Las Cruces gives quarterly update on 2022 GO Bond: Fire Station No. 9 design complete, housing projects advancing

Las Cruces staff provided a quarterly update on the city's 2022 general-obligation bond program on March 25, reporting progress on capital projects and affordable-housing developments.

David (identified in the transcript as public works director) said design development for Fire Station No. 9 is 100% complete and construction documents are about 90% finished; staff expects to put the project out for bid next month with an estimated cost of $3,200,000. He reported the East Mesa Public Recreation Complex construction is about 80% complete, that sod and landscaping work is scheduled to start in mid-April, and that some permitting requires final construction documents for the International Boundary and Water Commission.

Natalie Green, Housing and Neighborhood Services, said the GO Bond was sold on March 14 at a favorable rate and that bond proceeds will be available to the city after April 11. Green said several affordable-housing projects are in active stages: the 70-unit "3 Sisters" family apartment complex is under construction (building 1 has passed plumbing rough-in and foundation work is next), Pedrina Senior Apartments has started site clearing and work, and Peachtree Canyon completed a state finance board step and will return to council for final loan closings. Green said the city submitted two grant requests to the Department of Finance and Administration totaling about $4,000,000 and that 10 houses are under construction using the revolving loan fund.

Councilors had no additional questions during the work session. The meeting closed with a motion to adjourn that passed on a roll-call vote (Councilors McClure, Matisse, Graham, Kranz and Flores voted yes; Councilor Bencomo was absent).