The Las Cruces City Council will meet at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, 2022 in Council Chambers at City Hall, 700 N. Main St.
City Council will consider a Resolution to adopt the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope (MVCH) Campus Master Plan. On May 3, 2021, the City contracted with Huitt-Zollars, Inc., of Las Cruces, to develop a master plan for MVCH, a City-owned property at 999 W. Amador Ave.
In addition to the master plan, an evaluation of the facilities and recommendations for the management structure was included. The property is leased to and managed by MVCH, a non-profit organization.
Through this arrangement, services are provided to the homeless, near homeless and indigent residents. Sub-contracted agencies currently at the campus include MVCH administration, intake, and social services – including Camp Hope; Amador Health Center, which provides medical services; El Caldito Soup Kitchen, which provides lunch and other meals to the homeless and near homeless; Jardin de Los Niños, which provides child daycare services; and Casa de Peregrinos, a food bank and distribution center.
All organizations on the MVCH campus have identified a need for expansion and improvements. The master plan defines an ultimate buildout of the site and takes into consideration the City's goals of how services are supported there, while being reflective of the future plans each non-profit has as individual stakeholders.
Highlights of the master plan include:
- A conceptual site plan.
- Recommendations for Infrastructure and Facility improvements.
- A full-time equivalent for campus maintenance.
- Amendments to leases and subleases.
- Improved work order and maintenance request process.
- Re-plat and zoning updates.
- Standardized reporting forms.
The master plan was reviewed and approved by the City’s Development Review Committee on June 6, 2022. The Development Review Committee is a workgroup consisting of representatives from the Public Works Department, Community Development Department, Las Cruces Utilities, the Fire Department, Facilities, Metropolitan Planning Organization, Parks and Recreation Department and Transit.
Monday’s meeting also includes City Council consideration of a Resolution in support of New Mexico legislation to protect tenants from income discrimination by landlords. Legislation and municipal ordinances are needed to prohibit landlords from discriminating against tenants, based upon their economic status.
It is an unlawful discriminatory practice to deny – directly or indirectly – any individuals the full and equal enjoyment of housing, including the rental of a dwelling, services, facilities, and privileges, based on the source of income of the individual. The proposed legislation would prohibit discrimination against tenants who are recipients of social security income, are disabled, military veterans, or recipients of Section 8 housing vouchers.
The legislation would require the development of programs to recruit landlords and assist low-income tenants in finding units in high opportunity areas. The Resolution urges City Council to call on the New Mexico Legislature to develop landlord/tenant reform that allows for the protection of tenants from landlord income discrimination.
Additionally at Monday’s meeting, City Council will consider adoption of an Ordinance that would authorize the issuance and sale of as much as $5 million in City of Las Cruces subordinate lien state-shared gross receipts tax improvement revenue bonds. Proceeds from the bond sale would be used to finance the purchase of two fire engines and two aerial fire trucks for the Las Cruces Fire Department.
The two fire engines and two aerial fire trucks would replace two fire engines and two aerial fire trucks that have been in service for more than 15 years and have exceeded industry standards for time of service and maintenance costs. A Resolution approved at the July 18, 2022 City Council meeting authorized City staff to apply for financial assistance from the New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA) for the acquisition of the fire engines.
The City Charter authorizes City Council to borrow funds. The NMFA has instituted a program for financing public projects and equipment.
The agenda for Monday’s City Council meeting is available online at https://lascruces.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=368.
Monday’s City Council meeting will be televised live on CLCTV, Comcast Cable channel 20. Viewers also can watch Monday’s meeting in high definition on Comcast Cable channel 928.
Monday’s meeting also will be available online at clctv.com and at YouTube.com/clctv20.