Greetings from the Board – February 2025

Greetings from the Board

You will see some “campaign signs” referring to the upcoming Annual Meeting where we will vote whether or not to keep the prohibition on overnight on street parking. Please take the time to look at our website ranchovistosohoa.com and, of course, please vote.

The Arizona legislature passed HB 2298 in 2023 and Governor Hobbs signed it into law. The new law prohibits HOA’s from enforcing no parking on public streets rules within the HOA unless they hold a vote of the members. Rancho Vistoso members will vote in March to allow or not to allow on street parking, a simple majority will determine the outcome. The developer designed the streets with no on street parking in mind and it will cause safety concerns with limited sight lines and pretty narrow streets. Just backing out of your driveway will be more difficult with vehicles blocking your view of oncoming traffic.

The no parking not only means cars, but trailers, RV’s, campers etc. Without the HOA enforcing their rules it defaults to the Town of Oro Valley parking restrictions which are “vehicles cannot be parked on public streets for more than 48 hours in one spot”. Imagine the impact on your neighborhood with vehicles parked everywhere. It could very well impact the value of your home and of course decrease the property values in all of our neighborhoods. The gated communities within Rancho Vistoso also have the right to vote on this issue, even thought their private streets are not impacted by this new law.

The voting will begin February 27th and conclude March 27th. We will send out both an electronic ballot if we have your email address and everyone will receive a paper ballot. One vote per household for residential and our commercial members, their number of votes are based on their net acreage. We are getting the word out with signs, emails, our newsletter, the Explorer and as much electronic media coverage as we can find.

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Tales from the Trails (Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve)

The Town of Oro Valley installed a new roof on the old Maintenance Building on Pebble Creek (looks much better) and they are planning to paint the wall around the property in the near future.  Some new benches have been installed along the trail and the Town Council authorized Kimley-Horn and Associates to prepare plans for a possible pond.

Matt Wood

Snapshot – February 2025

If you missed the January 30, 2025 Board of Directors meeting, here are the highlights of the Manager’s Report. The next Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for February 27, 2025.

Rancho Vistoso Blvd. Streetlights

Cascade Electric has completed removing 231 streetlights along Rancho Vistoso Blvd. and have removed the three poles in storage at AAA Landscaping yard. This project is now completed. The board will be revisiting the Cascade Electric proposal to install/repair the lighting for the Las Colinas, Sunset Ridge and Vistoso Highlands monuments that were tied into the streetlighting system. The conveyance agreement for the two streetlights along RVB near Honeybee Park is still under review by Town of Oro Valley legal counsel.

Capital Projects
The following Capital Projects have been completed during fiscal year 2024:

• Refurbish Entryway Monuments at RVB & Tangerine – $123,282
• Tennis Court Resurface Project – $22,900
• Granite Installation – $662,377
• Irrigation Repairs on Desert Fairway & Innovation Park Dr – $75,749
• Refurbish Monument Signage at RVR & Tangerine, RVB & Oracle and RVB & Vistoso Highlands Dr. – $5,290
• Common area concrete repairs – $18,737
• Replenish Playground wood fiber at Hohokam, Somerset and Sunset Ridge Parks – $15,327
• Playground Panels for Hohokam Park – $5,850
• Tennis court windscreens and bench shades – $6,675
• Drinking Fountains for Hohokam and Wildlife Ridge Parks – $12,000
• New windscreens & bench shades for Hohokam Park Tennis Courts – $6,675
  Drinking Fountains – New drinking fountains ($12,000) for Hohokam and Wildlife Ridge Parks are expected to be installed next month.

Drainage Projects

• 27 Mile – The board will be reviewing three proposals for this project at the January 30, 2025, General Session meeting.
• Big View Ct. Channel – Currently bids are being solicited to address drainage erosion for this location. We anticipate receiving estimates by the beginning of 2025 February.
• Bridal Veil – This project is currently on hold until estimates are received and reviewed by the board for 27 Mile and Big View Ct. projects.

2025 Capital Projects

The following capital projects have been slated and budgeted for 2025:

• RVB streetlight removal – This project has been completed.
• Irrigation repairs along Desert Fairways and Innovation Park Dr.
• Drainage repairs – 27 Mile and Big View Ct.
• Wall, restrooms, ramadas painting
• Repair/Replace playground equipment at Somerset Canyon Park
• Roof Tile Renovation for Wildlife Ridge, Hohokam Parks and Bell Tower
• Asphalt replacement for parking pad located in Mirabella near 27 Mile
• Drinking water fountain replacement

Builder Transitions
On December 24, 2024, AAA Landscape completed the irrigation transition at Moore Loop Park which Mattamy Homes agreed and has covered the cost of this project.

2025 Board Candidates
There are three single-family positions and one other than single family position open on the board. The candidates will be introduced and will have an opportunity to speak at the January 30, 2025, General Session meeting. The annual meeting is scheduled for March 27, 2025.

Parking Enforcement on Public Roadways
A ballot will be included in the annual meeting mailing for members to cast their vote to authorize the association to continue to enforce street parking on public streets. This requirement was enacted through AZ House Bill 2298 that amended Arizona Revised Statute 33-1818. The members will be given an opportunity during the annual meeting to cast their vote. A “YES” vote is to keep the public roadways safe within the Rancho Vistoso community. Many of the roads were not designed for overnight parking.

2025 Events
The board will be setting the yard sale and fall event dates for 2025 at the January 30th meeting.

E-Statement Promotion
Congratulations to our November and December winners of a $100 Amazon gift cards, Herbert Phillips and Dr. Clare Johnson. We have 35.5% member participation 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 askvca@ranchovistosohoa.com or call 520-354-2729.

Landscape Maintenance Proposals
VCA’s contract with AAA Landscape expires December 31, 2025. The association is currently out to bid, and proposals will be reviewed by the Parks & Landscape Committee and the Board in February.

Wildlife Ridge Park Vandalism
The park restroom doors and table between the volleyball and basketball courts were found with graffiti on them along with the volleyball net being cut down on January 18th. This incident has been reported to the OVPD.

Did You Know – February 2025

Interesting facts about Arizona:

Arizona has the largest human-made lake in the country
Being in the desert, Arizona doesn’t have many natural lakes. While there’s certainly water in the territory, construction was done to create more consistent water supplies.

Lake Mead is an example of this construction. It’s found behind the Hoover Dam, which straddles the Nevada and Arizona state lines. It’s also the largest human-made lake in the USA.

You can’t cut down the cacti in Arizona
Arizona may be full of cacti, but that doesn’t mean you can do anything to change or move them. If you want to cut down a cactus in the state, you need to get a permit first.

If you cut down any cactus, particularly the rare and prized Saguaro cactus, you’ll risk up to 25 years in prison and a hefty fine. Even if you own the land the cactus is growing on, you need permission before you pull out the saw.

Arizona has an official state neckwear
If you go to Arizona, you’ll likely run into a lot of Western-inspired clothing. One of the most popular items in this clothing style has even become the official Arizona state neckwear.

The bola tie (also called the bolo tie) is traditionally a leather cord with metal attached to the ends. The bola tie is then fastened around the neck with a metal clip. You’ll find them in most stores that sell clothing and souvenir items.

You might see Gila monsters in Arizona
Gila monsters might seem like they belong in a storybook, but they’re real lizards you might find in the AZ desert. They like to hang out in rocky dugouts on the desert slopes.

While the Gila monster is venomous, you don’t have to worry much. Sightings are pretty rare, especially if you’re careful. They’re also mostly found in the western and southern parts of the state.