Governing Body Committee Meeting 08-12-26

The City of Santa Fe governing body held a committee meeting on August 12, 2026, which included significant procurement-related discussions. A key agenda item was the approval of a $433,640 budget adjustment from general fund reserves to support the expansion of the police and fire departments' drone program through a contract with Axon. The program aims to enhance public safety with rapid drone deployment for emergency response, fire assessment, and search and rescue operations. The council approved the budget adjustment after detailed discussion on data privacy, operational protocols, and community concerns about surveillance. Additionally, the council considered amendments to the Santa Fe Homes program, specifically increasing the fee-in-lieu for affordable housing from 65% to 30% of area median income, aiming to generate more funding for affordable housing development. Public comments and council debate highlighted concerns about the impact of increased fees on housing affordability and development feasibility. The council postponed final approval of the housing fee amendment to allow for proper public notice. Other procurement topics included discussions on capital improvement projects, such as road maintenance and splash pad construction, with considerations of bonding capacity and funding timelines. Overall, the meeting focused on balancing public safety technology investments and affordable housing funding strategies, with motions passed to advance drone program funding and to delay housing fee amendments for further review.