December 9, 2016 What an amazing celebration we had this past Saturday, December 3, with the tree lighting on the Plaza de Las Cruces. It showed the promise of a bright and vibrant downtown brimming with family fun and activity in the beautiful and unique downtown setting of our community. What a promising future our downtown holds! I want to take a moment to personally extend my gratitude to the Parks & Recreation Department (Sonia Delgado), the Convention and Visitors Bureau (Phillip San Filippo), and all of the participating departments, staff, vendors, and volunteers, who made our first tree lighting celebration so memorable. I also wish to extend my congratulations to the men and women of the Las Cruces Police Department. LCPD received re-accreditation Thursday from The New Mexico Law Enforcement Professional Standards Council in Albuquerque. The accreditation is good through Oct. 31, 2019. LCPD earned its first accreditation by the council in 2013. The designation means the Police Department has fulfilled or exceeded standards set forth by the Law Enforcement Professional Standards Council. Chief Jaime Montoya received the re-accreditation certificate during the 22nd Annual New Mexico Law Enforcement Conference annual banquet held this week in Albuquerque. Special thanks to LCPD (from left) Lt. Joy Lt. Joy Mickendrow (left) Officer Robert Benavidez, and Chief Jaime Montoya. week I meet the Transportation Department. I continue meeting and greeting the fine professionals that make up the City of Las Cruces. This past week I met with and toured the Police Department and completed a second tour of our Utilities Department. Next 1
Christmas in Las Cruces By Loretta Reyes, P.E., Interim Assistant City Manager/COO We were excited to begin a new holiday tradition for the City this past Saturday with the first ever tree lighting on the new Plaza de Las Cruces! The evening kicked off at 5 p.m. with live holiday music by Unlyshed on the plaza stage, Santa roaming the crowd, and the holiday classic A Christmas Story playing on a large inflatable screen. By the time the Mayor initiated the countdown to lighting the tree, there were well over 2,000 people surrounding the new 40 tree. Multiple CLC departments hosted booths and activities. Families were invited to color and drink hot apple cider with Visit Las Cruces and make ornaments and crafts with Community & Cultural Services. We saw many enjoying a game of bean-bag toss with our Public Information Office and playing games, drinking cocoa and eating cookies with Parks & Recreation. The CLC Police and Fire handed out candy canes and holiday safety tips. Community Development may have been the crowd favorite, as families enjoyed gingerbread decorating at their booth. Thank you to Visit Las Cruces and all our CLC staff who made this event a success! 2
City Beat Set Goes On-Location to Plaza de Las Cruces The City s Public Information Office (PIO) has taken the December edition of the video newsmagazine CityBeat to the Plaza de Las Cruces to celebrate the lighting of the City s Christmas tree. The December segment premieres 6 p.m. on Saturday on Comcast cable channel 20. It includes segments on the City s Legislative Priorities for the 2017 New Mexico Legislative Session, a video on the equipment the City has to combat winter weather and an update on the minimum wage increase which begins January 1 st. PIO has also given me the opportunity to share my thoughts about my position here, and to introduce myself to staff and the public. Watch the video. City Council Work Session Preview for Monday, December 12 th The City Council meets Monday, December 12 for a regular work session. There are four items on the agenda: 3 1. Wireless Wizardry / Ham Radio Discussion 2. TASK FORCE Formation 3. Rio Grande Theatre Update 4. Neighborhood Action Team Update Meerscheidt Recreation Gym to Close for Maintenance The City of Las Cruces Parks & Recreation Department will close Meerscheidt Recreation s League Gym, 1600 E. Hadley, for its annual maintenance Dec. 21 through Jan. 4. The gym will reopen Jan. 5. During this time, modified programming will be available in the recreational gym, Monday Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 575/541-2563. City Now Accepting Event Sponsorship Applications The City will continue accepting event funding applications for 2017 events until the submission deadline of 11:59 p.m. Dec. 15, 2016. Sponsorships are available in three categories; tourism, economic impact and quality of life. All applications must contain a marketing plan, budget and list of sponsors and other funding resources.
Eligibility requirements and a downloadable application can be accessed by clicking on the Event Sponsorships button on the home page of las-cruces.org. Applications will only be accepted in a digital format. Applicants may print out this form and write legibly in the spaces, but the completed form and any supporting documentation must be scanned so the submission can be made by email to jjones@las-cruces.org. For more information, contact Janice Jones with the Office of the City Manager at 575-541-2076. The Week Ahead Standard, Non-Standard, Operational and Joint Board and Committee Meetings Courtesy of the Public Information Office Monday December 12, 2016 5 5:30 p.m. City Council Agenda Setting Meeting (immediately following the City Council Work Session) - City Hall, 700 N. Main St., Council Chambers (541-2076) 6 8 p.m. Historic Preservation AD HOC Committee meeting - City Hall 700 N. Main St., Conference Room 2007A (528-3048) Tuesday December 13, 2016 10 a.m. 12 p.m. City Art Board - Parks & Recreation, 1501 E. Hadley, Administrative Conference Room (541-2550) 6 8 p.m. District 5 Resident Meeting - Doña Ana Community College - 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd, Las Cruces, NM 88011 (541-2100) Wednesday December 14, 2016 9 11 a.m. Development Review Committee - City Hall, 700 N. Main St., Conference Room 1158 (528-3043) CANCELLED 9 11 a.m. Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority (MVRDA) Board of Directors Meeting MVRDA, 130 W. Lohman Ave., Las Cruces, NM MVRDA Conference Room (647-6800) 1-3 p.m. MPO Policy Committee - City Hall, 700 N. Main St. Council Chambers (528-3225) Thursday December 15, 2016 4
9 10 a.m. Solid Waste Authority Board Meeting - Transfer Station, 2865 W. Amador Avenue, Las Cruces, Board Room (528-3584) CANCELLED 12:30-2 p.m. Airport Advisory Board Meeting - Airport, 8960 Zia Blvd., Conference Room (541-2471) 1:30 3:30 p.m. CIAC Meeting - Utilities Center, 680 N. Motel Blvd. Conference Room 218 (528-3636) 2 4 p.m. Extra-Territorial Development Review Committee - City Hall, 700 N. Main Street, Conference Room 1158 (528-3049/3043) CANCELLED 6 9 p.m. South Mesquite Design Review Board - City Hall, 700 N. Main Street, Conference Room 2007A (528-3204) 6 9 p.m. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Meeting - Parks & Recreation Administration, 1501 E. Hadley, Conference Room (541-2651) CANCELLED Friday December 16, 2016 No Scheduled Meetings Meeting dates for boards and committees are gathered from the public meetings calendar in Outlook. Meetings may be cancelled or scheduled after this notice is issued. 5