The Alamogordo City Commission held its regular meeting on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Donald E. Carroll Commission Chambers. The meeting featured routine approvals, discussions on redevelopment, public input from five speakers, city managers report, and a notable exchange over transparency in the ongoing city manager search. All consent agenda items and new business voted on passed unanimously or as noted.
Votes and Approvals
All listed items were approved:
• Approval of minutes from the January 13 regular meeting and January 20 special meeting.
• Approval of statements from executive closed sessions on January 13 and January 20.
• Resolution 2026-04 designating the Administrative Manager as Custodian of Records for the Alamogordo Police Department, with records destruction via bonded vendor shredding (roll call vote required; passed).
• Resolution 2026-05 requesting state approval for revised budget numbers as of January 27 (roll call vote required; passed).
• First publication of Ordinance 1721 amending city code to rededicate local economic development tax and fund balance for municipal natatorium construction, operations, and maintenance (roll call vote required; passed).
• Discussion and direction on implementing a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA) for Sendora Apartments and surrounding area. More details to follow in next session.
• Discussion and direction on a vehicle replacement program.
The meeting adjourned into executive closed session for pending litigation and limited personnel matters (city manager).
Public Comments
Five residents addressed the commission:
• Two passionate speakers focused on the city manager search, strongly advocating for Acting City Manager Dr. Stephanie J. Hernandez to be appointed permanently. They highlighted her qualifications, ethics, proven leadership in stabilizing operations, fiscal improvements, grant securing, and performance-based budgeting. Both questioned the rationale for obstructing her appointment, alleging insider roadblocks and political interference preventing a transparent, merit-based process.
• One speaker called for greater departmental attendance at commission meetings to foster transparency and direct citizen dialogue with city departments.
• The owner of Xtreme Amplitude briefly updated the commission that she had secured another building and would submit a new application for potential LEDA (Local Economic Development Act) funding.
• Courtney McCary (@withmanyhands) marked the two-year anniversary of the Maryland Avenue Community Gardens (under an MOU with the city). She outlined the multiple gardens now operated, thanked the community and commissioners for support, and emphasized ongoing community benefits.
• One speaker raised concerns about the city’s (and county’s) preparedness for extreme weather emergencies (heat and cold), urging creation of a formal plan for sheltering vulnerable individuals during inclement weather.
City Manager’s Report (Presented by Dr. Stephanie Hernández)
• FEMA determination delays: The city is negotiating contracts with consultants to reduce turnaround times for FEMA decisions.
• Subdivision ordinance: Public workshops are scheduled to present updated subdivision regulations.
• Code Blue emergency: Clarified that the mayor alone cannot declare a code blue; commission action is required, and a formal agenda item is suggested to discuss strategies and partnerships for cold weather sheltering.
• Public works: Addressed ongoing pothole repairs on South Florida Street and recognized staff efforts during recent winter weather.
• Workforce development: Highlighted the success of the “Grow Our Own Workforce” program aimed at engaging youth in public service careers.
• Public education campaign: Announced a 2026 initiative to increase civic engagement and awareness about city departments and operations through social media and regular updates.
• Transparency and staff decisions: The city will proactively bring operational concerns forward in meetings to maintain transparency and encourage open dialogue.
• Facebook comments: The city is exploring options to restore public commenting while ensuring compliance with open records laws.
Mayor and Commissioner Comments
• Mayor Sharon McDonald shared positive experiences judging a spelling competition and engaging with students at Desert Star Elementary, describing it as enjoyable and community-focused.
• Commissioner Warren Robinson reported on successful MLK Day events at Dudley Community Center, including a safe, respectful march and discussion with over 200 participants. He praised city staff and law enforcement for their support.
• Commissioners Stephen Burnett and Josh Rardin inquired about subdivision development statuses (accepted and pending lists) and LEDA funding dedicated to the natatorium project, which is progressing.
City Manager Search Controversy
The “white elephant” in the room emerged when Commissioner Rardin addressed reports from 2nd Life Media articles alleging that two external finalists withdrew (leaving Dr. Hernandez as the sole viable candidate) and that insiders (including himself and Burnett) were championing controversial former City Manager Robert Stockwell despite his past termination and failed 2016 rehiring attempt. Rardin all but accused someone of leaking confidential executive session information. He previously directed the city clerk to place city manager discussions on the agenda for closed executive session as a part of tonight’s agenda.
The city attorney reminded commissioners that executive sessions must strictly adhere to disclosed topics (limited to disclosed city manager search), and deviations require public discussion—hinting at potential prior oversteps.
Rardin speech appeared frustrated by public awareness of the articles and our media coverage; one on insider support for Stockwell, another on search delays and finalist withdrawals.
Statement of Commentary by 2nd Life Media:
The published articles…
Sources were clearly disclosed in the articles. The sources were multiple individuals, including those with close ties to Rardin/Burnett associates and via reporting notes, business interests with ties to Rardin/Burnett, public records requests local and out of state, and applicant/media connections.
Rardin alluded without mentioning names that a present member of the commission broke confidentiality. 2nd Life Media goes on the record that NO information came from Mayor McDonald nor Commissioner Robinson nor ANY seated member on the present commission directly in discussions with our reporting staff.
The information initially secured for our media coverage, came from individuals with close toes to Rardin and Burnett. We requested validation from the two commissioners, Rardin and Burnett and were ignored with no response to our questions via email for comment. Silence speaks volumes.
2nd Life Media, frames this silence and outrage over our news coverage as resistance to transparency. The deflection and outrage speaks for itself.
We are going forward with in depth reviews of the NM Attorney General’s Open Meetings/Public Records Act guidance (9th edition, 84 pages) for potential ethics or open records and executive session violations through this process by commissioners. We will be interviewing previous commissioners and staff for input of possible previous violations. We have sought other city commission and municipal league input on compliance, and scrutiny of whether executive sessions specific to the city manager search have stayed within scope and intent of open records compliance and the 84 page advisory.
The Alamogordo city attorney’s closing warning to the commissioners suggested possible past “tangents” outside permitted and disclosed topics for executive sessions.
The meeting underscored ongoing tensions over the prolonged city manager search, with public calls for appointing Dr. Hernandez. What the public witnessed was factional politics with insider influence not wanting public or media questions. Transparency is not desired by a faction within the the Alamogordo city commission.
No action was taken on the search in open session; it moved to closed executive discussion. For official minutes will be available at the next meeting or found at ci.alamogordo.nm.us, or via records request.
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