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2026-06-15 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official action summary (minutes, Legistar status Final) and the Council President's letter of introduction for the same meeting (2026-06-15 - President). The action summary records motions and votes only, not discussion or public comment.

  • Monday, June 15, 2026, 5:00 PM, Twenty-Seventh Council, Fourteenth Meeting. All nine councilors present: Peña (President), Champine (Vice-President), Baca, Bassan, Fiebelkorn, Grout, Lewis, Rogers and Telles. The meeting adjourned at 11:38 p.m.
  • Pledge of Allegiance led in English by Peña and in Spanish by Bassan. Committee reports from the June 8 and June 10 committees were received (2026-06-08 - Finance and Government Operations Committee, 2026-06-10 - Land Use, Planning, and Zoning Committee).
  • Postponed to August 3, 2026, all 9-0: P-26-2 and R-26-30 (Charter Article V amendment propositions; Champine's motions) and EC-26-126 (first supplemental agreement adding funds for Modrall Sperling outside counsel legal services; Peña's motion).
  • Consent agenda: 14 resolutions and appointments approved or confirmed 9-0 on Peña's motions, plus R-26-48 (Violence Intervention Fund and Behavioral Health Regional Investment Act grant funds through an agreement with Bernalillo County, Community Safety Department) passed 9-0 on Champine's motion and the pollinator protection update (EC-26-174) receipt noted 9-0 on Fiebelkorn's motion.
  • Taxes: the 0.4875% gross receipts tax ballot proposition R-26-43 failed 4-5 as amended; the companion tax ordinance O-26-42 was withdrawn 9-0; a motion by Grout to reconsider R-26-43 failed 4-5.
  • Passed: Storm Water Utility Ordinance O-26-26 (8-1), Tax Increment Finance Board ordinance O-26-25 (8-1), Sunset Review Clause O-26-27 (7-2), repeal of defunct boards O-26-28 (9-0), Eden Pharmaceuticals LEDA project O-26-36 (9-0 as amended), Dreamcatcher Journal Center Hotel bond O-26-37 (9-0), Savio Ridge Public Improvement District R-26-35 (9-0 as substituted), FY27 appropriation adjustments R-26-50 (9-0).
  • Postponed: the Dreamcatcher Sawmill Hotel bond O-26-38, 5-4, to August 3, 2026.
  • Meeting extended to 12:00 a.m. (7-1; Baca excused, Rogers against). President Peña announced there would be no motion to go into executive session on the Inspector General investigation of City Attorney Lauren Keefe.

Charter Article V Amendment Veto

  • P-26-2 (proposition to amend Charter Article V on the appointment, removal and independence of the City Attorney and City Clerk) and R-26-30 (proposition on Article V, Section 4), both sponsored by Champine, were postponed to August 3, 2026, each 9-0 on Champine's motion, under Deferrals/Withdrawals.

Community Investment Tax Proposal

  • R-26-43 (ballot proposition for a 0.4875% municipal gross receipts tax for essential services, to be known as the "Community Enhancement And Local Investment Tax"; sponsors Bassan and Peña): Bassan's Amendment No. 1 carried 9-0. Passage as amended, moved by Bassan, failed 4-5. For: Baca, Bassan, Peña, Rogers. Against: Champine, Fiebelkorn, Grout, Lewis, Telles.
  • O-26-42 (imposing the municipal gross receipts tax and the use of revenues for operations, maintenance, cost-of-living and community enhancement projects, including debt service; Bassan and Peña) was withdrawn on Peña's motion, 9-0.
  • Later in the meeting Grout moved to reconsider R-26-43; it failed 4-5. For: Baca, Bassan, Grout, Peña. Against: Champine, Fiebelkorn, Lewis, Rogers, Telles.

Storm Water Utility Ordinance

  • O-26-26 (Peña, by request) adds Article 12, the "Storm Water Utility Ordinance," to ROA 1994 Chapter 6 and adds a definition of arid adapted green stormwater infrastructure. Fiebelkorn moved Amendments 1 to 8 and Peña moved Amendments 9 and 10; all ten carried (Lewis excused on Nos. 1 to 4). Passed as amended 8-1 on Peña's motion; Lewis against.

Tax Increment Finance Board Ordinance

  • O-26-25 (Grout, by request) creates a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Board and updates the powers of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency and the Council. Telles moved ten amendments; all failed. Passed 8-1 on Grout's motion; Telles against.

Sunset Review Clause Ordinance

  • O-26-27 (Bassan; floor substitute) adds a "Sunset Review Clause" mandating periodic review of every board, commission or committee. Fiebelkorn's Amendment No. 1 carried 9-0; passed as amended 7-2 (against: Baca, Rogers).

Obsolete Boards Repeal Ordinance

  • O-26-28 (Bassan; floor substitute) repeals ordinances for five boards and commissions no longer in effect and creates "The GAATC And GARTC Merging Task Force." Fiebelkorn's Amendment No. 1 carried 9-0; passed as amended 9-0.

Eden Pharmaceuticals LEDA Project

  • O-26-36 (Bassan, by request) approves a Local Economic Development Act project for Eden Pharmaceuticals, LLC, supporting the expansion of a compounding pharmacy and fulfillment center. Bassan's Amendment No. 1 carried 9-0; passed as amended 9-0.

Dreamcatcher Journal Center Hotel Revenue Bond

  • O-26-37 (Bassan, by request): taxable industrial revenue bond, Series 2026, maximum principal $25,008,118, for a Home2 Suites by Hilton with an anticipated 103 guestrooms. Passed 9-0 on Bassan's motion.

Dreamcatcher Sawmill Hotel Revenue Bond

  • O-26-38 (Baca, by request): taxable industrial revenue bond, maximum principal $40,520,267, for a dual branded Hampton Inn and Home2 Suites with an anticipated 135 guestrooms. Peña's Amendment No. 1 carried 6-3 (against: Fiebelkorn, Lewis, Telles). Baca then moved to postpone it as amended to August 3, 2026; carried 5-4 (for: Baca, Champine, Fiebelkorn, Rogers, Telles; against: Bassan, Grout, Lewis, Peña).

Savio Ridge Public Improvement District

  • R-26-35 (Telles, by request) approves the application and petition of Pulte Homes of New Mexico, Inc. to form the Savio Ridge Public Improvement District. Substituted 9-0; Telles's Amendment No. 1 failed 4-5 (for: Baca, Fiebelkorn, Rogers, Telles); passed as substituted 9-0.

Other actions

  • Consent agenda (approved or confirmed 9-0): EC-26-116 (concert production technical staffing award), EC-26-159 (homemaker, personal care and respite care award), EC-26-164 (four hearing officers for the Independent Hearing Office), EC-26-165 (filing of an FY26 Safe Streets and Roads for All grant application), EC-26-166 (drug and alcohol testing services award), EC-26-167 (workers compensation pharmacy benefit management award), EC-26-168 (Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency on-call redevelopment services award), appointments to the Housing and Neighborhood Economic Development Committee, Indicators Progress Commission, Biological Park Board, Human Rights Board and Albuquerque Museum Board of Trustees.
  • Resolutions passed 9-0: R-26-26 (Transit Department 2026 Title VI Program), R-26-41 (grant applications for multiple city departments), R-26-42 (directors for the Saltillo Public Improvement District), R-26-44 (HUD Continuum of Care grant), R-26-45 (Land and Water Conservation Fund grant for the Crestview Bluffs Park project), R-26-46 and R-26-47 (Animal Welfare grant applications to Dennis Friends Foundation and PetSmart Charities), R-26-49 (adjusting funds for the Golden Forward Gizmo projects), R-26-50 (FY27 appropriation adjustments).

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