e
e e
[Music]
you're on
good afternoon welcome to city council
uh today is
Tuesday February
4th it says January on my sheet
okay it's approximately 1 p.m. I'm mayor
Eric Enriquez uh before we start want to
mention that we have the a SL
interpreters available here in the front
if anyone needs uh we'll start with a
moment of silence for the brave men and
women of our armed forces and also our
local Los cruus and police and fire
department as they keep our city safe
365 councelor gr Feld leader in the
pledge to flag of the United States of
America and to the rep for which stands
one nation under God indivisible with
liy and justice for
all first on the agenda we'll have our
presentations and cert certificates of
appreciation and proclamations by
councelor
Grant thank you
mayor good afternoon we're going to
start with our first of two heart
related proclamations so I'd like to
invol invite Kayla Macky and if you want
to bring bring your family
down so I just want to point out um that
Kayla this young lady submitted the
herself and everything so she is the
reason that we get to hear this today
and I just think that's really
cool whereas the well-being of our
children our most precious resource is
of Paramount importance to the city of
Los cruus and maintaining excellent
Health among children is a top priority
and whereas in the United States of
America congenital heart defects are the
most frequently occurring birth defects
and the leading cause of birth defect
related deaths and whereas congenital
heart defects are being researched by
numerous professionals to more
accurately determine its origin physical
signs and improved surgical options and
as a result the origins and symptoms of
congenital heart defects are becoming
more easily identifiable and whereas
there is much to learn about the causes
of and effective treatments for conen
congenital heart defects and it is
important for parents pediatricians and
nurses to recognize the warning signs
associated with ch D among newborns so
they may provide proper treatment as
early as possible and whereas Los
crisis' families and communities have
been directly impacted by childhood
illness and deaths caused by congenital
heart defects and whereas congenital
heart defect Awareness Week will also
provide the opportunity to share
experience and information with the
public and the media in order to raise
public awareness about congenital heart
defects now therefore we the mayor and
City Council of Los cruus New Mexico do
hereby Proclaim February 7th through
February 14th 2025 as congenital heart
defect awareness week in the city of Las
cruus and encourage residents to join
the campaign to increase awareness of
the serious health matter and to improve
early diagnosis and increased support to
families affected by these conditions
signed by our mayor Eric Enriquez and
attested by Christine Rivera our city
clerk
[Applause]
hi my name is Kayla Macky I'm 12 years
old and in the sixth grade of ISTA
Middle School I have CHD I was diagnosed
with CHD at 7 weeks old and had my very
first cat at 10 weeks old this has
become a very important part of my life
and a very special thing to be able to
share this has affected more than just
my life it has affected my parents
grandparents siblings Etc it is very
important to me to talk to people about
this and make sure they are aware about
what we see HD Warriors go through in
our lives
whether it's the countless nights in the
hospital the countless checkups and
surgeries the fear and pain we go
through or all the blood work cont tests
this is so important for people to have
knowledge about especially because we
know how hard we have fought to be here
today thank you so much for coming
[Applause]
and for our second Proclamation um
Stephanie Blackwood Mountain View
Medical Center or anyone else here
representing cool
welcome and thank you so much for being
here whereas the members of the city
council of the city of Las cruus New
Mexico are always pleased to recognize
those events which bring credit upon the
community and whereas every year
February is declared American Heart
month and is a time to recommit to
proning better heart health wellness and
prevention in our community and whereas
our very own health Healthcare Heroes at
Mountain View Regional Medical Center
make it their mission not only today but
every day to fight one of the country's
most costly and deadly diseases and
whereas by adopting a few healthy habits
we can all reduce our risk of heart
disease and we can reduce deaths from
heart attacks by not ignoring early
warning signs of chest pain heart
palpitations shortness of breath and
sudden dizziness and seeking Medical
Care immediately and whereas heart
attacks can be different for men and
women and women can have very different
symptoms which are often overlooked and
can delay people seeking care and
whereas today we honor the healthc Care
Professionals and heart health Advocates
who save lives through their mission to
deliver safe Quality Health Care and
every day put themselves on the front
lines to fight against heart disease now
therefore we the mayor and City Council
of Las cruus New Mexico do hereby
Proclaim February 2025 as National heart
month in the city of Los crusis New
Mexico and urge all citizens of this
community to recognize and reaffirm our
commitment to fighting heart disease by
living heart healthier
[Applause]
lives thank you on behalf of our um
healthcare workers thank you so much
[Applause]
okay and finally who's here from the
accounting team from the city of Los
cruus come on come on
so I'll be reading from a news release
from the government Finance Officers
Association uh GA gfoa of the United
States and Canada has awarded the
certificate of of achievements for
excellence and financial reporting to
city of Los crusis for its annual
comprehensive financial report for the
fiscal year ended June 30th 2023 the
report has been judged by an impartial
panel to meet the high standards of the
program which includes demonstrating a
constructive Spirit of full disclosure
to clearly communicate its Financial
story and motivate potential users and
user groups to read the report the
certificate of achievement is the
highest form of recognition in the area
of governmental accounting and financial
reporting and its attainment represents
a significant accomplishment by a
government and its management right
[Applause]
on good afternoon Josie trino um the com
troller I wanted to say a few words this
time I had to write it down because I I
get my uh words all twisted so good
afternoon members of city council my
name is Josie trino Coller I'm happy to
be here today to celebrate an important
achievement the FY 23 AER award from the
GF OA this award shows the great work of
our accounting and treasury staff and I
want to thank them for their hard work
preparing the act for is no small task
it is a demanding process that takes a
approximately 5 months to complete
involving thorough attention to detail
and adherence to stringent standards
besides the annual a audit our staff
manages their regular responsibilities
ensuring the city's Financial Health in
compliance with state and federal
deadlines it is a period marked by
immense pressure and tight timelines yet
our team Rises to the challenge with
unwavering commitment and
professionalism you see what I
mean I want to thank each of member of
our staff for their hard work dedication
and resilience your efforts are truly
appreciated and this award is a result
of Your Excellence
[Applause]
birthday birthday
thank you councelor Graham next is the
jobs of the
week good afternoon sir hi thank
you
oops there we go um my name is Sarah
Rainey I am the One-Stop coordinator for
the New Mexico Workforce Connection um
this for the jobs of the week for this
week for February 4th we have a building
inspector for the city of Los crusis for
2285 an hour the posting closes on the
17th we also have a licensed social
worker for the city that one starts at
63,000 and the posting closes on the
17th as well we have a residential
maintenance technician level one out at
the wh Sand Missile Range that one
starts um at 28,000 goes up to 45,000
and the posting closes on the 1st of
March we have a document technician for
personal property assessors at the
doniana county um office that one's 1607
an hour up to 24 and the posting closes
on the 13th we have a social media
specialist out at NMSU for 48,000 that
posting closes on the 28th and then we
have a groundskeeper maintenance
actually there's two positions sorry for
Hill Crest Cemetery um that posting
closes on the 27th of this
month thank you then that is all we have
for this
week all right thank you Sarah yes sir
next is pets of the week and we have
Carol good afternoon I'm Carol Nelson
with the Animal Services Center of the
msia valley the digital content
specialist
um few quick reminders both our dog and
cat of the week are available for
adoption at no cost this week contact
the center to arrange any meet and greet
with Foster animals and all long-term
residents that have been at the center
for 3 plus months are available at just
$25 our cat of the week is Beethoven
8925 n I'm a super sweet boy who is
ready to steal your heart I've only been
at the center for a few days but I've
already went over the staff with my
loving nature snug ugle Obsession and
constant desire for cuddle time I may
seem a little shy at first but trust me
I've got a playful side that will win
you over in no time I do best as the
only pet so I can soak up all the
attention and love I deserve let's
cuddle up and make some memories
together and other good news our dog of
the week was actually returned to a
previous owner um and so that's not as
common so we're super excited about that
success happy for Duke cuz he's been at
the center for a minute um and to just
highlight a few of our long-term
residents again available to adopt for
$25 um Dora has been at our Center for
391 days now Alice 244 days Mabel 240
and Luna
235 so we really want to make a push to
help get them adopted because the longer
they stay in shelter it's harder for
them to
thrive um and this coming weekend we are
going to be at PetSmart from 10: to 1:00
p.m. so as always good opportunity to
come adopt and also get supplies at the
same time so and then on the 15th we
will be having our Cupid Shuffle speed
dog dating event at the center um and if
you're not sure you're ready to adopt
there's also the option to take the
animal for a sleepover to get a fill for
how it would be in the
home uh and as always feel free to reach
out to us on social media or follow us
on social media and you can find more
information on our website ascmv
dorg thank you
okay thank you
Carol next is a conflict of interest
does any member of city council city
manager or any member of the city staff
have any known conflict of interest with
any item on the agenda none by Flores
none Graham none mlar none
none next is public participation
Katrina will come down and user anyone
that wants to come and speak uh you're
allowed up to 3 minutes no pending
litigation or items on the
non-consent come on up Mr Butler
my name is Robert Lee Butler you spell
that b u t l r Los
crues my opening statement is that's
here for the aies you get the ticket now
why you can't a h a s a p they're RN you
tip coach is feed
us all right my
body
Bill M will not hear the last never hear
last of it if you this ministry does
not put Animal Care on the drugs if you
don't do that M te will be very upset
with you I'm sure of it cuz I volunteer
for
him number well no number what is
important I wanted to say is I
appreciate the calar you gave me
mayor Eric andz for secur from security
but I was very disappointed that you all
didn't have a black circle on the top
left corner of the box of the date you
have your Mee cuz I was here yesterday
and I Splat all over the floor but I
didn't hurt myself so
let's see where
story he looking good I'm
donating $50 to the chief of
police through the fire department
um donating $50 to the T fire like want
you know the various Award of your
community gentlemen and
ladies now my clo
this is a very very very beautiful town
city county all they have to do is say
dger and the whole state is
frozen I heard you you all had a I'm
assuming you all had a very nice trip to
San I was happy to hear that that means
we're moving
along I appreciate you very much Eric
and we get I've been meing for you I
didn't ask your permission but I didn't
have to
anyway I'm going to watch the agies win
I hope everybody else said too thank you
Bill thank you
all I'm Lyn Mo citizens have been
requesting a briefing at a city council
meeting regarding the new lead and
copper rule with public involvement here
are 52 signatures on petitions further
supporting the request the briefing in
November at a city council meeting was
flawed and didn't provide any
opportunity for the public to ask
questions or make comments it needs a
doover I've explained privately in
writing to a staffer in the city
manager's office an additional reason
why the briefing needs to be at a city
council meeting City councilors have
been going about providing false and
misleading information about the rule
the briefing is needed for both City
councilors and the public
notwithstanding I requests in my private
explanation the city manager has sent
out a notice of some other kind of
meeting a notice that falsely implies
that lead is a minuscule problem it's
unfortunate that because of this
misguided notice it's become necessary
to discuss this bluntly in public the
people of Las crusis are harmed when
City councilors make false
representations about something that is
critical to Public Health as EPA says
there is no safe level of lead and
drinking water it's a matter of great
importance when EPA says it's mandatory
to get all the lead out it's not just
guidance from the EPA as one counselor
is falsely saying the rule is not
optional it's something that must be
done to protect Public Health regardless
whether you consider this an unfunded
mandate it's dangerous for a counselor
to falsely tell people on a radio show
that if a property was built after this
70s there's virtually no chance their
pipes are lead in reality lead pipes
were not banned until 1986 and Lead
Plumbing fixtures weren't banned until
1998 her assertion is completely false
even if counselors have no sense of
embarrassment about displaying ignorance
the public is harmed because some people
might believe they inaccurate public
pronouncements the counselor's need for
Education regarding the facts about the
rule and the true situation in Las
Cruses is greater because of their role
as public figures who have more powerful
microphones if residents believe a
counselor's falsehood that they don't
need to do anything if their pipes were
installed after the 70s they're put at
risk inexcusably to make it crystal
clear the briefing needs to be at a city
council meeting live streamed and
recorded so that all counselors are
obligated to attend the hope is that
they will learn enough to stop saying
false things publicly about the lead and
copper Rule and its implementation in
Las cruus with respect whether you want
to or not you all need to learn enough
to avoid or stop doing damage to the
public well-being the public needs the
briefing too so that false information
can be corrected they also need an
opportunity to ask questions of experts
and provide comments to counselors so a
much higher level of understanding can
be achieved by everyone as elected
representatives you all bear the
responsibility to overrule this
misguided decision by the city manager
please do this on behalf of the public
which is looking to you for leadership
on this critical public health issue
thank
[Applause]
you mayor City councilors I'm Liz
Rodriguez
Johnson it was deeply disturbing to hear
the city manager's ostensible action in
the form of an apology at the end of the
January 21 city council meeting the
apology was for not making sure the
letter lasu's utilities sent out
regarding epa's new lead and copper rule
was in Spanish his justification was
that the website which can be translated
into Spanish is good
enough this is despite the fact that
most water users don't even know that
lasu's utilities directed a website
about the new rule
or that the new rule has been issued or
what it's
about without receiving a letter in
Spanish Spanish speakers will not know
that they even need to hunt down a City
website because Las Cruses is a majority
Hispanic population lasu's util utility
letters of major import have
traditionally been English on one side
and Spanish on the other how can it be
decided with respect back to the new
very important lead and copper rule it's
perfectly acceptable to ignore the most
basic method of making sure all
Hispanics are fully informed it's
perfectly
acceptable it's beyond
belief at best it's a very misguided
decision which shows a lack of
sensitivity to the needs of a
significant portion of the Las cusis
Community it should not take a
regulation mandate you show sensitivity
to your community you serve if it's the
right thing to do you should do the
right thing but if the lack of
sensitivity is the point then the point
is very very
clear the notice about a Las crusis Town
Hall doesn't solve the problem it
doesn't provide the full letter that
Spanish speaking residents need to read
and study the notice doesn't alert
anyone in in English or Spanish why the
lead Couer rule is important or the
potential Health
implications it is very likely to be
thrown it away without reading or
checking the website if a Spanish
speaker checks the website they'll
discover it's all an English and
probably won't even be able to locate
the tiny place to click to translate in
Spanish I close by saying that an
apology is meaningless unless the
apology
makes things right lasu's utilities
needs to send out the letter in Spanish
immediately the longer the city resists
this the more disrespect you show not
just for the non-english-speaking
Hispanic Community but for all of the
lusus community thank you congrat
hello I'm Nathan
ramz the city is putting out confusing
information about the new lead and
Cooper rule there are questions that
need to be answered at a city council
meeting by experts we Citizens need an
opportunity to ask our questions and
receive straight answers City councilors
need to learn the facts too you are
disrespecting the large Hispanic
community in Los cruus when you didn't
send out the notification letter in
Spanish and English this problem has has
been brought to the council's attention
but the city manager still refuses to do
the right thing that the city chooses
not to send it out in Spanish is immoral
and dangerous to many Hispanic citizens
you need to overrule the city manager
and send out the letter in Spanish I
have no confidence that the city's
implementation of the new rule is
adequate because it can't or won't get
this fundamental of effective
communication right we Property Owners
want to know whether we need to have our
water tested to determine if we have
lead in our drinking water the albu the
Albuquerque bero County Water Utility
Authority will test a users water for
lead at no cost in contrast Los Cruses
is not providing sampling services for
customers properties instead City
personnel say if we want a test result
we have to contact a lab and pay for a
test or purchase a water home test kit
for lead why isn't Los kusus doing what
Albuquerque is doing also City person
Personnel need to demonstrate their
techniques are accurate in determining
whether piping contains lead EPA
requires that when water systems
classifies piping as non-led it must be
supported by evidence-based records
methods or techniques to prove it is not
Le what methods or techniques does the
city use to prove that piping is non-led
if City personnel only check the meter
boxes I can't see how that constitutes
proof their assessments are correct
pipes might be lead lined on the inside
lead lining is impossible to identify by
just looking at the outside of the pipe
the city of Pittsburgh discontinued
relying on meterbox inspections because
lead was ultimately found in about 35%
of the locations were mere box
inspections indicated a non-led service
line in some locations this happened
because the meter box and a small
portion of the service line was replaced
but the remainder of the service line
was still LED in closing I ask that a
briefing by experts be held at a city
council meeting that you guys get moving
and send out a letter in Spanish and
stop relying on substandard methods to
determine what the pipes are made of
thank you
mayor council ju Garcia I quote us code
title 8 section
1325 improper entry by alien any alien
who won enters or attempts to enter the
us at any time or place other than as
designated by immigration officers or
two eludes examination or in protection
by immigration officers for the first
commission be will be fined under Title
18 or imprison not more than 6 months or
both end quote sooner or later we learn
choices in life come with a price tag as
simple as mouthing off to your mom and
quickly learning of her Zero Tolerance
policy or maybe when you thought one
more drink wouldn't hurt and find
yourself behind bars missing your kids
and updating your resume consequent es
they don't care about excuses or having
elected officials attempt to justify
illegal actions as we see our
Progressive friends doing so
today even though politicians from both
parties created this immigration mess at
the end of the day individuals make the
call and they have to live with what
comes next political excuses for illegal
entry into this nation is not the
solution it's a slap in the face to
those who invested Blood Sweat and Tears
to migrate
legally recently in these Chambers local
doctors urged lawmakers to fix New
Mexico's harsh malpractice laws from
2017 to 2021 New Mexico lost 30% of its
healthc care providers or 711 doctors
and a decrease of OBG OBGYNs by 22%
during the same
period New Mexico holds the dubious
distinction of having the oldest
physician the workforce in the nation
equating to a shortfall of 1,380 doctors
and
5,140 nurses by
exting this issue New Mexico ranks
second for medical malpractice lawsuits
per million people not due to poor
practices But A system that
incentivizes that incentivizes
litigation the insurance loss ratio is a
staggering in
183% compared to the national average of
73.5 for every 100 premiums insurers pay
out 183 that equals to Independent
providers paying an annual malpractice
cost of approximately
$43,000 the problem worsens with New
Mexico's sign significant Medicaid
population doctors are leaving due to
low Medicaid reimbursement rates High
malpractice insurance costs complex tax
system that stifles
profitability and over Reliance on
Medicaid this is the harsh and Sinister
reality confronting New Mexico's fail
Health Care system this is my reference
[Applause]
good afternoon uh mayor and city council
what I have to say might go over uh the
three minute limit I ask that you would
indulge
me my name is Eddie Thomas my mortgage
payment went up again like it does every
year why my property taxes went up along
with my homeowners insurance I'm told
everybody's went up not to mention
my automobile insurance also went up I
live on a fixed income as most people do
here in L crues which is why I voted
against the GRT increase you proposed
last
year this July when it kicks in we'll
have the highest effective per capita
tax rate in the state of New Mexico yeah
little o lost crues so thanks for that I
guess the 28 point 7 million you took
from the telshore fund wasn't enough are
you going to go back and take the
remaining 14 million that's left what
are you going to spend it on more pet
projects like Amador Crossing and Peach
Tree Canyon whose price tag seems to
balloon every time they come up for
discussion don't get me wrong I think
lowincome housing is a noble project
given that we have an abundance of
homeless but where is the c on these
projects as of right now we're up to
$300,000 per unit with Amador Crossing
alone that's twice what my house cost me
just do the math 15 million for 50 units
what is peach tree Canyon going to cost
us when it's done then that's not the
end of it because you've got to maintain
the peace and order in these complexes
otherwise they'll end up like desert
hope
with drugs fighting violence and Chaos
you chose to raise the GRT at a time
when we're still recovering from covid
and the record inflation of
bomic frankly I don't know which was
worse even Senator Hamlin stood right
here at this Podium and asked you not to
raise the GRT I just about fell out of
my chair when I heard that we live in a
poor Community where many of the
citizens are UNS some kind of government
subsistence many are below poverty level
many of us live on fixed incomes
consequently we see our discretionary
funds dwindle because of inflation and
Rising taxes your progressive tax and
spend strategy is hurting the very
people that pay the Lion's Share of
taxes in other words you're killing the
goose that lays the golden egg in
financial terms it's not sustainable the
only thing we're getting from the state
is more money for overpriced homeless
shelters and an abortion facility nobody
here wants that's $10 million that could
have been spent on something we do need
like a mental health SL drug rehab
Clinic to hold drug addicts and
alcoholics at least until they dry out
to give them a fighting chance to turn
their lives around we already have three
abortion facilities why do we need
another one I suspect the governor just
wants to cash in on the abortion tourism
from Texas and is that what we want to
be known for abortion and cannabis the
abortion in cannabis capital of the
Southwest now I have nothing against
cannabis they seem to be the only
business that's flourishing in Las crues
and I'm just stating the obvious because
we have a cannabis store on every corner
but they pay taxes and take up residence
in what would otherwise be an empty
plywood windowed storefront like the one
directly across the street from here
just go outside and look for yourself
thank
[Applause]
you hello
mayor may I speak on the proposed new
zoning
ordinance sorry Mr Beerman no not today
okay why
not you're going to vote in two weeks
aren't you interested in what the
citizens have to say yeah there'll be
public comment on that
day but don't I have the right to speak
for three minutes no not based on on the
way it's set up in our ruling it's
there's no public comment on any items
that are non-consent and that one is a
first read and it comes on it's not on
non-consent so you're not allowed to
speak on it today all right thank you
thank you congratulations
good afternoon my name is Lisa the laas
I'm a resident of the FYI Community
that's next to the Community of Hope I'm
here representing the residents of that
property we are tired of what's being
done and not being done I should say the
fact that you do not give the police
enough ammunition or equip them with the
proper um training to deal with the
unhomed that are next door to my
window we are right across from kichi on
Valley we have to deal with the
tents the paraphernalia that's left
behind by the unhomed the defecation and
urination that they do in the property
lines of FYI
Community we are told by the project uh
community of that's doing the um reach
out to this issue that there are very
limited not only in help there's only
five of them that is
sad you have them
outnumbered your police force is
outnumbered by the
unhomed forget about the criminal
activity from others that are not
unhomed the unhomed alone have caused so
much excuse me because I'm getting
emotional because I have a granddaughter
who's four years old and the community
that I live in is nothing but
children and we're talking about
children that are in high school middle
school and Elementary even to my
granddaughter who goes to school right
next door to kichi at the Children's
Garden on Valley which is a prechool and
daycare they constantly have to ask me
every day how's your situation over
there because they can see it from their
Windows of their
office the unhomed have even left
paraphernalia in our property where our
children play none of us feel safe there
anymore they have torn the fence to get
to The Community of Hope I have been
told that this property should have been
placed where there's another Camp
hope and that camp hope should have been
placed where we're at would make a
difference to place a family community
with other residents not a camp hope
amongst residents or a residents of
families in a community of unhomed that
are drug addicts they are not just drug
addicts they're mentally incapable to
take care of themselves they are a
danger to themselves and others they
fight with weapons I have videos of them
transpassing into our property going
through our little homes with baseball
bats and poles and whatever items knives
I've been attacked there in the one year
that I have lived there I've been
attacked more than once by the unhomed
they have broken into my window
destroyed the window where I have to
have it replaced Now by FYI the city
went to go do a city inspection and I
showed them this is my view I'm sorry
but please do something about it these
children do not need to be growing up
watching and feeling like they can't
even go outside and play in their own
yard that's been
gated please do something about it for
us this is out of control in the one
year that I've been there it has gone
worse worse and if you guys can please
put a a crosswalk or school crossing
school zone for that Children's Garden
because the cars go through there
speeding every day or put an officer to
see what's going on out there I have you
guys have my vote and anything that you
do but please please help us thank you
thank
you thank
you for
good
afternoon my name is l
Montgomery and I'm a follower of Jesus
Christ and today I want to get some
questions answered or ask them and if
you can figure them out what you want to
do and the first thing I want to know is
Sir could you you speak a little louder
and directly into the microphone yes sir
I will thank you thank you thank you for
your
help I want to know why you are for the
15minute village and I don't know what
you call that uh extra zoning or
whatever you want to call it but uh do
we really need to make all neighborhoods
open to any kind of
dwelling housing like duplexes
apartments or mobile
homes or
trailers are you therefore are you
against single family
housing now do we really need to look at
uh people and say hey Abita
you have a single family house you don't
need that we need it for affordable
housing or what about that land behind
your house
aito do we need it yes we need it any
place you want to fill in you have a
fill in Clause according to the city and
you can fill it in with uh apartment
housing do we need open housing why will
we walk more as some people say and
drive less and get better acquainted
with our
neighbors well in our
neighborhood the beautiful place of
estos we walk and we talk to our
neighbors we are getting more healthy
and we are very friendly with our
neighbors okay do will we have less
traffic no because no matter what type
of dwelling you live in or no matter
where you live in Los cruus you need to
use your gas powerered vehicle to go
places I needed to go to church I needed
to visit my best friends across town I
needed to get out of the city I need to
go to my favorite places gelito e c
Senor Taco Chick-fil-A etc etc etc or to
the grocery
store New Mexico was not created by God
to have her Ci's built European
style we have too much open spaced
beautiful places to visit to be forced
in
Apartments Apartment AED neighborhoods
are forced to go to the Neighborhood
Grocery Store when we can go someplace
else to save less money in short we
don't want to be in the 15minute
neighborhood with a
local uh dispensary a local bar and a
small restaurants with no parking we
worked really hard to get where we are
to earn the money to get our
our Seagal family dwellings and we we
love it and we don't want it surrounded
by lesser homes that take down the
prices thank you very much you really
deserve
[Applause]
my name's Jim Hurst
um and I'm uh deeply concerned about
what I've seen in the news lately uh
president musk and president Trump seem
to have discarded the
Constitution and they seem to have
Frozen local grants and funding for
anything uh I don't know what the impact
on this city is
and uh I hope that the city will release
a statement soon
um I also am very concerned about our
immigration
policies
um allow me to channel Thomas
Jefferson we hold these truths to be
self-evident that all men are created
equal owed by their creator with certain
inalienable rights among them life
liberty and the pursuit of happiness
counselors what is the pursuit of
happiness if it doesn't mean human
beings have the right to cross political
boundaries America was formed by people
who exercise their right to
migrate they migrated here they built
the greatest nation on Earth immigration
is good for a nation it has been great
for our nation the huddled masses
yearning to breathe free actually make
very good citizens and very hard workers
we did it here we proved that inviting
the huddled masses yearning to breathe
free builds a nation they have built
ours they are essential to our economy
and we're going to find that out real
soon because they're afraid to go to
work they're afraid to go to school
they're afraid to go to school or
churches they're afraid to
live that's wrong you are right to stand
against it please do so regardless of
the financial
situation but I would like to know what
our plan is and what we expect to happen
in the next month or so thank you very
much
okay thank you all that concludes our
public participation next is a close
meeting statement uh for today February
4th 2025 city council met in Clos
session at 11:05
a.m. on February 4th 2025 the following
were attendance myself mayor Enriquez
mayor proen bomo councelor Flores
councelor McClure councelor Graham
councelor Karen Brad Douglas eon tamop
payo Sonia
dogado Barbara bomo Chief
story was present until 11:32 a.m.
Christine Riva Adrien
Whitmer came in at 11:32 a.m. and
outside Council we had jste and
Johnstone the purpose of the closed
meeting was to discuss the matters of
threatened litigation regarding Alexa
gagos versus the city of lusus which is
proposed which is closed pursuant to
nmsa 1978 section
105187 the other was to discuss pending
or TH or threaten litigation regarding
Texas versus New Mexico and Colorado
original number 141 which is closed
pursuant to nmsa 1978 sections
105-17 we were adjourned at 12:18 p.m.
next I'll need acceptance of the the
agenda move to approve second
gram this is on the motion to accept the
agenda as presented councelor McClure
yes councelor matis yes councelor Graham
yes councelor cran yes councelor flutes
yes councelor Beno yes and
mayor yes
Ling
man hear
yeah we'll start with item 8.1 uh public
hearing required for resolution
25- 091 a resolution approving the
request of a transfer of ownership
dispenser liquor
license so the public hearing is now
open at 1:52 p.m. is there anyone who
would like to speak for or against this
liquor license
seeing none the public hearing is now
closed at 1:52 p.m. and I need a motion
move to approve
second go ahead
Adam thank you sir Adam Mao Community
Development for the record we have for
your is a proposed liquor license uh for
a location known as the nacho shell
located at 2512 East lman Avenue uh this
is the the application is essentially
just transferring the ownership of the
lior license from one entity to another
entity this is for liquor license number
ds00 381 uh with package sales only it
is a transfer between the current
ownership which is BR oil company to the
new ownership which should be the New
Mexico company operations LC uh the AL
Alcoholic Beverage Control uh division
uh sent preliminary approval to the city
on December 6th of last year uh staff
did request an extension uh in order to
meet the requirements for notification
and to bringing the before city council
extension was granted by the ABC uh all
reviewing staff uh reviewed saw no
issues with the proposed
application give you a b idea it's
located right here kind of on the south
corner of what is east lman and not
uh and pretty close to that intersection
of South telshore to give you an idea
where this is at options one to vote Yes
and approve the proposed Lor license two
to vote no and deny the proposed
transfer of ownership of Lor license
that is going the conclusion of my
presentation I stand for
questions thanks Adam any
questions see none
pristin this is on the motion to approve
resolution 25- 091 councelor McClair yes
councelor matis yes councelor Graham yes
councelor cran yes councelor flus yes
councelor Beno yes mayor yes next is
item 8.2 another public hearing
resolution number 25
z92 uh approving a request for a
transfer of
ownership uh public hearing is now open
at 1:54 p.m. is there anyone who would
like to speak for or against this liquor
license seeing none the public hearing
is now closed at 1:55 p.m. move to
approve
second go ahead thank you sir again this
is another uh proposed transfer of
ownership for a liquor license for a
location known as the university shell
located at 1305 South Solano Drive uh
this is a transfer of ownership again
from what is Brewer oil company to the
New Mexico company operations LLC of
liquor license number diis
00000074 with package sales only uh
again uh City to receive preliminary
approval on December 6 2024 from the ABC
uh request for extension was requested
by staff and was approved by the ABC uh
majority of all reviewing staff had saw
no issues with the application minus the
issue of the uh minimum 300t separation
from a religious institution there's one
roughly about 188 ft to the east uh
Council has the authority to wave that
requirement and approve of seen no uh
health safety or welfare issues with the
proposal property showing here on the
Southeast corner of what is Solano Drive
in Idaho religious institution scene is
located right around here uh East just
east of uh of the subject
property your options one to vote Yes
and approve the proposed uh transfer of
ownership of Li that liquor license or
two to vote no and deny uh that is the
conclusion of my presentation I time for
questions thanks Adam any questions uh
councelor flus thank you uh thank you
for your presentation uh did you ask the
church how they felt about the proximity
of uh a liquor license in that location
Council floaters uh mayor uh letters uh
wor out Hall Property Owners within 300
ft of the subject prop property making
them aware of the proposed uh liquor
license uh again but the liquor license
already exists on this property it's
just transfer of ownership is what it is
man but a transfer of ownership also
gives them the option of saying no we
just that is correct but you didn't get
any responses on that there was no
public input at all no ma'am thank you
thank
you see no other questions or discussion
item
this is on the motion to approve
resolution 25- 092 councelor McClair yes
councelor matis yes councelor Graham yes
councelor cran yes councelor flutes yes
councelor benl yes and mayor
yes next is item
[Music]
8.3 a resolution number 25- 93 a
resolution approving the request for a
transfer of ownership of dispenser
liquor license so the public hearing is
now open at 1:58 p.m. is there anyone
who would like to speak for or against
this liquor
license excuse me point of
information I believe you said
093 I thought we were on
094 no we're on 094 no .3
hdon thank you for correcting me I
appreciate
it
yeah seeing none the public hearing is
now closed at 1:58 p.m. move to
approve go ahead Adam thank you Adam
Community Development for the record
again uh this is another transfer of
ownership of a liquor license uh for a
location known as the country club shell
located at 2901 North Main Street uh
this is a transfer again from bre oil
company to the New Mexico company
operations LLC of what is uh dispenser
liquor license dis
00272 with package sales only uh again
the ABC did provide preliminary approval
to the city on December 6 2024 St
requested an extension uh in order to
make meet all advertising requirements
that extension was approved all
reviewing staff saw no issues with the
proposed
application property shown here uh North
Side I guess north west side of between
Temple and Main Street right Main Street
uh is
is oh I haven't talked about that one
yet so yeah it's right on Main Street
here and Temple so your option is one to
vote Yes and approve the proposed
transfer for of liquor license or to to
vote no and deny uh that is the end of
my presentation I sign for
questions councilor Ma I I know some
changes have occurred in the cost of the
lical licenses do you have any idea what
the Lial licenses cost today Council
matis uh mayor there have been changes
uh that the state has done themselves um
including the name of certain Lial
licenses as well and how they're
numbering them now the actual costs
unfortunately I'm not aware of uh the
city's uh fees have remained the same uh
but I I I do not I'm not aware of any
changes that the state has at this time
sir thank you yes
sir
Christine this is on the motion to
approve resolution 25- 093 councelor
McClair yes councelor matis yes
councelor Graham yes councelor cran yes
councelor flutes yes councelor bomo yes
mayor
yes next is item
8.4 resolution number 25
094 a resolution approving the request
for a transfer of ownership of dispenser
liquor license a public hearing is now
open at 2:01 p.m. is there anyone who
would like to speak for or against this
liquor license
seeing none the public hearing is now
closed at 2:01
p.m. move to approve
second thank you sir Adam again
Community Development this is a proposed
uh transfer of ownership for liquor
license for a location known as the
Travis shell located at 340 North Main
Street just north of the one we just
recently heard we just just heard so
this this is again a transfer of
ownership from Brewer oil company to the
New Mexico company operations LLC this
is a transfer of a dispenser liquor
license number uh
d-00 414 with package sales only again
staff did receive uh said you did
receive approval from the ABC in
December 4th of last year uh extension
was approved as well for this case all
reviewing staff uh had no issues with
the
application shown the property here
right on the corner what is uh Main
Street and tris
um just on the other side of is
Walgreens to give you kind of bearing of
where we're
at uh again your options one to vote Yes
and uh uh recommend approve the proposed
transfer of ownership or two to deny the
proposed transfer of ownership uh that
is my conclusion of my presentation and
I send for
questions say no questions or discussion
Christine this is on the motion to
approve resolution 25 - 094 councelor
McClair yes councelor matis yes
councelor Graham yes councelor cran yes
councelor fles yes councelor Beno yes
and mayor
yes next is item
8.5 uh resolution number 25- 095 a
resolution approving the request for a
transfer of ownership of dispenser
liquor
license a public hearing is now open at
2:3 p.m. is there anyone who would like
to speak speak for or against this
liquor
license seeing none the public hearing
is now closed at 20:3
p.m. need a
motion to approve
second go ahead thank you sir one more
time mam M Community Development for the
record this is a transfer of ownership
of a liquor license for a property or
for a business known as the holiday
shell located at 2645 South Valley Drive
uh again this is transfer from Brewer
oil company to New Mexico company
operations LLC of what is dispenser
liquor license number re
00005 uh with package sales only again
the Alcoholic Beverage Control SE
section of the state did provide
preliminary approval in December 6th of
last year uh an extension was requested
by staff for a hearing and that was
approved approved uh all review and
staff Sono issues with the proposed
application showing the property here uh
give you bearings here's Valley Drive
here University here to the South
Waterberg and Interstate just to give
you an idea where this is at uh three
options again is one to vote Yes and
approve the proposed transfer of
ownership or two to vote no and deny uh
that is the conclusion on my
presentation and stand for questions
again thank you Adam any questions
seeing none
Christine this is on the motion to
approve resolution 25
095 councelor McClair yes councelor
matis yes councelor Graham yes councelor
cran yes councelor flutes yes councelor
benl yes
mayor
yes thank
you next is item
8.6 8.6 resolution number 25- 096 a
resolution urging the New Mexico
legislature to create an alcohol harms
alleviation fund to reduce alcohol rated
Harms in our
communities move to approve
C I'm ironically
seconded
timing go ahead Sergio good afternoon
mayor and city councelor city council
excuse me my name is c r policy analyst
for the record today I'm bringing
forward a resolution to your urge your
support for advocating the creation of
an alcohol harms alleviation
fund New Mexico has bued an annual cost
of over $2 billion due to alcohol rated
harms which equates to more than $1,000
for every resident it's one in five
deaths among adult New Mexicans linked
to
alcohol the proposed fund will establish
a sustainable source of funding
dedicated to prevention harm reduction
treatment and Recovery Services and
additionally it would provide support to
those harmed by individuals struggling
with alcohol related
issues we request that the state state
legislature support the creation of an
alcohol alleviation
fund that concludes the presentation
these are your standard Council options
and I stand for any questions I also
have um Miss Kai Miller representing
Miss Athena hakabe and I also have
Matthew glans and he is a legislative 8
for representative Ferrari as
well thank you Serge any
questions answer correct I have a quick
question I know that there are several
things being discussed in the
legislature this is really just
a a support for the general idea of of
considering um something that that that
addresses alcohol use um sort of as it
relates to income that might come from
alcohol taxes is that my my
understanding that not not a specific
proposal but more of a general support
of an idea right yes I believe so okay
thank you I just wanted to clarify that
it's sort of a like our other
legislative priorities as we see what
the bills are we we figure out and try
to try to give support along the way so
just checking thank you all right thank
you Council councelor Fus thank you uh
thank you uh seio for your presentation
um I know that uh representative Ferrari
is very much against uh drunk drivers
she and her husband Rich have been um
were initially about 10 15 years ago um
very much involved with BWI uh you know
uh stuff but my question is um has
um has uh Mrs Ferrari or representative
Ferrari or anybody else in the
legislature
um does anybody else support this yes uh
apart uh mayor council Flores apart from
from representative Ferrari we also have
uh Senators aneto Lopez and Senator
Shannon Pinel that are supporting uh
this initiatives better
Thana uh it's Senator and tet SEO Lopez
and then Senator Shannon Pino as well
okay and do you know whether any um
legislation proposed legislation has
been drafted last year there was uh two
legislative pieces HB 179 and SB
147 uh unfortunately was uh vetoed by
the the governor oh but um were th were
those the ones that were uh increasing
taxes on all uhhuh yes I I believe the
the main theme of that was going to be
to increase the tax sales taxes on
alcohol right and it didn't yeah didn't
work out that's correct thank you so
much thank
you thank you uh did anyone from uh
Ferrari or Athena want to say anything
add
to
quiet Mr B
good afternoon um mayor mayor protm City
counselors my name is Kai Miller I'm a
licensed therapist and substance abuse
counselor I'm also a recovering drug
addict and alcoholic um just here to
urge you to support the resolution um
New Mexico's had the highest rate of
alcohol rated death in the country since
19 1997 um even before that we ranked
first second or third every year since
81 and while much attention has been
given to the opioid crisis rightfully so
alcohol still kills New Mex New Mexicans
at twice the rate of Overdose deaths um
alcohol related harm isn't just about
health it's about the very issues we
struggle with every day like we've heard
about today crime homelessness mental
illness child abuse domestic violence
and if we're serious about addressing
the crisis we can't just ignore the
alcohol Factor um the price of alcohol
today will determine what our
communities look like in the years in
the years to come right now we're doing
the opposite by failing to adjust the
taxes for inflation we're effectively
making alcohol cheaper uh the choice has
consequences I hear over and over that
we don't have enough treatment beds I
see firsthand as I work with people and
help them navigate a complicated and
inadequate system of care um although in
Las cruus we did just open a 54 bed
inpatient treatment facility and it
opened in September I'm currently
working there as a as a licensed
therapist um even those motivated to get
help the resources often don't exist um
so I ask where do those who speak loudly
about crime safety and homelessness
think the money is going to come from to
fix the problems right now every
taxpayer is already paying about $1,000
a year to cover the cost of alcohol
related related harm and for that we get
the worst alcohol death rates in the
country so it's not working instead
let's shift that burden and make those
dollars go towards prevention treatment
recovery an alcohol tax increase would
ensure that those who drink the most
contribute the most not just to offset
harm but to to fund real solutions it's
not just a tax it's a common sense
Public Health measure that will save
lives protect our communities um just
asking for your support in this
resolution to push for Action at the
state
level mayor yes councilor matis yes
could you just tell us more about the 54
bed yeah I can um it's it's owned by
Summit Behavioral Health the same people
who own Peak behavioral and our crisis
triage Center um so right now we do up
to 90 days in patient treatment
we're taking primarily only Medicaid at
this point um we've we opened in
September we're not at full capacity
like functioning at full capacity yet we
have 25 we still have quite the waiting
list I don't think we're going to have a
problem filling every bed uh the the
major issue I mean it's it's just a
systemic problem the we're getting a ton
of homeless people we're getting a ton
of people released from jail who are
still homeless and once they complete
the program then the next step is where
do they go from there the housing issue
um there's not enough Sober Living homes
in town I think that even an alcohol tax
if it
generated the revenue that it might we
could support some Sober Living homes we
could support some more after care
options which has been shown to promote
long-term sobriety um I'm a I'm a
product of that myself
so thank you yeah of
course councilor Flores thank you and
thank you for your presentation so um
what effect say we were to approve this
as a body what uh
what impact would it have or what where
does it go from here where and
how
help hi counselor and uh and mayor uh my
name is Matthew gladman I'm a district
legislative aid for representative
Ferrari um she did a fantastic job of
explaining a lot of the stats um as far
as kind of the ins and outs of the bill
that's what's being worked on right now
and I do want to give some clarity uh
there's also uh representative Liz
Thompson and representative Wanda
Johnson that are co-sponsors of this and
they're working um with other
legislators as well to kind of get the
sausage making uh process figured out um
as far as revenue for the state goes it
would come from potentially two
different um
sources uh one uh could be an excise tax
which is not been raised since 1993 on
on alcohol sales and the other uh would
come from a sales tax and those numbers
are being worked out could bring as much
as $200 million into the state um for uh
treatment uh for tribes for pblos uh for
local DWI funds Matt is the um by the
way good to see you yes um so
um is is there
uh some movement out there that
indicates that this will be supported I
know last year's proposals it kind of
buted heads and it the two grp neither
one of them yeah went yeah the two
groups are working together um to kind
of do a hybrid
bill um yeah Heavens to mercatory yeah
um and something uh I'd be happy to
share uh with you and anybody uh who
else may want a copy of it as well is
that um there is a hybrid Bill proposal
back in December to the uh interim um
get the name right here uh stabilization
and revenue committee and so again it's
kind of I think the percentages that are
being worked out right now but the
groups are working together and I think
they're so it looks like at least it'll
get to the floor and hopefully get voted
on I mean that's the dream right yeah
great well we can dream I mean America
was built on a I I mean that's the goal
and that and that's why it's uh kind of
being worked out right now and that's
why unfortunately I can't really give
any uh concrete uh Revenue projections
right but it could be as high as 200
million thank you thank you so much for
your work
you and good luck on your continued
recovery thank
you mayor Pro Temp thank you um I wasn't
sure if that was going to be your public
comment or not I know that you came up
to answer your question and I don't want
to cut into that but I do just want to
um reiterate councelor corin's point
because I I generally have a hard time
voting on something like this when
there's no bill yet there's no piece of
legislation yet that I haven't been able
to read to say support or not but I just
want to reiterate that this is in
support of the idea of creating uh some
sort of fund to alleviate to support
with uh programs like what you're
talking about so I just even wanted to
say that for myself and for the public
because again there is is no piece of
legislation that has been uh formally
introduced yet right um there is still
time but I just I did want to make that
note thank
you
congratulations we're good okay uh
Christine this is on the motion to
approve resolution 25- 096 councelor
McClair yes councelor matis yes
councelor Graham yes councelor cran yes
councelor flutes yes councelor bomo yes
and mayor
yes thank you Sergeant next is
the board appointments so I'll need a
second a motion and a second required
for the following appointment uh Scott
esen Essen Bren
new appointment to the University
District citizens design Review
Committee move to approve Graham second
by
FL this is on the motion to appoint
Scott ashenbrunner to the University
District citizen design Review Committee
councelor Mur yes councelor matis yes
councelor Graham yes councelor cran yes
councelor flutes yes councelor boml yes
mayor
yes next is the notice of a proposed
ordinance there would be no public
discussion a counselor may ask staff for
clarification on the proposed ordinance
Council bill number 25- 019 ordinance
number 3090 and ordinance repealing
chapters 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 and 40
of the Los crus municipal code in its
entirety Bring It
Forward we're now at the city council
member board reports and comments I'll
start with the council
mclair thank you mayor I think I'm going
to Echo something you said earlier I
have a little bit of jet lag too but
it's a little bit of a car lag from
coming back from Santa Fe uh I just want
to thank staff uh particularly Carol
Bray who set up a meeting on Friday uh
with Nathan small to discuss quality
life issues in particular the library um
we have a lot of issues within our city
but we can't forget about some of the
things that keep democracy going which
is the library so we had some good um
meetings U peppered throughout Friday on
Monday and I'll speak a little a bit to
it more at another Point once I've kind
of absorbed it but I also appreciate
that we kind of went in Mass to also
meet with Nathan small about all
legislative priorities we had for the
city and I think it went well and I came
away thinking that our legislators who
have a sort of 30,000 foot view of
things are acquiescing to understanding
that there are things at a granular
level that we deal with that look
different so and I think they're
understanding that that's a process that
they have a barrier we have a barrier of
seeing their way so I think it's been
productive and I am very grateful to for
SEF making all those connections thank
you thank you councelor matis thanks I I
spent some time with some legislators
but I spent a little more time with u a
gentleman from El Paso Electric Company
maybe Chris you could help me with this
one and I shared it with the mayor um I
I'd like to see that the opportunity for
Los cruus to attract more companies more
corporations large man manufacturing
companies in into the city especially in
our industrial park so if you could give
me a a detailed explanation of why and
how we get more power out there more
electricity so that the megawatt so we
we have the capacity to actually attract
these companies and the reason for my
priority on this is is we have unhoused
we have people that don't have jobs we
have people that need jobs and maybe we
it could be a dual purpose if we could
create bigger companies to where they
could hire 400 500 600 people like Santa
Teresa and El Paso is doing maybe we
could also uh create some jobs for those
that need need the jobs and rather not
be in uh panhandling or working for for
money because there's no jobs here
there's not enough and so jobs to to me
is a a big priority right now more jobs
better jobs better paying jobs for the
city of Las cruus and I'd like to see
that growth and and then and then with
that growth we would we would be able to
have more housing because these people
would be able to afford a home so if if
Chris you could help me with that mayor
councel may be a priority for the
industrial park to attract some some
bigger and better paying jobs I I'd
appreciate that and I I need to know
about this power issue that I believe it
was Rico Gonzalez brought out we we
can't wait till
2029 2030 I I don't know what year he
gave me 20 you know at 78 years old I
can't have looking down the road 10
years I I'd like to see something happen
in uh 2025 thank you very much thank you
mayor thank thank you councelor and
we'll we'll continue to push on PE uh
councelor
Grant thanks um echoing councelor
McClure on all fronts I too am tired but
very very grateful for the time I got to
spend in Santa Fe um and especially for
our staff the group um that I got to go
around with Christine
iani um Chief story was there JC Chris
um but an especially big shout out for
assistant city manager Sonia Delgado um
Sonia you're like what no you know when
you have that person that anticipates
every question you're about to ask and
then just kind of quietly slips a piece
of paper in your hand with all of the
answers on it and then you kind of look
like a baller even though you're not and
Sonia I just absolutely appreciated the
way that you were arming us with the
information that was prepared at exactly
the right time and it uh it made me look
way smarter than I actually was so shout
out to all staff but um especially to
Sonia I just noticed your care and
commitment over the weekend and I wanted
to shout it out thank
you thank you I I also wanted to shout
out the staff who really supported us
and giving us all of the materials that
we needed to to make meaningful cases in
Santa Fe um we were there last a little
bit earlier last week we didn't enjoy
all of the parties that you guys did
word on the street um but but um I
really especially in our case Natalie
joined us as well for for earlier in the
week and we really had um very impactful
conversations along with uh Nicole
Martinez from Community of Hope who
really had just finished was just
finishing the point in time count
related to to homeless folks in the
community and so I think the that those
conversations as we continue to talk to
all the legislators are are are really
um powerful and also I I just want to
say that we're considered Las crusis is
really considered a place where we're
doing um I I want to say everything
right we're really working on every
level of of addressing housing
homelessness
employment um zoning reform and and it
was good to meet with legislators and
administrative folks who see who see
that L crusis is is the place where we
we can be leaders in the state even if
they forget that we exist like 90% of
the time at least we're we're represent
we're over representing um in terms of
what we do so I really appreciate the
staff especially who helped um prepare
us for that I do want to really quickly
talk about the lead and copper thing
since clearly it's I I'm the one that
needs to be educated on that particular
topic um we do have that set up for
March 4th the community will be able to
participate I will be there getting
educated so it's as was requested um
here in City Hall from 6 to 8 um March
4th right um there will be a bunch of uh
experts from both City Utilities and
state level environmental health folks
and an ability for the public to engage
on those questions so um it is
addressing it in a more thorough way I
think than would happen at a city
council meeting in any case since we
can't really have conversations in City
Council meetings as has been alluded to
so um this will be a good place to have
those conversations and I will be there
um to learn so thank you for setting
that
up thank you councilor councelor
Flores uh thank you mayor mayor
Enriquez I'm so mean um so I wanted to
raise the issue that um uh I was going
to say senator matis councelor matis uh
brought up I know that um I've been the
liazon to the airport Advisory
Board and um and and one of the uh
things that we have uh and it's
peripheral to to the industrial park um
but it's that area and there's been a
lot of uh presentations on you know on
planners that have looked at it and I
know that there was uh you may all
recall it was during covid um there was
a a big company that was going to come
out here but it required uh storage of
some sort um I I think they were able to
to get that going I I'm so sorry I don't
remember but um but there was a big um
problem with uh there has been a problem
with not getting enough infrastructure
there like electricity and and I know
that when EPO was um city manager he uh
with his vast experience and all he
actually met with epe I don't know if it
was uh Rico but
um uh What uh the vision that uh EPO had
was that we needed more electricity we
don't have the power and that's what's
coming up again so it hasn't changed in
seven eight years whatever as long as
I've been here and and I just don't know
how that's going to be resolved I don't
I think it has to do a lot with what El
Paso Electric is able to provide and
what we ask for and what we'll get are
two different things but um but I I
definitely believe I think we all know
that uh we need more uh we more we need
more uh work uh employment opportunities
uh for our for our residents and and
people outside of the city limits I mean
they contribute in so many ways when you
have commuters coming in and then they
might even move into our city but um
that's just something that I wanted to
put out there and I think that I know
Chris fav and Elizabeth I think um are
aware of of that situation or maybe you
were in different departments at that
time I don't know but that's something
that um that we definitely need to look
into uh in terms of getting more power
and uh but yeah but I just want to say
that Rico mentioned to uh councelor
matis that we needed more power
presumably electrical power um and when
we tried to get it it was it was a a a
no-go project so I'm just putting that
out there and if Rico if you're
listening if you want to talk about it
talk to Chris or Elizabeth not me thank
you thank you Council mayor protm um hi
everyone welcome back from Santa Fe um I
also want to thank staff uh and Larry
specifically for uh supporting counselor
K and I while we were in Santa Fe last
Thursday um it is quite an exhausting
day um to be there all day but it was it
felt really fruitful and it felt really
great um especially because we were
there with uh also Natalie Green and
Nicole Martinez and we were able to have
great conversations with representative
small and the governor's housing staff
on all of the things that we are doing
well and all of the uh funding
opportunities that they could be a part
of and join us on this journey and um we
honestly had a really powerful
conversation with uh representative
small chair of the Appropriations
Committee who um had a really
interesting challenge to us and you know
he said that the city of Las Cruses had
gone to the legislature with an Ask with
a pretty big ask and said this is our
Challenge and this amount of money what
did I say you said I'm sorry the city of
albaquerque went with this ask and um we
did not and right in that conversation
I'm so grateful we were with folks like
Natalie who know this like knows this
like the back of her hand and um we
you know we're able to say if the city
of Las Cruses were to get $10 million
we'd be able to complete a a a
significant uh portion of our housing
projects that we currently have planned
that we currently have the
infrastructure for and so today I uh
couple of us will be giving um comment
during the Appropriations Committee for
to make this ask and hopefully get that
additional 10 10 million coming to the
Los crusis affordable housing trust fund
so um be on the lookout for that I um
it's it's just you know I I think going
to The Roundhouse is really overwhelming
and that's why I'm so grateful to be
able to go with someone like Larry horen
or lobbyist um so that we can have these
kind of very productive conversations um
about uh not only our Capital outlay
priorities these kinds of priorities and
of course our um policy priorities which
by the way I I'm very late to this but
the um New Mexico nmlegis.gov website
has a great tool called my roundhouse
where you can create your own account
and then be able to follow specific
pieces of legislation um I currently
have it filled in with uh legislation
like hb4 which is Criminal competency
several key pieces of legislation on
housing immigration and something that I
really wanted to put on our radar
because um it absolutely needs to be is
Senate bills one two and three it is the
single largest investment in or
Behavioral Health System that have seen
that I have ever seen and those bills
are um good important and powerful and
we should be keeping a close eye on them
as well as they will have a large very
large impact on our community on but the
entire State as
well um I was able to join um
Chief um story also last week to give
public comment in support of hb4 the
criminal competency
legislation um and I'm sure that will be
traveling that's moving very quickly as
um is my understanding all public safety
legisl pieces of legislation
are um and then the last thing I wanted
to talk about
was um mayor I would like to and city
manager I would like to request a work
session conversation on a um ordinance
that I shared with some staff already
that was passed in Albuquerque a few
weeks ago um on
uh they passed a bill that creates
penalties for landlords who who have
vacant and dilapitated buildings in a
select area of downtown up until
recently I thought perhaps that's not
something we could do but it did pass in
Albuquerque and just in some brief
conversations with Chris faor I think
that this is something we can um really
attempt here especially if we designate
certain areas for that kind of um
penalty whether it's the Mas or the
infill or also downtown or all of the
above um before we take it Citywide but
I really would like to have a work
session on this and um that that that I
had um passed that news uh article to um
key staff and so that is something that
I would love to request and that's it
thank
you
[Applause]
have okay well thank thank you all um
just again I just want to note and say
thank you to uh staff and Council for
great representation up in Santa Fe and
especially during the Los crusa days I
think there was a lot accomplished a lot
of visits a lot of uh requests a lot of
input uh trying to justify the the needs
that we have here in Los Cruses so I
thank you all especially Council for
being out there and participating and
representing and staff as well also we
had great uh presentations and and uh
participation from all Lo crues we thank
the chamber for setting it up but we had
hospitals Mountain View uh Memorial
Medical we had Los crues Public Schools
uh NMSU was there the Burell College was
there donana County was there and it was
great to see how many people really care
about what we all want and that's a
better Los cruus it's a better donana
County and so we will continue to work
at that I know that they there be other
resolutions coming up other bills to
support and if those are things that
we're asking for and things that we're
in favor of absolutely we're going to
bring them and and help our legislators
to get them through by justifying that
lost cruus is in favor of those two so
we'll continue to move in that direction
and with that I'll turn it over to our
city manager for his
comments thank you may Enriquez mayor P
Moman city council Ian tomio city
manager and uh many of you mentioned
what I was going to share already so I
don't have to go into it so thank you
for sharing that but um I would be
remissed if I didn't share a little bit
about Las cruus days um I I do
appreciate the 14 people uh and and
delegation that went went from our
library Museum team uh I do have to
represent for the community and
collaboration uh because we can't do it
without you all this is the friends of
the library and Museum Foundation along
with our executive quality of life staff
and our library staff and Museum staff
thank you so much for making the time to
go up um every legislative or
representative that we met we met with
uh dur during this past weekend
mentioned how impressed they were about
that delegation about the library so
there's a lot of U momentum a lot of
positive uh Vibes with the the library
Museum so great job uh and then also
every time we met with uh legislators
they were uh it felt like we were all in
line um we intentionally years back um
when when EO was here um I was new to
the state he was new to the state and
we're getting we were trying to figure
out what is the strategy to to The
Roundhouse and trying to figure it out
trying to figure it out not saying that
we solved it uh but working together in
collaboration not only during Las cruus
days but also throughout the year it's
all about relationships these
legislators they're humans they they
have uh passions they have priorities
and these are things that um what
they've told us early on is come connect
with us throughout the year not just us
as executive staff but you as counselors
you as elected officials your
connections are so important so critical
and together with uh foundations and
Friends of the library and museums um
and other others that that I haven't
named I just want to say thank you for
your U for being intentional um so I I
take that as a huge win uh later this
month funds will be appropriated to
legislators and they have asked us to
come back and return and continue to be
in the Forefront and I know others have
already put that on your calendar so uh
just want to let the community know and
those in the audience that um we there
is intention uh coming from the D and we
appreciate the guidance and direction
from the elected officials um last I'd
like to uh give recognition we have our
new Finance director uh I'll share uh
just a a a brief bio on her and then
we'll ask her to come up and share a few
uh a few words with you all but she's
here in the audience her name is lesie
Doyle our new Finance director has over
25 years of experience in governmental
accounting and financial management most
recently serving as a chief finance
officer for Deming public schools in
2004 lesli joined New Mexico State
University promoting over the years to
various positions including director of
accounting and financial reporting since
2017 lesie has worked as
CFO de for the Deming Public Schools uh
School District in Southern New Mexico
serving large at risk population in this
role she managed the school district's
budget and oversaw all Finance related
departments including financial
reporting cash management payroll
accounts payable and procurement she
played a crucial role in analyzing and
implementing Schoolboard policies
providing Financial Training to District
administration and working with the F
Finance advisers to issue long-term debt
Lesley's educational background includes
a bachelor of accountancy and a master
of Business Administration from
NMSU uh uh so lesli as you walk up uh
and share a few words uh I would be
remissed if if I didn't share uh
appreciation support for Laura as well
um Laura holin um if You' like to uh
stand up for everyone to recognize you
round of applause for
her I would like to take the opportunity
at this time to recognize her for her
assistance as the interim Finance
director as uh as we took um weeks and a
few months to select lesie
um and there's various candidates it was
a great selection poll uh but we
appreciate the smooth transition thanks
to Laura we couldn't have done it
without her uh great thing is she is our
Deputy uh director in finance and she'll
continue to be there and uh she's
ensuring a smooth transition we
appreciate you so much and your
contribution thank you Laura and at
this at this time Lesley thank you mayor
mayor protim counselors uh lesle Doyle
new fin director I started with the city
of Los cruus actually as a co-op way
more years ago than I would like to
admit but it's nice to come home I have
spent the last seven plus years in
dimming and it's both humbling and
exciting to be able to come back and
serve the citizens of Los Cruses I will
say I am very impressed by the staff as
is evidenced by the award that was
received and I am looking forward to
working with each of you and please
reach out with any
questions thank you yeah thank you Laz
and
[Applause]
welcome I apologize um there's one more
um housing fantastic news as well city
of Las cusis uh is receiving the huge
recognition here and uh thanks to our
housing department um we will be
recognized that this year's National
community Development Association
conference in Washington DC for the role
it played in the expansion of Casa de
perigo food pantry using Community
Development block grant cdbg funds the
city will receive the Audrey Nelson
award on February 7th 2025 the award was
named after Audrey Nelson the first
Deputy Executive Secretary of
ncda to recognize exemplary use of cdbg
funds which address the needs of low
moderate income families homes and
neighborhoods the W celebrates her
Legacy and
impactful uh work in organizations that
continues her mission of creating
stronger more Equitable inclusive
communities so we won this award uh and
Natalie will be receiving this on behalf
of housing so a round of applause uh for
Natalie and the group thank you so much
uh just to let you know we're we're a
population of 100,000 but we uh there's
other recipients as well larger cities
um we have Tuscaloosa we have Detroit we
have Pasco County in Florida we have
Orlando and we have uh the City of
Albuquerque huge cities but in
comparison in our size uh we have Fant
fantastic staff and talents uh that are
competing uh against other larger cities
and uh that are much larger than ours in
the nation so recognition and kudos to a
great team to Natalie and the housing
team thank you so
much yes congratulations Natalie thank
you and um I just want to also mention
again uh city manager reminded me uh
when he said it's a it's a year-long
process getting to know our legislators
our our Senators our representatives and
and talking to the chamber it looks like
this year uh in the summer they want to
have a Los Cruses day in Los cruus so
that we can invite the the legislators
to be here and we can start addressing
some of the things that we've completed
but some of the other projects that
we're looking at moving forward within
some of the needs in Los Cruses so thank
you for reminding me that we're going to
continue that and we're actually going
to do that here in Los crues in the
summer yes thank you thank you Mr Butler
and uh with that uh move to ajour to
adjourn second so
move this is on the motion to adjourn
the meeting councelor McClair yes
councelor matis absolutely yes councelor
Graham yes councelor cran yes councelor
flus no no yes of course councelor bomo
yes and mayor
yes
e e