San Juan County authorizes manager to sign $78,000 NMFA‑funded contracts for affordable housing plan and comprehensive‑plan update

San Juan County commissioners on Oct. 21 authorized the county manager to execute two planning contracts funded by a $78,000 New Mexico Finance Authority grant: one to prepare an affordable housing plan and another to update the county’s growth-management plan (also called the comprehensive plan).

Why it matters: the contracts set in motion multi‑year planning work that will guide housing policy and land‑use decisions for the county. Staff said the work will include public involvement and elected-official engagement.

Planning staff told the board that San Juan County must be under contract by January 2026 to secure the NMFA grant funds. Staff recommended Architectural Research Consultants (ARC), which the county used for a 2018 comprehensive-plan update, as the vendor for both projects. Staff estimated the comprehensive-plan update typically takes 12–18 months and emphasized significant public and stakeholder involvement is expected.

Commissioners voted unanimously to authorize the county manager to execute the contracts. Staff said the contracts will be executed promptly to meet the grant’s contracting deadline and that the county intends to schedule public engagement opportunities as the projects begin.

Speakers on this item included planning staff (Mr. Saavedra) and the commission. The authorization permits the county manager to finalize contract terms and begin work once agreements are in place; the county will provide periodic status updates to the commission during the planning process.