Good evening, everyone.

It's the 38th meeting of the 26th Council, and we will come to order.

Councilor Sanchez is excused this evening, and Councillor Rogers will be on Zoom.

All other counselors are present.

Counselor Lewis.

Madam President, before the moment of silence, I would just ask that we move member Charlie Kirk and his family during the moment of silence.

We are going to move on to uh Scout Troop 166 tonight, is going to be coming down.

If you want to go ahead and start making your way down, and then we will start with a moment of silence, and then you may lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance in English.

And for those of the who them who and anybody who knows it, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish.

Give us just a minute for that moment of silence.

One nation, Andre God, and individual liberty judge for all.

That was some really good surround sound tonight.

Scouts, we really appreciate you being here and taking time out of your night to be a participant in the city council meeting.

Thank you for leading us in the pledge.

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's 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.

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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 those 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 if needed.

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

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

Yes.

Councillor Shampai.

Yes.

Councillor People Corn?

Yes.

Councillor Grapp.

Yes.

Councillor Lewis?

Yes.

Vice President Penny?

Yes.

Councilor Rogers.

Yes.

President Rassun?

Yes.

Passes on an eight zero above.

We'll start with Councillor Baca and your proclamation.

Thank you, Madam President.

Proclamation recognizing the 40th anniversary of Hope Works, providing services to homeless and near homeless population in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Accepting this evening is Heidi Schultz, the Chief Executive Officer of Hope Works.

Thank you, Councillor Baca, and thank you, all counselors.

We are so grateful here to accept this proclamation from City Councilor.

I have my team here.

We have James Freeman, uh executive executive committee from our board of directors.

We have James Freeman, uh executive executive commanding from our board of directors, Vince Speen, he is our clinician.

Um Chris, who is our um case manager for our behavioral health team, and our clinical director, Noelle.

So we just want to say thank you, and we thank you, Council and the City of Albuquerque for funding us for the last 40 years.

So we um we have been providing uh services from um day shelter outreach to permanent supportive housing to our in-house population and near and house population in our community, and we also provide behavioral health services.

So the only service that we don't provide at Hope Wards is overnight shelter, but we provide, like I said, all of those services in our home in our community.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Michels, for being here.

Counselor Bacca, if you want to read the proclamation.

Thank you, Madam President.

So whereas November 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of Hope Works, providing services to the homeless and near homeless population in Albuquerque, and whereas Hopeworks was founded in 1985 by the Episcopal Community to address the pressing needs of individuals experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque, beginning with the simple yet vital act of providing meals and whereas over the past four decades, Hopeworks has evolved to meet the increasing complexity of homelessness by implementing a comprehensive whole person approach that includes housing, mental and behavioral health services, and community support.

And whereas Hopeworks is now one of the largest homeless service providers in New Mexico, serving over 8,500 individuals annually, including men, women and children through its wide range of nationally recognized programs.

And whereas Hopeworks operates as a community mental health center, offering inclusive and trauma-informed services such as outpatient therapy, medication management, psychosocial rehabilitation and case management, regardless of a person's housing or insurance status, and whereas the organization's housing programs, including permanent supportive housing, project-based vouchers, and the opening of Hope Village in 2021, provide not only safe and stable shelter for those in need, but also wraparound support with 24-7 staff and on-site care.

And whereas Hopeworks Day Shelter provides a crucial lifeline to more than 5,000 individuals each year, offering meals, showers, clothing, mail services, and a welcoming environment to rest and connect with support services.

And whereas in November 2024, Hopeworks expanded its impact through the opening of the William R.

Miller Behavioral Health Building, providing behavioral health services to hundreds of people weekly, and whereas Hopeworks recognizes that homelessness is not an individual failure, but a community challenge, one that must be met with compassion, sensitivity, and love at its core.

And whereas Hopeworks continue to continues to honor the resilience and dignity of every person it serves, creating a more just loving, and supportive community for all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

If you all would like to come up, Mr.

Freeman, did you want to say a couple words?

Madam President, I intend to be brief.

First, I'd want to really thank uh council services, uh Stephen Chavez, Abby Styles.

A lot of people think there's a proclamation ferry.

There actually is not.

They do a tremendous amount of work over there.

I want to thank Councilor Bacca for his work on this.

Um nearly a decade ago, I found myself precariously housed and homeless here in Albuquerque, and I found the most incredible loving component uh compassionate group ever at Hope Works, and nearly a decade later, I'm still able to contribute to that agency.

It's the honor of my life.

Thank you.

Thank you.

If you all want to go ahead and start coming through here, we'd be happy to shake your hands.

Thank you for all what you do.

Our next proclamation will be Councillor Pena for Mr.

Sigala.

Um thank you, Madam President.

Um, this is for Mr.

Tony Sigala um accepting him.

The proclamation this evening are his daughters, Antonette, Kathy, Katrina, Brandy, hi Brandy, and Christa.

And before we take remarks from the family counselor, Madam Vice President, do you want to start by reading the process?

Yes.

Doing that first?

Yes.

Any comments as well from you?

Yes.

So I'm going to start with the proclamation.

Welcome you all.

Hi.

Hello.

Um, whereas Tony, whereas Anthony Tony Sigala's years of dedication, determination, and skill earned him the rank of one of the top ten mixed martial artists in the world of professional kickboxing.

And whereas Tony, a native New Mexican, has been recognized nationally by the USA Boxing for his contributions to the local boxing community, LBC 42M, whereas USA Boxing, LBC 42, have instituted the Tony Cigala Memorial Coaches Award, recognizing coaching excellence and dedication in martial arts, with Tony as the inaugural recipient.

And whereas Tony demonstrated unwavering compassion for his community by providing training and services for anyone who had the will to train, no matter their background or economic means, and whereas thousands of Albuquerque youth, adults, and seniors have trained with Tony and Segala's mixed martial arts for over 40 years and whereas Tony Segala's pupils and students have achieved high levels of success in mixed martial arts, boxing and fitness, as well as success in life.

And whereas National Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes American citizens who's sorry about that, that'll be next.

Whereas Tony welcomed people from all walks of life, ages, sizes, and backgrounds to his training, instilling self-confidence in mind, body, and spirit.

And whereas the Albuquerque community and the Miss Marshall Arts community lost a dedicated leader and friend.

Tony Sagala on August 23rd, 2025.

And whereas the greater community continues to benefit from Segala's mixed martial arts training and Tony Segala's moral guidance, physical training, and mental resilience.

And whereas Segala's mixed martial arts continues to provide quality boxing and martial arts training in Albuquerque and whereas, in the words of the late Tony Sigala, you can't teach heart.

You can teach determination.

You can't teach determination, but when you show people that they have the ability to rise to the challenge, that mental self-confidence will be the difference, both in the ring and in life.

Be a proclaimed that the council, the governing body of the city of Albuquerque, hereby recognizes September 15th, 2025 as Tony Cigala Day.

So congratulations, ladies.

And if you want to say a few words, you're more than welcome to.

I want to thank you, Councillor Pena.

My dad's been a big part of the West Side.

And it's it's funny because we keep hearing stories when we're going through this hard time that fills our heart.

He's trained many people from Mark Della Cruz from grandkids.

We've had four generations in our gym.

And throughout the time, me doing the books with my dad, and it's a funny story.

I told him, Dad, how can we have 10 cleaning ladies?

They can't afford it.

It's fine, we'll figure out a way.

He's been around since 1970.

70, and we've kept the doors open with 10 cleaning ladies.

And as my me and my sisters, we will continue that legacy on from my dad, pushing through, keeping kids off the streets.

No matter what's going on in life, they have a place to come to do homework, tutoring.

We've always pushed these kids to the next level, and we'll continue that.

With the numbers here, you could see this is just half of it, not even half.

We will continue doing that.

Young kids, pushing, being bully, learning how to walk through it.

My dad always said, I rather them freak out in the gym than in the streets because they have the confidence they need to succeed in life.

And we will continue that.

Thank you so much for this opportunity.

Mr.

Thank you.

This is our brother.

We never want it, but we got stuck on it.

Thanks.

Thank you, everyone.

I first started at Segala's about 20 years ago.

Started with my son when he was 10, and uh he stopped after a year and I kept going.

So I've been there almost 20 years now.

I got my black belt about 20 years ago, and I've been helping teach since then.

Um I've just been with Mr.

Sigala, he was still coaching me even after 20 years.

Every punch and every kick thrown, he would always have a comment.

And it was always good advice.

And he was always direct with his coaching, and he didn't have a filter, and if it was good or bad, he'd let you know, as they all know.

Um he was always helping make every boxer and every fighter better and has better humans as well.

Um he helped a lot of people in the city, and it still amazes me when I'm out with my cigala shirt with my cigala's jacket.

Somebody always comes up and says, I went to Sigala's, and how is Mr.

Segala doing?

And so it's gonna be hard when people see that now.

Um I want to thank you all for this amazing recognition, and it means a lot, and we all appreciate it very much.

Um thank you.

So I just want to say thank you for being here.

I am so sorry for the loss of your father.

I know it was sudden, but yes, everybody on the west side.

If you're from the west side, you knew Cigalas, my kids went there.

Like you mentioned, um representative Art de la Cruz, so many people, but not just on the West side.

I know people from um the other side of the river also that have also been part of um a part of his um boxing.

So just thank you guys for being here.

I appreciate you.

And and um, I think we're working with um Gov TV to make sure that we get that video of your dad on Gov TV.

So thank you all for being here.

Thank you.

And if the family members want to go ahead and come back right here, that'd be great.

And Madam Vice President, I must uh I'm going to be under the impression that you're gonna make sure that they get the proclamation in just a little bit.

Yes, I am I think maybe Lane has the proclamation, but if not, we will definitely get it to you, Brandy.

Yeah, thank you so much for being here.

Madam Vice President, you have the next proclamation this evening.

Thank you, Madam President.

We actually have uh a couple of folks um here to accept the proclamation.

Leon Vihil and Cynthia Ariano.

Are they here?

Oh, there you guys are.

Hi, how are you?

As you're making your way to the podium, I'll just get started by reading the proclamation.

So, whereas National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate um the heritage and culture of Hispanic and Latin Americans and whereas the countrywide observation of Hispanic Heritage started in 1968, as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B.

Johnson, and on August 17th, 1988, was expanded by President Ronald Reagan to a 30-day period starting on September 15th and ending on October 15th.

And whereas the city of Albuquerque recognizes the important presence of Hispanic and Latin Americans and the contributions they have made to our community and whereas our community is strengthened by the values of family, hard work, faith, resilience, and cultural pride that Hispanic and Latino residents bring to our neighborhoods.

Whereas National Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes American citizens whose ancestors originated from Spain, Mexico, uh, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

And whereas the participation of Hispanics in today's economy has become vital for the growth of America, with Hispanics representing one of the major driving forces of economic success for millions of people residing both in and out of the United States and whereas the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and it's also hosting its Hispanic Heritage Award on October 18th at the Crown Plaza.

And whereas this year's awards theme is celebrating our past, empowering tomorrow's brilliance.

And whereas the wards showcase the unique tapestry of cultures, community, and entrepreneurs that have been woven together to create a unified Albuquerque, recognizing business owners and business leaders and awarding them for being one of the most significant contributors to the contributors to the local economy, and whereas the City of Albuquerque affirms its commitment to equity, representation, and opportunity that so that Hispanic and Latino communities may continue to thrive and shape the future of our city.

Be a proclaimed that the council, the governing body of the city of Albuquerque hereby proclaims September 15th to October 15th as the City of Albuquerque's National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Thank you.

Madam President, so if you want to say a couple of words, sure.

On behalf of the committee, half of our committee is over at the Hispanic Cultural Center with the Consulado for to kick off his Hispanic Heritage Month.

But thank you, Councillor Pena and all counselors.

You know, Hispanic Heritage is resilience made flesh, and it's art made rhythm.

It's history carried forward in every step that we take is Latinos.

And it's the courage of our ancestors and the joys of our tradition, our culture, our food, our faith, our music, the bailes.

And it's the power of identity that refuses to be erased.

And to honor it, it's not to look back, but it's for us to recognize the living legacy that we continue to create here in Albuquerque.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

If you want to come up and I I don't have your proclamation, but I'll definitely get it to you.

So I have to hand over there.

Thank you.

Next, we are going to have a presentation from Mr.

Joshua Boone, Chief Deputy District Attorney, who will provide information on the SHIELD unit.

Maybe.

Madam President, thank you very much.

I appreciate your time.

And hopefully I don't bore you all too much with this.

On behalf of the Albuquerque Police Department and as a representative of the district attorney's office as the chief deputy district attorney, one of the things that was asked of us is to come present to the council about the importance of the SHIELD unit and the work that the SHIELD unit has done.

Obviously, I'm assuming all of you guys are looking at this, but one of the things that we always talk about when it comes to prosecution of cases, it's not just the work in court that the attorneys are doing or the officers and detectives who are out in the field investigating these, but it's the paralegals and it's the legal assistants and the secretaries who are providing the crucial discovery.

And it's not a fun topic, it's not a glorified topic, and certainly if it was, uh NBC would have already made a show about law and order discovery team, okay?

But they didn't.

But it's vitally, vitally important when it comes to prosecution of cases.

What you're looking at is a very quick timeline of what we were looking at when the prior district attorney's administration came in.

He was dealing with an 8,000 case backlog felony cases.

Most of those cases needed uh discovery provided in order for the district attorney's office to fully investigate these matters.

What you will see is the prior district attorney created an intake unit to help the DA's office resolve that.

The SHIELD team, which was worked uh in collaboration with Chief Medina, created a team at the Albuquerque Police Department so that our offices could collaborate and work together on getting that backlog resolved.

It also allowed for more things to happen in the future, which is what you can see all see because in March of 2020, we all know what happened.

The pandemic hit and everything became a lot different.

We had to adapt very quickly, and both of our agencies were able to do that.

We've gone through different iterations of discovery sharing, case catcher being one of them.

And most recently, we've all moved to the Axon Justice System, which has allowed almost instantaneous information sharing between our SHILED unit and the DA's office so that we can have faster and more efficient convictions, dismissals, diversions, all the things that go into the world of prosecution.

This is a requirement.

This isn't something that we're trying to talk to you guys about because we're bored about it.

These are the statutes, these are the rules that the court has put upon us.

And when I say us, not just the district attorney's office, but law enforcement.

This is a vital and critical important part that the law enforcement agency plays with our office.

If we don't adhere to these rules, cases get dismissed.

That's the bottom line.

What you will see is, and this is a trend analysis for cases that are just referred, felony cases only, to the district attorney's office.

I started with 2017, so that you could kind of get an idea.

We were trending upwards, and then obviously in 2020, you see a massive drop.

Uh and that was very normal.

Across the nation, you would see cases referred to DA's offices drop.

What you are seeing is that number going up, which is not great, but it is the reality.

We expect in 2025, that is cases to date as of September 15th.

I'm sorry.

September 7th from last week.

I apologize.

But we anticipate felony referrals being close to 10,000.

We don't go on all those cases.

Many of those cases are declined, and many of those cases are diverted into non-criminal justice system resolutions.

But we still have an obligation.

Law enforcement still has an obligation to provide discovery so that we can fully assess every case for every victim and quite frankly for every defendant as well.

Over time, we have been working together.

These are just some of the ideas that we've come with and how we have collaborated since 2018, really, when uh Chief Medina took over, district attorney now attorney general Raul Torres was at the office, and now continuing on with DA Breckman.

So we continue this to go together, but what we would impress upon the council is it doesn't seem like the most glorified thing.

It's not more prosecutors.

Uh but what this does is it takes the discovery aspect away from officers.

It prevents them from having to sit in front of a computer and upload a video for three hours getting it over to our office.

This allows paralegals to do that work.

It keeps officers in the street in the field doing the critical job that they need to do.

That should be it.

And uh stand for questions if there are any.

Counselors, any questions?

Counselor Champagne.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you for the presentation and the time today.

Um a couple counselors, well, not a couple counselors, several people have kind of asked me what does the shield unit do?

And as a former APD officer myself, I couldn't explain it completely.

So that's why I had to kind of ask for this and requested it in that sense.

Um you assist officers to take some of the responsibility away from them.

Is that correct?

Thank you for the question, Madam President, Councilman.

Yes, that is exactly what we are doing.

The SHIELD unit, that is their job.

Uh we want the officers to go out, they're wearing their body cams, they're collecting evidence, uh, and not to not to make fun of anybody, but at certain times when people were officers, it was a police report and maybe a belt tape that was being recorded.

Discovery today for an officer is cameras, uh, vehicle cameras.

If you're collecting ring cameras, cell phone data, dumps, surveillance.

There's so many different things that come into play now for officers that they have to think of when they're doing this.

This allows them to collect it and then give it to trustworthy paralegals to then provide.

It allows them to not have to sit and just do paperwork.

Uh, if and calling paperwork discovery now.

And Madam President, um, does that include is it felonies or misdemeanors?

Is that all of them?

Is it shopliftings as a misdemeanor?

Is it what is the what is it encompass?

Thank you.

Uh, that's a very good question, madam president.

Councilman.

This the number that we showed you on the screen is only felony referrals that the DA's office takes, but it is required in every single case.

So if you want the basic numbers on average, and this includes for uh taking into account the dip of two years during the pandemic, uh, on average, since 2017, officers are also required to provide discovery for 7,400 officer-prosecuted CR non-record cases.

Uh, approximately 4,000 domestic violence cases every year, and approximately 2300 DWI cases every year.

All misdemeanors.

It does not include, however, every traffic offense.

And I didn't have time to pull that number uh for the council, but add in roughly another 10,000.

Madam President, uh, so are you able to put that chart back up as far as the please?

Thank you, Mr.

Kerr.

So the SHIELD unit preps for traffic arraignment cases as well.

Is that what you're the Shield unit is not currently required to do that?

But part of the SHIELD unit is the court services division, which Alicia Farley also oversees.

They are required to do that.

Okay.

Madam President, um, thank you for the felony.

Felony cases are are normally put together by the detectives that do it or normally, correct?

Uh it's not necessarily a patrol officer that puts a felony case together, it's supped out to a detective in an appropriate uh department.

Is that still going on that way?

Madam President, Councilman, yes.

The if it's a felony case, uh, if there's an assigned case agent detective, they are ultimately responsible for it, but every patrolman is still required to make sure that they account for their own discovery.

Okay.

And Madam President, does the Shield unit assist that detective in the sense to put that case together?

Or is it just kind of the field officers that they assist?

Madam President, Mr.

Kelton.

Uh yes, the Shield unit does assist because the DA's office will often have multiple requests uh for further discovery that we will want them to go out and get that maybe was not collected the first time.

Uh and after reviewing cases, other things may come up after doing interviews.

We will ask those agents to go out.

We will request the shield unit to assist us with that.

Okay.

And as the uh Madam President, as the chart shows, it does show it.

17 and you pulled from 17 to 19 the trend we're going up.

Pandemic hits in 20, and obviously the the cases drop uh in 21, and then you see the trend going back up again.

So we you have to doing a lot of work and a lot of assistance with officers.

Simply yes.

Okay.

Uh Madam President, do you and this is just out of curiosity from a professional standpoint of what the cases that I put together, um the amount of work that goes in.

Do you find that uh there's an issue with um a disconnect when it comes to the trial?

Uh being that a uh the officer or the detective isn't putting the case together per se.

It's it's legal aids.

Does the defense attorney question that a lot?

Uh that's a very good question, Madam President, Mr.

Councilman.

Uh Defense Attorneys, uh, and I say this having been a defense attorney for 12 years before I went to the DA's office, they will question everything and they should.

Um but what we have seen is most of our officers, detectives, whoever's assigned to the case, comes in fully prepared before they do it.

Um so we are not worried about that aspect of it.

We have a really good working relationship with SHIELD and Albuquerque Police Department uh on authentication of special discovery, or if we have any special issues.

We work very closely in trial prep so that we don't lose cases on issues like that.

Perfect.

Um Madam President, just a few more questions just out of uh right off the uh top of my head.

So we track the felonies, we tracked misdemeanors as well.

Yes.

Okay.

Uh and it madam president, as far as the tracking goes through, do um you pay attention to the case that we're assigned and stuff.

Do we pay attention and track cases that are dismissed, cases that are lost, cases in the fully um successfully prosecuted and such?

Madam Madam President, uh Mr.

Councilman, yes, we do keep uh track of that, if you will.

Um this chart simply just gives us the referrals that were sent to our office, but to make us better to make the police department better, we are all tracking what we're doing and the outcomes of those cases.

Okay, not just felonies, but say uh like you said, like uh domestic violence, um shopliftings.

Um the culmination of the shopliftings now that the state passed that law that we're gathering all of them and linking minus one kind of as a RICO case sort of deal is we're tracking that too.

DWIs, uh Madam President, yes, we do.

Okay.

Uh thank you, Madam President.

Oh, thank you.

Council has any other questions or comments?

Uh I have a couple.

So would you say that probably on all the other types of cases?

Do they trend similarly to this graph here?

Uh very good question.

Thank you.

Uh Madam President, yes, is the simple answer.

We did not put together a fancy chart for the misdemeanors for you, uh, but I can certainly provide that to you if you would like.

But you you will find that chart where it has the dip for the COVID years, and then you're seeing the numbers go back up.

Okay, great.

And then when you talk about deciding for referrals, is that something where you're still utilizing the Arnold tool for that, or is that just one aspect depending on, or is it totally something separate?

Madam President, I believe it would be something separate.

Okay, I think so too.

I from what I it's been a hot minute since I've had a conversation about the Arnold tool, but I just wanted to clarify and make sure that it's not necessarily how you determine referrals for some of these.

Madam President, no, that is not how we determine referral.

We do not use that tool for referrals.

Thank you very much.

I appreciate you being here.

It doesn't seem like there's any more questions, but we appreciate the brief explanation, and I'm sure that we'll reach out if there's some additional questions.

Thank you very much.

I appreciate everybody's time.

Thank you.

Counselors, we're gonna move on to the journal.

I move approval of the September 3rd journal.

Second.

There's a second by Madam Vice President.

Madam Clerk?

Councilor Backa?

Yes.

Counselor Champlain.

Yes.

Counselor Febalcorn?

Yes.

Counselor Grout.

Yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Vice President Pena.

Yes.

Counselor Rogers.

Yes.

President Bassan.

Yes.

Pass us on an eight-zero vote.

Moving on to communications and introductions.

I move that the rules be suspended for the purpose of placing EC 487 on tonight's agenda for action.

EC487 is the mayor's appointment of Mr.

Martin E.

Matthiason to the accountability and government oversight committee.

There's a second by counselor champagne.

Madam Clerk.

Councilor Backa?

Yes.

Counselor Champagne.

Yes.

Counselor Febalcorn?

Yes.

Counselor Grout?

Yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Vice President Pena.

Yes.

Counselor Rogers.

Yes.

President Basson.

Yes.

Pass us on an eight-zero vote.

I move that the rules be suspended for the purpose of placing EC488 on tonight's agenda for action.

EC488 is the mayor's appointment of Brianna Y Perea to the early head start program governance advisory committee.

There's a second by Madam Vice President.

Madam Clerk.

Councilor Baca.

Yes.

Counselor Champlain.

Yes.

Counselor Peoplecorn?

Yes.

Counselor Grout.

Yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Vice President Pena.

Yes.

Counselor Rogers.

Counselor Rogers.

Yes.

President Bassan.

Yes.

Pass us on an 8-0 vote.

Counselor Grout.

Madam President, I move the to suspend the rules and pull R 179 out of the Finance and Government Operations Committee and place it on tonight's agenda for action.

R 179 is establishing a continuing sobriety housing voucher pilot program for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Directing the Department of Health, Housing, and Homelessness to develop a plan to implement a pilot program and report on outcomes.

Second.

There's a second by Madam Vice President.

Madam Clerk.

Counselor Bacca.

Yes.

Counselor Champagne.

Yes.

Counselor People Corne?

Yes.

Counselor Grout.

Yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Vice President Pena.

Yes.

Counselor Rogers.

Yeah.

President Basson?

Yes.

Pass us on an eight-zero vote.

Counselors, are there any other changes to the letter of introduction?

Seeing none, I move a pred approval of the letter of introduction.

Second.

There's a second by Madam Vice President.

Madam Clerk.

Counselor Backa?

Yes.

Councillor Champaign?

Yes.

Counselor People Corn?

Yes.

Counselor Grout.

Yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Vice President Pinya.

Yes.

Counselor Rogers.

Councillor Rogers.

I think that she didn't quite hit mute.

Counselor Rogers.

I'm sorry, I didn't hear that first part.

We're uh the motion is for approving the letter of introduction and it's on your vote.

Yes.

President Basson?

Yes.

Pass us on an 8-0 vote.

Next on the agenda is reports of committees.

Counselor Champagne.

Thank you, Madam President.

The finance and government operations committee met on Monday, September 8th, 21 E25.

And reports out the following items in the matter of EC 437, 440, 443, 444, and 465 that they be approved in the matter of 083 that it do pass as substituted.

In the matter of R 171, 172, 173, 179, 180, and 183 that they do pass and in the matter of R 174 that it does pass as amended.

I make a motion to accept the committee report.

Okay.

There's a motion and a second by Councillor Grout, Madam Clerk, Counselor Backa.

Yes.

Councillor Shenley?

Yes.

Counselor February?

Yes.

Counselor Grout?

Yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Vice President Pena.

Yes.

Counselor Rogers.

President Bassan.

Yes.

Pass us on an 8-0 vote.

Next is deferrals and withdrawals.

Counselors, any deferrals or withdrawals tonight?

Seeing none, we're going to move on to the consent agenda.

For those individuals on tonight's consent agenda who are being appointed to serve on a board or a commission, thank you for your willingness to serve.

Are there any changes to the consent agenda?

Madam President.

Mr.

Councilor Lewis?

Madam President, uh just take EC2547 of consent.

487?

Yes.

All right.

Any other changes to the consent agenda?

Seeing none, I move approval of the consent agenda.

There's a second from Madam Vice President, Madam Clerk.

Counselor Backa?

Yes.

Counselor Shenbey.

Yes.

Counselor Fapelcorn?

Yes.

Counselor Grab.

Yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Vice President Pena.

Yes.

Counselor Rogers.

Yes.

President Basson.

Yes.

Pass the summoning eight zero, but Councillor Lewis, EC25487.

Thank you, Madam President.

In this appointment, I know this is the mayor's appointment, and certainly I mean the the council, I think just recently appointed someone to the AGO as well.

And this person seems well qualified.

I mean, I I wrote a letter to the uh the chair.

I I didn't heard I didn't hear back specifically.

I didn't hear back from the chair on this committee.

Um but just wondering if um if maybe the the mayor's uh appointment um to this committee, not I mean the I mean the the mayor has a um appointment that serves as a non-voting member um and uh uh if if if if that person wanted to comment or I think Mr.

Wheeler, you're an alternate uh on that uh committee as well.

Um again just just for the sake of the the public and a lot of interest around this this committee and some of the investigations um that it's that they've been reviewing uh that the inspector generals have given them over the last year.

Um just wanted to you know maybe an update um regarding the timeline of their next meeting.

This this committee is supposed to meet four times a year.

They could actually meet once a month if they if they uh wanted to, and those decisions are up to the chair.

Um but I wondered if the administration's appointment would want to comment specifically on the um the timeline as far as the next meeting um as far as reviewing these uh investigations over the last year and when they would be released uh Madam President, Counselor Lewis, um Carla Martinez, uh our associate CAO uh serves as our representative, um, non-voting member of the AGO can speak um as you know, Council President is also um present, so I want to make sure that we uh let them speak to uh the current uh circumstances uh madam president counselor lewis.

I have been the appointee since Ken Kevin says Cesaro.

I always have a hard time saying his last name, retired.

So I've been there for a few months.

My understanding is the next meeting is scheduled for late October, but there's discussions about potentially having a meeting before that to address some of the reports.

Okay, and then um would you want to comment just on the timeline of some of the investigations that they that the committee hasn't released yet?

Um Madam President, Councilor Lewis, so we have been in discussions with the acting inspector general.

He is currently working on a few of those reports and intending to get them out shortly, but my understanding is he's doing sort of a rolling uh release of the remaining six reports.

Yeah, and there madam president, there there are um investigations though that the committee's had for a good amount of time for several meetings, uh, and then I understand there was a review done uh and that review was completed.

Um did the do you know did the committee review that um review in the last committee meeting that you had?

Um, Madam President, Councilor Lewis.

So that report has been discussed with REDW, who is the firm that has done the quality review, and it is currently in draft form, and my understanding is they will be releasing it shortly.

Okay, um so they're they're required to be released according to the code uh 15 days after the committee meets um to talk about it.

So are are some of those to your understanding beyond that 15 days from the last meeting that they were discussed?

Um Madam President, Counselor Lewis, I I can't comment on that because I wasn't a member, uh ex officio member of the committee at the time, so I would not want to comment on that.

I was not there at the time.

Yeah, and Madam President, and I and I honestly I wouldn't expect it to.

I just uh I don't know you're not a you you're not a spokesperson for the committee, and you don't you know make decisions on the committee, which is which is fine.

I mean it's a part of our our process, and so uh really even asking these questions.

I mean you're gracious enough to to uh talk about it, but I know that those decisions are from the committee uh and they make those decisions and they vote on them.

Um but um I I so I guess I I go back to maybe the administration if there's any concern about um that that the committee has not released uh some of those investigations um and and even a review that was done um after to to review those investigations, and then there's been a meeting um in that 15 days were beyond that 15 days uh and so um again this is a committee that we set up and it seems like they're they're beyond uh the code as far as the requirements of when those would be released.

Uh and so I mean would the administration want to comment on that as far as any concern about that in that regard?

Um Madam President, Councilor Lewis, what I can tell you is in the time that I have sat on the committee, I have been impressed with the quality of the committee members, and I think that again I can't speak to the conversations that happen in previous meetings that I was not in, but it's my understanding there was concerns surrounding the quality of those reports, and hence the request by REDW to do the quality analysis.

Um so I think the committee has been very thoughtful in their approach, and they want to ensure that they are receiving the most uh transparent and quality produced reports possible, I think is their intentions.

Yeah, yeah, and Madam President, I I have no doubt about that.

I mean, I I believe very good uh quality people that are on this committee.

Um but it you know and obviously with the public, I mean it does does raise some questions that uh it's not about um and it's good, it's good that the committee's taken its time and and made sure that they've done their due diligence, um, but there is a there is a requirement um with our code that set this committee up uh that those investigations be released, and and it's really it doesn't say that they should be released after there's been um you know extra reviews on it, you know.

I mean those are all good things, and I'm glad we did, but it's not it's not as much about what's what's um you know again when when these are released, it'll be great for the public to be able to read what REDW did, Red W did on it, what their their comments on it, uh the committees, um, as well as the inspector general, and I think that's what's important right now.

It's uh it's it's regardless of what it says, it's at some point those documents are owned by the public, and and the code clearly says that.

And so um, do you know when the next meeting is scheduled?

Um, Madam President, Councilor Lewis, I believe as I stated before, end of October, but there's discussions about having a possibly a meeting before that.

So in your conversations with the chair or communications that they're discussing an earlier meeting then?

Absolutely, because there is an interest as well in getting these reports out because people are asking, and so it's a balance of trying to ensure that there's quality reports being put out in a timely manner.

Sure.

Okay, well, thanks for thanks for um you know the conversation about it.

I appreciate it.

Uh Madam Chair, and I I uh move approval.

There's a motion and a second, madam CAO.

Madam President, thank you.

Uh Counselor Lewis, I was just gonna speak to the fact that we believe that they are are adhering to the calendar requirements related to the ordinance passed by city council um and uh legal counsel and uh the members have been paying very close attention to that ordinance uh for the uh inspector general to so and uh in turn uh independent auditors uh ordinance.

So madam chair, and no, I'm sorry, hang on one second, just please, miss Mr.

Lewis, Counselor Lewis, Ms.

Kulidon, I do have a question as well.

I also sit on this committee, I'm an ex officio member, and so I sent out a press release last week, I believe, regarding the timeline answering a lot of your questions, counselor.

We'll make sure if if staff can make sure to forward that again, I would be grateful.

Ms.

Coolidon, would you do you know um in that timeline?

We had a meeting of the AGO committee where we ended up deferring the committee that votes.

I'm an ex officio member, I do not vote.

Those voting members decided to defer these reports, and I believe, and I would like you to clarify and correct, and if Ms.

Keefe, if you want to verify as well, it is within the ordinance parameters that things these reports can be deferred one time.

And that is all that has happened.

And since then, there have been some extra uh safeguards actually put in by the committee.

And so can you please answer is the AGO committee actually in violation of any city ordinance and their behavior Madam President, Counselors, um, as far as the um ability of the AGO to defer for one meeting, my understanding is that they're in compliance with that.

Um the the ordinance does allow for one deferral, and after that point, um the committee is required to either act to approve or not approve the reports, and that's when the uh 15-day timeline uh kicks in that counselor Lewis was referring to a moment ago.

And the 15 days hasn't happened yet because the committee has not had a presentation of the reports since they wanted to go ahead and put in community safeguards to make sure that there was an independent proper investigation conducted.

And so there was a third party company hired to do these evaluations, and they have just finished finalizing some of the reports.

They're working on getting it to the committee soon.

And at that point, the interim IG and the OIG office is going to be able to present these reports to the public because I don't think anybody has delayed anything, even though it sure is seeming that it's getting accused every once in a while, to not only me who's not taking it personally, but is aggravated because there's hardworking members of the committee who are also deeply offended.

And I think that it is insulting to insinuate that we are sitting here and we are trying to hide things from the public, which we are not.

I think that what the public has been asking for is wanting to make sure that what the investigations are are fully released at some point in time, which they will be, everything from the beginning until now, including the former IG's investigation.

And I want to make sure that the public knows that we're here to try to make sure that they get quality reports, not something that's opinionated that goes against the green book, which is what the OIG's office is supposed to be following.

And so I'm gonna fiercely defend this this committee, and I would appreciate uh some clarity.

Ms.

Keefe, I don't know if there's anything that you would like to disagree with as far as any potential violation to any ordinance.

Um Madam President, there has not been a violation of the ordinance.

They had the right to defer once they did defer at the next meeting, they will then um either vote to approve or approve, but that next meeting has not happened because of the review and because the OIG is continuing to make revisions based on the feedback from REDW.

And Ms.

Keefe or Ms.

Coolidon, is it illegal for the committee to have sought the advice and evaluation of a third-party review?

Uh Madam President, no, the ordinance expressly allows them to hire consultants to conduct reviews.

Thank you.

Counselor Lewis.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um yeah, I mean, these are good discussions, and certainly at it our job as a council and in um uh an interest, you know, I have an interest to to ensure that um uh committees, you know, like this are simply you know uh following the code.

And so to I think to ask questions about confirming that and verifying that uh certainly the work of the council here.

Um Ms.

Coolon, then the uh you know, and and the code says the committee may elect to defer, as you said, taking action on the reports presented for up to one committee meeting, um, after which the city auditor or inspector shall uh cause the report to become a published report no sooner than 15 days from the date of the committee's last review or consideration.

Um and so again, I just want to confirm the timeline.

Um every every um the inspector general, you know, you know, submitted um for review uh to the to the committee um several reports over over the last year.

And um the uh um so I mean could you verify that that every single one of those reports, that all those reports from the very beginning that they they only had one hearing, so from the time that they were heard um to the uh and then to the second meeting after that um that they followed this here so that they had a 15 days after that.

So all of them.

I understand that there might have been some of them, or maybe all of them, I just want to confirm.

But every everyone from from the end from the last year, from the very first one that was submitted to the committee, the committee reviewed um that they're that they followed this exactly.

Uh Madam President, Counselor Lewis, um if I understand your question correctly, I think you're asking about the reports that have not yet been released and the number of uh times they've been considered by committee, is that correct?

Is that correct?

Yes, yes.

So again, there's multiple reports, you know, and some that I think I think were submitted at different times at different meetings.

And so um and again, the timeline is simple.

It's uh it's one meeting.

Um they they're presented with officially with the report, right?

Um they can defer it up to one meeting, you know.

So that would be maybe three months until the next meeting.

Um, and then according to the according to the code, um it's uh it's 15 days after that meeting.

So every every report that was given from the inspector general um to the to the committee um has followed those guidelines at this point.

Madam President, Councillor Lewis, I don't want to give you incorrect information, but it's my understanding that the reports that have not yet been released have only been heard one time by the AGO committee, but I will defer to um others that might have more personal knowledge.

Um Madam President, um it's not true that they were submitted at different times.

My understanding is the IG may have completed them at different times, but they were there were nine reports that were all submitted at once to the AGO the week prior to a meeting, um, and that they initially deferred that meeting to have more time for themselves, then heard them at a meeting, and I have to say I don't remember now.

I feel like this was in March, but I'm not remembering exactly, and then voted to defer six of them.

Three of them were published.

Okay, and madam chair, thanks.

I think this is good discussion then.

I appreciate it.

I certainly um you know, when when members of the public and people are asking about this, then I think this is a good conversation to uh refer them to.

Um and uh and and this is uh again there's this is a committee that there's not a spokesperson for it.

I mean, these are folks that we've appointed, so there's no spokesperson for them, and uh the chair um hasn't you know commented on these and yet we wrote the ordinance and so I think it's important to have the the discussion about it.

I I appreciate it.

Um I don't think um uh you know uh anything is is meant personally against anyone uh if if if anyone um uh you know I mean the public has raised you know concerns and questions about it, and so um I mean this is I mean council business um and that's how we you know should get business done and confirming these things together as a as a committee.

Thank you, madam president.

Counselors, any other questions or comments?

The motion is for approval of EC487, Madam Clerk, Councilor Balka.

Yes, Councilor Champlain, yes, Councilor Papercorn, yes.

Counselor Grab, yes, Councilor Lewis, yes, Vice President Pinya.

Yes, Councilor Rogers, I'm just no counselor Rogers.

Yes, thank you.

President Besson, yes, passes on an eight-zero vote.

Moving on to announcements, Councilor Group.

Thank you, Madam President.

There will be an intergovernmental legislative relations committee meeting on Wednesday, September 24th at 3 p.m.

via Zoom video conference.

Councilor People Corn.

Thank you, Madam President.

There will be a land use planning and zoning committee meeting on Wednesday, September 24th at 5 p.m.

here in chambers basement level of Albuquerque government center, and this will be a hybrid meeting.

Moving on to financial instruments, Councillor Rogers, 096.

Thank you, Madam President.

O 96 is approving a project involving Pacific Fusion on feed pursuant to the local economic development act and city ordinances the city's implementing legislation for that act to support the acquisition construction and improvement of a facility for the commercialization of fusion energy production to be located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and authorizing the execution of a project participation agreement and other documents in connection with this project, and maintain uh making certain dark determinations and findings relating to the project, including the appropriation of funds, ratifying certain actions taken previously, and repealing all actions inconsistent with this ordinance.

I move for a due path.

Second, there's a second by Councillor Feblecorn.

Counselor Rogers to open.

Thank you, Madam President.

We have today with us Director Max Gruner, who's going to introduce introduce the project for us.

We also have uh Christopher Chavan who will help us with the staff analysis.

We have Curith Mirrorhead available for any questions on our city bond uh city bond process, and we also have some folks attending uh via Zoom from Pacific Fusion.

Jeff that will present on on behalf of the company.

So we'll take it over Max Grunner.

Director, good evening.

Madam President, good evening, counselors.

My name is Max Gruner, Director for Economic Development.

I'm here to present a project by the name of Pacific Fusion for the consideration of Council.

As we always do, we will present the project holistically.

I do want to make note that there are two votes for two distinct incentive packages.

One referring to the Local Economic Development Act funding, the other one to the industrial revenue bond tax abatement for this project.

As Council Rogers mentioned, I have with me today my colleague Chris Chavez.

We have bond counselor Chris Muirhead with us who will stand for any questions regarding the IRB.

Also have my colleague Director Mark Roper, the state economic development with me.

We have a delegation from the company on Zoom, I believe, available virtually.

And then we also have five individuals who would like to speak in favor of this project, including Tom Jenkins from the Greater Albuquerque Chamber, Ernie Sidebacker from the Hispano Chamber, Joy Forehand from CNM, Steve Chavez from Mesa del Sol, and Chad Matheson from Area.

Councillors, in the spirit of full uh um transparency, I do want to point out that this is an atypical uh project.

I'm bringing a project to you.

Uh we are still in a uh competitive posture uh for this project.

We are competing with two municipalities in California.

I don't typically bring a project to you until the company has decided that yes, indeed, upon approval, they will come to Albuquerque.

So really what we're trying to do is two things tonight.

We're uh trying to uh review and vote on these incentive uh um uh instruments, if you will.

And we're also trying to signal to the board of Pacific Fusion that Albuquerque, New Mexico truly is the best host community uh for this project.

The board of this company is meeting tomorrow.

And as I sometimes I sometimes use this phrase when I speak to you in the world, according to Max, I am uh bullish that we will uh get a decision by the board uh tomorrow, but again, uh the board of this company is gonna vote on what is in the best interest of this company.

I uh would also like to just take a moment and I would like to um recognize my colleague uh Chris Chavez.

Because of the date of the board meeting, uh we were uh pressed very hard to get this project to uh city council for consideration tonight.

And so, Chris, I don't know how you did it, but thank you very much for pulling this off.

And I also would like to uh publicly state that we would not be here if it wasn't for the city's planning uh department, Alan Varela and his whole team were absolutely instrumental in communicating uh to this company that uh Albuquerque Mesa del Sol is indeed the best uh viable uh site for this project.

This project constitutes a billion dollars uh in investment into the city of Albuquerque.

We're looking at somewhere between 200 and 250 well-paying jobs, the average salary being 150,000.

Um councillors and Madam President, I'm of an age where you know the only captain to Starship Enterprise is Captain Kirk.

Uh that starship has always flown on fusion.

Fusion has been that crown jewel for energy uh production.

Uh the machine, the Z machine, which this company is using and putting on steroids to bring into proximity hydrogen um atoms and through a pulse technology create a tremendous amount of pressure to create free energy.

This has always been the crown jewel of what it means to make affordable available energy.

Uh proof of concept was created in 2023.

There are now globally three companies that have a shot of uh accomplishing this uh successfully, and we're absolutely proud that Pacific Fusion, as one of those companies, is looking seriously as at Albuquerque.

I will also mention to Council that Pacific Fusion raised one billion dollars in their Series A fundraising, and I bring this up because look, I'm not a fusion engineer, but I do know that investors do their due diligence when they look at companies when they decide where they're gonna invest, when they're gonna invest.

So I am bullish on this company.

And without further ado, I will pass it along to my colleague Chris Chavez for the formal uh staff analysis.

Good evening, Mr.

Chavez.

Thank you, Max.

Madam President, Counselors, thank you for having us here today.

Today I'll provide the staff analysis for two incentive transactions for Pacific Fusion Corporation.

The company is requesting both an industrial revenue bond and LEDA funding in support of their project.

Pacific Fusion was founded in 2023 with a mission to power the world with abundant, affordable clean energy.

In Albuquerque, the company proposes to build a 225,000 square foot research and development headquarters to house its demonstration system for its pulsed magnetic inertial fusion technology.

The facility will be the research and development headquarters for the company.

The facility will demonstrate that it is possible to get more fusion energy output than the energy input, a fusion milestone known as net facility gain.

Proving these conditions is essential an essential milestone to building a power plant and putting carbon-free electricity on the grid.

The demonstration system is not a power plant.

It is a fusion research facility.

It will not produce electricity and it will only be pulsed about once per day.

Pacific Fusion will build a facility on 17 acres of vacant land located in Mesa del Sol.

The project facility will be constructed in 2026 and 27 and be fully operational in mid-2027.

The present IDO district for the project is planned community zone district.

Allowable uses in this district are negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

The zoning hearing examiner approval was received July 30th, 2025.

And at the August Environmental Planning Commission meeting, the company requested and was granted a text amendment to the Mesa del Sol level B master plan in support of the project.

On that same day as the EPC hearing, the project also received a unanimous recommendation from the Albuquerque Development Commission.

And today the company is requesting $776.6 million in city in issued industrial revenue bonds and is also seeking LEDA funding in the amount of $1 million.

The state has agreed to provide $9 million in LEDA funds.

And the city would be the fiscal agent for those state funds.

And the project is expected to also create 288 indirect and induced jobs.

The project will be exempt for up to 20 years of property taxes on land, building, and equipment.

Equipment purchased from the bond proceeds is exempt from gross receipts and or compensating taxes.

IRB 26-1 is a qualified project as defined by the State's Industrial Revenue Bond Act and City Enabling Legislation.

LEDA 26 1 is a qualified project as defined by the state's local economic development act and city enabling legislation.

The project will make a positive substantive contribution to the local economy and community by creating over 200 jobs, highway high wage economic based jobs, and through an investment of near nearly a billion dollars.

The project complies with the adopted city plans and policies and meets community economic development priorities and objectives.

The product project adequately meets the evaluation criteria established by the city for both LEDA and IRB projects, including the requirement that the city recoup the value of its investment over the term of the agreements.

So, based on the above findings, staff recommends the approval of both IRB 26 1 and LEDA 26-1 as proposed in the project plan application.

Thank you.

Now we have Mark Roper with the state of New Mexico if that's okay, Madam President.

Well, actually, uh the state.

I mean, and then the company.

I'm sorry, what was that, Mr.

Covenant?

My apologies.

I I think that the company was ready to speak, and then Mark would be next.

That's either whichever order you prefer.

Madam President, why wouldn't we have the company uh speak if they are available?

Hi, can you hear me and see me okay?

Yes, thank you.

Welcome.

Thank you, Madam President and members of the council for having us here today.

Um really appreciate it.

Brief introduction on our side.

I'm Carrie.

I'm one of the co-founders and the chief operating officer at Pacific Fusion, joined today by a number of colleagues.

Our head of business development, Deb Perkins is in the room, our head of finance, Mindy Ayuzen is on Zoom, and our head of communications, Alex Stoniak is on Zoom.

Before I get started, a few words of thanks.

First of all, to the Albuquerque Economic Development Team, especially Max Gruner and Chris Chavez.

Your tireless work has been instrumental in getting us to this point, and we are so grateful.

We're also deeply grateful to Secretary Rob Black and his team, including Director Director Nora Sackett and Director Mark Roper for your guidance and support throughout this process.

And I'd like to recognize some of the support I know is in the room today from Chad Matheson at Area, Joy Forehand at CNM, Tom Jenkins at the Albuquerque Chamber, Eric Contreras at the Hispano Chamber.

Your support has been invaluable, and we're so appreciative of all that you've done to make this project possible.

Can everybody see my slides okay?

Yes, they are on the screen.

Thank you.

Great.

To briefly introduce the company, Pacific Fusion was founded in 2023 with a clear goal to power the world with abundant and affordable clean energy.

As Max mentioned, we raised more than 900 million dollars of capital last year.

We're ahead of schedule on our technical milestones, and we have a number of important decisions ahead of us this year.

At the top of that list is where we'll build our demonstration system and flagship research and manufacturing campus.

We're fortunate to be back by a wonderful set of investors and to have a wonderful team behind us already.

And we're here today because we're really excited about the prospect of building an Albuquerque.

There are a number of reasons for this.

First, there's incredible mission alignment, as evidenced by New Mexico's commitment to clean energy codified in the ETA.

And second, in making an a citing decision, there's no more important consideration for us than team and talent base.

Where we influence is who we hire and who we become as a business, and we're excited about the current and future applied physics manufacturing talent base in Albuquerque.

We also build directly on breakthroughs achieved Z facility at Sandia.

Actually, about a third of our now approximately 120 person team comes from one of the national labs, and we're proud to actively collaborate with Sandia National Laboratories.

And so in many ways, Albuquerque feels like a natural home for this project.

As Max and Chris mentioned, this project would represent a billion dollar scale investment in New Mexico, and as such, directly benefit the community in numerous ways.

First, the project would bring at least 200 permanent jobs to Albuquerque, plus hundreds more to the region when you consider all of the construction work and supporting services required to make a project of this scale successful.

Second, this investment would build on New Mexico's leadership in inertial fusion and bring the state to the forefront of clean energy innovation, which is of course well aligned to the master plan for Mesa Delsol.

And finally, as I mentioned earlier, an investment for us in a site is by nature also an investment in our future team.

We're still early in defining what educational partnerships could look like, but we're committed to engaging with local universities, colleges, and school districts to ensure that we can meet our workforce needs and create the kinds of educational partnerships that directly lead to career opportunities at Pacific Fusion.

I'll talk more about the facility in a moment, but thought it might be worth briefly providing some context on fusion for those who aren't familiar.

Fusion powers the sun and our stars.

It's been the holy grail of energy for a half century because it could be an ideal power source, safe, clean, on demand, and effectively limitless.

The research community has spent the last half century figuring out how to affordably burn fusion fuel.

And we're closer than ever now to achieving that goal.

The way it works is conceptually simple, and much like what is done on the Z facility at Sandia today.

Light atoms are squished together under such high temperature and pressure that they fuse and release energy.

We do this in a very similar way to the Z facility at Sandia.

We don't use lasers, but rather we make a big electric current, which, when run across a little bit of fusion fuel, squishes that fuel hard enough to cause fusion.

And it's decades of work at Sandia and Livermore National Laboratories that have shown us that this works.

We're now simply scaling this up to allow for the production of clean firm power.

The demonstration system that we hope to build at Mesa del Sol is a research and manufacturing facility, not a power plant.

It won't have noise or vibrational impacts on the community, and it won't deliver power to the grid.

It will show that fusion reactions can create more energy than they consume and thus pave the way for a fusion power future.

The site we're exploring is at Mesa del Sol.

You can see some renders of the facility here.

As mentioned, it's a research facility, not a power plant, and it's designed to have minimal impact on the environment.

Our water use is about half that of a commercial building of similar size, and we require only about three megawatts of capacity from PNM, which PNM will be able to provide.

Nothing is more important to us than safety.

Because small quantities of radioactive material are commonly used for research and medical purposes.

In order to begin operations with tritium at our facility, we will need to obtain a license from the New Mexico Environment Department's Radiation Control Bureau, just like any hospital or research facility would.

That license will regulate all aspects of our operations, including transportation and storage of materials and handling of waste.

Finally, transparency and community engagement really matters to us.

We've learned that trust is earned through consistent presence and listening, particularly for a project of this scale.

And over the last few months, we've really enjoyed meeting with many members of this community, spanning government, business, education, and nonprofit.

We'll continue to do so in the months and hopefully years ahead.

And we also have a project website at New Mexico.pacific.fusion.com where residents can ask questions and where we'll be posting project updates.

Finally, I just want to reiterate my thanks to the many of you who have taken the time to get to know us so far.

Max and Chris on the city side, Secretary Black, Director Roper, and Director Sacken on the state side, Madam President and Counselors, thank you again for your consideration.

Thank you so much.

And now I think Mr.

Roper.

Madam President, members of the council, my name is Mark Roper.

I'm the division director of economic development for the state of New Mexico.

And you've heard the numbers, you've heard all the good things.

1.1 billion, over 200 high-paying jobs.

I don't need to reiterate those, but I just did because they are important.

But as you can tell by the color of my hair, I've been around a while.

And throughout that entire time, I've heard about how New Mexico is the place where great ideas are born and then they're gone someplace else to be made.

This is an opportunity to change that.

This is an opportunity to make Albuquerque the home to fusion.

Technology that came out of Sandia National Labs is not going to be developed in California.

It's going to be developed in New Mexico.

It's our opportunity to make a difference, not now, but into the future and into future generations, create new career paths for our children, for our grandchildren in this technology, this technology of the future that's been dreamed about for over 50 years.

It's our opportunity to make a difference and taking something that started in New Mexico and keeping it in New Mexico.

I'm not going to take up a lot of your time.

You've heard all the positive numbers.

1.1 billion dollars in economic impact.

This is our chance to put a stamp on something that's going to be truly New Mexico and the home to New Mexico.

Thank you for your consideration.

Thank you very much.

Before we go to questions from counselors or any additional comments, let's go to public comment, please.

Thank you, Madam President.

First up, we'll have Tom Jenkins, followed by Eric Contreras.

Hello, this is Tom Jenkins.

Good evening, Counselors.

I'm chair of the economic development team with the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commons, a qualifying broker for REA real estate financers.

As has been stated, Pacific Fusion is pursuing one of the most important energy breakthroughs of our time, creating more energy from nuclear fusion reaction that it consumes.

This is not a power plant, it's a safe, quiet research facility, fully compliant with the environmental and safety regulations.

As stated it represents over a billion dollar investment, bringing 200 permanent jobs, hundreds more in construction, an estimated 1.2 billion dollar impact, economic impact, including 57 million in direct benefits to the state, county, and city.

Albuquerque is uniquely positioned.

The Sandia National Labs, a skilled workforce, and strong clean tech ecosystem make Albuquerque an ideal location.

Adjacent to the preferred site in Mesa del Sul, I'm currently marketing 5401 Watson.

We recently entered into a lease agreement with the State of New Mexico Environmental Department.

And I could share with you both the building owner and the environmental department have expressed to me support for this project.

This is more than landing a single project.

It's about building an industry.

Just as nuclear fusion, uh, just as nuclear research fuels Albuquerque's growth in the 1950s, fusion and research could define our next chapter, making the city a global hub for clean, limitless energy.

This is a once in a lifetime generational opportunity, and we urge you to approve Pacific Fusions request and bring this historic investment to Albuquerque.

Thank you.

Eric Contreras, followed by Chad Matheson.

Mr.

Contreras, you're muted.

Okay.

Madam President, City Councillors, thank you so much for having me.

My name is Eric Contreras, and I'm the director of business and community development here at the Albuquerque Spino Chamber.

Today I'm representing myself and our president and CEO, Sir Ernest C Debaca, in support of the Pacific Fusions Initiative here in Albuquerque.

The Albuquerque Espino Chamber of Commerce's mission is to promote economic development and to enhance economic opportunities and to provide business and workforce education with an emphasis on Hispanic and small business community in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

In keeping true with the Hispano Chamber's mission, today we're offering our full support of Pacific Fusion's plans to locate its research facility in the innovation park at Mesa del Sol.

I hope that you will grant their request to approve a variance for the 110-foot building height.

It is important that Albuquerque continue to support projects that diversify our economy.

Our renewable energy is one critical segment as we look toward the future.

Pacific Fusion's Ethos was born at the Sandia National Labs with the Z machine, and to have the company come full circle and locate here in Albuquerque will be a big win for the Duke City.

Not only will hundreds of jobs be created in the construction phase, but there will also be at least 200 permanent jobs created that will be high paying and highly technical.

This is an exciting development for the future generations and will keep our workforce here in New Mexico.

Again, on behalf of the Hispano Chamber, we're excited about the prospect of the Pacific Fusion locating in Albuquerque, and we urge your support.

Should you require any additional information, you can feel free to contact us at the Hispano Chamber.

Thank you so much.

Chad Matheson, followed by Joy Forehand.

Madam President, members of the council.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak today.

My name is Chad Matheson, and I serve as the interim president and CEO of the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance.

As you know, their decision to evaluate Albuquerque represents one of the most significant advanced energy opportunities in our region's recent history.

As it's been said, this project is far more than a single facility.

It's about positioning Albuquerque at the center of a transformative industry that combines scientific innovation, national security, and long-term economic growth.

Over the past several months, Area and our partners have worked closely with the company through multiple site visits, technical reviews, and economic development partner discussions.

What stands out is not only the technical suitability of our market, but also the alignment with our reader region's broader vision of strengthening advanced industries.

Pacific Fusion is considering a billion dollar investment with the potential to create hundreds of high-paying jobs averaging well above the regional average.

These are jobs, as you've heard in engineering, skilled trades and operations that will keep our talent here and attract new families and investment into Albuquerque.

It also means recognizing that a project of this scale has ripple effects that support local suppliers creating demand for housing and services.

And showcasing Albuquerque as the location of choice for next generation innovation.

Madam President and members of the councils, thank you for your time and for your leadership and helping move opportunities like this forward.

Area has been a proud partner and looks forward to the continued success of this project landing in the region.

Thank you.

Joey forehand.

Evening, Madam President and Counselors.

My name is Joy Forehand, and I'm the Vice President for Workforce and Community Success at CNN.

Thank you for the opportunity to share comments with you tonight.

I want to share how our college is preparing to meet the workforce needs of our community, particularly in emerging industries like energy and fusion technology.

We've developed multiple education and training pathways that connect individuals with real opportunities to build skills, earn credentials, and step into high demand careers.

We've been in conversations with the Pacific Fusion teams, and we're working closely with them on workforce development strategies to ensure that then when they begin hiring, there is a pipeline of well-prepared technicians ready to step into these roles.

Just as important, we're excited about the opportunity to connect our residents and our learners to these education and training pathways, opening doors to careers and high demand while supporting the needs of local employers.

This is a growing field, and we're very excited about Pacific Fusion coming to Albuquerque.

We respectfully ask the council to consider the approval of both the leader funds and the IRB.

Thank you for your time and service and for your continued support of workforce development in our community.

Madam President, that concludes comment.

Thank you.

Counselors, any questions or comments?

Councilor Feblegorn.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just wanted to take a quick moment to um thank Carrie and her team for the incredible amount of outreach they've done within our community, but not only to us on council, but to the community at large.

I started having meetings with them months ago, and I'm just been really impressed with the culturally sensitive outreach that's been done.

Look, I'm not smart enough to know if if it's going to be the holy grail or not, but I do have faith that if it's gonna happen, it will be through Kerry's team.

So I'm really excited about the prospects.

Any other questions or comments?

Council Lewis?

Madam President, thank you.

Um, you know, I mean, again, thank you for all the all the time and conversations and and just the you know, the to be able to have the opportunity for a company like this to be able to invest in our city is is uh is a great opportunity for us.

I'm a I'm a big fan, and I believe that um the potential for the um uh for the product and and uh and everything and the jobs and all this, I think would be you know a great benefit to our city.

Um director, I know just a couple questions because I know in this, and I think it's important for people to know that there's uh in in many you know um agreements like this, there are uh provisions and and there are um you know clawbacks, uh, and this is how this is how everything starts.

I mean, we're all we all start extremely hopeful.

Um, this this is a I mean, this company was started in just uh just a couple years ago in 2023.

Um it's entirely uh funded through venture capital.

Um so there's not a product that's being produced right now.

Um it's not on the stock market, it's not producing a product.

I mean, ultimately, uh, I mean, really, this is RD and ultimately it'll produce the kind of products that'll be um you know changing in in every possible, I mean, really some amazing ways.

Um but would you talk just for a moment about the the clawback provisions and and specifically um you know, do we or are we privy to the company's um financials in the same way where if we're requiring uh clawbacks at a certain point?

I mean, if the the company doesn't perform, say in 2027 uh with 80 jobs, um, if construction doesn't start at a certain point, um I imagine there's a lot of money and a lot of investment by this company that's spent uh ahead of that time.

Uh and you know, and I asked this because it's uh it's it's happened in Albuquerque before, you know, we're uh you know, companies where we've had this kind of agreement with have gone under and have not performed on the on the on the on the agreement.

Um but are we privy to some of those financials to at least be able to show if they are required for uh you know a certain amount of clawbacks that that that money is set aside or that money is is is proven to show that they're able that they're able to uh uh if they don't perform to be able to uh make the city whole.

Director?

Um Madam President, Councillor Uh Lewis, uh thank you for that question, and thank you for going right to the jugular, because I think it's uh such an important conversation to have.

I will yield some of my time to uh director roper because it is really the state that is bringing the uh bulk of the money.

But as always, I I just wanted to reiterate you know, from my perspective.

I know we have a statutory, and I believe we have a fiduciary and uh ethical responsibility to safeguard the taxpayers' money.

So, as in any of these projects, uh these incentives are being either reimbursed or baited against actuals.

What that means for the taxpayers, unless the company is successful, unless the company does what they say they will do, there is no exchange of money.

In addition to that, the uh uh project participation agreement, the biding contract between the city and and the company of which you uh have uh inform only a document in front of you, uh stipulates clawback uh provisions that as uh councilor Lewis uh was saying and to play along with your example.

If in 2028 the company were not performing in the way that we anticipate and we hope, and the company projects that they will perform, there are provisions to ensure that the taxpayer is made whole.

Uh, with that, uh if it pleases the the president, I will yield to my uh colleague and friend Director O'Hart.

Director Roper.

Thank you, Max.

Uh uh Madam President, members of the council, uh, Commissioner Lewis, thank you for the question.

And it kind of scapal on to what Max had said.

There's provisions within the project participation agreement that hold money back until certain parameters are met, meaning that they don't get a blank check at the front end for the entire 10 million dollars.

They have to meet certain requirements, they have to build certain things, get certain things in place before they get any money, and it's all reimbursed.

They have to have an actual expense to be a reimbursed for, and they have to make hiring milestones before they get certain tranches of the money.

So the money isn't just all up front, it is tranched out as they meet certain milestones.

Additionally, we're statutorily bound, and we include in all of our agreements security equal to the amount of the grant award.

So as money is trunched out, we have to hold security equal to that amount uh for such purposes of clawbacks.

If they pack up and leave, if things don't work out the way we the way they're held, we hold that security, that collateral in place to pay those clawbacks.

Uh and that collateral is always held by the fiscal agent for the state's money.

In this case, it would be the city of Albuquerque.

And of course, then they would hold collateral for their own funds.

So, yes, there are clawback provisions within the contractual arrangement, and yes, there is money set aside as you as you stated, it's held in collateral through them through the instrument that we've we've agreed to.

Counselor Lewis, anything more?

Counselors, any other questions or comments?

Councilor Rogers to close.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you to everyone who was able to give us an overview of the project and um Pacific Fusion folks.

I definitely appreciate all the community engagement.

I think when we first met, you really understood my heart in making sure not just the residents of Mesa Gosal, but also the Greater Albuquerque had a chance to meet you all and understand the project.

And I won't belabor the point.

I think this is about Albuquerque stepping up and saying we want to show through our actions by passing both of these today that we want Pacific Fusion here.

We invest is the home of this technology, and it makes most sense for it to be here in Albuquerque.

So I urge your support.

Thank you.

Counselors, the motion is to pass 096, Madam Clerk.

Counselor Backa.

Yes.

Councilor Champagne?

Yes.

Counselor Fidelcorn, yes.

Counselor Grapp?

Yes.

Yes.

Councilor Lewis?

Yes.

Vice President Penya?

Yes.

Councilor Rogers.

Yes.

President Weston?

Yes.

Passes on an 8-0 vote.

Councillor Rogers, 097.

Thank you, Madam President.

2597 is a companion to the one we just heard.

Authorizing the issuance of a sale of the city of Albuquerque, the Mexico taxable industrial revenue bonds for Pacific Vision.

Series 2025 in the maximum amount of 776.

600 million dollars to provide funds for the accessing construction, equipment and improvement of a facility, commercialization of fusion energy production, and authorizing the liver of an indenture lease agreement, bond purchase agreement, bond and other documents in connection with the issuance of the bond and the project, making certain determinations and findings related to the bond and ratifying certain actions taken previously and repeating all actions in with this ordinance.

What we just passed was lead of funds in partnership with the state is about the industrial revenue bond.

And I'll turn it over to Director Gruner.

Counselor Rogers, before we do that, did you want to go ahead and move the floor substitute?

Thank you, Madam President.

I believe there is the floor step is in your iPads.

And this is just uh cleaning up some of the technical uh numbers that we needed to fix before passing it.

So I would like to motion to move the floor sub in your iPad.

Second.

There's a second by Councillor Feblecorn, Madam Clerk.

Councilor Backa.

Yes.

Councilor Champagne.

Yes.

Counselor Feecorn?

Yes.

Counselor Grout.

Yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Vice President Penya.

Yes.

Counselor Rogers.

Yes.

President Basson?

Yes.

Pass Sunday 80 vote.

Director Gruner.

Did you want to go through it again?

Madam President, I've got my 40 pages of notes.

I urge your support, and if there are any questions, we do have about Council Chris Muir.

Yes.

Counselors, do you have any additional questions or comments?

I do see that Mr.

Muirhead is here.

Counselor Grout.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just would like to know from Carrie when your board meets tomorrow.

Will you be able to call Mr.

Gruner so he can call us?

Will we have an answer tomorrow?

I can't make any promises specifically about tomorrow, but we hope to let you know as soon as reasonably possible.

Thank you.

Councilor Champagne.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh, just for the people at home or people with watching, can you give a brief explanation between what we just passed and what this is representing?

Director Gruner.

Uh Madam President, uh, Councillor Champagne.

Uh, there are two incentives that uh local government um opines on in these meetings.

Uh what we just passed as a local economic development act, is the only incentive we have in the state that is discretionary.

It is money that uh is made available by the governor and mayor respectively, or or a county manager, if you will, um, for the purposes of reimbursing for expenses that are qualifying entities such as Pacific Fusion uh engages in when it comes to land building and infrastructure development.

Uh the um the ordinance under question right now is the industrial revenue bond.

The industrial revenue bond is used and the state and in the city as a mechanism to abate property taxes uh for a company for a defined amount of time, in this case uh 20 years.

Uh again, we have a fiduciary responsibility to keep our special districts, our our school districts and what have you hold so whereas it is a hundred percent abatement of price said property taxes, we negotiate a pilot payment, a payment in lieu of taxes, uh a payment that the company uh provides to the city again to to ensure that we have the kind of income that we need.

Uh the IOB, the industrial revenue bond in front of you right now, as I said, it's for 20 years, it's for uh about uh the investment uh just north of three quarters of a billion dollars.

Uh the abatement for the and I'm doing this from memory uh for the equipment is of 90 percent, which is code for the pilot payment is the equivalent of 10 percent of the taxes that that equipment uh would would uh create for the city and the abatement for the real estate for the land uh is at 80 percent.

Councilor Champagne.

Thank you, Madam President, and thank you, Director, for that explanation.

I hope that helps the people at home or in the audience to understand.

Counselors, any other questions or comments?

Councilor Rogers to close.

Thank you, Madam President.

Just want to make sure there weren't any other public speakers for this item.

No, ma'am.

The one speaker that was signed up is not present.

Thank you so much.

And so just in closing, just thank you, Councillor Champion, for that question.

Basically, these ordinance are create both together, create a powerful incentive package, supporting capital investment and reducing experts burdens that can attract hopefully specific while their one billion dollar investment in Albuquerque.

And really, if an active really will our city stands to gain transformative economic and technological benefit, by paying jobs, workforce development, and not only will it also solidify our status as a clean tech innovation hub.

And I'm just uh excited for this possibility, and I urge your support.

The motion is for O 97 as substituted, Madam Clerk.

Councilor Backer.

Yes.

Councilor Champagne.

Yes.

Councilor People Corn?

Yes.

Councilor Grout.

Yes.

Councilor Lewis.

Yes.

President Penya.

Yes.

Councilor Rogers.

Yes.

President Bassan.

Yes.

Pass this on an 8-0 vote.

There are no appeals.

Thank you, Director.

And thanks to everybody on online.

And we hope to hear back soon.

Carrie, where you said it yourself that we're ideal in your presentation.

Thank you so much.

Moving on to general public comments.

Members of the public can provide live public comments to the council in person or virtually if they have signed up for public comment for the instructions published on the agenda and on our website Friday.

The public comment ground rules are that each participant will have two minutes to present.

Comments are to be addressed to counselors only through the council president.

And any disruptive conduct will result in removal from the meeting.

There will be a two-minute time limit and a bell will ring to indicate your time is up.

Mr.

Cornelius, if you'll call the name of the first speaker, and for those that are on deck, please start making your way to the front.

Thank you, Madam President.

Up first we have Rick Jonasy, followed by Let's Otvo.

Is it ever SOP to have security from the library bar and grill?

To do the same thing to drive the people like their cattle.

They don't want to speak and then would any citizen have any duty or obligation to drive the people from the sidewalk at all?

Do you know you don't believe that?

Police capacity security.

This guy right here up front is a security officer.

That's not a police officer.

But I want to show you guys something.

So I don't know if you can hear it.

That car is blasting its sirens.

There's no emergency.

I'm not gonna go all the way up to it because it's absolutely ridiculous.

Lieutenant see those security officers doing it.

I'm just telling you, those are security officers, not police officers.

I'm just telling you.

See, that's security officers.

Those are not police officers right there.

And I did just inform him that those are security officers doing that.

There are police officers in the mix, but some of those are only security officers.

Now they're trying to make people move from the sidewalk.

That's Doug Smalls.

I don't know.

You gonna let them do that to you?

I don't you're gonna let them do that to you.

You know that's a government official right there, right?

You know that you know that he's a he's a government official, right?

No, you're gonna let you let him do that.

You don't let him do that to you?

Just sharing.

Let's Otvo, followed by Jeffrey Moisson.

Madam President, Council members.

Let's make it clear.

The public sidewalk is for the public.

Citizens have a right to be there.

And I do understand the need to move the citizenry from the establishment at two o'clock when the establishment closes.

It is a closed street.

Allow the people to come out into the area of the closed street.

Don't keep them on a sidewalk.

To test that theory, if they're going to use horses to drive people, and I will give a little recommendation to the use of horses.

It wasn't used last weekend because they were busy at the fair shitting.

Right.

But this weekend, they were back with a vengeance.

They didn't go up on the sidewalk like they normally do.

But they were using the security staff as the horses.

Putting hands on these people to move them along.

Not just in front of the library where the establishment's closing, but pushing them to the corner to get them to the parking lot where their cars are parked.

Now, naturally, these people, there's vending trucks there like I've mentioned before.

They're trying to get a meal.

They may be sitting in the car eating, but you have now this armed security and armed police officers patrolling the parking lot, rousting the people out, maybe a little too early.

I myself was told that I might be arrested for telling the people they didn't have to move from the public sidewalk far from the establishment under the threat and color of law.

So in conclusion, using these horses and these sirens and these flashlights and non-uniformed personnel to move people is gonna get your asses in trouble.

Jeffrey Wassam, followed by Francesco Artist.

Madam President, members of the council, thank you for the opportunity to comment on what I think is an unethical use of city facilities and resources.

The state of the city address by Mayor Keller turned into a campaign rally.

The use of the biopark, the use of city workers to prepare, free admission to the park, entertainment, a tacit endorsement by Representative Melanie Stansbury, and as reported by multiple news outlets, city workers in Keller t-shirts.

This is part of a pattern of this mayor using city resources for his political interests.

Before it, um the COVID puff piece, I would uh point out, paid for with diverted funds being one example.

But what pushed me over the edge and brought me here tonight was the arrival of a team of staffers filming a campaign-style video in front of the almost complete Lebanese garden at the biopark.

During which, this was being filmed for Keller, during which their staff asked city workers to get out of the shot so that the uming could uh commence.

These are workers that were trying to complete an almost done Lebanese garden, paid for by private funds.

I asked the council to look into the ethics of what occurred during this uh state of the city address, or let's let Ubaez, White, and the other mayoral candidates speak in the biopark or film in the biopark if they want to.

After all, fair is fair.

Thank you.

Francesco Artist, followed by Adale Rose Bennett Herrick.

Mr.

Artist has left, it seems.

Adale Rose Bennett Herrick, followed by Tad Numitzki.

I don't have all the same complaints about the state of the city.

But I keep on going to Civic Plaza.

And recently figured out the waters off for the for the year, it seems like.

Congratulations to Albuquerque Fire Rescue.

But the thing that really hurt there was the um lady from District 9.

I was I would have I would have liked if you had taken off your glasses.

We were all talking about C and I to I.

That's not on the table.

It should be Tad Nemitzki, followed by James Freeman.

Excuse me.

My name is Ted Nimiski.

Well, what do you want to talk to about Consor Roger Lest.

Mr.

Naminsky, if you cannot hold the microphone, I think it will also help.

Where is it the early?

Okay.

So she won't touch it, this property.

Right on the corner.

Sent the two high rise.

Six and eight story buildings.

Which is a bender being for several years already.

Now another name her well, she leaves South to Central.

She won't touch it because that's a poor neighborhood around Mongol home parks.

She needed votes.

I'll call of course.

Well, that's small businesses, small property owners.

And she's going that's only in communist countries.

Two classes people.

That's exactly what in City Council.

All nine voted for this voted.

That's what we had here.

Thank you.

James Freeman, followed by Nicole Finch on Zoom.

Good evening.

Good evening, Madam President.

I am Jane Freeman.

I speak for myself now.

Not representing an agency.

One bill that we advocated for over this last session was SB 267.

And we got this passed.

And what it did was it enhanced uh tenant protections, created new opportunities in education and outreach, strengthened legal remedies, and collaboration with landlords.

So what it does is it it creates a system where the landlords have to be transparent about the fees when the when they're taking applications for rental property.

There can't be a separate um you know administrative fee or a background check fee.

There's only one $50 fee, and that can only be charged every 90 days.

If you come back in 60 days, they can't recharge that fee.

So there's also a um if they raise the fee, if they raise the rents, they must give 60 days notice.

Late fees are now capped at 5% of the monthly rent instead of 10%.

Um the deposit is now only one month.

They cannot charge a first month and a last month, they can only charge one month rent uh deposit.

So this went into effect in July.

I know there's a lot of landlords on this council, and I'm not I'm not saying anybody's acting inappropriately, but I want everybody to know that this is the law.

And if you have any evidence that somebody is not acting in accordancely, please contact New Mexico LegalAid at New Mexico LegalAid.org, or there's also a 1800 number here, or reach out to me.

I'll help you, I'll help you get in get in contact with an attorney.

But this is really important for people that are really struggling, you know, to pay rent that that simplifying the fee structure and capping some of those excessive fees.

And so I'm really glad we got this passed at the last legislative session.

Thank you.

Nicole Finch, followed by Janet Sayers.

Madam President, counselors, good evening.

I'm Nicole Finch, and I'm a member of the Library Advisory Board.

Tonight I have a very simple message.

The main library needs a new air conditioner.

The main library branch still has its original HVAC system from when it was built in 1975, and it desperately needs an overhaul.

The Maine Library is an important community hub for district two, but it's also important to me in District 9, and it's important to every other branch in the city and the county.

That's because it's where the library administration works.

Maine Library is the headquarters for the whole operation, and all the folks that work there every day, as well as the patrons deserve to spend their day in a comfortable environment.

Through the efforts of the library advisory board chair, Janet Sayers, we already have commitments from Councillor Baca.

Thank you so much.

One county commissioner and two state senators to use between 50,000 and 100,000 of their set aside or capital outlay funds for the main library HVAC system.

We only need 2.75 million dollars.

So if we can get about a hundred thousand dollars from each of the city councillors, county commissioners, and even about half the state representatives and senators in Bernalillo County.

This is an achievable goal.

So let's do this together.

Thank you.

We can hear you, Janet.

Thank you.

Uh good evening, Madam President, members of the council, city staff, and I am here also tonight on behalf of the library advisory board.

And I do have good news to report that we met with Senator Antoinette Sidia Lopez, who has also made a commitment of a hundred thousand dollars uh towards the uh replacement of the HVAC system at the downtown uh branch library.

So now we're around 400,000.

Um I also wanted to um again, you know, thank you for your support as we've gone through the the operating budget process.

I was with another group that actually used the international district today, the a meeting room at the international district library uh as part of planning the uh Route 66 speaker program, and that's one of the uh great things that that our public libraries are are used for.

Is meeting places for groups so that you don't have to meet at somebody's house or at a restaurant or or whatever.

And I also wanted to uh thank the council tonight on the consent agenda.

We do have two more uh new members to the library board that were approved, and and we've just had a great response of the people who have joined the board in the last six months, uh people with some marketing background, uh, people with some financial background, and um, and we just hope that we can continue to serve and do the job that that the um the library ordinance has has asked us to do.

Again, thank you for your time tonight.

Thank you for your service.

Karen Navarro, followed by Melinda Montoya.

Good evening, counselors.

Um I I want to give out a shout out tonight to the Gateway Recovery Pallet Shelter Program operated by Endeavors.

I visited it today and was given a tour.

I will say that initially I was not happy that the contract was awarded to an out of state company, and I generally favor in-state companies.

However, I know now firsthand that their focus continues to be endeavors can focus on hiring skilled and experienced supervisors, clinicians, and staff who are local to Albuquerque, some of whom I personally know.

I want to strongly urge the city and county to develop other pallet shelter programs.

Pallet shelters are much less expensive than tiny homes.

Both types of shelters are meant to be transitional, so why not go with what's much less expensive?

In fact, in Kansas City, there's a veterans organization building them for about eight thousand dollars apiece.

I also want to um propose that city or county funding go towards a couple of combination mobile shower and restroom trailers that could travel around to various areas in Albuquerque on a regular basis.

These trailers could and should have case management on staff on board.

Finally, I have been saying for years that the city needs to stop encampment sweeps.

There simply is not and never has been adequate monitoring of solid waste staff, driving up on encampments, and disposing of people's possessions.

The city's encampment policy calls for only two hours notice to be given for most of the encampments, and there are numerous reports from street outreach people of people coming back to nothing where their tent and their belongings were earlier that day.

I have no doubt there is a better way to address issues around people camping outdoors than to center the policy around disposal causing great harm to our unhouse city residents.

Thank you for listening, counselors.

Melinda Montoya Hello, um, thank you, Madam President and members of the council, and thank you for your time today.

Um my name is Melinda, and I provide a comment at last council meeting regarding the loss of my daughter Kayla Van Landingham at the bicycle crossing on Carlisle on the Hanarroyo bike path and the need for improvements in roads, including road diets and reduced speeds, driver awareness and overall safety to create a safer environment for everyone here in Albuquerque, and I do believe that we need to continue on that path.

However, today I do stand to invite you in the greater Albuquerque community to attend the dedication of a ghost bike at the intersection where Kayla lost her life this Saturday at 4 p.m.

Um these bikes, these ghost bikes are a physical and visual reminder that someone lost their lives, and they stand to foster a connection with this personal tragedy and the importance of road sharing.

Um so thank you for your service, and I hope everybody who would like to attend can.

Thank you.

Madam President, that concludes general public comment.

Thank you.

Counselors, we're gonna go ahead and move on to approvals.

EC481 is requesting approval to add funds to the Social Services Agreement with Chicanos por la casa to operate Gateway West.

I move approval.

Second.

There's a motion and a second by Councillor Grout and Madam Vice President.

Let's go ahead and go to public comment.

Thank you, Madam President.

Adale Rose Bennett Herrick, followed by James Shanley.

Chicanos por La Casa since they took over Gateway West has caused numerous irregularities to my friend who stays there.

Access to their personal food.

The these policies are uh these policies are not designed uh to be uh helpful, they're designed to corral and to um bray and to enforce submission.

Um friend uh homie with the homeless union.

Um they describe it as a Norwegian prison.

You can go during the day.

Um if you uh if you don't organize, the lights will be on all night.

James Shanley, followed by Joseph Griego on Zoom.

Madam President, counselors.

It is instructive to read the goals and objectives set out in part A of exhibit A of EC 481.

Especially poignant if you drive under the I-40 overpass at First Street, or between 6 p.m.

and 8 p.m.

you pull off a side street on central between Wyoming and San Mateo to observe what is the state of affairs there.

Albuquerque today seems light years away from achieving the goals and objectives of people of all ages being sheltered safe, healthy, and educated, the public feeling safe and secure, and an emergency shelter system that transitions unhoused people to housing and care.

After more than 300 million dollars of city money invested to solve street homelessness, the citizens of Albuquerque are becoming frustrated at the sense of no impact as they observe it on the streets, the alleys, sidewalks, and increasingly in their backyards, and the lack of precise data as to the actual impact of these programs to transition people off of the streets.

There is a lot of specific detail in the reporting requirements for EC 481.

I would urge you to ensure that that data is made public in an understandable and transparent way so that the public can understand the extent to which Gateway West is making a contribution towards the solution of this problem rather than simply applying triage.

I don't think it will be lost on any of you that in this same council meeting, we are discussing Albuquerque's potential to embrace a world transforming technology like nuclear fusion.

At the same time, we're still talking about an intractable problem of thousands of people living unhoused and unprotected on our streets.

Thank you.

Joseph Griego.

Good evening, Madam President, uh City Council members.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

I apologize for not being there in present, but I'm on travel status.

Um just to talk to you regarding the uh gateway west shelter.

Uh we continue to work diligently with the city.

We continue to uh create new programming and monitoring uh the bed situations, the clientele coming in.

We have made uh great strides in regards to from the December that we entered into the contract to where we're at today.

Our numbers continue to increase.

Uh we continue to hire local um individuals to work the shelters.

We are continuing to work to make it a better place, implementing policies and procedures that are conducive of shelters for the protection of the clients that are there as well as the staff that work there.

Um we are um a local non-for-profit entity established in 2008.

Um I'm a local uh New Mexican, lifelong resident of New Mexico, and you know we look forward to working with the city and developing the uh gateway west shelter for the clients that live there and that uh go there for services.

We are partnering up with several different entities to continue to provide additional services, not only shelter care, but also the continuum of care uh that individuals need as we move forward, and um uh we appreciate the support you have given to us and the opportunity to work for the city.

Thank you.

Madam President, that concludes comment.

Counselors, any comments or questions?

Councilor Grout.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um let's see here.

I have a couple of questions.

The funding agreement for the state grant from HB2 require requires a written plan for the city from the city, how it will be securing funding in the future.

When does that plan need to be submitted?

Madam CAO.

Madam President, Councillor Grout, it is uh the end of the years of the calendar year, so December 31st, 2025.

Okay, uh Madam President.

Um, will that plan be submitted to council in the form of an EC?

Uh Madam President, Councillor Grout, we had uh initiated conversations with council president to begin discussions around with you all as we move forward in that.

Um we can submit an EC if that is uh the preferred path.

Oh, I'm I'm open.

I'm just wondering how it's gonna go.

Um let's see, Madam President.

Um, how are you going to fund it moving forward?

Like, how are you?

What ideas do you have already?

Uh Madam President, Councillor Grout, um, that is what the work we're that we have underway right now.

Uh, we're working to put together uh possibilities.

We um intend to continue to pursue uh potential grant funding and other funding sources beyond the general fund, obviously.

Um, and we intend to work uh within the budget to make recommendations coming to come forward for recommendations and changes that we would have, but we do not currently have a final list of of solutions.

Thank you.

And then one final many ideas.

Okay.

Look forward to hearing what they are.

Um the 3.5 million from the first six months of this contract came out of general funds.

Um that leaves another 3.5 million to be funded by HB2, but the state appropriated for Gateway West, 6.1 million.

So what how are you spending that extra money?

Um, Madam President, uh, I have uh Dr.

Charlie Verple here that can speak um to the specifics.

What do you mean?

Uh council president.

Counselor Grout, thanks for the question.

Um so the amount that's gonna be awarded to this program for operations is six point one million.

Uh half of that, the 3.5 will be going to CPLC for operations, and then the other components of that funding will go to other components of the operation of the facility.

So catering and transportation are two of our biggest costs that we have at Gateway West, and so we'll be using that to offset that piece that we don't have funding for.

Okay, Madam President.

So does do you need to bring that forward to us to let us know how you're gonna spend that extra?

Because that's a that's like two point, that's a lot of money.

Council President, Counselor Grout, the contracts for those for um transportation and for catering are already executed and in place.

This is just the funding to come to fulfill that.

Thank you.

Requirement.

Thank you.

Counselor Lewis.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um a few weeks ago we were discussing uh just the total the total um amount of money in capital and then programming uh for the gateway system.

Um I guess I asked that administration are those are those numbers that you all have uh put together now, including I think we there was discussion over what's been spent and then also what's been programmed.

I think I'm more interested in in what's been programmed as far as along with what's been spent.

I mean the total amount of dollars and capital dollars and then the total amount of programming uh dollars that are within the gateway system.

Uh Madam President, Councilor Lewis.

Um so the question is uh I I have notes to talk through numbers.

Um the question that you've asked is slightly different than the question that counselor champagne asked.

So I'm gonna give you the numbers as I have them.

Uh no intent of playing any funny business.

I'm just gonna give you the bit numbers.

We purchased the gateway center for 15 million dollars in 2021.

We have uh completed the women's navigation and first responder for 9.2 million dollars in 2023.

Sobering in uh improvements and in renovation was seven million dollars completed in 2025, medical respite 17 million dollars in 2025, the outdoor area improvements for the women's uh navigation center is 1.88 million.

Uh men's navigation, which is both the 50 beds and the night and the 42, so uh sorry, 50 and 42, so a total of 92 is 14.1 million dollars.

We had 475,000 dollars in abatement.

Our design costs associated with it is three million dollars, and the women's expansion, which is the additional 50 beds was approximately seven six million dollars.

I did round in all of these numbers uh because all of them had pennies and dollars uh at the end of them.

million uh men's navigation which is both the 50 beds and the night and the 42 so uh sorry 50 and 42 so a total of 92 is 14.1 million dollars we had 475 thousand dollars in abatement our design costs associated with it is three million dollars and the women's expansion which is the additional 50 beds was approximately seven uh six million dollars I did round in all of these numbers uh because all of them had pennies and dollars uh at the end of them so that is the capital investments into uh the gateway center facility um that is uh then for operating gateway for the operating and maintenance and operations so this is both services and operations and maintenance of the gateway facility itself which has multiple hospitals and other providers in it in 2021 we had zero dollars in operating and services because we were acquiring 2022 fiscal year 7 million dollars in operating and uh services fund uh contracts 2023 12.2 million dollars in operating and service contracts 2024 fiscal year of 12.2 million in operating and services and 2025 9.3 million uh in operating and service contracts for the gateway center madam president and so these contracts right now I mean we're we're we're basically um you know confirming and you know and moving dollars that were approved in the 2025 you know budget for programming but so real quick you have you have a total on the capital they all all the what you mentioned um madam president counselor lewis for the gateway center the total capital improvements across all of those items is 80 81 point approximately 81 point one million dollars okay 81.1 million and then the total purchase okay and then a total on the uh the programming or the the other dollars you added up um madam president counselor lewis across the five uh the four years it's approximately 50 million dollars okay about 81 50 it's about 130 million dollars so far on on gateway um what what's the current um i guess how many people I and I know this is probably uh um take the several ways too as far as how many people we've served you know total over the that time and then maybe how many people are being served right now uh by the gateway system uh madam president counselor lewis I I added an extra 10 million in my last answer is 40 million not 50 million I apologize okay bad math um on the fly um so so total then 120 million then uh yes um uh total numbers served you said in at the gateway entire system yeah or even right now how many are being served right now in the gateway system uh okay um we have uh had a consistent I'm sorry Madam President Counselor Lewis uh we have had a consistent uh census over 600 people at the gateway w consistently which is uh by the way a uh a new consistent number for us which has been good uh to see that folks are choosing gateway west and uh um cplc services there um we have uh 32 people at the gateway recovery um those numbers are going up each day as they are bringing individuals in uh at gateway recovery at um gateway family I'm not gonna have this number off the top of my head I believe we have um just over 230 people based upon the family members that are there at gateway family approximately 230 people at gateway family each night based upon the families that are there uh at gateway at the women's navigation center we serve 50 women each night when we open the additional 142 beds we will add in both men men's and women's uh navigation uh again this is just nightly numbers so this is non-annual by any means because each of these programs have different time periods that individuals stay in medical respite we can serve 50 people a night medical sobering 50 people a night and first responder 20 to 25 people each night and those numbers fluctuate based upon the individuals medical sobering will be uh up to 50 uh for one night is how long they can say stay there okay Madam President I mean the majority of the capital is it uh gateway right I mean the main campus I mean so gateway west was an existing building and some I'm assuming that a lot of that would be programming that we put into that not as much of the capital or so Madam President Counselor Lewis the numbers that I gave you are what uh that we just spoke to were all Gateway Center numbers gateway West has its own operating dollars associated with it as well as capital dollars and improvements that we have made there to ensure that the environment has been in improved we've talked a few times with you all where we talk about uh renovating pods where we go move one dorm or pod um and make improvements that has been everything from uh well environment to uh plumbing to safety and security um all types of electrical improvements that we have had um out at gateway west so thank you madam president so yeah so we're that was the original we're talking about the gateway system and so you're including uh gateway west in the great way gateway system but when I when we were talking about the uh the totals of the expenses to the gateway system originally you were saying all

That has been everything from uh well environment to uh plumbing to safety and security, um all types of electrical improvements that we have had um out at Gateway West.

So thank you, Madam President.

So yeah, so we're that's the originally we're talking about the gateway system, and so you're including uh Gateway West in the Great Way Gateway system, but when I when we were talking about the uh the totals of the expenses to the gateway system originally, you were saying all that is related to Gateway Central.

So then so then again when I asked about the the but then you included that when I asked about who's being served by so I'm just I'm not trying to confuse, I'm trying to try to get it straight.

Um but you're when we're talking about who's being served, um now you're including the gateway system and like that.

So I I guess so now I'm wondering there there's it seems like then there's a certain amount of money that that wasn't that you didn't include in the in the gateway system expenses, whether capital or programming.

Uh Madam President Councillor Lewis, uh my first answer was to the gate question about Gateway Center, and then the second question you asked about how we how many people we are serving in the gateway system.

So that's why I gave you all of them.

Um I have the operating expenses annually based upon Gateway West that I can provide also, um, but I do not have every single gateway uh one of the gateways um current op uh numbers on every single one.

But I can provide you with Gateway West operating dollars as well if you would like, which is where we have our congregate shelter with then Madam President.

So I guess last thing is um at some point, I mean, because the the goal is it isn't it, or maybe not, um the goal is to um ultimately be able to we want to serve people, we want to meet people's needs, you know, where they're at.

Um but ultimately would you say that the success of the gateway system uh would be seen in the amount of people that are in the numbers on any given time of the amount of people that are living on the streets in Albuquerque.

Um Madam President, Counselor Lewis, I think um the question is a loaded question because the number of I don't mean it to be a loaded question.

I understand.

What I mean by that is is there isn't a simple answer to the question because individuals um move through each of our programs based upon their individual circumstances and what they need.

600 individuals uh at Gateway West at a congregate shelter.

We are now providing case management and support services.

Our intent is to refer those individuals into our navigation centers where they have a more intensive support system.

They've agreed to a program that is uh 90 days where they are getting access to treatment and housing navigation and multiple hands-on approach uh uh to support those individuals.

Um those contracts, as we uh you all saw at the last um meeting, you know, our providers are providing a very high-touch um connected service to those individuals.

Our goal is to move every single person off the streets that wants to be off the streets and um and to provide them exactly what they what they need to be able to have high quality, stable housing and treatment and support to make the those decisions for themselves as they move forward.

And that includes with job skills and access to support for services and other funding and support that they may have be entitled to receive as well and in that support, and as well as by the way, medical support.

Um, the level of medical support that we provide varies across each of these programs.

Medical respite is obviously uh a medical facility where we're providing daily support for individuals in that are in medical recovery.

So our goal is to move individuals, and we do have outcomes from the women's navigation center, the family navigation or family gateway of individuals that have through these programs received the support they needed to move into stable housing and into other programs, employed and other uh options.

That includes um our better way forward being in a place where individuals are getting access through the gateway system to uh jobs and then uh helping them move on to get even better jobs as they they progress.

Excellent.

And Madam President, so and again, I I realize this this may not be a simple answer to this.

Um in fact, um, I I believe that even if we offer you know treatment you know to somebody for several months, you know, regardless of the outcome of that.

Um if we offer food and shelter to somebody that didn't have it uh for a few months, I believe that regardless of the outcome, you know, a year later of that that it's worth it, you know.

It it's it's worth you know, us committing to serving and helping people in whatever stage that they're in like that.

Um but I I do think, and I and I I would ask you, um, are there and and and are we are we at a point yet?

I mean, after spending a lot of money, um, that we can begin to um to identify and measure those outcomes.

You know, we can we can measure you know, somebody who we we met these needs.

We we help them in these areas of their lives, um, and we help them get on a pathway that's different from where they were at some point, and we can measure that they're in a different place now in in every way.

Um, Madam President, Counselor Lewis, I think that we are absolutely at that place, and we will um, as you know, uh related to the funding from the state, the appropriation funding requires reporting.

Um, I think we we track data beyond what those requirements are and what that looks like.

We also are going to use that data to continually improve and to improve our design of what is working and providing support.

It's why we came to you all for the um gateway recovery, because what we found was individuals needed additional long-term, longer term support when they are in uh in recovery and receiving support that they needed a community to pro to live within to that can provide that support.

So we can absolutely report out um successes as well as challenges and those numbers to begin to look uh for us to all look at, and we have that absolute intent to do.

So I can have we'll we'll provide you all with a um synopsis of the last year related to women's navigation and the 50 beds that we have at the gateway center to give you all a sense of um how successful uh it is, and knowing that each individual, and I say success, knowing that sometimes success is that someone had 90 days of sobriety or 90 days of support systems and moving into per receiving the services that they're in that they have access to because we helped them with the paperwork, we helped them with filing, we helped them with the the opportunities they have.

Um not every success is permanently housed at the time that we set our clock to um, but it is maintaining a relationship with their case worker or the case manager, and it is uh continuing their support services.

So we can give you a uh a dynamic description uh report out on that, and we'll commit to doing that.

Counselor Rogers.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um I just need to ask these questions about what operations versus programming dollars are for all of the gateway network.

And so it would be helpful if we can get this in writing with you know, here's what it costs to just open the doors.

And I know you and I have had this conversation in many meetings, um, even back as far as April, I'm looking back because we asked what's the annual operating cost for all of the gateways, including programs coming online or running currently running out of gateway.

Um, and we asked for all of them, and we got a set of numbers that are completely different than what we're talking about now, and that's just months from April to September.

And so I think it would be helpful if we could get just a little lovely chart.

All the gateway networks, operating budget, which is what it costs to turn the lights on, what we what the programmatic costs are, all of the contracts for each of the programs, how many people each one services, and then what we've already spent, right?

Because I think that will help us.

And bottom line is we are the stewards of the budget, final budget.

This budget season, the administration did not send anything down for operating of any of the gateway networks.

We know that we have them, we know that they're being on coming online, but we continue to ask this so that we can help do the work to make sure that these things are covered in budget.

Um and so can we please get this just a nice little chart, all of this down once and for all, so that we can know what we're dealing with.

Madam President, Counselor Rogers, um, yes, we can do that.

What I have said in multiple meetings now with multi individual counselors is that uh each time we have a question, it's slightly different.

And um, so what I want is actually to get together essentially a pivot table spread a database so that we can all dissect it in any direction that we choose.

And if it's by contract, which is the questions that sometimes we get, other times we get it by entity, other times we get it by provider.

So we will we are working on this to do this in a very comprehensive way that everyone can see each and every expense.

It's not meant to withhold any information.

We're actually want it to be accurate and give everyone those details.

Um just to be clear, the budget that we sent down did include operating dollars for gateway system, not every um element, but there were dollars in the budget for the gateway network, um, including the operating multiple uh operating dollars.

For example, the portion of the CPLC that was already approved before this expansion was also in the operating budget.

So I just want to make sure we're clear.

We will include that as well for everyone as to exactly which portions were general fund um in the budget and which portions were not.

Thank you for that response, the thing.

I think I've been very clear on what we asked for, and I think this body has been very clear over and over and over again about what we what we were asking for.

I understand that there's nuances and all of those things, but we've been very clear.

If this administration would have planned for the budget, we wouldn't have been asking for 16 million from the state for gateway operations instead of housing, which is what I wanted the money to be spent on so that we have housing for these folks and not just temporary band-aids of a shelter.

And so I think we're you know respectful of that, but if we had the work in our budget, we wouldn't be asking the state for 16 million to cover these operations that we have now.

And so thank you for that.

I'm happy to work with your team to get you exactly what I'm asking for so it's clear.

I'll even draft the table and you can just fill in the columns if that helps.

But we've got to get to the bottom of that.

And we've just we have to know work with your CNM.

We know how to I know you know how to do this.

So let's just let's let's Councilor Grout.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, Madam CAO, um the list that she's asking for, I think when you mentioned that you um reached out to President Mason.

Um, could you bring that to the table when you're coming so that there is that discussion?

So we're not that'll be something that we won't be asking at the table.

We'll already have it, and it's a good starting point.

Uh Madam President, Councillor Gra, absolutely.

We are working uh diligently to put it into something that everyone can we can do that work.

Um, and it hope it'll be in advance that everyone can see all of that information.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

Counselors, any other questions or comments?

Councilor Champagne.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um what's gonna be the biggest difference between the the last heading home and the new current one if approved.

Uh Madam President, Councillor Champagne, I can speak from my perspective.

I think Dr.

Verple can speak as well from uh what we have worked on with Chicana por la causa and their operating of the Gateway West.

Um I can what I see is distinctly different is is twofold.

It's not just about the operator, but it's also about the improvements that we've made at Gateway West to ensure that the environment is conducive, um, it's it's healthy and healthy environment, um, you know, hot water, all of the things that um we heard were you know, and sometimes there was intermittent hot water, so we feel consistent that we have consistent hot water things along those lines.

Um it was an old prison, and so you know, old jail, so that we have improved it significantly and provided a high quality environment for them.

Additionally, Chicanapor La Casa has you know years of experience specifically in running um programs and services similar to what we have at the Gateway West.

And I think what's important note is that experience provides for them the understanding of what can make a difference for uh for the quality of the environment and the support that they can give.

And I found that in my visits out there I see a sense of order that is clear.

The the house rules are clearly communicated.

Uh, folks are supported in understanding those when there is a conflict of understanding, they don't they spend time in working through that.

And none of my comments are meant to be comments about heading home by any means.

I think heading homes uh did a very good job with what they had the capacity to do and the funding that we provided them.

What we've kind of come to understand is the cost of providing services to the more than 600 people a night at the at the quality we're looking for that includes case management and other support services.

Um this contract more closely reflects uh what that real cost looks like.

So that includes supporting them in making referrals to our gateway network or other nonprofit shelters that are available that to provide support in a more intense environment, not and not a congregate uh shelter setting.

Um and it also includes connections to other types of services like treatment and halfway houses and others that provide additional support.

So they are distinctly qualified, I think, to to do this work on this scale.

It doesn't, and not every um provider has that experience, nor has the expertise to run an environment in this way.

Um Madam President.

It seems like it's a drastic change.

And not to like you said, not to take anything away from heading home.

They worked with what they had and the capacity.

Um seems like a lot more bang for your buck in a sense.

Um how long did heading home run Gateway West or was how long was that contract for?

Um Madam President, Councilor Champagne.

My understanding is that they ran the shelter for four years, but um Dr.

Verplu may be able to here are you four years?

Um four years prior to, and that was through uh late 2024.

Is there any Madam President?

Is there any reason why we waited four years if it's that big of a drastic contrast in companies?

Um Madam President, Counselor Champagne, I think um I think we had a um working relationship with Heading Home.

We were working and learning with them on how to run a large congregate shelter.

Um, and I think we worked all along the way and made improvements all of the time.

Um the primary, you know, when we went out to RFP, um, it was because um heading home made had made the decision that they were ready to move to to focus differently in how they the services and the work that they were going to do.

And they were graciously, they graciously worked with us while we were out to RFP to make sure that we continued operations.

Um I don't have a better answer than that.

I think we um we uh we evolved and as the population grew, we um you know, we grew the contract and and we were scaling much faster than we all expected to have to do so.

Madam President, would you say that that we outgrew heading home then with their capacity and what we were asking for?

Is it just something they couldn't because they didn't put in for the RFP, so is it something they couldn't accommodate for what you guys were looking for in Gateway West?

Madam President, Councillor Champagne.

I I don't want to speak for them, but I think what the reality was is they wanted to focus and in what they believed was their area of expertise and and how and they were focusing as a nonprofit and a board to imagine their future as they went forward.

I understand.

I'm not asking it, I'm asking your opinion.

And what do you feel or think about it?

Madam President, Councillor Shem, I think we um like I said, we we we grew faster than I think we expected.

The demand was more than we thought it would be.

I think we were asking a lot more of heading home than they had originally intended, um, and they kept working with us along the way, and they were good partner as they could be, and um then we reached a place at which it was just too much.

Um Madam President, it seems like there's a lot of uh um tracking on this one uh that's being presented, a lot of questions and a lot of deadlines and so on and so forth.

I'm kind of curious on why those type of tracking implements and deadlines weren't going on for the past four years.

Um, Madam President, Councilor Champagne, we do have a monitoring team and requirements within all of our contracts, then our monitoring team does that work.

Um I think um Dr.

Varpleu could speak to our monitoring team's work in the past at what we've done for each of these contracts.

I think uh I will say I believe that you know the governor and um the legislators and everyone is you know really investing in this and excited to are interested in seeing the impact that it has and whether it can be replicated, what we can learn, um see where we're having the greatest impact.

And so the the interest in that is about how we think about replicating this across the state, where we can learn from this and and and make other investments that are that are informed.

Um we are we are um addressing at least 50 percent of our states um uh unsheltered and unhoused population.

I would guess guess that it might be even more than that.

But the point being is this is an opportunity for the entire state to learn from this, and um our data is gonna support them in um in our tracking and information sharing.

We really do intend to work hand in hand to ensure and support the learning is uh as we go.

Counselor Busan, um, counselor Champagne, uh thank you so much, Dr.

Single.

I think that she did a great job in describing a lot of um the answers to your questions.

I wanted to set the record correct that they actually have been here for seven years.

Um they started 24-7 in 2018, so I was incorrect on that, but um they've been here for a long time.

I also want to mention that I feel like heading home has done a really great job, and I just want to speak up for that.

And I think you also said that.

Um I think what was a challenge for them was that the funding was difficult, they didn't have enough funding to be able to do what they needed to do.

And what we were able to do is say, look, we need to advocate for more funding for this service.

The population has grown and the needs have grown.

We've gone from being an overnight shelter to a 24-7 shelter, and really just wanting to make our services and our data collection and our security and all of those things more robust.

And so heading home, I think did what they could with what they had.

And you're absolutely right.

I think that the criteria for data collection and reporting is gonna be much more robust.

The security is more intense, the janitorial is gonna be more intense, um, and the staffing model, being having staffing in all the dorms and the ability to collect the data where needed to put the information from the clients into the HMIS system so that we can understand where they're at and get them tracked towards services that they might qualify for, I think is gonna be really helpful.

So I've been really pleased with our work with Chicanos for Lacauza in part because they can do a really great job with the data collection and the data system that they have.

So being able to collect things about grievances and incident reports and um intake process, um, the ability to even just turn beds over really quickly and do beds like um uh storage for clients' belongings when that's needed, but be able to turn those beds over faster.

So um to Dr.

Single's point, last night we had 630 clients in our shelter.

That's really high for this time of year.

We think it has to do with the fact that the shelter has been improved just facility-wise, but also that the program has been improved in part because the funding has increased.

And so we think people are seeking more shelter and feel safer in that facility, which I think is awesome.

And also um, if we're at that point in the at this point in the year, we're definitely gonna see going over our ability to serve in the coldest points of the year.

So that's something that we're thinking through in terms of winter plan.

Um I think that really our data collection is gonna be what shows us how successful the program is.

And um to counselor Lewis's point, I think we can be able to report to you guys more um regularly around some of the outcomes that are coming out of not only West but our other housing navigation programs.

Um Madam President, it sounds great.

I think that the and and I want to really emphasize this, I'm not really bashing on what the other what heading home did.

Uh I'm a little more, and this is my hesitation when uh when this other stuff came up or in in different categories of voting for it, was that this should have happened sooner.

If we're sitting here for seven years with the with the program that changing companies is such a dramastic dramatic deal that the way you described it, that we can there's so much more we can do, there's so much this.

It's frustrating to say that why wasn't it done sooner?

Um we have 1.5 billion dollars in our budget.

The state has 10.5 billion dollars, and yet we're coming in to say we this we finally got money, and I know that advocating through other stuff this isn't the only program the state or we fund, but I think the biggest frustration is we've sunk in 120 million, and now we're saying there's gonna be results.

Um where were the results four years ago?

Where were the results in 2021 when we were spending 14 million dollars?

Um so it's it's great to see that we're finally doing that.

It's a little frustrating that we're finally doing that.

Uh Madam President, and I don't know who could answer this.

What is a dorm monitor?

Counselor President, Counselor Champagne, a dorm monitor is someone who uh is located in a specific dorm to oversee that dorm.

So they work with the clients, they make sure that they're safe, they make sure that they get their needs met, and they also help them get data collected.

So once they're intake and have a bed assigned to them, then they can start doing that data collection process to put them into HMIS.

Perfect.

Uh, Madam President, how many dorms are there then?

Uh President Bassan, Counselor Champagne.

Um, there will be 11 dorms that have clients in them.

One of the dorms is a recreational dorm, and if we need overflow, we would also put clients in that dorm if needed.

And Madam President, and that's why we have 55 of them budgeted for full-time, and then I think three part-time.

It said 0.4 compared to 1.0.

So I'm kind of guessing that's a part-time.

President Bassan, Counselor Champagne.

Yes, there's a lot of staff in this budget, and partly when you think about staffing a facility this large with this many clients over a 24-hour period, that kind of scheduling is complex, and it takes a lot of staff to make sure that you have people that can go on vacation and when they get sick and you know all of those things.

And so I believe that their staffing model is what's needed, and it's one of the reasons we had challenges before is because we didn't have enough funding for that, and I think heading home would speak to that.

So I think that this is what Chicano Poor Lakhausa needs to make sure that the clients are safe at Gateway West.

Thank you for that.

Um Madam President, we we're talking a lot about money and spending X amount of dollars in the six million here and a 3.5 there.

Um I'm kind of curious on and the data collection, which is great, but what is um where's the bar set for how we measure this as a successful program?

Uh President Bassan, Counselor Champagne.

I think that that might vary based on the program that you're looking at and what the outcomes are that you're seeking.

So when you look at the contract, you'll see all of the outcomes that we're looking for for the provider to be reporting on, and we do that for all of our contracts, they all collect very robust data on a quarterly basis so we can make sure that we're tracking those outcomes.

For me, it's really about for so for emergency shelter, you're gonna be seeing a different set of outcomes and a different like measure of success than you would for a housing navigation program or a transitional living program.

So I think it depends on which program you're asking about.

But for Gateway West, in terms of success, I think for me, success is that people can go there, they can be safe there, they can stay the night and come back if they need to.

And then the next step is can they work with a dorm monitor or a case manager to be able to think through getting the things that they need to become stabilized?

So medication, IDs, Medicaid, all those sorts of things, and then the next step is thinking through how do we get them into housing navigation so they can move into permanent supportive housing.

So I think it's something to think about that um when you're coming into emergency shelter, you might need that initial stabilization before you move into long-term outcomes.

Okay, thank you for the answer because it's something that Madam President, it's something that the the CAO said that the goal uh was now with Gateway West is what we can do to help people and in every who one who wants it.

And that kind of spurred my last question of what do we do with the people that don't want it, Madam CAO?

Madam President, Councillor Champaign.

Um, you know, everyone has civil rights um and has the right to make the decision about whether or not they want to choose to go to shelter or not, and um you know uh that is I'm our city attorney would say um paramount in this process in that we are ensuring people's rights um to choose whether they want to come to shelter or not, and want to move into a you know out of an emergency shelter into a navigation program or a treatment program thank you, ma'am.

Madam President, thank you.

Counselors, the motion is for approval of EC481.

Madam Clerk.

Counselor Baca?

Yes, Councilor Champagne.

No Councillor Fibercorn, yes, Counselor Graff.

Yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Vice President Penya?

Yes, Councilor Rogers, yes.

President Bassan, yes.

Passes on a seven-one vote.

Moving on to final actions, Councilor Baca, 091 with the floor substitute.

Uh well, it's your floor flu.

Counselor Backer, your microphone's not on.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

Floor substitute is that 091 floor substitute establishing the preserving Albuquerque through critical housing patch program to provide structural housing repairs to income qualified homeowners and preserve long-term housing stability.

I move due pass.

Second.

There's a motion and a second by counselor people corn.

Counselor Baca, how would you like to proceed?

There is an one amendment that I am aware of.

Uh, would you like to do that and then go to public comment?

Um, sure.

I I myself am not offering any amendments, so if you'd like to move those.

Councilor People Corn.

Thank you, Madam President.

I will move floor amendment number one.

Um, and we're gonna put it up on the screen on page three lines three through eighteen strike B through G and replace them with a new scope of repairs.

Um, and this uh well, I'll move it first.

There's a motion, is there a second?

I'll second it.

Thank you.

Councilor Peoplecorn.

Um, so this is just um a follow-up from our conversation on the dias last time around the the inclusion of energy efficiency and reduction of energy burden for folks, and so we just rewrote the scope to include actual energy efficiency measures rather than just um the way it was, which just said energy efficiency materials.

So this allows a little bit more leniency to reduce energy burden um when we're going into homes to make repairs for them.

Counselors, any questions?

Uh councils, any questions or comments on the amendment?

Seeing none, Madam Clerk.

Councilor Backer?

Yes, Councilor Champagne, yes.

Counselor February, yes.

Counselor Grant, yes.

Councillor Lewis, yes.

Counselor Rogers, yes, President Basson, yes, passes on an 8-0 vote.

Counselor Rogers, do you have an amendment?

Yes, madam president, I do.

I'd like to move floor amendment number two.

And it is beginning on page five, line three, amending 14-27-8 as follows.

And we're just adding at the end of that that the city shall follow all required procurement processes applicable to the type of funding used for the program, provided, however, that the initial procurement process results in only one response.

The city shall review the specifications and repost the program request along with additional community.

And the reason for this is just because I worked very closely with HHH previously on the current program we already have.

We're using hub funding.

And oftentimes I've been told, well, we've only gotten one response, so that's what we have to go with.

And so I do your support.

There is a motion.

Is there a second?

There's a second from Councillor Backa.

Any questions or comments, counselors?

Counselor Februar.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just wanted to verify that um it does say initial, and so we're not setting ourselves up for recurring um RFPs.

We've we go out for an RFP.

Uh if there's only one, we go back out.

At that time, we could if there's just one again, we would make an award.

Is that the correct interpretation of the amendment?

Everyone shaking their hands.

Counselor Rogers, do you want to go ahead and start with the answer?

Okay.

Yes, thank you, Madam President.

And yes, that is correct.

That is the intent that on the initial um request for whatever the procurement method is.

If there are not more than one respondent, that it will back out on the initial.

Thank you, Madam President.

Councilor Rogers, do you have anything to close?

No, no clothes.

I urge the thing the motion is for amendment number two to the floor substitute of 091, Madam Clerk.

Counselor Baca?

Yes.

Counselor Champagne.

Yes.

Counselor February?

Yes.

Councilor Brad.

Yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Vice President Pena.

Yes.

Counselor Rogers.

Yes.

President Basson.

Yes.

Passes unanimously.

Madam President, I just wanted to make sure my mic wasn't on.

It was a yes, so I want to know there's a recording.

All right.

Thank you.

So we are back on the floor substitute of 091.

Councillor Baca.

Do you want to open with anything or shall we go to public comment?

Uh public comments, fine, Madam President.

Mr.

Cornelius.

Thank you, Madam President.

First up, we have Roger Valdez, followed by Julie Radoslavich.

Madam President, uh members of the council, I'm Roger Valdez with the Center for Housing Economics.

We support this as another effort to preserve affordable housing that has remained affordable, partially because of deferred maintenance.

There are many families that are at that level of income.

A family of four is about 79,000.

So those a lot of those families are still are still struggling in 80% up to 100%, I think would be more inclusive.

That's something that we're concerned about.

Is that if someone gets a raise or increases their income, that there wouldn't be a consequence on that for participation in the program?

It would be great to see rental housing included because some people own rental housing and they're renting to people at 75 or 60 percent of AMI and allowing them to make these improvements would preserve that rental housing, and so owner occupation wouldn't allow that.

Um I'm concerned about the standards in the RFP in terms of the color of the money that comes in and the strings that are that are attached that can complicate and make these infeasible in terms of being able to get a contractor to do the work.

And I think at point of sale, if the sale is to someone of comparable AMI, that should not require that they pay back the um what they've that they've actually benefited from the program.

But in general, this is the kind of thing that we would like to see more city dollars going to avoid the federal dollars.

Those are a hassle and cost a lot of money.

So if the city was to invest this, make it solely a city program and issue the federal dollars.

Julie Radoslavich, followed by Tad Newmansky.

President Bassan and members of the Albuquerque City Council.

My name is Julie Radoslavich, and I serve as the president of Pat Hurley Neighborhood Association, part of District 2, and I'm an at-large executive committee member of the West Side Coalition of Neighborhood Associations, better known as Westcona.

And I'm speaking tonight on behalf and with the approval of both organizations.

Pat Hurley is one of the oldest neighborhoods in our city.

It was part of the village of Atrisco, a village founded in 1700, even before the founding of Albuquerque.

The entire community benefits when existing housing is stabilized and fixed.

Pat Hurley Neighborhood Association and Wiscona stand in support of O 2591.

As I mentioned before, we have a few suggestions for consideration.

In reading the ordinance, we appreciate that a resident must remain in the home for 15 years, so it avoids flipping homes for a profit.

But again, we ask you to consider including in the family transfer exemption a grandchild.

According to searchlight New Mexico, over 26,000 grandparents in New Mexico are raising 55,000 grandchildren.

And again, I mentioned this during my public testimony at Finance and Government Operations Committee, but the current ordinance does not take into account grandchildren.

And given our high rate of grandparents raising grandchildren, a grandchild should be included in the family transfer exemption.

We also appreciate the reporting requirements.

We would like to see safeguards to ensure that contractors are billing fairly and not taking advantage of vulnerable homeowners or a public money.

One of our Wisconsin members also asked that I mention that the name patch refers to an emergency repair or temporary repair until a proper repair can be made.

Again, mere semantics, but thought we would raise it again for consideration.

So thank you for considering multiple ways to keep our residents of Algurky housed, especially in some of our lower income neighborhoods.

Okay.

My Ted Nemeiski.

And the curious not everyone is so does great, but in depth.

You have to look at and think about Qualification.

Which is fine.

That's a thousand people would qualify it.

And billow.

Lean and judgment up to five percent.

Excluding municipal forgiveness.

Wellation for a repair.

Vacating.

Not exit 75,000.

Zero percent financing.

Zero percent interest.

Deferred payment.

Fifteen years there, the full amount should be pay to the city.

Well who's gonna be contractor?

Who's gonna make money?

Oh well should I also 75,000?

I can pretty much remodel whole house.

Oh, you then build that small house.

That's not that great deal.

Thank you.

Madam President, that concludes comment.

Thank you.

Counselors, any questions or comments on when you want to counselor Champagne?

Thank you, Madam President.

Um I have a slew of questions about this.

Uh the first, Madam President, who it's who's gonna which department is gonna be running this program.

Madam C.

Madam President, I'm sorry, Councillor Champagne, I didn't hear the question.

Which department will be running this program?

Um Madam President, Councillor Champagne, I don't believe that this is set up to be uh required by a specific department.

However, um Health Housing and Homelessness Department currently runs all of our housing programs, including and and that is what is referenced in here.

Okay, and Madam President, are they equipped to handle this if this gets popular with staffing?

Are they equipped with staffing enough to handle this program?

Uh Madam President, Councilor Champagne, the program that we ran previously that was is very, very similar to this.

We did an RFP and had an outside um provider uh do the work run the program for us, so we would have that opportunity as well if it if we need an or believe that that is the better way for us to ensure that the program is run uh at capacity.

Okay, Madam President, um this might be a legal question.

Which type of lien is this gonna be um council president, council champagne?

Um I believe uh like there would be forgiveness for any municipal lien.

Is that what you're asking?

No, we're gonna be put in the third position on this if someone owns it.

I'm assuming that's gonna be a mortgage if somebody doesn't have it own the house free and clear, but if it's a foreclosure, taxes go first, then mortgage, so that the city is now in a third position on this lien.

So is that what we're looking for?

Um Councillor Passan, Councillor Champagne, that is typically what the city does, yes, uh, in order to ensure that people can get outside investments, does the city does take a subsidiary lead?

So it does say it didn't make sure, Madam President says it says that that it that the that there are no current liens.

So I must I'm assuming this is excluding mortgage.

Is that correct?

Um Councilor President and Councillor Champagne, I believe it's referring to liens and not to um mortgages.

Not a mortgage.

Okay.

Um how is the program gonna run with foreclosure?

If I mean we're talking about a 15-year span that if something happens that it is foreclosed on, um again, like on my last question, and Madam President, it was taxes come first, then the mortgage if there isn't one, but if there's hardship on it and I've got to sell this if I'm the recipient of this, that now the third lien comes in and now I've got to come up with the money to pay for this too.

I mean the target audience of this is obviously 80% below AMI, so now we're adding on more money onto a REFT party.

So is that the idea?

We thought about how the foreclosure process could go on this uh Madam President, Councillor Champagne.

Uh uh in my uneducated about liens and foreclosures, um, I believe that um page four line seven speaks to property being sold or transferred, which foreclosure would I think qualify in that line?

It talks to before the end of the loan term, the property owner shall be required to repay the city a prorated portion of the assisted assistance received.

So I'm assuming in that foreclosure process we would uh attempt to reach uh recoup uh a portion of this loan.

Okay, so as we're trying to help people, if things get worse for them, we're going to then add more cost onto their thing.

Understandable.

Umriosity, was was the realtors association?

Madam President, was the realtors association kind of included in this conversation of the construction of this bill or to kind of get these details.

Um President Councillor Champagne, I'm not aware um of that.

Do you know where evening?

Madam President, I'm c calling this uh Dolan.

What is you?

Madam President, uh, Councillor Champagne.

I was not here when the bill was drafted, but it's my understanding from other staff that worked on it that there was no um meetings or conversations with the association of realtors.

Okay, thank you for that.

In my reading of this, it's a great idea.

Um, how many households suffer from this issue that would constitute this program to be beefed up other than what HUD does right now with HomeWise?

Madam President, um, Councilor Champagne, the current program that was uh sort of a um pilot that was done with the ARPA funding um council approved that uh councillor Pena sponsored has uh served 60 households.

When it has served 60 households, six zero with the six zero.

Before that program, before the city even went out to uh RFP for um the administrator of that program, we had a waiting list.

Uh the local media covered it when the city council passed that funding and the HHH department started getting phone calls right away.

And so they started making a list.

They haven't finished even that waiting list that occurred from this last round of funding, and we've already started, including myself personally getting phone calls from members of the public about this bill and about the program.

So we don't have exact numbers as to the need, but we know there is a demand out there for it.

Okay, and Madam President, then um the 60 households that have been affected, or what what time span are we talking?

How many years?

Um Madam Is it just a one year counselor champagne?

This is since uh mid-2023 are the one the households that have been served.

And and just to clarify, 29 have been served to date, and the rest of those are in progress.

Okay.

Madam President, the holdup is the lack of funding?

Um, Madam President, um, Councilor Champaign, we don't have funding to serve any more than the 60 households that are already in the program, 29 that have been completed, and then the rest that are uh in progress.

After that, the ARPA funding will have been depleted, and the city will need to look for other funding sources.

Okay, Madam President, um it's one thing that was blaring and that we brought that up as it goes through the questions, but where is the funding going to come from?

Um, Madam President, Councillor Champagne, there are a variety of sources that the city can look to to seek funding, um, including the state, um private foundations that offer grants for this type of work and federal funding could also be sought from a variety of federal funding sources.

And as far as those, Madam President, those avenues of funding have we reached out to them to say, hey, we're gonna start this program.

Can you give us some money?

Um Madam President, Counselor Champaign, we have not applied for any funding as the program has not been established.

Um we have received funding in the past, uh, both the ARPA funding and and prior to that, um, under different iterations of the program federal funding, but the uh having an established program that's been codified, we believe will help going forward and securing those funds and being successful with those requests.

Okay.

Uh Madam President, uh couple more questions.

Uh I'm kind of curious about the how this works.

Is the recipient of this going to receive a 1099 once it's finished?

Um Madam President, Counselor Champagne, the money does not go directly to the homeowner.

Uh the funding goes to the uh whatever organization or company uh that that uh wins the um RFP process, whoever the contract is awarded to, uh the funding goes to that entity who then uses it to complete the work.

So I'm not sure what the process, I don't think I can speak to the process of 1099s that the city would issue to anybody we crop contract with.

I don't know if there's someone from Madam President, if based on that, okay.

So if this program, if I put in for this and I'm awarded it as the homeowner, I don't I the money obviously isn't it's not funneled through me, but I'm awarded the program and it's funneled to the contractor that an RFP process for each individual.

Madam President, Councillor Champaign, so I'll use the current program as an example, although to to be clear that's not i exactly what this is.

Um the so the city would issue an RFP for a uh provider to administer the program.

And once that provider is under contract, the funding would go to the provider.

Uh they conduct inspections, they come up with the um cost estimates for the list, they pay the contractors.

So none of the money goes directly to the homeowner, it goes through our administrating administrative uh contractor who then oversees the project.

Madam President, so the homeowner isn't any improvements, isn't it going to be seen as unearned income being invested into their property that they completely own and receive the equity if there is a sale or any type of deal like that, correct?

Madam President, Councilor Champaign, no, it is not income to the homeowner.

And that's where the lien comes in, but it's not uh income to the homeowner.

Okay.

And Madam President, if by chance it's it's then goes into default uh in the remaining stuff, say if there's $50,000 left on it, uh the homeowner is responsible for that $50,000.

Um Madam President, Counselor Champagne, I'm I'm not sure I'm understanding the question.

Madam President, if I can okay.

So if if I put in for this and I'm awarded it, and my stip the stipulation is I get 75,000 to repair a roof, electrical, plumbing, all the things that I need.

And in six years from now, um I have to sell the house, or I have to move or something happens that I'm responsible for a prorated amount, uh, and say that prorate amount is $50,000, then even though as the homeowner I never received the money, it went through a third party.

I'm responsible to pay that third party back then.

The $50,000 that's prorated after halfway through a contract.

Thank you for the clarification.

Um, the money would be repaid to the city, not to the administrator of the program.

And it would be a prorated amount.

Um, previous iterations of this program uh did not uh allow for the proration.

So if somebody had to sell the house or otherwise transfer the title of the house prior to the um uh end of the loan term or the affordability period, uh they had to pay the full amount back to the city.

So this proposal would allow for consideration of the the amount of term of the loan where they have fulfilled the affordability requirement of home owner occupied.

Okay.

Uh Madam President, is there any prerequisite to applying?

Um if I have five months behind in my mortgage payment or I don't have uh homeowners insurance or my debt to income ratio is at 80 percent.

Is there any stipulation of that?

Madam President, uh Councillor Champaign, it is not within the ordinance, but based on previous iterations of this program, uh the intent of the department would be to yes, have have policies and procedures and previously when when uh it was done through a loan program, the current one just to be clear is a grant program.

Um previous iterations of the loan program, uh there were requirements with respect to being current on mortgage payments, current on property taxes, et cetera.

So those would be sort of uh internal operating procedures for lack of a better term, internal guidelines or requirements uh that the city would use to to qualify people for the program.

Okay, madam president, but those are not in the ordinance, that would be more of a policies and procedures of the HHH if you ran it or if it's RFP'd out to another company, then their policies and procedures?

Madam President, Councillor Champaign, the who whoever uh if it's RFP'd and we we have uh a contractor that administers the program, they would be required to follow the city's policies and procedures.

Different funding sources also have different requirements.

So the intent in the ordinance itself was to uh not be overly prescriptive to allow that flexibility and the city will have its own established procedures and requirements for the program.

But if if that that allows us the flexibility if a funding source has requirements that can conflict, um we have that flexibility.

So, Madam President, so there are not currently a policies and procedures of criteria, or is there of a credit check or a DTI uh check?

Madam President, Council Champaign, there is not.

This would be a new program and rules would need to be created for this, and I they the previous iterations of this, I'm sure that would inform uh some of the requirements that the department would want to include.

Um there's not current requirements because the current program is a grant program.

Okay, and we don't Madam President, we don't have these written into this ordinance then.

Correct?

Madam President, Councilor Champagne, no.

Madam President, Councilor Champagne, there is eligibility criteria on page two, just to be clear.

So I just want to make sure that that is written into the ordinance related to the AMI, the ownership, and liens and judgments.

We have not written them in based upon the fact that there will be oftentimes as Diane indicated restrictions related to funding sources.

Madam President, so we left that out with the ability to adjust it as we find funding, whether it's a grant or from this council that we can adjust it on a base by case by case basis or a bulk of money basis.

Okay.

I think that's all my questions.

Thank you, Madam President.

Counselor Rogers.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, I just have a couple questions also.

Can you explain the difference between this program and what we're currently doing with our the program we're already running in our HUD action plan with using CDBG dollars?

Um Madam President, uh, Counselor Rogers, the uh are you are you referring to the home rehab program that we're using uh the ARPA funds for, or are you referring to the homeownership program in the housing action?

This is thank you, Madam President.

I was this one of the sponsors of the current HUD action plan, and we had wrote into that a million dollars of funding for a home renovation program that would go to a particular provider, kind of building off of the program we started with the ARPA funding.

So my question is how is this different than that?

Madam President, Councilor Rogers, we have waiting in the wings, um, Monica Mantoya, who is um I think can it better qualify she is.

I think she's better qualified to respond to the details of the HUD action plan.

Thank you.

Good evening, Miss Monteo.

Madam President, um counselor Rogers, the CDBG funding that was um awarded to Homewise was for a homeowner uh mortgage redist reduction program.

There was no funding um allocated for a rehab program in this current action plan.

Okay, I I'll have to go back and read I remember that specifically because of the provider.

So I'll go back and double check that.

Thank you, Monica.

But the question so what's gonna be different between the then let's say the ARPA program.

What's gonna be the difference between the ARPA program and the program?

Madam President, Councilor Rogers, the main difference would be that the ARPA program is set up as a grant program, uh, and this program is set up as a forgivable loan program.

Thank you.

So why did we choose a forgivable loan program if we don't know the source of the funding?

Rather than a we get a grant that's with free money, why would we allow someone to do that in a forgivable loan if it's a grant Madam President, Counselor Rogers?

Um again, I was not here when it was drafted, so I'm going to see if one of my colleagues has a response for that.

Madam President, Councilor Rogers, I'm sorry, can you please repeat the question?

Sure.

I'm just wondering what the differences are between the patch program and the other program, the HHH ran for home renovation, regardless of where the funding came from.

What's the difference between this patch program and the current program we were running that helped 29 people?

Madam CAO.

Uh Madam President, I think that that for that portion that it is the forgivable loan versus the grant.

And I Monica, do you know if why we chose in this iteration that forgivable loan versus a grant?

No.

I I'm sorry, um, Madam President, Councilor Rogers.

Um I did not draft this ordinance, so I'm not sure why it was chosen to be a forgivable loan instead of a grant.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

A couple more follow-up questions.

Um we do actually, in fact, have data to answer Councillor Champagne's question.

I was working really closely with uh Lisa Huvall at the time and HH8, our family and community at the time on the original program, and we actually got data from Urban Institute.

There were more than 15,000 households in Albuquerque that needed serious home repairs to families who could not afford them for lots of different reasons.

Either the homeowners insurance denied them, and they didn't qualify for traditional loans to do that, um, being their low income status.

And so for me, this is it's not uh a good thing to have it be a forgivable loan for all of the reasons that I just mentioned that it will inadvertently um put families in positions, um especially because we're not actually specifying what the requirements are for the provider because we know from the previous program, the provider put different requirements and eligibility requirements of what the city contract had.

And so for me, I would need to see that expressly put in here what they can say people are eligible to receive this funding to help their families or not, but they cannot go above what's in this our ordinance.

Um nothing here says that.

Um, and then I think the other thing for me in this is really this isn't gonna help anybody because there's no funding attack.

This is this is like a oh, this is a nice to-do and a nice to say we want to help families, but there's no money attached to this, um worry about this program's success.

And also the I don't see any provisions in here that require that the provider also make sure that they get permits, they're pulling permits.

We know from the previous program, some of the contractors weren't pulling adequate permits for the homework they were doing on family homes, which causes a whole bunch of other issues later on down the line.

So this one's hard for me.

I want to help families, but I also um just not seeing the safeguards that will actually utilizing this.

Thank you, Madam President.

Counselor Feblecorn.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, just a couple questions and then a little information on forgivable loan versus um grant.

Um so I I don't know if perhaps Ms.

Dolan can answer these questions, Madam President, but uh you know there was a lot of questions around like are there enough people in our community who need this program?

And I just wonder, do you know the average age of our housing stock in Albuquerque?

Madam President, Counselor Feeblecorn, I do not I do, Madam President.

It is 44 years, and so the average home in our community is 44 years old.

By the time a home is 44 years old, it is in desperate need of repairs.

I can obviously go out and do those repairs.

I am privileged enough to do that.

We do have a large number of people in our community that cannot afford those repairs.

Um Mr.

You know the percentage of folks in our community who are at 80% or less AMI.

Madam President, Counselor People Corn, I do not have that information available right now.

I do have that, so okay, it's 25%.

So again, a quarter of the people who live in Albuquerque are at 80% AMI or less.

That makes it almost impossible to ever save up the amount of money that's needed to provide these kinds of structural repairs to a house that is on average 44 years old.

And so I think the idea that we don't know if there's enough demand.

I think that I think what we know is that there's gonna be more demand than we can ever supply.

And so I just wanted to make that point.

I also think that we missed a point here in that when we do these types of structural repairs, particularly roof improvements, energy efficiency improvements, um, we are not just doing these repairs for these homes.

The value of these homes then go up.

And so if you do have to sell your home before the 15 years is up, you're going to make more money on your home, and that money can then be used to pay back what is required if you do have to move out before the 15-year time frame that is spelled out in this bill.

Um, and then I just wanted to make a real quick comment, Madam Um President, around the forgivable loan versus grants.

We think this has more to do with the source of funding in the city or in the state of New Mexico.

We have an anti-donation clause that is pretty clear around you can use funding for affordable housing, but we have to prove that the affordable housing is going to remain affordable housing, and so that's why we have this 15-year limitation or requirement built into the loan program.

If it was with a grant, it would be a very difficult thing to claw back.

If we just give a grant to someone to upgrade their home and they want to sell it two years from now, how would we ever claw back?

But because it's a forgivable loan that a lot that allows us to get some of those funds back, and I will point out that the money that comes back for those few situations where people do move out and have to sell early, that those funds go back into a revolving loan program to provide these kinds of repairs for more people.

And so I just wanted to make those points.

Um I of course will be supporting this bill.

I think that we have a housing crisis that we always talk about, and one of the things that we forget a lot is that we have a lot of folks living in substandard housing, and they cannot make these repairs without our help.

Thank you.

Counselor Pena.

Um thank you, Madam President.

Yeah, just to add, I mean, when we received the ARPA money, um, part of the reason I think what we did was we carved out some of the affordable housing money to be able to do this.

I think it was like a million, maybe um, maybe it was just flat million.

But um, so what we're trying to do here today, and you know, I'd like to ask Councillor Backa if I could add my name to it, since it was part of the program that we had established initially, is that um one of the reasons that I had wanted to do that is very similar to some of the arguments that um Councilor People Corn is making is that we have a program here to where we um we condemn some houses because they um they're not they're in disrepair and and and then we end up knocking houses down, but it's sometimes often some of the more poor people in the community that don't really have the resources to fix those those things.

So for me, um this was a way to kind of create a pilot program to be able to address some of those needs so that we can help people to remain in their home when we're talking about affordable housing and the need to have additional portable housing, we need to figure out a way how to keep people in their house.

And so um we we did it as a pilot program.

There was some some of the ARPA money, and we did it as a pilot program, and yes, it's very expensive to operate these programs.

I know I wished um that million dollars could have helped more, but we were really figuring out and establishing the program, and I think you know, um, I had asked them um from homewise at the last meeting to to provide us with some information about who who they served, and and I I appreciate that.

I don't see uh Mr.

Wall here, but I really appreciate that because it really says that it's really going to the reasons that we had hoped that it would go to.

Now, what we're doing here today is um I think uh counselor um Rogers said it is there's no there's no money associated with it, but by codifying it, we have a program in place that we can look for and seek additional funding to be able to do this to be able to help families throughout the the city of Albuquerque.

So I'll just stop there and I'd like um Madam President, if you know Counselor Bac is amenable, I'd like to add my name to the thank you.

Councilor Bach, are you okay with that?

For the record, he said yes.

Okay.

Councilor Grout.

Thank you.

Excuse me, thank you, Madam President.

Um, I had a lot of the same questions that Councillor Champagne had, and a lot of um the questions that counselor um Rogers had as well.

Um so thank you for asking all of those.

The art how much in ARPA funds did did we have in this program?

Madam President, Counselor Grout, the total amount of funding.

I'm sorry, I'm gonna have to do some quick math was about 3.3 million.

Okay, 3.3 million, and it served 60 homes, and we've completed 29 projects.

Madam President, Councillor Grout, the three point that the 3.3 total has not all been spent.

We've completed 29 to date, and we will complete a total of 60 with that funding before it's all expended.

Madam President, what is the um average of the amount that is spent on each of those homes?

Madam President, Counselor Grout, um, approximately 40,000.

How what is the approximate percentage um going to the administrators of this program?

Oh that's for the total amount, Madam President, Counselor Grout, the total amount of that $300,000.

I'm sorry, uh $3.3 million that is going to the administrative cost is about $311,000.

Okay.

The uh current program is not is not identifying households based on underserved neighborhoods.

It is based on whether or not the household meets the uh definition of at or below 80% AMI.

Okay, Madam President, in this new program that is being proposed, um, will it be the same or is it underserved?

Madam President, uh Counselor Grout, uh, as the ordinance is written, it is 80% AMI is the requirement.

Uh the original bill did have language related to the social vulnerability index that was removed in a earlier committee sub with the intent of maximum flexibility and being least prescriptive.

Are you good?

I I know um there I've seen I've I've been um going throughout my neighborhood and um neighborhoods and and in my district, and I can see a lot of need that, and so I'm hoping um yes, homes are very old.

My home's over 40 years old too.

So I do see that there's lots of needs, and I can see that this there's there's a need for this program.

I think it's a great idea.

Um there are still a lot of questions about it.

So I hope that all of those questions are answered, and it is it is a program that is well received.

Thank you.

Madam President, um, Councilor Graham, if I may, I do have a map.

Uh we we provided a report earlier that had sort of a static map of of where those 60 homes are in the city, but I did create one that if you're interested, um, I could enlarge for you.

I could I have I do have my laptop with me tonight if you'd like to see it or it uh subsequently you'd like to see it, but it shows it is a pretty wide distribution of where those 60 homes are in the city of Albuquerque, and Councillor Grout, I believe there were a few in yours.

Thank you.

If you sent it over, I think that'll be fine.

Thank you.

Counselor Grout, any more questions?

Uh Madam CALERA.

Thank you, Madam President.

I wanted to just speak a little bit to the question um, Councilor Rogers, about the um forgivable loan versus a grant program.

Um in general, I think that HUD and CDBG funds that are typically allocated to this type of program, oftentimes they align around um programs that have for big forgivable loan criteria.

So I think that was part of the uh logic that was incorporated in this.

And then I think uh it additionally relates to what Councillor uh Fablecorn spoke to, but I just wanted to get really specific, which is with a forgivable loan, it's much easier for us to build in the program obviously for accountability with it being a lien um that we can recoup on.

Oftentimes it's harder when it's a grant to have those enforceable hooks and um creates a lot of the questions about anti-donation uh in New Mexico, and based upon kind of general standards that forgivable loan is a way for us to have a mechanism so that if someone does fail at meeting those um requirements based upon whatever conditions it may be, for example, someone deciding to flip the home and that doesn't meet our requirement, those funds can go back to the program and and generate for the next opportunity, um, which is what the forbidgivable loan typically would provide for us.

Thank you for the clarification.

I just want to add uh I'm I'm in agreement with a lot of this in theory, and I guess to me that's what a lot of this is right now, it's theory.

There's a lot of planning, which I actually I'm very thankful that we're trying to be proactive about planning, but it's always been my understanding that an ordinance has a funding source appropriated with it.

And so to me, I feel like I don't know.

I feel like this might be the first time, and I I could be wrong.

I don't know if any of you have another example of us passing an ordinance without funding connected to it.

I feel like it should be a resolution that has the plan connected to it.

I think there were a lot of questions tonight.

There was actually a lot of answers, but there was a ton of I don't know's as well.

Um I don't feel comfortable passing an ordinance without funding just to say it feels good and we're gonna try to get ahead of it.

Councilor Champagne.

Thank you, Madam President.

I have to reiterate what you said there was a lot of questions and and not a lot of answers.

We have uh people here that were advised they're gonna be the administrators and they weren't a part of the writing of it.

They weren't they admittingly said that I wasn't here when this was written up.

Um again, this doesn't take away from the fact that there are people out there that do need help that do have these problems.

You talk about uh Counselor February and saying that you know the average home is 44 years old, but and I know this from experience when you sell a home if the roof is in disrepair, that's part of the sale.

Either the roof is fixed or the homeowner goes into that process knowing uh that the roof needs to be repaired and the price of the house is adjusted based on the bad roof.

I've been there several times.

Um the average mortgage is 30 years.

If our average home in preventative maintenance, or as we say the average home is 44 years old, then the mortgage has been done for 24 years if they are the original owners.

Um a roof's average life is 20 years, not 44 years.

So the structure is looking at a second roof and possibly a third roof, if that's one of the major deals, because I just purchased one for $20,000 myself.

Well, 18.

The point being is that we have questions.

The even this last deal of saying there was $3.3 million to 60 homes equals 50 an average of 55.

We're giving out 40.

That's 2.4 million.

There's a difference right there of 900,000.

Um that 300 went to the administrator, so there's 600,000 that's somewhere else.

Uh it again, like the counselor president said, there's a lot of things, but it's maybe it should be a resolution, but uh I can't see supporting it for um a good hearted feeling notion without money going toward it and an actual more answers to the questions.

Councilor Backer to close.

Thank you, Madam President.

Just a couple quick things.

One grandkids were included.

Uh great ideas, Mr.

Valdez.

Keep those in mind for the future.

Urge your support.

The motion is for 091 as amended, madam clerk.

Counselor Backa?

Yes.

Councilor Champagne.

No.

Councillor People Corn, yes.

Councilor Grout.

Yes.

Councilor Lewis.

No.

Thanks, President Pena.

Yes.

Councillor Rogers.

Yes.

President Bassan.

No.

It passes on a 5-3 vote.

Moving on to R 188, Counselors Rogers, Beeblecorn, Penya, and Grau.

Any of you?

Please.

Madam President, uh Mrs.

R 188 authorizing the acceptance of funds from the state of next of New Mexico and appropriating funds for specific homeless services programs and facility improvements into a specific affordable housing project.

I move it you pass.

Second.

There's a motion and a second by Councillor Groud.

Counselors to open.

Or shall we go to public comment?

Public comment, please, ma'am.

Okay.

Mr.

Cornelius.

Thank you, Madam President.

Anne-Marie Johnston, followed by Adale Rose Bennett Herrick.

Good evening, Madam President, Council members.

My name is Anne Marie Johnston.

I'm the senior director of Shelters and Outreach for Community Bridges.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.

I want to take a moment to remind you how important the men's navigation center is and Alberk's efforts to addressing homelessness.

The reality is that many of the individuals experiencing homelessness in our city are men who are living without stability, without a safe place to go, and without access to the supports that can help them rebuild their lives.

It's not just a shelter, it is about creating a path word forward.

This program will provide men with stability, connection to critical resources, and a chance to work for toward long-term housing solutions, whether that's housing, employment, treatment, or supportive services.

By investing in the men's navigation center, we are investing in the safety and well-being of our community as a whole.

Homelessness is a complex challenge, and there's no one size fits all solution.

But this program represents a key piece of the continuum of care.

It will reduce the strain on emergency systems, improve public safety, and most importantly, give people the dignity and support they need to succeed.

I strongly encourage you to continue to prioritize and support this program because it will make a measurable difference, not only in the lives of those it serves, but in the health of our entire city.

Thank you.

Yeah, I'm happy that our city is uh taking uh taking steps and taking care.

Um one person uh told me that the um the water at the uh gateway men's is not quite up to snuff.

They and they had a bit of trouble trying to get a water bottle.

Um so I want that to be uh known, and I want uh our people to be taken care of.

Thanks, y'all.

Jack Siam, followed by Tad Namitzki.

Good evening.

Um Madam President, members of the council.

Uh my name is Jack C I'm and I am a vice president for YDI.

Uh I'm here in support of on behalf of YDI support of uh um 188 um to help support the young adult shelter um and also the other vital services that is proposed on this action tonight.

So we hope that this council will will support um this measure wholeheartedly because uh our young adults are counting on this shelter that's going to be uh hopefully uh starting on January 1st.

Thank you.

Tad Nimitzki would you give me an overhead, please?

Thank you.

Uh it's uh uh is in value a hundred ten million dollars.

That's only one source.

Another source, I'll gonna name it all also over 100,000.

That's from lawsuit, hurown.

Whatever this lawsuit is.

How much total is it for those programs and all this we know right here almost half million?

So let's do that map.

How much city taxpayer spending all together?

City.

My question is very simple.

Do I have to get court order and ask city to soupina?

How many people oh some colour support and was the cost of those programs?

Thank you.

Do I have to thank court order?

I will.

Thank you.

Madam President, our um Zoom speaker is not present at this time, so that concludes comment.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councillors to open.

Madam President, I'm just making sure that uh Councillor Rogers didn't want to open.

Okay.

Um thank you, Madam President.

So again, you know, we've talked about this quite a few times, but these are almost 22 million dollars coming from the state to provide us with funding um for our youth shelter that we'll be opening.

I just heard January 1st.

We had been told February.

We're gonna go with January 1st.

That sounds very exciting.

Um also to fund the Gateway Center, um, and also for an affordable housing project.

Um so these are funds that were um dedicated to the city and county um during the legislative process.

Then there was a line item veto, but the the governor did ensure that they stayed in um play for the city and county, and so I'm just really thrilled that we're getting 22 million, the county's getting a large amount.

We're gonna see a lot of affordable housing projects moving forward before June 30th of next year, and so um I think it's a really exciting opportunity, and we're really thankful to the state of New Mexico and all of our legislators for finding these funds and making sure they got to us.

Councilor Champagne Thank you, Madam President.

Um the comments in this that uh the there's gonna be five million committed toward acquiring Jupiter flats.

Uh do we know what the total cost of this property is?

Madam CAO.

Uh Madam President, my understanding is the purchase uh cost is so is 22.8 million or 22.3 million.

Madam CAO uh Madam President, my understanding is the purchase uh cost is so is 22.8 million or 22.3 million um and the five million is going towards that thank you um Madam President, uh it's supposed to be expected completion fall of 2025.

Is that still on track?

Uh Madam President, Councilor Champaign, uh we do believe we are on track.

The it is a privately developed project um with our acquisition being at completion of their work of their uh conversion from a motel to a or a hotel to housing um and we will come be we for the uh revenue bond that we will uh need to issue will be coming to council to do so Madam President um do we have a breakdown of what the cost is?

I mean what's gonna cost us to taxpayers 22.8 million, but is the property sold for that and including the construction costs and what's the profit margin that's equated into that purchase price uh madam president councilor champagne.

I don't believe we have uh uh that answer related to profit margin.

Uh we we can get you the financials we have um to and provide additional information, thank you, madam CEO.

Uh last question, Madam President.

Uh advisors the property will be acquired September of this year.

I take it it's not since we're halfway through.

Uh Madam President, Councilor Champaign, we are working towards a purchase agreement, and uh we have are doing our inspections and all of the steps that we would do uh in any situation, so we're following all of our regular steps to ensure that we are making progress and able to send down appropriate with the right timing that revenue bond um documentation.

Thank you, madam president.

And uh I'm sorry, if if you all are interested in about in the revenue bond portion, um Mr.

Muirhead has stayed for the meeting to be able to answer those questions as well.

No, thank you.

Counselors, any other questions or comments?

Counselors to close Madam President, I think we are at the point where we know that we need the gateway system to be up and running.

We have the system and it is time for it to start operating at its full potential.

We also need the young adult housing navigation center to be up and running on some early time next year, and we need affordable housing.

And this funding that's provided by the state gives us all three of those things.

Urge your support, Madam Clerk.

The motion is for a due pass of R 188.

Councilor Backa?

Yes, Councilor Champagne, yes, Councilor Papercorn, yes, Councilor Grout, yes.

Counselor Lewis, yes, Vice President Pena, yes.

Counselor Rogers, yes, President Bassan, yes, passes unanimously.

Councilor Rogers, RA six, Madam President.

RA25-6 is amending Article 3, Section 4 C City Council rules the procedure regarding clamation and presentation.

I move it to pass second.

There's a motion and a second from Councillor Baca.

Councilor Rogers, did you want to go ahead and move your amendment?

Yes, thank you, Madam President.

I'd like to move amendment number one.

This is just clarifying a little bit more of my intent for this change.

Starting on page two, line two after city, we want to insert the following and reconciliation process.

And really, again, this is just to match the intent that will give the team the proper time once they receive the transmission from the state, uh the budget, uh the state the treasury department.

Um then our internal team will have time to actually analyze that and bring a presentation to council that we can ask specific questions to.

And so I think this will be just a much better process for us moving forward.

Counselor's there's a motion for amendment number one.

Is there a second?

Second from Councilor Grout.

Uh, any questions?

Madam Clerk.

Councilor Backa?

Yes.

Counselor Champagne, yes, Councilor People Corne?

Yes.

Counselor Grout.

Yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Vice President Penya.

Yes.

Counselor Rogers.

Yes.

President Basson.

Yes.

Passes unanimously.

We're back on rules amendment six as amended.

Counselors, any questions or comments?

Councillor Rogers to close.

Madam President, I urge your support.

All right, Madam Clerk.

RA6 as amended.

Counselor Baca.

Yes.

Counselor Champagne.

Yes.

Counselor Peoplecorn?

Yes.

Counselor Ground?

Yes.

Councillor Lewis.

Yes.

Vice President Penny.

Yes.

Councillor Rogers.

Yes.

President Berson.

Yes.

Pass this unanimously.

Moving on to R 179, Counselor Grout.

Madam President, thank you.

R 179 is established establishing a continuing sobriety housing voucher pilot program for individuals experiencing homelessness, directing the Department of Health, Housing and Homelessness to develop a plan to implement a pilot program and report on outcomes.

I move it.

There's a motion and a second from Councillor Champagne.

Counselor Groud to open.

Thank you.

Madam President, this bill directs Triple H to develop a plan for continuing sobriety for a housing voucher pilot program.

We need to give them more of an opportunity to be successful.

We need to come around them with a high level of care, case management.

And my goal is to help these people become independent.

Coming out of treatment, they may not have a place to live, but they need to find a job.

But if we can give them stable housing, they can continue on their sobriety journey while also looking for a new job, finding permanent housing, and this just gives them an opportunity.

And then by doing this, we will also ask the uh provider to have data, you know, collect data to see the success of this program or maybe not successful program.

But if it is successful, we can uh see how we can improve or or expand it into other um areas.

The the thing that I see um we have spent eight million dollars on permanent supportive housing dollars in um the from the general fund, and while I'm glad that we are able to support those 596 families, I don't know that that's sustainable in the long run, and we can't help other people.

And I want to see options where um we are helping people transition from vouchers so that we can get those folks on their own or more so on their own, and then we can bring others into the fold and and help them.

So that is my goal.

Um it is also we are giving triple H directing them to have a wide latitude so that they can create this program.

We're asking that they come back to council in 60 days with um their plan and then we're how much it's gonna cost, and then we as um council will find the money to help that.

This would be um the opioid money would actually work within this uh realm, but you know that's just one option.

Anyway, that's that's what I'm looking at.

Let's go to public comment and then we'll go to questions from the council.

Thank you, Madam President.

Anami Das, followed by James Shanley.

Hi, y'all.

Uh uh, Madam President, Counselors, uh, please use federal funds for this and don't touch the opioid settlement money.

Um if you're going to do this, which I also don't recommend, but like whatever.

Um use federal money because feds already have the requirement of sobriety, and we don't need to be wasting our money on something that they would pay for.

Um something else.

There is something in the first whereas statement that uh highlighted the important of uh evidence-based practices, uh, and then in section either one or two, uh, it lists alcoholics anonymous and uh narcotics anonymous.

Um those are not evidence-based, those are faith-based.

Um they can be effective for certain people, but they are not evidence-based.

I suggest uh any kind of smart all caps smart program.

Um I think this is more broad.

Uh it's a bad idea to um establish a barrier where there doesn't need to be one.

I understand that people are like these would only be people requesting sober living situations.

But I think it's important for them and everyone to remember that recovery is not a straight line.

Relapse is a part of it for 85% of people who are in recovery.

Relapse in the first year, and I don't think they should become homeless for it.

That's all I can remember.

Thanks, Yo.

James Shanley, followed by Roger Valdez.

Madam President, Counselors, I I wish to commend Council Grout for crafting this resolution and designing a more empirical approach to assessing one of the core elements of Albuquerque's current homelessness crisis and the need for essential need for transition.

I infer from this measure a growing awareness on your part that we have an emergency.

Certainly, my recent doorstep conversations with residents of my district seven tells me unequivocally that they see we have an emergency.

I would like to offer the following as potential amendments to make this resolution more reflective of that sense of emergency.

First, since there is undoubtedly been dialogue with HHH about the design and implementation of this pilot program, please require from them the CSV program via resolution to city council within 30, not 60 days after passage of this resolution.

Second, having the experience myself with a family member, the challenge of addiction recovery, and that episodic relapse does not necessarily doom recovery.

I urge you to make some provision for adjudication of relapse events so they do not automatically boot people out of the program.

And third, since expansion of this program, if successful, could contribute significantly toward the goal of ending the emergency.

Please set the evaluation and reporting deadline at 60, not 90 days from conclusion of the pilot program.

Thank you for your consideration.

Roger Valdez followed up followed by James Freeman.

Madam President, uh counselors, uh Roger Valdez or the Center for Housing Economics, we support the uh this uh concept.

Um harm reduction is an important intervention tool, and and meeting people where they are in their recovery is central to achieving that recovery.

And often people have to choose their own recovery goals, and those look different uh for every individual.

However, um when it comes to to choosing sobriety and that path, we do find that many people seeking recovery are having a challenge finding sustainable um housing as they make that trip.

And it these relationships are important because loss of housing can lead to relapse, just like relapse can lead to loss of housing.

So we really are looking forward to this program and its design.

We are going to be getting approved uh on Wednesday for $500,000 in capital outlay to convert a medical dental clinic that the county currently owns into a five-bed transitional uh housing facility, and we're looking forward to beginning that work.

It's 133 Virginia, the international district.

Um we're looking forward to to working with an operator that could use this voucher, and that could be central to the success of that program.

So we're hopeful to work with you in designing this as we design the facility and the program, and so would look forward to working with you on this as we um make those renovations and bring that facility online, we hope next year sometime.

So thank you very much.

James Freeman.

Good evening again, y'all.

I support this pilot program absolutely.

But when it comes to housing vouchers, I'm an all of the above kind of guy.

I think we need to greatly expand all the vouchers, significantly increase the funding for all the vouchers.

And I would challenge y'all often some of you talk about ACS getting a bucket of vouchers.

Let's let's make a pilot program for that.

You know, we all talk about the amount of funding that ACS has received, and now it's 17 distinct programs.

You know, let them have some vouchers and give it a try.

Let's let's try everything.

Let's try everything we possibly can to improve homeless outcomes.

You know, somebody that benefited myself from a housing voucher.

I lived in Albuquerque in 2017 and 2018 on a housing voucher.

That changed my life.

We can change so many people's lives with the housing voucher.

Nothing else even comes close.

I I also agree with Mr.

Shanley's uh amendments.

I think shortening some of those time frames make a lot of sense.

And I also want to agree that rec uh relapse is part of the recovery process.

The idea that we're gonna be testing people every week or every month, and if they screw up, if they slip up one time, then we're gonna kick them out of their house.

That's that's really troubling.

And so I definitely don't want to cause a situation like that.

But also at the end of the one-year program, we can't say these 25 people are now homeless.

You know, we would also have to find a way to extend it, especially if it proves to be evidence-based and successful.

You know, we definitely want to keep them housed, and so um I hope those I hope those are considerations reach you.

Uh, but again, housing vouchers are the most important way, the most effective way to improve homelessness in Albuquerque.

I'll stand by that.

Thank you.

Madam President, our loan Zoom speakers um not located in Zoom, so that can close comment.

Thank you.

Counselors, we're on R179.

Any questions or comments?

Counselor People Corn.

Thank you, Madam President.

A couple of questions.

Um I think these are for the administration.

Um so I I noticed that we were saying we're HHH go out and make this plan.

Is HHH on board for this and does the administration support this Madam President, Counselor February?

I think that uh Councillor Grout spoke with HHH, so I will have Ellen uh I'm sorry, uh Ellen Braden speak to that.

Madam President.

Uh Councilor People Corn, while I personally have not spoken with Counselor Grout about it, HHH is willing and prepared to create a program and bring that to council.

That's great news.

Thank you.

Um and are the existing vouchers that we have not available for folks who are newly sober?

Uh Madam Uh Madam President, Councilor People Corn, they the current vouchers do not exclude people who are in recovery.

Okay.

Um I guess my my biggest concern is just I feel like perhaps we didn't learn from Bernalillo County.

Um they had a lot of money put into a tiny home village that had these types of requirements of you can come here but you mess up once and you're out, and they didn't have people move in.

And so what is what can be done for this program to learn from what Bernalio County went through and make it actually usable for folks?

Madam President and Council People Corn, I think you heard earlier in some public comment about the potential for relapse when people are in a patch of recovery and the utilization of direct testing as a therapeutic tool is how I think that we're gonna craft the program before we present it to you.

So it's not unheard of to use drug testing and to use markers in recovery, but therapeutically, not punitively.

Thank you, Madam President.

So you're saying that there's a way to design this program where we test folks regularly, but we are not going to unhouse anyone if they have relapsed.

Um Madam President, Counselor People Corn, that is my recommendation.

Okay, thank you.

That that would be my recommendation as well.

Thank you very much.

Um, and then my last question, Madam President, is just um, and this might be actually for the sponsor.

We have a set amount of housing voucher dollars.

I think everybody recalls that I wanted a lot more.

Um would we be getting additional funds for this, or would we be splitting up the existing amount of housing voucher dollars that we already have?

Councilor President.

Madam President, Madam President.

Thank you for the question.

We will not take any dollars away from the existing programs that we have right now.

This we are instructing Triple H to design a program, um wide latitude with all of those questions.

The idea is if um we want them to be the people that are using these specific ones, um, they want we want them to have success.

We want every opportunity for them to be successful.

If they fail, we're not gonna kick them out.

There are other housing vouchers available for them, but we will through through more cheerleading for them, you know, just being being there more.

It's it's a high level of, and it's only a few people, and they're wanting, they're really wanting to their sobriety means the world to them.

And they, but you know, we all need the team behind us to be successful.

And so what I'm hoping they will come up with a good program that will help the people that are in the program be successful, this program to be successful, and the data will show us in the end.

Um we've also worked with um I've also reached out to the apartment association, and they are excited about this program.

I think that sometimes we hear there are landlords that are afraid to take vouchers because let's let's be real.

Sometimes you you know they can be rough on on the apartment themselves.

Um they're excited about taking these vouchers.

I also know I've had several people reach out to us and um who live in an apartment um area in an apartment village, and um some of their their neighbors receive vouchers and then their friends come with their bad habits, and so they're excited to have new neighbors that don't have those bad habits, and hopefully it will um you know make it so that we can find some more housing for some of these people and and we'll expand on it if and we'll see if it works.

I'm hopeful.

I'm hopeful, but we're giving Triple H all of the we're not telling them what to do.

They're going to figure it out, we're giving them just the idea, and then they're gonna develop the plan, and then they're gonna bring it back to us.

And if they brought it back to us in 30 days, that would be cool.

But I know that I've learned that government is a little bit slow, and so that's why we chose 60 days and 90 days to give you time because we want it to be successful.

We want you to think of all of the possibilities and all of what ifs and all of that.

Council Papel Corn.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'm very happy to hear that we're not diluting the existing small amount of money that we have for um housing vouchers.

So I guess you know, I'm I'm fine with with kind of what um we heard from the speakers, right?

Let's try all the things.

Um I do feel very uncomfortable setting up something that in this ordinance at least, the way it's or um this resolution at the way it's written, says that if you relapse, you're not in the program anymore.

And so I do really um strongly encourage HHH to think through what that can mean.

I like the the approach that Ms.

Braden was saying because I I do feel um very uncomfortable setting standards for people to receive assistance that are higher than the standards by which I live.

So thank you.

Counselor Rogers Madam President, I just um what the commentary said about you know HHH, you know, have has had a lot of funding to you to come up with how we administer all of our voucher programs and the work that Counselor Grout and I are doing in the work, you know, the work group around vouchers.

Um I personally don't think that you know adding another one to that until we figure out our processes on our current ones.

Um really us.

Um I also agree I think we should we're gonna come up with having department come up with a plan, let's let ACS also put in a plan.

Let's have HHH put our plan, let's have a CS put together a plan.

Bring it back to council and we decide which plan is better and which one we want to fund.

Um because continuing to continue to um put all our ends on this basket for vouchers isn't working.

It's just not working.

And so um also this body continues to vote down any chances I had of putting a plan together to come up with an idea and continuing to be like this body doesn't want us to plan and come back with a I'm just interested in why that now when we I personally tried to come up with some plans that didn't get support from this council and so I just think personally we need to get handle on bird vouchers that already have have have a stewardship over and let's let some other departments put this money to give out the any other questions or comments, counselors?

Councillor Grout to close.

Thank you.

I have just uh two things to say.

Um Miss Miss Abby Stiles, could you clarify HUD requirements for sobriety?

Miss Stiles Council Chair and Councillor Grout.

Um those may have changed recently, and I think that I would need to get back to you on that to be sure.

Um it had been HUD had been using a housing first model for the most part previously, but I'm not sure if there have been changes with the recent administration, so I would have to get back to you.

Okay, though thank you, Madam President.

Madam President, the last that we had heard, they don't have such requirements for sobriety.

And then I wanted to also mention that literally nowhere in this resolution.

Does it say we're going to kick the people out if they relapse?

We're leaving it up to HH to come up with successful models for them and to help them out.

So let's let's give it a shot.

Twenty-five twenty-five vouchers.

I think let's give it a shot.

Seeing that as the closed, the motion is for a due pass of R 179.

Counselor, uh, Madam Clerk.

Counselor Baker.

Yes.

Councilor Champagne.

Yes.

Counselor People Corn?

Yes.

Councilor Grab.

Yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Vice President Pena?

Yes.

Counselor Rogers.

Yes.

President of the Sun.

Yes.

Passes unanimously.

Counselors, there is nothing under other business.

Who has questions for the administration?

Councillor Grout.

Thank you.

Madam President, I have one question.

We had um someone reach out to us.

Um the mayor had announced a moratorium on road construction projects during the state fair and balloon fiesta.

Um, but there were lanes closed on San Mateo for fiber optic cable installation on San Mateo last week.

So why are we still closing the lanes?

Mr.

Montoya.

Madam President, Councillor Grout, I'm going to read into the record a response from Director Turner.

Okay.

Sounds good.

The constituent correctly notes the existence of the moratorium.

However, in certain situations, we get limited exceptions for safety reasons.

The only contractor permitted to work on San Mateo from Central to I 25 last week was ARE Telecommunications on behalf of Vexis Fiber.

They were originally permitted to work at various locations on San Mateo, Osuna, and Academy.

They were supposed to be off of San Mateo last month.

The original start date was 7225.

And their original completion date was mid-August.

Due to some unforeseen circumstances related to utility conflicts, the contractor had to extend their permit through nine thirty twenty-five.

Madam President, thank you.

Any other questions, Counselors?

There being no further business, this meeting is adjourned.