Tucson's 31st Historic District 

JEFFERSON PARK IS 125 YEARS OLD! Homesteaded February 8, 1898

 March 16, 2023

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING

JPNA Meeting-March 22, 6PM

In person at Ward III or Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83074119993?pwd=ZWtpZVVzNmszVzhCUFNRSTBJcnl6UT09

Meeting ID: 830 7411 9993

Passcode: 900833

SEND LINK TO A FRIEND - They can get the E-news!   Click Here.

Wednesday was a cloudy, drizzly, day. However, intrepid Jefferson Park volunteers built a monument of a sign. Many thanks to Zach MacDonald who planned the installation, worked with Dept. of Transportation and supervised the project. Many thanks as well to Jason Butler for fabricating and delivering the sign. Steps to installation:

First, dig four holes for the posts,

24" deep with some caliche.

Henry, Liz, Steve Zach, Stuart (in the hole)

The sign gets delivered.

Colleen, Zach, Stuart

Above left: Then, attach the "break-away" legs with bolts

Stuart, Liz, Steve, Zach

Above right: Next, lift the 15' sign

Heavy lifting by

Jason, Stuart, Steve and Zach

Right: Level it in place

Jason and Zach

Very precise work--takes several rocks to get height correct and the sign level

Below: Mix the concrete

Steve, Stuart, and Zac Lacy

Concrete on the tarp, add water,

and stir by tipping back and forth!

Careful, careful...

Left to Right: Colleen Nichols, Stuart Lorch, Zac Lacy, Liz Burrola, Steve Reisgo, and Zach MacDonald (not pictured: Joan, Henry and Jason). Many thanks to these folks who got "down 'n dirty".

Jefferson Park now has a handsome new sign at the southeast corner of Grant and Euclid. (Funding: Thank you, Rainbow Collective, Inc)

Mountain Ave (from Grant to Speedway) is designated as an "inverted road". Speed tables are not allowed on inverted roads; they are designed to be urban washes and convey lots of storm water (the 100 year flood). Thus, NO SPEED TABLES FOR JP on Mountain Ave. from Grant to Speedway.

Other traffic calming devices may be possible. JP will set up a separate multi-neighborhood meeting with DTM and address other possibilities for making Mountain Avenue safer.

Based on advice from DTM, Department of Transportation and Mobility, the JPNA board recently voted to request a decrease in the speed limit on Mountain--from 30mph to 25mph. That process is moving forward, but is ultimately a Mayor and Council decision.

More info about traffic mitigation efforts: http://www.jeffersonpark.info/traffic-issues.html

 Check out the map link below. You will see that only part of Jefferson Park is qualifying. Strange as it seems! Reporting potholes seems to get the most attention. So neighbors need to report!

"Tucson citizens can send their roadway concerns to tdotconcerns@tucsonaz.gov. While this line of communication is primarily used for urgent issues like pothole fillings or obscured signs, the transportation department will be keeping a close eye on reports that express the need for further roadway improvements." (per the AZ Daily Star article March 13)

To see prioritizing map go to: https://mcusercontent.com/02d84a23740c371398dac4d51/images/38de656b-a9cf-a5a2-8f95-0dbffb968069.png

United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona’s VITA program trains hundreds of volunteers each year to provide FREE tax preparation to thousands of households throughout Arizona. Taxpayers who use our service have the opportunity to work with IRS-certified VITA volunteer tax preparers, and every return is quality reviewed for accuracy and to ensure you receive the largest refund possible! Let us ease the financial and mental burden of tax season. Visit us at a VITA tax site this tax season – we can’t wait to see you! Tax sites and online preparation begin the week of January 23rd - visit unitedwaytucson.org/vita to learn more about our program and the variety of ways you can access our services! VITA tax preparation services are available to households earning less than $73,000. AARP Foundation is a sponsor of The United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona’s 2023 VITA Program. 

Every 3rd Saturday of the month at 8:00 am, at the end of Edison at Campbell Avenue, neighbors do a quick cleanup in the parklet. It's fast with neighbors helping.  Just show up, all garbage bags and tools are supplied. You are always welcome to go when it suits your schedule. If you do pick up trash during another time, please contact Joanne Osuna at cricket16@cox.net and your time will count. We report our hours to Tucson Clean & Beautiful as part of the Adopt-a-Park Program.

(JP Contact- Joanne Osuna cricket16@cox.net )

The Sam Hughes Home and Neighborhood Tour is a much-anticipated event that showcases their one square mile neighborhood via a self-guided tour.This year's tour features eleven residences/gardens/studios, three new eateries serving complimentary samples, music and art, activities in Himmel Park and Q&A's.

The Tour is Sunday, March 26, 11am-4pm. The price is a pre-pandemic, inflation-busting $30! Ticket purchase and more information is available online: samhughes.org 

Your ticket, which will include a map and description of each venue, can be picked up on the day of the tour from 10am to 2pm at “will call” on the north side parking lot of Himmel Park on E.1st. St.

The Capstone Project proposes to build a student housing complex at the southeast corner of Speedway and Euclid. The draft plan includes 150 units and 450 beds, plus 4500 sq.ft. of retail space. 30 workforce housing units are also planned, in partnership with HUD. However, the plan proposes only 80 parking spaces, one of several concerns expressed by the attendees. Good news is that Capstone has committed to move five historic homes to lots within West University neighborhood and to renovate and eventually sell them.

(notes from meeting: J. Daniels and C.Nichols)

Plan Tucson is our city's general plan and will drive growth for the next 20 years. We are required by state law to update it every 10 years. Our goal is to conduct public outreach and get this to the general election ballot in 2025.

A general plan is a visioning document. It contains topics on growth, talking about how and where we want to grow. Plan Tucson contains goals and policies that cover a wide range of topics, including housing, water, transportation, parks, community safety, and much more. This update will result in a growth plan that reflects our community’s shared goals and diverse aspirations.

Virtual and in-person options are available.

IN-PERSON: Help us plan Tucson's future with us by registering to attend a Community Workshop. If you plan to attend in person, given space limitations, and the need to provide materials for participants, we need you to register for these events in advance. Please use the Plan Tucson website to do that.

VIRTUAL: If you are unable to attend a Community Workshop, you can still Plan With Us by taking the Phase 1 Online Survey: 

https://bit.ly/PlanTucsonPhase1Survey

 Everything is prepackaged and ready to go.For the current schedlue of pick up spots, and to sign up go to:

https://www.marketonthemove.org/market-on-the-move-schedule

For a donation of $10, you can get up to 60 pounds of fresh produce and food that you can share with your friends, families, neighbors, and the people that you know are in need of nutritional produce.

Here's how it works: You need to sign up for MOM alerts and on Fridays they send you the alert to tell you where the Market will be Saturday morning.  There also seems to be events held regularly at certain locations. MOMs are drive-thru so follow the signage. Then pop your trunk, pull forward and they'll load your vehicle.

FROM THE FOLKS AT BANNER: Another meeting to update neighborhoods has been scheduled for April 6, 2023. See the "fly friendly" zone pictured below.

CONTINUE TO REPORT by phone or on-line. 

BUMC Security: 520-694-6533

On-line reporting tool:

• https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=0tzqra86NUiycx6-incm8cqK9bZ04jtJowQZjB_IHAFUNzBTQ0RVWUpWUk5RV1I4V1VDWTVCWVRTSSQlQCN0PWcu

BANNER HELIPAD REPORTS

2022 NOV - 85 medical flights/14 reports from neighbors

2022 DEC - 91 medical flights/20 reports from neighbors

2023 JAN - 91 medical flights/16 reports from neighbors

2023 FEB - 90 medical flights/18 reports from neighbors

BANNER HELIPAD number of flights for 2021/2022 1,034 total flights

to see report in its entirety:

http://www.jeffersonpark.info/helicopters---banner.html

Donations to Plant Sale May 5,6,7 - We will come pick up your donations, clean 'em, paint 'em, and get 'em ready to be sold in the spring.

Jefferson Park spring fundraiser. Contact Laurel-Heather Milden trdswmn@cox.net or 520-343-0073, or Joan Daniels jdchama@msn.com to donate garden items.

BLESS THE WARM WEATHER

Here come the plants!

Can you smell the mint?

To date,13 tables full of succulents, cacti and other things getting ready for the sale. And that's just the beginning.

Many thanks to the 10+ folks who have donated plants and/or pots. With everyone's help this will be the biggest plant fundraiser yet.

If you have donations be sure to contact Laurel- Heather or Joan and we shall gladly accept them.

Our goal has been that this sale would be bigger and better than last year's...and it already is! We need the loan of additional, foldable tables to use. We will cover them with plastic to prevent stains. Put your name on the underside, and we will return them after the sale. Let Laurel-Heather know about plans to borrow, pick up, return, etc.

And we are excited about the new pots to paint! Big selection this year.

May 16, 2023 - Special Election

VOTERS WILL CONSIDER renewing and approving a minimal increase to the Franchise Fee. Mayor and Council approved a call for the May Special Election to approve the 2.25% fee, plus a .75% increase, a "Community Resilience Fee." The average bill for a TEP residential customer would increase by an estimated 93 cents a month. Purpose - the additional funds will be used to underground lines and support climate initiatives. The Steering Committee of your Underground Coalition considers this solution to be a good one.

Our website carries the latest updates: http://www.jeffersonpark.info/tep-138-kv-poles.html

March-April 2023

The AZ CORPORATION COMMISSION, ACC, WILL CONSIDER A TEP request for rate hike - TEP is requesting a 11.8% rate increase. Approximately $14.22 + a service fee of $2.00 would be added to the average monthly bill, resulting in an average bill increase of $16.22 for the residential user. You may want to contact the ACC to let them know what you think about this proposed rate hike.

Thursday, March 23, 10 AM: by phone

 Telephone Public Comment

 E-01933A-22-0107 - Tucson Electric Power Company

 Call: 1(888)450-5996 Passcode: 457395#

or on-line anytime:

 https://efiling.azcc.gov/online-services/utilities-public-comment-external

Be sure to use the docket # in the correct section, E-01933A-22-0107 - Tucson Electric Power Company

Some concerns:

   * Why such a large increase? Needs to be less.

   * What is TEP doing to build lower cost sustainable energy and capacity resources? They should be focusing on that, rather than building additional outdated power plants.

    * What will be done, regardless of the size of the increase, to defray the impact of any increase on low-income ratepayers?

Note: This request for a rate hike should not be confused with the Franchise Fee renewal and May Special Election. Please see the following article.

Soooo for your regular garbage bins (in the alleys) use trash bags

"so your trash won't fly!" Not so for the BLUE BINS

• Report by Phone: (520) 792-CITY (2489)
• Graffiti on bus stops can be reported to Sun Tran customer service at (520) 792-9222.

When reporting graffiti for removal or reporting graffiti that you have removed, please provide the following information:

•  Address or cross streets of the graffiti: Example: 7575 E Speedway Blvd, graffiti is on the west wall, black paint. If no specific information is provided a work order will not be generated. Graffiti removed only within City limits.

HELPING OUR SENIORS LEND A HAND

Need help or want to volunteer?

CONTACT US (520) 248-6882  coordinator@lahseniorhelp.org

or Go to https://www.lahseniorhelp.org/volunteer to volunteer.

Lend A Hand Senior Assistance, PO Box 41323, T/A 85717-1323.

HELP END DANGEROUS ILLEGAL GATHERINGS

REPORT any time of day, any number of people, if unruly.

1) Loud party calls should go to 911.

2) Additionally, if student-related, contact the UA Neighborhood Hotline to report concerns at 520-282-3649.

3) Loud music/noise calls may be reported online: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/apps/crime-reporting/

For the red tag info sheet - CLICK HERE

MONTHLY STATS:   June - 2 loud party, 0 red tag; July - 0; August - 3 loud party, 3 red tag; Sept. - 3 loud party, 1 red tag; October - 6 loud party, 2 red tag; November - 0 loud party, 0 red tag; December - 0 loud party, 0 red tag;

January 2023 - 0 loud party, 0 red tag.

PROPERTY MANAGERS TO CONTACT:

•      GOODMAN properties have a hotline - 520-512-5308 (evenings) You can use this for unruly gatherings, trash , etc. Daytime number is 520-884-3410.
•     CASA BONITA properties office # is 520-398-5738. Residents can call regarding any Casa Bonita property and their staff will take care of the problem.

(JP contact, for information: Colleen Nichols cnichols17@cox.net)

Are there orphan shopping carts that need to be picked up? 

If there are shopping carts that need to be picked up, you can now call or email the City to remove them. Call 520-791-3171 or email to ESHelp@tucsonaz.gov.

To report an encampment online, please scan the QR code on left to access the Reporting Tool page:

Or go to the Reporting Tool website:

https://reportencampments.tucsonaz.gov/  

To report an encampment by phone, please call the City of Tucson Resource Line: (520) 791-2540

Cleanup is determined by City department ownership or oversight responsibility of property in question. Cleanup will take place 72 hours after notification and posting. The City is making efforts to assist unsheltered individuals with support services and housing when feasible.

For homeless who wish to access services go to: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/hcd/homelessness-resources

Need a recommendation for a handy-person or a business? Go to http://www.jeffersonpark.info/recommended-services.html

Would you like to recommend someone to your neighbors? Let Cricket know. cricket16@cox.net, 520-798-3602 - Help us keep the list accurate- report any retired/inactive numbers to the cricket.

Many thanks to the Rainbow Collective, Inc.

Thanks to North America Powder Coating

MARK'S ACE Hardware - Campbell Avenue.

Thanks for several donations!!

Carly Quinn - tile work at Campbell Entrances

Jefferson Park is proud to support local businesses that support our neighborhood. To place an ad in our E-news, contact jdchama@msn.com. Rates start at just $30 to publish/share your business card in a newsletter or lock in all newsletters for the year for just $150. We have 12-15 editions annually that reach local residents.

See a new neighbor? Alert the representative in your area to let them know to take by a welcome packet!

Every Area Rep would appreciate help distributing doorhangers or taking Welcome Packets to new residents. Contact them via email.

Another newsletter chock full of information!

WARD VI, 520-791-4601

Steve Kozachik's newsletter:

 www.tucsonaz.gov/ward-6/news

District Five Contact Info: Adelita Grijalva

• Email: district5@pima.gov, Phone:724-8126
• Website: www.pima.gov/district5 or https://www.adelitasgrijalva.com/

Special assistant to Supervisor Grijalva: Nicholas McCullough, (520) 724-8764, Nicholas.McCullough@pima.gov 

Board of Supervisors Meetings:

www.facebook.com/pimacountyarizona/ Live meeting broadcast: http://pima.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3

Participate in the call to the public: Contact the Clerk of the Board’s Office at (520) 724-8449 Send in a written comment: email COB_mail@pima.gov