Southern New Mexico Common Cause
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
· Meeting Location: J.W. Flours Restaurant, Las Cruces, NM 88001
· Members Attending:
Phil Banks, John Bloom, Alex Burr, Steve Carter, Lynn Ellins, Dolores Halls, Mike McCamley and Tamie Smith
Members Not Attending:
Mary Ballard, Gus Bigelow, Steve Fischmann, Rose Garcia, Ron Gurley, Woodie Jenkins, Jim Kadlecek, John Lazaruk, Vicki Simons and Charles Welch
1. Call to Order: Lynn Ellins called the meeting to order at 11:52 AM.
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2. Approval of January Meeting Minutes:
The January, 2007 meeting minutes, as amended, were approved by voice vote..
3. Announcements: None
4. Projects:
A. Board of County Commissioners – (Lynn Ellins) [ETA Subject] The ETA composition issue was as follows: Some people were upset that Commissioner Butler was appointed only as an alternate. The newly appointed DAC Members are Commissioners Evans, McCamley and Perez with Commissioner Butler appointed as an alternative. He may attend the ETA meetings but he may only vote if one of the other DAC Commissioners is absent. A proposal to reconstitute the ETA has been made that had three alternatives: 1. That the DAC Commission reappoint the ETA membership by exchanging Commissioners Butler and McCamley on the ETA; 2. ETA Board should have seven members rather than the current five [a size issue], (Four from Dona Ana County Commission and three from Las Cruces City Council); and 3.Commissioner McCamley should be removed from the ETA because his District #5 is composed of mainly Las Cruces City precincts and District 1 is not represented. The SNMCC Board members should think (mull) this over and be prepared to discuss this / present their views at the next meeting.
The ¼% Gross Receipts tax vote for the Spaceport will be at 106 precincts versus the original 33 consolidated precincts. The number of consolidated precincts to use was then proposed to be 38 but was defeated 3-2 by the Commissioners. The proposal that won was to have 106 precincts considered with 77 locations for voting for the April 3rd vote and the subsequent increase in money from $55,000 to $100,000 plus, that was passed (vote 5-0). Conditional Approval of the increase in the tax for the Spaceport was tabled on a 3-2 vote.
B. City Council – (Tamie Smith) The last Las Cruces City Council meeting was cancelled. There was, at a previous meeting, a presentation given on the new Federal Building. The public wanted to know the status of the new Federal Building, (concerning the environment). No answer was given. Mayor Matice said that elimination of the sunken manholes on North Alameda Blvd was about finished. He also said the Elks Drive construction project was almost finished.
C. Board of Education (LCPS Board) (Phil Banks) The recent School Board election was reviewed and the new members of the Board were named. Bonnie Votow and Connie Phillips were the newly elected members of the LCPS Board. Connie Phillips became the President of the Board because of the rotation of the position. Both are qualified and they may change the LCPS Board. Additionally an Interim Superintendent was chosen, Stan Rounds. The LCPS Board suffers from Legal Battles with Sonia Diaz and two personnel ousted under her, Jack Jenkins and Jerry Laws. The search for a new a Permanent Superintendent was narrow to three candidates. A vote of 4-1 established Sex Education in the schools. An Opt-Out provision was adopted as a part of the Sex Education program. Those opposing the Opt-out provision argued from a religious point-of-view.
D. NMSU Board of Regents – (John Bloom) See Attached Report. There was a delegation from the NMSU workers at the last Regents Meeting. There was no negotiation with the delegation but the tenor of the Regents and the Delegation was civil and informative. Department Head, Gary Curthers, said that Arrowhead Corp wants to fully develop NMSU. The development is many years in the future. The next meeting is scheduled for March 12, 2007. .
E. Planning and Zoning Commission – (Lynn Ellins) Covered under A [DAC Commission] above.
5. New Business: (Phil Banks) Ethics, by-and-large, is being defeated by the current Legislature. Campaign Finance, Open to everyone Conference Committees and the Pay of Legislators are a few examples. The 2005 and 2006 money issues were brought up and discussed. Gary King and Diane Denish will be contacted in reference to SNMCC annual meeting. Matt Brix will be leaving New Mexico Common Cause. He will be taking a job with the Center for Civic Policy.
6. Old Business – None
7. Other – None.
8. Next Regular Meeting: March 21, 2007
9. Adjournment: Lynn Ellins adjourned the meeting at 12:46 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Michael McCamley
SNMCC Board Secretary
Date Approved and Signed
Date Approved and Signed