Albuquerque City Council Meeting - September 18, 2023

The 37th meeting of the 25th City Council convened at 5:00 PM on Monday, September 18, 2023, in the Vincent E. Griego Chambers. All nine councilors were present. The meeting featured proclamations, a detailed housing presentation from the Department of Health, Housing, and Homelessness, public comments, and action on several consent agenda items and lease agreements. Key items were postponed to the October 2 meeting.

Consent Calendar

• EC-23-342 (Appointment of Dr. Samantha Sengel as CAO): Postponed to October 2 (9-0).
• EC-23-343 (Terminal Building Lease with Newman's Dedicated Delivery, LLC): Approved (9-0).
• EC-23-344 (Architectural Consultants for City-Wide On-Call Services): Approved (9-0).
• OC-23-39 (Reappointment of Victor Griego to Accountability in Government Oversight Committee): Confirmed (9-0).
• OC-23-40 (Appointment of Robert Martinez to Public Safety Tax Advisory Board): Confirmed (9-0).
• AC-23-11 (Variance appeal by Alvarado Gardens Neighborhood Association): Withdrawn by applicant (9-0).
• R-23-121 (Directing MOU with Bernalillo County for opioid treatment at MDC): Postponed to October 2 (9-0).
• EC-23-341 (First Amendment to Lease with Vizionz-Sankofa): Approved after discussion (9-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Annalie DeSalniers (People's Housing Project) urged permanently affordable, rent-controlled housing, noting that affordability is at an all-time low and that many affordable units lose their affordability after a set period.
• James Freeman called for strict short-term rental regulations similar to New York City's Local Law 18, citing per capita STR numbers in Albuquerque far exceeding New York City's.
• Beatrice Villegas, a social worker, expressed concern about the city opening RFPs to for-profit developers, fearing displacement and gentrification, and noted challenges with out-of-state landlords.
• Bex Hampton criticized developer Chad Renneker for building unaffordable units and highlighted poor conditions at the Artisan apartments, where tenants have formed a union.
• Luna Olivaria-Gallegos and Cameron Martinez spoke about undignified housing conditions and the need for permanently affordable, publicly owned housing.
• Tomas Rodriguez and Teddy and Nick Decker advocated for the North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center, citing the lack of public swim facilities and the need for a competitive pool.
• Sophia Eleftheriou described ongoing problems with the Highway House Motel in Nob Hill, including structural damage from a 2019 explosion and fires, despite code enforcement actions.
• George Sladd questioned why Councilor Sanchez removed his name from consideration for the Airport Advisory Board.
• Harold Hallmarson raised concerns about 9-1-1 response times, recounting a personal incident.
• Angelina Crowley urged the city to develop high-quality public housing rather than relying on developer subsidies.

Discussion Items

• Housing Presentation (Dept. of Health, Housing, and Homelessness): Deputy Director Joseph Montoya presented a five-year housing strategy. Key data: over the past five years, the city invested $36 million in programs assisting 42,000 people, and $71 million in housing development creating 2,000+ units (over half affordable). Current production is ~250 affordable units/year; the goal is 5,000 units over five years (1,000/year) to address a citywide need of 30,000 units. Funding sources include federal HOME/CDBG, a $20 million grassroots tax fund, and $42 million from bond issuances. The plan calls for $20 million annually from the city, leveraging state and federal funds, MRA partnerships, and better coordination with the county and state. New programs include ADU financing, condo conversion, and open RFPs for both nonprofits and for-profits.
• Councilor Benton questioned the use of "internal capacity" as a barrier and stressed the need for collaboration with Bernalillo County and the state. He noted that the city has not been aggressive enough in seeking state funds.
• Councilor Davis expressed frustration that despite $80 million spent on the Gibson Health Hub (Gateway Center), no housing has been produced. He noted the city has only produced 538 affordable units in five years, far short of need. He called for a shift in priorities and asked how to achieve $20 million this year given the current budget.
• Councilor Bassan raised concerns about mixed messaging: the need for 5,000 vs. 30,000 units, the role of MRA funds (which have not produced affordable units), and the timing of studies. She urged leveraging the city's $1.4 billion budget more effectively and questioned the Gateway Center's cost-effectiveness.
• Councilor Peña asked for separate tracking of affordable and MRA-funded units, expressed concern about for-profit developers outcompeting local nonprofits, and emphasized the need for eviction prevention and rental assistance programs.
• Councilor Fiebelkorn noted that no MRA funds have been used for affordable housing to date, and called for a more aggressive approach to motel conversions and mixed-income development. She stated a moral objection to city funds supporting projects with zero affordable units.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda approved unanimously, with one item (EC-23-341) discussed separately and approved.
• EC-23-341 (Vizionz-Sankofa lease amendment) approved 9-0: rent waived in exchange for wraparound services at the Gateway Center. The nonprofit provides services to about 100 people per month.
• Postponements (all 9-0):
  • R-23-163 (transit consolidation study) to October 2.
  • AC-23-12 (zoning appeal by Villegas/Garcia) to October 2 due to notification issues.
  • EC-23-342 (CAO appointment) to October 2.
  • R-23-121 (opioid treatment MOU) to October 2.
• Housing presentation: No formal vote, but the council directed the administration to refine the plan, provide a detailed spreadsheet of all housing projects, and return with a strategy to meet the $20 million annual need. Council President Davis noted the council would need to reallocate funds mid-year to meet the goal.

Other Business

• Proclamations were issued for National Senior Center Accreditation, National Service Dog Month, and National Recovery Month.
• Councilor Peña raised the issue of inoperative arched lights on Central Avenue; administration responded that parts are ordered and a project manager will provide an update.
• The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 PM.