Highlights from the Week of July 26, 2021
There's a lot going on in the City Different!
Road Repairs: Where the Rubber Meets the Road
The City recently completed $11 million worth of road rehabilitation projects throughout city, completely utilizing the 2017 Gas Tax Bond funds secured for this purpose. The 34 projects addressed a variety of road issues.

The Public Works Department is requesting the Governing Body to approve additional funding of $2.99 million for further road rehabilitation needs across every district in the city. The recommended source of funding for the new projects is the Fiscal Year 2021 Gross Receipts Tax revenue that the City realized as the recovery got underway in February, which exceeded the FY21 budgeted expenditures.

“Mayor Webber and the City Councilors have focused attention and funds to improve the conditions of Santa Fe streets,” says Public Works Director Regina Wheeler. “These types of projects are fundamental for our community. And re-paving is the ultimate way to prevent potholes.”

While main and arterial streets are a priority due to the number of people served by these streets, a number of residential roads will be rehabilitated with any savings from those projects. This work is scheduled to begin after funding is approved by the Governing Body and is expected to be completed by the end of the 2021 paving season. The Public Works and Utilities Committee heard a presentation on the funding request Monday evening. The matter will go before the Finance Committee on Monday, and the Governing Body on Wednesday, August 11.
MAYOR'S NOTE:
Yes, We Have Enough Water
How do you bring together affordable housing and sustainable water? Wednesday night, Water Division Director Jesse Roach provided the data to show that, with smart growth and water planning, we can have both. (You can see his presentation to the Governing Body for yourself, starting at around the 13-minute mark of this video.)

Thanks to a community-wide commitment to conservation, since 1995 our population has grown by 25% but our water use has shrunk by 33%. And there are more ways to conserve, starting with a green multi-family building code and savings in restaurants and hotels. 

We have resiliency with four sources of water, and a fifth under development. So we can balance our supply between rivers and wells, for example, and build a water re-use pipeline that will add even more supply.

The message is, if we grow smart and plan ahead, we can have both affordable housing and a sustainable supply of water.
Have a Cuppa Coffee with a Cop
Community policing is the name of the game, and it takes many forms – including the simple pleasure of having a convivial Coffee with a Cop. This video captures the flavor of a recent event. Everyone is welcome to drop into the next Coffee with a Cop at McDonald's on Airport Road next Friday, August 6, at 9:30 a.m. To host a Coffee with a Cop event, please contact Officer Erica Montoya at [email protected] or call (505) 955-5282.
Defenses vs. Wildfire
On this month’s Climate Matters Radio show, our Sustainability Planner, Neal Denton, spoke with our Wildland-Urban Interface Specialist, Porfirio Chavarria, about what residents can do to prepare their properties for wildfire. The biggest takeaway: Schedule a home fire assessment to evaluate your wildland fire risk. Click to watch the full interview, then schedule an assessment.
Antidotes to Overdoses
The Fire Department is often on the frontlines in responding to opiate overdose cases and trying to prevent them from becoming fatalities. The department recently launched a Narcan leave-behind program, where crews can educate and leave behind doses of the life-saving treatment with family members following a narcotic overdose. Station 1, C-shift is pictured here.
City Job Fair on Saturday!
The City of Santa Fe will host a job fair tomorrow, July 31, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center. Representatives from city departments will be available for information and questions, and the Human Resources team will assist with the application process. Check out the job openings at santafenm.gov/jobs!
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