Commission approves state grant for River feasibility study and Rotary Park master plan

The Truth or Consequences City Commission voted to approve a grant agreement with the New Mexico Outdoor Development Department to fund a feasibility study for river recreation and a Rotary Park master plan.

Presenter Mister Heschler told the commission the grant breaks into two pieces: a feasibility study that will evaluate river-user profiles, location analysis and cost summaries, and a master plan to integrate trail connectivity and river access at Rotary Park. He described the work as exploratory and urged commissioners to treat the deliverable as a feasibility study rather than a commitment to construct an implementation feature.

“We received approximately $65,000 for the feasibility study and $48,000 for the master plan,” Mister Heschler said, and he added that the grant is structured as an $80,000 state award with a $40,000 local match. He said the study could identify alternative locations, including sites in Williamsburg, and noted the study would consider river ecology and water-quality benefits from potential changes such as removal of a dirt dam.

Commissioners asked about payment terms and whether the grant pays up front; one commissioner pointed to the agreement’s exhibit that specifies a lump-sum payment upon execution and valid invoices. After a motion and a second, the clerk recorded affirmative votes and the motion to approve the agreement carried.

The master plan will incorporate prior planning work, including the city’s comprehensive plan and earlier riverfront feasibility studies, and staff said the community will be engaged in the master-plan process. The grant scope includes consideration of a pedestrian bridge linking trail segments if appropriate.

Next steps: staff will execute the grant agreement, work with the state grant manager on project scope and schedule, and engage the public in master-plan outreach.