A JOINT MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE GENERAL SERVICES
DEPARTMENT, THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER, THE STATE HIGHWAY AND
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT AND THE GOVERNING BOARDS OF THE POST-SECONDARY
INSTITUTIONS TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF INSTALLING WATER-WISE LANDSCAPING ON
ALL STATE PROPERTY.
WHEREAS, New Mexico is facing
severe water shortages and legal and economic consequences associated with
limited water supplies; and
WHEREAS, water conservation is
state policy, wasting of water is a crime and water users throughout the state
are being asked to conserve water and pay higher costs for its overuse; and
WHEREAS, there are many
environmental benefits to be gained by using native vegetation in landscape
planting; and
WHEREAS, extensive attention is
being paid to the significant water savings that can result from water-wise
landscaping; and
WHEREAS, the state's water
utility expenses might be reduced and its natural environment enhanced by the
retrofitting and installation of water-wise native landscape vegetation;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the general services
department, the office of the state engineer, the state highway and
transportation department and the governing boards of the post-secondary
institutions be requested to cooperate in assessing the feasibility of
installing water-wise native vegetation on all state property and report their
findings and recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 2003; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that
copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of general services,
the state engineer, the state highway and transportation department and the
governing boards of the post-secondary institutions.