Preliminary Task Forch Strategic Planning Meeting, June 24, 2009

Rio Arriba County Comprehensive Plan
Taskforce Meeting Notes
Preliminary Strategic Planning Meeting, June 24, 2009

Attendees:
Louise Pocock, RAC
Lucia Sanchez, RAC
Gabriel Boyle, RAC
Chuck & Jean Neilson, Lindrith, Retired
Steve Gonzales, New Mexico Economic Development Department
Joy Gallion, Lindrith, Water Truck Operator
Don Diego Gonzalez, Velarde, Hydro-geologist
Ken LaGattuta, San Pedro, Retired LANL
Jose Villa, La Villita, Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area
Glenna Dean, Abiquiu, Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area
Rol Murrow, Lindrith, The Wolf Aviation Fund

Sign-in, Welcome, and Introductions

Discussion of what the Taskforce is and what it is meant to accomplish
Mr. Neilson opened the discussion by asking to clarify what the comprehensive plan is and what is it meant to accomplish.

Louise explained that the Rio Arriba County Commissioners recognized the importance for having a living and up-to-date plan to ensure thoughtful planning for the future of Rio Arriba County and its citizens. Thus the Comprehensive Plan was birthed. The Comprehensive Plan was adopted in May of 2009 as a guideline for future development in the County. The plan is fluid and is subject to an annual revision and five year updating to ensure that it continues to depict the desired vision for the future of the county. Strategies and goals will be reviewed periodically and are subject to implementation and revision.

Mr. Marrow suggested that a geographic map of each community would help identify zones for each goal and strategy.

While that was a good recommendation, Gabe explained that that sort of mapping is very expensive but could be a future possibility contingent on funding. Santa Fe is a county that might be able to afford such a tool, but right now RAC could not take on that kind of expense.

Gabe went on to remind us that the Comprehensive Plan is a guiding policy document that is to be utilized by all departments within Rio Arriba County. Right now, the P&Z department is taking the lead by working with communities and specific goals and strategies. Lack of participation by individuals in the communities across the region has weakened the implementation of the plan. This taskforce is meant to be a “think-tank” for implementations and public participation is critical to moving forward.

Structure of the Taskforce
Regional Committees
Taskforce members are to identify community members from their area and identify regional committee members.

Regional committees will drive and implement goals and strategies that are specific to their specific given area in the region.

Meeting timeline
Taskforce meetings will be held on a monthly basis, at different locations across the County. P&Z staff will be the convener of these meetings.

Individual community meetings should be coordinated and held on as needed basis (when we have material ready fro public feedback). Individual taskforce members are responsible for coordinating meetings related to accomplishing goals and implementing pertinent strategies in their community. Information from such meetings will be noted by taskforce members and brought back to the taskforce.

Member Responsibilities
Members of the Taskforce are to represent the goals and consensus of the community they represent.

Taskforce members are responsible for making the communities. Accept communities for what they are and what they are not, in an effort to move beyond turf and to celebrate what truly makes our region unique.

Prioritization of Goals and Strategies from Comprehensive Plan
To be discussed at next meeting…
Assignment of action items & Suggestions from taskforce members
Taskforce committee members were given copies of the Comprehensive Plan and asked to familiarize themselves with its contents and bring any questions or concerns to the next meeting for discussion.

The County web site should be updated and include meeting agendas, minutes, dates and locations of all meetings related to the Comprehensive Plan. It was suggested that a tele-conference line be used when feasible to accommodate those who would like to participate from their communities but who cannot easily travel to be present at a meeting.

Mr. LaGattuta would like to develop community-based surveys to evaluate priorities. Much discussion revolved around this idea.

Mr. Villa would like the taskforce to garnish community development and to use the planning process to do so. The need for feedback is critical to disseminating information. This feedback system should go beyond surveys---establishing inter-agency and departmental relationships is critical.

Don Diego recommended that we encourage our communities to use the Comprehensive Plan as a guideline and a tool to engage the County Commission with the conversations that are happening at the community level. Taskforce input and the Comprehensive Plan should represent the citizens of the communities it serves and not personal agendas.

The ultimate role of the taskforce will be to review, comment and provide feedback to the planning and zoning department to inform and guide the department’s activities and work focus. Taskforce meetings will be a clearinghouse where community input on key issues will be gathered and disseminated.

Mr. Nielson suggested the Taskforce need to close gaps in Taskforce member participation.
Meeting was adjourned-homework for the Taskforce:
o Read Comprehensive Plan, return to the next meeting with comments/suggestions.
o Identify committee remembers from their region to be champions on the regional committees.
o Promote the Comprehensive Plan to fellow community members as a tool to guide policy in their region.

NEXT MEETING: July 22, 2009, 1-3 pm,
Rural Events Center, Abiquiu