February 2024 Email Newsletter

Table of Contents

Greetings from the Board – February 2024

Matt Wood, VCA President
Center Pointe Neighborhood

February 2024 Message From The  Board of Directors – Matt Wood

Updates in Brief

  1. The Oro Valley Town Council voted against the Avilla apartments rezoning request (near Safeway and Woodburn) as many members of Rancho Vistoso signed a petition and/or spoke against the project at the Town Council meeting in January.
  2. A task group of Board members and staff are meeting with the Town of Oro Valley staff to discuss the future of the streetlights on RVB.  This is a “big dollar issue” and we will thoroughly analyze all our options before a decision is reached.
  3. The major repair projects of the irrigation along Innovation Parkway and on Desert Fairways will start in March and the replacement of decorative rock will follow.  This project will save operating budget money and water as the irrigation is old and the waterline breaks are frequent.  

Annual Membership Meeting

The Annual Membership Meeting of the Vistoso Community Association (VCA) will be held Thursday, March 28th, beginning at 6:00 PM.  The Annual Meeting will be a hybrid meeting available via Zoom Meeting platform or by RSVP in advance at the Community Association Office at 6:00 pm at 1171 E Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Suite 103, Tucson, AZ 85755 (Mountain View Plaza). An RSVP does not guarantee an in-person seat. Due to occupancy restrictions, a limited number of members are permitted.  

Your Vote is Important

The Board respectfully asks all members to make their voices heard and vote. Look for your ballots and return them promptly. According to the VCA Governing Documents, we must meet the membership quorum requirements to hold this election. Failure to meet the quorum required shall result in another meeting and shall accrue additional costs to do so. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Annual VCA Meeting, please contact the Vistoso Community Association at 520-354-2729.

Member Voting Overview

VCA members will receive a letter and email with voting instructions (mailed out on 2/28/24) outlining three ways to submit your ballot to cast your vote in the Board election process. The VCA Onsite Staff ONLY will touch, process, or help with this process.

The digital and mail-in ballot asks you to vote for candidates.  This year Single Family Members will vote to fill four open seats. The fourth seat became open when current Board Member Sonia Suri resigned her position last month due to personal reasons.  The Board thanks Sonia for her contributions over the past year and wishes her well going forward.   Two of the four Single Family Director positions will be serving two-year terms and two will be serving one-year terms of office.  The two candidates with the highest numbers of votes will be awarded the two-year terms.

Also, this year there is one open Commercial Board Seat for a two-year term to be voted on by our Commercial Members.  The Other-Than-Single-Family Board Seat is open next year and will not be on this year’s ballot.  All members will also be asked to vote the approval of the minutes from last year’s VCA Association Annual Membership Meeting and the IRS Ruling 70-604. This IRS ruling requires approval by the membership so that the association may be allowed to carry over any surplus income from one tax year to the next to offset deficits in the following year and thus avoid the creation of additional taxes to the association. 

The Voting Process

There are three (3) ways for VCA Members in good standing to cast your vote:

  1.     Vote Online (preferred) – The unique voting web address link and registration number will be included in your individual letter and/or email which outlines the election process. Online voting will open at 9:00 AM on February 28, 2024, and close at 5:00 PM on March 22, 2024.
  2.    Paper Ballot Mail-In or Hand Delivery – If you prefer to vote with a paper ballot, please use the paper ballot included in your mailing to cast your vote. You may put it in the ballot box at the office or mail it in. Paper ballots must be returned in the enclosed envelope to the onsite office no later than the postmark date of Friday, March 22, 2024, for mail-in ballots and 5:00 PM March 22, 2024 for hand delivered ballots.
  3.    In-Person Voting – Onthe night of the election, you may cast your ballot if you have yet to meet the deadline for online or paper ballots. You may come to the Community Association Office at 6:00 PM at 1171 E Rancho Vistoso Blvd., Suite 103, Tucson, AZ 85755 (Mountain View Plaza) to cast your ballot in person. This method is only available to members who did not vote prior.

I hope you will seriously consider Joining us! Click HERE to download an editable Volunteer Application form. After completing the form email it to [email protected].

Did You Know – 2024 Board of Director Candidates

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The candidates running for Vistoso Community Association (VCA) 2024 Board of Directors are listed below. 

Click on the candidate’s name to view their application and biography.

There are four (4) Single-Family Director positions available with four (4) candidates running for election.  Two of the positions are for a 2 year term and two positions are a 1 year term. Those with the highest number of votes will be awarded the two-year term positions.

There is one (1) Commercial Director position available with one (1) candidate running for election. This position is for a 2 year term.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE

  • February 28th – 9AM – Voting Opens
  • March 22 – 5PM – Online voting closes and paper ballots must be received
  • March 28 – 5PM – In person voting closes
  • March 28 – Annual Meeting

Snapshot – February 2024

Barbara Daoust
General Manager
First Service Residential

In case you missed the January 2024 Board of Directors meeting, below is a “snapshot” of the General Manager’s report to the community.  The entire report is in the January 2024 Board of Directors Meeting Packet – Click Here to download the PDF.

Ranch Vistoso Blvd. Streetlights

The VCA has met with the Oro Valley Police to discuss crime statistics and found there was no difference in crime activity between lighted and unlighted areas of the community. The board is considering costs and safety factors in replacing or removing the light fixtures. At the January 25th meeting the board will discuss turning the lights off for a few weeks as a demonstration project and will solicit membership feedback afterwards.

Entryway Monuments

Management is in the process of finalizing estimates to refurbish the entrance monuments located on RVB & Tangerine Rd and RVB & Oracle Rd based on the Parks & Landscape Committee final design plans.

Capital Projects

Irrigation – At the December board meeting, AAA Landscape was awarded the contract to repair approximately 2,100 linear feet of irrigation line along Innovation Drive between Rancho Vistoso Blvd. & Tangerine Rd. and about 2,300 linear feet on Desert Fairway Dr. between La Canada Dr. and Hidden Springs Dr. The tentative start date for the project is March 4, 2024. Notice will be emailed to members. Granite Replenish Project – At the January 25 meeting, the board will discuss proposals received from AAA Landscape, BrightView, and Complete Landscaping. The project covers granite replenishment in the following locations:

  • Common areas bordering Innovation Park Drive between Rancho Vistoso Blvd & Tangerine
  • Common areas bordering the perimeters of Bella Vista, St Andrews Ph1 & Ph2
  • Eastern corner of Innovation and Rancho Vistoso Blvd
  • Common areas tracts at Horizons & Vistoso Heights
  • Common area tracts bordering streets (W Moore Rd, Rancho Vistoso Blvd, Arrowsmith, and
  • Woodburne Ave) throughout neighborhood 7
  • Wildlife Ridge Park
  • Hohokam Park
  • Sunset Ridge Park
  • Woodshade Trail – Sunset Ridge Park to Rancho Vistoso Blvd

2024 Projects – VCA management has met with AZ Project Solution to review and plan the 2024 projects slated for this year. These include 27 Mile, Bridal Veil, Big View Ct drainage channels, granite replenishment, irrigation repairs, asphalt, concrete repairs, and tennis court repairs.

Erosion Projects

Big View Ct. Channel – The final sealed designs from WLB have been received. Copies have been forwarded to the Town of Oro Valley for review. Once we receive approval from the town, AZ Project Solution will prepare the RFP to solicit bids.

27 Mile – WLB is in the process of finalizing the design plans for the town’s approval. Once this occurs Total Maintenance Erosion Control will be able to provide an updated proposal to repair the channel. Bridal Veil – The survey has been completed and Bogardus Engineering should have a preliminary plan completed by the beginning of February 2024.

Builder Transitions

  • The Town of Oro Valley is still holding the Pulte bond for the west side of Moore Loop Road near the Valley Vista neighborhood.
  • Pulte is working with the Town of Oro Valley on the punch list items for the Valley Vista neighborhood.
  • A final inspection of Moore Loop Park was conducted with Mattamy Homes. Representatives of the Town of Oro Valley, Mattamy Homes, AAA Landscape, VCA Board, Parks and Landscape Committee, and FirstService Residential were present. The Town of Oro Valley still holds the bond for this project.

E-Statement Promotion – Congratulations to Jacqueline Kold, the winner of the E-Statement Promotion for the month of December. During the promotion there were 169 additional members that elected to sign up for E-Statements. Currently we have 29.2% of the members participating in the E-Statement platform. For more information on how to sign up for E-Statements please go to the association’s website https://ranchovistosohoa.com or contact the office either at [email protected] or call 520-354-2729.

2024 Elections – There will be three single -family seats (two 2-year terms until 2026 and one 1-year term until 2025) and one commercial seat (2-year term until 2026) available. Board Application Forms were due by 5 PM on January 12, 2024. The Nomination & Election Committee will be introducing the slate of candidates at the board meeting scheduled for January 25, 2024. There are four candidates for the single-family voting category and one candidate for the commercial category. Members attending will have an opportunity to ask the candidates questions.

Critter of the Month for February 2024

Our Critter of the Month is Sedona the Shih Tzu!

Sedona is the perfect lap dog and loves good books. She keeps her family warm during their travels all year long. ~  Photo Courtesy of Jil Oswalt Matuseski of the Overlook neighborhood.

A Friendly Reminder Regarding Wildlife

We live in the beautiful Sonoran Desert and share our neighborhoods with the wildlife that has been here long before our homes. Coyotes, bobcats, javelinas, mountain lions, rattlesnakes, gila monsters, and birds of prey can pose a danger to humans and their pets. We must be aware of our surroundings and avoid confronting these animals. Maintain your distance and do not behave in a threatening manner. 

If you encounter a rattlesnake, please call 911 immediately to have it removed. Also, do not feed or supply water to wild animals since they may become more brazen.

Tucson Bicycle Classic in OV

The Town of Oro Valley is pleased to announce the return of the Tucson Bicycle Classic to our community on Sunday, Feb. 25, from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Oro Valley race route will be around Naranja Park (810 W. Naranja Drive) and is expected to bring more than 500 professional riders.

Some street closures and traffic restrictions will be in effect to ensure the safety of both participants and spectators. Click here for a map.

Click HERE for more information and to view the results.

Vistoso Community Association Yard Sale

It’s that time again! The Semi-Annual Vistoso Community Association’s Yard Sale!
Saturday April 13th – 7AM to 2PM

This will be an advertised event. For more information call the VCA Office – 520-354-2729

OV Path Forward

The path to Oro Valley’s future starts here!

Now available! Learn about and discuss traffic, bicycle and pedestrian mobility, and public safety on OVPathForward.com

In comparison to other similarly sized towns, is OV traffic light, just right, or congested? Where are bicycle improvements needed? What should be OV’s highest priority to keep the community safe?

These are just a few of the questions the community is being asked on OVPathForward.com.  OV’s Path Forward is a 10-year plan that will reflect the community’s vision and goals. Everyone’s voice is needed to shape OV’s future.

Oro Valley celebrates 50 years of history, growth and community

ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (Jan. 12, 2024) — The Town of Oro Valley proudly announces its upcoming 50th Anniversary on April 15, 2024. The Town invites residents to join in a year-long celebration filled with exciting events and collaborations with local businesses as we reflect on half a century of history, growth and community.

From community events to historical and arts exhibits, a diverse range of activities has been planned, including a 50th Anniversary Parade on April 6 and a special community celebration on April 13. For more details and updates from the Town, please visit the OV 50th webpage.

50th Anniversary Parade April 6, 2024
Join us for a dazzling parade, Saturday, April 6, starting at 9 a.m. on Naranja Drive. The parade will head east from Ironwood Ridge High School, ending in the Oro Valley Public Library parking lot. Attendees will enjoy vibrant floats, local performers and community groups as we come together to celebrate Oro Valley’s journey over the past five decades. Interested in participating? Fill out the parade entry form or email [email protected] for more information.

50th Anniversary Community Celebration April 13, 2024
We’re also gearing up for an unforgettable community celebration, Saturday, April 13, at James D. Kriegh Park. The all-day event will begin at Noon, with a fireworks finale starting at 9:30 p.m. This free, family-friendly experience will also feature live entertainment, kids’ crafts and games, a variety of food trucks, and a delightful selection of food and drink (non-alcoholic and alcoholic) available for purchase — it’s sure to be a party you won’t want to miss!

50 Businesses for 50 Years
The Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce presents a special Shop OV campaign, highlighting 50 businesses throughout the year. Support these businesses and enter raffles for exciting prizes, including stays at the El Conquistador Tucson, tickets to Tohono Chul Gardens, and other specialty offerings from our featured local businesses. Follow the Oro Valley Chamber on Facebook and Instagram for updates or visit orovalleychamber.com.

50th Features
Delve into the heartwarming and inspiring tales that have shaped Oro Valley over the past 50 years on our 50th Features webpage. We’ll be adding more content, such as interactive timelines, videos, articles and podcasts about Oro Valley’s rich history in the coming weeks, so be sure to visit often to stay up to date on the latest! In a few short months, visitors will be able to explore several narratives of long-time residents, pioneers and newcomers, offering a glimpse into the wide tapestry of our Town’s journey.

50th Events
Stay updated with our Events Calendar to ensure you never miss a moment of the 50th Anniversary magic. Experience a diverse array of festivities throughout the year, including community events, historical and arts exhibits, and many other family-friendly activities. Join us in creating new memories that will be woven into the fabric of Oro Valley’s community for years to come.

For more information, please visit the OV 50th webpage.