The Las Cruces City Council will meet via video conference at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, for a regularly scheduled meeting.
City Council will discuss and consider the approval of a Resolution amending the City of Las Cruces’ 2019 Action Plan, executing an agreement, and amending the City's Fiscal Year 2021 budget. City Council approval of the 2019 Action Plan amendments and execution of an agreement are required to comply with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations. The Council’s approval of the budget adjustment is also necessary to receive and expend the funds.
The 2019 Action Plan, as mandated by HUD, is required to be completed in order to utilize the funds for both the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) programs.
The City has been notified by HUD that it is eligible to receive and administer an additional $542,242 in funding under the CDBG program through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), also known as CDBG-CV. This is the City's second round of such funding. The City previously received $560,525 in CDBG-CV funding.
The funding is required to be used for projects that prevent, prepare for, and respond to Coronavirus. The City has prioritized this second round of CDBG-CV funds for housing-related activities.
The proposed amendment awards $607,767 to the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (MFA) for Citywide use for the City of Las Cruces COVID-19 Housing Cost Assistance Program. This includes the $542,242 of additional CDBG-CV funding and previously awarded but uncommitted $65,525 in CDBG-CV funds.
This resolution also authorizes City staff to execute a reimbursement contract with MFA upon HUD’s approval of the amendment. The amendment was advertised in accordance with HUD’s requirements and waivers for a five-day public comment period from Oct. 26, 2020, through Oct. 30, 2020.
On the consent agenda for Monday’s meeting, the Council will consider the adoption of a Resolution that could approve a sole source contract between the City of Las Cruces and Axon Enterprise for body cameras and data storage services for the Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD). The proposed contract will not exceed $1,814,474 during a five-year term and would satisfy the requirements of New Mexico Senate Bill 8 which mandates all law enforcement agencies to adopt a body-worn camera policy that requires all law enforcement personnel to use body cameras to record all interactions with the public.
LCPD initiated its body camera program in 2014. LCPD has since expanded its body camera program to all officers in any interaction with the public. Presently, LCPD deploys 140 body cameras in the field with an additional 10 cameras used as backups.
The City Attorney recommends the City supply police officers, including Codes and Animal Control officers, with cameras. This will require LCPD to increase its current body camera inventory to 214.
The meeting will be televised live on CLC-TV, Comcast Cable channel 20. It will also be available online at clctv.com and at YouTube.com/clctv 20.
The full agenda for Monday’s City Council meeting can be found at https://lascruces.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=77.
