Alamogordo City Commission Meeting Details — Oct. 13, 2026

ALAMOGORDO — The Alamogordo City Commission voted 6-0 Tuesday to put the city's last roughly $1 million in economic development funds toward clearing derelict buildings along White Sands Boulevard, after City Manager Bob Stockwell said most past grants from the fund failed to deliver lasting jobs.

The money comes from the city's Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) fund. Stockwell told commissioners the city has spent about $14 million on 22 LEDA projects since the tax was first imposed in 2001. Only three of those projects still operate in Alamogordo, he said; the rest defaulted, or met their commitments and then closed or left town.

"We don't look like a place, when you drive down those thoroughfares, where someone would want to invest substantially," Stockwell said, calling appearance the "common theme" in local economic development discussions.

His recommendation, which the commission adopted, directs him to work with the Chamber of Commerce and the Sacramento Mountains Foundation on a plan to use the public dollars to leverage private money for demolition and cleanup. Stockwell said the first project would likely be finishing demolition of the former Holiday Inn site, once the city receives title. He offered a second option, funding the remaining application from the Pineal Hotel and Bistro, but the commission did not take it up.

One commissioner abstained and left the meeting before the item was heard.

Recovering the money

Commissioner Al Hernandez backed cleaning up the Holiday Inn site but questioned giving money to owners of other White Sands Boulevard properties, which he said sell for $25 a square foot and up. He suggested loans or a city purchase-and-resale arrangement instead. "It's taxpayer money one way or the other," he said.

Stockwell agreed the city should recover its costs where possible, calling the fund "seed money." He said the city should also consider bidding on tax-sale properties to get them into hands that will develop them. He noted that derelict properties are taxed at their run-down value, "so everybody's losing."

Mayor Pro Tem Josh Rardin asked for a consistent plan, saying the city has tended to "pick and choose" whom it goes after. He said the worst stretch of the boulevard runs between First and Tenth streets. Rardin also warned the money will not go far. "I bet the Holiday Inn is going to take half of it," he said, on top of $250,000 the city has already spent there.

Rardin opened a can of worms and committed an act of defamation against two property owners on New York Avenue asking whether earlier LEDA recipients on New York Avenue could be made to return money, Stockwell said recovery is unlikely when businesses fail. Both led a defamatory conversation that could lead to litigation.

Stockwell said the White Sands Theater received a $1 million check and "we don't know where that money is," adding that December is the first point at which the city can demand an accounting. He cited a $1.9 million default by Sunbaked Biscuits as another example.

More to come on this story later today in a followup story as the two property owners in question have been making payments, are well within the LEDA rules and have comment. Story to follow later today. 

There is no deadline to spend the remaining fund, Stockwell said. Hernandez made the motion; Rardin seconded it.

City manager defends slower pace on capital projects blaming staff, engineers and contractors 

Stockwell, who said he has been on the job about 90 days, used his report to respond to social media criticism that he has not yet sent major water, sewer and street projects out to bid. He said no project will go to bid until its design is complete.

"As long as I'm the one sitting here, we are not going to bring projects to you or put them out to bid until, in fact, they are really ready to go," he said. "If that means I'm not very good at my job, then I'll take that."

He pointed to recent projects he said were rushed:

• Oregon Avenue: a reconstruction that "should have been completed in months took over a year," with multiple change orders because it was insufficiently designed. Residents and the recreation center faced mud and blocked access.
• Tenth Street Bridge: the street was closed for an extended period, cutting off businesses, and the bridge was only put back into temporary service. It still needs to be replaced.
• Ninth Street and New York Avenue: storm drainage at the intersection was designed improperly and runs into some businesses.
• Fire Station 2: sent to bid before design was finished, with multiple change orders. It is still not complete.

Stockwell said the next, already-budgeted phase of Oregon Avenue will be walked "inch by inch" before construction. Well-designed projects attract better contractors, he said, while poorly designed ones draw bidders who "think they're going to make good money on change orders."

Responding to a commissioner's question, Stockwell said the auditorium project is now out to bid. A pre-bid conference Tuesday drew 35 attendees, and the contract includes outside project management.

Hernandez, who said social media has also targeted commissioners with contracting backgrounds, thanked Stockwell. He said he watched "change order after change order" on the New York Avenue project and raised concerns about the cost of the city swimming pool, which he estimated at $16 million or more on a 25-year bond.

Bonito Lake, lodgers' tax and code enforcement among other updates

Bonito Lake. Stockwell said he met with the Lincoln County manager and the two agreed to study the hydrology of the post-fire watershed jointly, with the Forest Service. Ruidoso is predicting seven or more years of debris flows, he said. Recent rains overtopped the city's debris basins, sending silty water, but no debris, into the lake. The lake will stay open for fishing, but adding campsites is "premature," he said.

Lodgers' tax. The city is working with the Chamber of Commerce on whether to reinstate the lodgers' tax, which it previously canceled, and possibly contract tourism marketing to the chamber. Recommendations are expected in the next few months.

Toy Train Depot. The Sheldon Trust wants to fund a major reconstruction of the depot's tracks and buildings in exchange for a long-term lease. Stockwell said he expects to recommend the lease, with money set aside to restore the park if the volunteer-run depot ever closes.

Trash collection. The city's residential franchise with Southwest Disposal expires early next year. Staff are pricing alternatives, including a city-run system, and will report back within months.

Code enforcement. Stockwell said ordinance amendments are near a final draft. They would require owners to register vacant buildings, prove they are maintained and pay a fee. Other proposals include limits on vehicles per residential lot, keeping inoperable vehicles behind fences and keeping RVs behind the front of the house. "Half of the people will come in and praise what you're going to do, and the other half will want to lynch you," he said.

The RV issue came up earlier when a commissioner asked about an RV parked on a Sedona Ridge street for a month and moved slightly every 72 hours. Police Chief David Cunijaro said the current ordinance is vague and allows that practice. He offered to look into the address and the ordinance.

Hernandez renewed his call to require facades on at least three sides of new metal commercial buildings on White Sands Boulevard, Tenth Street, First Street and Indian Wells Road. Another commissioner asked that cleanup efforts apply citywide, not only between First and Tenth streets, and how the city would handle longtime owners and residents who will not sell.

Youth commission sworn in; resident calls for safer First Street crossing

The meeting opened with the swearing-in of the first members of the Mayor's Youth Advisory Commission, known as MAYAC. The Community Development Director introduced 16 students, and Municipal Judge David Overstreet administered their pledge to provide "a strong youth voice" and serve as a resource to the city.

Mayor Sharon McDonald said work on the commission began in March or April. She thanked volunteer mentors, the high school Interact club, the Rotary RYLA program and Alamogordo's high school and middle school. She also recognized a city staff member who helped launch the program and is now being treated for stage three cancer.

In public comment, resident K.D. Owens invited people of all political parties to this weekend's "No Kings, Vote Early" protest. She also asked the city to install a HAWK pedestrian signal on First Street near Avenida Amigo, or move the bus stop there.

Owens said that in the past two weeks a pickup nearly hit a wheelchair user who cannot get around the median, which has no cut-through, and a driver nearly hit a blind man in the crosswalk. In both cases, she said, a police officer stopped traffic. She said she will return "every week" until something changes.

Commissioner Stephen Burnett thanked crews for tree removal and other work at the golf course outside his district and the priority for him over district issues which he said is "looking very bright." New golf carts should arrive by the end of November.

The commission unanimously approved the agenda, with a planned executive session on litigation removed, and the consent agenda, both 7-0. Commissioner Robinson gave the invocation.

More News from Alamogordo

• Tularosa Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Overview – Oct. 13, 2026 Commission sends two new members to council, backs a short-term rental, and lists dozens of open questions on a ditch-and-well land swap
• Alamogordo Girls Place 6th at Artesia Twilight Meet; Alamo and Cloudcroft Boys Also Compete Alamogordo and Cloudcroft XC results…