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09/09/2009

Commission Meeting Summary September 8

Below is a summary of the September 8 Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners meeting.

[Commissioner Montoya participated via telephone for a portion of the meeting.]

  • ResolutionRecognizing Santa Fe's 400th Anniversary:A joint resolution with the City of Santa Fe was unanimously [4-0] passed recognizing the surrounding pueblo communities, the first arrival of Spanish colonists, the Pueblo revolt, the Spanish resettlement of Santa Fe and commemoration of descendants of all theSanta Fe settlers who have contributed to Santa Fe's multicultural heritage.
  • Substance Dependence Recovery Week:Was unanimously [4-0] approved for September 13 - 19 through proclamation that asserts Santa Fe County believes recovery from substance abuse is a priority for the community and believes that all people with substance abuse dependencies should have access to treatment services.
  • Don't Meth with New Mexico Youth Challenge:uPUBLIC Media, NM AG's Office, NM Voices for Children and D.U.D.E. (Don't Use Drugs Ever) are working in partnership to educate students and parents to the effects of methamphetamine abuse. Commissioner Montoya pledged $2,500 of his discretionary funds and the program was directed to the County's Health Policy Planning Council for additional funding options.
  • National Wilderness Month:By unanimous [4-0] vote, a proclamation was adopted declaring September National Wilderness Month. The Wilderness Act was enacted September 1964 under LBJ. New Mexico's Gila Wilderness was the first land protected under the act.
  • Renewable Energy Financing District Program:
    • Significant progress has been made in the implementation of the Renewable Energy Financing District Program. A Statement of Work for a Request for Proposals that includes Program Development, Administrative Services, and Financing has been drafted. It remains to be seen whether one or more entities will bid.
    • A cost-benefit analysis is being done as well. Administrative fees will pay the cost of the program ultimately, but for start-up, federal stimulus money for energy/energy efficiency projects will be used. A FAQ on this program is available at www.santafecountynm.gov.
  • La Barbaria Ranch Pond:
    • The new owners of La Barbaria Ranch are enlarging their pond to be used for firefighting purposes -- as a pick-up location for helicopters with large buckets. There is no location close to Santa Fe where this can be done, so this is a much-needed increase in firefighting capability in the wild land areas.
  • Dept. of Transportation Proposes Feasibility Studyto determine whether extending the Rail Runner north to Taos has support.
  • County Valuation Protest Board Appointments:Ginger Clark and Gil Tercero were appointed to serve on the Board with James Ball and Phyllis Mazo named as alternates.
  • Community Funds were approved for the following:
    • $2,000 to the Pojoaque Girls Soccer
    • $500 to the New Mexico Hispano Association
    •  $5,000 to the Girls, Inc. in support of the Zona del Sol Programming
    • $1,000 to the Santa Fe Girls, Inc. for the Zona del Sol Satellite Program
    • $1,000 to Aspectos Culturales for Spanish Language Education Programming for Pojoaque Schools K-12th grades
    • $2,500 to uPUBLIC for the Anti-Meth Film Challenge
    • $1,200 to Pueblo of Pojoaque Wellness Center for sponsorship of the October annual Buffalo Thunder Run Event
  • The Commission unanimously [4-0] approved the following agreements:
    • Lease agreement with the Pueblo of Pojoaque for 9+ acres of Pueblo-owned land for a new solid waste transfer station. In exchange for the land use, the County will pay $1.00 a year and accept free of charge solid waste delivered to the facility by the Pueblo.
    • Santa Fe County Fire Department request for an indefinitequantity price agreement for new equipment/defibrillators and associated tech services.
  • Ordinance 2009-07:Authorizing the issuance of the Santa Fe County Capital Outlay Gross Receipts Tax Revenue Bond for the purpose of defraying the costs of purchasing water rights within the County passed by unanimous [4-0] roll call vote. This will not impose any new taxes and will be allocated from the County portion of the bond.
  • Supplement Well Program Presentation:County Hydrologist outlined the necessity for Conjunctive Management Wells to complement the Buckman Direct Diversion project. A mapping based analysis was presented that employed a series of factors to determine suitability. The Commission directed staff to hold a series of public meetings for input.
  • Ordinance 2009-08:Passed by unanimous [4-0] roll call vote which adopting the imposition of the County Fire Protection Excise Tax that sunsetted 12/31/08. The ¼ of 1 % percent tax was imperative in supporting the operational expenses of the department, ambulance services, capital outlay, etc and needed in order to ensure the department's ability to meet its mission. Providing high quality fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to the citizens and visitors of Santa Fe.
  • Special Election:Resolution scheduling the election of whether the County Fire Protection Excise Tax should be enacted for November 17, 2009.
  • Courthouse Update:County Manager Roman Abeyta said the Governor's Office and NMED are working with the County. Staff will make a presentation to the BCC in September 29.
  • Amendment #7 to the Water Service Agreement:The San Cristobal Village development located on State Land south of Rancho Viejo has recently failed. The LLC has had a water service contract with the County for over a decade and during that period paid standby charges. This amendment that passed by unanimous [4-0] voice vote will free the water service agreement from its restrictions of water use for this project only and removes the obligation to pay standby charges for five years.
  • Water Rights Purchase Agreement: Between Santa Fe County and San Cristobal Village LLC was approved by unanimous [4-0] voice vote. The County will purchase 133 acre-feet of pre-1907 water rights located in a point of diversion at the Buckman Wellfield.
  • Infrastructure and Capital Improvement Plan:The Commission identified and approved the top eight priorities as follows:
    • Santa Fe County Corrections facilities improvements
    • Regional Emergency Communications Center (RECC) facility expansion
    • Santa Fe County public housing sites upgrades
    • Santa Fe County Media District Improvements
    • Santa Fe River Trail Alire to 599
    • Vista Grade Library Expansion
    • Santa Fe County Energy Efficiency for County facilities
    • Pojoaque Valley Community
  • Zia Credit Union:Variances request for their proposed building in Pojoaque was approved by unanimous [5-0] voice vote.
  • Sonterra Master Plan Extension:An additional two-year time waiver was unanimously [4-0] approved for the master plan with the condition the development will abide by the Sustainable Growth Management Code provisions.
  • Commonweal Conservancy Inc. - The Village at Galisteo Basin Preserve:Preliminary Plat/Development Plan was tabled [majority 3 to 1 vote with Commissioner Holian voting against] following testimony from the developer and 15 proponents of the project. The Commission has requested additional justification for the six requested variances, further conversations with the governing bodies of the Galisteo, Eldorado, Cañoncito water associations, overall project water availability studies without a dependency on the Buckman Direct Diversion project, changing the project's name and further discussion with the community of Lamy. The project will be reheard on November 11.

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.