By LISA SHIN
Los Alamos Family Eyecare
On May 9, 2024, our County Council voted to approve the boundaries of a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA). Now, it is time for our Council to establish an MRA Commission which complies with the New Mexico Redevelopment Code. This Commission should not include County Councilors or County employees, but rather key members from the community with experience in commercial property development, affordable housing, finances/banking and environmental sustainability. Additionally, there should be representatives from the small business community and our Planning and Zoning Commission.
The MRA Commission would make recommendations to our County Council and should reflect a diverse and broad range of perspectives. As with other County Boards and Commissions, appointed members should represent all political parties.
Farmington, Santa Fe, Clovis and Albuquerque have also established MRA Commissions which include the following responsibilities:
- Review responses from property developers
- Identify priorities for the use of public funds
- Review applications for MRA Bonds and LEDA grants
- Review fiscal impact and financial analysis of proposed redevelopment plans
Our Boards and Commissions are an “excellent mechanism for eliciting constructive citizen input, for putting to use the talents of individual citizens as volunteers, and for bringing to local government the perspective of the citizen removed from day-to-day administration.” Our local Boards and Commissions are also vital for an open and transparent government. Meetings are open to the public with required notice and an agenda. The New Mexico Open Meetings Act (NMSA 1978, Sections 10-15-1 to 10-15-4) has an underlying principle: “The democratic ideal is best served by a well-informed public. Sunshine laws generally require that public business be conducted in full public view, that the actions of public bodies be taken openly, and that the deliberations of public bodies be open to the public.”
Imagine if key decisions regarding transportation, parks and recreation, and environmental sustainability were made behind closed doors with no opportunity for public input or community engagement.
Los Alamos County claims to be committed to an open and transparent government. However, on April 10, 2024, our County staff had a closed meeting with a property developer to discuss its $21.5M public funding request for Mari-Mac redevelopment. Details of this meeting should have been disclosed to the public ahead of the May 9 County Council meeting on MRA Boundaries and June 27 MRA Town hall meeting. IPRA requests should not be necessary to find out about matters involving a significant amount of public resources and our tax dollars. This does not build the public trust and confidence in our local government.
Thanks to James Wernicke, for being the first to sign my citizens’ petition to put this on the Council agenda. Please write to our County Council in support at: countycouncil@lacnm.us.
Contact me if you have any questions at 1@laicare.net