I want to express my thoughts and discuss actions I believe we must take as a community. First, I want to express my deep condolences to the parents, families and friends of Rose Simmons, Kate Kline, Julian Martinez and Alyssa Trouw. I pray for the speedy recovery of Avree Koffman. I also want to express my condolences to the parents, family and friends of Pedro Maldonado.

Only weeks ago, I was expressing condolences to the Lovato family after a horrific domestic violence incident that affected all of us. There have been too many senseless and tragic losses. Domestic violence, gang violence and drunk driving affect us all. Santa Fe can not tolerate this, no community can.

In attending memorials and funerals this week, I have been moved by the depth of suffering and by the strength and character of our people. I ask all Santa Feans to decide that they will be safe and to see to the safety of their fellow community members this 4th of July weekend. I am humbled to be with our community in its bereavement. There has been great wisdom in the sentiments and insights expressed by people young and old. Yet, the healing will take a long time. Please continue to reach out and support one another in these painful times.

Out of the tragedy, the Santa Fe community must continue to work for change. Elected leaders shoulder a special responsibility to make solutions happen. Local government leaders will hold a joint City Council/Board of County Commissioners meeting next week to respond to these incidents, especially to the role that abuse of alcohol plays in our community.

We have to do more and working together, we will. We will support dialogue but we will also move for action. We know what programs work in education, enforcement and treatment. We have to improve our ability to implement these programs and practices. Change must occur quickly.

I have tremendous faith in the people of Santa Fe. It’s important that every individual makes personal decisions to look after the safety and well-being of their fellow community members. This weekend please make that decision. Be safe on the 4th of July. Make sure your actions show respect for yourself and for the safety of your family, friends and neighbors.

In closing, I want to again express my deepest condolences to those in our community who are most directly affected by the tragedies of this past week.

The City of Santa Fe Integrated Pest Management Office is working to eradicate fleas in City parks and open spaces.

City officials strongly recommend taking the following precautions when using City parks and open spaces:

Stay clear of rodent burrows.
Closely supervise children and pets.
Keep pets on a leash and never allow them to roam free.

These common sense steps can help prevent plague and other dangerous diseases.

The address will be given Aug. 11 at 6 p.m. at the New Mexico History Museum, located on Lincoln Ave. behind the Palace of the Governors.

A squirrel found recently near Nava Elementary School tested positive for plague. The plague and other dangerous diseases are easily avoided by following some common-sense precautions.

Rodents

First, avoid all contact with rodents, sick or otherwise. Picking them up without protection can lead to infection. Tell you children to stay away from rodent burrows and nests. Also, keep your pets away from burrows and nests.

Do not feed or otherwise support squirrels or rodents of any type. Feeding rodents can stimulate and artificially increase the population, creating overcrowding and ideal conditions for the transmission and increase of plague.

Wear long pants tucked into boot tops in infested areas or when hiking or camping. This will help prevent fleas from jumping onto legs and biting. Also, apply insect repellant from the knees down.

For visitors to camping areas in and around Santa Fe, be certain not to place tents and sleeping quarters where rodents are present or near their burrows or nests.

If you encounter a dead rodent within the City limits:

Call City of Santa Fe Animal Services at 955-2700. Animal Services will pick up and dispose of dead animals.

If it is necessary remove a dead rodent:

First apply a DEET-containing insect repellant, particularly around your arms and legs. Dig a two-foot deep hole and use a long-handled shovel to put the rodent in the hole.

Another option is to put your arm into a plastic garbage bag and grasp the dead rodent with your plastic-covered hand. Then turn the bag inside out so that the rodent is inside the bag. Seal and bury the bag.

In a confined area, wear a face mask and spray the rodent and surrounding area with a disinfectant such as Lysol. This is particularly important when handling mice which may be carriers of Hantavirus, another dangerous disease.

Bury the rodent a couple of feet deep so that dogs, cats and other animals will not become exposed and reintroduce infected fleas.

Pets

Pets can bring plague into the home in two primary ways. They can pick up the plague infected fleas and bring them into the house where they may bite humans. Or, the pet can become infected from flea bites or from catching/picking up a dead or sick infected animal.

Keep pets inside as much as possible and avoid letting them run loose. A bell on the pet’s collar may serve to scare rodents away. Use flea control products such as flea powder and flea collars. Flea collars are not sufficient when used alone. If your pet becomes sick, take it to your veterinarian for evaluation and treatment. When camping, leave pets at home when possible.

At Home

Remove food and shelter sources for rodents around your home, work sites and recreational areas. Use safe insecticides to kill fleas around your property. Apply DEET-containing repellant to exposed skin and repellant containing permethrin to clothing when in flea-inhabited areas, especially when camping or in other rodent-inhabited areas.

Rodents can also carry hantavirus and their nests and droppings should be removed. Before removing rodent nests in closed-in areas, air out the area first. Rodent nest droppings should be wetted-down with a 10% bleach/90% water solution before removing.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are not only irritating and annoying, but they can also transmit dangerous organisms to humans and animals. They are responsible for transmitting heartworm in dogs. Here are some ways to alleviate mosquito problems around your home.

Eliminate breeding sites for larvae

Reduce standing water that provides breeding sites. Eliminate containers such as old tires, buckets, cans and bottles that collect and hold rainwater. Drain water from flower pots, rain gutters, rain barrels, birdbaths, pet dishes, livestock watering troughs, etc. at least once a week. Empty your plastic wading pool weekly and store it indoors when not in use. Fill holes or depressions in trees with sand, consult with a Certified Arborist if the cavity is large or unsightly. Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets.

Reduce adult mosquito populations

Mow tall grass or reduce the amount of brush and other foliage in your area to eliminate the resting sites for adult mosquitoes. For temporary relief in yards or high traffic areas, use fog treatments or surface treatments of insecticides that are labeled for that use and apply them following directions on the product label.

Avoid contact with mosquitoes

Use screens in your home and pet kennels. Keep the screens in good repair and be sure that they seal around the frames of the doors and windows. Schedule outdoor activities during times when mosquitoes are not active. Mosquito species that are active at dusk and dawn can often be avoided. Species that bite throughout the day are more difficult to avoid. Wear long, loose-fitting clothing to avoid mosquito bites. Use head nets when mosquitoes are very abundant. Use repellants whenever in a mosquito infested location. Products that contain DEET have been shown to be the most reliable repellants however many oil of lemon eucalyptus products or soybean oil-based repellant products work well according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.

Gates and concessions open at 5:30 and the live music begins at 6:00 p.m. Savage Wizdom, Soulz of the Sun, Sol Fire and Lumbre del Sol will perform between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m. Fireworks begin at dusk. Donations will be accepted for parking and event entrance and will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Fe. This event is sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Fe, City of Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Public Schools.

The Extraterritorial Land Use Authority Meeting set for July 2 at 6:00 p.m. is cancelled due to lack of a quorum.

on Friday, July 10th from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, Community Gallery, 201 W. Marcy Street. Meet artist Lori Aguirre Snable and have her sign your copy of the 2009 City Poster entitled, Santa Fe Mariachi.
Information about the Artist and the Poster

Debra Bridewell was the lucky person to step through the doors of the newest branch of the Santa Fe Public Library and be greeted by Library Board President Jennifer Jaramillo.

Library staffers from all three branches were also on hand to congratulate the winner. Ms. Bridwell, who is a teacher at the Flores Del Sol Head Start, came to the library for storytime with her students.

On discovering that she was the lucky library visitor, Debra Bridewell remarked, "Being the one millionth patron is wonderful due to literacy being important. I frequent the library with my family. It's an honor!"

Ms. Jaramillo stated, “I am proud to be the president of the Santa Fe Public Library Board and even more proud of the 50 front-line staff who perform their duties so efficiently and with great spirit to welcome the 1,000,000 visitors at their locations year round. This is truly a milestone and a testament to the wonderful patrons who continue to count on our library staff and services.”

At the latest count, attendance at the Santa Fe Public Library has gone up 14.6% in the past year over the prior fiscal year.
Santa Fe Public Library website

The dead squirrel was found at the Francis X. Nava Elementary School site, 2655 Siringo Road.

Plague is a disease that circulates mainly among small animals through fleas which are a vector for the plague. People usually get plague from being bitten by a rodent flea that is carrying the plague bacterium or by handling an infected animal.

In response to this discovery, the City of Santa Fe Parks Division is treating the burrows with an insecticide known as Deltadust, or Deltamethrin. Additionally, NMED is testing rodent burrows for fleas and will send the fleas to the Centers for Disease Control for testing. The site will be retested on Monday.

As a precaution, children who participate in the City of Santa Fe’s Summer Youth Program at Nava Elementary School were kept indoors today and will be sent to Ft. Marcy Complex on Wednesday and Thursday. The program will start again at Nava Elementary on Monday. The Summer Youth Program will not operate on Friday, July 3 in observance of Independence Day. Summer Youth Program staff will notify parents about the situation.

Residents who encounter a dead rodent within the City limits are advised to call City of Santa Fe Animal Services at (505) 955-2700. Animal Services will pick up and dispose of dead animals.

The expo held at the Western New Mexico Global Resource Center featured presentations from Las Cruces City Councilor Nathan Small, Silver City Mayor James Marshall, Brendan Miller, NM Economic Development Green Economy Manager and Dara Parker from the Office of US Senator Jeff Bingaman.

The Expo brought together businesses, local governments and communities to participate in the Green Economy and for community leaders to showcase their commitment and achievements related to climate protection.

Romero highlighted the City of Santa Fe’s Green Building Code that will take effect July 1. Romero noted “the Green Building Code was one of the strategies that built upon the National Conference of Mayor’s strategies to reduce Green House Emissions.” The other important strategies the City of Santa Fe is working hard to implement include the final report from the Sustainable Commission and on going efforts to protect the environment through overlay districts.

During closing remarks Romero noted “the new City of Santa Fe Community and Convention Center is a 72,000 square foot building that since inception, environmental responsibility has been a major focus. 88% of the materials from the previous building were salvaged and recycled, 75% of the waste generated during construction is being recycled, and all exterior timber is certified, meaning it was rescued from the Sierra Blanca forest fire. Now that the building is open, recycling and the use of environmentally friendly products remain a focus.”

Silver City Mayor James Marshall remarked, “The City of Santa Fe is truly impressive in its overall efforts to protect the environment and we hope they will help us in our efforts here in Silver City.”

Santa Fe Public Libraries will be closed all day Friday and Saturday, July 3rd and 4th.

On Friday, July 3rd, Ft. Marcy Complex and Salvador Perez Pool will be closed. Bicentennial Pool will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

On Saturday, July 4, Ft. Marcy Complex will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Salvador Perez Pool will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Bicentennial Pool will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Genoveva Chavez Community Center will be closed on Friday, July 3 and will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 4.

There will be no Rail Runner service on Friday, July 3, 2009.

City of Santa Fe Solid Waste will run its garbage and recycling service on a regular schedule throughout the holiday weekend. Santa Fe Trails bus service will also run on a regular schedule all weekend long.

Routes 1, 2 and 4 were the busiest during the week. All Santa Fe Trails’ riders were asked to fill out a coupon which entered them in a drawing for a bus pass good for a month. The 25 winners of bus passes are: Pete Abeyta, Virginia Baca, German Barrera, Brian Braxton, Robert Contreras, Sally Cooper, Jane Davis, Leroy Dominguez, Satanka Fernandez, David Gonzales, Houi Henderson, Ernestine Lefthand, Jake Lopez, Patrick Marquez, Samual Matt, Frank Mason, Rich Miller, Raymond Patterson, David Pecos, Tami Rouse, Larry Sandoval, Tesera Sora, Danny Vannata, John Williams and Eric Zerker. Twenty-five other lucky riders won consolation gifts. Results are posted on Santa Fe Trails buses.

The annual Dump the Pump Day is sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association to make the public more aware of the expense of driving a car and the negative impacts driving has on the environment.
Public Transportation and Parking

for staff to perform routine maintenance. Customers will be able to access the system on July 1, 2009 at 12:01 a.m.

This work is part of a larger effort to improve accessibility for the disabled community in accordance with federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. Traffic Control will be set up along Cordova Road next week June 29th-30th and July 1st-2nd from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The area affected will be Cristo Rey Street between Camino Delora and Camino Cabra. Every effort will be made to restore water service as soon as possible. However, unforeseen circumstances may delay restoration of water service by the scheduled time. In order to avoid plumbing problems, residents are advised to draw water for personal use prior to the shut-off.

This play area has activities for all ages. There are seven slides of varying lengths, a climbing and bouldering wall for older children and a water feature that sprays water when pushed. The opening was delayed by minor repairs to the slides and climbing wall.

The tunnel running through the middle of the embankment will remain closed for approximately two more months while a safety barrier for the tunnel is constructed.
The Trust For Public Land website

West Alameda from St. Francis to Camino Alire will be cold-milled beginning tomorrow and paved from June 30 until July 2. Agua Fria from Solano to Siler Road will be milled on June 29 until July 1 and paved beginning July 6 until July 7. Lincoln Avenue from Palace to Federal Place will be paved on June 29 to June 30. All work is done during warm, dry weather with as little disruption as possible. Motorists are urged to take alternate routes.

Learn about horticulture and your community by joining a gardening “pod” for one day, one event, or many.

The Railyard Park has a rose garden, xeriscaped gardens, a bird and butterfly garden, fruit trees, native plant meadows, and a community garden for food crops! The 400-year old + Acequia Madre runs through the park to water crops, and a water harvesting system captures run-off from surrounding buildings.

We have ongoing workdays throughout the week (Wednesday mornings, Thursday evenings, Friday mornings), and community garden volunteer days most Saturday mornings. We also welcome organizations to volunteer and will customize to meet your schedule.

For more information, email railyardstewards@gmail.com or call (505) 988-5922.

This single month decline will increase the expected drop in revenues for Fiscal 2008-2009 by 1%, from -2% to -3%.

This reduction is consistent with expectations that the City will experience severe weakness in summer GRT for Fiscal 2010 as consumers adjust spending to account for the current economic conditions. However the rate of decline is more severe than the 9% reduction expected in the city’s financial forecast.

This one month drop in GRT will reduce citywide revenues by $1,000,000 compared to the estimate. The general fund impact will total about $700,000. This will reduce the undesignated fund balance in the General Fund by half to $700,000.

In consultation with the Finance Director, the City Manager will freeze all future hiring, promotions and transfers of permanent non-safety employees for thirty days subject to further review as revenue information is received. Furthermore, senior city staff will begin meeting on contingency planning on June 23 to identify measures that would bring the budget into balance if these conditions persist.

"The City has taken a prudent and cautious budget approach in the face of this unprecedented economic downturn. Despite the gross receipts downturn for April, we are taking action to reach the end of the fiscal year in the black,” Mayor David Coss said. “The City can accelerate additional cost savings and efficiency measures already proposed in the budget approved by the City Council for next fiscal year.”

In addition to spending reductions, the City of Santa Fe is working actively with the business community and state and federal agencies to stimulate economic recovery for Santa Fe.

“We will continue to push for quick state and federal approval of projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that can increase jobs and investment in Santa Fe. Furthermore, we will continue to promote Buying Local, supporting new business start up and expansion and promotion of Santa Fe's unique cultural, artistic and historic offerings in the hospitality business," Mayor Coss said.

What caused the decrease?

A 43% drop in construction caused most of the drop in the Gross Receipts Tax but an 8% drop in retail and a 12% drop in the other major segments, Retail and Accommodations and Food also contribute to the weakness. The current year’s forecast expected a decline of 3-5% for June.

How does this impact next year’s budget, which was recently approved by the Council?

Next year’s budget anticipates revenue drops in the first nine months that average about 9%. If reductions through August average more than the 9% reduction forecast for the first half of the year, staff will recommend implementation of measures to balance the budget without use of General Fund reserves beyond amounts already approved by the City Council in the Fiscal 2009-2010 budget approved last week.

What happens next?

The budget office will prepare forecasts based on moderately worse and much worse revenue collections to serve as a guide for sizing balancing measures. Because the City maximized its use of vacancies and vacancy control and other measures in the current year, balancing proposals may include programs, personnel and non-tax revenues. Proposals to implement balancing measures will be presented to the Finance Committee at the meeting of July 20, 2009 for action after the Committee’s review of August GRT results.

Finance Committee and City Council Review – City Finance staff has requested that the Finance Committee schedule time to hear the report on budget balancing measures on July 20 and that it schedule action on its preferred balancing measures on Aug. 17. Because the first Council meeting in September does not occur until Sept. 9 it may be appropriate to schedule the Aug. 17 meeting as a special City Council meeting to avoid delay.

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009
Contact: Liza Suzanne
(505) 955-4084 or lsuzanne@santafenm.gov

Registration Now Open for Second Annual City of Santa Fe Triathlon

The Genoveva Chavez Community Center (GCCC) is proud to present the Second Annual City of Santa Fe Triathlon. The race will take place at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday July 18. The event features a 5k (3.1 mile) run, 12-mile bike ride, and 400 meter swim in the GCCC pool. The event is open to both individual and team entries.

On line registration is offered this year at www.gccommunitycenter.com. Walk in registration at the GCCC, and mail in registration are also open now. Registration forms are available at the GCCC, Salvador Perez, and Ft Marcy as well as local bicycle and running shops. Entry forms may be down-loaded on line at www.gccommunitycenter.com. The Triathlon is limited to the first 300 entrants. Registration will close on July 12 2009.

GCCC website

On Monday, June 8th, the Design Team for the project will present a solution that respects the concerns of neighborhoods in the area, maintains connectivity to the greatest possible extent, provides for emergency access and does not trigger major road improvements and related costs.

Because there will be an extensive trail network to encourage alternative, healthy modes of transportation, i.e. bike and pedestrian paths, the traffic and transportation plans for the Northwest Quadrant were designed to offer choices to the residents of the future. The area’s proximity to downtown and to retail and employment centers in Santa Fe offers a unique opportunity to reduce the number of car trips a typical household makes. There are also plans for purchase of a van to transport residents to work, school, and other key destinations.

Additionally, the presentation on the economics of the Northwest Quadrant which was made to the Finance Committee on June 1st, will be heard again at Public Works. The Finance Committee accepted the report prepared by Michael Halsey of Business Futures, which was an evaluation of the available financing options. Mr. Halsey is a local economist with extensive experience in market analysis and cost estimating who has been used by many local builders, including Tierra Contenta and Santa Fe Estates. Revenues generated through sales, grants and financing mechanisms such as forming a public improvement district were evaluated to ensure the financial success of the Northwest Quadrant.

The Northwest Quadrant is designed to offer many options in home prices ranging from entry-level to homes priced at $350k and above. This variety in pricing should ensure that the new neighborhood will welcome a socially and economically diverse community of residents.

Staff is recommending adoption of the Northwest Quadrant’s Master Plan, and to consider recruiting a Master Developer in six months. Timing will be an important component of project’s future success. Mr. Halsey has advised that the best time to move forward with the first stages of the project will be when the housing market begins to swing upwards.

Other key dates for the Northwest Quadrant Plan:
Planning Commission - June 18th
Slated for Council approval and adoption - July 8th;

Additional Information is posted on the City of Santa Fe web-site under hot topics. www.santafenm.gov.
Northwest Quadrant webpages

By extending the deadline the “Buy Into It” team hopes to give Santa Feans more opportunity to illustrate how they are “Buying In.” Please submit photo and essay submissions through the “win a prize” section of the website. www.buyintoit.org.

The deadline has also been extended for the new prizes for the “Million Dollar Buy In.” By helping to reach the community goal of $1 million dollars in submitted purchases, you could win a great prize package in one of two categories.

Category #1: For businesses submitting the most frequent emails of purchases to buy@santafebiz.org. The prize is an advertising package valued at more than $5,100. It includes advertising in the Santa Fe New Mexican, the Santa Fe Reporter and on Hutton Broadcasting radio stations. Certain restrictions apply.

Category #2: For individuals submitting the most frequent emails of purchases to buy@santafebiz.org. The prize is a staycation package valued at more than $200. It includes lunch for two at the Pink Adobe (alcohol not included) AND a 50-minute massage at the Inn of the Five Graces (gratuity not included).

Winners in each category will be determined by organizers of the Buy Into It campaign according to most frequent participation. Are decisions are final and subject to the judgment of the campaign organizers. Final decisions are not subject to review or challenge.

Examples of purchases to email:

-Meals

-Plants and Garden

-Clothing

-Books and Magazines

-Housewares

-Electronics

The campaign “Santa Fe Buy Into It” is a consumer awareness and confidence campaign to encourage both individuals and businesses in Santa Fe to spend locally whenever possible.

In today's tough economic times, buying locally is a way we Santa Feans can positively influence our local economy. We can support local employment, civic services and each other's businesses through our spending choices.

A local purchase increases the number of times that dollars circulate in the local economy, multiplying their reach and impact, and increasing overall demand. This is what economists refer to as the multiplier effect; the end result is called a positive feedback loop, or a virtuous cycle.

The Santa Fe - Buy Into It campaign was designed collaboratively by local advertising companies together with business representatives, media representatives, and the City of Santa Fe.
Buy Into It website

The City of Santa Fe’s Online Bill Pay will not be available from June 29, 2009 Midnight thru June 30, 2009 Midnight for maintenance. It will be made available on July 1, 2009 at 12:01am.

The ITT department will disable the port for the online bill pay for those times, I would just like the public made aware with enough time to avoid any confusion. Thank you.

Vincent Montoya, Business Analyst

City of Santa Fe

Telephone: (505) 955-6523

Cell phone: (505) 231-1389

Beginning June 3, the City’s website at www.santafenm.gov will have Facebook and Twitter buttons on the homepage.

“We are pleased to add these features to the City’s website because of the rise of online social networking as a communication tool. This is yet another step toward making city government more accessible to the community,” Mayor David Coss said.

One of the featured sites on the City’s Facebook page will be the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Board.

Alex Wirth, Chair of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Board, said, “The City of Santa Fe’s new Facebook and Twitter pages are a large step in helping youth connect with their government and be informed about community activities. The Mayor’s Youth Advisory Board has strived to make sure youth in Santa Fe know that there are productive things to do like events funded by the City’s Teen Nights Program. The Facebook and Twitter pages are the latest part of our effort to better communicate information about youth events. The Mayor’s Youth Advisory Board strongly applauds the City’s efforts and looks forward to helping the City of Santa Fe to continue their strong connection with youth.”
City's Facebook page

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Tuesday, June 02, 2009
CONTACT: Julie M. Bystrom, Project Specialist
TEL (505) 955-6707
FAX (505) 955-6671
jmbystrom@santafenm.gov

CITY ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR ANNUAL ARTS AWARDS

The City of Santa Fe is seeking nominations of individuals or organizations that deserve an award for their outstanding work in the arts through the 2009 Mayor’s Recognition Awards for Excellence in the Arts. This award recognizes individuals and organizations which have made significant, ongoing or legacy contributions to the success of the arts in Santa Fe.

Nominations of youth artists (aged 21 and under) who have demonstrated artistic excellence and achievement with a deep commitment to the arts are also considered for the Melissa Engestrom Youth Artist Award. The public is invited to submit nominations of outstanding young individuals who deserve special recognition even though they are not yet well-established in their careers.

The arts play a very important part in the cultural and fiscal health of Santa Fe. Join Mayor David Coss in recognizing those individuals who have contributed to the success of Santa Fe’s arts community. This year’s awards are sponsored by Century Bank.

A nomination form can be obtained through www.SantaFeArtsCommission.org or by contacting the Arts Commission office at 955-6707 or artscommission@santafenm.gov. The deadline for submitting nominations is Wednesday, July 15, 2009. Current Commission members and recipients of the Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts within the last five years are ineligible. Please note that there is no need to submit multiple nominations for one person or organization. One thorough nomination will ensure consideration by the selection committee.

For more information about the 2009 Mayor’s Recognition Awards for Excellence in the Arts, nomination forms, or to see a list of past recipients, go to:
www.SantaFeArtsCommission.org.
###

The City of Santa Fe Arts Commission is an agency within the municipal government of the city of Santa Fe. The Arts Commission provides leadership for the city in supporting arts and cultural affairs. In this role, the Arts Commission recommends programs and polices that promote artistic excellence in the community. Through its work, the Arts Commission nurtures and supports Santa Fe’s unique artistic and cultural heritage.

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2009
Contact: Katherine Mortimer (505) 955-6608 or kemortimer@santafenm.gov

Residential Green Green Building Code Takes Effect July 1ST
Don't Be Caught Unaware!

Two presentations are planned for the public to become familiar with the new residential green building codes. These presentations are scheduled Saturday, May 30 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the La Farge Library, 1730 Llano St., and Tuesday, June 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 200 Lincoln Ave.

In addition, two workshops for Building Professionals or Owner/Builders are also planned; these workshops are longer and designed to assist building professionals understand how to use the codes and how to comply as well as tips on how to do it cost effectively. These workshops are scheduled Friday, May 29 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association Offices, 1409 Luisa Street, Suite A, and Thursday, June 4 from 3 to 6 p.m., at the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association Offices,1409 Luisa Street, Suite A.

For more information please call Katherine Mortimer at 955-6608 or email her at kemortimer@santafenm.gov.

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Monday, May 11, 2009
Contact:
Laura Banish, City of Santa Fe Public Information Officer, (505) 955-6046
Mark Tibbetts, Santa Fe MPO Officer, (505) 955-6614
Keith Wilson, Santa Fe MPO Senior Planner, (505) 955-6706

MPO Commuter Survey
Take the survey and help identify future improvements to increase the use of bicycles and other alternative transportation in Santa Fe!

In coordination with Santa Fe Bike to Work Week, May 11-16, the Santa Fe Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) invites commuters to complete its new Commuter Survey. The purpose of this survey is to assist the Santa Fe MPO develop an update of its Long Range Metropolitan Transportation Plan by identifying future improvements to the transportation network in order to increase the use of bicycles and other alternative modes of transportation for commuting.

The MPO survey is available at http://www.santafenm.gov/index.asp?NID=1759. The survey will also be available at the following Bike to Work Week events:

Monday, May 11
6 p.m. Bicycle Workshops at Genoveva Chavez Community Center, 3221 Rodeo Rd.
“On-the-Road Adjustments and Safety” by the staff of Rob and Charlie’s
“Rules of the Road” by Santa Fe Police Department Bike Patrol

Friday May 15
7 a.m. – 10 a.m. BIKE TO WORK DAY on the Railyard
FREE food, coffee, t-shirts to the first 350 people, prizes and giveaways – take a swing at the goathead piñata - Bikeways maps – bicycle maintenance experts – Youth helmet fitting - Santa Fe Trails bus demo – join a convoy to the Railyard, route details and map online!

The Santa Fe MPO is the transportation planning entity for the existing Urbanized Area of Santa Fe, plus those portions of the surrounding area expected to become urbanized over the next 20 years. Currently, the MPO is composed of four member governments: the City of Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, Tesuque Pueblo, and the New Mexico Department of Transportation.

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Friday, January 16, 2009
Contact:
Laura Banish, City of Santa Fe Public Information Officer, (505) 955-6046
Sevastian Gurule, City of Santa Fe Constituent Services Manager, (505) 955-6047

Santa Fe Living Wage Rate Adjusted to $9.85

The City of Santa Fe announces that the Living Wage has been adjusted to $9.85 per hour for the year 2009.

In November 2008, the City of Santa Fe announced a Living Wage increase from $9.50 per hour to $9.92. The City of Santa Fe used the Consumer Price Index 12-month average from October to October as the figure for the previous year in order to give businesses and employees the most stable, up-to-date number while also providing enough time to plan for the upcoming year.

Now that the January to January numbers have been released, the City is adjusting the Living Wage to $9.85 to best reflect the intent of the City’s Living Wage law. The ordinance states that “Beginning Jan. 1, 2009, and each year thereafter, the minimum wage shall be adjusted upward by an amount corresponding to the previous year's increase, if any, in the consumer price index for the western region for urban wage earners and clerical workers.”

The City of Santa Fe's Living Wage Ordinance was adopted to establish minimum hourly wage rates. Santa Fe is a national leader in the Living Wage movement. Minimum wage laws promote the general welfare, health, safety and prosperity of Santa Fe by ensuring that workers can better support and care for their families through their own efforts and without financial governmental assistance. All profit and non-profit businesses with a business license or business registration issued by the City of Santa Fe, including part time and temporary employees as well as city contractors, are required to pay their workers according to the minimum hourly wage set by the city.