Former Mayor remembered at council meeting

The January 9 city council meeting held at City Hall began with a moment of silence for former Mayor Albert Rodriguez.

Rodriguez served the City of Douglas from 1978-80. He passed away on January 7.

The comprehensive annual financial report for fiscal year 2012 was approved and acknowledged by the mayor and council.

On December 11, 2012 the city underwent its annual audit and inspection of financials. The audit was conducted by the auditing firm Clifton Larson Allen.

The auditors presented an “unqualified opinion”, meaning that there were no material misstatements and the city’s financial statements give a true and fair view in accordance with the financial reporting framework. Furthermore, the city’s financial condition, position, and operations are fairly presented in the financial statement.

The general fund currently has a balance of $4.8 million a decrease of $948,325 from the previous fiscal year due to a receivable adjustment of $959,620. The receivable adjustment was due to a receivable balance due from Rancho La Perilla. Cash in general fund increased in fiscal year 2012 by $303,359 from the previous fiscal year.

In total general government functions, fund balance changed from $9.5 million in 2011 to $7.4 million in 2012.

Cash in the federal government funds decreased by $1.1 million in fiscal year 2012, which is also mainly due to the use of the loan proceeds for the Government Center Project. Expenditures exceeded revenues by one million in fiscal year 2012.

The enterprise funds increased in fiscal year 2012 by $1.6 million to $19.8 million. The increase was due to capital assets and the Sewer fund experiencing a positive fund balance.

Ward 6 Councilman Rudy "Popo" Quinonez asked Luis Pedroza the city’s financial director “If the golf course could be moved to the enterprise fund.”

Pedroza said, no the golf course is not self-sustaining; it cost $500,000 to run the golf course and half is subsidized by the general fund.

The city completed its audit in a timely matter and is in accordance with A.R.S. rules

Other items on the agenda that were approved were a liquor license series 10 for DG Retail, LLC Dollar General Store, located at 88 W. 5th Street.

The third reading of Resolution No. 12-1016, establishing a fee of $9 for bad debts referred to the Arizona Department of Revenue was approved by title and number only. The third reading of Resolution No. 12-1017 establish an online utility payment fee of $2.50 per transaction was also approved by title and number only.

The second reading of Resolution No. 12-1019, authorizing the execution of a one year extension to the lease agreement with Corazon Behavioral Health Services was tabled for the next meeting pending more information.

The second reading of Resolution No. 12-1020, authorizing the sale of approximately 3.2932 acres of property for the development and construction of clinical, hospital and health care facilities was approved by title and number only. City Manager Carlos De La Torre said there would be some modifications to the third reading in order to proceed to escrow.

Resolution No. 13-1022 was approved by title and number only. This authorized the city to accept a donation of improved real property known as the YMCA building from the Douglas Young Men’s Christian Association located at 1000 N Pan American Ave. The Young Men’s Christian Association asked the city to make reasonable efforts to preserve the building.

Richard Paun was appointed to the design review board and Monica Romero was appointed to the planning and zoning commission.

The next City Council meeting will be held on February 13 at City Hall at 6 p.m.