Cañon Neighborhood Association
BY- LAWS
(amended)
Following are the By-laws for the Cañon Neighborhood Association, herby known as the Cañon Neighborhood Association.
BOUNDARIES
Boundaries of El Cañon de Taos are:
On the North, the Taos Pueblo Boundary fence;
On the South, both Cañon by-pass (NM 585) and Cruz Alta Road;
On the East, the Forest Service Boundary line;
On the West, New Mexico Gas Company
ORGANIZATION
Articles of Association were filled with The County of Taos on September 11, 2007.
Articles of Incorporation were filled and approved with the New Mexico Corporation Commission on October 10, 2007.
Board of Directors
The board of Directors will consist of 7 members from the community of Cañon.
Board members are appointed from community residents of the Cañon Neighborhood Association.
Board members who do not meet their responsibilities as member of the board or who fail to miss three consecutive meetings will be subject to replacement.
No Board member shall be personally liable for damage or loss resulting from these by-laws, provided that such board member has acted in good faith, using his or her best judgment.
MEMBERSHIP
All residents, property owners, and business owners of Cañon are members of the Cañon Neighborhood Association.
Cañon Neighborhood Association meetings will initially be held as needed. Notice of meetings will by radio announcements, personal mailings to community residents, newspaper, and posted around the Community of Cañon, in compliance the New Mexico Opens meeting Act.
Minutes and membership attendance will be available in compliance with the Public Information Act.
A Cañon Neighborhood Association newsletter containing community news and issue updates will be printed twice a year.
Dues will not be required at this time, but contributions will be accepted to cover any expenses related to meeting announcements, copies of documents, agendas, etc. Eventually the Cañon Neighborhood Association will fundraise from private and philanthropic entities.
HISTORY AND CULTURE
Goal: Preserve and protect the unique character of El Cañon de Taos, its ancestral history, traditional agricultural land use, the importance of our acequia systems which are the life blood of the community, and the unique Indo-hispano culture, and others who are indigenous to the community.
Objective:
1. Preserve the integrity of the community of Cañon's agricultural land use, acequia systems, and open space as an essential and inseparable component of the well being of its residents.
2. Recognize, preserve, and protect all long standing religious, civil, and social organizations within the community, as well as all historical buildings and properties.
3 .Define the "Community of Cañon de Taos" boundaries.
4. Define the Historic district of Cañon.
5. Work with County officials to establish zoning plans and regulations that are compatible with the community and its desires. More specifically related to commercial and residential development that may not be suitable to the community.
6. Work with local and state agencies to recognize and designate Cañon de Taos as a Traditional and Historical community.
7. Work simultaneously with the Cañon Acequia Systems and the Mutual Domestic Water Association to help keep traditional agricultural use viable and healthy as well as having sensible controlled growth that will allow us clean and abundant water for future generations , as well as a healthy food system.
COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELFARE
Goal: To ensure a safe and healthy environment for the residents of Cañon, where the priority is the safe wellbeing of the children, respect for elders and each other, the support and respect for land , water ,food and the understanding, respect, and conservation of traditional activities of the community.
Objective:
1. Create an environment that encourages all residents' young and old, as well as multi-generational and new residents to interact, support and respect one another and to grow as a healthy community.
RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Goal: Natural and Infrastructure resources shall be protected and maintained in perpetuity using the methods of traditional land use that have long been an integral part of the History and culture of Cañon.
Objective:
1. The preservation of surface and subsurface water, clean, abundant water, traditional acequia and land use systems, and implement the protections needed for long term health and longevity.
2. Preserve open space, wetlands, wildlife corridors, acequia and river habitats.
3. Preserve existing traditional roadways and easements, especially acequia easements.
4. Maintain clean air, night skies, and natural light.
5. Protect surface and subsurface minerals including sand and gravel from commercial use and extraction
6. Ensure the character of rural quietude.
COMPREHENSIVE LAND USE
Goal: Provide effective and sensible guidelines for residential, agricultural, and commercial development that will preserve the integrity and continuation of cultural, historical and pastoral traditions that have defined the character of Cañon.
Objective:
1. Work with the County and City on the development of comprehensive plans that will have positive long term impacts on the Community of Cañon, and ensure that residents of Cañon are at the Table to help establish regulations and zoning of land, water, that may be considered for development.
2. Ensure that the residents of Cañon have the vehicle to direct the future growth and their vision for the future.
Development of Subdivision
Objective:
1. Develop a sensible plan for the community that will regulate the number of sub-divisions, condominiums and any other development that may adversely affective the limitations of land, water quality and quantity.
Agricultural Development
Objective:
1. Retain and preserve the natural resource economy of Cañon that has traditionally included farming, small flocks and wildlife habitat.
2. Protect and encourage the economic interests of residents pursuing traditional and innovative uses of land (organic, crop rotations, etc) thru tax incentives.
3. Protect the right of residents to own, breed, raise, and trade/sell produce, livestock fowl and fish that is the existing life style of many residents of Cañon.
Commercial Development
Objective:
1. Preserve the historical and cultural integrity of Cañon by developing sensible zoning plans that will complement the community and limit growth and development on the basis of availability of Water and land resources.
Draft By-Laws October 30, 2007
Presented By:
Patricia L. Quintana, President
Tanya Ocanas-Vigil, Vice- President
Mario Archuleta, Secretary- Treasurer
Armando Fernandez
Harold Anglada
Cynthia Anderson
