OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - May 18, 2026

Meeting Portal — Monday, May 18, 2026
BodyRio Rancho, New Mexico
SessionMeeting Portal
DateMonday, May 18, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 33:11

Transcript — Verbatim
0:11

There we go.

0:13

We're going to wait a few minutes to start the meeting.

0:15

We don't have a quorum, but we do have one more person uh that we're expecting, and that will give us our quorum.

0:23

And you know what?

0:24

She decided to come in remotely.

0:26

So it was Renee.

0:31

She was going to be there, but now she's okay.

0:40

So is he traveling up to Santa Fe every day?

0:48

Offices is part.

1:01

Let me know what you need in IL.

1:11

Okay, I do not know what we can make.

1:16

I guess we can do that.

1:24

Connie, do you want me to move over?

1:27

I mean you can if you want.

1:29

No, it's okay.

1:30

I'm I'm settled.

1:31

Yeah, next slide.

1:32

I think it's over here.

1:40

Oh, I shouldn't have to.

1:41

So Renee just tech, she's outside, doors are locked.

1:51

Bianca.

1:56

Hey there.

1:57

Hi.

2:04

Is it Renee we're waiting for?

2:06

She's on to come through.

2:08

We can.

2:09

I'm I'm outside.

2:10

The doors are locked.

2:12

No.

2:13

Anybody can hear me?

2:15

Oh hey guys, Renee is outside City Hall.

2:19

The doors are locked.

2:23

All right, by the way.

2:25

Okay.

2:31

Daughters of the American Revolution.

2:33

Thanks.

2:33

We all have an ancestor that served in the American Revolution.

2:39

We do a lot.

2:54

Yeah.

2:54

So many different different I could every weekend I could be someplace.

3:01

Just in the state.

3:22

Uh we're having something at the um Albuquerque Downtown Library.

3:30

Putting in uh different displays.

3:33

And then first Saturday in June.

3:37

We're um we're having a um round table discussion or forum.

3:47

Yeah, at the um Natural History Museum.

3:59

Okay.

4:00

Renee.

4:00

I won't find Ellen, not the question.

4:13

You ready?

4:14

Yeah, there we are.

4:16

I'd like to call the meeting of the Parks and Rec Commission to order for the May 18th, 2026 meeting at 604.

4:29

Would everyone please join me in Pledge of Allegiance?

4:35

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

4:44

Under God, an indivisible with liberty and justice crawl.

5:01

First item on our agenda is the approval of the March 16th, 2026 minutes.

5:16

I'd like to call for a motion to accept them.

5:20

I make a motion to accept the March 2026 minutes.

5:25

Do I have a second?

5:28

Any discussion?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation██████████████████████████████████████████42%
Procedural██████████████████████████26%
Community Engagement███████████████15%
Arts And Culture█████5%
Water And Wastewater Management█████5%
Youth Programs████4%
Workforce Development███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - May 18, 2026

The Parks and Recreation Commission of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, met on May 18, 2026, at 6:04 PM. The meeting included approval of previous minutes, staff reports on projects, parks maintenance, aquatics, and community events, and adjourned at 6:33 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of the March 16, 2026, minutes: Motion by Commissioner Herrera, seconded, and approved via roll call. Commissioners Herrera, Edwards, French Barger, and Leading voted in favor.

Staff Reports and Updates

Projects Division (Diane Sonier)

  • Completed: CDBG COVID-funded shade structure (30x30 feet), three benches, and two picnic tables at Star Heights Park.
  • Ongoing: Replacement of playground shade topper, surfacing, and possibly water fountain at Star Heights Park using 2024 Go Bond funds.
  • Campus Park: Monument signs in procurement; benches and picnic tables for shade structures.
  • Broadmoor Senior Center expansion (multi-purpose room, terrace) expected to be completed by June 2026.
  • Drought mitigation efforts along Rio Rancho Bosque in coordination with MRGCD.
  • Sports Complex North Phase 3: Design update for a new little league field (artificial turf, bleachers, lighting, dugouts) – bid documents forthcoming. State funding received.
  • King Meadows Park parking lot redesign and resurfacing in design.
  • Enchanted Hills Trail replacement (3.3 miles, 12-foot wide, asphalt) – design funded by Trails Plus grant; design completion by October 2026; construction phase requires 50% city match ($1M+ per phase).
  • Sierra Norte II Park Phase 2: Layout approved for eight pickleball courts, parking lot, grass lawn, pedestrian access, and street landscaping.
  • Upcoming: Procurement for skate park equipment replacement at Rio Rancho Sports Complex and playground replacement at Sugar Park, pending bond sale from 2026 election.

Parks & Facilities (Charles Fernandez)

  • Staffing: Six positions vacant, impacting weed control and park maintenance.
  • Ongoing: Weed control (spraying and manual weeding), multiple water breaks per week, Memorial Day preparation at Veterans Park.
  • Mid-year projects: Installation of site furnishings (benches, trash cans) at various parks via contractor.

Aquatics (Bianca Baca)

  • Outdoor pools (Cabazon, Haynes, Rainbow) opening Saturday, May 23, 2026.
  • Staffing shortage: Only 38 lifeguards hired (normally 50-58). Cabazon pool will be closed Mondays and Tuesdays all summer. Haynes and Cabazon will not open the week after Memorial Day due to graduations and school schedules.
  • Rainbow Pool open until August 9. Splash pad at A Park expected to open Friday, May 22.
  • Training sessions scheduled for new and returning lifeguards.

Deputy Director (Noah Trujillo)

  • Concluded first youth basketball spring league with 120 participants.
  • Summer staffing: Approximately 60 aquatics employees and 40 camp counselors. Camps full at five locations (Hub, Cabazon, Haynes, Star Heights, Sabana Grande), running June 1 to July 31 (nine weeks, no gap after school ends).

Director (Connie)

  • Recognized winners of the 24th annual Park in the Park Car Show (203 classic cars).
  • Free half-day landfill days in partnership with Sandoval County: upcoming dates September 19 and November 21, 2026.
  • Memorial Day ceremony: May 25, 2026, at 10 AM, Veterans Memorial Park.
  • Juneteenth celebration: June 20, 2026, 10 AM-2 PM, Haynes Park.
  • Fourth of July celebration: July 4, 2026, 5 PM-9:30 PM, Campus Park, including parade, kids' bike parade, fireworks.
  • Father's Day Tea: June 6, 2026, 1:30-3:30 PM, Cabazon Community Center.
  • Cabozone Parks Shop Local Markets: June 27, 2026, and continuing summer/fall.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes approved unanimously.
  • No public hearings, discussion items, or public forum.
  • Meeting adjourned at 6:33 PM.

Meeting Transcript

There we go. We're going to wait a few minutes to start the meeting. We don't have a quorum, but we do have one more person uh that we're expecting, and that will give us our quorum. And you know what? She decided to come in remotely. So it was Renee. She was going to be there, but now she's okay. So is he traveling up to Santa Fe every day? Offices is part. Let me know what you need in IL. Okay, I do not know what we can make. I guess we can do that. Connie, do you want me to move over? I mean you can if you want. No, it's okay. I'm I'm settled. Yeah, next slide. I think it's over here. Oh, I shouldn't have to. So Renee just tech, she's outside, doors are locked. Bianca. Hey there. Hi. Is it Renee we're waiting for? She's on to come through. We can. I'm I'm outside. The doors are locked. No. Anybody can hear me? Oh hey guys, Renee is outside City Hall. The doors are locked. All right, by the way. Okay. Daughters of the American Revolution. Thanks. We all have an ancestor that served in the American Revolution. We do a lot. Yeah. So many different different I could every weekend I could be someplace. Just in the state. Uh we're having something at the um Albuquerque Downtown Library. Putting in uh different displays. And then first Saturday in June. We're um we're having a um round table discussion or forum. Yeah, at the um Natural History Museum. Okay. Renee. I won't find Ellen, not the question. You ready?

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