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Home My WebLink About2025-05-22 KCPRC Regular Meeting OFFICIAL • °s � 1934 • 11;61; MINUTES Kit Carson Park Renaming Committee Meeting Hybrid Meeting Town Council Chambers - 120 Civic Plaza Drive Thursday, May 22, 2025 3:30 p.m. 1. Opening Items A. Call to Order The Kit Carson Park Renaming Committee Meeting was called to order by the Committee Chair Genevieve Oswald at 3:32 p.m. B. Roll Call Town Clerk Denise Martinez called roll and a quorum was present. Those present were: Committee Chair Genevieve Oswald Committee Member George "Fritz" Hahn Committee Member Peggy Nelson Committee Member Sylvia Rodriguez Committee Member Jesse Winters Also Present: Town Clerk Denise M. Martinez Deputy Town Clerk Miquela Mangum Interim Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Manuel Sandoval Parks Superintendent Chris Cordova C. Pledge of Allegiance Committee Member Hahn led the Pledge of Allegience. D. Approval of Agenda Committee Member Hahn motioned to approve the agenda. Committee Member Nelson seconded the motion. The motion passed. The Committee members voted as follows: Ayes: Hahn, Nelson, Rodriguez, and Winters E. Introduction of Items for the Committee Committee Chair Oswald spoke with Town Management and Legal regarding the Kit Carson Memorial Cemetery. Committee Chair Oswald updated the committee on beginning of a conversation with town management and legal about how the town of Taos can be better stewards of the history in the Kit Carson Cemetery and the history at the Carson house. 2. Citizens Forum Martin Jagers Mr. Jagers provided personal personal perspective and emphasized the importance of reframing history as a process of critical engagement. He highlighted the need to ground interpretations in evidence, build trust through transparency, and balance heroic and harmful narratives. Mr. Jagers requested the committee revoke and/or apologize for a statement made by Committee Chair Oswald on the Taos News Voices of Taos Podcast. 3. Consent Agenda - The items in the Consent Agenda have been reviewed by the Committee Chair, and the Chair has placed these items on the Consent Agenda for the purpose of voting on all items with one vote. The items listed are for the Committee's consideration and approval. A. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of April 15, 2025 Kit Carson Park Renaming Committee Meeting Minutes. (Town Clerk Denise Martinez) Committee Member Nelson motioned to approve the agenda. Committee Member Rodriguez seconded the motion. The motion passed. The Committee Members voted as follows: Ayes: Hahn, Nelson, Rodriguez, and Winters. 4. Presentations A. Historical uses of the land that is Kit Carson Park by Taos Pueblo Elder Gilbert Suazo Mr. Suazo emphasized that the park lies within Taos Pueblo's aboriginal homeland and has deep historical and cultural significance for the Pueblo people, dating back to pre-colonial times with continued use through trade, travel, and community gathering. He recalled personal memories of the park area, including past tensions between Pueblo and town youth, and described how relationships have improved over time, though some sensitivities remain. Mr. Suazo supported renaming the park due to the painful connotations of the Kit Carson name for Native Americans and suggested neutral alternatives like "Taos Community Park" to promote unity and inclusiveness. B. The Dine Perspective by Lyla June Johnston Ms. Johnston, a Dine woman, shared her personal and ancestral connection to Taos and recounted the deep pain caused by Kit Carson's role in the Long Walk and the Fort Sumner internment, including the loss of lives, cultural trauma, and abuse suffered by Dine people under his and General Carleton's command. Despite the historical atrocities, she expressed forgiveness and a desire for healing, unity, and forward movement, while firmly supporting the renaming of the park due to the emotional harm caused by its association with Kit Carson. She also acknowledged and apologized for historic harm committed by Navajo people against the Tiwa, pledging to support Tiwa communities and calling for the park to be renamed in the spirit of reconciliation and respect for all cultures. C. The Vision for Park Space and Future Use by Interim Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Manuel Sandoval and Parks Superintendent Chris Cordova. In 2018, the Town of Taos collaborated with Design Office and Henry Architects to develop a master plan for Kit Carson Park, aiming to preserve and enhance event, family, and sports spaces through both short- and long-term improvements. Mr. Sandoval outlined plans and progress by the Parks and Rec team in regards to upgrading infrastructure such as irrigation, ADA accessibility, restrooms, lighting, signage, playgrounds, and event accommodations, including improved power access and stage facilities. The Parks and Rec team is actively working on projects like reseeding grass, protecting irrigation, installing pet-friendly water fountains, improving the cemetery entrance, and integrating historical and interpretive signage to foster community pride and engagement. 5. Matters from the Committee A. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of publishing evolving land acknowledgment on the Town of Taos website. The committee discussed the possible approval of publishing an evolving land acknowledgment on the Town of Taos website. Printed materials, including a short and long version of a related "Call to Action," were provided for reference. One committee member, Mr. Winters, indicated he had not yet presented the document to the Tribal Council but intended to do so at their next meeting to gather input. Concerns were raised about the clarity and length of the documents, particularly regarding potential contradictions between the land acknowledgment and the call to action. Clarifications revealed that the shorter version was a refined version of earlier drafts and had previously received committee support. It was agreed that Mr. Winters would present the short version to the Tribal Council and report back. Ultimately, the committee decided to table the item until the next meeting, pending Tribal Council feedback, and a formal motion to postpone was made and approved. Committee Member Nelson motioned to TABLE this item until the next meeting for further review. Committee Member Hahn seconded the motion. The motion passed. The Committee Members voted as follows: Ayes: Hahn, Nelson, Rodriguez, and Winters. B. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of Taos Mainstreet facilitating public engagement efforts (Taos Mainstreet Executive Director Charles Whitson, Taos MainStreet Community Engagement Coordinator Arcenio Trujillo) Mr. Whitson and Mr. Trujillo shared nostalgic memories of the park, emphasizing its long- standing role as a safe and cherished community space for generations, including Little League games and early involvement with park infrastructure. Mr. Whitson then discussed the Taos Mainstreet organization proposed partnering with the committee to conduct creative, memory-based engagement activities—such as hands-on workshops and storytelling—to gather meaningful input on the park's future. Committee members expressed strong support for the proposal and discussed logistics, including developing QR-code surveys, distributing them at summer events, and securing minimal funding (possibly through grants) for materials and facilitation. Committee Member Nelson and Winters volunteered to collaborate with the Taos Mainstreet team, with plans to co- develop engagement events and survey tools, ensuring broad community input ahead of the park renaming deadline. Committee Member Nelson motioned to approve Taos Mainstreet facilitating public engagement efforts for the KCPRC, with Committee Members Nelson and Winters collaborating. Committee Member Rodriguez seconded the motion. The motion passed. The Committee Members voted as follows: Ayes: Hahn, Nelson, Rodriguez, and Winters. C. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of the committee's three questions for engagement. Committee Member Trujillo had shared initial questions with UNM students, and the committee requested that the questions be revised for clarity and brevity. Committee Chair Oswald worked on refining them and sent the revisions back to Trujillo, who added a fourth, more specific question. The revised set of four questions focused on drawing out community memories, ideas for park improvements, and features worth preserving. These were read aloud and discussed by the committee. Committee members generally favored the simpler, emotionally resonant questions but suggested shortening the fourth question to focus on park features that should be preserved or restored, removing unnecessary complexity. A motion was made and seconded to approve the three original revised questions along with an amended fourth question: "What characteristics or features of the park should be preserved or restored?" Committee Member Rodriguez motioned to use the set of three questions for engagement as written by Committee Chair Oswald. Committee Member Nelson seconded the motion with an amendment to include a fourth question written by Committee Member Horacio Trujillo, striking the word "special" and inserting the term "characteristic or feature." The motion passed. The Committee Members voted as follows: Ayes: Hahn, Nelson, Rodriguez, and Winters. D. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of website landing page features. Committee Chair Oswald learned to navigate the Town of Taos website and updated it with committee member bios, grounding documents, and the resolution, but noted the engagement questions were still missing. The committee discussed whether to display all four survey questions at once or rotate them one at a time; the rotating idea came from committee member Trujillo, but some members expressed concerns about limiting engagement and preferred presenting all questions together. Committee Chair Oswald proposed a timeline: launching the survey with four questions until July 17, then reviewing community responses to identify themes, followed by potentially releasing a second survey to gather name suggestions based on those themes. The committee agreed to publish a press release and use various outreach channels, including newsletters and possible social media help, to promote the survey and ensure broad community participation. Committee Member Nelson motioned to approve website landing page features to include a link to a Google Survey Form for the four questions for engagement, to run until July 17, 2025. Committee Member Rodriguez seconded the motion. The motion passed. The Committee Members voted as follows: Ayes: Hahn, Nelson, Rodriguez, and Winters. 6. Updates • e • • • • A. Update on outreach - Committee Chair Oswald Committee Chair Oswald gave an update regarding outreach to Taos High School students in September after the start of the new school year. Committee Chair Oswald met with the Taos High School History Department before the school year ended. The teachers expressed eagerness to involve their students in the conversation and possibly ask them questions before the term concluded. They also showed strong interest in revisiting the questions at the start of the new school year and in having committee members participate in those discussions. Committee Chair Oswald will keep the committee updated as plans developed closer to the school year's start. 7. Adjourn Committee Member Rodriguez motioned to adjourn the meeting, which Committee Member Nelson seconded. The motion was carried unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m. APPROVED( Genevieve Oswald, Committee Chair ATTEST: 1 ; _(:), ,,a._ A ri - -6Y beti6c Mciirif ole-t_ : :°l 9. ise Martinez, Town erk ". a s _ f • • • � n • • • • ••°1 ATTENDANCE SIGN-IN SHEET Kit Carson Park Renaming Committee Meeting - Town Council Chambers Thursday, May 22, 2025 3:30 p.m. PRINT Name Clearly Residence (Not Mailing Address) CITIZENS FORUM SIGN-IN SHEET gek (5 MINUTE TIME LIMIT) Or • —�� Er Carson Park Renaming Committee Meeting j'• 1934 Town Council Chambers Thursday, May 22, 2025 3:30 p.m. PRINT Name Clearly Residence (NOT mailing address) TOPIC CITIZENS FORUM SIGN-IN SHEET (5 MINUTE TIME LIMIT) KCPRC Meeting Town Council Chambers Name Residence TOPIC 5/22/25,8:20 AM BoardDocs®Plus o of�i ET�t�,M Thursday, May 22, 2025 Kit Carson Park Renaming Committee Meeting The meeting will be held at the Town Council Chambers at 120 Civic Plaza Drive, Taos, NM 3:30 p.m. 1. Opening Items A. Call to Order B. Roll Call C. Pledge of Allegiance D. Approval of Agenda E. Introduction of Items for the Committee 2. Citizens Forum A. Citizens wishing to speak shall limit their comments to 5 minutes. Citizens may submit comments to Committee Chair Genevieve Oswald at goswald@taosnm.gov. No action may be taken. 3. Consent Agenda - The items in the Consent Agenda have been reviewed by the Committee Chair, and the Chair has placed these items on the Consent Agenda for the purpose of voting on all items with one vote. The items listed are for the Committee's consideration and approval. A. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of April 15, 2025 Kit Carson Park Renaming Committee Meeting Minutes. (Town Clerk Denise Martinez) 4. Presentations A. Historical uses of the land that is Kit Carson Park by Taos Pueblo Elder Gilbert Suazo B. The Dine Perspective by Lyla June Johnston C. The Vision for Park Space and Future Use by Interim Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Manuel Sandoval and Parks Superintendent Chris Cordova. 5. Matters from the Committee A. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of publishing evolving land acknowledgment on the Town of Taos website. B. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of Taos Mainstreet facilitating public engagement efforts (Taos Mainstreet Executive Director Charles Whitson, Taos MainStreet Community Engagement Coordinator Arcenio Trujillo) C. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of the committee's three questions for engagement. D. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of website landing page features. 6. Updates A. Update on outreach - Councilor Oswald https://go.boarddocs.com/nm/taosgov/Board.nsf/Private?open&login# 1/2 5/22/25,8:20 AM BoardDocs®Plus 7. Adjourn https://go.boarddocs.com/nm/taosgov/Board.nsf/Private?open&login# 2/2