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HomeMy WebLinkAboutState of the Town 2021 STATE OF THE TOWN TALKING POINTS INTRO / MARANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE / JEANIE HUGHES Welcome to the 2021 Marana State of the Town at the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. Thank you for joining us today. I'm Jeanie Hughes, Chairwoman of the Marana Chamber of Commerce and owner of Undercover Laser. The Marana Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business that works to build economic growth and quality of life in our community. For the last 34 years that is exactly what the Marana Chamber has been doing. Like everyone last year, the chamber was tested by COVID. As a relationship organization, we had to figure out how we were going to connected to our businesses and community. The chamber immediately began to reach out to our business asking what they needed and how can we help. We knew providing our businesses with important and updated resources was imperative. We updated our website to include links with up-to-date information, our weekly e-newsletter included helpful resources, the staff made daily calls to businesses, and like everyone else, we started networking via Zoom. Once the chamber was able to safely open and go back into the office the staff went back into the office. The Chamber knew they needed to be there for the community by opening their doors back up. And as soon as we were able to meet in person the chamber started hosting in-person events again. Over the last year, we have seen so many things new businesses opening, lots of restructuring and pivoting of businesses, and sadly businesses that have closed, but one thing that we have seen more than anything is how we can work together, that we do care for one another, and we all have a story to tell. As the Chamber moves into our next chapter, we will be doing it in a new building, with a new President/CEO, the designation status of being an Arizona State Visitor Center, and the continued partnership with the Town of Marano and our businesses. As a member of the Marana Chamber and a resistant of the Town of Marana is a great honor to stand here and thank all of you for your support. DAN MARRIES / SPONSORSHIPS / LUNCH LUNCH INTRO VIDEO DAN MARRIES / MAYOR ED HONEA INTRODUCTION Mayor Honea is the third generation of a five-generation Marana family and has served on the council on three different occasions. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Marana as a contractor for 29 years before retiring in 2007. Mayor Honea is a member of the Pima Association of Governments, including chair in 2014, and the chair of the Regional Transportation Authority. He serves on the executive board of the Arizona League of Cities and Towns and is a member of Arizona Town Hall, Central Arizona Association of Governments, the Arizona Association of Economic Development, the Marana Optimist Club, and Marana Chamber of Commerce. He formerly served on the Marana Health Center and Marana Food Bank boards. Mayor Honea is a graduate of Marana High School, the U.S. Naval School of Construction, and Pima Community College. He served in the U.S. Navy Seabees during the Vietnam War and is a lifetime member of VFW Post 5990 in Marana. The mayor is an outdoor enthusiast and avid hiker and can be found most days on one of the many trails that run throughout the Marana Community. He has two children and three grandchildren. TOWN OF MARANA / MAYOR ED HONEA OPENING REMARKS (Off teleprompter) - New home builds, hotel rooms and high occupancy rates, population growth. - Brief personal introductions of guest speakers DAN MARRIES / AMY MCREYNOLDS INTRODUCTION Amy McReynolds is the Tucson Division President for KB Home. KB Home is one of the largest and most recognizable homebuilders in the United States, building quality homes for over 60 years. Amy is an alumni of the Marana Unified School District, once a Tiger always a Tiger, with a Bachelor's Degree in Business from the University of Arizona. Her almost 30 year career in homebuilding encompasses Tucson, Phoenix, New Mexico and Southern California where she has been a part of helping over 15,000 first time home-buyers, families and empty nesters fulfill the American Dream of home ownership. But her favorite part is being back in her hometown leading KB Home Tucson since 2013. KB HOME / AMY MCREYNOLDS Good afternoon! I am Amy McReynolds, The Tucson Division President for KB Home. KB Home is a national home builder building homes in 19 markets across the United States. While KB Home is a national organization, my team is local, raised local, and an important note - Wildcat Fans! As Mayor Honea mentioned, I am local. I grew up Marana, Marana raised me, and now it is incredibly special to be a part of helping first time buyers, families and empty nesters make Marana home. I love being a part of building community in Marana because it is a special community. This last year through the pandemic, our homes took on a broader definition. It became our school, it became our office, our favorite restaurant, our entertainment and vacation, our safe haven and sanctuary- the value of not only what our organization does but what all homebuilders do and what we provide took on even additional meaning. At the start of the pandemic our goal was to keep employees safe, our trade partners safe, and our customers safe. We implemented wellness checks, safety checks, safety supervisors, and a virtual experience that allowed customers to view our models and our studio from the safety of their home. Customers could work virtually with their sales counselor and their studio consultant, purchasing, and personalizing their home exactly like they wanted it. In addition, KB Home has always been committed to designing and building new homes that support our family's health and wellbeing, making standard with every home high-performance ventilators that introduce fresh outdoor air while reducing indoor air pollutants. We also improved the air quality in the home with the upgraded whole-house infiltration system. We build 100% energy- -audited and inspected efficient homes that have industry-leading Home Energy Rating System Scores or HERS scores - in the local and national markets. Resources are finite, and reducing the impact of our business on our environment is a huge benefit to the market and to our homebuyer. As current demand for new homes has increased, the home building industry is managing through material challenges, shortage of labor, transportation, and logistical issues for product. With new home permits up 43% in the entire market, but 36% specifically in Marana compared to last year, everyone is feeling stretched by the demand. Thank you to the Town of Marana Development Services Department and the inspectors who work with us every day to complete each home for our new home buyer. Thank you to staff and the Town Council for continuing to welcome and embrace our new homes and neighborhoods. From Tangerine Corridor, Dove Mountain, Twin Peaks, to Gladden Farms where we are currently on our path to over 500 new home builds, to our new 251-homesite community, Colina De Anza at Cortaro and Hartman. But also thank you to the Town and the School District for embracing the families that move into our new homes. KB Home chooses Marana for our new home communities because of the amazing parks, streets, schools, access to jobs, healthcare, and safety that is provided for our homebuyers. Our homebuyers choose Marana for those same reasons. Marana is a great place to live, work, play, and go to school, and we are proud to continue to provide homes for families to do so, especially in my hometown. DAN MARRIES / CHIEF BRAD BRADLEY INTRODUCTION Starting as a firefighter, Chief Brad Bradley began his service to the Northwest Fire District in 1999. The third Fire Chief to be sworn into Northwest Fire District since its inception in 1984, Chief Bradley is the first to be promoted to the top position from the rank of firefighter recruit. Chief Bradley's reputation for action, performance, and a sense of humor are known both inside the Northwest Fire District and beyond it. Chief Bradley also serves the community as an executive member for several organizations, including the Southwest Arizona Emergency Medical Services Council (SAEMS) and Pima County Fire Chiefs' Association (PCFCA) Board of Directors. He is also a Marana youth baseball coach, which is why he is unable to be here today as our local teams participate in the 2021 USAAA League World Series in San Diego. Chief Bradley stopped by my office at KOLD before he left. NORTHWEST FIRE DISTRICT / CHIEF BRAD BRADLEY (VIDEO ONLY) Good Afternoon. I'm sorry I am not able to be there in-person with you today. Thank you to KOLD News 13 for sharing their studio with me so I could still be a part of this important event. The Northwest Fire District was established in 1983 by a group of citizens interested in establishing a higher level of Fire and Emergency Medical services on the Northwest Side of Tucson. In the late 1980's and into the 1990's both the Town of Marana and the Northwest Fire District experienced growth that caused the two jurisdictions to overlap. In the late 1990's the Town of Marana recognized the need for qualified and consistent fire and emergency medical coverage throughout the Town Limits. Marana initiated a competitive process to identify a fire service provider that could meet the Town's needs. Northwest Fire was chosen as a result of this process and began providing coverage in all areas of the Town that were not already within a defined fire protection district. Since this agreement was enacted, Northwest Fire has successfully annexed properties within the Marana Town Boundaries and become the Town's largest fire and emergency medical service provider. For more than twenty years the Town of Marana and the Northwest Fire District have worked collaboratively to ensure the safety and well-being of our mutual residents and visitors. Agreements between the District and the Town exist to ensure that our two institutions make the most of taxpayer funding by reducing duplicate fees, sharing use of facilities, coordinating new growth, and promoting new development. In 2019 the District and Town came to a mutual agreement on the revision of the International Fire Code to reduce confusion and redundancy for business owners and home builders. This initiative was a joint venture that was designed with the best interest of the end user in mind. To ensure that Marana is a safe place to live, work, and play the District and Town collaborate before, during, and after each of the four Marana signature events. Ensuring that the residents and visitors of Marana can come together to celebrate and socialize in a safe environment is of paramount importance for elected officials and staff from both organizations. Keeping pace with the rapid growth occurring within the Town of Marana, Northwest Fire has invested nearly $50 million in buildings and millions more in response apparatus and other capital investments within the boundaries of the Town of Marana. Six of the eleven fire stations operated by the District fall within the town limits. In 2019 two new fire stations were opened thanks to voter approved bond funding. Station 337 is located near the Gallery Sports Club in Dove Mountain and was a relocation from the original fire station located near the new MUSD K-8 stem school located in the southern half of Dove Mountain. As growth continued in the Dove Mountain region, it became difficult to maintain our standard for response time to the far reaches of the Dove Mountain Community. The new station 337 allows for a rapid and equitable response time throughout the Dove Mountain area. Station 341 on Tangerine west of 1-10 was built simultaneously and was needed to keep pace with growth in the area of the Gladden Farms Community and the surrounding area. Both new stations reaffirm our commitment to the residents and the Town to maintain the highest level of readiness and response. In addition to these facilities, the District's Training Center, Fleet Facility and Administration Building are also located within the boundaries of the Town. Due to our own growth, the current administration building for the District has reached capacity and voter approved bond funding has been secured to build a new Administration building. To further our mutual commitment and collaboration, the Town and District negotiated the sale of a piece of Town owned property next to Fire Station 336 on Marana Main Street to build the new District Administration facility. The building is currently under construction with a tentative move in date of April 2022. With a full understanding and appreciation of the investment that the residents and business owners within the District commit to us each year, it is important to provide the best possible return on that investment in as many ways as possible. That is why the District committed itself to achieve an Insurance Service Office rating of 1 which was formally enacted on July 1, 2019. The ISO scoring which ranges from 1 to 10 determines the cost of insurance premiums for property owners within the District boundaries. The ISO Score of 1 obtained by the District ensures that property owners within the District pay the lowest possible insurance premiums. Only 373 fire departments out of the more than 40,000 evaluated by ISO currently hold an ISO rating of 1 . The District is also in its third 5-year cycle as an accredited agency with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International. As an accredited agency we undergo extreme vetting on all our business and response processes every five years to maintain our accredited status. Northwest Fire is 1 of only 270 fire departments in the United States to achieve accreditation and 1 of only 87 to achieve accreditation and an ISO rating of 1 . While the Town of Marano and the Northwest Fire District may be two separate government entities, our collective goal is to work together as seamlessly as possible. Every person inside of our respective boundaries should be able to enjoy time with their family and friends, find comfort in their homes, and build their businesses knowing that collectively we work, day and night, to ensure the safety and protection of each of you. DAN MARRIES / CLINT KUNTZ INTRODUCTION MHC HEALTHCARE / CLINT KUNTZ My name is Clint Kuntz, and I am the CEO of MHC Healthcare. I joined MHC in April of 2013. Over 8 years later, I am still proud to be part of MHC and Town of Marano. MHC is a proven health home for Marana and all of Pima County, serving everyone who needs care. At MHC we will continue to bring compassion, commitment, and health resources to the communities we serve. At MHC Healthcare, we believe that everyone who walks through our doors deserves quality healthcare with a heart no matter their age, income, race, or socioeconomic status. Everyday, we strive to provide quality, cul turally Y competent health services and engage patients to help them achieve their highest quality of life. We offer primary care, behavioral health, dental, pharmacy and WIC services to patients in all walks of life though an integrated care model. MHC Healthcare began 64 years ago in the cotton fields of Marana providing basic, free healthcare to the local community. Today, we have 17 locations throughout Pima County and serve nearly 60,000 patients. This includes our newest location at St. Mary's Hospital. Patients don't just come to MHC for their healthcare, they come to MHC because we treat them like family. This past year MHC was been at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19. In the beginning of the pandemic MHC was able to provide COIVD testing to community. MHC was able to start providing care to the community using telehealth for Medical, Behavioral Health and even Dental needs, in order to help keep our employees and the community as safe as possible. We were able to have as many employees work from home as possible and provided protective equipment for the employees who were still working on the frontlines providing care. Through the help of several Federal grants around COVID response, MHC was able to not furlough employees. This allowed MHC to be ready to deliver the COVID vaccine once it became available in December. Since that time, MHC as delivered over 21 ,000 doses of COIVD vaccine to our community through drive through vaccination clinics in Marana, Oro Valley, Picture Rocks and at the Tucson Mall. The COVID pandemic has strengthened MHC's partnerships with other organizations in the community. The Town of Marana, Town of Oro Valley, Marana Unified School District, Ava Valley Fire, and Northwest Fire have all supported MHC with both COVID testing and vaccination clinics. Pima County Health Department worked to get MHC COVID vaccines for the Marana Community as soon as they were available. All of these community partners, and many more, have worked to keep the community as safe as possible during the pandemic. The pandemic has prompted a series of changes to federal, state and private- payer policies that quickly allowed telehealth to meet patient demand. Some of the most significant changes included providing reimbursement to healthcare providers for patients receiving telehealth services in their homes and expanding the ability to use telehealth to non-physician practitioners. Telehealth is breaking down barriers to receiving care. With telehealth, time, distance, and availability are becoming smaller obstacles. Telehealth connects healthcare professionals and patients promptly, conveniently, and efficiently. MHC will continue to use telehealth into the future to increase the level of care we can provide the local community and beyond. MHC has been part of this community for the past 64 years and we plan to continue serving Marana for many more. As we look to the future of MHC Healthcare, technology, regulations, and populations will change, but one thing will always stay the same, which is our commitment to providing quality healthcare with a heart. DAN MARRIES / MAYOR HONEA / TOWN OF MARANA COMMUNITY AWARDS Youth Legacy Award: Cameron Walsh The Marana Town Council created the Youth Legacy Award in order to acknowledge youth in the community who make Marana a better place for everyone. Cameron Walsh was nominated for this award by his fifth-grade teacher at DeGrazia Elementary School. Cameron was the first to welcome new students into the classroom by being kind, caring, and helpful. He tutored others, including those with disabilities, and helped them to complete their math, reading, and history lessons. Cameron was voted among his peers to be the Sargent-at-Arms for student council, and in 2019, was selected to represent MUSD at the CardinalKids Combine Day at the Cardinal Stadium in Glendale AZ. Please join me in congratulating Cameron Walsh. Marana Branding Irons are awarded to those who have made a "mark" on the community. Individual Branding Iron Award: Navid Kharrazi Navid Kharrazi was nominated for a branding iron award by Michael J. DiNicola for his support of veterans through "The Wing and a Prayer Horse Farm." According to Mr. DiNicola, "Navid Karazzi has been our coach, friend, and mentor. Through animal therapy, he taught us how to ride, and he did so with an open heart." As a Purple Heart Town, the Town of Marana is proud to recognize Navid for his support of veterans in the community. Please join me in congratulating Navid Kharrazi. Organization Branding Iron Award: Sylvan Learning Center Since opening Sylvan Learning Center in 2018, Catherine Oberholzer has provided tutoring services, college prep classes, STEM camps, and so much more to Marana children. Through her organization, she helps children build self- confidence e ce and to grow academicallyin apositive learningenvironment. She never turns anyone away, even offering reduced pricing and scholarship programs to families in need, therefore giving learning opportunities to those who may not otherwise have been able to receive it. Please join me in congratulating Catherine Oberholzer for making a mark on the community through her work at Sylvan Learning Center. DAN MARRIES I MAYOR HONEA INTRODUCTION MAYOR HONEA I FINAL REMARKS (Off teleprompter) - Council introduction - Ed Stolmaker and Jeff Piechera in-memorium - Introduce Terry Rozema