[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6642176,"mediaKeyId","2699239-59ab35332446d85538701eab503d4017","parentId",2699239,"title","Council to hold special meeting to assign interim city clerk duties while clerk on FMLA; appointment tabled","audioSeconds",2504,"startMs",10941000,"endMs",13445000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2699239-59ab35332446d85538701eab503d4017&start=10941&end=13445","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2699239-59ab35332446d85538701eab503d4017/thumbnail_10941000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6642176/Nogales/Santa-Cruz-County/Arizona/Council-to-hold-special-meeting-to-assign-interim-city-clerk-duties-while-clerk-on-FMLA-appointment-tabled","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6642176-d023d26aa99a9dceeb1f3a3ef39a12cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146896&Signature=i8Yg7ctNyWZflx4n~oufDIp8XSRX~8cnsLgELQl0lsB40RkOBsOJZcfc17Xp9XiCCkLpSmmEt8s~esFhoZPacbzjyCf3fht7L6QUNsV3zUXqVVAsgjnAVghheh5-lM8fnblJwzxhRPmrX8AVkazojXWa5BPes-eCErziPj3ZtoKFSps7RTMoBVtfs97WXXwUkxFNYbRnTA4Eg2DA1vM0pHbvs3LAbjGPK66q8V1bUyHrEbdF3shlJ0MWWnnAaJuy8hZwMoLqGeTDFBu~VuiRePd5ThIAZr7XOQt-ns0boeVN6NoblQTHgSsKiF5NwF~sZDRvyj1fKO6Gq6wZ0tdz-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Nogales","date","2025-01-19T00:02:11.35Z","article","The Nogales City Council was briefed that City Clerk Letty (first name used in the meeting record) is on FMLA and that the charter requires the council to appoint anyone who will perform the statutory functions of the clerk while she is absent.

Council and staff agreed that the clerk's statutory duties—publishing agendas, receiving service of process, processing public records requests and maintaining official minutes—must be covered by a council appointment even for a temporary period. City Attorney Joe Estes explained that the statutory executive‑session language on personnel appears in the agenda notice by statute and apologized for causing confusion, and staff clarified that the immediate purpose of the item was to secure a temporary appointment, not to terminate any employee.

Council asked staff to assemble two to three qualified candidates, including internal staff who could take on the duties with added compensation, and to post a short special meeting (24‑hour notice) to make a formal appointment. City Manager Dan Kramer and other staff said they would circulate candidate names and recommended compensation and would aim to have the item noticed promptly; council members agreed to a Friday or near‑term special meeting date to handle the matter.

Outcome: Council moved to table the item to the special meeting and directed staff to provide candidate names and a draft appointment for the council to vote on at the publicly noticed special meeting. Staff said it would circulate options within 48 hours and would document any interim arrangements that are made until the formal appointment is voted on.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Nogales, AZ, Special Session. January 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City clerk Letty is on FMLA; council agreed staff will propose temporary coverage candidates and a special meeting will be posted so the council can make the formal interim appointment; the matter was tabled for a short, publicly noticed meeting.","taxTitle","Nogales, Santa Cruz County, Arizona","taxId",58188,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6642181,"Nogales staff to explore options after council reviews $360,000 in overdue sewer accounts",677,10073000,10750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2699239-59ab35332446d85538701eab503d4017&start=10073&end=10750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2699239-59ab35332446d85538701eab503d4017/thumbnail_10073000.jpg","/articles/6642181/Nogales/Santa-Cruz-County/Arizona/Nogales-staff-to-explore-options-after-council-reviews-360000-in-overdue-sewer-accounts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6642181-8d5def06b98d4d7d364e53dabb78f2c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146896&Signature=kv2K3upsnybhreqPmJUOArAn-Nr~q6W6KK3ZMsWvBU2JMB3jdZzppLdrRJh2-bu4W00wHXoHQXryYnYfYFqtxo952nYqrXQ-F9Wu~ib3uIXMOH0MukXSJXzqc8Gz4SLMbpqE~9uofUWCQyHnWPUZC~0c3G66wPamvxV4Rzn1pulmC9EJdLRRob~fC-13w4oY82e261UjDalHe~-6t-gz8fN6BkPhLSp7uW3R31N3M3pG48YzjYu3eEeVqQ8bqdWRY5Z3AzqtYXIEEMU00Ovu1uqgshDIqqBXBCHvqasziWBmQUb3xV-7IOd~Bvq2mPkQJLCMWXDagUCjdwvAwuR5ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Attorney Joe Estes told the Nogales City Council that the municipality has legal tools to try to recover large overdue sewer accounts but that each option has limits and practical tradeoffs.

Estes said the transcripted list provided to council showed about 88 delinquent accounts with a combined balance roughly in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars (staff reported the list total as approximately $360,004.06). He explained that Arizona statute permits municipalities to place liens for sewage charges in appropriate circumstances but that liens are junior to county tax liens and can be wiped out by a tax‑lien foreclosure if the city does not protect its interest.

The council discussed several options: (1) establish a policy to file liens on owner‑occupied properties that exceed a council‑set threshold; (2) pursue arrangements with the local water provider to suspend water service for properties with delinquent sewer accounts (staff said this requires coordination and that some cities arrange with private water companies to synchronize shutoffs); and (3) in targeted cases, monitor county tax‑lien sales and, where warranted, purchase a tax lien to protect the municipality's larger sewer lien.

Estes cautioned that liens and tax‑lien purchases require administrative work and potential legal follow‑up; he recommended prioritizing accounts with large balances and owner‑occupied status. Staff agreed to provide a follow‑up report with a breakdown of the delinquent accounts (water vs. sewer, owner‑occupied vs. rental), an estimated cost for lien recording and monitoring, and any existing arrangements with the local water company.

Council direction: Staff was asked to continue research and return with options, cost estimates and a recommended threshold for placing liens or using other enforcement tools. Council members proposed considering payment plans and other relief for customers whose delinquencies arose from emergencies, but asked staff to present a formal policy proposal rather than ad hoc decisions.

A single account figure cited in discussion was $27,334.89; council members suggested that very large balances be prioritized for lien action or tax‑lien monitoring.","Council and city attorney discussed the city's options to recover large past‑due sewer charges — including liens, working with the water provider on shutoffs, and buying tax liens — and asked staff to research practical next steps.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6642185,"Nogales council directs GPS installation for fleet, asks staff to draft updated vehicle policy",274,8210000,8484000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2699239-59ab35332446d85538701eab503d4017&start=8210&end=8484","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2699239-59ab35332446d85538701eab503d4017/thumbnail_8210000.jpg","/articles/6642185/Nogales/Santa-Cruz-County/Arizona/Nogales-council-directs-GPS-installation-for-fleet-asks-staff-to-draft-updated-vehicle-policy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6642185-52f1e0b23c9acf3ed53e2c3d4feb0e55/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146896&Signature=Ftop9nYQH0oMK5OaxLRGKsMO9IENTg0sfgtnhrYVNFukNLHtdarVYWBPFfjnLZXQ3~8Frkh27nphLWU6SfgppuyBdIR8nt4~kalLvaVlm4ZRyGLpZ1hbIz~4OVuliJQQB-uOrmi2AkbyVI5h-8oaELkDQBHHbdIVXVAGa47ZPPRoclgaYRGgoFS8KyGeI-9mCE2zxJUoJZlwcew9yLuK1le~42U5E84j-JslouOQ0KJ4VB88tdK2QJabInB4g9Mt8Hk~VVtJ8taxOSPQpAYr2FBxpqNrxMQmXj-UIfxo0EZ8XLq3vzDXvIozUteySPAJ0qPszjSu~g3v0wOfTbj6oA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Nogales City Council voted to require GPS tracking on the city fleet and asked staff to prepare a revised vehicle‑use policy combining the city's prior rules with a model template used by other public entities.

Why it matters: Council members raised concerns about unassigned vehicles, idling and fuel costs, and whether vehicles designated for mayor, city manager or directors have explicit approval and budget lines. Staff said current records show some vehicles are not assigned to specific drivers and that fleet reports can show mileage, idling and location once GPS is installed.

The council agreed to install GPS devices and to have staff bring a single consolidated policy back for review and possible adoption. City staff said the fleet program currently costs about $30,000 annually; staff estimated a GPS installation cost around $250 per vehicle and said they would identify which vehicles still lack tracking and what the incremental cost would be.

Council discussion also addressed a red pickup that had been used by the mayor. Council members asked staff to locate any prior council vote or written amendment that specifically assigned a vehicle to the mayor or shifted vehicle budget lines; staff said the credit‑card provision for a mayor had been approved previously but that it had not located an explicit vote transferring the vehicle budget. The council agreed to maintain the existing, known policy until staff locates any prior amendment and then to return the consolidated policy for a future vote.

A separate procedural motion to make a council vehicle available on request — by scheduling with fleet and picking up the vehicle at City Hall — was discussed as a practical interim approach while staff completes a policy revision. Staff said some city vehicles (police and fire) are handled under department rules and that the white truck and red truck under discussion had been purchased for management roles (assistant city manager and city manager, respectively) but are currently in the municipal fleet.

Action taken: Council voted in favor of installing GPS on fleet vehicles and asked staff to bring back a consolidated vehicle‑use policy; staff will also search records for any prior council decision assigning the mayor's truck and present that evidence at the next meeting.","Council voted to require GPS on fleet vehicles, asked staff to merge a state template and local policy into a revised vehicle‑use policy, and agreed to review the mayor's vehicle status after staff locates a prior council action.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6642189,"City attorney leads extended open-meeting, ethics and council‑manager training for Nogales council",6428,1758000,8186000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2699239-59ab35332446d85538701eab503d4017&start=1758&end=8186","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2699239-59ab35332446d85538701eab503d4017/thumbnail_1758000.jpg","/articles/6642189/Nogales/Santa-Cruz-County/Arizona/City-attorney-leads-extended-open-meeting-ethics-and-councilmanager-training-for-Nogales-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6642189-f4f4162a8a0c6cf4394fa13b44b1f1a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146896&Signature=eMshPCPUFHdwCJ~7iEpLak3Q~Ae835irpcpFAe5eOhvamnU91vwtKBkfLpgs6t9X6kn~AGVu2iit3~uJvxs21lLw8MqB7WSNxCMFHvuPCR-T6-2~bmAmSmfJ3KuPBqcgC6FiDbibSQLwZRypi05FINIUZ2xWmgp6emUsRaQE94UBVBHFacqaxOOKE5dBIcdBeRhlFrdI8hfDKSyk0DyS8EjBzO072mi1Kb1r-orSdHAZQbynPTx54ycaNhfqSl9g71KKQ7SPtt-2mMcXCCVTFmA8GflLUuhFcJRG1YU5wJQURk3zdWLkrjgXfKSY0KP5jl-Wf~Hwj3pCcmwksLxyyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Joe Estes, Nogales city attorney, led a roughly two‑hour training session on Arizona's open‑meeting laws, executive‑session confidentiality and council–manager responsibilities, telling the City Council that the statutory aim is ‘‘openness in government transparency’’ and that any uncertainty should be resolved in favor of public access.

The presentation, required after an Attorney General inquiry, reviewed what constitutes a public meeting, quorum rules, adequate agenda notice, permitted and prohibited uses of executive session, recordkeeping for executive sessions, and the risks of serial or \"reply‑all\" communications among council members. Estes emphasized that executive sessions are confidential, that minutes or recordings of executive sessions must be kept and can be subpoenaed by oversight authorities, and that actions taken in violation of the open‑meeting law are void.

Why this matters: Council members repeatedly asked for concrete guidance about practical pitfalls they encounter — group chats, forwarding materials, interactions with developers or interest groups, and what to say to the media — and Estes gave repeated procedural guidance intended to reduce future AG complaints. The training also covered ethics and conflicts of interest, including which family relationships or financial stakes create legally disqualifying interests and which are treated as remote.

Most important guidance and examples given during the training included: city business must be discussed in a publicly noticed meeting when a quorum is present; council members should avoid two‑way or serial communications intended to deliberate outside an agenda; social‑media posts and group messages can create public‑record and open‑meeting issues; and certain outside committee or advisory groups called for by the mayor or council fall under the open‑meeting statute.

Estes told the council that executive sessions may include outside participants \"reasonably necessary\" to accomplish the session's purposes but that everyone in an executive session receives an admonition that the discussion is confidential. He added that the Attorney General tends to emphasize education first but that repeat or intentional violations expose officials to civil penalties and, in some cases, criminal charges.

Council members used the training to probe practical matters: whether retreats held outside the city are permissible (yes, if properly noticed and made reasonably accessible), how to handle group texts and \"reply all\" (avoid replying to all), whether elected officials may speak with the media about items coming to council (they may but should avoid advocating a position outside a noticed meeting), and the effect of past AG findings on earlier council actions (actions taken in violation of the open‑meeting law can be void). Estes recommended that the council publish agendas with adequate detail and consider yearly or post‑election refreshers for new members.

The session also included an overview of the council‑manager form of government, explaining the manager's role as the professional executive responsible for day‑to‑day operations and the council's role in setting policy, goals and the budget. Estes and council members discussed how the manager and mayor typically coordinate agendas and how the council should refer personnel concerns to the manager rather than directing staff individually.

The training concluded with a Q&A on conflicts of interest and gift/bribery prohibitions. Estes advised erring on the side of recusal when a member doubts impartiality, and noted that municipalities commonly adopt written nepotism and ethics policies to supplement statutory provisions.

Council reaction: Members asked for copies of statutes and municipal policy templates, and requested follow‑up materials and a written summary of the issues raised. City staff agreed to circulate materials and to document that the mandatory training was completed as required by the Attorney General.","Nogales City Attorney Joe Estes delivered mandated training on Arizona's open-meeting statutes, executive-session confidentiality and council–manager roles; council members asked procedural and conduct questions and the attorney advised best practices for social media, serial communications and conflicts of interest.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council to hold special meeting to assign interim city clerk duties while clerk on FMLA; appointment tabled

Nogales staff to explore options after council reviews $360,000 in overdue sewer accounts

Nogales council directs GPS installation for fleet, asks staff to draft updated vehicle policy

City attorney leads extended open-meeting, ethics and council‑manager training for Nogales council