Plus the operators are not going
to call +911. Please keep the
300 ft Bus for all residential
dwellings. Thank you for your
time. Thank you. Good afternoon
protest and counselors. My name
is Julie Fell. I'm a concerned
citizen Mom and I live in the
East Mesa area. My hope today is
to just let you know that I
would like you to not lift the
buffer zone. Um I am sure that
if you were to talk to the
residents Alum Picacho Avenue,
East West Bank Austria Avenue,
they would actually ask you not
to lift the buffer zone. Um I
want to make it clear that I am
not against cannabis industry.
They have a right to have
business here in Las Cruces. Um
but when the council was
debating and legalizing cannabis
in 2021, there was a promise
made by this body to restrict
and regulate this industry. I'm
sure you remember that. If you
remove the buffer zone, you will
renege on that Promise and Las
Cruces will have dispensaries,
clustering and spreading and all
spaces of the city. This is not
regulation. Thiis n
restriction. I really
appreciated Mayor Pro temp
concern about the youth. I am
concerned that other counselors
here who did not mention that
whatsoever, and you even
mentioned that some of your, uh
constituents said that they were
concerned. And yet you'll vote
anyway. I wanted to, um, say
that. Karen you mentioned about
the nicotine if you recall at
that time nicotine a took years
and lawsuits beforehat product
was labeled as harmful. Um we're
going to see a marijuana.
Eventually that product will be
labeled as harmful. This is not
about what Councilor Bencomo
said as she suggested a stigma.
Or that there were trying to do
a prohibition against, um
cannabis. Not at all. It is
really a legitimate concern
about the saturation of lost
Cruces becoming apart town. This
is not what we have as a vision
for our city. This is not what
we want for our city. I asked
you Would not, um, I asked
industry to continue. Thank you.
Please come up. Thank you. Good
afternoon. My name is Ali Foul.
I'm 16 years old and a student
in Centennial High School and a
former student at Medford High
School. I was in the kitchen
with my mom asked me what I
thought about these cannabis
buffer zones. I couldn't believe
that m elected officials are
not only allowing, but
encouraging drug use and our
city. I'd like to bring
attention on how this affects
our youth. So I decided to do my
own research. And I found that
it was true. So I'm here to say
that I've had first hand
experiences with kids younger
than me who flunked out of
school went to rehab and or
spend hundreds of dollars on an
industry that you are
permitting. And you may be
thinking that dispensaries don't
affect my notes. And I'm here to
tell you that that's false.
Someone that I was close to who
is 15? Was able to buy weed
without being I did because she
looks of age. She was 15 and she
became a regular at the
dispensary. She was buying weed
for herself and her friends, and
this is only one way that minors
obtaining part and other harder
substances. I could go into
story after story about people
my age that are using hof Torah
substances that causing
hallucinations or dangerous
trips or ones like nicotine that
you could buy at a gas station
that you could end up with an
eating disorder or lung cancer.
May I approach him? I would
really like to appreciate what
you said about the youth and I,
It saddens me that no one else
mentioned that. But more of you
mentioned the decrease of sales
that clusters would cause
instead of mentioning the teens,
Thank you.
I don't know if I needed to make
this up or this will work are
there you can raise the podium,
Scott. All right. Just make sure
you spend thank you.My name is
Scott crawling. Um I am the
director of public engagement
for high horse cannabis company.
I wanted to add And I'm a daily
Canada's consumer. Um, I started
my day to day with cannabis this
morning. Um, I'm. Basically I
guess have cannabis in my system
right now. I will have it. When
I go home. I'll use it tonight
before I go to sleep. Um There's
a lot of people out there like
me. And I guess I want to come
in. And, um And thank you for
being leaders and hearing people
like me. I don't. Um I don't. I
do care which way that you
choose to vote, But I understand
Um, if you've got concerns, and
you would like to see these
buffers stay in place, um,
because you said that you said
that you set a great example for
the tone of this conversation.
And I want you to know that I
want you to hear that from from
someone like me, Um Because we
wouldn't have You know, even
folks that are opposed to what I
believe in, Um, stand here and
say I support the medical use of
cannabis. That's a big that's a
big accomplishment. I feel like
that's a big accomplishment.
Even when, when people that
disagree with me and disagree
with the idea that I think that
cannabis businesses should have
, um, the ability to thrive but
that they understand the medical
value is a big is a big change.
And that's because of leadership
and people like you. And so
thank you for that. The only
thing that I'll add is that all
cannabis use has medicinal
value. Whether I'm doing it with
my friends after this meeting.
Probably will or I'm at home by
myself. My body has been
benefiting from the medicinal
use of cannabis. And so think
about that, too. Thanks. Thank
you, Scott. Now we've completed
this ideas. One more. Okayome
on out. Come on, that are coming
on this side. Britain want to
speak at public comment. Please
make your way to the front. Okay
Thank you. Good afternoon,
Councilor members and pro time
Can you hear me? You might want
to. Can you raise it up just a
bit. It's a It's a button on the
side. It is all the way up. Okay
You're yes. Good genes, anyway.
Just icon has is. We heard we've
heard it. Cannabis is a cash
business. And any cash business
is like, But what kind of
Enterprise. Um what kind of
enterprise is a cast cast
business. What kind of
enterprises are cash business?
They're all Crime. Any kind of
cash business is involved in
crime. Because they don't want
to leave any kind of, um
Electronic trip electronic trail
can Show the mind monetization
of their business. So I my point
is that if you're talking about
a cash business, we're talking
about crime and criminals. And
that's what I have to say. Thank
you. Thank you, okay. Thank you
for being patients, Lambert, You
can put the to the side there.
You can lower the podium is a
button on the side. Maybe hammer
. Dr Pitts can help it. There
you go. ank u. Good
afternoon. My name is Josie
Leonard and I'm in Councilor gun
daughters. Um area. Um and I
live in the historic Mesquita
neighborhood and our area would
be affected by if you remove the
buffer zones. I Really pray you
don't do not do this. Um, if
that is done Just right across
the street from me, and
potentially can be a cannabis
location. You had to remember.
It's not just an industry. It's
people the historic neighborhood
will be really harmed. Um we
have many elderly people in the
neighborhood. And I myself in
retired from the university
after 27 years and I am home a
lot, and I have smelled cannabis
already in my homes from a
nearby location, Cannabislotiont
the Mesquita area would be
become something like Macia. We
need a range of businesses, not
just one certain types. A lot of
businesses have moved out of the
Mesquita neighborhood because of
the pandemic or crime. But we
were hoping to bring back a
variety of business. I worked at
the university with students in
career services for 27 years,
and they never said theyante
to work in the cannabis industry
. They wanted opportunities for
buried. Businesses. And my
research online shows that
Albuquerque and Santa Fe or
maintaining the 300 buffer zone
, and I think they did that for
a reason. And I think Las Cruces
ought to follow that. Ah The
other thing is that you need
more noticed, too. I'm sorry.
Your time is up. If you can. If
you have a letter or havdone
that all of you have. Yes, ma'am
. I did receive it. Emails.
Thank you. Uh good. Good
afternoon or good morning.
Whatever it is, I sympathize
with you guys having to listen
to all of us. I disagree with
most of what I've heard so far.
I gotta tell you, I come at this
from a very different angle.
State. Your name, sir. Thank you
. Probably uh, was enjoying
marijuana before all but one of
you was born. Um and I was doing
so an integrated groups, which
were greatly frowned upon in
society at that time, so I'm
sympathetic. To what you're
saying about the history
Councilor current, But I don't
see this as being about that. I
see it from point of view of
somebody who has a builds
business across the street.
There's also a bar by that keeps
me awake at night and sometimes
m songry. I want to go up to
mayor, Ms Miyagishima.
Neighborhood and play boombox
loud so he can see what it feels
like. But this is you're talking
about a business you're talking
about people amusing themselves
, which is great playing music,
which is great. Um Been doing.
You know whatever they're doing
and not driving very well
afterward, which is not so great
because they might bang into my
car. And I'll tell you a bit of
history from aold iend. When
he was a kid in New York. He
lived near a bar, and he and the
other kids made a quarter. A few
quarters most nights sexually
servicing the drunks coming out
of the bars. Um I think without
meaning to attack anybody. It
was really absurd. Awhile ago to
here as an argument for doing
away with his own that you're
going to keep it for schools
because you've it's shown to
have a bad effect on kids. I
find kids in most residences.
Thank you. Thank you anybody
else? Please make your way down.
If you would please speaking
second, wrong. Yeah. There you
go. Please come. Good afternoon
, councilor and mayor. Pro temp
. My name is Nicole Jordans, and
I am the brand advocate for high
horse. And before I start my
comment, I would like to address
well. There were several Topsthg
public comment that stood out to
me due to mis education and
misinformation in our community
, but one that I would like to
address is vernacular vernacular
is crucial in order to
destigmatize cannabis and
cannabis users, And with that, I
would like to say that Comments
continue to be brought up that.
Are not actually related to what
we're talking about today, which
is the 300 FT buffer. The legal
industry emerges, keeping policy
decisions based on fals inf
that makes good people feel
ashamed. For their choice of
alternative medicine is
detrimental to setting the
example to the rest of the state
as we have, I believe. The
existing policy is not
preventing dispensaries from
opening. The only impact this
policy is having is delays and
additional costs for small
businesses to realize their
dreams. This is an existing
policy is also wasteful of staff
resources. Eliminating the
buffer will free up time on City
Council's agenda to address and
stay focused on issues ttacallyy
negatively, such as fentanyl.
The UN housed population and
property crime. These are issues
that all deserve our resources
and attention. Finally the legal
cannabis industry will make our
communities safer. Supporting
our efforts to legitimize our
industry is investing in making
our communities safer. Thank
you. Thank you. Anybody else on
this side? Good afternoon Mayor
Pro TEM and City Council
members. Although it is not
pleased your name and make sure
that you speak directly into the
mic, and there you go. My name
is Dominic Otero and I'm
employed with high horse
cannabis company. Although it is
not the general topic of
discussion today, there have
been false claims in power
meetings regarding cannabis
retail outlets and grow farms
negatively impacting our youth,
according to the CDC and the
Youth Youth Risk Behavior survey
in 2021 16% of high school
students claim to have used
marijuana that is icomparison
to a total of roughly 26% in
2011. The total usage of
marijuana. Marijuana amongst the
youth has decreased about 10%
since the legalization of
recreational marijuana, which
began in Colorado and Washington
are good, 2012. According to the
National Library of Medicine
Research. They performed a study
investigating whether adolescent
substance use disorder treatment
. Admissions for marijuana use
increased in Colorado and
Washington following the
recreational legalization of
cannabis. Overall statesn th
analysis, the rate of the youth
marijuana usage declined
significantly over the study
period, with the mean rate
falling nearly in half Declining
emissions rate was greater in
Colorado and Washington,
compared to non recreational
cannabis legalization states.
The adolescent treatment.
Admissions for marijuana use did
not increase in Colorado or
Washington following the
legalization. According to the
National Institute of Health,
and I quote Educational
Attainment, as indicated by both
years of education and level of
education has a consistent
inverse relationshipith drug
use, as opposed to withholding
information from our youth. The
best way to Decline the abuse of
the substance among the youth is
to educate and educate on all
properties of cannabis. Thank
you. Thank you. Hello My name is
Josh McCurdy. I'm a partner in
the high horse Cannabis company,
And I would just like to talk
about the buffers and, you know,
have a free market right now.
I've been in the medical program
for over 10 years and the price
is right now today or the best
I've ever seen for our medical
patients of all sorts, and not
all. Not all dispensaries focus
on the medical side of it. But
for our patients to have access
like that, and allowing all of
it, you're allowed us to do the
24 hours, and we've had patients
coming at two or three in the
morning with insomnia and be
able to give them relief is a
miracle thing to us and
especially myself. Um I wanted
to mention the stigma having a
medical card. Nobody should have
to fear having a medical card or
what people think of them
because they have medical
cannabis and the right to use
that. As medicine. Um and just
the free competition. I'm a big
fan of it, and just the free
market to let it open and let us
see where we're at and the
consumers and the patients when
at this, not everybody is going
to survive. It's part of the
capitalism and the best will
survive with the best methods
and the prices and stuff and The
patients ultimately win. Thank
you. Thank you. Before we go any
further. A mayor is onlinend I
made a motion to allow him to
participate. So moved by Flores
sh motion made by Councilor
Flores Second Abeyta. Second
made by a beta Christine. This
is an emotion to allow the mayor
to participate. Telephonically
Councilor Abeyta. Yes Councilor
Graham? Yes. Councilor Bencomo.
Yes. Korean waters. Yes Pro TEM
yes and Mayor. Okay son. Adrian.
Thank you. Yes There you go.
There he is. Okay? Yes we can
hear you. Mayor Christine just
called the road. He's your
whether we want to participate
or not. Here. We know Hello. We
hear you, America Can you hear
us? Mayor. Absent for now, and
then when he gets back on, he's
already voted in. Thank you.
Okay Yes, please. Yes. Yes, we
can hear you, Mac. Yeah, I can
hear you. Okay, Christine.
Healthier good. And I said
hello. Peter Goodman High, he
said. Hi, okay. We just need
your vote. Yeah Okay. Thank you
. Okay please. Whoever is next,
sir. Yes, all dancer he's next
year. Go ahead. Plus Cruces. Uh
you need to get it. Council
member Conrad out in half.
Speaking. Cruces has certainly
welcome the cannabis industry,
as witnessed by, Let's just stay
, did you Well, it's Conrad
Hawk. You did that, sir. Plus,
Cruces has certainly welcome the
cannabis industry with open arms
as witnessed by the number of
outlets currently in place. But
we do need to step back and
recognize that marijuana is
still a controlled substance as
designated by the federal
government. Just this cigarette
Smoking was endorsed in the 19
fifties and beyond as a relaxing
experience. Later this became
associated with lung cancer.
Similarly Vaping introduced as a
safe substitute that also can
jeopardize the recent
respiratory system. So medical
use notwithstanding. Uoresn
physiological and psychological
effects due to long term use of
marijuana are yet to be fully
understood. Given these
concerns. And potentially
unintended consequences. Should
we not protect our community and
proceed with caution by
maintaining or extending the
current buffer zones?
Essentially air on the on the
safe side. Thank you. Thank you.
Hello Counselors. Mayor Pro TEM
. My name is Derek Pacheco for
the record. Um I think you all
for continuing this
conversation. This is an
important conversation that is
actually putting us on the map
and the forefront of innovation
when it comes to cannabis and
how we deal with it in our
neighborhoods. I just want to
remind the public that this
resolution amendment has come
forth by staff members. Dr Pitts
and crew have been busy wasting
time. Having to direct Folks to
pay NZ meetings where every
single vote besides, one has
been approved. This is simply to
save time and resources of the
community Development
Department. The rhetoric that
I've heard has no real force on
this conversation could because
it is the same. Old school
rhetoric that we are trying to
get past. We don't need to hear
these comments. This is simply
about what has been brought
forth by staff members. In
addition due to complex and
advance talks with counselors
such as Councilor, Florida's
here I've taken that to heart
and actually have invited Dr
Peter Grinspoon. Of Harvard
fame. And cannabis fame to come
speak with folks. At my licensed
cannabis facility. To try to put
some of these misnomers to rest.
Because education is important.
And I want you to note That
Peter Goodman just spoke. On
cannabis and being pro cannabis
and being a long time young
person user. I want to remind
folks that he is a municipal
court judge. And he smokes dope.
Thank you. Next. Hello. Mayor,
Pro temp and Council, right? My
name is Sebastian swap is, um,
the general manager at Oregon
Mountain Cannabis. And I'm a
medicinal cannabis advocate. I
think this meeting was a perfect
setup for what I'm trying to say
, because we've already seen a
couple of Uh, False statements
like the last time this was
voted. By the Council. All seven
of the members weren't there to
vote on it by the committee, and
I'm the business that's actually
being affected by the business
that's trying to open up right
next door to ours with the
amount of businesses opening,
we're definitely seeing The
market flush itself out, but I
think far too often we put
capitalism first, and we've seen
it over and over again with
pharmaceutical companies and the
alcohol industry and even the
fast food industry that greedy
called politicians constantly
take precedence over public
health. And this constantly
happens to the point where 20
years later, we're gonna have to
turn around and fix it. And I've
heard Constantly from a bunch of
people in the industry lawyers
from other states that That
Commend New Mexico on the way
we've rolled out cannabis
legislation over here, but I
feel like this here was set up
to help protect the market here,
and it's slowly breaking it
apart. We've already seen in
Albuquerque, human trafficking
victims that are a part of these
illegal dispensaries that are
coming in and taking advantage
the dispensaries that can't
compete. It's no longer equality
Game. It's a capital game here.
And if you don't have the
capital to compete against
people like Darren White and. Oh
man, Kristin Thompson. She used
to be the director that CCD.
She's one of ultra health mean
lawyers, and now she's one of
weeds, head spokespersons, and
we just public consulting these
people over here on the laws
they're making now, and I just
see it falling apart slowly, was
surely thank you. Anybody else
onhis side? Thank you, Mayor
Pro TEM Gandara and City
counselors. My name is Sarah
Smith. As a mother. I'm here
today to ask you to maintain the
300 ft buffer. My concerns about
removal of the cannabis buffer
are not related to my own
Children. My husband and I are
raising our own teens to know
better than to get involved with
drugs, but I'm worried about the
many other Children in this
community who won't have those
same advantage those whose
parents are not as involved and
who are already at risk. These
are the kids who will be most
likely to suffer the negative
impacts if you remove the
buffer. I was not opposed to
cannabis legalization. I know
that cannabis has important
medical uses. Nonetheless I
implore you to prioritize the
health and well being of
Children growing up here instead
of only the needs of the
emerging cannabis industry.
There are already many
dispensaries here in the city.
And here. We just had a retailer
telling you that's not going to
be helpful to him to remove the
buffer. It's going tourt eir
business. If you remove the 300
ft buffer, he will be putting
Las Cruces Children at risk.
Public health studies have shown
that as more cannabis retailers
move into an area, more Children
are likely to have substance
abuse issues, and they're more
likely to start using drugs at
younger ages. The more the
Children see cannabis in their
community, the less risky they
believe it to be, and so more of
them will use it. Cannabis is
not harmless, especially for
Children. Studies in the Journal
of the American Medical
Association have found that
adolescent brain development is
hindered by the use of cannabis.
I have sent you these
references. If there are too
many dispensaries in Los Cruces,
they're going to be more
Children here who will end up
abusing drugs and suffering from
impaired brain function. They're
going to have problems with
attention and memory. These
issues do not go away. When they
stop using cannabis. You will
have directly harmed these
Children through your policies,
and these Children will not be
allowed to thrive and succeed.
Instead of removing the 300 ft
buffer. I'm calling on you to
extend the same protection to
multi family areas as well so
that these protections will be
in place f all Children,
regardless of status. Thank you.
Thank you.
Good evening. My name is
Elizabeth Ortega. And. I'm not
gonna say a whole lot. Accept it
. As a psychologist, I learned
that cannabis creates canvases
crevices in the brain. And it's
a second Tropic drug does not
healthy for you. And as a
teacher, I learned that cannabis
keeps your students out of class
. It was really, really hard to
get those students to class.
They were always somewhere.
Smoking their weed, and they
didn't come to class. Simple
Thank you. Thank you.
Hi My name is Megan Bolter. I'm
public Health law attorney and
professor at the University of
Denver School of Public Hlth
and Health Policy. I'm also a
resident and apparent here in
Las Cruces. I came before this
committee back in October and
shared with you some density
maps regarding the existing
density in October 2022. I also
provided a number of studies
that indicated that proximity
and density do matter. These
buffer zones. They are not
arbitrary. They are based in
evidence based research in
public health, and Professor
Karen. I know that, you know,
Well that, um your physical and
social environment are also
social determinant health, so I
will not repeat those. But I do
want to talk about the nature of
these impact studies and what
they're doing in terms of
looking at financial impact
alone. And I appreciate Doctor
picks contribution, but simply
that the analysis didn't notice
or didn't think or didn't
observe. An impact does not mean
that they do not exist. And in
the October meeting, we were
told that a number of
stakeholders would be involved
as Gandara. You you mentioned or
and forest about using public
health professionals and
retailers to develop point of
sale retail policy that benefits
both local retailers and the
community at large, So I just
want to name three more things
there. It is not about use,
possession or purchase marijuana
is legal whether it's medical Or
recreational. You should never
have to have an explanation of
why you use and what you use.
That is your business. It's
legal, and it's available and
accessible. A 300 ft barrier is
a reasonable regulation that
does not eliminate your ability
to access 24 hour service or
drive through facilities. Some
of my family members do,
however. If you eliminate that
buffer You do put a burden on
homeowners that now don't have a
choice of whether or not they
stay or move based on those
incoming retailers, And I'm not
saying they would. All I'm
saying is that consider this as
a not A, um, animosity between
the two. We can work together to
develop better policy, but all
stakeholders need to be heard. I
did bring a letter from mountain
view. Thank you. Memorial
positions, give it to her clerk
to read that because their
commercial spaces are also being
impacted. You. Okay? Anybody
Council? Do you have any thing
to say? I just want to say
because I said I would, um There
were another view that came up
and suggested that this company
doesn't care about kids and I
want to be clear these people
every day. Care tremendously
about him. Are Mama's empties.
Um um friends of and they care
deeply about this. This is a
very complex issue. I think most
of us would agree here and
Council that this isn't about
whether we agree can should be
legal or not. This is about a
buffer and says specifically
from my perspective. Um I
continue to be concerned about
youth consumption and density
and again. I've askedur sff
to work through that. It's
unclear and really unfair to
make a decision. Um over time
when we clearly asked for
experts to come To the table and
have conversation and it hasn't
occurred yet, so we have to rely
on experts in community to speak
to that. So with that, Um
Christine, call the roll. Madam
mar, uple of things. Okay
first off. I'm happy to say I
just got back from my last US
Conference of Mayors meeting
where I was part and we actually
did pass the resolution. To the
U. S conference of Mayors are
going to send to Congress. Bill.
Well we want them to put a bill
through to not allow tobacco
companies to sell mental two
young kids, so I just wanted to
point that out number 203 100 Ft
. Of 300 FT Buffer is basically
one football field.ll right.
And so a lot of it is he got a
lot of some homes don't have air
conditioning, so they have their
their windows open. They used
fans. You know you you you if we
were to remove that buffer, and
you have all these people who
might be after the and they're
not supposed to, but they do
anyway. Smoking cannabis and it
just it just hurt the quality of
life. Those residents who don't
want to sell that and two it's
gonna probably hear the property
dies of the of the area that
where these businesses are, and
frankly, there's just too many
businesses. If you they're not
gonna they're not all gonna make
it can almost assure you Then in
the next five years, you're not
going to see the number that are
there because it's just there's
just not enough. Business for
them. And you just all going to
be doing is that any more fuel
to the fire? By allowing you
know? Bye bye. Removing the
buffer. So I really think that
if it's not broke Leave it alone
, and I'm obviously gonna Sport
, keeping that three in your
foot buffer, but I just wanted
to thank you say now. Hi,
everybody. And thanks for your
patience, and then I was able to
land safely and we're on our way
home soon. Okay That's it.
Thanks Thank you, Mayor to go.
He's going to stay on the line
to vote. Yes. Christine This is
on the motion to approve
ordinance 3037 Councilor Abeyta.
No. Councilor ground. Yes
Council. Bangkok. Yes Councilor
crown. Yes Council flaws. No.
No. Mayor. No. Motion fails.
Thank you for everybody's
patient. Now we are resolution
number 23 1 32 Proof move to
approve Graham. Second Abeyta,
maybe. Second concert asked.
Maybe you could do it very
quietly. Reduce your speech
because we are still meeting.
Thank you. I'm going to be
leaving so. We're gonna miss
you. Ah Hmm. Been up since 4 30
or whatever. So little tired,
but I'm glad I made it. Thank
you, ma'am. Alright. Bye bye.
Very badly. 0.2.
No, sir.
Are we ready? Point to Larry?
I'm sorry Triglesoved to
approve. We are. We already did
it. Thank you, though. Go ahead,
Larry. Good evening Mayor, Pro
TEM member study Council Larry
Nichols Community development
The. Resolution to approve
before you is the placement of a
commemorative. Memorial and in
location of Veterans Memorial
part. They discussed the process
, the person the policy and the
president's memorials and parks
settings. Memorial Park request
procedure. The applicant
normally sits, submits a written
request to the Park Recreation
Department. The park and
Recreation Department reviews
the request. From a design type
and location request. If the
location is in the Veterans
Memorial Park. And the Veterans
Advisory Board by ordinance has
. Opportunity to review that
request. It's the thing they're
looking for is if the memorial
request has significance or
theme to a military event, a war
We're a other events related to
the theme of the park. Veterans
Advisory Board, then makes
recommendations of City Council.
Who has the last decision on the
memorial request. If approved,
the applicant procures the
memorial Park in recognition
department installs. November
the Gonzalez family requested
the memorial to discuss and
discuss with Park and recreation
Department. They were given
general information regarding
the memorial request. And then
the Gonzales is then met with
park and recreation director. To
request the park bench. And
tree. On the January the 20/4 of
the immortal Requests and
Veterans Memorial Park. Was
presented to the Veterans
Advisory Board. And they
discussed the whip My the
Gonzalez family, the veteran's
advisory board and the parking
recreation. The department
related to discuss related the
memorial policy and guidelines.
At that time. The Veterans of
Ice report denied the request.
For the Veterans Memorial Park
guidelines as a complete to
resolution 02002. On February
20/8. We began to prepare the
veterans of Bison Boy
recommendation. Traverse Cy
Council on March the 10th There
was an additional meeting with
the study manager's office, the
parking record Department, City
Community Development Department
and the Gonzalez family to
discuss some memorial request
type and location. At that
meeting. The Gonzales is we're
we're asking that a butterfly
garden be considered for the
memorial. The parking,
recreation policy and precedence
is were provided at that
meeting. On March 20/8. The
veteran's advisory boarding is
on his family. Notified that
were notified of the City
Council meeting and the proposed
hearing. On April 20/5 Veterans
Advisor board held a regular
meeting again Consider the
request for updated Butterfly
Garden proposal. The butter. The
veteran's advisory board once
again just goes to the amended
memorial proposal. And then I
the request to be located in the
Veterans MemorialPark setting,
citing resolution again, zero to
002. May 22nd study Council
Harry and date was scheduled And
then today, June the fifth. We
have this item before the City
Council to render a decision on
the memorial request in Memorial
Park. The memorial guidelines
and policies by the parking
Recreation Department or what
they describe as a memorial tree
and bench program. This is a
precedent that has been used for
morals and over 50 memorial
settings and various parks
within the city. That policy
talks about Option one, a nutri
suited for the local park. The
second option is a bench placed
in the local park. Or along a
trail. And the third option is a
custom bench with the name
plaque placed In the park or
along the trail. That decision
alternatives for you today. Or
to consider the Gonzalez family
and memorial request. Or. To
consider the park and
recreation. Tree and bench
memorial policy and program or
thirdly, to vote on the
veteran's advisory board
recommendation. Your options
would be a yes vote would to be
approved the memorial request. A
no vote would be to deny the
memorial request. The ve to
end would provide options for
memorial type and location. Or
the table would deny the
decision on the request. And we
have the memories from the
veteran's advisory board. Here
today to speak to the council as
well as the Gonzalez family. I
can't lose my presentations, Mr
Nichols. Who's here from a Born.
Can I ask you a question? Mayor
Beauty CouncilorBencomo first.
Okay, thank you just was under
the impression that there was
further discussion or more
presentation. But of course
incomes are Bencomo. Please do I
was unclear about Number three.
The veteran board recommendation
and I went to use the
restaurants. I don't know if I
missed it, Larry, but I wasn't
clear about that. I'm sorry,
ma'am may approach him and
Councilor Bencomo. Your question
was there just their
recommendation. The council you
said there was three options for
today. The la one number
three. I was unclear about what
that was. Sorry. I thought you
meant slide three. No no, no.
That this number three Can you
explain? Number three is the
number three is that the
veteran's advisory board? Made
recommendations to deny and that
was a recommendation to City
Council to consider. Thank you.
Without your timing. Yes,
Councilor is that Abeyta. Yeah.
I am getting my glasses so I can
see better. Thank you. Thank
you, Mayor Pro TEM. And thank
you, Mr Nichols. My question
becomes on. The recommendation
from the board did that come
during Um, that January 20/4
meeting and that's or did they
do a formal vote? Mayor Pro TEM
Councilor Abeyta. That is
correct. January 20/4 was it was
a 10 0 vote at that meeting.
Then that, um, does not look
like a vote that would have been
ableto be allowed under Obama.
Is that correct? Because the
request came during public
participation. And so it was not
an action item and eligible for
a vote. That was that's correct
. It should have been listed as
an action item. Mayor Pro TEM
and Councilor Abeyta. It should
have been listed as an action
item. So the option for Veterans
of Bias Area board items should
not be an option for us today,
correct since it is not viable
legal option. Christine. They're
pro TEM Councilor Abeyta. Yeah,
it should have been listed as an
action item so I would disregard
their option. Thank you. And
this is a side note a few about
a month ago, I requested
training. Um for parliamentary
procedure and omae. For Boards
and everything. I think this is
the reason why, um That is
needed. So thank you. And thank
you, Mr Nichols. Council. Thank
you. Councilor Abeyta? Yes
Cancer plot is thank you, Madam
Chair and thank you, Mr Nichols
. And my apologies for, um um
for not being here for the
presentation. But um, I have a
question about, um The well.
It's up for a vote right now.
But we weren't at least maybe,
um what The veterans have their
own memorial, and they're
opposed to what the city's
proposg ithat correct? No my
approach. Um and Councilor
Flores, the veterans on board
there they were basing their
recommendation. Based on the
resolution, 02002. Which says
that the memorial show respond
to the theme of the park, a
military event or war. So does
the memorial that is being
proposed now inconsistent with
that they pretended Councilor
Flores. The memorial is being
proposes an individual memorial
for the Gonzalez family's
daughter. Oh yes, And that's the
one where the Gonzalez family is
actually paying for it. Or
contributing. I think Mr
Gonzalez is right there. Can he
speak to that? Of course. So
Adrian and testicles all this So
initlly, yes, we were talking
about possibly having a
butterfly garden, but it was
discussed with both the
veteran's advisory board and
City Council that she was a
military child. And one of the
themes is a purple ribbon, which
signifies military Children. Um
we were willing to do whatever
the city and the veteran's
advisory board see fit. And then
we found out that the veteran's
advisory report Doesn't actually
have Too much of a saying it.
Their job is to propose
everything to you all and you
all are supposed to make the
determination. Um so for them to
vote on it, they didn't actually
have that authority. In
accordance with The city
ordinance, which I read. That's
my understanding as well. I just
wanted to make sure that that
had been fully explained. Yes
ma'am, and we're still willing
to contribute the entire cost.
If that's what it needs to be,
if it needs to be a shared
memorial in honor of military of
all military Children, because
it's kind of Embarrassing that
we have White Sands Missile
range, Holloman Air Force Base
and Fort Bliss in El Paso,
Texas. We have this beautiful
park and I don't think you guys
throw a Military child event in
April. And I don't think that's
acceptable water. It was also
the month that our daughter
passed. Thank you. My
condolences. Thank you, ma'am.
Thank you, Mr Gonzales, nzal
. Thank you, Larry. I'm going to
say that this comes with deep
respect. I'm a mom of it of a
veteran. Um I understand, Um. He
went to war. He came back. He
has PTSD. And. I have some PTSD
to as a family member, waiting,
waiting and waiting to hear and
feel like When I read everything
, and honestly when Mr Gonzales
came to us at public comment
whiled ago several months ago, I
believe to speak to this, um,
must concerned Um and I want for
our veteran board. I want to, uh
I have it or inboard to really
think about those people that
include the partners and
Children right that Um. Pay a
huge debt, right waiting and the
level of insecurity and
concerned that they all have,
while their loved one is to war
. I don't believe that our park
it. I think it should also
include that and I say that with
all respect, I know that there
is concern about The level of.
Teams that are out there the
maybe disrespectful actions that
we've had some. We've had some,
um. Property crime a while ago
and again. This doesn't mean any
disrespect, but I would like for
us to find a way to compromise
and over time I have felt that
there was a and I wasn't there.
I don't believe there were notes
in the packet because I've been
reading like I said since last
week, so I wanna I didn't see
notes and I don't know if they
formally through the board take
notes, so I wasn't there to hear
the back and forth, but it
didn't feel like, um. The board
was open to coming to a
compromise and you really
utilize such a. A difficult
situation with the death of a
child that happened there at the
park that we could use that as a
positive because I think and I'm
not a person that has served in
the military. But I think there
are unfortunately Children who
die at war. And so could we look
at a way to honor our Children
using this this this situation
here and so, Larry, you were
there, I think Or probably not.
I don't know that you were there
because I believe Mr Intricacies
was the representative in the
board. So can you talk a little
bit about the process? And what?
That If something like that,
because I was confused. At
first, I thought it was a park
bench and, um You know a plaque
, but then it moved into. I
think a butterfly. I guess
Butterfly park if you will, and
I wasn't sure what that what the
logic was behind that, although
I think beautiful. I think it's
great and I've had several
people talk to me specifically
about when is the city going to
move into those sorts of
options? Yes, Councilor being I
mean, Mayor Pro TEM. Gandara
I'll defer to Mr Gonzalez. If
he'd like to speak, and then
I'll answer a question for you.
Appreciate it. Sorry Um,
Originally it was a bench and a
tree when the veteran's advisory
board I was discussing it with
us. They didn't want name
plaque. So it was not going to
be an identified memorial that
was going to be a nameless
memorial. So now that's why we
changed it to If we can do
Butterfly garden, even if it's
fully funded by my family. Um.
Mr Gonzalez, Let me if I can ask
Larry. I'm sorry. I know how
difficult this is and I, um.
Like to ask a question. I do
Wanna I do want to say I'm a bit
concerned because I know that
there is a fundraiser that
realizing that happens where
there's bricks that are sold
that have names of numerous
funders. What's the difference
specifically? Lar. I mean, I
know that this person said that
they would fund it completely.
So I just I just want to make
sure that the parties understand
completely that you know what
your don't feel like They have
been Some compromise here and
I'm hoping that we can get to
that place and that's what I
like to suggest is recommended
that we allow for that to happen
there. Yes. My approach him
Gandara. When it was was
presented to the veterans
advisory ports. The bathroom
advisory board heard the
request. From the consultants
family. And each member. Of the
veteran's advisory board
expressed their condolences. And
shared in the family's grief.
All of us have done. The
Veterans of Ivory Board was
referring to the guidelines for
monuments or memorials in the
park that they are related. Not
to an individual but to if an
individual if he was a
participant in the military
history, events or war. And that
was what they ended up basing
their decision on But to answer
the second portion of your of
your comment. Is there something
that could be done to recognize
how. You know others for the
memorial Park. That was the
whole Basis for the memorial.
The Letters Advisory Ward. Point
of view was that the veterans
Memorial Park is a designated a
special use park. So it was the
it was the location of that
memorial. More than the memorial
itself. That they were they
offered, Lee suggested that can
is always family if they
possibly could consider An
alternate location other than
the Veterans Memorial Park. But
that was did not want to be
considered. And so that's what
drove the process We would have
. We would need to do this to do
what you were suggesting. And
that is to go back and change
are the resolution. Review
guidelines. The review
guidelines. I have those here.
The review guidelines for this
resolution request that there is
a description of the type design
and location Maybe that's an
opportunity to do what you're
suggesting. Additionally the
reasoningor t reqst to
identify if it's a group or an
individual. And then memorial is
a relationship to the theme of
the memorial part And then
finally, the memorial day notice
and every event, the military
history we will need to change
these guidelines. Thank you,
Larry for the clarification.
Appreciate that very much, Um. I
would like women to change those
guidelines. This is a ver
special circumstance and
unfortunate incident that
occurred that resulted in a
death and we can all agree that
we share condolences and sorrow
of a baby passing away
specifically there, and I just
want to say That. You know, it's
part of our culture. You'll
drive all over our city. I 40 or
25 and were people die right is
where direct classes and such
and or recognize that the death
occurred specifically in that
location, And so I don't think I
am not suggesting that we set up
residence But what I'm
suggesting is that we honor this
baby. And that we might look at,
um The way we honor Children who
die at war as well as a way to,
you know, sort of move in in the
direction Then I'll get you Miss
English and public comment, I
promise, but it's we're not at
that time yet. Thank you. Um I'm
sorry since I was talking to
that Councilor Bencomo and
Councilor Abeyta Thank you,
Mayor for Tim. Thanks Larry. And
thank you to the family for
being here. Please know that I
cannot imagine the grief that
you must be feeling and I
appreciate you being here and
your advocacy. Um I. I think. I
would support a, um. The
resolution. The proposal around
the bench entry With, um the
name of your little girl. I
think the family can and you can
work with veterans board about
finding the right location that
doesn't Um, you know, there is a
purpose and an intention of that
park, a publicly funded park
right public parking publicly
funded park. Um that has an
intention that has a purpose,
and I think it's a beautiful
one. The mean it's all powerful
, and I think there could Be a
place for a bench. I don't think
you laid out the intentions of
that park in the memorials and
anything that goes there, and I
think that's important and a
tragedy occurred. No one can.
None of us hope ever think
that's going to happen, right?
Gosh we quite the opposite right
? And then the tragedy happened
and I think. That doesn't take
away from the intention and the
meaning of that park at all. And
so for me, I If I'mleas
clarify it, Larry, if I'm
mistaken, but the options are We
need to provide an amendment to
this resolution, as is because
it doesn't specify any Um,
guidance. My approach. Um and
Councilor Bencomo. Um If you are
wanting to improve For the
memorial request. To the park
recreation presidents speaking
either bench and tree program.
Then you believe your vote would
be Yes. Okay as is I understand
. And I, um I think this has a
lot of layers. There's a lot of
emotion on this right. And if I
Put on my sort of logistics,
right? I also want to note that
Um, while your idea for butter
fly garden is beautiful in the
long term, I also consider the
maintenance costs and staffing
that than the city would have
to, um, in order to do that, um
, moving forward right in and So
I appreciate the sentiment
behind that I really do. And
it's just I think, in the long
term that just works a little
bit less than then I think what
a bench and a tree and I
understand about it Not being a
nameless memorial, right? And I
think a name again like I said,
does not take away from any
other significance of that park.
So that is That is my
perspective. I think it's. An
important request any think it's
request that we unfortunately
have to make in response to a
tragedy, Protest and Councilor
Bencomo and counselors all? The
veterans of Isa Roy does
recognize and that you have the
final decision on on this side
of Thank you. Councilor. Bencomo
Cancer Abeyta. Thank you. When I
bring my kids to Veterans Park
we walk and we try to honor
that. We can't hear you. Please
try to honor the memory and what
the park means in that sentiment
, And as we're there, there's
other service members with their
families there, and we're doing
it. And then afterwards we
stopped at the little. Um
Playground. And we let out all
that, um, energy that we had
been holding in as we were doing
something very serious. And for
me, that's where I see wouldn't
be nice to be able to sit on a
bench under a tree and take a
moment and recognize the value
that our Children. Mean to us,
and we're all family members,
d th's where I see that has
definitely place in our park and
for our members because our
veterans are family members,
their parents, and there's so
much history to be learned in
that area that can be done if we
don't include Children there.
And if we don't allow, and so,
um I think it is a perfect spot
to have a bench in to help.
Memorialized in memorized. And
trees and benches. They last a
lot longer, and as thisree
grows stronger hopefully those
memories stay locked in just as
strong. So thank you. And thank
you, Mayor Pro TEM. Thank you.
Councilor Councilor Flores
concert Cran. Thank you, Madam
Chair and thank you again. Larry
and Mr and Mrs Gonzalez. I know
it's very hard for you to be
here. Um Well, there was. I I'm
inclined to go with the request
as presented, Um and I would
also I believe I agree. Concur
with, um, a Councilor Abeyta
that, um That a park I mean the
punch and tree would be a lot
more meaningful and then through
the years that tree would grow.
Um an then I have just the And
again I and II to and the some
of the guidelines for, uh,
putting things up in the
veteran's park is that it be
related to something that
military And, well, first of all
, the child's father is a
veteran. Who suffers from PTSD,
no less. And the other is that,
um Mm hmm. Cheers. Well that
that that that the father is a
military veteran and the child
was at the park. Her death
occurred in the parking lot if I
recall correctly, doesn't
memorial there? I don't know
what it is. But and this is with
all due respect to the Veterans
board, with all the respect, but
it is a public park and the
funding would come out of our
parks and recreation. Um or
whatever funding. Um so I'm
inclined to, um To say yes to
the proposal as presented And,
um With a park in the bench. And
to move forward expeditiously.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Councilor, Flores, Council
Councilor corn. Thank you. Thank
you for the presentation. Thank
you all for being here and
asking about this, So I just
want to make extra sure that I
understand. Yes has to approve
the more and more request in the
form of a Tree and a bench
Veterans Memorial Park. Request
the initial memorial. Yes,
Cancer. Later approaching him
and Councilor Koran. There's
this is the remember Memorial
Tree and bench program. That is
being considered the park and
Recreation Department. This is
the president's that they've
used for 50 other memorials and
so it but they have the three
options, but I believe it is the
bench and Doesn't say bench
entry, but that's what was
proposed by Councilor Bencomo.
So. These were the three options
that the Let me show you those.
These are the three options that
they have in the memorial policy
. The option One is the tree and
Option two is the bench and then
Option three is the bench with a
plaque. At Veterans Park. Yes,
as has been proposed at Veterans
Park. Thank you. That's just
what I wanted to get clarity on.
Thank you for that clarity and
thank you for being here. Thank
you, Councilor Karen. Anything
else? Okay Comment. Actually,
Mayor pretend I'm sorry. Just
procedurally. Christine is there
um My apologies. I just feel
like I'm a little thing missing
, and so does there need to be
an amendment to this resolution
? Protect Councilor and come on
No in the last, Whereas
statement, it says that perhaps
department offers a community
memorial tree and or bench
program, And so that's what
you'll be approving. Great.
Thank you, Christine. Thanks for
the clarification. Concert
Bencomo comment, please. I'll
start on my left and please come
down if you have State your
name? My name is Peggy Galarza
Galarza, and I am also a veteran
. Okay My husband's a veteran.
He died in 2020. He was a
Vietnam and desert storm threat.
I have to follow the policy
rules, um, dealing with veteran
part because my husband wasn't
born in the state. I can't get
his name put on the plaque.
Perpetuate for the Vietnam wall
over there. Um. I understand.
He's a veteran in the child died
there. At the It's. It's a hard
don't But I don't think it
warrants. No more of your all
there for the little child. I
have three boys that have been
through this A storm would be in
my husband. And They have their
own PTSD over this. It war as
well as I do. Um. Okay. I'm just
my voice is cracking. Um I
understand your child. You lost
your child there. Um but it
doesn't warrant under the
veterans, you know? Policies of
rules. For a man. Please address
me, not me. But look right and
memorial, okay? I mean, I can't
even get my even my Children
pass away. I can't have a tree
put in the park that we've lived
here since 2004. And I can't do
it in that stuff, either. You
can appreciate nice. I hope you
both know on it. Thank you. Who
else? Yes Miss English. Please
make your way down. If you're on
to my left, make your way down
to get through this. We saw this
agenda, so I'm asking you to
make your way down. If you're on
the left side. Well I'm sticking
it out with the rest of you. So
my name is Laurie English again
. I'd like to say that first of
all my condolences to the
family. I'm sorry You lost a
child. On the other hand, I'm
100% disabled veterans standing
here in front of you right now.
That is a veteran's park. I
agree. There should be some
monument to this young lady and
the loss of her life. But why
not put it in another park? This
is a designated veterans park
the names in that park or all
people. That have given their
lives for their country. I
respect the Gonzalez family with
my entire heart. I am not a
parent. I don't know what I
would do if I was in lost a
child in that manner. But it is
Veterans Park. There are
numerous oer pks tt can be
designated. That might allow a
butterfly garden, but this is a
veteran's park. This gentleman
suffers from PTSD. I do too. So
I have to buy a brick for my
father because he did not enlist
in New Mexico. I had to buy a
brick for myself for the Vietnam
Monument. To me. Veterans Park
is a specifically designated
park that I feel very deeply
about this. Um By the way, I
only got two minutes and I
should be getting three. But
that's okay because I'm trying
to make a point here. The
veteran's advisory council was
put in charge of agreeing or
voting on Sort by the mayor of
the city of Los Cruces. This is
a program that goes back years.
That it is a designated part.
Maybe we should name The
playground after this child. The
playground that already exists.
The family would be relieved of
any nancl rponse. Thank
you, Miss English. Two minutes,
please. My name is Phyllis
Major. Phyllis Major Richardson
. I'm sorry, Please restated.
Phyllis Mesa, Richard Sam
documents Phyllis, daughter of a
veteran and a mother of a
veteran. I do not agree with
having a child. In the park,
even though I think he said he
was a veteran. Is he a veter?OkD
. My father is already God so I
can't speak for him. And my son
doesn't live here any longer. So
if you can't agree tonight, and
it's too emotional for you I
would table it. Because I see
tears are rolling. Maybe some
motions. I don't know whether
it's going to be a I don't want
them to sit here a blue and a
red thing, But I think we should
just That the motions lie. Thank
you very much for your time.
Thk you Next.
Mayor approach him. Council
members. My name is Chris Sauder
. I'm a retired colonel in the
Nurse Corps of the Army. I felt
a lot about this, and I've
talked to a lot of it friends
who, um Feel. The same way that
I do, and many of us veterans do
that This is of Veterans Park.
If we allow This young child
memorialized there. Everyone
else is going to want to be
memorialized there for some
reason. And This is a monument
to those people who gave their
lives for their country and I
sympathize with the family. I
What I heard about this. Itjust
killed me. But these The
veteran's park is not there for
individuals is there for Mill
Cherry. Honors. Uh we have the
wall that remembers Uh, veterans
who enlisted in Donna Anna
County and we have bricks for
families that Have had people.
Come to lost Cruces and perhaps
past year The. The park is not
dedicated to individuals but two
eras battles. Um. Again The
nurse. I understand your grief.
Come to the park. Sit. Enjoy the
solitude. Think about your
daughter. I don't think you need
a memorial to do that. You can
do that within your heart. While
sitting in the park. Thank you.
Thank you. Do you want to reset
the fun Because I've already
spoken. Thank you. Adrian's Las
again. I want to point out that
it is not just for people who
gave their lives. There are
Council members, men and women
that purchased the brick.
They're here today to tell you
that they purchased the break.
Some of them honored their
family members like brothers and
fathers who may or may not have
given their lives. Um I just
think it's Kind of funny that
you guys want to sit here and
say Like, Oh, it's for The
ultimate sacrifices for this.
It's for that. I feel like a lot
of people don't know the history
of that part. That part was a
gift from veterans affairs.
That's why we have a veteran's
advisory board. Uh since the
park has been created. What was
it about 30 years ago? It's been
gifted to the city of Los
Cruces. Therefore the city of
Los Cruces has control of it,
because it is a park. For the
people. Events defend their
freedom for So for all of you
Other veterans who feel that
this is your part shuttle on
you. It's for the city of Los
Cruces and our Children. Thank
you. Thank you, Mr Gonzales. My
name is Fred half. I am not a
veteran. Read here eight point
to a resolution to approve the
request for a placement of a
commemorative memorial. And.
Veterans Memorial Park.
Repeatedly heard everybody say
Veterans Park. This is a
memorial park. It's not just
another park. Have been very
intimately involved with Quite a
few of them memorials at this
park. And as much as I feel for
the loss of this family I have
to totally agr witthe
Veterans Committee and everyone
else That's agree that states
There should be for veterans, a
memorial to veterans that's in
the name of the park. So please
keep that in mind. I saw Hall
ago on the on the teleprompter.
Where they mentioned a memorial
at a city park or something like
that. That's fine. But this is
Veterans Memorial Park. It's not
just a park. Thank you. Thank
you. Anybody else on this side?
Okay on this southern to my
right, anybody want to speak To
my right. Hello Um Council Mayor
Pro TEM. My name is Kendall
Larsen. Um I am also a veteran.
And I completely agree with you
. Mayor Pro TEM. I would love to
see a memorial to all of our
veteran Children at the park.
Not necessarily just for this
instance. I know my Children
suffered a lot while I was gone
and It was very hard for them.
Um, but as has been stated Being
a bedroom memorial park. My
family also do not qualify for
the benefits they would not
qualify to being buried at a
veterans cemetery. Um, because
that is designated for That type
of situation so That's all I
have to say. Thank you. Thank
you. Anybody else on this side?
Please make your way down,
please. Thank you. My name is
Karen Woods. I am the current
chair of the Veteran's advisory
board. I like to clarify
something. Okay. The vote. When
Mr Gonzalez addressed the board
members. I would like this, and
he just said what? I want a
vote. I didn't offer. I said
Okay. You want to vote will
vote. That's how the vote came
about. Not because I made it
because it was the request of Mr
Guns Office. I want to make that
point. Clearer Okay? And at that
particular point when that was
done Okay? And you got to
remember the complement of the
board. Okay? It is basically
it's uh, I got three branches of
service. Um, the Navy. We have
Ah Army and Air Force. Okay?
There are from all eras and
they're all ages, and they're
all listed, senior enlisted or
as one case we have an officer.
So the compliment is just not
one sided. I just want to let
you know about that. This is
hard for me. Okay When it comes
up forth that a child lost their
life. Any child loss is
terrible, very, very bad. A
havi to tell Parents. That
they have lost their child. I
I've done that. It's just not
good period. Alright, I feel for
them. But I also feel and I've
got to step up for our veterans
in that veterans Park. Okay Like
there was said, we have veterans
on the wall. We have veterans on
the walk for those who didn't
qualify either way of being on
the Veterans Monument. Or the
wall. Okay and for when it says
that they have to be in battle
or conflict. Or individuals. The
individual is me. Thank you.
Thank you, for your comments.
Appreciate it very much. Thank
you.
I was gonna say good afternoon,
but it's almost a minute of good
evening. Good evening, sir.
Sympathy for your family. Okay,
your son. Anyway My name is
William Garcia. And I'm the
president for the Vietnam
Veterans of America State
Council and its over all the
chapters. Um I've been to many
veterans Memorial Park and I'm
gonna tell you There for the
veterans. Okay And I think
side I have a son, he went
through the military. And I have
one. That's not but I'll tell
you, Um I was just at the
Memorial Veterans Park in the
one in Washington, D C and that
the matter of fact we had Quite
of basically all the state
president. There's 42 different
states, Uh, state presidents
there and All of them took color
guards, You know their color
guards, meaning the flags Okay?
And I represented New Mexico was
three flags on the pole, but
I'll tell you, Baird has, uh,
Veterans Memorial Park. It's
veterans and, uh, General, and
there's a lot of different parts
. I don't know what we could do
to help Mr Gonzales. But one
point I will make Memorial Park
are for veterans. Okay a lot of
them and a lot of them gave
their lives that that's what
what it's all about. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr Garcia. And they
approached in my name is Bruce
finds I'm president of Vietnam
Veterans here in Los Cruces. And
I agree with a lot of what the
veterans say This is a park. But
they say what a couple mentioned
here just for all the fallen. It
is not is for the living, too,
because my name was on that
Vietnam Memorial bought bricks
on it. I bought a brick from my
father. My brother. He's still
alive. I bought one for my
sister in law died ocanc.
She's on the Vietnam and more
because years of Vietnam veteran
But There's nothing in there so
far as brick. I don't know what
the criteria for the walk of
honor for brick for that there
or not, That's a possibility on
that Walk monetary, Dizzy Walter
County Wall. I don't know what
the parts Department is criteria
for people to buy a brick on
that I don't remember. That's an
option. But as far as any
plaques or monuments letter I
say no, because it is for
Vietnam military functions
they're saying Vietnam, Korea.
Alright We just dedicated to
Iraq, Afghanistan stand monument
in there. For military function
type player criteria fom that.
They're so that's my parents say
it should be no monument. Thank
you. Thank you. Anybody else on
this side? Okay, Councilors. Can
I just say cancer Abeyta? I like
your idea of the playground
being named, Um, maybe a bench
in a tree in that area is th
possible? Um. Is that possible?
I think that I will say I am
going to be Frank. I had a very
robust conversation with her
board chair, and I asked a
specific question, and I said
The question, I asked was, Would
you put a veteran's name over by
the Children's playground? And
you said, Absolutely not. That
wouldn't be appropriate there
and I said, So. What would be
You said that wouldn't be
appropriate, But so I asked you,
I asked you If it would be
appropriate for a child's name
to go. There would not work.
Excuse me. Conservation That's
fine. Why not yell out at the
Galleria? Appreciate it. Thank
you. So I asked if a child's
name would be appropriate, since
it's not appropriate for a
veteran's name to go there
because it's not for a veteran
spaces for The Children's space
. And so that's why I asked that
direct question, Which is why I
think it's appropriate for it to
be an the child space because it
was to honor a child. So that's
why I had and thank you. I just
wanted to bring that up, but
that's all right. So I'm I'm
good. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you Respond to that. Thank
you, Mayor. Probably you may
want to ask 15. But since I find
off and came back and may want
to have another boat, Yes, Thank
you, Mayor. Okay? Christine the
first one was sufficient,
Commander Christine. Okay, okay.
Before you go to boarding like
chime in on this. Okay well, you
should chime in Okay, thanks.
All right. Well, thank you and
You know, I really feel for the
parents of With the child that
got run over and you know, we
wish we can do whatever we can
obviously bring the child back
What we can't and I know we they
really want to have an honor.
And I had mentioned that You
know we're going to be built in
that parking lot, And I think
staff from the that we might be
able to A park bench some sort,
you know, And I guess what? I'm
trying to get it. If we start
doing this, um this tribute, not
just the veterans part. Then I
think we're going to have to
start allowing it and all the
parts And that's the only
concern I have is. The president
will be studied. Can I say
something? I think that's
probably the right thing to do.
And it's not To the child. It's
just the president will be sent
to all of our parts because
constantly and there was a young
man that you know, but football
player organ about high school
And there was a positive here
would play in practice or do
whatever you know many, many
times. Hmm. Does it. Some type
of tree or and we did that for
Councilor. You know what? I'm
trying to say it. We're gonna be
dope now. Parking lot think
those were the opportunity
decline. And so when I won't be
votingor ts ving no, it's
not. Anything other than the
president would be safe. Thank
you. Thank you. Mayor Councilor.
Blood is Councilor Graham. Thank
you, madam Chair. You know the
distinction that I see here. Is
the army of a veteran to come
back. Visit the pocket. His
daughter and his daughter gets
killed. I mean, what are the
odds that that is going to
happen? You think we're having a
day at the park, you know, go,
You know, swing, You know
whatever. That's a distinction.
I see if there is ever another
child who's killed at some some
designated park with some name
on it, that child should be
honored their the well. Maybe
the Veterans board should set up
more careful parking
restrictions or something. I
find it outrageous. With all due
respect, my I've shared this
before My father was in World
War 21 brother was at the 30/8
parallel. Another one lost his
life came back as an empty
shell. May he rest in peace. He
died about a month ago Now. He
came back from Vietnam, and
there's no way it was the same
person. So I know that whatever
Mr and Mrs Gonzalez has gone
through is they've been to hell
and back and for them to have
the Veterans board and with all
due respect to service to our
country, I find it. I find it.
Downright hurtful. Thank you,
Madam Chair. Thank you.
Councilor plot is Councilor
Grant. Yeah. I just want to say
setting is compassion, I'm all
for it. Setting that precedent
and. Gonzalez family. I'm so
sorry for your loss. Thank you,
Councilor Graham. Um. Larry
through and Mr Gonzales again
like the idea of the bench and
whatnot at the playground. Would
you all be Okay with that. Well
wait a minute. I have a
question. Cash it from there.
One question still very open to
What the city and. Cesar's
appropriate when I asked you for
Let's try and of our daughter if
it's shared. They or even a
bench and a tree that's
perfectly fine with her name
thing. Thank you mis. Mr.
Gonzalez Larry, do you have
anything to say furtheron him?
We approach him under rod that
those were options that we set
precedence from previous
department morals. Um if the
decision of the Of the council
is for that. Then that is what
will be be implemented and
carried out. Thank you. Council
Blood is sorry. Yes Thank you,
Madam Chair, Larry. I have a
technical question that there's
going to be some changes in the
future, probably within the next
10 years. The way things go
around here. And but I know that
that land that belongs to the
city that we purchase from
Albuquerque on the north side of
the parking lot is going to be,
I guess an expanded parking lot
or Children's playground is
going to be moved there. Um so I
don't know if that has to be
taken into account, but Voting
on this today. Should it pass
would remain, um I guess subject
to those changes. Word What
would happen? I mean, you
wouldn't go put a bench in a
little tree tomorrow, right? May
ha enttainnt Councilor
Flores. It was mentioned just a
moment ago about parking lot
expansion. That's to the north
side of the existing parking
lot. There will be, uh That is
all of that has been arranged.
For now. We have the funding is
going to we have the plans come
out completed. The city has the
plans completed and pending
starting construction, probably
late summer early fall, there
will be 100 and 67 additional
parking spaces, But there is an
area there that separates the
two parkinghe largest, called
the Remembrance Remembrance
area. That could be a
possibility for A bench in a
tree. I think that would be an
excellent location. I think it
would address the compassion
aspect as well Just by the name
And would the family. Mr and Mrs
Gonzalez be able to have it well
participate in decision making
and so far as the position of
the tree that bench whatever.
I'm sorry, Councilor. What was
the question? The questionaswhhz
would be able to participate at
some level to some degree in
regards to the planting of the
tree. The location positioning
of the bench tree. Whatever it
is that part of my Council for
us. I would imagine the Park and
Recreation Department would work
with the Gonzalez family on
them. Thank you, Mr Hinkle.
Thank you, Mr Councilor. Flores.
We have interim Still interim
director to come up, Please
looking for him, huh? Mayor Pro
TEM Council members. Robert
Nunez, interim director for
parks and Recreation just was
would like to also make note
that previously a master plan
was approved. And at this time
the playground is going to be
removed from that area. To be
determined if it will be
replaced. But as Larry just
mentioned with the parking lot,
and then the remembrance area Is
going to be In that location
near where the park is currently
place that So that was the
master plan that was previously
approved. We re a previous
administration has had
discussions with the Gonzalezes
and we can certainly meet with
them again to identify the ideal
location for that bench and tree
location. Thank you, Robert.
Appreciate it very much, okay?
Christine, call the roll. This
is an emotion to approve
resolution. 23-132 Councilor
Abeyta. Yes Cancer. Graham Yes.
Cancer Bencomo? Yes Cancer.
Korean Yes. Councilor Flores?
Yes, pro 10? Yes and mayor. Yes.
Thank you, okay. I 0.3
resolution number 23 133. I need
a motion approved Graham. Second
Abeyta er. Motion made by
concert. Graham second made
about.
You know you're going to need to
be sworn in Right, Okay. Adam,
are you ready? Almost You know
when you're ready, Yeah. Okay Do
you swear from the testimony you
are about to give us that is the
truth and nothing but the truth
under penalty of law. Yes, Thank
you. Next case, then Adam with
12 Community development. For
the record is an EP appeal to a
special use permit at the 25 60
Samaritan Drive. Um Said. Your
property currently consists of
the three crosses regional
hospital. Uh companies roughly
about 10.61 acres in size and
his own C three commercial high
intensity. Conditional Uh,
Essentially, it's quite what's
the proposal was hella pod that
would be located on the subject
property any currently they can
like run. Improved parking lot
island in the South east corner
theacility, and I have a
picture if you could see, but
there is a subject property%
we're discussing right now.
Again It is. Don't c three C.
This is essentially were that
location of the hell A pad has
been proposed. You can see it
there. And it's just a, uh, a
vacant area on the property. Um
the reason for this location is
because it's actual distance to
the existing ER. So the closer
you are to the yard, the better
it is. It's about 95 ft from the
ers entrance, which is the right
around this area he. Uh so
getting the proposal is for a
helipad located southeast corner
of the parking facility. Uh it
is approximately 95 ft from the
emergency facilities will be a
60 ft by 60 FT Final approach
and takeoff area or or F A. T o
as they call it as well and it
is roughly about 368 ft from
existing residential
neighborhood to the East. Who is
the drawing of that doesn't mean
all requirements for, uh Ah
federal requirements for t
federal aerospace protection
regulations, including 14 CFR
part 77. It doesn't meet all the
requirements for special use
permit, as outlined in section
30-54 of the 2001 zoning code.
It will mean our outdoor
lighting ordinances of the city
of last Cruces, and it will be
designed and constructed in
accordance with what is F A C 1
50 slash 5 3 9 0 dash to see.
Otherwise, it's gonna follow off
federal standards, essentially
what that means. Uh, Reviews
were sent out to all relevant
agencies and departments in the
city. All did support the
proposed on change notice was
sent out to the property owners
within 500 Ft. Of the subject.
Property staff did received two
emails and a phone call one
email and phone call work
concerning the development of
the Jalapa and its proximity to
the neighborhood, and one
literally was getting more
information. Additionally on top
of that, I believe you all might
have received from the clerk. A
an additional email that was
received. After the planning is
on commission meeting for the
City Council meeting.
Essentially since we have to re5
2022. The Planning Zoning
commission didn't meet and take
this case on the consideration.
PNC did got him booked, approve
the SUV by a four vote of 4 to 0
findings were that the pod with
me and all outdoor lighting on
this requirements. Special use
permit follows the requirements
for a special use permit as
outlined in section 3-54. Excuse
me, but also meets the purpose
and intent section of the code,
which is section 30-2, and as
well as I stated before, it
doesn't meet all those federal
regulations for a hella pod. A
letter of appeal was submitted
to staff on November 20/9 2022
in time for during within the
appeal period that is allowed
concerns are lists are you you
have the letter in front of you
as well. Concerns about, uh,
public engagement meanings about
warranty deeds and the actual
owner of the property. Um, I
believe that section 30-2 of the
2001 Zoning county is not being
met. In contrary as the way
staff fields. Additionally they
believe that there is a
disconnect with the statement of
summary in compliance with our
elevate last Cruces
comprehensive plan. So your
options today is one to vote
yes, and approved the appeal.
This was essentially overturned
. The planning is on commissions
. Uh approval to deny vote to
vote No and deny this would
essentially uphold the
especially use permit. I would
stay in effect to three votes
and men are four voted table and
postponed direct staff in the
applicant accordingly. Ah except
for questions. The applicant and
his representative are here as
well. If you have questions for
them, and not sure if the
appellant Mystere he's still
here, But we stand for
questions. Thank you, Adrian.
The opponent here. I don't see
him and wanted to clarify Adrian
specifically what his issues
were. I know you listed those
They were a bit. Confusing I
think at the end of the day. I
mean, I've read everything. Read
it again read the notes of NZ
The minutes of pain Z and his
concern was Specifically about.
Ensure who all the owners were
of the property. Mayor Pro TEM I
believe that was one of his
concerns. Correct I believe the
CEO of the hospital is here. He
could clarify that as well as
one of the partners for the area
if they could possibly answer
any questions for you as well,
but everything that staff did
receive was signed by the
property owner. An affidavit was
submitted with the application
stating that everything that was
submitted to staff Is Real and
done properly and follows out
requirements for us the middle
of a special use permit. Okay
That's great. I would like to
hear from the CEO. He's here.
She. Might have had to step out
there believe there's somebody
else here, okay? Hello. Thank
you for your time. My name is
Kelly. Reduce three rhetoric is
I'm sorry. I'm the director of
nursing services at three
crosses. I'm stepping in for our
CEO John Landing hand to step
out. Actually our hospital is
actually owned by multiple
investors. And so there is a
group of investors who own our
property. And of course, looking
to ensure that the safety and
quality of the care that we
provide to our patients. Is
always at the forefront of what
we do. And so as a part of that
, having a functional permanent
Jalapa is most necessary. Right
now we're functioning with what
is called a landing zone. Um and
so that does probe you know,
potentially pose some some
safety concerns, not only to the
patients who are flying in and
out of our facility. But to the
flight crews who are bringing
patients in and out of our
facility as well as the
community members, because right
now a landing zone is a
temporary spot where they set up
cones, you know, and of course,
anyone could potentially drive
through those through that zone
and potentially harm themselves
. So really, truly to we would.
We're asking really, for you to
uphold the previous vote for us
to move forward with the
planning and zoning Of that
Hella pod. So who were the local
owners? As far as lol owners?
I can't speak to the list of
them, but there are a number of
owners that owned the land and
own. Of course, the facility.
Does anybody know on staff who
there? Come on now. Time Bob
Profile. Um. The real estate
itself is owned b group out
of Nebraska and the hospital
operation leases that And we do
have myself and other local
people are part of the ownership
of the operating part of the
hospital. And so that's kind of
the structure of what we have.
We have a limited partnership
and then investors from around
the country who put in large
sums of money to the hospital.
And so I would say this is right
now. In these emergency
situations, we land on the
street or the parking lots. Ands
totally legal. We think this is
a safer solution to have a
permanent location. And for
these helicopters to land and
continue to serve our community.
Thank you, Mr Popo. I understand
through the minutes of the pain
Z that you were in the process
or of a master plan, And that
was maybe in November is that
being conducted or has it been
completed? And what were the
results of that? I mean, you're
very loaded questn with lots
of detail. As I know what master
plans consist of. Um I'm not
sure which master plan that is,
but Pro TEM. I believe the
master plan your, uh, discuss or
talking about is called the
Royal Crossing Master plan that
is actually the master plan
immediately south and west of
the property. It's uh. Give you
a better idea. Here we go.
Essentially this area here and
this area around here. So it the
master plan doesn't really
incorporate t hostal itself
. But are Apodaca blueprint? Ah
that does incorporate
essentially everything which is
a mixture of commercial
development, multi family,
single family and, of course,
Fully functional hospital. Thank
you concerned about this coming
as it's coming without knowing
what the master plan of any of
that area because it's going to
become more dense. Right So when
you look at the safety and the
well being of not only, of
course, the employees there are
the hospital but of the
commity. You're going to look
at something very different from
today and maybe even 3 to 5
years. So when we talk about the
safety and well being, what is
currently there It's going to
look very different later on, so
I'm concerned. It's going to be
more dense. Um am concerned that
we don't have the entire picture
. Can someone help me answer
that? Yes ma'am, so again since
the master plan itself does not
incorporate this subject,
Property staff lead back on
track. A blueprint in a like a
blueprint does call out for the
hospital, and it even has an
artist's rendition. With the
help it on there. You can see
the little circle at the H
essentially So all that was
taken under consideration when
that blueprint was developed. So
again, it wasn't the plans that
is set on the future.
Additionally when I sat down
with staff to review this, we're
looking at distances and those
types of concerns as well, Um,
looking around the area how far
they are they even the two
hospitals here in the city
couple hospitals and L Paso as
well. I myself live Rightow.
The street from Providence East
in El Paso, and it's literally
it's the parking lot. It's hella
Pod. Parking lot with two
parking stores residential right
next door. So it's not used all
the time. It's uh, it's for
emergency uses if you will, but
it's definitely something that's
needed and called out by the
master plan for fully functional
hospital, essentially, thank you
, Adam for that, and then in
terms of. Attractive compact
study. Do you also take that
into consideration as your
looking at, you know the best
place for the Hella pod And what
the Um. Concerns could be with
the number of the number of cars
and not only that, but the
neighborhood as well. 10 staff
to take a look at that and their
actual study that the applicant
had done for the FAA
requirements actually has an
actual flight route that it's
supposed to follow, so they will
have to follow up to make sure
they didn't affect any traffic
within the area, including
existing trafficking in the
parking lot itself. Um
Additionally, staff also felt
that despite the best location
for it, because it's so close to
the actual emergency exit,
emergency room entrance part of
me, uh, just it's better there
than having run all around the
building to the other side to
get to the emergency room. Thank
you. Thank you, Adam. For that,
Um and. Since you brought up the
flight plan. I know there've
been some concerns of folks that
are around how the helopters
are coming in currently and
you've asked or someone has said
designated the Southeast side
right specifically, and I think
those things have been hanged
out. I believe that is correct.
Okay, the flight plan. It is a
very Extensive study that the
applicants representative
provided us, um which kind of
had to go cross eyed a little
bit because a lot of engineering
if you will, but the summary
essentially said the location
and the flight lant that they
have planned out with the hell a
pod would work for theospital
and have a minimal Effect on the
surrounding area. When you say
men are effect what he talking
about? Every time. Well, it's a
helicopter, so they're just
trying to get in and out without
without disturbing things as
much as possible, and staff felt
it does meet the intent of the
special use permit that it would
have. It's not only a benefit
for the for the area but a
benefit for the city as a whole.
So in terms of the other two
hospitals, you've proven special
use permits for the hella pods.
Those two enties correct. That
is correct Hospitals did we
receive special use permits for
their telepaths. And can you
tell me if there's been any
accidents or concerns related to
that, as as you're putting them
in and currently Miracle term.
We have not received any
complaints about them. As of now
, we did speak. Enforcement
officers if they knew of any
complaints and that they did not
have any complaints, But I'm
talking about accidents. We have
no record of that man. Okay
Thank you. Adam. Appreciate that
anybody else? Okayny. Um I'm
sorry. I think I just didn't hit
in time for you to see. Sorry. I
didn't thank you Mayor Pro TEM
just to be crystal clear because
the wording on these There's
always so weird. No on this
resolution is a yes to the Hella
pod. That is correct. Thank you.
A manager. Yes, Mayor. So I just
assumed but on my house for a
while, so there's a lot of
updates. And I just want to say
a couple things all support
having a healthy They're, keep
focused at that to the residents
that We've got. We're fortunate
. We have now three hospitals.
Okay, and the other two
hospitals have helped us. One's
in District six in District two.
And they're near residence. I
don't think that it's not like
it's a daily occurrence to my
knowledge might leave mistaken,
but this someone share how many
times they would be fun,
Approximately neither that you
can't Councilor. The exact But.
You know, I don't see it help at
that. Is that mountain view?
That's close to it. But It's
like that is. Yeah. Council work
flight, but I mean, I don't see
that often. This is about
safety. This is about Maybe
someone's life. Injuries of that
period. The hospital had met. I
hate my mom was there and pretty
impressed with it. Very good.
I'm really happy that they're
doing well, and it's really a
great place. And you know that
I'm supporting the. And clarify,
So you're saying a no vote.
Yeah. Would allow them to have
to help pass that correct. But
no pod Britain Mr Mary? Yes.
That is correct. Essentially
voting by voting. No the appeal
is fails. Exactly. And the SCP
stays in thein their effect.
Thank you. And please come up to
the podium, state your name and
the answer to mayors. Thank you
. This is Kelly Richard is again
director of nursing services at
three crosses. So currently
right now, what we're averaging
in our senses continues to
increase. We're seeing about an
average of 20 helicopters coming
in and out of the facility on a
monthly basis, Primarily a lot
of those are coming into our 24
hours a day, seven day a week,
Cath lab so and we're getting
patients as far as as Gallup and
Las Veg tho needing services
that we're able to render
specialty services to Thank you
for that. Okay. I think we're at
the moment of public comment.
Please come down. Quite hear
anything. I'm sorry. Try again.
Did they said approximately 20?
Okay And then also just to
confirm you know, vote would
allow the helipads that's
correct. Correct. Okay Thank you
. Please come up and state your
name. Yes Madam Problem. Paul
Pompeo with solder Miller
Associates are the civil
engineering consultant firm for
the This hospital project. Uh
we're also the civil engineers
that are doing the Mass the 77
Acre master plan known as Royal
Crossing, which we just recently
approved. Master utility Pan
Master greenish plan and
preliminary platform phase one.
So with that, I'm just stand
before you If you have any
specific technical questions
about any of the engineering
that's gone, But I knew it side
on the on the minutes and I
wanted to see what that you
know. Included Um and what? What
sort of things are included in
the master plan, but Appreciate
that. Thank you very much, Uh,
Juror practice resident I just
have a clarification. I want to
ask for a backup in the power
point of we could To the screen
about the appeal. There is a
term used that I would like to
seek clarified. On the third
line, it says tainted and non
verifiable information
concerning public engagement was
given in the applicant
statements. Since the applicant
himself is not present either
telephonically or in person. I
would like to know what that
tainted phrase is about. Because
I have engaged with this
individual in numb of
circumstances in the past year,
and I find him very particular
about details. He has his own
particular way, though, of
expressing himself and there are
times when he is using, uh,
devices to help him communicate
and which are within the bounds
of what we should be able to
follow. And I concerned that
this idea of something being
tainted his apply being applied
to somebody with a certain
amount of disability. So please
clarify what that means. I can't
read it difficult without the
appellant here to clarify Father
and concerned that he's not
here. It's sort of like him to
not be here. I understand that
and I agree. I was expecting him
to be here and I did not expect
to stay make any comment on this
and I don't without him here. I
am concerned because to me
tainted is a term applied by
staff. It's not coming from him
to be able to clarify what that
means. Can you clarify where the
tainted word is used? That is a
direct quote from his letter.
But the parentheses to it's a
It's a strictly from him. Thank
you. Anybody else have anything?
Please make your way down. Hello
My name is Delay. Hernandez Very
nervous. Never done anything
like this before, but I live
welcome. Thank you. I live at 23
15esert Drive, which is
directly behind the helo pad. I
have, um been to very many lots
and lots of meetings over the
years about the, um opera Doc a
plan it is changed many, many
different times. I'm so unclear
about what's going to happen
behind my fence. I mean, I have
a wall and it's just what's
going to happen there. Um Hello
. Pad feels much more than 20
times that help that helicopter
comes in. I can tell you in
detail in one day, I can count
three or four coming in. Um they
come directly over my house, so
I know when they when they come.
If I look out over my fence, I
can see them land. Um I think
that I'm concerned about the
noise. Of course. Um, I'm
concerned about Just the whole
idea of what's happening. Kind
of out there. I know that
lighting has been an issue. I
know anyone driven by are driven
through the street called
gacy What is that? Who
approved that road? I mean, if
anyone has driven it, if you
have it, you should take a
minute to do that. Um the noise
from the. Air conditioner or
whatever is happening at the
hospital is very loud. The noise
in our backyard you cannot
enjoy. Our backyard because it's
just I mean the noise When I
opened my door to the you know
my bedroom door. There's lots of
different things happening, so
I'very concerned about I want
there to be a Hello, Pat. Don't
get me wrong. I want people to
get the care that they need. I
just worry about Um. Okay Thank
you. Thank you so much. Anybody
else? Okay? Looks like you know
whether comments Christine. Thie
resolution 23-133 cancer. Beta
no cancer. Graham No Council
bank are no Councilor crayon. No
cancer. Flores no pro TEM.
Mayor. No. Motion fails. Thank
you. 8.4 resolution number
23-134 moved to approve Graham.
Second Abeyta motion made by
Councilor Graham's second by
cancer, Abeyta Hi, Adam. One man
wrecking crew. Do you have to
swear him in again? Okay. Let
him get situated and then we'll
. Alright. Hit me. Christine
ready? Do you swear or from the
testimony you are about to give
is the truth and nothing but the
truth under penalty of law.
Thank you one more time Adam,
which whole community
development for the record? Uh,
Before you is another appeal to
a special use permit and s U P
for a property located 16 02
East Loman Avenue. Subject
Property is currently zone C two
commercial medium intensity and
consists of a vacant commercial
building. This is the original
of the small auto, a small auto
and truck repair shop is what it
was. It is located right in the
corner of Lemon Avenue and look
on street and Compass is roughly
about 0.215 acres in size. It is
located in a major commercial
corridor along Loman with a
majority, whether vast Different
uses all over the place,
including retail restaurants,
offices. And of course, there's
also single family zoning or
Designing but single family
development to the south of the
property as well. Shown here.
The subject property here in the
yellow as you can see Right
along Loman here. Everything
essentially don't commercial.
Some open. I guess that's flood
designations only to the to the
to the south of here in ST uh,
let's rightward Loman and, uh,
an amateur essentially split.
Shown here. Some aerials of the
property. Just give a littlemo.s
that the car wash right here
that we're and like I said,
they're single family homes
along the street residential
streets to the to the South.
Some street views of that of
that property. So the proposal
was for proposed cannabis retail
store on the subject property.
Uh unfortunately, the subject
property itself is right across
the street from another cannabis
retail store, and it is roughly
about 78 ft. Away from it code
requires that a minimum 300 ft
buffer be between two cannabis
retail stores or a special use
permit would be required. So
essentially, that is what the
applicant did. Submitted a
special use permit to allow
their cannabis retail store at
this location. All other buffer
distances. Distances are being
met, including distances for a
single family zoning and from
school slash daycare property as
well. The proposed new Cannabis
store will retail store will
have to follow all city ls
Cruces requirements and stated
the Mexican regulations
governing cannabis related
retail activity. Here is what
the applicant submitted showi
the building here and the
measure from building to
building like I said, it is
about 78 ft. Away. It's about 9
202 122 ft, less than what's
required by what will be
required in every time to be
allowed, thereby right. So all
relevant city staff did where he
was application and nobody had
any real comments regarding the
proposed establishment notice
wassent out to all property
owners within 500 Ft. Of the
proposed special use permit and
staff did receive one phone
call. That was an opposition oft
stating that there are too many
already in the city, and it is
too close to residential
schools. What should it is? It
is not. It meets the
requirements of our code. During
February on February 28 2023,
the Planning Zoning commission
did meet to consider this
special use permit. They review
the SCP and did vote to approve
the proposed special use permit
with conditions by a vote of 3
to 1. Findings were except for
the distance of cannabis,
cannabis and meets all other
distancing requirements. It is
located along Loman Avenue,
which is one of our commercialps
hubs. If you will. In the city,
English and egress will have
very minimal impact on traffic.
Then it meets the purpose and 10
the section 32 of the zoning
code, and it will meet all
requirements of the not only
there's only code but stayed in
Mexico State statutes as well
concerning cannabis.
Additionally staff to point out
that elevate Las Cruces
comprehensive plan is being met.
The intent of it is being met.
Since it is located along a
mixed use corridor where we want
a mixture of different types of
commercial uses. Commercial uses
office uses residential and so
forth a is located in a
regional commercial place type
as well as called up by the
elevator last Cruces The
condition that the planning is
on commission did vote for this
one is that the property will be
required to complete and
administrative replant for the
subject property. Essentially
there are three underlying
property lines and essentially,
they would have to replant it to
remove those in another
underlying lot lines to make it
one complete peace. One complete
lot essentially. And that would
have to be done prior to the
issuance of the certificate of
occupancy for the business. An
appeal was submitted,
essentially saying that the
appellant state that allowing
the SCP saturates the area but
the area with cannabis
establishments that the
allowance of the proposed
cannabis establishment creates
an economic hardship on Jason
Cannabis establishment and
believes that the required the
rate of foot buffer should be
followed. With that. Council
Your options today is one to
vote yes, and approve the
proposed appeal and that would
essentially eliminate the
special use permit to devote
known. Deny this sort of hold
the special use permit. 32 vote
to men or four table postponed
direct staff accordingly. I
stand for questions. I believe
the appellant issues as well,
questions for them. Thank you,
Adam. Anybody Public comments.
Yes Please speak away. Mayor I'm
here. Did you have anything to
Oh, yeah, Well, sure. I mean,
this is so is this message Tell
you old garage First in peace,
Mr Massa, Tom Mechanics. At the
corner of Roman and Johan like
across the street from another
Canada story, Yes. That is
correct right across the street
and then that that's right
behind a car wash. But I though%
there was like a residence right
there right across the street.
No Mr Mayor, Mayor Pro TEM.
There are residences to the
south of it. But there's own
commercial. So the way the
ordinance readings for single
families owned properties are
one a essentially And the houses
are gone Commercial. Yeah I
mean, I really I think. I think
would be doing disservice to
that that cannabis visits that's
right across the street. And I
don't think that's really good.
I mean, here, I think. I've
never been inside there, but as
far as things as far as it
looks, it looks like it's pretty
decent building. They've done a
pretty good job that science
pretty pretty large. It's pretty
expensive. You know? I won't be
supporting The You know this
measure, but, uh, Again, so I
appreciate it, Brooklyn. Thank
you, Mayor. Okay Public comment.
Please Come on. State your name.
You have two minutes. Hi I'm
Sebastian's What is the general
manager of Organ Mountain
Cannabis? I'm the employee of
the appeal. E Um so basically, I
should probably swear him in if
he's the appellant. Sorry.
You're the appellant. Yes, I am
. You have to get sworn in
correct. Ready to you Swr,
affirm that the testimony you're
about to give is the truth and
nothing but the truth under
penalty of law. Yes and more my
time be reset. Yes, of course.
Thank you, Connie. My name is
Sebastian swatters. I'm the
general manager at Organ
Mountain Cannabis basically. If
the precedent was set a little
while ago to follow the 300 ft
rule. We've done everything on
our behalf to make sure we're
following the rules down to the
point where we got like perfect
compliance inspections and stuff
like that. Like double checking
and making sure even calling
rsel out to the CCD to make
sure that we're following all
the rules. And with this
president like what this rule
being said in the law. Nine
months before we actually
started opening for retail. We
bought the and the. The
residents that were operating
out of at the moment, and we
spent like over. Like $30,000
just on rent to secure that
location, knowing that it would
help us compete in this new
market that's being set up and
like I said before, I mean,
we've seen time and time and
agn where we have the
opportunity here and now to
Build this industry and make
sure it's built correctly and
nurturing like it's a child. You
know, they see. Show me a kid at
the age of seven, and I'll show
you him for the rest of his
life. Show me this industry
seven years in and I'll show you
it for the rest of its
existence. Like If we're not
here to help the community and
help the people that are already
paying your taxes, then what are
we here for? There is good money
to be made and good Texas to be
made were good business is being
done. And right now, it just
seems like This conversation
wouldn't be happening if there
wasn't a rule made. If there if
there's 300 ft rule wasn't made
to ensure that this new And
thriving industry is treated
appropriately because too often
We just see cannabis. Treated
Like like a third class citizen
, If not even worse in this
country, you know, it's. There's
a bunch of stigma tied to
cannabis and I feel like this.
Is just not helping with all the
Oh, Oh, yeah, I got sworn in.
Yeah well, that's just kind of
what I see kind of happening
with and you know, there's two
to me like Kristin Thompson and
the dude who owns pure life how
he's like best. There's articles
in the news if you Google,
Darren White and Susanna
Martinez on the same Google
search It'll come up, saying
that they're friends with each
other and how they're in coats
with each other. And to me, it
just makes no sense. You know,
that's a Susanna Martinez set
e 300 ft rule to help protect
this industry. I feel like she
was trying to help protect her
money at that time, but it was a
very smart idea to help
competition thrived because Like
I said before. It's not at this
point. It's not even a quality
game. You can have terrible
customer service, terrible
quality product. And as long as
you got the money to survive
this over saturation of the
market, you'll make it. But if
you got good customer service,
good quality product and you
don't necessarily have all this
capital, your Your left in the
dust, younow, because there's
300. Ft rule is just and I just
It's to me. I really do feel
like we're being let down by our
local Yeah. I really like a
bunch of the things that you
have to say. I'm Mr Mayor Pro
tempore, but it's just I feel
like me and you see eye to eye
on a lot of things here, but
it's just Too much. Interest
from being money, making a lot
of the decisions for a lot of
you guys, and it's really sad to
see because this could be a
thriving cannabis market, and it
could be sometng tt helps
The people who are already here
paying your taxes. The You're
going to create this over
saturation of the market
incentive caused people to not
want to sell legal cannabis and
it's already happening. There's
been dispensary shut down
already because they're selling
illegal cannabis from outside of
the state. There has already
been instances in Albuquerque,
where human trafficking like
illegal cannabis grows are being
shut down and they go and they
try to question the people who
are being Um, like these human
trafficking victims, d no of
them speak out against it, But
we all see what's happening to
me. It's not cannabis. That's
the problem. But it's a bunch of
the It's the history of cannabis
, you know, and we're just
allowing it to continue to be a
very dangerous market to compete
in not only from a public safety
standpoint, but from Just stuff.
Entrepreneur trying to compete
in the market. You know, it's a
new industry. I can see if
there's a bar opening up. It
makes sense or if it's a fast
food restaurant. These
industries are a lot of backing
behi the But this cannabis
industry needs people like you
guys to have our back. You know,
when we're doing things, right,
We're paying our taxes. We're
making sure we're selling just
Clean product to the community.
But when you start creating this
oversaturation, you're gonna
start seeing the black market
rise and, you know, just I hope
we can learn and just move
forward because the other states
have failed. In the past. We've
got a lot of states that have
failed and we can learn from
them. But oversaturation does
not solve the issues of human
trafficking and a bunch of the
unfortunate sides of cannabis.
There's a dark side to cannabis
, an we all got to be real and
just notice and accepted and we
can do apart to help stop that.
Thank you. Thank you. Anybody
else? So this sounds pro. Tim
Excuse me before you get going.
I just want to clarify the
appellate could have his time.
We so but I'm going to give you
two minutes. Okay So good
evening, Obviously. Mayor Pro
TEM Council. I'm Dennis Turner.
I'm actually the founder and
owner of Euphoria. Group D B a
clounine We also are locally
owned. My partner, Erica is born
and raised in Las Cruces as
well. One and only minority
women. Obviously in last Cruces
, there's a couple of things
that I want to touch on which is
number one, the gentleman from
Community development said
earlier that there were 16
special use permits, he said.
The half and half Where
instances where this exact issue
went and was approved. I want to
know Tate that so there have
been prior ones rig now that
have been approved. We came we
approved were approved last time
3 to 1 and I want to talk about
use and purpose. There are you
know much respect to Oregon
Mountain home, believing bad
talking other business as well
in the same industry, but use
and purpose. Organ Mountain is a
retailer who does not offer the
same use that we do. They are
vertically integrated, which
means that they supplied
themselves in their own a growth
. I have been over to their
establishment and talk to their
management several times and
they even offered me to tour
their facility. My primaryfocus
in my establishment is drive
through. That is a complete
different use. We are not
vertically integrated, which
means that we need to buy from
them in order to do business. So
essentially, I am contributing
to their business. Business as
well. Not to mention I just want
to reiterate the fact that there
were 16 There were already prior
approved as we were to alsoeal
quick social Equity. I didn't
hear nobody talked about that.
We have a proposal to donate
2.5% of net monthly profits to
child daycare for single moms.
Economic inclusion. Re entry and
100% be backed by last Cruces
locals. Thank you. Thank you. Uh
uh. Mayor Pro TEM. I just want
toenti I think, Madam. When
he went through his presentation
. I just want to make sure you
understand the grounds on which
you evaluate this. Um, this in
our code. The way it reads is
that it has an undue Um, impact.
On the on the neighboring
properties. Now it's relatively
vague and the code what that
means, And it's going to be up
to you to decide what that what
that is. This is not like a
variant. Application Where thaty
have a hardship that requires
you to give them leeway in the
in What's being done? This is
only a standard that says it has
an undue impact on the
neighboring properties. And
that's why it's here. And I
think when we talked about this
earlier, there was a little bit
of a of a discussion of the
neighbors ought to have it be
able to have some sort of, say
in what goes on in the next. The
next property. That's sort of
what it's getting at is that the
neighbors get a chance to come
out and say what they're going
to say. But it does leave it up
to you an awful why it range of
how you can consider Impact. And
I just want to make sure you
understood that this is not a
variance application at all.
This is this is an S ups,
especially used permit the
heliports a little easier to
understand, because it's public
safety and so on. This one is
probably a little bit less easy
to get your head around. What
the What the standard is. U but
TMZ had their view on what the
standard was. And I see
Councilor Flores with Canada.
Quizzical Look on your face. Are
you done? Dr Pitts? Okay
Councilor Flood is thank you,
Madam Chair and thank you, Dr
Pitts. Yes I'm have a quizzical
look, because I'm quizzed. I
mean, what is this really mean?
Special Use permit, allowing
cannabis dispensary retailer
within the required buffer.
Distance to another cannabis
dispensary retailer. So at y
have to retailers. And it's
within the Can You explain that
to me? Mayor for Tim about mean
on this vote means that you
leave the decision. We leave the
decision of the PNC Incorrect,
correct and their decision to%
was to issue the special use
permit. Yes they found in their
findings of fact that there was
no Undue impact on neighboring
properties that was not
contemplated in the In the great
, Okay. Thank you. Okay Thank
you for the clarification Thank
you, Madam Chair. Um Dr Pitts.
Let me ask you said pains he had
their interpretation of what the
impact meant. Can you share with
us? I Adam was there I will let
him Was there. So essentially
essentially the justification
for the vote the way they voted
was, they felt that it should be
treated like any other business
, you kno. One burrito shop
next another breeder shop that
that's the way they were saying
it. They felt that you know it's
capitalism, allowing them to go
there. What happened should have
negative, minimal impacts,
considering also As the original
applicants stated. It's kind of
it is retail, but it's a
different type of retail that
there will be doing there. So
that is essentially why they
voted to approve. That's why
they felt it was it would have
minimal impact is it's It is
retail, but it's just a slightly
different version of retail for
cannabis. Thank you and. Help me
understand what other impacts to
neighboring properties could we
consider Sure. Paper attended.
Some other potential impact is
like noise. Uh, you know, Not
just olders. Uh um Potentially,
uh, That's covered by coats and
all night light pollution
because they need to follow the
outdoor lighting ordinance, you
know, impact of, you know
excessive amount of traffic,
potentially different things
like that could be could be
taken under consideration as
well. Thank you. Plant ther
moment. Yes, Mayor. Okay, so. I
can Google this So now across
the street is Organs Mountain
Canada, I think Yes. Okay with
who's the company wanting to I
wanted, especially is permanent.
16 0 too long. Mr Mary, You're
looking for the name of the
applicant goingn here? I
didn't hear that one. Mr Mayor,
Mayor Pro TEM area the it is, uh
, euphoria. Goop isn't enabled
this company. Okay group. Repeat
it. You kind of my apology
Euphoria group is the name of
this group. Okay So let me just
okay. That's fine. So let me
just say Put record I will be
voting here which would
basically not allow this because
in my opinion The And the impact
To a Mhm brand new business with
a brand new industry. That would
definitely impact their their
ability to generate revenue
needed to sustain the bill. So
that's where that's my findings
back. And that's why I'll be
voting here, which would deny
that Yeah. Special use permit,
So I just wanted to get that and
I just want to verify that with
Christine's, but yes vote would
size the special use permits. Is
that correct? Yes So, yes. Vote
Sorry I'm gonna marry. I'm sorry
. I'm going to step on you. It
means the two stores can't be by
each other. A no vote means the
two stores can be by each other.
Thank you. That's what I
thought. Okay, I'll be voting in
Find the fact. Thank you. Thank
you, Mayor. Okay? Okay? Oh, I'm
sorry. You're right here in
front of me. I'm so sorry. Yes
ma'am. Uh good evening, Madam
Pro TEM and counselors. My name
is Mario Jimenez. I'm with high
horse cannabis Company and I'm
sitting planning and zoning
commissioner for Dona Ana
County. The City and Planning
Zoning Commission has reviewed
the merits of the S U P and
concluded that the applicant
followed all proper channels to
operate resulting in the
approval of the S U P Earlier
today. We heard from city staff
that to date all s ups have been
approved. And this s U P before
you should be treated should not
be treated any differently. As
also mentioned today. We do not
limit competing businesses from
operation other markets such as
fast food pharmacies such as
Walgreens or CVS, Within your
packets for this agenda item.
The appeal mentions protections
for the industry surrounding the
governor's intent of the passage
of the legislation. The intent
is to protect the consumers and
the market and also want to
clarify that the governor in
office during the time of
passage and currently in office
is Governor Michelle Wuhan.
Grisham, not Governor, Susana
Martinez. The intent of the
legislation was not designed to
protect a single business again.
It was designed to protect the
consumer. As the candidates
industry continues to grow,
there will be more competition
competition that benefits the
consumer sales continue to do
well and grow a new Mexico and
here in Los Cruces not showing
any slowdown of the industry.
High horse cannabis prides
itself on providing alternative
medicine and providing I'm sorry
I'm providing alternative
medicine to consumers and
supporting responsible growth of
the industry. That is precisely
what this vote is about
responsible growth growth that
is following councils existing
ordinance for the operation of
the Cannabis Retail Store. I
urge the council to support the
property vetted and approved. S
u P for resolution. 23-1 34
Thank you, madam. Thank you.
Okay Anything else? Council.
Okay, Christine. This is on the
motion to approve resolution
23-134 Councilor Abeyta No.
Councilor Graham. No. Cancer
Bencomo, no Cancer. Korean.
Councilor Florida's pro TEM Yes.
Mayor. Fails. Okay? 8.5
resolution number 23-135 I nda .
Motion made by Councilor corn
second by Councilor Abeyta. Hi,
Robert. Good evening Mayor Pro
TEM councilors Robert Nunez,
interim director for Parks and
Recreation. This evening will be
going over our our. Parks and
recreation fees and charges and
facility used policy for our
parks and recreation department
with me today is our deputy
directors Miss Claudia Chavez,
interim director for Youth
Services, Mr. Franco Granny. Oh
Parks, deputy director and Mr
Phil Cat, NAC Recreation
Aquatics deputy director. And
they will be going over the
Change some of the changes that
we do have within our fees and
charges and our recommendations
for facility use updates
includes all of our facilities
that we oversee our parks and
programs that are withinhedepar,
this will be effective. Um
Immediately. And first off will
be miss Claudia Chavez. Mayor
Mayor Pro TEM and Council.
Claudia Chavez, interim deputy
director for youth services.
Let's see. The out of school
time programming. We have the
after school program for fall
and spring semesters. They
roughly go 90 days from 2 30 to
5 30. are asking for that
$100 semester fee per child for
our summer recreation program.
It goes 26 days, approximately
from 7 30 to 5 30. PM We're
asking for 4 $40 per child and
camps during the lost Cruces
public schools Spring and fall.
7 30 to 5 30 approximately 10
days we're asking for 20 per
child cap v, a fielder memorial
safe haven, weed and seed
program and team connection
currently do not have a fee. Um
the proposed fees will meet the
25% recovery rate as an
incremental Recommendation as we
come out of covid from a $400
free that we had in the after
school program to the 100 of the
summer recreation program was
set at 200 per session. We're
asking for 40. The camps were at
100. We're asking for 20.
Currently we have 450 to 500
Children in the after school
program to include team
connection and weed and seed out
of school time programs that we
are servicing. And during summer
wreck. We have three sites that
we've increased our, uh 60
attendance participation to 70
based on the need to
approximately 303 150 students
youth in those programs. The
other school time programming
for families also in need. We
offer a youth scholarship
program. That program is based
on residency and financial nd
. There is an application that
goes off the new Mexico health
and human services Income
eligibility guidelines, and it
is 120 per child or 240.
Household in a fiscal year. We
also work with families for
installment payment plans, and
those are reviewed on a case by
case basis and arrangements are
made for either lump sum
payments or monthly broken up to
work with the families and the
community. The application for
these is for athletics programs,
all the league sports leagues.
Camps Summer Rick and swim
lessons. Okay? Next up. We have
the park section and I'll stand
for questions at the end as
well. But in charges policy.
Good evening, Mary and board
members. Franco Granny Oh Parks,
deputy director for the park
section. Some of the items will
be talking about tonight or just
the highlights of what we've
changed. Not much change in my
areas, but weid he a w So
if you'll see the presentation
mentions that the request for
the use of following parts for
community events and they're not
limited to these parts that
parks such as Apodaca Park
Desert trails, Johnson Park,
Klein parka, womens, Pioneer
Park and young Park or a major
community areas where people
like to hold large events. We
were asking for $250 deposit
basically to get a confirmation
and a commitment from the
organizers because It. We booked
these events out quite a bit of
time in advance, and it takes a
lot of city resources and time
and staff to get these events
put on They'll work with traffic
with streets with us here in
parks and sometimes even
facilities in order to get
electrical to places where it
sometimes may not be available.
So that's $250 for you will
cover a lot of that and get it.
Um uh, I guess, uh, set up so
they can start planning their
event and there is no it doesn't
. It's not an additional fee.
It's included in their charges.
We'll also be discussing New
league and tournament deposits
are not in good standing feed,
because we do have organizations
that it's very hd to get
payment from or they don't pay
at all times. And I'll talk
about a little bit of our tree
and bench memorial program,
which we kind of discussed a
little bit earlier. The next
slide will have a little bit.
Uh, some numbers for you to look
at So again, I mentioned the
community event and park rental
set up. This is mainly for
Renaissance Fair Pechanga this
spring fest and car shows that
would rent young part for an
entire day to include the
parking lot and all sections of
the park. Um for example,
charges young apartment entire
days, roughly $1200. They put
down 250 to get their event set
up with us and the permit in
place and then they will
continue to pay as the event
came closer or they pay out and
a lump sum as the event took
place. Um our new league in an
established organizations, Um We
feel that a lot of leaks and
come into our city because we
have good fields, good
facilities, and we have one
that's all bunched together with
a lot of leagues and
organizations like We want a new
league in organization will come
into want to use their fields.
We make sure that they put down
a 50% approved permit costs
again. That way they show
commitment, and we're not making
it easy for new leagues and
tournaments to come in and
displace our locals because
sometimes our locals don't have
the revenue that these new
leagues organizations, too, so
we want to be fair with
everyone. And the parties that
are not in good standing that
covers. Um again. Some
organizations are very difficult
to get a hold of that times and
to receive payment. They'll ask
us open a an online payment
window for them, and sometimes
they don't make it. We have some
leagues and organizations that
base themselves out of
California but have a local P O.
So for a little while, they were
considered local, but we caught
on to that. So we make sure that
we get those payments upfront.
Or um, if they're not paying us
, we make sure you collect the
entire entire fee. Plus 50% of
their upcoming event costs or
permit cost. And finally would
be the true dedication and
dedication and bench memorial
program. We were looking at
making these changes in roughly
2020 2019 because costs for a
bench and three and plaque we're
going up back then. We were
looking between 16 100 back
then, and we were charging 12.
So we were using our maintenance
dollars in our you know our
daily supply funding to cover
some of these benches and You
know, And in my opinion, I don't
think it's good stewardship of
city funds to place it on one
person's bench. You know, we've
got to get these items paid for
in full. And we were increasing
from $300 to 500 for three
purchases and planting and from
1200 between 12 and 1500 to 1825
100, depending on how nice you
nt t bench to be, um 1800
will get you the basic expanded
middle 10 on black frame bench
with the plaque on the back
roughly at two by four sized
plaque. And if you want to
really nice bench, that's um Has
a little bit different design a
little bit different of
amounting setup, and that'll
cost you up to 2500. And it
isn't for us to make any money
that's just for us to cover
costs. So, um, I believe Phil
will have the next slides
alternative to fill. Good
eveng, Phil Kent Knack. Deputy
director for Recreation
Recreation Section. The fees
that were Changing are very
simple and this go around. We're
transitioning away from a punch
card system to a debit system.
So if you look at your fees and
charges, there's a lot of marks.
We had a punch card for fitness
classes. We had a punch card for
weight room. We had to punch
card for lap swim. We're going
away from that and going to a
basic debit system where you put
an amount of money in and you
feed off that money, so Youanspu
can use that same debit to do
your fitness class to do your
lap swim and it takes away the
redundancies and it gives you a
little bit more flexibility as a
user, So we're transitioning
away from the punch card system
to the debit system. And that's
more for customers just to be a
little bit more customer
friendly and easier for us to
track on our new record track
system. We are also asking for a
$5 increase for our various
youth sports leagues and
community education classes. We
have not raised our leak fee
since 2012 and we're going from
$35 to $40, a league for
individuals who already have a
uniform and from $45 to $50 for
individuals. That want to sign
up for the league and need a
uniform. So in our leagues, we
give everybody the same uniform
to keep If you see another
league Some teams have very
fancy uniforms. Some teams don't
have uniforms at all. Those
uniforms can be very expensive.
We've cut that by purchasing the
uniforms in their flip, so it's
either a white or a blue If
you're the home team, your blue
If you're the await team,
they're white. It takes away the
need for uniforms and it gives
everybody that equal setting. So
we have not increased that in 10
years, and the increase is
basically to pay for the cost of
the jerseys and the cost of
staffing and officials that we
have for our youth leagues. We
are also increasing $5 for
community education classes,
which include Uh, CPR First aid
lifeguarding. And those fees as
well. We're not gonna make any
money off of that, but we're
increasing to pay for the
increased cost of processing to
American Red Cross and for the
learning material from American
Red Cross, so it evens it out.
And finally, uh, we opened our
new 50 m community pool on May
the 20/7. We haven't brought the
fees to you in a while. We
talked about it in prior work
sessions. But we're going to
give you those fees. So to get
the fees for our new aquatic
center. We worked with all of
the different agencies around
our partners in different cities
arou our area. Hobbs Tucson,
El Paso. Uh, Santa Fe,
Albuquerque, NM issue So the
fees were keeping basically the
same lap swim will continue to
be $2.60. Plus is $1. Our
fitness swim will continue to be
$2.01 dollar for seniors. Open
Swim will be $3 for 1 to 17 and
$4 to Uh, 18 59 year old. That's
equal that we do at the Regional
aquatic center, and here's where
the feeare a little bit tight
to our new pool. Lane. Rental
fees are going from $4 at
Fringer pool, which was over 60
years old to $11. Lane fees for
50 M will go to $13 if your
commercial group bringing in if
you want to rent our facility.
And you're a profit making
agency wanting to rent will go
up to $50 because a lot of
professional groups will come
in. The one to rent our
building. Take it over. They'll
charge private lessons there big
businesses. They're not not
profits, so That fear is $50. We
also have a nonresidential fee
because a lot of Swim teams,
Tournament teams group teams for
all of our different events come
from El Paso because they know
we have great amenities and they
want to take a advantage of our
lower prices, so it's a little
bit higher than we have for our
nonprofit in local people meet
rentals $175 per hour. That's
cheaper than the Area quite a
bit, and we go up to 700 for
commercial because again, those
are those groups from out of
state out of the area that are
coming to our facility to make
money, and they understand that
fee and they'll be willing to
pay that fee and it's basically
what we're doing in Albuquerque
and what they're doing in El
Paso. And then 220 for those
groups from El Paso that want to
come in to use our facility. In
real quick how we set these
prices. Uh we met with a
consultant. Uh Councilman Hunt
sucker when we started our
Vision for this new pool. I
think at the time when we
started this vision, only
Councilor Gandara and maybe
Councilor Flores had been
involved. We did an economic
impact. Study with Francisco
Polaris from our economic
development team who is here at
the time. Ah we got suggestions
for prices for lane rental fees
for swim meets and in all cases
, where a little bit under that
because we know it's a shock to
go from $4 to $11, so it's still
reasonable fee. There's the
opportunity to set prices
through M O U. S and agreements
with the public schools and
maybe swim teams. That's a
little bit separate frothis
but would be not part of our
fees and charges. Uh and that's
basically our big changes for
this year's fees and charges and
without L pass it back over to
Robert. And if you guys have any
questions. Mayor Pro TEM
counselors with that that
concludes our Presentation. Um
And again yes, approved. No
Deny. Amend or table And with
that will stand for any
questions. Thank you, Robert.
Any questions? Councilor?
Bencomo Thank you. I'm sorry. I
forgot your name. Remind me her
name. Miss Claudia Chalice, Miss
Travis. Thank you so much. One
question for you in terms of the
scholarships. I know that you
mentioned that there was some
scholarships for kids that may
families that may need that
assistance. Where is that money
coming from? Does that come from
your parts and record budget?
Mayor pro Tim Councilor Bencomo.
That's actually all donations
are doing donations coming in
from community from the
community. Do you mind if I ask
how much is in that fund?
There's 7000 in that fund. Wow
Ando y Is it like annual
annually? People are Donating to
that, Robert. I'm to you, but I
believe so its fiscal year Pro
TEM Councilor Bencomo, So we've
had private residents, Um
private businesses, nonprofits
projects and donate funds. This
is carried over now. 2019 was a
last scholarship that we did
give out. Due to covid, Of
course, our programs. Were
revised and we were doing a lot
of different things still
providing some services tutoring
mentoring, but you're still a
much smaller capacity as we're
coming back. And when requesting
these, we do believe that will
be getting Families to request
those funds. Okay And with those
funds, the scholarship program
they are required to pay 50% and
we will match that 50% Okay.
Have you ever requested funds
from the city from the General
fund to help with that fund? No,
ma'am. U maybe that's just a
little handoff to the city
manager's office. I think that
An important scholarship fund. I
think that you know, the
services are critical for so
many families, and so if that is
a steady that we can do, we
should definitely try that.
Great And then my last question
was for the last part of the
presentation. Um and funny
enough. I Texted Congressman
Vasquez and said, We're talkgabs
literally calling me right now.
A little flex for everyone. But
it's because I remember so
clearly that, um, this was
something he was advocating for,
um, significantly before.
Remember before he left that
this pool that this brand new
pool Be accessible to everyone
in the community. If you can go
back to eight, I think it was
slightly where you had the
prices for the auditorium. I'm
wondering, so the center is $2
for everybody. Currently. Mirror
Mirror pro 10 Councilor Bencomo
. Currently the regional aquatic
center is $4 for open swim $4
for open swim, Okay, I is there
wiggle room on this, I think,
particularly for kids under 17
years old. I You know often, I
think you've heard him many
times. The coach, the boxing
coach of crosstown boxing often
comes here and talks about how
there are such a little services
for kids o this part of town
and how even when we talk about
new recreational facilities were
talking about them being on the
East Mesa and Um what? There was
rumors on social media that that
an editorial was only going to
be open to professional swimmers
and not the entire public. And I
would personally like to see the
natatorium. Be accessible to
Children, especially curious if
you did talk about the upper
possibility of it being
completely free or even a dollar
, But I would like us to have
that conversation. I know it's
very late. Um but I just think
it's important and I would like
to make such Um Services easily
accessible for kids who Who May
want taxes that the poor Mayor,
Mayor Pro temp Councilor Bencomo
. Anything is possible. You guys
are the Council set the prices
as approval, but just to give
you a quick heads up, it's a
It's a 50 M community pool,
which means it's 4 ft to 12 ft,
So it's a little bit different
than our original aquatic
center. Credible polls so That
would be up to you. We have done
a few things in leading up to
this. We've met with the public
schools and started discussion
about Possibly bringing Each
third grader fourth grade from
all of our schools to get
acquainted with our water to
make that fee, either no fee or
a reasonable amount of fee where
we bring our instructors and
start getting our community of
Las Cruces used to water. We've
also been talking about two
Athletic director Vita Montes
from the public schools about
the possibility of bringing high
school swimming teams from all
the schools to participate as
part of a school sport. So we've
had those discussions. We
haven't talked about free
because. Were set by council to
have 85. Cost recovery for youth
sports 33% for aquatics and this
new aquatic center to tell you
the truth, and we brought it up
, uh, during our planning and
during our business planmeetingg
to bring that much money and
probably 16% or less. So that's
something for you guys to
consider. Lap swim, you could
always fit. Four people on the
lane. 15 lanes are usually set
up at a time. So the max that
you could have is, uh 60
swimmers, which is bringing in
$120 so not very much money, So
something for you guys to think
about. Like I said, anything is
possible. I'll leave that to you
guys as the policymakers, bute
always when we do sports, and
when we do, uh, activities we
want to make sure that there's
Buying from our community and
when they say by and it means
that they They get involved with
with when something is always
free. It takes care been taken
advantage of quite often. I
don't think so. Quite disagree.
I think actually, the zero fair
bus transit is a perfect
example. Well I'm talking in
aquatics. I think it might be a
very good idea for our athletic
leagues. If you don't pay for
that league and you didn't pay
to partipate The's a good
chance you're not going to be
invested to go to practice or
the games. If you don't really
want to. When you get invested
by paying a fee. It changes that
and that in athletic leagues for
sure when you're committed to a
team of fight, attend in open
swim. That's a different story.
So I will let you guys talk to
them. I agree that it's an
incredible place. Have you all
seen it inside? It's I am not
the Carter Center, often, not as
often as I like, but often and I
went in and checked it out the
other day, and it was
incredible. It is an incredible
facility. That I want. Make sure
that kids have access to and
that they don't feel like they
can't. I'm curious why The 60
Plus is a dollar a dollar and $2
so at our last fees and charges
, 2019 Council decided that 60
plus every activity that we do
is have price charged. $2. It's
$1 if we charge $4 is $2, and
that was set by Maybe that us
Council But the previous
Council, who said our fees and
charges Okay. I would like to
see the same fee charged for
under 17 yearsld. I'm being
honest, I mean, I I'm only one
person so I the rest of the
Council could disagree, But I
would like to have that
discussion. Thank you, Councilor
Bencomo. Anybody else see
Councilor about that? Thank you,
Mayor. Pro temp. Yes I also like
to entertain that idea, since
this is not necessarily a quote
unquote moneymaker as well, If
doing the reduction to match
that of the 60 plus A wel So
the dollar Laps when dollar
fitness and then $2 open swim.
Just imagine it up. I think that
would be agreeable. Um If I
wouldn't have, um Entertain a
motion for that. If. Can we have
a couple of questions? Can we
ask those questions? And then we
can do the amendments? Okay.
Thank you, Um Barber and. Staff
Um tha you all for your
presentation and for bearing
with us, and with your patients
were still here, Um, meeting I
do have, um, a couple of
questions about the weed and
seed program. It's been near and
dear to me, it has really
changed the landscape right
specifically for our area and
district one Miskito start
district in any others. I know
at one time we had tried former
Council to scale that out over
in the East missile. We had
actually started it. And then,
um, I think just constraints
with employees transition, that
kind of thing. It sort of fell
on the wayside. And so I get a
number of emails about about Um
, we didn't see program and, um
, what we're doing to add to it
and add more. There's always
this fear that it will be taken
away. And I don't. I don't think
that will happen. But I have
also want to express Well, not
only my gratitude to that
program, I think, but also
expressed how important I think
that program is to the community
and the kids who live around
there and what we could do to
scale it out. I know there's
been some discussion about that,
but I don't know if it has
moved. Um forward and Robert,
can you talk a little bit about
that Mayor Pro TEM and council
members so we didn't cede
program a fielder memorial safe
haven located in the field and
memorial safety. Even Has been
in existence for 21 going on 22
years. Originated through a
federal fund. Or sorry. Federal
grant through Las Cruces police
department. Um Numerous numerous
youth have gone through that
program have benefited from that
program. We still plan to offer
it as income income based and 90
to 95% of those youth or free of
charge to that facility. Right
now. It's 100% with with those
with that information. Um we are
still requesting funds from the
General Fund to offer operations
for we've increased our staff at
that facility. Um, that is I'm
not going anywhere. As as to the
request of expanding it. We are
trying to identify 11, not one
Thing that we did do, um, is we
moved our teens out of that
building, which is now team
connection, and we are utilizing
Frank O'Brien Paper community
Center as well as the East Mesa
Recreation Center thisummer.
That program has increased in
popularity, so we needed more
space, then to house them with
the Kinder through fifth graders
, So that has worked out
tremendously. We are in
discussions with quality of life
on some other possible locations
of expanding, um, programming
for Kendra through fifth. We
currently have seven sites that
are lost Cruces public schools
and we always entertain.
Entertain um, opportunities to
expand. Not only the we didn't
see program but are out of
school out of school time
programs as a whole. We see
approximately from kinder to
12th grade 450 youth every day
at all of our programs, a seven
at the schools. We didn't seed
and our team connection, and so
there's always opportunity to
expand on that we have discussed
with principles at the schools.
Um internally, um wi. A building
possibilities. Benavidez
Community Center. Um and any
other location. We've even had
discussions of trying to house
them within City hall after
hours to utilize possibly the
computer lab any opportunity as
possible to don't want to say
get him off the streets but to
allow them To interact socially
have services whether it's
Internet. WiFi Um we have a
beautiful gaming room at Frank
O'Brien. Papin for those that
game. I'm not. I'm a little past
the gaming, but but the I don't
like to call them kids, The
youth love what we have to offer
but to expand on those services
such as we didn't cede. We're
certainly always looking for
other locations. That's good to
hear in. And do you have an
amount specifically that you're
looking at? Because it sounds
like you have a few
conversations going on with the
various principles and such And
maybe this isn't the time I
would agree that it's late.
Probably wanna schedule a
different time to have this
conversati. But I believe that
a lot of our programming,
especially With the amounts even
at $100. It's so unattainable
for many of our Children in
community in neighborhoods like
well across the city. Frankly
you know when we're half 34%
poverty rate in my community or
district concert grams district,
we know where they're at and To
do that. 50 50 just seems Ah, ud
like you I want I want our kids
are used to fill Children to
feel like there is an
alternative right that you know
if you keep them busy and
learning and with a mentor,
where we're more likely to keep
them, you know the straight and
narrow if you will. And I know
you believe in that so I'd like
to have a additional
conversation about looking at
different funding Grant
opportunities with their grants
department. I think there is a
lot of course, grants out there
that we can do some substantial
stuff with folks with our kids
moving forward, and then I also
agree, um, with Councilor
Bencomo. I want our all our kids
to learn to swim and be just
familiar with the water. Like so
many kids do not have that
opportunity, and I like to have
future discussions so we can
have specific. Um Meetings
related to that and what it
would take to have increased
that fund that slush fund if you
will, the scholarship fund. I
think I think there's a number
of ways that we can do that. I
don't think everybody knows
that, Um And so with that at
all. I was going to say it. Turn
it back to mayor. But I'm the
one presiding over the Yeah.
Councilor Graham wondering if we
should discuss tabling this
thinking to a date definite. I
was going to make an amendment
for those prices. Christine can
you igh on what's happening
on the resolution? And if we can
do that at the moment? I was
going to happen, Phil. Clarify
as we were trying to, um, read
the resolution and figure out
where it needed to be amended.
So he said he was going to
clarify for you guys first, and
then I'll come back. Thank you.
Okay protein, Council members.
So for the open swim, which you
guys mentioned, you like to go
down to a dollar or free a
dollar, or have you mentioned
That is tied to not only our
regional aquatic center, but to
our outdoor pool, so that would
be across the board for those
pools because that's where it's
laid out in the fees and
charges. It's not laid out only
in the natatorium so That's one
point of clarification. And the
regional aquatic Center. Open
swim is a little bit higher than
the outdoor pools and what we
had said at the editorial. So. I
guess I didn't understand that
clarifies what it's reading
ordinance. Excuse me the
resolution and whether we can
table it for a date certain and
I think that's what we should do
would be my opinion. Sounds good
to propose a date as well. Yes
we can table it so that we can
make it. We can clarify and make
sure that it's understandable
when you guys get it back. If
you want to date specific, you
need to choose a meeting. Okay?
Like a month a month. How much
time do you need? We could have
this Madam Chair Mayor, Pro TEM
Council members. Whenever you're
ready If you wanto brg ts
back in a month and a few weeks
where this will be a minimal
change, The only thing different
is our fees for open swim and
lap swim or set. Under general
swimming under the Negatory, Um
so we'll have to clarify that
for you guys Good. We're not.
We're not off that day for
probably often. No, as of right
now, No. Okay Great. Then I
moved to table to date certain
of July 3rd 2023 2nd there. Can
we start out But just clarify
point of clarification.
Christine I want to make sure
that that weed and seed in the
grants and the funneling the
scholarship all that is also
tightened to this as well. And
so is that time for you to get
everything together, Robert. I'm
actually in discussions with our
grants office. We started last
week on a couple of grants we've
found so I'm talking with Susan.
Cool. Okay, Very good. Alright
Just have another sorry point of
clarification support tabling
it, But I do notice that the
resolution says pasta cost
recovery for aquatics. It seems
like you're trying to ascribe to
that to live up to that. But
you're saying generally we don't
So it seems like we should
change the original ordinance
that said that if we're going to
change up the fees, I would
think Sorry. So that's my
question is, are there any
things that we need to look at?
That are kind of deeper, more
historical that are beyond this
because it's putting parks and
rec in a weird place to have to
try to make money to something
that we can't do. Y Go ahead.
Thank you. Mayor. Pro TEM.
Members of Council Sunny
Delgado, Assistance team manager
wanted to step in really quick
to talk about that 33% So that
has been set. It's been there
for quite some time and aquatics
has never hit 33% And the reason
for that is because it costs so
much money to make sure that
pole stays in all the levels
that needs to be at with all the
chemicals, all the staff that's
needed. And our community won't
pay that to go to the pool. So
because of that the fees have
always been adjusted to buy.
However the community was
feeling councils feeling at that
time, and so we're nowhere near
that we haven't been for years.
Um so could you adjust that?
Absolutely. You could absolutely
adjust that. And then just one
other point I wanted to make I
know that directors have fees
right now. They are utilizing so
tabling. It won't hurt them.
They will be able to use that
they do have language within the
resolution itself. Currently
that allows them to operate in
case they need to start
something new trying new pilot
program So they'll be okay to
that way. They have plenty of
time to Come back with whatever
information you are requesting.
Thank you. That's all right. I
just didn't want us to keep
something on the books that were
just never going to do because
that seems kind of silly to me.
So I guess, just ignore the 33%
thing like you've been doing
gambling. Okay We're good.
Council corn. I think you make a
great point, and we should
really, That's it. When you're
considering this, we should
really consider those
percentages and meet those.
Whatever a realistic goal that
we said We shouldn't have this
on risk. If that's happening,
you should come back to us and
say Look, we missed the mark.
Council You Mr Marco will take
responsibility, but we shouldn't
keep Keep this up. It needs to
be changed. Mayor Pro TEM
Council members these fees and
charges in these percentages
that we set their goals that we
set as a department. 33% is
basically an aquatic Kind of
guide across country wide. We're
always trying to strike for that
33% We do want to have some kind
of percentage in there because
we do want to strive to increase
our business to increase
profitability when where we can
. So if it's set at 20% of its
Senate 15% We do want to have
some kind of goal to strive for,
so I'll meet with my stuff and
we'll try to set that. Thank
you, Phil. Okay We have a motion
on the on the floor with the. To
table it. Two dates on July 3rd
. Yes. Okay. Christine. This is
on the motion to table
resolution 23-135 to July 3rd
2023 Councilor Abeyta. Yes
Councilor Graham? Yes Council
Bencomo? Yes Councilor Creon?
Yes Catherine flutters. Yes Pro
TEM? Yes. I don't know if he's
still on. Okay so he's absent.
Thank you. Thank you, Christine
. Eight points and Council
number number 23 does 0 to 7. I
need a motion and a second move
to approve Graham. Second Abeyta
motion made by concert. Graham
second by concert, Abeyta. Okay
Thanks for hanging with us.
Erica You're welcome. Um good
evening Mayor, Pro temp and
council members. Erica Hockey's
treasure. The ordinance before
you is to authorize execution
and delivery of a loan agreement
with the New Mexico Environment
Department and Imedi. For the
expansion and improvement of
wastewater infrastructure. NME D
clean water State revolving fun
offers low interest rate loans
for water and wastewater,
capital and infrastructure
projects. A resolution was
approved by the utility board on
November 22nd. November. 10th
2022authorizing the submission.
Of a completed application for
financial assistance. The anti
anticipated closing date is July
14th. The loan is pledged with
revenues. It's a subordinate
lean on the net revenues of the
joinutility. The loan amount
is 16,916,000. With a subsidy
grant amount of 227,240. The
maturity of the loan cannot
extend beyond the agreed upon
useful life of the project and
the interest rate not to exceed
0.01. The project's anticipate
to be funded with the loan and
grant with the loan proceeds and
grant funds is wastewater system
improvements that Jacob Hands
wastewater treatment Facility
Isthmus, a West waste
reclamation and extensions of
sewer collection systems. Now I
have the options before you and
I stand for any questions. Thank
you, Erica. Any questions see
none. Public comment. Okay I
have to ask. Okay. On the motion
to approve Ordinance 3033 Cancer
. Abeyta Yes, Council Graham?
Yes Council. ngkok Yes.
Councilor crown? Yes Photos? Yes
pro TEM and mayors absent. Okay
8.7 Council Bill number 23 0 to
a. We have to suspend. Suspend
the rules now, Christine. Okay
We have to suspend the rules to
combine both of these 8.7 and
8.8. Councilor bill number 23-02
nights. So moved coin Second
Counlor Mother can't course
Second by Councilor Graham
Erica. I need to do real quick.
Really quick. I'm sorry. No,
you're fine. It's late on the
motion to discuss Councilor
Abeyta. Councilor Graham? Yes
Council. Hong Kong? Yes. Totally
going to turn out the lights on
us, You guys? Yes Floated? Yes
Yes, the mayor's elephant. Good
evening again. Erica Hockey's
treasure for the record. The
ordinances before you is to
authorize the execution and
delivery of a loan agreement
with the New Mexico Finance
Authority for the financing of
flood control and street
projects. The New Mexico Finance
Authority offers lower cost
financing for capital projects.
Their rates are determined by
the city Credit credit rating.
The city has a debt cycling
program for flood and street
projects. The cycling program
provides consistent funding for
projects without increasing the
debt service payments. City
anticipates to receive the loan
proceeds on July 14th 2023. The
loan details. The pledge revenue
sources for the flood control
loan is the fifth one quarter
percent increment of the
municipal girls receipts tax.
The last time the city obtained
along for flood control projects
was in 2020. The loan amount
cannot exceed 3.1 million with
maturity no later than June 1st
2036 and the interest rate haste
more than 12% with an MFA feel
less than 1% of the loan. The
loan proceeds will be used to
fund flood control
infrastructure projects. The
street loan is pledged, with the
first one quarter percent
increment of the mgr T The last
time we cycled this lawn was in
2020. The loan amount cannot
exceed 5.1 million with maturity
no later than June 1st 2037. The
loan proceeds will be used to
fund street improvement projects
, including related repairs to
curbs, sidewalks and drainage
necessitated by this this street
modifications. And that is it.
Thank you, Erica. Any questions?
C no public Yeah. Okay.
Christine. We need a motion and
a second approved resolution
8.7. Motion made by Councilor
Grand second by Councilor
plodders. This is on the motion
to approve ordinance 3034
Councilor Abeyta. Yes Councilor
Graham Councilor Bencomo. Yes
Cancer. Crayon Yes, Councilor
Flores. Yes Mayor Pro TEM and
the mayor is absent. Okay
they'll approve resolution. 8.8
G. Seconded corn. Christine.
This is on the motion to approve
ordinance 3035 Councilor Abeyta
Cancer. Graham Yes, Cancer
Bencomo World. Yes Councilor
Korean. Yes Council flutters.
Yes Prothom? Yes, and the
mayor's absent Okay board
appointments. No, There's too we
need, Um, individually correct,
Christine. You need to find it
here. I have one. Moved to
approved Doug Butler to the
capital Improvements Advisory
Committee. Second Graham
Christine. This is on the motion
to appoint Butler to the CIA. E
Councilor Abeyta. Yes, Councilor
Graham. Yes Councilor Bencomo
role. Yes Councilor Crayon
Cancer. Flores Yes, pro TEM and
the mayor is absent. Motion to
primacy of value Public housing
authority. Monique Las best It's
a new appointment. Sure. Move to
a proof. Second corn Christine
Sun the motion to appoint unique
Lopez Macia Valley Public
Housing Authority Cancer Abeyta.
Yes Councilor Graham? Yes
Councilor Bencomo? Yes Councilor
crayon. Yes Councilor Flood is
yes, TEM. Yes and the mayor's
absent, Okay notice of proposed
ordinances. 10.1 Council bill
number 23 03 to bring it
forward. Thank you, Councilor
Flores. Council Bill number 23
033 Last number 30 39 forward
Councilor plotters Thank you and
10.3 Council Bill number 23-034
it forward. Next City council
member part reports and comments
do I even dare? Okay? Hi. I have
a couple of things. I know. I So
do I saying No. They're saying
no. But okay, I'll go forward.
I'll hurry up. So last week on
Thursday, May 30 was it made0
or whenever it was last Thursday
? Um the real New Mexico. Um
Last, Cruces was launched the
new motto, the new branding, and
It was absolutely wonderful. Um
so. All the stuff, says the Real
New Mexico last Cruces. Alright
um I want to thank Karina
Oberman her piece in the
newspaper A few days ago, she
was really lighting the city f
the public transportation
available to her when she was
injured and couldn't drive. And
after I want to add that she
wasn't aware of the South
Central Regional Transit
District. I think a lot of
people aren't but that one not
only connects our city, but it
connects us to different parts
of New Mexico, Southern New
Mexico, as well as Al Paso,
Texas, and, um So. Um uh, city
manager to look into the issue
of backyard breeders. Um there
is a high power. Uh stat at the
at the Animal Service Center.
And I think that, um what is
contributing to that is the
breeders who are not licensed
and are exploiting that. And
being very cruel to animals.
Also presentation if at all
possible on traffic calming in
the city. Um I have a lot of, uh
, we have a lot of speeding in
the East Mesa. And I get
telephone calls, comments and
all that from my constituents.
I'm sure it's prevalent
throughout the city comma and
lastly, on the comments by a
constituent who said she wasn't
able to get treatment, um, and
indicated that Memorial Medical
Center and mountain view
Hospitals are for proud only So
, um, you know, I think we need
to look at universal Health care
is something that we brought up
several years ago. And a lot of
people. Uh we are in dire need.
A lot of people don't qualify
for Medicaid. And anyway, um,
the national health service in
the UK has been successful, and
perhaps we can model the ours
after that. That's it. Thank
you, Madam Chair Councilor plot
is I do want to say Since I got
back past is speaking on our um
or the Citizen Review board and
request. Community policing from
Century 21 policy policing
should be adopted as a
philosophy for the entire police
force. It adopts things and hang
on trust. Legitimacy Policy and
oversight, technology and social
media, community policing and
crime reduction officer wellness
and safety. I think when we have
a really well resourced team
When I say that I mean looking
at Root causes to what is
happening in community. Um,
around crime. I That means
addressing poverty, are mental
health. Um and I think we all
agree that that's something that
we need to do. And I will we
have this week with the Public
Safety Select Committee. I have
committed to looking at ways to
open up Public Safety Select
Committee. To the public. Um.
And will be having those
discussions will also be looking
at Reviewing the Oi our contract
and Council Korean made of
wonderful suggestion about
Involving Oh, IR when there is a
police shooting, fatality, and
you all to know that I've heard
that I've heard the community
and I'm going to try to, um.
Diligently to come up with a
compromise or something that we
can all agree with, because I
heard very clearly. That there
is a lack of trust of police,
transparency and accountability
. And I want to say a big thank
you for our to achieve Dominguez
for putting the Town hall
together, but I'd like some more
notice to go out would be very,
very helpful. And with that I
will turn it over to Council
court. I have no rights to talk
to anyone anymore. I'm so sorry
I stepped on your right Council
Bencomo have no comments today.
Thank you, Council Graham. I'll
save it till I have more juice.
Councilor Abeyta respect for
staff time. No no comment. Okay,
Connie. No comments today.
Mapleton. Thank you. Okay We
need a motion to adjourn removed
. Graham Second, Abeyta made
back cancer. Graham second by
Councilor Abeyta, Becky Chris
Chriine. I don't mind being
called Becky. This is on the
motion to adjourn the meeting.
Councilor Abeyta? Yes. Cancer
Graham? Yes Councilor Bencomo?
Yes yes. Councilor, Florida's.
No I want to stay here. I'm
sure. Yes pro 10. Yes and the
mayor's absent. Thank you.