Las Cruces Council Work Session - June 22, 2026

The City of Las Cruces held a council work session on June 22, 2026, featuring two primary presentations related to community health and safety. The first presentation was by Patrick Shannon, CEO of Mountain View Regional Medical Center, who discussed the hospital's growth, quality achievements including a Leapfrog safety score of A, and plans for expansion including a potential 60-bed addition to address capacity issues. He highlighted ongoing capital investments such as cath lab upgrades and physician recruitment efforts to enhance specialty care. The hospital expressed openness to partnering with the city on infrastructure improvements related to the expansion. The second presentation by Wes Smith from the Las Cruces Fire Department focused on the management and expenditure of opioid settlement funds totaling approximately $9.8 million through 2038, with $3.8 million received to date. The funds are allocated to prevention, treatment, and recovery programs, including support for local police, schools, and community organizations. The council discussed grant compliance, ongoing evaluation, and transparency measures including public reporting of expenditures. No formal votes or contract awards were recorded during the session, but both presentations emphasized future procurement and partnership opportunities related to capital projects and grant-funded programs.