Red-light camera law endorsed

The city Public Safety Committee endorsed an amended ordinance Tuesday that would authorize cameras at four Santa Fe intersections to catch drivers who run red lights.

The ordinance, which heads to the city Finance Committee, now corresponds to a state law passed during the Legislature's last session. The only committee member voting against the ordinance was Mike Bowen.

The new ordinance says drivers who get caught running a red light along Cerrillos Road — at St. Michael's Drive, St. Francis Drive, Zafarano Drive or Airport Road — will pay $66 for the first offense and $100 for any subsequent violation within two years. State law specifies that the state District Court will appoint a lawyer with five years of experience to handle hearings if offenders contest tickets.

The state statute mandates that half the revenue goes to the state.

Capt. Anthony Robbin said state District Judge Jim Hall interpreted the law to require the city to pay for the hearing officer, who will make $42.93 an hour. It remains to be determined by City Attorney Frank Katz whether that money will come from the program's overall revenue or just the city's portion, Robbin said.

Vehicle fire slows evening commuters

Evening rush-hour traffic stalled Tuesday after a car caught fire on the northern edge of Santa Fe, according to city police.

A woman said she was headed north around 5 p.m. on U.S. 84/285, north of N.M. 599, when another driver forced her into the median, Deputy Police Chief Benjie Montaño said.

The woman struck the median and her car veered across the road and caught fire in the northbound, righthand lane. She wasn't injured, Montaño said.

The incident backed up northbound traffic more than a mile, but vehicles were flowing again later in the evening.

Hazardous waste drop-off set

Area residents will be able to safely dispose of household chemicals, paints and other hazardous waste next month during a daylong drop-off event.

The joint city/county Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency decided to contract with an Albuquerque firm to collect the materials May 17 at the Buckman Road Recycling and Transfer Station.

The 10th annual free event will last from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes collection of items with labels such as "caution, warning, poison or flammable," as well as cleaning products, automotive fluids, paints, rechargeable batteries, pool chemicals and lawn or garden products.

Items such as televisions and other electronic waste, business or commercial waste, explosives or ammunition will not be accepted.

The recycling center accepts electronic waste during normal operating days. Also, Keep Santa Fe Beautiful has plans to hold an E-Waste Day in July to gather old computers and televisions, according to a city announcement.

Nava hosts student art fair

Nava Elementary School students will participate in the third annual art fair at the Siringo Road school from 6 to 8:30 p.m. May 1.

The fair offers a light dinner, raffle, silent auction, hands-on art making and student art show. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

The event will showcase retablos created by the fourth- and fifth-grade classes and ceramics designed by the third- through sixth-graders. Raffle and silent auction items include handmade arts and crafts by Nava students, and goods and services donated by parents, friends and community members.

Farmers Market, state to allow food stamp purchases

The Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute is seeking to lure more shoppers to the market in the Santa Fe Railyard by promoting sales of locally grown produce to food-stamp users.

The group is working with the New Mexico Human Services Department to draw attention to the fact that any family with an Electronic Benefits Card can shop at the market.

In February, the state reported it had about 113,330 EBT users, said Betina Gonzales McCracken, communications director at the department.

The farmers market on Saturday will start its summer hours, 7 a.m. to noon. Sunday markets will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Tuesday market will begin May 5 and run from 7 a.m. to noon.

Sondra Gadell, administrative assistant at the Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute, said EBT customers receive $1 wooden chips to use when shopping. The chips have no expiration date.