VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING

 MINUTES

 

EDELWEISS CONDOS CONFERENCE ROOM

TAOS SKI VALLEY, NEW MEXICO

 

 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6,  2007, 2:00 P.M.

 

I.       CALL TO ORDER & NOTICE OF MEETING

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

 

II.      ROLL CALL

Mayor King, Councilors Bennett, Stagg, Wiard, and Wittman were present.

 

III.    APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

MOTION:  To approve the agenda as presented for the November 6, 2007 meeting.

Motion:  Councilor Wittman                 Second:   Councilor Stagg                    Passed:  4‑0.

 

IV.       APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE OCTOBER 2, 2007 VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING.

Councilor Wittman corrected a mistake in the minutes from the October 2nd meeting, stating that under section VI. A.  "development is on .16 acres", not 1.6 acres.

 

MOTION:  To approve the minutes from the October 2, 2007 Village Council Meeting as amended.

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

 

V.      FINANCIAL REPORTS

The financial reports were presented by Vanessa Chisholm and accepted into the minutes. Chisholm stated the audit was completed and will be sent to the State Auditor=s office by December 1.  Precision Accounting  was pleased with the accounting policies and procedures of the Village.  Chisholm reported that Precision Accounting would be doing the Lodgers' Tax Audit next.  In response to the gross receipts reports, Councilor Stagg urged the Village to be conservative this year.

 

VI.    COMMITTEE REPORTS

A.      Planning and Zoning Commission

Councilor Wittman reported  the P&Z Commission did not meet but the next meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 3, 2007, at 1:00 p.m., at the Edelweiss Lodge and Spa.

 

B.      Public Safety Committee  

Councilor Bennett reported the Committee did not meet this month.  The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, November 16, 2007, at 9:00 a.m., at the Village Offices.

 

C.      Public Works Committee

No report.

 

D.      Lodgers' Tax Advisory Committee

No Report.

E.      Parks & Recreation Committee

No report.

 

F.      Other Reports

Councilor Wiard reported on the IGC and Taos Regional Landfill Board meetings.  She also reported on the Town of Taos Marketing.  The Town of Taos has hired Griffin and Associates.  They will be fulfilling what Destination Taos had been doing.  Wiard reported on NMML meetings in October and November that she attended.  She reported on future scheduled meetings she will attend in November, December, and January.  The 30 day Legislative Session will be held from January 15th through February 14th.  Councilor Wiard will attend the NLC Congress of Cities meeting in New Orleans from November 13‑17, 2007.

 

G.      Committee Appointments

Councilor Bennett requested a motion from the Council to appoint Jamie Shulze as a member of the Public Safety Committee.  This appointment became necessary upon the resignation of Mickey Blake from the committee.

 

MOTION:  To approve the appointment of Jamie Shulze to the Public Safety Committee.

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

 

VII.   MAYOR'S REPORT

Mayor King stated he had no official written report, but spoke about Taos Ski Valley, Inc.=s opening day being moved to December 14, 2007.

 

VIII. STAFF REPORT

Susan Steele, the new Village Administrator, reported she is coming up to speed on finances, budgeting, personnel, and projects.  She reported that Phase I and II of the sewer extension project was completed this week, invoices have been reviewed, and they will be submitted to the State for reimbursement.  The project came in under budget thanks to staff.  Steele reported on the Public Safety Building and the possible phasing of the project for funding purposes.  Steele and the staff will be reviewing the ICIP within the next few weeks to draft a legislative request for Councilor Wiard's review and presentation to the Legislature.  Steele also spoke about economic development in the Village.

 

Ray Keen, Public Works Director, reported on the completion of almost 4,000 feet of Phase 2 of the sewer line extension.  He said we now have sewer available to over 95% of village residents and with the incentive to tie on within 3 years, have accomplished a major part of the sewer line extension.  Keen thanked Joey Apodaca, Operations Superintendent, for his hard work of overseeing the project and said Apodaca did a fantastic job of working with Arrow Buffalo, making sure that everything went as planned and that the interest of the Village was not compromised. Keen reported they found and fixed a few major leaks in the water system.  He also spoke about manholes that were fixed, fire lines, PRV stations, roads, and the wall at Phoenix Switchback and Twining Road. 

 

Don Schieber, Community Development Director,  reported that the sewer project, Phase I and II, came in under budget.  Don also reported on the status of various residences.  He spoke about the core area water tank and water infrastructure plan as well as a topographic map on the area off Twining by Cliff Hanger to reduce the steeps.

 

Dave Wallace, Public Safety Director, reported the traffic cameras were installed at the Treatment Plant and in the Amizette area.  Wallace said the cameras are very visible.  Wallace reported that the rescue vehicle is not in service yet.  The slash pile is officially closed for the winter.  Wallace stated that Fire Chief Gene Mortimer will be doing paperwork only while he is recovering from back surgery .  Discussion was held on whether or not to let the Taos News know about the cameras.  Publicizing this may be a deterrent to thieves.  Village Council consensus was positive to this idea.

 

IX.       OLD BUSINESS

A.        Discussion Regarding Municipal Court

Bruce Kelly presented the pros and cons to retaining the Municipal Court in the Village.  Discussion followed.  Approval of the Ordinance presented to the Council at the August 7, 2007 meeting would be necessary to transfer our judicial system to Magistrate Court in Taos County.  This Ordinance will be presented at a Public Hearing at the December Village Council Meeting.

 

B.        Amendment to Ordinance 08‑46, Adopting a Municipal Gross Receipts Tax.

In October, the NM Taxation and Revenue Department, informed the Village that a section regarding specific exemptions, was missing from the Ordinance.  A Public Hearing will be held at the December meeting to review this Section.

 

X.        NEW BUSINESS

A.        Resolution 2008‑146; Consideration to pass Resolution 2008‑146, a Resolution Requesting a Permanent Budget Adjustment.

Some line items in the budget need to be adjusted.  These adjustments are necessary in order to balance the budget.  The fire substation lease payment will be required this year.  It had not been budgeted because initial plans were to relocate the substation.  The Fire Operating fund needs to be increased by $2,000.  Keen requested an increase in the Operating & Maintenance Reserve budget to purchase a new jet rodder.  The existing one will no longer adequately clean the sewer lines.  The sewer line expansion project was originally scheduled to be a two year project.  While preparing the FY2008 budget staff neglected to include the carryover budgeted expenditures to complete the project.  Therefore the Sewer Depreciation Reserve capital project line item needs to be increased.  There is sufficient money that was budgeted in the department transfers to cover these expenses.  Discussion followed.

 

MOTION:      To approve Resolution 2008‑146, A Resolution requesting a Permanent Budget Adjustment.

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

 

XI.       MISCELLANEOUS

Village Administrator, Susan Steele, requested that a yearly performance review be added to her contract.  Council agreed this should be done.

 

XII.     CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION

MOTION:  To move to Executive Session.

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

MOTION:      To return to the Public Meeting.   Nothing was voted on or decided on during Executive Session.

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

 

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, December 4, 2007, at 2:00 p.m., at the Edelweiss Condos Conference Center.

 

XIV.    ADJOURNMENT

Motion:  To adjourn the meeting.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

__________________________________                                             ____________________________________

Neal King, Mayor                                                                   Vanessa Chisholm, Village Clerk