City manager reports budget progress, recent property purchases; council holds closed session on personnel

City Manager Aaron Sera updated the Deming City Council on budget work and several recent property actions during the May 19, 2026 remote meeting. He said budget preparation and the public presentation process had taken substantial time and would continue the following day. The minutes record that the city closed on Allsup's property that day and that the city purchased Balboa with grant funding to be used for transitional housing; however, the planned renovation was estimated to exceed $1,000,000 so the minutes note the city would not proceed with that level of renovation. The record also states lead and asbestos remediation at Balboa had been completed.

Sera reported that a nearby solar project lies in the county, not the city limits, and that the applicable solar statute "does not allow for any intervention" by the city in that county project. The minutes also note the city owns and maintains several farms.

Following the managerial updates the council voted to enter a closed session pursuant to NMSA 1978, 10-15-1(H)(2) to discuss limited personnel matters regarding appointed employee evaluations and contract negotiations. Councilor Julian Monjaras moved to enter closed session and Mayor Pro Tem Laura Parra seconded; the motion carried on roll call. After returning to open session, Mayor Shillito stated that "only those items listed on the agenda were discussed and that no motions were made during the closed session." The meeting then adjourned at 6:47 p.m.

The minutes record the factual manager updates and the closed-session authority and outcome but do not provide dollar amounts for property transactions, the exact grant amount for Balboa, or details of personnel discussions because those matters were either not included in the minutes or were discussed in closed session.