Open government in action: Local entities present 2025 priorities at Legislative Forum

RIO RANCHO – Numerous local organizations and individuals got a chance to speak directly with the new class of incoming legislators at a pre-Legislative Session public forum on Monday night.

The forum, which took place at the RRPS district building on Jan. 6, was a chance for entities like the City of Rio Rancho, the Rio Rancho Public Schools District, the Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority (SSCAFCA) and others to present the legislators in attendance with funding opportunities to keep in mind as they head into the upcoming Legislative Session.

The Legislative Session will run from Jan. 21 to March 22.

The legislators in attendance were Sen. Craig Brandt, District 40; Sen. Jay Block, District 12; House Republican Whip Alan Martinez, District 23; Rep. Joshua Hernandez, District 60; Rep. Catherine Cullen, District 57; and Rep. Kathleen Cates, District 44.

The forum opened with introductions by the legislators, along with a brief rundown of their own priorities, before the first organization spoke.

First to the mic was Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull speaking on behalf of the city of Rio Rancho.

The city funding priorities include:- $1.3 million for an additional field for the Rio Rancho Sports Complex.

- $627,000 for a new pathway from the Aquatic Center to the Loma Colorado Public Library.

- $700,000 for a parking lot revamp at Memorial Park.

- $500,000 for the library Learn & Play program.

- $5 million for the new Rio Rancho Fire & Rescue Fire Station #8.

- $800,000 for an additional garage bay for Rio Rancho Fire & Rescue Fire Station #3.

- $600,000 to upgrade, equip and modernize city police vehicles.

- $5 million for improvements to Unser Boulevard.

- $4.5 million for an additional well for the Aquifer Reinjection System.

Mayor Hull told the legislators the Little League improvements are much needed.

“Little League is big business in Rio Rancho,” Hull said. “Now we are at a place where we need another field.”

As far as Station #8 goes, Hull said the trucks and equipment are already ordered in anticipation of the new station being ready in the next several years.

Next up was the Rio Rancho Public Schools District. Superintendent Sue Cleveland was in attendance, along with RRPS executive director of facilities Patrick Martinez, who gave the presentation.

The RRPS funding priorities are:1. Athletics

— $370,000 for a bleacher replacement at Rio Rancho Middle School.

— $300,000 for a gym floor replacement at Cleveland High School.

2. Facilities

— $1 million for parking lot improvements at Cielo Azul Elementary School.

— $300,000 for district-wide lighting controls upgrades.

— $2 million for parking lot improvements at Cleveland High School.

3. Food & Nutrition

— $140,000 for a kitchen and cafeteria floor replacement at Eagle Ridge Middle School.

4. IT Support

— $300,000 for intercom and security upgrades at Eagle Ridge Middle School.

— $400,000 for intercom and security upgrades at Rio Rancho Middle School.

— $140,000 for expanding district storage.

— $200,000 to upgrade and expand the district servers.

— $50,000 to upgrade Lincoln Middle Schools A/V capabilities.

5. Safety

— $600,000 for district-wide fencing.

— $150,000 for district-wide surveillance upgrades.

Rep. Martinez inquired about the apparent lack of funding for Rio Rancho High School, specifically the RRHS gymnasium floor. Facilities director Martinez said the RRHS gymnasium floor was assessed and given a passing grade, but Cleveland was not.

Rep. Cates expressed interest in helping with facilities and inquired about the possibility of school-based health clinics in the future.

Rep. Cullen inquired about fine arts funding and Sen. Block asked about cybersecurity funding.

Edward Garcia, the executive director of ASK Academy presented his school’s priorities next.

ASK Academy priorities include:— $917,000 to complete the school’s expansion with their third and final building.

The assembly asked Garcia about CTE partnerships, and he spoke at length about those connections.

“College isn’t the answer for every kid,” said Garcia. “Our mission is to make sure all of our students are set up for success, no matter their path.”

The Sandoval Academy of Bilingual Education (SABE) was also given a chance to speak. They requested $500,000 for building improvements and all of the legislators were receptive to assisting in securing that funding for the fledgling charter school.

SABE serves 222 students from kindergarten through eighth grade with plans for a Pre-K class in the future. Additionally, they serve the pueblos as well as the rural areas of the county with bilingual focused education.

Sandoval County Manager Wayne Johnson went next and listed out the legislative priorities for the county in the coming year.

Sandoval County priorities include:— IPRA revisions

— Improvements to the police officer certification review process

— Improvements to legislation regarding public/private partnerships

— A permanent solution to the problem of Emergency Broadcast Radio subscriber fees

— Improvements to county mental health resource training

Along with Johnson, Sandoval County director of community services Jaime Espinosa gave the legislators an update on the county’s effort with stray animals. According to Espinosa a spay and neuter clinic is in the works for the sometime in the next month-and-a-half to two months.

The final organization to take a turn at the microphone was SSCAFCA.

Executive engineer Dave Gatterman gave the presentation, which included three listed priorities for the county’s flood control authority.

The SSCAFCA priorities include:— Upgrades to Lower Barrancas Water Quality Facility to help prevent solid waste pollution from reaching the Rio Grande

— Funding for the planning and design of the North Hills Stormwater Facility

— Expansion and maintenance of the Arid Hydrology Research Area

Before the forum concluded, legislators took public comments.

There was one public comment, from Amy Traylor, a longtime educator and Rio Rancho resident.

Traylor spoke to the legislators about CTE and the need for valid career paths for youths in Rio Rancho.

“We are throwing money at [the problem] and it isn’t sticking,” she said. “There’s lots of it, but we aren’t allocating it properly. ...We have culinary teachers who don’t have food.”

Traylor also advocated for a revision to the rules regarding computer science education certification.

The legislators concluded by expressing their gratitude to Dr. Cleveland and RRPS for use of the facilities.