DISTRICT 5 DIGEST: DECEMBER

December 7th Board of Supervisors (BOS) Meeting

D5 Item: Information on $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

• At least $5.4 billion is dedicated to Arizona.

• At the meeting, Supervisor Grijalva asked for status updates on the funds and projects from this bill. She wants to ensure that a fair share of the funds are dedicated to projects in Pima County.

D5 Item: Discussion of utility placement along Scenic Routes

• Supervisor Grijalva would like the Board to revise code to require undergrounding of utility lines along Scenic Routes during all significant repair of existing overhead lines and poles.

• Repair and construction of utility poles has been very destructive to native desert vegetation and habitat.

• Supervisor Scott asked for additional information as well.

• This item will come back at a future meeting.

D5 Item: Discussion of Ethylene Oxide Sterilization Facility

• Ethylene Oxide is flammable, explosive, and carcinogenic.

• Pima County has a limited role in regulating this facility but Supervisor Grijalva wanted to highlight this issue for our community.

Appointments to Legislative Districts 9 and 10

Congratulations to Christopher Mathis and Morgan Abraham!

Supervisor Grijalva did not vote for either candidate because she feels strongly that we need more diverse representation in the state legislature, and advocated for the Board to appoint women.

Investment and renovation of Teatro Carmen

• This item passed 4-1, with Supervisor Grijalva voting in favor.

• The County will purchase the property and dedicate $1 million to its renovation and restoration.

Appointment of Jan Lesher, Chief Deputy County Administrator, as Acting County Administrator

• This item passed unanimously.

Creation of Redistricting Advisory Committee for the redistricting of the Board of Supervisors and Pima Community College Governing Board

• This item passed unanimously.

Dismissal of employees who work with vulnerable populations and are not vaccinated against COVID-19

• As of the December 20th, out of the 2,168 employees who were identified as working with vulnerable populations, 239 are full time employees with unconfirmed vaccine status or exemptions. 

• Of the 239 full time employees, 186 work in the Sheriff's department.

• A final notice of involuntary termination will be issued no later than December 31, 2021.

• This item passed 4-1 with Supervisor Grijalva voting in favor.

Retention of Snell & Wilmer to represent Pima County in litigation against the City of Tucson regarding differential water rates

• This item passed 3-2, with Supervisor Grijalva voting against it.

• While Supervisor Grijalva does not agree with the way that the differential water rates were applied, she believes that the City is within its rights to impose differential rates.

December 21st  BOS Meeting

Countywide Mask Mandate - Indoor Public Places

• This will require people to wear face coverings when they are in indoor public places and cannot easily maintain physical distance of at least 6 feet from all other persons.

• This was at the recommendation of the Pima County Health Department.

• This item passed 3-2, with Supervisor Grijalva voting in favor.

• Chair Bronson and Supervisor Heinz also voted in favor.

Revision to personnel policy - special leaves of absence with pay

• This item would provide 100 percent of regular pay to employees on parental leave for six continuous work weeks within the first 12 weeks after the birth or adoption of a child.

• This item passed 4-1, with Supervisor Grijalva voting in favor. 

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