Rio Rancho council approves Kim Road design contract, nuisance abatement and multiple routine measures; two planning items withdrawn

At its most recent meeting the Rio Rancho governing body approved a series of routine and project-specific measures, including a design contract for Kim Road improvements, a nuisance abatement resolution for a property on Blackberry Road, and multiple other items. The council also withdrew a pair of planning items from the agenda.

City staff presented a recommendation to award contract number 25124 PW for Kim Road improvements design (between Idalia Road and NM-528) to HDR Engineering Inc. The contract award was described by Director Gottlieb as $1,726,675.92 inclusive of New Mexico gross receipts taxes; staff said the work will include right-of-way mapping, environmental documents, drainage design and utilities planning. Gottlieb said the design is expected to begin in July or August 2025 and take about two years as the city follows federal processes to remain eligible for future federal funding. The governing body approved the award.

The council approved R66, which declares 1873 Blackberry Road a public nuisance because the home lacks utility service, suffered an explosion and fire, and has been red-tagged as an unsafe structure. The resolution authorizes the city to commence cleanup and abatement if the owner does not abate hazards or request a hearing within 10 days; the city may place a lien and pursue lien foreclosure proceedings to recover costs if it expends public funds to abate the property.

Text changes in O16, an ordinance amending chapter 97 (alarm systems), were approved on first reading; the amendment updates language to reflect the emergency dispatch operation’s new name, the Rio Rancho Emergency Communications Center, effective July 1. Two planning items — O17 (a chapter 155 text amendment) and R64 (an update to the development process manual) — were withdrawn at staff request and will be brought back at a later meeting.

The council also approved R65, authorizing the city clerk to notify the Sandoval County Clerk of local public improvement districts (PIDs) and tax increment development districts (TIDs) positions to appear on the regular local election ballot on Nov. 4, 2025. Staff said there are 29 positions eligible this cycle; candidate filing opens Aug. 26, 2025, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., at the Sandoval County Clerk’s Office.

R67, described as a bond redemption/related finance matter in the packet, was approved after brief discussion; the meeting record does not include further detail on the amounts or specific bond series in the spoken record. The consent calendar was approved earlier in the meeting.

City staff also reminded the public of upcoming community events: a Juneteenth celebration at Haines Park on Saturday, June 21, and councilor meet-and-greets on June 27. The meeting included public comment in the forum portion; speakers called on the governing body to acknowledge Pride and raised a process concern about how ordinance changes are initiated.