March 2016 Volume 7 • Issue 3
B E R N C O
at a Glance
BernCo Capital Improvement Program Hits the Road Reaching Out to the Community
Bernalillo County’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) will be hosting county-wide informational meetings in March and April to inform the public about the 2016-2022 Capital Improvement Plan and 2016 general obligation bond questions that will be on the November 2016 ballot. Residents are welcome to attend any meeting that is convenient to their schedule since meetings will focus on the entire county, not individual districts. Bernalillo County is also finalizing ways for the public to view information that will be presented at the meetings and to provide online feedback if they are unable to attend any of the meetings. This link will be posted at www.BernCo.gov/CIP in mid-March and will be shared at each public meeting. For questions or more information, please contact Clay Campbell, AICP, at (505) 468-7309 or by email, ccampbell@bernco.gov.
Capital Improvement Program Public Meetings Schedule
Thursday, March 17 from 6:30 – 8 p.m., Vista Grande Community Center, 15 La Madera Road
Tuesday, March 22 from 6 – 7:30 p.m., South Valley Multi-Purpose Senior Center, 2008 Larrazolo Road SW
Wednesday, April 13 from 6:30 – 8 p.m., Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center, 9800 Fourth St. NW
Tuesday, April 19 from 6 – 7:30 p.m., Hiland Theatre, Studio F, 4800 Central Ave. SE
Thursday, April 28 from 6 – 7:30 p.m., North Valley Senior Center, 3825 Fourth St. NW
Get Involved in this year’s Election Process
Looking for a way to serve the community and make some extra cash too?
The Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office is now recruiting applicants to work during the 2016 primary election. Poll officials get paid up to $200 for their service and may work during the early voting period and on Election Day. The Bureau of Elections will hire nearly 700 workers for the primary election, which will be held on June 7, 2016. This is a great way to get involved in the election process.
Applicants must be registered voters in Bernalillo County who are tech savvy and have great customer service skills. High school students 16 – 17 years of age can also apply.
The online application process is fast and easy. Election training for all positions is required, and applicants may be asked to take a skills assessment test. To learn more about this opportunity or to apply online, please visit www.BernCo.gov/PollOfficial.
Important Meetings in March:
COUNTY PLANNING
COMMISSION
First Wednesday of month
Wednesday, March 2, 9 a.m.
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
HEARING
Second Wednesday of month
Wednesday, March 9, 9 a.m.
BERNALILLO COUNTY
COMMISSION MEETINGS
UNMH Budget
Work Session
Tuesday, March 15, 2 p.m.
10th Floor, Conf. Room B
Administrative Meeting
Tuesday, March 15, 5 p.m.
All meetings listed above are held in the Vincent E. Griego Chambers in the basement of the
city/county government bldg. One Civic Plaza Fifth Street and Marquette NW, unless otherwise
indicated..
Not following us yet? Find us on Facebook (Bernalillo County NM) and Twitter (@BernCounty)
Don’t miss TRANSCENDENT PHOTOGRAPHY, the Exhibit, now through April in the County Commission/Manager’s office.
Presented by Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins & the Bernalillo County Arts Board Stargazer, with artists Betty Hahn and Patrick Nagatani.
The visionary techniques of these retired UNM professors of photography transformed the photograph into a spellbinding world -- Hahn through her mastery of non-silver printing and Nagatani through his fabrication of fantastical scenes. Widely recognized for their scholarly achievements and artistic contributions, their work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, and is included in the collections of many prominent museums and individuals.
Bernalillo County is honored to have several of their pieces in the Bernalillo County Public Arts Collection. The art exhibit will run through April, 2016 on the 10th Floor of One Civic Plaza, Suite 10111. This is the 38th in a series of exhibits highlighting the fabulous artists of District 3. For more information, call (505) 468-7108 or email jhartley@bernco.gov.
In other BernCo Art related NEWS:
A collaborative art exhibit by professional women artists and young women from the Youth Services Center (detention facility). The art exhibit will run March 9 – 31 at the African American Performing Arts Center Gallery, 310 San Pedro NE. The public is invited to the opening reception on March 11 from 5:30-7 p.m. For more information, please contact Bernalillo County Public Art Project Coordinator Nan Masland at (505) 314-0467.
Behavioral Health I N I T I A T I V E
So, what’s the very latest on the county’s Behavioral Health Initiative? Frequently asked questions and corresponding answers have been added to the Behavioral Health Initiative web page at: www.BernCo.gov/BC-behavioral-health.
BernCo Receives AAA Bond Ratings
Bernalillo County has again kept its AAA bond ratings, which are the highest ratings possible. Moody’s, Fitch and Standard and Poor’s gave the county AAA ratings. Bond ratings are critical to government agencies because the higher the bond rating the lower the interest rates the county receives when selling bonds to finance voter-approved projects. Over time, the county will incur less debt because of lower interest rates directly related to the AAA ratings.
BernCo Open Space March Events
Every Sunday at Bachechi Open Space, 9521 Rio Grande Blvd. NW
Bernalillo County Open Space and Cottonwood Gulch present Family Fun Days every Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. During open hours, there will be Nature Packs available for check-out, theme-based and hands-on learning stations, art exhibits, and interpretive tours.
March’s Theme: What’s Up – Weather and Wind? Curious about the weather that is all around you? Families will build their own weather station, or keep track of what is happening at the park. There will also be experiment stations and new tools to try out.
Landscape for Life: Spring Series
Gutierrez-Hubbell House, 6029 Isleta Blvd. SW
This nationally recognized program covers the basics needed to plan and design your home garden landscape focusing on sustainability, permaculture and wise use of our limited natural resources. Each workshop builds on information shared from previous classes and offers tools to assess your home landscape. Participants who attend all five sessions will receive a certificate and have a chance to win a free rain barrel and other giveaways. All the workshops are from 9 a.m. – noon with an extended mentor hands-on project for interested participants who want practical experience and do not mind getting their hands dirty. First workshop will discuss Successful Soil Practices & the Role of Water will be the topic of the workshop on March 12.
Naturalist Series at Bachechi Open Space, 9521 Rio Grande Blvd. NW
Meso-carnivores of Beringia on March 19 from 5 – 6:30 p.m.
Presenters - Jocie Colella PhD Candidate, Diana Krejsa M.S. student, Division of Mammals, MSB. This presentation will focus on wolverines and weasels of Siberia, Alaska and Canada. Delve into the life history of these charismatic, circum-boreal, arctic carnivores and learn about their economic importance, ecology, and evolutionary histories through the lens of morphology and genetics.
The Albuquerque Astronomical Society brings you a Star Party!
March 19 from 7 – 10 p.m. at Bachechi Open Space, 9521 Rio Grande Blvd. NW
Join Bernalillo County Open Space and The Albuquerque Astronomical Society for a beautiful night under the stars. Learn what celestial phenomena are lurking in the night sky and get a close look at the planets with high-powered telescopes. Bring the whole family, dinner, and a picnic blanket. Snacks and hot chocolate will be provided as well as star party crafts for kids.
No need to register, just come down for the star party!
Villages Along the Rio Grande: Albuquerque to Isleta at the Gutierrez- Hubbell House, 6029 Isleta Blvd. SW
In partnership with the Hubbell House Alliance, Bernalillo County Open Space presents this series as it travels from historic Old Town heading south to the Pueblo of Isleta, one neighborhood at time.
Albuquerque Old Town to Albuquerque, 1846-1949
March 26 from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Presented by guest speaker David Schneider.
Attention: Private Well Owners
SAVE THE DATES of APRIL 8-9 for the
Bernalillo County Water Fair
Includes Free Water Testing • Free Well Education Short Course • On-site experts
Being held on FRIDAY and SATURDAY
Friday, APRIL 8 from Noon to 6 P.M.
Saturday, APRIL 9 from 9 A.M. to Noon
Being held at the MCGRANE SAFETY COMPLEX, 48 Public School Road, Tijeras
Drop off locations for samples will be available at:
• Bernalillo County Public Works, Bldg. N, 2400 Broadway SE, April 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center, 9800 4th St. NW, April 8, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information go to bernco.gov/ BernCoWaterFair, nmtracking.org/water, env.nm.gov/gwb or contact Sara Chudnoff, P.G. County Hydrogeologist at (505) 224-1614.
Here’s QuickList of
Upcoming BernCo
Public Meetings
and Events in March, April and May:
Capital Improvements Program
District 5 Public Meeting
Thursday, March 17
6:30 – 8 p.m.
Vista Grande
Community Center
15 La Madera Road
Capital Improvements Program
District 2 Public Meeting
Tuesday, March 22
6 – 7:30 p.m.
South Valley Multi-Purpose
Senior Center
2008 Larrazolo Road SW
Sunset Road
Improvements Project
Public Meeting
Wednesday, April 6
5:30 – 7 p.m.
South Valley Multi-Purpose
Senior Center
2008 Larrazolo Road SW
Youth (Em)Power
Saturday, April 9
2 – 6 p.m.
Warehouse 508
508 First St. NW
Free event for youth
12 – 18 years of age
Reels ‘n Wheels
It’s a block party!
Saturday, April 23
1 – 3 p.m.
Hiland Theater
4800 Central Ave. SE
South Valley Celebration
Sunday, May 1
Parade begins at 11 a.m.
Festivities to follow at
Westside Community Center
1250 Isleta Blvd. SW
Need Assistance or Resources?
Contact Neighborhood Coordinator Darrell Dady at (505) 468-7364 or ddady@bernco.gov.
We’ll see you again in April!