Tim Bohen, Candidate for Oro Valley Town Council
Tim Bohen is a Southern California native who considers Oro Valley to be the best place he has lived. As an aerospace engineer at the Hughes Aircraft Company and later Raytheon, Honeywell, Securaplane and Celestica, Tim has worked on large engineering projects. Watching his managers use a disciplined information gathering process to support difficult and high profile decisions has had a major impact on him.
Tim moved to Oro Valley in 2015 to accept a job at Honeywell. After attending the Oro Valley Community Academy and Oro Valley Police Department Citizens Academy, Tim realized he wanted to engage more fully in what was going on in his new home town. The level of resident engagement in Oro Valley convinced him that continuing the great success of Oro Valley would be possible. But Tim also realized that having Town Council members who put the residents first is a necessity. Tim is a strong advocate for following the resident-created 2016 General Plan to guide the Town’s growth.
Tim was elected to Town Council in 2020. He has attended every Council meeting during his current term. Tim has also attended a large number of Neighborhood and Commission meetings with the goal of having as much information as possible before making his votes as a councilmember. He will never hesitate to ask questions or request more time to make a decision if he believes this can lead to a better decision for residents.
Tim is a private pilot and was previously a member of the Torrance Airport Commission. He is also proud to have achieved the INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional designation. Tim has been fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to every continent and over 40 different countries. He is a past President of Oro Valley Toastmasters and a Red Cross platelets donor. Tim is an avid and lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles Angels. But the University of Arizona Wildcats have become his newly adopted college team.
Interview Questions & Answers
1. How will you manage Oro Valley's growth while ensuring it is an excellent place for old-timers and newcomers?
My strategy for managing growth in Oro Valley is to evaluate the financial benefits of each growth proposal coming to Council versus any downside that such growth may cause to our current residents. In most cases that I have studied while on Council, I have concluded that the additional revenues will not justify the negative impact of the proposed development to our resident’s current quality of life nor their home values. Our residents are very engaged when it comes to increased land use entitlements. In addition, most proposals come with no formal time commitment nor credible economic analysis provided by the applicants. Current residents deserve to know how much actual net revenue will be generated by allowing the increased property entitlement in excess of the current zoning. Residents also deserve to know why the Town needs this revenue.
2. As Oro Valley experiences population growth, what strategies would you implement to ensure that the town's infrastructure, roads, and utilities are properly maintained and upgraded to accommodate increased demand?
The best strategy I am aware of for managing our infrastructure is to perform a detailed 10-year plan for all our upcoming needs. And this plan must be updated with updated information at every opportunity. Our Town’s financial policies have long directed that the Town Manager’s Budget reflect credible 10 year capital planning so that all residents are aware of what the Town’s capital and infrastructure needs are. Regrettably, the detailed long term planning Oro Valley has long needed is only now starting to be done in the last two Town Manager’s budgets. But we are much better off facing up to the challenges now than we had been in effectively ignoring them. It is not enough to have a good financial policy. Council must ensure that our Staff follows good policy.
3. Oro Valley's revenue is derived primarily from sales tax. Do you think Oro Valley needs additional revenue streams? If yes, what are your ideas for revenue diversification? If not, why not?
No, I don’t think Oro Valley needs new revenue streams at the present time. But we do need to manage current revenue streams more carefully. Without proper financial oversight from Council, even having adequate revenues will not be enough. Responsible oversight of the Town Manager’s Recommended Budget and all required financial reporting by Council in the name of residents is the key.
4. How will Oro Valley have sufficient funds to meet its needs and obligations? What strategies would you employ to manage the town's finances effectively and maintain long-term fiscal sustainability?
The strategies I employ to manage the Town’s finances more effectively are to study the long-term trends impacting the current state of our Town. I believe the single most important role of the Council is to thoroughly understand the Town’s financial situation. Policy decisions must be guided by a detailed understanding of the Town’s financial situation.
5. Do you think Oro Valley has been fiscally responsible in recent years? If not, why not, and what would you do differently?
I think that Oro Valley has been fiscally responsible since 2020. Our yearly revenues exceed our yearly expenses by several million dollars annually. This does not mean I would not encourage major changes. The $4.9M our Town pays Indigo to manage Town owned golf is outrageous. The Town has demonstrated the ability to manage fee paid aquatics, gym classes, tennis and field rentals in a responsible way. A $4.9M bond payment could fund $60M in infrastructure spending for a police station, bridges, highway maintenance and new parks facilities. We cannot ignore the huge costs that this gold-plated golf management contract imposes on our Town finances.
6. Is maintaining Oro Valley's unique identity a priority for you? If so, what measures will you take to preserve that identity and aesthetic appeal while accommodating the need for development? How would you balance these two important aspects of the town's growth?
To me the unique identity of Oro Valley is our incredible scenic views and wonderful park amenities combined with proximity to the amenities offered by Tucson. I reject the idea that further growth beyond infill development is desired by most of our current residents. Our road network is more reflective of a rural community than it is of a high density suburb of a major city.
7. How do you feel about our current level of public safety services? What is your plan regarding public safety as our population grows and community needs evolve?
Our Oro Valley police department is well managed and morale within this Department is high. But we the residents must ensure that their pay and benefits remain competitive. We must also seek to support other Police Department needs in the areas of facilities and needed capital expenditures.
8. With water conservation being crucial in Arizona, what strategies do you propose to ensure the responsible management and sustainability of water resources in Oro Valley?
Regarding conservation of potable water, an obvious path forward for the Council to make immediate and tangible progress and show we are serious is to close the potable water using 9 hole Pusch Ridge golf course. Or better yet, have HSL retake possession of this amenity which is adjacent to the El Conquistador Resort. This is an amenity that HSL once owned. Even without Pusch Ridge, the Town still offers 36 holes of public golf available to all Town residents. If Pusch Ridge is to stay open, Council must ensure that green fees reflect true potable water costs. Only by doing this can we keep this course open in a manner which reflects potable water conservation and fiscal responsibility. Town Council can’t have it both ways. We can’t reopen a potable water using 9 hole golf course during a drought while maintaining that responsible potable water management is our goal.
9. How will you engage with residents and stakeholders to gather input and address their concerns?
I have been engaging directly with residents and listening to their concerns since long before I was voted on to Town Council. I think it is a privilege to represent the interests of the majority of our Town’s residents.
10. How will you ensure everyone knows what's happening with the town's finances, budgeting, planning, and significant projects? What specific measures will you take to promote transparency and keep residents informed about the decisions being made by the Town Council?
I already do this. Not reviewing our Town finances in public at every opportunity and learning from these public and recorded discussions is a mistake currently being made by Council. Will Council pay for this mistake? No, it is our taxpaying residents that will pay. This is why I take every opportunity to ask every question I can about our finances in our Council meetings. Residents depend upon Council to use the information Council have access to benefit our residents.
11. How do you plan to foster sustainable economic growth in Oro Valley while protecting and preserving the town's precious natural environment, open spaces, and unique desert ecosystem for future generations?
My strategy for managing growth in Oro Valley is to evaluate the financial benefits of each growth proposal coming to Council versus any downside that such growth may cause to our current residents. In most cases that I have studied while on Council, I have concluded that the additional revenues will not justify the negative impact of the proposed development to our resident’s current quality of life nor their home values. Our residents are very engaged when it comes to increased land use entitlements. In addition, most proposals come with no formal time commitment nor credible economic analysis provided by the applicants. Current residents deserve to know how much actual net revenue will be generated by allowing the increased property entitlement in excess of the current zoning. Residents also deserve to know why the Town needs this revenue.
12. In what ways do you envision collaborating with neighboring communities, regional authorities, and state agencies to address common challenges and leverage opportunities for Oro Valley's benefit?
Collaborating with neighboring communities, regional authorities, and state agencies to address common challenges is largely the Town Manager’s job. Town Council must ensure that this work is being done via our supervision of the Town Manager.
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