SW New Mexico News

Las Cruces City Councilors convened for a special meeting on January 13, 2025, to address the process used in hiring the current City Manager, Ikani Taumoepeau. The council approved resolutions that detailed the selection process undertaken in 2024 and officially ratified Taumoepeau's appointment, which began on April 1, 2024.

The decision followed an announcement from the New Mexico Department of Justice in December 2024, stating that the city council had violated New Mexico’s Open Meetings Act by not deciding on the scope of their search for a new City Manager during an open meeting before appointing Taumoepeau. The Attorney General advised that these violations could be remedied by conducting an Open Meetings Act-compliant public session to summarize previous discussions and ratify decisions made outside of public meetings.

During the January 13 special meeting, each councilor provided summaries of closed session meetings held in 2024 regarding the City Manager's selection process. They ultimately voted to ratify the selection process and reaffirmed their decision to hire Taumoepeau as City Manager.

The proceedings from Monday’s special meeting are available for viewing on the City's YouTube channel. The next regular session of the City Council is scheduled for Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

Additionally, Las Cruces will observe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 20, and efforts continue to revitalize neighborhoods around El Paseo and S Solano corridors. Other community initiatives include poetry discussions at Las Cruces Public Libraries and a Citizens Police Academy program starting soon.