Dirt bikes on the non-motorized trails, and no money to enforce anything

If you read nothing else

• Motorized vehicles are being ridden on trails designated non-motorized. Staff said there are no significant funds for enforcement, and that funding would have to be sought.
• The wayfinding plan contains the rule signage, suggested wording, a non-emergency number and an ordinance citation for police — but the plan has no funding to implement.
• Bollards run about $300 each, limit four-wheeled vehicles but not motorcycles or dirt bikes, and some were removed for ADA access, which requires a 36-inch minimum clear space.
• Code enforcement works only until roughly 6:00–7:00 p.m., police treat it as non-emergency, and most bike police officers are assigned to neighborhoods; police are short staffed.
• The Apodaca Park water fountain has been down for several weeks: Facilities found it tied directly to a main line and unmetered. There is no ETA, and there is currently only one plumber in the City.
• There are roughly 45–50 fountains citywide, each costing $5,500–$7,500.
• Steven Bingham attended as the new Parks and Recreation Director; the department had been under an interim director.

Who was in the room

7.1 Multiuse Trails — Vice-Chair Stan Engle

Engle said he noticed near Jason Jiron Park a dirt motorcycle that rode from the park, up the berm, onto the trails. These trails are supposed to be non-motorized. He asked what can be done to further protect the assets and protect trail users from having a public space taken away by motorized vehicles, and said the board should address it before it becomes problematic.

Staff said there are various approaches — signage, volunteer groups to monitor trails, barriers, education — but that unfortunately there are no significant funds for the enforcement of this, so funding would need to be sought.

There is signage at most trails but some of it is inconsistent, because trails opening in different years had different signage. Most signage mentions no motorized vehicles and pedestrian or bike use only. Parks is looking at updating signage based on the use of the trail and the way it was installed.

Staff said they have to rely on Codes heavily, but Codes only works until approximately 6:00–7:00 p.m., and for police this is a non-emergency situation. It might be possible to ask Utilities to send mailers with the utility bills, post on Facebook, and place advertisements in the Bulletin. Signage would need the uses of the trails set and advertised, and signage might be posted in other areas as well.

The board requested a plan in terms of education, noting City videos have been well done and suggesting staff talk to PIO and bring a plan to next month's meeting. Staff agreed to bring a plan, recognizing there are already steps in place, and to identify what has been done, bring education on what the plan has been, and look at recommendations to fill gaps.

The wayfinding plan includes rule signage and informational signage with suggested wording, a non-emergency phone number to call, and a cited ordinance that police can refer to for trespassers. Staff stated plainly that the wayfinding plan does not have funding to implement, though there is a plan with rule signage for trails and parks.

On older sections of trail and the Outfall Channel, there are signs saying non-motorized use, but they are not large. An issue is that vehicles had free rein prior to the installation of trails and pathways, so staff are struggling against a traditional cultural element and anticipate a long effort.

Bollards are approximately $300 each and are helpful for limiting access to trails for four-wheeled vehicles, but not for motorcycles or dirt bikes. Some bollards were removed because ADA access was needed — a 36-inch clear space minimum. Typically bollards are installed in a configuration to slow people down as they cross vehicle traffic areas.

Although EBID ditch banks state "Property of EBID," they are used by others biking. The more rural areas seem to see people running free on the trails and dirt areas, and that transitions into City limits, which might account for some of the traffic seen.

Asked about the bike cops and whether trails are within their patrol, staff said right now most of the bike police officers are in the neighborhoods and that police are currently short staffed.

The wayfinding plan was funded through a Recreational Trails Program grant through DOT, and staff noted those grants can sometimes be followed by "construction grants" to carry out the project that was planned and designed.

7.2 Water Fountains — Franco Granillo, Deputy Director Parks

The minutes record that a resident has concerns about water fountains but did not attend this meeting.

Granillo said Parks and Recreation is not in complete control of the water fountains but works with Facilities on them. The biggest concern right now is Apodaca Park, where the fountain has been down for several weeks. Facilities staff discovered it was linked to a main line directly and not metered, so it will have to be reinstalled for proper water access. There is currently no ETA for Apodaca Park, as staff are waiting for Maddox Plumbing, their vendor, for the new meter. There is currently only one plumber in the City.

There are roughly 45–50 fountains citywide. Among the summer issues: the fountains have valves with thin metal or plastic parts that expand when it gets really hot, retain the expanded shape at night, and then leak. Better parts are needed. A fountain costs $5,500–$7,500 each.

Facilities is now checking the water fountains on a weekly basis. Most of the fountains are closed down in January and February due to very little use.

8. Staff Member Comments

Robert Nunez said the Keep Las Cruces Beautiful Program does educational presentations to third graders, having already reached two schools with seven others set up in the next couple of months. Community Clean Up is in October, partnering with Doña Ana County, South Central Solid Waste, the Utilities Department, and other groups and nonprofits; this is the fall community-wide clean up that used to be called Toss No Mas. The FY24 grant for that program is tentatively looking at under $38,000 for this fiscal year.

Out of School Time programs run at seven school sites, with a teen location at Frank O'Brien Papen and the Weed 'n Seed program on Tornillo. Just under 300 students attend every day at the nine various locations, with events and activities provided; staff partner with FYI to provide supper for all participants daily. The case manager is setting up a Girls and Boys Group for fourth and fifth graders covering life skills, positive relationships, gender-specific programs, and other activities with families.

The Youth Development and Diversion Program is working with JPO, public schools, Gadsden School District, Hatch Valley Public Schools, and law enforcement, and is seeing an increase in informal referrals, before matters reach law enforcement. Staff will bring Keep Las Cruces Beautiful next month. On graffiti, removal on private property is the owner's responsibility, while on City property Parks, Facilities, Streets, and Codes handle it.

Catherine Mathews said the disc golf course construction is underway. There was a meeting with the contractor and members of the disc golf community to verify the hole and tee locations and to gather ideas for benches and a picnic table. Completion is anticipated mid-October.

Gallagher Park improvements are being done. Play equipment is on order, hopefully two to four weeks; after the new equipment arrives the old equipment will be demolished.

The Metro Verde area has finalized and accepted the skate park, which is already getting a lot of use. Another park is in process: Twin Parks, a two-acre park with a retention pond in the middle. It is under construction, will have an agreement soon, and is hoped to be done in three months.

Phil Catanach said there are three more weekends in the summer season and three more movies in the park — August 26th Vivo, September 1st Turning Red, and September 23rd Super Mario Brothers. Music in the Park has two more concerts after a great season: this Sunday, Nathan Krants, a sanitation worker from Albuquerque making it big in country music, with the Yarbrough Band, a popular local band; and Sunday the 27th, Flat Black, a rock group from Las Cruces, headlined by Metalachi, the world's first and only heavy metal mariachi group.

Tonight is the youth volleyball indoor championships. Tights and Spikes Flag Football begins Monday the 21st and will be played at Paz Park. This Tuesday the Cheer Program started with 60 participants in two sessions, Tuesdays and Thursdays — classroom sessions for the first few, then cheer for flag football. A kickball tournament for adults is coming up with registration on August 28th. The Sand Volleyball League starts August 28th with 64 teams already signed up; the 64 teams sold out online in three minutes, with 640 players. September 12–18 the wood floor in the league gym will be closed to resurface. There are three more weekends for the outdoor pools and splash pads. The Regional Aquatic Center and Natatorium have been very busy — the best summer since staff began tracking numbers with the pools.

On the Employee Wellness Program for City employees, staff offer the Stick to It Challenge with daily challenges encouraging employees to reach 10,000 steps and keep exercising for 30 minutes at a time, run over two, four, six, or eight weeks. A transformation challenge encourages employees to increase muscle mass and decrease body fat, assessed via machines at their center, Utilities, and City Hall; a new challenge starts Monday with a record 138 sign-ups. The Ziggy challenge is a six-month challenge encouraging participants to stay active, walk, and gain miles for exercise, winning incentives such as shirts, water bottles and gift cards, with over 300 participants. Catanach thanked his crew and Parks and Rec staff for a great summer season.

Franco Granillo said that due to the hot summer the irrigation systems and water fountains were heavily taxed. On the Triviz trail there is struggling vegetation, but possibly some herbicide damage. Routine maintenance is continuing. Staff are running out of spaces for trees in parks and so might start planting trees on the perimeter.

Steven Bingham said he is excited to be here and that the team has represented the department well. He said he started on the 7th but was in town a couple of other times to get a feel for the community and look for housing, and that there are a lot of good things going on here.

9. Board Member Comments

Board Member Raish asked the status of East Mesa. Staff said work is ongoing, the GO Bond money has been expended, and additional funds were identified through infrastructure money from the federal government. New GO Bond funding will provide lighting for the sports fields and completion of phase one.

Asked whether the pickleball courts would be ready, staff said they are working on a timeline, but it is more of a construction site than a public use facility.

Board Member Haas apologized for her absence last month.

Vice-Chair Engle welcomed Steven Bingham as the new Parks and Recreation Director.

Chair McClure said her family have been users of the swimming pools this summer and it has been a great experience, for access and for the people there.

Recorded votes

Left open at the gavel