919 East Halcyon Road

Tucson, Arizona 85719

December 23, 2015

Mr. Michael Ortega, City Manager

City of Tucson
255 Alameda
Tucson, Arizona 85701
Dear Mr. Ortega:
On behalf of the Mountain View Neighborhood Association, I would like to
welcome you to Tucson and look forward to working with you in efforts to
provide for a clean and safe neighborhood.
Our neighborhood is bounded by 1st Avenue on the west, Mountain Avenue
on the east, Ft. Lowell Road on the south and Prince Road on the north.
I would like to thank you for your rapid response to the continuing problem of
illegal and improper dumping at the Amphi Plaza (corner of 1st Avenue and
Ft. Lowell Road).
After a November 2015 complaint of illegal dumping at Amphi Plaza was
made, through your timely efforts, not only was the area cleaned up
promptly, but the city dumpster on the east side of the plaza was relocated to
the south side of the plaza.
We had recommended this dumpster be removed, and this relocation has
definitely improved the chronic problem of illegal dumping associated with
this dumpster.
For years, our neighborhood, and other city neighborhoods, have been
plagued with the blight of improper or illegally dumped mattresses, sofas,
and other furniture.
Several residents of our neighborhood have assisted me in removing these
pieces of furniture from alleys and on the sides of streets and placing them in
roll offs.
We believe the city has not managed this blight problem properly. Public
health may also be affected with the presence of bed bugs in the discarded
furniture.

The city's Code Enforcement Division has informed us that they have up to
15 days to inspect an illegal dumping complaint.
This policy is unacceptable and shows a pattern of mismanagement from the
prior city managers, their assistants, and directors.
Other cities have criminal ordinances in place to deal with illegal dumping.
My understanding is that the City of Tucson has only civil remedies.
REQUEST FOR PUBLIC MEETING
We are requesting your attendance at a public meeting, preferably at the
Woods Memorial Library on 1st Avenue, to discuss the chronic problem of
illegal dumping and to explore and examine solutions.
We would prefer this meeting be held during an evening, at approximately 6
or 6:30pm, to allow for maximum public attendance and input.
If you feel a pre-conference is advisable, I would be more than eager to meet
with you prior to the public meeting.
We request that the meetings be held sometime next month (January 2016).
Note: From public records requests we have made, it appears the citys
internal audit unit has been deficient in its responsibilities to perform
professional internal audits on the citys Code Enforcement Division.
Photographs of illegal dumping and recommendations for corrective action
will be sent in a separate email
Thank you for your attention to this serious matter.
Sincerely,

Bill Crouse, President

Mountain View Neighborhood Association
520-237-9078
cc Mayor Rothschild and City Council Members
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