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Frequently Asked Questions
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The following is a list of questions frequently asked by citizens. You may search for specific words or phases, or shorten the list by selecting a specific category.
Building Services
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The answer to the question when do I not need a building permit is much shorter. Contrary to what many people think and hope, many activities that the homeowner handyman and his good friend might tackle as a weekend project require a permit. Please call the Building Safety Department, 382-2600, to ask if the project you are planning requires a permit. Remember to check with your Homeowner’s Association or your deed for requirements the Town of Marana does not enforce. Also please contact the Building Safety Department early in the planning process, you may need to prepare plans for review and the review process does take time. |
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A building permit is to protect the life and safety of you, your family, and your guests. It provides protection in your home, the homes of others and in public and commercial buildings in which you and your family may go to school, shop or be entertained. |
FAQ General Plan Update 2007
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What is the General Plan? The General Plan identifies the community’s priorities and their vision for the future of their town. This important document is a “blueprint” for growth and development in the Town of Marana, including long-range goals and policies addressing important topics from water resources and the natural environment to growth areas and economic development.Arizona requires each city, town and county to adopt a general plan to guide the growth and development of the community. Marana last updated our General Plan in 2003. |
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How can I get involved? Throughout the General Plan update process there will be many opportunities to get involved. Through focus groups, public open houses, neighborhood or home owner association meetings citizens will have the chance to express their concerns and provide important input into the process. We encourage citizens to give us direct feedback or post questions directly through the website using our Feedback page. |
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Why should I get involved in the General Plan update? The General Plan process provides the opportunity to fully understand the current and future needs, identify community priorities, foster our quality of life, and address challenges facing Marana.Where should new housing be built? What are the major traffic issues that need to be addressed? How can Marana better protect its natural resources? If you care about the answers to these and other important questions about the future of Marana, your voice needs to be heard. Your input is important! |
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What if I have a comment or question? If you have any comments, concerns or questions click the Feedback link and enter your questions or comments in the box. The comments and questions will be sent directly to the Planning Department. |
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What is a General Plan Element? Each “element” of the General Plan focuses on a specific topic and includes goals, policies and actions. The Marana General Plan Update focuses on 10 distinct elements: Land Use, Circulation, Growth Areas, Public Facilities and Services, Water Resources, Cost of Development, Environment, Recreation and Open Space, Housing and Economic Development. Click on the links found on the General Plan main page for additional information. |
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What is the difference between zoning and land use? The General Plan is a long-term document for general types and locations of future development. The objectives of this update to the General Plan are, first, to ensure that development within and in surrounding unincorporated areas takes place in an orderly and complimentary fashion; and, secondly, to ensure that the necessary issues are considered and facilities are provided to accommodate such development and future population. The Plan is advisory rather than prescriptive in nature. It is not a regulatory document to control the exact nature of development on individual lots. Land Use sets the stage for future development in the Town of Marana. The Land Use Map interprets the Goals for future land use graphically, identifying locations where growth can best be accommodated. Zoning provides specific standards for development, including a list of uses that are allowed in each zone, density, lot size, setbacks, and other standards. All development should be consistent with both zoning and the General Plan. |
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Will my zoning be changed? This General Plan process will not directly change your zoning. However, Zoning designations may be changed at a later date for consistency with any land use changes in the General Plan Update. |
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Will my General Plan land use designation be changed? Current adopted land use for all areas will be evaluated to determine whether any change is appropriate to carry out the goals and visions of the updated General Plan. Changes in land use will focus on comprehensive community planning rather than site-specific development. |
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For more information contact: Paul Popelka ppopelka@marana.com 520-382-2600 or Cky Ready cready@marana.com 520-382-2600 |
Geographic Information Systems
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You can view many maps online on the Maps page. There you can view maps as well as place an order to purchase maps. |
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Fill out a Map Request Form on our Maps page and mail, fax, or email it to the Town of Marana’s GIS Department. |
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o You can order a Zoning Atlas CD by filling out a Map Request Form on our Maps page and mail, fax, or email it to the Town of Marana’s GIS Department |
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A Geographic Information System (GIS) is a computer system capable of capturing, storing, analyzing, and displaying geographically referenced data. Specific procedures and methods, as well as the GIS personnel that manipulate the data, are also a vital part of a GIS. Learn more... |
Municipal Court
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Court costs cannot be satisfied through community service and must be paid directly to the Court. The Judge may allow you to perform community service instead of a fine or may order you to perform community service in addition to a fine. |
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You may not talk to the Judge about your case prior to your appearance. Should you need to contact the Prosecutor’s Office, please call 520-382-1900. |
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The Marana Court accepts Visa, Mastercard, and Discover as payment of your court fines. |
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The court by law (ARS 12-116) must add an additional charge of $20.00 to any fine not paid in full on the day it is imposed. The Court will work with you to make a reasonable payment schedule should the fine be excessive or should you be experiencing a problem that causes you not to be able to pay in full on the day the fine is assessed. |
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If you are charged with a civil traffic offense and you fail to appear or pay your fine, the Court will add additional charges subject to state statutes and town ordinances. Your failure to appear will be recorded with the Department of Motor Vehicles who will promptly suspend your driving privileges. Continued “Driving on a Suspended License” is a class one misdemeanor subject to a maximum fine of $2,500 and 6 months in jail. Your driving privileges will remain suspended until such time as you pay the fine in full or make other arrangements with the Court. Should you fail to appear on your criminal misdemeanor offense, a warrant will be issued for your arrest, and a bond amount established. You will be charged with the additional offense of Failure to Appear (ARS 13-3904) a class one misdemeanor. The warrant will remain in effect until such time that you are arrested and post bond, or until you appear in court to satisfy the warrant. |
Police
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Mailing Address: Marana Police Dept. 11555 W. Civic Center Dr. Marana, Arizona 85653Telephone No. Emergency: 911 Non-Emergency: 520-382-2000 Fax: 520-382-2001 Office Hours of Operation Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Offices are closed on major holidays & the Friday after Thanksgiving. |
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The Marana Police Department provides fingerprinting services:
Hours of service:
Tuesday: 9am to 12 pm Wait & Capacity rules are in effect. Click here for more info:
Thursday: 1pm to 4pm Wait & Capacity rules are in effect. Click here for more info:
The Marana Police Department uses a computerized fingerprinting system called LiveScan. This system is formatted to scan and print fingerprint cards that conform to FBI parameters. If your fingerprint card is different we my not be able to assist you. A fee of $10.00 is charged for each card.
You must show a government issued photo ID (i.e. driver's license, State I.D., passport, etc.)
Persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by parent or guardian.
Fingerprints for immigration purposes are NOT done by this agency.
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The Marana Police Department is one of the first agencies in the area to have Project Life Saver. Please click on the link for more information about this innovative program. Project Life Saver (powerpoint file) |
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The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) maintains a website for this purpose. Their website; http://az.gov/webapp/offender/main.do will provide you with information and search features about sexual predators. Please look at the “Resource Links” in our website for other public safety information. To: DPS Website |
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Get your case number, if you do not know it call the records unit. Once you have your case number call the Crime Scene Unit and ask about the status of your property. DO NOT COME TO THE POLICE STATION WITHOUT AN APPOINTMENT. PROPERTY ROOM PERSONNEL ARE NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST YOU. The circumstances of your case will determine if your property can be returned to you. |
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Please click on the link to read our webpage that addresses these matters. On the webpage is a downloadable Public Service Report that you can fill out and send in. Internal Affairs & Special Projects |
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Email the Investigations supervisor and provide as much information as you can. Please provide your case number, date and time of incident, location of incident and your contact information. For email link: Click Here |
Stormwater
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Storm water runoff is water from a precipitation event (rain or snow) and urban runoff occurring from human activities like car washing and over-watering of landscaping that runs off the land surfaces toward surface waters including our washes and rivers. During runoff this water comes into contact with many pollutants that result from human actions |
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- Properly maintain your vehicle, get tune-ups and change oil and fluids regularly as recommended
- Take your vehicle to a car wash or use biodegradable soaps
- Sweep sidewalks and driveways before or instead of using a garden hose to clean
- Use non-toxic chemicals whenever possible in your yard, and follow label directions carefully
- Pool backwash must drain to landscaped areas or other containment areas within your property
- Don’t over-water landscaping
- Don’t drain swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, or fountains into storm drains or to streets without de-chlorinating and calling the Town
- Only rain should go into storm drains. Please report illegal dumping
- Carpool when possible
- Help the Town to keep our storm water clean. Volunteer with Adopt-a-Neighborhood, Adopt-a-Roadway, or other volunteer clean-up efforts in your community
- Dispose of household chemicals through the Pima Household Hazardous Waste Program. Have a neighborhood collection day and take containers to one of Pima County’s collection locations. These can be found on the County’s website
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- Automotive: Antifreeze, Brake fluid, Auto transmission fluid, Soot from automotive exhaust, Degreasers, Grease, Gasoline, Motor Oil, Rubber, Tire dust, Trace metals
- Household: Barbecue lighter fluid ,Bleach, Cleaning Solutions ,Disinfectants, Drain Cleaners ,Garbage, Paint Stripper & Thinner, Paints, Varnish, Window Cleaners, Wood Preservatives
- Pet: Flea Killers, Pet Wastes, Cat litter
- Yard: Bare Soil, Grass Clippings, Leaves, Herbicides, Pesticides, Fertilizers, Sawdust, metal shavings, Soap, Detergents, Swimming Pool & Spa Chemicals
- Facts:
- Dumping one quart of motor oil down a storm drain contaminates 250,000 gallons of water
- Paved surfaces and rooftops cover 40-80% of an urban area
- Water runs off paved surfaces 10 times faster than off unpaved surfaces
- Typical homeowners use 5-10 pounds of chemicals on their lawns each year
- As much as 50% of all household hazardous waste is liquid
- About 13% of all motor oil purchased leaks into streets
- The oil from one car engine can produce an 8-acre oil slick
- 25 million tons of rubber wears off American tires every week, leaving behind tire dust on the roadways and parking lots that contains zinc and other trace metals
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Town Manager
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Postal codes are administered by the US Postal Service. The Post Master General categorizes the town or city in a mailing address by zip code. Each zip code has only one city classification. Many parts of Marana were placed in zip codes with Tucson labeling before they were annexed into the Town. The Post Master General does not change zip codes because of annexation, so some areas of Marana still have Tucson coding. The Town hopes to work with the Office of the Post Master General in Washington D.C. to change this discrepancy. |
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The Town is a franchisee of Comcast Cable. Their customer service personnel can be reached at 744-1900. |
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At this time, all seven Council positions (included those of the Mayor and Vice Mayor) are only part time positions. Some of the Council Members have other jobs and some are retired. However, because they all have office space in the Municipal Complex, they usually come in to Town Hall on a frequent basis although they keep no set schedule of office hours. |
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To receive an Eagle Scout Certificate signed by the Mayor, please email adminmgr@marana.com with your scout’s name, troop number, mailing address and the date of his ceremony. |
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Members of the Town Council can be contacted by using the email or mailing addresses provided under the “Mayor and Council” link on the Government menu. Also, all members of the public are invited to address the Council during the Call to the Public during regular Town Council meetings (held at the Municipal Complex at 7pm on the first and third Tuesdays of every month). |
Traffic Engineering
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The Institute of Transportation Engineers, an international professional organization, defines traffic engineering as "that phase of engineering which deals with the planning, geometric design and traffic operations of roads, streets and highways, their networks, terminals, abutting lands and relationships with other modes of transportation for the achievement of safe, efficient and convenient movement of persons and goods." Traffic Engineering involves two major areas of activity:
- Team decision making about new streets, highways and other transportation matters;
- Responsibility for the efficient, convenient, and safe use of existing transportation facilities.
One of the tasks of traffic engineering is long-range transportation planning. Working with sophisticated, computer-aided techniques, engineers and planners determine future transportation needs. |
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Traffic signals don't always prevent crashes. In many instances, the total number of crashes and injuries actually increase after they're installed. In deciding whether a traffic signal will be an asset and not a liability, traffic engineers evaluate the following criteria:
- Does the number of vehicles on intersecting streets create confusion or congestion?
- Is traffic on the main street so heavy that drivers on the side street will try to cross when it is unsafe?
- Does the number of pedestrians trying to cross a busy main street create confusion, congestion or hazardous conditions?
- Does the number of school children crossing a street require special controls for their protection? If so, is a traffic signal the best solution?
- Will the installation of a signal allow for continuous, uniform traffic flow with a minimum number of vehicle stops?
- Does an intersection's crash history indicate that a signal will reduce the possibility of a collision?
Traffic engineers compare the existing conditions against nationally accepted minimum standards established after many years of studies throughout the country. At intersections where standards have been met, the signals generally operate effectively, with good public compliance. Where not met, compliance is generally reduced, resulting in additional hazards. While a warrented traffic signal improves the flow and decreases crashes, an unwarrented one can be a source of danger and annoyance to all who use an intersection: pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. |
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In order to provide a sound basis for engineering judgment with respect to the need for installing stop signs on all approaches of an intersection, the Traffic Engineering Division conforms to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). This manual, prepared by a national joint committee of municipal and state officials, contains the following conditions or warrants, which should be present before a traffic control device such as a multi-way stop control is warranted.
- As an interim measure where a traffic control signal is warranted and urgently needed;
- There is evidence of a traffic accident problem indicated by the occurrence of five (5) or more reported accidents of a type susceptible to correction by the installation of a multi-way stop within a 12-month period; or
- A significant and evenly distributed volume of vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic is present at the intersection.
It should be noted that "STOP" signs are used to assign the right of way and are not intended to be used just to slow down speeders. Installing stop signs at an unwarranted location can create a false sense of security for the pedestrians and drivers, potentially decreasing the margin of safety at all intersections. Unwarranted “STOP” signs can also increase the potential for rear-end type accidents. By adhering to the nationally adopted guidelines, traffic engineers ensure that the stop signs are placed only at appropriate locations. |
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Children should not be encouraged to play in or near the roadway. It is much more appropriate to educate children on the hazards presented by moving vehicles and the need to not enter the roadway except for the purpose of crossing. Unfortunately, the use of "Children at Play" signs does not provide an added degree of protection. The Traffic Engineering Division's policy is not to install "Children at Play" signs on Town-maintained roadways as they tend to create a false sense of security for both parents and children. Studies have shown that these signs, when posted in residential areas, have not reduced pedestrian accidents or vehicle speeds. The use of “Children at Play” signs could be interpreted as an endorsement by the Town of the use of streets as play areas. In addition, Federal and State signing regulations do not allow us to use the "Children at Play" signs since they are not considered as accepted and standard traffic control devices. We are, however, allowed to post signs for schools, playgrounds, parks and other recreational facilities. |
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Crosswalks are generally installed only at those locations where a significant number of pedestrians cross the street or where there is a potential for conflicts between vehicle and pedestrian movements. In order to not degrade the value of all crosswalks, we have to be careful about not installing too many. Crosswalks are generally installed at a point where sight distances to the approaching vehicles can be maximized. Typically, crosswalks are installed at intersections and not at mid-block locations because motorists generally do not expect pedestrians to be crossing at non-intersection locations. It should be noted that crosswalks are intended to indicate to both pedestrians and motorists where pedestrians should cross the roadway, and they are intended to heighten motorists' awareness of a pedestrian crossing point. Unwarranted and random installation of crosswalks can lead to pedestrians and motorists ignoring them, thus undermining the purpose of installing crosswalks. Also, recent national studies have found that a significant number of people that use a marked crosswalk do so rather carelessly, apparently thinking that the crosswalk will provide the ultimate protection. That is why crosswalks are only installed at locations where they are clearly needed. |
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Requests for street lighting on Town maintained streets are investigated to determine whether lighting improvements are warranted due to a documented traffic accident, safety problem or a significant increase in reported criminal activity. Street lighting studies generally take 30 to 60 days to complete. |
Water
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Your water bill can be paid at the Water Department, which is located inside the Marana Operations Center (MOC) at 5100 W. Ina Road (on Ina between I-10 and Silverbell Rd), or at the Marana Municipal Complex (MMC) at 11555 W. Civic Center Dr (Barnett Rd and Civic Center Dr). We can also accept payments over the phone, at no charge, with a debit/credit card by calling (520) 382-2570. |
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At the MMC, payments can be made with cash, check, or money order. At the MOC (Water Department), payments can be made with cash, check, money order, debit card, or credit card. |
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We are currently in the process of having online bill payment as an option for our customers as well as statement viewing online, but unfortunately at this time we do not offer this service. Also, at this time we do not accept checks by phone, but we are able to accept payments over the phone with a debit or credit card at no charge. |
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We do offer our customers the option to have their water bill deducted from their checking account or credit card. To have your water bill deducted from your debit/credit card, just give us a call at (520) 382-2570 and give us the card number and we’ll do the rest. To have your water bill deducted straight from your checking account, just fill out the Direct Debit Authorization Form, which can be obtained from the Doc Center on this website, or directly from the Water Department. For both automatic deductions, your water bill amount will be deducted on the due date of your bill. You will still receive a monthly statement, so that you are able to track and monitor your usage and monthly bill amount. |
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The Water Department does not give any discounts to customers for filling up a swimming pool. We do ask that you please notify us before filling up your pool. |
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The first step to starting service with us is to contact us at (520) 382-2570. From there, we will ask you questions such as what is the service address you are moving to, when would like service started in your name, your name and mailing address, and phone number. For more information about establishing service please see the “Establishing New Service” section of this website. |
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The Water Department requires a 24-hour notice for any request by a new or existing customer, with the exception of major water leaks or the like. |
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Changes on an account can be made in person or over the phone, by only the person or persons whose name appears on the account. Address changes or phone number changes can be made by completing the form on the back of your water bill. Any name change must be done by the authorized persons on the account for your safety. If name changes are to be done without the authorized person’s presence, then we would need a document in writing (or similar document) from the authorized person, stating that the change is acceptable. |
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To view a complete listing of our current water rates and fees please see the “Rates and Fees” section of the website. |
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Even though your address may be a Marana address, you may not be serviced by the Town of Marana Water Department. To be 100% sure of what water provider services your address, please contact the Water Department at (520) 382-2570. |
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