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City of Santa Fe Weekly Wrap
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Highlights from the Week of January 10, 2022 |
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There's a lot going on in the City Different!
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John Blair Succeeds Jarel LaPan Hill as City Manager |
At the Governing Body meeting Wednesday night, the Santa Fe City Council approved Mayor Webber’s nomination of John Blair to assume the position of City Manager. Blair succeeds Jarel LaPan Hill, who stepped down after two-and-a-half years in the role.
The City Manager is responsible for day-to-day operations of the City government and provides executive-level administrative leadership to some 1,200 City employees. The position is responsible for the planning, implementation, and oversight of policy decisions made by the Mayor and City Councilors. The City Manager is also accountable for the City’s fiscal health and is responsible for effectively communicating policy, programs, and initiatives.
City Manager Blair most recently served as the Deputy Superintendent at the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department, where he helped establish the adult-use cannabis industry. Prior to this, City Manager Blair served as New Mexico’s Deputy Secretary of State, Chief of Staff to the New Mexico State Auditor, and as a Judicial Clerk at the New Mexico Supreme Court. City Manager Blair also served as the Director of Intergovernmental and External Affairs the U.S. Department of the Interior during President Barack Obama’s administration, as both Legislative Director and Communications Director for then-U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich, and as a Legislative Aide to U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman.
“Ultimately, my work is to preserve what we love about Santa Fe – our culture, diversity, community, and history – while ensuring that City government provides swift, and efficient twenty-first century constituent services,” said City Manager Blair. “I’m both grateful and excited to help make my hometown the best city in the country.”
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MAYOR'S NOTE:
A New Year,
A New Wave
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Two weeks into a new year and the whole City is moving quickly, energetically, and purposefully to do the work of Santa Fe. This week we added 20 people to the City staff; had our first Governing Body meeting with our two new City Council members; and welcomed a new City Manager at the top of our team.
There is great work underway building our downtown public bathroom, our Southside Teen Center, the Bicentennial Pool, the Regional Airport—and much more. We continue to see our economy recover and grow. The most recent report on Gross Receipts Tax revenues tells us that October saw a substantial increase not only from last year but also from the year before. That’s more good news.
But here’s a concern: The Omicron variant is spreading and COVID cases are back up. Public health experts tell us that Omicron spreads more quickly and easily, has a shorter incubation period, may evade prior immunity—and (here’s the good news) may have milder symptoms. By all accounts, we haven’t hit the peak yet. That takes 3-4 weeks. So now is the time for renewed vigilance. Get vaccinated. Get a booster shot. Wear a serious mask. Avoid large indoor crowds. Stay safe. Keep your families and co-workers safe.
2022 is off to a fast and exciting start. The only obstacle to a great and productive year for Santa Fe is COVID—and we have the tools to overcome that obstacle. Let’s work together, stay safe, and keep Santa Fe moving forward.
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The Environmental Services Division (ESD) has launched the “It’s My Santa Fe” campaign to empower residents to take action, however and whenever they can, to ensure Santa Fe is a beautiful, healthy, and sustainable place to live. The campaign is the theme of the 2022 Residential Services calendar, which was mailed to approximately 32,000 residential utility account holders. Learn what you can do and find your calendar here.
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The Strongest of the Bravest |
The Fire Department is extremely proud to announce that one of its very own members, Training Captain Mario Risso, has been selected to compete at the 2022 World’s Strongest Firefighter competition in March in Columbus, Ohio! The Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Festival hosts 22,000 athletes from 80 different nations. No doubt, he will represent the SFFD, the city and the state very well!
Go smash it, Training Captain Risso.
We’ll be rooting for you!
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Pool Construction Progress |
The renovation work is well underway at the Bicentennial Pool. The rough grading is complete and during winter weather the contractor is focusing on the equipment room. Public Works Department Project Manager John Dillon says the reconstruction is 50% done and on track for a Memorial Day opening. The pool was closed last summer on account of major leaks in the plumbing and pool shell. In October the Governing Body decided to move forward immediately on pool repairs.
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MLK Day Closure Information |
City offices and facilities will be closed on Monday, Jan. 17, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Trash and recycling collection will continue as scheduled; please place your carts curbside by 7:00 a.m. on the morning of your collection day. Find transit information here. Offices and facilities will reopen on a regular schedule on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2021.
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