Council - Regular Meeting

Welcome everybody. I'd like to call to order the regular city council meeting of January 28th [clears throat] to work. Miss Mayor David Romero here. Councelor Marvin Martinez present. Councelor Barbara Casey here. Councelor Bonita Pacheco present. Councelor [clears throat] David Ulivari here. Thank you Mr. Mayor. We do have a quorum. Thank you Marquez. If you don't mind leading us pledge. [clears throat] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Councelor Casey, a moment of silence. Let us have a moment of silence to remember those who have passed away um this month and pray for their families so that they can um get solace and peace after losing a loved one. Um I want to mention specifically Anna Marie Archeletta who is the mother of BFW commander Gary Ludy. She passed away last week and [snorts] um she was a wonderful woman who raised her children well and was very proud of the numerous u grandchildren and great grandchildren that she had. May she rest in peace. Mr.

May, Mr. I want to thank uh all the staff and everybody everything that they done for us and I I want to keep my prayers for one of my neighbors that passed away Benas because she's already buried but she's been a resident for the past 60 70 years up where I live and uh she's a good lady and just keep her in our prayers. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Mayor, approval of the agenda and I do believe we have a recommendation for an amendment from our city attorney. Mr. Attorney, Mr. Mayor, members of the city council, uh, at this m at this time, I want to recommend remov removal of business item number one, uh, due to a publication error. Um, that way it can be republished and brought to the council at a later date. Okay. And I know we have uh or maybe not.

Yeah, it looks like they left. So, okay. I just wanted to let them know. Okay. So, with that recommendation by the attorney, uh do I have a motion? So, move, Mr. Mayor. Have a motion with the recommended change. Uh approval of the agenda with the recommended change. A motion by councelor Casey. Do I have a second? Second by Councilman Martinez. Roll call. Councelor Levati. Yes. Councelor Casey. Yes. Councelor Bacho. Yes. Councelor Martinez. Yes, I have a motion by councelor Casey, a second by councelor Martinez. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Motion carries. Moving on to our public input. We did have uh one person signed up for public input. However, that item has been removed. Thank you.

Um moving on to our next item, mayor's appointments, reports, recognitions, and proclamations.

Okay. To start off here, uh I guess before I give my report, uh we could do the appointment. So, I know one of the one of the big challenges that we've had in the community is that there's been, you know, uh the department of community development, specifically the events coordinator, has been the sole, uh person, and I know he's worked with the community development director, but I know that, you know, going through, you know, the challenges that we've had in the past, a recommendation, I know speaking with most of you has been that let's put a committee together from within the community. So within that, I'm I'm uh asking for appointments. And what we did to make it fair to both radio stations is they'll both have an opportunity to appoint uh from within their perspective uh uh radio stations. One representative from KFUN, one representative from K&MX. So they make their appointments when they get me those names and we'll we'll I'll I'll bring those before before you guys. I also have the recommendation of Teresa Diaz. she is the uh one of the owners of the Plaza Grill at the Plaza Hotel and then April Matias which owns the spice rack there at the plaza and then uh the other one that I have uh is Mr. Alvin Hiron and Alvin Hon I just uh you know the recommendation for him is I know in the past he was very active uh within the fiestas and events and I thought that he would bring uh past experience of the fiesta committee in the past. So, those are my recommendations before you here tonight. I don't know if you have any questions. I did check uh you know, I know we try to get uh an individual from every ward and I did that. I mean, I only had three three the other two are I mean, it's at the the discretion of the radio stations, but I did my best to get from the whole city, not just within one ward. So, with that, I'll take any questions. If not, uh a motion to approve or disapprove, whatever the pleasure of the council is.

Mr. I move that we approve the appointments of Terresa Diaz, Alvin Hiron, April Matias, representative from KFN and K&MX to the events committee. Second by councelor Casey. Second by councelor Pacheco or councilman Leari. Yes, sir. Roll call. Councelor Martinez. Yes. Councelor Pacheco. Yes. Councelor Casey. Yes. Councelor Levi. Yes. Have a motion by councelor Casey. A second by councelor Levi. Thank you, Mr. Mr. Mayor, motion carries.

And and to go with that, I did give you a resolution. I know in our new charter, basically when committees are created, we create a resolution. I did uh give you that something that I'm proposing for next month. So, you kind of review that uh as soon as you can. I need to get that to uh legal so they could review it uh prior to us uh presenting at the next council meeting. Uh a resolution to basically give the scope of what the committee would be doing.

Okay. So just just for your uh awareness and uh with that uh as far as my report I just want to briefly say uh I did attend the opening session with the city manager for the legislative session. We had an opportunity to meet with many legislators. I had the opportunity to uh be one of the guests of uh representative Joseph Sanchez. Uh productive. Then we had the following day we we had a economic conference with Mr. Lucas Marcus and Scott Zunker uh where we met with the Secretary of Tourism and we invited him over and he took us up on it. We don't know a specific date. So, I think that's going to be important for our committee as we move forward. Uh this week pretty much uh did the same. I was asked I know we're really working hard through the economic development and helping the chamber. Uh we know that the chamber has kind of lost some leadership so we're trying to connect them with the New Mexico Chamber Association. So, we were afforded an opportunity. I was asked to be a guest of honor at the Santa Fe Chamber lunchon. Uh so we had that and then after that we had the Santa Fe uh Chamber of Commerce reception uh where we met with Senator Peter Worth and and other individuals. So a lot of networking the past uh couple weeks and we'll continue to do that. So uh that's my report the past couple of weeks. Um other than that, that's it for now.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. [clears throat] Moving on to our counselor's reports. councilors, I just wanted

I just wanted to report that uh myself and uh Councilman Pacheco and including the mayor, we uh we attended the newly elected um conference uh in Santa Fe and it was some trainings about uh newly elected officials that are part of the city city government and so forth And uh also to to mention that uh the mayor did he did um a presentation there at the one of the trainings which was it was kind of interesting to check out. So by all means it was a good training. It was also the Molly one uh training that we attended and uh a lot of good information in reference to just about anything procurement. Uh it covers even you know how a meeting should be run and so forth. So there's a lot of moving parts to city government that that are somewhat different from some of the things I've been used to in the past. So, uh, it was a good it was a good conference and, uh, we did attend all the days that were there and enjoyed that conference. It was very knowledgeable to pick up that information for us. So, thank you, mayor.

Thank you. I think I had Councilman. Okay. I [clears throat] was going to Councilman Lee or I just wanted to add what Go ahead to what he said. I'm sorry. Go ahead. And then I'll do my other one.

Uh, I just wanted to Okay. about this. I just wanted to add that now that uh Council Councilman Martinez and Councilman Pacco have attended the Municipal Officials Leadership Institute. That's what Molly stands for. Are uh all of us now are certified city councilors and certified mayor trained through the municipal league. And so uh it's a training that is it's not required but it I think it's a very good idea to go to that training because it provides a great deal of information about the different laws laws on such things such as uh human resources issues procurement issues um you name it it's in there that training and so uh I just want to say let people know that all of us are now trained And uh I have been since 2017 and so um [clears throat] uh I I'm very happy that and councelor Olivari was also at that same training with me and so he has been trained since 2017. So we know procedure, we know we know protocol, we know all kinds of things that we learned at that training and we continue to practice that as much as we can so that we have a decorum during our meetings. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, I just want to add to some of the stuff that's been going on on the whole city. Mr. Manager, thank you for all the work working on unattended uh yards and and and potholes. I know you worked on potholes. Thank you for all the work we've done on the potholes, but there's a lot of uh residents that aren't doing too much work on the on the yards. So, they're they're pretty bad. They look real weedy. A lot of weeds and unattended cars. I I think we have an ordinance out there that that gives us You can't hear back here. I think you don't have your mic on.

Okay. Uh, so there's unattended streets out there and and and and uh residents aren't clean their yards, Mr. Manager. And I I I think we got code enforcement working at that and their staff. I just want to thank him for all the work they're doing. And we it's all over town. It's not only W one, it's W two, W three, and W four. And uh they're working on it, but you know, we we've been working on this for the past few years. And it just takes a little bit at a time. and and sometimes we don't get it done. But, you know, I think we need to uh have code enforcement make a note on what they're doing. That way they can see what you what I get to tell you what we need to get done and that way we can have these people do their share. I just want to thank everybody on the work they're doing. Thank you, sir.

Thank you. Councelor Casey.

Thank you, Mr. [clears throat] Mayor. Um, I just want to uh I I want the street department to know that I received numerous calls on about the snow cleanup and [cough and clears throat] all of them were from many citizens that were so happy that you all did such a great job of cleaning the streets quickly. and they were very impressed and they said, "Please thank whoever was out there in the cold cleaning the streets and doing such a great job." So, thank you. And also, um, I had a request from a constituent that lives in Ward 2 about the the possibility of providing, uh, one of those book holders like they have uh, all over town, you know, where people bring and donate books and you can take a book or leave a book or whatever. at Hannah Park because she lives across the street from Hannah Park and there are a lot of [clears throat] children that go there and she has uh I mean like hundreds of children's books that she would like to be able to place out there for children to take home from that book holder. I don't know what they're called, but anyway. And then uh the last thing is and uh I I did have some concerns about the skating pond and I I sent you a a text and uh I didn't get anything back from you, but um the skating pond I was requesting a sign for people um because they posted pictures on Facebook standing on the ice that was cracking. And I'm really worried about people, you know, going out onto the pond, the ice cracks, they fall in, they drown or

injure themselves, and then they sue the city. And so if we could put signs up there, I think that would be a good idea saying, you know, thin ice or, you know, you can't go into the pond or whatever to keep people out so that they're not injured. That's it. Thank you. Thank you, councelor. Councilman Pacheco. Thank you, [clears throat] Mr. Mayor. So, uh, with my update, uh, still getting my feet wet, so be patient with me out there. I I just want to say, uh, thank you to all the city employees that that are out there. Thank you everybody in the audience. Uh, but if as I campaigned uh, for this seat, there there was some basic things that I was campaigning on.

One of [clears throat] those was was, you know, civic pride and public safety. So, as I looked throughout the ward and throughout the city and the feedback that I've taken over this last month, uh that's what I'm going to focus on. So, again, this is low hanging fruit. These are things that we can impact rather quickly. So, one, uh if you drive around the city, particularly War I, and this is nobody's fault. It's just it is what it is. We have to identify to correct it. uh the street signs on top of the stop signs, I would say you have probably about 30 40% missing off of uh Mountain View or and and Legion, just as a a general uh uh number. And of those that are on there, they don't match. Some are one style, some are another style. Uh so I just wanted to bring that to the attention of uh uh other counselors because I'm sure it's like that throughout the other parts of the city that I've seen and also to [clears throat] our uh uh our manager. Uh it's a simple thing that can look better. It can help public safety in terms of getting to addresses and and having clear street names whether it's police or fire or ambulance. Uh the second thing that I've looked at throughout the city and my ward is uh street lighting. So there's I know some street lighting is is uh highway department some city but they don't all work. So again that's lowhanging fruit. If if we can identify those that don't work and repair those that's a simple fix. Uh, and again, I'm just putting it out there for our city manager to to note and and and I'll have some recommendations at the end. The other piece that I've looked at and I've received quite a bit of feedback on is is uh our code and our ordinances, right? And uh I've been guilty of

myself. I'll I'll I'll code enforcement, you could you could uh you can't take me now, but in the past you probably could have. But uh I [clears throat] I I think it would be a good idea for us to get an inventory even of the properties that are out of compliance with ordinance. So we know what it is that that the challenge that we face. So do we have 50? Do we have 100? I don't know. I don't think anybody knows. and and then just take a measured approach as to how we proactively address that. Uh fourth, and I've talked to others and and uh about this uh I've mentioned it to the mayor and this one, you know, I I I probably could get a lot of feedback off this one. So, because I know people either love them or hate them, but are uh uh [clears throat and cough] the speed humps, the speed bumps, it depends which ones you hit, right? Not all of them are consistent. Some are literally a bump and some are lit literally a hump. And this is particular to war two because there's quite a few. We have quite a few that were in uh areas where this where we had schools in the past that are now closed. I would like to see some consistency in what those are, the measurements, the height, whatever it is. And I would like to look at areas that where they're no longer needed. I realize [clears throat] it's for public safety, but it's two ways for public safety because it slows down police response. It slows down ambulance response. Uh it they do slow traffic, but I think we have to look at other proactive means of of uh reducing or or regulating the flow of traffic, if you will. So, uh, in terms of what I would recommend, Mr. Manager, and and you know, you've heard me mention this,

those of you in the audience and our city employees, I I'm I like outcomes. I like measurable outcomes, and I think we could probably have some sort of inventory of our lightage, our lighting, our signage, uh, within about 60 days. Maybe not. I maybe my timeline is not not realistic. I'm just putting my thoughts out there. But I'd like to see some sort of inventory on our lighting and our signage uh in terms of the the city streets and the city lights. I'd also like to uh uh get an inventory of properties that are not compliant with uh co with our code. Um, and I'd also like to get a a count of the the speed bumps or humps within the city, which ones are within our standard ordinance, which ones still fall within the parameters of the set ordinance because there's a there's an ordinance that identifies where and how they should be in terms of, I think, proximity to schools or a neighborhood or the request from certain portion of the neighborhood. ood and let's try [clears throat] and get those up to uh uh to rectify what needs to be there and what does not need to be there. Uh with that, I'll close. I I just want to say thank you to my fellow counselors. Thank you to the manager. Thank you to all the uh staff that's here. I really appreciate it and I look forward to continuing to work on smaller items at first as we tackle some of the the larger items that uh uh impact our community.

Thank you, councelor. Thank you, counselors. I just want to acknowledge uh Dr. Dinder's in the audience. I know she tries to make our our meetings as often as she can, but thank you and congratulations on the $2.8 million for housing that you got up there. So, I just want to give you a round of applause. [applause] Thank you. [snorts] Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Moving on to our next item, we have our city manager report. We have our city manager, Mr. Robert Ania. [clears throat]

Thank you, mayor and councel. Well, I'm not going to read into the record the entire report. The report is provided to mayor and council and is published for the public's review. I would like to go to uh the back portion of the report uh to to highlight a few items that I think are of a large significance to to not only the the mayor and council but the public. Um uh we have finally uh started to receive uh resources from FEMA from expenditures that um the city has made uh through our own coffers as well as through the coffers uh and the uh resources provided in Senate Bill 6 by our legislative uh u members and but I would like to highlight that receipt of over over $3 million of resources and we're seeing additional resources starting to come. We have much more to get to. We have close to $20 million of expenditures that are either tied to city coffers or to Senate Bill 6. But uh I think it's uh duly noted uh that we are uh starting to receive some resources. The other uh highlight that uh I wanted to point out, mayor, is you noted it. We we are sustaining a a continued but even larger presence of not only yourself but myself and staff uh to the legislature. I had the opportunity with Mr. Lopez after the uh Northeastern Region Planning Organization meeting in Santa Fe at the municipal league. we had the opportunity to go to the legislature and and uh speak with uh not only staff but some of the legislators while we were there today. So the staff is going to continually be immersed in that uh legislative process in particular for this fiscal year and and right now uh as we work in the interim on the interim committees to be full-blown ready as a

collective uh staff and all of us uh to navigate and seek additional offunding opportunities uh but also sustain the the many funding resources that the mayor and council has supported and uh attained here at the city. Uh many other things uh noted in the report that I stand ready for any questions mayor council might have or any feedback that uh the public might want to offer uh to me uh and to the city as they review the many things that are happening within the city. Some other key things the um the audit uh was done on time. Uh we can't reveal the contents of the audit as of yet as it's not public. Um but [clears throat]

uh it has been submitted on time and and and and that's very important and crucial uh for financial management and uh maintaining the responsibility that we have to to covet those resources that we get from not only our tax base of our citizens but every other resources uh federal, state and local. And so I would at this time mayor and council stand for any specific questions that any of the mayor council might have relative to my report answers to the report that you received. Were there any questions the manager?

All righty. Thank you. And I know I did ask uh you know the city manager, the finance and the chief and I know we have uh you know uh a lot on the agenda tonight. So I asked him you know this one can be brief. We they'll be up next in a clear in a couple weeks anyway. But uh thank you for that. I just have one more request. Councilman Pacheco. So, uh, Mr. Manager, if could you send me a copy of that intergovernmental uh agreement? Absolutely. Just electronically is fine with me. Mayor, um, [snorts] uh, Councilman Pekco, I think that along with some of the other key agreements that we have implemented, we can send a digital uh, file to you so that you you can get updated. Thank you, sir.

You're welcome. Yeah. Go ahead, Councelor Casey. I'm sorry. I should have done this a little bit earlier, but this is for Dr. Linder. It took a woman. [laughter] We'll see. It's going to take a lot of us to get it done. A lot of men and women to get it done. [laughter] Sorry. Thank you. Couldn't control myself. Couldn't you couldn't resist. I couldn't resist. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. M Moving on to our uh finance report, we have our finance director, Mr. Morris Madrid. [clears throat]

Good evening, mayor and council. Uh in general, our finances continue to be strong. Uh just as a few highlights, our gross receipts tax continue to climb. We are ahead of our projections and if you look at the report you'll see that we are ahead of last year's actuals compared to this year's actuals. Our spending is also strong. It is up and that's what we intended and it's a result of increased compensation you can see in the police department, fire department and then across the board. This is a result of not only filling vacant positions but increased compensation. So the entire outlook is good. Uh I did I have completed my first draft of a mid-year review of the general fund. I'll be reviewing uh that with the manager and with the department heads and uh as as we did last year developing a plan to use any unspent money prior to the end of the year. I'm going to extend that to all the internal service funds, special revenue funds, and enterprise funds also. They're a little more restricted. They don't have the same flexibility, but uh there is always opportunity to utilize our resources better. Um in the enterprise funds, I don't I have a couple of funds that I do need to study a little more closely, and that's water and wastewater. Um I'm not sure whether uh consumption is lower or revenues are lower, but it it is something that I do need to take a look at and just keep an eye on over the next couple of months. You'll see that the gas fund is uh lower than uh the percentage of revenues lower than the the time of year. It's less than

half. That's not a concern. Our recent cold snap is going to spike those revenues. they they will come back in line and we'll monitor them too. The recreation department really has nothing new. Lodgers tax is strong. They continue to collect. That's going to be one of the uh midyear adjustments that we will be making and bringing back to you. Uh they developed a plan for the first half of the year. They'll have a plan for the second half of the year. But those revenues and cash reserves continue to be strong. In the uh cannabis fund is that's the collections have been routine. In the opioid fund, we did get another infusion of funding. So our actuals are uh higher than we had expected. We didn't uh project that in our budget. We will make that budget adjustment before the end of the year.

Hold on, Mr. Madrid. So, you're saying that we got another settlement that came in? Yes, we got another settlement payment. And just to be clear, and then I know that uh Councilman Pacheco had asked about that fund in one of his requests. So, and we had spent it. So, you're saying now we have Yes, we have more available cash. Okay. Thank you.

And and we'll we'll bring forth a budget adjustment for that. I think one that's one of the considerations that should be on the table for the governing body when you formulate your retreat. Uh the final thing is in our cash balance uh they continue to be healthy. We have been sending reimbursements to the state for the water treatment plant. So we will be transferring cash from the state treasur back to our local bank banks to reimburse us. Um, basically as the as the manager said, we did complete the audit and we can't discuss what the results are, but I am comfortable saying that it will [snorts] reflect uh progress and improvement. And with that, I stand for any questions.

Thank you, Mr. Madrid. And I just want to note uh, you know, just to be clear and and open and transparent, uh, you know, uh, payments have been made to the New Mexico Environment Department. That's why you're talking about to the state. Just to be clear, uh, and we're up to date on payments with the environment department. We are up to date and that and that relates to the undergo and governmental agreement that councelor Pachek was referring to. So, okay. Thank you. Any questions, Mr. Councilman?

Mr. Madrid. So, those those payments aren't coming directly from our funding directly to the uh the vendors that are out there, correct? No, they they are u the 98 million that we got directly from FEMA that we placed in the state treasures office investment pool that is money is being u we get invoiced by the environment department and we pay the environment department. It's their responsibility to pay the vendors. Okay. I just wanted to be clear as well that you know for the for the record our agreement does not allow us to make direct payment. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

So, I just had a question, Mr. Councilman Pekco.

So, uh I'm just becoming familiar with the whole process, but I do find it interesting like the uh natural gas in the enterprise funds that so little of the budget is spent at this point and that seems to be the norm if I look back at last year's actuals. Is there a reason for that? Well, uh, natural gas in particular is very seasonal. They may, while they may expend money steadily throughout the year or even have a big spike at the beginning if they buy equipment in in July and August, their revenues won't be generated until the weather gets cold. And even then, there's a delay in the billing versus the collection. So while November may be freezing, that revenue may not hit our records until the middle of January when the bills go out and and are paid. So they're cyclical.

Uh water, for example, is the consumption is a lot higher in the summer. Uh solid waste should be fairly steady and and it is. Water and waste water are directly correlated because the wastewater billing is based on the water consumption. But we can go through those cycles in in more detail if you like. Thank you. That that clarifies it for me. Okay. Thank you. Anything to add to that, Mr. Manager? And that report? No. Thank you, Mayor. Moving on to our next item, our police chief's report. We have our police chief, Mr. Caleb Marcus.

Mr. M, I do want to say this. Uh, and so I I had a mayor's caucus just last week also, and one of the things I know that the the legislaturator is looking at GRT for medical. Uh, but right now the stance on municipal league is that for smaller communities that depend on that GRT, it would impact us greatly. So just kind of a heads up as we're projecting if that happens there's a a big reduction because I mean and as we know you know we have the hospital and that so just kind of a heads up as that's going through the legislature. Thank you. Two hospitals.

Yeah. And that's what I'm saying is it's a big impact for smaller communities that have hospitals because we depend on that GRT. So as we go forward on the budget depending how this thing plays out it might hurt it might impact us greatly.

So thank you. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Uh, this is going to be the the police report for the month of December. Our field operations division uh handle hand issued 343 traffic citations, five non-traffic, 37 parking citation uh citations, 59 arrest, four animal control citations. We had one burglary, and they responded to a total calls for service of 1482. Our total calls for service in our communication division was 1664 for uh 1482 were police, 67 uh 97 of those were 911 calls, 187 fire, 181 for AMR, uh 69 animal control calls, and 31 city service calls. The animal care center participated in a Christmas carnival at the West Las Vegas schools. And the animal care center had 20 of its court held release um released resulting in a remaining balance of four court holds uh for those dogs that we had that were taken in earlier this year. Um of those 20 holds released, placement has been uh secured for 11 so far. The beginning shelter count was 67 dogs, 21 cats for a total of 88. Uh intake from the public was 73 dogs. Uh three cats uh for a total of 76. We had seven adoptions of dogs, one of cats for a total of eight. Outgoing transfers to other organizations and communities or or coalitions was 80 dogs, no cats for a total of 80. We had 11 dogs returned to their owners, uh, no cats. Lost died in shelter care was one dog, no cats for an ending shelter count of 41 dogs, 23 cats, and 60 for a total of 64. Um, we're able to move a lot of those animals, especially with the the help of the news uh getting out across the state. organizations stepped up and helped uh house these animals and were able to get I think 58 in one day moved alone. So, it was awesome this month for them, especially with those numbers

declining. Um, our information division uh closed out 149 reports, 33 traffic reports, processed 389 citations, attended to 155 customers, scanned 234 documents, and completed 23ras. Uh we're still continuing our training of our new um employee as as well as indexing from 2018 to 21. Now um we're moving on from our last indexing. We're also continuing our our uh records maintenance management. Our street crime division uh they responded to a total of seven calls for service in the month of December. They had 12 cases assigned to them. 20 selfinitiated uh five arrests were made and closed uh 30 cases. They seized one gram of cocaine and they also attended their their monthly meetings um for district court, magistrate court, safe house interviews and MDT meetings. 93 um cases were entered into our evidence. 174 items were turned in. Uh one item of property was released. We had two firearms seized by patrol. Uh patrol also seized 3.1 grams of methamphetamine, 95 suboxin strips, 60 fentanyl pills, 20 grams of crack cocaine. um one gram of methadone and our evidence tech also processed 12 IPA requests with a total amount of 21 81 digital files were redacted by our evidence tech. Our travel uh is still continuing for our recruits now. They they just started going they're at the academy as we speak. They just started this week. So that'll be anotherformational travel that we'll see weekly for the next 16 weeks. But we had four otherformational travels for the month of December. We had three police investigators participate in a live webinar on training on the new detective training on December 15th and 16th. Police personnel also attended a citywide training December 18th and 19th. We also

had a on-site visit uh questionnaire that was done by the Department of Transportation for our um step grants and and our TSB. uh that was taken and approved on by council on December 17th. We also had four police personnel um who conducted uh NDWI saturation patrol on December 31st. Uh that was part of that TSB money that was approved on the 17th and I believe they ended with a total of three DWIS that night. Not themselves but what they got. So [laughter] just for clarification, not our department.

Yeah. [laughter] uh vacant positions. We we currently have eight applicants, four certified and four uncertified for police officers. Uh 10 for communication specialists. We just submitted our paperwork for our last full-time uh communication specialist to be filled. Uh that's a huge accomplishment that hasn't been done in years, I think, uh from when we talked about uh we do have two part-time positions that I want to uh convert back to full-time. uh we'll get into the talks with Morris and Miss Consuelo and we'll see what we could do to to accommodate that and hopefully hire another one of them that we have on the waiting list and the one that we just hired she she currently does not have her certification but she held it in the past so it'll be a good accomplishment. Our lateral officers inquiries are are still ongoing. We had one uh police officer recruit uh complete and is pending a written and uh background phase. uh the communication specialist I just talked about that was the one in the background phase that we just submitted for hire and we do are still conducting our entry level testing twice a month uh on the f every other Friday and we have um our applications so we're still holding for six months sometimes people will walk away and then they come back and want to continue with the process and last month I know I did say we are hiring a um a um communication specialist and patrol officer some issues came up Uh both of them fell through, but we're still moving forward. Uh police and uh we we attended a community events of Santa in the park, the electric light parade, and the swearing in of the city officials, as well as we participated in um several other small events throughout the holiday season, but these are three of the highlighted ones. And this is our number of vacancies. I won't go through the total list. It's the same as last month. So that concludes my report. Thank you, Chief. Councilman Fulari.

Thank you, Mr. Manager. Mr. Mr. Chief, what are we are you helping out code enforcement on the unattended yards and weeds and unattended cars that been there for years and years that that don't drive them. There's an ordinance on that, sir. And uh there's a lot of cars around town that are just parked on the on the alleys and they park on the rideways. they're parking the on the the residents and they're not doing anything with them.

So, so not so much on the weeds or the property issues. Um, we do assist with some citations on the public thoroughfare. And then we also uh uh commission the code enforcement officers to issue those citations as well based off of a training that they went to uh last month or the month before um and some of the requirements that have changed. Uh we do have one community service aid right now um who does assist when he's when he's available uh with those needs uh for vehicles.

The only reason I bring it in because uh I don't see any action on that around town at all. There's people people are just out there changing engines on the rideways. They're doing body work. Whatever they're doing, even cars, they're they're bad. They're bad all over and we're not we're not moving we're not moving really good on that and it doesn't look good. It's really the city doesn't look good because it's it's full of cars all over town. But I would like Mr. Manager for the code enforcement and see if you can get with the chief and maybe go around town. If you want me to drive with you go is all right and I'll I'll show you. But there's a lot of unwanted vehicles and uh we need to do something with them because they're they're not they're not doing anything with them.

I don't currently oversee code enforcement, but what I'll do is I I could work with Lucas Marquez and we could get together and I could have my CSAs assist in other needs that they might have. Mr. Marquez, I I would like to see if you could write that down and and talk to your code about that and and see if you could go around town and and and go one, two, three, or four. it doesn't matter and and check out the yards that and you're going to see a lot of difference out there and there cars parked all over the place, you know, and I I don't know if call enforcements out there or they're doing what they have to do, but you know, if you could take a tour with them and and check it out.

Mayor Council. Yes, sir. We are out there doing it and with the direction and uh the assistance of our city manager, we're working on these ordinances. uh they are antiquated. Uh they're very uh uh limited on what we can do when it comes to parked vehicles. Uh it's a lot cheaper to keep your vehicles parked in the 304 with the fines that are established right now. Uh we are working on different ordinances to solidify a bit a little bit more stringent uh teeth into the ordinance. Uh so we're going to be coming forward to the council here pretty soon with some different uh views for you guys to go ahead and look at. Like I said, it the way it sits right now, it's cheaper for them to pay the fine and keep it there than than it is for us to to have them move it. That's so we're working on on fixing that, sir.

Because I don't see any citations on that at all, you know, around town because it's uh you can go out any wire. I'm telling you, [clears throat] you can go to any ward and and there's vehicles parked all over and I don't know if the code enforcement is doing any citations of that because there there's an ornamentance out there that I think you got to have two or three vehicles that are running and and the rest are they're abandoned or something. They got to take care of him and I'm not sure that that they can keep him in the yard, but there's an ordinance. You got to check your ordinance out and see it around the ordinance. So, you got to take a look at that and go from there. Understood, sir. Understood. Thank you, sir. Thank you, councilors. Mayor, Councilman Pache,

thank you, Chief. Uh, that was a great report. Appreciate it. I don't I don't know who helped you with that PowerPoint, but it was pretty fancy or the [laughter] presentation. Uh, one thing I found interesting was the number of uh animal pickups in in December, the four when I see so many animals loose in the community. What would you attribute that to? a lack of staffing. Uh not an emphasis on it. What do you What do you No, not so much a lack of staffing, but we do have to work closely with the shelter, especially with last month where they were at with over 140 animals in there. Yeah,

we kind of have to work together to see what we could take in. What's priority? Of course, injured and vicious animals. Of course, we jump on those as soon as we could and the shelter staff is awesome at making accommodations for that. But we just got to watch our capacity and make sure that we're not getting overcapacitated, especially with the weather that we had last weekend when it gets to that freezing point and that many animals in that in that care center. Um, we do have issues uh heating. It's something that we're working on and providing a building and in the meantime until our new care center could be built uh for the office staff so we could kind of accommodate more animals and more space for them. But we do we do work closely on those with each other. And that so much isn't the picked up animals, but um I could get an intake uh added into that list. Uh but that's more of citations for violations on the animals. Yes, sir.

And and just for my information, how many animal control officers do we have? Two. Um we currently have two. Uh one of them is going to be leaving us uh who joined the armed forces um now in February, midFebruary. So we'll be back down to one. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Councilman Martinez,

I just I just kind of want to go back to something that we had talked about. It's been probably about a year ago, and I know we have we had a different city manager at the time, but boundaries of policing. Uh just kind of wanted to touch on that a little bit and and find a way to create anou with either sheriff's department and maybe the count u and the state police, of course. because there's there's still a lack of areas that we have within the city limits. They're within the city limits, but they're also considered county. And that's kind of the the breaking point. We don't want to have emergencies, not only police protection, but fire protection in those areas. you know, whatever our ETZ allows us to go to generate ba basically anou with those agencies to make sure that we you know in the winter time you have fires and you know you guys even talked about it earlier uh about speed bumps and so forth. Everything is a factor out there when you're trying to get to an emergency and I I really oppose speed bumps, but that's sometimes that's the only way to slow down traffic in areas that are that are needed. But I'm going just back to the boundaries. If we can find a way to create anou with these agencies, no way we don't we don't put ourselves at risk if they're within the city limits and not being taken care of. I just want to make sure that we have thatou put together whether it be the state police or the I know we've talked about it chief and and I know that you've uh you've answered some of those questions before and I understand and I and I appreciate that but what can we do better to ensure that that protection is there for those people within the county area not just you know out there in the

county we can't really ser you know service those but but those within reach of our of our ATZ zone, you know, that's what's important to me. Yes, sir.

And I know we do lack of fire department on this, you know, on on South Grand and that area general area. You know, those are things that we we need to we need to we need to look at down the road because right now the two fire departments that we have, they're they're away from, you know, South Grand, let's say, and you can't get to it fast enough. And I mean, that's only fire. that's not necessarily police, but either way, we need to start to think about boundaries being a a participating role in conversations moving forward. Thank Thank you, Mayor. Councelor Casey, did you have anything? Mr. Mayor,

so uh Chief Well, Councelor Martinez, I I echo your sentiments. One of the things that that I did hear uh particularly on uh what is it? uh Dora Celeste or Williams the last street in the in war I uh Williams there's a section there that uh kind of in in no man's land and I heard from quite a few people in that area that they don't get police response from city and when they call when they [snorts] go to the state the state says no it's city and I would really like to have those issues resolved regardless of where it is. I think we should respond and uh I think that's the attitude that that we should have, right? Public safety is public safety. There's a fire there and it's a block out of the city limits. I I don't really care. Let's

drive on that crazy. Yeah, we we can't get any public input. I apolog I I just want my my perspective to be conveyed. I I think Public safety is public safety whether it's in city limits proper or within a buffer zone that's between the the city and the county. Let's let's make sure we take care of people. Thank you, Chief. Uh Mr. Manager, did you want to add to that? No, I I just want to say duly noted and we'll work on it. Thank you,

Mr. Mayor. Moving on to our next item, approval of minutes for January 9th, 2026. Councelor Casey. All right. I move approval with it have just one misspelled name and the rest were perfect for January 9th, 2026. Motion by councelor Casey, second by councilman. All in favor say I. Those opposed, same sign. The eyes have it. Mr. Mayor. Moving on to our next item is presentations not to exceed 10 to 15 minutes. Our presentation by Mr. Tim Hegman, economic development department, regional rep, giving an update to economic development. Chief, if you could keep a time on the presentation. Yes, sir.

Okay. Thank you. I don't think he's going to need it. Okay.

But, uh, I'm glad he's here. Uh, my name is Tim Hagimman. I work for the economic development department. Secretary Rob Black, and I'm, uh, housed in Mora County. Um, thank you, Mayor, Council, uh, City Manager Anaya. Um wanted to start off tonight talking about uh [snorts] our division director. Uh Raton's own Mark Roer has retired and he served as our division director and I got to know him for about 15 years working for our department and I think there's no been no other person that's left a greater impact in regards to capital investment and high uh jobs in New Mexico. So, he's going to be very well missed. Um, [clears throat] I want to thank uh the mayor and the community development department and the city manager for attending the New Mexico idea meeting uh last week and that's during their annual meeting and I get a chance to introduce uh your staff with uh the city of Raton as well as uh our new uh president uh Davin Lopez the uh CEO of uh Miss Msia Valley Econ. Economic Development Corporation. Um, number three, want to really give a great thanks for helping uh sponsor the announcement for Green Power um Corporation. Um as you remember this last uh September um both high schools came together and uh worked together in regards to providing um a pilot program to start here in Las Vegas with u providing our department data in regards to electric school buses. And um it was it was a fantastic

project and uh Amanda and her staff and I it staff was just amazing. It was the right location and the right day and the um CEO was very impressed with uh Las Vegas. And thanks to that event uh kicking off this pilot project um Green Power Corporation has agreed to uh invest 350 new jobs in Santa Teresa um by moving their uh manufacturing uh company to our state. So uh big uh part of that was started right here in Las Vegas. So I appreciate that very much. Um thanks to the uh uh leadership of uh uh city manager Annayia uh we're part you're participating in our site readiness program and u uh we started that last year with phase one where Luna Community College thanks to uh President Linder uh they we have data on their remote lands of 100 acres north of campus and the site readiness program is to identify potential uh business and industrial parks that could be uh invested with uh uh utilities and because of the legislature we have funding to help make sure that we are ready for electric power. Many of uh the projects that um companies are seeking to locate here are uh uh battery storage and and data storage companies. And uh Luna Community College is a good example of we need a corporation to help invest uh equipment and training for our students to uh provide them high weight

high uh um uh paying jobs. Um so on February 9th uh we're set up to participate in your in a webinar through our economic development department and um uh global location services out of s uh South Carolina will uh lead that initiative where um um your department and your utility department will provide an RFI so that um we can identif identify what types of utilities are lacking at the airport for a business park. So, uh, one of the things that, uh, you have an asset much like Roswell has in regards to our runway and location. So, we want to, um, find out where the, uh, barriers are and and where we can, uh, possibly put in some water storage. I met with the uh aviation department this week and it looks like that they had invested in some utility and water infrastructure the last couple years. So, uh, on February 27th that RFI will be due and then on, uh, the week of March 2nd and 9th, we'll have field site visits with GLS and would like to ask the utility and and, uh, airport manager and anyone on the council to join us in regards to meeting with making sure that um, we give a good warm welcome to uh, site uh, location services of South Carolina. And then we'll have a virtual site visit where we answer all the questions that you haven't answered so far on the RFI in regards to coordinates and u utilities that uh are lacking so that we can uh work with

companies like PNM helped out with uh Luna Community College in regards to um coming up with estimates in providing power to that remote land. [clears throat]

Um, and then on April 27th, the completion of the site reports will be submitted. So, we're on a fast track in regards to getting this project. Uh, we've already got five communities that have been selected as certified business parks through uh our um um what they call advisory committee for the site readiness program. And then um right here in uh Las Vegas at Debb Park, we have B public prefab and they're expanding with three new jobs at $31 an hour. And they make uh prefab uh panels for residential housing. and it would be wonderful to be able to uh partner with them in regards to some of the uh housing projects on your land so that we can utilize manufacturing that is built right here in Las Vegas. Um, the Las Vegas Regional uh, Community Wealthb Building Coalition has been meeting the last couple years and I even got uh, Councilman Montori attend and the at their last meeting they had 28 people there and they voted to uh, form a coalition and uh, on March 10th they plan on signing that coalition agreement. So this is a grassroots type organization that uh helps uh smaller businesses uh grow and uh uh provide capacity and uh it's not a replace for an economic development organization or a committee but it is another opportunity to provide a an organization like our main streets uh Las Vegas uh first um in providing uh services to new businesses.

Our outdoor recreation trails plus program uh as a grant through the 31st and uh I've been um working with the state parks to uh discuss a possible uh trail out at Story Lake and uh JP Baka has been very vocal about having a recreational type project out there. So I'll call it the Baka Trail. Um the uh Story Lake is getting ready to do some planning this fall. They haven't done a plan out there for a long time. So want to be involved with that. Our creative industries cluster is uh got a grant out right now and we're targeting arts and cultural districts much like we have in Las Vegas. So we'd like to have any of the arts, entertainment, art and design, graphic and industrial design, technology, software design, crafts and artisans participate in that grant coming up. So um um I think that uh is all I'd like to u discuss. Um, and that grant is due on the it starts on the 4th of August and goes through the August 29th this coming year. And [snorts] then lastly, San Miguel County passed the CPACE ordinance this last summer. And uh would like to uh ask if you'd like a presentation by our department to consider doing a an ordinance also. It's uh an opportunity to provide an incentive for businesses that want to invest in their business and uh they're uh instead of working with the bank, they they have all of their security in their property taxes. So, if they don't pay their property

taxes, they lose their business. So, it's a way of uh um having equity to put into a business and or retain a college like uh um in Monizuma. [clears throat] That was uh one of the initiatives that they were interested in is to keep what we have and provide incentives for these universities and businesses. Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you. And just uh I know this is the first presentation uh that Mr. Pacheco has had. So we have usually a presentation. It's presentation only really no discussion back and forth but you know as we move forward on presentations I know we do suspend the rules for presentations if there's a lot of discussion but most of the time it's just presentation only just for clarification on that. All right. So, thank you, Tim. And I I just uh maybe we could get together and see uh there I heard that there's a housing development in Montazuma. Is that something you guys are doing or maybe we can catch up because I know No, we just want to retain what's in Monazuma right now with the uh the school there. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Manager.

Um Mr. Mayor, council, just just on the record on the site readiness, I just wanted to note uh the involvement of the of the mayor in that uh particular project and the multiple meetings that we've had. We've had a few direct meetings with the secretary back and all of that comes off of the direction of full counsel on seeking opportunities, economic development in particular and in particular emphasis around the airport uh that I got feedback early on that we wanted to see what those opportunities were. So I just wanted to note that on the record.

Mr. manager, if we could also I know we'll be working on the committee, but work with Tim so we could actually have a presentation when we do uh start the economic development committee together so that way they're updated. Thank you. Yes, sir. Mendra, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Moving on to our next item, consent agenda. If I may read those into the record.

Yes, please. Item one, request approval of addendum number one for contract 418025 awarded to DAG Enterprises of New Mexico LLC for diesel and or gasoline maintenance and repair for the city of Las Vegas. Item two, request approval of addendum number one to contract 418425 with Thatcher Company for standard liquid aluminum sulfate. Item three, request approval of addendum number one to contract 418625 with Chem Trade Chemicals for standard liquid aluminum sulfate. And item number four, request approval of addendum number one to contract 419325 with Shelter Planners of America for plan design and construction phase services for a new animal care shelter.

Thank you. And then I just uh also I know uh we'll be this is all new to to Councilman Pacheco but consent agenda usually uh you know at the beginning whatever is on there we go with uh no questions asked or anything but as we move forward in in next uh you know another agenda and if it's consent yet uh the council has the opportunity to pull it out to specifically ask more questions in detail if needed. So, I don't know. I know this this one we already approved the agenda, but if you had something uh a quick question that maybe uh on any of these items. If not,

um Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I don't I don't have any questions. They seem pretty straightforward. I I'll just say this about contracts in general. Let's just say the uh the animal uh uh shelter one. We have [snorts] an hourly rate for various services. But we in the addendum and I don't know if the original contract it doesn't identify exactly what those services are. We're just paying an hourly rate and there's no cap on that rate. So I would recommend that we look at having contracts that are if it's not in there specific to this is what we expect this many hours of work or capped at x amount hours of work. uh because we it seems like we just have an open checkbook on that contract. That's my comments, Mr. Mayor.

Thank you. So, with that, I'll entertain a motion. Mayor, Councilman Martinez, I'll move to uh to approve the consent agenda as read into the record. A motion by Councilman Martinez. I have a second. Second by Councelor Casey. Roll call. Councelor Lee. Yes. Councelor Martinez. Yes. Councelor Casey. Yes. Councelor Bacho.

Yes. I have a motion by councelor Martinez, a second by councelor Casey. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Motion carries. Moving on to our business items. Business item number two, request approval of fiscal year 2026, memorandum of agreement between the New Mexico Department of Transportation and the city of Las Vegas. We have our community development director and also parks and recck director, Mr. Lucas Marcus. [clears throat]

Can I just real quick uh you know I know Mr. Marcelino isn't uh here today but I do want to acknowledge he did lose his mother. So at this time if we can have a moment of silence prayers go out to his him and his family Marcus. Good evening Mayor Council. Uh what I'm coming in for uh before you guys now is typically the it's a typical budget that goes through to for transportation every year. Um I'll stand for any questions if you guys have Marcus if you don't uh I know that the state pays a percentage uh just just for the record for the community to understand

for admin for administ admin people they pay 80% and we pay 20%. For field people u they we pay 50/50. I just have a quick question. So the way the the memorandum is written, it says that there's 245,94295 uh that's required for the match amount, but that match amount is included in the original u money that we're getting. The award. Yes. I just wanted to clarify that to make sure that I didn't misread. No. Yeah, that you're correct.

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I move approval of the um memor of agreement between the New Mexico Department of Transportation in the city of Las Vegas. Councelor Casey, I have a second. Oh, I'm sorry. Hold on. Oh, okay. Sorry about that.

Sorry, I forgot about this. And if you don't wiggle this, it doesn't work. Okay. Uh, I move that we approve the memorandum of understanding between the New Mexico Department of Transportation and the City of Las Vegas for section 5311 grant funding awarded annually to the city of Las Vegas Transportation Department, also known as Meadow City Express for fiscal year 20 26 26. I have a motion by councelor Casey. Do I have a second? Second, M. Second by Councilman Levari. Roll call. Councelor Pacheco. Yes. Councelor Martinez. Yes. Councelor Casey. Yes. Councelor Lee. Yes.

Have a motion by Councelor Casey, a second by Councelor Lee. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Motion carries. Moving on to item number three. Request approval of the city of Las Vegas Lodgers Tax Board's recommendation for funding San Miguel Mora County Fair Association's 52nd annual county fair in the amount of 60,000. Mr. Marcus [clears throat]

May council. Um the Lodgers tax had a meeting um a couple weeks back in regards to this uh event. Uh we wanted to give them more time. Last year they had a very successful event. Uh they came forward and asked for a little bit more money this year and uh you know they got a unanimous vote so uh for approval. So we're here in the council now to if you have any questions we stand for we'll stand for them. I do have uh Miss Brianna and Mr. sees go in the back over there. If you'd like for them to come up and maybe they could explain a little bit more of the event to you guys, I can do that as well. Well, while they come up, I don't know if uh the council has had the opportunity to review that. Do you have any questions?

Miss Baka to come up if possible. Not for any questions, but just to say congratulations to her daughter. I saw she won a uh national stock show. So [laughter] that's all I wanted to say. Congratulations. That was that was good to see. And uh tell your husband I said hello. Thank you. Any questions specific? Mayor Martinez. I I guess the original funding request was not 60,000. Correct. No, it was it was higher. It was we was 100,000 where we were at. What was the uh request last year if you don't mind me asking? Uh

50,000. Just over 20. Okay. No, I I looked at it and you guys have it pretty well planned. So, I really have no questions in reference to any of that. I think it's it's a good event and and it uh definitely helps the area, you know, with all the um the different activities that you guys have going on. So do appreciate that.

Mayor, mayor and uh council and councelor Martinez uh just to just to be clear to uh in in the meeting uh it was expressed by the board that this was an example of how the all the um application should be. So Brianna and Francisco put a lot of time and effort into it. Um and they had a very good well planned out event and we expect a bigger one this year. Thank you. Thank you councelor Casey.

Uh Mr. Mayor. Um, Mr. Modkus, you took the words right out of my mouth. This is the best well organized. Everything is perfect in here uh for this request. And uh it didn't surprise me because Briana does excellent job at whatever it is that she is doing. And uh I u I was like, "Oh my gosh, they have everything in here." And it's wonderful. It's understandable. Uh it makes sense. It's well written. The explanation. Uh the project narrative is excellent. Uh you did a really really good job in putting this together and I really appreciate that.

And I just want to add because we had our meeting last night. We had our January meeting last night and we approved to have a rodeo this year at the county fair. So that's going to be in addition to um everything that we've done. We approved to have a rodeo Friday performance and Saturday performance. That's wonderful. Thank you. And please say hello to your mother for me. Thank you. Her mother was my student, I won't say how many years ago at Goddard High School in Roswell. That's why I had such a good presentation. You taught her well and she taught me well. [laughter]

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, with that, I'd like to make a motion that we approve the uh $60,000 recommendate recommended amount for uh from the lodgers tax board recommendation for the MOA San Miguel or San Miguel Mora. Uh, I don't want to take sides here. County Fair Association 52nd annual county affair. County fair. Motion by councelor Casey, second by Councilman Martinez. Roll call. Councelor Levi. Yes. Councelor Casey. Yes. Councelor Pacheco as a former 4er myself. Yes. Councelor Martinez.

Yes. I have a motion by councelor Casey, a second by councelor Martinez. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Motion carries. Again, thank you guys for all you do and uh hopefully uh and I I was able to listen on on YouTube uh you know the discussion and hopefully it gets bigger and and and better and and uh this is this is you know the intent of lodgers tax right is you start an event you fund a little and eventually it just blows into its own that uh it's self sustaining so I think you guys are on the on the right track uh maybe you could uh help other organizations kind of understand that that that's the end goal right is it's a feeder Rogers tax is a feeder and eventually you're self- sustaining. So, thank you guys for what you guys do.

Thank you. And I we just want to take this moment to extend our appreciation for all the city's assistance from fire, police to to Arnold with all of the services. So, thank you for that. Thank you. And we hope to see you guys there at the fair. Get to work. Always fun. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Moving on to our next item. request approval of the city of Las Vegas lodgers tax board's recommendation for funding Ayodantes in Las Vegas history of the Plaza Veha Plaza Park in the amount of $9,000 200. Mayor Council, uh, yes. Uh, we could have one of you. I don't know which one you go or you want to both come up or Yeah. Go ahead, Mr. Marcus. While they're coming up, Mayor Council

and welcome. This this item also did come before the Lodgers Tax Board. Again, it was a unanimous vote with one sustaining uh uh [clears throat] uh but it was uh the original request was for 10,000. It went to 90 uh 20,000 went to 9,200. This event has been going on for 3 years and has been growing itself. Uh they teach a lot of history for uh the Plaza Park and in the area. Um and I'll let Mr. uh Benavidas um discuss anything else, but I stand for any questions that the council may have. And I think that's probably Are there any questions from the council? See none. No. Councelor Casey.

Mr. Mayor, I think they did a really good job in writing their uh ex, you know, their application, their executive summary, the mission statement, vision statement, and um it was uh very nicely done also. So, thank you for that. Yeah. With that, uh, there are no questions and we'll entertain a motion. Mr. Mayor, I move that we approve um the city uh lodgers tax board recommendation for funding Audantes Las Vegas history of the Plaza Va Plaza Park in the amount of $9,200. Second, Mr. Motion by councelor Casey, second by Councilman Levari. Roll call. Councelor Martinez. Yes. Councelor Pekko,

yes. Councelor Casey. Yes. Councelor Levi. Yes. I have a motion by councelor Casey, a second by councelor Levari. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Motion carries. Congratulations. I don't know if you want to make a few statements or n Thank you for everything. We appreciate it and I hope this thing grows up bigger. The same thing. Thank you. Thank you guys. Thank you. Thank you, gentlemen. Good job, guys. Thank you. Thank you, mayor and council. Appreciate you guys.

Moving on to our next item. request approval of resolution number 2603 to accept a grant offer in the amount of 1,780,679 for 2026 fiscal year transportation alternative program which is a TAP administered by the New Mexico Department of Transportation. We have our public works director, Mr. Arnold Lopez.

Good evening, mayor and council. Um like it says there, we we would be crazy not to accept this grant offer in that amount. We're going to work more on our trail in the hopes of uh building a fly over Mills Avenue as well to walk over and not have to cross that street. But we're ready to move forward on this project with your approval. A motion. I was just going to do we do have the the matching funds.

Okay. I figured we did. Uh because we have matching funds, I would like to uh make a motion to approve resolution number 2603 to accept the grants offer in the amount of 1,789,679 for uh 2026 fiscal year uh [clears throat] transportation alternative program. The TAP program administered by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. A motion by councelor Casey. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Councilman Pacheco. local. Councelor Dvetti, yes. Councelor Casey, yes. Councelor Pacheco, yes. Councelor Martinez, yes.

Have a motion by councelor Casey, a second by councelor PCO. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Motion carries. Council, I love it. Thank you. Thank you, sir. [laughter] Moving on to item number six. Request to award request for proposal 202606 for natural gas system planning, design and construction phase engineering services to Solder Miller and Associates Incorporated and Pipeline Strategies and Integrity LLC and enter into contract. Welcome, Mr. Marcus.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. Uh we are wanting to move forward with going into contract with uh SMA and PSI. What we did like about PSI is PSI specializes specifically for natural gas. Uh SMA, we have done work with them in the past. Right now, they actually do do work for us at the old landfill in reference to the old uh city landfill for methane testing. They do provide a good service for us as well. and we're looking forward to try to get into contract with PSI also for any any uh future projects that may contain any line extensions uh any CNG removals anything of those references while we'll be able to have their expertise on board and be able to assist us and guide us this time entertain a motion

I I have a quick question uh Mr. Marquez, is this um as on an as needed basis? Yes, ma'am. Okay. I just wanted to double check. Thank you. [clears throat] With that, I request that we uh I move that we award RFP 20260 to for natural gas system planning, design, and construction phase engineering services to Ser Miller and Associates and Pipeline Strategies and Integrity LLC and enter into a contract. A motion second. Second. Second by Councilman Martinez. Roll call. Councelor Pacheco. Yes. Councelor Martinez. Yes. Councelor Casey. Yes. Councelor Leari. Yes.

Have a motion by councelor Casey, a second by councelor Martinez. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Motion carries. Moving on to item number seven, request to award request for bid 202607 for gas maintenance shop materials to Magnum Welding and Construction and enter into contract. Mr. Marcus.

Mayor and councel. Uh this is something that the gas department did budget it for. We do have it in our budget. Now what we are wanting to do is purchase the building firsthand. This so the way we avoid markup costs from any contracts that may be taking place as far as fully development of the building. Now us having the building on place. We do have blueprints with the that come along with the building. Then afterwards we could go out again to bid for for uh con uh construction of designing the whole building. Not designing but actually installing the building. Measure of the council. I feel [laughter] like I'm making all the motions.

He's the new guy he said. So, [laughter] Mr. Mayor, Councilman Martinez, uh, let's see. I'll go ahead and and move to approve the uh the RFP 2026 as advertised. Motion by Councilman Martinez. Second, Mr. Second by Councilman Liari. It's 2607. 2607. Yeah, I'm sorry. Let me clarify that. Any discussion? See none. Roll call. Councelor Casey. Yes. Councelor Levi. Yes. Councelor Pekco. Yes. Councelor Martinez. Yes. I have a motion by councelor Martinez, a second by councelor Levi. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Motion carries.

Thank you, Mayor and Council. M M Mr. Mayor, just just for clarification on this project, G give us more detail or insight on it if you don't mind.

Yes, sir. Uh so the 125x60x8 steel red iron building. Uh it is going to serve as a development purpose as well for our Mullins main regulating station, but it's also going to serve a housing unit as well for our existing equipment. Now, I know uh it is discussion as to we're going to be moving over there. We're not planning on moving over there, but it is able to house us and serve as a headquarters for the city of Las Vegas natural gas department. Now, we do have a lot of expensive equipment out in the elements right now on 12 street. We're very uh limited as to the space and room taking place over that 12 street. So, with that being said, it'll be able to assist us to house our unit, our house our equipment, but uh within the future possibly being able to build a training facility out of that building as well also.

Okay. Good. Yeah, that's interesting. Yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Thank you, guys. Thank you, sir. Moving on to our next item. Request approval of a professional services agreement between the city of Las Vegas and White Sands Drug and Alcohol Compliance. We have our city manager, Mr. Annayia, and also our safety officer, Mr. Adrian Adam. Welcome, [clears throat and cough] Mr. Mayor, council. Uh, this agreement sustains our compliance with our requirements associated with our policies and procedures on testing. I defer to our uh safety uh personnel, Mr. Mr. [clears throat]

Mayor, councel. Um, so right now, uh, White Sands Drug and Alcohol would serve as our TPA agent. Um, Mexico DOT and federal require a third party administrator to take care of all of our drug testing for federal regulations. Um, we did go out for quote. I had one no quote. Uh, second, um, [clears throat] they could not be a TPA. They they were not certified. and White Sands had everything that I needed including the um um policy update so they can work on policies as well.

Just for the record, uh Mr. Hario, who are the three biders? Yeah, so it was uh White Sands Drug and Alcohol, Southwest Drug and Alcohol out of Santa Fe, and the third one was Albuquerque Crime Labs. Mr. Mayor, Councilman Martinez, were they these were the the same the the same company that provided services last year, correct? Is that correct? Okay. [clears throat] It's sort of like a little bit of a soul source in a way. Now, if nobody else bids on it, you know, in a way, but if they don't have the federal qualifications.

Yeah. No, they got to have it. Yeah, definitely. Okay.

Anybody request approval of uh agreement between professional service between the Syrias and White Sands drug and alcohol compliance by council, second by council Martinez. And I just had one question on the discussion. Uh, and I know, you know, one of the the [clears throat] big concerns that I have is sometimes it takes too long or we have to schedule him in for drug testing and I know the hospital used to do it in the past and I know I mean you guys were already getting quotes but maybe looking forward and I don't know if the hospital is qualified or not but to me I think it's easier if we local I mean I I don't know the details but if if just moving forward is if we could look into that option if possible. Agreed sir. Thank you.

And I'll look into it. The the only problem that we have with the hospital is that they can't do DOT. So we could possibly do pre-employments for non DOT. Councelor Casey. Yes. Councelor Martinez. Yes. Councelor Pacheco. Yes. Councelor Lee. Yes. Have a motion by councelor Lee. A second by councelor Martinez. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Motion carries. Thank you. Have like 10 new employees after tomorrow. Is that kind of that's the plan? [laughter] [laughter]

It's okay. Our next item requests approval of American Medical Response AMR lease agreement between the city of Las Vegas and San Miguel County. Mr. city manager, mayor and council. Um, this particular item ties directly to the mobile home that was moved onto city property on uh Mills Avenue and is connected to utilizing that facility to house um people that work for AMR. And I'd like to the chief to maybe provide a little more contextual background because he's more familiar with the background than I.

Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. myself and Lucas uh helped out with this project. I believe it was in May

and uh part of the initial contract coming up was uh providing housing or a space to house the ambulance service uh that's currently under contract AMR. So I a location was identified property through community development and um the property was given over or not given over but went into the agreement and provided by the city and the mobile home that was placed on there was provided by the county um as a joint effort to house them and meet the contractual agreement that uh from the initial contract. So, we also went into a um I believe anou with the county uh for the use of the property. We assisted with getting the utilities uh moving along, the surveys done. So, we're at the point where the building's ready to be occupied now. And uh currently, um the county approved a agreement for a lease to AMR. Uh and that's what they wanted approved uh through us.

I would just uh expand. Thank you, chief, and thank you, Lucas, for that for that uh work on this project. Uh we did have some uh questions that we raised with the county when they were bringing forth the cost. They had a they had a higher cost and we had discussed, you know, what might there be as far as offsets associated with the agreement moving forward tied to that relationship that we have. But we were able to um I don't know if negotiates for right the right word but discuss with the with the county our concerns. Um they have to we have to have a cost uh associated with it to uh make sure we don't get into issue with anti-donation. So, we came up with u a collective discussion on on $3,000 a month um to put them in a lot nicer, more appropriate facility uh centrally located in the in the city. uh as we advance with other agree uh potential agreements, we'll continue to have that dialogue and conversation with San Miguel County, of course, with the uh endorsement of mayor and council moving forward to to continue to negotiate and navigate that work. Uh I would like to say that we are expanding uh the amount of feedback and work that we want to do in concert with the fire department as well as the police department and coordination with the work of AMR uh to uphold uh the areas of the contract and I think it probably be more appropriate uh when Chief Span is here uh mayor to have him expand upon uh some of that work of of course uh DC Atensio has been lock step uh and actually participated in meetings with us um uh on Chief Span's behalf in in some of our discussion. So, I want to acknowledge that work and effort, but I stand for any additional questions. This the

county approved this agreement. Uh they're waiting on consideration by mayor and council to approve so they can finally get to the point where they uh move into the facility. Chief, and there's just one more other portion to it. is this this is going to help offset the cost for the county and the city. I know it's it's a small drop in the bucket compared to the contract that we have and what we pay annually, but it's just a step in the right uh direction to assisting with some of those set offset some of those costs that we incur on both sides. And just one quick question and I didn't see it on there, but the cost of utilities that's still something separate not associated with this, right? Yes, that's okay.

So, just a quick question. Uh there you go. What's the cost difference between where we're proposing to move and this partnership as opposed to where we're at now? Uh as far as the discussion we had with the county, it's going to be the same cost of from where they're at now to where they're moving into. And that's something that we didn't want to up the price of course and them not be able to afford it and find somewhere else where they where they're able to afford. Um, we wanted to be able to provide that service to them in in a nice location that's more appropriate for an ambulance service to be is it the same cost to us the city?

So, so it is the same cost to us within our contract, but the money that we do get will offset the cost on annually. Okay. Thank you. Mr. Mayor, I I just had one question in reference to the contract. Is is there any other infrastructure that needs to be done so that this contract could be completed and moving forward? Uh electrical I know that ambulances had all those electrical services for all their you know their ambulances and so forth. Is that something that we need to continue to do or

uh so currently uh they they are hooked up to water gas uh power. Uh the county does have the account currently under their uh entity just because they needed to get uh things tested, but when they also put in the electrical, they put in the pedestals so they could plug in their ambulances outside the base station there. So if there's any other facility upgrades, it would have to be probably negotiated if they wanted coverings for them or something like that through through both or all three parties. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. Pleasure. Council may [clears throat] chief is this only for the city of Las Vegas and semigal county just around the city limits and the whole county.

Yes sir. So with part of the ambulance contract is uh they service the city of Las Vegas siged county but they do have a truck station in Pekos to service that area of the county. Um but this is for the immediate area around Las Vegas and Sigad County. Thank you

Chief. Um, is anything else going to be added to the to the mobile home that's there? Like, I mean, now it just looks like it was just parked there and there's nothing. There's no uh anything under it. Put it that way. I don't know. [laughter and gasps] There's no re uh wall or anything and there's no foundation. Uh the steps are just I don't even think they're connected to the trailer. Uh, is that work going to be done?

Um, the county was was the one to place the building in uh and set it. As far as like any other work that would need to be done, it' have to be negotiated as part of the contractual agreement, I guess, between all three parties. And I I I guess we did discuss some of these in topics within our discussions with the county. And um I don't know if Mr. And I want to

Yeah, I'll I'll go ahead and expand. the mobile home is functional and um accessible through the steps and through the hookups. Uh there is to your point and I appreciate you bringing it up. Uh we are going to have to address fencing associating with uh the facility for security purposes. That's uh something that we'll have discussions between ourselves AMR as well as San Miguel County uh to to make sure that we have it uh secure. Correct. That's correct. Okay. Thank you.

I also mayor if I could wanted to acknowledge u our council uh Mr. Costiano has facilitated and assisted us with with these this particular agreement add to that or you good? No, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Councilman Martinez, I'll go ahead and move to approve the uh the contract for American Medical Response lease agreement between city of Las Vegas and Samiguel County. Second. A motion by Councilman [snorts] Martinez. Second by councelor Casey. Roll call. Councelor Levi. Yes. Councelor Martinez. Yes. Councelor Casey. Yes.

Councelor Pekco stepped away. I have a motion by Councelor Martinez. A second by Councelor Casey. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Motion carries. Moving on to our next and last item. consideration to amend the current city of Las Vegas organizational chart by changing the human resource manager to a human resource director. Mr. Manager,

uh, mayor and councel, as noted by the clerk, [clears throat] uh, that's the only amendment to the organizational chart previously approved is, um, moving the manager position in the first document. You'll see that from the U executive to uh a department uh listed on the ORC chart. Uh I will note we will advance uh an application process for uh this particular position and I'll continue to to sign documents associated with the department until such time as we have a department director in place. I just want to add I know uh there was a lot of discussion in the last meeting on this one and that was one of the things that I think was uh a consensus but I think when it was approved uh that change wasn't uh made in the motion uh to move it from HR manager to director. So um that's why it's on the agenda just as we move forward. I know uh HR has to hire but the the flowchart was approved as a manager. So I wanted to make sure that we corrected that as before they move forward with that. So, uh, Councelor Casey,

I do have a question, [clears throat] Mr. Manager. Um, do we have an updated HR director job description or is what is already in place going to be used? Uh, no. Uh, Mr. Mayor, uh, Councilwoman Casey, we are going through that job description. and I'm looking at that job description to assure that it has the essential components needed to manage that department and uh we'll do that in accordance with my responsibility. So the uh job descriptions that were voted on at our earlier meeting this month uh do not

reflect an an HR director. I mean, that's going to have to be rewritten, too, because it doesn't address the changes that we're making tonight. Um, because it says the HR manager reports to the HR director, but if we're removing manager, that's going to have to be changed. Also,

um, Mayor, uh, Councilwoman Casey, and and I, you know, I'm I'm we're absolutely going to make the the changes necessary to the job descriptions. Uh it's my understanding under my responsibility as city manager that once the organizational chart is in place place, it's my responsibility to make sure we have the appropriate job descriptions written and put forth and that that not that the job descriptions themselves collectively as a city do not need city uh council approval uh associated with each job description. So, for clarity, I will absolutely make sure to uh make the adjustments um and have no problem showing the council those uh descriptions, but I I also understand it's my obligation and responsibility to to take on that function as the day-to-day manager of the city. That's good because there are many errors in the job descriptions that we reviewed uh last meeting. And so, and my last question is, um, since the organizational chart was already approved, do you anticipate any other changes that will have to be made to the organizational chart chart, or are we just going to kind of play it by ear, so to speak, and change whenever something comes up? Um, Mayor and Councilwoman Casey and the full council, uh, I don't anticipate any immediate changes, but we have had discussion discussions with all directors, uh, citywide. We are moving into the budget process right now. And so, I've asked the department heads across the board to take a look at all their jobs, uh, the ORC chart, and we're going to bring org charts. So, you adopted the overall organizational chart for the city. There's a lot of detail as

you know within each department level position. So within that budget process, you're going to have updated organizational charts commenurate with existing work and the work that each department is doing uh within their individual structures. And so Mr. precise and Elena and our team have already started the process of taking this format that you see in front of you and implementing the same format using the same program in coordination with our HR department as well to make sure through the budget cycle you're going to have recommendations from the uh management including all departments on the main document which is in front of you today as well as the detail within the individual departments necessary for the budget approval. Is that accurate? Um, Mr. Madrid as well?

Yes, it is. And, uh, there it's actually going to be updated and there I'm sure there will be some corrections for uh, positions and job descriptions that have not been addressed.

And my I thought that was going to be my final question, but I just thought of something else. the organizational chart is is huge and I'm wondering if maybe it would be uh a nice idea and I don't know how the directors u the different directors would think about this but just having a separate um organizational chart for their department so that each employee knows exactly what it is you know where they stand in the organizational chart for that particular department.

Um, Mayor, Councilwoman Casey, my apology maybe for not being clear. Absolutely. What you just suggested is exactly what we're going to go through within each department. Okay, good. Yeah, thank you. Casey, if I just may add to your I don't know if you can use the mic just I think it's on. I just want to add that um I did update that um human resource director uh job description and I did provide it to um the city manager's office this morning. Um so it's a rough draft for him to review. Thank you so much. You're welcome, Mr. Mr. Mayor. Thank you, Consuelo. I had uh Mr. Councilman Pacheco first and then Councilman.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. No, no, no questions. They've been clarified. Thank you. Uh after these changes, can uh I know you're going to write everything down. Can we have copies on the on the changes? Uh, Mr. Mayor, Councilman Ulari, absolutely. And, uh, through the budget process and the approvals, uh, we can give you final recommendations that will connect directly to the budget. So, absolutely. Yes. The reasoning is just that way we know what our directors uh are regarding to you or what's going on with them, what they have to do. Thank you, sir. Yes, sir. Thank you. What's the pleasure of the council or councilman Martinez? Did you have a comment?

No, this this Well, I guess this does continue to be a working document and it could be altered and changed at any point in time. So, uh can we is it only for consideration or do we have to can we have to approve it? We have to approve it. Okay. Well, then I'll go they can't uh they can't hire that position until I mean [laughter] then we'll be going with manager and I know you guys the consensus was a director. Well, then I'll go ahead and I'll move to amend the uh the the current and city of Las Vegas organizational chart by changing the human resource manager to a human resource director. Motion by Councilman Martinez. Do I have a second? Second. Second by Councilman Pacheco. Roll call.

Councelor Casey. Yes. Councelor Levi. Yes. Councelor Pacheco. Yes. Councelor Martinez. Yes. I have a motion by councelor Martinez. Second by councelor Pacheco. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Motion carries. Casey, I have a second. Second by councilman.