Font ResizeFor the convention center photovoltaic system, click here.
For the impact-fees resolution, click here.
Sun-News report
LAS CRUCES - Perhaps more details could come forth at Monday's 1 p.m. city council meeting about two outages to telephone lines at the Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority (MVRDA).
Hugo Costa, MVRDA director, will make a presentation to council about what caused the outages. The first occurred shortly before 4 p.m. Dec. 14, and the second happened overnight Tuesday, The second outage knocked out phone service to the emergency dispatch center for about three hours, from 12:30 to 3:15 a.m. Tuesday. MVRDA's non-emergency telephone line was out even longer, until 5:15 a.m. Tuesday.
Mayor Ken Miyagishima asked Costa for the presentation just hours before the second outage, when the two met Monday at City Hall. Costa will present a formal, final report of the outages to the Do-a Ana County Board of Commissioners at its Jan. 9 meeting at the Do-a Ana County
Miyagishima said he wants to proposed another back-up communications system if another outage occurs again. Miyagishima said the city could consider getting at least two additional emergency telephone lines through Comcast. He said the additional $150 to $200 monthly cost would be a small price to pay for public `safety.
"When I talked to Hugo about it, he seemed to like the idea," Miyagishima said. "So, we'll talk about it."
Costa's presentation will be made toward the end of the meeting during a portion reserved for comments from the city manager.
Impact fees
Also at Monday's meeting, the council will consider approval of a resolution that would help establish new impact fees for major road, drainage and public safety improvements, and award a $440,859 contract to DPW Solar Corp. of Albuquerque, to install a photovoltaic system at the Las Cruces Convention Center.
The council will also consider adoption of a resolution that would establish a policy for displaying art in city facilities.
Approval of new impact fees for land use assumptions for major roads, drainage and public safety would be in effect until 2020. In August 2006, the city awarded a contract to Duncan and Associates, of Austin, Texas, to review the city's development fee ordinance and to conduct a fee study of potential future impact fees for roads, drainage, and public safety services. The report has been submitted to city officials, and council approval would allow city staff members to set new impact fees based on the findings of the study.
However, some residents have raised concerns that the growth percentages listed in the report could put undue financial burdens on developers and builders to pay for any increased fees. There has been substantial discussion among council members during the past year about the proposed impact fees.
Going green
A proposed 58.4 kilowatt photovoltaic system would be built as part of a parking shade structure in the parking lot of the convention center, 680 University Ave. According to city documents, the system would be able to roughly produce 110,000 killowatt hours a year of alternative energy that would be used to help power the convention center.
If approved by the council, the photovoltaic project would be paid for through a $495,330 grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, through a New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department Energy, Efficiency and Conservation block grant.
'Art on Loan'
The proposed resolution to create a policy for displaying art in city facilities would be known as the "Art on Loan" program. The policy would allow the city to promote the works of local artists.
It is common practice of cities throughout the U.S. to display works of artists to help promote the cultural economy of their communities. Artwork would be loaned to the city on consignment, and displays would rotate periodically. Artwork selected for exhibit would be on display for a minimum of six months, with 12 months being the usual term of display.
The city would receive 30 percent commission on any artwork sold while on display. That money would be used to help pay for costs of the program.
Monday's meeting will also the first for new City Manager Robert Garza, who assumes his new duties Monday. Garza, who has worked for the city for about 25 years, was promoted from assistant city manager in December.
If you go
•What: Las Cruces City Council meeting
•When: 1 p.m. Monday
•Where: Council Chambers at City Hall, 700 N. Main St.
•TV/Internet: The meeting will be televised live at 1 p.m. Monday on CLC-TV, Comcast Cable channel 20. The meeting will also be webcast live at 1 p.m. at www.clctv.com. People watching the webcast should click on the "Meetings" link to access the Web page that will have a link to watch the meeting.
