Our Fall quarterly meeting took place last night, with 12 attending, including Naomi Lee (Ward 3 Council Aide);
Liz Morales (Assistant City Manager); and Tamara Prime (Primavera Foundation).

Upcoming Dates:
Oct 15 Open House for 1st Ave Improvement Project (Donna Liggins, 5:30 PM)
Oct 26  Cyclovia bike riding event (see attached flyer)
Nov 14-17  Rolloff dumpsters for our neighborhood

2026 Association Meetings: January 8, April 9, July 9, October 8.

First off Naomi Lee noted several items:

* Self-serve sandbags are available for free at Hi-Corbett field, for protection against stormwaters

* There will be an open house for the 1st Avenue Improvement Project, Phase 2,  on October 15
at the Donna Liggins center, 5:30 PM.

* Tucson Water has expanded its low-income assistance program, https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Water/Your-Water-Bill/Financial-Assistance

* Also at Tucson Water you can get a $25 credit by completing an online water usage audit, https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Water/Conservation/DIY-Water-Audits.
 (Click on  Water Works Calculator)

* Cyclovia will host its next bike riding event on Oct 26, just west of our neighborhood; see attached flyer for the map.

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Next followed a lengthy discussion of the Star Village unhoused persons shelter, which will begin
operations on Oct 15 at 244 E Grant, just west from El Cortez.
(See attached flyer)

Liz Morales and Tamara Prime presented a good deal of information about the project (see
the attached flyer):

* It is a one year pilot project between the city and the Primavera Foundation
* It has onsite staffing
* It is targeted towards women or nonbinary unhoused people, to provide safe sleeping
* Potential users of the facility will be lactively ocated by canvasses of the nearby unhoused population; there is NO walk-in service available
* The site is enclosed and screened from view
* The project has support from the immediately adjacent apartment building
* some work opportunity will be provided through Old Pueblo Community Services

Jacob asked about the utilities at the site. The site will have a water spigot and mobile showers,
as well as electric service for heating/cooling stations ("cooltainers"). It will have porta-potties (no sewer lines).

Tori asked who to call about problems; contacts are on the attached flyer.

Julia inquired about the metrics by which the project will be evaluated. Tamara said that
they will track information such as the percentage of users who transition to higher level housing; the percentage
that gain a source of income; the number of calls for incidents; and measures of social connections made by users.
Neighborhood surveys will also be conducted.

Martha inquired about why more emphasis was not being being given to faith-based or 12-step homeless
programs such as Gospel Rescue Mission, with which she had positive experience in the past.

Jake inquired about the expected stay time for residents of the site (30-45 days).

Will inquired about the recent ordinance change which was seemingly aimed at reducing panhandling in medians. The ordinance prohibits
 loitering in medians for any purpose, for safety reasons, and it is being enforced but still violated at times.

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Additional items discussed:

Street lights. Our known problems are fixed, and the copper theft activity has hopefully moved elsewhere.

GSI Minigrant for water-harvesting and foliage-increasing chicanes near 3rd/Flores: this is waiting on one
more signature to achieve the 60% threshold (vacant houses being a barrier)

We could apply for a Safe Streets minigrant for things such as speed bumps, traffic circles, or chicanes, aimed
at traffic calming. Anyone with a priority location in mind is encouraged to contact the Association.

There was some discussion of the recent Middle Housing initiatives from the city, which involve reducing barriers
to construction of ADUs ("mother-in-law" units) as well as duplex,triplex, and fourplex buildings.  Concerns were
raised that it will increase property costs rather than making it easier to buy.

Neighborhood paving: Southwest Gas has until the end of this month to do their work which is blocking our
repaving; once this is completed we will hopefully be scheduled for early 2026.

Tori requested new reflective tape on the traffic circle poles at Calle Chico/Hampton