foreign
[Music]
okay good afternoon everyone Welcome to
our city council meeting today is
Tuesday June 20th
2023. it's approximately 1 p.m before we
have our Pledge of Allegiance I'm going
to please ask a few 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 Women of the Las
Cruces Police Department and the Las
Cruces fire department as they keep our
city safe 24 7 365.
join me in the pledge please
indivisible with liberty and justice for
all
thank you
okay now as we always start off our
meetings with our pets of the week and
Amy D Felix is on a zoom so Amy are you
there
Amy
okay so let's go ahead and just jump to
jobs of the week and if Amy comes back
we'll have her show us the pets so we
have regarding the jobs of the week as
Giselle palomares from the New Mexico
Workforce Solutions and I see Giselle
there how you doing Giselle
good afternoon premiering Council I'm
doing good how are you doing
all right for the jobs of this week are
you able to see my PowerPoint
we can't see it yet
let me share my screen one more time I'm
sorry
[Music]
all right for the jobs of this week
we have city of Las Cruces is hiring a
commercial plumber that pays 20.28 cents
an hour White Sands Missile Range is
hiring a security guard and that pays
anywhere between 37 000 or 60 000 a year
depending on experience and that closes
on June 30th you have the water store
and more that is hiring a driver or a
store customer service team member
part-time and that will pay 13 an hour
and that closes on July 7 2023.
we have deers and Charities
incorporation that is hiring a resident
monitor in that pays 19.27 cents an hour
with a 500 sign-on bonus and that list
is August 31st 2023 we have Pep Boys
who's hiring an automotive technician
and that pays twenty six thousand at
forty six thousand a year depending on
experience and that closes on September
5th 2023 Amador Health Center is hiring
a finance director and that could pay
anywhere between 62 and 120 000 a year
to pay on experience and that closes on
July 8th 2023.
and as always to find out more
information on these jobs you can
connect with the newmexico Workforce
Connection office and you can contact
them via phone at
575-524-6250 or visit them at 226 South
Alameda Boulevard
or you can always download our app
today I'm going to introduce Miss Haydee
Ramirez she's a youth operations
supervisor for wioa youth program and
she's going to provide you a little bit
more information on the program itself
good afternoon everybody uh so yes my
name is Haley Ramirez and I do serve as
a youth operations manager so really
quick I want to talk about our great
program that we are trying to reach for
our youth uh participants our ages is
from 14 to 24. we do a paid work
experience we do of wonderful things
with these youth career Explorations we
do paid in unpread internships as well
we also do tutoring Services labor
marketing tuition assistance we do
Supportive Services incentives for
everything that they do we try to
incentivize these participants and we
try to get them Supportive Services as
well as needed we also do the work
Readiness and career trainings you know
we also do uh workshops whether and we
do serve in school and out of school
participants they do need to qualify for
a program with some barriers but most of
the time I can tell you that 90 of the
participants that do walk in our doors
are qualified one way or another
uh like I said we do they need to be
qualified in our program and they do
have to have some barriers some of the
barriers that I'm talking about is basic
skill deficiencies some of them are also
English language Learners if they've
been into an offender of the juvenile
system if they're homeless or their
runaways or Foster they're in the foster
care system as well also if they have
any type of disabilities or they have an
IEP we all that's also some of the
criterias and barriers that we are
searching for pregnant or parenting
youth as well and
um that's about it that those are the
the qualifications or the the barriers
that we are looking for these
participants to be able to qualify in
our program I know they're in in school
of course we are required for them to
have the documentation needed for them
to prove that they're in school as well
and that is our beautiful and wonderful
program that we serve you with within
our real world program and these are the
youth programs for for our participants
thank you very much
okay and that's all we have for this
week thank you mayor and Council okay
thank you Giselle thank you Haiti
so let's see if Amy the Felix is on Zoom
Amy are you there
okay so we'll just go ahead and
have her next council meeting of course
so let me just ask if Casey Cunningham
is here
if you join me up front please
just join me here to my right
nice to meet you
okay so a little bit about my email life
is I get about 500 emails a day right
and a lot of it's spam but a lot of it
isn't and I I really try
99.9 time to read them all or at least
know what they're all about
so I get this email sent in from Kim Sue
and as I'm reading it I'm thinking my
goodness we have to
wait I've never gotten an email like
this so I wanted to
bring you here to recognize you
have you read the email
all right
this is from this Kim Sue
my nephew's class wrote a letter about
their amazing prison teacher helping
their class get their adult GED so let
me just clarify that
so she you work at a prison
yes yeah you're not in prison you're
working yeah
and so she she works at Southern
Correctional okay right
and you thought I could help him contact
the local news the class feels that
their teacher Miss Kayla Cunningham also
known as KC is the most dedicated and
caring teacher who has ever come to the
prison facility
this is not a negative email that you
hear in the news about felons but a
story about Second Chance chances and
hope inspired by a teacher Miss
Cunningham teaches all the subjects most
of the men in the class have never even
completed a fifth grade education
many had druggie parents and dropped out
before they even reached Middle School
my nephew was introduced to gangs early
on his own mother died and his father
was in prison when he was a boy
so he grew up alone on the streets and
it was easy for the gangs to prey on him
and force him into the drug life to my
nephew he has always hated school and
thought subjects were stupid and useless
I haven't talked to him in forever I got
a message that he's about to pass his
GED and start college
he is in his 40s and has been running
drugs most of his life for the quick and
easy cash
he he said he's always thought that he
was not smart not motivated wanted that
quick money
but this teacher KC has not only
inspired him but many of the men in the
class who are also about to Pastor GED
test and enroll in college he said he's
had other teachers before at the prison
and other correctional facilities and
those teachers just pass out papers and
give packets but this lady brings in
stories about history and a microscope
and they can take a look at for the very
first time at cells and biology
she teaches English and math as well she
honestly cares about her students and
her job
so Casey I wanted to give this to you
it's called the mayor Citation for
public service presented to Kayla Casey
Cunningham in recognition of your
commitment and dedication in helping
make Las Cruces A Better Community dated
this 20th day of June 2023 signed by
myself Ken miyagashima
thank you
wow
well Mr Mayor city council I just want
to say that I I'm absolutely humbled by
this experience and this award as many
of you know teachers don't teach for the
accolations we teach because we love it
in any setting whether that's elementary
school middle school high school adult
education or even a prison setting
we do it because we love it and it is
huge honor for me to receive this this
award from the individuals in which I
serve it makes me happy to know that
they they like my class and that they're
listening sometimes you don't feel like
they are
um
at Southern New Mexico Correctional
Facility I work with many individuals
who are officers medical staff rehab
Specialists Behavioral Health
Specialists administrators and teachers
we strive to make our community a safer
place while also fighting to reduce the
recidivism rates inside of our
communities
our goal overall is to keep you the
individual safe while also trying to
impact and make a change on the
individuals in which we do serve
in education I believe that education is
a powerful tool it is really the key to
change and all the time we hear about
change happening at lower levels
Elementary levels Middle School levels
but it doesn't matter how old you are
education does have the power to make an
impact and to change your life
so I just want to say that I personally
will dedicate my life to striving to
make that difference and to make that
change within that community and I look
forward to continuing to serve those
individuals as well as you in the Las
Cruces community so thank you I'm just
deeply honored and humbled by this
experience thank you
okay so next we have is the American
Association of University women which I
believe you want to come forward please
and to my right
oh God
future
so this is just exactly what it sounds
like these are University women that
presumably are retired and they still
help the community and they get have
little meetings and luncheons and all
that good stuff
and uh
but you all have done some really good
things here and I want to give a
proclamation to you all city council and
I whereas the American Association of
University women AAUW is a national
Grassroots organization established in
1881.
which has evolved to become the leading
voice in advancing gender equity in
education and workplaces across the
nation and whereas the American
Association of University women Dash Las
Cruces or AA
uw-lc is the first local branch in New
Mexico that was accepted into the into
the national network on June 25th 1923.
and whereas the
aauwlc has been among the most active
branches in New Mexico with dedicated
members working across our city and
county to empower and Advance women and
girls and whereas a
uwc Dash no I think they threw a c in
there
aauw-lc has annually organized and
hosted girls can
for the past 27 years bringing sixth
grade girls together for a one-day
conference allowing them to explore a
variety of careers learning about their
options directly from female role models
with careers and various professional
fields and whereas
aauw-lc has always supported
post-secondary educational opportunities
for women since 1988 and has been given
the True Grit Awards to young women
graduating from high schools in Las
Cruces and AAUW hyphen LC endowed
scholarships to college women enrolled
at New Mexico State University
and whereas the city of Las Cruces
recognizes AAUW hyphen LC as make it a
contribution to our country by
supporting and moving women and girls
forward now therefore we the mayor and
City Council of Las Cruces New Mexico do
hereby Proclaim uh the day June 25th
25th 2023 as a day to celebrate the
Centennial of the American Association
of University women Las Cruces attested
to by our city clerk Christine Rivera
and signed by myself Ken miyagashima
[Applause]
welcome to say a few few words
well I want to thank you Mr Mayor and
the city council for giving us this
recognition and
um
it's truly an honor to have served for
the last two years as president of this
organization and Donna's going to be
co-president with me in the next year
continuing and
um it's been great fun to try to
influence the young people of this
community by with girls can and showing
12 year old girls what their
opportunities could be
expanding their Horizons as it were and
also with the university here in town
providing scholarships and encouraging
them so all of these things I mean we do
a lot of other things but those are the
main things to continue the theme of how
great education is
thank you
thank you she says no oh okay all right
well thank you again okay no that's oh
there's a picture here
foreign
okay well thank you very much and thanks
for all that you do and another here's
to another hundred years
okay now I'm going to read the conflict
of
foreign
I don't know if you're aware of this
there were two more presentations that
were supposed to be presented
unfortunately one of them is a little
bit under the weather and so we decided
to wait until the next council meeting
so that's the proclamation for Mr newbie
as well as Miss Heather Pollard so
you're welcome to still stay for our
meeting but if you're here for that
um
we'll see you in a couple weeks a few
weeks
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 city staff has
any known conflict of interest on any
item on the agenda
did you all hear what they said I I
think they said none right
it's messy I'm just kidding
okay so now we're going to go to public
participation this is where members of
the public can speak to council for a
total of seven minutes three minutes for
public participation leaving four
minutes if you need to talk about
something that's on the agenda all that
we ask is that it not be when you're
coming up here did it not be pertaining
to any pending litigation and they did
not be on the agenda if you have to talk
about something on agenda please let us
know because the council can't respond
to you but we would prefer that you just
use this as a means to talk about
anything other than the agenda okay so I
usually start on my left and I usually
start on the first row so I'm going to
start with my first row and anyone on
the first yes ma'am please come forward
and thank you for the flags
I need you I need you to talk to the mic
but I wanted you all to see my shirt
first
your flag moves because of the last
breath of those veterans that gave up
their lives for their country my name is
Lori English
um on July 19th of 2019 I was honored by
the city council including councilor
Flores and councilor gondra and our
honorable mayor for my community service
I receive both the proclamation and the
mayor's award
for my involvement in pets and vets
as of last two weeks ago Tuesday amendy
I was very very let down at the way this
Council reacted to a veterans issue in
Veterans Park
um
the council at that time on Monday the
5th
uh basically succeeded in rendering
those Awards pretty much useless to me
because apparently veterans don't matter
emotions do and I think this was very
uncalled for you not only accomplished
uh
changing policy which was a dangerous
change that will affect all the parks in
the city
but you also granted a non-combatant
a space for a memorial in Veterans Park
simply because unfortunately through
nobody's fault this young lady lost her
life
and her father is active duty I think
military at Holloman I'm not sure but
the bottom line is
um
that those Awards to me are are somewhat
meaningless because they did not come
from the heart I do honor the counselors
that were there that helped me get those
Awards on June 5th you surpassed your
high attitudes of being in charge by
allowing a memorial to be erected on
what many people not only veterans feel
is Hallowed Ground there's a big hunk
and rock right on Road Runner Parkway in
front of the park that says Veterans
Park it does not say veterans and
dependents or families Park
so consequently
I and a lot of other veterans are very
upset about that years ago the city
parks and rec department laid down
single guidelines given to the veterans
Advisory Board who only acted unlike the
council
according to those guidelines
you didn't even want to hear
the Curtis or give the courtesy to the
chair of the VAB a chance to explain
those guidelines you all acted on
emotion
you had two people here and
unfortunately I'm I'm here again
sincerely sorrowful for the loss of that
young life and I feel for those two
parents although I have no children but
that child is not
should not be allowed to be memorialized
in Veterans Park in a place where
veterans he only gave me two minutes
he didn't reset the clock I timed this
myself okay Lori I'll give you one more
minute okay I'm sorry one more minute
please thank you sir and the clock needs
to be reset there's three minutes not
two anyhow this is an honored Park it's
Hallowed Ground it has no space
for non-veterans even though it's a
military family I can understand that
but if you haven't been a veteran if you
haven't served you do not understand
honor that we veterans have for our
fallen men and women who have served
their country every name on the walls
and memorials in the park are veterans
that enlisted in the state of New Mexico
and gave their lives in service of not
only the state of New Mexico but their
country you acted on emotion and not on
the rules
of the veterans Advisory board and the
city parks department in fact you
disrespected us and one counselor even
referred to us as old veterans
and only gave us two minutes to speak so
I'm asking you to rescind that decision
make a change show the veterans that you
care and don't act for one person when
you are having to deal with the many
thank you thank you Lori and thank you
for your service as well
is anyone else on the first row
okay that second row Rico
all right
good afternoon mayor and Council my name
is Rico Gonzalez and I work with El Paso
Electric
I've got a couple items today I came
with only one but but I'm but I'm
leaving with with three
hot temperatures we are coming into some
really hot times here in in the city you
all have set up some some cooling
station locations we've been in in
concert with that as these temperatures
come up we do ask that that we get our
our
thermostats up to 75 76 even 78 if it
gets up to 110
um to help with the electric load that
we have moving forward
the second item that I have and if
anyone has any questions on that give me
give me a call
um girls can I just got to say thanks
for giving that that that award uh both
my daughters went through girls can and
one of the things they did not mention
is that they have
um uh tutorials or classes for parents
who um of of those girls uh on on how to
get into college and and the like so
really really great program and then the
third piece is uh going uh is is our
internship program through the county we
have about five at uh at epe and uh
Trinity Harrison is going to introduce
herself and and she's been having to go
through these processes with me and and
I know I I feel bad for her but
hopefully it'll be a good thing in the
future so
um uh thank you councilor Graham for
pointing that out to me
um okay so uh earlier earlier
um okay Trinity
my name is trendy Levy I go to Oregon
Mountain High School and this summer
I've been working on economic
development with El Paso Electric as a
student intern
thank you
so thank you very much
thank you and congratulations Trinity
one thing I want you to be aware of
those who can speak before the public
just as you did tend to make 37 percent
more income than their peers who don't
know how to speak in public so
so good job for you I know it's scary
but uh you did good okay anyone else on
the second row
right
my name is Rod guyeski I'm the adjunate
for Purple Heart Las Cruces
I'm also a member of the veterans
mayor's veterans Advisory Board
and I wanted to mirror what Lori English
said uh in that in as much as first of
all in April I appeared before this
Council and talked about the candlelight
ceremony only one person only one
only one only one person had responded
to that and participated in the
candlelight ceremony that was the mayor
which he's done every year
the the fact is I think veterans have
been disrespected and the white
elephants in the room there are two that
are very important at this particular
situation that was voted on two weeks
ago number one
no one has ever talked about the poor
individual who backed over the little
girl and killed her he'll live with that
forever
and no one ever discussed that no second
part of it no one no not anyone ever
voiced any concerns or or or
wording to the veterans Advisory Board
Regarding why we had to vote we had two
votes that were unanimous in saying no
to the to a monument
the third thing is is those of you that
have children you know where that child
is and when a child is one and a half
years old and so
all I'm saying is that I think that that
as Laurie said a disservice has been
done to the veterans I think veterans
have been disrespected and I think that
you have to understand that the veterans
represent 10 of the population of this
city and we will vote that way I live in
the county so I don't have to worry
about it but but the fact of the matter
is is that that nobody nobody on this
Council reached out to to the veterans
Advisory Board and said why did you do
that why did you have that vote and so
you know uh you know it's just it's just
a travesty and what we've done is we've
we've now opened up a can of worms that
says okay you know my my relative was a
veteran so they should be honored in the
park the the resolution that was
accepted 20 years ago says it's for a a
war a battle or an honored veteran or a
civilian who has done veterans honorable
veterans
commitments to the community and and so
you know that's it's just it's just sad
that we have that we have come to the
point where we don't honor previous
resolutions and we don't honor the
veterans of our community and and the
Marine Corps League is here other
veterans would probably have shown up
but but yeah yeah unfortunately we are
old veterans but we we're old veterans
who served so that you guys could make
the decisions that you make
thank you rod
e morning main uh council members my
name is Andres Rivera I'm a member of
the Marine Corps League honor Garden
attachment 478 I've been a member for 23
years now did 27 years in court retired
and I'm proud of it proud of being a
veteran proud of being with that group
there's an awesome group
but like I said why even have a veterans
Advisory Group if it's going to go in
one ear and not the other that's
disrespecting us
and like I said if it's not one thing
it's another we I'm here to honor our
fellow veterans and do things for the
community I've done just about every
parade that you've had here in Las
Cruces the firework display
the the Veterans Day Parade we got in
all fours I think at least 18 members
are doing the parade on the float on
marching
and still
I would do military honors for a fellow
veterans at Veterans Park that's coming
up and I was told I had to get a permit
for this a permit for that a permit for
this because for loud noise because I'm
doing the three volleys to render honors
I've I've done over 1200 funerals in Las
Cruces and never got asked to get a
permit for shooting the rifles for the
three volleys to 100 fellow veterans I
want to do it at Veterans Park for a
fellow veteran
from veterans group and I got to have
permits
as again to me it's a slap in the face
but uh
thank you
[Applause]
Andres I haven't heard of that will you
please email me so we can find out get a
little bit more to the find out a little
bit more about that please
okay anyone else on the second row
third row
[Music]
Mr Mayor honor council members my name
is Jeffrey Eckman
I too I'm a part of the Marine Corps
League I did 27.5 years in military 13
army 13 Marine Corps I have severe PTSD
because of what I have done what I felt
was positive for the veterans as well as
the groups so many times we talk about
Mental Health
where is it
where's the hospitals where's the people
that will assist those of us with PTSD
in the May in the Marine Corps League
that I belong to where every time we
fire the routes I have an episode but I
still do it for the veterans who have
give a job towards sacrifice
for those of us that have lost family
members for those of us who have lost
members of our communities
those in the fire department police
department they're just as much of a
family as your brothers and sisters and
aunts and uncles for those of us that
serve it doesn't matter whether we're
related by blood
or by the oath we've taken
we want to be taken care of because we
have given our ultimate sacrifice
thank you
that's the third row yes sir please come
forward
and if you can adjust the microphone so
it's pretty much right in front of
your mouth that would be great
members of the council can you come a
little bit closer sir members of the
council Mr Mayor thank you for allowing
this time for me I've never done this
before
I simply have excuse me sir I need you
to state your name and if you can please
talk into that microphone and move that
as close as you can please
my name is Richard Petrillo and I'm a
resident in District 4.
and I come here with simply one question
for the council and for you as well Mr
Mayor
and is that uh person named Rico I
didn't know was going to be here I might
have taken that opportunity to meet with
it
my question is has the council at this
time within the last few months I may
have missed something considered
what emergency measures would be taken
by the city in the event that we have a
protracted loss of electric power
and this would include of course the
so-called cooling stations
that I presume are run on the normal
grid
this is becoming more and more an issue
for communities and cities across the
country
and it would especially affect the
elderly and families with small children
and it would cause if it was protracted
a great deal of tension and anxiety in
the city
and I'm not offering anything or Con in
any terms of Confrontation or demands
but I think it's something that needs to
be given a deeper consideration and
we've seen across the country examples
where whole communities and much larger
cities than Las Cruces
have faltered on this issue not that
it's going to be res resolved overnight
but it's something I believe the council
and the mayor need to work with thank
you Mr Mr Petrillo I can try to answer
your question so if you've ever noticed
the difference between us here in the
southwest as far as our electric needs
and the various equipment versus those
back East so back East are not used to
the Heat and so sometimes those it
really messes them up just like we're
not really used to the real cold so what
I'm trying to get at is El Paso
electrical will monitor it and if I've
only seen this happen once in the last
10 years
they'll have what they call a rolling
blackout they'll know exactly where it's
going to if the power is going to be too
much they'll let us know and I'll tell
you this much like for example the
hospital is never in that grid there are
certain grids that they will they will
institute and the hospital is always
going to have power like take us for
example we have our own generator here
and some of the other places that the
university has their own power generator
if the power goes out but they'll do the
rolling blackouts to kind of keep the
power at a certain level so that there's
always power for those that are really
essential like various hospitals
throughout the city and some others
please fire things of this nature that
have to have electricity right but you
you raised a great question thank you
for asking it thank you
okay anyone else that was what third row
I believe how about fourth row yes sir
same thing if you could just state your
name and talking to the market that
would be great
good afternoon council members mayor my
name's Eddie Thomas
um I want to
downshift a little bit here it's what I
want to talk about is something that's
not so contentious
uh as the topics have been brought up so
far this afternoon
um
what I would like to just draw your
attention to is the uh upgrade project
that is uh in I believe it's District
Four uh council member Ben Como's
District so I I know that you'll you'll
be listening to this
um
in seeing what has been done to one of
the streets
where the beautification well not
beautification the upgrade uh is planned
uh there is these uh White cones that
make you have to Swerve on I believe
it's melendras Street
and I know that the saying is planned
for the rest of the area and I applaud
you for that that's great I like we love
getting all the attention
but just as a simple Point uh that I
want to uh
uh get across is that
where this a nominal civil engineer but
this uh swerving to get uh Speeders to
slow down in those streets around that
neighborhood I think that's what the
whole purpose is why don't we use speed
bumps it's simpler it's cheaper and I
don't know why this swerving business
why anybody thinks that's going to
slow down the Speeders and the people
that actually cut through our streets to
bypass traffic signals on Valley so just
just a simple thing I hope that the the
next I've been attending the meetings uh
here in this building regarding that we
get notifications in our mailbox
but I would just like to head this off
at the pass before it goes on any
further I live on uh uh Calle De lencato
and I would hate to see this having the
swerve and these islands that are going
to be built into the side of the street
it takes away some of the parking okay
which I'm my neighbors already are I
don't know why they come to me I but in
my little area we don't want that so if
there's any influence that that I can
wield and just get your attention uh I
would be greatly appreciated that we do
something that's simpler probably more
cost effective and I think would be
wouldn't take in away any of our parking
spaces you know Mr Thomas it's
interesting that you talked about the
swerving of in the last 20 years I've
seen the city move from speed humps or
speed bumps to what you see here today
and I think the reason being there's a
couple reasons one what it causes the
driver to see in your case you thought
you were going to have to Swerve when
really you're just having these little
medians stick out and the drive path is
still the same but to the brain it tells
the drive to slow down the reason why we
don't have the reason why the city has
gotten away from it of course now the
council can bring it back until the
Staff we want these back but it's
because of emergency vehicles and I want
to talk whether it's a big a fire truck
trying to go down that street really
fast or more importantly an ambulance
that's carrying someone it's it's vital
that they get to the hospital and then
they have to stop and slow and go over
the speed limit because imagine them
trying to go over a speed bump at 40
miles an hour it could be really bad and
so that I think is the number one reason
why we don't use the speed humps anymore
and it's we're going to what you just
described little medians that give the
impression that you're going to have to
either slow down or you're not going to
take the turn when really it's it's
really the same path it's just it's
almost not an illusion but it makes the
the brain say hey slow down here and
it's been working just like Farney road
that used to be a drag strip and then
when they started putting the little
medians it's I haven't gotten any
complaints I don't know if counselor
bate that it has but I haven't and so
that's been working out several years
but we appreciate your comments okay
well
I just thought I'd throw it out there
and see if I could I don't know get some
kind of a resolution and why you're
going to that yes all right thank you
thank you
okay so that was the fourth row anyone
else on the fourth row
fifth row
sixth row
good afternoon
mayor mayor Pro tem Council City
management members of the staff my name
is Rafael Leos you recognize me as the
deputy director for South Central
Southwest Authority I also serve the
county as a lieutenant for District 16
volunteer fire department with over 10
years of service for them and I'm
actually here on my unofficial capacity
as you remember from your last meeting
on June 5th where we identified a very
similar issue with speeding in our
community and that is off of Aspen and
Hickory Loop
our address is 1032 Tamarack Drive and
the reason that it's
important to us is as I met brought up
in the last meeting is our children play
in that Community they ride bikes in
that Community we walk the streets we
walk our dogs but we are one of 100
homes that have residents that live in
that community and
um in doing so I wanted to thank my
message is a little different today only
because I wanted to thank councilor
Flores at the last meeting I went back
and I watched the whole meeting and I
saw at the very end that you were the it
was a long meeting understandably you
probably had the breath for one last
comment and you wanted the city staff to
look at speeding
um
mitigation strategies and calming
studies that in your District but then
you also extended it so I wanted to
thank you that maybe you had heard us
that that it's around the whole city
which you may have heard here as well
and then again thank you councilor Ben
Como because while it was short in the
previous meeting I didn't get a chance
to officially thank you for coming out
walking through the streets seeing that
90 9 out of 10 cars are cars that are
going through our community and not
actually residents that's only going to
increase as a result of maybe Commercial
Business going up there is a new
business going up
um from that old hotel which we believe
as a community is going to bring a lot
more traffic secondarily there was a
special use permit that was approved
within our community at a home for a
business which I'm all one for small
business but in consideration I don't
believe in the previous
Publications that letters were sent out
to notify the community that this is
occurring I act as somewhat of one of
those Community stewards that people
reach out to don't know why they reach
out to you just so that we could uh
communicate this forward but nonetheless
we've only reached 30 percent I know we
need 75 percent to get a petition in
order to bring it forth I just want to
share with the last 30 seconds is that
we are we are the community and we are
willing to cooperate we're not out here
for a handout but we're just seeking
guidance on how we can support that and
again my message did shift today only
because I'm I'm thankful that we do have
two other residents here that in our
community that are going to provide
their own statements but again and just
lastly
mayor Pro tem I appreciate you
mentioning that my girls do have a voice
The Voice I was referring to was that of
a vote so with that thank you thanks
Rafael when the city manager gets back
I'm going to ask him a little bit of an
update on those mobile speed Vans
because I know those would be
instrumental to go around the city but
thank you for the presentation and just
want to let you know you left off like
four council members as far as thanking
them oh yeah I'm just kidding I'm just
messing with you thanks Rafael we
appreciate what you do with the South
Central salt Waste Authority appreciate
the opportunity and just for the record
uh Madam chair I do have a leave slip so
that I could be here on my unofficial
capacity so that sounds good
okay so that was a sixth roll anyone
else on the sixth row
seventh row they throw anyone on my
in one yes ma'am if you want to come
forward yeah he was just waving them by
hello my name is Teresa Cummings I live
on Aspen Avenue I want to thank Rafael
for giving
all of our residents in Glendale Gardens
an opportunity to voice our wishes
that something can be done for the 50 50
5-0 mile an hour cars and vehicles
trucks that use our road
Aspen Avenue as a shortcut thinking they
can beat the lights on Valley as well as
on Avenida De Messiah
I have seen
people move out of the way for cars I
fear going to my mailbox
when I see cars coming down the street
either going east or west on Aspen
Avenue
something terrible and horrible is going
to happen in the future if nothing is
done in the present
that's all I have to say I want to avoid
anything that may bring sorrow to anyone
on our street
who lives in our community
thank you for whatever you can do
I also have a question for the fire
chief
what is the
procedure when fire trucks or ambulances
need to go
on boats Road I believe out of Messiah
that hooks up with Valley
there are speed tables there
very effective
you can actually go the speed limit is
25. you can actually go 35 over those
speed tables gradual up level level out
gradual down
so
I know because I've tried it and I'm
very glad that there are no police
officers around but it you can go over
those speed tables
so that might be something you want to
consider bringing those back spreading
them around the city
thank you
Mrs Cummings okay so no one else on on
my no yes sir
anyone else you want to come forwards
and kind of come up closer
so he'll be the last one on this side
okay unless you we have some other
people want to speak
okay you're going to reset the clock
okay I'm here with Raphael as well I
hope you're not tired of hearing about
this
um but I live right down the street I'm
sorry I need to state your name John
charbone
and I'm on the other end of the street
from Raphael
um we yeah we do have a big problem
there and I don't know if all of you
members are familiar with the layout of
our neighborhood
are you all
it's a loop
you go you go off Valley Drive
and you come right back to Valley Drive
again
but there's a little side street
Hickory
uh you know where the McDonald's is over
an Avenue today Messiah
that's where it comes out so what
everybody does is they turn off Valley
they go down in our neighborhood they
take that little side street they shoot
out onto Avenue did Messiah there or
they may be going to Walmart wherever
they're going
that's the problem
so we've asked to do something to slow
down the traffic but really
over half of the people that are driving
down that street they don't live there
they don't need to go through our
neighborhood at all what I'd recommend
you do cheapest thing you could possibly
do is just close Hickory just close that
street that street doesn't need to go
all the way through into our
neighborhood you can still get to all
the businesses there by going past
McDonald's
by coming off Avenue today Messiah just
try it for a week put up a road closed
sign
we actually had that happen back several
months ago there was some road work
being done and there was a pile of dirt
on the street that obstructed the street
pretty well you had to it was like a
speed bump you had to climb over this
thing to get through the traffic almost
disappeared because people didn't want
to have to to hump over that thing so a
speed month there would help but I don't
see the reason why that road even needs
to be there at all I mean what function
does it serve the fire department you'd
come in off a valley
the ambulance department the ambulance
service there's one Ambulance Service on
Valley right there so they're not going
to go all the way around Avenue today
Messiah to get into our neighborhood so
as far as safety vehicles there's no
reason why they would use Hickory so
consider that maybe just as a temporary
solution
maybe it would work and thanks for the
council members that have been helping
us I appreciate your concern thank you
John I didn't catch a last name do me a
favor drop me an email about your
proposal and I'll send it to the
management team and see what they say
that's interesting I'm looking at it I
could see your point
um
let me let you guys go last since you're
going to want a little bit more than yes
all right okay so I'm going to start on
my right anyone on the second row
third fourth fifth sixth seventh eighth
just kidding
fourth row
good morning my name is Jim Hurst and I
just want to thank you guys for being
here
I know you get paid big bucks but just
the same you sit and listen and thank
you for serving and I also want to say
thank you for taking the time to listen
to public comments
um our society is getting pressurized
and if citizens do not have a way to
vent and to express their frustrations
about our government
then they will find other means to do so
and so you are the first line of
protecting us against The Crazies
let them come here let them get it out
and that's one line of defense for our
democracy
thank you very much
well thank you Mrs we appreciate that
and as Laurie had mentioned though in
all fairness without our veterans we
wouldn't have a great country that we
have the ability to for for you all as
as our bosses to be able to say what you
want to say I still recall I think in in
England only on Sundays for 15 minutes
you can stand in Little Square to yell
about the queen and then that's it so
here you can do this year round 24 7
365.
not that there's a queen here but other
than
counselor Flores but
okay so that's the fourth throw anyone
else on the fourth row how about fifth
row
oh I'm sorry yes sir
thank you mayor
ran through a few rows pretty fast right
before they my name is Quinn Cooper I
spoke at the last council meeting on uh
property theft that's risen in the last
year my own auto theft that I
experienced the month before last what I
actually want to talk about is so I
understand that these meetings they can
go quite late and so it's not practical
to start City Council meetings later in
the evening however it makes it very
inaccessible to younger people who are
not retired who are working during the
week and so I really wanted to know
about
what other than contacting our
Representatives directly for the
councils that we live in what are better
ways for working people to engage with
city council do you guys ever consider
doing uh maybe on an occasional later
session for more public input where
other meeting items might be less
prioritized
um kind of just and you know get some
ideas from the council itself on how to
address that engagement
thank you yeah Mr Cooper I have to tell
you so I don't know if you heard this is
my last year in office so I started in
November 2021 and I can tell you we've
had Council meetings at nine o'clock
we've been at one o'clock and we've even
had it at five o'clock we've even said
we've even moved around the districts in
district one through six and the
participation
probably has never been as great as it
is here today believe it or not yeah the
other places that we go to it's sparsely
attended and whether we change it to
nine o'clock in the morning or five
o'clock in the evening because a lot of
times that seems like they would like to
come here but you know they're tired
they're working maybe they have another
job bottom line is it's this is worked
out the best but again who knows next
year could be a different leadership and
they may want to change it but I'm just
telling you we've I've experienced all
three and I you know this one here seems
to work out the best Mondays is a little
difficult maybe a Tuesday might be
better but still either way it's good
but thank you very much for your your
input
okay that was a fifth throw I think
anyone sixth row done
okay hello uh Mr mayor council thanks
for the opportunity to talk with you
today uh first of all I want to thank
you for excuse me Don I need you to
state your name Don Kurtz I live in Las
Cruces
um I want to thank you for your
proactivity on the energy transition
this has been a council in a city that's
been in the Forefront of this and an
example to cities around the around the
state and Country and I just wanted to
remind you of one of the great things
you did which was to pass in December
20th 2021 just a year and a half ago
which unanimously passed a resolution to
adopt sustainable and beneficial
electrification standards in new
construction that is owned or developed
by the city
and I mentioned it because I was
listening to the work session on May 8th
where you were discussing another
admirable project which is the Lowman
subdivision or development and
uh I mentioned it because
um one of the items in this in in this
resolution was that all new construction
that is owned or developed by the city
shall be designed through a holistic
approach through various complementary
and sustainable practices that include
but are not limited to and item C is
selection of efficient appliances that
are all electric
we're talking about appliances here
we're not really talking crock pots or
hair dryers or toaster ovens when we're
talking about in these buildings the
appliances are to heat and cool space or
to heat water and we're talking heat
pumps efficient water electric water
heaters Etc and so again I bring this up
to you on the May it I'm sure it's
already part of your thinking and part
of the thinking of City staff but I just
wanted to remind you this applies to the
Lowman project right and so that 114
acres is required by the resolution you
pass to have all electric buildings
and why that's important early on I
think is is that the city is entering
into it mentioned an RFP for a request
for qualifications for a master
developer it's very important that that
Master developer know that this is going
to be an all-elect electric development
and the the resolution just talks about
the buildings
but obviously if you're going to have
all electric buildings you're not going
to want to put in hundreds of thousands
of dollars of gas infrastructure that
will never be used so when they start
thinking about this it's important that
developers who apply for this understand
and
when we come to the the thing of putting
in gas infrastructure it's costly it
can't be used and I think some of us
have in the back of our minds that it
can be some kind of backup for the
electricity but what would that gas be
doing I mean these are all electric
buildings and so anyway uh
I I thank you for this and I just want
to now that our counselor I just want to
remind you I know you've passed a lot of
good legislation
and you just need to remember just there
and staff as well that this is one of
the requirements okay thank you
okay anyone on the sixth row seventh row
eighth anyone else on my right
okay so Yoli you asked for five minutes
and you brought a guest with you she
gets three minutes right
five minutes you only
yes thank you mayor
since she wanted to come here we didn't
have enough notice to get a translator
so I am going to be your translator I
don't think we need exactly three
minutes for her uh but she needs to be
able to talk let me translate and please
bear with me because I've never done any
public translating but I think it's
necessary so those of you who do know
Spanish I think you'll get it directly
from her but I'm going to do the best I
can all right okay thank you and I just
need you to state your name Julie and as
well as your guests so are you going to
speak first you only she will yes she
will okay yes my name is Yoli Diaz I'm
executive director of care cancer Aid
resource and education
is
good afternoon my name is Nayeli Varela
and thank you mayor City councilor staff
in public
um
I would like to speak a little bit of
where I've lived
foreign
I
think hopefully she mentioned that and I
moved to Las Cruces or to New Mexico in
2015 for job opportunities
I have two children one 14 and one nine
wait sorry uh Anton says
I work in the mornings at agriculture
labor and also in the restaurant
business in the afternoons
I would like to show you some photos
some pictures because in 2021 I started
having some health issues
in these conditions I worked
for a discrimination
there was no place I could get medical
help and I was discriminated
I was a victim of negligence
the doctor said this was nothing and
that I would not die from this that it
was just really basically appearance
my skin would come off and my hair also
fell off
and I continued to work like this the
doctor said it was nothing and if I
didn't mention he said that she would
not die from this
is
she ended up finding a doctor and they
said it was a problem with her immune
system which was actually an autoimmune
disease
foreign
I paid for my medical care out of pocket
I paid for biopsy CT scan paid up to two
thousand dollars
yes
this lasted for a year and she was
looking for what was going on with her
is
she ended up finding out that her
problem was she had pemphigus which is
an autoimmune disease
nowhere was she able to get
chemotherapies
she wasn't able to get any help and it
was actually her school her school's
social worker that ended up helping her
foreign
and it was through the social worker
that contacted me and I was able to help
her get the care she needed and she I
got her to Albuquerque
necessity
I wasn't looking for free care she was
just looking for health care and she was
willing to pay it
so she just gave me permission because
we only have a minute left I think it's
very important to say that it was the
Gadsden Independent Schools district
social worker that contacted me and I
was really in shock when she told me
that she'd been waiting about a year to
get health care but as soon as she told
me what was going on I immediately knew
what was going on and I was in shock
that she had said that she had gone to
so many places in the health care field
trying to look for help and I let the
social worker know please have her
contact me or and we got together
because what she needed was health
insurance because her autoimmune disease
is actually treated similarly as cancer
she needed chemotherapy and those
chemotherapy treatments are extremely
expensive there was never going to be a
doctor that could help her because the
extreme expense which she needed was
insurance and immediately and that's
what I helped her with when I spoke to
her dermatologist he let me know that if
this got into her eyes this condition
she could become blind and that made me
go into basically begging mode and I
told UNM Hospital and UNM Cancer Center
I'm getting her up there I'm asking for
your help and they said this is not
conventional I said well conventional
methods do not work I'm getting her up
there and I'm asking you to help her
thank you
yes counselor thank you thank you Yoli
and
um
your immune system is
is the
Los Angeles
pero a
avocado
the compensation
the employer workers compensation the e
average foreign
I'll just ask you and
what I just said
so um
or I'll recap I was asking about in
Spanish I was asking about
what triggered her autoimmune situation
and
what what
was what triggered it and
it was brought up to the doctor I can't
even remember what I said what I was
asking but apparently the doctor told
you that it wasn't triggered by the
chemicals that are used in the work that
you do as a field worker as in the
agricultural industry
um
and
and then I recommended or suggest that
you see a an attorney who deals in
workers compensation because employers I
Believe by federal statute are obligated
to have Workers Compensation Insurance
and I don't know what doctor told you
but if you have the autoimmune system it
seems to me that it's something that you
had a precondition which was triggered
by something and that's my my that's
just my thinking and that was pretty
much what I said Mr Mayor thank you so
you only do me a favor
utilizing this this
example will you text me we'll sit down
I'd like to find out what you did to get
her the help and let me see if we can
replicate something okay
all right thank you thank you for your
story
now it's my turn though bye
and I know it won't get done but five
minutes for you for me
good afternoon mayor counselors staff in
public my name is Yoli Diaz executive
director of care cancer Aid resource and
education
I am a proponent of health insurance for
all because it allows access to health
care
improved conduct services and treatment
towards patients by providers and for
doctors nurses staff and administration
to be paid
I will begin with my ask so this is the
ask with the goal of Health Equity
create the health care fund contract
with a non-profit organization to create
a program to include staff to operate
and fund the Health Care Program the
purpose is to help donana County tax
pane residents receive needed health
care services for a major Health crisis
who are denied or delayed Health Care
due to being ineligible for standard
Health insurances or Marketplace plans
city of Las Cruces can help its tax pain
residents receive needed Health Care by
both its City Charter and the New Mexico
Constitution the anti-donation Clause
does not prohibit the state counties and
municipalities for making a provision
for the care and maintenance of sick and
Indigent persons and if you ask about
funding and how to create the health
care fund for the health care program
you could use the Telshor fund cannabis
gross receipts tax the general fund any
fund available
or allowable possibly a partnership with
donana County and you can create a task
force for discussion criteria and
implementation
due to time I will not go into the
complicated and multi-dimensional
detailed issues that create the
Injustice segregation and discrimination
I witness and access to health care
the Affordable Care Act enforcement of
New Mexico statutes the donana county
health care assistance program which
include treatment and resources
regardless of immigration status I will
question though why does our state of
New Mexico being the third number three
state in the nation receiving the most
federal funds per resident of eight
thousand six hundred ninety two why do
they not ensure that every New Mexico
resident both the U.S citizen and non-us
citizen are covered non-us citizens
known as the undocumented residents are
included in this resident count
I have witnessed the premature deaths
and I've met the American children left
as orphans because their parent did not
receive the health care they needed when
they needed it
I feel that our government needs to
consider all tax paying residents and
provide resources to all taxpayers
so donana county is on red alert and
there's three reasons why one are
demographics and social determinants of
Health donana county has the second
highest population in the state we have
a high Hispanic population High poverty
low income High uninsured High cancer
deaths High diabetes deaths and no
non-profit hospitals so the second one
is we have three private-for-profit
hospitals for-profit hospitals are owned
either by investors or the shareholders
of a publicly traded company they have
higher charged cost ratios which are
markups and these higher costs make it
difficult for many border region is the
third reason we have a higher rate of
undocumented residents undocumented
residents are not eligible for Medicare
undocumented residents are not eligible
for Medicaid undocumented residents are
not eligible for New Mexico Marketplace
undocumented residents experience
roadblocks to travel to profit hospitals
like UNM Hospital and UNM Cancer Center
where life-saving treatments can be
found there are Border Patrol
checkpoints to the Northwest and East
and 30 of our 33 counties in New Mexico
do not share this problem our border
region creates a higher rate of
inequality it contributes to the
Injustice inequity segregation and
discrimination
and I have been talking about some
issues identified with Memorial Medical
Center the last sea of city of Las
Cruces and donana County MMC is the only
hospital that provides chemotherapy and
radiation treatment for cancer patients
so if you have no health insurance
coverage there's no service Memorial
Medical Centers contracted with two New
Mexico Park Marketplace plans leaving
almost 75 percent of Americans uninsured
they they have no known charity programs
they have high charged cost ratios which
is known as markups price gouging they
inflate estimates then give discounts
and that's all I have to say because I
have five seconds so what I do want to
say is please thank you for
consideration and I look forward to
positive relucts thank you
thank you Julie and as you and I had
this discussion you know we'll take a
look at the
um the County's Indigent fund which
actually taxes City residents as well
because they take 1 8 of our gross
receipts tax and puts it into that
account I believe there's usually five
to six million dollars per year and I
think that and then what they usually do
whatever they distribute it to various
organizations and also to Mr AMR but
then they take it to the state who gets
tripled the dollars but ever since the
Affordable Care Act was put into place
that was meant to provide insurance for
everyone so that would be a big starting
point but we'll have that discussion if
you can text me and we'll now you know
we can but I want to focus a little bit
on on Nayeli is that what's her name so
we can see how we can replicate that and
use that as a building block and move
forward yeah one last comment there was
going to be another patient that was
going to come but her client she had to
take her to El Paso for medical care I
don't know if she made it I'm going to
look back if you don't mind
no she didn't make it back but I do
thank you and I think that if we're
going to think of our community it
starts with our city and county thank
you thank you only
okay I think this concludes our public
participation so thank you everyone for
that portion and now we're going to go
to let's see here I have a
pump okay I need to close meeting
statement
okay Las Cruces City Council made in
closed session at 11 06 a.m June 12 2023
the following members were in attendance
counselors Flores Karan bencomo Graham
Gandara and myself kin miyagishima staff
present we're
Anastasia Stevens outside attorney she
came in at 11 42 a.m via Zoom efopilly
city manager hikani temo payo assistant
city manager Sonia Delgado assistant
city manager Miguel Dominguez Chief Las
Cruces Police Department Cody Rogers
outside attorney she left at 11 41 am
Brad Douglas Deputy City attorney the
meeting adjourned at 1201 pm and for the
record Las Cruces City Council made in
closed session and only discuss those
limited items as stated in the Post-it
notice
first one to discuss Penny litigation
regarding Mark Price versus France
Francis Whitton Thaddeus Allen the city
of Las Cruces doing business as Las
Cruces Police Department number
20-cv-1099 which is closed pursuant to
nmsa 1978 section 10 15 1H number seven
number two to discuss pitting litigation
related to the nmprc case number
22-00093 hyphen UT and potential New
Mexico state supreme court litigation
regarding that nmpr PRC case which is
closed pursuant to nmsa 1970 section 10
15 1H number seven number three to
discuss opinion litigation regarding to
nmprc case numbers
19-00099-u-t and
19-00348 hyphen UT and potential New
Mexico state supreme court litigation
regarding that NM PRC case which is
closed pursuant to nmsc in 1978 section
10 15 1H number seven number four to
discuss Penny litigation related to the
New Mexico Supreme Court case number
s-1-sc 39804 city of Las Cruces and
doniana County versus New Mexico public
regulation Commission
and an mprc case number
21-00064-u-t which is closed persuant to
nmsa in 1978 section 10 15 1H number
seven and last is to discuss payment
litigation reality related to nmprc case
number 23-00046
ut which is closed pursuant to nmsa
1978 section 10 15 1H number seven
and I think I said it I don't know if I
told you but the meeting adjourned at
1201 pm okay
and with that now we're going to go to
accept the agenda as presented so moved
should be made by councilor Florida
second by Council Urban Como to accept
the agenda as presented Teresa
this is on a motion to accept the agenda
as presented counselor beta yes
counselor Graham yes counselor Ben Cuomo
yes counselor Koran yes counselor Flores
yes counselor gandada yes mayor yes
okay with that we're going to go to item
8.1 resolution
23-139 need a motion in a second
move to approve second okay motion made
by councilman Cuomo second by councilor
abeta and Rocio Gamboa will make be
making the presentation
I don't think I know where I'm supposed
to go can you come help me Christy
okay sorry no I found it
blind
hello mayor council members Rocio Gamboa
budget analyst number two or two
I'm bringing a fourth quarter budget
adjustments
these budget adjustments are no don't
have no new programs or policy
initiatives the adjustments are focused
on compliance and Alignment this is a
routine budgetary business and the data
percentage is summarized
please refer to your packet for detailed
information
our first adjustment is for the special
Revenue reimbursement grant for the
police department they're requesting
it's a decrease of 30 000 to the revenue
and a decrease to 31 000 in expenses and
this is to adjust
um
step nmdot Grant and Voca Grant
projections to actuals
nmdot is for this traffic safety funding
and Voca stands for victims of climate
the second adjustment is for transit's
Capital they're decreasing expenses of
32 000 and that's to adjust the transit
facility maintenance facility Grant
projections to actions
Fleet Services funds needs an increase
of 770 000. this increases is
um
the increases for expenses due to
multiple unforeseen issues with the
Hadley field site there have been
multiple tax tank tests fuel management
system repairs and maintenance as well
as soil sampling and Drilling and that's
why they're going to need they're
requesting this 770 increase
this completes uh these are your console
options those are all the adjustments I
have
okay thanks Rocio any questions
about members of the public
okay seeing none Teresa
this is on a motion to approve
resolution 23-0139
counselor beta yes counselor Graham yes
councilor Ben Cuomo yes councilor Koran
yes counselor Flores yes counselor
Gondola yes mayor yes thank you okay
next item 8.2 resolution 23-140
made by counselor beta second by Council
Quran and it looks like it has Susan
Gonzalez making the presentation
foreign
Council Susan Gonzalez grants manager
today we have for your approval
to reauthorized Grants from nmdot
um
they are for legislative Appropriations
that were approved during the 2023
legislative session and MDOT requires
that we accept these by resolution prior
to submitting the grant agreement to the
state
the first one is for median improvements
four hundred and eighteen thousand eight
forty two this is to plan design
construct purchase and install Park
improvements landscaping and drainage
improvements to Street medians in Las
Cruces the time of the expenditure was
extended to FY 2025. this is the third
reauthorization of this project
um and hopefully we get it completed
this time
the second project being reauthorized is
for the airport taxing Lane development
and Rehab the original
appropriation was for 300 000 to plan
design construct and renovate taxi lines
or Lanes excuse me to include
improvements to related infrastructure
and utilities this project was
reauthorized to include utilities the
utility work that needed to be at done
at the airport
previous appropriation did not allow for
that expenditure so this project will
allow that project to be completed
these are your options and if you have
any questions I'd be happy to answer
thank you Susan counselor Flores thank
you Mr Mayor and thank you Ms Gonzalez
for your presentation on page four
um
there's been an appropriation
and the taxi Lane do you what exactly
uh
which taxi Lane is that
is that 422
um I'm I'm not exactly sure which one
let me see if Andy is here
oh good
good afternoon Mr Mayor and counselor
Flores the Andy Hume airport director
this is a this is for the taxiling
extensions that we did in the Southeast
corner to facilitate more Hangar
development at this point in the
previous authorization it did not let us
include utilities and so we're gonna
that's why we went back for the
reauthorization so we'll be able to add
some a sewer line extension in that area
and 422 has been funded
Mr chair Madame Flores or councilor
Flores we are looking at uh
um we're trying to put together a
funding package to get 422 in place we
are working with New Mexico DOT to
hopefully fully fund that you're working
with who the New Mexico DOT oh great
thank you Mr human thank you Ms Gonzalez
thank you Mr mirror
you're welcome
anyone else about members of the public
okay
this is under motion to approve
resolution
23-140 counselor beta yes councilor
Graham yes councilor Ben Como yes
councilor Koran
cancer Flores yes councilor Gandara yes
mayor yes
okay next is item 8.3 resolution 23-141
second okay motion made by counselor
beta second by councilor bin Como and
looks like David Ware from Community
Development will be making the
presentation
good afternoon mayor and city council
the resolution you have before you is a
request to waive Street improvements
based with the subdivision this is a
request that you'll see periodically
when it's areas that were annexed into
the city in the 70s and 80s they
initially started development under
County requirements and at the time the
city requirements were considerably more
so you'll not see this request monthly
but it's something you'll see once or
twice a year
the case itself
is a property that's located off of
Kennedy Road well west of Alice Drive
the property is currently undeveloped
and it's approximately two and a quarter
acres in size the zoning of the property
is REM which is a single family
residential that allows mobile homes to
be placed on it the street in question
Kennedy Road is identified as an
arterial on our thoroughfare plans both
the mpo and city which has a little
larger
uh build out requirement the existing
Kennedy Road is paved but it's only 20
feet in width typically an arterial has
a minimum of about 48 feet in width of
actual pavement so there's quite a
disturbancy there
you'll see on later photographs the
actual width of the right-of-way varies
throughout this segment of the roadway
it goes from 20 feet to 80 feet
the subject property is this this
rectangle in this area this just
reflects the zoning that purple color is
that REM that allows residential
development so it allows both mobile
homes site Built Homes and manufactured
homes and what I talked about the
right-of-way width goes from 20 feet in
this area and this area it juts out to
about 80 here you'll have probably 60
feet and then back down to 20 feet of
right-of-way
this is an aero photograph of the area
it is predominantly built or the homes
that are the property that are used are
residences the one exception is there's
a religious institution on this track
just to the east
um The Proposal is to subdivide that
single lot into two single-family Lots
the intent is to place a home on each
one they are requesting that they uh be
waived the requirement to breathe in
that section in front of their property
approximately 250 feet in front of it up
to the city standards with additional
pavement curb and guttering and
sidewalks
um they said but they are providing 40
feet of right-of-way they're dedicating
that to the city for any future
Improvement so they are contributing to
Future development of that property in
the area
this is the subdivision plan so you can
see the two and a quarter Acres being
split in half this 40 feet by 250 feet
is dedicated right of way that they they
will provide to the city
here are some photographs of the area
this is looking East up towards the
mountains and Elks Drive
this looks to the West which is down
towards I-25 in the valley as you can
see there is a paved service surface
there but none of this roadway has any
curb and guttering or sidewalks to it
and you can also see that the other
developed lots have some of their own
improvements to the parcel these these
fences and and other improvements
they've made to their lawns
um these are the cross sections that the
city builds out for arterial roadways so
you can see in almost every example they
have two lanes in both directions
the improvements depend on whether
there's bicycle facilities or a
multi-use trail provided
um
the review of the request it was sent to
all of the city departments and programs
that deal with development their
comments came back all recommended
denial with the exception of utilities
um
before this was heard by the Plain and
sewing commission notice was sent out to
adjacent Property Owners there were no
protests to the subdivision or the
waiver they just wanted to know what was
being proposed on the property
this case Was Heard by the plant and
sewing commission that their August 23rd
meeting the Council made a motion excuse
me the commission made a motion to
approve the waiver but it was ultimately
denied by a 2-4 vote some of their
reasonings were based on the code
requirements of both the subdivision
code and the design standards it
basically requires that any public
improvements that are deemed necessary
percent standards be provided by the
developer
um it also requires that they'd be from
dedicated improvements improved streets
and again that they're when they're
adjacent to a larger street that they're
responsible for half of the improvements
um associated with the subdivision
the commission also stated one of the
reasons for dying of the wave denial of
the waiver was that the criteria they
had to consider that they were unable to
substantiate that there was a hardship
due to the topography the conditions of
development in the area
um
and they also noted that because it is a
smaller Road and there wasn't any City
projects on the books to improve it this
would have additional impacts to that
street
so today the council has the opportunity
to uphold the finding of the plain
zoning commission or to Grant the waiver
and not require any improvements on this
distractive land
the property owners
Representatives here moist surveying
Anton
[Music]
um
meganus is here if you have any
questions about the request
thanks Dave can you do me a favor can
you put the picture back up that shows
the current condition of the road please
okay thanks
councilor Koran
thank you I think this is my district or
very close to District One and in the
future it will be in district one but I
I've been to this area including some
adjacent streets you know we have some
we have had ongoing conversations and
I'm hoping you can just clarify a few
historical things related to this area
and then also
kind of future planning um one this is
all part of recently relatively recently
annexed uh former County property
correct
um Madam chair I would it probably has
been in the city since at least the mid
90s but the development probably did
start under County rules and regulations
so in a different time I would say just
to give it some context and then the
other part I wanted to ask about I know
that there are some mixed Utilities in
this area like
um
uh different water purveyors and sewer
purveyors and and so I'm curious if you
can give a little picture of what that
looks like and I know that this road and
the area around it I know that a lot of
residents who live here would like to
see significant improvements but I don't
know that any of these are on any
particular priority lists at this time
not to say that they couldn't be in the
future but this would probably include
include major utility infrastructure
overhaul if we did focus on this road
correct mayor councilor current you are
correct that's one of those areas where
the city Moongate Water and Donata
Mutual all provide water service often
these areas do not have sanitary sewer
it would be uh
septic tanks that would be used so if
there were a major project or a major
road connection it would be an opportune
time to look at either removing the
septics and extending the utilities to
that area
and then they said all those those
properties are built out without having
or some of them have been built out
without the requirement of Meeting those
Road standards requirements
this does not make it any less less
complicated frankly
but it does provide a little bit of
clarity thank you to to the context and
um
so just to just as one final
clarification a yes upholds the a yes is
a denial
mayor and Council cran you're correct a
yes vote would be upholding the denial
of the plan and Zoning commission while
we went let me look at that
[Laughter]
I like to be correct but I I think I
might be wrong in this case actually I
apologize
Okay so
a yes vote would approve the waiver a no
vote would deny it
um the the plane zoning commission
recommendation was that you deny the
waiver but the resolution has been
written for you to approve it so yes
vote approves the waiver a no vote
denies the waiver
no I I mean I got it it's it's no again
it's still really complicated but at
least I understand what a vote means
um
awesome and and I guess what I would say
is generally everyone wants their roads
to be nice and fancy with sidewalks and
curbs and gutters and I know that this
is true in adjacent areas to this to
this area of residents there similarly
everyone wants more opportunities for
people to live and exist in our world
and this is a subdivision to allow for
more housing to exist in the space so
I'm just explaining my conflicted
feelings about this and also the bigger
situational factors that might go into
it
and thank you for the clarification I I
know at least what each vote means and
thanks David
before I turn to Mayor Pro temment and
counselor Ben Cuomo and then counselor
Flores Dave did you say they were going
to build two units
and were were they going to live in one
of them or were there were these for
non-owner occupied
I'm mayor of the
the subdivision would be for two units I
do not know what the intent is if it's a
family subdivision or if there's an
intent I believe one home has already
been placed on the property but maybe Mr
magianis could
could help
Mr Mayor counselors my name is Anton
magayanis and I am with my surveying
representing the client who the owner of
the property there's actually they're
close friends and they're they both have
vested interest in the property and so
they're wanting to subdivide the
property and at this time one of them is
looking to live on the on the on within
one of the lots I'm not sure which one I
imagine but
a couple of things if I may in addition
to that this subdivision was built in
1911. so Elephant Butte land and Trust
subdivision a through all of the letters
they're such a headache to survey
because they don't look like they used
to anymore 1911 is when that subdivision
plot was filed and so back in the day
they had 16-foot platted roads so it's
probably close to a 16-foot Planet Road
was back in the day
um
I think it's really interesting to point
out the the votes of confidence for the
approval of the waiver that pnz also
mentioned and those two votes came from
the fact that
connectivity matters right thorough
Affairs and future thorough Affairs
matter but to gain angler which is the
on the east side of Elk Grove is where
we have our fully built out angler and
to connect that to where this road would
have to go to which is Armstrong Road
we're looking at some intense probably
eminent domain for sure
um there's some city property I think
already that exists and so when we think
about it's really interesting because if
you've driven to this area as you're
approaching the End of the Street huge
no trespassing signs no trespassing do
not enter and I've never talked with the
residents I'm sure they're lovely
residents but I have to imagine they
also don't really fare well I could have
called them to come here and they would
have been like don't make my road 120
foot wide
so I agree 100 with counselor Quran that
people do want these paved roads I don't
think these residents might know that
their Road would change from 20 feet to
120 feet and I think that's going to
really make a huge difference so much so
that I would also argue we do have
extreme physical hardship because you
couldn't build that road today without
probably
creating setback violations with some of
the structures that already exist and
then potentially having property lens
after that dedication would have to
happen run extremely close or into
existing dwellings that already exist
right at that intersection
so I again I think the the future
thoroughfare plan this already is an
existing thoroughfare plan Planned a
road with a 120 foot width but as we go
to the end of the road is where it's for
proposed arterial and again I'm all for
that I think it's it's a it makes sense
I love to see this road completed I'm 37
years old I don't know if I'll see it in
my lifetime just because there's some
huge culverts and a lot of challenges
that I think civilly a civil engineer is
going to have to manage
um
the other the other point that I think
is extremely important to make is that
that they are just looking to split this
into two properties and they're willing
to give the dedication as they need to
there's not any concern with giving that
education luckily the land is vacant so
we're not creating any setback issues or
any concerns with giving such a large
dedication
but the other thing to consider is what
we're asking for is just a waiver for
100 of the improvements because
it just doesn't seem justifiable we know
that I'm going to go back to those cross
sections that won't be built with this
project or half of that right so we have
120 foot right away
they would be responsible for completion
of half of that right away but we know
physically it doesn't make sense to
build that out in the field right now so
more than likely a payment in lieu of
construction would be requested
my gripe and my biggest complaint in
gripe that I've had from the beginning
of this and other projects like this
is the payment that goes into this fund
is not going to be necessarily used for
this project
and I have a hard time with that and I
think it's extremely inequitable for our
cons our constituents to have to give x
amount of dollars for a payment in lieu
of a project that doesn't necessarily go
to the Improvement of the road which on
the other side of things I understand a
whole lot of forty fifty thousand dollar
accounts doesn't do much want to count
what the sum of that does a lot but how
do we justify that to the constituents
and that's where we're saying what we're
requesting is just the 100 waiver of
those Road improvements
I had to answer any questions if anybody
has any okay well I have a few we
appreciate that sure I have a few
council members that have a few
questions thank you but if you want to
stay nearby that'd be great so we have
mayor Pro tem and then councilman Como
counselor Flores thank you mayor thank
you I appreciate
know I read the packet the notes pnz and
then
there was additional notes now I think
were they from MPL
I there was so much confusion in those
notes of process
um that I had to go back and read it
twice and I'm still very unclear there
are conflict between staff there was
um
well
discussion that was had that was stopped
I mean there was half complete senses
uncomplete senses which made me feel
like not everybody was being given the
opportunity to really have you know the
discussion back and forth Mr magandas
was there I think trying to explain some
of this some of this stuff so it was
very confusing and if I'm confused and I
don't even do Planning and Zoning I
would assume that constituents and
others as they read this will be very
confused I'm concerned about drainage I
think Kathy Matthews had some really
good points about drainage and what to
do
around you know infrastructure
infrastructure is not there obviously
um and and I'm a bit concerned just how
the you know the the process by which
everything was outlined so David help me
understand
you know
what you're asking for here specifically
and is it accurate Mr Maggiano's
indicated that this money goes into this
fund but not necessarily used specific
for this project
mayor and mayor Pro Tem
basically the
the simplest
um thing that will happen is there's
currently
one lot there now
and if they wanted to come in for a
building permit the city would issue
that there would be no additional
right-of-way
dedicated to the city there would be no
improvements required
when they decided to split it into a
second lot it triggered these
improvements in the way our ordinances
are written they either have to build
their portion so they they build half of
that right-of-way that's 20 feet so just
for simple reason
well in my mind I don't know if it's
simple but
um that's because you do it all the time
and you see this every day I don't so
our arterial usually has
um two traffic Lanes in each Direction
so if that were the standard that would
be um 24 feet of pavement with what they
would be required since there's a
20-foot of pavement out there we can
subtract
10 feet so that requires roughly another
34 feet 32 feet
would they would be responsible to pave
and put a
um
carbon gutter in
so what we often hear as a city
is that you're just going to put out
additional Pavement in front of the
property you have curb and gutter here
and potentially on this side of the
street and so on either side of it you
don't have those improvements taking
place
um
back to the plat
they are providing the property and so
there's less property they can use that
property does have value if the city
will ever come back at a later date to
develop this they will have to probably
purchase property from folks on either
side in case unless they don't subdivide
so the city would have to make that
payment there
agreeing that they're increasing the
number of homes by one so there is going
to be more traffic on this street but
they are also providing for future
improvements
the development codes do allow what's
called payment and lieu and so what
would be done is the city would estimate
what half of those improvements for that
area would be I contacted the public
works department this morning and they
said a an additional 20 feet of pavement
the curb and gutter sidewalks Etc would
run in the neighborhood of thirty five
thousand dollars so if if the subdivider
wanted to pay that we wouldn't have this
waiver
for you today but but you have that that
coming forward
um
David so the curb and gutter that you're
asking them to do plus I guess 30 some
30 something odd feet of pavement
is for both sides yes even the side just
that one side they're just responsible
for half of those improvements and so
it's just half
their half to make that a whole street
and and that's always been the conflict
with Council whenever you hear one of
these and been the difficult part
for staff to estimate what is an
appropriate means to do that
um
and I'll I'll stop there thank you thank
you David
um what about any drainage issues I mean
even you can tell right where the water
is running off and such
so from a drainage standpoint when they
actually come into the building permit
to locate the home they have to retain
any additional storm water that they
create and so in theory it doesn't
impact this roadway at all the house is
an area that water won't be absorbed but
they'll have to grade the lot so it goes
to a ponding area and in theory it all
stays on the on the parcel of land
okay thing I think those are all my
questions at this point thank you
thank you councilor becomo Flores and
then Graham thanks mayor thanks David
and Mr mayallenes I'm wondering David
I'm sort of on Google
it's growing through the
um Street here and I'm seeing that the
only portion of Kennedy Road that has
any infrastructure like sidewalks is
there a gutter let me turn my camera no
I I believe the only area that there is
as it as you leave else drive and turn
into the subdivision once you get past
that entry point it's just a paved Road
it's just a 20-foot pavement and um
by looking at it it's probably not this
well I'm almost certain it's not as
today's standards right what we require
oh even what is there
interesting so the rest of Kennedy Road
which I asked Council corn if it was a
dead end and she's at ish so
um the rest of the road has no
infrastructure at no point
um
I drove out this morning and from else
drive to roughly this point or where you
start seeing the signs private property
do not enter has that 20-foot
paved Lane
but that's it no sidewalks no curbs
in the Beckett it talks about
there have been other subdivisions
division area that have been granted
Road waivers and have not had to provide
the necessary infrastructure I did see I
think maybe it was the church facility
you were talking about looks fairly new
I don't know when this particular image
was oh 2022. so I'm curious as which one
which was the most recent
development that was done there and like
as as long as
how long ago did we give another waiver
is what my gibberish is trying to ask
you mayor and counselor becomo I don't
think my answer is going to help you a
lot my understanding is that this parcel
dedicated the property and was granted
the waiver that's directly in north of
the problem
my understanding is this parcel paid the
fee in lieu of
um and granted the right of way so
everybody that's subdivided has granted
right away to the city now it may be
vice versa these people may have been or
this property owner may have been
granted the waiver and this one paid the
fee in lieu I'm not sure but um I think
it shows you the difficulty of dealing
with these situations is they've been
treated on a case-by-case basis and um
and what the feeling is I think the
long-term solution
um and and this is uh
is that eventually if it's deemed that
angler Road needs to be extended all the
way down to the valley that there will
have to be a
it will have to be put onto
the city's plans it would also need to
probably see grants it probably would
need to be combined with your removal of
of septic tanks from the area and try to
to get all the funding that takes place
and then you'll have the tough decisions
of
should these people be responsible for
paying some of that back or is it
something that that improves the entire
city and is worth building so
I'm looking at the property right to the
north of the property in question
I mean I don't know that I would
consider that a sidewalk if I'm being
totally honest
um I'm sorry I don't know if I would con
I don't know if I would consider that a
sidewalk if I'm totally honest
um I don't believe one's constructed
there okay it's just that maybe some
fences that people put around their
yards and I believe that they are right
up to these varying right-of-ways also I
think you can see that in
um so people have improved their
property
and you'll you'll you'll see them
the fences on both sides of them and
then
yes like I said David you don't know
then there seems to I think this it
looks like a commercial building I can't
really tell what it is
uh maybe 1199 Kennedy Road it looks
pretty new and like they built a
driveway but no road infrastructure
that's huge is this the just distract
this yeah it's right next door this is a
church of some kind and I believe that
Mr maguana spoke about some of these
lots have been there a large period of
time and these right-of-ways since it is
a legal lot in a subdivision the
treatment by the city is to allow that
building permit to take place
okay so I'm do you don't know then if
this specific property I'm assuming they
also got a waiver
I don't think so I think it um they own
the lot outright and they they weren't
subdividing so they were loud I see the
permit
um some of the Elephant Butte
subdivisions don't even have the 20 feet
of pavement they're just they're just
dirt just again to provide context okay
well this this is pretty difficult
decision I feel like you know as
councils we sort of inherit the
decisions of previous councils as the
councils ahead of us will inherit our
decisions
um I just you know I as I'm looking at
it I you know I find it hard to
to see this one piece of property
improved when the rest has not yet been
so you know I hope in the future we do
see Road improvements to this community
and
um
but I know that sounds like it might be
kind of far away so they're a problem
I'm just kidding I'm totally just
kidding thank you David
thank you counselor Flores councilor
Graham thank you Mr Mayor and thank you
Mr Weir for your presentation
um so there's a lot of ifs and maybes in
improving if we were to vote no on
on it and make this happen and the
nightmare that comes to my mind is with
all due respect to residents of Hacienda
acres is Hacienda Acres
and so the question and the question
is does a city have any kind of a
plan
whereby we don't take everything on a
fly-by-night type of you know one by one
thing
case so
for example
if we were to vote no on this
the the property owners would be able to
do whatever everything that you said and
then there's going to be a sidewalk on
one side but not on the other and I was
just wondering
um because Hacienda Acres was acquired
from the county in 1986 and that was
what like 36 37 years ago I don't know
but um very little has been accomplished
there and the septic tanks
they're in the process of being replaced
I believe I don't think that project is
has yet been completed but it was after
a long many years of trying to get that
done
so I so David Mr Weir
um is there a plan and I'm not saying it
has to look like Disneyland or anything
but is there any kind of plan that you
would have that is that regulates
you know the that you know like uh
I remember when we were talking about
the uh desert uh you know that other
business on the corner of to tell Brook
and University
um
and we you know we're asking about the
septic tank there and there's problems
with extensions and all that but coming
back to this it just seems that there's
no real plan as to what the city should
look like and be like
I think it's I mean I I really encourage
everybody to take a cruise uh to just
Cruise a city and look at the
possibilities and it seems to me that we
should have a plan that every
prospective buyer
should be aware of and has to comply
with is that possible is that with it
would that be any way uh you know I'm
trying to think of people that already
own land but prospective purchases of
land
is there any plan like that or is it
just something that whatever homeowner
or property owner wants to do they they
come to the pnz
and then if they don't get what they
want they come to city council and then
we sit here scratching our heads
but my my question Mr Weir is is there
any city planning anything that you know
you want uniform streets it looks like
that only happens when there's a new
development you know like in the East
Mesa
that's my question
not the East Mesa part the part about
having a overall plan on
undeveloped Lots
mayor and Council Flores
in a city-wide sense yes there's a
couple things the Elevate Las Cruces has
a major thoroughfare plan of the city
and it has all of your policies for the
development of new streets as long and
also the maintenance and reconstruction
of other streets the other component of
that is any right-of-way that's
dedicated by the city it's on the city
maintenance program so the city does go
out and prioritize improvements over
time
um
the
longer term question of that is
many of these areas that have legally
dedicated and accepted right-of-ways to
the city are below today's standards and
so when requests like this come in
there's a desire that all the codes are
written to bring us back to bring us to
conformance of what our standards are so
the only relief that
that is allowed to them
is this waiver request as it goes
forward right now
um
hmm
there have been areas in the the East
Mesa that have used block grant monies
and have built roads and the city has
sometimes built them in less
right-of-way and the cross sections have
been less than what what you saw for
this particular area if somebody were to
come in and and subdivide off those you
wouldn't see this request because that
was used with City funds there was an
approval by city council it would have
been deemed to be a a city street that
that that's used so
um
and I I'm aware of elevated Las Cruces
and all that sort of stuff I mean but to
me it's almost like a like a a dream a
beautiful plan that can't be implemented
because of this that and the other so
um can you in any way
look at the plan and then look at what
every I mean it just seems like it's a
patchwork and it seems to me if we are
going to follow uh Elevate Las Cruces we
would have a plan an overall plan for
the entire city of the do's and don'ts
and then put prospective buyers and even
existing Property Owners on notice and
then we all we also want to get away
from septic tanks so what's you know we
still have I mean we're living in the
Dark Ages here
are there any ordinances that can go not
ordinances but any just the plan so that
you know buyer beware this is what you
know this is what you are buying this is
what the city requires doesn't the city
have that autonomy or that I would or I
would say yes we do and that's our
subdivision and design standards I think
the end of what you're saying is you're
saying the city's policy is if it's
below standard we don't want you to
subdivide the property the city's never
taken that stance they've always said Mr
we're I'm not I'm not saying that I'm
just saying if that's what what I said
means to you
they did I I'm just saying it just it
just doesn't make sense that there's
just so much Patchwork going on and then
so we're going to have a sidewalk on one
side and then and then there's going to
be and then the road isn't going to be
touched because it'll just stay like
that right and then
uh
and then we want to put bike Lanes in
there that's gonna
you know nothing is really planned and
there seems to be no real plan in terms
of the entire city and so we are
constantly going to be hearing from
appeals this is an appeal from the pnz
on behalf of the city right no this is
the property owner asking to be oh the
property owner oh that's why Mr
magallanes yeah
the way these if I can jump in real
quick Dave so if I may Council Flores
let me just share something with you so
I don't think you I think you were out
of town when I had my state of the city
and I kind of did a recap of how how it
wasn't 07. the reason why we the city
implemented this is because at that time
your District my district at that time
was just on fire they were building so
much and so there was different plot
owners and there and this was the most
Equitable way of saying hey you're going
to pay for half of this side because
they knew the other owner would have to
pay the other and then that's how we
could build it
and so this has never been removed
that's why they're asking for a waiver
because this was really done form for
District Six because it was just
actually there was the one developer who
actually did do half of the median he
did half of everything and it looked it
didn't look very good half of the median
was rocked and the other was dirt
because and yeah and so but if I may
no you're right it was annexed in 1986
and if I could go back in time now I was
not on the council at the time I wasn't
even on the commission but when the
residents became City residents their
insurance rates dropped by about 500 a
year what could have been done was
because it affected about 7 500
residents it's about 3.7 million dollars
what they could have done instead of
seeing that huge I mean that was a nice
remate for them or a reduction in their
in their overall costs but that could
have been used to help Bond roads for
that whole area back then you could have
done the whole you could have probably
done that East Mesa for 30 to 40 million
dollars for those a lot of those
arterials back in yeah back in the 80s
mid 80s well I'm just saying if that was
the plan but that's that's going back so
I I guess what I'm trying to say is the
reason why this was implemented was a
lot of it was because those developers
were just it was just I mean there was
subdivisions like you wouldn't believe
just going here here all over and this
was a way of making each landowner
responsible for their portion that was
why this was implemented
so let's move forward to 2023 and the
realize Las Cruces
my question remains can't we have
some sort of overall plan
that wouldn't create these problems or
somehow are they Grandpa are they
grandfathered into what existed at the
time
and so you know what's what's the point
of having Elevate Las Cruces the
comprehensive plan
can I jump in there again
so I hear what you're saying but keep in
mind we honestly we should be thanking
the the landowners because most of the
times they're wanting to build in the
newer part of the city
think about how many times the city has
tried to come up with infill lots so
infill as incentives for them to to try
to build inside the city and they won't
they're in fact I've heard some of my
our colleagues say why do you why can't
you build here in in the older core of
the city well they don't want to but
this as you heard Mr magayana say it was
1911. that was a long time ago so I mean
for them to want to build at that in
that area well I'll just give you my
list if I may I'm supporting this let me
tell you why because in in 1995 when I
was a county commissioner I still
remember when they put angler Road as
the That was supposed to connect to
Interstate 25 and it hasn't yet it's a
long time okay it's in Phil lot we'll
put it on the tax rolls
it'll help control dust it'll provide
some sense of affordable housing
be able to utilize the utilities that
are there and just like years ago we
used to have the park fees that's I
think what what the gentleman was saying
we used to have these Park fees and you
put it in there and then there was no
Park we were built and the city had this
money and then we had it so we had to
just give it back we had to put it in
some other way to spend it and so it's
just it's not very Equitable but this is
what we have here today that's why I
said I'm going to be supporting it
well Mr Mayor it seems to me though that
there's only one home that's going to be
added to this to these changes right
because it's a mobile home there one and
then another one would go up and that's
it so yes and then we don't know if it's
affordable and to whom anyway I mean
mayor and Council Flores maybe I can uh
frame this a little bit all of the
planning and Land Development codes come
down to health safety and public welfare
so I think that I think what the mayor
was saying was getting to the gist of it
well one additional lot overtax that
road will it create a drainage problem
will cause a public safety problem
our police and fire unable to respond to
that area
I think that may give you a lens to look
at this and view if you feel that it
would not create that issue then I think
you you could vote Yes for the the
waiver if you think it burdens and
creates a safety issue for somebody
then the vote no would support that
position so just a way to well actually
it's the other way around if you vote
Yes
um you're supporting the waiver and if
you vote no you're not so it would just
leave the status quo as is right you're
not creating by putting another house
there you're not creating additional
demand for public service
hey we have councilor Graham
thank you mayor
um
sorry I'm going to ask for
re-clarification on these votes a yes
vote means the property owners can
subdivide and do not have to do anything
to the road a no vote means that if they
subdivide they would have to do stuff to
the road
mayor and Council Grant correct okay
great
so
um
I was you know doing the reading and
actually the way the way I was thinking
mayor just kind of clarified
for me
um and I recognize that I'm using a
layperson's vocabulary and David please
jump in and correct me at any time so
I'm thinking about this when we're
talking about subdivisions what I
picture in my mind is somebody coming in
and building
50 houses and you know it's I think of
it as like a subdivision and the way
mayor was talking that's kind of where
my mind was going to so I recognize the
spirit of this ordinance meaning that a
big Builder can't come in
put up a ton of houses make a big profit
and then be like haha I'm not going to
do anything for infrastructure this kind
of subdivision we're talking about
dividing a lot
you know it's to me it's a it's a very
different proposition
um and again and I I know that you can
get really dangerous when you do like
letter of the law Spirit of the law
stuff but to me this is not the kind of
situation that we were trying to protect
the city against so as long as I've not
totally butchered the ideas of
subdivisions
what if I am tell me no mayor and and
Council Graham from an ordinance
standpoint of subdivisions any split of
land but there definitely is a a scale
issue between
100 Lots being created and and two
okay great yeah that that solidifies it
for me and and the vote too so thank you
I think I get it
thank you mayor thank you
is there any comments from the public
okay see none Christine
did you need the clarification on the
yes or no
okay yes means to approve no okay
motion to approve resolution
23-141 counselor beta yes
Council Graham yes to approve the waiver
that they can subdivide and no no Road
improvements have to be made then yes
sir Ben Como yes
councilor Koran yes counselor Flores yes
councilor gandetta yes mayor yes
okay next is uh item 8.4 Council Bill
23-033 ordinance number 3039 move to
approve second Graham motion made by
councilor beta second by Council Graham
and Chris Faber will be discussing
good afternoon everybody
good afternoon
hope hopefully this one will be a lot
easier
foreign
good afternoon everyone Chris Faber with
economic development for the record
today we're going to be talking about
some additions to our local economic
development plan the our leader plan
and we've also invited Senator Kerry
Hamlin here to discuss because one of
these new additions involves one of her
projects
so real quick Local Economic Development
act or Lita
is must be adopted via ordinance and so
what we're doing today is we're we're
amending it to include a couple
different classifications one of them is
going to be an option for retail leader
and the other one is going to be an
option for catastrophic leader funds
under our existing plan we have two
models and again these are not changing
we're just adding to them so under the
first model is the preferred model and
this model is used when we are giving
lead of funds to projects that fall
within our key Industries and have jobs
with above average salaries
the basic model is for other projects
that the city supports that may not fit
into the key Industries category or with
respect to the the jobs the salaries
so what we are looking to include
um is a local model and a catastrophic
model
so there were changes made to the Lita
statute at the state level that allows
municipalities to engage in retail data
or local leader projects independent of
funding from the state so that's what
the local model will do it will give the
city the ability to work on smaller
scale retail leader projects that does
not include participation from the state
catastrophic model
will be funded through Junior bill money
that Senator Hamlin acquired for the
purposes of creating a fund to assist
local businesses who may have some sort
of a catastrophic situation at their
business that without this funding would
mean that they may go out of business
permanently or for a very long period of
time
so brief overview of what the local
model requirements are
businesses with the capital investment
of at least 250 thousand dollars
and what this does is it allows the city
to
include retail into our our leader
projects like I said before this does
give us a little bit more flexibility to
look at things and benchmarks that go
beyond just specifically job creation
and again as I said this does not
include funding from the state this is
only a local leader funding
and it will be treated the same way as
the current leaders are where they were
all be approved via an ordinance
under the catastrophic model I've
provided just kind of a brief definition
of what catastrophic looks like for this
program but basically that's an incident
in a sudden and devastating event that
can cause significant harm or damage to
a business whether it be a natural
disaster man-made event active terrorism
technological failure something along
those lines that would cause significant
disruption or potential shutdown to that
business
so the process for this particular
model it will be funded with a hundred
and fifty thousand dollars in junior
bill money secured by Senator Hamlin
it must be used by the end of the fiscal
year 24. we're hoping that this could
potentially be a Statewide pilot program
so there's you know a lot of success
we're hoping for this project
intended to assist businesses who have
experienced a significant loss
and we're looking to do a ward somewhere
between five and ten thousand dollars
and once we receive the applications
they will be reviewed by staff and
economic development and Senator Hamlin
as well
the leader ordinance for the entire 150
000 will be coming before you on July
3rd and if approved those funds will be
available by mid-july
and then we will be doing separate CLC
agreements known as a PPA for each
recipient there will be known under this
particular model there will be no need
to do a separate ordinance we will do
that via the agreement
and because the nature of the funding
staff will expedite the process through
the city to get funds to the business as
quickly as possible and on the back end
we'll be working with Senator Hamlin's
office and the recipients on post award
funding evaluations
so I will stand for questions but I will
also invite Senator Hamlin down to talk
a little bit further about her project
and then you can certainly ask her or
myself any questions
thanks Chris if we could withhold
Commerce until Senator Hamlin finishes
and then we'll go from there
thank you Mr Mayor and thank you Council
and thank you Chris and the economic
development department for this I do
want to give a little bit of background
excuse me Senator yes my name is Carrie
Hamblin I'm here in multiple capacities
actually
um because we're talking about this I'm
here using my state senator cap but also
understanding the impact for our small
businesses also wearing my cap from the
Las Cruces green Chamber of Commerce my
colleague Debbie Moore with the greater
Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce had to
leave but she gave us permission to
express her support of this and I do
want to give you just a little bit of
history on this
um you know this the the reason for the
fund I was thinking about this is that
you know many years ago when I first
started with the Las Cruces green
Chamber of Commerce the Mountain View
Market co-op had their freezer go out
their their produce case
and this was something that was really
detrimental to this business most
recently a local Brewery had a fire in
their kitchen and they've been shut down
for several months
and we know that our small businesses
have challenges in terms of getting
access to really quick turnaround money
when it comes down to needing help now
mind you this isn't a handout this is
something that the economic development
department has procedures in place for
but I want to give you a little
background kind of where it started was
when this last legislative session
talking with the secretary of the
education of the economic development
department Alicia Keys and the deputy
secretary John Clark and said we need to
have a way to have quick turnaround
money that will help our small
businesses
how can we do that
and I texted Elizabeth Teeters and I had
texted and talked with Debbie Moore and
I said we need to find ways to do that
and uh Elizabeth Teeters was on it
actually really quickly with John Clark
to find out that we could actually do
this under Lita funds without violating
the state's anti-donation clause
and there are specifics that they know
way more than I do about when it comes
down to Lita funding but after having
this conversation and after Elizabeth
Teeters having the conversation with
John Clark and talking about this with
uh secretary Keys we were able to find
out that if I could go ahead and
designate 150 000 of Junior money
as a test program for this
you know we're often those of us in
Southern New Mexico get a little tired
and a little crabby when we hear people
in the upper part of the state say that
they know what they're doing and that
they do it better and that they can help
southern New Mexico I have a tendency of
correcting people's narrative when they
do that in my capacity as state senator
and I think in Southern New Mexico we
are doing incredible things and we are
Innovative we are creative we are also
adaptive we understand what our
community needs
and so when Elizabeth Peters talked to
John Clark and found out that we could
do this through Lita funding which was a
really quick mind you because when when
the bill drops for junior money we
literally have three days to designate
that to projects
and so there was a lot of hustle on
behalf of the economic development
department
and I'm really grateful that we can
actually do this because what I see
we're hearing from the executive at the
state is ways to try and help our small
businesses more
because I can tell you that some of the
programs that the state Economic
Development Department and we even have
this conversation with the economic
development department here a lot of our
small businesses don't know what
programs are available to them or
the bureaucracy seems and it makes it
Out Of Reach for them
whereas this program
serving as a pilot program that I would
like to bring to the governor to be
something that would be done something
throughout the state I feel that Las
Cruces can be leading that example by
providing quick turnaround assistance to
our small businesses when they have a
catastrophe
and so with this
um I do see it as an example for the
rest of the state I am grateful for the
Partnerships with the economic
development department uh with my
colleague Debbie Moore at the greater
Las Cruces chamber and I hope that you
will also support this idea because and
I do want to make sure that when we talk
about Senator hamblin's office it's
actually the green chamber because I
want to make sure that that I that my
decision making or whatever is not going
to impact that there are criteria that
Elizabeth and her Department have come
up with that makes that very nonpartisan
but also as the green chamber that's
where I get to come in as nonpartisan so
I do want to make sure that that's
clarifying I would love to continue
giving money to this and I think it
would be great if the city designated
some money for this if we down the line
as as councilor Ben Cuomo talked about
councils in the future having to to deal
with the decisions that are made today
but I hope that this is a thoughtful
decision I do feel very positive about
this being a good experience and a good
program and a good model for the rest of
the state and so I can tell you this
money's waiting come July 1st it's going
to be here so let's let's use it let's
see how we can do this five to ten
thousand dollars may not be a huge
amount to some but I'm thinking of our
local Brewery that could have paid their
their deductible
and help them get on their way so it's
some small Essence and I know that
Elizabeth Teeters and Chris can also
talk about if you have any specifics but
at this point I finished because I don't
want to keep holding on the floor
because I also have to go and get my oil
changed because I have to go to Santa Fe
tomorrow thank you Mr Mayor thank you
Council
thank you Senator I appreciate it
appreciate all you do and all the hard
work you do for us here in Las Cruces
donana County
okay councilor Koran
um I just have a a couple I I appreciate
you all putting sort of your stamp on
this I think I wins a little at the
expression of catastrophic because
sometimes we hear about things that are
not actually catastrophic
in community and I think that that it's
important to emphasize that there are
sort of guidelines that you all have
developed to help think about what that
looks like but I do have a question
about the local
um benchmarks other than other than
employment uh what what other kinds of
benchmarks does will it include and are
these things that we're already
measuring
um is this something that we should
include potentially in other lead up
conversations
um just cure out of curiosity thank you
sure Mr Mayor
councilor cran it's so under the state
lead of Statute it does say in-kind
service jobs expansion of tax-based
property or other things of service of
value for the expansion of the economy
so those are written into the statute
and can be used to factor into
decisions related to lead to funding
only on the local level so well I mean
the state uses the jobs criteria in
capital investment specifically for
theirs but when it when it's something
related to just Municipal funds we do
have a little bit more flexibility there
so that's where we work with the formula
that we create internally and kind of
figure out what the best you know match
is for that business and the best
partnership and then we develop those
benchmarks accordingly with with the
business and with our department to make
sure that they're attainable and you
know at the end of the day they're
providing a service back to the
community for those funds
thank you that's super helpful that that
context
um
so this is kind of missing I guess is
what you're getting at from the existing
leader
Mr Mayor councilor cran yes the current
our current leader plan does not include
these and so we are going to include
this both the catastrophic and the local
model which the state now allows under
changes to the state lead a statute for
the local retail
lead options that's great thank you
those are all the questions but I do
just want to say also thank you for on
the other side of this thinking about
this local business thing in in your
distribution of the tid funds for local
businesses as well so thank you for
putting this forward and thinking of
other state level funding so thank you
Senator Hanlon and thanks Chris
counselor Flores councilman Como thank
you mayor and thank you Chris and thank
you Carrie for expanding on this the
Junior money will expire at the end of
fiscal year 24. is that correct what
happens if there's a balance
let's just hope there isn't a lot of
catastrophe in the city of Las Cruces Mr
Mayor counselor Flores I believe it
reverts back to the state it reverts
back to the state and um and then it the
the city will be measuring the economic
development department will be measuring
um
the
points of success or whatever and then
will it go back to the house or the The
Roundhouse
uh as a bill to make this a permanent
funding or what
what happens then if I may Mr Marion
Council
um what we've already talked about the
data points that we want to make sure
that we collect in this in terms of the
money that goes out what what assistance
it's used for so on and so forth I want
to bring that back and and pitch that to
the executive to try and have a bill
come up either in this next session or
the following session because we do at
the state level see a have a forecast of
about seven to eight more years of being
flush with money but then after that no
it's going to drop and so I would like
this to become a budget item that uh the
governor uh the governor's office and
the state
Implement throughout this throughout the
country throughout the state sorry I've
been talking a lot today so it's
something that we would bring forward
and we would see if it would come into a
bill or if the governor would make it as
an executive order
and if it's either a bill that passes or
an executive order it institutionalizes
the funding for okay great I want to
thank you senator for being here today
and for being at our Economic
Development uh policy Review Committee
where where this was presented to
councilor beta mayor Pro tem and myself
and and thank you Chris for your work on
this as well thank you
councilman Cuomo thanks mayor thank you
Chris and Senator Hamill and I do agree
with you that we are Innovative and you
know this to not be confused with the
other recent program that Economic
Development came up with to support
businesses who had property damage or
graffiti so you know thank you very much
for for these programs I do actually
have a question that you mentioned the
brewery that happens to be in my
district that honestly I haven't even
heard updates since March which is just
sad because it's a very beloved place
um if this would be retroactive at all
or are we saying as of July 1st If you
experience some sort of catastrophic
event
is or or is there an ability to be
retracted unfortunately Mr Mayor and
Council it starts on July 1st because
that's when the money is available so
right
um you know but I I use that I mean it
was just unfortunately it was a perfect
storm and timing uh to kind of spark
that conversation and like what can we
do and and I do want to commend the
economic development department and also
the state Economic Development
Department because they were all like oh
my gosh we need to be doing this and
they were grateful
um you know with when Liz talked to John
Clark they were grateful that we were
willing to go ahead and try and
figure this out yeah and try and make it
work
that is unfortunate but also you know I
think
a little silver lining to have come out
of that so I appreciate it and then I
just I want to get on my soapbox a
little bit because you mentioned a
handout I really dislike that we've made
handout a bad thing because literally
it's like oh you're in need let me give
you my hand out to help you so it's not
a bad thing
thank you
extending
Neighbors
okay any other questions
about members of the public
I can't see none Christine
this is under motion to approve
ordinance 3039 counselor beta yes
councilor Graham yes councilor Ben Cuomo
yes councilor Koran yes counselor Flores
yes councilor gandada yes mayor yes
okay next
thank you
go to 8.5 Council Bill
23-034 ordinance number 3040
made by Council Graham second by
councilor I beta
celicia viegas will be presenting
good afternoon mayor city council last
but not least right
today I'm here to to present the
proposed ordinance of another sale at
the of city-owned land at the Las Cruces
Innovation and Industrial Park to BHD
Land Development LLC
so as We Know
this one of the city's strategic goals
is to stimulate and entice Business
Development
and this sale will help us continue that
goal
and I just wanted to preface that if
approved this would also be the city's
first fast track project so we're really
excited about that
Council if you recall you adopted the
fast track process back in January of
this year
where CD and Ed teamed up to find a way
to accelerate
the review and approval of Economic
Development projects
so this project has checked all the
boxes and in fact there already have
gone through some of the steps
so I just like to take the time to give
kudos to Community Development and
economic development and as well all the
supporting departments Public Works
utilities on this effort
so in addition this project also to note
has not asked for any additional
incentives
they've invested a lot of upprint due
diligence and planning
and which is not typical at this stage
so it does show their commitment and
desire to be in our community
I'll also add that it although the buyer
of this property is a development
company it is a bill to suit a project
and I'll be referring any project
questions to the buyer's representative
which is here as there is a level of
confidentiality at this time so
he'll try to address the questions as
needed as best as he can
so moving along
the subject property is actually two
Parcels which combined approximately
17.53 acres in the legal description is
Lots A3 and A5 of the West Mesa
Industrial Park number 26 reply number
one
and the address of record right now is
401 and 431 Alliance Drive
and All City utilities are to the site
so here's a vicinity map you can see the
property outlined in red is just south
of I-10 I don't know if there's a there
you go just to a loves truck stop is
right here in the southwest corner of
the ramp
our subject properties here in the red
and Alaska structures are to the west of
this
here's just a picture of the Subdivision
plat it actually fronts three roads Ray
Boulevard
to the West Industrial Park Avenue to
the South and Alliance drive on the east
here's the street view this is looking
down Ray Boulevard Alaska scriptures
would be to the right and the property
is to the left behind those trees there
and this is the opposite side off
Alliance drive to the West is that is
the property
so two appraisals were completed uh 581
581 700 and 580 000 event the offer and
negotiated price was 581 700.
um the parties will both split the
closing costs which is typical practice
some of the benefits to the city is that
this what does align with the Strategic
plan goals of the city the economic
development department and Elevate Las
Cruces
fifty percent of the sales proceeds will
be going to affordable housing trust
fund
and as a city-owned property uh
earmarked for economic development it'll
be absorbed for development and
productive use
the buyer will be developing a
distribution facility
bringing added jobs
to an advancement to the area and
although we don't have exact amounts of
this jobs and investment it will have a
significant impact and presence to our
community
so as city property is tax exempt
transferring it to private hands we'll
put it on the tax tolls
and here's just the site layout of the
development
the proposed building is right in the
center here you've got Ray Boulevard to
the west and Alliance drive to the East
and the proposed building is
approximately forty four thousand square
feet and as you can see it's a
distribution center
and here is the elevations of the
building
and we have a Community Development
actually they have the developer has
submitted plans as of Friday so our
community development department will be
ensuring that they meet all the
standards of the industrial park overlay
and with that your standard Council
options I do have Mr Steve Blackman with
bhdevco in the audience and we'll both
stem for questions thank you
let me just ask a quick question
counselor so cilicia when we saw some
land also in the last year or two since
uh right yes yeah I just want to commend
you uh ever since I think evil came here
and brought his management team the way
you all have marketed because prior to
that we weren't selling anything out
there and it was great land it's great
opportunity so I just want to thank you
all for what you do thank you councilor
Flores ditto
thank you yeah and so it's going to be a
distribution plan and I know that when
um what's something with the cheese pack
of spermoto or Saputo Saputo okay
um one of the questions I had then as to
their expansion and I have now is a
transportation in terms of
um you know do the the developer or the
business owner
I mean we need transportation out in
that part that neck of the woods as they
say because
um
it's kind of far away from the city and
I don't think our buses run out there I
don't think scrtd runs out there and I'm
just that that's one concern I have
and it's something that I'm just
expressing to you and maybe the
planning department Community
Development
in terms of keeping that in mind and
it's kind of hush hush as to what that
distributor who the distributor is yes
it's a big secret but we're going to be
happily surprised I'm sure
okay mayor councilor Flores uh you are
correct and uh just to know um as a
matter of fact uh about a year ago I
sent out a survey to the industrial park
tenants and the airport on
Transportation
didn't get very many back but just
recently Saputo sent back 250
handwritten surveys so I'm we actually
have one of our nice County interns
working through that right now but at
least it'll give us some more
perspective on that to give to our
transportation director to show if
there's a need out there for
transportation right and what I'm hoping
too is or what I would like to see more
than just hope is that we focus on the
importance of making sure our airport
has more than Interstate travel I know
that Andy's working and you have worked
very hard on that as well but in you
know keeping all that in mind in terms
of making it
really
attractive to even more businesses so
thank you sir for bringing your business
to the city but you know I hope we can
do that thank you celicia and thank you
Mr Mayor thank you
any other comments so counselor Flores I
think in the future depending how and
the way the economic development
department has been selling land out
there I think you're probably going to
eventually see or I guess I should
suggest maybe in the future to look at a
dedicated bus line for to because that's
going to be really attractive much like
what we do at the University we have a
dedicated bus just for the students
and who knows maybe might want to
consider just like one or two electric
vehicle buses right just going back and
forth because that's a long doesn't look
like it's a long way but it's kind of a
long way and I think that this is really
exciting news to just see it's slowly
developing and and the econi and Andy
Hume and I and Senator Souls we met with
the organization on Monday
just for a brief time and there's a lot
of things happening you're going to see
the airport really start to do some
great great things and that land is a is
a great value right now but I I see it
becoming more and more valuable as time
goes on
so that's why I think we should double
the price no I'm just kidding I'm just
joking
yeah I'm just messing if there's no
questions how about members of the
public
Devin
[Music]
can I say one thing first sorry of
course
I like not being asked questions so
thank you but I want to take this
opportunity I'm Steve backman I'm the
owner of uh and one of the founders of a
company called bhdevco so BH BHD Land
Development is the LLC that we put the
con the property under contract for we
are a builder of build to sue properties
not of speculative developments so there
is an end user behind this deal and I
was hoping to be asking a question so I
could at least say your staff is amazing
Mr Mayor we have had a great experience
working here I was telling celicia
Villegas the other day that we started
another project in another state nearby
and that project started a month before
this one it's the exact same building
for the same user and you're now a month
ahead so this expedited review this
expedited process the Connie Elizabeth
everyone that we've worked with here
staff Edie CD everyone has been
phenomenal so kudos to staff thank you
very much we look forward to continuing
to Move Along on this project so thank
you absolutely thank you
yeah
Mayors counselors I just uh David Lopez
Messiah Valley Economic Development
Alliance I know there's a little bit of
anonymity behind the project but I just
want to say we hope you do approve this
sale I think you're going to find that
uh the the company itself is going to be
complementing a lot of and adding a lot
of value to what we're trying to
accomplish to really build a logistics
and production Center at the industrial
park on the west side so we really do
hope you approve this because I think
you're going to be happy with what comes
out of it thank you
thanks Damon would you have something
else serious yeah
I just wanted to thank Devin also with
it you know his integral part of the
whole process so thank you Daddy and
team
right all right no other further
comments I've seen non-christy
this is on the motion to approve
ordinance 3040 counselor beta yes
councilor Graham yes councilor Ben Comal
yes councilor Koran yes counselor Flores
yes councilor Gandara yes mayor yes
okay great
next we're going to go to board
appointments and we have none
so next is notice our proposed
ordinances
number 10.1 Council bill number
23-035 ordinance number 3041
let's bring it forward and forward
10.2 Council bill number
23-036 ordinance number 3042 Bring It
Forward and bring it forward
and now we go to city council member
board reports and comment
um
so
I'm just going to slowly start moving
some of my stuff out
right and and so so I can keep it I want
to kind of replicate it at my other
office right
they want I don't know so this was my
thinking
if the city paid for the framing well
then it's the cities
but there was one that I want to pay the
city for the framing and that's the when
President Obama was elected and the vice
president but then vice president you
know this was my stuff and but the city
you know framed it but I wanted to pay
for the frame so I could take that back
so I'm sure gosh it's a nice frame
probably back then there's a couple
hundred two three hundred dollars at
least so if I could have staff take a
look and see what price it would cost
market price that's fine okay well
whatever so
this is back when the president stole
his hair was still
it wasn't White
and that's it so if you see me taking a
few things out it is my stuff okay so
I'm not stealing in fact I'll try it do
it do take it yeah that's my
refrigerator
it is mine I'll take it during the day
in the in the daylight so so it's not
like it's at two o'clock in the morning
on a
Saturday
and hey what you see the cameras me
carrying stuff out
okay that's all I have mayor Pro town
thank you mayor
I wanted to comment on the veterans
um
all the various public comment today
I want them to understand that
for me when people come to public common
it's an opportunity for Council really
to understand what the public is
concerned about what gripes
etc etc I listen carefully and I
consider all possibilities and quite
frankly I really hate that they think
we've they've been disrespected because
it's so far from the truth
being a mom of a of a Navy veteran I I
respect so much what they've done for
our country and I was hoping that they
would understand that it was a difficult
decision
um
hey I'm emotional it was an emotional
um to have the parents come up and speak
very
to speak on behalf of their of their
child who died in that area so for me it
was about coming to a compromise that I
thought was everybody could live with
and in fact I thought that that
compromise was you know having a bench
and a tree that honored that little girl
and her and her life is short-lived as
as it was in an area where our veterans
had fought so fearlessly right to
protect the rights of everybody
I don't feel like it was something that
we would set a precedence on or in
that what I understood was that the the
bench would be separate and apart from
the
from the beauty of and what the essence
of that sacred ground has been so if
you're listening I'm happy to have those
conversations
um I don't
make it a habit to speak to people right
from the various committees and whatnot
there's just so much work to be done and
you know we're being criticized for not
making a call over to the veterans and
it what they feel I'm sorry that they
feel that way but I'm available to have
those conversations and really continue
to
you know stand by my vote I felt like it
was something that we were trying to
find a compromise that everybody could
live with and so mayor I also wanted to
speak in regards to the number of
comments related to speeding I think all
of us would agree that we have that we
probably get
couple to five emails a week around
speeding in in neighborhoods and it's
really out of control and I keep
thinking and and
what can the city do to address that to
mitigate that and some of it is personal
responsibility right people need to slow
down it feels like we get
blame for a lot of that and there's a
number of things I think that council
could do and some of those are I like
the idea of the mobile speed Vans but
I've also talked about toying with the
idea of reducing speed especially in
residential submitting an ordinance to
reduce speed especially in residential
areas I think it's it's too fast and and
we're hearing more and more and I don't
think it's going to
um I don't think we're going to stop
hearing it I think people also need to
slow down
and there's just so much that our police
officers can do
it you know they're they're stretched
pretty thin and they're really dealing
with some very serious issues in
community and unfortunately speeding is
probably
right lowest on the on the on that list
and so
um
you know I'd like to I don't know where
we would talk about
reducing speed limit and some of the
other things but I really want to vote
um
ikani Mr domateo and staff to really
consider bringing some of those things
back related to what we have heard in
the last couple of years around
the speed the speed hums I you know we
get a variety of of communication or
staff input about how they feel about
Steve humps and there's a process by
which but people are coming and saying
it cannot happen at all when I know
there's two or three areas in my
district that are working on getting a
speed speed humps in their in their
neighborhood so I think we need to come
up with a variety of programs to address
that but it is getting out of hand and I
don't see it changing and I think I'd
like to see staff come up with some sort
of plan from sort of the lowest levels
right to what could could
um
be done in terms of of other processes
and with that I'll turn it back over to
you mayor thank you so thanks member Pro
Temp
if I could just speak very candid just a
couple things first let me just talk
about what you say about the the roads I
think in all fairness to staff probably
need to have a few that you want to be
looked at because I think just like
anything else that has to conform to
that those guidelines that the traffic
control has because some I think Council
Flores can attest to this I learned how
to drive accidentally as a teenager on
the California freeway my dad wouldn't
you know he's asleep well hey dad wake
up he's by the time we're we're in it
right and I've learned that you can't if
you want to try to do the speed limit if
those guys are if those drivers are
driving 10 miles over you got to stay
with them because you you can go too
slow and cause an accident so that's why
I think we need to have that checked out
but I think right now thanks to Chief
Dominguez we're the number of officers
are pretty close to where we need to be
and um I don't know what how we was
going to move he's probably going to put
a interim Chief but maybe that's the
time to have them come up with a way to
if they're fully staffed to a
combination like you said of some some
areas that you know is nothing like a
ticket to kind of stop you to quit doing
that
many many years ago I got a ticket in
Lordsburg and I you know it's a speed
trap that's the way I look at it it was
from 65 to 55 and you got to just pay
attention and um
and then maybe there are some areas that
we can reduce speed but honestly I don't
think I you know even the those those
lights that tell you you're speeding I
like the ones that that flash the red
and
and blue lights because those look well
is that a police officer up ahead or all
of a sudden you know did they pull
someone over and it's it's a sign but uh
but anyways that's my my thought yeah I
appreciate that mayor I just think
there's a number of things that that we
should consider not just one I think a
number of things and I'm not sure if we
have authority and maybe it's conversing
with our legislators about what the
state can do in terms of I mean none of
us unless you seriously break the law
have to go back to driving school you
don't get any more sort of lessons
around that and I'm not sure if if
that's a possibility and I'm looking at
D.C Mullins maybe for kids I don't know
but we need all of us need right
um maybe a refresher course I'm not sure
what to do but I I I'm putting it out
there because we're hearing more and
more about this and we have freaked out
with pedestrian fatalities
people who are on on bikes getting
getting killed I mean there's just for
me feel is overwhelming and I can
imagine for a community in neighborhoods
where folks are speeding down their
neighbor their neighborhood
and and also you talk about this the
speed Vans those are nice because if we
had those you could put those
strategically and move those around and
and the city has believe it or not
looked at years ago I mean a long time
ago when we had the red light cameras
and these are different than the red
light cameras these are speed Vans to
put in in areas to help
law enforcement keep the Speeders from
speeding but it got to the point where
the city was going to if you were given
a citation granted it's a civil but if
you're a city resident they were gonna
and you have city services it was going
to affect your city services I mean and
that got their attention real fast
saying okay well we better pay this this
ticket then so counselor Flores
thank you mayor I I think that um yeah
that we have to look at Solutions in
terms of speeding and I want to address
this to Mr Justin Garcia who had a quote
I believe it was a quote but definitely
stating that I drive at 100 miles an
hour down Lowman
I mean yeah
did you see it it was a quote huh and so
I thought well you know maybe I did say
that but I don't do that and so police
officers and you know who are hearing
this I I do speed
and uh without a doubt but I'm not doing
it anymore
I you know
oh I know it's tough
oh no no I I no no
um but no it was actually
um Mr Lujan Mr Lujan what to admit to
committing a crime
no to what's the first to you that I
moved you with my
well well Mr Lujan actually did that but
it's okay
um but I I too believe that we have to
look at that and um and but Mr Garcia
um please uh re and look at that uh I'm
I did admit to speeding but I do not
I've never gone 100 miles an hour well I
have but in California not not here
um
so aside from that
um I really like this city to look into
Yoli what's Yoli's last name
yes
for some reason her name escaped me but
um to look to see if we can do something
about the telshore fund
um being
expanded to to the point where it can be
if it can be but to look into that
possibility I think that
the the young woman who spoke today was
heartbreaking and I hope she looks into
what the cause of that was
um yeah we'll bring it up at our health
PRC
um so that was the young lady was nayali
Nayeli
oh you're listening wow I'm impressed I
did that on purpose I just want to see
who's listening but it was it was oh
um and
um and also
um you know for doctors to tell her that
she had an immune uh you know uh so all
of a sudden that there was nothing wrong
and seeing those pictures I mean you
know they're worth a million words
um so I really would like the city uh I
don't know if it's our legal department
or the the uh City manager's office to
look at uh whether we can use tail short
funds because it is for health and the
indigenous so
um yeah and I also I'm sorry Heather
Pollard wasn't here today I hope she's
feeling better
um and that's it thank you Mr Mayor
so would you like a correction in this
news I mean was this an apology front
page headlines there's nothing else in
the newspaper anyway but you know
they're going to also say now that you
have admitted speeding in the Los
Angeles at over 100 miles an hour so
yeah but the second limitations has
passed no
you know I just leave it alone
Council Corrine well I I have learned a
lot about the speeding habits of my
colleagues today fascinating because you
know when the mayor says he sees the red
and blue I don't know you know when do
you see it because you know you see it
when you're speeding right and usually
when I'm behind when I'm behind
counselor Flores okay
it's fair
thank you it's good to know um I have
a couple of notes from the district we
do have our new public art at the Animal
Services Center I hope you all will go
and check it out the Animal Services
Center isn't open yet so hopefully soon
our candles will arrive and our cat
cages will arrive and we can have a
grand opening but if you can see it
driving by so if you drive down the
Frontage Road off of Rinconada we don't
know because of the delay and then
getting the yeah so we don't know when
the grand opening can be they also have
to figure out a day when they close down
so they can move or several days to
close down to move everything so that'll
be a big
a big effort
um so but please check out the very cool
public art
that is only the second public art and
in my district and I look forward to to
more on the fire station when it when it
arrives the other item that I wanted to
talk about really quickly was a shout
out to the parks department in
particular
Franco and Joe who did some residents
were worried about the grass in a lot of
the parks in Metro verde in particular
and I learned something new I really
appreciate the follow-up that from the
parks folks in looking that up but I
also just wanted to share in case you
didn't know hot nighttime temperatures
helped make the grass green
did you guys know did anyone know this
this is this was news to me so just as a
note Sonia did know this but I didn't
and so now I'm informing you all that
right now is prime turn the grass green
time so if you were wondering about the
parks in your District it might be
because it wasn't quite hot enough at
night
um to make it to make them green so
thanks to the parks department for
following up on that and identifying
um
sort of that Mo generally they're
they're going to be turning green soon
but there are a few trees that might
need to be replaced sometime in the
future but otherwise they're all good so
thanks for that we do how we have an
upcoming Animal Services board meeting
on
um
Thursday in case folks want to show up
and and
speak or hear what's happening with the
Animal Services Board and I do want to
just I I know that this is out of sync
and out of time but I do want to add I
hope that we can continue the
conversation about the police oversight
the oi ear the oir contact contract
which councilor Floyd has had has been
influencing me and how I pronounced that
but I appreciate mayor Pro tem Gandara
on hearing some of the things that we've
we've shared about that but I I'm
curious to hear what the next things are
that are on the agenda for that that
ongoing conversation I hope we can keep
it up
otherwise that's all I have thanks
thank you councilman Como thanks mayor
you know what can help you stop speeding
is running for office that is a sure way
to make sure you're not speeding
somebody told me that I heard it from a
friend
um anyway I actually did for I have a
couple comments because two weeks ago
you know we were too tired and decided
not to say anything but at that meeting
I did want to talk about
um traffic calming measures I really
feel like
it's systemic I mean I have a list here
of constituents that I'm either working
with that are actually like organizing
or that want to be organizing a Hickory
Loop as you've heard melendres as you've
heard folks on Hoagland Bruins and
Valley area at Legends West and McClure
and so there's those are just you know
the ones that I'm currently in contact
with and so I really do feel like
um
whether it's a work session or some kind
of the conversation with City manager's
office around traffic calming and how we
can
um you know Implement more of those even
if they're pilot projects and I know I
think I remember from the last
conversation we had around this that
Public Works said they had around eighty
thousand dollars and
um a yearly budget for traffic calming
measures and so I don't know if it's
important that we increase that
um and I really just want to be thankful
to public works because of projects like
on melendris which is interesting that
the folks who live in that immediate
area have been very thankful for the
very funky I'm not gonna lie it's a
little bit funky but it's obviously
working and this gentleman said you have
to Swerve if you slow down you don't
have to Swerve if you slow down it's
just you know a little bit of a curve so
it works
um and I know it looks very strange but
it's obviously working in the people in
the area immediately around melendres
have been really thankful I've gotten a
couple of emails from people who do not
like it I imagine perhaps don't folks
that were speeding don't want to make
any assumptions but you never know but I
do think it's important that we have
this conversation at a much larger scale
because it's obviously a problem for a
lot of folks
um I wanted to oh she's not here but I
really wanted to congratulate Natalie on
her appointment to the housing
investment Council that was
um I think she was appointed by the
governor
um also want to thank Amy Whitfield who
works for the governor on housing issues
specifically who was here last week and
um Natalie set up a meeting with her and
staff got to meet her and folks
Community of Hope got to meet her and
some other Advocates and we're just
really excited to build that
relationship with the you know
governor's office and make sure that Las
Cruces continues to be invested in
um I also I know this feels like forever
ago but I really did want to make sure
and tell visit Las Cruces what a great
job they've done with the rebranding I
love the Rio Las Cruces Rebrand I think
that is something I often say when you
know talking to I work for National
nonprofit and so people are always like
oh New Mexico Santa Fe and I'm like Las
Cruces is the real
New Mexico and so I J I just love it so
much and I just want to congratulate
them for for the Rebrand I think it's
incredible
um I want to introduce Megan Apodaca she
is a student at NMSU and reached out to
counselors Graham corn and myself
earlier this year and she really wanted
to intern at the city and so she's
interning with us and so you'll see her
around she said she was an intern for
Senator Heinrich and she decided to
intern here instead that's how cool we
are so if you see her say hello I am
hearing that I'm going through this fast
I'm hearing that zero Fair will be
permanent councilor Corin was telling me
but I am looking at ikani as well you
know what ifo said it so it's
and we're gonna make it permanent that's
the goal that's the plan and so people
can continue riding the bus for zero
dollars I've also been informed that
they are doing surveys for people who
are riding the bus to see how we can
improve it and have a really robust
public transportation system
um and then
oh I did want to note that
um when Miss Yoli Diaz was speaking
um I heard some Rumblings in the
audience around how unfair it was that
she got five minutes
but just want to remind people that if
you want an additional time during
public comment then you just have to
email the mayor and request time to do
so so it's not that someone is favored
if you come to public comment he will
give you either two minutes or three
minutes but if you request ahead of time
how much ahead of time mayor
even at that morning we just have to see
she had a presentation that there was no
way she could have done that in in the
time that we allotted her so um I'm
going to work with her and bring back
some other information yeah yeah so just
wanted to put that out there
you know a few more minutes five minutes
six minutes to present something that
you can always request it in the mayor
will grant it probably I assume you will
mayor if he wants yes there's been a few
that I've turned down I think there was
one about UFOs and stuff like that
interesting okay tracking them if we can
track them thank you no I can't do that
but tell short funds available for that
or
um I I think that's it I the last thing
I just wanted to know was that
um
you know somebody came here today in
regards to the veterans issue and I
think it's you know if
they are frustrated with their decision
they have a right to come here and tell
us I think what I was a little bit
turned off by today was a comment made
that you should know where your child is
that felt very big don't blame me and I
don't think that it was it was harsh and
I don't think that has a place here and
if you want to express your sincerest
condolences then do that genuinely and
don't add comments like that because I
think that's
that's just so harmful to somebody's
who's somebody who's in grief and will
be in grief the rest of their life so I
just wanted to name that and you know
the last couple of weeks
um we've been told that we don't like
children that we don't like animals that
we don't like veterans and you know I
think people will say well you sign up
for the job you should just deal with it
and I and I do wonder if there's a line
sometimes that gets crossed around civil
discourse and what we can do to improve
our communities and so I just want to
challenge people to come here with your
frustrations and voice your dislike for
our decisions and do it in a way that
isn't attacking our character that isn't
attacking like who we are at our core
and and if you have questions about what
we like or dislike to just ask us and
somebody asked how do we get a hold of
our you know this is always a
conversation it's like how do we have
better civil discourse in our local
government and you know I always I reach
out to us that's really the best and
simplest way and I think that if you
want something uplifted
that we can talk about it in a way that
is civil we don't have to agree I also
don't think we have to be nasty to each
other so
anyway that's it thanks all oh and
encourages people
absolutely yeah mayor Pro tem said has
also discourages other people from
coming and I think that's that's really
true
I also I work cheap domain as a little
note I hope I can give it to someone to
give it to him but I just also wanted to
express my gratitude to Chief Dominguez
who
um I think it's public news I saw it on
the house of BD Instagram page so
um for his retirement really
congratulate him for his many many years
of service to the city and
um I think he was very kind and graceful
leader and so I just wanted to express
my gratitude and congratulations to him
thanks mayor
is there a gift card in there or just a
card
at Council Graham
thank you mayor sorry I now have this
mental picture of you walking off with
like the Ziggy mascot costume like
various city property that you're just
saying oh this is all my stuff sorry
it's just it's just a
a whole bus I don't know
yeah sorry uh yeah I also skipped
um counselor comment last time so I do
have a little more to say than usual so
buckle up buttercups don't get no it's
not harsh or anything
um first and most important
um the month of May was the four
Community chats that I held and I have a
lengthy thank you list for that foremost
to the residents of District three and
others who came out to to chat it was
amazing the opportunity to have
one-on-one conversations at one meeting
only two people showed up but they
stayed the entire two hours one had
lived in his neighborhood for 40 years
the other has been in Las Cruces for 18
months so it was a really interesting
perspective to hear someone who has seen
development over decades and someone who
was just being welcomed to the community
and they swapped phone numbers at the
end and they're gonna hang out and I was
like this is what I wanted to do
community chats um so thank you to
people who took the time to come out
also to staff at the Munson Center who
stayed late for me four times
and at the final Community chat I had an
amazing support crew from various City
departments so big thanks to the fire
department's mobile Integrated Health
Unit to LCPD cares Public Works
sustainability and keep Las Cruces
beautiful who both taught me and had
great interactions with folks with all
kinds of questions comments and concerns
and most of all to Katrina and to Seth
thank you so much especially for being
willing and able to roll with something
new Katrina I came to you and said I
want to kind of flip the community
meeting format on its head what do you
think and you were like sure let's let's
do that and I know it was different and
you were just So Graceful and made it
absolutely happen and I appreciate that
so much yeah I don't
congratulations and I'm so glad you're
going to be here forever
now it's on the record
she is official yes
so thank you so much I'm so happy so
happy to have you
um Speaking of awesome new things our
first boxing Camp launched this week
this is the only afternoon that I will
not be coaching our boxing camp this is
in partnership with NMSU we have about
15 middle schoolers from across the city
I and other City volunteers from the
fire department will be coaching them
they're learning boxing fundamentals
it was great I asked as we were hearing
like hey what brought you to boxing camp
and by the fifth person I was like okay
pause how many are you here because your
mom said you had to get out of the house
and like almost every hand went up I was
like okay you're gonna have a great time
um so again I think what has been such
an amazing part of this job is coming
with something new that the city hadn't
done before and everyone is just so
accommodating and willing to roll with
it and akani I want to thank you
personally because you have been so
instrumental in helping us
you know start the get the ground
building up for the boxing program
um hope you'll stop by stop by Camp
sometime this week we'll be there two to
five every day thank you to UC Mullen I
know you kind of came in and had this
thrown on your plate suddenly but really
really appreciate you and PD's support
on this
so yeah come and uh I I said that any
City staff was fair game to you know the
kids can throw punches at you and you
practice a little bit but no really
looking forward to continuing that
um just a kind of General comment just
going to riff a little bit here based on
some emails I've received
um this is a theme throughout being a
counselor but maybe a little more the
last couple of weeks and I think because
of our cannabis discussion and the last
work session where a Citizens group
brought us the idea about reducing Lanes
on Lumen and Amador and it's a kind of
interesting theme that I see where
people will email me and say you know
that
kind of along the lines that my
decisions don't affect me as if
counselors kind of live in our own
little bubble I always think of it like
I love Hunger Games analogies like if
you win the Hunger Games you get to go
live in the Victor's Village and it's
like way nicer than everywhere else but
like I promise you I I live right in
right in District three with the people
for whom I am making decisions
um and to speak specifically to those
two topics this is just based on my GPS
watch so I'm sure the gis Department
could totally correct me I walked from
my front door to the nearest cannabis
dispensary to my house it's 358 feet or
as the mayor might say one and a half
football fields
like that system of measurement
I live in a mixed commercial residential
zone so I have
um I have light industrial across the
street from me I have a garage behind me
and yes I live very close to the kind of
cannabis dispensaries that I have voted
several times to support and open up
zoning so for those who think that I'm
making these decisions and then not
being affected by them I'm I'm actually
pretty close on that one same so I live
on Kansas I'm between Solano and Espina
and that puts me about one block south
of Loman and smack dab in the middle of
the traffic affected neighborhoods that
we were talking about during that work
session so I absolutely I feel you the
businesses and the people living there
also Mr Leos you know I'm right by the I
call it the Loma door split where Loman
and Amador split people use my street as
a cut through constantly to try to avoid
traffic so any traffic decisions that I
would be contributing to in that area I
promise you I'm directly affected and
I'm sure a lot of you are also making
decisions not just about your District
or mayor about the whole city but for
the neighborhoods where you live so just
a little perspective on that
and then finally I have I have a
proposal or I would like to I've never
done one of these I would like us
colleagues to explore a possibility and
I don't even know how we would go about
it
I would like to discuss changing the
order of our regular session agendas
maybe even just on a trial basis if we
agreed on it and what I am proposing is
moving general public comment to the end
of the meeting right before counselor
comments I everyone's already laughing
at me
um
and this way I see two advantages to
this and this came to me particularly
during the session uh the last voting
session when we had a lot of public
input and I don't know if you have
experienced this but I have several
times a constituent who wants to speak
on an agenda item will email me ahead of
the Town say hey can you give me an idea
of when the agenda item might come up
because I only have an hour I'm going to
take off work I'll take my lunch hour
and I always feel bad because I'm like
oh I really can't I can't possibly
estimate
and granted you know we never know
exactly how the agenda is going to roll
but to me the big wild card is Pub is
general public comment
um so today I just threw a stopwatch on
it and it was 59 minutes so about an
hour a pretty substantial chunk of time
and I'm in no way suggesting we take
away a the opportunity for people to
have general public comment I'm saying
we give the advantage or the priority to
folks who are coming out to comment on a
specific agenda item because they have a
personal investment in it the other
Advantage I see
um and this has kind of come up a lot
sir you were here a couple of weeks ago
and you find yourself in that weird
Island where you're asking a question or
hoping for our feedback and as mayor has
pointed out we really don't have the
freedom during general public comment to
be able to do that I think putting
general public comment in close you know
in proximity to counselor comments like
this we would have that option to you
know
stick around and maybe we will you know
we will respond it's a little it's a
little looser
so just a thought
um the agenda obviously you know I when
I first came here I thought agendas were
set in stone and then I started serving
on boards committees and commissions and
it's all different
um scswa does public comment at the end
mpo has two public comment periods one
at the top and one at the bottom so I
think we have some leeway and uh you
know just
just think about it if you think it
might uh you know if it might be a
positive thing for the meetings and I
don't know who do you set the agenda
mayor
well let me just share some things with
you real quick and the council can
change it but so as far as the council
comments you're you can respond but the
reason why it's a little challenging is
because if they if the members of the
public bring up something that could be
construed as policy then that's why we
can't really respond because it hasn't
been on the agenda to be voted and then
now then that's it's engaging on a
comment on an item that hasn't been
advertised and it's possible we're we're
getting in that area where we could be
close to violating the Oma exactly
that's why it's not good to comment but
I mean if someone says hey what you know
something that's real General nature
that doesn't pertain any policy that's
fine the second is if like what you said
about someone who had to leave because
they only have so much time
that's okay in fact I usually mention it
just saying if you have to leave for
some reason you know let us know that
way their Council doesn't respond
because we now the other thing I needed
to clarify from you is
were you saying that they wanted to have
discussion about an item that's on the
agenda
how is that going to work because we
can't have Council start commenting
unless it's we're on that particular
item on the agenda no no sorry I well I
think I wasn't clear on that so we would
as as we always do as you or mayor Pro
tem when she's chairing during agenda
items you always invite members of the
public to come out sometimes it's a lot
and you know we can kind of anticipate
that sometimes not so much but there I
think where we're on a specific
advertised agenda item I feel like that
that opportunity for discussion is
definitely
more more robust or more available so so
yeah what I'm I guess what I'm saying is
just kind of flipping the order so those
who are here to comment on a specific
agenda item
have a pro a little more of a little
more time frame you know they a little
more predictability in how long they may
need to be here to be able to make that
happen and I don't know maybe I'm the
only person who has gotten that question
before like hey what time do you think
agenda item whatever will be and I
always just have to be like I'm so sorry
I just don't know okay thanks and and so
the challenge I see with this is if we
move it oh we can try it out but the
challenge I see with this is if you're
saying to have
um public comment right before Council
comment
I'm going to say well I have no idea
where how where it's going to go in the
agenda but at least the public comment
the public knows it's in the beginning
it may be plus or minus 15 minutes or so
but but on the back end like you know I
can kind of guess depending on on how
many council members show up well how
long it's going to take but but for the
most part it could take and then of
course on the agenda too but I mean it
can go
huge
yeah absolutely and that's why I said
I'm just kind of I'm just kind of
throwing it out there
um you know and also thinking toward I
you know when we were here you know we
were here till 8 pm and you know getting
through the agenda I guess I'm I'm
picturing like
when I have my like most of my juice my
mojo
you know I'm like I want my mojo on
you know on these unused agenda items
and then
you know other
leaving the other again keeping that
door open to those who are just you know
who are here for general public comment
but
to thought think it over oh no I'm like
I said we can try it if you'd like but I
think you're going to find more of the
people who come here for public comment
complaining more because they know they
can get here and go if they need to and
then on the other one
they'd have to we don't know whether you
know we have no idea where in the agenda
they're gonna no no I understand but I
mean I think
I think playing no matter what we do
as a front person make sure you put ads
out that you want this done we'll try it
the Becky the Becky Graham model yeah
send it send it to me but no just just
food for thought and thank you so much
sure
okay counselor beta
thank you um uh one thing I
switch over kind of how I have a lot of
information also to share but I get to
use some of my new training I was able
to attend
one of our Mali classes which is what
the municipal league but I went a little
early to look up they were doing a class
on parliamentary procedure and it's
helpful for this discussion
um but we also in our standards of roles
and procedures we do have a structure
here so if there's any changes this is
where we would want to change it of
order of business and so it does
designate the way the agenda is supposed
to be set up with per public
participation
um as one of our fourth items I'm
looking to Christine and she's saying
yes so I'm on a good track here and we
actually had in the discussion
um about when is it really appropriate
to have and when do people like to do
public comment most often and frequently
and there was this similar debate back
and forth is it better to have it at the
very beginning or towards the end based
upon what's going on and kind of the
conversation was well if you let people
at least discuss things in the beginning
then they can leave if they need to as
we heard today a lot of people
especially those that have other jobs
can't sit for two or three hours
especially if they're only got one small
thing on the agenda so if we're going to
look at this then I would say it's
looking at this section 2.9 on how to
adjust it
okay thank you um and then with it lots
more information on the municipal League
I've been going to board meetings I
chaired our finance committee for the
municipal League June 2nd where we
instituted a budget for the year
increasing Staffing to have more policy
analysts and to continue with our
our uh
I guess a partnership with Texas New
Mexico Tech where we are cataloging data
that helps us understand
taxes and what types of any type of
pyramiding or any deductions or changes
with tax law we're able to see how that
affects our community I'll use it as for
example there was a bill this year that
was looking at a type of pyramiding and
we were able to pull the data from this
and see that if this had been instituted
it would have been an introduction of 7
to 10 million dollars for Las Cruces so
we're able to take a lot better
estimates and closer estimates and
they're able to pull this for all the
communities basically throughout the
state so it's been really helpful
on Saturday I will be back up to
Albuquerque where I will be chairing the
community in Economic Development policy
committee for the municipal league and
so looking forward to that the ideas
from there will then get turned into
resolutions and in July we'll vote on
the resolutions for the league and then
in August I will switch over and we'll
do a transfer of
um I'll become president in in August so
according to them Olive will be the
youngest serving female president so
it'll be yeah
so it'll be very interesting
um and then I guess I I do want to chat
real fast about the veterans and the
comments we heard today because I do
believe that there were some large
misinformation that I find very
disingenuous
I talked with the chair of the board
Karen Woods for two hours before this
situation reached our desk
and to a understand because I think
that's the first thing that we need to
do is understand what is the full issue
and you can't do that unless you sit
down and talk with people
so I talked with them I asked questions
about what was appropriate what's not
language that is used understanding that
they didn't feel like a veteran's name
should be anywhere near the playground
they didn't think that was good so
that's where I also uh mere prayer time
thought that this was a really wonderful
compromise to be able to honor I also
heard
um during the the session that we had to
enter in the vote very disingenuous I
think comments to their fellow veterans
that were newer with their with serving
and that maybe didn't serve in the same
time frame that they did and I feel
that's really a disservice because we
have veterans that come from all
different types of service some that are
out for you know one week six months two
years and that's no less valid than
those that served you know 20 years ago
and and so I really I think
some of the critiques like
that I heard were honestly just
downright cruel and I I find that that
disrespectful for the other veterans
um we have a process uh the veterans
board did not follow basic process and
procedures they did not follow and it
was in our packets that they made a vote
during a public participation and they
did not follow open meetings act we
could not vote in favor of anything that
they said because they did not follow
the rules it would not have been a legal
vote anyways and so I find that and this
is why and I know I asked for training
of open meetings act and this is why
because some of the boards that this
puts us in bad positions and and it puts
us in in situations that we don't need
to be in and it is up to chairs of
boards to understand and hold those
lines too when it comes to open meetings
act and which is one of the reasons why
I suggested us having kind of this
training for individuals and definitely
for board chairs absolutely
I think that's my I
you know my my thought on that but I
think that we were in a very difficult
spot and I do think and feel that
we made a compromise that can honor the
veteran whose child tragically passed at
a park where he was supposed to be
celebrating and honoring and observing
um and so I I do believe that we need
the best choice possible and the legal
choice that we had to
next up we do have a different we have
an oversight meeting tomorrow also uh a
meeting for Juvenile Justice Continuum
there is a mavita board retreat on June
28th where we will be doing strategic
planning I believe mayor Pro tem you
will also be joining for that
and I think that is about it so thank
you very much Mira
thank you sorry can I jump back in sure
not realizing that it was going to take
a whole Charter overhaul so I will
withdraw my suggestion so
keep it but it was just a thought and
thank you to people who have reached out
and
you know asked for better timing I'll do
my best
okay thank you so counselor about to
thank you for your comments
I was just going to say that um
you know the veterans Advisory Board is
just that it's an Advisory Board I mean
they can pass the resolutions or the
emotions they like but ultimately you
and our colleagues we make those
decisions I thought as you did I thought
that was a compromise I mean you have a
young child that was killed there and I
hope that's the first and last time and
so and who knows there could be a time
where some young families are reading
about this child and and it'll I mean
when kids are as that small they move so
fast and I mean you wouldn't blinkum and
I and so it's just a constant reminder
of of just just difficult they're just
it's really challenging so I'm good with
it I I think it was the right thing to
do and like I said I hope it's the first
and last that we ever have to do there
again
so with that I'll turn over to itani for
our city managers report
thank you Mary miyagishima and city
council
assistant city manager for the record I
am here in place of ifo pili who will be
here next week so thank you for your
time just a few updates from Parks and
Rec uh for the electric light parade
which is happening on Monday July 3rd
the title and the theme is red white and
boom
[Music]
foreign
yes so they're still still time to sign
up for this parade it's an awesome event
so if you're interested for those
listening online please call
575-541-2454 to sign up for more
information
also music in the park
Sunday this past Sunday approximately
1100 attended music in the park it's a
lot
and this past Sunday at Young Park and
this will continue throughout summer on
Sunday evenings next up for this Sunday
on June 25th stepping up playing various
style of music and low-fat uh
I hope that's how you
l-o-p-h-a-t low fat okay so come check
them out evenings at Young Park on
Sundays from the airport just a quick
update air passenger service
may this was the first month that they
surpassed 50 percent load Factor first
time
this is great they've been trending at
40 percent in April they they were
exactly 40 percent in may they hit 56
percent uh that number equates to 284
total passengers in May
um so exciting information from our air
passenger service occurring there Andy's
doing a great job and VLC we all heard
the announcement a few weeks ago some of
us attended the very bold and audacious
tagline
the real New Mexico right Las Cruces so
uh what some of us may not remember when
we talk about taglines these are very
important I think we all understand how
important taglines are but especially
for the tourism tagline even more
important because that's our branding
does anyone remember the previous
taglines that VLC had and how
does does anyone not even a guess okay
wait was this for the city or just visit
for VLC for tourism I only remember
mountains of opportunity you know that
that was more on the CLC staff side okay
I'm sorry but on the tourism side and
this is how important branding is
because now we all we can say the real
New Mexico
tourism has a has around the nation just
explore experience discover that was
trending around the nation that was ours
a few years back stay sunny was ours a
few years back and the crossroads was
ours a few years back the the crossroads
ex there was three explore experience
and discover
exactly and so that was trending a few
years ago but I just I bring that up as
a point that uh this one will be a
memorable tagline moving forward the
real New Mexico will remember it when it
happened so I just want to thank the VLC
team and Rochelle and her team doing a
great job new website a new look on the
social media side everything is new new
branding so if you look at it it's been
hard work for about a year and a half of
just working working with consultants
and working with their team to just make
it right
uh
for apropos of that would it be possible
to get screen time at at airports like
some airports feature different cities
to fly to and it'd be great especially
like LaGuardia okay Las Cruces the real
New Mexico great great idea VLC is
actually already looking Rochelle and
her team are already looking at that we
didn't look quite a LaGuardia in New
York but they have looked at local ones
in Tucson so we can add that to the list
well yeah any airport I mean we we have
flown there yeah for sure
JFK's International I don't think any of
us
we'll have the team look into it and see
if we can afford those airports
okay uh and and just a lasting Spaceport
America cup which is the largest
Intercollegiate rocket engineering
competition in the universe
is happening this week through Saturday
so 1200 students 110 institutions
and exciting news happening so thank you
mayor council thanks see Tony but
forgive me for kind of correcting you
unless I was told wrong because I was
there this morning it's 1700 students
and almost 120 teams and let me tell you
something they're from all over the
world
from India New Zealand it's incredible
yeah I mean it's uh and these Rockets
can go some as high as 20 30 000 feet
not like the ones like I told them when
I was in school we would take the the
well hey you're not that Barbie you're
not that so so the uh the container from
the paper towels and that's what we use
for rocket to build our rocket thing and
uh wow those are those Rockets over
there are incredible so sounds like we
could have used that UFO presentation
yeah
okay
sure
um this is for chief
chief
[Music]
Jason yes no no
um so I um I don't know about the rest
of peop the people in this room but I
think it was Sunday night there was
these really loud booms
um yeah it was Sunday night it was
horribly loud and like nothing I've
heard before when I went on my morning
walk with Edie
I found these huge
[Music]
they just
like hard cardboard and and I you know
picked it up smelled it and it was
definitely a firework and so we're now
getting calls and complaints about that
but this is my complaint so it has to
count a little bit more cheap
now is there any uh yeah yeah right so I
I think that um
golly there there has there been any
like uh because fireworks are coming out
and is there anything that we're doing
because I did get a call or two about it
thank you
mayor councilor Flores fire chief Jason
Smith for the record we sent to the city
manager's office our Fire Marshal's plan
of what we're going to do for kind of
deterring illegal fireworks use
and so we're also having a plan to
enforce the code on the 4th of July
so we can send that information from the
city clerk's office and the CMO office
about our our deployment plan
I could speak a little bit to it now if
you if you want to hear it now we're
looking at putting flyers and utility
bills so the City utility this past
billing cycle started sending out
information on what is legal and illegal
within the city of Las Cruces we're
going to be getting a billboard spot
again kind of outlining the same
information as well as putting up some
temporary road signs electrical science
leading into where
aerial fireworks are sold in the area
where they're sold legally letting
people know that within the city of Las
Cruces
aerial devices and firecrackers have
been prohibited and they're illegal to
possess and use
thanks Chief okay anything else you
Connie
no that's it mayor council thank you all
right if that's the case entertain
motion to adjourn
move to adjourn second what should be
the councilman Como second by counselor
beta Christine
send a motion to during the meeting
counselor beta yes councilgram yes
yes counselor Ben Como
councilor Korean yes counselor Flores
yes councilor Gandara yes mayor yes
okay we're adjourned it's 4 47 p.m thank
you
have a good rest of the day