A $845,000 skate park redesign, a wayfinding plan with no money to build it

If you read nothing else

• The skate park renovation is funded by an $845,000 New Mexico Legislature grant from fall 2020; construction is projected August 2023 through May 2024, closeout about June 2024.
• The wayfinding plan is finished, but there is "no funding for the whole system as of yet" — only a very small amount of grant money remains, and which parks and trails get signs has not been decided.
• GO Bond 2022: Fire Station #9 at $9.8 million, park improvements at $1.98 million, and the East Mesa Public Sports Complex continuation at $4.9 million in bond plus $2 million in state shared gross receipts tax, for $6.9 million.
• Greg Shervanick asked the board to lobby Councilors for the Parks and Recreation fee increase, argued a $2 pool fee is low against $4 in Alamogordo and $6 in El Paso, and asked that park impact fees be used for insurance so vandalism damage can be repaired quickly.
• Item 7.2, the Las Cruces Youth Soccer Association, did not happen — C. W. Ward was not present.

Who was in the room

Public comment

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

7.1 Skate Park Renovations — Catherine Mathews

Mathews said staff are working with the consultant, Spawn Ranch, and started with an assessment of the existing skate park. Skate park users in the community have been requesting renovations, upgrades, and attention to the park.

An assessment was done in spring 2020 that included a survey of users to determine the extent of the issues at the park and to develop plans. In fall 2020 the New Mexico State Legislature granted the City $845,000 to complete the project. Design started this past winter, with a public involvement survey and a design kickoff meeting in February 2023. The consultant presented options that were shared with the public, and based on that input there is a near-final design, which was shown to the board.

Final permitting of the design will be next month or so, along with dealing with some drainage issues. Construction is potentially August 2023 through May 2024, with closeout approximately June 2024.

All options are a smaller footprint than the existing park, to make it more cohesive and more skateable with less empty space that had no purpose. Option A had a Zia symbol, a bowl, and various features. Option B has a larger bowl, the same Zia feature, and different elements with colored concrete — orange, grey, and turquoise metal features. Another option includes many features from other options plus a landscape planter area. There are drainage issues, and the budget is being finalized before an option will be chosen.

The minutes record that the acronym FTBS was included in the options, which means "For the Brothers and Sisters."

Chair McClure asked the timeframe of the park being closed, which would coincide with the construction time.

7.8 Park & Trail Wayfinding Plan — Catherine Mathews

Taken out of order: the agenda was amended at the top of the meeting to move 7.8 up to between 7.1 and 7.2.

Mathews said the project is coming to a close. It was funded through the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) with the Recreation Trails Project grant, to design a plan for wayfinding that will help users, visitors, and residents locate parks, find trails, and get around to points of interest and other recreational opportunities throughout the City.

The design principles are comprehensive, consistent, conspicuous, signs visible, clear, and contextual. Color, design, location of signs, and types are all part of making the system coincide with the principles.

The project started with public involvement: stakeholder sessions and interviews, a day of action talking with people specifically on trails, and a survey. There was a visioning session with various attendees, and then another session showing the draft design and gathering input. A two-part analysis report was created — the first outlining goals, timeline, and contextual overview, in which the consultants personally experienced the parks and trails, took photos, and talked with people.

The second report went into the actual signs, their content and visual look, and how they fit into the community. Geographic plan data and priority areas were discussed, along with what community features to highlight and connect to, categories of trails and parks, visual design of colors and patterns to make wayfinding unique and indicative of Las Cruces, and code compliance.

The final report provides guidance for implementing the wayfinding system: information design, an overview of sign types, discussion of graphic elements, and installation guidelines. Sign categories include identification, directional, regulation, informational, and warning signs, along with color coding and message content. A main trail sign is a map kiosk, to be located at intersections or trailheads.

Asked how to determine how many signs are needed for the parks, Mathews said the matrix was created specifically for that purpose. She then stated the funding position plainly: there is a very small amount of the grant remaining, those funds will be spent getting signs out, the decision has not been made yet which parks and trails, and there is no funding for the whole system as of yet. Materials for easy graffiti removal have been discussed.

Various situations and personas were discussed on how users would be pointed to features, food, and transportation outside the parks and trail system. Staff do want to call out schools, fire stations, and shopping areas accessible from the trails.

The board asked if this will eventually be online in an app. QR codes on the signage were discussed. Mathews said the current plan did not thoroughly discuss online, but as a department it is something they do need to think about. She noted the project will be ongoing, as new facilities will necessitate signage.

7.2 Las Cruces Youth Soccer Association — C. W. Ward

C. W. Ward was not present. The item did not happen.

7.3 Youth Development Diversion Program — Pat Acosta

Acosta presented her staff, who introduced themselves. The program is youth development diversion; it used to be JCP, the Juvenile Citation Program. It provides educational mentoring and preventive services to youth and families. It started as a youth violence initiative and has been going for 10 years. It is funded by a CYFD grant and matched by the City. In 2009 the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention recognized it as a best practice program. All staff are trained and certified by the One Circle Foundation, and it is a trauma-informed program.

Services cover all of Doña Ana County including Anthony, Chaparral, and Hatch, with referrals also coming from schools. The phone is 541-2349 and the address is 890 N. Tornillo.

Program activities have included food for the elderly, working in the garden and using the garden products in cooking, and cleaning the cemetery. They are currently doing community service that embraces empathy.

The age range is 12–18, but a participant must be 17 at time of enrollment. Referrals come from schools, probation officers, and SRO officers, and parents can call directly. There are three different level classes and they can take as many as 20 youth. Level two is 25 hours with community service. Classes are separated by gender.

Asked whether the board could help, jobs and job training were mentioned, and whether Parks and Rec hires high school kids. Youth need to be 16 for a job. Franco Granillo said they have worked with several different youth programs, giving work that is part of sustainability, teaching actual maintenance for Parks and Recreation, and providing educational tutorials. Phil Catanach said they have student recreation aides who are 16 and older and keep a 2.0 grade point average, and that they work with the county on the interim program; the City has about 100 interns. Robert Nunez said they want to work with Las Cruces Public Schools through the CTE (Career and Technical Education) program.

Staff work with social service agencies but not CASA. Asked where instructors are found, Acosta said they specifically have diversion specialists and intake workers, that the frame of the program is how the grant is written, and that they currently have four bilingual staff.

Asked whether the youth pick the activities and programs, staff said the youth do not get to pick what is taught — a youth who comes in for vaping gets a preventive class on vaping. Every group varies.

Asked whether the program has gone before Council, Nunez said it has gone before Council numerous times, and that CYFD has the program on a four-year contract.

7.4 Las Cruces Public School (LCPS) Agreement Update — Robert Nunez

Nunez shared the Memorandum of Understanding via PowerPoint. One comment that came up regarding Las Cruces Youth Soccer is the use of the space available at Field of Dreams. Under the agreement LCPS and the City of Las Cruces are exchanging playing areas. Currently the City is taking care of and responsible for fields 1–5. LCPS does have fees for using the fields. The MOU is available for public view.

Board Member Coppedge said he hopes C. W. Ward does come and present. As a coach he has had problems with gates getting unlocked in a reasonable time. Nunez said they take care of the league agreements, and that with the transition of property there have been some exchange conflicts; the City will reach out to C. W. Ward and discuss utilization of City properties.

7.5 GO Bond Update (2018, 2022) — Robert Nunez

Nunez said this presentation was given to City Council at a work session.

GO Bond 2018, question two, is the new Animal Service Center; staff are working closely to get the final remaining kennels available and open, and public art has recently been placed there. Parks and Rec has the dog park just behind the Animal Service Center, which has been open approximately a month.

GO Bond 2022 has three questions: new Fire Station #9, park improvements, and the East Mesa Public Recreation Complex continuation. Fire Station #9 is to be in the Metro Verde area, with a price tag of $9.8 million and total design cost of $723,000; kickoff meetings are next week and it goes out for bid hopefully February 2024.

Park improvements total $1.98 million. The priorities are La Llorona Park improvements, restrooms, upgraded amenities, and trail repair, with discussions underway with the IBWC about getting a permit approved and updated to start improvements for the restroom. If there are extra funds, those will be used for exercise equipment replacement at Tellbrook Park off Las Alturas.

The East Mesa Public Sports Complex continuation carries a GO Bond of $4.9 million. Council approved state shared gross receipts tax in the amount of $2 million, for a total of $6.9 million. The minutes then break the figure down as: "$2.25 will be used for remaining scope from Phase 1, and in Phase 2 using $1.9 of Musco lighting, and continuation of $2.75 million." The new scope of $2.75 million covers four sand volleyball courts, two basketball courts, a concession area, restrooms, more street furniture throughout the area, and site grading. There is a 10-acre community park area, plus site grading where the future skate park will be located, and trees, shrubs, seating, erosion control, playground equipment, a shade structure, and sod for the 10-acre park, along with sports lighting, parking lot lighting, and various other lighting.

Asked about bollards and barriers for protection of sports fields, Nunez said there have been discussions: the areas are fenced in, but there are areas where all-terrain vehicles may have access, so bollards and/or large boulders would secure the area.

Asked when it will be completed, staff said it is under construction with some areas close to 100% and restrooms about 95% complete, hoping to open to the public in the next six months, and looking at August for the sod to be placed.

Asked about La Llorona and improvement to river access, Mathews said the main focus is the restroom and a clear cost is needed on that, followed by replacement and upgrading of the site furnishings. At this point there are no plans for an entry point to the river. It was noted that one of the big uses for La Llorona is people entering the river. Through the IBWC there are regulations governing what the City is allowed to do to the river specifically. Staff will take a further look at this.

7.6 Youth Services Program Tour — Claudia Chavez

Chavez invited the board to tour the facilities. Staff are in full mode with summer programs, Weed and Seed, the afterschool program, and Teen Connections. Afterschool programs are at three middle schools — Zia, Camino, and Sierra — from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Youth Development and Diversion program offers evening and afternoon classes. Keep Las Cruces Beautiful is abating graffiti and beautifying the City.

Staff would like to provide a three-hour tour to see the sites and what they do, and will propose some dates and times to be e-mailed to the board.

7.7 Summer Special Events — Phil Catanach

Catanach said community events provide and support diverse entertainment opportunities to residents with a focus on community, mentioning support for the Renaissance Fair, Spring Fest, and Pachanga, along with concerts, parades, Movies in the Park, and a kids expo this Saturday with 20 vendors and live entertainment.

The next Movie in the Park is at the end of June — Strange World. All movies in the park will be at Young Park this year. Music in the Park is one of the bigger events for the City, and 70% of the music is from Las Cruces and/or area bands; there will be 17 concerts with 33 different musical acts. Next Wednesday, 4:00–8:00, is the Make Music Concert, a nationally recognized day for communities to make music.

The Electric Light Parade is July 3, starting with a fun run and 5K at 7:30 from Meerscheidt Recreation Center up to Apodaca Park and return. At 9:00 is the parade, this year themed "Red, White, and Boom," with 40–60 floats and usually lasting about 90 minutes. Staff work with the Veterans Advisory Board to pick the Grand Marshals; this year there are seven grand marshals from the Afghanistan/Iraq war. The 4th of July concert and fireworks are at the Pat and Lou Sisbarro Park, with fireworks at 9:45.

Asked whether Las Cruces is doing anything for June as Pride month, staff said at present Parks and Rec does not have anything this year.

8. Staff Member Comments

Claudia Chavez: this Saturday is the kids expo at the Downtown Plaza at 10:00, with a trash and fashion show as part of Keep Las Cruces Beautiful from 11:00–12:00. Keep Las Cruces Beautiful has been busy maintaining City graffiti abatements. Out of School Time started last Wednesday and goes until the Friday before school starts on July 14th. There are 70 kids at each of the three middle schools mentioned earlier, plus Weed and Seed, Safe Haven, and the Teen Connection Program. Stuff the Bus is at Memorial Hospital on July 15th, and National Night Out is at the Downtown Plaza August 1st, 6:00–9:00 p.m.

Franco Granillo: staff are working on maintenance schedules to keep up with the growth and warm weather, working toward field preparation for tournaments and leagues, and replacing trees that have died or are in decline.

Catherine Mathews: at Benavidez Community Center Park, fencing and a new walkway from the parking lot into the AARP fit lot were installed. Renovation work is beginning at Gallagher Park, replacing play equipment and adding new benches and bicycle racks.

Phil Catanach: adult basketball league, little sluggers T-ball league, and youth volleyball are running; a July 22nd all-night volleyball tournament runs 8:00 p.m. to morning; flag football and cheer registration is in July with the season starting in August. Meerscheidt Recreation Center celebrated its 50th anniversary on May 27th. Outdoor pools, the regional aquatic center, and the Las Cruces Natatorium are all open, with 4,480 individuals to the pools, not including the splash pads, which get approximately 100 people a day. There was a therapeutic dance for developmental disabilities last night, fit lot classes run throughout the summer in the early mornings, a Father's Day concert is this Sunday, and Make Music Day is Wednesday.

Robert Nunez: also working with Friends of Organ Mountains on some hikes; they have requested help with parking from the police, as mentioned by the member of the public; working on a survey with a contractor through the City Manager's office for programs, facilities, and events, with a possible work session for the board in that process; cooling stations will be provided throughout the City; there are discussions on how to assist the skate community during construction of the renovated skate park; staff are looking into funding for security in some locations, tennis and pickleball; and they are working with the finance department for the new fiscal year starting in two weeks.

9. Board Member Comments

Board Member Haas requested the PowerPoints be sent to the board.

Chair McClure said she went to the 50th anniversary celebration and that the staff were amazing and engaging with her children.

Recorded votes

Left open at the gavel