Preparing for Environmental Day at the (State) Capitol

Mark your calendar for Environmental Day at the Capitol on January 25th from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM. Sign up now so you get all of the important preparation information leading up to the day - including one-sheets about the bills that the Sierra Club is advocating for this session. 

We will be hearing from some great speakers, learning about what advocates from around the state are working on, and meeting with our legislators. You can come for all or part of the day. We hope you can make it, but if you cannot, we will be livestreaming portions of the program to YouTube so you can view it there. This year, our theme is Save Water, Save Life. We will be focusing our lobbying efforts on water, although we will also include a few other issues, including key democracy bills.

Also, sign up for the free bus from Tucson to the Capitol in Phoenix!

Environmental Day at the Capitol Thursday, January 25th 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM RSVP for Environmental Day at the Capitol here.  https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=7013q000001rlIlAAI ==== Leading up to the day, the Sierra Club will be hosting workshops. See details on that below. Sandy Bahr lobbying at the committee meeting  Start the Year Off Right with Water Overview on Arizona Water This workshop is intended to give you some of the basics about water in Arizona and help you prepare for meetings with policy makers. We will have a panel of water experts to share information and there will be time for questions.  Informational Workshops to Prep for Environmental Day Recording of the Volunteer Lobby Workshop is here. Recording of “Start the Year Off Right with Water" is here. Recording for the Arizona Groundwater and the Arizona Groundwater Management Act workshop is https: here. Recording of Democracy and the Arizona Legislature with All Voting is Local here. Recording of Learn about Rainwater Harvesting here. Recording of Bills! Bills! Bills! -- An Overview, Questions & Answers on Key Legislation here.  The Sierra Club and other environmental organizations presented a statement of priorities for the Arizona Legislature and Governor at the Capitol. The focus of the priorities is water, but climate/clean energy, democracy, and environmental justice are also included. To view the priorities, please go here.

Housing Affordable Strategy (HAST) and Housing First in Tucson

A bird's eye view of the Milagro on Oracle site

Glimpse into the future of the Milagro on Oracle site! Once complete, Milagro on Oracle will house Tucsonans 55+ and individuals experiencing homelessness.

The project is part of the City’s 10-point Housing Affordable Strategy for Tucson (HAST), which calls for creation of more affordable housing. Additionally, this project is the City of Tucson's first Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) project in 10 years and first LIHTC project developed under El Pueblo Housing Development, a newly formed non-profit.

Affordable Housing Strategy for Tucson
 https://housingaffordability.tucsonaz.gov/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The local news has been highlighting the work of Housing First and recent Thrive in the 05 projects, such as a new mural going up at Bailey's Fabrics, Tucson House history before rehabilitation, and the purchase of Stone and Speedway for future affordable housing!

• Vacant lot on busy Tucson street corner now has a path forward (13 News) – November 2, 2023 
• Homeless people in Tucson are struggling to get services. The city wants to change that (AZ Central) - November 2, 2023 
• Tucson House: Rich history front and center for future plans (KGUN) - October 26, 2023 
• City of Tucson purchases land for affordable housing: Who is this housing for? (KGUN) - October 25, 2023 
• New mural in Tucson aims to tell the community's story (KGUN) - October 20, 2023 
• Tucson's Housing First team prepares kits to help homeless (KVOA) - October 20, 2023 
• City of Tucson's Housing and Community Development Department announcement 

City Compost Pilot Program - FoodCycle

Roughly a third of what ends up in the landfill is food waste. Think of every restaurant – and every home – and the food that doesn’t get eaten. When I was in Africa some of the lodges out in the outback fed the waste to hyena’s. We toss it into the landfill.

Starting right after the first of the year our Environmental Services folks will be starting a food scrap drop-off pilot project. Similar to how we tested the plastics program before jumping in with both feet, the food waste pilot will test to see if the public will support the program sufficiently enough to make it a permanent thing. Based on the comments I get from hanging around our plastic and glass roll offs I’m betting on you supporting the program. We will be putting out food scrap collection bins at 6 locations scattered around the city. Here’s a map showing where they’ll be located (No, ward 6 is not adding food to our already large array of bins.)

The ward 6 bin will be located in the Highland Vista community garden. In fact, 4 of the locations will be at one of the existing community gardens we have through a partnership in this program with The Community Gardens of Tucson (CGT.) Environmental Services will host the other two sites.  

We’ve been partnering with local restaurants and grocers through our FoodCycle program and since April 2021 we’ve gathered over 1,400 tons of food and green waste, all diverted from the landfill and used to make composting material. We’re partnered with the UA CompostCats. You’ve met some of them here at ward 6 office during some of our plastics/recycle events.

In order to control contamination, the 4 CGT sites will have scheduled hours, will have someone on site to monitor what’s being tossed into the bin and will be locked after hours. The two ES sites will be available 24/7 but will be padlocked. The pass code for the lock will be made available to people who have gone through the city-run training that will begin in December. All the controls are to assure the organics that are being collected are not contaminated.

In addition to the 6 sites, through a grant ES received from the Arizona Recycling Coalition they’ve purchased 150 compost tumblers. The pilot program will also include distributing 25 tumblers to residents in each ward of the city that they can use in their own yards. Each resident using a tumbler will control the contaminants, and they can use the compost material they produce. Here’s an example of one of the tumblers.

In order to be eligible for a tumbler homeowners will be required to downsize their trash container since all of your food and yard waste should now go into the tumbler. There will be training offered for the recipients of the tumblers – that will be scheduled to begin in January and the tumblers will be distributed in February. Thanks are due to Carlos DeLaTorre and his team at Environmental Services for putting the logistics of this program together. My hunch is that it will be well-received by Tucson residents and that it will serve as a model for other jurisdictions to follow – just as the plastics and glass programs have become. - Reposted from City Council member Steve Kozachik's Nov. 20, 2023 newsletter. More Information:  https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Environmental-and-General-Services/Los-Reales-Sustainability-Campus/FoodCycle/FoodCycle-At-Home?fbclid=IwAR2ldrh74frMPSwVhQ2e7JkCYMkvn7zWluylBw0icnvLd3OLPPOS7AOijEM&transfer=4d681a43-0207-425f-948b-9073727e3ad2&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Help Pima County & the UA develop Climate Action Plans

In line with the urgency of climate change effects, key regional entities are adopting ambitious, actionable climate plans.  In May of 2022, Pima Community College approved their Climate Action & Sustainability Plan, and the City of Tucson approved Tucson Resilient Together on March 7, 2023.  

The University of Arizona and Pima County have been at work, too, and wish feedback on their respective plans, aiming for completion in early 2024.

Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with both institutions:

• UA's plan & survey are found at:  https://sustainability.arizona.edu/projects/sustainability-climate-action-plan/recommendations.  Respond by Nov 30.
• Pima County's survey is reached via the headline below.  The estimated time to complete is 16 minutes.  Deadline:  Dec 31, 2023. 
  

Climate Pollution Reduction Plan Survey

The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) is seeking input from Pima County residents on priorities that can strengthen our clean energy economy, enhance workforce training opportunities, and effectively reduce greenhouse gases while also addressing environmental injustices in disadvantaged communities. Please take this survey to help develop the Pima County Climate Pollution Reduction Plan.

Survey here: 
https://engagepimacounty.civilspace.io/en/projects/climate-pollution-reduction-plan/engagements/climate-pollution-reduction-plan-survey/sections/1

More info from PDEQ

You may have seen in the news (10/16/23: https://www.kold.com/2023/10/17/pima-county-wants-public-input-fighting-climate-change/) that Pima County DEQ has accepted a $1 million non-competitive grant from the U.S. EPA to develop plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and other harmful air pollution in our region.

 

The goal is to develop a durable and ambitious plan with community leaders that is reflective of our communities’ needs, will strengthen our clean energy economy, enhance workforce training opportunities, and effectively reduce greenhouse gases while addressing environmental injustices in disadvantaged communities.

 

Please, take the Climate Pollution Reduction Plan Survey and spread the word to others. They would like to learn from the people within Pima County borders including the most vulnerable and underserved communities. 

 www.pima.gov/ClimatePlan 

Help plan for the future of Tucson

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND GET INVOLVED:
JOIN PLAN TUCSON FOR A COMMUNITY FORUM

As Planning and Development Service continues to actively seek input from Tucson in shaping the City's general plan, the Plan Tucson team will be hosting two community forums in the coming weeks. Both events allow the public with the opportunity to offer their opinions and help guide the development of future goals and policies.

To best accommodate the needs of the community, there will be both virtual and in-person gatherings:

Virtual Community Forum

• Date: November 30, 2023
• Time: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
• Location: Online via Zoom
• Register: Virtual Community Forum

In-person Community Forum

• Date: December 2, 2023
• Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
• Location: Fred Archer Center, 1665 S La Cholla Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85713
• Register: In-Person Community Forum

These forums are more than a platform for feedback; they are a way to celebrate community spirit. Those participating in the virtual forum may win one of several prizes. Attendees of the in-person Community Forum will have the opportunity to enjoy local food, participate in raffles, and engage in activities like Ready Set Rec and nature walks.

The virtual and in-person meetings come near the midway point of Plan Tucson's Phase Two, which is expected to wrap up next spring. Another round of community forums is being planned for early 2024.

Visit the Plan Tucson Update page to view the Phase One Community Engagement Summary and to learn more about the Plan Tucson Update.

COMPARTE SUS IDEAS Y PARTICIPA:
ÚNETE CON PLAN TUCSON EN UN FORO COMUNITARIO

A medida que el Servicio de Planificación y Desarrollo continúa buscando activamente la retroalimentación de Tucson para dar forma al plan general de la ciudad, el equipo de Plan Tucson organizará dos foros comunitarios en las próximas semanas. Ambos eventos brindarán a la comunidad la oportunidad de expresar sus opiniones y contribuir a la formulación de los objetivos y políticas futuras.

Para adaptarse mejor a las necesidades de la comunidad, habrá reuniones tanto virtuales como presenciales:

Foro de la comunidad virtual:

• Fecha: 30 de noviembre de 2023
• Hora: 17:30 - 19:00
• Ubicación: En línea a través de Zoom
• Regístrate: Foro Comunitario Virtual

Fiesta de retroalimentación en persona:

• Fecha: 2 de diciembre de 2023
• Hora: 10:00 a. m. - 1:00 p. m.
• Ubicación: Fred Archer Center, 1665 S La Cholla Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85713
• Regístrate: Foro Comunitario

Estos foros son más que una plataforma para recibir comentarios; son una forma de celebrar el espíritu comunitario. Quienes participen en el foro virtual podrán ganar uno de varios premios. Los asistentes al Foro Comunitario presencial tendrán la oportunidad de disfrutar de comida local, participar en rifas y participar en actividades como Ready Set Rec y caminatas por la naturaleza.

Las reuniones virtuales y en persona se acercan a la mitad de la Fase Dos del Plan Tucson, que se espera concluya la próxima primavera. Se está planificando otra ronda de foros comunitarios para principios de 2024.

Visite la página de Actualización del Plan Tucson para ver el Resumen de participación comunitaria de la Fase Uno y obtener más información sobre la Actualización del Plan Tucson.

 

Weigh in on Bus Rapid Transit

Please, consider filling out the survey or attending one of the in-person meetings to share your thoughts on the project.

The city would like your input on the proposed Bus Rapid Transit route that’d take people from the Tohono T’adai transit center that’s next to Tucson Mall to the Ronstadt Center downtown. There are a couple of different routes under consideration. And yes, there’s yet another survey out to gather your input.

This graphic shows the two routes being considered. One runs up Oracle and the other runs up Stone.

BRT is a high-capacity transit system that will improve travel time even beyond the current bus system. This area was chosen because of its already high ridership, and because there’s a significant level of investment already happening through the Thrive in the ‘05 project. That’s an Oracle Road revitalization effort. BRT will have dedicated bus lanes, high quality wait stations, advanced ticketing and signal priority for the coaches.

Here’s a link for the survey - Comment/take the survey: https://www.tucsonrapidtransit.com/#comment

And if you’d like to attend an in-person meeting to learn more about what’s being proposed, there are these three opportunities coming:

• Tuesday, November 14 (in-person) | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Donna R. Liggins Recreation Center | 2160 N. 6th Avenue, Main Meeting Room
• Wednesday, November 15 (virtual) | 6-7 p.m. Link: bit.ly/tucson-transit Phone: 1-408-638-0968 Meeting#: 951 9345 0111
• Thursday, November 16 (in-person) | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Amphitheater High School | 125 W. Yavapai Road, Panther Hall

- BY STEVE KOVACIK