OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - February 16, 2026

Meeting Portal — Monday, February 16, 2026
BodyRio Rancho, New Mexico
SessionMeeting Portal
DateMonday, February 16, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 33:06

Transcript — Verbatim
0:07

I'd like to call to order the February 16th, 2026 meeting of Parks and Recs Commission.

0:16

Would you all please stand for pledge of allegiance to the flag?

0:33

Underground liberty just to next item on our agenda is approval of the November 20th, 2025 minutes.

0:54

Has everyone had a chance to review them?

0:57

Yes.

0:59

I'll make a motion to approve the minutes.

1:04

May I have a second?

1:10

All those in favor?

1:12

I can do a roll call.

1:13

Do a roll call, please.

1:14

Yeah, I'll do the I'll do the roll call.

1:17

I just is Commissioner Edwards.

1:23

All right, I'm gonna go ahead and do the roll call with who we have.

1:25

Um Commissioner Romero.

1:28

And do you approve the minutes?

1:30

Um hi, Commissioner Edwards.

1:33

We're approving the minutes right now, which I guess you weren't here last month.

1:37

Uh Commissioner Herrera.

1:40

Do you approve the minute?

1:41

Yes.

1:42

Uh Commissioner French Barger.

1:44

Here, yes.

1:44

And Commissioner Leading.

1:46

Here, yes.

1:48

And Commissioner Edwards, are you present?

1:50

Can you hear us?

1:51

Present.

1:52

Yes.

1:53

Welcome.

1:54

Thank you.

1:59

The minutes have been approved.

2:02

Next item is staff presentations, reports, and comments.

2:06

First up is Diane Sonye, Project's Division Manager.

2:12

Good evening, Ms.

2:13

Chairwoman.

2:14

Um, commissioners.

2:16

I'm gonna try and focus some of my comments this evening.

2:19

We'll see if it works.

2:21

Um, so some of our uh projects that we have under construction at this time.

2:26

Um we have already talked a little bit about our Vista Sandia uh park playground replacement and shade structure project.

2:35

Um the actual playground structure is in, they're working on the poured in place surfacing, which is like a resilient surfacing, and that's around much of the two to five and the five to twelve year old child playground structures.

2:50

It's there to provide not only fall attenuation but ADA or handicap access, and that's part of our plans going for forward whenever we replace playgrounds to comply with federal accessibility standards and our own 2014 ADA transition plan.

3:09

So that is underway.

3:11

This shade structure, I think it may have even been finished today.

3:15

It's a cantilever shade structure, so hopefully it'll add another element where people can sit and not only maybe there's some picnic tables that exist in that area, but maybe they can have a snack but also watch their children play, and that was a bond-funded project.

3:31

Um we also have a short uh uh 30 by 30 shade structure going in at Star Heights Park, and we've been working with the contractor on that.

3:40

Um, so we've come up with a layout and we hope to begin construction on that in the next two to three weeks.

3:46

Um, and that is federally funded.

3:48

So we hope to see that completed, and it's uh immediately adjacent to the basketball courts, which were recently replaced using governor uh the governor general obligation bond monies from the same funding year as the Vista Sandia uh playground project is.

4:08

Sorry for my uh misuse of words there.

4:12

Um we also happen to have two pool pump replacement projects that are in the per process of being purchased.

4:21

We're just trying to move some money, and once we have that, we'll be purchasing the equipment, and it would be nice to see if we could get those outdoor pool pumps at Haynes and at Rainbow replaced before the outdoor pool season.

4:34

Um finger crossed, we will be able to do so.

4:38

Um I don't know if any of you have driven by the Broadmoor Senior Center at all off of Broadmoor itself and then going into the senior center, but um we have been making steady progress on that project.

4:51

If you were to see the outdoor programming terrace, I think you'd be really excited because the concrete work is done, the shade structures are up, we'll have some artificial turf going in and some electrical for some lights and things like that going in.

5:00

We'll have some artificial turf going in and some electrical for some lights and things like that going in.

5:05

We're starting to work on the exterior hardscape and landscaping, and of course, the multi-purpose room, which will not only allow for additional programming at the Broadmoor Senior Center, it'll also allow for play of like pickleball indoors.

5:19

There is well, it's it's it looks like more of a room in a building every day that I go and look at it.

5:25

So it's it's doing pretty good.

5:26

Um we were hoping it would be done by the end of March, but we're have having some exterior conflicts with existing conditions of a sewer line that is conflicting with a critical point of drainage, and we're trying to find how to make both of those things mesh on the site.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████████████████46%
Personnel Matters██████████████████18%
Procedural██████████████14%
Parks And Recreation███████████11%
Public Engagement███████7%
Animal Welfare████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - February 16, 2026

The Parks and Recreation Commission met on February 16, 2026 at 1:00 PM. The meeting included approval of previous minutes, updates from staff on parks projects, maintenance, aquatics, summer planning, and upcoming programs. Commissioner Edwards was welcomed as a new member.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of November 20, 2025 Minutes: The minutes were approved by roll call vote. Commissioners Romero, Herrera, French Barger, Leading, and Edwards voted in favor. No opposition.

Discussion Items

  • Project Updates (Diane Sonye, Projects Division Manager):
    • Vista Sandia Park playground replacement and shade structure: Playground structure installed, poured-in-place surfacing underway. Cantilever shade structure completed. Bond-funded.
    • Star Heights Park: 30x30 shade structure construction to begin in 2-3 weeks; federally funded.
    • Pool pump replacements at Haynes and Rainbow: Equipment purchases pending fund transfer, aiming for completion before outdoor pool season.
    • Broadmoor Senior Center project: Outdoor programming terrace concrete and shade structures done; artificial turf, electrical, and landscaping underway. Multi-purpose room (indoor pickleball) progressing. Completion expected before summer, delayed due to sewer line conflict.
    • Campus Park Phase 2: Procurement of site furnishings (benches, trash cans, picnic tables, dog waste stations). Monument signage approved via mid-year funding, to be designed and installed.
    • Sports Complex Phase 3: Updated plan sets for code compliance to seek legislative appropriation.
    • Enchanted Hills Neighborhood Trail: Design grant received for replacement of 12-foot wide asphalt trail with ADA compliance and base course. Two-phase construction expected.
    • King Meadows Park: Design of parking lot replacement, formalizing basketball courts, adding pickleball courts (6-8), connecting trail from Willow Road, and small grass area. Phased grant funding sought.
  • Parks & Facilities Update (Charles Fernandez, Superintendent):
    • Seven new hires since last meeting, four started today, two more starting next Monday. Two openings remaining. One new position approved at mid-year.
    • Mid-year funding approved for site furnishings (replacement and new items) and playground wood chips for nine playgrounds.
    • Dry winter prompting early watering; winter projects concluding, spring startup beginning. Weed spraying to start in 2-3 weeks.
  • Aquatics Update (Bianca Baca, Aquatics Division Manager):
    • Hosted three high school swim meets, including a state qualifier with 13 teams. Positive feedback on facility renovations.
    • HVAC renovation near complete: pool deck air, lockers, party room, lobby, bathrooms, stucco done. Only cow panel (glazed window) pending. Test and balance started this week.
    • ICIP funding for new chemical controller at Cabazone installed two weeks ago.
    • Summer hiring: Seasonal positions go live March 2. Need 60 lifeguards. Lifeguard training April 16-20 (new certifications). Minimum age: 15 for lifeguards, 14 for junior lifeguards.
  • Deputy Director Report (Noah Trojillo):
    • Summer planning underway: Over 100 positions to hire across department, including aquatics and summer camps. Camp locations: Star Heights, Haynes, Cabazone, Sabana, Hub. Registration opens in April.
    • New spring basketball program (condensed season April 12 - May 17) registration already open.
  • Director Report (Connie Peterson):
    • Welcome to Commissioner Edwards (replacing former Commissioner Edder).
    • Upcoming events: Tree seedling giveaway (April 18), rummage sale (April 11 at Cabazone), Spring Fling craft sale (March 21), Shop Local (April 4), Eggs & Bagin adoption (April 11), Park in the Park Car Show (April 25), Brunch with a Bunny (March 21).
    • Ongoing programs: Kids Zone, homeschool PE, inline skating, little learners, gymnastics, cooking, swimming, land classes, archery, fitness, dance, clubs (stamp, crochet, chess), adult flag football, tennis, golf, sports programs.
    • Spring youth sports: YAFL, I-9, soccer, rugby, lacrosse, little league starting late March.
    • Adult spring sports: softball, tennis, fitness classes.
    • Early voting for March 3 municipal election: Locations include Broadmoor Senior Center, Loma Colorado, Sabana Grande, Hub, Southern Blvd. Early voting Feb 3-28.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved November 20, 2025 minutes.
  • Noted progress on various park and facility projects.
  • Welcomed new Commissioner Edwards.
  • No public hearings or public comments were held.
  • Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call to order the February 16th, 2026 meeting of Parks and Recs Commission. Would you all please stand for pledge of allegiance to the flag? Underground liberty just to next item on our agenda is approval of the November 20th, 2025 minutes. Has everyone had a chance to review them? Yes. I'll make a motion to approve the minutes. May I have a second? All those in favor? I can do a roll call. Do a roll call, please. Yeah, I'll do the I'll do the roll call. I just is Commissioner Edwards. All right, I'm gonna go ahead and do the roll call with who we have. Um Commissioner Romero. And do you approve the minutes? Um hi, Commissioner Edwards. We're approving the minutes right now, which I guess you weren't here last month. Uh Commissioner Herrera. Do you approve the minute? Yes. Uh Commissioner French Barger. Here, yes. And Commissioner Leading. Here, yes. And Commissioner Edwards, are you present? Can you hear us? Present. Yes. Welcome. Thank you. The minutes have been approved. Next item is staff presentations, reports, and comments. First up is Diane Sonye, Project's Division Manager. Good evening, Ms. Chairwoman. Um, commissioners. I'm gonna try and focus some of my comments this evening. We'll see if it works. Um, so some of our uh projects that we have under construction at this time. Um we have already talked a little bit about our Vista Sandia uh park playground replacement and shade structure project. Um the actual playground structure is in, they're working on the poured in place surfacing, which is like a resilient surfacing, and that's around much of the two to five and the five to twelve year old child playground structures. It's there to provide not only fall attenuation but ADA or handicap access, and that's part of our plans going for forward whenever we replace playgrounds to comply with federal accessibility standards and our own 2014 ADA transition plan. So that is underway. This shade structure, I think it may have even been finished today. It's a cantilever shade structure, so hopefully it'll add another element where people can sit and not only maybe there's some picnic tables that exist in that area, but maybe they can have a snack but also watch their children play, and that was a bond-funded project. Um we also have a short uh uh 30 by 30 shade structure going in at Star Heights Park, and we've been working with the contractor on that. Um, so we've come up with a layout and we hope to begin construction on that in the next two to three weeks. Um, and that is federally funded. So we hope to see that completed, and it's uh immediately adjacent to the basketball courts, which were recently replaced using governor uh the governor general obligation bond monies from the same funding year as the Vista Sandia uh playground project is. Sorry for my uh misuse of words there.

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