Nogales mayor's planned Polanco visit approved after brief but divided council debate

The Nogales City Council on Oct. 1 voted to approve Mayor George Maldonado's planned attendance at a cross-border mayors' event in Polanco, Mexico, but the decision drew pointed questions from several council members before passage.

Vice Mayor Bohorquez and Councilmembers raised concerns that the agenda packet contained only a flyer and no cost estimate or detailed backup explaining who else would attend. "A flyer is an invitation, and it's calling for a meeting from 02:30 to 04:00. That's a long way to go to have a meeting for an hour and a half," one councilmember said. Several members noted the city faces pressing infrastructure and budget issues and asked whether the mayor's trip should be prioritized.

Mayor Maldonado said the trip comes from the mayor's discretionary budget and that he planned to make appointments and hold follow-up meetings while in Mexico; he said the diplomatic contact could help secure state and federal support for port and border issues. "My plan is to make other appointments... It's an opportunity to go there, be there, and put, you know, on the map," he said.

Councilmembers asked that the mayor provide a report to council on outcomes after the trip. The motion to approve the mayor's travel carried; council discussion included both support for the potential economic and diplomatic benefits and concern over the limited meeting time and lack of packet detail.

The record includes several voiced objections during the roll call but the motion ultimately passed by majority. Councilmembers said they expect the mayor to brief the full council on contacts and any follow-up actions on return.