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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-21 Enchanted Circle Council of Governments Special Meeting m� • e eA377VA ' Y ENCHANTED CIRCLE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING Virtual Meeting Monday, December 21, 2020 1:30 P.M. (Note:Meeting was conducted in accordance with the Attorney General's guidelines and observed the Governor's Executive Orders and Secretary of Health's Public Health Orders.) 1. Call to Order by Chairman, Mayor Daniel R. Barrone. The Special Meeting of the Enchanted Circle Council of Governments was called to order by Chairman Daniel R. Barrone at 1:32 p.m. 2. Introduction of Board Members and guests Town of Taos Clerk Francella Garcia, called roll and a quorum was present. Those present: Dan Barrone, Town of Taos Mayor (voting) Richard Bellis, Town of Taos Manager Brent Jaramillo, Taos County Manager(voting) Linda Calhoun, Town of Red River Mayor(voting) Georgiana Rael, Town of Red River Administrator(Joined at approximately 1:45 p.m.) Jo Mixon, Village of Angel Fire Mayor(voting) Jay Mitchell, Village of Angel Fire Manager Richard Cordova, Village of Eagle Nest Mayor (voting) Mary Berglund, Village of Eagle Nest Administrator Mark Gallegos, Village of Questa Mayor (voting) Renee Martinez, Village of Questa Interim Administrator Christof Brownell, Village of Taos Ski Valley Mayor(voting) John Avila, Village of Taos Ski Valley Administrator Those absent were: Tom Blankenhorn, Taos County Commission Chairperson Bobby Ledoux, Colfax County Commission Chairperson Mary Lou Kern, Colfax County Manager Also present were: Francella Garcia, Town of Taos Clerk Page 1 of 4 3. Pledge of Allegiance Village of Eagle Nest Mayor Richard Cordova led the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. Moment of Silence 5. Approval of the agenda A motion to approve the agenda was made by Village of Eagle Nest Mayor Richard Cordova and seconded by Town of Red River Mayor Linda Calhoun. The agenda was approved unanimously. 6. Approval of the Minutes A. Approval of the ECCoG Minutes of the August 27, 2020. The Chair asked for approval of the minutes of the ECCoG meeting of August 27, 2020. A motion to approve was made by Mayor of Taos Ski Valley Christof Brownell. Seconded by Taos County Manager Brent Jaramillo. The minutes were approved unanimously. 7. Presentations There were no presentations. 8. Public Comment — Citizens who wish to comment during this portion of the meeting can email request to Town Manager Richard Bellis at rbellis(aD-taosgov.com. Please provide your phone number that you can be reached and you will be contacted and connected during that portion of the meeting. No comments were received. 9. Old Business There was no discussion. 10. New Business A. Discussion, consideration, and possible decision of how the members can work together on a regional plan to contain and reduce the incidence of COVID-19 in our region and move the region from "red" to "green" in accordance with the Governor's gating criteria to safely re-open the economy. Page 2 of 4 Town of Taos Mayor Barrone stated as the region moves forward, he would like a discussion on how the Enchanted Circle Council of Governments (ECCoG) members can work together to regionally reduce the incidence of COVID-19 to move the region from red to green per the Governor's gating criteria to safely reopen the economy. He further added many local businesses and constituents are suffering, and to move the gating criteria from red to green, there needs to be more community testing for the virus. Furthermore, community testing will assist with the asymptomatic transmission of the virus. Town of Taos Manager Bellis provided an update on COVID-19 public awareness campaigns carried out by the Town through the local newspaper, radio stations, and social media. He further added it will take a concerted effort, particularly now that ski resorts are open to some extent and sharing tourists amongst the businesses. Village of Taos Ski Valley Mayor Brownell stated the Governor directed ski area employees to be tested for COVID-19 every two weeks. He further added the Village mandated random employee testing that requires employers to randomly select from a pool of 15% of employees every two weeks. Individuals in the pre-employment process with the Village and all businesses must test negative for COVID-19. There are signs posted throughout the Village indicating that masks and social distancing are required. Additionally, Village police officers are reminding individuals to mask up. Town of Red River Mayor Calhoun stated per the Governor's orders, employees with the Red River Ski Area must be tested for COVID-19 every two weeks. Fifty percent of the employees are tested one week, and the other fifty percent are tested the following week. She further added Holy Cross Hospital Emergency Response Coordinator David Elliot stated he is willing to set up remote testing sites. The Town of Red River is trying to set up a testing site for residents; however, in speaking with community members, they presumed that tourists would also have to be tested for COVID-19 and believes it would be a negative message. Town of Taos Mayor Barrone stated Town employees would get tested for COVID-19 after the holiday. Furthermore, the Town wants as many businesses as possible to get their employees tested and emphasized it is free of charge. Mr. Bellis provided an update on test site locations. Taos County Manager Jaramillo stated for an effective impact, the ECCoG members should be one voice and partner on the campaign for COVID-19. He further added Taos County conducts random employee testing for COVID-19 every two weeks, and County detention officers are tested weekly. In addition, ten Emergency Management Service (EMS) employees were vaccinated last week, and the County will have ten more EMS employees vaccinated this week. Page 3 of 4 Mr. Bellis proposed publishing a regional ad at the beginning of January on the gating criteria to safely reopen the economy and provide updated COVID-19 information and resources to the public. The ad would include signatures from the mayors and each entity's government seal. Mr. Bellis stated if this is acceptable to the ECCoG members, he will prepare a draft for their review and approval. Village of Questa Mayor Gallegos stated Questa does not have many tourists visiting their community; however, the residents of Questa are the workforce to other regions such as Red River and Taos. He further added he appreciates that there will be testing for the virus for individuals who work in these areas. Village of Angel Fire Mayor Mixon stated they have massive amounts of tourists, and all businesses follow COVID-19 safe practices. Discussion ensued on the influx of visitors, policies implemented at ski areas on the screening of visitors at hotels, short-term rentals, and ski resorts, keeping residents safe, whether it is the locals or visitors who are spreading the virus, the treatment of visitors by locals, the importance of tourism to the local economy, the cost to the constituents to get tested, test results time frame, asymptomatic transmission of the virus, quarantine of visitors, ski resort business hours, and the regional message each ECCoG member can agree on. Town of Taos Mayor Barrone tasked Town of Taos Manager Bellis and Taos County Manager Jaramillo to compose a unified regional message by the first of January. 11. Other Business No matters were discussed. 12.Adjournment A motion to adjourn was made by Taos County Manager Jaramillo and seconded by Town of Taos Mayor Barrone to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 2:28 p.m. APPROV Chair an, M or D niel R. Barrone ATTEST: r Clerk or Recording Secretary Francella Garcia Page 4 of 4 a �T Htt4 _ i _o2 A4T'fE►� ENCHANTED CIRCLE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA Monday, December 21, 2020 1:30 p.m. — 3:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting This virtual meeting will follow the Attorney General's guidelines and observe the Governor's executive orders and the Secretary of Health's public health orders. The electronic format will allow the Enchanted Circle Council of Governments to conduct the meeting without being physically present and in accordance with the New Mexico Open Meetings Act. Members of the public wishing to participate can Livestream the meeting or view it in archived format on the Town's website taosgov.com. - https://www.taosgov.com/259/Public-Meetings---Live-Archive. Those wishing to comment before or during the meeting may submit comments or questions to Town of Taos Manager Richard Bellis at rbellisC@taosgov.com 1. Call to Order by Chairman,Mayor Daniel R. Barron 2. Introduction of Board Members and guests 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. Moment of Silence 5. Approval of the agenda 6. Approval of the Minutes A. Approval of the ECCoG Meeting Minutes of the August 27, 2020 7. Presentations 8. Public Comment A. Those wishing to be heard during the public comments portion of the meeting can email your request to speak to rbellis c,taosgov.com and provide your phone number that you can be reached and you will be contacted and connected during that portion of the meeting. 9. Old Business 10. New Business A. Discussion, consideration, and possible decision of how the members can work together on a regional plan to contain and reduce the incidence of COVID-19 in our region and move the region from"red"to"green"in accordance with the Governor's gating criteria to safely re- open the economy. 11. Other business 12. Adj ournment