Albuquerque City Council Meeting - June 21, 2023: Housing Forward IDO Amendments, Housing Collaborative, Charter Change Debate
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Albuquerque City Council Meeting - June 21, 2023
The Albuquerque City Council held its 33rd meeting of the 25th Council on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, starting at 5:00 PM in the Vincent E. Griego Chambers. The agenda included a major vote on the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) annual update (O-22-54), known as the "Housing Forward" initiative, as well as resolutions on a joint housing collaborative with Bernalillo County, a proposal to change the city charter to a council-manager form of government, and other routine matters. The meeting extended past midnight due to lengthy public comment and detailed amendments.
Consent Calendar
- Approved (8-0, Councilor Lewis excused): Items EC-23-298 through EC-23-312, including contracts for tourism marketing, right-of-way vacation, quarterly reports, audit approval, and various mayor appointees to boards and commissions. Item EC-23-310 (Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board appointment of Malini Perumal) was withdrawn and then refiled; EC-23-313 (another appointment of Perumal) was confirmed. Also approved were resolution R-23-121 (postponed to August 7), R-23-132 (broadband grant), R-23-133 (PetSmart grant), R-23-134 (HUD grant), R-23-135 (VW settlement funds), R-23-136 (local election details), R-23-137 (Pearl redevelopment), R-23-139 (Transit Title VI), R-23-142 (Urban Enhancement Trust Fund), R-23-145 (Choice Neighborhoods grant), R-23-146 (bond election), and R-23-147 (ARP transit grant). A short-term rental ordinance (O-23-69) was postponed to August 21.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Public Comment (pre-dinner): Speakers addressed a range of topics including the IDO amendments, housing affordability, tribal consultation, bus service reliability, the proposed council-manager charter change, and the Gateway Center. Notable speakers:
- Senator Bill Tallman spoke in favor of a council-manager form of government, citing efficiency and professionalism.
- Joshua Price (property manager) and others urged passage of the IDO changes to increase housing supply.
- Laura Lucero, Nina Cooper, and Frederick Esters supported the IDO for housing diversity and affordability.
- Leslie Padilla and Patricia Wilson expressed concerns that the IDO lacked affordability provisions and would primarily benefit developers.
- Several tribal members (Richard Smith, Asa Chavez, Aaron Lee, Peter Zeist) and the group NAVA urged delay of the IDO vote until meaningful tribal consultation occurred, citing potential impacts on sacred sites like Petroglyph National Monument.
- Todd Clark (real estate) supported the IDO, noting a six-step plan for streamlined ADU development.
- Rachel Baca (Siesta Hills Neighborhood Association) highlighted problems at Wilson Park near the Gateway Center, criticizing 311 responses.
- Public Comment on R-144 (Housing Collaborative): Winter Torres and Andrea Calderon spoke in support, emphasizing the need for a coordinated approach to housing.
- Public Comment on O-22-54 (IDO) and P-23-1 (Charter Change): Multiple speakers, including Matthew Suarez (carpenters union), Geraldo Cionello, Tad Namitski, and Trina Verbeck, opposed the charter change and/or raised concerns about the IDO’s impact on neighborhoods and tribal lands. Some supported the IDO but requested more tribal consultation.
Discussion Items
- Administration Q&A: Councilors questioned department heads on transit driver shortages, automated speed enforcement (out-of-state plate enforcement), tree planting along the Biopark, building permit delays, the Gibson Health Hub/Gateway Center updates, and 311 system improvements. Transit Director reported a net loss of 13 drivers; Parks Director noted tree planting issues due to engineering concerns. Councilor Sanchez voiced frustration over permit delays for Bob’s Burgers. Councilor Grout inquired about shelter bed availability and behavioral health facility coordination.
- R-144 – Middle Rio Grande Housing Collaborative (Benton): A joint powers agreement between the city and Bernalillo County to create a housing development entity. The resolution was substituted, rules suspended, and passed 8-1 after debate. Councilor Bassan expressed concerns about lack of briefing and the $500,000 city contribution, but other councilors and County Commission Chair Baca stressed the need for collaboration.
- P-23-1 & R-131 – Council-Manager Charter Amendment (Sanchez, Grout): Proposed to place a charter amendment on the November 2023 ballot to change from a strong-mayor to a council-manager form of government. After extensive debate, P-23-1 failed 3-6 (with Councilors Grout, Lewis, and Sanchez in favor). R-131 (enabling resolution) was withdrawn by sponsors. Professor Timothy Krebs, paid by the mayor’s office to provide research, spoke in opposition, sparking controversy about transparency.
- R-143 – Downtown Street Conversion (Benton): Directed converting Tijeras and Marquette Avenues to two-way between 4th and 6th Streets, and a four-way stop at Silver and 3rd. Passed 9-0 after a pilot project amendment.
- O-22-54 – IDO Annual Update “Housing Forward” (Benton, Jones): The longest item. After 15 amendments and extended meeting to midnight, the ordinance passed 5-4. Key amendments:
- Removed neighborhood edge step-down requirement (B1, passed).
- Fixed a parking reduction error (B3B) – retained reductions for workforce housing (20% reduction) but removed blanket 30% reduction (B2, passed 7-2).
- Removed duplexes as permissive use in R1 (Sanchez amendment, passed 7-2).
- Made ADUs conditional use citywide (Grout amendment, initially passed 5-4, then reconsidered and failed 4-5, so ADUs remain permissive). However, a subsequent amendment to require conditional use for ADUs in certain small-area plans was not adopted.
- Added five-foot side/rear setbacks for ADUs (Grout, amended to either/or, passed 7-2).
- Limited ADU height to primary structure height (passed 8-1).
- Removed conditional use requirement for ADUs in areas like Borealis, Huning Highlands (Bassan, passed 9-0).
- Deleted three “whereas” clauses (Bassan, passed 9-0).
- Added microwave requirement for non-residential to residential conversions (Peña, passed 8-1).
- Removed building height bonuses for market-rate multifamily, but retained for workforce housing (amendment to Peña’s amendment failed, then Peña’s amendment passed 5-4).
- Added whereas clauses on infill and sector plan review (Peña, passed 7-2).
- Added whereas clauses on affordable housing and citywide plan (Peña, passed 9-0).
- Councilor Peña withdrew an amendment to restrict affordable housing distribution by district after legal concerns.
- Councilors Feibelkorn and Peña criticized lack of tribal consultation; administration committed to improve.
Key Outcomes
- IDO Annual Update (O-22-54) approved 5-4 (Councilors Benton, Davis, Feibelkorn, Jones, Peña in favor; Bassan, Grout, Lewis, Sanchez opposed). The ordinance makes ADUs permissive citywide (with some setback and height limits), retains duplexes only in R1A, removes certain parking reductions, and adds workforce housing building height bonuses. It does not include affordable housing mandates.
- Middle Rio Grande Housing Collaborative (R-144) passed 8-1 (Councilor Bassan opposed). City and county each contribute $500,000 to establish a joint entity to develop affordable housing.
- Council-Manager Charter Amendment (P-23-1) failed 3-6. The companion resolution (R-131) was withdrawn.
- Downtown Street Conversion (R-143) passed 9-0 with a pilot project requirement.
- Nuisance property abatement (R-22-85) passed 7-1 (Peña opposed, Lewis excused).
- Consent agenda and all other routine items approved unanimously or with minor opposition.
- Next Steps: The IDO changes take effect after publication; administration to begin tribal consultation on future land-use policies. The housing collaborative to begin work over the summer. The council will recess in July and reconvene in August.
Meeting Transcript
Ladies and gentlemen, good evening, and welcome to the 33rd meeting of the 25th City Council. We'll call this meeting to order. For those of you in the chambers, we'll ask you to take your seat and uh so that we can get started. All of our counselors are present this evening or will be joining us very shortly. Uh to get our meeting started as always, we turn our meeting over to our vice president. Thank you, Mr. President. Um this time we're going to do the moment of silence. Um Councillor Jones is going to lead us in English, the Pledge of Allegiance, and Councillor Sanchez, the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish. Will you all please rise? Thank you. Would you join us in the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic from which it stands. Under God of the liberty and justice. Thank you. Council um Mr. President. Thank you, uh Madam Vice President. Um this evening, uh, our meetings, like always, will go a lot smoother if we are respectful for one another. And to that end, the city council has a few rules that we put in place to ensure that we follow proper decorum and are able to attend to the public speech business. Uh handouts of the rules are available from our staff at the table near the chamber entrance in the lobby. Uh, if you're interested, you can obtain one there. Uh there will be absolutely no signs, props, posters, or banners allowed in the chambers, other than that, which can be displayed overhead during presentations at the day uh at the presenting dais. Uh such material should not be held or waived in a manner that blocks the view of others or creates a distraction to the speaker. Items displayed on the overhead projector must be removed at the end of the public comment. Only the individual who the uh council has called upon to provide public comment may stand there. Multiple persons are not permitted to stand, and the only exception are those who need translators or reasonable accommodations. Uh the time limit for public comments is strictly enforced, and those comments must always be directed to the council through the president, not at members of the public or staff. Uh there are no tolerance for disruptive public outbursts as determined by the chair. In this case, that's the president of the meeting. This is me. The handicapped landing area to the right side of the dais must be kept clear at all times. Those desiring to record the meeting will be directed to the uh left of our uh dais over here. We have special seats designated for that purpose. Uh the fire marshal is instructed and directed to strictly enforce our ingress and egress rules to ensure our public safety. In the event of a disruption or disruptive behavior this evening, uh, I will do my best to provide a warning where appropriate upon a second or continued disruption, that individual may be asked to leave the chambers, and if necessary, I'll ask the security uh to escort that person out of our chambers. The removal from a council meeting is effective for the remainder of that meeting. If continued disruptions occur, uh the council reserves the right to recess the meeting until orders are stored, and if necessary, we may clear chambers of persons who participate in the disturbance. That's the do's and don'ts. Uh, Madam Vice President, would you get us started? Thank you, Mr. Mr. President. Um, civic plaza parking passes are provided for members of the public. You can obtain a parking pass from council staff at the table near the chamber entrance. Members of the public, city staff and the media have the ability to view this member meeting in person or on live streams through four different platforms. The live streams can be accessed from most smartphones, tablets, or computers. Also, this meeting is closed, captioned, and you may enable the closed captioning services on your television or device at this time. The video recording of this and all past council meetings will remain available for viewing at any time on the city council's website. City Council uh council staff is available via telephone if members of the public need assistance finding the videos online.
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