Southern New Mexico Common Cause
Minutes of the Governing Board Meeting
Wednesday, June 18, 2003

" Meeting Location: J.W. Flours Restaurant, Las Cruces, NM 88001

" Attending: Phil Banks, Tammy Jenkins, Ramona Jenkins, Woodie Jenkins, V. Butler, J. Bloom, G. Bigelow, J.M. Kadlecek, V. Quiroz, D. Almvig, C. Welch, T. Smith, J. Asche, R. Garcia.

" J.M. Kadelcek called the meeting to order at 11:45 a.m.

" The minutes of the SNMCC Board Meeting of May were approved as amended.  

Issue Updates
A. City Charter Review and Ethics Ordinance - P. Banks
The Public Forum was held at Munson Center and there are more people interested in being involved with the Charter Review. Dr. DeNardis, Department of Government, gave a presentation on history of city charters and the need for cities to adopt them. The forum then broke up into subcommittees to discuss the specific articles and then reconvened to discuss them as a whole.

The steering committee will meet on June 20, 2003 at 12:30 p.m. to go over the format for the second public forum, which is at 1:30 on the 20th. The committee will then begin to review the comments and suggestions on June 27, 2003 at 11:30 a.m.

A concern is that the city also wished to create a Charter Review committee, if they do we have requested that a CCRC member sit on the City's committee. 

B. Resolution on Memorial Medical Center
We cannot ignore the issue of MMC being sold to a private organization who can ignore those who do not have access to insurance.

" Resolution entered into the minutes and approved as amended.
" G. Bigelow and J.M. Kadlecek will sign the amended resolution on behalf of SNMCC


C. Letter to NMSU Regents
J. Bloom will draft a letter to the Regents on behalf of Southern New Mexico Common Cause regarding the Open Meetings Act.
" Welch seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

The draft resolution was given to the Mayor and the Dona Ana County Commission, unfortunately the resolution was never discussed.

The new resolution discusses what has occurred int eh alst month. MMC is the people's hospital and that must be considered.
D. Monitoring Public Meetings Update - J. Asche
Bulletin is still printing the write-ups for the City Council and County Commission meetings.
1) Regents - J. Bloom
J. Bloom had the opportunity to meet with the president and found that there are approximately five staff that report to the Regents. They are currently seeking a Chief of Staff position. The One of the concerns for the Regents, is the allowance of nominees changing parties in order to be appointed. Next meeting is July 29, 2003 in Santa Fe, NM.

2) County Commission - C. Welch
The meetings are going well, they incorporate public input and the continued pressure from the public has had a good effect on public meetings.

3) School Board - P. Banks
There is a new superintendent. With the summer break there is little activity with the school board. The new Las Cruces High School principal was formerly the principal at Sierra Middle School. The meetings follow the Open Meetings Act, they allow for public input, and they inform the public in advance of closed meetings.

4) City Council - J.M<. Kadlecek
The meetings continue to be awkward, they at times are not conducive to good government. Mattiace has tried to open up the meetings for public participation, but then he says that they are limited to the time they may speak. But overall, there has been improvement.

F. City/County Expenditure of Federal Funds/City Consolidated Plan - R. Garcia
The City is still backlogged which has limited the grant application process. There are also 30 state appropriations that are stuck in the system due to the backlog.

The City recently spent $70,000 for a consolidated plan from a consultant out of Denver, the plan has been posted on their website.

A finding was that the City has 5,000+ families who need housing. This may be an issue of leadership, not necessarily a money issues.

The City is on the verge of losing the $1 million that was given to them for the service and curriculum of a house counseling program.

SNMCC will work on bringing this issues to light in order to get some action.

J.M. Kadlecek will draft a letter of concern in order to stimulate action.

New Business
A. Nominations for State Common Cause Board
The structure is by congressional district, each district has six seats. The current members are R. Garcia, J.M. Kadlecek, G. Bigelow and A. Burr. The meetings are four times a year.

V. Quiroz will send out an e-mail to see if anyone is interested in sitting on the State Board.

B. Convention Center - T. Smith
SNMCC should have a position on the convention center due to the fact that Las cruces wants to build one and they seem to be failing all over the country. This will be placed on the agenda for the July meeting.

Closing
" The next meeting is July 16, 2003 at 11:30 at J.W. Flours
" J.M. Kadlecek adjourned the meeting at  1:15 p.m.


Respectfully submitted,

Vanessa Quiroz
Secretary