Councilors said several committees had been created years ago but saw little or no council participation, prompting a review of five areas including public safety, housing and parks

Damien Willis, Organ Mountain News

SUNLAND PARK - Sunland Park officials are preparing to revive a collection of city committees that councilors acknowledged have existed for years but, in some cases, saw little meaningful participation from the City Council.

The unusual bit of municipal housekeeping surfaced during Tuesday’s City Council meeting, when Councilor Alberto Jaramillo asked the city to review committees that had previously been created for areas including public safety, community development and parks.

Jaramillo, who has served on the council for about seven years, said council members had once been divided among three committees, with two members assigned to each.

But the structure never really took hold.

“We were assigned, but we really never worked with the committees,” Jaramillo said.

He also pointed to committees related to the city library and housing, saying council members had not been designated to participate in the library body and had not participated in the housing committee.

“There’s several committees around the city that were created, but the council has never participated,” Jaramillo said.

He suggested bringing the committees back as Sunland Park continues to grow and city officials look for ways to work more closely with residents.

Structure already exists

Mayor Javier Perea said the council committee structure is already established in city ordinance.

Perea said he originally adapted the structure from committees used by a municipal government in Norfolk, Nebraska. The committees were intended, in part, to allow work on legislation or policy within specific areas to be delegated for development.

“I don’t think there’s a need to reinvent that wheel,” Perea said. “I think it’s just a matter of, OK, if we’re going to move forward with that, let’s implement it and follow through with that.”

The Sept. 1 agenda packet reviewed by Organ Mountain News offered almost no additional history. Item 11 was listed as a discussion to review the status and re-establishment of city committees, with no fiscal impact, background material or attachments included.

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Five areas under review

City Manager Mario Juarez-Infante identified five areas for the city’s initial review: public safety, community development, parks and recreation, library and housing.

Juarez-Infante said he planned to meet with department directors, examine the existing ordinance and then schedule a workshop allowing the council and staff to determine how the committees should operate.

He said committees could prove useful as the city works through projects involving public safety, community development and parks.

The city manager said he expects to report back by Sept. 15 on the review and when a workshop can be scheduled.

The discussion ended without a vote. Item 11 was listed for information only.

For now, the task is less about creating a new layer of city government than figuring out what Sunland Park already created — and getting those committees functioning.

Damien Willis is founder and editor of Organ Mountain News. If you have a personal story to share or a lead we should follow up on, reach out at OrganMountainNews@gmail.com or connect with him on X at @damienwillis.