NPRPO Meeting Minutes

October 4, 2006

Ohkay Owingeh Arts & Crafts/Visitor’s Center

Ohkay Owingeh, NM

Member’s attendance:

Ted Martinez –Chair Patrick Nicholson – Ohkay Owingeh

Ted Garcia – Los Alamos County Herman Agoyo – Ohkay Owingeh

Brent Jaramillo – Vice Chair/Questa Adrian Notsinneh – Jicarilla Apache Nation

Sandra Sue Richardson – Picuris Pueblo Rob Straebel – Village of Taos Ski Valley

Matt Roybal – Santa Fe County Dennis Wells – Village of Chama

Sean Hughes – Santa Clara Pueblo Sherriff Pat Naranjo – Santa Clara Pueblo

Edwin Tafoya – Santa Clara Pueblos Councilman Raymond Martinez – San Ildefonso

Victor Robles – Taos County Commissioner Gabriel Romero – Taos County

Filemon Sanchez – Trampas Land Grant

Affiliate Member attendance:

Sandra Maes – NPRPO Planner Phil Gallegos – D-5–Asst. DE

Janet Spivey – NMDOT – Planning Chris Moquino – Senator Bingaman’s Office

Ron Shutiva – NMDOT – Native Am. Liaison Benny Martinez – NMDOT –Project Dev.

Rick Chavez – NMDOT

Guests in attendance:

Paul Mendoza – Rio Grande Sun

Citizen’s in attendance:

David Rigsby – Embudo Valley Acequia Assoc.

A beautiful opening prayer was given by Herman Agoyo, Ohkay Owingeh.

I. Call to order at 9:40 by Ted Martinez, Chair

Ø Thanked Ohkay Owingeh and staff for the meeting location and provision of the morning feast.

II. Welcome and Introductions –

III. Approval of Agenda –

Ø Commissioner Romero, Taos County made a motion to approve the agenda as presented, seconded by Ted Garcia, Los Alamos County. No Discussions/Passed unanimously

IV. Approval of Minutes for August 2, 2006

Ø Patrick Nicholson, Ohkay Owingeh made a motion to approve the meeting minutes as presented, seconded by Matt Roybal, Santa Fe County.

Ø Sandra stated that last months meeting minutes had been revised per the requested change and could be found at http://nprpo.com if anyone desired a corrected copy.

V. Visioning Exploration – Bob Widoe

Ø The visioning exploration was postponed due to Bob Widoe’s absence

Ø Chair Martinez asked the members if they would like to have a discussion on the visioning processing that had taken place at past meetings. Chair Martinez led the following discussions:

à Town of Taos/Taos County/Taos Pueblo –

1. Dire need of a bypass

2. Interconnectivity

3. Road Improvements for arterials and minor collectors

4. Safety

5. Economic Development

Discussion by members

ü Contec sensitive solutions approach was taken by NMDOT and Gannett Fleming

ü Strong opposition from downtown merchants – request for more information/inclusion in process.

ü The need to hear from the working class – voice at this time is from non-working class

ü Safety initiative for emergency vehicle access during an emergency response call

ü Stronger need for local connectors as opposed to a full blown bypass

ü Need to re-visit the 1-way pair alternative

ü Involvement of Taos Pueblo is critical – NMDOT has been trying to access Governor and Council for approx. 1 year or more. Involvement from new NMDOT Native Am is requested and welcomed.

à City of Espanola –

1. Study relief route

2. Safety/road improvements

3. Economic Development

4. Transit

Discussion by members

ü The relief study is progressing through several public meetings NMDOT is nearing the end of Phase B

ü Proposal of two alternatives are being studied for feasibility, access and environmental concerns

ü New initiative undertaking of Ohkay Owingeh’s efforts to revive the airport need to be taken into consideration

ü Kudos to Ohkay Owingeh, City of Espanola and Rio Arriba County for initializing transit regionalization efforts.

à Santa Clara Pueblo/San Ildefonso

1. NM 30

2. Safety

3. Street Improvements

4. Economic Development

Discussion by members

ü Study for NM30 is currently underway by Gannet Fleming/NMDOT

ü Construction target is 2008

ü Current initiatives involve a trail for access from W. to E and for new convenience store.

ü Drainage issues are being identified as well as egress/access collaboration for potential economic development

à Ohkay Owingeh

1. Safety

2. Pedestrian relief

3. Economic Development

Discussion by members

ü Tribal lands are severed by Hwy 68

ü Need for access from W. to E. for traffic as well as pedestrian

ü Drainage improvements for potential economic development

ü Road inventories and boundary identification has been a priority

à Village of Chama

1. River Walk

2. Safety

3. Phase II street improvements

4. Economic Development and vitality

5. Transit multi-modal initiatives

Discussion by members

ü The village has a study plan in place for the potential river walk development

ü Hard sell to the public – NIMBY attitude

ü Moving forward with phase II

ü Appreciate all NMDOT has done for the village and the continuance of projects in the area

ü Continual discussion and planning for multi-modal initiatives from the public, business owners and government

à Village of Questa

1. Visioning for communities

2. Government vision thru NMDOT – via rail line

3. Economic Development

4. Safety

Discussion by members

ü Collaboration from emergency services, Molycorp and the Village is constant

ü Preparation of projects for future funding potentials

ü Transit services for the area is critical for residents

VI. NMDOT update

a. District V – Phil Gallegos

§ Inflationary prices continue to affect projects

§ Federal ’06 funded projects had to be funded by FY07 monies in order to complete

§ Federal obligation authority has gone down

§ Current STIP has still not been approved

§ Asking that the NPRPO not submit new proposals into next years RTIPR due to funding constraints

§ D-5 is the only district that has actually received money back because their projects and books are in balance

§ $35M – in 2006 is currently taking more of the money from 2007 and are having to move about 75% of projects to 2008

§ When they are looking at core projects – takes out bridges and enhancements – is affecting about $13M

§ Current projects include:

1. Rockfall on 502

2. US84/285 Phase B starting in Nambe, phase C study is in the preliminary stages

3. 64 – Taos – trying to keep in 07

4. Canyon E roundabout trying to keep in 07

b. Government to Government

Ø Janet Spivey

§ GRIP II deadline has passed

§ No further changes

§ Encourage entities to send resolution in support of GRIP II

Ø Ron Shutiva

§ Keep in mind that GRIP II will be passed from legislation and tribes should be looking at identifying projects in their TIP for potential match funding

c. Project Development –

Ø Benny Martinez

§ Introduce Rick Chavez who will be working with section to assist local governments with project readiness

o Rick reminded everyone of the GRIP II requirements for project readiness

§ Will be having a departmental meeting on 10/24 to determine roles

§ Continue to ask for help. Contact information for Benny is 827-5531/490-2623 or email benny.martinez@state.nm.us and Rick can be reached at 827-5395 or rick.chavez@state.nm.us

VII. New Business

Public Transit changes to evaluation process from RPO’s

1. Has been changed by Department to simplify evaluation of proposal.

2. Have created a guide to evaluate each proposal

3. Evaluation measures have eliminated the number score

4. Sandra provided packets to voting members present

X. Next meeting will be

Ø November 1, 2006 – Village of Questa – Fire Station – 2463 NM 522

Ø December 6, 2006 – Town of Taos – Location TBA

Ø January 3 2007 – Need host/location

X. Miscellaneous/Announcements

Ø Handout was provided

XI. Adjourn

a. motion to adjourn by Patrick Nicholson seconded by Commissioner Romero