Clovis approves anti-camping ordinance

Despite about a dozen protestors outside, Clovis city commissioners at their regular meeting Thursday voted to adopt an ordinance forbidding camping on city property, including parks.

The ordinance is seen by some as a public safety measure and by others as an affront to the homeless.

The proposal first appeared in July, in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court greenlighting a similar ordinance in Grants Pass, Ore.

A first violation of the new ordinance will be met with a written warning or community service. A second violation may be met with a fine of up to $100. Subsequent violations carry a fine of up to $300 or possible jail time.

The vote on the matter was unanimous.

Mayor Mike Morris opened discussion.

"This is not an attack on the homeless. It is not. It is to protect the integrity of our parks," Morris said.

He added, "We don't want to see happen to our parks like has happened in Albuquerque," where some have complained homeless encampments have taken over some areas.

Commissioner Megan Palla said the "overwhelming number of calls I received on the ordinance supported it."

Clovis High School teacher Ben Wight said he'd been working with the homeless for 20 years.

Wight said Clovis has a poverty rate of 22%.

"I probably have 30 or 40 students at or below the poverty level," Wight said.

Justin Nutt, operator of Nurstead Mental Health & Consulting, the area's mobile crisis provider, told commissioners he's glad the issue came up and he offered services to help the homeless.

Area businessman Sid Strebeck, representing the Matt 25 Hope Center, said he was glad the issue came up also, and with the attention the Matt 25 crew will be working on the problem.

Area native Kip DeFoor expressed support for the ordinance and expressed concern over a growing drug problem in the city, saying he won't allow his wife and daughter to go out after dark.

"The people are in their situation by their choice," DeFoor said.

Clovis Police Department Deputy Chief Trevor Thron told commissioners coming down hard on the homeless is not the police department's top priority.

"Our first response is to get people connected up with resources, not put them in jail," Thron said.

Thron added CPD is looking into vouchers to help the homeless.

Commissioner Gene Porter took issue with those who are against the ordinance.

"I'm disappointed in some of the things being said. We (commissioners) are not evil. There is a willful attempt to mischaracterize this ordinance and the commission," Porter said.

Before the meeting began, Laura Wight, co-founder of the area group Eastern New Mexico Rising, said she'd like data from the city that camping on city property is an actual problem.

"We're recommending the city make up a task force made up of commissioners, people from community organizations, The Lighthouse Mission, United Way of Eastern New Mexico, churches, teenagers, to come up with a remedy," Wight said.

In other business:

• Commissioners heard a presentation from Kate Bailey of Initium Health of Denver regarding the proposed regional behavioral health facility.

The facility is planned to serve Clovis, Portales, Fort Sumner, Curry, Roosevelt, DeBaca, Quay and Union counties.

A site for the facility has already been bought on West 21st Street near Plains Regional Medical Center.

Bailey said the projected cost for the facility will be $6.8 million to $8.5 million with completion set for November 2026.

Capital outlay funds of $10 million were provided by the 2024 state Legislature.

Bailey said the first phase of the center will be as a "Crisis Triage Center" offering "observational service" and "residential care service."

Much of the facility's revenue, 80%, is expected to come from Medicaid.

• Commissioners accepted a legislative grant from the 2024 Legislature for $525,000 to be used for firefighter and EMS personnel recruitment.

• Commissioners approved a plan to replace the solar power generating system at the Clovis Civic Center.

According to details in the city's agenda packet, the existing system, installed in 2011, was anticipated to last 20 years.

Problems have developed with pigeons nesting under the system, wires have been compromised and there is severe degradation of the solar panels due to pigeon droppings.

The system was evaluated and it is recommended to replace the system.

Cost to replace the system is $385,641 plus state gross receipts tax.

The system would qualify for incentives up to $115,692 through the Investment Tax Credit Direct Pay option, potentially reducing the cost to $229,949.

Based on the average monthly electric bill (assuming the system negates all charges) it would take approximately five years to recoup the capital costs of the new system.