News and Articles

September 27 BCC Meeting Summary

Santa Fe – September 28, 2011 – Below is a summary of the actions taken by the Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners. Four of the five Commissioners were present; Chair Virginia Vigil was excused.

Consent Calendar

Final Orders

BCC unanimously approved CDRC Case #V 11-5070, Joya de Hondo Variance.

Budget Adjustments

The Commission unanimously approved the following:

• Increase the DWI Fund and Budget and operating transfer out to the Law Enforcement Operations Fund and to Adjust Budgets within the DWI Fund in the amount of $16,055
• Increase Law Enforcement Operations Fun to budget additional grant funding awarded through the Office of National Drug Control Policy for the Region III HIDTA program in the amount of $20,000 and to bring forward the Fiscal Year 2011 unexpended balance in the amount of $1,489.84
• Increase to the Operating Transfer from the General Fund to the Law Enforcement Operations Fund for additional funding to upgrade the security systems for restricted areas in the amount of $1,672
• Increase to the State Special Appropriations Fund to budget cash carryover for the Agua Fria Community Center Project in the amount of $27,236
•  Increase to the Fire Operations Fund to budget cash carryover from Forestry Revenue Received for expenditure in Fiscal Year 2012 in the amount of $82,631

Special Presentations

The Santa Fe Underage Drinking Preventions Alliance (SFUDPA) outlined progress in their mission to reduce underage drinking, DWI, risk and access to alcohol. Program chair Shelley Mann-Lev listed the numerous partners involved in the Alliance, highlighting statistics showing lowered use and delineating a number of initiatives promoted by the organization.

Matters From the Commission

Bruce Swingle, Loss Prevention Manager from the New Mexico Association of Counties, spoke of the Risk Awareness Program and its success resulting in a decrease of claims over the past three years.

The BCC passed a proclamation honoring the Santa Fe High School Theatre Department for being selected to attend the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.

Appointments/Reappointments/Resignations

County Hydrologist Karen Torres and former Commissioner Mike Anaya were appointed to the Estancia Basin Water Planning Committee (Commissioner Robert Anaya recused himself from this vote).

Community Services

The BCC approved the following:

• Approval of an Easement Agreement between Santa Fe County and the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) to operate and maintain PNM facilities to provide service adjacent to and abutting the Camino de Jacobo property lines.
• Approval of an Easement Agreement between Santa Fe County and the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) to install new electrical facilities in the Valle Vista public housing sub-division (Lot 11, 52,56,57,58 and 59).

Public Works

At the request of the New Mexico Department of Transportation three resolutions involving County participation in road projects were rescinded and reapproved with more specific information.

Finance Department

• Director Teresa Martinez provided the monthly update noting an increase in grant revenues that covered expenditures. Property tax collection was slightly off but was still over budget. GRT revenue is holding, while the unincorporated area is being closely monitored. All budget cuts are still in place.
• The BCC unanimously approved Resolution 2011-153 requesting an increase to the Fire Operation Fund to budget a grant awarded through the New Mexico Department of Health-Emergency Medical Systems Bureau to purchase an ambulance for the Pojoaque Fire District in the amount of $80,000.

Matters from the County Assessor

A lease agreement with Georgia Place, LLC was approved for office rental space.

Matters from County Manager Katherine Miller:

• At the suggestion of the County Manager a letter will be sent to the Governor urging approval of the legislative capital outlay bill, which will provide funding for senior services, and for a severance tax bond of $15 million for water rights settlements, including Aamodt.
• The board decided it will not hold a December 27 meeting.
• The Intergovernmental Summit is scheduled for November 16, 2011. Agenda items will include emergency management, fires and animal control.
• Redistricting: The first of two public hearings was held. Erle Wright from the GIS Department presented five options for consideration. The board voted to eliminated three of the five options, leaving map option C-2 and C-3. There will be a second and final public hearing on October 11 at approximately 4 p.m. Immediately following the public hearing the BCC will vote on a final option. For more information or to view the final options visit www.santafecountynm.gov/county_commissioners/redistricting.

Growth Management Department

Staff held a study session on the Sustainable Land Development Code (SLDC) with emphasis on energy efficiency and green building standards, open space and trails, and agriculture and ranching. Public comment was taken and the concept code draft of the Home-based Business Section was distributed.

All BCC meetings are broadcast live at www.santafecountynm.gov. Comcast Channel 28 and Que Suave AM 810 . To view recorded video of this BCC meeting, go to www.santafecountynm.gov/video_on_demand/or check GOV TV Channel 28 listings. Transcripts of the meeting will be available within 10 working days once approved at www.santafecountynm.gov.