The August 27, 2026 regular meeting of the Rio Rancho Governing Body addressed a range of topics including public concerns over the animal shelter and surveillance cameras, approval of a 32-lot townhome subdivision, contracts for well rehabilitation, and a major Axon technology consolidation contract. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM with Mayor Paul Wymer presiding.
Please remain stand remain standing and I want to take a moment to recognize uh our first uh responders and their commitment to our safety. I also want to take a moment to think about the folks in Nepal and the horrific incident that they're dealing with right now. Thank you. You may be seated. All right, I'm gonna read a read a statement here that we always read. Please silence all electronic devices while attending the governing body meeting. For the record, I will announce the names of the governing body members. I don't think we can hear you. When I say your name, please acknowledge by saying present. Counselor Dabson. Counselor Dabson is running late and will be here shortly. Councilor Lennon. Councilor Lenantine, can you hear well? We see him there, but oh there he is. Yes. Yes, we can now. Thank you. Councillor Tyler has been excused. He is in Las Cruces attending the New Mexico Municipal League conference and is representing the city of Rio Rancho at that event. Councilor Mann. Present. Councilor Colbret. Present. Counselor List. Present. Thank you. All right, we will move on to proclamations and awards of merit. We have none. So we will move on to public forum. We have several folks signed up for them. Each comment will be limited to two minutes and no more than two hours total will be allotted for public forum comments at the meeting. So we will start with Amanda Luddenberg. All right. I'm Amanda Lenberg. I live in Rio Rancho. On July 27, 2026, eight approximately three-week-old puppies were dumped in Rio Rancho. The shelter, with the help of social media and people sharing, did manage to get them out to rescue before the end of the day when they would have been euthanized because the shelter did not have anyone to care for them. Our animal shelter needs a foster program for situations like this, and also to help animals that have been there for a long time to become better candidates for adoption. If you need help, reach out to the community and ask. People want to help, but currently it's pretty difficult to help. So my second suggestion this evening is a humane one. The dogs in the care of the city of Rio Rancho need to get out of their candles every day or every other day, because I assume they're being euthanized for kennel stress since the shelter is never full. If staffing does not allow this, the city needs to endeavor to have a robust volunteer program and do what other shelters do. Allow for doggy day outs, let volunteers take dogs' places, and do adoption events. If I do not see the City of Rio Rancho Animal Resource Center at the upcoming pooch plunge, I will be very disappointed. There are rescues and shelters making long drives to save lives. So y'all can drive down the road, set up some crates, and get the dogs out in public. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next on the list.