[Music]
run okay well good morning everybody
welcome to our special City Council
meeting down via videoconference today
is Friday April 10th 2020 it's
approximately 9:30 to a.m. before we
began I'm just going to ask if we have
the Pledge of Allegiance please okay now
I'm gonna ask I'm gonna ask if there's
any person of the city council city
manager any member of the city staff has
any known conflict of interest on any
item on the agenda none excuse me
okay seeing none just inside of
curiosity who do we have present here
I know councillor Stevie's here
councillor swords here I'm here
Elsa bencomb okay myself transfer
Florida's Elster Vasquez mayor pro-tem
okay I guess they'll be joining us here
in just a moment okay so we do have four
members including myself so the first
item it's going to be the item 2.1 which
is resolution countable number two zero
one three three ordinance number two
nine two four need a motion and a second
please fair enough
I'll say who is one who moved I'm fair
Baker to be okay and the second was Joe
sorg yes
okay so it's moving a second and we have
our city attorney Rob Cabello who's
going to
discussed this good morning
I'm Robert today with city attorneys oh
I am presenting a resolution on
extending the mayor's emergency
Proclamation issued on April 7th an
additional 14 days and just just before
I start can everybody see my
presentation yes it's good just making
sure okay yes I can
I appreciate it mayor council on March
11th the governor issued a public estate
of public health emergency in response
to the pandemic crisis and April 6th
that was Monday she extended that with
an executive order executive order 2020
20-0 22 that's an attachment also get on
March 27th this council passed the
emergency declaration ordinance which
allows the mayor and council to exercise
their emergency powers by Proclamation
and so moving forward to April 7th 2020
the mayor issued an emergency
Proclamation and it was to run
concurrent with the mayor's extension to
April 30th for the executive order and
what the reasons for this was must be
established an emergency even also gives
us a potential to receive reimbursement
of funds through FEMA get the base
drawer it's our the way we use our money
for again emergency response to this
crisis pursuant to get to the emergency
declaration act 9:30 be the original
proclamation lasts for three days
essentially is going to end on noon
today the proposed resolution extended
for another 14 days till noon April 24
and again this extension is to run
concurrent with the governor's executive
orders extending the public health
declaration to during the same time and
with that I'll go ahead and open up
questions you rob any questions mr.
mayor
yes coughs or could we back up a slide
extension runs concurrent with governor
executive order 20 2002 I understand
that number okay shelter sword that that
number is the number for the executive
order
so essentially on March 11 aha the
governor issued a declared a public
state of public health emergency okay
I thought I thought it was a date
nevermind oh no I'm sorry
it's a year anyway yeah that that
executive order was 2022 - 0:04 and this
one on April 6 was an extension of the
public health declaration - April 13 I
think it actually ends on May 1st that
new okay well then my second question is
what are the intentions of the mayor and
the council to do with this extension to
the 14 days what what actions a mayor
Councillor sort first of the the
declaration again part of it is to
potential to get the FEMA reimbursement
funds drop we're having trouble hearing
you kind of cutting out once in a while
I don't know if you're talking away from
the mic okay I'll try to move a little
closer to the mic here I what are the
reason for obviously a of the population
is to potentially have reimbursement of
FEMA funds for emergency actions
they should have it I'm Rob we're still
having a little trouble I'm sorry
you'reyou're Ser right about there and
then any close any other closer you get
a little muffled okay I can show
everything okay
okay so the the purpose it really the
purpose it really have its encourage the
citizens to follow CDC guidelines
regarding things like social distancing
making sure businesses stay close the
other thing is to make sure I mean make
sure they wash their hands the other
thing is to follow state guidelines
regarding the public health emergency
order it's also really it also the it
authorizes the assistant city managers
and the interim city manager tact as
signatories on behalf of the mayor or
any sort of look it requires very that's
crisis Robert just said it to include
the meaning of five or more people
gathering in a closed cut close
approximation to each other counselor so
let me just jump in real quick
I appreciate Robin we're having trouble
with his mic so just a couple things one
the main thing is it allows us to be
able to qualify for a reimbursement from
FEMA so in yesterday's mayor's meeting
or a conference that we have every
couple weeks that the governor puts on
and mayor's from all over the state one
of the speaker's was making sure that
the rest of the cities have passed an
emergency ordinance because the federal
government is going to be looking for
that and there was a couple mayor's who
are really concerned even one in our
County who hasn't done it yet and they
were looking for a template so we need
to reach out to them because they're
gonna be looking to see whether or not
you passed it because if you haven't
passed this you're gonna get
reimbursement from the feds that's
that's the main thing the second thing
is if you recall it allows
to spend whatever's needed obviously I
mean in conference with the city manager
chief both Chiefs of Police if they need
it so that's an event of emergency but
if anything is indicative is that we've
been how I've handled it the last two
weeks and that is I'm still grating it
to council you're not seeing me do
something here retro actively so we're
just bringing it forward and then it
also parallels with what the governor
had to say as far as what her directive
is about the only thing that we may have
added that was different that the
governor didn't have is it it allows the
city manager access to the funds as well
as and directs all state employees to
carry out what needs to be carried out
during this time of emergency that's
very good thank you very much yes mayor
okay good
councillor Ben Coleman Oh women Jennifer
as a Ezzor hand up
Jennifer you there thank you Mary I'm
also an important aspect of the this
Proclamation and the extension of it it
makes all of the governor's executive
orders enforceable - G okay thank you
great and tell something como you have
your hand up yes thank you mr. mayor um
I so I've been getting a lot of calls
about an emergency declaration locally
being enforceable as well now I don't
know you know given what Jennifer just
that I thought that the state orders
were already enforceable by state police
well first will you answer that is that
correct or no had they not been until
the mayor's emergency declaration either
room Jennifer did you hear that so I
think the councilors question was had
this like right now or prior to this
passing the city police could not
enforce the governor's directive and I
guess it sounded as though when you said
that when we pass
it allowed the city police to now help
enforce that directive is that what
you're trying to get at yes it is Marion
Council it is enforceable by municipal
police under municipal ordinance so the
city police can they can enforce state
law they were leaving that to state
police because it was an executive order
from the state so it has been
enforceable by state police but now it
would be enforceable pursuant to city
ordinance okay and then so Jennifer what
is the consequence like when we talk
about enforceable you know what I mean
the maximum penalties as with any as
with any violation would be a petty
misdemeanor in his report okay
punishable by up to five hundred dollar
fine in 90 days in jail is that correct
Jennifer
so I guess my biggest cuz I understand I
was very much against enforcement early
on I think at this point I am Public
Safety is number one priority and should
be the number one priority but my
concern continues to be putting but the
consequence is us putting people in
phases where there's a lot of people
like the court or a jail so who
ultimately sets that though is that the
judge or I'm sorry counselor what do you
mean who sets that who said that that
charges that punishment the penalty is
it within the ordinance so the maximum
penalty is contained within the
ordinance it would be up to the judge to
determine what the penalty is and if
there was a charge you have to
understand and I I would defer to Chief
Gallagher on how these are being
enforced I I do not believe that it is
the intention to go out and start
issuing citations that's not the
priority at this point
I think we have to prioritize for very
dangerous situations I don't know I I
will defer to the chief on that oh all I
will be able to tell you is that the
maximum penalty is a paying Sameer
it's very better than anybody search
time okay and okay that's helpful to
understand
I mean honestly like I think about
enforcement and they understand the
reasons why it's important at this point
given that there's a lot of people not
taking this seriously and putting lies
literal lives at risk you know I was
thinking about like what happens if we
instead of you know finding people then
folks who are not compliant with the
stay at home order then have to report
to volunteer hours at shelters I'm just
really uncomfortable with the idea of
fines and jail time so let me let the
chief Gallagher kind of tell you how
they've been handling in the past and
I'm sure it's probably gonna continue so
cheap yes good morning everybody can you
hear me yes I can yes as Jennifer said
today we did not have the authority to
enforce the public health order with
your proclamation of an emergency
that does give officers the ability to
conduct enforcement as Jennifer said
it's a petty misdemeanor a couple things
on that number one that has to be
committed in the officers presence to
take enforcement action and secondly
there is discretion with any type of
enforcement of this of petty
misdemeanors he also has discretion
whether he or she chooses to enforce it
I would ask you all to consider our
primary concern here which is now
twofold mission on the Las Cruces Police
Department up being visibility and
sustainability what I mean by
sustainability is keeping a sufficient
number of police officers healthy and on
patrol so they can remain visible and
able to enforce the more serious crimes
that are committed in town our concern
if we start to blanket and e enforce
this petty mister
we'll be exposing our offices to
situations with me they may become
infected with the virus and infect the
rest of the staff putting us in a
dangerous staffing position so yes we
are in encouraging voluntary compliance
with people to date State Police have
not done any enforcement they have not
done any type of citations for the same
reason so we ask you all to consider
that and also the council nekoma makes a
good point with regard to do you want to
put people in jail for this where
they'll be in a confined area with other
people and also to clarify as well
typically they're not going to go to
jail right now oh but the most serious
criminals are not going to jail I'd ask
you to consider that as well what a
citation changed somebody's behavior I
don't know sometimes it does you all
email me a lot of times speeding
complaints we conduct enforcement and it
goes away but then what happens it comes
back so citation only has a limited
ability to change behavior
I think voluntary compliance is still
the best way to go for all of us okay
thank you I'm curious to hear my what my
colleagues also have to say on this
Thank You counselor with counselor
Florida sand Council Vasquez good
morning everybody
I missed the first 15 minutes because of
the new way to to join in and so I I
heard was what I started about six
minutes ago I was able to hear what was
going on so I pretty much get the gist
of what Bancomer
council Bencomo was saying and it sounds
like there's the enforcement issues a
difficult one because it exposes too
many people to do our officers and staff
to to contamination so that that's
pretty much that's my recap is did I
miss anything else
I don't think so counselor Florida's
basically the reason for the
proclamation was to one allow us the
opportunity to be too qualified to
receive federal funds when they decide
to reimburse cities I know there's some
cities in the state that haven't done
this and they're scrambling to get a
template so I appreciate staff Jennifer
and Rob and all those and David for
putting this together so that we can
qualify for that too it allows us to
continue to and more importantly to
allow the city to now be able to help
enforce what the governor has put out in
her directive and I think that's and
then what we're here in chief Gallagher
state was and and in an answer to
councilor been Como's concerns about
people being arrested or sight getting a
citation you probably probably not going
to see that it's a lot of times
residents comply after the police just
say hey we need you to you know not have
this congregation here of people and
they usually just do what they need to
do and that's kind of where we're at and
it also allows us to access funds
quicker and so that's kind of the reason
for the the proclamation which was
issued a couple days ago it's gonna
expire at noon today and that's why it's
on the agenda so let go another 14 more
days I hope you heard me yes I did okay
good I said thank you Beth the mute
button goes on automatically after okay
so thank you so there so federal funding
reimbursement the reimbursement
reimbursement of this would what is it
they be funding or reimbursable well
we're gonna have an update here later on
today but that should be some federal
monies that were awarded to the city but
I know they've also talked about other
types of federal reimbursements to the
cities but what exactly would it be
reimbursing well one of the stuff that
the money that we spent to deal with
this pendant so having this citation
would allow you mean having the
proclamations yes excuse me
having this this proclamation is
necessary to cap the federal money well
according to you know as I was
mentioning you may not have heard this
part every week or two governor has a
mayor's teleconference mayor's
throughout the state and one of the
speaker's was saying you need to have
this if you want to get reimbursed by
the feds and so there were several
mayors who were you know turned might
have put your thing on you there are
several mayor's who haven't done this
yet and they were scrambling to see if
they can find a template to be able to
issue the emergency Proclamation so the
federal funding is specific excuse me
the federal reimbursement the federal
monies are contingent on having this
kind of a proclamation and this kind of
an ordinance yes specifically no they
said that specifically it's a if if
federal monies were going to be allowed
to come from the federal government
because of emergency you have to have an
ordinance to turn in an emergency if you
don't have an ordinance that you're an
emergency why would you get reimbursed
okay all right so then we would have it
and then the it would be a petty
misdemeanor and and as the as a chief
said that that police officers would
first of all they have to be the breach
of that ordinance and then just like a
issuing aid any other citation I get
moving violation and then that there'd
be it would also be discretionary as to
whether he would issue a citation so so
that would be up to his leadership or
directive that the way would work well I
think it's also that of the individual
officer themselves correct oh they would
have that discretion look well then it
kind of okay seems like it would work
thank you it's really no different than
then moving that aside there are
currently citations ordinances on the
books right that the city that the city
police can enforce so this is just
another this is really primarily
targeted for what we're dealing with
right now and and and so I mean it's no
different I mean they're the same
individuals and okay
councillor Vasquez Thank You mayor
good morning boy apologize for being
late also had to create an account to
sign in today yeah I just wanted to
address some of councillor been Como's
comments some thoughts I've had on on
this emergency declaration and
enforcement in particular I think we
need to use every tool that we have
available to promote compliance of the
governor stay at home orders and now our
local emergency Proclamation because
people's lives are on the line and I
think in two in two weeks right three
weeks we will have seen the results of
this enforcement because typically you
know there's a lag time between when
folks are hospitalized and seriously
sick and when the when people actually
catch catch this this illness and so I
don't believe that we should be giving
out tickets citations except in those
circumstances where large groups of
people or specific individuals refuse to
comply and and I think in that instance
when they are putting other when folks
are putting other people at risk and
openly disregard a warning or disregard
a command like to disperse when they are
perhaps gathering in more than five I
think I think that would be the own
time that I would then I would use
discretion to actually give a citation
out to somebody but I think the majority
of cases 99.9% you know would be local
police telling folks hey there's too
many people at the park right thinking
about a place like La Llorona Park on a
on a Saturday afternoon that potentially
has 50 to 60 people in and around the
river area and the playground you know I
think that'd be a good place for perhaps
our officers to ask folks maybe not even
to leave but just to spread out right to
go further down the river and that kind
of thing so I think I think this is a
good thing I'm glad to hear Chief
Gallagher thinks that obviously there's
not going to be in a need for for
citations but but it does give them the
discretion to have at least have that
option and I think that's important
again because it's not about them it's
about who they potentially in fact and
and other folks that you know these are
the same folks that are going to be
going to the grocery store to gas
stations that other places where
unknowingly they could they could spread
the disease so so I do support it to
encourage discretion and and I would say
that we need to put some information out
on that from our Pio or from the police
departments Pio just to let folks know
that that police that there is now a
human municipal directive given to our
Police Department that this can be
enforced and and again if that just you
know makes people more compliant I think
that's a good thing for us right now so
so do you support it and also do
encourage us to use that data that's
coming from the Descartes lab study
that's going to tell us where people are
congregating especially in parks in
public spaces to make sure that that
we're actually patrolling in the areas
where there is lots of people in close
proximity so thank you mayor Thank You
councillor I'm wondering if we could use
that the group of you TV writers as a
poster saying no
gathering and and you know that that is
basically imagine if they didn't want to
break up and and move so I appreciate
your comments and I still you know you
think that kind of still bothers me I
usually I get over in 24 hours but it's
still perks me a little bit counselor
sword counselor Florida's don't only
have it women chief Gallagher wants to
talk chief yeah so again yeah I just
wanted to reiterate with counsel Vasquez
said that's how we're viewing this is
another tool in our toolbox and we were
waiting to for the results of today's
meeting to get a little more direction
from Council we will be informing the
offices of that this afternoon in
addition we'll be putting out press
release and information on our social
media site regarding our efforts as well
encouraging voluntary compliance but
performing people we do now have the
authority to enforce this if you know as
a last resort it is necessary and in one
thing with regard to the parks at our
request the Parks and Rec Department is
in the process now to the extent
possible closing off all parking areas
at city parks to really get the message
across and we understand especially for
Easter where a lot of people
traditionally in Las Cruces will gather
at someone these parks that'll be the
case in addition the city is going to be
funding security guards to be working in
those parks as well to disperse people
before gatherings can occur yes a la
Llorona park is obviously a concern as
well but closing off that parking lot
should help us well but we will have
officers on bicycles and if possible
motorcycles patrolling those trails as
well requesting voluntary compliance
would he order thanks chief we also have
David my Estes wants to speak better
thank you I put my hand up at the same
time that chief Gallagher did really I
was going to iterate the points that he
brought up main focus obviously is
education we want to help people realize
how important to stay at home order
and work with them on voluntary
compliance and I was simply going to
mention what he did about the efforts
that we have in place for security at
the parks to include Verona as well as
the closures of those parking lots as
well so thank you Mary thank you David
councillor sword and councillor Bencomo
Thank You mr. mayor
yeah my feelings on this is similar that
for gatherings and and all of the other
orders that the governor and we have in
the city here not to be punitive but
rather more educated we need to tell
people what's going on and I know more
geordie than people who don't hear of
these things in the city here that they
don't get the newspaper they don't read
it anywhere except some social media a
lot of people don't do social media and
so on so more educated that if you can
be educating people and you know we all
have gotten the emails that said well
why can't two or three of us walk in the
park well maybe we can you know I think
that'd be okay two or three people just
so long as it doesn't get five or more
and that's something that people need to
be educated about um councillor right
now the parks are closed maybe after the
holiday season thinking it might be
revisited okay I said this weekend for
sure
please those parks are the remain closed
yeah I understand and in fact when when
this is the time that the parks are used
the most and people don't get the
message it's gonna be hard to enforce I
can understand that
so for Chief Gallagher that's good for
him in his in his force so yeah I agree
mr. mayor thank you very much
I did not see in the packet though the
extensive packet that we are given
anything about gatherings have five or
more people though maybe it's someplace
else or maybe we don't have it at all
can somebody explain that okay
councillor that's in the governor's
orders so this this Proclamation just
base
we parallels the governor's orders okay
I really used to be ten people then she
brought it down to five and so by us
doing this it just it just mirrors that
it automatically yeah okay thank you
thank you that's good for me sir Ben
Komal thank you I appreciate everyone my
own mutant oh okay yeah I appreciate
everyone saying
lifting up using the tools at our
disposal right something I've learned
from public works and from the cheese
lieutenant Danes is that an enforcement
always falls at the end right something
I learnt in public works was education
and engineering and enforcement when it
comes to traffic control and they feel
like this it kind of applies here
perhaps not the engineering piece but
definitely certainly the education piece
I think that one of the biggest things
missing that mr. mayor you and all of us
need to keep pushing for and I talked to
interim city manager - about this it's
data and information I think that is a
huge disservice that as of council as
policymakers but also our communities
don't have access to information and
data about the virus I know that you
know information there's plenty of
information about how dangerous viruses
about how it spreads the truth is is
that we don't have specific data that
would frankly I think really help people
take this seriously here in the city of
Las Cruces I know that we have we know
that we have 44 cases Dona Ana County we
have no idea where we don't we don't
know where social community spread is I
think those that piece of information is
a disservice to keep from us as
policymakers and from our community
members so I want to keep pushing that
the State Department give us that
information I think it's a false
argument saying that it would violate
HIPAA to tell us where there is spread
and and as policymakers how are we
supposed to push for bold
um policies that that help people
understand social distancing if we don't
have the data to be able to back that up
now sir como can you kind of zero in
specifically what data you're looking
for because there and you you touched on
it about HIPAA you know I think and I
appreciate you announcing that it's
really the information we get is from
the state and the state historically has
just given counties they don't even go
into the city you know they do at least
tell you the the approximate age you
know they're in the 20s or 30s or 50s
and and sometimes they all say they did
have underlying conditions and I think a
lot of times is you know on one hand
you're in you're absolutely right it'd
be nice to have that that data then on
the other hand for the families I think
that are affected or you know there's a
certain there's a certain balance there
as far as privacy and obviously they
can't disclose the exact age and where
they're from because people start start
perhaps guessing so I think they on that
one hand they try to have that balance
there but can you share with us what
specifically and I'll see what I can do
to send up - yeah I think specifically
we need to understand where the hotspots
are in earth in the county and in the
city and I don't know if you've seen the
information or the data being provided
by El Paso County but it is not clear
let me let me real quick I meant to say
that right now the city we have maybe
four or five zip codes and they're large
I mean in eighty eight zero zero one
eight eight zero zero five twelve and
eleven and and so I mean they're going
to be brought now Paso has quite a few
of them you know we might be able to ask
if they can get that but I I'm glad you
brought that up because our Paso has you
know they can spread it out a little bit
easier but I'll ask and see if we can
get that I think additionally there's
information and data about the viruses
trajectory in Dona Ana County like what
our medical experts saying about the
spread in the future for our community
if you have that information
the rest of us has not have not been
previewed to that and certainly not the
rest of the community and I think that
that's really vital information for a
virus that spread by contact I think
it's kind of intuitive to not give us
that information when this my race has
literally spread but being close
proximity to each other now for the
record I have that I do not have that
information need more than a pass the
state if they can provide that so all
reach out to them I usually email or
text them every few days okay and I mean
I think counselor baskets brought up a
great tool I'm curious about what the
timeline is on that well we like how
well how else accessing that information
work it looks like David my assistance
is jumping real quick and then I'll go
to Mayor Pro Tem yes David Thank You
mayor with respect to the analytics that
contraband Coleman was referring to that
customer Vasquez brought to our
attention we turned in the information
that we needed to provide to the company
yesterday and they had let us know that
probably by next week sometime we'll
start to get the information that allows
us to see how people are working and
complying with the social distancing
requirement the difference in this
program compared to the one we were
looking at before which was Google
Analytics this new program will allow us
to zero in on specific locations so by
next week sometime we're hopeful that
we'll be able to start to see what the
distancing looks like in certain areas
of the city for example if we wanted to
look at young Clark we won't be able to
do it now for the Easter weekend but if
we had had it in place beforehand we
could see what the dose the social
distancing look like at young Park so
hope that answers that part of the
question yes thank you and additionally
I'll just say this last thing is that
once we understand this data then we can
ensure that we're targeting resources a
lot smarter so yeah thank you okay Thank
You council askus and councillor soar
Thank You mayor Thank You councillor
Bencomo agree I think we we want to see
as much data as we can and and be privy
to was
other municipalities have access to in
particular make sure we're not missing
out on any of that my understanding is
that Presbyterian has come out with a
predictive model that is local to New
Mexico county by county in terms of
their predictions of spread in New
Mexico that uses a different model than
what's available nationally and so I
believe that the City of Albuquerque and
maybe the city of Santa Fe I'm not sure
have received presentations from
Presbyterian officials with maps with
predictions that I think we would
benefit from and so I'm not sure who the
right contact is at Presbyterian but
what I am hearing is that they have the
most updated local model using a variety
of different sources within the state
for for data and so it'd be great for us
to get getting in contact with with
somebody at Presbyterian to see if we
can't get a briefing from them
maybe at a future City Council meeting
the information I got from Senator
Heinrichs office and so they might be
the right person to or they might the
right office to to facilitate that
meeting but they do have some some data
I think that we haven't seen think I'll
reach out to senator Hynix office to see
if I can get on their on their list to
get information like that if I had known
a little bit earlier I could have been
prepared for today's meeting so I
apologize for that
that's okay mayor I just heard about
that yesterday evening so yeah I think
in that hole okay thank you
before I get to counselor soar I I
thought she there she is okay down
Samaritan ganda Donna wanted to speak
and then counselor sword Thank You Man
appreciate good morning everybody
um sorry I was delayed as well there was
a bit of a change in our instructions in
terms of how to get on
but I appreciate Adrienne and everybody
helping I agree with cultures Dinkelman
Vasquez I think doing this emergency
Proclamation and giving our law
enforcement more you know additional
tools to assist them if they're you know
patrolling out there is is its most
important
I like the the commentary it's really
difficult being a border community when
your neighboring state is doing things
in terms of collecting data and showing
where kovat is present I think it's it's
really important that I can't help but
to feel that if folks knew a there was
community spread now and be exactly
where the hot spots are in terms of CO
FID people will continue to take it
seriously I know many people are taking
it seriously but there are still folks
that are driving around and convenien
and touched that make it really
difficult and so I I would agree that
that including giving this as part of
law enforcement duty right as a tool and
with that acting education and awareness
is really important our communications
department has done an excellent job of
placing messages on our kovat website on
channel 20 you will start to see the
counselors speaking to important own
numbers and issues that are surrounding
our community around child abuse and
neglect preventing domestic violence
I'm just staying home and so I'd like to
see mayor if approved some sort of Pio
plan
in terms of what this is going to look
out how frequent are we putting out the
message if they're going to include
radio and maybe flyers and electric
excuse electric and so utilities like I
think it's really important to make sure
that as many of our entities that we
work with and like contractors are
nonprofits that we're getting this
information to them so that they can
share with their clients there are many
people out there that are providing
still home visiting services that is
would be incredibly important to share
with them I'm sorry I just wanted to
show my support thanks mayor okay thank
you and apologize for missing you I
thought you had your hand up and then
the hand went down okay Kelsey sword
okay thank you Mary I'm you know I just
want to add to what the others are
saying here I did more information that
Councilman gomu and bouncy Bastas
announcer Mayor Pro Tem
Gandara has been saying if we know where
this virus is if we know how it is
spread we can better isolate it control
it I'm wondering if the Department of
Health is doing this or not could we
inquire if that's the case if that's
what they're working on um there's ways
of helping to control the virus and
maybe we'll get over with this a little
sooner um I I also was wondering about
that well I was also wondering if the
state and the governor is working on
getting more testing done
I think that's nationally what people
are saying that
it is going to be very important to
control this in the long run to is to
have more testing so that we know where
the buyer says and and that way better
control it again I notifications and
then spreading information mr. mayor I
utilities it has a pretty good
distribution list they have ways of
notifying all of the utility users in
the city here and either the email or
even texting and of course the Flyers in
the billing I hope we can use those
methods to spread this information that
we're dealing with right now other than
notes I have yeah okay I have a little
note I won't even bother saying because
it's obvious okay mr. mayor that's all I
have to say thank you I'm sorry huzzah
Cassandra oh yes I'm so sorry I just
wanted to and I meant to say this
earlier I have some connections that
Department of how locally our dart
director Don Sanchez has been very
instrumental in keeping me abreast of
different things if I have questions
she's been great to reach out to but
they do have epidemiologists and
academia about the epic happy nurse her
name is Bernadette you theorist and so
to both tells her sorg and and the rest
of the of the counselors I think they
would be really amenable to coming and
presenting to us the data that comes
from oshkosh spoke to in terms of
Presbyterian they are they are looking
at this they're there you know once the
testing occurs they are doing all the
necessary any surveillance that it
requires I mean they're there they're
experts at this they've been doing this
isn't their first time around they've
been doing a lot of disease management
and control for years and years
so I hope just knowing that my ten years
at public health that and what I know
that they do do and their relationships
and that I do have I think it would be
very easy for us to reach out to them I
know how busy and slam that they are but
I also think that we can get somebody to
come and help us sort of give
information and the data that's
necessary in order for us to make smart
decisions good thank you let's share
yeah thank you
okay councillor debate this evening
Thank You mayor uh most of my questions
are this has already been brought up and
excuse me and I just think it's
important to really reiterate the fact
that we need to have all the tools at
our disposal during the next few times
and hopefully we don't see a huge surge
or peak in our community but I think
that's kind of wishful thinking in some
ways so we need to be prepared and ready
and one of the greatest ways to do that
is to have that communication and have
all the data at our disposal beforehand
so we can make those smart decisions in
a more proactive function and that's why
I keep you know I keep asking pretty
much the similar questions but I think
it's very necessary for us to know what
it's going to look like first Pete when
these types of searches happen and we
have to realize that we're a resource
community for other areas in the south
in New Mexico and we probably will see
patients from other community and what
does that look like for our own
community if we are actually we send
some of our cases to El Paso especially
things that are neurological strokes
that sort of stuff those cases usually
go to El Paso those high acute care
needs and vacations have been
with those communities as well in case
barek actually where do we give out that
information for our own community on
where they can get service and that we
have a plan and we know what to to
expect and to make sure that we kind of
have all of our bases covered so that's
one thing that if we can get data like
that from anybody I really would like to
see what that looks like and and just
make sure that we are planning ahead for
those capacities Thank You counselor
I already sent up something to the
governor's office to see if we can get
that and I specifically mentioned the
Presbyterian plan and so I appreciate
the counselor roscas for sharing that
with us okay so we're back we're still
on the on the emergency declaration and
I know we kind of got off on a little
tangent there but that's okay it's good
stuff so any any other further questions
on this okay and councillor abate the
Suvi did you have a question or you just
didn't put your hand down yet if they
put my hand down
okay good all right so if there's
nothing further
Christine if you'd call the vote please
this is on a motion to approve
resolution 20 - 133 councillor Abeyta
Stevie okay answer Vaska yes contraband
Komal yeah cancer sorc yes come to
Flores yes come to Candida yes
Mir yes okay so next item is 2.3
resolution number 2 0 - 134 need a
motion second please there were actually
on the ordinance oh oh I'm sorry we're
we're on the ordinance I thought we
passed the ordinance just did resolution
20 - 133 then the next one is the
ordinance for
procurement code oh I'm sorry I I know
you hated the the agenda okay what what
what number was that um it's ordinance
you get it for you 32:29 24 yeah
horn inch 29 24 and then the next
resolution is 20 - 134 well that yeah
that's that's where I asked for one
resolution to 0 - 1 3 4 we did 133 yes
we did 133 yeah and then I asked for
motion and now it's second I'm 20 - 1 3
4 right but we have the ordinance first
oh ok
all right so ordinance number 292 4
correct
ok gotcha all right so need a motion
second I'm sorry on the ordinance number
292 for chunky baskets move second who
made the motion counselor Florida's
Council Florida's in the motion second
by councillor Vasquez okay so getting
back to that so who's gonna discuss this
does anyone need any discussion on it if
not Christine we called vote please
mayor excuse me can I just get some
clarification this is Mayor Pro 10
gunman yes um are we approving um a
procurement stop no that's that's the
next item oh okay okay no Christine
Christine you're one of clarify what
I'll clarify this one is for the
ordinance for the procurement code
exemption the next one is the next
resolution is for the budget adjustment
so counselor I'm a pretend gondola if
you recall last meeting we had to change
things to seventy four thousand five
hundred because our our ordinance said
that anything under seventy five
thousand that was the authority so by
passing this ordinance allows us to go
higher amounts quicker okay I'm also
questioning that there's authorized
exemptions has anything on page three of
four changed on the that particular
ordinance you mean on on when we start
when we start giving out emergency
assistance yes yes well well okay and
I'll just deviate real quickly because
that's on the next item but but
basically yes that's okay but basically
remember how you had mentioned about I
think it was you
microloans and then also the together
las cruces or las cruces together fund
from the yeah so those are on there and
okay thanks to staff for working up that
real quick yeah so why this by allowing
us this ordinance allows us to kind of
fast-track things
mayor so in terms of giving out that
funding and and
allowing for the exemptions how our
groups accountable to the city what
things will they need to do in order to
ensure that the money is being utilized
specifically for this reason okay let me
let Jennifer jump in and kind of share
with us what the city was able to work
with this these nonprofits about
Jennifer Marin Council thank you um
you'll see that in the in the ordinance
it we did add in attention and that was
an exemption number 21 for human the
services and supplies and construction
materials when an emergency exists as
defined by your previous ordinance that
you that you recently passed
your emergency declaration what that
does is it allows us to not have to go
through procurements but we still do
have to do the same contracting we still
have to make sure that each organization
had a valid contract that they have
clear deliverables are contracting will
not change it will remain the same and
fortunately for a lot of the
organizations that we work with we have
current MOU that are very good MOU they
have very very clear scope of work and
very clear deliverable so that will not
change that will remain Shane thank you
I appreciate that the other thing is
what if there is an issue with the
services themselves in terms of quality
or quantity or not being given a service
is there like a appeal process in terms
of the funding do you see what I'm going
once we give the money to these
organizations they have their own appeal
process in terms of whether that people
are qualifying for a particular service
I guess I just want to make sure there's
checks and balances not only for the
city but for the organizations receiving
the funding and for our clients or our
constituents and I'm not sure that this
is sort of I think new territory
if you look yeah looks like Natalie
wants to jump in real quick Jennifer
Natalie want to share with us what you
were able to work out what these
organizations
yes just so let's you know again we do
negotiate contracts with each of the
agencies like Jennifer said it is a
reimbursement contract so they need to
perform those services first and then
they submit some form of request to us
to be reimbursed so there is that checks
and balances those invoices then go
through our usual workflow process
depending on the dollar amount that's
going to get reviewed by multiple staff
members at different levels so there is
that checks and balances now if there
was a customer who didn't feel that they
were receiving service from the agencies
we do have service or a grievance policy
that they can reach out first to the
agency and then to the city to seek some
sort of resolution if that's what you
were describing counselor or mayor
pro-tem gonna de same thing let's unsure
listen I
someone has someone needs to mute their
phone or something we're getting a lot
of static alert I appreciate that
Natalie and also I know this is a lot
more money that we're used to processing
and so are there the necessary workforce
from the city to be able to handle this
amount of funding and invoicing that is
going to be required I don't want there
are many of these organizations that are
already spending their money and I want
their reimbursement to be you know Swift
that they're not waiting months and
months so do we have enough of the
workforce to be able to do that
mr. mayor - mayor proton Canada um we do
we will be processing those time timely
we have worked out with some agencies to
do weekly invoicing and not necessarily
our usual monthly invoicing but I have
reached out to every agency that you are
looking to fun and I've pre-negotiated
those agreements prior to bringing these
to Council because I wanted to give you
their confidence and my confidence that
they can handle the funding and our
requirements prior to you approving the
budget adjustments Thank You Natalie
thank you so much again I continue to be
very appreciative of you and all the
staff in terms of making this happen so
thank you mayor um looks like Jennifer
and then David wanted to speak Jennifer
did you have some you wanted add and
we're I'm sorry I didn't lower my hands
okay
David did you have some you wanted that
yes sir I wanted to point out that if
council would like to hold off on any
questions specific to the funding and
organizations and what we had a place
for them that will be part of our next
item discussion bring up these specific
organizations and agencies and the
funding amount for those at that point
Natalie can better discuss the contracts
potential contracts that we're working
on and how we would enforce those in
seek reimbursement and so on and so
forth for this item we're looking
specifically at the adjustment to the
procurement code which allows us the
opportunity to to have approvals up to
250,000 rather than having those
contractual contractual limits that we
did previously at 75,000 okay thanks I
appreciate that it okay any other
questions on this ordinance seeing none
Christine
this is on the motion to approve
ordinance 29:24 councillor a beta cv yes
conservative yes concert Bencomo yeah
closer sorc thank the mayor pro tempore
asking the questions you did ask and I
say yes counter floated yes
counter domina yes mayor yes okay now we
get to resolution numbered 2 0 - 1 3 4
the motion second please
this is gay baskets move to approve
cards councillor Sarge seconds yes we
moved at second and looks like I guess
like Natalie's gonna be making this
presentation good morning mr. mayor
members of council the resolution before
you is a budget adjustment for
additional funding for coed response as
a reminder there was a public health
emergency that the governor declared in
March on April 3rd council you approved
a previous budget adjustment of a
million and $72,500 COBIT 19 does
continue to pose a health risk to the
Las Cruces community and there has been
a need for additional funding to support
the community through this time again
the resolution before you is to fund an
additional 500,000 and emergency
assistance from the TEL short facility
fund those monies will be transferred
from the TEL shorefront to the
healthcare fund for expenditures the
recommended uses is 150,000 to the
Community Foundation of southern New
Mexico
additional hundred thousand to families
and youth or fYI for an expanded meal
service Catholic Charities for a poverty
Assistance Program Christmas creatives
for the production of emergency PPE Dona
Ana communities United for a los Amigos
community connections that'll be
targeting vulnerable populations that
are feeling isolated and try and do some
peer support match economic development
will be funding a microloan technical
support and we'll have more information
on that
following this slide and then we are
also evaluating the production of
hand-washing stations across the city or
sanitation kits for our homeless
population and as well as possible hotel
rooms for first responders and at this
time I'm going to pass the presentation
to Griselda Martinez who will dr.
Griselda Martinez who will discuss the
technical assistance for the microloans
Natalie before you do that let's just do
this let's start with the community
partners first see if there's any
questions from Council and then after
that if we can move to the city of Las
Cruces so we just do that in order if
that's okay with you all yes so on the
community partners the the Community
Foundation of southern New Mexico
families and youth Catholic Charities
crews creatives and banana communities
United if you could ask your questions
pertaining to that first please and then
we'll go to the second block so
counselor beta to be maritime condenado
council urban coma Thank You mayor and
Thank You Natalie I just wanted to go
back to the Dona Ana communities United
I'm just getting a little bit more of an
explanation of the services that it's
going to be provided with the care
councilor uh abate this Duty I know this
was one of the things that Mayor Pro Tem
ganda had talked about
and if you don't mind I know she's very
familiar with it
maybe more so I don't know maybe I'm
sure maybe Natalie's his grow but I know
that this was a miracle Tim Gunn that I
was very passionate about this so else
around that I would you like to say
something about this sorry mayor um sure
I'd like to obviously allow for miss
green to do much of the presentation
she's had quite a bit of conversations
I'm sure with them and then I will
follow okay if I can't go broke sorry
about that okay sorry about that Natalie
go ahead you're on so there just let you
stayed a problem mr. mayor Councillor
abate thus to be the docq intends to
work with agencies and organizations to
identify economically and medically
vulnerable loss persons who are isolated
or lonely a little amigos program will
match pairs to provide peer support and
they'll be able to check in with each
other at least three times a week and
then they can also refer them to
services that they may need it's really
to help improve the mental and physical
health of those vulnerable citizens
thank you for that that's all the
questions I have for now okay and next
Mayor Pro Tem gondola thank you a mayor
um yeah I appreciate that information
Natalie this is a mayor the time banking
opportunity that I spoke of daca has
been doing this for several first a few
years now has been really um I think
they have a really nice robust program I
want to say that they have over 300
people that participate this time
banking program they have an online
platform where they register people and
people are basically our train
up there trying to now move to doing
this more remotely obviously using zoom
and other mechanisms to have current you
need to have meetings they really
provide a service to folks who are
otherwise isolated who that might be our
elderly community or disabled community
our homeless community and really it's
the idea of a forming community in our
neighborhood and then sharing that word
that we're checking on our neighbors
regularly and I think this is a great
great way a great opportunity to
continue to see this program move
through the with the issues that cope it
presents I'm deeply concerned with
people who are continue to be isolated
that don't have maybe family or others
to look in with and this is an ID you
know really a way to share your your
your training and/or hobbies or
expertise again carrie has shown me and
others the online platform Marin this is
to your idea of adopting a health care
worker it's just something that they can
very easily assist assist with although
my question Natalie I don't think they
asked for just the 9000 I thought they
asked for quite a bit more funding um
what was the total there and I may
pretend that's my fault
we're more than welcome to modify this
that amount I put in prior to us passing
the ordinance allows us to change the
unit to go to a higher amount we were
just I was just trying to get something
something to them quickly but now that
we change ordinance I think we can go
higher and I'll jump and ask David or
Jennifer if that's Gordon or Natalie if
that's correct
with the new
ordinance and just pass it allows us to
relax some of those rules so David you
want to jump in real quick and we if we
want it once want to modify that 9,500
and go a little bit larger amount is
that possible mayor Councillor yes that
is possible and you're exactly correct
mayor when when the end of our first
work together we knew that we had the
emergency procurement item coming
beforehand so we weren't too sure
obviously without that having been
passed yet so we put in the best numbers
that we could to start off with if there
is an adjustment that council agrees on
and they want to vote on that adjustment
we can make that change I appreciate
that
I believe they asked for 21 came there
I'm sorry we repeat the amount please he
kind of cut out 21,000 21,000 okay yeah
there's actually a little over 21,000 I
don't know the exact amount about this
mega 22,000 hey that'll be great
thank you I just think with the
necessary measures in place and what
they're able to do if people are looking
for a in more information on type of
game you can google it carry more than
welcome I hope she was educating all of
you in the interim in terms of her
platform her platform and how they use
it I've been in many meetings a couple
of these shoe meetings with her since
the kovat epidemic began and so it's a
really again I think a really exciting
way to probably bring awareness and
educate our community but also come for
community and so I appreciate the vote
of confidence and the higher increase
also increase with cruces creative they
have also sent a more
uniform and packet additional
information they also asked me or for
21600 I'm asking moved to include that
amount that again is force own face mask
3d printed mask
extra cleaning and sanitation supplies
and and miscellaneous items that they
will need to be able to continue to
develop or make produce scuse me these
particular items sorry at this point man
I'm sorry did you make that as emotional
your just wanting after discussion then
you're going to come back and make after
discussion I can't even they have
counselors Bencomo that comes to Bencomo
thank you thank you man sorry for that
information and for all the work you've
been doing and connecting with folks I
perhaps mr. mayor or Natalie or maybe a
manager my estas can help can you help
me understand why how we are able to
provide right now that together in las
cruces community act the community
foundation with this amount of money but
we were not able to do that with
Community Action Agency a week ago is it
because of the vote we just took or am I
missing something
I thought we gave money to Community
Action Agency last last week
seventy four nine before five I think
yeah so you wanted to give more I yes I
think and I I was definitely
disappointed that I didn't see them on
the list again I think that they're
providing a really great direct service
to the community in need or right now
and I'm thank you but I guess I'm here
yes also yes I would like to see them on
the list yeah that was my doing and
again I apologize so how about if we get
through these and then
before oh is it in my frozen or is it
the mayor when we move to the next
weekend yeah cuz I don't know yeah well
let me let me get let me get a Jennifer
some clarification here so Jennifer if
it's not if since Community Action
Agency isn't on this right now
oh can we put that on there and grant
funding is that something we could do
well does that have to be listed for the
following council meeting
mirror and council I will refer to
Natalie to talk about this but as long
as it's the amount of funding I think
that the ordinance that you just passed
allows us to go into to enter into
agreements with these four conditions
for a particular amount of funding to
get back to councilor mekomo the reason
why it had to stay at seventy four nine
because our procurement code give it
more than that what you just passed
allows allows a higher amount okay okay
so I really need okay I don't know
Natalie did you want to add anything
okay mr. mayor Councillor Bencomo
jennifer is correct we currently have an
agreement with them again for the last
week it was the sense of expediency and
we wanted to negotiate contracts below
the cap now that we have the ordinance
we can negotiate contracts above that
cap so they have current funding with
the amount given last week of 98
thousand and your ordinance cap set at
250 so it would have to be a number
between that 98 and 250 that you would
award if you chose to again the
resolution is just to approve a budget
adjustment so really as long as you
increase the budget adjustment we can
negotiate those dollar amounts with the
agencies that you determine okay
Natalie let me just clarification
currently it's at 98 thousand the
maximum we need is 250 is that what you
said correct because we amended their
past contract in that contract original
contract was for 220 for three so once
you had your seventy four five we were
at ninety eight aging so gotcha okay all
right
I'm sorry councilman Coleman that's okay
so am i understanding right that we
could that we could include CAA in here
then today yes looks fine okay I will I
will make that motion later I have one
question now now we can you describe for
the Community Action Agency it's my
understanding that there will be a new
application process can you describe
that what that will look like for people
applying for those funds I want to make
sure that they're inclusive of all off
persons Community Foundation I'm sorry
the Community Foundation yes mr. mayor
Councillor Bencomo we are working
through that now the application will
have to include an income sort of
verification will allow people to self
certify their income but they need to
fall within that threshold there's also
some additional demographic information
that we track around if they fall into
like a presumed benefit category so age
gender ethnicity some racial
demographics we're not using that to
disqualify clients at all it's just a
tracking mechanism but they are also
including some questions off our own
internal client verification form so
they've just modified their application
to to track those additional items um so
it's my understanding that currently
there is a requirement for the funding
then you have to apply for unemployment
due to Coba 19
um my biggest concern with that is that
if you're undocumented you don't qualify
for unemployment so you wouldn't have
access to those funds how are we can are
we getting rid of that is that changing
I believe it's a question on the
application but I'm not aware that
that's being used as a disqualifying
factor I will work that out with Tara
winter but again the questions are
mostly going to revolve around the total
household income do they fall within our
if it's housing related 120 percent of
area median income if it's non housing
related expenses it's going to be a
hundred percent I I read an email from
winters that said they had rejected some
applications because folks had not
applied I had not applied for
unemployment so that's a huge concern to
me I think private donors can exclude
whoever they like I don't think public
dollars should should do that and
whatever public dollars that we are
putting out into a community should
remain inclusive and should not include
barriers like that in order to access
funds so I'm pretty I'm pretty concerned
about this mr. mayor Councillor Bencomo
the city does have a policy on serving
non national citizens all this funding
would would qualify as an exception to
that directive I did just get a message
from miss winters and she is saying that
it is a question on the application but
it is not a qualifier and that question
was due to their private donors so it
would not be a qualifier for city
funding really any qualifier besides
income is going to be that they reside
within city limits we do have the
expectation that our funding go to
residents within the city
for city limits thank you so much for
that Natalie that makes me feel a whole
lot better I appreciate that
those are all my questions mr. Manson
Thank You Samara yeah well yes David
Natalie and I mr. mayor councilman Komal
week Natalie and I had a discussion with
miss winter last week one other
qualifying issue that they had on
previously was they had had people who
claimed that they were unemployed and
worked for certain companies and they
were unable to verify that they had
previously worked with those companies
so it was really falsifying an
application so they had disqualified
those two people on those grounds
because they weren't honest in their
application and they previously had not
been working or they who they claimed
they were not working with for as who
they weren't working with and or who
they indicated on their application but
won't work through those finer nuances
to ensure we can serve as many people as
possible and looks like David myiasis
wants to speak thanks it may I had my
hand up but when mr. Dahl lion jumped in
he what happened took care of what I was
going to pass on so I can get my hand
down thank you okay no problem
okay tell sir Vasquez I think was wanted
to speak Thank You mayor yes I just want
to reiterate my support for the request
for from both councilman como and
councillor gandara I did have a question
on the communities community
Danya know communities united TimeBank
kind of grant I could see how we could
measure the results for all of these
other different monies that we are
distributing to different community
partners but not sure exactly how with
Danya and communities united we track
success we track progress we track that
the city's money is being well spent so
is there anything in this contract that
would
essentially let us say yes this was a
good investment and X amount of people
were served is a discussion that we have
had with them mr. mayor Councillor
ruscus we are working on that scope of
work we will track the number of matches
and the type of matches that they are
performing
we'll also track the point of contact
the number of point of contacts those
matches have with each other and again
we'll work through those finer nuances
of the contract all our contracts are
performance based so there is going to
be some quantity based objectives but
there is also going to be of course some
quality based objectives and and we'll
work through that process all our scopes
have an objective activities and again
goals that they are trying to achieve so
there's not a contract that we are going
to execute without those Thank You
Nellie that makes me feel a lot better
because in thinking of taxpayer money or
Telstra Fund money going to community
foundation you know certainly the amount
of people who receive assistance
financial assistance would be an easy
way to track the investment from the
city right who qualified for that same
with the expanded meal service at fYI
how many meals are going out how many
members of our community are receiving
them how many members as Catholic
Charities assisted in our community and
and how many mass have been created by
cruces creatives but I don't I don't
know what the particular measures of
progress or success would be for the the
Cobra 19 connection so I am confident
that they will come up with a good
system but it gives me more confidence
Natalie knowing that you will assist in
helping to draft that performance-based
contract and would like to see that a
report on that right before before we do
increase potentially more funds in the
future since we've never done this
before I think the amount that council
Ergon that I have suggested is
appropriate for now and if it works then
we can think about more later but I
would like to
see some performance or at least some
results out of that particular program
before giving more money so Thank You
Natalie then thank you man
tell sword yeah yeah mr. mayor I'm
getting confused here we got a lot of
things going on here and it my question
to start with is the funding we approved
last week um there was some money that
went to the Community Foundation in
southern New Mexico right and it was
like $74,000 no we didn't do that
we because at that time we hadn't worked
that out yet as and that's what Natalie
was doing that's why we brought it
forward this time okay so it was on the
list though to start with right well it
was there was hoping to get that was one
of the ideas that council Bencomo
Vasquez and pistou via think brought
forth I believe was their list I think
so I believe okay
was that right councilor Vasquez was
that your list that had community
foundation in southern New Mexico
yes yeah okay that explains it then I
understand now
all right that's all I would need to
clear up for right now I have more later
as we get to the city of Los Cruces
thank you okay
all right so if there's nothing further
let's let's stick to the amendments on
the community partners nice so I'm going
to go back to Mayor Pro Tem gandara who
I believe wants to increased funding for
Cruces creatives in Dona Ana communities
United and I'm gonna guess Christine
you're gonna want those individual
amendments correct there what we can do
is wait till the end and just change the
entire budget adjustment amount like we
did with the last resolution for voting
on each yeah you don't need them okay
right we just need an amendment for the
total amount and we don't have to vote
on each individual okay
starting to lighten up now okay no
problem let's go to the next section
city of Las Cruces and this will be here
oh yes counselor photos thank you so I
just want to clarify that the the
proposal that dokku submitted was for
the pear project and the buddy system it
wasn't necessarily for anything else at
this point so I just wanted to clarify
that and I think that Bachman has had
that conversation with Natalie green
right and we have it here Los Amigos
connections basically okay aka the time
bank well I'm not sure it's even
possible in the time bank do you know
anything about that Natalie mr. green
mr. mayor Councillor Flores it is
similar to the time bank but it is going
to be specific to Cove in response so
again all these projects are specific to
emergency Cove in response yes and my
understanding and I might be wrong
because even if I'm wrong it wouldn't
have an impact on what miss Natalie
green just said is that it isn't going
to be a it'll be someone who will maybe
be a one-time person who is contacted
and that person doesn't necessarily have
to be a part of that time bank right and
I apologize I probably misspoke that was
the original intent but you know of
course our staff will you know clarify
it and make it so that it fits what that
qualifies and and if that's the case I
understand yes and I just wanted to make
sure because this would all be part of
the impact that's having on people who
are isolated as a result of COBIT and
cars who aren't able to get out yeah so
I just wanted just for the record for
the public to understand Thank You mr.
Marin thank you
okay great so now we're gonna go to the
second part and that's the city of Las
Cruces and I in interrupted dr. Griselda
Martinez and she's gonna talk about the
microloan technical support yes good
morning mayor city council it is my
honor to have the opportunity to talk to
you this morning before we go into the
technical assistance component for
microlending I like to update you with
things that we have put in place given
the current situation we have been
making an effort to continue to serve
our customers including tourists for the
future including transitioning Earth Day
celebration to online and also working
with our other departments to continue
the services within the items specific
to support services we started on march
19th series of email blasts to all
business registration emails with with
intent to connect them to the resources
being made available by state and
federal agencies as well as other local
initiatives so up to date we have sent
seven different emails with different
information including information from
the economic development department for
New Mexico Workforce Solutions for sale
self-employment support by local by New
Mexico program business sprint from
Arrowhead Center and others we're also
we also launched a local buy local
campaign radio and print started this
week and we will gather success stories
to share through social media and and
continue to connect resources to those
in need I believe your vision to create
the economic development apartment four
years ago and bring economic development
to the forefront of this community it's
now more important than ever because of
the current situation and the impact to
businesses and their employees so we we
have also reached out to community
partners including Nevada
work for solutions locally and at the
state level Dona Ana County
you know city and county of El Paso and
Albuquerque to share information but
also brainstorm on on potential ways to
collaborate so that's that's a little
bit of background information to what we
have put in motion I
I believe that our response to continue
to support our community and
specifically to the business community
is going to continue to be crucial and
and we understand that eliminating the
negative effects will not be possible
but at least to help decrease the degree
of impact so that's where we're coming
from a few months ago we we had identify
a gap for small businesses that may have
some challenges accessing capital and
with the current situation we
accelerated the process that we were in
motion for an RFP and we turn it into
funding for technical assistance
specific to helping small businesses
owners were socially and economically
disadvantaged and who usually have
access our challenges to access to
capital in the traditional bankable way
and so we are looking to do a
partnership with the community
development financial institution that
serves already the local community to
reach out to businesses and help them
with technical assistance in in a
general way for them to be more
competitive as a small business but also
in light of this current crisis we're
also aiming to use this partner to
connect those businesses to the
resources available from for instance
Small Business Administration that they
have loans and that the process may be
confusing or hard to follow and for this
partner to help businesses troubleshoot
challenges that businesses may be facing
right now
so the goal is to focus in businesses
located within the city limits who have
an active registration who are
independently owned and operated
so no franchises will be excluded and
then small businesses as defined as a
small business administration can you
advance narrowly please
so the technical assistance will include
several ways to reach out to businesses
including one-on-one in a virtual way
and also other forms of consultation the
goal is for this businesses to be
competitive and loan ready and not only
to to get to that point but also to
remain financially strong to be able to
pay back those loans and and accomplish
growth from their business the initial
thought was to help business growth
right now we are focusing more on
helping businesses stay in business and
that it this is one big shift in the
approach we had before the current
situation and making sure that we are
working within the context right now
this is the conversion rate from the
technical assistance into loans it's
going to be of great importance and the
range of the loans will be somewhere
between two thousand and fifty thousand
I mean yeah and fifty thousand depending
on the need of the business and the
loans will be specifically worked out
between the CDFI partnership end alone
and in the business owner so the city
will not have access to any information
pertaining this business and we will not
be managing the loans either Natalie can
you advance please I can give cube to
one can you go back to the performance
measures so as Natalie was talking
before in terms of the con
tracting we are following the model of
performance contracting as we have with
other vendors and so we are framing the
deliverables in terms of number of hours
served with businesses number of
businesses consulted and then also the
conversion rate that would lead to
access to capital so that's that's in a
nutshell what we're working on
we're also exploring other options that
we may be able to deploy for the
business community and and also to make
sure that we are focusing our efforts
very strategically in minimizing the
degree of negative impacts given the
current situation thank you thank you
dr. Marty okay come on neuter ok have
councillor Vasquez councillor sword
sorry about that mayor and forgot to
lower my hand thank you
oh okay councillor sword thank you mr.
mayor um I'm a little surprised that
this is coming up here on the first
question I have is who asked for this
funding this was something that was
brought up at our last meeting I don't
know if you recall that or not no sort
discussed about the micro loans and and
and what brought that on was earlier the
week prior the City of Albuquerque had
advertised that they were giving away
five thousand dollar grants to various
businesses two hundred businesses and so
mayor pro-tem got that I asked how come
we couldn't do that and so staff went to
work and and I think this is what
evolved part of that micro loan
technical support because I just didn't
see how Albuquerque could do that
without violating the anti donation
clause and it turns out that looks like
they have their own foundation their own
foundation like the Las Cruces public
schools has their own foundation like
more
medical you stab their own foundation
we're now using the southern New Mexico
Foundation to fund the together Las
Cruces fund but we don't have our actual
own foundation
but I think that that's how this this
that's what brought this conversation up
then another question I have is what are
we what are we defining they're socially
an economic disadvantage or under
representative backgrounds do you give
me examples of that yes mayor
councillors org usually none bankable
our business owners are minority-owned
business whether it's by race by gender
and and usually their businesses are
less profitable than their competitors
so it's those those type of businesses
are usually those that canon acts as a
traditional banking system such as a
regular bank and flow the reason why
we're going through a CDFI the community
development financial institution is
because those institutions were created
specifically the channel additional
resources at different groups of people
who may not from the traditional
perspective I am very aware of
discrimination when it comes to bank
loans my son-in-law was an officer loan
officer right here in Las Cruces for a
little while and he would come home and
complain about just that issue it would
happen to be for home loans but I'm sure
it applies to businesses too can we just
can you decide can you explain why or
should we decide who are the winners and
losers when it comes to a business so
mayor Councillor sword
we will not be choosing winners or
losers this is an additional support to
those business owners who may be facing
an additional barrier to access capital
yeah so the goal is to make
connection between resources to the
needs and so working with partner CDFI
agency they will be working with
businesses locally on for technical
assistance to ensure that they
understand what opportunity have a
seditious and that that technical
assistance will put them in a better
place in a stronger position as a
business that would then lead in to
access to capital so I understand yeah
coming up now why wouldn't we be doing
this long before now so as I mentioned
before we start we identify the gap a
few months ago and started working on
ways to put something together and
because of prior to to the exception in
the P code we were considering and doing
a higher amount and we were following
the procurement process through the RFP
and going through sack and all these
different items that we needed to do
with this crisis we needed to act
quickly and we decrease the amount to
seventy four five which is what we're
bringing to you today and and that's why
this is right now in motion to cert to
identify opportunities that can be put
in place to minimize this dis crisis but
we were working towards having it just
right now that needs are different and
the opportunity is also a difference for
instance right now the Small Business
Administration has a loan program that
has to be processed through a Capital
Area magnification so this would be a
great way a mechanism for those small
businesses to be able to process those
loan requests I'm so surprised that a
federally funded program after the Small
Business Administration would show any
kind of discrimination against anybody
on so at these people these businesses
can't get a loan from their
would it be for some other reason and
then are we really are we ready and and
doing the right thing
[Music]
mayor councillors you know I'm not
having a hard time explaining this but
do you see where I'm going
yes mayor Councillor sword one key
component if you read the what we're
we're requesting is technical assistance
and this will focus on strengthening the
business to be able to be loan ready oh
yeah if we were to bring money we would
be fitting the businesses for failure
with additional debt we want to make
sure that they are well prepared to be
able to be loan ready and to be able to
pay back so the technical assistance
component is crucial this is going to be
educational and it's going to be very
working hand in hand with the business
for them to understand real communities
and and growth ok now this sounds
economic gardening which I'm all in
favor of well go with that all you can
do as much as you can there but my last
little comment is that I mean is this a
funding source for this project properly
be properly coming from the Telstra
funds mr. mayor since how is it related
to health and indigent and so forth aya
if we if we fund this care shouldn't we
be finding it with another source well
counselor if you recall we passed that a
resolution to allow us to expand the
opportunities and so you know when you
stop and think about it the one of the
criteria was was not only the ill or the
sick but they're also in the gin and so
I think yeah I'm not saying that this is
for an indigent but you were just were
looking at income related and I think
what what the dr. Selda Martinez was
talking about is for those that may be
disenfranchised out
this is gonna hopefully be used for them
okay okay
Thank You mr. mayor council mayor Burton
gondola Thank You mayor um thank you to
my penis for all your work I know you've
been working on this for some time and I
think this is an excellent way sistine
our businesses currently as we move
through this kind of unchartered
territory correct I I know of two or
three businesses that were struggling to
get a loan and I am you and I have
talked quite a bit about this as it
relates to the various reasons why they
were struggling I think some of the
technical assistance there's so much
needed I think many of our our business
or prospective business partners are
really wanting it sort of someone to
help sort of lead that or guide them
through this process and I know this is
an excellent way of doing this and I
think can't think of a better way at
this point in time to assist our small
businesses that I know that are out
there currently struggling um you know
to make their loans or or to even just
start a process and I think it's
important for us to be visionary about
about this and so I appreciate it dr.
Martinez I can also have some questions
about some additional funding
opportunities do you want me to wait to
to include those well go ahead and talk
well what additional things you want to
talk about mere pretend yeah I'd like to
add $7,500 to fish and lows last week
gave them funding to or boxes to help
feed the elderly they got to me earlier
in the week and ash that we fund them
for the next three months and then I
know that
um Habitat for Humanity asked for
$60,000
they had a worksheet with all the
various items that they continue to lose
out Habitat for Humanity has been an
excellent resource to help you know
people who otherwise wouldn't have
opportunities to build their home and I
think they're struggling so I'd like I'm
not sure if this will fit here but
they've asked for to help pay for things
given that they're restore is closed
administrative leave they're struggling
because of the mortgage payments that so
many of them who are now unemployed are
falling behind I'm not I'm not sure if
Natalie has had an opportunity to speak
to miss Candice Butler about this but
she has sent a couple of emails to us I
also again have felt really strongly
about a stimulus package that would
continue to assist this not only our
community but also our GRT were much of
our GRT comes from construction and so I
wondered if there's a way to have this
conversation quickly to assist them and
what was that amount again Merkel
tempest 60,000 is what she asked for
Thanks well we I think we can always
include it and for some reason you know
it until staff if it works great good
and if not they can work and see what
they need to do they make it happen but
it's better to have it on there and
approve and and available as opposed to
waiting to come back David you have
something you want to say Mary Thank You
mayor Encounters I just want to
reiterate what you said man that is a
great point if we feel that we want to
look into that
it's better to approve the budget now if
we go through the process and find out
that it does not work then we can always
report back on what took place thank you
thank you okay so any questions
oh let's see counsel FLOTUS Thank You
mr. mayor
so we're the word preliminary approving
from budget items to make it but there
took it to approval or review by Natalie
green who would have primarily the
Habitat for Humanity I mean I know we
have a working relationship with them
the fish and loaves doesn't seem to be a
problem but you know just in case okay
because is that something that we'll
have a report on next week or how are we
going to be meeting once a week on these
budget adjustments or how is that going
to work yeah well I I was gonna schedule
one for April 17th which is one week
from today and make that optional just
in case something was to come up during
the week and you know but I think this
is a really healthy start what we've
we're gonna what's being proposed and as
long as it passes but you never know
there may be some other needs and so if
we can at least have it advertised but
we could also cancel it if we don't
right well I I think my concern is
similar to that of a counselor store and
I think that mayor pro-tem gown that I
also prefaced her statement by not being
too sure about the Habitat for Humanity
but all of these have to be seen through
the lens of the coab in 19 being the
factor which initiates all this funding
so who does that does Natalie green do
that does our city attorney do that does
David - us do that this budget do that
all of the above okay well just along is
all of the
taken care of because you know I
certainly don't want to make it look
like for not being vigilant about how Co
mid-nineteen money cash or money is
being allocated I'm very concerned about
that oh absolutely
Thank You councillor Bencomo councillor
Vasquez Thank You mr. mayor I also
wanted to make a recommendation for
funding for CAA specifically but are we
are we done with the presentation I
don't want to get ahead of myself
we're I think so I know buddy talk had
any concerns about the last two so now
we're just kind of think it's an
additional request okay great
well I would like to request the maximum
for Community Action Agency or at least
two hundred forty nine thousand oh yeah
I've got that great and so thank you
mayor yeah I'm supportive of these
requests I do also just want to express
some reservation and some caution to to
the decision making process on this I
think the I think Telstra or funds city
funds should go should be prioritized in
two ways one is to meet the need that's
greatest in our community that helps
people in the most dire of situations
right now and so I see that as like food
rental assistance transportation filling
the gaps where folks can't get the
needed services that they need just to
live because of a loss of employment
there's going to be a lot of nonprofits
there's that are going to struggle
throughout this process there's going to
be a lot of businesses that struggle
throughout this process and that pain
will be shared equally across our
community and communities throughout New
Mexico and for that communities across
this country and so I can see that
following this meeting we're going to
get way more requests from other
nonprofit organizations and from other
folks who who who are going to need
assistance and so I would I would just
wanted to just encourage us to look at
these dollars going to the people who
are most impacted and finding solutions
for them to stay afloat economically to
me is my priority and so I think the
Community Foundation fund does that the
Community Action Agency does does that
all the food assistance programs that
were giving to do that if we start
bearing from that mission I think we
potentially miss out on funding those
things that we really need and so could
40 or 50 thousand dollars that would go
to Habitat for Humanity be better spent
on rent assistance for people right now
like who are in actual dire need I don't
know because I haven't seen the proposal
from Habitat for Humanity
so I just I haven't I haven't seen it
and so I'm not I'm not gonna comment on
that particular proposal they do provide
an amazing service to our community I'm
not I'm not gonna deny that I've been
part of their events and I want them to
make sure it I want to make sure that
they can certainly continue to serve our
community but but again I just want to
make sure that these funds are going to
where they're the most they're they're
most needed and where we can fill in the
gaps that the state and federal
government also won't be able to provide
or can't provide Ana timely manner so
just kind of want to keep our eyes on
the prize in in that respect and wanted
to mention that Thank You mayor well
thank you counselor and again as
mentioned if we pass it doesn't mean
won't necessarily just write up a check
tomorrow staffs going to go through
there see exactly what it's going to be
and perhaps if only a fraction of it
qualifies then they'll come back and
report that to us Mary honey it's
Barbara DeLeon
oh I'm sorry Barbara yes thank you Mary
council I just
away in with respect to the funding
source so if the mayor pointed out this
the micro loan program in particular had
been raised previously and so we did
include it in the discussion with this
budget adjustment however we agree with
the concerns of counsel with respect to
the utilization of the tell shore funds
for the emergency procurement ordinance
that you just passed we define that
emergency to be limited to the public
health threat to public health welfare
or safety so keeping that in mind and
this discussion on of the use of the
Telstra funds it makes sense to have
that program funded out of general funds
which we can we can do so I just wanted
to make you aware that we are discussing
that and we can definitely facilitate
that change with respect to that funding
source Thank You Barbara
I think I think it's probably based on
the concerns from counsel to at least
identify it and have that dollar amount
there to show our commitment and then if
staff wants to come back with where they
feel that the money can be utilized
that's fine as well but I think this at
least sets the tone that this is what
we're willing to do and as long as it
fits within our parameters and if it
doesn't then we may have to shift to too
general fund monies Oh David
Dahl had or you mr. mayor let me share
my video real quick
Natalie and I had an earlier discussion
were we're aware of the concerns with I
I understand their concerns and I agree
with councillor Vasquez on situation
with other nonprofits having potential
requests I think we can help commute
Habitat for Humanity through a potential
short-term affordable housing program
which is allowing under state law we
would have to work out since
but we we get help with mortgage
assistance through a short-term rental
program that helps them get their their
operating funds through their mortgage
payments and then at the end of the day
we we also get paid back that funding
coming back to the city to support
future affordable housing projects and
if we're going to do that I think we
need another week or so to work out the
specifics on that and I already heard
that to come from a small amount from
the general fund rather than the Telfer
fund if that's an option yeah no David I
again I don't have any problem with that
I think by at least identifying it in
today and then if you know gives you a
lot of flexibility there you just come
back with the with the adjustments of
where you think it needs to come from
and where the money is available but
worst case scenario it's at least
available through our tell shore fund
and and and frankly I think as long as
we stay within the guidelines that are
set forth that that that council allowed
has just passed as far as the the
amounts and and if we stay for focus on
the spirit of what we're doing to help
those that are ill sick indigent and so
forth much like we're doing with some of
these other programs I think that's
really what we're we're trying to
accomplish I mean these are
unprecedented times and I know it
I want a credit Council for their for
their vision and being able to try to
figure out how to best help our
residents in need and and again just
because we have it identified here
doesn't mean you just have to you know
spend it tomorrow all right we trust
staff we'll find a way and if there's a
different way that we can do it yes and
if it's not at least this is available
mr. mayor
yes counselor thank you so I I want to
state again that I think we have to be
very careful about where our town shore
funds are going and and as far as going
you know addressing the needs of
habitats for example or or whatever I
don't think that's outside of the I mean
I think they're wonderful ideas I think
the co vid and the spices has given us a
even stronger awareness of who we are as
government to be helping our community
all commune all factors of sections
factions of our community but but I
think we're we're spraying a little bit
not keeping not thing entirely focused
on helping those right now who are in
dire need and you know as I said maybe
it's wonderful to be having this
conversation about all the wonderful
things we can do as a city government
and city councilor setting that policy
but I'd really like to keep our eye on
that what the purpose is of dishing out
all this money it isn't as if you know
the money has added the city has
resources no doubt it has money no doubt
but they think that and I think it was
counselor and vice versa said there will
be a lot of agencies or or nonprofits
and will be coming in asking for money
and there's nothing wrong with asking
but it's our job to make sure that it's
not
we're not stretching it and I just again
I just want to cautious I want to
caution or I want to be cautious I think
we need to be we have a we have an
ethical obligation the do sherry duty to
that on the telephone so I just want to
stress that again thank you mr. mayor
thank you
would you prefer that we hold off on
that for now and maybe look at the next
time Lix go around well well certainly
what mr. dalla ham brought up I don't
think it's I don't you
he said there's mortgage relief or
something that the city can help with
that certainly I don't know depending on
the facts of the situation but I just
don't see how helping with I don't know
how that how that would be connected to
the Telfer funds that we have that would
be released and and part of it is you
know just protecting the fundus and
spark what it's for and I think it's up
to it's up to the rest of the council to
decide whether all of this should be
kicked around by staff and by our city
attorney and city manager to see whether
all the discussions were having about
how to disperse money goes but I think
that I think we're well aware of the
foundations that have a clear track as
to the Pistone so it's up to the rest of
the council is to they want all these
things and I you know and you said mr.
mayor that it's better to look at all of
this and see if it flies in so far as
the council fund monies go but I just
don't want it to I don't want to appear
as if we're sitting here trying to
stretch things to make sure that
everybody who and I'm not I mean Habitat
for Humanity's a wonderful organization
I pointed them for years and years and
made wonderful donations to them so it's
not a question of not liking what they
do it's a question of what we must do
insofar as the Telstra funded is
concerned thank you okay councillor
sorghum airport in gondola I almost
wasn't quite ready mr. mayor thank you I
am i I've been listening to Bob all
that's been saying here and I have one
thing that I'd like to say I to tell you
how I really feel um
and that is that I don't think it's our
responsibility to make anyone whole but
on the other hand maybe we aren't at all
we don't know we don't know if we're
we're doing something that this out of
our lane we don't know a lot of things
when doing this it seems like we're
throwing money here and there and some
we know some we know it's going to do
the right thing I'm really appreciated
of the Community Foundation that they're
keeping the communication going really
well
um but I still have the strong feeling
that everybody's gonna have to take on
some responsibility and take on some
loss we just don't we just don't want
any one person or one organization or
one business or even one government to
be taking on a loss this
disproportionate to everybody else is
lost so it's difficult to determine that
but that's what's guiding me and for
that reason I concur with with services
count forests their comments on this
thank you here mayor pro-tem will
pretend down to that yes thank you Mary
I appreciate all the commentary and
respect courtesy what my fellow come
both cultures are are indicating about
the tale short fun and I think for the
more long-standing folks
culture sword myself you mayor the
Telstar funding and how its distributed
and in the process has been
challenged over the years in terms of
who we actually give funding to and I I
just want to reiterate that we have
tried to look at least in the time that
I've been and I'm this is my second term
at least once to try to look at
revamping that tells your phone in the
way by which it the money is distributed
because we also hear a lot of complaints
about that we only work with a certain
amount of nonprofits and of course we
have that Health and Human Services
group that convenes a couple of times a
year to look at the various grants
opportunities that arise and review
those particular proposals and so as you
know we've or I don't know if others
happen I know that I've received certain
complaints and so this at some level to
some of our nonprofit seems like a very
huge reach to try to get in on this
funding if you will and that some of the
complaints also are that we give funding
to certain groups that have received
funding for years and years and so I I
think you're right that we will probably
have nonprofits come and ask for funding
and and and maybe this is a good
opportunity to re-examine the process in
terms of who we actually get funding to
maybe it'll and start to expand and give
other you know other nonprofits
opportunity and so with that I I also
think and I've been saying this about
the micro loans and other
if our ability to stimulate our economy
in some way and I also think habitat
humanity does assist us and that way
it's I don't know all the ins and outs
and so I I made mention of it because I
everybody received the Candice butler's
email I'm pretty certain in the last
couple of weeks to look at with an
attachment in regards to what her her
proposal look like she sent another
email to us this week and her board has
started to respond to her email thanking
her for reiterating and reminding us the
work that they do and so I know that at
one time we had talked about using the
Telstra fund to expand our housing so
please remember that these folks that we
provide this service to our folks that
otherwise would not we have a home to be
in we habitat humanity provides a great
service to these folks where otherwise
might be homeless or still in a rental
situation that isn't always the best and
so I really want staff to look at this
and re-examine Habitat for Humanity but
also looking at other opportunities
where we can stimulate our economy once
we get out of this sort of preliminary
weeks through April if this is going to
help us increase our GRT so for example
I've brought up that community of whole
families and youth incorporated have
landed available to maybe build tiny
homes in there on their property so that
we can help minimize the homeless
population or near homelessness that
many of those clients or constituents
are facing and so I I feel really
strongly that the micro loan program
and maybe this opportunity funding
opportunity to habitat but also with
others and in conjunction with our home
builders and our providers that do help
in the construction industry might
assist us in looking at as Telstra
funding in a different way
so with that merit that's all I have to
say thank you
Mayor Pro Tem let me ask you something
if we were to would you have a problem
if we were to let's say we have our
meeting next Friday the 17th and that
gives time for staff to go back and and
take a look at what Candice sent and
work with them and then I think David
was talking about different monies that
might be available and and maybe tap
into the telephone for on a smaller
amount would you have a problem if we
were to do that and leave that off until
next Friday I wouldn't have a problem
with that mayor I appreciate a week's
worth of looking at sure tom service cos
thank you Thank You mayor and thank you
to Mayor Pro Tem Gandara for bringing up
the the future used to the telephone and
how it really makes our community more
healthy and can make our community more
healthy in a variety of different ways
including the adequate housing
assistance that we need to really impact
our residents who don't have access to
that and so I think we do have to have
in in the future a discussion about how
we best use tell short fund monies to
expand beyond the original mission
because it is a great resource that not
a lot of cities have it is something
unique to the city of Las Cruces that
gives an opportunity to help our
community and we should be leveraging
that to the full extent you know with
respects to the habitat proposal I know
part of what they were asking for was
reimbursement from the loss of sales
from the closing of their restore and
and again that's you know it's to me
it's they're probably considered a
non-essential business right
because the restor is a business and so
um that's why I just hesitated it a
little bit you know because if their
reasoning for asking for some of this
money is the closing of a non-essential
business then I could be how it could
lead us down a path of other folks
wanting us to make their operations or
their operational budget pull in light
of some of these restrictions that we
have today so I'm happy to either way to
discuss this at a future time to see if
that reimbursement or that assistance
comes through another program happy to
include it in this particular budget
modification and then staff can work
with with them to see if the
disbursement of these funds is
appropriate to what we're trying to do
in terms of the direct response to help
people in crisis at this point but I
think the longer-term vision as
councillor gathers mayor pro-tem down
that I mentioned is how do we best
leverage this tool that we have to help
our community in the future especially
for those organizations that are out
there doing amazing work like habitat
and so many others that are helping
people get on their feet so again don't
mind either way but I think for this
particular purpose I just want to make
sure that those funds that that we spent
from the total money now are going to
have a direct impact on the people who
risk losing their homes who can't pay
rent who don't have food who don't have
necessities transportation to get to
medical appointments all those kinds of
things that that I see is kind of like
immediate needs for people in our
community as a result of this crisis but
either way it's a conversation we should
be having so thank you mayor and thank
you Mary protein okay Thank You
councillor okay so it looks like we're
ready to get to I'm just gonna do a
recap of what has been suggested Oh
councillor FLOTUS you one other time put
your hand up please you raise your hand
if you guys ever question councillor
Flores yes Thank You mr. mayor I
um I just I have a question for you when
you speak to the mayor excuse me when
you speak to the governor you this
bi-weekly type of meeting or bimonthly
that you have that the mayor's have is
there any discussion I know that Joanne
Ferrari representative Joanne Ferrari
was talking about a mortgage relief act
or something and I don't know if she's
reached if she's spoken to the governor
directly I'm sure she has but I'm just
wondering do you talk about those things
in your meetings when you meet with the
mayor no they're they're just talking
about the loss of gross receipts yeah
what impact is going to have on their
communities and it's it's it's uh it's
really disheartened stuff to hear that
you know let me just let me just share
with you something that my perspective
here so our budget when you take our
total budget of the city Las Cruces is
400 million when you have utilities and
everything and for us to have 40 million
roughly is 10 percent to have in that
toast or fund you know give or take
that's like having New York City whose
budget is 90 billion dollars have any
nine billion dollar fund that they can
use the help no city has what we have
we're extremely fortunate mm-hmm
it's it's tough listening to those
mayors and those some of those
communities there's there's one that I
don't want to share over the right now
but they're talking layoffs I mean just
they're like no gross receipts tax it's
really difficult so that that's what we
that's what I'm listening so so in
answer your question council Florida
it's not it's not really directed by the
state they're just talking a little bit
about hey what this is what the feds are
going to be looking for and that's where
we are I heard about the emergency
declaration and you know how you know
how they can get by how they need assist
they need money just to put money into
their operations this for those members
of the public who are listening
whatever we spending has zero impact on
our operations out there zero I mean
you're not gonna see reduction in in any
of our departments because of what we're
spending here it's just totally separate
and that's why I wanted to put that in
perspective if we were if New York City
had what we had they'd have a nine
billion dollar fund that's that that's
incredible
so I I'm glad that you're that you're
sharing that with us but my question is
the others there's a bigger picture here
and it seems that the the governor of
the state would be in a position to
address more between and and such things
as you know you know passing yeah
nothing an act on passing a statute on
rent control and things would alleviate
some of the problems that we're having
or a freeze on rent and then a
discussion on how you wouldn't then have
a balloon payment at the end of this
declared toget crisis that we're in and
I thought I just wanted to know it seems
like the cities are talking about lack
of money and I was just wondering if
there was any discussion as to looking
at the state or asking the governor to
then talk to to the beds about mortgage
relief of some sort I mean I'm just
thinking you know I'm just looking at
the bigger picture thank you very much
mr. mayor yeah well let me and if you
want to put my businesspersons hat on
real quick so let's just say
hypothetically and I agree with here
which what you're saying but let's just
say for example you have an apartment
complex that has a hundred tenants okay
and they and and and the Landlord is
owned by one one person and if that
landlord has a mortgage and and the bank
calls that in because they can't make
that payment because the tenants are
paying now you haven't just affected one
person you've affected a hundred people
who lose their place to live
if that Bank comes down and forecloses
everybody leaves so there's got to be a
balance there councilor Lewis and I
understand we're saying no no I'm
talking about mortgage roomie mortgage
that's it's a mortgage
we know the owner would be protected
from foreclosing on the mortgage and and
they're you know they're federally
regulated and you know I understand what
you're saying about people being out and
this that and the other I think my
question or my my suggestion or whatever
you want to call it my my comment was
addressing mortgage relief which is a
totally different scenario than what
your a done l okay now that is a
conversation I think in my opinion has
to come from our US Congress person and
and US Senator or you know Congress
woman Sochi and Congress people Congress
women and men and throughout the United
States how they're helping the small
business if they can direct that to
owners of multi multi use properties to
that's money could be used for their
mortgages to be frozen or payments
subsided then I could see that but if
you by the Supreme Court saying we're
freezing all evictions that doesn't mean
that the that the balances to the banks
aren't accruing they are and once they
release it this that they the landlord
is still gonna go that amount and so
that's where I think if there was one
way to focus in fact because of this
discussion all I'll reach out to senator
Heinrich and Senator Udall and explain
that to them now if they could get
special monies for those who owned these
large apartment complexes and get money
to them to the banks that hold those
notes then I could see I buy it by all
means they should get rent-free because
if they're putting a freeze or very
making some type of amendment on their
on that mortgage that's great I mean I
wouldn't say rent-free I mean there
still has to be a little bit coming in
to pay the fee but but a significant a
significant chunk there like 80 percent
could be would be relief in my opinion
well and that's it that you got it thank
you
okay so all right so let's
yes I actually mayor if Oh Judy I know
did you guys have your I've been having
my hand up for a while about this
something that doesn't usually rises to
the top here so I apologize that's all
right um you know most of the the
comment has already been sort of hashed
out I was going to make a comment much
earlier thinking mr. dollar Han or
looking into the different ways that we
could potentially help Habitat for
Humanity knowing that these mortgages
that if there's anything that we do with
the mortgages for these people because
most likely these are also individuals
that are being highly impacted by the
current event and they are going to have
lower incomes anyway so I'm glad to see
that happen but I'm I'm very supportive
that we've been taking kind of old
actions and trying to be as proactive
people to set up our community members
in such a way that when this is
hopefully is all done we've left them in
the best possible circumstances that
we've helped out in significant and
meaningful ways and a lot of the actions
that we've been voting upon Fugit that
helping housing food safety physical and
mental health and so that's why I've
been so supportive of these actions and
will continue to do so so thinking here
yes David - I'm sorry you had a comment
yes no need to apologize mayor
definitely with these hand raising
things I can understand how they go back
and forth I don't want to belabor the
points that you're already - get to the
point for the amendments but I did want
to read a most recent approval that
council did on a resolution that gives
the definition for healthcare services
with respect to the tales for fun and
then hopefully that will help with the
vision making in the resolution and
noted that city can also continues to
utilize the following definition of
healthcare services the proceeds from a
transfer from the telephoto sylheti Fund
or other money shall be dedicated to the
health-related public service funds
which shall be used to support the
continued physical mental developmental
emotional and social well-being safety
and housing needs of the city of Las
Cruces residents and to improve the
lives of sick indigent or low-income
people or the city of Las Cruces thank
you Mary
each king thank you David I appreciate
that and if it's still okay with Mayor
Pro Tem ganda that we hold this for next
Friday
by that time it gives staff and
specifically David dollar hand I think
he had something he wanted to work up
and maybe be able to work with Candace
Butler it's exactly what it is that she
was you know how they how we could help
and it'd be more focused on specific
things but I appreciate that at reading
of that yes marriage still fine with me
okay so let me just review with you what
all I have here so far so from we have
additional amount of from 9,500 to
22,000 for Dona Ana communities United
from on Cruces creatives from 9600 to
21600 so that's additional 12,000 on
Community Action Agency currently at 98
thousand to two hundred and fifty
thousand which is an increase of 150 mm
and then fish and loaves from 2,500 to
10,000 which is an additional 7500 all
total that should equal a hundred and
eighty four thousand in addition to the
500 that we currently have scheduled so
we would need an amendment to go to six
hundred and eighty four thousand dollars
to include those additional increases
not everybody jump in at one time some
okay Busby's John so Vasquez motion
condena and second by a miracle Tim down
to that is there any questions on the
amendment okay
so Christine is that gonna be clear for
you yes sir hey this is for just the
amendment correct
correct okay so looks like we're good to
go on the vote on the motion to amend
resolution 20 - one three four to change
the budget adjustment to six hundred and
eighty four thousand dollars concert a
beta CB yeah con services yes counselor
Bencomo yeah hunter stork yes cancer
Flores yes counselor GaN Dada yes bear
yes okay so that's been approved and
with all total when you add the thousand
a million seventy-two that we did last
time we're up to a million seven hundred
fifty six thousand dollars which is
pretty substantial okay so we have an
update on the federal monies due to the
city I believe there we need to call the
funds are just seeing if you were paying
attention there
I'm trying if there's on the motion to
approve resolution 20 - 134 I'd amended
counselor beta Stevie yeah come sir
Bosco yes counselor Bencomo yeah counter
sorg yes counter flooded yes counselor
gone Dada
yes mayor yes
okay now we're going to go to the
federal monies awarded to the city of
Las Cruces and I believe Amy Basford you
mean Johnson Basford is gonna speak yes
good morning mayor and city council this
is Amy Johnson Basford I'm the grants
administrator and I'm going to share my
screen with you here I want to present
to you an overview of the in just a
moment okay there it is an overview of
the federal cares Act which was passed
on March 27th we
which provides funding to a multitude of
cities states agencies individuals
businesses and nonprofits it's an
enormous bill in excess of 900 pages
long and so I'm going to give you the
best overview of the information we
Hausa have as of this moment and it is
changing continuously as agencies work
diligently to bring out this funding to
municipalities and other organizations
in the communities it does allow but the
majority of the funding to go back to
when the initial disaster Proclamation
was made by the president for the nation
which is January 20th of 2020 so the
majority of funding will go back to that
date so that is a good benefit that they
had added to it the FEMA disaster relief
funds which we you've talked about a
little bit the major declaration was for
New Mexico was made on April 5th of 2020
the emergency declaration you made
earlier today it helps support this and
allows us to access the public
assistance funding under category B as
you will see on the map the entire state
is categorized as receiving category B
funding FEMA emergency funding is for
emergency protective measures the
eligible measures are to respond to the
Cova 19 emergency at the direction or
guidance of public health officials
these are the items that may be
reimbursed I'll go into some detail on
the eligible expenses this is a 75%
reimbursement we are required to provide
25% the total provided by under the bill
is 25 billion and that is under the t
stafford disaster relief and emergency
assistance Act
now the FEMA may choose to add
additional categories of reimbursement
in the future and those may include
things like assistance to individuals
and that type of thing but for eligible
expenses for us as a municipality under
this is I'm sorry Amy your screen is not
sharing properly okay are you in yes not
share the screen okay let me let me go
back just a moment if it's not sharing
no patient just a moment let me see if I
can make it do that again all right
no still not okay so I'm sharing
screaming there we go
okay are you seeing it now yes okay yes
thank you would you like me to go back
at all
probably wouldn't hurt oh please do okay
let me see if I can figure out how to
make it do this for me okay
so what I started with was information
on the FEMA disaster relief funds that
are available to us and those are the co
vyd the code under the cops re I'm
trying to make it not move around too
much so under the köppen 19 pound emic
for the state of New Mexico the incident
period began on January 20th of 2020
President did declare New Mexico a major
disaster declaration on April 5th of
2020 and the category that FEMA is
allowing us to apply under is called
category B which is protective measures
as I mentioned FEMA can go back and
provide other federal assistance under
this declaration which may include
individual
assistance that individuals that are
damaged by the disaster can apply for
one of the things I want to mention is
that FEMA doesn't have their their
eligibility written for a pandemic it
has been since the Spanish flu in 1918
since we've had a pandemic and so FEMA
is not is moving their way through this
as are we all so their category B is
really protective measures to be taken
as a response to the there we go taken
as a response to the emergency which is
at the direction of public health
officials again this is a 75% cost share
we will be absorbing 25% of this cost
and there was 25 billion provided under
the t stafford disaster relief and
emergency assistance act the eligible
expenses under category B which is the
protective measures is for management
control and reduction of immediate
threats emergency medical care medical
facilities when existing facilities are
reasonably forecasted to become
overloaded movement of supplies in
persons security and law enforcement the
purchase and distribution of food
including personal protective equipment
and hazardous material suits
communications of general health and
safety information to the public search
and rescue to locate and recover members
of the population household pet
sheltering and containment actions in
accordance with CDC guidelines and
reimbursement for state tried territory
and local government force account
overtime cost so it's fairly limited
what we can cover here the responsible
Department for this is the fire
department and we are at this time
reporting back to the New Mexico
Department of Homeland Security and
emergency management
on our expenses as we begin to submit
that through the actual FEMA portal we
will be defining what expenses are
actually eligible and not eligible they
will be providing us with more guidance
as we move through this additionally in
the cares Act FEMA is providing
assistance to firefighters under that
grant program of a hundred million
dollars which we can submit an
application for for personal protective
equipment those guidelines have not been
released as of yet
and additionally FEMA is providing two
hundred million dollars under the
emergency shelter and food program this
is the program that we were reimbursed
for when we were assisting the asylum
seekers in providing sheltering this
program is available to nonprofits in
our community that are providing
sheltering and food to the community and
they can be reimbursed for the expenses
that they are incurring to do that all
the way back to January twentieth so I
want to make sure you all understand
that there are many aspects of this that
are available to our community
nonprofits faith organizations as well
as some businesses under the FEMA
Disaster Recovery Act some nonprofits
can be eligible to apply under the
direct disaster relief as well so that
is something that as you talk to the
nonprofit's that you're working with
that you should mention to them that
they should look into for additional
support
let's see and so that was the the main
female relief act under the cares act
FTA which is our Federal Transit
Administration has provided funding as
well there was 25 billion appropriated
our Las Cruces apportionment is just
over 6 million it allows us to go back
to January 20th for all eligible
expenses as allowed under our normal
operating grant that we receive it can
be used for both capital and operations
and it provides 100% reimbursement with
no local cost share city staff has met
multiple times this week we are in the
process of going into the FTA portal and
drawing down this money it should be
brought to Council in a very short order
within the next month we would expect
and again it does have pre-award
authority for us to go back to cover all
expenses of our transit facility our
transit operations the other great thing
about this particular funding is that it
will allow us to use transit for things
that we have previously not been allowed
to expense things like using transit to
deliver meals and other types of
activities that we may be undertaking as
a response to the Cova 19 crisis this
money is an addition to our federal
fiscal year 2020 apportionment excuse me
which is just over 2 point 1 million
dollars we are able to amend our
existing grants that we have with fta 4
operations to increase the federal share
to 80 percent from 50 percent and have
only a 20% local match the responsible
Department for this particular funding
is the roadrunner transit in quality of
life
additionally the cares Act provides some
funding from the Department of Justice
under the Edward Byrne jag funds which
is Justin justice assistance grants it's
going to provide an additional
apportionment to our Police Department
of fifty nine thousand six hundred and
twenty-two dollars this must be used to
prevent prepare for and respond to the
coronavirus I want to make a note that
every section of the bill has that
wording in it the prevent prepare for
and respond to the coronavirus so the
intent of these funds are not to do a
multitude of things it's really for us
to be responding to this crisis this
funding can be used for the de police
department to include overtime equipment
hiring supplies training and travel they
may not be used to supplant state or
local funds nor use to direct
administrative cost there's no match
required in the police department is
responsible for this particular funding
the grants office is currently working
with staff from the police department to
prepare the application for this and
we'll be submitting that within the next
few within the next month I believe that
it is due early May and then we have HUD
funding which Natalie green has provided
information to you on previously we are
going to receive an increase to our
federal apportionment for fiscal year
federal fiscal year 2020 of just over
five hundred and sixty thousand dollars
this funding is - bill is going to be
building on our existing relationships
for public facilities and public
services Community Development is the
responsible Department for this funding
the FAA which is the Federal Aviation
Administration is providing was
appropriated ten billion dollars to
prepare sorry to prevent prepare for and
respond to the coronavirus
at least 100 million of that has been
set aside for general aviation airports
such as ours and that is to ensure
continued operation during likely
sustained decline in air travel those
airports receiving grants need to
maintain their employment levels of at
least 90 percent as of the date of
enactment which was March 27th of 2020
no match is required on this one this
one's similar to the FTA will also
provide reimbursement for those
individuals who are put on leave due to
the coronavirus and that includes people
who are not able to work due to the
coronavirus because they are non-us
because they are not considered
essential personnel so administrative
leave the quarantine leave those types
of things can be reimbursed for our
different departments under some of
these funding mechanisms the economic
development administration they were
appropriated 1.5 billion dollars in
supplemental funding for the economic
Adjustment Assistance Program this
program is to assist state and local
entities with a wide range of technical
planning and Public Works and
infrastructure in regions experiencing
adverse economic conditions due to the
Cova 19 crisis these grant cried lines
have not been released the Economic
Development Department is the
responsible department and we have
reached out to EDA to find out when they
expect to release their guidelines on
accessing this funding the EDA has just
released their guidelines on funding for
emergencies that occurred in 2018 and
2019 so we are hoping they're a little
quicker with their guidelines for this
emergency crisis some of the potential
EDA activities that we might undertake
with this funding is adapting business
retention and expansion programs
building a resilient workforce
undertaking efforts to broaden the
industrial base with diversification
initiatives based on the region's unique
assets and competitive strengths and
that provides stability during downturns
that dis fortunately impact any single
cluster or industry we can also use it
for promoting business continuity and
preparedness and identify persistent
economic challenges or deficiencies for
future crisis so that one has a wide
variety of things we can do with it the
NEA and the NE n eh which is the
National Endowment for the Arts and the
National Endowment for the Humanities
both were appropriated seventy-five
million dollars each to prepare prevent
and respond NEA funds can be used for
general operating expenses which is not
normally allowed both agencies are
providing sixty percent to specific
organizations and forty percent to other
organizations as shown on the slide
these grant guidelines have not been yet
released we are expecting to see them
any day now and determine if we're
eligible or not these do have the caveat
that we need to have received awards
from them in recent past in order to be
eligible for this so we really need to
look at the guidelines very closely to
see if we are eligible for this funding
the state relief funds which I believe
have been mentioned multiple times by
the council as well as the staff is a
hundred and fifty billion for the states
to prepare prevent and respond to the
crisis the apportionment for New Mexico
is 125 million it's this to be dispersed
by the state the minimum state share is
fifty five thousand which is six hundred
and sixty eight thousand dollars or it
to take portions meant for themselves
and to distribute to small communities
the maximum cap for a direct assistance
which is for populations that have an
excessive five hundred thousand dollars
is forty five thousand
that comes out to 563 thousand as we
know there's only one city in New Mexico
that has over five hundred thousand so
we don't know that the state will give
them that entire amount or if some of
that will be redistributed to smaller
communities in New Mexico it does
establish a five hundred billion dollar
lending fund for businesses cities and
states to help them through the Kovach
crisis these guidelines have not been
yet released on how this money will be
accessed and there are additional
efforts right now at the federal level
to add another two hundred and fifty
billion to go directly to smaller
municipalities the grants office is
monitoring how that is moving through
the federal legislative process to be
aware of how we could access some of
those funds just as a recap we provided
some information on the individual
resources that are available under cares
to individuals in our community
increases to a multitude of programs
have been provided through this cares
Act that include TANF snap insurance
coverages and food distribution
unemployment payments and direct
payments to individuals and families
tenant based rental assistance and low
income Home Energy Assistance paid sick
leave student loan forbearance and
increase in charitable deductions on
your tax return and the tax filing
deadline extension retirement plan
requirements have been waived there are
there are accommodations for foreclosure
eviction moratorium and forbearance on
federally backed mortgages and for
businesses through the cares Act there
are multitudes of the things that
businesses and nonprofits can apply for
to receive direct relief funding that
includes the SBA unique to this
particular funding from SBA is that it
is available to both businesses and
nonprofits I understand that this is a
really challenging program that they are
trying to push out through the
and that additional funding at the
federal level is being considered to add
to this particular fund
there are several tax related programs
for businesses there is the New Mexico
Economic Development Department that is
providing a multitude of programs for
businesses which dr. Griselda Martinez
provided some information about earlier
on how they are pushing out information
to our local businesses on what is
available from nm EDD and then FEMA the
emergency food and shelter program this
is available to nonprofits that are
providing essential services that they
can directly apply for and they would
need to reach out to the United Way of
southern New Mexico to find out how to
become eligible for that particular
program that is a very brief recap of
what is in this bill and what the city
is able to be applying for and I will
stand for questions Thank You counselor
this movie
Thank You mayor and thank you first
that's a list I do have one question you
need when it comes to our state funding
and those allocations how do we advocate
our need to the governor and everything
to try to get a maximum amount for our
community since I know we don't have the
five hundred thousand but we are the
second largest city here so how can we
really put our best foot forward and be
as proactive as possible if I can jump
in real quick before that answer so the
Municipal League is looking to draft
language to send out because they feel
that obviously there's only a hand
there's only like I'm gonna guess 30
cities in the United States I probably
meet that criteria so you're so I just
want to know that the Municipal League
of Cities has worked Municipal League is
working on being able to draft that and
send to the governor to say hey you know
there's only one city that qualifies so
I just want throw that out there so I
mean in a row
thank you mayor Councillor the
the information that I've received thus
far and as I mentioned multiple times
this is it changes rapidly and we are
trying to keep on top of the new
information that comes out but as I
understand it that state funding will be
distributed based on the number of cases
and the amount of need in the
communities as I said that criteria has
not been released yet so I believe the
governor is still you know working
through the governor and her staff are
still working through how they will
distribute that money but that is
helping the initial information that
I've received on how it will be
distributed thank you and since this is
a historical piece that I don't have
about how long do you think it would
take you once we start applying for
these different items how long does it
usually take to receive those
reimbursements per gram yes so thank you
mayor Councillor several of them have
been very extraordinary and being able
to roll these out within two weeks from
the passage of the cares Act so for
example the FTA that money is available
for us to go out and access at this time
and as I said we are in the process of
doing that normally an FTA grant will
take anywhere from a month to three
months to move through the federal
process once we've accessed it in the
federal portal we they are anticipating
that that will be moved along quickly
with the other agencies that have to
sign off on it and so we I am expecting
it within a month and again it almost
all of these have pre-award authority so
it doesn't really matter when we get the
money it we can go back and reimburse a
request reimbursement for arcs is that
we've incurred from the date of the
emergency which was January 20th of 2020
other other agencies are not moving
quite as quickly as I mentioned the EDA
is not moving very quickly but I think
that the federal pressure on those
agencies will come to bear and they will
start releasing things quite quite
quickly we're getting a lot of webinars
we're sitting in on on how agencies are
going to be considering distributing
money how you can apply for them how
they're expediting the application
process thank you and do we anticipate
that we'll be awarded the full amount
for what we're asking for or do we think
there might be a little bit of gap mayor
Councillor so at this time those that
are being provided through federal
apportionment that is the amount that we
will receive those that are requiring
applications again that might not be
fully funded as with any grant
application there's an opportunity for
us not to be funded at all but then
there's the opportunity for them to find
us at a lower amount so those that
require actual applications are a little
more suspect on how much we'll get from
them but those that are under the
federal apportionment that I discussed
early in the presentation those are the
amounts we will be receiving from those
agencies okay thank you so much for
everything the work of your department
thank you justice or the Mayor Pro Tem
Thank You mr. mayor thank you Miss
batchford I have just a couple questions
but I also want to start out by saying
that I'm getting messages from the
National League of Cities daily on all
of this information and one of the
things they're talking about lately is
that there's more coming down the pike
through Congress or trying to be going
through Congress will see if they can
pass it I have a question about the CB
DG funds you mentioned a dollar amount
that's an addition to what we normally
get for CB DG is that amount allowed to
be used in the same way as the original
amount that we usually get there
counselor I believe so the majority of
them are allowing for the normal
expenses of their programs but I do have
Natalie green who is on the call that
could possibly give some more
information on anything she's received
directly from them if natalie could
chime in mister
councillor sorg we are still waiting for
that guidance okay
we'll have to be used within the cdbg
regulations so it will have to meet our
national objective and have to serve
people who are low to moderate-income
below 8% am i yes I know I know what the
purpose is of it okay very good thank
you so much
the second one is the a the II aap
funding for small businesses I just
wondered if that's something we could
use for our small businesses like we
were talking about in addition to what
the money we have already approved for
small businesses in the Economic
Development Department mayor Councillor
I believe that those funds are for
businesses to apply for directly they
are getting additional information to
help us with that if there's a mechanism
that we could apply for to provide
assistance as a pass-through that is
certainly something that the Economic
Development Department and I are keeping
a close eye on well I hope that all of
our work we do here in the city in their
contacts with the businesses in town and
everybody else that we pass this
information on that they can get an
additional assistance from the federal
government in these programs okay one
last thing I thought the state received
1.25 or 1.24 billion dollars in funding
directly from the federal government and
the cares Act
whereas the slide you showed was
considerably less than massive money I
don't understand the difference um mayor
Councillor sword I can certainly go back
and check that but I believe that New
Mexico only got a hundred and twenty
five million of that 150 billion but I
can go back and check and provide that
information to city manager to share
with you okay I I was told by senator
Heinrich saw respect that's not much or
was it Udall and one or the other anyway
that that's the amount of the state of
New Mexico would get indirect assistance
okay that's all thank you mr. mayor and
they
you offer do all the hard work you're
doing yes thank you looks like we had
mayor pro-tem gondola I thought I'd
wanted to speak mayor I was just going
to make mention of the National League
of Cities they've been sending as
counselors org indicated many emails to
us they had a petition out as it related
to the particular bill that was passed
at the federal level encouraging
municipalities under that threshold to
push to get that as part of the total
package some I'm glad that the Municipal
League is working towards that but I
think if we can maybe send a letter as
mayor and council to the league and
whoever else our federal delegation
about ensuring that the smaller populous
communities get the funding that would
be that would be incredible as well and
again thank you Amy and staff for all
the work that you've done I know there's
been numerous webinars and such
specifically it to address this and I
know how much work you've done thus far
so I it doesn't go unnoticed for sure
and I Amy I didn't see the PowerPoint
that's part of an attachment although it
there was a lot of attachments and I
could have missed it was it there and if
so I'll go back and make a copy but if
it isn't can we get a copy of your
PowerPoint I thought it was excellent
Thank You mayor Councillor yes I don't
know that it was shared with council in
your packet but certainly it is
available to the city manager's office
on our SharePoint and that can be shared
with you it would be helpful thank you
Amy mm-hmm
okay so counselor so you're finished you
still have your hand up I think you're
finished okay so before we adjourn this
let me tell you what I have for our next
meeting on April 17th 2020 at 9:30 the
possible award of 60,000 to Habitat for
Humanity the updates on on the Cova 19
positive cases asked to have zip codes
included in Dona Ana County identified
also whether or not Presbyterian
Healthcare has a model of projected
cases over 19 county by county and then
the current methods of information
dissemination by our Communications
Office and possible other ideas sound
good Oh David you have a you'd like to
say something
I do mayor thank you for that I
appreciate the opportunity to be able to
speak before you adjourn you may have
noticed a council may have noticed and
people watching the council session may
have noticed that we went to quite a few
hiccups for this program I take
responsibility for that and I want to
thank everyone for their patience with
that I also want to thank Council for
their insights and for their requests
and for continuing to ask questions on
behalf of our community and then lastly
I want to thank staff they have gone
through quite a bit of work in such a
short amount of time for the number of
packets they have put together the
amount of research that they have done
and coming forward with you with coming
forward to you with innovative
opportunities and ideas so thank you
very much to them and again thank you to
Eric Council for all of your support and
oversight absolutely there pretend we
have a question I do err just to add to
them not only do I think that we need to
reach out to Presbyterian but our local
partners through the Department of
Health on Sanchez our local
epidemiologists or others that are
looking carefully that could really
explain sort of cases
a surge and if we're prepared those
things I think would be really important
the other is not only looking at Habitat
for Humanity but getting stuff asking
snap to look at these other
opportunities to increase just the
economy for example using community of
hope and fYI to build tiny homes or
those kinds of projects that will help
us sort of move through this process it
and also house people that really need
to be housed so I've made mention of
that lab mayor both at a community of
hope that might be used to build on on
there as a way to increase our GRT
during this time okay let me get with
you after the meeting on that so I'm
just just to kind of clarify a few
things on that ethnicity okay so if
there's nothing for nothing further
entertain a motion to adjourn
[Music]
okay so as motion made my counselor Ben
Coleman yes I finally got it and second
by Councillor Florida's all those in
favor of journeying signify by saying
aye all right I was opposed record
reflect nobody is disagreement so we are
adjourned and it's um what time is it
12:30 5:00 p.m. thank you