Welcome everyone.

Today is May 4th.

May the 4th be with you, according to Vice President Champagne here.

The 10th meeting of the 27th Council will come to order.

All counselors are present this evening with Councilor Rogers joining us via Zoom.

Next, we are on to the moment of silence.

So please uh join me in the moment of silence, followed by the pledge in English and in Spanish.

You know, Mr.

Cornelius just moving forward.

I think it would be like awesome just to have it in Spanish on the screen.

So for those, so maybe people can join us both in English and in Spanish.

That'd be awesome.

We are now on to uh Vice President Champagne.

Thank you, Madam President.

Civic parking classes uh are provided for members of the public.

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

Uh 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.

This 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 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 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.

And regard with decorum in the chambers.

We want tonight's proceedings to be as civil and respectful as possible.

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

The president 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 city council chambers will be effective for the remainder of the meeting.

If continued disruptions occur, the president may recess the meeting until order is restored, and if necessary, may clear the chambers of persons participating in that disturbance.

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

Counselors, we will move on to administration question and answer.

Counselors have any questions.

Councilor Basson.

Mr.

Vice President, I don't really have a question, but I just wanted to make sure to take a moment to say thank you to Code Enforcement and to the planning department for their proactive work at Lindy's.

I grew up going to breakfast at that restaurant with my grandpa and visited with Narki, who was the original owner.

It was sad to see the building fall, but it was really heartwarming to know that there was no one in it.

And I just wanted to make sure to say a few words just to make sure that code enforcement knows that they are yet again appreciated.

Thank you, Councilor Person.

Counselor Grump.

Thank you, madam, uh Mr.

Vice President.

Um I just had not any questions, but just some um comments for Jess Martinez and the youth and family services.

Thank you for the singing arrow multicultural arts festival.

It was a very nice day, and we had so many children and families participating, and um, you just have a wonderful staff.

So I wanted to say thank you for all that they did.

It made it one a wonderful day for the families.

And then also to Dave Simon, uh director Dave Simon and Parks and Rec.

Um, I wanted to say thank you to Gloria Chabis and the parks maintenance staff because the park really looked nice this year.

Excuse me.

It was it was a the grass is really green and trimmed and and it was just really pleasant.

And it was nice to see people out there enjoying the day.

Um so thank you for all of that.

And then I wanted to thank you for leading by example.

You are you are appreciated, so thank you.

Thank you, Councillor Ground.

Counselor Bacuman, thank you, Mr.

Vice Chair.

This will be one of those rare days where I actually have QA.

Um given Lindy's uh like to bring up uh Director Varela for a quick few questions.

Anybody from his staff um Madam President, Counselor Bach, I'm not sure where um Director Varella is.

Um potentially based on multiple departments that are working.

Okay, I'll start with um Chief Chief Barker first, then thank you, Chief.

Thank you, Matt.

Um Mr.

Chair.

I know we have a I have a safety bill on tonight that everyone's uh or at least a lot of folks have tried to make it out to be about one specific topic, and I want folks to understand that this is a much broader uh issue.

Uh it really is safety and economic development um as a whole, and so um you know, one one area myself.

I have two young kids who live downtown, and these days I don't really let them out after about 9 30 because I really worry on the weekends, and so I wanted to uh uh Mr.

Garrett, if you could throw these online and uh if uh Chief Barker, you know, these are homicides and shootings just in the downtown area uh for the last few years.

If you could just a quick overview, Chief.

I appreciate it.

Council of President and Counselor Baca.

Um the data is uh from 2003 to 2006 or 2026, um, and it covers firearms um involved in shootings and then also homicides uh in the downtown area uh that are done with the firearm.

The downtown data uh encompasses Loomus East Broadway, south to Cole, west to 8th Street, and north to Loomis.

So just a quick overview.

2023 firearm homicides in downtown were three total incidents, one firearm recovered, one individual arrested, and the victims were ages 37 to 73.

In 2023, shootings with injury in the downtown area were 11 with seven firearms recovered, four individuals arrested, four victims refused to cooperate, ages 22 to 52.

2024 firearm homicides in downtown were five.

All of the suspects in those incidents were arrested, seven total.

Five firearms were recovered with victims being between uh 13 and 51 years old.

If I could pause you right there, 13 and 17-year-old victims, and a 16-year-old uh arrested.

But that's the age of my kids.

They shouldn't be downtown at that time, but they are 17 and 13-year-old downtown died.

Please continue.

2024 shooting with injury in downtown is 11 total incidents, nine firearms recovered, nine suspects arrested.

Uh two of the victims um refused to cooperate, and they were ages 18 to 58.

2025 firearm homicides in downtown was one.

The victim was 34 years old, and there was three suspects arrested in that incident.

2025 shooting with injury downtown, 11 total incidents, seven firearms were covered, 11 suspects arrested out of uh 14 and the victims were ages 19 through 50.

In 2026, uh the homicides that we've had are two involving firearms.

Two suspects were arrested, three firearms were recovered, and the victims were ages 22 and 25, and then 2026 shooting with injury in the downtown area is one with two victims and an unknown suspect, and the victim was 20 years old.

Thank you.

And so now, of course, this doesn't account for all the assaults, all the fightings, just random shootings, many of which I've been a witness to.

Um any number you could put to that, Chief, or is that just counselor, President and Counselor Baca.

Um, obviously, a downtown safety is a huge concern that we continue to address and make arrests um when necessary, but you are right, it does not include the total of assaults and batteries that have occurred in that area.

So you can see this is you know, the obvious solution or the easiest solution to get at the root of this would be gun control, you know, sensible gun control, uh, banning guns that used actually not even banning, right?

It's only assault rifles that were banned, so that would only account for like three of these.

Um but I can't do that, right?

There's no way we can do any of that in this day and age, um, whether we wanted to or not.

Um, but we can address having kids downtown or getting people to go go home after the bars have closed.

Um we can do something about that.

Um that's a really important point.

Um, and it and it's more than just this, right?

There's our businesses, there's a grocery store that just went up for sale.

Um, there's been assaults, there's been shootings in that area.

We lost the pharmacy.

And when I say we, I say the community as whole, right?

Downtown population is about 1,200.

Um, Reynolds neighborhood is about three 3,000, Barelas is another 3,000, Huning Highlands is another 2,000.

You know, this is these are cornerstones of a healthy, safe community that are on the verge, either are being lost or on the verge of being lost.

And this is a big part of it is the safety of folks down there.

It's it's on the news all the time.

We all know that.

Everyone thinks downtown is the worst place to be.

Um I I live here, so obviously I don't feel that way, but uh and I and I'm biased.

Um, and and we're all here right now because it's so dangerous that we can't even go home.

Um so this so when people think this is this bill is one topic, it is not one topic, it is multiple things that are trying to be addressed.

Um I wish, I wish I could fix everything with the magic law, but that's that's not the case, right?

There's a whole lot here that's going on beyond this.

Um and I'm part of it, right?

I I don't know how many times I get called out at night to help, how many times I've called for help, how many times I've called in uh overdoses, how many times I've called in or done the Narcan.

Um I've literally been out there many, many times over the years doing this sort of thing.

And this is only three years worth of data.

This isn't like the last 10 years, and and one year of this is just two right now.

We still have the rest of this year to go.

And I believe uh if I'm correct on this, uh Chief Berker, but the Valley Command is actually up as a whole this year, correct?

Council President and Councilor Baca, uh, the Valley Area Command is up in comparison to last year.

Um as far as homicides go, uh, five of the eight cases have been solved in 2026.

Five of the eight, okay.

So we have eight.

That's a lot, that's even one is too many.

Eight's a lot for just one part of our town.

This is not the entire city, this is just one part of our city.

So thank you, Chief.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Madam President, thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Director or Director Varela.

Um, as Counselor uh Brooke or Councilor Bassan said it a moment ago, you know, we lost we lost a little bit of our of our downtown, a little bit of our soul here this this past couple weeks ago in Lindy's diner collapsing.

Um I don't know how many times I had breakfast and lunch that with my kids.

I know we all we all had a bit of that.

Um, and of course that brings to light the idea of okay, are other buildings potentially having this problem?

Are they not?

Is there something we can do?

Um I got asked tons of constituents by that.

Um of the things when it when I was down there right after the collapse with the inspector, I was talking to her, and she pointed out some of the steel beams that have been put in place to protect the building previously.

Um but she also said if I had been able to see the second floor, I probably could have stopped prevented some of this, or at least we could have been more proactive.

Um and you know, think kudos to her and everybody that's that's helped out.

Thankfully, no one was hurt.

Um, that woman has more stones than I do walking up into that building right after the collapse.

Um so thank you to her.

Uh in any case, uh, one of the things I've told several folks is why we this is part of the vacancy ordinance that this body passed last year uh to try and get ahead of some of these things, these vacant buildings that have been empty for decades.

Um last year we limited it to just the first floor.

I'm thinking now maybe we should take it to the second floor.

Um, and I did introduce an amendment for that.

But I but I want to ask you, Director Vadetta, an update on the on the vacancy report from last year, and then just how in depth do we get into that?

I know do people actually go into the buildings or not?

And this isn't uh by no means a saga, this is just informational where we're at.

Council president and uh counselor.

We all share the same sadness, I believe, over seeing a uh a building that at one time was very attractive, uh, end up in the condition that it was, and then start collapsing before our very eyes.

And fortunately, we did get in there early enough, order them closed, uh, make them close a restaurant as well.

The collapse occurred, I believe it was uh five minutes before noon or five minutes after noon, which tells us there would have been people in there eating and possibly people walking in and out right at that same time.

So I think code enforcement um uh did a great job and probably saved possibly lives, certainly people from getting injured.

The uh uh the update on the downtown uh vacancy uh property ordinance is that uh we had a total of 137 properties that were in the perimeter of of that area.

Uh there were approximately 23 properties that we had to bring into compliance, which means that we had to make them register their vacant buildings.

Uh 19 of those one way or another came into compliance, some of them uh very quickly, some of them not quite so quickly after going through a civil process.

We still have approximately four that are still in the civil fine process.

And so we will we will continue to stay on that and drag them through the process and make them get their building registered.

The vacant building registration is not a structural inspection, it is a process where we go through and we determine whether a building is occupied or not, uh, at least within what's in the ordinance, and that was basically attributable to the first floor.

And I think uh from our understanding, sim, the intent behind that was we wanted to make sure that the downtown was not sitting there idle and blighted, and so that if we could at least get the street level uh businesses going, that would be a very good thing.

And so that's our understanding of the intent behind it, but it's not a structural inspection.

Uh we don't go in and uh inspect structures of buildings unless we have a reason to.

Code enforcement cannot get a warrant to go into a building unless we have some type of evidence that we can present to a judge showing that we have uh more than likely either clear and convincing or possibly even uh some sort of probability that there is a uh a substandard property.

So there's there's a challenge here with code enforcement being able to just go in and demand to see a building.

The um the city does inspect through the fire marshal's office, I believe, at least on an annual basis, the buildings did and they do go in to determine if there are fire dangers.

Uh maybe that sort of inspection would reveal some of those issues, but I don't know.

I can't speak for the fire marshal's office.

If the city wanted to extend the uh scope of the vacant uh building registration to also buildings that are vacant on the second floor, then I don't know that it would really go after solving this particular problem.

I I've thought about it a lot, and I don't know.

And this is this is a policy decision purely for city council because it would place a cost on the owners of the buildings.

Maybe buildings of certain age uh need to be examined by a structural engineer with some sort of a certification provided to the city that they're structurally sound.

Uh the the city doesn't employ structural engineers.

This would be something that would probably have to be done by some type of certified third party uh at the at the cost of the building owners.

That that would be one way to go and try to do that.

I imagine that would run into quite a bit of expense because that engineering firm would be putting their license and the reputation on the line and their insurance would be uh implicated in that because they're gonna have to sign off on a certification of some type.

But but that that's one possible approach for city council to to discuss and do that.

I don't know that uh saying that you can't have your second floor vacated or you have to register is really gonna have to go in and go after that particular issue.

The uh this this building in particular was uh quite well guarded in a sense.

The uh owner claimed to uh some people they didn't have access to the top, they didn't have keys.

I I had heard that at one point.

The repair that you can see when you look at the damage, which is a big I-beam that is on the first floor holding up the second floor, uh, with some uh with some some iron poles holding up the I-beam was done back in 1995.

So that was uh you know, 30 years ago, a little over 30 years ago, and that may have helped at the time to prevent sagging, but when you have a brick building, in this case it was triple brick, so it was three bricks wide, that was that was the exterior wall.

That was holding up the the roof up on top as well as the floor for the second floor.

When you lift up that second floor, you actually take some of your leverage, some of your pressure off of those bricks, and instead of those things being compressed down and held in place with that sort of pressure, they actually then can move.

So in the long run, that may have been a harmful repair that was done to the building.

I don't know.

Uh what needs to happen now is it needs to get shored up, or it needs to be and made safe and sealed up by the property owner.

We're in communication with them, or they will need to uh bring it down, but it certainly can't remain for much longer in the condition that it's in.

But we're happy to try to brainstorm and come up with some solutions to try to be more proactive and get information on these old buildings sooner so that we can go in and um get people to do what they're supposed to be doing when you own property, which is take care of it.

Right.

Thank you.

I think um you know, we we introduced an amendment to get something on the book right away because I think it is important.

There's so many buildings downtown that have been empty for decades.

Um I've been in a couple and I've been in part of Lindy's as well.

Um it is a concern, right?

I know I know the city of Miami completely changed their code after they lost an entire uh high rise, um, unfortunately.

So we'll definitely work with you over there and maybe make some tweaks on on this amendment.

But I think at least within this area of town where there's buildings connected to each other that are multiple stories that have not been seen in decades.

Um it makes sense to keep people safe in this case.

And thank goodness nobody was hurt.

Lindy's thank you, director.

Thank you.

Um, my last thing, uh Dr.

Single.

The Supreme Court ruling recently, we get to recoup our tariffs.

I know District 2 purchased a multi hog and some noise cameras from overseas, and we got some tariffs uh that we had to pay on that.

So I just want to see what the city's plan is on getting our money back.

Um, Madam President, Councillor Baca, um, I have been in discussion with the city attorney's office around the appropriate communications that we can have with any of our vendors that or contractors that we work with that we have had tariffs passed on to us.

Uh, we're crafting a clear communication that we have an expectation based upon the most recent um initiative and laws allowing for us sorry for importers to recoup tariffs that anything that was passed to us, we would expect both our contractors and vendors to pursue those reimbursements and then of course then pass those reimbursements on to the city.

So we are are working on that, and we will pursue any means we have that are law illegal for us to do so.

Thank you.

Uh and Madam President, one last very last thing this I meant to ask this of the director of Venela, but maybe you can answer this, Dr.

Single.

Um, back to Lindy's.

Um, I saw some videos the other day of people jumping the fence and running, and I'm really worried about either vandalism, theft of what's in there, or people looking for a place to sleep at night.

Um, do we have any kind of security going on over there?

Uh Madam President, Councillor Baca, we have um PSAs um and uh um I can't remember the second group that we're using metro security to secure the site 2024-7 at this point, based upon the fact that we recognize that there is obviously an opportunity for individuals to to breach uh the fence line as well as the barricades that we've put up.

Um we are aware of the individual that is on social media, uh guess trying attempting to get a piece of history um, but you know, we do believe it's really important for the public to understand there is nothing safe inside that um barrier, and no one should be within that barrier in terms of whether or not we have no reassurance that the building won't come down at any time any further, and or um inside the building is definitely not uh safe or secure at this point, and so um please ask the public to remain outside those barriers as we continue to secure it.

Is um you know, private uh a private site, but we are taking the public safety very clear, uh very um serious.

That includes why we have the traffic diversion plan that we currently have, and we are working with the downtown businesses to attempt to modify but keep people face keep folks safe.

Yeah, thank thank you.

I think asbestos was found there, and that would be the least of my concerns.

We were more worried about the lead and other toxins from a hundred years ago.

Thank you.

No more questions.

Thank you, Councillor Brocker.

Counselor Rogers.

Thank you, Mr.

Vice President.

Hi everybody, I just have want to get something on the record with artist and culture.

And I'm excited to report we got an update this week about the Route 66 banners.

Um, so I just wanted to see if we had uh a final installation date.

I think we said that was either gonna be the week of May 11th or May 18th.

And while someone is coming up, uh Garrett, can you show the banners, the new banners?

So I just wanted to show those much better, and then we have the Highland ones, and then last the Silver Hill.

Thank you, Garrett.

And I see we have um thank you, Diego.

Madam President, Councillor Rogers.

Yeah, we actually got an email last week that the bounders that are delivered on Fridays, we expect them to be in hand this week, and we've kind of prioritized installing late this week or early next week.

So within the next couple weeks, we should have all three of those up in up and good.

Awesome.

Well, thank you so much.

Just from the all the constituents that have been waiting.

Thank you y'all so much for for working with us to get those fixed.

Yes, absolutely.

Appreciate it.

And then I think the next one would be just um we're getting calls again, and not for arts and culture, so thank you, Mr.

Lacero.

Um, but uh maybe DMD, we're getting more calls about our fiber optic friends and a new fiber optic partner from T Mobile.

So I just wanted to get uh update on their contract with the city and have they been updated on all of the regulations of notification and and who is our contact.

Does the city have a contact with them?

Um for the new fiber optic person and people in town.

Um Madam President, Councilor Rogers.

Um I will check into specifically how much interaction we've had with Team Team Mobile recently.

I'm sure uh Miss Nicola will be able to give us real clarity around most recent communications with T Mobile.

I do know that downtown we had a couple um instances this weekend where some fiber was cut by not our our fiber companies but by another um utility contractor and it impacted some service.

So uh and I think it actually might have been um uh some relevant uh to what you're asking about as well.

So let me um get you a full update on that.

Thank you so much.

We are getting a lot of calls about those ones.

And then um I think uh the other last one is for Mr.

Varella for planning um or MRA possibly, but I just wanted to see if we have any updates on the San Mateo Tower project.

I started to see some movements, um, and so we've gotten quite a few calls from community asking about that project specifically and any updates about that.

Madam President, oh there I was gonna say you can't see that that they are coming.

Okay.

The uh are you and uh council president and uh counselor.

The shorter of the two towers already has gone through the permitting process and they have their permit.

The taller of the two towers has not gone through that process yet, but we do understand that they are working on finalizing their financing and making their arrangements, and then with more information in that regard, I have Director Brunner.

Uh yes, madam chair, counselor.

So um we are working through um their first drawdown on payments under uh their development agreement.

They're uh working through some financing scenarios that would allow them to start on the second tower as well.

Um, but I do want to emphasize because we received some calls on this, that they are renovating um that building from the interior outward.

So um you're not likely to see a lot of exterior activity.

Um, a lot of work is being done on the interior to clean out and the smaller of the two buildings what was exists inside of that building.

Thank you, directors.

I appreciate the updates, and I think we re reassure the neighbors all of the time of the same thing, and we've seen them put up on the fencing uh the barrier so things don't blow into the neighborhood and things like that.

So I just wanted to put it on the record so folks are reassured that that project is moving and we're excited, and there is a time clock right on the permit.

So once they pull the permit, they have a time limit of I believe two years to complete without having to get an extension.

Is that correct?

Or is it one year with an extension?

And council president and counselor, when a person gets a building permit at any type, they need to have at least their first inspection conducted within six months of getting the permit.

If not, then they can come in and request an extension before it expires and get a one-time extension.

And then it stays alive as long as they're having inspections take place because we know it often takes quite a while for construction project to be completed.

Wonderful.

Well, thank you for helping me put the mind these of our community members who are anxious to get that vacancy as we're talking about vacancies off uh off the books.

Thank you so much.

We'll move on to proclamations and presentations.

Counselor Grove.

Thank you, Mr.

Vice President.

Um, this evening we have a proclamation recognizing National Foster Family Appreciation Month.

To accept this evening are Miss Marilyn Beck and Ms.

Ann McKinney from New Mexico Child First Network and Mr.

Josiah Garcia, soon to be Mr.

Josiah Alvarado and his forever parents, Mr.

Martin and Erica Alvarado.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Keep her being here.

I'm gonna read a proclamation first.

Okay, and then I'll let you talk.

Okay.

Okay.

All right.

Whereas safe, healthy children are the key to a safe, healthy future for our community.

And whereas during those unfortunate times when children cannot safely remain in their primary homes, community members who open their hearts and homes to foster children provide a vital service.

And whereas nationally, one in three foster families quit within their first year of fostering, and New Mexico has unique challenges that make the job even more challenging.

And whereas quality foster recruitment, quality foster parent recruitment and retention is the foundation of fixing our broken foster care system and getting kids out of state offices and into caring homes.

And whereas Josiah Garcia, hopefully soon to be Alvarado, is a student at Sandia High School and has been in foster care for over six years, and is soon to be adoptive and forever parents.

Martin and Erica Alvarado are a model of a successful foster family.

And whereas Josiah is dual enrolled at CNM and has been working on a year-long project to recruit and retain foster families.

And whereas great foster families strengthen our community by helping children grow into healthy, confident, and productive adults.

Be it proclaimed that the council, the governing body of the city of Albuquerque, hereby joins the nation in recognizing May as national foster family appreciation month in honor of the foster parents who help our most vulnerable children to move beyond surviving to thriving.

And I want to thank you, Josiah, for being here and sharing your story with us.

I know you've prepared something for us, and it's a little bit interactive people in the audience.

And he's also we're also going to share a video.

So if you'll just um stay, please stay with uh bear with us while we get through this.

I'm very proud of you, Josiah, for all the great things that you're doing, and your future looks super bright.

Okay, thank you.

Um, before I begin, I want to ask a quick question.

By a show of hands, who here in this room has ever, even for a second, thought about fostering.

Oh fuck it's great.

Thank you.

Now keep your hand up if you ever actually followed through and became one.

If you're that right there, that is the problem with foster care today.

We have pro uh we have plenty of people with good intentions.

We have plenty of people with big hearts, but we have a massive gap between people who think about helping and the people who actually open their front door and the people who follow and the people falling through that gap there are kids like me.

I'm a foster kid.

I know what it's like to live on the other side of those lower hands.

I know what it's like to be a teenager in the system, old enough to realize I'm hard to place, but still young enough to desperately need a family to tell me I'm worth the effort.

I made the video you were about to see because I wanted to show you that teenagers and foster care aren't projects or problems to be solved.

We are new Mexicans, we are students, we are athletes, and we are the future of the city.

I made it because I'm tired of seeing my peers move from office to office or shelter to shelter, simply because people are afraid of the word teenager.

We don't need you to be perfect.

We don't need you to live in a mansion or have a PhD in psychology.

We need you to be a breed, a bridge for a teenager, a foster parent is the person who teaches us how to survive adulthood.

You're the one who helps us fill out a college app who teaches us how to change a flat tire, and who shows us that one mistake doesn't define our our whole lives.

And who shows us that one mistake doesn't define our our whole lives.

When you leave those hands down, the cycle continues.

But when you step up, you change the trajectory of a life forever.

You aren't just giving a kid a bed.

You are giving a human being a chance to finally stop running.

I'm asking you tonight to move from thinking to doing.

The organization that can help you bridge the gap is CYFD.

They have the tools, they have the training, and most importantly, they have the kids who are waiting for you right now.

As you watch this video, I want you to look at the faces on the screen.

Don't just be or don't just see a foster teen.

See a son.

See a daughter.

See a person who is one yes away from a totally different life.

Thank you.

Thank you, Josiah.

There are children who don't know where they'll sleep next week.

Children who pack their lives into trash bags.

Children who didn't choose the situations they were born into.

In New Mexico, thousands of kids are in foster care each year.

Many of them are right here in our city.

And there are simply not enough foster rooms for each of them.

That means some children are placed far away from their schools, their friends, and even their siblings.

I know this because I'm one of them.

I'm a foster kid.

I know what it feels like to wonder where you belong to walk into a new house and not know if it's temporary.

Or if someone finally might stay.

One family chose to show up.

You don't have to be perfect.

You don't have to be rich.

You don't have to have everything figured out.

You just have to be willing.

Willing to open your home, willing to open your schedule, willing to open your heart.

Anyone in the city has ability to change the the entire trajectory of a child's life.

Not forever, not flawlessly, but faithfully.

That means there are kids right now waiting.

Not for the perfect parents, just for someone.

Someone steady, someone patient, someone who says you matter here.

Maybe that's someone is you.

Maybe the extra bedroom in your home isn't just an office.

Maybe your next chapter isn't just about building your future.

Maybe it's about helping rebuild someone else's.

If you ever thought about fostering, even for a moment, don't ignore that thought.

Learn about it.

Ask questions.

Start the conversation.

Because one decision from you could become the turning point in a child's entire life.

Josiah, I'm so proud of you.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Josiah.

Miss Marilyn, could you tell us a little bit about what you do?

Oh, many of you.

I'm a former foster parent and also the executive director and founder of New Mexico Child First Network.

We are dedicated to improving the lives of children and families impacted by foster care.

Um your support, all of you sitting up there has just been incredible.

We are hosting our fourth annual fishing event at Tingley Beach on Saturday, June 19th.

Um 13th.

I don't know what those days are.

And I also just want to recognize we have quite a few foster families and families impacted by foster care, and if they could just stand and be recognized just for a minute.

Um this is a really special month.

It is hard to be a foster parent.

It is hard to be youth and care.

Um, and the appreciation and moment that you're giving us is just cannot be overstated.

So thank you.

And so we work to improve the lives of kids in foster care.

There are currently 2100 children in foster care across the state, and Berno Leo has almost Bernalio County has almost 60% of them.

There are children sleeping in offices every I mean the shelters are full, you know the problem, and we're just so grateful for the city council to take a moment.

Thank you.

Can you all come up?

You and Josiah come up and look.

We want to shake your hand.

I sure appreciate you guys for being here and the parents, the families that have opened their homes to all of these children.

Thank you.

So many of these families um foster a lot of children, and it's it's this family here, they have had up to 16 kids in their home at one time.

So there's a real need for for these for being a foster parent.

So I'm so grateful for everybody that is able to do so.

Thank you.

Yes, Councilor Grout.

I would thank you for that.

Um in allowing me to meet with the uh families earlier.

I was chatting with them.

They 16 with one washing machine.

He said it's constant, it never stops.

It was amazing.

I couldn't believe it.

Uh Madam President, uh, question and answer and proclamations are completed.

Thank you, Vice President Champagne.

So we are now on to the journal.

I move approval of the April 20th journal.

There's a motion and a second by Councillor Grout for approval and Madam Clerk.

Counselor Baca?

Yes.

Councilor Basson.

Yes.

Vice President Champagne?

Yes.

Counselor Peoplecorn?

Yes.

Councilor Grout.

Yes.

Councilor Lewis.

Excuse Counselor Rogers.

Yes.

Counselor Teas?

Yes.

President Pena.

Yes.

Passes on an 8-0 vote.

Thank you.

Um now we are on to communications and introductions.

Are there any um changes to the letter of introduction?

I'm gonna start with a couple for me.

It's EC 118.

I move the rules be suspended for the purpose of placing EC 118 on tonight's agenda for action.

EC 118 is a notification of grant applications submitted by the aviation department to the Department of Transportation for funding through the better utilizing investments to leverage development build grant programs.

So there's a motion second by Councilor Grout.

Any questions?

Um Madam Clerk.

Councilor Bacca?

Yes.

Councilor Bassan.

Yes.

Vice President Champagne?

Yes.

Counselor Peoplecorn.

Yes.

Councilor Grout?

Yes.

Counselor Lewis.

Yes.

Councilor Rogers.

Yes.

Counselor Teas.

Yes.

President Penyan?

Yes.

Passes unanimously.

Thank you.

The next one is EC 144.

I moved that the rules be suspended for the purpose of placing EC 144 on tonight's agenda for action.

EC 144 is a capital implementation program CIP indirect overhead IDOH FY27.

There's a motion second by Vice President Champaign.

Any questions?

Seeing none, Madam Clerk.

Counselor Baca.

Yes.

Counselor Passan.

Yes.

Vice President Champagne?

Yes.

Counselor Peoplecorn.

Yes.

Counselor Grout?

Yes.

Counselor Lewis.

Yes.

Councilor Rogers.

Yes.

Counselor Teas.

Yes.

President Penya?

Yes.

Passes unanimously.

Councilor Rogers, EC 119.

Thank you, Madam President.

I move to remove EC 119 from the letter of introduction.

It has been withdrawn by the administration.

Second.

I'm sorry, Councilor Rogers.

Um my script says move to the rules be suspended for the purpose of placing EC 119 on tonight's agenda.

Sure, some things have changed since the script is released.

So my motion I move to remove EC 119 from the letter of introduction because it has been withdrawn by the administration.

Oh, I see.

Thank you so much.

So there's a motion, and there was a second by Councillor Grout.

Any questions?

Madam Clerk.

Councilor Backa?

Yes.

Councilor Bassan.

Yes.

Vice President Champagne.

If it fails, does it stay on then?

And we have to discuss it.

I know we're in the middle of a vote, but I don't know the rules, so I need this in order to.

And Vice President, there's no discussion during the vote.

Yes.

Councilor Peoplecorn?

Yes.

Councilor Grout.

Yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Counselor Rogers.

Yes.

Councilor Teyas?

Yes.

President Pena.

Yes.

Passes unanimously.

Thank you.

We are on Councillor Rogers, R23.

Thank you, Madam President.

I move to remove R23 from the letter of an induction.

And I am withdrawing.

R23.

Second.

There's a motion and a second for withdrawal of R23.

Any questions?

Madam Clerk.

Oh.

One second.

Perfect thing.

Thank you.

Right in time.

I go back to my other question.

If and this isn't against anything, Council Rogers of knowledge.

If it is removed and it fails the vote, does it stay on and we have to address it then?

See this.

Madam President, Councilor Champagne.

If the motion for remove removal for from the letter introduction failed, we would entertain another motion for possibly immediate action.

Or if there was no other motions made, then it would just go to committee.

It would remain on the letter of introduction to go to committee.

Okay.

Thank you for the clarification.

Appreciate it.

Councilor Backa?

Yes.

Councilor Bassan.

Yes.

Vice President Champagne?

Yes.

Counselor Peoplecorn.

Yes.

Counselor Grout?

Yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Councilor Rogers.

Yes.

Counselor Teas.

Yes.

President Pena?

Yes.

Passes unanimously.

Thank you.

Um Councilor Peoplecorn R19.

Madam President, I move that the rules be suspended for the purpose of pulling R19 out of the Finance and Government Operations Committee and placing it on tonight's agenda for action.

R 19 is approving and authorizing the acceptance of the acceptance and use of grant funds for an amendment to the community energy efficiency development block grant act and authorizing an appropriation to the General Services Department in fiscal year 2026.

Second.

There's a motion and second by um Councilor Teas.

Questions?

Madam Clerk.

Councilor Backa?

Yes.

Councilor Bassan.

Yes.

Vice President Champagne?

Yes.

Counselor Peoplecorn.

Yes.

Councilor Grout?

Yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Councilor Rogers?

Yes.

Counselor Teas.

Yes.

President Pena?

Yes.

Passes unanimously.

Thank you.

I move approval approval of the letter of introduction.

Second.

There's a motion and a second by Vice President Champaign.

Any questions, Madam Clerk?

Councilor Backa?

Yes.

Councilor Bassan.

Yes.

Vice President Champagne.

Yes.

Councilor Peoplecorn?

Yes.

Councilor Grout.

Yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Councilor Rogers.

Yes.

Counselor Teez?

Yes.

President Pena.

Yes.

Passes unanimously.

We're on to reports of committee.

There are none this evening.

Um now we have uh deferrals and withdrawals.

Oh, that's interesting.

Um I guess the question from earlier was did we have to place it on the agenda first?

Is why it was asking.

I I mean, so we didn't, we can just automatically do the withdrawal.

Madam President, yes, that's correct.

It that's kind of an either or situation, but we have to okay because it was scripted.

I had assumed that we had to introduce it first.

Okay.

Thank you so much.

And then Vice President Um Champagne, did you have a question?

No, ma'am.

Okay, so then we will um move on to the consent agenda.

Are there any changes to the consent agenda?

Seeing none for the individuals on tonight's consent agenda who are appointed to serve on a border commission.

Thank you for your willingness to serve.

I move approval of the consent agenda.

Second.

There's a second by um Councilor Grout.

Any questions?

Madam Clerk.

Councilor Baca.

Yes.

Councilor Bassan.

Yes.

Vice President Champagne?

Yes.

Counselor Peoplecorn.

Yes.

Councilor Grout?

Yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Counselor Rogers.

Yes.

Counselor Teyas.

Yes.

President Pena.

Yes.

Passes unanimously.

Thank you.

We are now on to item nine, announcements.

Councilor Bassan.

Madam President, there will be an intergovernmental legislative relations committee meeting on Wednesday, May 6th at 3 p.m.

via Zoom video conference.

via Zoom Video Conference, and the land use planning and zoning committee meeting scheduled on Wednesday, May 13th at 5 p.m.

is canceled.

Okay.

There was one right before that, the intergovernmental.

I read that, Madam.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Councillor Grill.

Thank you, Madam President.

There will be two committee of the whole meetings on Thursday, May 7th and May 14th at 5 p.m.

in the Vincent E.

Griego Chambers, basement level of the Albuquerque Government Center.

These will be hybrid meetings.

Councilor Lewis.

Madam President, there's a finance government operations committee meeting on Monday, May 11th, 5 in the Council Committee Room, 9th floor suite 9003 of the Albuquerque Government Center.

Thank you, Councilor Lewis.

And we're now on to financial instruments.

There are none.

Appeals, there are none.

And now we are on uh 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 per the instructions published on the agenda and our website Friday.

Here are the public comment ground rules.

Each participant has one minute to present comments and are addressed to the counselors only through the council president.

Any disruptive conduct will result in removal from the meeting.

There is a one-minute time limit, and the bell will ring to indicate your time is up.

And Mr.

Cornelius, will you call the first speaker?

Thank you, Madam President.

Our first speaker is D.

Ivy, followed by Adam Silverman.

Can this be shown me over here?

Excuse me.

Thank you.

Can I start speaking?

Madam President and City Councilors.

As back in uh February, I promise to be here tonight.

I'm back to give you the city's final report card for this school year from the safe rooster school committee at Wilson Middle School and Whittier Elementary.

The city has truly stepped up, and I am happy to share this news.

I hope you can see on the report card in a minute the grades.

The mayor has assigned and helica Romero and from the city and John Dodd over at ACS.

They're at every one of our meetings, and it's obvious that word is getting back to the city for the things that we needed, and we are grateful.

Just to name a couple of things, the zebra stripes were painted at the San Mateo and Catherine intersection, which is a busy street.

The red light has been extended so the students can actually get through the light before it turns green.

Both APS and ACS are always looking out for our kids on the walking school bus.

And the filthy streets have seen a giant improvement.

And I have to acknowledge Councillor Rogers for that.

Thank you very much.

Adam Silverman, followed by Francesco Artist.

Thank you.

Um Madam President and Council members, uh Adam Silverman here, and I am a citizen of Albuquerque, uh, a downtowner.

I live downtown, I work downtown, and I'm here to speak in favor of uh a bill tonight that'll be in front of you, 02614.

Um, this is a great way to start working on things to clean up our house.

We can't invite guests to the house when it's messy, everybody cleans up their house when it's messy, and I think this is something that's moving in the right direction.

And so I wanted to come down and thank you all for putting this together.

Uh, we've spent a lot of time, a lot of money, and a lot of efforts into trying to do things in downtown to do it differently to do it 21st century.

So I'm really excited for the bright future of this downtown.

I think this piece of legislation not only helps the downtown core, but also other parts of the city that need just a little nudge, a little more attention from city services and APD, and I think it's gonna be really great for the business improvement districts that are gonna be propped up this year for downtown.

So thank you all so much for all your service and efforts, and I appreciate you.

Francesco Artist, followed by Ilsa Beale, Issa Beale, followed by Marcelin Costner, Marcelin Costner, followed by Grace Dukes.

Oh, sorry, this left I'm sorry.

Ilsa Beal, followed by Marcelin Costner.

Good evening.

I fear with O 14, we're again going to hide behind euphemisms.

Again, off the cuff conflate people who are left to live outside with violent criminals.

Again, slip them into the slippery slope, drag nate of we need safety.

Again, opt for moving people around with no plan to move towards something a little bit more constructive, with little or no care as to how this chaos affects folks, with no foreseeable limit to the money and the people ours we are willing to waste on these senseless displacements.

Again, we'll pat ourselves on the back that we have addressed visible homelessness.

And yet again, we will not spend time and effort to sit, explore solutions, many proven elsewhere in the country, and at long lost come up with a plan that does not repeat and repeat again and again the nonsensical hope that everyone who lives outside will do us the favor and just go poof and disappear instead of keeping on bothering us.

Marcelin Costoner, followed by Grace Dukes.

You know, Westside has single digit case workers for hundreds of people, single-digit caseworkers.

That's how many of our shelters look.

Yet we feel like we can blame and criminalize those who see our shelters and their subpar state for what they are.

In the face of all this, you choose not to look at your own system failing, but decide no, it must be that we haven't stomped the boot down hard enough.

We haven't defunded services enough.

That's it.

Surely that would get the job done, Councillor Baca.

Surely, or at least hide folks away in jails long enough for the precious tourism dollars to trickle in.

Profits, we consistently place ahead of our own population.

Yet once those dollars roll in, we won't see them in our programs.

We won't see them in our prockets.

No, no, no.

Public transit will still get cut.

Housing programs won't get better.

There's so many better ways you in power could be spending your time.

But here you continue to show how easy cruelty, cowardice, and greed can really be.

Councilor Pena, City Councillors.

My name's Dr.

Lisa Christofferson.

I hope you're getting a taste of how we feel about how the votes are going.

We're trying to work with you all.

Um, I make public comment both as an individual today and part of a broad coalition of 52 organizations and nonprofits who are committed to human rights and social justice in Albuquerque, specifically Burnley O County, and they are working on the streets, and we are coming to you to say things are not working.

Why are we gonna double down on a policy that's ineffective and not working and it's cruel?

But first, I want to thank uh Burnleo County Commissioner Frank Bacca from uh County District 3, my con my commissioner, and who's finally bringing together the agencies who are going to get a sidewalks um for Blake Road between UNSER and CORE.

So I thank you very, very much to County Clerk Michelle Kavanaugh for recognizing the need to bring it all together.

Thank you, Frank Bacca.

And so I want to let us know recalls only need 30% of those who register to vote to sign.

David Ellis, followed by Danae Wee Shun.

Good afternoon, Council.

Great news.

The homeless came.

Basically, they we're talking about discrimination.

We're talking about setting rules for a class of individuals because of their social status.

And that is a discrimination all the way across the board, whether it's where we sit at.

We have dog new dog parks in the city.

We can't find parks for us to be in.

I have my neighbors that will call the police on me, and I'm 10 years of dismissals from APD.

Means I'm overly approached by AV APD who knows me personally.

Downtown as long as running street performer, also co-founder of Two Way Street ABQ, along with Jeff Hertz, which ran till 2021 or so.

What I'm saying is I'm involved in my community.

You can read the December 7, 2017 Alibi Weekly write up about Two Way Street and see exactly what Maggie Grigson even thought.

What I'm saying is I'm out there.

We need to go ahead and focus on that's where I sleep at and whether they're what's going on up above where the money's at.

Because currently we're not being stimulated.

Dine Uishun, followed by Brick Jonasy.

Hello, President and Counselors.

I'm here, Sad, and I'm kind of scared tonight because I'm a human being who lives in a district here.

It doesn't really matter which one, district two, several law departments.

But like all things aside, they're trying to kick me out.

I've been in my apartment for three and a half years.

Me and my dogs have been there.

We've been happy.

We've been safe.

I haven't committed any infractions against them.

They're coming up with something that they're gonna try and use at me.

But I I haven't done anything wrong, y'all.

Um then I saw the mayor today.

And he didn't even want to know my name.

The only thing he kept saying to me when I politely told him I already had housing, but that I would like to meet with him to discuss those kind of issues because I'm having problems right now.

All he told me was to go to the shelter.

I'm gonna lose my housing in 30 days.

I'm gonna be in the streets again.

Don't let this happen to me.

Somebody get in touch with me and help me keep my face.

Somebody can reach out to her.

All right, I just want to show you these video again.

Essentially, you are criminalizing homelessness, but shit like this is going down in your own DVRC, Family Advocacy Center.

I don't know what to tell you.

I mean, if this isn't important.

This guy putting his hands on people physically, physically.

He's not a cop.

He's not a security agent.

Security agents can't do that anyway.

Cops better know what that little clause that says all other laws means.

Shit like this.

This is the problem.

This guy right here.

I don't know if you guys have gotten rid of him or tried to get rid of him.

I mean, he's Lotus.

Lotus management.

It doesn't work for you.

Except for whenever you violate people's rights.

Then he works for you.

Then he works for you.

Let's Avo, followed by Tad Nyumitsky.

Madam President, Council members, friends, fellow Burkeans.

We're often told that the local government is the closest to the people.

It's where our potholes get fixed.

Our safety is managed, and our voices are supposed to be heard.

But when the city hides behind pending litigation to stop talking to a citizen, it isn't acting as a legitimate governing body.

It's acting like a child that takes their ball and goes home when they don't like the rules of the game.

This silent treatment approach is a sign of weakness, not strength.

It tells that leadership is terrified of open dialogue.

It suggests that they cannot defend their policies in court of public opinion.

So to do so is to gag the oppression of the opposing party.

Choosing to cut off communication is just another chapter in a chain shameful expensive story of dodging accountability.

A government that refuses to listen to its people is not governing.

It's ruling.

And it's time to tell Albuquerque to just stop hiding.

Treat your citizens with respect, even and especially the ones that have the cities in their best interest.

Thank you.

Let's begin this way.

How smart you are wasting over our stupid agenda, which is already state of New Mexico law.

I'm speaking EC26, 145.

So now cutting time.

Because you can you because you don't want it here, stay late.

Nobody asks you to be here.

You want to be.

You want to represent people of Bikorki every district.

You better listen, everyone and do people job, not special interest.

Thank you.

Michelle Gaidellis, followed by Rudolph Surround.

Thank you.

Madam President, uh Council members, thank you very much for the opportunity to speak tonight.

I just wanted to thank you for your support of the rail trail for the protected bike lanes that have been added to the streets and for the sidewalk improvements that were long overdue.

When the rail trail connects Sawmill to Old Town, Downtown, and Biopark, paired with reliable transit and walkable streets.

We create something that really works for everyone.

The older neighbor who wants to stay active without driving everywhere.

Kind of me.

The college student who doesn't own a car, the person with a disability navigating our city with dignity, the family that just doesn't want to load everyone into the vehicle for every single errand, or a business traveler that has some time to kill that doesn't want to rent a car, which I've been that many times all over the world.

These aren't niche needs.

They describe most of us at some points in our lives.

Connected infrastructure is infrastructure for everyone.

Please keep building it.

And thank you.

Rudolph Serano, followed by Ian Gates.

Ian Gates, followed by Gleben.

Zahezov.

Evening, Madam President, members of the council.

I still think we need two minutes again.

Please change that.

But the main reason why I'm speaking here today is because of the proposed budget cuts to ABQ ride.

I ride the bus pretty frequently and took the bus here from work today.

And I just think it's silly that we're throwing up our hands and saying, oh, we can't fill the positions.

Like there's so many things we can do to get these positions filled.

Like everybody in Albuquerque needs to know that there's an opening.

Additionally, we can be printing flyers, trading QR codes and displaying them all over city facilities.

And I have just a few seconds, but um please restore the uh restore the funds.

Thank you.

Gleb Zelzov, followed by Jesus Munoz.

Hi, yes.

Uh my name is Glev Jelezov.

My name is Glub.

I live in District 2 in West Park, and I'm here to ask that you maintain your support for Flamenco Works in the next fiscal year at the same level that you've been providing the previous years.

She fell in love with Flamenco seeing it live.

One of the very first shows was that she sat through was the Fiesta Flamenco Burkenia, and she sat through the whole thing in the rain in her little rain jacket.

She really likes loves going there.

And her first class was right at three with Amalia at Flamenco Works.

This is how a city's living cultural tradition is maintained.

Public events capture kids' imaginations for programs like the ones offered by Flamenco Works to build on.

In Albuquerque, the flamenco pipeline exists because the city invested in it.

The proposed budget eliminates the investment entirely after eight years, cutting more than half of Flamenco Works programming.

The festival, 16 plus performances downtown, and scholarships for low-income kids.

Albuquerque is a capital for this kind of thing.

And well, it will be a shame to lose it.

So I hope you restore their budget.

Thank you.

I didn't hear the first comment that you made, maintain something you said.

Maintain the funding for flamenco works downtown.

It's flamenco works.

Okay.

That's how you invest in downtown.

We want to invest in downtown.

Thank you so much.

Thank you for being here, young lady.

Jesus Munoz, followed by Amalia Munoz.

Good afternoon, good evening.

Hi, my name is Jesus Munoz.

I'm the executive director at Flamenco Works in Downtown Albuquerque.

Lindy's Diner Falling was a product of large scale disinvestment in downtown Albuquerque.

At this time, we cannot afford to disinvest in this area and downtown.

I'm asking you to invest in us.

I'm invest, I'm asking you to invest in flamenco works.

I'm asking you to invest in downtown and the children and youth who compromise a majority of our programming.

One week ago today, Lindy's Diner came crashing down into the corner of Fifth and Central.

Lindy's is a neighbor.

We share a 4,500 square foot structural wall with Lindy's Diner.

We don't need more extraordinary speeches from people promising us the world.

We need extraordinary character and integrity from people who want to do the right thing to support their constituents and to support people and organizations doing good things in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

We elect you.

We choose you.

In our best moments and our worst.

We hope you're there with us.

We choose you to keep us and our children safe, and we're still waiting.

I'm asking for your support.

I think of City Accounts can appropriate 1.4 per million for bands of enchantment and 500,000 for space lasers.

They can invest in the only nonprofit.

That's on Route 66.

Thank you.

Jesus, excuse me.

Jesus.

Yes, we heard we were top five funded, I think 95,000.

We were proposed at zero.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Amalia Munoz, followed by Barbara Weisov.

My name is Amalia.

I'm a co-director of Flamenco Works.

I'm also a teacher.

I'm a dancer.

We're located down to downtown, and we serve 6,000 plus constituents annually from across the city.

I'm here to ask for you to restore funding for Flamenco works in this year's budget.

One week ago, Lindy's Diner, as you know, when we share a wall with collapsed on Central Avenue.

We cannot afford to continue disinvesting in downtown.

Flamenco Works is here seven days a week, 8 a.m.

to 8 p.m., doing the work to build economic and cultural vibrancy in this area.

Our impact has seen exponential growth in the past in the past years with support from the city.

Fiesta Flamenco Orkenia has grown from 800 attendees to 3,500 in just two years.

This free outdoor festival attracts visitors and residents alike.

It generates hotel rooms.

It supports local vendors and is quickly become one of the biggest events in District 2.

Our classes have doubled, and we are even adding a summer camp for in during the month of June.

Barbara Weissoff, followed by Noemi Manzano Severius.

Good evening.

My name is Barbara Wissov.

I live in District 7, but I spend a lot of time in District 2 at Flamenco Works, and also where my grandchildren and son and daughter-in-law live.

I'm here to ask you to restore all the funding to Flamenco Works.

My three-year-old granddaughter.

I sat on in the rain on the concrete floor in front of the stage at Fiesta Flamenco Berkenio, watching her dance, and that was it.

She fell in love with Flamenco.

Amalia and Jesus Munoz are wonderful teachers and performers.

Their knowledge and warmth make their school the place where I want to bring my granddaughter.

I hope to be bringing her there to learn flamenco for many years.

Please restore their funding in the full amount.

Hi, good evening.

Five of my daughters dance and flamenco.

And because of the funding, you know, from the city and all the help the city has been doing Trofamlinkowards.

I'm able to send my kids to Flamenco, and you know, they're able to dream, they're able to do something else after a school.

And they've been, you know, as students from Amalia and Jesus for the last three years, and even my five-year-old, she's the newest student.

But you know, I have my twins that are 14, my nine-year-old, my eight-year-old, and they love flamenco, so they always look something forward, you know, to do.

And you know, we are here to to ask, you know, for the restoration of the funds from the city for the arts, is so important for the children.

I mean, a mother of six, it's hard for me to afford any type of uh you know, classes for my kids, but because of their you know, scholarships and your funding, you know, that is me helping my children, and I'm just here to ask, you know, for the restoration of the funds.

Thank you.

There's all my kids.

Sarah Lovato, followed by Lisa Curtis.

Hi, my name is Sarah Lovato, and thank you for hearing me today.

Um, I have been a longtime supporter of Flamenco works since the beginning in 2019.

Um, and I am requesting um to restore funding for the general budget for flamenco works.

Um, I have seen from the beginning their unwavering commitment to the betterment of New Mexico and specifically by improving the lives of the disadvantaged youth through scholarships.

They've opened the doors to a positive outlet for our youth in numerous ways to numerous young people who otherwise would not likely have access.

Um they have exhibited a commit consistent commitment on serving the local community, and because of this commitment, they have been a community anchor originally in Varelas and now in downtown Albuquerque.

Um dance is a positive outlet that is also offers cultural connection and confidence, building in our most vulnerable communities, um, helps shape identity, the belonging, creating a sense sense of belonging.

Um, programs like this not only change trajectories, um, they change trajectories of these young people, not just teach dance.

Um, and because of this, they have become a part of the cultural fabric of the city.

Thank you for your consideration.

Thank you.

Lisa Curtis, followed by Zayn Vihu.

Good evening, Madam President.

Uh counselors.

My name is Lisa Curtis.

I uh I bought and I renovated the state theater building between second and third on central uh several years back.

I'm looking forward because of ordinance 2614 in continuing to invest in the main corridor on central, and that's between third and eighth.

Because I think we're doing a pretty good job, second to third.

I think we're doing a pretty good job, uh, fifth to eighth, but that interior piece is really difficult because of the dilapidated buildings and the problems with uh businesses being able to survive there.

So our point uh is to buy those buildings, put vibrant businesses in them, and I think ordinance 2614 is really helpful for being able to develop businesses here.

So thank you very much.

Zane Vihill, followed by Janet Sayers on Zoom.

Madam President, counselors.

Thank you for listening to us today.

Uh my name is Zane V Hill.

I own a business downtown for about three years, and so I'm here and I understand the compassionate aspect of the homeless issue, but almost every single day I see some variation of this this situation happen where a gentleman rises, uh shuffles a few feet and urinates on a building.

And every morning I have to pick up theses in the parking lot because somehow that's compassion to let them live like this.

And so while I can see other people's perspectives, I have a two-year-old and a wife, and I would love to be able to take them downtown and feel like that's safe.

Um one of the members of the business I own about two weeks ago was chased through downtown um by a crazed gentleman at 8 a.m.

in the morning and was saved by a hotel security guard.

And when she asked what are the solutions for this, I had to kind of laugh and say that's Albuquerque.

Um I don't want it to be that way.

I know none of you guys want it to be this way.

There has to be some solution that doesn't just mean the status quo is maintained.

So thank you very much.

Janet Sayers, followed by Benjamin Bean.

Um, yes.

Um good evening, uh, council members.

And first of all, I just wanted to thank all of you for your commitment and dedication last Thursday night going into the wee hours of Friday morning, and for still asking great questions and getting information um at the committee of the whole meeting.

So again, thank you for that.

And then I just wanted to say that there was a lot of joy, beauty, creativity, uh, learning and cultural sharing that went on last weekend.

I had the opportunity to attend the uh multicultural event at Singing Arrow, and um saw some saw and heard some performing groups, uh, made a few purchases helping the economy.

Thank you.

And then I had the opportunity to go to the Turkish festival, which was fabulous.

Uh great food, great music, great sharing of cultures, and um and many, many volunteers.

I mean, just so many volunteers, and it was free and lots of people.

And then on uh Sunday, yesterday, the Albuquerque Council of Garden Clubs had a wonderful it was ticketed, but a wonderful uh uh parade of of gardens that that you could visit, and again, beautiful roses, iris, plants, and and actually the the garden club building right there in Los Altos Park.

Talk about a city treasure.

There is there's like 10 different individual gardens surrounding that building.

And Sayers, thank you, you're amazing, and thank you for highlighting our city and all the wonderful things we have to do here.

But yeah, I would have stopped, but I couldn't see the timer on the whole screen.

Thank you.

Sorry.

Benjamin Bean, followed by Tim Osman.

Uh good evening, counselors.

Um there was a very excellent speech given by another presenter a couple minutes ago about the homelessness um situation that we have in downtown.

Um there is a solution.

It's called more housing.

I believe that five of you voted against all options that we have to encourage more housing.

Um, not all options, many of the options that we have to encourage more housing.

Um please reconsider that.

Uh and then what I actually wanted to talk about was there is a proposal in the budget to increase funding for police uh technologies, and I think that that can be great as long as it's the right technologies, things that don't increase uh our movement towards a surveillance state.

Um drones, not so great.

Um traffic cameras that give you like a minority report situation, maybe also not so great.

Uh thank you for listening.

Tim Osman, followed by Andres Esquivar.

Hello.

Can you hear me okay?

Yes, we can.

Thank you.

Please proceed.

Thank you, City Council members.

I'm speaking on behalf of the IPS think tank.

We're an organization that specializes in documenting staged or fake media events and examining their cumulative effect on the public, because this constitutes psychological warfare, which is being engaged in with the collusion of government, news media, and entertainment.

And at this point, it's safe to say the public can no longer differentiate between real and fake.

Case in point being the supposed assassination of Charlie Kirk is provably fake.

He's a lie.

This is known by Turning Point USA, many influencers like Candace Owens, Alex Stein.

And this also pertains to the 713 2024 stage attempt on probe, the president, which was also fake, and nobody died there.

Now, the reason why this is a problem is that it does constitute a form of propaganda that is taking advantage of a blind spot in public perception of all the information needed to reveal the extent of this and the collusion between government and news media is available at IPS.monsters.

Thank you for your time.

Andres Esquivel, followed by Carla Kruhauser.

Good evening, madam president, and members of the Alpha Cookie City Council.

My name is Andres Escal, and I work with the New Mexico Dream Team and downtown.

I'm here to speak against Councillor Baco's ordinance, 02614.

New Mexico Dream Team, we're a statewide organization committed to create power for multi-generational undocumented LGBT and make status family swords liberation.

We oppose this ordinance because we believe that all people should be treated with dignity and respect regardless of their immigration or residential status.

A few months ago, there was an unsheltered man who fell asleep on the sidewalk in front of my house in Knob Hill.

At some point, he laid down on the couch on my front porch and it gave me a chance to try to talk to him.

He didn't want to talk to me, but I could tell from his scars and his clothes that he was hurt and he needed help.

But an hour later he passed out on my couch again, and I proceeded to call to guess some ACS folks and kept reiterating that he wasn't hurting or threatening anyone.

He was just simply visibly struggling a lot.

Eventually, ACS came and took him somewhere and uh offered him help, and I hope he's getting the help that he needed.

The city has the ability to help people help our unsheltered neighbors.

Um all this ordinance does is criminalize people who are going through the worst time of their life and they have nowhere else to go but the streets.

Uh the this is why I strongly urge you all to vote no on 02614.

Thank you.

Carla Kruhofer, followed by Calvin Trivi.

Madam President and uh Council members, my name is Carla Kruhoefer with the Center for Civic Policy.

We are opposing ordinance 2614, specifically because it's prohibition and penalty sections impact on unhoused individuals, and we request that instead the council takes the approach of tackling the barriers to affordable housing for people.

According to the Pew Trust, New Mexico homelessness has increased 87%, 47% faster than the national average, and the average cost of homes has increased 70%, which far as outpaces the wage growth.

The Pew Trust also pains to regulatory barriers or otherwise Sony as a primary contributor to the state's housing crisis.

For that, we oppose the ordinance and ask to review some of these sections.

Earlier we discussed um foster youth, and I just wanted to mention that 31 to 46% of youth who age out of foster care experience homelessness by the age of 26.

Thank you.

Calvin Tribians.

Hello, my name is Calvin Trippy.

I'm a resident in District 2.

Um, my son goes to Flamenco Works, and I want to voice my support for restoring their funding.

Um it's more than just about my son and his friends having a nice class, although they are one of the few dance studios that offer classes for toddlers under the age of three.

So we really appreciate that.

As Jesus and Amalia elaborated on before, they really are building a community and helping to revitalize downtown one business, one storefront at a time.

One business at a time.

So please, or nonprofit, so please restore their funding.

Thank you.

Madam President, there are a few people I was unable to identify within Zoom, so that does conclude general public comment.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Cornelius.

We are now on to approval EC 81 presentation of FY25 audit, Miss Jennifer Broka.

And I will um to have the discussion move a receipt be noted.

There's a motion and second by Councillor Grout.

Yeah, I think this.

So are you going to?

Yeah, I thought you were gonna speak on it briefly.

No?

Okay.

Okay.

So is there anyone signed up to speak on this?

Yes, Madam President.

Thank you.

I had one sign up, and that is Octavio Shevere.

Octavio Savere?

Yes.

Thank you.

Hi, and good evening.

Um my daughters also wrote to the FlamCo Works.

Um I guess here to give support and make sure that see that you know they're heard and that there's a lot of people behind them, and that you know, it's something important for the community to have culture and you know, have something for my kids to do and learn from them.

Sir this really isn't germane to I think you might have signed up on the wrong spot.

So I'll just yeah, um but I think we're very supportive of flamenco works, so just so you know okay, so that's it.

Okay, any questions, comments from counselors?

Seeing none, um, there was a motion and a second for a uh receipt be noted of EC81.

Madam Clerk.

Counselor Backa?

Yes, Councillor Basson, yes.

Vice President Champagne, yes, Councillor People Corn, yes.

Counselor Grout, yes, Counselor Lewis, yes, Councilor Rogers, okay.

Yes, Councillor Teyas, yes, President Penya, yes, passes unanimously now um under approvals EC 118 notification of grant applications submitted by aviation department to the US Department of Transportation for funding through better um utilizing investments to leverage development build grant program.

I move approval.

There's a motion and a second by um vice president Champagne.

Is there any dis is there one setting up to speak?

Is there any discussion, comments, questions?

Seeing none, um Madam Clerk.

There was a motion of second by VP Champine for 118.

Councilor Baca, Councilor Bassan, yes.

Counselor um Vice President Champagne, yes, Councillor People Corp.

Yes, Counselor Grout, yes, Counselor Lewis, yes, Councilor Rogers, yes, Councillor Teas.

Yes, President Hanyl.

Yes, passes unanimously.

Thank you.

We are on EC 144 Capital Implementation Program CIP, indirect overhead, i.e.

FY27.

I move approval.

There's um motion and second by Vice President Champagne.

Is there anyone nope?

There's no one signed up to speak.

Are there any questions, comments?

Counselor Grout.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um, would accepting this EC allow IDOH to be used to pay directors and other indirect staff out of CIP?

Somebody from the administration.

Madam President, Counselor Grout, um Director Sandoval from uh can speak to what is included.

Yes, Madam President and um Councillor Grout.

The memo and the support that I provided show the staff that help us meet the requirements for keeping our capital improvement funding, meeting all the requirements and keeping our bond rating what it is and keeping our interest rates low.

So I think I provided that in the support.

That wasn't my question.

My question is: are you using IDOH to use to pay directors and other indirect staff out of CIP?

Madam President and Counselor Grout, the calculation that I provided provides some of those administrative and fiscal and some of a portion of directors.

So is the answer yes?

Yes.

Okay.

So is that a conflict within the law?

Madam President and Counselor Grout, which law are you?

For IDOH for bonds and so forth.

Mr.

Motzko, can you tell Phyllis in a little bit?

Madam President, Councilor Grout, the O3 intended to let the administration know we wanted to start with a 2.75 indirect overhead for capitally recovered positions.

Those positions being primarily through our Department of Municipal Development and Parks and Recreation Departments.

In the in the long-winded Chris Muirhead-esque uh explanation that I'm not going to do justice for what we are trying to do is when you build a new park, when you build a new street, you need staff and materials to do that construction.

The IRS on general obligation bonds allow for a certain percentage for that's called indirect overhead that the IRS allows for that IDOH.

There are positions in the city that are partially recovered through IDOH.

If if an accountant is working on a capital bill versus an operating bill that can be parsed out.

Thank you.

You kind of hit on some of it.

Okay.

Certain direct expenses are allowed, but I um I think it's important that we that we are mindful of the intent and not bring in operating dollars for capital expenses.

So that's all I just was written.

I don't think it fully captured what the ordinance meant it to do.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Were you gonna respond?

You had asked to respond.

Uh Madam President and Counselor Grout, um, IRS guidelines um allow for five percent of overhead for the total issuance of the bonds, which we are in compliance with, and I believe uh the ordinance that was just passed recently by council, we are in compliance with that.

Thank you.

Did you have anything else to add?

Okay, counselor people core.

Thank you, Madam President.

So um I I'm just a little confused on the EC, and and partly because I didn't know it was gonna be heard tonight.

Um we just got it, and it should have been um should have had a little more time to review this, but um so the way the EC is written, um, there are two calculations.

One that is under the ordinance that this body just passed, and then there's a DFAS calculated rate.

I'm assuming that the DFDFAS calculated rate is included just because some counselor asked for that information, but by approving this EC, we are actually approving the 4.67%, which was the calculated rate under 02603.

Can I get confirmation on that from someone?

Madam President, Council of Fablecorn.

You are correct.

There were two different amounts shown.

The first was what DFAS would was showing sort of our assumptions on how we could reach IDOH before this new law came into effect.

So we were showing that we were close to that 5%.

Then, based on the ordinance, we got to a rate of 4.67.

Okay.

So you're right about that.

I do know that the EC asked for us to receive the 5%, which I think the thought was that it's kind of in between the ordinance that was passed and what we were working under previous to the change in the ordinance.

Right, thank you.

So um, Madam President, you know, we have an ordinance in place that was very specific about how this was going to be calculated, and it's calculated at 4.67%.

And so I'm just a little confused as to why we would be breaking the law that we just created to say it's gonna be 5%.

Um I think it should be 4.6 whatever percent, which is what this body, I believe unanimously.

Um I I don't know that for sure, I'd have to look back, but pretty um, pretty close to unanimous at least, uh, agreed that that legislation was the right way to calculate IDOH.

So I believe that accepting this that says a different number says that we didn't mean what we said, and I certainly meant what I said.

Thank you.

Thank you, Counselor Rogers.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just had a question on the EC under the documents that you provided for the calculated rate about how you calculated it.

I just have a couple questions about that for FY25 expenses.

It says community development, and the amount is zero.

Can you tell me why that amount is zero?

Uh, Madam President and Councilor Rogers, um, the way we do the calculation is get the most recently closed fiscal year, and any of the capital expenses that are under those capital funds.

So uh for fiscal year 25 in that fund, there were no capital expenses.

Okay, and what kind of expenses could go under community development?

Anything that is a capital expense, it's categorized as a capital expense.

So in other words, you're not gonna include um wages, um, fringe benefits, anything like that, just capital expenses.

Okay, got it.

And so you included also a list of all of the different positions that you could potentially use on a project, and you use that to justify is that based on actual projects, or is this just a list of any position that you could recoup wages for under IDOH?

Or is this or is this?

I would hope it's based on actual here's what we have planned coming up in this fiscal year based on the projects, and here are the positions, not just the complete list of any positions you could potentially charge us for IDOH.

Okay, Madam President and Councilor Rogers, um the way the ordinance read was that it was verified hours.

You can't do that for a coming year.

How would you have that?

So um I just took the description of in the ordinance of the positions that could be included, and that's what I included was the wages and benefits for those positions.

Right, but we it's called forecasting.

That's mad president.

I mean, that's how we do it is we look at a project of please allow me to finish without interrupting.

I'm gonna say the same to my dog here who's also interrupting.

Um so if I'm sorry, uh so what I'm asking is so and you've already answered it, which is that this is a complete list of all of the positions that you could have could be charged for IDOH, I think is what I heard.

Um, but you're basing the percentage based on this complete list, and what I would think is that we would do it based on what we have projected as far as projects coming up for capital, and then using that for the calculation.

So thank you, madam president.

Madam President and Councilor Rogers, the ordinance does not read forecasting, it reads verified hours, and I don't have that for a future year.

Thank you, Madam President.

That much is clear.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any additional comments, questions?

So, with that, Madam Clerk, there was a motion and a second by Vice President Champagne for approval of EC 144.

Councilor Baca.

No.

Councilor Basson.

Yes.

Vice President Champaign.

No.

Councillor Papercore.

No.

Councillor Ground?

No.

Councilor Lewis.

No.

Councilor Rogers.

No.

Councilor Teas.

No.

President Penyan?

Yes.

Fails on a two-seven vote.

Thank you.

We are now on to OC7 recommendation of award for on-call planning services for city council.

Uh I move approval, and there is an amendment in your iPads.

So is there a second?

Second.

There's a second by Vice President Champagne.

And then we have floor amendment number one.

Sorry, Madam President.

I don't have my iPad up.

And I actually can't see that.

So it's okay, Madam President.

I'm happy to start us off.

Okay.

Thank you, Councilor Rogers.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'd like to move amendment one in our packets on page one.

Amend the first three paragraphs of the inner office memorandum as follows.

Just adding a comma there, but we're also adding in the red pursuant to purchasing regulations contained in the city's procurement manual beginning in early 2025.

Council service worked with the city's purchasing to collaborate on this request for proposals to ensure compliance with all city requirements.

We'd also add that the solicitation was approved by the city purchasing management and posted publicly on the city purchasing eProcurement website on July 23rd, 2025, all the way to October 25th, 2025.

And then we would just add at the bottom there the purchasing procurement administrator, chief procurement officer, and chief administrator officer approve this recommendation of award.

Then we would move on to at the end of page two on the interoffice memorandum.

We would insert the following.

Appear unclear or unforeseeable, appear to result in uneconomical purchases or other specifications which appear to require revision.

So this is all about being clear on who does what, so that we can continue to collaborate on the projects as a in the one Albuquerque spirit.

And I move a due pass.

All those in favor.

Oh, sorry.

Council Passan.

Madam President, I'm just wanting to clarify.

So this is to just make sure that it's very clear about the regular standard procedures and it's codifying that, even though this is what we already do, right?

Madam President, correct.

Since we got some feedback before from the administration, this just it clarifies all of that, so we know we still have to follow the same procurement rules, of course.

And Madam President, I guess it's more of a rhetorical question, but I just wonder if we're going to end up approving this amendment.

If now we should make sure to include it on every other piece of legislation moving forward uh regarding any kind of contracts uh and the procurement process.

Again, it was a rhetorical question.

I just wanted to make the statement.

Thank you.

Council Councillor Lewis.

Madam President, yeah, I I guess I would want to just make sure the admin admin, you know, weighs in because sometimes you know adding some of this language and background and you know, I guess so-called clarification, which is good, can create some limitations as well.

I don't know.

Is it is it something that's restricting?

Is it is it have some unintended consequences?

Uh Madam President, Counselor Lewis, I think the um I don't want to speak for the counselor, but I think what this does is provides for us um the clarity related to SAC, which is such a critical part of any acquisition of a uh contractor that's going to do engineering um architecture and other matters that have that uh require expertise, but then also put risk and liability for the city.

And so I think this uh language clarifies that council services has the intent to ensure that any of the contracts that are being entered into would adhere to procurement, which allows us to be reassured that it would not be in a case um that would require a SAC approved, you know, to go through SAC so that we have can ensure the contract is uh adheres to that process.

I would note that the matter that's um also important, and I think council services staff have the intent to work on the work in this way is that we do have standard language in our contracts um with for those services that ensures that it protects the city's liability and and contractually ensures that we have appropriate relationship articulated and legally um articulated and and doing so in those contracts will be essential to make sure that we continue to protect the city as an enterprise.

You request you requested this?

Is this this your requested language?

Uh Madam President Counselor Lewis, I haven't had any direct um discussion on with with anyone on this.

Okay, thanks.

Thank you.

Any other discussion?

Councilor Rogers close.

Thank you, Madam President.

I urge your support, Madam Clerk, Councillor Bacca.

Yes.

Councilor Passan?

Yes, Vice President Champlain.

Yes.

Counselor People Corn?

Yes.

Councilor Grout.

Yes.

Councilor Lewis?

Yes.

Councilor Rogers.

Yes.

Counselor Teyas?

Yes.

President Penya.

Yes.

Passes unanimously.

Thank you.

We are now on to final actions.

Um for that was just oh, that was the amount.

I'm sorry, we're back on the bill as amended.

Um, are there any questions on the bill as amended?

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Councilor Baca?

Yes.

Councilor Passan.

Yes.

Vice President Champaign?

Yes.

Counselor People Corn?

Yes.

Councilor Grout.

Yes.

Councilor Lewis.

Yes.

Councilor Rogers.

Yes.

Counselor Teas.

Yes.

President Pena?

Yes.

Passes unanimously.

Okay, so we are now on final actions before we go to our first item under final actions.

I think we're gonna take a break and we will return at 725.

Okay, drop it.

Welcome back, everyone.

So as I mentioned before the break, we are now on final actions.

And um we have 014, Councilor Bacca.

Thank you, Madam President.

Oh 14 adopting the enhanced service and safety zone ordinance to provide better city services and enhance safety provisions for all to support economic vitality.

I move due pass.

There's a motion, a second by Councillor Grout for a due pass of 014.

Counselor Bacca.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just want to start off as as we stated earlier.

This is a safety bill that addresses a mirrored amount of issues that we're dealing with.

You know, as a city councilor, I'd like to think that my role is, you know, it's in our constant in our thing, you know, healthy communities, support of the welfare of our of our constituents.

And that's you know having access to jobs, having access to housing, having access to health care, having access to groceries, having access to transportation, all these things.

And trying to find a balance and all that is not always easy.

Um so this is part of that, um, trying to take care of that.

You know, earlier we heard from from Chief Barker that there have been 49 shootings just downtown in the last 29 months.

That's almost two a month, which is just unconscionable.

Um I can't take away guns, but we can at least send kids home.

On the other part, you know, a lot of folks think that this is just an anti-housing bill, um, which which I disagree with vehemently.

Um, this is about businesses, communities, taking access to food.

We already lost a pharmacy downtown, which is access to health care, not just for the community, but the unhouse folks also were getting their their prescriptions there.

And I met with quite a few of the folks that came and spoke today.

So it's it isn't as if I don't work with folks.

And so I just also wanted to point out some of the things that this body has done, and that in many cases I would to help out the unhouse because it's it's not just a single story, as a lot of folks like to point out.

Um in the last couple years, we've we've supported the gateway system.

Uh we've been out to the gateway west, and we've completely rehabilitated that.

Um, we've been to the gateway on Gibson, worked on that.

Um counselor Rogers and myself work with the administration on the recovery center off of I-25 to get that open.

That's 55 beds.

Earlier this year, council services did an enormous amount of time helping out uh recovery and workforce development uh center that that helps 200 right now.

I think there are 250 people, um, including opening up a new branch here in District 2.

Um street medicine, we've funded that and provided them support.

Counselor Champagne and I have gone out to multiple times to where you know to help out on and and be there when there's uh when street medicine and all the services are out there by the rock.

Um we fund ACS consistently, and I've always I'm out with ACS constantly trying to get them out, and they are ACS's downtown.

Restrooms, there's two restrooms downtown, public restrooms downtown now.

There weren't that that didn't exist two years ago.

Um and I take tons of grief on just on restaurants, so someone can go use a restroom with dignity.

But because they cost 750k apiece, which they kind of have to because they have to be bomb proof, um, people are on me are angry about it.

But that's something that's absolutely crucial, one of those minimum things that we that we can do.

And we got two of those downtown right now.

Housing.

Last year we pulled off seven and a half million dollars from the governor and some other of our legislators.

And there are currently a hundred and I think it's 24 units right now being built downtown for housing.

We also updated the procurement code so we could get dollars out there.

We changed the rules, or we work with the administration to get the rules fixed so that we could actually get dollars out quickly and build housing uh quickly because housing first matters.

We've run bills to to address um Airbnbs to rental protections.

We've done a mirrored amount of things to to help the unsheltered.

Is it enough?

No, not even kind of.

Um, but to say that we're not doing anything would would be a very big disservice to all the work that we have done, and that many of my colleagues here have been trying to do.

So I just wanted to kind of throw out some of those things so people understand that there's a lot being done.

I mean, even in this current budget right now that we're working on, I think this will be the most we put in towards the gateway system this year, something like 35 million.

Um there are services out there, and there are services in the nonprofit that are not connected to us that we help and we work with consistently, and there's services here in the city.

And again, it's not perfect, but there is a ton out there, and a lot of folks on the street do not accept that help even when we offer it.

Um let's be clear about that.

And someone just sitting there, someone sitting right at the front door of a business, even if they're not doing anything, is affecting that business, and it's not helping them either.

So I just want to kind of get that out.

So with that, madam, madam president Councilor Backa.

So would you like to go and do the amendments first, or would you like to um go to public comment?

Uh I think I'd rather do the amendments first, that way folks know what they're speaking on.

Okay, so clear picture.

We are on to the amendments.

Um, you have A through F in your iPads and in front of us, counselors.

So the first amendment is floor amendment A, which will become floor amendment number one.

Counselor Teas.

Thank you, Madam President.

I move floor amendment A, which will now be number one.

It can be found in your drives.

Um on page five, lines 13 through 19.

Do you need a second one?

On page five, lines 13 through 19, amend section one as follows.

Strike out prohibition of the obstruction of public right of way within an exchange, enhanced service and safety zone unless authorized by permit or other applicable law.

It is unlawful to sit, sleep, lie, or camp in any public street, road, bike path, or alley, or on any sidewalk within an enhanced service and safety zone as designated pursuant to this ordinance in a manner that impedes passage within the meaning of the Americans with Disability Act.

Renumber successive sections accordingly.

Number two, on page seven, lines three through six, amend section ones as follows.

Strike penalty.

Um for any person who violates any city ordinance within an enhanced service and safety zone.

The city may impose the maximum fee or penalty as provided in ROA 1994 section one-one-99.

Renumber successive sections accordingly.

Second.

Are there is there any discussion?

Counselor Tayus?

Yep.

Yep.

So I'm happy to so basically this amendment removes all the criminal penalties, civil fines, fees, or monetary sanctions for violations of this order.

And really the purpose here is it's it's pretty clear that we are not going to um listen.

I support businesses.

I'm a small business owner, you know, but supporting businesses should not require punishing poverty, and we need to stop pretending like those are the only options available.

Um so this amendment in particular um removes the provision that makes it unlawful to sit, sleep, lie, camp.

It also um removes the contradiction of existing um ordinances that don't allow that or that allow that at the moment, um, as well as associated penalties.

What this does really is it eliminates a creation of enhanced enforcement zones that could really criminalize poverty or disproportionately impact impact um unhoused individuals, and it's gonna instead ensure that the ordinance focuses on improving conditions through services and infrastructure rather than punitive measures.

Um when we continue to act with in with punitive measures, we're actually just winding up costing ourselves more money because we are essentially um issuing fees and fines, and you know, that leads to arrests or warrants for people who are never gonna be able to pay them anyway.

Um and that causes more work, more capacity concerns.

It doesn't do anything to actually alleviate the issue that we are trying to solve here, um, which is help our small businesses.

Um we literally, literally, just an hour and a half ago, issued a proclamation that recognizes national foster family appreciation month, and now we want to preemptively punish those same kids because we know that one in four foster children who age out of the system will become homeless in two years.

So all we're saying is we support you, foster kids, we love you, we want to be with you, but in two years after you've aged out of the system, we're gonna throw you in jail because you're sitting outside, and I don't know how we reconcile that as a council to sit up here and literally contradict the work that we are doing.

I want to help small business.

We do not do that by criminalizing people.

I urge your support.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are there any questions, comments on floor amendment number one?

Seeing none, Madam Clerk, Councilor Backa, no councilor Bassan, no vice president champagne, no counselor people, yes.

Counselor Claud.

No.

Counselor Lewis, no councilor Rogers, please counselor Tayas.

Yes, President Penya.

No.

Fails on a three-six vote.

So now we are on floor amendment E, which will um be labeled floor amendment number two.

Madam President, if we can go back to B.

I'm not sure why they're out of order in your thing.

We had actually the staff had put them together in relation to seems as though this wouldn't be necessary if this one passed.

So we don't know if you would want to pick with this one.

We're just doing the comparable amendments.

So floor amendment number two, Councilor People Corn.

All right.

In your packet.

This is on page five lines 13 through 19.

Delete the word sit.

And so the point.

Oh, I'll move that.

Second.

This is really just to remove the the sit language in this ordinance.

I I went down to Lookie Lou at the Lindy's diner.

Everybody knows I hurt my knee.

I sat down.

I really I don't think that's the intent here is to say that you know if I sit down because my knee hurts, but I wanted to go walk around downtown.

Um that I could get, and this is a large fine.

This is a $500 fine or 30 days in jail.

And so um was just uh hoping that we could at least allow people to sit um in the downtown area without a 30-day in jail or $500 fine.

So there was a motion in a second um by councilor Tay as for floor amendment number two.

Are there any other questions?

Seeing none, Madam, or did you want to close counselor feeblecorn?

Urge your support and letting me um sit when I need to when I'm injured.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Councilor Backa, no counselor, no champagne.

No.

Councilor Peoplecorn, yes.

Counselor Crowd, no, Counselor Lewis?

No.

Counselor Rogers.

Yes.

Counselor Tayus?

Yes.

President Pena.

Yes.

Bells on the three-sixth vote.

Four.

I think that's incorrect.

Four or five vote.

Okay, thank you very much.

So now we are on um floor amendment labeled F in your packet, and it will now become floor amendment number three.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'll move floor amendment number three.

This is on page five, line thirteen, um, changing it is unlawful to to no person shall.

And then on page seven, line three, amending that section to say provided, however, that a law enforcement officer shall first verify that a written warning has been issued, otherwise the officer shall issue a criminal trespass notification.

Criminal trespass notification to a person for violating this section prior to the issuance of a citation or conducting arrest.

Second, there's a motion in the second by councillor Tayas for floor amendment number three.

Councillor People Corn.

Thank you, Madam President.

So this is you know, I I have spoken with the the um sponsor on this, and I definitely understand where he is um heading to.

But I also have heard from many many people in the community that they are very concerned that this is really only about our unhoused neighbors.

I don't believe that that is the case, but I think that this is a nice middle ground.

Um, this is the language that we've used in other ordinances, um, for example, our arroyo um language, so that if somebody's in an arroy and they need to move, we do not allow arrest um or citation on the first time they say to move, but if they don't move, then they can have um a citation or an arrest, and that was language that we worked out when we were passing that arroyo safety bill.

Um I think that's a nice middle ground.

The sponsor indicated that he thought this was not going too far afield from where he was trying to go.

Um, but again, trying to make it clear that if law enforcement tells you that you need to move, you do need to move, but you will not be um faced with a $500 fine or 30 days in jail without any warning.

So that's that's really where we're going with this, and uh I would urge your support councilor um any questions, councilor Backa.

Thank you, Madam President.

Quick question for our legal if you change the part the the first paragraph that is unlawful to no person shall does that take away law enforcement's ability to do anything uh councillor president, counselor Bacca.

No, it's mostly just a nomenclature change is to indicate a prohibition, but not necessarily that it's some violation of law.

Okay, thank you.

I I you know I did speak with Councilor Feblecorn.

I think this is and and with some folks when we were out there.

I think this is a fair fair middle ground.

Um and so I support this this amendment.

Any other questions?

Seeing none, Councilor Peoplecorn opposed.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just wanted to thank the sponsor for working with me on this to try to find a middle ground, and I urge your support, Madam Clerk, Counselor Baca, yes, Councilor Bassan, yes, Vice President Champagne, yes, Councilor People Corn, yes, Councilor Grout, yes, Councilor Lewis Yes, Councilor Rogers, yes, Counselor Teez, yes, President Penya, yes, passes unanimously.

Thank you.

That have amendment passes, and that was floor amendment number three, and now we are now on floor amendment number four.

It's labeled B in your packet, Counselor Teas.

Thank you, Madam President.

I move floor amendment B.

You just said that, and I didn't work.

That's a four.

Thank you.

Um on page seven, line seven, add a new subsection to section one as follows.

Uh enforcement, this section shall be enforced through non-punitive service-oriented and administrative responses to be determined by city administration on a case-by-case basis.

No violation of this section shall result in charges, civil fines, or monetary penalties in the event of a violation.

The city may take the following actions.

Second, there's a motion and a second by Councilor People Corn for floor amendment now B now floor amendment number four.

Are there any questions, comments?

Councilor Teus.

Yep.

Um, just want to, you know, this amendment really just replaces the punitive enforcement with more service-based approach, um, directing the city to respond through notice, voluntary compliance, um, connection with services, it maintains the city's ability to manage their property, ensure safe access while shifting the response model toward outcomes that are actually more likely to improve stability.

Um I move uh I urge your support.

Thank you.

See no that was a place again, um Madam Clerk, Counselor Bacca, no councilor Bassan, no Vice President Champagne, no councillor Peoplecorn, yes, Counselor Grout, no counselor Lewis, no, Councilor Rogers, yes, Counselor Teyas.

Yes, President Pena, yes.

Bails on a four-five vote.

Thank you.

We are now on to um labeled floor amendment um C in your packet, which will now become floor amendment number five.

Counselor Teyas.

Thank you, Madam President.

Move floor amendment number five on page seven line seven, add a new subsection to section one as follows quarterly enforcement reporting on a quarterly basis.

The city shall report on the enforcement actions conducted in the ESSZ, including at minimum the following categories number of engagements, voluntary compliance rate, service referrals, and uptake, and changes in safety indicators within ESS.

The quarterly enforcement reports shall be provided to city council in the form of an executive communication.

Second there's a motion and a second on floor amendment um now um number five by counselor teas.

Are there any questions, comments?

Counselor Teyas.

Thank you, Madam President.

So this amendment really just requires quarterly reporting.

We talk a lot about um goals and objectives related to budget um and what those outcomes are doing and whether what we are doing here on the council um is actually making an impact to the improvement of lives in the city of Albuquerque.

Um this is a this amendment will ensure that we can actually capture data that can inform those outcomes.

Um the reporting is distinct from annual service reports, um, and I urge your support.

Thank you, madam clerk.

Councilor Baca, no, Councilor Bassan, no.

No.

Vice President Shanghai.

Yes.

Councillor People Corn?

Yes.

Councilor Crowd.

No.

I said no.

Did you say Councilor Lewis?

Councilor Lewis.

Okay, sorry.

No.

Councilor Rogers.

Yes.

Councilor Teas.

Yes.

President Pena.

Yes.

Just to clarify, Councillor Champagne.

Your vote was in favor.

Yes.

It passes on a 5-4 vote.

Thank you.

We are now on floor amendment number six, which is labeled for amendment number D in your packet.

Counselor Teas.

Thank you, Madam President.

Move floor amendment number six.

Um on page five line 20, edit subsection 923.8 to section one as follows.

The designation process.

The mayor may designate an enhanced service and safety zone by submitting an executive communication to the city council for approval.

The designations shall include a report in which the mayor establishes the following the purpose for the creation of the zone, findings that the criteria in section 923.

Noting specifically, one, the increase in departmental resources required for operations and/or staffing required to implement the enhanced services in a zone, and two, the extent to which, if any service reduction may occur in other areas due to the reallocation to a zone, a summary of proposed targeted capital improvement and or infrastructure improvements accompanied by a proposed funding plan, a description and a map of the boundaries of the zone and a real property to be included.

Seven, an analysis of the proposed ESS site for business improvement district eligibility, including efforts made to engage property owners and stakeholders in a proposed ESSZ site to create a bid rather than establish an ESSZ.

The analysis shall include a detailed report of the efforts made to engage property owners and stakeholders and an analysis of whether the establishment of a bid is a fee is feasible or has been reasonably considered such other information necessary for the proper evaluation of the designation.

Second.

There's a motion in the second by Councilor Peoplecorn for floor amendment number six.

Councilor Teas, any opening remarks?

Yes, thank you.

Really, this amendment does two things.

Um it clarifies that there's a funding plan and that it must include details of departmental resources, increases for first responders, notably police fire and Albuquerque community safety, um, not limited, of course, uh, and solid waste.

Uh, second, the amendment also mandates that ESSZ site must include an analysis of the site's eligibility for a bid, including efforts to engage property owners and stakeholders in a proposed ESSZ to create this bid.

Basically, we have um, you know, this plan is to let us know if we can even afford this.

We're obviously uh dealing with a budget crunch right now, and we have we are might be engaging in an um unfunded mandate with this as well as unfunded capacity with departments that have to respond to these.

We need a baseline to enhance regarding enhanced service levels.

We got to know whether resources are gonna be diverted from other areas.

We got to know whether a business improvement district or another similar self-funded approach is feasible before we incur another subsidy by the city to pay for this.

The this ensures really the city is not gonna create um again an unfunded mandate or an unmanageable obligations and is using the most appropriate and sustainable tool to address the needs of the area.

I think you know it it we are just we're obviously in a budget crunch, and we have a tool to achieve what this bill is already trying to achieve through the bid process.

This is state law.

We allow businesses and property owners within a defined area to organize to self-assess to fund enhanced services such as cleaning, safety, environment economic activation.

They're already structured, they're already locally governed, they're already supported with funding streams.

We talk a lot about efficiencies and effectiveness and duplicating efforts within our city.

All this bill does is duplicate efforts, reduce efficiencies, reduce effectiveness.

When we promise more services without capacity, something else has got to give, right?

So resources are going to be shifted, neighborhoods are going to be competing, the city is gonna end up redistributing scarcity rather than solving problems.

You know, this is not simply about compassion, though I try to um root a lot of my decisions in compassion with effectiveness, with responsibility.

Um, I think a lot about um you know we have some folks here on on the dais who are um you know moved their decisions are moved by their faith, and so are mine.

And I think about this bill, when it comes to ineffective or empty action, I think about James 215 through 216.

If someone is without clothes or daily food and you say, go in peace but do nothing, what good is it?

If we respond to real need without actions that don't actually help, then what good is that?

This ineffective policy does not equal meaningful action.

This is about shifting burdens unfairly.

I think about Matthew 234.

They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

We should not be in the business of placing additional burdens on people without offering a path to actually lift them out.

I support business.

I want to be very clear, and I understand and I hear your frustrations, and I get what you're experiencing.

You do deserve clean, safe, vibrant corridors.

We all do.

We deserve a city that shows up and delivers, but we have to ask ourselves why do we keep defaulting to punishment as the primary solution?

Why do we spend meeting after meeting talking about collaboration, respect, and shared responsibility, and then advance policies that divide our community and create new problems instead of solving them?

This ordinates this ordinance frames people and businesses against each other as if they're opposing sides.

When we are all part of the same community, the same ecosystem, and we should not be forced to choose between supporting businesses and protecting our most vulnerable residents.

We can and we must do both.

I support our businesses, but that does not mean I support punishing people.

We cannot keep saying we value our community.

This is not a choice between businesses and people.

It's about whether we are willing to do the harder work for real solutions.

Or are we just gonna keep defaulting to the easiest ones?

And quite frankly, the least effective.

Thank you.

I heard your support.

Thank you.

That wasn't a close, that was the open.

So that was the opening.

So there's several counselors signed up to speak.

Um, Counselor Backa.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'd like to say um we're not defaulting on this for the past two and a half years.

We spent quite a bit of time on this particular subject.

Um the list of which I just went over uh when we started this discussion.

Um I very much would invite counselor uh Teus to spend an afternoon with me downtown.

Or as you know, counselor uh Champagne has joined me on multiple uh trips to go work with our ACS and our community partners to actually give some of this help.

Um public safety is not unfunded right now.

In fact, we've increased that budget.

If there's one thing we have completely increased, it is public safety, whether that's the police, uh ACS or our fire department, all of which work on this problem.

And and as to the bid, let's that is that is not the purpose of the bid.

Although there is two bids currently in our city that are trying to form, and I say trying, because they've tried for two years.

Um both of those bids want funding for both the city and the county.

This is not just the private sector.

Moreover, if you're asking private individuals or businesses to fund public safety, we're taxing them twice.

Like they're already paying for public safety, and now we're asking them to do it again because we're not up to that job.

I'm sorry, I am up to that task.

And of course, we're when we only talk about the housing, we ignore the other issues, the loss of a pharmacy, the creation of food deserts.

You know.

I'm sorry, but I actually have called in multiple shootings.

I've gone out there once someone's been shot.

I've been out there to help people being assaulted, women being assaulted at midnight downtown, who then refuse services after we've helped them and we've stopped those assaults.

This is there's no lack of comp the lack of compassion is indifference by letting people just sit out there and do nothing.

Letting them eat through garbage cans, letting them do drugs, letting them suffer and commit slow suicide.

We're essentially creating a class of permanently disabled people if we do nothing.

And I do not do nothing.

I'm over that.

I've been doing this for too many years, well before I was a counselor.

And when I go home tonight, unlike most people, I will still be dealing with this problem.

I'm gonna have to worry about somebody coming at me now, which has happened now twice in the last couple weeks.

I'm gonna worry about I'll have to potentially help somebody again.

You know, two months ago there was a woman defecating right in front of those, right in front of my house with no clothes on.

Even though I've put we've worked together to put two public restrooms downtown, which was not easy to make happen.

We have been working hard.

Everybody has been working hard on what is essentially an impossible issue.

And so to say that this is we're defaulting, that is I'm sorry, that is not the truth here.

That's not the truth for anyone at this table.

Thank you.

Thank you, Counselor, Vice President Champagne.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh I have one.

Well, I know I actually have several questions.

Uh Madam CAO.

Is this a separation of powers issue?

Specifically for section four uh increasing department resources and all the data required that's being asked in this uh Madam President, Counselor Champagne.

Um this specific section four of this amendment.

I just want to make sure that's what you're referencing.

Yes, ma'am, Madam President.

Yes.

Um it and as much as it's very detailed on a lot of reporting back, but we seem to have this conversation quite a bit when we when this council asks for certain things, and and I'm not putting this isn't a gotcha moment on the sense of the administration points it out that it is a separation of power that we do the operations.

I don't the chief doesn't come and tell us they tell you.

You come and tell us how the overall picture is.

Is this bleeding into that issue?

Uh Madam President, Councilor Champagne.

I I mean, I think we could make an argument, but I think um because it's just asking us to report to you all how we intend to do the work.

Um, and you know, where those resources are coming from, it would probably be that test past the test that I'm just reporting it to you rather than you directing it.

Um Madam President, and I'll keep you on the mic here for a minute.

Um, how much do we spend on gateway a year?

Um Madam President, Councilor Champagne.

Uh I know you think I'm a and it's it's not a it's not a I know it's not a trick question.

Um I think we provide contracts across all of those, and you know, we've we've quantified that uh to be previously across all of our contracts, I think equal to about 25 million dollars was our annually okay.

And we spent in estimates.

We spent in hundreds of millions on it, correct?

On the programs on the buildings, the capital side of it, the uh Madam President, Councillor Champagne, yes, we've made significant financial investments into capital improvements um across about eighty three to eighty-seven million dollars of our total capital improvements across the entire gateway system.

Okay, and Madam President, we correct me if we can just agree with this or not, but I remember ACS coming in on Thursday during budget saying that they've 4,000 costs for service, transporting a thousand people a month, sixteen hundred during the winter hours or the winter seasons, um, alleviating costs for service from APD.

Um Madam President, Councilor Champagne, yes, if I can correct the record, they transported 6,000 individuals during the winter season to overnight shelter.

And and they've contacted several thousand a month, is that correct?

With and and what do they do?

Madam President, Councilor Champagne, I think what your question is about multiple departments and how we have interaction and and um you know services and we work across a smattering of departments um within the city ACS, AFR, APD, Solid Waste, HHH, um, to ensure that we are providing all of the available resources and access every single time we have an interaction, and that includes everything from offering trans uh uh shelter to offering transport, offering um the ability to have your uh items stored if you are if you need them stored.

Um and uh we have a very focused process in terms of ensuring that we're offering those layers.

It includes providing notice to the to anyone as well as um giving and giving them the right to opportunity to move as well.

Um Madam President and CAO, um, how much do we spend on housing vouchers through HHH annually uh Madam President Councilor Champagne, I want to get you an accurate number of people.

You can guesstimate I'm somewhere around 11 million dollars, I think across all contracts and direct funding in the shaking is head in occurrence, yes.

Okay, uh and madam president, one last question how much did we spend on portable bathrooms, the fancy truck bathrooms that are we got?

Uh Madam President, Counselor Champagne.

I think I'd have to ask Councillor Rogers because I don't remember the final number.

Anyone?

I don't think anybody knows back there, so but we spent uh considerable money to purchase these for the public to use that can be moved throughout the city in areas that need them, correct?

Uh count uh Madam President, Councillor Champagne.

Um the ones I was speaking to are the ones that Councillor Rogers um purchased for her district.

So uh previously I don't know what we spent on mobile uh restrooms, but you know the restrooms we installed uh downtown, which are the Port O's uh as referenced.

Um you know those those two restrooms, the one on um Civic Plaza was about 750,000 dollars for all of all of the infrastructure required, right?

To plumb for that.

Okay.

Thank you, Madam C.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Um Counselor Rogers got warm in here.

So I don't know if somebody turned that thing up.

It's me, I apologize.

So thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just have a question um around since we're talking about um funding this program.

Does and maybe this is for the sponsor during your research was do we know what it would cost to operationalize this?

Yeah.

Yes.

Thank you, Madam President.

So despite everybody calling this a downtown bill, it's not actually a downtown bill.

Uh this bill allows the mayor to designate certain certain areas throughout our city that he deems um need that extra support uh with council oversight.

So what is needed for downtown is going to be different from what's needed at say the fairgrounds or central and uh San Mateo, which would be different from you know, somewhere on the you know, Central and Coors or you know, San Mateo and I-40, you know, those are all very, very different locations and scenarios.

Um and so the cost is dependent on the designation, and the bill has all the different um criteria that that have to be that are required and must come before council uh for approval.

So is there a set cost?

No.

B council has oversight over that and it is situational dependent.

Thank you, Madam President, Counselor Baca.

So uh obviously your intentions for bringing this forward are to I would think hoping it would come to downtown.

So based on that, is there any idea of what this would cost code enforcement to actually um they especially this is germane to also the the amendment that we're talking about, not the whole bill, because this amendment would I think add to that cost.

So I'm just wondering if there was a baseline idea of what this would cost for code enforcement in the first place.

Uh Madam President, I think co enforcement probably is zero since this isn't uh a building structure.

Um in terms of extra costs.

Depends, right?

Within downtown, uh we already have quite a few police officers at night and during the day.

Um this just gives them the tools they need to actually force some of these things.

So for example, when the bars get out at night, uh a lot of folks just want to be right there on hanging out talking.

But as you look at the stats, that's when the shootings occur, that's when the fightings occur.

Um we have adequate police officers, they just need the tools to be able to uh get folks home safely.

So in the case of downtown cost might actually be minimal, whereas that would be different from say San Mateo and Central, where you don't regularly have police officers, or at least I'm assuming that um but I would never I would never put my opinion towards another counselor's district.

I'm simply speaking on my district and how I would like things to be approached.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Backer.

I think that's the hard part from reading the bill is it's not clear who would enforce it.

I think you know you're saying APD, um, I you know, maybe ACS, maybe I think, yeah, metro security.

I mean, it could be transit, it could, I mean, it could be contract security guards.

Um, so I think that's hard for me on the enforcement, especially with all of the things in this amendment.

Who who afford if this amendment were to pass, who would enforce all of those things?

Madam President, uh, thank you.

I uh this amendment is onerous and adds an enormous amount of stuff that isn't in the bill.

The bill itself lays out the criteria and what what the budget is in there, I believe, and that has to come before us to to decide.

So in terms of this amendment, yeah, this is way onerous, and it I'm confused by it as well.

Um, the bill by itself, I think is pretty straightforward.

Thank you.

Is that it, Council Rogers?

Okay.

Councilor People Corn.

Thank you, Madam President.

So I just have a couple of questions.

Um specifically, I don't know enough about this to say on the number seven on this amendment, but number four on this amendment does make a lot of sense to me.

And so I would just like to think through that, saying that when a plan comes before us for designation, I think we we can all probably guess that the first one of these is going to be downtown, and it probably should be.

So, no argument there.

But I believe that for us to make a decision on whether to approve the plan, we should have some idea of the cost and how it's gonna impact implementation of these same things in our neighborhoods, right?

And so, you know, and I don't know this.

I I would need to talk to the directors, but if they're gonna get high frequency street cleaning and maintenance services, and the DMD budget is set.

What does that mean for street cleaning in other areas of town?

Not saying that though it's not a trade-off that I'm willing to make, but I do think that having that kind of information in what's sent to council to just to consider would be important.

Um, I you know, this is gonna impact solid waste.

Does it impact solid waste pickup in my area?

It's gonna use more APD officers.

Does that mean I get fewer APD officers in my area?

Might be a trade-off that is right one, but can we have that at least discussed in the plan that comes to us?

Same with ACS, clean cities.

I you know, I think all of us have a lot of need for clean cities work.

How much would it take to have them doing all of this work in downtown and how would it impact us so that we can make those kinds of decisions?

Um, same thing for encampment cleanup, same thing for code enforcement presence.

Again, not saying that I I would not vote to approve something that came to downtown because I do think downtown has unique problems, but I do think there's something to be said about having some idea of what we're approving, and I think that number four in this proposed um amendment would take care of some of that upfront planning, and so that we could have an idea of the trade-offs and an idea of what specifically we are prioritizing and planning.

Thank you.

Counselor Grapp.

Thank you.

Um I just want to address um there were comments made about um foster children on the streets.

I want to remind um people that we just opened a youth shelter for that very thing, and um so that they don't have to be on the streets.

Thank you, Counselor Grout.

Um, counselor Tees to close thank you, um Madam President.

I just want to um remind folks here.

We already have a process that allows us to through the Business Improvement Act to promote and restore the economic vitality of areas within municipalities by allowing the establishment of business improvement districts.

What these business improvement districts that we already have do is provide safe and clean services, marketing and special projects, management and advocacy.

These service they already the bid will enhance services and support improvements as determined through a plan.

Initial services will fit within those categories.

So what these organizations, what these small businesses need, we already have an option for them to get that.

Safe and clean services is the primary focus of the bid.

Um including maintenance, almost three times the size of the existing program, will provide comprehensive sidewalk sweeping, scrubbing, power washing, litter removal, landscape maintenance.

It is provides a hospitality and safety ambassador program that can offer information assistance, safety escorts, downtown visitors, workers and residents, outreach, and connection to local service providers for downtown's unsheltered population and management of quality of life issues.

We have a process.

I mean, you know, Councilor Feeblecorn was talking about her knee.

So if I have to sit because of knee pain, or we're just what we're doing here is we're we're becoming ageist and we're becoming ableists, and we're penalizing people for conditions that they cannot control.

Um thank you.

I you know, I heard your support.

Well, we'll call the question unless we're closing.

Okay, she closed.

So we are on floor amendment um number six.

No, Councillor Bassan, no.

Vice President Champagne.

No.

Councillor People Corn?

Yes.

Councilor Grout, no.

Councilor Lewis?

No.

Councilor Rogers.

No.

Councillor Teyas.

Yeah.

Yes.

President Penya?

Yes.

Bill's on a three-sixth vote.

So now we are back on the bill as amended.

Six time.

Oh, yes, we just received um, we received another one.

This is floor amendment um labeled G in your packet, and it's now floor amendment number seven.

Um, Councillor Backer.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um I was meeting with folks, it was brought up uh First Amendment activity.

Um course, no city uh rule can override our first or our constitutional rights.

Um however, you know, I was just in a parade this or March this this past week.

Downtown is ground zero for protest activity, um both the good and the bad.

And so um I I thought it to put this amendment in simply exemptions for the first nothing this ordinance shall be construed to infringe upon any activities protected by the first amendment of the United States Constitution, including but not limited freedom of speech and right to assemble and protest.

I urge your support.

Second.

There's a motion and a second um by counselor people corn for floor amendment number seven.

Councillor Backa.

I urge everyone support.

Are there any additional questions?

So that's your clothes.

Okay.

Um, Madam Clerk, Councillor Backa?

Yes, Councilor Bassan, yes.

Vice President Champagne, yes, Councilor People Corn, yes.

Counselor Grout?

Yes, Councillor Lewis, yes, Councillor Rogers.

Yes, Councillor Teas, yes.

President Penya, yes, houses unanimously.

So now we are back on the bill as amended.

Um seven times.

Um we'll go on to uh public comment, which Mr.

Cornelius, can you call our first speaker?

Thank you, Madam President.

Our first speaker is Daniel Williams, followed by Ilsa Beale.

Thank you, Madam President, members of the council.

My name is Daniel Williams.

I'm a policy advocate at the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico.

And first I want to thank the the council for the amendments that passed and and also for many of the amendments that didn't pass.

Thank you for considering those.

And I want to um acknowledge that I I am not indifferent to the work that this council and the administration have done to address homelessness in the city and the fact that homelessness isn't a crisis that this council created, and I want to acknowledge that punishing the people for existing in public without having a home to live in does not complement the those efforts.

It undoes the good work that this council has already done and will continue to do.

Criminalization of homelessness does not solve the problem, it does not address the problems.

In fact, it makes our problems worse.

We urge you to pose the bill as it stands.

Thank you.

Ilsa Beale, followed by Kelly McClendon.

It is unfair that businesses and property owners have to deal with the decades-long institutional neglect.

We're on the same side that something needs to happen urgently, but it's not just the anticipatory stuff like housing first.

It's also the people who are on the street right now.

And in the list that Councillor Backer had listed of people who would be involved.

ACS was there.

And as Councillor Rogers had pointed out at the committee of the whole, ACS is not responsible to deal with outreach.

They do it and they do it well.

I work with them, yes, but that is not their purpose.

The city does not have a proper outreach term.

That's just a practicality.

Councillor Chapin, also in the committee of a whole, had mentioned that you need seven to eight encounters to actually establish some sort of relationship.

Without that, we're not doing enough, and that is where the crux lies.

Kelly McClendon, followed by Marcelyn Costner.

Marcelin Costner, followed by Hannah.

Good.

These laws are on the books already.

You guys worked really hard to pass a bunch of them.

They exist.

You're sweeping people every single day.

We see it.

You're destroying people's every belonging in the back of a waste management truck.

This is still happening.

This is actively happening.

So we need more laws.

More enforcement is gonna magically fix this.

Maybe if instead of 49% of MDC being homeless and in there for homeless crimes, maybe like 55 and it'll solve the crisis.

You know, I think about like ways and things that would push me to commit crimes or to at a desperation steal things to you know make money.

And I think about fines that are gonna send me to jail.

And I think that's a pretty good reason to do crime.

I think that's a pretty good reason in desperation to steal something in order to pay that.

And I think laws like this just make it more likely that more crime is gonna happen.

People are gonna get worse, and you know that, and it's more comfortable to enforce, enforce, enforce.

And it's easier than it is to actually fucking do something.

Money without purpose does not matter.

It does nothing.

Hannah Good, followed by Grace Dukes.

Hello.

Um designed for businesses.

It's but the people are your constituents.

You can do a lot more with the money you're going to spend on this, or on putting people in jail, or an um try and the money you're spending on this will not fix the problem.

You're going to send people away from the resources that they need that people are trying to help.

You cannot reach someone when you first help them in a traumatic situation and then go, I have help for you.

They're like, no, something really scary just happened, and I want what this is going on.

You you can't fix it that way.

Um, you have to show up and be consistent and care about the person, not just how pretty your streets look, or how much access to your business is.

If you care about the people, your businesses will thrive.

Grace Dukes, followed by Dr.

Lisa Christofferson.

I'm in firm opposition to this ordinance and want to speak to its implications for civil liberties.

This makes it unlawful to exist on any public sidewalk within a designated zone.

That applies to anyone in public space, unhoused residents, but also picketers, street performers and me.

You know my story.

I'm a transgender woman who protest frequently.

And protesting means that I could go to jail under this ordinance.

Jail is not an inconvenience for us trans folk.

It is life-threatening.

We are placed in facilities that don't match our gender where we face violence and abuse.

This, these boundaries are set by the mayor with criteria broad enough to cover all commercial corridors with no check.

This violates the right to equal protection under the constitution.

Displacing unhoused people move suffering out of view.

We deserve real solutions, not an ordinance that treats poverty as a zoning problem and protests as a liability.

You already have this on the books.

Someone got booked in MNC for obstructing a sidewalk today.

You cannot wave poverty away with the magic wand, and you know damn well this will make crime worse.

You're a spineless fucking cowards, and you all will have to defend this to every constituent at every door.

Dr.

Lisa Christopherson, followed by Anami Doss.

Um, so I guess I would speak as um a researcher that you it is possible to have multiple truths and facts that are simultaneously occurring at the same time.

Good things have happened, a lot of the things are happening, the bathrooms, etc.

down the the youth shelter, etc.

Those things can exist at the same time that unhoused people have no place to go.

It's not one or the other.

I walk central today from 12th Street to 2nd.

I went down third fourth, I drove down Broadway, there were no bathrooms.

I had to walk down.

In fact, I called Councillor Rogers Analyst.

Where's the bathroom in the plaza?

Because I couldn't find it.

I was on the phone with her looking for it.

It was open this time, the time before it has not.

So there are not bathrooms.

I walked from 12th to 2nd on central, no bathrooms, no water.

There are people who have made it their life message mission, and we're not saying the poop and all of that is it's gross.

We're asking for, we know there aren't places to put people.

Why are we gonna put them in jail if we don't have the resources to help?

Let's do both.

Withdraw the bill till we can get that, please.

Anami Das, followed by Bree Sillary.

One second, Councillor Backa.

Thank you, madam.

Just to correct the record.

There is a public restroom uh First Street and Gold, and there's a public restroom at 4th Street and Tihadas.

Those exist.

They're real.

They're not imaginary, just so we know.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

That's your first warning, Mr.

Naminski.

Bree Sillary, followed by Susan Herber.

Good evening, Madam President and Counselors.

Um I'm here on behalf of the Fines and Fees Justice Center about the unintended uh consequences for people living, working, and traveling through these neighborhoods.

Expanded enforcement will inevitably result in more people facing steeper penalties at a much higher frequency.

As fines exceed a person's ability to pay, they are forced to make impossible choices, whether to pay for basic necessities or court debt.

It is a misconception that higher fines lead to better compliance with the law.

Research actually shows that when a fine is affordable, people are more likely to pay it.

Instead of increasing penalties, the city should mandate a standardized ability to pay assessment, which ensures that a person can pay without giving up basic necessities.

Thank you.

Susan Herber, followed by Tad Numitsky.

I am a longtime downtown resident and property owner.

This month I will be 77 years old.

Most people my age won't even come downtown because they don't feel safe.

And strictly from an economic standpoint, without these sources of income, we will not have the resources to help the people who need support and other services.

One is to say the person is worthless and not has no redeeming qualities.

Number two is that that person is incapable of being accountable for their own behavior.

Those are both demeaning.

Spending millions of dollars off boarding doors, windows, etc.

etc.

Glasblock, even City Council, all kind of security.

Security, CCC, security everywhere.

Coming to City Council, public meeting.

That's where we at right now.

Then another look.

Big businesses boarding too.

They can afford that.

What about smaller business?

I agree with Stephanie.

What about small business?

You cannot get COP anymore.

But somebody tries to slide 10,000 thousand, 10,000 of my vehicle.

And try to get cops.

No, you can't get cops.

Then my friend says this security guards has gone.

When I meant to gun to white cops to nine one, why cops show up.

That's why we add don't do as little as possible.

Benjamin Bean on Zoom.

Good evening, Councillors.

Sorry about the poor lighting in here.

I think there's a lot of good things in it, even if there are some things that I would change.

And I want to thank Councillor Backa for continuing to bring forward bills that are aimed at improving our city in ways that I happen to agree with.

Thank you very much.

If the thing that you are concerned about in this bill is financing, please uh come feel free to come talk to me.

I think I've got a lot of uh ideas about how we could improve financing for the city.

And if the thing that you are opposed to in this bill is how it treats homeless people, um I would encourage you to vote for this bill and then come back with an amendment every two weeks and just be a complete PIA to the council until uh you can get your uh amendment introduced or passed.

Um thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam President.

That concludes comment.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So we are now back on the bill as amended um seven times with public comment, and I don't know if counselors have any questions.

Um Councillor Basan, followed by Councilor February.

Madam President, earlier I had asked APD if they could just do a general uh data poll for me.

It's I'm not trying to get them to be exact because I know it was last minute, but I mean I do think that these the documents that we got earlier are kind of telling, so I do want to ask if APD will come down and be able to provide a general, keep in mind a general idea.

I asked them to find out out of all of these years for the number of homicides and shootings with injury uh throughout the entire city of Albuquerque.

We have now for the downtown area.

I'm just curious.

I mean, is downtown the majority?

What is the rest of the city look like?

What's that ratio generally?

Councillor President and Councillor Bassan, um we were able to find um the homicides since 2003 um from the city, and so if you look at 2023, 10 homicides are in the southwest, 24 in the valley, foothills had 11, northeast had 12, northwest had eight, southeast had 30.

2024, Southwest had eight, university had nine, Valley had sixteen, foothills had ten, northeast had twelve, northwest had three, and southeast had thirty five for two thousand and twenty-five, Southwest had nine, Valley had ten, foothills had six, northeast had nine, northwest had six, and southeast had twenty-three, and year to date for two thousand and twenty-six valley has eight, foothills has two, northeast has one, northwest has one, southeast has three, and southwest has one.

If we are looking at the shootings, the only um non-fatal shootings that we were able to um pull with this quick of notices for 2026.

Southwest has 23, Valley has 29, Footh Hills has 11, Northeast has 29, Northwest has 16, and Southeast has 57.

Thank you very much, Chief.

I think that it's just I think that it was relevant just to find out the ratio, right?

And to be able to figure out what downtown looks like with this information.

And uh and I it was good for my brain to be able to have that.

I know it was short notice, so thank you for pulling that together.

Thank you.

Um Councillor Bassan, Council People Corn.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Basson.

That was super helpful for me too.

Um so I just have one question, and I don't know if it's for the sponsor or for anybody else.

But um I'm just curious about the designation process and why it's why it's um structured in this way where it has to be the mayor presenting to council rather than us saying there'll be an analysis and we will approve it.

Thank you, madam president.

I'll answer that.

So we we did work with the mayor on this quite a bit.

This isn't just a me thing.

Um so folks know I also spoke with city counselors in Denver in Tucson and in Las Vegas about this and what they were doing, what are best practices.

This isn't something that just pulled out of the air.

Um I'm very focused on district two, and I can tell you what district two is.

I have no idea what district three, district nine, district seven.

I don't know any of that.

Um the mayor is the executive, and it's his job to understand the entire city as a whole.

And so it just seemed prudent to with the mayor working with ideally he's gonna work with the counselor prior to this coming to council as a whole.

Um and I'll let Dr.

Single speak to that.

But um it just seemed like that was and speaking to others, that was best practice.

Let the the mayor working with the counselor of that specific district, if there's a need or if there's not a need, and then the ability with criteria to go through it, and then have oversight of the entire council.

Thank you.

Appreciate that answer.

Thank you, Councilor People Corn, Counselor Lewis.

Thank you, Madam President.

You know, I do think uh that that this bill, I understand that uh I mean, we're not just talking about downtown.

Um, you know, and there is a process where we we this come back comes back to the council and we we would designate or the mayor would I guess make the first suggestion and designate certain areas.

You know, I I do think bills like this are the key really to um uh to compassion.

I mean, really the key to compassion, the key to effectiveness uh when you think of the millions and millions of dollars that we spend um on all of these areas and uh and you measure the effectiveness.

I think we have a hard time even measuring it, let alone uh seeing the results.

We just don't see the results that are that are measurable in any way.

Um but you know that this this takes a step toward um you know combining the resources that we have with uh um you know a focus in an area uh where we could actually actually help people.

I mean I I don't see it as uh punitive as much as is of just focusing resources and help for people into specific areas.

Now the other part of it is I I mean the only problem I have with this bill is I think that we have the money and the ability um to do that, to do this in every part of our city.

Um every street.

I mean, if it's good for one street, it's good for every street in the city, uh especially as a primary function of our of our city, you know, government, which is to keep people safe.

Um and uh so you know if you're if you don't want to be homeless, if you do not want to be homeless in the city of Albuquerque, you don't have to be homeless in the city of Albuquerque.

Uh if you if you don't want to go hungry in the city of Albuquerque, you don't have to go hungry.

Uh I mean it's unbelievable.

I mean, we're we're far beyond any kind of a safety net, uh which I think is uh you know a responsibility of uh a city government, provide that safety net.

We're far beyond that to the tune where we give we give thousands of dollars a month to anybody and everybody uh with some of our tax dollars.

Um if we were to um you know we spend about thirty thousand dollars uh per unhoused person in the city of Albuquerque, you know, per year.

Um I mean enough to purchase a a nice um apartment in downtown Albuquerque uh for someone to live and to have shelter.

Um we we put a massive amount of resources um into this and so you know any bill that helps um you know bridge that gap some uh and be able to focus those resources um to be able to you know make the connection between actually going to gateway you know gateway sir spent hundreds of millions of dollars on it uh if nobody goes to it what what is it what is it worth you know um and so you know uh this is a a counselor who's identified some serious you know challenges and problems in an area of a town and we can all look at it and say there's areas of town where we could actually apply this right now.

Um my only again, my only you know criticism of this bill is that somehow it's a new and fresh idea.

Um it really should be something that we're we're always doing, you know, in every part of our city.

Um every um again, if it's good for central, it's good for UNSER, it's good for courses, good for golf course road, you know, it's good for every other part of our city.

And uh, but I mean this is a start, it's a good start.

I mean, these are the kind of things that I think again grip bridge that gap to really showing compassion as a city counselor Tayas.

Thank you, Madam President.

Um Chief Barker, I do have another couple questions for you if you don't mind thank you so much.

Um Chief, how many of the in the shooting crime data generally?

I don't you probably don't have the actual actual numbers, but generally, um how many of the offenders here um are unhoused individuals?

Council president and counselor Teas, I don't have that data available.

Okay.

Um how many generally, do you have an idea?

Are these folks in your shooting crime data are repeat offenders or out on bond?

Council, president and counselor Teas, I don't have that data.

It is something that um we can pull up if we had um the request in for that.

Okay, just because I I'm curious about, especially particularly curious about how many are unhoused, um, and how many might be out on bond um specifically those are on bond because I I do recall that the state constitution was amended back in 2016, I believe, that actually removed um removed the ability for judges to make the decision to hold individuals um on in jail um and put that um onus on prosecutors to prove two elements that a defendant is dangerous and that pretrial detention of a person is the only way to protect the safety of the community.

And so my question is if any of these are repeat offenders out on bond, because a judge let them out, it's not actually the judge's fault that they got out on bond, it is the fault of the district attorney for failing to um prove that the defendants were dangerous and that they should be held in pretrial detention.

Is that correct?

Council President and Counselor Tiaz, um that would be based on case by case.

I I can't answer that.

I can tell you for the Valley Area Command alone this year that at least four of the homicides have been um on the unhoused, um, which is very concerning to our police department.

Um we have made an arrest in some of those, and we do not believe that they are related.

Um, but there is a safety concern for one, everyone in our community, um, but specifically the unhoused.

And so I do think that this um ordinance would be beneficial in that aspect in that manner.

Um Madam President, maybe a question for legal, can you confirm um who's responsible for proving that a defendant must be held on on bail?

Is that lie with the prosecution and and the district attorney, or does that lie with the judges?

Uh council president, counselor Teas, uh that is uh determination that's made based on the generally speaking on the danger that the prospective uh you know person to be released would pose to society, there are multi-factor steps that go into that.

So there's a test that creates that sort of uh public uh assessment for possible danger.

And who's responsible for showing that danger?

Who's who who has the obligation to prove that danger?

Uh council president, uh counselor Teyas generally falls on the prosecution, but there's a a uh uh a test that's put in through through a certain factors that have to be satisfied.

And so those factors would have to be shown by the prosecutor, but they're guided by by case law and by statute.

Yeah, because I I do remember that amendment.

Um it was an amendment to the New Mexico Constitution that a defendant can be held in jail while awaiting trial if prosecutors prove two elements that the defendant is dangerous and that pretrial detention of the person is the only way to protect the safety of the community.

So if we have individuals who are committing um gun crimes who are out on bail or are repeat offenders, um that's because our our district attorney is failing us to keep failing to keep us safe.

Um and it looks like these gun crimes are actually killing and hurting and affecting unhoused people often than not.

And I my next question um chief is how cumbersome does the criminalization perpetual sort of non-compliance higher city cost process.

How cumbersome is that?

If you have to um, you know, if there's an unhoused person in in public space sitting or storing behinds, and then you have to issue um you know a citation, and then you have this person has to comply, and then the person can't comply long term, and then the enforcement repeats itself and the legal consequences accumulate and the barriers to um housing and stability increase, and then non-compliance becomes permanent, and the city costs increase without improving outcomes.

How how cumbersome is that to your department?

Council President and Councilor Teas, um, I would uh state that um the cumbersome comes with any case that we have.

I think it's really important, you know, that as police officers that we um are enforcing the laws um of the city and the state and that we are not um neglecting those duties based on um how cumbersome that might be.

I mean, we've talked about um you know going to court and different issues that we've seen in in the judicial system, but we cannot let that affect the work that we do every day.

Chief Baker Barker, thank you.

I'm just curious about um would you rather be going after perpetual non-compliance for unpaid fines due to sitting in public or going after you know those who are actually committing very dangerous crimes?

Council President and Counselor Teas, um, I think as a police department, it's again important for us to um enforce all the laws.

Obviously, violent crime is our priority, um, but we are um you know take an oath to um you know uphold the law, and that comes down to any ordinance or statute um that comes to our attention.

Thank you, Chief.

I appreciate it.

Um thank you, Madam President.

Just again wanna show that like the city pays for repeated enforcement in items like this.

We pay for the cleanup, we pay for the emergency response, we pay for the court processing, we pay for jail-related costs, we pay for legal work, staff time.

Um, you know, the Bernalio County just passed their budget on Tuesday last Tuesday, um, and they pay $90 million to house only those who are arrested by APD in MDC.

So that's a pretty big chunk of money just for APD arrests.

90 million.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilor Rogers Thank you, Madam President.

Just a couple questions.

Um to make sure I'm understanding this bill correctly now with the um amendments.

So this would create a new tool for the city to designate specific commercial areas as enhanced service or safety zones.

And I'm particularly interested in the concentrations of services, especially infrastructure improvements.

So my district, um, I think we hear those numbers is carrying the brunt of homelessness, crime, all of the things that we're talking about, hoping that this bill will fix.

Um, and so my question is how do we prioritize in practice the infrastructure uh targeted capital improvements in infrastructure?

And so I guess this would be a question for the administration because you know I always I've been saying this publicly over and over again that since we're carrying the brunt of it, I want to make sure our roads are prioritized when it comes to repaving, um, and we have horrible uh conditions of our roads in our district.

So, how would we actually prioritize if this was passed?

Um, which areas would receive um that capital improvement, Madam President, um Councillor Rogers.

Madam President, um, Councillor Rogers, I can uh the best way I can um explain this is by an example that has recently been in your district and uh and I think Councillor Grout's district, in which we have prioritized both uh pedestrian level lighting uh in the area as well as reducing the number of lanes on central to reduce the speed as well as um de-conflict some of the pedestrian traffic in turn it went between the um pedestrians and the vehicular traffic, and I would just use that as an example, as well as for act if in places where we have installed hock lights or other um installations in which we're focused on ensuring both the safety of the individuals in the district as well as the vehicles, and those are all I think vehicle examples, but they are the ones I can think of within our capital improvements that we have uh uh prioritized based upon understanding and knowing that the need is there in the district based upon the types of interactions that may happen between pedestrian and vehicle vehicles.

I only use it as an example because I think um our departments do this today in terms of prioritizing for safety purposes in areas that we know that is true.

Um, this would this ordinance gives um you know just a way for us to collect that effort in a in designation for the purposes of the what the council would pass in that designation of a zone.

So we would bring those proposals, we would prioritize those uh projects based upon the zone's designation as well.

Thank you, Madam President.

I think my follow-up to that would be we already have uh ordinance that prioritizes using our social vulnerability index that came out of equity and inclusion in every capital uh season.

I ask which department has used that tool to prioritize capital projects, and every department continues to report that they're not using that tool.

So, based on this ordinance, how as it's written, it would be high economic activity would be the first criteria.

Next would be high crime rates, distressed infrastructure.

So I just wonder again, it's it's not clear how we would prioritize that, um, especially given the fact we already have tools to do that and we're not doing that now.

Um I think my other question would be around um, I think since we the the amendments for sitting, sleeping, lying, and camping didn't pass.

You know, obviously we heard from community that this bills like targeted anti-camping, which we already have laws on the books that do that.

So I have you know, giving the administration another tool to enforce the laws we already have when we're already not using tools we already have.

I don't know is gonna get to the purpose of what this is, and then I just wanted to ask about the sunsetting um purpose in here.

So the zone the am I reading this correctly that the zones would only last up to two years and they would need to be renewed?

Is that correct?

And I guess I would be asking the sponsor, sorry.

Yeah, thank you, Madam President, Councilor Rogers.

Yes, there's a sunset provision in there.

Um, a you know, in absence or in lieu of reporting every two years we reassess whether or not this is needed or not.

Um the default is it's no longer needed, and ideally that has occurred.

Uh but we could extend it that point if the council and the mayor determines that it needs to be addressed.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Baco.

So that means council would have to approve the renewal.

Council has to approve all of it.

And then I didn't see any, but are there any provisions for fine and fee justice similar to what we put into our bill for automatic speed cameras where folks could volunteer in lieu of the $500 fine?

Are there any provisions in the bill that do that do that?

And I guess this is also for the sponsor.

Thank you, Madam President.

I don't believe we put that in.

Um that's a good idea.

I'd say we make that amendment at some future point if it's necessary.

Thank you, Madam President and Councillor Bach.

I think it would be especially given the folks that will most likely incur these types of fines.

Um again, if we are assuming that these folks are unsheltered, um, that are in the crime stats that we heard from our chief, then the folks won't be able to pay those fines and those fees.

And so giving them an option to volunteer um, which could potentially lean to gain poor employment might be a good thing for now rather than later.

Um, I think that's my last question.

I think.

Um, oh, uh let me ask sorry, I thought of one more for the sponsor.

Uh, what specific corridors are anticipated first?

So, and answer both your questions in order.

A, Madam President, thank you, Councillor Rogers, that's to answer your questions in order if I remember that.

A uh courts already have a mechanism to provide um community service if needed, if as an option.

Uh B, I do not assume this will just be unhoused.

That's that's an assumption.

This is a safety bill, right?

When we talk about shootings and people being shot, that is I'm not talking about the unhoused.

The 49 that we presented today were not unhoused folks, so I'm not gonna make that assumption.

Um, and then the second part, how do we prioritize corridors?

That's you know, as I said before, I would never speak to another counselor's district.

I'm not, I don't have that information, and it's also not my job.

Um, so I would never tell you where this will how to prioritize your corridors.

I simply know where I would prioritize.

Um, and although a downtown would be a big one, I can also name a few other locations based on the heat maps that ACS created for us uh recently.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor Backa.

I was just basing my comment on the who would be enforced based on the stats we heard from Chief, um, just to clarify that.

I think the last question for the administration is something I'm always um very mindful about in my own corridors, especially as we're doing operations on central and Route 66.

The displacement into the neighborhood and further into the neighborhood into neighboring businesses that are off the central corridor.

How would the city prevent displacements for the displacement into the neighborhoods off of these corridors?

Uh Madam President, Councillor Rogers, um I think it's a complex uh answer in that we understand that individuals um obviously move uh through freely across the city.

Um, and therefore, you know, we I don't have a we don't have a strategy that would say that if you are uh within the zone and move outside of the zone that somehow you are then enforced, obviously uh the enforcement would continue um based on the zone's conditions outside of that.

Um I think we um it depends on specifically what um portions of this uh ordinance that you're uh relating to enforcement, but particularly in our actions that we uh already take as a city.

Um we work on um continually assessing where individuals may be, um, where they may be moving between um uh locations.

Um we are doing this work um actively at all times to support individuals as we've talked about, it takes multiple interactions with individuals to get provide them the support that they potentially would um accept, and so um we work carefully to try to treat each individual person that we interact with obviously based upon the knowledge and understanding we have of them.

So um whether you're talking law enforcement or ACS response, we have very different um interactions all the time, as you know, and so um I don't there isn't a unfortunately there isn't an answer to say that we would prevent anyone from moving um to other areas um however it gives us an opportunity to utilize these extra tools um that are within this ordinance to work with the with the communities that are designated as a zone within that zone.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So um Councillor Flock at close.

Thank you, Madam President.

Uh I won't say too much because we've already spoken about this.

This is a safety bill, not an unhouse bill, even though people want to make it all about that one topic.

That said, that is one of the biggest issues in our city by far, not just our city, the country, right?

I was just in California.

I've been to other cities.

It is this is the problem, right?

And it's based on you know 50 years of failed federal and state housing policy, 50 years of failed federal and state mental and behavioral health policy, um, 70 years of housing segregation and lack of housing development.

Um, it is a massive problem.

And our job is to create a safe and healthy community for all our constituents.

Um, and as Dr.

Christofferson said, you know, two things can be true simultaneously that are opposite of each other, right?

We can have lots of services to help people, and these people can also be causing problems by not taking those services.

It exists.

And I don't want to lay blame on the county.

I don't want to play blame on the DA, which there are issues there, but I can only control what we control.

Uh although I spent last year, last year, year before quite a bit of time with the state legislature working on the criminal competency, because a lot of these folks can't make any decisions.

They just can't, right?

Um, and so this created an avenue to get support and help for folks that literally can't make those decisions.

Um ideally, folks will take these services and the opportunity for help and not go to another neighborhood and choose to just go off somewhere else.

Ideally, this is an opportunity because this does provide that outreach, it's in there.

Um ACS, street medicine, all those that are in there.

It may not have been ACS's original purpose.

Um, but nowadays they're even doing vouchers, like they do a lot.

They're amazing.

That's that's why I proposed elevating the ACS director to chief, because ACS is now at that point.

Um, and so vote yes on that, please, everybody.

And and beyond that, right?

Like even simple things like being having the dignity to use a rest group.

Is two restrooms enough downtown?

No.

When we started this, there was zero, and we were spending half a million dollars with counselor feeble corns initiative for public cleaning up, literally half a million dollars to clean up public waste.

I rode with them.

It was horrible.

Um, and now we have at least two downtown.

We have one up in uptown, there's one in old town.

That's not enough by any means, but it's happening.

Lots of things are happening.

This is not happening.

This bill does not exist in a vacuum.

And I urge everybody to understand that and to work on that.

And I have met with ACLU and everybody else as part of this.

So, with all that, I urge your support.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So we are back on the bill.

Um 14 as amended seven times.

Um, Madam Clerk.

Councillor Balte.

Yes.

Councilor Passan?

Yes.

Yes.

Councillor People Corn?

No.

Councillor Grout.

Yes.

Councilor Lewis?

Yes.

Councilor Rogers.

No.

Councillor Cheus?

No.

President Pena.

Yes.

Passes on a 6-3 vote.

Thank you.

So we are now on to 023.

Um, counselors Grout, Feeblecorn, and Rogers.

Thank you, Madam President.

O 23 is amending the police oversight ordinance to clarify the CPOA's authority to investigate APD personnel.

I move a due pass.

Second.

There's a motion and there's a motion and a second for a due pass of O23 by Councillor People Corn, Counselor Grout.

Thank you.

Um we received an email from um the APOA president uh Sean Willoughby, Mr.

Willoughby, and he asked for a few changes.

And so um Councillor February was able to meet with him and APD staff, and um they have come up with a really um good amendment compromise.

I'm gonna let Councillor Febalcorn um move it, and then we would like to defer um afterwards um one more time.

I did uh tech by text here from uh Mr.

Willoughby, and he's very pleased with this amendment.

But we want to have one meeting uh prior to passing to make sure that we've got it all um that we're all on the same page because this is important.

Um counselor February, Madam President.

Council People Corn.

Thank you, Madam President.

So before I move it, I just want to clarify that my meeting was with Superintendent Garcia, um Deputy Chief Vega, and the CPOA staff.

Um Mr.

Willoughby was not there, although I'm very excited to be meeting with him in the future.

So I just want to be very clear.

With that, I will move floor amendment one, um, which we are gonna put on the screen, hopefully.

Um that is beginning on page one line 24.

We're gonna strike D in its entirety and insert the following.

For the purposes of this ordinance, APD personnel subject to CPOA jurisdiction include APD sworn officers and the following non-sworn personnel employed by APD.

That includes police service aides, transit safety officers, prisoner transport unit officers, and any other non-sworn APD personnel who engage in direct interaction with the members of the public, exercise enforcement regulatory or public safety related authority, perform duties historically or operationally associated with law enforcement, for example, responding to calls for service, conducting trash or traffic or crash related functions, preparing reports, or participating in investigations where uniforms operate marked vehicles or otherwise present as public safety or law enforcement personnel, and utilize on body recording devices or other recording systems in the course of their official duties.

For example, responding to calls for service, conducting trash or traffic or crash-related functions, preparing reports, or participating in investigations where uniforms operate marked vehicles or otherwise present as public safety or law enforcement personnel and utilize on-body recording devices or other recording systems in the course of their official duties.

And then there's a paragraph that talks about well, I'll just read it.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the CPOA to investigate non-sworn APD personnel when such personnel are subjects of complaints arising from the same incident as sworn APD personnel.

So there's a motion and a second for floor amendment number one by Councillor Grout.

Um Councilor Peter.

Thank you, Madam President.

So this is really, and I just again want to thank Superintendent Garcia, Deputy Chief Vega, who I don't believe is here, but they met with the CPOA staff and myself last week.

And really, I I just appreciated the collaborative work to find something that worked for everyone, and I just want to thank them for that.

What we're trying to get at with this amendment is when we originally wrote the CPOA ordinance.

And there were no transit security officers because they didn't literally didn't exist yet.

They were still over in transit.

And so as things have changed, we saw the need to update this to clarify when CPOA is going to be investigating folks.

And the language that's before us tonight, I think is very clear.

APD is signed off on it, the superintendent of police reform is signed off on it, CPOA has signed off on it, the counselors involved, I believe, have signed off on it.

Their names on it, so yes, and we will be meeting with the um uh police union uh hopefully this week to clarify if there's any further changes needed before we move forward.

So with that, I I I just hope we can get this adopted so that we are all working from the same um final version when we meet with the police union this week.

Thank you.

Any questions?

And I know we have I think one person signed up to no we don't not on the amendment or on the amendment right now.

Sorry.

Um any other counselors, questions?

Seeing none, counselor feeble corn to close.

Urger support, Madam Clerk Councillor Bassan, yes, Vice President Champagne, yes, Councilor People Corn, yes, it's not counselor grout, yes, counselor Lewis?

Yes, Councilor Rogers, yes.

Councilor Teas?

Yes, President Penya?

Yes, passes on an 8-0 vote.

So we're back on the bill.

Um as amended.

So councilor Grout, I think you wanted to make another motion.

Oh, I have a comment.

There because there is I was told there was no public comment.

Okay.

So um thank you for that.

Um, we do want to defer um to the uh as amended to the May 18th council meeting.

Second.

There's a motion in the second um for a deferral to May 18th by Councillor Bassan.

Is there any discussion?

Madam Clerk.

Wait, oh Madam, Madam President.

Sorry, do we have an R23 coming up or is that a typo on the public comment?

Because I feel as though public comment probably is oh 23.

Madam President, Councilor Basson, R23 was one of the bills that was um pulled from the letter of introduction.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk.

Councilor Bassan, yes.

Vice President Champaign.

Yes.

Councilor People Corn?

Yes.

Councilor Grout, yes.

Counselor Lewis?

Yes.

Councilor Rogers, yes, Councilor Teas, yes.

President Pena.

Yes.

Passes on an 8-0 vote.

Great.

Um we are now on R6.

These are counselors People Corn and Rogers.

Thank you, Madam President.

R6 is designating approximately 36 acres on San Pedro Drive is bellighted, approving an expansion amendment to the boundary of the Near Heights Metropolitan Redevelopment Area, approving a corresponding non-substant substance substantial amendment to the near heights metropolitan redevelopment area plan, amending section 11211 of the code of resolutions.

I move a due pass.

Second there's a motion and a second by Councilor Rogers for a due pass of R6.

Madam President.

Okay, it was a massive.

Okay.

Um Councilor Grout.

Madam President, this is this area is just north of my property that I own.

And I don't think it has anything to do with it.

But just to um for the so there are no questions.

I am going to recuse myself from this conversation.

Thank you.

With that on the record, um, Counselor Peoplecorn.

Thank you, Madam President.

So this is an existing MR that has been in Councillor Rogers' area only.

We are doing a lot of work on San Pedro, um, improving it with streetscaping, a lot of attention from a nonprofit that's been formed for the entire area all the way up to I-40.

And so we are just trying to expand the existing councillor Rogers existing MR up into district seven so that we can all work together and with all the businesses along that line can have access to all the tools from the MR toolbook.

Um thank you, Councilor Feblecorn.

Um we have one person signed up to speak, and as you say that we should just do an MR all the way from one end of central to the other.

So anyway, come on down, Adrian.

Haven't seen you in a month of Sundays.

Hi, hi.

Thank you, Council President.

Um, my name is Adrian Carver.

I'm the executive director of the revitalized San Pedro Partnership.

We're the accredited Main Street program for uh serving the uh area of San Pedro from central to I-40.

I'll keep this short.

As many of you know, and as outlined in the proposal, this is an area of town uh that's that has experienced long-term disinvestment and it needs some focused attention.

That's why revitalized San Pedro partnership exists.

Um, I just want to thank Councillors Feblecorn and Rogers, uh council staff and the MRA staff uh for inviting our organization into this process to work on this proposal.

Uh, we support this uh amendment and look forward to using the tools at the MR uh to revitalize the San Pedro Main Street corridor.

Thank you for your support.

Any questions?

No.

Okay, well, with that, I guess um, Madam Clerk.

Councilor Bassan, yes, Vice President Champagne, yes, Councilor Feblecorn, yes.

Counselor Lewis, yes, counselor Rogers, yes, Councilor Teas.

Yes, President Pena, yes, pass this on a seven zero vote.

Thank you, and apologize, Counselor Rogers and People Corn.

I didn't ask for a close, but um, this is R15, Counselor Rogers.

Thank you, Madam President.

R15 is adopting the 2026 action plan and program investment summary for the expenditure of community development block grant, CDBG Home Investment Partnership Program, home money, and emergency solutions grant, ESG funds, workforce housing trust funds providing an appropriation to the Department of Health Housing and Homelessness for the 2026 U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD entitlement and workforce housing trust.

I move a due pass.

Second, there's a motion second by Councilor Um Feeblecorn for a due pass of R 19.

Um Councilor Rogers.

Thank you, Madam President.

I'd like to move floor amendment uh A and your packets or one that are in the iPads, and we'll have up on the screen for us.

Thank you, Mr.

Cornelius.

A floor amendment number one begins on page one line nine, and we are just uh taking out the word word for uh work for housing trust funds, and then on page one line 21.

We're going to add the following whereas club uh clause, whereas workforce training trust funds in the amount of 10 million were appropriated in R25-206.

Um this title of the legislation says that the resolution appropriates workforce housing trust funds, but it really does not.

Those funds were already appropriated, so we just wanted to call that out for alignment, and the attachment accompanies the legislation, but it does uh reference the workforce housing trust fund, so it's appropriate to keep in the legislation, but it's not appropriated in the legislation.

So we just wanted to make that clear, and I move it to pass second.

There's a motion and a second for floor amendment number one by counselor people corn.

Any questions?

Yeah, there was a second.

Any questions?

Councilor uh Rogers to close.

Thank you, Madam President.

I urge your support.

I apologize.

We have one person signed up to speak.

Thank you.

This is on the amendment.

Okay, I was like, is there really on an amendment?

So that's okay, don't worry.

I'm usually guilty of that.

So um, okay, so um madam clerk, sorry.

Sorry, Counselor Bacca, no worries.

Yes, Councilor Bassan, yes, Vice President Champagne, yes, Councilor People Corne, yes, Councilor Grout, yes, Counselor Lewis, yes, Councilor Rogers, yes, Counselor Teyas, yes, President Pena.

Yes, passes unanimously that amendment passes.

We're back on the bill as amended.

Um questions?

Seeing none, councilor Rogers too close.

Oh, did you speak?

Oh, we have a speaker.

Now we have a speaker, God almighty.

Mr.

Cornelius, now it's my turn.

See, I told you thank you, thank you, Madam President.

We have Tad Numitsky signed up to speak.

Well city found it money for say it tonight for every project, millions of dollars, including now housing.

You all wise guys, nine wise guys.

Did you ever think about it?

Every year, that's not solution to the problem.

Should you ever look at where problems come from and how to approach the this problem?

That's all I got to say.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Naminsky.

So now we are back on the bill as amended.

Um, Councilor Rogers to close.

Thank you, Madam President.

I urge your support.

This is not about moving money around, this is about accepting money from our federal government for housing dollars, which we want to do so that we can help more folks when it comes to housing.

So thank you, and I urge your support.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Counselor Bacca.

Yes, Councilor Bassan, yes.

Yes, Councilor People Corn, yes.

Counselor Grout, yes, Councilor Lewis, yes, Councilor Rogers.

Yes, Councilor Teas, yes, President Penya, yes, passes unanimously.

Thank you.

So we are now under the final item under final actions, and this is Councilor People Corn R 19.

Madam President, R19 is approving and authorizing the acceptance and use of grant funds for an amendment to the seed block grant and authorizing an appropriation to the general services department in fiscal year 2026.

I move a due pass.

Second, there's a motion and second by counselor grout for a due pass of R 19.

Um, Councilor People Corn.

Thank you, Madam President.

In keeping with the last one, this is getting money from the state in this situation, but these are funds that will help low-income folks improve their energy efficiency and reduce their energy burden.

So very very thankful to the state for the grant.

Any questions?

Seeing none, Councilor People Corn to close.

Erd your support, Madam Clerk, Councilor Backa, yes, Councilor Bassan, yes, Vice President Champagne, yes, Councilor People Corn, yes, Councilor Grout, yes, Councilor Lewis, yes, Councilor Rogers, yes, Counselor Teas, yes, President Penya, yes, passes unanimously.

Counselor Lewis.

Yes.

Counselor Rogers?

Yes.

Counselor Teez.

Yes.

President Pena?

Yes.

Passes unanimously.

We are now on the final item of the evening, which is other business.

So we are an EC 115 veto of R2612, adjusting fiscal year 2026 operating appropriations for certain funds and programs.

And if a counselor wishes to attempt an override of the mayor's veto, they will make a motion to override if no motion is made, or if a second is not received, the mayor's veto stands.

Also, if a motion is made, the second received, but six votes are not obtained in favor of the override, then the mayor's uh veto stands.

Um is there a motion to override seeing none?

Um we move on to um EC 145 and this is do we have people sign up to speak on both of them on 145?

Okay.

Um veto of 02622, amending section uh 143-3-2 of the uniform housing code to establish cooling system um performance requirements if a counselor wishes to attempt to override um I won't read that again.

And is there a motion to override?

Madam President, I'd like to move to override.

There's a motion in the second um to override uh the mayor's veto of EC 145.

Is there anyone signed up to speak?

And it's not even a late evening, so we're in trouble.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Madam President.

Grace Dukes, followed by Dr.

Lisa Christofferson.

I ask that you uphold the veto.

The mayor's message says the amended version gives renters less protection, and he is right.

It is a weaker bill dressed up as renter protection, and we can read Basan Pena, Champagne, Lewis, and Grout voted to amend this bill to make it worse.

Narrowing required cooling to May first through September 30th in a city where April already kills people, and where seniors, children, and people with chronic illness cannot survive 90 degree heat.

That is the record, those five will have to defend at every door in every neighborhood until the next election.

The record also shows what happened procedurally, even if you were hoping no one noticed.

FIBOCORN moved to withdraw her bill as it's her right under the rules.

Pena was prepared to allow the withdrawal and was actively conferring with Champagne until Lewis interjected and Pena reversed course.

That is not leadership, that is a president of the council who does not understand her own rules and pulls the moment she is pushed.

The body does its worst business in the dark of night.

We are watching, it is on the record.

None of you get to vote like this and then run on a record of caring about working families.

We see through the lights.

Counselor Basson, as your constituent, I see through your lives, Dr.

Lisa Christofferson, followed by Octavio Octavio Savere.

So I am concerned that it looks like it doesn't matter how much an ordinance or program cost.

So I know when we go to the legislature, they are required to do fiscal impact reports for legislation that's being prepared, but the last couple bills and this one that's being considered to veto.

What is the cost of not having it or having it?

Could we have some kind of uh ordinance that whenever a bill is submitted to this and it is gonna include a lot of different agencies, a lot of different departments?

I heard over and over.

How much is it gonna cost?

We don't know who's gonna be doing it, we don't know.

It doesn't matter if it's effective.

This is our taxpayer money.

This ordinance, what will be the fiscal impact of this ordinance?

Vetoed, not vetoed.

We don't know in the community how much money is being spent on whatever.

I listened to the um the committee of the whole again and again.

Is this program effective?

How much does it cost?

Did not get those answers.

I suggest we do Octavio Savere doesn't seem like he is present.

Also, madam president, our three sign-ups for Zoom are not present online.

So that concludes comment.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

So there is a motion on the floor to override um the mayor's veto of EC 145.

Are there any questions?

Madam Clerk.

Councilor Baca.

No.

Councilor Passan?

Yes.

Vice President Champagne?

Yes.

Councilor Peoplecorn?

No.

Councilor Grout?

Yes.

Councilor Lewis?

Yes.

Councilor Rogers?

No.

Councilor Teas.

No.

President Penya?

Yes.

Fails on a 5-4 vote.

So that was the final item of the evening.

And so there being no further business.

There being no further business, this city council meeting is adjourned.

Can I?