"It should be called The Nevada Chicane Corridor" — a project closeout, failed pond aerators, and elections postponed

If you read nothing else

• The Young Park pond aerators were removed in May, found irreparable, and a replacement diffused-air system had not yet arrived. Utilities lent pumps to get oxygen levels back up.
• Shervanick disputed a newspaper report that only 15,000 fish died at Young Park pond, and said the pond's health is extremely poor.
• The Chair limited Shervanick to three minutes total — one and a half for public comment and one and a half for the Cool Corridor.
• Sedillo confirmed the asphalt was laid before the chicanes were cut in, saying it was done that way to avoid additional joints; Shervanick said the cuts came first and called the project a fallacy.
• Trees were dropped from some chicanes over utility conflicts after the gas line was found not where the design showed it.
• Board elections were tabled to July 15 — the board wanted a full quorum, and staff could not reach the At Large member.
• Pioneer Women's Park gazebo: stabilization work 80% complete, a $200,000 state capital grant in hand, and the project ranked third in the city's project prioritization.

Who was in the room

Public comment

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

6.1 Nevada Avenue Cool Corridor closeout

David Sedillo, Public Works Director, presented a PowerPoint on the Nevada Cool Corridor Project Closing. The minutes do not record the figures in the presentation.

Board Member Montgomery asked, regarding the chicanes not having trees because of utility conflicts, whether the trees were purchased before that assessment, and if so whether they were relocated elsewhere in the city. Sedillo said the trees were purchased based on the need for the project and not prior to installation, so there was no need for relocation, and that with the elimination of the trees other ground vegetation was substituted.

Board Member Engle asked whether the utilities were not considered initially, since the purpose of the trees was to provide shade to reduce heating of the asphalt. He said that without the trees the only good benefit is the extra water being able to seep in, missing the key component that makes it a cool corridor.

Sedillo said some trees were eliminated due to utility conflicts but some were installed; that during design there was conversation with Utilities about a specified separation distance between the underground utility and the root ball; and that during construction the gas line was not where the design showed it, so conflict areas were selected not to have trees and trees were installed in the chicanes where the separation was met.

Engle asked, with the current severe drought, what it will cost to keep vegetation alive until it is established enough to survive another low-rain period. Franco Granillo said Community Forestry staff uses a watering trailer in areas without irrigation and waters as needed, and that since these are native plants not much water is required, but staff is keeping an eye on it to ensure survival. No cost figure was given.

6.2 Dog park rules

Granillo presented a PowerPoint on City of Las Cruces Dog Park Rules.

Board Member Schuller suggested designating female dogs in heat rather than just dogs in heat.

Schuller asked, on owners being legally responsible for the behavior of their dogs, whether the verbiage had been run through the City Attorney to ensure the information is disclosed appropriately.

Granillo agreed to specify female dogs in heat. On the verbiage, he said he believes it was run through legal but will follow up and provide information by email or an update at the next meeting.

6.3 Young Park pond

Granillo said that back in May the aerators had to be removed from the pond at Young Park because they were malfunctioning. The vendor found them irreparable, so a new system had to be ordered.

The new system will be a diffused air system, with air compressors outside the pond blowing air into a diffused aeration system that bubbles and moves water from below.

Several items contributed to the oxygen issues, but staff got it under control because Utilities lent pumps to get water flowing again and oxygen levels back up.

Oxygen levels were monitored with a meter provided by Utilities; the department has since purchased its own meter and been trained on its use by Utilities. Readings are taken morning and afternoon, and if numbers run low staff runs the loaned pumps.

Granillo said the oxygen level has been steady, at a level where Game and Fish wants it. One thing that helped get aeration back online was that one aerator on the north side of the pond was still running, along with the fountain.

Staff is looking at buying its own standby pumps in case of issues with the new aeration system, though none are anticipated, and is still monitoring for fish issues and will contact Game & Fish if any come up.

Granillo said they are still waiting for the new aerators.

6.4 Fourth of July

Phil Catanach said the department partnered with New Mexico State University this year and planned a concert and fireworks display for the 4th of July, with an electric light parade on July 3.

The parade on July 3 starts at 9:00 p.m. down Solano Ave.

The concert is at the Pat and Lou Sisbarro Community Park on July 4, gates opening at 4:00 p.m.

The concert begins at 6:00 p.m. with Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats and 8:00 p.m. with Gin Blossoms.

The fireworks display starts at 9:45 p.m.

6.5 Red-line Fees & Charges and Facility Use Policy

Sonya Delgado said the Fees and Charges red line had been sent to the board for review and questions, and that it will come back to the July meeting as part of a public meeting and then to the August meeting for action.

Board Member Schuller asked for clarification of what is considered out-of-residence jurisdiction. Delgado said there is no non-residence fee — it has been discussed but is not in place yet.

Schuller pointed to page 12, Sport Field request #5, a new paragraph stating that all organizations, leagues and field users that do not reside within City limits will have to pay a Non-Resident Fee and will require a $250.00 deposit.

Delgado said this relates to the leagues: city leagues are not currently charged for use of fields, there are many requests from outside Las Cruces to run leagues and tournaments, and individuals and groups from outside Las Cruces have booked a field or tournament and then cancelled at the last second, which caused issues for local leagues and organizations who then could not access those fields. She said the deposit will ensure the fields will be used. Schuller concurred.

Board Member Engle clarified that there is basically no non-resident fee, and outside organizations would pay the resident fee on top of the nonrefundable deposit. Delgado said yes.

8. Staff member comments — recreation and youth services

Catanach: outdoor pools, splash pads and the interactive fountain at Plaza de Las Cruces open June 19; outdoor youth soccer starts this weekend; youth baseball started this week; Frank O'Brien Papen Community Center and Meerscheidt Recreation Center are acting as cooling stations in the hot weather; virtual concerts are being posted on Facebook; live music starts in July; and a new park finder app for Android and Apple has been released, called Las Cruces Parks & Rec Park Finder.

Nunez: Keep Las Cruces Beautiful's Team Up to Clean Up has been posted on Facebook and the brochure finalized; a news release is coming for the Adopt a Spot Program; Libby the Dog is used in school presentations and board members will be provided the book; staff would like to bring back the Beautification Committee and Carlos the Coyote.

Nunez on programs: Summer Recreation ran June 1 through July 2 at three locations, 35 participants per location, currently 103 participants, with a second session beginning July 6. A. Fielder Memorial Safe Haven has 38 participants. Frank O'Brien Community Center houses the Teen Connection with 48 participants, K through 5 running 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and teens 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nunez on diversion: the Diversion Development program is working on its end-of-year report; to date 203 new clients have gone through the Juvenile Citation Program. Virtual programming over the last year created opportunities to divert families and youth from the court system; in-person returns next month. Twelve youth attended the first in-person community service and eight are scheduled for the coming Saturday. Staff is working on the FY22 contract. Of the 203 youth, 75% have been local, 20% from the south and 5% from the north; 203 is a bit low due to COVID-19.

8. Staff member comments — capital projects

Skate park renovation: staff recently rewrote the request for proposals at the behest of the Selection Advisory Committee, which wanted to receive different proposals. Staff is seeking a date to take the revised RFP back to that committee for final input; once comments are received and changes made, RFPs will be solicited, with three to four weeks anticipated to receive proposals and then evaluation by the Selection Advisory Committee.

Apodaca Park Multiuse Trail Aquatic Playground: a cultural resource survey of Apodaca Park was required to receive a federal funding grant. The consultant completed the study and submitted it to the State Historic Preservation office, which rendered an opinion that some of the facilities were identified as of historic value. Mathews said a contradiction to that opinion was received that day, so no mitigation efforts will be required — the city will be allowed to demolish the swimming pool, the bath house and the pool house to make way for additional picnic facilities and a splash pad in the same area, and will be able to move forward with receiving the grant.

A purchase order is in place to buy pumps under the Water Smart grant for Soldados field and Apodaca Park.

Lohman and Roadrunner Medians Project: the RFP draft is complete and submitted to purchasing for final review, so it can go to the Selection and Advisory Committee and design work can begin.

AARP FitLot outdoor fitness gym is completed and accepted by AARP, with many City punch list items addressed by the contractor. AARP released a press release about the installation and it is available to the public now; staff has coordinated with AARP on a ribbon cutting, anticipated in the Fall.

Delgado asked the board to think about and consider, when they meet in July, their temperature about meeting in person. She said the department may need to find another location, and will follow City Council's lead on whether and how it conducts a hybrid meeting.

9. Board member comments

Board Member Montgomery said he received an email invitation about outdoor recreation economy work being done by Visit Las Cruces, and asked whether Parks and Recreation was going to be at the table for those efforts. Delgado said yes.

Board Member Schuller thanked staff for their concern and attention to the water matters affecting everyone and said Granillo's group is handling this appropriately through the hot summer months.

Schuller said she is excited and happy to see people back in the parks and looks forward to the 4th of July and the events coming up in the summer.

Recorded votes

Left open at the gavel