Taos council hears update on Youth & Family Center damage; structural, slab analyses ordered and ICIP adjustment urged

At the Sept. 23 Town Council workshop the council received an update after a site visit to the Taos Youth and Family Center. Town staff said the visit was informational only and no redevelopment decisions were made at the site visit itself.

Town Manager Martinez and Assistant Manager Flores told the council the insurance adjuster had inspected the building and forwarded findings to the town’s insurance authority. The adjuster’s preliminary assessment described the roof damage as primarily repairable rather than an immediate full roof replacement, but some town staff and contractors have expressed concern that roughly 30% of the roof decking and metal decking are compromised and may require replacement. The town has issued a purchase order for a structural analysis to assess the facility’s integrity; staff said that engineering work should start this week or early next week.

Parks and Recreation staff (Melissa) said contractors will run a sonar/radar slab analysis at the rink this week to check for water infiltration under the concrete slab; staff warned that if water beneath the slab freezes it could expand and crack the rink slab, potentially making the slab unusable for ice even if above‑slab repairs proceed. Melissa and other staff discussed short‑term options: temporary or portable ice systems and transportation support for skaters if a local rink remains unavailable.

Manager Martinez said staff has met with two roofing contractors and is awaiting final bids. He said the town must balance quick repairs before winter and the need to wait for engineering findings before committing to either a full replacement or temporary fixes. Assistant Manager Flores said interior water remediation will be necessary where firefighting water infiltrated the building and that the town is coordinating the insurance process while planning for structural and slab assessments.

Council members discussed funding options and timing. Staff said the town can pursue capital outlay via an amended Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP) and that the governor’s office capital outlay process requires projects listed on the ICIP. Staff cited a rough current estimate for a new dedicated ice facility of about $8–10 million and said a typical capital outlay award might be around $2 million; bonding capacity for other sport complex work was discussed in the context of a separate Felimon Sanchez revitalization project estimated at about $14 million for bonding capacity. Staff emphasized that these figures are preliminary and subject to updated cost estimates.

Council and staff directed that a resolution to amend the ICIP be prepared for the council’s next regular meeting so the rink or related projects can be considered for capital outlay funding. Staff also said they will pursue grant opportunities, coordinate with county partners and report back once insurance and engineering analyses are complete.

Quotes from staff at the workshop summarized the procedural posture: the town will complete immediate, safety‑related repairs where possible, secure engineering analyses to determine structural and slab conditions, then make funding and construction decisions once clearer cost estimates and insurance reimbursements are known.