The January 10 Artesia City Council meeting commenced with determination of quorum, an invocation, and the pledge of allegiance. 

 

City Departments and employees were the first item of the agenda. The City of Artesia recognized Mike Deans for over 40 years of outstanding service on the Planning and Zoning Commission from April 1982 to August 2022. Then Police Chief Kirk Roberts passed along recognition from the Office of the Special Agent in Charge of the New Mexico Office of the FBI to the Artesia Police Department. The Artesia Police Department partners with the NM Office of the FBI on School Threat Awareness Training. Artesia’s School Resource Officer (SRO) program is nationally recognized. Artesia’s Commander Horrel and Commander Letcher have traveled around New Mexico and neighboring states with the FBI to offer this training. Demand for the training is increasing and requests are coming in from around the country. 

 

There were no special reports.

 

The first piece of business was the approval of the consent agenda, which included the December 13 meeting minutes; agreement between the City of Artesia and the New Mexico State Library to administer grants in aid; approval to hire an equipment operator II in the Streets Department, equipment operator in the Solid Waste Department, van driver I at the Commission on Aging; approval to transfer to a Prof. Stand. & Training Coordinator in the Police Department; resignations of the assistant supervisor at the Commission on Aging, museum clerk, certified firefighter/EMTB, firefighter, and a wastewater assistant; setting the public hearing date of January 10, 2023, on whether the Alcohol and Gaming Division of the NM Regulation and Licensing Department to approve or disapprove the transfer of Canopy Liquor License No. 1327 to Touch Down Barbecue, LLC; permission for one employee to attend the NM Fire Chiefs Association board meeting in Santa Fe, one employee to attend NMEdge Online Training through NMSU Edge, one employee to attend the 2023 EduCODE Conference in Las Vegas, NV, and one employee to attend Forensic Technician in Fort Worth, TX. 

 

Next was the public hearings. 

 

The commission approved the opening of the public hearing. There was no public comment. The commissioned approved the Alcohol and Gaming Division of the New Mexico Regulations and Licensing Department’s transfer of ownership of Canopy Liquor license no. 1327 for application 1246149 Los Agaves, LLC doing business as Los Agaves Restaurant, 611 N 8th Street, Artesia, NM 88210. 

 

The commission approved tabling the public hearing on an ordinance to opt into the election of the municipal officers of the City of Artesia in the regular local election. The commission then approved the closing of public hearings.

 

Next was the committee reports.

·      The budget and finance committee has a meeting next week 

·      No personnel committee report

·      No police and fire committee report

·      No planning committee report

·      The recreation committee has a meeting scheduled next week, but may need to reschedule

·      Infrastructure committee will meet on January 19 

·      Government committee met briefly right before Christmas. 

 

Personnel Director Jerry Conde reported no reportable work comp injuries and no city vehicle accidents in December 2022. Conde sought and received approval to amend the paid holidays for City employees to add Martin Luther King Day and Veterans Day to the nine current holidays reaching a new total of 11. Mayor Henry said Cities and Counties around us are offering from 10 to 13 days of paid holidays per year. Councilmen asked how this would effect on-call duties and overtime pay. 

 

Police Chief Kirk Roberts reported overall stats for 2022 were slightly down. The City has over 2000 calls they respond to each year consistently. He also reported an increase in residential and vehicle burglaries recently. Roberts said vehicles that are stolen are ones with unlocked doors. Animal control activity was consistent throughout the year. 

 

Fire Chief Kevin Hope reported December was a record-breaking month at 276 calls. Hope reported on recent new candidate testing with seven applicants and six passing. They currently have five open positions. The Council gave unofficial approval for the Fire Department to over hire in anticipation of retirements and typical dropout from fire academy training. 

 

Director of Community Development Jim McGuire reported they have started citations and have taken two to court. The Council gave the City approval to finalize the facilities management agreement between the City of Artesia and Sports Facilities Management, LLC. after negotiations are complete and approved by the City Attorney. The Council approved Resolution 1816, submission of the local government planning fund grant application. Up to $50,000 may be awarded and will be used for a new comprehensive plan, which was last updated in 2012.  

 

Director of Infrastructure Byron Landfair gave updates on recent project including a water line break last week that left 70 residents without water for 2.5 days. City employees delivered water to those residents. Landfair also reported the City overflowed the lift station last weekend, and the 20th Street project will move on to the next phase in the middle of February. Lighting in Jaycee Park will hopefully be completed in the next month and the dog park is close to completion with a few fixtures and water yet to be installed. He also reported the first 500 feet of chain link fence have been installed on 1st street. A private donor agreed to match the City’s investment so the fence will stretch further south to the area where trees are being vandalized. Landfair shared an upcoming project to add solar lighting to Eagle Draw and a long-term plan to put solar lighting on the walking track.

 

City Attorney Cass Taylor had no report.

 

Next, City Clerk Summer Valverde sought and received approval from the Council for Resolution 1817, adopting a new open meetings resolution and rescind resolution 1774, the previous open meeting resolution. This is an annual housekeeping item to establish open meetings and dates. The only change in the resolution is to change the retreat date from July to February. 

 

During his report Mayor Henry mentioned it’s been almost a year since he started as Mayor and he is looking forward to the Council retreat in February. He thanked the City staff for all their hard work.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 5:57 pm.