Town Council to consider wash help, capital plan changes

The Sahuarita Town Council tomorrow will consider authorizing staff to research improvements to the wash south of Stagecoach Lane.

The council also could amend the 5-year capital improvement plan and will hear a talk on early childhood development.

The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, at the Town Council chambers in the Town Hall, 375 W. Sahuarita Center Way.

In routine items, the council will consider a contract to haul sludge to a Pima County wastewater facility; a $375,000 agreement with the Regional Transportation Authority for improvements to the intersection of Pima Mine Road and Rancho Sahuarita Boulevard and a $44,749 contract for two solar flashing flights at the Great Expectations Academy on La Canada Drive and solar awareness signs on Nogales Highway.

Also, $29,000 for a global positioning satellite system for the Police Department and $75,000 contract for wireless service connecting the main town hall with Anamax Park and the Public Works building.

The east-west Stagecoach Lane wash crosses La Villita Road several blocks north of Sahuarita Road. The council is being asked to direct staff to investigate design options and construction cost estimates and to contact property owners for permanent access and maintenance of the drainage way.

A capital plan amendment is being recommended by staff because the settlement of the lawsuit filed by Rancho Sahuarita against the town means the town will not be getting more than $4 million in developer contributions that were listed in the capital plan.

The loss of $1.6 million in developer funds for the $5.7 million Phase III La Canada Drive project and the entire $2.6 million in developer funds budgeted for the widening of Sahuarita Road west of Interstate 19 means the town would fall out of compliance with its 20 percent reserve policy for the capital infrastructure fund and its debt service limitation, Town Finance Director A.C. Marriotti said in a memo to the council.

“There, we may have to identify amendments to other CIP (capital) projects, including possible eliminating a project or several projects,” Marriotti wrote.

Vanessa Felty of the United Way’s Green Valley office will speak on early childhood programs promoting school readiness for youngsters.

pfranchine@sahuaritasun.com | 547-9738