[{"_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",6160284,"mediaKeyId","5450739-3b2f3818b9e115d93a0e3bfbf71fc684","parentId",5450739,"title","Public comments spotlight ethics complaint and sharp exchanges over policing and council conduct","audioSeconds",548,"startMs",2168000,"endMs",2716000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5450739-3b2f3818b9e115d93a0e3bfbf71fc684&start=2168&end=2716","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5450739-3b2f3818b9e115d93a0e3bfbf71fc684/thumbnail_2168000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6160284/Las-Cruces/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/Public-comments-spotlight-ethics-complaint-and-sharp-exchanges-over-policing-and-council-conduct","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6160284-bede4e9ea5377f684338d515ec1abbf4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174681&Signature=a2aSPfU0N9xL53l63TY-GCj5bXmnjFpxFtzuiLwizBmfMQl1ZVKkHzWJZEg8chRc4y9t4E6i-Zc8CGszD3Z6DxQSHGzhl9mdIOjiLYE0x3rbsxjdVGZw1ziDzsgKUAsN6RJzvKJHF02q0z4ztK~G9e2TVKcgCVxSB4HDFvz7CuwwzcUxv5FfsrzyOiCWzfzgYZSbYV9pc3e1Ec4HgoqttDD4v0FcuKj2vruVVtAJCRznCMj~88jpMpofg3vAys39OpHFRPiJ8YobF5zwhfWWBsJKXooPKPC4KaypQVz-mWglLtFwJtpGRqawMM7c5dX26oklTHhkheQSgeE-m0lB6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Las Cruces, NM","date","2025-07-23T11:49:58.827Z","article","A contentious series of public comments at the July 21 Las Cruces City Council meeting focused on an ethics complaint and competing public perspectives about the police department and council conduct.

What happened: Juan Garcia told the council he had filed an ethics complaint after Mayor Pro Tem Bencomo accused resident Tim Jenkins of posting council members’ addresses online at a May 19 meeting. Garcia said the outside investigator who reviewed his notarized complaint concluded there was “nothing to see” and found no violation of the municipal code of ethics. He characterized the investigator’s review and the city’s response as a lack of transparency intended to protect an elected official.

Chief of Police Tim Jenkins and other speakers responded: Jenkins, speaking during public comment, thanked supporters of a recent Police Appreciation Day and said some council members were “boldface lying” about him by alleging he had posted councilors’ addresses. “Certain members of City Council can lie in council chambers and say whatever they want and never be held accountable,” Jenkins said. Other attendees voiced contrasting views: Jim Hurst said police need more accountability and criticized settlement payouts; Fred Huff read portions of a post shown at an earlier meeting and said it contained material Jenkins “probably never saw.”

Why it matters: The remarks reflect a broader community debate over police oversight, council conduct, and the handling of ethics complaints. At least one commenter said an ethics complaint was filed and later dismissed by an independent reviewer; the dismissal and the underlying allegation were both described during the public-comment period.

Discussion vs. decision: The matters were raised during public comment. Garcia said he received an official response on July 14 that the independent review counsel found no ethics violation. No formal council action or motion related to the complaint was recorded during the meeting.

Clarifying details: Juan Garcia said the alleged council accusation occurred May 19 and that his notarized ethics complaint was forwarded by the city clerk to an outside investigator; he reported the investigator’s final determination was that the complaint was without merit, and he said the investigator did not contact him or the other cited resident during the review. Chief Jenkins referred to the May 19 incident and to a petition to bring Realize Las Cruces to a resident vote that was the subject of an earlier meeting. Commenters referenced a Santa Fe New Mexican op-ed by Mayor Pro Tem Bencomo; speakers cited social-media posts discussed in prior meetings but disagreed about whether those posts published councilors’ addresses.

Ending: The council did not act during the meeting on the ethics matter. The exchange during public comment underscored tensions among some residents, police supporters and critics, and council members; speakers on both sides asked for accountability as well as transparency in the ethics-review process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Las Cruces Council Meeting - July 21st, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents and the police chief used the public-comment period to dispute an ethics allegation involving Councilor Bencomo, with one resident reporting an ethics complaint dismissed by an outside investigator and the police chief denouncing council criticism; speakers on both sides called for accountability.","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},6160289,"Las Cruces council approves fiscal-year adjustments, quarterly financial report and internal audit plan",1570,2807000,4377000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5450739-3b2f3818b9e115d93a0e3bfbf71fc684&start=2807&end=4377","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5450739-3b2f3818b9e115d93a0e3bfbf71fc684/thumbnail_2807000.jpg","/articles/6160289/Las-Cruces/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/Las-Cruces-council-approves-fiscal-year-adjustments-quarterly-financial-report-and-internal-audit-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6160289-5bb96f832bb314e9df6760af63b1ebe8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174681&Signature=LM4MVKIXG-7ghiv~g~JVucuIuoJWgdoqE6rjywU7LdRtsvmBuOPsMvrHppHVS7HYV2x9O3PKpFVIskKgMDTLORS6tFEALk1gF4MS-RSlM4nbdoy-tB1otDKf-N9X60aGsMCUoLyaKyrcZSLX-CKrR3dd6R8NajGjBeO7QU9JlG35tbitdau3wH2A2zwUPvBLEkzTJ2pSLFUz7MghqgCfVlWODtEtDqNVHxyCCPunft3ibtI-EMtP4-43G~ND20wS-C8mPM8djfRW20URYJLC6eq7OHO~CTv6con4WhkqGu9EXBB6~ltn2rHhPiC6bpgJXiPICwtmXva8MZpZMHImSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Las Cruces City Council on July 21 approved a set of fiscal-year-end and carryover budget adjustments, accepted the city’s June 30, 2025 quarterly financial report required by the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), and adopted the FY2026 internal audit plan.

Why it matters: The council’s votes close out fiscal year 2025 accounts, authorize carryovers and adjustments ahead of FY2026, and fulfill state reporting requirements so DFA can process the city’s budget. The internal audit plan is intended to guide compliance and risk-focused audits across city departments for the coming year.

Key approvals and amounts
- Resolution 26-012 (fourth-quarter budget adjustments): Presented by Vanessa Perez, budget analyst, the housing program requested an increase of about $402,000 for an affordable home-ownership revolving loan tied to an earlier resolution (23-102) and a sale of property that will fund the request; the Quality of Life department requested about $4,700 in program income for congregate meals; Public Works requested $60,000 from the Telstra facility fund for the Griggs Walnut monitoring well and $140,000 from the gas-tax fund for increased vehicle repair/maintenance expenses. Motion to approve: Councilor Graham; second recorded. Vote: Councilor McClure — yes; Councilor Matisse — yes; Councilor Graham — yes; Councilor Kran — yes; Councilor Flores — yes; Councilor Bencomo — yes; Mayor Enriquez — yes.
- Resolution 26-013 (carryovers and FY26-start adjustments): Perez said this first set of FY26 carryovers totaled about $732,000 in the general fund and included an IT carryover of roughly $329,000 for a VidaCore upgrade, housing carryover of about $186,000 for the Jardim De Los Ninos re-roof project, Parks and Recreation overtime funding of about $159,000, and a $57,000 carryover for the East Side Senior Center remodel. Other funds: Police requested $66,000 from the vehicle-forfeiture fund for traffic-study software; Public Works requests totaled approximately $1.6 million from the GRT Street Maintenance Fund for lighting, pavement marking, sidewalk program and system modernization; a Telstra facility fund line was adjusted by $2,000,000 to reflect original project allotments (Peachtree project). Motion to approve: Councilor Grant; vote recorded: Councilor McClure — yes; Councilor Matisse — no; Councilor Graham — yes; Councilor Grama — yes; Councilor Flores — yes; Councilor Bencomo — yes; Mayor — yes.
- Resolution 26-014 (June 30, 2025 quarterly financial report): Josh Saffel, finance department, summarized that the report is submitted under NMSA 1978 Section 6-6-2 and required by DFA’s Local Government Division; the city reported preliminary figures as of July 8: general fund revenues $173,837,725 and general fund expenditures $119,018,841; all other funds revenue $221,970,681 and expenditures $187,510,849. Council approved the resolution unanimously.
- Resolution 26-015 (FY26 internal audit plan): City Auditor Viola Perea presented the FY26 internal audit plan, which is based on a citywide risk assessment and Institute of Internal Auditors standards; she said the plan was reviewed by the oversight committee and noted planned follow-up audits and four new audits for FY26. Oversight committee membership named in the meeting included a volunteer chair and two additional public members plus two council liaisons (Mayor Pro Tem Bencomo and Councilor Matisse). The plan was adopted by resolution.

Discussion and questions: Councilor Flores asked about the Meals on Wheels/congregate-meals funding source and continuity; Quality of Life Director Carol Bray said the congregate meals program is funded primarily by Title III (Older Americans Act) funds, supplemented by state and city funding, and that donations increased last year as participation rose. Josh Saffel said the DFA fourth-quarter report must be filed by July 31 and that DFA requires the resolution with the report for budget processing.

Decisions: Council approved the listed resolutions and adjustments by recorded roll-call votes. One councilor (Matisse) voted no on resolution 26-013; other measures passed. No amendments were recorded on the dais.

Ending: The council completed the fiscal and audit items that staff said are needed for DFA submission and for moving the FY26 budget process forward. Staff offered to provide detailed backup in the council packets for members requesting more information.","Council voted to accept fourth-quarter and carryover budget adjustments, approve the FY25 quarterly financial report required by DFA, and adopt the FY26 internal audit plan; votes and funding amounts were recorded for multiple departments.",{"_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},6160291,"Residents urge action after alleged gaps in Las Cruces lead service-line inventory and sampling",389,1395000,1784000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5450739-3b2f3818b9e115d93a0e3bfbf71fc684&start=1395&end=1784","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5450739-3b2f3818b9e115d93a0e3bfbf71fc684/thumbnail_1395000.jpg","/articles/6160291/Las-Cruces/Doña-Ana-County/New-Mexico/Residents-urge-action-after-alleged-gaps-in-Las-Cruces-lead-service-line-inventory-and-sampling","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6160291-872d0447aa233d7717b1c7855d36aac7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174681&Signature=YJCNHmDvJmBtU67jg426iOvPy1AQA6uNU57X7bgg8j9Hk5MJEY~vn4E5k41sQGakgMsdZL5s5hYCgH4QaWJdg5InIVNFNCnMdlCerv5B34trE3y9e9-B7aIE9ryoYeGVxWkWCThrbJkFK7h2ECj2IIw3e0jZNUUyQ7P92rd36noqkpGQtzQBYJarVX8Vn8fUtOKzJZgSpcMgpmVKihb8dTp1ilP9OGTJ8KGFXI9wAO4vePxNHIqVwYU3oyVtYWySCtb-A9aCA6U~WmckPwgAjYWZMtKb67iF4-MLqf1ztiwiqIsD3u5aJ77Oi7A~jMVk-imgnMU-VnUBGitWS5Gbfw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Speakers at the Las Cruces City Council meeting on July 21 urged the city to address alleged inaccuracies in the Las Cruces Utilities service-line inventory and to offer required tap sampling under the revised Lead and Copper Rule.

Public commenters Lynn Moorerer and Liz Johnson told the council the city’s online inventory understates the number of properties with galvanized or lead-containing service lines and omits inspection dates, and that the utility is failing to offer tap sampling when customers ask. Moorerer said she brought “2 new discoveries,” including an inventory she said lists at least 56 properties as “galvanized requiring replacement” and inspection entries that indicate work done on Sundays and on Christmas Eve. She also urged the council to “hire a truly independent engineer with management experience to evaluate how the director and staffers are doing in complying with the new rule.”

Why it matters: The federal Environmental Protection Agency’s revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule require validated service-line inventories and, when consumers request it, sampling of taps where service lines are lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or unknown. Commenters said the city’s current public inventory and posted disclaimer undermine confidence that the city is meeting those validation and sampling requirements, which relate directly to residents’ drinking-water safety.

What speakers said and asked
- Lynn Moorerer, a resident and advocacy speaker, told council that the Las Cruces utilities inventory shows at least 56 properties designated “galvanized requiring replacement,” and that two of those entries appeared after a June 4 public statement she said misstated the count. She said the inventory once listed inspection dates that included “at least 114 inspections on Sundays and 2 inspections on Christmas Eve,” and that those dates have since been removed from the public display. Moorerer said the city’s website now carries a July 9 disclaimer stating the inventory’s accuracy is not guaranteed and said that, in her view, that disclaimer “effectively acknowledges violation of EPA requirements.”
- Liz Johnson said the Lead and Copper Rule requires water systems to offer to sample taps for any consumer who requests it when that property has a lead, galvanized requiring replacement, or unknown service line. “Nothing has been done to rectify this violation,” she told the council, adding that a resident who asked for sampling after a town-hall inquiry had not been contacted.
- Johnson listed funding and assistance programs she said are available to support inventory validation and replacements, naming the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, WIFIA, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and other federal funding and technical-assistance programs, and urged the city to apply for both funds and technical assistance.

Discussion vs. decision: Comments were made during the public-comment period; council members did not record a formal vote or take immediate action on the record during the meeting. Commenters asked the council and city manager for oversight and for Las Cruces Utilities staff to be directed to comply with federal validation and sampling requirements.

Clarifying details raised at the meeting: Moorerer alleged at least 56 properties listed as galvanized requiring replacement (54 of which, she said, were known to the city before a June 4 public statement), claimed the inventory previously showed inspection dates including 114 Sunday inspections and 2 on Christmas Eve, and said the utilities’ website posted a July 9 disclaimer about data accuracy. Johnson said it had been seven weeks since earlier public complaints and that a resident had not been contacted for requested sampling. Both speakers cited an EPA document (October 2024) describing validation requirements for service-line inventories.

Background and next steps: Commenters urged the city manager to instruct Las Cruces Utilities to comply with the EPA rule, to pursue federal funding and technical assistance for inventory validation and sampling, and to retain an independent engineer to evaluate compliance. The council packet and future staff reports would be the appropriate places for the city to respond with corrective steps or timelines, but no formal motion or timeline was recorded on July 21.

Ending: The concerns raised were lodged during the public-comment period. Council members and staff did not announce a formal directive at the meeting; residents requested follow-up through the city manager to Las Cruces Utilities and suggested applying for federal funds and technical assistance to validate the inventory and provide tap sampling.","Public commenters said Las Cruces Utilities’ online service-line inventory and sampling program contains inaccuracies and omissions and urged the city to hire independent technical review and to comply with EPA requirements for the Lead and Copper Rule.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public comments spotlight ethics complaint and sharp exchanges over policing and council conduct

Las Cruces council approves fiscal-year adjustments, quarterly financial report and internal audit plan

Residents urge action after alleged gaps in Las Cruces lead service-line inventory and sampling