City OKs contract for River Trail paving

Paving on a portion of the Santa Fe River Trail between Ricardo Road and Camino Alire will begin within the next month.

The City Council approved a contract Wednesday to hire Advantage Asphalt and Seal Coating for the $1 million job using money from the state Legislature.

The 3/4-mile project is the second phase of trail construction along the river and will connect the existing trail section that ends at Alto Park, downstream, to the existing trail section that stretches from Ricardo Road to Camino don Jose.

Another phase of construction is planned later and will include construction downstream to Frenchy's Field park, plus river restoration, and bank and channel stabilization.

Work continues on plan to buy CSF campus

The City Council expects to finalize its financing plan for the purchase of the College of Santa Fe campus by mid-October.

According to a report Wednesday from Finance Director Dave Millican, the city continues working with the New Mexico Finance Authority on securing a bond issue for long-term repayment of about $29.6 million to pay off the college debt and acquire its land and buildings. Councilors are expected to vote on a resolution approving the arrangement Sept. 23.

Repayment over a period of 27 years will not exceed $2.35 million per year, and even though the city will pledge gross-receipts revenue against the bonds, it expects to recoup the payment amount each year from leasing the campus.

Millican said current market conditions show the city will pay between 6 percent and 7 percent interest on the bonds.

Vehicle forfeiture for DWI starts next week

Drunken drivers in Santa Fe will risk losing their cars beginning Sept. 4.

The City Council on Wednesday night approved a plan to execute the city's 2-year-old DWI vehicle-forfeiture ordinance. Santa Fe County has already started seizing cars using its similar rule.

The city recently paid a contractor to install security cameras and a fence around a parking lot near the police station. Police Chief Aric Wheeler said he's putting drivers on notice now.

"We feel that Labor Day weekend is an appropriate time to start taking people's cars away for DWI," Wheeler said.

Anyone cited for driving while intoxicated can have their car seized by the city and forfeited, according to the ordinance. However, police say the rule is more likely to come into play for those who have already been convicted of two drunken-driving charges.

Those who lose their cars at the time of arrest will pay an administrative fee of $200 for each impounded vehicle and an additional fee of $10 per day that a car is left in the lot.

Bigger rebates OK'd for efficient appliances

Santa Fe residents who buy water-conserving appliances and water-harvesting systems will next year get bigger rebates under a program approved Wednesday by the City Council.

Installation of high-efficiency "Tier 3" washing machines in both homes and businesses will earn a water customer a credit of $480 on their water bills. The current rebate is $100. Credit will also be offered for up to four rain barrels and will vary depending on the size, starting at $12 for a 50- to 99-gallon barrel.

Other water-harvesting measures, such as underground cisterns, can qualify for new credits of 25 cents for each gallon of capacity, including for businesses.

For more information about rebates, contact the Water Conservation Office, 955-4225. New rebates are now set to go into effect Jan. 1.