Albuquerque City Council Meeting – June 1, 2026

The Albuquerque City Council held a lengthy meeting on Monday, June 1, 2026, lasting until 1:06 a.m. on June 2. The council took final action on a minimum wage increase, a rental unit habitability enforcement ordinance, and an update to the public safety gross receipts tax dedication, among many other items. Over 100 public commenters registered, and the council reduced speaking time to one minute per person. The meeting included several deferred items and multiple floor amendments.

Consent Calendar

• EC-26-95 (Real Property Right-of-Way Services) – Approved 9–0.
• EC-26-98 (Airline Operating Agreements) – Approved 9–0.
• EC-26-101 (Real Estate Sales Agreement for 5511 Holly Ave NE) – Approved 9–0.
• EC-26-107 (Five-Year Forecast FY2026–FY2030) – Approved 9–0.
• EC-26-126 (First Supplemental Agreement for Outside Counsel with Modrall Sperling) – Postponed to June 15, 2026, 9–0.
• EC-26-147 through EC-26-153 (Mayoral appointments to boards/commissions) – All confirmed 9–0.
• EC-26-154 (62nd Street – Habitat for Humanity Right-of-Way Vacation) – Approved 9–0.
• EC-26-155 and EC-26-156 (FAA/NM DOT grant applications for Double Eagle II Airport projects) – Approved 9–0.
• EC-26-157 (Q3 FY26 ABQ RIDE Security Report) – Receipt noted 9–0.
• EC-26-158 (Early Head Start Quarterly Report) – Receipt noted 9–0.
• EC-26-161 (Reappointment of John I. Ajie to Metropolitan Parks and Recreation Advisory Board) – Confirmed 9–0.
• EC-26-162 (Appointment of Rowan Nichols-Barry to Youth Advisory Council) – Confirmed 9–0.
• EC-26-163 (Outside Counsel Agreement with North Star Legal Group, LLC) – Approved 9–0 (rules suspended for immediate action).
• OC-26-9 (Project Management of Council-Sponsored Projects) – Approved 9–0.
• R-26-16 (Acceptance of NM Outdoor Recreation Division Trails+ Grant) – Passed 9–0.
• Other approvals: R-26-24 (Capital Implementation Program – approved as amended 9–0); EC-26-102 (Third Quarter FY26 Objectives Update – receipt noted 8–1, with Councilor Champine opposed).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Over 100 individuals signed up for public comment; the council reduced speaking time to one minute.
• Minimum Wage (O-26-33): Dozens spoke both for and against. Supporters included workers, faith leaders, and community advocates who argued that $12/hour is insufficient to cover rent and basic needs. Opponents included small business owners and industry representatives (New Mexico Restaurant Association, Chamber of Commerce, Americans for Prosperity) who warned of job losses, higher prices, and harm to entry-level employment. Multiple commenters cited the MIT Living Wage Calculator and noted that Albuquerque is 20,000 housing units short.
• Rental Habitability (O-26-24): Several tenants shared stories of unsafe conditions (no heat, black mold, broken doors). The Apartment Association of New Mexico expressed appreciation for amendments targeting bad actors only.
• Public Safety Tax (R-26-29): Representatives from AFR, the Public Safety Tax Advisory Board, and community organizations spoke in support, emphasizing the need for stable funding for fire, police, and community safety.
• Other topics: A speaker raised concerns about the Old Town Rail Trail project; a speaker discussed the Family Advocacy Center and constitutional training for private contractors; several commenters spoke on Pride Month and trans rights.

Discussion Items

• O-26-33 (Minimum Wage Increase): Sponsored by Councilors Fiebelkorn, Baca, Rogers, and Telles. The ordinance raises the minimum wage from $12 to $15 per hour over a three-year phase-in ($13 in 2027, $14 in 2028, $15 in 2029). Annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) will begin in 2030, calculated using the average of CPI-U and HUD Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Albuquerque. The tipped minimum wage will initially be 55.5% of the full minimum wage in 2027, decreasing gradually to 50% by 2029. Five floor amendments were debated and passed: (1) A requirement that city employees earning $80,000 or less receive the same percentage increase as the minimum wage COLA (passed 6–3). (2) A three-year phase-in (passed 8–1 on reconsideration). (3) Removal of HUD rent index from COLA calculation (failed initially, then passed 8–1 on reconsideration). (4) Tipped wage set at 50% of minimum wage (passed 8–1). (5) A reconciliation amendment adjusting the tipped wage phase-in percentages (passed 7–2). Final passage: 5–4 (Baca, Fiebelkorn, Peña, Rogers, Telles in favor; Bassan, Champine, Grout, Lewis opposed).
• O-26-24 (Rental Unit Habitability Enforcement): Sponsored by Fiebelkorn, Rogers, Telles, Baca. Establishes enforcement mechanisms for habitability violations, including a 72-hour window for landlords to respond before fines. Four amendments passed: (1) Extended response time from 24 to 72 hours. (2) Required tenants to notify landlords before reporting violations. (3) Addressed service of certified mail (effective upon receipt or 7 days after first attempt). (4) Clarified that liens for unpaid relocation costs attach first to the subject property. Final passage: 6–3 (Baca, Champine, Fiebelkorn, Peña, Rogers, Telles in favor; Bassan, Grout, Lewis opposed).
• R-26-20 (Code Enforcement Priorities for Tenant Protection): Sponsored by the same group. Directs code enforcement to prioritize life-safety violations (e.g., lack of heat, water, structural hazards) over aesthetic complaints. Passed 5–4.
• O-26-26 (Storm Water Utility Ordinance): Postponed to June 15, 2026, 9–0.
• O-26-27 (Sunset Review Clause for Boards/Commissions): Substituted and postponed to June 15, 2026, 8–0 (Councilor Lewis excused).
• O-26-28 (Repealing Obsolete Boards and Creating a Merger Task Force): Substituted, amended to spell out acronyms, and postponed to June 15, 2026, 8–0 (Councilor Lewis excused).
• O-26-30 (Downtown Vacant Premises Ordinance): Amended to add second-floor structural integrity inspections. Passed 5–4.
• O-26-31 (Public Safety Tax Advisory Board): Clarified board’s role, transparency, and reporting. Passed unanimously.
• R-26-29 (Public Safety Gross Receipts Tax Update): Sponsored by Rogers and Baca. Proposed a voter proposition to reallocate the existing 0.375% gross receipts tax (no increase). After extensive amendments, the final dedication is: Police 35%, Prisoner Transport 6%, Fire 38%, Code Enforcement 5%, Albuquerque Community Safety 8%, Health Housing & Homelessness 8%. Passed unanimously.
• O-26-35 (Solid Waste Disposal Fee Increases for Non-Residents): Amended to require proof of residency (utility bill or government ID) to receive the in-city rate. Postponed to August 3, 2026, 9–0.
• P-26-2 and R-26-30 (Charter Amendment on City Attorney/Clerk Appointment and Removal): Would require council supermajority approval for appointment/removal. Both postponed to June 15, 2026, 9–0.
• R-26-22 (Cruisers for Route 66 Program): Amended to split signage costs across council districts when a segment spans multiple districts. Passed 8–0 (Councilor Baca opposed on the amendment but voted for final passage). Final passage unanimous.
• R-26-33 (Capital Implementation Program Cleanup): Passed as amended 9–0.
• R-26-37 (Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget Adjustments): Passed 7–1 (Councilor Telles recused; Councilor Fiebelkorn opposed).
• R-26-38 (Juneteenth Activities Funding): Passed 9–0.
• R-26-40 (Rapid Rehousing Support for 31 Households): Passed 8–1 (Councilor Champine opposed).

Key Outcomes

• Minimum wage increase to $15/hour over three years, with COLA tied to CPI and HUD rent – Final vote 5–4.
• Rental habitability enforcement ordinance – Final vote 6–3.
• Code enforcement prioritization for tenant life safety – Final vote 5–4.
• Public safety tax reallocation for voter approval – Unanimous passage.
• Multiple items deferred to June 15, 2026: O-26-26, O-26-27, O-26-28, P-26-2, R-26-30, EC-26-126, O-25, R-26-35.
• O-26-35 (solid waste fees) deferred to August 3, 2026.
• R-26-23 (minimum wage reconsideration): A final amendment was passed (7–2) to adjust the tipped wage phase-in, then the bill as amended passed 5–4.