Thursday, December 30, 2010

EAST GATEWAY COALITION MEETING MINUTES 10/1/2010


EAST GATEWAY COALITION
MINUTES OF OCTOBER 21, 2010 MEETING

The meeting held in the Manzano Mesa Multi-generational Center was called to order at 6:43 p.m. by President, Roger Mickelson.
APD Foothills Area Commander, Cliff Saylor, told the audience that burglaries in the area have increased with the manner of access being: ring the front doorbell, then go to the back and kick in the door to gain entrance to the home. Auto thefts are on the increase, especially in commercial areas, and with people leaving their cars while they allow it to warm up.
Senator Tim Keller noted New Mexico has no law governing homeowner associations. He is preparing a bill to be presented to the Legislature this year. His committee is basing its work on Arizona, Nevada, and California laws. Several local public forums have been held in which the attendees submitted suggestions for rules they would desire to be covered (or excluded). He noted that hearings would be before two committees in the House and 2 committees in the Senate; then it would go to the Legislature.
Representative Jim White informed the audience that the budget will be a huge problem this year, as one of the major things the Legislature will have to deal with is a $1,000,000 cut in Medicaid subsidies from the Federal government. He noted that the session, which begins January 18, 2011, will be a sixty day session.
Bernalillo County Commissioner, Michael Brasher, thanked the audience for allowing him the privilege to serve on the commission. As his term ends December 31, 2010, he is very concerned with the fact that the County Manager will continue to have the power to approve contracts up to $300,000 without open bidding, or commission approval. He noted that the commission continues to work on an ethics bill. He stated that he is continuing to work on I-40 closures and noted that a meeting is to be held shortly with all concerned agencies.
Dr. Dan Derksen, a twenty-six year UNM faculty member, spoke on the “Affordable Health Care” Act. He noted after this law goes in to effect, the U.S. will be short about 90,000 physicians by 2014. He also noted that presently New Mexico loses three out of four graduates from the medical school to other states.
A Joint Land Use Study for future use of a five mile area around Kirtland Air Force Base was presented. There are recommendations concerning funding, coordination of problems, study of land use compatibility, building code considerations, Base growth, as well as many others.
The President noted that the Sector Development Plan was passed by the City Council on October 4. Many amendments were made to the plan by Council members without public awareness or input. The plan was sent to the Mayor on October 22.
Ted Korbin, Traffic Engineer, discussed the Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan. The plan, presently in draft form, would review methods of traffic calming, and discuss new methods for handling the process.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:56 p.m.

East Gateway Coalition Meeting



The Annual meeting is tentatively scheduled for January 20, 2011, at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center. The agenda is not set at this time.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

EAST GATEWAY COALITION MEETING MINUTES 7/22/2010


EAST GATEWAY COALITION OF ASSOCIATIONS
MINUTES OF JULY 22, 2010 MEETING

The meeting was called to order at 7:10 p.m. by President Roger Mickelson.

He introduced the following guests: Antonio Sandoval (representing U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich); NM State Representative., Jim White; NM State Senator, Tim Keller; Bernalillo County Commissioner, Michael Brasher; Lenton Malry, Bernalillo Count Manager’s office; and Isaac Padilla (representing City Coucillor, Don Harris).
The President then introduced Commander Cliff Saylor, who is the new commander at the Albuquerque Police Department’s Foothills Area Command. Commander Saylor announced that the Foothills Area Command will hold an open house on August 4 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., and invited all to attend. He then apologized to the audience, stating that he had been called to another meeting, and introduced Lieutenant Todd Hudson to speak to the audience. Lt. Hudson said the area had recently had 12 burglaries and 15 car thefts and car burglaries. He stated that the crimes were most commonly committed during the daytime hours (as people are at their jobs, or otherwise away from their homes). Most vehicle burglaries happen during the night time hours. He stressed that personal items should not be left in vehicles as most of the items stolen were purses, cell phones, lap tops, and other personal items. It was also stressed that cars should be garaged or secured at night. He noted that we should all be aware of what is going on in our neighborhood. If a strange vehicle is spotted at the wrong time in the wrong place, get a license number, note make, color, anything that would help identify the vehicle. The same applies in all situations….be a good witness….note what is happening….report what you have observed.
Mickelson then introduced Senator Tim Keller, who spoke on the recent findings that the State must cut another 3% from its 2011 budget. He stated that both he and Representative White have worked diligently on the budged and are trying to prevent an increase of taxes.
Representative Jim White was then introduced. Rep. White stated that he took office in the fall of 2010, appointed to take Representative R.J. Berry’s seat when Rep. Berry resigned to run for Mayor. He has no opponent in November, so he has two and a half years yet to serve. He stated the 2011 State budget is about $600 million short. He stated the previous Legislature had predicted a six percent increase in revenue which they knew would not occur. He discussed the Legislature’s efforts on establishing ethics legislation. He also discussed a recent proposed City Council bill which would infringe on homeowner associations’ covenants. Rep. White stated that anyone purchasing a home where there is a HOA should have all rules disclosed to them before they purchase.

The President then introduced Russell Brito. Mr. Brito, who is employed in City Planning, stated that the East Gateway Sector Plan is to be heard by the Land Use, Planning, and Zoning committee on August 11, then will probably go to the full Council in September. It is still possible to submit comments to the Planning Department or Council staff on the Sector Plan. The Sector Plan is designed to help improve the quality of life by sustaining or improving commercial, office, industrial, utility and residential properties. He stated land use could be change by changing zoning. Mr. Brito noted that the Mid-Region Council of Government (MRCOG) is predicting that by year 2035 population in the area will increase by 600,000.
Mickelson then introduced Gabriel Rivera, who summarized potential Metropolitan Redevelopment projects from Wyoming to Tramway.
Mickelson finally introduced Shannon Beaucaire, who is with the City of Albuquerque’s Legal Department. Ms. Beaucaire is in charge of the Community Mediation Department. She urged the audience to utilize this service to help resolve disputes or conflicts that may occur in their areas. The sessions allow the individuals to clearly express their concerns and discuss the resolution with the opposing individuals.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:22 pm.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Agenda--East Gateway Coalition meeting Oct 21,2010


East Gateway Coalition of Associations
Agenda for October 21, 2010
Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center
(South-West Corner of Elizabeth and Southern Blvd SE)

6:30 Call to Order Roger Mickelson

6:35 APD Foothills Area Command Commander Cliff Saylor

6:45 HOA Legislation Senator Tim Keller

6:55 Legislative Update Representative Jim White

7:05 Albuquerque Administration Initiatives Tito Madrid

7:15 Health Care Concerns Dr Dan Derksen (UNM)

7:35 Joint Land Use Study—Regional Planning Recommendations

8:00 Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan Ted Korbin
Traffic Calming Devices, Policies, Procedures

8:30 Sector Development Plan Status Roger Mickelson

8:50 Adjourn Roger Mickelson

Thursday, July 1, 2010

East Gateway Coalition of Associations Meeting Agenda for 7/22/2010


East Gateway Coalition of Associations
Agenda for July 22, 2010
Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center
(South-West Corner of Elizabeth and Southern Blvd SE)


6:30 Call to Order Roger Mickelson

6:30 APD Foothills Area Command Commander Cliff Saylor

6:45 Legislative Update Senator Tim Keller

6:55 East Gateway Sector Development Plan Russell Brito, Planning
Last public discussion prior to August 11 Land Use, Planning, and Zoning Council Committee hearing.

7:35 East Central Metropolitan Redevelopment Gabriel Rivera

8:15 Alternate Dispute Resolution Shannon Beaucaire, Legal
8:30 Adjourn Roger Mickelson

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

EAST GATEWAY COALITION MEETING MINUTES 4/22/2010


The meeting of the East Gateway Coalition was called to order at 6:45 on April 22, 2010, by President Roger Mickelson.
Roger introduced guests: Antonio Sandoval (representing U.S. Rep. Heinrich), NM Legislature Representative Jim White; Michael Brasher, Bernalillo County Commissioner; Steve Sink and LT Todd Hudson, APD; David Robbins, APS; and Lenton Malry, Bernalillo County Manager’s office.
Steve Sink, who is the Crime Prevention Manager at APD, stated that one of the most important things to keep in mind is we are each in control of our own personal safety, and we control our own environment. He stressed that it is important to always remember the non-emergency phone number to call is 242-cops.
It is necessary to always use our “gut instinct” about what is going on around us. If something does not look or feel right, it probably is NOT right. He stressed that women should not carry a purse. Make a small packet and carry it on your person. Never carry more than one credit card.
He noted that there have been many cars stolen this year as on cold mornings people go out and start their car to let it warm up and go back into their home…..the car is gone within seconds. APD will etch VIN numbers on your vehicle, usually on the last Saturday of the month from 10 am until 2 pm at various locations around the city. Call 311 the week before to find the location for the event. The next VIN event is in the Target parking lot (Lomas, east of Eubank) on May 22, a week earlier than normal to accommodate the May 30 holiday weekend. You can usually find the location listed in the newspaper (or call your local APD office). If carrying your certificate of registration in your car (as required by law) he suggests making a copy of the certificate (and sign the copy) and carrying that instead.
Mr. Sink had many other suggestions about how to make your home safe, handling solicitors, home invasion, and panhandlers.
Mr. Sandoval reported that Rep. Heinrich had been working on various legislation relative to veterans’ affairs (and offered copies of a “Veteran’s Resource Guide”); tax credits for purchase of a new home; “Hire Act” breaks for small businesses; and the American Recovery Act.
Mr. David Robbins, APS Board Member, noted that the board of directors had been working very diligently on the 2011 budget. He noted that the school district has dozens of different funds, of which some are restricted as to how they may be utilized. The primary operating monies come from the state. Capital funds may not be spent for operating expenses.
A couple of year ago staff had “found” $8 million, and bonuses and raises were given to personnel, as well as monies directed to the athletics programs. This same $8 million mistake was repeated the following year. It was later discovered that these monies were not “restricted” and, thus could be recouped and replaced. With lower revenues and higher expenditures, APS now has a $43 million shortfall for the fiscal year. It was found that many procedures were not documented and there was no written protocol in place for employees to follow. The board now requires monthly financial reports, explanations of variances of projected expenditures as well as close monthly examination of financial status. The current operating budget is $650 million.
Mr. Robbins noted that 98 administrative jobs have been eliminated during the last year.
In responding to a question about vandalism at the schools, Mr. Robbins stated that the district is in the process of installing cameras to document the damages and the vandals.
Representative White stated that unemployment in the state is now at 8.7%. He said that we can expect more taxes and the state budget must be balanced and it will probably be done through taxation. He also noted that education gets 60% of every dollar the state takes in.
Bernalillo County Commissioner Michael Brasher reported that the county is looking at a charter school. He stated that new construction is “hurting”. The economy does not support much new construction. Tourism is down, and “tax lightning” is definitely going to affect other taxes with increases.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50.
Respectfully submitted,
Geneiva Meeker

Monday, May 3, 2010

EGWC NEWSLETTER 2 - 4/ 2010


East Gateway Coalition of Neighborhoods Newsletter
February-April 2010
(Publication date: May 1, 2010)

Revitalization of East Central Avenue. The East Gateway Sector Development Plan is under consideration by the City Council Land Use, Planning, and Zoning committee. The council’s attention is on the budget, so it may be June before the next scheduled LUPZ hearing occurs. The plan can be found at http://www.cabq.gov/planning/long-range/eastgatewaysdp.html. Following the LUPZ review, the plan will be forwarded to the full City Council. Review the plan and provide comments to dharris@cabq.gov or testify at the LUPZ or Council hearings. I urge you to participate in the process—this will set the future appearance of our corner of Albuquerque for a long time to come.

Metropolitan Redevelopment. There will be a public meeting on MRA along East Central Avenue on May 4, 2010, at 6:30, at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center. Contact Gabe Rivera at jgrivera@cabq.gov for further information. Better, participate to see what projects might receive stimulus funding along Central.


Coalition Meeting April 22—Presentations.

Crime Prevention—Steve Sink, APD Crime Prevention Manager
· Who’s primarily responsible for your personal safety? You are! You can control your environment at that critical, unpredictable moment in time when you’re threatened.
· Report suspicious activities to 242-COPS, file a police report on www.cabq.gov/police/, or visit your Area Command. For crimes in progress, clearly threatening situations, or other serious activities, call 911.
· Be aware of your surroundings, and trust your instincts. You know what’s “normal” and what’s suspicious.
· A Crime requires a Target, Opportunity, and Motivation.
o Targets include women’s purses, someone carrying packages, open garage door, or other “valuable” source of valuable items.
o Opportunities include unlocked cars, open garage door, and people who are apparently unaware of their surroundings and potential threats.
o Motivation is that perception by the criminal that he/she has the opportunity to acquire the target. This is usually fueled by a way-of life, an attitude disregarding laws and rules, past history of criminal activity, need to steal to support a drug, alcohol, or criminal addiction.
· Auto Theft
o Albuquerque is always high on the list due to location.
o Auto burglary is often the goal to steal a car and its contents
o Thieves fence stolen cars to “chop shops” to be disassembled and sold as “off market” repair parts.
o Don’t keep your vehicle registration and insurance documents in the glove compartment. Carry them with you, provide copies (with original signatures) to other drivers, or put them in a secure, hidden location in the trunk.
o APD conducts free VIN etching on all car windows on the last Saturday of each month, except in May it will be on May 22. Call 311 or look for notices in the newspaper for times and place.
· ID Theft
o Often methamphetamine driven. Addicts need drugs, steal wallets/purses, and sell the identification documents and credit cards to wholesalers.
o Theft of a wallet is a short-term crime; recovering from ID theft can take many months.
o Scams abound to capture personal information; they are always externally initiated. Don’t provide account numbers, PINs, social security numbers, or other “private” information to anyone unless you initiated the call or request and know and trust whoever you’re dealing with.
· Homeless and Vagrants—Panhandling
o There are more than 3,000 homeless people in and around Albuquerque. They are in need of cash for a variety of reasons (often to support drug or alcohol problems), but DON’T give panhandlers cash—that will only perpetuate the problems.
o Some panhandlers consider asking for cash (for gas, for baby food/diapers) as their employment.
o See it; sense it; report it! Call 242-COPS, notify store managers.
o Avoid panhandlers, loiterers in parking lots, and suspicious people—don’t respond to please, ignore them, walk around a row of cars; go back to your car; ask someone to walk with you.
o You know what’s normal, so act on your instincts to avoid confrontations.
· Safety at Home
o Locks, lights, 4-inch dead bolt plate screws.
o Make it look like someone is home.
o Ask a trusted neighbor to pick up mail and newspapers, park a car in the driveway at times, take out trash, return the trash container from the street.
· Door-to-Door Solicitation
o These days, there probably aren’t any “legal” solicitors.
o A solicitor may be searching for a vacant house—as a burglary target. So DON’T hide and fail to let the solicitor know that someone is home; you might be surprised by someone crashing through your back door or patio door, leading to a violence—property crimes progress to violent crimes.
o Respond to a knock on the door or doorbell, but DON’T open the door. Let the solicitor know someone is home, but you don’t want that person on your property—tell him/her to leave.
o Solicitors must have a city permit issued and WITH THEM; ask to see it. If there is confusion or hesitation, immediately tell the solicitor to leave the premises (failure to do so is TRESPASSING), and tell him/her that you are going to call police.
o Watch the departing solicitor; if he/she continues to your neighbor’s house, call police.
o Political, religious, and youth-associated solicitation does NOT require a city permit, but you can tell the person to leave your property—you’re not interested.
· Home Invasion
o Rare, but it happens. And it can be violent.
o The 2:00 AM frantic knock on the door. You respond, look, and sleepily assess the situation. It might be an apparently injured non-threatening gal asking for help after “an accident.” But DON’T open the door to express your sympathy, because you might then see two really scary dudes appear from the shadows and bulldoze their way into your home. Without opening the door, assure the non-threatening person that you’ll immediately call 911—and DO THAT while the visitor can hear you. He/she may miraculously disappear, but should be checked on before another neighbor opens a front door.
· Neighborhood Watch
o An effective crime prevention program along a block, where you know the neighbors.
o Get to know your neighbors, their vehicles and habits, and watch for suspicious variance from normal.
o Look out for your neighbors; ask them to look out for you.
o Call Steve Sink (924-3600) for information on establishing a Neighborhood Watch program on your block.
· Who’s primarily responsible for your personal safety? You are!


Albuquerque Public Schools—David Robbins, APS Board of Education
· APS has about 14,000 full-time employees, 1,000 plus part-time employees, and 140 schools (plus other support facilities). Costs have increased about 18% per student over the last 13 years.
· APS gets the vast bulk of its resources ($600 million in operating funds) from the State. Revenues have dropped. So there are severe budget issues facing the Superintendent.
· The School Board has three functions: set policies (not programs or plans); advise the APS Administration; and hire/fire the Superintendent. The Board can’t demand or order any actions outside those activities.
· Finance staff and managers have experienced an unfortunate personnel rotation/loss for the last several years. Inexperience and sometimes weak capabilities created problems; there have been four Budget directors in the last four years.
· APS “found” $16 million recently. The situation was that financial personnel had misidentified $8 million in FY09 funds as “restricted” [reserved for a particular budgeted purpose] rather than “unrestricted” [available for other uses]. With staff inexperience, that same error was made in FY10, so there was a total of $16 million misidentified, but actually “in the bank.” Someone finally caught the error.
· Due to lower revenues and unforeseen expenses, there is a $43 million shortfall.
· Capital budgeted moneys can’t be used for operational expenses—so the choices under consideration are difficult and will adversely affect administrators and teachers. Firing “double dippers” could cost more than the potential savings in salaries, since APS receives more funding for well-experienced teachers—the additional funds probably exceed the projected salary savings.
· Financial problems have included under-budgeting, barely qualified staff, inexperience, and accounting systems issues (the “new” system was not calibrated against the “old” system; software doesn’t work as predicted).
· In the past, budgeting and financial procedures were NOT documented. Each new person had to reinvent a method to budget, pay bills, and account for LOTS of money.
· In the past, APS only reported monthly costs. The Board has now required that monthly reports include projected budget amounts for that period, actual costs, variances, and explanations of over/under spending so that managers and the Board (and the public) can be aware of the financial health of APS and act to correct errors and adjust to changes.
· Fixes are underway. A better-qualified manager is in place; procedures are being documented. Transparency and public notice of newly discovered problems will become the appropriate method of reporting.
· Questions on Vandalism.
o Vandalism costs APS about $1 million per year.
o APS is installing many cameras to document damages and vandals.
o Seeking to recoup repair costs from offenders and parents.
o More costly to hire sufficient APS Police or guards for all the facilities 24/7/365 as prevention measure.
· Questions on Management
o Teachers get promoted to department heads, then Principals, then APS Staff managers without having managerial expertise.
o Some programs to train managers, but the culture promotes “educators” into management.
David Robbins can be reached at 252-2375.

Joint Land Use Study. Kirtland AFB and the Mid Region Council of Governments (MR COG) are coordinating a study of:
· collaborative land use planning among military installations (KAFB), planning authorities (presumably Albuquerque’s Planning Dept and Bernalillo County’s Zoning and Planning Dept), and regional governments;
· intended to provide technical assistance to help understand, assess, and control the impacts on civilian and military populations of potential implications on each other from their respective activities and land uses;
· method to provide for long-term preservation of Kirtland AFB and foster compatible community development and growth.
There have been (poorly publicized) public meetings, and the report is being assembled over the next 2-3 months. I virtually stumbled into the last public meeting that was held next to the meeting place for the County Capital Improvement Program, so I have very limited information at this time. More later on this subject.

Coalition Meetings
· The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for July 22, 2010, at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center, beginning at 7:00 pm.
· Please provide your recommendations for speakers, forums, or meeting themes to Roger Mickelson, 332-9273 or fhvharoger@aol.com.

Monday, April 5, 2010

East Gateway Coalition of Associations Meeting Agenda 4/22/2010


East Gateway Coalition of Associations
Agenda for April 22, 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 CRIME PREVENTION

Albuquerque Police Department Steve Sink
(Other APD Representatives Invited)
Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Gonzales (Invited)

7:30 Legislative Update US Rep Heinrich’s Staff


7:40 Albuquerque Public Schools David Robbins (School Board)



8:30 Adjourn (Roger Mickelson)

Friday, March 19, 2010

2010 EGWC Activities



It's a busy Spring. More details as events get closer.


2-Mar to 28-Apr
Lost and Found in the Open Space
Opportunity to clean up Open Spaces
Joshua Willis jrwillis@cabq.gov
27-Mar
VIN Etching Event at Cottonwood Mall
From 10:00 am until 2:00 pm
17-Apr
Alb Block Captain Assn--Neighborhood Watch
Hoisington Police Academy 8:30 to 12:00 $10 to join
Steve Sink ssink@cabq.gov
22-Apr
First Council Review of City Budget
At 5:00 pm, Council Chambers basement of city hall
Some departments
22-Apr
East Gateway Coalition--Crime Prevention; APS
Manzano Mesa Center 6:30 to 8:30
Roger Mickelson fhvharoger@aol.com
24-Apr
2010 Great American Cleanup
Opportunity to spruce up the neighborhood
3-May
Spring Green Waste Collection
Opportunity to get rid of yard waste
6-May
Second Council Review of City Budget
At 5:00 pm, Council Chambers basement of city hall
Some departments
10-May
Spring Green Waste Collection
Opportunity to get rid of yard waste
17-May
Final Adoption of City Budget (maybe)
At 5:00 pm, Council Chambers basement of city hall
All departments
24-May
Final Adoption of City Budget (if needed)
At 5:00 pm, Council Chambers basement of city hall
All departments

Saturday, January 30, 2010

EGWC NEWSLETTER 11/2009-1/2010


East Gateway Coalition of Neighborhoods Newsletter
November 2009-January 2010
(Publication date: January 30, 2010)

Revitalization of East Central Avenue. The East Gateway Sector Development Plan is under study by the Environmental Planning Commission; the next public hearing is scheduled for March 4 at 3:30 pm in the Basement hearing room of the Planning Department, 600 Second Street NW. The draft plan can be found at http://www.cabq.gov/planning/long-range/eastgatewaysdp.html. 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. Review the plan and provide comments to pdonahue@cabq.gov or testify at the EPC, LUPZ, or Council hearings. I urge you to participate in the process—this will set the future appearance of our corner of Albuquerque for a long time to come.

Mitigating I-40 Closures. The January 14, 2010, East Gateway Coalition meeting was convened at 6:45 pm, with President Roger Mickelson outlining the intent of the panel presentations and participants’ questions concerning closures of I-40 in the Tijeras Canyon [outside the Albuquerque city limits] due to severe weather and due to accidents; the resultant traffic congestion on the Interstate, along adjacent roadways, and throughout major and residential streets within Albuquerque city limits; and, especially, what actions have been or will be taken by responsible governmental agencies to minimize the dangerous effects of closures. He noted that there are about 50,000 vehicles transiting the Tijeras Canyon stretch of I-40 every day—the problems are long-standing, complex, and more than difficult. Primary responsible agencies involved in responding to closures include:
· New Mexico Department of Transportation (NM DOT)
· New Mexico State Police (NMSP)
· Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department (BCSD)
· Albuquerque Police Department (APD)
Many other governmental bodies are involved, all the way from long-range planning (Mid-Region Council of Governments—MR COG) to emergency responders (e.g., Bernalillo County Fire Department—BCFD, Albuquerque Fire Department—AFD), as well as other support agencies and those that are affected by closures.

· State Representative Jim White summarized the situation, noting that he had lived in the SE corner of Albuquerque for 30 years and has sought resolution of these long-term problems for 15 years. He emphasized the two diverse situations causing closure—weather and accidents, each with differing durations (longer closures for snow; shorter for accidents), separate responsibilities, and tailored mitigating actions. An example—a closure due to snow [or other weather] closes both eastbound and westbound lanes, while an accident usually closes only one travel direction, and maybe not all lanes in that direction. He noted the NM State Law that assigns authority to close I-40 to the NMSP, and pointed out the need for law enforcement agencies to investigate accidents. In the case of a snow closure, NM DOT and NMSP decide when to open the highway. He asked, “Who’s in charge?” “Is it the first responding officer?” and “Who makes the decision?” He asked that the responsible agency representatives address such questions and provide operative solutions regarding a complex solution.

· Bernalillo County Commissioner Michael Brasher followed by noting that there will always be such incidents, especially those due to weather. Much has been done because of the Four Hills Village Homeowners’ Association. He has had several meetings with people involved to explore the issue of need which he considers a need of absolute public necessity—the need to get emergency and needed equipment into surrounding areas. He noted that law enforcement agencies had full responsibility in the case of accidents. Having hosted many discussions among elected officials, responsible agencies, other involved agencies or organizations, and concerned citizens, he reported on the progress among agencies and stated that a coordinated response plan would probably be agreed to and published within about two weeks [end-January]. He urged panel participants to let the audience know about past, current, and proposed activities to alleviate the traffic problems resulting from closures. He stated that the solution is for DOT to have a procedure in place in case of road delays.

· Tony Abbo, NM DOT District 3, the first panelist, stated that the overall goal of the NMDOT is “keeping the freeway open.” He reiterated that law enforcement agencies are the only agencies that can close the roads; NM DOT can’t. He then cited projects accomplished to date, including:
· rebuilding of I-40 in the Canyon
· installation of four monitoring video cameras to alert agencies of accidents and building weather problems
· installation of gates to close eastbound access to I-40 at major entrances [Four Hills Road/Tramway, Juan Tabo, Eubank, and Wyoming – 2 more within the Canyon]
· openings in the median separators to permit turnarounds—We have built all the opening. If changes to the design of the openings are needed, then it may be considered
· establishment of a coordinating group [NM DOT, NMSP, BCSD, APD, and others] specifically formed to address closure issues
· the series of coordinating group meetings, about every three months, seeking to revise a response plan to create a “seamless” process
· expansion of the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) of informational electronic warning signs as far west as Gallup
· activation of the 511 telephone information number; upgrades to the http://www.nmroads.com/ web site
· text alerts for those who sign up for transportation information notices within the http://www.nmroads.com/ web site
· purchase [Federal Highway Administration funded] and use of extensive camera-based technology for the photogrammetric investigation of accidents to reduce on-scene measurements and open the freeway back to traffic in a reasonable time frame. All calculation and measurements can be done in an office setting
· putting appropriate response staff on call in advance of expected severe weather events
· have snow plows, sand trucks, and personnel ready for deployment prior to anticipated severe weather

He noted that I-40 is NM DOT’s priority in this region, but that the agency had limited manpower and had to concentrate appropriate people based on the individual situation. He briefly discussed the Traffic Management Center [downtown] through which NM DOT coordinates their activities during emergencies.

· NMSP Captain Andy Montoya noted that District 5 has about 40 officers to patrol and respond to situations in this multi-county area all the way to Santa Rosa. He reaffirmed the priority to “keep roads open,” keeping public safety ever in mind. At any given time, there are only 1-2 NMSP officers in the East Mountain/Tijeras area, so BCSD is generally the law enforcement agency patrolling this stretch of I-40. He responded directly to one of Representative White’s questions—the first responding officer at an accident retains jurisdiction [there are legal issues involved, particularly in the case of casualty-causing accidents and subsequent litigation; every investigation must be accurate and thorough]. He reinforced the cooperative nature of response by noting that other agencies work with the first responder to keep traffic flowing—they decide how many lanes can remain open and whether the road must be closed.

· BCSD Chief Deputy Sheriff Dave Linthicum stated that the closure issues are taken very seriously―that responsible agencies seek mutual aid; are aware of protocols; and try to improve response actions. “We understand and are dedicated to make the protocols work.” NMSP is professionally excellent, and BCSD works well with NMSP and APD. We [on behalf of NMSP] won’t hesitate to close I-40 if that is necessary, but “it’s like shoving an elephant through a straw” [considering the huge volume of Interstate traffic]. BCSD stays in communication with everyone [involved in responding to closure].

· APD Foothills Area Commander Levi Anaya noted that his area includes all of the city east from Eubank [east, north, and south] to the city limit, and the city gets the brunt of traffic resulting from closures. APD is concerned and working on coordinated plans. A major success changed the previous policy of closing I-40 at Tramway [the exit farthest east in the city], which can’t handle that volume of traffic, at APD’s request; so now we collectively push the closure back to Eubank and Juan Tabo—diverting traffic from I-40 and directing traffic north and south onto Central and other areas instead of concentrating the traffic jams in the narrow areas near Tramway—preventing 18-wheelers from waiting along Wenonah or Four Hills Road. The area around Tramway and Central cannot handle [diverted] traffic in case of road closure. APD works to prevent such congestion. Is closure inconvenient? Yes, but we learn from each situation—meeting afterwards to discuss events. We’ll continue with the business of keeping roads open. Is it perfect? No, but we’re working on it. If it’s working on accidents on I-40 in the city, that’s APD’s job. We want to “keep highways open.” Our tools include proper investigation, particularly when fatalities close roads. We use APD wreckers to move disabled vehicles, and we try to keep the public informed with Twitter and our web site [http://www.cabq.gov/police/]. APD takes the problem seriously.

· Q and A Discussion provided the audience with the opportunity to ask about details or to enquire about related matters. It was clear from the outset that panelists were eager to respond, that they didn’t object to critical remarks, and that there was an impressive attitude of cooperation among the responsible agencies. Without attribution, the topics covered included:
· The keys to mitigating the effects of closure are controlling eastbound traffic and concluding the pending agreement, which is not looked at as a temporary measure.
· NM DOT has the keys to the gates that can block eastbound access to I-40 at Wyoming, Eubank, Juan Tabo, and Four Hills Road entrances.
· The ITS is not limited to the Albuquerque area. There are electronic signs as far west as Gallup and, within Albuquerque, at 9-mile hill. There are some areas without camera coverage at the present time. There is a need to improve traffic information received (e.g., from cameras, from TV/radio reports, from truckers on CB radios).The Traffic Management Center is expected to work better within about 12 months as improvements are made.
· The plan is to divert interstate traffic [especially 18-wheelers] to Expo and to the Balloon Fiesta Park.
· Turning I-40 traffic around at Tramway [to send trucks back to the west] didn’t happen in 2006/2007; APD hadn’t anticipated the 3-foot snowfall. And truckers don’t want to turn left at that exit intersection, since trucks weighing more than 5 tons are prohibited from driving on Tramway. Note also that APD vehicles are not four-wheel-drive and have difficulty in deep snow situations—some are unable to respond quickly.
· The Albuquerque Emergency Operations Center can be opened with an expanded staff that may be needed. APD calls in additional officers during any closure emergency.
· It’s necessary to adjust any plan to fit the circumstances, but it’s good to have a plan.
· NM DOT is adding [ITS and other] signs. There’s a sign at 4th Street that would direct eastbound I-40 traffic onto I-25. There are now four ITS signs in Albuquerque to inform tourists and truckers.
· The 3-foot snow is what really triggered formation of the interagency group to cooperate on a response plan.
· There is an emergency plan in place; the fully coordinated plan will be completed in January. The plan is implementable.

· CONCLUSIONS
· This series of presentations, questions, comments, and answers provided an unusual opportunity for residents affected by closures of the very high traffic volume stretch of I-40 to (a) learn what responsible government agencies had accomplished to mitigate the traffic congestion resulting from closures, (b) hear about the interagency cooperation in revising response plans and formally meeting as a group to discuss lessons learned from emergency responses, and (c) understand the serious concern and commitment of responsible agencies.
· Closures will happen due to severe weather and serious accidents.
· With 50,000 vehicles transiting the Tijeras Canyon stretch of I-40 every day, closures will create extensive traffic congestion on I-40 due to blockage, on alternate routes (really only NM 333), along nearby major roadways (e.g., NM 14, Tramway, Juan Tabo, Central), in shopping center and other parking lots, and often on adjoining residential streets in Albuquerque as diverted traffic spills over from major roadways and parking lots.
· There is a commendable spirit of cooperation and coordination among the responsible government agencies; this positive attitude has resulted in the preparation of an interagency response plan that should be finalized in January 2010.
· The interagency planning group meets quarterly and following every closure to discuss lessons learned from each situation, to improve response times, and to modify the processes to better mitigate the effects of closure.
· Is it perfect? No. Any plan seeking to respond to an emergency of such a large scale must provide sufficient flexibility for responsible on-scene managers to adapt to specific situations at the time.
· What else needs to be done?
o The public should be informed of the significant progress made by responsible agencies.
o The interagency response plan should be presented to the public to reassure residents affected by closures of I-40 that response actions are focused on opening roadways and protecting public safety.
o Consideration should be given very early in the decision processes to activate the Albuquerque Emergency Operations Center (or the Bernalillo County EOC) to assemble representatives of many organizations who might (a) need information about the closure and response and (b) assist in the response operations.
o The interagency planning group should be formalized, with a Charter to ensure sustainability of the group and its purposes; consider the inclusion of representatives of nearby residential associations or organizations to provide public concerns and inputs to the government agency representatives.

Coalition Meetings
· The January 14 meeting was our Annual Meeting. Elections were deferred to e-mail nominations and votes; Rose Sena was elected as Vice President, and Zach Hahn was elected as Treasurer.
· The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for April 22, 2010, at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center, beginning at 6:30 pm.
· Please provide your recommendations for future meeting themes to Roger Mickelson, 332-9273 or fhvharoger@aol.com.

Friday, January 22, 2010

EAST GATEWAY COALITION MEETING MINUTES 1/14/2010




EAST GATEWAY COALITION
MINUTES OF JANUARY 14, 2010 MEETING

The meeting was called to order at 6:40 by President Roger Mickelson, who stated the purpose of the meeting was to hear from representatives of the State Department of Transportation, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department and Albuquerque Police Department about plans and actions to alleviate traffic congestion resulting from closure of I-40 due to severe weather or serious accidents.

The President introduced the following persons: Jim White, NM State Representative; Michael Brasher, Bernalillo County Commissioner; Tony Abbo, NM Department of Transportation; Captain Andy Montoya, NM State Police; Chief Deputy Dave Linthicum, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department; and Commander Levi Anaya, Albuquerque Police Department, who constituted the panelists. He then introduced the following dignitaries in the audience: Mike Plese, District Engineer; Lenton Malry, County Manager’s office; Tito Madrid, Mayor’s office; and Jorja Brasher, Director Office of Senior Affairs.

Representative Jim White opened the discussion by stating that in a situation where it must be determined as to whether or not the interstate must be closed or is safe to remain open, it must first be determined just who is in charge. Must equipment be sent out for removal of snow or vehicles involved in accidents? If the Sheriff is there first, who does he hand it over to? We must determine who is responsible to get the job done.

County Commissioner Brasher stated that solving the problem is not a public convenience, but an absolute necessity. He said there have been several meetings lately, and things are beginning to come together, and an operational plan of action should be signed and in place in a short time.

The next speaker, Mr. Tony Abbo of the Department of Transportation, stated that in the case of an accident or impassable roads, the local law enforcement agency would call the DOT and request closure. He stated there are four cameras in the area along I-40 which are monitored by DOT; the emergency number, 511, has been improved immensely; web sites have been installed; and signs are in place for instant alert and warning messaging. He stated co-ordination meetings are held every three or four months. When a dangerous storm is predicted, the snow removal crews are placed on stand-by and when the storm moves in, they are sent out immediately.

Captain Andy Montoya of NM State Police, District 5, stated that the priority in the operation of the interstate is to keep the roads open. However, he only has one or two officers in the area at any particular time, and it is difficult to patrol such a large area.

Chief Deputy Dave Linthicum of Bernalillo County Sheriff’s office stated that when they view a dangerous situation on any interstate, it will be closed if necessary, and the State Police will be notified.

Commander Levi Anaya, Albuquerque Police Department, stated that in the past when it was necessary to close I-40 it was closed at Tramway. Now (because of the heavy traffic load) it is necessary to close it either at Eubank or at Juan Tabo, which creates a lot of evacuation to the local streets and parking lots. He stated that it is absolutely necessary that Central be left open to handle traffic flow both locally and to old Route 66. It cannot become congested with parked 18 wheelers. He said APD has jurisdiction of I-25 and I-40 within the city limits and that APD’s website has DOT information posted on it also.

Audience question: “Who has the keys to the gates that would be closed in the case of a shut-down of the interstate?” Answer from Mr. Abbo: “DOT is working on an agreement with the City as to who opens and closes the gates.”

Audience question: “Electronic signs to divert traffic sooner than Eubank or Juan Tabo must be activated in an emergency situation.” Answer from Mr Abbo: “Signs are installed as far west as Gallup and can be activated by the DOT Traffic Management Center. We can get information to truckers on their citizens band radios about various places to park their rigs. For a longer shut-down of the freeway, traffic may be diverted to the fairgrounds, the balloon park, Wilson Stadium, Walmart’s parking lots, etc.”

Audience question: “Who is in charge at Central and Tramway?” Commander Anaya: “It is under my jurisdiction. However, it is tough to know when to move 18-wheelers away, as we get conflicting information as to how long the interstate will be closed, and just when it will be open again. Trucks will not move down Tramway due to load limitation.”

Mr. Abbo: There are presently four electronic signs in the city.

Chief Deputy Linthicum: “The casinos have agreed to allow parking on their lots, and have indicated that they will put messages on their signs inviting parking in their lots.”

Mr. Abbo: “We will use all available public information officers to get information out to the public. We are diligently working on a plan of action which we hope to have in place within a short period of time.

Mr. Mickelson thanked Representative White, Commissioner Brasher, and the panelists, noting an increased spirit of cooperation to mitigate traffic congestion resulting from closure.

Mr. Mickelson stated that the remaining agenda item, “Elections”, would be dealt with via e-mail.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.