A $27.5 million Parks budget, five new full-time positions, and no public comment

If you read nothing else

• The FY24 General Fund Parks and Recreation budget is $19,442,397; the grand total with all other funding is $27,464,154.
• New requests "have all been approved," with a total printed as $575,130 — but the five itemized requests beside it sum to $648,099. See recordNote.
• Headcount goes from 139 to 144 full-time: three new positions (project manager, marketing and events coordinator, youth services administrator) plus two 30-hour positions converted to 40-hour.
• Of 16 Vehicle Acquisition Fund requests, 11 were approved, and $496,000 was received.
• Nunez said a Parks and Recreation director has been recommended from outside the City and will arrive in the next month or so — the department is still being run by an interim director.
• Public Participation: "There was none." No action items.

Who was in the room

7.1 FY24 Parks and Recreation Budget — Joy Ann Lucero

Lucero introduced the board to Kaitlyn Ruiz, the summer intern for the past two months, whose last day is Monday.

The General Fund budget was shown for the 13 programs. Parks, sports fields, and community forestry is $6.9 million; community recreation $1.8 million; out of school time $1.7 million. The total General Fund Parks and Recreation budget is $19,442,397.

In addition to the General Fund there is other funding. One is special revenue, which is where the Hesky Garden Trust and revenue from license plates sit. There is also legislative funding and grants. Capital improvement projects pay for the new competitive pool and the new skate park renovations and improvements. After the additional funding is added to the General Fund, the grand total for the Parks and Recreation budget is $27,464,154.

New requests are additional amounts needed for the new fiscal year. Travel and training requested $35,000, used for seminars, recertification such as lifeguards, and professional development for staff. Supplies total $110,700, for items at the new pool and for paint, fertilizer, and miscellaneous tools for the East Mesa Public Recreation Complex. Services requested $209,430 for the community events program, which pays for security, barricades, DJ services, and equipment rentals for concerts. For the Meerscheidt remodel and expansion, $186,169 was received, which will remodel the bathrooms and locker rooms between the league and rec gyms and improve flooring and other items. The temp agency requested $106,800 for hourly increases. The minutes then state: "Total of new requests is $575,130 which have all been approved."

Total full-time positions: FY23 had 139. This year there are three new positions and two existing 30-hour positions converted to 40-hour, which makes five new full-time positions, for a total of 144 full-time. The three new positions are a project manager, a marketing and events coordinator, and a youth services administrator.

For the VAF (Vehicle Acquisition Fund), 16 requests were submitted and 11 were approved: three cargo vans, three F250s, three Toro Workman vehicles, a Ford Maverick, and one F150. The department received $496,000 for the vehicle acquisition fund.

Asked about training, and whether an outdoor rec coordinator to train up or give consideration to people leading hikes was contemplated, Robert Nunez said the total money is spread throughout all the Parks and Recreation programs to increase various staff members' certifications, through aquatics, recreation, and youth services.

Vice-Chair Engle said he appreciated the backgrounds and memes within the slides and congratulated the intern. Nunez said staff will provide the entire budget for the City of Las Cruces and bookmark the Parks and Recreation pages specifically, more itemized, for the board's viewing.

7.2 4th of July Recap — Claudia Chavez

Chavez said this year the Electric Light Parade also included a 5K run and a fun run, with 200 runners in the 5K and over 80 in the fun run.

The parade included 64 entries, over 200 vehicles, 42 pulling flatbeds, and 151 individual vehicles. It featured internal departments — Las Cruces Fire Department, police, solid waste — along with US Border Patrol, the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Department, NM State Police, NMSU, and City street sweepers. The parade also featured six grand marshals, all local veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Staff from all sections of the department helped make the event a success. Estimated attendance was over 7,000 just in the parade.

The concert was held at New Mexico State University at the Pat and Lou Sisbarro Park on campus. Gates opened at 4:00 p.m. From 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. were local acts Chris Baker and Dzaki Sukarno, with headliner Randy Houser from 8:00 to 9:20 p.m. From 9:20 to 9:35 there was the color guard and the National Anthem, sung by Ms. New Mexico, Lianna Hartshorn, and a welcome from Mayor Miyagishima. The fireworks at 9:45 ran about a 20-minute show. There were a lot of comments from the general public.

In closing with NMSU, the debriefing found minimal to no incidents for the entire event. An estimated 20,000 people were on campus and in surrounding areas on the 4th of July, including Corbett Center Park, the intramural fields, O'Donnell Park, and adjacent parking lots. A video created by the PIO office was shared.

Asked whether a local marching band was used in the video, the answer was yes — though staff were not sure which school.

8. Staff Member Comments

Catherine Mathews said there has been progress on projects. The construction contract for the disc golf course is now signed and the PO will be issued within a couple of days; the name of the disc golf course is The Big Enchilada. Staff are conducting a cultural resources study at Benavidez Community Center Park in preparation for an anticipated award of $2 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to complete the master plan at that park — the grant has not been awarded yet, but staff have been asked to do the study in preparation. The skate park renovation project is progressing; staff are working to get storm water management and drainage issues addressed, and she will meet with the consultants on Monday and have an update on the schedule.

Board Member Coppedge e-mailed the department about grant opportunities through the Outdoor Recreation Fund in New Mexico. Staff are aware of the grants and will probably be applying next year.

Franco Granillo said the number one goal is staff safety in the hot weather. There are a lot of water and irrigation issues in the parks: at the Maag softball complex a booster pump blew the fittings, so there was no water for a while and the turf and some of the trees are suffering, but staff are trying to get it all back. There are water fountain issues in park areas that staff are working to restore. Staff are supporting music and movies in the park, with a few events at the Plaza coming up. The ballfields have been heavily used, and soccer will begin. In October staff will bring some dog park rules to the board for review and possible acceptance.

Asked how someone who notices something needing maintenance should notify the City, staff said there is a 311 system on the website to report any problems — roadway, park, median, any City property — plus an admin e-mail. A suggestion was made to put something into an app to link to for quick reporting; staff will talk with IT and the community engagement office.

Claudia Chavez thanked the board for touring on Friday. Summer Friday programming has finished and staff are back in full swing with afterschool programs at six sites, having just added a seventh at Sonoma Elementary. The fall afterschool program is 60 kids at seven sites, running all year long and following the Las Cruces Public School calendar, including Weed N Seed and the Teen Connection program, which houses 40–60 children at those sites. The Youth Development and Diversion program is looking to hire a continuum coordinator and fill vacancies; it closed the third year of the grant and is moving into the fourth, and staff are looking to expand the program to Anthony and Chaparral. For Keep Las Cruces Beautiful, the District 3 cleanup is August 19th; planning is already underway for Earth Day next April; and staff are partnering with the county department of transportation and the Town of Mesilla on a clean the river initiative, which would be new in the spring. National Night Out is next Tuesday, August 1, at Downtown Plaza from 6:00 to 9:00.

Robert Nunez said the land assumption study is being worked on with hopes of completion by the end of the calendar year, and in conjunction with that the Realize City standards and rezoning of Public Works and Traffic to include Parks is moving forward. Cooling stations are still available throughout the City at the library, museums, community centers, and recreation centers; last weekend over 160 people in total showed up at the various facilities to cool down. Staff are working closely with the Facilities department for plumbers for the fountains, as Parks does not do drinking water, only irrigation. The community engagement office houses three staff, growing to five, and reviews the 311 reports. The light poles at Hardy Softball Fields have been difficult to get completed; Facilities is leading that project and is close to getting a PO. The aquatic program is seeing 5,000 transactions per week, with deviated schedules now that school has started. Visit Las Cruces has helped with some of the number data. Friends of the Organ Mountains have reached out to connect with the Youth Development and Diversion program and with Teens to set up activities, and the mountain bike group has also reached out. There is a recommendation for a Parks and Recreation director from outside of the City, who will be arriving in the next month or so. Approximately 15–20 student interns from Doña Ana County came through a couple of programs for the summer, and throughout the year the department hires youth — juniors and seniors in high school — with about 12 on board throughout the year.

9. Board Member Comments

Board Member Montgomery gave kudos to the aquatic center, where friends hosted a birthday party that was amazing. He apologized for being late, as he was working on the energy system.

Board Member Raish said the 4th of July was awesome and thanked everyone.

Board Member Coppedge said he experienced youth at his work at NMSU.

Board Member Tellez said she is amazed at the extensive work and programs and appreciated the staff.

Vice-Chair Engle thanked Claudia Chavez for her time and the tour, said it is good to hear the interns come back, said his son did T-ball and is looking forward to next year, and said his father-in-law loves what Parks and Recreation does.

Recorded votes

Left open at the gavel