>>COUN. BENTON: GOOD EVENING. THANKS. THE MEETING OF THE 25th COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER. ALL COUNCILORS ARE PRESENT THIS EVENING. WE'LL START WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY COUNCILOR LEWIS IN ENGLISH AND I'LL SPEAK IT IN SPANISH. [ INAUDIBLE ]. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BASSAN. ALL RIGHT. WE DO HAVE A PROCLAMATION. A COUPLE PROCLAMATIONS TONIGHT. ACTUALLY, WE HAVE THREE. OR MORE. SO, WE'LL START WITH COUNCILOR JONES. PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH. >>COUN. JONES: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. LET ME GET MY MIC SET UP. I THINK WE ALL CAME DOWN LATE TONIGHT. IT WAS UNUSUAL TO COME TO A MEETING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I HAVE A PROCLAMATION. IT READS, WHEREAS, APRIL 2022 MARKS THE OFFICIAL 21st AN VASRY OF NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH. AND WHEREAS SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS A WIDE SPREAD PREVENTIBLE PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM IN NEW MEXICO. AND WHEREAS FBI DATA REFLECTS NEW MEXICO IS RANKED SEVENTH FOR MOST RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES, ONE IN THREE WOMEN AND ONE IN FOUR MEN HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE INVOLVING PHYSICAL CONTACT DURING THEIR LIFETIME. NATIONALLY, ONE IN EIGHT SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM OCCURRED BEFORE THE AGE OF TEN YEARS, AND ONE IN FOUR MALE VICTIMS REPORT IT OCCURRED BEFORE THE AGE OF TEN YEARS. AND WHEREAS, CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS OF MEMBERS OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ARE AT AN INCREASED RISK. AND THE COST OF RAPE IS $122,467 PER VICTIM, INCLUDING MEDICAL COSTS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACTIVITIES AND OTHER COSTS. AND WHEREAS, IN 2021, THERE WERE 895 SEX CRIMES REPORTED TO THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND THESE STATISTICS DO NOT REPRESENT THE TRUE INCIDENTS AND PREVALENCE FOR MULTIPLE REASONS. INCLUDING THAT NOT ALL VICTIMS REPORT THE CRIME TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. WHEREAS FOR 49 YEARS THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER OF CENTRAL NEW MEXICO HAS PROVIDED 24 HOUR CREATESES SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS AND IN 2021 ASSISTED 1,357 SURVIVORS. THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OFFENSE ALBUQUERQUE PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF APRIL SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH. I THINK WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE TO SPEAK TO US THIS EVENING. >> I'M CONY FROM ALBUQUERQUE -- THEY'RE NOT STANDING BEHIND ME. KIM VERONICA. THIS WORK IS REALLY HARD. THANKS FOR THE PROCLAMATION. CITY HALL WILL BE LIT UP IN TEAL. YOU WILL GET A TEAL LIGHT AND A TEAL HAND BAND, PAINT THE TOWN TEAL. SO YOU CAN SEE I'M IN TEAL TOO. THANK YOU. THAT WAS THE SILLY PART FOR THE SERIOUS SUBJECT. KIM IS GOING TO BE THE ONE TO DO THAT. >>COUN. JONES: BECAUSE OF THE COVID RESTRICTIONS WE CANNOT GREET EVERYONE PERSONALLY. THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR JONES. NEXT IS COUNCILOR LEWIS. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I HAVE A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING DONATE LIFE MONTH. WE HAVE SPECIAL FOLKS WITH US TONIGHT TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION. I'LL INTRODUCE YOU IF YOU LIKE TO COME TO THE FRONT. CELINE, RON, WHO DONATED A KIDNEY. MIKALA FROM NEW MEXICO DONORS SERVICES. AND JAMES WHO DONATED A KIDNEY TO HIS DAUGHTER. THANK YOU. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING THIS PROCLAMATION FOR EIGHT YEARS NOW. GREAT HONOR. WHEREAS ONE HERO ORGAN DONOR CAN SAVE THE LIVES OF EIGHT PEOPLE. AND WHEREAS MORE THAN 107,000 PATIENTS CONTINUE TO WAIT FOR ORGAN TRANSPLANTS ON NATIONAL WAIT LIST INCLUDING 706 NEW MEXICANS. WHEREAS EVERY DAY 20 PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY AND ONE MILLION PEOPLE NEED A CORNEA OR TISSUE TRANSPLANT. NEW MEXICO RESIDENTS CAN REGISTER TO BE DONORS. AND WE HONOR THOSE THAT GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE THROUGH DONATION. WE ENCOURAGE EVERY NEW MEXICAN TO REGISTER AS AN ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR ON THE DRIVER'S LICENSE OR ONLINE. AND TALK TO THEIR FAMILY ABOUT GIVING THE GIFT OF LIFE. BE IT PROCLAIMED THE COUNCIL RECOGNIZES APRIL 2022 AS DONATE LIFE MONTH. THANK YOU. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? >> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR LEWIS, FOR THE PROCLAMATION AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD TO BE A REGISTERED ORGAN DONOR. YOU'RE NEVER TOO SICK TO REGISTER AS AN ORGAN DONOR. WE LEAVE THAT UP TO THE DOCTORS. THREE IN A THOUSAND PEOPLE WILL DIE IN A WAY THAT MAKES DONATION POSSIBLE. ONE DONOR CAN SAVE THE LIVES OF UP TO EIGHT PEOPLE AND HELP HEAL UP TO 75 MORE THROUGH TISSUE DONATION. IT'S EASY TO DO. GO TO REGISTERME.ORG. OR GO TO NEW MEXICO DONOR SERVICES TO LEARN MORE. WE ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO REGISTER AS AN ORGAN DONOR, ESPECIALLY THIS APRIL. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU. >> [ APPLAUSE ]. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR LEWIS. COUNCILOR DAVIS AND COUNCILOR PEÑA HAVE A MOTION. >>COUN. DAVIS: MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE THE RULES BE SUSPENDED FOR ALLOWING MORE THAN TWO PROCLAMATIONS THIS EVENING. I BELIEVE WE HAVE MORE. >>COUN. BENTON: SECOND FROM COUNCILOR PEÑA. WE'LL CALL THE VOTE. THIS REQUIRES TWO-THIRDS VOTE. SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. I'M STILL IN ZOOM MODE. ALL OPPOSED? THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILORS. >>COUN. DAVIS: THANK YOU, MA'AM. WE WANT TO WELCOME OUR FRIENDS FROM THE GATHERING OF NATIONS. WELCOME TO BEING BACK IN PERSON AND HAVING YOUR EVENT LIVE IN PERSON. WE WANTED TO HONOR YOU AND WELCOME THE GATHERING OF NATIONS TO ALBUQUERQUE. COME ON UP WHILE WE'RE GETTING THIS TOGETHER. I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME OTHER GUESTS. WE APPRECIATE THAT. WHEREAS THE DWATHERRING OF NATIONS POWWOW CAME TO ALBUQUERQUE IN 1983 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AS A PLACE FOR NATIVE PEOPLE TO COME TOGETHER EACH YEAR TO CELEBRATE THEIR CULTURE. AND WHEREAS FROM IT'S BEGINNINGS THE GATHERING OF NATIONS IS THE LARGEST GATHERING IN NORTH AMERICA AND HOUSED IN DISTRICT SIX AT THE STATE FAIR GROUNDS AND WHEREAS THE EVENT HAS GROWN TO ATTRACT OVER 500 TRIBES FROM THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA AND BECAME A DESTINATION FOR THOUSANDS OF VISITORS WORLD WIDE. >>COUN. PEÑA: WHEREAS THE ECONOMIC IMPACT GATHERING OF THE NATIONS BRINGS TO THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS DOES NOT GO UNRECOGNIZED. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THE FOUNDERS HAVE PRODUCED THIS EVENT ALONG WITH FRIENDS AND VOLUNTEERS AS A LABOR OF LOVE AND DEDICATED THEIR LIVES TO PASS ON TEACHINGS AND SHARING THE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE LARGER PUBLIC. AND WHEREAS THE 39th GATHERING OF NATIONS WILL COMMENCE ON APRIL 28, 2022 BE IT PROCLAIMED THE COUNCIL THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OFFENSE ALBUQUERQUE SHALL RECOGNIZE THIS AS GATHERING OF NATIONS MONTH. CONGRATULATIONS. [ APPLAUSE ]. >> BEFORE WE HAVE MR. MATTHEWS SPEAK. WE WANT TO HONOR THE COUNCIL IN THE TRADITIONAL WAY. WE'LL ASK THE PUBLIC IF THEY STAND AS WE DO AN HONOR SONG FOR EACH OF YOU. AS WE GET READY FOR THE FAMOUS DANCERS OF NEW MEXICO AND OUR BLACK EAGLE DRUM GROUP WHO ARE GRAMMY-AWARD WINNING SINGERS TODAY FOR YOU. [ MUSIC PERFORMED ]. [ SONG PERFORMED ]. [ SINGING ]. [ SINGING ]. >> ROUND OF APPLAUSE IN THE CITY CHAMBERS. GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [ SINGING ]. [ APPLAUSE ]. >>COUN. BENTON: I WANT TO START BY THANKING THE BLACK EAGLE SIRNGZ AND DANCERS THAT ARE HERE. >> MANY OF DANCERS IF YOU ASK WHEN THEY START DANCING THEY WILL SAY WHEN THEY LEARN TO WALK. MOST OF THE DANCERS CAN HARDLY REMEMBER WHEN THEY DID NOT ATTEND THE GATHERING OF NATIONS ANY TIME IN THEIR LIFE. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. IT'S AN EVENT THAT IS BIGGER THAN ALBUQUERQUE, IT'S BIGGER THAN NEW MEXICO, IT'S BIGGER THAN ALL OF US. WE REPRESENT INDIAN COUNTRY. WE REPRESENT THE LIFE, THE SPIRIT AND WITH THE GATHERING OF NATIONS BEING LIVE AGAIN, IT MEANS THE LIFE IS COMING BACK. THE PUEBLO WILL SING AND DANCE AGAIN. THE CEREMONIES WILL TAKE PLACE AGAIN THIS SUMMER. ON BEHALF OF THE INDIAN COUNTRY AND DR. DAVID, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL FOR SUPPORTING US. THE THREE OF US, THIS IS A LIFELONG JOB. IT'S SOMETHING WE DIDN'T TAKE ON AN A JOB BUT MORE AS A LOVE OF LIFE. THE SUPPORT WE GET FROM THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY AND COMMUNITIES OF ALBUQUERQUE AND NEW MEXICO IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT BECAUSE IT BENEFITS US ALL, IT BENEFITS OUR BUSINESSES IN OUR TOWN, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT WHICH HAS BEEN PROVEN HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL. SOMETIMES WE'RE WORKING SO HARD WE DON'T GET A CHANCE TO LOOK UP TO SEE THE IMPACT OR FEELING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ENJOYING THE EVENT AND TAKING HOME WITH THEM. ONCE AGAIN, I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE, THE CITY COUNCIL, AND ALL THE PEOPLE HERE FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT TO WITNESS THIS. I WANT TO MENTION ONE TIME BEFORE I CLOSE, THE DONATE LIFE PROGRAM IN NEW MEXICO FOR THE LAST 11 YEARS, WE HAVE HONORED THEM AT THE GATHERING OF NATIONS. HONORING THE NATIVE-AMERICAN RECIPIENTS AND DONORS. ALMOST 12 YEARS AGO SHE RECEIVED A LIVER TRANSPLANT FROM A NATIVE-AMERICAN LIVING DONOR. ON BEHALF OF EVERY YEAR WE SPONSOR A CONT TEST AND HONOR THEM. ONCE AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE TOO MUCH TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. >>COUN. DAVIS: MR. PRESIDENT, BEFORE THEY LEAVE, I WONDER IF MR. MATTHEWS WILL INTRODUCE OUR SPECIAL GUEST AND TELL THEM WHERE THEY COME FROM AND THEIR TRADITION. >> THIS IS THE CHAMPION DANCER ARCHULETA FAMILY. >> THIS IS MELANY. THEY HAVE BEEN PART OF THE GATHERING OF NATIONS FOREVER. ORIGINALLY, THEY ARE FROM THE PUEBLO IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. APPRECIATIVE THAT THEY DROVE DOWN THIS EVENING AND OUR DRUM GROUP BLACK EAGLE SINGERS. THEY'RE FROM JEMEZ AND A TWO-TIME GRAMMY WINNER. FOUR NOMINATIONS, BUT THEY HAVE A COUPLE GRAMMIES. >>COUN. DAVIS: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US. >>COUN. BENTON: THANKS VERY MUCH FOR THAT. THANKS FOR GRACING US WITH YOUR PRESENCE TONIGHT. ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE'LL HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM DIRECTOR SANCHEZ OF THE ARTS AND CULTURAL DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE REGARDING THE CITY'S LIBRARY. [ INAUDIBLE ]. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BENTON. WE'LL HOPE THAT THE SCREEN CATCHES UP WITH ME. IN THE MEANTIME, I'LL GET STARTED BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO TAKE TOO MUCH TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT OUR TIMING ON THIS IS GREAT BECAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK. IF YOU HAVEN'T VISITED OUR LIBRARY IN A WHILE I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DROP BY. SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE SEVERAL IN YOUR DISTRICT. MAYBE DROP BY AND GIVE THEM A HAPPY -- I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ARTS AND CULTURE NOT TECHNOLOGY. I JUST WANT TO YOU KNOW. ALL RIGHT. I MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE IT FROM HERE. NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK. I THINK WE COVERED THAT. IT'S A TIME CELEBRATE LIBRARIES AND REMEMBER WHAT THEY BRING TO THE COMMUNITY. I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU OF A FEW THINGS THAT THE PUBLIC LIBRARY IS PART OF THE ARTS DEPARTMENT. WHICH NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS. IT'S ONE OF THE SEVEN DIVISIONS AND ONE OF THE LARGEST AND ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR. THERE ARE 18 LIBRARY BRANCHES ACROSS THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, SOON TO BE 19 WITH THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT LIBRARY OPENING IN EARLY SUMMER. THERE'S 140 STAFF MEMBERS ACROSS ALL OF THE LIBRARY AND ALL OF THE SERVICES. THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET IS $12.5 MILLION PLUS THE CAPITAL BUDGET. A LOT OF THAT COMES FROM THE CITY BUDGET BUT A LOT OF STATE OUT LAY AND SUPPORT FROM THE STATE LIBRARY. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS OPENED 22 OUT OF 24 MONTHS DURING THE PANDEMIC. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF. WE HAD TO DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPERATIONS AND WE CHANGED OPERATIONS MANY TIMES BUT WE WERE OPEN AND PEOPLE WERE USING THE LIBRARY. WE'RE ALSO OPEN 24/7 DURING THAT TIME BECAUSE OF THE DIGITAL COLLECTION. A VERY IMPORTANT RESOURCE. JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OVER THE PAST FISCAL YEAR DURING THE PANDEMIC THE LIBRARY WELCOMED MORE THAN 800,000 VISITORS IN PERSON. I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE THOUGHT WE WERE CLOSED BUT THAT WAS A LOT LESS FOR US. BUT WE WERE STILL PRETTY BUSY. MORE THAN 2 MILLION CARD HOLDERS ACCESSED THE DIGITAL SELECTION. WE'RE OFFERING BOOKS IN 14 LANGUAGES AND OUR ONLINE MATERIAL IS AVAILABLE IN 100 LANGUAGES. JUST A FEW AMAZING THINGS ABOUT WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY. TO UPDATE YOU ON COMPARING FY19 TO FY20, IN FY19 THERE WERE OVER 2 MILLION VISITORS IN PERSON TO THE LIBRARY. AND IN 2020 THERE WAS 1.5 MILLION. STILL PRETTY IMPRESSIVE DURING A PANDEMIC WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STAYING HOME. THERE WERE 4.5 MILLION LOANS IN FY19 AND 3.7 MILLION LOANS EVEN DURING THE PANDEMIC DURING FY20. VERY PROUD OF THAT WORK. COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, ONE OF THE REASONS I FELT LIKE WE'RE HERE IS THERE WERE QUESTIONS OF THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS AND PROBLEMS THERE HAVE BEEN IN SOME OF THE LIBRARIES. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WE'RE FACING ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN LIBRARIES. LIBRARIES AS A LOW BARRIER SPACE FOR ENTRY. A PLACE OPEN TO EVERYONE NO COST HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THE DOORS AND WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF ISSUES IN ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SPACES. THIS IS SOMETHING LIBRARIES ARE DEALING WITH ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT'S NOT SPECIFIC TO OUR CITY AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A LOT LESS OF OUR POSITIVE PROGRAMMING. OUR IN HOUSE PROGRAMMING, OUR STORY TIME AND THINGS WE WERE DOING FACE-TO-FACE THAT WE REALLY CUT BACK ON BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE OF PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS THESE THINGS WERE NOT HAP SKWNG IT REALLY CHANGES WHO IS IN THE LIBRARY AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THE LIBRARY. THAT HAD AN IMPACT AS DID PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC. I DID WANT -- I HOPE THIS IS -- I THINK YOU CAN'T SEE THESE NUMBERS. I'M HAPPY TO SEND THEM TO YOU. THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS AT SOME OF THE LIBRARIES ESPECIALLY THE LIBRARIES ALONG THE TRANSIT ROUTES WHICH ARE SOME OF THE BUSIEST LIBRARIES BECAUSE THEY'RE ALONG THE BUSIEST STREETS. IF YOU LOOK AT THIS GRAPH, IT'S HARD SEE, IT TAKES US BACK TO WAY BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, MARCH 2019 TO NOW. AND YOU'LL SEE THAT INCIDENTS WENT WAY DOWN DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN WE HAD FEWER PEOPLE THERE. WE DID HAVE A PEAK AT CENTRAL AND UNSER. IT'S A SIGNIFICANT PEAK THAT WAS SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER. SINCE THEN, THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS AND AN INCIDENT IS SOMETHING THAT A LIBRARY STAFF MEMBER FEELS LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT TO DOCUMENT AND TAKE NOTE OF. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT WILL RESULT IN A PHONE CALL TO ACF OR THE POLICE, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THEY FEEL THEY NEED TO DOCUMENT AND SHARE WITH EITHER THE BRANCH MANAGER OR LIBRARY DIRECTOR. IF THERE'S TWO LINES FOR CENTRAL AND UNSER AND THE TYPE LINE IS ALL OF THE INCIDENT AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS INCIDENTS MINUS PUBLIC HEALTH ENFORCING PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS, THAT'S SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASK MANDATES. YOU CAN SEE THOSE DROP OFF VERY MUCH AS THOSE ORDERS ARE GONE. BUT THE INCIDENTS AT CENTRAL AND UNSER WENT DOWN STARTING IN JANUARY. THEY STARTED GOING DOWN IN DECEMBER AND THEY'VE STAYED DOWN SINCE JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND NOW IN MARCH. THESE ARE INCIDENTS ON SAN MATEO. YOU CAN SEE IT HAD MORE INCIDENTS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. YOU SEE THAT IT'S BEEN UP AND DOWN. A LOT OF THOSE INCIDENTS HAD TO DO WITH ENFORCING MASK WEARING AND SOCIAL DISTANCING. AND THOSE ARE CONTINUING TO COME DOWN. AND THEY'RE AT A NORMAL RATE FOR FERGUSON. MAIN LIBRARY, AGAIN, THIS TAKES US ALL THE WAY BACK TO MARCH 2019. YOU CAN SEE A REGULAR NUMBER OF INCIDENTS AND THESE HAVE BEEN COMING DOWN EVEN NOW THROUGH LAST FALL WITH A PEAK. JUST A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ON WHAT THESE INCIDENTS REALLY ARE. THOSE ARE TOO SMALL FOR ME TO READ. SO, IF WE LOOK BACK AT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF INCIDENTS IN 2019 AT CENTRAL AND UNSER, THERE WERE 42. IN 2019 AT FERGSON THERE WERE 33. IN 2019 AT MAIN THERE WERE 81. NINE OF THOSE AT CENTRAL AND UNSER REQUIRED AN EMS REQUEST. THREE AT FERGUSON AND 20 AT MAIN. AND I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE ALWAYS THINK ABOUT APD RESPONDING A LOT. IN 2019 APD WAS ONLY CALLED TO RESPOND THREE TIMES AT CENTRAL AND UNSER AND ONCE AT FERGUSON AND FIVE TIMES AT MAIN. WE CAN DIG INTO THIS DATA. BUT 2020 HAD THE SAME GENERAL TREND EXCEPT THERE WERE A LOT LESS INCIDENTS AT MAIN. THEY WENT FROM 81 OVERALL TO 36. AND IN 2021 THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT SPIKE IN OVERALL INCIDENTS FOR CENTRAL AND UNSER AT 129. THAT REALLY HAS TO DO WITH THAT PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SPIKE LAST FALL. THERE WERE AT CENTRAL AND UNSER LAST YEAR THERE WERE 28 EMS REQUESTS AND 35 OF THE 129 WERE DIRECTLY RELATED TO SOCIAL DISTANCING OR MASK MANDATES. THERE WAS ONE CALL THAT REQUIRED APD. AND IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS YEAR SO FAR THROUGH MARCH THIS FIRST QUARTER THERE HAVE BEEN 18 INCIDENTS REPORTED AT CENTRAL AND UNSER. SEVEN AT FERGUSON AND 18 AT MAIN. THAT RESULTED IN ONE CALL TO APD AT CENTRAL AND UNSER AND ONE AT MAIN SO FAR THIS YEAR. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS WE'RE DOING AT THE LIBRARIES THAT WE'VE ALWAYS DONE AT THE LIBRARIES. THERE'S ADDITIONAL THINGS TO BE PROACTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC SAFETY. THESE ARE PUBLIC SPACES LOTS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE AT IN THESE SPACES. OUR STAFF AND SECURITY ARE TRAINED IN DE-ESCALATION. OUR STAFF IS GOOD AT DEALING WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT NEEDS IN THESE SPACES. THEY'RE VERY TALENTED AT BRINGING DOWN THE CONFLICT AND RESOLVING THINGS BEFORE THEY BECOME A PROBLEM AND MANY SITUATIONS. WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING ADDITIONALLY WITH THE ALBUQUERQUE COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT. THEY'VE BEEN MAKING REGULAR VISITS TO THE LIBRARIES ON THE TRANSIT ROUTE AND ESPECIALLY CENTRAL AND UNSER. THEY RESPONDED TO SEVERAL CALLS IN PLACE OF APD AT CENTRAL AND UNSER. THIS IS NOW PART OF THEIR REGULAR ROUTE AND THEY'RE GOING AND PROVIDING SERVICES AND CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH SERVICES. ANOTHER THING TO NOTE AT CENTRAL AND UNSER WHEN YOU SEE THAT BIG SPIKE WE ALSO HAVE A NEW MANAGER AT THERE. HE'S NOT NEW. BUT WE HAVE A DIFFERENT MANAGER THAT IS VERY EXPERIENCED. HE STARTED OUT THERE IN NOVEMBER. YOU SEE A BIG CHANGE IN THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS AFTER HE TOOK OVER. I THINK A LOT HAS TO DO WITH HOW WE'RE MANAGING THE SPACE AND HOW HE IS ABLE TO WORK WITH THE STAFF TO DE-ESCALATE SITUATIONS. WE ALSO PUT A POTTY IN THE PARKING LOT BETWEEN THE TRANSIT CENTER AND THE LIBRARY. THAT ALSO SOLVED A LOT OF PROBLEMS. WE DID THAT IN NOVEMBER. THAT WAS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL. SOLID WASTE IS MAKING SURE THERE ARE NO ENCAMPMENTS ON THE PROPERTY. ALL THE DEPARTMENTS ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE ALL OF OUR SPACES SAFE FOR EVERYONE AND INVITING AND STILL MAKING THEM THE PLACE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WHICH IS OPEN TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. SINCE I HAVE THE FLOOR, I JUST WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT THINGS TO DO AT THE LIBRARY. THERE'S PROGRAMS WE'RE BACK TO ALMOST FULL PROGRAMMING. THERE'S AN ONLINE CALENDAR. THERE'S THINGS HAPPENING AT EVERY SINGLE 18 LIBRARIES MULTIPLE TIMES PER WEEK FOR ALL AGES. PLEASE THINK ABOUT TAKING YOUR KIDS OR YOURSELF AND JOIN ISSING A BOOK CLUB OR MOVIE CLUB AND CHECKING OUT A BOOK. IT'S TIME FOR THE SEED LIBRARY TO BE IN FULL SWING. THERE'S REALLY A LOT OF INCREDIBLE RESOURCES. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DRIVE TO A LIBRARY, JUST GET ONLINE AND LOOK AT THE DIGITAL RESOURCES. I ALWAYS LIKE TO END WITH THE WORDS OF SOMEBODY MUCH SMARTER THAN ME. THE ONLY THING YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO KNOW IS THE LOCATION OF THE LIBRARY. THANK YOU. I STAND FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >>COUN. BENTON: VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. WE DO HAVE A QUESTION FROM COUNCILORS. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU. I CALLED YOU EARLY ON. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT HAPPENED EARLY ON WITH MY APPOINTMENT I ENDED UP GETTING IN HERE AND ONE OF THE FIRST CALLS WAS TO ME IN REFERENCE TO WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THE LIBRARY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IMPRESSES ME RIGHT NOW IS THE FACT THAT MS. SANCHEZ BROUGHT IN A GRAPH AND SHE SHOWING US WHAT IS GOING ON. THIS IS A VOLUNTARY THING THAT EACH AND EVERY DIRECTOR SHOULD BE DOING IS IF THERE'S AN ISSUE, SOMETHING IS GOING ON IN THE FACILITY AND WE ACTUALLY REACH OUT AND CONTACT THEM OR THE CITIZENS COME OUT AND CONTACT THEM, THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS WE SHOULD SEE ON A REGULAR BASIS. LET'S MAKE OUR CITY BETTER. WHAT I SAW RIGHT HERE IS A GRAPH THAT SHOWS WHERE THEY WERE AND THE IMPROVEMENT THEY HAVE MADE. EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS THAT THOSE ARE VERY, VERY GOOD THINGS TO DO. I'M EXTREMELY THANKFUL THAT YOU CAME IN HERE AND YOU VOLUNTEERED AND YOU SET UP THIS GRAPH AND YOU DID AN AMAZING JOB OVER AT THE UNSER LIBRARY WHICH IS IN MY DISTRICT. NOT ONLY THAT, YOU BROUGHT A GRAPH IN AND YOU SHOWED US THE REDUCTIONS AND PROGRESS YOU'RE MAKING THROUGHOUT THE CITY. THAT IS WHAT I LIKE TO SEE IN REFERENCE TO THE DIRECTORS AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE CITY. WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC, YOU'RE LISTENING TO THE EMPLOYEES, AND YOU'RE LETTING CITY COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC KNOW WHAT'S GOING IN YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT IS TRANSPARENCY AT ITS VERY BEST. I ALSO NOTED THAT YOU MOVED STAFF. SOMEBODY THAT HAS THE TRAINING AND THE EXPERIENCE TO DEAL WITH CERTAIN SITUATIONS AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU AN ALL-OUT SHOUT OUT AND SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DID. THANK YOU. >> [ APPLAUSE ]. >> IF I MAY, I WOULD LOVE TO BASK IN ALL OF THAT AMAZINGNESS. I HAVE TO SAY IT'S AN AMAZING TEAM. THE LIBRARY IS LED BY DEAN SMITH. I WILL POINT OUT I HAD 140 LIBRARIANS ON STAFF. THAT WHY WE HAVE GOOD DATA. LIBRARIES ARE VERY GOOD AT COLLECTING AND MANAGING INFORMATION. I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT ON THEIR BEHALF. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. I THINK I MAY HAVE STARTED THIS DISCUSSION THAT BROUGHT YOU DOWN HERE TONIGHT. THANKS FOR THE TRANSPARENCY AND INFORMATION. YOU KNOW, PROBABLY, SPEAKING TO DEAN OR OTHERS THAT I'VE BEEN AND INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN OF THE LIBRARIES MOST OF MY CAREER. ALONG WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS THE LOVE OF MY ARCHITECTURE CAREER. WE ALWAYS REMEMBER WHEN WE PROGRAM THOSE NEW SPACES OR REMODEL ONE OF THEM IS IT IS ALL ABOUT THAT STAFF WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE A SECURE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE AND ALSO THAT WE ARE COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC. EVERYBODY COME DOWN. ACTIVITY IN THE LIBRARY IS LIKE ACTIVITY IN ANY PUBLIC SPACE. COME ON DOWN AND ENJOY YOUR LIBRARY. MORE FOLKS THAT ARE THERE THE MORE COMFORTABLE YOU'LL FEEL WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS THAT DROP IN OFF THE STREET. THAT'S A FACTOR ON THE MAJOR TRANSIT ROUTES. WE HAVE WITHOUTFUL LIBRARIES. WONDERFUL LIBRARY SYSTEM. CITY AND COUNTY. WE WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES AND THEY'RE SO VALUABLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THEM DIRECTOR. AND FOR EVERYONE THAT WORKS IN THE LIBRARY SYSTEM. THANKS. NEXT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH REGARDING THE CLIMATE ACTION. THIS IS FOR COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILORS. FOR THOSE OF YOU -- CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME? FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW I'M THE SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE LOCATED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. HERE TODAY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT UPDATES ON THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION. IT'S APRIL, IT'S ALMOST EARTH DAY. IT'S TIME TO START TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS ALL OVER AGAIN. ABOUT A YEAR AGO WE HAD THE CITY UPDATE THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER TEN YEARS. AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SAY THAT IN ADDITION TO THAT CLIMATE ACTION PLAN RELIEF THE CITY HAS MADE AMAZING STRIDES. WE'RE NOW THE THIRD HIGHEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY FOR MOST SOLAR INSTALLED. AND WE'RE ALSO LISTED AS 31 OUT OF 100 LARGE CITIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY. AND WE'RE MAKING INCREDIBLE PROGRESS JUST THIS MONTH. JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A RECAP ON WHERE WE ARE WITH CLIMATE ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION. FIRST OVER THE LAST YEAR WE'VE MADE HEAD WAY WITH KEY PROJECTS. FIRST AS I MENTIONED THIS VERY MONTH WE'RE GOING TO CUT THE RIBBON ON SOLAR DIRECT WHICH IS A UTILITY SCALE SOLAR PROJECT THAT IS GOING TO BE PROVIDING THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE 25 MEGAWATTS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY. THAT'S EXCITING BECAUSE AT THE POINT WE CUT THE RIBBON ON THAT PROJECT, WE WILL BE THE 13th LARGEST RENEWABLE ENERGY USER AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE COUNTRY. IT WILL ALSO BE THE THIRD LARGEST UTILITY SCALE PROJECT ON TRIBAL LAND. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE MADE INCREDIBLE HEAD WAY ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY, WE'VE DEVELOPED ENERGY SAVING PERFORMANCE CONTRACT AND POSSIBILITIES TO CREATE REALLY SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS ON UTILITY BILLS. IN ADDITION TO THAT WE MADE REALLY GREAT PROGRESS IN LOOKING HOW HEAT IS IMPACTING THE CITY. HEAT MITIGATION AND MAPPING CAMPAIGN WHERE RESIDENTS TRACK WHAT HEAT IS LOOKING AT AND BEGIN TO TAKE MEASURES TO ENSURE WE'RE STAYING COOL IN SUMMER MONTH AND FOLKS AROUND RUNNING UTILITY BILLS HIGHER THAN THEY NEED TO BE. WE'VE DONE GOOD WORK IN HIRING SPECIALTY STAFF THAT IMPLEMENTS THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN GOING FORWARD. WE HAVE DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE ALSO BRINGING ON NEW SPECIALTY STAFF THAT ARE KEY IN AREAS SUCH AS LOCAL FOOD PROCUREMENT, SUPPORTING COMMUNITY GARDEN OUTREACH AND MAKING SURE THAT VISION ZERO IS ENACTED AND WE'RE ABLE TO STAY SAFE AND UTILIZE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION. AGAIN, A LOT OF REALLY GREAT PROGRESS OVER THE LAST YEAR AND LOOKING FORWARD WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE A LOT OF THAT PROGRESS IN THE CLIMATE ACTION IMPLEMENTATION REPORT WHICH WILL COME OUT THIS SUMMER ALONG WITH UPDATED CLIMATE ACTION DASH BOARD WHICH WILL SHOWCASE ALL THE REALLY GREAT THINGS WE'RE DOING ACROSS DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY AND PROVIDE UPDATES FOR YOU ALL. WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO WRAP AND TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THIS UPDATE. I WAS A POLICY ADVISOR ON THE ORIGINAL CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. IT WAS DEVELOPED AND IT WAS A REALLY EXPENSIVE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT CAME TOGETHER THAT DID A LOT OF WORK TO DEVELOP THIS CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. IT'S NICE TO HEAR WE'RE STARTED CLIMATE IMPLEMENTATION. ONE OF THE THINGS I'M ASKED THE MOST IS WILL THERE BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE FOLKS AND OTHER FOLKS TO GET BACK INVOLVED AND HELP WITH SOME OF THE EDUCATION AND OUTREACH, SPECIFICALLY AROUND THIS PLAN. CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT QUICKLY? >> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. ABSOLUTELY. ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT OUR NEW STAFF IS GOING TO BE TAKING ON IS IDENTIFYING HOW WE CAN BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS ON A QUARTLY BASIS TO HAVE THE TWO-WAY DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN CITY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DISCUSS WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO THEM. THAT'S A MAINSTAY IN DEVELOPING CLIMATE ACTION PLAN IN MAKING SURE COMMUNITY WAS INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING THE POLICIES. AND THE ULTIMATE AUTHORS OF THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT IN THE SPIRIT OF THE INITIAL PLAN AND LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING SO. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE UPDATE. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE ON NOW TO -- THERE'S NO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION. WE'LL MOVE TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. AS WAS NOTED IN A PRESS RELEASE FROM OUR OFFICE FRIDAY AND NOTED ON THE PUBLISHED COUNCIL AGENDA. THIS IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE PROVIDING COMMENTS IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN ADDRESS THE COUNCIL IF THEY HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PER THE INSTRUCTIONS PUBLISHED ON THE AGENDA ON FRIDAY. HERE ARE THE PUBLIC COMMENT GROUND RULES. AND WE HAVE TO ADJUST THESE DUE TO THE LENGTH OF THE AGENDA TONIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A ONE AND A HALF MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENT. AND ON ONE OR TWO OF THE AGENDA ITEMS DUE TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP. EACH PARTICIPANT HAS ONE AND HALF MINUTES TO PRESENT. COMMENTS ARE TO BE ADDRESSED THROUGH THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND ANY DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT WILL RESULT IN REMOVAL FROM THE MEETING. FOR THOSE COMMENTING IN THE CHAMBERS, AGAIN, ONE AND A HALF MINUTE TIME LIMIT. THE LIGHT ON THE PODIUM WILL BE GREEN. FOR THE FIRST MINUTE. THE LIGHT WILL TURN YELLOW INDICATING YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS TO WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS AND WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP THE LIGHT WILL TURN RED. PLEASE CALL THE NAME OF THE FIRST SPEAKER. >> OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS SOFIA FOLLOWED BY CHARLES. >>COUN. BENTON: WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, COME ON DOWN AND QUEUE UP. THERE'S SEATS BEHIND THE PODIUM. >> GOOD EVENING. MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS. I'M DISTRICT DIRECTOR FOR CONGRESSWOMAN REPRESENTING DISTRICT ONE. AS THE CITY COUNCIL HEARS CHANGES TO THE PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS, CONGRESSWOMEN EXPRESSES DESIRE FOR ALL VOICES TO PARTICIPATE. AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS SHE WOULD LIKE TO DRAW THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION REGARDING PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT. ON FEBRUARY 4th OF THIS YEAR PRESIDENT BIDEN RELEASED EXECUTIVE ORD MANDATING FEDERAL AGENCIES AWARDING FOR LARGE SCALE PROJECTS TO AGREE TO A PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT WITH ONE OR MORE LABOR ORGANIZATIONS. THE PRESIDENT IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER EXPRESSED THIS ORDER IS INTENDED TO MAXIMIZE THE EFFICIENCY OF LARGE SCALE PRODUCTION PROJECTS. WHICH OFTEN FACE DELAYS DUE TO LACK OF PERMANENT CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE AND DISPUTE WITHOUT RESOLUTION MECHANISM. IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE WERE TO IMPLEMENT A LARGE SCALE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT USING FEDERALLY DISBURSED FUNDING THIS PROJECT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT UNDER PRESIDENT BIDEN'S EXECUTIVE ORDER. THE ACT FIRST PASSED IN 1931 IS A FEDERAL STATUTE THAT REQUIRES CONTRACTORS EXECUTING FEDERAL FUNDED OR ASSISTED CONTRACTS MORE THAN $2,000 TO PAY THE LOCAL PREVAILING WAGES. THIS STATUTE IS IN THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW WHICH WILL BE SENDING OVER $3.7 BILLION TO NEW MEXICO FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. BOTH RECENT AND LONG-STANDING FEDERAL POLICY INTEGRATING -- I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF THE VOICES OF THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY THIS DECISION MADE BY THIS BODY. AND HOW THE DECISIONS MAY AFFECT THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE'S ELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL FUNDING. I HOPE YOU CONSIDER MY OFFICE A RESOURCE FOR INFORMATION ON FEDERAL LABOR POLICY. >> NEXT SPEAKER IS CHARLES, FOLLOWED BY A RIERBGS FOLLOWED BY ARIANA. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ARIANA FOLLOWED BY ANNIE. >>COUN. DAVIS: WOULD YOU HELP HER WITH THE MICROPHONE? >> I'M EIGHT YEARS OLD. A LOT OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT CLEAN AND GREEN. 505 INDIVISIBLE. COMMON GROUND COMMUNITY TRUST. DREAMS IN ACTION NEW MEXICO. GLOBAL WARMING EXPRESS. HEART AND SOUL. INDIVISIBLE ALBUQUERQUE. LA CUEVA HIGH SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB. LITTLE GREEN BUCKET. MOM'S CLEAN AIR FOR NEW MEXICO. NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY OF NEW MEXICO. NEW MEXICO CLIMATE JUSTICE. NEW MEXICO ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER. NEW MEXICO INTERFACE POWER AND LIGHT. NEW MEXICO PURGE. NEW MEXICO RECYCLING COALITION. NO MORE PLASTIC BAGS ALBUQUERQUE. PAPA CLIMATE CREW. PROSPERITY WORKS. PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS OF AMERICA CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. RIO GRANDE FARMERS COALITION. SIERRA CLUB RIO GRANDE CHAPTER. SIMPLE RESOLUTION FARM. SOUTHWEST NATIVE CULTURE. SOLUTIONS COMPOSTING. TREE SCHOOL. UNM LEADERS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION. THANK YOU. >>COUN. DAVIS: THANK YOU. MR. PRESIDENT, IF I MAY, COULD I ASK OUR NEXT SPEAKER KNOWS ABOUT THE PREVIOUS. HOW OLD WAS OUR PREVIOUS SPEAKER? THANK YOU. MR. PRESIDENT, I WANT TO POINT OUT HOW IMPORTANT THESE ISSUES ARE AND I HOPE WE GET A CHANCE TO LISTEN. A LOT OF US THAT ARE OLDER THAN THAT DON'T HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND UP AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT IN THE CITY. I WANT TO THANK HER FOR COMING LATE AT NIGHT AFTER SCHOOL. THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNIE HANNAH. >> DEAR MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL I SUPPORT THE UN TREATY RECORDING THE NUKE-ARM WEAPONS. AND I'M ASKING YOU TO KEEP CLEAN AND GREEN. I WANT TO BRING TO LIGHT THAT MUCH OF THE LANGUAGE IN THE REPEAL IS DIRECT TALKING POINTS BY THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION CALLED BAG THE BAN. THEY RECENTLY REBANDED AND NOW THEY ARE AMERICAN RECYCABLE PLASTIC ALLIANCE. THEY'RE REPRESENTED AND PAID FOR BY THE PLASTIC BAG BAN. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY JUST PUT $5.5 MILLION INTO AN AD CAMPAIGN. THIS IS BACKED BY SUPER BAG CORPORATIONS. TO REPEAT, THIS REPEAL USES LANGUAGE DIRECTLY FROM THE PLASTIC BAG BAN INDUSTRY. COUNCILORS SHOULD VOTE WHAT IS BEST FOR ALBUQUERQUE AND NOT WHAT WOULD PUSH THE MOST PLASTIC BAG SALES FOR THE PLASTIC BAG INDUSTRY. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WE'RE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHERE OUR ARGUMENTS ARE COMING FROM. AND IF THEY'RE COMING FROM NATIONAL GROUPS OR LOCAL CONCERNS REGARDING THE BOSQUE OR RIO GRANDE. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BENTON: FOLKS, WE HAVE A LENGTHY AGENDA TONIGHT. I'M GOING TO ASK TO NOT APPLAUD. IT WILL EXTEND THE MEETING GREATLY IF WE HAVE APPLAUSE AFTER EVERY SPEAKER. WE APPRECIATE THE SPEAKERS. EVERYONE WHO COMES DOWN HERE TO SPEAK. AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE APPRECIATED. WE NEED TO NOT HAVE THE APPLAUSE AFTER EVERY SPEAKER. THANK YOU. YES SIR. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ADRIAN HANNA. >> DEAR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I OPPOSE THE REPEAL OF CLEAN AND GREEN. I CAME TO THIS MEETING WITH ONE QUESTION, WHY ARE THE COUNCILORS ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE NOT REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE'S WISHES. 94% OF THE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS HAVE OPPOSED THIS REPEAL BECAUSE THEY CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE OPPOSED THIS REPEAL BECAUSE THEY CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION OPPOSED THIS REPEAL BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT PLASTIC POLLUTION LITTERING. I THOUGHT AS REPRESENTATIVES YOUR VOTE WOULD REPRESENT THE PEOPLE. I THOUGHT YOUR VOTE WOULD REFLECT THE LOCAL PEOPLE. LOCAL BUSINESSES AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENT. INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO US, THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, IT SEEMS YOU LISTEN TO LOBBYISTS PAID BY THE PLASTIC INDUSTRY. WE DON'T WANT OUTSIDERS TO RUIN ALBUQUERQUE FOR THEIR OWN PROFIT. THE BAGS BLOW IN OUR YARD AND GET STUCK IN OUR CACTUSES AND FLOAT IN OUR WATER WAYS. WHY WON'T YOU LISTEN TO OUR CONCERNS? YOU SAY YOU WANT TO TACKLE THIS BY RECYCLE. IN REALITY IT'S ONLY 9% RECYCLED A YEAR. INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE SPILL. INSTEAD OF TRYING TO CLEAN UP THIS PLASTIC WE NEED TO STOP IT AT THE SOURCE. HOW MANY CALLS DO YOU GET IN OPPOSITION TO THIS REPEAL? THANK YOU. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. >> PLEASE. NO APPLAUSE AFTER THE SPEAKERS. THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DIELA AND MARYANN. >> DEAR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE CLOCK IS TICKING. TIME IS RUNNING OUT. THE EARTH, OUR MOTHER, NEEDS OUR HELP. WE'VE LIVED LARGE, WE'VE BEEN CARELESS. NOW WE'RE IN A BIG MESS. THE CLIMATE IS CHANGING AND NOT FOR THE GOOD. TOO MANY HURRICANES IN TOO MANY NEIGHBORHOODS. SEA CREATURES KILLED BY EATING PLASTIC BAGS YET IN CHANGING HABITS WE LAG. CAN'T WE SEE THIS CANNOT BE, WE MUST PARTNER WITH THE EARTH, OUR MOTHER, WE HAVE NO OTHER. THINGS WE USE EVERY DAY MUST NOT END UP IN THE BAY. WE ARE SMART, VERY CLEVER. WE'VE WALKED ON THE MOON, WE MAY WALK ON MARS SOON. LET'S USE OUR INTELLIGENCE GREAT TO CORRECT OUR BIG ENVIRONMENTAL MISTAKE. CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, HARNESS THE WIND AND SUN. THEY ARE FREE AND WE CAN USE THEM CLEVERLY. LET'S BE LEADERS IN THE CHANGES NEEDED USING LESS PLASTIC, THAT'S FANTASTIC. LET'S USE COTTON, WOOL, AND WOOD. THEY WORK LIKE A CHARM AND WOULD DO US GOOD. THEY BIO DEGRADE AND CAUSE NO HARM. LET'S BEGIN HERE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY OF THE SUN. TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE EARTH TO GET IT DONE. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. >> NEXT SPEAKER IS MARYANN FOLLOWED BY GENIE. >> GOOD EVENING. CAN YOU HEAR US? IS THAT BETTER? I AM HERE BECAUSE I REALLY DIDN'T HERE ANY CONVERSATION ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVES. THE CHOICE -- I HEARD WAS CHOICE BETWEEN PLASTIC AND PAPER. AND THE OBVIOUS CHOICE THAT I'VE CHOSEN AND COLLECTED OVER THE YEARS IS GREAT TO USE. I'M HERE TO ASK THAT I BE ASSURED THAT I CAN BE FREE TO USE AND CHOOSE TO REUSE. THERE'S MADE IN ALBUQUERQUE BY LOCAL NEW MEXICO WITH WONDERFUL FRIDA. I HAVE THINGS THAT FIT IN YOUR POCKET. WONDERFUL. GREAT GIFT. THE CLASSIC EUROPEAN SHOPPING BAG. RECYCLE 94. THE SOUTHWEST RECYCLING MARKET DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE. HAVE WE EVOLVED AT ALL? HAS THIS DEVELOPED AT ALL? I DON'T THINK SO. ALL KINDS OF GIVE AWAYS AND HARDWARE WOMEN ROCK. LOTS OF STATEMENTS. LOTS OF COMMERCIAL MESSAGES. I'M GOING TO REUSE. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GENIE, FOLLOWED BY THOMAS. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK AGAIN. I WAS HERE ON ZOOM TWO WEEKS AGO. IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU IN PERSON. I WANTED TO COME BACK TO REITERATE THE IDEA. I REPRESENT THE GEORGIA ELEMENTARY PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION. I DO WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR BASSAN AND COUNCILOR SANCHEZ FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK THROUGH SOME OF THE ISSUES. I'M SORRY I DIDN'T INTRODUCE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. -- WAS KILLED IN DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR AT THE RIVER OF LIGHT AS HE WAS CROSSING THE STREETS HOLDING HIS FATHER'S HAND. THIS DEATH WAS PREVENTIBLE. THEY DID NOT REALIZE THE DANGER AWAITING THEM ON CENTRAL. THEY ARE FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY. THEY CAME HERE IN ORDER TO FIND NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND INSTEAD THEY WERE MET WITH COMPLETE AND UTTER LOSS. THEY HAVE NOW RELOCATED TO ANOTHER CITY AND ANOTHER STATE. HOWEVER, I WANT TO CONTINUE THAT WE REMEMBER HIS LIFE BECAUSE IT WAS SO PRECIOUS. WHAT I'M ASKING TODAY IS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL BEGIN TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT PEDESTRIANS. THE BOTANICAL GARDENS ON CENTRAL AND NEW YORK AND TINGLY. THERE ARE SIMPLE TRAFFIC CALMING TECHNIQUES THAT CAN BE USED THAT ARE OUTLINED IN VISION ZERO PUT OUT BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. INSTEAD OF PLANTING TREES WHICH IS A BEAUTIFICATION PROCESS WE PUT IN THINGS THAT WILL ACTUALLY PROTECT THE PEDESTRIAN AREA. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BENTON: JUST AS A QUICK RESPONSE TO THAT. PLANTING TREES HAVE DEMONSTRATED TO CALM TRAFFIC. STREET TREES ALONG A ROUTE HAVE DEMONSTRATED TO CAUSE CALM DOWN TRAFFIC. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: MR. PRESIDENT. I HAVE A COMMENT. IN REFERENCE TO -- LAST WEEK WHEN SHE SPOKE WE ACTUALLY ASKED QUESTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY ACTION THEY COULD TAKE IMMEDIATELY. I DID SPEAK TO MR. RAEL. MR. RAEL HAS SOMETHING TO SAY IN REFERENCE TO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK. THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THIS, MR. RAEL, I APPRECIATE IT. >> MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AND COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. AFTER YOUR INQUIRY WE HAD BEGUN A PROCESS OF DOING A SAFETY CORRIDOR STUDY OF THAT AREA WHICH WOULD BE FROM NEW YORK AVENUE TO BY THE BIO PARK THROUGH THE RIVER. ALONG CENTRAL TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES TO PUTTING SOME CALMING, IF YOU WILL, STRUCTURES IN THE COREDORE. WE CAN SLOW TRAFFIC DOWN. WE LOOKED AT USING THE TWO WALKWAYS THAT ARE BENEATH CENTRAL. ONE THAT ACCOMMODATES THE LITTLE TRAIN THAT IS USED OFTEN TO GET FOLKS FROM THE ZOO TO THE BIO PARK. AND USING THE BIKE TRAIL SO WE WHEN WE HAVE SPECIAL EVENTS WE CAN LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF GETTING FOLKS AROUND OR BELOW THE TRAFFIC LEVEL SO THERE'S A BETTER PASSAGE FOR COMMUNITY FOLKS THAT ATTEND THE MAJOR EVENTS. ESPECIALLY DURING RIVER OF LIGHTS BECAUSE OF THE MAGNITUDE AND SIZE OF THE EVENT. WE'RE LOOKING ATTHOSIS AND HOPE TO HAVE THE STUDY DONE AND COME TO THE COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY ABOUT SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE CORRIDOR THAT MAY IMPROVE LIGHTING AND SPEED TABLES AND OTHER SAFETY OPPORTUNITIES AS OUTLINED IN THE VISION ZERO PROGRAM. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: MR. PRESIDENT, MR. RAEL, IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO AS AN IMMEDIATE FIX? MAYBE CONES OR SOMETHING IN THE AREA THAT WOULD ACTUALLY START TO SLOW TRAFFIC DOWN. MAYBE A SIGN THAT WAS CONGESTED AREA. WOULD THAT HELP THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE? I DRIVE UP AND DOWN THAT STREET EVERY DAY TWICE A DAY. OVER THE WEEKEND THERE WAS A LOT OF TRAFFIC CROSSING THE STREET AND TURNING IN AND OUT OF TINGLY AND CENTRAL AND NEW YORK AND CENTRAL. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR SANCHEZ, LET US LOOK INTO THAT. MAYBE WE CAN PUT VARIABLE MESSAGE BOARDS IN THAT CORRIDOR ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SUMMERTIME STARTS AND WE HAVE MORE AND MORE FOLKS ACCESSING THAT. WE'LL GET BACK WITH YOU AND SEE IF WE CAN BEGIN TO CREATE SOME SENSE OF THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT AREA THAT WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: MR. PRESIDENT. MR. RAEL, THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON THIS NEXT MEETING. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. MR. RAEL, THANKS FOR CONSIDERING THE DISCUSSION WE HAD RECENTLY ABOUT THIS AND COUNCILOR BASSAN AND I ARE VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF A PLACEMENT OF ONE OF THE PERMANENT SPEED CAMERAS ALONG THAT AREA. I KNOW A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE SPEED CAMERAS IS WHICH CORRIDOR HAS THE FASTEST AVERAGE TRAFFIC. WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHICH CORRIDORS HAVE A COMBINATION OF FAST TRAFFIC. >> WE'LL LOOK AS WELL. THANKS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS THOMAS, FOLLOWED BY ASHLEY. >> GOOD EVENING, I'M THOMAS. I'M GOING TO BE HONEST I'M NOT GOING TO BE AS WELL-SPOKEN AS SOME OF THE YOUNGER SPEAKERS. I'M HERE TO OFFER AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE. ALTHOUGH I'M A JUNIOR AT HIGH SCHOOL I MOVED FROM NEW YORK. I'VE BEEN RAISED IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUSNESS WAS CRITICAL. THEREFORE, WHEN I MOVED TO DISTRICT FOUR AND HEARD OF A REPEAL OF SOLUTION OF ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES FACING THE SOCIETY THE ONE WORD I CAN USE IS CONFUSED. HOW CAN ONE JUSTIFY SUCH A COUNTER INTUITIVE ACTION? A BAN IS PERMANENT. SOMETHING THAT REPRESENTS THE IDEALS OF NEW MEXICO. SOMETHING THAT WILL IMPACT THE WAY WE AS ORDINARY CITIZENS LIVE BY FOR YEARS TO COME. THE QUESTION ARISES WHAT DO WE WANT TO BE KNOWN AS. HOW CAN WE LET SHORT-TERM IMPACT OUR LONG-TERM FUTURE. IN NEW YORK WE WANTED TO BE KNOWN AS ETHER PRESERVING NOT DESTROYING. THERE ARE DIFFERENTIES TOWARD A GREENER WORLD. BUT WHEN HAS THE U.S. NOT EXPERIENCED THIS? OUR PRIVATE SECTORS IS ONE OF THE MOST INNOVAIVE AND ADAPTIVE IN THE WORLD. THE ENVIRONMENT IS NOT. THE ENVIRONMENT CANNOT. THE OCEANS CANNOT RECOVER FROM THE PLASTIC BANS DESTROYING THE WATERS OVER THE COURSE OF 1,000 YEARS. I ENVISION A NEW MEXICO WHERE REUSABLE TOTES ARE THE NORM. WHERE I DON'T HAVE TO SEE PLAST IC BAGS ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. LET'S START WITH A VOTE TO KEEP THE BAG BAN IN PLACE. >> ASHLEY FOLLOWED BY SUSAN. >> I WILL ALSO PROBABLY BE NOT AS WELL-SPOKEN AS MY YOUNGER PEOPLE THAT I STAND WITH. TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I STAND IN OPPOSITION IN REPEAL OF THE COMMUNITY WORKFORCE AGREEMENT. UNIONS SET COMMUNITY STANDARDS FOR TRAINING TO ENSURE LOCAL PEOPLE ARE HIRED. ESPECIALLY IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES THEY ENSURE PEOPLE GET HEALTH CARE AND OTHER BENEFITS AS OPPOSED TO CASH UNDER THE TABLE WAGE. I HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE. I'M AGAINST THE REPEAL OF THE PLASTIC BAG BAN. PRODUCTION IN PLASTIC BAG IS BAD FOR HUMAN HEALTH. YOU GO TO THE RECYCLING PLANT THEY'LL GET CAUGHT IN THE MACHINERY. THEY COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR US TO PROCESS AS ALBUQUERQUE CITIZENS. PLASTIC BANS END UP IN THE GARBAGE PATCH AND LANDFILLS ARE BURDEN. THEY BOG DOWN PROCESSING FACILITIES AND THIS IS THE STARTING POINT. WE CANNOT MOVE BACKWARD FROM STARTING POINT. WE HAVE TO LOOK TO THE KIDS THAT WILL BE HERE IN 70 YEARS WHEN NONE OF US WILL BE. THIS IS THEIR WORLD. SO YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THEIR VOICES. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BENTON. MY NAME IS SUSAN WARREN AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF MAYOR KELLER'S VETO OF THE REPEAL AND ASK THAT YOU NOT OVERRIDE THE VETO. THERE'S SCIENTIFIC CONSENSUS THAT SINGLE USE IS HARMFUL. NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY PUPOLLUTE POST PRODUCTION BUT THEY USE OIL AND GAS. WE CANNOT RECYCLE OUR WAY OUT OF THIS CRISIS. JUST TODAY, THE UNITED NATIONS RELEASED IT'S REPORT ON THE CLIMATE WARNING UNLESS WE DRASTICALLY SLASH EMISSIONS THE GOAL OF LIMITING GLOBAL WARMING TO SAFE LEVELS WILL BE OUT OF OUR REACH BY THE END OF THIS DECADE. CLIMATE CHANGE IS GOING TO AFFECT ALL COMMUNITIES. RICH AND POOR. IT IS ESPECIALLY GOING TO EFFECT POOR COMMUNITIES. IF WILL BE DEVASTATING TO LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES. FAR MORE DEVASTATING THAN THE COST OF REUSABLE OR PAPER BAGS. I BELIEVE IN SCIENCE AND WE NEED TO ACT WITH ALL DUE SPEED. 47 PEOPLE SPOKE AT THE MEETING THE LAST MEETING IN SUPPORT OF THE PLASTIC BAG BAN. YOU'RE REPRESENTATIVES OF US. NOT THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY, NOT THE BIG BOX STORES. THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN LOUD AND CLEAR. WE'RE HERE AGAIN TONIGHT. WE WANT THE CLEAN AND GREEN ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. >> NORA FOLLOWED BY RACHEL. >> HELLO, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M 14 YEARS OLD AND I OPPOSE THE REPEAL OF THE CLEAN AND GREEN ORDINANCE. WHY ARE WE HERE REHASHING ALREADY ESTABLISHED ORDINANCES? COUNCIL MEMBERS KEEP COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW WE'RE WASTING TIME DISCUSSING PLASTIC BANS BUT WE WOULDN'T BE HERE IF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAD LEFT IT ALONE. WE ARE HERE TO PESTER YOU, WE AREN'T HERE TO BE PETTY, WE'RE HERE BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE. MY GENERATION WILL FACE THE PREPER CESSIONS OF YOUR ACTIONS. THAT IS UNFAIR. A VOTE AGAINST THE PLASTIC BAG BAN IS A VOTE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE. TODAY THE UNITED NATIONS REPORT ON CLAIMANT CHANGE STATED WE HAVE TO SLASH EMISSIONS BY THE END OF THIS DECADE. WE ARE ASKING FOR A SIMPLE, SMALL CHANGE THAT WILL RESULT IN A REDUCTION OF EMISSION AND CAUSE PEOPLE TO THINK MORE CAREFULLY ABOUT PLASTIC USE. IT SEEMS TO BE ABOUT THE CHOICE OF THE PEOPLE. BUT HERE WE ARE BUT YOU WON'T LISTEN FOR US. ARE YOU REALLY HERE FOR ALBUQUERQUE OR FOR US? WE ARE THE PEOPLE. WE ARE THE CITIZENS OF ALBUQUERQUE. WE DO NOT WANT PLASTIC BANS LITTERING THE CITY. YOU REPRESENT ME. LISTEN TO ME, LISTEN TO ALL OF US AND KEEP THE PLASTIC BAG BAN IN PLACE. >> RACHEL FOLLOWED BY SALLY. >> GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. IT'S REALLY TO BE HERE WITH YOU IN PERSON. MORE THAN 40 OF US WERE PRESENT ON THE LAST ZOOM MEETING. IT FELT LIKE WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF YOUR ATTENTION. IT'S NICE TO KNOW YOU SEE US YOU HEAR US. WE ARE VOLUNTEERS. I STARTED A SMALL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION CALLED WASTELESS NEW MEXICO. I WORK WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS MAKING BAGS OUT OF UNWANTED SHIRTS. EVERYONE HERE WHO IS STANDING UP, NONE OF US ARE PAID BY A LOBBY. NONE OF US ARE GAINING IN ANY FINANCIAL WAY. DOES THAT MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU? WE CARE, WE SEE THIS PROBLEM, WE LISTEN TO THE SCIENCE. YOU CARE ABOUT PAPER OR PLASTIC. WHAT ABOUT MIKEO PLASTIC IN OUR ROCKY MOUNTAIN AIR AND WATER AND RAIN? WHAT ABOUT MICROPLASTIC IN OUR SOIL? WHAT ABOUT MICROPLASTIC IN OUR BLOOD? IT'S IN OUR BLOOD. IT'S IMPACTING OUR FETUSES. IT'S IMPACTING OUR HEALTH. YET YOU PREFER PAPER OR PLASTIC. IT'S THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT CIGARETTE BANS, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT TOXIC WASTE DUMPING. PLEASE LISTEN TO US AND JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE, WE CARE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO AWAY. WE DON'T WANT TO HARASS YOU PERSONALLY. WE ARE NOT MAKING PERSONAL ATTACKS. I'M HERE TO HELP. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THIS PROMTH AGAIN AND SUPPORT ANY VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WE NEEDS HELP TRANSITIONING THROUGH A REUSABLE ECONOMY. >> SALLY FOLLOWED BY MARK. >> MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I AM A LIFE MEMBER OF VETERANS FOR PEACE. ON ORGANIZATION COMPOSED OF FORMER MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO SEEN THE FUTIITY OF ENGAGEMENTSES. WE VETERANS OF PEACE SUPPORT A MOVE TO SHIFT OUR EMPHASIS FROM NUCLEAR DETERRENTS TO A MORE REALISTIC PLAN OF BANNING NUCLEAR WEAPONS. WORLD LEADERS HAVE AGREED THAT NUCLEAR WAR CANNOT BE WON. AND MUST NOT BE FOUGHT. LOGICAL EXTENSION OF THIS AGREEMENT IS IT MUST NOT BE FOUGHT, WHY HAVE THE WEAPONS. THE REVERSAL OF THE FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE. IF WE HAVE THEM, WHY DON'T WE USE THEM? WE, THE MEMBERS OF VETERANS FOR PIECE, STRONGLY URGE YOUR NATION TO TAKE THE LEAD IN DISARMING THE WORLD OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. WE SHOULD DEFINITELY SIGN THE UN TREATY TO PREVENT NUCLEAR WEAPONS. WE SHOULD LEAD ALL THE NUCLEAR STATES IN BANNING, OWNING, OR PRODUCING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO JOIN 60 ENTITIES. AND THANKS COUNCILORS. COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, COUNCILOR DAVIS, AND COUNCILOR BENTON FOR INTRODUCING THIS RESOLUTION. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. >> MARK, FOLLOWED BY DON. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MARK. I'VE BEEN A SMALL SCALE FARMER IN THE SOUTH VALLEY FOR 25 YEARS. I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, IT'S GOT TO WHERE I CAN'T WALK MORE THAN A FEW STEPS DOWN THE DITCH WITHOUT SEEING PLASTIC BANS, PLASTIC BOTTLES, CAPS, YOU NAME IT. WHEN I WAS LOOKING INTO THIS, I WENT TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH WEBSITE. PLASTIC BANS, PLASTIC BOTTLES ARE PRIMARY SOURCES OF DISRUPTING CHEMICALS. THEIRS IS PLENTY OF ESTABLISHED SCIENCE THAT THESE CONTRIBUTE TO VARIOUSES DISEASES. THESE ARE ALL THE DISORDERS THAT ARE DEVASTATING OUR COMMUNITIES TODAY. IF IT'S DOING THIS TO OUR BODIES, WHAT IS IT DOING TO OUR SOIL? THAT SIMPPHONY OF LIFE THAT WE DEPEND ON. WE CAN'T SURVIVE IF THE LIFE IN THE SOIL COLLAPSES BECAUSE OF TOO MUCH POLLUTION. THE QUESTION I'M ASKING MYSELF IS WHAT EFFECT IS THIS HAVING ON MY FARMING. THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS HOW MUCH AM WHERE SUPPOSED TO EXPLAIN MY KID AND THESE KIDS FREAKING OUT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE -- HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO EXPLAIN WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING? >> DON, FOLLOWED BY A. C. ? >> MILLIONS OF SOLDIERS IN THE UNITED STATES, RUSSIA, AND OTHER NATIONS SADLY BELIEVE GOD WANTS THEM TO KILL OTHER HUMAN BEINGS WHEN THEIR GOVERNMENT TELLS THEM TO. U.S. MILITARY HIRES CHAPLAINS TO ASSURE SOLDIERS GOD APPROVES MURDER IN WAR. I DO NOT PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE U.S. FLAG OR TO ANY NATION'S FLAG. MY COUNTRY IS THE WHOLE WORLD. ALL PEOPLE ARE MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS. I HAVE PAID NO FEDERAL INCOME TAX FOR 43 YEARS. NOT ONE DAMN PENNY. ALMOST HALF OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX GOES FOR U.S. WARS, PAST, PRESENT FUTURE. I OPPOSE ALL WARS. FOR ME TO PAY FEDERAL INCOME TAX TO TRAIN YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN INTO PROFESSIONAL HIRED KILLERS, TO MURDER ON COMMAND, WITH NO CONSCIENCE WOULD BE MORE EVIL THAN BEING A SOLDIER MYSELF. UNITED STATES HAS MURDERED MANY MILLIONS MOMS AND DADS AND KIDS IN MANY COUNTRIES. NOT WITH MY SILENCE. AND NOT WITH MY MONEY. >> A.C., FOLLOWED BY BARBARA. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M SIMPLY A CONCERNED CITIZEN. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OFT CLEAN AND GREEN ORDINANCE. I'M ALSO HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ORDINANCES IN GENERAL. THIS ORDINANCE SAID WE NEEDED A SIX-MONTH STUDY. WE EXPECT THE CITIZENS TO FOLLOW OUR ORDINANCES, WEEXPECT OUR BUSINESSES TO FOLLOW OUR ORDINANCES. WE NEED TO FINISH THE SIX-MONTH STUDY AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS ORDINANCE. PLEASE KEEP CLEAN AND GREEN ON THE BOOKS. THANKS. >> BARBARA, FOLLOWED BY SUSAN. >> GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME, I'M THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND REC. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO CONVEY TO YOU THAT THE OPEN SPACE ADVISORY BOARD AT THE LAST MEETING MET AND DISCUSSED THE R8 AND VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION THAT IS WRITTEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>COUN. BENTON: THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE AND OTHER FOLKS ON THE BOARD. >> SUSAN FOLLOWED BY MELVIN. >> IT'S GOING TO BE BACK. COUNCILOR BENTON, COUNCILORS, I'M A RESIDENT IN ALBUQUERQUE. AND IN COUNCILOR BENTON'S DISTRICT. I LIVED HERE FOR 29 YEARS. I'M SPEAKING AS A MEMBER OF THE NUCLEAR ISSUE STUDY GROUP. A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS WHO FORMED HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE WITH A MISSION TO PROTECT NEW MEXICO FROM ALL THINGS NUCLEAR. I URGE YOU NOT TO OVERTURN THE VETO OF THE PLASTIC BAG BAN AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUE. I'M HERE TO URGE THE COUNCIL TO VOTE YES IN FAVOR OF M22-2 THE MEMORIAL FOR THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL TO URGE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT THE UN TREATY ON THE PROHIBITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND REAFFIRMING ALBUQUERQUE AS NUCLEAR WEAPONS FREE ZONE. I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCILORS FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT MEMORIAL IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL. I FEEL STRONGLY NEW MEXICAN HAVE SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUE ROLE OUR STATE HAS PLAYED IN ATOMIC HISTORY. AS YOU KNOW THE MANHATTAN PROJECT WAS DESIGNED HERE. AND THE BOMB WAS TESTED ON NEW MEXICANS AT THE TRINITY SITE. NUCLEAR WASTE IS STORED AT WHIP. WHICH STORES RADIOACTIVE WASTE FROM THE COLD WAR. WE HAVE PAID IMMEASURABLE COST FROM THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY. >>COUN. BENTON: YOUR TIME IS UP. >> THE CONTAMINATION HAS AFFECTED THE NAVAJO COMMUNITIES TO THE POINT. >>COUN. BENTON: I'M SORRY. YOUR TIME IS UP. NO. PLEASE CALL THE NEXT SPEAKER. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELVIN. >>COUN. BENTON: YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE CEASE TO SPEAK. YOU'LL BE REMOVED FROM THE ROOM. >> MELVIN FOLLOWED BY EILEEN. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. I ALSO WISH TO ADVOCATE FOR THE MEMORIAL. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE AND -- AN OVERT STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR THE TULAROSA DOWN WINDERS. AND I WASN'T TO ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO LEAD US TOWARD A SYSTEM OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT WILL TAKE US SOME PLACE WE NEED TO GO. MY MAIN CONCERN IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE COUNTY OF TAOS HAS LOST SEVERAL TEACHERS BECAUSE THE FOLKS COULDN'T FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THAT COUNTY. TWO OF THOSE TEACHERS WERE COMMUTING FROM ALBUQUERQUE. WE CANNOT AVOID THAT EVENTUAL OUTCOME IF WE DON'T GET OUR ACT TOGETHER. PART OF THAT I HOPE TO SEE SOME ADVANCES THAT WILL TAKE US TOWARD MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND MORE COMMUNITY SPACE. ESPECIALLY FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE. OUR 4th OF JULY CELEBRATION, FOR EXAMPLE, IS INACCESSIBLE FOR LOW INCOME PEOPLE BECAUSE THE BUS SYSTEM STANDS DOWN ON MAJOR HOLIDAYS. THIS IS THE SORT OF THING THAT MANY CITY EMPLOYEES I'VE DISCUSSED THIS WITH ARE HOPEFUL THAT THEY CAN FIX. I'M ASKING FOR THE COUNCIL'S LEADERSHIP IN THAT REGARD. THANK YOU. >> EILEEN FOLLOWED BY ATHENA. >> GOOD EVENING, ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL. I'M AN EDUCATOR AND ORGANIZER WITH THE ALBUQUERQUE BASE NUCLEAR ISSUE STUDY GROUP. I'M IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE M22 MEMORIAL. WHICH WOULD MAKE ALBUQUERQUE A NUCLEAR FREE ZONE. I'M ALSO IN SOLIDARITY WITH ALL OF THE FANTASTIC YOUTH WHO ARE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE CLEAN AND GREEN ORDINANCE. OVER 220 COUNTIES OF INDIGENOUS NATIONS HAVE PASSED SIMILAR RESOLUTIONS. DECLARING THEM NUCLEAR-FREE ZONES. ALBUQUERQUE CURRENTLY TODAY HAS AROUND 2500 NUCLEAR WARHEADS IN THE CITY LIMITS. WHICH MAKES THIS MUNICIPALITY ONE OF THE LARGEST NUCLEAR POWERS IN THE WORLD. ALBUQUERQUE ALSO HAS MULTIPLE DANGEROUS NUCLEAR WASTE DUMPS SUCH AS THE MIXED WASTE LANDFILLS WHICH THREATENS OUR WATER SUPPLY AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES INCLUDING ISLETA PUEBLO. THE LEGACY OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS TECHNOLOGY IS VIOLENT AND DEVASTATING AND WEIGHED MOST ON INDIGENOUS AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. THE THREAT OF NUCLEAR WAR LOOMS LARGER THAN EVER AND YOU CAN MAKE THE WORLD MORE SAFER AND JUST BY PASSING THIS MEMORIAL. IN CONCLUSION THIS IS A SYMBOLIC GESTURE WHICH IN A WORLD THREATENED BY NUCLEAR WAR AND CLIMATE CHANGE ISN'T ENOUGH. I HOPE YOU PASS THIS AND FOLLOW IT UP WITH MORE ACTION. >> ATHENA FOLLOWED BY ALEX. >> I'M 11 YEARS OLD. I'M FEELING DISCOURAGED BECAUSE I'VE BEEN COMING TO CITY COUNCIL AGAIN AND AGAIN SINCE I WAS 8 YEARS OLD. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR STUDENTS TO MAKE CHANGES IN ALBUQUERQUE. SO MANY STUDENTS SPOKE UP. WE DIDN'T MAKE -- WE DID MAKE A SMALL CHANGE. NOW IT'S JUST BEING REPEALED. WHY. THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PLASTIC BAGS HANDED OUT IN STORES. THERE'S SO MUCH LITTER IN THE CITY. I SEE IT ALONG THE HIGHWAYS, THE EMPTY LOT, PLASTIC BAGS STUCK IN BUSHES. MY MOM IS ALWAYS TELLING US TO KEEP OUR HOUSE CLEAN AND PICK UP AFTER OURSELFS. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO LEAVE A DIRTY ENVIRONMENT FOR US. IT'S LIKE LEAVING THE DIRTY SOCKS ALL AROUND THE LIVING ROOM AND EXPECTING YOUR KIDS TO CLEAN IT UP. IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK TO SUPPORT THIS SMALL STEP SO WE CAN DO BIGGER THINGS TOGETHER. NOW IT'S APRIL, IT WILL BE EARTH DAY SOON. A DAY WHERE EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO TO HELP THE EARTH. LET'S WORK TOGETHER ON IT. LET'S KEEP OUR HOUSE CLEAN. PLEASE VOTE YES TO KEEP GOING CLEAN AND GREEN. THANK YOU. >> ALEX. >> DEAR MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. I OPPOSE THE REPEAL OF THE CLEAN AND GREEN AMENDMENT. MY NAME IS ALEX AND I'M 13 YEARS OLD. I LOVE TO SNOW BOARD IN THE MOUNTAINS AND HIKE AND TAKE PHOTOS OF THE BRILLIANT SUNSET. I DID RESEARCH AND I FOUND IN NOVEMBER 2021 RIGHT WHEN SOLID WASTE FIXED THE LOOP HOLO. ZACHARY TAYLOR WAS INVITED ON THE RIO GRANDE FOUNDATION RADIO SHOW. HE IS A LOBBYIST PAID FOR BY THE PLASTIC BAG INDUSTRY. HE SAID THAT PLASTIC BAGS CAN BE USED 125 TIMES. BUT WAIT, IS THAT REALLY TRUE? DO NEW MEXICANS USE THEIR PLASTIC BAGS OVER 100 TIMES? I DON'T THINK SO. THEY MAY USE IT ONCE AND IT'S IN THE LANDFILL FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS BREAKING INTO MICROPLASTICS THAT ARE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CLEAN UP. HE SAID THAT PLASTIC BAGS ARE THE HEALTHIEST OPTION. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE WHEN THEY'RE FINDING MICROPLASTICS IN OUR OWN BLOOD. DO YOU KNOW WE EAT A CREDIT CARD AMOUNT OF PLASTICS EVERY WEEK. IT'S NOT HEALTHY. TO PRETEND IT'S HEALTHY IS GREEN WASHING. REUSABLE BAGS IS EASY TO USE. YOU CAN REUSE THEM FOR THOUSANDS OF TIMES. WE NEED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR REUSABLE AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. FOR PROTECTING THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. >> WE'LL GO TO THOSE COMMENTING VIRTUALLY. SPEAKERS WILL HAVE THEIR CAMERA OFF AND MUTED UNTIL THEY HAVE TIME TO SPEAK. THE FIRST SPEAKER IS CAMILA. TURNED YOUR VIDEO ON, UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOUR TIME WILL BEGIN WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I'M -Y -- I SERVE ON THE WATER PREKZ ADVISORY BOARD. I'LL DIRECT MY COMMENT SPECIFICALLY TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SERVING ON THE WATER AUTHORITY. COUNCILOR PEÑA, COUNCILOR JONES, AND COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. I WILL DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO A LETTER DRAFTED BY OUR WATER PROTECTION ADVISORY BOARD FORMED AT YOUR PLEASURE TO PROVIDE WATER QUALITY ADVICE TO THE ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL, BERNALILLO COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE WATER AUTHORITY GOVERNING BOARD. IN OUR LETTER WE LAY OUT A SERIES OF CONCERNS WITH REGARD TO ROLL BACK OF CLEAN AND GREEN ORDINANCE. THE ONE I WANT TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO IS IN THE THIRD PARAGRAPH WHERE WE WRITE ADDITIONALLY PLASTIC BAGS UNDERMINE THE CITY'S ABILITY TO COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL PERMIT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY UNDER THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE WATER SHOULD BASED MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM. THE MS4 PERMIT HAS SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS THAT ALL PERMITEES MUST MEET TO CONTROL FLOATABLES OR TRASH. THE PURPOSE IS TO PREVENT TRASH INCLUDING PLASTIC BAGS FROM ENTERING THE STORM WATER SYSTEM AND DISCHARGING TO THE RIO GRANDE AND OTHER WATERWAYS. ON AN ANNUAL BASES THE CITY COLLECTS AND DISPOSED FIVE TRUCKLOADS FROM THE STORM DRAINS. THAT MEANS WORKERS ON REGULAR SCHEDULES GOING THROUGH THE STORM DRAINS AND DIGGING OUT THE PLASTIC BANS, ADDITIONALLY EACH OF THE MS4 PERMITEES MUST COLLECT THEIR OWN DEBRIS. AND INCREASES THE MAGNITUDE AS PLASTIC POLLUTION IS NOT MITIGATED THROUGH CITY WIDE EFFORTS LIKE THE CLEAN AND GREEN RETAIL ORDINANCE. IF THAT MESSAGE HASN'T MADE IT CLEAR. >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. NEXT SPEAKER IS LUIS. >> HELLO. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. YEAH, I AM A TRANSIT DEPENDENT BUS RIDER. I JUST WANTED TO LIFT UP THE ZERO FAIRS. IT'S BENEFITTED MYSELF AND MY COMMUNITY. THROUGH RIDING THE BUS, LATELY, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO HEAR STORIES AND PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING A LOT OF FINANCIAL TROUBLES. ZERO FARES HAS HELPED OUT. IT'S ALLOWED ME TO RIDE THE BUS MORE OFTEN. ZERO FAIRS HELPS OUT WITH THAT. ESPECIALLY PLACES LIKE THE GROCERY STORE OR YOU KNOW UNM. I KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING CAR ISSUES ESPECIALLY WITH THE RISE IN GAS PRICES. ZERO FARES IS A BIG WIN FOR US. YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO LIFT THAT UP AND HOPEFULLY SEE ZERO FARES IN THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYBODY. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JESUS. YOUR ONE AND A HALF MINUTES WILL BEGIN YOU START SPEAKING. >> HELLO, I RISE THE SUN VAN. HAVING ZERO FARES MAKE AS HUGE IMPACT ON ME AND MY FAMILY BECAUSE I CAN GET AROUND EASIER WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY BECAUSE -- >> CAN YOU SPEAK UP A LITTLE BIT PLEASE? WE'RE HAVING A HARD TIME HEARING YOU. >> HELLO, I RIDE THE SUN VAN. HAVING ZERO FARES MAKE A HUGE IMPACT ON ME AND MY FAMILY BECAUSE I CAN GET AROUND EASIER WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY BECAUSE SOMETIMES I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY. ZERO FARES MAKES IT EASIER ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SUCH AS MYSELF. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ZERO FARES. WE HOPE THIS CONTINUES NEXT YEAR. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SOFIA. YOUR TIME WILL BEGIN WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. >> HI, I AM A SENIOR AT UNM STUDYING ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. I'M HERE LIKE SO MANY OTHERS IN SUPPORT OF THE PLASTIC BAG BAN. LAST SEMESTER HIGH HIGH LEVEL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES DIDDY STUDY ON THE RIO GRANDE. AND WE DID FOUR DIFFERENT SITES IN BETWEEN 13 AND 29 MICROPLASTICS PER LITER OF WATER. THIS IS AN INITIAL STUDY. I'M SURE THERE'S BEEN MANY OTHERS. I JUST WANTED TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF BANNING PLASTIC BAGS BECAUSE THEY BREAK DOWN INTO THE RIVERS AND HARM OUR BODY AND WATER AND THE ECOSYSTEMS. I'M PROBABLY NOT AS ARTICULATE AS SOME OF THE YOUNGER SPEAKERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RALPH. YOUR TIME WILL BEGIN WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. >> DEAR COUNCILORS, I SECOND SALLY THOMPSONS COMMENTS IN FAVOR OF THE MEMORIAL. THE MAIN REASON I'M HERE TONIGHT, COUNCILORS, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO VOTED FOR INCREASING PLASTIC POLLUTION IN OUR GREATER ALBUQUERQUE AREA BY VOTING TO REPEAL THE BAN ON SINGLE USE PLASTIC BANS, YOU ALSO HEARD THIS MOMENTS AGO FROM CRAMILLA. PLASTIC BAGS UNDERMINE THE CITY'S ABILITY TO COMPLY WITH THE EPA PERMIT WITH THE NATIONAL DISCHARGE SYSTEM. ADDRESSING PLASTIC POLLUTION IS COSTLY FOR THE CITY TAKING EXTRA TIME AND RESOURCES TO CLEAN. THE CITY COLLECT AND DISPOSES FIVE SEMI TRUCKLOADS OF PLASTIC BAGS FROM STORM DRAINS. EACH OF THE 18 PERMITESE MUST COLLECT DEBRIS. I URGE YOU IN LIGHT OF THE FACTS PRESENTED TONIGHT BY RACHEL TO SUSTAIN THE MAYOR'S VETO OF THE REPEAL. PLEASE IGNORE THE PLASTIC BAG INDUSTRY. PLEASE RESPECT THE CHOICE OF CHILDREN TODAY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. MAINTAIN THE BAN. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT. >> NEXT SPEAKER IS REBECCA. YOUR TIME WILL BEGIN WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT ADDING SAFETY MEASURES ON SEN CENTRAL. ON THAT EVENING ON DECEMBER MY SON LOST HIS LIFELONG FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR ON THAT HIT AND RUN DISSENT. I WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. AT THE CORNER OF TINGLY AND CENTRAL I HELD MY FRIEND AS SHE ENCOUNTERED THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF THE EVENING. I SAW HIM IN THE STREET. EVEN FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD I SAW THIS TENT WITH THE LIFELESS BODY OF THE SWEET NEIGHBOR BOY. WE CAN PUT OUT A SAFETY MEASURE IN PLACE FOR THOSE WHO VISIT THE SPECIAL EVENTS. IT'S FRUSTRATING TO CONSIDER (INAUDIBLE). AND MORE FUNDS WEREN'T ALLOCATED TO SAFETY AND TRAFFIC CONTROL. I THANK COUNCILOR SANCHEZ FOR CONTINUING TO BRING THIS ISSUE TO LIGHT. I THANK MR. RAEL FOR REPORTING ON THE STUDY. THIS IS ENCOURAGING. I CALL AWN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT AND OUR BIO PARK SOCIETY TO PUT SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE. CITY COUNCIL PLEASE MAKE THIS A HIGH PRIORITY. PLEASE CONDUCT A STUDY TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MANAGE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. FLASHING LIGHTS, SPEED STRIPS ET CETERA. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PEGGY. YOUR TIME WILL BEGIN YOU SPORT SPEAKING. >> CAN YOU HEAR ME? I THOUGHT I HAD THE VIDEO ON. BEFORE YOU START THE TIMER. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW LONG I HAVE TO SPEAK? >> A MINUTE AND A HALF. >> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILOR BENTON, COUNCILORS, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT BANNING PARKING ON PUBLIC STREETS AND ONLY ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO PARK THERE. LAST SUMMER RESIDENTS SUBMITTED PETITION TO BAN PARKING ON STREETS NEAR THE NATURE CENTER. THIS SETS A PRECEDENT FOR THE NORTH VALLEY AND CITY WHEREVER THERE'S PUBLIC PARKS. COUNCILOR BENTON STEPPED UP IN LEGISLATION WAS PASSED BY COUNCIL. A NEW POLICY WAS TO BE DEVELOPED IN DECEMBER AND ENFORCEMENT WAS CANCELED UP THE THEN. AND ASKED THE ADMINISTRATION THE STATUS OF THE PLAN. I WAS ADVISED THERE WOULD BE A PUBLIC MEETING HOWEVER I RECEIVED NOTICE WARNINGS ARE BEING ISSUED. NO PUBLIC MEETING NOTIFICATION OR PLAN. MANY PEOPLE USE THIS AREA'S ACCESS TO BOSQUE. THIS PLAN SHOULD NOT BE COMPLETED WITHOUT PUBLIC INPUT. IDEAS WERE DISCUSSED SOLVING PARKING PROBLEMS. THEY DON'T SEEM TO HAVE BEEN ACTED ON. WE'VE ALLOWED ALL THE GATED COMMUNITIES TO SHUT OFF ACCESS TO THE BOSQUE. NOW WE'RE ALLOWING PUBLIC STREETS TO DO THE SAME. THIS DOES NOT SEEM LIKE GOOD CITY POLICY. THE NORTH VALLEY COALITION SUBMITTED COMMENTS AND ENCOURAGES SUPPORT FOR CONTINUING THE BAN ON PLASTIC BAGS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >>COUN. BENTON: I WANTED TO ASK THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THIS. WE DID RECEIVE FORMAL COMMUNICATION FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS IN QUESTION AND I WANTED TO KNOW IF THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN IN DISCUSSION WITH THEM. >> MR. PRESIDENT, REGARDING THIS ISSUE, WE ARE DOING A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST AND FOREMOST. I'VE HAD THE MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT LOOK AT THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR AND SEE HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO COMPROMISE AND FIND PARKING SOLUTIONS. I THINK A LONG-TERM SOLUTION IS WORKING WITH THE COLLEAGUES AT THE STATE, IF YOU RECALL THAT PROPERTY USED BY THE NATURE CENTER IS ACTUALLY OWNED BY THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. IT'S A PARKING LOT WE CAN POSSIBLY EXPAND AND DEVELOP INTO A PARKING AREA THAT MIGHT HELP ALLEVIATE THE NEIGHBORHOODS FROM HAVING SO MANY FOLKS PARK THERE DURING THE DAY OR IN THE EVENINGS AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ACTIVELY TO SEE A SOLUTION. AND DOING SOME WORK TO PROTECT THE NATURE CENTER FROM USE WHEN THE NATURE CENTER IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. WE'RE TRYING FIND SOLUTIONS FOR THAT. AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION. WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING ON IT. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU, MR. RAEL. I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY INVOLVED WITH THE STATE AND THESE DISCUSSIONS. THIS WAS ACTUALLY AT THE TOP OF THE LIST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AS A SOLUTION. IF THEY DID HAVE SOME SPECIFICS WITH REGARD TO THE EXISTING OTHER PROHIBITIONS. THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND GET THEM A FORMAL ANSWER. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH. YOUR ONE AND A HALF MINUTES WILL BEGIN WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW MEXICO RECYCLING COALITION. WE'RE STATE WIDE NONPROFIT AND THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE IS LONG TIME MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE CITY HAS A RECYCLING PROGRAM IN WHICH WE CAN ALL BE PROUD. LIKE MOST RECYCLING FACILITIES SINGLE USE ARE NOT RECYCLABLE. THIS ISN'T BECAUSE WE LACK THE INFRASTRUCTURE IT'S BECAUSE PLASTIC PACKAGING IS DESIGNED FOR SINGLE USE. RECYCLE RIGHT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN RECYCLE MORE. AND PLASTIC BAGS ARE NOT PART OF THE RECYCLE RIGHT ORGANIZATION. THEY'RE A LEADING CONTAMINANT. THEY'RE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR WORKERS. THEY GET CAUGHT IN EQUIPMENT AND COST LOT OF MONEY. SINGLE USE PLASTIC CONTAMINATION DECREASES THE VALUE OF OTHER HIGHER DOLLAR RECYCLABLES LIKE CARD BOARD ALUMINUM AND PAPER. WE CANNOT RECYCLE OUR WAY OUT OF THE PLASTIC WASTE PROCESS. THERE'S SIMPLY TOO MUCH PLASTIC AND 9% IS RECYCLED IN THE U.S. A LOT OF THIS IS THERE IS NO MARKETS FOR THIS LOW GRADE PLASTIC. WE MUST REREMEMBER REDUCE IS FIRST. A BAN ON SINGLE USE IS AN IMPORTANT AND EASY WAY FOR THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE TO REDUCE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP ALBUQUERQUE CLEAN AND GREEN ORDINANCE. >> THANK YOU. MR. PRESIDENT, DUE TO ERROR WE SKIPPED OVER A COUPLE NAMES FOR IN-PERSON PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'LL CALL THEIR NAMES. FIRST WE HAVE ERICA FOLLOWED BY ASHLEY. >> HELLO, MY NAME IS ERICA SPEAKING FOR THE CLEAN AND GREEN ORDINANCE. I DO HAVE SCHOOL TOMORROW AS WELL AS A BED TIME. AS SOMEONE THAT GROWN UP THEIR ENTIRE LIFE IN DISTRICT FOUR I'M AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN APPALLED BY THE PREVALENCE OF PLASTIC TRASH IN OUR CITIES. I'M SADDENED AND CONFUSED FOR THE REPEAL WHEN THE LITTER HAS DECREASES WHEN THIS BAG IS IN ACTION. THIS ALLOWS ALBUQUERQUE SHOPPERS TO BE MORE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSCIOUS. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THIS BAN FOR MORE THAN WHAT IT IS IN TODAY'S CONTEXT AND THIS POLICY CAN SET THE TONE FOR FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION THAT PUTS MY FUTURE AND PEERS AND ALL OF ALBUQUERQUE'S YOUNG FIRST. PLEASE DO NOT LET ALBUQUERQUE FALL BEHIND IN THESE TRENDS BY ENACTING RECONGRESSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES. LET US PUT A HALT TO THE BACK AND FORTH REGARDING THIS BAN AND SETTLE ON PROGRESSIVE ACTION THAT KEEP THE INTEREST OF OUR FUTURE IN MIND. PROTECTING OUR EARTH AND ALBUQUERQUE RESIDENTS AND BREAKING HARMFUL HABITS. I ASK YOU NOT TO REPEAL THE ALBUQUERQUE CLEAN AND GREEN RETAIL ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. >> ASHLEY FOLLOWED BY JOAQUIN. >> HELLO MEMBERS OF THE ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE TODAY TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT IN 2018 WE CAME HERE FROM THE COMMUNITY. THE CLEAN AND GREEN ORDINANCE WAS NOT BROUGHT FORTH BY THE MAYOR. IT WAS BROUGHT FORTH BY ALL OF THE PEOPLE SPEAKING TODAY. I AM A LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNCILOR AND I WORKED IN ALBUQUERQUE FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS. I'VE WORKED ON BROADWAY AND DRUG AND ALCOHOL COUNSELING. IN 2018 I WAS CONFRONTED WITH NUMEROUS CLIENTS WHO DID NOT WANT TO LIVE BECAUSE OF THE PENDING CLIMATE CRISIS. I CAME TOGETHER WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE TO RAISE HOPE. WHERE WILL TELL YOU I'M AN EXPERT IN THE COMMUNITY ON BY ABILITY TO RAISE HOPE, RALLY A COMMUNITY AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. LOOK AT EVERYONE THAT HAS COME UP HERE TO SPEAK. AND I JUST URGE YOU TO PAY ATTENTION TO LISTEN TO THEIR VOICES. IF YOU REALLY WANT ALBUQUERQUE TO BE A LOVING, CARING, KIND, CITY. IT STARTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE I WORK EVERY DAY TEACHING NON-VIOLENCE AND TWO WE HAVE TO INCREASE HOPE. WE HAVE TO INCREASE WELLNESS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. AND THIS PLASTIC BAG BANS, NO MATTER HOW SMALL YOU THINK IT IS, DID THAT. IT BROUGHT HOPE TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE CAN DO SOMETHING. I URGE YOU TO KEEP IT AND ALLOW US TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU. >> JOAQUIN. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILORS. I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE CITY ABQ DOWNTOWN BUSINESS AND RESIDENT ASSOCIATION. WE'RE FAIRLY NEW ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING THE GREATER DOWNTOWN AREA. MOST FOLKS DON'T REALIZE THAT IN ADDITION TO THE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND PRIVATE BUSINESSES, THERE'S 1200 RESIDENTS LIVING IN THE BUILDINGS ON CENTRAL SOUTH TO COAL. WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF THE AMENDMENT ORDINANCE 22-9. ANY FUNDING OR SUPPORT FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE IN THE COMMUNITY IS WELCOME. WE WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT A LARGE AREA OF NEED THAT COULD USE THE SUPPORT OF THIS FUNDING IS ALL THE BUSINESS AND RESIDENTS WHOSE PRIVATE PROPERTY IS IMPACTED BY THE ISSUES OF HOMELESSNESS. WE NEED THE CREATION OF THE CLEAN STREETS SIDE WALK PROGRAMS. OFTENTIMES SHOPPING CARTS ARE PLACED IN THE DOORWAYS OF BUILDINGS. RESIDENTS AND CUSTOMERS CANNOT GET IN. IT IS A HUGE IMPACT THAT OCCURS DAILY. CREATING A PROGRAM WOULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO THE BUSINESSES HERE. PERHAPS VIP A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WHERE PRESSURE WASHERS ARE LOANED TO CLEAN THE SIDEWALKS IN FRONT OF THE BUILDINGS. >> MR. PRESIDENT, THAT WILL CONCLUDE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU, MR. MOYA. WE'LL MOVE TO QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD FOR THE ADMINISTRATION. COUNCILORS, QUESTIONS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION? COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I HAD QUESTIONS FOR THE BIO PARK SOCIETY. IS THERE SOMEONE THAT CAN ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, WE'RE HERE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE. THE BIO PARK IS ONE OF THE DIVISIONS. I HAVE THE DIRECTOR AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS HERE. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: MY FIRST QUESTION REVOLVES AROUND THE RECENT REPORT IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS WHICH IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RESPECTED ANIMAL PROTECTION ORGANIZATION. THEY RELEASED THE TOP TEN WORST ZOOS FOR ELEPHANTS IN NORTH AMERICA. WE'RE NUMBER TWO. I WAS SADDENED TO HEAR THAT. BUT I SAW THAT THE BIO PARK QUICKLY PUT TOGETHER A PRESS CONFERENCE AND I WAS EXPECTING SOME SORT OF PLAN FOR IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ELEPHANTS IN OUR ZOO. MAYBE I MISSED SOMETHING. BUT I DID NOT HEAR A PLAN FOR IMPROVING THE LIVES OF ELEPHANTS. CAN SOMEONE SPEAK TO WHAT WE'RE PLANNING TO DO TO IMPROVE OUR SITUATION FOR THE ELEPHANTS WHO LIVE IN THE ZOO? >> I'D LIKE TO BRING UP BOB LEE. HE IS AN ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR. HE'S ALSO AN EXPERT AND HAS MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH ELEPHANTS AND HE'S VERY RESPECTED AMONG THE AVA COMMUNITY. THEY'RE THE ACCREDITING BODY OF THE BIO PARK. I'M GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO BOB. >> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SANCHEZ. COUNCILOR BENTON, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. WE WORK EVERY DAY TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE ELEPHANTS. WE HAVE A DEDICATED STAFF, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FOLKS THAT LIVE AND WORK RIGHT HERE THAT GET UP EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE THOSE ANIMALS HAVE A GREAT LIFE. ANYBODY THAT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE RISY HAS BEEN BORN AND THEY TALK ABOUT WHEN I WAS KID AND SAW ROSY AND I SEE HER WITH MY GRANDKIDS AND THEY CELEBRATE THE SUCCESSES AND MOURN THE LOSSES. EACH DAY, WE DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM. WE'VE DONE SEVERAL EXPANSIONS SINCE 1992. THE LAST ONE WAS A FEW YEARS AGO SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO ALLOW ELEPHANTS TO GIVE BIRTH IN A HEARD. WE'RE DEDICATED TO THE WELFARE AND WORK TO IMPROVE THEIR CARE EVERY SINGLE DAY. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THERE ARE NO PLANS TO IMPROVE THE ELEPHANT ENCLOSURES, MORE ENRICHMENT OR ANYTHING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE ELEPHANTS RIGHT THERE? >> THAT'S WHAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO EVERY DAY. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: WHAT ARE THE PLANS? >> THE ENRICHMENT WE DO, WE WANT TO GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE ON THEIR OWN. GRAZE FOR 14 HOURS A DAY. THE HANGING FEEDERS YOU SEE IN THERE THAT THE STAFF GOES IN AND REFRESHES. THAT'S ALL PART OF THAT ENRICHMENT PROGRAM. SOCIAL ENRICHMENT IS HUGE. HAVING A MALE ELEPHANT COME IN AND OUT OF THE HERD. THAT'S OUR DEDICATION. THAT'S WHAT WE DO EACH AND EVERY DAY. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: HOW MUCH SPACE DO THE ELEPHANTS HAVE? NOT THE ENCLOSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE STANDING TO GAWK AT THEM. HOW MUCH SPACE DO THE ANIMALS HAVE? >> FIVE ACRES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: AND ASIAN ELEPHANTS ROAM FOR 20 MILES A DAY? >> THERE'S A LOT OF SCIENCE BEHIND THAT. ASIAN ELEPHANTS DIFFER THAN AFRICAN ELEPHANTS. THEY GO THROUGH PERIODS OF DROUGHT WHERE THEY WALK FOR MILES A DAY. ASIAN LIVE IN JUNGLES SO THEY DON'T WALK FAR EACH DAY. WE CAN GO INTO THE RESEARCH AND PULL THAT OUT. 20 MILES A DAY IS OVERESTIMATION. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: ARE YOU CLAIMING FIVE MILES IS A DAY IS INVALID. >> THERE'S POCKETS WHERE THEY HAVE TO STICK TO. THEY'RE NOT GOING ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE. IT VARIES BY COUNTRY AND HERD. I'D HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME BRAKING IT DOWN. >> IT SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE LARGER FOR OUR ELEPHANTS. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: HOW MANY BABY ELEPHANTS HAVE DIED IN THE LAST DECADE? >> THREE. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: IS THAT EVERY BABY ELEPHANT THAT'S BEEN BORN IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE? >> ROSY WAS BORN IN 1991. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THAT WAS NOT A DECADE AGO. EVERY BABY THAT'S BEEN BORN TO ROSY HAS DIED? >> YES, MA'AM. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THAT IS INCREDIBLY SAD. IT SAYS A LOT THAT ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE IT TALKS TO MAKE SURE THERE'S A HERD ENVIRONMENT AND THERE'S MULTIGENERATIONS. IN FACT, THERE ARE NO BABIES LEFT, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THE BABIES PASSED A FEW MONTHS AGO. UP UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AGO YOU HAD A GRANDMOTHER, MOTHER, BIG SISTER. YOU HAD A MULTIGENERATIONALHY HERD. >> NOW WE HAVE A GRANDMOTHER GRIEVING THE LOSS OF TWO CHILDREN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT'S CLOSE TO A BUSY HIGHWAY AND LOUD. WE KNOW ELEPHANTS ARE SENSITIVE ANIMALS AND LOUD NOISES CAN BE HARD ON THEM. WHAT IS DONE TO MINIMIZE THE STRESS? >> WHEN YOU SAY HIGHWAY, ARE YOU TALKING TINGLY DRIVE? >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC AROUND THERE AND YOU'RE NOT FAR FROM THE INTERSTATE. WHAT IS DONE TO MINIMIZE THE LOUD NOISES THAT THE ELEPHANTS ARE EXPERIENCING EVERY DAY? >> WE GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOW THEY SPEND THEIR DAY. THEY HAVE ACCESS INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THEY HAVE HABITATS THEY CAN GO THROUGH. WE WANT THEM TO MAKE THE DECISION ON HOW THEY SPEND THE DAY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE. IF THEY WANT TO MOVE AWAY, THEY CAN. GENERALLY THEY GET USED TO THINGS AND THEY'RE NOT SURPRISED BY THEM. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THE INSPECTOR FROM THE IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS NOTED IN THE REPORT THERE WAS A LOT OF BEHAVIOR FROM THE ELEPHANTS. WHICH MEANS BOARDM OR STRESS. AGAIN, I'M ASKING ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO IMPROVE THE MENTAL WELL-BEING OF THESE ELEPHANTS THAT WE'RE HOLDING IN CAPTIVITY IN OUR ZOO? >> THE BEHAVIOR DEVELOPS FOR A LOT OF REASONS. ONCE A HUMAN OR DOG HAS A BEHAVIOR STOPPING OR ELIMINATING THAT IS DIFFICULT. THEY'LL DO IT FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS. WHETHER THEY'RE MAKING A DECISION, WHETHER THEY'RE EXCITED OR WORDIED ABOUT SOMETHING. THAT BEHAVIOR WILL HAPPEN. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PERSON THAT WAS SAW THAT SAW. I'D BE HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT IT. IF THERE'S AN ELEPHANT WITH THAT BEHAVIOR IT'S NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO ELIMINATE. OUR GOAL IS TO NEVER HAVE IT DEVELOP. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS WHY IT CAN HAPPEN. WE DON'T WANT IT TO START. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE ELEPHANTS THAT DO HAVE IT HAVE A GREAT LIFE. WE'RE NOT GOING TO TURN IT AWAY AT THE DOOR BECAUSE THEY HAVE THAT BEHAVIOR. YOU -- WE GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND MOVE AWAY FROM THOSE BEHAVIORS. IF THEY DEVELOP THEM, IT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: I AGREE. I TRY REALLY HARD TO HAVE THE ANIMALS WHO LIVE WITH ME NOT DEVELOP THOSE BEHAVIORS. IT SEEMS WE DO HAVE THEM IN THE ZOO. THAT'S A SHAME. WHAT DOES THE BREEDING PROGRAM YOU'RE DOING FOR THE ASIAN ELEPHANTS ENTAIL? WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO FORCE THEM TO HAVE ANOTHER BABY? >> A COUPLE THINGS. I'M SORRY WITH THE STEREOTYPIC BEHAVIOR, I'M SORRY, WHAT YOURS STATEMENT AT THE END? >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: I WAS ASKING WHAT THE BREEDING PROGRAM ENTAILS AT THE ALBUQUERQUE ZOO. >> WE'RE COMMITTED TO THE SURVIVAL OF ASIAN ELEPHANTS. THAT'S FOR SURE. ELEPHANTS HAVE EVOLVED TO RAISE YOUNG TOGETHER. IT'S A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF WELFARE AND WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: HOW LONG BEFORE THE MOTHER THAT JUST LOST HER TWO BABIES WILL SHE BE BREEDING AGAIN? >> SHE HAS OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE MALE ALREADY. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: OKAY. I'LL SAY THAT LAST YEAR IN AN INTERVIEW THIS WAS A DIRECT QUOTE FROM THE ZOO, THE ELEPHANT -- THIS WAS IN REFERENCE TO THE FACT THAT THE ZOO HAD MORE MONEY COMING IN. AND THE QUOTE WAS, THE ELEPHANT EXHIBIT WILL STAY THE SAME, IT WON'T GET ANY EXTRA EXHIBIT SPACE BUT THE PUBLIC WILL GET A MUCH BETTER VIEW OF THEM. I WOULD ASK WE HAVE SOME THOUGHT PROCESS INTO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THE ANIMALS WE'RE KEEPING THERE. NOT JUST IMPROVING THE PUBLIC'S VIEW OF THEM. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. >> ABSOLUTELY, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEDICATED TO EVERY DAY. JUST ONE CLARIFICATION, I THINK YOU'RE TALKING ROSY NOT ROXY. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE. UNLESS THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE POLICE CHIEF. I GUESS HE'S MIA? I HAVE A QUESTION WHY THE POLICE CHIEF ISN'T ATTENDING COUNCIL MEETINGS WHEN THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IS THE CRIME PROBLEM AND ALSO WITH THE BIGGEST BUDGET ON THE AGENDA. >> I'M DAVID FRANKLIN. CHIEF OF STAFF. IN REFERENCE TO YOUR QUESTION, COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. CHIEF MEDICAL IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE. HE'S OUT WORKING AND DOING WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: ISN'T THIS PART OF HIS JOB? >> THAT'S A QUESTION YOU NEED TO ASK HIM. IF THERE'S OTHER QUESTIONS FOR APD WE'LL ANSWER THAT SPECIFICALLY TO THE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: I'LL ASK YOU THE QUESTION. I HAVE A QUESTION IN REFERENCE TO 911. IT'S MY FEELING THAT THE 911 CALLS ARE BEING DIMINISHED. BASED ON THAT, I ACTUALLY -- THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I CALL 911 AND THE CALL IS DEMINGSED AND MADE A NON-CALL. ON SATURDAY THE 26th AT 4:08 I WAS IN MY OFFICE ON CENTRAL AVENUE AND WATCHED A DRUG DEALER POINT AND PISTOL WHIP ANOTHER SUBJECT. THE OFFICER -- THE OFFENDER TOALITY -- TOLD THE VICTIM IF YOU DO IT AGAIN I'M GOING TO KILL YOU. AT THAT POINT, I DIALLED 911 AND WHEN I DIALLED 911 THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS I WAS ASKED IF THE VICTIM WAS STILL THERE, WHICH HAS TO BE A TRAINED RESPONSE. I KNOW THAT THE 911 OPERATORS ARE TRAINED TO DO THINGS THE WAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO THEM. ON THIS DATE, SHE ASKED WHERE THE VICTIM WAS. I SAID THERE'S AN INDIVIDUAL ON THE STREET WHO HAS A GUN AND YOU NEED TO COME OUT HERE AND SEND SOMEBODY IMMEDIATELY. THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE, IT'S ON TAPE. THE TAPE IS AVAILABLE FOR ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO HEAR IT. AS THE TAPE GOES ON, I ACTUALLY CONTINUE TO ASK FOR DISPATCH AND GAVE A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION SINCE I'M A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER I'M ABLE TO DO THAT. AND ASKED WHY OFFICERS ARE NOT COMING. AND TO THAT, SHE RESPONDS, DO YOU WANT AN OFFICER TO COME SEE YOU? I SAID, SURE. BUT YOU NEED TO COME OVER HERE AND TAKE THE GUN OFF THE STREET. I TOLD HER TO COME GET THE GUN OFF THE STREET SEVERAL TIMES. I ASKED IF OFFICERS ARE BEING DISPATCHED. TO WHICH SHE DIDN'T RESPOND. I ASKED NUMEROUS TIMES ARE OFFICERS BEING DISPATCHED. AT THAT POINT SHE FINALLY HUNG OCCUPY UP ON ME. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED TO ME. EVERY SINGLE PERSON I'VE TALKED TO ABOUT THIS SITUATION PROBABLY ABOUT 12 OR 15 IN THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF, EVERYBODY HAS A STORY ABOUT HOW THEIR CALL IS DIMINISHED. WHEN I WAS ON THE STREET THERE WAS TEN INDIVIDUALS PER SQUAD THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SHIFT. I KNOW WE'RE DOWN OFFICERS. SOMETHING IS TAKING PLACE, AND THE INDIVIDUALS, THE CITIZENS OF ALBUQUERQUE DO NOT FEEL THEY HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO DIAL 911. THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO FIX THAT SITUATION? >> COUNCILOR SANCHEZ, THAT'S A LOT TO UNPACK. WHAT I WOULD ASK FROM THE COUNCIL, QUESTIONS LIKE THAT, IF YOU CAN GIVE US ADVANCE NOTICE ON A QUESTION. IT COULD BRING THE APPROPRIATE DEPUTY CHIEF. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YOU HAVE THE ADVANCE NOTICE. I ACTUALLY TALKED TO GREIGO AND ERICA WILSON THAT SPOKE TO ME. THEY RELEASED THE TAPE. THAT SHOULD BE TALKED THROUGH UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND IN REFERENCE TO WHEN IT AFFECTS THE CITY COUNCIL OR ANYONE. MY ISSUE HERE IS ARE THERE CITIZENS OF ALBUQUERQUE THAT ARE NOT GETTING THE CORRECT POLICE RESPONSE BECAUSE THE CALLS ARE BEING DIMINISHED? AND THAT WAS A SIMPLE TRAINED RESPONSE. I BELIEVE THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED BECAUSE THE CITIZENS OF ALBUQUERQUE NEED TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF PEAG -- BEING ABLE TO DIAL 911. I WAS ASKED IF I WANT TO SPEAK TO OFFICERS, AND AN OFFICER STILL HASN'T COME TO TALK TO ME. >>COUN. BENTON: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION? COUNCILOR LEWIS AND COUNCILOR GROUT. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU. SIR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. IF THE CHIEF HAD PERSONAL REASONS FOR THOUGHT BEING HERE TONIGHT, NO DISRESPECT. AND HOPE -- NO DISRESPECT TO HIM. IF IT'S A CHOICE, WE ONLY MEET EVERY OTHER WEEK OR SO. AND REGARDING THIS AGENDA TONIGHT I WOULD EXPECT HE WOULD WANT TO BE HERE AND WANT TO FOLLOW UPPEN SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE WOULD HAVE AND GIVE INPUT TO DEALING WITH SOME PRETTY IMPORTANT BILLS TONIGHT THAT I THINK HAVE TO DO WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT. IT SOUNDS LIKE HE SENT YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON A QUESTION THAT COUNCILOR SANCHEZ HAD A FEW WEEKS AGO REGARDING TIMECARDS. I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT IT FROM A STANDPOINT OF PERSONNEL. FROM A STANDPOINT OF WHAT WE DO. THAT IS A BUDGET THAT WE GIVE YOU EVERY YEAR. AND MAYBE THIS IS A QUESTION FOR MR. RAEL AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO ADDRESS THIS, I THINK THE CONCERN OF THE COUNCIL IS WE WANT TO HAVE A CONFIDENCE THAT THERE'S A LEVEL OF COMPETENCE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT WHEN IT COMES TO THE TIMECARD THAT SOMEBODY IS NOT GOING TO WALK OUT THE DOOR IN THE DEPARTMENT WHO MAKES A $60,000 SLRY AND WALK OUT WITH $300,000. THAT'S HAPPENED TWICE. WE HAD AN INVESTIGATION THE FIRST TIME AND THAT HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER WE WERE ASSURED THAT STEPS WERE TAKEN AND ACCOUNTABILITY WAS IN PLACE. IF THIS QUESTION RESULTS IN A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF THIS WEEK AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE MOST PRODUCTIVE WAY TO DEAL THESE THINGS. WHAT I WANT TO KNOW, HOW CAN THIS COUNCIL THAT GIVES YOU MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR KNOW THERE'S COMPETENCES IN THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF YOUR DEPARTMENT THAT TIMECARDS AND THERE'S NOT MISUSE AND ABUSE OF TIMECARDS TO THE TUNE OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. IF MR. RAEL WANTS TO ANSWER THIS, WHAT ARE WE ENSURING THIS COUNCIL THAT'S GIVING YOU MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THOSE DOLLARS ARE BEING HELD IN A COMPETENT WAY? >> SIR, ONE OF THE THINGS, I'M NEW TO THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I RETIRED FROM THE STATE POLICE IN TEXAS. I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE NOVEMBER. I INITIATED FOR THE CITY PAYROLL TO CREATE SPECIALIZED REPORTS THAT COME FROM MY OFFICE. THERE'S THINGS WE'RE DOING. IT'S NOT -- I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF TIME FRAUD. WE ARE LOOKING INTO THAT. THERE'S A PROCESS. I'VE IMPLEMENTED THAT. AND I'LL DEFER TO THE CITY FOR OTHERS. IT IS BEING LOOKED INTO. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR LEWIS, COUNCILOR SANCHEZ, JUST FOR THE RECORD, I THINK COUNCILOR SANCHEZ MAY HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER THAT THE CHIEF SENT TO HIM ON MARCH 26th OR 25th. AT LEAST EXPLAINING THE REPORT THAT WAS ON KRQE RELATED TO THE ISSUE AT HAND. AND DESCRIBE WHAT THE CITY WAS DOING AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE LEVEL AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE. LET ME JUST SAY THIS. THERE IS A GENUINE UNDERSTANDING OF THIS ISSUE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WORKING THROUGH IT WITH THE COMMANDERS TO ENSURE THIS DOES NOT OCCUR AGAIN. THAT WE'RE MINDING THE STORE. TO BOTH CONCERNS, I'D ME HAPPY TO HAVE THE CHIEF VISIT WITH YOU AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION ON A ONE-ON-ONE BASIS. IF IT PLEASES THE COUNCIL AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING WE'LL HAVE THE CHIEF AVAILABLE SO YOU CAN ASK THE QUESTIONS. AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, IF WE GET THE QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE IT'S BETTER TO HAVE MORE THOROUGH INFORMATION SUCH AS A COPY OF THE 911 REPORT WHO WAS ASKED TO COME VISIT. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE TRANSPARENT AND PROVIDE INFORMATION. I REALIZE SOME OF THESE ISSUES COME UP AT THE LAST MINUTE. I ALSO LIKE ANYONE ELSE IN PUBLIC SERVICE A LOT OF TIMES THE CHIEF IS IN OTHER MEETINGS AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE HAVING COUNCIL MEETINGS SOMETIMES IT'S NOT AN OPPORTUNE TIME FOR HIM TO BE HERE. I'M HAPPY TO HAVE HIM AVAILABLE TO TALK TO YOU ALL. >>COUN. LEWIS: IS IT THE POSITION OF THE ADMINISTRATION THIS COMMAND STAFF, I THINK THE WORDS WERE TOO BUSY, TO REVIEW TIMECARDS. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR LEWIS, NO, I THINK IT'S THE POSITION OF THE ADMINISTRATION WE HAVE A LOT OF PRIORITIES BEFORE US. OBVIOUSLY, THIS ISSUE OF CRIME IN THE COMMUNITY IS A CHALLENGING ISSUE. AND ONE THAT DOES TAKE THE FULL ATTENTION OF THE COMMAND STAFF. IT'S IMPORTANT TO REALIZE AND RECOGNIZE THAT THE COMMAND STAFF HAVE ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THEM APPROPRIATELY TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR TIME AND ENSURING THAT THESE ISSUES LIKE THIS ARE ADDRESSED. WE'LL CERTAINLY MAKE SURE THAT WE FOCUS ON THAT AND ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THE CHIEF HOW HE MANAGES THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AT HIS DEPARTMENT. >>COUN. BENTON: COUNCILOR GROUT. >>COUN. GROUT: MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU. I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS TOO. ONE OF THEM WITH TIMECARDS. WHO IS IN CHARGE OF REVIEWING THOSE? >> IF I MAY, MR. PRESIDENT. BACK TO YOU, COUNCILOR LEWIS, I THINK THAT COMMENT YOU MADE AND WAS REPEATED WAS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT. I THINK WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE CHIEF'S STAFF LOOKING AT TIMECARDS WAS THE CHIEF'S STAFF NORMALLY DOESN'T LOOK AT TIMECARDS. THIS IS A ONE OFF ISSUE. I TAKE EXCEPTION AND SAY IT'S NOT ABOUT THE COMMAND STAFF THAT DOESN'T WANT TO LOOK AT TIMECARDS. I THINK THAT'S TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT IN THE PREVIOUS PAPER. SECOND OF ALL, AT THE COMMANDER AND ABOVE RANK, THERE ARE NO TIMECARDS. IF I'M CHIEF OF STAFF AND I HAVE A COMMANDER UNDER ME, THEY WON'T TECHNICALLY HAVE AN OVERTIME BECAUSE THEY'RE EXEMPT. EVERYBODY HAS CHAIN OF COMMAND THAT REVIEWS THOSE AND THEY'RE REVIEWED EVERY DAY. NOT EVERY DAY, EVERY PAY PERIOD. >>COUN. GROUT: IS THERE ANYBODY ON THE FIFTH FLOOR REVIEWING TIMECARDS? >> WE ASK THE CITY CENTRAL PAYROLL TO CREATE A REPORT AND THAT'S COMING TO ME AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND WE'RE LOOKING AT MULTIPLE DIFFERENT AVENUES TO DETECT FRAUD. ONE OF THE MY PREVIOUS JOBS WAS IN THE AUDIT AND INSPECTION SERVICE WITHIN THE STATE POLICE. WE ARE BRINGING THAT STYLE MODEL TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND WE'VE HAD OUR FIRST RUN OF THAT FOR BEGINNING OF THE CALENDAR IN JANUARY. >>COUN. GROUT: VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CAMERAS THE OFFICERS WEAR. WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR THE BODY CAMERAS? WHEN DO THEY TURN THEM ON? DO THEY TURN THEM OFF, AND WHAT DO THEY DO AT THE END OF THE SHIFT? >> I'LL DEFER. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. >> CAN YOU HEAR? CAN I BE HEARD? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, AND COUNCILOR GROUT, TALKING ABOUT OUR OBRD, WHEN DO WE RECORD. SIMPLY STATED, ANY TIME THERE'S GOING TO BE A LAW ENFORCEMENT ENCOUNTER THERE'S GOING TO BE A RECORDING. ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT ENCOUNTER CAN BE A CONTACT THAT WE'RE COMING INTO CONTACT WITH SOMEBODY THAT WE ARE TALKING TO ABOUT CRIME OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. ANY TIME WE'RE GOING TO BEING ANY INTERVIEWS WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUR CAMERA. WE GET A CALL FOR SERVICE. WHETHER THAT BE A SHOPLIFTING OR BURGLARY, OFFICERS ARESTRUCTED TO TURNING ON THE CAMERA PRIOR TO COMING TO THE SCENE. ANY TIME THEY BELIEVE THERE'S COMPLAINT OR USE OF FORCE OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE THEIR CAMERA IS TO BE TURNED ON. AND IT'S TO REMAIN ON UNTIL THE END OF CONTACT WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL. NOW, ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT ENCOUNTER. THAT'S EXEMPT OF LET'S SAY THERE'S A COMMUNITY MEETING. I'M HERE AND MY CAMERA IS IN BUFFER MODE. IT'S NOT RECORDING. BUT IF SOMEONE WAS TO POP THROUGH THAT DOOR AND START TO CREATE AN INCIDENT, I'M GOING TO TURN ON MY CAMERA AT THAT TIME. THOSE SITUATIONS THEY WOULDN'T BE RUNNING THEIR CAMERA. AT THE END OF THE SHIFT, OR AT THE END OF THE SHIFT AT THE LATEST, THEY HAVE TO UPLOAD THAT DATA TO OUR SYSTEM. WHICH THEY CANNOT TAMPER WITH OR ERASE OR ANYTHING WITH THAT CAMERA FOOTAGE THAT'S STORED WITHIN THE CAMERA. THEY CAN DO THAT ONE OF TWO WAYS. WE HAVE DOCKING STATIONS AT EVERY SUBSTATION WHERE THOSE OFFICERS CAN DOCK THEIR CAMERA. EACH OFFICER IS EQUIPPED WITH TWO CAMERAS SO THEY CAN DOCK ONE AND HAVE THE OTHERS AT ALL TIMES. THE OTHER OPTION IS EVERY OFFICER HAS BEEN PROVIDED A CORD. THEY CAN CONNECT TO THE COMPUTER WHERE THEY CAN UPLOAD THE FOOTAGE FROM THAT SHIFT THAT DAY. ANY INCIDENT WHERE THERE'S AN ARREST MADE OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE, WE'RE GOING TO UPLOAD THOSE RIGHT AWAY. BEFORE WE COME OFF THAT CALL FOR SERVICE. THOSE OFFICERS WILL UPLOAD VIDEO. >>COUN. GROUT: WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES IF THEY DON'T FOLLOW THE RULES? >> THAT'S ACTUALLY TWO OF THE THINGS WE LOOK AT HERE. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DISCIPLINE, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT VIDEO BY THE END OF THE SHIFT THEY UPLOADED. THAT'S GOING TO COME WITH A SANCTION SIX ON OUR DISCIPLINE MATRIX. A SANCTION SIX IS CONSIDERED A WRITTEN REPRIMAND. WITH THAT, UNDER OUR NEW DISCIPLINE MATRIX, IF THERE'S MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES, THAT COULD ACTUALLY BE CONSIDERED A NONDISCIPLINARY CORRECTIVE ACTION. LET'S SAY AN OFFICER WHO NEVER HAS BEEN DISCIPLINED JUST COMES OFF FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT AND THEY DO NOT UPLOAD THE CAMERA OR THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER AND THEY STARTED THE UPLOAD AND IT WAS IN EFFECTIVE, THERE'S SOME REASON BEHIND THERE'S AN ISSUE, SURE IT CAN BE MITIGATED TO NONDISCIPLINARY CORRECTIVE ACTION AT WHICH POINT THEIR SUPERVISOR CAN GO OVER THE POLICY OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE TO GET THE OFFICER ON TRACK. IT COULD ALSO BE MITIGATED DOWN TO A VERBAL REPRIMAND. THAT WAY THEY UNDERSTAND THEIR CORRECTIVE ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AND WE EXPECT THEM TO HAVE A BETTER PERFORMANCE AT THAT POINT. THAT'S A PERFORM ISSUE. HOWEVER WE LOOK AT ALSO MISCONDUCT. IF THERE'S A MANDATORY RECORDING INCIDENT, SUCH AS USE OF FORCE OR LET'S SAY THEY ARREST SOMEBODY FOR BURGLARLY, AND THEY DON'T RECORD, THAT'S GOING TO BE A MISCONDUCT ISSUE. THAT'S ALSO GOING TO CARRY SANCTION SIX. WHICH IS A WRITTEN REPRIMAND. AGAIN, IT BE MITIGATED. HOWEVER, WHEN THEY ACTUALLY COMMIT SEVERAL OF THESE TYPES OF MISCONDUCT OR PERFORMANCE MEASURES WITHIN A YEAR'S TIME OF ROLLING CALENDAR TIME IT'S GOING TO BE ACTUALLY PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE. IT MAY START WITH WRITTEN REPRIMAND A SECOND OFFENSE WOULD BE CONSIDERED EIGHT-HOUR SUSPENSION. >>COUN. GROUT: IS THAT SUSPENSION WITH OR WITHOUT PAY? >> WITHOUT PAY. >>COUN. GROUT: CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IF THERE'S A SHOOTING AND THOSE OFFICERS ARE FORCED TO BE SUSPENDED, ARE THEY SUSPENDED WITH PAY OR WITHOUT PAY? >> I THINK THAT WOULD BE TWO DIFFERENT -- A SHOOTING INCIDENT WITH AN OFFICER INVOLVED. IT'S A THREE-DAY ADMINISTRATIVE PAID. THOSE OFFICERS IF THEIR FIREARM IS TAKEN FROM THEM THEY'RE REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH THE RANGE AND EVERYTHING ELSE BEFORE RETURNING AND GET A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVAL TO MAKE SURE OFFICERS ARE HEALTHY AND PREPARED TO TAKE CALL FOR SERVICE. >>COUN. GROUT: VERY GOOD. I APPRECIATE THAT. IT'S INTERESTING TO ME IF THERE'S OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING, IT'S SUSPENSION WITH PAY. BUT IF THEY FAIL TO UP LOAD IT, IT'S WITHOUT PAY. >> IF THERE'S NO MISCONDUCT, THAT'S THE STANDARD ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE WELL BEFORE RETURNING TO THE FIELD. >> MA'AM, ONE THING IS THEY'RE NOT SUSPENDED WITH PAY ON THAT THREE DAYS. IT'S GOING TO BE LEAVE. LEAVE WITH PAY TO GET EVERYTHING DONE. I KNOW YOUR QUESTION WAS IF THEY HAD A MISCONDUCT AND INVOLVED WITH AN OFFICER-INVAUFRBLED SHOOTING AT THE SAME TIME THEY HAVE THREE DAYS. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. >>COUN. BENTON: THANKS. NEXT IS COUNCILOR DAVIS AND WE HAVE ONE SPECIAL PUBLIC COMMENTER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IN. >>COUN. DAVIS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR ACCOMMODATING THE LAND COMMISSIONER. I'LL MAKE THIS QUICK. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I APPRECIATE THE QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES. I WANT TO CALL OUT WHEN WE DO SOMETHING GOOD IN ADDITION TO ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES WE ASK QUESTIONS. I WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THE COMMANDER AND LIEUTENANT AT SOUTHEAST. LAST FRIDAY SOME OF THE FOLKS IN THE CROWD WERE CHT VOLUNTEERS BECAUSE COMMANDER PARTLET DECIDES TO DO INITIATIVES AT CENTRAL AND WYOMING. THAT'S ONE OF THE HOT SPOTS. AND AT 7:30 EVEN THOUGH I THOUGHT NOBODY ELSE WOULD SHOW UP, MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE SHOWED UP LOOKING RAGGED IN THE MORNING TO PICK UP TRASH AND INTRODUCE OUR COMMUNITIES TO ACS AND WALK FROM CENTRAL AND WYOMING AND CLEANED UP ALL OF CENTRAL AVENUE TO PENNSYLVANIA BACK INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SPENT A COUPLE HOURS TO TAKE THE TRUCKS OF TRASH AND POLICE OFFICERS WERE ABLE TO HAND OUT MEALS AND HAVE REAL GOOD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THINGS THEY NEED. THIS TOTALLY CAME UP BECAUSE OFFICERS WHO WORKED THAT BEAT IN OUR PROBLEM RESPONSE TEAMS KNEW THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WELL ENOUGH AND DECIDED TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN ARRESTING OUR WAY OUT OF HOMELESSNESS IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. I WATCHED IT FOR A COUPLE HOURS. IT WAS DYNAMIC. ACS TOOK FOLKS TO SERVICES. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. APD IS DOING A BETTER JOB AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH STAFFING CHALLENGES. WE OUGHT TO DO A GOOD JOB OF SAYING THANK YOU. THERE'S GOOD VIDEOS TO LOOK AT THIS NEW DYNAMIC OF APD AND ACS WORKING. THERE'S GREAT OBD VIDEOS THAT ARE AVAILABLE. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THAT'S IMPORTANT. AS WE GO INTO BUDGET AND APD IS LOOKING AT STAFFING, EVERY TIME WE GET A NEW CLASS AND SOMEBODY RETIRES, IT'S IMPORTANT AND COUNCILOR PEÑA IS SUCH A GREAT CHAMPION OF THE PRT TEAMS AND KEEP THEM AS A PRIORITY. SOMETIMES REPORTS HAVE TO WAIT WHEN WE'RE DOING GOOD WORK. THANK YOU TO THE APD OFFICERS WHO TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THEIR PROBLEMS. PASS THAT ALONG. >> WILL DO. COUNCILOR BENTON, MAY I MAKE ONE FINAL COMMENT? >>COUN. BENTON: PLEASE. >> COUNCILOR SANCHEZ, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANKS FOR THE QUESTIONS. I WOULD LOVE TO GET SPECIFICS AHEAD OF TIME AND MAKE SURE THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE HERE IN THE FUTURE. SORRY FOR THAT. AND TO THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE OFFICERS NEED YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW. THEY NEED THAT SUPPORT. SO FAR, TO DATE, FROM JANUARY 1 ACROSS THE NATION, 101 POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN SHOT IN THE LINE OF DUTY. WHEN I INTERVIEWED HERE IN AUGUST WAS THE DAY THE FOUR OFFICERS WERE SHOT AND THAT'S HOW MY TWO-DAY INTERVIEW FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF POSITION HAPPENED. WE SAW IN THE FOOTHILLS TWO MORE. IN MY TIME IN ALBUQUERQUE, SIX MORE SHOT. WE DEPEND ON YOU FOR THE APPROPRIATE FUNDING AND YOU HAVE COME THROUGH AMAZINGLY AND FROM EVERYBODY ON THE FIFTH FLOOR THANK YOU. AND COUNCILOR SANCHEZ, THANK YOU FOR THE SERVICE. YOU KNOW HOW HARD THAT JOB IS. I'LL TRY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER. >>COUN. BENTON: WE'LL MOVE TO -- >>COUN. SANCHEZ: I JUST WANT TO SAY ONE MORE COMMENT. LOOKING AT THIS WHOLE SITUATION. I KNOW THE OFFICERS WORK VERY, VERY HARD. I KNOW THEY DO. WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING THE SUPPORT THEY NEED. AND THE SUPPORT THEY NEED IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN GO TO THE ADMINISTRATION, THEY FEEL THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS THEIR BACK AND THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING THAT I HEAR MORE AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT IS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT HAVE OUR BACK. WHAT I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS WHOLE THING AND MAKE SURE WE START BEEFING UP OUR NUMBERS IS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO HAVE THE OFFICER'S BACK. VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE ADMINISTRATION TALK TO THE OFFICERS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT ARE LEAVING, EVEN THE ONES THAT YOU'RE RETAINING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU AS AN ADMINISTRATION ARE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS TO PRESERVE THEIR CAREERS. I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT THE OFFICERS NEED FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION. ONCE WE HAVE THAT TRUST BACK, THEN I BELIEVE THE OFFICER RANKS WILL GROW AND I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT WE WILL HAVE A SAFER CITY. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU, CHIEF. MR. MOYA, CAN WE GET STATE LAND COMMISSIONER GARCIA RICHARD WANTED TO SPEAK. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES EARLIER. I HAVE MY 90 SECONDS ON THE CLOCK. I WANTED TO JOIN YOU ALL TODAY. I'M STATE LAND COMMISSIONER OVERSEEING 13 MILLION ACRES OF STATE TRUST LAND. I'M SPEAKING ON TWO ITEMS THAT YOU WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON TOWARD THE END OF THE AGENDA. THAT'S 22-1 AND 22-9. WHICH ARE PROPOSALS TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN COME TO FRUITION SHOULD YOU INCREASE THAT FUNDING. YOU DO HAVE THE GREATER ALBUQUERQUE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT CAN ACCEPT THOSE FEDERAL HOME FUNDS AND LEVERAGE THEM FOR PROJECTS SUCH AS THE RIBBON CUT WE DID LAST WEEK WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF COUNCILOR GROUT. IT'S IN HER DISTRICT. COUNCILOR DAVIS, I'M GLAD YOU TALKED ABOUT CENTRAL AND WYOMING, THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT HAPPENED AT CENTRAL AND EUBANK. WE'RE COMMITTED TO PARTNER WITH FOLKS AND STAND READY TO PARTNER WITH YOU ON THESE PROJECTS IN THE STATE LAND ON THE EAST CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF INCREASED GREATER FUNDING TO SHOW YOU WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH THAT FUNDING AND FINALLY TO INVITE YOU OUT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A TOUR OF THE FACILITY WE HAVE THE FORMER RESIDENT OF A SHELTER WHO NOW DRIVES THE BUS FOR THAT SHELTER AND IS GOING TO MOVE INTO THE SENIOR HOUSING FACILITY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ACCOMMODATING ME AND GETTING ME IN THERE. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A DINNER BREAK. THE COUNCIL WILL RETURN IN APPROXIMATELY A HALF HOUR. >>COUN. BENTON: WE'LL MOVE TO APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL. VICE-PRESIDENT. >>COUN. LEWIS: AND MOVE APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 21st JOURNAL. >>COUN. BENTON: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM COUNCILOR BASSAN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY YES. OPPOSED? THAT PASSES. MOVE TO COMMUNICATION AND INTRODUCTIONS. ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE LETTER OF INTRODUCTION? I HAVE ONE. I MOVE THAT THE RULES WE SUSPENDED FOR PLACES EC52 ON AGENDA. IT'S APPROVAL OF THE SIX SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT TO ADD FUNDS TO COUNCIL LEGAL SERVICES BETWEEN THE ATLER LAW FIRM AND THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. THIS REQUIRES TWO-THIRDS VOTE. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM COUNCILOR DAVIS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED? THAT PASSES. COUNCILOR LEWIS. >>COUN. LEWIS: I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE LETTER OF INTRODUCTION. >>COUN. BENTON: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM COUNCILOR BASSAN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE APPROVAL OF THE LETTER OF INTRODUCTION RAISE YOUR HAND. SAY YES. YES. WE HAVE NO COMMITTEE REPORTS TONIGHT. THAT TAKES US TO DEFERRALS AND WITHDRAWALS. COUNCILORS, ANY DEFERRALS OR WITHDRAWALS. I HAVE ONE. THIS IS R-155 NUISANCE SUBTANDERED DWELLING AT 1804 HIGH STREET. I MOVE A DEFERRAL. SECOND FROM COUNCILOR BASSAN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES. OPPOSED? THAT PASSES. ANY OTHER'S, COUNCILORS? IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. ANY CHANGES TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. FOR THE INDIVIDUALS ON TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA BEING APPOINTED TO SERVE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. COUNCILOR LEWIS. >>COUN. LEWIS: MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. SECOND FROM COUNCILOR BASSAN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES. YES. OPPOSED? THAT PASSES. WE'LL GO TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. COUNCILOR DAVIS. >>COUN. DAVIS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THERE'S A FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS APRIL 11 AT 5 P.M. IN THESE CHAMBERS. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING ON TUESDAY, APRIL 12th AT 5 P.M. IN THE CHAMBERS HERE. >>COUN. BENTON: COUNCILOR JONES. >>COUN. JONES: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THERE WILL BE A LAND USE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13th AT 5 P.M. IN THE VINCENT E. GRIEGO CHAMBERS. >>COUN. BENTON: NEXT IS ITEM A, MICHAEL LUCERO APPEALED THE ZONING HEARING EXAMINER'S DECISION. THIS MATTER HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN. I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT WITH THE DRAWL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES. OPPOSED? THAT PASSES MOVE TO APPROVALS. THIS IS THE APPROVAL THAT WE JUST ADDED. EC52, THE SIX SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT TO ADD FUNDS TO LEGAL SERVICES. I MOVE APPROVAL. MOTION AND A SECOND FROM COUNCILOR DAVIS. ANY COMMENT FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON THIS? >> MR. PRESIDENT, THIS LAW FIRM IS DOING GOOD WORK FOR US IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT. WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE TO A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF EC52 SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. YES. OPPOSED? THAT PASSES. WE'LL MOVE TO FINAL ACTIONS. FIRST IS ITEM A, 0-83. COUNCILOR DAVIS. >>COUN. DAVIS: MR. PRESIDENT, THIS ITEM INVOLVES CANNABIS REGULATION AND IN MY DAY JOB I WORK IN THE INDUSTRY SO I'LL RECUSE MYSELF. >>COUN. BENTON: I'LL MOVE DUE PASS. THIS IS A REVISING THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY THE ALBUQUERQUE CLEAN AIR ORDINANCE REGARDING CONSUMPTION OF CANNABIS FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT OF THE NEW MEXICO CANNABIS REGULATION ACT SECTION 26-2C-1 AMENDING RESTRICTIONS AND PUBLIC OUTDOOR AREAS. I MOVE A DUE PASS. MOTION AND A SECOND FROM COUNCILOR JONES. I WILL MOVE THE AMENDMENT WHICH IS IN YOUR iPADS. IS THERE A SECOND? THANK YOU, COUNCILOR JONES. WE'LL NEED A VOTE ON THAT AMENDMENT. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT AMENDMENT? MAYBE A QUICK DESCRIPTION OF WHAT IT DOES. >> MR. PRESIDENT, WE'LL CALL JULIA TO EXPLAIN THAT AMENDMENT. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THIS AMENDMENT DOES A COUPLE OF THINGS. IT STRIKES PROVISIONS OF THE BILL THAT PROHIBIT PUBLIC CONSUMPTION OF CANNABIS AND ALSO REVERSES SOME CORRESPONDING CHANGES PREVIOUSLY MADE TO THE TITLE OF THE BILL ITSELF. AND TO THE SHORT TITLE OF THE ORDINANCE ITSELF THIS REMOVES THOSE PROVISIONS. >>COUN. BASSAN: THANK YOU, WE'RE SPONSORING TO REMOVE THE LANGUAGE PUT IN DURING A COMMITTEE MEETING SO WE CAN STREAMLINE THIS PROCESS BASED OFF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE HAVING AT THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING TO MAINTAIN SOME CONSISTENCY WITH STATE REGULATION. AND WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THAT LOT. WE DO PLAN ON EVALUATING THE BEST WAYS TO PROCEED WITH BRINGING THIS BACK WITH A DIFFERENT RESOLUTION SO WE CAN DISCUSS THAT AND MOVE IT FURTHER IN THE FUTURE. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BASSAN. AND COUNCILOR JONES. THANKS FOR HELPING WITH THIS TO MOVE IT FORWARD AS WE KNOW WE'RE ALREADY IN THE HAPPY DAYS. WE DO NEED TO GET SOME OF THESE LOOSE ENDS STRAIGHTENED UP. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, COUNCILORS? >>COUN. JONES: MR. PRESIDENT, I WANTED TO COMMENT FOR FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN EMAILING ME THIS DOES NOT MAKE IT LEGAL TO SMOKE IN PUBLIC. THERE'S A $50 CIVIL FINE THAT STAYS IN PLACE. IT'S CLEARING UP THE ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE TO MAKE IF FOCUSED ON INDOOR AIR. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? >>COUN. GROUT: I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT VAPING? IS THAT SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING? THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WILL SMOKE CANNABIS. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL THINGS THAT THIS BILL DOES IS BROADEN THE DEFINITION OF SMOKING TO INCLUDE THINGS LIKE VAPING AND OTHER METHODS OF HEATING UP CANNABIS PRODUCTS TO SMOKE IT. >>COUN. BENTON: SEEING NO OTHER DISCUSSION. WE'LL MOVE TO A VOTE. AS AMENDED ON O-83. DO WE NOT VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT? I'M SORRY. VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT. BEG YOUR PARDON. THIS IS THE AMENDMENT AS DESCRIBED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES. OPPOSED? THAT PASSES. WE'RE BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED? THAT PASSES. WE'LL GIVE COUNCILOR DAVIS A CHANCE TO GET BACK. IN THE MEANTIM -- WOW. I WAS JUST TOLD EARLIER THEY COULDN'T HEAR ME. HOPEFULLY I'M NOT GOING DEAF. THE NEXT TWO BILLS ARE SIMILAR BILLS ON THE SAME TOPIC. I THINK IT MIGHT MAKE SENSE, WE DO HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON BOTH OF THEM. IS THAT RIGHT? WHY DON'T WE TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON BOTH OF THESE. IS THAT ALL RIGHT WITH EVERYONE, COUNCILORS? >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE SIGNED UP FOR BOTH, WOULD YOU WANT TO ADDRESS BOTH IN ONE COMMENT? >>COUN. BENTON: IDEALLY. WE'VE HAD A PRETTY LONG NIGHT. IF YOU'RE ADDRESSING BOTH BILLS. HOW MANY FOLKS DO WE HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THESE TWO? >> MR. PRESIDENT, ABOUT TEN PEOPLE. >>COUN. BENTON: TEN PEOPLE. OKAY. WHY DON'T WE DO THIS, THESE TEN COMMENTS WE'LL ALLOW TWO MINUTES AND PLEASE TRY TO ADDRESS BOTH OF THOSE. >> OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE STEPHANIE FOLLOWED BY EDWARD. STEPHANIE GOMEZ. EDWARD, FOLLOWED BY MELVIN. >>COUN. BENTON: MR. FINGERHUT OR ALAN? >> WE'LL GO TO OUR ZOOM COMMENTERS. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS FELIPE. TURN YOUR VIDEO BACK ON AND YOUR TWO MINUTES WILL BEGIN WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GREATER ALBUQUERQUE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP. WE WERE ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO AS THE FIRST CITY-WIDE COMMUNITY HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION. AS A NON-PROFIT WE'VE DEVELOPED OVER A THUND UNITS OF HOUSING FOR FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS AND RENTERS IN THE COMMUNITY. I'M HERE TO ADDRESS AND BRING FORTH SOME OF THE COMMENTS PUT FORTH BY THE URBAN INSTITUTE REPORT PUBLISHED IN MARCH OF 2020. IN IT, IT ACKNOWLEDGED A GAP OF 15,500 UNITS NEEDED FOR THE MOST NEEDY IN OUR COMMUNITY. THOSE ARE FOLKS IN REAL TERMS, A ONE PERSON HOUSEHOLD EARNING LESS THAN $15,000 A YEAR OR A FAMILY OF FOUR EARNING LESS THAN $20,000 A YEAR. OF THOSE, NINE AND TEN OF THEM ARE RENT BURDENED. THEY'RE PAYING THAN 30% OR 50% OF THEIR INCOME EACH MONTH IN RENT. AS COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LAND, WE'RE PLEASED TO CELEBRATE WITH COUNCILOR GROUT LAST WEEK THE GRAND OPENING OF LUMANIRA SENIOR COMMUNITY. THIS TORE DOWN A 6,800 BLIGHTED BUILDING DESIGNATED BY THE 2007 AS A BLIGHTED AREA. IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN AND WILL BE HOME TO 92 RESIDENTS. THE STAR OF THAT WAS CHRISTOPHER ORTIZ WHO FOUND HIMSELF NEEDING A PLACE TO STAY AND CALLED THE SENIOR HOME. THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF 700 PEOPLE THAT CALL IT HOME. WE CAN TAKE $3.2 MILLION AND MAKE IT OVER $20 MILLION INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY. I SUPPORT 0-229 FOR TWO REASONS. ONE. >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PAUL. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO TURN YOU VIDEO ON AND YOUR TWO MINUTES WILL BEGIN WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. >> GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT, AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. I'M PAUL. I'M IN SUPPORT OF REDUCING THE GROSS RECEIPT TAX RATE BY ONE-EIGHTH OF A CENT. WHILE IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE FULL THREE-EIGHTHS COULD NOT BE REPEALED. WE KNOW ALBUQUERQUE CITY GOVERNMENT IS IN AWASH IN CASH. WE KNOW THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, TOMORROW, BECAUSE OF INFLATION THAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING IN THIS COUNTRY GOING TO RETURN SOME MONEY BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS ON TOP OF SOME MONEY THEY ALREADY RETURNED. THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE BEING AN AWASH IN CASH AS WELL WITH THE BUDGET UP 27% UNDER MAYOR KELLER CAN AT THE VERY LEAST RETURN TO ALBUQUERQUE TAXPAYERS JUST ONE EIGHTH OF A CENT ON THE GROSS RECEIPTS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANITA. TURN YOUR VIDEO ON. YOUR TWO MINUTES WILL BEGIN WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILOR BENTON COUNCILORS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE UNMET FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. THIS TRANSLATES TO IMMEDIATE AND URGENT OPPORTUNITY TO INVEST IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WHICH ALWAYS BEGINS TO ADDRESS A CONTINUAL RISE IN HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY. AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE INCREASES IS 7.7% SINCE 2013 IN HOMELESSNESS. A UNIVERSITY REPORT PROJECTS AN INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS BY 40 TO 45% DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC. FURTHERMORE, ALBUQUERQUE IS SEEING AVERAGE RATE INCREASE BY NEARLY 38% YEAR OVER YEAR, TWICE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. AND ONE OF THE HIGHEST INCREASES IN THE UNITED STATES. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF ALBUQUERQUE HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS AND AFFORDING HOUSING COALITION IN SUPPORT OF COUNCILOR DAVIS, COUNCILOR BENTON, AND COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN'S ORDINANCE 0-22-9 TO REALLOCATE 40% OF TAX RECEIPTS TO BE USED FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOAL PRIORITIES. I HOPE THAT HAPPENS HERE THIS EVENING AND I THANK YOU FOR SPONSORING THIS ORDINANCE. >> THANK YOU. MR. PRESIDENT, THAT WILL CONCLUDE PUBLIC COMMENT. >>COUN. BENTON: MR. MOYA WE HAVE SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO IS A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT THAT I ASK TO SPEAK ON BOTH BILLS OR ON WHICHEVER ONE SHE WOULD LIKE TO. SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED. I'M SURE I MET HER IN MY FIRST YEAR ON CITY COUNCIL TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE EXACT SAME CHANGES WE'RE STILL FACING TODAY. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BENTON, I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. I'M IN SUPPORT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING BILL 229. MY NAME IS JODY JIEM I'M THE DIRECTOR OF ABQ STREET CONNECT. WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SEVERELY AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ACUTE. WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOUSE OVER 60 INDIVIDUALS AND MEET THESE NEEDS THROUGH HOUSING. HOUSING IS A HEALTH SOLUTION. BY PROVIDING HOUSING WE CAN ADDRESS THE BASIC NEEDS OF AN INDIVIDUAL WHICH IS MEDICAL AND PSYCHIATIC SUPPORT WHICH CAN HELP GIVE THEM QUALITY OF LIFE AND SUSTAIN THEM IN THE ENVIRONMENT. IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS. IN ADDITION THIS YEAR THE CITY HAS ALLOCATED TO SERVE 40 INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVE IN ENCAMPMENTS. I MUST SAY AS OF LAST WEEK WE ARE AT NUMBER 38. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ENGAGE FOLKS IN THESE ENCAMPMENTS WITH SEVERE MEADICAL AND BEHBEHAVIOR HEALTH NEEDS. WE'RE TRANSITIONING THEM INTO HOUSING WITHIN TWO WEEKS. IT'S AN ABSOLUTE CRITICAL NEED FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE UNHOUSED. >>COUN. BENTON: YOU AND EVERYONE AT ALBUQUERQUE STREET CONNECT, THE COUNCIL SUPPORTED YOU GUYS GETTING GOING WITH YOUR FIRST TEAM A FEW YEARS BACK AND YOU HAVE REALLY HIT THE BALL OUT OF THE PARK WITH THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS PROGRAM THAT I KNOW IS A LOT OF PAINSTAKING FOLLOW THROUGH. THE SUCCESS OF GETTING THEM OFF THE STREET. >> I JUST WANTED TO ADD ONE MORE THING. EVERY YEAR WE DO AN ANNUAL REPORT AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOW OUR RESULTS. I -- A LOT OF THE COUNCILORS ARE AWARE OF THE PROGRAM. THRUST THIS YEAR WE DECREASED THE VISITS BY 45%. AND ON THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SIDE IT WAS 67%. THE DATA DRIVES THE IMPACT THAT WE ARE HAVING FOR THESE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE SUFFERING WITH THESE HIGHLY ACUTE NEEDS WHO ARE REVOLVING DOORS FOR THE JAILS AND HOSPITALS AND THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE THE DATA THAT SHOWS OUR WORK AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOU, SIR, AND YOUR SUPPORT FOR ALLOWING US TO DO OUR WORK. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT. I MOVE TO COUNCILOR LEWIS FOR COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE 01. >>COUN. LEWIS: MR. PRESIDENT I MOVE SUBSTITUTE ENACTING 02018001. COUNCIL BILL 018-19 TO RESCIND ONE EIGHTH OF THE PERCENT OF THE OVERALL THREE-EIGHTHS OF ONE PERCENT IMPOSED. I MOVE A DUE PASS. >>COUN. BENTON: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM COUNCILOR BASSAN. FOR COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE 01. COUNCILOR LEWIS. >>COUN. LEWIS: MR. PRESIDENT, FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT MADE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CERTAINLY THE LOT OF SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THESE TWO BILLS SPECIFICALLY IN THE AREA OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS AND THE ALLOCATION TOWARD PUBLIC SAFETY. THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE IN REGARD TO THIS BILL THAT PROPOSED A ONE-EIGHTH OF A CENT TAX REDUCTION. I THINK IN EVERY SENSE AND EVERY WAY YOU LOOK AT IT REALLY UNPRECEDENTED REV NEWTS -- REVENUES IN THE CITY. $116 MILLION EVERY WAY YOU LOOK AT IT, ABOUT $116 MILLION IN MORE REVENUE THIS YEAR, THIS COMING YEAR, THAN WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. I DON'T THINK THERE'S EVER BEEN A TIME PROBABLY IN RECENT HISTORY OF THE CITY THAT WE'VE HAD THAT MUCH ON AN INCREASE OF REVENUES. SOME HAVE SAID WE'RE SWIMMING IN CASH. THE STATE IS HAVING THE DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW IN FACT THERE'S A SPECIAL SESSION THAT WILL HAPPEN TOMORROW AND ONE OF THE PROPOSALS, IN FACT, ONE OF THE MAIN REASON WHY THEY'RE MEETING IS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GIVE BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS $690 MILLION. IN FACT, ONE OF THE PROPOSALS IS A $1,000 PER HOUSEHOLD NOW THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT DOING. $690 MILLION. THEY KNOW IF THEY ALLOCATE THOSE RESOURCES AS REOCCURRING EXPENSES, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE FACED IN THE FUTURE YEARS WITH HAVING TO SUSTAIN THAT KIND OF SPENDING. THAT'S WHY THERE'S PROPOSALS BEFORE THE STATE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN PUT SOME OF THAT MONEY BACK INTO THE POCKETS OF PRIVATE CITIZENS IN THE FORM OF A TAX REDUCTION. THE GOVERNOR MOST RECENTLY RECOMMENDED A ONE-EIGHTH OF A CENT TAX REDUCTION. THESE ARE THE KIND OF PROPOSALS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE. THIS IS THE DISCUSSION THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW. WE'RE FACED WITH ONE OF THE THINGS WE CAN DO. WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE A TAX REDUCTION -- A CORPORATE TAX REDUCTION OR INDIVIDUAL TAX REDUCTION, BUT WE CAN REDUCE THE BURDEN OF TAXPAYERS IN THE CITY WITH WHAT THEY PAY FOR EVERYDAY ITEMS. THIS IS ONE WAY WE CAN DO OUR PART IN THAT REGARD. THIS IS THE THREE-EIGHTH CENT TAX THAT WAS ENACTED FOUR YEARS AGO. IT WAS IMPLEMENTED AND NOT ANY CRITICISM ON THIS COUNCIL FOR DOING THAT. I THINK YOU HAD REASON TO DO THAT WITHHOLD HARM REDUCTION OF REVENUE. THIS TAX RAISED ABOUT $30 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR. AND THIS SPECIFIC TAX IS GOING TO RAISE ABOUT $75 MILLION THIS YEAR. THIS TAX IS MORE THAN MADE UP FOR WHAT IT WAS INTEND FOR ORIGINALLY. I MENTIONED $116 MILLION IN NEW REVENUE. THE -- WE'VE BEEN IN BUDGET MEETS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION WITH WHERE ONE OF THE SLIDES OF THE COMMITMENT THEY'VE MADE WHEN IT COMES TO THE APOA RAISES, COLA AND ESSENTIAL COMMITTEES WE'VE MADE WHETHER IT BE THE APOA CONTRACT, 2% COLA, CITY OPERATIONS COUNTING THOSE AS CRITICAL INCREASES, MEDICAL INSURANCE AND PARA INCREASES, WORKER'S COMP, EARLY RETIREMENT. YOU TOTAL THAT UP, THAT'S ABOUT $49 MILLION THAT WE CAN TOTAL FROM THERE. THIS TAX WOULD REDUCE THAT REVENUE BY ABOUT $26 MILLION THAT WE WOULD NOT COLLECT FROM TAXPAYERS. IN A SENSE WE'RE LEAVING ABOUT $26 MILLION IN THE POCKETS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS. THIS NEXT YEAR. IF WE WERE TO DO THIS, A REDUCTION OF $26 MILLION. AGAIN IF YOU LOOK AT $49 MILLION SPENDING THAT I TALKED ABOUT, WHICH INCLUDES THE APOA INCREASES AND THE NEW AGREEMENT THAT WAS MADE BY THEM. AND THERE'S A DIFFERENCE ABOUT $40 MILLION. I KNOW JESSY IS HERE AND TALK TO US ABOUT SOME OF THE NUMBERS AND VERIFY SOME OF THESE. WE'VE BEEN BUDGET MEETINGS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND THESE ARE NUMBERS THAT WE'VE BEEN VERIFIED. I THINK EVERYBODY GROOEZ AGREES WE HAVE THE REVENUES TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT SOME COULD SAY THAT -- IN FACT SOME HAVE SAID, THAT WE WOULD BE REDUCING AND GIVING LESS TO CITY SERVICES AND CALLING IT CUTTING PUBLIC SAFETY OR HOMELESSNESS AND INITIATIVES AND OTHERS. IN FACT, THERE'S AN AN EMAIL FROM THE ADMINISTRATION THAT WAS SENT TO -- EMAILS COLLECTED FROM THE MAYOR'S CAMPAIGN THAT CAME FROM THE CITY. THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY -- I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION DOES. I WAS MOST CURRENT WAS IT WAS FILLED WITH MISINFORMATION. AND LIES ABOUT THIS BILL AND TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SPEAK OR SEND EMAIL AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS BILL SAYING IN SOME WAY IT WOULD BE CUTTING THOSE CITY SERVICES OR CUTTING PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT'S IN FACT NOT WHAT THIS DOES. IN FACT, I THINK IT'S A SHELL GAME. IT'S REALLY A LIE. IT'S REALLY ABSOLUTELY AN UNTRUTH TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IT IN THAT WAY. WE PROPOSE IDEAS, IT'S OUR JOB TO PUT THE IDEAS OUT THERE. I EXPECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO SAY LET'S LOOK AT THIS AND SEE IF IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO. I KNOW JESSY IS HERE WITH COUNCIL STAFF AND TALK TO US ABOUT SOME OF THE REVENUES AND DATA I MENTIONED. CERTAINLY, URGE YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. >> I'D BE HAPPY HEAR FROM THE ADMINISTRATION. >>COUN. BENTON: QUESTIONS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION? >>COUN. SANCHEZ: I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON THE BILL AS WELL. >>COUN. BENTON: SEEING NONE. IF NOT, WE'LL HEAR FROM THE ADMINISTRATION. >> MR. PRESIDENT, AND COUNCILORS, AND COUNCILOR LEWIS, LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING THAT CHARACTERIZING INFORMATION AS LIES IS A BIT OF STRETCH AS IT RELATES TO CIVILITY AND WORKING TOGETHER. CERTAINLY, ALL OF US CAN PRESENT OUR POSITIONS AND CERTAINLY WE CAN MAKE SURE THE NUMBERS WORK PRESENTED TO THE POLICIES WE WANT TO ADVOCATE. I WOULD TAKE EXCEPTION YOU BELIEVE THERE WERE LONGS. I BELIEVE THERE'S STRONG DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AS IT RELATES TO THE IMPACTS OF YOUR BILL AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAS RESPONSIBILITY AND THE RIGHT TO PRESENT THOSE AS WE SEE THEM AND SURELY YOU DO AS WELL. WE CERTAINLY HAVE A DISAGREEMENT, THAT BEING SAID, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THIS IS A DIFFERENCE OF AN OPINION AS IT RELATES TO THE IMPACT OF WHAT THIS LEGISLATION WOULD DO FOR THE CITY GOING FORWARD. >>COUN. LEWIS: MR. RAEL, I ABSOLUTELY TAKE EXCEPTION TO THAT. THE EMAIL, I'M GLAD TO SEND IT TO ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO SEE. WE MAY JUST SAY WE DISAGREE ON IT. BUT THERE WAS VERY MUCH POLITICAL POSTURING GOING ON IN THAT EMAIL AND VERY MUCH WITH GRAPHICS TRYING TO SAY THIS IS BAD FOR OUR CITY AND THIS IS CUT SERVICES CRITICAL FOR MENTAL ILLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH, YOU KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE. THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE. I TAKE EXCEPTION TO IT. WE DISAGREE ON IT. MOVE ON. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR LEWIS, FOR SURE WE DO HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION. I DO THINK THE CONVERSATION WE WANT TO HAVE. >>COUN. LEWIS: BY THE WAY, I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THAT LIST OVER TO ME, I CAN ENTER IT AND SPEND SOME TAXPAYER DOLLARS OR YOU CAN GIVE IT OVER. WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO DO THAT? >> MR. PRESIDENT, IF I MAY. WE HAD A PRESENTATION WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE WHY WE BELIEVE THIS LEGISLATION ACTUALLY IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY. IT'S NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY BUT IN PARTICULAR GOING FORWARD. I'VE BEEN PUBLIC SERVICE FOR MANY YEARS. I'VE SAT IN THIS CHAIR FOR MANY YEARS. WHAT FEELS GOOD TODAY ENDS UP HAUNTING YOU TOMORROW. THAT'S REALLY THE POINT WE WANT TO MAKE IN THIS PRESENTATION IS PRESENT TO THE COUNCIL THE STRUCTURAL ISSUES WE HAVE GOING FORWARD WITH THE BUDGET. AND PRESENT A PERSPECTIVE OF WHY WE BELIEVE THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO GO AND IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND IF I CAN HAVE MR. BACA COME UP FOR THE PRESENTATION. >>COUN. BENTON: YES, LET'S HEAR FROM MR. BACA. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT AND COUNCILORS. I ALSO HAVE THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION HERE AND MR. DAVES WHO IS THE BUDGET OFFICER IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS. I AGREE WITH YOU THAT YOU HAVE COMPARED $116 MILLION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WAS BUDGETED IN FY22 VERSUS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR FY23. TO GET A REAL PICTURE, I WOULD SAY WE LOOK AT THE EXPENDITURE SIDE OF IT. IN FY22, THE BUDGET IS $632 MILLION IN REVENUES. AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALSO BUDGETED WHICH WAS APPROVALED BY THE COUNCIL $677 MILLION IN BUDGET. THAT, AND THIS IS REGARDING REVENUE. COMPARED TO RECURRING EXPENDITURES. THAT LEFT US WITH $45 MILLION DEFICIT IN FY22 AS BUDGETED. THE REASON WE WERE ABLE TO BUDGET KNOWINGLY THAT WE HAVE A STRUCTURE -- RECURRING REVENUE TO RECURRING EXPENDITURE DEFICIT IS WAS WE WERE PRUDENT IN FY21 AND WE HAD LEFT ALMOST $93 MILLION IN RECURRING BALANCE KNOWING THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC AND WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW FISCAL YEAR 22 WOULD PAN OUT. THAT'S WHY WE HAD THAT SITUATION. NOW, IF YOU RECALL, THIS PARTICULAR THREE-EIGHTHS TAX WAS IMPOSED IN 2018 PRIMARILY THROUGH STRUCTURED DEFICIT WE INHERITED WHEN THIS ADMINISTRATION CAME IN. THAT WAS $40 MILLION. THE FIRST YEAR'S REVENUE WAS $50 MILLION. ON TOP OF THAT, WHEN THE COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY AGREED ON THAT THREE-EIGHTH TAX IT WAS -- IT CAME WITH THE CAVEAT, 60% OF THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SPENT ON PUBLIC SAFETY. RIGHT OFF THE BAT. OUT OF $50 MILLION THE ADMINISTRATION COMMITTED TO SPEND 60%, THAT'S $30 MILLION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT LEFT US WITH $20 MILLION. STRUCTURAL DEFICIT AT THAT TIME WAS $40 MILLION. WE WERE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO BALANCE THE BUDGET WE DID BALANCE THE BUDGET. THAT $50 MILLION, I AGREE WITH YOU, IT PROBABLY WILL BE $79 MILLION THIS YEAR. HOWEVER ONLY $72 MILLION OF THAT YOU CAN BUDGET. THE REMAINING HAS TO BE RESERVED AS REQUIRED. AND MS. YARA WILL TALK ABOUT HOW WE'RE USING THE MONEY. THE OTHER POINT I WOULD MAKE IS THAT THE PHASE OUT OF -- IS NOT COMPLETED YET. WE'RE LOSING $2.3 MILLION EVERY YEAR. WE STILL HAVE TO GO UNTIL 2030 AND THE REMAINING BALANCE WHICH WILL DECLINE EVERY YEAR IS ROUGHLY $16 MILLION. AGAIN, YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE A HEAT OF $16 MILLION DOWN THE ROAD. THERE'S ALSO DISCUSSION IN THE SANTA FE THAT WE'VE HEARD THAT THEY MAY HAVE A HARD STOP ON DISTRIBUTING THE FULL HARMLESS. THEY MIGHT NOT JUST GIVE US ANY MONEY BEGINNING ANY TIME THEY PASS THAT BILL. ALSO, WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO PLACE A MORATORIUM ON THE TAX. IF IT REPEALS THE TAX WE MAY NOT HAVE THE ABILITY GOING FORWARD, WE DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE PASSED BUT WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT ANY REDUCTION. FY23 RECURRING REVENUE 748 VERSUS 751. EVEN IN FY23, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE $3 MILLION RECURRING DEFICIT. WE ARE PROPOSING THAT THE REVENUE WOULD BE $748 MILLION WITH THE RECURRING EXEPENDITURE WOULD BE $751 MILLION THAT WOULD LEAVE US A $3 MILLION DEFICIT. THAT'S ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE OVERALL AS LONG AS WE HAVE BALANCED BUDGET, DFA WILL APPROVE IT AND HOWEVER THAT IS SOMETHING THE RATING AGENCY LOOKS AT. ARE YOU BALANCING THE BUDGET WITH RECURRING REVENUE. AND THE REASON WE'RE ABLE TO BALANCE THE OVERALL BUDGET IS PAUSE WE HAVE A LOT LOT OF ONE-TIME MONEY. THERE'S A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY IN THE ECONOMY. WE HAVE RECEIVED ALMOST $200 MILLION SO FAR THAT HELPED US WITH A LOT OF ONE-TIME MONEY. AND THAT IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN COUNT ON GOING FORWARD. MOVING FORWARD, WE WILL NOT HAVE A LOT OF ONE-TIME MONEY TO BALANCE THE BUDGET. I THINK REDUCING THE TAX BY $26 MILLION THAT MEANS NEXT YEAR, LET'S SAY RIGHT NOW RECURRING TO RECURRING BUDGET WOULD HAVE $29 MILLION DEFICIT. THAT WILL CONTINUE BECAUSE THE COMMITMENT WE HAVE MADE ON THE THREE-EIGHTH TAX AS FAR AS SPENDING FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY WE'LL KNOW THE REQUIREMENT WAS 60% WE ARE AT 87%. AND THOSE ARE ALL RECURRING EXPENSES. GOING FORWARD WE WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REDUCE OUR EXPENSES BY $29 MILLION. THESE ARE THE CHALLENGES WE ALL NEED TO WORRY ABOUT. BETWEEN 2018 AND 2023, JUST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD GOTTEN $30 MILLION IN PAY RAISES. AND THIS OTHER PERCENTAGE RAISES WHICH ARE EMBEDDED IN THE BUDGET IS COMPOUNDING EVERY YEAR. I THINK WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT REVENUES TO GET A TRUE PICTURE WE NEED LOOK AT THE EXPENDITURE. I THINK MY RECOMMENDATION IS WE LOOK AT THE EXPENDITURES ALSO AND LOOK AT WHAT IS RECURRING. RECURRING WHICH IS THE ONE THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT. WE ARE COMMITTED TO THAT. THAT INVOLVES THE PERSONNEL AND THE CONTRACTS AND AGAIN IN FY23 WE ARE PROJECTING 4% GROWTH IN REVENUE COMPARED TO FY22. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE EXPENDITURE THE GROWTH IS 11%. THAT'S JUST REALITY. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN DECEMBER SAID THAT INFLATION RATE AT THAT POINT WAS ROUGHLY 6%. RIGHT NOW IT'S ABOUT 7.9%. AND THE EXPENDITURES ARE -- THE REVENUES ARE NOT KEEPING PACE WITH EXPENDITURES. THAT WILL ADD TO THIS $29 MILLION STRUCTURE DEFICIT THAT I SPOKE ABOUT IF YOU REDUCE THIS TAX. IT'S NOT ONLY $29 MILLION BUT ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REVENUES AND EXPENDITURE UNFAVORABLE DIFFERENCE WITH THAT STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. THE $40 MILLION YOU TALKED ABOUT, THAT IS ACTUALLY STRUCTURAL DEFICIT THAT WE INHERITED. THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THAT $40 MILLION. THAT DEFICIT WAS FILLED WITH THE $40 MILLION. WE BELIEVE IF YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING, NOT JUST THE REVENUES, ALSO EXPENDITURE, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE $40 MILLION EXTRA. WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO GIVE TO MS. YARRA THAT WILL DETAIL HOW WE SPENT THAT $79 MILLION. >>COUN. BENTON: COUNCILOR DAVIS HAS A QUESTION. >>COUN. DAVIS: THAT'S OKAY, MR. PRESIDENT. I'LL WAIT ON THE ADMINISTRATION TO FINISH. >>COUN. BENTON: PROCEED. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS, IT'S TO THIS SEE YOU ALL AGAIN. I JUST WANT TO COME BACK TO YOU KNOW WE HAVE GIVE YOU REPORTS ON HOW WE'RE SPENDING THE THREE-EIGHTH MONEY SINCE THE INCEPTION. YOU ALL MANDATED THAT 60% OF THAT GO TO PUBLIC SAFETY. FOR FY22, THE ESTIMATED GENERATION OF THAT THREE-EIGHTHS TAX IS $79 MILLION. A COUPLE MONTHS AGO WE REPORTED TO YOU THE FY21 AMOUNT OF THE USE OF THIS TAX WAS ABOUT 86% FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. AS I LOOK FORWARD AND I'M TRYING TO PROJECT WHAT THOSE AMOUNTS WILL BE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR, FY22, I TELL YOU CERTAINLY ALONG WITH THE APOA WAGE INCREASES AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING THAT ARE NEEDED, THE TOTAL PUBLIC SAFETY BASE FOR THIS TAX WOULD BE $81.3 MILLION. THAT IS ABOUT $8.8 MILLION MORE THAN IS AVAILABLE FOR APPROPRIATION. WE WOULD ALREADY BE BEHIND THE BALL WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY GENERAL FUND WOULD HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE THAT WITH OTHER REVENUES. A FEW THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE 2018 THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THOSE INCREASES, APD'S BUDGET SINCE 2018 HAS INCREASED BY 50%. ALMOST $85 MILLION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET HAS INCREASED ABOUT 41% OR $31 MILLION AND BOTH OF THINGS ARE MOSTLY DIRECTLY RELATE TODAY WAGE INCREASES FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. AND THE FAMILY COMMUNITY SERVICES, JUST LOOKING AT THE HOMELESS SUPPORT SERVICES STRATEGY, THAT HAS INCREASED 37% OR $1.3 MILLION SINCE 2018. AND OF COURSE YOU ALL HAVE SUPPORTED THE CREATION OF THE COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT AND THAT TOTAL AMOUNT IS PROPOSED FOR FY23 AT $15.5 MILLION TO FULLY STAFF THAT. WE ARE LOOKING AT PRETTY SHARP INCREASES AND I WANT TO ADD TOO THAT NOT ONLY THIS IS RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY, BUT I WOULD JUST MENTION THAT MR. BAKTA BROUGHT UP INFLATION RATE. THE PROPOSED BUDGET HAS A 2% INCREASE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES BESIDES APOA AND INFLATION RATE IS ALMOST 8%. WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE OUR EMPLOYEES WHOLE ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THINGS LIKE RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE TO $15. HOW IS THAT GOO AFFECT OUR STAFFING? THE ONALIST LAST THING I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION BECAUSE WE'RE STILL COMING OUT OF THE COVID ECONOMY, IT HAS BEEN REALLY UNTABLE. I THINK WE NEED AN ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE REAL TREND IS AFTER ALL THIS MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT AND WE GET BACK TO NORMAL. I PERSONALLY AM NOT THINKING THE REDUCING OF THE TAX IS PRUDENT. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I THINK YOU MADE REALLY GREAT POINTS. I THINK A LOT OF THOSE POINTS MAKE MY CASE. I THINK THE ONE YOU JUST SAID THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TRENDS ARE SO WHY WOULD WE SPEND EVERYTHING WE HAVE? IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TRENDS. WHY WOULD WE -- I HONESTLY THINK IF YOU HAD A TRILLION DOLLARS AND YOU WOULD WITH FIND A WAY TO SPEND EVERY BIT OF IT. WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS SPENDING EVERY LAST PENNY. LET'S TALK ABOUT A FEW OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED. THE $2.5 MILLION WE'RE LOSING EACH YEAR UP TO 2030. THIS TAX PAID FOR THAT IN THE FIRST YEAR. THE VERY FIRST YEAR IT PAID FOR EVERY PART OF THE HOLD HARMLESS REDUCTION WE RECEIVED BETWEEN NOW AND 2030. THAT'S A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY THIS GAINING. ALSO, YOU MENTIONED ALL THE INCREASES AND YOU MENTIONED THE 2% TO COLA AND THE OTHER INCREASES DUE TO INFLATION, EVERY BIT OF IT -- IS IN YOUR BUDGET. IT STILL LEAVES ANOTHER $26 MILLION AND $40 MILLION THAT WOULDN'T BE ALLOCATED IN THAT WAY. YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE 87% SPENDING TO PUBLIC SAFETY. $81 MILLION OR SO. IT HONESTLY SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE MAKING SOME THINGS UP. IT'S A SHELL GAME. THIS IS A GENERAL FUND. THIS IS NOT DEDICATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY. YOU COULD EASILY SAY THAT ANY REDUCTION TO THIS THREE-EIGHTH CENT TAX COULD BE COMING FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE GENERAL FUND. TO SAY THAT THE INENTIRE $81 MILLION, THE ENTIRE BURDEN IS ON THIS TAX IS ABSOLUTELY CHANGING THE SUBJECT. IT'S CALLED A SHELL GAME IS WHAT THAT IS. YOU COULD SAY WE HAVE REVENUES IN THE GENERAL FUND COMING FROM ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT SOURCES AND WE COULD TAKE IT FROM THERE. IT'S UNTRUE THAT REDUCING THAT THREE-EIGHTH CENT TAX WOULD REDUCE THE MONEY WE'RE SPENDING TOWARD PUBLIC SAFETY. >> MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSED BUDGET DOES NOT SPEND ALL OF THE MONEY. THERE'S LEFT AVAILABLE FOR FUND BALANCE TO DO WHAT IT PLEASES. ALSO, IT IS YOUR AUTHORITY TO SHIFT ANY OF THOSE PROPOSED AMOUNTS AROUND OR TAKE THEM AWAY. I ALSO ACTUALLY DON'T LIKE BEING CALLED A LIAR. MAYBE WE CAN TALK OFFLINE. >>COUN. LEWIS: YOU DIDN'T SEND THAT EMAIL. I DIDN'T CALL YOU A LIAR. >> YOU CALLED ME A LIAR FIVE MINUTES AGO. I ALSO WANTED TO SAY, IT IS TRUE, AND I WILL TELL EVERY SINGLE OF YOUR COUNCILORS HERE THAT THE GENERAL FUND IS THAT. IT'S A COLLECTION OF GENERAL REVENUES TO BE USED FOR ALL CITY SERVICES. IT'S TRUE THAT MAYBE IT'S A SHELL GAME IF WE SAY 80% PUBLIC SAFETY AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. MY ISSUE IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR ALL CITY SERVICES. I'M TALKING BEYOND PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT'S MY CONCERN. >>COUN. LEWIS: I DON'T THINK I CALLED YOU A LIAR. I SAID A SHELL GAME WHICH YOU ADMITTED THAT'S WHAT IT IS. >>COUN. DAVIS: MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME TRY TO BRING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN A LITTLE BIT. I APPRECIATE WHAT THE SPONSOR IS TRYING TO DO. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND I WANT TO ASK THE ADMINISTRATION, THE PROPOSAL WHICH COVERS LAST YEAR ACTUAL EXPENDITURES AND THE PROPOSAL FOR THE NEXT YEAR, THE ROUGHLY $24 MILLION OR SO THAT THIS MAY RETURN TO TAXPAYERS OR MAY RETURN BACK TO THE COMMUNITY OR NOT BE COLLECTED, WOULD BE ENOUGH ESSENTIALLY, I THINK SHE MENTIONED THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL IS 2% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT. COST OF LIVING IS AT EIGHT. EVERY 2% IS $10.5 MILLION CROSS THE BOARD. THAT $24 MILLION IF WE INVESTED BACK INTO THE CITY EMPLOYEES THAT MADE THIS WORK DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT WERE COMING TO WORK EVERY DAY WITH LESS MONEY IN THE POCKETS TRYING TO PAY THE GAS BILL OR JUST TO GET TO WORK, THAT'S BARELY ENOUGH TO GET TO 6%. THAT DOESN'T KEEP THEM FROM GOING HOME WITH A STRUCTURAL TAX CUT. I'M NOT WILLING TO MAKE THAT COMPROMISE. I ALSO KNOW, JUST GLANCING AT THIS, WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO FULLY FUND THE COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT. I KNOW SOME OF THE COUNCILORS HERE WEREN'T A PART OF THAT. EVERY ONE OF THEM RAN ON THE COMMITMENT TO ENSURING WE HAD ALTERNATIVES TO JUST POLICE AND FIRE. THAT BUDGET IS $17 MILLION. ADD IN A PORKS THAT'S THE CUT, THE PROPOSED CUT. I DON'T THINK WE'RE IN A POSITION WITH SO MANY ISSUES FACING US IN THE CITY OF A ROARING ECONOMY AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT AS I HEARD COUNCILOR BASSAN MENTION ON THE RADIO. SHE CAN CORRECT ME, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ROUGHLY $24 MILLION PLUS OR MINUS WITH 230,000 HOUSEHOLDS. THAT'S ABOUT $8 A MONTH FOR EVERY HOUSEHOLD. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOURS, WE'RE WILLING TO PAY $8 TO A LITTLE MORE TO PAY COPS AND SOCIAL WORKERS AND THOSE THAT CAME INTO WORK EVERY DAY. I APPRECIATE WHAT THE SPONSOR IS TRYING TO DO. I DON'T THINK WE NEED AN ARGUMENT FROM THE SPONSOR AND ADMINISTRATION. I THINK THIS IS NOT PRODUCTIVE. I COULD NOT SUPPORT SOMETHING THAT CUTS PUBLIC SAFETY, COMMUNITY SAFETY. I WOULDN'T CUT SOMETHING THAT HAVE A COMPROMISE ON THE INVESTMENT ON CITY EMPLOYEES. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR DAVIS. COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I'M SITTING HERE AND I'VE SPOKE TO BOTH OF YOU OFFIES WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS. AND TO ME, I'M LOOKING AT THE WAY THE SITUATION IS SET UP. WE HAVE THE WORST HOMELESS INCREASE. WE'RE AWASH IN CASH. I'M SEEING THE NEEDS TO PUT MONEY IN PEOPLE'S POCKET. AND I'M SEEING WE DO NEED -- WE HAVE A WASH OF MONEY AND A HOMELESS ISSUE. AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, WE'VE HAD A HOMELESS ISSUE FOR LONG TIME. ARE WE AWASH IN CASH, WHAT I'M HEARING TODAY IS MAYBE YES, MAYBE NO. MY SPECIFIC REASONING FOR SPEAKING UP HAS TO DO WITH HOW EXACTLY AND WHAT LINE ITEMS ARE WE SPENDING THE MONEY ON. AND HOW IS THE ADMINISTRATION SPENDING THAT MONEY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE TAXPAYERS AND US AS CITY COUNCIL WHO MAKE THE DECISIONS TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE EACH DOLLAR IS SPENT. DOWN TO THE NITTY-GRITTY. I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK. I KNOW FOR A FACT LOOKING AT THE BUDGET THE FIRST DAY I WAS IN COUNCIL, I NOTICE THERE WAS ONLY SIX LINE ITEMS OR SEVEN LINE ITEM FOR APD. YET, I KNOW APD HAS A SWAT TEAM, GANG UNIT, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE IN BOTH OF THESE AREAS AND WE DON'T REALLY KNOW EVERY LITTLE CATEGORY AS TO HOW EACH PROGRAM IS WORKING, HOW IT'S FUNDED, WHETHER THE PROGRAM IS WORKING OR NOT HOW WE MOVE THAT MONEY FROM ONE PROGRAM TO THE OTHER. THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW. I'D LOVE TO SEE MONEY IN EVERY CITIZEN'S POCKET. I ALSO WANT TO SEE HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT BY THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHERE EVERY DOLLAR IS GOING. I'M A BIG LAW ENFORCEMENT GUY. I RETIRED FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THERE. BECAUSE -- ALSO THAT IT'S BEING SPENT WISELY. I ALSO KNOW ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THERE'S 36 POLITICALLY APPOINTED POSITIONS ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THOSE PEOPLE ARE ALL MAKING OVER $100,000 A YEAR. OR CLOSE TO $120,000 A YEAR. WE'RE ALSO LACKING 200 OFFICERS THAT NEED TO BE BOOTS ON THE GROUND ON THE STREET. WHERE IS THAT MONEY? THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE NEED TO KNOW THAT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW. IT'S JUST THE WAY I SEE IT. HOW ARE WE SPENDING THAT MONEY? I SUPPORT COUNCILOR LEWIS'S FIGHT TO GET MONEY BACK IN THE PEOPLE'S POCKETS. AS I SPOKE EARLY, WE HAVE A MAJOR CRIME CRISIS IN THE CITY. TIMES ARE UNCERTAIN. I'M NOT SURE DIVERTING MONEY AWAY FROM PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE RIGHT THING. I DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO WORK THAT DIRECTION. I EXPECT THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE BASIC LINE ITEMS. BASED ON THIS CONVERSATION, AND I KNOW I HAVE SEVERAL SPONSORS IN COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A PRIORITY-BASED BUDGETING BILL THAT'S COMING THROUGH. IT WOULD PRETTY MUCH ELIMINATE ALL THE THINGS WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE A LINE ITEM FOR EACH AND EVERY ITEM WE'RE DEALING WITH AND WE KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT. NEXT YEAR, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A WHOLE LOT BETTER ANGLE ON ANYTHING LIKE THIS. AND IF THIS COMES UP AGAIN, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO KNOW WHERE WE NEED TO MOVE MONEY, WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH THE MONEY, WHAT PROGRAMS ARE WORKING, AND WHICH AREN'T. THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS TODAY IS KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON WITH BOTH ISSUES. I HAVE HAD A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TIME WITH IT. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE AN ANSWER THAT'S COMING UP SOON. I WISH IT WAS HERE RIGHT NOW SO WE COULD ACTUALLY SEE THAT AND HAVE THAT BREAKDOWN. THAT'S MY COMMENT RIGHT NOW. WHEN I GO FOR THIS VOTE, IT'S STILL GOING TO BE A TOUGH ONE FOR ME. I'M GOING TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING FORTH THAT LEGISLATION THAT WE'LL DISCUSS SOON. I THINK IT'S RELEVANT TO THE BUDGET. OF COURSE WE'RE GOING INTO THAT PROCESS AS WE SPEAK. AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A GOOD ROBUST DISCUSSION AND PRIMARILY CHAIRED BY COUNCILOR BASSAN. WE FORWARD WITH THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. >>COUN. GROUT: I HAVE A COMMENT TOO. WE ARE IN A PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS. EVERY DAY AT MY OFFICE AT MY BUSINESS I ASK MY CUSTOMERS HAVE YOU BEEN A VICTIM OF CRIME. AND EVERY SINGLE ONE, AND I'M NOT JOKING, EVERY SINGLE ONE AS BEEN A VICTIM OF CRIME. SOMEHOW, SOME WAY. AND ONE OF THE VENDORS THIS WEEK, HIM AND HIM ASSOCIATES WERE HELD AT GUNPOINT AND ROBBED. THEY GOT SOME MONEY, THEY TOOK HIS PHONE, THANKFULLY HE HAD A TRACKER ON HIS PHONE SO THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND THAT BAD GUY AND GET HIM. BUT, THIS MAKES ME SAD THAT EVERYBODY IS A VICTIM. IT'S A VICTIM. WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR POLICE, WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND I WILL BE VOTING IN SUPPORT OF KEEPING THIS LIKE COUNCILOR SANCHEZ HAS SAID. THIS IS A TOUGH ONE. BECAUSE I CAN SEE BOTH SIDES. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THE MAYOR AND THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL VOTED TO INCREASE TAXES. I THINK WE CITIZENS SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THAT. AT THIS TIME I WILL BE VOTING IN FAVOR OF KEEPING IT. >>COUN. BENTON: ANY OTHER COMMENTS COUNCILORS? I THINK THIS IS HOPEFULLY WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL DEBATE WITH REGARD TO BOTH BILLS. A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND I APPRECIATE THAT COUNCILOR LEWIS RECOGNIZES HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS WITHIN HIS BILL AS WELL. HOMELESSNESS, POLICE, WE KNOW THESE ARE TOP CONCERNS OF EVERY CITIZEN. PUBLIC SAFETY, THE ADDICTION CRISIS THAT WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY, ALSO JUST WANT TO TALK BRIEFLY. WE TALKED ABOUT KEEPING OUR EMPLOYEES WHOLE. I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. IT'S ALSO VERY IMPORTANT HAT WE COMPETE FOR EMPLOYEES. THE CITY, WE ALL KNOW, THERE' AN EMPLOYEES MARKET TODAY. IF YOU HAVE QUALIFICATIONS AND YOU CAN GO TO WORK FOR ANY ENTITY, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, YOU'RE IN DEMAND. AND WE HISTORICALLY DISCUSSED OUR PROJECT ENGINEERS AT DMD AND HAVING ENOUGH PEOPLE TO GET INPROJECTS IN THE STREET. AND YOU KNOW WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT IS PRETTY THIN IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF FOLKS. WE APPRECIATE THAT WITHIN THE BUDGET WE'RE GOING TO BE ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE AS WELL. AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT. WE APPRECIATE THE ADMINISTRATION DOING THEIR BEST TO HIRE FOLKS. WE NEED SENIOR PEOPLE IN SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE IF WE'RE NOT REALLY STAYING ON TOP OF DOING THAT. I'M GOING TO STICK BY OUR ORIGINAL BILL. I CAN'T SUPPORT COUNCILOR LEWIS'S BILL. I DO APPRECIATE HIS RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOUSING IN THIS CITY. IT IS A HOUSING CRISIS. COUNCILOR LEWIS TO CLOSE. >>COUN. LEWIS: NOTHING, MR. PRESIDENT. I JUST WILL SAY ONE THING, THERE'S CLEARLY ROOM IN OUR BUDGET, CLEARLY ROOM IN THE REVENUES FOR THIS REDUCTION. WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND TAX REDUCTION. JUST THE STATE IS NOT CONTEMPLATING A CHOICE BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR STATE AND GIVING $690 MILLION TO TAXPAYERS. I THINK THERE'S A CLEAR PATHWAY TO DO THIS. I'M NOT SURE -- I DON'T THINK THERE'S SUPPORT FOR IT. I HOPE WE CAN HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND HOPE THAT GOING INTO THE BUDGET WE DON'T JUST REALLY TAKE EVERYTHING THAT -- HONESTLY, I HOPE YOUR COUNCIL STAFF CAN BUILD THE KIND OF FINANCIAL CONTINUED TO BUILD OWN THE FOUNDATION WE HAVE AS THE FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE TO GIVE THUS INSIGHT AND DIRECTION WITHOUT HAVING TO ASK THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I THINK WE KNEW MORE ABOUT THE BUDGET THAN THE ADMINISTRATION. BECAUSE OF THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS. WE'RE ABLE TO LEAD AND DO WHAT WE SUPPOSED TO DO. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. I APPRECIATE THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW THAT'S DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB BUILDING ON THAT. I THINK WE HAVE A LOT TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWING REVENUES AND COSTS AND WE'RE IN BUDGET MEETINGS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OVER THE LAST WEEK. I THINK THE FIRST COUNCILOR THEY MET WITH THEY SAID THE REOCCURRING FUNDS WERE $700 MILLION AND BY THE TIME THEY GOT TO ME IT WAS $754 MILLION. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE A DECISION LIKE THIS AND I'LL SAY THIS LAST THING IS THERE'S NOT A CITY IN THE WORLD IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD THAT TAXED ITSELF INTO PROSPERITY. CITIES PROSPER WHEN THEY WUJT THEIR BUDGET. THEY PROSPER THAT WATCHES COST AND MAKE SURE THE CITY IS EFFICIENT. I'M AFRAID WE'RE GOING TO LOOK A BUDGET THIS YEAR AND GET -- WE DID THIS LAST YEAR AND DON'T HAVE A LOT TO SHOW FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELESSNESS. IT'S HIGHER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN. WITH RECORD NUMBERS OF CRIME WE CONTINUE TO. THESE AREN'T ALWAYS ABOUT THROWING MONEY AT THESE THINGS. IT'S ABOUT EFFICIENCY AND LEADERSHIP AND MAKING GOOD DECISIONS. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. LET'S TAKE A VOTE. >>COUN. BENTON: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE 01. WE'LL GO TO A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED? THAT FAILS. ON AN 8-1. WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM C, THIS IS COUNCILOR DAVIS, COUNCILOR BENTON, AND COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. COUNCILOR DAVIS. >>COUN. DAVIS: SURE, MR. PRESIDENT. I MOVE A DUE PASS ON COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE AMENDING ENACTMENT OF O-18-01 IMPOSING THREE-EIGHTHS GROSS RECEIPT TAX. >>COUN. BENTON: SECOND FROM COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. ANY DISCUSSION, COUNCILORS? YOU KNOW, AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE, I THINK BOTH OF THESE BILLS HAD A LOT OF THOUGHT GOING INTO THEM WITH REGARD TO DIRECTION. LET'S HEAR FROM COUNCILOR PEÑA. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. ON THIS BILL, YOU KNOW, I JUST HAVE QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF THIS LINE ITEM OF 60 FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE OTHER PERCENTAGE FOR HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T REALLY DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS. I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THE GENERAL IDEA. I ACTUALLY HAD THE STAFF PAPER AN AMENDMENT FOR ME. REVENUE FROM MUNICIPAL GROSS RECEIPTS TAX WILL BE USED ENTIRELY FOR HOUSING, PUBLIC SAFETY, OR ASSISTING THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY. THE EXPLANATION FOR THIS IS WHEN THE CITY ENACTS THE THREE-EIGHTHS TAX IT DEDICATED 50% OF THE REVENUE TO THIS TAX TO PUBLIC SAFETY FOR FY20 AS INTRODUCED COMMITTEE SUB-O-22-9 PROPOSED TO REDEDICATE TO THE INCREMENT OF 60% TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND 40% TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THAT -- THIS DEDICATES THE ENTIRE STREAM FOR THOSE PURPOSES AND ADDS EXPRESSED LANGUAGE TO THE SCOPE TO INCLUDE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY. AS A RESULT THE THREE-EIGHTHS TAX COULD BE USED TO FUND PROGRAMS WITHIN THE SCOPE WITHOUT SPECIFIC FUNDING FOR OR ANY PARTICULAR CATEGORY. IN ESSENCE, FREES UP ALL THE MONEY TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND IT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE THE DEFINED 60-40 LINE. >>COUN. BENTON: I MOVE FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILOR DAVIS. YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT THAMENT -- SENTIMENT THESE ARE THE AREAS WE KNOW ARE IMPORTANT. TO ME, HAVING THE ABSOLUTE HARD NUMBER OF RECURRING NEV -- REVENUE FOR HOUSING IS SO IMPORTANT THAT MELDING THESE TWO TOGETHER ISN'T I BELIEVE I CAN SUPPORT. IT WOULD BE UP TO THE ADMINISTRATION I THINK AND AT THIS POINT WE WOULD BE CHANGING THE GAME FOR THE ADMINISTRATION. WE WOULD HAVE TO BE REACTING TO THIS THROUGH THE BUDGET. LEAVING IT UNDEFINED AS TO HOW MUCH WILL GO TO HOUSING IS MY BIG CONCERN, COUNCILOR. BECAUSE HAVING THIS KNOWN QUANTITY OF HOW MANY RECURRING DOLLARS WE CAN COUNT ON EVERY YEAR IS REALLY THE BIG POINT. IT MAY BECOME CLEAR AFTER A WHILE THAT THESE PERCENTAGES SHOULD BE CHANGES AND THEY CAN BE. IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, MY BIG CONCERN IS WE HAVE A DEDICATED SOURCE OF RECURRING REVENUE FOR HOUSING WHICH IS THE TOP RESULTS OF THE ALL THE DISCUSSIONS THAT OCCUR ON THE HOMELESS ADVISORY COUNCIL AND THEIR HOUSING COMMITTEE. THAT BECAME REALLY CLEAR THAT WE COULD IMMEDIATELY GO OUT WITH THE REVENUE OF APPROXIMATELY $30 MILLION ANNUALLY AND SPEND THAT ON VOUCHERS AND HOUSING VOUCHERS ALONE. IN ORDER TO PLAN FOR OUR FUTURE OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO TACKLE THE HOUSING PROBLEM, WE'VE GOT TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE A GUARANTEED REVENUE SOURCE. >>COUN. PEÑA: SO, BASICALLY YES, BUT WAS GOING IN THAT DIRECTION IS REALLY GIVES US THE FLEXIBILITY TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE UNHOUSED. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING, WE INCLUDE BECAUSE I KNOW LAST TIME WHEN WE DO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT'S REALLY A DEDICATED FUND THAT WE HAVE LOT OF PEOPLE COME UP HERE AND SPEAK RELATED TO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND WHEN IT REALLY DIDN'T HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY THAT WE NEEDED. I DRAFTED THIS TODAY. AND ACTUALLY I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR PEÑA, CERTAINLY THE FLEXIBILITY OF MAKING THESE DECISIONS DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS IS ALWAYS THE PREROGATIVE BOTH OF THE COUNCIL AND THE ADMINISTRATION PROPOSING HOW TO FUND THESE PROGRAM AND THE COUNCIL MAKING THE DETERMINATION AS TO WHAT PERJURIES YOU WOULD LIKE SEE GO TO DIFFERENT PURPOSES. OBVIOUSLY, THIS AMENDMENT IS GIVING US THE FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE THAT PROPOSAL AND HAVE THE DEBATE DURING BUDGET PROCESS AND HAVE YOU MAKE THE FINAL DECISION ABOUT HOW THE MONEY IS SENT. FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF FLEXIBILITY THIS OFFERS THE BEST FLEXIBILITY. WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE IN SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. MR. RAEL. ONE OF THE RESERVATIONS I'VE HAD WITH THESE TWO BILLS MOVE FORWARD IS THE FACT THAT WE'RE RIGHT IN THE EVE OUR BUDGET AND MAKING THESE REALLY IMPORTANT DECISIONS WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT AS TOTALITY IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BITE US IN THE BUTT LATER. I WOULD JUST MOVE THIS AMENDMENT AND PUT IT BACK TO YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. >>COUN. BENTON: COUNCILOR BASSAN. >>COUN. BASSAN: MR. PRESIDENT, I THINK IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE'VE BEEN RESTRICTING OURSELVES ON SO MANY THINGS LATELY. I THINK THE 60-40 SPLIT OR TOO MUCH OF A REDUCTION OR MAKING CHOICES OR WHATEVER WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT REALLY GETTING GOOD A RESTRICTING. I THINK IT'S NO SURPRISE AND ALL OF US RECOGNIZE THAT CRIME AND HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING IS A SEVERE PROBLEM IN ALBUQUERQUE. IT'S OUR PRIORITY. THERE'S NOT ONE PERSON IN ALBUQUERQUE THAT I THINK WOULD ARGUE THAT. TO ME, BECAUSE THIS IS OUR PRIORITY I DON'T THINK THE MONEY IS GOING ANYWHERE OUTSIDE OF THIS. TO RESTRICT AND SAY IT HAS TO GO TO VOUCHERS OR IT HAS TO GO TO PUBLIC SAFETY, HOW ABOUT WE MAKE SURE TO SPEND ALL OF THE MONEY ON HOUSING AND REDUCTION OF HOMELESSNESS, ON ADDICTION MATTERS, AND REDUCING CRIME AND KEEPING FAMILIES SAFE. IF -- INSTEAD OF NIT-PICKING, HOW ABOUT JUST SPEND IT ON MAKING ALBUQUERQUE BETTER? >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. OTHER COMMENTS? GO AHEAD, COUNCILOR DAVIS. >>COUN. DAVIS: I WANTED TO ASK THE SPONSOR, MAYBE IT'S TECHNICAL CLARIFICATION. IF THE SPONSOR WOULD BE WILLING TO HEAR ME OUT. IN THE PROPOSAL IT SAYS REVENUE FROM THE HOLD HARMLESS TAX SHALL BE USED FOR HOUSING, PUBLIC SAFETY WERE OR ASSISTING THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY. I WONDER IF THE SPONSOR INTENDS THAT TO BE AN AND. MY CONCERN TO ADDRESS COUNCILOR BENTON'S THING IS THAT TECHNICALLY IT DOES ALL GO TO THE GENERAL FUND THERE'S JUST A BASELINE TO COVER ALL THE PRIORITIES AND IF THE ADMINISTRATION PUTS IT ALL -- IT SEEMS TO ME HAVING AN AND THERE WOULD ENSURE THE REPORTING ON THE TAX WOULD COVER ALL THREE BASES AND SOME DOLLARS ACCORDING TO THE COUNCIL'S WISHES. >>COUN. PEÑA: MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR DAVIS, SURE. YOU CALLED ME -- I'M HARD-OF-HEARING. I COULDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU WERE SAYING WHAT YOU WERE SAYING. I THINK USING THE WORD AND WORKS. >>COUN. BENTON: WE CAN CONSIDER THAT A FRIENDY AMENDMENT? >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. BENTON: SO, THE AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE HAS AND IN THE SECOND LINE AS OPPOSED TO NOT. >>COUN. DAVIS: MR. PRESIDENT. IF I CAN ASK THE STAFF, AM I READING THAT CORRECTLY, AS LONG AS WE HAVE ALL THREE WE WOULD HAVE SOME REPORTING OF ALL THREE BUCKETS. >> I AGREE THAT CHANGE DOES SUGGEST THAT IT WOULD BE A COMBINATION OF THEM AS OPPOSED TO ONE OR THE OTHER. >>COUN. DAVIS: THAT MEANS ON A YEAR TO YEAR BASIS THEY CAN BE FLEXIBLE ACCORD TO THE ADMINISTRATION OR COUNCIL. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR DAVIS YES. >>COUN. DAVIS: I KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION FOR A LITTLE WORD. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT AND SPONSORS. >>COUN. BENTON: COUNCILOR LEWIS. >>COUN. LEWIS: THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THIS? FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THIS BILL? >> MR. PRESIDENT, IF YOU WOULD LIKE ONE WE COULD HAVE ONE MADE ONE FOR YOU. >>COUN. LEWIS: THIS IS A BILL ENTIRELY JUST ALLOCATING -- WE SHOULD REALLY DO THE BUDGET. THIS IS WHAT THE BUDGET IS FOR. IF IT'S ENTIRELY ABOUT JUST ALLOCATING DOLLARS, I WOULD THINK THE ADMINISTRATION WOULDN'T BE TOO HAPPY BECAUSE IT'S LIMITING THESE -- ESPECIALLY IF SOME OF THE MONEY COULD COME OUT OF THE THREE-EIGHTH TAX I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO LIMIT THESE ALLOCATIONS. BOTTOM LINE, THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE DOING IN OUR BUDGET PROCESS IF IT'S ENTIRELY ABOUT BUDGETING REVENUE DOLLARS TO CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS. LET'S HAVE THE FULL DISCUSSION. LET'S FIND OUT 40% SOMETHING OR 60% OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. LET'S HAVE DISCUSSION IN THE BUDGET WHERE WE LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE LINE ITEM OF THIS IS GOING TO BE SPENT. I'M NOT COMFORTABLE ALLOCATING THESE DOLLARS WITHOUT KNOWING HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE SPENT LINE BY LINE. MR. PRESIDENT, I WOULD ACTUALLY MOVE A DEFERRAL ON THIS AND LET'S DEAL WITH THIS IN THE BUDGET. >>COUN. BENTON: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. >> MR. PRESIDENT, IF THE MAKER OF THE MOTION COULD CLARIFY THE DURATION OF THE DEFERRAL? >>COUN. LEWIS: I MOVE -- WHEN IS OUR FIRST BUDGET MEETING? >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR LEWIS, THAT WOULD BE AT THE END OF MAY. MAYBE A 60-DAY DEFERRAL. >>COUN. LEWIS: I MOVE A 60-DAY DEFERRAL. >> I APOLOGIZE, I'M GETTING CLARIFICATION IT'S ACTUALLY END OF APRIL. SO 30-DAY DEFERRAL WOULD PUT YOU PAST THE FIRST BUDGET MEETING. >>COUN. LEWIS: I MOVE A 30-DAY DEFERRAL. >>COUN. BENTON: IS THERE A SECOND? THERE'S A SECOND FROM COUNCILOR BASSAN. DEFERRAL OF 30 DAYS. THIS MOTION TAKES PRECEDENT. I AM GOING TO OPPOSE THIS DEFERRAL. BECAUSE I THINK AS I STATED EARLIER, AND WAS STATED BY OTHERS IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT, WE CAN IDENTIFY $30 MILLION WITH THE HOUSING VOUCHERS ALONE RIGHT NOW TODAY. AND THAT'S STILL NOT GOING TO MEET THE DEMAND. THAT WOULD BE A HUGE STEP FORWARD. THAT'S WHY I WROTE THE BILL THE WAY I DID. I THINK THE CO-SPONSORS WOULD AGREE PUTTING THAT MARKER DOWN IS A BIG PART OF THE BILL. IT WASN'T ABOUT RENEWING THE TAX OR KEEPING THE RANDOM REVENUE COMING IN THAT WOULD BE WITHIN THE REST OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET. IT WAS ABOUT IDENTIFYING A NEED AND REALLY WHEN WE SAY HOUSING, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERY KIND OF HOUSING. EMERGENCY HOUSING FOR HOMELESS, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE, AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR WORKING PEOPLE AND YOUNG PEOPLE WE WANT TO KEEP IN THE CITY WHO ARE BEING PRICED OUT OF THE MARKET. COUNCILOR JONES. >>COUN. JONES: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I'M LINK -- WHAT WE'RE DOING IS KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. WE NEED TO HOUSE PEOPLE, WE NEED TO FIGHT CRIME. IF WE DEFER THIS FOR 30 DAYS, 90 DAYS UNTIL THE BUDGET, THEN IT WILL BE ANOTHER 30 DAYS, 90 DAYS BEFORE WE CAN FUND IT AND HAVE A PROGRAM IN PLACE. ARE WE GOING TO HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS IN OUR CITY WAIT FOR SIX MONTHS WHEN IN FACT WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO USE THEM FOR. WHY ARE WE ARGUING ABOUT WHICH ONE GETS IT AND WITCH ONE DOESN'T. I BELIEVE THE ORIGINAL PUT WAS WELL DONE. 60% TO PUBLIC SAFETY, YES. WE STILL WON'T COVER HOW MUCH MONEY WE NEED IN THAT DEPARTMENT. I THINK IT'S TIME FOR US TO THINK THE BIG PICTURE AND THINK ABOUT THE CITY. IF WE DON'T LIKE THE WAY IT'S BEING USED WE CAN COME BACK IN AND SLAP THEIR HANDS AND DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. WE HAVE TO GET THIS MONEY OUT THERE AND HAVE TO START HOUSING AND PROTECTING THE PEOPLE OF ALBUQUERQUE. SORRY. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BENTON: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE DEFERRAL. >>COUN. BASSAN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I JUST WANT TO SAY I DON'T SUPPORT EITHER. I SECONDED THE DEFERRAL. I DON'T THINK IT IS KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. I THINK A DEFERRAL ILELONGATE THIS. I THINK WE'RE SPENDING THE MONEY ON THIS STUFF ANYWAY. WE KNOW THIS IS OUR PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK THAT BY FREEING UP THIS ORDINANCE THAT THIS IS WHY WE'RE GOING TO GET THE MONEY OUT THE DOOR. THE MONEY IS OUT THE DOOR. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE TO BE CLEAR. I DON'T SUPPORT THE DEFERRAL AND I DON'T SUPPORT THE BILL. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY AS WELL. BASICALLY, I'M JUST FEELING IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND I'M GOING TO KNOW BACK TO WHAT WE SAID EARLIER. WE FEED -- NEED TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHERE THIS FUNDING IS SPENT. NOT ONLY WHERE THE FUNDING IS GOING, WE ALSO NEED TO KNOW WHETHER EACH PROGRAM IS WORKING. IF THERE'S A PROGRAM THAT ISN'T WORKING, THEN LET'S PUT THAT MONEY TO PROGRAM THAT IS WORKING. I THINK WE SHOULD PROBABLY DO A LITTLE BIT OF HOMEWORK TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GOES TO THE RIGHT PLACE AND WE HAVE THE FOLLOW UP IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE IT'S WORKING OR NOT. SO MANY TIMES, I'VE BEEN A POLICE OFFICER FOR 26 YEARS. I'VE WORKED IN THE STREETS EVERY YEAR, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN BECAUSE I SAID IT IN THE COMMITTEE, 26 YEARS OF SERVICE AND EVERYBODY HAS TOLD ME WE HAVE HOMELESS ISSUE. A CRISIS. EVERYBODY HAS TOLD ME WE HAVE TO PUT MONEY INTO THIS PROGRAM, MONEY INTO THAT PROGRAM. YET, THAT AS WELL AS OUR CRIME PROBLEM ARE STILL GOING UP. WE NEED TO BUCKLE DOWN AS A COUNCIL AND MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT ISN'T WORKING. UNTIL WE KNOW THAT, THEN LET'S FUND THE THINGS THAT ARE WORKING AND LET'S GET RID OF THE FUNDING FOR THINGS THAT ARE NOT OR FIND ANOTHER WAY TO SPEND THAT MONEY AND ACTUALLY PUT IT TO THE LITMUS TEST AGAIN. THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING, HOW MUCH MONEY IS GOING AND ARE WE THROWING THE MONEY AWAY OR ACTUALLY USING FOR SOMETHING POSITIVE AND MAKING PROGRESS. I SAID THAT THE OTHER DAY IN REFERENCE TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE OFFICERS LEAVING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE OFFICERS COMING ON. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WORKING AND WHAT ISN'T. I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE AS A COUNCIL THAT HAVE CONTROL OF THE MONEY AND BUDGET TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS FOR THE CITIZENS OF ALBUQUERQUE TO MAKE SURE THE RIGHT PROGRAMS ARE BEING SPENT, THAT WE'RE SPENDING MONEY ON RIGHT PROGRAMS AND FUND THE ONES THAT WORK. AND THE ONES THAT DON'T, LET'S USE THE MONEY FOR THAT THEY DON'T WORK AND FUND THE ONES THAT DO WORK. THAT'S JUST MY IDEA. I HAVE TO DO THAT IN MY OWN BUSINESS. THAT'S THE KIND OF STUFF YOU HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND GROW YOUR BUSINESS. YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHERE CRUR SPENDING THE MONEY AND WHETHER IT'S WORKING. THAT'S MY COMMENT. I ACTUALLY LIKE MORE OF A LINE ITEM IDEA OF WHERE AND HOW OUR MONEY IS BEING SPENT. IF THAT PROGRAM IS WORKING OR NOT. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS 30-DAY DEFERRAL. >>COUN. LEWIS: I WITHDRAWAL THE DEFERRAL. >>COUN. BENTON: THAT PUTS BACK ON THE AMENDMENT BY COUNCILOR PEÑA. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. I JUST REALLY THINK THIS DOES EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO BUT GIVES US FLEXIBILITY. I THINK THERE'S SEVERAL ARGUMENTS MADE ABOUT THE 60-40 SPLIT. I THINK THAT DELINEATES IT IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY. IF WE'RE LOOKING AT PUBLIC SAFETY AND I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT INCREASES FOR THE OFFICERS AND IF WE'RE ABLE TO -- IF ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE AT THE 60% MARK AND WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE OUR OFFICERS INCREASE THAT LIMITS US WHAT WE CAN DO THE TAX. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT ON AMENDMENT ONE. >>COUN. BENTON: WE'LL GO TO A VOTE ON THE FLOOR AMENDMENT. >>COUN. JONES: WOULD YOU PLEASE ASK THE COUNCILOR TO READ THE AMENDMENT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THE ENTIRE AMENDMENT IS ON PAGE TWO, LINE 28 THROUGH PAGE THREE LINE ONE, AMEND AS FOLLOWS. REVENUE FROM THE MUNICIPAL HOLD HARMLESS GROSS RECEIPTS TAX WILL BE USED ENTIRELY FOR HOUSING, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND ASSISTING THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY YES. OPPOSED? THAT PASSES ON A 5-4 VOTE. WE'LL AS AMENDED WITH THE BILL. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE'RE ON THE BILL AS AMENDED. COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: I'LL ADD THAT I THINK NOW THIS BILL IS KIND OF IRRELEVANT. IT'S NOT DOING WHAT WE ANTICIPATED WHICH WAS GIVEN A LONG-TERM SOURCE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I THINK THE POINT IS WELL-MADE THAT THESE FUNDS, THE GENERAL REVENUE AREA OF THE CITY CAN BE USED FOR THESE THINGS ALREADY. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE PROVIDING WHAT WAS NEEDED WHICH IS A LONG-TERM PLANNING INSTRUMENT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I'M NOT SURE I SEE THE VALUE OF THE BILL ANYMORE. >>COUN. BENTON: I THINK IT DOES ONE THING IS IT CONTINUES THE REVENUE SOURCE. HOWEVER, I AGREE AND I'LL JUST SAY AGAIN, I THINK WE NEED AT LEAST THE EQUIVALENT OF 40% OF THIS AMOUNT IN TERMS OF THESE NUMBERS OR MORE AS DEDICATED REVENUE SOURCE FOR HOUSING OPERATIONS. JUST TO MAKE THAT CLEAR GOING INTO THE BUDGET IF WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THIS IS A PRIORITY WE NEED TO DO THAT GOING INTO THE BUDGET. >>COUN. JONES: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. SINCE SOME OF US THINK THIS IS UNCLEAR WITH THAT AMENDMENT, I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO RECONSIDER THE AMENDMENT THAT WE JUST PASSES AND GIVE BACK TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING WHAT WE WANT TO DO. WHAT DO WE REALLY WANT TO DO? IF WE'RE MOVING IT BACK AND FORTH. DID YOU VOTE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE? >>COUN. JONES: YES I DID. >>COUN. BENTON: IS THAT A MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION BY THE PERSON WHO VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. IS THERE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT. THERE'S A SECOND FROM COUNCILOR SANCHEZ FOR RECONSIDERATION OF THE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT. THIS IS A VOTE TO RECONSIDER AND WE'LL VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT AGAIN. THIS IS ONLY FOR THE RECONSIDERATION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF RECONSIDERATION OF FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY YES. OPPOSED? 5-4 FOR THE RECONSIDERATION. THAT PASSES. WE'RE BACK ON THE AMENDMENT. COUNCILOR PEÑA'S AMENDMENT. I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO RECONSIDER. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY REASON TO DISCUSS IT. WE'LL GO STRAIGHT TO THE VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES I RAISE YOUR HAND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE AMENDMENT SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. WE'RE BACK ON THE AMENDMENT. WHICH REMOVES THE PERJURIES. -- PERCENTAGE . >>COUN. SANCHEZ: THE PERCENTAGE GETS LOCKED IN? >>COUN. BENTON: THIS IS -- WE'RE RECONSIDERING THE AMENDMENT THAT REMOVES THE PERCENTAGE. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: OKAY. >>COUN. BENTON: WE'RE BACK ON THE AMENDMENT WHICH REMOVES THE PERCENTAGES AND ASS . >>COUN. BENTON: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED? THAT FAILS ON A 4-5 VOTE. WE'RE BACK ON THE BILL, NOT AS AMENDED. AS AMENDED. FLOOR SUBSTITUTE. COUNCILOR PEÑA. >>COUN. PEÑA: MR. PRESIDENT, I THINK WITHOUT THIS FLEXIBILITY WITHOUT THE BUDGET BEING US WORKING ON BUDGET I CANNOT SUPPORT THE BILL. >>COUN. BENTON: JUST TO BE CLEAR ON THE BILL AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS IT HAS THE PERCENTAGES IN IT. IT DOES EXTEND THE TAX, CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. IN ITS CURRENT STATE IT WOULD CONTINUE TO DEDICATE 60% TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND 40% TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING GOAL PRIORITIES. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. >>COUN. JONES: I THINK WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF CONVERSATION HERE WHEN WE'RE CONCERNED. IT SEEMS LIKE OUR MAJOR CONCERN WAS 60% FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GIVE FAR MORE TO 60% IF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP OUR CITY SAFE. I THINK WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE OTHER PROJECTS AND THINGS ALLOWED IN A MORE OPEN FUNDING SITUATION. I THINK THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. EVERYONE THAT TALKS TO ME IS SAFETY. SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY. WHY ARE WE OPPOSED TO PUTTING 60% OF THIS ONE PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO PUBLIC SAFETY? WHY WOULD WE SPLIT IT UP INTO THIS POCKET AND THIS POCKET WHEN WE ALL KNOW NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS PUBLIC SAFETY. WE'RE ONLY DOING 60%. AND WE CAN PUT OTHER MONEY TOWARD THE OTHER THINGS WE WANT TO DO. LET'S STAY SAFE. LET'S STAY WHERE WE NEED TO BE WITH PUBLIC SAFETY. >>COUN. DAVIS: I THINK WE HAVE A LONG AGENDA, MR. PRESIDENT. I THINK COUNCILOR JONES IS RIGHT. I KNOW YOU AND I HAVE THE SAME HEART ATTACK THREE YEARS AGO WHEN WE SPONSORED THE AMENDMENT WHEN WE SAT IN THE CORNER AND HAD TIME TO SPONSOR THIS. WE SET ASIDE TO ENSURE THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING TONIGHT THAT WE ALWAYS HAD MINIMAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION OR THE ADMINISTRATION HAS A CONVERSATION ABOUT MOVING AWAY TO DEFUND PUBLIC SAFETY OR HOUSING. I THINK DESPITE THE FACT THAT ALL THE MONEY GOES TO THE GENERAL FUND BUT WHAT IT SAYS IS YOU AT LEAST HAVE TO HAVE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR THIS PURPOSE. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT YOU HAVE TO TELL US WHY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PASS THE BILL TO LET YOU DO IT. IT FORCES TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION. WE CAN PUT MORE, WE CAN'T PUT LESS. I THINK THAT'S THE POINT. I APPRECIATE COUNCILOR BENTON FOR BRINGING THIS BACK. WE PUT A SUNSET IN WAS IT ALLOWED TO PUT BUMPERS ON THE BUDGET. WITH LOTS OF COMPETING PRIORITIES WE WANTED TO ENSURE NOTHING GETS LOST. I THINK WE CAN DO THAT AGAIN WITH THIS BILL. I AGREE WITH COUNCILOR JONES, WE CAN DO BOTH, WE SHOULD KEEP DOING IT. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BASSAN: MR. PRESIDENT, I HOPE WE CAN SOME DAY PUT LESS INTO THE PUBLIC SAFETY FUND BECAUSE THAT TELLS ME WE'RE IMPROVING THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. THIS GOES TO COUNCILOR LEWIS'S POINT. WHY ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ALL OF THIS MORE AND MORE AND MORE WHEN WE COULD ACTUALLY EITHER HAVE LESS OR ACHIEVE OR GOAL WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD OVER RESTRICT OURSELVES WITH THE PERCENTAGE. >>COUN. PEÑA: I THINK HEARING FROM THIS STAFF, THE FINANCE STAFF EARLIER, WE ALREADY PUT MORE THAN 60%. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEFINING, THIS IS PRECISELY WHY I PUT MY AMENDMENT FORWARD WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEFINING ABOUTS AND 60-40 NOW THAT'S SAYING IF WE GO ABOVE, AND THIS IS THE ARGUMENT I'M HEARING WE MAY NEED TO HEAR ABOVE THE 60% THAN WE'RE RESTRICTEDED BY DOING THAT WITH THIS FUND, IF IT'S NEEDED. >>COUN. BENTON: IF I MAY, AS THE ORIGINAL DRAFTER OF THIS BILL. THE INTENT, MY INTENT, WAS EXACTLY WHAT WAS STATED. WE KNOW THAT WE ARE SPENDING A LOT MORE THAN 60%. I CAN TELL YOU WE ARE NOT SPENDING THAT KIND OF MONEY, 40% ON HOUSING OPERATIONS. WE'RE NOT. WE'RE NOT PUTTING OUT THAT NUMBER OF VOUCHERS PER YEAR. PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH VOUCHERS, THOSE OF US ON THE COUNCIL IS WE DID A ONE-OFF VOUCHERS THAT WERE GOOD FOR A COUPLE YEARS THAT REALLY DOESN'T WORK. IF YOU DON'T HAVE RECURRING GUARANTEED REVENUE TOWARD VOUCHERS THEN OUR PROVIDERS AND FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY LIKE HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS WHO HAVE SPOKEN IN FAVOR, THESE ARE PEOPLE IN THE STREET GETTING PEOPLE HOUSED AS WE SPEAK. AND THEY SAY WE CAN SPEND $29 MILLION ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE PREDICTED THIS YEAR. WE CAN SPEND THAT ON HOUSING VOUCHERS ALONE. WITHOUT EVEN TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE LANDLORD INCENTIVES. MAYBE IT'S NOT A VERY ARTICULATE TERM TO CALL IT A MARKER. TO ME, KNOWING THAT REVENUE IS GOING TO BE HERE GOING FORWARD WITHOUT ACTION BY THIS OR A FUTURE COUNCIL TO REMOVE IS REALLY IMPORTANT. IT'S A BIG STEP FORWARD. AND OUR HOUSING PROVIDER COMMUNITY IS PREPARED TO GO OUTS AND SPEND IT ON THOSE VOUCHERS IF NOTHING ELSE. IN TERMS OF HOUSING OPERATION COST AND NEED FOR RECURRING FUNDING. I DO URGE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS. I KNOW WE HAD THE DEBATE ABOUT THE AMENDMENT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT 40. I'M NOT FOCUSED ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY FIGURE. I KNOW WE'RE SPENDING THAT AND WAY MORE THAN THAT ELSEWHERE IN THE BUDGET ALREADY. I AM CONCERNED. IF IT WERE UP TO ME, I WOULD PUT A HIGHER PERCENTAGE FOR HOUSING THAN 40. 40 IS SOMETHING WE KNOW CAN GET OUT THE DOOR IMMEDIATELY TOWARD THIS PRESSING NEED. AND ANY TYPE OF HOUSING WITH QUALIFIED FORCE OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AS WELL AS REGULAR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I JUST WANTED TO ADD THIS GROSS RECEIPTS TAX IS NOT THE ONLY FORM OF REVENUE THAT THE CITY HAS. AND SO, WE CAN ALLOCATE 60% TO PUBLIC SAFETY, THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL MONEY AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. WE ARE NOT SPENDING AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO 40% FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING RIGHT NOW. AND THAT IS PROBLEMATIC. IT'S IN THE TOP THREE, EVERYBODY AGREES, PROBLEMS WE HAVE AND WE REALLY NEED TO PUT SOME MONEY SIDE TO CONTINUELY PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HOUSING VOUCHERS, ALL THE SERVICES WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OF. THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO SET THIS ASIDE OF 40% OF THIS ONE PARTICULAR REVENUE SOURCE SO WE CAN HAVE LONG-TERM PLANNING FOR PEOPLE IN NEED. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. COUNCILOR PEÑA. >>COUN. PEÑA: IF I CAN ADD, I AGREE WITH COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN AND COUNCILOR BENTON ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOLLARS. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A BUDGET ASSOCIATED WITH IT. THAT BUDGET ASSOCIATED WITH THIS HAS AN INCREASE OVER 60% FOR PUBLIC SAFETY BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS. AS A RESULT OF THIS BILL, PEAG -- BEING THE WAY IT IS, THEN WE HAVE TO CUT SOME THINGS. DO WE CUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT THIS BILL IS TRYING TO DO? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO CUT FROM THAT? WHERE DO WE FILL THE GAPS? AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE ITEMS IN THIS BUDGET THAT HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED TO US ARE ALREADY PART OF THE LINE ITEM. THERE'S THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT. THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE I CAN'T THINK OF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. ONCE WE CUT THOSE AND REDUCE BECAUSE THIS ACTUALLY REDUCES THE PUBLIC SAFETY AMOUNT, CORRECT? IS THAT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR PEÑA, LET ME HAVE OUR MR. BACA TALK ABOUT THE PERCENTAGES. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR PEÑA, WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT THE CURRENT BUDGET AMOUNTS IN FAMILY COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR THINGS LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EMERGENCY SHELTER, HOMELESS SUPPORT SERVICES, WE'RE GETTING TO ABOUT CLOSE TO $30 MILLION IN JUST THOSE PROGRAM STRATEGIES. I KNOW THAT COUNCILOR BENTON HAS HOW MUCH OF THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO HOUSING VOUCHERS. THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THE COUNCIL COULD INCREASE IF THEY NEEDED. >>COUN. PEÑA: MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU. MY QUESTION IS, WHEN WE'RE RELATING THIS TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND WE HAVE IN THIS BILL IN FRONT OF US IT SAYS PUBLIC SAFETY AT 60%, WOULD WE HAVE TO REDUCE PUBLIC SAFETY DOLLARS IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS BILL? >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS, REALLY JUST ALL DEPENDS ON THE TOTAL POT OF MONEY IN THE GENERAL FUND OF COURSE. IF, YOU KNOW, THANKFULLY THE TAX RATE WILL REMAIN THE SAME. IF THAT WERE TO DECREASE WE HAVE ISSUES. CURRENTLY, A LARGE PORTION OF THE GENERAL FUND MONEY IS GOING TOWARD PUBLIC SAFETY. IT WOULD CERTAINLY BE OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY THAT AREN'T RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY. OF COURSE, THAT WOULD BE UP TO THE COUNCIL TO DECIDE WHICH CUTS WOULD NEED TO BE MADE. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. >>COUN. BENTON: ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED? THAT FAILS ON A 4-5 VOTE. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE TO OTHER BUSINESS. EC51. WHICH IS THE MAYOR'S VETO OF O-22-3 REPEALING THE ENACTMENT OF COUNCIL BILL 1948 WHICH ENACTED THE ALBUQUERQUE CLEAN AND GREEN ORDINANCE. SORRY, I MISSED A PAGE. WE'RE BACK THEN ON ITEM D, . THIS IS RESCINDING ENACTMENT OF THE O-2021-25 COUNCIL BILL NUMBER O-20180 WHICH REQUIRED PUBLIC LABOR IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. COUNCILORS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MOVE? >>COUN. JONES: YES, I'D LIKE TO MOVE O-8. THIS IS RESCINDING THE O-2216 WHICH REQUIRED THE USE OF PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT ON CERTAIN PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. I WOULD MOVE A DUE PASS. >>COUN. BENTON: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM COUNCILOR LEWIS, I BELIEVE. COUNCILORS, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS? LET'S GO AHEAD AND HEAR FROM PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE ROSENDO FOLLOWED BY DAN. >> GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT, CHAIR MEMBERS. I'M PRESIDENT OF CARPENTERS LOCAL 1319, I REPRESENT OVER 1200 MEMBERS IN THIS COMMUNITY. AFTER THAT LONG WAIT, I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M AT WITH MY COMMENTS. I'M IN SHOCK AND AWE THAT I STAND BEFORE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WANTED TO REPEAL AN ORDINANCE THAT'S FOR THE COMMUNITY AND CREATING COMMUNITY WEALTH. SOME OF YOU WONDER WHAT COMMUNITY WEALTH IS, THAT'S CREATING JOBS, AND BENEFITS. WE HAVE RAISED THE STANDARD OF CONSTRUCTION IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. TO VOTE AGAINST THE COMMUNITY WORKFORCE AGREEMENT IS LIKE BEING A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER AND TAKING SELFIES. THIS IS SAYING THINGS WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY. WE LIVE HERE, WANT TO BUILD HERE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THESE PEOPLE ARE BUILDING PROJECTS AND GETTING INSURANCE AND RETIREMENT AND EVERYTHING ELSE. THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO LOWER STANDARDS OF CONSTRUCTION TO FIT AN ORGANIZATION OF LOBBYISTS OR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. THAT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY SHOULD RAISE STANDARDS IF THEY WANT TO DO WORK HERE. THIS IS AN INVESTMENT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND IT MAKES NO SENSE WHY WE'RE TRYING TO REPEAL AN OND INSURANCE THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE FRUITS OF IT. IT'S AN ATTACK ON ORGANIZED LABOR. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE WHAT WE'RE DOING. >> DAN, FOLLOWED BY VINCENT. >> MOST ABSOLUTE FACT THAT APPROXIMATELY 90% OF NEW MEXICO CONTRACTORS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES CHOOSE NOT TO BE REPRESENTED BY A UNION. IF PLAs ARE ENACTED PROJECT COSTS COULD BE IN JEOPARDY, QUALITY COULD BE COMPROMISED AND SCHEDULED COULD BE IMPACTED. PLEASE REPEAL THE PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT BILL. >> VINCENT, FOLLOWED BY TOMAS. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT, AND COUNCILORS. MY NAME IS VINCE, MY WIFE AND I ARE OWNERS OF VITAL CONSULTING GROUP. WE'RE A SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION CERTIFIED HUB ZONE. 8A, DISABLED BUSINESS IN ALBUQUERQUE. WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR THE -- I'VE BEEN HERE ALL MY LIFE. WE PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE. WE'RE CURRENTLY BUILDING AN APRON FOR CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. WE HAVE TWO CONTRACTS WITH THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. ONE OF THOSE WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM US IN SUPPORT OF THIS. EVERY ONE OF OUR OVER 70 EMPLOYEES IS PAID OVER THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WAGES. WE PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE, WE PROVIDE PAID VACATIONS, SICK LEAVE. WE HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR EVERYTHING. IF YOU TAKE AWAY THE ABILITY TO WORK ON A PROJECT JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T BELONG TO A UNION, OR OUR PEOPLE AREN'T ALLOWED TO WORK, WE'RE BEING DISCRIMINATED AGAINST. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD TAKE OUR TAXPAYER MONEY AND PUT IT TO OUT OF STATE CONTRACTORS. >> TOMAS, FOLLOWED BY JAVIER. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILOR BENTON, CITY COUNCIL. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A POINT. I'M WITH IBW611. I WANT TO ADDRESS THE PLA. BY MAINTAINING THIS ORDINANCE WE CAN PROTECT WORKERS, AND ENSURE THEIR EFFORTS ARE COMPENSATED CORRECTLY. CAPITAL OUT LAY INFRASTRUCTURE, THESE IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR CITY, THIS IS ECONOMICS 101. THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT. PROVIDED TESTIMONY ON OTHER HEARINGS. I'M HERE AGAIN TODEFEND THIS PLA. I URGE YOU TO OPPOSE THE REPEAL OF THE PLA ORDINANCE. PLEASE STAND ONCE AGAIN WITH US. PLEASE STAND ONCE AGAIN WITH LABOR. THANK YOU. >> JAVIER FOLLOWED BY MATTHEW. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. CITY COUNCIL, ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL. I'M A REPRESENTATIVE OF IBEW LOCAL 611 AND THE JOINT APRESENTISHSHIP FOR THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY. THIS EVENING WE HAVE THE PRESIDENT WITH US, OUR RANK AND FILE. RIGHT HERE WITH US TODAY. THEY REPRESENT THE STUDENT BODY. THE 330 APPRENTICES WE HAVE. AND A MEMBER OF THE RANK AND FILE OF JOURN AMEN AND WOMEN. AND COUNTLESS OTHERS VIEWING THIS MEETING VIA ZOOM. OUR PROGRAM IS PROVIDING TOP-NOTCH EDUCATION ON JOBS. AND GROOMING MEN AND WOMEN FOR ELECTRICAL TRADE. THEY ENSURE OUR MEN AND WOMEN WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO COMPLETE APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES WITH HEALTH INSURANCE, RETIREMENT PACKAGES THAT PROMOTE PROSPERITY IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. I COMMEND ALL THE APPRENTICES WHO ARE ATTENDING TO ISSUES IMPORTANT TO YOUNG WORKING MEN AND WOMEN LIKE THIS PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT. I WILL LIKE TO THANK THE CITY COUNCIL THAT SUPPORT LABOR AND STRUCTURED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. AND RESPECTFULLY ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO REJECT THE REPEAL OF THE PLA AND INVEST IN PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE MEANS TO RETIRE WITH DIGNITY. THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL. >> MARTHA FOLLOWED WHY KYLE. >> I'M MATTHEW, MYSELF AND LOCAL 1319 STRONG IN OPPOSITION. THESE AGREEMENTS DO NOT DISCRIMINATE FOR LOCAL PROJECTS. THEY RAISE THE BAR FOR ON THE JOB TRAINING. LOCAL JOBS WILL CREATE OPPORTUNITIES AND GET RID OF HOMELESSNESS AND THE ECONOMIC STRIFE THAT WE'RE FEELING IN NEW MEXICO AND ALBUQUERQUE. LOCAL JOBS AND LOCAL HIRE ARE THE ANSWER. NOT BRINGING OUT OF STATE COMPANIES OR UNDOING WHAT IS ALREADY DONE. LET'S GIVE THIS THING A SHOT. 100% OF WAGES ARE SET BY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. IT DOESN'T RAISE ANY PRICE. APPRENTICESHIP LOWERS THAT. PRIORITIZE A LOCAL PIPELINE. LOCAL GRADUATES, AND LET'S WORK ON OUR CITY TOGETHER. LET'S COME TOGETHER AS A TEAM. THANK YOU. >> KARLA, FOLLOWED BY MARIO. >> GOOD EVENING, OR GOOD NIGHT AT THIS POINT. ASSOCIATED BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS. WE STAND IN SUPPORT OF THE REPEAL OF THE PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT. I WANT TO BE CLEAR. WE ARE NOT COMING HERE TO STAND IN SUPPORT TO PAY LOWER WAGES. NOR ARE WE COMING TO SUPPORT THE RIGHT TO DEPRIVE PEOPLE OF HEALTH INSURANCE AND RETIREMENT AND PENSION AND SICK LEAVE AND VACATION TIME AND WORKERS COMPENSATION WHICH WAS AN ACCUSATION I THOUGHT WAS KIND OF WEIRD. THE FACT IS, THERE ARE A LOT OF UNKNOWNS IN THIS PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT THAT MAKE IT CHALLENGING FOR A NON-UNION CONTRACTOR TO COMPETE. VERBIAGE OF SAME AS OR EQUAL TO AND CORE EMPLOYEES AND THE REFERRAL PROCESS. OUR CONTRACTORS, AND WHEN I SAY OUR, THE CITY CONTRACTORS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO LAWYER UP TO DO WORK IN THEIR TOWN. PLA -- WE DISMISS THE STATEMENT THAT AS LONG AS THEY FOLLOW THE RULES IT WILL BE OKAY. IT'S NOT THAT EASY. PLAs DON'T ENSURE QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP. THEY DON'T ENSURE ANYTHING OTHER THAN ENSURING UNION WORKERS. WE ASK FOR FAIR AND OPEN COMPETITION. >> MARIO FOLLOWED BY BRIAN. >> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND MY BIRTH DAY WITH SO MANY PEOPLE. REALLY QUICKLY, I'M GOING TO TRY TO GIVE YOU THREE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES. I SUPPORT THE REPEAL OF THE PLA. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF A SMALL ELECTRICAL COMPANY IN NEW MEXICO. FROM AN EMPLOYEES PERSPECTIVE, YOU HEARD 90% OF THE EMPLOYEES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN NEW MEXICO ARE NOT UNION MEMBERS. THAT'S NINE OF YOU WOULD BE REPRESENTED OF THAT. AND ONE OTHER WOULD BE A UNION REPRESENTATIVE. THE NINE OF YOU WOULD BE WORKING FOR COMPANIES AND NOT A MEMBER OF THE UNION. THINK ABOUT THAT. FROM A TAXPAYER STANDPOINT, ALL I HEAR ABOUT IS HOW MUCH OR LITTLE MONEY WE HAVE. PLA AGREEMENTS DRIVE UP THE COST OF A PROJECT BY 12 TO 20%. IF YOU LOOK AT FIVE OF YOU, FIGURE OUT WHICH OF YOUR DISTRICTS IS NOT GOING TO GET A PROJECT. THAT'S WAY THAT WORKS. FINALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU LOOKED AT THIS, THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT IS A 32-PAGE DOCUMENT. THE FIRST THING IS I DON'T GET TO NEGOTIATE WITH MY EMPLOYEES DIRECTLY. I PAY FOR THEIR APPRENTICESHIP, PROVIDE HEALTH CARE, THE ONES I LEND MONEY TO WHEN TOOLS ARE STOLEN OUT OF THE TRUCK. PLEASE VOTE TO REPEAL THIS. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BASSAN: IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN ASK THE AUDIENCE NOT TO HECKLE OR NOT TO RESPOND BACK. >>COUN. BENTON: WHEN THE SPEAKER IS SPEAKING, NO COMMENTS ALLOWED FROM THE AUDIENCE. TO BE CLEAR, I'M GETTING HARD-OF-HEARING. I DIDN'T HEAR IT. LET THE PEOPLE SAY WHAT THEY'RE SAYING. GET UP AND SAY YOUR SIDE OF THE STORY. >> MY NAME IS BRIAN. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASPHALT PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION OF NEW MEXICO. I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE REPEAL OF THIS AMENDMENT. BECAUSE TWICE IN MY LIFE, WHICH SPANS 50 YEARS OF WORKING, I HAVE WORKED CONSTRUCTION. AND I HAVE WORKED FOR UNION COMPANIES AND THEN I LEFT THEM. I NEVER GOT ANY BENEFIT OTHER THAN THE WAGES. I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU TODAY, IN NEW MEXICO, THE HEAVY HIGHWAY CONTRACTORS ARE PAYING FULL WAGES. AND THEY ALSO DO TRAINING, THEY SUPPLY BENEFITS TO THEIR PEOPLE AND I'VE GOT A LOT OF MEMBERS THAT HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE RETIRING FROM THEM AFTER 30 YEARS. AFTER 25 YEARS. AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN A GOOD RETIREMENT PLAN. NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE UNIONS MIGHT BE SUPPLIES. THEY HAVE THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING. WE ASK YOU TO -- ONE OTHER THING I WANT TO SAY IS NEW MEXICO OSHA SAZ THAT NEW MEXICO HAS SOME OF THE SAFEST CONSTRUCTION WORK IN THE COUNTRY. 6% OF THE INDUSTRY IS UNIONIZED. THE OTHER 94% IS NOT. >> COURTNEY, FOLLOWED BY JIM. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I AM THE BUSINESS MANAGER OF UA LOCAL PIPEFITTERS WHICH EMPLOYS 2,000 PEOPLE. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF NEW MEXICO BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADE COUNCIL WHICH IS THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MEN AND WOMEN THAT WORK CONSTRUCTION IN THE GREAT CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AND GREAT STATE OF NEW MEXICO. I'M REALLY CONFUSED BECAUSE I KEEP HEARING WE ONLY REPRESENT ABOUT 6% OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, WHY ARE THEY SO AFRAID OF 6%. THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. I SEE THE PROJECTS GET DONE AT THE HOSPITALS. INTEL, ALL MY GUYS AND GALS. I'M NOT SURE WHERE THESE NUMBERS ARE COMING FROM. I THINK THEY'RE BEING MADE UP. I KEEP HEARING OVER AND OVER. THE USE OF A PLA PROVIDES STRUCTURE AND STABILITY TO LARGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. GUYS, THE WAY THIS ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN, IT'S GOT TO BE OVER $10 MILLION. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A $60,000 PROJECT, THIS IS OVER $10 HIM -- MILLION. THE PLA MAKES PERFECT SENSE. I'M HAVING A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING HOW IT DOESN'T. YOU MEN AND WOMEN ARE GETTING A HUGE ADVANTAGE TO GO TO LOS ALAMOS OR INTEL. IF THEY GET $10 ABOVE HOUR TO GO TO LA HOW DO WE MAN THE JOBS IF WE DON'T FOLLOW THE RULES AND HAVE A STANDARD? WITH THAT, THANK YOU. >> JIM, FOLLOWED BY GEORGE. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY IN PERSON. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TONIGHT. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO TELL YOU I'M JIM, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ASSOCIATED CONTRACTORS OF NEW MEXICO. I REPRESENT 117 CONTRACTORS, AND 25,000 EMPLOYEES. NON-UNION CONTRACTORS. WE ARE IN AN INCREDIBLE TIME. IT'S AN INCREDIBLE TIME TO PROMOTE INFRASTRUCTURE. WHAT IT'S NOT INCREDIBLE IS FOR DEVELOPING AN UNQUALIFIED WORKFORCE AND ENACTING AN THING THAT WOULD DISCOURAGE COMPETITIVE BIDDING. TYPICALLY, CONTRACTORS ARE QUALIFIED TO POM CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, KILLING THE ARGUMENT WITH ACCURATE PRICING WITH UNION ONLY COMPANIES. THIS INCLUDE PENALTIES FOR PROJECTS NOT COMPLETED ON TIME, KILLING THE ARGUMENT THAT ONLY UNION COMPANIES CAN PROVIDE TIMELY COMPLETION ON PROJECTS. THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME FOR PLA. RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND GET PEOPLE TO WORK. WE'RE IN SUPPORT OF REPEALING THIS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> GORGE, FOLLOWED BY JOSE ON ZOOM. >> GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M GEORGE, I AM A MEMBER OF LOCAL 611. I LIVE IN COUNCILOR SANCHEZ'S DISTRICT. I'VE BEEN AN ELECTRICIAN. I'VE BUILT WORK, MANAGED WORK. I'VE MANAGED WORK WITH DAVIS BACON. AND IT'S SIMILAR TO PLA. IT ADDS STRUCTURE. A PLA ISN'T A MATTER OF BUILDING A BUILDING IT'S A MATTER OF BUILDING A COMMUNITY. IT'S GOOD WAGES, BENEFITS. APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS FOR YOUR GRADUATING SENIORS AND IN HIGH SCHOOL. ANY MORE, THE ELECTRICAL BUSINESS IS -- YOU NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE TRAINED IN USE OF COMPUTERS, THIS MEANS SOME OF YOUR UNM GRADUATES ARE GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PEOPLE. THOSE CONTRACTORS WHO ARE COMPLAINS THAT THEY THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS OR HAVE SOME UNFAIR ADVANTAGE, A GOOD WAGE AND ABILITY TO EXPAND AND CONTRACT OUR WORKFORCE ACCORD TO THE NEEDS OF THE PROJECT ARE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF THE PLA. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT OF THE PLA AND DO NOT RESCIND IT. THANK YOU. >> WE'LL MOVE TO VIRTUAL SPEAKERS. JOSE. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. I'M A BUSINESS MANAGER SECRETARY TREASURER OF LABORS INTERNATIONAL LOCAL 16. WE STAND AGAINST THE REPEAL OF THIS BILL. THE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE COMPLAINING THAT THE RAISES THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION AREN'T LIVING BY THE SAME STANDARDS. THEY'RE CHEATING. THEY MISCLASSIFY THEIR WORKS. IT SETS WAGES, IT LEVELS THE PLAYING FIELD FOR EVERYBODY. WE ASK THAT YOU VOTE AGAINST THE REPEAL. THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MATTHEW. TURN YOUR VIDEO ON, YOUR ONE AND A HALF MINUTES WILL BEGIN WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE SOUTHWEST REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS. PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS ARE ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY AND SPONSIBILITY. THE ELIMINATION OF PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS IS VERY IRRESPONSIBLE. PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS ASSURE THAT WORKERS ON-SITE HAVE THE ADEQUATE SAFETY TRAINING WITH OSHA. THEY ENSURE DECENT WAGES AND A SET DECENT WAGE. THE TAXPAYERS GET A QUALITY WORKFORCE AND TIMELY COMPETITION OF PROJECTS WITHIN A BUDGET. PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS ASSURE TAXPAYER MONEY IS SPENT CORRECTLY. AND WELL-QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALLY CERTIFIED AND A LOCAL WORKFORCE. I HEAR A LOT OF LIP SERVICE TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. YOU SEE PEOPLE THAT ARE FAVORED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING AND CERTIFYING LOCAL YOUNG PEOPLE TO DO THE WORK. BUT THEY DON'T SUPPORT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE AGREEMENTS NEEDED TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. RIGHT NOW, OVER ONE THIRD OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS LIVE IN POVERTY AND QUALIFY FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. THAT MEANS THE TAXPAYERS SUBSIDIZE THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS PROFITS WHILE LOCAL WORKERS ARE NOT PAID A LIVABLE WAGE WITHOUT THE PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS. PLA REDUCE TAX AND PAYROLL FRAUD. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PAUL. >> GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE REPEAL OF THE PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT. THIS WAS PASSED AFTER THE ELECTION OF 2021 WITH RELATIVELY LIMITED INVOLVEMENT BY THE PUBLIC AT THE TIME. IT WAS SNUCK THROUGH AFTER THE ELECTION WHEN THE UNIONS SEEMED TO REALIZE THEY MIGHT HAVE A LESS FRIENDLY GROUP ON CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THEIR CAUSE. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE IT WILL ULTIMATELY SAVE TAX DOLLARS. THE UNIONS COME OUT IN DROVES TO SUPPORT THIS NOT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IT WILL REDUCE SPENDING TAX DOLLARS OR IMPROVE THE PROJECTS -- BUT BECAUSE IT PADS THE BOTTOM LINE. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE REPEAL. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BRIAN. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBERS. COUNCILOR BENTON, I'M BRIAN, I REPRESENT THE NEW MEXICO BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL. YOU'VE HEARD ALL KINDS OF THINGS TONIGHT. I SENT YOU INFORMATION PRIOR TO THE COMMITTEE HEARING LAST MONTH. 80% 90%. I GUESS WE DON'T EXIST. THE FACT OF THE MATTER WE REPRESENT 60% OF THE REGISTERED APPRENTICES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN NEW MEXICO. UNFORTUNATELY WAGE THEFT AND MISCLASSIFICATION IS THE NORM. RESPECTIVE OF WHAT PERCENTAGE OF MARKET SHARE OF THE OPEN SHOT, I GUARANTEE YOU THIS, 100% OF THE WAGE THEFT COMES FROM OPEN SHOP AND ABC CONTRACTORS. THE CLAIMS OF INCREASED COST IS JUST NOT TRUE. WE RECENTLY DID THE FIRST PROJECT COMING OUT OF THE GATE UNDER THIS CURRENT ORDINANCE THAT IS ENACTED NOW. AND THERE WAS -- IT DIDN'T APPEAR TO HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THAT PROJECT. ASSUANCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH NEW MEXICO BUILDING AND LICENSING BUILDING CODES, PROTECTIONS FOR UNION AND NONUNION WORKERS AND A QUICK AND IMMEDIATE RESPONSE AND RELIEF TO WORKERS THAT HAVE BEEN MISCLASSIFIED IS IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY. WE RECENTLY CAME ACROSS A PROJECT I BELIEVE IT WAS AN OPEN SUBCONTRACTOR. >> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. >> OUT OF 11 EMPLOYEES TEN WERE MISCLASSIFIED. AND THE 11th WAS UNLICENED. WE URGE YOU TO. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOAN. >> GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M THE POLITICAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR FOR THE UA LOCAL 412. THIS EVENING I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON YOU TO UPHOLD THE PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENT AND UPHOLD THE MISSION OF THE CITY. THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IS TO PROTECT THE HEALTH SAFETY AND WELFARE OF COMMUNITY BY DEDICATING THE IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ALBUQUERQUE. SUSTAINABLE AND PLACED DEVELOPMENT. THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT MISSION STATES THAT EQUITABLE THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY AND GROWS AND RETAINS LOCAL BUSINESSES AND JOBS. AND THE DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT ASSURES THE CAPITAL PROJECTS WILL BE COMPLETED EFFICIENTLY, TIMELY, AND HIGH-QUALITY STANDARDS. THE PLAs DO JUST THIS. THEY ENSURE THAT THERE IS TRANSPARENCY AND STABILITY ON LARGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. THE PLA MEETS YOUR MISSION BY STIMULATING THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND SUPPORTING LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER PATHWAYS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS. I CALL ON YOU TO OPPOSE THE REPEAL AND FOLLOW YOUR CITY'S MISSION. THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RONDO. TURN YOUR VIDEO ON AND YOUR TIME WILL WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. >> GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M RONDA LOPEZ I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE -- WE STAND IN OPPOSITION TO REPEALING THE PLA ORDINANCE. THE MAJORITY OF OUR CONTRACTORS UTILIZE THESE TYPES OF CONTRACTORS EVERY DAY. THEY'RE A CLEAR CONCISE TOOL FOR BUILDING PROJECTS. AND CONCERNS THERE IS STRONG HEALTH INSURANCE AND FAIR WAGES FOR ALL ON THE PROJECT. I APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE THIS EVENING. AND I JUST ASK THAT YOU PLEASE OPPOSE THE REPEALING OF THIS. THANK YOU. >> OUR FINAL SPEAKSER JASON. >> MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS EVENING. I'M JASON AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION WHICH STANDS IN OPPOSITION TO O-22-8 WHICH IS THE ORDINANCE THAT REPEALS THE USE OF PLAs FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS. THE NEW MEXICO CHAPTER WHICH WAS CHARTERED IN 1951 REPRESENTS HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND LERE LIABLE CONTRACTORS IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. THE MEMBER CONTRACTORS REPRESENT THE VERY BEST OF THE ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY HAS TO OFFER AND COMMITTED TO A MINIMUM PERFORM PERFORMANCE. WE STAND IN OPPOSITION TO THE ORTHOPEDIC INSURANCE. THE TIMING OF THIS ORDINANCE IS OFFER. MY UNDERSTANDING IS A PROJECT HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED UNDER THE PLA REQUIREMENT. IT MEANS THE STRING OF HYPOTHETICALS ARE JUST THAT. NO PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED UNDER IT. GIVE THE PROGRAM TIME TO WORK. PLEASE DON'T CUT IT SHORT. WE URGE YOU TO OPPOSE THE REPEAL. THANK YOU. >> THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. >>COUN. BENTON: WE'RE BACK ON THE BILL. >> MR. PRESIDENT. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION AND FOR INFORMATION FOR FOLKS WHO ARE WATCHING THIS, MR. VARELA WAS OUR PLANNING DIRECTOR AND ORIGINALLY WORKED ON SOME OF THE LEGISLATION. I WOULD LIKE FOR HIM TO COME UP AND TALK A LITTLE ABOUT ABOUT THE FACTS OF HOW THIS IS PUT TOGETHER. I WOULD ALSO WANT TO SAY TO THE COUNCIL OBVIOUSLY THE ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT SUPPORT THE REPEAL. IT HASN'T BEEN IN PLACE VERY LONG. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS, WE DID ONE CONTRACT OUT MENTIONED BY ONE OF THE SPEAKERS. AND THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF ACTUALLY NEGOTIATING THE PLA ON THAT PROJECT. I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT TO AT LEAST GIVE THE PROGRAM AN OPPORTUNITY SEE IF IT WORKS, TO SEE IF IT MEETS THE GOALS THAT WE ALL INTEND IN TERMS OF HAVING OUR WORKFORCE BE PAID ADEQUATELY AND APPROPRIATELY. AND AT THIS POINT NOT HAVING ONE PROJECT OUT THE DOOR IS A BIT PREMATURE. WITH THAT BEING SAID, IF I MIGHT ASK HIM TO DESCRIBE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD. >>COUN. BENTON: IF YOU CAN HANG ON FOR A SECOND. COUNCILORS, WE NEED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO COMPLETE THE BUSINESS. I'M GOING TO MOVE FOR A SUSPENSION OF THE RULES TO CONCLUDE THE MEETING BY1:00. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES. OPPOSED? THAT PASSES ON AN 8-1. NOW PLAYING THE PART OF BRAD WINTER. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO CLARIFY SOME OF THE ITEMS YOU HEARD. LET ME GIVE YOU BACKGROUND ON MYSELF. I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY APPROXIMATELY FOUR YEARS. I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN FINANCE, BUSINESS, CONSTRUCTION, AND SOME GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE, I MAINLY A BUSINESS MAN AND PERSON INVOLVED IN CONSTRUCTION. I HEARD ABOUT PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME APPROXIMATELY FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN THEY WERE DISCUSSED. THEY WERE IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE STATE'S INABILITY, DUE TO LACK OF RESOURCES TO ENFORCE WAGE LAWS AND LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ON PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE INCLUDING ALBUQUERQUE. AS WE BEGIN STUDYING METHODS FOR IMPROVING THAT, SO PEOPLE WOULD FOLLOW THE RULES, ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT CAME TO THE ATTENTION WAS A POSSIBILITY OF TRYING PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS WHICH DO MAKE PEOPLE FOLLOW THE RULES. NOW, THAT I AGREE WAS ENTIRELY WHAT I'VE HEARD TONIGHT. I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S NO EVIDENCE IS THEY INCREASE THE COSTS OF PROJECTS. THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN ONE SHRED OF VALIDITY. WE HAVE NOT COMPLETED ONE PROJECT. BUT THE PROJECT THAT WENT OUT RECEIVED BIDS FROM NON-UNIONS WHO NOT AFRAID OF HAVING A PLA IMPOSED. IT DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT ALL THE WORKERS BE UNION WORKERS. WE TOOK A VERY CONSERVATIVE APPROACH WHEN WE WERE ANALYZING THE SITUATION. AND WE WERE HEARING THE CONFLICTING NUMBERS AS TO WHETHER UNION WORKERS WERE AVAILABLE OR NOT AVAILABLE. AND WHAT WE DID WAS WE SAID LISTEN, UNIONS YOU HAVE A SHORT SHOT AT GETTING UNION WORKERS IN THE JOB. AT THE MOST YOU'RE GOING TO GET HALF THE WORKERS. NOT 100% OF THE WORKERS. THAT IS THE REFERRAL PROGRAM MENTIONED EARLY. A GENERAL CONTRACTOR WHO IS A NON-UNION SHOP CAN BRING CORE WORKERS AND THEY GET THE FIRST SEVEN. THE UNION HAS UP TO 48 HOURS AND NOT A MINUTE MORE TO COME UP WITH SEVEN MATCHING ADDITIONAL UNION WORKERS. IF THEY CAN'T FULFILL THAT NEED WITHIN THOSE 48 HOURS AND WE TIGHTEN THAT WINDOW THEN THAT GENERAL CONTRACTOR CAN FILL THAT WITH IT'S OWN WORKERS. THE SAME TAKES PLACE FOR THE NEXT 15 AND SO ON THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT. THIS DOES NOT SHUT NON-UNION WORKERS OR CONTRACTORS OUT OF THE PERFORMING WORK FOR THE CITY. WE'RE VERY, VERY CAREFUL IN THAT REGARD. I WANT TO CORRECT THAT POSSIBLE MISPERCEPTION THAT MAY BE OUT THERE ALONG WITH THE ONE RELATED TO COST. AT THIS POINT, I STAND FOR IN THE FEW MINUTES YOU CARE TO SPEND ON THIS, ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >>COUN. BENTON: ANY QUESTIONS, COUNCILORS? THANK YOU. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: THIS IS ONE I'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION IN REGARD TO BOTH SIDES. I'VE HEARD A LOT FROM EVERYBODY. I'VE GOT SOME QUESTIONS. PLA, HOW MANY PROJECTS WERE OVER $10 MILLION LAST YEAR AND HOW MANY PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE IN THAT REALM THIS YEAR? >> WE HAVE WITH US THE DIRECTOR OF MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT WHO WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE PERSON TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOU, COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR SANCHEZ, LAST YEAR WE HAD A TOTAL OF FIVE PROJECTS OVER $10 MILLION. THIS YEAR, WE HAVE THE TWO. AND THEN WE MAY HAVE ONE, DEPENDING ON THE 2023 BOND PROGRAM, NOTHING PLANNED FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. TOTAL OF TWO THIS YEAR. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: OKAY. HOW MANY PROJECTS DO YOU HAVE THAT ARE UNDER TEN MILLION? >> THOSE THAT WE BID OUT, WE HAD THIS LAST YEAR APPROXIMATELY 11. WE HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT ARE SMALLER REMODEL PROJECTS OR OF THAT NATURE. LESS THAN A MILLION DOLLARS. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: THAT WAS ABOUT 22 PROJECTS UNDER THE $10 MILLION RANGE? OKAY. THE REASON I'M ASKING THESE QUESTIONS JUST A BIT OF MY HISTORY. I WAS A TEAMSTER AND APOA UNION MEMBER MY WHOLE LIFE. I JUST DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND EXACTLY THE WHOLE THING. I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS AND I WANT TO CLARIFY THIS. 8% OF THE EMPLOYEE -- SOMEBODY SAID 92% ARE NOT UNION MEMBERS. 8% ARE UNION MEMBERS WORKING ON THIS? IS THAT CORRECT? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR SANCHEZ, I HEARD CONFLICTING NUMBERS THIS EVENING. I'VE HEARD THE OPPONENTS TO PLA SAY 90% WERE NOT UNION WORKERS, I HEARD PROPONENT SAY 60% ARE UNION WORKERS. THAT'S TRUE IN THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: OKAY. AND I KNOW YOU DID SAY UNION MEMBERS DO GET TO BID ON CITY JOB AND VICE VERSA? >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR SANCHEZ DEFINITELY. YES. JUST ONE MORE STATEMENT. AS A TEAMSTER AND APOA UNION MEMBER, ALL MY CAREER, I THINK THAT I'VE BEEN A UNION MEMBER MY WHOLE LIFE EXCEPT FOR WHEN I WAS ON CITY COUNCIL. RIGHT BEFORE THIS I WAS MY OWN BUSINESS OWNER. AND BUSINESSMAN. WORKING MY OWN BUSINESS HAS MADE ME HAVE TO DO A COUPLE OF OTHER EXTRA THINGS THAT I THINK ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. I ALSO WENT OUT AND PROVIDED BENEFITS FOR MY FOLKS. I'VE ALSO GONE OUT AND MADE SURE THAT THEY GET REALLY, REALLY GOOD PAY. AND I INCENTIVIZE THEM REALLY WELL. ANOTHER THING THAT I KNOW BECAUSE I WAS A UNION MEMBER FOR SO LONG IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF SLUGS IN THE UNION. I KNOW THAT FOR A FACT BECAUSE I USED TO SEE IT. THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT HARD TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE THING AND NOW THAT I'M A BUSINESSMAN AND I KNOW WHAT IT MAKES TO RUN A BUSINESS, I TOTALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU DO. I TOTALLY APPRECIATE THE FACTS THAT THERE'S APPRENTICESHIPS GOING ON. YOU KNOW, NOW THAT I'VE BEEN A PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNER, AND I KNOW THAT COMPETITION IS GOOD, I JUST REALLY FEEL THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO HAVE A PIECE OF THE BY. AND I THINK COMPETITION IS GOOD FOR ALL OF US. THAT'S JUST MY STATEMENT. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BENTON: OTHER DISCUSSION COUNCILORS? QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >>COUN. PEÑA: SURE. I WON'T BE VOTING TO RESCIND THE BILL. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I'VE GOTTEN SOME CALLS AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE INCONFUSION CAME IN RELATED TO THOSE UNION MEMBERS CALL AND SAY THAT THEY WEREN'T SURE WHERE I WAS AT ON THIS. I JUST WANT TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR IS THAT WHEN ME AS A PERSON AND MY TIME ON COUNCIL I'VE 100% SUPPORTED UNIONS. I THINK MY RECORD IS COMPLETELY IN SUPPORT OF UNIONS AND WORKERS. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE REALIZE IT, MY MOM WAS A STATE EMPLOYEE AND SHE WAS ACME LOCAL 18 AND MY HUSBAND WAS WITH LOCAL 624. AND I CARRY MY GRANDFATHER'S PAY STUB WHO WORKED FOR THE SOUTHWEST COMPANY IN 1943. HE PAID HIS UNIONIAN DUES OF $1.25. I CARRY IT TO REMIND ME TO TAKE CARE OF THE WORKFORCE. I JUST WANT TO SAY I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING RESENDING THIS BILL. >>COUN. DAVIS: CONSCIOUS OF THE LATER HOUR. I AGREE WITH COUNCILOR PEÑA. THIS IS IMPORTANT. A LOT OF US WORK AND COME FROM PLACES. I GET TO SIT HERE WAS MY DAD AND MOM WAS ON THE PUBLIC SIDE. MY GRANDFATHER WAS IN THE TRADES AND WORKED HARD AND PUT MY PARENTS THROUGH COLLEGE AND THEY PUT ME THROUGH IT. I CAN'T SIT HERE AS SOMEBODY THAT IS SUPPOSED TO SEND THE CITY'S MONEY AND SAY I THINK IT'S OKAY FOR US TO HAVE A LOW BID SYSTEM ON CONTRACTING. AND THEN SAY WE WANT THE PEOPLE TO BUILD THEIR BUILDINGS TO NOT AFFORD TO LIVE IN OUR OWN CITY. IT'S EXPENSIVE TO LIVE ANYWHERE. LIKE OTHER COUNCILORS I OWN A BUSINESS AS WELL. I HAVE EMPLOYEES, I HAVE A NON-PROFIT AND FOR-PROFIT SECTOR. I WANT TO COMPETE WITH FOLKS WHO TAKE CARE OF THEIR PEOPLE AND GIVE BACK TO THEIMATE AND INVEST IN THOSE THAT MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. THOSE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE SWINGING THE HAMMER AND TWISTING A PIPE. I'M PROUD OF THE TRADE WE'VE BUILT. I'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO SEE OVER THE YEARS THAT OUR IBEW FRIENDS ARE EXPORTING NEW MEXICANS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT ARE TRAINING THROUGH THEIR STRUCTURED APPRENTICE PROGRAMS AT ZUNI GIVING PIPEFITTERS FROM OTHER STATES WHO BRING MONEY BACK TO THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT WHO PASS IT ALONG TO THEIR FAMILY. THAT'S WHAT WE WANT IN NEW MEXICO. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO THAT IF WE SUBSIDIZE THE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY IT FORWARD AND PAY FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR FAMILY. I'M NOT SAYING OUR NON-UNION CONTRACTORS AREN'T INVESTING IN THE CITY. I SAY WE OUGHT TO GIVE THE ONES WHO ENSURE THEY'RE PAYING A FAIR WAGE A FAIR SHOT. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. FIRST OF ALL, JUST SAY THAT WE KEEP DOING THIS. WE KEEP SAYING WE'RE GOING TO JUST UNDO SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT EVEN BEEN IMPLEMENTED YET. I THINK THAT'S A VERY STRANGE PRECEDENT TO BE SETTING ON THIS AND MANY OTHER ISSUES. I WANT TO RESPOND COMMENT THAT WAS MADE THIS WAS SOMEHOW RUSHED THROUGH. I WAS NOT HERE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. BUT I TILL WELL YOU THAT I LISTENED TO ALL OF THE DISCUSSION WEP THIS DISCUSSION WAS PROPOSED. IT WAS NOT RUSHED. IT TOOK AN ENTIRE DAY OF MY LIFE TO LISTEN TO THIS CONVERSATION. IT WAS VERY CLEAR WHEN THIS PASSED IT WAS GOOD WORKERS. PLAs GIVE A BASELINE AND SAFEGUARDS FOR SAFETY AND WAGES AND THE QUALITY OF WORK THAT WE'RE GETTING. AND I'LL JUST END WITH SAYING THIS WEEKEND WE HAD NATIONAL TREASURE IN TOWN. WE WERE CELEBRATING THE 29th DAY HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE. AND I ASK MYSELF WHAT WOULD DELORES DO, I TELL YOU SHE WOULD NOT VOTE RESCIND THIS BILL. >>COUN. BENTON: ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL ECHO THIS COMMENTS IN FAVOR OF THE PLA. I'LL GIVE IT BACK TO THE SPONSORS FOR CLOSING. >>COUN. BENTON: ALL RIGHT. WE'LL GO TO A VOTE ON O8. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED? THAT PASSES ON A 5-4. THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE TO R8. ENABLING THE PARKS AND RECERATION TO REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND AND REVIEW AND UPDATES TO SECTION ONE AND TWO. ALBUQUERQUE MEASURE OPEN SPACE FACILITY PLAN. AND MAKE RECOMMENDATION FOR INCREASING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PARKS, OPEN SPACE AND PROVIDE OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS. I MOVE A DUE PASS. THERE'S A SECOND FROM COUNCILOR DAVIS. WE HEARD SOME COMMENT FROM THE OPEN SPACE ADVISORY BOARD WHICH DID VOTE UNANIMOUSLY IN FAVOR OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS APPROACH TO OUR FUTURE OF OUR OPEN SPACE SYSTEM. ASK THE ADMINISTRATION TO WEIGH IN. >> MR. PRESIDENT, WE THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THIS PARTICULAR LEGISLATION. WE'LL WORK WITH YOU TO MAKE IT WORK FOR THE OPEN SPACE. >>COUN. BENTON: VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT. AND APPRECIATION WE SHOULD SEND OUT TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND THE OPEN SPACE DIVISION FOR WORKING WITH US ON THIS. I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. THIS IS A PATH FORWARD. WITH REGARD TO THE SYSTEM. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I URGE YOUR SUPPORT, COUNCILORS. WE'LL GO TO A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED? THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, COUNCILORS. WE'LL MOVE TO ITEM G, THIS IS MEMORIAL TWO. COUNCILOR DAVIS AND MYSELF AND COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS M2 THE CITY ALBUQUERQUE URGES THE PROHIBITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. I MOVE A DUE PASS. >>COUN. BENTON: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? >>COUN. SANCHEZ: I HAVE A BIT OF DISCUSSION. I'M ACTUALLY, I GUESS YOU CAN SAY I'M VERY CLOSE TO THIS ISSUE. MY SON IS A NUCLEAR ENGINEER. HE WORKS SPECIFICALLY WITH NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS. HE'S IN THE MILITARY RIGHT NOW. AND I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT OUR AIR FORCE BASE HERE ON ALBUQUERQUE IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ASSETS THAT WE HAVE HERE. IT PROVIDES MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND JOBS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR STATE CONTINUE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A VALUABLE ASSET. THAT'S MY COMMENT. >>COUN. BENTON: OTHER COMMENTS? WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE BILL FOLLOWED BY WILLERED. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCILORS. AND COUNCILOR BENTON. I'M HERE WAS THIS REALLY IS NOT ABOUT JOBS. THIS IS REALLY A VERY SERIOUS CONSIDERATION THAT THE UNITED STATES AND THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD HAVEN'T GONE THROUGH SINCE THE 80s. WE'RE GOING THROUGH SINCE THE PRESENT WAR IN UKRAINE. TED POSTAL A PHYSICIST AND NUCLEAR SECURITY EXPERT WORKING FOR THE PENTAGON EXPLAINS THAT HAD RUSSIAN MISSLE, EACH ONE OF THEM HAS 3,3 HAD -- 3,333 TIMES THE POWER OF THE HIROSHIMA BOMB. SOME ARE AIMED AT ALBUQUERQUE AND OMAHA, AND WASHINGTON D.C., AND DENVER AND PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY. THEY'RE MISSILES WITHIN MISSILES. THEY HAVE 10 TO 15 MISSILES WITHIN A SINGLE ICBM. EACH ONE OF THOSE MISSILES, WHEN THEY DETONATE, WILL WITHIN ONE SECOND REACH 179 MILLION DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THE DESTRUCTION WILL ROLL ACROSS THE STATE, ACROSS OUR BORDERS, EVERYTHING FLAMMABLE WILL BECOME ASHES. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. >> WILLERED HUNTER, FOLLOWED BY CHARLES. >> GOOD EVENING. I AM A MEMBER OF VETERANS FOR PEACE IN ALBUQUERQUE. I WANT TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT M22-2. ALBERT EINSTEIN WHO WAS QUOTED EARLIER THIS EVENING ALSO WAS CREDITING WITH SAYING I KNOW WHAT WITH WHICH WEAPONS WORLD WAR THREE WILL BE FOUGHT. BUT WORLD WAR FOUR WILL BE FOUGHT WITH STICKS AND STONES. ENSTEIN WAS WRONG. WORLD WAR THREE WILL BE FOUGHT WITH NUCLEAR WEAPONS. THERE WILL BE NO WORLD WAR FOUR. YOU AND I IN THIS ROOM, WE DON'T NEED TO WORRY. WE, INCLUDING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, WILL BE OBLITERATED IN THE FIRST WAVE. WE'LL DISAPPEAR. NO SUFFERING LIKE HIROSHIMA. YOOUM -- NEW MEXICO IS PRIME TARGET. THE TECHNOLOGY SPREAD BY TRANSFERS AND THEFT. TO ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND SPREAD TO CHINA, INDIA, PAPAKISTAN, TH NUCLEAR BRINKSMANSHIP MUST STOP. ALBUQUERQUE WILL JOIN MORE THAN 140 U.S. CITIES. I ASK YOU TO PASS THIS MEMORIAL TONIGHT. IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT. >> CHARLES, FOLLOWED BY MITCH. >> GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M CHARLES AND I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF THE ALBUQUERQUE CHAPTER FOR VETERANS FOR PEACE. WE'RE KNOWN AS THE SALLY ALICE THOMPSON CHAPTER. I SERVED IN THE U.S. AIR FORCE FROM 1961 TO 1965. THAT INCLUDED DURING THE SO-CALLED CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS WHEN WE WAITED FOR THE ORDER, WE REALLY THOUGHT WE WOULD GET THE ORDER TO LAUNCH OUR MISSILES AND WE KNEW THAT IT WOULD MEAN THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT. WE WERE UNDER GROUND AND WE FELT WE WOULD SURVIVE BUT OUR FAMILIES WOULD BE GONE AND THE WORLD WOULD BE GONE AS WE KNOW IT. THE IMPORTANT PART OF THE MEASURE THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING IS THE LAST PART BECAUSE THERE IS A TREATY THAT IS IN FORCE THAT'S BEEN SIGNED BY AT LEAST 122 COUNTRIES BUT NONE OF THE SIGNERS SO FAR HAVE BEEN COUNTRIES THAT HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS. THAT'S A SHAME. THE U.S. NEEDS TO SIGN THIS BILL AND HOPEFULLY THAT WOULD MEAN OTHER COUNTRIES WITH THESE HORRIBLE WEAPONS WOULD ALSO SIGN. IF YOU DON'T PASS THIS MEASURE, THEN WRITE YOUR OWN. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE, THE IMPORTANT PART IS SUPPORT THIS TREATY AND TO GET THE U.S. TO RATIFY IT. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. >> MS. WARD FOLLOWED BY EILEEN. >> LONG TIME, NO SEE. GOOD EVENING, I SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF M22-2. EVENTS OF RECENT WEEKS DEMONSTRATE THAT NUCLEAR WEAPONS DO NOT PREVENT NATION ON NATION ATROCITIES. THE U.S. BOMBING OF SOMALIA, THE DECIMATION OF UKRAINIAN CITIES. NUCLEAR WEAPONS DO NOT DETER WAR. THEY DO NOT PREVENT ILLEGAL INVASION. THE UNITED STATES IS A SIGNATORY OF THE TREATY OF NONPROLIGZERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS THIS AGREEMENT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR DECADES AND LAUDED BY THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT. ALSO FOR DECADES, NEW MEXICANS HAVE SUFFERED FROM RADIATION EXPOSURE FROM NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTING YET REMAIN EXCLUDED FROM COVERAGE UNDER THE RADIATION EXPOSURE ACT. HOW ABOUT WE TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HARMED BY ALL ASPECTS OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND DO ALL WE CAN TO PREVENT SIMILAR HARMS TO OTHERS. PLEASE VOTE YES ON M22. AND URGE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SIGN THE TREATY ON THE PROHIBITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. THANK YOU. >> EILEE, N FOLLOWED BY LAUREN ON ZOOM. >> WE'LL GO TO LAUREN ON ZOOM. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO TURN YOUR VIDEO ON, UNMUTE YOURSELF, AND YOUR ONE AND A HALF MINUTES WILL BEGIN WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. >> HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME? THANK YOU. I FIRST WANT TO COMMEND THE COUNCIL FOR ASKING TONIGHT ON THE RESOLUTION. I KNOW IT WAS TAKING A LOT OF DISCUSSION. AND YOU'RE VERY COMMITTED TO HELPLING THE HOMELESS AND RESOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF HOMELESSNESS IN ALBUQUERQUE. I SUPPORT VOTING TO INCLUDE ALBUQUERQUE IN BECOMING A NUCLEAR-FREE ZONE. I THINK IT'S A NO-BRAINER. WE SHOULD BE A NUCLEAR FREE-ZONE. HOW COULD WE NOT BE A NUCLEAR-FREE ZONE. I ENDORSE AND URGE THE COMMITTEE TO PASS THE MEMORIAL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PAM. PAM, ARE YOU THERE? >> MR. PRESIDENT, IT DOESN'T LOCK LIKE PAM IS THERE. THAT WILL CONCLUDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS. >>COUN. BENTON: BACK ON THE BILL. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, COUNCILORS? DO THE SPONSORS WISH TO CLOSE? >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS. THE TREATY IS REALLY SUPPOSED TO PROMOTE A GREATER AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE HUMANITARIAN CONSEQUENCES OF NUCLEAR WHENWEAPONS. WE WANT THE UNITED STATES TO SIGN ON THE TREATY. WE'RE THE ONLY COUNTRY TO HAVE USED A NUCLEAR WEAPON IN WAR AND WE'RE HERE IN NEW MEXICO WE TESTED THE FIRST ATOMIC WEAPON IN 1945. EXTENSIVE RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION SPREAD ACROSS FIVE COUNTIES. AND THAT WAS DOCUMENTED BY THE NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE. I FEEL LIKE NEW MEXICO HAS A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH THE VICTIMS AND COMMUNITIES HARMED BY NUCLEAR WEAPON USE. I URGE US TO JOIN, BOSTON, MISSISSIPPI, SALT LAKE CITY, TUCSON AND MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES IN CALLING FOR US TO JOIN THE UN TREATY. WITH THAT, I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. WE'LL MOVE TO A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOU'RE YOUR HAND AND SAY YES. OPPOSED? THAT FAILS ON A 4-5. THANK YOU. WE'LL GO TO OTHER BUSINESS. COUNCILORS, I'M SORRY TO HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN. I'M GOING TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO TENGSD -- EXTEND THE MEET TO 11:20. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES. OPPOSED? THANK YOU, COUNCILOR WINTER. THAT WILL EXTEND THE MEETING. WE'LL MOVE TO OTHER BUSINESS. EC51. THIS IS THE MAYOR'S VETO OF O-23. REPEAL OF BILL O-19-48 WHICH WAS ENACTED ARTICLE 17-13. THE ALBUQUERQUE CLEAN AND GREEN RETAIL ORDINANCE WHICH LIMITED USE OF PLASTICS CREATED CLEAN BUSINESS PROGRAM AND PROVIDED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT REGULATION. IF A COUNCILOR WISHES TO ATTEMPT TO OVERRIDE THE MAYOR'S VETO THAT MAKE A MOTION TO OVERRIDE. AND IF NO MOTION IS MADE OR A SECOND IS NOT RECEIVED THE MAYOR'S VETO STANDS. IF A MOTION IS MADE AND MOTION IS SUSTAINED. >>COUN. BASSAN: I MAKES MOTION TO OVERRIDE. >>COUN. BENTON: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FROM COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILOR BASSAN AND COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. BASSAN: I DON'T KNOW WANT TO REHASH ANYTHING WE'VE THOROUGHLY REHASHED MANY, MANY OTHER TIMES. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC THERE'S NOT ONE PART OF ME THAT MADE A DEAL WITH ANYBODY. THERE'S NOT ONE PART OF ME WHO HAS HAD BACKROOM CONVERSATIONS WITH ANYBODY. I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY UNFAIR TO HEAR THAT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS I HAVE NOT BEEN BRIBED OR PAID FOR ANYONE OR ANYONE HAS OFFERED TO GIVE ME MONEY FROM LOBBYING COMPANIES WE'VE HEARD ABOUT FROM BEFORE. THIS IS A DECISION I'VE MADE ALL ON MY OWN. I STAND BY IT. I IN NO WAY MADE ANY POINT OF ANY KIND OF DEAL. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: MR. PRESIDENT. I JUST WANTED TO SPEND A MOMENT TO RESPOND TO THE YOUTH. I KNOW THEY'RE AT HOME IN BED. I THINK IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO AT LEAST RECOGNIZE ARIANA HANNA WORKED ON THIS FOR FOUR YEARS. HALF OF HER LIFE HAS BEEN SPENT ON THIS ISSUE. I THINK IT'S VERY SHAMEFUL THAT WE ROLL THIS BACK. I KEEP HEARING THIS IS SUCH AN INCONVENIENCE FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE THEIR OWN REUSABLE TO THE STORE. I JUST HAVE TO SAY, IF YOU THINK THIS IS INCONVENIENT WAIT UNTIL CLIMATE CHANGE WILL IMPACT US. THIS WILL BECOME A NON-ISSUE REAL QUICK. I WILL NOT VOTE FOR THE OVERRIDE AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME. >>COUN. BENTON: WE HAVE FOLKS SPINE UP TO SPEAK. COUNCILOR JONES. >>COUN. JONES: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE WHO MIGHT STILL BE WATCHING THIS, THIS DID IN FACT PASS THE CITY COUNCIL ON A 6-3 VOTE. THE FIRST TIME. JUST REMIND YOU THIS IS NOT A CLOSE VOTE. WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES THIS TIME. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BENTON: LET'S GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. >> FIRST SPEAKER IS CAMERON. FOLLOWED BY BILL. >> IT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO BECAUSE WE ARE INVITING AND WE HAVE INVITED WASTE THAT HAS HALF-LIFE OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS. THAT IS QUITE A LEGACY FOR OUR POLITICAL LEADERS TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN. I'LL GET TO THE POINT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MICROPLASTICS IN OUR BLOODSTREAM. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT POLITICAL LEADERS BEGIN TO TAKE A STAND, JUST LIKE KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL. THIS IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT. BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT POISON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> JENNIFER FOLLOWED BY VINCENT. >> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF YOU. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISJUNCTION REGARDING THE CLEAN AND GREEN ORDINANCE IN THE CITY. AND I FIGURE A WAY TO ALLEVIATE THE FRICTION IS TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION WITH SOLID WASTE AND THE EXECUTIVE SO WE CAN ALLEVIATE THE FRICTION BETWEEN THESE TWO DEPARTMENTS AND NOT MAKE A DIVISIVE ISSUE. OUR FRIENDS AT SOLID WASTE WHEN COMES TO EXPERTS ARE EXPERT HONEST SOLID WEST. I THANK THE MAYOR TO SPEAK IN OPPORTUNITY IN REPEAL OF CLEAN AND GREEN. THANK YOU. >> VINCENT, FOLLOWED BY EMILIA. EMILIA, FOLLOWED BY NICK. YOU'RE NEXT, SIR. NICK. >> GOOD EVENING. MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCIL, WE'RE STILL ALL AWAKE HERE. I'LL SAY MY DAUGHTER WAS HERE AND SHE HAD TO GO HOME. SCHOOL DAY TOMORROW. SHE WAS HERE FOR A LONG TIME. AND SHE WANTS US TO KEEP THE PLASTIC BAG BAN IN EFFECT. LET'S SEE HOW IT DOES. WE VOTED IT IN. LET'S SEE HOW IT DOES BEFORE WE REPEAL THINGS. IF WE WANT OUR DISTRICTS TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL TOURISM GROWTH AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN GENERAL WE WANT OUR AREAS TO BE CLEAN. AND INVITING. THAT'S THE LOGICAL THING. IT JUST TAKES A DRIVE DOWN CENTRAL, HISTORIC ROUTE 66, AND WEST OF THE RIVER, ESPECIALLY WEST OF 75th STREET TO WITNESS PLASTIC BAGS LITTERING BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET. THE PLASTIC BAG BAN SHOW IS SOME MORE SPECTACULAR ON A WINDY DAY. THE EXPERIENCE IS SIMILAR AS WE DRIVE OR WALK ACROSS ANY OF THE BRIDGES. YOU CAN GO UNDERNEATH AND COLLECT BAGS ALL DAY LONG. VERY EASY CONVENIENT ALTERNATIVES. LET'S GO AHEAD AND KEEP THE BAN. AND MOVE ON TO BIGGER THINGS. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT. IT WAS STATED THAT ESPECIALLY ON CENTRAL BEYOND 75th. THAT'S NOT ACCURATE. WE TRY TO KEEP CLEAN AND WE'RE WORKING WITH DIRECTOR WAYLAND AND WE DO REGULAR SEEN UPS THROUGHOUT THE AREA. I'M ACTUALLY PRETTY PROUD HOW CLEAN IS IN DISTRICT THREE. THANK YOU. >> NEXT SPEAKER IS LINDA. AND FOLLOWED BY SHERMAN OVER ZOOM. WE'LL GO TO SHERMAN ON ZOOM. >> MR. PRESIDENT, GOOD EVENING. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE GREATER ALBUQUERQUE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. WE WANT TO REITATE OUR TESTIMONY ON THE TOPIC AT HAND. AND IT'S IMPORTANCE TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THE PLASTIC BAGS IS HARD FOR OUR BUSINESSES TO KEEP UP WITH. THEY STRUGGLED THROUGH THE PANDEMIC AND CONTINUED TO BATTLE A BROKEN SUPPLY CHAIN. THE ALTERNATIVES WORK, THE BAGS WITH THICK HANDLES ARE MADE OF A DIFFERENT TYPE OF PLASTIC THAT IS NOT RECYCLABLE AT ALL. AND THEY MUST BE REUSED ALMOST 100 TIMES TO OFFSET THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT. THESE BAGS ARE SO OVERWHELMINGLY MANUFACTURED IN PARTS OF THE WORLD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LON'S SHARE OF THE POLLUTANTS. THE 2.5 BAGS ARE RECYCLABLE. AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE BAGS ARE REUSED BY CONSUMERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANA. >> GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR ALL THE ISSUES WITH WHICH YOU STRUGGLE. TONIGHT HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, COMMUNITY SAFETY, ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND THE ISSUE BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT BE VERY MINOR. IT IS NOT. IT IS A CATASTROPHE IN THE MAKING. CLIMATE CHANGE IS HERE AND IT'S REAL. THE USE OF CARBON TO CREATE THESE IS REAL. AND WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHAT THE OPPORTUNITY IS BEFORE US. I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP INTERESTING BETWEEN OUR DECISIONS ABOUT PLASTIC BAGS WHAT'S GOING ON IN UKRAINE. THE ELIMINATION OF THIS ORDINANCE HAPPENED ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY. I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT ARE WE AS AMERICANS WILLING TO SACRIFICE. REALLY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS SMALL. IT IS A SMALL INCONVENIENCE. IT'S A SMALL COST. WE NEED TO STEP UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING. ON THIS ISSUE AND REALLY FRANKLY BEFORE ALL THE ISSUES BEFORE THE COUNCIL TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. I HOPE THIS WILL NOT BE OVERRIDDEN. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SANDIA. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LONG SERVICE. THROW AWAY CULTURE IS HARMING THE PLANET. PLASTIC IS KILLING US AND WILDLIFE IN THE CITY AND OCEANS. IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK TO CARRY A STRING BAG AND DON'T BRING HOME PLASTIC. THINK ABOUT THE ONE USE BARELY BEING USED BEFORE BEING DISCARDED. ALL WE ASK IS PLASTIC BAGS BE ELIMINATED. WE CAN SAY NO TO PLASTIC BAGS. THERE MAY NOT BE A TOMORROW IF WE'RE NOT REMINDED WE'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM. AND THIS ONE LITTLE THING EACH OF US CAN DO IS A BIG THING IF WE ALL DO IT. WHEN YOU BRING YOUR STRING BAG, YOUR TOTE, YOU CAN REMIND YOURSELF YOU'RE PART OF A BIGGER PROBLEM AND THIS YOU CAN AT LEAST DO. PLEASE REMIND YOURSELF AND YOUR NEIGHBORS, DO NOT REPEAL THE BAN. THANK YOU. >> NEXT SPEAKSER NANCY. IF YOU CAN UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE. >> SORRY. I WAS GOING TO JUST LEAVE THE MEETING, BUT I WAS REMINDED THAT 56 YEARS AGO THIS EVENING MARTIN LUTHER KING GAVE HIS SPEECH AT THE CHURCH IN NEW YORK CITY WHERE HE REPUDIATED THE VIETNAM WAR AND 55 YEARS AGO THIS NIGHT HE WAS ASSASSINATED. I FIGURE LOOKING BACK ON THE DECISIONS WE MAKE AND THE DECISIONS LIKE THIS ONE. MY MAIN POINT IS WE'RE IN A PLASTIC CRISIS IN THE WORLD. WE HAVE PLASTIC IN THE WATER AND AIR AND IN OUR BLOOD. AND THE POINT IS THAT WE DEFINITELY CANNOT SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BY RECYCLING FOR TWO REASONS. THE FIRST ONE IS THE RECYCLING RATE IS ABYSMAL AND MANY OF THOSE EVEN IF THEY MAKE IT TO THE BEEN AT THE GROCERY STORE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BE RECYCLED THROUGH MAINSTREAM CYCLING ARE CONTAMINATED AND DON'T RET RECYCLED. EVEN IF 100% OF THESE BAGS WERE RECYCLED, BICLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY HAVE ONE MORE LIFE AND THAT LIFE IS NOT AS A PLASTIC BAG BUT AS A PARK BENCH OR A PIECE OF DECKING AND THEY REVERT TO THE SAME FATE AS THEY WOULD HAVE AS A BAG WHICH IS DUMPED INTO A LANDFUL BACK INTO THE WATER. >> THANK YOU YOUR TIME IS UP. OUR LAST SPEAKER IS LOREEN. >> HELLO, AGAIN. MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO NOT REPEAL THE GREEN AND CLEAN ORDINANCE. LIKE MANY OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE SAID,THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ORDINANCE. MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAID PEOPLE NEED THESE PLASTIC BAGS. THEY USE THEM AGAIN TO LINE THEIR TRASH CANS, SO THEY CAN THROW OUT THEIR TRASH. I SAY, WHY DON'T YOU USE A LARGE TOR TEA -- BAG THAT'S WHAT I USE. YOU DON'T NEED A PLASTIC BAG TO DO THAT. YOU CAN USE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OR TO PICK UP PET WASTE. THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT YOU BUY WRAPPED IN PLASTIC, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT CAN BE USED FOR THE SAME PURPOSE. YOU DON'T NEED THE PLASTIC BAGS FROM THE GROCERY STORE TO BE USED. IT'S MUCH BETTER TO USE A REUSABLE BAG TO BUY YOUR SHOPPING THINGS. INSTEAD OF -- >> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP. THANK YOU, MA'AM. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE BACK ON THE OVERRIDE VOTE. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? WE'LL GO TOSTRAIGHT TO THE VOTE. THIS WILL REQUIRE SIX VOTES. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE OVERRIDE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY YES. OPPOSED? THAT PASSES ON A 6-3 VOTE. WE'LL MOVE TO THE VETO OF R-22- BANNING COVID-19 VACCINE REQUIREMENTS. IT'S THE SAME RULES. THERE MUST BE AN ATTEMPT TO OVERRIDE BY A MOTION AND SAEKD SECOND. SIX VOTEICIDE REQUIRED. IS THERE A MOTION TO OVERRIDE? >>COUN. JONES: I MAKE A MOTION TO OVERRIDE THE VETO. ANY DISCUSSION? DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP ON THIS? WE'RE ALMOST UNDER THE WIRE HERE. WE'LL MOVE TO A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE OVERRIDE, SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED. >> MR. PRESIDENT, THAT FAILS ON A 5-4 VOTE. THE VETO STANDS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THE MAYOR'S VETO STANDS ON OCR-22-2. WITH THAT, WE HAVE NO FURTHER BUSINESS. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.