Council OKs water rules changes

City Council late Wednesday approved changes to city ordinances about water budgets, transfers and conservation programs after hearing more than an hour of testimony and debate. The new rules are not set to go into effect, however, until Jan. 1, 2010.

The most significant change that city residents are likely to notice is the planned introduction of a program that allows a water customer to alter water use by replacing appliances or fixtures, then sell the "saved water" or donate it to the city or another user. Another program will offer water-bill rebates for water-saving changes to homes or businesses.

City staff are now charged with creating a set of administrative procedures to implement the rules.

Not included in the changes are requests from the Santa Fe Watershed Alliance and other nonprofit conservation advocates who wanted half the water saved through conservation programs to be dedicated to the Santa Fe River. Alliance director Dave Groenfeldt called the proposal "an injustice to future generations."

Mayor David Coss and Councilor Rebecca Wurzburger both called that a mischaracterization of the bill.

Prairie dog at airport had plague

A prairie dog found at Santa Fe Municipal Airport has tested positive for plague — the sixth plague-infected animal found in Santa Fe County this summer.

"The prairie dog was removed from a relatively remote area of the airport property as part of the relocation process and died in the transition holding pen," Airport Manager Jim Montman said Wednesday in a news release.

City Manager Galen Buller ordered the runway and taxiway safety area to be dusted with deltamethrin today. "The dusting application will have no impact on the normal operations of the airport," the release said.

The same insecticide was used on Franklin Miles Park and the Nava Elementary School campus in early July after plague was discovered in a dead squirrel and four prairie dogs. Plague can be transmitted by fleas and contact with infected animals.

So far this year, six New Mexicans have contracted plague, including an 8-year-old Edgewood boy who died. Other cases include the boy's 10-year-old sister, a 54-year-old Santa Fe County man, an 83-year-old Sandoval County woman, a 16-month-old girl and her 67-year-old grandmother, both from the East Mountain area of Bernalillo County.

Ex-reporter runs for City Council

A former newspaper reporter born and raised in Santa Fe announced Wednesday that he will campaign to become the city councilor from District 1.

Russell Simon, 27, said he will take on incumbent Councilor Chris Calvert in the March 10 contest seven months from now. Calvert plans to seek a second term representing the north-side district.

Simon, currently a manager at Westgate Properties, owned by his father, Tom Simon, has a master's degree in history and covered Santa Fe municipal government for the Albuquerque Journal's Santa Fe edition.

The candidate said he plans to lay out a campaign platform soon and is running as "a young professional who knows how hard it is for those types of people to get along in Santa Fe, and as a good communicator."

District 1 includes parts of downtown, most of the area north of Agua Fría and East Alameda, including Hyde Park Road and Camino La Tierra.

Candidates have until December to collect enough nominating signatures to get on the ballot.

Non-Indians barred from Hopi rite

A Hopi religious ceremony this weekend has been closed to non-Indians.

Mishongnovi Village Administrator Robert Mahkewa Jr. issued a statement that access to the Snake Dance Ceremonial is being restricted by order of the Snake Chief and Village Antelope leadership.

"Unfortunately, the lack of respect demonstrated by some to our traditions and ceremonial practices preceded the heartfelt decision reached by our traditional leadership," he said. "Reports noting illegal photography of the Snake Ceremonial and other ceremonies have been received by our leaders and we ask that all photographs, negatives and recorded events be turned over to the village administration."

The statement said village members and other Indians won't be allowed to enter the village area with cameras, cell phones or other recording devices.

Winning Powerball ticket to expire soon

A Powerball ticket bought in Grants for the May 30 drawing is worth $200,000 — but only if the person who bought it comes forward soon.

New Mexico state lottery officials say the winning ticket will be worthless if the prize isn't claimed by 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 28.

The ticket was bought at the Allsup's store at First Street and Jefferson Avenue in Grants. It matches the five white ball numbers of 1, 23, 42, 51 and 59. If the ticket had also matched the Powerball of 20, the player would have won a $20 million jackpot.

The player must return the ticket to the lottery to claim the prize. It should be signed immediately by the purchaser because whoever has an unsigned ticket legally owns it.

Oil prices impact state residents

The Natural Resources Defense Council ranks New Mexico ninth in the nation for vulnerability to oil price changes, but fourth in the U.S. for efforts to reduce oil dependence.

The vulnerability ranking indicates how much a state's drivers are affected by increased gas prices. New Mexico is a rural state with a low per capita income, making residents vulnerable when gas prices go up.

New Mexicans spent an average of $2,177 in 2008 on gasoline, about 6.79 percent of annual income. The state with the highest vulnerability to rising gas prices was Mississippi, followed by Montana, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Kentucky and Texas, the study says.

Still, New Mexico's efforts to promote clean energy technologies and reduce oil dependence earned a fourth-place ranking on finding solutions, behind California, Massachusetts and Washington.

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a 39-year-old national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists. The full report can be accessed at www.nrdc.org/energy/states/

Wildlife Center hosts 'Bear Aware' talk

The Wildlife Center, a wildlife hospital, rehabilitation and educational center, will host a "Bear Aware" program tonight at 7 p.m. at The Wildlife Center in Española. Manny Overby, a New Mexico Game and Fish officer, will present the program.

The Wildlife Center's executive director, Katherine Eagleson said, "We live in big country in New Mexico, big enough for bears. "We needn't be afraid of bears, just wise enough to learn how to live with them and generous enough to leave them the space they need to thrive."

Overby will present the natural history, physical characteristics and behavior of the New Mexico black bear. Additionally, he will talk about what to do when visiting or hiking in bear country.

The Wildlife Center is located at 19 Wheat Street, south of Española. A donation of $10 is suggested.

Pecos Cowboy Church hosts rodeo

The Pecos Cowboy Church is hosting its second open rodeo of the summer Saturday and Sunday at the Pecos Rodeo Grounds in downtown Pecos, east of Santa Fe. Action on Saturday begins at 1 p.m. with roping, riding and barrel racing. On Sunday, visitors are invited to attend the 10:30 a.m. Cowboy Church nondenominational service at the rodeo grounds. Rodeo competition begins again at 1 p.m.

Board agrees to climate-change hearing

The New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board has agreed to hold a public hearing Jan. 11, regarding the effects of global warming.

The board agreed to the hearing after considering a petition filed in 2008 by the non-profit New Energy Economy. The group asked the board to set a "science-based" cap on greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming. Public Service Company of New Mexico and the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association objected.

The board last week approved holding the January hearing.

Valles Caldera seeks volunteers, public comment

The Valles Caldera Trust has a couple of ways the public can get involved at the Valles Caldera National Preserve in the next few weeks.

Volunteers are needed Tuesday to dismantle and move two yurts from the preserve. Volunteers can meet at the Valle Grande Staging Area off N.M. 4 at 9 a.m. and caravan out to the yurts. Bring work gloves, lunch and water. Volunteers should call Kimberly DeVall at the Valles Caldera Trust by Aug. 16 at 866-382-5537.

The Trust also is seeking public comment on two proposed actions: the Scooter Peak Prescribed Fire and Redondo Canyon Forest Management projects. Descriptions of the projects are on the Valles Caldera Web site at www.vallescaldera.gov. Comments must be received before Sept. 15.