Valencia County public meetings in 2022

Juvenile Justice Board

The Valencia County Juvenile Justice Advisory Board will meet to discuss routine business, including approving minutes and accepting the agenda. Key discussions include hiring a full-time Continuum Coordinator and a part-time Community Outreach Coordinator, as well as potential budget adjustments for H2 Academic Solutions. The board will also consider nominations for youth subcommittee members and a co-chair.

• Discussion on hiring a full-time Continuum Coordinator and designating interview panel members
• Discussion on hiring a part-time Community Outreach Coordinator
• Discussion on potential budget adjustments for H2 Academic Solutions in the 3rd quarter
• Discussion on using received funding to assist Cibola County Juvenile Justice cases with CYFD and H2 Academic
• Nomination of potential Youth Subcommittee members and discussion on Co-Chair

The Board unanimously approved the appointment of four high school seniors to the Youth Subcommittee. The Board also discussed the need for a full-time Continuum Coordinator and a part-time Community Outreach Coordinator. A nomination for a new board member was declined by the nominee due to tribal administration changes.

• Approved appointment of Isaiah Jimenez, Kyleigh Winters, Andrea Sassar, and Sara Epley to Youth Sub-committee (Unanimous)
• Approved October 11 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
• Tabled nomination of Co-Chair
• Declined nomination of Yolanda Abeyta to the Board (Nominee declined)

Planning & Zoning Commission

The Valencia County Planning & Zoning Commission will consider two zone change requests by Lawrence and Kathy Jaramillo to rezone two parcels from Rural Residential 2 (RR-2) to Rural Residential 1 (RR-1) for lot splits. The parcels are located north of Guinea Ln in Belen, NM. The meeting also includes approval of the October 2022 minutes and staff reports.

• Zone Change #2022-117: 2.48 acres, Tract A, Land of Marlin C Frettern, north of Guinea Ln, Belen
• Zone Change #2022-118: 2.05 acres, Tract B, Land of Marlin C Frettern, north of Guinea Ln, Belen
• Both requests: RR-2 to RR-1 for lot splits

Planning & Zoning Commission

The Valencia County Planning & Zoning Commission will consider two solar field overlay zone requests and one variance request. The commission will also approve the September 2022 minutes and hear staff reports.

• Solar Field Overlay Zone #2022-111 for two tracts (20 and 30 acres) west of I-25, east of 1201 Frontage Rd., Belen, requested by Wildcat Renewables LLC
• Solar Field Overlay Zone #2022-112 for 284.85 acres east of I-25, south of Meadowlake Rd., Los Lunas, requested by TotalEnergies
• Variance #2022-113 for a 43-foot variance to build an RV cover at 12 Tome Hill Rd., Los Lunas, requested by Pedro P. and Edwina Aragon

Juvenile Justice Board

The Valencia County Juvenile Justice Advisory Board is meeting to approve minutes, nominate a co-chair, and receive updates on youth programs, including the Continuum Coordinator, H2 Academic Solutions, Juvenile Probation, Teen Court, and McKinney Vento. They will also discuss grant funding opportunities, including a National Institutes of Health grant on gun violence prevention.

• Discussion and nomination of Co-Chair
• CYFD funding for program shortfalls or new evidence-based programs
• NIH grant on gun violence prevention
• Youth Subcommittee outreach to Lending a Paw and National Honor Society
• Outreach to Facebook and Amazon for opportunities

The Valencia County Juvenile Justice Advisory Board approved amended bylaws that lower the youth age limit from 28 to 22, move the annual membership vote from March to December, and change meeting times from 3:00 PM to 12:00 PM. The board tabled the nomination of a vice-chair until the December meeting. No substantive decisions were made on funding or program updates.

• Approved amended JJAB bylaws (motion by Allen Smith, second by Jason Rael, no opposition)
• Tabled vice-chair nomination until December 2022 meeting
• Accepted October 2022 meeting agenda with revision to include bylaws discussion (motion by Patricia G, second by Cassandra Canyuck, no opposition)
• Approved August 26, 2022 board meeting and retreat minutes (motion by Linda Montano, second by Estevan Gallegos, no opposition)

Planning & Zoning Commission

The Valencia County Planning & Zoning Commission will consider a request by BAP Power Corporation DBA Cenergy Power for a Solar Field Overlay Zone on 28.46 acres west of I-25, south of Erica Ln in Belen. The property is zoned Rural Residential 1 (RR-1). The commission will also approve the August 2022 minutes and hear staff reports.

• Solar Field Overlay Zone #2022-106 for 28.46 acres (Tract 2C2 & 2C3, Estate of Rafael B Sanchez), west of I-25, south of Erica Ln, Belen
• Approval of August 2022 meeting minutes
• Staff reports

Juvenile Justice Board

The Valencia County Juvenile Justice Advisory Board is holding its annual retreat to discuss and vote on a new Chair and Co-Chair, review by-laws and mission statements, and hear presentations from county and state agencies. The agenda includes updates on intake processes from the Los Lunas Police Department and Juvenile Probation Office, as well as programming from H2 Academics and community partners like Teen Court and McKinney-Vento. This is a working session with no formal ordinances or contracts on the agenda.

• Discussion, nomination, and voting of Chair & Co-Chair
• Los Lunas Police Department Intake Process presentation by Lt. Cassandra Canyuck
• Juvenile Probation Office Intake/Referral Process presentation by JPO Supervisor Estevan Gallegos
• H2 Academics programming: Receiving Assessment Center, Restorative Justice, Botvin Life Skills, Girls Circle, Boys Council
• Community partner presentations: Teen Court (Victoria Flores) and McKinney-Vento (Camille Griego)

The Valencia County Juvenile Justice Advisory Board elected Heather Benavidez as chair, replacing Judge Allen Smith, after a motion and second were made and all present members voted yes. The board postponed discussion of a vice chair until the October meeting. Several presentations were given on juvenile justice processes, programs, and community resources, but no other formal decisions were made.

• Approved the agenda as presented.
• Approved the minutes from the July 29 board meeting.
• Elected Heather Benavidez as JJAB Chair after a motion, second, and unanimous vote.
• Postponed discussion of a vice chair nomination until the October meeting.

Planning & Zoning Commission

The Valencia County Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing and vote on four action items: two zone changes requested by Overland Group, LLC to allow Dollar General retail stores, and two Solar Field Overlay Zone requests by SolarStone New Mexico, LLC. The meeting also includes approval of the July 2022 minutes and staff reports.

• Zone Change #2022-101: C-1 to C-2 for Dollar General at NW corner of Meadowlake Rd and Cordoniz Ct., Los Lunas (Tract 2, Las Calandrias)
• Zone Change #2022-102: C-1 to C-2 for Dollar General at NW corner of Meadowlake Rd and Cordoniz Ct., Los Lunas (Tract 1, Las Calandrias)
• Solar Field Overlay #2022-103: 33 tracts in El Cerro Mission, SW corner of Manzano Expy and Sands Loop, zoned PD and RR-1
• Solar Field Overlay #2022-104: 20 lots in Valencia Community Air Ranch, NE corner of Manzano Expy and Airport Dr., zoned C-1

Planning & Zoning Commission

The Valencia County Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a public meeting to consider six action items, including conditional use permits for an RV park and an auto repair shop, and four solar field overlay zone requests. The commission will also approve the June 2022 minutes and hear staff reports. All items are up for decision or discussion.

• Conditional Use #2022-034: RV park at 36 Emilia Rd, Los Lunas (10 acres, Outland District)
• Solar Field Overlay #2022-089: US Solar, 2,785 acres south of Meadowlake Rd and east of Manzano Expressway
• Conditional Use #2022-090: Auto repair shop at 10 Vigil Rd, Los Lunas (1.13 acres, C-1)
• Solar Field Overlay #2022-091: Impact Power Solutions, 20.22 acres east of I-25 and west of Highway 116
• Solar Field Overlay #2022-092: Henderson Solar Project, 27.28 acres west of Highway 314, north of Wal-Mart, Belen

Juvenile Justice Board

The Valencia County Juvenile Justice Advisory Board met to discuss nominating a chair and co-chair at the August retreat, accept a new voting member, and review the draft final report due July 15. The board also covered updates on programs like H2 Academic Solutions and Teen Court, and planned the annual retreat.

• Beverly Romero nominated and approved as voting member (Jason Rael abstained)
• Final report due 7-15-2022; mission and vision statements to be revised and voted on
• Juvenile detention rate nearly doubled to $168.00
• Retreat planned for August 12 or 26, 9AM-2PM
• H2 Academic Solutions RAC fully staffed with 72 active cases

The Valencia County Juvenile Justice Advisory Board approved the agenda and nominated Valencia County Assessor Beverly Romero as a voting member, with all present members voting yes except Jason Rael abstaining. The board agreed to nominate a chair and co-chair at the August retreat, and discussed the final report due 7-15-2022, with changes to the Mission and Vision Statements deferred to the retreat. No other formal decisions were made; most items were updates or discussions.

• Approved agenda (motion by Heather Benavidez, second by Victoria Flores)
• Nominated Beverly Romero as voting member (all yes, Jason Rael abstained)
• Agreed to nominate chair and co-chair at August retreat
• Deferred Mission and Vision Statement revisions to August retreat

Planning & Zoning Commission

The Valencia County Planning & Zoning Commission will consider four action items: a conditional use request for a cannabis retail and delivery home occupation, and three solar field overlay zone requests from Core Solar. The meeting includes routine approvals of the agenda and previous minutes, plus swearing in of participants.

• Conditional Use #2022-046: Home occupation for cannabis retail and delivery at 767 Meadowlake Rd, Los Lunas (C-1 zoned)
• Solar Field Overlay Zone #2022-047: 39.60 acres near N Rio del Oro Loop and Bonita Vista Blvd, Los Lunas
• Solar Field Overlay Zone #2022-048: 32.54 acres between N and S De Haan Loop, Los Lunas
• Solar Field Overlay Zone #2022-050: 41.70 acres at SE corner of Sherrod Blvd and Manzano Expy, Belen

Planning & Zoning Commission

The Commission will consider a request to change the zoning of a 1.45-acre tract from Rural Residential 2 to Community Commercial District. The agenda also includes a claim of exemption for land division in Eastland Hills Subdivision.

• Zone Change #2022-035: Request to change 1.45 acres on the south side of Morris Rd from RR-2 to C-2
• Claim of Exemption #2022-037: Boundary alteration for parcels in Eastland Hills Subdivision

Juvenile Justice Board

The Valencia County Juvenile Justice Advisory Board met on April 12, 2022, but did not have enough members present to establish a quorum. Consequently, the board could not vote to approve the January 2022 minutes or the proposed Budget Adjustment Request (BAR). The meeting focused on board orientation, scheduling conflicts, and program updates from H2Academic Solutions and the Juvenile Probation Office.

• Proposed BAR to transfer funds from Restorative Justice to RAC was presented but not voted on due to lack of quorum
• Valencia County Commission approved a $400k request for a food distribution program partnering with schools, H2Academic, and YDI
• H2Academic reported RAC is at full capacity with 195 registered youth across Belen, VHS, LLHS, and Drop-in sites
• Board discussed changing meeting times to resolve conflicts for members Victoria Flores and Noelle Chavez
• Newly appointed Chair Judge Allen Smith was introduced but did not attend due to court docket; Co-Chair position remains undefined

The Valencia County Juvenile Justice Advisory Board met on April 12, 2022, but lacked a quorum, so no official votes or decisions were made. Members discussed scheduling conflicts, a proposed budget adjustment (BAR) to move funds from Restorative Justice to RAC, and planned an orientation for the next meeting in June. The board also heard updates on programs and training opportunities.

• No quorum; agenda and January minutes not approved
• BAR proposal to shift funds from Restorative Justice to RAC discussed, not voted on
• Poll to be sent to find better meeting time
• Retreat in August suggested, date to be determined
• Next meeting set for June 14, 2022

Planning & Zoning Commission

The Valencia County Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a public meeting to consider seven action items, including three solar overlay zone requests, three zone changes, and one conditional use request. The commission will also approve the agenda and minutes from the previous meeting. All items are up for decision or discussion.

• Solar Overlay Zone #2022-008: Manzano Solar, LLC, 100 acres on Twining Ln, Belen, zoned Outland District
• Solar Overlay Zone #2022-009: Santos Solar, LLC, 30.13 acres at SW corner of Highway 304 and Rio Grande Stables Rd, Belen, zoned Rural Residential 1
• Solar Overlay Zone #2022-010: SunPower Corporation, at SW corner of Meadowlake Rd and El Cerro Loop, Los Lunas, zoned Mineral Resource District
• Zone Change #2022-011: Andres Sisneros, 6.67 acres at 7 Eli Ct, Belen, from Agricultural Preservation to Rural Residential 2
• Zone Change #2022-012 and #2022-013: Thomas P Tinnin, two parcels totaling 134.61 acres at NE corner of Morris Rd and Shawn Dr, Los Lunas, from Rural Residential 2 to Community Commercial

Planning & Zoning Commission

The Valencia County Planning & Zoning Commission is considering several requests for new overlay zones and district changes. These items include solar and greenhouse overlays as well as a rezoning for a storage unit business.

• Solar Overlay Zone requests for three tracts totaling approximately 742 acres at Manzano Expressway and Meadowlake Rd
• Greenhouse Overlay Zone request for 6.41 acres at 1408 Highway 116, Belen
• Zone change from RR-1 to C-2 for a storage unit business at 2906 Camino del Llano, Belen

Juvenile Justice Board

The Valencia County Juvenile Justice Board is meeting to vote on removing Joshua Zuni from the Executive Board and appointing Jeremias Silva, and to discuss allowing Lucas Dimas as a non-voting member. They will also review updates on the Needs Assessment & Strategic Plan, including a youth-driven survey, and discuss the status of a grant application. The board will consider changing meeting times to accommodate law enforcement and moving the yearly retreat to year-end.

• Vote on removing Joshua Zuni and appointing Jeremias Silva to Executive Board
• Discussion on allowing Lucas Dimas as non-voting Executive Member in April 2022
• Update on Short Cycle Application for Continuum Grant – pending CYFD response
• Proposal to change JJB meeting day/time to allow law enforcement participation
• Discussion on moving yearly retreat to end of year and appointing By-Laws Subcommittee

The Valencia County Juvenile Justice Advisory Board approved its agenda and minutes, then voted to remove Joshua Zuni from the Executive Board and appoint Jeremias Silva. The board also agreed to allow Lucas Dimas to join as a non-voting executive member when he turns 18 in April 2022. They discussed the Needs Assessment & Strategic Plan submission to CYFD by the extended deadline of February 25, 2022, and agreed to create a live Google doc for collaborative bylaw development. A poll will be conducted to consider changing meeting times to accommodate law enforcement officers.

• Approved agenda with amendment to discuss item #4 after #2
• Approved meeting minutes
• Removed Joshua Zuni from Executive Board and appointed Jeremias Silva
• Agreed to allow Lucas Dimas as non-voting executive member in April 2022
• Agreed to create live Google doc for bylaw suggestions
• Agreed to conduct poll on changing meeting day/time
• Decided annual retreat remains at end of year

Planning & Zoning Commission

The Valencia County Planning & Zoning Commission will reorganize for 2022 and consider several land-use requests, including a solar overlay zone, two zone changes for lot splits, and a conditional use for a second dwelling. The commission will also discuss the 2022 Comprehensive Plan.

• Conditional Use Second Dwelling #2021-082 for Jose & Priscilla Otero at 4227 Kiva Trail, Los Lunas (RR-2)
• Zone Change #2021-083 from RR-2 to RR-1 for Randolph Van Otten at 1591 Sichler Rd, Los Lunas
• Zone Change #2021-084 from RR-2 to RR-1 for Randolph Van Otten at 1581 Sichler Rd, Los Lunas
• Zone Change #2021-085 for Solar Overlay Zone by Valencia CSG, LLC at 25 El Cerro Mission Blvd, Los Lunas (77.15 ac)
• Discussion of 2022 Valencia County Comprehensive Plan