THURSDAY (JULY 2) ELUA CANCELLED

We have just received official confirmation that Thursday's (July 2) ELUA meeting has been cancelled. The Rural Residential ordinance was to have been voted on.

Watch for the ELUC meeting on August 11, and the next ELUA meeting August 25.

The delay is to allow for the public to SPEAK UP at the next two Community Outreach meetings:

Monday, July 6

Open House: 4 - 5:30 PM

Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM

Monday, July 13Open House: 4-5:30 PM

Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM

IF YOU CAN NOT ATTEND, PLEASE WRITE/CALL EMAIL THE MEMBERS OF THE ELUA:

Here are the members of the ELUA:
Rosemary Romero (city)
Miguel Chavez (city)
Carmichael Dominguez (city)
Virginia Vigil (county)
Harry Montoya (chair/county)
Liz Stefanics (county)
Kathy Holian (county)

Contacts:

Santa Fe City Council
Santa Fe County Commissioners

Have a Happy and Safe Fourth of July....and remember, we are fighting own own independance battle!

IMPORTANT SERIES OF MEETINGS THIS WEEK

Hello All:

There are three VERY IMPORTANT meetings this week, and we urge everyone to attend and speak up.

First up, The City of Santa Fe will sponsor Community Outreach Meetings To Discuss Annexation Area Planning, Zoning and Subdivision Regulations and Map. The open meetings are all scheduled for the Southside Library, 6599 Jaguar Drive.

NOTE: The "Rural Residential" definition as described on the notice map HAS ALREADY BEEN REVISED BY THE CITY TO ALLOW 3 AND UP TO 5 DWELLINGS PER ACRE.

Dates and Times
Monday, June 29, 2009
Open House: 4 - 5:30 PM
Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM
Monday, July 6
Open House: 4 - 5:30 PM
Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM
Monday, July 13
Open House: 4-5:30 PM
Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM

On Tuesday at 10 AM, the Board of County Commissioners meets at 102 Grant Street. Here is the agenda, there is an opportunity for public comment early.

Finally, the all-important ELUA will meet Thursday at 6 PM, also at 102 Grant, to re-hear and vote on the revised Rural Residential Zoning Ordinance. THIS MEETING IS CRITICAL.

HERE IS THE AGENDA.

Tell your friends and neighbors. We know it is difficult for all our schedules, but this week is critical!

ALERT: COMMUNITY MEETINGS SET

The City of Santa Fe today posted notice of Community Outreach Meetings To Discuss Annexation Area Planning, Zoning and Subdivision Regulations and Map. The open meetings are all scheduled for the Southside Library, 6599 Jaguar Drive.

NOTE: The "Rural Residential" definition as described on the notice map HAS ALREADY BEEN REVISED BY THE CITY TO ALLOW 3 AND UP TO 5 DWELLINGS PER ACRE.

Dates and Times

Monday, June 29, 2009

Open House: 4 - 5:30 PM

Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM

Monday, July 6

Open House: 4 - 5:30 PM

Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM

Monday, July 13

Open House: 4-5:30 PM

Presentation/Discussion: 5:30-7 PM

It is imperative we turn out in large numbers to each meeting. This will be our first (and probably only) opportunity to voice our concerns in a public forum. Dramatic changes have already been made that will be contrary to the original agreement, which stated: "The Rural Residential District is intended to respect the existing rural residential character of the area and prevent urban densities".

Further, the City and County HAVE ALREADY AGREED to assign all land use decisions to the City, to be effective imminently - EVEN LONG BEFORE WE ARE FORMALLY ANNEXED.

Stay tuned. More to come!

ELUA MEETING JUNE 25 CANCELLED

We have just learned that Thursday's ELUA meeting has been cancelled. The ELUA was to re-hear the newly amended Rural Residential Zoning Ordinance.

We will post as soon as we know more. Stay tuned!

BLOGGER SHINES A LIGHT ON SANTA FE BUDGET AND HOUSING BUST

Two excellent posts on Joe Monahan's blog today, both address the City's falling revenue and home building bust. A good dose of reality! Full blog here.

Is Santa Fe Mayor David Coss falling behind the curve?

Gross receipts tax collections keep plunging, again coming in much lower than expected in April. That means the city budget just drafted is already outdated. You can't blame the mayor for keeping his fingers crossed and wishing for an economic rebound, but something more fundamental has happened and needs to be addressed. The epic boom in tourism in Santa Fe and America is over for now. The tax money generated by it in the 90's and early part of this decade is not going to be replicated anytime soon. Santa Fe city government appears to be in need of a restructuring so it can operate at permanently leaner levels. Either that or raise taxes.Coss is up for election next March and it seems he would rather cut in response to each monthly drop in tax collections. He wants to avoid layoffs at all costs. But Councilor Bushee and others seem more aware of (and less politically impacted) by the new paradigm. They are calling for deeper cuts to stabilize city government. Coss has a responsibility to keep the nation's oldest capital city humming along for the benefit of not only Santa Feans but the state and nation. Month to month budgeting is causing Santa Fe to really look like a "City Different," but not in a good way. Can't Coss and the Council have a "reality-based" budget meeting?

CARRIED AWAY

Unlike ABQ, Santa Fe did get carried away with the crazy housing speculation. As those bubble prices adjust (crash) construction jobs disappear. Add to the mix the lack of new state government jobs and you have a job market that is shrinking and a recession continuing. Occupancy for Santa Fe apartments is now just 83 percent. The median home price is now bouncing around the $350,000 level. That's down from the April 2005 all-time peak of $470,000, or a plunge of about 25 percent. The median has been as low as $308,000. Will we eventually break that level?The mantra that comes from the state spinners---"It's not as bad here as it is elsewhere"--is true for some parts of the state, but not for the storied city of Santa Fe and its budget-embattled leaders.

BIG SURPRISE: CITY BUDGET IN TROUBLE

Just a little over a week after the City passed a delayed budget, new finance numbers have come to light that show a severe stain on City services. See the full article from the SF New Mexican here.

"The drop in revenues means about $1 million less in city coffers for the next fiscal year, according to a Friday announcement. The news means the city manager will freeze all hiring, promotions and transfers of permanent nonsafety employees for 30 days. Manager Galen Buller will also begin meeting with senior staff members on "contingency planning" to identify ways the city could balance the budget given the new details".

Still, no discussion whatsoever as to how the City proposes to service the areas it intends to annex, some staring this year.

Planning Commission denies Northwest Quadrant project

The City Planning Commission has denied the City's own Master Plan for the Northwest Quadrant development. There has been vigorous opposition from the local neighborhood, and we should take heart that opposition can have effect.

The City was proposing for variances from its own codes. So even as we are now being promised one thing or another, remember that the City believes it can always change the rules for its benefit. See quote below from SF New Mexican:

Commission member Estevan Gonzales also opposed the requested variances. "After all, how can the city ask developers including the state and the county . . . to abide by the code and then turn around and ask us planning commissioners to turn around and grant major variances to the code?" he said. "We have spent an enormous amount of resources on this plan that falls short of the many expectations, including mine."

Next up: Rural Residential Zoning to be heard at June 25 ELUA meeting, 6 PM at 102 Grant St. We need a large turn out!

IMPORTANT MEETINGS THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK

Northwest Quadrant Hearing at New Spot

The location of the Planning Commission hearing on the Northwest Quadrant scheduled for Thursday has been changed. Instead of being held in the City Council Chambers, the controversial development will be heard at 6 p.m. in the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, 201 W. Marcy St.

Next week: Critcal ELUA meeting at 102 Grant Street, 6 PM. Rural Residnetial zoning ordinance to be re-heard. WE NEED A LARGE TURN-OUT!

REDUCED BUDGET PASSED

Finally, the City passed a reduced budget . However, some Councilors were skeptical: “This budget and the numbers behind it are completely unsupported given the current economic reality we are facing.” -- Matthew Ortiz. Chavez called the process “gamesmanship and back door negotiation deals” and said, “I really don't think this is the way to run the city.”

"It's been a piecemeal process, too little, too late,” Patti Bushee said
(Abq. Journal North)

There continues to be no provisions for services in the areas scheduled to be annexed.

Stay tuned, remember June 25 ELUA meeting.

PUBLIC OUTCRY SLOWS NORTHWEST QUANDRANT PLANS

We can take heart, continued public opposition to the Northwest Quadrant plan has stated to gain City Councilor's attention.

"As has happened at most other meetings dealing with the Northwest Quadrant, a large contingent of naysayers, many of them residents of the neighboring Casa Solana neighborhood, gathered in the audience. More than a dozen spoke during a public hearing during which mostly negative sentiments about the project were expressed." -Abq. Journal North

See full article in today's Santa Fe New Mexican.

We have many friends and allies in this area, let's take some encouragement from their efforts. We need to broaden our coalition and numbers, and be ready to attend the next ELUA meeting currently scheduled for June 25.

Stay tuned.