Mayor Eric Enriquez, City of Las Cruces | City of Las Cruces
Mayor Eric Enriquez, City of Las Cruces | City of Las Cruces
Las Cruces City Councilors convened on November 18, 2024, and passed two resolutions that redefine the Joint Powers Agreement concerning the Mesilla Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The resolutions include transferring administrative responsibilities from the City to the MPO’s governing board.
The Mesilla Valley MPO encompasses the City of Las Cruces, Dona Ana County Government, the Town of Mesilla, and New Mexico Department of Transportation District 1. It assists these entities in applying for and using federal transportation funds while providing local input and coordination for regional transportation projects. Last year, it managed approximately $70 million in federally funded infrastructure projects within the community.
The councilors' unanimous decision transfers oversight of the MPO from the City to its governing board. This revision renames the Policy Board as the Governing Board of the Mesilla Valley MPO and changes the MPO Officer position to an Executive Director role reporting to this board.
Additionally, a memorandum of agreement was approved defining roles and responsibilities within the Joint Powers Agreement for the MPO. Despite these changes, Las Cruces will continue as fiscal agent for the MPO, with most powers and structures remaining unchanged.
In other matters, three new members were appointed to the City's Oversight Committee: Bill Kinsella Jr., Adolf Zubia, and Michael Cochran. This committee advises on management but is not a public board. It aids in reviewing internal audit activities to enhance efficiency and detect waste or fraud in government resources.
City Council meetings can be viewed on Las Cruces's YouTube Channel. A previously scheduled work session for November 25 has been canceled; councilors will next meet on December 2 at Council Chambers.
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