Albuquerque City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting – May 11, 2023

The City Council Committee of the Whole met on May 11, 2023, at 5:00 PM in the Vincent E. Griego Chambers to consider the city's FY2024 objectives (R-23-122) and operating budget (R-23-123). All nine councilors were present. The meeting was the third of three required public hearings; no live public comment was taken, but written comments were accepted. The budget, as amended, was sent to the May 15 City Council meeting for adoption.

Discussion Items

R-23-122 C/S – Establishing One-Year Objectives for FY2024

• Councilor Bassan moved a committee substitute, which passed unanimously (9-0).
• APD Chief Medina requested clarifying language on objective 19 (training compliance) to avoid an annual burden costing approximately $1 million in overtime. Councilor Davis agreed to work with the administration to refine the language before Monday’s council meeting.
• The resolution was sent to council with a recommendation of do pass, as substituted, and for immediate action, both unanimously (9-0).

R-23-123 C/S – Appropriating Funds for Operating the City of Albuquerque for FY2024

• Councilor Bassan moved a committee substitute, which passed unanimously (9-0).
• The administration introduced a technical amendment (Amendment No. 1) that included moving the sustainability division, restoring $355,000 for Warehouse 508, adding $200,000 for the Top Golf gross receipts tax, and other adjustments. It passed unanimously (9-0).
• Councilor Davis moved Amendment No. 2, which breaks out each program’s budget into personnel and operating lines to increase transparency. Passed unanimously (9-0).
• Councilor Grout moved Amendment No. 3 to transfer $500,000 from the Gibson Health Hub operating fund to the East Gateway MRA (capital fund). The administration opposed, citing delays to the hub. The motion failed 4-5 (For: Sanchez, Peña, Lewis, Grout; Against: Benton, Bassan, Davis, Fiebelkorn, Jones).
• Councilor Sanchez moved Amendment No. 4 to allocate $300,000 for a priority-based budgeting pilot program, drawing from the operating grants fund. The administration argued it would be redundant with the new Questica system and reduce grant matching ability. The motion passed 5-4 (For: Sanchez, Peña, Lewis, Jones, Grout; Against: Benton, Bassan, Davis, Fiebelkorn).
• Councilor Fiebelkorn moved Amendment No. 5 to ensure funds for Prosperity Works moved with the sustainability office. It initially passed unanimously, but on reconsideration the sponsor withdrew it after confirming the need was already addressed in Amendment No. 1.
• Councilor Bassan moved Amendment No. 6 to split $65,000 for contract legal counsel between the Office of Inspector General and Internal Audit. Passed unanimously (9-0).
• Councilor Jones moved Amendment No. 7 to provide salary increases for the IG and IA (based on AGO recommendations). The administration and several councilors raised concerns about process and the pending class/comp study. The sponsors withdrew the amendment, intending to bring it on Monday.
• Councilor Fiebelkorn moved Amendment No. 8 to appropriate $40,000 for animal welfare programs (Inm Dog and Animal Protection of New Mexico). Passed unanimously (9-0).
• Councilor Davis moved Amendment No. 9 to set aside up to $1 million from excess lodger’s tax revenues for Isotopes Stadium improvements (MLB compliance). Passed unanimously (9-0).
• Councilor Grout and Sanchez moved Amendment No. 10 to transfer $300,000 from the Gibson Health Hub operating to homeless support services for the Job Connect pilot. The administration suggested using the early retirement fund instead to preserve the Gibson funding. The sponsors accepted the friendly amendment, and the motion passed unanimously (9-0).
• Councilor Sanchez moved Amendment No. 11 to restore $10,000 for the “Tierra…” cultural performance sponsorship, using available fund balance. Passed unanimously (9-0).
• Councilor Davis moved Amendment No. 12 to fund a feasibility study for a public guarantor program to prevent homelessness. The administration asked for time to work on the funding source; the amendment was withdrawn.
• Councilor Davis moved Amendment No. 13 (by request) to transfer 25 vacant security positions from GSD to a new APD transit security division. Councilor Sanchez and others raised concerns about training, certification, and bypassing the class/comp study. The motion passed 8-1 (Sanchez opposed).

Key Outcomes

• R-23-122 (Objectives): Approved as substituted, sent to council with do pass recommendation and immediate action, all unanimously.
• R-23-123 (Budget): Passed as substituted and amended (with amendments 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13; amendments 3, 5, 7, 12 failed or withdrawn). Sent to council without recommendation and for immediate action, both unanimously (9-0).
• Several amendments were deferred for further work on Monday, May 15, including refining the APD training objective, the IG/IA salary adjustment, and the feasibility study for a public guarantor program.
• The administration requested additional time to examine the impact of the committee substitute on the Office of Equity and Inclusion (reduced by $330,000) and the planning department’s dilapidated buildings initiative, with hopes to address both before final adoption.