foreign
[Music]
foreign
[Music]
everybody Welcome to our city council
meeting today is Monday August 7th 2023
before we have our Pledge of Allegiance
I'm going to ask you if you please rise
for a brief moment of silence as we
reflect back on the brave men and women
of the United States armed forces as
they protect our interests around the
globe as well as the courageous men and
women of the Las Cruces Police
Department and the Las Cruces fire
department as they keep our city safe 24
7 365.
The Pledge please
thank you
okay so as we always start off our City
Council meetings we have our pets of the
week and I believe Amy the Felix is on a
zoom
Amy are you there
hello yes I'm here can you hear me I can
hear you
I don't see your presentation yet
all right yes and you still need to
share my screen
there we go that is now it's screen
sharing so they should be popping up
soon
okay now we can see there you go awesome
there we go let me stop my video so it's
easy to see all the text alrighty and
then some hello everyone my name is Amy
De Felix I am one of the rescue
coordinators for the ascmd and every
week I present the pets of the week I
choose to present them
um so we'll start off as always with our
cat of the week
um
sorry it says Billy Billy was our last
cat of the week this cat is actually his
name is Tom I just noticed this mistake
um but Tom his number is 63021
um and he says can you believe I've been
at the afcmv for over two months now I
sure can't I'm the last of my siblings
to be adopted and it might be because
I'm a little shy being a poached scares
me a little bit but if you work slowly
with me and give me gentle pets I start
purring like a motor I just need a kind
and patient family to make me feel safe
and help me come out of my shell
and then we also have our dog of the
week
um this week his name is Ranger
um his number is 51167
um and he says I'm a gentle giant in my
golden ears and I'm ready to find my
retirement home I've gotten along pretty
well with almost all people and dogs
I've ever met but I'm not the biggest
fan of cats despite my older age I can
still be energetic and love going out on
walks and playing around but I know how
to wind down and relax at the end of the
day
um he's definitely I I take a particular
liking to him he kind of looks like
maybe a lab mix and then something mixed
in with him that gives him that little
like a little curly tail at the end I
don't know if you can maybe see that
he's a very unique mixed breed and he
has a whole lot of love to give
um adoption events
um we are going to be at Petrie Kia this
Saturday August 12th we'll be there from
9am to 12 p.m and this is in celebration
of clear the shelters part of the
shelters campaign that we're
participating in all month long
um where adoptions are only going to be
25 the entire month of August but at
Petrie Kia specifically
um the wonderful people over there are
offering to sponsor the adoption fees of
all the animals over there that get
adopted at Petri Kia so definitely stop
on buying and say hi and maybe you'll
fall in love with your next best fur
friend
and I know a lot of people from the
community
um
can I ask the similar question just kind
of like why should I adopt for my
children rescue instead of just buying
from a pet store or buying from a
breeder
um and in general
um there are a few reasons most of it is
kind of like adoptions in general are
cheaper on average than buying um
outright from a breeder breeders can be
hundreds to thousands of dollars
depending on
um I guess the breeder themselves the
type of breed and everything else and
that usually excludes like even the spay
and neuter follow-up vaccines and
anything like that
um but here at the like at shelter
rescue adoptions especially locally
um adoption fees are like a hundred and
fifty dollars at Max but are usually
cheaper and we usually have like a
adoption specials going on like this
month
um more is covered in an adoption fee so
an adoption fee from a shelter or rescue
um like like us with the ascnb
specifically because I can speak for us
all right option P covers like our
microchip the rabies vaccination any
other vaccinations that your pet has
received up until adoption
um same with a dewormer and most
importantly the Dollar Tree also covers
their spaniel or surgery that's all
included in the one feet and I know
getting all of these done if you get a
pet from somewhere else and you still
need to have all of these done getting
them at a clinic is can be pretty pricey
so it's definitely cost effective
um to get pay an adoption fee at a
shelter or rescue and that can all get
taken care of for you
and I know while it's common for people
to want to buy puppies or kittens I know
they can also come with kind of unwanted
behaviors like excessive chewing and
especially Pony training in the case of
puppies
um when you adopt an older pet from a
shelter they're more more likely to have
gotten over their sort of like puppy or
kitten behaviors they're no longer
teething they can be a little less
destructive
um and especially with the adult adult
dog specifically
um unless they've lived an entirely
outdoor life up until that point they
are more than likely part of your
trained but there are also some
professionals
um all over the web that can say that if
you have to potty train an adult dog it
might even be a little bit easier than
adopting than potty training a puppy
um because they're a little easier to
the already kind of their brain is kind
of established with wanting a routine
it's mostly just getting them into the
routine and sticking to it and adult
dogs kind of have that focus and like
drive a little bit more than like a
little puppy would
um and lastly but just as important
adopting from a shelter or rescue really
saves two lives instead of just one
especially in the case of like our close
Dimension rescue Partners locally
especially like um
APA where they they are closed their
mission so they only take in animals
whenever they have the space and they
are not obligated to take in
from the community essentially so they
will mostly pull from us and so when you
adopt like especially in their case you
not only save the life of the one you're
adopting but also you're saving a life
of the one that they get to take in next
um so that that adoption fee of an event
like has a kind of like a ripple effect
impact on multiple animals lives
um and it's definitely that's definitely
a good thing
and this is a little breakdown and like
what is an adoption of beef and taking
the low and the high ranges that you can
find online these are definitely to kind
of just blow up our guests to minutes so
it's like a microchip anywhere between
25 and 75 spay and neuter fifty dollars
if you're doing like a local like a
low-cost
um or a voucher kind of thing like Snap
possibly up to 300
um the dewormer and all the vaccines
then over here that range kind of gets
added up between like a low end of like
192 to a higher end of 615
um but with the adoption fee our
specific specifically our ASC and V
adoption fee that's 150 so it's always
pretty much always going to be cheaper
um more cost effective to adopt
especially from particularly from the
ascmv and we also have this you can find
this on our website as well it's a
little bit um it needs to be updated
because we no longer do the licensing
um but other than that it kind of breaks
down what all is included in adoption
fee
um
so our adoption piece typically 150 once
we have discounts for if they're already
fixed and another discount if they're
long permas as we call them but all
month long August 1st through 31st
during clear the shelters every single
adoption fee is going to be 25 so that's
even even a bigger deal so we highly
encourage
um if you know someone looking for a new
pet if you yourself are looking for a
new pet definitely take this time take
advantage of the clear the shelters and
stop on by
thank you
thanks Amy can I ask you a question real
quick are you at your home or are you at
the office or I'm at the office the
reason why I ask is perhaps maybe in the
future someone from our Communications
office can go over there and see if they
can put a little bit of some type of
something to there's some feedback that
we get and you're not as clear we can
hear you but it's a little bit and it's
it's probably because there may be
something there that just causes the the
voice to resonate a certain way but we
appreciate that information and um
see you in a couple weeks yep see you
thank you all right thank you
okay so next we're going to go to jobs
of the week and I believe Giselle
palomares or
or is it Sarah it looks like this mayor
yes sir it's Sarah Rainey how is it how
are you today thank you for having me
[Music]
and can you all see my screen
are you able to see my screen sir
yes the title we haven't seen the the
okay yeah great well thank you for
having me everyone these are the jobs of
the week for the New Mexico
the workforce Connections Office
the first one we have is an active
transportation coordinator for the city
of Las Cruces that um
pay ranges from 58 000 to 83 000 for a
year depending
neon experience that is a continuous
posting we also have for the city a
library manager that pay ranges from
sixty thousand
um it starts at sixty thousand
um that one closes next week it has one
week left on that posting so 8 14 is the
point that one closes a security guard
position is open at the White Sands
Missile Range it begins at 37 000. that
one closes in December
we also have a retail sales person
at the Verizon here in Las Cruces um
they did not post a salary range so
you'd have to see on that one that one
closes in October we have a registered
nurse a picu specific nurse
um at the Memorial Medical Center I mean
just at 11 an hour and that one also
depends on
um experience as well that one closes on
8 16 next week we have an emergency
medical technician position with the
American Medical Response Team here in
town depending on experience that pay
um varies they did list that they have a
two thousand dollar sign-on bonus for
that one that one closes on 8 12.
as always you anyone can reach us at the
New Mexico workforce Connections Office
here in Las Cruces at 226 South Alameda
Boulevard you can also call us at
524-6250 or reach us on the web at
employ a m or on our new app if anyone
has any questions feel free to come see
us down at the office
and thank you very much okay Sarah thank
you very much we appreciate that
of course okay so next we're going to
have a couple of presentations and
before we do in knowing uh Mr Morris I
think he's going to give a presentation
first or after we give the award
Mr Morris are you going to do a little
rendition for us if you want to you and
your family want to come forward and the
counselor has a proclamation for you
yes sir right
we could also councilor if you want to
give him the Mr microphone that might
work
but then they can't see his uniform
you take as long as you want okay thank
you
good afternoon everybody
I I the mayor let me do this 10 years
ago in 2010
and I think you when you said you were
in your first term in the 20th 2010 yes
sir I believe so 20. well I would like
to I'd like to dedicate this one to the
mayor
and to my sister to Janice
and to my my friends who come have come
here
okay and I say again good afternoon to
you all
I started rehearsing this on Thursday or
Friday night I guess
uh why why do I want to be a Buffalo
Soldier
number one I'm African-American
the Lakota Indians gave the Buffalo
Soldier their name because of their hair
and their bravery
I'm staff sergeant Harold Morris I
started with the Boy Scouts at Booker T
Washington School
left there went and went to the
integrated schools here still with the
Boy Scouts I joined the Army Reserves in
1957. it's been about five years with
that
and it went regular army
I was in France for two and a half years
came back to the States
and I was stationed at Fort Bliss were a
bit and the unit that I was with was a
missile unit out of 80 guys I was the
only one got orders from Vietnam
while I was in Vietnam my older brother
was killed in the motorcycle accident
I came back halfway through my tour I
could have gotten up out of going back
but I I didn't try it I went back
I worked in the mines for 10 years I
went to college
I've been to 10 countries
my least my late my dad printed the Sun
News here he had a heart attack at 49.
my mother was a house mom for sa
fraternity she died of pancreatic cancer
at 80 82.
I have a song I want to present to you
all as well
It Was Written it's sung by Sam Cooke
I was born by a river
in a little tent
just like that River I've enrolled and
everything yeah
it's been a long a long time coming but
A Change Is Gonna Come yes it is
he has been so hard living
but I'm afraid to die
I don't know what's beyond the sky
he has been a long a long time coming
with a Change Gonna Come
and I I think I'll agree that song was
appropriate
Mr fire chief there I want to say hello
to you
and good afternoon again thank you thank
you
[Applause]
that was beautiful I love that song very
much
do you want to stay up here while I read
the proclamation for you yes
whereas in 1866 Congress passed the Army
organization Act
allowing former slaves to serve during
the Civil War in which over 180 000
African-American men made up six
regiments and fought for the Union
whereas in 1992 President George Bush
and the United States Department of the
Interior declared July 28th as Buffalo
Soldiers day
and whereas the state of New Mexico
which previously was a territory
protected with the with and by Buffalo
Soldiers and whereas the Buffalo
Soldiers served proudly and with a
standard of bravery and skill worthy of
the United States Army and as an entity
did serve nobly and many died gallantly
in service to their country
now therefore we the mayor and City
Council of the last city of Las Cruces
New Mexico do hereby Proclaim Friday
July 28 2023 as Buffalo Soldiers day and
urge all citizens to observe this day
with the appropriate programs and
activities in honor of the black
Americans who served our nation as
members of the Buffalo Soldiers signed
by our mayor Ken miyagashima and
attested by our city clerk Christine
thank you
[Applause]
foreign
[Applause]
thank you of course mayor
oh I'm sorry
this is the second one
thanks Saul
okay we have one more Proclamation today
for
never give up day is a representative
here for this Proclamation today
I don't have a name unfortunately do you
have a name up there
I'm just going to go ahead and read it
then
whereas the city of Las Cruces proudly
joins community members in celebrating
never give up day on Friday August 18th
2023 and we're asked never give up day
is about inspiring others motivating
ourselves and remembering that even in
hard times we we can keep going and
whereas never give update is focused on
cultivating a mindset of determination
to help people get through difficult
times and challenges and whereas never
give up Day offers an opportunity to
recognize outstanding achievements by
individuals facing their challenges with
grit and determination and whereas never
give up day reminds remains relevant for
Health and Social care providing
associations organizations and charities
in their effort to establish a call to
action and fundraising activities
and whereas the city of Las Cruces
recognizes never give up day and its
positive influence for people across our
community now therefore we the mayor and
City Council of Las Cruces New Mexico do
hereby Proclaim August 18 2023 as never
give up day and call upon all citizens
of Las Cruces to make this day a
springboard for awareness raising
activities
thank you
[Applause]
thank you counselor
okay so now I'm going to go to the
conflict of interest statement this is
where I'll ask if any member of the city
council city manager or any member of
the city staff has any known conflict of
interest on any item on the agenda
mayor I I just want to say
um I am on item 7.1
I work for NMSU so I just want to
acknowledge that that conflict exists I
sort of defer to my colleagues on
Council to see if that's something that
we should I should recuse myself from
the deliberations or not so I defer to
you all to that thank you second that as
also as an NMSU employee
I personally don't perceive any conflict
but defer to my colleagues
um I am an adjunct instructor at the
University as well I teach a class in
the spring
one class but nonetheless I have no
interest in this particular item on 7.1
and nor do I believe either of you do
okay so that takes care of the conflict
of interest statement so now we're going
to go to public participation this is
where members can speak before public to
the public
for a total of seven minutes three
minutes on any issue that you'd like
four minutes total on an item on the
agenda
we just asked did it not be pertaining
to anything that's pending litigation
and if you have to say something or you
want to speak on something that's before
the Council on the agenda please let us
know so the council does not respond to
you we won't be able to take any provide
any comments if you do speak on
something that's on the agenda so I
usually start on my left and I usually
start on the first row so I'll start
with the first row of chaplain Orvis
just need you to state your name please
how do you do with everybody
my name is Lawrence Orvis orbis
I was the chairman of the veterans
Advisory Board five years in a row out
of the eight
and now Karen Woods has that position
now Karen has asked me to come before
you
and
explain a couple things
that
are really
prepared
now we have
a young girl
that died
in the parking lot
of the veterans
Park Veterans Memorial Park
and I understand there's been a lot of
people talking back and forth what's the
best what's the best and I understand
that they agreed to have
a small tree along with something small
is re remembrance
in the new parking lot to be over the
north wall
and I just wanted to point out and make
this point very clear
that this is
Veterans Memorial Park
we don't want to suggest that this would
be turned into someday down the road
any kind of cemetery
I think everybody has to agree to that
they have enough of that
and if they still want to have in the
parking lot
a small tree along with a small
headstone if you haven't
but not nothing
in the Veterans Memorial Park
that's all I have to say everybody I
like to answer any of your questions if
you haven't
chaplain Orvis we can't ask questions of
council I'm sorry here to I'll probably
respond after a few other I'm sure
there's some other veterans that where
she say a few words thank you thank you
all for your time yes sir thank you for
again and thank you for your service
okay so there's no one in the second row
how about third row
Fred
good afternoon my name is Fred Huff
I've spoke before you before concerning
the burn Lake issues
this is a totally different issue today
and it's about agenda item 9.2 and I saw
that there's no public
comment available on this one and this
is about using the vouchers for the
landlords and so I'm assuming that it's
okay to talk about it here
we don't we don't have any public
comment on that none at all whatsoever
that sure seems odd that you're you're
trying to force these landlords to do
something and you're not allowing any
input from the public that just seems
really odd yeah that's that's the the
specific rules on that now in two weeks
it'll come to the agenda and then you
can have comment on it but on this
particular item it's not meant to have
any public comment on this okay well
thank you yes sir
okay so that's still the third row
anyone else
about fourth row
rod
I just need you to state your name
please
my name is Rod guyeski I'm the adjutant
for Purple Heart Las Cruces and I wanted
to just mention to the council that
today is a national Purple Heart Day
and the city is a Purple Heart City and
it's the first Purple Heart City in the
state of New Mexico much to Santa fe's
Chagrin
and we have science with throughout the
city that that recognizes us as the
purple Art City and we have a Purple
Heart Monument within the park and I
just wanted to say that today is our
special day
thank you
can you do me a favor uh you know is
what what a purple heart is I do I'm
sure several members do but for those
members of the public who aren't exactly
sure what Purple Heart means would you
mind just assuring that with us please
well the George Washington started the
Purple Heart by giving a purple ribbon
to
individuals during the Revolutionary War
who had meritorious service or who
wounded in combat in 1932 Douglas
MacArthur
made a proclamation within Congress that
that made it an official medal to be
received for anyone that received wounds
or was killed in action
they when it we had this retroactive
then uh for those the individuals that
were in World War one we had Colonel
Roach
and most of you know who Paul Roach is
his father received a purple heart and a
couple others from this city
by having by having the proper records
and so since 1932
in within within the confines of doniana
County and the Las Cruces we have over
250 Purple Heart recipients
you know I uh I I really uh you know the
city and and you as the mayor have have
have uh honored us as Purple Heart
veterans and we we we appreciate that uh
we don't we don't uh support the vote
that was recently with allowing the
monument in the park but uh understand
that uh that you have that right in in
spite of the fact that there was a
resolution that that's clearly states
what should be in the park and what
shouldn't be but but today is a special
day is National Purple Heart day we have
Lawrence Orvis is a Purple Heart
recipient uh I am and I don't know I
haven't looked behind me I don't know if
there's any other Purple Heart
recipients but uh we serve with with
pride and distinction we appreciate it
let me just say thank you for that and
the bottom line is those who are
recipients of the Purple Heart
basically gave a part of their
themselves left it on the battlefield
and for that we want to thank you for
your service and we want to at least I
want to stand an innovation for you and
and chaplain Orvis and the others in our
city and Community for their service and
those who did receive the Purple Heart
so thank you very much for all that
you've done
thank you
thank you that was a fourth row anyone
else on the fourth row
how about the fifth row
sixth row
one
mayor counselor
Juan Garcia Juan Thomas
how much more suffering must we endure
before we see change this is from the
owner of Primo's tire repair shop on
Picacho
this after four Vandal attacks and
thousands of dollars in material and
time losses
very limited English frustrating and
infuriating hard-working man attempting
to earn an honest living victimized by
the Las Cruces criminal element
quantumas how much more police reports
filed Council for District Two running
for reelection quoted in the bulletin
the city council must address the root
causes of our most pressing crime and
Public Safety challenges by investing in
public health approaches to interrupt
cycles of trauma to addiction if mental
health and drug addiction is so bad in
this community why aren't you demanding
the governor changed course and instead
invest in a local mental and an
addiction treatment center why do we
need four abortion clinics
you blame the D.A or judge golpo or
other social issues never the criminal
no mention of personal accountability
and responsibility or Consequences for
criminal Behavior or toughening current
loss consider pointing that the state
representatives and Senators who have
adopted an in-depunker mentality
avoiding the issue while you focus on
interrupting the cycles of trauma
guanto Mars the Grassroots Las Cruces
Hall of Shame list of Forgotten victims
stands at about 84. this is not even the
tip of the victims
this is not from police reports is there
actual real people that have been
impacted
well fixing the cycle of trauma give
results in six months or another
election cycle and how many more times
will Primo's tire repair shop or Carlos
or Cesars be broken into before we see
change
or how many small businesses will close
same question cuanto Mas
Albuquerque Journal five August Sydney
Wilson fatally shocked when she
confronted a group of teens about her
stolen car and call 9-1-1 to report
seeing her stolen car it was the fourth
time Wilson called 9-1-1 Wilson was
frustrated with the lack of help from
police after tracking the car for days
watching a bunch of young kids
a 13 year old Thug shot and killed this
23 year old lady who was trying to
recover what was stolen from her how
soon before we see this type of
frustration spilling to the streets of
Las Cruces same question cuanto Mas
thank you
[Applause]
right I'm sorry we had we gave you your
time yeah
okay I'll do that yes sir thank you I
thank you for reminding me I should have
caught that myself
so um what Rod was saying one of our own
is a Purple Heart recipient Mr Larry
Nichols director of Community
Development thank you for your service
thank you rod
e anyone else on the sixth row
questions
uh middle council and mayor I'm Rick
Renault I just have some brief remarks
one is I was looking into ranked Choice
voting so I could get some insights and
I want to uh fairvote.org and I scroll
down the front page and there's a
picture of you guys on fairview.org
you know so I was thinking about
um conflict of interest I was a federal
supervisor at White Sands and man
conflict of interest even and parents if
you're 900 miles away from the
contractor they would say you're pretty
darn close and throw it out so
um and more on this on the conflict of
interest is this your first meeting a
city council meeting anyway uh
above your picture it says lowers the
barrier
to entry for women
and candidates of color
what barrier
I've done it for 60 years I worked at
White Sands for 30 years I was a
supervisor for the last 15.
there's no barriers
you just go there and work and produce
you know and one more thing
diversity is our strength no it's not
Unity is and when we have a team taking
apart a missile an explosive we don't
care what color they are so anyway
getting back to this
was the city council paid
for being on this page
well what was the
Arrangement what was the this for that
for you guys to be here
just wondering just I wanted to give you
a you know an issue
um
in light of the fact that you guys are
kind of taunting us
see you at The Ballot Box
what do you guys know
we need the cheat sheet I talked to the
candidate that you I'm going I'm saying
too much that you ran against three
years ago
uh councilor pincova and it was about
three years I've talked to him he's not
and he was just saying
that uh
it was you and him then all of a sudden
there's a third candidate a liberal
candidate and he was just going I wonder
why they did that
so you know if you could pass that cheat
sheet to us that would work too so
anyway thank you
and Rick be more than happy to address
that if you want to give that to the
city clerk you drop me an email I don't
know what picture you're talking about
um oh this is on uh yeah the
fairvote.org so you go on there right
now you guys on the cell phones along
but go to fairvote.org and then when
school scroll about halfway down and
you're
hey they left you out it's just them
yeah so I'll send you the email sure
they look these guys point of order
mayor so anyway point of order yeah I
mean I resent the fact that you just
called me a cheater so I would really
like us to uh mayor as the chair of this
body to sort of push back on sentiments
like that because
um
that's absolutely wrong and frankly a
lie and it's slander so uh and I don't
need you to comment back thank you no
there was a a second candidate that did
come in this was the fact so anyway
thank you thank you all right
okay so that was uh six row
anyone else on the sixth
anyone else on the sixth row
seventh row
and while she's making her way down here
I'd like to just I know the city manager
is going to introduce her more but I
just want to welcome Linda samples our
new City attorney so welcome Linda
um
that's probably not as raucous as today
but it's okay
let's get a good news
Mr Mayor City Council
my name is Chris Salter and I'm retired
army colonel nurse Corps
as the vice chair of the mayor's veteran
advisory Council
and the Military Officers Association
representative
I feel
I I endorse and support the letter from
the board I feel that what I saw on the
June City Council
was a group of officials making
decisions with their heart and emotions
not on fact
in your oath of office it says that you
are to be impartial I do not believe
this was the case
I believe you acted as mother
grandmother aunt
or whatever
um
I do not think the city council should
be making decisions upon emotions it was
a tragedy but you need to look beyond
that and look at the facts
each even the mayor said that we're
setting a precedent by allowing this
Memorial to go in the park
on on the other hand I feel that the
council did not play by their own rules
we
you allowed Mr Gonzalez to have his time
him and his wife were allowed to sit at
that table
and then although everyone else was
limited to two minutes he was allowed to
get up after every veteran spoke
and make some
some nasty comments
and I know they're coming from his grief
but as an officer I wanted to lock his
heels
I think you need to
take a re-vote on this issue
looking at the documents that support
the park who is to be in that Park as a
memorial
and not vote with your emotions
I think alternative Memorial would be
better used as a dedicated
chef from the library tour
to children's books or perhaps an art
Corner in elementary school I don't know
what her interests were
but I think that is more appropriate
than the memorial the Veterans Park
thank you
[Applause]
thank you Miss Sotter thank you for your
service
hello I'm Heidi Blair I am the CEO and
the founder of transforming life with
Heidi I'm a new resident here in Las
Cruces and I have a few business cards
if anybody would like
transforming life with Heidi is a
business where I help people identify
their growth gaps and with those growth
gaps we can begin to identify and begin
a transformation journey and I am also a
veteran and I personally do not support
a memorial within the Veterans Park
thank you Heidi thank you and welcome to
Las Cruces thank you for your service
okay so that's the seventh row anyone
else on the seventh row
Heathrow
Karen that's you yeah
my name is Karen Woods I am the current
chair of the veterans Advisory Board and
I am also the president of the United
military women of the Southwest
a few days ago I received this email
and was asked to read it to you all and
I agreed
it says to whom it may concern
it has come to my attention that there
is a proposal before the council
that would allow a memorial honoring the
memory of a child was run over and
subsequently died at Veterans Park
first let me first let me say that I am
a husband a father a grandfather and a
great grandfather
and I love all children
about a year ago I met an Iraq
Afghanistan vet in conversation he found
out that my wife and I were responsible
for the Baton memorial statue as well as
the Vietnam honors never thank Memorial
excuse me with tears in his eyes he
shared his personal story
after his Tour of Duty when discharged
he couldn't find a job
and had problems at home he became
homeless began drinking and finally
decided to end it all
however to make a statement he went to
Veterans Park with suicide on his mind
as he walked
as he made excuse me
as he walked the memorials he slowly
began to see the logic of life as he
said on the granite stones at the
Vietnam memorial and the faces of all
new Mexican men and women who have given
the ultimate sacrifice a light bulb went
off in his mind
and right then and there he had decided
to give purpose for their gifts
in my opinion a memorial to a deceased
child who has died in the park would
have just increased his anguish adding
more fuel to the fire
and would have ended his life
he exemplifies the purpose of the park
and All Veterans Park around the country
they are being
they bring closure and meaning to All
Veterans and their family again my
opinion a memorial of a deceased child
at the Veterans Memorial Park
would be the same as a missing child
Memorial at the tomb of a known soldier
in Washington
both are tragic
and cannot be forgotten just not
together in the same park
we have many parks in Las Cruces
why not give our children they're just
due designating and naming a park to
honor all our children
thank you sign Jaydo Martinez
to last to last mere one word my
condolences
thank you thank you Karen
thank you for that and again thank you
for your service anyone else on the
seventh day throw
good afternoon
my name is
good afternoon my name is Carla Martinez
my daughter and I own a business on
Valley and Picacho
foreign
about two months ago we were vandalized
our business and we lasted with plywood
on our windows for about a month which
really impacted the sales of our
business because people believed we were
closed
um
respuesta is important
um
she said we came here a few weeks ago
and we had a good response it taught me
the importance of being here
is
foreign
the Coalition of conservatives and
action have really supported us through
this is
and the police department has also been
Vigilant with us
the mayor did attend did go visit us we
weren't there unfortunately but he did
go visit us
we have a pending conversation with uh
councilor benkomo that we know I know
will have
Solosis
and we know that there's a lot of work
to do and I'm happy to be here to
Network and we know that my neighbors
are feeling it too and that they
often are too scared to even report a
situation see
um
I want I want to come here and ask all
of you as our leaders what uh any
guidance you can give us our small
business what we can do I'm here
representing the Hispanic Community who
has come here to do better for our
families
and I want
and I want to know what we can do to
fight for our rights I want to work
together with you I don't want to fight
with you
again
foreign
we know you are there because people
voted for you and you're there fighting
for us help our country be better and
help the city of Las Cruces be a calmer
place like it used to be
thank you
thank you gracias okay there was someone
else
[Music]
it's a hard act to follow
good afternoon I'm Tammy Pickering mayor
mayor Pro tem and Council I appreciate
that you allow us to come before you and
bring our concerns
for several months now I have watched
and listened to your reactions to the
stories of crime in our city
I have heard three of you say that the
issue is with the D.A and my first
question is have you talked to the D.A
about the issues our city is facing
it seems at the very least a
conversation would be in order
well I have talked to the D.A
and he is most definitely not the issue
in fact many of the crimes that plague
our city would never even go before him
because they are Petty misdemeanors
and Municipal matters
vandalism shoplifting graffiti Criminal
Trespass and other property crimes our
violations of city ordinances
they are also against the law but first
and foremost they are considered a
municipal violation
you are the ones who enact the
ordinances
and you have heard us talk about
consequences
I found it interesting that at least two
of you have talked about how jail is not
the answer
then what is
perhaps if the ordinance has had other
consequences spelled out
judges would have other options
and let's take for example the city
ordinance on graffiti
whoever commits graffiti vandalism may
be required to pay a fine up to 500 or
spend 90 days in jail
or
may be required as a condition of
probation or a deferred or suspended
sentence
to perform mandatory community service
with A continuous period following
conviction and or to clean up repair or
replace the defaced real or personal
property and or to make restitution to
the property owner for the cost of
Damages and restoration and
if they're a minor to attend family
counseling
it is interesting to note
that this is the only ordinance that has
other consequences
when probation or a deferred suspended
sentence is issued
perhaps the other ordinances should have
similar wording
the municipal system is police
prosecuted
which means that the police bring the
charges
and the judges determine the sentence
to whom do our Municipal judges answer
when repeat offenders continue to
terrorize and degrade the safety of the
citizens of our city
I don't know do you
thank you
[Applause]
so Tammy Tammy thank you for for that
information I would actually like to
have a copy of that but getting back to
your question who the municipal judge
answers to is to the public
the public elects in this case judge
goldbaum and that's who she's
accountable to and she has the authority
when the police arrest them for these
Petty misdemeanors to just let them go
and I have tried throughout many months
in dealing with our local media not the
bulletin but the other
and it just fell on deaf ears I don't
like talking like that about our other
local newspaper maybe it's changed
because they have a new person in charge
but the previous people didn't want to
hear it because that's what it takes it
takes you many of you here in this room
and Council doesn't like to see it
either right but it has to change but
I'm but I need I'd like to see that a
little bit and we'll put our new City
attorney to work and see if that's
something there that we can see what we
can do to expand on that so thank you
for bringing that forward
anyone else on my left
okay I want to address
very briefly the
questions that was brought before the
and just so for the members of the
public to understand a while back there
was a tragedy at Veterans Park
a small toddler two or three years old
was accidentally run over
backing the backing up though I believe
the father actually backing up how it's
tragic
and unfortunately the child died
and so
the parents wanted to have
some type of Memorial there
on veteran on the current Veterans Park
the boundaries
many of you may not be aware that we are
building a parking lot
a large parking lot because during many
of the Great events that we have
honoring our veterans it gets so there's
so many cars that they start parking on
road one or Roadrunner Parkway which is
technically illegal and so we're we're
building another parking lot just a
parking lot
just and and there's going to be some
trees but for the most part it's just
parking
it was there that it was discussed to
put a park bench and a tree honoring the
little girl who lost her life
now I understand there's very
disheartening when you feel that you you
pass uh this well I received this later
I'm looking at
and let me just clarify so we have we
have resolutions and we have ordinances
so an ordinance is the city's way of
saying this is the law and no we can't
bend that
but a resolution is a policy
for example the city has a resolution
that we will do just city services but
we've had residents who live just
feet away from the city boundaries and
we allow them to use our utilities
that's just what neighbors do
the policy says we're not to do that but
counsel can can
override that and allow that to happen
which we continue to do
and so I understand that it gets
frustrating I can tell you this probably
back in 2012
I was fortunate to be appointed by
Senator Udall at that time to be an
advisor to the FEMA director Mr Craig
Fugate and I would go to Washington
every three months
it was fun it was a lot of work and we
we I'd meet with some others and we'd
come up with a policy regarding uh the
floods situation but in the end we were
an Advisory Board did Mr Fugate take
what we came up with
no he didn't he said thank you I know
you worked a year on this and I will
take it under advisement But ultimately
that was his call
and so what I'm trying to say is
yes this was a very emotional issue but
just think once if some another parent
happens to see this this park bench and
it's the discussion starts happening and
and it's just a reminder that
children they can move so fast you can
you think you've got them for one second
and next you know they're gone you don't
know where they went and so if that
saves a life
then that park bench was all the matter
and better and so what I'm trying to get
at is we're not talking about the
Veterans Park we're talking about the
auxiliary parking lot
a park bench and so this Council does
have that Authority we appreciate the
veterans and please I work with my
colleagues they we recognize we will not
have this great country without each and
every one of the veterans and we we
thank them all the time we meet this may
not necessarily say it but believe me in
all the actions and the things that we
think about we do and so I don't want
you to think that just because we don't
support that one by allowing this that
this was a it wasn't meant to be
anything disrespectful to you our
veterans
it was meant to serve as a reminder
and uh to this tragedy and we hope and
never ever happens again
so I just want to tell you thank you for
listening to me and allowing us to say
this as a rebuttal of course this just
comes for me but I believe I speak for
my colleagues because I know that they I
think very highly of veterans extremely
highly many of uh of my colleagues have
children that are in the military or had
or Veterans as veterans so thank you for
that so I'm going to continue on my
right
and no one on the first row on the
second row anyone
third row
good afternoon
my name is Mike styes and I'm a resident
of Las Cruces and I live in the Metro
Verde area
this is in the East Mesa and uh in this
part of the city is in Council District
Five I would like to thank you for the
opportunity to speak today
I've been in Las Cruces for about four
years and have enjoyed riding my bicycle
in the area
I describe myself as a recreational
bicyclist and ride not not only for my
enjoyment but as part of my health
regiment excuse me
last year I logged about 1500 miles on
my bicycle which most of which most of
those miles were around home
in addition I volunteer as a mechanic at
the Hub bicycle shop and also hold the
position of board member at large of the
non-profit organization Velo Cruces
I am here today to discuss the
conditions as I see them
for bicyclists in The Pedestrian safety
in ease of travel
because of my location I ride on streets
and Roads that fall under the
jurisdiction of the city county and
state which give me an opportunity to
observe a variety of traffic and road
conditions in the area
knowing the council is not responsible
for all conditions I have seen that
there is a need for all jurisdictions to
work together to ensure bicyclists and
pedestrians can use the road with the
same degree of confidence no matter
where they are in the valley
and using the and the roads are safe for
them overall my experience has been that
most drivers show respect bicyclists no
matter what the road conditions
no matter what the road conditions are
and I personally have had few
experiences where I feel my safety
was in danger
I wrote this the day before I almost had
an incident with the school bus but for
the most part
one factor in my favor is that I have
the flexibility to pick up to pick the
time and the route
to make a safer environment for my self
I have found drugs roots that have
lighter traffic and adequate roads some
of the routes in my file are for Sundays
or holidays only because of the
direction of traffic makes it much
harder and hazardous during weekdays
writers that use their bicycles to
commute to work schools or a basic means
of Transport transportation
cannot be as selective as I
and are substitute more traffic
subject to more traffic and fewer Road
choices
while I've described my experience as
other bicyclists in parts of the city
have been shown the same courtesy on the
roads and used more and are more
hazardous I think that we are
all aware of the of the bicycle vehicle
collisions that have resulted in
fatalities
that's three fatalities of five for the
state
because I live in a developing area it
would be hard to conclude that the roads
as they are today are the final plan for
the city I can say at this time that
there are areas that are dangerous for
bicyclists some examples are on Sonoma
the Sonoma Ranch Bataan Memorial
Interchange from there to northrise
there's no bike lane and there's heavy
cross traffic
um
there are others that I could cite
excuse me sir I apologize our buzzer
isn't isn't working but um do you can
you finish up real quick because you've
exceeded your three minutes so yep uh
the need for com comprehensive and
coordinated planning and action
throughout the city to ensure bicyclists
have reasonable expectation and safety
accommodating these safety routes with
retro construction and new construction
for pedestrian and cycle and cycle
bicycle commuters thank you
thank you sir and um just curious where
did you move from you said you just
moved here four years ago I moved here
from Phoenix oh okay wow a little bit
cooler here
[Laughter]
hey those 10 degrees make a big
difference
all right Mr Wilson hello hello mayor
and Council
I my name is Donald Wilson
and I have been a bicyclist in this
community since I was four years old
and I've been in the community since I
was four years old so I've been riding
the streets of Las Cruces for
um
and I'm also a member of velocrucis the
organization that Mr Stice spoke about
I'm a volunteer mechanic with that
organization
and I'm also a member of a group called
The vulnerable Road users of New Mexico
so the goal of these organizations one
of the goals of these organizations is
to see that Las Cruces in the Messiah
Valley
it gets builds a reputation as a good
place to be a pedestrian or a cyclist
and uh
we're in the process right now of
conducting a survey of cyclists and if
there's some way we can work with the
city to distribute that survey we'd be
happy to do that we certainly will share
the results with you
the survey seeks to
take the temperature of what cyclists
and pedestrians feel the community is
like in terms of safety factors and
design factors and also seeks to
identify areas where there needs to be
some attention from the people building
the streets to make them safer
the other aspects were involved in are
education through the Hub community bike
shop we distribute lights and bright
yellow vests to cyclists to help them
become be more visible and also to
comply with local ordinances that
require lights at night
and these are things we're trying to do
to make the community safer for the
cyclists
so that people enjoy and can and get get
around the city without necessarily
having to be you know strapped in a 4
000 pound chunk of metal
so we stand ready to work with the city
I was very pleased to see that the first
position that Workforce New Mexico
listed today is that active
transportation coordinator we've been
dismayed and how
difficult it has been for the city to
fill that position
I think it's been for four years that
position's been mostly vacant and that
position I think can be key to the city
helping work with the the cycling
community and pedestrian community and
the City
planning departments to make the
community safer for all the people that
are using the streets not just the
people in cars thank you very much
thank you Don
seeing you
okay so that was third row anyone on the
fourth row
yes sir
Mr Mayor City councilors first of all
thank you all very much for your service
to our city
my wife and I have lived in eight
different states across the country can
you can you state your name please oh
I'm sorry I apologize my name is David
Steele and I live in Council District
Six
my wife and I have lived in eight
different states across the country when
we retired a few years ago we could have
gone anywhere we chose to come to Las
Cruces and that has been a very good
decision for us
that said one disappointment we have
about our adopted hometown
is the status of animal welfare in our
community
too many people here think of their
companion animals as disposable property
they take the label owner to heart my
wife and I have had 13 dogs over the
course of our 50-plus year marriage and
we haven't owned a single one of them
we've been their Guardian
the intake rate at our community shelter
is staggeringly high
and data presented at the Animal Service
Center board meeting in July shows that
that rate is increasing
and so too is the kill rate you'll
notice I'm not sanitizing that with the
word euthanasia it's killing
thus far in 2023 we have killed over 500
animals most of them adoptable
that is nearly three times the kill rate
for all of 2022.
on August 5th for example just a few
days ago 10 dogs were put to death at
the shelter for lack of space to care
for them for lack of space they lost
their lives
I urge the city council
to take Animal Welfare seriously
for example you could make sure that the
Animal Service Center has the resources
it needs to offer a nationally
competitive salary for a veterinarian
for veterinarians they're looking for
currently
you could work with groups like The
Animal Advocates for Change and others
in updating and improving our animal
ordinances
based on best practices and based on
evidence-based outcome measures
you could develop policies requiring
that the right
to keep companion animals carries with
it the obligation to spay and neuter
them
to reduce the numbers finding themselves
in need finding themselves homeless and
in needs of shelter care
if you don't have the stomach for
mandates
then come up with incentives that are so
attractive that mandates are not
required
thanks to groups like animal protection
New Mexico resources are increasingly
available in the state to assist people
with the cost of these procedures
thank you I appreciate your time
thank you Mr Steele you must have been a
Toastmaster because you only had 10
seconds left and you did it I said you
must have been a Toastmaster because you
were able to do it in two minutes and
and um
50 seconds so thank you but I will tell
you that on October 10th we're gonna
have a work session on spay and neuter
and I would like to have your contact
information because you know I'm going
to be leaving at the end of the year and
one of the things that I I really would
like to Advocate to
both my colleagues but also on the count
on the commission is that we take over
the animal services because right now
it's really a challenge dealing with the
bureaucracy so if you wouldn't mind
leaving your contact information that
would be great to the city clerk please
yes sir thank you or you can drop me an
email either one okay so that was the
fourth row anyone else on the fourth
and Larry we're sorry we overlooked your
service I knew you were
Vietnam veteran first lieutenant I know
you received the Bronze Star for for
Valor I didn't I forgot that you were a
purple heart my apologies
uh fifth row anyone
I want to have Evo take you to lunch
afternoon good afternoon mayor and city
council
I just want to take a moment to uh
excuse me sir can you state your name
please sorry Jim new
and I spent my youth uh flying away in
swimming pools as a swimmer from age six
competitive participate in competitive
swimming and I Rose to compete the
national level and I say this only to
say that I spent a lot of swimming pools
and the swimming pool that you guys have
put in place here in Las Cruces is an
amazing facility and I thank you for
doing that for for the community
thank you sir we appreciate that
that was a long time coming and huge
kudos to our management team and and our
development staff
that was fifth row anyone else on the
fifth row sixth row George
my name is George Pearson I'm president
of the Alameda Depot neighborhood
association and I'm presenting this on
behalf of the neighborhood association
mayor and city council members on the
eve of yet another cyclist's death in
Las Cruces streets we the Alameda Depot
neighborhood association are writing to
urge you to commit to creating a vision
zero action plan Vision zero is the
strategy to eliminate roadway deaths and
severe injuries while increasing safety
health
Equitable Mobility for all no matter
what side of town we live on whether we
rent or own walk or ride or drive we all
deserve Safe Streets when we push our
strollers ride our bikes walk our dogs
we have the right to be safe but too
many of our residential streets are
designed for motorized vehicles only
this is harmful to the people who
actually live on these roads Riot on
them and walk alongside them last year
after more than two years of advocacy
the city implemented a road diet on
Alameda Boulevard when it resurfaced
this historic Street people report that
it feels much safer it's easier to cross
more pleasant to ride on and nicer to
walk along this road diet which reduced
traffic speed to be closer to the
mandated 30 miles per hour was an
important step in the right direction we
know that the problem is much larger
this year in New Mexico is once again
listed as the deadliest state for
pedestrians by the Governor's Highway
Safety Association as a community we
need to act now to prevent avoidable
deaths as counselors and the mayor we
urge you to require City agencies to
adopt a safe system approach which
requires both human mistakes and human
vulnerability and Designs a system to
protect everyone
join Albuquerque and other cities and
making an official commitment to a
vision zero goal to achieve zero traffic
fatalities among all the road users
including people walking biking using
Transit and drivers within a set time
frame create a multi-disciplinary vision
zero task force and encouraging
meaningful cooperation and collaboration
among relevant government agencies and
communities stakeholders to establish a
framework for multiple stakeholders to
set shared goals and focus on
coordination and accountability
apply for a 2024 U.S Department of
Transportation Safe Streets for all
grants to help fund division zero
efforts and to commit to both an
equitable approach to Vision Zero by
establishing inclusive and
representative process as well as
Equitable outcomes by ensuring measures
measurable benchmarks to provide Safe
Transportation options for all Road
users in all parts of the city
so thank you for this I have this and
some supporting material to submit
you want to give that city herc thank
you George
okay so that was a sixth row anyone else
about seventh row
City councilors and mayor I'm Sarah
Smith from the New Mexico freedoms
Alliance today I want to tell you about
crime in my neighborhood
I live in mayor Pro tem gandara's
district and my neighbor Carol had her
car stolen a couple weeks ago
Carol is in her mid-80s and she lives
alone she has trouble walking and uses a
walker to get around Carol doesn't have
any family here and she's on meals and
wheels and other Senior Services
provided by the city
a couple weeks ago when Carol came home
she left her garage door open to let
things cool off because it was so hot
sometime between 5 and 6 30 PM someone
stole Carol's car out of her garage
of course she called the police but they
are so overloaded they did not arrive to
her house until 11 30 at night when she
was already in bed
Carol was aghast that someone would be
so Brazen as to steal her car in broad
daylight from inside her garage
she has already been dealing with the
fact that a speeding car hit her rock
wall and damaged her home a few months
ago and now she has had her car stolen
over the next week the Dona Ana County
Sheriff's Office had a report of an
abandoned car and it turned out to be
Carol's car out of gas so thankfully she
was able to recover her car
but the thieves damaged the front of her
car and stole everything she had inside
they stole her garage door opener they
stole her bag with her Bibles they even
stole her walker and her handicap
placard so now she has to get all of
these replaced in order to be able to do
simple everyday things such as getting
groceries or going to the doctor
Carol is one more example of the
vulnerable people here in Las Cruces who
are suffering from The increased crime
please do whatever you can to stop the
ongoing crime in our community and to
protect people like Carol from more
attacks
besides increasing the number of police
please advocate for our legislature to
enact laws that will allow our criminal
justice system to function instead of
continuing to catch and release
will you send an official resolution to
the legislature and Governor to ask for
this it's too bad Senator steinborn
already left
the legislature could also do things
such as increase the pay for our
district attorney's office and police
officers which would allow us to recruit
and maintain more people in these
important positions did you know that
our district attorney's office is under
the same pay scale as counties with far
lower case loads this is this this is
true for Albuquerque as well and this
contributes to the fact that our
district attorney's office has been
running with only 50 percent capacity
fifty percent of their needed staff for
years at this point
please prioritize the use of our
valuable taxpayer funds towards
increasing Mental Health Services here
in Las Cruces while also ensuring that
our courts are able to hold people
accountable for their crimes thank you
thank you sir
[Applause]
okay anyone else on the seventh row
about the eighth row
last anyone else on my right
okay well that will conclude our public
participation thank you very much for
many of you coming out here today to
share with us your comments and concerns
so now we're going to go to the
acceptance of the agenda
motion made by counselor Graham second
my counselor Korean oh I'm sorry motion
made by councilor beta second by
councilor Corin to accept the agenda as
presented
Teresa
the agenda is presented counselor beta
yes councilor Graham yes counselor Ben
Como it's absent counselor Koran yes
counselor Flores is absent counselor
Gandara yes mayor yes thank you
okay we're going to go to item 7.1 which
is resolution
24-018 I need a motion and a second
uh
to consider 7.1 yes move to a proof okay
motion made by Council Corin the second
white councilor beta and looks like
Elizabeth Teeters from the city will
start off the
presentation
Elizabeth let me ask you this were you
going to go right to a presentation or
where did you want the university to
start they had I know they had spoke
with me earlier they had some concerns
did you want them to say a couple things
first
Mr burner come up and okay thank you
a good afternoon mayor and members of
the council my name is Scott
estenbrenner and I'm special assistant
to the president the New Mexico State
University and I'm honored to be here
today
we're here to discuss a resolution
approving a memorandum of understanding
pertaining to a possible utilization of
a tax increment for the development and
possible annexation of Select property
owned by the Regents of New Mexico State
University
while I was prepared and still can to
make a presentation to you today it's
come to light for us at NMSU that
there's probably a few more questions
and some other things that we ought to
be considering and I know that we
haven't brought this to a work session
so it'd be my recommendation or my or my
request to this Council to possibly look
at deferring this item take this to a
work session so that we can make sure
that all the counselors are fully
briefed on what we're doing and that I'd
stand for any questions if you feel like
that's appropriate action you know Mr
Ikea Brenner I appreciate that very much
you know that that you know one of the
things that this Council has been really
forthright in is making sure that the
public is aware of any situations that
come up and I think this just stands
means so much to hear from the
University that there are some things
that still need to be hammered out but
more importantly I think a work session
is an excellent idea that that way there
the council can have various items
questions that they will be brought up
and but more importantly that the public
can can have access to what exactly this
is because you know the university and
the city have always worked well
together and I'm sure that we will
continue to do so as you can tell the
three-fourths of three of the council
members have some huge connection to the
university and our city wouldn't be as
prosperous prosperous without the
university and of course White Sands so
thank you very much for that
I would support that and if that were
the case I would I would ask if I can't
make a motion but I can second if
someone would like to make a motion to
the table I'll make a motion to table
that we table this
to Teresa
this is on a motion to table item 7.1
counselor beta yes councilor Graham yes
counselor Ben Como yes counselor Quran
yes counselor Flores is absent counselor
Gandara yes mayor yes thank you
thank you and so we'll try to get we'll
work with your office with Elizabeth to
figure out what would be the good time
to have the work session but again thank
you very much and please give my regards
to president gouge thank you
all right next item is 7.2 Council bill
number
24-001 ordinance number 3043
move to approved Graham second a beta
motion made by councilor Graham second
by councilor beta
and our city clerk is going to discuss
looks like we're going to get our
money's worth out of uh we sure are
okay mayor city council the ordinance
today is regarding the convention and
Visitor Bureau Advisory Board and a
quick name change to it that we're
proposing
so the nmsa 1978 section
3-38-22 establishes the collection of
Lodgers tax as well as the creation of a
board now that board will advise on the
expenditure of the largest tax funds for
advertising publicizing and promoting
for tourist attractions so this is a
very simple Amendment for you guys we're
just proposing that the
convention and visitors bureau Advisory
Board its name changed to Las Cruces
Lodgers tax Advisory Board to be
consistent with our state statute
and these are your Council options
questions
okay say no questions how about members
of the public
okay
this is on a motion to approve Resolute
ordinance number 3043
counselor beta yes councilor Graham yes
councilor Ben Cuomo yes counselor Karen
yes counselor Flores is absent counselor
gandada
yes and mayor yes thank you
okay thank you Christine
so we have no
board appointments so we're going to go
to notice of proposed ordinances there
will be no public discussion a counselor
may ask staff for clarification on the
proposed ordinance first one is item 9.1
Council bill number
24-002 ordinance number 3044
Bring It Forward
is Sarah Gonzalez here
she's back
good
all right
on item number two Council bill number
24-003 ordinance number 3045 Bring It
Forward please
forward
I saw Natalie back there so item number
9.3 Council bill number
24-004 ordinance number 3046.
Bring It Forward move forward
and now we go to city council member of
board reports and comment I have none so
I'll turn it over to Mayor Pro Tem
thank you mayor I've been a busy couple
of weeks since we've met we had a health
policy Review Committee August 2nd at 3
pm
the item on the agenda agenda was
Cannabis youth cannabis use and youth we
had several Partners in our community
our school health advisory Council
representative Amy himalay the up
Coalition Jessica Garcia the Cannabis
industry
with folks from that
industry there we had a great
conversation
lots of of concern given the data
specific to the yrs data specifically
that nicotine is really and vaping is a
big deal for our students in community
and it's it's it's quite frankly an
epidemic and so and and cannabis use and
just trying to pinpoint
[Music]
um
um where kids are getting cannabis we
talked a lot about the lock boxes talk
about how we would use our cannabis
Revenue
um some there was
um
a commitment to continuing to meet to
break up into us a subcommittee and then
to come back to our health policy Review
Committee in October so we will be
meeting specifically to address
sort of some underlying issues and kind
of how we move forward but there's again
deep commitment to obviously to provide
programming around prevention
intervention and treatment as it relates
to cannabis and youth specific to
density
I'm also pointing out Etho I'd hope that
our Paul um
are
Partners at Community Development and
maybe pnz and there's a number of data
points and just information in general
from people from public health and that
that have a great deal of knowledge and
I'd like to invite our Planning and
Zoning members I don't know how that
will play out because it's a middle of
the afternoon and typically the pnz
meets in the evening time but I'd like
to offer that to not only staff but our
our Planning and Zoning members
and then next we met with Pub for Public
Safety a big chunk of our conversation
was the the contract for oir
and and we're moving
in hopefully updating that contract
to have
them provide alongside our Police
Department
um
Community meetings
we are also in in Spoke very
specifically we had a person from the
Lifesaver program
came to speak in regards to the program
it's sort of a battery like a program to
um track our folks who are wonders
specifically
um you know could be children that are
disabled but also our seniors that are
experiencing dementia and Alzheimer's
this is a program out of the sheriff's
department I've been really open about
our issues and my family specifically to
my mom and that was great information to
be able to have and I thought a great
program it's being operated out of the
sheriff's department they have quite a
bit of funding for the Alzheimer's
Association to help I don't recall
conservate that they have 20 or 30 folks
I think on this list that the man
manages 40 46 46 and great program that
if folks in in the city are interested
you can work directly with them and I
I'm sorry I don't have the contact
information they gave us so many things
right so many um
leaflet pamphlets and pens with numbers
and I don't I don't have that currently
but I bit our city clerk Christine
because she's organized that way has it
and could and could probably provide us
with that number
and then let's see last week I met with
our federal
um
our federal
um
why am I spacing it um
MMO Partners help me our federal
lobbyists yes I can get that name the
lobbyists and
um which has they've been busy really
advocating for the city and we have
fared well
with over 10 million dollars close to 11
million dollars
we've been able to draw from our
representatives and Senators specific to
our to New Mexico and our area
some great things and projects that have
been included like our lived up
anti-poverty program our project like
Construction New Mexico gun crime Center
narcotic analyzer and awareness program
and another which is very much needed is
our boys and girls club which are you
know they're building a new facility and
they certainly deserve it and they're in
this point where they're raising funds
there's a number of requested items
specifically and a lot of for me was
infrastructure looking at the airport
the West Mesa Road I'm going into Santa
Teresa
of course our project light and our our
lift up programming more specifically
and so I think mayor it was like I said
busy busy for me
um but loving every minute of it so I'm
going to turn it back over to you thank
you thank you my boat Town councilor
Florida Sampson Council Quran
thank you mayor I wanted to give a
couple updates and and a couple other
notes but first I just wanted to welcome
back NMSU students and the semester
starts next Wednesday so before our next
meeting students I think move into the
dorms on the 11th and everyone else
who's going who doesn't move into the
dorms is around and and we'll be
cracking the books next Wednesday and I
want to thank the city Communications
staff for working on a special sort of
collaborative project with the NMSU
communication staff to to make sure that
our city is welcoming students as well
so I look forward to the new semester
and meeting the new students
um the TSI PRC meeting we last week we
had a really interesting conversation
thanks to Angela armyjo and the
Community Development folks we talked
about our flood insurance Federal flood
insurance program I didn't know that the
extraordinary process that it is to have
Community ratings for our flood
insurance
the city of Las Cruces is really
diligent in Seeking a better uh sort of
lower ranking in their Federal flood
insurance which results in lower flood
insurance premiums for the people of Las
Cruces right now the city is preparing
for an October
audit that will examine what level of
funding
um
what level of sort of insurance premiums
the residents who live in in flood zones
have to pay right now our rating is at a
seven and I think we are tied with
Albuquerque the crushing the county not
that I'm not that everything has to be a
competition
but just to put it out there the city of
Las Cruces is especially the Community
Development Department is looking out
for us and really working hard to figure
out ways to improve our federal flood
insurance program and crush the others
and I love to see it so we heard a lot
about what's happening with that and you
all will be seeing some ordinances
specific that will help us increase our
our inputs and score on that Community
rating system
improve it what it's it's ten to one so
we're seven out of ten we we would like
to be one but it's it's a lot of there
are a lot of aspects that relate to
things like public lands
um ordinances things that we in some
cases have have ability to work on and
other cases are determined by the state
so they're really putting together our
best case to to move in that in that
direction toward one which is the idea
um
also I wanted to just quickly touch on
the ascmv board
um
to the to the point of the public
commenter we did have the a very really
low live release rate which is
the inverse of uh euthanasia rate or the
kill rate at 50 of the animals coming
into the shelter are are leaving alive
so that's a very Grim statistic
um I would say that the city has been
making substantial efforts we've
increased in the last two years I think
we've increased the funding for the
Animal Services Center out of the city
budget by something like 35 percent the
staff are working really diligently and
I appreciate Barbara bencomo and her
leadership in this to to work on
alternative
uh funding streams and making sure that
the city is able to secure a great
increased capacity for spay and neuter
but it is it is not good and I and I
really urge folks to think about you
know helping support your neighbors keep
their pets
um
and and making sure that they're able to
stay home so uh that's all the news that
I have but I did want to sort of speak
on something that I think
um
are there a lot of public comments that
meant a lot but I just want to speak to
the idea that our values or our emotions
are in contrast with those of veterans
and I I want to say as someone who grew
up my godfather was the commander at the
VFW I grew up in in the VFW in the
legion my both of my grandparents my
grandfather served in the military both
army veterans my uncle served in Vietnam
my uncle slash Godfather and so I just
want to speak to the idea of what values
mean and to suggest
that the values of veterans are
exclusive of of valuing a life lost and
and recognizing the importance of
grieving to a family I think certainly
that's not within the realm of values
that I learned with my
family of veterans who who served
both in action and not so I really want
to say serving with emotions I carry the
emotions that my veteran family members
gave to me the values that they shared
with me and and those are part of how I
serve in public and so I just want to
challenge our
folks to think more broadly about what
it means to be a veteran and what kind
of values veterans might be carrying in
their hearts so
that's it for me thank you counselor
councilman Como thanks mayor thanks
counselor for
those beautiful words I just I really
wanted to thank Mr Harold Morris for
coming and singing that Sam Cooke Song
here today and just for his
General presence here he's really
powerful person and was very honored to
present him with that Proclamation
I wanted to thank our chief chief story
for just sitting I think he sat down
with all of us but for sitting down with
me and just talking through District
Four and hot spots and the interventions
that they're working on and everything
we can work on together so thank you
Chief very much for for your
collaboration
I also wanted to note that I
um I visited 828 Studios over the last
week they're now on Miranda which is now
in District Four and they purchased that
you know big Baptist Church that had
been empty for many many many years and
they're keeping the facade of it the
outside they're keeping the sanctuary
for they're just going to do exciting
things and I'm really excited to
um to be in partnership with a28 Studios
I think you know for all of the things
that get said about our community there
are truly people who are saying you know
um we're going to put our best foot
forward and we're going to invest in the
community we say we love and you know
maybe put our dollars behind that and so
I'm really really excited huge kudos to
our Economic Development Department for
maintaining and you know cultivating
that relationship it's it's really
exciting everything they're they're
planning on doing
I did want to touch on the fire in
Albuquerque that is currently happening
at the recycling facility I don't know
if you've seen the footage but it looks
just so tragic and awful I mean they
have really really dangerous
um their air pollution right now is
pretty dangerous for everyone in the
area and I just feel like it raises
questions I know we recently had a
Landfill fire even though it was
a clean cell completely accidental right
but
um
I just raises questions about just our
waste management and Plastics and the
dangers they clearly posed to our
quality of life and so I did email this
morning just because I'm so curious
about our facilities safety of our
facilities what measures we're taking to
make sure we prevent those kinds of
tragedies so I did email Patrick Peck
and Adrian Whitmer and I don't know if
that whatever
perhaps Evo something to come to work
session about just because it's so
present and scary and
you know I it made me realize that I
don't ask enough certain departments
like what are what are we missing what
am I not asking do you have gaps do you
have needs and so just reminded me to to
be more cognizant and more deliberate
about that and then just lastly
um
we have a housing meeting
coming up next week we have a utilities
board meeting this week and I think we
have a work session at two on Thursday 2
p.m utilities this
Thursday at the utilities and we're
going to be discussing the rate process
is that right counselor and so if
members of the public are interested and
curious about learning about how the
utility sets rates I really encourage
people to come to that to learn more
about that process and then next week we
have a housing meeting at 2 pm probably
on the second floor here at City Hall
thanks everyone
thank you Council Graham thank you uh
not too much to report on
um
coincidentally South Central Solid Waste
Association board met last week
I I know we'll get get dibsies
um and
um always impressed uh particularly with
their their work culture
um mayor Pro tem and I were both uh
interested in hearing how
um they're dealing with the heat which
I'm sure a lot of you know that's also a
big deal for a lot of our city
departments but I was
um I think we were both really gratified
to hear how careful they are to make
sure that their employees who are
outside in this heat that I can't even
take walking from the car to City Hall
they're really taking good care of their
people and I was happy to see that
um same thanks to Chief story for
sitting down and accommodating my many
questions and
um
postulations on policing
uh oh also speaking of which I should
have I should have put this one second
upsetting reading recommendation I'm
reading the heat will kill you first
life and death on a scorched Planet
which is every bit as upsetting as the
title would imply I heard about it on a
million podcasts a couple of weeks ago
um you know spoiler it's getting hotter
and it's really bad for absolutely
everybody but uh I think reading these
things as somebody now serving in city
government I know do you guys do this
too like anytime you visit another city
even if it's just for funsies you're
like oh I wonder what the zoning is here
like are they yes I'm like is there is
this a strong mayor system or you know
you're just like you totally become a
city government geek so this is how I'm
looking at this now
um and then finally
um
you know
it was a it was a lively public comment
comment session and
um what I'd like to do is to thank those
of you who not just come for public
comment but then come and stay
throughout or even those who don't
comment
hi Jennifer but
Mr Pearson Miss Pickering and is that Mr
pick
yes Steve hi yes so I want to thank
those who come not only to share their
thoughts but then actually
come and sit through the rest of the
work that we do as a government
um I really I appreciate that as someone
you know up on this side of things hi
Eric you too
so just acknowledging those who
kind of you know run the marathon here
with us and not just the Sprint I
appreciate you even though we don't
always agree so thank you that's all
I've got mayor
thank you
counselor beta thank you
um I know that mayor Pro tem already
talked a little bit about Public Safety
but I do have uh Mr Stephen Dale's
information here to share about project
lightsaber and his contact is it is
Steven it's
s-t-e-p-h-e-n-d at Dona anacounty.org
and he is the contact point for project
lightsaber
I want to thank Chief story as well for
sitting around with me and chatting
about District 2 and then helping set up
I did a police ride-along on Friday with
officer Rivera I did a swing shift so
got in at four we were done by about one
so it was a interesting look at the
district uh what I won't say I it was a
slower night which I know is a very good
thing
uh but I did get to see project light in
action and I did get to have I think
really wonderful conversation to see
with the perspective not only from the
districts but from the officer side of
the view so
um very much a big thank you to officer
Rivera who's been with department for
about two and a half years now and is
former military so thank you
it seems like a long time ago but in
July 21st I was up in Albuquerque for
the New Mexico Municipal League
resolutions
we approved it's the second of a
three-stage process with the municipal
League to approve different items that
we will push for the legislative session
or keep on our just
our radar for items even if they're not
germane this year but to keep them on
everything range from Public Safety
Behavioral Health there is a call and
need one of the things all of our
communities know that there is a need
for Behavioral Health Services and
that's something I know
my colleagues have advocated for and
other communities are advocating for too
so I think we see Public Safety in very
uh
in ways that need to really combine and
connect and so it's not just one thing
that's going to solve the problem
there's a lot of different ways that
things have to come together and I think
we all know that and we are trying to
deal with those in different sections
I want to thank Christine who reached
out to the league to have ipra training
here for staff that will be on August
15th at 9 A.M I believe here in the
chambers
for individuals so I'm sure she is
sending out
invitations for everybody
and then I also was able to sit down
with our federal lobbyists to go over
projects and everything in September I
will be joining the Chamber of Commerce
for the second time to go advocate for
military Affairs they go every year we
chat with the Pentagon and then chat
with our delegation our federal
delegation really letting them know the
importance and needs here of White Sands
Fort Bliss all those in the area it's
something I've been honored to do in the
past and we'll be very thankful to do in
the future one thing that we do though
we layer on meetings extra for the city
when that comes in so that I am able to
maximize that time so just coordinating
with them so I want to thank the
partners for really making the most used
of my time while I'm up there so we can
do both so it's a it's a fast schedule
but I I enjoy it
and I think that is all for me so thank
you mayor
all right thank you counselor okay city
managers report thank you mayor council
first I want to introduce two two new
members of our executive team first our
City attorney Linda samples
and then our new parks and rec director
Stephen Bingham and I'll first talked
about Linda and then maybe certain if
it's okay mayor turned some time to
Linda just say a few words and then
Stephen Bingham who's sitting in the
back we're going to invite him up uh as
well if that's okay just to
introduce him himself uh but Linda comes
with a lot of experience we really are
excited to have her come from El Paso
who has experience with the city with
city of El Paso as well as school
districts and University experience so
broad wide range of experience and I
I'll let Linda speak for herself here
but we just want to introduce her and
welcome her
thank you all I'm very happy to be here
I am a native El pasoan and so I'm very
familiar with the Las Cruces Community
I'm thrilled to be here and I would like
to publicly thank the Jocelyn Garrison
and Brad Douglas there are two attorneys
in the city attorney's office who have
handled a tremendous amount of work in
the this while this position has been
vacant and all of the support staff so I
look forward to working with everyone
and and then while uh Stephen bingham's
making his way up Steven comes from
Saint George Utah
now I didn't know Steven I was from
North up North but I want to make note
that St George has been a standard for
Parks maintenance in Utah in fact I've
sent my team from Eagle Mountain there
to shadow that City just to learn how to
how to be efficient and effective with
their parts maintenance but really
excited to have Stephen Bingham here and
I'll let him
just introduce himself and see if he
works thank you um ifo pili and um I
appreciate the opportunity to address
um mayor and city council I am so so
excited to be here and be a part of this
community I
um have a strong passion for Parks and
Recreation it changes lives
it is what helps create the quality of
life that we need in our communities and
brings Joy to the community it brings
life it brings culture and or I should
say it helps bringing it out because the
people have it
and I'm I am really excited I'm grateful
my wife is a career teacher and she
joined me here today we just came down
over the weekend and
and I think she thinks it's the first
day of school and they're supposed to be
pitchers
and I've I've tried to explain to her no
no it's not like your kindergartners
first grade second and third graders
it's not that way
and so I'm I'm excited to have her here
and I'm excited to be in your community
I was just going to say hopefully your
wife didn't poke you in the elbow say
did you bring me here after seeing if
this isn't really how it is it happens
every so often
I just know that um
you know it's just a different time
right now this is happening in probably
cities throughout America
yeah during public comment and so um
welcome well thank you you know Eva was
very excited about having you that have
that opportunity so welcome here and I
know it's probably a lot hotter here
than I I presume I don't know I just
think of Utah's a nice cool place
well everyone thinks of the snow in Utah
and St George is usually about 1 15.
during the summer
in fact about three weeks ago we were
117.
and so we're slightly warmer than you
guys is my understanding and during the
winter we're about the same
maybe a little bit colder is what I've
heard but
um no my wife didn't hit me she is
excited to be here
she did cry because I just moved her
from somewhere else two months ago and
she's like we're moving already
and I said but she got here she she's
been here this is her third time here
she's come with me every time and she
thinks this community has great culture
and is falling in love with it and is
excited to be a school teacher in this
community that's great welcome I'm going
to share with you something that you're
probably going to encounter I hear this
often recently there was this gentleman
who came to me says you know mayor I've
been here two years I moved here from
Delaware I lived there for 25 years in
Delaware his fellow saying he says I've
made more friends here in two years than
I had in 25 years in Delaware so I think
you're gonna You're Gonna Love and
embrace Las Cruces I think it's a great
move for you and um you know it's it's
it's neat to see even ifo who has has
grown to love Las Cruces and I don't
think he wants to be any place else but
but here so anyways welcome thank you as
well I I'll add this you know I spent
some time I'm in El Paso and the
demographics are pretty similar but I
also spent a couple years living in
Guatemala and speak Spanish it used to
be fluent I'm trying to get it back but
there's a larger Hispanic Community here
and I will tell you I love them
that Community
tends to be so family oriented I'm very
family oriented
they're very welcoming when I went to El
Paso I couldn't believe how welcoming
the community was and that's what wanted
me brought me to want to be here because
I knew your community would be even more
welcoming
well one last story at least it probably
hasn't even heard this so there were two
large businesses there one has left but
there was two large ones still here and
they had operations in both El Paso and
Las Cruces
and they made a decision to both both of
them not at the same time but they both
both closed El Paso and the executives
moved here and one is still here one is
Alaska structures so I think that speaks
well for Las Cruces and I just want to
brag a little bit about that so well I
think the bragging is definitely
deserved you're parked in Recreation
system is so much better
um you guys have done a very good job I
helped come in and add to what Sonia has
done
because you guys have already had a very
good strong base and that was appealing
to me
very good congratulations on April 10th
I'm sorry I forgot to mention I've had a
conversation
with some firefighters and they spoke to
the National Standard for the number of
firehouses and population and I
understand we're two firehouses behind
and I just want for Etho and chief Smith
to gather some information for me
related to that because I'm not familiar
or aware of it
and if if that was the case where would
the locations be of these of these fire
houses
but it of course says we're growing
right in the National Standard says
we're behind we should really have a
robust conversation about that because
of our growth and and so just wanted I
promised I would bring it up and have
forgotten
and I I'll just lastly mention for those
who folks that are concerned about
substance abuse treatment facilities and
the work in that we're having a meeting
September 7th to be to location to be
determined with hopefully our
legislators to address the specific
issues and help
sort of organize ourselves to then come
to
our legislative session asking for money
to provide and then five West is open
five West is now open was open since
last Wednesday and I'm hoping that you
know we're also seeing some relief out
in the in the streets for folks that
need that cert that service
thank you mayor for giving me the
opportunities and five West is the
secret psychiatric psychiatric
psychiatric unit yeah
thank you member 10th and I can get with
you I Know Chief is pretty much on top
of the needs of uh you know of our fire
stations and you know station nine has
been planned and so but we can we can
give you the information you need
just just a couple more
fys from our departments Community
engagement
uh from our CMO office Katrina thank you
for sending the information
the community engagement office will
begin relaunching our neighborhood
Leadership Academy
so this fall
but it'll be in a few different formats
we want to provide the right resources
and information to improve constituents
knowledge of the city of Las Cruces and
its functions and so first we'll kick
off the development leaders Academy for
middle and high school students
which will take place during fall break
this will consist of five half day
sessions with students meeting at
various City departments
to receive first-hand information and
give input on City operations
and then the neighborhood Leadership
Academy in the original 10-week format
will relaunch in January
the academy has a maximum of 35
participants
and then they get to know your city
seminar series will launch in July of
2024 which will be held in the council
chambers every other Wednesday for 10
sessions and up to 250 people can attend
each session
so really really appreciate Katrina and
her team and um
you know this is a lot of work and I
think Barbara said she had to hold
Katrina back a little bit so just just
so she didn't spread herself too thin
but
um
yeah
and then just uh something from
appreciate Public Work sending over
some information about our streets
projects
Belamar Drive reconstruction project
will begin mid-august so it'll be a
couple weeks
and then the estimation complete
completion date will be May
of next year
and then I know I know Public Works sent
over a list of streets I don't know if
I'll go through all the 20 streets
with uh
application a chip seal application
um
actually Cape seal as well
and so just for information chip seal is
is a pavement management
um application that it's a coat but has
aggregate in it and
the chip seal will sorry Cape seal will
will help seal the aggregate in there
after it's done and so it'll look like a
brand new road but it's really meant for
maintenance ceiling
yeah most of the most of the wear on our
roads it really comes from the base
and so when you seal it up it provides
more Integrity for the the road and
makes it more long-lasting but 20
streets will be done
within a food am I reading this right
David a four year four day period August
7th
to the 211 so five within five days
uh let's see one more visit Las Cruces
thank you in Las Cruces wrench
Restaurant Week
it's had a great start and I was running
from August 4th to the 11th
the program offers discounts provided by
local restaurants as well as rewards for
checking in during visits
rewards range based on final number of
visits individuals can register visit
lascus.com for the free digital pass
there are 28 restaurants participating
as of this morning Monday
August 7th there are 489 individuals
registered for the digital pass and 79
check-ins
recorded over the first weekend
that's all I have mayor council thank
you all right thank you
well with that entertain a motion to
adjourn so move to Beta second gram
motion made by counselor beta second by
Council Graham that we adjourn Christine
this is on the motion to adjourn the
meeting counselor beta yes yes councilor
Graham yes councilor Ben Comal yes
councilor Koran yes counselor Flores is
absent counselor Grande here um
yes and mayor yes
okay it's 302 p.m we are adjourned thank
you