The year was 2010 when a group of 33 greater Vail area leaders began meeting in the community room of the Rincon Valley Fire District’s newly constructed second fire station on Sands Ranch Road. The charge to the members, each of whom represented a community organization, governmental agency, or business serving the greater Vail area, was to develop a motto and a series of value statements that the group would pass on for future guidance. Vail School District Superintendent Calvin Baker facilitated the process known as Vail Vision. It was finally completed in 2012.
“It was a notable achievement to get so many different organizations at the table. The level of engagement was superb. It was hard work on everyone’s part,” said Superintendent Baker as he drew a parallel between this project and one done by the Vail School District. “We did a similar, difficult, large group exercise in regards to determining the values of the School District – almost 30 years ago. The District is now at least twenty-times larger. A major reason for our success through all the change is that we had held firm to those core values established so long ago (community, serving parents, excellence, and innovation),” said Superintendent Baker. “I agree with Cal that this was and still is a very superb document. As I read through it again, I believe it is still current and relevant,” said Pastor David Hook representing Christ Lutheran Church Vail with the project.
“After a decade of very modest housing growth, we seem to be moving into a faster growth pattern. Safeway is under construction, our primary access road in Vail has been rebuilt, and there are 800 plated home sites as we speak,” said Rob Samuelsen who represented the Boy Scouts. “Also, Pima County has created the way for the first Community Facilities District (CFD) to finance the Valencia-Old Spanish Trail connection as well as the Rocking K Development. Similarly, Corona de Tucson is changing rapidly with continued growth, a completed Wilmot Road and rumors of a direct petition incorporation attempt.” There is no question some things have changed and some things are the same. The motto “Vail, AZ – Preserving Our History, Nature, and Community” was agreed upon.
The Value Statements include:
“Conservation is Paramount. We deeply value our beautiful environment. We believe it is our responsibility to preserve the things we treasure, such as open space, dark skies, mountain views, and wildlife corridors.
We Honor Our Rural Heritage. We seek to preserve the area’s western character, as expressed through architecture, events and native landscape.
We Are An Engaged Community. We actively seek to determine our future. While independent, we also work with and rely on each other.
We Are A Solid Community. We value the traditional building blocks of a community: faith, education, and service.
We Are Dynamic. We are a place where innovation and risk are welcome.”
It is up to each reader to decide if these value statements are still the vision for the greater Vail area.
Participating in the exercise were Claudia Anderson, the sponsoring organization, Vail Community Action Board (VCAB); Tom Andrew, commander, American Legion Post 109; Alex Argueta, developer, Remington Group; Peter Backus, president, PB Trading/Coyote Creek; Calvin Baker, superintendent, Vail School District; Jon Baker, executive director, Southwest Fair Commission; Sherry Betts, Arizona Senior Academy; Liz Calhoon, Rincon Trails Homeowners Association (HOA); John Carruth, Rincon Institute; Mary Ann Cleveland, Passages of Tucson; Nina Corson, Vail Education Foundation; Captain Todd Cupell, Corona Fire Department; Greg Durnan, Estrada Property Owners; Royce Davenport, Vail Preservation Society;
Also, Charlotte Fugett, president, Pima Community College East Campus; Anne Gibson, VCAB; Melissa Greibel, president, Greater Vail Area Chamber of Commerce; Ray Hasenstab, Rita Ranch Neighborhood Association; Walter Hill, SEBA; and David Hood, Pastor, Christ Lutheran Church Vail; J J Lamb, executive director, Vail Preservation Society; Karen Lundberg, fire chief, Rincon Valley Fire Department; Ken Marcus, U of A Tech Park; Martie Maierhauser, manager, Colossal Cave Mountain Park; Al Nichols, CIVANO Neighborhood Association; Suzanne Roelike, St. Rita in the Desert; Rob Samuelsen, Boy Scouts; Dr. Ken Sutton, Cienega Kiwanis Club; Nancy Velasco, Corona Bel Aire HOA; Elizabeth Webb, Empire Fagan Coalition; Meg Weesner, Cienega Rotary; and Sandy Whitehouse, president, Santa Rita Foothills Community Association.
Graphics by Todd Welch.
