A Note from Ward 6 Council Office...

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Date: 04/22/2025

Hello Tucson,

I want to open by congratulating Andres Cano for his appointment by the Pima County Board of Supervisors to represent District 5. Supervisor Cano brings extensive experience to the job, and I am particularly pleased that he recently served as the lead on Intergovernmental Relations for the City of Tucson. He’ll bring deep knowledge of the state and federal dynamics; and, I believe, a deep understanding of how vitally important city-county collaboration will be over the coming few years.

Mayor and Council will discuss the appointment of a successor for Richard Fimbres representing Ward 5. I’ll be advocating for a swift process to be sure Ward 5 has a voice at the table during our budget deliberations (May through early June).

The Manager’s recommended city budget will be presented today, along with an update from Dr. Cullen of the Health Department on the priorities selected by the joint city-county Opioid Settlement Funds Committee (the inclusion of her memo to the Board of Supervisors and presentation to Mayor and Council further solidify our intent to very actively partner with the county to address the fentanyl public health crisis).

The Regular Meeting agenda includes discussion of the Tucson Electric Power franchise agreement (potentially for the November ballot) and the parallel agreement under negotiation to stipulate clean energy and other critical commitments. Public input will be key to finalize both agreements and the timing of required referral of the franchise agreement to Tucson voters (no later that 2026).

All agenda materials (which have been updated frequently over the past few days) can be found at this link: https://tucsonaz.hylandcloud.com/221agendaonline 

On a personal note, I spent the past two and a half weeks in northern Michigan to help clear hundreds and hundreds of trees downed by an epic ice storm there. I’m fortunate that my family is well, even my 95-year-old dad who really does not understand why the heat and light switches didn’t work for several days. As I worked with a chainsaw and dragged tree limbs and trunks for 6-8 hours every day, I kept thinking of city employees who do such hard work daily in service to Tucson. How hard (and, honestly, dangerous) it was when my saw got stuck or the chain got loose; how important it was to remember wearing helmet and googles (though my helmet, I’m pretty sure, was designed for ice skating); how much my back now hurts and how lucky I am that my daily pay does not depend on straining my body further. I say all this because I am very glad that the City Manager retained our intended investments in city employees in his recommended budget—investments in fair and competitive pay, safety equipment, and critical staffing needs. We still have a lot of decisions and details to sort through—final decisions on how to cut spending, how to generate revenues, how to manage our debt and savings, how to sustain vital services and continue to invest in our shared future. As always, I’ll welcome your thoughts during the process.

Thank you,

Karin Uhlich

Reid Park Clean Up

Ward 6 staff members joined in at the Reid Park Clean Up on Saturday! It was a great day, they had over 40 volunteers, and together we picked up 15 bags of trash. Thank you to Tucson Clean & Beautiful for setting everything up and for all the volunteers who joined in.

Summer Class Registration starts May 3 

Donations

Thank you for your continued support with the donations. Kaleidoscope Humanitarian Aid has shared the updated list of items they currently need: 

They have been distributing the collected donations to several agencies in Southern Arizona that serve unhoused people, veterans, and immigrants. Come and drop off your donations at the Ward 6 Council Office, located at 3202 E. 1st Street, Monday through Friday, from 9am to 1pm. More information about Kaleidoscope Humanitarian Aid, please visit their website at https://www.khaid.org/

Community Events and Resources 

14th Annual Fallen Officer Memorial 5K and Family Festival

Erik Hite Foundation will be hosting the 14th Annual Fallen Officer Memorial 5K and Family Festival on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Reid Park (900 S. Randolph Way) from 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. There will also be vendor booths, a FREE kids zone that includes jumping castles, face painting, crafts, and a kids race (ages 5-12) with prizes. Check out the website below for more info about this event: 

https://secure.qgiv.com/event/14thannual5kandfamilyfestival/

JobPath 

JobPath will be hosting the initial workshop for Career Compass program. The program will help connect under and unemployed community members with in-demand jobs that need very little or on-the-job training. Below is the link to sign up: 

Fourth Avenue Merchants Association (FAMA) Open House

Step Up To Justice 

Step Up to Justice is a free civil legal center for low-income individuals and families in Pima County, powered by the talents of volunteer attorneys. They are working to expand their community education projects – initiatives to bring “Know-Your-Rights” presentations to members of the community.

Their presentations are free of charge and are available statewide. The following community education workshop is available virtually:  

The RENT Project (Renter Education for Neighborhoods and Tenants) provides tenants with a general understanding of their rights and obligations under Arizona landlord and tenant law. The presentation covers topics including landlords’ obligations regarding making repairs, what tenants can do to minimize the possibility of eviction, and what a tenant should do if an eviction is filed against them. The written materials and videos already available on the website in both English [stepuptojustice.org] and Spanish [stepuptojustice.org]. 

The MAPP Project (Mobile Home Asset and Property Protection) is similar to RENT. The curriculum explains mobile home owners’ legal rights and responsibilities when they own their mobile home, but rent the land beneath the home. The intent of the project is to help mobile home owners avoid disputes with their landlords and preserve their primary asset.  Additionally, written materials and videos are also available on the website (English [stepuptojustice.org] and Spanish [stepuptojustice.org]). 

Watershed Management Events 

The 8th Annual Flow & Feast

Saturday, May 3rd, 5:00pm - 8:00pm [watershedmg.org]

Step into the beauty of the Tanque Verde Bosque for an unforgettable evening in one of Tucson’s riparian forests, lovingly being revitalized by the River Run Network. Wander beneath the cottonwoods, listen to the rustling leaves, participate in hands-on fun and enjoy the sounds of live traditional Latin American music performed by the Q'uiru Ensemble. As the sun sets, gather creekside with friends and family for a delicious catered dinner inspired by local flavors.

Tucson Verde Rotary Home Tour

Sunday, April 27, 10:00am - 12:00pm [watershedmg.org]

Watershed Management Group is proud to once again partner with the Tucson Verde Rotary Club as a featured stop on their annual Desert Home Tour. Spend the day exploring environmentally sustainable homes and landscapes across Tucson, including our Living Lab demonstration site. Visitors will have the chance to learn about water harvesting, native landscaping, and other practical strategies for creating a more sustainable home. To view the full tour schedule and purchase tickets, visit the Tucson Verde Rotary Club’s website.

Greener living for renters: a hands-on workshop

Saturday, May 10, 4:30pm - 6pm [watershedmg.org]

Think you can’t live sustainably because you rent? This hands-on workshop will show you practical, renter-friendly ways to shrink your footprint—like growing native plants in small spaces, conserving water with simple tweaks, and cutting out plastic in everyday life. Join us for demos, discussions, and inspiration you can take home today.

Tap into savings: Rebate events to transform your water use

• Virtual Rainwater Harvesting Class [watershedmg.org] - April 29
• In-Person Laundry to Landscape Greywater Class [watershedmg.org] - May 1
• In-Person Rainwater Harvesting Class [watershedmg.org] - May 6

Discover practical ways to make the most of your water resources at our free, recurring rebate classes. Learn how to use greywater to nourish your landscape or collect rainwater to support a thriving garden. These classes provide hands-on knowledge to help you save money, conserve water, and meet Tucson Water rebate requirements.

Pet of the Week 

CHOPPER

ID# A854679

Age: 2 years

Qualities: Chopper is the sweetest boy with the best smile! He warms up quickly to people loves getting attention and affection from PACC staff and volunteers. He’s also friendly and social with other dogs at the shelter and loves to play fetch! Chopper is currently being treated for Valley Fever, which is easy to manage with medication. Chopper has been at the shelter since last December and would really love a foster or forever home!

Fee: Chopper is free to adopt. He is neutered, microchipped, and up-to-date on vaccines.

Ready, Set, Rec Ward 6 Van

Upcoming Meetings

City of Tucson Resources

• Report non-emergency problems at 311. You can call or use the link below to submit a request. https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Residents/311-Service-Request-Portal
• View completed, in progress/scheduled, planned Prop 411 projects.... : https://tucsondelivers.tucsonaz.gov