[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6090058,"mediaKeyId","2869631-e180a3b43cd9ba62a777c29466b0eec2","parentId",2869631,"title","Santa Fe committee moves to designate Midtown as metropolitan redevelopment area to unlock funding and tools","audioSeconds",1272,"startMs",7570000,"endMs",8842000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2869631-e180a3b43cd9ba62a777c29466b0eec2&start=7570&end=8842","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2869631-e180a3b43cd9ba62a777c29466b0eec2/thumbnail_7570000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6090058/Santa-Fe/Santa-Fe-County/New-Mexico/Santa-Fe-committee-moves-to-designate-Midtown-as-metropolitan-redevelopment-area-to-unlock-funding-and-tools","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090058-a58e16436195530eed3f1cc781736538/orig.mp4?Expires=1770940149&Signature=Q~620V6wkwLhuhBnmt6DWbgn89TZcHAe~V1xzVs9qQnaMGqnNXF6OKUbV6lkHr2yRhCykDrcVA8H7tfFgW2CABjy-1e0beFxvOlDr0l2UDOcJB4j2hG6tZ6gjcc7TobnxDci0MrLy~vm~HdVMlu6D4CnKYSYzb6NQ9SYCO3fCn3Aymzmy1ytIAyXQns-cwMIHQNie7vHMgy7YrsEkUQ1rYpxGcct5~C1GZM95QSL65kfNdZBt6HXkZsqfHJOZ1HIa6MArvYsOjtxtwZayMg0o-7ub2PXxcfK0YHsXtrlhCeNkZn8ObrUN87VEcYe3TibTnwZu3bIhC8ONFMf9DRCGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Santa Fe, NM","date","2025-04-03T13:47:46Z","article","The Santa Fe Quality of Life Committee voted on April 2 to approve a designation report and forward a finding of necessity to the full governing body to designate most of the Midtown Local Innovation Corridor as a metropolitan redevelopment area (MRA).

Carly Vendetti, asset-development manager with the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency, and Daniel Hernandez, MRA director, presented the designation report and said the proposed MRA boundary closely tracks the commercial area of the existing Midtown Local Innovation Corridor with a small exception around a multifamily property at a Saint Michael's/St. Francis intersection.

Why it matters: Vendetti and staff said the MRA designation would allow the city to pursue redevelopment financing tools, prioritize and govern investments through a Metropolitan Redevelopment Commission, and speed targeted improvements on the city-owned Midtown site (approximately 64 acres) and surrounding commercial corridor.

Details and timeline

- Consultants and statutory basis: The city is working with Plan Collaborative (planning/landscape) and SB Friedman (economics) to develop the MRA plan. Vendetti cited the New Mexico Metropolitan Redevelopment Act as the authorizing statute requiring a finding of necessity and a later redevelopment plan.

- Boundaries and scope: The proposed MRA largely matches the Midtown Local Innovation Corridor commercial area; residential parcels were generally excluded from this first-phase MRA designation. Staff said residential inclusion and neighborhood stabilization work will be addressed in a separate, forthcoming RFP for a neighborhood stabilization plan.

- Tools and governance: Vendetti said an MRA would establish a Metropolitan Redevelopment Commission, prioritize public investments and unlock financing approaches such as tax-increment financing or districts (TIF/TID) and business improvement districts (BIDs) as appropriate.

- Schedule: The commission recommended designation at its meeting earlier in the day. Staff presented the designation report to EDAC the same day; the plan is scheduled for a governing-body finding of necessity on April 30, 2025, and staff indicated a target for a draft MRA plan in Q3 2025 if designation is approved.

Vote and next steps

The committee approved forwarding the designation report. Staff said they will continue outreach, finalize the legal report required by state statute, and, if the governing body makes the finding of necessity, return with a Metropolitan Redevelopment Plan that will explore financing and implementation tools.

Ending

Council members asked about Franklin Miles Park and residential inclusion; staff said those subjects are part of the neighborhood-stabilization scope and that staff will examine whether additional parcels should be included before the governing-body hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Quality of Life Committee meeting 4/2","oneSentenceSummary","The Santa Fe Quality of Life Committee voted on April 2 to approve a designation report to pursue designation of most of the Midtown Local Innovation Corridor as a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area under the New Mexico statute.","taxTitle","Santa Fe, Santa Fe County, New Mexico","taxId",2727,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6090062,"Santa Fe committee approves Blue Cross Blue Shield contract for city health benefits; employees to receive one-pay-period premium holiday",4025,3535000,7560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2869631-e180a3b43cd9ba62a777c29466b0eec2&start=3535&end=7560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2869631-e180a3b43cd9ba62a777c29466b0eec2/thumbnail_3535000.jpg","/articles/6090062/Santa-Fe/Santa-Fe-County/New-Mexico/Santa-Fe-committee-approves-Blue-Cross-Blue-Shield-contract-for-city-health-benefits-employees-to-receive-one-pay-period-premium-holiday","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090062-d863b131ad1d1e183dd099a134873381/orig.mp4?Expires=1770940148&Signature=a2nCh6WYvKI-tkQDpilnCGfRc4c1FNR~tSfnul7COhWPt0d2z0OXV~Sio~Wzd7~ynijujTOVg4yXHOd5ErwpPbMByhfUesT7WaUxeR8P3vJ45RbqXfSWmpAqEWbv5elUNwJUS0A7ByjMRoTt~nDFZWu~jBAINuNarj9Gjz0GFK45iBB8nu8F1OjKHw83ZbmxFc8z2~GJi3WMxc5CFaGegSaEyrCEukrzLNbpUydvXYu25cPOeCwf6C0AIMOAgcJCNSdWxEWHk4GTf2w5FHjoqthskZx39S2p~VZsrzW3NDS6iRFJ2T8jGcg9xqoHLlI0yPKYrGHknbupYC14qgMa4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Fe Quality of Life Committee on April 2 voted to approve an administrative-services contract for the city's self-funded health plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico, following a vendor selection process and recommendations from the city's benefits advisory committee and consultant Aon.

Alvin Valdez, the city's benefits and wellness manager, told members the new contract is designed to keep the plan design unchanged while reducing costs. Trey Sarsfield, an actuary with Aon Consulting, presented financial comparisons and outlined two scenarios: a ~3 percent reduction to total premiums or keeping city budgets flat while offering employees a one-pay-period premium \"holiday\" (no medical, dental or vision deductions during a December pay period).

Key facts and committee concerns

- Contract and costs: The agenda listed a first-year administrative-services value of $23,054,885 (excluding NMGRT) and a total four-year amount of $92,219,540 including NMGRT. Aon presented a scenario that would lower total budgeted cost by about 3 percent versus a projected status-quo increase.

- Coverage continuity: Blue Cross representatives said their New Mexico network matched about 97 percent of the city's prior network, limiting provider disruption. Marlene Baca, Blue Cross vice president, said specialists and many services in the Albuquerque area are available under Blue Cross contracts even where full hospital networks differ; she and Aon staff committed to intensive transition support for affected employees.

- Presbyterian hospitals and members living in Bernalillo/Sandoval counties: Committee members asked about access to Presbyterian providers. Blue Cross and Aon staff said roughly 91 employees live in the four-county Albuquerque area identified in their disruption analysis; Aon's disruption work matched historic providers but cannot confirm exactly which dependents currently use Presbyterian facilities. Blue Cross said certain specialty services and hospital contracts are available to members; staff promised targeted outreach.

- Administration and union input: The city said the benefits advisory committee (including union representatives) participated in the RFP evaluation; council members requested stronger nonunion representation on the RFP committee and an opportunity for union and nonunion members to attend the upcoming governing body meeting.

Vote and transition steps

The committee approved the contract by roll call. Staff and the carriers said they will: provide in-person and online enrollment assistance, attempt to port prior authorizations and mail-order prescriptions where possible, run a transition-of-care program for ongoing specialist treatment, and monitor enrollment daily during the open enrollment window ahead of the July 1 start of the new contract.

Speaker quotes

- \"This is about taking care of the people who take care of our city,\" Alvin Valdez said, describing the selection and proposed cost holiday.

- \"We will do everything and anything to make sure that the transition of care for those [employees] and any family members that we will handhold them to make sure that they understand what the network is,\" Marlene Baca said.

Ending

Staff said they will coordinate additional benefits-advisory participation at the governing body meeting and review the open-enrollment timetable; council members urged staff to allow as long a transition window as feasible to avoid coverage lapses.","The Santa Fe Quality of Life Committee on April 2 voted to approve an administrative-services contract for the city's self-funded health plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico, following review by Aon and the benefits advisory committee.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6090065,"Committee approves $794,164 arts budget amendment to fund Greer Garson feasibility study",541,2997000,3538000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2869631-e180a3b43cd9ba62a777c29466b0eec2&start=2997&end=3538","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2869631-e180a3b43cd9ba62a777c29466b0eec2/thumbnail_2997000.jpg","/articles/6090065/Santa-Fe/Santa-Fe-County/New-Mexico/Committee-approves-794164-arts-budget-amendment-to-fund-Greer-Garson-feasibility-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090065-71a21dbd6116af3e96382fe75956c7bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770940148&Signature=L2rWhuVMrn8v7QHdxgv3b4nhBswqRP46M7~DzT2WbydEdacmW3N6vxm8U7ktd2cTd2TGb~b8YLWjK~8iAqonVFnHNYmZxnenPEGEOK6qnW1wPYI7ILbVu1z~QNNy-NFAJAwZNjF9IvO1iE3Irp59rXRjBK-ICUEBN~G15KFjg0najBhNr68SZSpS1ghQW9-DPClOhiO0cvQ2wAihOPGX0pCml8z7ijtd0oIOl2iilQhYhjSiZ2WUGiyN0ysSAZluGmZ-FKkDOxoV3WdnHuAY8a9RJZsVRK7rX5Wr4Gh4So03lQGu2uDqg0ZBehR40G5dOqfq8SLXChm~nNljT1Sv0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Santa Fe Quality of Life Committee approved a budget amendment on April 2 to transfer funds into the Arts & Culture Department to support ongoing arts initiatives and a feasibility study of the Greer Garson Theatre.

Chelsea Johnson, Arts & Culture director, told the committee the city issued an RFP and interviewed two finalists for a feasibility study that would assess what the Greer Garson building needs to be operable and evaluate ownership and management scenarios. The study is expected to be completed within approximately four months after a contract is issued.

Why it matters: Committee members said the study is intended to resolve unanswered questions from an earlier negotiation and provide the information needed before entering another exclusive-negotiation agreement or disposition discussion.

Details and committee discussion

- Amount and funding: The motion and materials discussed a proposed transfer and use of lodging-tax revenue and unspent FY24 funds. The agenda language listed $794,164 as the proposed transfer to the Arts & Culture FY25 budget for ongoing initiatives and the Greer Garson feasibility study. Councilor Michael Garcia questioned line-item subtotals and staff said they would verify sums and provide corrected paperwork if needed.

- Feasibility study scope and timeline: Johnson said the study will examine both physical renovation needs and possible organizational management models and that selected consultants would deliver a detailed report within about four months to inform next steps.

- Background: Committee discussion noted a prior agreement related to the Greer Garson that \"fell apart\" and that the study seeks to capture lessons and provide clearer expectations for future partners.

Vote and next steps

The committee approved the amendment by roll call. Staff said they will confirm the accounting details and return any clarifications to council and the finance office.

Ending: The feasibility study is intended to give the city and potential operators a clearer, objective assessment before the next phase of negotiations or an RFP for stewardship of the Greer Garson Theatre.","The Quality of Life Committee approved a budget amendment to move lodging-tax and fund-balance dollars to the Arts & Culture Department to support ongoing arts initiatives and a feasibility study for the Greer Garson Theatre; staff said the study will clarify building needs and operational scenarios.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6090070,"Ernst & Young presents data showing Santa Fe growth, housing pressure and workforce gaps",1239,104000,1343000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2869631-e180a3b43cd9ba62a777c29466b0eec2&start=104&end=1343","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2869631-e180a3b43cd9ba62a777c29466b0eec2/thumbnail_104000.jpg","/articles/6090070/Santa-Fe/Santa-Fe-County/New-Mexico/Ernst-Young-presents-data-showing-Santa-Fe-growth-housing-pressure-and-workforce-gaps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090070-d90d86eb62dda1674de103f27ac4173c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770940148&Signature=fWF5Y6e5Djef6svJd8arJhnvBgGa5yEF60zLT7rFPAzxFjDeNQA-qLizCYE1KhW87nd-ZDG25Tl~VYrH2aMHF6srU2jzA0CZguo8WS91w1Vj3uAeBA2eQy7S0ZzDxmYPGRkov-jltKRTTjSo7RCdzsdDkpNjrb6l0X56W2xgFoWG67-YGkSBBFwFdE0m-xs0Dtkr~BoGkDRr8Ux1eC8EUp3KddEV0b0ljjuB9gB4PKs1ennIYagGu9i73RljKa7QI5dXrPCBX2gHsAI5gGrTYp~RRz1m1ET84TksCK3b9jW2os0HA03wp-2vpdDrBZlerwiPGpSbKp~ITnluXqYaiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ernst & Young presenters on Wednesday told the Santa Fe Quality of Life Committee that the city is growing but facing rising housing costs and workforce challenges that should shape the next economic development strategic plan.

The consultants, Tony DeLisi, managing director of Ernst & Young Economic Development Advisory Services, and Jung (Young) Kim, research director, said the city's population grew faster than the county and state from 2018 to 2023, driven in part by increased housing construction. At the same time the presenters flagged diverging trends on housing and income: median household income in the city has not risen as quickly as in surrounding geographies, while the gap between home values in Santa Fe and the U.S. widened to about $215,000 by the end of last year.

\"Every community is very different,\" DeLisi said, describing the work as an effort to ground strategy in data. Kim added that the city's population has a higher share of residents 65 and older (27 percent in the city versus 20 percent in New Mexico), but the prime working-age cohort (25–54) remains 38 percent of the city population and is comparable to state and national levels.

Why it matters: Committee members and staff said the findings should be used to align the city's land-code update and future strategic solicitations so policy choices respond to housing supply, income distribution and industry composition.

Key data points and discussion

- Population and age: The city's median age was reported as 46.2 years; the 65+ cohort was 27 percent of city residents, higher than statewide and national shares. Kim noted the workforce-age share remains near national levels, complicating the narrative that Santa Fe is only an older retirement community. (Presentation excerpts: Tony DeLisi; Jung Kim.)

- Income and industry mix: The presenters said median household income in the city has trailed the county and country in recent years. DeLisi and Kim pointed to the local industry mix\u0014including a relatively large hospitality sector\u0014and a mix of fixed-income retirees and households in poverty as forces keeping the median lower.

- Housing supply and values: Kim said housing permit activity rose after 2018 and helped drive population growth; however, the home-value gap with the U.S. widened to about $215,000 by late 2024. Presenters linked that partly to pent-up demand and limited supply.

- Workforce and retention: Stakeholder interviews summarized by the team identified workforce shortages across sectors (restaurants, construction, health care) and difficulty retaining younger residents, which participants said could limit the city's ability to grow high-paying, scaled clusters.

Committee reaction and next steps

Council members asked how the analysis would inform the city's land-code redevelopment and broader strategic planning. Erica Nelson, director of the city team coordinating the study, said city staff are connecting the consultants' findings to the land-use contractor to avoid duplication and align analysis.

DeLisi and Kim said the work presented is the first-phase data assessment and that a later strategic-planning phase would deepen stakeholder engagement, include more interviews and potentially city-specific administrative data (for example, city-level housing permits), which HUD data do not provide.

The presentation will be shared with the Economic Development Advisory Committee materials; staff said future work will be scoped to include additional quantitative and community engagement phases to inform an RFP for a full strategy.","Ernst & Young presented a data-first assessment to the Santa Fe Quality of Life Committee on April 2, 2025, finding population growth, rising home values and workforce constraints that officials said should inform the city's economic development strategy and upcoming land-code work.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Santa Fe committee moves to designate Midtown as metropolitan redevelopment area to unlock funding and tools

Santa Fe committee approves Blue Cross Blue Shield contract for city health benefits; employees to receive one-pay-period premium holiday

Committee approves $794,164 arts budget amendment to fund Greer Garson feasibility study

Ernst & Young presents data showing Santa Fe growth, housing pressure and workforce gaps