HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 40

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Joni Marie Gutierrez

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE CREATION OF A STATE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DESIGN DEPARTMENT BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE REORGANIZATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT.

     WHEREAS, the troubled economy of the state and nation underscores the importance of careful coordination of planning, programming and expending of public resources; and

     WHEREAS, current and future challenges are presented by such issues as population growth; the community need for job production, education and recreation; the production and use of energy; and the need for sustainable approaches to land management and use; and

     WHEREAS, state and local agencies and special jurisdictions customarily operate independently and with limited awareness of one another's data, forecasts, assumptions, policies, plans, programs and projects; and

     WHEREAS, the state would benefit from comprehensive long-range planning of public facilities and public works; and

     WHEREAS, a state planning and community design department could provide the state with a comprehensive plan that coordinates the plans of all communities, agencies and departments in the state as well as provide needed planning assistance to municipalities and counties and provide coordination of capital outlay in New Mexico communities; and

     WHEREAS, the committee on government efficiency in its report to the governor recommended that the office of the governor and the legislature cooperatively examine the prospect of re-engineering state government to meet modern times and conditions;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that as the state of New Mexico considers the reorganization of state government, the creation of a state planning and community design department with the responsibilities of developing a long-range comprehensive plan for public facilities and public works and for providing community planning assistance be considered; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be delivered to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president pro tempore of the senate.

- 2 -