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VILLAGE
COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
EDELWEISS LODGE
AND SPA CLUB ROOM
TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 2010 2:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER & NOTICE OF MEETING
Mayor King called the meeting to order at
II. INTRODUCTION
OF RE-ELECTED COUNCIL AND
Mayor King, Councilors Bennett, Stagg, Wiard and
Wittman were present. Staff members present included Village Administrator Bruce
Kelly, Village Clerk/Treasurer Vanessa Chisholm, Public Works Director Ray
Keen, Public Safety Director Dave Wallace and Community Development Director
Don Schieber.
III.
APPROVAL OF
THE AGENDA
MOTION: To approve the agenda as
submitted.
Motion: Councilor Wittman Second: Councilor Bennett
Passed: 4-0
IV. APPROVAL
OF THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 2, AND FEBRUARY 16, 2010 COUNCIL MEETINGS.
MOTION:
To approve the minutes from the February 2, 2010 and February 16, 2010
Council Meetings.
Motion: Councilor Wittman Second: Councilor Wiard Passed: 4-0
V. ELECTION OF MAYOR PRO-TEM
MOTION: To re-elect Councilor
Barb Wiard as Mayor Pro-Tem.
Motion: Councilor Bennett Second: Councilor Wittman Passed: 4-0
VI. FINANCIAL REPORTS
A.
Consideration to Approve FY2010 Auditor
Chisholm stated new State laws allow an audit firm to
be used up to ten years in a row (previously three years). The Village has the option to select
Precision Accounting, who performed the previous three years’ audits or
advertise for a new auditor. Staff
agreed that the FY2009 audit went very smoothly and recommend a three year
contract with Precision Accounting.
MOTION:
To approve a three year contract with Precision Accounting for the
annual audit of financial records.
Motion: Councilor Wiard Second: Councilor Wittman Passed: 4-0
Chisholm presented the rest of the financial reports. The gross receipts tax collections and the
lodgers’ tax collections are looking good for the fiscal year.
VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Planning and Zoning Commission
Councilor Wittman said the P&Z Commission did not meet this month. The next meeting is scheduled for April 5, 2010.
B. Public Safety Committee
No report
C. Public
Works Committee
No report.
D.
Parks and
Recreation Committee
No report.
E. Lodger’s Tax Advisory Board
1. Discussion on Collection of Lodgers’ Tax
Staff recently sent a letter to all property owners regarding the collection of lodgers’ tax for rentals in the Village. Examples of some of the lodges that are for rent in the village and are not paying lodgers’ tax were distributed to the Mayor and Village Councilors.
Members of the audience voiced their support for enforced collection
from all lodging entities to contribute to the promotion that benefits everyone
in the Village. A lengthy discussion
followed.
MOTION: To authorize Bruce Kelly to enforce the
Lodgers’ Tax ordinance based on the February 9, 2010 letter.
Motion: Councilor Stagg Second: Councilor Wiard Passed: 4-0.
F. Committee
Appointments
Mayor King recommended the appointment of Katherine Kett and John Halley to the Parks and Recreation Committee, as well as the appointment of Kent Forte to the Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board.
MOTION: To approve Mayor King’s
appointments to the Parks and Recreation Committee and the Lodgers’ Tax
Advisory Board.
Motion: Councilor Stagg Second: Councilor Wittman Passed: 4-0.
VII.
REGIONAL
Councilor Wiard reported that the IGC and Taos Regional Landfill Board meetings did not meet in February. She reported on other meetings and contacts such as the NMML Executive Board of Directors meeting and the NMML Municipal Day. Councilor Wiard reported on election results from various towns/cities. She stated that the Village of Taos Ski Valley is the smallest member of the National League of Cities. She will represent the Village and the State at the NLC Congressional Conference in Washington D.C. in March. Later in March she will get an update about the Legislative Session at the NMML District 2 Meeting being held in Taos. She also stated that there was a special Legislative Session on March 1-4, 2010.
VIII. MAYOR’S REPORT - No report.
IX. STAFF REPORTS
Dave Wallace, Director of Public Safety, reported on an explosion and
fire at a residential home on Snowshoe Road.
The home was a total loss. Other
agencies assisted with water tenders. At
least 10,000 gallons of water were applied to the fire. Wallace is concerned about areas within
Village limits with no fire hydrants, including Amizette. He is researching the purchase of a water
tender. The State Fire Marshall will not
fund a tender without a protective enclosure.
Wallace wants to remind residents that Taos Soil and Water has grants
for fire-wise thinning.
Ray Keen, Public Works Director, reported the plant is back to normal
since the processing problems described at the last meeting. The water line at the Snow Bear Inn
failed. There have been more than 25 frozen
water lines reported to Keen. A line at
the top of Cliffhanger Loop is froze.
Don Schieber, Community Development Director, reported on projects
planned for this summer, such as the upper water tank, common lift station in
Kachina, the chlorination station, and fire suppression in Kachina.
Bruce Kelly, Village Administrator, reported all bills for the water line have been paid. The Village is waiting for reimbursement from the State and should get it soon. Plans for funding the Kachina tank will be discussed at budget time. NM Environment Department’s rules for bidding projects will be followed. Kelly spoke about the cold weather in February that kept the Public Works staff busy. He also said staff discussed major capital expenditures for the next budget cycle. The Collaborative Forest Restoration Project application has been submitted.
X. OLD BUSINESS - None
XI.
A.
Consideration to approve Resolution #2010-188: A resolution authorizing and approving
Financial Assistance from the NM State Highway and Transportation Department
FY2009-10, NM LGRF DOT Project #SP-5-10(122) and to rescind Resolution
#2010-180.
Schieber was informed by the State that funding for
the roads co-op project would be decreased this year. A new resolution is needed to proceed with
the project.
MOTION:
To approve the adoption of resolution #2010-188 and rescinding of
Resolution #2010-180.
Motion:
Councilor Wiard Second: Councilor Wittman Passed: 4-0.
B.
Discussion on Water and Sewer Rates for FY2011 Budget
Consideration
Staff examined the current rate structure for water
and sewer. The current system relies on
peak flows for funding to cover the expenses to provide water and sewer
services. It has been suggested to do
away with peaks and charge by usage only, charging by the gallon. Kelly believes that this method would cover
current and future expenses. A minimum
administrative fee could be charged monthly to customers with no usage. Further computations will be done before the
budget is presented.
XII. MISCELLANEOUS
Kelly presented an issue
regarding required safety glasses for staff.
He will propose a policy at the next meeting.
XIII. CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION:
A.
Real Property Purchase
B.
Threatened Litigation
MOTION: To go into Executive Session to discuss Real
Property Purchase and Threatened Litigation.
Motion: Councilor Wiard Second:
Councilor Wittman Passed:
4-0.
MOTION: To return to Open Session. It was announced only real property purchase
and threatened litigation was discussed and no decisions or motions were made
during the Executive Session.
Motion: Councilor Wiard Second:
Councilor Wittman Passed: 4-0.
XIII.
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, April
6, 2010, at 2:00 p.m., at the Edelweiss Lodge and Spa club room. Prior to this meeting, there will be a budget
workshop meeting on Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. at the Edelweiss Lodge
and Spa club room.
XIV. ADJOURNMENT
Motion: To adjourn the meeting.
Motion: Councilor Bennett Second:
Councilor Wittman
Passed: 4-0.
_____________________________________ ____________________________________
Neal King, Mayor Vanessa
Chisholm, Village Clerk