The new transit system, tax levy and the elimination of the two hour parking were the main topics of the City Council meeting on August 8.

Mike Normand, ADOT Transit Programs Director, address Mayor and Council at the August 8 meeting. Trisha Maldonado/Douglas Dispatch

The Douglas City Council adopted a new transit system starting August 20. The first six weeks of the transit system will have only one route, to and from the port of entry to Cochise College. Service during this time will be Monday – Thursday from 6:50a.m.-10:15p.m. Cochise College will provide the busses and will share costs with the city for fuel and driver salaries. During this time there will be no cost for students to ride bus. The city will employ the drivers and provide basic maintenance to the College buses. ADOT will reimburse the city for a portion, 80 percent of administrative costs and 58 percent of operating costs.

The Council approved Douglas rides fares, adults,19-59, $1.00, seniors, 60+, $0.50, disabled $0.50, students $0.75, children under six years of age ride free with an adult on all buses.

The transit system will be an intergovernmental partnership with ADOT, starting October 1 the city will have various routes throughout Douglas. The program will be funded by ADOT for as long as the system works in Douglas.

They also adopted its annual property tax levy and submitted certification of the levy to the Cochise County Board of Supervisors. The tax levy is a continuance from last fiscal year, and will continue until June 30, 2013 at a 1.0467 percent rate. The proposed rate will generate a tax levy of $570,559 for FY 12/13.

Mayor and Council approved the pilot program to temporarily suspend the two-hour parking enforcement in the downtown area. The primary intent of suspending the enforcement of two-hour parking is to promote the use of the downtown area and therefore eliminating the impression or notion that downtown visitors are limited to a two-hour visit as well as to allow citizens more time to take care of their business at the new Cochise County Regional Center during peak hours.

The pilot program proposal consists of instituting a temporary suspension for the two-hour parking only in the downtown are for a period of six months. The program would automatically be extended for an additional six months, unless the city council and mayor withdraw this program by Resolution, in the February 2013 agenda.

Council and mayor were in favor of continuing the maintenance and grounds keeping along with operations to Esperanza and Pioneer Village apartment under the City Housing Corporation.

Authorized by mayor and council was to execute amendment No. 1 of the intergovernmental agreement between the City and the Arizona Department of Transportation for the extension and roadway improvement of Chino Road. ADOT and city agreed to increase the range of work to include not only the extension from Fifth Street south to First Street, but also to include reconstruction of Chino Road from 5th Street north to State Route 80. The amendments increased the project cost to $3,264,248 with the City match of 5.7 percent which equals $186,061. The city’s match will be spread over multiple fiscal years. The work will divided in two phases: Phase I will improve Chino Road from 1st Street to 9th Street and Phase II will improve Chino Road from 9th Street to SR80. Construction is anticipated to start in Fiscal Year 2014/2015.

Mayor and Council approved to enter an intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Homeland Security, Operation Stonegarden Program. The Douglas Police Department will receive $5,000 from Stonegarden grant to purchase trauma kits, which are designed for use by police officers in exigent circumstances until medical units arrive. Also, approved from Stonegarden grant $102,359.18 to be utilized to augment the department’s current Stonegarden operations for overtime and mileage.

City will enter into an agreement with the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Plan. Sargent Carlos Trujillo prepared a proposal for personnel overtime with employee related expenses in support of enhanced DUI enforcement and police education. DUI enforcement granted an award of $13,000 to be used for DUI enforcement in Douglas.

Under the Office of Highway Safety Trujillo was also solicited an award in the amount of $2,805 to purchase two Speed Detection Devices (RADAR) to enhance speed enforcement and public education, that was approved by mayor and council.

Recognized at the council meeting were Veronica Rios and Xenia Gonzalez with the neighborhoods, grants and housing department for their excellent customer service. Rios was granted the employee of the year award.

The next council meeting is set for September 12 at 6 p.m. City Hall.