Votes at a glance: Santa Fe council approves park alternates, gas franchise, fireworks contract, patrol cars and adopts updated building permit fee schedule
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Summary
At its Feb. 13 meeting the Santa Fe City Council approved several ordinances and contracts on single readings and awarded procurement items; council also adopted a revised building and development fee schedule while deferring two proposed fees for further discussion.
The City Council voted on several administrative and procurement items during the Feb. 13 meeting. Major formal actions taken by the council included:
- Park and Recreation Board alternates: Council approved an ordinance adding two alternate positions to the Parks and Recreation Board with staggered two‑year terms. (Vote: unanimous.)
- Gas franchise (Universal Natural Gas, LLC): Council approved on first and final reading a 25‑year nonexclusive franchise to allow Universal Natural Gas, LLC to install and operate a distribution system within city rights‑of‑way; the franchise contemplates a 5% franchise fee and is modeled on the city’s existing franchise with CenterPoint Energy. (Vote: unanimous.)
- Fireworks contract for 7/4/2025: Council authorized the mayor to execute a contract with Adventure Fireworks for aerial fireworks for a joint City of Santa Fe and City of Hitchcock July 4 event in an amount not to exceed $20,000. Hitchcock is contributing funds and handling event logistics; each city’s budgeted contribution is $20,000. (Vote: majority; one council member voted no.)
- Police patrol vehicles: Council approved the purchase of two Dodge Chargers (turnkey, upfitted) through a cooperative pricing contract for a total not to exceed $124,930.98. Staff said the Chargers would replace high‑mileage Ford Explorers and noted some equipment (computers/radios) would be reused. (Vote: unanimous.)
- Building and permit fee schedule: Council adopted a resolution updating the building and development permit fee schedule effective March 1, 2025, to bring fees closer to peer cities and add several administrative fees. Council expressly excluded two proposed new fees (a business license fee and an amusement‑machine permit fee) from this adoption and directed staff to return with separate ordinances and policy recommendations for those items. (Vote: unanimous on the adopted schedule with the two fees excluded.)
Votes and motions matched the roll calls recorded in the meeting minutes; council used single‑reading adoption for several items allowed by charter where no fine or extended hearing was required.
