VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

EDELWEISS CONDOS CONFERENCE ROOM

TAOS SKI VALLEY, NEW MEXICO

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 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 October 2, 2007 meeting.

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

IV. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 4, 2007 VILLAGE COUNCIL MEETING.

MOTION: To approve the minutes from the September 4, 2007 Village Council Meeting.

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

V. FINANCIAL REPORTS

The financial reports were presented by Vanessa Chisholm and accepted into the minutes. The annual audit is scheduled for October 8, 2007. The accounting firm Precision Accounting was selected to do the audit.

VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS

A. Planning and Zoning Commission

Councilor Wittman reported the P&Z Commission met on Monday, September 10, 2007. There was a public hearing for a request for variances for set-backs, extending decks and parking for a condo project to be built on Ernie Blake Road, Lot 1A, Block G. This property is located next to the Glacier House, Al's Condos, and the Powderhorn. Councilor Wittman stated the development is on .16 acres; it will be 4 stories with the first story being underground parking. No one spoke for or against any of the variances during the public hearings. Councilor Wittman talked about the possibility of an architectural review committee, stating he had a few candidates for the committee.

Councilor Wittman explained the selection process by which the new Village Administrator, Susan Steele, was chosen and hired. The Mayor and Councilor Wiard both thanked the committee for all their hard work.

B. Public Safety Committee

Councilor Bennett stated the Committee did not meet this month, but will meet before the beginning of ski season in November.

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 Taos County election held on September 25, 2007 and the Enchanted Circle EMS Annual Conference. Wiard reported on future meetings she will attend that include the NMML Board of Directors Meeting in Santa Fe, NMML Executive Committee Joint Meeting with NM Association of Counties. Wiard will also be attending the National League of Cities Congress of Cities to be held in New Orleans.

VII. MAYOR'S REPORT

Mayor King did not have a written report, but commented on the meetings he had attended.

VIII. STAFF REPORT

Ray Keen, Public Works Director, reported on the completion of the sewer line extension to Big Horn Hill. Staff will be replacing a fence along Twining Road near the Cranes next week. Road work will continue over the next several weeks. Several manholes had been replaced and a 25gpm leak was fixed on Big Horn Hill Road. Keen congratulated two of his staff, Olaf Mingo and Greg Morrow, who passed their Water and Wastewater levels 1 certifications. Keen welcomed Mani Meadowcroft as a new hire into the Public Works Department.

Dave Wallace, Public Safety Director, reported the camera equipment had arrived; and are waiting for the cameras which were shipped three days ago. Several homeowners have responded to a letter sent out by the Department of Public Safety requesting a "safe haven" for firefighters in the event of a major incident. It would be a place to go and warm up and get a cup of coffee. This was instigated by the Wheeler Peak Condo fire last winter.

Don Schieber stated they had a slight reprieve on the water tank to be built in the Village base area. There is a consensus of where the water tank will be installed. Schieber advised the Council about a letter to be sent to customers informing them of the completion of the sewer line stub outs to their properties. The letter adjusts the previous time frame to get reduced rates for tie ons. 5 properties have tied on so far; 31 will need to tie on before this time next year. Staff found 2 faulty septic systems so far. Schieber projects that by next year 95% of everyone on the water system will be on the sewer system as well.

Keen lauded Joey Apodaca for a job well done in dealing with the sewer line extension contractors this year. Apodaca did a great job and is keeping the progress going.

IX. OLD BUSINESS ‑ None

X. NEW BUSINESS

A. Consideration to Approve EMS Medical Director Services Contract

This is a renewal of Dr. Peterson's contract to act as the medical director for the EMS system in the Village.

MOTION: To approve the contract with Timothy D. Peterson, MD.

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

B. Consideration to Rescind Resolution 207‑134: a Resolution in Support of Taos Regional Water Plan.

After reviewing the Taos Regional Water plan, Bruce Kelly, Village Attorney, stated he has some serious concerns about it. In February, when the Council originally approved the draft plan, it had not been reviewed by legal staff. Additionally, no copy of the plan was in the possession of the Village. Since the Plan is over 500 pages copies were not distributed to each councilor but is now available at the Village Office. The original plan as voted on by the Council did not include all the information. Sections of the plan could be very detrimental to the Village. Kelly’s concerns were echoed in comments in the letters from the Town of Taos and the El Prado Water and Sanitation District. Kelly stated the plan ignores the law for water rights transfers. This was intended to be a regional plan, but the Taos Pueblo and Taos County weren't involved. Kelly presented other reasons why the Council should rescind this Resolution.

MOTION: To rescind the Council's approval of the Taos Regional Water Plan and authorize Bruce Kelly to send a letter to the Interstate Stream Commission informing them of this action.

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

C. Review of Plans for the New Public Building and Approval of the Programming.

At the Council's request, staff has been working with Rich Willson and Bruce Kelly to determine what the needs are for a Village multi‑purpose public building. Kelly has worked on four separate public buildings in the past and has worked with the staff to provide Willson with the information needed. Kelly presented the new plan, stating he asked the entire Staff what they needed as far as office space, filing space, etc. Willson presented the previous plans and a proposed plan based on staff=s feedback. The bottom line is the building would be approximately 8800 square feet at a cost for completion of $1,760,000. Discussion followed to the effect that perhaps the building could be completed in stages as money became available.

MOTION: To authorize the Mayor to appoint a staff sub‑committee to follow through with the plans.

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

X. MISCELLANEOUS

Councilor Stagg suggested that annual pay raises not include the Village Administrator raise as automatic. He felt this should be separate and not an automatic deal. Stagg felt the Village Administrator=s pay raises should be separate from the rest of the staff. The other Councilors concurred. No motion was made.

XII. 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, November 6, 2007, at 2:00 p.m., at the Edelweiss Condos Conference Center.

XIV. ADJOURNMENT

Motion: To adjourn the meeting.

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

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Neal King, Mayor Vanessa Chisholm, Village Clerk