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

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.