The first meeting of a metro government task force is scheduled to take place in Nogales.

Residents in Nogales, Patagonia and Santa Cruz County are invited to attend the first meeting of the Joint City/County Commission on Consolidation on Wednesday, October 17.

On February 21, the Nogales City Council and the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors held a joint meeting where both entities approved a joint resolution allowing the creation of a metro government task force.

According to a media release, this task force will examine the possibility of co-locating, consolidating and collaborating certain departments, agencies and services.

This new commission will be co-chaired by Nogales Mayor Ignacio Barraza, Patagonia Mayor Gary Gay and Santa Cruz County Board Chairman Manuel Ruiz.

The meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Nogales City Hall, located at 777 N. Grand Avenue.

The following issues are scheduled to be discussed:

-Commission goals

-Development of regional sanitation authority

-Development of regional planning and zoning services/partnerships

-Development of regional parks and recreational services/partnerships

-Court service

-Animal control/land issue

-Development of joint regional community/convention center

-Development of joint regional law enforcement communications

-Timelines for each action item

For more information, call (520) 285-5613.