Clovis officials choose Boutique Airlines proposal

CLOVIS — The Clovis city commission is hopeful local travelers can soon head north or east when they plan a trip from Clovis Municipal Airport.

The commission voted unanimously to accept a proposal from Boutique Airlines for 18 federally subsidized round-trip flights weekly — 12 to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and six to Denver International Airport.

Boutique has served Clovis since June 2014 with Essential Air Service. Throughout its time in Clovis, Civil Aviation Board members have inquired about the possibility of splitting up the 18 flights between Dallas and either Denver or Albuquerque Sunport.

The subsidy from the Federal Aviation Administration will vary between $4.37 million and $5.34 million, depending on what planes Boutique uses for the flights. The lower cost is for its current fleet of Pilatus PC-12 planes, and the higher would be for the larger King Air 350. Commissioners expressed a preference for the latter, due to its larger allowances for luggage.

Commissioners didn’t discuss two other carriers offering flights — Servant Air, which offered 18 round-trips to DFW, and Southern Airways, which offered a Dallas-Albuquerque split while using non-pressurized Cessna Caravans.

Two residents, both in Clovis with families stationed at Cannon Air Force Base, endorsed Boutique. Ellie Smith said it was nice to be able to fly the first half of trips home without leaving Clovis, while Emily Heiden said she only needed a few hours to find five dozen people in favor of a Dallas-Denver split.

Mayor Pro Tem Juan Garza said one of the most convincing calls he got came not from a constituent, but a Denver resident who has a new grandchild in Clovis.

“I think it’s going to be a win-win for the citizens of Clovis,” Garza said.

Commissioners addressed a pair of issues that have arisen with Boutique’s flights —cancellations and handicapped access.

Regarding cancellations, Airport Manager Joshua Matekovic said Boutique has just purchased three additional PC-12s as backup options if there are maintenance issues. On handicapped access, the conversation is still ongoing.

Teresa Mesman, who has been with Boutique for two years, said she recalls three inquiries about handicapped customers using the flights. Two were phone call inquiries with no follow-up, and the other was a person who visited the airport and decided on other travel options after reviewing the planes.

Donnie Lewellen, who chairs the aviation board, said an issue is the doors are too small for a wheelchair to fit, while Mesman noted going through the alternate cargo door is prohibited.

Assistant City Manager Claire Burroughes said EAS language said handicapped customers can be accommodated “by any means available,” and she is communicating with the FAA on the matter.

Commissioner Chris Bryant added an amendment to the motion to accept, directing the commission to continue discussions on handicapped access. The amendment, along with the proposal, was unanimously accepted.

The deal is pending FAA approval.

Meetings watch

The Clovis city commission met Thursday at the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Public Library. Mayor David Lansford chaired the meeting. Commissioners Sandra Taylor-Sawyer and Ladona Clayton did not attend.

Unless otherwise noted, items listed below passed on 6-0 votes.

• Commissioners voted to retain Juan Garza as Mayor Pro Tem, the person within the commission who performs mayor duties in the event the mayor is absent. Garza has been in the position since 2014.

• March 24 was declared as “Homer Tankersley Day” in Clovis, one day shy of the clothing store owner’s 91st birthday.

Tankersley arrived in Clovis in 1958 and three years later opened a men’s shop that later expanded into Tankersley’s Clothing Store.

Son Paul Tankersley, one of many family members in attendance, said he has worked with his father at the store for 41 years.

“Not everybody gets to work so long with their father,” Paul Tankersley said. “It’s been my pleasure and honor. I don’t have a better friend.”

• The commission voted 5-1 for a street closure 10 a.m. to noon March 24 between Hilltop Plaza and Seventh Street for a “March for Our Lives” event. The demonstration is part of a series planned nationwide by the Everytown for Gun Safety nonprofit. The group requested a waiver of the $150 street closure and $40 per hour for traffic control during the event, and agreed to help with the city’s trash pickup April 28 in return.

New District 4 Commissioner Rube Render cast the dissenting vote. He said after the meeting he disagreed with the way children were being injected into gun policy debates.

• Bill Bargman was chosen to serve on the Lodger’s Tax Advisory Board. He replaces Don David, who declined to run for another term. The board meets quarterly and makes recommendations on disbursing tax dollars received through an add-on tax at local hotels.

Jonathan Wilson also applied for the position. The commission vote was a 3-3 split — Garza, Render and Chris Bryant selected Bargman, while Gary Elliott, Fidel Madrid and Helen Casaus selected Wilson. Lansford, who only votes to break ties, selected Bargman.

• Commissioners approved submitting an application for state designation of opportunity zones in the city. As part of 2017 tax reform, opportunity zones were created as a designation to unlock favorable capital gains treatment for investments in those areas.

Governors have up to 120 days from Dec. 22 of last year to designate up to 25 percent of qualified Census tracks as opportunity zones, and the city has until Wednesday to apply. City grant writer Garry Johnson apologized for the short timeframe, but noted he was informed of the application process one week prior.

• Commissioners approved NCA Architects to do design work for a new senior facility.

Although Clovis voters overwhelmingly voted down property tax increases to help fund senior center construction, the city has grant money from the state specifically for the design. City Purchasing Agent Bryan Jones said tweaks could be made down the road, but the city will lose the grant money if it’s not spent before 2019 and, “It’s not going to get any cheaper to design it down the road.”

Render asked if the money could be used to design a facility renovation, noting potential new vacant building options. Burroughes said the grant was tied to new construction.

• The next commission meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. April 5 at the North Annex of the Clovis-Carver Public Library.