Email Newsletter

Greetings from the Board – July 2026

Greetings from the Board:

This is my “get out the vote” message for the Town of Oro Valley.  July 21^st is election day for a new Mayor and Town Council.  If you have any questions you may call the Pima County Elections office 520-724-6830.

The Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve wildlife pond project on Vistoso Highlands is underway.  There is fencing around the project, and the underpass will be closed until the project is completed.  Oro Valley Parks & Recreation has applied for a $400,000 grant from the Arizona State Parks for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant. I know it’s taken awhile, but we are now moving in the right direction and gaining momentum!

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Matt Wood – VCA President

Snapshot – July 2026

If you missed the June 25 2026 Board of Directors meeting, here are the highlights of the Manager’s Report. The next Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for July 30 2026.

Reserve Study

Association Reserves has completed the site inspection for VCA and Siena assets. These reports will assist the association in providing a multi-year funding plan to fully fund reserves and support the development of the 2027 budget.

2025 Audit

Butler Hansen, a certified public accounting firm, has been selected by the board to conduct the 2025 audit for the association. The draft report is currently being reviewed by the Finance Committee and the Board.

Monument Lighting

The Sonoran Vista and Mesquite Crest monument lighting have been experiencing outages. With the assistance of AAA Landscape, we were able to locate and install older replacement fixtures, and the system is now operational at Mesquite Crest. The lighting at this monument is hard-wired.

For Sonoran Vista, Cascade Electric evaluated the system and determined that the solar lighting system is no longer functioning and must be replaced. The board will be discussing a proposal to replace the solar lighting system with one similar to those installed at other locations along Rancho Vistoso Boulevard.

Morning Vista Development

This sub-association will consist of 18 townhomes located at Rancho Vistoso Boulevard and Morning Vista Drive. The project plans submitted by DSW Commercial Real Estate are currently under review by the Architectural and Landscape Review Committee.

VCA Maps

The updated community maps are available on the website at VCA Maps – Welcome to Rancho Vistoso.

Fall Yard Sale

The Fall Yard Sale is scheduled for Saturday, October 3.

Members who have participated in previous sales have requested enhanced advertising for this event. Staff have been exploring the use of ZeeMaps to improve promotion and provide a better connection between sellers and buyers. Participants will be able to add their address and a description of items for sale, while buyers will have access to an interactive map with directions. This proposal is currently under review by the board.

2026 Capital Projects

The following capital projects have been slated and budgeted for 2026:

• Refurbish entryway monuments at Rancho Vistoso Boulevard and Oracle Road.
• Irrigation repairs on Maspalomas, Hidden Springs, and Woodburne Drive from Rancho Vistoso Boulevard to Wildlife Ridge Park, as well as within the park. The board selected AAA Landscape for this project ($203,041). Repairs on Maspalomas began on June 8, with an estimated completion date of June 29. Work on Woodburne Drive is expected to begin on June 30.
• Refurbish monument signage. The board approved refurbishment proposals for the Stone Terrace and Hohokam Park monuments. The Parks and Landscape Committee is considering additional monument locations. Bids are being solicited for Somerset Canyon and Monticello.
• Replenish playground wood fiber at Moore Loop Park.
• Replace playground equipment at Monticello and Hohokam Parks. Proposals will be reviewed by the board at the May 28 meeting.
• Replace park furniture. This project is on hold until the association receives the 2027 Reserve Study. The project includes replacement of picnic tables, benches, trash receptacles, and barbecues at Hohokam Park.
• Replace the drinking fountain. This project has been delayed due to the current condition of the fountain at Torreno Park East.
• Repair common area walls.
• Paint common area walls, rails, bollards, and tennis court fencing. The board selected Facelift Painting ($65,815) for this project. Work began the week of June 15, 2026. This project includes the neighborhoods of St. Andrews I & II, Stone Terrace, Bella Vista, Maravilla, Somerset Canyon, Stone Field, Monticello, Cortona, and Vistoso Crossing.
• Replace Bell Tower artificial turf. The Parks & Landscape Committee is reviewing a proposal to replace the artificial turf with decorative rock.
• Replenish the Hohokam Dog Park. Bids are currently being solicited.
• Resurface the Sunset Ridge Park asphalt parking lot. This project has been delayed until next year so it can coincide with work on the Hohokam and Wildlife Ridge parking lots.
• Drainage basin mitigation and repair. A meeting was held with the association’s engineer regarding the Bridal Veil project to review design plans and establish a strategy.
• Granite replacement. This project for the medians located in Center Pointe has been rescheduled to coincide with work on the La Cañada medians and right-of-way.

VCA Paint Palette

Homeowners planning to paint their home can find the new color palette on the Dunn-Edwards website: https://www.dunnedwards.com/colors/color-ark-pro/rancho-vistoso-master-community/approved-color-palette

The palette is also available on the community website – https://ranchovistosohoa.com/resident-information/paint-colors/

Before starting your project, please submit the Architectural and Landscaping Change Form (ALCF), available on the community website as: ALCF-06.08.26-1.pdf

If you have any questions, please contact the association office at askvca@ranchovistosohoa.com.

Did You Know – July 2026

Monsoon season in Tucson is one of the most dramatic and defining features of life in the Sonoran Desert. The season officially runs June 15–September 30, bringing fast‑building thunderstorms, sudden downpours, and a burst of desert life.

Key Overview of Tucson’s Monsoon Season

Core pattern: Monsoon season begins when regional wind patterns shift, pulling moist air from the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico into Arizona. As this moisture collides with the desert heat and surrounding mountain ranges, towering thunderstorms form—often in the afternoon or evening.

Timing: 

• Official season: June 15 – September 30.
• Most active period: Mid‑July through mid‑September (when storms are most frequent and intense)

What it looks and feels like:

• Sudden microbursts and heavy rain
• Lightning‑filled skies
• Cooler temperatures after storms
• The iconic scent of wet creosote drifting across the desert
• A dramatic “green‑up” as plants respond to the moisture

⚡ Why Tucson’s Monsoon Is Unique

• Mountain influence: Tucson is surrounded by mountain ranges. Moist air is pushed upslope, cools, and condenses—creating the towering thunderheads that can drop an inch of rain in minutes.
• Fast, intense storms: Monsoons often arrive suddenly, hit hard, and clear quickly, leaving behind cooler air and vivid sunsets.
• Heat + storms: Unlike some global monsoon regions, Arizona’s monsoon coincides with its hottest months, so extreme heat and storm hazards often overlap.

🌵 Interesting Facts About Tucson’s Monsoon

• The desert turns surprisingly green – A strong monsoon can make Tucson look almost like a different place, with wildflowers and lush vegetation emerging within days.
• Creosote smell = Tucson’s natural “after‑rain perfume” – After storms, the desert fills with the earthy scent of creosote—so iconic that many locals take “after‑storm walks” just to enjoy it.
• Flash floods can appear out of nowhere – Even small dips in the road can become deep, fast‑moving streams. Locals joke about “the lake that wasn’t there yesterday.”
• Monsoon storms can be powerful enough to trigger tornado warnings – In 2024, storms brought 70 mph winds and two tornado warnings in Pima County.
• Tucson celebrates the monsoon’s arrival – Events like Día de San Juan (June 24) honor the start of the rainy season with music, blessings, and community gatherings—a tradition dating back centuries.
• The season used to be defined by dew point, not dates – Before 2008, monsoon season “officially” began after three consecutive days with dew points above 55°F. Now it’s fixed to the June 15–Sept 30 window.
• Dry winters often lead to stronger monsoons – Low mountain snowpack can allow moisture to arrive earlier and more intensely.

⚡ Monsoon Photography Tips

Photographing monsoon storms around Tucson and Oro Valley is one of the most rewarding things you can do with a camera — the drama, the light, the mountains, the lightning. Here’s how to capture that magic safely and with real artistry. The best monsoon photos come from planning your vantage point, anticipating storm movement, and using settings that freeze lightning or emphasize motion, all while keeping a safe distance from the storm.

🌩️ 1. Choose the Right Location

Tucson’s geography gives you natural advantages.

• Honey Bee Canyon / Honey Bee Ridge overlooks — great for wide desert foregrounds and Catalina Mountain backdrops.
• Gates Pass — dramatic silhouettes and sunsets behind storm cells.
• Saguaro National Park (East or West) — iconic saguaros + lightning = Arizona perfection.
• Pusch Ridge pullouts — storms often build over the Catalinas and spill into Oro Valley.

Tip: Position yourself ahead of the storm, not inside it. You want the lightning in front of you, not overhead.

📸 2. Camera Settings That Work

These settings are reliable starting points for monsoon conditions.

For Lightning	For Dramatic Clouds & Rain Shafts	For Fast‑moving Dust Storms (Haboobs)
Mode: Manual Shutter: 5–20 seconds Aperture: f/8–f/11 ISO: 100–400 Focus: Manual, set to infinity Stability: Tripod + remote shutter or 2‑sec timer Long exposures increase your chances of catching a bolt.	Shutter: 1/60–1/250 Aperture: f/5.6–f/8 ISO: 200–800 Polarizer: Helps deepen contrast and cut glare	Shutter: 1/500–1/2000 ISO: 400–1600 Lens: Wide angle (16–35mm) to capture scale

🌪️ 3. Safety First

Monsoon storms are beautiful but dangerous.

• Stay inside your vehicle when lightning is close.
• Avoid washes — flash floods can arrive from storms miles away.
• Watch for microbursts — sudden wind blasts can topple tripods.
• Don’t stand on ridgelines or open desert flats during active lightning.

If you hear thunder, you’re close enough to be struck.