The serene natural environment – cool pines, high mountains, the Rio Ruidoso, comfortable weather, and clear skies,

A sense of community.  People are friendly; we prize the easy lifestyle where people know each other and where kids are safe riding their bikes.

A small-town atmosphere, even during the summer and winter when the Village serves an influx of part-time residents and tourists.  

People want more outdoor ‘events’ (Blues Festival) and better location for them.

	Pinestock
	Arts & Crafts
	Chile cook-off
	Grindstone is possibility

Convention Center (competitive in market)

Economic effects of A/C/R

Arts open opportunities to less recognized artists.

Public Schools programs support.

Community Foundations.

Recognize and include diversity of art produced in Lincoln County.

	Quality/amateurs/professionals
	All media, 2D/3D/performance written
	Regional basis
	Acknowledge the County

Performance

	Live music venues.
	Dance venues.
	Orchestral to local bands

Education for A/C/R

Youth

Published writers/authors

	Venues to publish
	Places to purchase
	Communications access Locals/Tourists

Plan for (Map or connect) recreational trails areas.

Plan for access to Moon Mountain

Park purchases in future likely needed (USDS – others)

Over use of currents facilities

Private venues/restaurant, bar, mountain, (non-motorized)

Bike/off-road bike venues

Appropriate environmental designed-use, fragmentation 20-25 mile routes, (mapping)

IMBA standards? (MOU with USFS) rest stops, maintenance, safety, sustainable.

No ATV’s – continue to support USFS policy.

Exercise trails (PAR)

Soft adventure opportunities (Seniors & youngsters)

Multi-objective planning of recreational development with economic and environmental plan for diversity of users.

Ways to measure success

	Retention rates
	Number of classes
	Number of offerings (diversity)
	Number of schools
	Number of classes
	Successful school testing performance

Comparative health data tie to recreation, trails, etc.

Some sample amenities:

	Bike, hike         Pocket parks?
	Open (after dark)         Covered walkways
	Diverse Coffee shops...hanging...loitering
	Locals use it.  A place for community celebration.  A port, center; plaza

Potential sites:

Canning Property, Orphanage Property, Old fire station

Ways to measure success

	Where can you buy coffee?
	Number of local businesses
	Balance of tourist/local
	Local congregation
	Music
	Community events
	Transportation options
	Old Fire Station (opportunity)
	Link pocket parks

Liaisons with each jurisdiction

On-going communication between village & County

Potential Action Group

Shared, on-going project (watershed management?)

Ruidoso wildland urban interface group – how to build on use for other issues

Single issues, crisis

Lincoln county health and wellness – example?

Conservation district?

Natural resource conservation service?

Opportunities to work on that will build cooperation.

Vocational program

Water

Insurance for small business

Diversify population (younger)

Youth issues (needs) – (Drugs?)

County recreation organization 

Back off perception we want city seat, jail, etc. Hold meetings in Ruidoso

Council that meets monthly.

Make county think it is their idea.

People in Ruidoso must begin to truly call (and support) people who live in communities that provide workforce to Ruidoso.

Assets? How do you make better use of them?

Recreationism?

Proactive recruitment of businesses that fit us.

What do people need to live wherever they want?

Local business need to appreciate local customers.

Stressed labor force.

Need work force with stronger work ethic.

Need greater labor force.

Missing – Vocation Technical –Out of school workforce development.

Taxes (comparatively)

Nationwide recreation & retirement economics

Cost of living (compared to other resorts)

Criteria (Economy)

Where does work force live (in & out of Ruidoso?)

Turn-over of workforce?

Drug and alcohol use.

Crime & types.

Types and locations of business.

Home based businesses (listed with village).

Service satisfaction.

Communication systems.

Transportation infrastructure.

Commuting outside immediate region.

Full-time and part-time residents.

Show year round vs. second homes

Vacant homes.

Where crimes are committed.

Historical changes in nature of population.

Cooperative services.

Structure – MOU, joint-powers agreement – that stipulates who, what, how.

Start at closest place – work with Ruidoso Downs on common problems and then extend out to other areas.

Cooperation between agencies to effectively deliver services (e.g., to people with need)

How does our comp plan relate to the one being done by Downs?

Juvenile justice model program.

Sentencing alternative.

Labor force issues.

Age and where people live.

Export and import by age & income.

How can we serve younger population?

People in need.

Cost of living.

Where does workforce live?

Commute to work?

Watershed Protection

	Location 1.  Watershed protection in critical areas include Eagle Creek-other waterways and wells-Cherokee Bill Canyon and Eagle Creek important watersheds
	Location 2.  Bog Springs-wetland-possible private land
	Location 3.  Cherokee Bill watershed-wetland areas
	Location 4.  Area of significant new development
	Location 5. Wetland or marsh areas
	Location 6. Paradise Canyon-wetland resources-riparian zones

Interface of agency cooperation-forest management-monthly interagency meeting (Village, USFS, BLM, etc.)-healthy forest critical for Village-thinning and management plan approved and being implemented.

	Village has 700 acres identified for thinning and watershed protection
	Includes 400-500 in Eagle Creek watershed
	Wildfire reduction intitiately linked to water concerns
	Provides a visual impact for forest/open lands
	Vegetation in Ruidoso area dominated by Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer
	Village has followed federal agencies as far as management of vegetation
	Thinning may help the springs return?
	Does the number of trees affect groundwater fluctuations?  Some theorize
	USFS may have mapped portions of Lincoln NF and White Mountain Wilderness
	Mescalero has a treatment area for fuel reduction
	Views of the mountains are well distributed through the Village-some scarring of the landscape views by forest roads-need to be included in hillside protection controls

Rick Deiaco can provide FEMA maps-flood prone areas should be mapped

Erosion-protect against landslides and cut

Degrading natural system-want no more development in the Eagle Creek and Alto Reservoir Area

Create standards for hillside protection and erosion affecting water-ordinance has been partially eliminated but should be brought back/revised-degradation of natural systems by un-checked development-need protection for landscape protection

Other issues: housing types and home construction

Mobile homes, manufactured housing

Some wetlands have been filled (elementary school) and no longer function to “polish” stormwater-need to protect remaining waterways and wetlands-other possible wetland areas include Cedar Creek, Warrior Drive (?)-some on private land.

White Mountain Wilderness an important resource

Land management agencies with information includes USFS, Village, State lands

Wildlife well distributed across village, specific gathering areas not known-management of trash may be required because of Black Bear-conspicuous wildlife include elk, deer, bear

Need for an updated Village, County, and Statewide Water plan-where will the water come from-many Village wells are dry-map some of those that are producing and others that are not

	Village water sources vary (60%) from northern wells-(30-40%) from Grindstone Lake (south)-currently about 50:50 ratio
	Outdoor water restrictions in place
	Need “buyback” program to save watershed-primarily forest lands
	Grindstone could be critical-Village owns most of the land around it
	Future demands from development are intense
	Development strong in Camelot (south)-zoned multi-family, Alto, and White Mountain (north)
	Village may need more restrictive zoning
	Need to address use of “gray” water and rain water-establish consumer incentives (Village can’t “give away” $ to citizens), retro-fitting, cisterns
	Difficult to establish average usage
	Conflict of local needs and state (NM) administration-on occasion what may be allowed by state is not wanted by Village

Village spending $1,000,000 in water projects for 2003

	Location A. Grindstone Lake-affected by potential construction including hillside protection issues
	Location B.  Electrical substation
	Location C.  Camelot and White Mountain-large developments
	Location D.  Alto-significant growth

4000 lots currently approved for development in Ruidoso

	Not all will see construction?
	Some too small?
	Zoning?

What about setting goals for growth?  Don’t continue to approve construction when Village is already exceeding water rights-is there a legal way to enforce?

Development controls need to be enforced

Drainage issues and drainage controls

Hillside protection very important

Acquisition of key watershed protection areas and need “prioritizing” of water rights/usage?

What is the status of Village water plan?

There are environmental issues associated with well drilling

Camelot-zoned for dense multi-family land development (14 DU-R-3)

Panel, “…on average we exceed water rights to the Rio Ruidoso…”

Ruidoso News, “…Village consumes 20% more water than its rights allows.  Those rights may be gone before end of the current 5-year account.”

There is a 1999 water master plan prepared by Wilson & Co., Albuquerque

Those who don’t want to sell their water rights can lease them (with State Engineer approval)

Look at other sources of water including:

	Tularosa Basin, Rio Ruidoso
	Some wells may produce more water but do not have rights and/or poor water quality

Wastewater-EPA standards impact plant operations

Gray water use may require metering

Cell tower construction-need for an ordinance

Need ordinance for the placement of cell towers-need to map transmission lines

Wastewater treatment plant will have to serve other communities

Wastewater situation is critical

	Portions of the existing system are old
	Need to be expanded and upgraded
	This is a very expensive process

Ruidoso has “senior nights” in Eagle Creek basin

Water capture-rainwater harvesting-gray water has significant potential to reduce outdoor water demand and uses throughout the Village

Examine compacts and agreements for capture and reuse of stream water, wastewater, stormwater, rainwater

New construction address water use and protection

Difficult to determine extent of groundwater and source of impacts to local groundwater

Conservation essential

How do you measure conservation?

Land development should be tied to real water availability, careful examination of groundwater and groundwater draw down, loophole=some people have both private wells and Village water service

Are there known and potential problems with siltation and solid waste issues at Grindstone Lake?

Only a small portion of available housing in affordable

There are a large number of condos in the Ruidoso area.  These include nightly, weekly, monthly rentals.  It is typically more profitable (owner) to serve tourist rentals than provide monthly rental as affordable housing.

Rancho Ruidoso (manufactured housing) on the way to the airport-700 units-city size small lots (100’x150’)-on a community water system

Question: Need to define affordable ($135,000)

Need to serve people who have to commute from Ruidoso Downs, Capitan, and other community

Renters are probably not buyers and that has to be considered in an affordable housing effort

There are no obvious areas in Ruidoso for affordable housing

Most new residential construction in Ruidoso is custom built homes 

If the Village has a real estate portfolio, it may be possible to dedicate some of that property to affordable housing-some of these land parcels may not have utilities

Inn of the Mountain Gods may be building some affordable near the casino

Builders and developers are not asking what the greater community needs

If you build 10 units, make 2 affordable

Developers contribute to a pool of affordable lots-renters or buyers

Can be a cash contribution within the general geographic area

Village locates lots and manages program

Build affordable apartments

Need to service renters needs

Seniors and assisted living needs

Residence over office concept

Location 101.  Senior citizens, income based, 1-story

Transportation and service need to be tied to assisted and senior living

Seniors need assisted living.  This is nearly non-existent and underserved

Identify medium and large tracts for senior use

Need to review original maps and photographs of the Village (Rio Ruidoso Area)

Identify historic district boundary

Educate and enlighten the development community to the value of historic/archaeological resources

	Aesthetic
	Monetary
	Cultural

Need for an inventory and protection of log cabins, old structures, Casino/Restaurants, and their underground tunnels (1920’s), etc.

List of potential candidates for the National Register of Historic Places and New Mexico State Monuments

Desire expressed by participants for the development of a generally better system of walkways and bicycle routes in the village.

Walking and bicycling should not just be for recreation (which is important), but for transportation as well.

Need to recognize the link between walking/bicycling and health.

Need to think about walking and bicycling in terms of land uses (i.e., how building siting, design and construction affect ability to walk or ride a bicycle).

Lack of sidewalks and poor sidewalk condition are problems, especially in Midtown and other commercial areas.

There may not be a strong desire for construction of sidewalks in residential areas outside of the Midtown area, but there is a desire for slowing traffic along residential streets to enable safer walking.

Need to prioritize pedestrian and bicycle improvements:

	Improve year-round residential areas before improving conditions for part-time residents.
	Focus on area around Midtown, especially.

Develop “network” of safe bicycle routes along the smaller roads, to enable cyclists to avoid having to ride along  Mechem and Sudderth.

For maps of potential bicycle and walk routes:  See discussion of “aerial photo” and “Midtown map” below.

Considerations for Bicycles:

	Access to key destinations
	Travel distance (i.e., actual versus straight-line)
	Slopes
	Network connectivity
	Parking for bicycles
	Safety of routes for different types of users (e.g., children, families, casual cyclists, experienced cyclists)

Measurable:  Percent of school children within ____ miles of their school.

Walking:

	Access to key destinations
	Travel distance (i.e., actual versus straight-line)
	Slopes
	Network connectivity
	Condition of sidewalks and other walkways
	ADA compliance (e.g., sidewalk widths, intersection ramp design, etc.)

Several different ways of providing service were discussed:

	Fixed Route – usually operates on fixed schedule and stops at fixed locations.
	Demand Response – Flexible service, also call dial-a-ride.  Often provided for the benefit of users with special mobility needs (elderly, people in wheelchairs, sight impaired, etc.).
	Hybrid Service Types – Deviated fixed route, point-deviated route, service route.

Interest in transit service to:

	Eastern NM University
	Senior housing and destinations (shopping, doctor, etc.)
	Midtown area
	Lodges/ visitor destinations
	Casino and Racetrack
	Schools
	Outlying areas (for service workers who commute to village)

Need for park-and-ride facilities (both within and outside of village)

Fluctuating demand through the year is a challenge to operating transit in Ruidoso.

Identification of key trip destinations is helpful in transit route planning and location of pedestrian and bicycle improvements.

Key trip destinations identified by the workshop participants include:

	Hospital
	Doctors offices
	Midtown
	Uptown
	Banks
	Grocery stores (3)
	Movie Theater