Committee advances two charter amendment questions to change removal powers for city manager, attorney and clerk

The Public Works and Utilities Committee on July 21 approved two separate resolutions to be placed on the Nov. 4, 2025 local ballot that would change how the City of Santa Fe removes or suspends certain senior city officials.

The first resolution (item 7I) asks voters whether the municipal charter should be amended so that five councilors may suspend or remove the city manager, city attorney and city clerk at a regularly scheduled meeting. That resolution passed the committee by roll call, with Councilor Michael Garcia, Councilor Lee Garcia and Chair Amanda Chavez voting yes; Councilor Romero Worth and Councilor Kelsey Castro voting no. The motion passed (yes 3, no 2).

The second resolution (item 7K) asks voters whether the charter should be amended to require governing-body consent before a mayor can remove the city manager, city attorney or city clerk. Committee members moved that item 7K proceed to the next stage “without a recommendation” so sponsors and staff could finalize a drafting amendment; that motion passed on a roll call vote (Kelsey Castro no, Lee Garcia yes, Romero Worth no, Michael Garcia yes, Chair Chavez yes).

Sponsors said the proposals are intended to rebalance checks between the mayor’s executive authority and the governing body. “When we were contemplating a stronger mayor, I don't think we paid enough attention to the balance, the checks and balance that would be necessary from the council,” said Councilor Faulkner, a sponsor of the resolutions.

Committee discussion focused on three recurring points: whether the change should refer to a fixed number (five) or to a supermajority if the governing body size changes; whether suspension and removal should be allowed only at a “regularly scheduled meeting” or also at specially called meetings for time‑sensitive situations; and whether the charter language should add the city attorney and city clerk explicitly (the current charter provision cited removal language for the city manager).

Councilor Michael Garcia noted the proposal lowers the removal threshold for the city manager from six votes to five and extends removal authority to the city attorney and city clerk; he said that if the governing body has appointment power by a certain threshold, it makes sense the removal threshold match that approval threshold. Marcy (staff) clarified that item 7I covers both suspension and removal and that sponsors are preparing a drafting amendment to refine language and timing. Sponsors said they would review a proposed amendment and aim to present a signed version to the Quality of Life committee on Wednesday.

The committee did not enact any immediate personnel actions; both items will appear as proposed charter amendments on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot if advanced through the required charter amendment process.

Votes recorded in committee: - Item 7I (suspend or remove by five councilors): Yes — Councilor Michael Garcia, Councilor Lee Garcia, Chair Amanda Chavez; No — Councilor Romero Worth, Councilor Kelsey Castro. Outcome: passed by committee. - Item 7K (require governing-body consent before mayor can remove): Motion to move forward without recommendation passed (Kelsey Castro no; Lee Garcia yes; Romero Worth no; Michael Garcia yes; Chair Amanda Chavez yes).

Committee members requested staff and sponsors to circulate and finalize the drafting amendment before the next committee meeting so the language presented to voters matches sponsor intent.