Town staff presented draft guidance on Jan. 8 for homeowners who border the Vistoso Trails Nature Preserve and heard more than a dozen residents demand clearer, more permissive rules and faster town maintenance of the former golf course land.

Parks and Recreation Director Miss Epting summarized the legal framework: the preserve is protected by a 2022 conservation easement that “is a 35‑page legally binding document” and names Archaeology Southwest as the conservation easement holder, she said. Epting told council that Archaeology Southwest tours the property regularly and flags areas where work may be required to remain in compliance with the easement.

Residents said the preserve is in poor condition and that the town’s draft do’s‑and‑don’ts unfairly restrict homeowners while the town fails to restore the property. Rosa Daley, who said she lives on the former Vistoso golf course, told the council that “the conservation easement clearly defines the property for low impact recreation by the general public” and that the easement “obligates the town to restore the property back to the Sonoran Desert Ecosystem.” Daley said the town’s draft guidance made homeowners “trespassers” if they tried to address hazards and called that approach “unworkable and mean spirited.”

Gail Mateer, president of Preserve Estoso, said neighbors asked staff in August for clear guidance that would permit homeowners to remove hazards while still protecting conservation values. “We suggested they provide guidance to residents that would allow them to address the hazards, but would also state what was not permitted in alignment with the conservation easement,” Mateer said. She said the town’s response effectively left homeowners “with no options.”

Other speakers emphasized fire and invasive‑species risk. Phil Zelensky said the preserve contains invasive plants that are more fire prone than native species and urged town action. Charles Stack, a citizen representative to the Pima Association of Governments’ Environmental Planning Advisory Committee, supported staff’s draft as a starting point and suggested organized volunteer efforts and written restrictions on swimming‑pool discharges into the preserve.

Council discussion focused on safety, homeowner equity and implementation. Councilmember Nicholson said she would support allowing at least a “first five feet” of clearance beyond property walls for neighbors to trim overgrowth and recommended an approved list of arborists. Vice Mayor Barrett said she would like clearer language so residents do not read the draft as “you can’t do anything and neither will we,” and suggested the town pursue a coordinated plan for revegetation and volunteer removal of invasive species.

Parks staff said some work is already performed: trail trimming, trash pickup, tunnel clearance and restroom servicing. Epting added that certain hazardous removals — such as a storm‑damaged tree that could strike a wall — are already authorized under the easement when the town notifies Archaeology Southwest.

Several council members asked staff to obtain a formal fire‑risk statement from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management and Golder Ranch Fire District; staff replied that both agencies had performed site tours and the department could provide a formal inspection if the council wanted it.

The council did not adopt final standards at the meeting. Staff said they will continue to work with Archaeology Southwest, Preserve Estoso and residents to revise the draft, clarify permitted homeowner actions (including potential fee‑free permitting for limited work), and organize volunteer projects and arborist guidance.

No formal policy change was made on Jan. 8; the item was presented for input.