Weekly Wrap: Highlights from the Week of July 5, 2021 | City of Santa Fe

Weekly Wrap: Highlights from the Week of July 5, 2021

9 Jul, 2021
Highlights from the Week of July 5, 2021
 
Join Midtown Planning
 
So many questions:
 
  • How will the Midtown Site connect to adjacent neighborhoods and commercial areas to create a new Midtown District?
  • How will existing buildings be reused?
  • What kinds of new housing can be accommodated? 
  • What type of commercial development is possible to generate jobs and career paths? 
  • What green building and environmentally responsible site planning strategies can be implemented? 
  • How can the land be reused to create a place that truly represents Santa Fe people, culture and history?
 
Such questions are on the table in the next phase of a citywide public engagement initiative to plan the Midtown Site and District. The City is sponsoring two Public Planning Sessions to inform the future land uses and development plans by facilitating the exchange of ideas, priorities and objectives. These Sessions will occur in two steps: Listening Sessions (July 20-22) will serve as the basis for Workshop Sessions (September 23-25).
 
Residents are urged to listen, learn, and share their perspectives in the upcoming sessions at the Convention Center and the Midtown Site. Find the details and much, much more information about this historic development opportunity here.
 
MAYOR'S NOTE:
The COVID-2.0 Mental Health Crisis
 
We've come a long way as a community during COVID. Now we need to safeguard our remarkable gains by keeping the Delta variant at bay so we can enjoy this summer of reopening, with our iconic markets, fiestas, the opera, music and more. 
 
But there is another serious concern we need to talk about: the mental and behavioral health after-effects of COVID. Here and across the country we’re seeing significant spikes in substance abuse, suicide attempts, gun violence and other serious issues of public health and safety. The City's new Alternative Response Unit can offer help. We’ve been coordinating with the County, the State and our health care providers to send out the word: Let's have the same spirit of compassion and community that got us through the health crisis of COVID get us through this mental health crisis after COVID.
 
Please, Santa Fe, come together, stay together! Have fun, stay safe, enjoy our city as we re-open—and let’s all look after each other.
 
 
CHART Progress
 
This week, the Finance and Quality of Life Committees approved the contract for Artful Life to lead the CHART Process. Public Works and Utilities will take it up on Monday, and the Governing Body is expected to vote on the matter on Wednesday evening (July 14). You can sign up for updates, read a CHART fact sheet, and join the process when it gets underway by visiting the CHART webpage.
 
 
Fire Department Cool Downs
 
The kids had such a splishy-splashy blast at Salvador Perez Park on the Fourth that the Parks Division and the Fire Department are going to do it twice more at different parks. Kids Cool Down 1 will take place at SWAN Park on July 17, and Cool Down 2 will be at Franklin Miles on Saturday July 24. The hoses go live at 11:30. There’s a possibility of an appearance by Sparky the Firedog! Make a day of it with a picnic lunch, and don’t forget to bring towels.
 
Recycling Happens Here!
 
Did you know that we have a recycling sorting facility right in Santa Fe? From your house to the truck to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at 2600 Buckman Road, clean recycling matters. Check out this new video from the Environmental Services Division for a sneak peek into the process, and be sure to stick around on their website – and download the free Recycle Coach app – to make sure you're recycling right!
 
 
Happy-or-Not Going Live!
 
Keep an eye out for these cool little kiosks installed at certain City facilities – we really want to know your impressions of the services you just received! The surveys are brief, and the feedback will provide day-to-day data about operations. We can become more responsive to residents' concerns, and our team members will know exactly how to better serve the public. So please pause for the cause, and remember to be kind.

 

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