OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Rio Rancho Governing Body Meeting – August 14, 2025

Meeting Portal — Thursday, August 14, 2025
BodyRio Rancho, New Mexico
SessionMeeting Portal
DateThursday, August 14, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:03:00

Transcript — Verbatim
0:10

Thank you.

0:10

Please remain standing for just a moment as we take a moment to reflect and keep our first responders and our thoughts and prayers.

0:17

And they do a dangerous job out there, and they're always putting their lives on the line for us.

0:22

So with that, just a moment of silence, please.

0:32

Thank you very much.

0:33

You may be seated.

0:41

Okay.

0:50

Uh for the record, I'll announce the names of the governing body members.

0:54

When you I say your name, please acknowledge your presence by saying present.

0:57

Councillor Dapson.

0:58

Present.

0:59

Thank you.

1:00

Councillor Lynn Tyne has been excused.

1:02

Counselor Tyler.

1:04

Present.

1:04

Thank you.

1:05

Counselor Weimer.

1:06

Present.

1:06

Thank you.

1:07

Councillor Colbreth is virtual.

1:09

Present.

1:10

Thank you.

1:12

And then Councilor List.

1:14

Present.

1:14

Thank you.

1:16

All righty.

1:17

Let's see here.

1:18

Now before we go into the agenda, I'm gonna make one quick uh adjustment to the agenda here.

1:25

Um I'm going to move R 47 and O 14 to the top of the agenda.

1:39

Oh am I good?

1:40

Am I good?

1:41

Yes, we're okay.

1:43

Good.

1:44

Uh to uh right in front of D 45.

1:50

Okay.

1:52

All right.

1:53

So with that, uh sorry, Mr.

1:55

Mayor, can you please repeat that?

1:56

I'm sorry.

1:57

Oh yeah.

1:58

Can you please okay?

1:58

So we're moving R 47 and O 14 to the to the uh to just above D45.

2:13

We're gonna move those to the top since we've got a request to postpone on those.

2:17

So we'll go ahead and dispose those uh at the top of the agenda.

2:23

Um so public uh proclamations awards of merit.

2:28

Uh we don't have anything today, and then public forum, Mr Van Horn.

2:39

Oh, there he is, and based on the number of people signed up, we'll set the time at two minutes.

2:51

Good evening, mayor, counselors.

2:53

I'd uh I've got three questions that I put before you tonight.

2:58

Um I didn't receive any answers for last time I was here to give you questions, but I do hope on the first thing that I ask.

3:07

I hope the mayor will inform the public specifically on what's the impact of the Santa Sandia Pueblo water rights judgment uh on Rio Rancho water, like to know if it could delay or stop any planned access to water for Rio Rancho, could it force changes to rearranch those plans for meeting future water needs?

3:31

And is there a backup plan for transferring the half dozen groundwater permits that have been denied?

3:38

As a former utilities commissioner, um I'm very concerned about what's happened, and I hope the all of the governing body will really look into this because this is significant.

3:52

Number two, why is the number of operational city water wells getting smaller?

3:58

In the 2023 water quality report, the city had 18 wells providing water to Rio Rancho in the 2024 water quality report.

4:07

The city had 14 wells providing water.

4:10

So what is the city doing about this?

4:13

And then lastly, is the governing body concerned about the Rio Grande drying up?

4:19

And is there any ground downstream health effects about our release of wastewater to uh a body of water that normally it dilutes it, but now it's not, and so our wastewater, it's not going very far.

4:35

If it even gets the intake for Albuquerque, I'd be surprised.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████████████████████████43%
Transportation Safety█████████████████17%
Procedural██████████████14%
Community Engagement████████8%
Cannabis Regulation██████6%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Public Engagement███3%
Water And Wastewater Management██2%
Technology and Innovation█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Rio Rancho Governing Body Meeting – August 14, 2025

The August 14, 2025, regular meeting of the Rio Rancho Governing Body addressed a wide range of items, including consent calendar approvals, liquor license applications, a solar expansion at Quail Ranch, and several land-use proposals for the Chamisa Hills and Tampico areas. Key outcomes included the postponement of the Chamisa Hills Master Plan, approval of solar-related items, and the failure of a rezoning for Cielo Bonito. The Tampico Master Plan and related zoning changes were approved with an amendment requiring single-story homes along certain roadways.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved unanimously (6‑0): minutes of July 24, 2025; budget adjustments for Keep Rio Rancho Beautiful Grant Fund, Fire Protection Fund, Federal Grants (Financial Services and Fire & Rescue), and Series 2020 General Obligation Bond Debt Service Fund; appointment of Michaela Thompson to the Arts Commission; and appointment of Councilor Bob Tyler to the New Mexico Municipal League’s Board of Directors.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Public Forum: Stephan vanHorn raised three questions regarding the impact of the Santa Sandia Pueblo water rights judgment on Rio Rancho’s water supply, the declining number of operational city water wells (from 18 in 2023 to 14 in 2024), and concerns about the Rio Grande drying up and its effect on wastewater discharge. He asked whether the governing body expects water and wastewater to be election issues.
  • Tampico Area Public Hearing (Items 18‑20): Several residents spoke against the Tampico proposals. Megan Bells, Josh David, John Clark, Jack Gehling, Kimberly Jennison‑Sample (virtual), and Melissa Edwards all expressed opposition. Key concerns included increased traffic on dirt roads, lack of a direct access to NM 528, potential loss of commercial zoning, inadequate road improvements (e.g., Nogales Road not addressed), and impacts on property values. Peter Webb spoke in favor, noting the development would create a buffer between larger lots and commercial property. Jack Gehling and others stated the developer had not conducted sufficient neighborhood outreach.

Discussion Items

  • Chamisa Hills Master Plan (R47) and Rezoning (O14): Staff requested a second postponement to September 11, 2025, because the applicant submitted substantial additional information after the July 11 deadline. The Governing Body unanimously postponed both items. No public comment was offered at that time.
  • Liquor Licenses (D45, D46): The Neighborhood in Rio Rancho (club license with patio service at 900 Loma Colorado Blvd.) and TenPins LLC (transfer of ownership at 1416 Deborah Road SE) were approved unanimously (6‑0) after staff presentations.
  • Quail Ranch Solar Expansion (R80, O19, D40): Staff presented a request to expand the Renewable Energy Overlay District to the eastern portion of the master plan area (approx. 2,836 acres). The Planning and Zoning Board had recommended approval. The Governing Body approved all three items unanimously (6‑0).
  • Cielo Bonito Rezoning (O21): The applicant requested a zone change from TZ (Transitional Zoning) to R‑3 (Mixed Residential) for about 53.9 acres near Lookover Dr. and Shiloh Rd. Staff noted that the original master plan was withdrawn due to lack of 100% ownership. Councilors expressed concerns about the lack of a binding master plan, the presence of holdout lots, and the wide range of uses allowed under R‑3. Councilor Tyler moved to approve, but the motion failed 0‑6.
  • Tampico Master Plan and Related Items (R89, R90, O22): Staff presented three interconnected proposals: (1) removal of properties from the Tampico North and La Barranca Specific Area Plans (R89); (2) adoption of the Tampico Master Plan (R90); and (3) zoning change from SU/C‑1 (Retail Commercial) to R‑4 (Single‑Family Residential) (O22). The applicant argued that the 26.17‑acre site has remained vacant for decades and that residential development would generate less traffic than commercial uses, while also providing road paving and drainage improvements. The Planning and Zoning Board had recommended denial, but staff recommended approval. After public testimony, the Governing Body approved R89 (5‑1, Councilor List opposed), then amended R90 to require that dwellings along Aurora Road NE and Vatapa Road NE be single story only (amendment carried 6‑0), and approved R90 as amended (5‑1, Councilor List opposed). O22 was also approved (5‑1, Councilor List opposed).

Key Outcomes

  • Postponed to September 11, 2025: R47 (Chamisa Hills Master Plan) and O14 (Chamisa Hills rezoning) were postponed unanimously.
  • Approved Unanimously (6‑0): Consent calendar, D45, D46, R80, O19, D40.
  • Failed (0‑6): O21 (Cielo Bonito rezoning) – motion to approve received no votes in favor.
  • Approved (5‑1, with Councilor List dissenting): R89, R90 (as amended), and O22 (Tampico area).
  • Amendment to R90: Added design guideline requiring single‑story homes along Aurora Road NE and Vatapa Road NE.
  • City Manager’s Report: Reminded of the August 19 work session, and upcoming events: Pooch Plunge (Sept. 6), Councilor Tyler’s Meet and Greet (Sept. 6), and Fall Community Clean‑up (Sept. 13).

The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you. Please remain standing for just a moment as we take a moment to reflect and keep our first responders and our thoughts and prayers. And they do a dangerous job out there, and they're always putting their lives on the line for us. So with that, just a moment of silence, please. Thank you very much. You may be seated. Okay. Uh for the record, I'll announce the names of the governing body members. When you I say your name, please acknowledge your presence by saying present. Councillor Dapson. Present. Thank you. Councillor Lynn Tyne has been excused. Counselor Tyler. Present. Thank you. Counselor Weimer. Present. Thank you. Councillor Colbreth is virtual. Present. Thank you. And then Councilor List. Present. Thank you. All righty. Let's see here. Now before we go into the agenda, I'm gonna make one quick uh adjustment to the agenda here. Um I'm going to move R 47 and O 14 to the top of the agenda. Oh am I good? Am I good? Yes, we're okay. Good. Uh to uh right in front of D 45. Okay. All right. So with that, uh sorry, Mr. Mayor, can you please repeat that? I'm sorry. Oh yeah. Can you please okay? So we're moving R 47 and O 14 to the to the uh to just above D45. We're gonna move those to the top since we've got a request to postpone on those. So we'll go ahead and dispose those uh at the top of the agenda. Um so public uh proclamations awards of merit. Uh we don't have anything today, and then public forum, Mr Van Horn. Oh, there he is, and based on the number of people signed up, we'll set the time at two minutes. Good evening, mayor, counselors. I'd uh I've got three questions that I put before you tonight. Um I didn't receive any answers for last time I was here to give you questions, but I do hope on the first thing that I ask.

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