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RIO COMMUNITIES—Every year, municipalities and counties all across New Mexico prepare for their futures and create a plan for infrastructure projects.
The city of Rio Communities recently approved its Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan for fiscal years 2027-31. The list of priorities will be given to state legislators and other funding agencies to establish what the city needs.
The council agreed on 16 infrastructure projects and the order of importance after some discussion at the July 9 regular meeting.
Rio Communities City Manager Martin Moore told the council that while some items on the list might not get totally funded, they could get partially funded by other agencies. He also said many of the projects are planned for phases throughout the four years.
“This is about funding coming out of the state, from grants from NMDOT, the environment department (and others) in addition to capital outlay funding from the Legislature,” Martin said.
The ICIP priorities include:
1. Public safety equipment, which totals $2,770,000. While some has been funded already, Moore said they are in need of police vehicles and other equipment for the fire department.
2. Streetlights in the city could cost up to $3.5 million, with only $221,571 already funded.
3. Parks and trails have been on the city’s list of priorities for a number of years, and they’re asking for a total of $4 million, which $350,000 has already been allocated to Rio Communities.
“We’re recommending a fairly large investment,” Moore said about parks and trails in Rio Communities. “We’ve been going through discussions about a veterans memorial park and other parks and trails.”
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The city manager said the residents have been wanting “walk-ability spaces for people to get out and exercise and a place for our kids to play.”
4. The fourth priority on the council’s ICIP is for storm water and drainage infrastructure. The council has determined the city needs $4 million for the project, with $350,000 already in the city coffers.
Moore told the council while the city mainly responds to incidents during “significant water events,” it is a concern even though Rio Communities is east of the Rio Grande, which if it floods, it most likely wouldn’t impact the city.
“We have a different problem,” he said. “We’re on the side of the river where a bunch of water erodes and runs off.
“Over here, the water is coming off the mountain or there’s a microburst,” the city manager said.
5. Rio Communities is also looking for additional pavement reconstruction around the city to the tune of $4,725,000. The city has about $222,000 in its possession for future pavement projects, and expects this project to also be funded in phases.
6-7. City wastewater system and city water system. The city of Rio Communities is looking at establishing its own wastewater and water systems after the private company, New Mexico Water Services, proposed to dramatically increase its wastewater fees.
The city is seeking at total of $8.5 million for a new wastewater system, and $11.5 million for a water system.
“This sends a signal to our legislators that we are serious,” Moore said. “A half a dozen developers are asking the city for alternatives for wastewater and water.
“We need to keep in mind we have aging infrastructure that belongs to New Mexico Water, and there is going to be some other issues coming up regarding moving from septic to sewer.”
8. The eighth item on the council’s priority list is a public works complex, which would cost $3.2 million.
Moore said the project would start with planning and design. The city manager said the main focus of the facility is to keep equipment safe and in a secure location.
9. Roadway beautification is No. 9 on the city’s wish list, coming in at $2.2 million. Moore said the project includes new ornate streetlights, trees, benches and those types of items to make the city look nicer.
“We want to make the corridor (N.M. 47) more attractive for attracting businesses and residents to Rio Communities,” Moore said.
10. Roadways, trails and paths are also a priority for the city, with a $7.1 million price tag.
The city manager said this is different than the roadway beautification project in that this is about infrastructure, which is a “heavy investment” for the city.
“We have areas of sidewalks that are failing, and that’s a significant need of the city, and residents have spoken loud and clear,” Moore said. “We want to get around town better and have safe places for kids to go and get picked up and dropped off for school.”
11. Councilor Lawrence Gordon asked the council to consider a new project be included at the last minute, a Workforce Development Center.
Gordon said he had spoken to Belen Schools Superintendent Lawrence Sanchez and UNM-Valencia Chancellor Samuel Dosumu about the possibility of building a center to accommodate education geared toward the trades. He said both education leaders are supportive of the project.
“I wanted to make something happen like this since I ran for council,” Gordon said. “During the last legislative session, I talked to our representatives, and they said if I put something forward, get something together, and put it on the ICIP, they would move it forward.”
Councilor Matthew Marquez said while Gordon has been planning on such a complex for sometime, it was new to him and the rest of the council.
“This council shouldn’t run off three people,” Marquez said. “It’s run by the whole city council and the city manager. You have to include everyone instead of leaving us out.”
Councilor Tom Nelson agreed, saying he would have liked a “little heads up” before it came before the governing body for consideration.
“You could have asked first if the city council was on board with it,” Marquez said.
Gordon told the council he thought it was a good idea, but if they didn’t think so, they could say no.
“I’m looking out for the whole county; it’s just that simple,” Gordon said.
In the end, the council agreed to place the workforce development complex, which has a price tag of $8.5 million as No. 11 on the ICIP.
Other projects include public works heavy equipment, and a public safety complex, which would include police, fire and EMS facilities.
Originally, the ICIP plan called for a separate fire department complex, but the council thought it would be better to combine both the police and fire and rescue into one facility. In total, the city will be asking for $8.5 million for the complex.
The city is also seeking funding for county-wide funding for 700 MHZ state system for the Valencia Emergency Regional Communications Center, money for a new roof at city all and funding to help with flooding prevention county wide.
