The Las Cruces City Council will meet for a work session at 1 p.m. Monday, May 22, 2023, in Council Chambers at City Hall, 700 N. Main St.
A presentation will be made to City Council by Las Cruces residents who want to discuss the possibility of forming a Civilian Policy Oversight Commission for the Las Cruces Police Department. The community members will discuss the general benefits of a civilian commission and how policy oversight commissions function in other cities.
The City currently contracts with OIR Group, of Playa Del Rey, Calif., an independent police auditor who reviews complaints submitted to the Internal Affairs Division of the Las Cruces Police Department. The police auditor briefs City Council and City management on its findings twice a year.
However, some residents have urged City Council to consider establishing a Civilian Policy Oversight Commission.
Also at Monday’s work session, City Council will be presented with an update on ground ambulance transport. In February 2019, the Council directed the Las Cruces Fire Department to pursue a Certificate of Necessity (CON) from the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission to establish its own ambulance service.
The presentation will cover an overview of ambulance services and agreements since 1977. The emergency medical system's current performance will be presented, including system demand within Doña Ana County and the city.
The presentation also will include an update on the implementation of a mediation settlement in December 2020 between the City, county, and American Medical Response. An ambulance transport billing by the Las Cruces Fire Department, as outlined in the mediation settlement, will also be presented to the Council.
Additionally, a description of Las Cruces Utilities’ Natural Gas and Energy line of business and how natural gas is procured for the City’s system will be discussed at Monday’s work session.
The agenda for Monday’s City Council work session is available online at https://lascruces.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=533.
Monday’s work session will be televised live on CLCTV, Comcast Cable channel 20, and in high definition on Comcast Cable channel 928. The work session also will be available at clctv.com and at YouTube.com/clctv20.
Immediately following Monday’s work session, a brief Agenda Setting Meeting will be conducted in Council Chambers at City Hall. That meeting will determine the agenda for the Monday June 5, 2023, City Council meeting at City Hall.