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.

Here.

Mayor Morris.

Here.

Thank you, Ms.

Foster.

Appreciate that.

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

Are there objections to how it has been prepared?

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

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

And hearing and seeing no objections, the minutes from January 8th have been adopted.

Yes votes are recorded for each of the members of the commission.

Next, we reserve space in the agenda to recognize visitors as I look out.

I imagine uh several of you are here for agenda items.

We look forward to hearing from you when we reach that agenda item.

Uh if you're here for public comment, uh that's coming up very quickly, so think about uh uh what you what it is you may wish to share with the commission in public comment.

But in general, thank you for being here.

Thank you for your interest in what your city government is up to and what your city commissioners are considering this evening.

And uh also want to recognize and thank uh any uh folks that are viewing online as our meetings are available at city of clovis.org as well.

We have no presentation this evening, which uh uh the the recognition of of great things going on in the community and great people doing great things are always a lot of fun.

We just don't have any of that scheduled this evening, so we are on to receipts of petitions and of uh communications or uh often referred to as public comment.

Is there public comment?

Might be a good time to check and see who we have online.

I I I didn't pick the closest attention during the roll call.

Do we have I see we have Commissioner Zamora online?

We do not have Commissioner Cassaus or Commissioner Porter, is that right?

Okay, all right, thank you.

Last call for public comment.

All right, thanks very much.

Uh we'll move on to the consent agenda.

Mayor Pro Tem and Commissioners, you have the opportunity to consider handling eight items all at once with the consent agenda.

Item one is request for approval of waiver of fees at Hillcrest Park Zoo, Saturday, June 13th, 2026, from 9 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

for the 2026 communities talk event.

Uh item two is request for approval to appoint Mr.

Christopher Gherke to serve on the planning and zoning commission as a citizen representative.

Item three, request for approval to apply for grant funding in the amount not to exceed 900,000 from the U.S.

Department of Transportation's better utilizing investments to leverage development grant program, the build program that is, and to accept those funds if awarded.

Item 4 is request for approval to apply for grant funding in the amount in an amount not to exceed 100,000 from the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Divisions Round 2 of Outdoor Recreation Trails Plus Grant Program for Ned Houk Memorial Park signage and to accept funds if awarded.

Item five is request for approval to submit an application not to exceed 250,000 for the 2027 New Mexico Aging and Long Term Services Capital Outlay and accept if awarded.

Item six request for approval to apply, excuse me, request for approval to appoint Donald Goings to serve on the public works committee.

Item seven, request for approval to award ITB 2509-3002 on call property mowing and weed abatement services to Piru Group LLC.

Item 8, request for approval to have to understand uh that this is essentially uh the city of Clovis uh because of the amount of our portion of the repayment of that loan amount on this loan grant agreement to the water authority, we have to pass an ordinance acknowledging our responsibility to pay our portion of that uh loan loan portion back and uh to maybe give a better or or uh uh more technical explanation, Mr.

Howler, Ms.

Bowens.

Well that one's gonna be a very hard the mayor's done an incredible job of explaining what that is.

So as we go through to close this out, you know, we do this in all of our other member communities for Talus alighting to close uh this particular money's out.

And so it's been used and for you know to continue progress on this very wonderful project that we have.

So I'm gonna let uh our deputy director speak a little more specifically about some of the things, and if you have any questions, you know, by all means.

Thank you, Mr.

Howell.

Uh Mayor, City Commission.

So uh Water Trust Board, uh WPF 6565 is in the amount of eighteen million seven hundred thousand dollars.

That is a 90 percent grant, 10 percent loan portion.

Uh the scope of work for that grant agreement is for construction of raw water one and construction of raw water two, design and construction for a Caprock uh storage tank, Caprock Pump Station, and uh intake pump station.

Um so when we receive that funding, we have two years to spend it.

So we leave our scope wide so we can fund the next project coming down the pipeline.

Pun intended.

That was that was great.

That was great.

Thank you again for being here in that explanation.

Uh what what questions are there?

The uh the water trust board uh as a reminder and for and for for everyone's benefit.

I know the commission is very familiar with with this, but it's important that the public understand.

Uh we're talking about uh the Ute Pipeline project.

It's uh officially referred to as the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System, but it's known as the Ute Pipeline Project.

Um we're constructing that uh on a cost share of 75 percent Fed, 15% state funding, and 10% local funding.

Uh the water trust board is the state's vehicle for providing their 15% uh of the cost share.

And so uh they uh we're we're the number one project on the water trust board every year.

And um so we make application and um and then there's a lot of of deadlines that have to be met throughout the the application process.

This is one of the readiness items that that needs to be done, and that and again it's that acknowledgement by all of the members of the water authority of the the loan portion.

But uh again, uh the the 90 percent grant part is uh is is credited to the state of New Mexico toward towards their obligation to fund 15 percent the loan portion because we are repaying it uh goes towards our local match.

And so it's a perfect vehicle uh for helping us to accomplish this critically necessary project, which as you all know is uh the key to our water secure future in our community.

Uh questions about this item though.

Make a motion to approve.

Second.

Motion for approval comes from the mayor pro tem.

Second comes from Commissioner Jones.

Further discussion or debate.

It's been properly moved and seconded that you would approve introduction of ordinance two two five four-2026.

Please vote.

The vote count is five in favor and one abstention.

So the motion has carried.

Thank you.

We're on to new business this evening.

New business items four tonight.

I'm sorry?

That's right.

Mr.

Giroud, I okay, I'll indulge you.

I know you're just gonna put me back to the you know the bill itself, but I'm wondering is this going to help the fluorocarbons in the water right now?

Is that is this part of that?

Mr.

Giroud, I I would encourage you, and I'm happy to spend a little time with you, but I I would just encourage you to do some do some basic research on what the project is.

Uh it's going it's going to bring a new source uh of water to our communities surface water from Ute Reservoir.

And that that's what it's about.

And so I'd I'd be happy to visit with you maybe bring you up to speed on that project if you like.

Okay.

Yeah.

All right, good.

Thanks.

Okay.

We are in new business.

We have four items.

The first is request for approval of recommendation to the United States Department of Transportation for an essential air service carrier for Clovis Regional Airport.

Mayor Pro Tim Commissioners, I direct you to your your uh to your packet.

Um the Essential Air Service Task Force, which you appointed some time back, has uh reviewed the three proposals received.

And as indicated in the packet, uh we did receive proposals from Advanced Air, Denver Air Connection, and Sky West.

And in the packet, you see the outcome of the Essential Air Service Tasks Task Force work after reviewing those proposals, uh actually interviewing uh each of the carriers, uh the task force scored the uh proposals as you see in your packet.

And perhaps I should have turned to my packet so I could announce what those scores were.

We have 130.

130.

Thank you for your patience.

Um the Essential Air Service Task Force, again, after reviewing and interviewing, uh scored them advanced air 235 points.

Uh uh Key Lime uh uh doing business as Denver Air Connection 464 and Sky West as uh 410 points.

And so uh the outcome of the Essential Air Service Task Force's work is to recommend to you approval of Denver Air Connection as our air carrier.

I know we have uh representatives from both Denver Air and Sky West in the room.

Um but Mayor Pro Tim, Commission, what what is what is your will?

Uh we also have members of the uh essential air service task force here, uh Mr.

Leslie and Mr.

Burns.

Mayor, I would motion to approve.

We have a motion for approval from uh Commissioner Tarsen.

Second.

And a second from the Mayor Pro Tem.

Any further discussion or debate?

Hearing and seeing none.

It's been properly moved and seconded.

Uh that well, actually, would you craft that motion a little?

Uh I am motion to approve the recommendation to key my mayor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So uh the motion is for approval of the recommendation from the Essential Air Service Task Force uh and recommending Denver Air Connection as our our carrier.

Second coming from the Mayor Pro Tim.

Further discussion or debate?

Hearing and seeing none has been moved and seconded.

Uh that you would recommend Denver Air Connection to the United States Department of Transportation as our Essential Air Service at Clovis Regional Airport.

Please vote.

The vote is unanimous and the motion has carried.

Thank you.

Item two in new business business is uh request for approval to apply for a governmental liquor license for the Clovis Regional Airport Terminal.

Mr.

Howalt.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor, Mayor, Pro Tem and Commissioners.

And so as you are all well aware, we're in the process of constructing a new terminal out at Clovis Regional Airport.

As part of that construction project and part of that design, we included a restaurant that's going to be on the unsecure side of the airport itself.

Typically, with restaurants that are located within airport terminals, there is the ability for the concessionaires to have alcohol service within the restaurant areas.

Because the City of Clovis is going to own the terminal and is in owns the terminal and per state statutes, City of Clovis, if we're going to have uh liquor sales at the facility, we're the ones that have to hold the governmental liquor license.

Uh the project itself is scheduled to to be completed currently based off whether in April of this of this year.

And so we have been crafting uh the request for proposal to start to receive uh responses for concessionaires that may be interested in operating the restaurant itself.

And so uh based off of us wanting to put that out and wanting to be able to provide them as much information as probably as possible of what would be available to them.

Uh we thought that it would be prudent to go ahead and get the application process started uh for that governmental liquor license, which would ultimately be leased to uh that concessionaire similar to what we do at the Civic Center as well as what we do uh at the uh Colonial Park Golf Course.

The application fee for the license itself is uh 250 dollars.

Uh it does come with an annual renewal fee of $1,300 uh for it.

Uh we currently do that same thing once again for the Civic Center as well as for the golf course, and we'll work with each one of those concessionaires to collect all the information that then we need to then get uh to the state uh regulation licensing department.

And so uh just want to get y'all's approval before we start that application process.

Uh and so with that, I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Howwald.

What what questions do you have, Mayor Pro Tem and Commission?

Mayor, I have a question.

Yeah, Commissioner Paula.

Um we're gonna have a governmental liquor license.

Is it for the entire facility?

Uh Mayor Mayor Pro Tem and Commissioners, Commissioner Paula, it would be just uh restricted to the restaurant space itself.

So as part of the application, we have to identify uh the licensed premises.

And so we would put it just to that licensed premises.

I guess my question is because that restaurant is outside of the TSA screening area.

A lot of times when you go, you sit in the airport and you sit in the screened area for some time, and that's when people want something to drink or a snack.

Um, is it not possible to make that license for the entire facility?

So maybe if we don't get a restaurant in that area, we can put a smaller stand, snack bar kind of situation in the screened in area.

Yeah, and uh Commissioner Paula, uh that's something definitely we can visit with the uh um regulation licensing division about.

Uh obviously you wouldn't be able to purchase a drink in the restaurant and then take a new security.

Um but it's it's not something we actually uh envisioned when we were designed in the airport.

Uh we are planning for a nice solid cold water beverage on the other side.

Um however, we're happy to take a look at that and see if that is something and explore that option.

Okay.

Great question, Commissioner Paula.

Other questions or debate?

I move forward approval.

Second.

Motion for approval from Commissioner Garza.

Second from Commissioner Jones.

Further discussion.

That you would approve applying for a governmental liquor license for Clovis Regional Airport Terminal, please vote.

Vote is six in favor, zero opposed.

The motion is carried.

Thank you.

Item three request for approval to apply for grant funding in an amount not to exceed 40,000 dollars from New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Divisions.

FY26, round two of outdoor equity fund for a teen environmental education and outdoor workforce program, and to accept funds if awarded.

Ms.

Burroughs.

Yes, good evening, Mayor Mayor Pro Tem and Commissioners.

Um, Mr.

How Walt, uh Parks Director, uh, Mr.

Hooper and myself met last week with Alexis Hobbs, our grants coordinator.

Um as you know, in the past, we have applied for the outdoor equity fund for the summer youth program.

Um we had some meetings last week with the New Mexico uh MLK Commission and we've been close to Macwarth uh Chief.

So we thought we would pivot a little bit this year given the fact that the state now has a child care program which pays for you know free child care.

So what we're looking at or recommending to you this evening is a youth program for thirteen to seventeen year olds.

It would be two mornings a week from eight until noon on a Tuesday and a Thursday.

Um and in your packets um on starting on packet page one hundred and eighty-four, there's some information about what that might look like.

Um the Tuesday uh class would be um in you know uh in in class and then the Thursday class would be a field trip to various different locations, learning different things, getting these young people out and about doing different things in the community through the seven weeks during the summer.

So I didn't know if you had any questions that um that's what we're proposing to apply for.

Um this is the second round of the outdoor equity funding for this year, and so that's what we'd like to go for.

Thank you.

Well, thank you, Ms.

Burroughs, and uh thanks for presenting uh uh a kind of a a new and unique idea uh that sounds like it could be if it works out, could be a nice investment in in teenagers in our community through that summer program you just described.

What are your thoughts, Mayor Pro Tem and Commission?

Mayor move forward.

I have a question.

Okay, thank you, Commissioner Zamora.

Go ahead.

Well how did you determine the ages or the age group from 13 to 17?

Okay, thank you for that.

Go ahead.

Um Mayor Mayor Pro Tem, Commissioners, Commissioner Zamora.

Um child care uh ends at the age of 12, so we wanted to start 13 to 17.

And once you get to the like the 18 age bracket, you're coming out of school and you got a job.

So that's what we were kind of looking at.

Okay, I understand the 17, but I just I thought that maybe the you know 11 and 12 year olds that are sixth graders would fit in that criteria.

So, Commissioner Zamora, you're you're thinking uh you're wondering why this couldn't apply to say middle scale middle school age children as well.

Correct.

Okay.

Right.

Is any was there a thought on the No, I was just gonna say I don't I don't see anything wrong with with doing that with dropping the age down a little bit.

Um my only question is does that change the number when you lower the age, does that change the adult to child ratio based on state any state regulation?

No, I don't believe it does.

Or the cost associated with the program.

Would would we would we think about perhaps sixth graders and up or something like that?

What do you think?

I think so.

Yeah.

What's a sixth grader?

And um Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Commissioners, Commissioner Parlour, what we were looking at, and there's a there's a budget included with all of this.

Um and there would be what we're looking at doing is having this the $40,000 that we'd be applying for from the from the state.

There is no match required as part of that.

We'd hire a coordinator to run the program, and I think we're looking at about fifteen thousand dollars or so for that.

And um we were looking at maybe fifteen plus uh young people that would participate in this program.

And what we were recommending or suggesting is that we actually provide a stipend of a thousand dollars for each one of these young people.

So instead of going out working during the summer, this would be an incentive for them to uh attend the program.

Interesting.

Uh and so mayor mayor pro tem and commissioners obviously based off of the the budget and that potential thousand dollar stipend and if we're awarded the 40,000 dollars, some of that money is obviously going towards to to a program coordinator, and so you would be limited on the number of uh children that would be able to participate in the program itself, uh just simply because we would be capped at the available funding that we have for it.

You know, I don't I don't dislike the idea of the stipend.

I just think of it as, you know potentially limiting the number of young people that could benefit from such a thing, and it's two days a week.

Two mornings a week.

So we're thinking two mornings a week.

I mean you could reduce the stipend and increase the number of participants.

Well, I you know it'd be it would it would be the inaugural uh year of of this program, and so there would be a lot to learn, but I just uh I wonder if we would think about uh lowering the stipend to ensure that we have the opportunity to have more more young people benefit.

You know, maybe cut it in half, five hundred.

And our thought process was behind the stipend is to encourage kids to come, and they would need to complete the program uh and attend every session every week.

And then that at the end of the summer obviously gives them s some sort of funds uh to start the school year with go school shopping, et cetera.

I see.

And I kind of agree with that, but I I think looking at lowering the stipend and lowering the age to twelve, you know, on that sixth grade going to seventh grade, you know, that would be an incentive to them too.

Because they're going on to a different chapter.

Okay.

So you're saying you, Commissioner Zamora, just for discussion, uh, your your input is that you like the idea of lowering the stipend amount as well as it opening the opportunity up to young people having completed sixth grade.

Yes.

Okay.

Thank you.

Other thoughts, Commissioner?

Mayor, I do so if we so just say we take the stipend, cut it in half, then we can allow 30 children to come.

Does that uh require us to hire two full-time staff members when before we could do it with one?

Mayor, mayor pro tip and commissioners, that's definitely something we need to look for.

Uh since it's not maybe considered daycare, uh, that child to adult ratio uh may change.

And so that's just something we would need need to take a look at.

I know from a education standpoint and school systems, I and uh I think it's I know that there is teachers that have 30 kids in the classroom and one teacher.

And so I'm not sure if it would change it or not.

Um mayor, mayor, pro tem and commissioners, the other thing that we we took into consideration is uh transportation.

And so if we're taking these field trips and having to uh utilize our CAT's buses, obviously making sure that we have one vehicle potentially versus having to have two vehicles.

Once again, it goes back to the number of program coordinates you have and the number of drivers that we have uh available for the program.

Yeah, good.

Well, it's just best we have 23.

A lot of factors there.

Um, I I think it's uh it's just such a good I idea, such a good thought uh to invest in our our young people.

Uh kids in a pro in such a program would would would definitely you know have a better summer than kids who aren't.

So uh I like the idea of opening it up to to a few more.

So you know, we have to jump off somewhere here.

Would would would someone think about lowering it to 500 uh and opening it up to uh young people having completed sixth grade uh up to age 17?

And when someone would like to make that motion.

Yeah, but I just have a thought.

Do can we put the stipend at a maximum of $500?

And once they maybe run some numbers, maybe we can't even quite get to $500.

Uh do you see I hate to pigeonhole them with the exact dollar amount if we're gonna open it up and then that increases the transportation costs or do you like does that make it easy for you or more complicated?

I think we will um may I may pretend commissions, Commissioner Polly.

I think when we uh fitting out the application, we can certainly add up to $500.

So yeah, we we could probably do that, but when we are pitching it to the children they will want to know for sure.

For sure.

Um but it would give us more time to work through that before we advertise it.

And I do have one more question.

How are they how are you gonna qualify the children?

Um are they gonna put in an application or and they'll be screened or what's the what's gonna be the process on that?

Um commission is uh I envisage it working with the schools if they have people that they recommend that might benefit from this program.

And through the the uh JPO, juvenile probation office, if they have folk that they might like to recommend who might be good participants.

It's all you know, uh uh there was some conversation as to whether or not we could uh talk with the JPO and make this a requirement maybe of some of the programs that they were doing as part of probation, or something like that.

Um anyway, the the various we've got we have various ideas about how we could uh qualify them.

Okay, thank you for that, Claire.

Thank you.

And Mayor, Mayor Pro Tim and Commissioners, and when we when we were looking at the stipend and trying to come up with an appropriate amount, um we kind of looked at the number of hours that the kiddos would be putting in, plus if they had a job, uh what the wage would be.

And so at 56 hours basically is what they would be over the course of the program itself at $1,000, that's around $17, $18 an hour.

Whereas when you knock it down to $500, you know you're you're you basically cut that in half, so you're at $9 an hour.

Uh and so is there somewhere in between?

Uh obviously the the $9 per hour is below minimum wage if they went out and and got a job.

Um and so that's what the we were trying to balance that.

Well Justin, what about the ones that they're they're not able to work?

I mean, the you can go get a job at 13 and nine bucks an hour is pretty good.

Thank you, uh Mayor Mayor Pro Tim and Commissioners were there is definitely child labor laws.

Uh we understand.

Mayor have a question.

Sure.

When you you say stipend, I thought the city was not allowed to pay anyone a stipend.

This is since this is grant dollars, this is what we're proposing as part of the program that we're applying for.

So do the does the money that these children are given, is it contract labor?

Is it a gift?

Is it wages?

It can't be wages.

What would it become taxable income to the child?

Incentive to do something.

Yeah.

Except that it commissioner Paula uh 1099, I think the new requirement didn't just go up to a thousand two thousand.

So they would not so we you know the max would be nine ninety-five, and then they wouldn't have to.

But can we pay them a stipend or that's just what we're calling it, but we could actually make it something different.

Mayor, mayor pro tem and commissioners, Commissioner Paula, we would definitely make sure that we are in compliance with any state statutes and laws that we would have to be in compliance for.

So we would have to research that.

I don't I just don't have the answer off the top of my head.

Okay.

We wouldn't expect you to say anything else, Mr.

Howald.

Thank you for clarifying that.

Yes.

Um look, I I think we we we want to apply for I think there's a will to apply for the grant and develop a program.

Can we have you bring back some more details later, but we'd like for you to apply for the grant.

Yes, we might most certainly can maybe mayor paradem and commissioners.

We just have to have the application in before the end of the month.

Yep.

Okay.

Okay.

So I'm moving.

We have a motion for approval from Commissioner Garza second from Commissioner Tarsen.

Um and I'm sorry, Commissioner Zamora, if if if you were trying to motion or second there, uh did you have something else to say?

No, sir.

I'm good.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

Okay.

It's been properly moved and seconded that you would approve applying for the grant uh from New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division as uh described.

Please vote.

The vote's unanimous.

The motion is carried.

Thank you.

We have one more item and new business this evening.

It is request for approval to accept capital outlay funding transfer from Curry County.

Getting money from the county.

I already like where this is going.

Uh sports complex uh uh uh project numbers two for uh I 2902, the amount $190,000.

Uh the other uh project number ending in 4-6 is $41,412 and 20 cents, and to reauthorize funds to construct playgrounds at Ned Halk Park.

Commissioner Paula.

Thank you, Mayor.

So let me give everybody a little background on where this is coming from.

So the county was given money uh from our state legislators to help design and construct a uh sports complex.

We because the city nor the county could fund that alone, we put that in front of the voters recently, and as you all know, the voters decided that they did not want to build a sports complex.

So that left this money a little over a million dollars just kind of sitting there with the county.

But the state legislators that gifted the money or granted the money to the county wanted it to stay absolutely for the use of families and recreation in our community.

So the county talked about some options that they had, and the city presented the county a couple of options that we thought might be nice that would be great for our community and allow families and recreation to flourish in our community.

And in the end the county was very gracious in my opinion and is going to reauthorize the money to the city of Clovis.

The City of Clovis has a much more robust um parks and recreation department than the county does.

And so I think they liked the two options that we had given them for ideas.

One of the two options or the two options were as you know Ned Houk Park we have a brand new master plan out there.

It's a beautiful plan for that 32,000 acres out there and one of the top priorities is to rebuild all of the playground equipment at Ned Houk Park.

And so with the reauthorization of this money that was one option and we would be able to completely finish that project the second option was kind of redesigning a park area or park space on the corner of sixth and Mitchell which is currently would be adjacent to the county's park that they have now behind the courthouse.

In the end or last week I guess we met with the um some of the state legislators and they chose uh the project out at Ned Halk Park they liked that idea because it was a project that was already ready to go it would fully fund the project and so with their blessing that is what we are here tonight to talk about so of all of the playground equipment at Ned Halk Park 100% of it is going to be removed.

It's falling apart it's over 30 years old and we are going to come in with two brand new kind of destination playgrounds like we did at Hillcrest Park which I think is super exciting.

So we're going to put one at Powwow Pass and one at Patchwork Place.

It's a beautiful design it's got um kind of a covered area it's got benches it's got nice you know rubber stuff under the playground so I think it's going to really make it look nice out there.

It's going to be much easier to maintain and I'm super excited about the reauthorization in the project.

Thanks for taking us through that Commissioner Paula and and great job navigating the uh the whole thing uh with uh with the county and I I just think what a great opportunity for for everyone to have NetHalk Park improved as you as you described questions debate I'll move forward question there.

Okay Commissioner Zamora what's the possibility of fixing what's out there and adding the new in both places so I can answer that.

Yeah.

Commissioner Zamora so that playground equipment are you talking about refurbishing the current playground equipment?

Yes and then adding the ones in all honesty it's 30 years old and Russell if you want to come up and help me with this one because you're out there much more often than I am dealing with it.

And I think it's just met its useful life but here comes Russell hold on he'll help us out here with some details.

Yes Commissioner Speyer Mayor Pro Tim it basically they're not refurbishable if that makes sense for liability reasons other things.

If you patch something and then the problem occurs you have already admitted there's a liability issue involved so you either pull it all apart replace it which is essentially replacing it or you replace it.

Does that help your question Commissioner Commissioner Zamora did that did that help she didn't like that answer and she left I apologize Commissioner Zmoore.

Commissioner Zamora if you're there we just want to check with you.

To see if you yeah I think she's gone.

No I'm here now I don't know what happened I it said I lost the internet connection.

I'm sorry now I'm on fall.

Okay.

Well did you hear the answer did you miss the explanation or the I missed the whole end for the I'll put it in a nutshell for you the playground equipment at NedHouk Park is past its useful life.

Okay.

Okay, good so I throw that out there.

Okay thank you for that.

Thanks.

Commissioner Zamora one more thing too I think this is going to allow us to put some um ADA access into the playgrounds the two playgrounds that we're going to build because currently we don't really have that out at Ned Hulk Park.

So I think that's another um positive attribute to the project.

Okay.

Okay that sounds great.

Thanks Commissioner Paula.

Thanks Commissioner Zamora I heard a motion for approval from Commissioner Jones.

Yes.

And a second from Commissioner Garza now, further discussion or debate.

Hearing and seeing none, it's been moved and seconded that you would approve acceptance of the capital outlay funding transfer from Curry County as has been described and to use it for playgrounds at Ned Halk Park.

Please vote.

Thanks to the county.

Six in favor.

The motion is carried.

And yes, Commissioner Garza, thank you to the county.

They took their chairs back, so they might as well.

Well, look jokes aside, you know, thanks to the county.

That was a that was actually a remarkable thing.

Yes.

You know, to work together on that and get where we got and can't wait to see the uh finished product.

Thanks everyone.

Uh now we're on to reports of uh boards officers and committees.

Parks and recreation and beautification committee must have met on Monday the 12th.

Commissioner Paula.

We did, Mayor, and we, as you know, we've got some exciting things going on.

So let's see.

Um this feels like it's been a while ago.

We had some communication from Walter Valladaris, and he has been to our meetings here before.

He runs the New Mexico Soccer Cup here in town.

And he gave us some great ideas on what we can do to improve the soccer complex there at the CYSA Fields.

And he is planning on having some tournaments coming up here in the spring.

And if you haven't driven by or you haven't gone to one of his tournaments, I highly recommend it because they're some impressive impressive players out there.

Uh for all of the baseball fans here in town, you're gonna be super excited.

We are voted on January the 12th to invest one million dollars into our baseball fields in new lighting at all of the fields.

So very exciting, and we are working on that as swiftly as possible to hopefully get as much of that done before baseball season as we possibly can.

Um we're gonna put some new artwork in at Roy Walker.

If you haven't been to Roy Walker lately, you've got to go down there.

The entire facility is had a complete facelift.

It was painted here recently.

It has new artwork in there, new big televisions, new gym equipment.

Um it's just to me it's incredible.

Um I think we're bus still busting at the seams at Roy Walker, and I wish we could do something bigger, but currently we are making do with what we have, and they're doing a great job maintaining that facility.

The Christmas at the zoo, which happened over um the Christmas break, had saw over 3200 visitors come through our zoo.

So that was exciting.

We are getting a new bull giraffe to mate with our female giraffe to hopefully have baby giraffes.

We have um graphic.

Sorry.

I think it sounds exciting.

We have uh our tiger sooner.

He's on um some medication that is helping him uh have a much higher quality of life.

It happens to be CBD, and he's the only tiger in the country, from what I understand on CBD.

And he's being um he's on the news in Albuquerque, and they're doing specials and anyway, quite entertaining what's going on at the zoo.

They're always busy over there.

Uh we have got we met with the Martin Luther King State Martin Luther King Commission, and they are planning on doing a family-style barbecue in the park, I believe the first weekend Saturday of spring break.

Um, so that there will be more to come on that.

Uh the YRB building has new paint and brand new carpet.

Uh back at Roy Walker, we've got pickleball three days a week.

We have free Zumba on Tuesday and Thursday nights from six to seven.

We have free karate classes on Wednesday nights from six to seven thirty.

We have volleyball going on Monday through Wednesday, Tuesday or Thursday and Saturday.

We have youth basketball.

And I just want to put a big thank you in to those who are volunteering teaching the free Zumba and free karate classes at uh Roy Walker.

That's a real um that's a real nice thing that they're doing for our community.

And I don't believe they're just I mean, I think they're for adults and youth.

Um and our swimming pool, the indoor pool, it's going to be completely resurfaced in June.

So it's gonna get a brand new facelift.

And we've got brand new picnic tables and brand new trash cans at Green Acres Park.

And last but not least, and I I want to send a huge thank you to um Mr.

Gary Hamilton and Mr.

Sean Hamilton for covering all of the youth fees for the youth that play sports in our community.

They covered 100% of the fees in 2025.

So I think that's amazing.

And I think they're great for our community.

So just a great thank you to the Hamilton family.

That is all.

Outstanding.

Thank you for that report.

Civic Center Policy Board met on the 13th.

Is there a report?

Mayor Mayor Pro Temon Commission is Commissioner Casas is not here this evening, but she chaired that meeting.

Is the recommendation from the Civic Center Committee?

And so we're working through that process with uh marketing folk.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

Looking forward to the 20th anniversary of the Civic Center.

That's exciting.

Lodgers Tax Advisory Board met on the 13th, Commissioner.

Thank you, Mayor.

Yes, uh we have uh five requests uh for total of 193,000, and it was recommended to allocate 65,000.

Um again being a little short on funds uh and trying to uh stretch those funds for the next uh meeting.

Uh Clobis Music Festival, uh Pioneer Days Rodeo, Lions Glove, Spring Show, uh Operation Phoenix Banquet and Dragon Main.

Uh of all those uh Dragon Main, I think is going to be pretty interesting this year.

Okay.

Well good.

Thank you for that.

Appreciate your report.

Um next we had the Senior Services Committee meeting on the 15th of January.

At that meeting uh we did uh elect a vice chairperson, uh Mr.

uh uh Warren Gullock is uh or was elected by the committee to be the vice chair.

Um we also got reports from senior services.

Um we got a report on the meal site, which I thought was interesting, so I th I I would share that.

Uh in the previous month, uh there had been two hundred and ninety-nine unique seniors served uh meals in the in the senior center in the dining facility, uh, and a total of two thousand one hundred and twelve meals served in the dining area.

Um and then this one really makes you appreciate I mean it all does, but this makes you appreciate 88 unique homebound seniors uh received a total of 3,031 meals in the previous month.

And so that's quite a service that the meal uh program is doing in the community.

Um I got reports from uh of course Hillcrest Senior Life, uh Baxter Curran, uh La Casa wasn't able to be with us.

We heard about uh 50 plus Olympics and and and the other uh reports.

But one one I wanted to hit on for everyone's benefit.

Um you you might know someone that needs to know this, but uh in non-mer uh non-metro uh triple A area agency on aging is what the triple A stands for.

Uh but they're doing case management in our community now, and they've taken it from like almost no seniors on case management to 46.

Um and this is uh a program uh aimed at helping seniors to uh to stay in their homes and and and and you know and have a safe and and good situation in their homes and so all types of case management.

This is a program, the the the this program offices at the senior center, and so the public needs to be aware of this and and get uh seniors they know referred to this program so they can benefit from it.

That was really senior services.

How about uh Civil Aviation Board on um the 20th?

Huh.

We have the chairman of the Civil Aviation Board here, Mr.

Lonnie Leslie.

I guess I could ask him for a report from that meeting since I was absent.

Thank you for allowing me to speak, Mr.

Mayor.

Mr.

Mayor, Mayor Port and the Commissioners.

It's been exciting to be on the Civil Aviation Board since I've been on it.

Uh and it's just been one good thing after another, one grant after another.

Uh this uh the meeting yesterday we discussed uh uh the putting new roofs on all the tea hangars, bringing the tea hangers up to uh uh uh uh much better quality than they are now.

People are putting million-dollar airplanes in buildings that uh probably they don't want it to leak on them.

So we've got going to do that.

We've had some other projects with uh taxiways and uh we had uh we're excited about, I believe we're fully staffed.

Is that close?

Close to fully staffed.

But uh if you haven't been out to uh by the airport uh it's exciting to look at the new terminal and it's uh exciting that it looks so good as we get more employees or we can cut more weeds and stuff.

It just keeps looking better and better and better.

Uh the fence project is uh is done and uh that's a good thing for safety as well as uh it uh improves the looks of our airport.

So and we had an informal discussion on Denver Air Connection, and uh the discussion was that uh none of us can ever remember since we've been doing this.