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Santa Fe County Commissioner
District 3
Camilla Bustamante, Ph.D
Monday, December 23, 2024
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Table to Contents
A Message From Commissioner Bustamante
In just a few weeks we will be bringing in 2025, and I would like to express my gratitude for your trust in 2024. I look forward to working together to address the needs in our communities. I am always grateful to hear from you so that your concerns and interests are front of mind. So, I am including a short, one question survey that I hope you will complete.
Last year, the County took large strides in improving constituent relations and services. Moving into 2025, the County strives to nurture our culture of continuous improvement, so that your questions and concerns are addressed in a timely manner and the systems that help keep you and your family safe and healthy are maintained. We will continue to invest in water and road systems and work to address affordable housing in our region. I look forward to working for you and with you in making our communities stronger in 2025.
May you and your family and friends have the most blessed of holiday seasons!
Sincerely,
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Water Policy Advisory Committee |
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Water, Action, and Policy
Each and every one of us has a role in protecting the most valued resource, water. Heavy rains or snow that covers the mountains can lead us to forget that 68.5% of the people who live in Santa Fe County currently live in draught conditions, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
This year we learned of PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, detected in private wells in the La Cieneguilla/La Cienega area proximate to industrial sources. I am proud that Santa Fe County has taken immediate actions to help identify the source of this contamination. Community members needing to access bulk water may do so by establishing a residential account with the County's Utility Division for $0.01 per gallon at the bulk station near13-B Camino Justicia.
Conserving water in the high desert southwest is always a priority, and water quantity and quality factors are essential in all aspects of our quality of life in Santa Fe County. Many communities question where water will come from as they hear of new developments and see multiple apartment complexes going up.
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The committee will be using a Results-Based Accountability Framework to begin developing a workplan that will address water issues in the County. The WPAC will analyze and make recommendations regarding water, wastewater, drought management, pollution and more. The broad experience and background of the WPAC is critical to ensuring that all effort is made to identify the most impactful solutions to the complex issues affecting water throughout the County.
As 2024 ends and the WPAC prepares to finalize the priority issues in 2025, I ask that we all consider our role in protecting water for future generations. Any growth must be smart and based on evidence that existing and future water is protected. Although the State of New Mexico provides a 50 Year Water Action Plan, I ask that we all subscribe to the value that our most precious resource be available at least seven generations ahead.
WPAC meetings are open to the public and are held on the second Thursday of each month at 4 p.m. at the County Administration Building, 240 Grant Ave., Santa Fe.
Visit the Santa Fe County website to learn more about how you and your family can conserve water.
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Santa Fe County Staff Highlights |
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Santa Fe County Assessor’s Office Receives 2024 ACE Award for Excellence in Community Service
 The Office of the Santa Fe County Assessor (OSFCA) is honored to have received the 2024 ACE Award for Excellence in Community Service from Aumentum Technologies. This award was presented during the 2024 Amplify Conference in San Antonio, TX. The ACE Award reflects the OSFCA's commitment to innovation and community engagement during 2023-2024, significantly enhancing public services and outreach efforts. Notably, the OSFCA conducted a complete overhaul of its website, aligning it seamlessly with the modern design and user experience of the Santa Fe County platform. This strategic update improved the user experience and introduced a fresh, user-friendly interface, ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality customer service to the community.
In addition to online improvements, the OSFCA has prioritized building stronger relationships with the Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners, fellow elected officials, the New Mexico County Assessors' Affiliate, and the State of New Mexico Property Tax Division. These initiatives included training sessions to educate others about the essential roles and responsibilities of the Assessor's Office. Collaborative educational discussions were held on various local radio shows and podcast platforms like "Beyond County Lines". In addition to this, they held office gatherings, including, the Santa Fe Realtors Association and local title companies.
"The 2024 ACE Award is evidence of our team's dedication to providing exceptional service to the community," said Isaiah F. Romero, Santa Fe County Assessor. "Our work is not just about property assessments; it's about ensuring that our community has easy access to information and resources."
The ACE Award for Excellence in Community Service joins four previous awards:
- 2016 IAAO Public Information Program Award
- 2017 Thomson Reuters Public Sector Champion Jurisdiction of the Year Award,
- 2019 IAAO Certificate of Excellence in Assessment Administration—awarded to the office for adhering to best practice standards and meeting all statutory requirements (making it the 47th jurisdiction in the U.S. out of 3,007 jurisdictions and the first county in New Mexico to receive this certification).
- 2022 IAAO Distinguished Assessment Jurisdiction of the Year.
The OSFCA's ability to engage with the community has been recognized over the years, as well as its commitment to providing easy access to information for community members from all walks of life.
"This award demonstrates how we continue to build on transparency and trust and maintain a connection with our community," said Ivan Barry, Chief Deputy Assessor. "We're incredibly proud of the Assessor's Office staff, and we are motivated to continue evolving as a resource for our community."
It's refreshing to witness a staff that strives to implement international best practices in property tax assessment at the local level.
For more information about the Santa Fe County Assessor's Office, please visit www.santafecountynm.gov/assessor.
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Resolutions Brought Forward and Co-Sponsored by Commissioner Bustamante in 2024
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Santa Fe County Planning Commission Seeks Members
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Deadline to Apply is Friday, January 3, 2025, at 5 p.m.
The Santa Fe County Growth Management Department (Building and Development Services) is seeking residents from Commission Districts 1 and 3 to serve on the Planning Commission for a two (2) year term beginning January 2025 and ending in January 2027.
During Planning Commission meetings, applicants present projects, County staff provide their reports and recommendations, and the public can provide comments about land development proposals. The Planning Commission subsequently makes land development-related decisions and recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners (BCC)-projects heard by this commission range from variance requests to Conditional Use Permits and Planned Development Districts.
To read the complete description and procedural requirements for the Planning Commission, read Table 4-1 in the Sustainable Land Use Development Code.
Commission Members are responsible for attending monthly public hearings on the third Thursday of every month and special meetings as needed. They must have a computer, email, and internet access to be able to view packet material for the meetings and access the public meetings via WebEx if necessary.
Interested individuals should submit a letter of interest and resume to:
Santa Fe County Growth Management Department
Attn: Jordan Yutzy
P.O. Box 276
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-0276
Email: jyutzy@santafecountynm.gov
Phone: (505) 992-9866
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What is Most Important to You?
Please take the survey below to help me narrow down the focus of concern that is most important in your communities! Thank you for your time and collaboration.
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