Nogales council approves border, public-safety and community grants, Gateway Arch contract and hires city manager; Stonegarden overtime item tabled

The Nogales City Council on Feb. 5 approved a series of grants, contracts and purchases affecting police operations, downtown redevelopment, community services and fleet replacement, and formally appointed Joe Kramer as city manager. Council also unanimously passed a new ordinance requiring pet owners to remove animal waste and tabled a Stonegarden overtime question pending pension-impact clarification.

Major approvals

- Arizona Department of Public Safety local-border support grant: The council accepted a grant award of $1,776,280 from the Arizona Department of Public Safety to support a Nogales Police Department 24-hour operations center, a mobile data project and K‑9 support. The award requires matching funds of $1,370,000; staff reported the match is budgeted from prior allocations.

- SAMHSA overdose-prevention grant and related contracts: The council authorized the police department to sign contracts with Hope Inc., Mariposa Community Health Center and the University of Arizona Prevention Research Center as part of a Department of Health and Human Services (SAMHSA) grant to combat overdoses and expand community training and referral services. Presenters described multi‑year reimbursements and a total…