[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6482903,"mediaKeyId","5509289-2ca991b79ddc98a47f785b7c7b480fc6","parentId",5509289,"title","Nogales studies septic-dumping policy, testing costs and county alternative","audioSeconds",1396,"startMs",8784000,"endMs",10180000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5509289-2ca991b79ddc98a47f785b7c7b480fc6&start=8784&end=10180","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5509289-2ca991b79ddc98a47f785b7c7b480fc6/thumbnail_8784000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6482903/Nogales/Santa-Cruz-County/Arizona/Nogales-studies-septic-dumping-policy-testing-costs-and-county-alternative","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482903-35bf7d500a9b9c474ae534aad4790dc8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775459243&Signature=U87WZaknWnUULTxst8XHOdt08Sz8gZHqY5Ka1vW7SbBTFspzhqN0yDLZyLqi43q80~gPnTcCYJajvywDcudcII5sXVPcQQxU07rlyxJin6MQrRnPrvB3gu3yoncF4eTMQvSds0HdkqizxpeUob4BUn90yPy4uRPjFPyTFU8ANJsoOzcioXgTImU8eRQDrvvUdY47d4njbMmzmyho4iWiplmfwv8sb33F58I~EZFeJwwf77rn-ZCXxFX-HtVprdt7Uv9Emo7YoNr8KqjO6r~q3iu71LGsAqfiERxBn~t6mGkODFeE4Ir0R-u~jjeGxkkdI2aIMSNZ0~bFAnq8vHu~fA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Nogales","date","2025-07-30T16:53:00Z","article","Nogales — The council reviewed a city staff report July 30 on a proposed septic-dumping station and discussed logistics, regulatory testing and whether the county might accept some wastes instead.

\"Next, we go to the septic dumping station review and discussion of site consideration of operational proposal for a septic dumping station,\" City Manager Kramer introduced the agenda item. Staff shared Pima County protocols and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) requirements and noted that Pima County’s Walker Road facility charges about $0.14 per gallon and does not perform frequent load testing in the same manner the city would be required to do under permitting.

ADEQ testing requirements could require the city to retain and test samples for suspect loads. Staff told the council a private lab indicated tests could cost roughly $475 per sample and noted samples are viable in refrigeration for roughly a week. \"Each load will probably be... If there is a situation... we would have to take every dump, keep it as a sample... the samples are good up to a week in a refrigerator,\" staff said, adding the city would need storage and chain-of-custody procedures.

Operational costs: Council members asked whether the city would need a new full‑time employee to manage sampling and logistics, and whether refrigerators, supplies and transport to a testing lab (Tucson was cited as an example) would increase the net cost of providing the service. Staff acknowledged additional personnel and equipment likely would be required and suggested increasing the per‑gallon charge from the current rate (cited in materials as about $0.10 per gallon) if the council chose to continue providing the service. Staff suggested a provisional increase to $0.14 per gallon to cover initial testing costs.

Liability concerns and alternatives: Council members raised potential liability and litigation risks when contaminants originate upstream or across the border and mix with city loads. Several members recommended seeking a formal, written commitment from Santa Cruz County (or the appropriate county authority) about whether the county would accept portable-unit waste or open the county landfill for septic dumping as an alternative. \"Why are we going to take that responsibility and that liability when everything is against us?\" a councilmember asked.

Next steps: Staff agreed to pursue a written response from county officials, bring back clarified cost estimates (including any required new personnel and refrigeration), and present an action item at the next council meeting. \"My suggestion is that we bring this back to council for next week because we have to ask... and we'll have all that information,\" staff said.

Ending: Council did not adopt a new policy at the July 30 session; staff will return with county responses and detailed cost and permit options for council action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mayor and Council, Special Session. July 30, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council reviewed permit requirements for a proposed septic-dumping station, including ADEQ testing obligations, sample-retention logistics and whether Pima County or the county landfill might accept portable-unit waste instead.","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},6482907,"Nogales reviews LED streetlight conversion and 9-1-1 center design; council approves McKinstry oversight",7065,105000,7170000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5509289-2ca991b79ddc98a47f785b7c7b480fc6&start=105&end=7170","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5509289-2ca991b79ddc98a47f785b7c7b480fc6/thumbnail_105000.jpg","/articles/6482907/Nogales/Santa-Cruz-County/Arizona/Nogales-reviews-LED-streetlight-conversion-and-9-1-1-center-design-council-approves-McKinstry-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482907-aeb94b060106f9dfdf1160fe4e407458/orig.mp4?Expires=1775459243&Signature=Im5aXhbbwUuOh538pFIqZOBiP3ceEbkHMEu6c9StOhKBJPHzNOCqik0r-ahhfCWf5eXJAgeGeHRuNoNsOeaZXZe6UakNUZ9nvqqa31fByPWduHA8wsIEALBIQWMPLbwUN3dWZugh1YfqY9IOCioP3W0VHtiZrvpfrp2W7pRLoHEXQw4RogUB4WC3UuaT4DANTwmrC4GMQ5l~pdxZb5KbsJjjQgJaswgLho24w8XTPVDnPG4C7GBLZLbgNVACJhyqgW0YEeVK67W6mm62ShRzb1jCN4YAEmps-fa7TGKnHqTbSV7dQRLmo-CfMAHe28-T2HCCUP8oUe14DKIFD-RTBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Nogales — City officials presented engineering and energy-efficiency proposals July 30 that would convert city streetlights to LEDs, replace aging HVAC systems and fund a design process for a new 9-1-1 communications center at the former armory.

City staff described a package McKinstry prepared showing an approximate $1.7 million project to convert municipal streetlights to LEDs and to replace aged mechanical equipment in city buildings. \"If we change them all out... the savings would be about close to about $166,000 a year,\" a McKinstry presenter said. The packet included estimated rebates of roughly $132,000 and scenarios with payback between about a dozen and 22 years depending on scope.

The presentation noted that replacing only streetlights produces faster payback; adding HVAC and building mechanical replacements extended the payback (staff estimated roughly 20–22 years for the larger package). Officials also discussed potential financial structures including Greater Arizona Development Authority (GADA) financing and cooperative purchasing contracts that can cover consulting fees.

Officials discussed pole ownership and maintenance costs. \"We are being charged for rental for the poles as well,\" staff said. Taking ownership of poles could increase upfront cost but reduce ongoing rental charges and shorten the payback period; staff said further legal and procurement checks would be needed.

The armory site: Chief Jimenez described a plan to use the armory property for a 9-1-1 center and a separate warehouse for city asset management. He said abatement (asbestos removal) is required before interior work continues and that an outside firm would perform oversight on construction and abatement. The council previously approved matching funds for 9-1-1 center grant work and staff said city contributions total about $1.2 million as the local match for grant awards discussed during the session.

Contract approval: The council voted to approve the McKinstry-related proposal and associated design/oversight contract under cooperative purchase authority. A council member asked about statutory contract provisions; the city attorney explained certain state-mandated clauses (e.g., e-verify, anti-boycott of Israel, and forced-labor prohibitions) are standard in state-level cooperative contracts.

What the council asked for next: Staff said they will provide written financing scenarios (e.g., with and without GADA, lien-structure implications) and the consultant will produce mock-ups and an implementation schedule. Officials also said they would provide monthly project updates to council once procurement and abatement work begins.

Ending: Council approved the McKinstry proposal at the meeting; additional procurement, financing and abatement work will return to council for contract approvals and oversight.","Council reviewed a McKinstry proposal to upgrade municipal building HVAC and convert city streetlights to LEDs under a possible grant; council approved the proposal and discussed payback periods, rebates and options to take ownership of poles to deepen savings.",{"_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},6482908,"Nogales leaders weigh tens of millions in water and sewer costs, possible rate doubling",5908,176000,6084000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5509289-2ca991b79ddc98a47f785b7c7b480fc6&start=176&end=6084","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5509289-2ca991b79ddc98a47f785b7c7b480fc6/thumbnail_176000.jpg","/articles/6482908/Nogales/Santa-Cruz-County/Arizona/Nogales-leaders-weigh-tens-of-millions-in-water-and-sewer-costs-possible-rate-doubling","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482908-698437ba870914ba2f3ccd436c2c16da/orig.mp4?Expires=1775459243&Signature=OkA6p8DHTVM7-ZD80nKlegIEAVv-Lps3~JRHXUt6HxoP8aSh7GIaNhTW4DpnGAfzr4PDp9lISlvNBzXi714sakk1vb5pONrTyFgJ9RkEHLguF~q25Hs0U92SmaEiadmdArk27MfBQtyjHUlv4JXLGvJOYD3lbBWq65MsyAFJQ4EakNO408gKLzKF9bvD5TJ3PvWLeJj5zcqS8y0xmImcE2gXAyvY~Sr9B-OcsYV5o2hNhaJ8avyYczSIwhkvhU680iv5X85sqVExqa7eaPCHFYSLOJ9KI5tzd8UG1QgARa1G4Hedc01k~YAX-A9Bwb7ITEfQylpVUEK9Qmh7Ui8hGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Nogales — City officials presented a financial “bookend” analysis July 30 showing municipal decisions on a 2020 Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) loan will shape utility rates for years.

\"I started working for the city as your financial adviser ... In early 2020 the city issued its water and wastewater loans through WIFA, approximately $15,000,000 — $10,000,000 for water, $5,000,000 for wastewater,\" Michael Vasquez, managing director at Willdan Finance Services, told the council. \"To complete the 2020 projects, the city would have to borrow an additional $30,400,000 for water, an additional $7,500,000 for wastewater — that's a total of $38,000,000.\"

Why it matters: Council members were told the city is already paying debt service on $15 million that produced designs and a small number of completed projects; completing the projects and addressing degraded infrastructure will require substantially more borrowing or higher rates. Vasquez presented three scenarios: (1) pay off existing debt and do no further construction; (2) borrow the additional $38 million to finish the 2020 projects; or (3) borrow to finish the 2020 projects and issue further debt over the next 10 years to address broader system needs (staff estimated roughly $37 million more over 10 years — about $22 million water, $14.5 million wastewater).

Council members repeatedly raised accountability and timing. \"We paid for engineering for these projects and they weren't going to be done,\" Councilman Doyle said, arguing earlier choices left the city with detailed plans but few completed projects. Several members asked for a forensic accounting of how the original WIFA funds were spent before asking residents to pay more.

Officials stressed constraints from lenders. \"If you go buy a car with very little money in your savings account, are you gonna get good rates?\" City Manager Kramer said, reporting state WIFA contacts told staff low enterprise fund reserves make borrowing more difficult or costlier. Vasquez said some loan forgiveness features tied to the original WIFA package still appear possible but emphasized that new borrowing would be serviced by utility rates, not general excise taxes.

On potential rate effects, staff said a preliminary scenario could require a substantial rate increase; council members and consultants used an illustrative figure of about a 113% increase in some scenarios — roughly doubling typical residential bills — though Vasquez described the analysis as “bookend” estimates and said a final rate study will refine numbers. \"This is a study session. No action,\" an official reminded the room during the discussion.

What council directed and next steps: Staff said they will continue the formal rate study and return with more detailed, vetted scenarios and supporting documents. Multiple council members requested a written accounting of the 2020 WIFA expenditures and the list of shelved projects before any formal rate proposal. Vasquez and staff also recommended hiring dedicated project management oversight if the city borrows again so engineering dollars translate into completed construction.

Ending: The council did not vote on rates or borrowing July 30. Officials said they will present the rate study and additional documentation at future meetings and suggested study sessions in September and October to give the public and council time to review options.","City officials reviewed a 2020 WIFA loan program, an updated rate study and options that could more than double residential water bills as they decide whether to borrow roughly $38 million to finish previously engineered projects and address long-term system needs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Nogales studies septic-dumping policy, testing costs and county alternative

Nogales reviews LED streetlight conversion and 9-1-1 center design; council approves McKinstry oversight

Nogales leaders weigh tens of millions in water and sewer costs, possible rate doubling