City of Santa Fe Governing Body met Aug. 15.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
1. CALL TO ORDER
A special meeting of the Governing Body of the City of Santa Fe, New Mexico, was called to order by Mayor Alan Webber, on Wednesday, August 15, 2022, at approximately 4:04 p.m., at the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico as a hybrid meeting.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilor Romero-Wirth led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. SALUTE TO THE NEW MEXICO FLAG
Councilor Lindell led the Salute to the New Mexico Flag.
4. INVOCATION
Councilor Michael Garcia gave the Invocation. He recited a prayer for all veterans.
The Governing Body observed a moment of silence for those families who have lost veterans from their family and help for those still struggling with the effects of the continued pandemic.
5. ROLL CALL
Roll call indicated the presence of a quorum remotely and in-person, as follows:
Members Present
Mayor Alan Webber
Councilor Jamie Cassutt
Councilor Amanda Chavez [remotely]
Councilor Lee Garcia
Councilor Michael Garcia
Councilor Signe Lindell
Councilor Christopher M. Rivera
Councilor Renee D. Villarreal
Councilor Carol Romero-Wirth
Members Excused
None
Other Participants Attending
Erin McSherry, City Attorney
Kristine Bustos-Mihelcic, City Clerk
John Blair, City Manager
Ricky Bejarano, Interim Assistant Finance Director
Andy Hopkins, Budget Officer
Kyra Ochoa, Community Health, and Safety Department Director
Alexis Lotero, Acting Finance Director
Carl Boaz, Council Stenographer
6. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Councilor Romero Wirth moved, seconded by Councilor Cassutt, to approve the agenda as presented.
VOTE: The motion was approved on a unanimous voice vote:
For: Mayor Webber, Councilor Cassutt, Councilor Chavez, Councilor L. Garcia, Councilor M. Garcia, Councilor Lindell, Councilor Rivera, Councilor Romero-Wirth, and Councilor Villarreal.
Against: None.
7. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS
a. Request for Approval of a Budget Amendment Resolution (BAR) in the Amount of $1,996,000 for Use of FY22 (Prior Year) Gross Receipts Tax Revenue Earned Over and Above Budgeted Estimates to Fund the Remaining Amount of the $3,096,000 Professional Services Agreement Previously Approved Pursuant to RFP 22/47/P for Support for Audit Preparation and Support Services. (Ricky Bejarano, Accounting Officer: rabejarano@santafenm.gov, 505-629-6988)
Committee Review:
Governing Body Special Meeting: 8/15/2022
Ms. Mihelcic read the caption for this agenda item. Officer Bejarano was present.
MOTION: Councilor Michel Garcia moved, seconded by Councilor Villarreal, to approve the BAR for audit services as presented.
Discussion on the Motion:
Officer Bejarano explained this is to cover what was not covered before. The contract was approved contingent upon getting this budget adjustment at $1.996 million. The original budget was $1.1 million so the request is for the Governing Body to approve the $1.996 million to bring it to the full amount of the contract of $3,096,000
Councilor Lee Garcia asked where the money was found for this BAR.
Officer Bejarano deferred to Budget Officer Andy Hopkins.
Officer Hopkins clarified that $1.1m was already in the General Fund and received the notice that the caveat from the approval of the contract was in there that the Governing Body needed to approve the remainder. That was why the extra funding was in this item.
As noted in Committee meetings and previous Council meeting, the City does not foresee spending that entire amount. That was a “not to exceed” amount. We anticipate spending significantly less, but how much is impossible to say. The contract says up to that amount so that is the amount that will be put in the budget.
Councilor Lee Garcia understood the Governing Body did not know that amount the last time it was discussed.
Officer Hopkins agreed. In the caveat at Governing Body approval, we decided to include that additional amount in the budgeted amount. That was requested to be taken from the overage of the GRT which was above the amount in the General Fund budget last year. It came in stronger through the last FY and the City had more money available for things like Police Department vehicles, Public Works vehicles and work on public streets.
Councilor Lee Garcia concluded that this will not take away from other projects.
Officer Hopkins agreed. It was unanticipated extra revenue above last year’s budget.
Councilor Rivera wondered why, since we anticipated much less expense, we are not waiting until mid-year to have this BAR, when a better estimate of what it will cost would be known.
Officer Hopkins said that was what they originally planned, but because of the caveat put in the approval of the contract, as contingent upon having the entire budget amount in the contract, we had no chance to do that with the approval.
Councilor Rivera agreed with Councilor Lindell that putting in all of it would almost encourage spending the entire amount. He had hoped for a different way to do it.
Ms. McSherry explained that the entire amount was put in the contract, so the City is required to have that amount in the budget.
Councilor Lindell understood the entire amount was in the contract. She asked Ms. McSherry if the Governing Body couldn’t have done it on a year by-year basis.
Ms. McSherry said the approval was only for one year. The four-year estimate was $12 million.
Councilor Lindell said she was asking if we could have done it in a different way.
Ms. McSherry agreed.
There was no further discussion on the motion.
VOTE: The motion was approved on the following majority roll call vote:
For: Mayor Webber, Councilor Cassutt, Councilor Chavez, Councilor L. Garcia, Councilor M. Garcia, Councilor Romero-Wirth, and Councilor Villarreal.
Against: Councilor Lindell and Councilor Rivera.
b. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 2022-42. (Councilor M. Garcia, Councilor Rivera, Mayor Webber, Councilor Romero-Wirth, Councilor Chavez, Councilwoman Villarreal, Councilor Cassutt, Councilor L. Garcia,and Councilor Lindell)
A Resolution Updating the Terms of Approval Included in Resolution Nos.Ms. McSherry pointed out the main motion was already on the table. 2020-24 and 2022-9 to Change the Permitted Location of Banners Commemorating “Hometown Heroes” From the Cerrillos Road Corridor to the Railyard, Guadalupe Street, and the Greater Downtown Area. (John Blair, City Manager: jwblair@santafenm.gov)
1. Approval of an Amendment to the Resolution, to Expand the Installation of Banners Along All of Cerrillos Road and St. Francis Drive, in Addition to the Railyard, Guadalupe Street, and the Greater Downtown Area.
Committee Review:
Governing Body (Introduced): 07/13/2022
Quality of Life Committee: 07/20/2022
Public Works and Utilities Committee: 07/25/2022
Governing Body: 07/27/2022 (Postponed)
Governing Body: 08/10/2022(Postponed)
Special Governing Body: 08/15/2022
Ms. Mihelcic read the caption for this item.
Ms. McSherry pointed out the main motion was already on the table.
Motion to amend the Resolution:
MOTION: Councilor Michael Garcia moved, seconded by Councilor Rivera, to amend the Resolution as it was included in the packet.
Discussion on the Motion to Amend:
Councilor Michael Garcia understood the amendment has many pieces. It was to have leeway to hang them anywhere in the City. Governor Lujan Grisham allowed for the banners to be hung on St. Francis from I-25 to the front of the National Cemetery. The amendment allows for the adoption of prior approved location from Cerrillos Road to St. Michael’s Drive and also extended it to the state roadways to St. Francis and also includes the Railyard District, the Guadalupe area and the greater downtown area.
He said the hope was to be able to hang veterans’ banners throughout the entirety of this great City. He thought they could accommodate 340+ banners through the tireless efforts of Mayor Webber, Councilor Rivera, City Manager Blair, City Attorney McSherry, various City Staff who are trying to figure out how to do it. It took more time than anticipated but we hope with this final results, the veterans’ families will be pleased with the expanded locations.
Councilor Michael Garcia said several folks have stated these banners represented the people who willingly went to serve our country which is absolutely not true. Many veterans whose banners will be hung, served in World War II, many served in the Viet Name War, And 66% of those who served in WWII were drafted. They served our country unwillingly. Roughly 30% of the Viet Nam veterans were drafted and served unwillingly. That accounts for Viet Nam alone nearly 17,000 deaths in the Viet Nam War.
He clarified that these banners were not just for those who went willingly to serve our country. Many were given their orders to go serve.
Mayor Webber said he left off one person – he forgot to mention himself for his service. He has been very instrumental in his outreach and support for ways to get this done. It was a teamwork requiring a lot of patience and setbacks happened along the way and disappointments. But there were unflagging efforts to get it done. Kudos to him. He deserves thanks.
Councilor Michael Garcia recognized some of the local people on the Committee who worked on this. Hometown Heroes organizer, Don Christie, American Legion Commander, Major Carmela Quintana, and the rest of the American Legion who helped. And most importantly, the veterans’ families. They have been a tremendous support for this. He wanted to make sure they were duly recognized.
Manager Blair gave some logistics on this. Driving down Cerrillos Road now, you can see what the Governor hung already. Probably by the end of this week, 147 brackets should arrive for the remainder of the banners to be hung.
Manager Blair clarified that this resolution is specific to this year. When hedecided the banners needed to come down, he met with the veterans’ organizations to figure out how fast we could get them hung them and afterward, decide on a longer season next year.
Councilor Villarreal thanked Councilor Michael Garcia, Councilor Rivera,and Manager Blair for their support for this. She appreciated that the Governing Body took time to work with community members to get this done well. She also thanked the Governor for being part of the solution.
There was no further discussion on the motion.
VOTE: The amendment was approved on the following roll call vote:
For: Mayor Webber, Councilor Cassutt, Councilor Chavez, Councilor L. Garcia, Councilor M. Garcia, Councilor Lindell, Councilor Rivera, Councilor Romero-Wirth, and Councilor Villarreal.
Against: None.
Main Motion as Amended.
Discussion on the Motion:
Councilor Rivera thanked Manager Blair and Mayor Webber, and the veterans’ organizations and the veterans for their service to the country and their work locally with Mr. Christie, former Councilor Vigil Coppler who started this initiative, and Councilor Michael Garcia who has so much respect for the veterans in our community.
He said Councilor Michael Garcia got into it before the rest of us got involved. He pledged to continue to work with Councilor Michael Garcia for the long-term solution. This is moving forward.
VOTE: The motion as amended was approved on the following roll call vote:
For: Mayor Webber, Councilor Cassutt, Councilor Chavez, Councilor L. Garcia, Councilor M. Garcia, Councilor Lindell, Councilor Rivera, Councilor Romero-Wirth, and Councilor Villarreal.
Against: None.
8. ADJOURN
https://santafe.primegov.com/public/portal
