Remembering Council Member Paul Durham

Before getting into the business of our newsletter this month, I want to start off acknowledging the passing of Council Member Paul Durham.  

I first met Paul Durham in 2016, during his campaign for Tucson City Council. He was laser focused on key issues that Tucsonans cared about, particularly around climate and environmental issues. He won his election and brought his passion and ideas forward into his work on the Council. 

It was a privilege to work with Council Member Durham and watch him lead on so many key initiatives that have helped shape who we are as a city today.  My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, former colleagues, Ward 3 residents, and everyone who is impacted by his passing. May he rest knowing that he made a difference in the world.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year and welcome to 2023, my friends. This time of year offers us a brand new start and I want to take this opportunity to start 2023 full of energy and focus. The new year is filled with opportunity to make meaningful progress on our biggest challenges, and we have a full agenda ahead of us in 2023.  

I have some exciting news! My team here at the Ward 4 office is growing, and we were lucky to have two more excellent people join us in January. Cindy Lopez and Ellison Turner are two people I'd like to introduce to you, if you don’t already know them.   

Cindy Lopez has been with The City of Tucson for 28 years. She started at the City Clerk’s Office, spent 18 years producing television shows at Channel 12, and worked in administration for Tucson Water and the City Manager. Her wealth of knowledge makes her an extraordinary Council Aide. Cindy will primarily focus on constituent services, accounting, and managing our busy calendar. She will be answering your calls and emails so please reach out and welcome her to the team. Thank you for your hard work and dedication, Cindy  

Ellison Turner, our Communications Specialist, and I will work closely together to generate content and create/execute plans for reaching out to more constituents using digital media. She manages internal and external communications, media relations, and provides event assistance. She’s also the one compiling content and laying out the newsletter you’re reading today! She will carry out the vison to make our Ward 4 community, our efforts, and our collective successes more visible. Ellison, welcome to the team! 

Without Teresa and Martha's constant dedication and tenacity, we could not accomplish what we do. Their advice and support are unparalleled. We all rely on them to guide our team as we fight for the causes that are most important to you since they are the cornerstones of our strong foundation. Thank you for providing this community with such a valuable anchor and light.   

Each new year is a gift of learning, growth, and hope.  Wishing you and your family positive new beginnings in 2023.  

If you have any questions or concerns, don't be afraid to get in touch with us; my team and I are happy to provide you with the support you need. [email protected] is the best form of contact.

Building a resilient community takes time, but with this team's commitment to making a great impact on The City of Tucson, I am convinced that we can do anything.  Please see below for news and updates. Previous newsletters can be found?here.?? 

 Warmest Wishes, 

Mayor & Council Session Highlights

Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Next:  I reinforced the Ward 4 community’s priorities for road projects for a potential RTA Next program. My comments were based on "Attachment C: City of Tucson RTA Next Priority Project Status 1/11/23". I’ve continued to bring our concerns to the Mayor & Council table, to city staff, and RTA leadership, and continue to advocate for projects and investments in our area to support our needs as we continue to grow.   The 4 main priorities I shared were: Widen Mary Ann Cleveland Way to a 4-lane divided roadway Widen Colossal Cave Road to a 4-lane divided roadway Widen Harrison Road to a 4-lane roadway from Irvington to Golf Links Widen Irvington to a 4-lane divided roadway from Houghton to Kolb 

All these projects, and many others, are currently being discussed by the RTA as they create their list of projects to fund, should Pima County Voters approve another RTA program. I encourage you to participate in the process and advocate for infrastructure and investment that you recognize we need in our region. The meetings are all public and include opportunities for you to speak and share your concerns and vision for our infrastructure. They need to hear your voice and we highly encourage you to participate and make sure the RTA Board knows exactly what we care about in the Southeast area.   

Go to https://rtanext.com/ to find out more information on the RTA Next and committee meeting dates. 

If you are interested in attending or speaking at “Call to the Audience” at a future RTA Next meeting, you can contact the RTA via Paki Rico, [email protected].  

I am committed to working collaboratively with Mayor Romero, Supervisor Christy, and everyone involved in advocating for our area as we work together to bring in proper investments to support our needs in Ward 4, Vail, Corona De Tucson, and the surrounding unincorporated areas of Pima County that makeup the Southeast growth corridor.  

American Battery and Sion Power Incentive Agreements: Tucson's Mayor and Council approved two Primary Jobs Incentive development agreements for American Battery Factory (ABF) and Sion Power. The Primary Jobs Incentive is a financial tool that supports the City’s efforts to attract quality jobs and investment. The incentive provides up to 100% reimbursement of construction sales tax to qualifying expenses, such as required public infrastructure improvements, offsets to impact fees, and job training. ABF intends to hire 1,000 new employees over the next several years, with an average salary of $65,000. The overall economic impact of the ABF project is estimated at more than $2.5 billion over five years. Construction is expected to start in June, with completion in late 2024. Sion Power has more than 100 current employees, with an average salary of $85,000, and intends to create more than 150 new engineering and manufacturing jobs with this expansion. The overall economic impact of the Sion expansion project is estimated at more than $85.2 million over five years. The new manufacturing facility is expected to be operational in late 2024.

Important Dates:

-Tuesday,?February 7th:? City?Council Meeting.?Click here?and go to "Mayor & Council Meeting Live" to watch!?(To?watch past meetings, visit?the?City of Tucson YouTube page.?This is also where future meetings will be live streamed). 

-Saturday, Feb. 11th at 9am: The Ward 4 Council Staff will continue to work with?Corbett Neighborhood Association with?support from the City Manager and Environmental Service to finish alleyway cleanup along Craycroft. Together we will clean a heavily overgrown area?that has?historic crime problems.?Meet up at 2132 S. Jefferson, parking will be available nearby.??For any questions, please email us at?[email protected].

-Wednesday, Feb 15th at 5pm: High School Battle of Bands application deadline. The event will be held on Saturday, March 26, at noon, at Gene C. Reid Park's DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center. For more information or to apply: bit.ly/3DlB6nT.

-Wednesday, Feb 15th at 5:30pm: The Environmental and General Services Department, along with representatives from Housing & Community Development, Tucson Police Department and the Tucson Fire Department will be hosting an open house in each of the City’s six wards to present information about services available to residents and neighborhoods that support a clean community. 
In person meeting: 8155 E. Poinciana Dr.  
Zoom Link:? https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87239731662.  
More information is available online at tucsonax.gov/EGSD. 

Homelessness and PIT Count 2023

One of the most crucial issues we currently face as a community is the increasing conditions that impact our unsheltered Tucsonans. In the January issue of the Vail Voice, I discussed in detail how the City of Tucson plans to approach our partners across Tucson to advocate for early intervention and promote affordable housing development. I look forward to deepening the relationships my colleagues and I have built thus far as we continue to take meaningful action on this ever-emerging issue. 

Our Ward 4 team participated in this year's count, where we worked with Pima County and many non-profits and volunteers to go into the community and collect key data from our unsheltered population. The data collected provides insight, service gaps, and Federal funding opportunities for the region. We appreciate everyone involved in this effort.  

The PIT Count advances our community’s work to prevent and end homeless by: 

-Providing an estimated number of people experiencing homelessness on any given night in Pima County.?Everyone Counts!?is currently our best method for determining how many people are living unsheltered in our region; those who are living in a shelter and longer-term?programs are separately counted by those programs. 

-Providing data to better understand who in our community is experiencing homelessness and what service gaps exist in community systems. 

-Engaging communities to learn about the presence of homelessness and encourage collaboration regionally to work towards ending homelessness in our community. 

-Provides an evidence base for applying for HUD funding, as completion of the PIT count is a requirement for all communities that receive HUD funding. 

-Produces a standard set of data, comparable and available nationwide. PIT count numbers are reported to Congress by HUD, are often cited in the media, and are used by our community for grant writing and community planning. Community, faith-based, and local governments all utilize this information. 

Community Input Needed

Climate Action and Adaptation: The draft Climate Action and Adaptation Plan is now available below for the public comment until February 21, 2023.  After much anticipation, Tucson's climate action and adaptation plan, Tucson Resilient Together, is ready for public review and comment. Please find the DRAFT plan on the Climate Action Hub website,?http://bit.ly/3Xw9swq.?There is also a link to a form through which you can leave your comments on the plan. The Draft plan will be available for comment until February 21, 2023 at which time, the Plan will be updated and made available to Mayor and Council for final approval. Thank you for your input over the past year, and for your continued interest in a climate action and adaptation plan for the residents of Tucson.?  The Climate Action Plan—known as Tucson Resilient Together—will provide a strategic pathway to reduce the City’s emissions to net zero by 2030, explain the anticipated impacts of climate change across the City, identify the communities that will be most vulnerable to those impacts, and provide strategies that will assure that Tucson can adapt and be resilient to the impacts of climate change – now and in the future.  

I highly encourage Ward 4 residents to make sure your voices are heard throughout this process, so please take a few moments to review the draft plan and share your thoughts!  

Plan Tucson: What do you want for Tucson? Your vision for the future of our community is needed as we update Plan Tucson, the City of Tucson General & Sustainability Plan (2013). The first open house about the plan took place last Thursday, Jan. 19, at the Tucson Convention Center (video link below) and more will be upcoming. During the first phase of community outreach this spring, Tucson residents will be asked to share their priorities and vision for the future of our City. This is an opportunity for the community to learn about the City’s recent efforts, assess challenges and needs, and guide Tucson’s long-term direction.
Watch the Video
Plan Tucson 
Sign up for General Plan Updates 
Plan Tucson survey

What's Going on in Tucson?

The 2023 Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Showcase officially began last Saturday, Jan. 28, and runs through Sunday, Feb. 12. Several shows have opened already, and the Showcase will be in full swing by Tuesday, Jan. 31. The original public show that started it all, The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, operated by the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society, will open at the Tucson Convention Center on Thursday, Feb. 9, and run through Sunday, Feb. 12. This year’s TGMS Show theme is “SILICA - Agates and Opals and Quartz, Oh My!” The best information about all of the shows is available in the Official Gem Guide. This guide is hosted and operated by VisitTucson and is developed in partnership with the City of Tucson every year. It provides clear information on show locations, hours, parking and transit connections, and if the shows are open to the public, wholesale only, or open to both. It is one of the most important ways that the City supports this annual international event in our region.
Tucson Gem & Mineral Show 
Tucson Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Showcase

Out and About!

I spent some time with Bill Buckmaster, Dylan Smith, and The Buckmaster Show audience. We took this opportunity to discuss critical issues that are important to Tucsonans, like water, transportation, public safety, and homelessness. I always appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts in this format and with folks who are really paying attention to the challenges and opportunities we have in front of us here in Tucson. To listen to the conversation: https://loom.ly/uRw7JYI 

I was privileged to be able to tour the new 911 call center. I listened in on a few of the incoming calls. I heard about how important it was to have facilities of this caliber. I heard about how the level of coordination and efficiency we can achieve makes all the difference. I spoke directly with employees about the amazing work they are doing day in and day out.  
 
From art on the walls that feature these everyday heroes to a gratitude wall and sensory room, they have it covered. This facility also features a full gym and brand-new training equipment designed to give new recruits a chance to practice in an environment like the one they will work in. Our first responders are here for you and are better equipped than ever to handle any incoming crisis.  

 I was honored to join the annual tradition of gathering in front of the Tucson Fallen Firefighters Memorial to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our Tucson community. I want to acknowledge the Tucson Fire Department, Tucson Fire Fighters Association, Tucson Fallen Firefighters Memorial, and especially the families of those we honored. I will always remember and honor their sacrifices.   

Thank you to Dr. Jeffrey Burgess, the keynote speaker, for all the work you do and research you and your team conduct at The University of Arizona to better understand how we can keep firefighters safer and healthier. By studying the leading cause of death among firefighters (cancer), we can do everything in our power to reduce toxic exposures and prevent injuries and illnesses. 

How Can I Stay Updated?

There are multiple ways to stay updated with my office and the City's work:

-Looking for city updates? Follow the Ward 4 City of Tucson page to learn about core services, projects, events and helpful information about all things Tucson.

-Looking for me? Follow my Councilwoman Nikki Lee page to see what I'm up to around town, articles I write, official events I'm hosting, and more!

-Follow my Council Member twitter account, @CouncilwomanLee.

-Follow my Council Member instagram account: @nikkilee_az.