The importance of the upcoming U.S. Census was reviewed before the Douglas City Council at its April 8 meeting.
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It is believed that totals have been underreported in the past due to the reluctance of new citizens or those living here illegally to fill out the information.
“We are not part of Immigration. All individual’s information is kept confidential. We are worried more about total numbers for Douglas,” Rocha said.
Final figures from the 2010 census will help determine city funding and representation on the state and federal level.
During the meeting, the city council appointed a Complete Count Committee, headed by Housing Director Christina Gomez. Other members of the committee are Sylvia G. Hurtado, Olga Ramirez de Miguez, Sylvia Casey and Carol Melis.
The water and sewer rate structures were also addressed during the meeting.
On February 17, 2007, the council adopted Ordinance 06-904, an ordinance that provided a new rate schedule for water and wastewater services. The ordinance provided for a five-year rate adjustment plan for water meter installations costs, capital improvement surcharge, basic monthly service, consumptive and utility management fees.
Under the same ordinance, wastewater fees were not revised or updated; they were merely adopted as outlined.
Due to the fact the city has experienced significant increases in the cost of construction of various capital improvement projects as well as increases in its operation and maintenance costs, it is essential to review and adjust water and sewer rate structures, said Carlos de la Torre, Public Works Director and City Engineer.
In addition, the existing rate structures, more specifically the wastewater fee structure, is not financially fit to absorb any additional debt required to cover the construction costs related to the mandated improvements at the Douglas Wastewater Treatment Plant.
“Staff’s goal and recommendation is to develop a rate structure that is designed on the cost of service principle and in-line with the city’s financial sustainability plan and thus ensuring that financial obligations tied to the following components are met:
• Wages and benefits
• Operation and Maintenance
• Debt Service
• Capital improvements, Capitalization and Depreciation reserves.
The council directed staff to continue development of revisions to the current water and sewer rate structure.
The city council also reviewed a redevelopment plan for the downtown area presented by University of Arizona students. During the presentation, conference participant Holly Berryhill said like to see the city bring back the Facade Improvement Grants and investigate participating in the Main Street Program. The development plan can be viewed on the city’s website at www.douglasaz.gov.
In other action, the council:
• Approved the third reading of ordinance 09-954, which changes the Community Development Department to include a new Housing, Neighborhoods and Grants Division to take in Housing and Code Enforcement staff, and a new Neighborhoods Program, plus contain a Parks and Recreation Division; Some current functions and position of the Community development Department will be transferred to Public Works; consolidation of functions to include major finance related functions being moved to the Finance Department; Eliminating a Forensic Specialist position at the Police Department; creating a specialist position in the IT Department; reorganizations included in this ordinance affect the Public Works Department, Housing Department, Fire Department, Finance Department, Police Department, IT Department and Administration Department.
√ Approved the second reading and declaring an emergency of an ordinance rezoning approximately 4.9 acres of property generally located east of Washington Avenue and north of Golf Course Road from single family residential to a planned area development and amending the official zoning district map.
√ Approved a resolution approving the final plat for the Coronado Hills Subdivision Phase 2 and the Assurance Agreement and directing the city clerk to transmit the final plat to the County Recorder.
√ Approved a second reading and declaring it an emergency to Ordinance 09-958, changing the age requirement for the Elder Pass from 78 to 66 years of age and reducing the 25-punch pass from $180 to $95. The city council also reviewed charging trail fees for those that bring their cart onto the course.
√ Approved the second reading of Ordinance 09-959, which allows the updating of the Business License Ordinance.
√ Approved the first reading of Ordinance 09-960, which corrects a clerical error in the effective dates of new Sanitation fees, which began in 2009 and will proceed until 2011 when fees will reach $20 per month. The current rate is $15.50 monthly.
√ Authorized the city to lease a Catholic Community Services a western portion of the Douglas Municipal Airport for location of a bus barn and offices. The council also approved resolution 09-611, a cooperative agreement between the City of Douglas and Catholic Community Services in operations of Douglas Rides/Cochise Commuter Transit System program through the use of ADOT grant funds to establish and construct a transit facility at the airport to be leased by Catholic Community Services.
√ Approved Resolution 09-612 adopting the City of Douglas Public Housing Authority Annual Plan and Administrative Plan for 2009-10.
√ Approved Resolution 09-614 approving the Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Douglas and those participating public agencies as defined in ARS 11-951 for the purpose of defining Worker’s Compensation coverage in joint activities.
√ Approved Resolution 09-916 to authorize the application for a Clean Water Revolving Fund loan in the amount of $4.5 million from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona.
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