The Las Cruces City Council unanimously adopted a Resolution approving agreements between the City of Las Cruces and various nonprofit partners within the community for emergency assistance programs addressing the impact of COVID-19. City Council approval came during its Monday, Oct. 19 regularly scheduled meeting.
On August 27, City Council budgeted $1,400,000 through Resolution 21-038, in emergency assistance from the Telshor Facility Fund, to support activities related to COVID-19 emergency response. The Council acknowledged the continued need to support the community being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through local nonprofit organizations and other essential service providers.
Contracts were drafted and negotiated with various nonprofit agencies and organizations in early September. To comply with the City's Procurement Code, City Council approval was needed to execute agreements of more than $75,000.
City Council approved the following amended agreements and new agreements during Monday’s meeting:
- Community Action Agency: $200,000 (an amendment),
- Mesilla Valley Community of Hope: $150,000 (an amendment),
- La Casa, Inc.: $75,000 (an amendment),
- Casa de Peregrinos: $75,000 (an amendment),
- Catholic Charities: $150,000 (an amendment),
- Boys and Girls Club: $100,000 (an amendment),
- Families and Youth Incorporated: $200,000 (a new agreement),
- Community Action Agency: $75,000 (a new agreement).
The City’s COVID-19 Funding Report is updated monthly and is available at https://www.las-cruces.org/DocumentCenter/View/5905/COVID-19-Funding-Report-91720PDF?bidId=.
Additionally, the Council unanimously adopted a Resolution to purchase and approved a separate Ordinance to lease, real estate at 850 N. Motel Boulevard. Resolution No. 21-066 authorizes the City to purchase a 1.64-acre parcel of land from PKL Property Management, LLC. The property includes a 15,000-square foot commercial office building. The negotiated purchase price is $1,272,000.
The Resolution authorizes the City to purchase the property for the benefit of Children Healing in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County (CHILD). CHILD exists as a nonprofit entity to the support of and ownership of capital assets for the benefit of La Piñon Sexual Assault Recovery Services and Child Advocacy Center.
The Ordinance authorizes the City to enter a Lease to Purchase agreement with CHILD and La Piñon to lease the property with the intent to purchase. That agreement will provide monthly rental payments, with interest, to the City as a landlord, in which each rental payment will provide credit toward the purchase of the property by CHILD. The City engaged a third-party accounting firm to review La Piñon’s ability to make these payments as part of its due diligence for this initiative.
CHILD will provide $72,000 of its own funds as an earnest money deposit, to be credited toward the purchase price upon closing. The City will furnish the remaining balance of $1,200,000 upon closing.
The property was appraised by two local appraisers in May 2020. One appraiser concluded a value of $1,275,000, while another appraiser valued the property at $1,285,000.
The City has maintained a professional relationship with La Piñon for more than 25-years in providing support to the Las Cruces community for victims of sexual assault through various programs. As La Piñon provides support to the needy in the community and works diligently on cases with local law enforcement, a proposal was submitted by CHILD and La Piñon for the City to assist with the property acquisition, with the intent of CHILD to lease the property with the intent to purchase the property at appraised value over time.