The Las Cruces City Council met on Monday, August 17, 2026, at approximately 1 PM Mountain Standard Time under Mayor Pro Tem John Munoz, with Mayor Enriquez absent. The meeting included a certificate of appreciation for retiring Chamber CEO Debbie Moore, departmental presentations, public participation, and votes on four resolutions and two board appointments.
You're live. Thank you. Good afternoon. Welcome to the City Council meeting. Today is Monday, August 17th, 2026. It's approximately 1 PM Mountain Standard Time. I am Mayor Pro Tem John Munoz. Before we start, I want to mention that we have the American Sign Language Interpreters available for every regular council meeting who are at the front for anyone who requires interpretation. We will start with the 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 Russes Police Department and Las Russes Fire Department as they keep our city safe 24-765 days. Please join me for a moment of silence. Councilor Harris, would you please lead the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under law and advisable. Now we will begin with the presentation of a certificate of appreciation. Okay. On the retirement of President and CEO of the Greater Las Russes Chamber of Commerce, Debbie Moore, I'd like to read uh a few only a few of many, many accomplishments that Debbie has attained over her years of service. Debbie Moore has been a resident of Las Christians and has served as President and CEO of the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce since May 2016. She's called New Mexico home since 1984. As a native of Claremore, Oklahoma, Debbie is widowed to her dear husband Bill, who passed away in 2018. She is blessed with the blended family of six children, 15 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Her chamber experience spans more than 35 years and includes leadership with the following organizations. There are so many awards to name, but let me cover a few. Honorary degree from Doña Anna County Community College, recipient of the Governor's Distinguished Public Servant Award, recipient of the Small Business Administration New Mexico Legacy Award. Debbie has been in many councils and many boards. Let me name a few, appointed by Governor Michelle Luhan Grisham as the member of the New Mexico Cannabis Regulatory Advisory Committee, where she currently serves as chair, appointed by the governor as a commissioner on the New Mexico Military Based Commission, appointed by the governor as a member of the New Mexico State Workforce Board, served and was very very instrumental in the Lost Russian Economic Recovery Council during COVID and its after effects, and sits in the Governor's Wim's Health House Memorial Task Force. Debbie has an extraordinary ability to unite and motivate very busy community and business leaders, volunteers, and partners. She has helped small business grow, strengthening both the local and state economy. Among the many accomplishments Debbie is proud of, one of the most meaningful is her steadfast support of White Sands Missile Range and Military Services. Debbie has also driven a strong and meaningful movement at the local, state, and national levels, expanding the chamber's contributions in advocacy in talent and enterprise development. Her impact includes 14 missions or trips to Washington, D.C. and the Pentagon. She has worked with six governors, numerous elected officials, and many boards throughout her career. Debbie's leadership has helped shape more than 800 leadership Las Cruces participants. She has supported more than 500 junior leadership participants and graduates, young people who represent the future of our community. In addition, she has worked with and supported more than 1,500 chamber ambassadors. Debbie, please keep on up. And I would like to ask the counselors if they would like to join me for a picture and presentation. Debbie, we cannot say enough to show you our appreciation and gratitude for what you've done for our community for New Mexico and the impact you've had on our lives. You've always shown uh an optimism for New Mexico and her people. As you retire, enjoy this wonderful milestone. I'd also like to uh bring up uh some chamber uh officers and visitors, um Chad, others in the middle. Not one to shy away from saying a few words. I didn't think I was gonna cry. Retiring is a trip. It's bittersweet. But I th I am very grateful for this council, the councils before this city, because they played such a pivotal role in my life. And um I am moving to Oklahoma to be with two of my children, and I will miss all of you. But I was watching Zootopia over the weekend. If you've watched Zootopia, and at the end, the bunny, I don't even know what her name was, was talking about moving forward and talking, and one thing I really value about our councils, about our staff here at the city is we may not always agree, but we have the conversations, and I just encourage you to keep up the conversations because that's important to moving our city, my new home forward. Uh I will miss you all dearly. Um I just want to shout out to uh a couple people, uh, three people that I worked with real close, uh see Mandy Leatherwood up there, the teethers and Christine, I think is behind me.