The Albuquerque City Council meets at 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 18, with a light agenda. The Downtown Core Vacancy Report and a likely deferral of Gateway housing expansion contracts to September are set for the consent agenda. Councilors will also consider canceling a planned moratorium on fiber internet permits and hear a proposal to speed up affordable and transitional housing projects by streamlining the city’s purchasing process.
With the Gateway items sidelined, councilors will vote on two measures: an ordinance to speed up affordable and transitional housing projects and a resolution to end the fiber internet permit moratorium.
The housing ordinance, sponsored by Councilor Joaquín Baca, would let city departments use a faster Request for Qualifications process instead of lengthy bids. Contracts over $100,000 would still require council approval, and departments would have 30 days to update their rules if the measure passes.
Councilor Dan Champine’s resolution would cancel the fiber permit pause approved in May. The moratorium was meant to give a working group time to update installation rules, but the report submitted to the council did not reflect the group’s work. Rescinding it would allow fiber projects to continue while new standards are finalized.
Councilors will review the city’s third-quarter Revenue & Expense Report for Fiscal Year 2025 and consider a $600,000 increase to its partnership with PacifiCap Construction for the Uptown Connect transit center.
The council will also consider adding $600,000 to the Uptown Connect transit center project, bringing the city’s total commitment to $1.8 million since 2021. Officials say the funds are needed to complete design work required for a federal joint development application.
The additional funding, drawn from the FY26 budget, would cover pre-development costs and bring the project to 100% schematic design. Officials say completing the design is critical for a federal joint development application and to keep the project on schedule. Without the extra funding, the project could be delayed a year.
The financial report shows General Fund revenue slightly above projections, but expenses are forecast to exceed the revised budget by more than $6.7 million. Total projected spending of $861.97 million would surpass estimated revenue of $833.38 million, signaling potential fiscal pressures and prompting a review of city spending for the rest of the year.
The consent agenda includes more than 15 mayoral appointments to boards, two substance abuse treatment contracts exceeding $100,000 each for Albuquerque Health Services and Engender Inc., and the Serenade at Park Central development agreement.
The Downtown Core Vacancy Report is also on the consent agenda, where items usually pass without discussion unless a councilor requests removal. The report supports enforcement of the Downtown Vacant Premises Ordinance, effective July 1.
Sponsored by Councilor Joaquín Baca, the law requires owners of unused downtown properties to register their buildings, maintain a vacant building license and keep them secure.
The survey of 137 properties found 20 unoccupied, with 14 issued Notices of Violation and several others under review. The ordinance targets blight and aims to activate empty buildings to boost economic development in the area bounded by Eighth Street, Copper Avenue, Gold Avenue and First Street.
The two Gateway Center expansion contracts, totaling $3.6 million, are likely to be deferred to Sept. 3, marking a second delay for the controversial projects. Councilors postponed the agreements on Aug. 4 over transparency concerns and unconfirmed state funding.
If approved, the contracts with Chicanos Por La Causa and Community Bridges would expand the center’s capacity from 50 to 192 beds, adding 50 for men and 92 for women.
The delays follow a series of setbacks for Mayor Tim Keller’s housing initiatives, including the 4-1 defeat of his opt-in zoning proposal and the 3-2 rejection of Safe Outdoor Space ordinance amendments, which would have made it easier for churches and nonprofits to run homeless encampments.
Get Involved
The City Council meeting is at 5 p.m. Aug. 18 in the Vincent E. Griego Chambers, basement level of the City of Albuquerque Government Center, 1 Civic Plaza NW.
To speak during public comment, you must sign up by 4 p.m. the day of the meeting. If you don’t have internet access, call (505) 768-3100 for help.
Join virtually:
- Zoom link: cabq.zoom.us/j/84979163903
- Webinar ID: 849 7916 3903
- Phone: (669) 444-9171, then enter the Webinar ID
Watch live:
- Comcast Channel 16 (GOVTV)
- Stream at cabq.gov/govtv
On YouTube at youtube.com/@GOVTVBoardsCommissionMeetings