The Artesia City Council got its first glimpse of the plans for the city’s new recreation center during Tuesday’s meeting at City Hall.
In approving a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Artesia and the Artesia Recreation Center Foundation — which called for a commitment of up to $2 million from the city, dependent upon the cost of the infrastructure — the city essentially gave the go ahead to move forward with the next phase of the project, from the planning stage to the design process.
Architect Jose Zelaya — the designer behind many of Artesia’s more modern facilities, including the Artesia Public Library and the museum’s Art Center — led the presentation, informing the council that the 47,000-square-foot, two-story center will be constructed on seven acres just south of the Artesia Aquatic Center, with entrances from both Bowman and JJ Clarke drives, a continuous parking lot on its northwest side, and room for future development.
The first floor will welcome visitors into a lobby entrance with a check-in area and play space for children. The ground level will also include a small office suite for administration, two flexible conference rooms, and the large gym space, which can be sectioned off as needed and will have courts marked for basketball, volleyball and pickleball.
The highlight of the second floor will be a second gym space with a 4,000-square-foot, three-lane track running around its perimeter. That level will additionally house a large informal space, two group exercise rooms, one exercise room designed for workouts with a virtual instructor, and space for cardio machines and weights.
Mayor Jon Henry mentioned that the current Artesia Center on Eighth Street costs the city approximately $465,000 per year, while the anticipated cost of the new center is just over $500,000 a year.
“And I think the big difference that you’re going to see here is the current rec center isn’t really a rec center,” Henry said. “It doesn’t service the community as a rec center. I think the opportunities we have here to have a community rec center, having all of those new resources for folks to be able to use it from birth to as old as you want to be — I’m super excited with the potential here.”
Zelaya stated that, with Jaynes Corporation already selected as the contractor for the project, design work is anticipated to be complete by mid-October. Construction would then likely begin before Thanksgiving, with a 14- to 16-month projected duration.
The city elected to set aside the $2-million commitment as part of its budget adjustment in order to ensure those funds are ready when needed.
Elsewhere during the infrastructure portion of the meeting, Infrastructure Director Byron Landfair informed the council that bonds for the 26th Street Reconstruction Project should be ready by the end of May, with a June bid opening and a possible project start in the fourth quarter of the year.
In other business Tuesday, Police Chief Kirk Roberts encouraged dog owners in Artesia to consider arranging for parvovirus boosters following an outbreak both throughout the community and at the Artesia Animal Shelter.
The Artesia Police Department (APD) posted to Facebook Monday that the shelter is seeing a high volume of animals with parvo and coccidiosis and is currently limiting the intake of animals to emergency-based situations only, defined as situations in which an animal is critically ill, in immediate danger, or a threat to public safety.
“A deep cleaning is what’s happening,” Roberts said. “Unfortunately, quite a few of the animals that were being housed there did catch parvo. Right now, parvo’s everywhere in the city, if you ask the vets, so we’d recommend getting a parvo booster shot for your animals.”
Roberts noted that parvo can survive for seven years in dirt and suggested extensive cleaning in affected areas. Landfair was asked if steps needed to be taken to clean the dog park at Jaycee Park, and he stated he would investigate that matter.
Roberts also reported APD statistics for the month of February, with four instances of auto burglary and accidents with injuries, three instances of graffiti, two residential burglary and structural burglary incidents, and one shooting.
“I will point out, just looking at these, about 53% of those are larceny-type crimes and 83% are property crimes in general, which includes the graffiti and breaking and entering, things like that,” said the chief. “Non-violent crime composes about 97%, with just a little over 2% of the things that are going on being violent issues or violent crimes.
“I just want people to be aware. It’s been busy, there’s been a lot of stuff going on, but the violent crime isn’t crazy in our city right now.”
Roberts also issued an oft-repeated plea to residents in regard to mitigating auto burglaries: “Take your valuables out of your cars and lock them. They’re not going to break your window, they’re going to try to find another car that’s unlocked.”
At the animal shelter during the month of February, 95 dogs were taken in, with 14 adopted, 11 rescued, seven reclaimed, and 45 euthanized. Eleven cats were taken in, three adopted and five rescued.
Chief Kevin Hope also presented the Artesia Fire Department’s statistics for the past month, with 17 fire calls received within city limits and one in the county, and 175 EMS calls in the city and 45 in the county.
Human Resources Director Jerry Conde stated there was one OSHA-reportable injury among city employees in February, one workman’s comp injury, and two accidents involving city vehicles.
During final comments, Councilor Nacho Mariscal thanked the voters who recently reelected him to his District 1 council seat and his opponent for getting involved in local politics, and stated he hoped to see a larger voter turnout overall in Artesia during the next election. Several other councilors and the mayor also wished the Lady Bulldog basketball team good luck in the Class 4A state semifinals.
As part of its consent agenda, the council granted permission for:
- the awarding of a bid for a quality control contract for demolition and abatement to Custom Construction and GWC Construction.
- the awarding of a bid for construction of the concession and restrooms at the youth soccer and football fields at Jaycee Park to White Sands Construction Inc. with a 120-day completion timeline.
- the replacement appointment of Rosie Theriault to the Commission on Aging Advisory Council, term to expire June 2025.
- the hiring of Makayla Giovannin, senior administrative assisant, at a pay rate of $3,282.44 per month.
- the retirement of Layton Priest, Water Operator I, effective March 29.
- the resignation of Glynda McWhorter, Senior Center van driver, effective March 5.
- one police employee to attend instructor development training in Roswell.
- two police employees to attend general instructor update training in Carlsbad.
- six police employees to attend Child Sexual Abuse/Child Pornography training in Carlsbad.
- two police employees to attend Officer Street Survival training in Albuquerque.
- two police employees to attend Foundation of Forensic Photography training online.
- two police employees to attend TEEX Forensic training in Dallas, Texas.
- one police employee to attend shooting reconstruction training in Pueblo, Colo.
- one infrastructure employee to attend TCT and TSC training in Albuquerque.
- two finance employees to attend the New Mexico Municipal League Clerks Certification Workshop in Ruidoso.
- one finance employee to attend payroll tax changes training for 2024 online.