The same meeting, filed without the emails: ten pages that say the Chair read them

If you read nothing else

• This filing is the August 20, 2020 minutes without the thirty-nine pages of emailed public comment attached to the city's other filing of the same meeting.
• What survives of the public here is one sentence: the Chair read all emails submitted regarding the scheduling change for pickle ball and tennis. No writer is named, no point is recorded.
• The agenda's action items are listed as N/A. The board took no vote on the policy taking effect August 24.
• Delgado said explicitly that although it had been said the board would be taking action on some rules, that is not the case.
• Delgado committed to replying to each email individually, copying the board, within about 48 hours.
• Trevino reported the GO bond program totals $35.6 million across eight projects, with a Council work session in September.

Who was in the room

Public comment

Kept at length on purpose. Every point raised is listed, in the order the minutes record it.

GO bond project updates

Tony Trevino, Interim Deputy Director of Public Works, reviewed a screenshot of GO bond projects showing the updated program schedule from inception in 2019 to 2022, outlining the steps of Planning and Scoping, Design, Bidding and Construction in their planned phase by quarter, with actual status throughout.

He told the board the schedule includes all GO bond projects totaling $35.6 million: Dog Parks, Recreation Trails, Park and Sport Courts, E. Hadley Ave. Recreation Complex, Unidad Playground, East Mesa Public Recreation Complex, Fire Station #3 Replacement, and the New Animal Services Center.

A work session is scheduled in September to go over all GO bond projects in more depth with City Council.

Harrison asked whether there is anything for the general public showing what is being spent on projects and construction costs. Trevino said yes — the scope was provided at the last Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting and has not changed, and pricing could be available when requested.

Vasconcellos told the board there is a GO Bond Project web page the public can access for the latest information, at the Las-Cruces.org site under GO Bond Project.

Covid update — staffing and the approved plan

Delgado said Parks and Recreation's budget has stayed whole and no one has been placed on furlough.

Staff were sent home March 20 and Parks and Recreation was considered non-essential. In less than two weeks the department was told its assistance was needed, because people were out on the trails and in the parks and calling in about different things. The Parks team came back online first, then the rest of the staff slowly. Staff would be at approximately 32 hours by the end of August and would try to be back full time by the middle of September, taking spacing requirements and staggered schedules into account.

Offices have spacers on the floor to identify distancing. Staff check in with a thermometer and go over the Covid health questions before entering the facility. Masks are worn unless a staff member is alone in their own office. Meetings are virtual, and staff gatherings are kept under five so the public health order is not violated.

Delgado said she and the board receive a lot of questions about Albuquerque, Alamogordo, Ruidoso and El Paso, and that she cannot speak for them. All she can tell the board is what she was asked to do by the Council and the Mayor: when everything shut down, a plan was put together to see if some things could be opened, and she was asked to send it to the State Epidemiologist for review against the Governor's order. The plan was approved and is what is used currently.

She said she does not know what Albuquerque, Alamogordo or Ruidoso did, or whether they were asked to do the same thing. Some agencies asked how Las Cruces put its plan together and she shared the same information.

She said she knows it is frustrating and asked the community to hang in there. One issue has been groups getting together, possibly because people are getting comfortable, and that must not happen. The plan can always be revisited, and as soon as the Governor relaxes some orders staff can look at what else can be opened.

Recreation — what reopened, and when

Catanach said Recreation programs and facilities closed March 13, except the Regional Aquatic Center, which closed at the end of business March 14. Pool maintenance workers have worked continuously because the pool still needed servicing. Recreation staff are working 32 hours a week and should be up to 40 beginning in September.

The City Wellness Program remained active, providing fitness challenges through Move Spring, an app tracked by computer and portable device.

Staff distributed food for Senior Programs from April 2 through May 22 — four sites daily for mass distribution, with big boxes from the State on Fridays, which continues. Staff are helping three senior sites with drive-up meal pickups at Frank O'Brien Papen Community Center, East Side, and Benavidez Community Center.

Specialty courts opened May 26, and Recreation staff have been monitoring, tracking and opening facilities for pickle ball, tennis, the RC airport, the RC track for cars, and the Butterfield shooting range. Staff were getting ready to step up with pickle ball and tennis on August 24.

Virtual Music in the Park began June 11: fourteen band-only concerts recorded and posted to the City's YouTube, Vimeo and web page.

The Regional Aquatic Center and Frenger Pool opened June 14 for lap swim only; the upstairs gym at the Regional Aquatic Center opened at 25% capacity. Staff have continued recording virtual videos for hiking, biking, sports skills and art galleries.

Catanach said one of the big things taken on this year was the virtual 4th of July parade and the fireworks show.

He said staff are following all CDC guidelines — plexiglass guards, PPE, distancing requirements, shower protocols, cleaning and sanitation schedules, and posted rules.

Youth Services

Nunez said Youth Services ran an 18-day summer program that ended August 7, with 65 youth, following all guidelines and using all City facilities.

Going forward there will be discussion with early childhood and care development through the State's office about temporary approvals and what must be in place to continue programming — mentoring, tutoring, and helping youth and families get assistance with technology. He hopes to start by Labor Day.

The Juvenile Citation Program was recently approved for FY21 at $308,799, doing 100% virtual intakes, assessments, classes and follow-ups, working closely with JPO. A meeting is planned with Las Cruces Public Schools and Gadsden Independent Schools about youth not staying focused with remote learning.

Keep Las Cruces Beautiful is providing supplies and recruiting groups of five; the grant was approved for $41,000 and goes to Council in September.

Parks section — reported by Mathews on behalf of Granillo

Park staff came back two weeks after the initial shutdown — maintenance staff only, four hours Mondays and Fridays, for litter and general cleanliness. One construction worker checked playgrounds twice a week to make sure they remained closed.

These conditions lasted until mid-April, when staff increased to 16 hours per week, then 24 in May. Operators were brought on for modified mowing as grass started growing, and irrigators to maintain turf. Median staff returned to normal duties.

In April and May, ten of the 23 temp employees were brought back. In early August hours increased to 32 per week, with ten-minute staggered shifts for morning distancing. Full 40 hours is anticipated by mid-September depending on the Governor's orders.

Design and construction staff — the Landscape Architect and two project specialists — moved to full-time remote work in March and continue to, still observing and inspecting construction projects and meeting contractors on site, masked and distanced. In April they added some in-office work Tuesday and Thursday mornings.

The Youth Conservation Corps program started in July with seven crew members, trained to work with social distancing and masks.

On entering the office, the team does a temperature check and reviews the Covid health questions.

Community engagement

Vasconcellos said she has worked with Parks and Recreation from day one to provide information to the public through press releases, social media, and direct email using resources like eTrac, and that it is a constant effort because information changes so quickly.

A web page was created where the community can see the latest updates, open and closed facilities and programs, and guidelines: Las-Cruces.org/covid19parkschedule.

Her role also includes social media activities, short videos and PSAs suggesting games and activities, plus videos shared from organizations such as the National Fitness Campaign.

Staff participated in Earth Day; she worked with Keep Las Cruces Beautiful on cleanups and with staff on an Electric Light virtual parade. Most recently an I Spy campaign on social media brought awareness to the cup signs on fences off Hadley and Solano.

Pickle ball and tennis — the department's answer

Delgado said all exempt staff have stayed on 40 hours since March 20, and hopefully all staff will be back by mid-September.

On pickle ball and tennis, she said one issue was that the public health order said there should be fewer than five people in a group, and when the courts opened, large groups gathered to play — other community members could see this and asked why they could not go to the park.

She said State Police were called at one point about a mass gathering at Apodaca Park, and said she would not like to get a fine or go against the Governor's orders.

She said she understands the frustrations, that this is Parks and Recreation and it is their passion to provide these services, and that it has been difficult.

She said staff will work with the pickle ball and tennis communities as things roll out, and that the reservation is going to help control group gatherings.

She said she has received calls from people who did not get to play because they could not stay long, a call thanking her for the reservation because now they would get an opportunity to play, and calls from people saying their time is being taken away who want to play longer.

She said pickle ball and tennis were the pilot programs — trying to offer something instead of nothing — and that she gets calls from all the other groups that want to play.

Engle said he would like to see what the board feels about Delgado still answering the emails more directly. Harrison said it would be nice and courteous to respond, and that if the pickle ball and tennis communities could come up with some Covid-safe practices, it might be beneficial to staff and to them.

Chair McClure asked whether extending reservations longer would work better. Delgado said the plan being used is the one approved by the Epidemiologist, so she cannot add hours to the program itself — but she can move hours to another day or earlier or later. Increasing hours, programs or facilities would require resubmitting the plan based on changes the Governor has made.

Chair McClure asked the turnaround time when the plan was sent to the epidemiologist. Delgado said at least a couple of weeks — then it had to be looked over, protocol put in place, news releases sent, signage in place, and then opened. At that time there were not enough staff hours to stay the whole time and enforce the rules; with increased hours, staff can now be there the entire time.

On increasing play time, she said time would be taken from another day, shortening or eliminating it, which could result in fewer players being able to play. She asked that the communities let the department try the reservation and then give feedback, because there are a lot of other people who do not belong to these organizations who also want to play.

Harrison asked whether the New Mexico Recreation and Park Association has a specific goal or number that will give the go-ahead to open in a park setting. Delgado said the gating criteria come from the State and the Department of Health, and that NMRPA or NRPA recommends following guidelines set by the State.

Harrison asked whether there are Covid-safe practices for courts, and about meeting with the communities and telling them what needs to be done rather than answering every single question. Delgado said safe practices were looked at when the plan was put together and the team has done the same now — the department can work with the communities, but the guidelines used will be the state's.

Staff comments

Mathews said her section is focusing on the skate park assessment, finishing that report so the team can begin the skate park renovation as soon as state funding becomes available this fall.

Electrical improvements continue at Veterans Memorial Park, coordinated with planning and design for the parking lot so the two projects work together.

Highland Park is nearing completion of design; within two to three months Mathews will report on construction and bidding and when construction will start.

For the Parks section, reported for Granillo: staff are working on internal design standards over the next several months, to pass to Community Development to inform overall City design standards for landscapes and parks — incorporating the Tree Care Policy, Median Design Standards, Irrigation Standards, and Park Amenities Standards.

Sports fields staff continue to assist maintaining trails and laid down their first application of pre-emergent treatment for weed control.

Trees along Hadley Avenue have a mite issue; the Community Forester will apply a miticide to try to save them.

Right of Way and Median staff are working on the City Beautification Program called Clean Sweep, entering a four-week citywide cycle. Park GIS staff are readjusting schedules to reduce driving time and use technology for efficiencies.

Construction staff are installing a sculpture called Tree of Knowledge at Calle Abuelo Neighborhood Park, replacing furnishings at Benavidez Community Center Park, working on ADA tables and benches at the Butterfield Shooting Range, and replacing engineered wood fiber safety surfacing at playgrounds throughout the city.

Granillo will compile another list of winter projects, including bollard installation in several parks and more intense trail cleanup, especially around the I-25/University Ave interchange, plus cleaning the lower portion along Triviz and removing erosion and sand buildup.

Nunez had no further updates. Nevarez had nothing to share. Delgado had no additional information.

Catanach said his staff will continue virtual programming and work to get pickle ball and tennis under control, working with those communities. He said they know groups like baseball, basketball and volleyball are not getting the opportunities pickle ball and tennis are, and want the community to know they are being looked out for as well.

Vasconcellos said she will work with Delgado and staff to get FAQs together and posted on the website as soon as possible.

Board comments

Schuller expressed sincere appreciation to the board during this unprecedented time, gave kudos to Parks and Recreation staff, and asked that this be passed on to all staff.

Harrison expressed appreciation to the pickle ball group for their comments and to the Chair for reading all the emails, and appreciation for Delgado and staff for individually focusing on the topics and trying to find the happy medium.

McClure said she appreciates the enthusiasm of the pickle ball and tennis community for coming out and being the test for reopening. She said she drives by the pickleball area on Saturday mornings and found the group aspect kind of shocking, with seating there now, and that it seems like the limits are being skirted. She said she appreciates staff's flexibility in seeing that play can happen, but thinks the group should take the responsibility of policing themselves.

Recorded votes

Left open at the gavel