Update March 2009

Just to update everyone on the Rio Arriba Task Force. No meeting have been scheduled sense October 2008. We have a new "Planning Board" and at sometime according to Gabe Boyle of RA County Planning and Zoning there have been some setbacks with the leaving of Chris Palmer. A new person will take over at some time in the future but no dates have been set.

RA County continues to work on Gas and Oil issues and it seems to be taking most of the County Resources as far as Planning ans Zoning issues are concerned. Will keep all posted on any new updates. ADMIN-

October Task Force Meeting Agenda October 15,2008

Comprehensive Plan Task Force Meeting Agenda

Wednesday October 15, 2008, 4:00 - 6:00 PM

Rural Events Center, Rio Arriba County

Topics of Discussion


from: V. Land and Water Chapter

Goal 2: Protect and restore irrigated agricultural lands for livestock and agricultural
production purposes and encourage/promote managed development on dry land.

Strategy 14: All new subdivisions should have community/shared wells and treated
liquid waste systems, demonstrate a 100 year water adequacy plan and assure water
rights to meet full demand at build out, including water for fire-fighting and facilities
for storage, distribution and delivery for fire flows.

Strategy 18: Promote and demonstrate domestic water conservation efforts, such as
the use of drip irrigation, gray-water, water harvesting, low-flow fixtures, xeriscape
landscaping through education programs and in the Subdivision Regulations and
Design and Development Regulation ordinance.


from: VIII. Community Facilities/ Infrastructure Chapter

Goal 2: Develop appropriate water and wastewater technology standards in new
developments.

Strategy 6: Encourage and offer incentives for the use of water harvesting and
graywater systems treatment in new residential development.


Goal 3: Limit the proliferation of individual septic systems and wells.

Strategy 8: Require new development to connect to nearby community water and
wastewater systems with adequate capacity, and allow higher density on lots with
existing development through the use of shared wells and septic systems, or by
connection to community water and wastewater systems.

Strategy 9: Encourage the expansion and creation of new mutual domestic water
associations and sanitation districts through land use regulation and partnerships at the
local level, and through support of funding requests and favorable community system
legislation at the state level.

Strategy 10: Amend Subdivision regulations to allow lot sizes smaller than ¾ ac min.
for advanced on-site liquid waste systems or for shared agreements as approved by
NM Environment Department.

Task Force Meeting Oct 15,2008

The next Comprehensive Plan Task Force Meeting will be held;

Wednesday, October 15^th at the Rural Events Center from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.

Attached is the outline for the upcoming meeting and the minutes from our last meeting.

This meeting may be slightly different from our last few meetings; instead of having several topics and presentations I wanted to discuss one subject. I have been alerted to very certain ecological condition that may be placed at a high priority for the County. See outline. I would like one topic for presentation by Dr. Gonzalez with comments and questions from Planning and the members of the Task Force.

The main focus of this meeting is to present groundwater science and how it affects the longevity of established and historic communities. I have found six references in the Comprehensive Plan that mention water quality for domestic use. I would like also to present a report that I found on the NMED website that specifically mentions several communities in our County that have nitrate pollution to domestic wells.

I look forward to your input and experience as local experts and look forward to seeing you October 15^th.

Sincerely yours,

Christopher Palmer

Comprehensive Plan Task Force Meeting

Wednesday September 17, 2008, 4:00 - 6:00 PM

Rural Events Center, Rio Arriba County

Topics of Discussion

V. Land and Water
Making Global Initiatives Local? The United Nations.
New Mexico and Climate Change


Goal 5: Protect the region’s water supply and quality by creating opportunities for water recharge and storage. New Mexico Watersheds.

Specifically; Strategy 33: Encourage property owners of outdated or inadequate septic tanks and leach fields to improve their existing systems, such as through tax incentives or low rate loans, and provide for more stringent county guidelines and inspections.

Conversation about education and promotion of tertiary septic systems.
Water Demand
New Mexico water mitigation.


Goal 6: Encourage compact and sustainable growth that reflects traditional settlement patterns, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and enhances our unique diversity and quality of life.


Specifically; Strategy 41: Support state legislation to provide tax credits for green building and energy saving techniques that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Coincides with; Community Facilities Infrastructure,

Goal 1

Strategy 3.

Conversation about tax incentives for green building, solar panel investment and (time related) return rates on solar investment.
Wind, Micro Hydro, BioGas


Related to Land and Water; Conversation about:

Different types of aquifer and ground water.
Recharge rates per type of aquifer.
Maintenance and recordation of usage and level of aquifer/ groundwater.
The advantages of employing a shared well for more than one residence.

Conversation to consider amending the Comprehensive Plan to include more language about common Land, Water practices, maintenance, shared wells and related aquifer/ groundwater concerns.

4. Related to Economic Development; Conversation about amending the Comprehensive Plan to include the positive economic impacts of gas and oil development within the County, history of gas and oil development in the County and related gas and oil topics and the benefits of this industry to the County.




VI. Economic Development

Goal 4: Promote the use and purchase of local goods and services that support local businesses.

Specifically, Strategy 11: Create a “Rio Arriba First” Business Directory of licensed local businesses and services within the County, and/or with individual communities such as Española and Chama.

and,

Strategy 12: Institute and promote a buy-local campaign through a County
publication and media announcements in order to reduce economic leakage and
increase the circulation of capital in the county.

From the Planning Department:
Conversation about:
New Mexico Film Production
Create Film and Movie Production Ordinance
Create Film and Movie Production Ordinance Permit
Create Film and Movie Production Ordinance protocol for services (public and private) within the County.

Land And Water

Goal 2: Protect and restore irrigated agricultural lands for livestock and agricultural production purposes and encourage/promote managed development on dry land.

"Dry Land Development" = "Conservation Development.

Conservation Sub-Divisions, Conservation Argicultural Development, "CONSERVATION"

What are the benefits/drawbacks?
More Info!

Task Force Meeting Annonuced.

Comprehensive Plan Task Force Meeting Agenda
August 20, 2008, Rural Events Center, Rio Arriba County
4-6 PM
Topics of Discussion: None Specified at this time.

How Sustainable is Your Community?

Introduction

With the aim of creating and presenting to the world outstanding examples of what it means in live in harmony with nature in a sustainable way, GEN promotes and facilitates communities--whether rural or urban--which develop and implement technologies and practices such that human activities are harmlessly integrated into the natural world in a way that is supportive of healthy human development and can be successfully continued into the indefinite future.

The Global Ecovillage Network is developing the concept of sustainability auditing to provide measuring rods for individuals and for existing villages and communities to compare their current status with ideal goals for ecological, social, and spiritual sustainability. In addition, these tools are learning instruments - pointing out actions aspiring individuals and communities can take to become more sustainable.

The process of community sustainability assessment is an exploration and cultivation of the qualities needed to bring mankind through the 21st century.

Community Sustainability Assessment (viewable HTML version) - aomprehensive checklist that anyone can complete to get a basic idea of how sustainable their community is. This assessment tool is applicable to any community. While it requires good knowledge of the life-styles, practices and features of the community, it does not require research, calculation and detailed quantification. This assessment takes about three hours for an individual to complete, or a series of sessions if done as a group experience by community members.