News and Articles

August 10, 2010 BCC Meeting Summary

Santa Fe – August 11, 2010 – Below is a summary of the actions taken by the five Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners:

Matters from the Public:
Lynette Gallegos from the County Employee Benefits Committee announced the annual County picnic will be Friday, August 13 from 12:00 to 5:00 at the County Fair Building

Matters from the Commission:
Commissioner Anaya requested the Estancia Working Group, which has been reviewing the Sustainable Land Development Plan (SLDP), be granted a one-month extension to work out their recommendations. Community members from the southern part of the county expressed their concern that many of the proposals in the new plan do not take into account their rural lifestyle, the lack of any surface water, and other differences that lessen the plan’s applicability to their region. Dave Gold, United Communities of Santa Fe County, spoke against any further delays to the process, and the Commission opted not to grant the extension in the hope that the Working Group would continue their efforts concurrently with the plan proceeding through the process.

A reconsideration of the previous County Manager’s severance pay, and the final order for Saddleback Ranch were both tabled.

Authorization to publish title and general summary was granted to the following:
• An ordinance clarifying the submittal process in an obsolete portion of the code having to do with community service facilities
• An ordinance providing for exemptions to the requirement for construction management for projects using state funds; state funds cannot be used for this purpose
• A new code of conduct for the County, the updating of the code promulgated in the 1990s gives broad declarations of intent and expectations, and touches on prohibited financial interests, campaign contribution limits, a new ethics board and more specific provisions covering ex parte communications

Updates from the Acting County Manager:
• The current vacancy for the second County representative on the Library Board will be advertised and interested parties will be asked to apply
• County employees in the field will be allowed to keep their cell phones until an improved radio communications system can be established
• Information on protection for whistleblowers will be emailed countywide for posting in all departments. The email was sent countywide before the day was over.

Affordable Housing Coordinator Darlene Vigil advocating for a rehabilitation program to existing homes and improving energy efficiency. Funding will be available to owner-occupied homes. Additionally, efforts are underway in conjunction with a team of stakeholders to review the County’s current 30 percent affordable housing requirement. The Commission recommended creating a task force for that issue, and to make use of the services of the new County Manager, who has experience with the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority.

Public Hearings - Growth Management

• New Mexico Boys & Girls Ranch master plan (#Z 09-5520) was approved (4-1 Commissioner Holian voting against) with conditions. The project will return to the BCC for preliminary approval
• Bryan Berg Variances (#V 09-5270) was approved by unanimous voice vote.
• Caja del Rio Substation – PNM, applicant (Z/DP 09-3132) was tabled. The Board heard a presentation by PNM, testimony from residents opposing the location of the substation and Buckman Direct Diversion (BDD) Project Manager Rick Carpenter statement to the importance of the substation for the project. The BCC met in closed session to deliberate and then returning to open session, unanimous action was taken to table the matter to conduct a site visit to better understand the issues
• Gerald Medina Variance (#V 10-3032) was approved by unanimous (5-0) voice vote.
• Santa Fe Metro Center (#S/PDP 07-5101) received unanimous (5-0) approval of a preliminary plat to allow 12 industrial/warehouse lots on 19 acres.
• Rio Santa Fe Business Park (#MIS 10-5250) Master plat authorization was unanimously [5-0-] approved

All BCC meetings are broadcast live at www.santafecountynm.gov. To view recorded video of this BCC meeting, go to http://santafecounty.org/video_on_demand/ or check GOV TV Channel 28 listings. Transcripts of the meeting will be available within 10 working days at www.santafecountynm.gov.