Rio Rancho Governing Body Regular Meeting - April 24, 2025
Rio Rancho Governing Body Regular Meeting - April 24, 2025
The Rio Rancho Governing Body held a regular meeting on April 24, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers, adjourning at 6:57 PM. All seven members were present for most of the meeting; Mayor Hull recused himself on Item 14 (O13). The council approved the consent calendar, four zoning and master plan items, an ordinance to opt into state-run local elections, the annual meeting schedule, and a contract for Emergency Communications Center upgrades. All votes were 6-0.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously (6-0) the following items: Minutes of April 10, 2025 Regular Meeting; Minutes of April 15, 2025 Work Session; R36 (Budget Adjustment – Utilities Operations Fund); R37 (Disposal of Police Department Property); R38 (Donation of a vehicle to Rio Rancho Public Schools); R39 (Budget Adjustment – E-911 Grant Fund); R40 (Disposal of Utilities Department Property); R41 (Disposal of Library and Information Services Department Property).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Casey Robinson (Public Forum) criticized the Mayor’s Easter/Passover message, noting it conflated the holidays and lacked recognition of Jewish residents. He also requested that Zoom screens show councilors’ faces continuously during public comment to gauge reactions.
Discussion Items
- R42 & O11 – Vista Grande Master Plan and Zoning Amendment (presented together): Director of Development Services Amy Rincon presented the request to adopt the Vista Grande Master Plan and rezone several lots from R-1 to R-4. The Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval. Michael Wright of Consensus Planning (representing DR Horton) was present for questions. Councilor Wymer noted that “stone accents are encouraged” in design guidelines but not reflected in model homes; applicant agreed to consider removing that language. Approved 6-0.
- R43, R44, O12 – Lomas Negras Specific Area Plan Amendment, Stonegate Master Plan Amendment, and Zoning Map Amendment (presented together): Rincon presented changes to the Lomas Negras Specific Area Plan, Stonegate Master Plan, and rezoning Stonegate Tracts 3 and 5 to SU (Special Use) for neighborhood commercial, mixed-residential, and multi-family. Applicant Charlene Johnson (Consensus Planning, for Coal Bank, Ltd.) and engineer Justin Simonson answered questions. Councilors expressed support for the live-work-play concept and need for commercial. Councilor Tyler clarified that smaller parks would be HOA-maintained, the regional park would be city-dedicated. Approved 6-0 each.
- O13 – Ordinance to Opt In for Municipal Elections in Regular Local Election (First Reading): Deputy City Manager Peter Wells presented. Opting in would move city elections from March of even years to November of odd years, saving an estimated $450,000 in 2026 and eliminating double taxation. Terms would be extended: officials elected in 2026 would serve until Dec. 31, 2027; those elected in 2028 would serve until Dec. 31, 2029. Councilor Wymer supported cost savings and potential higher turnout but opposed losing voter ID; Councilor Culbreath asked about cost breakdown; Councilor List confirmed ability to opt out after two cycles. Approved 6-0.
- R45 – Resolution Establishing Annual Governing Body Meeting Schedule: City Clerk Noel Davis presented the schedule: regular meetings second and fourth Thursdays at 6 PM (with July, November, December exceptions), work sessions third Tuesday bi-monthly at 3 PM. Approved 6-0.
- D23 – Advise and Consent to Award Contract to All-Rite Construction, Inc.: 9-1-1 Manager Jolene Madrid presented. The $766,595.95 contract, using a state cooperative agreement, funds upgrades to the Emergency Communications Center including additional workspace and a dry fire suppression system. Approved 6-0.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar approved 6-0.
- R42 (Vista Grande Master Plan) approved 6-0.
- O11 (Vista Grande rezoning) approved 6-0.
- R43 (Lomas Negras Specific Area Plan amendment) approved 6-0.
- R44 (Stonegate Master Plan amendment) approved 6-0.
- O12 (Stonegate rezoning) approved 6-0.
- O13 (opt into regular local election) approved 6-0; Mayor Hull recused.
- R45 (annual meeting schedule) approved 6-0.
- D23 (contract award to All-Rite Construction) approved 6-0.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you. If you'll please remain standing for just a moment. I'd like to take this time to reflect on our first responders and the sacrifice that they make. And also remembering Rio Reba Sheriff Billy Merrifield who passed away this past week. And so keeping his uh his family in our thoughts and prayers as well. So with that, a moment of silence, please. Thank you. You may be seated. Also like to just take a quick moment to uh recognize uh and acknowledge uh that uh flags are at half staff because of the passing of Pope Francis. Uh obviously uh condolences go out for Pope Francis as well. All right, let me see here. Um please silence all electronic devices while attending the governing body meeting, and I'm gonna check mine as well, real quick here. Um and if you do need to take a call, please uh step outside or into the lobby area to do so. Uh for the record, I will announce the names of the governing body members when I say your name, please acknowledge your presence by saying present, counselor Dabson. Present, thank you, Counselor Lennon, present. Thank you, Counselor Tyler, present. Thank you, Counselor Weimer, present. Thank you, Counselor Cobrath. President, thank you, Counselor Liszt, present. Thank you. All right, moving on to uh public forum. We have one person to speak. Uh uh Casey Robinson, Mr. Mayor, members of the governing body. Um couple of things. First thing, real quickly, I do appreciate that now uh Zoom can be seen somewhat sometimes on some of the screens, especially when members of the governing body are out, but it only shows their face when they are speaking. That is not fully helpful because I want to see your reactions the entire time. I'll remind you that three years ago, a member of this this governing body who's no longer on it, exactly three years ago. I caught watching the NFL draft during public comment. So I want to see how you react to things by facial expressions too. Um I apologize, I'm gonna slip out right after this. I have an HOA meeting to attend, but I did want to point out something that happened this week. Uh Mayor Ho, I don't think you realized it was me that messaged you I did about uh about the Passover holiday. I said, you know, it would have been nice for you to mention Password, and you said you went in on on Easter Sunday, Easter Sunday and Passover are not the same holiday. For those of you not aware, this is Mayor Hull's message about Easter and Passover written together with a background with crosses on it. As we celebrate Easter, Carrie and I hope that each of you had a happy and blessed holy week. We hope your Passover was full of joy. We wish you a happy and joyous resurrection Sunday. And there is no such thing as the resurrection in our religion. There still is no messiah in our religion. I don't believe that any of you actually are anti-Semites or hate Jews, but none of you wished us a hap a happy Passover. But I continue to use this to point out you continue to fail to show true love and respect to the minorities who live in your city. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, moving on to the consent. Oh, I'm sorry, comments by counselors. Mr. Mayor. Councilor Colbrist. Today was a wonderful day in the city of Rio Rancho.
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