Village Council Meeting Will Feature 40-Year Water Plan Update, C&C Application

The Village Council meeting on Tuesday put municipal water management at the top of the agenda as the Water Board delivered a brief update on a required 40-year water plan and a Combine and Commingle (C&C) application filed with the State Engineer. Both actions aim to address longstanding municipal over-pumping, secure durable water rights and advance conservation measures that will shape water availability for decades.

The 40-year plan will consider options including a municipal system, water banking and other tools to manage quantity and resilience. Public input on these long-range choices will be solicited at a later date, giving Corraleños opportunities to weigh in on how the Village balances growth, agriculture, landscape irrigation and aquifer health. The C&C application asks the State Engineer to treat all municipal wells as a single unit rather than as individual sources, a change intended to give the Village greater operational flexibility while not adversely affecting domestic wells.

Council also implemented a procedural change to the Administrator’s Report. Instead of reciting the report during the meeting, the report will now be included in the Council packet accessible from the Mayor’s Message so residents can read it in advance. Items from that written report may be raised during the Corraleños Forum, and residents may request subjects for future Administrator’s Reports as a way to promote clearer communication and interaction.

The meeting was organizational in form, and mayoral appointments were formally announced. Melanie Romero, formerly Village Clerk, has been chosen as Administrator while the Village interviews candidates to fill the vacant clerk position. Police Chief Vic Mangiacapra will continue in his post. Corrales’s public safety record remains strong; the Village is frequently listed as the safest municipality in New Mexico. Council members will also select a mayor pro-tem in the coming weeks. The full agenda and packet are available on the Village website.

Planning and Zoning Commission business moved forward with its next meeting held Wednesday, featuring two applications: a variance to a front setback and a short-term rental request. P&Z meets the third Wednesday of each month in the Council chambers at 6:30 PM; in-person attendance is available with Zoom participation.

Community events and county matters include a hazard mitigation open house Wednesday, January 21 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Sandoval County Fire Rescue Administration Classroom, 301 Piedra Lisa Road, Bernalillo, where the draft plan was released and the public comment period runs through February 4. PBS will air the documentary Heroes for Health Thursday at 7 PM, produced by Corrales residents Ben Daitz and Bob Belinoff, followed by a panel on health care challenges in New Mexico.

These developments mean water policy and local governance decisions are moving from planning into implementation. Residents should review the Council packet via the Mayor’s Message, monitor announcements for public comment opportunities on the water plan and hazard mitigation draft, and consider participating in upcoming forums to shape how Corrales manages its most precious resource.