Some of the eligible repairs in this program are:  

Sign up to join the 9/11 Tower Challenge on Wednesday, Sept.11, in Tucson, or virtually from around the world. The annual event is in honor of those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, including first responders and military members who protect us from foreign and domestic threats. The World Trade Center's Twin Towers each consisted of 110 floors and 2,071 steps, and each year thousands of people across Arizona walk, climb, and run stairs to remember. Firefighters in full gear, police, military, and bomb squad personnel march steadily alongside civilians of varying ages, abilities, and backgrounds. The Tucson event will be held in the Tucson Arena, starting with opening ceremonies at 7 a.m. (doors open at 5:30 a.m.) on Sept. 11. Register by following the link below. Register for 9/11 Tower Challenge  

• Sun Tran: Sunday schedule. Please remember that bus service to most routes ends before 9 p.m. 

• Sun Link: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

• Sun Van: Sunday Schedules (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) 

• Sun On Demand: Sunday Schedule (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) 

• Sun Express and Sun Shuttle will not be in operation. 

• Sun Shuttle ADA Dial-a-Ride: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Regular service will resume on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. 

Passengers can find schedule information and plan trips using the Sun Tran app, the Sun Tran website at Suntran.com, or call Customer Service at (520) 792-9222 (TDD: 520-628-1565). 

To find more holiday transit schedules visit Suntran.com/holiday-schedules.