Scooters, Applications and Agreements for Raton City Commissioners

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

 

Raton City Commissioners met Tuesday evening February 23, 2021 for their regular meeting to address applications for road construction funding, hear about electric scooters and the financial reports.

Commissioners heard from Jackie Fishman with a quick overview of the Raton Comprehensive Report noting it has been 18 years since the last report was published. It is a 20-year plan that covers eight different elements for the city with a lot of short-term plans and some long-range plans too. The comprehensive plan is a living document and will likely see updates as things change in the community. The plan is online and City Manager Scott Berry noted the city will also have a couple of hard copies should someone want one and a copy will be available at the public library.

Mike Butler joined the commission by phone to give a quick overview of Bird Rides and explain how the business works. Bird Rides will look for a business in Raton to handle the electric scooters. The good news about the business is there are no franchise fees and no startup money required. The scooters are made primarily for paved roads with a governor to hold the speed at 15 mph. An individual can rent one of the scooters with an app on their mobile phone with rates charged by the minute.

Commissioners approved changes to the lease agreement with Blü Dragonfly Brewing and Jason Bennett to restart the agreement this year because of the mess in 2020. The agreement stipulates that no rent will be charged in the first three years with a graduated scale in year four and five.

Commissioners approved a new contract with Stelzner Law Firm for specialized legal services for the municipal electric supply, generation and transmission. They also approved one with Utton and Kerry P.A. to cover specialized legal services for water resources, litigation and land use/property redevelopment. Both contracts will be for four years and are the results of an RFP process.

Commissioners approved a task order with Molzen Corbin to update the storm water prevention plan at a cost of $13,297 plus tax for a total of $14,344.14. FAA should cover 90% of the cost with the city and state covering 5% each.

Commissioners approved a change order request at the Solid Waste Convenience Center to construct a 419 foot long retaining wall with a height of eight to 10 feet. The cost of the wall will bring the total of the project up to $257,250.

The city will apply for a $200,000 Coop program for reconstruction work on West Colfax Avenue and a portion of Kearney Avenue. The city will match the funding with $50,000 from the gas tax.

A municipal arterial program application will be for work on Business Loop 17 (Second Street) to do as Berry noted “Fix what is wrong on Second Street” which includes resurfacing, replacement of broken and heaved sidewalk, ramps, curb and gutter. It also includes median concrete work as well as other improvements with a cost estimated at $500,000. The city will match the agreement with $125,000.

Commissioners agreed to dispose of a 2005 Freightliner Ambulance valued at $6,000. The vehicle will go to Taos County.

Commissioners also approved the January 2021 financial report and Budget Adjustment #8. While things continue to be tight City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci noted the GRT for December came in at .2% above budget. She noted it would be good if it was a bit more but due to Covid and that December is usually a slower month GRT wise it looks good. (Link to FY2021 January Financial Report)  (Link to FY2021 Budget Adjustment #8)

Commissioners heard from Berry about House Bill 137 Clean Electrification Act. The bill if passed will have a negative impact on rate payers especially as RPS prepares to search for a power agreement. Resolution 2021-17 asks that the bill be tabled until the effects can be further explored and input from all utilities be considered. (Link to Resolution 2021-17)

Resolution 2021-18 will ask the legislature to table HB4 and SB 376. HB4 is the NM civil rights act and SB376 Prohibit defense of Qualified Immunity. Passage of SB376 could result in the loss of law enforcement officers and other public employees as a result of due to legal issues. (Link to Resolution 2021-18)

Berry noted in his report that the legislative bulletin had more information on other legislative action. He has been in contact with our local representatives about Raton’s capital outlay needs. The reports from the work done on the lake Maloya Dam have been submitted tot eh state engineer. It is hoped that some federal money will be available to do some of the needed work on the dam. The city and the county reached an agreement where the city will do some work on the road going out to Gardner Road as the county has almost completed work on the Gardner Road bridge.

MCMC has a broken pipe in their parking lot that will affect the Friday vaccine shots should it not be repaired by then. The city has opened up an alternate route from the I-25 frontage road to the east of the hospital.

Berry noted that there seems to be a shortage to housing in Raton and Colfax county and discussions have started to try to help remedy the problem.

Raton City Commissioners will meet again on March 9, 2021 for their first regular meeting in March at 6:00 p.m. in the city commission chambers.