Taos Real Estate

1)       Public Works: Approval by the Council for the Town of Taos Public Works Department to request a time extension from the State of New Mexico for the construction of Morgan Rd.  Delays due to a variety of issues including the round-about construction on Canon by the State, and changed requirements by the State’s Environment Dept. that are now requiring a new survey and corresponding permit.

2)       Pulled for redraft due to incorrect language: Draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Town of Taos and Kit Carson Electric Cooperative concerning the shared use of the new central dispatch facility; incorrect language has to do with Kit Carson not being a government entity/rewrite required.

3)       Tourism:  Presentation by Griffin & Assoc. on conclusion to 2009 outreach theme, discussion of direction for 2010, and status of Taos as a destination in the context of overall travel during current recession.  Griffin submitted a short report – copies available, just email this office.

4)       Transit:  Town of Taos’ local Chile Line Transit service (fixed route) rated as first in the state by NMDOT (this is significant since funding is leveraged based on this state designation).  Approval of revised ADA complimentary paratransit policies and procedures plan as outlined, in accordance with the Federal Transit Admin.  Approval of new design for the 20 bus stops throughout Town, funded by federal stimulus funds awarded for the purchase of vehicles and design/fabrication of ADA compliant bus shelters.  After vehicle purchase of $408,083, the balance to be spent on shelters is approximately $99,417 (and yes, the new shelters will have wonderful new, attached trash receptacles too).

5)       Nonprofit Artspace Developments http://www.artspace.org/media/reports.html, and the Town’s work toward more affordable housing for artists, takes another step forward with Council approval of $36,500 for an updated Taos market survey in English/Spanish.  This market study, step two, will enable Artspace’s own potential approximate $16 M development of housing here, which also enables attraction of public and private funding/participation.  Artspace completed a feasibility study in the Spring of 2009 that demonstrated that a project was possible in Taos – which was step one.  Artspace has done this type of work throughout the U.S. for the last 35 years, but never before in NM.  Step three, should it be taken, would be the Town’s involvement in enabling land for an Artspace project.  Want more detail?  Contact Matthew Spriggs, mspriggs@taosgov.com.

6)       Election Resolution:  Town of Taos Mayor Cordova, Councilmembers Abeyta and Silva, and Judge Chavez are up for reelection this March 2, 2010 – the resolution was passed enabling the Town Clerk, Renee Lucero, to properly move forward with election actions.  A few highlights: Early vote Feb. 10 – Feb. 26; voter registrations must be complete by February 2 to vote in this March 2; declarations of candidacy must be filed with the Clerk on January 5 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.  Other questions?  Contact Renee Lucero rlucero@taosgov.com or 751-2005.

7)       Council issues: Bigbee Building update – Community & Economic Development Dept. and Legal Dept. of the Town are evaluating how best to move forward on this situation with legal action; FAA negotiations continue with progress being made concerning the cross-winds runway at the Taos Regional Airport.

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