Albuquerque meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Albuquerque council approves $40.5M hotel bond; committees advance AI, recycling, and parking measures

The Albuquerque City Council approved a $40.5 million industrial revenue bond for the Dreamcatcher Sawmill Hotel project, a dual-branded Hampton Inn and Home2 Suites with 135 guestrooms, in an 8-1 vote on Aug. 17. The council also approved economic development ordinances for three companies and a zoning change for 165 acres in the city's northeast quadrant.

City Council

The $40,520,267 bond passed 8-1. The council also passed ordinances supporting expansions for Securin, Inc. (cybersecurity, 8-0, one excused), Quantinuum LLC (quantum computing, 9-0), and BlackVe, Inc. (satellite facility at MaxQ Campus, 9-0). A zoning map amendment from NR-SU to NR-LM for 165 acres at 6000 Alexander Dr. NE passed 8-0, with one excused.

The council approved the Uptown Connect Affordable Housing Project development agreement (8-0, one excused) and postponed the Cottages at 161 Chama affordable housing project to Sept. 9 (8-0, one excused). A veto of a charter amendment proposition (R-26-30) was not overridden, failing 4-5.

Finance & Government Operations Committee

On Aug. 10, the committee voted 5-0 to send several items to the full Council, including an AI ordinance, a recycling mandate for multi-family dwellings, and a virtual currency ATM ban. It approved a lease with CLNKids for office space at John Marshall Center (5-0), a rental car concession lease amendment with Avis and Enterprise (5-0), and a Small Properties Disposal Agreement with PIRU Group for 1016 3rd St. NW (5-0). The committee postponed residential parking permits at 400 Hannett Ave. NE to Sept. 14 (5-0).

Land Use, Planning, and Zoning Committee

On Aug. 12, the committee voted 5-0 to recommend confirming Trula M. Howe to the Environmental Planning Commission. It also voted 5-0 to recommend passage of O-26-55, which would require the city to consider quick-build safety treatments in road projects. Both items go to the full Council.

President's meeting (procedural)

An Aug. 17 meeting of the Council President was procedural only. The Council received communications (EC-26-213 through EC-26-222 and OC-26-15) and referred several resolutions to committees, including a golf course concessions item, a mosquito surveillance grant, and tax abatement requests for Sichler Farms and La Curva. No votes were taken.

Local Government Coordinating Commission

The Aug. 20 joint city-county-schools meeting was agenda only, with minutes not yet published. The agenda included updates on opioid settlement fund projects, discussion of shared-use spaces like school parks, the AMIRA learning application, and potential collaboration on large community-wide projects.

Coming up

Today, Aug. 24, the Finance & Government Operations Committee will review redevelopment tax abatements for the Sichler Farms and La Curva development projects, establish a residential parking permit at 400 Hannett Ave. NE, consider a moratorium on public access to the courtyard at the Lofts at Albuquerque High, and accept grant funds from the National Recreation and Parks Association, Nike, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

Albuquerque City Council passes accountability, whistleblower ordinances; $40.5M hotel bond on tap

The Albuquerque City Council on Aug. 3 passed a consolidated Accountability In Government Ordinance and an amended Whistleblower Ordinance, both by 9-0 votes, and approved a ballot proposition for the 2026 general election that would change how the City Attorney and City Clerk are appointed and made independent (6-3). The council also passed an amended Sale Of Recycled Metals Ordinance (8-1) and increased disposal fees for non-residents at convenience centers (8-1).

City Council actions (Aug. 3)

The council approved several items, all with recorded votes:

• Passed consolidated Accountability In Government Ordinance (9-0)
• Passed amended Whistleblower Ordinance (9-0)
• Approved ballot proposition for 2026 election regarding City Attorney and City Clerk (6-3)
• Passed amended Sale Of Recycled Metals Ordinance (8-1)
• Passed increase in disposal fees for non-residents at convenience centers (8-1)
• Approved social services agreement with NM Veterans Integration Centers (9-0)
• Approved funding increases for substance use treatment vouchers with Albuquerque Behavioral Health and Engender, Inc (9-0)
• Confirmed re-appointments of Amy M. Kindrick, Sara Yvonne Escobar, Jodie L. Jaramillo, and Chearie J. Alipat to the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Commission (9-0)

Council referrals (Aug. 3)

In a separate meeting that day, the council referred several items to committees without final votes. These included lease agreements for CLNKids (EC-26-190) and New Mexico Solutions (EC-26-200), a rental car lease amendment (EC-26-191), a street outreach housing award (EC-26-192), a MainStreet Capital Outlay request (EC-26-199), a property disposal agreement with PIRU Group, LLC (EC-26-201), the appointment of Trula M. Howe to the Environmental Planning Commission (EC-26-208), and a Complete Streets Ordinance amendment (O-26-55). All were referred to either the Finance & Government Operations Committee or the Land Use, Planning, and Zoning Committee.

Finance & Government Operations Committee (Aug. 10)

The committee voted 5-0 on most items, sending them to the full council. Notable actions included approving a lease with CLNKids for office space at John Marshall Center, approving a rental car concession lease amendment with Avis, Enterprise, and others, approving the FY27 MainStreet Capital Outlay request submission, and approving a Small Properties Disposal Agreement with PIRU Group for 1016 3rd St NW. The committee also sent an AI Ordinance, an Emerging Technology Advisory Board, recycling, fiber, and virtual currency ordinances to the council with various votes. One item, residential parking permits at 400 Hannett Ave NE, was postponed to Sept. 14, 2026 (5-0). A 2025 Downtown Parking Study was sent to council with receipt noted (5-0).

Land Use, Planning, and Zoning Committee (Aug. 12)

The committee voted 5-0 to recommend confirmation of Trula M. Howe to the Environmental Planning Commission and 5-0 to recommend passage of O-26-55, amending the Complete Streets Ordinance to require the city to consider quick-build safety treatments in road projects. Both items now go to the full City Council.

Intergovernmental Legislative Relations Committee (Aug. 5)

This meeting was agenda-only; minutes have not yet been published. The agenda included updates on state revenue estimates, federal appropriations, and identification of 2027 Capital Outlay Requests.

Coming up

The City Council meets Aug. 17 and will consider a $40,520,267 taxable industrial revenue bond for the Dreamcatcher Sawmill Hotel project (Hampton Inn/Home2 Suites, 135 rooms). Also on the agenda are LEDA project participation agreements for Securin, Quantinuum, and BlackVe expansions, an appeal of a zoning decision for an overnight shelter at 2300 Yale Blvd SE, a $2,835,000 agreement with Homewise, Inc. for the Home Owner Rehabilitation Program, and a $6,160,000 Water Project Fund grant for John St. Pump Station and storm drain improvements.

Albuquerque City Council passes accountability, whistleblower ordinances, ballot measure

The Albuquerque City Council on Aug. 3 passed a consolidated Accountability In Government Ordinance and an amended Whistleblower Ordinance, both by 9-0 votes. It also approved a ballot proposition for the 2026 General Election regarding the appointment and independence of the City Attorney and City Clerk, passing 6-3.

City Council actions

The council approved several other items at the same meeting:

• **Sale of Recycled Metals Ordinance** (amended) — passed 8-1.
• **Disposal fees for non-residents** at convenience centers — increase passed 8-1.
• **Social services agreement** with NM Veterans Integration Centers — approved 9-0.
• **Funding increases for substance use treatment vouchers** with Albuquerque Behavioral Health and Engender, Inc — approved 9-0.
• **Re-appointments** of Amy M. Kindrick, Sara Yvonne Escobar, Jodie L. Jaramillo, and Chearie J. Alipat to the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Commission — confirmed 9-0.

Other council business

In a separate Aug. 3 session, the council processed a series of communications and introductions, referring items to committees for further review. No final votes were recorded. Referred items include:

• Lease agreement for CLNKids (EC-26-190) and rental car lease amendment (EC-26-191) — to Finance & Government Operations Committee.
• Street outreach housing award (EC-26-192) and MainStreet Capital Outlay request (EC-26-199) — to Finance & Government Operations Committee.
• Lease agreement for New Mexico Solutions (EC-26-200) and property disposal agreement with PIRU Group, LLC (EC-26-201) — to Finance & Government Operations Committee.
• Appointment of Trula M. Howe to the Environmental Planning Commission (EC-26-208) — to Land Use, Planning, and Zoning Committee.
• Complete Streets Ordinance amendment (O-26-55) — to Land Use, Planning, and Zoning Committee.

Committee agenda items

The Intergovernmental Legislative Relations Committee met Aug. 5 with an agenda that included updates on state revenue estimates, federal appropriations, and identification of 2027 Capital Outlay Requests. Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming up

• **Finance & Government Operations Committee** — Aug. 10. Will consider a proposed Artificial Intelligence Ordinance (O-26-43), a requirement for recycling at multi-family dwellings and city buildings (O-26-46), a ban on virtual currency ATMs (O-26-49), and lease agreements for CLNKids (EC-26-190) and rental car concessions (EC-26-191).
• **Land Use, Planning, and Zoning Committee** — Aug. 12. Will consider the mayor's appointment of Trula M. Howe to the Environmental Planning Commission (EC-26-208) and an ordinance to require consideration of quick-build safety treatments for road projects (O-26-55). Public comment sign-up is required by 3:30 p.m. on the meeting day.

City lobbyists brief Intergovernmental Legislative Relations Committee on funding, policy

The Intergovernmental Legislative Relations Committee met July 1 to receive updates from city lobbyists on state and federal funding and policy issues. The meeting was informational, with no public comment or voting scheduled, and no decisions made.

State and federal updates

State lobbyists covered capital outlay reform and consensus revenue forecasts. Capital outlay reform involves changes to how the state distributes funding for local infrastructure projects such as roads, water systems, and public buildings. Consensus revenues are the officially agreed-upon revenue projections used by the state for budgeting.

Federal lobbyists reviewed housing and transportation legislation as well as proposed federal grant rules. They also updated the committee on state interim committee activities.

The committee took no action items, according to the agenda.

Coming up

As of July 5, no upcoming meetings for the Intergovernmental Legislative Relations Committee were listed on the city’s meeting schedule.