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Transit, water, La Posada projects discussed by GVCCC

By Ellen Sussman, Special to the Green Valley News
Published: Saturday, September 13, 2008 5:58 PM MST


At its Sept. 10 executive board meeting, the Green Valley Community Coordinating Council discussed a variety of matters including the MedianGreen project, a local transit survey, water issues, upcoming events, the exterior colors of the Quality Inn and new projects planned at La Posada.

County Board of Supervisors District 4 special staff assistant Tom Ward said the supervisors recently granted permission for improvement of the MedianGreen project on La Canada Drive. The board is not providing any funds, only approval for the project to go forward.

MedianGreen is a group of volunteers who feel that the public medians in Green Valley need help. It been working closely with the county to replace dead vegetation in the road medians and wishes to add desert adapted plants and materials to the existing vegetation to create a greener, more beautiful Green Valley.

GVCCC President Russ Symes said an insert will be coming Wednesday in the Green Valley News and the Sahuarita Sun asking residents for their input regarding local transit needs. The goal is to zero in on where services are needed. Currently local transit makes some stops at places where there is virtually no need.

First Vice President Stan Riddle spoke about his attendance at a July Town Hall meeting sponsored by U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), where he made the following three suggestions:

  • “At the federal level and without violating the Clean Water Act, secure a commitment from the Army Corp of Engineers to develop where feasible, structures that channel the flow of storm water from our arroyos and tributaries into the Santa Cruz Valley aquifer via recharge stations.


  • “At the state level, under the auspices of the Arizona Department of Water Resources and the Arizona Corporation Commission… form a regional water conservation district that includes all water companies, applicable governmental agencies, the Indian nations and other entities that draw the majority of their source from the aquifer. Working together, their mission would be to preserve the water quality and maintain the aquifer at its current or improved level.

  • “At the county level for all future development, both commercial and residential, provide for retention basins and direct to the flow of rainwater and waste water into those basins and further into recharge areas.”

    In his concluding remarks at the Town Hall meeting, Riddle said, “There have been a lot of words spoken in the past 10 years with little action and we hoped that actions would follow as a result of the meeting.”

    Upcoming events

    Executive Director Joyce Finkelstein spoke about the following upcoming events:

  • A “Candidate Forum” presented by GVCCC, GVR, the Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce, Green Valley League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 9 a.m. at the West Center.

    Invited are candidates for U.S. Congress, District 8; state senator, District 30; state representative, District 30; Pima County Attorney; Pima County Sheriff and candidates for the Arizona Corporation Commission.

  • Two free “shred-fests” will be held in the Safeway parking lot at Duval Mine Road and La Canada Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4 and Oct. 18.

  • The Animal League of Green Valley will have a Grand Opening of its new building from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8. The event is open to the public.

  • A forthcoming report about Green Valley as a retirement community is expected in the October edition of U.S. News and World Report.

  • The fifth annual Women’s Conference sponsored by the Green Valley News, La Posada and Women of Quail Creek will be held on Friday, Nov. 14, at Quail Creek’s Crystal Ballroom.

    Finkelstein spoke about Proposition 200, which focuses on PayDay Loan reforms and urged those present to read and investigate the proposition before voting for or against.

    Parliamentarian Loren Thorson presented a point-by-point account of the bylaws as they relate to President Russ Symes’ resignation effective Sept. 18.

    Thorson said First Vice President Stan Riddle will step in. However, according to Roberts Rules of Order, the floor must be open to other nominations. In essence, the president’s seat is wide open, he said. If Riddle becomes president, there will be a vacancy for the first vice president.

    In a serious, yet lighthearted discussion, Symes read a letter from Choice Hotels International, parent company of the Quality Inn, which was formerly a Best Western.

    In response to local complaints regarding the colors for the recent painting of the exterior, the GVCCC contacted Choice Hotels requesting that the building be repainted with more subdued shades.

    A response was received stating that field representatives from Choice Hotels would look into the matter.

    At-Large member Susanne Blodgett spoke of current and future projects at La Posada. In the works is an open-to-the-public coffee/tea/pie/pastry shop called “Posada Java” that will include a lounge area and art gallery showcasing residents’ art, an open-to-the-public barber shop, a new Treasure Shop and completion of assisted living facilities to accommodate couples.

    Future projects include an auditorium for La Posada and public functions, a park with a resting and meditation area and plans for 35 additional garden homes. These projects will conclude La Posada’s building projects.

    Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.



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