>>COUN. LEWIS: THE 14th MEETS OF THE 26th COUNCIL WILL COME TO ORDER. ALL COUNCILORS ARE PRESENT, OR WILL BE. COUNCILOR ROGERS JOINING ZOOM. WE'LL HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE THEN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >>COUN. GROUT: CIVIC PLAZA PARKING PASSES ARE PROVIDED FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. YOU CAN OBTAIN ONE FROM COUNCIL STAFF AT THE TABLE NEAR THE CHAMBER ENTRANCE. YOU CAN VIEW THIS MEETING IN PERSON AND LIVE STREAM THROUGH FOUR DIFFERENT PLATFORMS. GOVTV ON COMCAST CHANNEL 16. THE GOVTV WEBSITE, YOUTUBE AND ZOOM WEBINAR. LIVE STREAMS CAN BE ACCESSED FROM MOST SMART PHONES, TABLETS OR COMPUTERS, ALSO THIS MEETING IS CLOSED CAPTIONED AND YOU MAY ENABLE THE CLOSED CAPTIONS SERVICES ON YOUR TELEVISION OR DEVICE AT THIS TIME. THE VIDEO RECORD OGWILL REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING AT ANY TIME ON THE CITY COUNCIL WEBSITE. COUNCIL STAFF IS AVAILABLE VIA TELEPHONE IF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NEED ASSISTANCE FINDING THE VIDEOS ONLINE. CALL 505-768-3100 FOR ASSISTANCE DURING BUSINESS HOURS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 8 TO 5 P.M. THE COUNCIL WILL TAKE A BREAK AT APPROXIMATELY 7 P.M., WITH REGARD DECORUM, WE WANT TONIGHT'S PROCEEDING TO BE AS CIVIL AS PAUBL. THE MEETING WILL GO SMOOTHER IF WE'RE RESPECTFUL OF ONE ANOTHER. >>COUN. LEWIS: WE'LL START -- WE HAVE ITEM THREE, PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS. WE HAVE ONE PROCLAMATION AND TWO PRESENTATIONS. AND WE'LL KEEP OUR PRESENTATIONS AT A MAXIMUM OF FIVE MINUTES. DURING THAT TIME. WE'LL START WITH A PROCLAMATION. COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT. THIS PROCLAMATION IS BASICALLY HONORING FOUR ALBUQUERQUE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ACTUALLY RAN TO A THREAT TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS. PLEASE COME ON UP. I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY WORK WITH THREE OF THE OFFICERS WHEN I WAS ACTUALLY WORKING AT APD. DON KENNY AND I WERE SERGEANTS TOGETHER IN THE SOUTHEAST. I WAS HAIRY'S LIEUTENANT WHEN HE WAS WORKING IN THE FOOTHILLS AREA COMMAND. AND I WAS MARIO'S LIEUTENANT IN THE FOOTHILLS AREA COMMAND. WE ALSO HAVE JAMES AS WELL. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITIZENS OF ALBUQUERQUE, THE CITY COUNCIL, UNDERSTOOD THAT THESE INDIVIDUALS WENT TO THE FIGHT TO TAKE CARE OF THE BUSINESS AND THEY TOOK CARE OF THE THREAT. BUT, IN TAKING CARE OF THE THREAT, THESE OFFICERS ALL SUSTAINED GUNSHOTS, THEY WERE ALL SHOT. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. MARIO, WORKED WITH ME IN THE FOOTHILLS, RECEIVING THE WITH US OF THE GUNSHOTS. TODAY, AUGUST 19th IS ACTUALLY THE ACTUAL DATE THREE YEARS AGO THAT THESE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALMOST HAD TO GIVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE BECAUSE THEY FOUGHT AND THEY WERE IN IT, AND THEY STAYED IN THE FIGHT AND THAT FIGHT MEANS YOUR FAMILY, YOUR INJURIES, EVERYTHING THEY'RE ALL HERE TODAY SO WE CAN RECOGNIZE THEM ON THE PROCLAMATION. OFFICERS, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, FOR PUTTING YOURSELVES BETWEEN THE CITIZENS OF ALBUQUERQUE AND THE BAD GUYS. I APPRECIATE IT MORE THAN YOU KNOW. AND WE'RE GOING TO READ THE PROCLAMATION. ALTHOUGH, WE HAVE ONE COUNCILOR THAT'S OUT. SO SHE DIDN'T SIGN IT. I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE OTHER OFFICER THAT'S ON CITY COUNCIL START THE PROCLAMATION. IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE WE LEAVE. WE'RE READY. GO AHEAD. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. WHEREAS, THE MORNING OF AUGUST 19th, 2021 STARTED AS ANOTHER DAY PATROLLING THE STREETS OF ALBUQUERQUE TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE PEOPLE IN THE BUSINESS OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND WHEREAS FOUR OFFICERS FROM THE FOOTHILLS AREA COMMAND LEFT THEIR HOMES AND LOVED ONES EARLY THAT MORNING WITH THE INTENTION OF RETURNING HOME AFTER THE SHIFT WAS COMPLETED. AND WHEREAS, OFFICER MARIO, JAMES, HARRY, RESPOND TO A CALLED OF ROBBERY IN PROGRESS. AND RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY AND WITHOUT HESITATION OR CONCERN FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY OR THEIR LIVES BECAUSE THEY'RE CALLED TODRIES A THREAT BY AN ARMED ROBBER AT A BUSINESS. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE SCENE THE FOUR OFFICERS WERE FIRED UPON BY THE SUSPECTS, OFFICERS VERBEC ANDIZE -- IZEL WERE STRUCK AND HAD LIFE-THREATENING WOUNDS. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: WHEREAS THE OFFICERS ARE HEROES THAT EXAMPLELIFY THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SERVE AND PROTECT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF ALBUQUERQUE. THESE HEROES LEAVE THEIR FAMILIES EVERY DAY NOT KNOWING WHETHER THEY WILL RETURN HOME AFTER THEIR SHIFTS PROVIDING VITAL PUBLIC SERVICES AND WHEREAS, POLICE OFFICERS WHO BY THEIR FAITHFUL AND LOYAL DEVOTION TO DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES HAVE RENDERED SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND IN DOING SO THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED FOR THEMSELVES AN ENDURING REPARATION FOR PRESERVING RIGHT AND SECURITY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE AND WHEREAS THIS COUNCIL CALLS UPON PEOPLE OF THE ALBUQUERQUE AND CIVIL AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO TAKE A MOMENT IN YOUR DAILY LIVE TO THANK A POLICE OFFICER. BE IT PROCLAIMED THIS COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE PROCLAIMS AUGUST 19, 2024 AS A DAY TO EXTEND OUR THANKS AND DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO THE FOUR HEROES AND TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE TAKEN OATHS TO PROTECT AND SERVE TO PEOPLE OF ALBUQUERQUE. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. [ APPLAUSE ] . >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YOU KNOW, THIS PROCLAMATION HITS IT RIGHT ON THE HEAD. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN WE LEAVE OUR HOUSES. EVERY SINGLE DAY WE LEAVE OUR HOUSE AND WANT TO RETURN TO OUR FAMILIES. THAT'S SOMETHING YOU SOMETIMES FORGET WHEN YOU DEAL WITH A POLICE OFFICER THAT PULLS YOU OVER OR ADDRESSING THE CRIMINAL TRESPASSING, OR THE POLICE OFFICER WRITING THE POLICE REPORT FOR BREAKING AND ENTER OR STOLEN VEHICLE. THEY'RE HANDLING OTHER CALLS THAT ARE EXTREMELY DYNAMIC. IT CAN HAPPEN ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO WALK INTO. OFFICERS, I WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY. >> COUNCILOR, THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT -- I'M SURE YOU WOULD SAY THAT YOU WERE JUST DOING YOUR JOB. AND DOING WHAT YOU'RE CALLED TO DO. AND YOUR DUTY. AND WE KNOW IT'S MORE THAN THAT. WE KNOW THAT YOU ARE EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE. YOU HAVE EXTRAORDINARY FAMILIES. AND I HOPE THAT YOU FEEL THE GRATITUDE OF THIS GREAT CITY FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE AND YOU INDURED AND WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH SINCE THEN, I'M SURE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? >> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS HONOR. IT MEANS A LOT TO US. WE WENT THROUGH A LOT. ESPECIALLY MARIO AND JAMES. ALSO THE FAMILIES WENT THROUGH A LOT. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THE FACT THAT THE FAMILIES ALSO HAD A TON TO DO WITH THIS. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HAD TO TAKE OVER ALL THOSE NIGHTS, ALL THOSE WEEKENDS AND THE YEARS GONE SINCE DEALING WITH THIS INJURIES. ON THAT NOTE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH PLEASE DO ALL THAT YOU CAN DO TO TAKE CARE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ACS. THANK YOU. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU. WE'D LIKE TO SHAKE YOUR HAND AND HAND YOU THE PROCLAMATION, IF THAT'S OKAY. >>COUN. LEWIS: ALL RIGHT. TWO PRESENTATIONS. ITEM THREE. WE'LL START WITH COUNCILOR CHAMPINE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: COLLECTING MYSELF. YES, THE PRESENTATION IS FROM THE AFR. FIRE CHIEF EMILY JARAMILLO REGARDING THE STAFFING LEVEL AND ASSIGNMENTS. IT'S VERY CONVOLUTED AND SHE'D LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME TO SHOW US HOW THE MAP IS DONE. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THANKS FOR HAVING US HERE. I WAS HOPING I DIDN'T HAVE TO FOLLOW HONORING THE APD OFFICERS BECAUSE THAT'S A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW. THANK YOU FOR HONORING THEIR BRAVERY AND SACRIFICE THAT DAY. I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS THAT THANKS FROM AFR. I THINK I HEARD FIVE MINUTES, CORRECT? I WAS PREPARED FOR THREE. I'M GOING TO TRY. IT'S LOT OF MAPS. I CAN'T PROMISE ANYTHING. I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST. >>COUN. LEWIS: WE MAY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU. >> SO, LET'S SEE. OKAY. PERFECT. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TO TALK ABOUT OUR STAFFING. OUR STAFFING, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SLIDES IS INCREDIBLY COMPLEX AND DYNAMIC. I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TO DESCRIBE OUR STAFFING. UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE MIGHT BE FURTHER QUESTIONS AND ALWAYS HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER. I WANT START WITH MY LINE OF INTEGRITY WHEN I TOOK THIS JOB AS FIRE CHIEF REALLY WAS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC AND ALSO ACCOUNT FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FIREFIGHTERS THAT WORK FOR US. SO, I WANT TO KEEP THAT AS FRAME FOR WHAT I'M PRESENTING TODAY. JUST A REALLY QUICK OVERVIEW. THERE'S A LOT OF NUMBERS THERE. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT 82% OF OUR STAFFING LEVEL IS ASSIGNED TO FIELD OPERATIONS. WE REALLY DO PRIORITIZE FIELD OPERATIONS AND ALL OF OUR SUPPORT SERVICES SUPPORT THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING. OUR CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS RIGHT NOW AT FULL STAFFING WE'D BE AT 777 SWORN. WE'RE AT 740. AND OUR DAILY FIELD STAFFING LEVELS, WE HAVE 22 FIRE STATIONS. WE HAVE AVERAGE 71 POSITIONS ON TRUCKS AND 39 FLOATERS. IF WE HAD ALL OF OUR ALLOCATED STAFF PER SHIFT THAT'S 210 FIREFIGHTERS PER SHIFT. WE HAVE THREE SHIFTS. 630 ASSIGNED POSITIONS TO THE FIELD. LIKE I SAID, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT SHORT ON THAT. WE HAVE A CADET CLASS STARTING IN OCTOBER. WE ALSO HAVE 14 FIREFIGHTERS THAT IS GOING TO START EMT TRAINING THAT WILL GO OUT TO THE FIELD. THAT WILL HELP US WITH OUR FIELD STAFF. ALL RIGHT. DAILY FIELD STAFFING. WE HAVE 171 RIDING POSITIONS FOR 22 STATIONS AND 39 FLOATERS. THE FLOATERS FILL IN WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE CALL OFF FOR VARIETY OF REASONS OR WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE TO DIFFERENT ASSIGNMENTS. WE AVERAGE ANYWHERE FROM 16 TO 40-PLUS PEOPLE OFF PER DAY. I BROKE IT DOWN ON THE SLIDE WHERE PEOPLE ARE. WE HAVE IN OUR CBA, WE HAVE 16 VACATION SPOTS. THAT ARE HONORED EVERY DAY FOR FIREFIGHTERS IN THE FIELD. DIFFERENT WAYS WE FILL THAT, I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THAT TODAY. WE TRY TO LIMIT OUR WORK OFF SITE TO FOUR PER DAY. THAT'S FOR DIFFERENT TRAININGS, WE TRY TO LIMIT THAT DURING WILDLAND SEASON. THIS YEAR WITH RUIDOSO WE GOT HIT HARD WITH SUPPORT DOWN THERE. WE AVERAGE 11 TEMPORARY TRANSFERS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. WE HAVE FIREFIGHTERS OUT ON INJURY AND MODIFIED DUTY WHERE THEY'RE TRANSFERRED TO A DESK JOB. WE AVERAGE 5 TO 15 PEOPLE OFF FOR FMLA OR PARENTAL LEAVE. WE ALSO GENERALLY SEE HIGHER RATES OF SICK LEAVE FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. UNLESS PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR OVERTIME WHICH CAUSES A LITTLE BIT OF A CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE DO RELY ON STAFFING THOSE CRITICAL POSITIONS IN THE FIELD WITH OVER TIME. IF PEOPLE AREN'T SIGNED UP WE HAVE A CHALLENGE THERE. ALL RIGHT. NEXT, I KNOW THAT COUNCIL IS FAMILIAR WITH ATYPICAL ENGINES BASED ON COMMUNICATION I HAVE WITH YOU. THEY RECOMMEND FOUR RIDING POSITIONS PER ENGINE AND SAFE STAFFING ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED PROBABLY A DECADE AGO. ATYPICAL MEANS A THREE-PERSON ENGINE. RATHER THAN FOUR RIDING POSITIONS A THREE-PERSON ENGINE. THIS HAS BECOME A STANDARD STAFFING FOR A LOT OF FIRE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. OUR COUNTER PART AT COUNTY ACTUALLY RUN THREE-PERSON ENGINES. THEY DON'T RUN FOUR. INTERESTINGLY, THE UNION REPRESENTS COUNTY AND CITY. COUNTY DOES THREE, WE STAFF FOUR-PERSON ENGINES. SIPS -- SINCE MEMORIAL WEEKEND, WE HAD 19 TOTAL 10 OR 14 HOUR-SHIFT. SO, 19 TOTAL TENS OR 14s OVER EIGHT DAYS. THERE'S EIGHT DAYS WE HAD STAFFING CHALLENGES. THE BULK WERE DURING DEPLOYMENTS. FOR WILDLAND OR WEEKENDS. WE HAD ONE RANDOM MONDAY, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT TEN HOUR SHIFT DIDN'T GET FILLED WITH SUPPORT, BUT WHEN WE CALCULATED THE HOURS OF ENGINES BEING IN SERVICE IT WAS LESS THAN 1% OF THE TIME WE'RE ATYPICAL. EVEN THOUGH WE STRIVE FOR 0%. I'M GOING TO GO REALLY QUICK. OUR STAFFING SOLUTIONS, WE HAVE A DROPDOWN WHICH IS HERE. THERE WE GO. I'M SORRY. THAT'S MY TIME. OUR DROP DOWN IS HERE, WE START WITH TRYING TO FILL IT WITH SUPPORT AND THEN WE DROP DOWN TO OVERTIME FIRST AND FLOATERS. AND SUPPORT FIELD AND SEND A TEXT MESSAGE TO MEMBERS TO FILL THE VACANCIES. WE CURRENTLY HAVE DAY ONE MANDATORY HOLD OVER WE DO NOT HAVE THE TWO 48-HOUR SHIFTS WITH MANDATORY SCHEDULED OVERTIME. ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE'VE HIGHLIGHTED THE SAFETY CONCERNS IN PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETINGS WITH THE THREE-PERSON ENGINES AND HOW TO MINIMIZE THESE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES. WE HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE WHERE IF THERE'S AN ATYPICAL ENGINE ANOTHER ENGINE CAN BE CALLED TO ASSIST THEM WITH PERSONNEL SO THEY HAVE ENOUGH PERSONNEL TO OPERATE AS A FOUR-PERSON CREW. AND THEN FINALLY, WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL SOLUTIONS THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH RIGHT NOW. ONE IS WE'RE LOOKING AT MULTIPLIER. WE WORKED AT THE 1.33 STAFFING MULTIPLIER SINCE 2019 AND WORKING UP TO THAT MULTIPLIER WITH THE SUPPORT OF ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL WE'RE ONLY SEVEN SHORT FROM BEING AT A 1.33 MULTIPLIER WHICH IS THE INDUSTRY STANDARD. AND WE ARE KEEPING VACANCY AND SUPPORT DIVISIONS RATHER THAN IN THE FIELD TRY TO PRIORITIZE FIELD STAFFING. AND OUR LAST SOLUTION IS WE REALLY DO NEED TO DISCUSS WITH LABOR AND WE'RE MEETING WITH THEM TOMORROW TO DISCUSS SOME TYPE OF POLICY THAT CAN DO SCHEDULED OVERTIME FOR THE SECOND DAY OF THE 48 BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR FROM THE COMMUNICATIONS WITH LABOR THAT THERE'S A SAFETY CONCERN. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT IN THE EXAGEANT CIRCUMSTANCES. I'M SORRY, THAT WAS OVER TIME. I'M SURE THAT JUST OPENED A LOT OF QUESTIONS. THAT'S KIND OF A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF HOW WE STAFF. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR CHAMPINE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THANK YOU, FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT HELPS A LOT. LIKE YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR PRESENTATION, WE GET A LOT OF COMMUNICATIONS FROM ALL SORTS OF AVENUES EXPRESSING THE SAFETY CONCERNS. YOU SHOWING UP TONIGHT HELPS US UNDERSTAND THAT. MY ONLY QUESTION IS WHAT'S PREVENTING YOU FROM PROPERLY MANNING THEM? >> COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THERE'S SO MANY FACTORS THAT GO INTO HOW TO PROPERLY STAFF EVERY DAY. TRAINING DEMANDS, JUST NORMAL NEEDS OF OUR EMPLOYEES TO BE OFF. NORMALLY, IF YOU TAKE LEAVE YOU DON'T HAVE TO BACKFILL. WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP ALL OF OUR TRUCKS IN SERVICE DURING COVID EVEN WITH ALL THE DEMAND WITH STACKING. IT'S CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING TO DYNAMICS WE HAVE. WE HAVE GRADUALLY BEING INCREASING STAFFING SINCE 2019. WE WERE MUCH MORE UNDERSTAFFED AT THAT TIME. OVER THE BUDGET YEARS WE'VE INCREASED THAT TO GET TO THE MULTIPLIER AND LIKE I SAID WE'RE VERY CLOSE. THE OTHER IMPORTANT THING IS MAKING SURE PEOPLE COME TO WORK AND ACT APPROPRIATELY WITH SICK LEAVE. WE ALSO HAVE A SICK LEAVE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE AREN'T EXCESSIVELY USING SICK LEAVE AND THERE'S CONSEQUENCES FOR INAPPROPRIATE USE OF SICK LEAVE THAT. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, CHIEF, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A COUPLE TIMES IN OUR LAST MEETING. I MADE A REQUEST TO ADD ATYPICAL STAFFING MEMBERS OR STAFFING SECTION TO YOUR REPORT THAT YOU SEND US. I DOUBLE CHECKED THE JUNE ONE AND I DIDN'T SEE THAT. THE WAY YOU PRESENTED IT HERE I LOVE IT BECAUSE IT HELPS PAINT A PICTURE WITH THE PERCENTAGES OF HOW OFTEN IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS. KNOWING FROM WORKING WITH NURSES AND STAFFING AND SAFETY, KNOW THAT'S A GOAL TO MAKE SURE THE ZERO GOAL IS RIGHT ON. CAN YOU PUT THIS SAME THING IN YOUR REPORT SO WE CAN KEEP AN EYE ON THAT AS WE PROGRESS? I ASKED FOR THAT BEFORE, I DIDN'T SEE IT IN THE JUNE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT REGULARLY. CAN YOU ADD THAT PLEASE TO THE REPORT? >> COUNCILOR ROGERS, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, OUR MONTHLY REPORT IS -- WE -- OUR TEAM WE DISCUSS THAT AND DIDN'T FEEL THAT WAS THE RIGHT PLACE TO PUT THAT DATA. WE CAN REEVALUATE THAT AND -- WE HAVE OTHER WAYS WE CAN SHARE THAT. OUR MONTHLY REPORT IS TO HIGHLIGHT THE THINGS WE'VE DONE. AND IT'S AN INTERNAL THING WE STARTED. IT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT BY THE ADMINISTRATION. IT WAS REALLY TO SHOWCASE WHAT IS BEING DONE. BECAUSE THAT'S THE SECOND TIME THAT YOU REQUESTED THAT, I'LL DISCUSS THAT WITH MY TEAM AGAIN TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY WE STILL NEED TO PRESENT THAT THERE. IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO HIDE IT. IT'S NOT REALLY THE PURPOSE OF THE MONTHLY REPORT. >>COUN. ROGERS: THAT'S OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THAT'S OKAY. IF YOU DON'T THINK THAT'S THE MOST APPROPRIATE PLACE TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH COUNCIL. THAT'S FINE. IF YOU SEND IT IN THE BODY OF THE EMAIL WHEN YOU SEND THE REPORT, SAYING HERE'S THE ATYPICAL STAFFING NUMBERS THAT WILL BE SUFFICIENT AND I'LL KEEP AN EYE ON IT THAT WAY. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR ROGERS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GREAT COMPROMISE. WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS DATA DAILY, SO IT WOULD BE AN EASY THING TO INCLUDE IN THE BODY. I THINK THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO SHARE IT WITH YOU. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILORS, ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. JUST A REAL QUICK QUESTION. YOU SAID WE'RE AT 37 FIREFIGHTERS SHORT FROM FULL STAFF. HOW MANY IN THE ACADEMY ARE GRADUATING AND HOW MANY ARE RETIRING? >> COUNCILOR SANCHEZ, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, I LOOKED AT THIS 20 TIMES, HAD MY STAFF LOOK OVER IT, I HAVE BAD MATH. I APOLOGIZE. WE HAVE 28 VACANCIES RIGHT NOW. SO THAT IS NOT REFLECTED IN HERE. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE MATH ERROR. WE HAVE 28 VACANCIES CURRENTLY. IF YOU CAN ADJUST THAT NUMBER, I WON'T BE ABLE TO DO IT UNDER PRESSURE. IF YOU CAN REPEAT THE QUESTION. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: I WAS JUST CURIOUS AS TO YOUR ATTRITION RATE. WHAT'S GOING ON, HOW MANY IN YOUR ACADEMY VERSUS RETIRING? HOW ARE WE GOING TO LOOK GOING FORWARD? WILL WE HAVE A STRONGER STAFF THAN LAST YEAR. >> COUNCILOR SANCHEZ, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 30 CADETS HIRED THAT START IN OCTOBER. ATTRITION, WE -- IT VARIES. WE JUST SIGNED A GREAT CBA AND SO I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW THAT MIGHT EFFECT RETIREMENTS THIS YEAR BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE CBA WILL KEEP PEOPLE ON A LITTLE BIT LONGER. SO, I DIDN'T BRING IT WITH ME, BUT OUR TRAINING BATTALION CHIEF PROJECTED OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS HOW MANY PERSONNEL WE KNOW ARE ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE AND WE BASE IT OFF OF THAT. WE DO NOT HAVE VERY HIGH NUMBERS OF ATTRITION THROUGH RESIGNATION. THEY'RE LOW. LESS THAN TEN THIS YEAR. PROBABLY LESS THAN FIVE, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. IT'S MOSTLY RETIREMENT. WE'RE PROJECTING THAT OUT. I CAN SHARE IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE INTERESTED IN. WE HAVE ELIGIBILITY FOR RETIREMENT, WE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE INTERESTED. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: THANK YOU. >>COUN. LEWIS: CHIEF, THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCILOR GROUT. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM GILBERT RAMIREZ. HE'S THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH, HOUSING AND HOMELESS. HE'S GOING TO PROVIDE US AN AN UPDATE REGARDING HOMELESSNESS AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY NONPROFITS. >> I'M GOING TO BE THE ONE PROVIDING THE REPORT TONIGHT. ON THE REPORT PROVIDED AS A RESULT OF RESOLUTION 24-39. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE TOTAL ALLOCATION CONTAINED IN THE REPORT CAME FROM A POOL OF SEVEN DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES. YOU MAY NOTICE THE ALLOCATION IS DIFFERENT THAN PROVIDED PREVIOUSLY. THERE'S A DUPLICATION THAT HAS BEEN CORRECTED. OVER THE FIVE YEARS, WE'VE SPIKED IN FY23 AND WITH ALLOCATIONS AND WENT DOWN SLIGHTLY IN 24. JUST AS A RESULT OF FUNDS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. OVER THE COURSE OF THOSE FIVE YEARS, THE TOP FIVE INVESTMENTS INCLUDED PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, RAPID REHOUSING, EMERGENCY SHELTER SERVICES, AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT BUT LESS COST INTENSIVE, STREET OUTREACH AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE. FOR TONIGHT'S PURPOSES, I'M GOING TO PRIMARILY FOCUS ON THREE FISCAL YEARS. FY24, 23, AND 22. BECAUSE THOSE MOST ACCURATELY REPRESENT THE LANDSCAPE POST-COVID. YOU'LL NOTICE IN FY24 THAT OUR MOST CLOSELY MIRROR THE TOP FIVE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES. YOU'LL ALSO, OF NOTE, WE PROVIDED MORE SERVICES TO MORE PEOPLE THAN THE INTENDED 16,000. IN FY23, WE ALSO HAVE FOUR OF THE SAME FIVE SERVICES WITH THE ADDITION OF CASE MANAGEMENT. THIS IS RESULT OF COVID-19 FUNDING FOR THOSE SPECIFICALLY IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. IN FY22, THESE SERVICE PRIORITIES DIRECTLY MATCH THE TOP FIVE FUNDED SERVICES. IN ADDITION TO THOSE TOP FIVE FUNDED SERVICES, WE ALSO PROVIDED SERVICES FOR DENTAL SERVICES, HEALTH CARE, WRAPAROUND SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT, MEALS AND MUCH MORE. RIGHT NOW YOU'RE LOOKING AT A SLIDE OF 30 PROVIDER AGENCIES. THESE 30 AGENCIES THAT ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED 298 CONTRACTS DURING THAT FIVE-YEAR PERIOD. WITHOUT OUT PARTNER AGENCIES WE WOULD BE ILL-EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE SERVICES. DURING THE SAME FIVE-YEAR TIME SPANNED WE PROVIDED INNOVATIVE SERVICES AS A RESULT OF LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH COVID. WE IMPLEMENTED THE FAMILY HOUSING NAVIGATION CENTER AND AT THE FAMILY NAVIGATION CENTER WE HAVE FAMILIES WHO ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN SHORT-TERM HOUSING WITH WRAPAROUND SERVICES WHILE THEY'RE PREPARING FOR LONG-TERM HOUSING SOLUTIONS. WE REPLICATED THAT AT THE GATEWAY CENTER WITH 50 INDIVIDUAL WOMEN. WE ALSO BROUGHT ON A DEPARTMENT DEDICATED VOLUNTEER COORDINATEDER AND OFFERED 105 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES THREE OF WHICH YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN BEFORE YOU. IMPLEMENTING $110 MILLION IS NOT WITHOUT CHALLENGES. HERE'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. WE'RE CONTINUING OUR EVALUATION FOR LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY. BRINGING ON A SOFTWARE PLATFORM THAT WILL HELP IN REFERRALS AMONG AGENCIES AND WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO SHOW US A BETTER GAPS IN SERVICES. WE'RE STRENGTHENING COOPERATION AND AGENCIES AND DEVELOPING WAYS TO PROCRUR CONTRACT AGENCIES. -- RATHER THAN ACCOUNTS THAT END AT THE EACH YEAR. WE'RE LEVERAGING FUNDS WITH DIRECT PARTNERSHIPS, FEDERAL FUNDING, AND PRIVATE DONATIONS AMONG OTHERS. DURING THIS TIME WE'VE ALSO HAD A GREAT COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR COUNCIL, YOU SEE FOUR OF WHICH PROGRAMS WE'RE WORKING WITH YOU TO SERVE OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION. WE LOOK FORWARD TO ONGOING COLLABORATION. THIS DATA WAS 298 CONTRACTS, SEVEN FUNDING SOURCES, IT WAS A BIG REPORT. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE HIGH LEVEL DATA AND LOOK FORWARD TO ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN BEST PROVIDE SERVICES TO THIS COMMUNITY. MY CONTACT INFORMATION IS INCLUDED. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. I STAND FOR QUESTIONS. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILORS. COUNCILOR GROUT. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU FOR THAT, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR THAT HIGH-LEVEL PRESENTATION. WE HAD ASKED IN R-24-35, WE WANTED TO KNOW THE NUMBER OF UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS SERVED. AND IN JUNE, WE DIDN'T GET THAT. BUT YOU JUST SENT IT ABOUT AN HOUR AGO. I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO OPEN IT UP. WHAT IS THAT NUMBER? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT, I DIDN'T PULL IT. BUT I HAVE THE TOTAL NUMBERS FOR FY24 23 22. I CAN TELL YOU WHAT THOSE ARE. IN FY24, WE HAD -- IT'S 28,000. KNOWING THAT THOSE ARE DUPLICATED NUMBERS. I CAN SHOW UP AND GET A MEAL AT ONE AGENCY, GET EMERGENCY SHELTERS AT ANOTHER AND DAY SHELTER. THAT IS NOT UNDUPLICATED. THERE'S 28,000 INSTANCES OF PEOPLE SERVED. IN FY23, THE NUMBER IS 21,222. AND FY2 -- THE NUMBER IS 19,689. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT -- AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING I HAD ASKED DIRECTOR RAMIREZ ABOUT TRACKING LONG-TERM OUTCOMES. AND CURRENTLY THEY'RE NOT BUILT INTO OUR CONTRACTS. WHY NOT? I THINK THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT STATISTIC THAT WE SHOULD HAVE TO KNOW IF WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WORKING AND IF WE'RE MAKING ANY PROGRESS. WHY IS THAT NOT INCLUDED IN OUR CONTRACTS? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT, WHAT WE DO HAVE BUILT INTO OUR HOUSING CONTRACT IS THOSE EXITING INTO PERMANENT HOUSING AND THOSE WHO ARE MAINTAINING IN THE PROGRAM. BEYOND THAT, THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL COST TO LONG-TERM EVALUATION. DIRECTOR, WOULD YOU ADD ANYTHING? >> COUNCILOR GROUT, JUST FOLLOWING UP TO THAT, I KNOW WE MENTIONED IT LAST TIME. SOME OF THE AGENCIES ARE FUNDED ON WB TIME ALLOCATION WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT POOL OF LONG-TERM IMPACT. AND SECONDLY, A LOT OF THE AGENCIES ARE NOT 100% FUNDED BY OUR FUNDING. THEY HAVE A DIVERSE PORTFOLIO FOR THEIR FUNDING STREAMS. WE TRY TO REPORT BACK ON OUR MONITORING AND SCOPE OF IMPACT AND INDIVIDUALS SERVED. WE HAVE A PROJECTED AMOUNT WHICH YOU SAW IN THE REPORT AND YOU HAVE AN ACTUAL SERVED NUMBER WE UPDATED FOR YOU TO SEE THE IMPACT OF THOSE. IT'S A LITTLE COMPLEX. IF YOU'RE A 20-MILLION NONPROFIT AND ONLY HALF OF THAT COMES FROM THE CITY THEIR ENTIRE IMPACT IS BASED ON OTHER THINGS AND OUR CONTRACTS DON'T EMBED IT. IF IT'S A THREE YEAR CONTRACT WE'RE MAKING SURE TO LOOK AT THAT. IT'S UNKNOWN IF THEY'LL KNOW IF THEY RECEIVE FOR LONG-TERM. THOSE ARE COMPLEXITY TO SEE THE LONG-TERM IMPACT FOR AN AGENCY THAT DOESN'T GET FUNDING FOR ALL THOSE YEARS. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE REVOLVING AND CONTINUED, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT AS PART OF THE CONTRACT? >> COUNCILOR LEWIS, COUNCILOR GROUT, WITHOUT A DOUBT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW THE IMPACT OF THE INDIVIDUALS SERVED BY THOSE REGARDLESS OF THE FUNDER OR GRANT ALLOCATION. WE'LL HAVE GRANT SCOPES FOR IMPACT OF THE MONEY, REGARDLESS OF THE FUNDER, HOW WERE THEY FUNDED AND HOW LONG DID THEY STAY. >>COUN. GROUT: ONE MORE QUESTION. I HAVE -- I KNOW OF A YOUNG WOMAN THAT I SEE ON A WEEKLY BASIS. AND SHE WAS PART OF -- SHE STAYED IN THE FAMILY NAVIGATION SYSTEM, THE FACILITY WITH HER FAMILY, AND SHE EXITED INTO SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. AND SHE WAS GIVEN A VOUCHER AND I ASKED HER IF SHE HAD ANY KIND -- IF SHE HAD ANY CASE MANAGERS OR ANYBODY HELPING HER BECAUSE THE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING VOUCHER WILL END ONE DAY OR WILL BE REDUCED ONE DAY. I SAID ARE YOU SAVING YOUR MONEY, AND SHE HAD A SCARY LOOK ON HER FACE. YOU KNOW, SHE'S HOUSED RIGHT NOW, BUT I SURE TO NOT WANT HER TO BE UNHOUSED IN SIX MONTHS BECAUSE SHE HAD TO LEARN HOW TO BUDGET AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF. WHAT IS BEING DONE, ONCE WE GET THEM IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, WHAT IS BEING DUNE -- DONE TO HELP THEM BEING EDUCATE ASKED BE SUCCESSFUL ON THEIR OWN? >> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. I WAS JUST TALKING WITH OUR ONE ALBUQUERQUE BANK ON BURQUE PROGRAMS. AND WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH THE LABOR PROGRAM WE'RE LAUNCHING. THE FINANCIAL LITERACY SKILLS THAT COME WITH THAT AND THE OPPORTUNITIES OF CONNECTING THE TWO THERE, I THINK THERE'S A LOT MORE TO DO THAT ARENA. WITHOUT A DOUBT, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING COMES WITH SUPPORT FROM WRAPAROUND. WE'RE LOOKING AT INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS AND BEYOND THAT IT'S SOMETIMES DEPENDENT UPON IF THERE'S A DISABILITY INVOLVED AS WELL. WE DEAL WITH INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS OR OTHERS. THAT CAN TAKE TIME WITH BALANCING TIME AND FINANCES. WITHOUT A DOUBT WE'RE HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS AS TO HOW TO INTEGRATE OUR PROGRAMS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY PIECES INTO THE CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT SO THE INDIVIDUALS ARE SUCCESSFUL LONG-TERM. >>COUN. GROUT: YES, I WANT THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL. I HOPE WE'RE FOLLOWING UP AND MAKING SURE THEY'RE MAKING GOOD CHOICES AND LEARNING HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE. >>COUN. LEWIS: DOES IT HAVE THE NUMBER OF THOSE TRANSFERRED INTO HOUSING? I KNOW YOU GAVE US THE NUMBER OF THOSE SERVED. DO YOU HAVE THE NUMBER EACH YEAR THAT THOSE ARE TRANSFERRED? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IF WE -- THAT'S LINE BY LINE ANSWER. FOR THOSE CONTRACTS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, I CAN RUN THAT REPORT AND GIVE YOU A TOTAL AMOUNT. RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST BY CONTRACT. >>COUN. LEWIS: YOU REPORT IF THEY'RE OUT OF THE SYSTEM, I FORGET THE TERM YOU USE. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE SOMEONE WHO IS IN THE PROCESS OF RECEIVING HOUSING AND THEY'RE IN THE PERMANENT HOUSING? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IF THEY'RE IN OUR PROGRAM THEY'RE COUNTED OF RECEIVING PERMANENT HOUSING. ONE OF THE OUTCOMES WE LOOKED AT IS WHEN THEY TRANSFER OUT OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, WE CALL IT SUPPORTIVE BECAUSE THERE'S GETTING SERVICES AND THEY MOVED TO UNSUPPORTED HOUSING. WHERE THAT'S SECTION EIGHT VOUCHER BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, SO IS YOUR QUESTION -- >>COUN. LEWIS: TECHNICALLY AT THAT POINT THEY WOULDN'T COME BACK INTO THE SYSTEM AT THAT POINT BECAUSE THEY'RE TECHNICALLY HOUSED BY THEMSELVES OR NOT BY THE HOUSING WE'RE PROVIDING. DO YOU HAVE THAT NUMBER OF THOSE THAT ARE TRANSFERRED OUT OF PERMANENT HOUSING WE PROVIDE AND GO TO -- >> COUNCILOR LEWIS, I DON'T HAVE THAT TODAY. I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU. >>COUN. LEWIS: OKAY. THAT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE A NUMBER THAT WOULD REFLECT SOME SUCCESS RIGHT? IT WOULD BE A NUMBER THAT WOULD REFLECT TO HELP US GAUGE THE MILLIONS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE APPROVE TO GO TO THIS DEPARTMENT. I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN INDICATOR OF ULTIMATELY WHERE WE WANT TO -- THE GOAL, WOULDN'T IT BE? IN SOME WAYS. YOU KNOW? A FEW THINGS. IN FY24, THERE WERE -- MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE WERE ROUGHLY 22 CONTRACTS WITH VARIOUS NON-PROFITS TO PROVIDE VOUCHERS. AND WE'RE USING SOME SOFTWARE TO TRACT VOUCHER UTILIZATION IN REALTIME. ARE YOU USING ANY KIND OF SOFTWARE THAT USES -- THAT TRACKS VOUCHER UTILIZATION AND TRACKS THE SPEND DOWN OF THE MONEY THAT'S GIVEN TO YOU FOR VOUCHERS IN REALTIME? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WE HAVE A SPREADSHEET AND OUR PEOPLE DATA TO TRACK THE REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENTS AND HOW THAT IS IMPACTING THE TOTAL AMOUNT. >>COUN. LEWIS: YOU ARE TRACKING THAT THEN? YOU'RE TRACKING THE VOUCHERS UTILIZATION IN REALTIME? YOU CAN TELL US IN REAL TIME THE VOUCHER UTILIZATION AND THE SPEND DOWN IN REALTIME? >> WHEN WE RECEIVE A REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT, THAT'S WHEN WE'RE TRACKING IT. IF THE INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES ISSUING THE VOUCHERS AND REQUESTING THE VOUCHERS AND INCLUDED IN THAT IS STAFF TIME, ADDITIONAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH GETTING PEOPLE HOUSED. AT THE END OF EACH MONTH, WE'RE TRACKING THE MONTHLY SPEND DOWN. >>COUN. LEWIS: REALTIME WOULD BE MONTHLY. JUST BECAUSE THE TIME THAT IT TAKES TO BE ABLE TO SEE IT. YOU'RE ABLE TO TRACK THAT MONTH BY MONTH AND GIVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT'S BEEN SPENT DOWN CURRENTLY AND HOW MANY PEOPLE UTILIZE THE VOUCHERS? >> YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: OKAY. YOU'RE USING EXCEL, IS THERE SOME SOFTWARE WE HAVE. WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON SOFTWARE. IS THERE A WAY TO UTILIZE PEOPLE SOFT THAT WOULD MAKE IT MORE -- >> WE USE IT TO COMPARE IT TO THE DATA TRACKED ON THE SPREADSHEET TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ACCURATE -- >>COUN. LEWIS: OKAY. BECAUSE MY STAFF IS PRETTY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS. BECAUSE WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE AND OTHER COUNCILORS AND THEIR STAFF, AND WE GET LOT OF EMAILS AND SO, A LOT OF EXAMPLES OF JUST -- I WOULDN'T CALL IT TESTING THE SYSTEM, BUT JUST MAKING SURE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY ARE BEING UTILIZING THE RESOURCES GIVEN TO THEM. SO, EARLY THIS YEAR WE GOT AN EMAIL REGARDING A MAN WHO WAS LIVING IN HIS CAR. THAT WAS FROM MY ANALYST. SHE MADE A REFERRAL TO ACS, THEY DID NOT LOCATE THE PERSON, CASE WAS CLOSED. SIX MONTHS LATER RECEIVED A REMINDER EMAIL SAYING HE WAS STILL THERE. SHE WENT OUT AND MADE CONTACT THE NEXT DAY HE LET US KNOW HE WANTED HELP AND HE HAD A JOB. WORKING AT CIRCLE K. SHE REACHED OUT TO HHH, THE DEPARTMENT, STREET CORRECT AND HEADING HOME WAS ABLE TO HAVE HIM START THE PROCESS WITH PROPER FORM AND PAPERWORK. AND TOLD HIM THAT IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO COMPLETE THIS, BY THE WAY I REVIEWED THE PAPERWORK THEY COMPLETE, IT'S PRETTY COMPLICATED. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A PRETTY LONG PROCESS. SHE WAS ABLE TO SECURE A TWO-WEEK VOUCHER. HOTEL VOUCHER, WHILE HE WAS NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM. THERE WAS A PLAN FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS FOR THE HOTEL VOUCHER WAS APPROVED. THE OUTCOME WAS HE WAS OBLIGATED TO SPEND ONE NIGHT AT A SHELTER AND HE REFUSED BECAUSE HE FELT SAFER SLEEPING IN HIS CAR. SHE WAS TOLD THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE DISQUALIFICATION. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS IT MANDATORY FOR THOSE THAT ARE UNHOUSED TO SPEND ONE NIGHT IN A SHELTER? BEFORE THEY CAN GO IN THAT PROCESS OF GETTING A VOUCHER? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WE HAVE MULTIPLE FUNDING SOURCES. THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS MAY DIFFER FROM THE CITY GENERAL FUNDED VOUCHERS. THE GENERAL FOUNDED VOUCHERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO STAY IN A SHELTER. AS FAR AS GENERAL FUNDS I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO THOSE. >>COUN. LEWIS: IN THIS CASE, HE WAS NOT QUALIFIED TO TAKE THE VOUCHER BECAUSE HE NEEDED TO SPEND ONE NIGHT IN THE SHELTER. HE DIDN'T DO THAT, SO THE PROCESS WAS STOPPED AND I GUESS SLEEPING IN HIS CAR WASN'T A QUALIFIER TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN THAT CASE. AND THEN, DOES THE DEPARTMENT TRACK HOW MANY PEOPLE SELF-DISQUALIFY. OR ARE THERE OTHER REASONS THEY WOULD SELF-DISQUALIFY? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, IN A NUMBER OF CONTRACTS WE REQUEST THEY REPORT ON THOSE NUMBERS THAT DISCHARGE FROM THE PROGRAM AND THE REASON WHY. NOT IN EVERY INSTANCE OF THE 298 CONTRACTS, BUT IN MANY CONTRACTS YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: OKAY. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS A WOMAN THAT WAS HOMELESS WITH HER DOG BECAUSE SHE WAS KICKED OUT BY HER BOYFRIEND. MY ANALYST REFERRED TO STREET CONNECT. THIS WENT SMOOTHLY. SHE MOVED INTO A DEPARTMENT AT CITY MANAGED FACILITY. SHE AND HER BOYFRIEND ARE MOVING INTO IT TOGETHER. THIS TOOK THREE WEEKS TO GET HOUSING. DO COUPLES HAVE DIFFERENT INTAKE PROCEDURES? WAYS TO QUALIFY, THAN AN INDIVIDUAL? COUNCIL -- >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, DEPENDING ON THE SOURCE, BUT TYPICALLY IT'S HARDER TO FIND A TWO-BEDROOM OR THREE-BEDROOM APARTMENT. THAT CAN COMPLICATE THINGS. >>COUN. LEWIS: RECEIVED A CALL FROM A PROGRAM DIRECTOR TO LET US KNOW THERE WAS A COMMUNITY OUTREACH FOR THE HOMELESS AT THIRD STREET AND SILVER. 10 TO 12 COMMUNITY SERVICE MEMBERS PROVIDING ATTENTION. ONE GENTLEMAN WAS BEING TREATED ON THE STREET BY A DOCTOR OR NURSE WITH ADVANCED DIABETES. HOSPITAL INTERVENTION, NOT A STREET BAND-AID. A WOMAN WAS NOT WEARING SHOES, SHE WANTED A SANDWICH. ONE PERSON PAID IT IN FULL. AGAIN, THE THING ABOUT THAT, IS THERE A METHOD OF TRIAGE THAT ALLOWS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OR FACILITATOR TO OVERRIDE THE PERSON'S DESIRE TO REJECT MEDICAL CARE AT A TIME TO DETERMINE THAT THE HOMELESS PERSON SHOULD BE TRANSPORTED TO UNMH? >> COUNCILOR LEWIS, IN REGARD TO THAT, AND ONE'S ABLE TO DENY SERVICES, I'M SURE OUR CHIEF OF FIRE CAN SPEAK TO THAT, FOLKS CAN REREFUSE MEDICAL TREATMENT IF THAT'S NOT THE AVENUE TO CHECK. IN THAT PARTICULAR CASE, WE'RE SEEING UNFORTUNATELY HIGHER ACUITY OF HEALTH CASES COMING OUT OF THE HOSPITAL ON DISCHARGE TO THE STREET AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY EVERYONE WAS -- [ NOBBLE HAVE -- WHILE THERE IN THE ELEMENTS AND CALLS FOR CARE WHICH THEY CYCLE THROUGH. THEY DO HAVE RIGHT TO REFUSE. TYPICALLY YOU CAN DO A CERTIFICATE OF EVALUATION OF MENTAL HEALTH IF IT'S A THREAT TO HELPSELF THEMSELVES. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO BE ABLE TO REFUSE THAT SERVICE. >>COUN. LEWIS: OKAY. WE'LL LET OTHER COUNCILORS -- I THINK COUNCILOR SANCHEZ AND COUNCILOR ROGERS AND COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT -- THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE. I KNOW COUNCILOR LEWIS IS LOOKING AT HOW MANY WE SERVE. I'M LOOKING AT THE PROVIDERS THAT PROVIDE THE SERVICE. WHAT KIND OF -- DO YOU HAVE A DATABASE, SOME DATABASE WE CAN LOOK AT WHERE YOU AUDIT EACH OF THE PROVIDERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE PROVIDING THE SERVICES THAT THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THAT THEY'RE CONTRACTING STATES THEY'RE GOING TO PROVIDE? I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT US AS COUNCILORS SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE AUDITS AND MAKE SURE THAT IF THEY PROMISE SOMETHING THEY'RE DELIVERING. I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THE SERVICE THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU GUYS PROVIDE SOME SORT OF AUDIT, SOME SORT OF DATABASE, IF THERE IS AN AUDIT AND DATABASE, HOW OFTEN ARE THEY DONE? I WANT TO TRACK THE SERVICE. I THINK IT'S SOMETIMES WHEN WE'RE DISHING OUT THIS KIND OF MONEY TO THE SERVICE PROVIDERS, THEY NEED TO -- WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE PROVIDING THAT SERVICE. IT'S UP TO YOUR DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT SERVICE IS GETTING PROVIDED AND THE AUDITS ARE TAKING PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING WHAT WE PAY FOR. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR SANCHEZ, WE DON'T MAINTAIN A DATABASE OF THE AUDITS. WE DO WHAT WE CALL MONITOR THE AGENCIES ANNUALLY. THAT'S A PROGRAMMATIC AND MONITORING. THAT RESULTS IN A MONITORING REPORT. THERE'S A DOCUMENT DETAILS THE MONERRING. WE LOOK AT OBLIGATIONS, AND ARE THEY MEETING THE ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS AND MEETING THEIR OWN STANDARDS AND COMPLYING WITH THE FISCAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE AGREEMENT. THAT RESULTS IN A MONITORING REPORT THAT IS SENT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: HOW OFTEN IS THIS AUDIT CONDUCTED OR THIS REPORT DONE BY YOUR OFFICE? >> THAT'S DONE ANNUALLY. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: ON THA REPORT -- TAKING PLACE? TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE AUDITS ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF AND THE SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED TO THE STANDARDS WE EXPECT? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR SANCHEZ, YES, WE CAN PROVIDE COPIES OF THOSE. WE CAN PROVIDE COUNTIES -- COPIES TO COUNCIL SERVICES OR HOWEVER YOU WANT TO SEE THOSE. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: I WOULDN'T MIND SEEING THOSE AUDITS. I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT IT AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERY PROVIDER IS PROVIDING SERVICES. LATELY, I'VE BEEN HEARING IT'S NOT TAKING PLACE THE WAY IT SHOULD. AND SOME OF THE SERVICES ARE FAILING. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS AUDITING THE PROVIDERS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING THE CORRECT SERVICE THAT THEY STATE IN THE CONTRACT. THANK YOU. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE REPORT AND EXTRA INFORMATION. JUST HAVE A COUPLE FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS. HOW DOES HHH CONDUCT PROGRAM EVALUATION? NOT AUDITS OF THE ORGANIZATION, BUT HOW DO YOU EVALUATE OUR PROCESS FOR THE CITY? >> COUNCILOR ROGERS, CAN I ASK YOU -- ARE YOU ASKING HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR OWN INTERNAL PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE MEETING OUR ESTABLISHED CRITERIA? OR THE CONTRACTED PROVIDERS? >>COUN. ROGERS: YES, I WOULD CONSIDER THE HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM THAT WE ADMINISTER FUNDS TO ORGANIZATIONS AS A PROGRAM. WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT? >> I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. >>COUN. ROGERS: OKAY. HOW DO YOU EVALUATE OUR OWN PROCESSES, OUR OWN EFFICIENCIES INTERNALLY ON OUR PROGRAMS ? HOW DOES HHH DO THAT? >> COUNCILOR ROGERS, I WOULD SAY IT'S A VARIETY OF METHODS. ONE OF WHICH IS LOOKING AT THE SPEND DOWN, ALSO REVIEWING THE QUARTERLY REPORTS OF THE PROGRAM THAT WE CONTRACT WITH TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE VOUCHERS AND THAT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY BEING SERVED. IF WE LOOK AT THE WHOLE, AND WE KNOW THAT LAST YEAR FISCAL YEAR 24 AT THE END OF THE YEAR WE DREW DOWN ROUGHLY 80% OF THE VOUCHER POOL AND LOOK AT THE QUARTERLY REPORT AND IF THAT MATCHES 80% OF THE CLIENTS SERVED WE CONSIDER THAT WE'RE SUCCESSFULLY MEETING ABOUT 80% OF THE GOALS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THAT'S STILL LOOKING OUTWARDLY. THAT'S STILL FIGURING OUT HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT DOWN BY THE ORGANIZATION. I'M TALKING ABOUT TRUE PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS WITH OUR PROCESS OF HOW WE MANAGE THE CONTRACTS, HOW QUICKLY WE GET THEM EXECUTED, HOW WE EVALUATE THE CONTRACTS AND THE DATA THAT COMES -- WE GET THE REPORTS, THINK INTERNAL PROCESSES. HOW DO WE EVALUATE THOSE? >> COUNCILOR ROGERS, THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, OUR TEAM CONTINUOUSLY LOOKED AT THE IMPROVEMENT OVERALL. WE HAD OUR METRICS OF WHAT WE DID, WHAT WE FUNDED. THOSE IMPACT AREAS WE WANT TO HAVE AND EMBEDDED DATA TO LOOK AT THERE'S A FINANCIAL PIECES OF ALLOCATION OF AWARDS, DID IT REVERT, OR ADJUSTMENTS NEEDED TO BE MADE. TWO, IS THERE EFFICIENIES THAT WE SOLICITED THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CONTRACTS AND HAVE SCOPES DEFINED FOR THE SERVICE. MY BACKGROUND WAS VERY INVOLVED IN THE SCOPES. I WENT OUT AND MONITORED THOSE CLINICAL RECORDS TO MAKE SURE THE AGENCIES WERE HAVING THAT INFORMATION WITH THE FIDALITY THEY COULD. WE WORKED ON THE UNM EVALUATION LAB DOES SOMETHING WITH NON-PROFIT AND OUR ORGANIZATION. OUR ENTIRE PARTNERING, WE WILL GO LOOK AT THE EVALUATION PROCESS. IF WE EXPECT OUR EVALUATION TO HAVE A THEORY OF CHANGE OR LOGIC MODEL TO OBTAIN GOALS WE HAVE DONE THAT INTERNALLY WITH THE DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT IS OUR LOGIC MODEL TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS FOR INSTANCE NAVIGATION. WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS THAT SHOW FIDELITY. THAT SHOULD SHOW BEST PRACTICE FOR ACHIEVING HOUSING STABILITY AND THEN OUR EVALUATION AND WE ALSO PART OF THAT FRAMWORK IS AT THE OBSTACLES. IS THE FUNDING ONE TIME, IS IT RECURRING, IS IT ESTIMATED TO INCREASE, DECREASE AND WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THAT. I WOULD SAY THESE EVALUATIONS HAPPEN BECAUSE WE HAVE MULTIPLE DIVISIONS ACROSS THAT. THEY LOOK DIFFERENT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS AS THEY DO HAVE HOUSING VOUCHERS OR IN AN ARENA OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. THAT'S EMBEDDED INTO OUR DEVELOPMENT. LOT OF OUR FOLKS EVALUATION HAPPENS EVERY SUMMER. WE ALSO INVITE NONPROFITS TO BETTER HAVE OUTCOMES AND MEASUREMENTS IN THOSE AREAS AND WHAT'S THE LOGIC MODEL OR THEORY CHANGE TO SHOW THE IMPACTS. I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. >>COUN. ROGERS: I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR. THAT'S LOOKING AT THE AGENCIES AND -- I THINK MY POINT HERE IS THERE IS NO TRUE PROCESS IMPROVEMENT HAPPENING. TRUE PROCESS IMPROVEMENT. WHERE YOU'RE NOT LOOKING AT AGENCIES, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE INTERNAL PROCESSES. I'M GOING TO KEEP MOVING BECAUSE WE HAVE A BIG AGENDA. I LOVE TO TALK WITH YOU OFFLINE ABOUT HOW TO ACTUALLY GET PROCESS IMPROVEMENT HAPPENING WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT YOUR KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS AS A DEPARTMENT AND FIGURING OUT HOW THEY DO THE BUSINESS OF GETTING THIS MONEY OUT TO PEOPLE. BECAUSE WE'RE CONSTANTLY FOCUSING ON WHAT THE AGENCIES NEED TO DO BETTER, BUT WE'RE NOT FOCUSING ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO BETTER AS FAR AS OUR PROCESSES. I REALLY -- WHAT ARE YOUR KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS? WHAT ARE THOSE FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT? >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: MR. PRESIDENT, I THINK COUNCILOR ROGERS WAS STILL ASKING QUESTIONS. >>COUN. LEWIS: THAT WASN'T A QUESTION. >>COUN. ROGERS: THAT WAS WRAPPING UP THAT QUESTION. I STILL HAVE A COUPLE MORE, IF POSSIBLE. >>COUN. LEWIS: WAS THAT A QUESTION YOU HAD FOR THE STAFF? >>COUN. ROGERS: I STILL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, MR. PRESIDENT. >>COUN. LEWIS: YOU WANT TO RESTATE THAT LAST QUESTION? >>COUN. ROGERS: WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION. I'LL TALK TO GILBERT ABOUT THAT. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE REPORTING THAT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES TALKED ABOUT AS FAR AS WHAT'S REQUIRED OF THOSE. I LOOKED AT OUR HEADING HOME CONTRACTS WE JUST EXTENDED. I ALSO LOOKED AT THE CONTRACTS THAT WE GAVE THEM FOR CASE MANAGEMENT. PREVIOUS CONTRACTS FOR CASE MANAGEMENT. A COUPLE OF THINGS WERE GLARING. WE EXTENDED THE CONTRACT FOR THE OPERATIONS, BUT IN THAT CONTRACT IT DOES NOT SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THE CASE MANAGEMENT AND THE SERVICES, OTHER THAN TO ASSIST IN THE COORDINATION OF SERVICES. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE PLAN IS FOR SERVICES THAT ARE TIED TO THIS REPORT AND ALSO THE EXTENDED CONTRACT? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR ROGERS YES. WE TOOK THIS OPPORTUNITY NOW -- SOME OF THE EXTENSION PIECES THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN WITH STAFF AND FINANCIAL. WE WERE ABLE TO ALLOCATE DEDICATED SERVICE FOR ADDITIONAL CASE MANAGEMENT. WE'VE ALLOCATED $750,000 WHICH WE PUT OUT TO BID. AND WE HAD SOLICITATION OF BIDDERS, AND AWARDS WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING TO LOOK AT EXITING CASE MANAGEMENT AND SPECIALIZED SERVICES THERE. THAT IS SEPARATE FROM THE OPERATING AGREEMENT IN WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO SEPARATE SOME OF THOSE TO HAVE INTENTIONAL SERVICE FOR THE POPULATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR RAMIREZ. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. ON YOUR SECOND TO LAST SLIDE WHERE YOU LISTED COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH COUNCIL, I ASSUME THAT THE GATEWAY YOUNG ADULT NAVIGATION CENTER IS ACTUALLY THE YOUNG ADULT HOUSING NAVIGATION CENTER THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON WITH COUNCILOR GROUT AND COUNCILOR BASSAN FOR TWO-PLUS YEARS. SOMEBODY FORGOT TO TELL ME THAT YOU CHANGED THE NAME? >> GATEWAY YOUNG ADULT NAVIGATION CENTER? >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES, THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE YOUNG ADULT NAVIGATION CENTER THAT WE RAISED THE MONEY FOR AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON COLLABORATIVE WITH COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, COUNCILOR GROUT, AND COUNCILOR BASSAN FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS. THAT ONE. WHEN DID IT CHANGE ITS NAME? >> WE HAVEN'T OFFICIALLY CHANGED THE NAME. I THINK WHEN WE'RE COMING OFF OF GATEWAY WEST CHANGE, IT MIGHT HAVE STAYED IN THERE WITH GATEWAY. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: IT MIGHT BE NICE TO GIVE A HEADS UP WHEN SOMETHING CHANGED NAMES WHEN WE'RE RAISING FUNDS FOR IT. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILORS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU. >>COUN. LEWIS: WE GO TO ITEM FOUR. ADMIN Q&A. COUNCILORS, ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION? LET'S GO TO COUNCILOR BACA. >>COUN. BACA: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. JUST REALLY QUICK, DR. SENGEL, I'VE GOTTEN QUITE A FEW CONCERNS EXPRESSED ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW FEES FOR THE RESTAURANT. I UNDERSTAND THE ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO POSTPONE INCREASING THE FEES WHILE THEY REEVALUATE AND TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSIDERATION. THERE'S A QUITE A FEW FOLKS HERE FOR THAT. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR BACA, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. THERE'S BEEN LOT OF FEEDBACK. WE HAD A HEARING ON FRIDAY THAT ALLOWED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK. WE HAVE PAUL ROGERS FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO TALK ABOUT SPECIFICS THAT WILL BE VALUABLE FOR YOU TO HEAR. HAVING A PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS, THE INTENT IS TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY. IT PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE RULE MAKING STEPS TO ENSURE WE BOTH UNDERSTOOD THE IMPACTS TO BUSINESSES THAT THE RULES WOULD BE APPLYING TO BUT ALSO ALLOWED US TO GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. I WILL LET MR. ROGERS GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR BACA, PAUL ROGERS, DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. YES, SIR, AS YOU KNOW WE HAD A HEARING LAST FRIDAY. IT WAS NOT TO ADDRESS THE FEES. THOSE HAVE BEEN SET BY ORDINANCE. IT WAS TO SET RULES FOR OTHER OVERSIGHT OF THE RETAIL FOOD ORDINANCE. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT THE FEES. WE TOOK SOME PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE TIME. THEY REPRESENTED THAT THE FEES HAD BEEN TOO HIGH. WE HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH THE PUBLIC THAT WE'RE GOING TO REEVALUATE THOSE FEES AT THIS TIME. >>COUN. BACA: YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE INCREASING FEES AT THIS TIME? >> A DEFINITIVE DECISION HAS NOT BEEN MADE. WE HAVE COMMITTED TO REEVALUATING THE FEES AND THE INCREASE THAT WAS EXPERIENCED BY SOME APPLICANTS. >>COUN. BACA: OKAY, THANK YOU. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR GROUT, THEN COUNCILOR CHAMPINE. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR APD AND A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR HUMAN RESOURCES. HELLO DEPUTY. QUESTIONS, DO APD'S PUBLIC SERVICE AIDS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO WRITE TRAFFIC TICKETS? >> NO, MA'AM, THEY DO NOT. THEY'RE ABOUT TO BEGIN A PROGRAM WHERE THEY WILL ISSUE PARKING CITATIONS AND DO SOME OF THE PARKING BOOT ENFORCEMENT. A TRADITIONAL TRAFFIC CITATION, NO MA'AM. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. DO THEY REGULARLY PATROL FOR TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT? >> NO, MA'AM. FOR THAT VERY REASON. THEY HELP WITH TRAFFIC COLLISIONS AND ABANDONED VEHICLES AND BROKEN DOWN VEHICLES AND TRY TO BE SERVICE OF THOSE WAYS BUT NOT TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT? >>COUN. GROUT: CAN THEY HAVE EXPANDED ROLES. IS THERE ANY WAY TO EXPAND ROLES? >> WE'RE LOOKING INTO THAT NOW. THERE'S A STATUTE IN THIS STATE THAT REQUIRES THAT IF YOU DETAIN SOMEBODY FOR A TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT CITATION YOU HAVE TO BE A SWORN POLICE OFFICER. THAT'S OUR ISSUE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH BECAUSE WHEN WE ISSUE A CITATION WE'RE LEGALLY DETAINING YOU SOMEWHAT AND THEY DECENT -- DON'T HAVE THAT POWER TO DO THAT. WE'RE LOOKING THROUGH TO SEE IF THAT IS POSSIBLE, RIGHT NOW WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS. THAT'S AN ISSUE WE'RE CONTINUING TO LOOK AT. >>COUN. GROUT: HOW MANY PSAs DO WE HAVE? >> WE HAVE 81 RIGHT NOW. AND WE HAVE 14 IN A PSA ACADEMY. THAT WILL TAKE US UP TO 95. AND WE HAVE ANOTHER ACADEMY SCHEDULED IN NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR THAT WE HOPE TO HAVE 15 OR 20 CANDIDATES. >>COUN. GROUT: HOW LONG IS THE TRAINING? >> SIX WEEKS. >>COUN. GROUT: HOW MANY TYPICALLY PERCENTAGE MOVE INTO THE -- BECOME OFFICERS? >> QUITE A FEW ACTUALLY. I START TO THEM WHEN THEY START THE ACADEMY. IN THIS GROUP, PROBABLY 95% RAISED THEIR HAND AND INDICATED THEY HOPED TO BECOME A CADET IN THE FUTURE. THAT'S OUR GOAL. IN THAT CASE ALMOST EVERYBODY RAISED THEIR HAND. >>COUN. GROUT: VERY GOOD. IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN HELP EXPAND THE PROGRAM? >> NO, MA'AM. WE FEEL VERY SUPPORTED BY THIS ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL. WE'RE GETTING GOOD NUMBERS IN. WE'RE GOING TO REFINE OUR RECRUITING PROGRAM AND TRY TO UPDATE IT AND ANALYTICALLY ASSESS WHAT KIND OF PLACES WE'RE GETTING SUCCESS RELATED TO THAT. AND WE'RE ABOUT TO START IN THE FALL A NEW RECRUITING PROGRAM FOR PSA THAT YOU'LL SEE ON OUR PLATFORMS. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE YOU. >>COUN. LEWIS: REAL QUICK. I WANTED TO ASK YOU A FOLLOW UP FROM WHAT COUNCILOR BACA WAS ASKING ABOUT. THE ADMINISTRATION, THIS BILL PASSED WITH OUR BUDGET THIS SPRING, INCREASE THE FEES ON RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS INCLUDING FOOD TRUCKS. IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT FEE INCREASE. NOW THIS IS BEING IMPLEMENTED AND YOU HAVE HUNDREDS OF FOOD TRUCK OWNERS AND RESTAURANT OWNERS, AND THEY SEE THE CITY PUT A HUGE TAX ON THEM. INCREASED THE TAXES AT A TIME AFTER COVID WHERE THEY'RE STRUGGLING. YOU ALL PROPOSED THIS, RIGHT? YOU PROPOSED THIS ORIGINALLY TO RAISE THOSE FEES TO THAT AMOUNT? THAT CAME FROM YOUR OFFICE, CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >>COUN. LEWIS: I KNOW THE MAYOR WAS SUPPORTIVE OF IT. THE ADMINISTRATION REALLY WANTS TO RAISE THE FEES BECAUSE THERE'S SPECIFIC PURPOSES TO DO THAT, I THINK YOU STATED THEM. YOU GOT EIGHT CITY COUNCILORS TO VOTE FOR IT. INCREASE THOSE FEES BECAUSE OF THE NEED. YOU CONVINCED THE COUNCIL TO RAISE THOSE FEES, ARE YOU SAYING NOW THAT YOU WANT -- ARE YOU GOING TO COME TO US AND SAY WE DON'T WANT THAT BILL ANYMORE? WE WANT YOU TO RELOOK AT THIS BILL AND RECLASSIFY IT? THAT'S GOT TO BE COUNCIL ACTION TO DO THAT. I GUESS IT'S THE MAYOR'S PREROGATIVE TO DELAY IT. I'M GLAD YOU DELAYED IT. WHY WOULD YOU PUT THAT BURDEN ON THESE PEOPLE IN THE FIRST PLACE? IT'S ALSO A LAW OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE THAT YOU HAD THE COUNCIL PASS THAT. ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO THE COUNCIL AND REVOKE THAT BILL? >> MR. PRESIDENT, I'LL ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION. SPECIFICALLY, THIS IS RELATED TO TWO THINGS THAT OCCURRED ON FRIDAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR. THE RULE MAKING THAT WAS ON FRIDAY WAS PASSED BY YOU ALL THAT WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO WORK ON THE RULES. THAT HEARING BROUGHT MANY FOLKS TO THE TABLE TO DISCUSS THE IMPLEMENTATION. IT GAVE US AN AWARENESS IN THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU ALL DID PASS THAT WE PROPOSED WHICH IS RELATED TO SHIFTING OUR FOOD PERMITTING TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT WE -- DID NOT PERMIT BASED ON RISK OR ASSESS FEES BASED ON RICK. IF YOU REMEMBER FROM OUR PREVIOUS DISCUSSION ON THE MATTER WE RECOGNIZE DIFFERENT SIZES OF BUSINESS WERE HAVING DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERMITS AND POTENTIALLY TREATED EQUALLY IN TERMS OF THE COST THAT WAS THERE. FOR EXAMPLE, REMEMBER IN OUR COMMENTS AND DISCUSSION WE TALKED ABOUT GROCERY STORES, AND GROCERY STORES HAVE MULTIPLE PERMITS. AND ENSURING WE WERE IN A POSITION WHERE FOR INSTANCE, YOU HAVE A DELI THAT MIGHT HAVE A PERMIT, AND THE BAKERY HAS A PERMIT SO IF THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH ONE OF THE PERMITS YOU DON'T CLOSE THE ENTIRE GROCERY STORE, YOU DEAL WITH THE PERMIT THAT'S A MATTER OF CONCERN. WHEN YOU LOOK AT A RESTAURANT THAT HAS A BAR AND KITCHEN. SO THOSE TWO PERMITS UNDERSTOOD TO BE SEPARATE SO THEY CAN OPERATE THE OTHER PERMIT. THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SAID THEY VALUE THIS AND FELT IT WAS GOOD TO SUPPORT THEM BEING ABLE TO STAY OPEN AND KEEP OPERATIONS OPEN. IN THE APPLICATION OF THE NEW ORDINANCE WE RECOGNIZE THAT WITH FOOD TRUCKS SPECIFICALLY, THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO INTERPRET THAT DIFFERENTLY IN TERMS OF WHAT TYPE OF KITCHEN THEY HAVE. THAT IS WHAT WE'RE SAYING. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE INTERPRETING OUR TABLES ACCURATELY BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF KITCHENS THERE MAY BE. I'M NOT AN EXPERT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE EXPERTS ARE EVALUATING THE APPLICATION OF THE TABLES AND DOING THAT WELL. IN THAT IS WHAT WE'RE SAYING WE WANT DELAY TO ENSURE WE'RE APPLY ING ACCURATELY. A FOOD TRUCK WORKS FOR A COMMISSARY TICHEN AS -- WE WANT TO ENSURE WE'RE PERMITTING THE RIGHT WAY TO APPLY THE NEW ORDINANCE. IF THERE'S A CHANGE IN THE ORDINANCE, WE WOULD COME TO YOU AND DISCUSS THIS WITH YOU AND BRING IT TO YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR US TO DO IF WE FOUND AN ERROR. WE BELIEVE WE HAVE THE ACCURATE ORDINANCE AND HAVE DONE THE RIGHT THING TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE INDIVIDUALS EATING IN THE KITCHENS WHICH IS ALL OF THE CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALL OF THE COMMUNITY THAT GOES TO RESTAURANT AND RECEIVES FOOD PREPARED. WE'RE ASKING THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE US A FEW DAYS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE APPLYING THE CORRECT PERMITTING FOR THE RIGHT KITCHEN. AGAIN, IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WE'LL COME AND REQUEST FOR YOU TO CONSIDER THAT ORDINANCE. WE DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S AN ISSUE. WE HAD AN INTERPRETATION THAT WE'LL MAKE A CORRECTION. ANYONE THAT HAS PAID A PERMIT, OVERPAID, THEY WILL ABSOLUTELY BE REFUNDED. AND WE WILL CORRECT THAT. WE BELIEVE THERE ARE 12 FOOD TRUCKS THAT HAVE RECEIVED THEIR PERMITS. THEY WERE PROACTIVE IN THE PROCESS, WHICH WE GREATLY APPRECIATE. BECAUSE FOOD PERMITTING FOR RESTAURANTS IS SO IMPORTANT. IT ALLOWS ENSURE WE CAN GO IN AND INSPECT AND ENSURE EVERYTHING IS SAFE FOR FOLKS IN THE RESTAURANT. WE'RE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE WITH FOOD TRUCKS WE'RE APPLYING THE CORRECT TABLE. >>COUN. LEWIS: THE BOTTOM LINE IS WHEN YOU PROPOSED HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS OF FEE AND TAX INCREASES ON SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE CITY AND FOOD TRUCKS AND RESTAURANTS IT WASN'T THOUGHT THROUGH. YOU DIDN'T THINK THROUGH -- IT WASN'T THOUGHT THROUGH. IT'S JUST AMAZING TO ME HOW EASY TO SAY WE NEED MORE MONEY. THE CITY HAS A TON OF MONEY. A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY. AND WE JUST NEED MORE MONEY. WE DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND IT. SO, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE A BILL THAT REVERSES THAT AND TAKES AWAY THE FEE ALTOGETHER UNTIL ALL THE ANSWERS OF THOSE. YOU PUT US IN A MESS. NOW WE'RE IN A MESS FIGURING OUT. WE HAVE PEOPLE CONFUSED BY THE FEES AND WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE. AND THIS COUNSEL NEEDS TO REVERSE THAT BILL. AND TAKE THAT PROJECTED FUNDING AWAY THAT'S GOING TO COME FROM THE INCREASE FEES AND GO BACK TO WHERE WE WERE UP THE YOU GET IT FIGURED OUT. I'M GOING TO PROPOSE THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK WE NEED TO WORK ON TOGETHER. LET'S GET THAT RIGHT FIRST AND LET'S TAKE THE TIME TO BE ABLE TO HELP -- WORK WITH THE INDUSTRY AND WORK WITH PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND AND SEE IF WE'RE GOING TO -- IF THIS COUNCIL IS GOING TO APPROVE THAT FUNDING. ALL RIGHT. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I BELIEVE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 12 PERMITS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET ACCURATE AND WITH THE GROUP OF PERMITS THAT WE WANT TO ENSURE IS ACCURATELY APPLIED. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. I WOULD RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE THAT WE NEED TO ROLL BACK THAT ORDINANCE. IT IS BASED UPON A THREAT ASSESSING RISK WHICH IS A NEW STANDARD WE RECOGNIZED AND DISCUSSED WITH THE INTERESTING WAY FOR FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOOD PREPARATION THAT IS CRITICAL FOR THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK WE RECOGNIZE THAT WHEN WE MAKE CHANGE IT CAN BE CHALLENGING. AND THIS IS ONE OF MANY TYPES OF PERMITTING AND MANY TYPES OF WAYS IN WHICH WE ENSURE THE SAFETY AND QUALITY AND OPPORTUNITY TO INSPECT THESE TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTS. I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT AS WE SAID WE WOULD TAKE A FEW DAYS TO ENSURE WE'RE APPLYING THAT ACCURATELY AND WORK WITH ANY BUSINESS THAT WANTS TO QUESTION AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY HAVE PAID ALREADY AND ENSURE THEY'RE REFUNDED IF THEY'RE OVERPAID. >>COUN. LEWIS: I WOULD RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE. I THINK IT'S MORE THAN THAT. I THINK IF THERE'S ONE BUSINESS THAT'S AFFECTED BY FEES AND INCREASES THAT THEY DIDN'T PLAN FOR, AND THEY WERE NOT TOLD ABOUT, AND I DO BELIEVE IT WAS WE NEED MORE MONEY AND THIS IS A WAY TO ADD MONEY TO THE BUDGET. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE CITY. BLOATED AND MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE IN THAT ADMINISTRATION THAT ARE GETTING PAID VERY, VERY WELL. YET, LET'S TAKE MONEY FROM SMALL BUSINESSES AND RAISE THEIR FEES EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIGURE IT OUT. SO WE NEED TO FIGURE IT OUT FIRST BEFORE YOU COME TO COUNCIL ASK FOR MONEY OR APPROVAL TO RAISE PEOPLE'S FEES AND TAXES AND TAKE IT OUT OF THE POCKETS AND PUT IT INTO THE GOVERNMENT SO WE CAN TELL YOU HOW YOU CAN RUN YOUR BUSINESS. SO, IT WAS A WRONG WAY TO GO ABOUT IT. I REGRET THIS COUNCIL GAVE YOU THAT MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. I THINK WE SHOULD REVERSE IT. THERE'S A PROCESS TO DO THAT. COUNCILORS, ANY OTHER QUESTION FOR THE ADMINISTRATION? COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I HAVE COME QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF JARAMILLO OF AFR. THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR STICKING AROUND. YOU KNOW, AFR AND THE RESCUE OF ANIMALS HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS A LOT. I'VE SEEN IT ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA. I'VE BEEN FLOODED WITH PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS. I THINK PEOPLE KNOW I'M THE ANIMALS PERSON. I WANTED TO ASK A FEW QUESTIONS. I SENT IT TO YOU IN ADVANCE. AND YOU HAD ANSWERS. REAL QUICKLY, CAN YOU JUST TELL ME AND THE FOLKS LISTENING WHAT ARE AFRs POLICIES ON SEARCHING FOR ANIMALS DURING RESCUES? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS. I'D LIKE TO ALSO MENTION FIREFIGHTERS ARE ALSO ANIMAL PEOPLE. IF YOU ASK ANY OF THEM. AS FAR AS SEARCHING FOR ANIMALS ON EMERGENCY SCENES, WE ARE ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR LIFE. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE TRAIN FIREFIGHTERS AND CADET TRAINING IS OUR ORDER OF PRIORITIES. AND THE VERY FIRST ONE IS LIFE SAFETY. EVEN BEFORE INCIDENT STABILIZATION. THAT INCLUDES SEARCHING ALL SEARCHABLE AREAS FOR ANIMALS. ANY INCIDENT THAT WE'RE SEARCHING WE'RE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE ALIVE. YOU SEE OFTENTIMES FIREFIGHTERS COMING OUT OF A STRUCTURE THAT WE KNOW IS CLEAR BECAUSE THE FAMILY HAS SAID THEY EVACUATED. WE STILL SEARCH THAT STRUCTURE EVEN THOUGH THERE'S HAZARDS PRESENT. FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN ON CALLS WHERE WE COME OUT WITH DOGS, CATS, FISH, BIRDS, ANY KIND OF LIFE THAT HAS BEEN LEFT BEHIND WHEN PEOPLE HAVE ABANDONED AND EVACUATED HOMES. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE MAINTAIN A SAFE SCENE BOTH FOR ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED AND ALSO FOR FIREFIGHTERS. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PRIORITIZING LIFE SAFETY THAT'S ALSO PRIORITIZING THE LIFE SAFETY OF FIREFIGHTERS CONDUCTING THOSE SEARCHES. AND A COUPLE OTHER NOTES RELATED TO THAT QUESTION BECAUSE WE DO RESCUE A FAIR AMOUNT OF ANIMALS FROM EMERGENCY SCENES. WE ACTUALLY DO CARRY OXYGEN MASKS ON OUR TRUCKS. SO WHEN WE DO RESCUE OUR SMALLER FRIENDS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT FACIAL STRUCTURES WE CAN PUT OXYGEN MASKS ON THEM. TO HELP RECOVER FROM A SMOKY ENVIRONMENT. AND THEY ALSO WANT TO NOTE TWO THINGS ABOUT THAT. ONE OF THEM IS A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE'RE ON THESE EVENTS THEY'RE VERY TRAGIC FOR A HOMEOWNER THAT LOST EVERYTHING IN AN EMERGENCY. IT GIVES US PLEASURE TO REUNITE THEM WITH AN ANIMAL THAT THEY THOUGHT DIED IN THE FIRE. AND LAST WEEK WE ACTUALLY HAD TWO SAVES. ONE WAS OUT OF THE AN ARROYO RESCUE. WE RESCUED AN INDIVIDUAL AND HIS DOG. HE HELPED WITH THE RESCUE OF THE DOG FROM THE ARROYO. AND WE ALSO HAD A HOMEOWNER ON A FIRE ASK US TO GO BACK IN AND CHECK FOR HIS DOG WHO HE SAID IF HE'S IN THERE AND HE'S ALIVE HE'S HIDING UNDER THE BED. THE HOME WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OUR FIREFIGHTERS WENT BACK IN AND THE BEDROOM WAS COLLAPSED BUT SAFE ENOUGH TO ENTER AND THEY FOUND THE DOG ALIVE AND WE'RE ABLE TO SAVE THAT DOG AS WELL. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU FOR THAT SO MUCH. I KNOW WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO CLAB, BUT WE'RE ALL CLAPPING. WE SHOWED THE PHOTOS. SO, THE HUSKY WAS RESCUED FROM THE ARROYO, AND THE LITTLE FURRY ONE WAS RESCUED FROM UNDER THE BED. WE REALLY FRESH THAT. CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW YOU DETERMINE IF A STRUCTURE IS STILL SEARCHABLE OR IF IT'S TOO DANGEROUS? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, ALL OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE TRAINED INITIALLY IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, FIRE BEHAVIOR, SIGNS TO WATCH FOR AN EMERGENCY TO DEEM IF IT'S SAFE TO ENTER. AND THESE ARE CONTINUED THROUGH EDUCATION THROUGHOUT OUR CAREER. THESE ARE THINGS WE REINFORCE THROUGH OUR CONTINUING EDUCATION WE DO IN TRAINING. SO THEY'RE MAKING SURE THAT NOT ONLY IT'S SAFE TO ENTER BUT ALSO CONSTANTLY EVALUATING RISK TO DETERMINE IF THERE'S SAVABLE LIFE INSIDE. THERE ARE TYPES OF EMERGENCIES WHERE DUE TO FIRE INVOLVEMENT OR COLLAPSE OR CERTAIN THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE WE CAN DETERMINE THAT THERE'S -- IT'S UNLIKELY THERE'S A SAVABLE LIFE INSIDE. THESE ARE ALL THINGS FIREFIGHTERS HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION IN A SPLIT MOMENT TO DETERMINE DO WE THINK THERE'S SAVABLE LIFE INSIDE, THIS IS SOMETHING -- AND THEY EVALUATE THEIR RISK ALSO FOR IF IT'S SAFE TO ENTER OR SOMEWHAT SAFE OR NOT SAFE AT ALL. THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE BASICALLY GOING THROUGH A FIREFIGHTERS MIND IN MAKING THOSE SECOND DECISIONS ON THINGS. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: LASTLY. CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE ACTIONS THAT AFR UNDERTOOK DURING THE WATER EMERGENCY ON JULY 28 THAT RESULTED IN THE TRAGIC DEATH OF IVY. CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH THAT INCIDENT? COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN YES. I'M HAPPY TO WALK THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT INCIDENT. IT'S A VERY TRAGIC EVENT BECAUSE WE DID HAVE A CITIZEN THAT LOST THEIR SERVICE DOG ON THAT CALL. WE HAVE SOME MEDIA INQUIRIES AND WE'VE ONLY HAD ANSWERS RELATED TO THE FOLLOW UP THAT WE DID. NOTHING THAT WE'VE EXPLAINED DURING THE INCIDENT HAS COME OUT. I UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF COUNCILORS DID RECEIVE QUESTIONS RELATED. I KNOW SPECIFICALLY COUNCILOR CHAMPINE AND I HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE INCIDENT AS WELL. AND SO, I WOULD LIKE TO START BY SHOWING THE VIDEO CLIP, IF WE COULD. AND I'LL GO THROUGH -- THIS IS THE INCIDENT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE AUDIO. >> IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE A SINKHOLE. WE HAVE WATER SHOOTING ABOUT 30 FEET INTO THE SKY. IT LOOKS LIKE ALL OCCUPANTS OF THE AREA HAVE EVACUATED. >> WE'LL BE ASSUMING COMMAND. >> WE DID PUT IN THE NOTES THAT WE'RE ADVISED THERE'S A SERVICE DOG AT THE ADDRESS. >> GIVE ME A REPORT AGAIN LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE AN ALL CLEAR. LET ME KNOW IF YOU FIND THE DOG. >> COPY. WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO GET RID OF THIS WATER AFTER THE WATER HAS BEEN SHUT OFF. WE NEED TO FIND THE ANIMAL. AND EVACUATE OURSELVES. >> COMMAND -- THAT BUILDING IS GOING TO COLLAPSE, I WANT YOU TO ABANDON THE STRUCTURE. I REPEAT ABANDON THAT STRUCTURE. >> COPY, ABANDONING THE STRUCTURE AT THIS TIME. >> DIVISION TO COMMAND. >> COMMAND, GO AHEAD. >> ALL OCCUPANTS HAVE BEEN EVACUATED FROM THE STRUCTURE ON SOUTH DIVISION. WE CANNOT LOCATE THE SERVICE DOG. >> WHAT'S THE ADDRESS OF THE HOUSE YOU JUST SEARCHED? >> THAT WOULD BE 10300 AND 10304. >> COPY. WE HAVE AN ALL CLEAR. >> THAT WAS AUDIO PIECED TOGETHER, THAT AUDIO SPREAD OUT OVER THE KOURGS -- COURSE OF THE INCIDENT. THIS CALL WAS A LEAKING HYDRANT. WHEN THE CREWS GOT ON SCENE THEY WERE SURPRISED TO SEE WATER. IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN THAT INFORMATION IS RELAYED. IT HELPS ESCALATE THE EMERGENCY. WE UNDERSTAND WHEN WE GOT ON SCENE THE FAMILY THAT HAD BEEN INSIDE WERE EVACUATED AND THEY ALERTED THE CREWS THAT THE DOG WOULD BE IN THE KITCHEN OR GARAGE. WHEN OUR -- I SPOKE WITH THE OFFICER LAST WEEK THAT WAS THE CREW THAT WAS SEARCHING, WHEN THEY ENTERED THE HOME, THE WATER IN THE KITCHEN WAS ABOUT KNEE DEEP. THEY DIVIDED UP, HE SAID THAT FROM THE INSIDE ON THE GARAGE HAD ALREADY COLLAPSED, AND FROM THE INSIDE THE WALLS LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE BREATHING. THAT'S NOT A GOOD SIDE. LIKE THEY SAID IN THE AUDIO, THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE COLLAPSE. THEY FOCUSED ON THE KITCHEN AND GARAGE BASED ON INFORMATION THEY HAD. THEY KEYED ON TYPICAL ANIMAL BEHAVIOR WHICH WE SEE IN EMERGENCIES. DOGS WILL ESPECIALLY HIDE OR TRY TO ESCAPE THE HOUSE. I THINK ABOUT MY TWO DOGS. MY BIG PITBULL IS A BIG SCAREDY PANTS, HE WOULD HIDE. AND MY WIENER DOG WOULD TRY TO RUN OUT BECAUSE SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE HIDING. THAT'S TYPICAL ANIMAL BEHAVIOR FOR US. SO, ONE CREW WENT INTO THE KITCHEN. THEY HAD KNEE-DEEP WATER. THEY DIDN'T SEE A DOG. THEY WERE MOVING THEIR ARMS AROUND THE WATER. WE WEREN'T SURE IF UTILITIES WERE TURNED OFF. THERE'S HIGH ELECTRIC ISSUES. OUR COMMAND WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SINKHOLE. IT WAS CRACKING. THEY WERE WORDIED ABOUT THE FOUNDATION OF THE STRUCTURE AND THE SINKHOLE EXPANDING. OUR OFFICER ALSO SENT HALF OF THE CREW TO CHECK THE GARAGE IN CASE THE DOG HAD GONE INTO THE GARAGE TO HIDE. WHEN THEY GOT TO THE GARAGE THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. THIS ENDED THE SUSPICION THAT THE DOG WENT INTO THE GARAGE TO HIDE. THEY COULDN'T OPEN THE DOOR BECAUSE OF THE COLLAPSE AND THEY WERE ORDERED TO EVACUATE OUT OF THE BUILDING. ONCE WE WERE OUTSIDE WHAT WE DID WAS WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF THE GARAGE DOOR BECAUSE THERE WAS COLLAPSE. WE CUT INSPECTION HOLES AND PUT CAMERAS INSIDE THE GARAGE TO SEE IF WE CAN HEAR ANYTHING, HEAR A DOG BARKING, ANYTHING. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WE COULD HEAR OR SEE IN THAT COLLAPSE. SO, AT THAT POINT, IT WAS NOT DEEMED SAFE FOR US TO RE-ENTER. WE HAVE -- THE TRAINING WE HAVE IS NOT THE SAME AS A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER. THAT WAS IN THAT SPACE. VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SINKHOLE. AND THEN OTHER ISSUES LIKE THE WATER WAS SHUT OFF. ONE OF OUR COMMANDERS WAS MAKING SURE ALL THE SENIORS IN THE LIVING FACILITY NEAR THERE HAD WATER. BECAUSE THEIR WATER HAD BEEN SHUT OFF. WE HAD TO MOVE TO OTHER AREAS OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, CHIEF. YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS. I WANT TO REASSURE FOLKS IN ALBUQUERQUE MANY PEOPLE LIKE ME CONSIDER COMPANION ANIMALS TO BE FAMILY. YOU HAVE TOLD ME SEVERAL TIMES THAT WE DO NOT TREAT ANIMALS ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN HUMANS IN THESE SITUATIONS. AS LONG AS IT'S SAFE TO ENTER THE STRUCTURE OUR FIREFIGHTERS GO IN AND TRY TO SAVE WHATEVER LIFE IS IN THERE. CAN YOU JUST SAY THAT IS ACTUAL ACTUALLY THE STATEMENT YOU HAVE GIVE ME. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, OUR FIREFIGHTERS SEARCH EVERY BUILDING, WE'RE SEARCHING FOR SIGNS OF LIFE, WHETHER THAT'S HUMAN LIFE OR ANIMAL LIFE. I WOULD SAY OVERWHELMINGLY THE MAJORITY OF STRUCTURES WE SEARCH, THE OCCUPANTS HAVE EVACUATED BECAUSE THEY'RE ABLE TO SELF-EVACUATE. WE STILL SEARCH, EVEN IF THEY TELL US WE'RE OUT OF THE HOUSE, WE GO BACK AND SEARCH AS LONG AS THE SCENE IS SAFE TO ENTER. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE SAVE FROM THE ARROYO AND THE FIRE LAST WEEK AND THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE ON FRIDAY THAT ANOTHER DOG WAS SAVED BY AFR. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO AND KEEPING ALL OF US SAFE. THANK YOU. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. COUNCILOR CHAMPINE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THANK YOU, MADAM VICE-PRESIDENT. I JUST HAVE THREE QUICK QUESTIONS. CHIEF JARAMILLO. I KNOW, I KNOW. THIS BUTTON DIDN'T WORK PROPERLY. JUST A QUICK QUESTION, THERE'S A BRUSH TRUCK IN DISTRICT EIGHT. IS IT BEING USED AS A TRAVEL TRUCK? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, I BELIEVE THAT WE USE THAT FOR DEPLOYMENTS. I NEED TO CHECK FOR YOU BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THE OPERATIONS OF THE WILDLAND PROGRAM. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THANK YOU. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT IT WAS POSSIBLY BEING USED AS A TRAVEL TRUCK. BUT IT LEAVES THE FOOTHILLS AND THE REASON WHY IT WAS PURCHASED A LITTLE BIT EXPOSED. THAT'S A CONCERN FOR MY CONSTITUENTS. >> I WILL CHECK ON THAT. AND I CAN ALSO LET YOU KNOW IF IT DID GO OUT ON ANY DEPLOYMENTS. I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THANK YOU. THAT'S IT FOR YOU. SECOND QUESTION IS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION. IN EC-24-185 THAT'S ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA, IT'S GRANT APPLICATIONS. I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THREE OF THOSE. YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES GOT A PSA1 TRIPLE-A GRANT OF $10.6 MILLION? WHAT DOES PSA ONE STAND FOR? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, WE GET A LOT OF GRANTS THAT SUBSIDIZE YOUTH SERVICE PROGRAMS. THESE ARE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ROLLING PROGRAMS. UNFORTUNATELY THE DIRECTOR COULD NOT BE HERE. BUT WE CAN GET BACK TO YOU AND GET YOU THAT ANSWER WITHIN 24 HOURS. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: CAN I ADD TWO MORE? ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND POLLUTION REDUCTION GOT $999 MILLION? >> I'LL GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT ANSWER AS WELL. WE'LL GET THAT ANSWER TO YOU BY TOMORROW. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: AND THE THIRD ONE WAS THE COPS HIRING GRANT IS $6.2 MILLION. I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THE HIRING GRANT. >> FOR APD? >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >> I CAN'T SPEAK ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'LL GET BACK TO YOU. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: APPRECIATE THAT. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, WE CAN GET THOSE ANSWERS FOR YOU ON THE SPECIFIC GRANTS. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: AND THE DOLLAR AMENDMENT. IT'S LITERALLY SIX NINES IN A ROW. >> I SUSPECT THAT'S HUMAN ERROR. THANK YOU. MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, WHAT YOU'RE REFERENCING IS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE DOLLARS FOR THAT GRANT PROCESS WHICH WAS $99 MILLION. WE GOT ZERO. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: OKAY. AND MR. PRESIDENT, ONE LAST QUESTION. I WOULD SAY IT'S FOR APD, BUT DR. SENGEL, I THINK YOU'RE MORE APPROPRIATE TO ANSWER THIS BECAUSE THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART FOR APD LISTS YOU AS THE CHIEF'S BOSS. WHY IS IT THAT THE CHIEF IS ABLE TO PURCHASE $100,000 VEHICLE? >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, THE VEHICLES THAT WE PURCHASE ARE BASED UPON THE NEED AND DEMAND RELATED TO THE POSITIONS WE HAVE. WHEN WE PURCHASED CHIEF MEDINA'S VEHICLE IT WAS BASED ON THE AVAILABLE VEHICLES WITH FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE AND THE AVAILABLE -- ON THE LOT TO ENSURE BECAUSE AS YOU HAPPEN WE -- AS YOU KNOW WE HAD TO REPLACE THAT VEHICLE QUICKLY. IT'S NOT THE MOST EXPENSIVE VEHICLE. THAT'S NOT THE PARAMETER WE SHOULD BE SETTING. BASED UPON THE CONDITIONS WE WANT TO ENSURE COMMAND STAFF AND LEADERSHIP ARE ABLE TO ACCESS ANY SCENE AND AVAILABLE TO THAT VEHICLE THAT WAS SELECTED WAS IN LINE WITH THE OTHER VEHICLES WE PROVIDE OR UTILIZE FOR OUR COMMAND STAFF AND APD. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU. SO 4X4 PACKAGE, SUNROOF, AFTER-MARKET TIRES? THAT'S NEEDED FOR THE CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE CITY? >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING WE DO NEED. WE'RE HAPPY TO -- I CAN TALK THROUGH THE PARAMETERS THAT WE USED IN THE FLEET FOR THOSE VEHICLES. IT IS SIMILAR TO WHAT POLICE CHIEF DRIVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S BEEN SOME STANDARD DISCUSSION WITH OTHER POLICE CHIEFS TO ENSURE THEY'RE ON PAR AND SIMILAR. AGAIN, IT'S RELATED TO HAVE HAVING A VEHICLE THAT ALLOW FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMAND STAFF. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: WHAT WAS HE DRIVING BETWEEN THE TIME HE TOOK POSSESSION OF THAT AND WHEN HE HAD HIS ACCIDENT? >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. I'M HAPPY TO GET THAT FOR YOU. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: NO MORE QUESTIONS, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR GROUT. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE AUGUST 5th JOURNAL. >>COUN. LEWIS: MOVED AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BASSAN. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >>COUN. LEWIS: WE'LL GO TO COMMUNICATIONS AND INTRODUCTIONS. COUNCILORS, ANY CHANGES? I MOVE THE RULES BE SUSPENDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PLACING OC-18 ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA FOR FINAL ACTION. MOVED AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. ANY DISCUSSION? MOVED AND SECONDED. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >>COUN. PEÑA: MR. PRESIDENT. MR. PRESIDENT, I ACTUALLY JUST WANTED TO SEE IF I CAN ASK THE STAFF A COUPLE QUESTIONS RELATED TO FOOD TRUCKS. I TALKED WITH JULIA EARLIER AND YOURSELF, MR. PADILLA. THE ADMINISTRATION IS SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE ADJUSTMENT, THEY'RE GOING TO PUT A PAUSE. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE CANNOT -- PERHAPS WE CANNOT DO THAT BECAUSE IT'S IN THE ORDINANCE AND IT SAYS SHALL. >>COUN. LEWIS: JUST TO CLARIFY, I GIVE YOU POINT OF PRIVILEGE. WE'RE ON REFERRALS. YOU'RE ADDRESSING SOMETHING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE Q&A? >>COUN. PEÑA: CORRECT. >>COUN. LEWIS: THAT'S FINE. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR PEÑA, YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE SECTION IN THE ORDINANCE THAT OUTLINE THE FEES THAT WILL BE IMPOSED AND THERE'S LANGUAGE IN THE EXISTING ORDINANCE THAT SAYS FEES SHALL BE IMPOSED AS FOLLOWS AND THERE'S A REFERENCE TO SEVERAL APPENDIXES WHERE THOSE ARE ACTUALLY WRITTEN. SO THE APPENDICES BECOME PART OF THE ORDINANCE AND THEREFORE ARE LAW. SO TO CHANGE THOSE FEES WOULD REQUIRE UPDATING THE ORDINANCE AND THE APPENDICES. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. MAYBE I'LL ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY IF SHE CONCURS. >> COUNCILOR LEWIS, COUNCILOR PEÑA, THANK YOU. MS. RONQUILLO IS OF COURSE CORRECT, WHAT WE'RE DEALING IS DHD INTERPRETATION OF THAT CHART. AND IT'S RULE MAKING AS TO HOW THE KITCHEN OF A FOOD TRUCK IS CLASSIFIED. I BELIEVE THEY CAN PUT A PAUSE ON THEIR INTERPRETATION. THEY COULD NOT PUT A PAUSE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION. THOSE ARE IMPLEMENTED AS OF AUGUST 1st, PER THIS COUNCIL. THEY CAN PUT A PAUSE IN THE RULEMAKING PROCEDURE AND THEIR INTERPRET OIGZ -- INTERPRETATION OF THE LEVEL OF THE KITCHEN. >>COUN. PEÑA: MR. PRESIDENT, EVEN IF THEY CHANGE THE RULES THOUGH, WOULD THE FEES STILL STAND AS WHAT'S STATED IN THE APPENDIX? >> TO CLARIFY, THEY HAVE NOT ADOPTED THE RULES. THEY HAD A HEARING AS REQUIRED FOR ANY RULEMAKING PROCEDURE ON FRIDAY. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ADOPTED OR IMPLEMENTED. THE HEARING OFFICER HAS TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AND THAT RECOMMENDATION HAS TO MAKE ITS WAY TO DR. SENGEL. THEY CAN PUT A PAUSE ON THE RULEMAKING PROCEDURE. >>COUN. PEÑA: IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DIVE INTO THE ORDINANCE AND FEE STRUCTURE AS WE MOVE FORWARD? >> I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT, YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: FOR THAT REASON, MR. PRESIDENT. I WANT TO MOVE THE RULES BE SUSPENDED FOR INTRODUCING R-83 AND PLACING IT ON THE SEPTEMBER 4th AGENDA. IT'S ESTABLISHING A MORATORIUM ON SPECIFIC LANDS, LANGUAGE ON CHAPTER NINE ARTICLE SIX OF THE ALBUQUERQUE FOOD SERVICE AND RETAIL ORDINANCE RELATED TO ADMINISTRATIVE FEES TO FOOD TRUCKS ESTABLISHMENT. >>COUN. LEWIS: I GUESS IF YOU WOULD EXPLAIN EXACTLY -- IT'S A MORATORIUM. IS IT REALLY JUST PUTTING A MORATORIUM ON THE FEE INCREASE? >>COUN. PEÑA: ON THE FEE INCREASE UNTIL WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE. SO WE CAN DECIDE WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH THE ORDINANCE SOME OF THE RULEMAKING IS MOVED. >>COUN. LEWIS: OKAY. I'M FINE WITH THAT. I PERSONALLY THINK WE NEED TO STRIKE THE FEE INCREASE ALTOGETHER. THIS COUNCIL DID THIS. WE SAID HEY, HERE'S THE INCREASE AND YOU GUYS GO FIGURE IT OUT. I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS COUNCIL DID. I THINK THAT WAS THE WRONG WAY TO DO THAT. I THINK WE'RE MISLED IN THAT WAY. MORATORIUM, AS SOON -- THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING? >>COUN. PEÑA: MR. PRESIDENT, THAT WOULD BE THE SEPTEMBER 4th AGENDA. I THINK THIS IS IN LINE WITH WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO. >>COUN. LEWIS: OKAY. THAT MOTION HAS BEEN MADE. SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BASSAN. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >>COUN. LEWIS: ALL RIGHT. NEXT -- WE DID O-18. I GUESS THAT WAS A RULE SUSPENSION. WE PUT IT ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA. NOW WE'LL GO TO COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I GOT MY QUESTION ANSWERED. I'LL WITHDRAW. THANK YOU. >>COUN. LEWIS: YOU'RE NEXT ON R-75. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU. I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I WOULD MOVE THE RULES TO BE SUSPENDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PLACING R-75 ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA. RELATING TO THE APPROVAL OF THE TAX ABATEMENT ON THE PARK CENTRAL APARTMENTS WHICH IS THE OLD BANK BUILDING ON SAN MATEO AND CENTRAL FOR ROUTE 66 FAMILY LLC. >>COUN. LEWIS: MOVED AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? THIS IS R-75. THIS IS TO PUT IT ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA. ANY DISCUSSION? [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: NO. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: NO. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: NO. >>COUN. PEÑA: NO. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: NO. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> THAT FAILS ON A 4-5 VOTE. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE RULES BE SUSPENDED FOR THE PLACING R-76 ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA. RELATING TO THE APPROVAL OF THE REDEVELOPMENT TAX ABATEMENT ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT FOR SENIORS AND OTHERS IN MY DISTRICT. ALL OF THESE ARE FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. VERY NEEDED IN MY DISTRICT. I MOVE FOR A VOTE. >>COUN. LEWIS: SECOND BY COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. R-76. MOTION FOR TONIGHT'S AGENDA FOR FINAL ACTION. COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. CAN I JUST ASK WHY THEY ARE NEEDED FOR TONIGHT? I THINK THAT WOULD HELP UNDERSTAND THE EMERGENCY. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THE EMERGENCY IS THAT THE TAX ABATEMENT HAS TO BE RECTIFIED BEFORE THE DEVELOPERS CAN MOVE FOR PERMITS. AND SO, WE'RE ANXIOUS TO GET THESE HOUSING PROJECTS GOING AND SO, THAT'S THE URGENCY. IN ORDER FOR THEM TO MOVE TO THE NEXT PHASE TO BEGIN TO BUILD THE HOUSE. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THIS IS REALLY WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN PERMIT AFFORDABLE HOUSING MOVING FORWARD. I WOULD HOPE THAT WE ALL SUPPORT THAT. >>COUN. LEWIS: MOVED AND SECONDED. IT WOULD SEEM TO ME LIKE SOME OF THE COUNCILORS THAT VOTE AGAINST IT MAY JUST NEED SOME MORE TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. SOME OF THESE THAT COME UP REAL QUICK LIKE THIS, NOT THAT I'M OPPOSED, THERE'S A TIME WHEN THERE'S A NEED, BUT I SENSE IT BEING SO QUICK THERE MAY BE A SENSE AMONG THE COUNCIL THAT MIGHT INCLUDE IT MIGHT BE FAST ENOUGH TO WHERE WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS OR AT LEAST THE PROCESS TO GO TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. I GUESS WHY WE WOULDN'T DO A HOLDOVER, BUT AGAIN, THAT'S UP TO COUNCILOR ROGERS. THIS IS MOVED AND SECONDED FOR RULES SUS PEPGZ -- SUSPENSION. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. ROGERS: MR. PRESIDENT, BEFORE WE VOTE. AGAIN, THE URGENCY IS HOUSING. THAT IS THE URGENCY. IT'S NOT ABOUT RUSHING THINGS THROUGH THE SYSTEM SIMILAR TO AMENDMENTS OR PROPOSITION. THE URGENCY OF HOUSING. THANK YOU. >>COUN. LEWIS: JUST FOR OUR STAFF. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TIME ANYBODY WOULD HAVE SEEN THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN ON FRIDAY, CORRECT? MR. PADILLA. >>COUN. ROGERS: IF I CAN GO TO THE ADMINISTRATION. THEY'VE BEEN DOING THE WORK FOR QUITE SOME TIME. JUST GOING TO THE REDEVELOPMENT TAX ABATEMENT THAT IS DONE IN A LOT OF OTHER DISTRICTS WITH NO OPPOSITION. I NEED HOUSING IN OUR DISTRICT. ESPECIALLY THIS TYPE OF HOUSING. AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SENIOR HOUSING, STAFF KNOWS WHAT IT'S ABOUT. WE SPED THROUGH SOME OF THE THINGS ON OUR COUNCIL AGENDAS, I THINK THEY'RE JUST AS IMPORTANT, BUT TO ME THE URGENCY IS HOUSING. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. >>COUN. LEWIS: JUST TRYING TO GET AN IDEA OF THE TIMELINE. I THINK THERE'S COUNCILORS HAVING A HARD TIME WITH IT BEING SO QUICK. THIS WOULD BE LIKE ANY OTHER -- IT'S VERY UNUSUAL. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. WE CAN GO THROUGH A PROCESS LIKE THIS SPED UP. WEED WOULD HAVE WE WOULD SEE THIS ON FRAID? >> THE ADMINISTRATION SENT THIS TUESDAY AT 10 A.M. ONCE THAT GETS IN, IT TAKES STAFF TIME TO GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO PUT IT INTO THE SYSTEM. THE FIRST TIME IT WENT OUT TO THE COUNCILORS WAS ON FRIDAY WHEN THE LETTER OF INTRODUCTION WAS SENT TO EVERYBODY. >>COUN. LEWIS: THE COUNCILORS SEE THIS ON FRIDAY. AND THEN IT WAS PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED AND THEN JUST A FEW DAYS LATER WOULD ACTUALLY GO ON AGENDA FOR FINAL ACTION. AGAIN, THAT HAPPENS. AND WE CAN DO THAT. IF IT'S THE WISH OF THIS COUNCIL. IT'S NOT ANYTHING LIKE THE -- CERTAINLY NOT ANYTHING LIKE THE BALLOT PROPOSAL THAT WENT THROUGH A MONTH'S LONG PROCESS. THIS WOULD BE UNUSUAL FOR ANY BILL THAT WOULD GO THROUGH THAT. NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, THAT'S OUR PREROGATIVE IF WE WANT TO DO THAT. I SENSE THAT MIGHT BE WHAT SOME COUNCILORS MIGHT HAVE AN ISSUE WITH. THEY CAN CAN SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. I THINK COUNCILOR ROGERS WANTED THE ADMINISTRATION TO ADDRESS THESE. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR ROGERS, WE HAVE TERRY BRUNER FROM THE METROPOLITAN REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY THAT CAN TALK SPECIFICALLY THROUGH THE PROCESS EACH OF THE ENTITIES HAVE GONE THROUGH AND WHY WE'RE MOVING FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN TO ENSURE WE'RE PROVIDING HOUSING. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCIL, I THINK THE REASON WE MOVED THESE FORWARD SO QUICKLY IN PARTICULAR WITH THE PARK CENTRAL PROJECT, IT HAS AS YOU PROBABLY SEEN IN THE USE REPORT, HAD VANDALLISM, FIRES, WE'RE VERY WORRIED THAT ONE OF THESE TWO HIGH RISES ON SAN MATEO AND CENTRAL WILL REALLY GET IN TROUBLE VANDALISM WISE. AND THE DEVELOPER NEEDS MOVE THROUGH AND NEEDS THE ABATEMENT PRIOR TO THE PERMIT. THAT WAS A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE IN A SENSE ON THAT FIRST PROJECT. THE OTHER TWO, OR OTHER THREE, I SHOULD SAY, ARE WE IN A SENSED BATCHED TOGETHER TO LOOK AT THEM ALL AT ONCE AND THESE ABATEMENTS GET QUESTIONS ON PROCESS AND HOW THEY COME ABOUT. THEY HAVE GONE BEFORE THE ALBUQUERQUE DEVELOPMENT. THEY HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING AS WELL. >>COUN. LEWIS: TO SEND IT TO THE COUNCIL AND ASK FOR THE VOTE IN A FEW DAYS, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM. THIS IS RESERVED FOR WHEN THE CITY IS ON FIRE AND WE HAVE TO PRINT IT OUT AND ONLY THE CITY COUNCIL CAN PUT IT OUT. IF YOU GIVE US THINGS LIKE THIS IT SHOULD MEET THAT STANDARD, CORRECT? SO, IF THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS, THEN ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU PUT BEFORE US WITH THAT KIND OF TRACK WOULD NEED TO BE ELEVATED. IS THAT WHAT YOU COMPARED IT TO? THE CITY IS ON FIRE AND THE COUNCIL HAS TO MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT TO TAKE CARE OF IT? THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEAR. COUNCILOR CHAMPINE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING ISSUES, BUT ONE OF THESE IS A HOTEL. >> MR. PRESIDENT, ALL OF THESE ITEMS WENT BEFORE THE ALBUQUERQUE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ON THE JUNE 20th MEETING. IS THAT CORRECT? >> CORRECT. >> SO, THEY TOOK ACTION ON JUNE 20th, COUNCIL DID NOT MEET FOR THE MONTH OF JULY. WE'RE BRINGING THEM FORWARD, THE DEVELOPERS HAVE BEEN WAITING. THAT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE ANYTHING EXCEPT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE DEVELOPERS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PERMITTING AND PLANNING PROCESS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THIS IS THREE HOUSING AND A FOURTH ONE IS A REDEVELOPMENT OF ANOTHER PROPERTY. DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THE FOURTH ONE WHICH IS NOT HOUSING? >> YES, MR. PRESIDENT. THERE'S ALSO A TOWN HOME PROJECT IN HERE AND I'LL NOTE AS WELL THAT THE RESIDENTS ACROSS THE PRESBYTERIAN IS INTENDED TO BE LONG-TERM STAY. THOSE ARE UP TO FOUR YEARS. FOR FOLKS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE HOSPITAL OR THEY'RE NURSES. WE SEE THAT AS SEMI-HOUSING PROJECT. I DO WANT TO NOTE THE COUNCIL PLACED A LOT OF PRESSURE ON US AT THE END OF LAST YEAR TO PRODUCE AS MUCH HOUSING AS POSSIBLE, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. WE TRIED TO STAY IN SPIRIT OF THAT. AND PUT THESE FORWARD. I WANT TO MENTION JUST IN GENERAL CONTEXT WE EXPECT TO SEE A LOT OF THESE IN THE MONTHS AHEAD BECAUSE PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING UP UNDER THE ASSESSOR'S PROGRAM. BY NO MEANS DO WE INTEND TO RUSH THESE, AS THE CAO MENTIONED, WE DID NOT HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING LIKE WE USUALLY DO THE MONTH AFTER OUR LAST MEETING. THESE DEVELOPERS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SOME TIME. >>COUN. BASSAN: FOR THE PURPOSE OF CLARIFICATION FOR MANY PEOPLE, I THINK WATCHING, AT LEAST WHERE I STAND, MY VOTE AGAINST REQUEST FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION IS NOT SAYING I'M AGAINST AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR EVEN APPROVING ANY OF THESE, WHAT I'M AGAINST IS READING IT ON FRIDAY AND MAKING A DECISION ABOUT IT TODAY. THAT'S WHY I'M VOTING NO. I'M WILLING TO SEE THIS COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS TO THE COUNCIL MEETING WHERE WE WILL HEAR IT THROUGH THE NORMAL CHANNELS AND PROCESSES AND I HOPE WE HAVE A BETTER COMFORTABLE, MORE REASONABLE APPROACH TO BEING OKAY WITH MOVING SOMETHING AS BIG AS FOUR HUGE PROJECTS THAT WILL LIKELY BE BENEFICIAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I AM NOT GOING TO SUPPORT DOING THIS WITH A 72-HOUR TURN AROUND WHEN I THINK TWO MORE WEEKS IS NOT GOING TO BE WHAT EITHER MAKES THE CITY PARISH FURTHER OR SAVES IT. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR PEÑA. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. FOR ME, I THINK WE JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO LOOK AT THESE. I'VE BEEN CONCERNED WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WE NEED HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN PARTICULAR. ONE OF MY CONCERNS THAT I HAD STATED, WE DID NEED IT. I WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT UNFORTUNATELY OFTENTIMES THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS END UP GOING INTO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ALREADY OVERBURDENED WITH SOME ISSUES. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, ALL OF THESE ARE IN AN AREA WHERE THERE'S ALREADY LOTS OF APARTMENTS, LOTS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND ALL ALONG CENTRAL. EVEN IN DISTRICT THREE AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF OTHER DISTRICTS, ALL THIS TIME THAT WE'VE SPENT ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND LOOKING AT IT TO BENEFIT THE CITY, I DON'T WANT IT TO BENEFIT THE CITY ON THE BACKS OF COMMUNITIES THAT ARE ALREADY OVERBURDENED. WITHIN A MILE RADIUS OF COORS AND CENTRAL THERE'S FIVE OR SIX ALREADY GOING UP. AND THIS IS IN A MATTER OF YEAR'S TIME. AND HERE WE HAVE ANOTHER FOUR. WE REALLY I THINK WE HAVE TO EVALUATE -- I NEED AN OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE THESE. THESE ARE ALREADY OBVIOUSLY MOVED DOWN THE PIPELINE, IF YOU WILL, BUT WE REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE PUTTING ALL THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND FOR US AND ALAMOSA AND OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT WE'VE FOUGHT FOR MANY YEARS TO CHANGE OUR COMMUNITIES AND AROUND AND ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING AND TO ACTUALLY FURTHER BURDEN COMMUNITIES BY ADDING ADDITIONAL HOUSING WITHOUT SOME OF THE AMENITIES THAT SOME OF THE OTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OTHER AREAS ARE SEEING. I THINK WE REALLY HAVE TO EVALUATE THAT. I'M KERPD WITH -- CONCERNED WITH THE IDO WHERE NEIGHBORHOOD NOTIFICATION, I HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD IN DISTRICT THREE THAT'S VERY CONCERNED THAT WITH THE MXM, IT JUST ALLOWS WITHOUT TRUE NNOTIFICATION. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. WE NEED MORE TIME THAN THREE DAYS TO EVALUATE THOSE, MOVING FORWARD. >>COUN. LEWIS: DIRECTOR, THANK YOU. NOTHING WRONG WITH REQUESTING. COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: DIRECTOR, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FACT THIS IS NOT ONLY JUST AFFORDABLE, IT'S ALSO SENIOR HOUSING, THERE ARE SOME MARKET -- JUST TO SPEAK TO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES TREPIDATION OF PASSING THIS NOW. I THINK THE POINT ALSO TO YOUR POINT -- TO YOUR QUESTION, MR. PRESIDENT, ABOUT THE THIS IS AN EMERGENCY, IT IS, IN MY OPINION. THE NEED FOR HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITY IS ON FIRE RIGHT NOW. IT ABSOLUTELY AN EMERGENCY NEED RIGHT NOW. THAT'S HOW I SEE IT IN MY DISTRICT WHEN I'M DRIVING DOWN CENTRAL AND ALL OF MY STREETS HAVE ANYWHERE FROM 500 TO A THOUSAND PEOPLE SLEEPING OUTSIDE. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY. IT ABSOLUTELY CAN IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE TOWER, IT CAN ABSOLUTELY BURN DOWN IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS IF -- I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU TO PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE MIXED HOUSING THAT'S PLANNED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR ROGERS, IT IS A MIX OF DIFFERENT STYLES OF HOUSING. WE HAVE IN ONE CIRCUMSTANCE A NUMBER OF TOWN HOMES BEING BUILT IN THE RESIDENTIAL, SEMI-RESIDENTIAL AREA. THIS IS A DEVELOPER -- >>COUN. CHAMPINE: WE'RE START -- WE'RE GOING INTO DETAILS OF THE BILLS AND NOT NECESSARILY WHAT SHE'S ASKING OF PUTTING THEM ON THE AGENDA. I BELIEVE WE SHOULD JUST GO TO THE THE VOTE. NOW WE'RE DIVING DEEPER INTO THE DETAIL THAT IS FOR A LATER TIME. >>COUN. ROGERS: MR. PRESIDENT -- >>COUN. LEWIS: JUST A MOMENT. COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO CALL THE QUESTION. THE MOTION IS ON THE TABLE FOR RULE SUSPENSION. AND WE ARE DISCUSSING IT. I WANT TO GIVE THE COUNCIL PLENTY OF TIME TO EXPLAIN IT. MR. ROGERS -- COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: I'M JUST RESPONDING THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS THIS BODY IS RAISING. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GIVE YOU THE ANSWERS YOU'RE ASKING FOR NOW. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY. I FEEL IT, THE COMMUNITY FEELS IT. I'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION SO WE CAN MAKE VALID AND INFORMED DECISIONS. >>COUN. LEWIS: DIRECTOR, FINISH YOUR THOUGHT. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR, I'LL TRY TO BE SHORT. IT IS A MIX OF DIFFERENT HOUSING. WE HAVE BEEN ASKED BY THE COUNCILOR AND OTHERS TO REALLY TRY TO PURSUE HOUSING ON EAST SENTERAL. -- CENTRAL. AND OUTSIDE OF NOB HILL. WE TOLD DEVELOPERS WE'D MOVE AS FAST AS WE CAN. WE'RE CONCERNED ABILITY AN EMERGENCY SITUATION AT SAN MATEO AND CENTRAL. WE'VE HAD TO USE EXTREME MEASURES TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE SITES. I UNDERSTAND THE ARGUMENT AT HAND,BUT I DID SWAUNT THERE'S ONE AFFORDABLE, ONE TOWN HOME PROJECT, ONE MARKET RATE AND ANOTHER LONG-TERM STAY. THAT'S THE GROUPING YOU HAVE. YOU HAVE APPROVED THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ALREADY FOR LOUISIANA AND CENTRAL. >>COUN. LEWIS: THERE'S FOUR TOTAL REQUESTS THAT I THINK COUNCILOR ROGERS INTENDS TO MAKE. THE FIRST ONE DID NOT PASS A RULE SUS PENSION FOR TONIGHT'S AGENDA. WHAT'S ON THE TABLE IS A RULE SUSPENSION FOR R-76. AND I THINK THE COUNCILOR MIGHT INTEND TO MOVE THE OTHER TWO. RIGHT NOW, WHAT'S ON THE TABLE IS R-76 WITH A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR FINAL RULE SUSPENSION TO GO TO FINAL ACTION TONIGHT. COUNCILORS, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCILOR ROGERS, WANT TO STICK WITH THAT MOTION? >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION. I'M STILL NEW AND LEARNING. IS THE BODY OPENING TO RECONSIDERING THE SAN MATEO ONE THAT JUST FAILED AND I WOULD BE OPEN TO DEFERRING THE OTHERS TO THE NEXT AGENDA TO GIVE THE COUNCILORS THE PROPER TIME. JUST FOR AN EMERGENCY FOR SAN MATEO. IS THERE A POSSIBILITY TO RECONSIDER THAT VOTE SINCE THE SENSE OF URGENCY. >>COUN. LEWIS: IT WOULD BE A COUNCILOR THAT VOTED IN THE NEGATIVE THAT VOTED TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. COUNCILOR ROGERS, I GUESS YOUR REQUEST WOULD BE IF A COUNCILOR WANTED TO DO THAT, YOU'D LIKE TO DO R-75 AND YOU WOULDN'T MOVE THE OTHER BILLS? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? >>COUN. ROGERS: YES I WOULD ASK TO DEFER THEM. >>COUN. LEWIS: IT WOULDN'T BE A DEFERRAL -- OKAY. I APOLOGIZE. I THINK YOU WOULDN'T DEFER THEM, YOU WOULD ALLOW THEM TO GO THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCESS AND THEY SHOW UP ON THE NEXT COUNCIL AGENDA. >>COUN. ROGERS: FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION. WHAT I'M TRYING TO BYPASS IS THE COMMITTEE. SO WE DON'T ADD MORE TIME. WHATEVER THE PROPER PROCEDURE IS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN VOTE ON THIS IN THE NEXT MEETING, BUT RECONSIDER THE ONE ON SAN MATEO TONIGHT. >>COUN. LEWIS: SO, THEN, YOU WOULD -- ASK FOR SOMEBODY THAT VOTED IN THE NEGATIVE TO RECONSIDER, IF THEY DO THAT THE PROPER MOTION WOULD BE THE OTHER THREE FOR A HOLDOVER. YOU MOVE THEM FOR A HOLDOVER AND THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO TAKE FINAL ACTION AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING IF YOU WISH TO DO THAT. COUNCILORS, IS THERE A MOTION? NO MOTION. COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: I WOULD MOTION FOR THIS ONE TO BE A HOLDOVER UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING. IS THAT THE PROPER STEPS NEXT? >>COUN. LEWIS: THE CHANGE WOULD BE THIS IS R-76. >>COUN. ROGERS: I MOVE TO PUT THAT INTO A HOLDOVER TO THE NEXT AGENDA MEETING. >>COUN. LEWIS: THE NEW MOTION IS A HOLDOVER OF R-76. SECOND ON THAT. DISCUSSION ON R-76? MADAM CLERK. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR ROGERS. R-76. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. BEFORE WE GO TO R-77. I MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER R-75. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, YOU JUST MADE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER R-75. SHE WAS ON THE LOSING SIDE. >>COUN. LEWIS: THERE'S NOT A MOTION TO RECONSIDER. COUNCILOR, YOU'RE WELCOME TO MOVE R-77 OR R-78. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. >>COUN. LEWIS: I WAS ON YOUR SIDE. I CAN'T MAKE THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER. I WAS ON YOUR SIDE, I CAN'T MAKE THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER. COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO SOME OF THE OTHER COUNCILORS WHO VOTED NO. WOULD THEY BE WILLING TO MOTION? >>COUN. LEWIS: WE DID DO THAT, COUNCILOR. THE NEXT MOTION IS UP TO YOU. >>COUN. ROGERS: OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. WE'LL MOVE THE RULES BE SUSPENDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PLACING R-77 AS A HOLDOVER ON THE NEXT AGENDA -- NEXT MEETING'S AGENDA. REDEVELOPMENT TAX ABATEMENT FOR THE HIGHLAND FOOD HALL FOR TITAN DEVELOPMENT. >>COUN. LEWIS: THAT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >>COUN. LEWIS: ALL RIGHT. I BELIEVE, COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE RULES BE SUSPENDED FOR THE PLACING OF R-78 AS A HOLDOVER ON THE NEXT AGENDA. FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE REDEVELOPMENT TAX ABATEMENT ON GAR FIELD TOWN HOMES. [ INAUDIBLE ]. >>COUN. LEWIS: MOVED AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR GROUT. ANY DISCUSSION? [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >>COUN. LEWIS: ANY OTHER CHANGES TO THE LETTER OF INTRODUCTION? >>COUN. PEÑA: MR. PRESIDENT, IS THERE A WAY TO MOVE THAT THE -- I GUESS THIS IS FOR MR. PADILLA, IS THERE A WAY TO MOVE FOR PLACING R-75 FOR THE NEXT MEETING SIMILAR TO THE ONES WE JUST DID? >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR PEÑA, THERE'S MULTIPLE WAYS THAT CAN BE DONE. YOU CAN DO A MOTION TO RECONSIDER. YOU CAN BRING THAT BACK ON THE TABLE AND VOTE FOR THEM TO MOVE TO THE NEXT COUNCIL AGENDA. THAT WOULD TAKE TWO-THIRD VOTE. WE CAN NOTE IT ON THE AGENDA TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PUT IT ON THAT NIGHT'S AGENDA. EITHER WAY, BUT IF YOU WANT TO DO IT IN THIS MEETING, YOU NEED A MOTION TO RECONSIDER. >>COUN. LEWIS: MOTION TO RECONSIDER R-75. THAT'S SECONDED BY COUNCILOR GROUT. ANY DISCUSSION? THIS IS THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER R-75. [ ROLL CALL ] -- >>COUN. PEÑA: THIS IS FOR RECONSIDERATION CORRECT? I'M SORRY. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: [ INAUDIBLE ]. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR PEÑA, WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? >>COUN. PEÑA: MR. PRESIDENT, IF WE CAN READ IT INTO THE RECORD. I MOVE THE RULES BE SUSPENDED FOR HOLDOVER? TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. >>COUN. ROGERS: SECOND. >>COUN. LEWIS: MOTION AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR GROUT. R-75. IT'S INTRO TO THE LETTER OF INTRODUCTION AS HOLDOVER. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >>COUN. LEWIS: ANY CHANGES TO THE LETTER? COUNCILOR GROUT. >>COUN. GROUT: MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. LETTER OF INTRODUCTION. >>COUN. LEWIS: THIS IS THE LETTER OF INTRODUCTION. MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE LETTER OF INTRODUCTION. MADAM CLERK. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: NO. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES ON AN 8-1 VOTE. >>COUN. LEWIS: WE APPROVED OUR AGENDA FOR TONIGHT, IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHAT WE JUST DID. ITEM SEVEN, REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. FINANCE AND GOVERNMENT OPERATION COMMITTEE MET ON MONDAY AUGUST 12th, 2024, AND REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ITEM. IN THE MATTER OF EC-158 BE APPROVED. IN THE MATTER OF EC-186 IT BE WITHOUT RECOMMENDATION. IN THE MATTER OF O36, O36, R-68, 74 DO PASS. R-72 DO PASS AS AMENDED. R-72 DO PASS AND BE ACTED UPON AT THE MEETING AT WHICH IT IS REPORTED. IN THE MATTER OF OC-14 AND OC OF THE 31 THEY BE WITHDRAWN. I MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE REPORTS. >>COUN. LEWIS: MOTION AND SECOND TO ACCEPT COMMITTEE REPORTS. WHO SECONDED THAT? COUNCILOR BACA. ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT? OKAY. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >>COUN. LEWIS: WE'RE IN DEFERRALS AND WITHDRAWALS. ANY DEFERRALS OR WITHDRAWS AT THIS TIME? AC-14, THIS IS UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION APPEALS THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION PLANNING COMMISSION TO APPROVE A ZONING MAP AMENDMENT. THE MOTION IS TO DEFER THIS TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. >> MR. PRESIDENT, THE REQUEST IS TO DEFER TO THE SEPTEMBER 16th COUNCIL MEETING. >>COUN. LEWIS: THE REASON WHY? >> WE RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM THE APPLICANT ON FRIDAY ASKING US TO MOVE THE HEARING FOR THIS MATTER TO SEPTEMBER 16th, WHICH WAS AGREED BY THE APPELLANT. THE PURPOSE IS TO ALLOW THE PARTIES TO BE PRESENT. THE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND WOULD LIKE TO BE HERE FOR THE HEARING AND OTHER SCHEDULING CONFLICTS THAT WAS NECESSITY NOT GOING TO THE FOURTH COUNCIL BUT THE 16th. >>COUN. LEWIS: I MOVE DEFERRAL. SECONDED BY COUNCILOR GROUT. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >>COUN. LEWIS: THAT HEARING IS DEFERRED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 16th. WE'RE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ANY CHANGES TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA THAT IS BEING APPOINTED TO SERVE ON A BOARD OR COMMISSION, THANK YOU FOR THE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. THERE'S A NUMBER OF YOU ALL. WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO SERVE ON THOSE PERCENT COMMITTEES. >>COUN. GROUT: MR. PRESIDENT, I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: SECOND. >>COUN. LEWIS: MOTION AND SECOND BY COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >>COUN. LEWIS: WE'RE ON APPROVALS. ITEM B IS EC-183 LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS AND SUBLEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AND THE SCHOOL OF VISHLY BLIEPD AND HEARING-IMPAIRED. MOTION AND SECOND BY COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR THIS BILL? >> YES, MR. PRESIDENT. WE HAVE COMMISSIONER RICHARD, FOLLOWED BY JUSTIN BERGS. >>COUN. LEWIS: WELCOME, COMMISSIONER. >> THANK YOU, MR. COUNCIL PRESIDENT. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO SPEAK? >>COUN. LEWIS: YOU'RE WELCOME TO COMMENT ON THE BILL. >> THANK YOU, SIR. I AMMING WANT >> I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO SAY A UNIQUE NATURE OF THE DECISION YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU. FOR THOSE OFFIA NOT FAMILIAR, STATE LAND OFFICE OVERSEES YOUR STATE TRUST PLANNED. A LARGE PORTION RESIDES INSIDE THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. WE DRAW REVENUE FROM THOSE LANDS. IN ADDITION TO THE REVENUE, WE USE THE LANDS TO ESSENTIALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF THE DAY. PROBLEMS BEFORE YOU NOW, CONCERNS ONE OF OUR BENEFICIARIES THAT NEEDS EXTRA ROOM TO GROW BECAUSE THEY HAVE A GROWING STUDENT POPULATION THAT'S NEW MEXICO SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED. THEY'RE USING STATE LAND TO EXPAND THEIR CAMPUS. YOU MAY ASK WHY THIS HAS TO BE DONE THROUGH A LEASE WITH THE CITY, THAT IS JUST, YOU KNOW, THE CONSTRAINTS OF STATUTE AT THIS TIME. WE ONLY CAN DO THE LONG-TERM LEASES WITH MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES. WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP. WE THINK THAT THIS SETS UP THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE TO REALLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF POTENTIALLY DEVELOPING THE REST OF THE AREA AS WELL. THIS IS THE FIRST GREAT STEP. I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE IN SUPPORT, MR. PRESIDENT. >>COUN. LEWIS: GREAT. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. IS ANYBODY ELSE ON ZOOM? >> NOT FINDING OUR SECOND PERSON ON ZOOM. HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE MR. BERGS HERE AT THE PODIUM. >>COUN. LEWIS: WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I'M THE COORDINATOR OF THE FACILITIES. I HAVE WITH US IN SUPPORT OF THIS LAND LEASE, BOARD PRESIDENT VALLEJOS, AND DR. HEATHER MILLER OF NMSPBI, AND OUR ARCHITECT WITH DECKER ARCHITECTURE. AND COORDINATOR OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE, MR. PAUL KILLMAN. AND PAUL HAS A FEW QUICK COMMENTS FOR YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE. AND TAKING TIME TO THINK ABOUT THIS. I WANT TO GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW OF OUR SCHOOL. COUNCILOR GROUT WAS ABLE TO COME AND DO A TOUR. I WELCOME ANYBODY TO COME MORE. WE SERVICE STUDENTS THAT ARE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED. THERE'S PLACED BASED ON IEP. THAT IS BASED ON NEEDS AND SUPPORT. WE ONLY SERVICE PRE-SCHOOLERS AND KINDERGARTENERS. HOWEVER OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE THEM AS INDEPENDENT AS POSSIBLE. THE RANGE AND SKILL NEEDS OF STUDENTS THAT WE CONSIDER UNDERSTAND HOW TO ADAPT AND USE SENSES TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND INDEPENDENT. THEN WE GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH MEDICALLY FRAGILE STUDENTS THAT HAVE VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS. THOSE STUDENTS ARE -- I LIKE TO SAY TRAPPED IN THEIR BODY WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEM OUT. WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEM TO COMMUNICATE. THEY NEED PHYSICAL SUPPORT AND WE'RE TRYING TO TEACH THEM HOW TO COMMUNICATE. THEY CAN'T DO THAT IN THE WAY TYPICAL STUDENTS CAN. YOU HAVE TO TEACH THEM TO USE OTHER SENSES. THE REASON WHY THIS IS AN IMPORTANT LEASE AND WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US, IS CURRENTLY OUR BUS SERVICES, THEY'RE COMING AND OUT OF THE PARKING LOT. IT'S A DANGER TO OUR STUDENTS AND OUR PARENTS. WE'RE HOPING TO USE LEASED LAND TO BUILD NEW BUS LANES AND PARKING LANES FOR THE PARENTS TO SEPARATE THEM FOR THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS. AND THE OTHER THING THAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IS BUILDING A CAFETERIA AND MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM. AND THAT WOULD REALLY ALLOW US TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS TO BE INDEPENDENT AND TRAVELING AND NAVIGATING A CAFETERIA BEFORE WE TRANSITION THEM TO FIRST GRADE. AND A MAJORITY COME FROM ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AT THE MOMENT WE DO FAMILY-STYLE ARRANGEMENT WHERE WE BRING IN OUR STUDENTS AND BY ALLOWING THEM TO DO CAFETERIA WE SPECIALIZE THE FOODS SO THE DIET CAN BE PROCESSED PAYING ATTENTION TO THEIR ALLERGENS AND PROVIDING A REGULAR TYPE OF CAFETERIA SERVICES AND LEARNING HOW TO NAVIGATE AND EATING IN A LARGER SETTING SO THEY HAVE THOSE SKILLS AS THEY MOVE FORWARD INTO THEIR EDUCATION. ANY QUESTIONS OF THE PROJECT? >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCILOR GROUT. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. WE ARE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND IN OUR CITY. AND FUN FACT, IT IS ONE OF THREE SCHOOLS THAT ARE MENTIONED IN OUR STATE CONSTITUTION. SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND, SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF IN SANTA FE, AND NEW MEXICO MILITARY INSTITUTE IN ROSWELL. THE BIGGEST THING I SEE IS THE EXPANSION AND SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN GETTING DROPPED OFF FROM BUSES. IT'S NOT A TYPICAL SCHOOL WHERE KIDS -- THE BUS STOPS AND THE KIDS RUN OFF. ALL OF THE CHILDREN HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS. THEY NEED TO HAVE PEOPLE HELPING THEM. SO THERE ARE EIGHT BUSES AT ONE TIME AND OTHER PARENTS DROPPING OFF. IT CAN BE PRETTY CHAOTIC. AND SO, WITH THE ADDITION OF THIS PROPERTY, IT WILL HAVE THE DROPOFF AND PICKUP AREAS MUCH SAFER FOR THESE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND IT ALSO GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THAT CAFETERIA AND ALSO EXPAND, I UNDERSTAND, FOR FIRST AND SECOND GRADE ALSO. THE CHILDREN THAT HAVE COME TO THIS FACILITY AND HAVE THE PLEASURE OF LEARNING AT THIS FACILITY HAVE GROWN LEAPS AND BOUNDS. AND THE PARENTS THAT HAVE THEIR CHILDREN THERE DON'T WANT THEM TO LEAVE. THEY'RE LEARNING SO MUCH. BUT THEY ALSO KNOW THE NEED -- WHAT'S VERY AWESOME ABOUT THIS PLACE IS THEY'RE PREPARING THESE CHILDREN TO SUCCEED OUT IN THE WORLD, GETTING ACROSS THE STREET. THEY'RE TEACHING THEM FROM THE VERY, VERY BEGINNING HOW TO USE AND FEEL AND USE THEIR SENSES TO GET AROUND AND TO NAVIGATE IN THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL, OR CHARTER SCHOOL. THIS IS SO WONDERFUL, THIS EXPANSION. I WANTED TO ASK, DIRECTOR, TO COME UP AND TALK WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROCESS BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE CITY. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS, COUNCILOR GROUT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE I HAVE SUPERINTENDENT AND DEPUTY COMMISSIONER WATSON, BOTH OF WHOM ARE HERE. THEY'RE IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT. I WANT TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND CONTEXTUALIZE. IF AS A PARENT YOU HAVE A KID WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, A KID WITH A DISABILITY, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ANY PARENT FEELS, RIGHT, THE UNBOUNDED LOVE, THE WONDER OF THE NEW LIFE, THE HOPES AND ASPIRATION FOR THE FUTURE FOR YOUR CHILD ARE SIMILARLY IF YOU'RE AN OLDER SIBLING AND A YOUNG SIBLING COMES AROUND YOU FEEL ALL OF THOSE THINGS BUT I THINK THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL THOUGHT THAT PARENTS HAVE, OLDER SIBLINGS HAVE, IT HAS TO DO WITH WHAT IS GOING TO COME OF MY KID, SOMEWHAT GOING TO COME OF MY YOUNGER SIBLING WHEN I'M NO LONGER AROUND. AND THERE ARE DOZENS, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THINGS THAT A PARENT TRIES TO PUT IN PLACE. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE, SECOND TO NONE, IS HOLDING THAT YOUNG PERSON INTO AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THAT PERSON CAN LEARN THE SKILLS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO EXPERIENCE ORDINARY DAYS. TO EXPERIENCE THE THRILLS OF A FULL LIFE LIVED FULLY. TO LEARN THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT SURROUND A PERSON TO GROW UP AND HAVE AGENCY. TO BE ABLE TO MAKE CHOICES. TO BE ABLE TO LIVE A LIFE ON THEIR TERMS, IN THE FULLEST WAY POSSIBLE. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT THERE IS PROBABLY NO PLACE THAT DOES THIS AS WELL AS THE NEW MEXICO SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED. AND WE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD THAT WE HAVE A SCHOOL LIKE THIS IN OUR CITY AND IN OUR STATE. AND I WANT TO THANK THE NEW MEXICO STATE LAND OFFICE, AND WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOL. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN ON THE DOCKET SINCE 2021. I AM SO THRILLED THAT WE ARE NOW APPROACHING BEING ABLE TO BRING IT OVER THE FINISH LINE. AND EVERYTHING YOU SAID, COUNCILOR GROUT, EVERYTHING THE APPLICANT SAID, THIS IS REALLY ABOUT CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SAFE, THAT IS EXPANSIVE, THAT KEEPS PACE WITH THE NEED OF OUR FAMILIES AND OUR YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE THOSE NEEDS. AGAIN, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. I THANK YOU, A LITTLE BIT OUT OF THE ORDINARY, AND LETTING ME SPEAK. AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE STAFF AND APOINTED OFFICIALS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE TODAY TO SIGNAL THEIR ENTHUSIASM AND SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU. I THINK WE HEARD FROM THE ADMINISTRATION. WE DO HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE ON ZOOM RIGHT? OH, COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT. I HAVE A NIECE WHO WAS BORN BLIND AND WENT TO THE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND, AND I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND WHAT IT DID AND WHAT THE SCHOOL DID FOR HER. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS THAT WE NEED TO EXPAND IT BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH SHE HAD A GREAT START IN LEARNING HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR HERSELF AND USE HER CANE AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS WHEN SHE GOT TO SCHOOL IN A RURAL AREA IN LOS LUNAS WHERE THERE WASN'T AS MUCH RESOURCES, HER LIFE SKILLS -- HER MOM WASN'T ABLE TO DO THE THINGS TO TEACH HER HOW TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT. LUCKILY HE GOT INTO THE SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND IN ALAMOGORDO, IS NOW IS IN HIGH SCHOOL, BUT IS IN A DEFICIT FOR LEARNING HOW TO COUNT MONEY AND DIFFERENT THINGS. I WANTED TO CHIME IN AND SAY I LOVE WHAT YOU DO. IT TRANSFORMS KID. SHE WAS COMPLETELY BLIND. I JUST WANT TO SAY I THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. I WANT TO EXPAND IT TIMES FIVE, IT'S SUCH A NEED ESPECIALLY IN OUR RURAL AREAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>COUN. LEWIS: THIS IS EC183. MOVED AND SECONDED. COUNCILORS, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE BILL? [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >>COUN. LEWIS: GO TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. COUNCILOR BASSAN. >>COUN. BASSAN: THERE WILL BE AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL LEGISLATIVE RELATIONS COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY AUGUST 21 AND 28 AT 3 P.M. VIA ZOOM VIDEO CONFERENCE. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. ANNOUNCING THAT WE HAVE A LOCAL GOVERNMENT COORDINATING COMMISSION MEETING ON THURSDAY AUGUST 22nd AT 5 P.M. IN THE VINCENT E. GRIEGO CHAMBERS. OR YOU CAN WATCH ONLINE. AS A HYBRID MEETING. THANK YOU. >>COUN. LEWIS: OKAY. COUNCIL, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A RECESS UNTIL 8 O'CLOCK. 30 MINUTES, WE'LL RECONVENE. >>COUN. LEWIS: ALL RIGHT. WE'RE ON ITEM 10 IN OUR AGENDA. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS. ITEM A IS R-73. COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. COUNCILOR SANCHEZ, YOU'RE UP. R-73. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: THANK YOU. I HAVE THE LAST OF MY LUNCH. THIS IS BY REQUEST, MAKING FINDINGS IN CONNECTION AND THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF REVENUE BONDS RATIFYING AND APPROVING AND SALE OF INSPIRATION PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT SPECIAL LEVY REVENUE BOND. IT GOES INTO THE BONDS, RIGHT THERE. I JUST WANTED TO MOVE A DO PASS. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, AND I WANTED TO SEE AM MR. MOSCO CAN EXPLAIN IT. IT'S IN THE FAR WEST END OF MY DISTRICT ACROSS FROM THE SPORTS COMPLEX. >> COUNCILOR LEWIS, COUNCILOR SANCHEZ, AND COUNCILORS, THIS IS -- THE CREATION OF THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE. AND IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE MORE SUCCESSFUL ONES. ALL THE BIDS ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL, BUT THIS ONE IS SUCCESSFUL IN A WAY THERE'S 327 HOMES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DEVELOPED. THIS ALLOWS THE ADMINISTRATION TO CREATE AND SELL THE LEVY REVENUE BONDS THAT WILL NOT BE HITTING THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET BECAUSE IT IS A SPECIAL ASSESSMENT PUT ON THE PROPERTY OWNERS AS IN ALL PIDs. AGAIN, AS COUNCILOR SANCHEZ MENTIONED, THIS IS JUST FORTH OF ARROYO VISTA BOULEVARD AND THE JENNIFER REARDEN SPORTS COMPLEX. I STAND BY FOR ANY QUESTIONS. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: THANK YOU. WITH THAT, I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILORS, ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION? WE HAVE THREE SPEAKERS. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS GEORGE FOLLOWED BY NONNER. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE FOOD TRUCK OWNERS. THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN REGARD TO. IF YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE END? >>COUN. LEWIS: I HAVE A HARD TIME HEARING YOU. >> I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE FOOD TRUCK OWNERS. >>COUN. LEWIS: IF YOU WANT -- THAT BILL IS GOING TO COME UP IN A BIT. IT'S NOT GERMANE HERE. >> I UNDERSTAND. >>COUN. LEWIS: IF YOU WANT TO STICK AROUND, WE'LL MAKE SURE YOU'RE PUT ON THAT. >> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. >> GEORGE, FOLLOWED BY LONNA FOLLOWED BY KYLE. DO WE HAVE CARLA WILLIAMS? >> MR. PRESIDENT, THAT CONCLUDES COMMENTS ON R-73. >>COUN. LEWIS: OKAY. >> MR. PRESIDENT, AND FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WAS TRYING TO SIGN UP FOR GENERAL COMMENT, IT WOULDN'T LET ME. IT SAID THAT I HAD TO SIGN UP FOR TWO OTHER THINGS. I JUST CHOSE THIS. >>COUN. LEWIS: YOU DON'T HAVE TO SIGN UP FOR OTHER BILLS. ARE YOU SPEAKING ON ANOTHER BILL THAT'S GERMANE TO THAT BILL? >> I JUST WANTED TO DO PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THE ALBUQUERQUE FIRE DEPARTMENT. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, THERE'S A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT SIGNED UP ON OTHER BILLS BECAUSE PUBLIC COMMENT WAS FULL. IT ALREADY HAD 30 PEOPLE THEREFORE THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO SIGN UP. SO THEY SIGNED UP TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK. >>COUN. LEWIS: IF YOU'RE HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, I'LL MAKE AN EXCEPTION AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT. THIS WOULD BE FOR ANYTHING GERMANE TO THIS BILL. >> I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY WITH THIS. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU. >> THAT CONCLUDES COMMENT. >>COUN. LEWIS: ALL RIGHT. BACK ON R-73. MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE BILL? MADAM CLERK. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >>COUN. LEWIS: OKAY. WE'RE ON ITEM 11, UNDER APPEALS. THIS IS AC-15. AC-15 MAJOR AMENDMENT TO THE PLAN FIESTA SITE PLAN AND EPC, INTERESTED PARTIES APPEAL THE ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING COMMISSION DECISION TO APPROVE A MAJOR AMENDMENT TO THE BALLOON FIESTA SITE PLAN AND A NEW PLAN EPC FOR ALL OR A PORTION OF TRACTS A1. I WON'T READ THE REST OF THAT TITLE. WE'LL HAVE MR. RONQUILLO SUMMARIZE THE APPEAL. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I BELIEVE BEFORE I JUMP INTO THE SUMMARY WE'RE SCRIPTED FOR COUNCILOR BACA TO MAKE A DISH -- DISCLOSURE. >>COUN. BACA: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. PRIOR TO JOINING THE COUNCIL AND PRIOR TO THE EPC OF THIS APPLICATION I PARTICIPATED IN MATTERS WITH THE PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP A STADIUM IN THE DOWNTOWN AREAS, I AM NOT INVOLVED WITH THE CURRENT PROPOSAL WITH THE STADIUM FOR THE BALLOON FIESTA PARK, I BELIEVE I CAN BE FAIR AND IMPARTIAL FOR THIS MATTER TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THE ISSUE IN THIS APPEAL IS WHETHER AN APPLICATION TO BE APPROVED FOR A MULTI-USE OUTDOOR SPORTS STADIUM ON SEVEN ACRES ON THE BALLOON FIESTA PARK GROUNDS. THE APPLICANTS ARE CONSENSUS PLANNING ACTING AS AGENT FOR THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AND NEW MEXICO UNITED. AND THE APPLICATION INCLUDES TWO COMPONENTS. FIRST, A MAJOR AMENDMENT TO THE BALLOON FIESTA MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND ITS ASSOCIATE SITE PLAN A NEW SITE PLAN. BY A 7-0 VOTE THE EPC APPROVED THE APPLICATION. THE APPELLANT WHO ARE FOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS THAT RESIDE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS NEARBY APPEAL THE EPCs APPROVAL RAISING ABOUT 14 ARGUMENTS CHALLENGING THE EPCs APPROVAL. FOR THE SAKE OF TIME AND BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE CLAIMS THROUGH RECORD AND BRIEFINGS. I'LL SUMMARIZE THE CLAIMS AS THE LUHO DID. AS CLAIMS OF PROCEDURAL ERRORS, APPLICATION OF THE IDO AND THE MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN, AND OBJECTIONS THE EPC FINDINGS. THE COUNCIL REFERRED TO THE APPEAL TO THE LAND USE HEARING OFFICER WHO RECOMMENDS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DENY THE APPEAL AND UPHOLD THE EPCs DECISION TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION. THE LUHO FOUND THE DECISION AND FINDINGS ARE WELL SUPPORTED BY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE IN THE RECORD AND THE APPELLANTS HAVE NOT MET THE BURDEN OF PROOF SHOWING THE EPC ERRORED WITH ONE EXCEPTION. THE APPELLANTS ARGUED THAT TRAFFIC MITIGATIONS IN THE REPORT COMPLETED AS PART OF THE APPLICATION WERE IGNORED BY THE EPC. AND THEY CLAIM THE EPC SHOULD ADOPT THE TRAFFIC RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THE REPORT AS CONDITIONS AS APPROVAL. THE LUHO AGREED TO FINDING SHOT THE TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT WERE NOT PROPERLY CONSIDERED AND THE EPC HEARING DISCUSSION WAS FOCUSED ON THE FACT THAT THE STREETS AND INTERSECTIONS IN THE AREA CAN HANDLE THE INCREASED STADIUM TRAFFIC. HOWEVER THE EPC SHOULD HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED AND ADOPTED THE MITIGATION RECOMMENDATION AND TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT WHEN IT APPROVED THE APPLICATION. THE LUHO RECOMMENDS THE COUNCIL DENY THE APPEAL AND UPHOLD THE APPLICATION WITH THE ADDITION OF THE TRAFFIC MITIGATION CONTAINED IN THE TRAFFIC ASSESSMENT. THIS IS ACCEPT OR REJECT HEARING. WE WILL NOT HEAR FROM THE PARTIES, JUST COUNCIL STAFF. YOUR OPTIONS ARE TO ACCEPT THE LUHO RECOMMENDATION AND FINDING, ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION AND ADOPT DIFFERENT FINDINGS, OR REJECT THE RECOMMENDATION IN WHICH CASE THIS WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR A FULL HEARING AT THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILORS, FIRST OF ALL A QUESTION, IF WE WERE TO ACCEPT THE LUHOs RECOMMENDATION AND FINDING TONIGHT, THE TRAFFIC MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED AND WOULD MOVE THROUGH AS A PART OF THE PROCESS AS A REQUIREMENT? >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS, ACCEPT. SENTENCE OF THE FINDINGS WOULD INCLUDE THOSE TWO TRAFFIC MITIGATION RECOMMENDATIONS. >>COUN. LEWIS: I MOVE THE LUHO -- TO ACCEPT THE LUHO RECOMMENDATION AND FINDINGS. THAT'S SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. COUNCILORS, WE HAVE THE RECORD BEFORE US. ANY QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION ON THE ISSUE AND SPECIFICALLY THE MOTION BEFORE US? WE'LL CLOSE THE DISCUSSION. THE MOTION AND A SECOND TO ACCEPT THE LUHO RECOMMENDATION FINDING. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: NO. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> THAT PASSES ON AN 8-1 VOTE. >>COUN. LEWIS: ALL RIGHT. THAT TAKES US TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN PROVIDE LIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS TO THE COUNCIL IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY IF THEY SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMPER ININSTRUCTIONS PUBLISHED ON THE AGENDA. COMMENTS ARE TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE COUNCILLORS ONLY THROUGH THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT. ANY DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT WILL RESULT IN REMOVAL FROM THE MEETING. THERE'S A TWO-MINUTE TIME LIMIT. A BILL WILL BRING TO INDICATION YOUR TIME IS UP. YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THE ENTIRE TWO MINUTES. SO, YOU'RE WELCOME TO USE THAT TIME TO SPEAK TO COUNCIL. AND DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE ENTIRE TIME. PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS DARYL FOLLOWED BY THOMAS. >>COUN. LEWIS: IF YOU'RE -- HE WILL CALL SEVERAL NAMES AT A TIME. IF YOU'RE THE NEXT ONE TO SPEAK, YOU'RE WELCOME TO SIT IN THE FRONT ROW SO YOU'RE UP AND READY TO SPEAK. >>COUN. LEWIS: I'M SORRY? >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TURN THAT UP. YOU DO HAVE HANDOUTS THAT WAS PRINTED OUT FOR YOU. I USE THE CITY SHOOTING PARK. MIKE AND HIS CREW OUT THERE THAT RUN THE PARK ARE FANTASTIC PEOPLE. I WENT SUNDAY WITH A PROBLEM. I TALKED TO THEM ABOUT ANTS. BAD ANTS THAT WILL STING PEOPLE. THEY SAID, NO PROBLEM WE'LL GET IT TAKEN CARE OF. NOW, WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM OUT THERE, BUT GOING TO START OUT LAST TIME YOU GUYS HAD A MEETING, I HAD A GENTLEMAN AND A LADY SPEAK TO YOU FOLKS, MR. PRESIDENT, AND TO THE COUNCILMAN, ABOUT THE CLEANLINESS OF THE ROOMS, THE BUILDINGS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS USING. I HAVE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. I HAVE TRAINED A LOT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THEY'RE UNIFORMED OFFICERS OR CADETS, IF THEY'RE USING A FACILITY, THEY NEED TO KEEP IT CLEANED. NOW, 15 YEARS, 34 CLASSES AT $25 A CLASS COMES OUT TO $23,100. FIVE YEARS AFTER THAT WAS 22 CLASSES THAT I TAUGHT OUT THERE FOR $3,850 AND PER STUDENT WE PAY $6 PER HEAD. I'VE HAD 3800 STUDENTS OUT THERE. FOR A TOTAL OF 220 -- $22,000 FOR A TOTAL OF -- >>COUN. LEWIS: GO AHEAD. >> $49,750. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK ON YOUR PAPERS AND IF YOU WANT TO PUT THAT ON, I'D APPRECIATE IT. THIS IS THE CLASSROOM THAT I TOOK PICTURES OF YESTERDAY. THIS IS THE DIRT THAT IS LEFT. AND YOU SEE THE SAND THAT'S RIGHT HERE? I HAD A STUDENT FALL OUT THERE. AND SHE GOT UP, SHE WASN'T HURT. WE MADE SURE. I ALREADY CALLED HER TWICE. I CALLED HER TODAY AND YESTERDAY TO MAKE SURE SHE'S OKAY. BUT THE LIABILITY OF THAT SAND ON THAT SLICK FLOOR IS A PROBLEM. AND WE CAN SEE WHERE THEY JUST SWEPT IT INTO A CORNER AND AROUND THE EDGES. THE SAND IS BAD. >>COUN. LEWIS: LET ME JUST FOLLOW UP AGAIN. WE'VE BROUGHT UP THESE ISSUES IN THE LAST FEW COUNCIL MEETINGS. WE DON'T NEED TO TAKE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME ON THIS. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WE'VE BEGUN TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE THINGS AT THE SHOOTING RANGE. I THINK ITS PRETTY CLEAR WE HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS THERE, SPECIFIC NEEDS ON CLEANING THE PLACE UP, ON THE RELATIONSHIP WITH APD AND THEIR USE OF THE FACILITY, AND BEING GOOD PARTNERS WITH THOSE WHO RENT THE FACILITY FROM US. AND HAVE WE TAKEN SOME STEPS TO BEGIN TO ADDRESS WHAT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS? >> COUNCILOR LEWIS, WE HAVE PARKS AND REC IS LOOKING AT A MAINTENANCE OR JANATORYIAL CONTRACT WE CAN GET OUT THERE. IT IS PRETTY REMOTE. THEY'RE LOOKING AT. WE'RE ALSO IN CONVERSATIONS WITH APD ABOUT AN MOU BETWEEN PARKS AND RECREATION WHO OPERATE THE FACILITY AND APD WHO HAS SIGNIFICANT USE OF THE FACILITY. WE'RE WORKING WITH APD ON AN -- MOU. AND WHAT THE EXPECTATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE FOR BOTH PARTIES. AND WHAT CAN WE DO AS FAR AS JANITORS. AND WE'RE WORKING ON REMODELING THE FACILITY. I'M HOPING WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET IT BETTER SEALED. IT'S VERY REPOTE. THERE'S LOT OF SAND OUT THERE AND THESE ARE METAL BUILDINGS. WE'LL DO WHAT WE CAN FOR THAT AS WELL. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. WHEN CAN WE EXPECT FOR THE MOU OR CONTRACTS TO BE SIGNED? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT, I'M NOT SURE WHERE THEY ARE ON THE JANITOR CONTRACT. THEY WERE REACHING OUT TO FIND FOLKS WILLING TO COME OUT AND CLEAN. WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TO DO THAT. IF WE HAVE TO, WE WILL FIGURE OUT SOME STAFFING THROUGH PARKS AND RECREATION IF WE CAN'T GET A COMPANY TO COME OUT AND DO THAT. THE MOU, WE'RE JUST STARTING TO TALK WITH APD. WE HAVE NOT PUT A DRAFT TOGETHER. PARKS HAS BEEN TALK TO COMMAND STAFF AT APD. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR BASSAN. >>COUN. BASSAN: IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS FACILITY IS UTILIZED NOT JUST BY APD BUT IT'S A STATE-WIDE FACILITY FOR TRAINING ALMOST ALL OF THE OFFICERS THAT HELP PROTECT US IN THE STATE. SO, I FIND IT DES PRESSING. I WANTED TO FIND SUPPORT TO FIX IT UP. I FIND IT DEPRESSING THAT THIS IS HOW WE TREAT THE OFFICERS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR HELP. THE WHOLE STATE COMES, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A RESTROOM, IT'S UNCLEAN. WE DON'T LET THE GATEWAY LOOK AT LIKE THAT. BECAUSE IT'S REMOTE, I DON'T FIND THAT AN ACCEPTABLE EXCUSE. I WILL DO WHAT I CAN TO SUPPORT COUNCILOR SANCHEZ TO SUPPORT MAKING SURE WE FOCUS ON ITS REPAIR USING SOME OF THE CAPITAL DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING TO COME FORWARD. NOT SET-ASIDE MONEY. BUT USING CITY TAX DOLLARS TO BENEFIT THAT FACILITY. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR CHAMPINE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, IS THERE A JANITOR SERVICE FOR THE WEST SIDE SHELTER? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, CURRENTLY YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES MAINTENANCE FOLKS, BECAUSE OF YOUTH AND FAMILY AND HHH WERE ONCE ONE DEPARTMENT IT'S THE STAFFING FROM THE YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES THAT ACTUALLY SERVICE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THEY DON'T CONTRACT -- I KNOW THESE ARE 300 YARDS AWAY. >> MR. PRESIDENT, MIKE AND HIS CREW ARE VERY SHORT-STAFFED. THEY ARE TRYING THEIR HARDEST TO GET IT CLEAN AND KEEP IT CLEAN. THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. THE OUTHOUSES WE'RE USING THIS LAST WEEKEND ARE CLEAN. THE WATER OUTSIDE FOR US TO WASH OUR HANDS WERE FALL. AND THEY'RE DOING WORK AS HARD AS THEY CAN TO MAKE IT RECOGNIZE. WE DO NEED HELP. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU. COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU TO THE OTHER COUNCILORS FOR OFFERING THEIR SUPPORT AS WELL. MR. PERKINS, WE SPOKE ON THE PHONE. WHAT I WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE YOU KEEP US IN THE LOOP SO WE CAN GET YOU ANY HELP YOU MIGHT NEED OUT THERE. GIVE US A CALL. IF YOU CALL US, I CAN GET A HOLD OF SOMEBODY ON THE ADMINISTRATION AND EXPLAIN THE ISSUE AND HAVE THEM GET DOWN THERE OR SOMEONE GET DOWN THERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MAKE SURE YOU GET CAN MY POLICY ANALYST AND GET MY PHONE NUMBER AND HAVE IT ON HAND. >> YES, SIR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN, MR. PRESIDENT. I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THE EFFORT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU. >> THOMAS, FOLLOWED BY REANNA. >> THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL, FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. I SIGNED UP FOR GENERAL COMMENT. MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE VOTER, I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO EDUCATE MYSELF. I CAME ACROSS A ROADBLOCK WHEN TRYING TO UNDERSTAND YOU GUYS, MY CITY COUNCIL. I'VE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE FINDING INFORMATION. I FIGURED THE BEST WAY TO GET INFORMATION IS COMING TO YOU TO ASK. ONE THING I'D LIKE IS TRANSPARENCY AND WHATEVER DEALINGS THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE OUTSIDE OF THE COUNCIL. IF SOMEONE IS A BAR TEPPEDER OR WAITRESS AND THEY'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT THEIR PAYCHECKS MIGHT LOOK LIKE, THEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF SOMEONE IS IN THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY. BEING THAT I'M INTERESTED IN HOUSING, I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU'RE IN THE HOUSING INDUSTRY. IF I CARE ABOUT AIR QUALITY, I WANT TO SEE IF YOU'RE IN THE INDUSTRY. THESE ARE IMPORTANT TO ME AS A VOTER TO MAKE SURE I'M UP TO DATE ON IT. I CAN'T FIND ANY DOCUMENTS TO EVALUATE WHAT YOUR INVESTMENTS ARE, WHAT YOUR PORTFULIOS LOOK LIKE. IT IS VERY HARD TO LOOK FOR YOU -- I LOOK FOR YOU, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, IF THERE'S ANY PLACE TO FIND INFORMATION LIKE THAT, I STRUGGLE TO FIND THAT AS A VOTER. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU, SIR. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: IF I MAY? FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR COMING. PLEASE REACH OUT TO MY OFFICE AND I'M HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY. THERE ARE DISCLOSURES REQUIRED BY EVERYONE ON CITY COUNCIL AND YOU CAN GET THOSE THROUGH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. CALL MY OFFICE AND WE'LL GET YOU THAT INFORMATION. >> I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANKS A LOT. >>COUN. LEWIS: YOU CAN GOOGLE ME AND FIND THE GOOD, BAD, AND UGLY. >> RAMONA FOLLOWED BY JASON. >> GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCILORS, I'M A CONSTITUENT OF COUNCILOR ROGERS. IN DISTRICT SIX. I'M ALSO THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE WORKERS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO WHICH REPRESENTS 1600 GRADUATE STUDENT WORKERS AT THE UNIVERSITY. AND MANY OF OUR MEMBERS WORK SECOND AND THIRD JOBS TO SUPPLEMENT THE POVERTY WAGES WE'RE PAID BY UNM TO TEACH HUNDREDS OF CLASSES AS WELL AS BRINGING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO RESEARCH GRANTS. AND OUR SECOND AND THIRD JOBS ARE -- CONTINUE GRADUATE SCHOOL. LOWERING THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR TIPPED WORKERS WOULD HURT MANY MEMBERS OF OUR UNION, THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT. I'M OUT HERE TO TALK ON THEIR BEHALF. I WANT TO SPEAK AGAINST LOWERING THE MINIMUM WAGE. YOUNG PEOPLE AND STUDENTS ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO TAKE WIC. MANY SERVERS WORK AT THEIR RESTAURANTS FOR DECADES, I KNOW MANY IN ALBUQUERQUE AND TIPPED WORK IS AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF INCOME FOR MANY PEOPLE. I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS BEING ABLE TO REMAIN IN BUSINESS AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE JOBS, BUT I BELIEVE THERE ARE OTHER SOLUTIONS SUCH AS PROVIDING SMALL BUSINESSES WITH TAX CREDITS OR REDUCING THE TAXES OR FEES THEY HAVE TO PAY WHILE ALSO INCREASING BUSINESS TAXES ON LARGE CORPORATIONS OR LARGE BUSINESSES THAT PUSH OUT SMALL BUSINESSES OUT OF THE ALBUQUERQUE COMMUNITY. MANY UNIONS IN ALBUQUERQUE ARE AGAINST LOWERING THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR TIPPED WORKERS INCLUDING ALBUQUERQUE TEACHERS FEDERATION, AFP NEW MEXICO, TEAMSTERES 492, IBEW611, AND I WANTED TO THANK COUNCILOR ROGERS AND COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN FOR SUPPORTING INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE. THANK YOU. >> JASON FOLLOWED BY LISA. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL. I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE. I'M HERE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE ATTEMPT TO LOWER TIP WORKERS MINIMUM WAGE. THIS IS A BLATANT ATTACK ON WORK CLASS NEW MEXICANS STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP WITH THE RISING RENT AND COST OF GROCERIES. TIPPED WORKERS ARE MISTREATED OVER WORKED AND UNDER APPRECIATED. HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE WE CAN LEAD BY EXAMPLE BY PAYING OUR SERVICE WORKERS THAT REFLECTS THE POWERFUL CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE IN THE COMMUNITY. INSTEAD OF TRYING TO WORSEN THE LIVES OF NEW MEXICANS HOW ABOUT WE SPEND TIME TALKING ABOUT THE CITY ACTUALLY NEEDS. BETTER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, RENT CONTROL, AFFORDABLE HOUSING. LITERALLY ANYTHING BUT THIS. I FIND IT ESPECIALLY DISRESPECTFUL LIKE SOMEBODY LIKE THE CEO TO SUPPORT LOWERING THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS. THAT TRANSLATES TO $60 AN OUR WAGE. SHE FIGHTS TO MAKE SURE THESE WORKERS LIVE IN POVERTY. SHE HAS CONCERNS ABOUT A WAGE DISPARITIES BETWEEN SERVERS AND COOKS WHICH A GREAT POINT. THERE'S A SOLUTION PAY THE COOKS MORE. BUILD THE WORKERS UP, NOT BRING THEM DOWN. ALL LABOR IS VALUABLE, AND WITHOUT THE CONTRIBUTION, WE WOULD HAVE NOTHING. THE PROPOSED TAKING MONEY AWAY IS AN INSULT TO ALL WORKERS. IN ALBUQUERQUE WE WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS. CITY COUNCIL, I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THE MESSAGE YOU SEND TO NEW MEXICANS WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS BEING DISCUSSED. LET THE CITY BE RAN BY FOR THE WORKERS. NOT BUSINESS OWNERS WHO WOULD DROP THE MIN MUM WAGE TO ZERO DOLLARS. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR ROGERS, AND COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN WHO STAND WITH THE WORKING CLASS AND SPEND TIME TO IMPROVE CITY RATHER THAN TAKING MONEY AWAY FROM NEW MEXICANS. >> LISA FOLLOWED BY LEE. >> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO READ A STATEMENT FROM A DEAR FRIEND MATCH SINGLE MOM OF TWO YOUNG BOYS COPARENTING WITH HER EX-HUSBAND. BOTH ARE WORKING PARENTS. MY FRIEND HAS ONE FULL-TIME GOVERNMENT JOB AND A PART TIME. SHE'S DISCOURAGED. SHE'S TRYING TO KEEP HER KIDS FED AND CLOTHED, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OF THE FANCIEST THINGS. I ASKED WHAT SHE WOULD SAY TO YOU ABOUT HOUSING COSTS IN ALBUQUERQUE AND THIS IS WHAT SHE WANTS TO SAY TO YOU. I WOULD TELL THEM, CITY COUNCIL THAN IN AN IDEAL WORLD I'D ASK THEM TO PUT THEMSELVES IN THE SHOES AND LIVES OF CONSTITUENTS STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY, I WOULD ASK THEM HOW IT FELT TO HAVE NOTHING LEFT OVER IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT AFTER WORKING 60 HOURS A WEEK AND ALL OUR BILLS ARE PAID. KNOWING YOU COULDN'T QUALIFY FOR A HOUSE WITHOUT LUXURIES YOU HAD BEFORE. I WOULD ASK HOW THEY WOULD FEEL BEING FORCED THAT IS $700 A MONTH LESS BUT FULL OF ROACHES. THE OTHER OPTION IS MOVE INTO A PLACE THAT IS BEAUTIFUL AND SAFEST YOU CAN FIND. YET IT CONSUMES MORE THAN HALF OF YOUR FIRST INCOME FORCING YOU TO GET THE SECOND JOB WHERE YOU WORK SEVEN DAYS A WEEK BETWEEN THE TWO JOBS AND BECAUSE SHE HAS KIDS TO TAKE CARE OF, YOU CHILDHOOD THE SECOND OPTION. NOW LIFE HAS NO MEANING BECAUSE YOU'RE STUCK WORKING EVERY DAY TO GIVE YOUR MONEY TO GREEDY PEOPLE. AND THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE, CITY COUNCIL WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MY QUESTION TO YOU ALL IN RESPONSE TO MY FRIEND'S COMMENT, THERE'S A PRICE SITUATION IN PHOENIX WITH THE ALGORITHM THAT LANDLORDS ARE USING TO ARTIFICIALLY GOUGE THE PRICES. I'M WONDERING IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO WHAT THE PHOENIX CITY COUNCIL DID AND HAVE THE FBI OR DOJ INVESTIGATE OR THE STATE ATTORNEY. THANK YOU. >> ELI FOLLOWED BY KATE. KATE FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL. >> GOOD EVENING ESTEEMED COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER. I'M A LIFE-LONG HOSPITALITY PROFESSIONAL. I'M A BARTENDER. I'M 100% IN LOVE WITH MY INDUSTRY. WE OPENED HAPPY ACCIDENTS WITH CREDIT CARDS AND FEARFUL FOR THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY. WE ALL KNEW THINGS NEEDED TO CHANGE IN THE WAY THEY BASE TRUCKTURE. THE CURRENT MODELS ARE NOT SUSTAINABLE. AT HAPPY ACCIDENTS WE PAY OUR EMPLOYEES $10 AN HOUR BASE PAY PLUS BENEFITS, WE PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE AND PAID LEAVE. THOSE STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN BUILT INTO OUR BUSINESS PLAN SINCE DAY ONE. THESE ARE WHAT WE CONSIDER NON-NEGOTIABLES AT HAPPY ACCIDENTS. JUST LIKE OUR RENT, JUST LIKE OUR POWER BILLS, JUST LIKE LIABILITY INSURANCE, THESE ARE THE COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS ETHICILY. WE TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY AND WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES. BY PAYING MORE WE'RE ABLE TO ATTRACT AND EMPLOY SOME OF THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST PEOPLE. THERE'S A DIRECT COALITION BETWEEN THE INVESTMENT IN YOUR STAFF AND RETURN OF NOT NOT ONLY FOR OUR BUSINESS BUT THE COMMUNITY. OUR EMPLOYEE-FIRST BUSINESS MODEL EARNED US NATIONAL RECOGNITION BEST BAR TEAM, BEST BAR TEAM, AND INNOVAORS IN THE YEAR DUE TO THE BUSINESS PLANS. LOWER INCOME TIPPED WORKERS SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO SUBSIDIZE BAD BUSINESS PLANS. AND GOVERNMENTS SHOULD NOT SUPPORT THAT PRACTICE EITHER. WE STAND WITH WORKERS AND REQUEST THE COUNCIL TO VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSED MINIMUM WAGE DECREASE FOR TIPPED EMPLOYEE. WE CAN BE BETTER FOR THE EMPLOYEES WHO MAKE US WHO WE ARE. WE STAND WITH OUR FELLOW BUSINESS OWNERS HERE TO SPEAK AGAINST UNJUSTIFIED FOOD INCREASES. >> MICHAEL FOLLOWED BY SELIDO. >> I'M MIKE. I'M OWNER AND OPERATOR OF MIGHTY MIKES MEATS. I SPEAK ON THE $900 FEE WHICH COUNCILOR LEWIS, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, YOU COME TO MY FOOD TRUCK, YOUR FIRST MEAL IS ON ME. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN PASS A BILL FOR $900 A YEAR FOR US TO STAY OPEN AND OPERATING WITHOUT FULLY LOOKING AT THAT BILL. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, YOU THREW IT AT US WITH NO WARNING. BLIND SIDED US WITH A $900 FEE THAT I WAS FORCED TO PAY AND RECOVERING FROM THAT FEE. NOW I'M LEARNING THAT YOU GOT A COUPLE MORE DAYS TO RESTRUCTURE IT, WHY IS IT HERE? WHY RESTRUCTURE WHEN YOU ALREADY KNOW IT'S WRONG AND UNAFFORDABLE, AND MAKES IT HARD WITH THE FOOD TRUCK OWNERS WITH THE COST OF SUPPLIES, PAYING STAFF, AND FUEL, IT KEEPS PILING ON WHEN WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FEED OUR FAMILY OWNING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND FEEDING A COMMUNITY WHICH WE LOVE. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. >> SALIDA FOLLOWED BY ROAN. ROAN FOLLOWED BY ISRAEL. >> HELLO, I OWN AND OPERATE -- WHICH IS A LOCAL FOOD TRUCK IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. I WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU'RE MAKING IT SO HARD FOR SMALL BUSINESSES TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE ECONOMY. IT FEELS LIKE AN ATTACK AGAINST THE FOOD TRUCK BUSINESS. AS IT IS, WE'RE HAVING THE LOWEST WAGES IN THE COUNTRY, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST COST WHEN IT COMES TO RENT. I'M DOING THIS TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY AND MAKE SURE THERE'S FOOD ON THE TABLE. I DID NOT BUDGET FOR $900. JUST BASED OFF OF WHAT I HEARD, THIS IS THE MOST MONEY YOU HAD IN YEARS AND NOW YOU WANT TO THROW A $900 FEE AT A FOOD TRUCK? THERE'S NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT. YOU GIVE ALL THESE OTHER CORPORATIONS THAT COME IN MILLIONS IN TAX BREAKS, WHY IS THAT? THAT'S MY CONCERN. YOU'RE GOING TO PUT A LOT OF FOOD TRUCKS OUT OF BUSINESS. THANK YOU. >>COUN. LEWIS: SO, WE HAVE RULES OF DECORUM. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ENFORCING EVENLY. WE WANT EVERYBODY -- WE HAVE EVERYBODY SPEAKING TONIGHT. WE WANTED EVERYBODY TO USE THEIR FULL TIME AND BE HEARD. IF YOU COULD HELP US WITH FOLLOWING THOSE GUIDELINES. >> ISRAEL FOLLOWED BY JACKIE. >> HELLO. I AM THE CHEF AND OWNER OF THE -- IN NOB HILL. I WORK IN DISTRICT SIX, LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT MY FELLOW RESTAURANT OWNERS AND ALSO THE EMPLOYEES THAT MAKE OUR BUSINESSES OPERATE. CUTTING THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR TIPPED SERVERS IS WRONG. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE ALBUQUERQUE A BETTER PLACE. WE'RE TRYING TO PAY PEOPLE WHAT THEY DESERVE. AND THEY ARE SOME OF THE HARDEST WORKING PEOPLE IN ANY INDUSTRY. AND IN ORDER TO KEEP PEOPLE HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE AND WORKING FOR US, AND WORKING FOR THE COMMUNITY, TO CUT MINIMUM WAGE FOR HIM IN HALF IS AN INSULT. SO, I'M JUST HERE TO SAY, AS A BUSINESS OWNER, AS A PROUD MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND INDUSTRY, THAT I SUPPORT NOT ONLY KEEPING THE MINIMUM WAGE WHERE IT IS FOR TIPPED EMPLOYEES BUT RAISING IT. JUST LIKE KATE, WE PAY ALL OF OUR TIPPED EMPLOYEESES ALMOST THREE TIMES THE MINIMUM WAGE. THAT'S WHY THEY STICK WITH US AS LONG AS -- OUR COOKS AND SERVERS. BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY'RE MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY. THEY LIVE AND WORK IN THIS CITY AND SPEND THEIR HARD-EARNED DOLLARS AT OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES IN THE CITY MOOCH WE PAY AND I JUST WANT TO BE ANOTHER BUSINESS OWNER THAT SUPPORTS THE WORKERS. I'M HERE IN SUPPORT OF MY FRIEND MIKE AND THE FOOD TRUCK OWNERS AND THE INSANE INCREASE IN THE FEE THAT WILL CLOSE BUSINESSES, LOCAL AND SMALL BUSINESSES. I HOPE YOUR CITY COUNCIL IS FOUNING ON THAT. THANK YOU. >> CATHY, FOLLOWED BY CARLA. IS >> >> CAN I USE THE OVERHEAD PLEASE. THANK YOU. SOME OF YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT. I WAS BACK HERE MAY 6th AT THE COUNCIL MEETING TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR A CROSSWALK AT BUENA VISTA AND CENTRAL. TODAY WAS THE FIRST DAY OF CLASSES AND I'M BACK. NEW NUMBERS FROM TODAY, THE FIRST DAY OF CLASSES WE HAD 52 PEOPLE CROSSING WITHOUT A CROSSWALK AND THREE OR FOUR SIGNS TELLING THEM NOT TO CROSS. I SAID IT ONCE, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO KEEP CROSSING, THE SIGNS HAVE NOT WORKED. THEY CONTINUE TO NOT WORK. AND THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR A CROSSWALK BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HIT. THIS INTERSECTION -- I DON'T THINK THIS IS FULLY REPRESENTATIVE OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE CROSSING. WE HAVE PEOPLE CROSSING DUR THE SCHOOL DAY, WE HAVE PEOPLE CROSSING TO WALK THEIR DOGS. I CANNOT CROSS THIS INTERSECTION ONCE WITHOUT COMING ACROSS ANOTHER PERSON CROSSING WITH ME. THERE NEEDS TO BE A CROSSWALK HERE. IT'S TIME TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND TO BE HONEST IT'S A LITTLE DON'TING THAT IT'S BEEN OVER 100 DAYS SINCE THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE. STILL NO CROSSWALKS. THANK YOU. >>COUN. ROGERS: MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I JUST WANTED TO DIRECT THAT TO THE ADMINISTRATION. I KNOW I REACHED OUT TO FIND OUT TO FIND OUT HOW TO DO THAT. CAN YOU SPEAK TO HOW WE CAN GET -- IS THERE AN ISSUE WITH UNM? WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND HOW CAN WE GET A CROSSWALK? >> JENNIFER TURNER WILL RESPOND TO THAT. >> COUNCILOR LEWIS, COUNCILOR ROGERS, THANK YOU FOR RAISING THIS ISSUE TO MY ATTENTION. I WILL IMMEDIATELY GO BACK AND TALK TO MY TRAFFIC DIVISION ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A CROSSWALK AND BUENA VISTA AND CENTRAL. NORMALLY WE START WITH A STUDY. I APPRECIATE THE CONSTITUENT DID COUNT AND WE'RE HAPPY TO LOOK AT THOSE. IF YOU WANT TO EMAIL ME -- WHERE DID YOU GO? I'LL GET YOU MY CARD. AND YOU CAN SEND ME AN EMAIL. AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT TAT. THANK YOU. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. >> HELLO, MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBERS. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION FOR APD OFFICERS. I THINK THAT'S PRETTY AWESOME. I LIKE ALSO HOW THEY ACKNOWLEDGED AFD AND ACS ALSO AS FIRST RESPONDERS. BASED ON MY RECENT AND PAST EXPERIENCE AS A LIEUTENANT FIREFIGHTER IN ALBUQUERQUE FIRE RESCUE, WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE CITY IS GOING TO DO -- I'M SORRY WHAT THE CITY IS GOING TO DO TO CREATE AND ENFORCE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING ADA ACCOMMODATION. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE CITY HAS NONE. AS MYSELF AND OTHER FIREFIGHTERS HAVE FACED DISCRIMINATION AND PUNITIVE MEASURES FROM MAKING REQUESTS ACCORDING TO OUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FEDERAL STATUTES, AS IT STANDS, WHEN A FORMAL REQUEST FOR ADA ACCOMMODATIONS ARE MADE, AFR USES TECHNIQUES SUCH AS STALLING AMBIGUOUS DEADLINES AND LACK OF COMMUNICATION, THREATS AND UTILIZING SWEEPING DECLARATIONS SUCH AS CHEAP'S ASSIGNMENT, FIT FOR DUTY, AND CONDUCT UNBECOMING, FOR WHICH THERE'S NO CLEAR CONCRETE DEFINITION OR RECOURSE OF APPEAL TO DENY THE REQUEST OR ACCOMMODATION. FOR THE SECOND TIME IN MY 27 YEARS WITH AFD, I AM FORCED TO SEEK LEGAL REPRESENTATION AGAINST THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE ALONG WITH FELLOWS IN ORDER TO NOT ONLY SECURE THE PROTECTIONS AFFORDED ME AS A U.S. CITIZEN, BUT ALSO TO CONTINUE MY PUBLIC SERVICE. AS AN EXAMPLE, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT THE CITY EXPLORE CONNECTING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO AS MY DAUGHTER HAS RECENTLY SOUGHT ACCOMMODATIONS, ADA ACCOMMODATIONS, AND HAS HAD GREAT SUCCESS AT RECEIVING SUPPORT WITHOUT THE DISCRIMINATION I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. THANK YOU. >> JAMES FOLLOWED BY ROSENDO. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, Y'ALL. I'M FROM D4. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO COMMEND MS. KEEFE FOR JOINING NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FOUR HOUSING BILLS UP FOR DISCUSSION TONIGHT. IT'S ALARMING THAT SOME COUNCILORS DON'T SEE HOUSING AS AN EMERGENCY. THE ADMINISTRATION'S VIEWS THAT THESE ARE CRUCIAL BECAUSE THE THREAT OF THE BURNING TOWER IS CONCERNING. I CAN'T THINK OF A MORE PRESSING EMERGENCY THAN THE POTENTIAL HOUSING TOWER BEING DESTROYED WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE BY REQUEST AND THE CRITICISM MAY BE DIRECTED MORE TOWARD THE ADMINISTRATION'S HANDLING AND BELIEF THAT ADDITIONAL HOUSING IS NOT AN EMERGENCY PRIORITY. IT'S DISHEARTENING TO SEE THE COUNCIL CONTAIN SUCH AN ADVERSARILY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAYOR. IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES GIVES THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, OTHERS DON'T BOYCOTT THE SPEECH. THE OPENING PIECE THAT INCLUDED GREAT VIDEO STATEMENTS FROM FIVE OF YOU COULD HAVE BEEN MORE POWERFUL ADMINISTRATION OF UNITY, BUT FOUR OF YOU CHOSE TO ABTAIN FROM THAT PROCESS. I RECOGNIZE I'M CRITICAL OF THE LENGTH OF THE MEETINGS. I FEEL THE ADMINISTRATIVE Q&A AND PROCLAMATIONS SHOULD BE DONE AT ANOTHER TIME OR FOUND ANOTHER WAY TO WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING ON TWO HOURS AND THREE HOURS BEFORE WE DECIDE WHAT THE AGENDA IS FOR THE EVENING. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT FOR NOW. THANK YOU. >> ROSENDO FOLLOWED BY PATRICIA. >>COUN. LEWIS: JUST A MOMENT. >>COUN. BASSAN: I DON'T RECALL GETTING AN INVITE TO DO THE VIDEO TO SAY ANYTHING FOR THE STATE OF THE CITY. JUST FOR THE RECORD. >> PATRICIA FOLLOWED BY COURTNEY. COURTNEY FOLLOWED BY MARK. MARK FOLLOWED BY NICK. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I OWN AND OPERATE -- BARBECUE. I'M SPEAKING ON A FEE INCREASE RELATED TO FOOD TRUCKS. I I BELIEVE THAT ALBUQUERQUE VALUES SMALL BUSINESS. I'M STARTING TO SEE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE NOT VALUED BY THE GOVERNING BODIES AS MUCH AS THE PUBLIC IS MADE TO BELIEVE. ALTHOUGH NOBODY PROMISED A SMALL BUSINESS WOULD BE EASY, I WAS FORTUNATE TO PLAN AND SAVE FOR SIX YEARS TO FUND MY OWN START UP BECAUSE THE LACK OF SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS AND DIFFICULTY GETTING A SMALL BUSINESS LOAN APPROVED. THE OWNERS HAVE TO HONE THE CHAOS OF RUNNING A BUSINESS. BUT IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP GOVERNMENT FACTORS CONSISTENT, FAIR AND AFFORDABLE. I UNDERSTAND CHANGE IS INEVITABLE. BUT YOU RAISED THE PRICE FROM $120 TO $900 PER YEAR. THAT'S 7.5 TIMES THE PREVIOUS AMOUNT. THAT'S SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS WORTH OF PREVIOUS REGISTRATION FEES IN A YEAR. WHAT CHANGED TO JUSTIFY THE PRICE HIKE? WHAT IS BEING COMPLETED BY THE GOVERNMENT OR EMPLOYEES RELATED TO FOOD TRUCKS. I'M CONCERNED -- THOSE OF US THAT FOLLOW THE RULES ARE STUCK TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THIS IS WORTH OPERATING IN THE CITY WE LOVE WITH THE RISING FEES BEING SOME OF THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION. THERE'S NO VALUE TO KEEP SMALL BUSINESSES ALIVE WITH THE RISING $780 FROM THE PREVIOUS YEARS. WHAT IS THE NEXT FEE INCREASE LOOK LIKE? HOW MUCH COULD THAT BE, HOW FAR COULD THIS BE TAKEN? LASTLY, I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE IT DOES APPEAR NOD AND NOT A COINCIDENCE THAT SOME BUSINESSES SEEM TO BE HARASSED AND TARGETED BECAUSE THEY'RE QUESTIONS THE NEW RISE IN FEES. FELLOW FOOD TRUCKERS THAT I'VE BEEN FRIENDS ARE NOW RECEIVING CITATIONS AND WARNINGS FROM THE CITY PARKING DIVISION FOR THE SAME OPERATIONS THEY'VE KEPT FOR YEARS. ESPECIALLY AT THE NORTH DOMINGO PARK AREA. I HOPE THIS FEE ISSUE WILL BE RESOLVED WITH NO PREJUDICE TO THOSE WHO SPOKE UP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, GOD BLESS. >> NICK FOLLOWED BY TAD. TAD FOLLOWED BY JAMES. JAMES FOLLOWED BY TRINA. TRINA FOLLOWED BY DOMNIC. DOMINIC FOLLOWED BY KEITH. >> GOOD EVENING, MR. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN. I AM ALSO A Ph.D. STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO AND ALSO REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE GRADUATE WORKERS UNION AT UNM. I'M HERE TO STAND AGAINST LOWERING TIPPED WAGED MINIMUM TODAY AS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED. I JUST WANT TO START BY SAYING YOU ALL AGREE THAT ALL WORKERS DESERVE FAIR AND LIVABLE WAGES, YES? WOW. IF YOU VOTE FOR THIS BILL, THAT ANSWER WILL BECOME CLEAR. THE PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE BILL WILL TAKE AWAY A SOURCE OF INCOME FOR SOME OF OUR MOST UNSTABLE WORKERS IN A FIELD WHERE WAGE THEFT IS COMMON, EVEN THOUGH WE HEARD FROM BUSINESS OWNERS TODAY WHO DO THINGS ABOVE BOARD AND DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY, THIS WILL PULL THE RUG OUT FROM WORKERS WHO DESERVE A LOT BETTER FRANKLY. WORKERS WHO ARE ALREADY IN ECONOMIC JEOPARDY. FOLKS WHO ARE NOT MAKING A LIVING WAGE. FOLKS WHO NEED TO SCRAPE BY. FOLKS WHO COULD BE SPENDING THEIR HARD EARNED DOLLARS AT OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES BUT INSTEAD HAVE TO PINCH PENNIES BETWEEN RENT AND RISING HOUSING COST AND UTILITY COST AND OTHERS. YOU CANNOT FORCE WORKERS TO TOLERATE INAPPROPRIATE OR UNFAIR BEHAVIOR BY CUSTOMERS WHICH THIS ACTION MIGHT CAUSE. JUST IMAGINE WHERE SOMEONE HAS TO SCRAPE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND THEN THEY'RE FORCED TO DEAL WITH CUSTOMERS AND PICK THEIR NOSES UP AND DO NOTHING MORE. MANY ARE CLOSE TO OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. WE CAN'T JEOPARDIZE THAT. EVERYBODY FROM THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SHOULD BE ASHAMED ON THE WORKER RIGHTS. AND WE AS WORKERS SHOULD ALL STAND TOGETHER. WE SHOULD BE PRIORITIZING TAKING CARE OF YOUR COMMUNITY THROUGH FUNDING HOUSING, HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION INSTEAD OF STRIPPING PAYCHECKS JUST TO GET SOME EXECs THEIRS. THANK YOU. >> KEITH FOLLOWED BY RUDOLPH. >> HELLO, COUNCIL. MY SISTER AND I RUN A SMALL BAKERY IN ALBUQUERQUE'S DISTRICT EIGHT. AND I ALSO LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT. WE'RE HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON HOUSE DETRIMENTAL FOOD FEES WOULD BE TO A FRAGILE INDUSTRY THAT DEALS WITH VARIABLES INCLUDING RISE IN COSTS AND SHORTAGES. IN ADDITION TO HINDERING THE CURRENT FOOD SERVICE CLIMATE THIS WOULD BE A HUGE DETERRENT TO FUTURE BUSINESS PROSPECTS WHO MIGHT WANT TO START A SAFE FOOD SERVICE BUSINESS BUT FEEL IT'S OUT OF REACH BECAUSE THE FEE IS NOT PROPORTIONATE TO THE BUSINESS. DIFFERENT FOOD BUSINESSES HAVE DIFFERENT SCALE OF LICENSING, BUT THEY SHOULD NOT BE SMACKED WITH $900 PERMIT FEES. FEES THAT ARE NOTHING MORE THAN CASH GRABS. WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR INSPECTORS NOT RESENTMENT. IF THE ORDINANCE IS ARCHAIC IT SHOULD BE UPDATED GRADUALLY TO A REASONABLE SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS FOR EACH BUSINESS TO FALL INTO A SANITATION AND FINANCIAL CATEGORY. IT IS WITH THIS IN MIND THAT WE WOULD HOPE THE COUNCIL WOULD ADOPT A SYSTEM SIMILAR TO WHAT THE CITY OF DENVER IMPLEMENTED FOR THE COMMUNITY USING A $25 SLIDING SCALE VARIANCE CHECK, WITH A MAX CAP OF $375 A YEAR FOR INDIVIDUAL PERMITS. THIS ALLOWS FOR THE BUSINESSES TO ONLY BE CHARGED ACCORDING TO THE SANITATION SERVICES NECESSARY TO THE BUSINESS MODEL, AS IT MAKES SENSE TO NOT HAVE A PALETA CART BE LIKE A SUSHY SHOP AND SO ON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> REDAUFL FOLLOWED BY ? >> PRESIDENT LEWIS, MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBERS. MY BROTHERS GOT ME A LITTLE PRINTS. MY DESTINY WAS TO BUILD THE THIRD TEMPLE, UP IN THE ARK, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE WRITES A DIFFERENT STORY. WE HEAR -- I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT RACISM. WHEN THE DEVIL TOLD ME WHEN I'M IN NEW MEXICO AND OFFERED ME ALL THE GOLD. I'M NOT HERE FOR GOLD. I'M HERE FOR GOD. I'LL DO A TRUCE WITH YOU, I'LL INTRODUCE YOU TO THE WHITE PEOPLE, JEWISH PEOPLE, ITALIAN PEOPLE, GREEK PEOPLE AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN, AND I GIVE HIM THE VIEW OF THE WORLD AND YOU ARE MAKING HALF A BILLION FROM WHAT I WAS DOING 40 YEARS AGO. ALL RACES. IF I'M RACIST FOR MAKING YOU ALL REACH -- [ INAUDIBLE ] THERE WAS A DEAL. AND THIS WAS WITH EVERY SINGLE -- DON'T TOUCH THE CHILDREN AND THE DAUGHTERS DON'T GO WITH THE MEXICAN CARTEL. THEY'RE EVEN CUTTING THEIR PENIS AND THE DAUGHTERS ARE GOING OUT AND MARRYING THE MEXICAN CARTEL AND WE'RE HAVING COMPLETE CAY US IN THE STREETS. THAT'S A TRUE STORY. AND I WROTE THAT 40 YEARS AGO. NOW, I'M WRITING WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN 40 YEARS. AND I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING, THE ONES THAT OPPOSE YOUR FIRST-BORN CHILD IS GOING TO DROP DEAD BY THE WILL OF GOD. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE PLEASE. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE KNOWN AS A RACIST, YOU MAY NOT WANT TO SAY RACIST THINGS IN PUBLIC. ALSO, PLEASE LEARN MY NAME. >> ASHLEY ON ZOOM. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, AND COUNCILORS. CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME OKAY? >> WE CAN HEAR. PLEASE GO AHEAD. >> THANKS SO MUCH. MY APOLOGIES I'M NOT THERE IN PERSON. YOU KNOW THAT I'M A MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZED LABOR COMMUNITY. JUST COMING TO YOU ALL TO SPEAK ON THE ISSUE OF WAGES. WE APPRECIATE THE WORK, WE IN ORGANIZED LABOR APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT IS DONE AT ANY POINT IN TIME BY ANYONE TO UPLIFT WORKERS, AND WORKING PEOPLE WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. A COUPLE OF THINGS, WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE ARE RISING COST. WHETHER IT'S UTILITY BILLS OR GROCERIES, WHETHER IT'S AT THE GAS PUMP OR WHETHER IT'S OUR RENT OR MONTHLY MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, EVERYTHING IS INCREASING. ANY MOTION OR ACTION THAT WOULD BE TAKEN TO CUT WAGES OF ANYONE, TO CUT WAGES OF ANY WORKER, WHETHER THEY'RE ORGANIZED IN THE UNION OR NOT, WHETHER THEY'RE TIPPED OR NOT, WHETHER THEY'RE SALARY, WHETHER THEY'RE HOURLY IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE. WE IN THE ORGANIZED LABOR COMMUNITY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THE BEST IN MIND FOR YOUR DISTRICTS AND FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. AND BY DOING SO, WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT INVESTING IN WORKERS. INVEST IN THE WORKERS OF ALBUQUERQUE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN THE CHOICE IS MADE TO INVEST IN THE WORKERS OF ALBUQUERQUE, YOU DIRECTLY INVEST IN THE ECONOMY OF ALBUQUERQUE. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS. >> MR. PRESIDENT, IF I MAY, THERE ARE FIVE PEOPLE ON ZOOM THAT I'D LIKE TO LIST JUST IN CASE THEY'RE IN-HOUSE BY MISTAKE. MICHAEL, KAREN, BRANDON, AND ALEJANDRA. THEY'RE NOT PRESENT IN ZOOM. THANK YOU. IT LOOKS LIKE THAT CONCLUDES GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. >>COUN. LEWIS: I THINK THERE WAS ONE PERSON THAT WAS GOING TO SPEAK ON ANOTHER ISSUE AND I TOLD HIM HE COULD SPEAK ON PUBLIC COMMENT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE SHE SPOKE. COME ON UP, SIR. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, CITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THOSE OF US IN THE FOOD TRUCK INDUSTRY. WE'VE BEEN RECENTLY HIT WITH THIS $900 FEE. IN LOOKING AROUND AT ALL THE SURROUNDING STATES AND CITIES, ALL THE WAY FROM AS FAR EAST AS DALLAS, EL PASO, AND AS FAR WEST AS L.A., AND NORTH ALL THE WAY TO DENVER, NO ONE HAS FEES AS HIGH AS THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. THE COUNTY IS AT $120. THE CITY OF SANTA FE AND LAS CRUCES ARE BOTH AT $200. THE ONLY CITIES THAT ARE SOMEWHAT COMPARABLE TO THIS NEW FEE IS LOS ANGELES AT $710, MIND YOU THEY HAVE OVER 10 MILLION RESIDENTS. PHOENIX, MARICOPA COUNTY, THEY'RE A LITTLE OVER $600. MARICOPA COVERS 61 CITIES. FOR ONE OF THE POOREST STATES IN THE NATION, TO HAVE THE HIGHEST FEES, IT IS UNBELIEVABLE IN OUR INDUSTRY. THIS CITY IS ESSENTIALLY TRYING TO PUT US OUT OF BUSINESS. IN ADDITION TO THIS, I WANTED TO ALSO ADD -- I WENT DOWN TO THE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY AND BECAUSE EVERYTHING HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD, OKAY, THE PROBLEM THAT I'M HAVING IS I HAVE THREE HEALTH PERMITS THAT NEED TO BE RENEWED IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE OF UPCOMING EVENTS. THIS MONTH AND NEXT. AND I'M NOT ABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE EVERYTHING HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD. SO, I'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE TRYING TO DEAL WITH EVENT ORGANIZERS SO THAT I CAN HAVE THEM CALL THE CITY AND THE CITY CAN EXPLAIN TO THEM WHY I DON'T HAVE PERMITS. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU, SIR. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>COUN. LEWIS: A COUPLE THINGS. TO THE ADMINISTRATION, WAS THERE ANY -- I GUESS, YOU KNOW, JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE INTRODUCED TONIGHT A MORATORIUM ON THE INCREASE FEES. WE'LL HEAR THAT BILL AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. JUST WANTED YOU TO BE AWARE OF THAT. I THINK THOSE ARE CERTAINLY SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE SHOULD ADDRESS. WHERE DID THE $900 COME FROM? WHAT OTHER CITIES DID WE COMPARE TO? I THINK THERE'S OTHER THINGS WE NEED TO ADDRESS TO GET BACK TO THE HEART OF THAT. THE LAST MEETING, WE HAD A GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE AT PUBLIC COMMENT WHO WAS CHALLENGED WITH HOUSING AND I KNOW THAT GENTLEMAN WAS MATCHED UP WITH OUR DEPARTMENT. YOU ALL DID A GOOD JOB COMMUNICATING BACK TO US ON HOW WE HELPED HIM AND THE PROGRESS. THANK YOU FOR THAT. DO YOU ALL HAVE -- JUST BECAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT PUBLICLY AT OUR LAST MEETING AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY TALKED ABOUT, I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY, MS. SENGEL, IF YOU WOULD GIVE AN UPDATE. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I WANT TO USE DISCRETION BECAUSE OF THE GENTLEMAN'S RIGHTS TO PRIVACY. OUR PARTNER THAT HE HAD BEEN WORKING WITH ALSO HAD BEEN PRESENT. WE'RE ABLE TO WORK WITH THAT PARTNER AND THE GENTLEMAN AND OUR TEAM TO ENSURE WE DID NOT GO UNHOUSED OR HAVE HIS HOUSING SITUATION CHANGE WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY WHAT HE SAID WAS GOING TO BE THE CONDITION. THAT WAS TAKEN CARE OF IMMEDIATELY. >>COUN. LEWIS: OKAY, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. >> COME UP HERE AND SPEAK. THIS IS THE TIME SLOT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. PERMISSION FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. >>COUN. LEWIS: WE DO HAVE A BILL ON THAT TONIGHT. IN FACT, IT'S NEXT. IF THEY'RE SIGNED UP FOR THAT, THEY CAN. ANYWAY, THANK YOU, SIR. >>COUN. PEÑA: MR. PRESIDENT. IF I CAN ASK, MR. -- DR. SENGEL, CAN YOU TALK WITH THE LAST SPEAKER TO WORK WITH THEM. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR PEÑA, THANK YOU. WE WENT TO GET HIS INFORMATION SO WE CAN WORK WITH HIM ABOUT THE PERMITS. THANK YOU. MR. PRESIDENT, I DID CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID EVERY SINGLE COUNCILOR TO RECORD A VIDEO FOR THE STATE OF THE CITY AND OUR STAFF DID CONFIRM THAT WE DID CALL AND EMAIL EACH OF THE COUNCILORS AND MAKE THAT OFFER. IT WAS IN EARLY JULY. AND OUR MEDIA DEPARTMENT MADE SURE THEY HAD MULTIPLE TIME SLOTS AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE THAT WANTED TO RECORD. >>COUN. LEWIS: YEAH, I AGREE WITH THAT. I REMEMBER THOSE INVITES. THANK YOU. >>COUN. PEÑA: MR. PRESIDENT, FOR THE RECORD, I WAS ILL, SO I COULDN'T BE THERE. >>COUN. LEWIS: I CHOSE NOT TO BE THERE. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT MAYBE THE ADMINISTRATION LOOK AT, AS COUNCILOR CHAMPINE SUGGESTED, THAT STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS BE DONE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. CERTAINLY I MAKE AN INVITATION TO THE MAYOR TO GIVE THAT SAME SPEECH BEFORE THE COUNCIL AT A SPECIAL MEETING. WE WOULD CERTAINLY DO THAT IF HE WANTED TO DO THAT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO FINAL ACTIONS. ITEM A IS O-21. COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THIS IS O-21, COMMITTEE SUB AMENDING ARTICLE 12. BEFORE I MOVE FOR A DO PASS. I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT THAT JUST FIXES SOME LANGUAGE FOR PREVAILING WAGE THAT'S IN THE iPAD. I'D LIKE TO DO THAT FIRST, IF POSSIBLE. >> MR. PRESIDENT, WE NEED THE BILL MOVED FIRST AND SECONDED BEFORE WE CAN GO TO THE AMENDMENT. >>COUN. LEWIS: ALL RIGHT. COUNCILOR ROGERS, THE MOTION IS FOR A DO PASS OF O-21, THAT'S YOUR MOTION? >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: SECOND BY COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. COUNCILOR ROGERS, YOU'RE WELCOME TO -- >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I MOVE FLOOR AMENDMENT WHICH IS IN THE iPADS. FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO CLEAN UP LANGUAGE WE MISSED FROM THE COMMITTEE SUB FOR PREVAILING WAGE. IF YOU CAN PUT THAT ON THE SCREEN. AND IT'S JUST THE SAME TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS WE MADE IN THE COMMITTEE SUB, AND WE JUST FORGOT ONE, PREVAILING WAGE. AND THE IMPORTANT THING IS WE DON'T WANT TO GET CONFUSED WITH LEGAL TERMS FOR OUR UNIONS AND LABOR FORCE BETWEEN UNIONIZED AND NOT PREVAILING LANGUAGE LIKE THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO PULL THAT UP ON THE SCREEN. >>COUN. LEWIS: I DON'T THINK WE CAN GET IT ON THE SCREEN, BUT IT'S IN THE RECORD. IT'S IN THE RECORD AND PUBLISHED AND COUNCILORS SHOULD HAVE THAT BEFORE THEM RIGHT NOW. COUNCILORS, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT? >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: SECOND. >>COUN. LEWIS: MOVED AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. ANY DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT? [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: [ INAUDIBLE ]. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES ON A 9-0 VOTE. >>COUN. LEWIS: BACK ON THE BILL AS AMENDED, COUNCILOR ROGERS, DISCUSSION ON THE BILL AS AMENDED. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU. I MOVE FOR A DO PASS. >>COUN. LEWIS: WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS THOMAS, FOLLOWED BY ANANI. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AGAIN. I'M NOT COMING HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS BECAUSE I'M A TIPPED WORKER. I FOUND THAT WHENEVER PEOPLE HANDLE MY FOOD AND DRINKS IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO BE ON THEIR GOOD SIDE. THAT'S JUST GOOD RULE OF THUMB I FOUND. YOU KNOW, I DO MISS THAT COUNCILOR ROGERS IS HERE IN PERSON, ONE OF MY FAVORITE THING IS I CAN SEE HER REACTION JUX OPPOSED. I ONLY WISH I CAN SEE HER REACTION WHEN SHE PUT FORWARD THAT SAID I WANT TO RAISE THE BILL OF MINIMUM WAGE ONLY FOR IT TO BE AMENDED TO BE REDUCED. THAT HAS TO BE A STRANGE REACTION TO SEEING SOMETHING LIKE THAT THOSE REACTIONS, I KNOW ONE OF THE REASONS THAT IT WAS DONE IS BECAUSE IT WANTS TO BE PRO-BUSINESS. THAT'S REALLY BAD FOR THE BUSINESSES YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO REPRESENT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT RESTAURANT SAID I HAVE WORKERS AND WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE WAGES. WE'RE PAYING THEM TOO MUCH. I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WANT TO EAT AT THAT REST WANT. MAYBE DON'T SAY BUSINESSES ARE PRO-THIS POLICY. LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, AN AMENDMENT I MIGHT LIKE AND APPROVE OF, I WOULD LOVE AN AMENDMENT THAT SUGGESTS WE SHOULD REDUCE THE PAY FOR OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO $3 AN HOUR AND WHEN WE GET TO THE VOTING BOOTH AND WE GET TO DECIDE IF WE LIKE WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING WE CHECK IF WE TIP YOU OR NOT AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU GET A GOOD PAYOUT. IF YOU FEEL INSULTED BY THAT OR YOU THINK THAT'S A RATHER STRANGE THING, HOW DO YOU THINK THE TIPPED WORKERS ARE GOING TO FEEL ABOUT THAT? WHEN YOU VOTE AT SOME POINT AGAINST THIS, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHOSE WAGES YOU'RE VOTING AGAINST, YOU SHOULD LOOK THEM IN THE EYE WHILE YOU DO THAT. I THINK THAT'S A MUCH BETTER THING TO DO. >> ANANI FOLLOWED BY ANNA. ANNA FOLLOWED BY RAMONA. FOLLOWED BY DOMINIC. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DEE, I'M IN DISTRICT FIVE. I HAVE BEEN A SERVER MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE. 14 YEARS IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. I THINK IT'S CRAZY THAT WE'RE HERE ON AUGUST 5th AT YOUR COUNCIL MEETING, THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO RAISE MINIMUM WAGE TO $12 AN HOUR PER THE REQUEST OF MAYOR KELLER. IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT THERE'S A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO LOWER OUR SERVER WAGES BACK DOWN TO $3 AN HOUR SO YOU COULD SUPPORT SMALL, LOCAL BUSINESSES. THE QUESTION IS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS HOW AND WHY WERE THERE SEVERAL LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS HERE IF WE'RE NOT ON THE AGENDA? IT'S A LITTLE IRONIC THAT THE FOOD TRUCKS ARE FIGHTING FOR THEIR SMALL BUSINESSES WHEN THE OWNERS OF GARCIAS AND HE'S NOT A LITTLE GUY, HE'S A BIG GUY, VERY WELL-PAID -- I 100% WANT TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES. ABSOLUTELY. MANY OF OUR SERVERS WORK TWO TO THREE JOBS. MANY OF THEM STILL QUALIFY FOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE. WE DON'T QUALIFY FOR BENEFITS. WE DON'T HAVE RETIREMENT. EVEN WHEN THOSE PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED THROUGH SOME OF OUR CORPORATE RESTAURANTS, THEY'RE NOT EVEN AFFORDABLE. I WORK FIVE DAYS A WEEK, ONE SHIFT. MY LAST PAYCHECK FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS ON MONDAY NIGHT CAME IN AT $145.96. THAT TUESDAY, WE'RE A LITTLE SLOWER I MADE $46 IN TIPS, ON WEDNESDAY I MADE $67. WE'RE NOT ALL MAKING $300 A SHIFT. TIPS ARE NOT GUARANTEED. WE DO TIP OUT OUR STAFF AND BARTENDERS, AND BUSSERS AND FOOD RUNNERS. MY LAST TABLE TODAY LEFT ME $6 ON $67 AND THANKED ME FOR GREAT SERVICE. IF WE DON'T GET TIPS, THAT'S THE WAY IT IS. PLEASE DON'T TAKE AWAY OUR PAYCHECKS. I'M GOING TO FIGHT FOR ALL OF US AND THE REST OF US ACROSS THE CITY. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US A CHANCE TO SPEAK FOR OURSELVES AND I KNOW WE VOTED ON THIS IN THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 2012. IF YOU NEED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THAT AT LEAST GO BACK TO THE ENTIRE CITY AND NOT JUST NINE OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> DOMINIC FOLLOWED BY JASON. >> GOOD EVENING, MR. COUNCIL PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. IT'S ME AGAIN. LET'S TALK NUMBERS THIS TIME AROUND. THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE FOR ONE WAGE EARNER WITH ONE DEPENDENT IS $19,760. LET'S SAY THAT WE DO GO THROUGH WITH THIS CRIMINAL LOWERING OF TIPS AND MINIMUM WAGE, WE MAKE $3, LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A GREAT NIGHT AND MAKE $9 ON TOP OF THAT FOR A TOTAL OF 12. YOU MAKE $40 A WEEK FOR A 50 WEEKS A YEAR, YOU'RE BARELY JUST SCRAPING ABOVE THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE. THAT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT CONSTITUTES A LIVABLE WAGE. IN 2020 A LIVABLE WAGE CALCULATOR IN THE CITY OF NEW MEXICO WAS $26,000. THAT WAS IN 2020, WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020. SINCE THEN, THE COST OF A LIVABLE WAGE IN THIS CITY HAS INCREASED TO $44,000. WHICH IS DOUBLE WHAT ONE MIGHT MAKE ON TIPPED WAGE. THIS IS CRIMINAL. AND WE CANNOT DO THIS TO WORKERS WHO ARE CONSTANTLY IN VULNERABLE POSITIONS. I'LL LEAVE IT THERE. AND THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. >> JASON FOLLOWED BY LISA. >> HELLO, CITY COUNCIL. DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH TO ADD. I SAID MY PIECE. I WANT REITERATE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REDUCING WAGES AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY RENT AND GROCERIES. WE SHOULD RAISE THE PAY INSTEAD. IF YOUR BUSINESS CAN'T SURVIVE WITHOUT THE SUBSUBIES, THAT BUSINESS SHOULD NOT EXIST. THIS IS A NORMAL COST OF DOING BUSINESS. WE SHOULD BE RESPECTING OUR WORKERS AND PAYING THEM A LIVABLE WAGE. I ASK THE CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND NOT TAKE AWAY MONEY FROM SOME OF THE MOST IMPOVERISHED WORKERS. THANK YOU. >> LISA FOLLOWED BY EMMA. >> SOMEBODY LEFT THEIR PEN UP HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE TIME. GIVEN THE EXPENSES OF HOUSING AND HIGH COST OF LIVING IN ALBUQUERQUE. PARTLY DUE TO THE ARTIFICIALLY INCREASED RENTAL PRICES, I'M CURIOUS AND HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE, I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT'S CALLED, HOW IT CAME TO BE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT ANY OF YOU WOULD SUPPORT NOT PAYING LIVABLE WAGES TO -- I'VE BEEN HERE A COUPLE OF TIMES. YES, WE'VE HAD DAYS IN MEETINGS WHERE I'M LIKE WOW, THEY'RE OUT OF THEIR MINDS. I TRUE LEE DO NOT UNDERSTAND, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS CAME FROM. I CANNOT -- I DON'T KNOW. I'M JUST HERE TO ASK, ARE WE REALLY CONSIDERING REDUCING WHAT WE VOTED IN 2012 FOR MINIMUM WAGE? CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE EXPLAIN. REALLY THE MESSAGE OUT HERE IS YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO CUT TIPPED WAGES. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE OR NOT. I REALLY DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION. I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE UP TO. I DO KNOW THAT TIPPED WAGES BEING LOWERED, PEOPLE CANNOT LIVE ON THAT IN ALBUQUERQUE. AND I KNOW YOU DON'T ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT IT MIGHT CHANGE SOME OF THE OPINIONS OR COMMENTS COMING NEXT. RIGHT NOW, IN THE COMMUNITY, WE BELIEVE YOU GUYS ARE JUST TRYING TO CUT WAGES TO BENEFIT RESTAURANTS IN SOME SORT OF WAY. I'M NOT SURE. I DO KNOW THAT LIVING WAGES NEED TO BE PAID. AND ALSO PLEASE KEEP IN MIND FOR BUSINESS OWNERS, WE BOYCOTTED THREE YEARS AGO, WE WILL BOYCOTT AGAIN. WE PICKET, WE SHOW UP, AND SINCE THERE ARE RESTAURANTS IN THIS CITY THAT DON'T WANT TO PAY THEIR PEOPLE, WE'LL VISIT YOU OUTSIDE YOUR RESTAURANT. >>COUN. LEWIS: BECAUSE I THINK THERE WAS A QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION AND MAYBE IT'S TIME TO -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS PLENTY OF TIME TO SPEAK, I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT THAT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR CLARIFICATION. WHAT'S BEFORE US RIGHT NOW IS A VOTE FOR OR AGAINST -- A PROPOSAL THAT WOULD RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE BEYOND THE STATE'S LEVEL AND OUR CURRENT MINIMUM WAGE IS HIGHER THAN THE STATE'S MINIMUM WAGE. SO, A VOTE AGAINST THIS BILL TONIGHT WOULD NOT CUT THE MINIMUM WAGE IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. IF ANYTHING IT WOULD LEAVE IT AT A HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE THAN THE STATE'S MINIMUM WAGE. A VOTE FOR THIS BILL WOULD TAKE IT BEYOND THAT, POSSIBLY. OTHER COUNCILORS, BECAUSE I OPENED THIS DOOR UP, THE COUNCILORS CAN WEIGH IN IF THEY LIKE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT CLARIFICATION. COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: I WILL CLARIFY THAT THIS BILL BRINGS US TO THE $12 AN HOUR WHICH IS THE STATE'S MINIMUM WAGE RIGHT NOW. NOT ABOVE. SO, A VOTE FOR THIS BILL WOULD BE BRINGING OUR CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE MINIMUM WAGE UP TO THE LEVEL THAT THE STATE HAS, WHICH IS OUR REQUIREMENT UNDER LAW ANYWAY. WE WANTED TO CLARIFY IN OUR LOCAL CODE. IT DOES NOT GO ABOVE THE $12 THAT THE STATE HAS, EVEN THOUGH I THINK IT'S CLEAR WE NEED A MUCH HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE TO PAY PEOPLE WITH. >>COUN. PEÑA: MR. PRESIDENT, JUST FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCREASING THE MINIMUM WAGE, WE'RE REALLY NOT INCREASING IT. THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE IS $12 AN HOUR. WE'RE JUST ACTUALLY DOING A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT WITHIN OURS TO SAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO PUT IT TO $12 AN HOUR BECAUSE THE STATE $12 TRUMPS OURS AND WE'RE AT $11.65. IT DOESN'T RAISE IT, IT JUST ADDS THE NICKEL, BUT WE'RE REALLY KIND OF DOING A TECHNICAL THING. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INCREASES THE MINIMUM WAGE, THIS BILL DOES NOT DO THAT. MINIMUM WAGE IS $12 AN HOUR, IT'S A BILL ON THE BOOKS THAT SAYS $11.55 AND THE MAYOR PROPOSED TO PUT IT UP TO THE STATE'S LEVEL. THAT'S NOT AN INCREASE. JUST FOR THE FURTHER -- >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR PEÑA. THE PROPOSAL TONIGHT IS NOT TO CUT THE MINIMUM WAGE AGAINST THIS BILL. IN FACT, WE'RE TALKING MOSTLY ABOUT TIPPED WAGES. RIGHT NOW, TIPPED WAGES IN THE STATE IS $3, OUR EXISTING TIP WAGES IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE IS $7.20. SO, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT DECREASING TIPPED WAGES THAT ARE ALREADY FAR ABOVE THE STATE WAGES. >>COUN. PEÑA: MR. PRESIDENT, FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION THAT AMENDMENT IS NOT ON THE TABLE CURRENTLY. >>COUN. LEWIS: OKAY. >> UP NEXT IS EMMA -- >>COUN. LEWIS: BEFORE THAT, COUNCILOR BASSAN. >>COUN. BASSAN: MR. PRESIDENT, SINCE WE WENT AHEAD AND STARTED TALKING ABOUT THINGS. I THOUGHT I I WOULD CHIME IN ABOUT MY COMMENTS NOW AND HOPEFULLY IT HELPS FOR SOME OF THE OTHERS OUT THERE. I DON'T KNOW. YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT COUNCILOR GROUT AND I JUST HAD A PRESS RELEASE THAT WENT OUT THE OTHER DAY. WHAT STARTED AS MY INTENTION TO TRY TO LISTEN TO CONSTITUENTS WHO DID COME TO ME AND ASK FOR AN AMENDMENT TO SEEMINGLY HELP FIND SOME BALANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BACK OF THE HOUSE AT A RESTAURANT COULD GET PAID BETTER ENDED UP BECOME INTO A MISREPRESENTATION. IT'S POLITICAL, IT'S FRONT VERSUS BACK, LEFT VERSUS RIGHT, THAT WASN'T MY INTENTION. I WANTED TO ACHIEVE BALANCE. THIS IS NOT BALANCE. I'M NOT TRYING TO BECOME DEVICE FRFB THE SERVERS IN THE COMMUNITY. I'M NOT TRYING TO DISRESPECT THEM. I UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY'RE COMING UP WITH THIS. AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S AN ANOTHER NEED IN THE COMMUNITY. I WILL ADD TO THE COMMENTS I'VE HEARD REPEATEDLY, IT'S NOT JUST SERVERS THAT ARE UNDER HIGHER COSTS OF RENT AND FOOD AND GAS AND ELECTRICITY, IT'S EVERYONE. WHETHER YOU ARE A SERVER OR A COOK OR DISH WASHER OR BUSINESS OWNER, I DON'T KNOW WHO, ANYBODY. ANYBODY IS HAVING TO PAY HIGHER PRICES. IT DOESN'T WORK TO SAY ONE THING OVER THE OTHER. IT'S FOR ALL OF US. YOU KNOW, I HEARD ABOUT THE MINIMUM WAGE. I'M NOT MOVING THE AMENDMENT THAT CHANGES IT FROM $7.20 TO $3. WE MADE IT CLEAR I'M NOT MOVING THAT AMENDMENT. I'M NOT PLANNING ON IT. IT'S NOT ORNED -- AROUND THE CORNER. I WILL SAY THAT IN ADDITION TO TRYING TO MAKE THE STATE'S MINIMUM WAGE $12 AND MAKING SURE THINGS ARE ON THE BOOKS FOR OUR CITY ORDINANCE, THIS BILL DOES ALSO INCREASE ENFORCEMENT ON WAGE THEFT, AGAINST BUSINESS OWNERS. OKAY. I THINK OUR CITY HAS MUCH, MUCH BIGGER FISH TO FRY WHEN IT COMES TO CRIME AND PROBLEMS. I HEAR YOU ABOUT THE MINIMUM WAGE AND ALL OF THAT. WE HAVE BIGGER THINGS TO DO IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE THAN GO AFTER -- YOU HEARD IT FROM FOOD TRUCKS AND EVERYONE ELSE TONIGHT, WE DON'T NEED TO GO AFTER HARDWORKING BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE TRYING TO FEED PEOPLE AND TRYING TO HAVE ALL OF THEIR EMPLOYEES EMPLOYEED EITHER. I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR WE START ENFORCING MORE ON PEOPLE WHEN WE HAVE OTHER THINGS WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON. >>COUN. ROGERS: MR. PRESIDENT. CAN WE GET BACK TO PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS THE PEOPLE'S TIME, NOT THE COUNCILORS TIME. >>COUN. LEWIS: THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I EXPLAINED. WE'LL HAVE DISCUSSION I THINK COUNCIL. APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC FOR ALLOWING SOME OF THAT WITHOUT TAKING ANY OF THE PUBLIC'S TIME. >>COUN. PEÑA: MR. PRESIDENT, IT'S NOT UP -- UNCOMMON TO HAVE DISCUSSION WHEN WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENTER. WE MADE IT CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE THE PEOPLE'S TIME. >>COUN. LEWIS: SURE. HOPEFULLY THE PUBLIC APPRECIATES STOPPING AND HEARING DISCUSSION AND HEARING SOME GOOD-SPIRITED DEBATE. THANK YOU. WE'LL CONTINUE ON PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. EMMA FOLLOWED BY ZACHARY. >> GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M A WORKER'S RIGHTS ATTORNEY. WE SUPPORT LOW INCOME NEW MEXICANS THROUGH COMMUNITY ADVOCACY LITIGATION AND POLICY WORK. I'M HERE TO SPEAK TONIGHT IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL AS INTRODUCED. AND AS AMENDED BY COUNCILOR ROGERS. AND ALSO AGAINST AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY COUNCILOR GROUT AT THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING LOWERING THE TIPPED MINIMUM WAGE. RESIDENTS DESERVE TO GET PAID FAIRLY AND SEE WAGES INCREASED. THIS AMENDMENT PROPOSES KEY AMENDMENTS TO THE ALBUQUERQUE MINIMUM WAGE ORDINANCE TO ENSURE WAGES PICK UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING. ALBUQUERQUE MINIMUM WAGE IS MEANT TO BE TIED TO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX THIS MEANS WORKERS SHOULD SEE INCREASES THAT RESPOND TO RISING PRICES. HOWEVER MUCHL WAGE WORKERS HAVEN'T SEEN A COST OF LIVING INCREASE DUE TO SUCCESSFUL PASSAGE OF THE $12 MINIMUM WAGE AT THE STATE LEVEL. IN 2023 THE ALBUQUERQUE WAGE FELL BEHIND THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE. LAST YEAR THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX INCREASED, BUT IT WASN'T REFLECTED IN THE ALBUQUERQUE MINIMUM WAGE. IN ORDER FOR ALBUQUERQUE'S WORKERS TO RECEIVE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES THAT HELP MEET RISING COSTS, ALBUQUERQUE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE ORDINANCE NEEDS TO BE UPDATED. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE MINIMUM WAGE ARE NOT JUST GOOD FOR WORKERS, IT'S GOOD FOR BUSINESSES. MINIMUM WAGE GOES TO STATE LEVEL BUSINESSES -- THE ALBUQUERQUE MINIMUM WAGE ORDINANCE BY ENSURING MINIMUM WAGE INKREEGSS ARE UNPREDICTABLE. THIS BILL STRENGTHENS ENFORCEMENT OF WAGE THEFT BY CODIFYING LEGAL THEFT BY INVESTIGATING WAGE VIOLATIONS. IT ALSO STRENGTHENS THE TOOLS CITY LEGAL HAS TO BRING ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AGAINST BAD ACTORS. -- A STUDY BY THE UNIVERSITY THAT CAME OUT EARLIER THIS YEAR ASSORTED THAT BETWEEN 2021 AND 2022 VIOLATIONS ALONE COSTED NEW MEXICANS $300 MILLION. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU. >> ZACK FOLLOWED BY JOEL. >> GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT. COUNCIL MEMBERS, I LIVE AT -- IN DISTRICT SEVEN. I'M A SERVER WITH PF CHANGES. I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE LEGISLATION TO LOWER THE WAGE. I BROUGHT MY COWORKERS TODAY. MY GIRLFRIEND IS FILMING ME. THE WAGE CUT WOULD IMPACT THE ABILITY TO EARN A FAIR INCOME. THUS LOWERING THE MINIMUM WAGE THAT PROMOTES RACIAL AND GENDER INEQUITIES. TIPPED WORKERS FACE INSTABILITY DUE TO RELIANCE ON TIPS WHICH TENDS TO BE DISCRIMINATORY. WITH THE CURRENT MINIMUM WAGE, TIPPED EMPLOYEES STRUGGED TO MAKE ENDS WEEK. IN STATES WHERE -- OUR REDUCTION IN TIPPED WAGES COULD HELP RESTAURANTS BY ALLOWING THEM TO PAY THE HOUSE STAFF BETTER. HOWEVER THEY CAN DO THAT BY PAYING THE BACK HOUSE BETTER. AND YOU KNOW LARGER CHAIN RESTAURANTS EXPLOIT SUCH WAGE CUTS. THE CHAINS HAVE GREATER FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND FLEXIBILITY ENABLING THEM TO BENEFIT FROM LOWER WAGE STANDARDS. IN CONTRAST, SMALL LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES MAY STRUGGLE TO PASS THE SAVINGS UNDER STAFF UNDERMINING THE BENEFITS OF THE WAGE CUT. CONTRARY TO CONCERNS, EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY THRIVES IN STATES WITH FAIR WAGES. A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY FOUND THE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES HAVE LITTLE TO NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON EMPLOYMENT. BUSINESSES OFTEN ABSORB ADDITIONAL COSTS THROUGH GAINS AND MODEST PRICE ADJUSTMENTS. THIS INDICATES FAIR WAGES CAN LEAD TO A HEALTHIER WORKFORCE WITHOUT HARMING THE INDUSTRY. AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS I APPLAUD YOUR SERVICE TO OUR CITY. HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO REDUCE POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS IN ALBUQUERQUE. SERVERS URGE THE COUNCIL TO VOTE NO ON REDUCING OUR MINIMUM WAGE. >> JOEL FOLLOWED BY DOMINIC. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. I AM A SERVER IN ALBUQUERQUE. AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, ALONG WITH LOT OF FELLOW COWORKERS UNDERSTANDING THAT IN ORDER TO RAISE MINIMUM WAGE AT $12 IS TO TAKE AWAY FROM TIPPED WORKERS AND BRING IT FROM $7 TO $3 AN HOUR. AND MY OPINION, I DO NOT THINK THAT BRINGING IT ALMOST HALF BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK IT WILL BE -- IF YOU WORKED 25 HOURS A WEEK, YOU WOULD BE MAKING 8400 IN JUST HOURLY OF THE YEAR. AND THEN IF YOU TAKE IT, YOU'RE MAKING 3600 WHICH IS A $4800 DIFFERENCE WHICH IS NOT AN EASY ADJUSTMENT TO KNEE ANY SERVER. I BELIEVE EVERYBODY SHOULD MAKE A LIVABLE WAGE. NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE. THAT IS THE POINT I'M MAKING TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND MY ABILITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL, AND YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> DOMINIC FOLLOWED BY LEAH. LEAH FOLLOWED BY ANDREW. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX. STRONGLY OPPOSING THE PROPOSAL TO REDUCE TIPPED WORKERS MINIMUM WAGE. EVEN IF THAT IS NOT CURRENTLY ON THE TABLE WE KNOW IT WAS PROPOSED. I DON'T THINK EVERYONE HERE JUST COLLECTIVELY HALLUCINATED THAT PROPOSAL. I WORK A SERVICE INDUSTRY JOB AND I'M APPALLED THIS HAS BEEN INTRODUCED. ACCORDING TO THE U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS 37,000 PEOPLE WORK IN FOOD SERVICE. MAKING IT ONE OF THE BIGGEST INDUSTRIES. AND MANY OF THE WORKERS ARE CONSIDERED TIPPED WORKERS. REDUCING THE BASE WAGE FOR TIPPED EMPLOYEES FROM 7:20 TO $3 WOULD DECREASE FULL-TIME SERVICE WORKERS BY OVER $700 A MONTH. THAT'S NEARLY A FULL MONTH'S RENT FOR ME AND MANY OF MY COWORKERS. FOR THOSE OF US MAKING FAR LESS THAN THE ALBUQUERQUE LIVING WAGE OF $20 AN HOUR, THAT WOULD BE AN EXTREMELY HEAVY BLOW. ESPECIALLY FOR WORKERS WITH DEPENDENTS THAT NEED TO MAKE $35 TO $65 TO GET BY. THE POVERTY RATE IN ALBUQUERQUE IS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. AND STEALING $700 IS NOT A GOOD WAY TO ENSURE THE CITIZENS OF ALBUQUERQUE SINK DEEPER -- HOWEVER IT IS A GOOD WAY TO ENSURE THE CITIZENS OF ALBUQUERQUE SINK DEEPER INTO POVERTY, CATCHING UP WITH THE HIGH POVERTY RATES WITH THE REST OF THE STATE. FURTHER MORE DECREASING TIPPED WORKERS BASE WAGES PUTS PRESSURE ON CUSTOMERS TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE AND ENSURE THEIR SERVERS, BARTENDERS AND DELIVERY DRIVERS CAN AFFORD TO FEED AND HOUSE THEMSELVES AND FAMILIES. THAT IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CITIZENS OF OF ALBUQUERQUE WHO ARE MAKING AN AVERAGE OF UNDER $35,000 A YEAR. WHEN WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES AND SUPPORTING THE UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS THAT THE CITY LEFT BEHIND, THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE. THIS ISSUE MAY NOT IMPACT COUNCILOR GROUT, IT IMPACTS ME AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER WORKERS IN ALBUQUERQUE. I GUARANTEE REDUCING THE MINIMUM WAGE WILL NOT COMBAT HOMELESSNESS. OR LEAD TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE COUNCILOR GROUT CLAIMS FOR THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU. >> ANDREW FOLLOWED BY DAVID. DAVID FOLLOWED BY ADELE. ADELE FOLLOWED BY HERELIA. >> GOOD EVENING. ALBUQUERQUE, COUNCIL, COUNCILOR LEWIS, STOP PLAYING POLITICS WITH THE PEOPLE'S POCKETBOOKS. PLEASE. WE DON'T WANT TO PAY THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE AGAINST THE BACK OF THE HOUSE. AND THIS HOSPITALITY NEEDS TO BE MORE THAN AN INDUSTRY FOR US. IT NEEDS TO BE A VALUE. NOW, WHEN I WORKED AT CANTINA IN THE NORTHEAST HEIGHTS. I WAS TOLD THAT TIPS STAND FOR TO ENSURE PROMPT SERVICE. I TOOK FIRST GRADE ENGLISH. IT'S NOT TRUE. A MADE UP JUSTIFICATION TO OFF-LOAD THE COST ON TO THE CONSUMERS. WHO -- I STRUGGLE TO THINK IF WE HAVE NOBODY MAKING ANY MONEY ON THEIR WAGES, THEN WE HAVE -- WHO IS PAYING THESE TIPS? DO YOU WANT TO SEE 70, 80, 90% TIP SCREENS? NO. NO ONE WANTS THAT. END THIS CRAZINESS, THE TAXES ON TIPS IS NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE NO TAXES ON TIPS. WE CAN ALL AGREE ON THIS. DON'T MAKE TIPS STAND FOR TO IGNIGHT PROLETARIAN SCORN. THANK YOU. >> HERALIA. >> I'M ORGANIZER WITH -- HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE. WE'RE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY ABILITY TO ENFORCE THE MINIMUM WAGE. INCLUDING OTHER TEMP WAGES AND SPEAK AGAINST ANY CUT TO WORKERS WAGES. WORKERS ARE THE ENGINE OF OUR ECONOMY. WE'RE PROUD OF THE CONTRIBUTION AS LOW WAGE WORKERS. WE HAVE BEEN LEADING PLANS TO IMPROVE WORKING CONDITION FOR ALL WORKERS SUCH AS RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE AND PAID SICK LEAVE. THAT SAID, WORKERS CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE HIGH LEVEL OF EXPLOITATION IN THE WORKPLACE. INCLUDING -- NEW MEXICO COST OVER $1.3 BILLION OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS. $300 MILLION BETWEEN 2021 AND 2022. BARTENDERS ARE PAID BELOW THE MINIMUM WAGE. NATIVE-AMERICAN WOMEN ARE TWICE AS LIKELY. A NON-CITIZEN WOMAN MORE LIKELY. SO, EVERY ISSUE. THIS DATA ALSO OUR LIVED EXPERIENCE ON A DAILY BASIS. WE'RE WORKERS THAT ARE VICTIMS OF WAGE THEFT. IT DOESN'T ONLY IMPACT OUR FAMILIES, IT'S HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THROUGH OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. IT ROBS MONEY FROM OUR TAX BASE. IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE BUSINESS WHO ARE PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE. WHEN BAD PEOPLE BREAK THE LAW WE'LL PAY THE PRICE. GIVEN THE HIGH LEVEL OF POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS AND THE FACT THAT MANY ALREADY WORK TWO JOBS, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO CUT WAGES. I ASK ANYONE WHO CONSIDERS THIS AMENDMENT IF THEY CAN RAISE THEIR FAMILY ON 25,000 A YEAR WHICH IS WHAT THE MINIMUM WAGE WAS. WE HOPE THIS DEBATE IS OVER. WE HOPE THIS DEBATE IS OVER. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU. >> [ SPEAKING IN SPANISH ]? >> [ SPEAKING IN SPANISH ] ? >> [ SPEAKING IN SPANISH ], >> MAY WE HAVE EXTRA TIME FOR INTERPRETATION. >> HELLO, I AM GOING TO READ A STATEMENT FROM MY COLLEAGUE. I AM A MEMBER OF ELCENTRO. I I'M A WORKER WHO JOINED WHILE WE WERE GUIDED AND INFORMED ABOUT RIGHTS WE DIDN'T HAVE. AT MY PREVIOUS JOB MY WAGES WERE BEING STOLEN. EVERY DAY I STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET. SINCE THE PANDEMIC IT'S DIFFICULT DO RECOVER FINANCIALLY. AND WITH THE WAGE THEFT I HAD TO LOOK FOR OTHER JOBS. AT THE MOMENT MY PRIORITY WAS TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR MY CHILDREN. NOW THAT I HEARD ABOUT A POSSIBLE WAGE CUT IT'S FRULY INCREDIBLE THAT JUST AS THE COST OF LIVING FOR FAMILIES HAS RISEN SUCH AS RENT BILLS AND FOOD AND WAGES ARE BEING STOLEN AND MANY COMPANIES TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF OUR LACK OF INFORMATION SOME WOULD CONSIDER CUTTING WORKER'S WAGES KNOWING THAT DAY BY DAY WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE WITH ESSENTIALS. WHY PUNISH THOSE WHO US WHO ARE THE ENGINE OF THE ECONOMY AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE. I HOPE YOU DO NOT CONSIDER SUCH PROPOSALS IN THE FUTURE. WE JUST WANT TO WORK AND EARN MONEY HONESTLY. I'M AGAINST ANY WAGE CUT. WE SUPPORT MORE BENEFITS FOR ALL WORKERS AND WE DEMAND AN END TO WAGE THEFT. >> OSCAR FOLLOWED BY CRIN. >> HI, I'M REPRESENTING THE WORKER OSCAR. I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF EL CENTRO. I'M A PROUD FATHER THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE STATE AS A CONSTRUCTION WORKER. SINCE WE STARTED WORKING, MY COWORKERS AND I WERE SUBJECTED TO OBSCENE LANGUAGE FROM OUR EMPLOYER. THERE WAS WAGE THEFT. AND WE WERE NOT GIVEN THE BENEFIT THAT BELONG TO ALL WORKERS IN NEW MEXICO AND FOR WHICH WE ALL FIGHT TO OBTAIN. MY COWORKERS AND I NEVER SPOKE UP BECAUSE WE WERE AFRAID OF LOSING OUR JOBS. AFRAID FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR OUR FAMILIES. THAT'S WHY WE ARE -- WHENEVER MINIMUM WAGE IS CUT. IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE TO IMPROVE WAGES AND PROVIDE BENEFITS TO WORKERS. AS WE ARE THERE AND JOIN THE ECONOMY. IT'S NOT -- WHEN WE'RE ROBBED OF OUR WAGES AND AT ONE JOB. WE HAVE TO FIND TWO OR THREE JOBS TO COVER RENT, BILLS, OR FOOD FOR OUR CHILDREN. LET'S SAY NOT TO EXPLOITATION IN OUR WORKPLACE. LET'S SAY NO TO WAGE CUTS. >> QUIN, FOLLOWED BY JOEL. >> GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I WORKED IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY FOR MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE. I ALSO WORKED ON THE MANAGEMENT TEAM FOR A SMALL BUSINESS. I FEEL LIKE I'M BRINGING BOTH PERSPECTIVES TO THE TABLE. I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A WORKER, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHAT BUSINESS OWNERS ARE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW. I JUST WANT TO THROW SOME NUMBERS OUT HERE. RENT FOR A ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENT HAS GONE UP IN ALBUQUERQUE BY 49.5% SINCE 2019. FOOD PRICES HAVE INCREASED 25% SINCE 2020. AND THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE HAS NOT BEEN INCREASED SINCE 2009. SO, WE DO NEED THIS BILL IN ITS CURRENT FORM. WE NEED TO FIGHT AGAINST WAGE THEFT. I APPRECIATE THE BILL AS IT IS. I DO WANT TO SAY I THINK THE PRESS WAS A LITTLE UNFAIR WITH YOU. I DON'T THINK THEY MADE IT CLEAR THAT YOU HAD CHANGED YOUR POSITION. I LOOKED AND I WAS LIKE -- I LOOKED AT THE BILL AND I WAS LIKE IT IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THEY'RE SAYING. JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE. I DO THINK THE COUNCILORS WHO SUGGESTED DECREASING WAGES WERE DOING SO TO HELP BUSINESSES. OBVIOUSLY, BUSINESSES ARE DEALING WITH THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS AS WELL. I THINK THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT SHOULD WORKERS BE PAID VERSUS WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING TO HELP BUSINESSES ARE TWO SEPARATE CONVERSATIONS. SO, I THINK WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT CITIES WHO ARE DOING THIS SUCCESSFULLY. CITIES WHO HAVE GOOD WAGES FOR WORKERS BUT ARE ALSO HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES. PLACES LIKE PHOENIX, DENVER. I ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO LOOK INTO OTHER CITIES FOR SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR STUFF LIKE THAT. WE CAN BE HELPFUL TO THAT BUSINESS WITHOUT BEING HARMFUL TO WORKERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> JOEL FOLLOWED BY CARLA. >> GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I AM WITH ASFME, WITH PUBLIC EMPLOYEES UNION WITH CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. I'M ALSO WITH THE CENTRAL NEW MEXICO LABOR COUNCIL. AND I'M ALSO A CITIZEN OF ALBUQUERQUE IN COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN'S DISTRICT. YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SAY FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE COUNCILOR GROUT, COUNCILOR BASSAN, FOR WITHDRAWING THAT PROPOSED AMENDMENT. I DO STRONGLY SUPPORT THE BILL AS IS. I THINK IT IS MUCH NEEDED HERE IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. WE HAVE IN OUR METRO AREA ALMOST HALF OF THE STATE'S POPULATION. AND THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO IS INUNDATED WITH WAGE THEFT CLAIMS. WE ALREADY KNOW AS MAYOR KELLER STATED, DWS OVER TWO YEARS OF BACKLOG. AND WE REPRESENT SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE IN THERE. I CAN TELL YOU FROM THE PERSONAL CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF THOSE WORKERS IN THERE, THE BACKLOG THEY'RE HANDLING IS ALREADY UP AGAINST THE GUN BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PROPERLY INVESTIGATE. ANY HELP THAT THEY COULD GET WOULD BE APPRECIATED. AND I'M GLAD THAT PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN AWAY FROM THIS ILLUSION THAT THE TIPPED EMPLOYEES WERE MAKING OUT IN THESE RESTAURANTS. THE LAST MEETING THEY WERE SAYING THEY'RE MAKING $35 OR MORE. NO ONE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT SOME OF THEM HAD TO WORK SPLIT SHIFTS OR TWO OR THREE HOURS OF A JOB SOMEWHERE. YOU HEARD IT NUMEROUS TIMES TONIGHT. WITHOUT THE BENEFITS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT COME WITH THE STABLE JOBS IN ALBUQUERQUE. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT COUNCIL CAME TO ITS CENSUS AND WE HOPE YOU SUPPORT THIS BILL, THANK YOU. >> CARLA FOLLOWED BY CARTER. CARTER FOLLOWED BY RUDOLPH. >> COUNCILOR LEWIS, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I PROMISE WE DIDN'T COORDINATE THIS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE DISAGREE WITH SOMEONE AND THEY PULL AN AMENDMENT THAT WE FELT WAS NEGATIVE, WE THANK THEM FOR THAT. I THANK YOU FOR PULLING THAT. I CERTAINLY SAY I SUPPORT WORKERS SHOWING UP HERE AND SPEAKING ABOUT AGAINST THAT AMENDMENT. EVEN THOUGH IT'S NO LONGER ON THE TABLE BECAUSE IT COULD COME UP IN THE FUTURE AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE PEOPLE OF ALBUQUERQUE KNOW THAT WOULD BE AN INCREDIBLY DETRIMENTAL THING TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF WORKERS IN THE CITY. ULTIMATELY, COUNCILOR PEÑA IS RIGHT. THIS REALLY IS A TECHNICAL BILL. JUST TO BRING US TO SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH. FRANKLY, THE MARKET ALREADY PASSED. AND COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, I THINK YOU MAKE A GREAT POINT. IT NEEDS TO BE ABOVE $12 AN HOUR. THE MARKET IS 14 OR $15 FOR MOST OF THE JOBS. I HOPE WE CAN GET THIS DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL AND CERTAINLY AT THE CITY LEVEL. IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO DO WE MAKE THE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS AND DO WE START ENFORCING THE LAW. I WOULD RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH COUNCILOR BASSAN. I THINK THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR THE CITY TO TAKE ON. IT SHOULD BE BIPARTISAN BECAUSE ONE HOPEFUL THING THAT HAPPENED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IS WE REALLY HAVE TWO PARTIES TALKING ABOUT FIGHTING FOR WORKING PEOPLE. IF WE KNEW THAT SOMEBODY WERE STEALING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR FROM THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, AND THEY WERE ALL WORKING CLASS AND LOWER INCOME PEOPLE, WE WOULD ALL SAY THAT'S AN OUTRAGE AND PUT AN END TO IT. THE WAY TO PUT AN END IS TO ENFORCE THE LAW ON THE BOOK. THE SECOND THING THAT HAPPENS IS WHILE ANYONE WHO ENTERS INTO THIS WORLD AS AN EMPLOYER, WE APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORTS. THEY'RE NOT ALL GOOD. THERE ARE BAD ACTORS THIS IN THIS WORLD. THE GOOD ACTORS PAYING THE MINIMUM WAGE AND LETTING THEIR EMPLOYEES HAVE THE TIPS, THE GOOD ACTORS DOING THAT ARE DISADVANTAGED BY THE BAD ACTORS. FOR BUSINESS AND WORKERS AND TO FIGHT CRIME, ENFORCING LAWS IS IMPORTANT AND I HOPE WE GET BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON THIS BILL. THANK YOU. >> REDAUFL -- RUDOLPH. >> COUNCILOR LEWIS, FELLOW COUNCIL. ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IN THE TEMPLE IS COMPETING WITH JESUS. HE'S A CARPENTER. HOW CAN A MIDDLE CLASS COMPETE WITH A KING. I HAVE TO SURPASS THAT AND SAY I'M GOING TO BE A WAITER. I CAME AS A WAITER, AND I SERVE EVERYBODY AS A KING. AND IN MEXICO, YOU GET PAID TWO DOLLARS A DAY. YOU HAVE TO WORK 20 HOURS IF YOU WANT TO MAKE $6 TO BRING HOME. I WILL MAKE $100 IN TIPS, IN MEXICO. I WILL GET EVERYTHING YOU HAVE IN YOUR POCKET BECAUSE I WILL MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE A KING. AND THAT'S WHAT THE WAITER JOB IS ABOUT. BUT HERE, NEW MEXICANS ARE BAD TIPPERS. I WALK OUT WITH $20, $30, I HAVE THE TIP AND I SAY, YOU SERVE THEM AS A KING, THEY COME AND COMPLAIN SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY THE RESTAURANT. REGARDLESS OF THE GOOD SERVICE YOU PAY THEM. IT'S REALLY HARD, IT'S A REALLY HARD CALL. I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR, WE HAVE THE WORST ECONOMY EVER. BIDEN AND KAMALA LEFT US WITH A COUNTRY BROKE. AND WE SHOULDN'T MOVE NOTHING NOW BECAUSE FROM HERE TO THE END OF NEXT YEAR WE'RE LOOKING AT A CIVIL WAR OR REVOLUTION. EVERYBODY IS TAKING ABOUT IT. LET'S LEAVE THE THINGS IN ALBUQUERQUE THE WAY THEY ARE SO THEY MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE. THAT IS MY POINT OF VIEW. WE JUST HERE TO SERVE YOU. ALL WE DO IS SERVE. AND THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY MAKES BILLIONS. I DON'T SEE THE LOSSES THAT EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT. I TALKED TO GARCIAS, I SAID GET ANOTHER JOB IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT. THANK YOU. >> ANDRE FOLLOWED BY ASHLEY ON ZOOM. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILORS. TODAY I'LL SPEAK AGAINST THE AMENDMENT ABOUT DECREASING TIPPED WORKER WAGES. I'M A PHYSICIAN I'M TRAPD IN WORKPLACE AND PUBLIC HEALTH. I WITNESSED HOW INADEQUATE WAGES HURT OUR PEOPLE. THEY PERFORM WELL AT THE JOB THEY'RE GOOD AT AND PUT ENOUGH IN THE WALLETS TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND THE PEOPLE THEY LOVE. AFTER THE MINIMUM WAGE INSTITUTION IN ALBUQUERQUE, I REMAIN AMAZED HOW PEOPLE PAY THE RISING COST OF GROCERIES AND RENT. TIPPED WORKERS HAVE IT WORSE. GUARANTEED ONLY $7.50 AN HOUR. COUNCILORS, I ASK YOU, HOW MUCH DID YOUR LAST MEAL COST? LOOK, I'M A PHYSICIAN, I'M INTERESTED IN HEALTH. I LOOK AT THE MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH. CHECK THIS OUT. LOW PAY IS CONNECTED TO JOB DISSATISFACTION. IT PROVOKES A BIOLOGICAL STRESS RESPONSE. POOR SLEEP. CARDIO DISEASE, AND COMPROMISED DIZ ORDERS, AND INCREASED WORKPLACE INJURY. IS THAT ENOUGH? OF COURSE, I'M HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH YOU MORE PERSONALLY FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE. DO WE NEED MORE RESEARCH TO CONVINCE US HOW AN ILLNESS FOLLOWS AN EMPTY WALLET. ANYONE WHOSE HAD ONE KNOWS. I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO THE WORKERS SPEAKING TO YOU TONIGHT. IF YOU MASS THIS AMENDMENT, THE WORK OF CLEANING THE CITY IS GOING TO BE PAID, LESS AND LESS BY EMPLOYERS WHOSE BUSINESSES SURVIVE AND THRIVE BY RACING TO THE BOTTOM. VOTE NO ON ADDITIONAL EXPLOITATION OF WORKERS. RELIEVE OUR STRESS AND BE DONE. PERSONALLY, AS A PHYSICIAN, I WANT TO CARE FOR MY WORKER PATIENTS KNOWING THEIR AILMENTS ARE NOT CAUSED BY SOMETHING AS NON-MEDICAL, UNJUST AND PREVENTIBLE AS AN EMPTY WALLET AFTER A FULL DAY'S WORK. THANK YOU. >> ASHLEY FOLLOWED BY JAN. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I THINK I WAS SKIPPED OVER. >> GO AHEAD. >> THANKS SO MUCH. GOOD EVENING, AGAIN, MR. PRESIDENT COUNCILORS. A COUPLE OF THINGS. LOTS OF SPEAKERS ARE MAKING GREAT POINTS. I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THE POINT. A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO HIT ON. JUST AS WE SPEAK ABOUT MINIMUM WAGE. APPRECIATE COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN'S POINT THAT YES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A TECHNICAL FIX, AND LIKE MY BROTHER CARTER SAID, WE'RE ALREADY WAY BEHIND WEP WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 12. WE'RE ALREADY WAY BEHIND. THAT'S ANOTHER CONVERSATION FOR ANOTHER DAY. A RISING TIED LIFTS ALL BOATS. WE CANNOT EVER AND WILL NOT EVER ACHIEVE BALANCE BETWEEN BUSINESSES, FOR BUSINESSES ON THE BACKS OF WORKERS. ABSOLUTELY NOT. COUNCILOR GROUT AND COUNCILOR BASSAN, AGAIN REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ACTION TO WITHDRAW THE AMENDMENT. APPRECIATE YOU ACTING IN SPIRIT OF CONSTITUENTS. I WOULD RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE JUST AS MY BROTHER DID THAT WAGE THEFT IS QUITE AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. BECAUSE WHEN WE SEE MASS THEFT TAKING PLACE IN OUR DEPARTMENT STORES, WE WANT TO GO AFTER THOSE PEOPLE WITH AN IRON FIST. WHEN WE SEE OTHER INSTANCES, WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE BREAKING INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES IN THE MOVIES PEOPLE ROBBING BANKS, WE WANT TO GO AFTER WITH AN IRON FIST THOSE WHO HURT THOSE BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITIES. WAGE THEFT IS A THEFT OF AN HONEST DAY'S WORK, BEING PAID AN HONEST'S DAY'S WAGE. THERE'S NO ISSUE OF GREATER IMPORTANCE THAN THAT. THANK YOU HAVE -- THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. >> THEO FOLLOWED BY LIZ. >> GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCILORS. TONIGHT, I'D LIKE TO SHARE A STORY WITH YOU. I USED TO WORK AT THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, BACK WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO NEW MEXICO IN 2018 I TOOK A JOB IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY WHILE WORKING IN MY FIELD. I WORKED AT A BRUNCH SPOT WHERE MY EMPLOYER PAID ME $8 AN HOUR. WHICH WAS NEARLY THREE DOLLARS ABOVE THE MINIMUM TIPPED WAGE AT THE TIME. THIS MIGHT SEEM GENEROUS TO SOME MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, AND MY TIPS WERE WILDLY DIFFERENT ACROSS DAYS AND WEEKS. MY TOTAL WAGES WOULD SOMETIMES COME DOWN TO $10 AN HOUR ON A BAD DAY, OR UP TO $25 AN HOUR ON A GOOD DAYS WHICH WERE FEW. AND THAT'S HARD TO PLAN A FINANCIAL FUTURE AROUND. AT THAT TIME MY PARTNER AND I WERE LOOKING TO BUY A HOUSE. WE FOUND OUR DREAM HOME AND MY BANK DIDN'T WANT TO CONSIDER MY TIPS. WITH TIPS I WAS MAKING LESS THAN $30,000 A YEAR, WITHOUT CONSIDERING TIPS MY INCOME WAS $16,000. SADLY, MANY SERVICE INDUSTRY HAVE TO REMY ON BASE WAGES TO QUALIFY FOR CAR LOANS, MORTGAGES AND FINANCIAL NECESSITIES. THERE'S MORE TO CONSIDER THAN JUST COST OF BUSINESS DO BUSINESS OWNS , THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF OUR CITIZENS. CAN YOU THINK OF ANY BNG THAT WOULD GIVE A LOAN IF YOU TOLD THEM YOU MADE $3.25? WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO REDUCE POVERTY NOT CREATE MORE. I URGE CITY COUNCIL TO NOT VOTE TO REDUCE WAGES. YOU CAN LOOK YOUR SERVER IN THE EYE AND KNOW YOU PROTECTED THEM FROM A DEVASTATING FINANCIAL SETBACK. THANK YOU TO THE CITY COUNCILORS THAT OPPOSE THIS DECREASE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> FOLLOWED BY M -- >> WE CAN HEAR YOU. PLEASE PROCEED. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY. GIVE US ONE SECOND. TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. OKAY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT I THINK LOWERING THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR SERVICE WORKERS WOULD BE BAD FOR ALBUQUERQUE'S TAX REVENUES IN THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM. AND BAD FOR THE ALBUQUERQUE BUSINESS IN GENERAL. WORKERS CANNOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMY IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY, INCOMMUNITY WILL SUFFER. MOST OF MY PEERS IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY ARE LIVING UNDER POVERTY LINE. THE HOUSING MARKET OR ANY OTHER MARKET THAT PEOPLE WITH DISPOSABLE INCOME CAN SIMULATE. SERVICE WORKERS WILL HAVE ZERO DISPOSABLE INCOME. AND WON'T BE ABLE TO SPEND ANY MONEY AT RESTAURANTS. THAT'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT YOU'RE CUTTING OUT OF SERVICE AND THAT IS GOING TO BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS ITSELF. AND THEN THE FUTURE OF THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY. BUSINESSES OPEN NOW WILL BE CLOSING AND WILL NEED AN INVIGORATION OF THE MARKET IN THE FUTURE. I THINK BUSINESSES ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY ARE RAN BY PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE IN THAT FIELD. AND THE RESTAURANT WORKER WILL BE ABLE TO SAVE UP ENOUGH AND OPEN THEIR OWN BUSINESS AT ONLY $3 AN HOUR. I'D ALSO LIKE TO MAKE A NOTE ABOUT THE DIGNITY AND PRINCIPLE. IT'S INSTULTING THAT A WORKER CAN WITHSTAND A PAY DECREASE IN THIS ECONOMY. IF THIS ORDINANCE PASSED YOU'LL SEE MORE THEFT IN THE COMMUNITY. YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE A LABOR SHORTAGE. >> THANK YOU. M, FOLLOWED BY NICOLE. >> GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCILORS. I AM A CONSTITUENT OF COUNCILOR ROGERS IN DISTRICT SIX. AFTER COUNCILOR BASSAN'S CLARIFICATION I HAVE AMENDED MY COMMENT. I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE NOT CONSIDERING CUTTING SINGLE PARENTS ANNUAL INCOME BY $8,000 A YEAR. I'M GLAD WE'RE NOT PUSHING STUDENTS FURTHER INTO DEBT. I'M GLAD WE'RE NOT WORSENING THE HOUSING CRISIS. I DO WANT TO CLARIFY THAT YES WE ALL FACE AN INCREASED COST OF LIVING. HOWEVER, TO PRETEND THAT WE'RE ALL EQUALLY AFFECTED BY THESE COSTS IS IGNORANT AT BEST. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT STRAPPING DOWN AND BUDGETING BETTER. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WHO AT THE END OF THE MONTH CAN ONLY HOPE TO END WITH A BALANCE OF A ZERO DOLLARS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO GIVE THEIR LABOR, ENERGY, AND LOVE TO INDUSTRIES THAT KEEP THEM JUST ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE TO PREVENT THEM FROM ACCESSING MEANINGFUL ASSISTANCE. WHILE SYSTEMS GATE KEEP RETIREMENT AND HEALTH CARE COVERAGE BEHIND WILD PRICE TAGS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE YOU YOUR MORNING COFFEE, AND WORKING LUNCH. I HAVE WORKED FOR SMALL REST RAUNTS RESTAURANTS IN THE PAST. IN MY EXPERIENCE, THESE BUSINESSES STRUGGLE WITH HIGH TURNOVER RATES AND STRUGGLE DAILY WITH INADEQUATE TEAM. WHILE WELL-PAID LABORERS TRANSLATE, LOWER JOB TURNOVER INCREASED SPENDING POWER, DECREASES ARRESTS FOR RANGE OF OFFENSES, IMPROVED EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR THEIR CHILDREN BY CONDEMNING WORKERS TO LOW WAGES, THIS COUNCIL DISMISSED ALL OF THESE FINDINGS. IT DISMISSES THE INTERESTS OF CUP -- CONSTITCH WPTS. IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF ALBUQUERQUE'S EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH, WELL-BEING, SUCCESS AND SELF-DETERMINATION YOU WILL INSIST ON PROMOTING LIVING WAGES FOR ALL BEYOND THIS ACTION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NICOLE FOLLOWED BY JANICE. >> GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCILORS. I'M HERE TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION TO THE ONCE PROPOSED AMENDMENT. WITH INCREASES OF RENT, GAS AND UTILITIES RATES SHOULD NOT GO BACKWARD. RESTAURANTS SHOULD NOT SUBZ DAYS THEIR COST OF DOING BUSINESS. WORKERS MUST BE PAID FAIR WAGES IF WE WANT A STRONG MIDDLE CLASS AND HEALTHY ECONOMY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. >> JANICE. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILOR. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY SPEAKING. I'M HERE REPRESENTING ORGANIZED POWER IN NUMBERS. A WORKER POWER ORGANIZATION. WE HAVE BEEN CANVASSING THE COMMUNITY, THE ALBUQUERQUE COMMUNITY, AND WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOLKS -- THE MESSAGE WE'RE HEARING IS CLEAR AND URGENT. OVER AND OVER AGAIN WE'RE TOLD ABOUT THE STRUGGLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE COST OF LIVING. AND OUR NEIGHBORS ARE FINDING IT HARD TO MAKE ENDS MEET. I WANT TO EXTEND GRATITUDE FOR YOUR DECISION [ INAUDIBLE ] BY THESE INDIVIDUALS. AND IT'S A STEP TOWARD FAIR COMPENSATION FOR EVERYONE. WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE ENFORCEMENT MEASURES INCLUDED IN THE RECENT PROPOSAL. IT'S CRUCIAL WE HOLD THE BAD ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE. AND WORKERS ARE TREATED WITH RESPECT. WE KNOW THAT THESE MEASURES WILL CREATE MORE EQUITABLE CONDITIONS FOR ALL WORKERS. AND HOWEVER, MENTIONED BY OTHER LABORS ALREADY, OUR WORK DOESN'T END HERE. WE URGE YOU TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE. IT'S IMPORTANT WE NOT ONLY PROTECT THE WAGES, BUT PUSH THE LIVING WAGES ACROSS THE BOARD. ASSURE ALL WORKERS RECEIVE A FAIR INCOME THAT REFLECTS THE COST OF LIVING AND VALUE OF CONTRIBUTION. TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD A FUTURE WHERE EVERY WORKER IS VALUED AND COMPENSATED FAIRLY. THANK YOU FOR THE ATTENTION ON THIS CRITICAL ISSUE AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING POSITIVE CHANGES IN THE COMMUNITY. >> MR. PRESIDENT, IF I MAY, NAMES NOT PRESIDENT. KRISTEN, MATEO, SAGE, AND ANGELINA. THAT CONCLUDES COMMENT ON O-24-21. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: MR. PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO EXTEND THE MEETING TO 11:15. >>COUN. LEWIS: ALL RIGHT. IT'S MOVED AND SECONDED. MADAM CLERK. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILORS. WE'RE BACK ON THE BILL. THIS IS O-21 AS SUBSTITUTED. DISCUSSION ON THE BILL? COUNCILOR CHAMPINE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS FOR -- I UNDERSTAND THIS IS BY REQUEST. IT'S THE ADMINISTRATION. COUNCILOR ROGERS, YOU'RE SPONSORING IT, I GUESS I DIRECT MY QUESTIONS TO YOU. PAGE FOUR, LINE 12 THROUGH 14. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THIS CORRECTLY. THERE'S AN EMPLOYER PAYING SOMEBODY $15 AN HOUR, THEN THE $1 REDUCTION IN HEALTH CARE, IF PROVIDED IS ALLOWED, IF THE PERSON IS BEING PAID $12 AN HOUR, IT'S NOT ALLOWED? >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: I'M SORRY, COUNCILOR YES. I'M GOING TO WHERE YOU'RE AT IN THE BILL. I UNDERSTAND THAT, I'LL GO TO OUR LEGAL TEAM TO HELP ME CLARIFY THIS. I UNDERSTAND THAT'S A BENEFIT THAT OFFERS REGARDLESS OF IF IT'S A TIPPED EMPLOYEE OR NOT. IT DEPENDS ON IF IT'S EMPLOYERS OFFER THAT. NOT ALL EMPLOYERS. I'D LIKE TO GO TO THE LEGAL TEAM. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, WHAT YOU STATED ORIGINALLY IS CORRECT. THE REASON BEING THAT THE $1 AN HOUR REDUCTION AND THE MINIMUM WAGE CANNOT DROP BELOW THE LOWEST OF THE STATE OR FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE. IN THIS INSTANCE, IF YOU'RE MAKING $12 AN HOUR, A $1 REDUCTION WOULD BE A DOLLAR BELOW THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE. THAT WOULD BE IMPERMISSIBLE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: OKAY. MR. PRESIDENT, MY SECOND QUESTION. PAGE SIX, SECTION E. WHY DOES THE NEED TO BE -- WHY DOES THIS NEED TO BE UNDER THE CITY ATTORNEY? DOES THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE HAVE MANPOWER TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND HOW DOES THE ENFORCEMENT CURRENTLY GO? >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR ROGERS. ADMINISTRATION? >>COUN. ROGERS: IN MY OPINION, YES THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE IS ACTUALLY CONSIDERED A LAW FIRM. FIFTH LARGEST LAW FIRM IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO INCREASE OUR ENFORCEMENT AND JUST LIKE SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS AND THE STUDIES WE READ, THIS IS A $1.3 BILLION PROBLEM. WHERE WE HAVE THAT MUCH WAGE THEFT HAPPENING. YES. STRENGTHENING IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: AND THE CITY'S CLERK HAS ENOUGH PEOPLE TO DO THIS ALREADY. MR. PRESIDENT, PAGE SEVEN, SECTION SIX. >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY, MY OFFICE HAS DONE TWO ACTIONS IN THE PAST UNDER THE CURRENT BILL. ONE WAS SUCCESSFUL, ONE WAS NOT. THAT'S THE EXTENT TO OUR ENFORCE TO DATE. WE DID MAKE A REQUEST FOR FY23 TO HAVE A FULL-TIME ATTORNEY FOR THIS. THAT WAS NOT GRANTED. I DON'T BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE UNDER THE CITY ATTORNEY. ENFORCEMENT ACTION CAN BE DONE BY OTHER PARTS OF THE ADMINISTRATION. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THANK YOU, MA'AM. MR. PRESIDENT, I'LL GO BACK TO QUESTION THREE. THIS WOULD BE PAGE SEVEN, SECTION SIX, ARTICLE F. HOW WILL THE CITY DETERMINE TO INVESTIGATION? IT STATES IT WOULD BE UP TO THE CITY CLERK TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO INVESTIGATE. WHAT IS THE PARAMETERS OF THIS INVESTIGATION? IS IT JUST UP TO THE CLERK TO SAY I DON'T LIKE TACO BELL, SO I'LL INVESTIGATE THEM BUT I REALLY LIKE POPPIN' TACO AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TOUCH THEM. HOW IS THIS GOING TO WORK? >> SURE. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, COUNCILOR. WHAT I BELIEVE, FROM UNDERSTANDING OF WORKING WITH CIVIL RIGHTS, IT'S COMPLAINT-BASED. SAME WITH THE STATE, IT'S BASED ON COMPLAINTS. IT'S NOT THE CITY CLERK, IT WOULD BE THE CITY ATTORNEY. I'LL ALSO ATTORNEY IT OVER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY KEEFE TO SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, I DON'T READ THIS ORDINANCE TO SPECIFY WHEN AN INVESTIGATION WOULD BE WARRANTED. COUNCILOR ROGERS IS CORRECT IN THE PAST IT HAS BEEN BASED ON COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE OF -- ACTUALLY BY THE OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION. BUT THIS ORDINANCE DOES ESTABLISH THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE CAN ENGAGE IN RULEMAKING SO THOSE RULEMAKING CAN ESTABLISH THOSE PARAMETERS. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: BUT THOSE PARAMETERS AREN'T SET. SO IT WOULD BE ADDED LATER? >> I AGREE THEY'RE NOT SET IN THIS ORDINANCE CURRENTLY. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: OKAY. AS IT'S UP TO THEM, IT'S UP TO THEM HOW THEY WANT TO DECIDE TO PERTHIS? >> THAT'S HOW I WOULD READ THIS ORDINANCE YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: MAY I ADD, MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, THAT IS NOT UNLIKE SEVERAL OF THE CITY ORDINANCES ALREADY ON THE BOOKS. THIS IS NOT ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY THAT DOESN'T ALREADY EXIST NOW. WE DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER TO GO OUT AND DOUBLE CHECK AND AUDIT AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO WE CAN BE PROACTIVE IN THIS PROBLEM. THAT'S ALSO ONE OF THE ISSUE WHY WE RUN INTO. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDABLE. I FIND IT INTERESTING, THIS IS WHY I ASKED IT, MANY OTHER BILLS OR ORDINANCES ARE WRITTEN IN A CERTAIN WAY. WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS THIS ONE, AND IF WE TAKE THE TIME TO CHANGE SOMETHING, I HOPE WE TAKE TIME TO DO IT IN A POSITIVE WAY. MY NEXT QUESTION, SAME PAGE, SECTION SIX, ARTICLE G. WHY THREE-YEAR TIME LIMIT? >> THAT ONE I DEFER TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THAT. >>COUN. ROGERS: I DID NOT ASK THAT QUESTION MYSELF. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, THE THREE-YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IS FAIRLY IN THE LAW. IT'S WITH TORT CLAIM AND OTHER CAUSES OF ACTION. I DID NOT ESTABLISH THAT, BUT I WOULD THINK IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO OTHER CAUSES OF ACTION. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: OKAY. THANK YOU. MR. PRESIDENT, IN THE CURRENT MINIMUM WAGE IN THE CITY IS $12 AN HOUR BASED ON THE STATE, IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY. I'M SORRY. NEXT QUESTION, PAGE THREE, SECTION A, WHY ARE WE STRIKING LINES 12 THROUGH 22? >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I'M SORRY, I'M NAVIGATING ON MY iPAD AND TRYING TO UNMUTE AS I'M FINDING WHERE YOU'RE AT. I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, SAY THAT AGAIN. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: PAGE THREE. IT WOULD BE SECTION A, AND IT'S LINE 12 THROUGH 22. I'M CURIOUS ON THE STRIKING OF THOSE LINES. IT GOES INTO TIPPED AND SUCH. >>COUN. ROGERS: I DEFER TO THE ADMINISTRATION ON THAT ONE AS WELL. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, AS I READ THIS, THIS IS CLEANING UP PREVIOUS DATES AND PREVIOUS PREVAILING TIPPED WAGE THAT ARE NOW MOOT BECAUSE IF YOU MOVE FROM PAST 2013 AND PAST 2014 IT SAYS EACH YEAR THEREAFTER IT WILL BE -- UNLESS I'M LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT VERSION THAN YOU. I MIGHT ME LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT VERSION. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THIS ONE STATES THAT AN EMPLOYER MAY CREDIT TIPS AS PART OF THE WAGES OF THE TIPPED EMPLOYEE. IF THE EMPLOYER INFORMS IN ADVANCE AND PAYS THE CASH WAGE EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THE MINIMUM WAGE, THE TIPPED EMPLOYEES DECLARATION PROPOSES OR BY RECORDS CHARGES TIPS THAT THE TOTAL OF THE TIPS RECEIVED BY THE TIPPED EMPLOYEE AND CASH TIPS IS EQUAL OR GREATER TO THE MINIMUM WAGE. THE TIPS RECEIVED BY THE TIPPED EMPLOYEE BECOME THE TRAUPT OF THE TIPPED EMPLOYEE AND MAY NOT BE SHARED WITH THE EMPLOYER. THE SUBSECTION SHALL NOT ME CONSTRUCTED OR PROHIBITED AMONG EMPLOYEES. IF I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY, AND WHAT'S BEING DELETED IS IF AN EMPLOYER, LET'S SAY ON A SLOW DAY, THE TIPPED EMPLOYEE DOESN'T MAKE THE MINIMUM WAGE, THAT THE TIPS CAN BE TAKEN TO ADD INTO THAT MINIMUM WAGE TO SECURE THE EMPLOYER WILL ADD THAT IN. IS THAT NOT BEING DONE? >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, THE REASON THIS IS STRUCK THROUGH IS THAT STATE LAW ALLOWS -- SO THIS IS REDUNDANT. I CAN HAVE SOMEONE SPEAK MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THAT. STATE LAW IS -- LET ME MAKE SURE -- I WANT TO SAY THE -- >> MR. PRESIDENT, DR. SENGEL IS CORRECT. THIS IS ITERATED IN STATE LAW. WE DON'T NEED TO REPEAT IT. AS A CLEAN UP OF THE BILL OVERALL, TAKING OUT THE DUPLICATE LANGUAGE IS BENEFICIAL TO THE BILL. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: OKAY. IF IT'S REPEATED IN THE STATE, WE'RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE IT FROM THE CITY, BUT WE'RE KEEPING IN THE CPI INCREASED WAGE, WHICH ISN'T PART OF THE STATE, BUT WE'RE KEEPING THAT PART IN THE CITY? >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, THAT'S CORRECT. HOME RULE AUTHORITY, WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN THE STATE WHEN WE WANT TO, AND NOT WHEN WE DON'T WANT TO. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: ONE LAST QUESTION, IF THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO DO TO MINIMUM WAGE, WHICH WE TALK ABOUT THE MINIMUM WAGE, THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE IN HERE THAT DISCUSSED -- I DON'T PAY MY PERSON MINIMUM WAGE, I PAY THEM $15 AN HOUR -- IF THIS IS SUCH A GREAT IDEA TO HAVE IT DIRECTLY LOCKED CPI, WHY DOESN'T THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AS ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN THE CITY DO THIS? >> IS YOUR QUESTION WHY DOESN'T THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE USE CPI? >>COUN. CHAMPINE: WELL, PROPOSING TO KEEP THE CPI PART OF THE BILL. WE'RE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO MIRROR THE STATE AND GO $12 AN HOUR. WHICH EVERYBODY IS PAID $12 AN HOUR BECAUSE IT'S STATE LAW. WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAN IT UP. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IN THE CPI ADDITION. IF WE'RE TRYING TO MIRROR THE STATE AND KEEP IT THE SAME ACROSS THE BOARD AND KEEP MORE THAN WHAT THE STATE IS, WHY DON'T WE DO THIS FOR CITY EMPLOYEES ? >>COUN. ROGERS: IF MAY, CHIME IN, MR. PRESIDENT. I THINK WHOEVER MISSPOKE AND SAID THIS IS ABOUT MIRROR THE STATE LAW, THEY MISSPOKE. I NEVER SAID THAT. THIS IS ABOUT STRENGTHENING THERE ENFORCEMENT. IT'S NOT ABOUT MIRRORING EXACTLY. I WANTED TO SAY THIS IS ABOUT ALBUQUERQUE AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ALBUQUERQUE. I'M SORRY, I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHY THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. IS YOUR QUESTION WHY THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE DOESN'T DO MORE THAN $12 AN HOUR? >>COUN. CHAMPINE: MY QUESTION IS IF THE CPI IS A GREAT IDEA FOR MINIMUM WAGE EMPLOYEES WHY DOESN'T THE CITY PRACTICE THIS AS WELL. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ANSWER THAT. >>COUN. ROGERS: AS A FORMER EMPLOYEE, YOU GET COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS. WE TALKED ABOUT IT DURING THE BUDGET SEASON. I BELIEVE WE TRY TO DO THAT. OF COURSE, DO I THINK WE NEED TO BE PAYING MORE THAN $12 AN HOUR? YES. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: MR. PRESIDENT. THAT'S BETTER UNDERSTAND NOW. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I DON'T THINK WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF ENFORCING ANYTHING. THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS LABOR RELATIONS DIVISION ENFORCES WAGE LAWS IN NEW MEXICO INCLUDING THE PAYMENT OF MINIMUM WAGE AND PREVAILING WAGES. THEY ALSO HANDLE CLAIMS OF UNPAID WAGES FROM CURRENT AND FORMER EMPLOYEES. THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO ALSO RECEIVES BECAUSE I'M AN EMPLOYER RECEIVES EMPLOYMENT TAXES. IF YOU USE YOUR EMPLOYMENT -- IF YOU PAY YOUR EMPLOYMENT TAXES, AT THAT POINT THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS WILL TAX YOU BASED ON THE WAGES THAT THEY DETERMINE BASED ON THE INVESTIGATION. THEY RAISE YOUR TAX RATE. SO, WHY ARE WE GETTING INVOLVED IN WHAT DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS DOES? NOT ONLY THAT, WHEN I ACTUALLY HAD TO FIRE AN EMPLOYEE WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS WAS AFTER ME TO MAKE SURE I FILLED OUT MY PAPERWORK, IF I DIDN'T FILL OUT MY PAPERWORK THEY WERE GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY TAX ME. I HAD MY INVESTIGATION, I HAD MY DUCKS IN A ROW AND I SENT THAT IN AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING BECAUSE THE INVESTIGATION WAS HANDLE AND PROVED THE EMPLOYEE DIDN'T DO THEIR JOB THE WAY THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO THEIR JOB. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU END UP WITH -- CAN THE EMPLOYEE DOUBLE DIP IN THEIR PROCESS? CAN THE EMPLOYEE FILE A CLAIM WITH THE CITY AND FILE A CLAIM WITH THE STATE? WHAT'S TO PREVENT THAT FROM THE EMPLOYEE DOUBLE DIPPING? WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN PLACE FOR THAT, AT ALL. THAT EMPLOYEE CAN ACTUALLY DOUBLE DIP ALL THEY WANT IF THEY DECIDE TO. AND HAVE AN INVESTIGATION GOING ONE PLACE OR ANOTHER. WHAT ABOUT THE EMPLOYEE THAT ACTUALLY COMES IN AND SAYS I DON'T LIKE WHAT THE CITY DECIDED, I'M GOING TO GO TO THE STATE. THE STATE'S RULING IS GOING TO ACTUALLY BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD THAN THE CITY. JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER LAWS WE DEAL WITH IN THE CITY. KNOW THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE IT HAPPENS ON EVERYTHING. IT HAPPENS ON THE WAGE. IF WE HAVE AN 11.20 MINIMUM WAGE IN THE CITY, AND NOW WE HAVE TO PAY THE $12, WE'RE JUST PROVING THAT. THERE'S NO NEED TO HAVE ANYTHING IN REFERENCE TO INVESTIGATING WAGE THEFT BECAUSE THE STATE ALREADY DOES IT. THEY DO A GOOD JOB OF IT. THEY HAVE AN INVESTIGATION SET FORTH AND ALSO THEY CAN ACTUALLY TAX YOU RIGHT THEN AND THERE AND RAISE YOUR EMPLOYMENT RATE, EMPLOYMENT TAXES BASEDEN YOU NOT SUBMITTING THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION OR BASED ON WHAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOWS. WE DON'T HAVE THAT ABILITY HERE AT THE CITY. AND THEM DOUBLE DIPPING AND THE ISSUES BETWEEN THEM FILING A CHARGE BACK AND FORTH, I HONESTLY BELIEVE THE CITY HAS NO BUSINESS GETTING INVOLVED IN WHAT THE STATE IS ALREADY DOING. SO, WE'VE ALREADY TALKED THE WAGE BEING $12. THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE ANY BUSINESS GETTING INVOLVED WHAT THE STATE DOES. SO I THINK THIS BILL NEEDS TO GO AWAY. I THINK WE NEED TO GET RID OF THIS BILL AND LEAVE THINGS THE WAY THEY WERE. THAT'S THE WAY I WANT TO VOTE. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, THEN COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: I'D LIKE TO GO TO THE CITY ATTORNEY AND TALK ABOUT THE HOME RULE AND ALSO THE STATE HAS A HUGE BACKLOG. WE CAN'T ALWAYS LEAVE IT TO OTHER ENTITIES TO FIGHT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. TO THE OFFICERS ON THE COUNCIL, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ENFORCING LAW, STRENGTHENING LAWS BECAUSE THERE'S THEFT HAPPENING TO THE TUNE OF $1.3 MILLION. I'D LIKE OUR LEGAL TEAM TO TALK ABOUT THE HOME RULE AND HOW THESE THINGS ARE HANDLED IN CONCERT IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTION ARE IN CONCERT WITH LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES. IT'S NOT JUST ONE OR THE OTHER. >>COUN. PEÑA: MR. PRESIDENT, POINT OF ORDER, I THINK YOU CALLED ON COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. LEWIS: I WAS JUST LETTING COUNCILOR ROGERS FINISH. SHE HAD A QUESTION FOR LEGAL. WE CAN GO TO COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN IF SHE WOULD LIKE. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR ROGERS, I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT YOUR QUESTION IS IN REGARD TO HOME RULE. WE ARE HOME RULE MUNICIPALITY. WE CERTAINLY ARE AUTHORIZED TO HAVE A MINIMUM WAGE THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN THE STATE. OR TO SET UP ENFORCEMENT, IF WE LIKE. YOU ARE CORRECT THAT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS WORKS IN CONCERT ON MUNICIPALITIES IN THE TWO ACTIONS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY WE DID WORK WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ON BOTH OF THOSE. I THINK THERE WOULD BE WAYS TO DETERMINE WHETHER SOMEONE HAD ALREADY GONE TO WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS WHEN THEY ARE FILING COMPLAINT WITH THE CITY. THE COURT WOULD NOT ALLOW A CLAIMANT TO RECOVER UNDER BOTH THE STATE AND THE CITY. THAT WOULD BE BARRED. IT MIGHT BE SOMEWHAT HARD TO FIGURE OUT. I'M NOT SURE. I'M ALSO NOT SURE I ANSWERED ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS. IF YOU HAVE MORE I'D BE HAPPY TO SPEAK TO IT. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT, COUNCILOR ROGERS. I THINK IT'S HARD WHEN ONE PERSON IS ON ZOOM AND ALL THE REST OF US ARE NOT, TO HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON. I WANTED TO CLARIFY. I THINK I HEARD YOU CLARIFY AGAIN, I WANTED TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE ALREADY DONE ACTIONS. SO, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HEARD THAT CORRECTLY. THE CITY HAS ENFORCED UNDER THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, TWICE. >> COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, TO MY KNOWLEDGE TWICE. THERE COULD BE MORE BEFORE THAT. DURING MY TIME WE HAVE DONE TWO. ONE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THE OWNER FILED FOR BANKRUPTACY. THAT WAS IN CONCERT WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: WE DO HAVE BUSINESS ENFORCING THE MINIMUM WAGE FOR THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. WE DO HAVE EVERY AUTHORITY TO DO SO UNDER STATE LAW. IS THAT CORRECT? THANK YOU. THIS LEGISLATION BEFORE US SETS FORTH SOME RULES TO ALLOW US TO DO MORE ENFORCEMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S JUST ME, BUT TWO ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE VERY MUCH WHEN YOU HAVE THIS STUDY THAT SAYS WE'VE HAD $1.3 BILLION OF WAGE THEFT IN OUR STATE. I GUESS A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THAT CAME FROM ALBUQUERQUE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CITY REALLY ENFORCE THIS LEGISLATION. BECAUSE I WILL SAY, RESPECTFULLY, WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF FOLKS TONIGHT, I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE CAN BE DOING WHICH IS PROTECTING THE LOWEST PAID WORKERS IN OUR CITY FROM THEFT. OF THEIR HARD-EARNED MONEY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS BILL WILL ALLOW US TO DO MORE ENFORCEMENT? I CAN ASK COUNCILOR ROGERS, BECAUSE IT'S HER BILL. >> I WOULD SAY THAT'S CORRECT. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. I WOULD AGREE AS WELL. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I THINK WE'VE HEARD THAT ONLY ONE WAS SUCCESSFUL. I DON'T THINK THE ADMINISTRATION IS DOING AS GOOD A JOB AS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. WE ALSO HEARD THIS IS IN CONCERT WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. WHY CAN'T WE JUST USE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS? THAT WOULD BE THE WAY TO GO BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO -- THE CITY WILL HAVE TO GO TO WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS NO MATTER WHAT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT DOUBLE DIPPING IN THIS PROCESS. TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS HANDLED. SHE COULDN'T ANSWER WHAT GREATER ENFORCEMENT WE HAVE. RIGHT NOW, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS HAS IT MAPPED OUT. 100%. ANYTHING THAT NEEDS ANYTHING IN REFERENCE TO WAGE THEFT IS HANDLED BY WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. WE'LL DEAL WITH UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WE CAN'T ANSWER HERE IN THE CHAMBERS OR THE CITY ATTORNEY. THIS BILL IS NOT CLOSE TO PRIME TIME IN REFERENCE TO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT. THAT'S JUST MY COMMENT. LIKE I SAID, I THINK THE WAY THE BILL SETS, THE FACT THAT WE ALREADY HAVE $12 AS A SET PARAMETER, I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO BE. THIS BILL PROBABLY JUST NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH RIGHT HERE IN COUNCIL. THANK YOU. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR PEÑA. >>COUN. PEÑA: MR. PRESIDENT, I JUST WANT TO SAY TO COUNCILOR ROGERS, I THINK THIS BILL IS A GOOD BILL. I INTENDED ON SUPPORTING IT THE FIRST TIME YOU BROUGHT IT AROUND. I JUST REALLY WANT TO -- COUNCILOR GROUT AND COUNCILOR BASSAN, I JUST APPRECIATE COUNCILOR BASSAN WHEN THIS BILL MOVED FORWARD I THINK IT WAS SENT TO YOU BY REQUEST FROM THE ADMINISTRATION, AND IT REALLY LEFT OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEBODY TO MAKE AMENDMENTS BECAUSE THE TITLE WASN'T CLEAR ABOUT THE INTENT OF WHAT THE CHANGES IN THE BILL WERE. WE HAD A COUPLE OF COUNCILORS THAT WERE HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS AND WANTED TO ADD INFORMATION TO IT. AND AT THE LAST MEETING WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO DO WAS DEFER IT BECAUSE I HAD SAID THAT -- I HAD MADE THE ARGUMENT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE WORKERS HERE TO BE ABLE TO CITE THEIR CONCERNS OR ISSUES WITH THE BILL. COUNCILOR BASSAN IS REALLY THE REASON THAT IT GOT DEFERRED BECAUSE THE VOTES WURPT WEREN'T. I APPRECIATE COUNCILOR BASSAN AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO DEFER IT SO WE CAN GET THE WORKERS HERE. THAT WAS WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO. AND THEN, WE DID HEAR FROM COUNCILOR ROGERS AT THE LAST MEETING THAT SHE REALLY WANTED TO WITHDRAW THE BILL AND THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE THEN. YOU KNOW, GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY AND KNOWING AND HEARING THAT WE HAVE SOME OF THE CONSTITUENTS HERE TALKING AND SAKE THAT IT SEEMED LIKE IT GOT REAL POLITICAL, AND IT DID. UNFORTUNATELY, IT DID. WE'RE TRYING TO PASS GOOD LEGISLATION AND IT TURNS INTO A BIT OF A MOCKERY WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED AS PART OF THIS PROCESS. COUNCILOR GROUT AND COUNCILOR BASSAN WANTED TO WITHDRAW, AND ALLOW FOR MORE TIME SO THAT CON CONSTITCH WOULDN'TS -- SO PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND WORKERS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND WORKERS. THIS ISN'T THE STARBUCKS OF THE WORLD. STARBUCKS, AND MENTIONED LAST TIME MY GRANDSON IS MAKING $17 AN HOUR. WE HAD SOME REALLY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, SOME OF THE OWNERS THAT ARE THE FOOD TRUCK OWNERS, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WE NEED TO HAVE THEM AT THE TABLE TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS. LOOKING AT THE BILL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE THIS EVENING. I DEFINITELY -- IF IT DOESN'T PASS, I DEFINITELY HOPE THAT COUNCILOR ROGERS BRINGS IT BACK BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. I DO HAVE A QUESTION, IF IT GETS BACK. I THINK COUNCILOR CHAMPINE ACTUALLY BROUGHT UP THE POINT OF THE COST OF LIVING THAT WAS ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT I WAS REALLY GOING TO TALK ABOUT. IF WE DON'T USE THE COST OF LIVING HERE WHEN WE BRING DOWN THE BUDGET, THE BUDGET COMES DOWN AND IT DOESN'T ALWAYS INCLUDE -- IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THE COST OF LIVING. AND OUR UNIONS NEGOTIATE BASED ON THE COST OF LIVING WHEN THEY SHOULD BE NEGOTIATING ON PAY RATES, NOT JUST THE COST OF LIVING. SOMETIMES THAT'S -- I THINK THAT'S LIKE A FARCE THAT WE -- WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COST OF LIVING AND HERE WE'RE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO ASK SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO PAY BASED ON THE COST OF LIVING AND WE'RE NOT DOING IT AS A CITY, I THINK AGAIN, I WOULD SAY I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL IS THIS EVENING, I WOULD SAY TO COUNCILOR ROGERS I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BRING THIS BILL BACK IF IT DOESN'T PASS. AND TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW WE DO IT INTERNALLY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WALK THE WALK IF WE'RE GOING TO ASK SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO HAVE THE COST OF LIVING AND WE DON'T DO IT HERE AT THE CITY. THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: JUST ONE MORE COMMENT. IF I WAS ANY WORKER OUT THERE, I WOULD ACTUALLY WANT TO USE THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS SYSTEMS INSTEAD OF AN UNTRIED SYSTEM. OR EVEN AN UNVETTEDED SYSTEM HERE AT THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. I THINK YOU'LL GET A LOT MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK. I'M NOT AGAINST ANY OF THE WORKERS HERE. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE $12 AS OUR MINIMUM WAGE BECAUSE -- AND ALSO MAKE SURE WE STAY OUT OF THE ENFORCEMENT ACTION BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, YOUR EMPLOYERS ARE TAXED. THEY'RE TAXED ON EMPLOYEES RATES FOR YOU. AND IF YOU WIN YOUR CASE, THEIR TAXES ARE INCREASED AUTOMATICALLY AND YOU GET YOUR MONEY. THAT'S THE SYSTEM IN PLACE. AND IT'S A GOOD SYSTEM. THAT WAS IT. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT SPOKE TONIGHT. RESPECTFULLY, AND KIND, AND YOU SAID WHAT YOU DID. I LISTENED TO EVERY ONE OF THOSE WORDS. I LISTENED TO EVERY FEMALE, THOSE FEMALES THAT WERE KIND AND GOT YOUR POINT ACROSS. I DO APPRECIATE THAT. I ALSO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S EMPLOYEES AND THERE'S EMPLOYERS. YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO BOTH SIDES. WE DON'T JUST LISTEN TO ONE DEMOGRAPHIC. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE LISTENING TO EVERYBODY. SO, THAT WAS MY INTENT, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE DIALOGUE. AND THE TIME HERE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A FEW THINGS IN THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT IT. I THINK IT NEEDS MORE TIME. I THINK WE NEED TO FINE TUNE A FEW THINGS. LIKE COUNCILOR SANCHEZ SAID, WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS DOES A VERY GOOD JOB OF LOOKING AFTER THOSE FOLKS AND ADDRESSING THE NEEDS. WE HAVE A LOT ON OUR PLATE IN THIS CITY. I THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE SOME OF THESE THINGS TO THE STATE. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD NEVER WANT TO TAKE ANY WAGES AWAY FROM YOU. I REALLY WOULDN'T. I APOLOGIZE IF I OFFENDED ANYBODY. THAT WAS NEVER MY INTENT. I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THIS BACK, IF IT DOESN'T PASS TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING EMPLOYEES, EMPLOYERS, SO YOU CAN LISTEN TO BOTH SIDES OF WHAT THE CHALLENGES THAT THE EMPLOYEES ARE GOING THROUGH OR HAVING. AND THE EMPLOYERS HAVE. IT IS HARD TO RUN A BUSINESS. IT'S NOT EASY. ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY, RIGHT NOW. A LOT OF THINGS HAVE INCREASED. INSURANCE, INSURANCE PREMIUMS. AND NOW SECURITY. WHEN VANDALISM OCCURS, THOSE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, INSTEAD OF FILING A CLAIM, THEY TAKE CARE OF THOSE THINGS THEMSELVES. BECAUSE IF THEY DO, FIRST OF ALL THEIR DEDUCTIVE COULD BE 5,000 OR $10,000 BECAUSE THEIR PREMIUMS ARE SO HIGH. SO, KEEPING THOSE THINGS IN MIND, ALL OF THESE LITTLE EXPENSES THAT WE ALL HAVE, I HAVE EXPENSES TOO. THOSE ARE THINGS WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND FOR BOTH THE EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE -- SPEND SOME TIME WITH THE GROUP -- WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE, AND HAVING PEOPLE HAVE MORE DIALOGUE. NOT JUST THE PEOPLE ON THE ADMINISTRATION OR ON COUNCIL, BUT FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. AND SEE IF -- WHAT -- THERE MIGHT BE CHANGES THAT WE'RE NOT EVEN THINKING OF. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE A CLEAR SUPPORT FOR ALL THE WAY AROUND. AND SO, THAT'S JUST WHAT I THINK. AT THIS TIME. THAT'S IT. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. JUST A COUPLE COMMENTS ON THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT. I FIND THAT REALLY INTERESTING CONVERSATION. EVERY YEAR SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON COUNCIL, THERE'S BEEN A COLA, I'M APPALLED THERE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST YEARS. I REMIND EVERYONE THAT IF YOU BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A COLA, WE'RE THE APPROPRIATORS IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. WE CAN DO THAT. THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FOLKS THAT WORK FOR THE CITY AND RELY ON THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE A COLA, AND PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR OTHER BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE CITY WHO WILL NOT GET THAT COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT IF THERE'S NOT A REQUIREMENT. AGAIN, IF THE CITY HAS NOT DONE THAT IN THE PAST, CLEARLY BEFORE I TOOK OFFICE, THAT IS WRONG. BUT THE ANSWER TO THAT IS THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE APPROPRIATOR FOR THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, SO WE SHOULD MAKE SURE WE DO THAT IN THE FUTURE. >>COUN. PEÑA: MR. PRESIDENT, CAN I RESPOND TO THAT? I THINK I ASKED KEVIN OR SOMEONE, SOMETIMES WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION -- SO YES, WE'RE THE APPROPRIATING BODY. AND SO, WE USUALLY ADD TO THE CITY'S PAY. SOMETIMES WHEN IT'S SENT DOWN IT'S NOT SENT DOWN WITH THE COST -- FULL OF COST OF LIVING AND AN INCREASE. OFTENTIMES, ME AND -- WE'RE JUST NEGOTIATING OFF THE COST OF LIVING, BUT THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL INCREASE. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR PEÑA, WHEN WE DO GET -- WHEN THE BUDGET COMES DOWN IT WILL SAY A COST OF LIVING INCREASE, BUT WHAT WE CAN'T DO IS ACTUALLY GO IN AND NEGOTIATE. SO, WHEN THEY'RE NEGOTIATING, THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY NEGOTIATING ON THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX INCREASE IN COST OF LIVING. THEY'RE NEGOTIATING ANOTHER WAY. SOMETIMES THE UNIONS, WHENEVER THEY DO NEGOTIATE, THE WAGES END UP LESS THAN WHAT THE CIP WOULD HAVE. SO THAT DOES HAPPEN. >>COUN. PEÑA: CORRECT. THANK YOU. >> MR. PRESIDENT, THERE'S A FEW ITEMS, AND SINCE THIS IS BY REQUEST FROM THE ADMINISTRATION, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON TWO ITEMS THAT WERE IMPORTANT. I APPRECIATE COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN'S COMMENTS. I KNOW THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY SAY IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE YOU ARE THE APPROPRIATING BODY FOR THE BUDGET. THIS YEAR INCLUDED, YOU ENSURED THERE'S AN APPROPRIATE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT, COLA, OR WAGE INCREASE. I THINK THIS YEAR ALONE, THAT OCCURRED. WE SENT DOWN A BUDGET WITH AN INCREASE PROPOSED AND WE DID THAT BASED UPON RECOGNIZING THAT THE LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEES, OUR RECOMMENDATION WAS THEY GET THE HIGHEST COLA, AND THAT WAS GRADED ACROSS WAGES. RECOGNIZING OUR LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEES WOULD RECEIVE BASED ON OUR RECOMMENDATION 4% AND SET TO 5%. ADDITIONALLY I WANT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE RELATED TO ENFORCEMENT. OUR INTENTION IS TO ENSURE WE'RE TAKING CARE OF OR PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE IN THEIR WAGES. YES, THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTION HAS THE AUTHORITY AND THEY ABSOLUTELY HAVE THE CAPACITY, BUT WE KNOW THEY OFTENTIMES HAVE TWO TO THREE YEARS WAIT PERIODS. FOR AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS HAD THEIR WAGES STOLEN, IT'S A LONG TIME TO WAIT TO HAVE THAT ENFORCEMENT AND HAVE THAT INVESTIGATION. I THINK WHAT COUNCILOR SANCHEZ IS REFERRING TO IS THE UNEMPLOYMENT TAX PROCESS AND EMPLOYMENT PROCESS THAT OCCURS WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL SEPARATES FROM A BUSINESS OR IS LAID OFF FROM A BUSINESS. THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE THAT THEY'RE VERY QUICK IN SUPPORTING THE INDIVIDUAL IN THOSE UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS. OUR UNDERSTANDING, AND AGAIN THIS IS NOT TO DISPARAGE OR TO MAKE ANY POINT ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, THIS IS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL THAT IS IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ENFORCEMENT PROTECTIONS UNDER THIS ORDINANCE AND ALLOWS FOR THE CITY TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH OUR PROCESSES. IT ALSO ADDS, AS YOU KNOW IN THIS PROCESS, THE CIVIL ENFORCEMENT PROCESS IS ADDED IN HERE. OUR INTENT IS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE HAD THEIR WAGES STOLEN OR MAKE A COMPLAINT OF HAVING WAGES STOLEN SO THAT CAN BE INVESTIGATED. >>COUN. LEWIS: THERE'S NO ORDINANCE THAT MANDATES A COLA FOR ALL CITY EMPLOYEES. >> MR. PRESIDENT, NO, THAT IS ALL -- THE PROCESS OF LEGISLATING AND APPROPRIATING THE BUDGET LIES -- >>COUN. LEWIS: RIGHT. BUT WE HAVE NO MANDATE THAT'S A PART OF THE LAWS AND THE ORDINANCE THAT MANDATES THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE PROVIDE A COLA EVERY YEAR FOR CITY EMPLOYEES. SO THE COMPARISON ON THAT AND A MANDATE THAT PRIVATE EMPLOYERS DO THAT EVERY YEAR AND PUT THAT INTO LAW AND POLICY IS AS THE COUNCILOR REPRESENTED, YOU KNOW, DOESN'T LINE UP. COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I JUST WANT A QUICK CLARIFYING QUESTION. I KNOW A LOT OF TIMES THE STATE HAS A LEVEL OF REQUIREMENT ON ANYTHING. AND A LOCAL JURISDICTION GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT WHICH THE CITY HAS FOR TIPPED WAGES. THE STATE WILL NOT ENFORCE THE LOCAL JURISDICTION'S HIGHER LEVEL. I WONDER IF WE CAN GET AN ANSWER ON WHETHER THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS WILL ENFORCE OUR $7.20 MINIMUM WAGE FOR TIPPED WORKERS SINCE THE STATE LEVEL IS $3? >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, I DON'T BELIEVE I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION. I WILL ASK MS. KEEFE TO ANSWER. WITH HER KNOWLEDGE. >> I'M NOT 100% SURE. I BELIEVE THEY CAN'T. THAT'S BECAUSE IN THE OTHER ACTION -- USUALLY THE ACTION IS THE WORKERS HAVEN'T BEEN PAID AT ALL. IF THE EMPLOYER RUNS OUT OF MONEY AND DOESN'T PAY THE WORKERS FOR THAT PAY PERIOD OR CLOSES AND DOESN'T PAY THE BILLS, THE ACTION IS COLLECT THE UNPAID WAGES. THEY WILL COLLECT THE WAGES THAT WERE DUE. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THAT'S NOT THE ONLY WAY THAT WAGE THEFT HAPPENS, RIGHT? WAGE THEFT HAPPENS IF YOU GET A LITTLE LESS THAN YOUR TIP AMOUNT EVERY TIME. IN THAT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY STUDY THERE'S A LOT OF EXAMPLES OF EMPLOYERS STEALING FROM THE EMPLOYEES. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME IS WE, THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, ARE ABLE TO SAY EVERY EMPLOYER IN OUR CITY IS GOING TO PAY THE $7.20 MINIMUM WAGE FOR TIPPED EMPLOYEES. WE'VE HAD THAT ON THE BOOKS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE FOLKS ARE GETTING PAID THAT AMOUNT. I WORRY BECAUSE I'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK WITH THE STATE ON VARIOUS THINGS AND IN GENERAL THE STATE WILL NOT ENFORCE ANYTHING ABOVE THAT. I'M CONCERNED BASED ON ONES NOT PAYING 7.20, SAY THEY'RE PAYING 5.20, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS TO ASSIST. AGAIN, THESE ARE ALBUQUERQUE CITIZENS WE SHOULD BE TAKING CARE OF. I THINK THAT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT WE SHOULD REALLY THINK THROUGH BEFORE WE TURN DOWN A BILL THAT PROVIDES OUR CITY ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LOWEST PAID PEOPLE IN OUR CITY ARE ACTUALLY GETTING PAID THAT LOW WAGE. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILORS, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? WE'LL GO AHEAD -- COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: I'M SITTING HERE. I WANT TO TRY TO SEE HOW THE ENFORCEMENT IS GOING TO WORK. BECAUSE HOW DO WE DO THIS? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE ENFORCEMENT IS GOING TO WORK? WE DON'T HAVE THAT PLAN LAID OUT. DO YOU HAVE IDEAS, DO YOU HAVE A WAY TO MAKE SURE IT'S -- THAT THE ENFORCEMENT IS LAID OUT? HOW DO YOU WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS? HOW DOES THIS WORK? I WANT TO KNOW SO I CAN BE ONE THAT SUPPORTS THIS IF THAT'S THE WAY TO GO. I STILL DON'T HAVE MY HEAD WRAPPED AROUND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO ENFORCE THESE LAWS OR THIS ORDINANCE. I DON'T GET IT. >> COUNCILOR LEWIS, COUNCILOR SANCHEZ, AGAIN IN THE PAST, IT HAS BEEN COMPLAINT-BASED. A COMPLAINT CAME TO OUR OFFICE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PAID. WE HAVE FILED AN ACTION AS CO-PLAINTIFF WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. SO WE'VE GONE TO COURT TOGETHER TO COLLECT THOSE. IN TERMS OF A PLAN, WE WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE THE OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION RECEIVE THOSE COMPLAINTS. WE HAVE OUTSIDE INVESTIGATOR, THE ONE THAT WE USE FOR HUMAN RESOURCE INVESTIGATIONS. OUR PLAN WOULD BE TO HAVE THEM CONDUCT ANY INVESTIGATIONS. AND IF THERE WAS A DETERMINATION THAT THERE WAS WAGE THEFT, WE WOULD RECEIVE TO FILE A COMPLAINT IN COURT. THAT'S LITERALLY THE EXTENT I CAN TELL YOU. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: OKAY. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IS GOING TO FEEL THE SAME WAY YOU DO ABOUT THESE COMPLAINTS AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MOVE IT FORWARD IF THERE'S A BACKLOG? BEING THAT YOU STILL HAVE TO INVOLVE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS AND THEIR BACKLOG AND THEIR PEOPLE. I'M TRYING TO GRASP HOW THIS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR SANCHEZ, I THINK I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS WOULD BE SEEING IT THE SAME WAY OR WANT TO JOIN. THAT'S A CASE BY CASE EVENT. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: HOW DO WE GET THESE PEOPLE PAID QUICKER IF THAT'S THE CASE? THAT'S MY POINT. I'D LIKE TO SUPPORT THIS BECAUSE YOU KNOW I GET WHAT THE CONCEPT IS. IT'S JUST I'M NOT GETTING THE ANSWERS I NEED TO HELP THESE FOLKS THAT NEED MORE HELP OR QUICKER HELP THAN WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. THAT'S MY DILEMMA. IF I'M -- I'M TRYING TO HELP YOU GUYS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE -- I SUPPORT THE $12. THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THE STATE IS ALREADY IN. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU FOLKS GET THE INVESTIGATION THAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO GET IT TAKEN CARE OF. AND I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHICH IS A BETTER ROUTE. AND I KNOW YOU DO TOO, THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THE QUESTIONS. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I'M LOOKING AT THE BILL BECAUSE I SHARE COUNCILOR SANCHEZ'S CONCERNS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY IN OUR CITY GETS PAID WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GET PAID. IN THE BILL ON PAGE SIX, LINE 18, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE GIVE AUTHORITY TO THE ADMINISTRATION IS TO IMPLEMENT ADMINISTRATIVE RULES CONSISTENT WITH THE ORDINANCE, WHICH IN MY MIND SOUNDS LIKE A RULEMAKING PROCESS JUST LIKE WE'RE HAVING ON THE RULEMAKING PROCESS WE HEARD ABOUT EARLIER TODAY ON THE FOOD -- RESTAURANT PERMITS IN GENERAL. THAT'S HOW I'M INTERPRETING THAT LINE. I'M WONDERING IF THAT'S NOT CORRECT BECAUSE IF IT IS HOW THAT'S LINE IS MEPT -- MEANT TO BE I SUPPORTED THE RULEMAKING PROCESS THAT THE COMMUNITY GETS TO GIVE INTO AND WE CAN GIVE INPUT AND YOU CAN BRING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL. I THINK THE RULEMAKING PROCESSES ARE IMPORTANT TO GET THE COMMUNITY VOICES. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN YES. THAT FIRST LINE DOES SAY THAT THE CITY ATTORNEY OR THE DESIGNEE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT ADMINISTRATIVE RULES WITH THIS ORDINANCE. WE ABSOLUTELY CAN USE THE SAME PUBLIC PROCESS WITH A HEARING OFFICER TO ENSURE WE GET PUBLIC INPUT ON HOW WE DO THE ENFORCEMENT IN THAT RULEMAKING PROCESS AND WE CAN PRESENT THAT BACK AT CITY COUNCIL AS A PLAN FOR YOU TO HEAR ABOUT. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, DR. SENGEL. I REALLY DO THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ENFORCE LOCAL MINIMUM WAGE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT CORRECTLY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOAUTHORITY THE AUTHORITY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE EVERY SINGLE PERSON IS GETTING AT LEAST MINIMUM WAGE. I THINK THAT PUBLIC RULEMAKING PROCESS WOULD BE THE WAY TO DO THAT. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, YES COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT. I FOUND THE SPOT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. LINE 19, INITIATE INVESTIGATIONS ON ITS OWN INITIATIVE OR BASED ON INFORMATION. I CAN SAY THE CITY ATTORNEY CAN INITIATE INVESTIGATION ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT A RULE DETERMINED IN THIS BILL OR UPON A COMPLAINT. THEY GET TO DETERMINE WHEN THEY WANT TO OR WHEN THEY DON'T. THANK YOU. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILORS, WE'LL CLOSE DISCUSSION AND GO TO COUNCILOR ROGERS TO CLOSE. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. JUST WANT TO THANK FELLOW COUNCILORS COUNCILOR BASSAN AND COUNCILOR GROUT FOR WITHDRAWING THEIR AMENDMENT. I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE HEARING THE COMMUNITY VOICE AND HAVING THE TIME TO DO THAT. THANK YOU FOR COUNCILOR PEÑA FOR STEPPING IN AND HAVING US DEFER THAT SO WE COULD GET REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT PROTECTING WAGES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. IN REGARD TO THE ENFORCEMENT THING. I WANT TO CLOSE BY SAYING THE SAME CONVERSATION WE HAVE WITH APD AND ENFORCING LAWS AND DROPPING CASES OR WE DON'T -- IT'S THE SAME CONVERSATION. WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO NOT ACT AND NOT STRENGTHEN OUR LAWS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AFTERWARDS. BECAUSE IT'S THE SAME WITH A LOT OF THINGS APD DOES EVERY DAY. I REALLY URGE A PASS AND THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT DISCUSSION. >>COUN. LEWIS: MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. [ ROLL CALL ] >> JUST TO CLARIFY IS MOTION IS DO PASS AS AMENDED. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: NO. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: NO. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: NO. >>COUN. PEÑA: NO. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: NO. >>COUN. LEWIS: NO. >> THAT FAILS ON A 3-6 VOTE. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILORS, WE'RE GOING BACK TO APPROVALS. ITEM 13. BACK ON APPROVALS. ITEM A. EC-180. INTERIM BACKLOG REPORT. I MOVE RECEIPT BE NOTED. MOTION AND SECOND BY COUNCILOR GROUT. THIS IS A MOTION RECEIPT BE NOTED. YOU GOT THIS REPORT, COUNCILORS. ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? >> YES, MR. PRESIDENT. WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. LISA. THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS. >>COUN. LEWIS: OKAY, NO MORE SPEAKERS. ALL RIGHT. COUNCILORS, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE REPORT? MADAM CLERK. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES ON A 9-0 VOTE. >>COUN. LEWIS: ITEM C IS -- GRANT APPLICATION FOR JAN THROUGH JUNE. I MOVE RECEIPT BE NOTED. MOTION AND SECOND BY COUNCILOR CHAMPINE. AGAIN, THIS IS A REPORT GIVEN ALL THE COUNCILORS. I'M SATISFIED THAT WE RECEIVED THE REPORT. I'M GOING TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF RECEIVING IT. ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. >> NO. >>COUN. LEWIS: COUNCILORS, ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I WAS GOING TO ASK IF THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD BE AMENABLE TO IN THE FUTURE NOT UNDOING THIS ONE, BUT ADDING AN ADDITIONAL COLUMN THAT SAYS IF IT'S A REPEATIVEATIVE AWARD, WE DID NOT ASK FOR THAT, I'M NOT SAYING IT WAS YOUR FAULT. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE THE COLUMN THAT SAYS THIS IS A RECURRING GRANT. JUST SO WE CAN SEE WHAT YOU NEED. >> MR. PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU. >>COUN. LEWIS: OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. RECEIPT BE NOTED. MOVED AND SECONDED. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >>COUN. LEWIS: FINAL ACTIONS. ITEM B IS COUNCILOR BASSAN, COUNCILOR GROUT. >>COUN. BASSAN: MR. PRESIDENT, AMENDING CHAPTER TWO ARTICLE TWO OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE FOR THE FEDERAL AND STATE PRIORITIES LEGISLATION. ORIGINALLY WE WANTED TO HAVE DISCUSSION ON THIS. WE NO LONGER DO TONIGHT. I MOVE DEFERRAL TO SEPTEMBER 4th. >>COUN. LEWIS: ALL RIGHT. DEFERRAL ON O-35. MOVED AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR GROUT. COUNCILORS, ANY DISCUSSION ON OR QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION IS CLOSED. >>COUN. BASSAN: URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. LEWIS: SUPPORT DEFERRAL. ALL RIGHT. [ ROLL CALL ]. >>COUN. BACA: YES. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: NO. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: YES. >>COUN. GROUT: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. >>COUN. SANCHEZ: YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: YES. >> PASSES ON AN 8-1 VOTE. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS ADJOURNED.