Las Cruces City Council Meeting – July 20, 2026

The Las Cruces City Council met on Monday, July 20, 2026, at approximately 1:00 PM, with Mayor Eric Enriquez presiding and ASL interpretation available. The meeting included a Rio Grande Theater centennial proclamation, a Fourth of July celebration recap, an FY26 audit entrance conference, animal services presentations, public comment, seven numbered resolutions/ordinances, one board appointment, council reports, and adjournment.

Presentations & Proclamations

• Mayor Enriquez read a proclamation designating July 29, 2026, as Rio Grande Theater Day for the theater's 100th anniversary. Topher Leininger, venue manager, expressed gratitude and called the centennial a hope for the future.
• Robert Nunes, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation, reported the July 3 electric light parade (Stars, Stripes, and City Lights) and 5K/one-mile fun run drew 24,600 attendees along the 1.5-mile route; the July 4 concert and picnic at Pat and Lucisborough Community Park on the NMSU campus drew an estimated 14,800 attendees with headliner 49 Winchester, opener Triple Jack, 11 food vendors, a beer garden, kids zone, and fireworks. He also recognized July as Parks and Recreation Month.
• Chris Gardner, partner at Pateo Brown and Hill, presented the FY26 external audit entrance conference. Planning and internal-control testing will run through August, field work in October-November, exit conference in November, and the audit is due to the state auditor by December 1. A federal single audit is required because the city spends more than $1 million in federal funds; scope includes JPAs, a component unit, and the downtown TID blended fund. Gardner asked council to confidentially report fraud concerns or material related-party transactions.
• Animal Services introduced adoptable pets Bonnie and Rook (free adoptions this week), reported that Dober was adopted and renamed Rizzo, and noted Francesca is now the longest-term resident. Upcoming events include Petsmart on July 25, Fashion for Hearts on August 1, Petco on August 8, and farmers markets every Wednesday in August. Naomi Morningstar Cruz, founder of Fur Hearts, presented the August 1 Fashion for Hearts Fashion Show at Great Vine Plaza; tickets start at $15 on Eventbrite and proceeds support shelter veterinary bills.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Staff Sgt. Doreen White described personal claims of surveillance/chips and asked the council for help, saying she had been violated by Missouri's Department of Public Safety.
• Lynn Morer said Las Cruces Utilities' 2025 Consumer Confidence Report for University Estates is provably false, citing NMED agreement, and that lab reports show no 2024 sampling; 2023 results of 24 and 18 parts per billion exceeded the 15 ppb action level. She alleged a 10-year pattern of falsification and called for a competent engineer to lead the utilities department. She also said a June 5 inspection found galvanized piping on Derek's property but the city failed to provide the required 30-day notice, and she criticized utilities' meter-box-only inspection method.
• A speaker thanked the council for animal ordinance 3091, noting shelter intakes were about 9,000 last year and almost 5,000 halfway through this year, suggesting the ordinance is reducing intakes.
• Betty White and Blaine Mauer asked for more drainage scrutiny at the Royal Crossing development. White described flooding on Desert Drive after a short hard rain and said development maps show no designated ponding area; Mauer, of 2325 Desert Drive, said water bottlenecks in the area and requested a more extensive drainage review.
• Diane Starbuck announced a Southwest Coalition for Life gathering at the Okateo/El Cotillo Sexual and Reproductive Health Center on Saturday, July 25, from 8:30 to 10:30 AM at 4425 East Loman Avenue, with a peaceful pro-choice rally at the same time. Another speaker criticized Mayor Enriquez's prior endorsement of an economic boycott against the center and urged neutrality. Leslie Woods said the Texas-led protest has no place in New Mexico and asked the mayor not to let personal faith interfere with duty.
• Juan Garcia praised the civil meeting, called the DOJ Model City Initiative a Trojan horse in a city council op-ed, and asked whether the city would apply. He also said Apollo Global Management had been dismissed from MMC litigation and parties were attempting to settle; he proposed preserving 1.2-1.5 million dollars in yearly investment proceeds, with $600,000 to nonprofits and $500,000 to medically necessary health care, possibly through a JPA with Doña Ana County.
• Rick Renault, a former District 6 candidate, asked the council to decide whether to pursue the Model City Initiative and wanted an answer that day.
• An unnamed resident accused some council members of gaslighting over no running water and galvanized-pipe issues, criticized Flock camera surveillance, and raised concerns about jail/ICE activity.
• Tim Jenkins expressed disappointment with two council members who criticized federal assistance, defended immigration enforcement, called the welcome city ordinance divisive, and asked council to prioritize public safety and the rule of law.

Discussion Items

• Agenda/conflict of interest: No conflicts were declared; the agenda was accepted unanimously.
• 7.1 – Resolution 27-016 (electronic payment services): Donnie Procise requested increasing the annual spending cap from $600,000 to $1,000,000 for Paymentis Corporation's electronic payment services. Utility payment transactions increased about 64% from FY21 to FY23 and 48% from FY23 to FY25; the fee is $2.15 per transaction, averaging about $52,000 per month. Approved; Councilor Carran was absent.
• 7.2 – Resolution 27-017 (MRA plan development services): Authorized an 18-month contract with Morrow Reardon Wilkinson Miller Limited of Albuquerque for MRA plan development in the Apadaka and Lyft Up area, not to exceed $240,390.80 plus taxes, based on an RFP with six proposals. Approved unanimously.
• 7.3 – Resolution 27-018 (2026 GO Bond ballot question): Placed a $26 million general obligation bond question for the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library renovation and expansion on the November 3 ballot. The library was built in 1979; the project includes first-floor renovation and expansion with 18-24 months of construction, and leverages a 2026 Capital Alley appropriation and $2 million in GRT funds. Public comment: Derek Pacheco opposed, saying the budget is out of whack and library hours have been cut; Linda St. Clair, president of Friends of Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, supported the project, noted capital and operating budgets are separate, and said design features aim to reduce operating costs. Approved unanimously.
• 7.4 – Council Bill 26-024 / Ordinance 3116 (NMFA flood control loan): Authorized a loan not to exceed $3,065,000 from the New Mexico Finance Authority for flood control projects, with an anticipated interest rate near 4% and MFA fee under 1%. Repayment comes from flood operating funds supported by the fifth one-quarter increment of municipal gross receipts tax; closing is expected August 28, 2026. Approved unanimously.
• 7.5 – Council Bill 27-001 / Ordinance 3117 (affordable housing land disposition): Authorized annual disposition of lots in the 52-lot Metro Arcadia Phase 4 subdivision to Mesilla Valley Habitat for Humanity and Tierra del Sol Housing Corporation for owner-occupied affordable homes: 10 lots to Tierra del Sol and 5 to Habitat per year, with administrative adjustments allowed. Staff described affordability restrictions, 15-20 year affordability periods, annual owner-occupancy checks, and income limits up to 120% AMI when no federal funds are used. Approved unanimously.
• 7.6 – Council Bill 27-003 / Ordinance 3119 (LEDA agreement with Gym Magic): Authorized a $50,000 Local Economic Development Act award to Gym Magic Child Development Center for a 10-classroom, 120-child expansion with $4.3 million capital investment and 37 full-time jobs. Starting pay is $19 per hour for untrained teachers and $55,000 per year for teachers with a BA. Funds are tied to employment milestones. Council members praised it as the first local LEDA project and a potential model. Approved unanimously.
• 7.7 – Council Bill 27-004 / Ordinance 3120 (repeal of select and policy review committees): Removed from the municipal code the public safety and finance select committees and the policy review committees (economic development, health, housing, quality of life, and transportation/sustainability/infrastructure). Council members cited transparency concerns and said work sessions will be used instead. Approved unanimously.
• Board appointment: Toby Turpin was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously.

Council Reports & City Manager Comments

• Councilor Matisse requested additional evening strategic plan meetings (6:00-7:30 PM) to reach working residents; the city manager said staff would pivot and return with an update. Matisse also asked for immediate factual responses during meetings to public comments about water quality; the mayor said public comment is not a debate but noted follow-ups and health data would be provided.
• Councilor Harris listed board vacancies (Transit; Health and Human Services district 3; Parks and Recreation district 3; Senior Programs/ADA; Animal Services) and praised Community Development's smooth permitting for a new out-of-state business.
• Councilor Bencomo reported on a Local Progress conference in Baltimore, including Baltimore's 60% homicide reduction from 2021 to 2025 through a public health approach and the Edmondson Village Shopping Center redevelopment. She also announced the Thursday morning Animal Services board meeting.
• Councilor Coran shared Baltimore sustainability and redevelopment examples, referencing the Griggs-Walnut Superfund site transformed into Hadley Sports Complex.
• Councilor McClure recognized Chief Jeremy Story's national hometown hero award, thanked Parks and Recreation and partners for the Fourth of July, welcomed Bohanna Houston's new building, noted the return of the city golf championship after 13 years, and mentioned an October 2027 Whole Enchilada Fiesta with NMSU. McClure also shared an anecdote praising a young person who offered to pay for a stranger's purchase.
• City Manager thanked council and said staff would adjust the strategic plan meeting schedule.

Key Outcomes

• The agenda was accepted and all action items passed unanimously, except Resolution 27-016, which passed with Councilor Carran absent.
• The 2026 GO Bond ballot question will be forwarded to the county by August 25, with voter education ahead of the November 3 election.
• Staff will consider adding evening strategic plan meetings and will provide follow-up data on water quality.
• No formal action was taken on public comment requests regarding lead/galvanized pipe issues, the Model City Initiative, MMC settlement proceeds, or Royal Crossing drainage; staff took note of these concerns.