Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-08-28 KCPRC Regular Meeting OFFICIAL 414 or 7,,9 �p • ps • • • 1934 • • O AWMEx1G MINUTES Kit Carson Park Renaming Committee Meeting Hybrid Meeting Town Council Chambers - 120 Civic Plaza Drive Thursday,August 28, 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 3:36 pm. B. Roll Call Deputy Town Clerk Miquela Mangum 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 Horacio Trujillo Also Present: Town Clerk Denise Martinez Deputy Town Clerk Miquela Mangum Committee Intern Paxton Henry Absent/Excused: Committee Member Jesse Winters Committee Member Sylvia Rodriguez C. Pledge of Allegiance Committee Chair Oswald led the Pledge of Allegiance. D.Approval of Agenda Committee Member Trujillo motioned to approve the agenda. Committee Member Hahn seconded the motion. The motion passed. The Committee members voted as follows: Ayes: Trujillo, Hahn, and Nelson. Absent: Rodriguez and Winters 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. Letter to the Committee from Avery Frantz, Memorials Officer, General U.S. Grant Camp#3 - Dept of the Southwest Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War opposing the renaming of the Kit Carson Memorial Park. 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 July 23, 2025, Kit Carson Park Renaming Committee Meeting Minutes. (Deputy Town Clerk Miquela Mangum) Committee Member Nelson motioned to approve the July 23, 2025, Kit Carson Park Renaming Committee Meeting Minutes. Committee Member Hahn seconded the motion. The motion passed. The Committee members voted as follows: Ayes: Nelson, Hahn, Trujillo.Absent: Rodriguez and Winters 4. Presentations A. Panel -"Mapping Meaning: How We Use, Remember, and Imagine the Park" - Panelists: Dolores Trujillo, Paxton Henry, and Joseph Casados. Judi Cantu submitted answers to the questions as she was unable to attend the meeting. Committee Chair Oswald introduced three guests: Joseph Casados, intern Paxton Henry, and Dolores Trujillo, mother of committee member Horacio Trujillo. She thanked them for participating and noted that Ms. Judi Cantu was unable to attend but had submitted written responses, which she would read in turn. Reflections and Personal Memories . Ms. Trujillo recalled memories of her father coaching Little League and hosting gatherings with hot dogs and hamburgers, family picnics with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and later bringing her children and nephew to play on the slides. She also mentioned more recent gatherings with retirees at the gazebo, describing the park as a safe and enjoyable place for families. . Mr. Casados shared that his meaningful memories included playing Little League, working at the ice rink through a town program, and later attending major music events, including performances by well-known artists. He also remembered birthday parties and the strong role the ice rink played in his youth. . Ms. Henry reflected on dancing at the TCA and spending time in the park between performances with her sister, attending birthday parties, and enjoying Fourth of July celebrations. She emphasized the need for safety improvements, sharing that as a young woman she did not always feel secure in the park. . Ms. Cantu's written response recalled skating as a child when the rink was located where the current parking lot stands. She remembered it as enormous and full of skaters, though she felt it was not the same once moved to the back of the park. What Would Make the Park More Inviting to Others? . Ms. Trujillo suggested adding more walking paths and picnic tables so people could gather without needing to rent the gazebo. She emphasized the importance of making the park safer and more accessible for older visitors. . Mr. Casados said he missed having a dog park, something he experienced in larger cities. He believed a designated space for dogs would provide safety and clarity for pet owners. He also expressed concern about safety in the park, sharing an unsettling encounter, and stressed the need for better security and clear walkways. . Ms. Henry agreed with the need for accessibility and added that the volleyball courts could be repurposed for more popular activities, such as basketball, tennis, or pickleball, which were well used at Fred Baca Park. She also highlighted the importance of making the park safer, particularly regarding the presence of homeless individuals. . Ms. Cantu's response suggested removing or replacing the wall along the street with a wooden fence, planting flowers that bloomed throughout the summer, and adding more picnic areas with grills and benches, since the existing ones were often occupied. What Would Draw More of the Community in? . Ms. Trujillo supported removing the fence to create a more open and inviting atmosphere. She also recommended planned events for different age groups, such as art festivals and the Lilac Festival, held regularly throughout the year. . Mr. Casados noted that some residents avoided the park due to its name but believed big-name music events successfully attracted diverse audiences. He proposed expanding sports facilities, such as developing a state- of-the-art youth baseball complex, which could draw families already investing in travel sports. . Ms. Henry emphasized the value of more music events, especially ones enjoyable for youth and free to the public. She praised community events like Paseo and advocated for additional arts programming in the park, reflecting Taos's artistic identity. . Ms. Cantu, in her written response, suggested covering the play area for sun protection, building a lighted skateboard and bike arena to reduce use of sidewalks in the plaza, and adding a splash pad and possibly an outdoor pool. She noted these features were popular in other cities and could benefit Taos. What Should Be Preserved or Restored?3 . Ms. Trujillo valued the park's openness and peacefulness, describing it as a place to sit, read, visit with friends, or watch children play without disruption. She noted that while concerts brought in large crowds from outside communities, she personally appreciated the quiet and uncluttered nature of the park. . Mr. Casados observed that the park was caught between serving as a public park and a paid concert venue, and he called for greater consistency in its purpose. He recommended either fully investing in the venue concept with top talent and marketing or focusing on preserving the park. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the Little League fields, athletic facilities, and walking areas, which he saw as central to family and community use. . Ms. Henry stressed the need to restore and reopen the park's bathrooms, most of which were closed, and to revitalize the landscaping. She recalled when the park had more flowers and greenery and believed restoring these features would make the space more inviting. . Ms. Cantu did not provide an answer for this question. Key Themes: . Openness and Peacefulness . Clarity of Purpose . Recreational Facilities . Basic Amenities and Landscaping Together, these perspectives underscored the importance of balancing the park's role as a peaceful community gathering space with its use as an event venue, while ensuring essential facilities and natural features were well maintained. 5. Updates A. Committee Chair Oswald update on engagement activities and social media survey pushes. Committee Chair Oswald provided an update on engagement activities and survey outreach. She reflected that from the outset it had been clear that conversations on social media would be challenging, particularly since many committee members were not active on those platforms. She expressed concern that civic conversations should not be confined to private online spaces that require individuals to provide personal information in order to access public information, emphasizing instead that meetings were public, noticed, and reported in newspapers, with open opportunities for community participation. Committee Chair Oswald also explained that the project partner,TK1, had opted not to participate in potentially controversial social media discussions, and as a result, there had been no social media pushes for the survey. Despite this, additional survey responses had been received,though some members of the public noted difficulty in locating the survey. While options such as drop boxes had been suggested earlier in the process, the committee had not pursued them, which Chair Oswald felt was acceptable. She encouraged committee members to share the survey link directly with their communities by email and to encourage others to circulate it further. On other engagement efforts, Chair Oswald noted that an attempt to connect with the Pueblo had not worked out due to timing but would be revisited, and that plans were in place to reach out with KCPRC Intern Ms. Paxton to the high school history department in the near future. She also reported being invited to participate at Paseo and considered an art project but declined due to time constraints. Chair Oswald concluded by noting that the process was moving toward the stage of soliciting name suggestions, which they expected would draw greater participation, and reiterated the importance of committee members sharing the survey link within their own networks. Committee Member Nelson commented that she had been concerned about the slow pace of the survey, noting that most people in their position were unlikely to visit websites to look for it and that it would take effort to encourage participation. She observed that aside from the brief attempt to connect with the Pueblo, other outreach ideas had become entangled with Main Street, and she was unsure what had happened with that effort, particularly since a subcommittee had been formed but seemed to fall by the wayside. Committee Member Nelson asked for an update, suggesting that name suggestions might have been tied to those events. Chair Oswald responded that they did not have an update and explained that the subcommittee had been formed to create a bridge between the committee and Main Street but had not moved forward. Committee Member Hahn added that perhaps the committee should consider rescheduling to an evening meeting to allow more working people to attend, though they were unsure whether this would improve attendance. He agreed that once the request for name suggestions was released, participation and attendance would likely increase naturally, potentially carrying into subsequent meetings. Committee Member Hahn expressed appreciation for the measured and strategic approach taken so far, highlighting the value of the speakers and reflections that had been shared, and concluded that many in the community were likely waiting to see concrete actions before engaging further. Committee Member Trujillo expressed appreciation for the committee's thoughtful and deliberate approach, emphasizing the importance of creating space for community voices to share why a name change mattered and what values a new name should reflect. He noted that while some groups remained hesitant to engage due to controversy, this reinforced the value of lowering the temperature and keeping the focus on renaming the park rather than relitigating history. He highlighted the meaningful nature of recent conversations, including intergenerational perspectives, and pointed to consistent guidance from the Pueblo favoring names tied to features, concepts, or values rather than individuals. Committee Member Trujillo concluded that the process had yielded consistent and resonant feedback, prioritizing quality over quantity, and commended the committee for conducting the work responsibly. Chair Oswald agreed, adding that the committee was operating in an "ethical space" and thanked members for their time and commitment. 6. Matters from the Committee A. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of the Process to Inform the Proposal of a Name for the Town of Taos' Central Park in the Historic Plaza District presented by Committee Member Horacio Trujillo. Committee Member Trujillo explained that they had updated the committee's original timeline and milestones to reflect the current stage of the process. He noted that through the following month, the focus would remain on gathering information to inform name identification, after which the committee would begin actively identifying candidate names through as broad and open a process as possible. From there, the plan was to develop a short list of names and seek community input on that list. Committee Member Trujillo emphasized that nothing in the update was new, but rather a clarification to bring the committee and the community up to date on how the process was unfolding. Chair Oswald thanked Committee Member Trujillo for the update, agreed that the document contained no new information, and suggested postponing a vote on it until the next meeting to allow absent committee members the opportunity to contribute. Committee Member Nelson motioned to continue this item to the September meeting. Committee Member Hahn seconded the motion.The motion passed.The Committee members voted as follows: Ayes: Nelson, Hahn, and Trujillo.Absent: Winters and Rodriguez. 7.Adjourn Committee Member Trujillo motioned to adjourn the meeting. Committee Member Nelson seconded the motion. The motion was carried unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 4:26 p.m. APPROVED: Genevieve Oswald, Committee Chair ATTEST: , 1 •Miquel Mangum, eputy Town Clerk • iF . [ • ' r ATTENDANCE SIGN-IN SHEET * Kit Carson Park Renaming Committee I, NI V Meeting - Town Council Chambers Thursday, August 28, 2025 3:30 p.m. PRINT Name Clearly / Residence (Not Mailing Address) c'c `I arja4 L/2/ k!/ 5 h4i, r `, CITIZENS FORUM SIGN-IN SHEET ••r:1.* TTTT : * (5 MINUTE TIME LIMIT) • Kit Carson Park Renaming Committee Meeting is;,.., 1 9 3$ ,••C ,�i \_ Town Council Chambers Thursday, August 28, 2025 3:30 p.m. PRINT Name Clearly Residence (NOT mailing address) TOPIC CITIZENS FORUM SIGN-IN SHEET (5 MINUTE TIME LIVIT KCPRC Meeting Town Council Chambers Name e I 1CIPIC 4 _ r • • Questions on Kit Carson Park What is a meaningful memory you have of the park, and how could more moments like it be encouraged for others? I remember as a young child going ice skating when the skating pond was where the front parking lot is now. It seemed enormous at the time. It was a large skating rink and I remember it was packed with skaters. It was wonderful. It just wasn't the same when they moved it to the back of the park. However, it still got a lot of skaters. Can we go back? Its very dependent on snow conditions. It is better now at the Youth and family center where they can ensure ice. (Well when the rink is fixed) What would make you feel welcome and want to spend time in the park, beyond how it is now? The wall next to the street needs to come down, it needs to be left open or a more open wooden fence needs to replace what is there now and lots of flowers need to be planted. Flowers that bloom throughout the summer. Flowers that bloom at different times one right after the other. More areas to picnic with grills and more benches. People do picnic and they are always in use. Its hard to ensure getting one right now unless someone goes very early to reserve it. What would draw mor community members to the park, and how can we ensure it feels welcoming to those who are often left out? 1. The play area needs to be covered as many in Albuquerque are now covered because of the sun. 2. Taos needs a beautiful lighted skateboard arena and bike arena in the park. Right now skateboarders and bicyclists are tearing up the sidewalks and the center of the plaza. I almost got plowed down at the Dunn house recently by a young fellow who remained there for a good while riding his bike. 3. It would be wonderful to have a splash pad in the park for kids to play at for free. There are a few in Albuquerque and El Paso and other cities. In fact we should have one in Taos Plaza as well. Open at least from 10:00AM until 5:30 or 6:00PM. 4. It would be wonderful to have an outdoor pool at one of t,ze parks. Answers are from Judi Cantu 0lli ,.... of , . k J • If N1 F:„‘ Thursday, August 28, 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 July 23, 2025 Kit Carson Park Renaming Committee Meeting Minutes. (Deputy Town Clerk Miquela Mangum) 4. Presentations A. Panel - "Mapping Meaning: How We Use, Remember, and Imagine the Park" - Panelists: TBD 5. Updates A. Committee Chair Oswald update on engagement activities and social media survey pushes. 6. Matters from the Committee A. Discussion, consideration, and possible approval of the Process to Inform the Proposal of a Name for the Town of Taos' Central Park in the Historic Plaza District presented by Committee Member Horacio Trujillo. 7. Adjourn