Las Cruces City Council Approves Budget and CIP Amid Public Concerns on May 18, 2026
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Las Cruces City Council Meeting - May 18, 2026
The Las Cruces City Council met on Monday, May 18, 2026, at approximately 1 p.m. under Mayor Eric Enriquez. The meeting included a proclamation, departmental highlights, extensive public testimony, and action on two major resolutions: adoption of the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 municipal budget and the six-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Councilors voted unanimously on both items after amending the budget to restore partial funding for community schools.
Proclamations and Presentations
- National Public Works Week was proclaimed for May 17–23, 2026, honoring public works professionals.
- Parks and Recreation (Jake Gutierrez): Reported growth in youth volleyball (10+ new teams, over 100 new participants), 6v6 co-ed teen sand volleyball, adult volleyball added 10+ teams and a new division, and summer aquatics programs with in-person registration at the Regional Aquatic Center.
- Visit Las Cruces (Rochelle Miller Hernandez): Presented the Mita Las Cruces festival final report. Total attendance rose 33% from the prior year, out-of-area attendance (outside 100 miles) increased to 13%, ad value increased 1001%, PR value increased 235%, page views increased 462%, and the promo video reached 1 million views on YouTube.
- Pets of the Week (Amelia – Animal Services): Showcased adoptable dogs Canela and Chai; noted that long-term resident Rosa was adopted. Issued an urgent call for kitten and puppy fosters due to overcapacity and incoming bottle babies. Encouraged fostering and adoption; events listed at Farmers Market, Petco, Petsmart, and Tractor Supply.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Liz Rodriguez Johnson questioned why Police Chief Jeremy Story refused to answer her questions about SWAT vehicle funding and why the mayor and city clerk shielded him. She stated her successful lawsuit against the city for violating public records law cost the city approximately $150,000 in legal fees and settlement.
- Lynn Morer and Liz Rodriguez Johnson criticized Las Cruces Utilities for failing to prioritize disadvantaged properties for lead and galvanized pipe inspections. They stated only 20% of inspections so far are for disadvantaged properties and provided lists of properties valued under $200,000. They accused the city of dishonesty and potential fraud.
- Rigo Salazar urged the city to prepare for a fuel shortage due to the Strait of Hormuz closure. He requested three actions: fuel purchase limits (10–15 gallons), a priority fueling plan for essential workers, and expansion of RoadRUNNER Transit with heavy advertising. He provided written documentation.
- Pamela Court (President, Las Cruces Public Schools Board) urged the council to continue funding community schools, emphasizing that non-academic supports (food, health care) are essential for student learning. She called the funding an investment in the city's youth.
- A Burn Lake resident thanked Public Works and Parks & Recreation for cleaning up illegal homeless encampments in the area, noting that 11 encampments were removed between mid-January and February 7. He credited new Public Works Director Kyle Arendt for resolving maintenance responsibilities.
- Juan Garcia opposed a proposed repeal of ranked choice voting, called for repeal of the single-use bag ban, criticized a councilor for perceived disrespect, and defended police officers against anti-police rhetoric, citing national assault statistics.
- Robert Williams (Secretary, Concilio de Padres of Raíces del Saber) requested a council member to speak at the kindergarten and fifth-grade graduation on May 29.
- Lonnie Montgomery prayed for the council and criticized Critical Race Theory and alleged inappropriate materials in schools.
- Connie Chapman condemned a previous public commenter who claimed to have called LCPD 127 times in 123 days, mostly on people seeking shade near Community of Hope. She called the actions an “evil” misuse of resources.
- Yoli Diaz and Leticia Magallanes reported that an uninsured, undocumented breast cancer patient was denied an appointment at Memorial Medical Center Cancer Center. They alleged systemic barriers to care for vulnerable residents and called for intervention.
- Charles Foote shared his personal success story of being treated for cancer at Memorial Medical Center, urging the council to work collaboratively with the hospital rather than pursue litigation.
- Jim Wilcox (Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee) urged the city to pursue a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community designation and adopt Vision Zero goals, noting that three-quarters of achievements have come from nonprofits, not the city.
- Diane Starbuck called for a clear, public, fair standard operating procedure for reserving the flagpole in front of City Hall, citing confusion among three groups attempting to reserve it on May 7.
- Leslie Woods and Jim Hurst argued that the National Day of Prayer violates the First Amendment and requested a resolution forbidding religious services on city grounds. Hurst disputed claims that the Declaration of Independence is rooted in Christianity.
- Donna Stryker expressed concern that disrespectful and threatening remarks during public comment are making citizens fearful to attend council meetings.
- Tim Jenkins supported police officers, stating that the justice system fails by releasing repeat offenders and that officers are unfairly blamed for systemic problems.
- George Pearson (Vice President, Vela Crucis) urged immediate action on Vision Zero, including adopting a resolution, lowering default speed limits, and implementing safety countermeasures, noting that Albuquerque and El Paso have already made progress.
- Nicole Martinez (Mesilla Valley Community of Hope) criticized the competitive grant process for Health Related Services Fund, calling for a partnership model with stable funding rather than a
Meeting Transcript
Well, good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to City Council meeting. Today is Monday, May 18th, 2026. It's approximately 1 p.m. I'm Mayor Eric Enriquez. Before we start, I want to mention that we have an ASL, American Sign Language Interpreter up front available at every City Council meeting if anyone requires. We'll 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 as they keep our city safe 24-7. Councilor Harris, if you lead us in the pledge. So moved. Second. This is on the motion to allow Councillor Bencomo to attend the meeting via Zoom. Counselor McClare? Yes. Counselor Matisse. Yes. Counselor Harris? Yes. Counselor Bencomal is absent right now. Counselor Coran? Yes. Counselor Munoz? Yes. Mayor. Yes. Next will be the presentation for certificates and proclamations, Councilor Michael Harris. Just the one? All right. Since there's quite a few. You weren't kidding. Yeah, come on up and be recognized. Mayor. Mayor? Yes. Can we restrict it to each one getting only a two-minute comment? That's a good point. Stand in front. Yeah, yeah, of course. All right. Do we have everybody? I think we do. All right. Whereas public works professionals focus on infrastructure, facilities, and services that are a vital importance to sustainable and resilient communities and to public health, high quality of life and well-being of people of Las Cruces, and whereas these infrastructure facilities and services could not be provided without the dedicated efforts of public works professionals, who are engineers, managers, and employees of all levels of government and the private sector, who are responsible for rebuilding, improving, and protecting our nation's transportation, water supply, water treatment, and solid waste systems, public buildings, and other structures and facilities essential for our citizens. Whereas public works professionals focus on infrastructure, facilities, and services that are of vital importance to sustainable and resilient communities and to public health, high quality of life and well-being of people of Las Cruces, and whereas these infrastructure facilities and services could not be provided without the dedicated efforts of public works professionals who are engineers, managers, and employees of all levels of government and the private sector, who are responsible for rebuilding, improving, and protecting our nation's transportation, water supply, water treatment, and solid waste systems, public buildings and other structures and facilities essential for our citizens, and whereas it is in the public interest for the citizens, civic leaders, and children in Las Cruces to gain knowledge of and maintain an ongoing interest and understanding of the importance of public works and public works programs in their respective communities, and whereas the year of 2026 marks the 66th annual National Public Works Weeks sponsored by the American Public Works Association. Now, therefore, we, the mayor and City Council of Las Cruces, New Mexico, to hereby proclaim May 17th through 23rd, 2026 as National Public Works Week, and urge all citizens to join with representatives of the American Public Works Association and government agencies in activities, events, and ceremonies designed to pay tribute to our public works professionals, engineers, managers, and employees, and to recognize the substantial contributions they make to protecting our national health, safety, and advancing quality of life for all. Can I ask that everybody get on the right half of the room to take this photo, please? Other right. That way. Shorter people in the front, please. And we can have a couple people sit in those chairs in the front if they'd like also. And if you can't see me right here, to your right.
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