Rio Rancho Governing Body Regular Meeting – June 12, 2025
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Rio Rancho Governing Body Regular Meeting – June 12, 2025
The Rio Rancho Governing Body convened on June 12, 2025, at 6:00 PM (agenda time) for its regular meeting. All governing body members were present: Mayor Greggory D. Hull and Councilors Deb Dapson, Paul Wymer, Karissa Culbreath, Jeremy Lenentine, Nicole List, and Bob Tyler. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence for Officer Anteveros of Bloomfield, who was killed in the line of duty, and a roll call. No proclamations or awards were presented.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Casey Robinson read the names of the 49 victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting, stating that nine years ago today those 49 people were murdered in what was at the time the largest mass murder in the United States solely because they were queer and at a club. Robinson expressed frustration that the governing body has never acknowledged Pride and urged the city to recognize that it has queer residents.
- Carrie Plant expressed concerns about the process around ordinance changes. She argued that ordinances are public policy decisions and that direction to review, amend, or create municipal ordinances should come from the Governing Body to staff, not from staff to the Governing Body. She said staff should gather public input, share it with the governing body, and not let staff views take precedence over public input.
Consent Calendar
The consent calendar was approved unanimously. It included:
- Minutes of the May 22, 2025 Regular Meeting
- R59: Budget adjustment to the General Fund (101) and State Appropriations Capital Fund (315)
- R60: Acceptance of NMDOT State Appropriation First Amendment for Idalia Road/Loma Colorado Boulevard Intersection Improvements
- R61: Budget adjustment to the General Fund for fund reallocation
- R62: Budget adjustment to the General Fund for expenditure reclassification
- R63: Budget adjustment to the Fire Fund (250)
Public Hearings
- D31 – Site Plan Approval for Automotive Technology Building: Director Amy Rincone presented the site plan for a CNM automotive technology building on property owned by Rio Rancho Public Schools, located off Zenith Court and zoned SU. Staff recommended approval. Councilors Tyler and List recused themselves because of their connections to the school board and public schools. CNM project manager Jenny Davis said the project is a partnership with Rio Rancho Public Schools and that Rio Rancho High School students will be able to take courses as dual credit while in high school. Councilor Dabson expressed strong support, and Mayor Hull praised the partnership, noting it will give local students skills and could be a model for other communities. The motion to approve D31 carried 5-0, with the two recused councilors not voting.
First Reading of Ordinances
- O16 – Alarm Systems Amendment: City staff presented O16 as a text amendment to Chapter 97 to reflect the new name of the city's emergency dispatch operations, which becomes the Emergency Communications Center effective July 1. The first reading was approved unanimously.
- O17 – Subdivisions Amendment: Director Rincone presented O17 and the related R64 together, requesting that both items be withdrawn. O17 was a text amendment to Chapter 155 heard by the Planning and Zoning Board on May 27; R64 would update the Development Process Manual. Staff said both items would be brought back together at a later date. The Governing Body unanimously approved withdrawing O17 and R64.
Discussion and Deliberation
- D32 – Kim Road Improvements Design Contract: Director Godlib requested advice and consent to award Contract No. 25-124-PW to HDR Engineering, Inc. for Kim Road Improvements Design between Idalia Road and NM 528 in the amount of $1,726,675.92, including New Mexico gross receipts tax. The project will design drainage, upgraded utilities, and support future growth. Design is expected to begin in July or August 2025 and take approximately two years, following federal processes to be eligible for future federal funding. The motion to approve D32 was approved unanimously.
- R65 – PID/TID Election Notification: Staff presented R65, which notifies the Sandoval County Clerk of local government body positions (Public Improvement Districts and Tax Increment Development Districts) to appear on the November 4, 2025 regular local election. Vacancies are filled in odd-numbered years; candidate filing is August 26, 2025, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Sandoval County Clerk's office, and candidates must live in the district and be registered to vote. Councilor List asked about publicizing open seats; staff said information will be on the city website and in the agenda packet and that they have spoken with some HOAs and current PID/TID boards. The motion to approve R65 was approved unanimously.
- R66 – Abatement at 1873 Blackberry Road: The City Manager presented R66 declaring the property at 1873 Blackberry Road an ongoing public nuisance. The home lacks utility service, was subject to an explosion and fire, and has been red-tagged as unsafe. Approval authorizes city staff to begin cleanup and abatement if the owner does not act within 10 days or request a hearing; if the city spends public funds, a lien may be placed on the property and foreclosure may be pursued. Councilor Lenentine, whose district includes the property, thanked code enforcement and staff for their work. The motion to approve R66 was approved unanimously.
- R67 – Early Redemption of Series 2018 GO Bonds: R67 authorizes the prior redemption of portions of the City's General Obligation Improvement Bonds, Series 2018 maturing on and after August 1, 2028; approves a Notice of Redemption; authorizes use of Debt Service Fund moneys; ratifies prior actions; and repeals inconsistent action. The Mayor explained that the city's property value/tax base is higher than when the bonds were issued, allowing the city to redeem callable bonds early. The motion to approve R67 was approved unanimously.
City Manager Report
- The City Manager reminded the Governing Body that the Juneteenth celebration will be at Haynes Park on Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Council meet-and-greets for Councilors Culbreath and Dapson are scheduled for June 27.
Key Outcomes
- Consent calendar approved unanimously.
- D31 approved 5-0; Councilors Tyler and List recused.
- O16 passed first reading unanimously.
- O17 and R64 withdrawn unanimously and will be revisited together at a later date.
- D32 approved; contract awarded to HDR Engineering, Inc. for $1,726,675.92.
- R65 approved; PID/TID positions to be placed on the November 4, 2025 election ballot, with candidate filing on August 26, 2025.
- R66 approved; 10-day owner abatement window and lien/foreclosure authority if the city cleans the property.
- R67 approved; Series 2018 GO bonds to be redeemed early.
- Meeting adjourned after the City Manager's report.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. As I call this meeting to order, could you please please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance? And Councillor Weiner, would you read us, please? 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. Thank you. Um, and before you're seated, uh I'd like to take this time uh to always uh keep our first responders in our thoughts and prayers in uh this week uh unfortunately uh we had uh the uh funeral for officer Anteveros that was uh killed in the line of duty up in Bloomfield, and so we want to make sure that we're continuing to keep uh uh their family and the and the community uh in our thoughts and prayers. It is uh it's it's a hard thing on the community, uh not just on the family, but just on the community members and uh I had the opportunity to uh attend the funeral service up in Bloomfield on Monday, and the community turnout was huge. So um I know the family and and the community really appreciate that, but we do need to keep them in our thoughts and prayers. So, with that moment of silence, please. Thank you very much. You may be seated. Okay, um, as we call this meeting to order, please. If I could remind you all to silence your cell phones and all other electronic devices, and let me see here. I'm gonna do the same thing. There we go. And for the record, I'll announce the names of the governing body members when I say your name, please acknowledge your presence by saying present. So, Councillor Dabson, present. Thank you. Councilor Lynentine, present. Thank you. Counselor Tyler, thank you. Councilor Weimer, present. Thank you. Uh Councilor List, present. Thank you. All right. Uh no proclamations or awards of merit this evening. Moving on to public forum. Uh Mr. Listen. I'm sorry. Mr. Mayor. Oh, I'm sorry. Please call Councillor Colbrith. Oh, she is here. I'm sorry, I didn't see her here. Okay, thank you. Counselor Cobra. Present. Thank you. All right. Okay. Uh moving on to uh public forum. Casey Robinson. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of the governing body. I'm going to read a list of names. Excuse me, I'm going to try and rush through it because I got a lot. Stanley Alma Dovar the third, 23.
openpublica.com