Environmental Day at the State Capitol and preparing to take action with Request to Speak

It’s that time of year when we can start acting on bills that impact the environment through the Request to Speak system at the Arizona State Legislature website. I will be posting RTS actions on water and other important environmental bills that I gather from the Sierra Club and other sources.

If you haven’t yet, please sign up for the Request to Speak system by filling out the form from Civic Engagement Beyond Voting. https://www.cebv.us/rts.html 

NOTE: I suggest you take a couple of minutes to do that now, since it may take a few days for someone to go the capitol to sign you up. 

Weekly RTS 101 Training - Mondays at 6:30pm

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEtf-GtrzgsGtQ-LyXAbZVcf320VPcxoK3E

Also included below is information on Environmental Day at the Capital. It is a fun and rewarding event where we go to the state capitol in person (or virtually) to advocate with our legislators. The Sierra Club sends out one-sheets ahead of time so you can bone up on the environmental bills. They provide a free bus and snacks for the trip up.

Get ready for the 2023 Legislative Session and Environmental Day at the Capitol -- note date change

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Also, please mark your calendar and sign up for the following events note the change in date for Environmental Day at the Capitol 2023. You can RSVP and add it to your calendar by using the link below.     Environmental Day at the Capitol Tuesday, February 7, 2023 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM (meetings with legislators, as can be scheduled) 11:30 AM Registration Noon Program, Tabling, and Opportunities for Action 4:00 PM Wrap up RSVP https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?id=7013q000002NcDbAAK&formcampaignid=7013q000001bzPIAAY For new participants, Environmental Day at the Capitol is our annual lobby day. We do this in collaboration with 20 plus other organizations. We will have information tables, speakers, and will be setting up appointments with legislators. You need not have any experience or be an expert and will have a team leader to help you with the legislative meetings.

Help shape Plan Tucson 2025

 ;Plan Tucson is getting updated!  

 

What do you want for Tucson? Your vision for the future of our community is needed as we update Plan Tucson, the City of Tucson General & Sustainability Plan (2013).   

 

Over the coming years, community members will have the opportunity to develop a 20-year plan for Tucson, reflecting our shared goals and diverse aspirations. The goals and policies spelled out in the new Plan Tucson will be used to guide the City’s investments, programs, policies, and land-use decisions over the next two decades. 

 

During the first phase of community outreach during Spring 2023, Tucson residents will be asked to share their priorities and vision for the future of our City. This is an opportunity for the community to learn about the City’s recent efforts, assess our challenges and needs, and guide Tucson’s long-term direction. 

 

Plan Tucson will be on the ballot for voter approval in November 2025. 

 

We invite you to attend our first Plan Tucson Open House event. Please help spread the information to the Tucson community.  

 

Event:  RSVP:		Plan Tucson Open House  https://forms.office.com/g/Z8anEQiyRX
Date and Time:		January 19th, 2023 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Location:		Tucson Convention Center, West Meeting Rooms 260 S. Church, Tucson, AZ 85701

Stay Informed about this event and upcoming community workshops by Registering Here or by scanning the QR code below.   

  

Please email questions to PlanTucson@tucsonaz.gov or are requesting translation services or other accommodations.

 

Thank you for your support and Happy Holidays, 

  

 

Support Keeping Tucson's Storm to Shade program

Storm 2 Shade - by Steve Kozachik (Ward 6 city council member)

In 2020, just as COVID started changing our lives, M&C (Mayor and Council) adopted what was then conceived as a pilot program called Storm to Shade. Using green stormwater infrastructure projects, the goal was to capture water runoff and divert it into our rights of way – creating more tree canopy and other landscape amenities for the community to enjoy. Like this - 

Picture shows example of green stormwater infrastructure project
Since the program began, we’ve all been paying about $1 per month on our water bills to fund the projects. The money is evenly distributed to projects across the city. In ward 6 you can think of the work done on the Treat Street bike boulevard and all of the landscaping at the ward office as two of our more recent projects. Many more are in the queue. In addition, maintenance of all the city GSI work is funded by the fee. I’ve got copies of the pocket guide to GSI maintenance at the ward 6 office if you’d like to pop over and get one.

On Tuesday we’ll be considering whether or not to keep the program going beyond it’s June 30th, 2023 sunset date. I’ll be a solid yes on making this a regular ongoing program for the city. You can go online and see the full review of projects the program has either completed, or that are in design. There are half dozen local contractors set up for maintenance. This is not only a program that’s beneficial to the environment but adds to our initiatives on water security and is a job creator in our local economy.

If you would like to show support, you can contact your city council member (find out how to contact them here) - or speak up at the Call to the Audience at the City Council Meeting: 

When: December 20, 2022, meeting begins at 5:30 p.m.  

Where: Mayor and Council Chambers, City Hall, 255 W. Alameda

To address the Mayor and Council at the city council meeting:

Complete a speaker’s card and deposit it in the tray at the podium. Upon being recognized, state your name, whether you reside in the City of Tucson and whom you represent, before proceeding. Any person who is representing people other than themselves and is receiving compensation to influence an action by the Mayor & Council, shall, before speaking, identify themselves as a “retained speaker”.

Note: Seating capacity in the Chambers will be limited to accommodate recommended physical distancing. Also, it is recommended that employees and members of the public who access City buildings wear a mask in City facilities in common areas, lobbies and elevators, in areas where proper physical distancing is not feasible and members of the public who are 65 years of age or have a high-risk underlying medical condition.

The agenda

https://tucsonaz.onbaseonline.com/1801AgendaOnline/Meetings/ViewMeeting?id=1657&doctype=1

Sometime after the call to the audience, the council will address:

WATER: CONTINUATION OF GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE FEE AND STORM TO SHADE PROGRAM (CITY WIDE) DEC20-22-351   Ordinance No. 11976 relating to Water; directing an amendment to Section 2 of Ordinance No. 11726 adopted by Mayor and Council on February 4, 2020 to remove the sunset date of the Green stormwater Infrastructure Fee and establish Storm to Shade as a permanent City Program; and declaring and emergency. You can also listen in on the meeting live on Youtube live: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tucson+city+council+meeting+live+    NOTE: The study session for Storm to Shade will be held during the 2 o'clock study session. (Scheduled for 3:10 p.m.)  https://tucsonaz.onbaseonline.com/1801AgendaOnline/Meetings/ViewMeeting?id=1657&doctype=1

Tell your Senators: STOP MANCHIN'S DIRTY DEAL

Last week, we succeeded in keeping Manchin’s dirty deal out of the House’s draft annual defense spending bill (NDAA).

This is thanks to the tremendous grassroots pressure we’ve mobilized over the past few months, and especially the last couple of weeks against this deal.

But unfortunately, this fight is not over. Senator Manchin is now trying to find another vehicle for the dirty deal either through:

• An amendment to the NDAA when it comes to the Senate, or
• By attaching it to an end-of-year spending bill

A vote could happen very soon, so we need to take action now. Can you take two minutes right now to call Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly now and tell them to oppose Manchin’s dirty deal? We’ve included a script you can use below:

→ Call (888) 997-5380 ←

“Hi, my name is Jana, and I’m from Tucson. As a constituent, I’m urging the senator to vote NO on any bill or amendment that would advance Senator Manchin’s dirty permitting deal.

I'm deeply concerned about any legislation that would fast-track fossil fuel projects and undermine our ability to give input on new energy projects.”

Contact Sen. Mark Kelly 

Tucson number: (520) 475-5177 

Phoenix number (602) 671-7901

https://www.kelly.senate.gov/contact/contact-form/

Contact Sen. Kyrsten Sinema 

Phone: (520) 639-7080

(602) 598-7327

https://www.sinema.senate.gov/contact