City renews contract with Retail Strategies

Clovis city commissioners on Thursday narrowly approved the renewal of a service agreement between Retail Strategies LLC and the city.

The company is contracted to recruit businesses to Clovis.

Mayor Mike Morris urged renewing the contract, but Commissioner Helen Casaus objected.

Casaus has asserted that Clovis’ newest businesses have come to town at the urging of North Plains Mall owner Sam Mick and the economic development department at the city’s Chamber of Commerce.

“And the city wasted $160,000 on Retail Strategies,” Casaus said, speaking of the $40,000 per year the city spent on the company in the past four years.

Casaus made a motion to deny the approval of the contract with Retail Strategies. Mayor Pro Tem Chris Bryant seconded her motion, but commissioners ultimately approved another one-year contract for $40,000. The vote was 5-3 for the renewal.

Also Thursday:

• Clovis Civic Center General Manager Sarah Stevens gave her annual report on the center’s operation, telling commissioners it hosted 27 more events than anticipated.

“One of my top goals was to rebuild relationships with clients. I succeeded,” Stevens said.

“The Clovis-Curry County Chamber Banquet is returning this year, the Southwest Cheese Christmas party will be with us, Cannon Air Force Base annual awards will be with us,” Stevens said.

She listed other events that brought in money: $19,497 from the “Around the World” dinner series, $12,935 from the regular “Why Not Wednesday” events, $10,832 from regular Bunco games, $2,960 from the Sweetheart Dinner and $911 from afternoon teas.

After the meeting, Stevens said the Civic Center had been budgeted to lose $422,109 for the year. The extra events reduced that loss to $363,743, she said.

• Parks & Recreation Department Director Russell Hooper appeared before commissioners to request a funds transfer to put two basketball courts in Hillcrest Park.

The department has received a quote of $180,234 for the new courts and a quote of $60,000 for lighting.

The Parks and Recreation Department has $80,000 that it can use from the already approved Capital Improvement funds.

The department would need to transfer the remaining $160,000.

The funds were approved and will be transferred from Fund 61 Special Parks Cash Reserve.

• Willy Griego, vice chair of New Mexico Employer Support of Guard and Reserve, came to town from Santa Rosa to present an ESGR award to the city.

• Nancy Anne Stressman and her daughter Samantha Stressman gave a presentation to commissioners on Constitution Week, which ends Monday.

• Karl Korff of the area Adopt-a-Pet Society addressed the commission on the work of the society in the rescue of four puppies left in a Clovis dumpster.

Korff reported two of the puppies died but the other two will make it and offers are coming in to adopt the pups.