[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6265615,"mediaKeyId","3089704-c1e0ed7bc28e09cdd5a5881d36362df7","parentId",3089704,"title","Public speakers press council for stronger responses after Young Park shooting; many voice support for police","audioSeconds",1905,"startMs",3399000,"endMs",5304000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3089704-c1e0ed7bc28e09cdd5a5881d36362df7&start=3399&end=5304","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3089704-c1e0ed7bc28e09cdd5a5881d36362df7/thumbnail_3399000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6265615/Las-Cruces/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/Public-speakers-press-council-for-stronger-responses-after-Young-Park-shooting-many-voice-support-for-police","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265615-2e44a187fbfa8c7ab4ce72df683628e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770605836&Signature=O2nc4deRIf-ufzP0Ck2AXcPNxUas~rx7HdlVj1ihJxYBnPeYsuMUbLB7WwDLFRYauA7dkn8Zm34FkY10rBDRORRWaF8jx6sYdx86p~JfekvfKTKla2bFAfnS350V6aeFlMof0oXbqLPEMmUhzxOB0emkXrZ5qyRK7AOujJ~iqRGDqeE~2O~Kuvu2sUfhXqXio8wirqnZ7u5eQsVGb8sKWbPOTyrBknR2Ye1nf9XVYqVmdxB-2VI2DwWweRyILnkOm9A98cVjqjEpH7fsI5N4DLHsU1Kk6MncDQqJ38Lpygf-t4EEMozynFfrBIEuP6OOLdlythg9Hcp3izHg9hmr5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Las Cruces, NM","date","2025-04-22T10:28:49Z","article","Several Las Cruces residents used public comment at the April 21 City Council meeting to demand stronger local responses to youth violence following a deadly shooting at Young Park and to press the council on park safety and youth programming.

Speakers’ concerns ranged from calls for more park rangers and faster progress on the city skate‑park project to calls for stricter enforcement and juvenile accountability. Britney Gillenham, a parent who said she lives near Young Park, asked for an update on promised park rangers and criticized the long closure of the skate park. “It’s been nearly a year,” she said. She also urged discounted recreational access for low‑income families.

Several speakers defended police and Chief Story after recent public criticism. Chief Tim Jenkins addressed remarks made at a prior council meeting and said running the police department requires sacrifices and that criticism from people who have not done the job is “highly offensive.” Eddie Thomas, who identified himself as a petition organizer and resident, said, “I for one support Chief Story and my money is on him.” Donna Stryker also thanked the chief for his professionalism and urged civility in public comment.

Other speakers urged systemic responses: Sarah Smith said schools and families must teach self‑control and respect for others and called on the council to ensure laws are applied equally and to consider measures such as a teen curfew and greater police pay to improve recruitment and retention.

What councilors said: several councilors acknowledged the public comments and said they will continue to pursue safety, youth programming, and neighborhood engagement. Council members said they will consider revisiting public‑comment procedures to address concerns about meeting timing and civility, and staff and council members pointed speakers to department staff present to answer operational questions (for example, parks staff responded to skate‑park and ranger questions).

Why it matters: speakers tied public‑safety concerns to parks, youth services and police staffing. The city has limited local authority over state juvenile statutes, but councilors and staff said they can pursue local measures such as additional park resources, enforcement priorities and budget decisions that affect staffing.

Ending: residents urged immediate action to improve park safety, youth engagement and enforcement; no formal council motions specific to new public‑safety policy were recorded during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Las Cruces Council Meeting - April 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents used the council’s public‑comment time on April 21 to demand action on youth violence and to express support for Chief Story and Las Cruces Police Department; speakers asked for more park resources, officer staffing and enforcement changes.","taxTitle","Las Cruces, Doña Ana County, New Mexico","taxId",2725,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6265620,"Residents tell council Las Cruces Utilities’ lead‑pipe inventory and testing methods leave gaps, call for independent review",382,3008000,3390000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3089704-c1e0ed7bc28e09cdd5a5881d36362df7&start=3008&end=3390","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3089704-c1e0ed7bc28e09cdd5a5881d36362df7/thumbnail_3008000.jpg","/articles/6265620/Las-Cruces/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/Residents-tell-council-Las-Cruces-Utilities-leadpipe-inventory-and-testing-methods-leave-gaps-call-for-independent-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265620-909490816aead9afecb83e921ef9c9a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770605836&Signature=amjOSIOFXsdoCsraYMA9UHBXefbuxeBzEZ7knhBHf1qJtlO3iZYgKWv2ezZfDMl6etleX2~AY6e0J-0As7AjcGbFUF9fkKZzQCSXWJrzhNks~M1iR8C1ePEdmyZdM~-AkYiezRjvBg23r1mRDyapvNQgnVUNgXbZoF7QH-TBO3~vM4UvzAyDYo01FBF2VonBEdrA1nDr~6ZlYUXzFiOQN2ZC8YTQsjzp-1GslGTDUbsaH0qGuao1y5qFGvEunBVPCwQn4LlDkZHDY183P-hH7Unym-AQT3e8fkYWr~RNVzB744ez1-9oZlU8StxFwpq8etj0FhiqHdexa7JGxfftYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents asked Las Cruces City Council on April 21 to require an independent technical review of Las Cruces Utilities’ approach to complying with the Environmental Protection Agency’s revised Lead and Copper Rule (LCR), saying the utility’s inventory and testing methods omit many service lines and may undercount lead lines.

Lynn Moorerer, who identified herself as a resident and activist, told the council city records show 65 properties with no listed service lines and that more than half of neighborhoods and numerous schools appear missing from the utility’s inventory. “It’s a lot easier to boast no lead pipes when the city is ignoring half the city’s pipes,” she said during the public‑comment period.

Liz Rodriguez Johnson raised related concerns about how the map classifies pipes by installation date, telling the council that some lines installed before the 1986 lead ban are marked nonlead without verification and that the inventory contains many “unknowns.” She said callers have been told no financial help is available for replacement despite federal funding programs being in place and urged the council to engage an experienced engineer with management experience to evaluate the utility’s implementation of the rule.

What residents say: speakers described three core problems:
- Missing or incomplete inventory records for a large portion of the city, including elementary and middle‑school areas;
- Testing and classification methods that residents described as “deficient,” producing false negatives; and
- Inconsistent public communications about financial assistance available for service‑line replacement.

What staff and council said: during the meeting staff did not present a formal response to these public‑comment concerns; the speakers asked the council to publicly disclose the inventory and to contract an independent engineer to verify the inventory and testing approach. No formal council motion or vote on the subject was recorded at the April 21 meeting.

Why it matters: the EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule requires utilities to create a complete and accurate inventory of service lines and to replace lead lines on a timeline determined by the rule. Incomplete inventories or inaccurate testing can delay replacements and affect which property owners receive notification or replacement assistance.

What residents asked council to do next: attendees requested the council require Las Cruces Utilities to publish a complete inventory, to disclose the methodology used to classify materials, to confirm where verification testing has occurred, and to engage one or more independent engineers to evaluate the utility’s procedures and public communications. They also asked the council to publicize federal funding options for homeowner assistance.

Ending: speakers urged prompt city action to correct the inventory and to ensure transparency so homeowners know whether they have lead service lines and what financial help is and will be available.","During public comment at the April 21 Las Cruces City Council meeting residents urged an independent engineering review after raising concerns that the city's inventory and testing approach for the EPA Lead and Copper Rule omit neighborhoods and undercount hazardous service lines.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6265624,"City Council approves contracts, CIP changes and airport master plan; several on-call and planning contracts awarded",2311,5653000,7964000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3089704-c1e0ed7bc28e09cdd5a5881d36362df7&start=5653&end=7964","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3089704-c1e0ed7bc28e09cdd5a5881d36362df7/thumbnail_5653000.jpg","/articles/6265624/Las-Cruces/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/City-Council-approves-contracts-CIP-changes-and-airport-master-plan-several-on-call-and-planning-contracts-awarded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265624-39fd35cc6af7fd3cea5a4ad02e5a4e16/orig.mp4?Expires=1770605836&Signature=C8OiM0LmRqrXhRuiI2tELhxWp9UrwtLtv03cpQOqXqUi17TWMCaJnTfCujJ-Mh8-1cTbqszMOoXsvhOP6z5aI4-8chfEMreuo5Esig1GlVKmwGH-PWfhlsxGVb86kG-612Zuwyuov8CKu65exJ3HeFLvOtvysDRZl0m2tPnuL799WsyuguY5HrLptuP3j8RnRebCUv3qLMwzZBZUzRsxz2RCo9KZLqQ5iA3pAxV~LdO-WdeF9ufYZRm0Hn3GNJYH1nOV9khG-9N7ZXleHFb5EyoQ1NMwKk3S0YbVItFxMA7Vqnehh4uWU3x1qPwGG1-3jySqw0iVY5oCbaK2PQNBMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Las Cruces City Council on April 21 approved a slate of resolutions authorizing contracts and amending capital plans, including a $131,000 contract for a HUD consolidated plan and a pair of five‑year on-call landscape architectural contracts with annual not-to-exceed amounts of $2,000,000 per vendor.

The council’s action included: a contract award to Root Policy Research (Denver) to prepare the five-year HUD consolidated plan and affordable housing plan; authorizations for multiple landscape-architecture firms on an on-call basis; adoption of Roadrunner Transit’s Title VI (civil-rights) triennial update; acceptance of quarter budget adjustments tied to debt-service transfers for an $18 million bond; amendments to the FY2025–2030 capital improvement program, including a proposed traffic signal at Bataan Memorial and Rinconada; and adoption of the 2024 Las Cruces International Airport Master Plan.

Why it matters: the consolidated plan work is required for continued Community Development Block Grant and HOME program funding. The on-call architecture contracts give Parks and Recreation a pool of firms to expedite park and landscape projects. The CIP amendments direct funds already appropriated toward a traffic signal project and municipal‑court rehabilitation, while the budget adjustments apply general‑fund transfers and cover bond issuance costs. Adoption of the airport master plan positions the city to pursue rural air‑service and infrastructure grants.

Key approved items and details:
- Resolution 25‑120: Contract with Root Policy Research for HUD consolidated plan and affordable housing plan; contract price not to exceed $131,000 (subject to budget appropriations). Motion to approve moved by Grama; seconded by Corinne. Vote: unanimous (Councilors McClure, Matisse, Graham, Kranz, Flores, Bencomo and Mayor Eric Enriquez voted yes). (Presented by Lisa Padron, Purchasing Specialist.)

- Resolution 25‑121: On‑call landscape architectural design services. Contracts awarded to Moulton Corbin & Associates (Las Cruces), Site Southwest LLC (Albuquerque) and Stantec Consulting; contract term five years; not-to-exceed $2,000,000 per vendor annually (subject to appropriations). Motion to approve moved by Corn; seconded by [recorded]. Vote: unanimous. (Presented by Lisa Padron; Parks Director Steven Ban answered questions on project selection and budgeting.)

- Resolution 25‑122: Roadrunner Transit Title VI (civil-rights) triennial update. The plan documents nondiscrimination obligations tied to federal transit funding and records no Title VI complaints since the prior update. Motion to approve moved by Grama; seconded by Corn. Vote: unanimous. (Presented by Richard Hanway, Transit Director.)

- Resolution 25‑123: Acceptance of quarter budget adjustments. Adjustments include a $562,000 general‑fund transfer to cover FY2025 principal and interest on an $18,000,000 bond and $254,000 added to the liability claims fund for bond issuance costs. Motion to approve moved by Grant; seconded. Vote: unanimous. (Presented by Vanessa Perez, Budget Analyst.)

- Resolution 25‑124: Amendments to the FY2025–2030 Capital Improvement Program. Changes reflect newly accepted grants, reallocation of funds from completed roof projects to other capital projects, and a proposed $1.5 million signal installation at Bataan Memorial and Rinconada (project on NMDOT right-of-way; maintenance agreement to follow). Motion to approve moved; seconded. Vote: unanimous. (Cynthia Lomillo, CIP manager, and David Seville, Public Works director, described the signal and Municipal Court rehabilitation scope.)

- Resolution 25‑125: Adoption of the 2024 Las Cruces International Airport Master Plan. The plan was developed following FAA guidance and includes an approved forecast that, for the first time in the airport’s forecasts, anticipates interstate passenger service (the staff said Phoenix is the target). The council approved the plan unanimously. (Presented by Andy [last name not specified], Airport staff.)

Other business: the council approved a contract list of board appointments and appointed Dr. Buellink Gardner to the Animal Services advisory board (motion and vote recorded as unanimous). Several staff and volunteers were recognized, including Christine Rivera for a municipal‑clerk award and Coach George Meyer for a certificate of excellence.

What’s next: most contracts are subject to budget appropriations and standard procurement procedures; the MDOT maintenance agreement required for the Bataan signal will be brought forward after construction. The airport master plan provides a template for future capital requests and grant applications.

Ending: councilors recorded unanimous votes on each of the listed items at the April 21 meeting; staff said implementation steps and reporting will follow the city’s standard procurement, budgeting and CIP processes.","At its April 21 meeting the Las Cruces City Council unanimously approved multiple resolutions including a HUD consolidated-plan contract, on-call landscape architecture contracts, a transit civil-rights update, quarter budget adjustments tied to a recent bond, amendments to the capital improvement program and the airport master plan.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public speakers press council for stronger responses after Young Park shooting; many voice support for police

Residents tell council Las Cruces Utilities’ lead‑pipe inventory and testing methods leave gaps, call for independent review

City Council approves contracts, CIP changes and airport master plan; several on-call and planning contracts awarded