Before the Aztec City Commission approved a single routine item April 14, Mayor Mike Padilla raised concerns about unsigned agreements, conflicting statements and missing assurances in the consent agenda that he said should not slip through the process.
The scrutiny set the tone for a meeting that addressed procedural details and long-term planning, including the city’s delayed 2025 audit and debate over the location of a new BMX track.
He said agreements should be signed by the requesting party, then by the city, reviewed by the attorney and placed in the file. Staff summaries should also state that the agreement was reviewed by the attorney.
Padilla cited contradictory statements in Item D about who is responsible for trash removal. He also said Item E with the Aztec Baseball Association returns to a $500 per year fee if concessions are occupied and should be monitored.
Commissioner Katie Buchholz said she wanted to make sure there was no conflict of interest on any consent item.
Andrew DiCamillo, Community Development director, said board appointments do not specify conflicts of interest; members instead are obligated to recuse themselves.
He said the Planning and Zoning board requires members to be Aztec residents, while the Economic Development Advisory board does not.
The commission approved the consent agenda.
Chris Garner, representing PB&H LLP, gave a remote presentation on approval of the 2025 audit.
He said the audit was delayed because the federal government did not release required information on time. Federal guidance was issued in December, and Aztec’s audit was released in late March.
“We were hired to express an opinion on your financial statements, making sure that they are purely correct in accordance with the standards that we have to follow,” Garner said.
They give “reasonable assurance” because they cannot review every transaction. Instead, auditors select a statistical sample and evaluate internal controls.
“So there could be errors in the financial statements, but those errors wouldn’t be big enough to change the opinion of the readers of the financial statements,” Garner said.
He said auditors test one transaction from each significant cycle, including cash receipts, cash disbursements and payroll..
He noted that the audit went smoothly. One compliance issue was found regarding notification to state of garnishment.
Padilla congratulated the Finance Department on the audit, and the commission unanimously approved it.
The commission also passed two other items. A resolution establishing an internal notification policy for financial irregularities passed unanimously without discussion. A special budget resolution related to a San Juan County grant transferring funds between accounts also passed unanimously.
Item D, site selection of new BMX Trak facility, included comments from with Aztec Riverside BMX Inc. Vice President Rochelle Brown and General Services Director Tristan Olguin.
DiCamillo said city staff met with BMX board representatives in early November before a presentation to the Economic Development Advisory Board. Two sites at Riverside Park were discussed: the softball field and the northeast corner of the park. Commissioner Austin Randall previously mentioned using the parking lot.
“The city really doesn’t have much skin in the game in terms of development costs,” DiCamillo said, adding that Aztec Riverside BMX would cover 99% of the cost to build the track. He said dirt was donated by San Juan County and from the Maverik station under construction in Flora Vista.
Brown said the softball field has been heavily used as a dog park, requiring cleanup by the club, but still offers advantages. For example, it has an existing fence and would not take up any current parking spots, leaving parking for large events. Also, the softball field doesn’t interfere with utilities infrastructure.
The second option, site of the current pump track, is smaller than the BMX-recommended 2 acres. Using the dirt parking area would remove the pump track, which Brown called an “eyesore.”
Olguin said water lines run through the area, including a “demon hole” that has experienced recurring leaks.
“I guess we get nervous of having a big track over our lines, because we just can’t predict what’s going to break,” he said.
Randall said he supported using the dirt lot, arguing that the water lines should be relocated and they should not eliminate a softball field.
The commission unanimously approved locating the BMX track in the dirt area where the pump track is located.
Before adjourning, commissioners and city staff reported on recent meetings, outreach and professional accomplishments across the community.