§ 2-14-030. Developing the plan.
The process used to develop this plan was one of consensus building with input from as many sectors of the community as possible. Citizens were invited to attend one or both of the public meetings held in conjunction with developing this plan. For a list of those invited and the letter of invitation, see appendix C attached to Ord. No. 983, which is not set out herein, but is on file and available for inspection in the office of the city clerk. In addition to the letters, announcements were made on the radio and in the newspaper (see appendix C of Ord. No. 983).
Interviews were also scheduled with eight selected community leaders to obtain their reaction to this proposed economic development strategic plan. In the course of the interviews participants were asked their opinion on using public funds to assist in economic development as allowed by the Local Economic Development Act. The respondents favored assistance to qualified prospects including the use of industrial revenue bonds and the extension of utilities. Reaction to the suggestion that the city might build and lease a building for a qualifying industry were more reserved ranging from one, "no" to a majority of answers that were, "yes, but each case requires a careful individual evaluation."
A list of those interviewed and in attendance at the community meeting and the consensus developed is reported as follows.
(1)
Individual interviews—Summary of findings. In the preparation of this strategic plan individual interviews were conducted with the following:
Donald E. Carroll, the Mayor of Alamogordo
Brig. Gen. Bruce Carlson, Commander of the 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman Air Force Base
Miles Ledgerwood, President of the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce
Larry Shulse, President, Otero Co. Economic Development Corp.
Michael Dalby, Executive Director, Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Otero County Economic Development Corp.
Dr. Jan Twomey, Asst. Provost, New Mexico State University - Alamogordo
Sharon Few, Alamogordo City Planner
Michael Shyne, President, Westsource Corp., member Otero County Economic Development Corp. Board of Directors
In summary, these eight interviews showed the following:
1.
The economy of Alamogordo is in need of diversification. It is presently overly dependent on the federal payrolls of Holloman AFB and White Sands Missile Range. Job opportunities for those entering the labor market are quite limited.
2.
The community has water problems both immediate and long term. The short term need is to expand the existing distribution system. In the long term additional sources of water is needed. A decision on repair of the pipeline to Bonita Lake is needed.
3.
The community has not articulated its long term goals in a manner that will create strong community support. There is a great deal of complacency among the populace. A more positive community attitude is needed.
4.
Alamogordo needs a first class industrial/business park if it plans to attract new employers.
5.
Increased community pride would help. There should be additional beautification and clean up.
6.
Local government has an important role in economic development and should provide leadership whenever it has the opportunity. Possible city initiatives include issuing industrial revenue bonds including tax abatement in the attraction of new jobs. The city should use the authority granted to it by the Local Economic Development Act to extend streets and utilities to qualifying new employers. Under some circumstances the city should consider financing a building for qualified employers.
7.
Education is important and should include support for the college and improvement in the public schools.
8.
As is always true of the state, the city suffers from the lack of any national recognition. Potential employers have never heard of the city. The physical location is somewhat isolated. Improvement of the highway's four-lane roads to El Paso and on U.S. 54/70 would help. To improve community recognition and economic development a marketing program is needed.
(2)
First round observations, May 23, 1996. Economic development can be defined in several ways. It includes but is not necessarily limited to:
Diversification Better pay Retaining current jobs Can be service or manufacturing Creates income New money into community New business An expanded tax base Expansion of existing business Exports a product/service Create jobs In summary, it should create additional jobs or retain existing jobs.
Alamogordo has:
Good climate/weather Available workers A low crime rate Good schools Available land/airspace Access to certain types of technology Good recreation Appealing life styles Alamogordo suffers from:
Lack of planning Poor location Infrastructure needs water and roads Poor highways (U.S. 54) and railroads Poor airport/air service Lack of an industrial park Lack of capital Political infighting Complacency Underdeveloped work force Lack of a good retail economy Lack of jobs for young people Retail and service leakage i.e. people buy out of town What we can do to improve Alamogordo:
"Take pride in our community" Better water system Improve Hwy. 70 to four lanes Develop a first class industrial park Build a highway by-pass Aggressive pursuit of economic development Possible immediate actions:
Inventory of existing buildings.
Begin an economic development sales program based on labor and land.
Ideally an industry that is favorable for Alamogordo should be:
Environmentally friendly Low water user Above average wage Light transportation needs Some type of assembly plant Technology related (avionics?) Possibly a military support industry Incentives. Alamogordo for the "right" project would:
•
Vote industrial revenue bonds including property tax abatement.
•
Give land in the industrial park, the cost reduced on sliding scale such as the greater the number of jobs the lower the price.
•
Provide infrastructure—Road, utilities, etc.
•
For a "really good company," the city would consider building a structure that could be leased to a user at a reasonable cost.
•
Provide education/training through the public schools and the college.
Attendees, economic development planning meeting Alamogordo Civic Center, May 23, 1996:
Eddie Beagles Don Carroll Ron Couch Michael Dalby Dennis Ditmanson Bob Flotte Larry Furrow Gus Gauthier Frank Gentile David Gottula Timothy H.Brown, Sr. Dwight Harp John Henderson Al Hernandez Kent House Jan Jeter Cecil Jones Carol M. Bragg Flori McElderry Tim Frost Charles R. Reidlinger Peter Schnider Larry Schulse Billy Sedillo Jan Twomey (3)
Second round observations, June 13, 1996.
Tactical goals (short range).
Water. Improve the distribution system
Industrial park. Don't bother to revitalize the old one. Build a new one.
Leadership. Alamogordo needs community promotion, capital attraction, community pride.
Community lacks commitment. An inventory of the community's assets would be helpful. Goals need to be defined. A timetable, planned program.
There should be an "action team" made up of stakeholders. These stakeholders need to sell the plan as well as buy into it themselves.
Strategic goals (long range). Increase the per capital income and thereby raise the standard of living. Bring new capital into the community. Community needs new business formation/diversification.
NMSU Alamogordo. To become a four-year school with specialties in selected areas i.e. only some four-year programs, not a general college curriculum.
Have a concentrated vocational training program.
Have a solar/astronomy four-year program.
There should be emphasis on regional college cooperation.
Transportation. Improve the transportation system in and through Alamogordo. Need to establish city-wide transportation system (bus).
Four-lane Highway 54 to the south.
Space Museum. Needs to increase its education component. Build nation-wide reputation.
There should be joint planning between the Space Museum, the university and the city.
Water. Need a ten-year minimum plan. Need to look at desalinization/water processing.
Federal Programs—HAFB/WSMR. Push to have commercial space launch tests here. Work closely with WSMR so that if new programs are created WSMR is used.
There are many special skills and trained people that leave the military—HAFB/WSMR. These, both retired and discharged, are underemployed. They have technical skills not used.
HAFB/WSMR/Ft. Bliss inter-connected. Transportation important. New Mexico lagging. Highway 54 needs improvement.
Attendees, economic development planning meeting Alamogordo Civic Center, June 13, 1996.
Eddie Beagles Paul Burnett Ronald C. Couch Don Carroll Warner Coleman, Jr. Karen Couch Michael Dalby Bob Flotte Gus Gauthier Lee Gemoets Frank Gentile David Gottula Flori McElderry Maria Probasco Larry Shulse John Van Doren Lance Grace
(Ord. No. 983, 8-13-96)