Marana looking for volunteers for Board of Adjustment

The Town of Marana is seeking four qualified citizens for open positions on the Board of Adjustment with terms beginning  March 1, 2018 and expiring February 28, 2022 .

The Marana Board of Adjustment is a 7-member quasi-judicial body of citizens whose main functions are (1) to hear and decide citizen appeals from the Zoning Administrator's interpretations of the Marana zoning regulations; and (2) to consider citizen requests for variances from Marana zoning regulations.

Applicants must be Marana residents.

Scheduled meetings are at 2:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month in the Council Chambers, or as needed.

The deadline to submit an application is February 1, 2018.

All applications will remain active for one year from the date of receipt. 

Applications are available at http://www.maranaaz.gov/boards-commissions and can be submitted online.  Call 382-1960 or 382-2655  for more information.

Planning Commission to hold on-site meeting

The of the Marana Planning Commission will hold an on-site meeting that is open to the general public to discuss the consideration for the development of the Abrazo micro-hospital.

The Commission will meet on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, at or after 12:30 PM at the northwest corner of Cortaro Road and Cerius Stravenue in the I-Hop parking lot.

The public is welcome at the meeting and are encouraged to give their opinions on the project. Action may be taken by the commission on this item or any other items on the agenda. Revisions to the agenda can occur up to 24 hours prior to the meeting. Any revision can be found at www.maranaaz.gov on the Town Clerk page under Agendas, Minutes and Recent Actions.

Egg Nog Jog 2018 results, photos, and video

Nearly 300 people rang in the New Year by participating in the Town of Marana’s Egg Nog Jog. The annual road race added a new distance, featuring both 5K and 10K races.

There were some serious runners taking part, as well as some people who just wanted a fitness based start to the year. Some dressed up to celebrate, while others brought their four-legged friends to take part. Some ran, some walked, some did something in between. There were plenty of other activities for both the runners and their well-wishers, including the ever-popular fun photo booth.

The race started at 9:18 a.m. with a burst of confetti to keep the festive atmosphere going.

Ina Road Update: Jan 8

Everyday more progress is being done on the Ina Interchange Project. Last month eastbound traffic was moved from the old roadway to the new surface and that paved the way for the old roadway to be dismantled.

Last week crews finished demolishing the old bridge at Ina Road. In its previous incarnation I-10 travelled over Ina Road. Now, Ina Road will travel over I-10 and the Union Pacific Rail Road, making it safer as and faster. It is similar to the project at Prince Road.

With the old bridge down, the new bridge can be completed. The bulk of the bridge on the west side of the freeway is complete, and eastbound traffic travels under the structure.

Another milestone in the project will be met by the end of January as westbound traffic will move to the new eastbound pavement. This will allow three lanes in both directions until the project is complete. Once the westbound traffic is moved the bridge and new westbound pavement can be completed.

When the work is complete in early 2019, I-10 will have four lanes in each direction, Ina Road will be two lanes in each direction and there will be two bridges over the Santa Cruz River west of I-10, each carrying two lanes of traffic.

ADOT is overseeing the $128 million project, which is funded by the Federal Highway Administration, the Pima Association of Governments and the Regional Transportation Authority. The town of Marana is contributing $7.9 million toward the cost of the new Ina Road bridges over the Santa Cruz River.

For more information on the project, visit azdot.gov/InaTI.

Town accepting applications for Marana Citizens' Forum

The Marana Citizens’ Forum (Forum) brings residents, business owners and community partners together to study and address multidisciplinary issues facing the Town.   Outcomes and recommendations are presented to the Town Council.

The Forum meets for two sessions each calendar year.  Each session consists of six 1 ½ hour meetings, held on Thursdays in the Conference Center at the Marana Municipal Complex beginning at 5:30 p.m.  The next session will begin February 15, 2018 and conclude April 17th. 

All applications will remain active for one year from the date of receipt. 

Applications are available at http://www.maranaaz.gov/marana-forum

under Community/Marana Citizens’ Forum.  Applications can be submitted online.  Call 382-1960 for additional information.

Marana, a great place for New Year's Resolutions

Marana Interim Town Manager Jamsheed Mehta provided a Manager's Message for the latest issue of the Marana News:

A New Year is almost upon us, and with the holidays in the rearview mirror many of us will start making our New Year’s Resolutions. Some dream big by planning major life changes, while others keep their goals modest with just little life tweak here or there.

Whether your goals have to do with fitness, learning a new skill, or broadening your horizons, there is no better time to jump start your New Year’s resolutions than right now.

Marana Parks and Recreation programs are a great way to fulfill new goals. What better way to tackle those resolutions than to spring into the new year? Run, walk or jog into 2018 at the “11th Annual Egg Nog Jog”. Kickoff your fitness resolution, or have fun with family and friends at this popular event on New Year’s Day beginning at 9:18 a.m. 

This sanctioned 5K route and new 10K option begins at Continental Reserve Park and loops through the beautiful Reserve neighborhood. The race is non-competitive, but timing chips will be available on race day. Enjoy egg nog and fun raffle prizes at the finish line.

Make sure to show some 2018 spirit and you might win big. Break out those funny hats, light-up glasses, or matching shirts, because the best show of spirit will win a fun bonus prize.

 Not sure you can make it on New Year’s Day? Fear not, the Town of Marana will have another race to celebrate Mother’s Day on Saturday, May 12.

While there is no better way to get that jump start on your 2018 physical fitness endeavors, Marana residents can go “Full Steam Into Spring” through a wide variety of activities in the Prks and Recreation spring program. There is a little bit of everything for everyone.

In February, the Parks and Recreation Departments of both Marana and Oro Valley will team up for the “MOVE Across 2 Ranges – Hike Challenge”. This event is an awesome way to explore nature. Hit the trails and experience the challenge and beauty of Southern Arizona’s Tortolita and Catalina Mountains in one day. Trail run, hike, or stroll through this fun event. Hikes are as short as six miles, and as long as 21.5 miles for those with unreal endurance.

Our monthly guided hikes, horseback rides, and mountain bike rides of the Tortolita Mountain Trails continue. These popular guided treks are fantastic ways to view the scenic beauty that Marana offers.

Want something less strenuous? “Camping under the Stars” returns in April. Take the family camping at the Ora Mae Harn District Park. Sleep under the stars without having to leave town

If sports are more your thing, then Marana offers plenty of youth and adult sports leagues and lessons. For the kids, there are golf and tennis lessons and soccer leagues. For adults, there are softball leagues, open gyms for volleyball and basketball, and adult tennis lessons.

All ages can learn self-defense from “Steve Berry’s Monthly Martial Arts Academy”.

If your goals are less athletic and more academic, there is plenty to do in the Town to tackle those mental and emotional resolutions.

New parents can enjoy the “Mini Me Parent/Tot” classes, while DIY-enthusiasts really enjoy the “Make & Take” craft classes. Have a dog? You will have the best behaved pooch on the block after you take our “Ruff House: Dog Obedience Classes”.

Maybe you want to take up a new hobby? We can accommodate that. We are partnering with Pima Community College on a variety of classes from poker strategy to beginning guitar, floral design, and photography. There are classes on retirement planning, BBQ cooking, and rock and roll.

Whatever your resolution might be, the Town of Marana’s Parks and Recreation Department can help you achieve those goals. From getting fit to getting outside or to just learning a skill, there is plenty to do in Marana.

Learn more about Marana’s Park and Rec programs at http://www.maranaaz.gov/recreation

Town-wide, post-holiday clean-up

The holidays are a busy time in Marana. With all of the hustle and bustle from holiday shopping, it can leave a bit of a mess. Now that the holiday shopping season has concluded, it is time to take to the streets and clean things up. 

This week the Town’s Street Department will be conducting a town-wide clean-up of business areas due to the heavy traffic from the holidays.

The plan is  to do street sweeping as needed. Crews will clean streets that were most heavily impacted from additional holiday shopping traffic. In addition, Town crews will undertake trash and debris clean-up of business areas. 

The final portion of the Town-wide clean-up will be to address any Town right-a-way hazards.

Marana Water hosts Holiday Season grease collection and recycling

Marana Water is doing their part to help “save our sewers” by offering a Holiday grease collection. From now through Tuesday, January 2 the Marana Operations Yard at 12775 N. Sanders Road, the Town of Marana and Grecycle will collect cooking grease.

Pouring grease down the drain can cause a variety of problems to the pipes beneath your home and in the sanitary sewage system. Over time, grease buildup can obstruct pipes, reduce sewage flow, and act as a magnet for other debris. Eventually this buildup can clog pipes enough to cause a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO). An SSO is the backup of raw sewage into the street, the environment, or even into your home or other buildings through sinks, tubs, showers, and toilets.

Put your grease in an container and take it to the Sanders Road drop-off site, or place grease in a container and toss it in the trash.

The collected grease will be recycled into biodiesel, which is a cleaner burning fuel than regular diesel.

Donated toys allow police to bond with community

The Marana Police Department uses stuffed animals officers to give to children during emergency situations, but thanks to a generous donation, found themselves with more than they knew what to do with. 

PetSmart donated hundreds of stuffed animals for Marana police officers to utilize. Giving them to children during emergency situations was a primary use, they have also been useful in reaching out to the public as part of the MPD’s community policing.

Marana PD officers at the Marana Holiday Festival handed out a number to children at the event, giving officers a great opportunity to interact with young people in the community. Here’s the story behind the stuffed animals!

“It is a great way for our officers and the children of Marana to get to know each other,” said Officer David Danielson Community Resource Unit. “We think it is very important for officers and the community to get to know each other and build up a level of trust.”

The Chance, Lucky and Stanley stuffed animals have been placed in first responder vehicles and will be handed out at police sponsored events. They are also available for purchase at PetSmart now through December 24 for $5 each.

PetSmart will donate 10 percent of the sales from its Holiday Philanthropic Collection to PetSmart Charities and PetSmart Charities of Canada, the largest funders of animal welfare in North America, to help pets in need across the U.S. and Canada.

Marana PD has received hundreds of stuffed animals and expects to receive hundreds more as the holiday season approaches. The next time you see a Marana PD officer out and about, have your kids ask for a stuffed animal!

Marana In The Media: Sklar Is Living The Dream And Making History

Marana Town Magistrate Laine Sklar was recently profiled by Chronicle of the Horse about her love of dressage (as well as adopting two miniature donkeys). 

“My mantra is I’m living the dream,” said Laine Sklar. “My horse in my backyard.”

In early October, Sklar moved her dressage horse, Paladin SF, or “PJ,” home and acquired two rescued miniature donkeys, Tanner and Amore, to keep the 10-year-old Arabian/Trakehner (Aul Magic—Padua Go) company. Not every upper level dressage horse can claim best friends of the long-eared persuasion, but PJ gets jealous when the donkeys pay more attention to her than they do him.

“What amazing little creatures,” Sklar said of the donkeys. “I had no experience with donkeys before I got them, you read about them and how they are such soulful animals, and you are like ‘whatever.’”

But she said, the billing is accurate, and they really are quite soulful.

Sklar’s animals and riding are respite from a fulfilling but stressful job as the town magistrate of Marana, Ariz. Sklar is the sole judge for the Marana Municipal Court, and she deals with issues such as criminal misdemeanors, civil traffic violations, injunctions against harassment and orders of protection.

People don’t think of misdemeanors as a big deal, but Sklar notes they have a big impact on their lives.

Injunctions against harassment and orders of protection are often a result of felonious criminal behaviors, such as stalking and assault. “You certainly hear some horrendous factual situations,” she said.

Sklar laughingly calls herself a “typical dressage person” in that she is a self-described perfectionist and control freak. She graduated college in only three years, then went to law school, graduating from the University of Arizona in 2003. By 2006 she was Marana’s assistant town attorney, then later senior assistant town attorney, supervising the Marana’s Prosecutor’s Office. In the fall of 2015, the Town Council appointed her magistrate, the first female to hold the position in Marana’s history.

Read the rest of the story at Chronicles of the Horse

MPD Focus On: Frauds

Although one has to be aware of frauds and schemes all year round, they really ramp up around the holidays. It is a time many of us become generous with our charitable contributions, but the Marana Police Department wants to make sure you are giving your hard earned money to a worthwhile charity and not a con artist. 

As part of their Focus campaign, MPD is giving some tips on how to avoid frauds. 

Marana News: Town discusses new public art policy

This story originally appeared in the Marana News

The Marana Citizens’ Forum recently proposed a Public Art Policy Development to the town council that could enhance Marana’s sense of place, beauty, tourism and economy. 

“Public art, when done correctly and tastefully, improves the beauty of any given area and adds an element of sophistication and culture,” said forum delegate Kathy Officer to the council. “Public art enhances public spaces and makes them more enjoyable.”

The Marana Citizens’ Forum spends several months, twice a year, deliberating over a topic of their choice that will better the town. 

The idea is that art pieces would help build a sense of place in specific parts of town. For example, a sculpture downtown would represent the town’s center, and a work of art could enhance the Ina Road Interchange once it’s finished.

Officer said, for example, an addition that’s akin to the entryway to Dove Mountain could go in the entrance to Tangerine Sky Community Park.

“With art showcased in different areas of the town, we can address the individual identities of the town and showcase their beauty,” Officer said.

Read the full story at the Marana News

Marana welcomes latest entertainment attraction

On Friday, December 15 a new business opens in the Town of Marana, and with it the addition of at least 350 jobs to the Marana area.

Topgolf Tucson-Marana is the latest entertainment attraction to open in the Town of Marana, and is expected to host over several hundred thousand visitors in its first year and generate over $215 million in revenues over the next 10 years.  As the first of its kind in Southern Arizona, it is an example of companies finding Marana a great place to do business.

“Topgolf will create 350 jobs and host over 300,000 visitors in its first year alone," said Marana Economic Development Director Curt Woody. "The $215 million in revenues within the first ten years and an economic impact that far exceeds this figure is a welcomed amenity that will add to Marana’s and the surrounding region’s economic health.”

As Marana continues to grow, businesses like Topgolf and Tucson Premium Outlets at Marana Center complemented by hospitality options like the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain and the upcoming Hampton Inn are exactly the types of modern amenities and attractions that the Town is trying to attract, with the Premium Outlets and the Ritz-Carlton attracting people from all over the region, as well as internationally.

“It’s is a multi-entertainment venue designed to attract the avid and non-golfer alike,” Woody said. 

Topgolf bills themselves as a golf entertainment complex, full-service bar, and event venue, but the 53,000-square foot, three-level facility with 72 bays for hitting golf balls into the 215-yard outfield is not your normal driving range.

Golf balls contain microchips to track accuracy and distance, while also awarding points for hitting a variety of targets in the outfield. There are seven different point-scoring games that anyone can enjoy. While the golf enthusiast will certainly enjoy Topgolf, anyone can have fun whether they drive like the pros or have never held a golf club .

There are also over 250 high-definition televisions, a full-service restaurant with a scratch kitchen making all the food fresh, and bars on each floor. There are also private event spaces, pool tables, shuffleboard, and more. 

The Marana location at 4050 W. Costco Pl, is the 38th Topgolf location worldwide and the third in the state of Arizona.

Spotlight on Schools: Marana Cares Mobile provides Winter Break meals

For many students, the meals they eat at school are the only healthy food they get, so when school is not in session during holidays, a healthy meal may be hard to come by. The Marana Unified School District’s Marana Cares Mobile hopes to rectify that problem.

Marana Cares Mobile offers FREE nutritious and delicious meals in an air conditioned mobile facility with interior and exterior serving areas. Nutrition and health are critical to a child's ability to learn and be successful. Marana Cares Mobile meets these critical needs during school breaks and summer months so students are better prepared to return to school ready to learn. 

"Nutrition and health are critical to a child's ability to learn," said MUSD Superintendent Dr. Doug Wilson.

Handicap accessible, the mobile unit offers a fun dining experience, with Wi-fi, Chromebooks and literacy encouragement, for children. These services are brought to our community through private donations, corporate sponsorship, and charitable foundations. 

Marana Cares Mobile travels to residential areas with a high density of children who traditionally receive meal benefits during the school year.

Marana Cares Mobile will set up at two locations during Winter Break. From Tuesday, Dec. 26 through Friday, December 29 and Tuesday, January 1 through Friday, January 5th the mobile unit will be at the Southeast corner of Sandario Road and Anthony Road (next to Marana Congregation of Jehovah’s Witness Church) from 11:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. and then from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. it will be at 16560 W. El Tiro Road (El Tiro Road and Anway Road, at Marana Domestic Water).

Follow #MCM on Facebook for updates and daily menus at www.facebook.com/MaranaCaresMobile/.

Marana Communications Manager named Top 40 Under 40

Town of Marana Communications Manager Vickie Hathaway received the 40 Under 40 Award given by the Arizona Daily Star and the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The award recognizes forty young professionals under the age of forty who are influential in the community through their professional and philanthropic contributions and leadership. 

“I’m very honored,” said Hathaway. “To be included with so many incredible people is humbling, and I am inspired by all the accomplishments.”

Passionate about effective communication and compelling storytelling, she pursued projects that enhanced the Town’s communication program. Those projects include incorporating photography and videography into the Town’s brand, restructuring the town’s website MaranaAZ.gov, creating the Marana Newsroom, and establishing the Communications Division of the Town Manager’s Office to oversee public relations, brand management, and events.

“On numerous occasions I’ve sought out Ms. Hathaway for guidance related to branding, community outreach and effective communication, and I’ve always been impressed with the big picture approach she takes with everything she does,” said Marana Police Department Chief of Police. “She is truly a great asset to the Town of Marana.”   

Hathaway has also worked to create positive experiences and memories for individuals and families by restructuring the Town’s signature events program through the use of working relationships with businesses and non-profits from throughout the community. Marana events now collectively draw over thirty-thousand people to the community every year.

“She believes in Marana and what we are doing and works so hard to make sure every detail is thought through,” said Marana Mayor Ed Honea. 

She and her team have received numerous awards for their work, including national recognition for the Town of Marana’s community branding campaign, website design, and citizen outreach.

 “I feel this is also great recognition for the Town of Marana and the great projects my team and I have been able to pursue for the community,” Hathaway said.

Hathaway was raised in southern Arizona and is passionate about public service. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Administration & Public Policy in 2008 and her Master Degree in Public Administration in 2011 from the University of Arizona. She began her local government career as a Management Assistant in 2013 and then Assistant to the Town Manager in 2014 before becoming Communications Manager in 2016.

Ina Road Update: Traffic changes

Drivers heading from northwest Pima County toward downtown Tucson will start using new eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 at Ina Road this weekend.

Beginning the evening of Saturday, Dec. 16, Arizona Department of Transportation crews will begin moving eastbound traffic to the new I-10 lanes as part of a two-year project to improve both I-10 and Ina Road. The work is expected to be complete the morning of Sunday, Dec. 17.

Also on Sunday, about one mile west of the freeway, Ina Road traffic will switch to a new bridge over the Santa Cruz River. This bridge will carry one lane of traffic in each direction while the old bridge is removed and a second new bridge is built in its place.

The I-10/Ina Road interchange project, which remains on schedule approaching the halfway point, will add a lane in each direction to both I-10 and Ina Road and includes a bridge to carry Ina Road traffic over I-10 and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. The improvements will allow traffic to move more smoothly through the area while enhancing safety.

In mid- to late January, westbound I-10 traffic also will switch to the new eastbound pavement, with a concrete barrier separating three lanes of traffic in each direction.

When the work is complete in early 2019, I-10 will have four lanes in each direction, Ina Road will be two lanes in each direction and there will be two bridges over the Santa Cruz River west of I-10, each carrying two lanes of traffic.

ADOT is overseeing the $128 million project, which is funded by the Federal Highway Administration, the Pima Association of Governments and the Regional Transportation Authority. The town of Marana is contributing $7.9 million toward the cost of the new Ina Road bridges over the Santa Cruz River.

For more information on the project, visit azdot.gov/InaTI.

Marana Police Department hosting volunteer info meeting

The Marana Police Department is looking for some energetic, community giving, hardworking, fun individuals to become Marana Police Volunteers in their patrol assignment.

The Marana Police Volunteers will be having an open house out at the Highlands at Dove Mountain located at 4949 W. Heritage Club Blvd this Wednesday, December 13th from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm to talk to anyone who is interested in joining the program.

MPD will have volunteers from our patrol side as well as our administrative side there for questions.

The Marana Police Department encourages and provides an opportunity for citizens to volunteer in different areas within the police department.

The Mission of the Marana Police Volunteers program is to support and expand the services that the Marana Police Department provides to its citizens of the Marana Community. Currently there are approximately 50 volunteers involved in several areas within the Police Department.

In addition to the patrol assignment that the meeting covers, Marana Police volunteers generously give their time in many areas, including helping with traffic control, computer and data entry, fingerprinting, administrative duties and more.

The citizens patrol acts as the eyes and ears for the Police Department and the community, helping out in both residential and business areas.

The time given by their volunteers allows Marana Police Officers and staff to devote their time to the work they are trained to do. The volunteer program is always looking for new candidates who are looking to match their skill to their programs and current volunteer opportunities.

Marana named 9th safest city in Arizona

The Town of Marana was named one of the top-10 safest cities in Arizona by SafeHome.org, ranking 9th overall of cities with a population of at least 38,000.

Additionally, Town of Marana was rated as the second safest city in Southern Arizona and third safest small city with a population under 50,000.

Marana had a Safety Score of 80.68. The top score in the state was 86.71, while the lowest was 50.74. The higher the Safety Score, the safer data shows the city to be.

SafeHome.org looks at several different factors when assigning a Safety Score to a city, including the FBI’s latest report of how many and what types of crimes occurred in each city over a single year, the city’s crime trends, and the number of law enforcement officers compared to the population. Cities showing a decline in crime are given a higher Safety Score.

Demographic metrics that are commonly correlated to crime have a small impact on SafeHome.org’s Safety Score. These metrics include population density and trends, unemployment rate, median income, and education level.

Safe Home is an Organization dedicated to helping people create safer living environments for their families.

“Whether that’s reading through one of our research reports, understanding why your city was ranked as one of the safest (or most dangerous) or just simply looking for a new home security system, tour goal is to drive awareness through research, data analysis and education,” they state on their website.

Full listing of the top-25 safest cities in Arizona.

Marana hosts pesticide safety training

On Thursday, December 7, Marana Parks and Recreation hosted a special all-day training at the Recreation Community Center for Herbicide/Pesticide Application. 

The training was provided by the Arizona Department of Agriculture, Office of Pesticide Management. There are 65 maintenance professionals from throughout Southern Arizona participating in this specialized training. 
 
"We are placing a major emphasis on staff training and are looking at opportunities to host various trainings at our facilities," said Marana Parks and Rec Director Jim Conroy. "These trainings will professionally develop Marana staff and strengthen the overall Marana team."

The training was provided by Wilbur-Ellis for the Arizona Department of Agriculture Office of Pest Management’s Continuing Education Units (CEU).

The training will help both Marana Parks and Rec employee and those who utilize their facilities to be safer. The training was specifically beneficial to employees who handle and apply pesticides to perform their duties in a safer manner.

Among the topics covered in the training include the safe handling and mixing of pesticides, what to do if one becomes exposed to pesticides, and environmental impacts of pesticides.

PRESS RELEASE: Traffic Signal Activation at the Intersection of Camino de Oeste/Tangerine Road

As part of the Tangerine Road Corridor Project, a new traffic signal will be installed at the intersection of Tangerine Road and Camino de Oeste. At approximately 9 a.m. on Friday, December 15, 2017, the signal will be energized and placed on flash mode, with a RED ball indication for the Camino de Oeste approach, and AMBER ball indication for the Tangerine Road approach. 

After 9 a.m. on Monday, December 18, 2017, the signal will be set to full color operation mode, and function as a fully signalized intersection.

The installation of the new traffic signal at the Camino de Oeste intersection, addresses the operation of the roadway and safety of motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists along this stretch of the Tangerine Road Corridor.

Photo courtesy of www.freefoto.com