XAVIER ZARAGOZA/The Daily Dispatch

The Douglas City council has set fees for the use of the Visitor's Center conference room.

The council passed ordinance 05-874 Wednesday afternoon, which would set the fees for the use of the conference room at the Visitor's Center.

The main conference room is 2,777 sq. ft with 12 foot-high ceilings.

The main room is equipped with a sliding wall that can be subdivided into two rooms of 1,388 sq. feet each.

Each room has its own audio/visual equipment.

The fees would go toward offsetting the cleaning costs.

The user's fees per room, with no food or beverage brought to the conference room, is $20; if users bring food or beverage, the cost is $40.

The non-refundable cleaning fee for a conference of under 50 people is $40 with no food or beverage; $60 with it.

For 50 to 100 people, $50 for the no food or drink category; $70 with it.

Over 100 people, $60 with no food or beverage; $80 with it.

There is an additional $100 cost to use the kitchen.

Mayor Ray Borane was concerned about the user's fee and cleaning fees being too high or that it may compete with established businesses in town that provide the same service. Borane did not want to compete with local businesses.

In the Mayor's Report, Borane also lamented the lack of legal aid services to Douglas residents. The lack of these services is a major disservice to many people of this community.

"As it is, this is an economically depressed town," he said.

Borane was concerned that residents here were not getting their due legal representation.

Borane said that city staff will meet with the Southern Arizona Legal Aid director in an effort to resolve this issue.

The council passed ordinance 05-873, which increases the number of sidewalk sales permits that merchants can obtain during a calendar year. The increase goes from six permits to 12.

The council did not vote to change the parking configuration on G Avenue.

The motion failed to modify the existing configuration from parallel to angle parking on G Avenue from 10th Street to 15th Street. The parking will remain as it is.

In other action the council approved:

ˆ Resolution 05-376, which authorizes an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Douglas and Cochise County to provide certain election supplies and services for the special elections scheduled for May 7, 2005.

ˆ Resolution 05-377, which amends resolutions 04-367 and 05-373 to reflect that the special election on the proposed amendments to the city charter to be held on May 17, 2005.

ˆ Resolution 05-378, which authorizes an intergovernmental agreement between the city and Cochise County for highway and public works projects.

ˆ An extension of a premises liquor application by Robin Brekhus of the Saddle and Spur Tavern for May 6, 7 and 8, 2005.

ˆ Authorized a public auction tentatively scheduled for February 26 and approve the list of vehicles to be auctioned.