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VILLAGE
COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
EDELWEISS LODGE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2011 2:00 P.M.
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.
Mayor King, Councilors Bennett, Stagg, Wiard, and Wittman were
present. Staff members included Bruce Kelly,
Vanessa Chisholm, Ray Keen, Don Schieber and Dave Wallace.
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 NOVEMBER 9,
2010 REGULAR VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING and the DECEMBER 22, 2010 SPECIAL VILLAGE
COUNCIL MEETING.
MOTION:
To approve the minutes from the November 9, 2010 Village Council
Meeting.
Motion: Councilor Stagg Second: Councilor Wittman Passed: 4-0.
MOTION:
To approve the minutes from the December 22, 2010 Special Village
Council Meeting.
Motion: Councilor Wiard Second: Councilor Stagg Passed: 4-0.
V. FINANCIAL REPORTS
Vanessa Chisholm, Clerk/Treasurer, presented the
Council with monthly financial reports including a 6 month review of the Trial
Balance and gross receipts reports. The
Village is in good shape at the half way point of the fiscal year. The
Village’s finances are holding steady with construction revenues making up for
more than half of the GRT collected.
The financial reports were accepted into the minutes.
VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Planning and Zoning
Commission
Councilor Wittman reported the P&Z Commission did not meet. The next meeting of the P&Z Commission is scheduled for January 31, 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
Councilor Wiard reported that the IGC (Intergovernmental Council) did not meet in December, but the Taos Regional Landfill Board met on December 21, 2010. Councilor Wiard also attended the following meetings: the NMML & NMAC Joint Executive Board Meeting in November; the NCNMEDD meeting also in November, and the NLC Congress of Cities in Denver (where the Village of Taos Ski Valley was acknowledged as the smallest municipality in the Nation. The 2011 Legislative Session begins on January 18, 2011. It is a sixty day session. It will be a tough session with no capital funds available. The NMML Municipal Day being held on February 23, 2011.
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, reported that the wastewater treatment plant is running well. There have been some problems with the PRV’s due to the extreme cold. Public Works is getting ready for Spring Break. The UniMog (snowblower) has been repaired and is ready for the next snow storm. Keen reported that the 2004 Ford 550 required an engine replacement. The cost was $13,334.00, with a 5 year warranty. Keen stated that the application for a new water discharge permit has been submitted to the EPA.
Don Schieber gave a status report on building in the Village. Development engineers will be here this week.
Dave Wallace, Public Safety Director, stated there was one arrest in December. The Police Department spent a lot of time pulling vehicles out of ditches. There were some problems on New Year’s Eve. The Public Safety Department had to deal with a broken sprinkler system at the Edelweiss, due to the cold weather. There were a few EMS calls this month, mostly due to altitude sickness. Designated National Wilderness areas are seeing changes to the rules and restrictions that will apply to things such as fire.
Bruce Kelly, Village Administrator, updated the Council on the progress of the remodeling of the Village Office and fire station. Kelly met with a representative from Tom Udall’s office regarding the Townsite Act. This concerns the acquisition of land from the Forest Service. He hopes not to have to pay too much to acquire the land we need without conflicting with the wilderness study area or with the Ski Valley’s plans to upgrade the mountain. Kelly discussed the wastewater treatment plant upgrade, the personnel regulations, and the new method of charging for water and sewer. The first billing will go out at the end of January. The Village currently pays QuikWater $207.31/month to be on call for software problems. He would like to drastically reduce this cost if possible.
X. OLD BUSINESS – None.
XI.
A.
Consideration to
Approve Resolution 2011-199 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.
MOTION: To approve Resolution 2011-199, a resolution concerning
Governing Body meetings and Public Notice required.
Motion: Councilor Wiard Second: Councilor Bennett Passed:
4-0.
B.
Consideration to Approve Resolution 2011-200,
a Resolution supporting the Formation of a County Fire Department Under the
Direction of a County Fire Chief.
Dave Wallace stated the Taos County Office of
Emergency Management and the Enchanted Circle Regional Fire Protection
Association are proposing the formation of a County Fire Department under the
direction of a County Fire Chief. The purpose
of this is to consolidate the 11 volunteer fire departments into one department
with a department head. This does NOT
include the fire department in the Village of Taos Ski Valley. Dave said the fire chief would be a full time
position, paid for by the County. Four
out of five commissioners are in favor of this.
MOTION:
To adopt resolution #2011-200, supporting this action.
Motion:
Councilor Wiard Second:
Councilor Wittman Passed:
4-0.
C.
Consideration to
Approve Resolution 2011-201, a Resolution Declaring Support for the Columbine
Hondo Wilderness Study Area (WSA) on the Carson National Forest to be Added to
the National Wilderness Preservation System.
The Forest Service wants to get comments regarding
this subject. Discussion followed.
MOTION:
To approve Resolution 2011-201, a Resolution declaring support for the
Columbine Hondo Wilderness Study Area (WSA) on the Carson National Forest to be
added to the National Wilderness Preservation System.
Motion:
Councilor Stagg Second: Councilor Wiard Failed: 0-4.
MOTION:
To authorize Bruce Kelly to write a letter of support with a corridor
for our Village protection.
Motion: Councilor Wiard Second: Councilor Wittman Passed:
4-0.
D.
Discussion of
Parks & Recreation Committee Spending.
In anticipation of the new budget year, Councilor Wiard and
Administrator Kelly would like to discuss the Village’s part in the decision
making regarding the Parks and Recreation Committee expenses. Discussion
followed. Controls for committee spending were discussed.
MOTION: To allow Village Committees to decide how to
spend their budgeted money pursuant to procurement code.
Motion:
Councilor Wiard Second: Councilor Wittman Passed:
3-1 (Councilor Stagg dissenting).
E.
Authorization to Send a Letter in Support of
Taos Ski Valley, Inc., Master Plan.
Taos Ski Valley, Inc., has submitted a Master Plan regarding their
building plans and improvement to the core area and have requested a letter of
support from the Village.
MOTION:
To authorize Bruce Kelly to send a letter in support of the Taos Ski
Valley Inc., Master Plan.
Motion:
Councilor Wittman Second:
Councilor Wiard Passed:
4-0.
XII.
MISCELLANEOUS
– None
XIII.
CLOSED
EXECUTIVE SESSION
MOTION: To move to executive session to
discuss pending litigation and real property acquisition.
Motion: Councilor
Wiard Second: Councilor Wittman Passed: 4-0.
MOTION: To return to open session. No decisions or motions were made during the
executive session and only pending litigation and real property acquisition
were discussed.
Motion: Councilor
Wiard Second: Councilor Wittman Passed: 4-0.
MOTION: To authorize Mayor King to sign the amended agreement between
the Village of Taos Ski Valley and Core Village Holdings, LLC.
Motion: Councilor
Stagg Second: Councilor Wittman Passed: 4-0.
XIII. ANNOUNCEMENT
OF THE DATE, TIME
The next meeting of the Village Council will be held on Tuesday, February 1, 2011, at 2:00 p.m., at the Edelweiss Lodge and Spa Club Room.
XIV. ADJOURNMENT
Motion: To adjourn the meeting.
Motion: Councilor Stagg Second: Councilor Wittman Passed: 4-0.
_____________________________________ ____________________________________
Neal King, Mayor Vanessa
Chisholm, Village Clerk