Tubac Chamber loses office: County evicts business advocate

TUBAC — Santa Cruz County supervisors are evicting the Tubac Chamber of Commerce from the county’s North County Facility building in what some claim is punishment for letting a group use its office to plan a successful challenge to a rezoning case.

Supervisor Chairman Manny Ruiz said it’s not ethical to let a Political Action Groups, PAGs, to use county facilities for political purposes.

Chamber supporters say two of the three supervisors were angered that the case — actually a county comprehensive plan change — has been placed on an upcoming ballot trying to overturn the board’s original decision.

The North County Facility, better known as the Tubac Community Center, houses offices of the chamber, the Tubac Historical Society, a free meals program, a branch library, a large meeting room for local groups and a sheriff’s substation among other things.

The board of supervisors voted 2-1 to cancel the agreement with the Chamber. The date to vacate is March 5.

Carol Cullen, the Chamber’s executive director, said its office has been used by other groups, including one supporting a bond issue to help public schools.

The original dust-up started when the supervisors voted 2-1, to change the county’s comprehensive plan that could lead to two large housing developments, one immediately north of Tubac and another near Arivaca Junction, about 10 miles to the northwest.

Many local residents and organizations opposed the changes, but the Chamber didn’t take a stand.

Cullen said neither she nor chamber President Garry Hembree were members of the PAG that took the issue toward a public vote next November.

Cullen said County Manager Greg Lucero advised the Chamber not to permit any more PAG meetings in its office.

President Hembree replied there would be no more such meetings, but the supervisors went ahead and voted on expulsion.

Chamber Director Cullen said the Chamber doesn’t pay rent but donates $150 a month to the Tubac Community Foundation, which manages the building to help offset costs.

Supervisors Ruiz and Robert Damon voted for the comprehensive plan change and to oust the chamber while Supervisor John Maynard, who represents the rural areas of the county, including Tubac, voted nay on the changes to the plan and against expelling the Chamber.

President Hembree, when asked Monday what the Chamber’s next step is, said, “To find space for a new office.”

Ruiz said the county is currently having its real property appraised for possible borrowing purposes and said any tenants have to have “a lease that’s consistent with any other uses.

Although the Chamber will no long have an office in the Tubac Community Center it plans to use the meeting room there for its regular monthly meetings.

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