City council revises fees

At its July 3 regular meeting, the Las Cruces City Council unanimously approved revised fees for city Parks and Recreation Department programs and facilities. The council also approved a new program allocate funds to businesses that have suffered “catastrophic incidents.”

The revised fee schedule includes general recreation programs, including sports leagues and special events; swimming, including community education classes; facilities rentals, including community gardens, senior and recreation centers and other city-owned facilities; fundraising rentals; merchandise; memorial trees, benches and walk of honor bricks; park permit fees; sports league fees; downtown area fees; and mobile concession fees.

This is the first change in the fees since 2019-20.

Many of the new fees are unchanged from four years ago, and some new programming is included. There were price increases from $48 to $60 for fitness and water fitness punch cards (30 visits each) and for 30 visits to the weight room at the city’s Regional Aquatic Center.

The cost of sports league programming will increase for youth sports leagues and cheer from $45 to $50 per child with a jersey and from $35 to $40 without a jersey.

The cost of community education classes will increase by $5: first aid: $45-$55; CPR-PR: $70 to $75; CPR or first aid recertification and home swimming/water safety/open water: $45 to $50; lifeguard skills recertification: $85 to $90; home swimming pool/spa water safety and open water safety: $25 to $30.

Daily fees for swimming will stay the same: free for infants (ages 0-2 years), $2 for youth (3-17 years old) and adults (18-59) and $1 for seniors (60 and older).

Fees were also set for the new Las Cruces Natatorium that opened in June.

Facility rental fees remained unchanged for the most part. The charge for using the auditorium at the Frank O’Brien Papen Community Center increased from $30 to $40.

The cost of some merchandise increased, and the city added pickle balls (available for $1) and plush Ziggy (the city’s mascot) dolls ($10).

The costs of city programs that declined under the new fee structure include after school and summer recreation programs and fall camps.

The cost of a tree memorial was set at $500; the cost of a bench with a plaque will range from $2,200-$2,500 and will be $1,800 for a bench without a plaque; and the cost of a walk of honor memorial brick will be $35.

The city added sports league fees for non-city residents that are double the fees charged to city residents, which stayed the same.

The city said its target for cost recovery with the new fees is zero-20 percent for programs including therapeutic, special events and out-of-school time; 70-85 percent for programs that include youth classes and athletics; 33 percent for programs that include aquatics; and 100 percent for programs that include adult recreation and athletics.

The city Parks and Recreation Advisory Board reviewed the proposed fee schedule an

The revised fee schedule should be available soon at www.lascruces.gov/2588/Parks-Recreation-Fees-and-Charges-Policy.

Catastrophic funds for businesses

The city council also approved a new program to allocate funds to city businesses “that have suffered catastrophic incidents and need immediate relief,” the city said.

State Sen. Carrie Hamblen, D-Doña Ana, allocated $150,000 in funding from the New Mexico Legislature to fund the program. The money will be administered by the city Economic Development Department (EDD) through its Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) program.

The program defines a catastrophic incident as “a sudden and devastating event that can cause significant harm or damage to a business and its assets.”

The city said that could include natural disasters and human-made events that “can lead to significant operational disruptions, loss of critical data and financial losses. In the case of equipment failure or malfunction, catastrophic incidents can cause significant downtime, increased maintenance costs or even lead to equipment loss or destruction."

Under the program, the city will enter into a project participation agreement (PPA) with qualifying businesses, which can apply for up to $10,000.

A business must meet these criteria to be eligible to apply for assistance under the program:  be in Las Cruces’ city limits, a for-profit business or a nonprofit, be locally owned and open to the public, operate from a physical location and/or mobile truck that serves the public.

Businesses that are not eligible for the program include short- or long-term rental or investment property; taxis, rideshares or food delivery services; “adult entertainment” or “home based” businesses as defined in city code.

For information and to access the program’s application form, visit www.lascruces.gov, or contact the City's Economic Development Department at 575-541-2150 or cfaivre@lascruces.gov.