The Las Cruces City Council will conduct a regularly scheduled meeting at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 2020, via video conference.
The Council will consider the adoption of an Ordinance approving a Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) project for LaSen, Inc., with proposed allocations of $400,000 from the City of Las Cruces and as much as $750,000 from the State of New Mexico.
LaSen, Inc., based in Las Cruces, specializes in aerial inspection and mapping services, with a particular niche in the oil and gas industry. The company is planning a major expansion into a new 37,000 square-foot headquarters and operations center. Funding from the City and State will be used for land, building, and infrastructure costs.
In exchange for the proposed allocations, LaSen will create 79 full-time positions by Dec. 31, 2026, with a total annual payroll of more than $4,855,000 at full employment.
If approved by this proposed Ordinance, the City will enter into a Project Participation Agreement with the Company, subject to LEDA requirements and the adopted LEDA Plan of the City, for its investment in the project. Further, the City will also enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the State to serve as a fiscal agent for the administration of the state’s investment in the project.
An economic impact analysis performed by the State indicated a positive return on investment on the LEDA incentive in the first year. A separate resolution will be brought to City Council at a future date for a budget adjustment for both City and State when the State funding is received.
Additionally, City Council will consider the adoption of a Resolution approving the Citizen Participation Plan required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as part of the preparation for the 2021 to 2025 Consolidated Plan and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice for the City of Las Cruces. On the consent agenda, is a Resolution to approve a contract for lobbying services with Lawrence J. Horan, LTD., of Albuquerque. Horan has served as the City-hired lobbyist for the New Mexico Legislature.
The full agenda is online at https://lascruces.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=76. Public comment can be submitted via email to the Mayor (mayor@las-cruces.org) or City Clerk (councilmtginput@las-cruces.org).
Monday’s Council meeting will be televised live on CLC-TV, Comcast Cable channel 20, and will also be available online at clctv.com and at YouTube.com/clctv20.