Hello Tucson,

It’s exciting to collaborate with incoming Council Member-elect Schubert and her team on this newsletter and the overall transition of service. Read on for her message below. 

Tomorrow’s meeting schedule is packed so I’ll run through some highlights:

https://tucsonaz.hylandcloud.com/221agendaonline

Study Session begins at 10am and includes further discussion of a possible misdemeanor ordinance addressing public drug use as raised by Council Member Lee in September (CM Lee memo excerpt):

While state law prohibits possession of controlled substances, those cases are felonies that fall under the jurisdiction of the Pima County Attorney. In practice, smallscale possession and public use often go unprosecuted. This leaves our police officers, businesses, and neighborhoods without an effective tool to respond to visible drug use in our community. Introducing a city-level ordinance would fill this gap by creating a misdemeanor offense under Tucson’s jurisdiction. This would give the City more direct control over how we address public drug use and allow the City Prosecutor and City Court to handle these cases. While the Pima County Health Department holds responsibility for health matters including substance use disorder, adopting a city-level ordinance would give Tucson greater control over enforcing laws around open drug use in our public spaces and help connect community members struggling with substance use to treatment resources, while also addressing one of the top concerns raised daily by our residents.

We’ll also review our Department of Transportation’s plans for safety investments at the Euclid and 2^nd intersection where three UA students were tragically killed in October. Beyond the intersection improvements I will be asking more about the designation and speed limit on Euclid between Speedway and Broadway. I think the intensity of pedestrian and bicycle usage bounding the campus warrants that we consider exceptions to standard rules for traffic corridors.

Mayor and Council will also discuss the Regional Transportation Authority plans and projects, as that question will be before voters across Pima County in the spring. Also, a steering committee may be formed to guide consideration of a potential Business Improvement District (BID) along Fourth Avenue; area stakeholders would consider adopting assessments to be paid in order to enhance services (security, sanitation, etc.) much like the Downtown Tucson Partnership functions. We’ll then get an update from our Planning and Development Services Department on the state-required “middle housing” ordinance, including public input received to date (especially on whether to start just close to the city center or extend the coverage throughout midtown and/or the city limits). The other agenda item relates to a proposed Costco in Ward 4.

At 12:30pm we will be meeting jointly with the Pima County Board of Supervisors to discuss our shared efforts addressing unsheltered homelessness and the fentanyl public health crisis. The city and county have been working, most intensively over the past year, to align our plans and investments for the greatest benefits and impacts. There are many key players helping to shape the path ahead (county and city attorneys, state and federal funders, sheriff and TPD, Medicaid/insurance and the Regional Behavioral Health Authority, the county health department, vital treatment, recovery, shelter, housing and service providers, several levels of the court system, peer experts who have experienced homelessness and/or addiction, and others).

The primary item on the 5:30pm Regular Session is the proposed five-year update to the Floodplain Management Plan: https://tinyurl.com/yet7hjzm

The staff memo included in the agenda materials shares details of the public process that has helped inform recommended updates.

Thank you as always for sharing information and your perspectives to guide my service since last May. It’s been a privilege to serve again on the City Council and, with Miranda Schubert joining Mayor Romero and our Council on December 2 representing Ward 6, I feel confident that Tucson’s future is bright!

Sincerely,

Karin Uhlich
Council Member, Ward 6

ward6@tucsonaz.gov

A note from Council Member-elect Miranda Schubert

Dear Ward 6:

Warm greetings from your incoming Council Member! The Ward 6 team and I want to let you know that we are moving full steam ahead to ensure a smooth transition.

Thank you to Council Member Uhlich and the current Ward 6 staff for being so welcoming, and for your tireless work helping us with onboarding while continuing to serve residents during this season of change. Thanks also to long-time volunteer Mark Crum, whom we’re delighted will be sticking around the Ward 6 office, and former Council Member Steve Kozachik for being invaluable sources of all kinds of crucial knowledge as we embark on a new chapter.

On the campaign trail, I spoke passionately about the importance of being a representative who meets you where you are, listens to your concerns, and shows through action that your voice matters. To that end, incoming staff are in daily communication with current staff to address constituent issues and continue responding to emails, phone calls, and walk-ins, and meetings are starting to fill our calendars.

I will officially begin serving once I’m sworn in on December 2 and am ready to hit the ground running to make our streets safer, address the root causes of homelessness, and usher in an era of renewed civic engagement in local governance. Please continue to contact the Ward 6 office at ward6@tucsonaz.gov with your concerns, as they are actively coordinating with us on solutions and next steps.

I look forward to meeting and connecting if we haven’t had a chance yet, and I’m excited to get to work representing you on Tucson’s City Council!

 

In community,

Miranda Schubert

Council Member-elect, Ward 6
ward6@tucsonaz.gov