City Council Recap – February 2, 2026

At its regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 2, the Las Cruces City Council discussed and voted on three resolutions and two ordinances. All five were approved.

City Council approved a contract with Single Space Strategies to update the City Strategic Plan (CSP). The CSP guides the City’s priorities, resource management, and decision-making processes. The current CSP was adopted in 2021 and is due for an update to reflect evolving community needs and City Council priorities, and to ensure continued alignment with the City’s long-term vision as outlined in the Elevate Las Cruces Comprehensive Plan. The one-year contract will not exceed $145,000 plus applicable taxes. The current City strategic plan runs through December 2026. As Councilor Johana Bencomo recused herself from the vote, the final vote to approve the resolution was 6-0.

City Council accepted three grant awards and updates. These grants included $280,000 to the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley from the New Mexico Animal Welfare Fund to replace deteriorating medical kennels and repair flooring at ASCMV; almost $380,000 to the Mesilla Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization from the New Mexico Department of Transportation to fund operations; and an increase of almost $96,000 to the Las Cruces Police Department from the Office of National Drug Policy Control for High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program salaries, benefits, and overtime.

The City’s Capital Improvements Program (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2026-31 was amended. The CIP is a six-year program that identifies projects that address needs to build, replace, expand, and improve infrastructure and systems in the City. The amendments include a redesign of the Museum of Nature and Science Nature Center and gas, water, and wastewater projects in the Utilities department.

City Council then approved an amendment to the City Municipal Code to authorize City police service aides (PSA) to investigate traffic crashes that result in minor injuries or less and to issue post-accident citations for traffic violations as defined in the Municipal Code. Before the ordinance was passed, PSAs did not have the authority to issue post-accident traffic citations, which meant commissioned police officers were required to remain at the scene of the accidents to issue those citations. With the amendment, commissioned officers can focus on more pressing policing matters, promoting efficiency and public safety. The Las Cruces Police Department currently employs nine PSAs, who are designated and trained by LCPD to assist commissioned officers.

City Council terminated the City’s LEDA project participation agreement (PPA) with 828 Productions, LLC. The City approved and amended the PPA in 2023 and 2024 to allocate almost $4 million in capital outlay funds and Hold Harmless GRT funds set aside for this purpose and make the City a fiscal agent to distribute $3 million in state funding to support 828 Productions’ growth in New Mexico.

828 Productions has spent almost $2 million in City funds and submitted reimbursement requests for an additional $500,000.  City staff have been concerned whether the 828 Productions’ expenditures materially advanced the objectives of the project and whether sufficient supporting documentation had been provided to the City. As a result, City staff initiated a comprehensive review of all invoices for City funding, and began an annual review, as required by the PPA, in mid-2025. Through this review, staff determined that the majority of expenses were associated with property maintenance and general upkeep rather than the construction or development of the cinematic infrastructure identified in the PPA and its amendments. The ordinance approved Feb. 2 authorizes City staff to seek the return of $1.32 million in City funds. The ordinance was approved by a council vote of 6-1, with Councilor Bill Mattiace voting no.

This meeting and all City Council meetings can be viewed on the City’s YouTube channel.