Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutState of the Town 2018Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 1 MARANA STATE OF THE TOWN SCRIPT RITZ-CARLTON, DOVE MOUNTAIN APRIL 19, 2018 ED STOLMAKER: Welcome to the 2018 Marana State of the Town at the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. Thank you for joining us today. I’m Ed Stolmaker, president and CEO of the Marana Chamber of Commerce. First, I want to thank the management and staff at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. This is a beautiful five-star, five diamond facility and it is always a pleasure to work with the ladies and gentlemen of The Ritz-Carlton. It is my pleasure to introduce the Master of Ceremonies for today’s address, Jack Neubeck. After nearly 20 years in and around New York City, and over twenty-five hundred performances on Broadway, Jack moved to our region in 1986 and recently became a homeowner in Marana. Since his arrival, he has been very active in the Marana community, facilitating many annexations for the Town, and was on the Board of the Marana Chamber for over 10 years serving as President for 4 years. Jack also served on the MHC Healthcare Board and Foundation. Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 2 For his “day job”, until retiring in 2014, he was one of the owners of The Planning Center, where he worked on zoning properties including Sky Ranch, Dove Mountain, and Saguaro Bloom. Please welcome, my friend, and a friend of Marana, Jack Neubeck. JACK NEUBECK: Thank you, Ed, and thank you to all of you for joining us for this important occasion. Please stand as the Marana Police Department Honor Guard presents the colors. Please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance, national anthem by the Marana High School Chamber Singers, and invocation delivered by Pastor Melissa Rynder. [Pledge of allegiance led by Jack, National Anthem, Invocation by Pastor Melissa Rynder] JACK NEUBECK: You may now be seated. [Pause.] It’s such an honor to be with all of you today. Marana is an incredibly special place for my family and me. It’s where we’ve decided to put down roots. I may not be from Marana originally, but it’s where Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 3 I’ve chosen to make a home. I’ve made that choice because of the incredible residents and businesses we have here. Many of you here today exemplify that culture, and I want to thank each of you for your contributions to Marana. I’d also like to take a moment to recognize the Signature Sponsor of today’s event. CalPortland has been an important member of our community for decades. They’ve employed a huge number of Marana residents and played a crucial role in Marana’s local economy. I’d like to invite the CalPortland Company as the sponsor, with representatives from two locations present: David Bittel – Plant Manager at Rillito Cement Plant, and Chris Stoltz- Sales Manager at CalPortland to the stage in recognition of your support for today’s event. Thank you for your commitment to Marana. Now, I want to recognize our Diamond and Ruby Sponsors for their support of today’s event. Your plaques are on the table please take them with you when you leave. Diamond sponsors: Chasse Building Team, CORE Construction, The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, Hudbay – Rosemont Copper Company, Hughes Federal Credit Union, and ArcLight Pictures. Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 4 I also want to thank the Ritz-Carlton for donating their table to the Career, Technical and Education Students this afternoon. Ruby sponsors: HSL Properties, Tucson Federal Credit Union, University of Arizona, Cottonwood Properties, MHC Healthcare, Trico Electric Cooperative, Hensley Beverage Company, Arizona State University, Pima Federal Credit Union, Psomas, and Crest Insurance. I’d also like to take a moment to acknowledge a few folks out in the audience. We have a number of elected officials with us today, and I’d like to invite each of the elected officials to stand and be recognized for your public service. Finally, I’d like to take a moment to recognize the members of the armed forces, veterans, and emergency responders who are with us today. Thank you for your service to Marana and our country. Please stand and be recognized. And now we’d like to give all of you some time to enjoy your lunch. Eat, talk with the folks at your table, mingle, and just enjoy yourself. I’ll be back up here in about twenty minutes. [Break for lunch] Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 5 JACK: Now, it’s time for what you’ve all been waiting for, the State of the Town Presentation presented by Mayor Ed Honea and members of our Town staff. Mayor Honea is a lifelong Marana resident who has served on the Town Council for over 30 years. He has been very active in a variety of community activities, including the Marana Chamber of Commerce, VFW Post 5990, Pima Association of Governments, Central Arizona Association of Governments, Sanctuary United Methodist Church, and many others. Thank you, Mayor Honea, for your service to Marana. [Applause] ***MAYOR SPEAKS*** CURT WOODY: Thank you Mayor. “Opportunities don’t happen...You create them.” From the humble beginnings of incorporation in 1977, to the robust community of today…Marana’s leadership has undeniably positioned the Town to reap the benefits of those opportunities. Clearly, Marana is very fortunate to be geographically located with 19 miles of Interstate-10 bisecting our town, and because of that we have unique opportunities within our region to capitalize on numerous assets. Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 6 We are here during an exciting time for our region, and for Marana in particular, and here are just some of the notable projects that have recently completed or soon will be. Our retail industry has welcomed several new businesses, most notably the brand new Top Golf, located off Costco Drive. This state of the art facility brings a unique entertainment option to Southern Arizona. An experience where people can enjoy a full service restaurant, several bars, and the unique golf games. Marana Center… most widely known for the Tucson Premium Outlets is transforming into a diverse commerce center. Northwest Medical Emergency Center opened their doors in February, and with it the addition of 30 new medical jobs to the Marana community. Hampton Inn and Suites, right next door, is nearing completion. Once finished, it will add over 100 rooms to our hospitality industry, bringing additional bed tax dollars to the community, and will further grow our tourism efforts. We’ve coined Marana as the “Gateway to Southern Arizona” and many people are discovering what this beautiful town has to offer. Our proximity to I-10 and the rest of region make Marana a great destination for a vacation. This very hotel we sit in has become the crown jewel of the region, and actually the entire state…Forbes Travel Guide just scored this very facility with Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 7 the highest points for any resort in…not the state…not the United States, but the entire world! And as more people choose to visit, they are recognizing Marana’s access to great shopping, great golf, and great trails. To further embrace the uniqueness of Marana, we have created our Gastronomy Tours to highlight not only Marana’s terrific culinary options, but to also shine a light on the Town’s diverse history. You can now visit Hohokam sites and learn about ancient foods before tasting them in modern dishes right here at the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. As our commercial industry grows, we are pleased to report that residential developments are also going up every day. Leading southern Arizona in new single-family home permits, the Town of Marana can anticipate even more growth as we welcome Linda Vista Village, Twin Peaks Vista Subdivision, The Preserve at Twin Peaks Subdivision, and much more including Encantada Luxury Apartments, and senior living homes throughout the community. On behalf of the Town of Marana, we are thankful that so many are choosing to relocate here. We welcome these new businesses and residents to our community, and we are working hard every day to ensure a strong foundation is put in place for them and for anyone else who wishes to come to Marana. By preparing our infrastructure for imminent growth, we continue to meet our community’s needs well into the future. Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 8 The Town maintains all 520 lane miles of roadway in our community through our Pavement Preservation Program so all potholes and other road issues are managed immediately. Through the Regional Transportation Authority, we have widened the Tangerine Road Corridor to become a major thoroughfare to our neighbors in Oro Valley. In conjunction with the Ina Interchange project, we are beautifying Ina Rd on both sides of the freeway with lighting and high-speed fiber optic connectivity that would benefit our first responders and signal timing. And we are continuing to close the loop of our shared use path in Continental Ranch so our neighborhoods remain connected- both on and off the road. In a region where water resources are highly valued, we are working on several projects to provide water and wastewater services to our residences, including booster stations throughout the community, the Downtown Sewer Conveyance System, and the Wastewater Treatment Facility Expansion project. The new facility will provide high quality effluent discharge while maximizing energy efficiencies throughout the entire treatment process. Once completed, this facility will serve 10,000 customers and will recharge 100% of effluent outflow from the plant. Our services also extend to above the ground. Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 9 The new Marana Police Facility will reach completion this year. This state of the art facility is the result of months of public education and outreach, a community-supported half-cent sales tax increase, and years of research, planning, and development. It contains improved amenities that accommodate the police department’s various services, as well as the capacity to manage Marana’s anticipated population growth. Because of your trust in the Town we were able to fund this project without debt, and this year we will open the doors to this beautiful facility and offer a brand-new array of public safety services to our community. The Town of Marana began a new program this year to provide services to our extended family members. When we first decided to get into the animal services business, we did a lot of research, developed a strong partnership with the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, and hired good people to take care of our furry four-legged residents. At six months we had licensed over 2,000 dogs, and through our lost and found efforts were able to return half of recovered strays to their owners before reaching the shelter. Our top priority is to be responsive to our resident requests, and by managing our own animal services, we are able to tailor animal care to the needs of our community. As we move into the warmer months and are looking for things to do outdoors, we have several brand-new options. New park facilities open this year in previously underserved parts of the community, with Tangerine Sky Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 10 Community Park opening this summer in northeast Marana, and Honea Heights Pocket Park in north Marana. Our existing parks also get some enhancements, as we finished baseball field improvements in Ora Mae Harn Park, and broke ground on a new splash pad at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park. Our parks enhance the quality of life for our families and youth by providing recreational opportunities close to home, and every year we are looking at different ways to improve our facilities and services for the community. Like I said, we are here during an exciting time in Marana, and town staff have been working diligently to help bring these projects to fruition. Here at the Town we value top quality public service, and our innovative staff work hard every day to make Marana a place where everyone would want to live, work, and play. I would like to conclude with a short video showcasing all the great work that is done in our community. Thank you. ***MAYOR SPEAKS*** VIC HATHAWAY: Thank you, Mayor Honea. The Town of Marana’s journey is like a roadmap, and we are only at a point along the route to our destination. Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 11 And just like planning a trip, your origin is just as important as your destination. It sets in motion all the events that will happen along our journey. Our origin began forty-one years ago when a group of people came together to turn the small community of Marana into a Town. These people established an identity and paved the way for a quality of life that represented the needs of the community. Their legacy will live on as the Founders of Marana, and as we look to our roadmap we can identify many points along the way where others have also left their marks. As our history continues to grow, WE ARE HERE today because of the people who passionately serve the community to make it a better place. I’m excited to join the mayor and introduce some of those people and share their accomplishments with you. Marana’s Branding Irons are awarded every year to one individual and one organization who has made a lasting mark on Marana. Members of the public first nominated their peers, and from that list of highly deserving candidates two names were selected. I would like to personally thank the members of the Marana Community Citizens’ Forum for their participation in the selection process. Each award recipient will receive a real branding iron forged by a local blacksmith and designed in tribute to our community’s farming and ranching heritage. Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 12 Dr. Monica Fowler is a Marana resident and owner of Fowler Chiropractic. She is a licensed chiropractor specializing in sports medicine and prenatal care. In addition to providing care throughout the region, she takes every opportunity to give back to the community. Every holiday she collects the names of children in need and will hand- deliver purchased and donated items to well over 800 children. She is a devoted member and ambassador of the Marana Chamber of Commerce as well as the Chair of the Health and Wellness Committee. Please welcome Dr. Monica Fowler to the stage as she accepts her Branding Iron Award. (pause for acknowledgement) Northwest Landscaping LLC is owned by Chad Berg, Glenn Burr-KAN, and Steven KRIZ-mer and was founded in 2000 as “Landscaping by Northwest”. They serve residential and commercial markets from Nogales to Casa Grande and have based the company’s services on a proactive approach to Sonoran Desert landscape services. Today, we honor them for the positive impacts they’ve had on the community. In the case for Gladden Farms and Saguaro Bloom neighborhoods, they are a true community partner. They have a strong commitment to community values and go much further than just providing professional landscape services. Northwest Landscaping regularly participates in neighborhood events, often volunteering to set up, tear down, and provide staff members in order to Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 13 ensure a successful event for the community. They support residents in hard times by volunteering their services to those enduring medical hardships or deployments. This organization has made themselves an essential part of the community and serves as an excellent example of how businesses can create impactful relationships with their neighbors. Please welcome Glenn Burr-KAN and Chris Fisher to the stage to accept their Branding Iron Award on behalf of Northwest Landscaping. (Pause for acknowledgement) Thank you all again for joining us here today to celebrate our accomplishments as a community. Each of you have a role to play along this roadmap, and as we reflect on our past and celebrate our successes today, we have much to look forward to as we move into the future. Thank you. ***MAYOR SPEAKS*** JIM CONROY: The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself. In the future when we say “We are here” we will be talking about a Marana that is still familiar but has significantly progressed from the one we see today. Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 14 Our destination is a Marana that continues to grow, continues to adapt, and continues to offer new and exciting amenities. A few months ago, the Town of Marana updated its Strategic Plan with its fourth iteration. This living document has set the course of action for elected officials and staff to address community needs, and positions Marana for a successful future. Since its creation a decade ago, this document has played a large role in shaping the Town we see today. By now most of you are familiar with the plan’s areas of emphasis: Commerce, Community, Innovation, Heritage, and Recreation. But these are just the paver stones in the path to the future we envision. These five areas of emphasis combine to create the Marana we are all excited to build. Our plan provides a blueprint to the future. A future where we can say “we have arrived” on Marana Main Street in our Downtown District, a central area where people can shop, eat, and meet. Downtown Marana will give the Northern part of our community a real sense of identity. The recently completed roundabout signifies the start of this new Downtown district, but it is just a start. Builders are Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 15 already setting their sights on the area, and more and more people want to call North Marana their home. Infrastructure improvements are vital to every part of Marana, but none more than in the northern part of the community when it comes to our future. Expansion of our wastewater plant is nearing completion. We took over the plant in an effort to control our own destiny, and this expansion project ensures we can handle the rapid growth in the area. Improved roads, expanded utilities, and new amenities are all part of the plan to bring more jobs and more residents to the northern part of our community and to the Town as a whole. Many have decided Marana is the place they want to settle for their future. Marana has always attracted those who want to spend their golden years enjoying the sun and fun of the desert southwest, and Marana is about to welcome more communities that cater to those who are ready to enjoy the fruits of their life’s work. Marana’s destination is one where we can say “we have arrived” at a thriving and bustling regional airport. We have invested in airport infrastructure and Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 16 continue to look at new ways to make the airport an important part of what we are building as a robust transportation corridor. The future of Marana hinges on bringing in new jobs and new businesses. In 2017 we implemented our economic development strategic plan which helps us seek and retain diverse industries and commerce to our community. New businesses continue to find Marana a great place to set up shop, and we get constant inquiries from new ventures that want to call Marana home. We will continue to carve out our unique role in this region’s economy, servicing industries that want to utilize the Town’s diverse population, proximity to I-10, and business supportive community. Part of attracting jobs is having an available workforce, and that takes a commitment to those who will be Marana’s future- our youth. In the next 10 years we can easily add another 25,000 people to our population. How will we continue to serve those people? We share our community with a great school district, diverse schools and dedicated teachers. We have worked hard to provide terrific amenities and create a great quality of life. Our special events give Marana a sense of home and help families create their own unique memories in our community. Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 17 Recreation is also vital to creating a sense of place in Marana, and our Parks and Recreation professionals are focused on continuing to provide a broad range of recreational services for our community, from high energy sport orientated programs for youth to more passive recreation activities for seniors and everything in between. These programs reach all aspects of our population and are designed to engage the widest possible interests. Our parks and trails become second homes to people. We envision a future where we will have more ball fields and more parks amenities. More spaces where we can enjoy the outdoors with our families. Where we can enjoy their lives. It is a great honor working here at the Town of Marana during this exciting time as we pave the way for our future. Thank you for your time. I would like to now welcome Mayor Ed Honea back up to the stage to finish our presentation. ***MAYOR SPEAKS*** VICKIE: Thank you, Mayor Honea. This is the second year the Town of Marana has awarded the Youth Legacy Award to a recipient 18-years of age or younger for their impacts on the Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 18 community. Recipients benefit others by addressing the hearts, bodies, and minds of their peers. They do this by promoting a healthy and supportive environment, fulfilling essential needs such as food, shelter, and safety, or creating educational opportunities to enrich young minds. A-lee-see-yah Sanchez is a Marana High School alumni and is highly engaged in her community. Passionate about public safety, her involvement began when she participated in the Criminal Justice Career and Technical Education course at Marana High school. During her senior year, she participated in the Marana 2.0 internship program where she hosted an event to create relationships between Marana Police Officers and Marana high schoolers. By bringing officers and students together, A-lee-see-yah has contributed toward promoting a healthy and supportive environment for youth and has created an educational opportunity to enrich the minds of her peers. A-lee-see- yah plans to pursue a career in Criminal Justice to eventually become a detective. Please welcome A-lee-see-yah to the stage. (Youth Legacy Award recipient acknowledgments) Thank you again for your time. ***MAYOR SPEAKS*** ED STOLMAKER: Town of Marana State of the Town April 19, 2018 19 Thank you, Mayor Honea and Town staff, for sharing with us the State of the Town. We have a lot to be proud of in Marana. Thank you all for being with us today, and thank you again to our sponsors for your support. We look forward to seeing you next year. Have a great day.