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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Albuquerque City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting – May 15, 2025

City Council — Thursday, May 15, 2025

BodyAlbuquerque, New Mexico

SessionCity Council

DateThursday, May 15, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:33:52

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:12

I call this meeting committee of the whole meeting to order.

0:16

All councils, counselors are present this evening.

0:20

We will start with a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:39

I pledge allegiance to the space of America.

0:44

And to the Republic for which it stands.

0:47

One nation under God.

0:49

Indivisible Liberty and Justice for all.

1:09

Tonight is the third of three public hearings.

1:11

The council is required to hold on the city's operating budget to consider amendments andor committee substitutes.

1:19

No live public comment will be taken on the city's operating budget legislation, which is R25132.

1:26

However, live public comment will be taken on the objectives legislation, R25153.

1:34

At the end of tonight's meeting, the budget as amended and or substituted will be sent to the Monday, May 19th City Council meeting for adoption.

1:45

Love live public comment and written comments will be accepted at the May 19th council meeting.

1:52

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.

2:10

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

2:16

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

2:24

The video recordings of this meeting will also remain available for viewing at any time on the city council's website.

2:32

Council staff is available via telephone.

2:35

If members of the public need assistance, finding the videos online.

2:39

Please call 5057 3100 for assistance during business hours, which are Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 p.m.

2:49

Members of the public have the opportunity to address the committee if they have signed up for public comment for R 153.

2:58

For the rules published, we have on the agenda and on our website on Friday.

3:04

We will now move to public comment.

3:06

Here are the public comment ground rules.

3:09

Each participant has two minutes to present.

3:12

Comments are to be addressed to the counselors only, and any disruptive conduct will remove and will result in removal from the meeting.

3:21

Mr.

3:22

Cornelius, please call the first speaker.

3:25

Thank you, Madam Chair.

3:26

Our first speaker is Tom Garalnik, followed by Teresa Garcia.

3:43

Teresa Garcia.

3:50

Perhaps they have not arrived yet, Madam Chair.

3:52

Okay.

3:53

Thank you.

3:55

Okay.

4:02

R 132 is appropriating funds for operating the government of the City of Albuquerque for fiscal year 2026.

4:10

Beginning July 1, 2025, and in ending June 30, 2026.

4:16

Adjusting fiscal year 2025 appropriations and appropriating capital funds.

4:26

Second.

4:34

It is in your iPads.

4:35

It's also on the dais.

4:39

Okay, we have a second from Councillor Vice President Councillor Kenya.

4:48

So now do I just go to the amendments?

4:52

We have to vote on the committee sub.

4:54

Okay.

4:54

All those in favor of accepting the committee sub, raise your hand and say aye.

5:01

And opposed.

5:02

Okay.

5:04

Now we'll go that passes.

5:06

And so now we'll go to um the amendments in your iPad and on your dais.

5:11

Um let's see.

5:14

Our first amendment, uh, committee amendment number one, counselor Basson.

5:20

Madam Chair, I would like to move committee amendment number one marked A in your documents.

5:28

Uh there is on page four, line 31 entitled purchasing program, decrease the amount by 161,000.

5:36

On page six, line one entitled design recovered CIP, decrease the amount by 132,000.

5:42

On page six, line three entitled Real Property, decrease the amount by 138,000.

5:48

On page six, line 13 entitled Office of the City Clerk, decrease the amount by 147,000 dollars on page seven, line 10 entitled professional accountability, decrease the amount by 535,000.

6:01

And on page five, line 29 entitled legal services, increase the amount by 1,113,000.

6:08

This is to reallocate general fund appropriations for attorneys for multiple departments into the legal department.

6:15

Okay, we have um moved and seconded by counselor penya.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Budget Equity Analysis████████████████████████████████████████40%

Procedural████████8%

Public Transit████████8%

Personnel Matters████████8%

Homelessness███████7%

Public Safety██████6%

Fiscal Sustainability████4%

Economic Development████4%

Engineering And Infrastructure████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Albuquerque City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting – May 15, 2025

The Albuquerque City Council Committee of the Whole met on Thursday, May 15, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:35 p.m. in the Vincent E. Griego Chambers. The main order of business was the third and final public hearing on the City's Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget (R‑25‑132), considering a committee substitute and 12 amendments, and a separate resolution establishing one‑year objectives (R‑25‑153). All nine councilors were present.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public spoke. Two individuals (Tom Garalnik and Teresa Garcia) were called but not present. Live public comment was accepted only on the objectives legislation (R‑25‑153), not on the budget. Written and live comments will be taken at the May 19 City Council meeting.

Discussion Items

R‑25‑132 – FY2026 Operating Budget: The committee first adopted a committee substitute (unanimous vote 9‑0). Twelve amendments were then considered. Key amendments included:
- Amendment No. 1 (Bassan): Reallocated $1,113,000 to Legal Services from several departments (passed unanimously).
- Amendment No. 2 (Grout): Corrected a duplicate 2% COLA (passed unanimously).
- Amendment No. 3 (Bassan): Transferred $200,000 from Council Services to Health & Human Services for tourism projects (e.g., Band of Enchantment, USAC Masters, indoor track) and restored $50,000 each to four youth nonprofits (passed 9‑0).
- Amendment No. 4 (Peña): Added $500,000 from lodger’s tax to general fund for Route 66 centennial planning (passed unanimously).
- Amendment No. 5 (Lewis): Proposed reductions to CAO office and APD professional accountability to fund fee reductions for aquatics, golf, and restaurant inspections – failed 2‑7.
- Amendment No. 6 (Lewis): Proposed transferring $258,000 from transit to reduce golf fees – failed 3‑6.
- Amendment No. 7 (Lewis): Proposed $2.1 million cut to Clean City to reduce solid waste fees – failed 1‑8.
- Amendment No. 8 (Lewis): Proposed capping city PIO/communications staff at 10 FTEs – failed 1‑8.
- Amendment No. 9 (Fiebelkorn): Moved $558,000 within transit from contractual line to retain marketing positions (passed 8‑1).
- Amendment No. 10 (Peña): Proposed reserving $4,041,000 for an additional 1% COLA for employees (except IAFF), funded by cuts across multiple departments – failed 3‑6 (disagreement over cross‑reference errors; some councilors indicated intent to revisit on May 19).
- Amendment No. 11 (Peña): Technical amendments reallocating funds within Health/Housing/Homelessness, library, and APD professional accountability, plus $214,000 for recovery housing from opioid settlement – passed 6‑3.
- Amendment No. 12 (Peña): Restored $4 million for permanent supportive housing (PSH) that had been placed in reserve, ensuring full funding for 596 households (1,200 individuals) – passed 5‑4 (Councilor Rogers noted process concerns).
R‑25‑153 – One‑Year Objectives: Councilor Peña offered an amendment to add an objective for DMD to study best practices for construction project administration (including tariffs and inflation). The amendment failed 4‑5.

Key Outcomes

R‑25‑132 (Operating Budget): The committee substitute, as amended (amendments 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 11, 12), was recommended for Do Pass to the full council by a vote of 7‑2 (Councilors Lewis and Peña opposed). A motion for immediate action failed 8‑1 (Lewis opposed). The budget will be considered for adoption at the May 19 council meeting.
R‑25‑153 (Objectives): Recommended for Do Pass by a vote of 7‑2 (Councilors Lewis and Sanchez opposed). Immediate action failed 8‑1 (Lewis opposed).
Next Steps: Council will take up final adoption of both items on Monday, May 19. Several councilors announced plans to bring additional amendments (e.g., restoring 1% COLA, addressing fee reductions) at that meeting.

Meeting Transcript

I call this meeting committee of the whole meeting to order. All councils, counselors are present this evening. We will start with a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the space of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God. Indivisible Liberty and Justice for all. Tonight is the third of three public hearings. The council is required to hold on the city's operating budget to consider amendments andor committee substitutes. No live public comment will be taken on the city's operating budget legislation, which is R25132. However, live public comment will be taken on the objectives legislation, R25153. At the end of tonight's meeting, the budget as amended and or substituted will be sent to the Monday, May 19th City Council meeting for adoption. Love live public comment and written comments will be accepted at the May 19th council meeting. 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. 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 recordings of this meeting will also 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 5057 3100 for assistance during business hours, which are Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 p.m. Members of the public have the opportunity to address the committee if they have signed up for public comment for R 153. For the rules published, we have on the agenda and on our website on Friday. We will now move to public comment. Here are the public comment ground rules. Each participant has two minutes to present. Comments are to be addressed to the counselors only, and any disruptive conduct will remove and will result in removal from the meeting. Mr. Cornelius, please call the first speaker. Thank you, Madam Chair. Our first speaker is Tom Garalnik, followed by Teresa Garcia. Teresa Garcia. Perhaps they have not arrived yet, Madam Chair. Okay. Thank you. Okay. R 132 is appropriating funds for operating the government of the City of Albuquerque for fiscal year 2026. Beginning July 1, 2025, and in ending June 30, 2026. Adjusting fiscal year 2025 appropriations and appropriating capital funds. Second. It is in your iPads. It's also on the dais. Okay, we have a second from Councillor Vice President Councillor Kenya. So now do I just go to the amendments? We have to vote on the committee sub. Okay. All those in favor of accepting the committee sub, raise your hand and say aye. And opposed. Okay. Now we'll go that passes. And so now we'll go to um the amendments in your iPad and on your dais.

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