A newsletter & podcast from the Office of Council Member Lane Santa Cruz

Mayor and Council Highlights
September 22, 2020

Study Session

• Council Member Nikki Lee motioned to approve an additional $3 million for rent and utility assistance, $2 million for workers and families, $2 million for small businesses, $500k for nonprofits, $350k for entertainment and art venues impacted by COVID-19. The motion passed 6-0.

• City Attorney Mike Rankin gave an update on an ordinance to cap food delivery fees at 15%. The M&C will make a decision on this item at a future meeting.

• Council Member Richard Fimbres motioned to keep bus fares free until the end of the year. The motion passed 6-0.

• Council Member Cunningham motioned to approve premium pay for eligible workers considered Tier-1 employees. The motion passed 6-0.

• Council Member Fimbres motioned to relaunch the process for the expansion of the Central Business District and GPLETs with a community engagement process to be managed and led by a facilitator. Council Member Santa Cruz added an amendment to include an analysis of the community impact that includes an equity lens on the CBD and GPLET from 2012-2020; a health impact assessment and equity assessment going forward; and incentives for attainable-affordable housing and neighborhood-scale job, creation including worker-owned cooperatives. The motion passed with the amendment 5-1.

Regular Meeting

• Council Member Santa Cruz motioned to pass and adopt Resolution 23240, a major bus service change to streamline Route 22, which jigsaws in and out of neighborhood streets, and to create an on-demand pilot program within the service area along the original route. The motion passed 5-0.

• Council Member Cunningham motioned to renew the Central Business District. The motion passed 4-1.

For future and past agendas see below.

Know Tucson Podcast

For Episode 17 of Know Tucson Council Members Nikki Lee and Lane Santa Cruz discuss their time in office so far as the most junior members of the council, and the ways in which being moms helps them show up in the work.

2020 Menstrual Product Donation Drive

Menstrual products are an important resource for women. Yet in the United States, one in four menstruators cannot afford to purchase their own menstrual products. One in five students in the United States miss school due to lack of access to period products. The pandemic is changing the world we live in. It is exacerbating inequalities, increasing economic hardship. Yet periods do not stop for pandemics.

Help support by donating much needed period products! District 5 Supervisor Betty Villegas and Council Member Lane Santa Cruz are hosting the 2020 Menstrual Product Donation Drive in honor of National Period Day. Only unopened, new items will be accepted. All donations will be given to the Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona and YWCA of Southern Arizona.

Everyone who donates will be entered into a raffle and the first 75 donors will receive a free Eegees coupon! For more information check out the Facebook event page.

Census Update

Despite a federal ruling to reinstate the 2020 Census deadline to Oct. 31, the Census Bureau announced that the count will conclude on Oct. 5. Whether this is the actual date is unclear. Regardless, complete the 2020 Census as soon as possible!

Responses help determine how nearly $700 billion in federal funding is distributed each year, and the number of seats each state has in Congress. It’s estimated up to $3,000 per person, per year is at stake for Arizona. The answers are kept anonymous and are used only to produce statistics.

Free Mobile Mask Distribution

Wearing a face covering is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you or someone you know needs a mask, the City of Tucson is hosting the following free distribution events:

Wednesday, Oct. 7, 5-7 p.m.
Donna Liggins Recreation Center, 2160 N. 6th Ave.

Saturday, Oct. 17, 8-10 a.m.
Mission Manor Park, 5900 S. 12th Ave.

Adult and child sizes will be available, and the child size has adjustable ear loops that can easily fit a small adult. The events will be set up as drive-thrus, where community members can drive up to the site, advise how many masks they need, and the masks will be passed out. Bike-up and walk-up requests are also welcome.

Find out where the mobile mask distribution events will be held next by following the City of Tucson event page on Facebook or Twitter. 

Temporary Conversion to Groundwater System

Tucson Water is preparing to temporarily convert to groundwater wells to provide water service to customers. The conversion will take place starting Friday, October 2, 2020 and is scheduled to continue until Wednesday, November 7, 2020. The change in water sources is a result of a scheduled maintenance shutdown of the Central Arizona Project system.

Tucson Water uses renewable water supplies from the Colorado River, to meet customer demands. The water is delivered using infrastructure operated by the Central Arizona Project (CAP). The CAP annually shuts down portions of its system as part of its maintenance program.

Tucson Water crews and contractors will also use this time to undertake inspections and conduct repairs to segments of a 96” pipeline running along Starr Pass Boulevard and San Marcos Boulevard. In order to complete this work, the pipe segment originating at the Clearwell Reservoir located in the Starr Pass area will be required to be drained into the Santa Cruz River at 26th Street. Draining of the pipe is expected to start on Friday, October 2, 2020, and be completed by Wednesday, October 7, 2020. Tucson Water will temporarily discontinue discharges of recycled water at the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project during the time that the 96” pipe is being drained, allowing for continuous flow in the river channel during this phase of the work. Discharges of recycled water will resume once the 96” pipe has been drained.

The temporary shutdown of the CAP system will not affect the ability of Tucson Water to deliver water. While the main transmission pipeline that delivers most of the water into the community will be taken out of service during this period, Tucson Water operates several well fields that are independent of CAP infrastructure.

Ride Tugo Bike Share Free on Thursdays This October

On Thursdays during the month of October, riders can enjoy free daily passes for Tugo. The free daily pass gives users access to unlimited 30-minute, station-to-station tribs for 24 consecutive hours. Visit a station or download the the CycleFinder/PBSC app to get moving for free with El Rio Health. Refer to the Tugo system map to locate a nearby station.