HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/13/2011 Joint Study Session Minutes W
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MARANA/ORO VALLEY JOINT STUDY SESSION
MINUTES
Hilton El Conquistador Hotel
Coronado Ballroom
10000 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley, AZ 85735
May 13, 2011, at or after 12:30 PM
Ed Honea, Mayor Satish Hiremath, Mayor
Herb Kai, Vice Mayor Mary Snider, Vice Mayor
Russell Clanagan, Council Member William Garner, Council Member
Patti Comerford, Council Member Barry Gillaspie, Council Member
Carol McGorray, Council Member Joe Hornat, Council Member
Jon Post, Council Member Steve Solomon, Council Member
Roxanne Ziegler, Council Member Lou Waters, Council Member
STUDY SESSION
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mayor Hiremath called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. All Marana Council
Members were present except for Council Member Comerford, who was excused. There
was a quorum present. Mayor Hiremath noted that the joint meetings with Oro Valley
and Marana are not rhetoric, that there are many areas where the two towns can work
together and complement one another. Mayor Honea stated that he had received many
calls about the joint meetings, and he believes that there is mutual respect between the
towns and that the amenities each have to offer as well as the common amenities make
Oro Valley and Marana a desirable destination for travelers.
DISCUSSION /DIRECTION /POSSIBLE ACTION
D 1 a: Presentation: Relating to Economic Development; results of the Tourism
Resource Assessment by Arizona State University (Josh Wright/Amanda Jacobs)
Josh Wright introduced the Arizona State University students who were present. He
then introduced Dr. Tim Tyrell, ASU Professor of Tourism and leader of the project. Dr.
Tyrell stated that this is the second project of this type that he has worked on. Initially,
the group started with first impressions and looked at the unique assets and characteristics
within the region and how they complement each other. He also thanked Josh and
Amanda for their work. He noted that the work of the students was different from what a
consulting firm might provide because they approached the project as millennials. Some
of the Millennial qualities are that they are in the 18 -29 age group whose focus is
technology use, music and pop culture, and being more liberal /tolerant politically. Dr.
Tyrell noted that understanding strengths and weaknesses is the framework for the
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May 13, 2011 Council Meeting Minutes
project in order to build a competitive destination. The capstone is community
governance.
Forty -two students participated in the project and were divided into six districts. For
Marana, they use the Economic Roadmap. For Oro Valley, they used the Canada del Oro
Wash as their dividing line. The districts were (1) Tangerine Corridor; (2) Marana
Downtown heritage (Marana airport); (3) Marana/Twin Peaks; (4) South Oro Valley; (5)
North Oro Valley — north of the Canada del Oro Wash; and (6) the unincorporated Pima
County islands.
During discussion and the question and answer period, questions were raised regarding
technology, identifying strengths and weaknesses, transportation, signage and working
together. One of the main challenges noted was getting tourists to the area and getting
them to stay in the area's accommodations rather than having them make reservations in
Tucson. While there is diversity in each area, partnerships can be created for many
activities.
D lb: Presentation Relating to Economic Development; next steps: Oro Valley /Marana
branding/marketing/tagline; joint Oro Valley /Marana recreation brochure (Amanda
Jacob /Josh Wright)
Josh Wright concluded that the next steps will be collecting data for branding initiatives
to build a theme or tagline. There isn't a lot of expertise on either Marana's or Oro
Valley's staff, so outside resources will be needed. He then asked for feedback.
Amanda Jacobs unveiled the prototype recreation brochure, noting that they intend to
have 2,000 printed to begin with. Mayor Hiremath asked if each Council Member
could be provided with a copy of the brochure to review without comment. Council
Member Garner from Oro Valley noted that we need to have a greater tourism presence
at the TIA. There was also discussion about the issue of branding in terms of zip code
identity, possibly establishing an Application on Google and attracting the millennium
generation.
Mayor Hiremath recommended going forward with each Council and having Josh and
Amanda continue to work together.
D 2: Presentation: Relating to Economic Development; Imagine Greater Tucson Update
(Council Member Lou Waters)
Council Member Waters noted that there are two upcoming workshops on May 24 and
May 25, 2011 at the Desert Diamond Casino. These workshops will develop a map to act
as a vision tool for the future of the region. There was discussion about whether this is
the best venue for Oro Valley and Marana given the direction the towns have been going
to identify themselves separately from Tucson.
D 3: Council One -on -One Partnerships (Mayors Hiremath/Honea)
The Mayors suggested that in an effort to carry forward the direction of cooperation and
cohesiveness being established by the tourism project, and because of the tie of proximate
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May 13, 2011 Council Meeting Minutes
location within the County, each town could benefit by having a Marana Council
Member liaison with an Oro Valley Council Member. There was general assent for this,
and Mayor Hiremath read from a list of suggested partners: Mayors Hiremath and
Honea, Vice Mayors Kai and Snider, Council Members Comerford and Hornat, Council
Members McGorray and Waters, Council Members Post and Solomon, Council Member
Ziegler and Garner, and Council Member Bowen and Gillaspie.
Mayor Hiremath thanked the staff of the El Conquistador for the great job they did in
putting this lunch meeting together.
Council Member Roxanne Ziegler raised the issue of redistricting as a possible future
agenda item.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hiremath adjourned the meeting at 1:55 p.m.
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing are the true and correct minutes of the joint study
session of the Marana Town Council and the Oro Valley Town Council held on May 13,
2011. I further certify that a quorum was present.
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May 13, 2011 Council Meeting Minutes