Southern New Mexico Common Cause
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
· Meeting Location: J.W. Flours Restaurant, Las Cruces, NM 88001
· Members Attending: (12)
Mary Ballard, Phil Banks, John Bloom, Alex Burr, Steve Carter, Lynn Ellins, Dolores Halls, Woodie Jenkins, John Lazaruk, Mike McCamley, Tamie Smith and Charles Welch
Members Not Attending: (6)
Gus Bigelow, Steve Fischmann, Rose Garcia, Ron Gurley, Jim Kadlecek and Vicki Simons
Guests
Mrs Jenkins, Bill McCamley, Eric Pauleson and Don Kurtz
1. Call to Order: Lynn Ellins called the meeting to order at 11:44 AM.
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2. Approval of February Meeting Minutes:
The February 2007 meeting minutes, as amended, were approved by voice vote.
3. Announcements: Eric Pauleson spoke and gave his background and his work experience. He is applying for the job of Executive Director of Southern New Mexico Common Cause. He said that he was waiting for Jack Taylor to return before applying officially.
4. Projects:
A. Board of County Commissioners – (Lynn Ellins)( Charles Welch) During the last meeting of the DAC Commissioners the Spaceport Tax and the Annexation of Land were discussed. For the Spaceport Tax issue, see paragraph 5, New Business, below.
B. City Council – (Tamie Smith) The possible increase in water rates was discussed at the last meeting of the Las Cruces City Council. Tamie Smith spoke at the meeting stating that the rates should be lowered and she spoke about the land at the corner of Valley and McClure being purchased by the Government.
C. Board of Education (LCPS Board) (Phil Banks) The meeting, as are all meetings of the LCPS Board, was broadcast on Cable TV. There appears to be little going on now.
D. NMSU Board of Regents – (John Bloom) See Attached Report. The Regents indicated that there is “hard” negotiations going on with NMSU employee union. A strong resolution was approved that supported the Spaceport. Also a “Ground Lease Agreement” was approved between NMSU and Las Cruces for eight acres on the NMSU campus. There was a new president of the NMSU Regents elected, Laura Conniff. For details see the attached report.
5. New Business:
A. Commissioner Bill McCamley spoke on the Spaceport issue. The first thing he talked about was Eric Pauleson applying for the job of Executive Director of SNMCC and the age of the SNMCC Board. He then said he wanted to hear our take on the Spaceport. Then Charles Welch asked about the 75% - 25% split of the Spaceport tax revenue received by DAC, if passed, and the letter that stated one amount for the construction of the spaceport and after absentee voting began the amount was changed. If the Tax Policy changed the way things are to be broken-out that was a reason to invalidate those votes that had already been taken. Commissioner McCamley satisfied him on the letter by stating the Tax Policy remained the same. The amounts given after voting began were only the estimate of the final costs of the project with a second runway not considered. He stated that some citizens are against any increases in any Tax. Questions and Comments (about the Spaceport Itself and the Spaceport Tax) were presented or given by Steve Carter, Lynn Ellins, Mike McCamley, Dolores Halls, Woodie Jenkins, Charles Welch, Tamie Smith and John Bloom.
B. The lack of Legislature Passed Ethics Bills by the Legislature is one of the primary things (if not the primary thing) the New Mexico Governor was upset about. The 60 day session of the legislature was lacking in Ethics Bills sent to the Governor for his Signature or veto. Some were passed but not enough says the Governor. He called a Special session and then the Senate adjourned abruptly. The house had passed many of the Ethics bills and they did not adjourn. Alex Burr stated that we should write a letter to the newspaper (Las Cruces SUN~NEWS) and he presented a candidate letter. It was moved that the candidate letter, updated, be sent to the Las Cruces SUN~NEWS. It was seconded and passed on a voice vote after discussion.
6. Old Business
A. Commissioner Bill McCamley made a comment about the ETZ Commission and the ETA.
B. Lynn Ellins related the Proposal for the ETZ/ETA with a fourth alternative doing away with ETZ/ETA and giving the County a voice in any annexation of land by the City of Las Cruces. Then it was moved that we (The Southern New Mexico Common Cause) take no position on the make up of the ETA. It was seconded and a vote was called for and it was passed by voice vote.
7. Other – Annual Meeting – A call will be made by Lynn Ellins for the Attorney General to speak at the SNMCC Annual Meeting.
8. Next Regular Meeting: April 18, 2007
9. Adjournment: Lynn Ellins adjourned the meeting at 1:03 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Michael McCamley
SNMCC Board Secretary
Date Approved and Signed
Date Approved and Signed