Charter Review Commission Meeting 06-30-2026

The Charter Review Commission of the City of Santa Fe convened on June 30, 2026, primarily to discuss governance structures, strategic planning, budget processes, and public outreach related to the city charter review. The governance subcommittee presented research comparing the current hybrid strong mayor/city administrator model with the council-manager form of government, highlighting issues of accountability, power distribution, and administrative efficiency. The strategic planning and budget subcommittee discussed the potential for implementing a longer-term strategic plan aligned with election cycles and the possibility of establishing a chief financial officer role. The outreach subcommittee focused on planning public listening sessions to engage community input, proposing a two-round format with educational and deliberative components. The commission debated the timing and format of these sessions, ultimately voting to postpone the first public meeting to November to allow more preparation time. They approved the outreach framework and a community partner letter to facilitate engagement. Budget considerations for event costs, including venue rental, food, childcare, and polling, were also addressed. The commission emphasized the need for clear communication, transparency, and structured evaluation processes for city officials as part of the charter review.