DISTRICT 5 DIGEST: NOVEMBER

Desert Girls

*Photo courtesy of Arlett Perez

The Board of Supervisors office remembered those who we have lost and honored their memories with an altar for Day of the Dead. Their legacy is forever present.

Policy Updates

November 2nd BOS Meeting

Vaccine mandate for employees of Pima County who work with vulnerable populations - clarifying classifications

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

• Out of the more than 6000+ employees who work for Pima County, 1,912 would be required to get vaccinated. 

• This includes, but is not limited to, employees who work in libraries and with incarcerated populations.

• Roughly 84 percent of our employees are vaccinated.

Appointment of Melissa Manriquez to Clerk of the Board

• This item passed unanimously. 

• Congratulations Melissa!

• Best wishes in retirement to Julie Castañeda after 21 years of service in Pima County! You will be missed! 

Grant acceptance from AZ Dept. of Public Safety for Gang & Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission

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

• This item would help pay for eight law enforcement officers, and would require a match from the Pima County General Fund.

• Immigration enforcement is a federal function, not a Pima County function.

November 16th BOS Meeting

D5 Item: Membership of the Pima County Fair Commission

• This item was moved to January 4th. 

• Currently, this is the only County commission where the commissioners decide their own replacements, and the Board of Supervisors has no say in this.

• Supervisor Grijalva believes that every Supervisor should be able to appoint a representative to the commission. 

D5 Item: Raising the Minimum Wage

• No action was taken on this item. Some of the other Supervisors believe that a voter initiative would be better.

• The City of Tucson voters raised the minimum wage in the City in stages to $15 on January 1, 2025. 

• Supervisor Grijalva believes that we should take a regional approach to raising the minimum wage, and that the minimum wage should not be different whether you work in the City or in unincorporated Pima County.

Arizona Dept. of Health Services COVID-19 ELC Funding for K-12 School Reopening

• The Board accepted the grant. 

• From the agenda: This funding will enable the County to undertake a range of initiatives that address the need for culturally relevant and accessible prevention, education and mitigation of COVID-19 in school communities, as well as contact tracing and behavioral support for students who test positive.

November 24th BOS Meeting​​

City of Tucson’s Adoption of Differential Water Rates

• The Board voted 3-2 to sue the City of Tucson for differential water rates.

• Supervisor Grijalva voted against taking legal action. She believes that while the differential water rates are being applied in an unequitable manner that the City is within its legal rights to adopt them as seven cities in Arizona already have differential water rates for customers outside city limits. 

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