Awards Received by the City of Tucson

Budget & Research

The Government finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) presented an Award for Distinguished Budget Presentation to the City of Tucson for its Biennial Budget for the Fiscal Years beginning July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2010.

To receive this award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program criteria as a policy document, as an operations guide, as a financial plan, and as a communication device.

 

Channel 12

2008 Rocky Mountain Regional EMMY Awards

Arts/Entertainment-Program Feature                       
"Wabi Sabi"                                                            
Jennifer McKinney and Dan Sheffer                         

Public/Current/Community Affairs-Program/Special
“Conexion 12”
Lety Bazurto-Mathews and Dulce Mascareno

Historic/Cultural-News Single Story
"Michael Hyatt"
Dulce Mascareno                                                 

Photographer-Program (non-news)
"Fifteen"
Mitch Riley

Informational/Instructional                                        
“Lifeline”                                                                
Terry Quinn and Lety Bazurto-Mathews                   

Magazine Program/Special
"The Beat"
Jeanie Bergen and Dan Sheffer

Photographer-Short Form (Promos, PSA's, Commercials, opens, etc)
"I Am Tucson"
Mitch Riley

2008 NATOA Programming Awards
Sports Programming:                                      NATOA Programming Impact Award:
1st place: "Rec 365"                                        1st place: "Why We Remember"

Documentary/Social Issues:                          Excellence in Government Programming:
1st place: “Why We Remember”                   2nd place: Government Station of the Year                 

Tucson 12 also received six 2nd place awards, one 3rd place award, and one honorable mention from NATOA.

 

Parks and Recreation

September 2009

Tucson Parks and Recreation’s Therapeutic Unit earned a statewide award of excellence from the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association for Best Adaptive Program for its Kids Try-Athlon event.  The free annual event for kids with different disabilities and special needs, ages 6-21, promotes youth fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

Northwest Neighborhood Center Supervisor Donna Liggins was named Citizen of the Year for the Arizona Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.  She was honored for her community service and involvement.

July 2009

Parks and Recreation helped Tucson earn a national “Playful City” ranking for the third year in a row.

Tucson joined 93 other cities across the country, including nine cities in Arizona, being recognized for leadership and commitment to increasing quality, quantity and access to community play by KaBOOM!, a national non-profit organization.

September 2008

The 2008 Outstanding Aquatics Program award was presented to the Edith Ball Adaptive Recreation Center for its Homeschool Swim program, a course designed to meet the physical education needs and state requirements for homeschooled children in the Tucson area.  Students receive instruction in living healthy lives through exercise in an aquatic environment.  Started in fall 2007 with two classes of 8-10 children, the program has now grown to four classes of 12-16 children.

The Department’s innovative Art in Reality (AIR) program earned honors as 2008 Outstanding Youth Enrichment Program.  Serving youth, ages 13-21, with little or no access to the arts, AIR has offered free visual and performing arts experiences since 1999.  The program serves more than 700 youth annually and, in addition to seasonal classes covering a variety of artistic areas, it provides students the opportunity to perform and showcase their work through community events.

Bob Martin, retired deputy director, received the 2008 Professional Emeritus Award for his 28 years of professional service and dedication to the field of Parks and Recreation.  He was cited for his leadership role in expanding youth and senior services to the community and the development of numerous recreational programs and facilities for the residents of Tucson.  Martin began his Parks and Recreation career here in 1978 and retired in 2006.

June 2008

The Pascua Neighborhood Center's youth reading partnership with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and Libraries Ltd. earned a 2008 Program Excellence Award in Washington D. C. from Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. The local program was among 25 recipients, recognized as the best in the country, being honored for partnership excellence in promoting children’s literacy in local communities and helping children and families discover the joy of reading.  The local program at the Pascua Center began book distribution in February 1990 and has since distributed a total of 73,357 books to young readers.  Over the years the program has expanded to include the Pascua Yaqui Reservation, various Yaqui feeder school libraries and Hohokam Middle School.

Parks and Recreation's San Antonio Park was honored in the 2008 Xeriscape Contest with the Judges Award for Best Neighborhood/Community Landscape Project.

 

Independent Police Auditor/Equal Employment Opportunity

On Sept. 17, 2009, the Minority and Small Business Alliance of Southern Arizona at the annual Minority Enterprise Development (Week) Awards and Scholarship Dinner presented Liana Perez, Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs and Independent Police Review, with the 2009 Minority Business Advocate of the Year Award. 

The local Tucson MED Week event is held in conjunction with the National MED Week celebration which began by Executive Order signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1983.  This award recognizes stalwart advocacy on behalf of minority-owned businesses, their accomplishments, and contributions to local and national economies.  Ms. Perez seeks to empower minority business owners with the knowledge and tools necessary for success. 

 

Planning & Development Services

Laith Alshami recieived the Metropolitan Pima Alliance Common Ground Award for the Residential 2008 Sierra Morado project at the MPA Common Ground Celebration, additional winners include Patricia Gehlen, Carol Aragonez and Joe Linville.

Another MPA award was presented to Jim Portner for the Bridges project.

Laith Alshami received a certificate of recognition for his City of Tucson Budget 911 suggestions.

 

Office of Conservation and Sustainable Development

2008 SustainLane rankings for Tucson:

• Tucson ranked 22nd overall

• Tucson ranked 2nd among six desert cities highlighted because of our unique issues with water supply.

The City of Tucson (through OCSD) was selected as one of 10 cities in the country to host a Spotlight Community Conversation on Climate Action by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. The event was held on April 22, 2009 with over 100 community members participating.

 

General Services

During Telecommunicators Week (April 13 - 17, 2009), our dispatchers/operators received a plaque with the 6 different logos of the fire departments we serve.  It was labeled with the following inscription: With sincere appreciation for the dedication and tireless effort provided by our telecommunicators.  Thank you for giving so many the chance to live the rest of their lives. 

Transportation

The Arizona Public Works Association Awards are based on contributions to Public Works in Arizona.

Southern Arizona Branch APWA
Engineering Program or Study Category:
Stormwater in the Desert
Tucson Department of Transportation, Stormwater Division

Projects less than $2 million:
Grande Avenueand Cushing Street
Tucson Department of Transportation
NAC Construction
DMJM/Harris                                                              

Projects $2 million to $10 million:
5 Points Intersection Improvement
Tucson Department of Transportation
Southern Arizona Paving
Parsons Brinkerhoff

Individual Award
Professional: Janice Cuaron, Tucson Department of Transportation