[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6615671,"mediaKeyId","2859216-f3e6208766bbe0f6a556203037d3d79c","parentId",2859216,"title","Unisource outlines multi‑phase plan to add second transmission line serving Nogales area","audioSeconds",779,"startMs",3491000,"endMs",4270000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2859216-f3e6208766bbe0f6a556203037d3d79c&start=3491&end=4270","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2859216-f3e6208766bbe0f6a556203037d3d79c/thumbnail_3491000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6615671/Nogales/Santa-Cruz-County/Arizona/Unisource-outlines-multiphase-plan-to-add-second-transmission-line-serving-Nogales-area","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6615671-2dcb88c9289f347ccc9c85b27c9df5a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126035&Signature=F5ChxLiJZDgUUHfYJj6VFvmpiEacz3kIEfq7BLvNiLrjid4rgF~rd1jdw1oRlOLE~BtaCAK7k4BfFjvHjEFjjw4bHJAl5xeeVac-sVj1MUDf9Y5-jcE2TZoCcLsG3VKrPqPBJtLJ~1oWWpAmowwOUwJOxhnGxMgWEV6Bp0dqsCG1N2SsM-9l-IDDyN6e-tEuDf4~IZBqZMOLugJEhrEKBy8mTWMrxM-U7eFA5U~xo6kMGRs8BXMI0fTs2tQxYgTcWWLP~7CkAEHQST0WB1gNVDMu~Bp1w19Cl50puabTXenvPk2r8bHfCHZaprrBQPCjr~sSN1IqEuoLx2Si6y~QjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Nogales","date","2025-04-03T06:46:29.677Z","article","Representatives from Unisource Energy Services and Tucson Electric Power briefed the Nogales City Council on April 2 about the Santa Cruz Reliability North (SCR North) project, a multi‑phase effort to add a second transmission connection into Santa Cruz County and the Nogales area.

Clark Bridal, Unisource manager for siting outreach and engagement, described the problem the project intends to solve: Santa Cruz County and Nogales today rely predominantly on a single transmission path to deliver high‑voltage power into the area. That single path leaves the region vulnerable to long outages and limits the utility’s ability to take equipment out of service for maintenance. Bridal said the SCR North project would establish redundancy so that if one transmission line is out of service, power can flow via the other line with no interruption to customers.

Unisource has divided the work into three phases. Phase 1 (the SCR North project) would create a second connection into the regional grid, illustrated on Unisource slides as originating at Tucson Electric Power’s Canoa Ranch substation in the Green Valley area and connecting to the Cantor substation near the Pima–Santa Cruz county line. Phase 2 would allow rebuilding of a constrained segment of the existing line (a constraint Bridal said could not be fixed while that line remained the only supply path). Phase 3 would build a second transmission route from Cantor down to the Nogales area; Unisource said routing for phase 3 will begin public outreach in May and the company plans to seek a hearing before the Arizona Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee in late 2025 with Arizona Corporation Commission decisions to follow.

Bridal said the project requires a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility issued through the Arizona Corporation Commission permitting process; that process includes public hearings, opportunity for intervention and environmental review. He described a multi‑step siting study with iterative public outreach to identify and screen routes and reduce impacts for natural resources and community concerns. Phase 1 siting study work is underway; Unisource held a second round of public meetings in Green Valley and Amado in March and expects construction of phase 1 to begin in 2027 with service in 2028 if permitting and schedule proceed as planned.

The company emphasized that the SCR North project is separate from, and not driven by, a nearby transmission line being built to serve the South32 Hermosa mine; Bridal said the mine project may realize some reliability benefit from the SCR North but that the SCR North project stands on its own reliability case.

Council members asked whether Unisource has built similar projects in Arizona (the company said it has done several in the Tucson area recently), about the proposed timeline’s sensitivity to delays, and about likely community resistance where routes cross private property. Bridal said the schedule is an ideal timeline and could be extended if hearings or siting encounters cause delays; he also said federal grant funding tied to portions of the project creates a completion target that will accelerate work if all approvals and land access proceed.

No council vote or formal action occurred during the briefing; Unisource requested local engagement and said it would return with public meetings during route selection for phase 3. Bridal provided a project web address and a QR code for additional information and said outreach will expand as the company refines route alternatives and begins the formal Certificate of Environmental Compatibility process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Nogales, Az, Regular Meeting April 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Utility representatives from Unisource and Tucson Electric Power told the council on April 2 that a planned second high‑voltage transmission connection into Santa Cruz County will add redundancy, improve reliability and enable maintenance of constraining equipment on the existing line.","taxTitle","Nogales, Santa Cruz County, Arizona","taxId",58188,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6615674,"Nogales police outline plan to build Public Safety Operations Center at old armory",622,125000,747000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2859216-f3e6208766bbe0f6a556203037d3d79c&start=125&end=747","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2859216-f3e6208766bbe0f6a556203037d3d79c/thumbnail_125000.jpg","/articles/6615674/Nogales/Santa-Cruz-County/Arizona/Nogales-police-outline-plan-to-build-Public-Safety-Operations-Center-at-old-armory","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6615674-5884dc70dba9971a309bfa16315f87cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126035&Signature=VdNh7~I6NDXi~zsYfMwFmNOgx8FxcY6~6WNWCoqkNwpJ24tOy4RAgwPCBsC9OVCysBZKxHc7D1HijnhElkXOjijQd-Cq~Mekai-LY4QojIoK5eY46ZDUVoE6ayfyrLZWzq2QpoI77Nn6-OLufTMUJj118T17Oiu-Sje-vtGund29BwbcnEBnb58Bzo4Yh2gJEiRHz1ax~5M877Jg4NCmtYbSif5mg2bqZClY07LDIyffDelvYO4XKRWQE~~cuihPxScGT6AOcRVoLjWhkvsMCnwZpcZFTC7DfgZe3HWZanae6lA32kxpOa5GnoCS8ta1szuT~nR99Q2wIsTtGg3AqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Police Chief Carlos Jimenez and Assistant Chief Robert Gallegos briefed the Nogales City Council on April 2 about plans to convert the former National Guard Armory on West Western Avenue into a Public Safety Operations Center, or PSOC, and to relocate the city’s 9-1-1 answering point (Public Safety Answering Point, PSAP) there.

Jimenez said the department aims to complete the PSAP portion of the PSOC by spring 2026 and that the armory conversion is driven by long-running facility deficiencies at the current Nogales Police Department building, which dates to 1972. “Our NPD facilities date back to 1972 and…have not had any meaningful updates,” Jimenez said. He told council members the current building lacks secure areas to receive, process, interview or hold arrestees, witnesses or victims.

Assistant Chief Robert Gallegos detailed operational drivers for the project and how regional cross‑border activity increases demands on local public safety operations. He told the council that Nogales’ permanent population is about 19,770 but that the city handles a much larger daily and annual flow of people and trade, including millions of pedestrian and vehicle crossings and substantial freight traffic. He described spikes in calls during major incidents and cited the department’s 2023 workload statistics: 58,614 total calls for service and average dispatcher processing time of one minute 52 seconds per call.

Officials described recent grant work and funding requests that have supported planning and early renovation. In 2023 the department received an Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs award to buy radio equipment to transition to the Arizona Wireless Integrated Network (AZ‑WINS); Jimenez said the grant amount was $10,763,350 and that equipment purchases are underway. In April 2024 the department submitted a congressional appropriation request for $15,477,000 to fund administration and investigative offices at the PSOC; that appropriation request was not funded and will be resubmitted, Jimenez said. Separately, in December 2024 the department was awarded a $1,370,000 grant from the Arizona Department of Public Safety border support program, contingent on a City of Nogales matching amount; the council previously approved the match in February 2025, Gallegos said. Combined PSOC-specific funding described in the presentation totaled $2,740,000 (the $1,370,000 award plus the matching amount), with some additional equipment line items the department listed bringing a cited project total to about $3,146,280.

Gallegos reviewed the armory’s renovation needs: replacement of undersized and aged electrical service (upgrading from single‑phase to a 480‑volt, three‑phase service), a new backup generator sized and integrated with the new electrical service, full replacement of HVAC systems (current units use phased‑out R‑22 refrigerant), roof repairs, perimeter fencing and exterior lighting upgrades, plumbing and sewer upgrades, and extension of the city’s fiber network with a redundant microwave link to support dispatch, AZ‑WINS radios and corporate city networking. He showed a conceptual PSAP floor plan that would create roughly 1,300 square feet for dispatch with six stations, a supervisor’s office, training/conference space, secure interview/holding rooms and evidence/storage areas.

Gallegos used two past critical incidents — an April 2018 officer‑involved shooting and a later officer‑involved shooting at a Walmart — to illustrate how communications and dispatch capacity are essential during multi‑agency emergency responses. He played portions of dispatch radio recordings and summarized how dispatchers coordinated public calls, multiagency radio traffic and medical responses under pressure.

Council members asked about jurisdiction during multi‑agency incidents, interoperability with state and federal partners, and the timing for remaining funding requests. Gallegos said the AZ‑WINS transition will improve statewide radio interoperability and that the department coordinates with the county sheriff and Arizona Department of Public Safety on critical‑incident investigations.

No formal council action was taken during the presentation; officials asked for continued council support as the department pursues construction funding and completes design work. The police presentation and supporting slides were presented for council information and to seek continued backing for the armory conversion, as described at the meeting.","Police officials described plans and funding for a Public Safety Operations Center (PSOC) at the former National Guard Armory and said the city’s 9-1-1 answering point (PSAP) would move there if renovations proceed. Officials also described grant awards, infrastructure needs and high call volumes that motivated the project.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6615656,"Council approves staffing change: city clerk reassigned and acting city clerk appointed while recruitment proceeds",160,20200000,20360000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2859216-f3e6208766bbe0f6a556203037d3d79c&start=20200&end=20360","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2859216-f3e6208766bbe0f6a556203037d3d79c/thumbnail_20200000.jpg","/articles/6615656/Nogales/Santa-Cruz-County/Arizona/Council-approves-staffing-change-city-clerk-reassigned-and-acting-city-clerk-appointed-while-recruitment-proceeds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6615656-c2bf973b8b47614b969bd11dc87a22f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126035&Signature=SRtr4ySpQ1xGsaPKJ7d~W6Ip-Fiv8ZBM7T4Lb49pNhfXTNMUWZOPHOvYTbXk3LbdrmRdXpZ6XJ8iyL4Fp4NVt28Gh2jEKcZK5vxLYbbzDcNGLeRSeNyAEpZbJmZrkwIc7XCaVyqXAaJzE0EyGgTMzhk4fd3q~VUv1vynCQ1T6Dkj8QmZa6Rlre7hySx7v6aJC5osv9sC-M-bZa~SCBDphZmuYiqpRB03KLfvkvGqzAJxodvuaZGvOmflI4G-q~pr8AKmoBk7MZdoZXCsqO17dbrFPm6O2owvqttjxlv~1OlH5hLJQ2b2YSIYknEr8C2z0~6JNbonj8f2nk6qj~RdfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Nogales City Council voted April 2 to authorize administrative changes in the City Clerk’s office: staff will advertise to recruit a full‑time permanent city clerk, the incumbent employee Letty Robinson will be reassigned to another city position for which she is qualified, and Judy Armandares will serve as acting city clerk until a new hire is in place.

City staff presented an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodation request from the city clerk and characterized the personnel situation as a staffing hardship requiring a permanent hire. A councilmember moved to reassign the incumbent and proceed with recruitment for a full‑time city clerk; the motion, as amended on the record, also designated Judy Armandares as acting city clerk during the recruitment period.

Legal counsel noted that council members who have a familial relationship with an affected employee should abstain from voting; one councilmember (Mister Estes) stated on the record that he would abstain because the affected staff member is his sister. The meeting record shows the council adopted the personnel motion with the stated abstention.

Staff will proceed with a recruitment process for a permanent city clerk and will report back to council with candidate appointments and any recommended job‑spec updates; in the meantime Armandares will perform city‑clerk duties and the city will publish the job opening to seek permanent candidates.","The council authorized a personnel reorganization in the City Clerk’s office, reassigning the incumbent and designating an acting city clerk pending a search for a permanent full‑time city clerk. One council member abstained from the vote because of a family relationship.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6615661,"Council accepts $325,000 offer, converts city cell‑tower lease to 99‑year easement",168,7222000,7390000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2859216-f3e6208766bbe0f6a556203037d3d79c&start=7222&end=7390","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2859216-f3e6208766bbe0f6a556203037d3d79c/thumbnail_7222000.jpg","/articles/6615661/Nogales/Santa-Cruz-County/Arizona/Council-accepts-325000-offer-converts-city-celltower-lease-to-99year-easement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6615661-f865c1b34e0f89241006461c53aeb077/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126035&Signature=Lo9W3hQiHN0z7eSuS~~OabkD4yN3A6yzEtY2viDImHAw6w50mccpa8DXFx9mIDA2sToR-z4wRTjwWcImYYFWyIWjrGHjIO9k1Gjr2du~bvD76Xg323uILyRQivVayEsPZhC1J5zoD2yGOnDpQ0iLzHXVeyon3B7UBrh8ovZqeV8YeuJGQmeN5wdemG~kymugNxd8-3B~-3BHUdDQf7W30I3zRHFiKfhApHrm86AmtpiX~9ciiUVfnBOVJXGXF2ATHfFUHncf4bHzBSjyaHoA1itUmJB4raWknr~XQ1SzMIhvPGe6okjOdae2q-pCYwFL39h64LqaeCh1JUXcKK3vkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council voted April 2 to accept Octagon Towers LLC’s proposal to convert the city’s existing cell‑tower lease at 1299 North David Drive into a 99‑year easement in exchange for a one‑time payment of $325,000.

City staff summarized two proposals from Octagon Towers: a 40‑year extension of the current lease for a longer recurring payment option, or conversion to a 99‑year easement with a lump‑sum payment of $325,000. The city manager recommended the 99‑year easement and the council voted to accept that recommendation; the motion passed and the clerk recorded the action as approval of the second proposal. A councilmember seconded the motion and the council chair called the question; the meeting minutes record the motion passing.

Council members discussed the expected life of cell‑tower technology, whether the easement would tie up land needed for other municipal uses and the immediate fiscal benefit of a lump sum payment compared with an extended lease. City staff noted the parcel is already under lease and that the easement conversion would monetize the site now rather than extend the existing contractual arrangement.

The council did not publish a roll‑call vote in the discussion but the motion passed during the meeting. The clerk’s office will complete documentation to finalize the easement conversion and payment processing.","The council approved an Octagon Towers LLC proposal to convert the city’s existing cell tower lease at 1299 North David Drive into a 99‑year easement in exchange for a one‑time payment of $325,000. Council manager recommended the lump‑sum easement over a 40‑year extension.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6615666,"Council adopts ordinance creating Commission on Disability Issues to centralize local neurodiversity and disability coordination",67,5007000,5074000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2859216-f3e6208766bbe0f6a556203037d3d79c&start=5007&end=5074","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2859216-f3e6208766bbe0f6a556203037d3d79c/thumbnail_5007000.jpg","/articles/6615666/Nogales/Santa-Cruz-County/Arizona/Council-adopts-ordinance-creating-Commission-on-Disability-Issues-to-centralize-local-neurodiversity-and-disability-coordination","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6615666-7bca987b5096910fc581b20cc2d16948/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126035&Signature=OmFnohotF9udgLzeWq9sdbUcnrs4B1xjyxGGRSnmPWQVT7DcYYyrSowlk2ikMPFM-3uNUndQovphgu7csK20nysCrOB37dmIua9pQbvzIGOCh-riCnUuWwexII6wKDviwbu5O3THiHGe~4Wa6~Aga-CGmcwv71hPMLlWEOU8SSVaCg4sk8kTy4ASQnFI1SpVbGmqyIxDzm1uDRQWnHbkwDK3a7DsviAwuPpTfyq~av0DMpKi1oLVJ2lFAa-mpoJCDYaDJgLVEz-za0snXI73QgxE4SLINyn0qE-5C6fyVkHlb0itC~EUQmBWiVp4Cwt19oFscz29MWxGuwj9v4wN5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Nogales City Council voted on April 2 to adopt an ordinance establishing a Commission on Disability Issues (CODY), an unpaid advisory body intended to coordinate local providers, city staff and community members on disability‑related needs including neurodiversity services.

The ordinance (cited in the meeting as Ordinance 02025‑04‑003) adds new sections to the city code creating a commission that the ordinance describes as advisory only. The commission’s proposed membership includes designated agency seats: a representative from the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, a representative from the Office of Individual and Family Affairs (OIFA), a representative from the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), three seats for Mariposa Community Health Center and one community member. The ordinance also requires a city staff member to serve as the commission secretary to post notices and maintain minutes in compliance with Arizona open‑meeting law.

Advocates who spoke at the meeting described current local services and the commission’s role as a coordinating and informational hub rather than a funding body. Michelle Ramirez, an autism advocate recognized earlier in the meeting with a Good Samaritan award, and Dr. Verano (a community health representative) described collaboration among Mariposa Community Health Center, school districts, county agencies and first‑responders. Dr. Verano said the commission will “gather information and provide recommendations to the council,” and Ramirez described goals such as better community education, parent trainings, school IEP support and improved access to mental‑health and developmental services.

Council members said they wanted time to review written details before a vote; staff provided the ordinance packet during the meeting and presenters explained it was intended to be advisory and not to create a city funding obligation. After discussion the council adopted the ordinance; the council will later appoint members and staff will support the commission’s public‑meeting requirements.

Councilmembers and speakers emphasized the local nature of the effort and noted partnerships already in place with county agencies, Mariposa Community Health Center and other local providers. The council did not allocate a dedicated budget for the commission; it is structured as advisory with city staff providing secretarial and meeting‑posting support. The council called for outreach to fill the designated seats and to return with member appointments in a later agenda item.","The City Council voted to create a Commission on Disability Issues (CODY), an unpaid advisory commission intended to coordinate local agencies and community groups on disability, neurodiversity and related services. The ordinance passed at first reading and council will later appoint members representing named agencies.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Unisource outlines multi‑phase plan to add second transmission line serving Nogales area

Nogales police outline plan to build Public Safety Operations Center at old armory

Council approves staffing change: city clerk reassigned and acting city clerk appointed while recruitment proceeds

Council accepts $325,000 offer, converts city cell‑tower lease to 99‑year easement

Council adopts ordinance creating Commission on Disability Issues to centralize local neurodiversity and disability coordination