Rio Rancho Regular Governing Body Meeting - October 22, 2026

The City of Rio Rancho Governing Body met on October 22, 2026, in Council Chambers. Present were Mayor Paul Wymer and Councilors Deb Dapson (virtually), Jeremy Lenentine (arrived later), Bob Tyler, David Mann, Karissa Culbreth, and Nicole List. The agenda included public forum, consent calendar, two public hearings, the Mayor's Annual State of the City Report, and a City Manager update. No proclamations or board/commission reports were made.

Public Forum

• Amanda Lundberg (District 4) spoke about the Rio Rancho Animal Resource Center, urging that the volunteer transfer coordinator position be filled, that big dogs receive more rescue/transfer opportunities, and that the city consider partnering with spay/neuter nonprofits.
• Richard Sanchez opposed ALPR cameras, saying road repairs and utilities were more urgent and raising Fourth Amendment and transparency concerns.
• Joaquin Montoya, speaking for DFLOC New Mexico, opposed surveillance expansion, citing $164,000 spent on Flock cameras, a $456,000 Axon Fusus real-time crime center contract, and a ClearView AI facial-recognition line item in the FY2024 police budget; he said none of these had been publicly voted on.
• Steven Van Horn (District 4) asked for availability of presentations from the water work session and raised regional water planning, the Rio Grande Compact settlement, and the practicality of the city's 34 potential well sites.
• Corrine Rios asked the council to investigate why water rate increases took effect August 1 instead of July 1 as set by ordinance, and also raised open-meetings concerns, public hearing access, campaign contributions, and the sale of donated land for $17,500.

Consent Calendar

• The consent calendar was approved unanimously by roll-call vote. It included the October 8, 2026 minutes; Resolutions R76-R82 (equipment trade-in, property disposal, EMS fund budget adjustment, Parks property disposal, state appropriations adjustment, federal grants adjustment, and 2027 holiday schedule); and the appointment of Nicholas Ansloan to the Keep Rio Rancho Beautiful Committee.

Public Hearing - O12: Rezoning from TZ to R-2

• Director Amy Rincone presented the request to rezone described lots in Unit 25, Block A and B, south of Hawk Site, from Transitional Zoning to R-2 Single-Family Residential. She explained the 50-foot-wide, roughly 0.3-acre lots, proposed conditions limiting access off Westphalia and requiring front-yard septic tanks. The Planning and Zoning Board had recommended approval. No councilor made a motion, so item O12 died for lack of a motion.

Public Hearing - O13: Lomas Encantadas Special Use District

• Staff and the applicant presented a request to rezone the Lomas Encantadas Tract 5 corner and part of Tract 17-A to a Special Use district allowing R-6 multifamily and C-1 retail uses. The proposal includes 55 apartment homes (26 one-bedroom and 29 two-bedroom), 1,851 square feet of commercial space, 103 parking spaces, and three-story buildings limited to 36 feet.
• Applicant Angela Parowski of Modulus Architects said the owners have 42 years of combined service with the Albuquerque Fire Department, that the project advances the city's adopted 2004/2020/2025 Lomas Encantadas Master Plan, and that the design substantially exceeds city standards: over 400% of the usable open-space requirement, over 250% of the required landscaping, 72% above the tree/shrub requirement, 1,300% above required setbacks in one area, and building heights 28% below the 50-foot allowance.
• She cited official 2026 MERGECOG counts of 185 morning and 190 evening peak vehicles, operating at 24.7% and 25.3% of the 750 vehicle-per-hour design capacity; a five-year crash record with one reported crash and no injuries; an HFIN safety score of 3.43 versus the regional average of 24.29; and projected project traffic of 32 morning and 34 evening peak trips (36 and 38 with commercial). She contrasted this with gas station, retail, and gym trip generation under existing C-1 zoning. She also reviewed emergency-only access from Camino Encantadas, the 330-foot access spacing, the parkland boundary distinction, and view/elevation studies.
• Public comment was overwhelmingly opposed. Objections included school-route safety, traffic congestion, combined impacts with a nearby 218-unit complex, loss of mountain views, inadequate notification, parking overflow, parkland loss and the land sale appraisal, prior P&Z process concerns, and the design not being 'luxury.' Specific speakers included Margaret McNulty, Mr. Rivera, Laura Rivera, Michelle Pellner, Joe Beam, Michael Hyatt, Aaron Taylor, Rich Kerner, Edwin Isley, Sherry Higgins, Beth Dowler, Sabina Yezel, Heather Starkey, and Jelena Palau; several cited their own traffic counts, prior crashes, HOA membership, or proximity to the site. One speaker asked for a mandatory roundabout/traffic-calming study and pedestrian safety improvements if approval were granted.
• Councilor Tyler questioned the applicant on design, parking, fencing, maintenance, grading, security, and possible park contributions. The city manager defended the prior 0.56-acre parkland sale as statutory compliant, noting the city cannot deny access without paying compensation and citing past access-related problems elsewhere in the city. The applicant said stairways were relocated inside in response to community feedback, no covered parking is planned, no security plan had yet been determined, and owners were open to discussing park enhancements.
• Councilor Mann noted that if the proposal were not approved, the C-1 site could still be developed by right as a hotel, bar, school, medical complex, gas station, gym, church, bank, or auto repair shop, and that the SU process gives the governing body more control. He also explained that the appraisal was done by a licensed appraiser and included diminution of value due to the parkland zoning. A councilor noted that notification was sent to property owners within 100 feet as required and that the acquired remnant parkland had not been planned for park development.

Mayor's Annual State of the City Report

• Mayor Wymer delivered the annual State of the City report. He highlighted ongoing road projects (Barbara Loop, Springer Drive, Western Hills Drive, and Esther Bone Library), public safety investments including Fire Station 8 and an additional $1.4 million for police personnel, and community projects such as the multi-generational center, animal shelter kennel expansion, Esther Bone Library renovation, and completed Broadmoor Senior Center.
• He reported that Rio Rancho averaged 877 housing starts per year from 2021-2025 versus 586 from 2016-2020 and typically accounts for 35-45% of housing starts in the surrounding five-county area.
• He cited social media growth: the mayoral social media accounts launched August 25 had over 1,900 unique viewers, 38,000 content views, and 691 interactions by October 15; the city's Facebook page saw a 280% increase in content views, a 464% increase in unique viewers, and a 791% increase in content interactions.

City Manager Update

• The city manager said Fallfest is scheduled Saturday, 2:00-8:00 p.m., but will be held inside/outside at the Rio Rancho Event Center because of expected rain. He also announced the DEA drug take-back from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., the pumpkin patch through October 31, the Dia de los Perros y Gatos pet event on October 31, and an open house for the multi-generational facility on Monday, November 9 at 6:00 p.m. at Loma Colorado Library.

Key Outcomes

• The consent calendar was approved unanimously.
• O12 (TZ to R-2 rezoning) died for lack of a motion.
• O13 (Lomas Encantadas Special Use District) was approved 6-1, with Councilor Tyler voting no.
• The mayor gave the State of the City report and the city manager gave the fall events update; the meeting then adjourned.