Clovis City Commission Regular Meeting – July 3, 2025

The Clovis City Commission held its regular meeting on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 5:15 PM in the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Library. The meeting included presentations, public comment, approval of a consent agenda, adoption of the Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP) for 2027-2031, appointment of a voting member for the New Mexico Municipal League conference, and updates from various boards and committees.

Proclamations, Awards, and Presentations

• Distinguished Supervisor of the Quarter: Vince Romero (Parks & Recreation) was recognized with a clock. Parks Director Russell Hooper noted that Mr. Romero was nominated by one of his employees and praised his dedication and leadership.
• Distinguished Line Employee of the Quarter: Joseph Ham (Administration), who has been with the city for about seven months, was recognized for his exceptional custodial work at City Hall and for helping other departments, including senior services, IT, building safety, and the airport. Assistant City Manager Claire Burroughes highlighted his positive attitude and impact.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Christopher Lloyd, representing Concrete Cowboy Walks in America, spoke about his nonprofit initiative to walk across America to raise awareness for brain injury, trauma recovery, and mental health services. He promoted the 988 crisis intervention line and suggested partnership opportunities in Clovis, including community health walks, partnering with local organizations (e.g., Cannon AFB, schools, churches), and service projects. He did not take a position on any agenda item.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda included three items, all approved unanimously by acclamation and then by a formal motion:
  1. Letter of support for nominating Mayor Morris to serve as Vice President of the New Mexico Municipal League.
  2. Application for a Que Linda Beautification Grant in the amount of $200,000.
  3. Landscape architectural services from Consensus Planning for the Ned Houk Park parking lot.

Discussion and Resolution Items

Adoption of Resolution 3327-2025 – Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP) for 2027-2031

• Claire Burroughes presented the ICIP, a planning tool updated with input from departments and nonprofits. Top priorities included:
  1. Animal Shelter – $3.9 million funded to date, needing an additional ~$2.5 million.
  2. Main Street road improvements (21st Street to 8th Street) – $1.5 million requested.
  3. Parks improvements – increased by $200,000 this year (to $500,000) partly for LED field lighting discussed at the Parks Board.
  4. Residential street lighting – $400,000 received previously; 22 lights installed; another $200,000 received but pending grant agreements. About 300 intersections without lights were identified (roughly 60 per district).
  5. Sports recreation complex – $20 million (in coordination with Curry County).
  6. Behavioral health center – to begin construction August 8, 2025, with $10 million for a crisis triage center.
• Commissioners discussed backup generators (item #26 for police department $35,000 and general backup generators #11 for $200,000), but Ms. Burroughes explained they were kept separate for possible specific funding sources.
• The resolution was approved unanimously by voice vote and electronic vote.

New Business – Voting Member and Alternate for NMML Annual Conference

• The commission unanimously reappointed Mayor Morris as the voting member and Mayor Pro Tem Bryant as the alternate for the New Mexico Municipal League annual conference in Ruidoso in September 2025. Motion by Commissioner Garza, seconded by Commissioner Jones.

Reports of Boards, Officers, and Committees

Parks, Recreation & Beautification Committee (June 23, 2025)

• Commissioner Zamora reported: Andy Cox (American Little League) requested LED lighting for baseball fields (cost $200,000–$300,000 per field). Mosquito spraying continues. Margaret Johnston completed her Que Linda grant project; the city received a trailer and 85 new trash cans for parks. The zoo has a new sloth and is hosting Curry County interns and Skillbridge interns from Cannon AFB. Summer youth program is growing (over 21 children expected next week). Pickleball courts at Hillcrest Park will get a center fence. Fall sports programs are nearly fully reserved.

Civil Aviation Board (July 1, 2025)

• City Manager Justin Howalt provided an update: The airport is fully staffed; mowing and runway light repairs (transformer struck by lightning) are underway. Enplanements are similar to last year. Five photos have been selected for new terminal screens, including Hotel Clovis, a C-130, a grain elevator, Norva Jack, and the historic railroad train. A final beam placement ceremony will be held to celebrate structural completion of the terminal.

New Mexico Municipal League Policy Committee (July 2, 2025)

• Mayor Morris reported that the league is in “defense mode” due to potential state funding cuts from federal changes. The focus will be on tax policy, public safety, infrastructure (including water), and opposing preemption of local authority. The list of resolutions will be shorter this year. Commissioner Zamora noted some resolutions were approved and others denied as not germane.

Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority

• Mayor Morris gave an extensive update on the Ute Water Project phases. Key points:
  • Raw Water 1A – Notice to proceed received (July 3, 2025) from Bureau of Reclamation; will go to bid soon.
  • Raw Water 1B and 2 – Combined for bidding; 100% permitting achieved; bid documents due September; ~$49 million budget.
  • Raw Water 3 – 17% complete on a 22-mile section (42-inch diameter pipe from Grady area to Cap Rock).
  • Finished Water 1 – Essentially complete at Portales tanks.
  • Elida Lateral – At 60% design; awarded to Harper Brothers.
  • Pump station and storage tanks – Bid-ready documents submitted.
  • Water treatment plant – Pilot plant construction underway by Smithco (NM contractor); expects to begin treating water in September.
  • Texaco lateral pumps – At 90% design.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved (three items) unanimously.
• Resolution 3327-2025 (ICIP 2027-2031) adopted unanimously.
• Appointment of Mayor Morris as voting member and Mayor Pro Tem Bryant as alternate for NMML conference approved unanimously.
• Future agenda items announced: Zookeeper’s Appreciation Week proclamation, Que Linda Grant update from Margaret Johnston, MOU between Clovis Police and Clovis Municipal Schools, and EPCOG resolution/board selection.
• Upcoming meetings announced (all in July): Civic Center Policy Board (July 8), Lodger’s Tax Advisory Board (July 8), Senior Services Committee (July 10), Investment Committee (July 16), LEPC (July 16), next City Commission (July 17), and Water Policy Committee (July 14). Water Authority’s 15th anniversary celebration on July 17 at 1 PM.