(A) Pursuant to NMSA § 3-39-22, there is hereby created an Airport Board of Appeals to have and exercise the following powers:
(1) To hear and decide appeals from any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by the City Manager in the enforcement of this chapter;
(2) To hear and decide special exception to the terms of this chapter upon which the board may be required to pass under this chapter;
(3) To hear and decide a specific variance under § 96.06; and
(4) To review matters related to the Crews Field Airport and recommend appropriate action to the City Commission.
(B) This same Board, acting in an advisory capacity, shall be focused on the general improvement of the Raton Airport, review matters related to the facility, and recommend action to the City Commission as follows.
(1) The Board shall make periodic review of the Raton Airport appearance, and facilities as may be useful in keeping the airport efficient and adequate to the needs of the city and flying public.
(2) The Board shall make recommendations to the City Commission in respect to needed expansions, improvements, facilities, and policies governing the operation of the airport.
(3) The Board shall prepare a 5-year capital improvements plan and recommended improvements to aid the City Manager and City Commission in the pursuit of grant funds for the plan. The Board shall work with the City Engineer to secure and complete costs estimates for each project in the plan along with establishment of the prioritization of projects in the plan. The plan shall be reviewed and updated once each year for submission to the City Commission.
(C) The Airport Board of Appeals shall consist of 5 members, limited to each to be appointed for a term of 3 years and to be removable for cause by the City Commission upon written charges and after public hearing. Each member appointed shall serve for a term of 3 years from the date of appointment. To accomplish staggered terms, the initial appointments shall be for 2 members for 1 year, 2 members for 2 years, and 1 member for 3 years. Interested members serving on the previous Board, shall file written application for reappointment to the new Board.
(D) The Board shall adopt rules for its governance and procedure in harmony with the provisions of this article. Meetings of the Board shall be held at the call of the Chairperson and at the times as the Board may determine. The Chairperson, or in his or her absence, the acting Chairperson, may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses. All hearings, meetings, and votes of the Board shall be open to the public, unless a closed meeting is approved by the City Attorney. The Board shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question, or if absent or failing to vote, indicate the fact, and shall keep records of its examination and other official actions, all of which shall immediately be filed in the office of the Board and shall be a public record.
(NMSA § 3-39-22)
(E) The Board shall meet at least once each quarter and Board members are required to attend at least 75% of the regularly scheduled meetings in any 12-month period. Noncompliance of this attendance will result in removal from the Board.
(1981 Code, § 4-25) (Am. Ord. 914, passed 12-11-2001)