P&Z agenda for 10/07/2014:

The agenda can be read and downloaded from the ToE website, and a copy is also available on Drive. 

Council packet for the 10/01/2014 meeting:

The information posted at the ToE website for Wednesday's meeting consists of the final agenda and draft minutes for September 3 and September 17, 2014.  A copy is available on Drive. 

Read the Ordinance: Putting the cart before the horse?

On September 3, 2013 the Edgewood planning commission scheduled its second review of an application requesting annexation and zoning for a parcel of land described as follows on the agenda:

Request For Annexation, Requesting C-1 Commercial Zoning, for Property Located 1.5 Miles East of State Road 344 on the North Side of Old 66 4 acres. Section 35 T10N R07E

In the news 09/25/2014

From the September 25  Mountain View Telegraph:

NB: The MVT is using a feature for the online edition similar to that used by the Journal in which readers are asked to answer 1or 2 survey questions and/or share the page via social media before going on to individual stories. 

• Edgewood seeks $2.5 M for town center;
• VFW building contained asbestos;
• Nearly identical fire stations open in Sandia Park, Tijeras;
• Moriarty Airport gets $1M in grants;
• School district reorganizing debt;
• Estancia to begin making plans for community center;
• OPINION:  NM justices rule in favor of political opportunism;
• Real ethics reforms will walk the transparency talk.

[The MVT is published weekly in paper form and delivered with The Albuquerque Journal on Thursdays.  You may also read news, sports, opinions and letters to the editor, obituaries, legals, and classifieds online at the website. If you're reading the online version, don't forget to check the links to shorter topics such as the calendar, upcoming events, milestones, news briefs, police reports and this weekend notes which are interspersed in the news headlines.]

Preliminary council agenda for Oct.1 & Sept.17 meeting audio:

The preliminary agenda has been posted at the ToE website, and a copy has been placed on Drive. The audio for the September 17, 2014 council meeting is also available. (The recording begins at some point during NM House District 50 candidate Vickie Perea's remarks near the beginning of the meeting.)

In the news 09/24/2014

The Independent:   September 24-30

• Improving Edgewood roads & loan upped (page 1);
• Ranchers concerned over access (page 1);
• East Mountain celebration due (page 1);
• Prescribed burns in Sandia District (page 8);
• Fiber arts and demonstrations at Moriarty park (page 11);
• Letters and Columns: Good fire prevents bad fire--questions answered at meeting; Come celebrate community garden in Mountainair (page 7);
• Legal Notices: Town of Edgewood is accepting proposals for legal services; BNSF Railway proposal to erect 50 ft. tall communications towers within the BNSF Right-of-Way. An address is provided for those wishing to submit written comments. BNSF specifies that any comments be received within 10 days of the publication of the notice. (page 14).

[The Independent is locally owned and operated.  It is published weekly and appears on Wednesdays; the front page of the current edition appears on its website.  The price for an email subscription is reasonable and the cost will be prorated at the time a subscription is purchased. I've found the service for e-subs reliable and convenient.  The e-version includes ads and legal notices in full color with the added benefit of adjustable print size. You can also purchase a regular mail subscription or pick up a single copy for fifty cents at most local businesses if you prefer the paper and ink version.]

Link to council meeting audio for 09/17/2014

I've uploaded the file for Wednesday's town council meeting to Drive.  If you have difficulty, please refer to the instructions for listening/downloading or send me an e-mail if none of those suggestions work for you.

The meeting included discussions about changing the makeup of the planning commission as well as an update on the road paving projects authorized in the bond election earlier this year. 

Latest Gross Receipts Tax information:

I've placed a copy of the report in the Council Packets folder on Drive. 

In the news 09/18/2014

From the September 18  Mountain View Telegraph:

NB: The MVT is using a feature for the online edition similar to that used by the Journal in which readers are asked to answer 1or 2 survey questions and/or share the page via social media before going on to individual stories. 

• Opponents speak out against pipeline;
• Raptor center releases hawks and kestrels;
• Schools chief critical of board member's tactics;
• Moriarty seeks airport work bids;
• Protection from floods in Madrid;
• LETTERS:  Climate change used for profit

[The MVT is published weekly in paper form and delivered with The Albuquerque Journal on Thursdays.  You may also read news, sports, opinions and letters to the editor, obituaries, legals, and classifieds online at the website. If you're reading the online version, don't forget to check the links to shorter topics such as the calendar, upcoming events, milestones, news briefs, police reports and this weekend notes which are interspersed in the news headlines.]

In the news 09/17/2014

The Independent:   September 17-23

• Kinder Morgan pipeline meeting draws critics (page 1);
• New East Mtn fire stations to open Saturday (page 1); 
• Los Vecinos improvements (page 2); 
• Grassroots event springs up to benefit Bethel Storehouse (page 14);
• Sports:  Pintos topple Hilltoppers for first win of season; 
• Pintos, Monarch boys soccer get first wins. (page 11);
• Letters and Columns: Tijeras deputy clerk is not posting agendas in timely way (page 7);
• Legal Notices: BNSF Railway proposal to erect 50 ft. tall communications towers within the BNSF Right-of-Way. An address is provided for those wishing to submit written comments. BNSF specifies that any comments be received within 10 days of the publication of the notice. (page 22).

[The Independent is locally owned and operated.  It is published weekly and appears on Wednesdays; the front page of the current edition appears on its website.  The price for an email subscription is reasonable and the cost will be prorated at the time a subscription is purchased. I've found the service for e-subs reliable and convenient.  The e-version includes ads and legal notices in full color with the added benefit of adjustable print size. You can also purchase a regular mail subscription or pick up a single copy for fifty cents at most local businesses if you prefer the paper and ink version.]

Read the Ordinance: The Hill Family Trust minor subdivision

This application was brought forward for a public hearing scheduled for February 4, 2014 bearing Mayor Brad Hill's signature as trustee, Bradley Hill. However, because of a legal obstacle about which few details have been provided, the planning commission voted to table the application at the request of the applicant's agent. (Draft commission minutes for February 4, 2014 as found on p. 20 of the council packet for February 19, 2014)

It does not appear to have occurred to either the commission or the town staff that the new minor subdivision process approved eight months earlier made no allowance for tabling a matter; rather the ordinance specified that a final determination be made within sixty (60) days of receipt of the application.  (Subdivision Ordinance 2005-14 amended June 5, 2013; Section 6.C.2.)  In August 2014, that ordinance was repealed and replaced by Subdivision Ordinance 2014-03. If this or a similar application should be brought to the commission again, the newer ordinance would apply, but both versions of the ordinance direct the commission to make a final determination within 60 days.  

Upon reviewing the documents in the application which were obtained via an Inspection of Public Records Act request, I noticed several omissions in the staff report which led me to conclude that advertisement of the public hearing was premature, and to attempt to bring this information to the attention of the planning commission:

1.  The plat submitted with the application failed to specify the width of the road which was proposed for access to two of the proposed three lots. [It appears that it was questions about ownership of the road easement which resulted in the tabling of the application.]

2.  The staff report failed to note that this road lacked a culvert at the bottom of a draw, and that the turnaround located beyond the draw which would potentially be needed for emergency response vehicles lies on private land.

3.  The staff report failed to address the applicant's request for a waiver on soils analysis even though the town has on record information about septic tanks having failed on properties directly to the east and to the north of the proposed subdivision. [Planning Commission minutes for April 16, 2007.]

Despite my having followed the town policy as stated on the February 4, 2014 agenda regarding the submission of written comments, Town Administrator and Planning Director, Kay Davis McGill, instructed the planning commission to ignore these questions as well as documentation submitted regarding this application. 

Final agenda and council packet For 09/17/2014:

The town clerk has posted the final agenda and packet information for Wednesday's council meeting.  A copy is available on Drive. The state's gross receipts tax revenue report for last month is published on or shortly after the 15th of each month.  I will post a link when the information is available. 

Contents of the PDF: 

1. Final Agenda (p. 1)
2. Council Draft Minutes for September 3, 2014 (p. 3)
3. Library Board Draft Minutes for August 21, 2014 (p. 7)
4. Librarian's Report (p. 9)
5. Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee Draft Minutes (p. 13)
6. Letters of application: Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (p. 15)
7. Appointment of an Alternate Municipal Judge ToE Ordinance 2014-04 (p. 19)
8. Alternate Judge letter of application with accompanying information (p. 20)
9. Police Department Report (p. 24)
10. Animal Control Department Report (p. 39)
11. Creating a Planning Commission Draft Ordinance 2014-05 (p. 40)
12. Adoption of Uniform Traffic Code Draft Ordinance 2014-08 (p. 43)
13. Legal Services bid ratings (p. 47)
14. Treasurer's Report (p. 48)
15. Bills (p. 49)  [GRT report will be available on or after 09/15/2014]

Preliminary council agenda for 09/17/2014

The preliminary agenda for the Wednesday, September 17, 2014 council meeting has been posted at the town website.  NOTE: This meeting will begin at the usual time of 6:30 p.m. A copy is available on drive.

In the news 09/11/2014

From the September 11  Mountain View Telegraph:

NB: The MVT is using a feature for the online edition similar to that used by the Journal in which readers are asked to answer 1or 2 survey questions and/or share the page via social media before going on to individual stories. 

• Parks and Rec panel gets new life in Edgewood;
• Plans prompt ideas for new municipal building;

[The MVT is published weekly in paper form and delivered with The Albuquerque Journal on Thursdays.  You may also read news, sports, opinions and letters to the editor, obituaries, legals, and classifieds online at the website. If you're reading the online version, don't forget to check the links to shorter topics such as the calendar, upcoming events, milestones, news briefs, police reports and this weekend notes which are interspersed in the news headlines.]

In the news: 09/10/2014

The Independent:   September 10-16

• Water rights confusion in Tijeras application (page 1);
• Edgewood to borrow and build (page 1); 
• Supreme Court rules in favor of candidate (page 1); 
• Johnson named to transportation group (page 2);
• Edgewood man sentenced for selling eagle feathers, violation of federal laws (page 8);
• Santa Fe County scam alert issued (page 8);
• Flooded areas in Madrid restored (page 10);
• Thinning project in Manzano Mountains State Park to yield firewood (page 11);
• Sandia Mountain Bear Fair: hikes, music, presentations (page 11); 
• Letters and Columns: Senior Center Manager says don't let them eat cake; A busy month for the East Mountain Historical Society (pages 6-7);
• Legal Notices: Legal Notice and Preliminary Determination for an Air Quality Permit in Torrance County for Mainline Rock and Ballast Inc. (page 14).

[The Independent is locally owned and operated.  It is published weekly and appears on Wednesdays; the front page of the current edition appears on its website.  The price for an email subscription is reasonable and the cost will be prorated at the time a subscription is purchased. I've found the service for e-subs reliable and convenient.  The e-version includes ads and legal notices in full color with the added benefit of adjustable print size. You can also purchase a regular mail subscription or pick up a single copy for fifty cents at most local businesses if you prefer the paper and ink version.]

"About the Portal" page has been updated

I've rearranged several gadgets in both sidebars of the Portal and have updated the "About the Portal" page to reflect the changes.  The search feature has been moved to the top of the page on the right side. 

Read the Ordinance: July's R-2 zone district fumble

        When Councilor John Abrams expressed his opposition to the proposed elimination of the R-2 (Residential 2-acre) zone category in the new zoning ordinance during the July 2, 2014 council meeting, the situation devolved into the squabbling which has become a regular feature of town council meetings.  Instead of providing a substantive response to Abrams' questions, the mayor chastised him for not having spoken up earlier.  In fact, Abrams did raise objections at the April 12, 2014 town meeting.

Council audio and meeting wrap-up:

The audio for last night's council meeting has been posted at the ToE website.  The duration is approximately two hours.  A summary of the meeting follows the page break.

In the news 09/04/2014

From the September 4  Mountain View Telegraph:

NB: The MVT is using a feature for the online edition similar to that used by the Journal in which readers are asked to answer 1or 2 survey questions and/or share the page via social media before going on to individual stories. 

• Kinder Morgan hearings could provide answers;
• Family wants restitution for drilling error;
• Horse arena at Stanley gets unanimous OK by commission;
• OPINION:  Accountability 'traps' just one PRC member.

[The MVT is published weekly in paper form and delivered with The Albuquerque Journal on Thursdays.  You may also read news, sports, opinions and letters to the editor, obituaries, legals, and classifieds online at the website. If you're reading the online version, don't forget to check the links to shorter topics such as the calendar, upcoming events, milestones, news briefs, police reports and this weekend notes which are interspersed in the news headlines.]

P&Z audio posted:

Last night's P&Z audio is now available at the town website.  It was a short meeting which lasted about 20 minutes. 

In the news 09/03/2014

The Independent:   September 3-9

• District hopes 2-hour bus rides end with new potential drivers (page 1);
• Vandalism to wells cost $13k, Parkwood facelift (page 1);
• Community News Exchange:  News briefs from around the state (page 5);
• Letters and Columns: Various topics but not necessarily land use related (pages 6-9);
• Sports: Moriarty Pintos lose to Miyamura Patriots in close season opener (page 11);
• From the desk of the President by Christopher Gonzales Moriarty High School (page 15);
• Legal notices: For MESD: Policy 130 Open Meetings Act resolution adopted 7/16/2013 and revised 8/19/14.  For the Town of Edgewood: Notice of public input for adoption of an ordinance relating to the New Mexico Uniform Traffic Ordinance (page 22).

[The Independent is locally owned and operated.  It is published weekly and appears on Wednesdays; the front page of the current edition appears on its website.  The price for an email subscription is reasonable and the cost will be prorated at the time a subscription is purchased. I've found the service for e-subs reliable and convenient.  The e-version includes ads and legal notices in full color with the added benefit of adjustable print size. You can also purchase a regular mail subscription or pick up a single copy for fifty cents at most local businesses if you prefer the paper and ink version.]

September 3, 2014 Town Council meeting at 6:00 pm

The final agenda and partial meeting packet is now available at the town website.  A copy is also available on Drive. The meeting begins at 6:00 pm instead of the usual 6:30.