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Los Ranchos approves levee scoping IGA with Bernalillo County and adds $500,000 water-rights budget line
Summary
Trustees approved an intergovernmental agreement to obtain county matching funds for a FEMA levee scoping study and adopted a budget revision that includes a $500,000 placeholder for potential water-rights purchases to support the AgriNature Center and village open space.
The Village of Los Ranchos Board of Trustees unanimously approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Bernalillo County to secure $50,000 toward the local match for a FEMA-funded levee scoping study, enabling the village to invoice the county and proceed with the full study covering the levee from the North Diversion Channel to the South Diversion Channel.
Engineering consultant Chuck Thomas told trustees the FEMA grant totals about $456,000, with $348,000 federal and $108,000 required local match. "That match is divided up three ways: $50,000 for Bernalillo County, $29,000 from the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, and $29,000 from the Village of Los Ranchos," Thomas said. Trustees approved the IGA by voice vote.
In related action the board adopted Resolution 2024-12-01, a set of budget revisions that (among other changes) creates a $500,000 line item to allow the village to purchase or otherwise secure irrigation water rights if a viable opportunity arises. CFO Silva explained the funds would be moved from the village's LGIP/savings and that the appropriation ensures compliance with state budgeting statutes should the village decide to spend on a water-rights purchase without delay.
Trustees debated the figure and source: Trustee Benavides said $500,000 felt large and suggested considering open-space bond funds as an alternative source; CFO Silva and staff said the money would come from existing reserves (LGIP) and noted projected new gross receipts tax revenue beginning Jan. 1 could add roughly $700,000 annually to village receipts (with timing lag into March). Trustee Radovich and counsel described three concurrent water-rights workstreams staff have been asked to pursue: (1) inventory and document village-owned rights, (2) pursue a possible state lease of ~9 acre-feet tied to an open-space settlement, and (3) evaluate a possible purchase of roughly 21 consumptive acre-feet identified by a prior consultant.
Why it matters: The levee study aims to assess failure areas across a contiguous levee corridor, informing flood-risk mitigation for the village. The water-rights appropriation signals the village's intent to secure reliable irrigation for the AgriNature Center and other open-space priorities; staff recommended closed-session follow-up for any purchase negotiations.
Next steps: Staff will invoice Bernalillo County, complete the levee scoping study work, and return to trustees with a closed-session briefing on any water-rights purchase opportunities. Trustees authorized staff to continue investigations and schedule closed sessions as needed for negotiations.
