Work Session Meeting June 22, 2026 MINUTES Work Session Monday, June 22, 2026 @ 1:00 PM City Council Chambers, City Hall PRESENT: City Councilor Johana Bencomo, City Councilor Becky Corran, Mayor Eric Enriquez, City Councilor Cassie McClure, City Councilor William Mattiace, Mayor Pro Tem John Munoz, and City Councilor Michael Harris ABSENT: 1. AGENDA ITEM 1.1 MOUNTAIN VIEW MEDICAL PRESENTATION. Patrick Shannon, CEO gave the overhead presentation. Mayor Eric Enriquez said thank you Patrick, thank you for coming today and sharing the information and we also appreciate the partnership in the community and once again congratulations on earning the grade A, that’s huge for you, your staff, everyone that works towards that and for our community as well. Councilor Harris said I have a couple of questions. The first is, since you mentioned expanding the footprint and working with the City to do that are you open to, well hopefully, as we are looking to like redevelop the East Lohman plan area, so hopefully are you open with coordinating with the City, and working with us to do new traffic patterns and access like those medians need to be landscaped and stuff, and are there some partnerships there? Patrick Shannon said I would say absolutely, I know that our architects and engineers that we’ve been working with on the development, I have been pushing them saying we need to get with the City and the County from an infrastructure standpoint. We are waiting for corporate level approval at the company level and then that would give us the green light at that point, but to answer your question yes absolutely we would like to partner with you on that. Councilor Harris said that would be great, and then the next 2 questions are kind of related so I will ask them both. So, one is on slide 6 it looks like the ER visits increased at a quite a bit greater rate than all of the other visits and so I am curious if you had any thoughts about why that is and I think you also mentioned that you have been partnering with organizations to look at the social impacts, the non-medical impacts to heath and in the other part of that question is would you be willing to provide your financial assistance policy and the eligibility requirements specifically that governs how you provide the indigent care? Patrick Shannon said I think on the first question the ED growth or emergency room growth, I think that it is just something that many hospitals are seeing across the country. A lot of times you know patients will go to the emergency room versus their primary care physician so you’ll have, that’s probably going to out paced the surgical volumes and admissions and some of the admissions we continue to see growth in admissions but a lot of hospitals are seeing a decline in a shift to the outpatient setting as insurance companies and other entities are more involved in trying to keep cost of healthcare down but I think that growth in the emergency room also is part of when Mountain View added the second emergency room at the freestanding and there are some thoughts about whether or not we should add another one or an urgent care so we have 3 but often times the urgent care center you only can do so much so if we did another freestanding emergency room it could be something that can benefit the community just trying to determine where that might be. In terms of our charity care work and things of that nature in our discounts, yeah absolutely. We have a new Chief Financial Officer Doug Saegesser, he joined us from Lake Havasu, Arizona and glad to have him. I think he has been with us for 2 or 3 weeks but I’ll get with him when I get back to the office I think that’s something we can do. Councilor Harris said that would be very much appreciated and just for our knowledge benefit what’s the difference between standalone emergency room and the one in the hospital? Do they provide exactly the same services? Patrick Shannon said they are both same services just at a different location and like when a patient has to be admitted a lot of times we will have them transported through our main ER just to be looked at one more time before they go to the floor. Sometimes they can go straight to the floor, then often times we’ll have them just looked at just to make sure everything is ok but by and large, now an urgent care is different. It is kind of like in between that freestanding emergency room and a primary care physician’s office. A little bit more urgent in nature than a primary care physician’s office but not emergent but the freestanding allows us to provide a higher level of emergent care to the patient off campus you know in a location where they might not be able to get to the main hospital fast enough. Councilor Corran said I know you sort of allude very lightly alluded to this with the conversation about being a trauma center, but I know that lots of folks come here from other areas outside of the sort of central part of Las Cruces. I am curious if you all are working on kind of a plan for what, if we continue on the trajectory I think between 7 and 9 hospitals in rural New Mexico are going to close in the next few years, it’s anticipated, I am wondering if you all are readying yourself for that or if that’s part of the conversations about trauma and I suspect there are a few other areas that you are kind of the place that the people come to and what impact that might have on your capacity to serve as that transition happens which I think is as far as I know is still happening just looming, there in the next 2 years or something but I don’t know if you can talk a little bit of that or if you’re just hoping that doesn’t happen which I think is what everyone feels. Patrick Shannon said no, I think that’s a great point. I think that we can see it in our own numbers the number of transfers increasing year over year. That number continues to climb so I think that’s part of the reason why we see the need to expand our footprint at the main campus and can do so without adding a fifth level across the entire hospital. We can do some different things to increase the bed capacity mainly critical care, I mean med surg is going to be in be an addition as well but critical care is very important. We have a step down unit where when patients come in to the ICU and the ICU in let’s say, gets stabilized we can step them down to our IMC unit that is 18 beds but often that is full as well, so we have to address that and to your point if these areas across Southern New Mexico continue to need a place to transfer to we are going to have to get ready for that and that’s why we are planning this expansion to do so in addition to adding the service lines because Mountain View has to continue to grow from you know, potentially could we become more of a tertiary type facility, maybe, down the road, but we’ve got to start heading in that direction now and certainly sooner rather than later. Councilor Mattiace said it brings back memories when I did the groundbreaking as Mayor for that hospital I think with John, Mr. Hummer. When you know you mentioned the specialties and I noticed, I have a daughter in the medical field and she says more specialties are coming in, is that because of the malpractice reform do you find that is easier to be recruiting and even maybe attracting more people that could handle the trauma and burn type facilities when we have tragic happenings? Patrick Shannon said I think that that definitely helps. You know recent House Bill 99 that passed, I mean that certainly is going to help with those conversations. Mountain View has also, and I don’t know about MMC but we are starting to employ more and I think we’ve had to do that and so there has been before quite a few independent physicians, those independent physicians are you know, had tough it on their own but when they are part of the Mountain View organization and we employ them we can help when it comes to med mal, medical malpractice and I think that is helped to kind of maybe not alleviate but ease their concerns but also just really promoting Las Cruces and the area. It’s a great place to live. People love it here once they come here and I drive to work and it takes me 10 minutes to get to work you know, when I lived in Houston it was an hour each way so I think it’s important to sell all the great things about Las Cruces to these physicians and then as we continue to add so yes, if I have cardiovascular and I am speaking to a pure vascular surgeon it is going to help that I have cardiovascular surgeons there at Mountain View to get that vascular surgeon to pay attention to us and vice versa and so if I tell or I have more interventional cardiology or I have orthopedic trauma surgeons you know then I have more orthopedic surgeons that will want to come on board so as you start to build it, it makes it a little bit easier but I think that conversation around employing does help. Councilor Bencomo said thank you so much for coming here today as a healthcare partner that is very important for us to be in this kind of relationship with you so appreciate it and welcome to Las Cruces. I am curious about actually going off Councilor Corran’s question you know we’ve been, I’ve been seen some news across state about some hospitals in up Northern New Mexico making some serious cuts to you know like Medicare Advantage Programs and things like that. I am curious about the impact of the Big Beautiful Bill on Mountain View particularly if you are starting to see those impacts on you know major slashing from federal funding and how do you think you’ll cushion that or what kind of conversations we should be in, in order to prepare for perhaps even more uninsured folks in Las Cruces or the county? Patrick Shannon said putting things into perspective you know I am coming from Texas and so I find that the HDAA program with New Mexico is better than the program than Texas has, we call it the alphabet soup in Texas but it was a lot of programs very convoluted, difficult to manage. I feel that the State here New Mexico supporting the hospitals in a good way. Now the rural transformation funding the hospitals in Las Cruces may or may not qualify because of the size of the county but there are portions of Dona Ana County that may qualify so it is still kind of up in the air but other hospitals in New Mexico will definitely benefit in that endeavor and we have 2 sister facilities, 1 in Carlsbad and 1 in Roswell that are going to benefit from those programs but the HDAA supplemental funding from the state is a good one. I would characterize it as a good program and we have to manage it, make sure that we are hitting all the quality metrics and the key performance indicators that are in place and that it put the onus on hospitals to make sure that they are doing a good job providing good care, safe care and so we are up for that challenge and I think from that standpoint it’s good for the community you know for hospitals to be able take care of patients but I know the landscape is always changing and that’s something that we continue to stay close to, to make sure that we can adjust as necessary and that’s one thing Mountain View has been, it does well you know, it’s an organization that is able to put things into place to make sure that it succeeds because we have to have a hospital that can succeed and do the things that are necessary in this county I would say MMC is probably in a similar boat not the same boat, so I think Las Cruces has strong healthcare as it relates to the hospitals and the physicians we just need to bring in more specialties into the community. Councilor Bencomo said I think you are right that the landscape is sort of just always changing so I appreciate that and the open flows of communication as we enter some of these harder times for folks and obviously in the entire state but certainly in Dona Ana County we have high percentage of uninsured and underinsured folks so those are always important conversations. I did want to ask you a little bit of a tougher question. This is before your time. I want to caveat that but it was at top of mind as I was thinking of today’s Works Session I know that last year Mountain View settled with some patients who had brought a lawsuit around the Patient Debt Collection Protection Act. I am wondering if you are familiar with that and what kind of practices Mountain View is implementing to ensure that folks who are underinsured or lack insurance aren’t falling into this debt trap? Stephanie Guadian, Marketing Director said the actual collection part happened from our parent company and so that practice has since changed, so that won’t be happening again. Councilor Munoz said you mentioned partnership and I’d like to ask you what we can do to help and you might have the answer now or later, but the trajectory is just going to be incredible, incredible growth and there’s an incredible need here in our community. I am glad that you are, seems like you are invested in our community already I’ve seen you can’t believe it’s been 4 months. I’ve seen you out and about in different events and gatherings. I am glad that you purchased a home instead of leasing one, it shows that you are staying here. I understand that one of your children is interested in NMSU, I’d like an update on that as well. We can just get you a library card and then you are a legit Las Crucen. So welcome to Las Cruces but thinking about the plan as some of my colleagues mentioned there are needs, there is growth in our residents needs services. So, when it comes to partnership let us know whether it is today some ideas or some ideas in the future how we can help. Patrick Shannon said I think timeline wise if we receive final approval from our corporate board we could you know maybe looking to break ground early spring of 27 with a 2-year build but during that process obviously will be in close coordination with you guys but yeah definitely be open minded about partnering. And no luck yet with my stepson I am trying to get him to, he is a rodeo guy, he is a heeler I am trying to get him into the University but we’ll see. 1.2 OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS. Wes Smith, Fire Department Case Manager gave the overhead presentation. Councilor Harris said my quick question is the previous slide with the grant development person. Is that somebody who is like only going to be focusing on compliance for this project or since it’s a grant development are we also looking at related grants and funding to supplement the program? Gaby Prats within Grant Manager said yes, the Grant Development Specialist will be embedded the grants program in Finance and that person will be not just working on this particular project but looking for complementary funding to continue and increase and increase the services provided not only through the grant but also through the City. Councilor Munoz said I believe it was page or slide 28, I am glad that you put this in here. I think when given the amount of funds available and the good they can do for the community it’s important to measure so I appreciate you and your team providing results and outcomes. So are you just going to do it year 1, year 2 will there be 6 months or an intermittent or some sort of an update or readout in between those milestone dates? Wes Smith said I think the contract with evaluation was every 6 months they will have a formal report but we will be, so we intend to have like monthly data coming in from the providers and then different contracts with like Las Cruces Public Schools that’s more like a quarterly update but information from LCPD, the Fire Department, these are like daily conversations. I really want direct our attention to the website where this is where we want to publish those, that data but we also want to have live account of expenditures as they come in this is awesome. I am really excited with Las Cruces website accountability website, I probably should’ve put it on this presentation but it’ll be a great opportunity to have live updates as they come in and where they’re going for like treatment, recovery, prevention programing. Councilor Corran said this may not be something that you can answer but I have a vague recollection that one of the many companies that had to pay into the opioid overarching Opioid Settlement Funds basically said that they were going to pay in Narcan. Does anyone else remember this conversation? No? Maybe I am making it up, I swear that happened in one of our discussions. One of those companies was going to, because they didn’t have enough cash or something but they had piles of Narcan, they were just going to give like municipalities piles or Narcan, but if you are making that face and everyone else is making that face I doubt my memory. I swear that was one of the company’s resolutions instead of money but I guess we are not getting that, and if you’re making that face then nevermind but I was just going to say, if we do, I hope that the way that we are distributing it now can be the model so that it can go really quickly and it doesn’t have to have any discussion about how that happens if we just get a box of Narcan showing up at Brad Douglas’ office, I guess is where it would appear probably. Councilor Bencomo asked I don’t know if I missed this Wes, did you show us the amount that has gone out and the amount of dollars that are still unused? I don’t think you did, right? Wes Smith said this is just the report on the 2 year funding cycle the 2.9 million that you approved in like 9 months ago. This is the best I’ve got 2.9 million with 864,000 remaining with any annual distributions that be coming out and if there is any additional settlements that may be pending. Councilor Bencomo said I didn’t want to leave this hanging because I think it is important to keep a very good line of communication open. We did receive a letter from the Opioid Settlement Advisory Council from May naming some concerns I wonder if you can touch on that or members of the committee want to touch on that and you know as we think about next steps really like I want us to be in lockstep with each other because obviously these dollars are monumentally important. Obviously the map you showed us the stakes are really high and this amount of money is not going to, it is still not enough for the damage that they’ve caused to our communities right but this opportunity is incredible and I think I want us to be able to be on the same page and aligned which each other so, do you want to speak on this letter? Or members of the committee as well Wes as if you know. It did seem like it came from the whole council, maybe not. Athena Huckaby, Dona Ana County Special Project Manager said I am in charge of our Opioids Settlement Funds, no members of the, well Tanika Gonzales is here, who is the member of the OSAC but she was not involved in the writing of the letter. Specifically, I think and Wes has a copy of the letter here but specifically I think it was mostly about the city and county continuing to work together and have good communication and reminding city of the purpose of the OSAC which is to advise city and county about best practices and their recommendations for how they believe those fundings should be used. So there had been a little of a gap in communication because of staff change over here at the city and things were moving very well so I don’t think that’s anything particularly of concern. One member of the OSAC did have specific concerns about the Keeping It Real Program and that that was not a recommended funding expenditure through OSAC. However, you know that’s entirely up the city how you choose to spend your funds. Councilor Bencomo said I didn’t want this to go unacknowledged so I know folks are putting in volunteer time on this committee, so I wanted to make sure to lift that up and if there are concerns I hope that they continue to be raised. Wes Smith said so there were some other things that the City recommended outside of what OSAC recommended which was funding the schools. That would include the Social Emotional Learning Programs, the Navigate 360 and the other curriculum and the Keep It Real Program, those were programs, that the City recommended. When we were talking about the settings of populations, that was outside of the OSAC recommendations. Councilor Harris said I guess as a follow up to that. Can you speak a little bit to why those programs are being done in elementary schools and if there are thoughts about extending it? As a former graduated of DARE, which was a long time ago to be fair, you know I wonder if like those programs would be more appropriate in middle school or high school or all 3 you know, so I am curious to hear your thoughts? Wes Smith said the Keep It Real curriculum which is owned by DARE LLC, is an evidence based program sponsored by SAMHSA and is targeted at that grade level and teaches them like healthy decisions making habits appropriate for that grade level, and I can’t recall and I don’t have representative from the Las Cruces Public Schools to expand on the Social Emotional Learning Program but it’s a similar approach for prevention. Michael Daniels, Fire Chief said just to add the Keep It Real Program is actually designed through the entire spectrum of school. So they have different recommendations, I think this was our first year getting started with the Keeping It Real Program. A lot of it is the ability or the scope of what we can accomplish with only few officers being trained in that first year so I am assuming as capacity increases we will obviously take a look at what services can be provided through that program across that entire age spectrum. 2. ADJOURNMENT 2.1 Mayor Pro Tem John Munoz moved, seconded by City Councilor Becky Corran, to adjourn at 2:04 pm. RESULT: Carried MOVER: Mayor Pro Tem John Munoz SECONDER: City Councilor Becky Corran AYES: City Councilor Johana Bencomo, City Councilor Becky Corran, Mayor Eric Enriquez, City Councilor William Mattiace, Mayor Pro Tem John Munoz, and City Councilor Michael Harris ABSENT: City Councilor Cassie McClure Mayor City Clerk