𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 After a brief break, I am back with the "regular" Tucson City Council meeting.

Nerds who love following along (and not just reading my live #TucsonCouncil posts) can watch the meeting here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=J01E...

And if you are a wonk, you can get your fix of city documents for tonight's #TucsonCouncil meeting here: tucsonaz.hylandcloud.com/221agendaonl...

Real quick, I want to talk about Call to the Public*. I will not be repeating eveything that is said during call to the public. This isn't a political decision, it's journalism, not stenography. (* = Again. I said something similar this morning at the #PimaSupes meeting.)

I won't repeat demonstrable falsehoods, nor will I use this platform to repeat what is clearly hate speech.

For those who want to hear every word, everything said at call to the public - I strongly suggest the Youtube feed. You can even loop your favorite commenter.

Also apologies to those whose name I've misspelled in the past and probably, today. I don't get a chance to read the request to speak cards in real-time.

Right now, we are at the part of the meeting where there are remarks from the Council.

Including .... newly appointed Councilman Rocque Perez. This afternoon, the Council appointed the executive director of the Metro Education Commission to the Council to fill the vacant Ward 5 seat.

Here is one you don't see often. A liquor license permit request for Kids Unlimited (in Ward 6.) It is for their ....2025 Pizza Throwdown.

Where are now at the call to the public portion of the #TucsonCouncil meeting.

Union leader Mike Sanchez addresses the Council about the health, safety and a string of assaults at bus stops - saying the Council must ensure his union members need to take steps to ensure the safety of drivers and those riding the bus.

"When you make budget decisions don't overlook the backbone of your public transit system," Sanchez said.

This is a prolonged effort by the unions to get the attention of the Council ahead of negotiations with the City Manager's Office, specifically using Call to the Audience.

Oh this is fascinating! The liquor license request for Kids Unlimited (in Ward 6) for their 2025 Pizza Throwdown is to suspend the liquor license for a few hours for the kid-centered event as they take over a local pizza place.

The Council is getting an earful about Borderlands Brewing losing their lease in favor of a Live Nation comedy club, the woman - admittedly a newcomer to Tucson - says she wants the Council not to issue any construction permits for the space to transform the space.

There are several people in the audience here tonight support of PEEPs, I expect them to speak soon. #TucsonCouncil

Dahl said he got a letter from a business owner who is concerned about lowering the speed limit along First Avenue. The city believes reducing the speed along certain corridors, it will make streets safer.

The Council reads resolution No. 23911 - designating May 5, 2025 through May 9, 2025 as "Heat Season Awareness Week." #TucsonCouncil

There is a large group of people here today. I suspect all of them (save the three reporters in the room) are here for the public hearing on the city's FY26 annual budget. #TucsonCouncil

So why are PEEPs supporters here? City Manager Tim Thomure's recommended budget will cut $750,000 it gives to PEEPs, which would eliminate two programs that offer high quality education to about 90 children between the ages of 3 and 5.

As it is not a core function of the city, it - like many other programs that have been historically funded by the city - are on the chopping block.

Councilman Kevin Dahl is leading the charge to add it back to the budget and PEEPs supporters came out today to urge the Council to add the money back into next year's budget.

There is light at the end of the tunnel! The discussion on the city's NEXT annual budget will be limited to an hour tonight. This is kinda like call to the public but limited to the budget. #TucsonCouncil

And the first speaker, a proponent of PEEPS, tells the Council to fully fund the program at $800,000. She says she has a child in the program.

There is a problem with her statement. The city is currently funds PEEPs at $750,000. As a resident skeptic, I wonder how she arrived at the number.

I have a strong suspicion that a lot of speakers will be here to convince the Council to restore the $750,000 for PEEPs. I'll probably not repeat every PEEPs plea, but I am definitely going to count how many speakers are pro-PEEPs.

For the record, PEEPs is this context is not the sugary easter candy. It is an acronym for Pima Early Education Program Scholarships (PEEPs) - a early childhood education scholarship program.

A hotel owner asks the Council NOT to increase the surcharge on hotels, says it will cost visitors more and he predicts it will lead to a decrease in tourism - for Tucson. He suggests families will chose to stay in Marana or Oro Valley instead. He suggests a domino effect, hitting restaurants too.

He notes many hotel operators are struggling, forced to pay the tax while an AirBNB does not. I noticed there are about a dozen people in the audience holding signs, supporting his request to explore other sources of funding.

Current PEEPs supporters that have spoken before the Council tonight: 4 #TucsonCouncil

Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association (AzLTA) seems to have a paid speaker addressing the Council. (He said he doesn't live here.) #TucsonCouncil

It looks like his name is JD Butler and he is the Government Affairs & Statewide Outreach Manager for AzLTA.

A teacher, in his very best teacher voice, tells the Council - "I am very disappointed in you." He asks the Council to restore the PEEPs budget to last year's allocation - $750,000. He ends it by saying: "Do better and be better."

I believe the count is eight speakers who have asked the five Councilmembers who are here in the building - plus Vice Mayor Lane Santa Cruz who is joining the meeting virtually.

Another speaker tells the Council to increase the PEEPs program - this time to a $1.5 million. While they are passionate about this issue and I have no doubt that they want more funding. But it isn't a serious request. There isn't a single vote for it on the Council this year.

Could the Council find the money? Maybe - a majority of the now seven member Council would have to agree on cutting something else. Page 29 would has a list of programs that are getting budget increases (and why.) tucsonaz.hylandcloud.com/221agendaonl...

FWIW, pages 31 - 32 has programs that they've already cut. It includes eliminating 36 jobs at the City. #TucsonCouncil

We are at a cool dozen supporters of PEEPs addressing the Council tonight. #TucsonCouncil

The latest speaker is tying the defeat of Prop 414 to the Council not listening to the community, asks them to re-asses their priorities and including in that - paying for early childhood education. #TucsonCouncil

There are a lot of handmade signs.

For what it is worth, there are more people here tonight that are tied to the financial side of PEEPs - teachers, and other school employees more than parents.

A woman asks everyone in the room supporting PEEPs to please stand up. It was almost everyone in the room - save for the journalists and few city staffers. (We are not part of the story.)

The last speaker notes that while 39 percent of the people who pay the library district tax are city residents but 60 percent of those who get PEEPs scholarships are city residents.

She is one of the first to come with a specific request - pay for PEEPs for one more year and she (and others) work to find a different funding source. "One year. I promise I am not moving the goal post," she tells the Council

Another supporter (current count: 14) read the budget and goes after increases to the police department to find the money. "This is shameful," she tells the #TucsonCouncil, calling the city budget a moral document.

The final speaker has worked for the city for the last 28 years. He said he was recently re-classified in the streets department, but points out that the police department and fire department gets so much money that other departments get squeezed.

Ok, I'll admit I am fascinated by this last item. The owner is outside of the city limits and wants to connect to the city's water lines, but they do not qualify for the city's water policy. They are asking for a waiver for their one acre policy.

According to the owner, they bought the land in 2007 and they are being held to a water policy established by the city of Tucson in 2013.

According to the city, the owner is trying to SELL the property.

But if you read this map, you will see that most of the properties surrounding it either have existing service or are obligated to get water service when the property is developed.

What would you do? (I'll tell you what the Council decides in a minute.) #TucsonCouncil

This parcel does not meet the city's "three-side" rule, which automatically grants approval if the parcel is surrounded by parcels on three sides with ACTIVE service. This parcel has two sides with active service, and one side with future obligation.

City Attorney Mike Rankin said the Council would need to create a specific resolution to offer service to this parcel, which again no one lives on. The owner said it would cost $50,000 to drill a well on the property.

This is not a tactic to force the owner into annexation. In this case, it isn't feasible.

The Council is leaning towards a waiver but there is a question about the underlying zoning. No one in the room is completely sure if it is zoned residential. Not even the owners - but they are selling it, so they can’t make assurances that the property will be used as residential.

(The document I am reading doesn’t have a parcel code.)

The Council approves a variance for the land owners. #TucsonCouncil