Following guidance from Gov. Michelle Lujan
Grisham and the New Mexico Department of Health, related to limiting large
public gatherings to help reduce the spread of illnesses, the City of Las
Cruces has updated operational changes for City government. The updated
operational changes become effective Monday, March 17, 2020.
All public input meetings that had previously
been scheduled by the City have been canceled. The cancelations include all
public input meetings related to General Obligation (GO) Bond projects. City
board meetings may continue and deal with essential business, but no public
participation will be allowed. The City’s Veterans Advisory Board meeting, on
March 25, 2020, is canceled.
Most City operated facilities are closed the
public. Among the closures are all museums, the Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Main
St., and Visit Las Cruces, 336 S. Main St. The Las Cruces Convention Center,
680 E. University Ave., is currently closed to events.
Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, 200 E.
Picacho Ave., will be closed to the public from March 17, 2020 until April 9,
2020. The library’s branches at Munson Center, 975 S. Mesquite St., and Sage
Café, 6121 Reynolds Drive, also are closed.
The library will provide some limited services by
telephone, such as item renewal, library card sign-up, digital resource
troubleshooting and reference, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. The
library will waive all late fees and fines and will also be allowing unlimited
renewals either online or on the phone. Books by Mail will also continue.
Important telephone numbers for Branigan Library include:
575/528-4000 for basic information, Books by Mail, Circulation, item renewal;
575/528-4005 for reference help; and for media help – or trouble-shooting
digital services, call 575/528-4000 or 575/528-4012.
All City recreation centers are closed and so
is the Las Cruces Regional Aquatic Center. Senior Centers are closed, but meals
are being provided through alternate means.
City parks remain open and restrooms at parks
that have them are also open. However, the public is encouraged not to
congregate in large groups at parks.
The City’s transit system continues moving but
its operations are under review. Consideration is being given to limiting
access to the Mesilla Valley Intermodal Transit Terminal, 399 W. Lohman Ave.,
by opening the terminal only when buses are there. Buses are being sanitized on
a regular basis. Transit riders are urged to limit use of buses or Dial-A-Ride
service only for essential uses, to minimize the spread of illnesses.
City utilities customers are encouraged to
utilize other methods to pay their bills, such as paying bills online, instead
of going to City Hall. However, utility services will not be shut off. The City
is considering the possibility of implementing a drop-box service that
customers could use to drop off payments.
Other assistance programs offered by Las Cruces
Utilities include calling Customer Central, at 575/541-2111; Payment Plan
Agreements; Preferred Payment Date; Budget Payment Plans; Promise To Pay; Low
Income Heat and Energy Assistance Program; and Referral to Charitable Fund
Sources; and Las Cruces Utilities’ Bill Assistance Program. Customers are urged
to call Customer Central for details about any or all of these assistance
programs.
The Las Cruces Utilities Center, 680 N. Motel
Boulevard, will be closed beginning March 17, 2020. Utility bill payments at
the East Mesa Customer Service Center, 5195 Bataan Memorial West, will be
limited to cash only.
City Hall, 700 N. Main St., will be closed to
the public beginning March 17 except for utilities customers who need to pay
their monthly bills or establish new utility service. Signs will be posted at
City Hall to direct utilities customers where they can enter and exit to
complete their transactions. Only online applications will be accepted from
anyone seeking employment with City government. People seeking or renewing
business permits or applying for a business permit will have to do so online.