OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Clovis City Council Meeting Summary - October 16, 2025

Meeting Portal — Thursday, October 16, 2025
BodyClovis, New Mexico
SessionMeeting Portal
DateThursday, October 16, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:03:41

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

We lift up our our federal government.

0:01

We lift up the um the budget process and we pray that um the govern government employees and and and our military, those that raise their right hand and and put their life on the line to preserve our freedom would not miss a paycheck.

0:16

God, we pray uh that that you would order it all uh and um work it out and that you would be glorified and and and we would keep moving in a positive way.

0:26

I ask these things in the name of Jesus, amen.

0:29

Join me in the pledge to our country's flag.

0:32

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

0:39

One nation, under God.

0:41

Indivisible with liberty and justice for salute the flag of the state of New Mexico.

0:49

Perfect friendships among United Cultures.

0:57

We are called to order and I would like to ask the clerk to please call roll, Miss Reyes.

1:06

Commissioner Jones?

1:07

Here.

1:08

Commissioner Cassaus?

1:10

Commissioner Porter?

1:11

Here.

1:12

Mayor Pro Tim Bryant?

1:13

Here.

1:13

Commissioner Garza?

1:15

Here.

1:15

Commissioner Tarsen here.

1:17

Commissioner Paula.

1:18

Here.

1:18

Commissioner Zamora?

1:20

Here.

1:20

Mayor Morris.

1:21

Here.

1:22

Thank you, Ms.

1:22

Reyes.

1:24

Next, we would uh have you consider approval of the agenda while they're not um items that necessarily have to be on the printed agenda, as I mentioned, we do have uh the presentations, but then I also wanted to let you know uh that we would change the amount in item eight in the consent agenda from four million to three million.

1:50

And otherwise I would ask if there are objections to the agenda.

1:55

And hearing and seeing none, the agenda has been adopted.

2:10

Everyone were able to join you, sir.

2:13

Okay.

2:28

I'm sorry, Mayor.

2:30

It's okay.

2:48

Thank you, Mr.

2:49

Rickman and team.

2:50

Uh our appreciation to our IT folks for uh getting us fixed up tonight.

2:56

Thank you, gentlemen.

2:57

Appreciate that.

2:58

Um there were no objections and the agenda has been adopted.

3:02

Yes, votes will be recorded for each of the members.

3:05

Uh next I would have you consider are there objections to the minutes from the October second meeting.

3:12

Uh hearing and seeing none, the minutes are adopted and yes votes recorded for each of the members.

3:16

Um again uh we recognize uh our our visitors, thank you for being here.

3:21

We appreciate uh your interest and um look forward to hearing from you when we get to the item that's brought you out this evening.

3:29

First in uh proclamations, awards and presentations, we have a planned presentation, a recognition of landfill superintendent Oscar Massias and uh public works director, Mr.

3:40

Clint Bunch is gonna help us with that uh recognition.

3:43

Mr.

3:43

Bunch.

3:48

Thank you, Mayor, Mayor Pro Tim and Commissioners, and good evening.

3:51

Um it's with great joy and great sadness that I announced the retirement of Oscar Masias, the man standing to my left.

3:59

Um Oscar Macias is a wonderful city employee.

4:03

He's been with the city for twenty-four years, almost twenty-five years.

4:08

Um I think he's had enough of working for the city.

4:13

As it can wear on you and be in this one place that long, I think he's kind of got burned out and he's decided to find greener grass and greener pastures elsewhere.

4:22

And I commend him for that.

4:24

Uh I've been in this with the city a long time myself.

4:27

It's a very re rewarding job.

4:29

It's a very trying job when you're working with the public all the time.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management████████████████████20%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Personnel Matters████████████12%
Economic Development██████████10%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Community Events████████8%
Community Engagement██████6%
Fiscal Sustainability█████5%
Public Health████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Clovis City Council Meeting Summary - October 16, 2025

The Clovis City Commission convened on October 16, 2025, to address routine administrative matters, honor retiring employees, recognize community partners, and discuss infrastructure projects. The meeting began with approvals of the agenda and previous minutes, followed by significant recognitions for retiring staff and the Bank of Clovis. A major discussion centered on a natural gas pipeline project proposed by New Mexico Gas Company, with the commission expressing strong support for route alternatives that minimize community disruption. The commission unanimously approved the consent agenda and a resolution to adjust facility overtime fees for leagues.

Consent Calendar

  • Adopted Resolution Number 3341-2025 regarding public notices for city meetings.
  • Approved New Mexico Capital Outlay Grant Agreement 25J2921 for $250,000 to replace the roof and gutter at the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico.
  • Approved an amendment to the 2026 recreation trails grant project, shifting funds from irrigation at Ned Haupt Park to solar lighting at Hillcrest Park, with a matching fund budget of $200,000.
  • Reappointed Graceland Tatum as the student representative on the Clovis Carver Library Board.
  • Awarded the Hillcrest Park zoo tree removal bid to Tri Lodge Industries LLC.
  • Approved an application to accept an Animal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals grant of up to $95,000 for spay/neuter and trap-neuter-release programs.
  • Approved an application for a 2026 Capital Development Program grant of up to $800,000 for road improvements on 21st Street from MLK to Wheaton.
  • Approved an application for a 2026 Capital Development Program fund of $3,000,000 to complete the new animal shelter.
  • Approved hiring a grant coordinator through Snelling Staffing Solutions to implement the K. Linda grant.
  • Adopted Resolution Number 3342-2025 setting the municipal officer election for Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Christian Price (County Partners): Presented details on the fifth annual Walker to End Alzheimer's event scheduled for November 1st, 2025, at North Plains Mall, highlighting the rising demand for dementia care in New Mexico.
  • Chris Thomas, Randy Harris, and Leo Loveit (Bank of Clovis Representatives): Presented on the bank's 25th anniversary. The representatives expressed their commitment to the community through local ownership, noting the bank has awarded $29,000 to 58 winners and provided $3,600 in scholarships and teacher gifts to Marshall Sixth Grade Academy. They emphasized their ownership by residents of the region, not external shareholders.
  • Commissioner Tim Bryant: Expressed personal gratitude toward the Bank of Clovis, stating he would not have his small business open without their support.
  • Other Commissioners: Expressed strong support for the Bank of Clovis, with Commissioner Pauline Garza noting that the bank is a unique economic driver and that she would not have her business success without them.
  • Mayor Pro Tim Bryant: Expressed surprise and joy regarding the retirement of Oscar Massias, acknowledging Massias's long service and character.
  • Commissioner Zamora: Expressed that the clarification on the facility fee structure was welcome.

Discussion Items

  • Retirement Recognition of Oscar Massias: Public Works Director Clint Bunch presented a moving tribute to Oscar Massias, celebrating his 24-year career as landfill superintendent. Bunch described Massias as a thorough, hands-on employee who exceeded expectations. Commissioner Tarsen noted he has known Massias for 24 years, while Commissioner Zamora praised Massias's serious and dedicated approach to handling business. The group wished Massias well as he moves on.
  • New Mexico Gas Company Pipeline Project (Item 7): Mr. Dustin Silacio, Operations Manager, presented a proposal to replace the Tub and Carry Mainline pipeline installed in the 1930s. He proposed avoiding trenching in sensitive areas like Hillcrest Park and residential neighborhoods by utilizing directional boring. He requested approval to alter rights-of-way and suggested an alternate route along the perimeter of Goodwin Lake to avoid cutting through prime commercial lots (including vacant lots near Office Max and triangular lots due to easements). He stated the project would take three months, likely occurring in summer (June-August) to avoid school traffic and winter fuel restrictions. He requested a 30-foot dedicated easement.
  • Roy Walker Recreation Center Fees: City Manager Mr. Howalt clarified the fee structure dispute from the previous meeting. He explained that individual users pay a facility fee plus overtime staff costs ($30/hour per person, totaling $60/hour for two staff), while leagues previously paid a flat $25/hour outside normal hours. He recommended unifying the league structure to match the individual overtime rate of $60/hour (based on two staff members) to ensure equity and cover costs.
  • Financial Reports: City Manager Morris presented the monthly financial report showing ending cash and investments of approximately $78.8 million, with interest rates around 4.35% for the month, noting a favorable financial trajectory.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimous Approval of Consent Agenda: The commission approved all 10 items on the consent agenda by acclamation.
  • Unanimous Approval of Fee Structure Change: The commission voted unanimously to approve the overtime rate of $60 per hour (for two staff members) for youth and adult leagues utilizing the Roy Walker Recreation Center outside normal operating hours, overriding the previous flat fee structure.
  • Unanimous Approval of Proclamations: Declarations were made for "Walk to End Alzheimer's Day" (November 1, 2025) and "Bank of Clovis Day" (October 17, 2025).
  • Directives and Next Steps: The commission expressed support for the New Mexico Gas Company project, specifically directing them to pursue the proposed route alternatives (boring through parks and perimeter of Goodwin Lake) to avoid commercial development constraints, pending final right-of-way approvals. The next city commission meeting is scheduled for November 6, 2025. The Parks meeting formerly scheduled for Monday was canceled.

Meeting Transcript

We lift up our our federal government. We lift up the um the budget process and we pray that um the govern government employees and and and our military, those that raise their right hand and and put their life on the line to preserve our freedom would not miss a paycheck. God, we pray uh that that you would order it all uh and um work it out and that you would be glorified and and and we would keep moving in a positive way. I ask these things in the name of Jesus, amen. Join me in the pledge to our country's flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God. Indivisible with liberty and justice for salute the flag of the state of New Mexico. Perfect friendships among United Cultures. We are called to order and I would like to ask the clerk to please call roll, Miss Reyes. Commissioner Jones? Here. Commissioner Cassaus? Commissioner Porter? Here. Mayor Pro Tim Bryant? Here. Commissioner Garza? Here. Commissioner Tarsen here. Commissioner Paula. Here. Commissioner Zamora? Here. Mayor Morris. Here. Thank you, Ms. Reyes. Next, we would uh have you consider approval of the agenda while they're not um items that necessarily have to be on the printed agenda, as I mentioned, we do have uh the presentations, but then I also wanted to let you know uh that we would change the amount in item eight in the consent agenda from four million to three million. And otherwise I would ask if there are objections to the agenda. And hearing and seeing none, the agenda has been adopted. Everyone were able to join you, sir. Okay. I'm sorry, Mayor. It's okay. Thank you, Mr. Rickman and team. Uh our appreciation to our IT folks for uh getting us fixed up tonight. Thank you, gentlemen. Appreciate that. Um there were no objections and the agenda has been adopted. Yes, votes will be recorded for each of the members. Uh next I would have you consider are there objections to the minutes from the October second meeting. Uh hearing and seeing none, the minutes are adopted and yes votes recorded for each of the members. Um again uh we recognize uh our our visitors, thank you for being here. We appreciate uh your interest and um look forward to hearing from you when we get to the item that's brought you out this evening. First in uh proclamations, awards and presentations, we have a planned presentation, a recognition of landfill superintendent Oscar Massias and uh public works director, Mr. Clint Bunch is gonna help us with that uh recognition. Mr. Bunch.

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