Las Cruces City Council Meeting - November 17, 2025
Las Cruces City Council Meeting - November 17, 2025
This regular City Council meeting on Monday, November 17, 2025, at approximately 1 p.m. included proclamations for Diabetes Awareness Month and GIS Day, public testimony on utility compliance and public safety, and unanimous approval of several resolutions, including budget adjustments, a VOCA grant, capital improvement amendments, animal control fee updates, and an industrial revenue bond for a new manufacturer.
Proclamations
- Mayor Eric Enriquez proclaimed November 2025 as World Diabetes Awareness Month in Las Cruces, presented to the Southern New Mexico Diabetes Alliance. Selena Gomez, Director of Southern New Mexico Diabetes Outreach, accepted and highlighted resources at diabetesnowet.org.
- The council also proclaimed November 19, 2025, as GIS Day, honoring the city's GIS team and their contributions to decision-making across departments.
Pets of the Week
- Carol Nielsen, digital content specialist from the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley (ASCMV), presented a $25 adoption special (waived with two donated items for Community of Hope). Dog of the week: Veto (ID 91449). Cat of the week: Chloe (adopted). Long-term residents highlighted: Cosette (314 days), Dexter (299), Finn (289), and Hulu (287). Upcoming events: Meet-and-greet for executive director finalists on November 19, 4–6 p.m. at the medical building, and Puppypalooza at PetSmart on Saturday, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Liz Rodriguez Johnson and Lynn Morrer criticized the Las Cruces Utilities Department for failing to document investigations of lead and copper pipes in disadvantaged properties, contrary to promises made to the state. They alleged that the department claimed no lead pipes were found but may be hiding findings. They demanded that the city manager instruct utilities to investigate all disadvantaged properties, create written reports, and make them public. Ms. Morrer also questioned the legality of Councilor Bencomo chairing the November 13 utilities board meeting, asserting her term had expired.
- An unnamed speaker (possibly continuing from Lynn Morrer) expressed concern about police chiefs bypassing local oversight and appealing directly to federal agencies, calling it power creep and authoritarianism. They urged civilian oversight and local control.
- Connie Chapman referenced a January 2025 public safety town hall where Police Chief Story agreed that social support resources are needed. She opposed funding a $1.5 million driving track, arguing that fully funding all police requests does not address underlying issues like mental health and juvenile crime.
- Jim Hurst celebrated the recent election results, noting that voters affirmed Las Cruces as a liberal progressive community, that young voters were energized, and that bond issues passed by nearly two to one, indicating confidence in the city.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 26-064 (Budget Adjustments): Vanessa Perez presented three adjustments to the Tel Shore Fund: $118,000 for bathroom repairs at Mesilla Valley Community of Hope, returning $4 million previously allocated to the Peach Tree Project (now state-funded), and $150,000 for food organizations ($100,000 to Casa de Peregrinos, $35,000 to El Caldito Soup Kitchen, $15,000 reserve). Net return of $3.7 million. Unanimously approved.
- Resolution 26-065 (VOCA Grant): Grant manager Gavrilla Pratz presented a $72,250 grant from the New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission with an $18,000 match for two crime victim advocate positions in the police department. Unanimously approved.
- Resolution 26-066 (CIP Amendments): Cynthia Lamillo presented numerous amendments to capital improvement projects to reflect current funding, including restroom/shower improvements at Mesilla Valley Community of Hope, East Mesa Roads and Drainage (Cortez Drive reconstruction), and others. Councilor Flores asked for more details on project progress and the city's ownership of the Amador Hotel (explained by Carol Bray, Quality of Life director). Unanimously approved.
- Resolution 26-067 (Animal Control Fees): Henry presented updated fees aligned with the county. Multiple amendments were made: (1) clarified the $20 one-time application fee for first-time permits; (2) added “permit” after “dangerous/potentially dangerous dogs”; (3) struck the enclosed feral cat colony fee ($75 annually); (4) changed intact animal permit from per site to per animal ($150 annually); (5) changed litter fee from per site to per litter ($200 annually). These amendments were approved, then the resolution as amended was approved unanimously.
- Council Bill 26-009 (Ordinance 3101 – Industrial Revenue Bond for Endurance Technologies): Economic development staff presented an IRB for Endurance Technologies, a Canadian steel pipe manufacturer, to build a facility in Las Cruces. The 20-year bond includes a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) for the school district, clawback provisions, 41 new jobs at an average wage of $58,000, and a $17.6 million capital investment. Unanimously approved.
- Proposed ordinance 26-010 (zoning map amendment) was not taken up; the meeting moved to council reports.
Key Outcomes
- All resolutions (26-064, 26-065, 26-066, 26-067 as amended, and Ordinance 3101) were approved unanimously by the seven council members present (Councilor Matisse absent).
- The animal control fee schedule was amended to remove the enclosed feral cat colony fee and to change intact animal and litter fees to per-animal and per-litter basis, respectively.
- Councilor Bencomo noted that utilities will not conduct shutoffs in November and December due to financial hardships and reminded residents of the utilities assistance fund.
- Councilor Graham announced a meet-and-greet for ASCMV executive director finalists on November 19, 4–6 p.m.
- Mayor Enriquez highlighted the city's mention in a Forbes holiday travel story and acknowledged Police Chief Story's explanation of longstanding partnerships with federal agencies for major crimes.
Meeting Transcript
Council, you are life. Well, good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the City Council meeting. Today is Monday, November 17th, 2025. It's approximately 1 p.m. I'm Mayor Eric Enriquez. Before we start, I want to mention that we have the ASL, the American Sign Language up in front and available to us at every council meeting. And for our courageous men and women of the Las Cruces Police and the Las Cruces Fire Department. Council McClure, if you'll lead us in the pledge. We'll start with our presentations of certificates and proclamations by Councillor McClure. Welcome everyone. Presented to the Southern New Mexico Diabetes Alliance. If you are here for that, come on down. And whereas health professionals, promotores de salud, and allied health care workers in Las Cruces, and that throughout Southern New Mexico, continue to make invaluable contributions by helping individuals and families prevent, prepare for, and manage the impact of diabetes and related health threats. And whereas the City of Las Cruces recognizes the importance of supporting and celebrating the work of the Southern New Mexico Diabetes Alliance and all partners working toward a future where every individual has access to the education, care, resources needed to live a healthier life, and whereas health professionals, Promotores de Salud, and Allied Health Workers across the region make invaluable contributions to help individuals and families prevent and manage diabetes. And whereas the City of Las Cruces recognizes and celebrates the work of the Southern New Mexico Diabetes Alliance and its partners in promoting education, care, and healthier lives. Now therefore, we, the mayor and city council of Las Cruces, New Mexico, do hereby proclaim the month of November 2025 as World Diabetes Awareness Month in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and call upon all residents to support and participate in activities that promote awareness prevention and the collection of efforts in Southern New Mexico Diabetes Alliance to prove improve the health and well-being of our communities. Signed by Mayor Eric Enriquez. Congratulations. Hello everyone, my name is Selena Gomez, Director of Southern New Mexico Diabetes Outreach. On behalf of the Southern New Mexico Diabetes Alliance, we'd like to thank Las Cruces City Council for recognizing November as Diabetes Awareness Month. This recognition is a be a wonderful way to honor and celebrate the strength of people living with diabetes and the health professionals who are working endlessly to help. Today I have with me representatives from NMSU Extension, Dr. Sarah Ruiz, Dr. Lucinda Benegas, and a student intern, Farha. We also have Audrey Garcia, Program Officer at Paso de Norte Health Foundation, and we also have Christine Norris, dietitian with Greek Family Healthcare. Today your support helps fuel our goal of providing accessible diabetes education support services to pediatrics and adults in the region. The alliance encourages all to visit the Diabetes Now What website where they can find resources of education programs, risk tests, cooking videos, and recipes at www.diabetesnowet.org. And we will also leave some flyers in the front for anyone who would like to grab one. Thank you again for your time and support. The next will be a proclamation for GIS Day precedent to the city's GIS team. Come on down. How are you? A time to honor the contributions of all GIS professionals and city staff who use this technology to strengthen and support our community, and whereas GIS fosters the growth of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM education, encouraging our youth and others to acquire knowledge and skills essential for thriving in a technology-driven world. And whereas the city's GIS team pursues ongoing education to remain at the forefront of this rapidly evolving field, ensuring the accuracy of critical data that supports the organization and enhances communities across departments. And whereas GIS technology is utilized across numerous city departments to fulfill operational needs, integrating data into decision-making tools that enable informed and timely actions, benefiting public works, parks, utilities, neighborhood services, community development, quality of life, information technology, public safety, visit Las Cruces, I'd say City Council as well, as well as regional partners, including New Mexico State University, Donana County, and the state of New Mexico. Now, therefore, we, the mayor and city council of Las Cruces, New Mexico dear do hereby proclaim November 19, 2025 as GIS Day, signed by Eric Enriquez Mayor. Congratulations. Thank you, Council, for uh honoring GIS and GIS Day. It's uh actually a very important day because it's we, the GIS staff of Las Cruces and all the communities around, uh, provide lots of information that many decisions, important decisions are actually made up made based on that information. So we are kind of that quiet part of the city that doesn't get a lot of recognition. So I want to we wanted to thank you for that. Uh I want to also thank uh Becky and her staff from Doneta County for attending today. Uh we have an open agreement to share information very uh between the uh the county, Doniana County, and also the city of Las Cruces. So uh also with NMSU, but NMSU was not able to attend. And then I also want to thank all the people that are not necessarily GIS professionals, but are that are using GIS daily to enhance their own department and their needs. Uh so uh thank you, Scott. Uh you're not up here, but you're welcome to join us if you'd like. So thank you very much. Thank you again.
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