A Note from Ward 6 Council Office...

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. |

Date: 04/28/2025

Hello Tucson,

It was heartening today to attend the groundbreaking for a new housing/support location serving unhoused veterans being developed by Old Pueblo Community Services (OPCS) on E 3^rd Avenue. The consolidation of their veteran’s services at the location will include housing for up to 23 individuals or small families, as well as an on-site resident manager and a full range of licensed behavioral health services and case management. OPCS has been an exceptional partner for the city and our community, and I have no doubt their work at this new location will help uplift the entire area. https://helptucson.org/

We’re also starting to get notes of thanks from Ward 6 residents and businesses who have noticed that Primavera Works now provides park and area cleanups. Primavera Works provides jobs to unsheltered Tucsonans, so we’re able to address two needs with every dollar of our final American Rescue Plan funding: high priority cleanups for our community and work for people trying to get back on their feet. Primavera Works can also link workers to lots of other work opportunities. I’ve hired them for moving and landscape work (they can serve residential customers) and they can also offer businesses with temporary, supported workers across a range of jobs. In fact, when AAA landscape attended our last Mayor and Council meeting their founder, Mr. Underwood, pledged to hire unsheltered people as they celebrate their 50-year anniversary and beyond. Primavera Works will be a perfect fit to help them find temporary workers, many of whom end up as permanent hires by businesses once they see the hard workers in action. https://primavera.org/primavera-works/

Mayor and Council work on the city budget will continue at our next meeting on May 6. The Manager has submitted his recommended budget, which is balanced and offers the leadership team’s best thinking on cuts, new revenues, and adjusting both our borrowing and savings to make ends meet. There’s strong communication as well with our colleagues at Pima County, as we face common concerns and need to coordinate investments to best serve Tucson and the region.  In our discussion with Dr. Cullen of the Pima County Health Department last week, Mayor and Council requested that the Opioid Settlement Funds plan place highest priority on fentanyl detox/treatment needs. I’ll be sure to share this development in Seattle with city-county colleagues:

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/seattle-nonprofit-rolling-out-potential-game-changer-for-fentanyl-addiction/

Thanks to Ward 6 volunteer Kody who is constantly scanning for best practices addressing unsheltered homelessness and the fentanyl crisis and sharing the info and his insights with me.

As you may know, a synagogue in Ward 6 was vandalized last week. Mayor Romero shared her sentiments, which I and many Tucsonans share:

Earlier this week I was appalled to hear of the hateful antisemitic attack on Chabad Tucson-Young Israel synagogue. I have been in contact with Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin, denouncing this incident. I let him know that the City of Tucson takes hate crimes seriously. Our City has a history of celebrating all religions and beliefs. This is not who we are. 

I hope we all continue to find ways to offer comfort and aid to the many among us who are suffering.

Thank you,

Karin Uhlich

Mayor & Council Approve $4.3 Million In Funding For Housing and Social Services

Mayor Regina Romero and the City Council unanimously approved $4.3 million in funding for affordable housing and social services through the City’s People, Communities, and Homes Investment Plan (P-CHIP) grant program. The funds were awarded in two phases:

• $2.1 million (last month) for four affordable housing development projects through HUD’s HOME Investment Partnership program.

• $2.2 million (yesterday) for 29 human services projects administered by 20 community organizations, targeting issues like homelessness, food insecurity, community safety, and rising rents.

The $2.2 million allocation includes:

• $300,000 from HUD Emergency Solutions Grants for homelessness and domestic violence projects.

• $505,000 from HUD Community Development Block Grants for low- and moderate-income support.

• $1.4 million from the City’s General Fund for 18 priority community projects.

The grant process was highly competitive, with 83 applications for human services and 8 for housing. Applications underwent a three-stage, community-driven review process focused on equity and impact.

The P-CHIP, updated last November, serves as the City’s 5-year strategic plan for community investments.

Major Streets & Routes Plan and Map Updates

Originally adopted in 1982, the Major Streets & Routes Plan (MS&R) designates key streets in Tucson as either Arterials or Collectors. The plan also guides future roadway improvements and sets zoning setbacks based on right-of-way widths to support transportation needs.

Since its adoption, the MS&R has been amended more than 30 times to address changing conditions. It remains a flexible tool that can be updated to align with Tucson’s evolving transportation and mobility priorities, as well as its commitment to Complete Streets. On October 3, 2023, the Mayor and Council directed City staff to present an updated Major Streets & Routes Map within 12 to 18 months.

They are now looking for your feedback. Please take some time to review the interactive map for plans in your neighborhoods. Click HERE for website and click on picture below to fill out survey. 

Grant Road Construction Update

The Grant Road Construction has moved to the North side of the street. It will be working it's way East to Venice Blvd. Please be aware of the traffic changes made late last week. The intersection of Swan and Grant have been completed. 

Should you have any questions or concerns during this project, please reach out to the Project Manager, Rob Lane who can be reached at 520-400-3496 or email him at Rob.Lane@tucsonaz.gov.

Feedback Requested on Middle Housing In Tucson

Last week, the City of Tucson’s Planning and Development Services Department (PDSD) presented middle housing options to the Mayor and Council. Middle housing includes residential buildings with two to four units, such as duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, and townhomes. Following the discussion, the Mayor and Council directed staff to begin public engagement on potential amendments to the Unified Development Code to align with Arizona House Bill 2721, signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs in May 2024. Under this new law, cities with populations over 75,000 must permit middle housing on all single-family residential lots within one mile of their downtown areas — though the exact boundaries are still being determined. Cities must implement these changes by January 1, 2026, or middle housing will automatically be allowed citywide.

PDSD invites you to attend one of three public meetings in May to share your feedback on the proposed options presented to the Mayor and Council.

In-Person Meeting

• Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
• Time: 5:30 - 7 p.m.
• Location: Housing and Community Development’s Sentinel Room, 310 N Commerce Park Loop
• Amenities: Free parking; Snacks available
• Registration: Not required, but helpful for planning purposes https://tucsonpdsd.info/MiddleHousingMayRegistration

Virtual Meeting

• Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 
• Time: 5:30 - 7 p.m.
• Location: Virtual Zoom Meeting
• Registration Required: https://tucsonpdsd.info/MiddleHousingMay2025Meeting

Virtual Meeting

• Date: Thursday, May 29, 2025
• Time: 11:30 – 1 p.m.
• Location: Virtual Zoom Meeting
• Registration Required: https://tucsonpdsd.info/MiddleHousingMay2025Meeting2

Resources:

Middle housing information and upcoming meetings

House Bill 2721

Mayor and Council meeting item from April 22

Mayor and Council meeting materials from April 22 (item 6)

Energy Sourcing Study Public Forum Tomorrow

Join us for an overview and discussions on the findings of the Energy Sourcing Study now available for review at this link. Please register to attend HERE. 

Energy Future Town Halls 

The electric utility franchise agreement between the City of Tucson and Tucson Electric Power expires in April of 2026 after a 25-year term. As a result, the City is considering placing a ballot measure in November of 2025 to determine whether to renew the current franchise agreement. The City is also currently negotiating with TEP around terms for a franchise agreement renewal. In 2023, City voters rejected a similar ballot measure which would have extended the franchise agreement for 25 years. As part of this decision-making process, City issued a solicitation in November of 2023 for qualified firms to provide professional, technical, and economic consulting services to the City to analyze various options to source 100% renewable power for the City of Tucson community. This initiative is part of the City’s commitment to transition to a sustainable energy future and support the implementation of Tucson Resilient Together.

Scheduled Town Halls below, please register for virtual session HERE. 

Summer Class Registration Starts May 3 

5th Street/6th Street Road Project Update

Construction on the water line replacement started earlier this month at Country Club and is progressing east toward Alvernon. The water work is estimated to take a little over a year to complete. The pavement reconstruction along this segment of 5th Street will begin once the water line installation is complete which is anticipated to be in late 2025 to early 2026.

Construction on the 5th/6th Street Pedestrian Safety & Walkability portion of the project is scheduled to begin in early May between Campbell and Country Club.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the Project Manager, Sarah Spencer. She can be reached at 520-484-5569 or email her at Sarah.Spencer@tucsonaz.gov. Project Details HERE.

NOTE: The contractor for the 5th Street project has a 6 month lease agreement with the property owner of 3255 E 2nd Street for construction staging. The lease agreement expires 10/1/25. 

The map below shows the vacant parcels and COT Right-of-Way the contractor has agreements/permits to use for construction staging. The green area that is circled is the SW area of Speedway & Calle Miramonte.  

Sun Van Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA) Study Meeting 

PDEQ Annual Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) Workshop

Ward 6 Bike Boulevard Updates

Midtown Bicycle Boulevards – A package of three Prop 407 funded bicycle boulevards east of Reid Park spanning Wards 2, 4, and 6. Two of these three bike boulevards are in Ward 6:

• Irving Ave– A north / south BB which will upgrade existing HAWKs at 5^th St and Irving Ave and build a new Bike HAWK at Broadway and Irving Ave.
• Kenyon / Eastland Bicycle Boulevard– An east / west BB which will connect Reid Park to the Pantano Wash (around 5 miles). This BB will feature new BikeHAWKS at Alvernon, Wilmot, and Kolb.
  • Project change request approved by Prop 407 BOC on 4/21/25
• We had two public meetings in February to get public input on the 15% designs for these bike boulevards. We will host two more public meetings in May (22nd & 24th) to share progress and collect input on the 30% design plans.
• Goal is to complete design by end of 2025 and construct in early 2026.

 Camino Miramonte-Palo Verde Bike Boulevard

• Prop 407 funded Bike Boulevard connecting Aviation Bike path in the south with The Loop on the Rillito River Park in the north.
• Just completed the second round of public engagement week of 4/14
• Minor route change approved by Prop 407 BOC on 4/21/25
• Partnering with Pima County to connect to the recently completed Loop extension on south side of Rillito 
• Goal is to wrap up design by the end of the year and start construction in early 2026

Sahuara and Copper-Flower Bike Boulevards

• Federally funded package of two bike boulevards, one of which is in Ward 6 (Copper/Flower)
• Initial public outreach meetings happening now, survey open until May 4th
• Final design to be completed by April 2026 with construction start anticipated late 2026

 Andrew Street

• Prop 407 funded east / west Bike Boulevard
• Final design expected soon, with construction start anticipated late 2025

For more detailed information on all these projects and more, visit our website at https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Transportation-Mobility/Bicycle-Pedestrian-Program/Bicycle-Boulevards.

Ward 5 Council Vacancy 

Process to Fill Ward 5 Council Seat:

1. Vacancy: Ward 5 Council Member Richard Fimbres will retire on May 1, 2025.

2. Eligibility: Applicants must be qualified electors, have lived within Tucson city limits for at least three years, and in Ward 5 for at least one year.

3. Application: Interested individuals must submit a resume, letter of interest, and a financial disclosure form by 9 a.m. on May 1, 2025, via email to CityClerk@tucsonaz.gov.

4. Presentations: Applicants will make short presentations during a Mayor and Council Special Meeting on May 6, 2025, at or after 3 p.m.

5. Appointment: Mayor and Council may make the interim appointment following the presentations, with service continuing through the November election.

City Clerk's notice of vacancy

Watch the Mayor and Council item

Read the qualifications and procedure memo

Miramonte Street Sign Hit by Car

As you can see from the photos below, someone hit the beautiful Miramonte Neighborhood Sign last week on Wednesday. You might think it happened at night but no, this driver was apparently texting and driving as they drove their Prius down Calle Miramonte (per witness). 

Gentle reminder, Please no TEXTING and DRVING. Distractions can lead to tragedies. 

Prius car parts left at the scene in this picture

Connecting Neighborhoods with Neighborhoods 

This past Saturday, leaders of Neighborhood Associations across the city gathered to share their insights, strategies, and experiences. A special thank you to Rebecca Ruopp and Christopher Blue for organizing this fantastic event! It was well attended, and it serves as a vital resource for strengthening the connection between City departments and neighborhoods. We appreciate all the neighbors who participated! 

Swan Way Park Neighborhood Association held a neighborhood potluck on Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm bringing neighbors together for food, fun, and conversation. This neighborhood, located between E Speedway Blvd and E 5th Street, N Swan Rd and N Rosemont, recently reactivated its association after being inactive for many years. At the event, some neighbors met for the first time, shared ideas for future activities, and simply just being out enjoyed the food and the nice weather.   

Ready, Set, Rec van was also there and brought even more fun during the event, thanks to Dawnee Moreno and her team at Parks and Recreation for making it happen. If you would like Ready, Set, Rec van to come to your neighborhood event, you can request it by the 15th of the prior month and submit the form here.   

Swan Way Park Neighborhood Association is planning their meeting in the fall. If you live in the Swan Way neighborhood and want to get involved, please contact the president of the neighborhood association, Jesse Furrow at jessefurrow@gmail.com. 

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 

New Splash Pad at Freedom Park

Southern Arizona's Largest Job Fair

Southern Arizona's largest job fair is being hosted by News 4 Tucson. They want to help local businesses with recruiting! Please help by spreading the word. 

Aging with Confidence - Pima County On Aging

Help Reduce Waste & Support Refugees! Donate Mason Jars At The Ward 3 Office

WUNA invites you to their Porch Fest

Tucson Music Camp Presents Summer Music Camp

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/

Join in at the Palo Verde Neighborhood Yard Sale & Find Your New Treasures!

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]). 

Community Solutions on Housing and Homelessness by Primavera 

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.

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.

From our Friends at Blenman Elm Neighborhood

Pima Animal Care Center

Pet of the Week 

IRVIN

ID# A842040

Age: 5 years

Qualities: Irvin's had quite a journey over the past few months! This sweet guy found himself at PACC with some traumatic injuries after being hit by a car. Thanks to the hard work of PACC's clinic team, he's now fully recovered and looking for a foster or forever home! Irvin is very sweet with all people and loves car rides; he's also done well with other dogs at the shelter. This survivor would love to start his next chapter!

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

Contact: Pima Animal Care Center, 4000 N. Silverbell Rd., 520-724-5900. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 12pm - 7pm. Wednesday 1:30pm - 7pm. Saturday and Sunday 10am - 5pm.

Ready, Set, Rec Ward 6 Van

May schedule 

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