SENATE MEMORIAL 12

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Bernadette M. Sanchez

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE MID-REGION COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE ABILITY OF THE ALBUQUERQUE-BERNALILLO COUNTY WATER UTILITY AUTHORITY TO ACCOMPLISH ITS REQUIRED DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND TO IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO BOARD COMPOSITION OF THE AUTHORITY.

     WHEREAS, the Albuquerque-Bernalillo county water utility authority is created in statute; and

      WHEREAS, the membership of the board of the authority is composed of the mayor of Albuquerque, three city councilors appointed by the Albuquerque city council and three county commissioners appointed by the Bernalillo county board of county commissioners; and

     WHEREAS, the authority makes policy decisions about water and sewer usage, sets water and sewer rates and sets drought restrictions and other water regulations and ordinances; and

     WHEREAS, the authority may acquire, maintain, contract for, condemn or protect water and wastewater facilities; and

     WHEREAS, the authority is empowered to approve major water utility projects and to issue bonds to finance those projects; and

     WHEREAS, these duties are complex and time-consuming and may exceed the qualifications and abilities of and the time available to city councilors and county commissioners and may limit their effectiveness in accomplishing the other duties and responsibilities that are required of them; and

     WHEREAS, the mid-region council of governments is a multicounty governmental agency that works to identify and implement regional long-term policy to ensure healthy communities in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, among the efforts in which the mid-region council of governments is involved is water planning to address the fundamental concern of cities and counties about how to meet current and future water needs in the region; and

     WHEREAS, the mid-region council of governments was created to conduct and coordinate regional planning and to provide advice and recommendations to member governments to assist local governments to make informed decisions; and

     WHEREAS, meeting the water needs of Albuquerque and Bernalillo county is critically important to the future well-being of all residents of the city and the county;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the mid-region council of governments be requested to convene a task force to study the ability of the Albuquerque-Bernalillo county water utility authority to accomplish its required duties and responsibilities and to identify alternative approaches to board composition of the authority; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force collect data, foster dialogue and identify and recommend strategies that will strengthen the ability of the Albuquerque-Bernalillo county water utility authority to meet the current and future water utility needs of the city and the county; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report its findings and recommendations to the appropriate interim legislative committee by November 2011; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the mid-region council of governments and the Albuquerque-Bernalillo county water utility authority.

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