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Well, good afternoon.

Welcome to City Council.

Today is Tuesday, September 8th, 2026.

It's approximately one PM.

I'm Mayor Eric Enriquez.

Before we start, I want to mention that we have an ASL American Sign Language Interpreter up front.

We will 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 our courageous men and women of the Las Cruces police and fire department as they keep our city safe, twenty-four seven, three sixty-five counselor if you lead us in the pledge.

Anyone here for Aggie Pride?

Come on down.

I see we are being honored with the presence of Pistol Pete.

I'm so excited.

Well, for all of you, but obviously pissle pee.

And whereas whereas as New Mexico's land grant institution, NMSU has been a cornerstone of education, culture, and athletic excellence in the region since eighteen eighty-eight.

And whereas New Mexico State Athletics has long been a source of pride and entertainment for the people of Las Cruces and Doñana County, and is an important attraction that provides economic benefit to Las Cruces.

And whereas the city recognizes the mutual benefits of strong support of NMSU programs, and whereas with the beginning of the fall 2026 semester, we urge the people of Las Cruces to take part in supporting the Aggie's both in athletics and cultural events, as well as their academic endeavors throughout the school year.

And whereas the city urges fans to pack Agi Memorial Stadium on Saturday, September 26th, when Lobo Football comes to town.

Also, the UNM is coming to town for this women's soccer on the September 12th.

So also go to that, we will be there.

Now, therefore, we, the mayor and the city council of Las Cruces, New Mexico do hereby proclaim Saturday, September 26th as Aggie Pride Day, and encourage all citizens to show their support of the Aggies and wear their crimson each Friday.

Would you like to say something?

Do you want to say something?

Mayor, thank you.

Thank you all for having us here on behalf of NMSU Athletics.

This is an incredible day.

We have uh obviously school has started up and there's a lot of exciting things, and obviously UNM and the lobos are rolling into town.

Boo, right?

Um but we're we're just really we're really grateful for all the support from the city.

We're excited to get out and uh display and represent the Aggies the right way.

And so thank you so much for having us.

Okay, next we have Constitution Week presented to Beth Wallace.

Bess?

Beth, are anyone here for oh there we go.

Beth and I called each other this morning and said, What are you wearing?

I'm wearing red.

Me too.

Whereas the Constitution of the United States of America, the guardian of our liberties, embodies the principles of limited government in a republic dedicated to rule by law.

And whereas September 7, 2026 marks the 239th anniversary of the framing of the Constitution Constitution of the United States by the Constitutional Convention, and whereas it is fitting and proper to accord official recognition to this magnificent document and its memorable anniversary and to the patriotic celebrations which will come commemorate it, and whereas public law 1950 guarantees the issuing of a proclamation each year by the president of the United States of America, designating September 17th through through 23rd as Constitution Week.

Now, therefore, we, the mayor and the City Council of Las Cruces, New Mexico, do hereby proclaim the week of September 17th through 23 as constitution week, and ask our citizens to reaffirm the ideals of far framers of the Constitution had in 1787 with vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through the guardian of our liberties.

On behalf of uh daughters of the Constitu uh American Revolution and the citizens of our community, we thank you for this proclamation of Constitution Week.

Thank you.

I think that's it.

Next on the agenda is Departmental Highlights, Utilities, good afternoon, Mayor, City Council, Steve Betis, Deputy Director, Las Cruces Utilities.

So I'm here to clear the air of any uh misinformation regarding several topics concerning EPA's lead and copper rule.

The first one I want to talk a little about about is uh prioritization of disadvantaged properties and mobile home parks.

I think those have been uh some terms that and uh subjects that have been um spoken about quite a few of these meetings.

Um first off, disadvantaged, the term disadvantaged is not a definition um per the lead and copper rule revisions or the lead and copper rule improvements per se.

Um that term came directly um from the New Mexico Finance Authority and was part of our funding application um for work outside of the inventory.

Um I'm sorry, let me rephrase that, but that term was used in the application process.

It is a definition that you can find if you Google it through the New Mexico Finance Authority.

And uh as you would know, I uh disadvantaged is something that uh is uh a term used to classify communities for funding uh across the United States.

Um it is not something that uh that we're basically supposed to prioritize any of our work um that we do in relation to this project.

Uh it's just like I think one of the things that's been referenced referenced quite frequently is that our inspections needed to uh focus on customers who were disadvantaged, and that is not something that is a requirement per the lead and copper rule in general.

Uh moving on, uh our current field strategy uh our priority has been older areas, areas uh with many unknown uh service lines um at the locations within those areas, and uh our inspection priority has also um it also comes down to customer inquiry.

So when customers call me or someone in my department and express concern for uh this initiative and what their service line materials are, I will immediately uh put them on a priority list and we will try to go out and inspect those customers' homes the same day.

Otherwise, just going out into the community and and uh inspecting homes that are according to census data term disadvantaged or not, that hasn't been our main focus.

When when we've been out in the field, we've started at the oldest areas of town first, and I think inherently there is some crossover by inspecting in those older areas that we will come across areas that would be considered disadvantaged.

So moving on, another topic that has frequently come up is uh us uh Las Cruces utilities leaving out mobile home communities.

Um these mobile home uh from the service line inventory specifically.