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Quality of Life committee approves four-year Fourth of July contract with fireworks/hybrid/drone options; councilors press city on neighborhood notification
Summary
The committee approved a multi-year contract with Kuanas Club to produce Fourth of July events with options for fireworks, a hybrid show this year and drone-only in future years; councilors said they and residents received insufficient advance notice about site selection and urged better communication.
The Santa Fe Quality of Life Committee voted to approve a professional services contract with the Kuanas Club to produce the city's Fourth of July celebrations under a four-year agreement covering options for traditional fireworks, a hybrid fireworks-and-drone show, and a drone-only display in future years.
Director McDonald told the committee the contract includes three alternatives (fireworks, a hybrid show proposed for this year, and drone-only in future years) and that city staff and the contractor will collect public feedback before deciding future formats. "We can do many options over the next four years," McDonald said, adding that drone technology and pricing may change year to year.
Several councilors raised constituent concerns about fireworks within the city limits. Councilor Fagali asked whether the city could choose drone-only in later years; McDonald said drone-only was included as a contract option and could be used in future years.
Councilor Casset and others criticized the city's communication about the chosen event site (Franklin Miles); Casset said she learned of the site the same day it appeared in the local paper and urged earlier notification for councilors and neighborhoods. "We were not made aware ... until the day that it was released in the New Mexican," Casset said, urging better outreach and earlier coordination.
Council members also discussed logistics: access, parking, animal impacts and safety. McDonald said the contractor and parks staff considered viewability, traffic flow and proximity to parking when evaluating candidate sites.
The committee approved the contract by roll call (vote recorded in the meeting as Yes: Councilor Fagali, Councilor Chavez, Councilor Casset; No: Chair Chuck Castro; outcome: motion passes). Staff said the city will present the final contract language later and continue outreach ahead of the event date.
Next steps: staff will return with the executed contract and community feedback; the Parks Department and event partner will continue neighborhood outreach and safety planning.
