NPRPO Meeting Minutes

May 3, 2006

Village of Questa

Questa, NM

 

 

Member’s attendance:

Ted Martinez –Chair/Vice Chair                                         Duane Sandoval - Jicarilla Apache Nation                    

Ted B. Garcia – Los Alamos County                                  Adrian Notsinneh – Jicarilla Apache Nation                  

French Espinoza – Town of Taos                                        Larry Samuel – Tesuque Pueblo

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

Cathy Martinez – Rio Arriba County                                   Victor Robles – Taos County                           

Danny Garcia – Rio Arriba County                                     Patrick Nicholson – Ohkay Owingeh                           

Brent Jaramillo – Village of Questa                                      Rob Straebel – Village of Taos Ski Valley                    

Edwin Tafoya – Santa Clara Pueblo                                               

 

Affiliate Member attendance:

Sandra Maes – NPRPO Planner                                         Bob Widoe – NMDOT – Planning                  

Roy Cornelius – NMDOT                                                  Janet Spivey – NMDOT – Planning                 

Arnold Garcia – BIA – SWRO@NPA                               Levi Valdez – BIA-SWRO@NPA      

Bill Alexander- LGRF – Dist. V                                          Herbert Chavez – BLM/Taos                          

 

Guests in attendance:

 

Citizen’s in attendance:

 

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

Ø      Thanked Brent Jaramillo and staff for the meeting location and refreshments.

Ø      Asked members to take note of the project areas that Brent had submitted for the FY 07-12 STIP

Ø      Stated that the NPRPO rotates the meetings monthly to encourage members to look at the proposed project areas introduced by the entities.

 

II.                 Welcome and Introductions –

Ø      Brent Jaramillo thanked everyone for making the trek up to Questa. Stated that it is always a pleasure to host the NPRPO meetings and share what is happening at the Village.  Wanted to encourage everyone to take a look around Questa, and utilize the services offered by the local merchants.

 

III.               Approval of Agenda –

Ø      Brent, Village of Questa made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Patrick Nicholson, Ohkay Owingeh.  Passed unanimously

 

IV.              Approval of Minutes for March 1, 2006

Ø      Sandra stated that there were a few corrections that had been brought to her attention via email.

Ø      Fetchin Inn should be Fechin

Ø      ADA section should read “transition plans” should have been completed by 1995 instead of 2005

Ø      Correction on Don Francisco Trujillo

Ø      Brent Jaramillo made motion to accept minutes with corrections, seconded by Patrick Nicholson Passed unanimously.

V.                 Elections for Vice Chair

Ø      French Espinoza, Town of Taos nominated Brent Jaramillo, Village of Questa for Vice Chair. Second nomination for Brent from Rob Straebel, Village of Taos Ski Valley.

Ø      No further nominations were made, Ted Martinez closed the nominations, members voted unanimously for Brent who accepted the position for Vice Chair for the next few months.

Ø      Ted stated that the positions for Chair and Vice Chair will serve until the new elections in June.

 

VI.              Long Range Plan (LRP) Presentation by Roy Cornelius, NMDOT

Ø      Roy presented a brief history of the development of LRP’s though the RPO’s statewide

·        The RPO’s were mandated to develop individual LRP’s in 1991 under the ISTEA Federal guideline.

·        The first statewide LRP was published in 1995

·        The NPRPO LRP was very well written by Mark Tibetts in collaboration and cooperation with NPRPO members and was adopted by the NMSHTD in 2002.

·        Stated that this was one of the best plans out there for the RPO’s

·        The mandate has been to update the LRP as needed.

·        The first LRP was primarily a policy plan

·        Thru TEA-21 it moved into a more quantitative direction

1.      included rural highway needs

2.      worked with CHAT (Citizens Highway Advisory Taskforce) in 2005 through Governor Johnsons bond initiative

3.      Included project specific information through the RPOs development initiatives

·        SAFETEA-LU requirements

1.      Require RPOs to update plans that will be incorporated into the Statewide Plan

2.      There are 8 planning factors that are to be included in the individual RPO LRP

·        Economic Vitality

·        Safety

·        Security

·        Accessibility and mobility for people and freight

·        Environment

·        Integration & connectivity of Transportation Systems

·        Efficient transportation system management

·        Preservation of existing infrastructure & services

·        Inclusion of New initiatives

1.      Non-motorized modes

2.      Coordination of economic development needs

3.      Growth plans adopted by any entity

4.      Socio economic growth

5.      Geography

6.      Land Use

7.      Statewide public involvement/citizen participation

8.      Corridor visioning process

·        DOT to hire a consultant to work with the RPO’s

 

·        FHWA/NMDOT is looking for 5 deliverables

1.      Summary of RPO’s Vision & Goals - July

·        Strategy

·        Approach

2.   Public Involvement Program – August

·        How to involve the Public

·        Involvement of Elected Officials/Supervisors

3.      Data Collected Summary – February

·        Geography

·        Socio Economic

4.      Inventory of Planned Projects

5.      LRP Draft – 2007

·        The inclusion of STIP proposals is highly encouraged

·        In addition to the LRP is a multimodal study

1.      Strategic Plan

2.      motorized modes in rural areas

3.      long-term visioning

 

Discussion

Ø      Patrick asked if this will relate to the allocation of funds

·        Roy stated that in the consideration of projects for EA’s, EIS’s and cultural clearances, the LRP will be in collaboration with future funding possibilities, such as the ICIP.  The Legislatures are progressively looking at project identifiers in a few documents such as the STIP in collaboration with the ICIP to ensure that proper planning is taking place at the entity level.

·        Dr. Bob stated that the Farmington MPO project planning for a 6-lane hwy thru the City of Aztec is looking at the social and regional impacts that can be very significant for a small community.

·        Ted stated that the planning process is direly needed to support the environmental and archeological impacts that can be a critical deterrence to any project.  Keeping in mind that ROW acquisition goes hand in hand with all required clearances.

·        Through DFA an entity can solicit planning grants.  The planning grant amount has been increased from $25Kto $50K.

·        Levi stated that BIA allocates 2% planning funds, and that pueblos must have an LRP in order to qualify for any BIA funds.  Proposed projects cannot be on the TIP without being identified in a LRP

·        Brent stated that at this time the Village LRP does not address transportation and they are progressively trying to move in that direction.

·        Duane asked if the outline that Roy provided can be used as a guide for the entities.

1.                  Roy emphasized that this is the RPO’s product and it was up to each RPO to establish either their own guidelines or use the ones he provided.

2.                  Sandra suggested that the suggestion to use the guideline be in the form of a motion, and the members could then vote on that to give all members a guide for which to start submitting their information to her.

o       A motion was made by Brent, seconded by Ted Garcia.

o       Sandra will send a letter to Mayors, Governors, and Managers requesting information through the guideline.

 

·        Levi stated that due to economic plan developments, he could understand why the pueblos have not shared their plans in the past.  What he suggested is requesting at the very least their road priorities.

·        Ted highly encouraged a teaming up process for the plan, such as Taos County and its surrounding entities and inclusion of other organizations, such the Enchanted Circle initiatives.

·        Brent suggested that entities give Sandra a copy of their ICIP’s if they don’t have a comprehensive plan or transportation plan in place.

·        Dr. Bob added that there are 2 key elements – the individual entity plans and input from the elected officials.

·        Bill Alexander asked about the inclusion of environmental concerns and the need to hire environmental consultants.

·        Sandra and Janet suggested other alternatives such as established manuals of the Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Guide; Underground Tanks identified in the areas, SHPO resources, NMDOT Environmental section and Tribal consultation protocols.

·        Ted added the need to include storm water prevention planning as well as the inclusion of water and wastewater district needs and goals.

·        Thanks to Roy for the presentation and guidance on the LRP

 

VII.            District V update by Bill Alexander

Ø      Pilar Bridge initiative

·        NMDOT cannot assume ownership of the structure

·        If Taos County assumes ownership, there is a possibility that funding could be committed through the BR Funds

1.      however, sufficiency rating is a factor

2.      replacement cost was initially $3.5M, now probably doubled

3.      Keep in mind that if funded, will not become a potential until 2013

·        NMDOT would have to enter into an MOU with Taos County

·        Herb stated that BLM-Taos does not own the bridge.

 

VIII.     New Business

Ø      LTAP website – http://www.nmltap.com

 

IX.       Next meeting will be

Ø      June 7th at City of Española will host – location TBA

Ø      July 5th at Santa Clara Pueblo – Location TBA

Ø      August 2nd at Village of Chama – Location TBA

 

X.        Miscellaneous/Announcements

Ø      NPRPO Website – keep the forms coming!

Ø      Entities need to submit in writing their voting member as well as their alternate, if they haven’t already done so.

Ø      Trails and Parks proposal due May 5th

Ø      NADO sponsored 4-Corner Rural Transportation workshop in Durango May 18/19

Ø      Edwin announced that Santa Clara Pueblo has been awarded a wildland fire grant

·        Encourages neighboring entities to submit for such grants to collaborate efforts for all communities.

Ø      Ted announced that the Association of Counties Annual Conference will be held in Taos this year; please refer to website for further information at www.nmcounties.org.

 

XI.       Ted thanked the meeting host. Dennis motioned to adjourn, seconded by Patrick.