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2026-08-03 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official action summary (minutes, Legistar status Final). It records motions and votes only, not discussion. The Council President's agenda review of the same day is on 2026-08-03 - President.

  • Monday, August 3, 2026, the 15th meeting of the 27th Council, convened at 5:00 p.m. in the Council chambers and adjourned at 12:24 a.m. All nine councilors were present at roll call. President Peña led the Pledge of Allegiance in English and Bassan led it in Spanish.
  • Executive session under NMSA 1978, Section 10-15-1(H)(2), on a limited personnel matter pertaining to the Inspector General investigation of City Attorney Lauren Keefe. Peña moved to close; carried 9-0. Peña affirmed that only the matters in the motion were discussed.
  • Presentations: Fiebelkorn introduced Kara Unale, Director of Housing and Self Sufficiency, and Laura Fisher-Gallegos, Chief Advancement Officer, on the Catholic Charities Move in Mentor Program. Vice-President Champine introduced City Economist Christine Boerner for an update on cannabis and gross receipts tax (see Gross receipts tax and hold harmless phase-out).
  • The June 15, 2026 Journal was approved 9-0 on Peña's motion.
  • Consent agenda, 9-0 each on Peña's motions: 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; confirmed Catherine E. Mexal to the Housing and Neighborhood Economic Development Committee; confirmed Senator Bill Tallman to the Albuquerque Museum Board of Trustees for District 8; approved the 1522 Edith vacation of public right-of-way (EC-26-179); receipt noted of the CPOA's 2025 July-December semi-annual report; passed R-26-27 (capital development agreement for the Encuentro Home Health Aid Training Center, Baca, by request). EC-26-182 (re-appointment of Sonora Rodriguez) was withdrawn by Administration, 9-0, and EC-26-126 (first supplemental agreement for outside counsel with Modrall Sperling) was postponed to August 17, 9-0.
  • Postponed to August 17, 7-2: the Homewise agreement for $2,835,000.00 (EC-26-160) and the Dreamcatcher Sawmill Hotel industrial revenue bond (O-26-38).
  • Approved 9-0 on the late-item agenda: a social services agreement with New Mexico Veterans Integration Centers using opioid settlement funds, and increased funding for the FY27 substance use treatment voucher contracts with Albuquerque Behavioral Health and with Engender, Inc.
  • Final actions: passed the Recycled Metals ordinance 8-1, the solid waste disposal fees ordinance 8-1, the consolidated Accountability in Government Ordinance 9-0 and the Whistleblower Ordinance amendment 9-0; the cannabis and nicotine retail zoning amendment failed 3-6; the City Charter Article V proposition P-26-2 passed 6-3; R-26-30 was tabled, then removed from the table and passed 5-3; R-26-56 passed 8-0 and R-26-57 was postponed to August 17, both with Lewis excused.

Cannabis Retail Zoning Rules

  • O-26-39 (Grout, by request), amending the Integrated Development Ordinance for cannabis and nicotine retail uses. Champine moved to extend the meeting to 12:00 a.m.; carried 7-2 (against: Baca, Rogers). Grout's Amendment No. 1 failed 4-5; passage failed 3-6 (for: Baca, Bassan, Grout).

Recycled Metals Ordinance

  • O-26-32 (Grout and Fiebelkorn). Six Grout amendments carried (No. 1 8-1; Nos. 2, 3 and 4 7-2 each, against Lewis and Peña; Nos. 5 and 6 9-0). Passed as amended 8-1 (against: Lewis).

Solid Waste Disposal Fees

  • O-26-35 (Peña, by request): higher convenience center disposal fees for residents and businesses outside city limits and proof of residency for landfill and convenience center use. Passed 8-1 (against: Lewis).

Accountability in Government Ordinance

  • O-26-40 (Bassan): substituted 9-0, rules suspended for same-night adoption 9-0, passed as substituted 9-0.

Whistleblower Ordinance Amendment

  • O-26-41 (Bassan). Amendments 1 and 2 carried 9-0; No. 3 carried 7-2; Telles's No. 4 failed 4-5. Passed as amended 9-0.

Charter Article V Amendment Veto

  • P-26-2 (Champine), a proposition for the 2026 general election to amend Article V of the Charter on the appointment, removal and independence of the City Attorney and City Clerk. Fiebelkorn's Amendments 1 to 3 each carried 9-0. Passed as amended 6-3. For: Baca, Champine, Fiebelkorn, Grout, Lewis, Telles. Against: Bassan, Peña, Rogers.
  • R-26-30 (Champine), the proposition to be submitted at the next election concerning Article V, Section 4 of the Charter. Fiebelkorn's Amendments 1 to 3 each carried 8-0 (Lewis excused). Champine moved to table: carried 5-3 (against: Bassan, Peña, Rogers). Extension of the meeting to 12:30 a.m. first failed 5-3, was reconsidered (6-2) and then carried 6-2 (against: Peña, Rogers). Champine then moved to remove it from the table (8-0) and passage as amended, which carried 5-3 (for: Baca, Champine, Fiebelkorn, Grout, Telles; against: Bassan, Peña, Rogers). It was later vetoed; the override attempt on August 17 failed.

Capital Implementation Program grant appropriations

  • R-26-56 (Baca, by request), supplementing current grant appropriations and approving new projects. Rogers's Amendment No. 1 carried 7-1 (against: Peña). Passed as amended 8-0 on Baca's motion (Lewis excused).

State capital outlay project scope changes

  • R-26-57 (Fiebelkorn). Rogers's Amendment No. 1 carried 6-2 (against: Bassan, Peña); Fiebelkorn's Amendment No. 2 carried 7-1 (against: Peña); Amendment No. 3 carried 8-0. Postponed as amended to August 17, 2026, 8-0 (Lewis excused).

Homewise Rehabilitation Agreement

  • EC-26-160, an agreement with Homewise, Inc. for $2,835,000.00 in Housing and Neighborhood Economic Development Funds (HNEDF) to administer a home owner rehabilitation program. Grout moved to postpone to August 17; carried 7-2 (against: Bassan, Peña).

Dreamcatcher Sawmill Hotel Revenue Bond

  • O-26-38 (Baca, by request): a taxable industrial revenue bond, Series 2026, with a maximum principal amount of $40,520,267, for the Dreamcatcher Sawmill Hotel (a dual branded Hampton Inn and Home2 Suites, anticipated 135 guestrooms). Baca moved to postpone to August 17; carried 7-2 (against: Bassan, Grout).

Opioid settlement funds appropriation

  • EC-26-195, a social services agreement with New Mexico Veterans Integration Centers using opioid settlement fund appropriations outlined in Council Resolution R-25-128, was approved 9-0. EC-26-196 and EC-26-197 (increased funding for FY27 substance use treatment voucher contracts with Albuquerque Behavioral Health and Engender, Inc.) were each approved 9-0 on the same late-item section.

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