Rio Rancho Parks & Recreation Commission approves minutes, hears park and aquatics project updates

The Rio Rancho Parks & Recreation Commission approved the meeting minutes and heard a series of staff project and program updates during a regular meeting where no public hearings or deliberations were held.

Commissioners approved the minutes by roll call; Commissioners Herrera, French Barger, Leeding and Marsh voted yes. No other formal actions or ordinances were taken.

Projects Division Manager Diane Sonnier told commissioners that construction at Campus Park has advanced notably, with large terrace blocks installed on the hillside and decorative paving placed near the King Boulevard and Civic Center Circle entry. "The intent is to have the project that substantial completion by the April 11," Sonnier said, while noting some light poles have long lead times and may not be delivered by that date. The city plans extra time so staff can prepare the park for the Park in the Park car show scheduled for April 26.

Sonnier said a pre-construction meeting for Broadmoor Senior Center phase 2 — which includes a multipurpose room and outdoor programming space — will be scheduled after pending state approvals; she estimated the work would take at least nine months and hopes for completion before the end of the calendar year. She also reported trenching will begin for underground cable for new lighting at the Rio Rancho Sports Complex to illuminate Little League fields 3–6, and that the sports complex playground is about "90% done," with safety surfacing waiting for warmer temperatures.

Bond-funded park projects were also discussed. At Star Heights Park and Recreation Center, two old asphalt basketball courts have been demolished and are being replaced with concrete courts, and equipment for the Vista Sandia playground replacement and shade structure has been ordered; city staff said construction could begin in April and take about two to two-and-a-half months once started.

On pools and aquatics, Bianca Baca, division manager for aquatics, said the new filter project that began last year was completed on Feb. 7. "It looks like a brand new pump room," Baca said. She added that design work is underway to replace the Rio Rancho Aquatic Center's HVAC and lighting with a projected timeline for construction beginning in September. At Haines Pool, staff are replacing the pool heater (installed before the outdoor season in May is the target) and plan to resurface a fiberglass slide and refurbish its metal structure.

Sonnier also mentioned the use of goats for vegetation management at the North End of the Rio Rancho Bosque. She said the goat program concluded for the season and would return only if the city manager and governing body fund it; she added the forestry division might provide alternate funding if necessary. Sonnier described the work as targeting nonnative species and tumbleweed stands and said the work would likely be a multiyear process.

Keep Rio Rancho Beautiful (KRB) activities were highlighted: staff will staff an information table at the Garden Expo at Loma Colorado Library on March 1 and offer a backyard composting class. KRB coordinator Nick Dahl was noted as representing Rio Rancho at a state-level anti-litter campaign event. KRB staff attended national and regional conferences on litter prevention, recycling and tree care, the commission was told.

Deputy Director Noah Trujillo briefed commissioners on camps and seasonal hiring: a spring break camp at Savannah Grande Community Center will run during the week of March 17 and is open to 50 children. Summer hiring opens the first week in March; Trujillo said there are roughly 86 aquatics positions and about 31 camp counselor positions, plus 12 junior camp counselor slots and four site supervisors under consideration. For summer camps, he said most sites will allow up to 40 children; the hub location will be limited to 20.

Director Connie Peterson reviewed upcoming programs and events and said registration for spring programs is already open. She listed spring events including a rummage sale at Cabazon on March 22, a vendor craft fair at Sabana Grande on March 29, the first Shop Local at Cabazon Park on April 6, an Eggs & Adopt pet adoption event on April 12 at Cabazon, and Park in the Park on April 26. She also noted spring youth sports seasons are expected to start about March 30 and run through June 1, and adult flag football is scheduled to begin around March 25 at the High Resort Sports Complex. Peterson said the AARP Tax-Aide program is available for seniors age 50 and older with low-to-moderate income for free tax preparation assistance.

No public forum speakers were signed up, there were no public hearings, and the commission had no items for deliberation at the meeting; after commissioners had an opportunity for general comments and no questions were raised, the meeting was adjourned.

Ending: The meeting record shows informational updates and operational planning across parks, aquatics and community programs, with staff noting timelines and funding caveats; no new policy or funding decisions were made at this session.