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Record of Proceedings

Alamogordo City Commission Meeting Summary - September 8, 2026

City Commission — Tuesday, September 8, 2026
BodyAlamogordo, New Mexico
SessionCity Commission
DateTuesday, September 8, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
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Transcript — Verbatim

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

1:48

I call

Speaker 2

1:49

this meeting to order on September the 8th, 2026 at 6:30 PM.

1:54

Will the clerk please call the roll?

Speaker 3

1:56

Mayor Sharon McDonald.

Speaker 2

1:58

Here.

Speaker 3

1:59

Mayor Protem Josh Ridden.

Speaker 4

2:01

Here.

Speaker 3

2:02

Commissioner Baxter Petillo.

Speaker 4

2:04

Here.

Speaker 3

2:04

Commissioner Stephen Vernet.

Speaker 4

2:06

Here.

Speaker 3

2:07

Commissioner Warren Robinson.

2:08

Here.

2:09

Commissioner Al Hernandez.

Speaker 2

2:11

Here.

Speaker 3

2:11

Commissioner Mark Tappley.

2:13

Here.

2:13

Madam Mayor, we have a quorum.

Speaker 2

2:15

Okay.

2:16

The invocation is going to be by Commissioner Robinson.

2:21

And the Pledge of Allegiance is going to be by Commissioner Burnett.

Speaker 5

2:30

Eternal Heavenly Father, we ask for your presence.

2:32

We ask for your mercy.

2:34

We invoke your grace and your love.

2:42

We still have grounds and institutions that we can work on to improve.

2:50

We take a moment to pause for those

Unassigned speaker

2:54

in

Speaker 5

2:54

treacherous areas that have lost their life that don't have the things that we have now.

2:59

They've been wiped away with a storm

Unassigned speaker

3:01

or

Speaker 5

3:02

water or fire or ice.

3:04

Lord, you have given

Unassigned speaker

3:06

us

Speaker 5

3:06

the bounty of having a government and having a community that wants to improve.

3:12

Bless us to do the best that we can to improve what we have, not just for ourselves, but for those in the future.

3:20

Bless each one to bring the best that they have so that we may all together improve and sanctify our community.

3:30

This is what we ask in your son's name.

3:32

Amen.

Speaker 6

3:34

Please join us on the Pledge Allegiance.

3:36

I pledge allegiance to the flag.

Speaker 2

3:58

So moved.

4:00

I got a second.

4:25

Next on the agenda is the uh public comment, and we have one, and that's Johnny Powell.

4:31

And he's going to be speaking on the New Mexico Museum of Space Hall of Fame.

Unassigned speaker

4:39

I

Speaker 7

4:39

didn't get near as much time to rest this time before I had this kind of state.

5:01

We're doing celebrating our 50th anniversary this year.

5:04

We're less than a month away from that anniversary on October the 3rd.

5:08

That'll be held at the Tay Center.

5:10

Uh we welcome everyone that uh had come up and enjoy the evening with us.

5:14

Uh we hope that you will.

5:16

But we're also having our first induction uh in 10 years.

5:19

It was 2016, was the last time that we had an induction into the Hall of Fame, and that really is what brought the museum and its importance to this.

5:29

It was always set up to be a uh an annual community event, uh uh an economic driver, and this let's grow Almogordo.

5:38

You couldn't see anything better.

5:39

I just want to take a moment and share with the commission something that I got to do with uh a couple of weeks ago.

5:46

I got to go to the ASA Commission and convincing, and uh that is a conference of the aerospace states associations.

5:55

It's a lot of lieutenant governors are there, it's all the states segueing and how how they are involved in in the space industry, growing the space industry and the space commission, and New Mexico is looking for a space commission and developing a space commission and space commissions across the states.

6:14

It was very interesting.

6:16

We had one state represented, and they came in and they talked about their space commission.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████████████████26%
Procedural█████████████████17%
Economic Development███████████████15%
Community Engagement█████████████13%
Parks and Recreation██████████10%
Code Enforcement███████7%
Public Safety████4%
Arts And Culture██2%
Environmental Protection██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Alamogordo City Commission Meeting Summary - September 8, 2026

The Alamogordo City Commission met on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Donald E. Carroll City Commission Chambers. Mayor Sharon McDonald presided over the meeting with all seven commissioners present. The agenda included a liquor license transfer, a comprehensive plan presentation, property condemnation resolutions, a golf fee increase, a fire station change order, and contract awards.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approval: The minutes from the August 25, 2026 regular meeting were approved unanimously (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Johnny Powell (New Mexico Museum of Space Hall of Fame): Mr. Powell spoke in support of the museum's 50th anniversary celebration on October 3rd and the first Hall of Fame induction in 10 years. He expressed the foundation's position that the museum is a key economic driver and advocated for Alamogordo's role in the proposed New Mexico Space Commission.

City Manager's Report

  • Sunspot Facility Update: City Manager Robert Stockwell reported on a meeting with Cecilia Clevet, Deputy Regional Forester for the Forest Service, regarding the commission's resolution supporting the Sunspot facility. The Forest Service is working with the Sunspot Group on alternative public uses post-closure. Mercury contamination from the telescope was more extensive than initially thought, contaminating the concrete interior. The telescope extends 150 feet above ground and 250 feet below. The Forest Service intends to maintain the site for public accessibility, preserving roadways and utilities, and exploring a dark skies environment.

Public Hearings

  • Liquor License Transfer (Item 2): The Commission held a public hearing for the transfer of license DIS-000927 to Sips on 6th, LLC at 523 N. White Sands Blvd. City Clerk Rachel Hughs confirmed the application met state requirements, with the nearest church over 1,000 feet away, exceeding the 300-foot rule. Commissioner Pattillo questioned the continued enforcement of the 300-foot church buffer rule, which the Clerk confirmed remains a state requirement. The transfer was approved unanimously (7-0).

Discussion Items

  • Comprehensive Plan (Item 3): Community Development Director Shelley Dowhanik-Baron and consultant Liz Treat (Bohan and Houston) presented the "Let's Grow Alamo" comprehensive plan. The $144,578.16, one-year study will create a 20-year vision for the city. Early data shows a large population of 18-34 year olds (due to Holloman AFB), 22% under 18, and 19-20% over 65. Mayor McDonald confirmed the plan would integrate the city's $160 million infrastructure commitment and the Sacramento Mountains Foundation housing study.
  • Uncondemning Properties (Item 4): Code Enforcement Manager Josh Sides presented Resolution 2026-34 to uncondemn three properties (1620 N. White Sands Blvd., also known as Tinsley Trailer Park; 801 Arapaho Trl.; and 1803 College Ave.) as all violations had been corrected. The resolution passed 7-0. Commissioner Burnett inquired about a separate condemned property on Cuba Street, learning the owner is incapacitated and the court-appointed executor has been difficult to reach.
  • Golf Course Fee Increase (Item 5): City Manager Stockwell presented the fee increase to align with regional rates based on a survey by G.O'Gall. The increase was approved 7-0. Commissioner Pattillo noted no public opposition had been received.
  • Fire Station #2 Change Order (Item 6): Director Dowhanik-Baron and Fire Chief Ramirez requested approval of Change Order #3 ($143,368.79) for pavement improvements. The Fire Chief stopped work upon discovering the apparatus pad was designed for asphalt, which is inadequate for 75,000-pound fire trucks. Commissioners expressed frustration over the piecemeal approach and escalating costs (total project approaching $1.3 million). City Manager Stockwell acknowledged the process failure, stating, "this project is a prime example of what will never happen again." The Commission voted 7-0 to table the change order until the September 22, 2026 meeting for a firm cost estimate on concrete driveways.
  • Equipment Repair Contracts (Item 7): Interim Parks Director Heather Casebolt presented the awards of IFB 2026-005 to Gary Childress (Parks, budget $150,000) and IFB 2026-006 to CT Custom Services (Golf Course, budget $100,000). Both contracts were approved 7-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Unanimously (7-0): Consent calendar (minutes), Liquor License Transfer (Item 2), Resolution 2026-34 for uncondemning properties (Item 4), Golf Course Fee Increase (Item 5), Parks/Golf Course Equipment Repair Contracts (Item 7).
  • Tabled (7-0): Fire Station #2 Change Order (Item 6) was tabled until the September 22, 2026 meeting.
  • Executive Session (7-0): Approved unanimously to adjourn into closed session to conduct the City Manager's performance review.

Meeting Transcript

I call this meeting to order on September the 8th, 2026 at 6:30 PM. Will the clerk please call the roll? Mayor Sharon McDonald. Here. Mayor Protem Josh Ridden. Here. Commissioner Baxter Petillo. Here. Commissioner Stephen Vernet. Here. Commissioner Warren Robinson. Here. Commissioner Al Hernandez. Here. Commissioner Mark Tappley. Here. Madam Mayor, we have a quorum. Okay. The invocation is going to be by Commissioner Robinson. And the Pledge of Allegiance is going to be by Commissioner Burnett. Eternal Heavenly Father, we ask for your presence. We ask for your mercy. We invoke your grace and your love. We still have grounds and institutions that we can work on to improve. We take a moment to pause for those in treacherous areas that have lost their life that don't have the things that we have now. They've been wiped away with a storm or water or fire or ice. Lord, you have given us the bounty of having a government and having a community that wants to improve. Bless us to do the best that we can to improve what we have, not just for ourselves, but for those in the future. Bless each one to bring the best that they have so that we may all together improve and sanctify our community. This is what we ask in your son's name. Amen. Please join us on the Pledge Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag. So moved. I got a second. Next on the agenda is the uh public comment, and we have one, and that's Johnny Powell. And he's going to be speaking on the New Mexico Museum of Space Hall of Fame. I didn't get near as much time to rest this time before I had this kind of state. We're doing celebrating our 50th anniversary this year. We're less than a month away from that anniversary on October the 3rd. That'll be held at the Tay Center. Uh we welcome everyone that uh had come up and enjoy the evening with us.

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