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Event transcript
	I'm here. I'm here.	00:00:00
	Who's here?	00:00:02
	There's a mouse in the pocket.	00:00:04
	This is the course City Council meeting Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Roll call, please.	00:00:07
	Mayor Baxter, Yeah.	00:00:12
	Councillor Chavez Lopez.	00:00:13
	Councillor Dean.	00:00:16
	Councillor Fleming.	00:00:18
	Yeah, Councillor Gonzalez.	00:00:19
	Councillor Ocampo.	00:00:22
	Yeah, Councillor Partridge.	00:00:23
	Councillor Romero.	00:00:25
	Here. Councillor Salome here.	00:00:27
	We have a clock.	00:00:30
	All right for the Pledge of Allegiance.	00:00:31
	I pledge allegiance to the flag.	00:00:33
	Of the United States of America.	00:00:37
	And to the Republic for which it stands.	00:00:39
	One nation under God.	00:00:42
	Indivisible.	00:00:44
	Make a motion to approve the consent agenda.	00:00:54
	Fact that moved a second a discussion.	00:00:58
	All fair, aye?	00:01:02
	Very good, very good.	00:01:04
	We have a real exciting presentation.	00:01:07
	From the department for the county appraiser.	00:01:10
	Elaine Briggs is going to come and give us a.	00:01:13
	Some good news, especially for the veterans.	00:01:16
	Grandpa Joe.	00:01:22
	Good morning.	00:01:25
	Good evening.	00:01:27
	I have some handouts here.	00:01:30
	First one, maybe you can take 1 and pass them down.	00:01:32
	Um.	00:01:37
	We'd like to thank you for allowing us to come and speak with.	00:01:41
	You today to explain the.	00:01:44
	Various texts.	00:01:47
	Exemptions that are offered through our office.	00:01:48
	We want to ensure.	00:01:51
	That the public is aware of and understands every option available to help.	00:01:54
	Reduce their property tax burden.	00:01:59
	And in some cases, individuals may even qualify for more than one exam.	00:02:02
	Actually, I gave you mine too.	00:02:09
	Sorry I was late.	00:02:23
	Alright, and and I failed to introduce Julie Grego our.	00:02:25
	County.	00:02:28
	Elected appraiser.	00:02:30
	Julie yes.	00:02:32
	No, we got them. We got them all.	00:02:35
	Thank you.	00:02:36
	Yeah, So I my, I'm Elaine Briggs. I'm the deputy assessor. This is Julie Graele.	00:02:37
	The assessor and the.	00:02:44
	Clerk. Supervisor.	00:02:47
	In the assessor's office. Donna South.	00:02:48
	So the first thing, let me stop. You know who she is.	00:02:52
	They just told me, remember Luis Como?	00:02:56
	Yeah, Luis, Camero's daughter.	00:03:00
	Yep, brings back old memories. That's almost 35 years ago. 36 And then he went to Carlsbad for a big job.	00:03:02
	Sorry, no, that's fine.	00:03:13
	That's fine.	00:03:15
	So the first exception.	00:03:18
	I wanted to.	00:03:20
	Explain Is the head of household exemption.	00:03:22
	I know there are a lot of people.	00:03:25
	That already know about this exemption, but there's a lot of new homeowners.	00:03:28
	That may not understand this exemption.	00:03:33
	Anybody qualifies for this exemption?	00:03:36
	If they are the.	00:03:39
	Homeowner and that is their primary residence.	00:03:41
	This takes $2000.	00:03:44
	Off the taxable value.	00:03:46
	Say, for instance, somebody's house is worth $120,000.	00:03:49
	Then you divide that by three.	00:03:54
	So that we.	00:03:58
	$40,000 which is the taxable value.	00:03:59
	Then you subtract the $2000 from that.	00:04:03
	And that is what you.	00:04:08
	So that would leave $38,000 and then you multiply that by the tax rate.	00:04:10
	To get your tax bill.	00:04:14
	So that's a really good exemption.	00:04:16
	And if you don't qualify for anything else?	00:04:20
	At least you would qualify for that the other one.	00:04:22
	That I want to explain as the veterans exemptions, there's been new legislation recently.	00:04:26
	And so some of these exemptions have changed.	00:04:31
	We do have.	00:04:35
	The full veterans exemption.	00:04:37
	And that was $4000 off the taxable value and now it has.	00:04:40
	Changed to be $10,000.	00:04:45
	Off the taxable value of a home.	00:04:48
	There is a.	00:04:52
	And that can be used for anything that can even be used for vacant land, for residential land, it can be used in the motor vehicle	00:04:53
	department.	00:04:57
	So it can be dispersed.	00:05:03
	Several different ways.	00:05:06
	Then there is the fully disabled veterans exemption.	00:05:08
	That's if there are 100% disabled.	00:05:12
	And there's also the percent disabled.	00:05:16
	Which is.	00:05:19
	10 to 90% disabled.	00:05:21
	These exemptions.	00:05:23
	Can only be used for.	00:05:26
	Primary Residence.	00:05:28
	And up to 5 acres.	00:05:30
	If, for instance, you have 10 acres of land.	00:05:32
	And you only qualify with your fully disabled or your percent disabled exemption.	00:05:36
	And you qualify for your residence plus 5 acres. The other 5 acres.	00:05:42
	You can use your full veterans the $10,000.	00:05:48
	Exemption so you can be fully.	00:05:52
	100%.	00:05:55
	Exempt using that.	00:05:56
	Am I correct, Julie?	00:05:59
	You can use the 10 1000 on the other acres but if your acres.	00:06:02
	Are more than 10,000 in value.	00:06:09
	Right.	00:06:14
	OK, Yeah.	00:06:15
	Right.	00:06:21
	Yeah.	00:06:22
	It's not a monetary amount. It's not 10,000.	00:06:24
	Dollars off your tax bill?	00:06:27
	It's $10,000.	00:06:30
	Of the value, the taxable value.	00:06:32
	And then you take.	00:06:35
	That deduction and you multiply it by the tax rate.	00:06:36
	And that's what you end up paying.	00:06:40
	So it can be a little complicated.	00:06:42
	There is the application.	00:06:46
	For the head of family exemption.	00:06:50
	In the assessor's office.	00:06:52
	And I want to explain the difference.	00:06:55
	If you're a veteran.	00:06:58
	And you go to the veterans services, umm.	00:07:01
	This is an application that can be used.	00:07:04
	For any of the.	00:07:07
	Exemptions for the veterans, It's in our office.	00:07:12
	The green.	00:07:16
	Certificate. Uh.	00:07:17
	Is the $10,000 off the taxable?	00:07:18
	And then the yellow certificate that's right underneath that.	00:07:23
	Is the 100% disabled?	00:07:28
	And then the red one underneath.	00:07:32
	Is the percent disabled between 10 and 90% disabled?	00:07:35
	So you can apply for these.	00:07:40
	There is.	00:07:45
	Another application here.	00:07:47
	I know that they have.	00:07:50
	Let me see her.	00:07:53
	The deadline to apply.	00:07:56
	For the.	00:07:58
	The 100%.	00:08:00
	Disabled.	00:08:02
	Can be applied for.	00:08:03
	Anytime throughout the year.	00:08:05
	And Julie, correct me if I'm wrong.	00:08:07
	The the other ones.	00:08:09
	The deadline to apply for them is April 30th.	00:08:11
	So if you go to the Veterans Affairs.	00:08:17
	You get your DD214.	00:08:21
	Fill in an application if for some reason.	00:08:23
	You don't have these certificates before April 30th.	00:08:27
	You can go into the assessors office and you can file for a.	00:08:32
	So that.	00:08:37
	You can be given that time to complete the application process. You get a letter that you bring to us that says that you've	00:08:39
	applied.	00:08:44
	And then once you get your certificate and you bring it in, then we can go ahead and we can use those certificates to reduce your.	00:08:49
	Tax bills.	00:08:57
	I I I know it sounds complicated, but really it's not.	00:08:58
	Um, I may be explaining it.	00:09:04
	In a more complicated way, but.	00:09:05
	It's not really complicated if if any, if you know of any veterans.	00:09:08
	That may not be receiving these exemptions, please let them know.	00:09:14
	To come into the assessor's office.	00:09:18
	To apply, at least begin the application process before April 30th so that they can have.	00:09:21
	These exemptions.	00:09:27
	Applied to their tax bills.	00:09:30
	There's also another.	00:09:32
	Exemption.	00:09:34
	Donna, did you want to add to anything on the on the veterans or anything?	00:09:37
	OK.	00:09:42
	There's also another.	00:09:45
	Exemption that is basically for 65 and over.	00:09:46
	Or disabled.	00:09:51
	Citizens.	00:09:53
	That they live on a fixed income.	00:09:55
	And this is called a tax freeze.	00:09:59
	This doesn't.	00:10:02
	Actually, this isn't an exemption. This freezes the taxes so that they don't increase for as long as this person.	00:10:03
	That is on the fixed income lives in the home.	00:10:11
	I also wanted to explain that on these veterans exemptions, if you have a spouse of a veteran.	00:10:14
	A widow or a widower of a veteran.	00:10:20
	And you live in the home.	00:10:24
	After they have passed.	00:10:26
	He's still qualifying.	00:10:28
	So spouses and widows and widowers, they will qualify until they remarry.	00:10:30
	Or not.	00:10:38
	Now this tax free.	00:10:40
	There is criteria that you have to.	00:10:44
	Follow here.	00:10:47
	The modified gross income for this year is $44,200.	00:10:49
	Or under.	00:10:54
	And this changes.	00:10:57
	Every year.	00:10:58
	So they would have to.	00:11:00
	Apply every year for.	00:11:03
	I believe the first three years.	00:11:05
	Once they've qualified for three years.	00:11:08
	Then it automatically gets applied.	00:11:12
	Every year after that until.	00:11:16
	Their income changes and it goes above.	00:11:18
	They also need to.	00:11:22
	Bring in their proof of income, their Social Security benefits statement.	00:11:24
	Their tax return?	00:11:29
	Umm, their proof of age.	00:11:31
	There is also an entitlement letter from the Social Security Administration showing the month.	00:11:36
	And year when they were declared disabled.	00:11:43
	So there's.	00:11:48
	But we if they come in to apply for this, we will walk them through the process. They won't be left out in the cold. We'll make	00:11:49
	sure that they have everything they need.	00:11:54
	And that they're able to have these extensions applied to their.	00:11:59
	Their tax bills.	00:12:03
	There's also other things for like.	00:12:06
	And, umm.	00:12:09
	There's special methods of valuation for agricultural land.	00:12:11
	There's special methods of valuation for.	00:12:15
	For.	00:12:18
	Grazing if you own a certain specific number of acres and you own a specific number ahead of.	00:12:19
	Of livestock.	00:12:26
	Those are substantial savings too. So there's a lot of different ways and we just want to educate the public to make sure that	00:12:29
	everybody knows that there are.	00:12:34
	A lot of different ways and we're here to assist to make sure that.	00:12:39
	The tax burden is.	00:12:43
	The the tax burden is is alleviated.	00:12:49
	As far as possible with these exemptions, so take full advantage of them.	00:12:53
	Let everybody that you know.	00:12:58
	Know about these exemptions?	00:13:00
	These are hard times that we're living in and every little bit helps.	00:13:02
	So thank you very much for your time. And are there any questions?	00:13:06
	Mr. Partridge.	00:13:11
	Julia, I just want to say one thing to mean.	00:13:12
	On the freeze divided threes.	00:13:15
	It's not a freezing.	00:13:17
	The freeze on the.	00:13:19
	Your taxes will increase because the tax rate increases. So it's the value that gets frozen, not the taxes.	00:13:21
	Top resident.	00:13:26
	I get married 2% of your money.	00:13:28
	But Mr. Partridge.	00:13:35
	Is there a I'm sure you guys visit outlets that you're getting this information out through or?	00:13:38
	Yes, these are from property tax.	00:13:43
	Right statutes.	00:13:45
	And the property tax code.	00:13:49
	Just because the the deadline that's coming up, is there a way we could share this information with? Absolutely. I was going to	00:13:51
	say yes. And that's why we're here because.	00:13:55
	The deadline is April 30th for a lot of these.	00:13:59
	And we want to make sure, and that's only because we can't continue to change values.	00:14:03
	People bring in their exemptions over the course of the year, duly certifies.	00:14:09
	The tax roll at a specific time.	00:14:14
	And so that's why we need to, we need to have a deadline.	00:14:16
	Well, Ruby, can you put him in the?	00:14:20
	Turn into residential bills.	00:14:21
	Thank you. That was what I was asking. Just for clarification, just to get it out to more people to get disseminated.	00:14:23
	We're good, yeah. And we did have an excerpt in the paper a few weeks ago regarding the new veterans.	00:14:29
	But legislation has continued to move forward. And so there's a little bit of differences even from. But we'll take the face sheet	00:14:36
	and we'll.	00:14:40
	Put it into our residential bill, so.	00:14:45
	4000 residents will get it 4000.	00:14:47
	Yes, yes.	00:14:51
	Perfect. We really appreciate you coming with this, Mr. Julie. Thank you for coming.	00:14:52
	Thank you, Mr. Salomi. Elaine, you did a good job. Thank you so much. Thank you so much, you guys. I just had a quick question.	00:14:57
	Like with regard to.	00:15:03
	You know how we.	00:15:06
	Collect the taxes.	00:15:07
	And I know that I need.	00:15:09
	Assessment sheet There's a list of.	00:15:10
	Uses for those taxes you you can you give us like a brief description of.	00:15:13
	You know, we you collect the taxes now, where does it go?	00:15:18
	Well, there's budgets like the school will.	00:15:22
	Submit a budget to the DFA the.	00:15:27
	Hospitals have a budget.	00:15:30
	Soil and water have budgets.	00:15:34
	There's different entities that they submit budgets and the tax.	00:15:37
	Bill the Mel.	00:15:42
	Rate is created based on the amount of money that.	00:15:44
	Is being requested by these different entities in the county.	00:15:48
	To make sure that they have.	00:15:53
	What they need for the year to cover their.	00:15:55
	Their expenses on their budget.	00:15:58
	That's the increases in the mill levy are.	00:16:00
	Conducted How?	00:16:03
	The DFA goes.	00:16:06
	It calculates.	00:16:08
	The amount that's needed.	00:16:11
	And the amount of.	00:16:13
	Money that we have.	00:16:15
	Generated from the taxes.	00:16:17
	And they?	00:16:20
	Are able to determine how much.	00:16:22
	From that.	00:16:25
	They need uh-huh.	00:16:27
	To make the budgets for everybody I see.	00:16:28
	If I may, I'm trying to.	00:16:31
	Yeah, I'm trying, not. Yeah, I'm learning. Thank you.	00:16:33
	When I certify my values in June.	00:16:38
	I send that off to DFA. DFA. By that time it's gotten everybody's.	00:16:40
	That, umm.	00:16:45
	Budgets like the city, the county, the state, the.	00:16:46
	So cold soil and water. That's why she came with me.	00:16:49
	Something all the water entities, the hospital, the schools.	00:16:51
	And then DFA creates a.	00:16:56
	They put it through their yield control and they create the rates. They create it based on what you guys.	00:16:58
	Need what you're asking? That's what I.	00:17:03
	And that's how we create the race.	00:17:06
	So on your tax bills.	00:17:08
	And if you pay $200 on your taxes, that's not just going to the county.	00:17:09
	Breaks it up to everybody and it shows you on your bills, your tax bills, how much?	00:17:14
	Yeah.	00:17:18
	Yeah, but Julie isn't.	00:17:19
	If you created a pie chart for a dollar bill.	00:17:22
	Then each entity.	00:17:26
	Has passed their tax.	00:17:27
	Load and then they get the distribution like the city gets 9%.	00:17:29
	Of the total collection.	00:17:34
	The hospital gets.	00:17:36
	How many mails at that? There's roughly around 4.2 so there. Yeah, so and we still have 4 mils left.	00:17:38
	And so the schools.	00:17:47
	School systems bond.	00:17:49
	And then when they do that, so.	00:17:50
	It'd be nice if you had a pie chart.	00:17:53
	There were some and that would be up to the treasures. I I have one in my office that I use for myself every year I put my.	00:17:55
	To see where we're at this year and how much, but that would be the treasure to put like a pie chart. It would be nice for them	00:18:02
	because most people see visually.	00:18:06
	And I think, yeah, I think for the public to know exactly where their money goes.	00:18:10
	And there are several different.	00:18:15
	Soil and water.	00:18:20
	Districts too, well, even the Conservancy, I think it's a.	00:18:21
	Yeah.	00:18:28
	Like from Bullock going north and 6th St. going east.	00:18:29
	They pay a lot more taxes than the rest of us do because they're in the Conservancy and their meals are like.	00:18:33
	Six to seven.	00:18:38
	Six point something, 7 point something and this is res and none.	00:18:40
	Residential mill rates are usually lower.	00:18:44
	Than the nun rest.	00:18:47
	OK, so if you have a vacant piece of land, you're paying?	00:18:49
	On that at a different rate.	00:18:52
	Whereas if you're paying on a residential block.	00:18:54
	I mean, the last middle race that we did was.	00:18:57
	To Joe Gonzalez, the.	00:19:00
	Fire Chief Tobias Fire Truck. Oh, OK. Remember that one? That was like.	00:19:02
	35 years ago.	00:19:06
	Remember when we had to?	00:19:14
	Every time you guys need more money, that's how you guys, yeah, yeah.	00:19:15
	1990 the first ladder truck. 1990 is when we did.	00:19:19
	But but since then, the city has never raised their.	00:19:23
	Property tax mill.	00:19:28
	Because we still we're one of the few count other cities that doesn't.	00:19:29
	Maxed out.	00:19:33
	Yeah, we're not maxed out on our.	00:19:34
	I will say it was money well spent in 1990.	00:19:37
	Right, right.	00:19:40
	But thank you so much for coming, so much good job. So that's how the tax bills are generated. And thank you guys for thank you	00:19:42
	for giving us this time.	00:19:46
	And just a reminder too, if you are guys, we're out doing a reappraisal again.	00:19:50
	So.	00:19:54
	We are praising. We have to do it every two to four years and every six years a mastery of what does it look like. They have a	00:19:56
	thing on their arm that shows that they should have a lanyard and they should have their yellow vest.	00:20:02
	In a laser.	00:20:08
	And they're measuring tape.	00:20:11
	OK. But thank you. Thank you again.	00:20:14
	Thank you. The assessors, I said. Appraisers, the county assessors.	00:20:17
	Thank you again.	00:20:21
	And say hi to Louise when you see him.	00:20:22
	It's nice that we're sending money to such nice people. That's so nice. It is. Thank you.	00:20:24
	There, Yeah.	00:20:29
	Just to quote to quote somebody.	00:20:33
	Quote somebody there are friends.	00:20:35
	Yeah.	00:20:37
	Thank you again.	00:20:39
	This property is going to create the tax.	00:20:41
	I don't know.	00:20:43
	The.	00:20:46
	Anyone else who wants to top that in public comment?	00:20:47
	Anybody here that's?	00:20:51
	Not OK. We're going to go on and do some quick resolutions and we're going to get to the pool.	00:20:52
	Because we have two vice presidents here we never get.	00:20:57
	JD Vance But at least we've got two vice presidents.	00:21:00
	They're both here, Vice president vegan, Vice President Green, So we're going to get to your thing right away.	00:21:03
	So Donald, you want to take over all this LGRF map and MFA and all that?	00:21:09
	The the first one is.	00:21:14
	Because it says the local government Rd. fund Co-op app is what we're applying for.	00:21:16
	Is to finish the streets around the courthouse.	00:21:21
	Which would be.	00:21:23
	Everything from Park Street to California St.	00:21:25
	And from Hwy. 60 or Spring Street to the Plaza.	00:21:28
	Including the one in front of the library which is Park.	00:21:32
	And the map application.	00:21:36
	Ironically, the.	00:21:38
	Is to design the right to reconstruct it, because if you.	00:21:40
	Have driven down a lady can see that. I think they call it tortoising. It's starting to look like the back of a tortoise shell	00:21:44
	because it's starting to crack.	00:21:47
	And the third one is a planning grant for the wastewater achievement system.	00:21:51
	Can I have a motion for?	00:21:58
	I'll make a second.	00:22:00
	2nd 3.	00:22:02
	Move that we do.	00:22:04
	26-0217-A26-0217-B26-0217-C Any discussion?	00:22:05
	All in favor.	00:22:13
	Aye.	00:22:14
	Now we had a meeting with as I said.	00:22:15
	Miss Vega. Mr. Green.	00:22:19
	About the.	00:22:21
	Proposal from New Mexico Tech.	00:22:22
	Comes in kind of three parts.	00:22:25
	Three parts. One part is.	00:22:27
	We talk about and the Council of course has to approve this, so.	00:22:30
	This is preliminary.	00:22:33
	They're going to have a.	00:22:35
	Town Hall meeting, which will advertise in the.	00:22:36
	And our bills also.	00:22:39
	And on uh.	00:22:41
	March, February 26th.	00:22:43
	February 20.	00:22:46
	At Workman or Macy?	00:22:47
	At Macy's Center at 5:30. This is probably for the tech family.	00:22:50
	And for the city family?	00:22:54
	The city will also have a public hearing.	00:22:56
	March and and middle of March.	00:22:59
	But here's the three things that we talked about. One of them.	00:23:01
	The city of Socorro will turn over.	00:23:05
	The pool.	00:23:08
	For the use.	00:23:10
	And operation.	00:23:12
	Via New Mexico Tech.	00:23:15
	For a dollar a year.	00:23:17
	In that concept.	00:23:21
	They propose to put a cover.	00:23:24
	Hopefully this also be solar.	00:23:26
	And they will also maintain.	00:23:29
	The pool.	00:23:32
	And they will.	00:23:33
	Staff the pool.	00:23:35
	In return, the city will give them.	00:23:37
	And we still have to.	00:23:40
	Have to.	00:23:41
	Get the specific number.	00:23:43
	But the city will give them.	00:23:45
	The amount of money that the city.	00:23:47
	Has paid for pool.	00:23:49
	Being in service.	00:23:54
	Which is around 100 and 7000 and $80,000 a year.	00:23:55
	We will then. That's the first bulk of the whole situation.	00:24:00
	The other two have to kind of be worked out number one.	00:24:04
	What will happen in the summer?	00:24:08
	We're asking them to.	00:24:10
	Not charge anything for children to use the pool.	00:24:11
	In the summer.	00:24:14
	They will may charge $5 for adults.	00:24:16
	That they do for a day pass.	00:24:19
	But for children it should be free.	00:24:21
	In the summer.	00:24:23
	We will also continue to give.	00:24:25
	Some help?	00:24:28
	In maintaining the pool.	00:24:29
	Chlorine and the and the.	00:24:31
	******* system and so forth.	00:24:33
	With a halftime personnel that we already have here now.	00:24:35
	And that's part of the 170,180 thousand dollars.	00:24:38
	The other thing would be they will continue.	00:24:43
	Having the swim team there.	00:24:45
	And all the money that I'm saying is a lump sum.	00:24:47
	Really goes for the swim team.	00:24:51
	We've spent money to rent the tech pool.	00:24:53
	We have money for lifeguards.	00:24:56
	And and we also use the Summer Youth Fund.	00:24:58
	To pay for some of that.	00:25:01
	The final thing which?	00:25:04
	The city has never had this, which is to our benefit.	00:25:06
	Is that they have a year round.	00:25:09
	Pool available to the city.	00:25:11
	Also, obviously primarily also for tech.	00:25:15
	But this is something that the city's never had.	00:25:18
	Which is the attractive?	00:25:21
	Part of this.	00:25:22
	Whole procedure is to.	00:25:24
	Habtech put a cover.	00:25:26
	So we have a whole whole.	00:25:28
	Years worth of pool use.	00:25:30
	So how much?	00:25:33
	The city will be able to.	00:25:36
	Access to pool should be.	00:25:38
	As long as it pay the $5.	00:25:40
	They'll be able to access the pool.	00:25:42
	Each seasonal year round.	00:25:45
	It does not if you have something to add to that.	00:25:48
	Mr. Green.	00:25:52
	Of what we talked about.	00:25:53
	At the meeting. But that's the guts of the meeting.	00:25:54
	And we still haven't put together any kind of an MU.	00:25:57
	But we needed to put some sunshine on this so that people.	00:26:00
	Know exactly what?	00:26:03
	Saying I mean I.	00:26:05
	I hear all kinds of stuff coming out of the left field on Facebook and stuff like that. Well.	00:26:06
	You know the bottom line is.	00:26:11
	And then tech can answer this.	00:26:13
	Easier than I can.	00:26:15
	The pool that they have is not.	00:26:16
	Flexible.	00:26:19
	It's just not.	00:26:20
	It's not a reality engineering wise.	00:26:22
	Construction wise.	00:26:24
	The ground is just not able to stand but.	00:26:26
	4 to get fixed.	00:26:29
	We spent 20.	00:26:31
	Which 20? We spent about $250,000 in the last five years.	00:26:32
	Doing a redo and a pool.	00:26:37
	So we have spent a lot of money on it.	00:26:39
	And and the city is going to get the benefit of the year round pool.	00:26:41
	And I think that's terrific. And there's no, there's nothing that we need to ask them.	00:26:46
	A dollar a year is fine with me if we do a.	00:26:50
	Let's say a 10 year lease with an option to.	00:26:52
	Continue or a five year or 25, whatever the Council wants.	00:26:55
	I think that's that's great.	00:26:58
	The bottom line is there will be the.	00:27:01
	The basically like a house.	00:27:03
	They're basically going to lease the pool.	00:27:06
	For dollar a year.	00:27:07
	And the maintenance and the other thing is they have to, in my opinion.	00:27:10
	Have to get the county.	00:27:14
	And the school systems to buy into this because?	00:27:16
	The biggest problem is going to be if something big breaks in the pool. I know from the hotels.	00:27:19
	If we have a heater breakdown. If we have a filter breakdown.	00:27:24
	At the hotel, it's just.	00:27:29
	12,000.	00:27:30
	At this place.	00:27:31
	It could be 30, Forty $50,000.	00:27:32
	So the big items.	00:27:35
	That may be needed in the future.	00:27:37
	The city can't cover that.	00:27:39
	You've got to get some.	00:27:41
	Type of a relationship or.	00:27:42
	Talk about.	00:27:44
	From the county and the.	00:27:45
	And the schools?	00:27:46
	And tech as to how we're gonna.	00:27:48
	How are we going to replace some of this or go to the?	00:27:50
	We've been going to the legislature to get money when something breaks down.	00:27:52
	And we all go together, which hopefully makes a bigger impact.	00:27:56
	As far as their future Wellness Center, I'm going to leave it up to them because they're going to get all these questions at the.	00:28:00
	At the town hall, and I don't gotta get involved with that.	00:28:05
	But to me it's a.	00:28:08
	It's a win for the city.	00:28:08
	And I hope it's a win for tech.	00:28:11
	I have the ever doubter in the shaking her head, so you're welcome to make a comment if you'd like.	00:28:17
	You know, and I and I want to, I want to impress on the public and the people at Tech.	00:28:23
	That that pool is functional. It's been functioning for.	00:28:27
	I've been married 37 years and it's.	00:28:30
	We've always kept it up.	00:28:33
	The leaks have been fixed. They're.	00:28:34
	Visited the pool. I'm sure there's little things they want to fix. They don't want the.	00:28:36
	The baby pool is kind of out. I don't think that's going to work.	00:28:40
	We gotta get a unisex bathroom.	00:28:43
	There's things that need to get done.	00:28:45
	But it's it's been a functioning pool.	00:28:47
	That long and will continually.	00:28:49
	Kept up the.	00:28:51
	We just redid the the outs want to call that.	00:28:53
	The debt, you know. Thank you.	00:28:56
	But but those are the things that we've done and and I hope the.	00:29:01
	Tech Community.	00:29:05
	Feels comfortable and.	00:29:07
	You know, we've got our tennis courts. I mean, they use.	00:29:08
	Our tennis courts, we.	00:29:10
	The pool and I think.	00:29:12
	And we plan to continue to be active and.	00:29:14
	In helping with it.	00:29:17
	But basically they'll take, they'll be like leasing a place.	00:29:18
	That take care of it.	00:29:22
	And we will.	00:29:24
	The thing I've pledged from the city?	00:29:25
	Is we'll just use the monies that we have been spending on the pool.	00:29:27
	Budget.	00:29:34
	You gotta make a.	00:29:40
	Presentation. You're all dressed up for it. Come on.	00:29:41
	Mr. Mayor, Council members, thank you Delilah Walsh and Vice President.	00:29:51
	Of administration and finance at New Mexico Tech.	00:29:54
	And David Green, I'm vice president of student affairs.	00:29:58
	Thank you. We're really just here for questions or if there's anything as you, as the mayor mentioned, we will have a public town	00:30:00
	hall for our campus community as well as the Socorro community. It's open to all on February 26th, but.	00:30:06
	And as the mayor mentioned, the bottom line is.	00:30:13
	We have a failing structure.	00:30:15
	And even if we had, we keep calling it the Pool Ferry.	00:30:17
	Showed up and gave us.	00:30:21
	4 or $5,000,000 to just renovate our.	00:30:22
	No matter what, we have to shut down for at least two years to make that construction happen. So number one, we need the money.	00:30:24
	And #2 we need the time.	00:30:31
	None of which we have either.	00:30:32
	And so hopefully by working with the city through some sort of operating partnership.	00:30:34
	We can ensure our community, the campus community, the Socorro community.	00:30:38
	Still has a facility with the benefit of being a year round facility.	00:30:43
	So we're.	00:30:47
	We're excited about that. We're still doing our financial models to make sure it's feasible.	00:30:47
	We came in toward the facility with the city.	00:30:52
	Employees. And so this really is.	00:30:56
	Our best solution outside of the pool ferry.	00:30:59
	To make sure we have services to this community.	00:31:02
	Councillor Gonzalez.	00:31:06
	Here with time bringing for the.	00:31:07
	Pool ferry to put the.	00:31:10
	Covered on the roof.	00:31:12
	I mean.	00:31:13
	If we move forward with Thank you. I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor, Councilmember.	00:31:14
	Gonzalez.	00:31:18
	If we.	00:31:19
	Move forward with this plan for New Mexico tech to take over operations.	00:31:20
	We are already working with contractors to let us know what is possible, what kind of work can we do between now and the fall	00:31:25
	season because what we typically do is in October, we shut down text pool.	00:31:31
	We bring in about 50 or so employees to put the bubble.	00:31:36
	Up which can never go up again. That that.	00:31:40
	It's that's not even an option anymore.	00:31:42
	We would like to say maybe at that fall time be ready to put up a structure so whatever work we can do preliminary to the actual	00:31:47
	erection of the structure.	00:31:52
	Hopefully we can get that done so ideally.	00:31:56
	We will follow the same October timeline. That's a very tight crash schedule.	00:31:59
	And so we are trying to do as much work as possible now before.	00:32:03
	We even look into operations.	00:32:07
	Leave Councillor Gonzalez.	00:32:10
	The city would also commit.	00:32:11
	To getting this open.	00:32:13
	For the summer, perhaps even earlier.	00:32:15
	As it warms up, instead of waiting until June is to do it in May.	00:32:18
	We're also talking about that and the.	00:32:23
	You know, I think they've got their stuff together pretty well and really impressed by how much.	00:32:25
	Work they've done in.	00:32:30
	Preliminary.	00:32:31
	Trying to get this thing going.	00:32:32
	And uh.	00:32:33
	I think.	00:32:34
	The town gown feeling.	00:32:35
	Would also.	00:32:37
	I think A plus that that.	00:32:40
	We would.	00:32:41
	You know, we'd be involved with tech's growth.	00:32:43
	Mr. Solomon, I'm looking forward to to the integration between the campus community and the support community.	00:32:45
	You know, prior to this.	00:32:53
	There was, there's been that integration has taken place up at the golf course.	00:32:54
	So, uh.	00:32:59
	Everybody's working together, playing together, having a good time together.	00:33:00
	The tennis courts, as you mentioned, is another place where the campus community and the city is the coral people get together and	00:33:04
	do this. And this is a good opportunity for that integration, you know, becoming more integrated with regard to recreation here in	00:33:09
	town, so.	00:33:14
	I'm looking forward to seeing how this is going to all turn out.	00:33:20
	Mr. Mayor.	00:33:23
	Whereas Councilman Salome, I think one of the things that we've been able to do also is not just speak with.	00:33:25
	The mayor we've also.	00:33:31
	Already had the opportunity to speak with the school district.	00:33:32
	We had meeting earlier this week.	00:33:36
	I will speak with the county.	00:33:38
	Next week, but our goal.	00:33:40
	From the very beginning is if we're going to do something as a mayor mentioned.	00:33:42
	It can't just be the city.	00:33:46
	And the university it has to be.	00:33:48
	The school, it has to be. The county, it has to be.	00:33:51
	Intentional because.	00:33:54
	Pools don't make money.	00:33:55
	That's how that shouldn't That's never been our goal in any of this.	00:33:58
	It's, but it's been making sure it's something that.	00:34:01
	To your point, can be really connecting all of us back together, you know, having the bulkheads so the school system can have the	00:34:03
	competitions.	00:34:08
	And having more lanes so people can do more swimming there especially.	00:34:12
	Uh.	00:34:16
	Our seniors who do want those swimming.	00:34:17
	Lanes so they can do more of those swimming hours going to be more important. Having more swim lessons for our youth, having the	00:34:21
	summer be more active is is going to be great, but it's also having it.	00:34:26
	Integrated, so it's a true year round.	00:34:32
	Bill for the community and for the campus will be will be great for us.	00:34:34
	Mr. Ocampo.	00:34:38
	Yeah, I agree everything with the Antone and you said Mayor.	00:34:39
	I think it's awesome, but.	00:34:43
	Quick question.	00:34:44
	So with the time frames.	00:34:45
	I'm getting a lot of especially that senior group that loves using the pool in the morning, they're hammering my phone.	00:34:47
	So are we still looking at like?	00:34:52
	In best case scenario, March.	00:34:54
	Closing down and being able to start a round.	00:34:56
	Well, what does this look like?	00:34:59
	That's really the discussions we need to have on what's possible, what's possible for construction, what's possible for staff	00:35:01
	transition. We don't even have that answer right now.	00:35:05
	Ideally, what would happen?	00:35:09
	Two or three options. One would be New Mexico Tech just operates all through the fall, the city operates all through the summer,	00:35:12
	and then we shut down.	00:35:15
	And make those transitions, but that would be a longer shutdown period and would not give our staff sufficient time.	00:35:19
	To really engage with the operations and make things.	00:35:25
	Right. Ideally.	00:35:28
	If we shut down in March and then come back and start up at the city pool immediately, then we don't have any interruption	00:35:30
	services.	00:35:33
	That's highly unlikely. We may have to have a shutdown period, but we don't know what.	00:35:38
	That is, yeah.	00:35:42
	So the city pool typically opens, I think it's beginning of June.	00:35:43
	For the nine weeks of free swim.	00:35:47
	So we want to hit that target.	00:35:50
	But we still don't know if we're going to have a.	00:35:52
	A pause period we could We don't have to shut down at spring break to takedown the.	00:35:54
	The bubble.	00:35:59
	We have to take it down by April.	00:36:00
	Just that the integrity of that system that needs to come down at some point.	00:36:02
	But we don't have those timelines yet. But we will communicate to our campus community and to membership.	00:36:05
	To let them know this is the final timeline once been finalized but.	00:36:10
	Ideally, we'd like to keep.	00:36:14
	Every operation and every service available as long as possible and limit that shutdown period.	00:36:16
	But we just don't know yet.	00:36:22
	I I hate to give that answer, but we are looking into it and ideally we want to limit.	00:36:24
	Seizing services as much as possible.	00:36:29
	Thank you.	00:36:31
	Yes, ma'am.	00:36:32
	Are you still considering putting a pool in the?	00:36:33
	New Wellness Center and the new Wellness Center still an option?	00:36:36
	The new Wellness Center does have a pool in the phase. It's phase three of the build.	00:36:40
	So ideally to get everything we want, I think we came.	00:36:45
	With our dream Wellness centers about $80 million.	00:36:48
	We know we can't secure that kind of funding.	00:36:51
	So we've got several challenges.	00:36:53
	It's an auxiliary service, so we can't.	00:36:55
	Just bond out.	00:36:57
	For that.	00:36:58
	It's not allowed into the state rules.	00:36:59
	Unless we have revenue.	00:37:02
	Which the pool does not.	00:37:03
	Now if we made $1,000,000 a year in the pool, we could bond out for $80 million and and be fine. But that's not the situation. So	00:37:04
	it is part of the Wellness Center planning.	00:37:09
	But even completion of phase one, we're projecting A5 year timeline.	00:37:13
	Thailand's wants 80 million.	00:37:18
	We all do.	00:37:21
	Mr. Fleming.	00:37:22
	Thank you, Smith, one of these wonderful people who.	00:37:23
	Enjoy swimming that are.	00:37:28
	Talking to councillor.	00:37:30
	Ocampo and myself.	00:37:32
	They need to realize that.	00:37:35
	They're getting a much larger pool.	00:37:37
	To work out in.	00:37:40
	Than they've had over the last.	00:37:42
	50 years.	00:37:45
	More than twice the size.	00:37:46
	Yes.	00:37:47
	So what we will do?	00:37:51
	If the Council has no.	00:37:53
	Problems with is to work with.	00:37:55
	Tech put together a document.	00:37:58
	That is legally binding.	00:38:02
	And also takes care of how much budget we will.	00:38:04
	Assigned to that project.	00:38:09
	But I just wanted to let the.	00:38:11
	And then we'll have a public hearing also.	00:38:13
	And talk about it.	00:38:15
	But we, we just.	00:38:17
	Thought would never hurts to put sunshine.	00:38:19
	On a subject that is controversial at this.	00:38:22
	Point There's nothing going on behind closed doors.	00:38:25
	This is what we what I just told you is the.	00:38:28
	Verbatim, almost, the meeting that we had.	00:38:32
	And techniques to be than they are being as.	00:38:34
	Open and transparent about this whole thing.	00:38:38
	So I think.	00:38:41
	For for the quality of life and Socorro for our citizens, I think that's a big plus.	00:38:42
	And, and I think that's for me.	00:38:47
	It's a no brainer for the city to get involved with tech on this.	00:38:50
	So if perhaps.	00:38:54
	Maybe middle of March, we'll bring you something that we can bring and that we can.	00:38:58
	The city can pass a resolution on that. We can then.	00:39:02
	Have something that we have on paper.	00:39:05
	Thank you, Mr. Mayor. That's correct. What we'd like to do is start working on documentation now and have something to present	00:39:07
	both to our Board of Regents and to the City Council.	00:39:12
	To move forward on the project, you know, in the little things, I mean the big thing is that we listed for a dollar a year.	00:39:16
	The little things have to do with the swim team, have to do with the triathlon.	00:39:21
	It has to do with the.	00:39:25
	The use of the proof by the public.	00:39:26
	I made a comment.	00:39:29
	Then I've had a history here a long time and.	00:39:30
	When they built Messi center.	00:39:33
	The city.	00:39:35
	Actually, and if you.	00:39:36
	I don't know if the plates are gone off of those seats, but there used to be plates.	00:39:37
	On the seats of the people who donated to Macy's Center.	00:39:41
	And some of the things that were.	00:39:44
	Told us so that we did donate.	00:39:46
	Was that the city would be allowed to use that Macy center.	00:39:48
	At different times.	00:39:52
	And that's that's been up and down because of auxiliary changes and things like that.	00:39:53
	And then I think they're.	00:39:58
	Want their budget to Each department has to make their own money and all that what they call that.	00:39:59
	You're the finance director.	00:40:05
	Self-sufficient. self-sufficient so so message so so. I want to make sure that the pool doesn't get taken away from the.	00:40:07
	The the public.	00:40:15
	And that's got to be written into the thing.	00:40:16
	Quite honestly, it sounds like it would be.	00:40:18
	More opportunity for the public to utilize the pool.	00:40:20
	If, but I mean that we don't have someone right now.	00:40:23
	Be a good thing for the city, but you got to think about all the bad stuff first. I think that's, I hate to say.	00:40:28
	Like because we never, you know, I mean then.	00:40:37
	People forget and.	00:40:38
	But this is the best way to do it is to talk about it. I mean, that's what we have to do.	00:40:40
	We'll get some once it's proposed you.	00:40:44
	We're going to look it over and then look.	00:40:47
	Propose a resolution message.	00:40:49
	Yes, Sir. Yeah, I think.	00:40:51
	And uh.	00:40:54
	Mr. Green is they've done the.	00:40:55
	Really a lot of work that they gave us a outline and you know, we put that into legalese, just ChatGPT, it'll give us anything	00:40:57
	like that.	00:41:00
	Real friends, really. It's crazy.	00:41:06
	It will give you a resolution.	00:41:08
	So, but we'll try to get that maybe in the March 17th meeting.	00:41:10
	I think we have a meeting on the 17th of March.	00:41:14
	Perhaps we can do that. We have a public hearing and then we'll try to.	00:41:17
	Pass a resolution.	00:41:20
	If that's OK, we're going to kind of put that.	00:41:22
	That's our goal.	00:41:24
	The faster we can move, the better, Yes. And you know, like I said, we don't wanna.	00:41:25
	You know, I've been more than happy to.	00:41:30
	Testify if you have a meeting that we need to do.	00:41:32
	Thank you so much.	00:41:34
	Thank you for coming.	00:41:36
	Appreciate that.	00:41:37
	Thank you. Thank you very much.	00:41:38
	Anything else?	00:41:42
	OK then.	00:41:45
	We're going to go to new business.	00:41:48
	Any new business going on?	00:41:50
	Just to let you know, and and it's not in.	00:41:52
	I don't think we've got it in writing yet, but.	00:41:54
	Senator Heinrich's group.	00:41:56
	They got us about.	00:41:59
	Two and a half million dollars.	00:42:00
	For water project.	00:42:03
	So that's going to get done.	00:42:05
	I'm not going to even jinx it on because anything about what happens if the legislature will just have to wait until.	00:42:06
	The governor signs it or vetoes whatever we're trying to get.	00:42:12
	So that's still on hold. So we just don't know.	00:42:15
	And then?	00:42:18
	One of the things, uh.	00:42:19
	Donald Polo.	00:42:21
	CDBG, I don't know if we got a clearance from the state. We need to get ahead with Cuba Rd. We're trying to get that down.	00:42:23
	It's in the final stage right now.	00:42:29
	OK. So that's going to get done.	00:42:32
	And you guys got the map project?	00:42:34
	What else do you? If you get a chance, go see the clubhouse at the RV park. It's really, really nice.	00:42:36
	That's going to be something that's in addition.	00:42:42
	But executive session, no lawsuits.	00:42:45
	That I know of.	00:42:48
	I know some, but I already told you about him.	00:42:50
	So this is the.	00:42:53
	Let's do the personnel changes.	00:42:54
	We're going to do a.	00:42:58
	Chelsea Jones, She's completed suicide prevention certificate.	00:43:02
	As has Marbella Tarango, Antoinette Lopez.	00:43:06
	David Monet.	00:43:09
	That's a.	00:43:11
	Moving them up by 5%.	00:43:12
	And, uh, you did too.	00:43:15
	What, Julian?	00:43:19
	Julian Mays You know, like have good hearing. I have a hearing aid, Paul.	00:43:21
	Fire.	00:43:27
	Jeremiah Garza fire recouped.	00:43:29
	EMT and thanks to the county for that.	00:43:31
	And William Johnny Maldonado.	00:43:34
	Temporary to permanent.	00:43:36
	Customer make a motion to approve the personnel changes, right?	00:43:38
	Second moved and seconded.	00:43:43
	Discussion.	00:43:46
	Have a question, So we're doing all this suicide prevention certifications. Are we doing some kind of programs at the library or	00:43:48
	what are we doing?	00:43:51
	Chelsea got here, she have to explain, but yeah, she's working with the you.	00:43:56
	So I definitely require a certificate. So they got certificates for.	00:44:01
	OK.	00:44:05
	All in favor.	00:44:08
	Aye, aye.	00:44:08
	Peter, August.	00:44:15
	The farmers market see selling personal book bags and makeup bags.	00:44:19
	Do I need to do the second one?	00:44:23
	No, that's it.	00:44:25
	Your Mama was not going to be able to make it.	00:44:27
	She didn't want us to do it until she was here.	00:44:30
	So just August.	00:44:33
	Motion to approve the business registrations is right.	00:44:35
	Seconded.	00:44:42
	Discussion.	00:44:43
	All in favor, aye?	00:44:44
	Aye, aye, and.	00:44:46
	Tuesday, March 3rd.	00:44:49
	I will not be here.	00:44:51
	Marianne Chavez.	00:44:52
	Will be the mayor Pro Tem.	00:44:53
	And that's the meeting next time.	00:44:56
	Sure, see you later.	00:45:05
	Thank you.	00:45:07

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Documents available for this event
	Document Name	Document type
	Resolution No. 26-02-17c - NMFA-Local Government Planning Fund Grant Application	General Document
	Resolution No. 26-02-17b - MAP Application	General Document
	Resolution No. 26-02-17a - LGRF/COOP Application	General Document

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Transcript

Event transcript
	I'm here. I'm here.	00:00:00
	Who's here?	00:00:02
	There's a mouse in the pocket.	00:00:04
	This is the course City Council meeting Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Roll call, please.	00:00:07
	Mayor Baxter, Yeah.	00:00:12
	Councillor Chavez Lopez.	00:00:13
	Councillor Dean.	00:00:16
	Councillor Fleming.	00:00:18
	Yeah, Councillor Gonzalez.	00:00:19
	Councillor Ocampo.	00:00:22
	Yeah, Councillor Partridge.	00:00:23
	Councillor Romero.	00:00:25
	Here. Councillor Salome here.	00:00:27
	We have a clock.	00:00:30
	All right for the Pledge of Allegiance.	00:00:31
	I pledge allegiance to the flag.	00:00:33
	Of the United States of America.	00:00:37
	And to the Republic for which it stands.	00:00:39
	One nation under God.	00:00:42
	Indivisible.	00:00:44
	Make a motion to approve the consent agenda.	00:00:54
	Fact that moved a second a discussion.	00:00:58
	All fair, aye?	00:01:02
	Very good, very good.	00:01:04
	We have a real exciting presentation.	00:01:07
	From the department for the county appraiser.	00:01:10
	Elaine Briggs is going to come and give us a.	00:01:13
	Some good news, especially for the veterans.	00:01:16
	Grandpa Joe.	00:01:22
	Good morning.	00:01:25
	Good evening.	00:01:27
	I have some handouts here.	00:01:30
	First one, maybe you can take 1 and pass them down.	00:01:32
	Um.	00:01:37
	We'd like to thank you for allowing us to come and speak with.	00:01:41
	You today to explain the.	00:01:44
	Various texts.	00:01:47
	Exemptions that are offered through our office.	00:01:48
	We want to ensure.	00:01:51
	That the public is aware of and understands every option available to help.	00:01:54
	Reduce their property tax burden.	00:01:59
	And in some cases, individuals may even qualify for more than one exam.	00:02:02
	Actually, I gave you mine too.	00:02:09
	Sorry I was late.	00:02:23
	Alright, and and I failed to introduce Julie Grego our.	00:02:25
	County.	00:02:28
	Elected appraiser.	00:02:30
	Julie yes.	00:02:32
	No, we got them. We got them all.	00:02:35
	Thank you.	00:02:36
	Yeah, So I my, I'm Elaine Briggs. I'm the deputy assessor. This is Julie Graele.	00:02:37
	The assessor and the.	00:02:44
	Clerk. Supervisor.	00:02:47
	In the assessor's office. Donna South.	00:02:48
	So the first thing, let me stop. You know who she is.	00:02:52
	They just told me, remember Luis Como?	00:02:56
	Yeah, Luis, Camero's daughter.	00:03:00
	Yep, brings back old memories. That's almost 35 years ago. 36 And then he went to Carlsbad for a big job.	00:03:02
	Sorry, no, that's fine.	00:03:13
	That's fine.	00:03:15
	So the first exception.	00:03:18
	I wanted to.	00:03:20
	Explain Is the head of household exemption.	00:03:22
	I know there are a lot of people.	00:03:25
	That already know about this exemption, but there's a lot of new homeowners.	00:03:28
	That may not understand this exemption.	00:03:33
	Anybody qualifies for this exemption?	00:03:36
	If they are the.	00:03:39
	Homeowner and that is their primary residence.	00:03:41
	This takes $2000.	00:03:44
	Off the taxable value.	00:03:46
	Say, for instance, somebody's house is worth $120,000.	00:03:49
	Then you divide that by three.	00:03:54
	So that we.	00:03:58
	$40,000 which is the taxable value.	00:03:59
	Then you subtract the $2000 from that.	00:04:03
	And that is what you.	00:04:08
	So that would leave $38,000 and then you multiply that by the tax rate.	00:04:10
	To get your tax bill.	00:04:14
	So that's a really good exemption.	00:04:16
	And if you don't qualify for anything else?	00:04:20
	At least you would qualify for that the other one.	00:04:22
	That I want to explain as the veterans exemptions, there's been new legislation recently.	00:04:26
	And so some of these exemptions have changed.	00:04:31
	We do have.	00:04:35
	The full veterans exemption.	00:04:37
	And that was $4000 off the taxable value and now it has.	00:04:40
	Changed to be $10,000.	00:04:45
	Off the taxable value of a home.	00:04:48
	There is a.	00:04:52
	And that can be used for anything that can even be used for vacant land, for residential land, it can be used in the motor vehicle	00:04:53
	department.	00:04:57
	So it can be dispersed.	00:05:03
	Several different ways.	00:05:06
	Then there is the fully disabled veterans exemption.	00:05:08
	That's if there are 100% disabled.	00:05:12
	And there's also the percent disabled.	00:05:16
	Which is.	00:05:19
	10 to 90% disabled.	00:05:21
	These exemptions.	00:05:23
	Can only be used for.	00:05:26
	Primary Residence.	00:05:28
	And up to 5 acres.	00:05:30
	If, for instance, you have 10 acres of land.	00:05:32
	And you only qualify with your fully disabled or your percent disabled exemption.	00:05:36
	And you qualify for your residence plus 5 acres. The other 5 acres.	00:05:42
	You can use your full veterans the $10,000.	00:05:48
	Exemption so you can be fully.	00:05:52
	100%.	00:05:55
	Exempt using that.	00:05:56
	Am I correct, Julie?	00:05:59
	You can use the 10 1000 on the other acres but if your acres.	00:06:02
	Are more than 10,000 in value.	00:06:09
	Right.	00:06:14
	OK, Yeah.	00:06:15
	Right.	00:06:21
	Yeah.	00:06:22
	It's not a monetary amount. It's not 10,000.	00:06:24
	Dollars off your tax bill?	00:06:27
	It's $10,000.	00:06:30
	Of the value, the taxable value.	00:06:32
	And then you take.	00:06:35
	That deduction and you multiply it by the tax rate.	00:06:36
	And that's what you end up paying.	00:06:40
	So it can be a little complicated.	00:06:42
	There is the application.	00:06:46
	For the head of family exemption.	00:06:50
	In the assessor's office.	00:06:52
	And I want to explain the difference.	00:06:55
	If you're a veteran.	00:06:58
	And you go to the veterans services, umm.	00:07:01
	This is an application that can be used.	00:07:04
	For any of the.	00:07:07
	Exemptions for the veterans, It's in our office.	00:07:12
	The green.	00:07:16
	Certificate. Uh.	00:07:17
	Is the $10,000 off the taxable?	00:07:18
	And then the yellow certificate that's right underneath that.	00:07:23
	Is the 100% disabled?	00:07:28
	And then the red one underneath.	00:07:32
	Is the percent disabled between 10 and 90% disabled?	00:07:35
	So you can apply for these.	00:07:40
	There is.	00:07:45
	Another application here.	00:07:47
	I know that they have.	00:07:50
	Let me see her.	00:07:53
	The deadline to apply.	00:07:56
	For the.	00:07:58
	The 100%.	00:08:00
	Disabled.	00:08:02
	Can be applied for.	00:08:03
	Anytime throughout the year.	00:08:05
	And Julie, correct me if I'm wrong.	00:08:07
	The the other ones.	00:08:09
	The deadline to apply for them is April 30th.	00:08:11
	So if you go to the Veterans Affairs.	00:08:17
	You get your DD214.	00:08:21
	Fill in an application if for some reason.	00:08:23
	You don't have these certificates before April 30th.	00:08:27
	You can go into the assessors office and you can file for a.	00:08:32
	So that.	00:08:37
	You can be given that time to complete the application process. You get a letter that you bring to us that says that you've	00:08:39
	applied.	00:08:44
	And then once you get your certificate and you bring it in, then we can go ahead and we can use those certificates to reduce your.	00:08:49
	Tax bills.	00:08:57
	I I I know it sounds complicated, but really it's not.	00:08:58
	Um, I may be explaining it.	00:09:04
	In a more complicated way, but.	00:09:05
	It's not really complicated if if any, if you know of any veterans.	00:09:08
	That may not be receiving these exemptions, please let them know.	00:09:14
	To come into the assessor's office.	00:09:18
	To apply, at least begin the application process before April 30th so that they can have.	00:09:21
	These exemptions.	00:09:27
	Applied to their tax bills.	00:09:30
	There's also another.	00:09:32
	Exemption.	00:09:34
	Donna, did you want to add to anything on the on the veterans or anything?	00:09:37
	OK.	00:09:42
	There's also another.	00:09:45
	Exemption that is basically for 65 and over.	00:09:46
	Or disabled.	00:09:51
	Citizens.	00:09:53
	That they live on a fixed income.	00:09:55
	And this is called a tax freeze.	00:09:59
	This doesn't.	00:10:02
	Actually, this isn't an exemption. This freezes the taxes so that they don't increase for as long as this person.	00:10:03
	That is on the fixed income lives in the home.	00:10:11
	I also wanted to explain that on these veterans exemptions, if you have a spouse of a veteran.	00:10:14
	A widow or a widower of a veteran.	00:10:20
	And you live in the home.	00:10:24
	After they have passed.	00:10:26
	He's still qualifying.	00:10:28
	So spouses and widows and widowers, they will qualify until they remarry.	00:10:30
	Or not.	00:10:38
	Now this tax free.	00:10:40
	There is criteria that you have to.	00:10:44
	Follow here.	00:10:47
	The modified gross income for this year is $44,200.	00:10:49
	Or under.	00:10:54
	And this changes.	00:10:57
	Every year.	00:10:58
	So they would have to.	00:11:00
	Apply every year for.	00:11:03
	I believe the first three years.	00:11:05
	Once they've qualified for three years.	00:11:08
	Then it automatically gets applied.	00:11:12
	Every year after that until.	00:11:16
	Their income changes and it goes above.	00:11:18
	They also need to.	00:11:22
	Bring in their proof of income, their Social Security benefits statement.	00:11:24
	Their tax return?	00:11:29
	Umm, their proof of age.	00:11:31
	There is also an entitlement letter from the Social Security Administration showing the month.	00:11:36
	And year when they were declared disabled.	00:11:43
	So there's.	00:11:48
	But we if they come in to apply for this, we will walk them through the process. They won't be left out in the cold. We'll make	00:11:49
	sure that they have everything they need.	00:11:54
	And that they're able to have these extensions applied to their.	00:11:59
	Their tax bills.	00:12:03
	There's also other things for like.	00:12:06
	And, umm.	00:12:09
	There's special methods of valuation for agricultural land.	00:12:11
	There's special methods of valuation for.	00:12:15
	For.	00:12:18
	Grazing if you own a certain specific number of acres and you own a specific number ahead of.	00:12:19
	Of livestock.	00:12:26
	Those are substantial savings too. So there's a lot of different ways and we just want to educate the public to make sure that	00:12:29
	everybody knows that there are.	00:12:34
	A lot of different ways and we're here to assist to make sure that.	00:12:39
	The tax burden is.	00:12:43
	The the tax burden is is alleviated.	00:12:49
	As far as possible with these exemptions, so take full advantage of them.	00:12:53
	Let everybody that you know.	00:12:58
	Know about these exemptions?	00:13:00
	These are hard times that we're living in and every little bit helps.	00:13:02
	So thank you very much for your time. And are there any questions?	00:13:06
	Mr. Partridge.	00:13:11
	Julia, I just want to say one thing to mean.	00:13:12
	On the freeze divided threes.	00:13:15
	It's not a freezing.	00:13:17
	The freeze on the.	00:13:19
	Your taxes will increase because the tax rate increases. So it's the value that gets frozen, not the taxes.	00:13:21
	Top resident.	00:13:26
	I get married 2% of your money.	00:13:28
	But Mr. Partridge.	00:13:35
	Is there a I'm sure you guys visit outlets that you're getting this information out through or?	00:13:38
	Yes, these are from property tax.	00:13:43
	Right statutes.	00:13:45
	And the property tax code.	00:13:49
	Just because the the deadline that's coming up, is there a way we could share this information with? Absolutely. I was going to	00:13:51
	say yes. And that's why we're here because.	00:13:55
	The deadline is April 30th for a lot of these.	00:13:59
	And we want to make sure, and that's only because we can't continue to change values.	00:14:03
	People bring in their exemptions over the course of the year, duly certifies.	00:14:09
	The tax roll at a specific time.	00:14:14
	And so that's why we need to, we need to have a deadline.	00:14:16
	Well, Ruby, can you put him in the?	00:14:20
	Turn into residential bills.	00:14:21
	Thank you. That was what I was asking. Just for clarification, just to get it out to more people to get disseminated.	00:14:23
	We're good, yeah. And we did have an excerpt in the paper a few weeks ago regarding the new veterans.	00:14:29
	But legislation has continued to move forward. And so there's a little bit of differences even from. But we'll take the face sheet	00:14:36
	and we'll.	00:14:40
	Put it into our residential bill, so.	00:14:45
	4000 residents will get it 4000.	00:14:47
	Yes, yes.	00:14:51
	Perfect. We really appreciate you coming with this, Mr. Julie. Thank you for coming.	00:14:52
	Thank you, Mr. Salomi. Elaine, you did a good job. Thank you so much. Thank you so much, you guys. I just had a quick question.	00:14:57
	Like with regard to.	00:15:03
	You know how we.	00:15:06
	Collect the taxes.	00:15:07
	And I know that I need.	00:15:09
	Assessment sheet There's a list of.	00:15:10
	Uses for those taxes you you can you give us like a brief description of.	00:15:13
	You know, we you collect the taxes now, where does it go?	00:15:18
	Well, there's budgets like the school will.	00:15:22
	Submit a budget to the DFA the.	00:15:27
	Hospitals have a budget.	00:15:30
	Soil and water have budgets.	00:15:34
	There's different entities that they submit budgets and the tax.	00:15:37
	Bill the Mel.	00:15:42
	Rate is created based on the amount of money that.	00:15:44
	Is being requested by these different entities in the county.	00:15:48
	To make sure that they have.	00:15:53
	What they need for the year to cover their.	00:15:55
	Their expenses on their budget.	00:15:58
	That's the increases in the mill levy are.	00:16:00
	Conducted How?	00:16:03
	The DFA goes.	00:16:06
	It calculates.	00:16:08
	The amount that's needed.	00:16:11
	And the amount of.	00:16:13
	Money that we have.	00:16:15
	Generated from the taxes.	00:16:17
	And they?	00:16:20
	Are able to determine how much.	00:16:22
	From that.	00:16:25
	They need uh-huh.	00:16:27
	To make the budgets for everybody I see.	00:16:28
	If I may, I'm trying to.	00:16:31
	Yeah, I'm trying, not. Yeah, I'm learning. Thank you.	00:16:33
	When I certify my values in June.	00:16:38
	I send that off to DFA. DFA. By that time it's gotten everybody's.	00:16:40
	That, umm.	00:16:45
	Budgets like the city, the county, the state, the.	00:16:46
	So cold soil and water. That's why she came with me.	00:16:49
	Something all the water entities, the hospital, the schools.	00:16:51
	And then DFA creates a.	00:16:56
	They put it through their yield control and they create the rates. They create it based on what you guys.	00:16:58
	Need what you're asking? That's what I.	00:17:03
	And that's how we create the race.	00:17:06
	So on your tax bills.	00:17:08
	And if you pay $200 on your taxes, that's not just going to the county.	00:17:09
	Breaks it up to everybody and it shows you on your bills, your tax bills, how much?	00:17:14
	Yeah.	00:17:18
	Yeah, but Julie isn't.	00:17:19
	If you created a pie chart for a dollar bill.	00:17:22
	Then each entity.	00:17:26
	Has passed their tax.	00:17:27
	Load and then they get the distribution like the city gets 9%.	00:17:29
	Of the total collection.	00:17:34
	The hospital gets.	00:17:36
	How many mails at that? There's roughly around 4.2 so there. Yeah, so and we still have 4 mils left.	00:17:38
	And so the schools.	00:17:47
	School systems bond.	00:17:49
	And then when they do that, so.	00:17:50
	It'd be nice if you had a pie chart.	00:17:53
	There were some and that would be up to the treasures. I I have one in my office that I use for myself every year I put my.	00:17:55
	To see where we're at this year and how much, but that would be the treasure to put like a pie chart. It would be nice for them	00:18:02
	because most people see visually.	00:18:06
	And I think, yeah, I think for the public to know exactly where their money goes.	00:18:10
	And there are several different.	00:18:15
	Soil and water.	00:18:20
	Districts too, well, even the Conservancy, I think it's a.	00:18:21
	Yeah.	00:18:28
	Like from Bullock going north and 6th St. going east.	00:18:29
	They pay a lot more taxes than the rest of us do because they're in the Conservancy and their meals are like.	00:18:33
	Six to seven.	00:18:38
	Six point something, 7 point something and this is res and none.	00:18:40
	Residential mill rates are usually lower.	00:18:44
	Than the nun rest.	00:18:47
	OK, so if you have a vacant piece of land, you're paying?	00:18:49
	On that at a different rate.	00:18:52
	Whereas if you're paying on a residential block.	00:18:54
	I mean, the last middle race that we did was.	00:18:57
	To Joe Gonzalez, the.	00:19:00
	Fire Chief Tobias Fire Truck. Oh, OK. Remember that one? That was like.	00:19:02
	35 years ago.	00:19:06
	Remember when we had to?	00:19:14
	Every time you guys need more money, that's how you guys, yeah, yeah.	00:19:15
	1990 the first ladder truck. 1990 is when we did.	00:19:19
	But but since then, the city has never raised their.	00:19:23
	Property tax mill.	00:19:28
	Because we still we're one of the few count other cities that doesn't.	00:19:29
	Maxed out.	00:19:33
	Yeah, we're not maxed out on our.	00:19:34
	I will say it was money well spent in 1990.	00:19:37
	Right, right.	00:19:40
	But thank you so much for coming, so much good job. So that's how the tax bills are generated. And thank you guys for thank you	00:19:42
	for giving us this time.	00:19:46
	And just a reminder too, if you are guys, we're out doing a reappraisal again.	00:19:50
	So.	00:19:54
	We are praising. We have to do it every two to four years and every six years a mastery of what does it look like. They have a	00:19:56
	thing on their arm that shows that they should have a lanyard and they should have their yellow vest.	00:20:02
	In a laser.	00:20:08
	And they're measuring tape.	00:20:11
	OK. But thank you. Thank you again.	00:20:14
	Thank you. The assessors, I said. Appraisers, the county assessors.	00:20:17
	Thank you again.	00:20:21
	And say hi to Louise when you see him.	00:20:22
	It's nice that we're sending money to such nice people. That's so nice. It is. Thank you.	00:20:24
	There, Yeah.	00:20:29
	Just to quote to quote somebody.	00:20:33
	Quote somebody there are friends.	00:20:35
	Yeah.	00:20:37
	Thank you again.	00:20:39
	This property is going to create the tax.	00:20:41
	I don't know.	00:20:43
	The.	00:20:46
	Anyone else who wants to top that in public comment?	00:20:47
	Anybody here that's?	00:20:51
	Not OK. We're going to go on and do some quick resolutions and we're going to get to the pool.	00:20:52
	Because we have two vice presidents here we never get.	00:20:57
	JD Vance But at least we've got two vice presidents.	00:21:00
	They're both here, Vice president vegan, Vice President Green, So we're going to get to your thing right away.	00:21:03
	So Donald, you want to take over all this LGRF map and MFA and all that?	00:21:09
	The the first one is.	00:21:14
	Because it says the local government Rd. fund Co-op app is what we're applying for.	00:21:16
	Is to finish the streets around the courthouse.	00:21:21
	Which would be.	00:21:23
	Everything from Park Street to California St.	00:21:25
	And from Hwy. 60 or Spring Street to the Plaza.	00:21:28
	Including the one in front of the library which is Park.	00:21:32
	And the map application.	00:21:36
	Ironically, the.	00:21:38
	Is to design the right to reconstruct it, because if you.	00:21:40
	Have driven down a lady can see that. I think they call it tortoising. It's starting to look like the back of a tortoise shell	00:21:44
	because it's starting to crack.	00:21:47
	And the third one is a planning grant for the wastewater achievement system.	00:21:51
	Can I have a motion for?	00:21:58
	I'll make a second.	00:22:00
	2nd 3.	00:22:02
	Move that we do.	00:22:04
	26-0217-A26-0217-B26-0217-C Any discussion?	00:22:05
	All in favor.	00:22:13
	Aye.	00:22:14
	Now we had a meeting with as I said.	00:22:15
	Miss Vega. Mr. Green.	00:22:19
	About the.	00:22:21
	Proposal from New Mexico Tech.	00:22:22
	Comes in kind of three parts.	00:22:25
	Three parts. One part is.	00:22:27
	We talk about and the Council of course has to approve this, so.	00:22:30
	This is preliminary.	00:22:33
	They're going to have a.	00:22:35
	Town Hall meeting, which will advertise in the.	00:22:36
	And our bills also.	00:22:39
	And on uh.	00:22:41
	March, February 26th.	00:22:43
	February 20.	00:22:46
	At Workman or Macy?	00:22:47
	At Macy's Center at 5:30. This is probably for the tech family.	00:22:50
	And for the city family?	00:22:54
	The city will also have a public hearing.	00:22:56
	March and and middle of March.	00:22:59
	But here's the three things that we talked about. One of them.	00:23:01
	The city of Socorro will turn over.	00:23:05
	The pool.	00:23:08
	For the use.	00:23:10
	And operation.	00:23:12
	Via New Mexico Tech.	00:23:15
	For a dollar a year.	00:23:17
	In that concept.	00:23:21
	They propose to put a cover.	00:23:24
	Hopefully this also be solar.	00:23:26
	And they will also maintain.	00:23:29
	The pool.	00:23:32
	And they will.	00:23:33
	Staff the pool.	00:23:35
	In return, the city will give them.	00:23:37
	And we still have to.	00:23:40
	Have to.	00:23:41
	Get the specific number.	00:23:43
	But the city will give them.	00:23:45
	The amount of money that the city.	00:23:47
	Has paid for pool.	00:23:49
	Being in service.	00:23:54
	Which is around 100 and 7000 and $80,000 a year.	00:23:55
	We will then. That's the first bulk of the whole situation.	00:24:00
	The other two have to kind of be worked out number one.	00:24:04
	What will happen in the summer?	00:24:08
	We're asking them to.	00:24:10
	Not charge anything for children to use the pool.	00:24:11
	In the summer.	00:24:14
	They will may charge $5 for adults.	00:24:16
	That they do for a day pass.	00:24:19
	But for children it should be free.	00:24:21
	In the summer.	00:24:23
	We will also continue to give.	00:24:25
	Some help?	00:24:28
	In maintaining the pool.	00:24:29
	Chlorine and the and the.	00:24:31
	******* system and so forth.	00:24:33
	With a halftime personnel that we already have here now.	00:24:35
	And that's part of the 170,180 thousand dollars.	00:24:38
	The other thing would be they will continue.	00:24:43
	Having the swim team there.	00:24:45
	And all the money that I'm saying is a lump sum.	00:24:47
	Really goes for the swim team.	00:24:51
	We've spent money to rent the tech pool.	00:24:53
	We have money for lifeguards.	00:24:56
	And and we also use the Summer Youth Fund.	00:24:58
	To pay for some of that.	00:25:01
	The final thing which?	00:25:04
	The city has never had this, which is to our benefit.	00:25:06
	Is that they have a year round.	00:25:09
	Pool available to the city.	00:25:11
	Also, obviously primarily also for tech.	00:25:15
	But this is something that the city's never had.	00:25:18
	Which is the attractive?	00:25:21
	Part of this.	00:25:22
	Whole procedure is to.	00:25:24
	Habtech put a cover.	00:25:26
	So we have a whole whole.	00:25:28
	Years worth of pool use.	00:25:30
	So how much?	00:25:33
	The city will be able to.	00:25:36
	Access to pool should be.	00:25:38
	As long as it pay the $5.	00:25:40
	They'll be able to access the pool.	00:25:42
	Each seasonal year round.	00:25:45
	It does not if you have something to add to that.	00:25:48
	Mr. Green.	00:25:52
	Of what we talked about.	00:25:53
	At the meeting. But that's the guts of the meeting.	00:25:54
	And we still haven't put together any kind of an MU.	00:25:57
	But we needed to put some sunshine on this so that people.	00:26:00
	Know exactly what?	00:26:03
	Saying I mean I.	00:26:05
	I hear all kinds of stuff coming out of the left field on Facebook and stuff like that. Well.	00:26:06
	You know the bottom line is.	00:26:11
	And then tech can answer this.	00:26:13
	Easier than I can.	00:26:15
	The pool that they have is not.	00:26:16
	Flexible.	00:26:19
	It's just not.	00:26:20
	It's not a reality engineering wise.	00:26:22
	Construction wise.	00:26:24
	The ground is just not able to stand but.	00:26:26
	4 to get fixed.	00:26:29
	We spent 20.	00:26:31
	Which 20? We spent about $250,000 in the last five years.	00:26:32
	Doing a redo and a pool.	00:26:37
	So we have spent a lot of money on it.	00:26:39
	And and the city is going to get the benefit of the year round pool.	00:26:41
	And I think that's terrific. And there's no, there's nothing that we need to ask them.	00:26:46
	A dollar a year is fine with me if we do a.	00:26:50
	Let's say a 10 year lease with an option to.	00:26:52
	Continue or a five year or 25, whatever the Council wants.	00:26:55
	I think that's that's great.	00:26:58
	The bottom line is there will be the.	00:27:01
	The basically like a house.	00:27:03
	They're basically going to lease the pool.	00:27:06
	For dollar a year.	00:27:07
	And the maintenance and the other thing is they have to, in my opinion.	00:27:10
	Have to get the county.	00:27:14
	And the school systems to buy into this because?	00:27:16
	The biggest problem is going to be if something big breaks in the pool. I know from the hotels.	00:27:19
	If we have a heater breakdown. If we have a filter breakdown.	00:27:24
	At the hotel, it's just.	00:27:29
	12,000.	00:27:30
	At this place.	00:27:31
	It could be 30, Forty $50,000.	00:27:32
	So the big items.	00:27:35
	That may be needed in the future.	00:27:37
	The city can't cover that.	00:27:39
	You've got to get some.	00:27:41
	Type of a relationship or.	00:27:42
	Talk about.	00:27:44
	From the county and the.	00:27:45
	And the schools?	00:27:46
	And tech as to how we're gonna.	00:27:48
	How are we going to replace some of this or go to the?	00:27:50
	We've been going to the legislature to get money when something breaks down.	00:27:52
	And we all go together, which hopefully makes a bigger impact.	00:27:56
	As far as their future Wellness Center, I'm going to leave it up to them because they're going to get all these questions at the.	00:28:00
	At the town hall, and I don't gotta get involved with that.	00:28:05
	But to me it's a.	00:28:08
	It's a win for the city.	00:28:08
	And I hope it's a win for tech.	00:28:11
	I have the ever doubter in the shaking her head, so you're welcome to make a comment if you'd like.	00:28:17
	You know, and I and I want to, I want to impress on the public and the people at Tech.	00:28:23
	That that pool is functional. It's been functioning for.	00:28:27
	I've been married 37 years and it's.	00:28:30
	We've always kept it up.	00:28:33
	The leaks have been fixed. They're.	00:28:34
	Visited the pool. I'm sure there's little things they want to fix. They don't want the.	00:28:36
	The baby pool is kind of out. I don't think that's going to work.	00:28:40
	We gotta get a unisex bathroom.	00:28:43
	There's things that need to get done.	00:28:45
	But it's it's been a functioning pool.	00:28:47
	That long and will continually.	00:28:49
	Kept up the.	00:28:51
	We just redid the the outs want to call that.	00:28:53
	The debt, you know. Thank you.	00:28:56
	But but those are the things that we've done and and I hope the.	00:29:01
	Tech Community.	00:29:05
	Feels comfortable and.	00:29:07
	You know, we've got our tennis courts. I mean, they use.	00:29:08
	Our tennis courts, we.	00:29:10
	The pool and I think.	00:29:12
	And we plan to continue to be active and.	00:29:14
	In helping with it.	00:29:17
	But basically they'll take, they'll be like leasing a place.	00:29:18
	That take care of it.	00:29:22
	And we will.	00:29:24
	The thing I've pledged from the city?	00:29:25
	Is we'll just use the monies that we have been spending on the pool.	00:29:27
	Budget.	00:29:34
	You gotta make a.	00:29:40
	Presentation. You're all dressed up for it. Come on.	00:29:41
	Mr. Mayor, Council members, thank you Delilah Walsh and Vice President.	00:29:51
	Of administration and finance at New Mexico Tech.	00:29:54
	And David Green, I'm vice president of student affairs.	00:29:58
	Thank you. We're really just here for questions or if there's anything as you, as the mayor mentioned, we will have a public town	00:30:00
	hall for our campus community as well as the Socorro community. It's open to all on February 26th, but.	00:30:06
	And as the mayor mentioned, the bottom line is.	00:30:13
	We have a failing structure.	00:30:15
	And even if we had, we keep calling it the Pool Ferry.	00:30:17
	Showed up and gave us.	00:30:21
	4 or $5,000,000 to just renovate our.	00:30:22
	No matter what, we have to shut down for at least two years to make that construction happen. So number one, we need the money.	00:30:24
	And #2 we need the time.	00:30:31
	None of which we have either.	00:30:32
	And so hopefully by working with the city through some sort of operating partnership.	00:30:34
	We can ensure our community, the campus community, the Socorro community.	00:30:38
	Still has a facility with the benefit of being a year round facility.	00:30:43
	So we're.	00:30:47
	We're excited about that. We're still doing our financial models to make sure it's feasible.	00:30:47
	We came in toward the facility with the city.	00:30:52
	Employees. And so this really is.	00:30:56
	Our best solution outside of the pool ferry.	00:30:59
	To make sure we have services to this community.	00:31:02
	Councillor Gonzalez.	00:31:06
	Here with time bringing for the.	00:31:07
	Pool ferry to put the.	00:31:10
	Covered on the roof.	00:31:12
	I mean.	00:31:13
	If we move forward with Thank you. I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor, Councilmember.	00:31:14
	Gonzalez.	00:31:18
	If we.	00:31:19
	Move forward with this plan for New Mexico tech to take over operations.	00:31:20
	We are already working with contractors to let us know what is possible, what kind of work can we do between now and the fall	00:31:25
	season because what we typically do is in October, we shut down text pool.	00:31:31
	We bring in about 50 or so employees to put the bubble.	00:31:36
	Up which can never go up again. That that.	00:31:40
	It's that's not even an option anymore.	00:31:42
	We would like to say maybe at that fall time be ready to put up a structure so whatever work we can do preliminary to the actual	00:31:47
	erection of the structure.	00:31:52
	Hopefully we can get that done so ideally.	00:31:56
	We will follow the same October timeline. That's a very tight crash schedule.	00:31:59
	And so we are trying to do as much work as possible now before.	00:32:03
	We even look into operations.	00:32:07
	Leave Councillor Gonzalez.	00:32:10
	The city would also commit.	00:32:11
	To getting this open.	00:32:13
	For the summer, perhaps even earlier.	00:32:15
	As it warms up, instead of waiting until June is to do it in May.	00:32:18
	We're also talking about that and the.	00:32:23
	You know, I think they've got their stuff together pretty well and really impressed by how much.	00:32:25
	Work they've done in.	00:32:30
	Preliminary.	00:32:31
	Trying to get this thing going.	00:32:32
	And uh.	00:32:33
	I think.	00:32:34
	The town gown feeling.	00:32:35
	Would also.	00:32:37
	I think A plus that that.	00:32:40
	We would.	00:32:41
	You know, we'd be involved with tech's growth.	00:32:43
	Mr. Solomon, I'm looking forward to to the integration between the campus community and the support community.	00:32:45
	You know, prior to this.	00:32:53
	There was, there's been that integration has taken place up at the golf course.	00:32:54
	So, uh.	00:32:59
	Everybody's working together, playing together, having a good time together.	00:33:00
	The tennis courts, as you mentioned, is another place where the campus community and the city is the coral people get together and	00:33:04
	do this. And this is a good opportunity for that integration, you know, becoming more integrated with regard to recreation here in	00:33:09
	town, so.	00:33:14
	I'm looking forward to seeing how this is going to all turn out.	00:33:20
	Mr. Mayor.	00:33:23
	Whereas Councilman Salome, I think one of the things that we've been able to do also is not just speak with.	00:33:25
	The mayor we've also.	00:33:31
	Already had the opportunity to speak with the school district.	00:33:32
	We had meeting earlier this week.	00:33:36
	I will speak with the county.	00:33:38
	Next week, but our goal.	00:33:40
	From the very beginning is if we're going to do something as a mayor mentioned.	00:33:42
	It can't just be the city.	00:33:46
	And the university it has to be.	00:33:48
	The school, it has to be. The county, it has to be.	00:33:51
	Intentional because.	00:33:54
	Pools don't make money.	00:33:55
	That's how that shouldn't That's never been our goal in any of this.	00:33:58
	It's, but it's been making sure it's something that.	00:34:01
	To your point, can be really connecting all of us back together, you know, having the bulkheads so the school system can have the	00:34:03
	competitions.	00:34:08
	And having more lanes so people can do more swimming there especially.	00:34:12
	Uh.	00:34:16
	Our seniors who do want those swimming.	00:34:17
	Lanes so they can do more of those swimming hours going to be more important. Having more swim lessons for our youth, having the	00:34:21
	summer be more active is is going to be great, but it's also having it.	00:34:26
	Integrated, so it's a true year round.	00:34:32
	Bill for the community and for the campus will be will be great for us.	00:34:34
	Mr. Ocampo.	00:34:38
	Yeah, I agree everything with the Antone and you said Mayor.	00:34:39
	I think it's awesome, but.	00:34:43
	Quick question.	00:34:44
	So with the time frames.	00:34:45
	I'm getting a lot of especially that senior group that loves using the pool in the morning, they're hammering my phone.	00:34:47
	So are we still looking at like?	00:34:52
	In best case scenario, March.	00:34:54
	Closing down and being able to start a round.	00:34:56
	Well, what does this look like?	00:34:59
	That's really the discussions we need to have on what's possible, what's possible for construction, what's possible for staff	00:35:01
	transition. We don't even have that answer right now.	00:35:05
	Ideally, what would happen?	00:35:09
	Two or three options. One would be New Mexico Tech just operates all through the fall, the city operates all through the summer,	00:35:12
	and then we shut down.	00:35:15
	And make those transitions, but that would be a longer shutdown period and would not give our staff sufficient time.	00:35:19
	To really engage with the operations and make things.	00:35:25
	Right. Ideally.	00:35:28
	If we shut down in March and then come back and start up at the city pool immediately, then we don't have any interruption	00:35:30
	services.	00:35:33
	That's highly unlikely. We may have to have a shutdown period, but we don't know what.	00:35:38
	That is, yeah.	00:35:42
	So the city pool typically opens, I think it's beginning of June.	00:35:43
	For the nine weeks of free swim.	00:35:47
	So we want to hit that target.	00:35:50
	But we still don't know if we're going to have a.	00:35:52
	A pause period we could We don't have to shut down at spring break to takedown the.	00:35:54
	The bubble.	00:35:59
	We have to take it down by April.	00:36:00
	Just that the integrity of that system that needs to come down at some point.	00:36:02
	But we don't have those timelines yet. But we will communicate to our campus community and to membership.	00:36:05
	To let them know this is the final timeline once been finalized but.	00:36:10
	Ideally, we'd like to keep.	00:36:14
	Every operation and every service available as long as possible and limit that shutdown period.	00:36:16
	But we just don't know yet.	00:36:22
	I I hate to give that answer, but we are looking into it and ideally we want to limit.	00:36:24
	Seizing services as much as possible.	00:36:29
	Thank you.	00:36:31
	Yes, ma'am.	00:36:32
	Are you still considering putting a pool in the?	00:36:33
	New Wellness Center and the new Wellness Center still an option?	00:36:36
	The new Wellness Center does have a pool in the phase. It's phase three of the build.	00:36:40
	So ideally to get everything we want, I think we came.	00:36:45
	With our dream Wellness centers about $80 million.	00:36:48
	We know we can't secure that kind of funding.	00:36:51
	So we've got several challenges.	00:36:53
	It's an auxiliary service, so we can't.	00:36:55
	Just bond out.	00:36:57
	For that.	00:36:58
	It's not allowed into the state rules.	00:36:59
	Unless we have revenue.	00:37:02
	Which the pool does not.	00:37:03
	Now if we made $1,000,000 a year in the pool, we could bond out for $80 million and and be fine. But that's not the situation. So	00:37:04
	it is part of the Wellness Center planning.	00:37:09
	But even completion of phase one, we're projecting A5 year timeline.	00:37:13
	Thailand's wants 80 million.	00:37:18
	We all do.	00:37:21
	Mr. Fleming.	00:37:22
	Thank you, Smith, one of these wonderful people who.	00:37:23
	Enjoy swimming that are.	00:37:28
	Talking to councillor.	00:37:30
	Ocampo and myself.	00:37:32
	They need to realize that.	00:37:35
	They're getting a much larger pool.	00:37:37
	To work out in.	00:37:40
	Than they've had over the last.	00:37:42
	50 years.	00:37:45
	More than twice the size.	00:37:46
	Yes.	00:37:47
	So what we will do?	00:37:51
	If the Council has no.	00:37:53
	Problems with is to work with.	00:37:55
	Tech put together a document.	00:37:58
	That is legally binding.	00:38:02
	And also takes care of how much budget we will.	00:38:04
	Assigned to that project.	00:38:09
	But I just wanted to let the.	00:38:11
	And then we'll have a public hearing also.	00:38:13
	And talk about it.	00:38:15
	But we, we just.	00:38:17
	Thought would never hurts to put sunshine.	00:38:19
	On a subject that is controversial at this.	00:38:22
	Point There's nothing going on behind closed doors.	00:38:25
	This is what we what I just told you is the.	00:38:28
	Verbatim, almost, the meeting that we had.	00:38:32
	And techniques to be than they are being as.	00:38:34
	Open and transparent about this whole thing.	00:38:38
	So I think.	00:38:41
	For for the quality of life and Socorro for our citizens, I think that's a big plus.	00:38:42
	And, and I think that's for me.	00:38:47
	It's a no brainer for the city to get involved with tech on this.	00:38:50
	So if perhaps.	00:38:54
	Maybe middle of March, we'll bring you something that we can bring and that we can.	00:38:58
	The city can pass a resolution on that. We can then.	00:39:02
	Have something that we have on paper.	00:39:05
	Thank you, Mr. Mayor. That's correct. What we'd like to do is start working on documentation now and have something to present	00:39:07
	both to our Board of Regents and to the City Council.	00:39:12
	To move forward on the project, you know, in the little things, I mean the big thing is that we listed for a dollar a year.	00:39:16
	The little things have to do with the swim team, have to do with the triathlon.	00:39:21
	It has to do with the.	00:39:25
	The use of the proof by the public.	00:39:26
	I made a comment.	00:39:29
	Then I've had a history here a long time and.	00:39:30
	When they built Messi center.	00:39:33
	The city.	00:39:35
	Actually, and if you.	00:39:36
	I don't know if the plates are gone off of those seats, but there used to be plates.	00:39:37
	On the seats of the people who donated to Macy's Center.	00:39:41
	And some of the things that were.	00:39:44
	Told us so that we did donate.	00:39:46
	Was that the city would be allowed to use that Macy center.	00:39:48
	At different times.	00:39:52
	And that's that's been up and down because of auxiliary changes and things like that.	00:39:53
	And then I think they're.	00:39:58
	Want their budget to Each department has to make their own money and all that what they call that.	00:39:59
	You're the finance director.	00:40:05
	Self-sufficient. self-sufficient so so message so so. I want to make sure that the pool doesn't get taken away from the.	00:40:07
	The the public.	00:40:15
	And that's got to be written into the thing.	00:40:16
	Quite honestly, it sounds like it would be.	00:40:18
	More opportunity for the public to utilize the pool.	00:40:20
	If, but I mean that we don't have someone right now.	00:40:23
	Be a good thing for the city, but you got to think about all the bad stuff first. I think that's, I hate to say.	00:40:28
	Like because we never, you know, I mean then.	00:40:37
	People forget and.	00:40:38
	But this is the best way to do it is to talk about it. I mean, that's what we have to do.	00:40:40
	We'll get some once it's proposed you.	00:40:44
	We're going to look it over and then look.	00:40:47
	Propose a resolution message.	00:40:49
	Yes, Sir. Yeah, I think.	00:40:51
	And uh.	00:40:54
	Mr. Green is they've done the.	00:40:55
	Really a lot of work that they gave us a outline and you know, we put that into legalese, just ChatGPT, it'll give us anything	00:40:57
	like that.	00:41:00
	Real friends, really. It's crazy.	00:41:06
	It will give you a resolution.	00:41:08
	So, but we'll try to get that maybe in the March 17th meeting.	00:41:10
	I think we have a meeting on the 17th of March.	00:41:14
	Perhaps we can do that. We have a public hearing and then we'll try to.	00:41:17
	Pass a resolution.	00:41:20
	If that's OK, we're going to kind of put that.	00:41:22
	That's our goal.	00:41:24
	The faster we can move, the better, Yes. And you know, like I said, we don't wanna.	00:41:25
	You know, I've been more than happy to.	00:41:30
	Testify if you have a meeting that we need to do.	00:41:32
	Thank you so much.	00:41:34
	Thank you for coming.	00:41:36
	Appreciate that.	00:41:37
	Thank you. Thank you very much.	00:41:38
	Anything else?	00:41:42
	OK then.	00:41:45
	We're going to go to new business.	00:41:48
	Any new business going on?	00:41:50
	Just to let you know, and and it's not in.	00:41:52
	I don't think we've got it in writing yet, but.	00:41:54
	Senator Heinrich's group.	00:41:56
	They got us about.	00:41:59
	Two and a half million dollars.	00:42:00
	For water project.	00:42:03
	So that's going to get done.	00:42:05
	I'm not going to even jinx it on because anything about what happens if the legislature will just have to wait until.	00:42:06
	The governor signs it or vetoes whatever we're trying to get.	00:42:12
	So that's still on hold. So we just don't know.	00:42:15
	And then?	00:42:18
	One of the things, uh.	00:42:19
	Donald Polo.	00:42:21
	CDBG, I don't know if we got a clearance from the state. We need to get ahead with Cuba Rd. We're trying to get that down.	00:42:23
	It's in the final stage right now.	00:42:29
	OK. So that's going to get done.	00:42:32
	And you guys got the map project?	00:42:34
	What else do you? If you get a chance, go see the clubhouse at the RV park. It's really, really nice.	00:42:36
	That's going to be something that's in addition.	00:42:42
	But executive session, no lawsuits.	00:42:45
	That I know of.	00:42:48
	I know some, but I already told you about him.	00:42:50
	So this is the.	00:42:53
	Let's do the personnel changes.	00:42:54
	We're going to do a.	00:42:58
	Chelsea Jones, She's completed suicide prevention certificate.	00:43:02
	As has Marbella Tarango, Antoinette Lopez.	00:43:06
	David Monet.	00:43:09
	That's a.	00:43:11
	Moving them up by 5%.	00:43:12
	And, uh, you did too.	00:43:15
	What, Julian?	00:43:19
	Julian Mays You know, like have good hearing. I have a hearing aid, Paul.	00:43:21
	Fire.	00:43:27
	Jeremiah Garza fire recouped.	00:43:29
	EMT and thanks to the county for that.	00:43:31
	And William Johnny Maldonado.	00:43:34
	Temporary to permanent.	00:43:36
	Customer make a motion to approve the personnel changes, right?	00:43:38
	Second moved and seconded.	00:43:43
	Discussion.	00:43:46
	Have a question, So we're doing all this suicide prevention certifications. Are we doing some kind of programs at the library or	00:43:48
	what are we doing?	00:43:51
	Chelsea got here, she have to explain, but yeah, she's working with the you.	00:43:56
	So I definitely require a certificate. So they got certificates for.	00:44:01
	OK.	00:44:05
	All in favor.	00:44:08
	Aye, aye.	00:44:08
	Peter, August.	00:44:15
	The farmers market see selling personal book bags and makeup bags.	00:44:19
	Do I need to do the second one?	00:44:23
	No, that's it.	00:44:25
	Your Mama was not going to be able to make it.	00:44:27
	She didn't want us to do it until she was here.	00:44:30
	So just August.	00:44:33
	Motion to approve the business registrations is right.	00:44:35
	Seconded.	00:44:42
	Discussion.	00:44:43
	All in favor, aye?	00:44:44
	Aye, aye, and.	00:44:46
	Tuesday, March 3rd.	00:44:49
	I will not be here.	00:44:51
	Marianne Chavez.	00:44:52
	Will be the mayor Pro Tem.	00:44:53
	And that's the meeting next time.	00:44:56
	Sure, see you later.	00:45:05
	Thank you.	00:45:07