Las Cruces City Council Meeting - February 17, 2026
Las Cruces City Council Meeting - February 17, 2026
The Las Cruces City Council met on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at approximately 1:00 PM under Mayor Eric Enriquez. The meeting included proclamations, a water quality report, public comments on GRT spending and public safety, approval of grants and budget adjustments, and an ordinance change for the Veterans Advisory Board. Two councilors (Bencomo and Cran) were absent.
Presentations & Proclamations
- Engineers Week Proclamation: Councilor Harris presented a proclamation recognizing February 23–27, 2026 as National Engineers Week, accepted by representatives of El Paso Electric. The proclamation highlighted the contributions of over 150 engineers serving 460,000 customers.
- Support our Healthcare Providers Week Proclamation: Joanne Turnbull accepted a proclamation for February 16–20, 2026, raising awareness about physician shortages in New Mexico.
- Pioneer Bank Day Proclamation: February 18, 2026 was proclaimed Pioneer Bank Day in recognition of 125 years of community service.
- Government Communicators Day Proclamation: February 21, 2026 was proclaimed Government Communicators Day, accepted by Communications Director Mandy and her team.
- Water Quality Report (CCR): Assistant Utilities Director Carl Clark Como presented the 2024 Consumer Confidence Report. He noted that lead levels in Las Cruces water are at 2 parts per billion, well below the EPA action level of 15 ppb. No exceedances were reported. The 2025 CCR will be released by July 1.
- Jobs of the Week: Sarah Rainey highlighted open positions including a Codes Enforcement Officer ($22.24/hr), Utility Services Worker ($18.07/hr), and others. She also urged volunteers for the Moccatelia Rocket event.
- Pets of the Week: Carol Nelson featured Zoro (dog) and noted that guinea pigs from the shelter were adopted. Long-term residents Hulu, Lily, and others still need homes. Upcoming events: adoption event at PETCO and a drive-through vaccination clinic.
Public Comments & Testimony
Over 30 members of the public spoke, expressing a wide range of views:
- Water Infrastructure & Lead Compliance: Lynn Morrer and Liz Rodriguez Johnson criticized the city’s method for designating “disadvantaged” neighborhoods for lead pipe inspection, presenting data showing inconsistencies in property valuations. They urged the city to use more accurate data and prioritize truly low-income areas.
- GRT (Gross Receipts Tax) Spending Priorities: Many speakers (e.g., Israel Chavez, Donna Stryker, Spencer Taylor, Rose, Zach Egan, Liz Bennett) argued that community input from public meetings overwhelmingly favored libraries, parks, recreation centers, and road maintenance over a police training facility. They said the police training center was not in the top 10 priorities from the public process and urged the council to honor that input. Some speakers accused the city of ignoring public comment.
- Support for Police and Public Safety: Speakers (e.g., José Carrera, Steve Montanez, Eddie Thomas, Vic Villobos, Jeff Jorgensen, Gilbert Mesquita) voiced strong support for Chief Story, the police department, and funding for a new public safety training facility. They cited recent crime incidents (e.g., Walmart shooting) and argued that training is essential for safety. Several expressed frustration with organized opposition and called for prioritizing public safety.
- Hospital Access and Memorial Medical Center: Yoli Diaz presented data on indigent care claims at Memorial Medical Center, comparing it unfavorably to other New Mexico hospitals, and called for the city to address healthcare access.
- Veteran Support: Elaine Prickett and Master Sergeant Perry Ashby described the impact of the Rio Grande Honor Flight program, which takes veterans to Washington D.C. They requested community support and volunteers.
- Other Issues: Israel Chavez warned of potential legal action if the city ignores public input on GRT spending. A speaker raised concerns about changes to the city’s equal opportunity statement removing certain protected classes. Others commented on the closure of the Arts Council, park rangers removal of illegal encampments, and general crime concerns.
Discussion Items
- Resolution 26-102 – Grant Awards (7.1): The council approved acceptance of multiple grants, including: $2.7 million from the Water Trust Board for Chil Shore tank rehabilitation, $15 million for lead service line replacement (requiring no match), $400,000 for fire station #4 ADA upgrades, and $456,182 for paramedic training. The resolution passed 5-0 (with two absent).
- Resolution 26-103 – Second Quarter Budget Adjustments (7.2): The council approved adjustments including: $20,000 for skate park investigation, $42,000 for a soccer concession stand, $82,500 for senior meals, and $1 million for fire department expenses. Revenue adjustments included $2.2 million in environmental gross receipts tax and $600,000 for prisoner care. The resolution passed 5-0.
- Ordinance 3108 – Veterans Advisory Board Membership (7.3): The council approved amending Chapter 2, Article 4, Division 3 to change board seats from organization-specific to at-large, with no more than one member per organization. The ordinance passed 4-1? Actually vote: McClure yes, Matisse absent, Harris yes, Munoz yes, Mayor yes = 4 yes, 1 absent, 2 absent total. Passed.
- Board Appointment: Jacob Kidd was appointed to the CIAC board unanimously (4-0 with two absent).
Key Outcomes
- Votes Passed: All three agenda items (resolutions and ordinance) were approved. Councilor Bencomo and Councilor Cran were absent for all votes.
- GRT Funding Direction: No formal vote was taken on GRT allocations, but the council heard extensive public testimony. Councilor McClure suggested final decisions will come in April and noted the complexity of leveraging multiple funding sources. Mayor Enriquez reiterated commitment to balancing public safety, infrastructure, and quality of life.
- Flock Camera Briefing: Councilor Harris reported on a meeting with Flock representatives, noting that the system does not integrate facial recognition and that the city can opt out of data sharing for model training. He expressed lingering concerns about data control.
- City Manager Announcements: Imani (City Manager) announced: (1) OIR Group will present the ninth semi-annual police audit report on February 23. (2) Spring break camp offered March 16-20 at two locations for $20 per child. (3) Over 100 trees planted recently. (4) The Las Cruces Innovation and Industrial Park received a Platinum Ready Site designation, the first in New Mexico and only fourth nationwide.
- Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:56 PM.
Meeting Transcript
You're alive. Well, good afternoon. Welcome to City Council. Today is Tuesday, February seventeenth, twenty twenty six. It's approximately one p.m. I'm Mayor Eric Enriquez. Before we start, I want to mention that we have a American Sign Language Interpreter up front. And they're with us at every city council meeting. If you all stand, please, I'd like to start with a moment of silence for the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces as they protect our interests around the globe as well as the courageous men and women of the Las Cruces Police and Las Cruces Fire Department. Councilor Harris, if you'll lead us in the pledge. I gladly of the United States for America. We'll go ahead and start with presentations and proclamations. Councillor Harris. Presented to David Franco, Emmett Rivera, and Fernando Vasquez. If you could join me up here. Sure. All right, thanks. Whereas February 23rd through 27, 2026 is recognized as National Engineers Week, a time to honor engineers of all disciplines whose creativity, technical expertise, and problem solving advance innovation, strengthen critical infrastructure, and inspire a diverse and well prepared engineering workforce. And whereas El Paso Electric employs more than one thousand one hundred professionals, including over one hundred and fifty engineers representing environmental, electrical, mechanical, and civil disciplines, whose work supports the safe and reliable delivery of electricity to more than forty four hundred and sixty thousand customers across a diverse multi-state region. And whereas, working in close collaboration with field crews, operations teams, and community partners, El Paso Electric Engineers lead efforts to modernize the electric grid, enable electrification, integrate renewable and emerging energy technologies, strengthen system resilience, and responsibly prepare the region's infrastructure for future growth and innovation, and whereas engineers serve as leaders, mentors, and role models by demonstrating how technical knowledge can be applied to improve quality of life, support economic development, protect the environment, and encourage students and community members to pursue careers in engineering and technology. Now, therefore, we, mayor and city council of Las Cruces, New Mexico, do hereby proclaim the week of February twenty-third through February twenty-seventh, twenty twenty six as National Engineers Week. Thank you to the City of Las Cruces for this honor. It's a privilege to represent El Paso Electric during the National Engineers Week. We are proud to serve our New Mexico service area and our broader regional communities with a safe, reliable, and resilience energy. This proclamation isn't just for our team. It recognizes the dedication of all engineers across the field. This commitment to innovation, problem solving, and public service strengthens our infrastructure and helps our communities thrive. On behalf of El Paso Electric, and in this appreciation of the engineer professions as a whole, thank you for your celebrating the impact engineers make every day. Thank you. All right. Next, we have a proclamation for support our health care providers week, and this will be presented to Joanne Turnbull. Wherever? Maybe turn that mic so I can sure sure. Because I'm not the only one that should be here. Okay. Oh, I sorry, we got that one. There you go. Oh, thank you. Hi, my name's Joanne Turnbull. And the rest I'd like the steering committee. Janet, Alison, come on up. And Juan. And Charlotte Lipson. Yeah. And you read, right? I will read. Okay, thank you. All right. Whereas the residents of the City of Las Cruces and Doniana County deserve high quality health care, and whereas the severe shortage of providers, particularly physicians, is a primary obstacle to accessing health care services, and whereas New Mexico's high risk environment poses significant barriers for physician recruitment and retention, and whereas the shortage has become a crisis that deprives citizens of access to timely care, and whereas citizens whose health disparities are made worse by financial, racial, and accessibility constraints suffer the most from the shortage. And whereas the mayor and city councilors of Las Cruces and Commissioners of Doniana County support the health of our community, we proclaim an educational campaign to raise awareness about the provider shortage and empower citizens to advocate for improved access to health care.
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