Regular Governing Body Meeting - Second Wednesday — Wed, Aug 12, 2026
10775.1 1 CITY OF SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO1 RESOLUTION NO. 2026-__2 INTRODUCED BY:3 4 Mayor Michael Garcia5 Councilor Paul Bustamante6 7 8 9 A RESOLUTION10 SUSPENDING THE ANNUAL FISHING DERBY IN SANTA FE RIVER; APPROVING A11 CHILDREN’S FISHING DERBY EVENT ON CITY PROPERTY IN NICHOLS12 RESERVOIR ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2026; AND DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER13 AND DESIGNATED CITY STAFF TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO ORGANIZE14 THE EVENT.15 WHEREAS, the City of Santa Fe (“City”) has, in the past, hosted an annual Fishing Derby;16 and17 WHEREAS, the annual Fishing Derby is a City tradition which brings community18 together; and19 WHEREAS, the Fishing Derby may provide education to the public, and especially20 children, about the City’s water supply; and21 WHEREAS, Resolution No. 2008-111 combined the annual River Festival and the Fishing22 Derby in order to promote greater awareness of the river, to celebrate the Santa Fe River and its23 historic and present roles in the community, to promote the diversity of cultures, to bring together24 different segments of the community, and to provide entertainment and fun for families; and25 10775.1 2 WHEREAS, Resolution No. 2012-28 adopted the “City of Santa Fe Administrative1 Procedures for City of Santa Fe River Target Flows” (“Administrative Procedures”), and2 Resolution No. 2012-52 amended “No. 5 of the Administrative Procedures to specify that in a year3 where the “watershed yield is less than 50%, or, if for other climactic or hydrologic reasons, daily4 target flows adequate for the Fishing Derby cannot be met, the date of the Fishing Derby may be5 changed or the Fishing Derby will be suspended”; and6 WHEREAS, consistent with Rule No. 5 of the Administrative Procedures, drought7 conditions this year in Santa Fe create conditions under which the specified target flows will not8 be met and the annual Fishing Derby in the Santa Fe River would therefore be suspended until such9 time that the appropriate flows can be met; and10 WHEREAS, the City wishes to hold a fishing derby event for children, and the ongoing11 drought conditions in Santa Fe are such that the annual Fishing Derby’s status is unclear as it relates12 to the specified requirements of Rule No. 5; and13 WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 2026-17 specifies that limited fishing events on City-owned14 property in the Santa Fe Municipal Watershed may be approved by the Governing Body and15 Ordinance No. 2026-17 would make it possible to hold a “Children’s Fishing Derby” event in the16 Nichols Reservoir (“the Reservoir”); and17 WHEREAS, a fishing derby may take place in the Reservoir if New Mexico Game and18 Fish stocks the Reservoir with fish; and19 WHEREAS, the City is committed to protecting the Santa Fe Watershed and as such, the20 Governing Body wishes the event to be conducted with the care that such a commitment would21 require.22 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE23 CITY OF SANTA FE that due to the current drought conditions in Santa Fe, and consistent with24 the requirements established in the Administrative Procedures, Rule No. 5, the annual Fishing25 10775.1 3 Derby in the Santa Fe River shall be suspended for the year of 2026.1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that consistent with Ordinance No. 2026-17, the2 Governing Body approves a Children’s Fishing Derby event on September 26th, 2026, on City3 property at the Nichols Reservoir.4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED and that the City Manager and designated staff shall take5 the necessary steps to organize the Children’s Fishing Derby event with the following6 specifications:7 1) The event shall be limited to 150 children, each accompanied by an adult; and8 2) The participants in the event shall access the Reservoir by City bus only; and9 3) The City Manager and designated staff take all necessary precautions to10 protect the Santa Fe Watershed and the City’s water supply in all aspects of11 the event planning.12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Manager or a designee of the City Manager13 shall determine all other details necessary to organize the Children’s Fishing Derby, including14 working with New Mexico Game and Fish to stock the Reservoir with fish.15 PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this ______day of ___________, 2026.16 17 18 ____________________________19 MICHAEL J. GARCIA, MAYOR20 21 22 23 24 25 10775.1 4 ATTEST:1 2 ________________________________3 GERALYN F. CARDENAS, CITY CLERK4 5 APPROVED AS TO FORM:6 7 _________________________________8 MARCOS D. MARTÍNEZ, CITY ATTORNEY9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Legislation/2026/Resolutions/Children’s Fishing Derby25Marcos D. Martínez (Aug 7, 2026 12:10:02 MDT) Marcos D. Martínez