Clovis City Commission Regular Meeting - October 15, 2026

The Clovis City Commission met at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Library. Mayor Morris presided. The Commission approved an amended agenda, adopted the October 1, 2026 minutes, and took action on consent items, an ordinance, new business, and reports.

Proclamations, Awards, and Presentations

• Raymond Toscano, Parks & Recreation, received a clock as Distinguished Supervisor of the Quarter. Parks Superintendent Vince Romero described his eight years of service and his path from custodian at Roy Walker to supervisor.
• Mayor Morris read and presented a proclamation declaring October 2026 as Disability Employment Awareness Month. Kayla Damron, NM Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Area 4 Program Manager, highlighted the 81st anniversary of NDEAM, this year's theme "Celebrating Value and Talent," and an October 22 statewide hiring event at the Clovis workforce office.
• Commissioner Palla presented a proclamation declaring October 17, 2026 as "Trek for Trash Day." The cleanup event will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at 500 Sycamore, starting at Parks & Recreation.

Consent Calendar

All eight consent items were approved by unanimous vote:

• Renewed job order contracts with K. Barnett & Sons, Inc. for roadway construction and concrete services for the second renewal term.
• Waived tipping fees at the Clovis Regional Landfill for Clovis/Curry County residents from noon October 16 to noon October 19, 2026, for the Trek for Trash cleanup, including residential tire disposal limited to nine 20-inch passenger vehicle tires per household.
• Awarded ITB 26-0728-01, citywide mowing and landscaping services, to Deco, Inc.
• Reappointed Travis Cline and Vincent Soule to the Planning & Zoning Commission as citizen representatives.
• Authorized applying for, and accepting if awarded, the DHSEM Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant with a 20% match.
• Approved a legal services agreement with Grossman Kelly to participate in cigarette filter waste litigation.
• Approved a budget change for remodeling work at the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Library.
• Awarded ITB 26-0902-03, Hillcrest Park Zoo Maintenance and Zookeeper Building, to Nick Griego & Sons Construction Inc.

Ordinance

• Ordinance 2262-2026, authorizing the ENMWUA Water Project Fund Loan/Grant Agreement for the Raw Water Conveyance Project, was adopted by a vote of 6 in favor and 1 abstention.

Discussion Items

• Land Lease with LSF Land Holdings, LLC: Will Corvin of Long Road Energy presented the proposed Long Road Studio Solar project on about 515 acres near the landfill, with up to 500 megawatts of solar and paired battery storage. The city would receive $12,800 annually during a development period of up to seven years, about $193,000 in the first construction year, about $386,000 in the second construction year, and $386,000 annually during operations, escalating with CPI between 2% and 3%. The lease would be for 40 years plus two 5-year renewal options. City Manager Justin Howalt noted the landfill's own permit extends to 2101. Approved unanimously.
• Colonial Park Golf Course Irrigation Improvements: Approved the MWGS bid of $2,168,950.09, including gross receipts tax, to replace the front nine irrigation system. Funding includes $1.5 million from state capital outlay and $668,950.09 from the golf course cash reserve, Fund 19. The project also includes irrigation between holes 14 and 15. Approved unanimously.
• Guy Leeder Fields Lighting: Approved installation of Musco lighting systems at Fields 1-5 for nearly $1.2 million, with $1 million from legislative funding and $193,000 from Fund 63 cash reserves. A commissioner asked whether leagues were current on fees; the City Manager confirmed they are, and noted planned youth fast-pitch tournaments. Approved unanimously.
• Playground Replacements: Approved replacing playgrounds at Sunset Park and Pat Sandoval Park at $120,000 each, and at Potter Park at $250,000. City Manager Howalt said this will complete replacement of all city playgrounds except Green Acres and a smaller unit at Bob Spencer Park; Ned Houk Park replacements await state grants. Approved unanimously.
• 2026 Revenue Review Committee Recommendations: Approved unanimously. Changes include raising the police private-event security rate from $50 to $70 per hour, adding automatic rate adjustments tied to future city pay raises, and increasing Parks & Recreation fees. Aquatic fees include splash pad admission from $1 to $2, pool admission for ages 12-59 from $3 to $5, ages 3-11 from $2 to $3, and age 60+ from $2.50 to $4. Zoo and Roy Walker gym rental fees also increased. Commissioner Palla cited a zoo master plan survey in which 80% of respondents supported a zoo price increase. Effective January 1.
• Employee Salary Increases: Approved unanimously a 4% cost-of-living increase for city employees. Total fiscal impact is $990,763, broken down as $859,233 to the general fund, $74,566 to sanitation, $30,586 to wastewater, $8,227 to airport, and $18,151 to HR/safety. Increases exclude ranks under police and fire negotiations and the city manager. The City Manager noted gross receipts tax revenue is about 20% above budget. Effective with the October 26 pay period, appearing in November 13 paychecks.

Reports

• Civic Center Policy Board: Flood water entered the Civic Center but was extracted by staff; five roof leaks were repaired; 10 events are scheduled for October.
• Water Policy Advisory Board met and gave two reports; no action items were brought forward.
• Planning & Zoning Commission: Approved introduction of an ordinance amending the Unified Development Ordinance related to data centers; it will come to the City Commission for a future vote.
• Community Meeting on Flood Recovery: City staff held a community meeting Tuesday at 6 p.m. for residents affected by flooding. FEMA individual assistance is not expected. A local disaster relief fund is being established with United Way as fiscal agent, and a long-term recovery group will hold its first meeting Tuesday at 3 p.m. at City Hall. The city manager's office number, 575-763-9653, was shared for contractors and volunteers.
• Monthly Investment Report: First-quarter cash balances ended at $81.1 million, up from $80.8 million. Monthly interest was just under $219,000, and the three-month total was $644,000, compared with $688,000 a year earlier. The state pool rate rose to 3.7181% from 3.6781%.

Key Outcomes

• All new-business action items were approved unanimously.
• Ordinance 2262-2026 passed 6-1 with one abstention.
• The Commission removed the small-brewer liquor license item from new business for a future meeting.
• Future agenda items include a data-center zoning ordinance, an Officer Kroger presentation, and a Trek for Trash presentation.