A finished dog park nobody can open, and a maintenance bill nobody budgeted

If you read nothing else

• The Rinconada dog park is finished enough to have locks on its gates but cannot be accepted from the contractor, because it is part of the Animal Services Center contract and the two cannot be separated.
• Kevin Armstrong asked what contract penalties have been or will be applied. The minutes record no answer to that question.
• The skate park renovation has been bid three times: rescinded once, two bids rejected over a form left out of the packet, and the third round drew no bids at all. It holds $845,000 in state money plus $250,000 in Park Impact Fees.
• The Las Cruces Lateral Trail has also been bid three times with no bids received the last time. Staff are consulting NMDOT on how to proceed.
• FY24 budget request includes three new positions ($89,830 + $84,151 + $79,030), a $220,000 capital request for Meerscheidt, and over $750,000 in vehicles and equipment.
• Franco Granillo: 50 full-time staff maintain roughly 148 park areas, 60 playgrounds, 40 landscaped buildings, 40 miles of trails, 33 ballfields and 500 miles of medians and right-of-way — before the GO Bond areas.
• Greg Shervanick requested verbatim recording again, and closed the meeting with the point that projects should not be added without a sustainability budget.

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 Keep Las Cruces Beautiful update — Amelia Corrales

Amelia Corrales stated she has been with the City since January 1st. The goal is to end littering, reduce waste, and empower youth through educational presentations, graffiti removal, cleanup events, and Adopt-a-Spot locations. She attended the Keep America Beautiful Conference; Las Cruces is an affiliate. Funding comes from the New Mexico State Tourism Department.

This year there have been three public school educational sessions, with eight presentations planned for April, and plans to partner with the Parks and Recreation Out of School Time section. Earth Day is in April. Sessions use pictures of Libby (Las Cruces is Beautiful Because of You) dog, give students books, explain the difference between what can and cannot be recycled, discuss illegal dumping, and cover impactful ways students can beautify their community.

The graffiti removal crew works daily and works with codes. Since July 1 the crew has done 700 graffiti abatements. This year there is the Youth Conservation Corps Grant, which allowed hiring five youth and an art facilitator; they beautified four murals with restoration in the City and learned life, job, and career skills.

Cleanups: Toss No Mas is held in October and had a lot of volunteers. Four district cleanups were completed this year, with two more district cleanups for this fiscal year. The next cleanup is the Great American Cleanup, annually due April 22nd for Earth Day. Volunteers communitywide do cleanups in neighborhoods. There was a presentation at Columbia Elementary with a cleanup of the school grounds, the codes officer and Libby. The KLCB graffiti crew and the YCC crew cleaned up downtown.

Adopt-a-Spot's goal is to have families, businesses and individuals adopt spots throughout the community. Once a month adopters go out with City-provided trash bags and gloves and do a cleanup. There are currently four new Adopt-a-Spots and six contacts that have renewed; the contract is one year.

Board Member Montgomery asked about the process for Adopt-a-Spot. Anyone can reach out to Corrales and discuss the top three spots they have. Larger areas, such as Young Park, can be divided into sections. A contract is signed for cleaning once a month, and a cleanup form captures hours worked, number of volunteers, bags of trash cleaned, and the date and location where the bags were left. Participants also fill out a volunteer waiver signed by each person. Corrales will pick up the bags, or the graffiti crew will if they are near that area, and she asks what they will need for their next cleanup. This has been promoted at the Farmers Market once a month, as well as through KLCB.

Chair McClure suggested getting testimonials from volunteers and doing a press release. Board Member Haas stated her District is primarily picking up broken bottles, which necessitated using more than one bag due to weight, and wondered if there are other receptacles; Corrales will look into that as it is important. Haas also mentioned the City's recycling company has changed and that the list of accepted recyclables has changed, and asked where citizens can be directed for answers on what and where to recycle; Robert Nunez mentioned South Central Solid Waste Authority. Vice-Chair Engle suggested looking into how to deal with dangerous biological waste and volunteer education on that. Chair McClure brought up SB182, anti-litter, recycling and beautification legislation, which will open up a lot more grant resources. Board Member Montgomery said he would like to be informed of increases in trends in the various programs — graffiti abatement that needs to be addressed, prevalence of types of trash, advocacy for more funding — that the board may need to discuss with City Councilors.

6.2 Survey subcommittee update — Chair McClure

Chair McClure stated there were questions: why do the survey in the first place, what is the scope specifically, what is it aiming to do, and what kind of information does the board want to receive.

The subcommittee had a conversation on the key points of what the board's job is. Four things were named: being a useful body and serving the staff in the best way possible; coverage of information from Councilors to Parks and Rec; visibility specificity; and a measure of accountability.

The idea raised was a broad information gathering session at the Farmers Market, staffed with the board: what are the perceptions of Parks and Rec, and what are the needs from the community. More information gathering is needed.

Board Member Haas added they did not want to waste the public's time with a survey asking what they want to see, if the public's awareness needs a boost and they are unaware of what is already offered. She called for more interaction with individual district communities and discussion of where information is being acquired, and asked whether the board should attend KLCB at the Farmers Market and let the public know of the PRAB. The board was in agreement.

Board Member Montgomery stated the survey is about how the public envisions the advisory board's role with Parks and Rec, versus how much of it is an input session for programs and operations, and said maybe this should be assessed too. Haas stated they envisioned discovering how the public sees channels of interacting with the City through the PRAB.

The plan agreed: each board member does information gathering at the Farmers Market, then a work session to discuss that information, which is then funneled to the subcommittee. Amelia Corrales stated March 25th is the next Farmers Market, 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Two board members at a time were discussed, with Hazel doing the e-mailing, and a work session possibly before the April 20th board meeting.

6.3 Holiday hours — Phil Catanach

Phil Catanach stated that every year City Council's first meeting sets and approves holidays for employees and for facilities. This year there are 13 holidays.

From 2016 to 2020 one facility along with the Aquatic Center would be open every Monday or Friday holiday, varying among East Mesa, Frank O'Brien Papen, and Meerscheidt Center. They found East Mesa and Frank O'Brien Papen had low attendance; at Meerscheidt some played basketball and pickleball. The Aquatic Center averages 20–25.

The Aquatic Center requires a full schedule of lifeguards. Meerscheidt requires a cashier, rec coordinators, and people to clean and to open and close. The Aquatic Center is open Labor Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Mother's Day and Father's Day. Staff work probably 40 weekend days of 52 per year. Meerscheidt is open Saturdays, and the Aquatic Center is open weekends through the season. Park restrooms and similar are cleaned on the holidays and a crew does touchup on the holidays. Youth services help on the 4th of July and are open whenever schools are open.

Chair McClure asked if there was holiday pay. Staff get an eight-hour holiday; staff has to work 40 hours first to get overtime/time and a half. Holiday pay is for everyone who works. If staff works 32 hours, then eight hours of holiday pay and eight hours straight time.

A question was asked on promotion of times open on holidays. Catanach stated they do a news release of what is open and closed, and also post on Facebook. Facilities are open Mother's Day, Father's Day, 4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and the day after Thanksgiving.

6.4 Silver Sneakers — Phil Catanach

Board Member Raish stated there are two programs, Silver Sneakers and Renew Active. The insurance will pay $33 for a membership. There are eight or nine private facilities in the City with that membership, and there are other cities that accept these at city recreation facilities.

Phil Catanach stated that in New Mexico, Aetna, Amerigroup, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Presbyterian, Washington Neutral, and Medicare cover Silver Sneakers. It is available to recreation and/or fitness centers that have a certain amount of fitness equipment and free weights. The City of Las Cruces does not have a membership fee.

Silver Sneakers offers evidence-based classes — classic, circuit, yoga, splash, stability, move, muscle, and wind — for which certification comes through Silver Sneakers. The City has 11 fitness instructors, all with discipline and all through the hiring process. The City's fitness classes are for the general public, but the majority of members are 60+. Senior programs offer dance classes, one through Senior Olympics; through Silver Sneakers those classes are free. Silver Sneakers is for 65+ and is made to enhance off hours.

The City will look into getting reimbursement, though it is only $1 for 60+. Parks and Recreation has opted not to do it as of right now and will look into it in the future. Flex classes might fit at Munson Center. The hard part is bringing in instructors that fit the hiring policies, and balancing staff time to get the reimbursement.

Attendee numbers for people 60+ from October to December 2022: fitness classes 2,180; weight room 3,191; open swim 144; lap swim 2,694 (age not tracked, but estimated half are 60+). The City could also look for people with that certification when hiring fitness instructors. Munson Center or Sage Café were named as possible sites.

Current fitness classes offered at $1 for 60+: 16 classes offered weekly — aqua fitness, aqua hit, channel sizing, H2O cardio, H2O HIT, H2O combo, 60+ spin, lunch time spin, splash cycle spin, swimnastics, yoga, advanced yoga, Zumba, Zumba gold, and Zumba toning.

Board Member Raish stated it seems the City looks at this strictly from classes, and that Silver Sneakers and Renew Active pay for weights, swimming, and all of the activities offered, not limited to classes like 60+. Catanach stated the difference is that at a private fitness location you pay a membership fee and have access to everything; the City does not have a membership fee but charges $1, which is not covered by the reimbursement for the classes Silver Sneakers covers or would reimburse for.

Chair McClure asked whether there would be a membership opportunity for a wide variety of things, instead of just one specific activity. Catanach stated they have looked into a membership fee and family fees for the pool, and the City has done a pilot program of passes for $30; they found seniors would buy the pass but not come 30 times in a month. They would still have to apply for Silver Sneakers, apply for reimbursements, and take staff hours to do that.

Facilities in Las Cruces that do Silver Sneakers, as listed: G3 Fitness Center, Planet Fitness on Telshor and El Paseo, Crunch Fitness on Wyatt, Stay Fit Fitness on Foster, The Gym of Las Cruces on S. Valley, and Anytime Fitness on Roadrunner. Mountain View Hospital had Silver Sneakers classes but discontinued them due to COVID and has not returned.

6.5 Skate park renovations — Catherine Mathews

Cathy Mathews stated the project is under design. It is the skate park located on Hadley and Walnut, built in the late 1990s as a community build project with staff assistance, and currently in desperate need of renovation.

The skate community sought funding from the state legislature and acquired $845,000, supplemented with $250,000 from Park Impact Fees.

The second public meeting is coming up on April 6th, at which the City and consultant will present two design options and make refinements to the features included. The public input process will include a near-final design presented to PRAB in May.

Board Member Haas asked about the bidding process. Mathews stated it was originally put to bid prior to her receiving approval to do so, which then had to be rescinded. It was put out to bid again, and a form was inadvertently not included in the documents in the construction packet, so the two bids received had to be rejected. It was put to bid a third time and no bids were received.

6.6 Trails update — Catherine Mathews

Cathy Mathews stated the trails projects are transitioning to construction and in planning, and are located in Council District 2.

The RTP (Recreational Trails Program) Las Cruces Lateral Trail Project is funded through a Recreational Trails Program Grant from the Federal Highway Administration through the New Mexico Department of Transportation. Design is completed and the project is struggling through the bidding process: of three times to bid, the last time did not receive any bids. Staff are consulting NMDOT for suggestions on how to proceed. The City has funding and has a plan, but there are large hoops to jump through, which may be part of the struggle of getting a contractor.

The Doña Ana Move Trail and the Tortugas Trail are both funded from private funding from the Paso del Norte Foundation and through New Mexico State Legislative Grants. The intention is to extend the Las Cruces Lateral Trail from the south end of RTP through the campus of New Mexico State University, joining into the multiuse trail on Union, and connecting up to the Las Cruces Lateral again, extending the trail into the Village of Tortugas.

Chair McClure asked about the hoops. Mathews said mostly reporting hoops and meeting the requirements of NMDOT and FHWA, doing things in a particular manner and filling out the forms. There were certifications during the process, and those hoops need to be followed through with construction and final reporting to make the project whole.

Board Member Engle mentioned that at the starting point at Idaho/Avenida de Mesilla the City had plans to rehabilitate the intersection, and asked if the Trails Plan accounts for that. Mathews stated the Public Works Department has a plan for Main Street in that vicinity to include bike lanes, and the trail design does take that into account. The overall solution is to pipe a length of the lateral to create more usable space for trails, maintenance, and connecting to the street.

6.7 Wayfinding project — Catherine Mathews

Cathy Mathews stated they are working with a consultant on a park and trail wayfinding plan. Wayfinding is signage, maps, directional indicators, and other communications with the public to help them move through the parks system and trails system.

This is also funded through a Recreational Trails Program Grant, with a match requirement coming from Park Impact Fees.

Work completed so far: stakeholder interviews, a public survey that has gone out, and a day of action meeting with members of the public to learn what they are interested in seeing, what they feel is lacking, and what they need. A visioning session was conducted online by the consultants to develop concepts about sign aesthetics, colors, fonts, and locations of signs.

They have a draft strategy report. The next stage is a final strategy report, which will lay out the color scheme, look of the signs, the fonts, information included on different types of signs, and directions and guidance on which types of signs go in which types of locations.

6.8 Las Cruces Public School agreement update — Robert Nunez

Cathy Mathews stated that for the soccer field improvements they have made purchases with the funds and are planning for the remainder. There is funding from the state legislature to make improvements to the soccer fields known as the High Noon Soccer Fields, near Mayfield High School at Bruins and the Mesilla Drain.

Some purchases have been made — drinking fountains, some fencing — but the project is still in the planning process. The plan is to make three separate contracts: demolishing the press box in field 2; installing improvements including drinking fountains and additional gates/fences to help access the fields in a useful way; and a design-build contract for the restrooms located on Bruins Lane, which need rehabilitation.

Robert Nunez stated they did receive the signed agreement from Las Cruces Public Schools, which allowed the process to move forward.

Chair McClure asked if the leagues were informed. Cathy Mathews stated that at the general league meeting there was a short presentation about what they intend to do and the funding, and that they are ready to go.

6.9 Parks and Recreation FY24 budget — Robert Nunez

Robert Nunez presented the proposed budget recommendations. From the office of the director, an additional $35,000 for continuing education, professional development, and travel; these funds assist grant-funded programs and general fund programs. Special projects an additional $7,800, to cover a staff member through temp services due to the minimum wage increase.

Construction maintenance and beautification: Keep Las Cruces Beautiful, $79,000 for the graffiti crew to help maintain 35–40 hours a week. Sports fields, an additional $20,000 for supplies. Trails an additional $18,000 for supplies. Doggie bags are an expensive amenity, at $40,000–$50,000 a year. Total for that line of business is $117,000.

Fitness, recreation and wellness: health and fitness increases to $50,700, again with the new pool opening at the end of the fiscal year. This includes $10,500 for services and agreements increases, fitness equipment, towels, mats. Total of $61,200.

Community recreation: an increase of $5,000 due to cost increases for supplies and equipment, and $36,000 for services and agreements, uniforms, printing and sports officials. Total of $41,000.

Skills development: asking for $3,000 for cost increases for supplies and equipment.

Community events — 4th of July, Music in the Park, Movies in the Park, Mother's Day and Father's Day concerts, various events: an increase to $124,000 for services for events, covering cost increases, security, portable restrooms, barricades, DJ rentals, stage, lighting, generators. Supplies increase of $10,000. On advertising, after talking with Ms. Mandy Guss, they currently have $28,000 in advertising but recommend increasing it; Parks and Rec does Facebook and social media, but there are other opportunities within advertising. Total of $174,000.

Youth services: $16,800 for supplies and equipment, again cost increases, covering the afterschool programs, A. Fielder Memorial Safe Haven, and Teen Connection. $25,160 for temp services, program fees, copying, printing and advertising. An increase to the fuel line of $4,000. Also in youth services and youth development and diversion, a $2,000 increase in supplies due to cost increases, and $1,730 for services, assessment and education platforms to cover increased costs. Total of $3,730.

New positions: a youth services manager to assist within that section, $89,830. A special projects project manager to assist management of scope, objectives and desired outcomes by the projects with Cathy Mathews, $84,151. A marketing and events coordinator in community events — a position that did exist and was taken from Parks in 2016–17, requested back to help with major community events, social media and advertising, $79,030.

Reclassification: two current part-time 30-hour positions, considered full time at 30 hours, requesting the additional 10 hours. They do pay into PERA, receive benefits, and accrue sick and personal leave, for a total of $25,790.

Community recreation and youth services: $5,000 for sports equipment and $7,500 for sports officials. Working with the current case manager for educational gains, guest speakers, and creating a parent support group within youth services to help families using the programs. Total of $12,500.

Fitness, recreation and wellness capital improvement project: requesting $220,000. They currently have $80,000 that would also go toward this program, for Meerscheidt recreation center improvements, bringing back online two restrooms near the rear of the building.

Vehicles and equipment throughout all of Parks and Recreation: asking for 10 vehicles and six pieces of equipment. They just finished the 2022-23 request with fleet and had to realize an additional $48,000 due to increases in the cost of vehicles. Ten vehicles is over $500,000; the six pieces of equipment about $16,000 each; and two mowers at $140,000 each. Total of over $750,000.

Board Member Montgomery stated his concern is bringing new facilities online each year without a maintenance component, given aging equipment and not always receiving what is needed to keep up with demand, and asked whether there are examples of how other municipalities tackle this. Robert Nunez stated City management has created an office to oversee the capital improvement plan and projects; there probably are examples, and the CIP office has investigated and researched, and the City is trying to move toward that. Cathy Mathews stated that to address this issue, the 2022 GO Bond included an item the voting public passed for Parks improvements, and the notion behind that investment is to bring some of the parks more up to date standards, to be easier to maintain and more simple and less intensive.

7. Staff member comments — what fifty people maintain

Franco Granillo stated he mentioned in October that a light pole at Hardy fell due to age and decay; it has been replaced. An assessment of the entire complex found three to four more poles that need to come down. Facilities staff is responsible for the maintenance and removal, and once those poles are all completed play can continue there. Tournaments are going on at Hadley or the soccer fields, and parks events are beginning to kick off with Spring Fest. The Community Forester, Rolando Flores, started that day.

Construction staff and right-of-way staff are responsible for the City's clean sweep initiative and City beautification, and are on track; preemergent goes down in March, August and December as needed.

Granillo reported a lot of vandalism in the parks: a slide burned, trash cans burned, recent lights at Gomez Park vandalized the first night, and ADA tables vandalized at Veterans, which were replaced in a day at a cost of $7,000–$8,000. They do have Sharps containers and thicker bags for glass.

The maintenance load as stated: 500 miles of medians and right-of-way combined, roughly 148 park areas with 60 playgrounds, 40 landscaped buildings, 40 miles of trails, and 33 ballfields — without the GO Bond areas. There are 50 full-time staff to take care of all of that, plus temp agency staff. Granillo said the reason they can keep up now is that they can mix and match, identifying areas that can go a week or two without maintaining due to the types of use. He said the hope is to keep everything at a Class A level of maintenance, but that it is hard with acquiring properties, particularly medians and right-of-way, and suggested a GO Bond with maintenance in perpetuity to get the money yearly.

Vice-Chair Engle said he would appreciate an e-mail on all that was covered to pass along to his Councilor, as it is important. Chair McClure asked if there is feedback received; Granillo stated they get compliments from the public, with some feedback on unrealistic expectations. Board Member Haas thinks the Farmers Market is a great educational opportunity.

Claudia Chavez stated they are currently in spring break mode, with the first week of CAPS at Meerscheidt, Booker T. Washington and Safe Haven. They went to Spaceport America, did hikes to Baylor Pass, and are visiting museums and partnering with Friends of the Organ Mountain to do hikes. She said they appreciate all the volunteers as it is warming up. The juvenile diversion program supervisor was in the audience, working with public schools and officers in the schools (SRO), seeing a lot of mental health issues and gearing curriculum to this.

Phil Catanach stated they are starting a new program, Just Keep Pedaling, a cycling program with a bike ride each week through November, first ride next week. March 28th is a Magic gathering tournament, a card game, a weekly program building momentum. April 8th is Spring Fest, teaming up with Bravo Mike and Adams Radio. The mobile recreation unit that goes to schools, and in the summer to different parks, has had 13 requests for January, February and March. Youth basketball is getting ready to start with 52 teams and over 600 participants. Adult sand volleyball starts in a couple of weeks with 58 teams and over 600 participants. Youth cheer will run in conjunction with youth basketball, with 32 participants, maxed out. The therapeutic program dance just finished with 140 people attending. In employee wellness they are getting ready for a City employee sand volleyball tournament that hit max for teams, held March 28th, 30th and April 1st.

On aquatics, Catanach reported the Aquatic Center is gearing up for the summer season. Inspections for the Metro Verde splash pad and the interactive fountain at the Plaza de Las Cruces were held that day and both passed; the Unidad park splash pad inspection is tomorrow. If all is well they will open splash pads during spring break on Tuesday, hopefully, then open on weekends leading up to Labor Day weekend when the splash pads are usually opened up. The only time closed would be due to wind or servicing concerns. The new 50-meter pool is moving forward, but with some delays on concrete work on the deck, pushing back opening closer to Labor Day as well. Frenger pool has lost three feet of water in the last couple of weeks; after Facilities looked at it, it seems the pipes underneath are giving out, and it will be closed. Two staff are in West Virginia attending Revenue Management School, a helpful two-year program.

Catanach said they finalize the Music in the Park series tomorrow: 17 concerts, 34 musical acts from Las Cruces, El Paso, regional, Northern New Mexico, Texas, and a few national acts, starting with the Mayor's Jazz Fest on May 28th and running through August 28th. Movies in the Parks movies have been selected for June, July and August, 8–10 movies.

On hiking, Catanach said he met with Patrick Nolan of Friends of the Organ Mountain about a partnership and a contracting possibility. Hikes are not going to be at the level they were, and Nolan does not have that capability either. He hopes to put together a solid hiking program to start up in August, beginning in April with some of his staff doing lighter hikes to get the program going. Dawson Hikes with Friends of the Organ Mountains do hikes about every week, and BLM does hikes as well, with one this weekend at the discovery site, Prehistoric Trackways National Monument.

Catanach also reported that Music in the Park and Movies in the Park will be located at Young Park, which is more conducive for music. Moving to Apodaca Park, attendance dropped from over 1,000 to about 200 — part parking, part the area, part not conducive. So some events will be on the Plaza, Thursday night music, and Sundays where bigger acts are brought in. Klein will be used for Make Music Day in June.

Cathy Mathews reported a project just completed at Butterfield Shooting Range, which increased accessibility to the long known distance range and the short known distance range. At the request of a member of the public, funding was requested from Council from the General Fund to make those accessibility improvements, which included parking spaces, relocation of some tables, and concrete walkways. Board Member Haas said she has received comments about the shooting range improvements, and that it is obviously a popular facility.

Robert Nunez sent kudos to the administrators attending the meeting and all Parks and Rec staff, noted upcoming legislative funds are currently on the governor's desk, and thanked the board for their time and expertise.

8. Board member comments

Board Member Haas stated they received great information and asked if it was possible to share the PowerPoints. She thanked staff for the tour of the pool and for the public input meeting for the skate park people.

Board Member Raish thanked staff for everything and asked where the booth would be at the Farmers Market; Amelia Corrales said she will e-mail Hazel, but it is at a different location every time.

Board Member Montgomery thanked the staff for doing a great job.

Vice-Chair Engle mentioned frustration that the Veterans parking lot has not happened yet, and said he appreciates the staff. No staff response is recorded.

Chair McClure agreed with the kudos and said she is glad to hear they are getting a marketing person.

9. Adjournment — a second Shervanick comment, taken under Adjournment

Greg Shervanick stated the situation about sustainability and maintenance all came up last year when Gil Sorg presented a plan to put a park in District 5. Some of this board made mention to speak to representatives about whether it is feasible not to incorporate new projects without knowing there is a budget for sustainability on those projects for the future, since they are in perpetuity. He said he appreciates all that the Parks and Recreation Department does and how hard they work.

The record places this comment under item 9, Adjournment, not under item 5, Public Participation. No response is recorded, and the motion to adjourn follows immediately.

Recorded votes

Left open at the gavel