Council approves multiple plats and adopts transit safety and drug-testing policies

At the March 19 meeting, the Socorro City Council approved a suite of land-development items and adopted transit-related policies required for federal funding eligibility.

Planning and the Planning & Zoning Commission presented several subdivision and replat requests that council approved on second reading: the Ohanas preliminary plat (1.5 acres, R3, eight residential lots), the La Joya replat dividing a lot at 100 Escalante Drive, a replat of Trujillo subdivision to allow duplexes at 10330 Socorro Road (R2), and the Bowman Estates Unit 2 replat to split one lot into two R1 lots at 11301 Sheffield Drive. City planner Lorraine (city planner) summarized each request and noted the Planning & Zoning Commission gave unanimous or majority approval for each item.

In separate votes, council adopted a city drug-and-alcohol testing policy for transit employees to comply with Federal Transit Administration requirements and approved a Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan and designated the city manager as the accountable executive. City staff said the city already uses fleet telematics and driver metrics and that the safety plan documents existing procedures while adding further safety-management components.

Council also ratified time-sensitive letters of support for several regional congressional community-project funding requests, including proposals from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, the City of San Elizario, Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, and the Town of Horizon.

All the plats, policies and letters of support were approved by motions and voice vote during the meeting.