Thursday, July 30, 2009

UNITED WAY OF SOUTHERN N.M. TO HOST LIVE KICK-OFF CELEBRATION

The United Way of Southern New Mexico will host the LIVE UNITED campaign kick-off BBQ from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, at Young Park.

Attendees will help the organization celebrate the successes of 2008, and welcome the 2009 funded agencies thereby helping the United Way of SNM to build a stronger community.

Cost for the BBQ is $5 per person. Guests are asked to RSVP by Monday, Aug. 3, to 524-7561.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

CITY OFFICIALS TO HOLD MEETING TO DISCUSS CITY'S LIGHTING ORDINANCE TODAY AT 5:00 P.M.

The following information was distributed to the membership of the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce:

"The Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted unanimously to support the existing City of Las Cruces Lighting Ordinance , Ord. No. 1813, which was adopted Aug. 7, 2000.

"The city will hold a meeting about the lighting ordinance from 5 to 7 p.m. at City Hall, 200 Water St. All Chamber members are encouraged to attend to show their support for the existing ordinance.

"According to (former Mayor) Bill Mattiace, Chamber vice president of governmental affairs, the board decided to support the existing ordinance because it has been adequately received from business owners, residential housing and astronomers for the past 10 years.

“We feel the current ordinance has generated good, steady business for Las Cruces,” Mattiace said.

"The decision of support comes after a recommendation by the Chamber’s Issues and Governmental Affairs Committee that took several months to study the issue.

“We’ve worked on this over several meetings, and we’ve met with Mark Eisler and Councillor Sharon Thomas as well as Oscar Andrade about the pros and cons,” Mattiace said. “In this current economic climate, this would be the worst regulatory thing we could do to business owners.”

"Mattiace added that beyond to additional costs to existing businesses, a more restrictive ordinance would make Las Cruces less desirable to new businesses considering the area. Former Las Cruces Police Chief Pete Hampton, who also serves on the committee, cited safety issues that many businesses might face without proper lighting for their staff and customers as another reason to support the existing ordinance.

"The current lighting ordinance can be found at the City of Las Cruces website at http://www.las-cruces.org/legal/city_clerk/codes/Development%20Code/CH039%20-%20Chapter%2039%20%20OUTDOOR%20LIGHTING.htm.

For more information on this call the Chamber, call 524-1968 or visit www.lascruces.org

Monday, July 27, 2009

CITY COUNCIL TO MEET TODAY AT 5:00 P.M

The Las Cruces City Council will meet today at 5:00 p.m. instead of the usual time of 1:00 p.m. The Council decided to conduct some meetings in the evening to allow for those individuals who work to be able to attend.

Today's Agenda will deal with "Land Use Issues" only.

The public is encouraged to attend and participate.

BRIEF STATUS / UPDATES ON CURRENT CITY PROJECTS LIST

1. Strategic Plan - (Meetings held with Elected Officials and executive staff. Draft report should be submitted by 6/22/09)

2. Sustainability Officer - (Recruitment is in process. Preliminary phases of selection process have been undertaken, interviews to be scheduled shortly.)

3. Las Cruces Center - (Status report provided monthly on second, Regular City Council Meeting)

4. Downtown - (The project design is ongoing with Bohann-Huston, Inc. Work session with City Council regarding Farmer's Market Representatives - Downtown Design Process was held on July 13, 2009.)

5. Impact Fees - (A change order to revise the draft impact fee capital improvements plan (IFCIP) document, to add additional consultant trips, and to add a time and expense budget to cover the cost for implementation assistance was approved by City Council on June 15, 2009. We anticipate that the new draft of the IFCIP will be submitted to the City the first week of August 2009.)

6. Aquatics Center - (Status report provided monthly on first, Regular City Council Meeting)

7. Vision 2040 - (The consultants have completed preliminary drafts of the CLC Comprehensive Plan and DAC Comprehensive Plan. Both preliminary drafts are being reviewed by city and county staff. The consultants are working to complete the preliminary draft of the Vision 2040 Regional Plan.)

8. Grants/ARRA Status - (Refer to Matrix.)

2 LOCAL PHYSICIANS PARTICIPATE IN "OPERATION LONE STAR"

Operation Lone Star 2009 begins today in Southern Texas in the Rio Grande Valley for under served rural communities. The two-week operation offers free medical and dental services to residents in under served areas along the U.S.-Mexico border will run from July 27 - July 31, 2009.

Two local physicians will be assisting in this project this week, they are Dave Padilla, M.D. who is the New Mexico Coordinator for the Medical Reserve Corp with the Dona Ana County / City of Las Cruces Office of Emergency Management and Kathleen Hales, M.D. practices at Memorial Medical Center Family Service. The doctors will be assisting at locations in the Brownsville, Texas area providing free medical service to residents who otherwise cannot afford health or dental care.

Dr. Padilla has promised me an exclusive report and photos of he and Dr. Hales humanitarian mission to South Texas.