Albuquerque City Council Meeting Summary - January 5, 2026
Albuquerque City Council Meeting - January 5, 2026
The Albuquerque City Council convened for the first meeting of the 27th Council on January 5, 2026, marked by the election of new leadership including President Clarissa Penya and Vice President Crystal Champagne. The meeting featured a tributes to the late community leader Geraldine "Jerry" Griego, updates on traffic safety, cannabis tax, and local economic development grants, and significant debates regarding renter protections, employee compensation, and budgetary priorities. The Council ultimately voted to sustain a veto on the budget oversight ordinance and deferred a funding adjustment for the "Heading Home" rental assistance program pending further audit clarification.
Consent Calendar
- Unanimous approval of the December 15, 2025 journal and the letter of introduction for the Open Space Advisory Board appointment (OC2).
- Unanimous approval of R1 increasing "Heading Home" funding (later deferred) and R205 requiring quarterly operations reports from public safety departments (deferred to January 21).
- Withdrawal of OC59 regarding the investigation into the City Attorney's conduct, as an investigation was already underway.
- Unanimous approval of the consent agenda for board and commission appointments.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jerry Griego Tribute: Family members, including her son Frank Griego, expressed profound gratitude for the proclamation, highlighting her 35 years of dedication to the McKinley neighborhood, specifically regarding park improvements, traffic safety, and neighborhood beautification.
- Traffic Safety: Council staff and public commenters discussed the need for continued education on the new traffic laws protecting vulnerable road users, with Director Jennifer Turner confirming the campaign includes billboards, radio spots, and social media.
- Homelessness and Sweeps (General Public Comment): Multiple residents and advocates, including Dr. Lisa Christofferson, Carlos Michelin, Brittany Means, and Crystal Garcia, expressed strong opposition to recent sweeps of unhoused populations, describing them as ineffective and inhumane. They urged the Council to adopt a moratorium on sweeps, increase funding for affordable housing and vouchers, and support "Quirky Books" against fines. Conversely, Steve Holman and Patricia Wilson opposed housing code amendments (IDO), citing concerns about process transparency and potential property tax impacts.
- Renter Protections (ID 0102): Public speakers like Dr. Lisa Christofferson and Ryan Swinney expressed strong support for the Rental Practices Ordinance to cap application fees and eliminate penalty fees, citing the financial hardship caused by arbitrary costs. The Apartment Association of New Mexico testified in opposition, arguing the bill duplicates state law and creates legal conflicts.
- Budget and Employee Compensation: During the discussion on the one-time employee payment (R219), union representative Augustine Romero emphasized the need for recurring salary increases to ensure retention and morale, while Councilor Februar noted the critical need to fund employees but acknowledged the fiscal constraints.
Discussion Items
- Leadership Elections: The Council elected Clarissa Penya as President, Crystal Champagne as Vice President, and Carol Grout as Chair of the Committee of the Whole through roll call votes.
- Traffic Safety Campaign: Director Jennifer Turner presented an update on the educational campaign for the traffic code updates passed in November, detailing progress on vulnerable road user training for city operators and the development of a public branding campaign.
- Cannabis and Gross Receipts Tax: City Economist Christine Berners reported that Gross Receipts Tax grew 5.2% in October, though underlying growth is closer to the budgeted 3.8% when excluding a one-time $3.5 million state error correction. Cannabis tax collections showed a 5% growth.
- Economic Development (Ordinance 0106): The Council approved LEDA grant funding for "New Mexico Nexus," a business accelerator in the Mesa del Sol district. The project is expected to create over 1,200 high-paying jobs. A floor amendment was added to explicitly emphasize local hiring preferences.
- Rental Practices Ordinance (Ordinance 0102): A lengthy debate ensued regarding codifying state Senator Bill 267. While Councilor Rogers sponsored the bill to enforce tenant protections against hidden fees, Councilors Champagne and Lewis raised concerns about preemption of state law and potential duplicative fines. Councilor Rogers introduced amendments to align enforcement mechanisms with landlord feedback, including a $250 fine structure and mediation options. The Assembly debated whether the City Council has the capacity to enforce these ordinances compared to relying on the State Attorney General.
- Budget Cleanup and Compensation (R215 and R219): The Council discussed the FY25 mid-year budget cleanup and the allocation of the general fund balance. Councilor Rogers moved to allocate $200,000 from Fund 265 (Grants) to Council Services for senior case management, which was debated regarding separation of powers before being redirected to Senior Affairs. Councilor Febrero introduced R219 to provide a one-time 1% supplemental compensation payment to city employees. A floor amendment by Councilor Lewis was added to prioritize lower-paid employees if funds are insufficient. The Council agreed to take all amendments and pass the cleanup bill to meet audit deadlines.
- Capital Projects (R216): Several amendments were passed to update the Capital Improvement Program, including a $5 million grant for Balloon Fiesta Park improvements (ADA ramps and escarpment stabilization), impact fee updates, and Eisenhower Splash Pad renovations.
- Discretionary Funds (RA9): A motion to increase Councilor discretionary funds from $20,000 to $50,000 per year was debated. Councilor Grout offered an amendment to increase the amount to $25,000 (a 25% increase). This amendment failed, as did the original motion to increase to $50,000, due to fiscal concerns regarding the current general fund balance.
- Budget Oversight (EC 11): The Council considered overriding the Mayor's veto on the budget proposal process ordinance. Following arguments from Councilors Champagne, Rogers, and Baca regarding the need for transparency and collaboration, the Council voted to sustain the Mayor's veto (1-8), meaning the original ordinance does not pass.
- Housing Transparency (M7): The Council unanimously passed a memorial supporting proposed state legislation to require transparency in local planning review processes for new housing.
Key Outcomes
- Leadership: Clarissa Penya (President), Crystal Champagne (Vice President), Carol Grout (Committee of the Whole Chair) were officially elected.
- Traffic Safety: The Council received a progress update on the public awareness campaign for the new vulnerable road user laws.
- Economic Development: Ordinance 0106 was passed unanimously (8-0) to approve the LEDA grant for the "New Mexico Nexus" project, with a floor amendment emphasizing local hiring.
- Renters Ordinance: Ordinance 0102 was passed as amended after significant debate; amendments were adopted to adjust enforcement procedures and fines based on input from landlords and tenants.
- Budget Cleanup: Resolution R215 was passed unanimously (9-0), incorporating amendments to fund senior case management ($200,000), a one-time employee payment of 1% (R219), and other FY25 cleanup adjustments to ensure audit compliance.
- Employee Compensation: Resolution R219 was passed unanimously, authorizing a one-time 1% supplemental payment to city employees, contingent on the final fiscal year 2025 audit results.
- Budget Oversight Veto: The Council voted 1-8 to sustain the Mayor's veto of EC 11 (Budget Proposal Process Ordinance), effectively rejecting the bill due to separation of powers concerns and the desire to negotiate a conference committee approach in the future.
- Capital Projects: Resolution R216 was passed unanimously, incorporating a $5 million state grant for Balloon Fiesta Park improvements and other CIP amendments.
- Housing Transparency: Memorial M7 was passed unanimously to support state legislation on housing permitting data.
- Deferrals: R1 (Heading Home funding increase) was deferred to January 21 pending fund balance clarification. R205 (quarterly operations reports) was deferred to January 21.
Note: There was a discrepancy noted in the transcript regarding the fund source for the Senior Case Management amendment; while Councilor Rogers suggested Fund 265, Administration advised that the General Fund was the primary source available, a point of contention not fully resolved before the vote.
Meeting Transcript
We're good. Okay, I did the gavel, it's official. All right, welcome. It's January 5th, 2026. Happy New Year. It's the first meeting of the 27th Council, and we will come to order. All counselors are present this evening. Tonight we're going to begin with a moment of silence, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance in English and then in Spanish. 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 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 the top any time on the city council's website. Council staff is available via telephone if members of the public need assistance finding the videos online. Please call 505-768-310 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. Thank you, Madam President. Um tonight our proclamation is um because we over the holidays lost one of our best community leaders from District 7, Miss Jerry Griego. And so we are doing a proclamation in her honor, and we've asked her family to be here. So I'm gonna ask um Jerry's son Frank to come on down along with her daughter, Mary Ann. Jerry's sister Jean Cruz is here, and Tony Lopez, a family friend. So whereas Geraldine Jerry Griego and her family moved to Solano Street in District 7, McKinley neighborhood in the late 1960s, and whereas Jerry was an active member of the McKinley Neighborhood Association for over 35 years, served as president for many years, and made personal visits and calls to keep her neighbors informed about issues and how they could help. Whereas a young mother, a mother with two young children, Jerry was concerned about the park and recreational facilities in her area and worked with local officials to make improvements to Grisham Park, Montgomery Pool, and other sites. And whereas Jerry's concern about traffic speed and pedestrian safety along Candelaria between Carlisle and San Mateo led to street lighting improvements along that one mile stretch. And Jerry also led in getting changes made to the busy intersection of Montclair and Shepherd Road. And whereas Jerry got the area involved with the city's neighborhoods beautification program, which she promoted by walking door to door through the entire McKinley neighborhood, leading to the planting of hundreds of new trees, and her efforts led to the twice yearly neighborhood large item cleanup with dumpsters at Grisham Park. Whereas Jerry cared about the schools in her area, including Bel Air Elementary, McKinley Midschool, and Del Norton High School, attending many activities and fundraisers and putting information on the signs at Grisham and Caldware Parks, Caldwell, Cardwell Parks. And whereas Jerry was a loving friend, daughter, wife, mother, and grandmother, caring for her own mother who lived to be 98, traveling to Colorado to watch games and events involving her twin granddaughters, and making frequent trips to her hometown of Taos to be part of extended family reunions and traditions. And whereas Jerry wanted to keep local area streets and homes safe and commercial businesses thriving. And whereas Jerry's can do attitude, persistence, and commitment to her McKinley neighborhood and the city of Albuquerque is honored and recognized. Be it proclaimed that the council, the governing body of the city of Albuquerque, hereby honors the memory and legacy of Jerry Griego for her decades of dedicated service to the McKinley neighborhood and the city of Albuquerque, and calls on all residents to carry forward her spirit of community engagement and commitment to making Albuquerque a safer and more beautiful place to call home. I'm honored to be able to give this proclamation to you and the family here. Half the audience is here for Jerry, which is just a testament to how amazing she was. So I'd like to, Madam President, give her son Frank a moment to speak if he would like first of all, good evening, um, members of the city council, Madam President. My name is Frank Griego, and I'm joined by my family and friends, my sister and my mom's sister, Jane Cruz. I want to sincerely thank you for this proclamation, honoring my late mother, Geraldine Griego from Taos, New Mexico. This recognition means more to us than I can fully express. Our mother loved this city and the neighborhood she lived in. She believed deeply in community, kindness, and showing up for others in our neighborhood. She would also tell me at times when I asked her to move out of the neighborhood, maybe because of some crime or you know, unruly events that happened in our neighborhood, and she would turn around and tell me I am not moving out of my neighborhood. This is my neighborhood. Shh. She is should be so grateful for this honor. And really, we really want to express our gratitude to Miss Tammy Febblehorn and Janet Sayers, if you wouldn't mind, I'll stand it back there to helping us, and also the McKinley Neighborhood Association, who helped in this particular honor tonight. My mother was someone who gave her time and her heart and her strength to those around her, especially her neighbors in McKinley neighborhood. She taught us the importance of compassion, hard work, and standing up for what is right.
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