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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

December 18, 2025 City Commission Meeting Summary

Meeting Portal — Thursday, December 18, 2025

BodyClovis, New Mexico

SessionMeeting Portal

DateThursday, December 18, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 20:25

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:38

Mayor Pro Tim, Commissioners, members of the public, City Manager, Department Heads, everyone, thank you for being here.

0:48

We're gonna go ahead and begin the meeting in just a moment.

0:51

Uh although we are still having some difficulty, we may just do everything by voice votes this evening and and uh and get going.

0:58

But uh I'll offer a word of prayer and then we're gonna say the pledge and the salute to our flags and uh and get going.

1:06

So if you pray, please bow with me.

1:08

Heavenly Father, thank you for the goodness and blessings that you give us each day.

1:13

God, thank you for the amazing community that you've called us all to live and work and serve in.

1:18

Uh thank you for our opportunities and thank you for uh our challenges which make us lean in together and work together to to solve issues and and solve problems.

1:28

And Lord, we pray for uh your favor uh in um the the rounding out of this year and in two thousand twenty-six.

1:38

We thank you uh for the for the many blessings this year.

1:41

We look forward to a fantastic year next year as we continue to get after water security, public safety, infrastructure investment, quality of life, uh job creation, all all the things that we work on, Lord.

1:53

Give us wisdom, give us your your wisdom and your understanding to to do them well to your great great glory.

1:59

Thank you for the items before the commission this evening.

2:01

I ask you to give them wisdom as they uh consider what's before them, and I pray these things in the name of Christ.

2:07

Amen.

2:07

Amen.

2:19

Indivisible liberty and justice for all.

2:22

I salute the flag of the state of New Mexico.

2:35

We are called to order, and I would like to ask if Ms.

2:38

Foster would please call the roll.

2:40

Commissioner Jones.

2:42

Here.

2:42

Commissioner Cass.

2:44

Here.

2:44

Commissioner Porter.

2:45

Here.

2:46

Commissioner Garza.

2:47

Here.

2:48

Here.

2:48

Commissioner Tarsen.

2:50

Commissioner Paula, here.

2:52

Commissioner Zamora.

2:53

Here.

2:54

Mayor Pro Tem Bryant.

2:56

Here.

2:56

Mayor Morris.

2:57

Here.

2:58

Thank you very much, Ms.

2:59

Foster.

3:00

And we have uh almost full slate.

3:04

So we can we can handle business.

3:06

Uh next I'd have you consider if you object to the agenda.

3:11

Would you like to remove or rearrange any items?

3:15

Hearing and seeing no objections, the agenda is adopted.

3:18

Any objections to how the minutes from December 4th have been prepared for your consideration.

3:25

Hearing and seeing no objections, those minutes are adopted.

3:28

We'll record yes votes for each of you.

3:31

Next, we reserve a space in the agenda to recognize our visitors again.

3:35

Those of you that have joined us here in the meeting chamber, uh thank you for your attendance and your inner your interest in and what your city commission is is dealing with this evening.

3:44

We look forward to hearing from you.

3:45

Uh should you be here for an agenda item uh that you'd want to talk to us about in public comment, as we just approved an agenda that we're gonna handle all with uh the consent.

3:55

So uh next we'll we'll move into receipts of petitions and communications uh or often referred to as public comment.

4:03

It is now that I would take uh any public comment or communications and we'll give you a few minutes to share.

4:18

Ray Strowe, Clovis.

4:21

Um I just drew a blank here.

4:24

Okay, so I wanted to talk about um the bill that you passed last time of the um camping in somebody's yard.

4:37

The when you said that needs to be in an enclosure, um if chain link fence would be an enclosure, right?

4:51

Um that's not how we defined it in enclosed enclosed spaces uh with the ordinance.

4:57

I would I would direct you to that.

5:00

But uh we actually define uh enclosed areas and unenclosed areas in that ordinance, and uh a chain link fence would not meet the definition.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████58%

Affordable Housing██████████13%

Economic Development█████████12%

Personnel Matters███████9%

Homelessness██████8%

Summary of Proceedings

December 18, 2025 City Commission Meeting Summary

The City Commission of Clovis convened on December 18, 2025, to conduct routine business, address public comments, and review agency reports. The meeting proceeded with a unanimous vote to proceed via voice votes only due to technical difficulties. The Commission adopted the agenda and minutes from December 4, heard public remarks, and unanimously approved a ten-item Consent Agenda. The session concluded with financial updates, board reports, and announcements regarding upcoming meetings and holiday office closures.

Consent Calendar

Unanimous Approval: The Commission unanimously approved ten items via motion and second, including:
- Adoption of Ordinance 2025-225 changing zoning from RS 7 to RM at 1,000-1,018 Locust Street.
- Approval of a grazing lease with Mr. Ernie Wright.
- Applications to accept grants up to $1 million for roadway infrastructure on 21st Street and to act as fiscal agent for Capital Outlay funds.
- Awarding RFPs for the All Hazard Mitigation Plan (H2O Partners) and Hillcrest Park Zoo Master Plan (Fellas Consulting).
- Adoption of the Hillcrest Senior Life Center Meal Site Policy and Procedures.
- Submission of a $4 million Capital Outlay request to Governor Lucrative for a fire station.
- Acceptance of a Letter of Intent to amend the contract with the Non-Metro Area Agency on Aging.
- Appointment of members to the Essential Air Service Task Force.

Public Comments & Testimony

Ray Strowe (Clovis Resident):
- Position on Ordinance: Clarified his inquiry regarding the definition of an "enclosure" for the camping ordinance, specifically questioning if a chain-link fence qualifies. The Mayor responded that it does not meet the ordinance's definition of an enclosed area.
- Position on Mayor's Conduct: Expressed strong opposition to the Mayor's recent actions, labeling them as "petty" and "campaigning."
  - Cited "Newton's third law" to argue that the Mayor rebuked him incorrectly.
  - Accused Mayor Morris of violating the city-manager system by allegedly attempting to interview a police officer directly; Strowe stated such an action is "illegal" and could open the city to a "very high lawsuit." He urged the commission to act as a check on the Mayor's power.
  - Noted discrepancies in time-keeping, stating the Mayor allowed a 12-minute speech while he was rebuked for 10 minutes during a previous event.
Mayor Morris:
- Position on Strowe's Comments: Defended his actions and clarified the legal constraints of the mayor's role, stating that contacting city employees directly regarding their jobs is indeed prohibited and must be routed through the City Manager. He declined to stop Strowe but requested he wrap up his time.
Mark Howell (Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority):
- Position: Expressed enthusiasm for his new role as Executive Director, stating a strong commitment to addressing "water scarcity" in the area.
- Stance: Noted that past "forethought" has placed the region in a "sustainable solution" and looks forward to working with the community.

Discussion Items

Economic Incentive Board (EIB) Report: Mr. Howalt reported a short quarterly meeting focused on financial reports and updates from CED President Lee Malloy.
Planning and Zoning Commission Report: Commissioner Garza reported the election of Travis Klein as new Chair and Thomas Martin as Vice Chair. The Commission reviewed one request to change zoning from single-family to multifamily for duplex apartments in an area currently deemed "in base shape."
Financial Updates: Ms. Melanson provided the monthly investment report (Month 5) and Gross Receipts tax report.
- Noted the city budget is 23% above budget.
- Reported a 9.6% increase in gross receipts over last year for October, attributed partly to the federal government shutdown.
Future Meetings:
- Mayor's Position: Proposed shifting the City Commission meeting schedule for January due to the New Year's holiday, moving the first meeting to January 8th.
- Commissioner Reaction: The move was accepted as "Normal" and "Sounds good."
- Announcements: Confirmed upcoming meetings for the City Commission (Jan 8), Civil Aviation Board (Jan 6), Armed Forces Support Committee (Jan 8), and office closures for Dec 25, 26, and Jan 1.

Key Outcomes

Adoption of Agenda and Minutes: The agenda and December 4 minutes were adopted without objection.
Consent Agenda Vote: A unanimous "Aye" vote carried on all ten items of the consent agenda.
Zoning Decision: A single zoning request for duplex apartments was handled via consent, moving the area to a multifamily district.
Next Steps:
- The next City Commission meeting is rescheduled to January 8, 2026.
- The Commission will recognize DEAP winners and the camping ordinance in the future.
- The city offices remain closed on Dec 25, Dec 26, and Jan 1.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned with holiday greetings from the Mayor.

Meeting Transcript

Mayor Pro Tim, Commissioners, members of the public, City Manager, Department Heads, everyone, thank you for being here. We're gonna go ahead and begin the meeting in just a moment. Uh although we are still having some difficulty, we may just do everything by voice votes this evening and and uh and get going. But uh I'll offer a word of prayer and then we're gonna say the pledge and the salute to our flags and uh and get going. So if you pray, please bow with me. Heavenly Father, thank you for the goodness and blessings that you give us each day. God, thank you for the amazing community that you've called us all to live and work and serve in. Uh thank you for our opportunities and thank you for uh our challenges which make us lean in together and work together to to solve issues and and solve problems. And Lord, we pray for uh your favor uh in um the the rounding out of this year and in two thousand twenty-six. We thank you uh for the for the many blessings this year. We look forward to a fantastic year next year as we continue to get after water security, public safety, infrastructure investment, quality of life, uh job creation, all all the things that we work on, Lord. Give us wisdom, give us your your wisdom and your understanding to to do them well to your great great glory. Thank you for the items before the commission this evening. I ask you to give them wisdom as they uh consider what's before them, and I pray these things in the name of Christ. Amen. Amen. Indivisible liberty and justice for all. I salute the flag of the state of New Mexico. We are called to order, and I would like to ask if Ms. Foster would please call the roll. Commissioner Jones. Here. Commissioner Cass. Here. Commissioner Porter. Here. Commissioner Garza. Here. Here. Commissioner Tarsen. Commissioner Paula, here. Commissioner Zamora. Here. Mayor Pro Tem Bryant. Here. Mayor Morris. Here. Thank you very much, Ms. Foster. And we have uh almost full slate. So we can we can handle business. Uh next I'd have you consider if you object to the agenda. Would you like to remove or rearrange any items? Hearing and seeing no objections, the agenda is adopted. Any objections to how the minutes from December 4th have been prepared for your consideration. Hearing and seeing no objections, those minutes are adopted. We'll record yes votes for each of you. Next, we reserve a space in the agenda to recognize our visitors again. Those of you that have joined us here in the meeting chamber, uh thank you for your attendance and your inner your interest in and what your city commission is is dealing with this evening. We look forward to hearing from you.

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