Clovis City Commission Meeting – May 21, 2026

The Clovis City Commission met on May 21, 2026, at 5:15 p.m. The meeting opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the salute to the New Mexico flag. Roll call confirmed all commissioners present. The agenda and minutes from May 7 were adopted unanimously. The meeting included three proclamations, public comment, approval of a 13-item consent agenda, three demolition resolutions, introduction of a massage business license ordinance, and adoption of the preliminary FY2027 budget.

Consent Calendar

• Adoption of Ordinance 2259-2026: Rezoning 1106 West 2nd Street from RS-7 (single-family residential) to RM (residential multifamily).
• Resolution 3377-2026: Conditional use approval for a group child care home at 2604 Gidding Street.
• Resolution 3378-2026: Replat approval for Block 3, Lot 14 in Ryerson Edition.
• Resolution 3379-2026: Replat approval for Lots 3 and 4, Block 14, Rain Tree Edition, Unit 15.
• Quarterly lodging tax disbursements: Approved.
• RFP 26022005 – City Attorney Services: Awarded to Harmon, Barnett, and Morris for a four-year term.
• Noise variance: Approved for 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2026, for the first annual T Arena truck show at 1300 West Brady.
• Grant applications: Approved to apply for and accept if awarded:
  • $500,000 from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (FY25 BRIC program).
  • $50,000 from New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine (Spay and Neuter Grant).
  • $400,000 from Department of Justice (Rural Violent Crime Reduction Initiative).
• Notice of award: $447,743 from Nonmetro Area Agency on Aging to continue senior meals at Hillcrest Senior Life Center.
• Lodgers tax increase: $6,200 added to promotional account for additional Smoke on the Water items.
• Paving quote: Approved from K. Barnett & Sons for paving on Purdue, Cameo, and Dartmouth.

All consent items were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Cyan Ole Geen (address 108 Sandy Elaine) expressed several concerns:

  • Opposition to the Racino project, citing lack of family-friendliness, high water usage during drought, and uncertainty about job types. She asked if the city could reconsider the project.
  • Urged the city to keep public lands in public hands and reject offers for data centers.
  • Inquired about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for summer cooling assistance.
  • Suggested a botanical garden and a trail (possibly the Plains Wind Trail) as alternative projects.
  • Asked about repurposing buildings slated for demolition into low-income housing.

  Mayor Morris clarified that the Racino is a private development, not a city or county decision. He also noted that utility assistance programs exist in the community and promised follow-up to publicize them. Commissioners encouraged her to continue attending meetings and provided contact information.

Discussion Items

• Proclamations & Presentations:

  • Flag Presentation: Master Sergeant Larry Dibavec presented a U.S. flag that flew on 71 combat missions (325.7 hours) during his deployment in East Africa. He also shared his call sign “Mayor” earned from his community advocacy. He announced he will be reassigned to Las Vegas for three years but plans to return upon retirement.
  • Public Works Week Proclamation: Public Works Director Clint Bunch introduced six supervisors with a combined 189 years of service (including traffic superintendent Kevin Musick, over 40 years). The proclamation recognized the department’s 70 employees (budgeted for 88) and declared May 17–23, 2026, as Public Works Week.
  • Mental Health Awareness Month Proclamation: Lacey Keith, Janine Kinnison, and Kara Bible from Mental Health Resources received the proclamation. Statistics cited: 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness; 71,000 New Mexicans have serious mental illness; 1,366,095 people in New Mexico live in a mental health professional shortage area. The agency recently received Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) status, expanding crisis services. A 5K walk and health fair will be held May 30, 2026, at 8 a.m. at Green Acres Park.

• Demolition Resolutions (3374, 3375, 3376-2026): Authorized abatement and demolition of three unsafe structures with fire damage: 917 El Cacias (owner Maria Rodriguez), 918 East Grand (owner Come & Dwell LLC), and 1001 Sunrise Boulevard (owner unknown). All were approved unanimously.

• Massage Business License Ordinance (Introduction): City Attorney Morris presented a new ordinance requiring massage businesses to obtain a city license (instead of a simple registration) to combat illicit activity. Key provisions: license fee $50 (vs. $35 registration), mandatory display of state-issued massage therapist license, hours of operation 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., prohibition of sleeping on premises (except for approved home occupation businesses). The ordinance was introduced unanimously and will be considered for final adoption after 30 days.

• Preliminary Budget FY2027: Finance Director Leanne Malanson presented the budget. Highlights:

  • Beginning cash: $78.6 million; revenues: $71.3 million; expenditures: $82.8 million; ending cash: $67 million.
  • General fund ending cash: $8 million (state required minimum reserve $3 million; designated funds $3.2 million).
  • Gross receipts tax revenue increased by 10% (conservative approach).
  • Police recruit starting salary set at $25.77/hour (from compensation study, outside collective bargaining).
  • $100,000 transfer from general fund to recreation for youth athletic programs.
  • Capital outlay: fire department foam cart, emergency management Starlink Wi-Fi, IT security upgrades, door security, computer replacement.
  • 4th of July fireworks: additional $30,000 approved.
  • No additional raises budgeted for FY2027; salary increases from May 7 meeting will be reflected in final budget.
  • Grant revenue: only operational grants included; final budget will include all grant awards once signed.
  • Lodgers tax breakdown: 1.5% non-promotional (fireworks, sound stage), 1.5% promotional (events), 1.5% dedicated to facilities.

  The budget was approved unanimously.

• Reports:

  • Lodgers Tax Advisory Board: Recommended $55,000 of $147,000 in requests for Curry County Fair and High Plains Junior Rodeo; next cycle will have more applicants.
  • Planning & Zoning: Minor replats and changes for duplexes approved.
  • Senior Services: Served 5,386 meals in the month (312 congregate, 96 homebound daily); received $15,000 New Mexico Groan grant; Hillside Senior Life Center activities; senior Olympics participation slightly down; Casa buses needing upgrades.
  • Parks, Recreation, and Beautification Committee: Met at the zoo; discussed mural waivers, addition of a third soccer field with lighting, new floor at Roy Walker Gym, pickleball league (60 participants), Potter Pool and splash pad extended hours (7 days a week, evenings), Aquatic Center closed for replastering, new lighting at baseball fields, restrooms at Hillcrest Park operational, new disc golf signs at Ned Houck Park, new playground equipment planned.
  • Investment Report (April 2026): 10 months into fiscal year; cash $82.7 million start, $80 million end; interest earned $213,000 month, $2.1 million year-to-date; state pool rate 3.66% (down from 4.33% last year); gross receipts 4% above prior year, 21.5% above budget; 6,044 reporters (down 116 from prior year).

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous approvals: Consent agenda (13 items), three demolition resolutions, introduction of massage business license ordinance, preliminary FY2027 budget, and all proclamations.
• Future agenda items: Presentation of keys to the city to Colonel Johnston and Colonel McMasters; proclamation of Dragon Main Week (June 14–20); replat of Wheeler Garrett part of Hilltop Shopping Center.
• Next meeting: June 4, 2026, at 5:15 p.m.