Albuquerque City Council Meeting - October 6, 2026

The Albuquerque City Council held its 19th meeting of the 27th Council at the Vincent E. Griego Chambers, One Civic Plaza NW, with all nine councilors present. Note: the minutes and raw transcript date the session as Monday, October 5, 2026, convening at 5:00 p.m.; the title above uses the 2026-10-06 identifier supplied for this record. The Council suspended rules to extend the meeting twice, and adjourned at 10:52 p.m., leaving the opioid settlement appropriation (R-26-69) pending for October 19, 2026.

Administration Question & Answer Period

• Councilor Champine asked how often the city has used the new civil enforcement option in the nuisance abatement ordinance (effective August 23, 2025). Planning Director Allen replied that the specific criminal-activity-triggered procedure has not yet been used, though similar $500-per-day penalty provisions in other ordinances are used regularly. Animal Welfare Director Ortega added that 499 civil fines have been issued under the newer nuisance abatement ordinance, including for animal welfare violations. Champine requested a comprehensive cross-departmental answer in the future.
• Councilor Fiebelkorn asked about enforcement of the 2025 ordinance (O-25-84) requiring confiscation of companion animals sold in public places. Director Ortega reported 66 calls received and 14 animals confiscated. Fiebelkorn expressed concern that enforcement is not occurring in every instance; Ortega said sellers often leave before officers arrive, some calls are erroneous, and some residents buy the animals themselves instead of calling 311.
• President Peña requested an update on the 98th and Mule Mesa intersection after a recent fatal crash. Director Turner acknowledged the tragic loss, noted the APD investigative report is pending, cited $4 million spent on the 98th/Gibson signal improvements, and said the city would work on design for a Mule Mesa signal. Peña asked the Mayor to make the intersection a capital priority, noting that ECs cannot be amended and would require a new submittal.
• Councilor Telles raised concerns about federal awards at risk under OMB changes: her office identified $26.7 million in federal awards at risk of disappearing mid-year, while the administration's assessment stated $23 million, and no reconciliation was provided. The city attorney directed the DFAS director to consult counsel before answering, citing pending OMB litigation; Telles expressed frustration that the Council learned of the litigation late.
• Telles and Fiebelkorn questioned Robinson Park closures, citing conflicting signs and observing that no one cleared the park during a posted closure on the afternoon of October 5. The CAO described coordinated park maintenance, security/APD patrols, and ACS outreach offering shelter, transportation, and case management. Councilor Baca (District 2) described the park as a difficult situation with no easy answers, said the policy appears to be working, and invited colleagues to meet with downtown community members.
• Councilor Rogers asked for the current encampment policy (the posted version is dated April 9, 2026) and requested that notification forms document what services or shelter beds were offered. The city attorney cited pending litigation regarding the form's language. Rogers expressed concern about the form's statement that unattended items may be removed and destroyed and about the lack of data proving what services were offered. She also noted courts face a 400% increase in cases and that the Council has been absent from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council for over a year.
• Rogers asked what happens when balloons hit power lines; the CAO explained PNM owns and addresses the lines, while the city (AFR, APD, and partner agencies) responds from a public-safety perspective.
• Councilor Grout asked about the 2026 Goals Forum: it was held August 29, 2026, at the downtown public library with 7 attendees, and the survey drew 157 responses (closing on 9/5/26), compared with 77 participants and 39 surveys at the prior forum. Grout said the results are important for pending legislation.
• Vice President Champine asked about the city clerk appointment timeline (search is active; no date given) and construction during Balloon Fiesta; the CAO said city-controlled work is generally paused, and the Paseo cones Champine saw are believed to be non-city work.

Proclamations & Presentations

• The Council suspended rules (two-thirds vote) to allow more than four proclamations per councilor. President Peña and Councilor Telles presented a proclamation recognizing October 2026 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (81st anniversary) to Dr. Stefan Scott and Anthony Harkins of the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Christopher Love of Pomegranate Orchards, and Melissa McHugh of Mandy's Farm.

Consent Calendar

• All consent items were approved or confirmed unanimously (9-0), including: EC-26-230 (aviation construction project manager/construction manager services award); EC-26-242 (RIN credit management for renewable natural gas); EC-26-244 (Gateway Center security guard services); EC-26-246 (2027 Administration Priority Capital and Policy Requests), withdrawn by the Administration; more than 20 Mayor's appointments and re-appointments to boards and commissions confirmed (including the Indicators Progress Commission, ADA Advisory Council, Arts Board, Library Advisory Board, Commission on American Indian and Alaska Native Affairs, Senior Affairs Advisory Council, Transit Advisory Board, Albuquerque Development Commission, and Alma Domingo to the Civilian Police Oversight Advisory Board); OC-26-16 (FY2026 second and third quarter IPRA report), receipt noted; R-26-65 (accepting a NM State Tourism Department Destination Forward Grant for the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency); and R-26-67 (adjusting FY2027 operating appropriations for Transit Department positions and Planning Department vehicles).

Appeals

• AC-26-06, Jolynn Maestas' appeal of the Zoning Hearing Examiner's decision to approve a major wall/fence permit at 637 Solar Rd NW (R-1), was decided 8-1 to accept the findings for adoption, with Councilor Bassan opposed.

Approvals

• EC-26-209 (Final Objectives Report for Fiscal Year 2026) — receipt noted.
• EC-26-273 (2027 Administration Priority Capital and Policy Requests) — receipt noted.
• OC-26-19 (technical correction to the Council Legislative Program for the first session of the 58th New Mexico State Legislature) — receipt noted.

Final Actions

• O-26-60 (IDO application fees, Lewis): Amendments 1 and 2 adopted unanimously; postponed as amended to October 19, 2026 by an 8-1 vote, with President Peña opposed.
• O-26-61 (Neighborhood Association Recognition Ordinance, Lewis): Amendments 1 and 2 adopted 8-1 (Peña opposed); Amendment 3 adopted 7-2 (Baca and Rogers opposed); Amendment 4 adopted 9-0; the ordinance passed as amended 5-4 (Champine, Fiebelkorn, Grout, Lewis, and Telles in favor; Baca, Bassan, Peña, and Rogers opposed).
• M-26-1 (urging the Legislature to remove statutory restrictions on municipal authority to set standing requirements for zoning appeals, Lewis): Amendments 1-3 adopted unanimously; passed as amended 9-0.
• M-26-2 (urging the Legislature to authorize municipalities, at their option, to direct certain zoning appeals for district court review, Lewis): Amendments 1-3 adopted unanimously; passed as amended 6-3 (Bassan, Peña, and Rogers opposed).
• R-26-69 (appropriation of opioid settlement funds, Rogers): After a rules suspension extending the meeting to 10:52 p.m. (7-2) and a failed extension to 11:15 p.m. (3-6), the Council adjourned without completing consideration; the item remains pending for the October 19, 2026 meeting.

Key Outcomes

• All consent calendar items passed 9-0; EC-26-246 was withdrawn by the Administration.
• The fence-permit appeal (AC-26-06) was upheld, 8-1.
• O-26-60 was postponed to October 19, 2026; O-26-61 passed as amended, 5-4; M-26-1 passed as amended, 9-0; M-26-2 passed as amended, 6-3; R-26-69 was carried over to October 19, 2026.