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Douglas council approves consent agenda, adopts noise-code amendment and OKs property exchange with school district
Summary
The Douglas Mayor and Council unanimously approved a multi-item consent agenda including grant acceptances and appointments, adopted a noise-ordinance amendment allowing limited late-night social gatherings, and approved a property exchange with Douglas Unified School District No. 27 that swaps athletic fields for the aquatic center, an historic school building and vacant parcels.
The Douglas Mayor and Council met Jan. 14 and unanimously approved a package of routine and substantive measures, including a multi-item consent agenda, an amendment to the city’s noise ordinance and a property exchange agreement with Douglas Unified School District No. 27.
The council approved December expenditures totaling $5,050,809.31 and a slate of appointments and bid awards by voice vote. The consent agenda also ratified acceptance of a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant for $440,000 with a required local match of $110,000, and accepted a $50,000 grant from the Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona to support Project Lifeline, the council record shows. Councilmember Melissa Rodriguez moved the consent motion and Mayor Pro Tem Ray Shelton seconded; Mayor Jose Grijalva and all councilmembers voted in favor.
The council adopted Ordinance No. 25-1217, which amends Chapter 8.28 of the Douglas Municipal Code to clarify when activities violate the noise code and creates a limited exception allowing special occasions and social gatherings between 10 p.m. and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays so long as they do not create unreasonable noise. City Clerk Alma Andrade explained the change on second reading; the ordinance passed on a unanimous roll-call vote.
Also on second reading the council approved Ordinance No. 25-1223, a property exchange agreement with Douglas Unified School District No. 27. According to staff presentation by Mr. Pedroza, the district will receive the Armando De Lucas football field and Copper King baseball stadiums. The city will receive the Douglas Aquatic Center, the old segregated historic school building and six vacant parcels. Staff reported approximate valuations of $435,282 for the district parcels and $438,058 for the city parcels; both parties will continue shared use of facilities under new intergovernmental agreements. The ordinance passed unanimously.
Finance Director and Treasurer Alejandro Martinez announced that the city received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for FY 2024, an award the city has earned annually since 2008. City Manager Ana Urquijo also reported departmental and infrastructure updates, including progress on SCADA monitoring for water wells and schedule milestones for a planned asphalt plant: staff training in Tennessee, construction in February–April and production anticipated in May–June.
What happens next: ordinances passed on second reading become effective per the dates stated in each ordinance. The SS4A grant acceptance includes a required local match that the council authorized; staff will proceed with implementation tasks and any required intergovernmental or procurement steps recorded in city files.
Actions at a glance
- Consent agenda approved (expenditures $5,050,809.31; appointments; bid awards; resolutions): motion by Melissa Rodriguez, second by Ray Shelton; roll call unanimous (Mayor Jose Grijalva; Councilmembers Melissa Rodriguez, Jose Montaño, Gustavo Durazo Jr., Ray Shelton, Maria Dillman, Richard C. Acosta).
- Ordinance No. 25-1217 (noise-code amendment): motion by Jose Montaño, second by Maria Dillman; roll call unanimous.
- Ordinance No. 25-1223 (property exchange with Douglas Unified School District No. 27): motion by Ray Shelton, second by Richard C. Acosta; roll call unanimous.
