Belen meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Belen boards to weigh $675K airport runway grant, $52K software purchase

Over the past two weeks, Belen's city council, planning commission, and technology committee met to consider several items, but no decisions have been reported yet because minutes from those meetings have not been published. The most consequential item on the table is a proposed $675,482 federal grant for runway pavement work at the Belen Regional Airport.

City Council (Aug. 17)

The City Council's regular meeting agenda included a public hearing on a plat vacation for 835 Didier Ave. (Didier Addition, Block 2, Lots 7-12, 0.45 acre). The council also considered:

• FAA grants totaling up to $675,482 for Runway 13/31 pavement at Belen Regional Airport (4900 Camino Del Llano).
• $15,000 in cannabis funds for a Parks and Recreation haunted house.
• An agreement between the city and the Belen Arts and Cultural District.
• Appointments to the Belen Historic Properties Board (Ashley Campbell, Miguel Hidalgo).

All items were listed as agenda items; no votes have been reported.

Planning & Zoning (Aug. 10)

The Planning & Zoning Commission held a workshop to discuss a zoning ordinance rewrite, with no votes scheduled. In a separate meeting the same day, the commission held a public hearing on a request to vacate a plat to correct a previous alleyway abandonment at 835 Didier Ave. The commission could take action on that item, but minutes are not yet available.

TIF Committee (Aug. 17)

The TIF Committee (which advises the city council on technology spending) considered a proposal from CivicPlus for community development software and services. The proposal totals $52,826.25 for the first year, with a 24-month initial term and annual recurring costs of $40,123.00. The committee also reviewed its financial standing and approved minutes from March 5 and June 4, 2026.

Notices of Quorum

Three notices of quorum were issued for the week of Aug. 18-19. These are not regular meetings; they notify the public that a quorum of the governing body may be present at events where city business may be discussed but no formal action will be taken. The events were:

• A Valencia Association of Local Elected Officials (VALEO) meeting on Aug. 18 at the Valencia County Administration Building, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas.
• A Home Occupation Public Workshop on Aug. 18.
• A police department town hall on Aug. 19 at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, 100 S. Main St.

Coming up

• **Sept. 1, 6 p.m.** – The Belen Historic Downtown Partnership hosts a public workshop in Council Chambers, 100 S. Main St. The governing body may attend, but no official actions or votes will occur.

All meeting agendas and minutes are available on the city's official website.

Belen council to weigh $675K airport grant, $15K haunted house funding

No decisions have been published from Belen city meetings in the past two weeks; all recent agendas remain without minutes. The most consequential items on the horizon are on the City Council's Aug. 17 agenda, including up to $675,482 in FAA grants for runway pavement at Belen Regional Airport and $15,000 in cannabis funds for a Parks and Recreation haunted house.

Recent meetings

All recent meetings were agenda-only, with minutes not yet published, so no official actions are known.

• **Aug. 3 – City Council:** Agenda included a resolution waiving the city match for Wisconsin Roadway Improvements under the New Mexico Local Government Road Fund, a cooperative agreement with the state Department of Transportation for FY 2027 road funds, and a contract amendment with UWS for residential and commercial solid waste collection. Presentations were scheduled from Friends of the Harvey House Scholarships and Development Services Director Steven Tomita.
• **Aug. 4 – Notice of Quorum:** The Governing Body could attend National Night Out at Eagle Park, 305 Eagle Lane, from 5 to 8 p.m. No action was planned.
• **Aug. 8 – Notice of Quorum:** A quorum might attend the Hispano Chamber of Valencia County Installation Banquet. No action was planned.
• **Aug. 10 – Planning & Zoning Commission:** Two meetings were held. A workshop discussed a zoning ordinance rewrite with no votes scheduled. A separate public hearing considered a plat vacation for 835 Didier Ave (Didier Addition, Block 2, Lots 7-12, 0.45 acre) to correct a previous alleyway abandonment. The commission could have taken action, but minutes are not yet available.

Upcoming meetings

Aug. 17 – City Council (regular meeting)

The council will hold a public hearing on the same plat vacation for 835 Didier Ave. Action items include:

• Approval of FAA grants totaling up to $675,482 for Runway 13/31 pavement at Belen Regional Airport, 4900 Camino Del Llano.
• Use of $15,000 in cannabis funds for a Parks and Recreation haunted house.
• An agreement between the city and the Belen Arts and Cultural District.
• Appointments to the Belen Historic Properties Board for Ashley Campbell and Miguel Hidalgo.

Aug. 17 – TIF Committee

The IT Committee will consider a CivicPlus proposal for community development, permitting, planning and zoning, GIS, code enforcement, SeeClickFix 311, NextRequest, and Communicator Unlimited. The first-year cost is $52,826.25, with a 24-month initial term and annual recurring costs of $40,123.00. The committee advises the council on spending TIF funds for technology improvements. It will also approve minutes from March 5 and June 4, 2026, and review finances with Finance Director Daniel Carbajal.

Aug. 18 – Notice of Quorum

The Governing Body may attend a Home Occupation Public Workshop. No formal action will be taken.

Aug. 19 – Notice of Quorum

The Governing Body may attend a Police Department town hall at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, 100 S. Main St. The police chief will speak; no action is planned.

Coming up

• **Aug. 17, 5 p.m. (likely)** – City Council regular meeting, including the FAA grant and haunted house funding.
• **Aug. 17** – TIF Committee meeting, considering the CivicPlus software purchase.
• **Aug. 18** – Home Occupation Public Workshop (quorum notice; no action).
• **Aug. 19, 6 p.m.** – Police town hall at Council Chambers, 100 S. Main St. (quorum notice; no action).

Check the city's official agenda postings for exact times and locations.

Belen council to weigh road-fund waiver, waste contract; no decisions made in past two weeks

No decisions were made by Belen city boards in the past two weeks; all recent meetings were agenda-only or notices of quorum, and minutes have not yet been published. The most consequential item on the table is the City Council's consideration of a road-fund waiver and a solid waste contract amendment, which was on the agenda for its August 3 meeting.

Recent meetings

Planning & Zoning (July 27)

The commission held two meetings on July 27. The first was a workshop to discuss a rewrite of the city's zoning ordinance; no votes or decisions were scheduled. The second was a regular meeting that included approval of minutes from the July 13 meeting and public comment. Both were agenda-only, with minutes not yet published.

City Council (August 3)

The council's agenda included several items for possible action:

• A resolution waiving the city match fund requirement for the New Mexico Local Government Road Fund Program for Wisconsin Roadway Improvements.
• A cooperative agreement with the New Mexico Department of Transportation for the FY 2027 Local Government Road Fund.
• A contract amendment to the Residential and Commercial Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Service Contract with UWS.

The agenda also included a presentation by Friends of the Harvey House Scholarships on Harvey House scholarships and a development services presentation by Steven Tomita, Development Services Director. No minutes have been published, so no outcomes are known.

Notices of Quorum

Two notices were issued for potential quorums of the Governing Body:

• National Night Out on August 4, 5–8 p.m. at Eagle Park, 305 Eagle Lane. City business may have been discussed, but no action was planned.
• Hispano Chamber of Valencia County Installation Banquet on August 8. Again, no action was planned.

Coming up

Planning & Zoning (August 10)

The commission holds two meetings today:

• A workshop to discuss the zoning ordinance rewrite, with no votes or decisions scheduled.
• A regular meeting with a public hearing on a request to vacate a plat to correct a previous alleyway abandonment at 835 Didier Ave (Didier Addition, Block 2, Lots 7–12, 0.45 acre). The commission may take action on this item. The agenda also includes approval of minutes from July 13 and July 27 meetings and public comment limited to 3 minutes per speaker.

Both meetings are open to the public.

Belen roundup: City Council waste contract and zoning items await minutes; road-fund waivers on tap for Aug. 3

Most of Belen's recent government meetings over the past two weeks were scheduled for discussion or public hearings, but minutes have not yet been published, so no formal outcomes are confirmed in the available record. The most consequential pending business — a possible vote on road-fund waivers and a solid waste contract amendment — is set for the City Council meeting today, August 3.

City Council — July 20 (minutes not yet published)

The Belen City Council scheduled public hearings and contract considerations on July 20, 2026, but minutes are not yet available, so the record does not confirm what was decided. Items on the agenda included:

• An ordinance on Accessory Dwelling Units.
• A zoning amendment for SB96 Childcare Zoning Requirements.
• A Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Services Contract with Universal Waste System (UWS).
• A Cooperative Agreement with NMDOT for Wisconsin Street from Reinken Ave. to West Aragon Rd.
• Appointment of Dr. Elizabeth Burns to the Belen Historic Properties Board.

Because minutes have not been published, the city's official actions on these items — including any vote tallies — are not yet part of the available record.

Planning & Zoning — July 27 (minutes not yet published)

The Belen Planning & Zoning Commission held a workshop to discuss a rewrite of the city's zoning ordinance. No votes or decisions were scheduled; only discussion was planned. A separate regular meeting agenda listed approval of minutes from the July 13, 2026 regular meeting and workshop, plus public comments. Minutes for the July 27 meetings have not been published.

Quorum notice — July 23

A procedural notice indicated a quorum of the City of Belen Governing Body may have attended Incident Command Training (402-ICS) for Elected Officials and Senior Management on July 23, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 475 Courthouse Rd., Los Lunas, NM. The notice stated city business may have been discussed, but no formal action was planned.

Coming up

City Council — Monday, August 3, 2026. The council is scheduled to discuss and possibly act on several resolutions and contracts:

• A resolution waiving the city match fund requirement for the New Mexico Local Government Road Fund Program for Wisconsin Roadway Improvements.
• A cooperative agreement with the New Mexico Department of Transportation for FY 2027 Local Government Road Fund.
• A contract amendment to the Residential and Commercial Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Service Contract with UWS.
• A presentation by Friends of the Harvey House Scholarships on Harvey House scholarships.
• A Development Services presentation by Steven Tomita, Development Services Director.

These items are listed as upcoming; no votes have occurred yet.

National Night Out — Tuesday, August 4, 2026. A quorum of the Belen Governing Body may be present at National Night Out from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Eagle Park, 305 Eagle Lane. City business may be discussed, but no official action is expected.

Hispano Chamber Installation Banquet — Saturday, August 8, 2026. A quorum of the Governing Body may attend the Hispano Chamber of Valencia County Installation Banquet. The notice states city business may be discussed, but no action will take place.

Residents seeking confirmed outcomes from the July 20 City Council meeting and the July 27 Planning & Zoning meetings should watch for published minutes, which are not yet available in the provided record.

Belen roundup: Council and Planning & Zoning agendas await minutes; waste contract and zoning hearings set for July 20

The Belen City Council and Planning & Zoning Commission both met in the past two weeks, but minutes have not yet been published for either session. Based on published agendas, the Council was scheduled to act on an interim fire chief appointment and adopt the 2028-2032 Infrastructure Capital Improvements Plan. The outcomes of those votes are not yet confirmed in the public record. Both bodies' agendas are available, but without published minutes, the city's official record does not yet show what was decided, recommended, or discussed beyond the agenda items themselves.

City Council — July 6

The Council agenda listed two consequential action items: a vote on approval or disapproval of an interim fire chief, and adoption of the 2028-2032 Infrastructure Capital Improvements Plan. The plan covers the city's infrastructure capital improvement priorities for the period 2028 through 2032.

The meeting also included scholarship presentations from the Friends of the Belen Library and the Martin Luther King Commission. Recreation department reports were scheduled covering Little League, the All-American Celebration, and summer programs. The meeting followed standard procedural items and public comment periods.

Minutes have not yet been published, so no vote tallies, dollar amounts, or outcomes are available for any agenda item. Residents seeking confirmed results should watch for the official minutes to be posted.

Planning & Zoning Commission — July 13

The Commission agenda included a public hearing on a conditional use request for temporary watchmen at Sunrise Bluffs Phase 2, a 15.12-acre site. Commissioners were also scheduled to discuss SB 96 childcare zoning requirements and associated land use table updates, an Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance, and a Short Term Rental Ordinance.

A public workshop on the Short Term Rental Ordinance and the Additional Dwelling Unit Ordinance was also listed on the agenda. These ordinances, if eventually adopted, would govern how accessory dwellings and short-term rentals operate within city limits.

Minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions, recommendations, or vote tallies are confirmed from the hearing or workshop.

Coming up

The Belen City Council meets July 20 with several items of interest to residents. Public hearings are scheduled on an Accessory Dwelling Unit ordinance and a zoning amendment for SB 96 childcare zoning requirements — topics the Planning & Zoning Commission discussed at its July 13 meeting.

The Council will also consider a Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Services Contract with Universal Waste System (UWS), which would affect how the city handles waste collection and disposal. A cooperative agreement with NMDOT for Wisconsin Street from Reinken Ave. to West Aragon Rd. is on the agenda, along with the appointment of Dr. Elizabeth Burns to the Belen Historic Properties Board.

Belen council eyed fire chief appointment and five-year capital plan; outcomes pending

The Belen City Council's July 6 meeting included scheduled votes on an interim fire chief appointment and adoption of the 2028-2032 Infrastructure Capital Improvements Plan, but minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes are not confirmed in the available record.

City Council — July 6

The council agenda listed two action items: appointment of an interim fire chief and adoption of the 2028-2032 Infrastructure Capital Improvements Plan. The meeting also included scholarship presentations from the Friends of the Belen Library and the Martin Luther King Commission, plus recreation department reports covering Little League, the All-American Celebration, and summer programs. Public comment periods and standard procedural items were also on the agenda.

Because only the agenda is available and minutes have not been published, the vote tallies and whether each item passed are not yet part of the public record.

Planning & Zoning — June 29

The Planning and Zoning Commission had two scheduled sessions on June 29. One agenda covered a plat vacation for an alleyway abandonment at 835 Didier Ave, along with discussions on SB 96 childcare zoning requirements, an Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance, a Tiny Home Definition, and a Short Term Rental Ordinance. A separate workshop agenda listed discussion of a zoning ordinance rewrite.

Minutes for both sessions are not yet published, so no actions or recommendations are confirmed.

Quorum Notice — June 30

A notice indicated that a quorum of the Belen Governing Body may have attended the Economic and Rural Development and Policy Committee meeting on June 30, 2026. The notice stated no official actions would be taken and that the meeting was for discussion only.

Coming up

• **Planning & Zoning — July 13 (public hearing):** A conditional use request for temporary watchmen at Sunrise Bluffs Phase 2, covering 15.12 acres, is scheduled for public hearing. The agenda also includes SB 96 childcare zoning requirements with land use table updates, an Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance, and a Short Term Rental Ordinance.
• **Planning & Zoning — July 13 (workshop):** A public workshop is scheduled on the Short Term Rental Ordinance and the Additional Dwelling Unit Ordinance.

Residents who want to follow the fire chief appointment, the capital improvements plan, or the zoning ordinance updates should watch for published minutes, which will confirm what was decided.

Belen Council set to vote on interim fire chief and 2028-2032 capital plan today; recent P&Z items await minutes

The Belen City Council is scheduled to vote today, July 6, on appointing an interim fire chief and adopting the 2028-2032 Infrastructure Capital Improvements Plan, according to the posted agenda. The same meeting includes scholarship presentations and recreation program updates.

City Council — July 6

The Council will consider approval or disapproval of the interim fire chief. No name or background detail for the appointee appears in the agenda materials provided.

The Council will also vote on adopting the 2028-2032 Infrastructure Capital Improvements Plan, a multi-year planning document that guides how the city prioritizes capital spending on public infrastructure.

Presentations are scheduled from the Friends of the Belen Library and the Martin Luther King Commission regarding scholarships. The recreation department is set to report on Little League, the All-American Celebration, and summer programs.

The agenda notes standard procedural items and public comment periods.

Planning & Zoning — June 29

The Planning and Zoning Commission had two items scheduled for June 29. Minutes have not yet been published, so no outcomes are confirmed.

The first agenda listed a plat vacation for an alleyway abandonment at 835 Didier Ave, along with discussion items on SB 96 childcare zoning requirements, an accessory dwelling unit ordinance, a tiny home definition, and a short-term rental ordinance.

The second agenda was a workshop to discuss a rewrite of the city's zoning ordinance. No other substantive items were listed.

Because minutes are not yet available, it is not known what the commission decided, recommended, or tabled on any of these items.

Notices of Quorum

The city posted two quorum notices in the past two weeks. A quorum of the governing body may have attended the All American Celebration on June 27 at Belen Eagle Park, 305 Eagle Lane, from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. No official action was planned.

A second notice indicated a quorum may have been present at the Economic and Rural Development and Policy Committee meeting on June 30. That meeting was listed as discussion only, with no action items.

Coming up

• **City Council — today, July 6:** Vote on interim fire chief and adoption of the 2028-2032 Infrastructure Capital Improvements Plan, plus scholarship presentations and recreation updates.
• **Planning & Zoning outcomes:** Watch for published minutes from the June 29 meetings to learn what was decided on the alleyway plat vacation at 835 Didier Ave, childcare zoning, accessory dwelling units, tiny homes, short-term rentals, and the zoning ordinance rewrite.

Belen Council to weigh capital plan, interim fire chief

The past two weeks were quiet for official city actions in Belen, with no votes taken by the City Council or its appointed boards. That will change on Monday, July 6, when the governing body is expected to adopt the 2028–2032 Infrastructure Capital Improvements Plan and decide on the appointment of an interim fire chief.

Recent meetings: notices and workshops only

The only gatherings involving council members in the last 14 days were social events and committee discussions where no binding decisions were made. A notice of quorum was issued for the All American Celebration, which took place June 27 at Eagle Park from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The notice stated that officials might attend but would take no official action.

On June 30, a separate notice advised that a quorum could be present at the Economic and Rural Development and Policy Committee meeting. That session was for discussion only, with no action items on the agenda.

Planning board reviews alleyway, zoning changes

The Planning and Zoning Commission met on June 29 for a regular meeting and a workshop. No minutes have been published, meaning no formal recommendations have reached the council yet.

The regular meeting agenda included a plat vacation request for an alleyway abandonment at 835 Didier Ave. Commissioners also began reviewing four zoning-policy updates: childcare facility requirements in response to Senate Bill 96, accessory dwelling unit rules, a definition for tiny homes, and an ordinance governing short-term rentals.

Immediately after the regular session, the commission held a workshop focused entirely on a rewrite of the city’s zoning ordinance. No other business was discussed.

Coming up

The City Council will hold its next regular meeting on July 6. According to two published agendas, members will:

• Vote on whether to approve or disapprove the appointment of an interim fire chief.
• Adopt the 2028–2032 Infrastructure Capital Improvements Plan, which guides multi-year spending on public facilities.
• Hear scholarship presentations from the Friends of the Belen Library and the Martin Luther King Commission.
• Receive recreation department updates covering Little League, the All-American Celebration, and other summer programs.

Meeting times and public-comment procedures were not detailed in the agenda summaries.