Staff reports building-permit activity and publishes targeted comp-plan RFP, names new chief planner

At the meeting staff provided a monthly building-services summary and announced a targeted RFP to update portions of the Doña Ana County comprehensive plan.

Albert (introduced during the meeting and later noted by staff as promoted to chief planner of current planning) reported that for March 2026 building services logged about 27 new single-family home submittals, seven residential solar applications, 76 electrical permits, 66 plumbing permits, 17 mobile-home permits and about 14 commercial building permits. He said total fees collected by building services were $74,670 and the combined valuation of projects applied for was $16,202,348.

Planning staff also announced an RFP to update parts of the county plan, scoped smaller than the prior comprehensive-plan update and emphasizing a projected general land-use plan and regional transportation issues, with a priority focus on Santa Teresa. Staff said the update will involve input from the planning commission and targeted public engagement.

Staff asked commissioners to participate on the RFP committee and said the county will provide future updates as the process proceeds. No formal action was taken on the RFP at the meeting.