The Dec. 12 city council meeting held at City Hall started off with a few presentations.

First in a special meeting which was held at 5:30 p.m. the Douglas Area Community Fund presented the possibility of a Boys and Girls Club being developed in Douglas.

Alex Boneo spoke to the mayor and council on the importance of such a club. The Douglas Area Community Fund’s goal is to offer the Douglas community by providing the youth with positive opportunities, skills, and resiliency.

Boneo and the committee would like for the Douglas Boys and Girls club to be one part of an even bigger concept. They would like to possibly be linked to a civic center with leadership, youth, training, professional development, cultural, recreation, and other opportunities.

The mayor and council seemed very intrigued by this idea and asked the committee to come back when they had a more solid plan. Together they all feel they can make this dream into a reality.

Awards were handed out to the three winners of the of the Christmas parade held on Nov. 24. Joe Carlson Elementary was the overall float winner. Second place went to LP’s Dance Studio and third place was Toddler China Poblana Daniela Bernal.

A certificate from the American Cancer Society/Relay for Life was presented to the mayor and council for their support in this year’s Relay for Life.

A presentation was giving by Cochise College President, Dr. J.D. Rottweiler, concerning the history of Cochise College. He gave a brief historical overview of the local campus and county wide growth for this institution of higher learning. Additional information included expanding programs that offer competitive advantages offered to students through innovative programs. Rottweiler stressed the importance of the City of Douglas and Cochise College working together.

A budget amendment proposal was presented to the mayor and council for fiscal year 2012-2013. The finance department prepared some budget proposal amendment for the mayor and council to review and consider. There were four options present to the mayor and council:

• Option No. 1 – Continue with the plans to provide all full-time employees with a two percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) schedule to initiate on January 1, 2013 to include other salary adjustment resulting from the COLA. Move forward with the hiring of an IT Director and Library Director. In addition, move forward on converting limited position to permanent positions that include the Golf Pro, Bar Supervisor, Airport Laborer and HVAC specialist positions.

• Option No. 2 – Continue with the plans to provide all full-time employees with a two percent COLA scheduled to initiate on January 1, 2013 to include other salary adjustment resulting from the COLA with no other personnel changes/actions outlined in the budget.

• Option No. 3 – Provide all full-time employees with a one percent COLA scheduled to initiate on January 1, 2013 to include other salary adjustment resulting from the COLA and no other personnel changes/actions.

• Option No.4 – Postponing the two percent COLA to all full-time employees schedule to initiate on January 1, 2013 as well as other salary adjustments resulting from the COLA. Issue a $300 one time distribution to all city employees on Dec. 21 and prorate this distribution to other employee classifications. Continue with plans to fill permanent positions that are already funded and classified as permanent.

The mayor and council passed a motion by a 7-0 vote with an adjustment to strike out option four and to reflect option two.

They will continue with the plans to provide employees with a two percent cost of living adjustment scheduled to initiate on January 1, 2012, and to exclude the City Manager and the City Clerk. Furthermore to continue with the classifications of the permanent positions that are already funded and classified as permanent and make the Library Specialist to an entry level librarian.

Other items approved on the agenda were: the revised temporary employee salary schedule increasing the minimum wage from $7.65 to $7.80 per hour, effective January 1, 2013.

The approval of the third reading of the execution of a lease agreement between the City of Douglas and Med-Trans Corporation at the Douglas Municipal Airport.

The second reading of establishing a fee of $9.00 applicable to debtors referred to the Arizona Department of Revenue Debt Setoff program.

Approval of the second reading of establishing an online utility payment fee of $2.50 per transaction which only apply to those using a credit card or debt card to pay their online bill.

The first reading of authorizing the execution of a one year extension to the commercial property lease agreement between the city of Douglas and Corazon Behavioral Health Services was approved. The property is located at 1815 E 9th Street

The first reading of authorizing the sale of approximately 3.2932 acres of real property was approved. The property is valued at $358,630 or $2.50 per square feet. The property will be used for the development and construction of clinical hospital and health care facilities in the city of Douglas.

Cooper Queen Community Hospital is interested in expanding their services in the Douglas area. The proposed services and facilities include an urgent care center that will house CT/Radiation services as well as a pharmacy, laboratory and other medical services. Also in the future if permissible, CQCH may be in a position to provide emergency care services as well as hospital bed for short term hospital stays.

CQCH was the only bidder for this property; the bid met all the submittal requirements. Staff has recommended that this bid be awarded to Copper Queen Community Hospital.

The increase of cemetery fees was approved. The implementation of the programmed 2012 rate increase is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2013.

The city of Douglas entered into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Douglas Unified School District. The Fire Department and the Police Department (animal control) will provided and internship/externship educational experience to high school students. DUSD will provide general liability protection and such additional forms of insurance as required by the city.

The city and DUSD will also enter into an IGA in an effort to develop an after school program. City staff and possible volunteers will provide and manage the after school program at Stevenson, Clawson, Joe Carlson and Sarah Marley Elementary Schools beginning in January. DUSD will provide the facilities and absorb the cost of utilities.

Approved was the establishment of local public safety retirement boards. They will help clarify membership, appointment terms, duties and purpose of the local boards. Those approved to be on the board were Gilbert Aguilar, Carlos De La Torre as chair, and the reappointment of Frank Stevens to the local public safety retirement boards for fire and police.

The next city council meeting will be held on January 9, 2013 at City Hall located on 425 E. 10th Street.