Public commenters press water-safety notice, ADA access; city issues election reminder

Several members of the public used the council meeting’s public-comment period to raise service and access concerns before the governing body approved multiple agenda items.

A resident asked the council to make the City of Rio Rancho’s 2024 Consumer Confidence Report more visually prominent to draw attention to warnings that infants and some medically vulnerable people may be more at risk from naturally occurring contaminants such as arsenic. City staff answered that the report is a longstanding federal-required notice, that Rio Rancho follows federal standards and that the warning relates to naturally occurring arsenic, not PFAS.

Pat Saccia, who identified herself as a North Hills resident, described difficulty getting a walker over the curb at her property and asked the city to permit a curb cut so she can access her yard safely. “I have to put it in the street, and I have to get down on my hands and knees and crawl over the curb to get into a walker,” Saccia said, and she asked her district councilor to follow up after she said she had discussed the issue with the city’s ADA contact.

Another commenter criticized how residents’ dissent about the mental-health system is treated and said he had discussed concerns with Police Chief Steele; he asked the council to pay attention to those systemic issues.

Later in the meeting the city manager reminded residents of election dates: early voting runs through Feb. 28 and Election Day is Tuesday, March 3; absentee ballots should be dropped off in person at the clerk’s office or polling locations to ensure delivery by March 3. The manager also noted a US News ranking that listed Rio Rancho as the top place to live in New Mexico.

Councilors and staff acknowledged the public comments and the mayor asked staff to follow up where appropriate; the meeting then moved to public hearings and votes.