Albuquerque City Council Meeting - November 18, 2024

The 20th meeting of the 26th City Council was called to order at 5:00 PM with all nine councilors present. The meeting included administrative question-and-answer periods, public comments, consent agenda approvals, and multiple final actions on ordinances and resolutions. The meeting adjourned at 9:48 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously (9-0): EC-24-215 (S.A.N.E. Collaborative contract), EC-24-216 (DVRC INC contract), EC-24-221 (CLNKids amendment).
• Five appeals (AC-24-20 through AC-24-24) related to The Pearl Addition site plan were withdrawn by the applicant and approved 9-0.
• EC-24-248 (appointment of Caren M. Phillips) and EC-24-249 (appointment of Kat Bloom) to the Small Business Regulatory Committee were postponed to December 2, 2024 on a 5-4 vote after discussion about geographic imbalance in appointments.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lisa Christofferson criticized the consent agenda process and questioned a $680,000 APD training contract, urging funds be directed to direct-service nonprofits.
• Anami Das announced upcoming MHRAC and Human Rights Board meetings.
• Marcelyn Costner and subsequent speakers advocated for the unhoused community, calling for hotel vouchers, sanctioned outdoor areas, and an end to encampment sweeps.
• James Freeman spoke against the city’s encampment policy, stating it is reactionary to Coronado Park and fails to address root causes.
• Diego Lopez (Health Equity Council) presented policy one-pagers on xylazine, parental stress, and maternal mortality.
• Kai Tecumseh (Albuquerque Indian Center) thanked the mayor and invited councilors to the annual Thanksgiving meal.
• Natalie Vargas expressed concern about encampments near schools and children’s safety in District 6.
• Several residents raised infrastructure issues on the West Side and city-county boundary areas.

Discussion Items

• Pigeon Trapping (Admin Q&A): Councilor Fiebelkorn questioned the city’s pigeon trapping program. Administration confirmed four active trap sites, that pigeons are lured with food and killed “humanely,” and that the city spends approximately $45,000 annually on pigeon waste cleanup at City Hall. The traps were removed on Thursday following concerns.
• Housing Voucher Payments (Admin Q&A): Councilor Grout followed up on advance payments to the Supportive Housing Coalition. Administration acknowledged a prior waiver but stated no waiver request has been submitted this year. The contract currently requires reimbursement. Grout also reported on a review of voucher tracking systems (Qualtrics, Roofs, United’s).
• Homewise Contract (Admin Q&A): Councilor Rogers questioned why only $1.3 million of a $3 million 2021 contract for home rehabilitation had been spent, and why no participants from Black or Native American communities had been served. Administration promised to investigate.
• First Responder Drop-Off (Admin Q&A): Councilor Bassan asked about the 24-hour drop-off at Gateway. Administration reported that since June, over 250 individuals have been dropped off during graveyard hours (8 PM–8 AM), with referrals from APD, ACS, and others. The contract with UNM is in place and an extension is being finalized.
• Business Licensing (O-60 Introduction): Councilor Bassan moved to suspend rules to introduce O-60 (repealing business registration and creating a licensing program with increased fees). Director Alan Varela explained the need for a licensing system to regulate businesses. Councilors Lewis and Sanchez opposed the fee increase; the motion passed 8-1.
• Endeavors Contract (EC-24-242): A $1.8 million contract for recovery-focused shelter services using opioid settlement funds sparked extensive debate. Concerns included the provider’s lack of stated substance abuse expertise, contract language on Medicaid billing, and alignment with the council’s prior legislation requiring a formal opioid treatment contract. A motion to postpone to December 2 passed 7-2.
• Boundary Area Advisory Committee (O-24-49): The ordinance creating a committee to address city-county boundary service issues was debated. Amendments to restrict to District 3 (failed), to allow land swap recommendations (passed), and to clarify advisory role (passed). The bill then passed as amended 8-1.
• Admin Q&A Written Responses (O-24-50): Councilor Sanchez’s ordinance requiring administration to provide written responses to council questions within 10 business days was amended to require 7-day responses for pre-submitted questions and to limit written responses to factual requests. Passed as amended 7-2.
• Social Media Policy (R-24-89): Councilor Grout’s resolution directing administration to develop a policy on appropriate use of official city social media accounts passed 8-1 after being briefly tabled. Multiple councilors referenced incidents involving a city PIO and called for broader accountability.
• Tourism Marketing District (R-24-90): Approved unanimously, authorizing the FY2025 budget for the Albuquerque Tourism Marketing District.

Key Outcomes

• Passed (8-1): O-24-41 (Uniform Administrative Code fee adjustments and clarifications).
• Passed (8-0): O-24-47 (LEDA plan amendment).
• Passed as Amended (8-1): O-24-49 (Boundary Area Advisory Committee).
• Passed as Amended (7-2): O-24-50 (Written responses to Admin Q&A).
• Passed Unanimously (9-0): O-24-53 (Intergovernmental Relations ordinance).
• Postponed to Dec 2: R-24-99 (Legislative agenda).
• Passed (8-1): R-24-89 (Social media policy).
• Passed Unanimously (9-0): R-24-90 (Tourism Marketing District budget).
• Postponed to Dec 2: EC-24-242 (Endeavors contract) on a 7-2 vote.
• Postponed to Dec 2: EC-24-248 and EC-24-249 (Small Business Regulatory Committee appointments) on 5-4 votes.