Las Cruces council cures Open Meetings Act violations and ratifies internal city manager hire

The Las Cruces City Council voted on Jan. 13 to cure Open Meetings Act violations identified by the New Mexico Department of Justice and to ratify its prior internal hiring decisions, including the selection and employment agreement for Akani Tomopeau as city manager.

The council approved four linked resolutions in a special meeting after public comment and a series of staff explanations about the state Attorney General’s findings. Council votes on the key items were: resolution 25-081 (limit search to internal candidates) — 5 yes, 2 no; resolution 25-082 (narrow internal field to three finalists) — 6 yes, 1 no; resolution 25-083 (review of the selection of Akani Tomopeau) — unanimous yes (7-0); and resolution 25-084 (cure and ratify selection and employment agreement) — unanimous yes (7-0). The final votes ratified the April 1, 2024 employment agreement the council had previously approved in open session.

The action responds to a December 20, 2024 opinion from the New Mexico Department of Justice that found the city violated the New Mexico Open Meetings Act (OMA) when council members discussed and narrowed the search in closed sessions on or about March 18 and March 20, 2024, and when the council selected a finalist in closed session. City Attorney Brad Douglas told the council the AG identified three main problems and offered two remedies; the council followed the AG’s preferred…