NPRPO Meeting Minutes

February 7, 2007

NMDOT General Office – Training Rm.

Santa Fe, NM

 

 

Member’s attendance:

Ted Martinez - Chair                                              Brent Jaramillo – Village of Questa, Vice Chair      

Cathy Martinez – Rio Arriba County                       Commissioner Gabriel Romero – Taos County       

Danny Garcia – Rio Arriba County                         Commissioner Charlie Gonzales – Taos County

Ray Gonzales – Los Alamos County                       Commissioner Dan Barrone – Taos County

Councilman Jim Hall – Los Alamos County       Agnes Oakeley – Taos County

Shabih Rizvi – Santa Fe County                              Sandra Sue Richardson – Picuris Pueblo

Sean Hughes – Santa Clara Pueblo                         Robert Perry – Town of Red River

Norbert Lopez – Tierra Amarilla Land Grant           A. Michael Lopez – Pojoaque Pueblo

Stephanie Poston – Ohkay Owingeh                       Alyn Martinez – Pojoaque Pueblo

Patrick Nicholson – Ohkay Owingeh                      Lt. Governor Linda Diaz – Pojoaque Pueblo

Kyle Baltazar – Jicarilla Apache Nation                   Stephanie Crosby – Pojoaque Pueblo

Duane Sandoval – Jicarilla Apache Nation              Amalio Madueno – Pojoaque Pueblo

Francisco “French” Espinoza – Town of Taos         Dennis Wells – Village of Chama

Epimenio Lucero – Merced Communitario Juan Bautista Baldes

Higinia Gallegos – Merced Communitario Juan Bautista Baldes

Chris Martinez - Merced Communitario Juan Bautista Baldes                           

 

Affiliate Member attendance:

Sandra Maes – NPRPO Planner                             Bob Widoe NMDOT – G2G        

Ron Shutiva – NMDOT – Tribal Liaison                 Tom Wilson – NMDOT – G2G

Janet Spivey – NMDOT – G2G                             David Martinez – NMDOT – D-5 

Benny Martinez – NMDOT – Proj. Dev.                Rick Chavez – NMDOT – Project Dev.

Barbara Deaux – NCNMEDD

   

Guests in attendance:

 

Citizen’s in attendance:

Suzanne Wollter – Taos Resident                            Rose Baughs – Taos Cycle Club                     

 

I.              Call to order by Ted Martinez, Chair

a.       Apologized for having to change the location of the meeting and the inconvenience that it may have caused.  Thanked North Central NM Economic Development for the meeting location and provision of the morning treats.

 

II.           Welcome and Introductions –

a.       Chairman Martinez recognized the elected officials from Taos County, Pojoaque Pueblo and Los Alamos County.  Attendees identified themselves and their representing entities.

 

III.         Approval of Agenda –

a.       Sandra stated that members of the Legislation were invited to attend the NPRPO meeting and upon notification of reminders was told that most serve on committees that met on Wednesday mornings.  Sandra asked Chairman Martinez to move forward with the agenda, but allow for disruption, should a Legislator be able to make it.

b.      Agenda stated January 6th meeting, should be January 3rd, 2007

c.       Brent Jaramillo, Village of Questa made a motion to approve the agenda with revisions, seconded by Commissioner Gabriel Romero.

 

IV.        Approval of Minutes for January 3, 2007

Ø      Ray Gonzales, Los Alamos County made a motion to approve the meeting minutes as presented, seconded by Shabih Rizvi, Santa Fe County.

 

V.           Public Comments

a.       None presented

 

VI.        Legislative update

a.       Due to legislative scheduling of committees, no legislator was available to attend.

 

VII.      Visioning – Bob Widoe

a.       Next steps

Ø      A brief overview of the first visioning process was provided by Bob and Sandra

Ø      The focus of the visioning process is for the development of the Long Range Plan (LRP) for the next 20-25 years.  Sandra explained that the RPOs throughout the state are all working on the required revisions to existing LRPs.

Ø      Sandra suggested to Dr. Bob that the group goes outside of the normal visioning process in this exercise to include current day initiatives, such as capital outlay requests, and expand into the outer years of planning.

Ø      Bob spoke about the LRP goals and objectives through the visioning process for the final inclusion to the LRP for each individual entity

o       Discussion from the group:

§         Taos County suggested that youth initiatives need to be included

§         Los Alamos County stated that they are currently implementing workshops and exercises on vision statements for Economic development

§         Commissioner Gonzales stated that Taos County has been donated 30 acres for the development of a Veteran’s Cemetery to honor veterans who have served our Country.  Improvements planned for CR110 will

Ø      Three break-out groups were divided up to work on regional visioning (discussion will follow at next meeting)

o       The development goals for the next 20 years included:

§         Growth – both urban and rural

§         Public concerns

§         Safety

§         Impacts & Improvements to Transportation Structures

§         Interconnectivity

§         Economic Development

§         Training

§         Funding

VIII.   New Business

a.       NPRPO members requested an extension for PIF submittals.

b.      Rio Arriba County, Picuris Pueblo, Jicarilla Apache Nation and Santa Fe County stated that they will be submitting new projects for the 2008-2013 RTIP.  All entities are invited to submit their recommendations.

c.       At the recommendation of Sandra Maes for a two week extension of February 21, 2007, Chairman Martinez and Vice Chair Jaramillo agreed to the extension.

d.      Sandra requested that each entity look at last year’s final RTIPR and review their submittals.  If there were any changes in project scope or cost, that they send an email with those updates.

 

IX.        NMDOT update

a.       District V

Ø      David Martinez, Technical Support Engineer

§         Project updates for our regional area include:

à        NM585 is going through PSE review with a potential April letting

à        Lighting project in Chama

à        NM 64  - Dulce area - GRIP project is taking place

à        84/285 – Nambe area – GRIP project is taking place

à        84/285 Phase III from Nambe EOP to the South boundaries of Espanola

à        NM75 – Penasco main street will be eligible for funding in 2008

b.      Government to Government

Ø      Bob Widoe

§         No changes at this time to the GRIP II HB496 or SB 512

§         G2G received 65 resolutions of support by individual entities.

§         G2G has also been copied on a letter of support by NM Association of Counties.

§          There was a very informative article in the New Mexican this morning that was forwarded to Sandra.  Sandra will forward to her email list when she gets back from the meeting this afternoon.

§         There is talk, keep in mind this is still talk, nothing set, that the RPOs/MPOs may be playing a significant role if GRIP II passes.  They may be asked to initiate the application process all over again to review and assist in the project development.

§         Barbara Deaux, NCNMEDD Executive Director stated that they had received a call from the office of the Governor, thanking the RPOs for their initiative lobbying efforts and encourages everyone to educate their legislators.

Ø      Ron Shutiva – NMDOT Tribal Liaison

§         Just received a phone call on the GRIP II update, SB512 will be heard through the Corporation and Transportation Committee on Monday the 12 at 2:00 pm.  If this changes, an email will be sent to Sandra and she will be asked to forward it to all of you on her email list.

§         Keep in mind that GRIP II submittals are already two years old and that your project costs may not reflect associated costs today. Your project scope may not be able to be completed with the amount of money originally submitted if GRIP II passes.

§         Want to remind all the tribes that in order for you to address local needs either through BIA or State funding sources, you must put those in writing.  It does no good to keep saying that you told someone unless you put it in black and white.

c.       Project Development –

Ø      Benny Martinez

§         In the process of contacting local governments on their GRIP II proposals for project readiness.

§         Sandra asked what the status of the database that listed all allocated projects for the entities was.  Answer:  Does not have that information available and will address at the next meeting.

                                               

X.        Miscellaneous/Announcements

Ø      Capital outlay request forms can be accessed thru http://legis.state.nm.us/lcs  DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTAL FEBRUARY 15, 2007.

Ø      Commissioner Romero requested that the next meeting be held in Santa Fe to accommodate those attending the legislature.

Ø      Sandra provided hard copy of the Project Information Forms for those present and stated that the form was in electronic format on the NPRPO website.

Ø      Shuttle service information to the Legislation can be found through www.nmshtd.state.nm.us or by calling 827-0410.

Ø      March 2, 2007 Safe Routes to School meeting at the Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North on 5151 San Francisco Road NE.

Ø      Grant Writing – 2007 Federal Discretionary Grants Workshop March 15, 2007 at UNM Student Union Building in Albuquerque.  Free with mandatory pre-registration at Tsiporah@uwcnm.org

Ø      Pedestrian Safety Design workshops in Belen (Feb 26-27) and Roswell (Feb 28- Mar 1) are now available, register at http://hsc.unm.edu/emermed/Cipre/Events.shtml

Ø      National Fish and Wildlife Foundation request for proposals for the 2007 Native Plant Conservation Initiative (NPCI) – information will be sent via email

Ø      Tony Hawk Foundation is seeking proposals to promote high-quality public skate parks in low-income areas throughout the US. The foundation anticipates approving grant request twice a year: Deadlines are March 1, 2007 and October 1, 2007.  Application can be accessed through http://www.tonyhawkfoundation.org/grant_application.asp

Ø      USDA Rural Development Renewable Energy Workshops to be held in NM.  For more information visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill or call 505-761-4953

Ø      Grant Awards from Fiscal Year 2006 for the Scenic Byways for our region include Puye Scenic Byway Turnouts and Interpretive Signage for Santa Clara Pueblo in the amount of $44,600.00.  Contracts will be sent by Laurie Frantz, State Scenic Byways Coordinator.  For more information please contact Laurie at 827-7400 or 1-800-545-2070.  Please keep in mind that starting work without a signed contract will be cause for non-reimbursement.

 

XI.              Next meeting will be

a.       March 7, 2007 – NCNMEDD - 1120 Cerrillos Rd. NMDOT General Office

b.      April 4, 2007 - Taos County Commission Chambers – 105 Albright St.

c.       May 2 - Pojoaque Pueblo – Location to be announced

 

XII.            Adjourn

a.       Motion to adjourn by Francisco “French” Espinoza, seconded by Danny Garcia.