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Photo: Commissioners (back row) Adam F. Johnson, Justin S. Greene, Hank Hughes, and Camilla Bustamante, stand with community members (front row) Maggie Boyle, Betty Sisneros Shover, and Frederick Sandoval, and Commissioner Lisa Cacari Stone in support of Mental Health Awareness Month.

SANTA FE, N.M., May 14, 2026—The Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners met for its regular meeting, Tuesday, May 12, with votes unanimously in favor of the following agenda items.

A resolution (2026-062) brought forth by Commissioners, District 5, Hank Hughes, and District 4, Adam F. Johnson, will help protect prairie dogs when threatened by land development. Moving forward, Santa Fe County Growth Management will specify that prairie dog colonies must be considered in all environmental reports for larger scale projects and subdivisions. For smaller projects, like 30% slopes and drainage ways, prairie dog colonies will be identified as “no build” areas. If colonies need to be relocated, it will be the developer’s responsibility, although the County will need to identify appropriate relocation areas.

“Through their foraging activities, prairie dogs contribute to the ecosystem health by increasing plant diversity, supporting essential pollinators, and helping to control invasive or noxious plants. They are part of the food chain, and an important resource for animals in our area,” Commissioner Johnson said.

“As a next step, I wonder if we can address the traffic, because they’re constantly (getting) hit. I want us to think, and have a conversation, about how we can include the natural world in our traffic impact,” Commissioner, District 2, Lisa Cacari Stone said.

Commissioner, District 3, Camilla Bustamante emphasized the importance of being conscious of all animals in an area of development, and that people should not feed wild animals because that causes problems for the animals.

Next, Commissioner Bustamante brought forth a resolution (2026-063) expressing support for the State Truth Commission affirming Santa Fe County's commitment to full cooperation with any authorized investigation or commission review. The resolution affirms the County’s commitment to transparency, cooperation, and compliance with lawful requests for public records and directs County staff to support the Commission’s work through the identification, preservation, and timely production of responsive records. The resolution signifies that Santa Fe County does not tolerate the kind of abuse of power and trafficking allegations currently under investigation. “Yes, we do, in New Mexico, care about these issues,” Bustamante said.

“Somehow I hope the investigation will lead us to prevent this from happening in the future,” Commissioner Hughes said.

“We are looking towards a time where we expect more of our elected officials, we expect more for our society, and covering up mass secrets for years and years and years—and all the privacy that money can buy—isn’t acceptable,” Commissioner Cacari Stone said.

Next, Chair, District 1, Justin S. Greene, brought forth a request for approval of a letter to the United States Forest Service opposing the proposed uranium exploratory drilling in the Chama watershed in Carson National Forest.

“We drink Chama water. We should not have to drink the by-products of this exploratory well. This is not only about us—I would like this letter to be sent to every County Commissioner between here and Brownsville, Texas,” Greene said, referring to the communities along the Rio Grande, of which the Rio Chama is a major tributary. In support of the letter, commissioners discussed accounts of environmental racism in New Mexico, and to not go down that path again.

Commissioners declared May as Mental Health Awareness Month to recognize the significant and growing mental health needs of the community, and to affirm the County’s commitment to trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and community-centered behavioral health systems. The proclamation, introduced by Commissioner Cacari Stone, was dedicated with a reading by three community members, Frederick Sandoval, Chief Executive Officer of the National Latino Behavioral Health Association, Betty Sisneros Shover, Executive Director of National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Maggie Boyle, Associate Director of Gerard’s House. The guests represent the incredible dedication of the community to help provide important mental health resources during challenging times.

After the reading, Ms. Shover said, “Thank you for Santa Fe County’s deep commitment to supporting people with mental health issues. We’re a more compassionate and understanding County when we do that.”

View all motions and votes from the Board of County Commissioners May 12 regular meeting in the online meeting summary (PDF), and watch the full recording on the County YouTube channel. Find more information about County meetings on the County Calendar or by visiting the County’s online meeting portal.