Portales council approves outlay request list

PORTALES — At their Tuesday night meeting, Portales city councilors approved the city’s 2017 capital outlay request list.

According to City Manager Sammy Standefer, the list was up for approval so that it could be given to the city’s legislators to ask for funding during the January legislative session.

The list included the top five items from the city’s infrastructure and capital improvement plan, as well as the amount requested.

The top five items on the ICIP were well field improvements ($395,000), fire protection and water circulation upgrades ($175,000), new fire department substation ($300,000), new Portales Police headquarters ($150,000), and cemetery expansion ($50,000).

While the Portales Police headquarters were on the list, Standefer said that he did not feel the project was likely to receive the requested funds.

“I do see that we would get 25 or 50 for land acquisition and purchase of property, or potentially some design, but at this point, with us not having a location, I really wouldn’t foresee that we would get a full 150 for that,” he said.

The following were actions taken at the Portales City Council meeting Tuesday in the Memorial Building:

• Mayor Sharon King presented a proclamation declaring the week of December 4-10 as “DWI Awareness Week.”

• Councilors approved the ratification of the city’s bills for November 2016.

According to Finance Director Marilyn Rapp, bills in November totaled $1.3 million.

“These were all pretty much standard from expenses of the city,” Rapp said.

• Councilors approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign the Emergency Medical Services Fund Act grant application with the New Mexico Department of Health Emergency Medical Services Bureau for the 2018 fiscal year.

According to Portales Fire Chief Gary Nuckols, the resolution is brought before the council each year to receive funding from DOH to assist with EMS operation expenses.

“In this fiscal year, we received $18,459, and we usually can expect anywhere from $15-20,000. It just depends on the funding, how many services are eligible for funding, and the economy in the state of New Mexico as well,” Nuckols said. “These funds will basically pay for EMS supplies and equipment, training. That’s pretty much what we apply for every year.”

• Councilors approved a resolution amending the city’s procurement and purchasing policy.

Chief Procurement Officer Carla Weems said the amendments would correct language within the policy, as well as raise the price limit for the city to obtain quotes.

“We’re having difficulty finding multiple vendors that will give us quotes, and so we wanted to raise it from $1,000 to $5,000 before we have to go out for quotes,” she said.

• Councilors approved contracts between the city and multiple businesses for various service categories.

According to Public Works Director John DeSha, the contracts grant the city the ability to call the business for services such as plumbing or electrical work at a set price, without having to receive a quote.

Businesses approved for contracts include K. Barnett and Sons, Inc. (roadway construction and related services), L&J Well Service, Inc. (water well field services), Two Horse Construction (general contracting services), and W.T. Denton Mechanical, Inc. (plumbing and HVAC services).

• Councilors approved a notice of intent to adopt an ordinance amending and modifying the a section of the Portales city code regarding purchases of real property by the city.

Standefer said that the amendment would make only one appraisal necessary in purchasing property, rather than the city’s requirement of two.

Standefer also presented an amendment in the notice of intent that would allow the city to make an appraisal six months prior to a purchase.

• Councilors approved a request for approval for a variance that would encroach into front yard setbacks at 808 North Avenue N.

According to Planning Director Donna Rutherford, the variance would allow the owners to construct a garage in the front of their property.

“The proposed garage would be built to match the facade of their house. The garage will extend 10 feet into the required setback of 20 feet,” she said.