Santa Fe Governing Body to Weigh Plaza Street Closures, Homelessness Funding, and IT Security Contract
Santa Fe's Governing Body has the most consequential agenda of the past two weeks, with a consent agenda that includes a resolution to permanently close Lincoln Avenue and Palace Avenue adjacent to Plaza Park, plus several budget adjustments and contract amendments totaling more than $1.8 million in increased compensation. However, minutes have not yet been published for any of the 18 meetings held between July 6 and July 17, so no outcomes are confirmed. All items below reflect what was scheduled for discussion or action, not what was decided.
Governing Body and Finance Committee
The Governing Body agenda for July 8 mirrors several items from the Finance Committee's July 6 meeting. The resolution to permanently close Lincoln Avenue and Palace Avenue next to Plaza Park would also annually close surrounding streets from Memorial Day to October 31.
Budget and contract items on the consent agenda include:
- Amendment No. 2 with FII National (UPTOGETHER), increasing compensation by $750,000 to $3,250,000 for homelessness prevention cash assistance.
- Amendment No. 4 with Mainline Information Systems, increasing compensation by $441,580.88 to $1,480,454.36 for IT managed security services.
- A budget adjustment of $689,675 from the General Fund to the Community Development Fund for Urban Alchemy street outreach and public safety services.
The Finance Committee also was scheduled to review an ordinance amendment changing the fee-in-lieu calculation for affordable housing units from 65% to 30% of Area Median Income.
The Governing Body agenda additionally includes introduction of Bill No. 2026-14, which would amend the park impact fee exemption for certain construction permits.
Planning and Development
A 19-lot townhome subdivision at 3800 Camino de Los Arroyos was the subject of an Early Neighborhood Notification meeting on July 6. Integrity Land Planning submitted the Preliminary Development Plan and Preliminary Plat on behalf of Santa Fe Community Housing Trust. This was an early public input session, not a final decision.
The Planning Commission met July 16, but all major development cases were postponed to August 6, 2026. Those include a 65,937-square-foot skilled nursing facility at 2981 Galisteo Road and several items at 1750 Cerrillos Road. The commission was scheduled to receive a staff update on the Economic Development Strategic Plan from Director Johanna Nelson.
The Land Development Code Subcommittee met July 10 to discuss development plan thresholds, administrative review pathways, and mixed-use zoning standards. No final decisions or votes were scheduled.
Historic Districts Review Board
The Historic Districts Review Board met July 14 and was scheduled to consider five new-business items, including historic-status downgrade requests for 208 W. Houghton St. in the Don Gaspar Area Historic District and 203 W. Water St. in the Downtown & Eastside Historic District. Other items included a proposed 670-square-foot portal addition at 804 Apodaca Hill, window replacements at 878 E. Palace, and convention center terrace improvements at 201 E. Marcy St. — including a 520-square-foot storage room, a 3,530-square-foot portal, a monumental stair, and a wrought-iron fence.
The board also conducted a field trip that day to inspect five properties. No official actions were scheduled during the field trip.
Other Committees and Boards
The Archaeological Review Committee met July 9 to review reports for three projects: an inventory and testing report at 425 Camino Don Miguel, a reconnaissance report for 6.66 acres at 1335 Camino de Jacobo, and a monitoring report for utility installation in an alley south of 123 Grant Ave.
The Bicycle and Pedestrians Advisory Committee discussed proposed Infrastructure Capital Improvement Program priorities for 2028–2032, including Henry Lynch Road reconstruction and roundabout, Bishop's Lodge Road reconstruction, and a potential St. Michael's–Rail Trail underpass.
The Arts Commission heard presentations from the 505 Night Market and Teatro Grottesco regarding an Artist Parade, and discussed archiving endangered public artworks.
The Immigration Committee received a presentation on a community safety tool from David Christianson of Peepers App and a U Visa program update from Lt. Heinz DeLuca of the Santa Fe Police Department.
The Transit Advisory Board discussed the Mayor's Transit Summit, the Bus Pass Bike Program, and a microtransit overview covering staffing, equipment, and timelines.
A public hearing was scheduled July 17 on a Restaurant A (Beer & Wine) liquor license application from Izumi, Inc. for Izmi Sushi Bar at 105 E. Marcy St. Suite A.
Coming Up
- **July 20 — Public Works and Utilities Committee:** Will review FY2026 fourth-quarter budget amendments and several contracts, including a $1,000,000 four-year HVAC contract with AnchorBuilt Inc. and a $1,081,875 ten-year landscape and snow control contract with Heads Up Contractors, LLC.
- **July 21 — Public Safety Committee:** Will discuss a proposed resolution for Plaza road closure, sponsored by Councilor Castro and Councilor Feghali, plus June 2026 crime statistics.
- **July 22 — Quality of Life Committee:** Will consider a $588,000 tourism public-relations contract with Lou Hammond Group, Inc., and multiple youth services contracts ranging from $201,600 to $255,000.
- **July 23 — Archaeological Review Committee:** Will review a monitoring and treatment plan for 6.82 acres at 4680 San Ignacio Road and several monitoring reports for New Mexico Gas Company projects in the Historic Downtown district.
- **July 28 — Historic Districts Review Board:** Will review historic status for the Spitz Clock at 107 W. Palace Ave. and a residential structure at 1099 Old Santa Fe Trl., plus construction proposals at 1062 Camino San Acacio.