SOCIAL POLICY
Public Transportation: The League supports subsidized, low cost, convenient transportation for all citizens. We recommend a system of bicycle and footpaths that would extend throughout the city and county. (1973,'79, '87, '89, '95)
Public Education: The League supports and works toward community concern, knowledge and participation in local education. The League supports the principle of the school district's use of local property taxes for capital expenditures, including maintenance. (1976,'84, '95)The League supports a full day, developmentally oriented kindergarten program for all Santa Fe Public School children. (1998)
The LWVSFeCo. Supports Career and Technical Education as an important component of an educational system that should meet the needs and interests of all students. The League believes that using careers as a context for learning along with high academic standards may lead to greater success in the workplace and in higher education. The League supports:
- policies that require the study and consideration of career-technical education program needs in determining budgets and before additional capital expenditures are made at the high schools.
- policies that ensure all students have the opportunity to participate in a career-technical education program where the program is offered,
- the required compliance with NMAC Career Readiness Standards with Benchmarks and NM Next Step Plan legislation (2004) designed to help ensure students are prepared for career pathway choices, and
- the active pursuit of all avenues of funding for career-technical education and transparent accounting and reporting of funds received and expended.
The Medically Indigent Fund: The League supports local government funding of health care for the medically indigent and Santa Fe County budgetary policies that ensure proper implementation of the County ordinance (1999) requiring re-dedicated funds first be used to meet indigent health care needs before funding other emergency services and health care programs.
The League of Women Voters of Santa Fe County supports Indigent Fund policies that: provide for annual review and revision of the payment caps, documentation requirements that assure deserving patients have access to the funds while protecting the Fund from fraudulent applications, and the inclusion of payment for pharmacy, dental and medical specialists services.(1954, '72, '95, 2000)
Sexual Offense Statutes: The League supports legislation making criminal sexual penetration of a child thirteen to eighteen years of age a felony when the perpetrator is in a position of authority over the child and uses that authority to coerce the child.
The LWV supports publicly funded counseling for adult sexual offenders while they are in prison. (1998)
Santa Fe Community College: The League supports 1) preparation by SFCC of a comprehensive schedule of proposed funding before presenting a bond issue for public vote; 2) the use of bond funds for capital expenditures only; 3) a written schedule of regular meetings times and dates; 4) regularly scheduled reviews of existing programs; and 5) an open administration that seeks public input. (2001)
NATURAL RESOURCES
Land Use Planning: The League supports development of a City Master Plan and County General Plan including: City-County coordinated planning, maximum participation of citizens in the formulation and review process for land use regulations, and a periodic review and update of the plans. The League positions also support:
- Division of the planning process into two parts, one dealing with infrastructure, and the other with human services.
- An approval process that encourages educational dialogue among the public, governing body, and planning staff.
- An approval process that allows for comment by both the planning staff and the public before any changes proposed by members of the governing body are adopted.
- Annual reports by both the County and the City to governing bodies and public on the progress in implementing the general plan.
- Measures to ensure that the adopted plan is not weakened by decisions made by review bodies. (1997)
Dedicated Land: The League supports City policies and guidelines that have consistent criteria for determining that land to be dedicated to the City is useable. We support cooperation between the appropriate departments and the community in developing plans for the use of City-owned land.
Regional Planning: The League supports retention of the Extraterritorial Zone, until there is a comprehensive regional land use plan in place: regional planning in the Santa Fe area for growth management, and joint powers agreements as and efficient and appropriate means of solving inter-jurisdictional problems. (1998) Amending the NM Regional Planning Act to include financial incentives to implement and enforce completed regional plans. The League position also supports:
- City/County cooperation on issues of planning, growth and resource management through the use of joint powers agreements and/or the Extraterritorial Zone Ordinances.
- City/County agreement on defining urban growth and urban service areas.
- Assessment of developer-paid impact fees adequate to cover the costs of new infrastructure required by new developments.
- Reconsideration of the Extraterritorial Joint Powers Agreement for joint City/County planning, platting and zoning to the 5-mile limit and equitable sharing of the administrative and staffing costs of the EZ.
- Adherence by the Extraterritorial Zone Commission and Extraterritorial Authority to each of the review criteria in the ordinances (EZOrdinance Sec. 3B1-10) when reviewing all requests for variances and exceptions. (1999)
Open Space: The League supports the establishment of green belts, open spaces and parks in developing areas. The League encourages the use of indigenous vegetation and encourages measures to prevent the unnecessary removal of trees. Highway corridors should aim to retain scenic approaches and include, where possible, walking, biking and riding trails.
The League supports the establishment of, and management plans for green belts, open spaces and parks in the City and County. This includes long range planning and adequate funding for acquisition, development and management of lands. Provision for public safety on public lands is the responsibility of the City police and parks departments. (2002)
The League supports terrain management techniques to control drainage, prevent erosion of land and protection of watersheds and designated vistas. The League supports the protection of traditional villages and historical sites; and maintaining the historical character of Santa Fe. (1970, '73, '80, '90, '96)
Water Resources: The League supports regional planning for water with the goal being elimination of competition for water and cost-efficiency in the harvesting and delivery of water. The League urges the City and County to examine the benefits of turning the two water companies into one regional water company with the possibility of an independent governing Board. (1999) In addition the League supports:
- Linking development to the available water supply.
- Adoption of a drought management program with a specific program of water conservation to be pursued under all supply conditions. (1973, '77, '79, '80, '89, '96)
Air and Water Quality: The League supports City and County attention to the environmental impacts of their decisions. The League further supports joint city/county environmental consultation and management; citizens' rights to file class action environmental suits; fines for air and water polluters; adequate funding for environmental control and enforcement of industrial and development compliance with standards, odor pollution controls, and regulations for solid waste disposal. (1971,'86, '96)
Housing, Commercial and Infrastructure Development: The League encourages the development of zoning and land use regulations which discourage inappropriate strip commercial areas. We support attracting clean industry to provide jobs for local citizens.
The League supports, for any development proposal, a careful analysis to determine its effect on schools, traffic patterns and density, water consumption, waste-water impact and erosion in its own area and on that of adjoining landowners.
The League supports mixed density neighborhoods, including low and moderate income housing. The League believes this can best be accomplished with the development of city and county policies and plans to increase the availability of affordable housing in the region. When the city and county adopt housing policies and programs, they should give priority to programs that provide affordable housing. Such housing should remain affordable in the future.
We support creation of self-sufficient new towns and/or villages, only where there is an adequate water supply. (1970,'73, '77, '80, '90, '96, 2003; `05 )
Northwest Sector Plan: The League supports the Northwest sector plan as a framework for development of City-owned land. The League believes the City has a fiduciary responsibility to act as steward for the land for the benefit of all citizens of Santa Fe. Nevertheless, it should strictly follow its own ordinances in the development of the land. (1983, '87, '96)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
The League supports City and County personnel ordinances based on qualifications and merit. (1956, '75, '95)
The League supports City-County cooperation. (1974, '95, '96)
The League supports a home rule Charter for the City of Santa Fe with a Mayor/Council form of government. The rights of initiative and referendum should be available to the citizens of Santa Fe. (1996)
The League supports a firm set of guidelines to direct the establishment and operation of City and County Public Improvement Districts. These guidelines should include provisions for full disclosure of costs to be borne by prospective buyers.
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