In a swift Sept. 23 Bernalillo Town Council meeting, councilors tackled a variety of issues, approving funding to enhance youth programs and bolstering law enforcement, while also denying a fence variance and granting a liquor license to a local restaurant.
The council approved an intergovernmental agreement between the town and the Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG), granting the town access to funding through the Government Results and Opportunity Project Fund.
Bernalillo received $240,000 from state Rep. Derrick Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo, to support youth and family enrichment programs. The funding will cover instructors, presenters, mentors, materials, supplies and snacks for subjects such as science, technology, engineering, math, music, culture, food security, community involvement and leadership.
According to Terri Gray, town treasurer and finance director, Bernalillo will manage the grant internally. The museum and library departments will be responsible for overseeing the grant activities.
Also approved was a special revenue budget adjustment for two law enforcement grants totaling $93,750 to support retention efforts. The first grant, awarded in 2022, allocates $56,250 to the police department for retention initiatives. The second grant, awarded in 2023, provides an additional $37,500 for the same purpose.
Another agenda item addressed proposed changes to Bernalillo’s flood damage prevention ordinance. These changes would impose a $500 fine for noncompliance and designate a floodplain administrator. However, the council tabled the ordinance revisions until legal counsel can review questions regarding whether the penalties for noncompliance would be classified as a misdemeanor or a petty misdemeanor.
In other business…
Councilors also reviewed and subsequently denied an appeal of the town’s planning and zoning commission’s decision to deny a request for a variance to permit an 8-foot fence around the Tres Nietas, Inc. property, which surrounds over 7 acres. The business sought a taller fence, exceeding the 6-foot maximum height, to deter theft from the lot.
The council approved a Restaurant B license for Kaktus Brewing Company, at 471 South Hill Road. The license allows the sale of beer, wine and spirits for on-premise consumption, including patio service.
According to John Koller, owner of Kaktus Brewing Company, the brewery’s current license only permits the sale of beer, wine and spirits produced in New Mexico. The new Restaurant B license will allow them to offer products from outside the state as well.
“What’s happening is New Mexico spirits can’t keep up with the demand, so we keep running out. Also because the pricing is becoming extraordinarily high,” Koller said. “So if we want to stay competitive in the market, this is one of the reasons that they created the Restaurant B license to begin with, to allow New Mexico to be a little bit more competitive.”