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Taos council approves zone change, schedules abatement hearing and OKs laptops lease; discusses plastic bag rule
Summary
The Taos Town Council on Jan. 27 approved a zoning map amendment for a 26.8‑acre parcel, approved a $83,027.10 three‑year lease for 30 rugged laptops for town departments, and scheduled a March 10 hearing on an abatement objection for 514 Dolan Street; the council also discussed revisiting the single‑use plastic bag ordinance.
The Taos Town Council approved a set of administrative and land‑use actions during its Jan. 27 meeting while handling extensive public comment on immigration and protests.
On the consent and management side, council approved a three‑year lease agreement with Dell Technologies for 30 rugged laptops, to be used by the Taos Police Department, IT and GIS, for $83,027.10 under the statewide price agreement 10‑000‑20‑0062AF. The lease was presented by staff and passed on a council vote.
On land use, the council held a public hearing on Ordinance 26‑01, a zone change request for a roughly 26.8‑acre parcel off Calle Del Oso submitted by Abeyta Engineering on behalf of Alta Vista Solaris/Steven Rose. Staff said the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval. Council member Namba recused himself from this item, and the council later approved the ordinance to make the parcel R‑1 single‑family residential to allow a 24‑lot subdivision.
Separately, staff reported that property owner Joe Moscaranez submitted an objection to Resolution 25‑78, an abatement action for 514 Dolan Street. The council discussed notice requirements and scheduling; after debate about fairness and calendar timing, members scheduled a hearing on March 10, 2026, which will pause enforcement actions until the hearing is held.
The council also heard an update from Assistant Town Manager Mark Flores on a standing operating procedures (SOP) committee that is reviewing town departmental Lexipol policies; the committee approved airport SOPs and plans continued quarterly policy reviews.
In other business, the council appointed Council Member Namba as chair of the Audit and Finance Committee and appointed Deidre Baldwin Lapin to the Library Advisory Board. Members discussed the town's 20‑05 single‑use plastic bag ordinance; several members asked staff to revisit implementation details, possible bag fees and exemptions, and to consider community impacts on low‑income residents and small businesses before bringing amendments back for public discussion.
The meeting included a closed executive session on real property acquisition and pending litigation; town attorneys reported that only agenda items listed were discussed and no action was taken in closed session. The council adjourned at the end of the session.
