Patagonia council authorizes town manager to sign Early Actions agreement with South32 and regional partners

The Patagonia Town Council voted 5‑0 on March 4 to authorize Town Manager Robinson to sign an Early Actions Community Investment Funding Agreement with Santa Cruz County, the City of Nogales and South32/Hermosa following a study session presentation and a public comment from a local resident.

Town Manager Robinson presented a PowerPoint overview of the agreement and a proposed Protections Roadmap that outlines six task areas—engage, define goals, data requests, explore protection opportunities, monitor and communicate progress, and annual review—along with scheduling milestones. The presentation identified a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) expected February 2026 and a target Record of Decision (ROD) in July 2026.

The Early Actions package described in the presentation lists discrete projects that would require individual scopes of work and cost estimates before proceeding: an independent emergency services audit and proposed expansion of local fire and EMS infrastructure and a Patagonia facility (flood control study Phase II); funding and design support for Mariposa mobile‑clinic services and a possible county mobile health vehicle; countywide early‑childhood and daycare planning with Patagonia‑specific concept drawings; a county parks, trails and open‑space master plan tied to a nature‑based restorative economy; and design and engineering work for an affordable housing project in Patagonia. The presentation noted some items are countywide while others are Patagonia‑specific and that each Early Action requires a defined scope before funds are released.

Resident Carolyn Shafer addressed the council during the public comment period, urging that community organizations and residents be heard before completion of the Community Protections and Benefits Agreement (CPBA). "This is not the CPBA. The CPBA will be completed once we have the FEIS and Biological Opinion from the federal agencies," Shafer said, and she described the Early Actions Agreement as an interim funding agreement meant to deliver sooner‑needed projects while the federal review is pending. Shafer also referenced community concerns related to an Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Clean Water Act 401 waiver and asked that the Protections Roadmap include robust local input.

Council Member Finch moved to approve authorization for Town Manager Robinson to sign the Early Actions Agreement; Council Member Claverie seconded. The motion carried 5‑0, with Mayor Andrea Wood, Vice‑Mayor Stabile (via Zoom), and Council Members Finch, Claverie and Retherford voting in favor. The council reconvened from its study session and adjourned at 7:01 p.m.

The agreement presented on March 4 was described as a funding framework similar to other agreements between South32 and government entities; it is intended to fund early projects identified in the Protections Roadmap while the larger CPBA and federal agency reviews proceed. The council packet and presentation note that each Early Action will require a specific scope of work and cost estimate prior to expenditure. The town clerk attested the minutes and the council approved the minutes as a true and accurate record of the special meeting.

Next steps described in the presentation include developing scopes for individual Early Actions, establishing a public‑facing dashboard for progress updates, and formation of a technical review board to conduct annual reviews and site visits as the Protections Roadmap proceeds.