Javier Baca

The meeting included a review of a Community Foundation for Southern Arizona report detailing the recent impacts on nonprofit organizations, particularly stemming from federal funding cancellations and guideline changes in 2025, which created significant strain and layoffs across the sector. Discussions also covered the Pima Early Education Program (PEEPS) scholarships, focusing on efforts to secure additional funding through the 'Supercharged PEEPS' campaign involving various community stakeholders to raise significant funds over the next few years to support early childhood education.

The meeting commenced with a roll call confirming all board members were present, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a land acknowledgement. Current events included announcements regarding the Governor's upcoming State of the State address, District 3 office hours, a dog walk event supporting Puma Animal Care Center, and a listening session for the Governor's State Task Force on Missing, Murdered, and Indigenous People. Board members also shared updates on One Puma initiative neighborhood cleanups and the installation of new technology to trap trash in the Santa Cruz River during floods. Furthermore, the Chair's office introduced a new podcast series featuring interviews with department directors. The agenda included several employee recognition segments, honoring retirements of a Park Specialist with 40 years of service and an Administrative Assistant with 36 years of service, as well as quarterly GEM awards for outstanding employees across various departments including Facilities Management, Library, Puma County One-Stop Center, Parks and Recreation, County Attorney's Office, and Juvenile Court. Proclamations were introduced, including one for Arizona Photonix Day.

The meeting began with roll call, confirming all board members were present, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Matthew Stamp and Arthava Bowman, the champion of the 2026 Puma County Spelling Bee. A land acknowledgement was presented by Meheria Habibi of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), who also detailed the IRC's work, including providing assistance to over 1,221 households of refugees impacted by policies and increased need. Supervisor Gunnell provided updates on the Love of Lectura author series, featuring Dr. David Yetman and upcoming guest Dr. Lydia Otteredo, focusing on gentrification. Chair Allen acknowledged the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson and commended HR for organizing the Black History Month celebration. Supervisor Scott highlighted the sponsorship of an event featuring former NFL coach Tony Dungy. Agenda adjustments included the withdrawal of items related to Sunzia Transmission LLC and El Rio Soul Transmission LLC, and setting a time certain for the finance budget remediation plan update. Proclamations were presented to Youth on Their Own for their work supporting homeless youth, recognizing an 89% graduation rate among their seniors and celebrating 40 years of service. A second proclamation honored Dancing in the Streets Arizona Day. The final action involved proclaiming February 2026 as Downtown Tucson Partnership Appreciation Month, noting increased staffing and reduced safety incidents due to their efforts.

The meeting began with roll call, confirming all board members were present. A pledge of allegiance was led by a guest from the Pima County School Superintendent's office. A land acknowledgement statement was read, followed by comments from the grants management and innovation department regarding recent training. A representative from Pima Animal Care Center (PAC) provided an update on adoption events related to the Super Bowl and Valentine's Day, and celebrated the 10th anniversary of their nonprofit partner, Friends of PAC. Supervisor Scott acknowledged members of the Dancing in the Streets organization regarding a miscommunication about a pending resolution. Members of Dancing in the Streets then spoke about their nonprofit ballet organization's mission to provide training for low-income and at-risk youth. Following this, the Board addressed agenda adjustments, including moving discussions on protecting county-owned properties, banning law enforcement masks, and opposing an ICE detention center to after the call to the public. An executive session was scheduled for later in the day to discuss a quarterly report update and rules of executive session. The Board then presented a proclamation declaring Monday, February 2nd, 2026, as Mexican-American Heritage Day, adopted upon motion and unanimous vote. Representatives from Amistades accepted the proclamation, referencing their long-standing community leadership and cultural preservation work. During the call to the public, several speakers vehemently opposed the proposed ICE detention center in Marana, citing concerns about community safety, exponential increase in ICE presence, negative economic impact, and past instances of aggressive enforcement actions. Speakers also urged support for resolutions protecting county properties and requiring law enforcement to display identification and refrain from wearing masks while on duty.

The meeting, identified as the second board of supervisors retreat, focused primarily on the budget overview for FY2526 and preparation for FY2627. Key discussions included confirming the fiscal stability of the general fund for the current year, utilizing fund balance carryover, and seeking guidance on incorporating 'dream' requests and tax rate considerations into the upcoming budget. Specific items addressed included proposed tax rate increases for affordable housing (3 cents), flood control (1 cent), and the library district (2 cents). Budget presentations detailed base revenues, expenditures, and the projected $30 million gap when including base budget adjustments, ongoing 'dream' requests (approximately $10 million), and compensation strategy enhancements (approximately $15 million). Funding levers available to the board, such as reviewing fund balance policy and potential property tax rate increases, were also reviewed.