counsel. You are like
Well, good afternoon everyone. Welcome
to the city council meeting. Today is
Monday, November 17th, 2025. It's
approximately 100 p.m. I'm Mayor Eric
Enriquez. Before we start, I want to
mention that we have the ASL, the
American Sign Language up in front and
available to us at every council
meeting. Uh we will start with a moment
of silence for the brave men and women
of the United States Armed Forces that
serve our country and protect us
throughout the the globe and for our
courageous men and women of the Los
Cruus Police and the Los Cru's Fire
Department.
Council Mccclure, if you'll lead us in
the pledge.
To the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it
stands. One nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.
We'll start with our presentations
of certificates and proclamations by
councelor Mccclure.
Welcome everyone. The first proclamation
is for diabetes awareness month
presented to the Southern New Mexico
Diabetes Alliance. If you are here for
that, come on down.
The proclamation reads, "Whereas the
month of November is a nationally
recognized as a diabetes awareness
month, a time to raise awareness about
diabetes prevention, early detection,
and management, and to honor the
individuals and organizations who work
tirelessly to improve the quality of
life for those living with diabetes. And
whereas health professionals, promotes
de Salude and allied health care workers
in Las Cusus and that throughout
southern New Mexico continue to make
invaluable contributions by helping
individuals and families prevent,
prepare for, and manage the impact of
diabetes and related health threats. And
whereas the city of Los Cruuses
recognizes the importance of supporting
and celebrating the work of the Southern
New Mexico Diabetes Alliance and all
partners working toward a future where
every individual has access to the
education, care, resources needed to
live a healthier life. And whereas
health professionals, promises de Salude
and allied health workers across the
region make invaluable contributions to
help individuals and families prevent
and manage diabetes. And whereas the
city of Las Cruuses recognizes and
celebrates the work of the Southern New
Mexico Diabetes Alliance and its
partners in promoting education, care,
and healthier lives. Now therefore, we
the mayor and city council of Los Cusus,
New Mexico, do hereby proclaim the month
of November 2025 as World Diabetes
Awareness Month in Los Cusus, New
Mexico, and call upon all residents to
support and participate in activities
that promote awareness, prevention, and
the collection of efforts in Southern
New Mexico Diabetes Alliance to pro
improve the health and well-being of our
communities. Signed by Mayor Eric
Enriquez. Congratulations,
Hello everyone. My name is Selena Gomez,
director of Southern New Mexico Diabetes
Outreach. On behalf of the Southern New
Mexico Diabetes Alliance, we'd like to
thank Los Cusus City Council for
recognizing November's Diabetes
Awareness Month. This recognition is a a
wonderful way to honor and celebrate the
strength of people living with diabetes
and the health professionals who are
working endlessly to help. Today I have
with me representatives from NMSU
extension, Dr. Sarah Ruiz, uh Dr.
Lucenda Bengas, and a student intern,
Farha. We also have Audrey Garcia,
program officer, Apaso de Norta Health
Foundation, and we also have Christine
Norris, dietitian with Greek Family
Healthcare. Um today, your support um
helps fuel our goal of providing
accessible diabetes education support
services to pediatrics and adults in the
region. The alliance encourages all to
visit the Diabetes Now What website
where they can find resources of
education programs, risk tests, cooking
videos, and recipes at www.diabetesown
now whatwhat.org. And we will also leave
some flyers in the front for anyone who
would like to grab one. Thank you again
for your time and support.
[applause]
The next will be a proclamation for GIS
day pre presented to the city's GIS
team. Come on down.
How are you?
The proclamation reads, "Whereas
November 19th is recognized as
geographic information systems day, a
time to honor the contributions of all
GIS professionals and city staff who use
this technology to strengthen and
support our community. And whereas GIS
fosters the growth of science,
technology, engineering, and
mathematics, STEM education, encouraging
our youth and others to acquire
knowledge and skills essential for
thriving in a technologydriven world.
And whereas the city's GIS team pursues
ongoing education to remain at the
forefront of this rapidly evolving
field, ensuring the accuracy of critical
data that supports the organization and
enhances communities across departments.
And whereas GIS technology is utilized
across numerous city departments to
fulfill operational needs, integrating
data into decision-making tools that
enable informed and timely actions
benefiting public works, parks,
utilities, neighborhood services,
community development, quality of life,
information technology, public safety,
visit Lasus, I'd say city council as
well as well as regional partners
including New Mexico State University,
Donana County, and the state of New
Mexico. Now therefore, we the mayor and
city council of Los Cusus, New Mexico,
dear do do hereby proclaim November
19th, 2025 as GIS day, signed by Eric
Enrique's mayor. Congratulations.
Thank you council for uh honoring GIS
and GIS day. Uh it's a actually a very
important day because it's we the GIS
staff of Los Cusus and all the
communities around uh provide lots of
information that many decisions
important decisions are actually made
made based on that information. So um
we're kind of that quiet part of the
city that doesn't get a lot of
recognition. So I want to we wanted to
thank you for that. Uh I want to also
thank uh Becky and her staff from Donana
County for attending today. Uh we have
an open agreement to share information
very uh between uh the county dona
county and also the city of Los Cusus.
So uh also with NMSU but NMSU was not
able to attend. And then I also want to
thank all the people that are not
necessarily GIS professionals but that
are using GIS daily to enhance their own
department and their needs. So uh thank
you Scott. You're not up here but you're
welcome to join us if you'd like. So
thank you very much.
[applause]
Next on the agenda is pets of the week,
Carol Nielson.
Good afternoon. I'm Carol Nelson,
digital content specialist with the
Animal Services Center of the Messia
Valley. Before we dig in, we dive in. Uh
we just want to mention that we have an
adoption special going on right now. $25
across the board, but if you bring in
two items to donate to Community of
Hope, uh your adoption fee will be
waved. So, it's a great time to give and
have gratitude. So, come by and adopt.
Our dog of the week, Veto 91449.
I'm a sweet and at times wiggly boy
who's been hanging out at the shelter
since I was just a few months old.
You'll find me happily wagging my tail,
ready to greet anyone who stops by for
some attention. I thrive on connection
and companionship. I still have that
adorable gangly puppy look, but trust
me, it just adds to my charm. I'm just
as happy and beautiful as any pup could
be. I've mostly known life behind these
kennel bars, and I can't wait to
discover what the big, beautiful world
has to offer.
And our cat of the week, Chloe, has been
adopted. So, we're happy for Chloe.
Um, and as always, we like to highlight
our long-term residents. Please consider
them when you're considering animals to
adopt because the longer they stay in
shelter, the harder it is for them to
thrive. Cosette has been with us now 314
days. Dexter 299 days, Finn 289, and
Hulu 287.
All really great options for adoptable
pets.
Um, and we wanted to highlight some
upcoming events this week. Uh, so in the
middle of the week, we are actually
having a meet and greet where the
community can stop by the center and
meet the finalists for our executive
director position. We wanted to thank
our board of directors for opening up
this opportunity because it's not every
day that you get to meet the finalist
for a position. So, thank you to our
board of directors. It'll be from 4 to 6
at our medical building. And then this
Saturday, we are having our puppy pulooa
at PetSmart from 10 to 1. So, come on
by.
And as always, for more information,
visit our website at ascmbb.org
or you can follow us on social media.
Thank you.
Thank you, Carol.
Next is a conflict of interest. Does any
member of the city council, city
manager, or any member of the city staff
have any known conflict of interest with
any item on the agenda?
None.
Next is a closed statement. Um, close
meeting statement. There was a closed
meeting which
Oh, we were going to skip that part.
Oh, you're right.
Yeah, we had the closed meeting.
statement first, but we'll go to public
participation
as our agenda is notes.
So, we'll allow up to three minutes for
anyone no pending litigation or
non-consent items. And Scott Rogers is
up here to usher you and help you to the
podium. Please state your name and speak
directly to the microphone.
Mayor, city council, I'm Liz Rodriguez
Johnson. It looks like the $15 million
in funding the city obtained from the
state to implement a portion of the lead
and copper rule was gotten under false
pretenses. The city claimed it would
investigate disadvantaged properties
first. Look at handout A to read deputy
director of regulatory compliance Steve
Bettis' promise to prioritize
disadvantaged populations. However, in
response to an IPO request, the
utilities department stated that while
there have been investigations
investigations completed at disadvantage
properties, there are no reports created
of this information. You can see their
response in in handout B. This is
unbelievable for several reasons. First,
as a basic administrative matter, if no
record exists that a required action
took place, it didn't happen. Another
reason, if the department personnel had
actually investigated any disadvantaged
properties within the city, they would
provide documents to prove it. They
would probably be holding meetings
throughout the city to brag about how
responsive the city had been to
disadvantaged people. Furthermore, if
they did investigate disadvantaged
properties, why won't they why don't
they want to document it? Did they
decide that the findings were so bad
that they needed to hide them? Did they
find lead pipes that they don't want to
acknowledge? Las Cruis's Utilities has
been claiming that no lead pipes
whatsoever have been found. Look at
handout C and D. Disadvantaged
neighborhoods are where lead pipes are
most likely to be. It's extremely
unlikely that all the lead pipes that
were originally used in the properties
building up through the 1960s would have
been replaced with non-LED piping. folks
occupying these areas of the city most
likely would not have had the financial
resources to replace all that lead
piping and probably still don't. It
appears very unlikely that the utilities
department has not actually investigated
any properties in the oldest or the
disadvantaged areas of the city. Or if
they have, they've looked at only very
few. That appears to be the real reason
they claim that they don't have any
investigation records for disadvantaged
properties. You need to instruct the
city manager to get moving and make sure
that all the disadvantaged members of
our community are treated decently, even
handedly and in full compliance with the
rule and that all promises made to the
state are carried out fully. You need to
instruct the city manager city manager
to asssure that every disadvantaged
property in the city is investigated
post haste and fully documented in a
written report. Then make public every
inspection report for every single
property. Thank you.
Mayor, council, folks here today, those
watching online, I'm Lyn Moore. As
demonstrated by countless actions and
omissions we've documented over the past
year, it's clear that Lasus utilities
neither respects the lead and copper
rule nor the truth. The latest discovery
that the city will not produce records
of water pipe investigations at
disadvantaged properties despite
promising the state that it would
prioritize such investigations is
further evidence of this disrespect as
well as profound disrespect for
disadvantaged folks in our community.
Las Cru's Utilities creates
investigation reports for other
properties like those with galvanized
piping requiring replacement. Handout
one provides five examples of these
reports. If the department really did
the investigations, why would it choose
to not document findings at
disadvantaged properties? Properties
with galvanized piping get inspection
reports, but disadvantaged properties
don't deserve a report. It is the
department that disappeared countless
records including all the designations
of disadvantaged populations. Handout
two is an inventory record dated June 9
showing designation as a disadvantaged
property attached to an inventory record
for the same property dated 5 months
later showing that designation
disappeared. Why does the city want to
hide disadvantaged designations? Perhaps
lead pipes have been found on those
properties which are generally located
in the oldest parts of the city where
lead piping is likely to still be
present. It seems to be more important
to the department to insist publicly
that the city has no lead pipes
regardless of the truth rather than keep
its promise to take care of the lower
income folks who need help. Lasus
utilities credibility and humanity are
gone with the New Mexico wind. This is
the department that leaves off the map
most folks who live in mobile homes. It
thumbs its nose at EPA's requirement to
sample the tap when requested. This is
the department that failed for four
months to send out an initial
notification letter in Spanish. This
department falsely claimed that no
galvanized piping has been found in the
city. Even though, as documented at the
last meeting, inspection reports reveal
at least 77 properties with galvanized
piping. Handout three documents the
department's false statement. This is a
serious problem that requires more than
fact-free cheerleading. It must take
care of everyone within our community.
You need to instruct the city manager to
rouse himself and assure that all
disadvantaged properties are fully
investigated and documented in writing
without delay and and in factual
investigation report for every property
be made public. Finally, the utilities
board meeting November 13th was convened
and chaired by councelor Ben Como. I was
surprised to see her there, much less
chairing the meeting. The city's website
indicates her four-year term on the
board has expired. See handout 4. She
had no authority for her actions. This
calls into question the legality of all
actions taken at the meeting. Thank you
for this opportunity to speak. [snorts]
[snorts]
Good afternoon, council mayor. My name
is Lucas Hearn and I'm a resident of
district 2. This past week, Chief Story
made another of his grand social media
videos celebrating the detention of Mr.
Neil Garcia, a citizen of Los Cusus, by
federal agents. I understand that there
is a failing on more than one level of
the of our overall systems responsible
for someone like Mr. Garcia who
continues to be arrested and released. I
wish I had an answer to that problem,
but I don't. What I do have is a concern
about the way in which this issue was
handled, about the power creep of police
chiefs going above and beyond their job
descriptions and the directives I
thought were pretty clearly supposed to
protect all of us. Let's be clear,
police overreach isn't an accident. It's
not a rogue officer here or there. It's
a pattern, one in which police chiefs
bypass their own chain of command,
ignore local oversight, and appeal
directly to federal agencies that are
increasingly weaponized by a regime that
sees disscent as a threat. We've seen it
in cities where mayors and city councils
are sidelined, not by protest, not by
riot, but by a police chief who picks up
the phone and calls the FBI, the DHS, or
even the National Guard to intervene in
local matters that should never have
left the city limits. These aren't
emergency calls. These are power grabs
dressed up as public safety. And what's
the federal response in this
administration? Federal power isn't a
check on abuse. It's a tool of
escalation. The same agencies that
surveil Black Lives Matter, that
militarized local police protests, that
detained immigrants without due process,
these are the agencies being invited
into our neighborhoods by local police
who want to bypass accountability. This
is power creep. The slow, deliberate
expansion of authority beyond what's
lawful, beyond what's democratic,
[clears throat] and beyond what's just.
And let's not pretend that this is about
keeping order. When a police chief calls
in federal agents because a city council
won't fund a new surveillance system,
that's not public safety. That's
authoritarianism in slow motion. This
isn't about race, though it does
dispromotionally impact black, brown,
and indigenous communities. It's about
power. Who holds it? Who controls it?
And who's allowed to question it. When
local officials are sidelined, when
citizens are treated as suspects, when
protest is criminalized, that's not
policing. That's occupation.
And it's happening under the guise of
law and order, a phrase that's been
weaponized to justify everything from
mass surveillance to no knock raids on
peaceful homes. The same phrase that's
been used to justify the militarization
of our streets, the criminalization of
poverty, and the silencing of disscent.
We need to draw a line. We need to
demand the police chiefs answer to their
elected officials, not to federal task
forces or shadowy agencies as operate
without transparency. We need to restore
local control, reinstate civilian
oversight, and ensure that every
municipal dollar be spent towards
improving the lives of our communities,
not further militarizing them. Because
when police power creeps in beyond the
law, it doesn't just erode trust, it
erodess democracy. And we can't afford
to let that happen. So, let's be clear.
We will not be policed into silence. We
will not be surveiled into submission.
We will not let local power be
surrendered by federal fascism. Our
communities are not battlegrounds. Our
people are not threats. And our
democracy is not negotiable.
Hello, my name is Connie Chapman and I'd
like to address the current conversation
around the upcoming GRT funds and the
requests being made by our state to our
state legislators. I'm here to remind
everyone that during the January 23rd,
police public safety town hall that was
held here in this chamber in front of a
full house, Chief Story agreed that
there is a need for more resources in
all areas of social support to address
public safety and juvenile crime.
He stated several times that if a
juvenile is being arrested, then we've
already failed. I believe public safety
comes in all shapes and sizes. When
making decisions around future GRT money
and the upcoming list of priority
projects we want our Santa Fe lobbyists
to pitch to our legislators, let's
remember the chief's own words and fund
projects that directly address those
underlying issues. Funds for affordable
housing, more recreational centers, more
park upgrades. the efforts and programs
of organizations such as Messia Valley
Community of Hope and yes, even an
expanded and improved public library
that will offer youth programming in
addition to new physical spaces versus
hanging out on the street. Asking to
fund a $1.5 million driving track does
nothing to address the very issues Chief
Story stated needed to be addressed.
City Council has never denied Chief
Story the funds he has requested that
directly benefit the police department.
And yet here we are dealing with the
same issues year after year. Apparently
fully funding every police request isn't
the answer to our problems. It's past
time to prioritize directly funding the
projects and programs that address the
lack of resources for the underlying
issues of mental health, substance
abuse, and juvenile crime.
Uh, good morning or afternoon, excuse
me. My name is Jim Hurst and I'm going
to talk about history. There was an
election 11 days ago. You may have
remembered it. Um,
and what I take away from it is
realize Los Cusus is here to stay. The
votes are in. The voters affirmed
affirmed uh realize Los Cusus and in
spite of all the efforts from the right
the voter opposition to the measure was
inconsequential.
Two young voters. The young are voters
now.
They have been awakened by opposition to
ICE and illegal mass deportations.
MAGA and Trump. and on the local front
by opposition to project Jupiter.
Uh they are voters now and any party
that ignores them ignores them at their
peril.
Three,
the Donna Anna school board race proves
the county is trending secular.
the book burners, uh, pardon me, the
book banners,
uh, the mothers of tyranny, I mean the
mothers of liberty lost not only in
Donna Anna County but else everywhere
else in the USA.
They were over they were 0 for30
nationally.
They didn't win anywhere, even in the
Bible belt.
The candidates who most wholeheartedly
endorse separation of church and state
one and one handily
those who warn of conservative backlash
against liberal policies, you know,
diversity, inclusion, and equality,
protection from im protection for the
immigrant community and the LGBTQ
plus community can be and should be
rationally ignored.
To my knowledge, the measure to end the
opening prayer for Donna Ana County
Commission was not mentioned in the
school board race.
This proves the force the forces of
Christian nationalism and dominionism
have not only lost the battle but have
fled the field.
Four, the bond issues.
The bond issues passed by nearly 2 to
one.
Bond issues constitute a vote of
confidence for the local governing body.
If they didn't believe if the citizens
didn't believe you were spending the
money responsibly, they wouldn't approve
your bonds. In conclusion, Los Crisis
and Dona County have identified
themselves as liberal progressive
communities. The people have spoken.
govern accordingly. Thank you very much.
Now I will read the closed meeting
statement.
There's a closed meeting was held on
November 17, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. The
following were in attendance. David
Sadil, interim assistant city manager,
Mayor Prom Beno, Councelor Graham,
Councelor Karan, Councelor McClure,
Councelor Flores, Battalion Chief
Whitefield, Police Chief Story,
management an analyst to Lucero, Finance
Director Doyle, Assistant Finance
Director Holggin, Comproller Throvenho,
Account Supervisor Cardinos, Account
Supervisor Sappel, Account Supervisor
Sanchez, uh, Accountant two Harris and
Accountant 2 Beasley
statement. For the record, the Los Cusus
City Council met in close session and
only discussed those limited items as
stated in the posted notice to conduct
an audit exit conference FY25 for the
city of Los Cusus, South Central Solid
Waste Authority, Metro Narcotics, Messia
Valley Regional Dispatch Authority, and
Animal Service Center of the Messia
Valley, which is closed pursuant to NMSA
section 12-6-5.
5 to 12-6-14.
The meeting adjourned at 11:21 a.m.
Next is the acceptance of agenda.
So moved by voters.
Second, Graham.
This is on a motion to accept the agenda
as presented. Councelor McClur,
yes.
Councelor Matise is absent. Councelor
Graham,
yes.
Councelor Cran,
yes.
Councelor Flores,
yes.
Councelor Bencoml,
yes.
Mayor,
yes.
Next, the resolutions and ordinance for
discussions. Item 8.1, resolution number
26-064.
Move to approve. Second, Graham.
Good afternoon, mayor, city council,
staff, and public. My name is Vanessa
Perez, and I am one of your budget
analysts. Before you is a resolution to
accept three budget adjustments.
All three adjustments requested relate
to the Telshore fund. Starting off,
public works is requesting about
$118,000
and this is to fund bathroom repairs at
Mesia Valley Community of Hope. These
repairs are a critical priority and we
cannot wait to find another funding
source. The housing program is returning
$4 million that were previously
allocated to the Peach Tree project as
we were able to secure another funding
source.
Last, the housing program is requesting
$150,000
and this is to support organizations um
providing food to the community.
$100,000 are going towards Casa Perinos.
$35,000 are going towards Elcalito Soup
Kitchen and the remaining 15 is a
reserve to support senior meal programs
or other initiatives as needed. Based on
these three adjustments, we would be
returning about $3.7 million to the
Telshore fund. Before you are your
council options and I stand for
questions. Natalie Green is also
available to answer any questions.
Any questions by council?
All right. See none.
Oh, I'm sorry.
I just um just hoping you could talk a
little bit more about the 4004 million
um that's being put back into the
Telshare fund real quick.
U Mayor Councelor Karan, I'm going to
defer that question to Natalie Green.
Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor. Natalie Green
for the record. Uh, Mayor Councelor
Kuran, the city received uh 11 million
from the state of New Mexico, and so one
of uh those projects funded under that
agreement was the Peach Tree project.
So, the state is funding Peach Tree in
its entirety, and the city will not need
to expend any of our funds. Um, so we
are returning the 4 million um to the
Telshore fund and we do anticipate uh
returning an additional two, but I'm
holding on to it for just a little bit
longer before I let it go. Um, but we
should be able to make the Telshore fund
whole sooner than later.
Thank you. I think that's pretty great
news. So, I just want to really call it
out. So, thank you. That was my only
question.
Thank you, Mayor Pro.
Thank you. Um, our colleague is not
here. He was very concerned about that.
Natalie, can you make sure to um just
send him a quick email? I know he was um
concerned about that last time we talked
about peach peach trees, so I think it's
important he knows. I also did just I
didn't have a question. I actually just
really wanted to thank you and city
manager staff for the $150,000 to
organizations providing food given the
recent um SNAP benefits that were
withheld and um sure that set families
back, you know, weeks if not months. So,
I just wanted to thank you all for that.
All right, Chrissy.
This is on the motion to approve
resolution 26-064.
Councelor Mccclure,
yes.
Councelor Matise is absent. Councelor
Graham,
yes.
Councelor Karan,
yes.
Councelor Flores,
yes.
Councelor Bencoml,
yes.
Mayor,
yes.
Next is item 8.2, 2 resolution number
26-065
move to approve grant second Corin.
Yes. Go ahead, G.
Thank you. Uh, good afternoon, mayor,
counselors, city staff, members of the
public. My name is Gabriela Prattz. I am
the city's grant manager. Before you, I
bring a resolution to
um to approve a budget adjustment for a
grant that was received by the police
department.
The FY26 Victims of Crime Act or VOCA
award was made to the police department
by the New Mexico Crime Victims
Reparation Commission in the amount of
$72,250
with a match of a little over $18,000.
These funds uh provide for the salaries
and fringe benefits of two crime victim
advocates that uh operate within the
police department and provide direct
services to victims of crime.
These are your council options and I
stand for questions.
Thank you Gabby. Any questions?
See none. Christine,
this is on the motion to approve
resolution 26-065.
Councelor Mccclure,
yes.
Councelor Matise is absent. Councelor
Graham,
yes.
Councelor Karan,
yes.
Councelor Flores,
yes.
Councelor Vancl,
yes.
Mayor,
yes.
Next is item 8.3,
resolution number 26-066.
Move to approve.
Second, Graham.
Okay, Cynthia.
Good afternoon, Mayor, City Council. My
name is Cynthia Lamo, capital
improvements program manager, and today
I have several CIP amendments for your
review.
All of the amendments I will be
proposing today are so they can reflect
the funding that's currently available
for each of the projects. In the past um
in this few recent months, CIP has been
working directly with departments to
ensure we clean and review all of the
CIP projects. So, as you've seen, we
have been presenting CIP amendments in
this past council meetings, and today we
have several all with the the intent of
verifying our accounts and our projects
that are in the CIP.
I first have the Dona Anna move trail.
This project is again related to trails.
The ending balance will be 409.
University multi-use trail loop for a
balance of 588,000
city hall security upgrades. This is
receiving funding to complete the
project for 75,000
76,000 I apologize senior program
equipment and rolling stock which is for
equipment the spent the funding for this
project have been spent uh for this
fiscal year. We have the Messia Valley
Health Facility improvements which are
improvements to the health facility in
the campus and the project is moving
forward. That's why you see that
reduction of 1 million. The ending
balance for that project is 31,000.
We next have the arts and culture
district improvements. This has an
balance of 1.5. Hardint Los Nño's rear
roof is also moving forward and the
remaining balance is 7,000.
Messia Valley community of home restroom
showers and mechanical room. This is
receiving an increase of a 100,000
that's needed to complete the project.
The restrooms at the Messia Valley is an
essential service and we're ensuring
that they have enough funding to
complete all of the project which is
improvement of the complete restroom
shower facilities.
Next one is the kitchens at Messia
Valley. That project is also moving
forward. They're working on the design
and it's currently has 2.9 million.
Apodaka Park aquatic playground and
multi-use path has a remaining balance
of 1.1 and again all of these projects
are moving forward and the intent is to
show the funding that they still have
available to move forward on their
projects.
We have uh legacy park renovations.
These are all of the parks that have
more than 30 years and it will be for a
variety of improvements. They have
currently 1.9 balance to continue the
project for drinking fountains across
different sites. They got an increase of
119 for an ending balance of 963.
Skate park improvements will have an
increase and it will have 4.6 six as
ending balance.
We continue with Valley View Park for
the Hesky Garden Light replacement.
After progress, it has a balance of 400
468,000.
The new skate park will have a remaining
balance of 313,000.
Amad hotel renovation, they had
additional funding of 977. So that will
leave a balance of 8.4.
The Benavidas kitchen floor renovation
has 82 left. So again showing progress
and Mson Center renovation
has a left balance of 661,000.
We're halfway through the list. So uh
that we next continue with Branigan
Cultural Center improvements
remaining balance of 1 million. The next
three pro line items are related to the
East Mesa public recreational complex.
The reason why there are three separate
lines is because in the CIP we have
identified them as three different
funding sources but it's for the same
project. So the first line item has an
increase and it will have an ending
balance of 3.6 million. The funds
related to ARPA for the East Mesa
complex have been fully spent and the GO
bond has a reduction of 51,000 that will
leave it to 1.1.
The park's improvement under the GO bond
funding source has a bending balance of
2 million.
We then have the Yamura Dam Park with
3,000 balance available. the voluntary
assessment district. This is project uh
for public works related to the median
and landscaping. So the funding for this
fiscal year has been spent as well as
the parking lot funding for several
parks parking lot has been spent. The
Melendres Avenue in Pittsburgh Street
project has in funding of 814,000
and the sustainability project for solar
photo take and storage projects that was
not too long ago presented by facil but
sustainability has 170,000 available.
These are public works projects. We have
East Mesa roads and drainage for a
balance of 2.3. University area complete
streets 300 Compost Street Design and
Reconstruction 6.6 million. Another
medium landscaping project will have a
leftover of 317,000
and the street lighting traffic signal
maintenance project program has 896,000.
We continue with Castle the Acres
Reconstruction
ending balance of 4 million, East Loman
Avenue 515,
South Main project with 6 million and
Telure Spruce intersection improvements
574.
Uh then uh last two payment condition
index improvements for a balance of 5.2
2 million and the pavement parking
pavement marking program has a balance
of 222,000.
So, uh I know this were um several
amendments that we presented, but again
the intent is that CAP and departments
are working together to refine RCIP
projects and make sure we currently
reflect the funding that they have
available. So, with that, here you have
your council options for this proposed
set of amendments.
Thank you, Cynthia. Any questions by
council? Councelor Flores.
Thank you, mayor, and thank you,
Cynthia, for your presentation. Um, when
I look at all these line items, I um I
wonder exactly what kind of work was
done.
And I don't know it's if that's within
the purview well it's obviously not
within the purview of today's
presentation but in terms of letting
city council and the city know exactly
uh what improvements were made. Um for
example on let's see if I can read my
kitchen. Let's see my I mean my terrible
handwriting. Um, for example, on page
six of your presentation,
um,
there was a renovation for the Amadore
Hotel renovation.
Why would the city be I thought it was a
private entity. Do we have a partnership
with the hotel after all these decades,
years I've lived here?
Yeah. Yeah. Um, first of all, thank you
for the feedback, Counselor Flores. Uh,
next presentation. I'll be more than
happy to write more specifics as to when
we said that there's project progress,
what exactly does that mean for this
round, specifically for the Amadore
Hotel renovation. I would like to invite
either staff from quality of life or
public works to see if we they can give
us more details on this expense.
And not only the express, I want to know
what the legal um affiliation or
relationship we have with Amadore. I I
thought it was a private entity.
Thank you.
Good afternoon, Mayor Counselor Flores.
Carol Bray, director of the quality of
life department. So, the Amadore Hotel
project has been underway for some years
now. Uh we began I would have to say for
at least the last five years now there
has been some construction improvement
going on at the Amodore Hotel. So you
may have noticed that the west wall is
completed. We're in phase two right now
which is um exterior improvements and
this phase will when it's completed all
of the exterior improvements will be
done and then the next phase which we
are currently seeking funding for and in
fact we have a pending grant uh right
now for uh the interior improvements and
that would be the first floor which
would allow us to open the facility to
the public. So, uh, the project is
progressing steadily with the help of
our colleagues at public works and, uh,
they are doing the heavy lifting because
they're managing the contract with, uh,
both our architects and the contractor
that's been hired to do the work.
Why is it, uh, why is it uh, regarded or
why is it a city function?
Well, the city owns the uh, mayor and
and councelor Flores, the city owns the
Amadore Hotel and uh, all these decades
after since 2007. We have owned it
actually since 2007 is when it was
transferred to the city for $1 by the
county. And uh in 2024,
early 2024, it was actually put under
the quality of life department for us as
the user department. So we are now
considered the department that is um
sort of like the owner of the project.
Although, like I said, we are working
very closely with public works to
actually make all that happen, all that
magic happen.
Well, thank you so much for your
edification. Personally, I'm sure
everybody else knows. Everybody else in
the world except me,
but thank you so much, Carol. Thank you.
Thank you.
And then, um, Mio.
Yes. Um,
on page nine, let me see if I can read
my terrible notes here.
Um, I think it'd be a good idea to to um
just because I'm I'm ignorant, therefore
I I would assume that there are other
ignorant people in our city. um if there
would be um well I don't know if we do
any
you know if we issue these we I don't
think I've ever seen anything in
newspaper about how we uh do our work
here at city hall
but I think it'd be an interesting
article or something piece for the local
newspapers to educate people ignorant
people like me about the relationship
just in case they see this and say wait
a minute why are we subsidizing a
private entity and in fact it isn't. But
anyway, that's just my two cents there.
Um
so um
oh and then on the um
on the what I would like to see on the
CIP amendments the money the money that
has been expended or not expended
um an explanation as to um how the you
how the expenses went or what they were
you know that would be good to know. Um
and cuz some of these balances are
actually higher and I don't know um if
there's any anticipation for example
university area compl uh complete
streets you know what's going to happen
with that um and then on page nine the
I'd like to know um
huh university streets camp oh the east
Mesa roads and drainage
does anybody know, do you know or
someone in the uh from uh public works
know exactly um how um what was done
there?
Yeah. Uh Mayor Councelor Flores, I will
pass it to public works staff to provide
more background on
Great. Thank you.
Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. Uh
Kyle Arn for the record, your interim
public works director. The East Mesa
roads and drainage project is the
currently in construction Cortez Drive
project from Porter to Dun to completely
reconstruct that road with new curbs,
gutters, sidewalks, a trail alongside
the road, and new utilities.
And then there are a lot of other areas
in uh in the East Mesa, that part of the
East Mesa that uh needs roads
throughout. Is there any plan for that
or has anything been designed or talked
about because it's something that I
raised a lot um when I was more
energetic and a lot younger.
[laughter]
Um and I haven't kept on top of it. So I
apologize to my East Mesa residents, but
um I'd like to know uh what the plan is
if there is a plan. And I know that um
Adrien Whitmer has had meetings out
there, you know, regarding the septic
tanks and all that and the money that
came in for all of that. Um but I
haven't seen anything lately
uh published about developments out
there.
Um nothing has been funded just yet. We
do have additional projects in the area
that we're looking forward to uh getting
to work on. uh enterprise. Uh there's
another road up in the Hienda acres
area. Uh there's some work on Shannon
and Dun that we would like to be looking
at. Um but we'll have to start on those
and prioritize as additional funding
becomes available.
Yeah, because drainage out there is a
nightmare. I've shared before that. Um,
there was a a woman I a residence there
just off of Dun and Cortez actually and
they're like on the east side of that
where it it it it
uh it floods so so much that even this
woman's uh boots that went like you know
the really tall boots that go right
above your knee didn't cover it. and um
she went out, you know, to get some
groceries, came back and wasn't able to
um get them into her house. She was
barely able to get into her own house.
So, um it would be great if you could
just keep me posted as much as you can
or um my successor on city council.
And thank you very much.
Yes, ma'am.
Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you, mayor.
Yes. Anyone else? Any question?
Seeing none, uh Christine,
this is on the motion to approve
resolution 26-066.
Councelor Mccclure,
yes.
Councelor Matis is absent. Councelor
Graham,
yes.
Councelor Karan,
yes.
Councelor Flores,
yes. Councelor Ben Como.
Yes.
Mayor.
Yes.
Next is item 8.4 resolution number
26-067.
Move to approve. Graham.
Second. Corin.
Good afternoon, Mayor Council.
This is a resolution to uh update fees
in connection with the animal control
ordinance that this council passed
earlier this year. Uh that ordinance
changed major included major revisions
to the care and maintenance requirements
for companion animals uh including
things such as spay and neuter
requirements.
Uh section 746 is passed contemplated
that council would update the fees
associated with some of the things the
city will be doing through that
ordinance at a later date. And uh just
to give a bit more context, all of these
things had fees in place prior to the
ordinance. So these are just updated
fees.
So what is the rationale for the updates
and fees? It's mostly to contain cons to
excuse me to maintain consistency with
how the county structures the same fees.
And to be really clear about it,
everything that is on this uh fee
schedule that is your exhibit A that is
also in the county's fees is the same as
the counties. It's exactly the same.
There are certain fees on the exhibit A
that are not found in the county's fee
schedule, but only because the city has
maintained those same fees for many,
many years. And so why are those exact
numbers are for those exact fees? And
I'll be specific. Commercial permit fee
is not a fee that's in the county
schedule.
It's only $25 difference. And the idea
is that it's a commercial property for
profit and hence the difference of $25
from 50. The special animal permits for
hen duck enclosed feral cat colony FFA/4
projects and for pigeons are also not in
the county fee schedule but they have
been in the city's fee schedule for many
many years. Those have been updated and
raised to be roughly in parody with the
other fees which are identical to the
county's fee schedule.
I do want to offer an amendment to this
exhibit A which I hope will make a
little bit of the language clear. Two
amendments to be precise. If you're
looking at exhibit A, you should see a
line in bold and italics. It says right
now it says there shall be a one-time
application fee of $20 per site in
addition to all permit fees listed
below.
I would ask the council to consider
amending this instead to read as
follows. There shall be a one-time fee
of $20 when a single site is processed
for any of the following permits for the
first time. That is meant to make clear
that this is a one-time fee for a single
pro uh property when it is processed for
the first time.
I know that the language could be a
little confusing. It might seem to say
that it would be done multiple times,
but it would not. It would be only one
time the first time the propertyy's
registered. And then a second amendment
is where it says dangerous/ potentially
dangerous dogs. That's a heading uh near
the bottom of the page on exhibit
[snorts] A. Insert the word permit
afterwards to make clear that the
one-time fee of $20 would also apply if
you had to register your property for
the first time because you want to have
a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog
on site since that requires a permit.
And with that, I think uh uh I have
covered it. If you have any questions,
I'm happy to answer.
Oh, I'm sorry. I need to go to council
options. So, the obvious thing is uh you
have to first vote if you accept the
amendment and assuming you accept the
amendment with a yes, then you will vote
to adopt the amendment yes or no. Adopt
the amended or uh resolution yes or no.
council. Correct. I
I I was just going to make that
amendment and get that out of the way,
but I don't do know that there are
public comments that might have some
input or want want some feedback. So, I
was just hoping that we could do that as
well, but I don't know what would be the
best order. I I would be I'd be happy to
move to amend as Henry um so kindly
outlined that. I think Christine, you
have copies of this as well, correct?
Um, so I would I would make that motion
if I can say that in that way.
Exactly.
Um,
to amend Yeah. to change the wording on
the permit to make it clear that it's
like one-time permit and changing the
dangerous job dog items. Correct. Okay.
Second, Graham.
This is on the motion to amend
resolution 26-067
in the exhibit um for the sentence to
state there shall be a onetime fee of
$20 when a single site is processed for
any of the following permits for the
first time and also to add the word
permit after the dangerous and
potentially dangerous docks. Um
councelor mcclair
yes.
Councelor Matise is absent. Councelor
Graham. Yes.
Councelor Karan.
Yes.
Councelor Flores.
Yes.
Councelor Bencoml.
Yes.
Mayor.
Yes.
Are there any other comments or
questions by council? Councelor Gr.
Hi. Not um not a question, but before we
move to um the public comments. Um
Henry, do you have exhibit Available
that we can have it up on the screen?
I do have
here.
I don't know if it's in this
presentation. Counselor. Uh Christine,
can we uh somehow get it on the screen
so people can see exactly what it says?
I'm sorry if this is just me being
No, not at all.
I'm not smart enough at the moment.
No, Christine, if you're going to do
what I think you're going to do, are you
just going to Okay, great. Yeah, just
pull up the just pull up the packet and
then that will be page 177
of 1179
if your PDF counter goes like my PDF
counter.
I just think it'd be useful to have the
And luckily it's only one page so we can
look at the whole thing at once.
I'm happy to answer questions
on this one. If if you'd like, I can
hopefully point with my cursor to show
people where things are going.
Perfect. Thank you.
That would be great. So the first
amendment is to take out the word
application because that word was a
little confusing. So you remove that
word
and then delete the remainder of this
sentence.
And you'll just have to imagine in place
of that highlighted remainder, you would
put when a single site is processed for
any of the following permits for the
first time.
It's just more cleanly meant to say the
first time you need to get a permit for
your thing for anything under this
schedule, you're going to have to pay
$20, which is just a processing fee.
And then the second amendment was to
insert after this language right here
the word permit just so it becomes more
clear that if you're registering your
property for the first time for a
dangerous dog permit or a potentially a
potentially dangerous dog permit again
you'll have to pay the $20 fee.
Okay, thanks so much. And if we can just
leave that up um or have it up when we
come to the public comment portion.
Thank you.
Mayor Bro,
thank you for the presentation. Just
quick question, two quick questions.
Sure. Where do where will the fees go?
Uh, councelor mayor, I believe the fees
are uh going back into the program. So,
they'll feed directly back into the
animal control officer's budget. U, but
I don't I do want to actually I do want
to say that I actually have uh the
animal control officer present who
helped draft this who can say for
certain. If I may, I'd like to give the
the floor to to Mr. Himemenz right here.
Thank you.
Good afternoon, Mayor Gino Himemenz. For
the for the record, those uh funds would
go directly into the general fund.
The general fund. Yeah. Okay.
Yes, ma'am.
Okay. Um I mean, we don't have to do
this today, but I guess in the future,
if we wanted to see a change of that, I
don't know what the advocates think. I
don't know what the animal re uh service
center thinks. I I know that sometimes
citations
uh that have fees out of municipal
court, sometimes they go back to
municipal court for education programs
or whatever. I guess I think that could
be potentially something we um can
explore in the future on on how no not
in LE like where the where the fees go
instead of the general fund to have them
go specifically to education efforts or
something like that. But again, we can
do that at a future time. That would
just be my request. And then I just want
to remind the public just because I
April at this point feels like 10 years
ago to be very honest. And so I just I
as soon as I read dangerous or
potentially dangerous dogs, I could not
remember what the statute said. So I do
want to remind folks to look at the
ordinance that um essentially municipal
court judge would would make those
determinations. Right. And so, Henry, at
that point when a municipal court judge
determines a potentially dangerous dog,
for example, the fee would be assessed
at that exact moment,
it would be assessed at the time of
registration. So,
okay,
obviously the the or the court would
well, not obviously, excuse me, I
apologize, I shouldn't say that. The
court will order the individual to
register, which is just an order telling
someone to do something. Once the person
complies with the order, they'll have to
interface with assistant the city's
administration and through the city
process. I I actually not familiar
terribly. I I assume it's online or in
person. It can be done. The person would
pay the fee at that time.
Okay. Thank you. So, yeah, just uh city
manager, that would just be my request
to future explore what how these fees
could potentially just be more
intentionally used. Thank you.
And I and I certainly don't disagree,
counselor. I think that's a fine idea
that can be addressed.
No one else. Okay. Members of the
public, did anyone wish to speak? Come
on up.
Good afternoon, Mayor, City Council,
counselors.
Kathy Stark. I had a couple of questions
and then I have what I hope will be
something that you reconsider in fact to
be in line with the county
on the and maybe Mr. Jimenez can help me
out here on the enclosed feral cat
colony.
I'm confused what we're trying to
achieve there number one because a lot
of our free roaming cats are not feral.
They've been abandoned. Um, and if you
question that, just go into cats meow
and see how many ear chipped cats are
there up for adoption.
So, what is the purpose? Are we saying
we prefer someone like myself to allow
them to just stay free roaming if I
enclose my back patio to keep them safer
and to keep them healthy? Then I pay a
permit fee for that.
Why is the fee for that more than for a
multi-anim animal site permit
um which is residential? And why is it
more than for a guard dog when a guard
dog, not all of them,
but they can cause more damage if they
get out than a fereral cat getting out
of an enclosed colony. So that's one
question on the intact animal permit to
be in um sync with the county. It should
read per animal, not per site. I could
have four intact animals, males and
females. And we one of the objectives is
to try and stop the backyard breeding
and then to dumping the animals at the
ASCMB.
A question associated with that is we
had intact animal permits in the
previous ordinance but it was never
executed. It was never enforced
when it comes to reclaims um at the
ASCMV. So the question is has a protocol
been established to in fact enforce that
at reclaims? I know we had put forward
some ideas that came from other
municipalities.
And then finally on the litter fee again
to be in sync with the county it should
be per litter not per site because again
I can have multiple animals doing their
thing and we have kittens and puppies um
when it's um per site versus per litter.
So thank you
Can I can I speak to that?
Yes.
I don't want to I don't want to
interrupt. Um but I
making sure that I'm covering the two
things here. I am and Christine I
recognize that there is limits to what
we can amend from the DAS but I'm hoping
that we could strike the enclosed feral
cat colony fee and then as suggested by
Miss Stark
uh modify the intact animal permit just
change per site to per animal. Are we
would that be possible? We're not
okay. That that is that is possible.
Um so I would just uh I would just
appeal to my colleagues that I agree
with both of those um with both of
those. I don't know if we need to have
any discussion on it.
I'm sorry. Now I feel sorry. I'm not
trying to be mayor or Christine, but I
don't want to make the amendment before
people have the chance to talk about it.
Yeah. Let Let's just hold off one
second. Sure.
Go ahead, Mayor Pro Tim.
Thank you. No, I was actually just going
to agree though. I guess I agree on the
litter fee as well per litter instead of
per site. And then I'm wondering if
guard dog is kind of the same thing,
right? Like you could have multiple
guard dogs.
So it's I apologize C mayor prom. So it
is indeed as uh uh councelor Graham
said. So I take responsibility for that.
It should be struck
for
litter fee should be per litter. So you
could amend and I can use this to show
everybody what I'm talking about.
Instead of site here litter
and then here where I highlight instead
of site it could say animal and that
would more closely align with count uh
the county.
Um, and of course it's entirely within
the council's council's prerogative to
eliminate this entirely. Um, and I
believe there was a question, it was a
good question for you, mayor proempt.
What does this mean? Does this mean per
dog per what? And the answer to that is
that is per site. That is accurate per
site. So the number of guard dogs for
which we require permitting under the
obviously this isn't the entirety of the
ordinance pertaining to animals but the
number of dogs I believe and Mr.
Himemenz can come up here and correct me
if I'm wrong is between three and seven.
So up to two there's no permitting
requirement at all. After two there's a
permitting requirement and there's no
additional uh distinction made in the
permit fee for how many dogs at that
point. So, four, five, six, same fee. It
will be $50 per site.
I hope that is correct.
Now, I uh part of uh Miss Stark's
question was that of what was the intent
uh before we do an amendment, I'd like
to hear from either Mr. Himemenz or Mr.
Becker on the intent of the enclosed
feral cat colony, the the the fee. What
what's what's the intent?
I think I have to defer to Mr. three
minutes for those.
Again, mayor, on this one, this was
included in the last ordinance in the
last schedule of fees as well. So, the
writing wasn't changed. Instead of
saying enclosed feral cat colonies, the
writing should have said enclosed
community cat colony. The intent there
is for the same thing. Um, these are
showing animals or cats that are
enclosed within somebody's property.
Almost the same thing as a multi-animal
site permit. uh that rather that these
animals are being cared for by a citizen
um domesticated if you will and then
once they've reached that domestication
stage they can go to a different home to
be placed uh adopted uh given a better
life. Uh so it's almost the same thing
as a multi-anim animal site permit if
that answers your question.
So, if someone had a multi-anim animal
side permit, they wouldn't if we cut
this, that would not that they could
still register their their cats as or
their house as a multi-animal site
permit regardless of that. So, if we cut
that, it's not really functionally
making a huge difference, except it
won't be double assessed for people who
have an enclosed cat colony.
Absolutely. They would have they would
need that multi-anim animal site permit
for the excess of animals, whether it be
dogs or cats, and then a separate for
the enclosed community cat colony.
Okay. Thank you, Mr. Himemenz.
I think the councelor's question
pertains to if we struck the language
for enclosed feral cat colony, there
would still be a form of registration
and fee paid. I think that is what
councelor's question pertains to and
that would be yes.
Correct. Thanks. So with that,
make your amendment.
I apologize.
No, thank you so much. Um, I would
propose we amend exhibit A to strike
enclosed feral cat colony and the
associated fee,
to alter the language of intact animal
permit to $150 annual per animal, and to
amend the litter fee uh to uh from 100,
okay, sorry, to $100 to $100. annually
per litter as opposed to per site.
Second.
Okay. So, this is to amend exhibit A to
remove the enclosed feral cat colony and
the $75 annually. And then to add for
the intact animal permit um per animal
and for the litter fee per litter.
Correct. Okay.
Um councelor mcclair.
Yes. [clears throat]
Councelor Matise is absent. Councelor
Graham. Yes. Councelor Craran.
Yes. Councelor Fletes.
Yes. Councelor Bencomo.
Yes.
Mayor.
Yes.
Next is item 8.5. Oh, now we have to
vote on
but then also I'm not sure if we got to
all of our community members. Are you
you're satisfied? Okay, great.
We're good. We're good.
For the record, that was a thumbs up.
Okay. Sorry about that. Let's do the
whole resolution now. Too many
amendments.
Go.
This is on the motion to approve
resolution 26-067
as amended. Councelor Mccclure.
Yes.
Councelor Matise is absent. Councelor
Graham.
Yes.
Councelor Cran.
Yes.
Councelor Flores.
Yes.
Councelor Bencomo.
Yes.
And mayor.
Yes.
We could go to item 8.5,
council bill number 26-00009,
ordinance number z 3101.
Move to approve. Graham second. Corin.
Good afternoon, mayor and city council.
I am here to talk to you today about
Endurance Technologies and the
Industrial Revenue Bond Ordinance being
presented to you.
Uh so what is an IRB? It is an economic
development tool available to counties
and municipalities. It is a tax
abatement program with a maximum term of
30 years um that offers property tax
exemption, gross receipts tax andor
compensating tax exemption on qualifying
purchases and exemption of bond interest
from New Mexico income taxation.
Uh continuing on what an IRB is, it um
only specific projects can be financed.
So this is land, buildings, equipment,
and improvements. It is also important
to note that the IRB state statute
prohibits municipalities and counties
from using any of their own resources to
pay debt service. Bonds are payable
solely from lease revenues paid by
project company and the municipality
cannot operate the IRB project being
financed.
Uh so how it works is the real andor
personal property is conveyed from the
project company to the IRB user which is
in this case is the city of Los Cusus uh
or issuer. The issuer leases the project
back to the company for the term of the
bond under an industrial revenue bond
lease. The company then acquires and
makes purchases as agents of the city
using non-t taxable transaction
certificates to obtain gross receipt tax
abatement on eligible purchases. and
then the issuer issuer transfers project
back to project company at the bond
maturity date and the property becomes
subject to property taxes.
Uh so the adoption process for an IRB so
um the project company in this case is
endurance technologies they submit the
application to the economic development
department for review. There's an
inducement resolution that goes to city
council which we did um on September
15th and it was adopted. This inducement
resolution indicates intent to issue
IRBs for a project.
Um the
then from there you publish notice of
intention to consider an ordinance in in
the newspaper at least 14 days prior to
the ordinance and the ordinance itself
has to be adopted by city council. It
authorizes the issuance of the IRBs. It
approves primary bond documents and
terms including pilot payments. Um and a
notice of adoption of the IRB ordinance
is published in the newspaper and
transaction can close 30 days after the
publication.
So let's talk a little bit about
Endurance Technologies. Um for a long
time we knew them as Project Iron Man up
until recently. They are a Canadian
steel pipe manufacturing company. Uh
they service the oil and gas industry
and they've been been in business for
over 30 years.
Um they are seeking a new manufacturing
facility to expand production
capabilities in the US. Uh they've did a
multi-state search to find a facility
and has ended up in most likely Los
Cusus. Um they plan on hiring 41
employees with an average wage of 58,000
and the capital investment for this
project is 17.6 million which is a
little more than we previously talked
about. um they are potentially
purchasing an existing facility that is
uh vacant out at the industrial park.
So the proposed ordinance in front of
you today so it does authorize the
issuance of the IRBs. It includes a
20-year term uh a pilot so a payment in
l of taxes for the school district.
There are clawback provisions and um
this just shows that the city will be
supporting the expansion to Los Cusus
and the 41 new jobs.
Uh, we do have the CEO, Mr. Jeff Petura
on virtually today. We also have our IRB
council and staff from Avita. And I am
here to answer any questions.
Any questions from council?
Okay, see none. Christine,
this is on the motion to approve
ordinance 3101. Councelor McClure. Yes.
Councelor Matise is absent. Councelor
Graham.
Yes.
Councelor Karan.
Yes.
Councelor Flores.
Yes.
Councelor Bencom.
Yes.
Mayor.
Yes.
So, congratulations, Elizabeth. Thank
you for all your hard work. Mvita and
Jeff, if you're listening,
congratulations to you. Welcome to Los
Cruus.
Next is board appointments.
None.
And
proposed ordinance uh council number
26-010
ordinance number 3102
an ordinance amending chapters 3438 of
Los Cusus's municipal court code and the
corresponding zoning map as presented.
Bring it forward.
Next, we'll go to S city council member
board reports and comments. Councelor
Mccclure.
Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to uh
report back from uh some shenanigans
this weekend. I went to our sister city,
Laro Mexico, and it was fantastic. And
we are going to have to up our game on
the swag. It was it was intense, but it
was a lot. Um, their mayor Susie might
now be my bestie. So, she was really
engaged in looking at opportunities that
we might be able to share from Lero to
Las Cusus, specifically things like
people who know how to make adobe, which
is something we severely lack here, and
helping them as well with things like
high arsenic in their water. We have
some really fantastic and talented
utilities folks. So, I'll share a little
bit more with that um as we go along,
but it was a great experience and um
just want to say that I think we're open
to collaborating a little bit more down
there as well. Thank you,
Council Mccclure. How long was the ride?
It was 10 hours and I just got back this
morning, so if I'm looking a little
haggarded.
Yeah, but it was it was great. They um
we had a great reception from the Sister
Cities Committee and from so many
people. I was in a parade. I was on a
stage last night giving Y'all know I
don't do speeches and I did so many
speeches English and Spanish. Oh my
goodness, it was it was crazy, crazy,
crazy. So, we're going to have to make
them give like a zillion speeches, but
they will do it with grace and that I
hope that I had to represent Los Cusus.
I tried my best. At any rate,
I'm sure you did. Thank you for doing
that. And welcome back, uh, Councelor
Grant.
Thank you. Um, I'm just going to
reiterate an announcement made at the
beginning of the meeting by Carol, our
amazing, uh, pets of the week, uh, ASCMV
staff liaison, um, to invite folks out,
uh, Wednesday, this coming Wednesday,
the 19th, 4 to 6:00 p.m. at the Animal
Services Center Medical Building for,
uh, 4 to 6:00 p.m. for meet and greet
with the finalists for our ASCMV
director position. I will note that it
is not a surgery day. So we will not be
supplanting any surgical operations. The
lobby will be ours. Um we are going with
a kind of a more informal conversational
type of event where each of the
finalists will give just a brief talk
about themselves, their background, um
their philosophies and then it'll be
more of an opportunity to get to
converse with them. I know there are
advantages and disadvantages to hauling
them in here and putting them on the DAS
and having them face questions from the
podium. It has its merits, but so I
think does this format. And the
community will be invited to share their
impressions and input. Um, there'll be a
QR code for everyone to scan on the way
in and uh you can take a survey and
you'll also have access to their bios,
resumes, etc. Uh, so please come on out
to that if you're interested in the
hiring of this next person. And then um
also hearkening back to a comment made
in during public comment. I can't
believe the election was only 11 days
ago because it already feels like a
month or something cuz time stretch or
whatever. But congratulations um to
everyone who ran. It's amazing to see
people step up. Um and special shout out
to Councelor Elect Harris who will be
filling my seat in the coming year. And
congratulations to Councelor Corin who
was soundly or resoundingly reelected.
Um I will well I'll I'll save it for my
speech on the 15th. I'm going to miss
you all but congratulations counselors
elect Korin and that's all I've got.
[laughter]
Councelor K.
Thank you. Thank you, Councelor Graham.
And actually, thank you for being
working on the ASMB executive director
search committee. I know you and the
community members that were involved uh
as well as the search firm. This it's a
hard job and it means a lot to the
community
um that we had a a a pool of applicants
that that you all felt like, you know,
these are some great folks that are
coming to town who who really do um who
really can lead us forward. So, I'm
excited for the opportunity for for our
community to keep moving forward on the
ASMV. So, thank you for your work on
that. I know it's a lot of of scheduling
and coordination and input that you that
you get. Um,
so thank you. Uh, I also wanted to give
a quick shout out to tomorrow morning.
The city's um pilot program, I'll call
it pilot, I don't know if it's really
pilot uh for EV rental program um is is
kicking off. We're partnering with
Fourth Mobility um to have [snorts] uh
electric vehicles that residents can
rent. And the idea is since our climate
action plan suggests that most of our
local air pollution in particular, but
contributions to climate change overall
come from transportation, this is a this
is a tiny way to democratize
um transportation in in in addition to
our public transit, in addition to to
our paratransit and all the other ways
that we're working on addressing that.
Um so tomorrow at 9 Oh, no. So don't let
me tell you the wrong thing. Um 9:00 am.
Yes. 9:00 a.m. at 3007 South Main. So, I
will see you all there for the
sustainability EV car kickoff.
All right. Thank you, Councelor Flores.
I really don't have any comments. Thank
you,
Mayor Prom.
Thank you, U Mayor. I don't have too
many things either. I also wanted to
congratulate
um Councelor Corin on her reelection. um
you ran a great campaign and very
grateful you'll I'll be serving with you
for a couple more years and then of
course thank uh congratulate our two
incoming um city councilors. I look
forward to working with both of them and
for sure thank you to everyone who ran
obviously you know people who've done it
before. We know what it takes and it's
certainly not easy. So um thank you to
everyone who ran and of course thank you
to our city clerk for helping administer
part of that election. as always. Um,
that's why you're number one in our
hearts and number one in the state,
Christine.
Um, and then just lastly, I I do I have
the great honor of serving on the
utilities board, which is one of my
favorite duties. And, um, I will do that
until Adrian tells me to leave. Um, and
I do just want to note that our code um
does say every member unless removed as
provided in this section shall hold
office until a successor has been dually
qualified and appointed. And I don't
believe there are any term limits. Um,
so I will continue to serve on that term
on that board until I am gone. However,
that's not what I wanted to say about
utilities. our very thoughtful utilities
um staff. We were in our our utilities
board meeting last week and we talked
about uh the utilities assistance fund
which to anybody who has been faced with
the very sinister choice um this month
of buying food for your family or paying
your bills, please know that paying your
bills at least at the utilities does not
have to weigh heavy on you. that our
utility staff will not be conducting any
shut offs this month or next month um
for anyone who has struggled because
they were um uh furoughed or they
weren't working or uh again some of
their SNAP benefits got cut and there is
still that utilities assistance fund for
both residents and commercial
properties. Um, so please call utilities
and um, they will be more than happy to
assist you. And thank you very much,
Adrian, for ensuring your staff um, is
thinking ahead on that. Thanks, Mayor.
All right. Thank you. And I, too, want
to congratulate you, Councelor Karan,
for your reelection. Good job. And then
to the new incoming Harris and Munoz.
Um, again, I just want to thank everyone
that attended the Veterans Parade and
the whole week of honoring our veterans
and the committee and the city staff
that helps out with the veterans parade.
It was a great uh time and a healing
purpose for our veterans. And also, I
just want to give a kudos to our
library, uh, Carol and Sarah. They
celebrated the 90th year anniversary for
Brandan Library. So, good job.
Congratulations. And also um they also
this uh weekend had the border uh
regional library association that they
hosted here this week. Over a 100
librarians coming from El Paso uh New
Mexico, Los Cusus area. So that was that
was great to have. Um, also a shout out
to Mountain View Hospital for for
recognizing the importance in our
healthc care and hosting the healthc
care event at the downtown plaza this
weekend. Um, that's really all I had.
Just want to wish our city manager a
happy birthday. It's uh, Economia.
Happy birthday. And with that, I'll turn
it over to you.
Thank you, Mayor Enriquez, Mayor Prom,
Beno, and city councilors. Econo Domio,
city manager. Just two announcements.
One is visit las cusus. Uh we appreciate
and great kudos to our visit las cusus
team. They were featured in Forb's
holiday travel story. This is a result
of the hard work of our visit las
cruises marketing director Lorenna
Losano and her collaboration with our
new PR agency. As noted in the e as as
noted, the article highlights our
seasonal events and festive atmosphere,
renaissance arts fair, homegrown at the
New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage
Museum, City of Las Cusus Treelighting,
Messia Plaza celebrations, and more.
Again, this also includes a photo and
direct link if you go to our website.
with over 53 million monthly readers.
This will result in a significant
national exposure for our city and that
is our tourism um staff and department
doing everything they can to get our
lodgers tax up and make money. So, we
appreciate everything that they do, but
also keeping our our region and our city
top of mind to those looking to come and
travel to Las Cusus. Last announcement.
I I appreciate public comment. It's
always an opportunity for uh people to
express themselves and the perspectives.
Uh one that was brought up was public
safety uh which has um been in uh been
in the news lately and so I just wanted
to share some perspective. Our police
department has uh typically historically
partnered with federal agencies. Um this
isn't something new that we've done, but
um I I wanted our chief to share uh and
speak to that so he can um share some
perspective as well from our police
department chief.
Thank you, sir. And happy birthday.
Historically, and I don't expect people
to know this because why would they? I
wouldn't know if I was just the common
citizen. But historically, we have
worked with federal agencies like the
FBI, ATF, DEA, um, for crimes within our
community. And that's been since before
I started here. The Young Park shooting
is a great example, although just one of
many of how we can work together and
collaborate. During that investigation,
I mean, it was flawless how we worked
with the FBI, ATF, the US attorney's
office, and the district attorney's
office who ultimately charged the cases.
that was the most appropriate in that
case was the state charges. And like all
almost all police departments, we
leverage task force officers, which are
police officers that are um given
federal authority for specific criminal
statutes completely separate from
immigration enforcement so that we can
leverage the resources and that tool to
help hold people accountable when the
state system fails. And that's primarily
with major incidents, um egregious
crimes or repeat offenders.
And some of those examples of cases that
we do all the time every year is
narcotics trafficking. All of our metro
agents are are part of the FBI task
force. Our street crimes unit as well.
So narcotics trafficking, human
trafficking, weapons violations, serious
weapons violations, especially ones that
u coincide with narcotics trafficking.
And then unfortunately we have far too
many cases of child exploitation and
child pornography that our task force
officers deal with um all the time. And
that tool is something that we have
always used and need to continue to use
to keep buses safe. Thank you, sir.
Thank you, Chief Story. Thank you,
Mayor. That's all.
All right. Thank you. And with that, a
motion to adjurnn.
So moved by Floyd.
Second, Graham.
This is on the motion to adjourn the
meeting. Councelor McClure.
Yes.
Councelor Matise is absent. Councelor
Graham,
yes.
Councelor Cran,
yes.
Councelor Flores,
yes.
Councelor Bencoml,
yes.
And mayor,
yes.