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Deming council postpones auditor award; manager reports roughly $2M capital outlay, Balboa demolition and Allsup's remediation
Summary
City Manager Aaron Sera told the council that San Juan gas prices are dropping, El Paso Natural Gas Company cannot raise shipping prices until 2027, first-round budget work is complete, and capital outlay is expected to be about $2 million to help cover a mobile crime unit. The council postponed award recommendation for RFP 26-05 and entered a closed session on personnel.
City Manager Aaron Sera reported to the City of Deming Council on April 21 that staff attended a gas-industry conference and are pursuing contacts for price hedging; he said San Juan gas prices are falling and that El Paso Natural Gas Company cannot raise shipping prices until 2027. Sera told council that the city's first round of budget work is complete and that anticipated capital outlay funding is expected to total about $2 million, which will help cover a mobile crime unit; he thanked Representative Jones, Senator Ramos and Governor Grisham for assistance on that allocation.
On procurement, Sera said there were no responses to RFP 26-05 for external-auditor services and that the submission deadline has been extended. Mayor Pro Tem Laura Parra moved and Councilor Julian Monjaras seconded a motion to postpone recommendation for award for RFP 26-05; the council approved the postponement on a roll-call vote with Councilors Westenhofer, Monjaras, Parra and Gutierrez voting AYE.
Sera updated the council on local projects: Balboa demolition was postponed earlier but is now scheduled to begin in about three weeks; remediation for the Allsup's property has been approved, contractors have been hired and the property closing is expected in May. On public-works concerns, Codes Enforcement and the state Department of Transportation are addressing graffiti, and a city 'graffiti park' is in the design stage to provide alternatives to tagging.
The council moved into a closed session on a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Parra under NMSA 1978, 10-15-1(H)(2) to discuss limited personnel matters regarding appointed-employee evaluations and contract negotiations; the council later reconvened in open session and Mayor Shillito stated no actions were taken during the closed session. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Why it matters: The reported $2 million in capital outlay and the timing of demolition and remediation projects influence near-term city operations, public-safety capabilities, and property reuse. Postponing the auditor RFP award leaves procurement timing open pending additional responses.
Next steps: Staff will continue budget work, proceed with Balboa demolition preparations, finalize the Allsup's property closing, and re-solicit or further evaluate responses for RFP 26-05.
