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CITY OF TUCUMCARI MINUTES December 20, 2007
The Tucumcari City Commission met for their regular meeting on Thursday, December 20, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers. Members present constituting a quorum were, Jim Lafferty, Antonio Apodaca, Robert Lumpkin, Jim Witcher, and Christopher Maestas.
City staff members present were John R. Sutherland, Jr., City Manager; Marty Garcia, Finance Director/Assistant City Manager; Jeannette Maddaford, City Clerk/Assistant Finance Director; Clara Rey, Administrative Assistant; Doug Powers, Community Development Director; Yvette Fazekas, Grant Writer; Daniel Lopez, Police Department Consultant; Mike Cherry, Fire Chief; Max Jimenez, Parks Superintendent; Alex Madrid, Street & Sanitation Superintendent; Suzann Martin, Senior Citizen Director; and Howie Tucker, Golf Professional.
Ray Aragon, Deacon of St. Anne’s Catholic Church, led the invocation and Commissioner Lumpkin led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Consideration of Additions/ Deletions
None
Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Commissioner Lumpkin and seconded by Commissioner Witcher to approve the minutes of the December 13, 2007 regular Commission meeting. Roll Call:
Lumpkin Witcher Maestas Lafferty Apodaca Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Approval of Vouchers
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Witcher and seconded by Commissioner Maestas to approve the City vouchers. Roll Call:
Witcher Maestas Lafferty Apodaca Lumpkin Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Items from Citizens
None
City Manager’s Report
As City Manager John R. Sutherland, Jr. reported the reason he was having different department heads give reports at City Commission meetings was to establish base lines as a preliminary step prior to establishing benchmarks. Fire Chief Mike Cherry reported that the statistics he was presenting are required monthly by the State Fire Marshall’s Office. During the month of November there were 11 fire related calls and 149 for the year. EMS had 101 total ambulance calls for the month of November. He noted that the law on minimum wage would go into effect on January 1, 2008, which will affect the payment of overtime. The legislature has promised to take action on the overtime law as soon as they go into session. But until they do, it will cost entities that have employees who do shift work and have been paying with compensatory time rather than overtime pay. He reported that some entities are hiring additional employees, but there are not that many trained EMT’s that would be available in Tucumcari to work the overtime. Mayor Apodaca asked about the Medicare payments and Cherry reported that Medicare and Medicaid both slow down on their payment processing at the end of the calendar year in order to get their books closed and will pick up the payments in late January.
Pat Vanderpool, Greater Tucumcari Economic Development Executive Director, gave a presentation on the progress that has been made in the last six months by giving an overview of the goals and objectives that has been established by the Greater Tucumcari Economic Development Commission as of June 2007 when he began as Executive Director. Also each Commissioner received an invitation to Quay Day to be held in Santa Fe on Wednesday, January 23, 2008. Vanderpool noted that job growth trends were analyzed and compared to compatibility with local assets. He emphasized that Tucumcari and Quay County are well positioned for both Research & Development and Testing & Evaluation of new technologies as well the manufacturing of products and development of services. He reviewed the Five Year Plan targets and what needed to be done in the categories of infrastructure, workforce development, marketing strategy, and research tools. He reported that Mesalands Community College had completed an environment scan that EDC piggybacked on rather than recreating. He also noted that two major statewide summits are scheduled for Tucumcari. The Renewable Energy Summit is set for April 2 & 3 and noted that Commissioner Lumpkin sits on that Planning Committee. He noted that this is an informational Summit that is geared for everyone. Also the Governor’s Economic Development Summit will be held on October 1, 2, & 3, 2008, which will coincide with the Tucumcari Rotary Air Show. By securing these two events to happen in Tucumcari, there will be some extensive trade shows here as well the City and County being showcased. There will be additional activities held with the State Economic Development Department. The business community nationwide is going almost exclusively to websites, blogs, and other electronic media to gather information about communities, so EDC will be directing traffic to the new website tucumcari.biz where they can obtain all the information they need about Tucumcari. Under the website, tucumcari.biz, it says wind and water. These are significant key words in terms of what the economic community sees as the future of our economy. Wind is seen as a true economic driver and water is seen as basic to community survival as well as an economic driver. Tucumcari/Quay County has wind, which means to our area the North American Wind Research Center and water means sustainable community plus economic opportunity because of Ute Lake Ranch. These two words will be parlayed into economic opportunity to attract attention to Quay/Tucumcari. He stated that there have been several projects that had been percolating for a few years and they are beginning to take root, including the Wind Center at the College. He also stated that 2008 is going to be a good year for Quay County. He noted that he and his wife, Colette, were happy to be in Tucumcari and be part of the community and part of the process. Commissioner Lafferty congratulated Vanderpool on the presentation and stated that the document was unbelievable. He reported that many times it has been said how important it is to go to Santa Fe and stand arm in arm as Quay Countians to sell ourselves to the powers there and the document presented does just that. Commissioner Lumpkin stated that he and Pat had worked on renewable energy projects on the national level, and he was excited when Pat Vanderpool came to Tucumcari to accept the Economic Development Executive Director position. Mayor Apodaca asked about the status of the Ethanol Plant. Vanderpool stated that it is under construction and four trucks were on their way to the site loaded with equipment. At the present time, they are planning to have a ribbon cutting for the Renewable Energy Summit in April. When asked about the Racino, he stated that Tucumcari is still in the running and in great shape.
Manager Sutherland noted that this time marks a good time to look back on what has been accomplished in the past year and also to look forward to the coming year. He thanked the staff and everyone who has worked with him this year for all the hard work and it will be more of the same in the coming year. He wished everyone a Merry Christmas.
Bids and Contracts
Yvette Fazekas, Community Development Grant Writer, presented a Joint Powers Agreement with the Tucumcari Board of Education to manage their 2007-2008 Cooperative Transportation Project No. SP-4-08(926) to construct Gamble Avenue from Fourth Street to Fifth Street in the amount of $25,704 with a 25% match from the Board of Education for $6,426. It was noted that this project would extend to Seventh Street due to being able to piggyback off the Community Development Block Grant Project so this would provide a little more asphalt. Manager Sutherland recommended approval. A motion was made by Commissioner Lumpkin and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Witcher to adopt the Joint Powers Agreement with the Tucumcari Board of Education. Roll Call:
Maestas Lafferty Apodaca Lumpkin Witcher Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Fazekas presented an Agreement with Versatile Construction Inc. for the construction of Gamble Street through the Tucumcari Public Schools 2007-2008 Coop Improvement Project at a cost of $19,699.29. A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Witcher and seconded by Commissioner Lumpkin to approve the Agreement with Versatile Construction for Gamble Street Improvement Project. Sutherland recommended approval, noting this project builds on the MOU with the School that was adopted at the last meeting where the City provides in-kind oversight of the project with no cash expenditure. Roll Call: Lafferty Apodaca Lumpkin Witcher Maestas Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
The second Agreement with Versatile Construction, Inc. was for the City’s 2007-2008 Coop Improvement Project SP-4-08(913) for the side streets Aber, High, and Hancock from Adams to First Street, which will tie into the Grip 2 Project at a cost of $51,959 with $17,319.67 City in-kind. Sutherland recommended approval. A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Witcher and seconded by Commissioner Maestas to approve the Agreement with Versatile for $17,319.67 for the Grip 2 Adams Street Project. Roll Call:
Apodaca Lumpkin Witcher Maestas Lafferty Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Old Business
Mayor Apodaca acknowledged reading the minutes of the Library Board meeting of November 16, 2007 and the Tucumcari Senior Citizens Advisory Board minutes of September 24, 2007.
New Business
An advertisement for the four openings on the Planning and Zoning Commission Advisory board were published in the Quay County Sun with only four applications received. A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Witcher and seconded by Commissioner Maestas to re-appoint Dan Aragon, Michael Burns, Mike Cherry, and Frank Gillard. Roll Call:
Lumpkin Witcher Maestas Lafferty Apodaca Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
City Clerk Maddaford reported that the City advertised for bids for the Airport AVGas fuel and JET A fuel and received one responsive bid from Ascent Aviation Group, Inc. Sutherland recommended approval. A motion was made by Commissioner Maestas and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Witcher to award the bid to Ascent Aviation Group, Inc. Roll Call:
Witcher Maestas Lafferty Apodaca Lumpkin Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
City Clerk Maddaford reported that the remaining four used City vehicles were advertised in the Quay County Sun for the sealed bid auction and were opened on Tuesday, December 18, 2007. The successful bidders were: Amastaico Montoya, 1996 Crown Victoria-$500; Bree Benavidez-1997 Crown Victoria-$500; Woody Wampler, 1994 Crown Victoria-$200; and Woody Wampler, 1990 Dodge Pickup-$75. A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Witcher and seconded by Commissioner Maestas to award the vehicle bids as listed above. Roll Call:
Maestas Lafferty Apodaca Lumpkin Witcher Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
City Manager Sutherland noted that the City has a Professional Services Agreement with Howie Tucker, the PGA Golf Professional for the Municipal Golf Course, and he has indicated his desire to terminate his agreement and take employment with another golf course. Since there is not a termination clause in the Agreement, both parties have to agree to terminate, so a Negotiated Agreement to Terminate the Golf Professional Contract with Professional Howie Tucker was drafted by the City Manager for the Commissioners’ approval. Howie Tucker, Golf Pro, noted that he had not seen the Negotiated Agreement. He reported that he and Sutherland had talked several times about terminating the contract, but had not come up with any resolution. He asked that an experienced Golf Professional be hired who would run the course professionally and was knowledgeable in turf management. He asked the City to purchase his nine 2004 golf carts for $30,000, which he acquired in July, and that his termination be effective January 1, 2008. Following discussion on the golf carts and termination date, a motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Witcher and seconded by Commissioner Maestas to adopt the Negotiated Agreement to Terminate Golf Professional Contract with an effective date of January 1, 2008 and acknowledge that all merchandise and golf carts owned by Tucker will go with him. Roll Call:
Lafferty Apodaca Lumpkin Witcher Maestas Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Commissioner Lafferty state that he regretted the fact the City did not do a better job working through the Golf Pro contract as the Pro has done everything asked of him. Also it appeared that the employee did not know about the Negotiated Agreement.
Commissioner Lafferty had asked that the topic, Agenda Items from Commissioners, be placed on the agenda. He asked if there was a way the Commissioners could see the agenda prior to distribution to the news media in case topics need to be added or deleted. Mayor Pro Tem Witcher noted that Commissioners could call or come by for an agenda.
Items from Commissioners
Mayor Pro Tem Witcher thanked Howie Tucker for his work and regretted he was leaving, but understood. He wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, especially the City employees.
Commissioner Maestas wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and hoped for a better year next year.
Commissioner Lafferty wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Mayor Apodaca noted that in January the City Commission will be conducting mid-year budget reviews and adopting budget resolution, at that time he would like to have on the agenda discussion of a consulting contract for the Senior Citizens as Clara Rey will be leaving the City and there will be some new employees at the Senior Center as well. He will bring his proposal at that time. Also he asked that discussion of a one-year extension to the City Manager’s contract be on the agenda and consult the attorney to see if it is legal. Also during the budget review, the City needs to discuss getting the Finance Department some additional help since the auditor has noted this as a finding in several of the recent audits. Also he asked to see what dollar impact the new state minimum wage law will have on the City in overtime expense. He acknowledged that the State Legislature would take action as soon as they convene, but that will be several weeks after January 1.
Adjournment
There being no further business, a motion to adjourn was made by Mayor Pro Tem Witcher and seconded by Commissioner Maestas. Time noted 7:35 p.m. Roll Call:
Lumpkin Witcher Maestas Lafferty Apodaca Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
______________________________ Antonio Apodaca, Mayor ATTEST:
____________________________ Jeannette Maddaford, City Clerk
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