Clovis City Commission Regular Meeting – June 19, 2025
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Clovis City Commission Regular Meeting – June 19, 2025
The Clovis City Commission convened on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 5:15 PM in the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Library. The meeting included approval of the agenda and minutes, a consent agenda, a new business item, and several reports. The commission unanimously approved all consent items, the FY26 contract with Clovis MainStreet with an amended amount of $52,000, and received updates on finances, the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority (ENMWUA), and community initiatives.
Consent Calendar
- Resolution 3324-2025 – DFA Budget Changes (Leighann Melancon, Finance Director).
- Resolution 3325-2025 – Participation in Local Government Road Fund Program (Justin Howalt, City Manager).
- Resolution 3326-2025 – Participation in Local Government Road Fund Program (Justin Howalt).
- New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Grant – Application and acceptance of $30,000 (no match) for the City of Clovis Summer Youth Program (Logan O’Brien, Grant Coordinator).
- New Mexico Veterinary Board Spay & Neuter Grant – Application and acceptance of up to $20,000 (Claire Burroughes, Assistant City Manager).
- Noise Variance – Approved for 513 Cameo Street on Saturday, June 28, from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM (Vicki Reyes, Assistant City Clerk).
- Renewal of City Attorney Contract – Approved with Harmon, Barnett, & Morris, P.C. (Amanda Cook, Purchasing Agent). All consent items were approved unanimously by acclamation.
Discussion Items
- FY26 Contract with Clovis MainStreet – City Manager Justin Howalt recommended pulling this item from the consent agenda to increase the contract amount from $50,000 to $52,000 to meet the minimum required by the New Mexico MainStreet biennial contract. Commissioner Casals expressed strong support, noting that Main Street has never looked better and continues to expand. The commission unanimously approved the contract as amended. Following the vote, Clovis MainStreet President Mr. Clayersley thanked the commission, stating that the board would use the funding wisely and that significant downtown renovations are planned.
- Introduction of New HR Director – City Manager Howalt introduced Laura Whike as the new Human Resources Director. Whike, a Clovis native and Castleberry family member, comes from Albuquerque Public Schools and expressed happiness to be home. The commission welcomed her.
- Smoke on the Water Event – Claire Burroughes presented details for the July 4th Independence Day celebration. Activities include a car show (4–6 PM), soft golf ball competition, pie-eating contest, national anthem and honor guard from Cannon Air Force Base, band performances, a lip-sync battle by Jocks on Wheels, and a fireworks display at 9:00 PM. Sponsors include Global One, ZIA Broadcasting, PRMC ($5,000 donation), and EPCOR. Gratitude was extended to police, fire, public works, and parks departments.
- Economic Incentive Board (EIB) Report – The EIB met on June 11, 2025. No action was taken; staff provided a quarterly financial report and updates on CED projects.
- NMML Board Report – Mayor Morris reported on the New Mexico Municipal League board meeting held June 12 in Santa Fe. The league approved its budget, and the treasurer’s report showed strong reserves. Mayor Morris noted that the league is in good shape and the annual conference will be in Ruidoso.
- ENMWUA Board Report – Mayor Morris provided a brief update on the May 22 meeting in Elida. The interim FY2026 budget was approved: $338 million in revenue, with $329 million allocated for construction. Four major construction segments are underway, with a fifth starting soon. Three phases are complete; remaining phases are at or near 100% design.
- Monthly Investment Report (May 31, 2025) – Leighann Melancon reported: beginning cash $87.9 million, ending cash $85.7 million. Expenditures exceeded revenues due to three pay periods and $1.6 million spent on the airport terminal, but a $2 million reimbursement is expected. Fund balances: Fund 1 ($18.9M), Solid Waste ($3M), Environmental ($10.2M), Wastewater ($3.6M), Economic Development ($7.6M), Capital Outlay ($5.4M), Water Quarter Percent ($8.1M), Streets ($2M), Drainage Improvement ($1.4M), American Rescue Plan ($5M). $23.3 million in local banks, $10M CD, $52.3M in state pool. Monthly interest $260,000; year-to-date $2.8 million (vs. $2.7M last year). State pool rate 4.3371% (down from 5.3166% last year). GRT was 10% above last year for the month; four-year average of 26% over budget. 720 new reporters were added. Retail trade was up $2 million, and professional/scientific/technical services increased about $4 million. The interim budget is approved.
- Humane Society Spay/Neuter Clinic – Commissioner Casals reported that the Humane Society fixed 89 dogs and 138 cats over the weekend, and plans a larger clinic in September with four veterinarians targeting over 600 animals. They are seeking a larger air-conditioned building; Commissioner Casals noted that the old animal shelter building might be usable. Assistant City Manager Burroughes is working to find a temporary location. The commission discussed using a city-owned building and continuing to seek gap funding for the new shelter.
- Future Agenda Items – Items listed include the ICIP Civic Center Management Contract, EIB policies and procedures, a proposal from Consensus Planning for the Ned Hout Park parking lot, and an executive session per the city attorney.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda – Approved unanimously (all items except FY26 MainStreet contract).
- FY26 Clovis MainStreet Contract – Approved unanimously with an amendment increasing the amount to $52,000.
- Minutes of June 5, 2025 – Approved unanimously.
- Agenda – Approved unanimously with modification to move item 7 (MainStreet contract) to new business.
- Reports Received – All reports (EIB, NMML, ENMWUA, Monthly Investment) were acknowledged without formal vote.
- Announcements – Upcoming meetings: Parks, Recreation & Beautification Committee (June 23, 5:30 PM); Public Works Committee (June 25, 8:30 AM); ENMWUA (June 26, 3:00 PM, new location); Civil Aviation Board (July 1, 5:30 PM); Next City Commission meeting (July 3, 5:15 PM).
- Adjournment – The meeting adjourned after approximately 30 minutes.
Meeting Transcript
Heavenly Father, thank you for your goodness and your blessings. God, thank you for the amazing community that is Clovis and Canon Air Force Base. Thank you for the wonderful people that you've called to live and work and serve here. We pray you would continue to heap your blessings on us all. And Lord, that you would give us wisdom to make good decisions with the city's resources, with the people's resources, and uh Lord will give you the praise and the the glory. I ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen. Join me in the pledge to our country's flag. I pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republicans with liberty and just draw. We are called to order. Ms. Reyes, would you call the roll, please? Commissioner Jones. Here. Commissioner Cassaus here. Commissioner Porter. Here. Mayor Pro Tem Bryant. Here. Commissioner Garza. Here. Commissioner Tarsen. Here. Commissioner Paula. Here. Commissioner Zamora? Here. Mayor Morris. Here. Thank you, Ms. Reyes. Uh next we have approval of the agenda. And I'm going to recommend that we take item seven off of consent. We'll make we'll handle it under new business if that's all right. Um other suggestions for rearrangements or removals. Make a motion to approve the agenda. Okay. Second. We uh have a motion for approval coming from the mayor of Pro Tem, the second from Commissioner Garza. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. The motion is carried unanimously and we have approved the agenda. Next we have approval of the minutes from June fifth, two thousand twenty-five. Are there any objections to how those minutes have been prepared? And hearing and seeing none, the minutes from June 5th are adopted, and yes, votes will be recorded for each of the members. Next, we reserve this space in the agenda to recognize our visitors. Thank you to those of you that are visiting us here in the meeting chamber this evening, and we look forward to hearing from you either in public comment or uh if you're here to speak on an agenda item. We have no presentation, so we'll move then to receipts of petitions. I'm sorry. No, I'm I'm I'm I'm in motion.
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