[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6583610,"mediaKeyId","3153546-56cfa3aedcc4bec2d9fac8570d8124c0","parentId",3153546,"title","Resident warns advisory board of drainage risks tied to Chamisa Hills rezoning proposal","audioSeconds",256,"startMs",4779000,"endMs",5035000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3153546-56cfa3aedcc4bec2d9fac8570d8124c0&start=4779&end=5035","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3153546-56cfa3aedcc4bec2d9fac8570d8124c0/thumbnail_4779000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6583610/Rio-Rancho/Sandoval-County/New-Mexico/Resident-warns-advisory-board-of-drainage-risks-tied-to-Chamisa-Hills-rezoning-proposal","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583610-ad747adf2180be57c9a0841f1d014fcc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771016984&Signature=U8bbJ9GjDXa3Qoham2~prq29JYc~sqtNBFaXWPR02HJFB57MCcT-t~W58dFAXg-6NuwYNyMaZJAJAwjjpfdFfzLZqDqKcXvZlD2eZGN36p1pAqnzalQVGJxxI7ixQQlXmS9ElebIhX3VCYmMVfnLdMpyOy0cLInj0~6kKaT-Hii4~45f9nVzLiyBWyt8zyb3J0~Mdk8Nzw8f0KWjTgewbGdyg8-Q-YxatdbY4CKaJ-TaQGZkQkY3C3vvTOJ~IsuD5BH~WEq6B1VQzgXfx8~5mvJGZ3HczpWxyEPEsP8mVYno5dnWL7QNnCpwutmwOLQ8iM-3A~Ourr1F7jG0l3v5zQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rio Rancho","date","2025-04-29T18:00:00Z","article","During the meeting’s public forum, two residents spoke. Retired professional engineer Michael Jackovich said he has followed the board’s work since its first meeting in 2017 and described the advisory board’s origins. Michael Farrell commented on a proposed Chamisa Hills rezoning and urged caution on drainage approvals.

Farrell said staff had supplied a letter to the planning and zoning authority that described the developer’s informal meetings with staff and noted the authority’s neutral position. Speaking as a private citizen, he said the project should not move forward without a drainage plan demonstrating that runoff from the development can be safely managed. “The main drain is at capacity,” Farrell said, and adding more than 300 homes plus commercial development would create a large amount of impermeable surface that could increase flood risk for established neighborhoods to the east. He urged the advisory board and staff to require engineering evidence that on-site ponding would be safe before approving any zone change.

Board members did not comment substantively on the rezoning during the meeting and said no immediate action would be taken by the advisory board at this time.

Ending: Farrell asked that staff and board members ensure technical drainage analysis is made available to planning bodies and the public should the developer proceed with a formal application.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rio Rancho - Public Infrastructure Advisory Board - Apr 29, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A resident and former advisory-board member urged the Public Infrastructure Advisory Board to seek engineering drainage data before rezoning Chamisa Hills, saying the nearby main drain is likely at capacity and that on-site ponding for runoff could risk flooding older neighborhoods to the east.","taxTitle","Rio Rancho, Sandoval County, New Mexico","taxId",2726,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6583614,"Rio Rancho utilities outline $28M headworks project, wells, AMI metering and transmission upgrades",453,3693000,4146000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3153546-56cfa3aedcc4bec2d9fac8570d8124c0&start=3693&end=4146","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3153546-56cfa3aedcc4bec2d9fac8570d8124c0/thumbnail_3693000.jpg","/articles/6583614/Rio-Rancho/Sandoval-County/New-Mexico/Rio-Rancho-utilities-outline-28M-headworks-project-wells-AMI-metering-and-transmission-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583614-017860458464d4f3e4fbf64d255acd7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771016984&Signature=LezEdy8LcNHM5KEiDNJby6P~SEiKTPR57YX1rFu7PnHm7GC16qybr-cDkMVkCt85yLhsEllHveodq6RVfOCD5n7x6ALGNWZuznqQLi-tu6ICUo8o7Zqk5Wuaupk-kQppyN3Gd90Cv7bxmflzjVx5umhATKC2d-0HqRu7K3RYZ-MWcniIo5jwLxszikJvpd1jyAuePZZLuAKs739VmDknhEb-hHbf3WrOB9HCk6HMvdFrkJgb0QuH1J0FlWJs7zpvKnKrHCxYlgqnwtZb6zL96NtYvZiZQgFTRn-CcDwW3c6NdgxAB5fxaADMPe~0qIFIL5TyhWDk47ooY~V0LoqOiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Utilities Director Steve Gallegos updated the board on major water and wastewater projects, including a $28,000,000 headworks replacement at Wastewater Treatment Plant 2 and multiple transmission-, well- and treatment-plant investments planned over the next five years.

Gallegos said the Plant 2 headworks replacement was approved by the governing body and carries an approximately 1,100-calendar-day construction timeline; about $11,000,000 of that project will be funded through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars the city encumbered in December, which gives the city additional time to spend the funds. He said construction is expected to begin in the fall and that lead times for specialized equipment can extend project schedules.

Other projects discussed included design work and upcoming bids for a five-mile transmission line (the Ans(er) water transmission line) that will provide a secondary supply to Mariposa and surrounding areas; Gallegos said the Corps of Engineers has committed about $5,400,000 toward that project and the city’s estimated cost is roughly $9,000,000. Staff reported progress on Well 13 (expected online by late summer), plans to re-equip Well 4 (near the old golf-course maintenance yard) and a planned expansion or refurbishment at Treatment Plant 5 (membrane work). Gallegos also described an advanced-metering-infrastructure (AMI) metering and communications pilot in Northern Meadows and a planned meter-replacement program.

Gallegos summarized schedule expectations and funding sources: some projects rely on federal grant reimbursements and corps funding; others are funded through enterprise revenue and geo-bond allocations. He said design for several projects is near 90% complete and that staff expects to advertise bids on several water/wastewater projects by late summer.

Ending: Gallegos said staff will return with bid packages and schedule updates and stood for questions from the board.","Utilities staff updated the advisory board on major projects including a $28 million headworks replacement at Wastewater Treatment Plant 2 (partly ARPA-funded), new wells and a five-mile Ans(er) water transmission line with Corps of Engineers funding.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6583618,"City reallocates $2.3M from contractor patch-and-seal to geobond to extend reach",1357,610000,1967000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3153546-56cfa3aedcc4bec2d9fac8570d8124c0&start=610&end=1967","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3153546-56cfa3aedcc4bec2d9fac8570d8124c0/thumbnail_610000.jpg","/articles/6583618/Rio-Rancho/Sandoval-County/New-Mexico/City-reallocates-23M-from-contractor-patch-and-seal-to-geobond-to-extend-reach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583618-6a644b6d78223a91634c715e0de272df/orig.mp4?Expires=1771016984&Signature=GXvE7FeVrhK5r00iT4lIgqwPw08aH6MwtQvS2MlPkTTi3CEDPh2ub4eTlI0YpJtvqCkbVU6V71TMbqPglyCzdesmX1Q-6XU9SMuFyqMeVAdYLB4gLEHvfWX28d5RU-IFPhHNzbKSfdSILZo77vNLnrkZZahCGuXe8xjbeJzmAa~efdgnyjNcFax2-h67iSd-fArb6YF2G-R0J~XY2BI~qeznOaL2e1I~7dfF1eE0dEhNsLZa-oGCyD6RtO1G4~VZjPflcQoVzvazMEKuXoLjOBw5NErC~mQPYGQY5CIe4goqaIfFyMAiiEcsc3oPyIdvtgp8ySmQE-VnWHczFXpn5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public Works Director BJ Gottlieb told the Public Infrastructure Advisory Board that the FY26 budget moves $2,300,000 that had been earmarked for contracted crack patch-and-seal into the city’s geo bond program.

Gottlieb said contractor availability and market dynamics have driven the decision: contractors are less willing to perform labor-intensive patch-and-seal work, instead preferring larger reconstructions that are faster and more profitable. He said the city has repeatedly received unresponsive bids for supplemental patch-and-seal phases, and shifting funds to the geo bond will extend the bond’s reach to more impactful reconstruction projects. “We got 4 bids over the last year. I’ve gotten 0 responsive bidders for those projects,” Gottlieb said.

Gottlieb said the city will continue in-house patch-and-seal work; crews will perform about 10 miles of patch-and-seal next year using city forces rather than the prior mix of in-house and contracted work. Staff also proposed hiring external inspectors for supplemental work ($239,000) and budgeting recurring lease payments of $11,500 per year for the streets and right-of-way yard leased from the county.

Board members asked whether moving the $2.3 million would reduce services to neighborhoods. Gottlieb said the shift aims to fund fewer but larger projects through the geobond and to avoid repeatedly bidding small supplemental projects that produce no responsive contractors. He said patch-and-seal will return when the market allows.

Ending: Staff said they will continue to monitor contractor availability and bring patch-and-seal proposals back to the board once procurement conditions improve.","Public Works Director BJ Gottlieb told the advisory board the city will shift $2.3 million previously budgeted for contracted crack patch-and-seal work into the geobond program because of a shrinking market of responsive contractors and to fund larger reconstruction projects.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6583623,"Advisory board backs Rio Rancho FY26 operating budget and recommended five-year capital plan",78,1269000,1347000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3153546-56cfa3aedcc4bec2d9fac8570d8124c0&start=1269&end=1347","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3153546-56cfa3aedcc4bec2d9fac8570d8124c0/thumbnail_1269000.jpg","/articles/6583623/Rio-Rancho/Sandoval-County/New-Mexico/Advisory-board-backs-Rio-Rancho-FY26-operating-budget-and-recommended-five-year-capital-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583623-509db4a0ea91525e0e7317a177a2bc34/orig.mp4?Expires=1771016984&Signature=Nr1D~kVw4JXGSqhqPEUtkxNNlu-PZWY7ajH3887Mt9O3BF2pWVmli-eBFZBhxy2Quex7qw1EKbFYgm7grh11l1Pl0Msa070dLif42mU9Jo2yjmqz~Divzjsop84ogurJlcESjWX4zYKyWmrtZZYiacGO6Wh4dMnCOG5NeRjcgnLVWMwLHhYjSpMmwEjKTrlHilSaZZiw0eOWKQzD7TOcOBfRydpEvPVsXtWy9mm6IBcwhh5zjv1Qy9TB82ZTG4LFB-V6BpIDDu45TNIsKcxzW7ItA8YyOvz3mv59jrQlxmxSK~DZqRfkKARnxID4gcJmPgzpGHUqM51CFVOhX5sbhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rio Rancho Public Infrastructure Advisory Board voted to approve the recommended fiscal year 2026 operating budget for roads, drainage and the water and wastewater utility system and to support the city manager’s recommended FY26–30 capital improvement program.

Deputy City Manager Peter Wells and Public Works Director BJ Gottlieb told the board the FY26 operating budget includes the first year of debt service for a $32,000,000 loan that will fund two major projects: a new fire station and the reconstruction and widening of Unser Boulevard from Cherry Road to Paseo del Volcán (the wider program cost for the two projects is about $46,000,000, with roughly $14,000,000 for the fire station and $32,000,000 for Unser Boulevard). Wells said the city is borrowing $32,000,000 because federal and local funds cover part of the total cost.

Gottlieb and Wells walked through proposed capital projects that the governing body and staff have prioritized in the ICIP. Projects highlighted for FY26 include Southern Boulevard phase 2 (Nicholas Crossing), a match for multiple state transportation grant applications (Golf Course Road, Western Hills, Barbara Loop), design work to extend Loma Colorado to Chessman Drive (including a proposed roundabout), pavement-condition inspections, additional inspection services and right-of-way purchases, and improvements at the Cleveland Heights High School drop-off. The board also heard that the city expects to bid the Unser Boulevard reconstruction this summer with construction likely to begin in the fall and run into 2027.

Wells presented options for a potential general-obligation (geo) bond package staff recommended for voter consideration. Staff estimate about $18,000,000 in bond questions could be placed on a future ballot without raising the property tax rate; staff outlined a separate scenario in which a larger $23,000,000 package would increase the tax burden on a $300,000 home by about $47 in the first year. Staff recommended dividing the $18,000,000 into multiple questions and allocating roughly two-thirds to road projects, consistent with previous bond cycles.

Board member discussion touched on procurement challenges for neighborhood patch-and-seal contracts, the use of federal funding and reimbursement timing, and contingency plans if federal reimbursements are delayed. Wells said the FY26 budget includes cash to cover near-term cash-flow needs on the Unser Boulevard project so the city can proceed while awaiting federal reimbursements. He said if reimbursements arrive later the cash will be repurposed for other priorities.

Votes at a glance:
- Approve minutes of 07/16/2024 — motion made and seconded; roll call: Juan Martinez (yes), Serena Pearson (yes), Anand Nayar (yes) — outcome: approved.
- Approve 2025 quarterly board meeting schedule — outcome: approved (roll call: Martinez, Nayar, Pearson yes).
- Approve annual report letter to governing body (municipal code 33.26) — motion seconded by Juan Martinez; outcome: approved (roll call recorded as yes).
- Approve FY26 operating budget (roads/drainage/utilities) — motion and second; roll call: Anand Nayar (yes), Serena Pearson (yes), Juan Martinez (yes) — outcome: approved.
- Support recommended FY26–30 capital improvement program to the governing body — motion and second; roll call: Anand Nayar (yes), Serena Pearson (yes), Juan Martinez (yes) — outcome: approved.

Ending: Board members said they will provide formal feedback when staff returns with a finalized bond-question package and timing; staff said they plan additional public outreach and will return to advisory boards for input before a final governing-body decision.","The Public Infrastructure Advisory Board voted to approve the city manager's recommended FY26 operating budget for roads, drainage and utilities and provided support for the FY26–30 capital improvement program; the FY26 budget includes first-year debt service for a $32 million loan that helps fund Unser Boulevard widening and a new fire station.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6583628,"Rio Rancho staff outline OMI Jacobs contract changes; utilities rates to rise 3%",116,238000,354000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3153546-56cfa3aedcc4bec2d9fac8570d8124c0&start=238&end=354","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3153546-56cfa3aedcc4bec2d9fac8570d8124c0/thumbnail_238000.jpg","/articles/6583628/Rio-Rancho/Sandoval-County/New-Mexico/Rio-Rancho-staff-outline-OMI-Jacobs-contract-changes-utilities-rates-to-rise-3","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6583628-8656674a4df98925ed6b5ab27d00bd7f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771016984&Signature=WPTbVdvmNHyycob3wnXIq6A5cA01HXngyoktV6jYDfFmpZNQZ2KUsfiK0uzbF6WTwCNEXIB~X~SagiUtKQa2TqpZY0UfXrue0ZVMgdJcX86MPkvZxb6uZafau~dfLCnZEDz15JR6k9VbdBbl4LKNIcIjm4aPTMSEH4nD7cPOK3HmD6PupZ98BuZPUmnNkYHdgfikBlrzqhP9cKSw8guigLKAZszBHX0A259lOHQi7a43jH4eFepmMXk8RQtGIFdhtkxaIknwGv3ndEAPTEhYyDwK2mQZXOcITW0ZQz~DU71OCIlqdueftZ9GWIDkDbFt~R131Ngv1hvB~90adONjyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Acting Utilities Director Steve Gallegos told the Rio Rancho Public Infrastructure Advisory Board that an amended operations contract with OMI Jacobs will cost the city $10,800,000 per year and runs until February (end year not specified in the presentation). The amendment took effect after governing-body approval in December and was prorated for the current year.

Gallegos said the contract includes an annual adjustment provision — 2.5% or the consumer price index, whichever is lower — and that the amendment added three new operators to respond to water leaks, with an internal target to repair leaks “hopefully within 72 hours.” He said the contract amendment also funded an additional hydro-excavator, a backhoe and other equipment to speed emergency response and allow crews to locate and repair service-line problems faster. “They purchased another additional hydro excavator, a backhoe, and again some other equipment to respond to leaks faster,” Gallegos said.

Gallegos also reviewed an approved rate schedule the governing body adopted for fiscal 2026: a 3% annual adjustment for water, wastewater and water-rights acquisition fees and a 5% increase for the bulk-fill station, all to take effect July 1. He said the 3% figure reflects a 1.25% additional adjustment on top of a prior 1.75% change and results from a rate study that accounted for rising electricity, chemical and construction costs as well as capital needs. “We had about a 43% increase in electricity increases, chemical costs increases in asphalt,” Gallegos said, explaining those factors contributed to the rate recommendation.

Board members asked whether the city might bring operations back in-house when the contract term ends. Gallegos said the city has revisited that analysis in prior years and may do so again, but past studies found outsourcing more economical when retirement and benefit liabilities were considered. “At the time, it made more sense to go ahead and leave it as a private contractor,” he said, adding the city will revisit the question in future years.

The board received the presentation with no vote on the contract amendment at this meeting; Gallegos said the governing body had previously approved the December amendment. He also said roughly $10,800,000 of the utilities budget is consumed by the Jacobs contract and that electricity (about $3.8 million) and chemicals (about $1 million) are leading cost drivers.

Ending: Gallegos said staff will continue to monitor contract costs and the option to rebid or study bringing services back in-house; he also stood for follow-up questions about line crews, equipment and the planned metering and software investments noted later in the meeting.","Acting utilities director Steve Gallegos briefed the Public Infrastructure Advisory Board on a prorated amendment to the OMI Jacobs operations contract, new staffing and equipment for leak response, and an approved schedule of utility rate adjustments starting July 1.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident warns advisory board of drainage risks tied to Chamisa Hills rezoning proposal

Rio Rancho utilities outline $28M headworks project, wells, AMI metering and transmission upgrades

City reallocates $2.3M from contractor patch-and-seal to geobond to extend reach

Advisory board backs Rio Rancho FY26 operating budget and recommended five-year capital plan

Rio Rancho staff outline OMI Jacobs contract changes; utilities rates to rise 3%