Alamogordo Commission to weigh emergency declaration over Bonito Lake runoff

ALAMOGORDO — The Alamogordo City Commission will consider declaring an emergency Tuesday over repeated flooding and sediment runoff that threaten Bonito Lake Reservoir, part of the city's municipal water supply.

Resolution 2026-36 is the only action item on the agenda for the 6:30 p.m. regular meeting in the Donald E. Carroll City Commission Chambers at City Hall, 1376 E. Ninth St. Utilities Director David Nunnelley will present it, and staff recommend approval.

Runoff outpacing cleanup

Repeated rain over wildfire burn scars in the Bonito Lake watershed has sent significant sediment and debris into the city's sedimentation ponds and the reservoir, according to an Oct. 30 staff report. The ponds were built to catch that material before it reaches the lake.

The city has a contractor excavating the ponds, but runoff is refilling them about as fast as crews can clear them, the report says. The resolution ties the storms to "the current strong El Niño period."

Recent storms have also overtopped a cofferdam, washed out roads and culverts, caused erosion and piled debris beneath bridges and drainage crossings, limiting access around the reservoir. Some repairs have themselves been washed out by later storms, and the resolution says the ongoing work is rapidly using up the money set aside for it.

What the declaration would do

The declaration would formally document the emergency and authorize staff to keep up protective work: clearing ponds, culverts and access roads, repairing washouts and protecting the reservoir. That work would remain subject to the city's procurement and financial rules.

It also asks the state, including the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, to consider the city for state or federal disaster aid or reimbursement. Eligible work could include sediment removal, cofferdam and road repairs, engineering, watershed stabilization and source-water protection.

City staff would be directed to track response costs, contractor bills, equipment and personnel time. City Manager Robert Stockwell, or a designee, would be authorized to file damage assessments and aid requests.

The emergency would stay in effect as long as runoff and related conditions keep threatening the reservoir and city facilities. The agenda report lists no dollar figure for the fiscal impact. Passage requires a roll call vote.

With the city attorney post vacant, the resolution is signed as approved to form by Stockwell.

Youth center becomes The BASE Otero

Commissioners will also hear from Angel Chapman-McDavid, CEO of The BASE Otero Community Youth Center, formerly the Boys & Girls Club of Otero County. The item is a presentation only, with no vote.

According to slides filed with the agenda, the organization traces its roots to a local Boys Club effort in 1967. Its board chose to go independent in 2025 and renamed it The BASE, short for Belief, Authenticity, Success and Elevation. A new CEO was appointed this year.

The center, at 201 Dale Scott Ave., offers before- and after-school care, full-day summer programs, field trips, leadership activities and family engagement for school-age children. The slides credit the DeLeon family with a significant role in establishing that permanent home.

The presentation lists 2026 milestones including newly acquired 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, two new vans for youth transportation, building repairs and a new website and mission mural. It reports a line-item annual budget exceeding $900,000.

Goals ahead include stronger reading and math support, investment in staff and curriculum, and more diverse funding.

If you go

• When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3
• Where: Donald E. Carroll City Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1376 E. Ninth St.
• Public comment: Residents must sign up with City Clerk Rachel Hughs. The standard limit is three minutes, which Mayor Sharon McDonald may adjust.
• Also on the agenda: City manager's report and remarks from commissioners.
• Accessibility: The chambers are wheelchair accessible. Other assistance should be requested 48 hours ahead through the City Clerk's Office, 575-439-4100.
• Agenda packet: Posted at ci.alamogordo.nm.us. Full meeting details are on the city's CivicClerk portal.

Source: City of Alamogordo agenda packet for the Nov. 3, 2026, regular meeting.

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