Las Cruces City Council Work Session – October 27, 2025

The City Council held a work session on Monday, October 27, 2025, at 1:00 PM, presided over by Mayor Eric Enriquez. The session covered the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library renovation and expansion design, a status update on ARPA subrecipient grants, the community improvements bond (GRT-funded) public input results, and a quarterly update on the 2022 GoBond projects. No formal votes were taken; discussion and direction were provided for next steps.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mary Ann Hendrickson (Friends of the Library): Expressed strong support for the library expansion, noting the library serves over 200,000 residents, provides a high return on investment ($7–8 per dollar), and that the project is long overdue.
• Linda St. Clair (Friends of the Library President): Thanked the council for the master plan approval and commended staff for public engagement, but urged balanced funding across all community needs. Noted Friends' ongoing fundraising efforts.
• Lucas Herman (District 2 resident): Thanked staff for public input meetings but flagged that the total cost of all projects listed could approach $500 million according to his calculations, not $180 million (as staff stated excluding roads). He also noted that when the vote data is presented with a consistent y-axis scale, police projects do not appear in the top eight.
• Haren Caveto: Presented spreadsheet analysis showing that weighted voting ranked Branigan Library, recreation center, wastewater treatment, and park improvements in the top ten, with no police funding in that list. Requested clarity on how categories were broken out.

Discussion Items

2.1 – Thomas Branigan Memorial Library Renovation and Expansion Design

• Presenters: Sarah Booth (Library Deputy Director), Joseph Fimmler and Ruben Contreras (Desert Peak Architects), Brad Waters (Providence Architecture).
• The design concept is "a vessel where earth and sky merge… to share in rituals of knowledge." The new entrance plaza (sunken, 1'4" below grade), a double-height lobby with café, tiered seating, and prominent north-facing glass will improve civic presence. The building currently has ~45,000 sq ft; expansion will bring it to ~60,000 sq ft.
• Phase 1 (new construction: 6,641 sq ft, renovation: 33,000+ sq ft) cost estimated at $19.8 million, including lease/move costs, contingency, and technology. Planned start: 2027; construction documents to be complete by end of 2026.
• Phase 2 (expand children's area, add study rooms, staff break room, and the "Organ Room" third story with mountain views) cost estimated at $14.5 million. Phase 1 will be fully functional before Phase 2 begins.
• Council members (McClur, Matisse, Flores) expressed enthusiastic support for the design and concept.

2.2 – ARPA Subrecipient Funding and Programmatic Status Update

• Presented by: Brian Kraft (Grant Development and Compliance Specialist).
• The city received ~$24.9 million in ARPA funds; ~$9.5 million has been subgranted to community partners. All funds must be fully spent by September 30, 2026.
• Community grants (administered by Finance):
  • Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces: Initial award $1,388,800; $241,029 remaining. Funds used for acquisition of a new facility. They have raised $6.5 million toward a $7.5 million goal to break ground in early 2026. Serves 1,300 youth annually, 66% from low-income households; served over 11,000 meals last year.
  • Catholic Charities of Southern New Mexico: Initial award $550,000; $331,420 remaining. Provides rental/utility assistance and free mental health counseling to residents still affected by the pandemic.
  • Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico: Initial award $1,700,000; $78,327 remaining (updated to ~$58,000). Their Family Prosperity Demonstration Project provided $500/month for 18 months to 150 households. Findings: 73% of dollars spent locally. Success stories of improved food security, housing stability, and savings.
  • Cruces Creatives: Initial award $1,000,000; $151,149 remaining. Served 20,675 K–12 students (goal was 15,000) through after-school programs, camps, and project-based learning across 41 schools. Internships, textile projects, and hands-on learning highlighted.
  • Jardin de los Niños: Initial award $350,000; $160,137 remaining. Provided trauma-informed behavioral health services to over 400 children/year (goal was 200). Developed HPTIF framework and became a designated behavioral health agency.
  • Mesilla Valley Community of Hope: Initial award $300,000; $98,890 remaining. Landlord Risk Mitigation Program helped house 102 clients, recruited 28 landlords, and exceeding all goals. State has adopted the program statewide.
• Housing grants (Natalie Green, Housing and Neighborhood Services):
  • Oak Street Veteran Apartments: $300,000 award, complete. 22 units renovated; 21 leased up. Contributes to functional zero veteran homelessness.
  • Peach Tree Canyon Apartments Phase 1 ($2 million award): 144 units under construction (~60% complete). State provided additional funds.
• Workforce grants (Economic Development):
  • Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance (MVEDA): $100,000 award (fully dispersed). Upskilled 103 workers/students with 11 different industry certifications via the Automate Up program.
  • Southern New Mexico Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC): $200,000 award (fully dispersed). Used $84,000 to launch a mobile lab trailer, a 40-hour pre-apprenticeship program (34 completions), and modernized training labs. Currently 110 apprentices.
  • Engage New Mexico: $300,000 award (fully dispersed). Reaching for the Stars program supports 10 home-based child care providers to become licensed three-star providers by July 2026, addressing pandemic-era losses.
  • Doña Ana Community College (DACC): $240,000 award (fully dispersed). Personal and Career Discovery Program: 6 cohorts completed (150 goal, halfway there); 40% continued training/education, 25% employed, 67% in more stable housing. New cohort started with 34 participants, including recently incarcerated and homeless individuals.
• Council questions focused on continuation funding for Cruces Creatives adult programs and the Community Action Agency's guaranteed income project. Councilwoman Flores asked about county matching for Boys & Girls Club; no update.

2.3 – Improve Las Cruces Community Improvements Bond Update

• Presented by: Sarah Gonzalez (Community Development).
• The city held public meetings in September/October 2025 to gather input on the use of GRT-funded bonds (approved November 2024). The public identified priorities:
  • Top maintenance projects: WIA rehab, road maintenance (especially East Mesa), ADA compliance.
  • Top public facilities: Branigan Library renovation, Eastside Senior Center, Railroad Museum.
  • Top parks: New recreation center (location TBD), legacy park improvements.
  • Top public safety: Vehicles and maintenance for police/fire; new police/fire station remodels.
  • Top utilities: New wastewater treatment plant off Highway 70, water well #23 renovation.
  • Top infrastructure: Road connections (e.g., to Highway 70), South Fork Moreno drainage.
  • Housing: Continuation of Paseo Verdes phases 2/3.
• Total cost to fund all listed projects (excluding roads) was estimated by staff at $180 million; adding roads would bring it to roughly $500 million. Public commenters challenged the $180 million figure, noting their hand-count suggested closer to $500 million.
• Next steps: Bond approved in January 2026; sale in February 2026; funds available March 2026. Staff will further scope projects and present a prioritized list at the February 2026 budget/CIP retreat. The ordinance for the bond can be broad (e.g., "public facilities, infrastructure"). Library may be considered for the next GoBond cycle (fall 2026).
• Council discussed balancing projects across districts and the flexibility of the bond ordinance.

2.4 – GoBond 2022 Quarterly Update

• Presented by: Kyle Arne (Interim Public Works Director) and Natalie Green.
• Fire Station 9 ($9.8 million in GoBond; construction contract $11.2 million): ~55% complete; estimated completion June 2026. Shell taking shape.
• Park Improvements – La Llorona Park: Construction includes restroom, shade structures, benches (~$1 million). Restroom 50% complete; playground funded with remaining balances. Expected completion by end of 2025.
• East Mesa Sports Complex (originally "public rec complex"): $4.9 million GoBond plus $4 million additional funding. Playground completed; basketball courts and restroom 20% complete; aim for completion early 2026.
• Peach Tree Canyon Phase 1 (144 units): ~60% complete; sheetrock and stucco underway.
• Peach Tree Canyon Phase 2: Broke ground recently; underground infrastructure work started.
• Amador Crossing: Footings/foundation work; pre-framed walls; evaluating internet providers.
• Arcadia Phase 4 (single-family subdivision, state-funded): Sewer infrastructure underway.
• Skylark Subdivision: Notice to proceed expected by end of week; groundbreaking November 9.
• Affordable Housing Plan: Survey open until December 12 at lascruces.gov/conplan.
• State funding has generated substantial cost savings; some Tellshore funds will be returned.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken during the work session.
• Staff will proceed with the library design development and preparation of construction documents (2026).
• ARPA subrecipients will continue to expend funds by the September 30, 2026 deadline; closeout guidance pending from U.S. Treasury.
• For the community improvements bond, staff will refine project scopes and return with prioritized recommendations at the February 2026 CIP retreat; the bond ordinance first read is scheduled for December 2025 with adoption in January 2026.
• GoBond projects continue on schedule: Fire Station 9 (June 2026), La Llorona Park (end of 2025), East Mesa Sports Complex (early 2026), Peach Tree Canyon (ongoing).
• Meeting adjourned at approximately 4:30 PM.