The seven-member Las Cruces City Council has unanimously adopted a Resolution declaring extreme drought conditions within the Las Cruces city limits.
The Resolution, approved during the City Council meeting on Monday, June 7, 2021, will restrict the use of fireworks in Las Cruces for the next 30 days, through July 7, 2021. Commercial displays will not be affected.
New Mexico laws allow a municipality to determine if fireworks restrictions should be imposed because of extreme or severe drought conditions. The findings shall be based on current drought indices published by the National Weather Service and any other relevant information supplied by the U.S. Forest Service.
Currently, less than half an inch of rain has been recorded in Las Cruces since January 1. Most of Doña Ana County is experiencing extreme to exceptional drought. So far, this has been the 11th driest year in Las Cruces since 1892.
Las Cruces will limit the use of permissible “Safe and Sane" fireworks to include cone fountains, crackling devices, cylindrical fountains, flitter sparklers, ground spinner, illuminating torches, toy smoking devices and wheels. Permissible fireworks may be used in areas within the city limits that have concrete or asphalt surfaces, are barren with no vegetation, or in areas that have a readily accessible source of water.
Prohibited fireworks in Las Cruces will include the sale and use of missile-type rockets, helicopters, aerial spinners, stick-type rockets, ground audible devices such as chasers, and firecrackers. The City intends to utilize social media and news releases to help educate and inform residents about the proper uses of allowable fireworks.
The Las Cruces Fire Department is authorized by City Ordinance to enforce fire prevention codes pursuant to the International Fire Code.
Additionally, at Monday’s meeting, the Council adopted a Resolution approving a new Development Impact Fee allocation for City water and wastewater services for new single-family residential homes. The new water and wastewater Development Impact Fee allocation will split the impact fee cost to 50 percent to the builder/developer and 50 percent of the cost to the new single-family homeowner.
Also Monday, City Council adopted a Resolution that amends Chapter 24, the Procurement Code, of the Las Cruces Municipal Code. The changes consist of, but are not limited to, format changes to Chapter 24, adding more definitions, revising authorized exemptions, modifying the process utilized by the City’s Selection Advisory Committee, and revising the chapter’s contingency section.
The changes are expected to improve and facilitate the procurement process for City staff and vendors by being more clear and easier to use.