Rio Rancho Governing Body Meeting – August 28, 2025: Unanimous Approvals on Apartment, Master Plans, and Infrastructure Contracts
Rio Rancho Governing Body Meeting – August 28, 2025
The Governing Body of Rio Rancho met on August 28, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. The meeting was preceded by a closed session at 5:00 p.m. regarding pending litigation (case D-1329-CV-2023-00820) under attorney-client privilege; no action was taken. The regular meeting included a consent calendar, public hearings, and discussion items, all of which were approved unanimously by the six members present (Councilor Paul Wymer was excused). Major actions included approval of a 156-unit apartment complex, adoption of the Cleveland Heights Master Plan and related zoning changes, and contracts for road design, reconstruction, and aquatic center upgrades.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes of August 14, 2025 Regular Meeting – Approved.
- R91 – Resolution authorizing trade-in of equipment.
- R92 – Resolution authorizing disposal of property (Police Department).
- R93 – Resolution authorizing disposal of fleet vehicles, damaged/obsolete items, equipment components, traffic control devices, and traffic signal components.
- R94 – Resolution authorizing disposal of property (Library and Information Services Department).
All consent items were approved by a vote of 6 FOR, 0 AGAINST.
Public Forum
- Casey Robinson spoke about national school shootings, noting that approximately 51 school shootings occurred this year where at least one person was injured. He argued that media and government attention often focuses on incidents involving certain identities, while 91% of shooters are cisgender white men and only 17% are transgender individuals. He urged the governing body to consider deeper causes.
Public Hearings
6) D47 – Site Plan Approval for a 156-Unit Apartment Complex at 1017 Rosarito Drive SE
- Amy Rincon, Director of Development Services, presented the item. The 5.9924-acre site is zoned SU/SpecialUse for R-3 Multi-Family Residential. The Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval on August 12, 2025, with conditions including additional buffer standards and lighting adjustments. The applicant, Scott Anderson (architect for the owner), confirmed that the stormwater retention pond is enclosed with security fencing and the entire community is gated for safety. The motion to approve carried 6-0.
7) R95 – Resolution Amending the Paseo Gateway Master Plan 8) R96 – Resolution Adopting the Cleveland Heights Master Plan 9) O23 – Ordinance Amending Zoning Classification for Paseo Gateway Tracts
- Amy Rincon presented all three items together. The applicant, Paseo Gateway LLC (represented by Consensus Planning), seeks to separate state land tracts from the Paseo Gateway Master Plan and create a new 674.7-acre Cleveland Heights Master Plan. The zoning amendment (O23) changes 234.128 acres from various designations (R-3, R-2, R-1, Open Space) to R-4 Single-Family Residential. The Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval on July 22, 2025, by a 7-0 vote.
- Charlene Johnson, senior planner with Consensus Planning, explained that the reconfiguration improves drainage efficiency (reducing open space from 24.1 to 21.6 acres, not including future parks) and maintains momentum for R-4 development, which is appropriate for the area given water and drainage issues.
- Councilor Bob Tyler expressed concern about traffic congestion near Cleveland High School, noting that one-way roads and high-density R-4 homes could create public safety issues. Amy Rincon responded that a new subdivision phase has already triggered a traffic signal at Loma Colorado and PDB, and further traffic impact analyses will identify needed road widening as development proceeds.
- All three items were approved separately by 6-0 votes.
Discussion Items
10) D48 – Advice and Consent to Award Contract No. 26-010-PW: Rainbow Boulevard Connection Design to HDR Engineering, Inc.
- BJ Gottlieb, Director of Public Works, presented the item. The contract amount is $2,499,440.90 (including NMGRTs). This is the second pipeline infrastructure initiative, funded by a FY25 federal earmark. The design will cover Rainbow Boulevard from Southern Boulevard to Irving Boulevard, including alternatives analysis, 30% design, preliminary right-of-way mapping, and environmental determination per federal guidelines. The project is expected to start October 2025 and take two years. Mayor Hull clarified that this is only the design phase, not construction; an actual road may be 10 years or more away due to cost and a large bridge over the Calabasa Arroyo. The motion carried 6-0.
11) D49 – Advice and Consent to Award Contract No. 26-009-PW: 19th Ave NE Road Reconstruction to Compass Engineering & Construction Services, LLC
- Contract amount: $2,487,054.57 (including NMGRTs). This is the third of three 2024 General Obligation Bond projects. Work includes full-depth roadway reconstruction, new water line and services, ADA-compliant curb ramps, drainage improvements, and updated traffic signs. It will take six months, starting October 2025. Councilor Jeremy Lenentine thanked staff for addressing a long-needed project. The motion carried 6-0.
12) D50 – Advice and Consent to Award a Contract to All-Rite Construction for Aquatic Center Dehumidification
- Contract amount: $2,976,511.50 (including NMGRTs), funded in FY25 budget. The project replaces the HVAC dehumidification system at the Rio Rancho Aquatic Center, which is at end of life and non-compliant with EPA refrigerant requirements. Additional work includes stucco repairs, floor replacement, and storefront restoration. The Aquatic Center will close for approximately six weeks starting September 15, 2025, with Rainbow Pool reopening for lap swimming during closure. The motion carried 6-0.
13) R97 – Resolution Amending the City Manager’s Employment Contract
- City Manager Matt Geisel requested two tenure-based amendments: (1) longevity pay of $1,000 per year (spread over 26 pay periods) based on his cumulative 13 years and 10 months of service; (2) sick leave conversion eligibility based on cumulative 15 years of service, which he would achieve in November 2026 (14 months sooner than the standard schedule). The benefit only has a cost impact if he separates before that date. The resolution was approved 6-0.
Key Outcomes
- All agenda items were approved unanimously (6-0).
- The consent calendar, three public hearing items (D47, R95, R96, O23), and four discussion items (D48, D49, D50, R97) all passed without opposition.
- The city manager’s contract amendment was approved, granting him earlier eligibility for longevity pay and sick leave conversion.
- Upcoming city events: Annual Pooch Plunge and Adoption Event (Sept. 6 at Haynes Pool) and District 3 Councilor Bob Tyler’s Summer Meet & Greet (Sept. 6, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at The Block).
- The meeting adjourned at 6:38 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Counselor Colbreth, would you lead us please? I Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God and individual liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Please uh remain standing and this time we're gonna keep our first responders in our thoughts and prayers and then also uh the victims of the Minneapolis school shooting, uh all the families there. It's uh as they uh suffered through that tragedy. So with that, a moment of silence, please. Thank you very much. You may be seated. All right, as I call this meeting to order, um, please silence all electronic devices. Let me check mine. Silence all electronic devices while attending the governing body meeting. If you need to take a call, um, just please step into the hallway or outside. Thank you. 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. Counselor Dabson. Present. Thank you, Councillor Lynentine. Present. Thank you. Counselor Tyler. Present. Thank you. Counselor Weimer's been excused. Counselor Colbrook. Present. Thank you. And Counselor List. Present. Thank you. Today at 5 p.m. the governing body met closed session. In accordance with section 10 151 H7 NMSA 1978. Meeting subject to the attorney client privilege pertaining to threatened or pending litigation in which the public body is or may become a participant. No action was taken at this meeting. Let's see here. And then no proclamations or awards of merit. I will go ahead and set the time at two minutes today. And uh Casey Robinson. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of the governing body. Casey Robinson, not that any of you don't know that. Um I just wanted to speak a little and I and I share your comments. Certainly, nobody uh had positive thoughts or when when seeing what happened uh with the school shooting, but I want to bring this to everybody's attention. I am guessing maybe this year we've had three or four comments from the mayor about this. Depending on what your uh statistics you use and definition you use of a school shooting, it usually depends on was it intent a gun intentionally fired, misfired, was it an officer's gun. Um, there's somewhere between 27 and 150 school shootings in the U.S. this year.
openpublica.com