Residents urge stronger business recruitment and Metro safety measures; council signals continued advocacy
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Summary
Public commenters and council members urged the city to pursue proactive retail recruitment downtown and to advocate for Metro safety measures, including Sheriff presence; comments included suggestions for hospitality spaces, outreach to stores, and concerns about homeless encampments at Metro terminals.
During public comment at the Aug. 11 council meeting, resident Margaret Saito urged the city to adopt a more proactive retail‑recruitment strategy for downtown Artesia and to create hospitality spaces to encourage shopping. Saito cited other cities’ successes in attracting outlets such as Tokyo Central and Sprouts and suggested suspending downtown parking enforcement temporarily, activating vacant storefronts with pop‑ups and providing seating and shade for shoppers.
Saito also raised public‑safety concerns about the regional Metro system, saying the city should advocate for a Sheriff presence on the Metro line to prevent a perceived influx of unhoused people at line termini. "We need to actively advocate for the Sheriff's Department to sweep that patrol before it gets to Artesia," she said during public comment.
Council members later discussed Metro safety during their remarks. Mayor Pro Tem Trevino said Artesia has consistently advocated for public‑safety measures on future Metro service that will run through the city and urged ongoing work with elected leaders at higher levels of government to secure safety solutions. Council members praised recent community events such as trail tree plantings and traffic‑calming tests and said those efforts complement economic development goals.
No formal council action on retail recruitment or Metro enforcement was taken at the meeting; council members directed staff to continue outreach and advocacy with regional partners and to monitor public‑safety issues related to the Metro project.