Douglas public meetings in 2022
14 substantive meetings from 2022, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
City Council
The City Council approved a loan agreement and a construction contract for the design and drilling of New Well #18. The council also authorized the acceptance of two grants for transit and library programming and held first readings for ordinances regarding personnel rules and the dissolution of the Public Housing Authority.
- Approved $2.1M loan from Water Infrastructure Authority of Arizona for New Well #18 (6-0)
- Awarded $1,132,524.02 bid to KP Ventures for New Production Water Well 18 (6-0)
- Approved $60,000 grant from Freeport McMoRan Foundation for transit bus purchase (6-0)
- Approved $5,000 grant for library 'Healthy Choices at Your Library' programming (6-0)
- Approved first reading of Ordinance 22-1154 to dissolve Public Housing Authority (6-0)
- Approved first reading of Ordinance 22-1155 amending city personnel rules (6-0)
- Approved November 2022 expenditures totaling $2,477,661.64 (6-0)
- Approved meeting minutes for October 25 and November 9, 2022 (6-0)
Local Pension Board - Police
The Board reviewed the 2021 actuarial employer valuation, which showed the Police fund is 101% funded. This is an increase from 31.9% the previous year, attributed to the City's issuance of Taxable Pledged Revenue Obligations.
- Approved meeting minutes from December 1, 2022
Local Pension Board - Fire
The Board approved the enrollment of four new Douglas firefighters into the Public Safety Pensions Retirement System (PSPRS). Members also reviewed the 2021 actuarial valuation report showing the Fire fund is 99.3% funded.
- Approved meeting minutes from August 15, 2022
- Approved enrollment of Christopher Skinner, Ruben Paco Samaniego, Paulian Duran, and Tatiana Lucio into PSPRS
Municipal Property Corporation - Golf Course
The Board approved the minutes from the October 19, 2022 meeting. Members discussed RV park electrical upgrades, golf course maintenance, and the potential need for a golf course superintendent.
- Approved October 19, 2022 meeting minutes with modifications (unanimous)
Industrial Development Authority
The Industrial Development Authority Bylaw Committee appointed a chairperson and a designee to handle agendas and minutes. The committee also approved minutes from five previous meetings in 2022.
- Appointed Ida Pedrego as Chair of the Bylaw Committee (unanimous)
- Appointed Diana LaMar as Designee to prepare Bylaw Committee Agenda and Minutes (unanimous)
- Approved meeting minutes for September 29, October 13, October 20, November 17, and November 29, 2022 (unanimous)
Merit System Board
The Board reviewed and agreed to proposed changes to the City's personnel rules and regulations. These changes, which include updates to sick leave, holiday pay, and hiring criteria, will be sent to the City Council for readings on December 14 and January 11, 2023.
- Approved meeting minutes from September 5, 2019
- Agreed to proposed personnel rule changes (unanimous)
- Proposed adding Juneteenth as an observed city holiday
- Proposed removing seniority advantages in internal hiring to prioritize merit
- Proposed updating residence requirements to align with ARS 9-500.476 for public safety employees
- Proposed allowing probationary extensions up to two years for required certifications
Local Pension Board - Police
The Local Pension Board approved the enrollment of two new police officers into the Public Safety Pensions Retirement System (PSPRS). The board also approved the meeting minutes from December 13, 2021.
- Approved enrollment of officers Jonathan Loya and Alan Mahtapene into PSPRS
- Approved meeting minutes from December 13, 2021
Industrial Development Authority
The Bylaw Committee held a work session to review and recommend revisions to the IDA bylaws. The committee agreed to change the threshold for passing bylaw revisions from a simple majority to two-thirds. A red-lined draft will be created for review by IDA directors.
- Agreed to increase bylaw revision passing threshold from simple majority to two-thirds (2/3)
- Decided to maintain the 'Other Committees' section in the bylaws
- Added requirement that committee Chairs must be a Director of the Authority
- Removed the Miscellaneous section
- Agreed to seek attorney opinion on grace periods for directors receiving loans, grants, or consultant positions
- Determined to leave Article VIII 8.5 regarding President expenditures blank pending IDA director decision
Finance Committee
The committee received financial status updates for the end of Fiscal Year 2021-2022 and the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2022-2023. No substantive policy or spending decisions were recorded.
- Introduced new committee member Elisa Watson
- Reviewed end of Fiscal Year 2021-2022 financial status
- Reviewed first quarter financial status of Fiscal Year 2022-2023
Industrial Development Authority
The Industrial Development Authority voted to apply for the Thriving Community Program. The board also authorized the contact of a CPA to audit financial records and communicate with the IRS.
- Approved application to work with the Thriving Community Program (Unanimous)
- Approved amendment to allow Patrick to contact a CPA for a financial records audit and IRS contact (Unanimous)
- Outsourcing for a new attorney: No action taken
City Council
The City Council approved the purchase of a property at 1300 N. San Antonio Avenue for $900,000 using unrestricted general fund reserves. Other actions included approving a land sale, accepting a Walmart grant, and establishing airport hangar lease fees.
- Approved sale of land at 15th Street and Van Buren to Encarnacion and Nadia Denise Baez (5-0)
- Approved $900,000 purchase of 1300 N. San Antonio Avenue (5-0)
- Accepted $3,500 grant from Walmart (6-0)
- Approved $21,500 transfer to Society of St. Vincent de Paul for a community garden (6-0)
- Approved airport T-hangar lease fees at $100 for 25X44 and $125 for 25X65 units (6-0)
Industrial Development Authority
The Industrial Development Authority approved the October 2022 meeting minutes and appointed a Secretary to ensure compliance with bylaws. The board discussed the use of their current attorney and the need for a qualified CPA for audits.
- Approved October 2022 meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Appointed Ida Pedrego as Secretary (unanimous)
City Council
The City Council approved the first reading of two ordinances regarding land transactions and authorized a transit agreement with the City of Bisbee. The council also approved October 2022 expenditures totaling $1,908,761.41.
- Approved October 2022 expenditures of $1,908,761.41 (5-0)
- Approved October 12, 2022 meeting minutes (5-0)
- Approved first reading of Ordinance No. 22-1152 to sell land at 15th Street and Van Buren to Encarnacion and Nadia Denise Baez for $60,000 (5-0)
- Approved first reading of Ordinance No. 22-1153 to purchase property at 1300 N. San Antonio Avenue for $900,000 (5-0)
- Approved Resolution No. 22-1529 for an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Bisbee for public transit services at an annual cost to Bisbee of $227,125.00 (5-0)
City Council
The City Council approved the donation of 80 acres of land and utilities to the United States for a new commercial port of entry. The agreement includes a reverter clause returning the land to the city if construction does not begin within five years. Council also directed staff to continue negotiations for real estate purchases for economic development.
- Approved Ordinance No. 22-1151 to donate 80 acres of land and utilities to the U.S. for a commercial port of entry (7-0)
- Approved entering into executive session to discuss real estate acquisition (7-0)
- Approved adjourning executive session (7-0)
- Directed staff to continue negotiations to purchase property for economic development
- Directed staff to proceed with lawful foreclosure process of city lien properties