Taos Real Estate

1) Executive session cancelled in lieu of the Town Attorney providing a written briefing document (session included updates on various pending law suits as listed on the agenda, sent out yesterday). 

2) In part this action was taken due to the delay of today’s meeting in order for the Mayor and Council to attend Juan Martinez’s funeral services (as referenced in yesterday’s news brief).

3) Mayor, Council and new Police Chief Rick Anglada recognized and presented Town of Taos Police Department Sergeant David Trujillo and Officer Virgil Vigil for exemplary on-the-job performance in saving the life of an unconscious individual from an auto that ultimately was engulfed in flames over the New Year’s holiday (report previously sent to news brief recipients).

4) Consent agenda approved.

5) Community Against Violence, Tanya Moreno, http://www.taoscav.org/ presented their final report as required by a contract with the Town of Taos, let in the fall of 2008.  This contract was won through a Request for Proposal (RFP) by the Town for reducing youth violence and crime.  Its total was $8,056, administered through the Town of Taos Community & Economic Development Dept.  The 2009-2010 fiscal year did not include any such RFPs or contracts by the Town of Taos given the restrictions of the current economic recession on the Town’s budget.

6) Matthew Spriggs, Director, Community & Economic Dev. Dept., worked with the Taos County Chamber of Commerce to help fund its Taos County Economic Report, and today presented a brief overview, along with the Chamber and their economist, of the 3^rd quarter results for 2009 (see attached).  Blips in the report as highlighted by Spriggs?  The grocery category has captured an increase – these include literal groceries purchased as well as the multitude of ‘side line’ offerings by local grocers.    Telecommunications services were (two combined categories) that were also up – sale of cell phones and similar technological services, with eight breakdowns for these sector categories; however, these services are not ones necessarily adding to our “employment”, rather they add to area “wealth”.  Contractors doing specialty work (i.e. custom cabinetry, etc.) were still holding well; heavy construction seemed to be supported by larger projects, but lagging a bit.  Construction in general/general contracting -- even with public street projects during 2009, this was down.  Art dealers – at half what was seen compared to the same quarter last year.  Take the overall tourism across categories -- full service restaurants continued to do well (everyone’s still eating out – local and visitor alike), but accommodations were down (some having to due with day rate reductions, but obviously not all), and shift in how we’re spending money when we do travel – gambling down; bar activity was up.  Average house prices still high; days on market increasing.  Gas was tracked by dollars, not gallons, so difficult to gauge compared to last year based on price changes over time.  Want more?  Contact Steve Fuhlendorf, steve@taoschamber.com, for more information about this report, or Dir. Spriggs, mspriggs@taosgov.com.

7) Continued item #9 A. to Feb. 9 – date certain – regarding Dos Arroyos Subdivision.

Approval of Town of Taos Ordinance 10-02; an ordinance amending the Official Zoning map of the Town of Taos with respect to property located at Primavera Court off of Vista Primavera Dr.; allows R6 (contiguous with other properties at R14 to the west; affordability a consideration).

9) Dir. Spriggs and Matt Foster, Long-Range Planner, briefed the Mayor/Council about the process to create a Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Taos, including highlighted advantages for doing so.  No action taken on this item – it was for information purposes at this juncture.  The briefing reviewed anticipated changes and the transition from the Vision 2020 Master Plan to an updated Comprehensive Plan.  Some of the advantages outlined: improved planning clarity, consistency, control and defensibility; potential broader application of the SmartCode via a Comprehensive Plan; provisions in the State Law that provide advantages based on a Comprehensive Plan vs. a “Master Plan”; and improved cooperation/connectivity with Taos County Planning.  The proposed initial focus would be the land use element as part of a Town Comprehensive Plan.  Please email Matt Foster for a copy of the power point presentation and for further details, mfoster@taosgov.com.

10) Finance Dept. -- “housekeeping” agenda items approved regarding a variety of fund transfers – utility improvements; fire hydrant replacement; capital improvements -- Taos Plaza Cameras, Trujillo Lane Improvements for sewer line/lift station.

11) Vista del Canon sewer issues (includes San Geronimo Lodge) – after an extended period of negotiations between the Vista del Canon homeowners, the Town, Taos County and the State of New Mexico Environment Dept., a resolution was enabled to remedy the area’s urgent sewer situation – a connect with the Town of Taos system, including Taos County approved easements, at the homeowners’ expense. This was approved at today’s Council meeting.  The Vista del Canon area is within Taos County, and will remain part of Taos County.  The point of the action was to, “avert an environmental hazard that now exists and potentially threatens both Town and County residents and results from the use of septic tanks in a high water table area.”  Want copies of the agreements?  Pleas contact the Town’s Legal Dept., Cyndee Perez, cperez@taosgov.com.