A block of city council agenda items were unanimously approved Wednesday in an effort to open up the way for the call center to come to Douglas.

The process began with a 3/10 of 1 percent sale tax increase that will begin Sept. 1 and sunset on Aug. 31, 2013. This sales tax will bring in about $637,00 each year and it will retire the IT debt for the call center.

The council also approved authorization for financing of the call center in the amount of $9,000,000. It will be a 20-year loan with a maximum 7 percent annual debt service of roughly $500,000.

A resolution was passed that authorized a lease agreement between the City of Douglas as landlord and Advanced Call Center Technologies as tenant for the 500 seat or more call center.

A contract was also awarded to Burns Wald-Hopkins for architectural and engineering services for the development of the call center and finally a request to buy IT equipment for a temporary call center site at the Visitor’s Center and

Recreation Center.

City staff also presented a schedule for the proposed call center. By July 15 the City anticipates that 90 work-stations will be operating for training and support. By August 14, 80 workstations will be established at the Douglas Visitor’s Center and Recreation and be fully operational. By Dec. 15 the City expects 200 or more job with the call center.

In other action the council approved:

√Resolution 08-566, which adopted the tentative requirements for the public expense of the City of Douglas for the fiscal year 2008-2009. An amendment changes the meeting time for this item from 4p.m. to 6p.m.

√ Second reading of ordinance 08-932, which relates to open burning permits in Douglas. The cost of the permits have been set a $10 for residential and $25 to $35 for commercial.

√ First reading of ordinance 08-938, which relates to changing the time of the City Council meetings from 4p.m. to 6p.m. Amendment make this effective Aug. 1, 2008.

√ Resolution 08-555, which adopts and supports “2015: Arizona’s New Border” a seven-year border infrastructure plan. The study examines cross-border traffic between the Unites States and Mexico.

√ Resolution 08-559, which authorizes the submission of a grant application to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Housing Choice Voucher Family Sufficiency Program.

√ Resolution 08-561, which adopts addendum No. 2 to the City of Douglas Pubic Authority Administrative Plan for FY 2008.

Resolution 08-562,which authorizes a basic service agreement between the City and Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization to provide local planning and technical assistance to the City during fiscal Year 2008-2009.

√ Approved request from Robin Brekhus for permission to use the Douglas Municipal Airport on Oct. 1, 2008 for a demonstration air show by the Canadian Airforce Precision Aerobatic Team. It would also authorize the City to co-sponsor the event and provide police, fire, ambulance, parks and recreation staff to provide security, traffic control, parking bleachers, water truck for the event.