By Molly Ann Howell
Managing Editor
Following ongoing discussions surrounding the potential Convalt Manufacturing solar plant and the broader development of the region, the Gallup City Council has officially approved changes to restructure its Land Development Standards Working Group.
The changes shrink the advisory board from 11 members to seven in an effort to overcome chronic attendance issues that left the group virtually inactive for over a year.
The working group was created following a late-2024 annexation agreement between the City of Gallup and Gallup Land Partners, LLC covering nearly 4,800 acres along Carbon Coal Road. Designed to support a 2,500-acre rail-served Energy Logistics Park intended as a regional manufacturing and trade hub, the committee’s mandate is to update local zoning rules, municipal utility extensions, and emergency services citywide.
However, the original board structure—composed of five GLP representatives and six mayoral appointees—struggled to function.
Meeting only six times in its first year, frequent member absences prevented the board from reaching a quorum to advance recommendations to the Planning and Zoning Commission or the city council. Per annexation guidelines, missing three or more meetings within 12 months results in automatic seat forfeiture, leaving the board essentially empty.
City Manager Frank Chiapetti Jr. introduced a resolution during the Aug. 25 council meeting proposing to scale the group down to seven members to lower the quorum threshold.
The initial proposal sparked pushback from residents and council members who advocated for mandated public seats. Councilor Sierra Yazzie Asamoa-Tutu, Dist. 2, pushed for guaranteed representation for local residents, environmental experts, and members of the local arts community.
“Arts are an essential part of our culture and economy, and so I think that can come into play in land development standards,” Yazzie said. “Artists value different things than business owners. I think that’s important in shaping the future of our community.”
A motion by Councilor Ron Molina, Dist. 4, to pass Chiapetti’s original resolution failed for lack of a second, while an alternative motion by Yazzie for an eight-member board with specific seat designations failed in a split vote. With Mayor Marc DePauli absent, the council unanimously voted to table the issue to allow city staff time to refine the proposal.
Chiapetti returned to the Sept. 22 meeting with a revised draft for a seven-member committee. The final text defines the working group as consisting of city personnel, contractors, GLP representatives, economic development officials, and other stakeholder representatives, without restricting specific seats to designated sectors.
DePauli urged councilors to approve the draft to expedite crucial updates to land standards.
The sooner we can put this committee together, the better off we’re going to be,” he said. “I think an 11-person committee is too many people, we can narrow it down to seven.”
While Yazzie voiced ongoing concerns that four internal seats (from the city and GLP) could establish a quorum without broader public involvement, DePauli and Councilor Sarah Piano, Dist. 3, clarified that the open wording does not prevent artists or community advocates from being appointed.
During public comment, residents Leann Gilson, David Butterworth, and Ronnie Thompson urged transparency and recommended an open application process for at-large seats to ensure active community and Indigenous representation through the arts.
The council ultimately voted to pass the seven-member resolution
Under the newly approved structure, four members will now constitute a quorum for the seven-person committee. Because the group operates as a public body under the New Mexico Open Meetings Act, it will conduct monthly public sessions to maintain open channels for feedback from local stakeholders, state agencies, and the Navajo Nation.
To populate the board, DePauli will submit his member recommendations to the city council for final approval at an upcoming council meeting.
The council will be made up of one city staff member, one representative from GLP, and one person who is involved in economic development matters. The other four members will be voted on by the mayor.
Appointees will serve uncompensated, non-revolving terms lasting two years from the committee’s first meeting, meaning new members will be required once terms expire. Additionally, the strict attendance policy remains in full effect; any member who accumulates three or more absences within a 12-month period will automatically forfeit their seat.
Interested residents can reach out directly to Chiapetti’s office via phone, email, or in person for details on applying.
