[{"_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",6146298,"mediaKeyId","5527732-25444528772a758a18af523978e96df9","parentId",5527732,"title","Committee backs charter amendment ballot question limiting mayor’s tie-breaking vote; one councilor dissents","audioSeconds",147,"startMs",3476000,"endMs",3623000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5527732-25444528772a758a18af523978e96df9&start=3476&end=3623","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5527732-25444528772a758a18af523978e96df9/thumbnail_3476000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6146298/Santa-Fe/Santa-Fe-County/New-Mexico/Committee-backs-charter-amendment-ballot-question-limiting-mayors-tie-breaking-vote-one-councilor-dissents","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146298-fe1b3ff3a08fa71485ed34918aa8bcb4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175939&Signature=V3CyphyMIwc30fOjdiDa7qUteHRUYtr8C3FGY08zs6AoR0PqTURHQxX1T8GyWYT7zeunfOL5RbDo8B86YSXoo6R55Zn4XVyqGjXXQ179bfmw09p~XzqW~R6JZN4z-EPcVkVXfmY2ouzfsTPEMTwSGENOw~iPR6ZKoLw9QJJf83wBOnYDq~9AtnwvGsFDEgFedklz2jWqzMICftXlTKdf6~Vb69EFPdnKQJyv-ZOJBkElHOFntBbVTMI-NLk1kJuQi6PXQE2oudrcySGIk1quHd4Y6-L4T5gJHs0o7USDxKeAB2TFyinWIy8BzjQZ4wLKKdD7n3WvG~B6kIltJnoosQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Santa Fe, NM","date","2025-08-05T12:29:21Z","article","The Public Works and Utilities Committee voted to forward a resolution proposing a city charter amendment to the November 4, 2025 regular local election ballot that would limit the mayor’s authority to vote on tied matters.

The resolution (identified in the packet as Resolution 2025, number to be determined) was sponsored by Councilors Alma Castro, Michael Garcia and Pilar Faulkner. The committee approved the resolution by roll call: Councilor Michael Garcia — yes; Councilor Alma Castro — yes; Councilor Lee Garcia — yes; Councilor Romero Worth — no (explained vote); Mayor Chavez — yes.

Councilor Castro said the change came from the Charter Review Commission and had been discussed previously in 2023 as part of larger review work. Councilor Pilar Faulkner, a co-sponsor participating via Zoom, said the amendment concerns checks and balances.

Councilor Romero Worth explained her no vote. She said she prefers a holistic review by the Charter Review Commission rather than piecemeal amendments. She also said removing the mayor’s tie-breaking vote reduces transparency because the mayor, elected citywide, would no longer be required to record a public position on tie decisions: “We do not know how the mayor ... would [vote], and I would like to know where they stand on certain things. And we won't know that under this proposal,” Romero Worth said.

The committee’s approval sends the resolution to the governing body and, if advanced there, to the November ballot for voters to decide. The committee did not change the text in the meeting; sponsors said the measure originated with the Charter Review Commission and is a standalone item coming forward this year.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Public Works & Committee Meeting 8/4","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved a resolution to place a charter amendment on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot that would remove the mayor’s vote in tie situations. The resolution was sponsored by Councilors Alma Castro, Michael Garcia and Pilar Faulkner; Councilor Romero Worth voted no and urged broader Charter Review Commission consideration.","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},6146303,"Water division highlights new data dashboard and long-range planning metrics",415,161000,576000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5527732-25444528772a758a18af523978e96df9&start=161&end=576","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5527732-25444528772a758a18af523978e96df9/thumbnail_161000.jpg","/articles/6146303/Santa-Fe/Santa-Fe-County/New-Mexico/Water-division-highlights-new-data-dashboard-and-long-range-planning-metrics","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146303-fd63ddd36d83c73b3482a1e7e140e7c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175939&Signature=k68da2U1NImq5Ps26Dtg894dWLn65pb30~Bqwqor6oHuwP9ne4lTiySK2etZMizYJ-PWG--OyrxQBuQSK8C6tsyOa6XeX3YLyjIzvOakq~TrwREXwQTDg-DyF~5i3TZ9XEcn2P-DbN57nOgLyvVSfYqYdhJHhEkUqpvPZ7jNYEd4pw1AwA-naqhL2~2XqGwPQNBgsNqW1lGBNaQUxnHcvu-MP7BPUzLXUjUr4Gmf4nBF1VpLIFkC37CAtar9fMg3KBIjj4FA71Yr4nz5voTrW-kL6bI-XFFelj4zSLrxQjyHMDOTsCpuYD~QIIjiICvmUAysZ~z7ry20Be4-h-RL5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Santa Fe Public Works and Utilities Committee heard staff praise for a new internal water data dashboard and a preview of how the tool will feed long-range water-resource planning.

Interim Water Division Director Jonathan Montoya and colleagues recognized Steve Schultz, a water division employee who joined the division in October 2021, for developing a dashboard that aggregates demand, supply and water-rights data from multiple sources. Montoya said the dashboard “takes the human error out of it” by consolidating meter reads, USGS data, Bureau of Reclamation inputs and other sources into one platform that updates nightly.

Montoya and another staff member described several operational benefits: the dashboard allows staff to check real-time demand and supply comparisons during weekly planning meetings with county, utility and local partners; it helps staff ask specific questions and make timely decisions; and it will demonstrate locations of diversions and source contributions (Buckman, groundwater, Canyon Road, Santa Fe River). Staff said they plan to present the dashboard to the committee later this year.

Staff also credited Schultz’s geohydrology expertise in work to better utilize existing well fields. The division said it has the capacity in its wells to provide substantial supply if surface treatment plants are offline and that recent operational changes — rotating wells in and out of production — are yielding new data on aquifer behavior. Staff said the extra data will support conceptual modeling and strategies to use wells at higher capacity when needed.

Montoya described longer-range planning work that will use the dashboard to run “what if” scenarios for supply and demand. Staff said they are developing four metrics to evaluate future strategies: reliability (will water be available when needed), sustainability (long-term aquifer health), river flow (how much water remains in Upper and Lower River reaches) and community green-space concerns such as pollinators and urban shade.

No formal action was taken; staff said they expect to return with presentations on the dashboard and supply planning later in the year.","Water division staff recognized an employee and described a new real-time water data dashboard that integrates multiple sources and supports supply, demand and aquifer planning; staff said the tool will inform long-range water resource scenarios to be presented later this year.",{"_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},6146308,"Public utilities outlines proposed backflow prevention program, warns devices and testing carry costs",553,612000,1165000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5527732-25444528772a758a18af523978e96df9&start=612&end=1165","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5527732-25444528772a758a18af523978e96df9/thumbnail_612000.jpg","/articles/6146308/Santa-Fe/Santa-Fe-County/New-Mexico/Public-utilities-outlines-proposed-backflow-prevention-program-warns-devices-and-testing-carry-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146308-02a65385b61b858ab7df0d33cea590c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175939&Signature=C5qY73RTkMsnArYLFoQNB8wSj1Q3TqxD8u~NtD~n8Io3mKGEQqAMvJA0AluWlcUW3WoxGO2lZT1une6vFGRLsLyDWJyTpI05xPR480Clrc0prqEWzlcG8G3McON20oaMlDY0mfBJxmYqIyObqaUjrlL0cmof7wK5soc9f1mwIvMstlg3wMUV3k93cQ9UwacC0WHzfA211YmPde5Rk7uoEYQGhKpSsO6qWjKCemnLMb22b2OL-vyTFDYqnAmRRXg1h6~Yz40J1fW3YqNip5G8oxTyspF5B-gPv0hTA9HUE3wVPYe7etxS5sfTKQFcM6y9skLuCAM0yEV9Yu8Etdayyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff briefed the Public Works and Utilities Committee on a proposed cross-connection control and backflow prevention program intended to reduce contamination risk to the drinking water system.

Justin Gonzales, the city’s cross-connection specialist, told the committee the program would formalize existing plumbing-code requirements by creating a program to track backflow prevention assemblies, mail annual testing notices to customers and follow up to ensure devices remain in operating condition. Gonzales said many required assemblies are installed at new construction but receive little post-installation testing and maintenance.

Gonzales described the mechanics and common causes of backflow — including back-siphonage after a main break and backpressure from private pumps or private wells tied into customer plumbing — and said proper assemblies prevent contaminated customer water from entering the public system. He showed photographs of large reduced-pressure zone (RPZ) assemblies used on fire suppression systems and irrigation, and a usage graph from a meter that showed reverse flow at a property where a private well had been tied into the service. Gonzales said the city had at least one backflow contamination event within the city in the last 15 years and that there have been backflow incidents statewide.

On costs, Gonzales estimated that a common residential 3/4-inch to 1-inch device typically costs roughly $800 to $1,500 installed, with larger-diameter devices used on commercial fire-suppression systems substantially more expensive. He said the program’s primary recurring cost would be annual testing and that devices are required by plumbing code at specific applications.

Committee members asked about the financial impact on customers. Councilor Alma Castro asked for confirmation on device cost; Gonzales gave the $800–$1,500 range for a common residential device. A staff member clarified that the proposed program is intended to ensure annual testing of devices already required by code, not to force new device installs where a device is not already required.

Gonzales used a short video example to illustrate how a pressure drop at a hydrant can cause reverse flow and pull industrial process water into a drinking system; he said a properly administered cross-connection program helps prevent such scenarios.

Staff said they are planning an ordinance to implement the program and would return with more details about scope and enforcement; no formal action was taken at the committee meeting.","City staff presented a proposed cross-connection and backflow prevention program that would formalize annual testing and tracking of backflow assemblies; staff said devices are required by plumbing code and residential costs can range from about $800 to $1,500 for common meter sizes.",{"_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},6146312,"Committee approves one-year contract for wastewater operators amid staffing shortages",2257,1277000,3534000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5527732-25444528772a758a18af523978e96df9&start=1277&end=3534","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5527732-25444528772a758a18af523978e96df9/thumbnail_1277000.jpg","/articles/6146312/Santa-Fe/Santa-Fe-County/New-Mexico/Committee-approves-one-year-contract-for-wastewater-operators-amid-staffing-shortages","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6146312-afdba600ad0893fd83e6d0d15e8bff47/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175939&Signature=NcygyCdlXyLyA3LFAT08sQ~KCzZOfsoAmCEDVLHc6~b9dLuSCtJXHPpvLUC4qD2ZNAd0Np5aaI0WNe5WhbrVtCJNpJNwvq3P1nr~24K9BxFiTPk5WBvJdMcFpO71XwR8lmxs-vCy0vy8cmIdSuoea0eXssHEuhAIfYeTaj6VjhNB3SqdZFtXIOftmYIlLhx-G8plUcMORrx9mGszAwuwsnzFGh9daycUusX4uDOA~Vs7AxsdnsbVIPdMBueS2bz2dU7sKiCNvQdJeMs-k3fOvN7KNHcUdJAzMlvwAT5HUcz9JRIuDPLSY6sEnrF-dsGKNBGv-lturBpS3DQQT6HD2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Santa Fe Public Works and Utilities Committee approved a one-year general services agreement with Southwest Water Works LLC worth $432,750 to provide operation and maintenance staffing at the city’s wastewater facility.

The committee’s action followed an extended discussion about chronic vacancies in the utilities workforce and differences between contractor rates and the city’s fully loaded cost for an in‑house employee. The committee voted by roll call: Councilor Michael Garcia — yes; Councilor Alma Castro — yes; Councilor Lee Garcia — yes; Councilor Romero Worth — yes; Mayor Chavez — yes.

The motion approved an agreement described in the meeting packet as “operation and maintenance services” for one year in the amount of $432,750. The item had been pulled from consent for questions from committee members.

Committee members and staff focused on the underlying staffing shortage that drove the decision to hire a contractor. Wastewater Division Director Mike Dozier said Level 4 wastewater operator positions have been the most difficult to fill and that the division will repost open postings. He said there are three open Level 4 positions and three Level 4 positions currently filled that are covering shifts at the facility. “We are required to have a level 4 24/7 at the facility,” Dozier said.

Councilors pressed staff about pay differentials. Members noted that the contract rate quoted in the packet (for Level 3 and 4 operators) lists $140 per hour for regular time and $200 per hour for after-hours work; Dozier said an existing Level 4 city employee earns about $35–$36 per hour. Acting city management staff emphasized that the contractor rate includes the contractor’s overhead, liability insurance and benefit costs and is not the direct hourly pay that a worker receives. One senior manager said the fully annualized cost of a contractor covering a full-time role at the quoted rate would exceed $300,000, while a comparable fully loaded in‑house employee cost is in the roughly $140,000 range.

Councilors asked for further information before the governing body packet, including a breakdown from the contractor of insurance and pay for the contracted workers; Councilor Castro asked staff to request that documentation. Staff said the contract would appear on the next governing body consent agenda and could be pulled there for further public discussion.

To address longer-term recruitment and retention, staff described a two-part approach: revising job descriptions to create a single “utility operator” classification that aligns water and wastewater operator pay targets, and offering certification-level retention incentives ($2,000 for Level 1, $3,000 for Level 2, $4,000 for Level 3 and $5,000 for Level 4; employees who leave within a year would return prorated amounts). Staff said those measures aim to make city pay more competitive and reduce a roughly 34% overall vacancy rate previously cited in committee materials (68 allotted positions, 23 vacancies). The union had not yet agreed to the proposed class-and-compensation adjustments, and staff said those increases would be a separate negotiation.

Councilors and staff also discussed operational risk: Level 4 operators work 12-hour shifts and the facility requires 24/7 coverage; with multiple vacancies, management staff at times must cover shifts, which diverts management time from other duties and creates fatigue risk among staff covering multiple shifts.

The committee approved the contract to ensure continuous staffing while recruitment continues. Staff said the cost will be covered from the wastewater cash fund and that a budget amendment in the packet supported the expense.

The committee requested follow-up: (1) the contractor’s cost breakdown (insurance and pay for the supplied operators), (2) updated vacancy data broken out by certification level, (3) comparisons of Level 4 pay in nearby utilities, and (4) a future presentation to the committee on recruitment and retention strategies and the city’s plan to lower the vacancy rate.","The Public Works and Utilities Committee approved a one-year $432,750 services agreement with Southwest Water Works LLC to supply operators at wastewater facilities while the city continues recruiting for hard-to-fill Level 4 operator positions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee backs charter amendment ballot question limiting mayor’s tie-breaking vote; one councilor dissents

Water division highlights new data dashboard and long-range planning metrics

Public utilities outlines proposed backflow prevention program, warns devices and testing carry costs

Committee approves one-year contract for wastewater operators amid staffing shortages