Leash ordinance up for final vote

CLOVIS — The city of Clovis may unleash changes to city code that would penalize those who leave their animals unleashed.

Up for final vote during Thursday’s city commission meeting is Ordinance 2120-2019, which would require any dog owner to leash his or her dog with leash no longer than 8 feet while it is not on the owner’s property.

The ordinance was introduced during an April meeting, with proponents saying the changes close loopholes that hinder law enforcement. Critics of the measure say responsible pet owners are punished with a law that does little to curb the threat of animals running loose.

Also on the Thursday agenda:

• Introduction of an ordinance to eliminate existing city zoning and subdivision regulations and replace them with a Unified Development Ordinance.

The UDO, which largely brings code up to date while preserving existing zones, was discussed during public hearings and recommended 5-0 by the planning and zoning committee.

• A resolution in support of awarding a state racing and gaming license to any of the three applicants who have submitted applications to the state.

• Introduction of an ordinance to increase the frequency of lodgers tax advisory board meetings.

If introduced and later approved, the ordinance would establish meetings for the board on the first Tuesday of every odd-numbered month, as opposed to its current quarterly format.

City Manager Justin Howalt said the current meeting structure has become cumbersome, with recent meetings containing more than a dozen in-depth presentations.

• The commission will also decide on $65,500 in recommendations from a special Lodgers Tax Advisory Board meeting last week. The board recommended $500 each for the Clovis Rock ’N’ Roll Tournament and two separate dominoes championships, $1,000 for a Knights of Columbus organizational meeting, $4,000 for a Rotary Club “Painting a Better Story” event and $5,000 for a Curry County Events Center anniversary celebration.

The Clovis/Curry County Chamber of Commerce accounts for $54,000 of the recommendations — $30,000 for its events coordinator’s salary, $20,000 for 2019-20 New Mexico True tourism funding and $4,000 to pay postage costs for the community profile and tourism packets.

• Approval of a preliminary 2019-2020 budget of $50.015 million. That’s up from the 2018-19 preliminary budget of $46.423 million, with most of the difference reflected in business enterprise center expenses funded through capital outlay.

• Reappointment of Kenneth Chretien on the Clovis Housing and Redevelopment Agency.

• Appointment of Kevin Cass as District 3’s representative for the city’s economic incentive board.

• A vote for appointment of one citizen member for the planning and zoning commission, with the vacancy created through the resignation of Carolyn Spence. Three have applied for the position.

• Awarding of a $214,000 bid to K. Barnett and Sons for Main Street sidewalk and Americans With Disabilities Act improvements.

• Application to the state department of transportation seeking grant monies for the third phase of the Seventh Street project, and for construction of a roundabout at Humphrey road and NM 523.

• The meeting will be preceded by a 4:45 p.m. executive session to discuss pending or threatened litigation.