VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING

MINUTES

EDELWEISS LODGE AND SPA CLUB ROOM

TAOS SKI VALLEY, NEW MEXICO

I.        CALL TO ORDER & NOTICE OF MEETING

Mayor King called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m.  The notice of the meeting was properly posted.

 

II.       ROLL CALL

Mayor King, Councilors Bennett, Stagg, Wiard, and Wittman were present.  Staff members included Bruce Kelly, Vanessa Chisholm, Ray Keen, Don Schieber, Dave Wallace and Ramey Stevens.

 

III.          APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

MOTION:  To approve the agenda as submitted.

Motion:  Councilor Wittman                Second:   Councilor Bennett Passed:  4-0

 

IV.     MOTION:  APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 4, 2011 VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING.

Councilor Wiard made corrections to the minutes.

MOTION:  To approve the minutes from the January 4, 2011 Village Council Meeting as corrected.

Motion:  Councilor Wittman                Second:   Councilor Bennett Passed:  4-0.

 

V.              FINANCIAL REPORTS

Vanessa Chisholm presented the financial reports and included some new and informative graphs.  The first payment for the NM Finance Authority Loan #TAOS34 (the ARRA grant/loan for leak detection equipment) is due (monthly).  Chisholm would like to pay off the loan ($12,857.39) now rather than on a monthly basis.  A budget adjustment resolution will presented at the next meeting since the total payoff was not a budgeted item.  Lodgers’ Tax is down; several houses are being rented out, but not paying Lodgers’ Tax.  A letter has been sent to these properties with an estimated dollar amount to be paid.  Chisholm included several graphs in her report.  The majority of gross receipts tax collections were from construction.  The financial reports were accepted into the minutes.

 

VI.             COMMITTEE REPORTS

A.        Planning and Zoning Commission

Councilor Wittman reported the P&Z Commission met on January 31, 2011.  The Commission passed a resolution concerning Governing Body meetings and Public Notice required.  This is required annually by the State of New Mexico.  This is the Open Meetings Act that governs when and how meetings will be conducted. The Commission discussed the P&Z Ordinance regarding riparian areas and questioned whether the Village should have input regarding the construction of bridges built across the river. This included discussion regarding pedestrian bridges versus vehicle bridges and the culvert over the river at Twining Rd. and Phoenix Switchback Rd.  The next meeting is scheduled for March 7, 2011, at 1:00 PM at the Edelweiss Lodge and Spa Club Room.

 

B.        Public Safety Committee - No Report

 

C.        Public Works Committee - No report.

 

D.                Parks and Recreation Committee - No report. 

 

E.                 Lodger’s Tax Advisory Board  -       No report.

 

VII.                 REGIONAL AND STATE REPORTS

Councilor Wiard reported on the IGC (Intergovernmental Council) and the Taos Regional Landfill Board meetings.  Discussions were held regarding Cultural Affairs and Tourism Department.  Councilor Wiard says she has been travelling a lot.  Other meetings included NCNMEDD, the opening of the legislative session, NM Association of Counties Mid-Winter Legislative Conference, NMSU Cooperative Extension Service and the NM Certified Public Manager Advisory Board.  Future meetings Wiard plans to attend are the NLC Congressional Conference in Washington, DC, a meeting of the NMML Executive Committee with Governor Martinez, meetings in February for the NMML, and the legislative session which adjourns on March 19, 2011. 

 

Councilor Stagg announced that Jean Mayer’s (Hotel St. Bernard) daughter, Monique Jacobsen, has been appointed by the Governor as the new Tourism Department Secretary.

 

VIII.          MAYOR’S REPORT

Mayor King reported that he is working with the Village staff on a new water/sewer billing system. 

 

IX.                    STAFF REPORTS

Ray Keen, Director of Public Works, submitted his written report regarding the monthly activity at the wastewater treatment plant.  He discussed renewable/alternative energy and resources that could be considered when it comes to expansion/upgrade of new facilities.

 

Don Schieber stated there is not a lot of private building scheduled for the coming summer.  Schieber discussed the sprinkler systems at the Edelweiss Lodge and Spa.  He and Dave Wallace, Public Safety Director, will meet with Ken Forte, Edelweiss Lodge and Spa manager to resolve these issues.

 

Dave Wallace continued the discussion regarding the sprinkler system pipes bursting at the Edelweiss on New Year’s Day and again the next day.  Wallace reported there were four or five EMS calls this month.  He stated the Town of Taos is planning a three day mass destruction drill in June.  The next EMS meeting will be on 2/22/11 for a tabletop drill on school bus accidents.  Discussion was held on speeders and dangerous, illegal passing of cars on State Highway 150. 

 

Bruce Kelly, Village Administrator, submitted a written report on reviewing and rewriting the Personnel Policy, the survey work for the Town Site Act, the new billing format, assessing our infrastructure costs for the coming summer work period, the Kachina tank project, and preparing for the FY12 budget.  He said the billing statement will look relatively the same.  The solid waste cost for non-water users will be based upon an EQR formula.

 

   X.           OLD BUSINESS – None.

 

  XI.        NEW BUSINESS

 

A.                 Recognition of VTSV DPS Officer Ramey Stevens and Citizen Christof Brownell

Dave Wallace reported on Saturday, 1/22/11, as Mr. Brownell and Officer Stevens were heading west down the mountain, they came upon a motor vehicle crash with an SUV upside down in the river.  The driver was unable to move due to injury and was hanging upside down in his seatbelt with his head partially underwater.  Mr. Brownell and Officer Stevens, without regard for their own safety, entered the partially submerged vehicle, freed the driver, pulled him up the bank and tended to his injuries.  A certificate of recognition was presented to Officer Ramey Stevens with applause from all.  Mr. Brownell was absent and will also receive a commendation. 

 

B.                 Discussion and Consideration:  Debarring LCI2, Inc.

LCI2 was granted the bid for the core Village water tank project.  Problems arose as the project progressed.  Staff would like the Council to consider excluding or shutting out LCI2 from future project bids.  Discussion followed.  Bruce Kelly asked for a public hearing on the next month’s meeting agenda.  Kelly will give notice to LCI2 that this will be on the agenda in March. 

 

C.                 Consideration to Approve Resolution 2011-203, A Resolution Approving Affiliation with the Public Employees Retirement Association and Participation in Municipal General Member Coverage Plan 1.

The majority of employees would like to switch to the PERA retirement program.  If approved, the current employees would have the option to join PERA or opt out and stay with the Money Purchase Pension Plan (MPPP) through Pershing LLC.  All new employees would be required to join PERA.  There is a five year wait period to be vested.  The Membership Coverage Plan 1 requires 14% contributions (7% employee and 7% employer).  Our current contribution to the MPPP is 9%, employer only. 

MOTION:  To approve Resolution 2011-203, a Resolution approving affiliation with the Public Employees Retirement Association and participation in the Municipal General Member Coverage Plan 1.

Motion:  Councilor Wiard                   Second:   Councilor Wittman               Passed:  4-0.

 

D.                Consideration to Approve Resolution 2011-204, a Resolution Approving Affiliation with the Public Employees Retirement Association and Participation in Municipal Police Member Coverage Plan 1.

The Department of Public Safety has a different retirement plan through PERA.  Contributions would be 10% employer and 7% employee.  There are different years of service requirements for the police.  This would increase the budget by only 1%.

MOTION:  To approve Resolution 2011-204, a Resolution approving affiliation with the Public Employees Retirement Association and Participation in Municipal Police Member Coverage Plan 1.

Motion:  Councilor Wittman                Second:   Councilor Wiard                   Passed:  4-0.

 

E.                 Consideration to Approve Resolution 2011-205, a Resolution Authorizing Employer Pick Up of Member Contributions for Determining Tax Treatment Under the Internal Revenue Code.

This resolution is irrevocable.  By adopting it the members will be taxed on the revised income after PERA contributions have been taken out, making their taxable income less.  All of it is taxed when withdrawn or the monthly pension is received.

MOTION:  To approve Resolution 2011-205, a Resolution authorizing employer pick up of member contributions for determining tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code.

Motion:  Councilor Bennett                 Second:   Councilor Wittman               Passed:  4-0.

 

F.         Consideration to Approve Resolution 2011-206, a Resolution authorizing pick-up of 2/7 of PERA Municipal General Employee Member Contributions.

The current employer contribution to the employee’s MPPP retirement is 9%.  This resolution allows the Village to continue to contribute 9% (not Police) while the employee will contribute 5%, still equaling the 14% total contribution required by PERA.

MOTION:  To approve Resolution 2011-206, a Resolution authorizing pick-up of 2/7 of PERA Municipal General Employee Member Contributions.

Motion:  Councilor Stagg                    Second:   Councilor Wiard                   Passed:  4-0.

 

XII.           MISCELLANEOUS

Councilor Bennett requested a discussion on a paid EMS person for the next fiscal year.  Councilor Stagg said Eddy Wisdom, an EMS volunteer, is interested in this job.  It would be for 100 days during the winter season.  This person would be available to help out all the volunteers. Bennett also discussed guests who become patients and are transported to Holy Cross Hospital but have no way to get back to the Village. Discussion was held.  It was decided to bring this issue to the Chamber of Commerce meeting.

 

XIII.    ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE OF THE NEXT MEETING OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL.

The next meeting of the Village Council will be held on Tuesday, March 8, 2010, at 2:00 p.m., at the Edelweiss Lodge and Spa conference room.  The Village Council Budget Workshop will be held on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, at 9:00 a.m., followed by the monthly Village Council at 2:00 p.m., at the Edelweiss Lodge and Spa conference room.

XIV.    ADJOURNMENT

Motion:  To adjourn the meeting.

Motion:   Councilor Bennett                Second:   Councilor Wiard                   Passed:  4-0.

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________         ____________________________________

Neal King, Mayor                                            Vanessa Chisholm, Village Clerk