Council also increases Film Las Cruces contract and approves Medicaid ambulance reporting agreement for Las Cruces Fire Department

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - The Las Cruces City Council approved four resolutions during its regular meeting Monday, including a liquor license transfer, a pedestrian crossing project grant application, a contract increase for Film Las Cruces and an agreement related to Medicaid ambulance reimbursements.

Liquor license transfer approved

City councilors approved the transfer of a liquor license allowing packaged alcohol sales at a gas station convenience store to BW Gas & Convenience Retail LLC, which operates as Allsup’s.

The license will move to 4805 Mesa Grande Drive, where a convenience store and gas station are planned.

The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Division gave preliminary approval to the transfer request in January. State law requires local governing bodies to approve the transfer after a public hearing.

No one spoke during the hearing. The council approved the resolution 6-1, with Councilor Bill Mattiace voting no.

Pedestrian crossing project approved at March 2 council meeting

The council unanimously approved a $300,000 grant application to the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Municipal Arterial Program to support the Amador Crossing HAWK Signal Project.

The grant requires a $100,000 city match.

The project would install a pedestrian hybrid beacon — a button-activated traffic signal — along with sidewalk improvements, Americans with Disabilities Act curb ramp modifications and new signage and striping. The crossing would stop traffic along West Amador Avenue at McSwain Drive, near the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope, to allow pedestrians to cross the multi-lane roadway.

The project carries an estimated cost of about $984,000. A state capital outlay grant will cover more than $584,000 of the total.

Film Las Cruces contract increase approved

Councilors also voted 7-0 to increase the city’s contract with Film Las Cruces by $10,000 for the final year of the city’s current two-year agreement.

The change increases the contract from $95,000 to $105,000.

Film Las Cruces works to attract film and television production to the city by building relationships with production companies and industry professionals.

City officials said the additional funding will support marketing and promotional efforts, including advertising in MovieMaker Magazine and participation in the American Film Market in Los Angeles.

Ambulance reporting agreement approved

The council also approved an agreement with Public Consulting Group, LLC of Boston to assist with Medicaid ambulance reporting.

The agreement allows payments of up to $600,000 annually and runs through Dec. 31, 2028.

The Las Cruces Fire Department provides ambulance transport services throughout the city. Some of those transports qualify for state and federal supplemental payment programs that reimburse agencies for providing ambulance services to Medicaid patients.

In 2024, LCFD provided 3,852 Medicaid-eligible ambulance transports. Officials estimate the cost of those transports exceeded $13.15 million.

Under the agreement, Public Consulting Group will assist LCFD with Medicaid cost reports and ground ambulance data collection needed to obtain reimbursement for those services.

City council meetings are available on the City of Las Cruces YouTube channel.