July 6, 2026 – City Council Recap

At its Monday, July 6, regular meeting, the Las Cruces City Council discussed and voted on several resolutions.

City Council approved in two separate resolutions the transfer of ownership of two inter-local liquor licenses with on premises consumption to 1) Cattle Baron Restaurants, Inc., doing business as Cattle Baron Steak and Seafood Restaurant, 790 S. Telshor Blvd., and 2) Cattle Baron Restaurants, Inc., doing business as Farley’s Food, Fun and Pub, 3499 Foothills Road. The City Council held a separate public hearing on each transfer request, which had both been given preliminary approval by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department. The transfers were required because of a change in business ownership.

City Council also authorized the City to accept a grant to the Las Cruces Police Department’s Summer Youth Leadership Academy. The $5,000 grant comes from New Mexico State University, which is partnering with LCPD on the academy. The academy will provide an opportunity for young people in Las Cruces to develop their leadership skills and become productive and positive members of the community. It also continues the relationship among LCPD, NMSU and Las Cruces Public Schools and its students.

City Council reallocated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from the Casa Linda Acres Reconstruction Project to the ARPA-eligible Cortez Drive Improvement Project to ensure full expenditure of ARPA funds within the required federal timelines. The City received $24.8 million in ARPA funding. In September 2022, the City Council allocated $2.2 million of that funding to the Casa Linda Acres project. Because of delays in design, construction and environmental review, it became clear that project would not reach ARPA milestones required by the U.S. Treasury Department, leaving almost $1.3 million in ARPA funds unspent by the Dec. 31, 2026, spending deadline. To ensure the remaining balance is spent in compliance with ARPA regulations, City staff evaluated other eligible infrastructure projects. The Cortez Drive project meets ARPA’s water and sewer infrastructure category eligibility and was already under contract prior to the federal obligation deadline, qualifying it to receive and fully expend the remaining ARPA funds. With the ARPA funds transfer, funds allocated to the Cortez Drive project can be used to complete the Casa Linda Acres project.

All resolutions were passed unanimously with six votes, Councilor Bill Mattiace was absent from the meeting.

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