The Las Cruces City Council unanimously adopted a Resolution to accept the City of Las Cruces 2021 to 2026 Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan approval came at the Council’s Monday, March 15, 2021 regularly scheduled meeting.
The strategic planning effort, which began in October 2020, allowed community members and City leaders an opportunity to determine what is important for the City’s future success by identifying priorities for improvement, which were aligned with 45 goals and initiatives included in Elevate Las Cruces and new goals confirmed by the Council.
The Strategic Plan has six strategic themes: Community prosperity; Education and community service; Environmental sustainability; Capital improvements and infrastructure; Communication and follow-up, and Public safety.
Upon finalization of the Strategic Plan, City departments will develop PEAK performance measures to guide progress in achieving each goal. City Council will have the opportunity to revisit the Strategic Plan every two years, starting in 2023.
Also, the Council approved each of the following agenda items:
- An Ordinance supporting the City’s investment of $300,000 in an economic development project in accordance with the City of Las Cruces Local Economic Development Plan, which authorizes an Economic Development Project Participation Agreement between the City and Saputo Cheese USA, Inc. and entering into an agreement to serve as the fiscal agent for the state of New Mexico’s participation in the project, which will not exceed $2,500,000. Saputo Cheeses USA, Inc., operates a cheese plant at Las Cruces Innovation and Industrial Park.
- A Resolution supporting public assistance to provide infrastructure necessary for essential household services to individuals.
- A Resolution approving a reimbursement agreement between the City and Ken Thurston Development for construction of a neighborhood park, in the Rincon Hills Phases 1, 2, and 3 subdivisions, in an amount not to exceed $577,200.
- A Resolution approving a substantial rehabilitation project and exceptions to the Home Rehabilitation Handbook for a residence at 1465 N. Mesquite Ave.
- A Resolution authorizing the City to accept grant awards for various City departments through an amendment to the City’s adopted Fiscal Year 2021 Budget, and, as applicable, the Fiscal Year 2021 Capital Improvement Plan for March 2021.
Additionally, City Council unanimously adopted a Resolution urging the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) to significantly increase equitable proportions of COVID-19 vaccines for Las Cruces and Doña Ana County compared to other areas of the state.
Through Sunday, more than 777,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been distributed in New Mexico, according to the NMDOH COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard website. But roughly 43,333 of almost 172,000 of Doña Ana County residents, or 25.2 percent, had been vaccinated.
The Council expressed its concerns that an application that could allow the Las Cruces Fire Department to be a provider of the COVID-19 vaccines is still pending by NMDOH, and about the City and county having sustained equitable supplies of the vaccine. Las Cruces and Doña Ana County’s percentage of vaccinated residents continues to remain among the lowest of the state’s 33 counties.
NMDOH or state government representatives have been asked to provide City Council with updated information about COVID-19 vaccinations and vaccine availability. That information would be shared publicly either at a work session or special work session to be conducted soon.
A COVID-19 update was also presented to the Council at Monday’s meeting. Much of the information presented was included in a comprehensive COVID-19 Response Report. The City of Las Cruces COVID-19 Response Report is available online at: https://museums.las-cruces.org/DocumentCenter/View/6845/COVID-19-Report_Together-We-Can.