Review: Nov. 12 Council Meeting
The Sierra Vista City Council unanimously approved an agreement with Cochise County for court co-location and operations at its regular meeting on Thursday.
The agreement marks the conclusion of efforts by the county and City to update the funding formula used to determine the City’s fair share of costs associated with the county conducting its municipal court services by handling civil, civil traffic, and misdemeanors cited into Justice Court, Precinct 5, by Sierra Vista. The City has partnered with Cochise County to provide the operation of a consolidated court since 1990 and this new agreement will take effect on Jan. 1, 2021. It will be renewed on July 1 each year starting in 2022, unless either party decides to end the agreement with 120 days’ notice.
“Developing this agreement was a true team effort between the City and the county,” Assistant City Manager Victoria Yarbrough says. “We appreciate all the county’s hard work and analysis to ensure we arrived at an agreement that accurately reflects court costs and will serve both organizations well in the long term.”
Under the agreement, the City will budget $276,807 for court services in fiscal year 2021-22.
In other business the City Council unanimously approved amendments to the City’s Community Development Block Grant plans allocating an additional $239,351 in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funds to an Emergency Crisis Fund administered by the United Way. This fund provides a variety of assistance to local residents impacted by COVID-19, to include help with rent, utilities, employment, food, education, homelessness, and mental health.
Details on these council items are available in the supporting documents for the Thursday, Oct. 12, City Council meeting. They can be accessed via the “City Council” folder on the City’s document server at docserve.sierravistaaz.gov/.
City Council meetings can be streamed live and past meetings can be viewed on YouTube. The meetings are also aired on Cox Channel 12. Learn more at www.sierravistaaz.gov/your-government/mayor-council/council-meetings/
