★ ★ ★PUBLICRECORDJAN 6 2025

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Albuquerque City Council Meeting – January 6, 2025: SolAero Bonds, IDO Amendments, Housing Voucher Reforms, and More

City Council — Monday, January 6, 2025

BodyAlbuquerque, New Mexico

SessionCity Council

DateMonday, January 6, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim

0:07

The 23rd meeting of the 26th Council will come to order.

0:10

All counselors are present this evening.

0:13

We're gonna uh have a moment of silence and then the Pledge of Allegiance in English and then uh Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish led by Councilor Sanchez.

1:08

Civic closet parking passes are provided for members of the public.

1:12

You can obtain a parking pass from council staff at the table near the chamber's entrance.

1:18

Members of the public, city staff, and the media have the ability to view this meeting in person on live streams through four different platforms.

1:30

The gov TV website, YouTube, and Zoom webinar.

1:34

The live streams, live streams can be accessed from most smartphones, tablets, or computers.

1:40

Also, this meeting is closed captioned, and you may enable the closed captioning services on your television at this time or your device.

1:48

The video recording of this and all past council meetings will remain available for viewing at any time on the city council's website.

1:56

Council staff is available via telephone if members of the public need assistance, finding the videos online.

2:03

Please call 505 768-3100 for assistance during business hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.

2:10

to 5 p.m.

2:12

The council will take a break at approximately 7 p.m.

2:15

this evening.

2:16

With regard to decorum in the chambers, we want tonight's proceedings to be as civil and respectful as possible.

2:22

Please do not make any personal attacks and please no applause or other outbursts during the meeting.

2:28

The meeting will go a lot smoother if we are respectful of one another.

2:31

Mr.

2:32

President.

2:34

Thank you.

2:35

So for our uh presentations tonight, uh, we're gonna uh take this time to present some uh gifts and say some thank yous to the committee chairs in 2024.

2:46

Uh and so we'll start by uh uh uh first of all counselor pinha who chaired uh the committee of the whole this last year.

2:54

The committee of the whole is our budget committee.

2:56

Uh and councillor pinya uh led through uh significant amount of meetings this last year and led us through the largest budget than that we've ever had as a city and and uh uh so uh navigating through that uh certainly is a is a challenge and it takes a lot of great leadership to do that, and we appreciate Councilor Pinya's leadership on the committee of the whole.

3:19

So thank you very much, Councilor Pinya.

3:24

Thank you, Mr.

3:25

President, and I really appreciate it, and thanks to all the counselors who really um you know worked with me to construct the the budget and we put forth uh uh balanced budget, and I think we we did good on behalf of this council, um the administration and the city of Albuquerque.

3:40

So thank you.

3:42

All right, and then our finance and government operations committee uh was led by counselor Sanchez this last year.

3:50

Uh that committee is uh just about all the bills uh that are introduced go through finance and uh oftentimes those meetings are well those meetings are on the ninth floor, and um and and so counselor chance Sanchez has led us led through those meetings, and oftentimes would go on uh hours into the evening uh with a lot of our staff uh and members of the public.

4:12

And uh so we we appreciate Councilor Sanchez and his leadership in guiding us uh through the the finance meeting, very very important committee uh meeting that uh that he's led throughout this last year, and so thank you very much, Councilor Sanchez.

4:28

Thank you, Mr.

4:29

President.

4:29

Thank you, Mr.

4:30

President.

4:31

And I also like to thank fellow counselors because there's been there's been meetings in uh FGO finance and government operations that were really close to a full-blown council meeting.

4:42

And um, I'm telling you, when you're working that hard on these committee meeting meetings, I think it makes a big difference here in the council chambers when we're uh when we're doing the people's business and we're very very active.

4:54

And I can't tell you how many times we actually had meetings over the last year where all nine counselors were actually at the at the FGO meeting, and there's only a committee of five of us.

5:05

Um so I'd really like to thank my committee.

5:07

Um on that committee was um was Councillor Pena, Counselor Lewis, um, councillor um Champagne and Councillor Feeblecorn served with me on that committee.

5:19

So I just want to say thank you to those counselors for putting in that extra effort, that extra time.

5:24

One other thing I'd like to really talk about is the staff.

5:27

Um the staff has to come through on those committee meetings.

5:30

Um that's an extra day where you're working as long as city council works sometimes, and I just want to say thank you so much to our city council staff for being right there with me.

5:40

Um we go through a quick briefing right before each meeting, and without that briefing, it would make this that FGO meeting of a lot harder.

5:48

So thanks everybody for their continued commitment and involvement in reference to FGO, and thank you, staff for helping us get through it every single or every other Monday.

5:59

Thank you.

6:00

Great, thank you, Councillor Sancho, for serving.

6:03

And then um our our the last committee there um is Councilor Basson, who chaired the land use and planning uh committee.

6:10

We call it the LUPS committee, and a lot of you know bills, some of the most challenging bills in our city uh go through that committee.

6:18

Uh and again, it takes a takes a lot of good leadership to navigate through those bills and lead through those committees and and get those get those bills out of committee and and bring them on to the full council uh amended and and all the all the things that could happen to those bills in that regard.

6:32

And so uh so council Basson led that uh and chaired that uh committee this past year, and we want to show some appreciation to Council Bassan for her work.

6:43

Thank you, Mr.

6:44

President, and thank you to this council and to the constituents, administration.

6:49

Um it is it is a very important committee, and I feel like the last several months we haven't had too many agenda items, so it's been a little quiet, but uh here's to you 2025.

7:02

All right, thank you.

7:03

And I I do want to take a moment to just uh to really thank our staff.

7:07

Um you know the ninth floor is filled with some pretty incredible people, some really wonderful uh staff members that work for for City Hall, work for our city, they work for uh all the people of the city of Albuquerque, and uh we all have have analysts that do incredible work uh for each of us, and then we have other staff uh in in finance and uh planning and zoning and all the other uh areas of expertise that we need as a council, and they do an incredible job.

7:35

And I want to thank you know Isaac Pedi, our director, uh who's who's done a phenomenal job of leading that staff over the last year, along with you know Mark Motsko, uh along with Kevin uh Morrow, uh Julian Moya, uh, and others that lead that team.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Affordable Housing███████████████████19%

Land Use Planning████████████████16%

Procedural███████████11%

Homelessness█████████9%

Public Engagement██████6%

Public Comment██████6%

Public Safety█████5%

Housing█████5%

Budget Equity Analysis████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Albuquerque City Council Meeting – January 6, 2025

The 23rd meeting of the 26th City Council convened at 5:00 PM and adjourned at 12:15 AM on January 7, 2025, with all nine councilors present. The meeting included the election of new officers, adoption of consent agenda items, passage of multiple ordinances and resolutions, and a line‑item veto override. Key actions focused on economic development (SolAero Technologies), housing reforms (amendments to the Integrated Development Ordinance, Downtown Vacant Premises Ordinance, and housing voucher efficiency), and a memorial seeking state support for a behavioral health dashboard.

Consent Calendar

EC‑24‑248 (Caren M. Phillips appointment to Small Business Regulatory Committee) – Postponed to January 22, 2025 (9‑0).
EC‑24‑249 (Kat Bloom appointment) – Postponed to January 22, 2025 (9‑0).
EC‑24‑276 (Avenida de Jaimito NW – Right‑of‑Way Vacation) – Approved (9‑0).
EC‑24‑279 (Jason Anderson appointment to Small Business Regulatory Committee) – Confirmed (9‑0).
EC‑24‑278 (Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency 2024 Annual Report) – Pulled from consent; deferred to January 22, 2025 (9‑0).

Public Comments & Testimony

Human Trafficking Awareness: Shelley Rep (CEO of New Mexico Dream Center) highlighted that 30 trafficking victims are in their program, 98% under 20 years old. She noted a recent bust of a trafficker bringing two 14‑year‑old girls from California, and a December operation netting 20 buyers. Councilors expressed support and asked about outreach and training.
O‑69 (IDO Amendments): Over 50 speakers addressed the council. Supporters (including NAUP New Mexico, Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, Strong Towns ABQ, and many residents) argued the changes are needed to address the housing crisis, increase density along transit corridors, and reform an appeal process that has been weaponized. Opponents (including representatives from neighborhood associations, West Side Coalition, and historic preservation groups) contended the bill was rushed, disenfranchises community voices, lacks affordable housing requirements, and violates the established IDO amendment process. A petitioner from the public noted that over 150 individuals signed a letter in support.
O‑61 (Downtown Vacant Premises Ordinance): Several downtown residents and business owners spoke in favor, citing empty storefronts and the need for accountability. One speaker requested an amendment to make the registry data public.
R‑109 (Housing Voucher Program): James Freeman, a former voucher recipient, described the lengthy process (6‑9 months to become eligible) and warned that reducing the window from 90 to 30 days would effectively end the program. Others urged collaboration with existing providers and better funding for caseworkers.
General Public Comment: Topics included concerns about police accountability, IDO process transparency, and the need for safe outdoor spaces for unsheltered individuals.

Discussion Items

Election of Officers: Councilor Bassan was elected President by acclamation (9‑0); Councilor Peña elected Vice‑President (9‑0); Councilor Grout elected Chair of the Committee of the Whole (9‑0). Committee appointments were deferred to January 22, 2025.
Proclamation – Human Trafficking Awareness Month: Presented by Shelley Rep of New Mexico Dream Center. Councilors discussed outreach, training for businesses, and APD’s efforts.
Administration Q&A: Questions centered on an OIG report regarding ARPA grant monies for child development centers (bonuses, signatures, retention). Councilor Lewis defended the OIG’s role; administration responded that they lacked full context. Also discussed pigeon control (contract ceased) and poop patrol funding.
Financial Instruments – SolAero Technologies:
- O‑65: Authorized a $72.6 million taxable industrial revenue bond to expand space‑grade solar cell manufacturing. Retain 350 jobs, create 70+ new jobs. Passed 9‑0.
- O‑66: Approved a LEDA project with $250,000 in city funds and $1.5 million from the state. Passed 9‑0.
O‑61 – Downtown Vacant Premises Ordinance: Sponsor Baca said the ordinance aims to activate vacant buildings in the downtown core. Eight amendments were considered. Amendments 1‑3 (Fiebelkorn) passed (8‑1, 9‑0, 8‑1). Amendments 4‑8 (Champine) – number 4 withdrawn, number 5 passed (6‑3), numbers 6,7,8 failed. The bill as amended passed 7‑2.
O‑69 – Integrated Development Ordinance Amendments: Extensive debate. Key amendments:
- Amendment 9 (Fiebelkorn) added height step‑downs near residential zones – passed 7‑2.
- Amendment 10 (Baca) reduced parking minimums near transit – passed 5‑4.
- Amendment 11 (Peña) prohibited multifamily south of Central and west of the Rio Grande – passed 5‑4.
- An attempt to defer to January 22 failed (4‑5). The bill as amended passed 7‑2.
R‑109 – Housing Voucher Program Efficiency: Four amendments. Amendment 1 (Grout) created a working group – passed 5‑4. Amendments 2‑3 (Rogers) added voucher‑type specificity and reporting – passed 9‑0. Amendment 4 (Rogers) modified to direct the administration to explore ACS administering motel/hotel vouchers – passed 8‑1. Bill as amended passed 9‑0.
R‑111 – Downtown 2025 MRA Expansion: Withdrawn by sponsor (9‑0).
EC‑292 – Line‑Item Veto Override: Council voted to override the mayor’s veto of the defunding of an APD position (6‑3). The second veto was not challenged.
R‑114 – FY25 Operating & Grant Appropriations: Two amendments: (1) Grout restored $250,000 for a public dashboard from DTI to HHH – passed 9‑0; (2) Grout added $600,000 reserve for East Central Gateway Sign and Lighting – passed 7‑2. Bill as amended passed 9‑0.
M‑3 – Behavioral Health & Housing Resource Dashboard: Memorial requesting state support for a pilot program. Passed 8‑1 (Fiebelkorn opposed, citing prioritization of affordable housing).

Key Outcomes

Elected Officers: Council President – Brook Bassan; Vice President – Klarissa Peña; Committee of the Whole Chair – Renée Grout.
O‑65 & O‑66 (SolAero): Passed 9‑0 each. Bond issuance of $72.6 million and LEDA support of $250,000 (city) + $1.5 million (state).
O‑61 (Downtown Vacant Premises): Passed 7‑2 after amendments. Establishes registration and fees for vacant buildings downtown.
O‑69 (IDO Amendments): Passed 7‑2. Includes city exemption from IDO, petition requirement for neighborhood association appeals, height step‑downs, parking reductions near transit, and geographic restrictions on multifamily zoning.
R‑109 (Housing Voucher Program): Passed 9‑0. Directs HHH to improve efficiency, transparency, and create a working group; calls for exploring ACS voucher distribution.
EC‑292 Override: Override of APD funding veto (6‑3).
R‑114 (FY25 Appropriations): Passed 9‑0. Restores $250,000 for a housing dashboard and reserves $600,000 for East Central Gateway projects.
M‑3 (Behavioral Health Dashboard): Passed 8‑1. Requests state support for a pilot program.
Deferrals: EC‑24‑248, EC‑24‑249, EC‑24‑278, and committee appointments deferred to January 22, 2025.

Meeting Transcript

The 23rd meeting of the 26th Council will come to order. All counselors are present this evening. We're gonna uh have a moment of silence and then the Pledge of Allegiance in English and then uh Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish led by Councilor Sanchez. Civic closet parking passes are provided for members of the public. You can obtain a parking pass from council staff at the table near the chamber's entrance. Members of the public, city staff, and the media have the ability to view this meeting in person on live streams through four different platforms. The gov TV website, YouTube, and Zoom webinar. The live streams, 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 at this time or your device. 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 505 768-3100 for assistance during business hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The council will take a break at approximately 7 p.m. this evening. With regard to decorum 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. The meeting will go a lot smoother if we are respectful of one another. Mr. President. Thank you. So for our uh presentations tonight, uh, we're gonna uh take this time to present some uh gifts and say some thank yous to the committee chairs in 2024. Uh and so we'll start by uh uh uh first of all counselor pinha who chaired uh the committee of the whole this last year. The committee of the whole is our budget committee. Uh and councillor pinya uh led through uh significant amount of meetings this last year and led us through the largest budget than that we've ever had as a city and and uh uh so uh navigating through that uh certainly is a is a challenge and it takes a lot of great leadership to do that, and we appreciate Councilor Pinya's leadership on the committee of the whole. So thank you very much, Councilor Pinya. Thank you, Mr. President, and I really appreciate it, and thanks to all the counselors who really um you know worked with me to construct the the budget and we put forth uh uh balanced budget, and I think we we did good on behalf of this council, um the administration and the city of Albuquerque. So thank you. All right, and then our finance and government operations committee uh was led by counselor Sanchez this last year. Uh that committee is uh just about all the bills uh that are introduced go through finance and uh oftentimes those meetings are well those meetings are on the ninth floor, and um and and so counselor chance Sanchez has led us led through those meetings, and oftentimes would go on uh hours into the evening uh with a lot of our staff uh and members of the public. And uh so we we appreciate Councilor Sanchez and his leadership in guiding us uh through the the finance meeting, very very important committee uh meeting that uh that he's led throughout this last year, and so thank you very much, Councilor Sanchez. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. President. And I also like to thank fellow counselors because there's been there's been meetings in uh FGO finance and government operations that were really close to a full-blown council meeting. And um, I'm telling you, when you're working that hard on these committee meeting meetings, I think it makes a big difference here in the council chambers when we're uh when we're doing the people's business and we're very very active. And I can't tell you how many times we actually had meetings over the last year where all nine counselors were actually at the at the FGO meeting, and there's only a committee of five of us. Um so I'd really like to thank my committee. Um on that committee was um was Councillor Pena, Counselor Lewis, um, councillor um Champagne and Councillor Feeblecorn served with me on that committee. So I just want to say thank you to those counselors for putting in that extra effort, that extra time. One other thing I'd like to really talk about is the staff. Um the staff has to come through on those committee meetings. Um that's an extra day where you're working as long as city council works sometimes, and I just want to say thank you so much to our city council staff for being right there with me. Um we go through a quick briefing right before each meeting, and without that briefing, it would make this that FGO meeting of a lot harder. So thanks everybody for their continued commitment and involvement in reference to FGO, and thank you, staff for helping us get through it every single or every other Monday. Thank you. Great, thank you, Councillor Sancho, for serving. And then um our our the last committee there um is Councilor Basson, who chaired the land use and planning uh committee.

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