thank you
foreign
[Music]
okay welcome everybody today is Monday
January 23rd
2023. it's approximately 1 p.m before we
get to our city council work session
we're going to start off with our Ted
board our tax increment development
District board and before we do that I'm
going to ask you to please rise for the
Pledge of Allegiance
foreign
so we will have our work session
immediately following this tip board
okay so first item on the agenda is
approval of the minutes
from October 24 2022.
move to approve Graham seconded corn
okay my motion made by board member
Graham second by board member Quran
Christine
this is on the mission to approve the
tip board minutes from October 24 2022.
board member of beta yes board member
Graham yes board member Ben Comal yes
board member Koran yes board member
Flores is absent board member Gandara
yes and chair yes
okay we have two discussion items first
one is going to be a financial update
and Chris favor will be discussing
good afternoon Mr chairman members of
the tid board I'm Chris Faber with
economic development
I'll be doing both discussion items
today we'll start with the financial
update
so FY 23 you can see that tid revenues
are are doing well holding steady I
actually saw a substantial increase in
November
so we're we're trending in the right
direction on a monthly basis
year to year this is still a you know a
look back to 2014
um all the yearly totals you can see
that we're on track this year to exceed
last year's total which was um 4.1
million dollars
and we're at two point almost
2.9 Million Dollars halfway through this
fiscal year so I anticipate that we'll
probably finish somewhere north of four
million dollars this fiscal year
uh breakdown of the funds so fund 2815
which is revenues and operations is
about 7.7 million
fund 40 to 70 capital projects
unrestricted that's 2.2 million
and fun fund 4271 which is Bond projects
restricted capital projects that sits at
about 700 000 bringing the grand total
in the tid right now to about 10 million
dollars
any questions on the financials
so Chris is there a time frame that
these have to be spent is there some
type of a sunset from the state or
is that just for money coming in Mr
chair so I've talked to finance about
that and they're looking in to see what
that deadline is but I did want to say
that at the budget Retreat coming up
next month we will have a presentation
on items for projects in the tid to use
these funds so we're putting that
together now and we'll be showing you
that next month
sounds good any questions members of the
public
okay see none so now you're going to go
to the current projects update correct
and really the only current project that
we still have going on right now is the
renovations of parking lot 7. this has
been going on for some time but they've
made a lot more progress in in recent
days you can see from this picture that
the the restroom facility is there it
should be operational within the next
few weeks they're just tying up some
last minute Plumbing issues that they're
dealing with you can see behind it that
the old restrooms were demoed
and then that they've torn up the
remaining portion of the parking lot
they started this project in 2021 with
the restoration of the first half of the
parking lot the North End so they'll be
completing the South End opening the
facilities and completing that demo here
in the next few months
and then I just wanted to give you a
quick status update on the Plaza shade
so we had a lengthy discussion at the
last meeting
after the tid meeting I got back
together with several City departments
to talk about our options it was
everyone was in agreement that we needed
to bring the Consultants back in to
answer a few more questions so I've
given them a direction to look at some
options for the plaza regarding not only
the shade trees we talked about but some
temporary shade options with the idea
that we could come back at the April
meeting and have more information to
present to you so just want to let you
know that we're still working on that
and should have some more information in
the few months
and that's all I have questions Chris
let me just ask you so is there any way
to ideally you know with the summer
coming it would be nice to have some
type of shade there I mean because we've
gone I don't know how many years now
without anything and I think the the
public is kind of tired of especially
hearing from me that we're going to have
shade oh we have shade this year it's
coming this year and it's not not there
is there if we need to have a special
meeting of the tip board to do that I
guess what I'm trying to say is I I
think it was determined that there are
some places to put anchors already in
there is there something that that the
city can can do to at least provide some
temporary shade during the summer time
until something more of a permanent
nature or different type of structure or
type of shade is is brought forth
Mr chair so that was part of the
discussion with some of the city
departments public works there was a
couple concerns we had about putting
some like a temporary tent out there
with the capacity of the current anchors
what would need to be brought in also
line of sight issues with the stage is
something that we're still trying to
figure out since the stage is elevated
from the plaza and also what would sort
of the the wind capacity be of a
structure like that so we're those are
things we're looking at the Consultants
are actually speaking with the company
that does that type of tenting to see if
there is something that we could get
moving quicker but that's a little bit
more custom in nature rather than just
sort of a standard tent that you would
you would put up for for a short-term
event so yeah we are looking at those
with the idea that there could be
something uh in in the near future that
we could have out there on the Plaza
yeah I don't know if that quite answered
my question
um I I don't know about the others but I
want something there by June and if it's
there temporarily if it's regardless of
the line of sight it's hot and it's very
it's you know I've seen others have
these tents I don't know where they get
them from they rent them
I don't see why we can't do that as well
I mean it's it's it's you know it's it's
nice right now but it's hot in the
summer and I think that
this is going on at least five years I
would think
and for us to not be able to get a
structure I mean we've built City Hall
we built the convention center and we
built the Aquatic Center all three in
one year and we can't get shade on
Downtown Plaza it's just I don't know
it's just for some reason something's
not working there did you want to say
something yeah if I can there I just
wanted to jump in so
so we've brought proposals in the past
and I know there's been some
maybe not fully
not the Mis I guess the word not
everybody had the consensus to move
forward with the shade structure so I
think that was part of the issue and so
I remember when I first came here that
was number one on my list when when I
was meeting with everybody to put put a
shade structure we came through with one
and then a proposal and then the the
priority changed
so I think that's where from staff
perspective we kind of just
and so just sat back because
we really do need
direction if that's the the consensus of
the council to or the tip board to move
forward with the shade structure that's
one thing we even talked about
putting trees there at one point so we
had one meeting where we had trees that
instead of the actual shade the cost
that we presented it said you know it
was pretty expensive and I know some
counselors or board members mentioned
that they didn't want to spend that kind
of money there and so if if that is the
consensus we will move on it I just I
think that's been changed over the
course of several meetings so I even I'm
admittedly married and I'm a little
confused as to where
we should go now if that's if that's
where we want to go I'll certainly
instruct staff to to move forward on
that but it seems to me that there was a
there was a full agreement on on that
yeah thanks people and and maybe I
wasn't I'm just telling you my druthers
here is that we have some type of
temporary shade even if we have so we
have access to it if we have to rent it
from one of these rental places I hear
what you're saying and and you're right
I think Council we had different ideas
of what it would be but but that's more
of the the permanent one I'm not saying
that we have to get that thing done I'm
just saying I think we need to have some
shade by this summer even if it means
just being able to access it through
whatever these rental companies are I
don't know where they get it I mean the
the university when they have their
um tailgating parties
the the parking lot is full of these
large tents I mean that's what I'm
talking about they they don't they don't
have to look super nice just to block
out the the heat the Sun and and I'm
just saying that is a temporary means
until we until staff and and the
Consultants come up with something that
Council can agree on but I'm just saying
we're going to go a whole another summer
without some type of even if you know
temporary shade I'm not saying that it
has to be the permanent one I'm just
saying temporary Shade that's all I'm
getting at and and I just think that
it's uh that we should have something I
mean we've talked about it for years I
mean and it's to the point where
this is my my last summer here so I I've
got to make sure that at least I can say
well we got some shade you know so
oh
ster thank you mayor Pro tem uh yes I
agree with getting some kind of
temporary shade structure and I've only
been through one of the shade structure
cage matches at the last which I believe
Chris you said was the longest tid board
meeting in history because we were
squabbling over the nature of the shade
structure so yeah totally not staff's
fault and agree with getting a temporary
shade structure especially before mayor
before mayor leaves because you're going
to be hanging out downtown a lot once
you're retired I mean like want you to
be comfortable thank you
mayor Putin
thanks Chris thank you mayor um yeah I
guess I'm confused I thought we had
decided on mature trees would be out
there we talked about a temporary shade
structure I mean I think we've gone
through three councils
at at this point it's been since I got
here my first term and I'm completing my
second term in November so I I think
um
I agree there's been some confusion and
the public has not been aware of really
or not felt like they were a part of the
decision but um
I thought we decided mature trees and a
temporary way until we can get those
trees established
so
and I just want to make mention
over the Christmas holiday or the tree
lighting ceremony there was a temporary
structure put up and it really prevented
a scene and
out and vice versa in if that makes
sense so I just want us to be cautious
if we put some sort of tent in the
middle of the
Plaza it's not going to work and that
has been staff's recommendation all
along that it would prevent us that you
know the viability of seeing up at the
at the plaza and I see Jennifer
Kozlowski there and that's been their
concern as well so what happened to the
shades the tree canopy
are we not clear is staff not clear
about that or Mr Mayor board member
Gondola so at the last meeting that was
what the proposal was but it sounded
like there wasn't consensus to move
forward with the specific type of tree
and that we wanted to consult more with
um additional you know Consultants on
the trees which is what I did I reached
out to a consultant that uh the city's
arborist had recommended
um there they were still they basically
told me that the trees that we had
proposed any of them would work as long
as they were maintained properly it
would still require you know extensive
work to the plaza which would the idea
was that we were going to budget for it
out of this coming to fiscal year so
that this time next year they could
start the work on the Plaza so that that
could happen the following summer just
because the length of time it takes to
go through procurement and get that
process done it wouldn't be ready in
time for this summer plus we don't have
the the bud you as it wasn't on the
budget yet so my proposal at the last
May was to put it on the upcoming tid
budget which I have put money on there
for this project but that proposal was
to start next fiscal year
so we'd have to have a temporary fix
until next year
I'm with mayor I think that there needs
to be something temporary
a board member and Gondola yeah we could
certainly look at doing a temporary tent
the issues that Public Works had
discussed with me were one going to be
line of sight to the stage so that's
going to probably be an issue with the
tent the other one were twofold one if
we leave it up all summer are there
going to be issues with the wind causing
damage to it and two if we put it up and
take it down are we storing it are we
asking a rental company to come and set
it up all the time so there really
wasn't a clear consensus on how to
handle just a simple tent that are not
intended to be up for multiple months
but rather just for a few days but if
that's the direction of the board we can
certainly
see what options are out there in terms
of just a temporary tent
so a staff moving forward but I think in
my mind the direction was clear the the
tree canopies and temporary
ones and whatever that looks like I mean
NMSU has done it and leaves them up I
believe in fact they have them all over
campus and leaves them up throughout the
you know the year and so I I just think
we need to find a find a you know a
solution and move on it even if it's
piloted
and and maybe reach out to our partners
at New Mexico State University right to
discuss how have they managed to keep
that tent up safely
without any any concerns and I don't
know that but I it feels like you know
they have them all over they're pretty
secure
um and and I would agree with mayor this
has really gone on too long and I feel
like we should we should um make a
decision and move on it thank you mayor
councilor Ben Cuomo thanks mayor I mean
I'm a board member thank you Mr chair
um
I was just trying to look for I think I
thought it was visit Las Cruces just had
a great social media graphic of all the
like summertime events coming up I'm
certainly still planning to attend them
like the taco Fest the salsa Fest with
No shade even and um so I'm just curious
if perhaps the coordination could be
with some of those
big events that are happening for the
temporary shade structures I'm still on
the no tent camp to be honest with you I
you know if when we get to the point of
a more permanent decision I'll obviously
be supportive of one of those choices
like the trees but I do want to note
that over the weekend there's a great
event on the Downtown Plaza and I told
this to Chris where we celebrated the
Aggies the bull Champs and there's a lot
of shade and it was very cold people
were very cold in the shade I just want
to point that out because people were
just looking for a little bit of
sunshine during the winter months so I
think temporary shade honestly is the
permanent way to go and I mean I would
like to understand better what some of
those operational concerns are like the
storing and all of that kind of things
and who is that on on Parks
um but I
I think for now can we have a plan for
temporary shade for the events that are
that you know are already happening that
would be my suggestion
thank you councilor in fact if I was to
clarify it more I'd say any City Event
any City sponsored event that we do we
need to have shade I mean we I think we
need to and I I think a rental company
can come and put it up and take it down
and pay them that's fine I don't think
we need to store it that's just my my
opinion but I'll let Evo iron that out
but I think any City Event anyone that
we sponsor we need to have some shade
until until your team brings something
more of a permanent nature to the to the
board
good yeah
a board member Flores thank you Mr chair
so
mayor our Mr chair
do we need a
formal directive by way of motion or
resolution to give to our staff
regarding the ideas that you and I think
Vice chair I think ifo probably sees the
consensus there and I think that's
within his budget to just okay yeah I
just want to make sure that it doesn't
fall by the wayside that there wasn't
sufficient
Direction and I think it's clear that we
need I agree with the Mr chair that we
have that the city provide shade for
city-sponsored events at least but if
you want to tell him you know right now
he listens to you my directive to you Mr
peely is
such
thank you thank you Flores Mr chair I I
will state then we will have
staff look for temporary a temporary
tent
structure for this upcoming
summer specific to any event that the
city sponsors
any really any event that I guess any
event there is one that we sponsor right
you know Mr board or Mr chairman members
of the board there's very few events on
the Plaza that are actually City
sponsored most of the events on the
Plaza are not City sponsored okay so so
is that
city-sponsored events or
you know people if if we can legally do
that I'm not I'm not aware of it but
that'll leave that to the City attorney
but I the way I'm looking at it is if if
there's any City participation with a
sponsored or not I mean sponsored or
putting putting the actual event on
because once we started doing that then
we're going to want us to do it for
others you know that's why I just said
City sponsored events but I thought we
sponsored the taco Fest or things of
this nature I thought oh yeah so
anything has a Fest in it
yes that board member thank you chair
um perhaps is that an area of
opportunity to offer it as an additional
like an add-on charge to be able to
provide the tents to other outside
organizations so they could rent that
out
yes Mr chair and board board member we
we'll figure that out we'll make sure we
look
I think our first
the first area we'll look for is to try
and get and get it rented that would be
the probably the easiest way to go if we
can find a company that come in and and
we can just pay them to to put it up and
take it down and then we can add that on
to the as an option to others that come
board member beta that's a good idea
because it's my understanding at the
tailgate if you've been there they and
they have these huge tents they you just
work with them they'll they'll one fee
pays for the tent and they also give you
a couple two or three different vendors
that you can use the food from and it's
just a One-Stop I mean that way there
just makes it real simple yeah that way
they're they're the tents all look the
same you could have different food but I
think that's the way to go so I
appreciate your suggestion
any other comments
was that it Chris
which area that's my presentation
okay if there's nothing further then
entertain to a motion to close the tit
board
so moved by Flores second
made by board member Flores second by
board member abeta Christine
this is on the motion to adjourn the Ted
board meeting board member abeda yes
board member Graham yes board member Ben
Como yes board member Koran yes board
member Flores yes board member Gandara
yes and chair yes
okay we are adjourned it's 1 23 p.m give
us a couple minutes and then we'll
switch over to our city council I mean
our city council work session