After the approval of the contract with Artful Life in July 2021, the consultants assumed management of the CHART process. This page is no longer updated regularly.
Visit www.CHARTsantafe.com for current news and information!
July 14, 2021:The Governing Body approved the contract with Artful Life as the consultant recommended by the evaluation committee to lead the CHART Process.
This is an overview of the procedures thus far
January 13, 2021: The Governing Body unanimously approved and co-sponsored the Substitute CHART Resolution.
March 8, 2021: Following the standard procurement process, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued that outlined the scope of work for the contract to lead the CHART Process; the scope of work was based on the CHART Resolution.
April 6, 2021: Proposals were due, setting in motion a scoring process by an evaluation committee operating under strict procurement code guidelines. The committee was composed of two City staff, one Arts Commission member, and a former City Historian in a prior administration.
April 28, 2021: The Governing Body approved the FY22 budget, which includes funding for the CHART Process.
May 18, 2021: The final draft of the Evaluation Report, which formally recommended Artful Life, was submitted to the Purchasing Office.
July 6-12: As part of the Contract Approval process, the recommended contract is discussed at Council Committees before going to the Governing Body for final approval or denial. The contract was considered by the City Council Finance Committee on July 6, the Quality of Life Committee on July 7, Public Works and Utilities Committee on July 12.
July 14, 2021: The contract approval is scheduled for the Governing Body meeting. This vote is to approve or deny the contract with the contractor recommended by the RFP evaluation committee. The agenda and packet of supporting material are available Search - PrimeGov Portal. Consult the agenda for instructions on viewing, listening, and commenting remotely.
Next Steps: If the Governing Body awards the recommended contract, the consultant will move forward to hire and train community-engagement facilitators who will then undertake the CHART Process that was approved in January.
Public Participation: The goal of the CHART process is to foster mutual understanding of shared values among individuals and groups with diverse backgrounds, not simply to decide about monuments and statues. Ultimately, citizens who have participated in the process will recommend forward-looking solutions to historic problems to the Governing Body. This is the beginning of an ongoing effort to learn and understand our complex histories and stories, and to promote truth, healing, and reconciliation for a future of peace and justice.
Background Information on CHART
The evolution of this resolution from its inception to its final form exemplifies democracy in action. The original proposal was for the formation of a committee that would deliberate and make recommendations for the disposition of monuments and statues that became controversial flashpoints last summer. Upon further research and reflection, the sponsors-Mayor Alan Webber, Councilor Carol Romero-Wirth, Councilor Roman “Tiger” Abeyta, and Councilor Chris Rivera--decided that far better outcomes would be achieved through a grassroots process that invites and facilitates community-member-to-community-member dialogue.
“We’ve been working on a way forward for months, with committee meetings and public input, and feel very positive about where we’ve arrived,” says Mayor Webber. “It takes courage to talk about hard subjects, but Santa Fe is up to the challenge.”
The goal of the CHART process is to foster mutual understanding of shared values among individuals and groups with diverse backgrounds, not simply to decide about monuments and statues. Ultimately, citizens who have participated in the process will recommend forward-looking solutions to historic problems to the Governing Body. This is the beginning of an ongoing effort to learn and understand our complex histories and stories, and to promote truth, healing, and reconciliation for a future of peace and justice.
This revised approach is informed by the community-engagement process recently used in Albuquerque to solicit broad community input regarding their race and healing project. It offers a variety of ways for people to have their views known, including a survey, one-on-one interviews, and participation in a series of roundtable meetings. The process will require patience—for now, it is projected to last all year—but the reward will be an outcome that’s the result of grassroots democracy and reflective of the community as a whole.
Under the resolution, the City will contract with a coordinator experienced in cultural competency and community-centered processes. The City will then facilitate the convening of dialogue sessions by members of organizations and unaffiliated community members. These sessions will be designed to promote broad cross-cultural understanding and racial equity and to inform decisions for statues and monuments as well as short-, medium-, and long-term responses to ensure community healing and reconciliation.
The budget for the CHART is approximately $265,000.
Read the final, adopted text of the resolution
- More Than 150 Santa Feans Applied to Work as Facilitators in Community Dialogue Project
- Now Hiring: CHART Project Facilitators
- CHART PROCESS UPDATE: Governing Body to Vote on Proposed Consultant Contract (7/14/2021)
- CHART PROCESS UPDATE: Proposed Consultant Recommended to Governing Body (7/2/2021)
- CHART Process Update: Funding for Consultant Approved (3/1/2021)
- CHART Process Update (4/13/2021)
- Consultant RFP Available Online
- Letter from Mayor Webber on CHART (1/19/2021) [PDF]
- CHART Process Approved at 1/13 - Sponsored by Entire Governing Body (1/18/2021)
- Governing Body to Consider Substitute Resolution for CHART Process - New Focus on Promoting Community Dialogue and Healing (1/13/2021)
- City Council Members and Mayor Webber Introduce Substitute Resolution to CHART Process (12/16/2020)
Watch CHART Discussion from 1/13/21 Governing Body Meeting