Gallup councilors take up state grants for roads, water lines and the public library

The Gallup City Council meets Tuesday at city hall, and the agenda asks councilors to accept two state road grants and take in a bond award for the public library.

The largest item on the agenda is a $1,540,000 grant agreement from the state transportation department to plan, design and build improvements to the Coal Avenue alley from 1st to 2nd Street. Staff describe the work as a component of the original downtown Coal Avenue event street and alley improvements, and say its completion is necessary for required drainage and surfacing improvements. The city's required match is zero.

A second transportation grant, of $500,000, would fund utility relocation along the Allison Road corridor to accommodate a proposed bridge. That grant also carries no city match.

Three further resolutions would authorize applications to the New Mexico Finance Authority, for design phase work only: $270,000 to replace about 0.66 miles of waterline along 2nd Street from Park Avenue to the BNSF Rail Line, $540,500 to extend the airport sewer line, and $973,000 to design storm water drainage improvements along NM 118 from Elison St to the Puerco River. None requires a match or a loan.

On the discussion agenda, councilors will consider a $182,332.01 increase in revenue and spending authority for the Octavia Fellin Public Library, drawn from a 2024 state general obligation bond. The agreement allows the money to go to library collections and services, equipment, furniture and technology used to deliver library services, and bars it from construction, staff salaries and program supplies. The funds must be spent on or before June 30, 2029.

The fire department is asking to accept $100,000 from the EMS Fund Act and $12,500 for a CPR compression device, and separately to move $63,000 within its budget to buy radios and extrication equipment that were not in its capital plan. The electric department wants $130,000 to keep renting a mobile substation from the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority through the end of November, after delays pushed back the remaining work on the new Sunshine Substation. Staff is also asking for $20,251 from general fund reserves to cover updated compensation under the city manager's renewed employment contract.

The consent agenda carries three event permits. Gallup High School is requesting a road closure on the standard parade route for Sept. 25. The 2nd Annual Gallup Street Arts Festival, benefiting the Gallup Burrito Project, is requesting temporary street and parking area closures from Sept. 25 to 27. And staff recommend approving the downtown arts crawl closures on condition that the organizer files a certificate of insurance it has not yet submitted to the city clerk.

Councilors will also be asked to approve a cooperative agreement for the city's annual mill and overlay program, worth $1,358,909 split 75-25 between the state and the city, and to consider two lodgers tax grant applications for Native American auctions, of $5,800 for an event held in May and $5,425 for an auction on Sept. 26.

What

A regular meeting of the Gallup City Council

When

Tuesday, Sept. 8, 6 p.m.

Where

City Council Chambers, Gallup City Hall, 110 West Aztec AvenueDirections

How

To comment on non-agenda items, register in person with the city clerk before the meeting starts, or register by phone or email beforehand.

Contact

505-863-1254