Ward 5 Newsletter

http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/files/ward5/July_2013_Newsletter.pdf

May 3 Campaign Fund Raiser

AFSCME Local 449 will be hosting a fundraiser for the Fimbres for Council campaign, Friday, May 3, 5:30 to 7 PM. This event will be held at the IBEW Hall, located at 750 South Tucson Boulevard. I hope you see you all there. Peace.

Ward 5 Newsletter

http://www.scribd.com/doc/138753881/Councilmember-Richard-Fimbres-Ward-5-April-2013-Newsletter

City Manager's Message

City employees, Staff has recently submitted the recommended City Budget for FY2014 to Mayor and Council for their consideration and direction. This document provides the framework for our organizational work plan and it is important that all City employees be provided with an understanding of where our organization stands financially for the present and for the future. The budget that was submitted was focused on maintaining service levels although the costs for providing services are increasing. It is my observation that we have done our best to maximize efficiencies and the credit goes to the employees of this organization who have demonstrated their unwavering commitment to bring quality service to our community. The Mayor and Council in the course of the review of the budget gave direction to provide a framework that would articulate short and long term strategies that would infuse investment to our employees. With that direction the following was approved by the Mayor and Council to go forward. Compensation - On April 23, Mayor and Council made the following decisions regarding compensation. City staff has been directed to develop the platform with all stakeholders a merit pay system for review and consideration by Mayor and Council. Secondly, staff was directed to make recommendations within 30 days on inequities within the current system of compensation for consideration by Mayor and Council. Finally, Mayor and Council have approved the implementation of a 55 cent pay raise for all employees to go into effect no later than January 1, 2014. Pension - On March 27, Mayor and Council adopted the recommendation to change the variable rate of member contribution requirements for the Tucson Supplemental Retirement System (TSRS). The variable rate for employees hired between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2011 will be 6.715% and for employees hired after July 1, 2011 the rate will be 5.16% (formerly 13.976% for FY2013). The rate change will take effect on July 1, 2013. Medical Insurance Benefits - The City has awarded a multi-year contract for a new medical, pharmaceutical, and employee assistance program for active and retired employees. The result is a more cost effective contract for the City with no increase in premiums to either program participants or the City. While the recommended budget is in balance and the economy is slowly improving, we still have many challenges ahead. The $15 million dollar shortfall in the FY2014 budget was covered primarily by one-time revenue resources, which is not sustainable moving forward. However, I am confident that we as a community can continue to make it observable to all that the city of Tucson is a great place to live, work, recreate and invest in and the future is bright with economic development. We must understand there are many issues that need to be addressed in future budgets. Therefore, we must begin work now to address these and other long-term issues so that we can continue to provide exemplary service to the citizens of our community, and I strongly believe this budget provides that foundation. You can read the budget in its entirety at: http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/budget And you can review the PowerPoint presentation made to Mayor and Council at: http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/files/budget/4_16_13_Budget_Powerpoint.pdf Thank you, Richard Miranda City Manager

Thank you letter

I want to thank Councilman Fimbres and his staff at Ward Five. Without their powerful help it would be hard if not impossible for our neighborhood leaders and volunteers to be heard and to get the contacts that we need to get the job done. We want so hard to be proud of our neighborhoods here in Tucson. And I see that many neighborhoods are getting together to have a larger voice to the city council with the help of our wards like Ward Five. Tim Bacchus, Cherry Avenue Neighborhood Association

Pavement Preservation Update

2013 PAVEMENT PRESERVATION PROGRAM MILLING AND PAVING Southern Arizona Paving, under contract with the City of Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT), has scheduled two more milling (removing asphalt) and repaving projects to the 2013 Pavement Preservation Program. The pre-lowering and raising of utility manhole covers will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Milling and repaving operations will take place from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Friday at the following locations: On Wednesday, April 3, 2013, crews will begin milling and repaving Golf Links Road from Craycroft Road to Wilmot Road. The anticipated completion date is Monday, April 22, 2013. On Tuesday, April 23, 2013, crews will begin milling and repaving Alvernon Way from 22nd Street to 29th Street. The anticipated completion date is Friday, May 17, 2013. During this work, at least two lanes of travel will be maintained at all times. Business and residential access will be maintained at all times during the project. The traveling public can expect delays when driving in the work area. Please obey all traffic control signs and watch for construction personnel and equipment in the work area. The pavement improvement project is part of the Fiscal Year 2013 Mayor and Council approved Pavement Preservation Program, a one-year, $20 million street rehabilitation program to resurface arterial, collector and residential streets. The funding was made available by restructuring the Fiscal Year 2013 Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF) debt, the increase of HURF revenue and General Fund money. ### 2013 PAVEMENT PRESERVATION PROGRAM CRACK SEAL AND PATCHING On Monday, April 8, 2013, Granite Construction Co., under contract with the City of Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT), will begin crack sealing and patching at the following locations: Escalante Road, Kolb Road to Pantano Road Harrison Road, Magdalena Road to Golf Links Road 22nd Street and Harrison Road intersection 29th Street and Harrison Road intersection Old Spanish Trail and Harrison Road intersection Pantano Road, Research Loop to Escalante Road Tucson Boulevard, Irvington Road to Valencia Road This work consists of crack sealing and patching where needed, prior to the upcoming application of pavement microsurfacing. Crews will be working 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Monday through Friday. The estimated completion date for this work is Monday, April 22, 2013. Business and residential access will be maintained at all times during the project. The traveling public can expect delays when driving in the work area. Please obey all traffic control signs and watch for construction personnel and equipment in the work area. The pavement improvement project is part of the Fiscal Year 2013 Mayor and Council approved Pavement Preservation Program, a one-year, $20 million street rehabilitation program to resurface arterial, collector and residential streets. The funding was made available by restructuring the Fiscal Year 2013 Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF) debt, the increase of HURF revenue and General Fund money. ### 2013 PAVEMENT PRESERVATION PROGRAM CRACK SEAL AND PATCHING On Tuesday, April 9, 2013, Tucson Asphalt Contractors, Inc., under contract with the City of Tucson Department of Transportation (TDOT), will begin crack sealing and patching at the following locations: Grant Road, Silverbell Road to Forbes Road Speedway Boulevard, Rosemont Boulevard to Wilmot Road Stone Avenue, Prince Road to Fort Lowell Road Stone Avenue, Broadway to 18th Street Swan Road, Rillito River to Grant Road Swan Road, Speedway to Golf Links Road This work consists of crack sealing and patching where needed, prior to the upcoming application of pavement microsurfacing. Crews will be working 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The estimated completion date for this work is Friday, May 10, 2013. Business and residential access will be maintained at all times during the project. The traveling public can expect delays when driving in the work area. Please obey all traffic control signs and watch for construction personnel and equipment in the work area. The pavement improvement project is part of the Fiscal Year 2013 Mayor and Council approved Pavement Preservation Program, a one-year, $20 million street rehabilitation program to resurface arterial, collector and residential streets. The funding was made available by restructuring the Fiscal Year 2013 Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF) debt, the increase of HURF revenue and General Fund money.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT FY 14 BUDGET

The Mayor and Council have begun their discussions about the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2014. This budget would go into effect, July 1 of this year and go until June 30, 2014. Prior to these discussions, Kelly Gottschalk, the City’s Chief Financial Officer and Marie Nemerguth, the City’s Budget Director, met with the respective Council offices and Mayor’s office. During the most recent Mayor and Council meetings, City staff has updated the Mayor and Council on projected revenues, proposals to deal with the initially projected deficit of $15 million dollars and some financial statements from various City departments. Since becoming your Councilmember, sworn in on December 7, 2009, this is the fifth budget deficit that has had to be dealt with. On December 15, 2009, the Mayor and Council were informed that there was a shortfall of $33.5 million for that current Fiscal Year (FY 2010). A few months later, it was a $44.5 million dollar budget deficit for FY 2011, a $55 million dollar deficit for FY 2012 and a $20 million dollar deficit for this past fiscal year, FY 2013. At the April 9th Mayor and Council meeting, further presentations will continue on the FY 2014 Budget. Here is the schedule for the Mayor and Council consideration of the FY 2014 Budget (subject to revision). On April 16th, during the Mayor and Council meeting during the Study Session, the City Manager will formally submit his recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2014 and preliminary discussions will begin by the Mayor and Council. Further discussions will continue at the April 23rd Study Session of the Mayor and Council meeting regarding the Recommended Fiscal Year 2014 Budget submitted by the City Manager. During the Regular Agenda meeting on April 23rd, a public hearing will take place on the proposed budget. Discussions will continue about the proposed budget at the May 7th, Mayor and Council Study Session meeting and a vote on an adoption of a tentative budget for FY 2014 will take place during the Regular Agenda meeting. On May 21st, during a Special Mayor and Council meeting, a vote on the final adoption of a budget for FY 2014 will take place. This will happen in the evening when the Regular Agenda meeting takes place. The Mayor and Council meets at 255 West Alameda, in City Hall, at the Council Chambers. For more information, please call the City Clerk’s Office, 791-4213.