By Rodd Cayton — Corrales’ human Mayor, Fred Hashimo, took his oath of office in January. His latest counterpart, Poptart, the new pet mayor, will be sworn in at the Nov. 17 Village Council meeting.
If Poptart, a miniature horse, decides to unleash a few neighs, he won’t be breaking the law. Among the agenda items for the meeting is discussion of an updated noise ordinance, including a public input segment.
In his weekly message to the community, Hashimoto wrote that the proposed ordinance came about after a citizens’ group, some business owners and the council all recommended creating a new, enforceable set of rules, based on objective decibel parameters. The issue has been ongoing for decades, with the latest debate beginning in the spring of 2025, after tension rose between local restaurants and bars who say live music is key to their success and residents who say the music — particularly low-frequency bass and drum sounds — detracts from their enjoyment of their property.
The discussion will also include recommendations from Colorado Analytics, a sound engineer consulted by the village. Councilors last month said they plan to have the new rules in place before the springtime patio music season begins.
The Pet Mayor contest, which takes place during the Harvest Festival, is an annual fundraiser for Corrales Animal Services. Members of the Corrales Kiwanis Club presented a check for $8,000 at the Oct. 27 council meeting. Common agricultural operations noises, including sounds made by livestock such as Poptart, are among the exceptions in the proposed noise ordinance.
The next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. at the Council Chambers, 4324 Corrales Road. The full agenda will be posted here at least 72 hours before the meeting.
Also in the Mayor’s Message, Hashimoto wrote that about 5,600 voters cast ballots at Corrales’ two polling places in the Nov. 3 election. “This translates to 78% of persons 18 and over voting, which is outstanding,” he wrote. Hashimoto expressed gratitude that New Mexico voters approved Constitutional Amendment 4, which established a salary for state legislators equal to the annual median household income of the state.
“New Mexico had been the only state in the nation where legislators weren’t paid a salary,” he noted. “Offering that now somewhat diminishes the need for individuals thinking about running for the legislature to be independently well-off or have personal or vested interests.”
The bosque in the general areas near the north Harvey Jones Channel, Romero Road and Alameda Boulevard will be closed through Nov. 27, Hashimoto wrote, as the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District reduces fuels through the removal of dead and down and invasive species and herbicide application.
The mayor also urged property owners seeking to conduct burning to contact authorities at 505-899-9819 to make sure burning is allowed that day and to register their addresses with the fire department.