By Roger Lanse
At Tuesday's, May 23, town meeting, and citing “a whole lot of uncertainties about our revenues for the next fiscal year,” and the requirement to adopt a preliminary budget by the end of May, Town Manager Alex Brown recommended approval of a resolution to increase property tax rates for residential and nonresidential properties within the town by one mil. According to County Assessor Raul Turrieta, the increase on a $50,000 property valued for tax purposes at $16,000 would be $16, and on a $150,000 property with a taxable value of $50,000 the increase would be $50. Brown hedged a bit by saying, “As Mr. Turrieta reminded us at the last meeting we do have a deadline of July 15 to rescind this resolution if we don't need it. But, we're just doing this to be proactive just in case it is necessary to be imposed so that we're not put behind the eight-ball, and have to come up with a bunch of additional revenue this next year.” Council approved the resolution.
Councilors extended kudos to the Silver City Museum and the Museum Society for the Beatles concert last Friday, May 19.
Mayor Ken Ladner expressed appreciation to all the volunteers and city employees who help to make Silver City a great place to live.
District 2 Councilor Lynda Aiman-Smith urged residents to volunteer for the Planning and Zoning Commission. Aiman-Smith said, this “is a very important commission. It’s actually a policy and decision-making, as well as an advisory, commission.”
Callie Kennington, Executive Director of the Silver City Arts and Cultural District, reported that a $45,000 grant has been received from the New Mexico Department of Transportation to place an informational kiosk at the Murray Ryan Visitor Center. Kennington said the grant must be spent by October of this year and it will take six weeks to assemble the kiosk and deliver it to the site to be installed.
Kennington also reported on tourism in the third quarter of FY 2016-2017. Advertising continues to be placed in airports, publications, RailRunner and social media.
Captain Portillo of the Silver City Police Department answered questions from councilors regarding downtown incidents of harassment, people lying on sidewalks, and blocking of sidewalks. Portillo said as the weather is getting warmer foot patrols are planned for downtown. He said responding officers really need to talk to the reporting person in addition to the individual causing problems. Usually, Portillo said, there are three officers on duty, and sometimes they all are busy when a call comes in and a delay may occur.
Ladner brought up drivers not stopping at the intersection of 6th and Bullard streets. Portillo said that intersection is a priority with the department and “we’re looking at it.”
Council approved an application to vacate a portion of the old Rio Vicente Subdivision. Included were part of Blocks 2, 6, and 7; all of Blocks 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14; and parts of Sotol Loop, Sotol Street, Tesajo Street, Senna Street, Agave Street, Verbena Street, Cholla Street, Vicente Circle, Chamiso Place, Sacaton Street, and Sacate Circle. The action consisted of two parts – a partial vacation of the existing 1980 subdivision and permitting six parcels to remain.
A Notice of Intent sponsored by Aiman-Smith amending certain provisions of the Municipal Code of Silver City regarding business registration and licensing, and related fees, inspections, and information requested on applications, was approved.
Brown said he is presenting the same budget proposal he has presented the last two months, “with no changes because we don’t know what’s going to happen.” Council approved the preliminary budget.