City Council Recap for January 5, 2026

The Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, regular meeting was the first for new City Council members Michael Harris and John Muñoz, who were sworn into office in December. Harris replaces Becki Graham in District 3, and Muñoz replaces Yvonne Flores in District 6. At the meeting, Muñoz was elected by council members to serve as mayor pro tempore.

At Monday’s meeting, the Las Cruces City Council discussed and voted on five resolutions. All five resolutions were approved by votes of 7-0.

Council approved a request for a Restaurant A – Beer and Wine Liquor License – on-site consumption only – for a proposed new restaurant, La Hot Pot & BBQ, to be located at 840 S. Telshor Blvd. The City Council held a public hearing on the request, which had been given preliminary approval by the Alcohol Beverage Control Division (ABC) of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department. The public hearing, which elicited no public comments, is required by state law to determine if ABC should move forward on approving the license request.

A memorandum of understanding between the City of Las Cruces and the Las Cruces Police Officers Association was adopted approving a collective bargaining agreement that implements a five percent pay increase for all represented commissioned officers of the Las Cruces Police Department and a three percent increase for all represented non-commissioned employees. The increases are effective during the first full pay period after the approval of the resolution.

Council also voted to accept 22 grant awards to various city departments. Most of these grant awards were state capital outlay funds. Some of the approved grants include $297,000 to enhance accessibility at City buildings and park facilities; $8.5 million for the construction of an integrated health care building to support Fire Department’s Mobile Integrated Health and LIGHT programs; $584,100 for roadway and pedestrian improvements at Mesilla Valley Community of Hope; a $1.395 million legislative appropriation for phase one construction of an 80-unity affordable housing community; $1 million from the New Mexico Department of Transportation to support regional air transportation services at Las Cruces International Airport; $1.782 million for the Las Cruces Real-Time Crime Center installation of surveillance cameras, traffic monitoring systems and network upgrades; and $970,000 to the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library to pay for renovation and expansion of the library and a new bookmobile.

Council approved an update to the City Vehicle Acquisition Program list to include updated quotes for the purchase of vehicles for the City Public Works Department, the Las Cruces Fire Department and the City Housing and Neighborhood Services program.

A reimbursement agreement between the City and NM Valencia, LLC for a 2.026-acre neighborhood public park in the Arroyos at Settlers Pass subdivision located on the City’s East Mesa, in an amount not to exceed $533,000 was also approved.

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