Things to do in Marana for August (and Beyond)

August 3 - Free Music In Marana: Gray2Red

Gray2Red is made up mostly of local “seasoned” rockers who have been playing in bands since the 60’s. They'll deliver finely aged, crowd-pleasing classic rock to your event from artist like Steve Miller, the Eagles, Van Morrison, Eddie Money, CCR, Joe Cocker, Clapton and more.

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August 17 - Free Movie In Marana: Hotel Transylvania 3

The Marana Splash Pad is the home for August's Free Movie In Marana, featuring "Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation". Join Dracula and all his ghoulish friends as they embark on a summer cruise that promises to be more than they expected. Show starts around 7: 15 pm, once the sun has gone down.

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September 7 - 80's Doggy Paddle Pool Party

It’s an 80’s doggy takeover of the Marana Pool. Reserve your pup’s spot today to take a 30-minute sim session and catch a wave. Don’t forget there will be an 80’s themed best-dressed pooch and owner contest.


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September 7 - Free Music In Marana - Strait Country

STRAIT COUNTRY - A TRIBUTE TO COUNTRY MUSIC'S LIVING LEGEND. Kevin Sterner and Strait Country, performing the critically
acclaimed "Tribute to the Music of George Strait," re-create the exact arrangements that you have heard on this Country Legend’s CD’s and in
his concert performances.

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September 21 - Free Movie in Marana: Paddington 2

Free Movie in Marana at the Tangerine Sky Park: Paddington 2
Show starts at 6:00 pm, once the sun has gone down. Bring something to sit on, or borrow a chair or blanket from us. We will have a snack vendor present with movie treats for purchase.

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On The Horizon

Oct 19 - Marana Fall Festival
Nov 2 - Dirt Dash
Nov 16 - Turkey Trot
Nov 23 - El Tour De Tucson - Marana Segment
Dec 7 - Marana Holiday Festival and Christmas Tree Lighting

UPDATE Storm sandbag distribution

MARANA — In anticipation of more monsoon activity, Town of Marana will be handing out sandbags to Marana residents. The first sandbag distribution will be Tuesday, July 30 and Wednesday, July 31 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

There will also be one-time distributions on Tuesday August 6 and Tuesday, August 13.

Sandbag distributions will be located at the yard of the Marana Operations Center (5100 W. Ina Road) and Marana Heritage River Park parking lot (12205 N Tangerine Farms Road).

"The Public Works Department provides services that are vital to our community’s health, safety, and comfort," said Public Works Director Mo El-Ali. "We provide this service to our community to help keep Marana residents safe."

There is a limit of 10 sandbags per vehicle. Additional distribution dates will be added to the schedule based upon public demand and weather projections. For more information, please contact Public Works at (520)382-2536, or follow the Town of Marana on Facebook and Twitter.

Manager's Message: Marana prepped for monsoons

Marana Town Manager Jamsheed Mehta provided this Manager’s Message to the Marana News/Explorer News that was a bit timely based upon the weather events of July 24,

The rains have finally arrived! This is an exciting time for the desert and for our residents, as we now get to enjoy a reprieve from the hot summer days and witness the revitalization of our beautiful landscape. With the excitement of darkened clouds, rumbling thunder and brilliant light shows, I would like to also remind the community of the importance of storm safety. Just a few minutes of rain can result in damaging flash floods, and with the combined efforts of town staff and resident actions, we can work to have a safe monsoon season. 

When in doubt, wait it out! If you are driving and see a dust or rainstorm ahead, pull over. Avoid crossing flooded washes. Even if it doesn’t look deep, a few inches of running water poses a serious risk. If you are driving in the rain, reduce your speed and avoid sudden braking. If you cannot see the street, don’t drive through it. To increase visibility, check your windshield wipers before driving, and replace them if necessary. Always expect the unexpected, and pack extra supplies, drinking water, and an emergency kit wherever you go.

The safety of our residents is a top priority for town staff, as demonstrated by the emergency response provided during last year’s monsoon season. Flooding on July 8, 2018 resulted in numerous swift-water rescues and road closures, and multiple agencies responded to the train derailment along Interstate 10. Immediate and effective public safety response requires heavy coordination between our departments and community partners before, during and after a storm. 

That day, the town activated the Emergency Operation Center to serve as a central command and control facility for public works, police, risk and safety, communications, town management and Northwest Fire District. Through strategic deployment of our resources, we were able to respond quickly and effectively, and reduce safety risks throughout the community. 

Marana Police and Public Work’s departments collaborated to monitor the community, barricaded dangerous roadways, and removed debris. Northwest Fire District responded to structural damages, fallen trees or power lines, failing electrical systems, and swift-water rescues to ensure the safety of everyone on site. All status updates and road conditions were reported back to the EOC to be disseminated to the public. It is important that the community can rely on us as a source for up-to-date and accurate information, especially during an emergency. To make sure you’re prepared for the latest news, remember to follow the Town of Marana on Twitter and Facebook. 

The town looks to past experiences to improve safety protocols and procedures for the new rain season. Last year’s flooding required extensive clean-up of debris, damaged streets and fallen trees. This year, public works staff organized all Monsoon-related equipment, reviewed safety protocol, and updated the public works repair plan to streamline repairs. Staff is also prepared to distribute sandbags in the event of an impending flood emergency, and details will be provided to the public ahead of time to ensure adequate preparation by the community. 

The completion of the new Ina Road Bridge over the Santa Cruz River now provides a safe alternate route, as the new structure no longer needs to be shut down at the crossing during flood events. The Pima County Regional Flood Control District also maintains the Santa Cruz River by cleaning the channels, removing the sediment build up and undesirable vegetation and repairing erosion around the bridges and bank protection. This helps increase the channels flood carrying capacity and minimize flooding potential.

The monsoon time is an exciting one for desert dwellers, but it is also an excellent time to brush up on safety protocols so we can all continue to enjoy living in beautiful southern Arizona. By working together, we can continue to make Marana a great place to live in any season. 

Jamsheed Mehta is the Town of Marana Manager.

Marana In The Media: Marana theater group hosting ‘Guys and Dolls’

From the Marana News:

Both guys and dolls around Marana are preparing for an upcoming community-oriented performance. The Marana Community Music Theater is a volunteer group that organizes multiple theater events in Marana throughout the year, and is putting the final touches on this year’s summer production: Guys and Dolls.

Started in Fall 2017 by two Marana High School teachers, MCMT hosts theater, musical and choral performances by the community and for the community of Marana.

“We have a lot of students who graduate, but they don’t have anywhere in Marana to continue performing,” said MCMT co-founder Sarah Ross, a Marana High choir teacher. “We realized we needed to do something to give these people an opportunity to do performing arts.” 

Read the rest of the story at the Marana News

Marana Community Music Theater will perform “Guys and Dolls: A Musical Fable of Broadway” on Friday, July 26 and Saturday, July 27 at Marana High School’s auditorium. 12000 W. Emigh Road. 7 p.m. $10.



Things to do in Marana in July and Beyond

On The Horizon

Sep 7 - 80's Doggy Paddle Pool Party
Sep 7 - Free Music In Marana- Kevin Sterner & Strait Country
Sep 17 - Free Movie in Marana - Paddington 2

Marana is part of the new Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area

A public lands bill signed into law in March created the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area (NHA), which directly impacts the Town of Marana. The Santa Cruz Valley NHA stretches from the watershed of the Santa Cruz River around Nogales and Patagonia, north through Tucson to Marana.

The Santa Cruz Valley NHA is a non-regulatory designation made by Congress to honor and celebrate the region’s contribution to America’s history, which they hope will stimulate heritage-based economic development and geo-tourism in the region.

According to the Green Valley News, “Santa Cruz Valley is a natural and cultural landscape that has been shaped by many generations of people from diverse cultural origins, and the NHA designation provides a unique opportunity to promote these heritage resources and educate the community about our shared heritage.”

Although National Heritage Areas are designated by Congress, they are different from National Parks and other types of federal designations because they do not impose federal zoning or regulations on land use.

“The boundaries of a National Heritage Area are not regulatory, and designation will not affect private property rights, land use zoning, property taxes, or government jurisdictions,” explained the Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance. “Participation is completely voluntary. An analogy for a National Heritage Area is an “enterprise zone,” in which an area has been designated for voluntary participation for benefits.”

Learn More:
Discover Marana
Green Valley News
Arizona Geology Survey E-Magazine
Santa Cruz Valley Heritage Alliance

Town attorney honored by state bar

Marana Town Attorney Frank Cassidy

Marana Town Attorney Frank Cassidy is being awarded the Distinguished Public Lawyer Award by the Arizona State Bar. Each year the Public Lawyer Section recognizes outstanding public lawyers and judges who have made extraordinary and exemplary contributions to the state and the justice system. 

According to his co-workers, "this is a wonderful recognition of how well respected Frank is by other attorneys and a tremendous achievement for him."

“We were fortunate to have amazing nominations for the Public Lawyers annual awards,” said Geoff Balon, Chair, Public Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Arizona.

 He will formally accept the award on August 7 at a luncheon in Phoenix.

Marana wins award for financial reporting

The Town of Marana has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

Marana honored for Financial Reporting.

This marks the 10th time since 2008 that the Town of Marana’s Finance Department has earned the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence. The Town has also been awarded the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award every year since 2007.

The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel “to meet the high standards of the program,” which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.

GFOA is a major professional association servicing the needs of over 20,000 appointed and elected local, state, and provincial-level government officials and other finance practitioners.

The Town of Marana is serious about financial transparency. In addition to posting several years of financial documents including Budget Books, Budget Reports, Quarterly Financial Briefs, and a variety of Financial Reports, the Town also has a financial transparency database provides information from the Marana Financial System, which enables a clear view of the government’s operations.

Marana Police Lieutenant to attend FBI National Academy

Lt. Tim Brunenkant

The Marana Police Department will be represented at the next FBI National Academy (FBI NA). Lieutenant Tim Brunenkant will attend the 10-week academy beginning July 8.

The FBI National Academy is dedicated to improving the standards of law enforcement. There are four academy sessions held each year (Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall sessions) and Brunentkant is attending the summer session ‘Class #277’ from July 8th to September 13th.

“This program will assist in my personal and professional growth as a lieutenant with the Police Department,” Brunenkant said.

Each class consists of 250 law enforcement executives from throughout the United States with approximately 30 international law enforcement officers. In order to attend, a candidate must be a Lieutenant or higher, and must be nominated by their Chief of Police. 

“I am very excited for the challenge that is ahead of me,” said Brunenkant. “This program has been a longtime career goal of mine, and I am truly honored and humbled for the opportunity to be attending.”

The program consists of undergraduate and graduate level classes that focus on leadership, executive development, and health and wellness. These courses are taught by FBI instructors and professional educators from the University of Virginia.

“The coursework I will be taking includes Critical Analysis of Present Day Policing, Managing Organizational Change and Development, and Advanced Concepts and Wellness,” Brunenkant said. “I plan to bring back what I have learned, and share with the Marana Police Department and the Town.”

In addition to course work, physical fitness is a big component of the FBI NA program.  Attendees participate in daily workouts consisting of weekly ‘fitness challenges’. The weekly challenges get more difficult each week, and prepares participants for the final challenge called ‘The Yellow Brick Road’, which is a 6-mile run/obstacle course through the wooded trails of Quantico, VA.

‘The Yellow Brick Road’ fitness challenge/Photo FBI.gov

 The final component of the program is networking and enrichment. There are several themed events that bring the 250 students together to share their thoughts and experiences. There is a Silent Auction night to raise money for charity, International Night where the international students present food(s) from their region to eat, and Patch/Coin Collection Night where students exchange items from their agencies.  

Manager's Message: Marana budget sets the stage for a bright future

Marana Town Manager Jamsheed Mehta wrote a Manager's Message for the Marana News/Explorer News about the recently approved Fiscal Year 2020 Budget:

Our fiscal year comes to an end June 30, and we begin a new phase of projects and initiatives as outlined in the 2019-20 budget. Our total budget for the new year is approximately $143 million, a year-over-year increase of 1.5 percent. Of that total, $73 million is dedicated to operating costs, $57 million to capital expenditures and $12 million to debt service. 

2019-220 Annual Budget & Financial Plan

The latest edition of our budget exhibits the Town of Marana’s balanced approach to responsible fiscal policy and positive investment in the community. Every year, we examine closely our goals and accomplishments during the budget development process. We do this to make sure that allocations are aligned with need, and that strategies are resulting in the appropriate outcomes. 

The Town of Marana will continue with the development of its Make Marana 2040 General Plan in the next fiscal year. As the community grows to a likely population of over 50,000 at the 2020 census count, it is more important than ever to make sure we are planning well for the future. 

The General Plan will be a vital document to guide Marana’s community for the coming decades. 

Marana will also be completing its update to the Land Development Code, the Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space Master Plan, Water Master Plan, Wastewater Conveyance System Plan and North Marana Drainage Study. These critical analyses will provide a road map to meet potential challenges and find new opportunities for our community. 

Town of Marana has historically been committed to the highest level of service for our residents and business customers, and that tradition continues in the Fiscal Year 2020 budget with several investments. 

Strategic software deployments, when implemented effectively, can streamline internal services and lead to better outcomes for customers. Next fiscal year, we are investing in the development of a single software solution to manage our permitting and licensing services. This is one of our most active and dynamic service areas, with steady streams of daily customers and long-term projects, and its successful coordination involves multiple internal divisions, and outside entities, both public and private. By investing in a unifying platform, these diverse interests can be brought together for the best outcome to the customer and resident.

Capital outlay projects make up 40 percent of expenditures for fiscal year 2020.

Investments in physical infrastructure pay dividends for every aspect of the community, from the commercial sector to daily commuters to sports and recreation teams. In total, capital outlay projects account for 40 percent of expenditures for fiscal year 2020. This translates to Marana contributing $58 million for community investments. The outlay projects will address facilities in the neediest of areas and projects that will affect all residents.

One of these community investments is improving a Colonia-designated Marana neighborhood with $3.8 million in improvements. The Adonis neighborhood project will include rehabilitating the existing sanitary sewer conveyance system, addressing drainage issues and completing a road extension that serves as a secondary access point. The rehabilitation of the sanitary sewer conveyance system and drainage projects will address potential health and environmental issues that could be triggered by aging infrastructure. The road extension serving as a secondary access and slight grade changes will improve resident safety during storm events and other potential emergencies. The town is committed to the safety of all its residents and all neighborhoods; prioritizing these vital projects will address potential long-term problems.

This year the town will also invest in water infrastructure in the amount of $21 million that will help plan for one interconnected water and reclamation system. Unregulated water compounds such as PFOA, PFOS, and 1-4, Dioxane are concerns for cities and towns across the country, including Marana. We have identified water treatment campuses as a priority in order to lower the compound levels below the health advisory recommendations in affected areas. The town has chosen to make this proactive, voluntary investment in the quality of our water supply, and substantial construction of the project is expected in the coming year. 

Roads are always a top priority in Marana, with $16 million dedicated to road improvements. Key projects include the Camino De Oeste Road Restoration, Lon Adams Road Reconstruction, and Avra Valley Road Reconstruction. 

Bringing new parks and outdoor recreational opportunities is a consistent priority for our community. Construction of the first phase of the El Rio Preserve project will exhibit Marana’s natural features, sights, and bring new visitors. This first phase of the project consists of a trailhead plaza with interpretive signage, sitting area with benches, pedestrian walking path, native plants and water harvesting basins, and a large observation deck for viewing wildlife and birdwatching in the preserve. 

The Honea Heights Pocket Park is slated for construction and in the coming fiscal year for $272 thousand. This park will provide much-needed community amenities to a Colonia-designated Marana neighborhood. 

These strategic investments represented in the FY 2019-2020 budget are necessary and sound. They meet the needs of the community, and pave the way for future generations of Marana residents to enjoy our way of life. Through commitment to our organization’s core values and the focus areas outlined in our Strategic Plan, we are able to take limited resources and turn them into remarkable outcomes for the residents and businesses of Marana, and the team members who serve them. 

For more information on the budget, visit maranaaz.gov/financial-documents.

Jamsheed Mehta is the Marana Town Manager.