The council met in regular session on October 6, 2025, beginning with a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting featured two proclamations recognizing Disability Employment Awareness Month and Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Presentations included updates on gross receipts tax, opioid settlement funds, and the street crack-sealing program. The council took action on multiple resolutions and ordinances, including naming a multi-generational center, approving legislative priorities for the 2026 state session, and allocating opioid settlement funds. Several items were deferred or discussed at length, including a proposed emergency park turf fund and an aviation department capital improvement plan including a new observation deck at the Sunport.
Good evening, everyone. Good evening, everyone. It's the 39th meeting of the 26th Council, and we will come to order. All counselors are present this evening. We're going to begin with a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance in English and in Spanish. 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, Gov TV on Comcast Channel 16, the Gov TV website, YouTube, and Zoom webinar. The live streams can be accessed from most smartphones, tablets, or computers. Also, this meeting is closed captioned, and you may enable your 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. I will provide one warning to anyone causing a disruption. Upon the second or continued disruption, that individual will be asked to leave the chambers and if necessary, security will be asked to escort that person out of the chambers. Such removal from the council chambers will be effective for the remainder of the meeting. If continued disruptions occur, I may recess the meeting until order is restored and if necessary may clear the chambers of persons participating in the disturbance. The meeting will go a lot smoother if we are respectful of one another. We are going to begin with proclamations and presentations this evening. Councilor Pena. Thank you, Madam President. I move that the rules be suspended for the purpose of allowing more than four proclamations per councilor per calendar year. Second. There's a motion and multiple seconds. Madam Clerk. We can just raise hands tonight. Oh, thank you for the reminder. All right, all those counselors in favor, raise your hand and say yes. Yes. Yes. Anyone opposed? That passes unanimously. Councillor Penya. Thank you, Madam President. So I'd like to ask the following people to come up to the podium. Peggy Graham with Mandy's Farm, Melissa McCook McHugh with Mandy's Farm, Alicia DeVargas with Mandy's Farm, Jeff Levine with the New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilit Rehabilitation, Chris Slov with Pomegranate Orchards LLC. So as you guys are making your way to the podium, I'm going to just start reading the uh proclamation. And thank you, Counselors, for joining me in this. Whereas October 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month. And whereas the purpose of Disability Employment Awareness Month is to celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities and to showcase supportive policies and practices that benefit employees and employers alike. And whereas the City of Albuquerque is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities through its dedication to the Americans with Disabilities Act. And whereas the City of Albuquerque treated the created an ADA Title II coordinator position in 2019 to address concerns about resident accessibility to city programs, services, and facilities. And whereas on August 17th, 2020, the City Council adopted R 2084, directing the City of Albuquerque's Office of Equity and Inclusion, Human Resources Department, and the Economic Development Department to collaborate with local disability employment providers to explore opportunities for creating employment opportunities among persons with disabilities. And whereas in September 2025, the City of Albuquerque created the Pathways to Public Service Program in partnership with LSG and Associates Inc. and New Mexico's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, which onboards adults with disabilities through a 12 week paid volunteer rotation to introduce them to city departments and results in a two year internship placement.