City Council

MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING ARTESIA, NEW MEXICO JUNE 24, 2025 The City Council of the City of Artesia, New Mexico met in the City Council Chambers at City Hall on Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 5: 00 p.m. in regular session with Mayor Jonathan Henry presiding, and the following present to wit: Ignacio Mariscal George Mullen Jeff Youtsey Raul Rodriguez Richard Townley Jarod Moreau Michael Bunt Also present: City Clerk/ Treasurer Summer Valverde City Attorney Cas Tabor Fatima Salinas Deputy City Clerk Absent Wade Nelson( joined in 5: 20pm) It was determined that a quorum was present. The invocation was given by Councilor Rodriguez, all joined in the Pledge of Allegiance. New Requests for City Facilities: A. ` Ratification of Mayor Henry' s approval for Artesia Arts Council to hold a Star Spangle Fun Run on July 4, 2025, from 7am— 9pm. Request approval of road closures as stated on the application. Councilor Rodriguez moved to approve. Seconded by Councilor Mullen and upon vote, the motion passed. B. Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church request to hold their 15t Annual Fall Fiesta 5k Run/ Walk event on September 20, 2025, from 7am to 10am. Contingent upon proof of insurance. Councilor Rodriguez moved to approve. Seconded by Councilor Moreau and upon vote, the motion passed. City Departments and Employees None Special Reports None. Period for Hearing Visitors None. Consent Agenda Councilor Bunt moved to approve the consent as written. Seconded by Councilor Rodriguez and upon vote, the motion passed. CONSENT AGENDA June 24, 2025  Minutes. June 24, 2025 Page 2 1. Approval of Minutes June 03, 2025, Special Meeting June 10, 2025, Special Meeting Termination Hearing June 10, 2025 2. Consideration of Bids: 3. Contracts, Leases and Agreements: A. * Approval of Agreement A- 25- 47 Memorandum of Understanding between the Eddy County DWI Program and the City of Artesia for FY26 4. Appointments: A. 5. Personnel Resignations, Hirings, Promotions, and Transfers: Upon recommendation of the Mayor, subject to successful completion of required pre- employment testing, permission to: A. * Hire: Name Department Position Rate of Pay 1. Saul Peralta Cemetery Equipment Operator $ 2600 p/ mo CA11 2. * Hire Logan Hammer subject to successful completion of required pre- employment testing: A. Temporary summer Library position-$ 12. 00/ hr 3. 4. 5. B. Ratification: 1. Rhonda Davis Solid Waste Equipment Operator $ 3282. 93 p/ mo CA15 C. Promotion: Name Department Position Rate of Pay 1. Stephen Drake Police Sergeant 6, 718. 40/ pmo CAP9 Step 1 2. Manuel J. Lara to temporarily assume the duties of Finance Supervisor effective June 10, 2025. This will be a 10% temporary increase in salary. D. Demotion: E. Transfer: F. Resignation: 1. Accept the resignation of Alejandro Dominguez, Water Tech, Water, effective June 9, 2025. 2. Accept the separation of Howard V. Bishop, Equipment Operator II, Streets, effective June 9, 2025. 6. Dates of Hearing: 7. Travel and Training: A. Police— Permission for one( 1) employee to attend the NMPET Conference in Albuquerque, NM. B. Finance— Permission for one( 1) employee to attend the FSLA online. 8. Routine Requests for City Facilities: 9. Routine Resolutions( to be assigned a number by staff): 10. Budgeted Items: 11. Quarterly Journal Entries: 12. Non- budgeted Items: 13. * Payment of Bills Public Hearings— including consideration of final passage of any ordinance as to which proper notice has been published. Mayor Henry Mayor Henry sought a motion to go into public hearings. Councilor Rodriguez moved to go into public hearings. Seconded by Councilor Mullen and upon roll call, with the following votes recorded: Aye: Townley, Youtsey, Mullen, Moreau, Rodriguez, Bunt, Mariscal Nay: None. The motion passed.  Minutes, June 24, 2025 Page 3 A. * Consideration and approval of Case No. 25- 04, A Variance to Replat Lot 11, Block 50 of the Artesia Improvement Company addition, City of Artesia the County of Eddy, in Section 17, Township 17S, Range 26E and to Vacate 6. 45 Sf of Right of Way where the second home' s porch is encroaching. Owner: Jace& Isela Ragland Address: 611 W Dallas Ave& 605 S 7th St Infrastructure Director Byron Landfair greeted mayor and council and presented Case No. 25- 04. Mr. Landfair explained the applicant is requesting a variance to replat and continued with explanation. Mr. Landfair stated staff does not support the variance request due to the size of the proposed lots. The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the variance request on their regular meeting, May 21, 2025. Mr. Landfair explained they are going to try to split these lots into two and explained that this kind of what was done about six months ago to another property we approved. a. Staff comments b. Public comments— none. c. City Attorney comments/ questions.- None d. Council comments/ questions— Councilor Mullen asked if there were w meters separating already. Mr. Landfair responded they have applied for two separate meters. Discussion took place over the comparison from the one six months ago and the current applicant request. e. Entertain a motion and second from Council— Councilor Bunt moved to approve. Seconded by Mayor Pro tern Youtsey and Councilor Mullen and upon roll call, with the following votes recorded: Aye: Mariscal, Bunt, Rodriguez, Moreau, Mullen, Youtsey, Townley Nay: None. The motion passed. f. Council action i. Approve/ Disapprove Case No. 25- 04. Adjourn Public Hearings— Mayor Henry Councilor Rodriguez moved to adjourn public hearings. Seconded by Councilor Mariscal and upon roll call, with the following votes recorded: Aye: Mullen, Youtsey, Townley, Mariscal, Bunt, Rodriguez, Moreau Nay: None. The motion passed Comments from Public Officials and Contracted Services None. Committee Reports A. Budget and Finance— None. B. Personnel— Councilor Mullen reported meeting was held on the 8th and discussion was over combining BR and Safety Coordinator, and entry pay of$ 15 to$ 15. 25 but not approved, and discussed city operations manager. C. Police and Fire— Councilor Moreau reported no meeting, but he had a meeting with Chief over AXON. D. Safety— None. E. Recreation— Councilor Rodriguez reported summer rec going well. Mayor commented the parks are looking good. F. Infrastructure/ Planning( Streets, Garage, Cemetery, Parks, Water, Wastewater, Solid Waste, Facility Maintenance, Project Management, Code Enforcement, Permits and Inspections)— None. G. Government— Mayor Pro tern reported discussion was over City Administrator vs City Manager which is on the agenda this evening. Personnel None Public Safety  Minutes, June 24, 2025 Page 4 A. Police Department: 1) * Consideration and approval for Artesia Police Department to accept Quote from AXON. Chief Roberts greeted mayor and council and presented the AXON quote. Discussion took place over AXON quote. Councilor Bunt moved to approve. Seconded by Councilor Nelson and upon vote, the motion passed. 2) * Consideration and approval to donate/ transfer to the Santa Rosa Police Department: a. Unit# 25 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe Vin# 1GNLC2E02CR322168 b. Unit# 32 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe Vin# 1 GNLC2E06DR178092 c. Unit# 38 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe Vin# 1 GNLC2E0XER177254 Councilor Rodriguez moved to approve. Seconded by Councilor Mullen and Councilor Mariscal and upon vote, the motion passed. B. Fire Department: Chief Hope greeted mayor and council stated he had nothing on the agenda and stood for questions. Councilor Mariscal asked about what was legal of fireworks to be lit in city limits. Chief Hope responded they are going around checking the stands in city limits but there are some county stands they done regulate. Infrastructure Infrastructure Director Byron Landfair greeted mayor and council and updated council on projects. 1) * Discussion and direction on changes to the classification plan. Infrastructure Director Byron Landfair presented classification plan changes and stated that Mayor Pro tem proposed to add 250 to CA11, to the lowest on the scale and stated the pros and cons of the changes. Mayor Henry stated when the comprehensive plan was done three years ago it was discussed of a scale between minimum wage, $ 15, or a high of$ 17, and it was decided by council to go with the middle of the scale which was$ 15. Discussion took place over the changes of the classification plan. Direction was given to staff and leave the classification plan as is for now and wait until next budget cycle and look at CA11 and the impact it will to budget and eliminating CA36 thru CA60 from the steps. City Attorney None City Clerk City Clerk Summer Valverde greeted mayor and council and asked Jessica Hope to share and update the council with upcoming exhibits. Ms. Hope introduced herself and announced the upcoming exhibit, July 1st, Stones and Bones; updates on our website; updates on the foundation and members; and gave the url: artesiamuseum. org for the council and public. A. * Consideration and approval of Resolution 1908 for the Runway 4/ 22 Rehabilitation— Design Phase Services. Ms. Valverde presented Resolution 1908. Councilor Rodriguez moved to approve. Seconded by Councilor Mullen and upon vote, the motion passed.  Minutes, June 24, 2025 Page 5 RESOLUTION 1908 B. * Consideration and approval of Resolution 1909 for Participation in the Capital Outlay Program Administration by New Mexico Department of Transportation. Ms. Valverde presented Resolution 1909. Councilor Rodriguez moved to approve. Seconded by Councilor Mullen and upon vote, the motion passed. RESOLUTION 1909 C. * Consideration and approval of Resolution 1910 Budget Adjustment for the 2024- 2025 Budget. Ms. Valverde presented Resolution 1910. Councilor Rodriguez moved to approve. Seconded by Councilor Mullen and upon vote, the motion passed RESOLUTION 1910 D. * Consideration and approval for public celebration permit to NMRLD for Wild West Fest to utilize Pecos Flavors, LLC. City Clerk Valverde presented the celebration permit for Wild West Fest to utilize Pecos Flavors, LLC. Councilor Moreau moved to approve. Seconded by Councilor Rodriguez and Councilor Mariscal and upon vote, the motion passed. City Clerk Valverde also gave updated on upcoming Library events and Senior Center. Mayor A. * Consideration and approval for agreement between the City of Artesia and the Department of Economic Development. Mayor Henry presented the agreement. City Clerk Valverde explained the agreement. Councilor Moreau moved to approve. Seconded by Councilor Rodriguez and upon vote, the motion passed. Mayor Henry introduced the new director of Artesia MainStreet, Laura Conklin. B. Consider, discuss and potentially take action to 1) propose an Ordinance to establish the position of a City Manager in the City of Artesia, with the duties set forth in New Mexico Statutes; or 2) pass a resolution to create a Director/ City Administrator position to oversee and organize the various departments of the City, follow up on projects, and assist the Mayor in the performance of his duties. Mayor Henry opened for discussion to 1) establish the position of a City Manager 2) creating a Director/City Administrator 3) and/ or create another Director. Mayor Pro tern Youtsey commented for the public' s knowledge, that if the city were to go the route of a city manager the city is changing its form of government, legally. City Attorney Cas Tabor explained the duties of a city manager and how it would be changed by ordinance. Councilor Moreau asked for a better clarification of direction for the choices given. Mayor Henry stated we need to look at either going in a direction of 1, 2 or 3 and make a final decision and create that position and move forward with that decision. Mayor Pro tern request to direct staff to look at option 2 or 3 and give council information what this option 3 would look like and responsibilities would look like.  Minutes, June 24, 2025 Page 6 Mayor Henry stated option 3 would be adding another director and moving departments under that. If we go with option 2, City Administrator would be Mayor, City Council, City Administrator, then Director' s. What was discussed on that, the City Administrator does not have fire/ hire authority of director' s that still falls with the governing body. It would help work with directors, council, and mayor on projects to move in the right direction. That would be the difference of 2 and 3. Discussion took place of the difference of options 2 and 3. Councilor Moreau stated with the discussion of option 2 and 3, would it be safe to state that taking the city manager, option 1, off the table and only deciding on options 2 and 3. Councilor Bunt and Mayor Pro tem Youtsey agreed. Discussion took place over job descriptions and duties for a new position. Mayor Henry stated putting out title Government Affairs Director, Administrator or City Operations Coordinator position with two different types of duties and come back next meeting with the intent to make a decision then. New or other business from Councilors Councilor Mariscal wished a Happy Fourth of July to all. Councilor Rodriguez congratulated and gave thanks to Carlsbad Cavern City Theater and the Aquatic Center. Mayor Henry thanked the department heads for their hard work and employees, Museum, Senior Center, and the Great Artesia Foundation for their donation. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7: 14 P. M. on June 24, 2025. Jonathan He , ayor ATTEST: Su er a ver e- City Clerk/ Treasurer lllldti,, CiT m • rn v NCO iiil tt `