Wednesday, December 23, 2009

I-40 Tijeras Canyon Emergency Response Plan


DRAFT SUGGESTED: I-40 Tijeras Canyon Emergency Response Plan


Purpose. To minimize the unfavorable traffic effects resulting from any emergency closure of Interstate Highway 40 (I-40) in the Tijeras-Albuquerque corridor due to a major accident, heavy snow, dangerous ice, or other severe weather condition.

Background. I-40 carries most of the east-west traffic through New Mexico, with about 50,000 semi-trailer trucks and passenger vehicles passing through the Tijeras Canyon daily. The increasing population in the East Mountain area adds several thousand vehicles to the long-haul traffic count daily. In the future, traffic will certainly increase. In the past, blizzards, icy road conditions, heavy fogs, and major traffic accidents have resulted in the closure of I-40, creating extensive traffic jams or completely stalled traffic on I-40, parallel route NM 333 (old US 66), and major thoroughfares and adjacent side streets in Albuquerque and Tijeras and in city shopping center parking lots as interstate traffic diverts from I-40. Residents frequently are unable to travel to their homes, work, or essential destinations due to closure. Similarly, Bernalillo County and Albuquerque emergency responders are unable to reach homes on fire, badly injured or ill people, and crime scenes—even with sirens screaming and lights flashing. Several meetings have been held with responsible agencies; however, actions need to be documented to coordinate the agencies involved in efficiently responding to emergency closure of I-40 and to assure the public that their personal safety is at less risk as a result of proper planning.

Conditions. There are two general situations that may lead to closure of I-40: weather and accidents. Although the same agencies may be involved in either case, authorities and responsibilities differ. In general, New Mexico state agencies (e.g., NM Department of Transportation, NM State Police) are in charge of the decision and remediation, with support from Bernalillo County and Albuquerque agencies.

Incident Command System. A recommended response management structure is shown below:




For the purposes of this plan, either NMDOT or NMSP could provide the locally-based Incident Commander for, respectively, weather-related or accident-related incident situations. The Operations Section is primarily staffed by law enforcement agency representatives; the Operations Chief should be a representative from the first-responding law enforcement agency that will keep control of the scene for legitimate legal reasons. The Logistics Section is primarily NMDOT and other transportation and support agencies. Planning is primarily a pre-incident function. The Finance/Administration Section may be a small part of the system, but should include appropriate Legal representatives. Liaison includes other involved or affected agencies (e.g., KAFB, AFD, BCFD). Plans should include alternatives for an Incident Command Center, either mobile or an existing fixed facility. Note that some units (e.g., food unit, air operations branch) might not be required due to the limited time involved in responding to the incident.


Responsibilities. Major responsibilities of key agencies include:

· New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) is the primary agency responsible for traffic on or affected by incidents on I- 40. As such, NMDOT has the authority to direct closure of I-40 due to severe inclement weather conditions and to coordinate the emergency response activities to minimize the deleterious effects of any closure. For weather-related emergency situations, NMDOT would provide the Incident Commander.
· New Mexico State Police (NMSP) has the primary responsibility for enforcing traffic laws in the public safety and responding to and investigating vehicle accidents along I-40. NMSP has the authority to direct closure of I-40 when a major accident disrupts traffic. For traffic accident-related emergency situations, NMSP would provide the Incident commander.
· Bernalillo County has the responsibility to assist NMSP in controlling traffic on I-40 and NM 333, as well as along adjacent roadways and streets outside the city of Albuquerque.
o Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) has the support responsibility to act with and for NMSP as NMSP officers on scene request and direct.
o Bernalillo County Fire Department retains the primary responsibility for emergency response within Bernalillo County for fires and medical emergencies, as well as the secondary responsibility to respond within the city of Albuquerque.
· Albuquerque has the responsibility to assist NMSP in controlling traffic on I-40 within the city limits, as well as those major thoroughfares and streets within the city.
o Albuquerque Police Department (APD) has the support responsibility to act with and for NMSP as NMSP officers on scene request and direct.
o Albuquerque Fire Department (AFD) retains the primary responsibility for emergency response within the city of Albuquerque for fires and medical emergencies, as well as the secondary responsibility to respond within Bernalillo County.
· Mid-Region Council of Governments has the responsibility to plan and coordinate regional traffic management with other responsible and involved agencies.


Actions. General actions and activities include:

· Responsible agencies should prepare and coordinate a detailed emergency response plan that states agreed policies, roles and responsibilities, procedures, and goals (e.g., to clear the cause of the closure in an expeditious manner, to protect the public).
· Monitoring of traffic flow, weather conditions, and disruptions is conducted by NMDOT, NMSP, APD, and BCSO, with inputs from motorists, local governments (e.g., drivers from various government entities), and alert citizens who call in reports of serious traffic matters.
· Decision to close I-40 is reserved to NMDOT or NMSP depending on the situation (e.g., weather, major accident) in consultation with other responsible agencies.
· Coordination of emergency response operations requires the establishment of a multi-functional command center for the use of an Incident Commander (a designated State official) and representatives from all agencies involved or affected by closure; staffing should include public information, legal, Federal (e.g., KAFB), and social agency representatives.
· Notification of closure of I-40 is made via emergency announcements on commercial radio stations, the NMDOT traffic hotline (511), and electronic signs of the Intelligent Traffic System.
· Closure is effected by a carefully planned and coordinated effort (NMSP, APD, BCSO) to close eastbound access ramp gates, to erect barriers as required, and to post police vehicles and officers to redirect traffic from I-40 to pre-planned alternate routes and parking areas.
· Response to mitigate the negative effects of closure includes expeditious alerting and dispatch of appropriate crews (e.g., snow plows, sand trucks, ambulances, wreckers) to deal with the specific situation causing the closure.
· Traffic control, under NMSP, the primary agency, should focus on preventing additional vehicles from entering I-40, diverting vehicles from I-40, and keeping nearby thoroughfares and streets open for essential local traffic and emergency vehicles.
· Status reporting, coordinated by the responsible agencies and approved by NMDOT, provides situation updates via commercial radio announcements, NMDOT highway information phone recording, and ITS signs throughout the area.
· Reopening I-40 is a carefully phased and controlled metering of vehicles from nearby parking areas back onto I-40 to return traffic to a normal flow without subsequent disruption.


Mitigating Actions Already Accomplished.

· Extensive electronic signage, part of the Intelligent Traffic System, has been installed and is operating along I-40 and I-25 to alert drivers to unusual traffic conditions. ITS could also provide explicit directions to divert traffic from I-40 to nearby parking areas or alternate routes.
· Some gaps in the median barrier system permit limited “turnaround” (permitting eastbound traffic to reverse course onto westbound lanes) of traffic blocked on I-40. Additional engineering and redesign could facilitate turnaround of larger, longer vehicles.
· There are a very few potential emergency exit areas along eastbound I-40 that could permit traffic to divert onto eastbound (or westbound) NM 333.

Additional Mitigating Measures.

· Completion of a comprehensive emergency response plan should be a high priority. It should include detailed responsibilities and authorities, an agreed Incident Command System approach, and assignment of specific actions designed to facilitate rapid and effective response to a variety of closure circumstances. The public and experienced emergency response personnel (e.g., Albuquerque Emergency Operations Center, 911 operators) should be involved in this important process.
· The public should be informed of the existing processes, the evolving plan, and the accomplishments designed to minimize the negative effects of any closure of I-40.
· Incident Commanders and staff representatives should be identified and an alerting system established to ensure rapid notification and control in an emergency closure of I-40.
· Training of representatives from responsible agencies and from organizations and agencies that would likely be affected by closures should be conducted periodically.
· Practice drills and exercises should be conducted to ensure that emergency incident staff and responders fully understand the actions required to mitigate negative effects of I-40 closure.

East Gateway Coalition Meeting--I-40 Closure (Email to Coalition Distribution)


bcc: Coalitions, associations, some others.

Many of us have experienced the negative effects of closing Interstate 40. Clogged NM 333, major connectors (e.g., Central, Tramway), shopping center parking lots, and residential streets near those roadways. There have been many meetings and offline discussions. We've had excellent support from State legislators, Commissioner Brasher, and others----at the last meeting, the NMDOT Secretary and the acting Exec Director of MR COG were very supportive of making more progress. I've been pushing for the development of a comprehensive, coordinated plan so that we know (and they know) what can be done to minimize the traffic jams.

I hope that we can get some responsive presentations from panelists at the January 14 meeting (Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center, beginning at 6:30 pm). We will be in the gymnasium, so space is not limited for those who wish to attend. I urge member associations to invite their members as evidence of growing community concerns.

Merry Christmas, Roger Mickelson

East Gateway Coalition Meeting--I-40 Closure (Email to State, County & City Distribution)


From: FHVHA RogerTo: Debra.Bauman@state.nm.us, Mike.Plese@state.nm.us, larry.velasquez@state.nm.us, Andy.Montoya@state.nm.us, Patrick.Garrett@state.nm.us, sheriff@bernco.gov, LAnaya@cabq.gov, RGriego@cabq.govCC: MBrasher@mercury.bernco.gov, James.White@nmlegis.gov, DCave@mrcog-nm.gov, Gary.Giron@state.nm.us, LMalry@bernco.gov, bmiera@bernco.gov, TZdunek@mercury.bernco.gov, JBreen@cabq.govSent: 12/22/2009 10:35:03 A.M. Mountain Standard TimeSubj: East Gateway Coalition Meeting--I-40 Closure

In discussions with State Rep Jim White and Commissioner Michael Brasher, they'd like to introduce the discussion on January 14, 2010, emphasizing the long-standing and growing problem of closures of I-40. They and many residents in east Albuquerque and the East Mountains have voiced strong concerns with the increased frequency of closure, heavier congestion, and blockage of NM 333 and city roadways.

At a recent meeting co-chaired by Rep White and Commissioner Brasher, it became clear that an agreed response plan is needed to coordinate NM DOT, NMSP, BCSO, and APD activities. There are other government agencies with roles in expeditiously clearing a closed Interstate, but these four agencies, especially the two State agencies, appear to have primary responsibilities. Additionally, both BCFD and AFD have vital interests in clearing roadways for emergency response. I have revised the sketchy plan that I sent earlier; it's attached (and certainly needs comments).

At this point, I've adjusted the agenda to list Rep White and Commissioner Brasher to summarize the problem, followed by a panel-----Debbie Bauman (NMDOT), Capt Montoya (NMSP), BCSO (I don't have a name from that office yet), and Commander Anaya (APD). I ask that each of you (or the "right" representative) contact me at 332-9273 to discuss how I can help you in developing a meaningful discussion on January 14.

Regards, Roger MickelsonPresident, East Gateway Coalition of Associations

(Plan and Meeting Notice in next post)

Monday, December 14, 2009

East Gateway Coalition of Associations Meeting Agenda 1/14/2010


East Gateway Coalition of Associations
Agenda for January 14, 2010
Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center
(South-West Corner of Elizabeth and Southern Blvd SE)


6:30 Call to Order (Roger Mickelson)


6:30 Update: Crime in District 9 (Commander Levi Anaya)


6:40 FOCUS ON TRANSPORTATION—I-40 CLOSURES AND REMEDIES
Short Introduction—the Growing Problem
State Representative Jim White and Commissioner Michael Brasher

Panel Presentation—the Solutions
NM Department of Transportation----------- Tony Abbo
NM State Police------------------------------ Captain Andy Montoya
Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office------------- Chief Deputy Dave Linthicum
Albuquerque Police Department-------------- Commander Levi Anaya
Other involved government agencies invited to attend.

Adjourn

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

EAST GATEWAY COALITION MEETING MINUTES 10/15/2009


EAST GATEWAY COALITION
MINUTES OF OCTOBER 15, 2009, MEETING


The meeting was called to order by President Roger Mickelson at 6:45 p.m.

APD Lieutenant Scott Lopez presented a summary of crime information on behalf of Commander Levi Anaya.
· Crime is down in District 9, except for Singing Arrow.
· Go to www.cabq.gov/crime for information on calls for service; you can select the area and duration.
· Four Hills and Juan Tabo Blvd have major speeding problems; APD has mounted more speed checks.
· Reversal operations: Female APD officers are posing as prostitutes, especially along Central Avenue.
· Burglaries have resulted in increased APD operations to counter those crimes.
· APD is working on noise enforcement, especially loud motorcycles.
· Crime prevention specialist, Agrippina Neubauer, is conducting a series of classes for young school children on internet safety, predators, and other concerns.
· Gates have recently been installed near the south end of the Juan Tabo Blvd bridge to prevent vehicles from entering the Tijeras Arroyo.
· APD Foothills Command can be reached at 332-5240.

Focus on Transportation
· NM DOT representative had to cancel at the last minute due to flu; ABQ Ride was not present.
· Traffic Engineer Wilford Gallegos:
o Department of Municipal Development is responsible for both capital programs and operations.
o The ¼ cent Transportation Infrastructure Tax provides about 80% of road maintenance funding.
o Goal of Street Maintenance is to work every street every 8-10 years.
o City has about 4600 lane miles of streets to maintain; about 1/3 are arterial and 2/3 residential.
o Major rehabilitation costs about $200,000 per lane mile.
o Snow removal involves approximately 26 snow plows; emphasis is on salting/sanding.
o I-40 closures. There is a plan, including gates to prevent eastbound access to I-40, signage, and negotiations with EXPO New Mexico for parking, but major questions remain [NOTE: This may be the primary topic for a panel of State, County, and City transportation and police agencies in January.]
o City will salt/sand the Juan Tabo Blvd bridge leading to Juan Tabo Hills, but further south, the issue may be City acceptance of the bridge and developer-built streets.
o Generally, the city doesn’t salt/sand residential streets.
· Jack Lord, MR COG:
o Presented an outline of the Metropolitan Planning Organization that serves as a regional planning, development, and coordinating body.
o Responsible for the long-range Metropolitan Transportation Plan (the process for the 2035 MTP has just begun) and shorter-range Transportation Improvement Plan (eight year budget constrained tactical plan).
o Contact at www.mrcog-nm.gov
o NOTE: Roger Mickelson has an electronic copy of Jack Lord’s .ppt presentation.
· Bruce Rizzieri, MR COG:
o Regional transportation planning and execution.
o Federal Highway Trust Fund has been depleted recently—funded by gasoline/diesel taxes.
o State Road Fund is also funded by gasoline/diesel taxes, but some revenues diverted by the NM Legislature.
o Gasoline/diesel tax revenues have declined during the last several months.
o Local funding includes the new 1/8 cent Gross Receipts Tax passed last year—split between Rail Runner and related transit—and the recently approved ¼ cent GRT that will go into effect on July 1, 2010.
o Rail Runner passengers: About 45% of the Rio Rancho-boarding passengers go to Santa Fe; approximately 80% of the Los Lunas/Belen passengers are bound for Albuquerque.
o Next three years will see more transit routes, park-and-ride locations, and neighborhood circulator services.
o In coming years, New Mexico (and Albuquerque) are predicted to have the fifth-oldest average age population; regional transit planning will adapt to those requirements.

Paula Donahue, Planning Department, presented a short status summary of the East Gateway Sector Development Plan. Comments have been received and analyzed to update the plan. Next step is to submit the plan to the Environmental Planning Commission (target date is November 5, but could be delayed to December 3) and provide public access a week after submission. EPC will hold at least two hearings, and then the city council’s Land Use, Planning, and Zoning Committee will consider the plan. City council is the approving authority. It is important that residents, business operators, and other interested parties testify and submit written comments after studying the plan as it proceeds. The Coalition attendees complimented Paula for her professional diligence and erstwhile efforts to keep the public informed and involved—much applause.

Bernadine Hernández, UNM Hospital, presented an overview “Report Card” describing UNMH and its accomplishments. UNMH is the only public and teaching hospital in New Mexico. It is also the only Level 1 Trauma center and the only 24/7 Pediatric ER in New Mexico. The long-standing mil levy provides approximately $82 million annually for services and equipment. UNMH will convert to all-electronic medical records on October 25, 2009. NOTE: Roger Mickelson has an electronic copy of her .ppt presentation.

There were some concluding statements by Matt Zidovsky (Rep Martin Heinrich’s office), Qiana Salazar-King (Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins’s office), Bernadette Miera (Bernalillo County neighborhood contact), and Isaac Padilla (Councilor Don Harris’s office).

The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

EAST GATEWAY COALITION OF NEIGHBORHOODS NEWSLETTER


East Gateway Coalition of Neighborhoods Newsletter
September-October 2009
(Publication date: November 12, 2009)


Revitalization of East Central Avenue. The Sector Plan boundaries are Virginia Street on the west, Copper Avenue and I-40 on the north, the City limit on the east, and KAFB on the south as shown below; the smaller Metropolitan Redevelopment Area is a darker shade.

(East Central MRA and Sector Plan Map included in original Email).

The East Central Sector Development Plan is in final edit, with reviews by the Planning Department and most other city agencies that will be affected by the many design and zoning proposals from Wyoming on the west, I-40 on the north, and the city limit on the east and south. These reviews seek to produce a cohesive, readable plan that would be submitted to the Environmental Planning Commission (EPC) early in December. There are no further public meetings scheduled, although there is a possibility that narrowly-focused discussions could be held to resolve concerns of groups of residents and business operators according to Paula Donahue, the Planning Department coordinator. Paula can be reached at 924-3932 or PDonahue@cabq.gov.
General information and the draft plan can be found at http://www.cabq.gov/planning/long-range/eastgatewaysdp.html. Note that this posted draft plan is being reviewed, although the changes may be moderate in some regards—the contents will follow a similar outline.
The EPC will likely examine the plan application in January, and we anticipate that at least one closed “study session” and two public hearings will be conducted. Following the EPC review, the plan will be forwarded to the City Council and referred to the Land Use, Planning, and Zoning committee prior to reaching the full City Council. The entire process may result in a decision (to approve the plan) in the March-April 2010 timeframe, depending on the plan’s relative priority amidst other legislative issues.
Public review of the plan can therefore begin about December 3, and public comment (testimony) can be offered at the two EPC hearings, the LUPZ hearing, and the City Council meeting. We should all stay involved, read the plan in December, and prepare and present any formal comments early next year. Remember, if you don’t participate, you shouldn’t gripe about the final results.
In parallel, work continues on the Metropolitan Redevelopment Plan that is based on a narrower area along Central Avenue. A summary of the process can be found at http://www.cabq.gov/planning/amra/currentprojects.html. According to Gabe Rivera, the Planner, the contractor is conducting additional economic and market research this month. Gabe will conduct a “walk-around” survey of businesses over the next month, planning for a third public meeting in December. Gabe can be reached at 924-3479 or JGRivera@cabq.gov.

Mitigating I-40Closures
Winter storms, icy roads, and accidents have created incredible traffic backups in the East Gateway area for many years. Senator Sue Wilson-Beffort, Representatives Kathy McCoy and R.J. Berry, and local officials have tried to ensure that responsible authorities (e.g., NM Department of Transportation, State Police, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department, Albuquerque Police Department) are planning to divert the heavy traffic from I-40 onto parking areas without impeding residents’ necessary movement to and from homes and stalling emergency service response vehicles.
Gates blocking access to eastbound I-40 have been installed. Electronic warning signs have been set up and tested. Ideas have been proposed for turnarounds or temporary exits from I-40. Discussions have been held—far too many discussions—without preparation of a coordinated plan to cope with the hundreds of 18-wheelers that frequently have filled shopping center parking lots, clogged major collector roads (like Central Avenue), and completely halted local residential traffic, including emergency vehicles responding to accidents, medical emergencies, and fires.
Recognizing that I-40 carries an enormous volume of traffic, that winter storms will happen, and that major accidents will occur, it is apparent that more planning needs to be done. To that end, we’ll ask our elected officials to demand that responsible agencies create and test plans to minimize the negative effects of I-40 closures. Additionally, the East Gateway Coalition of Associations will ask those officials and responsible agencies to provide relevant information and to summarize emergency plans early next year—at the Coalition meeting at 6:30 on January 14 at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center (Southern and Elizabeth SE).

Coalition Meetings
· The January 14 meeting is our Annual Meeting. In 2010, representatives of member associations need to elect the Vice President and the Treasurer for a two-year term. As noted above, we hope to have a panel presentation of solutions to the long-standing I-40 closure problems.
· Please provide your recommendations for future meeting themes to Roger Mickelson, 332-9273 or fhvharoger@aol.com

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

East Gateway Coalition of Associations Meeting Agenda

East Gateway Coalition of Associations
Meeting Agenda for October 15, 2009
Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center
(South-West Corner of Elizabeth and Southern Blvd SE)


6:30 Call to Order (Roger Mickelson)


6:30 Update: Crime in District 9 (Commander Levi Anaya)

6:40 FOCUS ON TRANSPORTATION
Panel Presentation, followed by questions and answers

NM Department of Transportation Debbie Bauman (NM DOT Planner)
ABQ Ride—Progress and Programs Greg Payne (Director, ABQRide)
Albuquerque Traffic Engineering Michael Riordan (Director, DMD)
2035 Metropolitan Trans Plan Jack Lord (MR COG)
Regional Planning Bruce Rizzieri (MR COG)
8:10 East Gateway Sector Development Plan (Paula Donahue)
Short update on next steps in the process

8:30 UNM Hospital Community Report Card (Bernadine Hernandez)


8:45 Adjourn (Roger Mickelson)



http://www.eastgatewaycoalition.org/

Monday, August 10, 2009

EGWC Meeting Minutes 7/23/2009


EAST GATEWAY COALITION
MINUTES OF JULY 23, 2009, MEETING

The meeting was called to order by President Roger Michelson at 6:45 p.m.

Lenton Malry ,a coordinator of the Bernalillo County Neighborhood Association, handed out a “NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS” publication, and called attention to an article about the newly appointed County Commissioner for District 3, Maggie Hart Stebbins .

President Michelson introduced Albuquerque Police Department Commander Levi Anaya, who spoke on crime statistics in the Gateway area. Some areas have considerable increases in violence while others have not increased dramatically. He noted that neighborhood coordinators could go to the CABQ web site at “crimemapping.com” to see what is happening in their areas. He strongly proposed that neighborhoods participate in the “Neighborhood Watch” program, and get to know their neighbors; how to contact them; and share information with them. He said “311” DOES WORK, and contact may be made at “cabq.gov/crm”. Commander Anaya may be contacted at “LAnaya@cabq.gov”.

President Michelson then introduced Ms. Ester Tennenbaum, who is employed by City of Albuquerque Information Central – 311. Ms. Tennenbaum informed the group that 311 first originated in Baltimore as a relief for 911 operators, who were overwhelmed with non-emergency calls for information. The 311 system was started in Albuquerque in 2004. In 2005 there were 400 calls recorded for the service. Now there are more than 8,000 calls per day. The slogan for 311 operators is “The citizen is always first.” She stated that quality of information provided to the citizen is their number one priority, and 311 never closes – they are there 24/7.

Mr. Michael Brasher, Bernalillo County Commissioner for District 5, was introduced and spoke briefly on County happenings.

Paula Donahue, Senior Planner of the City of Albuquerque Planning Department, was introduced by the President. Ms. Donahue presented the “First Draft for Community Review” of the East Gateway Sector Development Plan. She explained various portions of the plan and noted that a meeting will be held on August 20, scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Manzano Mesa Multi-generational Center to discuss the plan. She requested that comments on the proposed plan be forwarded to her office no later than August 7 either by e-mail or regular mail. Ms. Donahue stated that after the meeting on 8/20/09, it will take at least another month for review of proposed changes, and that a proposal incorporating changes should be presented in October, with a final document to be presented in December. The document would then go to the Planning Commission; then to the City Council for review and adoption. It could take ten to fifteen years for implementation.

The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

Friday, July 10, 2009

East Gateway Coalition of Associations Agenda


http://www.eastgatewaycoalition.org/

East Gateway Coalition of Associations
Agenda for July 23, 2009
Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center, Room 3


6:30 Call to Order (Roger Mickelson)
Minutes for January and April meetings were approved by e-vote


6:30 Crime Statistics (Commander Levi Anaya)

6:45 311—Albuquerque’s Information Central (Esther Tenenbaum)

7:15 East Gateway Sector Development Plan (Paula Donahue)


8:50 Adjourn (Roger Mickelson)



http://www.eastgatewaycoalition.org/

Thursday, June 18, 2009

East Gateway Coalition of Associations Meeting Minutes 4/21/2009


East Gateway Coalition of Associations
Meeting Minutes
April 21, 2009

The quarterly meeting, held at the Manzano Mesa Multi-generational center, was called to order at 6:42 .m. by President Roger Mickelson. There was not a quorum present.

The President introduced New Mexico State Representative R.J. Berry. Representative Berry commented that paving at Central and Tramway was underway as the NM Department of Transportation was able to transfer $200,000 to the project, thanks to the efforts of Larry Vellasquez, NM Department of Transportation. Rep. Berry noted that the legislature had the least number of bills introduced in the 60-day session since 1985. He stated the state is solvent for four years; however the 2010 budget will be smaller than that for 2009. It was stated that state government hired 5,700 new employees during the current administration. He believes a special session will be called in August or September to deal with fiscal matters.

NM State Senator Sue Wilson-Beffort was introduced and commented that she had served in the legislature for thirteen years, presently on the Senate Finance Committee, and has never witnessed the fiscal dilemma that this year’s legislature has had to deal with. She noted that due to this fiscal problem, no new programs were introduced to the legislators.

NM State Representative Tim Keller was introduced and spoke of actions taken by the legislature for corporations, education, Tax Increment Development Districts, green jobs, a 40% tax cuts for green remodels, $400,000 allocated for films, $60,000 for Eclipse Aviation, and the allocation of $180,000 for the study of the Southern Blvd. intersection in the sector plan being studied for the area.

Bernalillo County Commissioner, Michael Brasher was introduced and discussed the continuing problem of our jail over-crowding, which he feels is due to the inefficient system of legal operations. He noted that we need to apply pressure to more quickly to get from arrest, to trial, to sentence. He said attorneys stall, and 98% of pleas are entered at the last minute. There is a huge need to get attorneys, public defenders, and courts to work together, seeking earlier plea agreements as one priority measure. Mr. Brasher noted that the Water Utility is increasing rates, the City is increasing taxes, and that the time is wrong to be raising taxes and rates.

Roger Mickelson then introduced Steve Sink, APD Crime Prevention specialist. Mr. Sink’s first statement was “You are the person responsible for your safety”. He noted that the more information you can provide about an offender, the better the chance of the person’s being caught. Be aware of your surroundings; trust your instincts; follow through. He stated that “meth” is driving the crime rate. The triangle of crime is: motive, target, opportunity; so be aware of your surroundings at all times. He had the following suggestions: get rid of purses and wallets; etch VIN numbers on vehicle windshield and windows; trim hedges and shrubs on your property so no one can hide in them; have good outdoor lighting; put longer screws in door frames; when you are away, do not stop mail and papers, have a neighbor pick them up. Door to door solicitors must have a city permit with them and can only come to your home from 9 a.m. to dusk.

Bernadette Miera, Bernalillo County Neighborhood Association contact, was introduced and spoke of notifications she sends to community neighborhood leaders.

The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Geneiva Meeker

Thursday, May 28, 2009

East Gateway Coalition of Associations Meeting Agenda


East Gateway Coalition of Associations
Agenda for July 23, 2009
Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center, Room 3


6:30 Call to Order (Roger Mickelson)

6:30 Approval of Minutes (Geneiva Meeker)
Acceptance of Treasurer’s Report (Zach Hahn)


6:35 311—Albuquerque’s Information Central (Esther Tennenbaum)

7:10 East Gateway Sector Development Plan (Paula Donahue)


8:50 Adjourn (Roger Mickelson)

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

EAST GATEWAY COALITION OF NEIGHBORHOODS NEWSLETTER


Revitalization of East Central Avenue. The City’s consultant contractor has been hard at work to revise and expand the contents of the draft East Gateway Sector Development Plan. The Sector Plan boundaries are Virginia Street on the west, Copper Avenue to I-40 on the north, the City limit on the east, and KAFB on the south as shown below; the smaller Metropolitan Redevelopment Area is a darker shade.
(JPG posted in outgoing email).
Draft reports can be reviewed at http://www.cabq.gov/planning/long-range/eastgatewaysdp.html. Paula Donahue, the city’s Senior Planner for the Sector Plan, can be reached at 924-3932 or pdonahue@cabq.gov. The contractors and planning staff should have a more polished draft available for public review by the end of May 2009.
Tijeras Arroyo.
1. There is a proposal initiated by the Trust for Public Lands to purchase approximately 60 acres of undeveloped property just east of the City-County boundary south of NM 333 (old US 66), including a portion of the arroyo, and further south, connecting to the Manzano Open Space. Councilor Don Harris sponsored legislation to earmark $400,000 toward this purchase. This could provide an important link between open space north of I-40 and potential open space in the Tijeras Canyon for a wildlife corridor. Issues include overall costs within fiscally-constrained budgets, policing of the arroyo (a favorite “camping” area for homeless people), and maintenance of the extended open space.
2. Public dumping and intrusive activities further west in the arroyo continue to be an irritant to residents. The developer of Juan Tabo Hills has been asked to install locked gates to limit access to trash dumpers, and both the City and County have been asked to participate in a cleanup operation to remove accumulated trash from the area north of Juan Tabo Hills.
3. Non-native trees and other growth continue to proliferate in the arroyo. There is a Council bill pending to remove these unwanted plants to preserve native vegetation.
Form Based Zones. The Environmental Planning Commission dedicated hundreds of hours to revise a comprehensive proposed addition to the Zoning Code establishing five (seven if you count the sub-categories) new Zones, outlining procedures to request Zone changes, and templates for each new zone. The Council approved the proposal. Note that developers must request changes to existing Zone designations and that those applications are subject to established Planning procedures, including public review and comment. Note that developers had the flexibility within the established Zoning Code to apply for any of the template designs under an SU-1 Zone.
Great Streets. This proposed Rank 2 Facility Plan would provide for enhancing street segments to provide a “sense of place” through widening of sidewalks, emplacing shade trees and other plants, and similar measures to attract walkers. Similar to the Form Based Zone procedures, developers, community groups, business owners, and others would apply for a Great Streets designation for a specified street segment. It is expected that the Council will approve the Great Streets Facility Plan, which could override sector plans, subdivision plats, and overlay zones, all of which are Rank 3 plans. Note that Great Streets projects had already been approved under the established Zoning Code.
Coalition meetings.
· The Annual meeting was held on January 22, 2009, at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center. Member association representatives elected Roger Mickelson as President and Zach Hahn as Treasurer, each for a two-year term. PRC Chairman Jason Marks reported on regulatory activities. US Postal Inspection Service agent Stephanie Herman provided insightful information about identity theft and postal security matters. Mayor Martin Chàvez spoke about his efforts to secure Federal stimulus funding for City projects.
· The next quarterly meeting is scheduled for 6:30-8:30 pm on April 21, 2009, at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center. NM Senators Sue Wilson-Beffort and Tim Keller and state Representative RJ Berry will report on the 60-day 2009 legislative session. APD Crime Prevention manager Steve Sink will provide information on avoiding crime to attendees.· Please provide recommendations for future meeting themes to Roger Mickelson, 332-9273 or fhvharoger@aol.com.

Friday, April 10, 2009

East Gateway Coalition of Associations Meeting Agenda

East Gateway Coalition of Associations
Agenda for April 21, 2009
Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center
SW Corner of Southern Blvd and Elizabeth Street SE



6:30 Call to Order (Roger Mickelson)

6:30 Approval of Minutes (Geneiva Meeker)
Acceptance of Treasurer’s Report (Zach Hahn)



6:35 New Mexico Legislative Update (Sen Sue Wilson-Beffort)
(Rep R.J. Berry)
(Sen Tim Keller)

7:00 Avoiding Crime: Awareness and Actions (Steve Sink, APD)



8:30 Adjourn (Roger Mickelson)



http://www.eastgatewaycoalition.org/

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

EGWC Meeting Minutes 1/22/2009


EAST GATEWAY COALITION
Meeting Minutes
January 22, 2009

Call to Order: The Annual Meeting of the East Gateway Coalition was called to order at 6:40 p.m. at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center by Roger Mickelson. There were thirty participants, including three coalition officers, ten member association representatives, invited guests, and government officials. Member association representatives were provided with copies of the approved revised bylaws, the Treasurer’s Report and the October Meeting Minutes.

Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the October 23, 2008, were approved as presented.

Treasurer’s Report: It was moved that the report of the Treasurer be accepted as presented; seconded, and passed.

Election of President and Secretary: Zack Hahn nominated Roger Mickelson for President for the ensuing two-year term. The nomination was seconded, and there were no ensuing nominations. Nominations were closed. All voted in favor of the nominee, and Roger was elected as President. Rose Sena nominated Geneiva Meeker as Secretary for the ensuing term. The nomination was seconded, and passed. There were no other nominations and nominations were closed. All voted in favor of Geneiva, who will serve as Secretary for the ensuing two-year term.

Public Regulation Commission Activities: Newly re-elected PRC commissioner, Jason Marks, provided information relative to new PNM rate increases and growth predictions that the commission is reviewing. PNM desires to construct five new transmission stations to satisfy the projected needs of its customers. The utility has received permission from the PRC to add a charge for the increased cost to install underground lines to service areas. He urged constituents to contact him at www.jason.marks.com; e-mail: jason.marks@state.nm.us. He may be telephoned at: 1.888.4AS.KPRC, or (cell) 505.235.8015.

Mail and Identity Theft: Stephanie Herman of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service spoke to the attendees on how to help avoid identity theft. Some points of interest if you are a victim of identity theft:
· Place a fraud alert on your credit reports.
· Review your reports
o Equifax: 1.800.525.6285
o Experian: 1.888.397.3742
o Trans Union: 1.800.680.7289

The alert will stay on your credit report for at least 90 days; an extended alert for seven years. (You may also obtain a FREE credit report from www.annualcreditreport.com (1.877.322.8288). Next, close accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Then file a report with your local police where the identity theft took place. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. This may be done online at www.ftc.gov/idtheft; by phone at 1.877.IDTHEFT.

Ms. Herman had many other pointers: shred financial documents; protect your Social Security number; do not give out personal information over the phone; never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; don’t use an obvious password such as your birth date; keep personal information in a secure place.

Ms. Herman provided four handouts, including a Quick Reference of pertinent organization contact phones, addresses, and e-mails. Highly recommended web sites include www.fakechecks.org, www.identytheftassistance.org, and www.idtheftcenter.org.

Member association representatives may request a copy of Ms. Herman’s PowerPoint presentation from Roger Mickelson at fhvharoger@aol.com.

Mayor Martin Chavez arrived at approximately 8:30. He discussed his recent trip to Washington, D.C. relative to requests for receipt of Federal funds to help cities defray costs of miscellaneous infrastructures; such as roadways, etc. (He was one of fifteen mayors invited to attend the meeting with President Barrack Obama’s economic advisers.) He noted that the State will probably receive about 1.3 million dollars, but the amount the City will receive is still unknown.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Geneiva Meeker, Secretary

EGWC of Associations Agenda for 4/23/2009

East Gateway Coalition of Associations
for April 23, 2009
Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center, Room 3
6:30 Call to Order (Roger Mickelson)

6:35 Approval of Minutes
Acceptance of Treasurer’s Report


Avoiding Crime

6:40 Awareness and Individual Actions (Steve Sink, APD)



8:00 Updates on the East Gateway Sector Development Plan, Tijeras Arroyo, Open Space Acquisition, and other matters

8:30 Adjourn (Roger Mickelson)



http://www.eastgatewaycoalition.org/

Monday, January 12, 2009

Eastgateway Coalition Newsletter NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008


(Publication date: January 4, 2009)

Revitalization of East Central Avenue. Another public meeting was held on November 20, 2008, to report progress on the East Gateway Sector Development Plan. The Sector Plan boundaries are Virginia Street on the west, Copper Avenue to I-40 on the north, the City limit on the east, and KAFB on the south as shown below; the smaller Metropolitan Redevelopment Area is a darker shade. In a related matter, the Moratorium and Interim Design Standards affecting construction along East Central Avenue, in place now for more than two years, will probably be modified to allow for single story commercial development along Central. One construction project at Central and Elizabeth SE is moving forward. Maestas and Ward, the developer for Franklin Square at Juan Tabo and Central, will proceed slowly to redevelop that corner property. The Sector Plan contractors and Planning staff will hold additional public input meetings in the next month or so.
(Map was included in the email to all)
Reports and status may be reviewed at http://www.cabq.gov/planning/long-range/eastgatewaysdp.html. Paula Donahue, the city’s Senior Planner for the Sector Plan, can be reached at 924-3932 or pdonahue@cabq.gov. Although this round of comments ended on December 18, 2008, Paula solicits your input concerning how this corner of the city should be modernized.

Great Streets. The Planning Department developed a facility plan for aesthetic landscaping, limiting parking, walkable sidewalks, and other features to provide a “sense of place” along selected streets in Albuquerque. The Environmental Planning Commission reviewed the plan earlier in December and deferred further action until January 22, 2009. Status and the December 2008 revised version of the plan can be found at http://www.cabq.gov/planning/long-range/GreatStreets.html.

Form Based Zones. The proposed addition to the Zoning Code was forwarded to the City Council on November 5, 2008, with extensive suggestions by the Environmental Planning Commission. The complete Planning Staff report is 852 pages long; will the Council read that thoroughly? The FBZ will probably include:
Language was added to the General provisions establishing the use of the zones as allowed by existing legislation.
A list of incentives was included.
A new implementation process was adopted and is described in the plan.
Language regarding the administration of the zones was clarified and simplified.
The Definitions section has been removed and coordinated with the Zoning Code.
Many technical changes.
It is anticipated that the Chair of the Land Use, Planning, and Zoning Committee will schedule FBZ for hearing later this month or in February.

Economic situation. The Mayor has proposed significant budget reductions to offset lower revenue projections. The Council has proposed cuts of about $23,000,000 in a similar vein. It is expected that many city services and projects may be reduced in scope, eliminated, or deferred pending improvements in the overall economy and tax revenues. The New Mexico Legislature will be wrestling with similar concerns during the upcoming session.

Next Coalition meeting will be held at 6:30 PM on January 22, 2009, at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center. This is the Annual Meeting, and member association representatives are strongly urged to attend. The agenda includes election of the President and Secretary, a summary report of activities of the Public Regulatory Commission by Jason Marks, and an intriguing discussion of mail and identity theft by Inspector Stephanie Herman, United States Postal Inspection Service. I heard Inspector Herman’s presentation at the New Mexico Crime Prevention Association meeting late in 2008—she covers a lot of topics that threaten all of us.



Roger Mickelson 323-9273 fhvhaRoger@aol.com

revised East Gateway Coalition Annual Meeting Agenda


East Gateway Coalition of Associations
Annual Meeting Agenda for January 22, 2009
Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center


6:30 Call to Order (Roger Mickelson)

6:35 Approval of Minutes
Acceptance of Treasurer’s Report
Changes to Bylaws approved by e-vote Oct-Nov 2008

6:40 Election of President and Secretary
Nominations from the floor
Summary statements of qualifications by candidates if desired
Election by voting members


6:55 Public Regulation Commission Activities (Jason Marks, PRC)


7:10 Mail and Identity Theft (Stephanie Herman, USPIS)



Special Guest Speaker Mayor Martin J. Chávez



8:40 Adjourn (Roger Mickelson)



www.eastgatewaycoalition.org