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

The Council approves almost all of the consent agenda, including an agreement with the Arizona Board of Regents/University of Arizona to cut down on the number of fire alarm calls that the Tucson Fire Department responds to.

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.

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