By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Raton City Commissioners started the first of their two special meetings Thursday afternoon with discussion on possible zoning and ordinance changes after receiving overwhelming public comment against a potential data center that might want to locate in Raton.
While other communities have created moratoriums against data center construction Raton may be the first community in New Mexico to actually create an ordinance to deal with such a circumstance. While the City of Raton cannot legally prevent a private business from locating in Raton, they can create controls to limit any detrimental effects to the community.
Commissioners have been provided with revision six of a possible ordinance to deal with a data center and, or other technology services business and where and how they would fit within Raton’s current zoning structure. Electrical and water usage is also a concern in the ordinance however Raton Public Service and Raton Water Works have their own approval procedure that will control what can and cannot be done within their specific areas.
Another concern that was brought up was about how lengthy the ordinance change is and whether it is legal that the city might be targeting a specific industry while other industries have not been fully addressed as specifically as the data center. For example, the sound levels of other businesses versus a data center noise level. Another example would cover emergency generators for backup power which would also fall under the noise portion of the ordinances. Commissioners agreed that this issue has brought up the concern that other portions of the ordinances may need to be looked at and updated.
Another concern is where to put such a facility such as C3, Heavy Industrial, Light Industrial or by special exception place it in a certain location. Can a data center fit within one zone but not another for example can the facility fit in a light industrial zone but not a C3 zone.
Mayor Chatterley noted in her report that the city met with Miller Timber and discussed the work and education they are planning to provide in the community with wildland fire fighting. They also met with a housing group that might be interested in the El Portal property to build housing for traveling workers or other purposes such as office space for remote workers.
As the second special meeting business got underway the Commission introduced an ordinance amending chapter 115 that deals with business and license fees as well as chapter 156 (Zoning Code) specifically dealing with the registration, permitting and operating framework for short-term rental within the city.
The Commission is hoping to have the Air B&B rental properties fall under the Lodger’s Tax and business license requirements so that the city can have those establishments licensed and be able to collect Lodger’s Tax to help boost that falling revenue. This is something that the city has been talking about doing for several years now. Commissioners approved the introduction of the ordinance.
Commissioners approved the event form for the Raton High School Parade to be held on Historic First Street on September 25, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.
Commissioners heard from City Manager Neil Segotta about a Lodger’s Tax request from the Center for Community Innovation for Google Ads management. The request is for $30,000 for google ads management and $10,000 for media management. The second request comes from Raton Mainstreet for the Gate City Music festival for $29,702 to cover advertising and other items such as security, insurance and outdoor entertainment. According to Patricia Duran New Mexico Tourism Department will provide $20,000 in Grow Funds to help cover this cost.
Information was presented to the commission on an advertising grant with the NM Tourism Department for advertising materials related to the Gate City Music Festival to be held here in Raton over the Labor Day weekend. NMTD is going to provide $20,340 for advertising material related to the festival.
Another proposal with the NM Tourism Department for a Raton Gate City Digital Gateway: Interstate Visitor intercept and wayfinding project will provide a partial award of $209,090.00 for the project. The city had originally asked for $275,000. This is for a Digital Billboard that will go on property on the west side of the interstate.
Commissioners also discussed a $20,000 grant agreement with Anchorum Health Foundation to explore the feasibility of workforce housing in partnership with Miner’s Colfax Medical Center to provide housing to provide housing for traveling medical staff. After a lengthy discussion Commissioner Hoger moved to postpone the grant acceptance pending buy in from MCMC that failed on a 3-2 vote with Hoger and Campbell voting to postpone. The grant was then voted down on a 3-2 vote with Commissioners Hoger and Campbell and Mayor Chatterley voting not to accept the grant.
Commissioners approved the dispatch agreement with Colfax County for dispatch services for county fire and the sheriff’s office. The amount of the agreement is $75,000 per year.
Commissioners acted on the grant agreement for paving maintenance on Taxiway A at the airport. The state will provide $12,828 and the city portion is $1,425.
An amendment was presented to the commission on Grant Agreement #26-K4121 which is the grant to purchase the Buck Ridge Ranch which will tie in with Sugaite Canyon and Bartlett Mesa Ranch. The amendment will move money from the construction of a visitor’s center in Sugarite Canyon to the purchase of the Buck Ridge Ranch. Commissioners approved the agreement.
Pacheco Construction is requesting a change order for the Second Street improvement project to expand work for the curb and gutters and wheelchair ramps on Second Steet. Due to a very favorable bid from Pacheco Construction more curb and gutter and wheelchair ramps will be expanded. The increase is for $196,218.75.
An agreement with ConvergeOne for 911 management at a cost of $67,460.84 was approved by the commissioners.
City Treasurer Michael Anne Antonucci presented the July 2026 financial report for the commission approval. The report shows the GRT came in at .58% or $23,582 below budget. Gas tax is up from last year but not great. The staff is working on final closeout for the FY26 year. Lodger’s Tax continues to see a downward trend while the cannabis tax showed an increase in June.
City Manager Neil Segotta told commissioners about the meeting with YES housing after looking at a couple of sites for possible housing projects. Met with State Parks about the trails in Sugarite Canyon and that the last plan was submitted about 15 years ago and that the five-year plan needs to be updated. The exercise equipment has been installed at Romero Park and is being used by walkers.
City Office will be closed on Monday September 7 for Labor Day and the next city commission meeting will be on September 8, at 6:00 p.m.
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