Water top issue for Portales council's 2024 agenda discussions

Jan. 6—Water remains atop the Portales City Council agenda as it kicked off discussions for plans in 2024.

Council member Dianne Parker said Tuesday the city needs to form a water advisory committee, which would include community residents, the city manager and "experts."

"The day we went into this (restricted water use policy), we should have started with a plan the next day," Parker said.

"Collectively between all of us in our community, we need to get together and get this done," she said.

Councilors discussed a process for taking applications but did not formalize a plan.

The city has been under restricted water use since June 28. It restricts most outdoor water usage.

Also Tuesday:

— Council members selected Veronica Cordova as mayor pro tem. She was the only one nominated. Cordova is beginning her second four-year term on the Council.

— Mayor Mike Miller approved plans to apply for a $914,000 grant that would cover training, new ambulances and start a paramedic response team for the fire department. Portales Fire Department typically receives $15,000 to $20,000 to cover training, but officials said the Department of Health recommended the city apply this year for all of its firefighting needs, not just what it typically receives.

— Council members approved an animal shelter grant from Petco that will provide 500 vaccines for distemper/parvo in dogs and 125 vaccines for cats. Vaccines will be free for the animal owners.