| 1. CALL TO ORDER BY THE HONORABLE MAYOR DARREN M. CORDOVA
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The Regular Meeting of the Taos Town Council was called to order by the Honorable Mayor Darren M. Cordova at 1:35 p.m.
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Ms. Renee Lucero, Town Clerk, called roll and a quorum was present.
Those present were:
Mayor, Darren M. Cordova
Mayor Pro Tem, Michael A. Silva
Councilmember, Rudy C. Abeyta
Councilmember, A. Eugene Sanchez
Councilmember, Amy J. Quintana
Also present were:
Acting Town Manager, Abigail Adame
Town Clerk, Renee Lucero
Interim Town Attorney, John Clough
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Mayor Pro Tem Silva led the audience in the pledge of allegiance.
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Mayor Pro Tem Silva made a motion to approve the Agenda as presented. Councilmember Quintana seconded the motion. The motion was approved by an affirmative vote. Those voting AYE were: Mayor Pro Tem Silva, and Councilmembers Abeyta, Sanchez, and Quintana.
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| 5. AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
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| | Richard Chavez administered the Oath of Office to Sora Brodie, Police Cadet for the Town of Taos. Mayor Cordova presented the Police Commission. |
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Mr. Burden asked several questions regarding the relocation of dispatch to the Kit Carson Electric Emergency Command Center including why wasn't a cost analysis completed before making the decision to move, why a letter from the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) wasn't provided prior to the August 8, 2011 Special Meeting and why dispatch needs a 4,500 square foot building to operate.
Mayor Cordova asked Mr. Burden to schedule a meeting with Abigail Adame, Acting Town Manager, so that she may discuss the issues with him and provide answers to his questions.
A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the letter that was provided by DFA wherein it is estimated that the relocation of dispatch would cost over $800,000.
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Mr. Rodriguez stated he recently retired from the Town of Taos after eleven years as a dispatcher. He stated no one has ever contacted Shirley Lujan, Dispatch Supervisor, regarding the needs of dispatch. Furthermore, he stated dispatch fits in the room they currently occupy; however, more storage space for files is needed. He does not believe there is a need to relocate dispatch.
Councilmember Sanchez asked Mr. Rodriguez if dispatch services will improve if dispatch relocates. Mr. Rodriguez replied the employees at dispatch are very well qualified and nothing more can be provided that is not already provided. He stated it will be difficult to dispatch with the electric company and gas company as they have nothing to do with police dispatch.
Mayor Cordova stated he does recall that the supervisor of dispatch was involved in the initial discussions and planning of the command center.
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Mr. Lucero read a section of an article in the August 17, 2011 Albuquerque Journal regarding the new State Ethics Rule regarding conflict of interest. He asked Mayor Pro Tem Silva not to vote in the future on Kit Carson Electric's broadband project. He asked Mayor Pro Tem Silva if he realizes there is a perception due to his vote on the lease and because his company may be bidding on Kit Carson Electric's projects.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva stated, although there may be a perception, the fact is that the lease he voted on is not connected to the broadband project and he sees no reason why he should not bid on the project, unless he is advised otherwise by the Legal Department.
Mr. Lucero asked the same of Mayor Cordova. Mayor Cordova stated many companies in the community advertise with his business and he does not see that there is any conflict of interest as he does not directly benefit from the lease.
There was further discussion regarding a perceived conflict of interest because Mayor Pro Tem Silva's company did work on the construction of the new command center, which Mayor Pro Tem Silva's company won the bid after a competitive bidding process.
Councilmember Sanchez stated for the record that Mayor Pro Tem Silva's company will be contracting for work with Kit Carson Electric, whether through the competitive bidding process or otherwise, and further stated he will be providing storage space to the general contractor.
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| D.
| Municipal Judge Richard Chavez | |
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Judge Chavez stated he is speaking as a member of the community to state that citizens are not pleased with coming to Town Council Meetings anymore because of the conduct of the governing body. He asked that the Mayor and Council work together to improve their behavior and respect towards one another.
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| | Mr. Patterson stated American Sports Builder's Association has awarded the Taos Eco Park one of five national awards. |
| A.
| John Thompson, Airport Manager
Consideration and approval to submit an application for Federal Assistance to the Federal Aviation Administration in the amount of $95,000 and a New Mexico Department of Transportation Aviation Division Project application in the amount of $2,500 for construction project to replace rotating beacon and pole at Taos Regional Airport. The Town Match amount for this project will be $2,500 for a total estimated project cost of $100,000. This project is expected to be funded in September, 2011. The Town currently has $2,500 budgeted toward this project. This project was approved as part of the CIP Plan during the Budget Hearings in May, 2011. | |
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Mayor Pro Tem Silva made a motion to approve the submittal of an application for Federal Assistance to the Federal Aviation Administration in the amount of $95,000 and a New Mexico Department of Transportation Aviation Division Project application in the amount of $2,500. Councilmember Sanchez seconded the motion. The motion was approved by an affirmative vote. Those voting AYE were: Mayor Pro Tem Silva, and Councilmembers Abeyta, Sanchez, and Quintana.
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| A.
| Rudy Perea, Senior Planner
Consideration and approval of Town of Taos Ordinance 11-16; An ordinance amending the Official Zoning Map and the Land Use Development Code of the Town of Taos with respect to property located at 139 Frontier Road. The ordinance changes the zoning on a 5.7 +- acre parcel of land from Residential Agricultural (RA) to C-1 Neighborhood Commercial. | |
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Rudy Perea, Senior Planner, and William Morris, Planning, Zoning and Buildings Department Director, presented Ordinance 11-16 to the Mayor and Council. Mr. Perea stated the applicant requested a zone change to C-2 General Commercial; however, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended a zoning designation of C-1 Neighborhood Commercial.
Doug Patterson, Agent for the applicant, stated although the applicants did apply for C-2 zoning, he believes they would be satisfied with the designation of C-1 zoning.
Public Opinion
Mayor Cordova opened the public hearing. No one came forward.
After closing the public hearing, Mayor Cordova asked for questions from the Council.
Councilmember Sanchez asked Mr. Patterson if he is certain a softball field will fit on the property. Mr. Patterson responded the field's dimensions are in line with New Mexico Activities Association's regulations.
Councilmember Quintana asked if the zone change includes the home that is currently located on the lot. Mr. Patterson replied yes.
Mayor Pro Tem Silva asked whether the Town gave the School district an easement for the softball field. Mr. Patterson explained the easement is currently being surveyed and prepared for the Town's approval.
Councilmember Abeyta made a motion to approve Ordinance 11-16 as presented. Mayor Pro Tem Silva seconded the motion. The motion was approved by an affirmative vote. Those voting AYE were: Mayor Pro Tem Silva, and Councilmembers Abeyta, Sanchez, and Quintana.
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| 9. MATTERS FROM THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL/YOUTH COUNCILMEMBER
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| A.
| Lease Agreement with High Altitude Athletics | |
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Mayor Cordova stated a meeting has been scheduled for Friday, August 26, 2011 for Council action regarding the lease with High Altitude Athletics (HAA) for the use of Don Fernando Hall. He explained the lease is currently being drafted and stated an Indemnification of Insurance Agreement has been processed to allow HAA to store their equipment in the building.
Councilmember Quintana requested that lease payments be made with cash only and not in-kind. She also requested that HAA pay the full cost of utilities. Mayor Cordova explained the lease amount is $1,500 cash and further explained the utilities will be included until the utility bills can be evaluated to determine how much HAA is using.
Further discussion ensued regarding terms of the lease. It was determined that the lease and any issues pertaining to the lease will be addressed at the Special Meeting.
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Councilmember Sanchez stated he would like for the lease with Kit Carson Electric for the Emergency Command Center be reconsidered by the Council as an action item at the next Council Meeting.
Mayor Cordova asked if there was a consensus of the Council to reconsider the lease. There was not a consensus of the Council.
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| C.
| RFP for Town Manager Position and Town Attorney Position | |
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A discussion ensued regarding the status of the RFPs for the Town Manager position and Town Attorney position. Ms. Adame state the RFP for the Town Attorney position will be finalized by tomorrow and she has plans to meet with the Mayor by the end of the week to finalize the RFP for the Town Manager position.
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Councilmember Abeyta stated a Valverde Commons homeowner has requested permission to drill a well. He asked Ms. Adame to contact the individual and inform her that her request will not be considered.
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Councilmember Abeyta
made a motion to go into Executive Session to discuss threatened litigation regarding Taos Eco Park pursuant to NMSA Section 10-15-1.H(7).
Councilmember Quintana seconded the motion. The motion was confirmed by an affirmative vote. Those voting AYE were: Mayor Pro Tem Silva, and Councilmembers Abeyta, Sanchez, and Quintana.
At 3:07 p.m., Councilmember Quintana made a motion to come out of Executive Session and stated discussion in the Executive Session was limited to the item as it was called for. Mayor Pro Tem Silva seconded the motion. The motion was confirmed by an affirmative vote. Those voting AYE were: Mayor Pro Tem Silva, and Councilmembers Abeyta, Sanchez, and Quintana.
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| F.
| Abigail Adame, Acting Town Manager
Consideration and approval of Amendment 2 to Contract TT-10-121 with Living Designs Group Architects in the amount of $21,500 plus GRT in the amount of $1,760.31 for a total amount of $23,260.31 to review and prepare additional paperwork related to the construction of Taos Eco Park. | |
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Mayor Pro Tem Silva made a motion to approve Amendment 2 to Contract TT-10-121 with Living Designs Group Architects as presented. Councilmember Quintana seconded the motion. The motion was approved by an affirmative vote. Those voting AYE were: Mayor Pro Tem Silva, and Councilmembers Abeyta, Sanchez, and Quintana.
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A motion was made by
Councilmember Quintana and seconded by Councilmember Abeyta to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 3:09 p.m.
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| APPROVED: | | ________________________________________ |
Darren M. Cordova, Mayor
| | | ATTEST: | | ________________________________________ |
Renee Lucero, Town Clerk
| | PLEASE NOTE: The Town of Taos records most Town Council Meetings via audio, however, only Regular Town Council Meetings and some Special Town Council Meetings, with controversial issues, are video recorded. Copies are available upon request at the Town Clerk's Office located at 400 Camino de la Placita (575-751-2005) at a fee of $5.00 for audio recordings and $10.00 for video recordings. |
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