Meetings
 

AGENDA
April 29, 2010
Special Meeting
Town Council Chambers - 120 Civic Plaza Drive
1:30 PM
 
 
1. CALL TO ORDER BY THE HONORABLE MAYOR DARREN M. CORDOVA
2. ROLL CALL
3. MOMENT OF SILENCE
4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Allen Ferguson, Town Attorney
Public Hearing and Council Consideration of Ordinance No. 10-11, An Ordinance Approving and Adopting a Lease Agreement for a Pediatric Clinic.  The Ordinance would adopt a four-year lease of the newly constructed pediatric clinic facility located at 1397 Weimer Road in the Town of Taos to Taos Health Systems, Inc. d/b/a Holy Cross Hospital.  The pediatric clinic facility has been constructed in part with funds appropriated by the New Mexico Legislature for that purpose. The proposed ordinance and lease contemplate that the facility will be subleased to a pediatric group.  The proposed ordinance and lease would permit the rental amount due to the Town to be paid in part or in full by in-kind contributions consisting of services to the community, specifically pediatric medical and related services.    
6. MATTERS FROM STAFF
A. Allen Ferguson, Town Attorney (With Tina Torres, Purchasing Agent)
Consideration and action to approve Resolution 10-19; Approving and Adopting a Town of Taos Purchasing Policy Constituting the Town’s Regulation For the Procurement of Goods, Construction and Services Supplemental To the State Procurement Code and Related Statutes; a new Purchasing Policy intended to replace Internal Policy No. 9 governing procurement.  One major difference between the two is that Policy No. 9 repeated or summarized a great deal of the contents of the Procurement Code (state statute), while the new proposed policy states some of the most important points from the Procurement Code and general procurement principles, but focuses mainly on policies and procedures for the Town itself in areas where the Code leaves us some leeway.    
B. Marietta Fambro, Finance Director
Review and approval of Lodgers' Tax Agreed Upon Procedures prepared by Pattillo, Brown & Hill, L.L.P. for fiscal year ending June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2009.
7. TOWN MANAGER'S REPORT
8. MATTERS FROM THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL
9. MATTERS AND REPORTS FROM THE MAYOR
10. MATTERS AND REPORTS FROM THE COUNCIL
11. ADJOURNMENT
 
• To request details on an agenda item please contact the Town Clerk at 400 Camino de la Placita, Taos New Mexico, 87571 (575) 751-2005.
• If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of aid or service to attend and/or participate in a meeting of the Town of Taos Council, please contact the office of the Town Clerk at 400 Camino de la Placita, Taos New Mexico, 87571 (575) 751-2005 at least 24 hours in advance.
•For copies of this agenda please pick-up at Town Hall. You may also view the agenda and the agenda packet at http://public.taosgov.com/.
 
Meetings
 

MINUTES
April 29, 2010
Special Meeting
Town Council Chambers - 120 Civic Plaza Drive
1:30 PM
 
 
1. CALL TO ORDER BY THE HONORABLE MAYOR DARREN M. CORDOVA
  

The Regular Meeting of the Taos Town Council was called to order by the Honorable Mayor Darren M. Cordova at 1:35 p.m. 
2. ROLL CALL
  

Ms. Renee Lucero, Town Clerk, called roll and a quorum was present.  

Those present were:      
Mayor, Darren M. Cordova      
Mayor Pro Tem, Rudy C. Abeyta      
Councilmember, A. Eugene Sanchez      
Councilmember, Amy J. Quintana      
Councilmember, Michael A. Silva       


Also present were:      
Town Manager, Daniel Miera
Assistant Town Manager, Abigail Adame
Town Clerk, Renee Lucero
Town Attorney, Allen Ferguson

Absent was:
Youth Councilmember, Feliz Vigil        
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
  

Councilmember Silva led the audience in the pledge of allegiance.

4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
  

Under Item 6.A. delete "Taos Health Systems, Inc. d/b/a Holy Cross Hospital" and replace with "Taos Clinic for Children and Youth, P.C."

Councilmember Quintana made a motion to approve the Agenda as amended. Councilmember Silva seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

5. CITIZENS FORUM
   No one came forward.
6. MATTERS FROM STAFF
A. Marietta Fambro, Finance Director
Review and approval of Lodgers' Tax Agreed Upon Procedures prepared by Pattillo, Brown & Hill, L.L.P. for fiscal year ending June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2009.
 

Marietta Fambro, Finance Director, and Cindy James, with Pattillo, Brown & Hill, L.L.P., gave a summary of the findings and proposed recommendations for the Lodgers' Tax Agreed Upon Procedures for fiscal year ending June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2009.

Ms. Brown stated Touchstone Inn and Taos Inn have been incorrectly reporting lodging revenues and recommends that the Town clarify their lodgers' tax ordinance to specifically address what constitutes amounts received that are subject to lodgers' tax.  She also recommends that the Town conduct an educational forum to inform all lodgers of their responsibilities.

Mayor Pro Tem Abeyta stated the Town has a responsibility to ensure that lodgers' tax is being collected correctly and emphasized the importance of educating the lodgers of their responsibility.

Ms. Fambro stated the Finance Department is in the process of providing an educational session for lodgers with the assistance of Ms. James.

Ken Blair, owner of Sagebrush Inn and Quality Inn and member of the Lodgers' Tax Advisory Board, came forward and asked that the educational session be provided as soon as possible so that this problem does not reoccur in the future.

Mayor Cordova asked Daniel Miera, Town Manager, to ensure that the educational session is scheduled as soon as possible. 

Mayor Cordova stated that the Taos Inn was mentioned in the findings for trading out rooms for other purposes.  He went on the record to state that Taos Inn traded out rooms with DMC Broadcasting for the Annual Mother's Day event in exchange for advertising and also stated Taos Inn should still pay the tax for the trade.  He also stated the Annual Mother's Day Event is very successful in bringing people to Taos which helps boost the economy.

Councilmember Silva made a motion to approve the Lodgers' Tax Agreed Upon Procedures prepared by Pattillo, Brown & Hill, L.L.P. for fiscal year ending June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2009. Councilmember Quintana seconded the motion. The motion was approved by an affirmative vote. Those voting AYE were: Mayor Pro Tem Abeyta, and Councilmembers Sanchez, Quintana and Silva. 

7. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Allen Ferguson, Town Attorney
Public Hearing and Council Consideration of Ordinance 10-11, An Ordinance Approving and Adopting a Lease Agreement for a Pediatric Clinic.  The Ordinance would adopt a four-year lease of the newly constructed pediatric clinic facility located at 1397 Weimer Road in the Town of Taos to Taos Clinic for Children and Youth, P.C.  The pediatric clinic facility has been constructed in part with funds appropriated by the New Mexico Legislature for that purpose. The proposed ordinance and lease contemplate that the facility will be subleased to a pediatric group.  The proposed ordinance and lease would permit the rental amount due to the Town to be paid in part or in full by in-kind contributions consisting of services to the community, specifically pediatric medical and related services.    
 

Allen Ferguson, Town Attorney, presented Ordinance 10-11 to the Mayor and Council and stated the ordinance, if approved, would adopt a four-year lease of the newly constructed pediatric clinic facility. 

Dr. Sylvia Villarreal thanked the Mayor and Council for their support and stated she is very excited about moving forward with the lease.  She stated they are hoping to open June 1st.  Mayor Cordova asked Dr. Villarreal if she is satisfied with the lease as presented.  Dr. Villarreal stated she reviewed the lease and is satisfied with it.

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.

Mr. Ferguson stated the address in the ordinance needs to be changed from 1397 Weimer Road to 1393 Weimer Road.  Also, in the seventh paragraph, the word "Yourth" needs to be changed to "Youth".

Councilmember Quintana made a motion to approve Ordinance 10-11 as amended. Councilmember Silva seconded the motion. The motion was approved by an affirmative vote. Those voting AYE were: Mayor Pro Tem Abeyta, and Councilmembers Sanchez, Quintana and Silva. 

Mayor Pro Tem Abeyta stated, for the listening audience, that Taos Clinic for Children and Youth, P.C. has the option of paying the lease in cash or in various other ways including in-kind services, which will benefit the community.

8. MATTERS FROM THE TOWN ATTORNEY
A. Allen Ferguson, Town Attorney (With Tina Torres, Purchasing Agent)
Consideration and action to approve Resolution 10-19; Approving and Adopting a Town of Taos Purchasing Policy Constituting the Town’s Regulation For the Procurement of Goods, Construction and Services Supplemental to the State Procurement Code and Related Statutes; a new Purchasing Policy intended to replace Internal Policy No. 9 governing procurement.  One major difference between the two is that Policy No. 9 repeated or summarized a great deal of the contents of the Procurement Code (state statute), while the new proposed policy states some of the most important points from the Procurement Code and general procurement principles, but focuses mainly on policies and procedures for the Town itself in areas where the Code leaves us some leeway.    
 

Mayor Cordova stated he believes that the Council has made great strides in supporting local businesses while staying in compliance with state law.

Mr. Ferguson stated there is currently not a procedure for handling conflicts of interest and would like to work on adding a section to the purchasing policy which will address this issue.  He feels he can complete this within one month.

Councilmember Sanchez made a motion to approve Resolution 10-19 approving and adopting a Town of Taos Purchasing Policy. Councilmember Quintana seconded the motion. The motion was approved by an affirmative vote. Those voting AYE were: Mayor Pro Tem Abeyta, and Councilmembers Sanchez, Quintana and Silva. 

9. MATTERS FROM THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL/YOUTH COUNCILMEMBER
  
  • Steve Gonzales, of Dahl Plumbing Supply, asked the Mayor and Council to support local businesses by allowing other types of brass to be allowed in the Town limits because currently Mueller is the only type allowed in the Town limits.  He stated local businesses are not allowed to bid on many Town projects because Mueller is sold by only one vendor who is from Albuquerque.

    Mayor Cordova reiterated that the Council is very supportive of local businesses and asked Mr. Miera to schedule an appointment with Mr. Gonzales to hear his concerns.  He thanked Mr. Gonzales for sharing his concerns with the Council.
  • Councilmember Sanchez stated a woman from Taos Pueblo came to his house to interview him for the Census and he was later informed by another Census worker that the woman was going to include him in Taos Pueblo's population instead of the Town of Taos.  

    Mr. Miera stated he is already looking into the situation because he received a phone call from a Taos County employee who is assisting with the Census and had the same concern.  He believes if there is a mistake, the federal government should be able to correct it.
10. ADJOURNMENT
  

A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Abeyta and seconded by Councilmember Sanchez to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 2:35 p.m.

 
 
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.