Clovis seeking to revive Local Growth Management Committee

After several years of dormancy, the city of Clovis is looking to revive the Local Growth Management Committee to better seek ways to support the mission of Cannon Air Force Base.

Mayor Mike Morris presented a memorandum of agreement to the commission at its regular meeting on Thursday. Morris proposed the name of the committee be changed to Armed Forces Support Committee along with presenting amended duties of the committee.

Morris said the goal of the committee would be to bring in elected representatives from the Clovis-Portales area to review and make recommendations for proposed state legislation and joint powers agreements to facilitate growth at Cannon.

“That (old) committee ran its course, however the effort to support Cannon has not run its course,” Morris said.

According to the agenda packet, the committee would be assisting Cannon in areas including but not limited to:

• Economic development and employment opportunities

• Education

• Equity and inclusion

• Health and social services

• Housing

• Land use

• Public safety and emergency services

• Quality of life

• Transportation

The agreement also states the committee will provide a platform for service members, veterans and their families to submit requests to the parties. Morris said reviving this committee gives Cannon a better opportunity to keep the community informed about major news.

The committee was originally established in 2005 when military installations were being downsized across the country. Assistant City Manager Claire Burroughes said the goal at the time was to keep the base here and to provide a better quality of life to the airmen.

Burroughes said with the 2018 death of former Portales Mayor Sharon King, the old committee slowly became dormant.

Morris and Commissioner George Jones were selected to be the representatives for the city in the newly established committee. Morris said the plan will be presented to Curry County, Roosevelt County and the city of Portales soon, so they can appoint their own representatives.

The newly formed committee will meet quarterly, but a date for the first meeting has yet to be determined.