While the call center facility on 10th Street is being renovated, the Douglas City Council approved a temporary lease agreement for call center workers and staff to use portions of the Recreation Center and the Visitor’s Center.

The temporary site leases were negotiated to assist ACCT in reaching a minimum of 200 employees during any 30-day period, which thus eliminates ACCT’s ability to terminate the lease under this cause.

City Manager Curtis Shook said the lease agreement will generate about $78,000, which can be use for renovating the permanent site.

In an ongoing effort to increase first responder readiness, the council passed a resolution regarding a lease agreement on a Dodge Trauma Hawk Ambulance. The City is financing the purchase through a lease purchase for a total cost of $132,058 with an estimated payment of about $14,671 per year for the next five years.

The Council also passed first reading of ordinance 08-939, which levies upon the assessed valuation of the property within the City, subject to taxation, a certain rate upon each $100 of the valuation sufficient to raise the amount estimated to be required in the annual budget, and providing funds for the general municipal expenses for the fiscal year ending the 30th day of June 2009 and declaring an emergency.

In other action the council approved:

√ A request to purchase information technology hardware and software. In Dec. 2007 the City received a report that its IT infrastructure, including the phone system, was outdated by more than 10 years and are incapable of supporting current software and hardware.

In May 2008 the City authorized the staff to move forward with Phase 1 of an upgrade. The request will include new financial software, servers that will host the new software, infrastructure for remote sites such as police, fire, library, housing, a public works barn, Visitor’s Center, Human Resources and a point of sale/inventory control system. The total cost of this phase is $595,000 and it will be financed through a lease purchase.

√ First reading of ordinance 08-941, which relates to cemetery burial cost increases. Currently, burial fees at the cemetery here are $75, the lowest in the state. The second lowest is Tombstone at $250.

√ A special events liquor license request by the Douglas Golf and Social Club for the Airshow on Oct. 1, 2008 at the Douglas Municipal Airport.

√ A special events liquor license request by the Douglas Fiestas Committee to sponsor the Douglas Fiestas on Sept. 12 through the 14, 2008, at the Veterans Memorial Park.

Failed Motions, Ordinances, Resolutions and Requests

√ First reading of resolution 08-943, which would have authorized the purchase of real property located at 1107 N. G Avenue. Pro Tem Mayor Bob Fernandez said he did not vote for the item because he prefers to see the property before the City buys it.

√ First reading of ordinance 08-942, which would have established new fees for solid waste disposal and declaring an emergency. Ward Five Councilman Ivan Huish voted against the item because he wants more time to study the ordinance’s impact.

√ Request by Robin Brekhus of the Gadsden Hotel to have G Avenue closed on 10th Street through 12th Street on Sept. 6 and Sept. 7.

√ An application by Robin Brekhus of the Gadsden Hotel for temporary extension of premises for the Saddle and Spur during the annual car show.

√ Tabled resolution 08-568, which commits local funds as leverage for FY 2008 Hope VI Main Street Grant.