OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Clovis City Council Meeting Summary - January 22, 2026

Meeting Portal — Thursday, January 22, 2026
BodyClovis, New Mexico
SessionMeeting Portal
DateThursday, January 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 51:19

Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

Good evening, Mayor Pro Tem and Commissioners.

0:10

I'm going to call this meeting to order.

0:12

We'll begin with a word of prayer.

0:15

Say the pledge to our flag, a salute to our state flag.

0:18

And I just want to say good evening and thank you to everyone for coming out.

0:22

If you're a praying person, bow with me.

0:24

Lord, thank you for the blessing.

0:27

Blessings, many blessings that you give us each day through your mercy, your goodness, your kindness to us.

0:33

Lord, thank you for this beautiful community.

0:35

Clovis and Canada Air Force Base is a place like nowhere else with the best people anywhere.

0:42

And Lord, we thank you for the good things that we have going and to work on.

0:48

And Lord, we even thank you for our challenges as they they make us really sharpen our pencil and and and lean in shoulder to shoulder and accomplish great things.

0:58

And Lord, we'll we'll give you the glory.

1:05

Thank you for these commissioners and their service.

1:07

I ask these things in the name of Christ.

1:08

Amen.

1:09

Amen.

1:10

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

1:12

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

1:16

And to the Republic for which it stands.

1:19

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

1:25

I salute the flag of the state of New Mexico.

1:35

Thank you.

1:37

Mayor Pro Tim and Commissioner Garzai noticed that you must have noticed that we've pushed the flags out a bit.

1:45

Yes.

1:46

Yes, we have.

1:47

Yeah.

1:47

Yeah.

1:48

Does everyone like that?

1:49

They seem too close to the seal.

1:52

Are Ms.

1:52

Burroughs and I the only one concerned about how close the flags were to the seal?

1:56

Come on, it looks good, right?

1:57

It looks good.

1:58

All right, thank you.

2:00

Uh Ms.

2:00

Foster, could we have a roll call, please?

2:03

Jean Porter.

2:06

George Jones.

2:07

Here.

2:08

Helen Cassaus.

2:10

Juan Garza.

2:11

Here.

2:12

Megan Paula.

2:13

Here.

2:14

Debbie Zamora.

2:16

Here.

2:17

Gail Tarsen.

2:18

Here.

2:19

Mayor Pro Tem Bryant.

2:20

Here.

2:21

Mayor Morris.

2:22

Here.

2:23

Thank you, Ms.

2:24

Foster.

2:25

Appreciate that.

2:26

Next, I would have you consider approval of the agenda.

2:30

Are there objections to how it has been prepared?

2:34

Hearing and seeing none, the agenda is adopted and we'll record yes votes for each of you.

2:39

Next, I'd have you consider if you have objections to how the January 8th meeting minutes have been prepared.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation███████████████████████████████████35%
Youth Programs███████████████15%
Transportation Safety█████████████13%
Procedural█████████9%
Water And Wastewater Management███████7%
Budget Equity Analysis███████7%
Senior Services██████6%
Airport Operations███3%
Religious Events██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Clovis City Council Meeting Summary - January 22, 2026

The Clovis City Council convened on January 22, 2026, at 12:15 PM to conduct routine administrative business, approve five new business items, and receive committee reports. The meeting featured unanimous support for airport carrier recommendations and liquor license applications, alongside discussions on youth program stipends and playground replacements. Key deliberations included the reauthorization of county funds for park improvements and detailed updates on local recreational facilities and senior services.

Consent Calendar

  • Fee Waiver: Approved a waiver of fees for the "2026 Communities Talk" event at Hillcrest Park Zoo on June 13, 2026.
  • Planning & Zoning Appointments: Approved the appointment of Mr. Christopher Gherke as a citizen representative on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
  • Grant Applications: Authorized applications for:
    • $900,000 from the USDOT BUILD program.
    • $100,000 from the NM Outdoor Recreation Division for Ned Houk Memorial Park signage.
    • $250,000 for the 2027 NM Aging and Long Term Services Capital Outlay program.
  • Committee Appointments: Approved the appointment of Donald Goings to the Public Works Committee.
  • Vendor Award: Approved awarding ITB 2509-3002 to Piru Group LLC for on-call property mowing and weed abatement services.
  • Loan Ordinance: Approved Ordinance 2026-0254, acknowledging the City's responsibility to repay its 10% local match portion of the $18.7 million Water Trust Board grant for the Ute Pipeline project (Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System). The vote was 5 in favor, 1 abstention.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Commissioner Paula: Expressed interest in extending a requested governmental liquor license to the entire airport terminal rather than just the unsecured restaurant area to allow for potential future sales of smaller items post-security screening.
  • Commissioner Zamora: Questioned the age range (13-17) for the teen environmental program, arguing for inclusion of sixth graders (ages 11-12) and requested details on how lowering the age might affect staff-to-child ratios and costs.
  • Commissioner Zamora: Requested clarification on the condition of current playground equipment at Ned Houk Park, inquiring about the possibility of refurbishment rather than total replacement.

Discussion Items

  • Essential Air Service Carrier: The Essential Air Service Task Force presented scores for three carriers: Advanced Air (235), Denver Air Connection (464), and Sky West (410). The Council discussed the recommendation to approve Denver Air Connection (doing business as Key Lime Air) based on the highest score.
  • Airport Liquor License: Staff proposed applying for a governmental liquor license restricted to the restaurant space within the new terminal. Commissioner Paula questioned the restriction due to the unsecured location of the restaurant, prompting staff to agree to explore if the license could cover a potential future stand in the secured area.
  • Teen Environmental Education Grant: Staff proposed a $40,000 grant application from the NM Outdoor Recreation Division for an 13-17 year old program, including a $1,000 stipend per participant. Commissioner Zamora and others discussed lowering the stipend to $500 to increase the number of participants (potentially from 15 to 30) and lowering the minimum age to 12. Legal questions were raised regarding the taxability of the stipend. The Council decided to proceed with the application while retaining flexibility to adjust details.
  • Curry County Capital Outlay Transfer: Commissioner Paula presented a proposal to accept $190,000 plus $41,412 in reauthorized funds from Curry County previously intended for a sports complex voted down by residents. The funds will be used to construct two new destination playgrounds at Ned Houk Park (Powwow Pass and Patchwork Place), replacing 30-year-old equipment deemed past its useful life and non-refurbishable due to liability constraints. Commissioner Zamora was informed that refurbishment was not possible.

Key Outcomes

  • Ute Pipeline Loan Ordinance: Ordinance 2026-0254 approved (5 for, 1 abstention) to acknowledge the city's loan repayment obligation (Ordinance 2254-2026).
  • Air Carrier Recommendation: Motion to recommend Denver Air Connection as the Essential Air Service carrier approved unanimously.
  • Airport Liquor License: Motion to apply for a governmental liquor license for the Clovis Regional Airport restaurant approved (6 for, 0 opposed).
  • Teen Environmental Program Grant: Motion to apply for the $40,000 grant approved unanimously. The Council directed staff to include a maximum stipend of $500 and potential eligibility for students having completed sixth grade in the application.
  • Ned Houk Park Funding: Motion to accept $231,412.20 from Curry County for the complete replacement of playgrounds at Ned Houk Park approved unanimously (6 for).
  • Committee Reports: Received updates on soccer complex improvements, $1 million investment in baseball lighting, 3,200+ visitors at Zoo Christmas, tiger health updates, senior meal statistics (2,112 dine-in, 3,031 homebound), and airport runway/terminal progress.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, Mayor Pro Tem and Commissioners. I'm going to call this meeting to order. We'll begin with a word of prayer. Say the pledge to our flag, a salute to our state flag. And I just want to say good evening and thank you to everyone for coming out. If you're a praying person, bow with me. Lord, thank you for the blessing. Blessings, many blessings that you give us each day through your mercy, your goodness, your kindness to us. Lord, thank you for this beautiful community. Clovis and Canada Air Force Base is a place like nowhere else with the best people anywhere. And Lord, we thank you for the good things that we have going and to work on. And Lord, we even thank you for our challenges as they they make us really sharpen our pencil and and and lean in shoulder to shoulder and accomplish great things. And Lord, we'll we'll give you the glory. Thank you for these commissioners and their service. I ask these things in the name of Christ. Amen. 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 all. I salute the flag of the state of New Mexico. Thank you. Mayor Pro Tim and Commissioner Garzai noticed that you must have noticed that we've pushed the flags out a bit. Yes. Yes, we have. Yeah. Yeah. Does everyone like that? They seem too close to the seal. Are Ms. Burroughs and I the only one concerned about how close the flags were to the seal? Come on, it looks good, right? It looks good. All right, thank you. Uh Ms. Foster, could we have a roll call, please? Jean Porter. George Jones. Here. Helen Cassaus. Juan Garza. Here. Megan Paula. Here. Debbie Zamora. Here. Gail Tarsen. Here. Mayor Pro Tem Bryant.

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