Advisory committee backs revised MPO bylaws, paving way to rename BPAC to Active Transportation Advisory Committee

The Sierra Valley MPO’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee voted to recommend revised bylaws to the governing board, including procedural clarifications tied to the MPO’s recent separation from the City of Las Cruces and a planned committee name change.

Andrew Ray outlined the proposed changes, which staff said remove obsolete language, align the governing‑board language with the joint powers agreement, rename the MPO officer position to executive director, and clarify appointment processes for advisory committees. The revisions also create a separate attendance policy for the governing board with excused vs. unexcused categories and prohibit in‑absentia elections of chairs and vice chairs for advisory committees.

Ray said the executive committee’s responsibilities were written out more clearly but not substantively changed. For BPAC specifically, staff recommended renaming the committee to the Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC) at the governing board’s June meeting; if adopted, the bylaws would take effect immediately and the committee would convene under the new name in July.

Andrew Bencomo moved to recommend the bylaws and Ashley Curry seconded; the committee approved the recommendation by voice vote. The governing board will consider the bylaws for adoption at its June meeting, after which the bylaws would take effect immediately, changing BPAC’s name to ATAC.

The committee’s recommendation is advisory; final adoption and any immediate organizational changes depend on the governing board’s action.