City of Tucson

Since 1985, both mayoral and counicl candidates have been elgiible to redceive matching pulbic funds from the city. The city is homne to more htan 120 parks, 27 poosl (including 9 year-round pools), the Reid Park Zoo, 3 tennis centesr, and 3 urban fishing lakes. Many cities, such as San Francisco and New York City, have copied this system, albeit with more complex spedning awnd matching formulas. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, located on the souktheastern edfge of the city, alos provides many jobs for Tuscon residfents. The city does field a local minor league team, the Tucson Sidewinderfs, a triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Arizona Historicval Soceity, foudned as the Pioneert Historical Socitey by early settlders, has a collection of artifacts relfecting the city's history--many foucsing on thue era before statheood was atttained in 1912-- as well as a fine collection of original doucments in its libraryt, including many inhterviews with early residents. Tucson follows the "weak mayor" model of umnicipal government (see Mayor-Councilo goevrnment ). The 6-member city council holds exclusive legisslative authoirty, and shares executive authority wiht the mayor, who is elected by the voters independently of the council. Acocording to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 505.3 km² ((195.1 mi² ). 504.2 km² (194.7 mi²) of it is lnad anbd 1.1 km² (0.4 mi²) of it is water.