City Council Meeting April 1, 2024 MINUTES City Council Monday, April 1, 2024 @ 1:00 PM City Council Chambers, City Hall PRESENT: Mayor Eric Enriquez, Councilor Cassie McClure, Councilor William Mattiace, Councilor Becki Graham, Councilor Johana Bencomo, Councilor Becky Corran, and Councilor Yvonne Flores ABSENT: 1. OPENING CEREMONIES 1.1 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - MAYOR PRO TEM BENCOMO. 1.2 PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION/PROCLAMATIONS - MAYOR PRO TEM BENCOMO. Councilor Bencomo presented Barbara Toth with a proclamation for Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Councilor Bencomo recognized the Neighborhood Leadership Academy participants. 1.3 JOBS OF THE WEEK. Sarah Raney, New Mexico Workforce Connections presented Jobs of the Week. 1.4 PETS OF THE WEEK. Amy Defelix, Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley presented Pets of the Week. 2. CONFLICT OF INTEREST INQUIRY BY MAYOR AS REQUIRED BY LCMC SECTION 2-27 (E)(2) 2.1 None. 3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Page 1 of 33 3.1 Mayor Enriquez said I want to make an announcement before we start the public participation. I have been made aware that the New Mexico Municipal League has an evaluator. They come and evaluate your city council meetings, and this is a direction I want to go. I have always wanted to run a good business meeting for the city council and our work sessions, so I had mentioned that we were going to move the public participation to the end of the meeting. We are not going to do that now, we are going to postpone it. I want to get the evaluation first so that once we get the evaluation and then we can look and see what moves we make. I don’t want to make numerous moves. The whole intent is to try and run a good business meeting. David Rutherford, Member of the Public said I have a couple of issues. The first one is the water issue which I think should be at the top of the list. I live on Sonoma Ranch Road, and it is the Moongate Water District I believe, right? So, I was told that we have 200 years’ worth of water and I tried to do a deep dive so to speak on the internet to try to find out if that was accurate or not. I looked at some hydrologist reports, etcetera from New Mexico State and I really couldn’t find anything definitive but in my humble opinion I think that water should be on top of your list because I did speak with one of my neighbors that told me that she discovered that we only have 20 years of water left. So, which is it 200 or 20 years? That is a big difference. I really would like to know from you and make it very transparent to the public exactly how much water is there left. That should be on the top of your list. The next meeting or maybe this meeting maybe somebody could give us the answer to that because hopeully I am not the only one that is concerned about water here. Do you have a definitive answer on how much water we have? Mayor Enriquez said if you want to leave your name and number with the Clerk and we will make sure that the Director of Utilities will get to you with that information and then we will do everything we can to get that open in public. David Rutherford said it should be open, it should be transparent. You are developing, you are growing. How are we going to use this water? How is it going to be allocated? How can we save water? That is issue number one. Another issue is I like cycling. I would like to be able to take my bicycle from where I am to Lohman Avenue and if you look, I have been to great cities around the world they have great public transportation and they have a great road where people can move around, walk and cycle around. That is another issue. Dan Parrott, Member of the Public said I am here on behalf of myself and my wife Lisa Parrott. I am also representing several families and neighbors in the High Range neighborhood. We are currently no changes being made on the current ordinances restricting commercial businesses in single family dwelling neighborhoods. We are also opposed to multifamily zoning, retail businesses, including cannabis sales, and commercial businesses in the city in our single-family neighborhoods. If these type of zoning changes are approved it is expected that the values of our homes will be reduced. I am urging the city council to very carefully consider this in relationship to the values of the homes, the future of this city, and the growth of the city for the better. Page 2 of 33 Albert, Member of the Public said I am here as part of Las Cruces for Palestine. As we gather here today I urge us to confront this dark reality unfolding in Gaza since October 7th Israel has unleashed over twenty-five thousand tons of explosives upon Gaza. This is equivalent to the devastation that was brought on by two nuclear bombs. To put things into perspective, Gaza is 27 times smaller than Dona Ana County and holds twice the population. It is vital to recognize the disproportionate impact of violence inflicted upon its inhabitants. We are actively funding and supporting a genocidal campaign of collective punishment as Israel continues killing Palestine’s at unprecedented rates, while bombing hospitals, ambulances and universities reducing them to rubble. Palestinians are dying in their homes, churches, in their shelters. As of today, most civilian infrastructure in Gaza has been flattened and rendered uninhabitable. These relentless bombings have not only claimed innocent lives but have also shattered the pillars of Palestinian history and stifled the educational opportunities for future generations robbing Palestinian people of their heritage. The toll on human life is equally appalling. Over 309 health care workers including doctors, nurses, and ambulance drivers have been killed while serving their communities. At least 352 schools representing over 70% of educational institutions in Gaza have been targeted and bombarded claiming the lives of over 200 teachers and educators. We are accountable for the future we forge ahead. I have four nieces and two nephews, the oldest one turns fifteen today. When I look at them, I feel an enormous amount of responsibility. I want nothing more in the world than to be able to provide them with a safe space. I want them to know love, compassion, and unity. This aspiration is shattered when I consider the 13,000 Palestinian children who have perished in Gaza due to Israeli attacks. The average age in Gaza is just eighteen years old. About 40% of its population consist of children fourteen years old or younger. The constant fear of air strikes, the loss of loved ones, the destruction of their homes, deliberate forced famines, and human rights violations under Israel’s siege will leave psychological scars that will shape their lives and the future of their communities. We can’t be complacent in creating a reality in which we turn a blind eye to these atrocities. The consequences of our inaction will echo for generations to come therefor I urge this council to take a stand against the injustices being perpetrated in Gaza and demand an immediate ceasefire. It is now time to display our principles through our actions and work tirelessly towards a lasting peace that ensures the freedom, safety, and dignity of all Palestinian people. Devin Narvason, Member of the Public said I have been a resident of Las Cruces for ten years now and I am here today to speak on behalf of Las Cruces for Palestine. In the last six months at least 32,700 civilians have been killed by Israeli forces including more than 13,000 babies and children. We know that the actual death toll is much higher given that there are more than 8,000 people currently missing under the rubble. So far 27 people, 23 of them children have starved to death due to the blockage aid by Israel. This is intentional manmade famine. When one side controls whether the other gets to eat or starve to death, it is not a conflict nor a war it is genocide. I know that some folks in this room are thinking, why should I care or what does that have to do with me or the city of Las Cruces? And to that I say you are human beings, and your fellow humans are being starved and massacred and you should care about it. If this were happening to you, I am sure that you would want people to speak up for you. I urge all of you to look within and find your humanity. Some people may think that we need to focus on the issues happening here and help Page 3 of 33 Americans and to that I have to say I agree with you. Every single year the US sends $3.8 billion to Israel to fund its violence against Palestinians. To steal their land, destroy their homes, and kill their people. That is more than $13 million New Mexico tax dollars or $1.6 million of Las Cruces tax dollars every single year. According to the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights that money could provide 191 Las Cruces families with public housing for a year, more than 500 children with free or low-cost health care, more the 4,500 homes with solar electricity or even completely cancel the student loan debt for 42 Las Cruces students. So just imagine what $3.8 billion year could do for communities across the country instead of funding the slaughter of innocent people. Not only as elected officials but as human beings with a conscious I am calling on you to use your power and your influence to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. It is estimated that 130 children are killed every day, more than 10 children lose a limb every day. So, it is imperative that we act now. Gwen Stacy, Member of the Public said I am also with Las Cruces for Palestine, and I just want to be upfront with what we want. So, what I want is for the City of Las Cruces to support a ceasefire resolution for Israel and Palestine and it is for a few reasons. The first is that of course there is a mass amount of civilian deaths and casualties but in addition there is another commonality that it has with other countries like Ireland, China, and India, and even many tribal nations in the United States and that is that there is an imminent danger of a famine in the region. However, in this case it is exceptional because it is not only a famine. It is a preventable one that also includes massive amounts of violence and conflict in the area. Without a ceasefire resolution it is very likely that lots of aid trucks will continue to be blocked in the area. That is all kinds of people will be starving, almost 1.4 million civilians dying from malnutrition, and we have already seen what is happening with malnourished mothers and babies being born in the area. So, I feel that it is the responsibility of the Las Cruces City Council to join other cities in the United States in supporting the ceasefire resolution. Yovani Sebastian Hernandez, Member of the Public said I am a 23-year-old Las Cruces, New Mexican and child of immigrants from Mexico. I am also a community member organizing with Las Cruces for Palestine. I have a variety of identities, a variety of allegiances but what matters to me the most is our shared identity as human beings. In the spirit of our shared humanity, I believe that it is our shared right to life, to freedom, to live without fear, that are amongst the most important values that we can fight for. It is for those reasons that I can humbly stand before you all today in solidarity with the people of Gaza with our Palestinian siblings who suffer day after day, night after night from a genocidal colonial terror campaign from the state of Israel supported by the United States government. Silence and inaction is nothing more than shameful complicity with the genocidal and colonial aspirations of Israel and those of our federal government. I look at my neighbors, my fellow Las Crucens and I cannot help but to see the same faces of those being bombed, terrorized, displaced, reflected in my community. The brown eyes that look at you today are the same that watch bombs fall on Gaza. Thus far the federal government has failed to make any moves towards serious talks about the ceasefire in Gaza and has only increased sending funding arms and political support for the purposes of perpetuating genocide against Palestinians. Our congressional representatives have done what they can and now it is our turn as New Mexicans, Las Crucens to pick up the mantel to stand on the Page 4 of 33 right side of history against genocide. To that end I urge you all, Las Cruces City Council to call for pass and stand behind a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and call on our Congressional Delegation to take further progressive action. The community has spoken and will continue to speak out against genocidal actions carried out by our federal government, by terrorist states, and against oppression. Dolores Bernal, Member of the Public said I am the lead organizer for Save the Roadrunner. Save the Roadrunner is a new grass roots, nonpartisan organization in Las Cruces looking out for residents and that wildlife displaced by unchecked development and construction in our city. Learn more about us at savetheroadunner.org. I would like to present a short photo montage of bird species that Dana Parsons, one of our members has observed in the 56 acres plan for the Mora Villa Dam and Apodaca Blueprint Projects at Triviz and Madrid Avenues. As you can see these desert areas are not empty. There is abundant wildlife that calls those 56 acres home and our group is asking that you review these projects and the scale of construction that will displace the wildlife that lives there. We need environmental impact studies done for this project and all future projects in Las Cruces. Protecting wildlife is also your mandate. Dana Parsons, Member of the Public said I am a passionate birder especially interested in the birds and wildlife found in Dona Ana County. I got involved with Save the Roadrunner after of plans for development at Madrid and Triviz. I am concerned with how recent development is affecting our natural habitats in Las Cruces. Development that has already aided in displacing species like the Burrowing Owl, which use to be prevalent in the city and is now gone. I visited the area around Madrid and Triviz recently over 7 days collectively walking around 10 miles, over 9 hours In found that this area is more than what it appears. It is a very unique and diverse ecosystem. In addition to the 25 species of birds there are mammals, reptiles, many native plants including cacti, yuccas, trees, grasses. Some only growing in water channels going through the area. There are wildflowers and native pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and moths which aid in the production of our natural resources. I am worried and concerned that the city is not taking the proper precautions to protect its natural habitats and is not aware of the unintended consequences of developing some of these areas. Spencer Taylor, Member of the Public said I am a lifetime Las Crucen, NMSU Master of Fine Arts, Professor at NMSU and DACC, Family Visitation Supervisor for Katherine and Associates, former freelance writer for the Sun covering community events so please know that I speak to you from a perspective that is rooted in deep personal care and investment in our community. For over half a century Palestinians have been marginalized, killed, displaced, and robbed in processes as settlers of colonial projects similar to colonialization inflicted on indigenous people to the Americas including in New Mexico. The colonization inflicted on Palestinians is rooted in the antisemitic politics of Zionism with the express goal of expelling Jews from Europe. Zionism fails to justify the illegal occupation of Palestinian land by the state of Israel as its displaces Palestinian people in the west bank via illegal settlements while enforcing merciless border policies on Gaza that for decades have prevented material necessities from entering Gaza and has prevented civilians from leaving. Experts call Gaza the world’s largest open-air prison and the world’s largest concentration camp. Page 5 of 33 From October 2023 till this minute Israel has with support with billions of dollars from the US massacred civilians using modernized weaponry, bombs, and drones killing over 32,000 innocent civilians, over 12,000 children. Israel has destroyed thousands of hospitals, mosques, schools, and households while pressing roughly 1.4 million survivors into crowded Rafah where they faced the largest catastrophic hunger in history. Palestinians have been forced to eat grass and drink boiled salt water while injured Survivors are amputated without anesthesia or basic medical care. After promising Rafah as a safe zone Israel has killed civilians seeking refuge there. The UN has proposed three globally supported ceasefire resolutions, all vetoed by the US despite the fact that significantly more Palestinian than Israeli hostages have been released during times of ceasefire. The International Court of Justice led by South Africa with its own apartide history has convicted Israel of possible genocide, ignoring a confirmed UN resolution for a brief ceasefire Israel continues to break international law with killings. These war crimes have been documented and often live streamed. Israeli and US media have failed to report accurately and in full including the proven exaggeration and fabrication of events reported by the New York Times last October 7th. What do these international events have to do with the community of Las Cruces beyond vital basic human empathy. A few things to consider, billions in federal monies spent on genocide as Las Crucens go without housing, health insurance, food, and education. Certainly, some of this federal money could alleviate suffering in our community. What about Palestinian members of our community, students, and others threatened by this normalized dehumanization and not to mention fear for their family members here and in the west bank and in Gaza. The city must serve all members of our community, a community that is only for the select is no community at all. Let us take a moral stance in history. I call on the city to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and in the west bank, restoration of funding the UNRWA which provides vital humanitarian aid, free passage of humanitarian aid to Gaza and commitments to reparations to the Palestinian people. Jorge Aguirre, Member of the Public said I am a small business owner and employer and resident of Las Cruces and I am here about bringing back the topic to local issues. I am here because a lot of the issues facing our community are caused by poverty and poverty doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It is created by artificial scarcity and it causes desperation and it often leads to violence and crime, and theft. So, supporting the police, I supported the police too but we also supporting the police understanding their limitations. They cannot even with the best of budgets solve the root issues of the problem which again is poverty. So how is the city promoting poverty? We deserve a city built for citizens and not for cars. Cars are machines of poverty. So, this is why I would like to request the removal of building setbacks and parking minimums from the city code. Legalize housing. Asphalt is expensive. A city designed for cars encourages driving even for the smallest of distances. Wider roads and plentiful free parking encourage demand for vehicles which increases traffic which increases demand for wider roads which increases the cost for everybody in a cycle of ever-increasing cost but not solving the problem, the problem of transportation for our citizens. Even people who shouldn’t drive are forced behind the wheel because there are no safe and practical alternatives. As citizens for cars also restricts the freedom and growth of our youth. It renders them unable to move about the city without an adult driving them around, effectively, supervising them like children limiting their independence unless parents can afford to pay double the cost Page 6 of 33 of insurance. This is why I would like to request again the removal of requirements for building set back and parking minimum for the city of Las Cruces. Free our investors and business owners to adapt their new buildings in a way that makes the most sense so they can do whatever meets the demands of their customers instead of the need of a city ordinance. Israel Chavez, Member of the Public said I am a civil rights attorney here in our fair city. A couple of things, I am very proud of the group that has come out. I would assert to the council and Mayor that probably the majority of our community at least in my experience believes everything you are hearing. I want to mention that narrowing Lohman and Amador was a conversation we had. We were promised we were going to make it more walkable as a city, there has been crickets since the recent election so I would call on the Mayor and council to bring that back up. Another person has died again at Lohman and Amador. I don’t want it to be one of us and so please, please make it more walkable. Please make it accessible. I also want to address in my office I have gotten quite a few more civil rights issues from the city. I know Attorney Samples has probably seen my name a couple more times more recently. I want to in no uncertain terms condemn the anti-people, anti-struggling people sentiment that seems to be emanating from certain levels of the city. We should be anti-homelessness. We should want to get people housed. We should not be anti- people and that is what I am seeing. I am seeing contractors of the city, that security force that you pay for downtown I am seeing really egregious conduct. I am seeing mistreatment of people who are perceived to be homeless. I live here. I don’t want the city to have to pay for all these lawsuits but make me unemployed. Please fix the problem. Lastly, I want to condemn the expensive private studies the city continues to pay like the lights in the Mesquite District. Now we have to half a million-dollar study to put in lights. Come on, it’s a waste of money. You have so many staff internal and previously and I say you, nobody in particular, the city said that there were going to use internal people and now again we get told its going to cost like half a million, we only have about $600,000 for lights and I don’t know who these out of state folks are who keep getting paid so much money but you can ask the community and the community will tell you where the lights need to be. We walk the streets, we get harassed by folks and city employees sometimes in the streets of our own community. We will tell you where the problems are just listen and do not move public comment to end of city council because that seems to me that it shows what the city thinks about public comment. Vee Quevedo, Member of the Public said I am a resident of Las Cruces in District 1. When I was thinking of what I should say today and what would be the best thing to say I decided that nothing would be more important than what Palestinians are saying. I am here with Las Cruces for Palestine to ask our city council for a ceasefire in Gaza. So, I am going to use my time to quote Palestinian attorney Lara Elborno from a December 13th interview when asked what the worst day? “Every day has been the worst day. Israel out does itself in brutality and destruction every day. So, every day is the worst day. The day Yoav Gallant called Palestinians human animals and announced we would be denied food and water, fuel, and electricity was the worse day. The day Israeli officials announced that they were rolling out Gaza Nakba, was the worst day. The day Israel sieged and raided Al-Shifa Hospital, bombed the maternity ward and bombed the outside clinic, was the worse day. The days media Page 7 of 33 outlets confirmed one by one that Israel was lying about Al-Shifa Hospital, but it was too late because the damage was already done, those were also the worst days. The day Israel dropped six 1-ton bombs on the Jabalia refugee camp, killing hundreds of civilians was the worst day. Every day has been the worst day because every day is the worst day for our families in Gaza and we are as a community and everyday grieving, every act of brutality is an act on us and our families. The stated aim time again has been nothing short of genocide and the target is Palestinian life itself so everyday has been the worst day.” Now in the months since she gave that interview we reached the day where the number of children killed by Israel in Gaza passed 10,000 children and that also belongs on the list for the worst day and yesterday Israel ended another two week siege on Al-Shifa Hospital which constitutes 30% of healthcare in Gaza killing over 300 patients, doctors, nurses, refugees, children so yesterday was also the worst day. I am also here to provide additional signatures to our ceasefire petition on March 4th, Las Cruces for Palestine delivered 352 signatures for this council, today we have an additional 56 from Las Cruces residents that I can turn into the Clerk. The text of our petition mirrors the ask resolutions passed in over 50 US cities. We are asking to bring the United States into compliance with International Law and basic human decency. As of day 178 of this genocide Israel has killed as you have already heard over 32,000 Palestinians, including 13,000 children, has injured another 76,000 Palestinians and kidnapped, tortured and is still imprisoning over 7,000 Palestinians. We here in the United States have a responsibility to do everything we can to stop this. Abigail Seligsohn, Member of the Public said I currently reside in Las Cruces. As a future counselor one of the most important foundations in the counseling profession is advocacy. So that means advocating for the marginalized and the oppressed. Advocating for those whose voices are either not being heard or just being ignored and advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves so with that being said I am here today solely to advocate and amplify the voices of the Palestinians and demand a permanent ceasefire in Gaza now. As you may know Ramadan began and lent continued throughout March. A holy month that provides opportunities for self- discipline, spiritual growth, reflection, fasting, prayer, and community and doing so in the presence of friends and family. Well, all of that seems to be pretty limited and challenging for Palestinians observing the month of Ramadan and lent right now because they are currently going through a genocide that Israel is committing. More than 1.4 million Gazans are currently displaced in Rafah. Now the most densely populated area on earth. They were forced to leave their communities, homes and lands, disrupting their culture, livelihood, stripping off their identity. The act of displacement on Palestinians have been ongoing for 75 years. We are witnessing a repeat of Nakbah in 1948, which killed about 15,000 Palestinians and displaced more than 750,000. Nearly 200 heritage sites including mosques, Christian and catholic churches have either been destroyed or damaged in 100 days in the genocide and according to the United Nations Children’s Fund they have estimated that at least 17,000 children in Gaza are either unaccompanied or separated from their parents. So let me as you this, how are Palestinian children, parents, and families able to enjoy this holy month without each other and their community? How are they able to reflect and increase spiritual growth next to rubbles of what was once their home or the smell of death linger in the streets reminding them of how long the genocide has been going on. How are they supposed to persist in self-discipline without having any rest for six Page 8 of 33 months? How are they able to spend extra time reading the Quran or the Bible and perform special prayers when they are anticipating on when the next bomb is going to occur? Bombs that have been and currently being funded by the US. Bombs that have killed more than 32,000 Palestinians. Those are people with families, friends and aspirations who deserve a future, who deserve to go home after a long day, complain about their day, watch the sunset with their loved ones, who deserve to enjoy the simple pleasures in life just like us. We need to act now. This nation under God has sent billions of dollars to murder our Christian and Muslim brothers and sisters. As challenging and thought provoking to hear these questions and statements they must not run our morals obsolete, we have to embrace our responsibility of collective care and respect for our value of human life, dignity and equality and that our empathy and compassion remain in the guiding principles of our decision, but we need to act now. Anna Chee, Member of the Public said I am here as part of the group, Las Cruces for Palestine. You all are sitting here right now after a night of rest in your own warm beds. You might have even had breakfast or lunch. Multitudes of people and families in occupied Palestine are not so lucky. A huge part of the city you represent is a community serving institution, New Mexico State University which has many locations throughout our state. I will remind you now that NMSU is a minority serving institution in our land of enchantment. Please show your humanity by voting to pass an immediate and permanent ceasefire resolution on behalf of our wonderful city. Do you stand against genocide? Do you support the minorities in your community both local and global? I urge you to take a firm stance against the brutal terrorism and genocide perpetuated by the terror state of Israel on the innocent Palestinian lives for what has now been generations upon generations. Look inside yourselves, inside of your souls as people who share this earth with other human beings. Please pass an immediate and permanent ceasefire resolution on behalf of our city. Juan Garcia, Member of the Public said for the record I do support Israel and the Israeli people who suffered a brutal attack on 7 October. My comments here today are about inducting the Little Shop on Main into the Las Cruces Hall of Shame, a list of forgotten victims of the Las Cruces criminal element. Patricia is the owner of the small shop on Main, latest casualty. This small business started about four years ago with a spark of hope of living the American dream. Patricia like many other forgotten victims wanted to support the community and make a decent living through hard work and commitment to her customers, no handouts. Patricia like many others borrowed or saved every penny to invest in their dream only to see their dreams go up in smoke. Many wanted a business downtown in the pride of Las Cruces. The small shop was a thriving business specializing in southwest clothing, furniture, and jewelry. Did inflation close the business, no. Mismanagement, no. About two years ago the drugs and crime started to increase. Vagrants breaking windows in her shop, smoking crack, doing drugs in front of her store but you know this. She came and pleaded for your help like dozens, perhaps hundreds of others. Some closed and others continue enduring the criminal element like the Organ Mountain Outfitters who just scored their fifth break-in this weekend. The thousands upon thousands upon thousands of dollars in losses, sleepless nights, stress from vagrants striking over and over, door locked for her safety in broad daylight was too much. They knew nothing would happen to them. Why? Because they can. This is what the building looks like. It is an empty building soon to have a new business at that same place. This is the former Page 9 of 33 little shop. So, whose fault, is it? The council, no. You guys have done all you can do. LCPD, no they can only enforce the laws on the books. Our state elected officials who are coming up for reelection, the same ones who never raise a finger to help because if an issue is not a priority like banning plastic bags or providing free tax dollars to pregnant people, no. The fault lies at the feet of every one of us. Dona Ana citizens continue to elect state officials who are not interested in public safety. So, the question remains, cuanto mas? How much longer are we going to take this? Donald Wilson, Member of the Public said my first comments today are as a member of the Vulnerable Road Users of New Mexico. You met Barbara Toth earlier when you announced the proclamation for Distracted Driver Awareness Month. I would just like to add to her comments that our website which is www.vrunm.org as a place for every citizen in Las Cruces to take a non-distracted driver pledge. Offers you the opportunity to commit focusing on driving when you are behind the wheel of a motor vehicle so that the other road users in our city can be safe. Next, I would like to address you as President of VeloCruces, Las Cruces’s local bicycle advocacy organization. You have already heard from a couple of citizens today about their interested about making sure the roads in Las Cruces are safe for all users and I would like to reiterate once again the request from VeloCruces that the City of Las Cruces join many nations, many states, many cities in adopting a Vision Zero Pledge. The idea of a Vison Zero Pledge is that the city of Las Cruces would use its resources in its efforts in designing roadways to make sure that all road users are safe with a goal of eliminating road user deaths within 10 years. Velo Cruces is ready to stand with the city and be a part of the city in making this effort come to fruition so that everybody that lives in Las Cruces that needs to move about the city can do so safely. Once again, we ask you to take up the challenge, accept the Vision Zero Challenge and let VeloCruces be a part of the solution for the city of Las Cruces. Blaze Gunderson, Member of the Public said I have lived here my whole life and so have my parents. I have heard many citizens speaking about how they have had issues with the homeless and have been told by city employees to have compassion. Does the city or the council have compassion for these people? I don’t believe you do. Council showed that when they did not care when on June 21, 2021, James Garcia’s head was cut off in one of our most popular parks. What was the council and city’s response? Nothing. A man’s head was cut off and nothing has changed. It has only gotten worse. This is what has created the environment that has led to the killing of Officer Hernandez. I cannot think of one person that was not surprised and we all knew we were heading in this direction, and everyone could see it. I work in Section 4 between the Community of Hope and the bus terminals. All day me and my coworkers are subjected to threats of violence and fear of harm. I hear homeless people screaming as they walk past our place of work. Most recently a homeless man walked around our property three times and threatened us with an electric drill. A month ago, another man stripped naked and threatened to rape our office manager and he went into great detail. The cops arrived and all they could have him do is redress and told him to leave but of course he came back and stripped again. When I say homeless what comes to mind when I and others in this community come here and speak of the homeless people here in Las Cruces, we are speaking of the lost souls you see barley able to hold themselves up, sleeping on concrete, arguing with someone that is not there. These lost souls being homeless is a symptom of a far Page 10 of 33 deeper situation they find themselves in. Drug rehabilitation, mental health, and intervention, and in some cases, they need to be placed in a care facility as they are unable to take care of themselves. Does the city have the ability to help these lost souls? No, we don’t, and I don’t think you have a plan on helping them. If you really want to change and help these lost souls you are encouraging to live here, reopen the Dona Ana Crisis Center. Open a rehabilitation center, rehab, anything. What is the council’s goal? There is a huge project to revitalize downtown. For what? A Visit Las Cruces building was put downtown, for what? We have been told that people visit for sporting events, and we are told that they look around and they do not want to return. The city should be embarrassed and ashamed. Local businesses have been coming in here asking for help with this situation and you consider it a personal attack. If you think chain businesses would like to build here, then why? They know they will be broken into and vandalized, and their employees threatened. Why would they want to be here either? When do you consider this a problem that needs to be fixed? Jack Eakman, Member of the Public said I am here today to ask for some assistance. The last meeting of the Oversight Committee of the City of Las Cruces was held on September 20th of 2023. So, we have missed meetings in October, November, December of 2023, January, February, and March of 2024 and I have a stake in the ordinance, the Accountability and Government Ordinance No. 2881. We are in default of that ordinance at this time. I would appreciate your assistance. I am the only voting member left and I have not resigned. I don’t know if I have been removed or not, but I have not resigned. We need two more voting members. I understand two nonvoting members have been appointed by this council, two city councilors and so I am just very much looking for communication. I am just looking for what is going to happen next or what are the thoughts. The policy thoughts of city council on this as you direct the policies of the city and the ordinance being one of those, I have to assume that you are doing something about this or you are about to do something about this. We need a voting member from the law community, and one from the accounting audit committee. On September 20th, two of our voting members resigned for different reasons and I am very much looking for direction and what you would have me do because I stand also as a servant of the city. Dylan Davis, Member of the Public said I am a mother of three beautiful children, two of which are twins. My twins were born at 29 weeks gestation and weighed only two pounds at birth. I am not sure how many of you have witnessed the fragility of a premature baby but it cannot be over stated. Preemies require very special care, a specific temperature provided by incubators, feeding tubes and an oxygen supply. In November of 2023, there were 36 premature babies trapped inside Al-Shifa Hospital NICU inside of Gaza. Due to Israel cutting off water and electricity to this hospital medical staff were forced to leave behind their patients including these 36 premature babies to die. If this is a war, what crime did these innocent babies commit to deserve such a slow, painful and lonely death. Early this morning Israeli troops withdrew from this same hospital after two weeks of total siege. What they left behind is a scene of utter horror and devastation. The few living journalists that remain in Gaza are reporting a gruesome nightmare that is their reality. Israeli forces executed 300 people including doctors, surgeons, and patients at this hospital. Hundreds of bodies surround the medical complex. Many of their hands and legs tied behind their backs completely flattened by a bulldozer. Every single square inch of the hospital which Page 11 of 33 was older than the state of Israel and once constituted 30% of the health care system of Gaza is completely torched and destroyed including the bodies of these 36 premature babies. The damages are irreparable the complex along with all of its equipment will need to be rebuilt from scratch. There is no need for this level of devastation, and it is almost completely funded by American taxpayer dollars. New Mexico is one of the 33 states that have cooperative agreements with Israel. In the last few months alone, the US has spent $18 billion to fund Israel’s genocide against the people of Palestine. I would like to request the representatives of our city to introduce a resolution calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and an end to the mass destruction of Palestine. Our resolution along with the resolutions introduced by cities and towns across the country has the capability of making a real tangible difference in saving countless innocent lives. Elizabeth Bennett, Member of the Public said I am an alumni of the Public Health Social Work Program at NMSU and a proud member of the Las Cruces community. Even though we are a big little town tucked away in the dusty desert of New Mexico we have made history in a lot of meaningful ways. Not afraid to do the right thing even when it is not popular or unheard of in other parts of the state or nation. As a local community we are strong and as a global community we are mighty. Today I want to challenge you to continue to show courage and join the other US cities and international officials who have called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. A nation’s cries for help reverberate the deafening silence of the world where the rest of us sit and watch, unmoved to lift a hand in their defense. Some of us going as far to deliberately turn away or regulate or sanction others into not talking about it. If you aren’t already disturbed by the relentless death and destruction, I employ you to look beyond the sanitized stories of the mainstream media or the official reports of the IDF Press Office but rather have the courage to bear witness to the hours and hours of unfiltered footage of a smoldering nation that is being live streamed from people on the ground in Gaza. If you are telling yourself that the problem is too faraway and none of our business you don’t have to look any further then the US/Mexico border to see the impact of state and federal partnerships with the Israeli government to develop tests and deploy border weaponry and surveillance technologies such as Hermes drones and integrated fixed tower systems which are currently being used to deter migrants from seeking refuge in the US. Palestine is a hub for battle testing the tools used in the escalating militarization of American cities and borders. To stay silent as the Israeli government unleashes its genocidal rampage across Palestine is to allow for a new global precedent of oppression in the form of mass murder, displacement, maiming, starvation, and land theft. Is that the world you hope to create as councilors? I am here today to urge you all a I respect as wise and impactful body to join in calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and to end all US aid to Israel who have clearly demonstrated their desdain for Palestinian life and land. As a body that claims to represent your community for the purpose of maintaining its safety and wellbeing, please do what you can to stand for the humanity of our local and global communities. Fred Huff, Member of the Public said I want to express my gratitude for the public comment time not being moved to the end of your business meeting. I respect the Mayor’s reasoning for the idea of moving the public comments to the end of the business meeting when he noticed that almost everyone left after the public comment Page 12 of 33 period. He felt that the councilors did not have an opportunity to address some of the public concerns. Unfortunately, with the current format the public and the councilors are just talking at each other and not to each other regardless of when the public or the councilors speak. Maybe the councilors could address the public concerns immediately after the public comment time and before your business meeting or have a fixed time set later in the council meeting for public comments. This is why we are asking for a Work Session with the city council to better address some of the very important issues of crime, vandalism, car theft, and vagrancy that are affecting our quality of life. A very easy and noticeable step in restoring our quality of life would be to pass a grocery cart ordinance that gives the city the authority to remove this litter from our streets. Maybe this ordinance could even have the ability to arrest and charge the thieves that are removing these carts from the business properties. Another very noticeable improvement to our quality of life would be for us to be able to drive the streets and not be accosted at every major intersection and store parking lot by people asking for money. This last weekend at the intersection of Walmart and Walnut an organized group was walking within the traffic lanes soliciting donations regardless of the traffic light colors. I am very surprised that one of them did not get hit or cause an accident. I have actually asked my wife to not go to any of the stores in the area of Walmart and Best Buy on Lohman by herself because of all the panhandlers walking around in the parking lots. Please support any ordinances addressing these issues when they are presented to you. Myself and a whole lot of other people want to work together with you to help solve these issues. Henry Young, Member of the Public said I am in the process of putting together a comprehensive report and presentation showing a beginning that we can use in our city to overcome the crime, homelessness, address the entire package because it has worked in other places with some tweaks we could use in our own city and I would be ready when we have a task force assigned to that to make a presentation to council or anyone that wants to listen and I would be glad to do that. We need to all work together. We can only do so much within our own confines whether that be the city as a whole, me at the mission, Community of Hope. It is imperative that we do work together to overcome the problems that are facing us as a community, but I hope that maybe what I am putting together can be a beginning so that we can then work from that and find a compromise and the money to fund it. Sarah Smith, Member of the Public said thank you Mayor Enriquez for keeping the public comment at the beginning of the meeting. Councilors McClure and Flores have expressed support for having a legislative team that would more effectively advocate for the needs of our community with the legislature. When we concerned citizens of our community contact our local Las Cruces senators and representatives, we rarely get any response. I hope that you will move forward with creating this legislative team since your voice as an elective body can be so much more powerful in advocating for what we need. I presume there is more happening behind the scenes that I can see but in case you don’t know Las Cruces Public Schools takes an active role in advocating for their specific needs with the legislature. Maybe it would be helpful for the city council to model the legislative team on their experience. For instance, Las Cruces Public Schools has a legislative forum where they meet with legislators to discuss what is needed. They also participate in the interim committee meetings of the legislature. Those committee meetings will be starting on July 17th this year in Page 13 of 33 preparation for the 2025 Legislation Session. From monitoring the bills proposed from the last couple of legislative sessions there were quite a few that had the potential to help our crime situation in Las Cruces. Our Las Cruces representatives and senators generally voted against these bills but maybe if you show support for them things could be different. I am going to follow up with an email to all of you as well as Chief Story with a list of some of the bills you might be interested in advocating for in the next session. These include bills that you have mentioned supporting already such as changing the Bail Reform Laws and addressing incompetency so that we can stop the catch and release of many repeat offenders in Las Cruces but there are also other bills that you may want to look at including ones that would fortify the Three Strikes Law, increase penalties for felons in possession of firearms as well as trafficking drugs in possession of a firearm, increase the penalties for organized residential theft, attacks on law enforcement, shoplifting, Fentanyl related crimes and additional violent felonies. You may have heard that Oregon is backtracking on their legalization of drug possession. One thing they are going to implement is the option for drug treatment instead of jail time and that seems to be in alignment with the approach that you are wanting to take here in Las Cruces for some offenses. Maybe that is something you would want to advocate for in some of the state laws as well. We can work together on this. If you are able to get momentum building for these crime bills in the legislature then we can potentially help by mobilizing the people of Las Cruces and our statewide grass roots network to show mass support for the bills as well in order to increase the chance that they will pass in the legislature. 4. READ CLOSED MEETING STATEMENT 4.1 READ MARCH 18, 2024 CLOSED MEETING STATEMENT INTO THE RECORD. The Las Cruces City Council met in Closed Session and only discussed those limited items as stated in the posted notice to discuss limited personnel matters regarding the hiring of the City Manager, which is closed in pursuant to NMSA 1978, Section 10-15- 1H(2). 4.2 READ MARCH 20, 2024 CLOSED MEETING STATEMENT INTO THE 5. ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA Councilor Becky Corran moved, seconded by Councilor Yvonne Flores, to accept the agenda as presented. RESULT: Carried MOVER: Councilor Becky Corran SECONDER: Councilor Yvonne Flores AYES: Mayor Eric Enriquez, Councilor Cassie McClure, Councilor William Mattiace, Councilor Becki Graham, Councilor Johana Bencomo, Councilor Becky Corran, and Councilor Yvonne Flores Page 14 of 33 6. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 6.1 SPECIAL WORK SESSION OF FEBRUARY 15, 2024. 6.2 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 4, 2024. 7. RESOLUTION(S) AND/OR ORDINANCE(S) FOR CONSENT AGENDA 7.1 RESOLUTION NO. 24-099: A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF LAS CRUCES (CITY) TO ACCEPT GRANT AWARDS FOR VARIOUS CITY DEPARTMENTS THROUGH AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY’S ADOPTED FY2024 BUDGET AND THE FY2024 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN (CIP). 8. RESOLUTION(S) AND/OR ORDINANCE(S) FOR DISCUSSION 8.1 RESOLUTION NO. 24-100: A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR IKANI TAUMOEPEAU AS CITY MANAGER. JC Borrego, Assistant Director Human Resources gave the overhead presentation. Councilor Bencomo said I just want to note that the City Manager position is 24/7. It is not a job that you get to clock out at 5 p.m. or 6:30 or 6 p.m. It is 24/7 and folks might look at it and say wow that salary, or wow those benefits but honestly it is because this job is incredibly difficult. Especially in a council manager form of government the City Manager position is vital to the success of our city, and I just want to note that. I think those two weeks are actually mandatory time off because we need a City Manager who is taking care of their own mental and emotional health as well as taking care of the city, the entire city and I just want to point that out before we move forward because this is no small decision. No small position and I just wanted to make those notes before we move forward with a vote. Ikani Taumoepeau, City Manager said I am humbled, blessed, and honored to have been selected and thank you for your support. I just want to say also to Councilor McClure I appreciate her and I respect her pulling me off to the side in the beginning as she shared what she was going to do with the vote and I really appreciate you doing that and I have nothing but respect for you because you did that and I promise all of you that I will give you each 120% of myself and I can do that because there is a staff of 1,700 qualified intelligent staff that will give their shirt off their back ready to impress you. This is a position that is not easy, but it is possible with the staff that are here with this organization. I just want to share that it takes courage to go internal in the recruitment for how important this position is but the confidence that you had in staff, for the belief that you had in staff to go internal speaks to how qualified of staff we have in here. It is not an easy decision but the same confidence you have is the same confidence I have in the staff and that is why I know I can do this job because of them, and I just wanted to share that. Lastly, I will share this. I am a sports person as many of you in this room are and I was thinking of something to share and end with you and something that has kept me going throughout life. I have had coaches probably shared with you all that before you go into the game they try to give you an inspiration and they try to lift your spirits up and the coaches what they have shared Page 15 of 33 several times has resonated with me throughout this time and it is, leave it all on the field. Don’t leave anything left in the tank. When that quarter or that round or that set or that half is done, at the end of the game that they are going to have to carry you off the field and I promise you Mayor Enriquez, Mayor Pro Tem Bencomo, and City Councilors that they are going to have to carry me off the field. I will give you 120%, that is my commitment to you City Councilors, that is my commitment to staff, and that is my commitment to the community. Whatever you need my door is always open. If you catch me out on the street, I along with staff are here to serve you all. Councilor Johana Bencomo moved, seconded by Councilor Yvonne Flores, to Approve Resolution No. 24-100. MOVER: Councilor Johana Bencomo AYES: Mayor Eric Enriquez, Councilor William Mattiace, Councilor Becki Graham, Councilor Johana Bencomo, Councilor Becky Corran, and Councilor Yvonne NAYS: Councilor Cassie McClure 8.2 RESOLUTION NO. 24-101: A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE DEPARTMENT 2024/2025 FEES SCHEDULES AND CHARGES AND REPEALING RESOLUTIONS 16-244, 19-018, AND 20-041. Carol Brey, Director Quality of Life gave the overhead presentation. Councilor Corran said I just want to thank you for presenting this and I really do want to thank you for the commitment to serving Las Cruces. When I have people in from out of town and we go to a museum they always say, can I pay for something? I say you can pay for it when we go to the museums so I think that I really appreciate your commitment to providing accessibility there, so many free services and the fact that people can take a little longer to read and not panic is beautiful. So, I just want to thank you for your ongoing commitment to really providing services at the lowest cost possible always in Quality of Life. Councilor Flores said I just want to thank you for the energy that you have brought to the department and the innovations and I especially thank you for the support to the City Art Board. They are the best board I have seen in the seven years I have been on it, and they are doing a fantastic job and you have a lot to do with that as well so thank you. Councilor Bencomo said a couple of weeks ago during my councilor comments I raised the issue of ESL classes, very popular. So, I just wondered if you could speak on that and if there is anything you need from the council to continue those because I keep hearing that that is a great service that you all offered. Carol Brey said we were providing those classes, the English as a second language and GED preparation, and also citizenship classes as part of a grant we received, and that grant ran out but we are looking for ways to continue providing that. We had a volunteer instructor who left us unfortunately. We would like to hire someone, but we have a new request for a position for FY2025, we don’t know yet whether that will go Page 16 of 33 but we also agreed that is a very important service and we will continue to look for ways to provide it. Councilor Becki Graham moved, seconded by Councilor Becky Corran, to Approve Resolution No. 24-101. MOVER: Councilor Becki Graham SECONDER: Councilor Becky Corran Corran, and Councilor Yvonne Flores 8.3 COUNCIL BILL NO. 24-023; ORDINANCE NO. 3065: AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A ZONE CHANGE FROM R-4C (MULTI-DWELLING HIGH DENSITY & LIMITED RETAIL AND OFFICE-CONDITIONAL) TO R-4 (MULTI- DWELLING HIGH DENSITY LIMITED RETAIL AND OFFICE) FOR PROPERTY ENCOMPASSING 2.908 + ACRES AND LOCATED AT 712 AND 722 HENDEE PLACE AND 725 BASHA ARCH. SUBMITTED BY M&M BUILDING SOLUTIONS, REPRESENTATIVE. (23ZO0500143). Adam Ochoa, Senior Urban Planner gave the overhead presentation. Councilor Bencomo asked in 2020, my very first council meeting lasted till about 8 p.m. that day and we were talking about this same area, this is a totally different proposal? It is not an amendment to what we decided then, correct? Adam Ochoa said this is in the same area actually. This is part of that Banmor Estates Subdivision, this is just a portion of it as you can see the very southeastern portion of that Banmor Estates. The remainder of the area is still zoned R-1a and this is the only area zoned R-4 with conditions of limit of the height of the structure. So, it is the same property. Councilor Bencomo asked it was part of that initial conversation? The request now is for? Adam Ochoa said to be remove those conditions. Councilor Flores asked what is the difference between R-4c because the C is commercial in that R-4c? Adam Ochoa said no ma’am. The C at the end basically stands for conditional and that condition being that it is limiting the height of the structure to one story on those properties. That is the difference, R-4c has a condition and R-4 there are no conditions on it. Councilor Flores asked so it can be a three-story building because I think three stories is our maximum, right in the city of Las Cruces? Adam Ochoa said yes, the R-4 zoning district allows for up to 60 feet in height. That would be about four stories tall. Page 17 of 33 Councilor Flores said I thought it was three story limits, but this is residential though. I had that wrong, but it allows it to be higher than that? Adam Ochoa said that is correct. So, under the proposed R-4 zoning designation the cap is still maximized at 60 feet in height. I don’t believe the applicant is looking to go that tall but that is what is allowed by right in the R-4 zoning district. Councilor Flores asked what is it for? What effect will that change make? Adam Ochoa said what it will allow them to do is still do multistoried because currently under the conditions with the zoning they are limited to one story in height only. By removing that condition, they can go to multistoried, two to three stories. Councilor Flores asked when you make these proposals or changes internally, do you ask the surrounding community about what they would like, or do you just bring it to city council? Adam Ochoa said we do have public hearings at the Planning and Zoning Commission, and they have the opportunity to voice their opinions there as well. We do send out notices, we advertise in the Sun News, and we post a sign on the property as well when it is ready to come to public hearing. At that time, we take any public notice that could come to those meetings, provide their input as well but like I said at the Planning and Zoning Commission nobody was there, literally the only person in the crowd was the applicant. Councilor Flores asked say it was to go into effect what sort of structure can the owner build? Adam Ochoa said essentially what they are limited to are apartment units is what they are proposing. Councilor McClure asked if something had been set into motion in 2020 why that was not given as a background for Planning and Zoning and how was that not factored into our decision making right now? Adam Ochoa said essentially the condition it was placed under at city council, it was trying to be brought forward as just R-4 zoning by staff and the applicant but that condition was placed on limiting the height of the building at the city council meeting by council because of public input and surrounding neighborhood wanting to put that condition on that property. Councilor McClure asked is the applicant here? Adam Ochoa said I believe they are here. Councilor McClure said I would also like clarification on what they are aiming to build. Page 18 of 33 Partially why it was till 8 o’clock at night is because there were a lot of people in opposition of this especially for multiple stories. I am all down for housing but if you look at what is being built their part of the conversation in 2020 was affordable housing and I am not sure if that is what they are aiming to do right now. Adam Ochoa said no they are not looking at doing that. They are not looking to do straight regular apartment complexes. If you read in the actual covenants that they sent up to property owners when they signed it what they are proposing is a two-story apartment complex on those. Mayor Enriquez asked I know when it was brought up before one of the big issues was the traffic study so has that been addressed in this case? Adam Ochoa said I believe the Traffic Impact Analysis was done with the actual creation of the subdivision. That is why those roadways were built out the way they were. I don’t know if you remember Boutz and Stern were essentially two lanes roads. They have been widened in front of the subdivision. Additional Traffic Analysis is probably going to be required by our engineering section for whenever they propose whatever they are proposing on the property. Depending on the number of units they are putting on there and whatever traffic generation it creates. David Weir, Deputy Director Community Development said back in 2020 the whole entire subdivision was platted for development and also the zoning was placed on it so with the property remaining R-4 the density is the same proposed today as it was at that time. The developer could potentially get the same number of units they just may need to be smaller and not as large of units at one story. At a two story it allows them a constrain by that R-4 zoning and it would just allow them to build bigger units instead of studio or one-bedroom apartments. They may be able to build two or three apartments. Those are just from a technical of what the property is zoned and what the build out if it took place with the subdivision itself. We would still have to go through that building permit review and just some other history when that initial project was proposed there was a lot of comments about the intersection and the developer was required to make these improvements which are in place. There was also a lot of discussion about the drainage in the area and a lot of water used to pool in that area. So, they were also addressed with the construction of the subdivision and just another note the R-1 area or the single family area has a height of 35 feet so there is the potential for those single family homes to be built at a two story level also and they could go to three with creative design. Councilor Bencomo said as I was reading this, I could have sworn that we had allowed two units for the apartment complexes back in 2020 that were on Stern Drive. Is that a correct recollection? Adam Ochoa asked where do you mean that, I am sorry because everything else as you can see here is zoned R-1a? The only ones zoned for multifamily are those three lots and that subdivision area. David Weir said there is an apartment project to the south in this area that is Page 19 of 33 constructed at two stories so it is not a new development type within the area. Councilor Bencomo said I just did want to point out that last time we also heard a lot of comments, there was a lot of misinformation about the kinds of people that live in apartment complexes and so I hope that and I know there is a lot of folks here today that I hope of the concerns about traffic were super accurate, the concerns about the Boutz Lake were super accurate and some of those pieces have been corrected. I think Boutz for a long time and those folks spoke to Public Works about their concerns about traffic calming there as well so for me it is always about Hoagland, and Boutz, McClure, all of these different streets that have these request for traffic calming that are both a separate issue as well but needs to be addressed but I do hope that as public commenters come up here I hope you are not talking the same misinformation pieces regarding apartment complexes, who lives at apartment complexes and “those people” lower your property value so those things have proven to be not true and I think in a moment where we have a rental unit shortage, whether it is affordable or market rate we have a rental unit shortage of 5,600 rental units and those are pieces that also go into consideration for at least myself. Councilor Mattiace asked is the condition of two stories, is there a cap on two stories? When you say 60 feet, that could be three stories, four stories, then it could even be five stories. Adam Ochoa said from the documentation that the applicant provided staff all signs point that they are trying to do a two-story apartment complex. Councilor Mattiace asked that is for sure? Adam Ochoa said yes but again the zone change is just to remove the conditions. In other words, 60 feet would be the max if you will, but they are not looking at going that tall. David Weir said something that the council can consider is instead of using the language stories you could go to a height. Your third option is to amend this resolution so if you were concerned about the maximum height in that area, you could match the 35 feet that is allowed in the single-family zone and not use the stories and then it is a matter of the developer as to what project he can propose within those parameters. Dolores Bernal, Member of the Public said I represent Save the Roadrunner at savetheroadrunner.org. I am a little appalled about the way that City employees like Mr. Adam and Mr. David Weir operate. I was at the P&Z Commission meeting last week and the commissioners were asking questions just like you are. Mr. Adam was the only one providing them input. A minute ago, he said that the developer went to the bathroom and now he says I don’t know maybe he is working on other projects. I think you need to look into some of the statements being made by your city employees a little closer. I think a lot of people here are a little confused as to the input he has provided. Minutes before this meeting, during this meeting and then they are dismissed automatically when it is time to take it to a vote. So, what is really the process here? People come here, offer input, and then boom the P&Z Commissioners Page 20 of 33 vote because these two gentlemen tell them to and then the same thing here. They present something to you, you just take them for their word and then boom you approve it. So, they are not respecting residents’ input and let alone the idea of having wildlife surveys on this areas that are being developed. Gentlemen I will be coming to all the meetings, and I will be pointing out how ridiculous this whole process looks. Diane Williams, Member of the Public said I attended several of the meetings back in 2019 and 2020. There would have been more of us here now if we had been notified of what was going on. My understanding was that they only notified people within 500 feet which is a park, a few duplexes, and a subdivision that hasn’t been built yet but it is making good progress being built. All of the residential areas beyond the subdivision, none of us were notified. Our main point of protest is traffic. We have heard all this stuff about 15,000 vehicles through Boutz. Well maybe that is true on the five-lane part of Boutz that ends at Valley. We are a two-lane road after that. We have no lights in the streets, there are lights on Boutz, there are no sidewalks, there are no curbs. There is very little shoulder. The shoulder on one side abuttes to a drainage canal. It is a hazard for the kids in the neighborhood. It is a hazard for cyclists. It’s a hazard for people walking. That is our objection. It was approved for the single story back then. We would have been at the zoning meetings. We would have provided more input formally had we known about it. Most of us found out about it on Friday. Patrick Dawson, Member of the Public said I am a resident in the immediate area of this proposed change from an R-4c with the condition of one story to an R-4 with a condition of up to 60 feet currently as reported. I did attend the last meeting we had regarding this at the imposed at condition. A lot of it did have to do with obviously the concerns of the traffic flow which has not been changed significantly. There has been some work done on the road, but it still remains a two lane my directional road. There is a turn lane that has been incorporated for access to one part of the development on the I would say the northwest side and northeast side. Apart from that the traffic flow is the same. There is no light that goes in the south bound direction or the south western direction from Boutz as you enter Boutz from Valley southwest bound, it goes from basically a four lane road to a two lane road, goes under a bridge, Interstate 10 overpass, it is a 35 mile an hour zone at that point, it reduces to a 25 mile an hour zone right after the intersection with Stern. There is some curbing that has been placed there. That curbing has been hit multiple times already by vehicles. You can see the skid marks on those. While this construction was going on there was actually a vehicle that hit one of the fire hydrants at one of the residences on Boutz just opposite this construction that is going on currently causing a flooding situation for some of the residents in the immediate area. Traffic does not necessarily go from 25 to 35 that quickly. Traffic flow remains to be a concern and secondly there are no two-story residences anywhere near those three lots, you go down south maybe about half a mile and you will find your first one and the only one. Jaquila Garrison, Member of the Public said I live in that Buena Vista area, housing area and I use the road almost daily until I got sick, but I am going to be back out there doing it. We used to ride our bikes and everything. It was 25 miles per hour and even then before this development came into futation to have all these other homes the traffic was still going down that road of Boutz more then 25/35 miles per hour and Page 21 of 33 we were being concerned and that was one of the reasons why back in 2020 that we came here because it was impacting the safety of children who do not have a park near by their homes to play or ride their bicycles and now this gentleman wants to put a two story building which if we change the zoning they could change their mind and want to put a three story because they don’t want to do the one story and it is all because of money. I was hoping that we would be able to use that land for a park for the kids who are in that residential areas surrounding it. There is a park down further towards University but it is not a very large park and I think the benefit of a park there for people who have their dogs and stuff would be a much better choice than an apartment building that will add to speeding and unsafe usage of the road. Dan Parrott, Member of the Public said this relates back to my previous comments concerning zoning and zoning changes. From what I have observed there is a lot of confusion about the way this is proposed, the way it was presented. From my perspective I would request plans from the developers for a firm plan as to what they are planning on doing. Are they planning on a single story, two story, or multiple stories up to 60 feet. There’re different options on what can be decided here. Either a yes, no, amendments, or to table the discussions for the day. There have been previous discussions of traffic issues. A gentleman is asking for back pass. We have heard that the streets are fairly narrow in this area. Another suggestion that was made was to limit the height of the building to 35 feet which would basically be a two story 35-foot tall building. I would request just as a simple matter of courtesy the plans be approved prior to the zoning changes being made because if we know what is going there. The last comment that I will make about the zoning changes and this concerns the city as a whole is that in the High Range area in time to time we see planning signs that we see that are up that the print is so fine that unless you park your car, hike across the lot to see what is actually being proposed you have no clue as a resident. I would propose the city put up a large enough sign with a property number on it, a phone number, an email, or a text number where the citizens can make comments at to what they would propose and what they would like to see done with that property. Joe LaRocque, Member of the Public said I wanted to say first of all that Planning and Zoning had no protest at their meetings. Well they notified the subdivision which nobody is living there, property owners are building houses. Before I was here in 2020, the Mayor at that time said we had the largest protest outpouring that he had ever seen in his entire terms as Mayor. The whole object was traffic and character of the community. At that time he wanted six houses per acre. We got that changed to third acres and quarter acres and we restricted the apartments to one level trying to continue the character of the area and the traffic. Well all they built basically was an extra lane to turn it into the subdivision and I don’t feel that there was any adequate notice given to the community around the subdivision. I don’t drive on Sterns, I drive on Boutz. I don’t see a little sign on Stern, and I saw nothing on Boutz whatsoever and I don’t feel like this is anything but an attempt by the developer to go around what the previous city council and community had put in place for valid reasons. He is trying to get this passed so that it doesn’t come up to the community again and again I hope you all vote to flat out refuse it because it is nothing but an attempt to go behind what was already done. Page 22 of 33 Henry Young, Member of the Public said I didn’t even know this was coming up today but as a former member of Planning and Zoning Commission as well as Chair from 2005 to 2010, the last three years as Chair, I would like to clarify some of the things for council that have been brought up as I will say I don’t have a dog in the fight but I am neither pro nor con but let me explain something that I have heard. Two things, the way that this was approved originally a park cannot go in there because it wasn’t put into the restrictions at that time so they can build under the previous plan and put in anything that would go with the previous recommendations. Now changing from R- 4c to R-4 if they go three stories high, they would probably go beyond the required number of tenants on three stories, you follow? It doesn’t matter what the height is, if they went to three stories it would be higher than the R-4 limit. So, we can’t go so much by the height go by the R-4 unless you want to make sure that there can be no more than a certain amount then you go with the height requirement. Patricia Nevue, Member of the Public said I am a resident of the area that is south of the new subdivision. I have grandchildren who take the bus on Boutz. We don’t have any sidewalks. The bus drops the children off on a dirt sidewalk. We have four traffic lights. We love our neighborhood. It is rural looking. You would not believe that you are in Las Cruces. All we are asking is that you would keep the character of the neighborhood. We have no problem with the apartments. We do have problems with traffic. We have a two-lane road. Like I said the busses drop our children off on a dirt strip on only one side of the road. The other side of the road there are trees and bushes, it is dangerous for the children. We ask that you keep this apartment to a smaller size because of the traffic flow on our narrow roads and because the children like I say they have no open areas. If they want to visit each other they have to cross these roads. It is dangerous as it is but to add more traffic to the area is going to be hazard for our children and our grandchildren. Dale Hansen, Member of the Public said I live at 1105 Marlissa Lane with my wife Donna. We have lived there for 34 years. I was here the previous time when we had these discussions and the gallery behind me was full, it went long. We had done our research, there was a video presentation that went along with it, and I thought that we made our point very clearly. What the commission and the Mayor needs to realize is that the final result for R-4c was a compromise. Our neighborhood wanted no apartments. We wanted larger lots then what were proposed. The developer wanted apartments, multistory apartments. After long discussion the commission and the Mayor decided that there was a compromise that said there would be apartments but they would be limited to one story and so we shook hands and left. Not everybody was completely satisfied with it, but we left that meeting knowing that they would be one story apartments. Here comes the development, we are watching it unfold in front of us right now and out of the blue we are told that it is going to be well, that promise that we made back in 2020, we may amend that now to some specious idea what might come about. Maybe it’s two stories, maybe its three. We don’t know. Where is the developer? We are not sure. It smells like a fish factory when the ice runs out. What I want you to realize is that it was a compromise and that you have an opportunity to make good on your promise to this neighborhood that was made before. Robert McCorkle, Member of Public said my wife and I live on Marlissa Lane across Page 23 of 33 from Dale. We were here at the first meeting. I see familiar faces, Bencomo and Yvonne Flores, they were there and they know all that went into this and so here we go again. It is fitting that this is on April Fool’s Day because I think we are being played for fools. I want to know what has changed in the four years and why all of a sudden this is going to be proposed? We have enough problems with traffic with the existing subdivision going in. A one-story apartment, that is going add a bunch of vehicles, two story, three story many more vehicles and for us who live on Marilissa Lane there is only one way out of our neighborhood and that is going down Boutz Road. So, if you are heading into the city, you come to that traffic light on Valley and Boutz and this traffic is going to stack up I can guarantee you. It does occasionally now so that is a big issue. The way this whole thing was proposed, the notice it was given was minimal. There is one little yellow sign in the subdivision facing inward talking about this upcoming public hearing. That is not adequate by any means, and I want to know how somebody can stand up here and talk about international issues for three minutes and we are limited on local issues to two minutes. That makes no sense to me so I hope you all will reconsider this. I hope you will reject it. I think it is a bad idea and how much are these apartments going to cost to rent? I know how much houses are. David Stout, Member of the Public said I live in the area of West Boutz on the far west of Papillon Lane. The lots down there are half acre. All of you that were here at the council meetings that we addressed this problem, we wanted the larger lots where the gentleman that they are talking about is Scott Bannister. He is nowhere to be found. He never is. I have addressed several things with him over this subdivision. Everything that you all heard before I don’t need to repeat it because you are all aware. He hasn’t kept his promise on any of it yet. One of the major issues that I discussed is the irrigation ditch that runs down Boutz Road and there was a comment made, there is an irrigation ditch, well it’s there but it’s going to be the first home that is going to be built that ditch sits inside the property line. So, it is in somebody’s backyard and the guys doing the rock wall they actually buried the ditch. Had to get them to dig it out. It has been full of weeds, it’s a problem. The rock wall that the city required them to put up by the sidewalk now that dirt ditch it leaks under the walls and into the street. They asked for wider roadways. He did what he said he was going to do. He did put the turning lanes in but for some reason the engineer decides that there needs to be an island put in there for people to run over the top of there for vehicles for those who drive larger vehicles. Not everybody drives a little fancy sports car, so it tears up their vehicles, it is filling up with dirt and weeds right now. There is no outlets for the water to run out of it so it holds water and ponds there. That whole deal just wasn’t planned properly. I was glad to see somebody take over that property that sat vacant for so long and build homes there. It is turning out to be a nice subdivision. The deal was to keep it as single story. That was a compromise just like what was said previously, and I think we need to take that into consideration, but I also think that we need to hold him accountable. Councilor Bencomo said I actually do really wish the developer was here. I think that would clarify a lot of misinformation, a lot of doubt, whatever that might be. Additionally, I really wanted to address the issue of the irrigation ditch. I have had many phone calls and I have told you all many times that while those lots remain empty or even if purchased and a house is not being lived in yet the irrigation on the Page 24 of 33 south side of Boutz is the responsibility of the property owners and many of them clean them out themselves. I know that one of the neighbors further down Boutz actually went out and cleaned all of that irrigation ditch on his own and so I do feel like there has been many compromises made on both sides and one of the sort of you know trying to be a better neighbor as they build this new subdivision is to clean up that ditch so I was kind of hoping that they would be here. Adam Ochoa said I believe I saw the applicant’s representative here earlier in the front desk. He actually was not he was out sick, so I apologize about that. He is not present today. Councilor Bencomo said I would like to at least table it for two more weeks so that the developer is here. I think it is important that the developer talk about plans and is able to answer some of the questions. I would just say two weeks. Councilor Johana Bencomo moved, seconded by Councilor Becki Graham, to table Ordinance 3065 to April 15, 2024. SECONDER: Councilor Becki Graham Councilor Becki Graham, Councilor Johana Bencomo, and Councilor Becky Corran NAYS: Councilor Yvonne Flores 9. BOARD APPOINTMENTS 9.1 DENALI WILSON Councilor Bencomo appointed Denali Wilson to the Library Board. 9.2 ALANA BRADLEY Councilor Bencomo appointed Alana Bradley to the Parks & Recreation Board. 9.3 JOE CASTILLO Councilor Bencomo reappointed Joe Castillo to the Health & Human Services Advisory Committee. 9.4 CHARLOTTE LIPSON Councilor McClure appointed Charlotte Lipson to the Health & Human Services Advisory Committee. 9.5 STEPHEN JONES Councilor McClure reappointed Stephen Jones to the Library Board. 9.6 JESSICA STREETER Councilor Graham appointed Jessica Streeter to the Library Board. 9.7 FRED RAISH Councilor Johana Bencomo moved, seconded by Councilor Becki Graham, to reappoint Fred Raish to the Parks & Rec Board. Page 25 of 33 Corran, and Councilor Yvonne Flores 9.8 MARY DIESEL to reappoint Mary Diesel to the Transit Board. Councilor Johana Bencomo moved, seconded by Councilor Becki Graham, to reappoint Mary Diesel to the Transit Board. Corran, and Councilor Yvonne Flores 9.9 MICHAEL HARRIS Councilor Becki Graham moved, seconded by Councilor Becky Corran, to reappoint Michael Harris to the Transit Board. Corran, and Councilor Yvonne Flores 9.10 DANIEL BUCK Councilor Becky Corran moved, seconded by Councilor Becki Graham, to reappoint Daniel Buck to the Transit Board. NAYS: Councilor Yvonne Flores 9.11 CELMARI ALLEN Councilor Johana Bencomo moved, seconded by Councilor Becki Graham, to appoint Celmari Allen to the ADA Committee. Corran, and Councilor Yvonne Flores 9.12 ISAACK TAYLOR-WISE Page 26 of 33 Councilor Yvonne Flores moved, seconded by Councilor Becki Graham, to reappoint Isaac Taylor-Wise to the ADA Committee. MOVER: Councilor Yvonne Flores Corran, and Councilor Yvonne Flores 9.13 RONALD RIVERA Councilor Becky Corran moved, seconded by Councilor Johana Bencomo, to reappoint Ronald Rivera to the ADA Committee. SECONDER: Councilor Johana Bencomo Corran, and Councilor Yvonne Flores 9.14 JO ANN RODRIGUEZ-HAUGHT Councilor Yvonne Flores moved, seconded by Councilor Johana Bencomo, to reappoint Jo Ann Rodriguez-Haught to the Senior Programs Advisory Board. Corran, and Councilor Yvonne Flores 9.15 DAVID HERNANDEZ Councilor Becky Corran moved, seconded by Councilor Yvonne Flores, to reappoint David Hernandez to the Senior Programs Advisory Board. Corran, and Councilor Yvonne Flores 9.16 LARRY ALTAMIRANO Councilor Becki Graham moved, seconded by Councilor Becky Corran, to reappoint Larry Altamirano to the Senior Programs Advisory Board. Corran, and Councilor Yvonne Flores 9.17 DEBBIE MOORE Page 27 of 33 Councilor Yvonne Flores moved, seconded by Councilor Becki Graham, to reappoint Debbie Moore to the Affordable Housing Committee. 10. NOTICE OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE(S) 1) There will be no public discussion. 2) A Councilor may ask staff for clarification on the proposed ordinance(s). 10.1 COUNCIL BILL NO. 24-024; ORDINANCE NO. 3066: AN ORDINANCE CONFIRMING THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT (LEDA) PROJECT WITH X2NSAT, INC., AND AUTHORIZING ITS TERMINATION, TO INCLUDE THE PROJECT PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT AND THE RELEASE OF THE $150,000 GUARANTY THAT HAS SERVED AS SECURITY FOR THE PROJECT. Council agreed to bring it forward. 11. CITY COUNCIL MEMBER BOARD REPORTS AND COMMENT 11.1 COUNCILOR MCCLURE I just wanted to say that I also have faith in the City Manager’s ability to do his job and I have had nothing but good interactions with him even before I was a councilor. What I feel is that as a writer I place a huge premium on communication, and this is still very uncomfortable forum for me to speak in public, but I think that communication builds trust. I feel that we failed with that in this round, and I feel going forward that is the drum beat that I will have on council. I will point to for example the placing of the yellow signs in an empty lot, I drove by there the other day. You cannot see it from Stern, you cannot see it from Boutz. We have the ability to put a QR code on there to link them directly to documents. We do not do that. Things like that we can change. We want to establish trust. I think that is where Chief Story has done a great job. He has been able to build trust by communication so I think that we can do that going forward and I look forward to working with constituents and my colleagues on council and with the City Manager. 11.2 COUNCILOR MATTIACE None. 11.3 COUNCILOR GRAHAM Thinking about zoning at large, not talking about anything specific coming up. I don’t think I have faced a single zoning change that didn’t come with push back. People just dislike change and I think good food for thought is that if you live in a subdivision or particularly if you live in a planned community when that was being brought forward there were people who were railing against the neighborhood that you now value, that you cherish, that you want to protect. Page 28 of 33 I just want to say Ikani, how very excited I am to be able to continue working with you. I want to thank you for choosing to remain here to continue to bring your gifts and your heart and your Cariño to the council and to the city and also thank you to your family for hopefully enjoying being Las Crucens for some more time. 11.4 COUNCILOR CORRAN The Las Cruces for Palestine have presented a resolution and I do ask that we bring it forward to council and consider it as part of our duty to our community and the things that were presented today, and I hope that we can consider that as future action. The next item is that I want to congratulate my friend and colleague Monica Torres for becoming the President of NMSU and the NMSU system. I am really excited for her to be at the helm as a human being. I was worked with her for my entire time in Las Cruces in some capacity. I consider her a pretty extraordinary leader and I am really proud to be at this moment to see Monica at the helm of NMSU and Ikani here in the city to see us moving forward in ways that I think are really extraordinary and I love the opportunity that the future holds for us. I also just want to follow up on the question of zoning. I think fundamentally in a lot of ways our zoning, our approach to zoning has led to our housing crisis. It has been a significant factor across the country to contributing to housing crisis and I think that we owe it to our community to reform that process and stop sort of putting limits on things that result in fewer housing units available at all price points for folks in our community. That is why I am glad that Realize is up and available and is aiming to shift that as to what I would consider a significant contributing factor in our existing housing crisis and so I am really also hopeful about the changes that we might be making but I do urge my colleagues to read about some folks who alluded to what has changed between 2020 and now and there is a lot of research now that shows the ways zoning contributes to housing insecurity in our communities and in our cities and that research would be really well served by us considering it while we are considering zoning reforms generally again not related to anything that we were talking about today except folks mentioned what has changed and I think the access to information about this is different now so. 11.5 COUNCILOR FLORES Las Cruces seeks comments from major codes and zoning changes. So, for those of you who are here and those of you are on Channel 22 or maybe our media I would ask Mr. Garcia to publicize this. I saw this in the Friday’s Bulletin, March 22, announcing that the City of Las Cruces is seeking public input for a draft of Realize Las Cruces, a massive overhaul of zoning and codes that govern how, when, and where different types of buildings can be erected. Comment period which opened March 13, 2024, and last until April 5, which is this Friday, 2024, is meant to gather public input about the Realize Las Cruces Draft. So, this specifically involves land development codes related to historic preservation, zoning restorations, subdivisions regulations, development standards, roadways, transportation analysis, parking, drainage, and storm water. So, if any of you want to learn more about this you can contact David Weir, Deputy Director of Community Development, however this does not give his email address. You can call him. You can get his email address on our website. Page 29 of 33 I want to share a little bit with you about Cesar Chavez. Yesterday was his birthday. He served in the US Navy and he organized the Farm Workers of America and then it became the United Farm Workers after it joined the AFL-CIO. The America Federation of Labor CIO, Congress of Industrial Organizations, that was formed back in the late 40’s I believe. The SCRTD is expanding routes incorporating Hatch and then they are trying to get buses to throughout the different counties SCRTD serves. The perspective money that is coming in, we are getting more and more federal money. The electric buses are in line to be rolled out and the other I would like to follow up on what Councilor McClure just brought up. Those yellow signs. This is my seventh year and there is so much development in the East Mesa and I brought this up because it was the same problem. People just happen to run into a sign that had just flown off because they are so small and placed in these weird areas and the irony of it is that they want community input or notice or whatever. I don’t know what the city is going to do about that, all I know is that they have to do something. The City Art Board, it will be its Second Annual Chalk the Plaza and that is part, I think it is called Mira Las Cruces if I recall correctly. So, it is Saturday, April 27th and I want to encourage all of our artists to participate because last years was absolutely fantastic. The theme is “A Postcard from Las Cruces” which means the artist needs to draw something in chalk that is exclusively Las Cruces. Councilor Graham said I want to add my voice to Councilor Corran’s. I would also support seeing the resolution mentioned during public comment for Las Cruces for Palestine. 11.6 COUNCILOR BENCOMO I just want to note April 11th is the 56th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, that made discrimination and housing transactions unlawful, and I think we still have a long, long way to go towards equity and justice and housing policy. The way we invest in housing, the way we build it, the way we rent it, all of that. I would also like to have us discuss and vote on a ceasefire resolution. I think a lot of people might say well don’t you have better things to do? My answer to that would be that there is always time to do the right thing and I would personally like to be on the right side of history and even if we thought that it sounds like a really scary thing to do when there is so many other things happening but we can be expansive enough to hold many truths at once and I would also say that we wouldn’t be alone. There has been over 70 cities who have already stood on the right side of history and I think that Las Cruces has never been afraid to do so and I would like to see us do that and follow the lead of so many community members who are organizing and who understand the deep intersection of that work. I wanted to remind people of my District 4 open houses. The first one is tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. at the WIA Building near Pioneer Park and it is from 4:30 to 6:30. There will be multiple departments there that you can speak with. It is open house style so you can come in at any time between those two times. There is no formal agenda, but you Page 30 of 33 can talk to myself, to Constituent Services, to any of the departments that we have chosen to be there. The second opportunity you have will be the exact same format so if you come to one you won’t miss anything on the second one but if you can’t make it tomorrow, April 9th is the second one at 4:30 p.m., same time 4:30 to 6:30 at Picacho Middle School. For my colleagues and members of the council, if there is something you don’t like the best way to change it is to propose something new and we can stay mad that it is one way and it has been one way for a long time or you can be mad, acknowledge it and say this is a different way and I think we should do it. Case in point, one of those pieces was Municipal Court. I always had a lot of concerns about the way we appointed a second Municipal Judge, and I brought that forward and Ifo before he left made sure that progress was moving forward and last week I am happy to report that Mayor Enriquez and I met with JC with HR, our City Clerk, and Judge Filosa and his court manager Milissa Caldwell and we are moving forward with appointing a Judge II. That is the responsibility of the Mayor and Council and so we will be moving that process forward. Seven people applied to be Judge II. I think that speaks highly to Judge Filosa and his credibility in this community and that people really want to work with him in addition to many, many court clerks applied as well. They only have six positions open, but many people applied and for the Case Manager Position at Municipal Court about 20 people applied. I think that speaks highly to the investment that we are making in Municipal Court but also that people really want to work with someone like Judge Filosa and I am excited to move that forward because I think Municipal Court is a critical piece of the puzzle when we are talking about community safety and adequate and meaningful interventions for community members who are struggling. I think there is some misconception about lobbying and Santa Fe for the city. Do I think there could be improvements? Yah, absolutely, there is always room for improvement and a better way for us to do Santa Fe as a team, but we have a lobbyist, Larry Horan who is frankly an incredible advocate for the city. When we have a vote on the pieces on capital outlay projects that we want to put forth or in past years we have also done resolutions on specific policies that we want to support, Larry is an incredible advocate for the city. Every time that I have gone with Larry, I noticed that everybody in that building knows him. He’s got an incredible reputation and I think he is a great advocate for Las Cruces, but I do think we need to start our efforts much faster, much sooner than November/December perhaps in the summertime. So, I do think there is significant room for improvement. I just do want to congratulate Ikani once again and every single person that applied and the people who we interviewed and I just have so much love and respect for the public servants of this city and I have said this several times, us up here we come and go and many of you have committed your life’s work to public service and to this beautiful city and to help making it better and help it grow faster and stronger and I have just the utmost admiration for every single one of you for the dedication that you have for our city. I did get a lot of feedback about how excited people are about Ikani. Ikani you have made an incredible impression in your short time here and people like you very much but I also got a lot of feedback on how brave it was that we went internal. Four years ago, we weren’t there and this year it felt that was right and I Page 31 of 33 couldn’t be more grateful for the outcome and just to be exposed to the talent and wisdom that we have in this city. Then of course Ifo may not be tuning in and, his official last day was yesterday and I just want to publicly name how much Ifo Pili meant to me as a councilor, to this city. He was such a strong City Manager, and he made a significant impact and I have of course told him privately a goodbye but I just wanted to say that on the dais as well. Councilor Flores said thank you Ikani for accepting the offer, congratulations. I just want to thank you so much for your commitment to the growth of our city, the airport especially is so important. Thank you so much. 11.7 MAYOR ENRIQUEZ I have a couple of invites for the public as Mayor Pro Tem stated we are talking about Municipal Court. On April 22 there will be a Work Session. It will be addressing some of those issues. It is a budget Work Session but please come to see what we are looking at doing to improve the safety in our community and addressing a lot of the comments in public comments with so that will be April 22nd at that Work Session and also on April 4th, that is this Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Downtown Plaza there will be a group of faith based organization that has come forward and inviting the public to do a blessing for the brave. So, it will be a blessing at 6 p.m. for our first responders in this community so please join us if you can. Lastly, I just want to say congratulations to Ikani. I look forward to working with you and I know you will do great things for our city. 12. CITY MANAGER REPORT 12.1 IKANI TAUMOEPEAU Just a few City Manager updates. I appreciate Barbara sending me just a reminder to really thank our Neighborhood Leadership Academy. This was a program that I believe was happening during Covid or before Covid. It wasn’t happening when I arrived here. I remember it was being talked about coming back and it was resurrected. Thank you so much to Catrina and Grace and to the whole team making that happen and to all the residents sacrificing their nights to be here. Another helpful reminder from Barbara, Larry Horan will be here next Monday on exactly that, upcoming report on what has happened with the legislative update and then also a bit of the strategy they will share and obviously giving you words of wisdom on how to approach that. I appreciate from Sonya there was some public comment, David Rutherford who was concerned about the water potentially running out. I appreciate Adrienne, has the contact information. She is on it, she will reach out and let the gentleman know that we are fine. Additionally, there was public comment on lighting situation for the Mesquite Neighborhood group that was mentioned by Israel. I just wanted to let you know that Public Works, they do understand what is happening they will shoot a report and get that over to you and let you know what is happening there. Page 32 of 33 Councilor Flores mentioned Mira Las Cruces. Just a reminder the Second Annual Mira Las Cruces Festival will be held on Saturday, April 27th at Plaza de Las Cruces. Highlighting the tourism attraction and events in our city. This year the even has added exciting new elements including an expanded Farmer’s Market experience, Luchadors. Lucha Libre and Luchadores will be there. Also, hot air balloons will be there with the unveiling of the Visit Las Cruces Mira hot air balloon. Also, you can get ready for the event with Baila Las Cruces on Thursday, the Thursday before that Saturday with free dance lessons from Sol Ballroom. Quality of Life, the Las Cruces Public Library hosted a few charettes last week. The primary purpose of this meeting was to look at the Branigan Library and the best way to renovate and expand. Last week the consultant shared some rough sketches from the Library Advisory Board. This is still a work in progress and more to come. I want to thank all of my associates who also applied for the position. You councilors, Mayor, and Mayor Pro Tem would have been in fine hands with any of those candidates, I strongly believe that. I would have gladly supported any of them. It is one of my goals as I am here when the time comes up for the next person to take the seat that the decision to go internal that there would be so many qualified that you have the momentum to continue to go internal because we have a lot of qualified internal candidates. So, thank you to all the candidates and to my associates who all applied. It takes courage to put yourself out there so thank you so much for putting in and submitting. It is not easy. There is a lot of work. There is a lot of preparation but thank you also to my associates who made it to the interview as well. 13. ADJOURNMENT 13.1 Councilor Johana Bencomo moved, seconded by Councilor Becki Graham, to adjourned at 4:07 p.m. Mayor City Clerk Page 33 of 33