Clovis City Commission approves array of resolutions, contract awards and ordinance introduction

The Clovis City Commission met in regular session and approved a slate of consent items, adopted the city's FY 2024 audit report, introduced an affordable-housing ordinance for subsequent readings, authorized abatement or demolition for several unsafe properties, approved a cart-path construction contract at Colonial Park Golf Course, and extended the city manager's employment contract.

Why it matters: The actions collectively move a set of capital, code-enforcement and policy items forward: the audit completes the city's annual financial review; the affordable housing ordinance establishes a framework to implement tools the Commission adopted earlier; abatement and demolition authorizations respond to repeated public-safety breaches at vacant properties; and the cart-path and personnel actions are near-term operational commitments.

Most notable votes and outcomes (summary of formal items taken): - Consent agenda: Approved (unanimous). Consent items included appointment of a student representative to the Carver Library Board (Cindy Duncan), two economic development summary reports, four residential paving projects, adoption of Resolution No. 3298-2025 (city's eligibility/intention to apply to the New Mexico Department of Transportation for Transportation Alternatives/Recreational Trails funds), and conversion of a human-resources office specialist back to a senior human-resources safety specialist.

- Resolution No. 3296-2025: Adopted to accept and approve the FY 2024 audit. Auditor Farley Venter and Finance Director Leanne Melanson presented; Venter reported unmodified opinions on the financial statements and federal programs and said there were no findings for FY 2024.

- Ordinance (introduction): The Commission approved introduction of a draft ordinance to establish an affordable housing program under the state's Affordable Housing Act (unanimous). Staff noted the ordinance follows a model from Housing New Mexico and allows a range of incentives, including a reference to using the city's portion of municipal gross receipts tax reimbursement as an infrastructure funding source.

- Resolution No. 3297-2025: Adopted in support of the State of New Mexico Outdoor Equity Fund grant program (unanimous).

- Unsafe-building abatement / demo authorizations: The Commission approved action on an unsafe property at 601 Curry (direction to secure most buildings and to demolish the scale house); and authorized abatement/demolition resolutions (Nos. 3300'3305-2025) for properties at 905 Bridal, 421 W. Fifth, 213 MaF1ana, 1221 Traver, 320 Merryweather and 1400 Thornton (all votes recorded as unanimous). For the 601 Curry property staff explained that several buildings are repeatedly broken into and that a Russian-owned company is the recorded owner and currently in bankruptcy; the Commission directed demolition of the scale house and securing of other structures.

- Lodgers Tax disbursements: The Commission accepted the Lodgers Tax Board's recommendations as presented (unanimous). Members debated a funding request from the Lions Club for swag at a statewide Lions conference; commissioners were told the Lodgers Tax panel funded many applicants partially to remain within its available budget.

- Library skylight replacement: The Commission postponed awarding a skylight replacement purchase order for the Clovis Carver Public Library to allow staff to seek and report additional subcontractor bids; proposal on the table was for WWRC Inc. and a skylight product with a total not-to-exceed cost of about $178,329.18 (postponed unanimously).

- City manager contract extension: The Commission approved a five-year extension to the city manager's employment contract with a 4% pay increase (unanimous).

- Cart paths at Colonial Park Golf Course: The Commission approved a contract with Kay Barnett & Sons to build 6-foot-wide cart paths with curbing on selected holes; funding will come from interest earned on ARPA funds.

Next steps and timelines: Introduced ordinances will return for subsequent readings as required by state law. Notices required by the abatement/demolition process will be served to property owners and the statutory timelines will be observed prior to city action. The library skylight award was postponed to the next meeting to allow additional bidding.

Votes at the meeting were recorded as shown in the minutes and by verbal roll call; when specific individual yes/no tallies were given the Commission reported unanimous approval for the listed items.

Ending: The meeting concluded with routine reports, committee updates and scheduling information for upcoming meetings.