Taos Real Estate

1) Town of Taos staff update:  Loretta Trujillo, currently part of the Town of Taos Finance Department, promoted (effective October 6^th) to be the new Director of Human Resources for the Town of Taos (lots of HR expertise in her past career experience); Allen Ferguson, currently with the State of New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) and with extensive legal experience, has been hired to be the Town’s new Legal Counsel and will begin October 1, 2008.

2) Council requested that staff reinstitute the regular scheduling of ‘Citizens Forums’ (meetings scheduled just for this purpose outside of regular Council Meetings) for broader and more frequent direct, general public input.  Tentatively the last Tuesday evening of each month starting at 6:30 p.m. in Town of Taos Council Chambers.  September 30^th will be the next Citizen Forum meeting.  Formal public notice will be provided given that a quorum may be present, although no voting will occur.

3) Public Forum Commentary/Updates

· Taos Solar Music Festival – report-out required as part of Town of Taos RFP funding from last year; discussion of this year’s advantages and challenges

· Regional Development Corporation, presentation on REDI program – this is the program funded out of Los Alamos GRT that has brought the entire region together to refresh and coordinate its economic development approach(es); upcoming meeting at Los Alamos National Bank, Santa Fe, 10 a.m., September 29

· Taos Community Auditorium construction/expansion update – some challenges with vandalism and other illegal activity already addressed by Town of Taos Police through focused patrols; construction going well; discussion of continuing need for fund raising for air conditioning, landscaping, etc.; rough estimates for ‘next stage of fund raising’ is broken into two phases – approximately $2.1M for the ‘backstage areas’ (classrooms, storage/scene shop, ADA stage access, etc.); phase two is approximately $2.4 to $3.1M for ‘black box’  -- development of this new addition; Town of Taos Council has already placed TCA on its capital improvement priority list for this coming year (State of NM January 2009 session) for added funding; TCA is positioning itself more assertively as a regional facility (which it already is) so it will qualify for new types of potential funding.

· Taos Auto Enthusiasts presentation – report of Annual Taos Auto Run (14^th year); extra work to coordinate at Kit Carson due to TCA construction; Town did great job of overall support; new restrooms at Taos Plaza were open and appreciated;  first night ‘drive in’ event was attended by lots of locals – and it was a great success; over 187 auto participants attended – over 200 cars – around 134 from New Mexico and the rest from out of state; funds raised and distributed to youth and nonprofits over the 14 year period include over 80 scholarships totaling around $40,000 to seniors from Taos County high schools (particularly to tech oriented graduates who don’t receive other types of scholarship monies for continuing their education); plus funds to nonprofits including, but not limited to, RMYC, the Taos Boxing program, donation of an auto mechanic hoist worth approx. $2,000 to Taos HS, funds to the culinary arts program, Taos swim program, Taos HS mariachi band, and many, many more….

· Sage West Consultants -- presentation on the progress of the Draft High Performance Building Ordinance – in essence, putting in place a specific, thoroughly detailed ‘road map’ for building in a manner that saves energy, promotes water conservation, reduces pollution, and overall promotes green elements and preserves natural resources, etc.; providing a means by which to ‘audit’ a building’s performance in these areas; and guides for receiving financial and time incentives from the Town for performing on these guidelines.  Goal is passage in December 2008.  Discussion of ‘affordability impacts’ of such actions.

· R.G Wells presentation – Topics ranged from “the economy” to “deficit in Washington D.C. of anyone doing anything for the people…”; and other topics of current event interest such as the Constitution of the United States of America, domestic tranquility (or lack thereof)….

· Viva Bikes update – 1999 founded; puts on bike safety, repair maintenance workshops; conducts program for youth at risk for mountain bike trips; Jennifer Fowler update – woman critically injured while on bike by hit and run auto accident; emphasis with message on bike accommodation/safety – encouraging Council to support bike/pedestrian safety legislation and trails

· Added public commentary on need for more bike rider safety education and need for functional map; gentleman has ridden here for over a decade - thank you for ‘share the road’ signage Town has already put up and for continuing Town’s support of bike lanes/trails; request for motorist ‘cooperation’ and patience – give bikers extra few seconds to complete their; concern about recent bicycle accidents….

· Gordon Johnston, Little Tree B&B and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee of Taos County Chamber of Commerce – unofficial representative speaking today, but wants to support bike trails/lanes – thinks Chamber will support formal action on these in future

4) Consent calendar 6 items, approved – if need more details, contact this office

5) Public Hearing: First for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, to receive public input on needs and suggestions for future projects.  No public input.  Public Works Director French Espinoza did highlight Town receipt of $433,000 CDBG funds last year for part of phase one of Alexander/Reed infrastructure improvements (utility); desire to apply for project-ready funds this year of approximately $750,000 (Town will need 10% match for this in addition to other funds Town has been putting aside for completion of this project) for phase one finish and part of phase two on Alexander/Reed (storm drain); Council also mentioned Weimer water line for application for CDBG.  October is estimated time frame for possible added public input; final proposal to Council from Finance Department about what will be on the ultimate CDBG list.

6) Consideration of creation of two different three-way stops:  a) at the junction of Chamisa Road and Sunshine Road and at b) Herdner Road and Hill Drive (in lieu of speed hump placement; discussion of increase in safety/reduction in speeding when installed stop at Placitas and Lund; ultimate action was to approve public outreach/hearings about this issue.  French Espinoza, Public Works Department Director, lead on input,fespinoza@taosgov.com

7) Presentation on Draft Bicycle Facilities Master Plan (map) for Town of Taos by Long Range Planner Matthew Foster, mfsoter@taosgov.com. Part of program is to apply for grants from various organizations, including recognition by the League of American Bicyclists as a “Bicycle Friendly Community”.  Discussion of next steps, need, etc.  Information included that formalized bike lanes = 4 ft. lane itself on street’s side with 6 inch white line delineating.  Master Plan effort approved by Council.  Mayor and Council are very much committed to making Taos a safer place for all bicyclists and wished this to be communicated to the public.

Operating Budget for FY 2008-09 approved by DFA and formally adopted as part of minutes by Town Council.

9) Council Member Darren Cordova will serve as Mayor Pro Tem given Council Member’s Gene Sanchez’s desire to pass on this appointment at this point at time given time constraints.  Ordinance mandates rotation of the Mayor Pro Tem position.

10) Implementation of Pay and Classification Plan – for 230 full-time Town of Taos employees; currently slated for implementation during January, 2009, but Council is examining if time frame can be shortened.

11) Executive Session: potential landfill litigation added (discussion of a possible settlement); other issues included limited personnel matters -- Town Attorney and Human Resources Director (hire actions noted above).

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