Clovis to consider pair of ordinances

CLOVIS — The Clovis city commission will consider introducing a pair of ordinances in its Thursday meeting, with one laying the groundwork to renew a tax for the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System.

The meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. virtually, with broadcasts on Suddenlink Channel 10, the cityofclovis.org website and the city’s Facebook page.

The commission by a 7-1 vote in February 2011 passed Ordinance 1953-2011 to create a 0.25% gross receipts tax “obligated to the Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority for the development, planning, financing, construction, operation and payment of bonds for the Ute Reservoir Pipeline Project.”

The High Plains Patriots citizen group agreed with the viewpoint of the lone dissenting vote, then-Commissioner Randy Crowder, and argued there were better ways to find the money than simply introducing a new tax. Following final passage of the ordinance, the group forced a special election in May. The tax was upheld by a 1,265-1,045 vote.

The tax is coming up again because the original ordinance created a 10-year sunset clause. The ordinance up for introduction Thursday would continue the tax, but provide another sunset opportunity in 2031.

Should the commission give final approval to the ordinance in February, another special election would prove more difficult, due to turnout differences in the prior municipal elections.

A special election to overturn an ordinance, according to the city charter, requires signatures from registered Clovis voters exceeding 20% of the previous municipal election’s turnout.

• A pair of 2011 special elections — the other resulted in overturning an affordable housing plan — each required 456 signatures. A total of 2,276 voters cast ballots in the 2010 election, which featured no mayor’s race and two uncontested commission races.

• In 2021, such a special election would require 900 signatures, as 4,498 citizens cast ballots in the 2020 election which featured a mayor’s race and a commission race with seven candidates.

The city’s current gross receipts tax rate is 8.1875%. A $1,000 television purchased in Clovis would cost $1,081.88, with the water tax accounting for $2.50 of the price.

According to City Finance Director LeighAnn Melancon, the tax has collected $936,670.37 so far this fiscal year, and collected $1,865,734.46 in the 2019-20 fiscal year. In 2018-19, the tax collected $1,824,088.60.

A second ordinance up for introduction would convert two Economic Incentive Board positions from voting to non-voting.

Moving the city manager position and the Clovis Industrial Development Corporation to ex-officio positions would leave nine voting members on the EIB, with administration noting in its request the current voting makeup creates conflicts of interest.

The voting members would consist of two representatives from the banking/finance/accounting professions, a utility service provider representative, an industry representatives, four at-large members nominated from commission districts and one Curry County resident that does not reside within city limits.

Other items on the Thursday agenda include:

• A presentation for Durwood Billington, who is retiring after 20 years with the wastewater treatment plan and leaves as the supervisor.

Later in the meeting, the commission will consider an administrative request to change the wastewater treatment plant superintendent position from hourly to salary. The city is also considering housing the superintendent at the home located at the plant for after-hours oversight, with the city covering half of the monthly rent and electricity and all water, garbage and sewer fees.

• Separate agenda items to apply for grants for the Clovis Municipal Airport for runway approach path indicator lighting, airport ramp and hangar lighting and sign replacement.

• Grant agreements between the city and the state for parks improvements ($75,000), parking lots at municipal parks ($250,000), lighting at Beachum Field ($100,000) and an HVAC system for the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico ($100,000).