NPRPO Meeting January 4, 2006

Rio Arriba County Rural Events Center

Abiquiu, NM

 

 

I.                    Call to Order – 9:40 a.m.

RPO Planner, Sandra Maes stated that the Chair and Vice Chair were not present and asked for Chair and Vice Chair volunteers to open the meeting.  Patrick Nicholson, Ohkay Owingeh volunteered for Chair and Edwin Tafoya, Santa Clara Pueblo volunteered for Vice Chair.

 

Member’s attendance:

 

Matthew Roybal – Santa Fe County                                   Ted B.Garcia – Los Alamos County    

Cathy Martinez – Rio Arriba County                                   Danny Garcia – Rio Arriba County

Sandra Sue R. Richardson – Picuris Pueblo             Rob Straebel – Taos Ski Valley                       

Jon Fast Wolf – Picuris Pueblo                                           Dennis Wells – Village of Chama

French – Town of Taos                                                      Patrick Nicholson – Ohkay Owingeh   

Brent Jaramillo – Village of Questa                          Edwin Tafoya – Santa Clara Pueblo

Sandra Maes – NPRPO Planner                                                    

                 

Affiliate Member attendance:

 

Bob Widoe – NMDOT - Planning

Janet Spivey – NMDOT - Planning

Arnold Garcia – Bureau of Indian Affairs – SWRO

Levi Valdez – Bureau of Indian Affairs – SWRO@NPA

Arturo Archuleta – North Central NM Economic Development District

 

Guests in attendance:

 

Mariana Padilla – NERPO Transportation Planner

 

II.                 Approval of the Agenda

Addition of project presentation for the upcoming STIP proposals was requested by acting Chair, Patrick Nicholson.  Brent Jaramillo motioned to approve agenda with changes, Ted Garcia seconded vote.  Vote passed unanimously.

 

III.       Approval of Minutes from October 5, 2005

Brent Jaramillo, Village of Questa motioned to approve minutes as presented, seconded by Dennis Wells, Village of Chama.  Vote passed unanimously.

 

IV.              Presentation of projects

Sandra sent out letters that included the revised PIF form, and the approved FY06-11 STIP was sent to each voting member.  The approved FY06-11 STIP was included so that members didn’t duplicate their proposals that may already be included for future funding years.

 

a.       Okhay Owingeh – Patrick Nicholson

·        NM68 Corridor – request for a street light at intersection of NM74

·        NM74 – from NM 68 to the bridge – rehabilitation project (an amendment to an existing STIP approved project after consultation with Phil Gallegos)

Discussion:

·        BIA stated that the work on the intersection of would be challenging and costly.  Patrick stated that they may have to look at a possible round-about.

·        Sandra asked if the NM74 project was a re-submittal of Control No. D5060.  Patrick stated that is was which included some modifications to the original submittal.  Ohkay Owingeh lost funding on Control No. D5060 because milestones were not met within the contract.

·        NMDOT Planning asked if the cost of the project was approved by the DE.  He felt that the cost estimate was low due to increased construction and asphalt costs.  Patrick stated that the cost may be more, but the proposal is for rehabilitation and enhancement.

·        Sandra suggested that they include a blinking light cost by the school and possibly by the bridge during construction to continue warning the citizens of safety concerns.  May also be a possible Safety proposal when a call for projects is announced.

 

b.      Rio Arriba  County – Danny Garcia

·        CR 198- Canońes Bridge rehab (FY06-11 STIP Control No. C5F68 identifies a 2006 funding approval for $20K for Bridge Rehabilitation under General Fund.)

·        CR 142 – Culvert replacement to a Bridge structure.  Road is classified as a major arterial.  Suggested by NMDOT to be submitted as a bridge replacement.  Not sure of cost, but may be $750K.

Discussion:

·        Sandra cautioned that the soils on CR142 are sandy with little to no clay or loam substrate, highly erosive.  Reminder that any time a bridge replacement/rehabilitation that includes channel work, requires a permit from the US Army Corps of Engineers, which may take up to 6 months to obtain.  The Durango Regulatory Office covers this area and can be reached at (970) 375-9509. 

·        Danny stated that he was working with landowners in the area for possible ROW agreements to realign the road during project construction.

·        A general question by NMDOT planning staff about the revised PIF form friendliness.  General response by all, was agreed by all that it was indeed an improvement.  Suggestion was to include a note that will include a map of the project area.

 

V.     NPRPO Bylaws

a.       Discussion of proposed changes

·        NPRPO bylaws Review and Discussion

·        Sandra suggested that the discussion be led by the subcommittee chair, French Espinosa and subcommittee member Cathy Martinez

·        French stated that at the last meeting it was asked that all members submit comments on bylaws that are outdated. 

·        There was a motion made at last meeting to designate this meeting to the discussion of the bylaws.

ü      French thanked BIA staff for submitting comments to Sandra for the proposed changes.

·        Acting chair requested that Sandra read in changes from bylaw subcommittee and BIA submittal that was faxed to Sandra.

ü      Sandra stated that the handouts included the BIA comments; existing bylaws and the proposed changes via the format that the subcommittee requested.

·        French suggested that the NPRPO members be given a few minutes to review the handouts before discussion.

·        Discussion commenced and proposals ensued by each line item.

·        Acting chair suggested that in lieu of time, if no one had any objections that proposed changes by the subcommittee and the BIA are approved. 

ü      A motion to accept was made by Brent Jaramillo, seconded by Ted Garcia.  Members voted unanimously.

ü      Discussion continued to include:

o       Any language that included members in Section III.A. should be changed from  member to entity where it makes sense.

o       Acting chair felt that a sentence should be added stating that the work of the RPO planner should be reviewed annually.

§         Bob Widoe and Arturo Archuleta stated that the Statewide RPOs follow the work plan and contract, RPO planners develop their own work plans in accordance with the Federal guidelines that are reviewed by NMDOT and NCNMEDD as the contract providers.  If members feel that they need to provide a rating or report card on the RPO planner that is welcomed.

o       Acting chair stated that time or activities be looked at for the RPO planner

§         Bob W. stated that these are outlined as tasks within the work plan.

§         Acting chair reiterated that this group should provide guidance and influence over the RPO planner.

§         Arturo A. started that there are actually two things being discussed, one is the contract with NMDOT & NCNMEDD and the other is the duties of the RPO planner as outlined in the bylaws, he further explained that the bylaws function on how the membership or body functions and stated that Sandra is an employee of NCNMEDD, hired to serve the NPRPO as a transportation planner.  He further stated that as Sandra’s supervisor, he welcomed input from the RPO members, he just didn’t know if the bylaws were the place to have it.

§         Dennis Wells stated that the duties as described in Section VIII.1 and 2 should be enough.

§         Rob S. stated that there are Federal criteria coming down to the local level, and felt that the Federal Government would be wanting to hear input at the grass roots level.

§         Bob W. reiterated that the federal criteria are handed down to the NMDOT to ensure that the federal mandates are part of the work plan being created by the individual RPO planners.  Keeping in mind that some RPOs include tribal members, now land grants and others don’t, so there will be some variation where that is concerned. 

§         Brent motioned to review and make recommendations to the annual work plan no later than the first quarter of the calendar year is made to NMDOT and NCNMEDD by any voting member, seconded by French.

o       Acting chair was unclear as to who RTDs are and who they serve and why they should be included as members under Section III.A.1

§         Bob W. responded by stating that they are considered a quasi-government, because they are representing some of the same membership of the NPRPO through transit, the more appropriate question would be if this would be considered double representation at the time of ranking and rating transit applications.

§         Ted Garcia made a motion to include RTDs as an ex-officio member, seconded by French.

o             Another motion was made by Brent to accept proposed and discussed changed reviewed today.  Seconded by Dennis, voting members passed unanimously.

 

Next meetings

a.       February 1, 2006 – hosted by Santa Fe County – SF County Courthouse 102 Grant St.

b.      March 1, 2006 – hosted by Los Alamos County – LA Community Center

c.       April 5, 2006 – hosted by Taos County - TBA

 

V.         Miscellaneous/Announcements

a.               LTAP call for erosion control/culvert installation course for the upcoming year – members need to submit names of participants to Sandra via email (rpo@nm.net) as early as possible to be forwarded to LTAP Director for location and finalization of contract arrangements.  Lee Cabeza de Vaca, LTAP Director can be reached at 827-5267 or 1-800-523-3028 or email lee.cabezadevaca@state.nm.us

     

b.              Sandra provided handouts on:

                                                                       i.      IRR funding documents for Tribal entities

                                                                     ii.      NMPTA postcards in support of public transportation through the legislations, bumper stickers also provided.

c.               Sandra reminded members of the following:

                                                                       i.      Reminder to bring proposals to next meeting, presentations to be heard, RTIPR to be created by March meeting.  Proposed projects can also be emailed to Sandra at rpo@nm.net, and will be forwarded to Phil Gallegos, NMDOT.

                                                                     ii.       Scenic byway applications, if any are received, will be ranked and rated in February.

 

e.     Thank you to Tomas, Danny and Cathy at Rio Arriba County for providing lunch.

 

VII.      Adjourn

Motion to adjourn by French, seconded by Edwin, with a unanimous vote.

 

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