💧 Ranchers Left High and Dry as Marana Restricts Water Access Beyond Town Limits

🔍 Marana Council Debates Water Restrictions While Expanding Developer Territory. Mayor questions ordinance that would cut off decades-old water supply to struggling rural residents

Apr 26, 2025

😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾

🏛️ The Marana Town Council had a meeting where they discussed 🗣️:

🌱 Growing the town by adding more land,
🚰 Limiting who can use town water,
🛣️ Fixing roads.

One councilmember, Patti Comerford, didn't like the plan to add new land 🚫🏞️ because she thought it wasn't good for the town. The mayor was concerned 😟 about farmers and residents outside town not having enough water during the dry season if the rules change. The council also appointed Libby Shelton 👩‍⚖️ as a new judge and talked about road construction 🏗️ that will close some streets this summer ☀️.

🗝️ Takeaways

🏗️ Marana Town Council moves forward with Linda Vista 52 annexation despite strong opposition from Councilmember Comerford and concerns from nearby residents about zoning changes
💧 Proposed water restriction ordinance would prevent water transportation outside town limits, threatening rural residents and ranchers who rely on Marana standpipes during drought
👩‍⚖️ Elizabeth "Libby" Shelton appointed as new Town Magistrate, continuing the pattern of internal promotions that maintain institutional continuity
🚧 Multiple major road construction projects cause significant traffic disruptions, with Rattlesnake Pass scheduled for complete closure May 23-August 3
🤫 Council approved a $700,000 transfer and free recreation center memberships for officials via the consent agenda with zero public discussion
🍺 Government liquor license approved for Mike Jacob Sports Park, furthering the commercialization of public recreational spaces

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Marana Council Meeting: Annexation Debates and Water Restrictions Reveal Town's Growth Priorities

The Marana Town Council convened on April 15, 2025, for their regular meeting at the Ed Honea Marana Municipal Complex. As the fluorescent lights buzzed overhead and council members settled into their cushioned chairs of authority, the session revealed the ongoing tensions between development interests and resource conservation.

Once again, we witnessed how settler-colonial expansion continues through modern municipal annexation policies that prioritize developer access over community needs—a story as old as the town itself, but with new players and the same disappointing outcomes.

The Power Players: Council Members and Staff

The meeting revealed the power structure that governs this rapidly expanding town on traditional O'odham lands, a fact conveniently never acknowledged in these proceedings:

Mayor Jon Post - Chaired most of the meeting with practiced efficiency, though he notably declared a conflict of interest and recused himself during the Linda Vista 52 annexation discussion. What financial interests might our esteemed mayor have in that development? The public deserves transparency on these "conflicts."
Vice Mayor Roxanne Ziegler - Took over chairing during Mayor Post's recusal, repeatedly steering the conversation away from substantive concerns about the annexation with procedural excuses. Her enthusiastic enumeration of monetary benefits from development spoke volumes about priorities: "4% construction sales tax," "more rooftops," and "economic development" featured prominently in her commentary.
Council Member Patrick Kavanaugh - Ever the infrastructure enthusiast, he spent considerable time detailing his morning stroll around Marana Lake at El Rio Preserve and praising town employee Kim Warner's work removing "invasive species" (a term loaded with colonial perspectives on which plants "belong" in our desert). He highlighted the Northwest Recharge Recovery and Delivery System Partner Project, emphasizing how he "loves this project."
Council Member Patti Comerford - Recently recovered from illness, she emerged as the evening's sole voice of opposition against the Linda Vista 52 annexation proposal. With palpable frustration, she declared, "I don't know why they even brought this to us. It's that bad in my opinion." Her direct challenges to the development agenda represented the only crack in an otherwise unified pro-growth facade.
Council Member Herb Kai - Minimally engaged throughout most discussions, his brief contributions aligned with the pro-development consensus. He asked only whether firefighting equipment water usage would be covered under the proposed water restrictions.
Council Member Teri Murphy - Limited her participation primarily to brief acknowledgments of community events
Council Member John Officer - Raised practical concerns about water availability for residents beyond town boundaries, asking: "How many people are we going to lose that are using the stand pipe now because they live outside the boundaries?" His question highlighted the real-world consequences of bureaucratic boundary-drawing.

Key staff members included:

Terry Rozema - Town Manager who provided updates on various projects and legislative matters with practiced bureaucratic neutrality that masked the significant impacts these decisions would have on marginalized communities.
David L. Udall - Town Clerk (soon to be Deputy Town Attorney), handling administrative matters, including proclamation readings and agenda management. His internal promotion represents the revolving door of municipal governance that maintains systemic continuity.
Jane Fairall - Town Attorney, presenting the town magistrate appointment with evident pride in the internal promotion system that keeps power circulating within the same institutional framework.
Brian Varney - Staff presenter for the controversial Linda Vista 52 annexation, who carefully framed the discussion in technical, procedural terms to minimize attention to substantive environmental and equity concerns.
Fausto Burruel - Public Works director who delivered a lengthy, detailed presentation on traffic and infrastructure projects that demonstrated the town's continued prioritization of automobile infrastructure over public transit or pedestrian needs.
Mike Osborne - Deputy Director of the Water Department, who struggled to justify the restrictive water hauling ordinance when faced with practical questions about its impact on vulnerable residents outside town boundaries.

Critical Analysis of Key Agenda Items

🔍 Linda Vista 52 Annexation: Expanding Colonial Boundaries

In what became the most contentious item of the night, the council discussed annexing 52 acres plus 1.87 acres of right-of-way on Linda Vista Boulevard. This annexation represents another expansion of municipal control, with developers Linda Morales and Brian Underwood of The Planning Center serving as the vanguard with plans for residential development.

The meeting room tensed noticeably when this item came up. Brian Varney, representing town staff, described the annexation area as "approximately 52 acres of land and roughly 1.87 acres of right of way of roadway for Linda Vista Boulevard," located "roughly three-quarters of a mile east of the intersection of Linda Vista and Twin Peaks."

With practiced bureaucratic detachment, he outlined how the town would "incur the maintenance of approximately a little over a quarter mile of roadway" and how future development would be incorporated into "the town's impact fee areas."

Brian Underwood of The Planning Center then took to the podium, describing the proposed project as "meeting some of the current housing needs" and praising the location as "close to Interstate 10, close to the Marana Center and all the employment that's there." His passing reference to "bringing more housing supply and bringing the affordability down" came without any specific commitments to actual affordable housing units—the classic developer's empty promise.

Despite the item being introduced as merely a "public hearing," the underlying power dynamics were clear. Council Member Comerford stood as the lone voice of resistance, her frustration evident as she attempted to reference a county report that had arrived that same day:

"I don't know why they even brought this to us. It's that bad in my opinion... I can't see personally going forward with even looking at doing this annexation based on the information we have right now. I don't see staff spending the time and energy on a project that is not in any way shape or form in my opinion a benefit to the town."

Each time she attempted to elaborate, Vice Mayor Ziegler interrupted with procedural objections:

"Councilmember Comerford, I think the what I saw today had to do with rezoning and other conditions and tonight is only annexation... We're not discussing rezoning tonight we're just talking about... This is just an annexation conditions for annexation."

This rhetorical move—separating "annexation" from the rezoning and development that inevitably follows—exemplifies how procedural fragmentation prevents holistic evaluation of development impacts. The annexation is just the foot in the door; once approved, rezoning becomes a foregone conclusion despite being technically "separate."

Vice Mayor Ziegler quickly countered Comerford's substantive objections with the capitalist metrics of supposed "benefits":

"I think it's worth as because councilor Kai said for the town of Marana to take a look at this and do the cost of benefit... I'd like to say I looked at it of course and a couple of things that I saw that I thought would benefit the town let's start with the 4% construction sales tax... a little bit of state-shared revenue not a lot... it's more rooftops in the town... when it comes to attracting people into the town and economic development I think that's helpful there could be an increase in our sales tax..."

When local resident Kirk Hall approached the podium to express concerns about zoning changes that might dramatically alter the area where he purchased property specifically for its 4.5-acre zoning, Vice Mayor Ziegler again deflected:

"I would encourage you to come back to the rezone... please come back when the rezone pops... but I understand your concern... can't talk to you about zoning at this time we'll do so later..."

Hall astutely observed the procedural sleight-of-hand: "It seems like you wouldn't want to annex something until you knew what the zoning would be and how that's going to benefit you." This citizen's insight cut through the bureaucratic separation of related decisions but went unaddressed as Vice Mayor Ziegler closed the public hearing.

Linda Morales of The Planning Center, arriving late due to traffic, added historical context that revealed the incremental nature of development expansion:

"Several months ago we did bring this project and it was actually only the one the western two parcels that we brought in for a study session... what has transpired since that original study session was we had the opportunity to add... Dell Post’s property to just to our east... through those conversations they said we would like to be a part of this as well it's an opportunity for our family to plan for the future..."

The gradual enlargement of the annexation area demonstrates how development proceeds through accretion, with each expansion building momentum for the next. By the end of the discussion, Vice Mayor Ziegler declared without a formal vote: "I think the majority of the council sounds like they want to move forward and start the annexation process," effectively nullifying Comerford's opposition through procedural maneuvering.

💧 Water Restriction Ordinance: Settler Resource Hoarding

As the desert Southwest faces unprecedented drought, the council considered Ordinance No. 2025.008 to restrict water transportation outside town limits, revealing how settler-colonial municipalities use resource control to maintain power.

Mike Osborne, Deputy Director of the Water Department, introduced the ordinance to prevent "unauthorized transport of water from a temporary hydrometer or a stand pipe for use outside of the town limits or the Marana water service area." He claimed these restrictions would "further our water conservation efforts, preserve the town's water resources, and maintain accurate projections for the town's designation of assured water supply."

Translation: We want to keep our water for our developments and exclude those outside our arbitrary municipal boundaries, regardless of their needs or historical usage patterns.

Town Clerk David Udall explained the proposed restrictions:

Water customers are prohibited from transporting water outside Marana service areas or town limits
Limited exceptions for construction use within town limits
Standpipe customers are allowed within a 2-mile radius for personal residential use
Emergency exceptions at the water director's discretion

A map displayed during the presentation showed the town limits in teal, with water service areas in other colors, and a red line indicating the 2-mile radius where standpipe water could still be transported. The green Tucson Active Management Area represented the zone where water could be transported during officially declared "emergencies."

Mayor Post, to his credit, challenged the ordinance's restrictive approach and exclusionary impact with unusual directness:

"There's other people that rely on this standpipe. I mean, if you live in missile base and I own some property there that has a well on it, my well is 900 foot deep. It runs out of water, burns the well up on a continual basis. It's two miles outside of the town boundaries... So now we're saying, well, too bad because you're two miles outside of the limit and you're not grandfathered in."

He continued, highlighting the immediate drought impacts on local ranchers:

"And this year it's very evident we have not had any moisture and these ranchers don't have water. They don't have stock water right now. And there's a lot of people that rely on the standpipe that we have here that supply a lot of stock, you know, outside. Certainly, I mean, we don't have a lot of ranches right side in the town of Marana."

Council Member Herb Kai asked whether water used in firefighting equipment would be covered under the restrictions, showing at least some concern for practical emergency needs.

Council Member John Officer raised important questions about how many existing users would lose access: "How many people are we going to lose that are using the stand pipe now because they live outside the boundaries? How many people are going to be affected by this change? Because some of them don't use it on a yearly basis. But when they need it, it's been there for them."

The proposed ordinance exemplifies how municipal boundaries become tools of resource gatekeeping, with water increasingly weaponized as climate change intensifies in the desert Southwest. While the council speaks of "conservation," their true concern appears to be monopolizing water for developments within town boundaries that generate tax revenue, while abandoning rural residents and ranchers who have historically relied on these water sources.

The council ultimately decided to revise the ordinance to potentially address these concerns, but the fundamental structure of water privatization remains intact. As Mayor Post put it: "My comments are not about this not being a good ordinance. I don't want to do something and leave, you know, some community members in need."

Council Member Kavanaugh revealed another dimension of the water issue, noting citizen complaints about water hauling to Picacho Peak:

"Many are citizens, especially in the San Lucas area. They think it's extremely egregious that there's a big tanker truck hooked up to that hydrant right there on Cochise Canyon Road taking water. And they know it's going to Pecacho. This is the first time I've found out that it's because of arsenic contamination up there..."

This comment revealed how water justice becomes racialized and spatialized. Residents of the affluent San Lucas development view water sharing with a contaminated community as "egregious" rather than as basic humanitarian aid. The unspoken subtext is that our pristine community water shouldn't be "wasted" on those other people, even if they're facing a drinking water crisis.

🧑‍⚖️ Magistrate Appointment: Inside Track Promotion

The council unanimously appointed Elizabeth "Libby" Shelton as the new Town Magistrate for a three-year term, continuing a pattern of internal appointments that maintain institutional power structures. Jane Fairall, the Town Attorney, introduced the item with evident pride in the internal promotion:

"It is you know a great loss to the legal department but we are so pleased that it's such a gain for the the court for the town for libby."

Shelton herself spoke, emphasizing her connections to the existing power structure:

"I want to thank judge mcdonald... what she and her team have done over there is really nothing short of inspiring... I want to thank terry for his faith in me and confidence in me... I want to thank frank and jane who brought me to the town..."

The mutual congratulations continued with Vice Mayor Ziegler exclaiming, "And Libby, first of all, let me be one of the first ones to say judge Shelton." She noted the presence of former Town Attorney Frank Cassidy and current Town Attorney Jane Fairall, celebrating: "So thank you, coming, Frank. I always love to see you."

The appointment demonstrates the revolving door between prosecution and judgment in municipal legal systems. As Shelton herself noted, "I came to the town nine and a half years ago when Lanie became Judge McDonald. I filled her shoes once, I know what's involved with that, they're big shoes to fill." The direct progression from prosecutor to judge raises questions about impartiality and perspective in a system where the same individuals change seats.

The meeting also revealed other internal reshuffling, as Town Manager Terry Rozema announced:

"David Udall will move from Town Clerk to Deputy Town Attorney... Jill McCleary has worked in the town manager's office as our cultural heritage specialist and done such a phenomenal job... she will be stepping into the position of town clerk."

These moves reflect how municipal governance maintains continuity by promoting from within, limiting outside perspectives, and ensuring that power circulates among the same small group of insiders. The absence of external searches or competitive hiring processes for these crucial positions speaks volumes about who is truly welcome in the corridors of municipal power.

🚗 Traffic and Infrastructure Updates: Cars Over Community

Fausto Burruel provided an exhaustive 15-minute presentation on transportation projects that continue to prioritize car-centric infrastructure over public transit or pedestrian needs. His meticulous detail about roadway construction stood in stark contrast to the complete absence of discussion about public transportation alternatives.

Key updates included:

Twin Peaks Road Project: "The temporary detour has been removed, and all traffic is now utilizing the new lanes for westbound traffic." Burruel noted that "Rattlesnake Pass will be fully closed" from May 23rd to August 3rd, timing the closure to coincide with school break.
Tangerine Road Phase 2A: "The newest eastbound lanes, the new eastbound lanes, sorry, have been paved and traffic has been flopped. So now we have traffic. All traffic is on the new lanes, and now they're going to start working on the north side of the roadway."
Union Pacific Railroad Delays: "Unfortunately, we have not received comments back from UPRR on the 25% plans that we submitted. We've been having almost continual bumps, with contacts reaching out. We don't control their end of it."
ADOT Permit Delays: "We did submit an updated memorandum for the traffic, overall traffic generation and the traffic impacts... on the 31st. And on that one, we have yet to receive a response back."
Dove Mountain Signal: As Town Manager Rozema had mentioned earlier, this project is "currently on pause" due to shipping delays for equipment, leading Vice Mayor Ziegler to quip: "Your definition of a pause is different than mine, but I'll let that go."

Burruel displayed various online tools for tracking road projects and traffic impacts, including the "What's Around You" function on the town website, PAG's regional traffic map, and ADOT's project tracker. He even played a professionally produced PSA video about speed limits featuring Traffic Manager Dionne Swartz.

The entire presentation emphasized road expansion without a single mention of public transportation alternatives, bicycle infrastructure, or pedestrian safety improvements. In a region facing climate crisis and air quality challenges, the continued exclusive focus on automobile infrastructure reveals the town's outdated, unsustainable vision of "progress."

Consent Agenda: Quiet Transfers of Power and Resources

Without meaningful discussion, the council unanimously approved several significant items through the consent agenda—the bureaucratic equivalent of slipping controversial items into fine print:

Ordinance No. 2025.009: Giving free memberships to the Marana Aquatic and Recreation Center (MARC) to elected officials and town employees, a perk that Council Member Kavanaugh explicitly celebrated: "I just want to say thank you to the Parks and Recs for giving, allowing the Town Council and city employees free membership to the mark. Didn't have to do that, but I love it."
Resolution No. 2025-031: Amendment to an intergovernmental agreement with Pima County for the Pima Early Education Program, with no discussion of program outcomes or equity considerations.
Resolution No. 2025-032: Adding a new Capital Improvement Project (Willow Ridge Drainage) and transferring $700,000 in General Fund expenditure authority—a significant expenditure that received zero public discussion.
Resolution No. 2025-033: Approving a Final Plat for North Klos Ranch, another development proceeding without environmental or equity analysis.
Resolution No. 2025-034 & 2025-035: Approving utility agreements related to the North Marana Sewer Interceptor Project, including arrangements with CenturyLink and Tucson Electric Power.

The consent agenda is the perfect tool for bypassing democratic scrutiny. It bundles significant financial, resource, and developmental decisions into a single vote with no discussion. The public likely has no idea that $700,000 was just transferred or that their elected officials just voted themselves free gym memberships.

Liquor Licenses: Corporate and Government Expansion

The council approved two liquor license applications with minimal discussion:

A Series #001 In-State Producer license for The Rustiks Brewing Company at 6918 North Camino Martin, Suite 120
A Series #005 Government license for Mike Jacob Sports Park at 6901 North Casa Grande Highway

The government license for a public facility deserves particular scrutiny, as it represents the increasing commercialization of public spaces and normalization of alcohol consumption in recreational settings. Public parks increasingly function as profit centers rather than community spaces, with alcohol sales becoming a standard feature of spaces ostensibly designed for families and youth recreation.

Vote Breakdown: Unanimous Support for Status Quo

The voting pattern reveals a council that largely operates by consensus, with procedural maneuvering used to sideline dissent.

Even when Council Member Comerford explicitly opposed the Linda Vista 52 annexation, no formal vote was taken—instead, Vice Mayor Ziegler simply declared that "the majority of the council sounds like they want to move forward."

The Unspoken Realities

What remains unaddressed in these discussions is the broader implications for our community:

Water Scarcity: The Southwest faces unprecedented drought, yet development continues unabated. The Colorado River system that ultimately feeds our aquifers is at historic lows, yet the council continues approving new subdivisions while restricting water access for existing rural residents.
Indigenous Rights: No acknowledgment of traditional O'odham lands or consultation with tribal communities on resource decisions. The continuous expansion of municipal boundaries represents ongoing settler-colonial appropriation of lands with deep indigenous histories.
Housing Affordability: While "affordable housing" was mentioned as a justification for annexation, no concrete affordability requirements were discussed or mandated. Developer promises of "affordability" remain empty rhetoric without specific inclusionary zoning requirements.
Environmental Impact: Climate considerations and habitat preservation remained peripheral concerns, with environmental issues reduced to brief mentions of "invasive species removal" rather than comprehensive ecosystem management.
Public Transportation: Continued focus on road infrastructure without meaningful mass transit alternatives perpetuates car dependency and associated environmental impacts. The town's transportation planning remains stuck in the 1950s model of endless road expansion.

At a time when our region faces unprecedented climate challenges and housing inequality, Marana's leadership continues prioritizing developer interests over community resilience. The disconnect between their business-as-usual approach and our urgent crises grows wider with each meeting.

A Path Forward: Community Resistance and Engagement

Despite the frustrating dynamics evident in this meeting, there remain pathways for community resistance and transformation. Councilmember Comerford's firm opposition to the annexation demonstrates that dissent is possible, even within institutional structures.

The desert has always required cooperation and resource-sharing to sustain life. Indigenous communities understood this fundamental reality for millennia before colonial boundaries were drawn. Our path forward lies in reclaiming this ethos of mutual aid and collective care, working outside institutional channels when necessary, while pushing for transformation from within.

The next Marana Town Council meeting will be held on May 6, 2025. Citizens concerned about unbridled development, water restrictions, or other issues should:

Attend the meeting: Be physically present at the Ed Honea Marana Municipal Complex at 6:00 PM
Submit speaker cards: Arrive early to complete a card to speak during Call to the Public
Organize collectively: Connect with neighbors, especially those impacted by the Linda Vista annexation or water hauling restrictions
Request documents: The public can obtain copies of the county report referenced by Councilmember Comerford
Demand transparency: Question why some discussions happen in executive session rather than public forum

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Questions for the community:

How can residents create effective coalitions to challenge the council's development-at-all-costs approach to town expansion? What organizing strategies have proven effective in other communities facing similar pressures?
What alternative water-sharing structures could address the needs of rural residents and ranchers while preserving this precious desert resource? How might indigenous water management principles inform more equitable and sustainable practices?