"The response was not helpful" — a neighborhood asks what the Pioneer Women's Park gazebo costs

If you read nothing else

• The Alameda Depot Neighborhood Association asked for the budget, bidding schedule and estimated construction dates for the Pioneer Women's Park gazebo; the only answer received was that construction should start within the next month or two.
• The association's state representative and senator told it to make sure the allocated funds get spent so the state does not call back the funding. Pearson cited an RTP trail project along the Las Cruces Lateral, funded in 2020 and still not built.
• Greg Shervanick said Young Park is being overused with multiple events every weekend and that park rangers should police it at its heavy-use hour.
• Keep Las Cruces Beautiful reported 1,693 volunteers and 2,816 hours year to date, 932 graffiti abatements since July 1, 2023, and an FY24 grant of $37,620.76 against an FY25 request of a little over $100,000.
• Seven aquatic amenities open May 25 with 40 lifeguards; Saturday evening pool rentals are fully booked until September.
• District 1 is filled for the first time this year, but Districts 3 and 6 were absent and District 5 remains vacant — four members 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 Keep Las Cruces Beautiful update

Amelia Corrales reported that since February the program held a March clean-up dumpster day that garnered a little over 6,000 lbs. of trash. Dumpster days are done once a month, with three roll-offs in a variety of locations throughout the City, free for community members to dump household trash.

The Great American Clean Up on April 27 drew 561 volunteers for a total of 766 hours. Volunteers included 44 community groups, youth groups, Organ Mountain High School FFA, Mayor's Top Teens, a church group, and a home school group. Walmart partnered and provided free lunch. Eleven roll-offs were placed throughout the City of Las Cruces. Volunteers picked up over 4,920 lbs. of trash, and the roll-offs gathered 6,900 lbs.

Community education and engagement included 16 outreach events with youth learning activities, Libby the dog, and reduce/reuse/recycle learning, reaching 463 youth. Community outreach did nine outreach events since February, including the Water Festival and NMSU Learn a Palooza, reaching a total of 4,605 individuals in the community just since February.

Graffiti eradication has done 932 abatements since July 1, 2023.

A community mural received state recognition through the New Mexico Clean and Beautiful and Tourism Departments, and national recognition through Keep America Beautiful. Nine youth groups from the City — Weed and Seed, Out of School Time programs — helped paint it, along with a homeschool group; the community outreach department through LCPD held outreach and got groups of people to come paint as well. A total of 200 youth helped paint the mural. The artist outlined the entire mural and the students painted between the lines. Staff hope to have it completely done by the end of the month. Video of the outside mural was shown, and the inside has been updated too.

Year-to-date data was shared. The FY24 grant is $37,620.76; the program is requesting a little over $100,000 for FY25, although staff said probably not, as there were many other asks.

7.2 Sports Field Usage Subcommittee

Board Member Coppedge said he spoke with Steven Bingham and that, based on other meetings Bingham has had with community members, there is not a formal update. He will work more with the baseball and soccer community to provide a presentation next month.

7.3 Aquatics — the summer program

Jake Gutierrez said there will be seven amenities offered on May 25, Memorial Day Weekend, the department's launch point for all things summer: the Las Cruces Regional Aquatic Center, the Las Cruces Natatorium, East Mesa Bataan Memorial and Laabs Pool, the Downtown Plaza Fountain, and splash pads at Metro Verde and Unidad, with one more on the way.

Since March, weekly attendance has averaged about 250 more per week. Since 2020 there has been a healthy return to attendance at the facilities. Staff anticipate more than in 2022, which was close to 100,000 visitors.

Staffing is 40 lifeguards for the summer. Staff work hard to recruit and retain, and the City pays for certifications.

Lap swimming is very popular; the natatorium runs 70/30 in favor of lap swim, and staff hope to move toward 50/50 by introducing more programming there. Lap swimming is offered at the Aquatic Center during the hours the Natatorium is closed. Staffing is still needed to open 12-13 hours each day. The Natatorium is open 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and again 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Open swim is offered at East Mesa, Laabs, the Aquatic Center and the Natatorium.

Swim lessons are beginning again, with three individuals teaching 65 swimmers, mainly youth. Adult swim lessons are planned in the fall.

On rentals: birthday party rentals at the Aquatic Center; East Mesa and Laabs are exclusive rentals with two sessions during the week at 12:00 and 3:30 p.m.; those pools close to the public at 6:30, and from 7:00 to 8:30 an exclusive rental is offered at $200. Saturday evening rentals are fully booked until September. The Natatorium is not yet on a rental system except for swim teams, who use it Monday through Friday and some Saturdays. Approximately $25,000 comes from rentals. Free swim days are Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day. The hours facilities are open were shared with the board.

The splash pads are not open on weekends, with the floor being redone; they will then be open on May 25. It was mentioned that the fountain needs to be painted and is very slippery. The fountain is not a splash pad, and it is difficult policing how people use it because the surface is different.

A question was asked about Frenger: it is currently being used by LCPD as a substation. The master plan did discuss various ideas for the Frenger pool location and area.

When Googled, the Unidad Splash Pad shows as open 24 hours. A suggestion was made to fix Google and to change the hours for the seasons. Staff said the only way to update Google is by contacting them, and they have a regional person; all hours are on the Las Cruces website and are accurate there.

Attendance is good and will increase after Memorial Day. Asked about the demographics of attendance, staff said attendees include swimmers, fitness swimmers, gym users, people who come just to take a shower, people who come and sit at the facility, and non-swimmers sitting on the deck.

7.4 East Mesa Sports Complex concession — brick and mortar vs food trucks

Cathy Mathews said the master plan for that facility indicates both types of facility to provide food and snacks. Options are being considered. Building a concession stand is being considered although not being done at this time, with staff leaning toward making the facility amenable to food trucks.

Issues to be considered include the costs of offerings, the kinds of offerings, and which kinds of vendors get in and which do not. Staff said there is a nebulous problem in designing a space for the food trucks, and that more information will be forthcoming.

8-9. Staff and board member comments

Both items are recorded as "None." No staff member and no board member spoke at the end of the meeting, including on either of the two public comments.

Recorded votes

Left open at the gavel