City using van to nab speeders

More than 400 drivers can expect warning tickets in their mailboxes soon after Santa Fe police deployed the city's new mobile speed trap for the first time Wednesday night.

Officers parked the camera-equipped van — which is labeled as a speed enforcement vehicle — at the intersection of St. Francis Drive and Viento del Norte about 6 p.m. Wednesday, said Capt. Anthony Robbin. The location, near The Lodge at Santa Fe hotel, was intended to monitor traffic entering the city on southbound U.S. 84/285, he said.

Between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. Thursday, 420 out of the approximately 5,000 cars that drove past were driving at least 11 mph over the 45 mph speed limit, Robbin said.

Drivers will receive warnings as a result of monitoring by the van, which on Thursday afternoon was parked near the intersection of Cerrillos Road and Jaguar Drive. In the future, those caught driving more than 11 mph over the speed limit will have to pay an $86 fine for the first ticket and $100 for any subsequent tickets.

Beninato to seek City Council seat

A third candidate has tossed her hat in the ring for Santa Fe City Council's District 2 seat in the March city election.

Stefanie Beninato, 59, said Thursday that she will begin collecting signatures in attempt to get her name on the ballot by the Nov. 30 deadline for nominating petitions.

Incumbent Councilor Rebecca Wurzburger, who is seeking re-election to what would be her third term, also faces a challenge from perennial candidate Donado Coviello.

Beninato, a self-employed mediator and historian with a law degree and a doctorate in philosophy and history, has butted heads with city officials in recent years over development in her South Capitol neighborhood and the renovation on her home. She said that experience led her to try to change the system.

"I want to be able to talk about some things in the city that I think are important that are being ignored, such as fairness and transparency, accessibility and affordability," she said. "And I'm not just talking about affordable housing. I'm talking about making processes affordable for normal people not just big bucks developers."

Coss rejects resignation offer

Mayor David Coss said he rejected a local real estate agent's offer to resign from the city Archaeological Review Committee after she pleaded guilty to voter fraud.

Teresa E. "Tess" Monahan pleaded guilty in June to attempting to cast a ballot in the name of her dead brother in the special real estate transfer-tax election in March.

"She actually offered to resign after her sentencing," Coss said Thursday. "I disagree with her severely over the transfer tax and I thought (it was) an overreaction trying to vote for a deceased person, but she also came out and admitted it. ... I told her I thought it would be OK for her to continue to serve."

Monahan, 64, a retired investigator from the state Attorney General's Office, was sentenced to 18 months probation in the felony case. Although felons normally lose their rights to vote, state District Judge Michael Vigil issued a conditional discharge in the case so that if she complies with the terms of her probation, no felony charge will appear on her record after June 2020.

Voters narrowly defeated a proposal to fund affordable housing efforts with a 1 percent tax on any portion of a home sale exceeding $750,000.

Chief says union head on leave

Police Chief Aric Wheeler said Thursday that he placed the head of the Santa Fe police officers' union on administrative leave with pay last week.

Jose Valencia, a detective in the crimes against children unit, had been placed on modified duty in July and was placed administrative leave as of Oct. 15, the chief said. Wheeler declined to comment on the reason for the action, saying it was a personnel matter.

Valencia on Thursday characterized Wheeler's statements as "misinformation" and warned a reporter to check his source.

"Maybe someone's trying to get you to print something about the head of union," Valencia said.

Valencia, president of the Santa Fe Police Officers' Association, declined to comment further.

Police to use track for screening

The indoor track at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center will be closed for physical testing of Police Department applicants from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

The remainder of the center will be open as usual, according to a city news release.

Those interested in a career with the city Police Department are welcome to drop by the Chavez Center at 8 a.m. to participate in the testing process, Sgt. Gillian Alessio said.

In addition to physical fitness test, applicants will take a written exam and submit to an interview during the eight-hour application period. Up to eight new officers will be hired now, she said.

River parkway meeting set for Thursday

A meeting about design work under way for improvements along the Santa Fe River Parkway from St. Francis Drive to Palace Avenue is planned for 5 p.m. Thursday in the Community Room in the downtown library, 145 Washington Ave.

City planners will present an overview of the scope and the objectives of the project, and take questions from the public.

The river parkway project is funded through the 2008 city bonds for parks. A city news release says it will include "basic repairs, upgrades and beautification" that should "enhance the pedestrian environment for people moving about in downtown Santa Fe."

Congress honors Stewart Udall

The U.S. Senate has approved a bill that recognizes former U.S. interior secretary and longtime Santa Fe resident Stewart Udall, 89, for his work in protecting the environment and public lands.

The measure, on its way to the White House after also being approved by the House, also recognizes Udall for his work with the Morris K. Udall Foundation. The foundation provides scholarships to students interested in environmental study careers and Native American issues.

The bill, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., gives the foundation additional money and renames it for Stewart and Mo Udall. Stewart Udall is the father of U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., and Mo Udall's brother.

County invites applicants for panel

Santa Fe County is looking for volunteers to serve on the County Development Review Committee.

Members attend monthly public hearings and make land development-related decisions and recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.

Projects heard by the committee range from variance requests to master plans for large subdivisions, according to a county announcement.

Interested individuals should submit a letter of interest and résumé to Jack Kolkmeyer, land use administrator, at 102 Grant Ave., Santa Fe, NM, 87504-0276, or jkolkmey@santafecounty.org, on or before Dec. 15.

Skaters present 'Chiller on Ice'

An ice skating show based on the music of the late Michael Jackson's Thriller album is scheduled for Oct. 30 at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center.

The Chiller on Ice skating performance begins at 6 p.m., followed by a meet-and-greet with the cast. From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. is a public skating party and costume contest.

Tickets are $8 and includes admission, show, skate rental and public skating. Spectators pay $2 per person. Tickets will be on sale at the GCCC front desk beginning at 6 a.m. the day of the show.

Tree planting along river

A Rio Vista neighborhood planting party along the new Santa Fe River Trail between La Joya Road and Calle Don Jose is scheduled for Saturdaybeginning at 8:30 p.m.

The public is welcome to join in.

Volunteers from YouthWorks will do the heavy digging for planting holes. Native shrubs and trees are being donated by Keep New Mexico Beautiful and Plants of the Southwest.

The trail is part of a long-range plan by Santa Fe city and county to create a biking and biking path along the river from the east side of Santa Fe to N.M. 599.

The Santa Fe Watershed Association and the Rio Vista Community Project helped organize the planting. "After many years of envisioning a thriving river, this planting project is a significant step toward restoring the Santa Fe River and its banks," said project organizer Toby Herzlich.