Town of Taos Council Meeting 6/17/08

Posted by Cathy Connelly on June 18th, 2008 No Comments Printer-Friendly Author's website: Cathy Connelly
Notes from the Town of Taos Regular Council Meeting –
Town approved an initial resolution which starts the process for an ordinance that eventually will/may rezone the Chamisa Verde Subdivision to adhere to the new proposed SmartCode guidelines.  This is a new planning approach that hopes to ‘better match what Taos wants to preserve and promote’ regarding what constituents/visitors see and how things work.  Matthew Foster, Long Range Planner, Town of Taos, presented the resolution’s content and background on the SmartCode.  This action is a precursor to continuing public input/outreach having to do with the Chamisa Verde pending action (a continuation of the public involvement that has occurred about this code over the last several months).  Chamisa Verde and its proposed Neighborhood Visionary Plan covers approximately 137 acres of land surrounding the Taos Youth & Family Center, much owned by the Town itself for affordable/workforce housing.  The approach being taken by the Town and its related commissions is to ‘apply’ the SmartCode in this area (in essence testing it) prior to its potential use/application to other areas of the Town of Taos.  This process also allows for the Town to check out, and for the public to provide informed input, as to what might need to be ’tweaked’ about the Taos SmartCode prior to possible application through other areas of the Town.  Questions?  Contact Mr. Foster at MFoster@taosgov.com.
Town of Taos Chile Line Transportaton: Approval of a schedule July 1 through November 9, 2008, extending transportation service by an hour.  Schedule/stops for the Chile Line and other transportation details are on the Town of Taos web site, http://www.taosgov.com.
Town of Taos holiday schedule — Town offices will be closed Friday, July 18th, “Taos Day” from 1 to 5 p.m.
Elmer Abeyta, Town of Taos Code Enforcement Officer, retired after twenty-plus years of service to Town constituents.
Summer Youth Program — 19 participants at 20 hours paid per week are working for the Town of Taos — earning summer funds while also learning and contributing to Taos as part of their productive assignments.  These part-time summer staff assist in the Taos Public Library, Conventions, Youth & Family Center, Police Department, Fire Department, Visitor Center and within many other Town Departments.  This sumer’s Town of Taos Youth Program participants include:
Marisa Chavez
Sherree Duran
Zephaniah Ghahate
Antonio Garcia
Victoria Gomez
Damaris Lewis
Alicia Lucko
Samantha Lujan
Donovan Martiez
Gabriel Martinez
Samantha Martinez
Miquela Pacheco
Rachel Perez
Mario Romero
Tomas Romero
Sabrian Sanchez
Max Suazo
Amberley Valdez
Anna Vasquez
Briefing by Taos Community Foundation regarding their work on finding improved markets/distribution, etc. for area ‘grass fed beef’.  This work is part of a Town of Taos request-for-proposal funding awarded last year that supported categories including community and economic development.  A survey is part of the work, the results of which will ultimately be shared with the Town/public.
Briefing by Biofuels & Energy, LLC, a company that received a Town of Taos letter of support over a year ago for their pursuits to research, select the technology and build a bio and synthetic fuels company in Taos.  The focus of this effort is to supply Northern New Mexico with a less expensive, more environemntally friendly, local source for all its fuel needs.  The company is currently completing selection of the technology to be used, and then will turn to raising the $25M-plus dollars from private investors needed to fund this undertaking.  The hope is to complete the raising of venture capital for this within a year after the technology is selected.  Additional updates to come.
Town of Taos Youth Advisory Council — Recognition of youth participant Benita Lujan who has graduated from high school and is now on to college — a thank you from the Town for her contributon to the community.  Ms. Lujan announced that her experience with the Council has convinced her to become a Political Science major in college.
‘Consent Agenda’ items (noted on the agenda for this meeting previously distributed) were all approved.  If you have questions, email this office and we’ll let you know further details in your specific areas of interest.
Executive Session: 8:10 p.m.
Potential litigation having to do with Town’s affordable housing program was added to the Executive Session agenda by the Town of Taos Interim Manager Abigail Adame.

Cathy Connelly
Public Relations Director
Town of Taos
office 751-2001
cell 779-1013

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