Albuquerque City Council Meeting – May 20, 2024: Budget Approval, Charter Amendments Postponed, and Organizational Chart Dispute
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Albuquerque City Council Meeting – May 20, 2024
The Albuquerque City Council held its tenth meeting of the twenty-sixth council on May 20, 2024. The meeting included approval of the FY2025 operating budget, consideration of several charter amendment propositions, and discussion of an internal organizational chart revealing discrepancies in staffing and funding.
Consent Calendar
- EC-24-40 and EC-24-89 (property declarations for 528 Charleston St SE and 341 Charleston St SE) postponed to June 3, 2024.
- EC-24-117 (occupational medical and health services RFP) approved.
- EC-24-136 (mayoral appointment of Thomas E. Romero to Accountability in Government Oversight Committee) withdrawn by administration.
- EC-24-137 (appointment of Frank Horine to Greater Albuquerque Active Transportation Committee) withdrawn.
- EC-24-138 (appointment of John W. Grassham to Albuquerque Museum Board of Trustees) confirmed.
- EC-24-140 (Legal Department’s quarterly litigation report) receipt noted.
- EC-24-142 (appointing development hearing officers) confirmed.
- EC-24-143 (Risk First supplemental agreement with Kennedy, Moulton & Wells) approved.
- EC-24-144 (second amendment to lease with First Choice Health Care, Inc.) approved.
- EC-24-145 (second amendment to lease with Springer Industrial Center, LTD) approved.
- EC-24-146 (Risk First supplemental agreement with Jones, Skelton & Hochuli) approved.
- EC-24-147 (lease agreement with State of New Mexico Department of Health for WIC program) approved.
- EC-24-148 (appointment of Dr. Anthony Fleg to Open Space Advisory Board) confirmed.
All consent items passed unanimously 9-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Marilyn Beck (New Mexico Child First Network) thanked the city for supporting foster families and read a proclamation recognizing May as National Foster Family Appreciation Month.
- Katherine Hall, Justin Rogers, Anami Das, Patricia Herschel, Byron Padrell, Lisa Christopherson, Mason Graham, Liz DeKinder, Lance Senna, Baruch Campos, Nini Dominguez Zamarano, Raul Villarreal, Tom McRams, Matthew Suarez, Sarah Ivan Escobar, Christopher Ramirez, Terry Storch, Stephanie Gomez, David Sanchez, Rudolph Serrano, Riffka Stern spoke on various topics: opposing cuts to transportation and ACS, opposing charter amendments (P-1 through P-4), supporting immigrant-friendly policies, and urging budget increases for affordable housing and transit. Several speakers called for ranked-choice voting instead of lowering the election threshold to 40%.
Discussion Items
- Administration Q&A: Councilor Grout questioned $16.2 million in unspent HHH funds reverted to the general fund, including $8 million for affordable housing vouchers. Administration (Gilbert Ramirez) explained lack of providers and unit availability. Councilor Rogers raised concerns about encampment response after the preliminary injunction was withdrawn; administration clarified that city policy (offer of shelter and 72-hour notice) remains unchanged.
- Organizational Chart Presentation: Council staff (Mark Motsko) presented an internal organizational chart showing positions paid from one department but reporting to another (e.g., 8 positions paid from legal department but working in CAO’s office). Council expressed concern about transparency and budget accuracy. Administration (CAO Sengle) argued it was a collaborative arrangement to improve efficiency. Council President Lewis noted possible violations of city personnel rules and state budget reporting requirements. The internal chart was taken down from the city website; administration said it was not intended to be hidden.
- Budget (R-24-36): Councilor Peña moved the FY2025 operating budget as amended. Six amendments were debated:
- Amendment 1 (technical reallocation for risk monies) passed 7-2.
- Amendment 2 (reallocate $455,000 from early retirement to HHH for contracted services) passed 9-0.
- Amendment 3 (add $100,000 for street cat hub from fund balance) passed 9-0.
- Amendment 4 (original: increase golf fees by $2/round to offset aquatics fee increase and fund housing vouchers; amended to $1/round increase, removing aquatics increase and directing surplus to fund balance) passed 8-1.
- Amendment 5 (increase biopark fees to fund housing vouchers) failed 4-5.
- Amendment 6 (move $3.538 million from various departments to CAO for transparency) passed 9-0.
- Charter Amendments (P-1, P-2, P-3, P-4 and companion resolutions R-47, R-48, R-49, R-50): Each proposition was introduced and debated. Amendments were made to P-2 and P-3 to require cause for removal of city attorney, city clerk, police chief, and fire chief, with removal by mayor plus two-thirds council vote. All propositions were postponed to June 3, 2024, after public comment and amendments.
Key Outcomes
- FY2025 Operating Budget (R-24-36): Passed as amended 8-1. Includes $1 increase in golf fees, elimination of aquatics fee increase, $455,000 restored to HHH contracts for Enlace, Cuidando Los Niños, and Serenity Mesa, and a $3.538 million reallocation to CAO for transparency.
- Objectives Resolution (R-24-40): Passed as amended 9-0, adding objectives on opioid settlement fund plan and Middle Rio Grande Housing Collaborative.
- Sustainability Resolution (R-24-34): Passed 9-0, updating the city’s sustainability code.
- Grant Applications (R-24-44): Passed as amended 8-0 (Councilor Champine excused), including federal earmarks for APD, museum, and youth center.
- Charter Amendments (P-1, P-2, P-3, P-4 and companion resolutions): All postponed to June 3, 2024, with amendments. P-2 and P-3 amended to require cause for removal of city attorney, city clerk, police chief, and fire chief, with removal by mayor plus two-thirds council vote.
- Executive Session: Approved 9-0 to discuss threatened litigation.
- Other Business: Motion to pull R-24-58 (charter review task force) from Finance and Government Operations Committee to June 3 agenda passed 6-3.
Meeting Transcript
Nice and quiet in here tonight. So the tenth meeting of the twenty-sixth council will come to order. All counselors are present this evening. Start with a moment of silence, then the Pledge of Allegiance in English and Spanish. Civic parking plot 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 meeting in person and on live streams through four different platforms GovTV on Comcast Channel 16, the Gov TV website, YouTube, and Zoom webinar. 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. Council staff is available via telephone. If members of the public need assistance, finding the videos online. Please call five oh five seven six eight thirty-one hundred for assistance during business hours Monday through Friday, eight to five PM. The council will take a break at approximately seven p.m. this evening, if needed. With regard to the quorum in the chambers, we want tonight's proceedings to be as civil and respectful as possible. Please do not make any personal attacks, and please no applause or other outbursts during the meeting. Ann McKinney and Marilyn Beck. Thank you for being here. Thank you, Councillor Grout. My name is Marilyn Beck. I'm the founder and executive director of New Mexico Child First Network, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of children in foster care and empowering those who serve them. May is National Foster Care Awareness Month. I just wanted to say one in three foster parents will resign in the first year. And so it is very challenging to be a foster parent. We want to thank the city for all that you have done, including sponsoring the second annual free foster family picnic next week. And I know that we have a video just recently. Bananas Foster is celebrating the Alvarado family. The Alvarados have been licensed since 2011. And in the last 13 years, they have welcomed over 100 children into their family. The Alvarados weren't able to join us this evening because three of their kids have pink eye. But they have adopted four children. They are on their way to adopting three more, and then they are currently doing respite care for three additional. So we just really want to say thank you to the city for all of you. We've also been working with your Department of Family and Youth Affairs, the fire department. Thank you for supporting foster families. It's very difficult. But there are families like all the Alvarados everywhere. So thank you. Thank you, Marilyn. I'd like to read this proclamation on the behalf of council. Whereas safe, healthy children are the key to a safe, healthy future for our community, and whereas every child deserves to grow up in a caring and supportive home. Whereas during those unfortunate times when children cannot safely remain in their primary homes, community members who open their hearts and homes to foster children provide a vital service to our community. And whereas foster families provide the love, safety, and stability that children need to help overcome past traumatic experiences and develop their full potential. Whereas the Alvarado family has been licensed to provide foster care since 2011 and have welcomed more than 100 homes or children in need. And whereas the City of Albuquerque extends our gratitudes to the families, children, uh child welfare staff and public and private agencies that work to ensure that all children are supported and successful. Be it proclaimed that the council, the governing body, the city of Albuquerque, hereby joins the nation in recognizing May as National Foster Family Appreciation Month and declares May 20th, foster family appreciation day in honor of the foster parents who advocate for the children in their care and helping to ensure their biggest possible futures. And I'd like y'all to come up and see the counselors here. Thank you. Up to that time or maybe even before that time.
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