ArchivesThe Nogales City Council tentatively cut the legs off the economic and community development department by abolishing it’s funding for fiscal year 2009-10.
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The move comes at a time when the business community is looking to local and state officials to help begin a planning process to coordinate with the expansion project at the Mariposa Port of Entry.
In what is the largest financial boost to the community ever, the federal government is investing $213 million on the port of entry.
But other improvements must compliment the project to avoid bottlenecking the anticipated increase in commercial traffic that will occur after the work on the port is done in 2012.
Logistical and costly considerations such as building a more efficient and faster way of getting traffic on to Interstate 19 from Mariposa Road need to be examined. Issues, such as bus stops and other accommodations for non-commercial and pedestrian crossers also will confront Nogales government.
The community and economic development department theoretically would be the clearinghouse or liaison between city government and the private sector in planning how to cash in on the opportunities that the port expansion will provide.
Who will lead the charge? This was not considered during the budget hearing on Tuesday, June 2.
Likely the Nogales Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce will not be in the position to help.
A day earlier, Chamber CEO Olivia Ainza-Kramer, was sent back to the drawing board on her request for $75,000 for the organization, which struggles financially.
Council members said they would consider helping out the chamber on specific projects, rather than providing a lump sum.
Terry Shannon Jr. of Shannon Brokerage and a founder of the Greater Nogales Santa Cruz County Port Authority, said, “More and more people are going to be looking to Nogales as a possible site for establishing new businesses and industry or expanding existing operations.
“They will be calling on the City of Nogales to inquire about resources and other information,” he predicted. “Who will they talk to? It is ridiculous for Nogales not to have a community and economic development department. Every city that intends to progress has one.”
On Tuesday, Nils Urman, director of the community and economic development department, came under fire from Vice Mayor Arturo Garino who said, “I will not approve one cent” of Urman’s proposed budget.
But his ire seemingly was aimed more at the man than the department.
Garino said he was angered when he learned the previous Saturday that the SouthEastern Arizona Governments Organization (SEAGO) did not include several Nogales projects, such as a pedestrian overpass and two vehicular bridges over the railroad tracks in a list for funding consideration.
He blamed Urman and the engineering department for not providing timely information to SEAGO to get the projects considered.
Urman said he only recently learned he was supposed to help represent the city at SEAGO meetings.
Garino and Councilman Nubar Hanessian also blasted Urman for not moving fast enough on a project to improve Terrace Avenue, for which the city received funding eight years ago.
Urman came on board two years ago, however and inherited the cumbersome “Main Street” project estimated at more than $1 million.
It was to have been completed by the end of 2005. But issues such as transitioning mayoral administrations, obtaining rights of way, and burying utility lines have proved time consuming.
The project delay has placed the city in a precarious and embarrassing position with SEAGO and state officials, Garino charged.
Hanessian and Garino told Urman that his department fell short of setting a “vision” for community and economic development.
Urman shot back, “This is the first time we have ever been able to sit down as a group and have these types of frank discussions.”
He said the council had never given him a clear understanding of what direction his department should take.
“It is up to department heads to come to us with a vision,” Garino said.
Hanessian asked City Manager Jaime Fontes to rate Urman’s job performance. “What grade would you give him?” he asked.
Fontes said he had no objective tool to rate his performance because no specific goals were ever set out by the council for his position. “Economic development is an extremely broad concept,” he said.
Due to the lack of direction, Urman said he took “existing projects off the shelf” and carried them out or expanded on them.
Among the projects his department has worked on this year is developing a business resource guide; provided free tax assistance to 723 low-income families in Nogales; expanded the Nogales Rides transit service, which was recognized as “Outstanding” this year by the Arizona Transit Association.
Also the department participated in securing a $148,000 Preserve America Grant to fund “Rediscover Nogales;” obtained technical assistance from the Arizona Commission on the Arts to fund a community cultural inventory; and hosted a recent planning charrette with the help of the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office.
Also, the Downtown Nogales Wayfinding Project, funded by the Arizona Office of Tourism, is nearing completion. It comprises two kiosks, one at Herald Square on Crawford Street and a second one at the Terrace Avenue Ramp. They will feature maps, business locators and art work.
Budget adjustments are scheduled for further council discussion at a meeting set for Wednesday, June 17, Fontes said. It is expected that the tentative budget will be approved later this month, including a plan on how to spend $6 million in capital improvement bond funds, he said.
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Hey Jon D wrote on Jun 17, 2009 12:48 PM:
Jon D wrote on Jun 13, 2009 9:58 AM:
This community continues to elect mayors (no experience, and simply immature) based on the family popularity or past political beliefs. Garino, Lopez (s), Varona, Hanessian - the same old story - the same old politics - the same old 3rd world torn up town. Such a shame.
So who's at fault - Just look around. Very few of you get involved - very few of you really care to make your voices heard - very few of you really do not care if this community crumbles right beneath our feet. These past year politicians don't have a clue of what this City needs or how to get it. As for Garino and Hanessian, well let's say they do have a Visions - that of themselves sitting in a place above the rest pretending to act like people of big importance and controlling others.
Not much that will help this community. "
Told You wrote on Jun 11, 2009 8:32 PM:
Keep voting for Hanessian and Garino and all the Valdezes and the Lopezes in town and you will get exactly what you go in the 80s and 90s and early 2000s.
Nogales.........have pride in yourselves! Vote for quality politicians. At least require jobs and experience.
Sad, truly sad. Nepotism, favoritism, gross inexperience and lack of education at the top, frustated and scared, untrained workers at the bottom.
Third World City is a good description. Where are our busses? Oh I forgot.....Hanessian and Garino don't like buses.
I am so glad I am gone. I will NEVER come back to this horrible town. "
TruthHurts wrote on Jun 10, 2009 1:37 AM:
This guys leadership experience is akin to that of a blind mouse crossing a busy road.
People follow him not for enlightenment but curiosity.
To be completely honest I had my doubts about the Economic and Community Development program when it was first created. I must say I was wrong. I am confident this department is an asset to the city and the community in general. What the article does not cover is how the employee responsible for helping those 700 people with their taxes did it for free. That’s right, she was held over and not paid overtime. When was the last time someone on the city council worked a 15 hour day for an 8 hour paycheck. This project took months to complete. This employee sacrificed much of her free time, and some days off, for the City of Nogales. Just imagine the economic benefit this was to those who utilized it and the city in general. If we are counting pennies we best count the ones that would have cost us time in a half.
We must also talk about those projects the Economic and Community Development program has completed. There is not enough space in this response to cover everything they have done, but it has all been a step in the right direction.
Garino and Hanessian must understand the concept of leadership. They must also evaluate why they are in public service. The people of Nogales expect them to help influence and guide public policy. It is unacceptable they have not sat down and spoke to Mr. Urman in the last two years, as Mr. Urman was quoted saying in the article. This quote from the article is equally troubling:
“Garino and Councilman Nubar Hanessian also blasted Urman for not moving fast enough on a project to improve Terrace Avenue, for which the city received funding eight years ago.”
Is this right? Eight years. Urman’s department was created two years ago….hmmm, how long have Garino and Hanessian been in office? Garino and Hanessian have a fiduciary responsibility to the people of Nogales. This means they are the first to be held accountable for government waste and mismanagement. To tell me they are addressing this issue now is simply unacceptable. Where was the city manager? Why did our city council not address this issue through the city manager years ago? This is why Nogales is a Third World city.
I recall Mr. Garino being equally animated when speaking to Officer Rosas about the Police Department’s fledgling “union” last year. If memory serves me well Mr. Garino was very outspoken about the “union” and its request for having officer’s dues taken from their paychecks. He spoke about his membership in a “union” during his tenure with the Nogales Fire Department. I found this to be rather comical. Mr. Garino, how long were you fire fighter? With all due respect, you worked for the fire department but you were hardly a fire fighter (this title is earned with time and experience). Something else, Arizona is a right to work state, thus I doubt you belonged to a true “union”.
The police department’s employee association is nothing more than a bargaining unit. It is also a check on an employers power. It establishes standards for discipline and fair treatment agreed to by the city. Once the standards have been agreed to they are binding (Memorandum of Understanding). This is not a negative concept but a positive one which helps improve employee moral and productivity. Cities such as Tucson and Phoenix have benefited greatly from cooperative work with their respective bargaining units. Of course you would have known this had you belonged to a true employee association.
I am sick and tired of the “compadre” system of politics which has infested Nogales. I wish the people of Nogales would stop following blindly those who do not know where they are going and lack the mental capacity to ask for direction. Mr. Garino, you may not like Mr. Urman but you can not discredit what he has done for the city or the projects he planned to complete. I am not a fan of Mr. Urman’s, but I will acknowledge his work. I for one can see past my prejudice, unfortunately I am not in public office. Yet I will remind you, I do have a vote. "
Dean Gilbery wrote on Jun 9, 2009 6:57 PM:
Then these New Companies find out about
City Council Staff-Board of Supervisors in constant turmoil
Corruption in the Local Police and Border Enforcement Agencies
Unqualified Home Builders with Licenses in the Area
That Nepotism runs the Political Agenda
Good 'ol boy System at the County and City Courthouse still runs the area "