Corrales Council Roundup

Published January 29th, 2025 at 1:04 pm

In a contentious meeting, the Corrales Village Council voted to delay adopting MainStreet’s Arts and Cultural District Economic Development Plan, citing concerns over timing ahead of a revised comprehensive plan. Councilors also reviewed health updates, legislative matters and the Bosque Advisory Commission’s review of its 2024 activities and 2025 plans.

The Comprehensive Plan debate dominated the meeting as councilors voted to delay adopting the ACD, allowing the Planning and Zoning Committee more time to review the plan to make sure they are aligned. Other discussions covered the status of the siphon project with the Sandia Pueblo and the potential impacts of federal funding cuts.

“​​Despite the fact that I think it’s a great plan, it would be kind of tagged with a scarlet letter if we did not wait till the comprehensive plan,” Village Councilor Zachary Burkett said. 

The council unanimously voted to postpone voting to approve the Arts and Cultural District plan until March 25 to give the planning committee ample time to review the comprehensive plan without being rushed.  

During the Corraleños Forum, many residents also voiced frustration that the finalized arts district plan was not available on Corrales MainStreet’s website to the public or the council. 

Sandy Rasmussen and Angela Gutierrez of Corrales MainStreet apologized for a technical error that delayed posting the plan online. To residents’ delight, Rasmussen confirmed the removal of “250” from the plan, eliminating the reference to a 250-seat theater.

They argued the comprehensive plan should be the foundation for future planning, including the ACD, and criticized the administration for dismissing public input. Marty Sanchez said considering the ACD first would put “the cart before the horse.”

“That the public is relegated to a back row seat is that in village planning efforts is somewhat distressing and not right,” former village councilor Fred Hashimoto said.

Additionally, there were concerns the voices of long-time residents and descendant families were being ignored in the planning process and volunteer efforts had been disregarded.

“We have become a village where you come to raise your kids if you can afford the current market value,” Ricardo Blanco said. “The ordinances and infamous Corrales red tape, which, of course, were intended to deter over-development and preserve farmland, have sadly deterred many descendants’ families right out of Corrales.”

Other news

During the administrator’s report portion of the meeting, Village Administrator Ron Curry gave an update about the potential effects of the federal grant funding freeze the Donald Trump administration put in place.

“We’ve made well over a dozen phone calls across the state and into Texas and Washington, trying to find out the effects of how it would affect Corrales,” Curry said. “There are too many plates spinning around for anybody to give you a definitive answer, but everybody will be affected in some form or another.” Admin Curry about funding freeze

According to Curry, he was concerned the freeze would impact emergency personnel in the county, as their salaries rely on federal dollars. He added that funds already in New Mexico, such as clean water money, should be accessible locally through sources like the New Mexico Finance Authority, the Water Trust Board and the Environment Department, rather than sitting unused in Washington DC.

Before the meeting, the Trump administration froze federal grant money, then a federal judge blocked the freeze. After the meeting, the administration rescinded the freeze — all within 24 hours. Things could have changed since press time.

Village Councilor Bill Woldman then asked Curry if there was any progress on the siphon with the Sandia Pueblo.

According to Curry, he, Mayor James Fahey, Village Clerk Melanie Romero, former state Rep. Daymon Ely and Mike Hamman, former head of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and former state engineer, met to develop a strategy for working with the Sandia Tribal Council to move things forward.

“There is some sort of nexus that’s going on between Sandia and Isleta as to competition between the two of them,” Curry said. “There’s some subtleties there that I haven’t fully grasped yet, but the more that we talk, the more we’ll get them to try to push them along.”

Curry said the Village received an unusual request about the siphon, which they rejected outright — it involved creating a surf wave.

Village Councilor Stuart Murray asked the mayor and administration about the status of the on-call architect the council had budgeted for, sparking a contentious exchange.

In response, Curry said there had been no need for an on-call architect.

“Mr. Curry, it doesn’t seem to me that just because you feel there hadn’t been a need, doesn’t mean that our will should be ignored,” Murray said. “We budgeted for an on-call architect.”

According to Murray, the purpose of an on-call architect is to ensure designs are ready when funding becomes available. He emphasized the need for shovel-ready designs for properties like the Anderson property and municipal parking lots, warning against funded projects that remain stagnant.

Fahey said the issue was not up for debate, noting the Village has not seen a need for an architect at this point.

Murray responded that he would start reviewing the budget and follow the needs accordingly. 

“That’s one of your jobs as a council and budget you may not like it,” Fahey said. “Since you want to try and tell us what our job is, I’m going to help you with yours.”

On a lighter note, Joan Hashimoto, chair of the Bosque Advisory Commission, presented the commission’s activities and achievements to the council.

According to Hashimoto, the commission is dedicated to preserving the Bosque as a nature preserve. It monitors the Bosque monthly, dividing it into seven sections to address issues like fallen tree limbs, litter and graffiti removal. 

The commission also monitors trails, collects trash and removes tires, often with the help of Road Runner Waste, which provides free bins and pickups for dog waste stations.

The commission collaborates with Public Works and citizen volunteers to remove dead and fallen wood, which Sandoval County allows to be dumped at the landfill for free. Hashimoto said the commission held three wood removal events last year and one in January of this year.

The commission also organizes Ravenna grass seed head removal events to prevent the spread of the weed. 

According to the Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Collaborative Program, Ravenna grass is a relatively new invasive species in the Middle Rio Grande Valley. While a story suggests it was brought in by the zoo for the elephants, it was more likely cultivated in local gardens. The grass has long leaves that dry out, along with long culms and “fluffy” seed heads, making it a major potential fire spreader. 

The commission is also working with the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District to address other invasive species, such as Salt Cedar and Russian Olive.

The Bosque Commission is working to replace the 40-year-old Boy Scout Bridge over the Corrales Riverside Drain (Clear Ditch), as its safety is now in question.

The organization is repurposing an old bridge found at the county landfill. The new bridge will be positioned about 100 feet north of the old location, aligning with the Army Corps of Engineers ramp.