[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-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],{"_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",6586150,"mediaKeyId","5550453-f2ec3e85ea4584bbca513168a1c1e394","parentId",5550453,"title","Nogales council adopts ethics code, updates police orders, approves IGAs and stops septic dumping pending ADEQ compliance","audioSeconds",818,"startMs",8561000,"endMs",9379000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5550453-f2ec3e85ea4584bbca513168a1c1e394&start=8561&end=9379","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5550453-f2ec3e85ea4584bbca513168a1c1e394/thumbnail_8561000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6586150/Nogales/Santa-Cruz-County/Arizona/Nogales-council-adopts-ethics-code-updates-police-orders-approves-IGAs-and-stops-septic-dumping-pending-ADEQ-compliance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6586150-df62ae55989f4b9d4f85a1e49693c9ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1775217152&Signature=oIZL6Nyi0vUkDpbpZIvGhMl5eoWe9q1jR9fONcPvby24rxWe9hQU3TQ1HfFYSkxLwz~DYl23k5pDxTySEF7PTtsM1sO5GDHv~MVMUqEiyiKmCj4g2ugIvFFuZB57tOu9me0oyv29ux8z-v25kkZzvgQtLjRbELO2KHcdHvjCa2pc8UVsLShhj68zbBpaGyVL5m--40YSAuR2kwzcBe2V2gwL-rUVNH-IfuJEeADRrI3jyhqhttytOrLeYp7NYl3uzRDjfGLEX~BZ7YoKd5Ac7-PGJCfJsmFga-MWMfs6s-UyvnQHouGa-H7BdEj2t98dsk4Tc~QbDOrCxL56OIOQ3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Nogales","date","2025-08-07T17:25:36Z","article","The Nogales City Council on Aug. 6, 2025, approved a package of measures affecting city governance, public safety, infrastructure funding and environmental compliance and took immediate action to halt acceptance of septic‑hauler discharges until the city can meet new Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) testing requirements.

Key actions and votes

- Ethics code for elected officials and advisory board members: The council adopted a policies and code of conduct that establishes standards for ethical behavior, meeting procedures, conflict-of-interest disclosures and enforcement steps. The ordinance passed 5‑2.

- Police general orders: Council voted to approve implementation of updated Nogales Police Department general orders — a 300‑plus‑page set of policies that govern daily operations and procedures. The measures were vetted by outside counsel and the city attorney and were approved by voice vote.

- Opioid settlement participation: Council authorized the city to join the proposed national opioid manufacturer settlements (manufacturers listed on the agenda) and to complete and submit required documentation by the Oct. 8, 2025 deadline. The motion carried; participation would make the city eligible for future settlement distributions to be used for opioid‑remediation programs spelled out in the national agreement.

- Intergovernmental agreements (ADOT): The council approved three ADOT IGAs for road improvements with the following funding: Frank Reid Road ($1,500,000), La Quinta Road ($1,000,800) and Industrial Park Road ($2,000,900). The IGAs were approved unanimously.

- Capital and facilities approvals: The council authorized purchase of two 2026 Ford Maverick XL 4‑wheel‑drive hybrid trucks from state contract for $66,001.54 and approved renovation of Paloduro Swimming Pool in an amount not to exceed $173,847.97.

- In‑kind support and community events: The council approved in‑kind services for Circles of Peace’s Nogales Bicycle Classic (requested amount $3,308.76) and for the Cultural Arts Committee’s Fiesta Patrias at Cairn Park. Both requests were approved.

- Appointments: Council appointed Mary Darling to the Nogales‑Santa Cruz County Public Library board of directors (motion passed 4‑3) and appointed Ana Parada to the Greater Nogales‑Santa Cruz County Port Authority board (motion passed 4‑3); council discussion noted the Port Authority traditionally coordinates with the mayor as the city’s primary elected representative.

- Septic‑hauler acceptance and ADEQ compliance: After extended discussion of new ADEQ sampling and monitoring requirements for septage and portable‑toilet waste, the council directed staff to suspend acceptance of septic hauler discharges to the city sewer system until required sampling, chain‑of‑custody, and testing protocols are in place. Councilman William Doyle moved to give that direction to staff; the motion carried 6‑1. City staff and the city attorney advised the council that continuing to accept loads without ADEQ‑compliant sampling could expose the city to substantial fines.

What the settlements and approvals mean

The opioid settlement authorization does not distribute funds immediately; municipalities that opt in become eligible to receive allocations once the national distribution is calculated. The settlement limits future claims against participating manufacturers and requires funds to be spent on specified remediation activities (treatment, naloxone distribution, prevention and recovery services, etc.).

The general orders for the police department were reviewed by outside counsel and the city attorney and are intended to update decades‑old policies and relieve the city council of direct fiduciary oversight of those plans. The ethics code establishes a complaint and enforcement process that can lead to administrative sanctions; councilmembers noted the code is a living document that can be amended later.

Council comments and next steps

Council members framed the septic issue as time‑sensitive because ADEQ guidance and enforcement could carry six‑figure penalties if the city accepts noncompliant discharges. City Manager Joel Kramer and City Attorney Rodney Estes told council members they would bring proposed ordinance edits, fee schedules and administrative procedures back to council for formal adoption if members want staff to implement a monitoring program, or staff will proceed to shut down the service pending a longer policy review.

The IGAs with ADOT move planned road improvements forward with defined state funding. Appointments and special‑event approvals proceed under usual city processes. Several items — including a proposed ordinance to amend water‑rate code language related to mobile‑home residential communities — were tabled for the next meeting to allow the city attorney to clarify whether the change would affect other parks and communities.

Votes at a glance (selected items)

- Policies and code of conduct (Order 2025‑08‑022): Adopted (5‑2)
- Police general orders: Adopted (voice vote)
- Opioid settlement opt‑in: Approved (motion carried)
- ADOT IGAs (Frank Reid, La Quinta, Industrial Park): Approved (unanimous); funding: $1,500,000; $1,000,800; $2,000,900
- Paloduro Pool renovation: Approved (not to exceed $173,847.97)
- Purchase of two Ford Mavericks: Approved ($66,001.54)
- In‑kind support — Circles of Peace Nogales Bicycle Classic: Approved ($3,308.76 in‑kind)
- Library board appointment (Mary Darling): Approved (4‑3)
- Port Authority appointment (Ana Parada): Approved (4‑3)
- Septic‑hauler acceptance: Staff directed to suspend acceptance until ADEQ‑required sampling and protocols in place (6‑1)

Why this matters: the meeting combined governance reforms (ethics code, police orders), infrastructure financing (ADOT IGAs), community programming (in‑kind support) and a public‑health/environmental decision to curtail septic dumping until ADEQ requirements are satisfied. The cumulative package affects city operations, liability exposure and short‑term community services.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Nogales, Az, Regular Meeting August 06, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Nogales City Council on Aug. 6, 2025, approved a package of measures affecting city governance, public safety, infrastructure funding and environmental compliance and took immediate action to halt acceptance of septic‑hauler discharges until the city can meet new ADEQ testing requirements.","taxTitle","Nogales, Santa Cruz County, Arizona","taxId",58188,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6586153,"Conservation groups and residents tell Nogales council draft EIS for Hermosa mine understates water, air and biodiversity risks",0,5153000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5550453-f2ec3e85ea4584bbca513168a1c1e394&start=5153&end=5153","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5550453-f2ec3e85ea4584bbca513168a1c1e394/thumbnail_5153000.jpg","/articles/6586153/Nogales/Santa-Cruz-County/Arizona/Conservation-groups-and-residents-tell-Nogales-council-draft-EIS-for-Hermosa-mine-understates-water-air-and-biodiversity-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6586153-bac023e2dd6db54c77d079435ed850f9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775217152&Signature=iaf8zAvDsqnU1wTr31onVFz0W-4e3oKKVdT~fYSnfbFaxrtLu7e7ZNobTll1BrKZ~T5Kz2pvDg-ntyVgUOJuueHRKRXy6bOfo9mhGwXKXA-0aiKAEmGGHlRN4IhGyM5jses~CVPB3OwI2wu4vecG6gxBNmBfqYLqnt-JuDLIvYE0IzJdEGp0d06sHcxn9CXBORk4s0aZiThq7z0dEj~IraFZXpqRuij~x9WwhC3CUSOHE6RLa0zqGY92xwCdvIwJkJZOHy4O4Ey7uetSKu1BSt09cMYhXprJdB4TIxEgngViCoSwPana17qFoFY5mslSs98N4RHs-00dCgRITTeqgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carolyn Schafer, a board member with the Patagonia Area Resource Alliance, told the Nogales City Council on Aug. 6, 2025, that the Forest Service’s draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the proposed Hermosa Minerals Project is legally and scientifically inadequate and understates risks to groundwater, air and imperiled species.

Schafer said PARA coordinated a team of roughly two dozen subject-matter experts and submitted a 221‑page organizational comment during the DEIS comment period, which closed June 23. \"The draft environmental impact statement failed to fully analyze the baseline conditions of all potentially affected resources — water, air, wildlife, cultural and recreation,\" she said, and asked the Forest Service to prepare a revised draft DEIS before any approval.

The presentation drew multiple residents who described water and health problems they tie to local mining activities. Susan Weddington, who said she lives 4.5 miles downstream from the mine and has relied on delivered water since 2021, told council members her well now tests with lead concentrations \"over 3,000% over the maximum contaminant level for drinking water.\" John Ball, a retired mayor and fire chief, and other speakers warned of traffic and public‑safety risks from heavy truck traffic on Highway 82 and potential hazardous spills.

Local groups raised several technical complaints the DEIS, as summarized in PARA’s submission:
- Water: 77 pages of PARA’s comments focus on water concerns, including questionable groundwater modeling choices, calibration problems and insufficient baseline data for a region where half the county is inside an Active Management Area, Schafer said.
- Biodiversity: PARA devoted 54 pages to biodiversity and said the project footprint lies in a high‑value Madrean Pine‑Oak woodland and a global biodiversity hotspot; the group warned that approving the operation as proposed could push already imperiled species closer to extinction.
- Air and public health: Schafer said the DEIS’s air analysis uses limited screening and omits full analysis of hazardous pollutant impacts beyond manganese; PARA urged a more comprehensive health assessment and raised questions about deposition of dust and emissions onto soils and wildlife.
- Tailings and paste backfill: PARA called the mine’s tailings management plan “fundamentally flawed and premature” for environmental review, citing missing data and unrealistic assumptions.

Residents and community organizations echoed those concerns. John Nordstrom, who described himself as a geologist and said he is building a grassroots well‑monitoring network, announced a community website to collect well data and warned about a Forest Service estimate that a mine‑related cone of depression could be roughly 58 miles in diameter. Robert Paulson told council members he had received a certified letter from South32 saying mine operations could lower his well by as much as 10 feet and noted South32’s projected daily water use during operations.

Several council members said they recognized the complexity of the DEIS and the need for technical input. Councilman Buria acknowledged the volume of the federal documents and said the city should work to mitigate risks; other council members asked staff and the city attorney about the legal status of a community protections and benefits agreement that local governments and South32 are negotiating.

PARA recommended that the city consult the 16 organizations that signed PARA’s comments and use their independent technical reviews when negotiating the protections and benefits agreement. Schafer said PARA would deliver the 221‑page comments and a 40‑page plain‑language summary to the city clerk for council review.

Why this matters: the Hermosa project is on public National Forest lands and triggers federal review under the National Environmental Policy Act; it has potential cross‑boundary effects on groundwater, endangered species and community health in Santa Cruz County. Council members did not approve any permits or take a formal vote on the DEIS itself during the meeting, but the presentations and public testimony signaled strong local concern and a request for more technical review and independent monitoring.

Next steps: PARA requested a revised DEIS and urged independent oversight of monitoring and bonding. Council members signaled willingness to participate in the protection‑and‑benefits conversation and to consult PARA and other signatory organizations as the city negotiates terms with South32 and reviews federal documents.","On Aug. 6, 2025, Patagonia Area Resource Alliance and residents told the Nogales City Council that the U.S. Forest Service draft environmental impact statement for the Hermosa Minerals Project fails to analyze water, air and biodiversity risks fully and urged the city to press for stronger protections and independent monitoring.","actionData","errors"]

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Nogales council adopts ethics code, updates police orders, approves IGAs and stops septic dumping pending ADEQ compliance

Conservation groups and residents tell Nogales council draft EIS for Hermosa mine understates water, air and biodiversity risks