The primary tax rate for the city of Douglas dropped a little more than 2 percent according to figures released by the city last week.

Last year the tax rate was $1.0201 per $100 assessed valuation. The new tax rate will be $.9970 per $100 assessed valuation.

“I want to congratulate the Finance Department, Finance Committee, city staff and administration,” Gomez said. Balancing the budget is a great achievement.”

The repaving of Chino Road, which is one of the necessary element in the expansion of the Douglas Port of Entry, could be funded under a national grant program.

City Engineer Carlos De La Torre presented the plan during the regular meeting of the Douglas City Council on August 12.

The City of Douglas as part of a consortium of border local government agencies (Santa Cruz County, Cochise County, City of Sierra Vista, City of Bisbee, City of Nogales, and City of Benson) that are partnering to submit a TIGER Grant Program application.

City staff is looking at submitting an application for various projects throughout the city that that would amount to $10 million. The projects that staff is considering to submit are:

1) Chino Road from International Street to the Intersection of SR8O & US 191.

2) International Street from the Douglas Cattle Pens to the Douglas Municipal Airport.

3) 15th Street from G Ave. to Airport Road.

4) Washington Avenue from International Street to SR-80

5) Citywide street pavement preservation projects

“In the event that TIGER funding is awarded to the Southern Arizona consortium,  a detailed Intergovernmental agreement will be developed to identify the role and responsibility of each and every one of the parties involved with the implementation and administration of this grant,” De La Torre said.

TIGER Grant

The TIGER Grant Program is a nationally competitive grant program administered through the federal government and authorized the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funds to fund large-scale infrastructure projects. $1.5 billion dollars of TIGER funds are available to state or local governments. Grants applications must be generally greater than $20 million and less than $300 million.

The TIGER Grant Program is intended to fund capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure to include but not limited to:

1) Highway or bridge projects

2) Public transportation projects

3) Passenger and freight rail transportation projects

4) Port infrastructure investments, including projects that connect port to other modes of transportation and improve the efficiency of freight movement.

In other action, the board:

• Approved a bid proposals submitted by Felix Construction for Well No. 16 in the amount of $342,455. It replaces Well No. 7 which was not meeting the federal level for arsenic. The new well will be on Leslie Canyon Road.

• Approved a Special Events Liquor License request by the Douglas Fiestas Committee for a fundraising event to be held at the Veterans Memorial Park on September 18, 19 and 20.

• Approved a second reading of Ordiance 09-969 establishing user fees for the Douglas Parking Lot at 1st Street and Customs Avenue. There was some discussion about the large increase in weekly parking – from $15 to $35 per week. But the increase only affects five cars (in a recent parking survey).

• Approved Ordiance 09-970 authorizing  the city to accept a donation of real property from the Halpern and Margolis Family of unimproved real property in the Douglas Terrace Subdivision, between 4th and 5th Street near Van Buren. The two families only have half owenrship of the properties in question and the city is stil working to get a donation from the other owners.

• Approved Resolution 09-936 authorizing the negotiation and execution of a contract between the city and Hat “S” Enterprises to lease the Tombstone billboard for the next tthree years.

• Approved a resolution authorizing the city to accept a Safety Enhancement Stipend from the 100 Club of Arizona’s Safety Enhancemetn Stipend Award. The funding provides them storage for 24 bullet-proof vests the fire department received earlier this year.

• Approved s a resolution to set a 5:30 p.m., September 9, public hearing  on the city’s intention to increase wastewater rates or rate components, fees  or service charges.

• Approved a contract between the City of Douglas and Vorne dba Ambiserve for Ambulance billing services for transport services provided by the Douglas Fire Department. The city has been using a collection service for the last several months and reported a 200 percent increase in collections.

• Approved a resolution authorizing a contract amendment between the city and Environmental Utility Services for the City’s Water and Wastewater Capital Improvement Projects.