>>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH, COUNCILOR SENA. COUNCILORS, BEFORE WEAR NEED TO NOTE TO THE PUBLIC. THA GIBSON. I KNOW THAT'S THE FIRST LEGISLATION THAT I WORKED ON WAS REALLY GETTING A MILLION DOLLARS TO OUR NON-PROFITS. SHE AND I SERVED ON THE MOST CHALLENGING COMMITTEES THAT WE REALLY HAD WITH THINKING ABOUT HOW TO GET SOMETHING OUT THE DOOR ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DIDN'T KNOW AT THAT POINT WHETHER WE COULD GET CARE FUNDING OR ARPA MONEY. SHE AND I WORKED TOGETHER AS PART OF MY FIRST LEGISLATION ON COUNCIL. JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE HER FOR THAT. AND CONTINUING ON THAT WE REALLY ACCOMPLISHED A LOT ON THIS COUNCIL AND WE CERTAINLY COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT EACH OTHER. THANK YOU TO COUNCILOR GIBSON. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SENA. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, COUNCILOR GIBSON. ONE OF THE FIRST PIECES OF LEGISLATION YOU AND I WORKED ON TOGETHER WAS WITH REGARD TO OUR COYOTES AND SAFEGUARDING THEM. THE WAY THAT ALBUQUERQUE -- I MEAN WHERE WE LIVE, WE'VE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH OUR FURRY FRIENDS AND OUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS AS WELL. THAT WAS ONE OF THE BILLS THAT YOU AND I WORKED ON TOGETHER. THE OTHER ONE WAS WITH REGARD TO TRYING TO HELP OUR RESTAURANTS SURVIVE DURING COVID. THAT WAS ANOTHER BILL WHERE WE EXTENDED THE TENTS INTO THE PARKING LOT. I THINK THAT REALLY CAUGHT ON. IT DID HELP SOME. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT HELPED ENOUGH, BUT IT HELPED SOME. I ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR -- ALTHOUGH WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE ON THINGS, WE AGREE TO DISAGREE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. DID YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, COUNCILOR GIBSON? >>COUN. GIBSON: THANK YOU. I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT SEVEN. WE'VE DONE SOME PRETTY NICE THINGS TOGETHER. WE'VE DONE SOME THINGS THAT HAVE REALLY ARE GOING TO HAVE HAD LONG-TERM IMPACT. NOT ONLY ON THE DISTRICT BUT AS THE CITY AS A WHOLE. I'VE BEEN REALLY LUCKY TO BE REPRESENTING THEM FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS. THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS. THANKS. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR GIBSON. WITH THAT, COUNCILORS, I'M GOING TO MOVE BACK TO THE COUNCILORS THAT I INTRODUCED EARLIER FOR ANY OF OUR COMMITTEE CHAIRS. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING, THIS WOULD BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. I DON'T SEE ANY HANDS. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS FOR THE WORK THEY DO. THIS IS NEVER EASY WORK FOR ANYBODY. I HAD A LITTLE JOKE NOT TOO LONG AGO PAUSE I WAS AT THE DOLLAR STORE AND I SAW A MAGIC WAND AND IT WAS A DOLLAR SO I BOUGHT IT. I THOUGHT MAYBE THAT WILL HELP US FIX SOME OF THE PROBLEMS AROUND THE CITY, RIGHT? IT WAS JUST JOVIAL BECAUSE I GAVE IT TO MY 2-YEAR-OLD NIECE. YOU WONDER SOMETIMES, THESE COUNCILORS THAT DEVOTE SO MUCH TIME AND ENERGY AND THEY HAVE TO LISTEN TO SO MANY PEOPLE CALLING EMAILING TEXTING GETS HIT FROM ALL SIDES. ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE'S REALLY HOT-BUTTON ISSUES OUT THERE. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR FOR STEPPING UP REGARDING THAT. I SEE THAT THE MAYOR'S CONFERENCE ROOM HAS THEIR HAND UP. I'M GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE LAWRENCE. >> MADAM PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO JOIN IN WITH SOME OF THE COUNCILORS ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE STAFF OF THE MAYOR. FIRST AND FOREMOST THANKING COUNCILOR GIBSON, AND COUNCILOR SENA AND COUNCILOR HARRIS. PUBLIC SERVICE IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALL DO EVERY DAY. YOU DO IT FOR VERY LITTLE PAY. I DIDN'T MEAN THAT TO RHYME, BUT IT DID. IT'S ALWAYS AMAZING TO ME. DEMOCRACY IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PEOPLE THAT STEP UP TO HELP THE COMMUNITY GET BETTER. CERTAINLY, I THINK I ECHO COUNCILOR BENTON'S COMMENTS ABOUT COUNCILOR GIBSON AND THE OTHER TWO COUNCILORS, COUNCILOR SENA AND COUNCILOR HARRIS. THE CITY IS BETTER OFF HAVING YOU SPEND TIME MAKING THIS A BETTER COMMUNITY. ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS. WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT WHAT I APPRECIATE ABOUT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND YOU AS A COUNCIL AS A WHOLE IS WE CAN DISAGREE TODAY BUT THERE'S SO MANY ISSUES WE CAN AGREE ON TOMORROW. TO THE THREE COUNCILORS RIGHT TO EXPRESS OUR SINCERE THANKS AND APPRECIATION AND COUNCILOR BORREGO, YOU AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. WHEN YOU WERE HERE AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU AS PRESIDENT, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND THE WORK YOU'VE DONE ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU'VE BEEN OUR VIRTUAL PRESIDENT FOR YOUR WHOLE TERM. THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT YOU DO AND THE WORK YOU DO ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITY. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE MAYOR WOULD LIKE TO GET ON CLOSER TO 5 TO SHARE HIS PERSONAL THANKS. IF YOU WOULD INDULGE HIM, WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN HE'S AVAILABLE. THANK YOU AGAIN. >>COUN. BORREGO: WE WILL ABSOLUTELY, MR. RAEL. GIVE ME A CUE WHEN THE MAYOR IS READY. I ALSO WANT TO GO TO COUNCILOR PEÑA. I'M ALSO GOING TO MAKE REMARKS REGARDING COUNCILOR HARRIS AND COUNCILOR SENA WHO ARE DEPARTING COUNCILORS AS WELL. COUNCILOR PEÑA, DID YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD NOW OR WAIT UNTIL AFTER? >>COUN. PEÑA: I CAN WAIT WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE. I JUST HEARD MR. RAEL SPEAKING ABOUT YOU ALL. SORRY, I WAS LISTENING TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT PRESS CONFERENCE. PRETTY FLUSTERED. LET ME KNOW WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE. >>COUN. BORREGO: WITH THAT, I'M -- I SEE COUNCILOR HARRIS HAS JOINED US. COUNCILOR HARRIS, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SERVING DISTRICT NINE FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS. YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT YOU AND I WORKED TOGETHER WHEN WE WERE AN EMPLOYEE ON THE CITY AND WE WORKED ON THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR EAST CENTRAL. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU AND I WORK YOU'VE DONE IN YOUR DISTRICT. I THINK ALBUQUERQUE IN THAT AREA IS PROBABLY A BETTER AREA WAS OF YOU. I WANTED TO SEE IF ANY COUNCILORS HAD ANY COMMENT FOR COUNCILOR HARRIS. COUNCILOR SENA AND COUNCILOR PEÑA. >>COUN. SENA: THANK YOU, MATTER OF PRINCIPLE I WANT TO REMARK ON COUNCILOR HARRIS'S LONG YEARS OF SERVICE. I KNOW HIM AND KEN SANCHEZ WERE GOOD FRIENDS AND THE TWO OF THEM HAVING SERVED ALONG WITH COUNCILOR BENTON THE LONGEST ON THIS BODY. NEARLY HALF OF MY LIFE. NOT TO MAKE EVERYBODY FEEL OLD. I WANT TO THANK COUNCILOR HARRIS FOR THAT. HE WAS MY COUNCILOR FOR A VERY LONG TIME. HAVING BEEN BORN AND RAISED IN DISTRICT NINE. AND HAVING MOVED AWAY AFTER I GOT MARRIED. I JUST WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE. REALLY BEING A STAPLE OF CITY COUNCIL ALONG WITH KEN SANCHEZ AND COUNCILOR BENTON. I JUST WANT TO THANK HIM FOR ALL OF HIS WORK AND CONTINUED SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SENA. COUNCILOR PEÑA. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'LL REITERATE WHAT COUNCILOR SENA SAID. DON, I THINK YOU'RE AMAZING. WORKING TOGETHER ON A NON-PARTISAN WAY TRYING TO MOVE THIS CITY FORWARD I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR DEDICATION. I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS, THE FACT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FULL TIME JOB AND DO THIS WORK WHICH IS ALSO A FULL TIME, IF NOT MORE, JOB. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU. I THINK YOU'RE AWESOME AND I KNOW WE WENT THROUGH DIFFICULT TIME DURING THE TIME WITH THE LOSS OF KEN SANCHEZ. I WANT TO SAY EVEN AFTER HE LEFT JUST THE COMMITMENT YOU MADE TO THIS CITY AND WORKING WITH ALL OF US WE'RE ABLE TO PASS OUTSTANDING LEGISLATION THAT I DON'T THINK IF YOU WEREN'T ON COUNCIL WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT. THANK YOU, DON. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU. COUNCILOR DAVIS. >>COUN. DAVIS: THANK YOU. DON, I JUST WANT TO SAY WHEN I CAME TO COUNCIL NOBODY THOUGHT YOU AND I WOULD BE ON THE SAME SIDE OF THINGS VERY OFTEN. MORE AND MORE YOU AND I FOUND EACH OTHER ON THE SAME SIDE WORKING ON ALL KINDS OF ISSUES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT FOR THE VACATANT PROPERTIES AND EAST CENTRAL. I THINK WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOUR EXPERIENCE. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU GET TO DO NEXT. I WANT TO SAY, AND I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO COUNCILOR GIBSON WITH MY OWN THOUGHTS OVER THE WEEKEND. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THESE COUNCILORS BACK IN THE FRONT ROW AT CITY HALL WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. THEY ARE NEVER LACKING WITH SOMETHING TO SAY. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEM BACK. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR DAVIS. COUNCILOR HARRIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? >>COUN. HARRIS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. IT REALLY HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE. I KNOW THAT'S A CLICHE STATEMENT. WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW IS HOW MUCH THIS POSITION REALLY WAS TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY AND FROM YOUR BUSINESS. SHORTLY AFTER THE ELECTION I TALKED TO AN ATTORNEY WHO HAD BEEN IN OFFICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND I ASKED IF BEING ELECTED HELPED YOUR BUSINESS HE SAID NO. IT DOES MAKE YOU A BETTER LAWYER BUT IT DOESN'T HELP YOUR BUSINESS. IF ANYTHING, IT HURTS BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK YOU'RE TOO BUSY OR TOO POLITICAL OR WHATEVER. I THINK ALL COUNCILORS, I WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW, IF ANYONE IS ON THIS CALL THIS POSITION IS COSTING THEM MONEY. WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE COUNCIL BACK IN 2005 I REMEMBER SHOWING UP IN MY SWEARING IN CEREMONY, AND I HAD JOSHUA WHO WAS ABOUT TO TURN 1 YEAR OLD. WE ADOPTED HIM FROM FOSTER CARE AND I REMEMBER PASSING HIM AROUND THE ROOM BECAUSE HE WAS A CUTE BABY. NOW HE'S GOING TO TURN 17 IN JANUARY. IT'S INTERESTING, IT'S BEEN HALF OF COUNCILOR SENA'S LIFE AND IT'S BEEN ALMOST ALL OF JOSHUA'S LIFE. I NEED TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO HIM AND MY BUSINESS. PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SUGGESTING OR SPECULATING THE REASON WHY I'M STEPPING DOWN IS I WANT TO RUN FOR SOMETHING ELSE. PEOPLE HAVE ALL KINDS OF SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THAT. I'M GOING HOME. I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE COUNCILORS. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO CHAT ABOUT IS HOW ON CITY COUNCIL I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, BUT WHEN WE'RE UP ON THE PODIUM THERE'S NO AISLE. PEOPLE DON'T SIT ON ONE HALF OR THE OTHER HALF. THE NON-PARTISAN ATTITUDE, IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE TAKEN SERIOUSLY FROM TIME TO TIME. AND WE HAVE BECOME GOOD FRIENDS. ONE OF THE NICEST MEMORIES, COUNCILOR BENTON WAS THERE, MY FORMER WIFE, AND WE WERE AT THE MUSEUM. AND IT STARTED POURING DOWN RAIN. ALL WE COULD DO WAS PACK IN. AND WE PACKED RIGHT NEXT TO THE STAGE. IT WAS ME AND RAY, AND COUNCILOR BENTON, AND HIS WIFE AND MY WIFE. WE'RE PACKED UNDER THE RAIN. IT WAS THIS MAGICAL EVENING. IT WAS SOMETHING I SHARED WITH TWO COUNCILORS WHO ARE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. WE SEE THE WORLD THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS. IT WAS JUST A MAGICAL EVENING WITH GOOD FRIENDS. THAT'S HOW I THINK OF YOU GUYS. I APPRECIATE SERVING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR HARRIS. I'VE BEEN A GREAT FRIEND TO MANY OF US. WE APPRECIATE YOU. WITH THAT, COUNCILORS, I WANT TO MOVE TO COUNCILOR SENA FOR SERVING DISTRICT ONE SINCE MARCH 2020. AS YOU ALL KNOW SHE WAS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR. SHE HAS REALLY STEPPED UP IN THE ROLE SHE WAS ENTRUSTED WITH. I JUST WANT TO SAY, COUNCILOR SENA, IT'S BEEN GREAT TO GET TO KNOW YOU. REALLY, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST GETTING TO KNOW YOU AS A PERSON BUT UNDERSTANDING YOUR CULTURE AND SOME THINGS YOU'VE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE IN TERMS THINGS THAT MAYBE SOME OF US DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT HOW MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF ASIAN CULTURE THERE IS AND THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE US THINK TWICE BECAUSE OF YOU. I PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S ANY OTHER COUNCILORS -- ALSO I HAVE TO SAY THIS ALSO, COUNCILOR, JUST THE AGE DIFFERENCE. WE'VE BROUGHT IT UP EARLIER, SO I BRING IT UP AGAIN. IT GIVES US A WHOLE OTHER PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE IN GENERAL. THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT WAS A GOOD -- IT'S BEEN GOOD. I APPRECIATE THAT. ANY OTHER COUNCILORS LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I KNOW WE'VE GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON ONE ON. I JUST WANT TO SAY WHAT AN AMAZING PERSON YOU ARE. AS YOU KNOW I WAS RELUCTANT WHEN YOU CAME ON TO COUNCIL BECAUSE THAT WAS KEN'S SEAT AND I REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RIGHT PERSON WAS HOLDING THAT SEAT. BOY, THE MAYOR REALLY PICKED A GOOD ONE. I'M SO IMPRESSED WITH YOUR CLASS AND GRACE AND INTELLIGENCE AND HOW YOU PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO EVERYTHING YOU DO. WHEN WE TALK ONE-ON-ONE, I CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT. I APPRECIATE YOU, COUNCILOR SENA. I THINK THERE'S A ROLE FOR YOU IN PUBLIC SERVICE AS YOU MOVE ON. THE WORLD WOULD BE A WERT -- BETTER PLACE WITH YOU SERVING SOMEWHERE. >>COUN. BORREGO: COUNCILOR BASSAN. >>COUN. BASSAN: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. COUNCILOR SENA, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT MANY TIMES ABOUT HOW WE NOT NECESSARILY AGREE ON POLICY ON ALMOST EVERYTHING OR A LOT OF THINGS. BUT, WE ENDED UP TALKING AND LISTENING TO ONE ANOTHER. THAT CAUSED FOR LOT MORE MIDDLE GROUND THAN I EVER ANTICIPATED WITH WHATEVER STEREO TYPE WAS THERE WHEN YOU FIRST WERE APPOINTED. THIS IS A LONG JOURNEY AND YOU TAUGHT ME A LOT. THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE COUNCILORS, COUNCILOR HARRIS, COUNCILOR GIBSON. IT'S MY BLANKET THANK YOU. YOU ALL HAVE TAUGHT ME A LOT. BOY, HOW DO YOU KEEP ME ON MY TOES. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND THANK YOU FOR DOING EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE. >>COUN. BORREGO: ANY OTHER COUNCILORS? >>COUN. GIBSON: MADAM PRESIDENT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL THIS PAST YEAR AND SERVING DISTRICT FIVE FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT? >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR GIBSON. COUNCILOR DAVIS. >>COUN. DAVIS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. YOU HAD AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR AND I HAD A LITTLE PIECE OF IT. MY TERM OF SERVICE JUST BEFORE YOU, KEEPING THIS ROWDY BUNCH TOGETHER IS HARD AND KEEPING IT UP ONLINE IS AN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TASK. YOU MANAGED WITH GRACE AND I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH. YOUR PASSION FOR YOUR DISTRICT AND FOR THE FAMILIES AND PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS UNMATCHED. I'LL GLAD YOU'LL BE IN SERVICE SO WE CAN WORK WITH YOU NEXT DOOR AND SO MANY OF THE ROLES WE'RE GOING TO SEE YOU IN. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU. AND I CAN'T WAIT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. >>COUN. BENTON: WE ALL KNOW THAT COUNCILOR BORREGO IS NOT ONLY SERVED THE CITY COUNCIL BUT THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE FOR DECADES. THAT'S A LIFETIME COMMITMENT TO THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. WE OWE HER A THANKS FOR THAT AS WELL. I THINK SHE'S GETTING SOME KIND OF HARDWARE. YOU GET SOMETHING MORE THAN A GAVEL. YOU WILL GET A NICE PLAQUE. >>COUN. BORREGO: IT'S SOMETHING SITTING IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IT'S IN A BOX. >>COUN. BENTON: DON'T OPEN IT YET. YEAH, THIS -- THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN NO PICNIC. IT'S BEEN LIKE NOTHING I'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE. UPS AND DOWNS, BUT I KNOW YOU HAVE FOUGHT FOR YOUR DISTRICT FOR IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE. THANKS FOR THAT AND FOR YOUR LIFETIME SERVICE TO THE CITY. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU. COUNCILOR HARRIS. >>COUN. HARRIS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON SOME OF THE COMMENTS YOU MADE. WE WORKED TOGETHER FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. I WAS WORKING ON THE EAST GATEWAY IN 2007. THAT'S HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER IN THE CITY. ONE THING, JUST FOR YOU, AS WELL AS COUNCILOR SENA, I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH COUNCILOR SENA AND HER FAIRNESS AND EVERYTHING. ONE THING, BEFORE I GOT ELECTED, I DID LOSE AN ELECTION AND I RAN FOR ANOTHER OFFICE AND LOST. I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE REALIZE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS WHEN YOU PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE PUBLICLY AND GET REJECT PUBLICLY, THAT'S A PUNCH IN THE GUT. FOR COUNCILOR SENA AND COUNCILOR BORREGO TO BE HERE AND FOLLOW THROUGH. I'VE SEEN OTHER COUNCILORS THAT CHECKED OUT THEY LOST AN ELECTION. YOU GUYS HAVEN'T, YOU SERVED YOUR DISTRICT UNTIL THE END AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOURSELF OUT THERE. I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE A FUTURE FOR YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. GOD CLOSES ONE DOOR AND OPENS ANOTHER. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THAT IS. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR HARRIS. COUNCILOR SENA, SORRY I DIDN'T SEE YOUR HAND UP EARLIER. >>COUN. SENA: I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE ME CLOSING REMARKS. I WANT TO TAKE THE TIME, SINCE I HAVE THE FLOOR, TO THANK MADAM PRESIDENT FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP THIS PAST YEAR. I THINK THAT ESPECIALLY THROUGH NAVIGATING AND CONTINUING TO NAVIGATE THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC HAS NOT BEEN EASY. I THINK WE'VE ALWAYS APPRECIATED YOUR PRESENCE ON COUNCIL AS WELL AS YOUR LEADERSHIP MOVING FORWARD. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. IN TERMS OF MY CLOSING REMARKS, IT'S ONLY BEEN ABOUT 640 DAYS THAT I SERVED AS A CITY COUNCILOR. WOW, WHAT HAVE WE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. OF COURSE MY COMING INTO COUNCIL WAS DIFFICULT IN ITSELF ASIDE FROM THE PANDEMIC HAVING LOST SUCH A STAPLE OF DISTRICT ONE WITH THE PASSING OF COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. I THINK IT HIT US ALL PROFOUNDLY AND HAVING TO COME IN AND REALLY SWEAR IN ON THE SAME DAY THAT THE GOVERNOR DECLARED A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY SENDING EVERYONE HOME. MY SAVING GRACE WAS ELAINE ROMERO. HAVING HER AS POLICY ANALYST, BEING ABLE TO -- NEVER FULFILLING THE PLACE OF COUNCILOR SANCHEZ BUT STEPPING UP AND NOT EXACTLY FILLING THE VOID BUT JUST STEPPING INTO A DIFFERENT ROLE AND CAPACITY. THE CITY GAVE ME A CELL PHONE AND SAID YOU'RE IT. WELCOME TO CITY COUNCIL. ELAINE HAS BEEN THERE FOR ME THROUGH AND THROUGH. I THINK WE'LL BE RECOGNIZING JUST HOW MUCH SHE HAS SERVED THE DISTRICT. FOR ME, NAVIGATING THESE REALLY TOUGH TIMES THROUGH THE PANDEMIC EVEN EARLY ON WHEN WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING. BUT EVEN BEFORE THEN, IN MY OWN ADVOCACY WORK BEING ABLE TO WORK REALLY IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT SPACE AND WORKING WITH FELLOW COUNCILORS AND SERVING AS A COLLEAGUE HAS, AS COUNCILOR HARRIS STATED, IT'S A BIT OF CLICHE BUT IT'S WIN AN HONOR PRIVILEGE SERVING ON THIS COUNCIL. EVEN THROUGH THE PANDEMIC SERVING WITH CITY EMPLOYEES AND SENIOR AFFAIRS SERVING MEALS AND PLANTING TREES AND BEING WITH SO MANY OF THE FOLKS THAT KEPT US RUNNING AS A CITY. I WANT TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO OUR CITY EMPLOYEES, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, TRANSIT, SOLID WASTE, AND THEY GAVE ME THE TIME FOR THE RIDE ALONG TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKE KEEP THE CITY FUNCTIONING. I THINK WHEN COUNCILOR SANCHEZ WAS ON HE TRULY BELIEVED IN A SERVICE TO COMMUNITY. THAT'S WHAT THIS POSITION WAS. I BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT I SERVED IN THAT SAME CAPACITY OF BEING ABLE TO SAY THAT I AM A SERVIENT TO THE COMMUNITY. EVEN AS TOUGH AS IT WAS SERVING 15-HOUR DAYS, RESTLESS NIGHTS, AND WALKING OUR FOOD BANK AND HEARING SOME STORIES OF THOSE ON THE VERGE OF EVICTION AND BEING ABLE TO SEE THE HOPE THAT YOUR COMMUNITY STEPPED UP TO PROVIDE FOR EACH OTHER. I JUST WANT TO REMARK AND REALLY THINK OF THAT. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND THANKING THE MAYOR AND THIS COUNCIL FOR BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND SERVE DURING THE MOST DIFFICULT TIMES OF OUR CITY AND NATION AS WE'RE STILL NAVIGATING THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC BUT REALLY BEING ABLE TO STEP UP AND GIVE BACK TO COMMUNITY. FOR THAT, I WILL ALWAYS BE FOREVER GRATEFUL. >>COUN. PEÑA: SORRY, I'LL BE BRIEF. THIS IS HAS BEEN A LONG RUN AND THE SAME THINGS HOLDS TRUE FOR YOU, I THINK THERE'S A ROLE FOR YOU AS PUBLIC SERVIENT DOWN THE ROAD. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED WHEN YOU LOST. I KNOW BOTH OF THE NEW FINE MEN, BUT IT HOLDS TRUE, DON SAID IT, JUST WORKING TOGETHER AND REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE. WE'VE PASSED SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN IN FRONT OF US WITH ALL OF YOU. I JUST WANT TO SAY, COUNCILOR BORREGO, IT'S BEEN A LONG HAUL. ALL THE WORK YOU DONE WITH PUBLIC SERVICE AND I DON'T SEE IT STOPPING HERE. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BORREGO. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR PEÑA. WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SAY A COUPLE WORDS. COUNCILORS, IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE AS YOUR COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I WAS COUNTING THE YEARS. I'VE ACTUALLY SERVED THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, THE COUNTY, THE STATE FOR 32 YEARS. I KEEP TELLING MYSELF THEY'VE GOT TO START MAKING BETTER MAKE-UP PRETTY SOON BECAUSE AFTER A WHILE YOU START TO REALIZE THOSE YEARS START TO ADD UP. WHAT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE FOR ME SERVING ON CITY COUNCIL, NOT ONLY THE DEDICATION THAT I SEE FROM ALL THE COUNCILORS TO MAKE OUR CITY BETTER, BUT ESPECIALLY THE TIME THAT WAS SO UNPRECEDENTED DURING COVID. IT WAS LIKE TEN TIMES HARDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GOT MONEY OUT OF THE DOOR AND MAKE SURE WE SET GOOD POLICY FOR THE CITY AND WE WERE ALL -- AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE ON THINGS BUT WE AGREE TO DISAGREE MOST OF THE TIME. I THINK WE LEFT WITH THAT RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER. I THINK HAVING SERVED ON BOTH SIDES, BOTH AS AN EMPLOYEE AND A PUBLIC SERVIENT AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IT GIVES YOU WHOLE OTHER PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE. I WILL ALSO SAY, HAVING SERVED AS SOMEONE THAT WON AN ELECTION AND LOST AN ELECTION, MY MOM BEING THE VERY INTELLIGENT WOMAN SHE IS SAID EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. YOU KNOW, YOU MOVE FORWARD AND YOU KEEP MOVING FORWARD ON THIS JOURNEY THAT WE'RE ALL ON TOGETHER. WE'VE LOST A FEW PEOPLE DURING THIS LAST COUPLE YEARS AND IT MAKES YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN LIFE. WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN LIFE IS REALLY -- IT'S NOT POLITICS BEFORE PEOPLE. IT'S ACTUALLY PEOPLE BEFORE POLITICS. IF THERE'S JUST ANYTHING I CAN LEAVE THIS OFFICE WITH AS I MOVE FORWARD, AND HOPEFULLY I'LL MOVE FORWARD TO KEEP AN EYE ON MY BUSINESS. HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S STILL THERE. I WENT IN THERE AND I WAS LIKE OH, MY GOD I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN WEEKS. THAT'S ONE THING I'LL MOVE FORWARD ON IS WORKING ON MY BUSINESS AND KEEPING THAT UP. WHEN YOU'RE A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER -- AND I HAVE SO MUCH RESPECT FOR THIS COUNCIL FOR TRYING TO KEEP SMALL BUSINESSES ALIVE AND WORKING TO KEEP PEOPLE IN HOUSING. THAT WAS HUGE. THOSE ARE TWO HUGE PIECES THAT I'M GOING TO LEAVE HERE WITH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE -- WILL BRING. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. I DO. SO, WITH THAT, I'M NOT -- I WILL MISS ALL OF YOU. WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD. WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR ELAINE ROMERO. COUNCILOR SENA. >>COUN. SENA: THANK YOU SO MUCH, MADAM PRESIDENT. I KNOW ELAINE ROMERO IS PROBABLY GOING TO KILL ME FOR THIS, BUT I WANTED TO TRULY HONOR FOR HER SERVICE. >>COUN. BORREGO: WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT UP. >>COUN. SENA: THANK YOU. WE HAVE TO BE VERY SNEAKY BECAUSE AS WE KNOW OUR POLICY ANALYST CAN SEE WHAT'S IN OUR EMAILS I WANT TO THANK DON MARIE, DIANE DOLLEN, ALL OF THE STAFF FOR REALLY BEING ABLE TO PUT AND CARRY THIS THROUGH TO SURPRISE ELAINE. IT'S VERY HARD TO SURPRISE HER. I THINK I HAVE THE PROCLAMATION. >> GIVE ME ONE SECOND AND I'LL HAVE IT UP. >>COUN. SENA: WHILE JULIAN BRINGS IT UP AND BEFORE I READ IT, I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS TO PROVIDE COMMENT JUST AS TO HOW MUCH SHE SERVED THE DISTRICT. I THINK KEN SANCHEZ AND ELAINE ROMERO, ALL OF THOSE WORDS WERE SYNONYMOUS WITH EACH OTHER. I WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS, ELAINE HAS SERVED AS THE ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE POLICY ANALYST SINCE JUNE OF 2006 AND WHEREAS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OFFENSE ALBUQUERQUE'S WEST SIDE SHE HAS ALWAYS SERVED HER CONSTITUENCY WITH RESPECT AND TAKING PROVIDE IN THE RELATIONSHIP SHE'S FORMED WITH SO MANY THROUGHOUT DISTRICT ONE WHILE WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF DISTRICT ONE AND THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. AND WHEREAS IN JANUARY 2020 WE LOST OUR BELOVED KEN SANCHEZ, SHE REMAINED SERVING AND CONTINUED HIS GREAT WORK AS COUNCILOR SENA'S POLICY ANALYST. WHEREAS SHE HAS BEEN AN INT RUICATE MEMBER OF THE THE CITY COUNCIL OFFICE AND DISTRICT ONE BEING INVOLVED IN COUNTLESS PROJECT AND PIECES OF LEGISLATION AND IMPROVEMENTS TO ALBUQUERQUE'S WEST SIDE. AND WHEREAS THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE SHE HAS PARTICULARLY WITH THE COMPLEX WORKING OF BEING POLICY ANALYST IS INVALUABLE AND WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE HER YEARS OF DEDICATION AND SERVICE, AND WHEREAS HER HUMBLENESS AND TRUE LOVE FOR HELPING OTHERS WHILE WORKING FOR THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE HAS LEFT LASTING IMPRESSIONS THROUGHOUT CITY HALL AND THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AND WHEREAS HER WILLINGNESS TO HELP EXTEND BEYOND TO COLLEAGUES AND OTHER CITY STAFF AND NEV FAILING TO MAKE OTHERS FEEL WELCOME AND COMFORTABLE AND ALWAYS ABLE TO PROVIDE MENTORSHIP TO NEW STAFF. WHEREAS SHE'S AN ASSET AND DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVIENT TO THE CITY AF ALBUQUERQUE AND RESIDENTS. BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE RECOGNIZES ELAINE ROMERO FOR HER DEDICATION TO DISTRICT ONE AND THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SENA. THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL. I THINK THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WANTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS. I'LL GO TO THEM FIRST. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BORREGO. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT ELAINE -- I'M ACTUALLY -- I KNOW HOW EASY IT IS TO -- IT'S A DIFFICULT ROLE. WHEN I FIRST WENT TO COUNCIL TO WORK FOR COUNCILOR HARRIS ELAINE WAS THE PERSON THAT HELPED ME LEARN THE ROPES. I WANT TO THANK HER FOR HER WORK AND THE POLICY ANALYSTS. I KNOW HOW HARD THEY WORK. THEY WORK EXTREMELY HARD AND ARE DEDICATED. ELAINE, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU. ANY COUNCILORS WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? I SEE COUNCILOR SENA. >>COUN. SENA: MADAM PRESIDENT, I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO HAVE ALSO JUMPED ON INCLUDING FAMILY MEMBERS OF OUR LATE COUNCILOR SANCHEZ. I WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THEM. FOR THOSE THAT JOINED TO SPEAK TO ELAINE'S SERVICE AND COMMITMENT TO THE DISTRICT I KNOW WE HAVE A FEW FOLKS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE ORDER TOGETHER. IF YOU CAN RAISE YOUR HAND USING THE RAISE HAND FUNCTION AFTER WE RECOGNIZE THE COUNCILORS. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SENA. I WILL RECOGNIZE THOSE INDIVIDUALS. I SEE A COUPLE OF THEM ON. I'M GOING TO GO TO COUNCILOR BENTON FIRST. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. ELAINE, LOOK, WHAT CAN I SAY? YOU'VE TRAINED EVERYBODY THAT EVER WORKED FOR ME AND ME TOO. YOU'VE JUST BEEN THE GREATEST ASSET TO THE COUNCIL, OVERALL. NOT JUST TO YOUR DISTRICT, BUT YEAH. WHAT CAN WE SAY? YOU'RE BELOVED. AND WE THINK SO HIGHLY OF YOU AND YOU HELPED SO MANY PEOPLE ON THIS CALL. WHETHER WE'RE UP HERE AS THE PANELIST OR ATTENDEES OR ALL THE FOLKS THAT HELP THE COUNCIL WORK WELL. WE'RE A SMALL UNIT, BUT WE'RE CLOSE-KNIT. IT'S BEEN A TOUGH COUPLE YEARS WITHOUT HAVING BEEN ABLE TO HAVE DINNER TOGETHER AND DINNER BREAK. AND TO JUST SEE EACH OTHER VERY OFTEN. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING. FOR ALL THAT YOU HELPED ME AND WHENEVER DIANE OR SOMEONE WENT ON VACATION YOU WERE THERE TO BACK ME UP. THANKS FOR THAT. WE WISH YOU THE BEST. HOPE WE KEEP WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. I'M GOING TO DO THE COUNCILORS FIRST AND THEN I'LL GO TO THE PUBLIC AND I'LL ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK BECAUSE THEY HAVE GREAT THINGS TO SAY ABOUT ELAINE. COUNCILOR GIBSON, COUNCILOR PEÑA, COUNCILOR JONES. >>COUN. GIBSON: THANK YOU. I HAD MY SPEAKERS OFF AND I TURNED THEM ON AND I THOUGHT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ME. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU, ELAINE. WE LOVE YOU. YOU'RE GOING TO BE GREAT. THAT'S IT. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR GIBSON. COUNCILOR PEÑA. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. ELAINE, YOU'RE THE BEST. YOU KNOW THAT. YOU'RE LIKE FAMILY. WE JUST LOVE YOU. WE KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE AROUND. THIS ISN'T A GOOD-BYE. IT'S BEEN A TOUGH TIME, NOT JUST DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT THE LOSS OF KEN WHO WAS MY FRIEND. YOU GUYS WERE ATTACHED AT THE HIP. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT TIME AND TOUGH TIME. LIKE EVERYONE IS REITERATING, YOU'RE ALWAYS THERE FOR ALL OF US WHEN WE NEED YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. >>COUN. JONES: ELAINE, YOU'RE AN AMAZING PERSON. WHEN MY DAYS WERE A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE IN THE OFFICE I WOULD ALWAYS COME DOWN THE HALLWAY AND OPEN THE DOOR AND GO DOWN YOUR HALLWAY. YOU WOULD ALWAYS SAY FUNNY THINGS. YOU ARE THE BACKBONE. YOU ARE CITY COUNCIL. YOU KNOW EVERY PIECE OF IT. YOU'VE WORKED EVERY PIECE OF IT. WE ALL KNOW YOU'RE A WONDERFULLY COMPETENT POLICY ANALYST AND PERSON BUT YOU'RE ALSO OUR FRIEND, HOPEFULLY FOREVER. THANK YOU, ELAINE. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. COUNCILOR HARRIS. >>COUN. HARRIS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. AS I SIT HERE THINKING ABOUT ELAINE, THE THINGS THAT COME TO MIND -- FIRST OF ALL WHEN WE GOT ELECTED, IT WAS ME AND KEN AND IKE. WE GOT ELECTED ON THE SAME DAY. WE GOT SWORN IN ON THE SAME DAY. I STILL -- WHEN COUNCILOR SENA CALLS ME IT COMES UP KEN SANCHEZ ON MY PHONE. THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A MEMORY OF ME AND CITY COUNCIL INTERTWINED WITH KEN AND ELAINE. WHAT HAPPENED IS KEN DIED RIGHT AROUND JANUARY AND THEN WE HAD THE PANDEMIC. THE WHOLE LAST TWO YEARS HAS BEEN THIS FOG OF LOSING KEN AND GOING THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC. I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS ELAINE, I LOVE YOU. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR HARRIS. I WANT TO SAY, ELAINE, YOU'RE LIKE A SISTER, A DAUGHTER, A NIECE, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU LIVE ONLY DOWN THE STREET FROM ME. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN THE FUTURE. I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST MET YOU I WILL STILL A STAFF PERSON. AND KEN WAS HERE AND WE -- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I RECOGNIZED IN YOU RIGHT AWAY IS YOU HAVE THIS KEEN ABILITY TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE. EVEN WHEN IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE -- PEOPLE ARE JUST TALKING AND YOU'RE LISTENING. AND YOU TAKE ACTION ON WHAT THOSE NEEDS ARE FROM PEOPLE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NOT EVERYONE HAS. I GIVE YOU -- WHATEVER THAT SKILL OR ABILITY YOU HAVE IS SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE LEARNED. IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT'S INNATE IN SOMEBODY'S NATURE. NOT ONLY THAT, YOU'RE A NICE PERSON. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL FAMILY. I JUST KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GO ON TO DO GREAT THINGS AS YOU MOVE FORWARD. DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, ELAINE? >> I HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY. FIRST, COUNCILOR SENA, MY A HALF. WHEN COUNCILOR SANCHEZ PASSED, SUCH A BIG PART OF MY HEART AND MY LIFE WAS TAKEN. YOU'VE HELPED ME HEAL THROUGH THAT. IT'S SUCH A JOY TO WORK WITH YOU AND THE COMMUNITY AND YOU'VE CONTINUED TO DO ON YOUR OWN. THANK YOU. COUNCILORS, I COULD SIT HERE ALL DAY LONG. I KNOW YOU HAVE A MEETING TO RUN. I CAN'T THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS ME AS A PERSON. AND THE CITY AS A WHOLE FOR BEING MY FAMILY. AND LOVING ME AND BRINGING ME INTO YOUR HOMES AND LETTING ME PART OF YOUR FAMILY. I THINK THE MAJORITY OF YOU I KNOW ALL OF YOUR FAMILIES. I LOVE YOU. SO MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR FAMILIES. I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THAT. I'VE KNOWN MANY OF YOU FOR 16 YEARS. I LOVE YOU ALL EQUALLY. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THIS AND I SAY THIS TO PEOPLE THAT MEAN THE WORLD TO ME. MY DOG OBVIOUSLY WANTS TO BE PART OF THIS. YOU WILL NEVER GET RID OF ME. I PROMISE YOU WON'T. I LOVE YOU ALL. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BORREGO: ELAINE, WE HAVE SOME MORE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SAY SOME THINGS TO YOU. INYOU WILL HANG ON JUST A MINUTE. I WILL ALLOW THAT. IT'S NOT TYPICAL THAT I'LL LET THE PUBLIC IN, BUT I'M GOING TO. I'M GOING TO START WITH JACKIE THEN I'M GOING TO MOVE TO JERRY AND FRIDA AND TO MIKE. HANG TIGHT, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL. I'M THE DAUGHTER OF THE LATE KEN SANCHEZ. COUNCILOR SENA, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR ELAINE ROMERO. SOME OF YOU KNOW ELAINE WAS MY DAD'S RIGHT HAND. I LAUGH AND SAY SHE'S HIS LEFT-HAND BECAUSE HE'S LEFT-HANDED. SHE HELPED GET THE NEW LIKERY AND NEW STADIUMS. SHE'S A HEART FELT LINE OF COMMUNICATION FOR THE CONSTITUENTS IN DISTRICT ONE ASSURING THEIR VOICES WOULD BE HEARD. ELAINE, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE YEARS OF SELFLESS SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING MY FATHER'S LEGACY ALIVE. AND THANK YOU FOR FIXING HIS HAIR AND FIXING HIS TIE FOR THE MEETINGS. THANK YOU FOR LOVING DISTRICT ONE AND IMPROVING IT DAILY. AND THANK YOU FOR KEEPING MY FATHER'S SHOES MOVING FORWARD. AND THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THE GAPING HOLE IN OUR HEARTS IN THE COMMUNITY FILLED. I'M SO HAPPY TO KNOW YOU ELAINE. MY DAD THOUGHT OF YOU AS ONE OF HIS OWN. IT'S A VERY BITTERSWEET DAY FOR ME. SAYING GOOD-BYE TO GREAT FRIENDS, COUNCILOR BORREGO, COUNCILOR HARRIS, COUNCILOR GIBSON, AND LAN WHO GRACIOUSLY TAKEN MY FATHER'S SEAT AND DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB. ON BEHALF OF THE SANCHEZ FAMILY, THANK YOU EVERYONE. YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO US AND WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, JACKIE. JERRY. >> THANK YOU. I'M NOT GOING TO BE FORMAL TONIGHT. I'M GOING TO BE VERY INFORMAL BECAUSE THIS IS THE TIME WHEN I HAVE TO BE HONORED THAT COUNCILOR SENA ASKED FRIDA AND I TO SPEAK. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FRIDA LET ME SPEAK FOR HER. SHE'S HERE BUT SHE'S GOING TO LET ME DO ALL THE TALKING. I KNOW ALL OF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT HOW MANY YEARS OF SERVICE -- BUT I WANT TO MAKE EVERYONE FEEL BETTER. I ATTENDED MY FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING IN 1957. IF YOU LOOK BACK AT WHERE YOU WERE I WAS A 17-YEAR-OLD KID ADDRESSING CITY COUNCIL. THAT DIDN'T GO WELL BY THE WAY. IN 2006, WHEN ELAINE WAS INTRODUCED TO US AT A MEETING KEN SANCHEZ HAD TO FIND OUT ABOUT HIS DISTRICT ABOUT WHAT DO YOU NEED AND WANT WE WERE INTRODUCED TO ELAINE. COUNCILORS, OF ALL THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE, WHO YOU PICK AS THE POLICY ANALYST IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS BECAUSE SHE'S THE GLUE. SHE IS THE ONE THAT KEEPS US GOING. WHEN I LOOK BACK AT PEOPLE NO LONGER HERE TO SPEAK, WHETHER IT'S KEN SANCHEZ OR JOHN JONES, THIS IS HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. NOT ONLY HAS ELAINE MADE THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE'S CITY COUNCIL A BETTER PLACE, SHE HAS MADE THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND WORLD A BETTER PLACE. JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT SHE DOES. IF YOU LOOK BACK AT WHAT DO WE GET FROM ELAINE, SHE ALWAYS TELLS US THE TRUTH. WE MAY NOT ALWAYS WANT TO HEAR IT, BUT SHE SAYS IT. SHE INCLUDES US ALL. WE'RE ALL INVOLVED IN THE DECISION THAT HAS TO BE MADE. SHE REALLY IS HOPING WHAT WE'RE DOING IS GOING TO BENEFIT EVERYBODY. NOT JUST ONE PARTICULAR PERSON BUT EVERYBODY. WE KNOW THAT WHAT SHE'S AIMING FOR IS TRYING TO BUILD GOOD WILL AMONG ALL OF US. NOW, EVERYBODY HAS CLAIMED THAT THEY HAVE ADOPTED ELAINE. I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT ELAINE IS A MEMBER OF MY FAMILY. SHE HAS THE KEYS TO THE HOUSE. SHE'S BEEN HERE MORE TIMES THAN I CARE TO COUNT. ELAINE, I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH THIS, STOP BLUBBERING, CLEAN YOUR ROOM. THANKS. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, JERRY. WE ARE MOVING ON TO MIKE. >> I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH AND YOU INSPIRE ME TO BECOME A BETTER PERSON. I'M GLAD TO CALL YOU MY MOM AND I'M THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THIS FAMILY AND THE BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE ON THIS CALL. AND CONGRATULATIONS ON 14 YEARS, MOM. I LOVE YOU AND I'M PROUD OF YOU. . >>COUN. BORREGO: JOSE, IS THAT YOU? >> YES, TWO FOR ONE. I'LL BE BRIEF. I'LL JUST SAY THAT ELAINE YOU'RE AN AMAZING WOMAN. YOU'RE LOVED BY SO MANY PEOPLE. YOU AND KEN SANCHEZ DID SUCH AMAZING THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY. I SAW YOU GET HOME TIRED AND EXHAUSTED FROM A DAY'S WORK AND GIVING EVERYTHING TO THE COMMUNITY. YOU MANAGED FAMILY, SOCCER, AND WORK. YOU ARE MY HERO. YOU'RE A ROCK. WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH. AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU. THERE IS ONE MORE PERSON THAT WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING. >> MY FRIEND, MY SISTER, I'M SO SORRY I CAN'T BE THERE WITH YOU TODAY. I KNOW THIS PROBABLY GOING TO BE A DAY FULL OF EMOTIONS. KNOW THAT I'M THERE IN SPIRIT AND GIVING YOU A TIGHT VIRTUAL HUG. (INAUDIBLE). I SAW SO MANY INCREDIBLE THINGS AND I'M HONORED TO BE PART OF THE JOURNEY. -- IT WAS UNMATCHED. (INAUDIBLE). YOU WERE THERE TALKING TO PEOPLE. >> I HAVE TO CUT IT SHORT BECAUSE IT WAS VERY LONG. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO COUNCILOR SENA. >>COUN. SENA: JUST IN CLOSING, I KNOW WE HAVE A VERY LONG AGENDA AND I WANT TO WRAP THIS UP. OF COURSE I KNOW THAT FOR THE PUBLIC THAT'S NOT AWARE ELAINE IS GOING TO BE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY. I KNOW THAT SHE'LL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE. IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO -- AS ONE OF MY LAST ACTS TO RECOGNIZE HER. I THINK US AS A COUNCIL WE RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK OUR POLICY ANALYST DO FOR US. WE WOULDN'T BE A COUNCIL WITHOUT THEM AND OUR STAFF. I CERTAINLY AM NOT A COUNCILOR WITHOUT ELAINE. I THINK THAT, AS I MENTIONED, SOMETIMES WAS 16-HOUR DAYS. THAT WAS ALSO ELAINE'S 16-HOUR DAY WORKING. ANY TIME A CONSTITUENT, EVEN WHEN THEY NEEDED A MATTRESS OR THEY WERE SHORT ON FOOD, SHE AND I WERE RUNNING AROUND ON MARKETS TRYING TO FIND THE THINGS OUR COMMUNITY NEEDED. WHETHER IT WAS ME PICKING UP A STRAY DOG OR HER PICKING UP A STRAY DOG WE WOULD BE HAND AND HAND TAKING THAT DOG TOGETHER. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE HER TREMENDOUS WORK OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS TO THE COUNCIL DISTRICT AND TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO OUR CITY AND THANKING OUR STAFF FOR PULLING THIS OFF TOGETHER AND ALSO RECOGNIZING THEIR OWN COLLEAGUE ON COUNCIL SERVICES FOR WHAT SHE HAS DONE. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO WAS ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS PROCLAMATION. MANY OF THEM HAVING WRITTEN THE LINES THEMSELVES. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT, FOR ALSO GIVING ME THAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO RECOGNIZE ELAINE. >>COUN. BORREGO: COUNCILOR, THERE'S TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE SITTING HERE. THEY ARE IDENTIFIED AS MAURY. IS THAT SOMEONE WANTING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ELAINE? I'LL ALLOW IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T SEE THEM EARLIER. >>COUN. SENA: YES, MADAM PRESIDENT. THEY'RE ALSO EXTENSIONS OF KEN SANCHEZ FAMILY. >> THIS IS MY FIRST ZOOM MEETING. I THINK I WAS SIDEWAYS. THIS IS KEN'S BROTHER, AND LINDA IS WITH ME. YOU KNOW WHAT, WE WANTED TO THANK ELAINE AND LAN. FIRST OF ALL ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE LOVE AND SUPPORT THEY GAVE US DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME WHEN WE LOST KEN. IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR US. YOU GUYS REALLY HELP IN SUPPORTING OUR FAMILIES. ELAINE, WE JUST LOVE HER. SHE WAS SUCH A GREAT ADVOCATE OR IS A GREAT OFFICE AND ELAINE WAS ALWAYS THERE TO HELP US AND KEN AND EVERYBODY WITH EVERYTHING WE NEEDED. SHE DID AN AMAZING JOB WITH EVERYTHING SHE DID. LINDA IS HERE TOO. >> I WANT TO THANK ALL THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE WORK YOU DO. IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU PROBABLY MAKE 25 CENTS AN HOUR. YOU DON'T GET PAID ENOUGH TO DO WHAT YOU DO. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DOING WHAT YOU DO. ELAINE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OR SAY. YOU WERE OUR FAMILY. I CAN'T THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID. YOU ALWAYS KEPT HIM IN LINE. EVEN WHEN HE GAVE YOU DIRTY LOOKS. YOU PROMISE I'LL NEVER GIVE YOU THAT LOOK WHEN YOU ASK A QUESTION. WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE JUST AMAZING. THERE ARE NO WORDS. YOU'RE JUST AMAZING. THANK YOU, MY FRIEND. I LOVE YOU, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE. WE LOVE YOU. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BORREGO: I SEE ONE MORE PERSON. TAMARA SANCHEZ. >> OKAY. ELAINE, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DID FOR OUR UNCLE AND FAMILY. YOU'RE LIKE THE SISTER I NEVER HAD. I APPRECIATE THAT. YOU'RE A TRUE BLESSING TO THE FAMILY. YOU'VE BEEN WITH US THROUGH EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN LIFE. ALL LIFE HAS TO OFFER FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE ONE OF A KIND AND ALSO I WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU. >> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO KEN'S FAMILY FOR BEING HERE AND CONTINUING TO BE PART OF THE FAMILY. IT'S A BIG PART OF MY LIFE. AND THEY ALWAYS WILL BE. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. WITHOUT THEM I'M DEFINITELY A COMPLETE VOID WITHOUT KEN. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES. THIS JOB DEFINITELY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT EVERYONE I WORK WITH. FROM OUR DIRECTOR TO EVERY POLICY ANALYST TO OUR RECEPTIONIST AND THE PEOPLE THAT CLEAN OUR OFFICES AND SAY GOOD-BYE TO US AT THE END OF THE NIGHT. I CAN'T THANK YOU FOR BEING MY FAMILY AND LOVING ME. I CAN GO ON FOR DAYS. I KNOW YOU HAVE A MEETING. THANK YOU AND I LOVE YOU GUYS. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, ELAINE. GOD BLESS. I ALSO WANT TO QUICKLY, COUNCILORS, ACKNOWLEDGE TWO ADDITION PEOPLE. COUNCILOR HARRIS, BEFORE YOU LEAVE I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE MY ASSISTANT SUSAN VIGIL AND ONE OF THE PERSONS I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS PAST YEAR WITHOUT. MY POLICY ANALYST WHO HAS BEEN MY RIGHT HAND. SHE'S ORGANIZED AND LOYAL. I'VE MANAGED TO PULL HER IT'S A LITTLE BIT. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW HER, SHE'S CREATIVE AND BEAUTIFUL POETRY. SHE PLAYS THE HARP BEAUTIFULLY. IF YOU EVER HAVE SOME SORT OF EVENT THAT YOU'D LOVE TO HAVE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC SHE PLAYS THE HARP BEAUTIFULLY. I WANT TO THANK, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, SUSAN VIGIL. AND COUNCILOR HARRIS, DID YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT YOUR ASSISTANT? YOU'RE MUTED. >>COUN. HARRIS: YEAH, ALONG THE SAME LINES. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS YOU CAN MAKE IS POLICY ANALYST. WITHOUT THAT PERSON, YOU REALLY ARE AT A LOST BECAUSE YOU'RE JUST BOM BARDED WITH EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS. AND YOU NEED SOMEONE TO FILTER TO SEE WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR DISTRICT AND GET ON THE GROUND AND HELP YOU NAVIGATE. AS COUNCILOR SANCHEZ SAID IS YOU'RE AT THE HEIGHT OF YOUR POPULARITY WHEN YOU WIN YOUR ELECTION. AND YOU START MAKING DECISIONS AND YOU CAN MAKE PEOPLE MAD. ONE THING OUR POLICY ANALYSTS GET -- GET PEOPLE THAT CALL AND SAY WHY WE'RE BAD PEOPLE AND MADE MISTAKES. OUR POLICY ANALYSTS TURN PEOPLE INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THEY UNDERSTAND JUST HOW DIFFICULT OUR POSITIONS ARE. LAUREN HAS BEEN AMAZING AND SHE'S GOING TO DO UM AMAZING THINGS IN THE FUTURE. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR HARRIS. WITH THAT, I KNOW THIS IS A DIFFICULT AND EMOTIONAL AND JOYOUS -- ALL THE SPECTRUM OF EMOTIONS. WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON WITH OUR BUSINESS. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US WHO ARE LEAVING, THOSE OF US WHO ARE STAYING, AND I THINK THE BOTTOM BETTER WORKING TOGETHER TO TRY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE AND TO WHAT THE PUBLIC DOES IN TERMS OF GIVING US ADVICE BECAUSE WE DO LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC AND WE DO LISTEN TO THAT ADVICE. THAT ADVICE IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT HELPS US SET POLICY AND MAKE DAILY DECISIONS IN OUR MONTHLY, SEMI-WEEKLY OR WHATEVER. KEEP THE INFORMATION COMING. IT'S IMPORTANT TO US. I'M GOING TO MOVE ON WITH THAT TO OUR ITEM NUMBER -- FIRST OF ALL ITEM FOUR WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION. I'M GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM TEN WHICH IS OUR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. COUNCILORS. WE'LL RESUME NATURAL ORDER OF BUSINESS. FOR THOSE OF YOU JOINING US TO PROVIDE LIVE PUBLIC COMMENT WE WELCOME YOU. WE RECEIVED WRITTEN COMMENTS THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THE COUNCILORS IN ADVANCE OF TODAY'S MEETING. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL IF THEY SIGNED UP FOR LIVE PUBLIC PER THE INSTRUCTIONS PUBLISHED ON THE AGENDA AND ON OUR WEBSITE ON FRIDAY. SPEAKERS WILL BE MOVED INTO THE MEETING ROOM TWO AT A TIME. THEY WILL REMAIN MUTED WITH THEIR CAMERA OFF UNTIL THEY'RE CALLED UPON TO SPEAK. AT WHICH POINT THEY CAN TURN ON THE CAMERA, UNMUTE THEMSELVES AND THEY'LL HAVE ONE AND A HALF MINUTES TO PROVIDE COMMENTS TO CITY COUNCIL. AFTER THAT THEY'LL BE MUTED AND RETURNED TO BE AN ATTENDEE OF THE WEBINAR. HERE ARE THE PUBLIC COMMENT GROUND RULES, EACH PARTICIPANT HAS ONE AND A HALF MINUTES TO PRESENT. COMMENTS ARE TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE COUNCILORS ONLY THROUGH THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT. ANY DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT WILL RESULT IN REMOVAL OF THE ZOOM WEBINAR. MR. MOYA WILL BE ASSISTING ME IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS. WITH THAT, MR. MOYA WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE US THE NAME OF THE FIRST SPEAKER? >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THE FIRST SPEAKER IS ELEN. PLEASE UNMUTE YOURSELF, YOU CAN WE PROMOTED TO PANELEST IF YOU ACCEPT THAT. YOUR TIME WILL BEGIN WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. IT LOOKS LIKE MR. REID IS NOT QUITE CONNECTED. OUR NEXT SPEAKER WILL BE BARBARA. TURN YOUR VIDEO BACK ON, UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOU'RE TIME WILL BEGIN WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M THE FORMER PARK AND RECREATION DIRECTOR AND FORMER OPEN SPACE PLANNER FOR THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION OF 0-79 WHICH PROPOSES TO ACCESS THE PRINCIPLE OF THE OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND. THE OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND WAS CREATED ALMOST 40 YEARS AGO. IT'S THE CORNERSTONE OF THE OPEN SPACE PROGRAM. IT'S AT RISK OF BEING DISSOLVED AS THE TRUST HELD BY THE OPEN SPACE ADVOCATES OF THE COMMUNITY. THE CITY MANAGES ABOUT 30,000 ACRES OF PUBLIC OPEN SPACE. WE'RE NOT DONE YET. THERE'S STILL IMPORTANT PROPERTIES TO BE ACQUIRED. THE OPEN SPACE ADVISORY BOARD HAS A RESPONSIBILITY OF CITIZEN OVER SIGHT AND PROVIDES IMPORTANT ADVISORY ROLE TO CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR. THE ADVISORY BOARD ADDRESSED ISSUES WITH THE FUTURE OF THE TRUST FUND TO PROTECT IT AND POSSIBLY INVEST IT TO GET A BETTER RETURN ON THAT INVESTMENT AND THEY NEED THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THAT WORK. THE PUBLIC DESERVES TO REVIEW THE RAMIFICATION OF REDUCING THE TRUST FUND TO AN ACQUISITION FUND. I URGE YOU AND ASK YOU TO EITHER VOTE THIS RESOLUTION DOWN OR ORDINANCE OR DEFER IT TO THE OPEN SPACE ADVISORY BOARD AND THE LAND USE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. >> WE'LL GO BACK TO MR. ALAN REID. TURN YOUR VIDEO ON, UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOUR TIME WILL BEGIN WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. YOU MUTED. GO AHEAD AND UNMUTE YOURSELF. >> I'LL TRY IT AGAIN. DOES THAT WORK? GOOD. MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS, GOOD AFTERNOON. WHEN WE WERE PLANNING AND ASSEMBLING THE OPEN SPACE SYSTEM IN THE FIRST PLACE WE OFTEN HEARD A COMPLAINT THAT WE SHOULD TAKE ALL THE MONEY AND BUY LAND RIGHT THEN BECAUSE IT WAS GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE LATER ON. IF WE HAD DONE THAT WE'D HAVE TWO OR THREE ADDITIONAL PARCELS, ALL OF WHICH WE PROBABLY NOW ACQUIRED AT SOME POINT ALONG THE WAY. AND WE HAVE NO MONEY. IT WOULDN'T HAVE AMOUNTED TO MUCH OF A SYSTEM. THE TRUST FUND WAS ASSEMBLED AND LAUNCHED BASED ON THE TEMPORARY TAX THAT WE HAD AND BY ABOUT 1990 IT WAS RUNNING ACCORDING TO PLAN WE WERE SELLING EXCHANGED LANDS. WE WERE ASSEMBLING THE CORPUS OF THE FUND. IT WAS WELL ABOVE THE INFLATION RATE. IN THAT 25 YEARS FOLLOWING 1990, THAT FUND PRODUCED $22 MILLION FOR THE OPEN SPACE SYSTEM. I DON'T THINK THAT'S CHICKEN FEET. I THINK THAT IS DEMONSTRATING THE VALUE OF HAVING A 50-100 YEAR PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT THE OPEN SPACE SYSTEM IS GOING TOD . >>COUN. BENTON: IF I MAY. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. ALAN REID, THOSE OF YOU DON'T KNOW IS A FORMER CITY COUNCILLOR WHO WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE INCEPTION OF THIS PROGRAM. IF WE CAN GIVE HIM JUST ANOTHER MINUTE TO FINISH HIS THOUGHTS I'D APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BORREGO: DR. REID. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST HAD ONE OR TWO OTHER POINTS TO CONSIDER. I KNOW THE BILL 0-79 LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD BE A REASONABLE AND THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO THE FUTURE USE OF THE FUND. IF IT PASSES, IT WILL REMOVE THE LIMITS ON HOW THE FUNDS ARE USED AND THE OVERSIGHT THAT'S PROVIDED BY THE OPEN SPACE BOARD. ONE OF THE OTHER OBJECTIVES WE HAD IN ADDITION TO THE INFLATION AND BUILDING FUND THAT WAS LARGE ENOUGH WAS TO PREVENT THE POLITICAL MANIPILATION OF THE FUND. THE DAMAGE THAT CAN CAUSE WAS DEMONSTRATED IN 2004 WHEN FORMER COUNCILOR LED THE WAY OF TAKING $10 MILLION OUT OF THE FUND AND BUYING A COUPLE PIECES OF LAND. IT WAS A DISASTER. THE REASON THE FUND IS NOT LARGER NOW AND IT'S NOT RAISING MORE MONEY IS BECAUSE OF THAT. EVEN IF WE START WITH THE $12 MILLION THAT'S CURRENTLY THERE, IT CAN'T CONTINUE TO GROW OR PLAN FOR LARGE PART OF ITSELF. I URGE YOU TO DEFER BILL 0-79 TO JANUARY SO THAT OSAT AND INTERESTED PARTIES CAN ENGAGE IN A THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF WHAT THE SYSTEM NEEDS. I'M IN FAVOR OF SOME REFORM. AND SOME IMPROVEMENTS. WE CAN GET TO THOSE IF YOU GIVE US TIME IN JANUARY. THANK YOU. >> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JUSTIN. YOUR TIME WILL BEGIN WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. >> (INAUDIBLE). >>COUN. BORREGO: WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF REVERBERATION. THERE ANYTHING YOU HAVE ON THAT MAYBE IS CAUSING THAT? >> IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE A BAD CONNECTION. MAYBE TURN OFF YOUR VIDEO AND TRY THE AUDIO. MAYBE THAT WILL HELP IT. >> HOW ABOUT THAT? YOU SOUND A LITTLE BETTER. PLEASE PROCEED. >> IT LOOKS LIKE WE LOST HIM. I'LL KEEP AN EYE OUT TO LET HIM BACK IN. IN THE MEANTIME WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT SPEAKER. NEXT SPEAKER IS JULIA. TURN YOUR VIDEO ON, UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOUR TIME WILL BEGIN WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. >> YES, THANK YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME? I'M A RESIDENT OF WEST MESA. IT WAS VERY DISTURBING WHEN THE LITTLE BOY GOT HIT BY TINGLY BEACH. I WAS IN MY CAR. IT WAS QUITE DISTURBING. I'M JUST REALLY CONCERNED AND I'M LOOKING AT MANY OF THE NEIGHBORS WONDERING WHERE ARE THE POLICE, WHERE ARE THE SPEED TRAPS AND SPEED CAMERAS. IT WASN'T SOMETHING WE WANTED TO DRIVE UP ON, BUT WE WERE THERE. ON THE WEST SIDE THERE'S MANY OF THESE OFF-ROAD VEHICLES THAT DRIVE UP YOUR EMAIL AND TO HEAR SOME OF THE OTHER CONCERNS. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ATVs. I'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH AREA COMMANDERS AND OUR NEW AREA COMMANDERS. COMMANDER SANCHEZ DID RETIRE. WE'RE GETTING NEW COMMAND LEADERSHIP ON THE WEST SIDE. I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU TO DISCUSS THIS. I KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL CONCERNED, ESPECIALLY AS SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE SAW AND I KNOW OUR COUNCIL RECOGNIZED AND ENSURED A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE YOUNG MAN WHO WAS MURDERED. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU FOR COMING THIS EVENING. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KEVIN. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE CONNECTED TWICE. ONE MAY BE HAVING AN ISSUE. IF YOU CAN, TURN YOUR VIDEO ON AND UNMUTE YOURSELF AND YOUR TIME WILL BEGIN WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. >>COUN. BORREGO: ARE WE HAVING A PROBLEM? >> HERE I AM. MADAM CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I'M GLAD I TUNED IN TODAY. IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO HEAR EVERYBODY TALKING PERSONALLY ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE. IT WAS REALLY NICE. I REALLY ENJOYED. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ESPECIALLY IN THE OUTGOING COUNCILORS. GOOD LUCK. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL IN THE FUTURE AND IN THE COMING YEAR. BUILD BACK BETTER, IT'S UP TO THE CITY AND COUNTY AND TO THE STATE TO PICK UP THE BALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. >> IT LOOKS LIKE JUSTIN IS BACK. IF YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND PROCEED. >> YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANT TO ECHO THAT. IT'S BEEN NICE TO LISTEN TO ALL THIS. REGARDING R-221-225 THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE SOUTH CAMPUS TID WHICH WAS IN FRONT OF THIS COUNCIL A FEW YEARS AGO AS A SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. IT WAS LAUDED AS BEING ON THE ONLY PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN THE COUNTRY. IT'S GREAT TO HEAR NEW IDEAS. BUT YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF WHY THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. WITH THIS IN MIND I REVIEWED THE AGREEMENT TODAY. I WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT HANDLED THE COMPLEXITY AND WHY IT FAILED ELSEWHERE. TODAY'S AGREEMENT THE CITY ENTERED INTO PRIOR SUCH AS MESA DEL SOR AGREEMENT. COMPARING THE 16-FONT DOUBLE SPACED SIX-PAGE AGREEMENT TODAY VERSUS THE 12-FONT SINGLE-SPACED 22 PAGE AGREEMENTS IN THE PAST, OBVIOUSLY YOU NOTE THE OMISSIONS. MOST DESIGNATABLY FROM TERMINATION, DEFAULT AND ESCAPE CLAUSES THAT PROTECT THE TAXPAYERS IF THEY FIND THEMSELVESES ENGAGED. ALSO CURIOUS IN THIS AGREEMENT IS AN INCLUSION OF A -- CLAUSE. WHICH IS SECTION SIX SIDE STEPS THE OWN TID ORDINANCE. WHAT IS A LEFT IS AN ARRANGEMENT WHERE WE THE TAXPAYERS ARE TO GIVE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO A THIRD PARTY THAT MAY BE EXEMPT FROM RULES AND REGULATIONS TO ENTER INTO A TID THAT THROUGH THIS PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT WILL BYPASS OUR OWN ORDINANCE AND WHERE WE HAVE NO PROTECTION DEVICES IN PLACE. I FIND THAT CONCERNING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, SIR. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RICHARD. TURN YOUR VIDEO ON. YOUR TIME WILL BEGIN WHEN YOU START SPEAKING. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS, I'M RICHARD. I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE SIERRA CLUB CENTRAL NEW MEXICO GROUP TO COMMENT ON 0-29-79. THE BILL THAT WOULD ABOLISH THE OPEN SPACE TRUST FUND. I WANT TO NOTE THAT THE SIERRA CLUB IS APPRECIATIVE OF COUNCILOR HARRIS'S EFFORTS ON THE OPEN SPACE NETWORK. HOWEVER THIS BILL IS BEING RUSHED THROUGH AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND IT WAS DRAFTED WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE BOARD. CHILL -- WHILE CHANGES MAY BE APPROPRIATE. IN PARTICULAR WE NEED TO LOOK AT A WAY TO GET A BETTER RETURN ON THE PRINCIPLE IF THE FUND IS MAINTAINED. ABOLISHING A FUND IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS FURTHER CONSULTATION AND AGREEMENT AMONG THE INTERESTED PARTIES. THE SIERRA CLUB RECOMMENDS AND SUPPORTS. IT BE REFERRED TO A COMMITTEE FOR ACTION NEXT YEAR. I WANT TO URGE SUPPORT FOR R-21-228 TO LOOK AT AN OPEN SPACE TRAIL SPACE ON THE VOLCANIC DISCARPMENT. I WANT TO SAY THANKS TO THE COUNCILORS AND STAFF FOR THE SERVICE TO THE CITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU, RICHARD. MADAM PRESIDENT, THERE WAS A COUPLE OTHERS THAT SIGNED UP BUT DIDN'T SHOW UP TO THE MEETING. THAT WILL CONCLUDE PUBLIC COMMENT. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, MR. MOYA. I'M GOING TO GET A HANDLE ON THE MUTES AND UNMUTE BEFORE THIS IS OVER. COUNCILORS, THAT CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. WE WILL MOVE TO ADMINISTRATION QUESTION AND ANSWER. I UNDERSTOOD THAT WE MIGHT HAVE SOME COUNCILORS THAT DIDN'T SUBMIT QUESTIONS BUT MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS. COUNCILOR BASSAN. >>COUN. BASSAN: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. MY APOLOGIES FOR NOT SUBMITTING IN ADVANCE. I HAVE TWO QUICK QUESTIONS. ONE QUESTION FOR ADMINISTRATION IS REGARDING, I HAD A CONSTITUENT REACH OUT, SOMEONE THAT I KNOW ABOUT PERSONALLY, THEY HAVE A BUSINESS IN COUNCILOR BENTON'S DISTRICT THAT HAD A HOMELESS ENCAMPANT ON AN EASEMENT. THEY WERE TRYING TO NOTIFY THE CITY AND TRYING TO GET IT CLEANED UP AND THEY WERE TOLD THEY HAD TO BE THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY TO DO SO. THEN THE CODE ENFORCEMENT TELLING THEM THEY WERE GOING TO GET FINED IF THEY DIDN'T REMOVE THESE INDIVIDUALS BUT IT WAS A CITY EASEMENT. IT'S BEEN RECTIFIED. I WOULD LIKE AN UPDATE ON HOW TO MAKE SURE THIS IS NOT AN ONGOING PROBLEM. IT'S A DANGER FOR THE UNHOUSED WHO MIGHT NEED ACTUAL SERVICES WHO ARE NOT GETTING THAT TREATMENT IF WE'RE NOT GOING OUT AND HELPING THEM AS WELL AS THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO COULD PUT THEMSELVES OR CAUSE HARM OR WHAT NOT. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE IT UP TO INDIVIDUALS. I JUST WANT TO HAVE CLARIFICATION ON WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ABOUT THAT IN THE FUTURE. >>COUN. BORREGO: I'M GOING TO GO TO THE MAYOR'S CONFERENCE ROOM. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR BASSAN, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION. LET ME PREFACE A COUPLE OF THINGS AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ELEN OUR PLANNING DIRECT DOOR GIVE YOU MORE DETAIL ON HOW CODE ENFORCEMENT APPROACHES THESE ISSUES. AND FOR ANY FURTHER CLARIFICATION. AS YOU ALL KNOW, COUNCILORS, IF THE RIGHT-OF-WAY IS A PUBLICRECTOMY OF WAY WHETHER IT'S A CITY RIGHT-OF-WAY OR NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION RIGHT-OF-WAY, ANYTHING PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY WE -- IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A CITY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING OUT THERE AND CLEANING UP THE SITUATION. WHETHER IT'S ILLEGAL DUMPING OR WHETHER IT'S A HOMELESS CAMP. IN ALL OF OUR EASEMENTS AND RIGHT OF WAYS, COUNCILORS, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND UPON NOTIFICATION FROM PROPERTY OWNERS, COUNCILORS, WE TRY TO GET TO THEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. EITHER USING THE FOLKS AT SOLID WASTE OR DMD OR ANY OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED WAS WE HAVE A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH FROM ALL THE CITY DEPARTMENTS THAT CAN SUPPORT ENSURING, ESPECIALLY AS WE DEAL WITH THE ENCAMPMENT ISSUES. RIGHT OF OWNED BY THE DOT, WE HAVE AGREEMENTS WHERE OUR FOLKS CAN GO IN TO RESOLVE OR AT LEAST MOVE PEOPLE ALONG AND CLEAN UP THE AREAS. SUCH AS UNDERNEATH INTERSTATE BRIDGES. IF IT'S ALONG THE RAILROAD TRACKS THAT IS ALSO OWNED BY THE NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. RIO METRO UNDER THEIR AGREEMENT WITH RAIL RUNNER HAS A CREW THAT GOES OUT THERE AND CLEANS THOSE AREAS LONG THE RAILROAD TRACKS AS THEY MAY BECOME A HAZARD. AND ALSO TO THE FOLKS THAT MIGHT BE CAMPING NEXT TO THE TRACKS BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS. WE HAVE CONNECTIONS WITH THEM AND WE TRY TO GET THEM OUT THERE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. IF IT'S ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH FOLKS BEING IN PRIVATE PROPERTY, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO ELEN AND GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE IN TERMS OF HOW HIS CODE ENFORCEMENT NOTIFY OWNERS AND HOW THAT CLEAN-UP EFFORT IS SET UP. >> YES, WITH YOUR PERMISSION, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. COUNCILOR BASSAN, GOOD QUESTION. NUMBER ONE, WE WANT TO REITERATE THAT WE DID MAKE A MISTAKE ON THE FIRST INSTANCE. WE THOUGHT THAT PARTICULAR ENCAMPMENT WAS LOCATED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. WE LEARNED THAT IT WAS NOT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WE QUICKLY CORRECTED THE ERROR. AND CONTACTED THE RIGHT AUTHORITY THAT HAD OWNED THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. THAT WAS CLEANED UP. WE ADMIT WE MADE AN ERROR IN THAT REGARD. WE'RE SORRY THAT HAPPENED AND WE'LL DO A BETTER JOB GOING FORWARD. WHEN IT IS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WE'RE HOPING THE OWNER HAS POSTED NO TRESPASSING SIGNS ON THE PROPERTY. THAT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER BECAUSE THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH APD AND FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AND COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT CAN REACH OUT TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND HAVE THE CAMP SET ON THAT POSTED PRIVATE PROPERTY. APD AND THE DEPARTMENT CAN REMOVE THEM. AND THE CITY ATTEMPTS TO PROVIDE SERVICES OR RESOURCES TO THOSE PEOPLE DURING THAT PROCESS. IT IS MUCH BETTER IF THE PEOPLE HAVE PROPERTY POSTED AND WE CAN HELP WITH THAT. ANY ILLEGAL DUMPING THAT TAKES PLACE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER. HOWEVER, IF THERE'S UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES I'M SURE THE CITY AND SOLID WASTE WOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. ESPECIALLY IF THE CITY SOMEHOW INADVERTENTLY AIDED IN A SITUATION THAT RESULTED IN ILLEGAL LEAVING OF TRASH OR GARBAGE ON THE PROPERTY. >>COUN. BASSAN: THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. I APPRECIATE TOO THE CANDOR WITH NOTICING IT WAS A MISTAKE. I KNOW THIS PARTICULAR PERSON HAD SAID THEY CONTACTED THE CITY EIGHT WEEKS IN A ROW TO ASK FOR HELP. I REALLY HOPE WE'RE DOING SOMETHING MORE PROACTIVE WHEN WE DO HAVE THAT KIND OF COMMUNICATION. I WILL SAY THAT THEY ALSO FOLLOWED UP BY SAYING RESPONSE FOR CLEAN UP AND ASSISTANCE WAS RAPID ONCE THEY CONTACTED MY OFFICE. IT'S JUST WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANYBODY DO THAT. DISCUSSION?HER >>COUN. GIBSON: IT IS. I THINK I COME AFTER COUNCILOR DAVIS. >>COUN. BORREGO: OKAY. COUNCILOR DAVIS. >>COUN. DAVIS: MY QUESTION IS ABOUT A DIFFERENT TOPIC. >>COUN. BORREGO: I'D LIKE TO GO TO COUNCILOR GIBSON FIRST. >>COUN. GIBSON: THANK YOU. A PARALLEL QUESTION, OR AT LEAST VERY RELATED TO THIS. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CLEANING UP ENCAMPMENT USING SOLID WASTE OR ANY OTHER MEANS, WHERE ARE THE INHABITANTS BEING SENT? ARE THEY BEING SENT TO ANY PARTICULAR PLACE OR ANY LOCAL NON-PROFIT ADVOCATE GROUP? WHERE ARE WE SENDING THEM? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, CAROL PIERCE FROM FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT CAN TALK TO YOU ALONG WITH THE ACS DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF SERVICES WE PROVIDE. CAROL, IF YOU CAN RESPOND, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, AND COUNCILOR GIBSON. WHEN SOMEBODY IS IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, THEY'RE IN AN ENCAMPMENT AND IT'S FALLING INTO THE VEET OR CLOSE TO A RAILROAD TRACK, SOMETHING THAT'S IMMEDIATE DANGER THEY'RE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY. AND THEY'RE BEING DIRECTED TO DIFFERENT SERVICES. AND FINDING OUT WHERE ARE THEY CURRENTLY CONNECTED. IN THE INSTANCE WHERE THEY'RE NOT IN IMMEDIATE DANGER THEY'RE GIVEN A 72-HOUR NOTICE TO SAY THIS ISN'T A PLACE FOR ENCAMPMENT. AND OUR ACS PEOPLE FOLLOW TO OFFER MORE RESOURCES AND CONNECTION BACK TO ONE OF THE NON-PROFITS THAT THEY'RE CONNECTED WITH. WE HAD A GOOD EXAMPLE THIS WEEKEND ON UNHOUSED INDIVIDUAL, VERY FAMILIAR, AND ACS WAS ABLE TO DO A REALLY GOOD JOB. GIVEN IT WAS THE WEEKEND THERE WEREN'T FOLKS TO CONNECT HIM WITH. HE REMAINED ON-SITE, WE WORKED WITH THE BUSINESSES AND HELPED KEEP HIM IN PLACE AND WE GOT HIM CONNECTED TO HOPE WORKS TODAY. THEY WEREN'T IN IMMEDIATE DANGER. WE WERE IN CONVERSATION WITH THE BUSINESS AND CHURCH WHERE THEY WERE LOCATED. THAT'S HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS. >>COUN. GIBSON: OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I'M REALLY ASKING. EVEN AFTER THE 72-HOURS, WE BREAK UP ENCAMPMENTS, WE PICK UP LITTER AND I DON'T THINK ANYONE REALLY THROWING PERSONAL ITEMS AWAY. I'M SURE THAT HAPPENS TOO. WE'RE JUST TELLING THEM, THE UNSHELTERED, UNHOUSED PEOPLE, THAT THEY CAN'T STAY THERE. BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE IS NOT A LEGAL PLACE FOR THEM TO SLEEP OUTDOORS. THIS IS A QUESTION THAT I'VE BEEN ASKING. YOU KNOW, YOU AND I HAD THIS CONVERSATION MANY TIMES IN THE PAST. IT'S A QUESTION WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKED THIS AND BE ASKING OURSELVES THIS IN YEARS TO COME. WE NEED TO HAVE WHAT IS NOW BEING CALLED SAFE OPEN SPACES. NOT JUST ONE, NOT JUST TWO, WE NEED THEM ALL OVER THE CITY. AND THEN WE CAN SAY I'M SORRY YOU CANNOT SLEEP ON THIS DOORSTEEP OR IN THIS ALLEY OR PARK OR WHATEVER. BUT THERE'S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GO. UNTIL WE CAN DO THAT, THE WAY WE'RE HANDLING NOW IS JUST IMMORAL. I THINK -- I DON'T USE THAT WORD LIGHTLY. I'M NOT BLAMING ANYONE IN PARTICULAR. RE IF YOU HAVE ANYTHICARO >>COUN. BORREGO: GOOD EVENING, WE'RE RESUMING OUR REGULAR PROGRAMMING FOR CITY COUNCIL. CITY COUNCIL MEETING THIS EVENING. I'M BEING TOLD THAT I HAVE STAFF WAITING AND I'D RATHER TRY TO GET THAT PARTICULAR ITEM OFF THE TABLE. THIS IS ITEM G. I'M GOING TO START WITH COUNCILOR BASSAN'S ITEM. O-85. THIS IS COUNCILOR BASSAN. DO YOU WANT TO READ WHAT IT IS? >>COUN. BASSAN: AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO TAX-EXEMPT INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BOND FOR HOPE CHRISTIAN TOOLS IN THE AMOUNT OF $8.5 MILLION. THERE'S LANGUAGE I NEED TO READ. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU. FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM, WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL DIRECTION FROM OUR BOND COUNSEL. HEARING FOR HOPE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS ORDINANCE. THIS HEARING HAS BEEN CALLED PURSANT TO 147-F OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986 CONCERNING THE ISSUANCE BY THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO OF THE TAX-EXEMPT INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BOND IN THE AMOUNT OF $8.5 MILLION FOR THE HOPE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INCORPORATED PROJECT. NOTICE OF THIS HEARING WAS PUBLISHED IN THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL DECEMBER 13, 2021. THE BONDS ARE TO BE ISSUES TO REFINANCE,FIANCE THE CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT AND EQUIPMENT OF NEW EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES FOR HOPE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL. THE PROJECT WILL BE LOCATED IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AT 8001 AND 8005 LOUISIANA AVENUE NORTHEAST AND 6721 67 # # -- 6731. THE PURPOSE OF THIS HEARING IS TO GIVE THE PUBLIC THE ABILITY TO HAVE COMMENT CONCERNING THE ISSUANCE OF BOND SO THE CITY COUNCIL CAN CONSIDER SUCH INFORMATION. AFTER ALL COMMENTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED THE CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER ADOPTION OF BOND ORDINANCE FOR THE ISSUANCE OF THE BOND. THIS HEARING IS NOW OPEN TO QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? DO WE HAVE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS REGARDING THE HEARING? -- COUNCILOR BASSAN. >>COUN. BASSAN: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANTED TO -- WHEN IT WAS APPROPRIATE I WANT TO MAKE SURE I MOVE A DUE PASS. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BASSAN. I'LL SECOND THAT. IT APPEARS WE HAVE MR. CHRIS MEREHEAD THE BOND ATTORNEY ON THE LINE. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. BEFORE WE GO TO OUR PUBLIC SPEAKER WE'RE GOING TO GO THE BOND ATTORNEY AND WE'LL WHICH BACK AND THERE'S A GENTLEMAN SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THIS BOND JUST REITERATE THAT IT'S NOT A BOND OF THE CITY. IT'S A CONDUIT. THEY CAN BORROW ON A TAX-EXEMPT BASIS. THE CITY IS PROVIDING THIS SERVICE FOR THEM. IT'S NOT AN OBLIGATION OF THE CITY IN ANY RESPECT. THE CITY IS NOT PROVIDING ECONOMIC INCENTIVES. THERE ARE PEOPLE AND I THINK I HEARD PEOPLE FROM HOPE SCHOOLS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT IT. IT'S REFINANCING THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN EDUCATIONAL BUILDING ON LOUISIANA AND PASEO. THEY CAN GIVE YOU BACKGROUND. THIS ALLOWS THEM TO REFINANCE THE DEBT ON A TAX-EXEMPT BASIS AT A LOWER INTEREST RATE SAVINGS. >>COUN. BORREGO: IF I MIGHT ASK, WHAT IS THE INTEREST RATE? >> THEY ARE WORKING WITH BBVA COMPASS WHICH HAS BEEN ACQUIRED BY PNC. THE INTEREST RATE IS UNDER 4% WHICH RESULTS IN $800,000 IN SAVINGS OVER THE TEN YEARS OF THE BOND. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR DAVIS. >>COUN. DAVIS: FOR LONG TIME THE CITY STAYED AWAY FROM IRBs. WE BROKE THAT EGG NOT LONG AGO. NETFLIX WAS THE FIRST ONE WE HAD DONE IN A LONG TIME. DOING IT FOR 501C3 IS DIFFERENT THAN DOING IT FOR JOB-CREATING ENTITIES WITH LARGE EQUIPMENT. I'M NOT CRITICAL OF THIS. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING WE DON'T DO OFTEN. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ROADRUNNER FOOD BANK WE HAVEN'T DONE THIS IN 20 YEARS. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW THIS WORKS FOR NON-PROFITS? >> COUNCILOR DAVIS, EXCELLENT QUESTION. YOU'RE RIGHT THIS IS NOT A DEAL THAT IS DRIVEN BY ECONOMIC INCENTIVE FOR INVESTOR REVENUE BOND WHICH YOU SEE WITH JOB CREATION INDUSTRY. THE FEDERAL LEVEL REQUIRES THAT A LOCAL GOVERNMENT DO IT. HOW THE STATE HAS ADDRESSED THAT IS TO PROVIDE FOR THESE KIND OF FINANCINGS UNDER THE INDUSTRIAL REVENUE ACT. THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE IT AND IT COMES UP. YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S NOT A TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BOND THAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS FOR NETFLIXES AND OTHERS. ROADRUNNER FOOD BANK IS THE MOST RECENT. BEFORE THAT, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. THEY HAVE OPTIONS OF GOING THROUGH THE COUNTY, OR CITY OR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY. IT IS NOT A COMMON -- YOU SEE IT IN CHARTER SCHOOLS THROUGH APS AND OTHERS THAT HAVE 501C3 FOUNDATIONS AND THEY GO THROUGH A WISCONSIN PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY THAT ISSUES THE BONDS. AND HOSPITALS YOU SEE IT, BUT THERE'S THE HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT LOAN COUNSEL THAT DOES THAT. HERE THEY FALL INTO AN AREA WHERE THERE'S NOT A DEDICATED ISSUER. THE CITY IS A LOGICAL CHOICE. IT'S NOT A COMMON FINANCING. THE REASON IT COMES UP IS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE NEW MEXICO STATUTES PUT IT. >>COUN. DAVIS: MADAM PRESIDENT, IF I CAN ASK -- THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME. I LIKE THE IDEA OF SUPPORTING NON-PROFITS. I WANT TO ASK, THERE'S LOTS OF CHARTER SCHOOLS. ONCE WE DO ONE, EVERYBODY WILL TAKE A LOOK. WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF ALL OF THESE NON-PROFITS USING THIS. MOST OF THEM, IF THEY'RE A LEASED PROPERTY OR IF THEY'RE BUYING PROPERTY WE'RE NOT GETTING THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. WHAT'S THE FISCAL IMPACT TO THE CITY OR GOVERNMENT? >> THERE IS NO FISCAL IMPACT TO THE CITY. THE FISCAL IMPACT WOULD BE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE INTEREST EARNINGS FOR BOND HOLDER ARE GOING TO BE TAX-EXEMPT THAT WOULD NORMALLY GO TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE CITY DOESN'T LOSE ANY ECONOMIC BENEFIT. AND THEY'RE NOT GIVING INCENTIVES. GENERALLILY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE FINANCING OF A SIZABLE NUMBER TO JUSTIFY THE LEGAL EXPENSE AND OTHER EXPENSE. THEY CLEARED THAT THRESHOLD AT $8 MILLION. SMALLER DEALS YOU DON'T SEE IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE. THE REAL GAIN IS ON A FEDERAL LEVEL. >>COUN. DAVIS: I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING STRATEGY TO REALLY GET BENEFITS FOR THEIR CAPITAL. IT'S INTERESTING, I HAVE THOUGHT SEEN IT DONE BEFORE. I APPRECIATE IT. MADAM PRESIDENT, MAYBE, I KNOW THIS IS BY REQUEST. I WANT TO ASK THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS. I'M NOT BEING CRITICAL I'M TRYING TO LEARN WAS WE'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF THESE ONCE WE DO THIS. MR. RAEL, I EXPECT THIS IS YOUR WHEELHOUSE. WHAT'S OUR GATING CRITERIA FOR SCHOOLS? I SUSPECT -- I'M NOT SURE WE SHOULD USE A GATING CRITERIA ABOUT WHETHER THEY ARE RELIGIOUS SCHOOL OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF SCHOOL. WE'RE GOING TO GET QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THIS IS A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION OR RELIGIOUS SCHOOL. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CRITERIA? >>COUN. BORREGO: MR. RAEL, GO AHEAD. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH BACK IN MY EARLIER CAREER IN CITY GOVERNMENT WE FINANCED SEVERAL PRIVATE SCHOOLS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE SANDIA PREP GOT AN IRB. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THE BOSQUE SCHOOL WAS ISSUED IRB. WE'VE HAD SCHOOLS IN THE PAST THAT USE THIS PROCESS TO REALLY BENEFIT THE SCHOOL BY GETTING A BETTER INTEREST RATE. THIS PARTICULAR ONE WAS A VERY UNUSUAL ONE. THERE WAS -- WE HAD NOT SEEN VERY MANY COME. IN FACT, I THINK IN THE FOUR YEARS WE'VE BEEN HERE THIS IS THE ONLY SCHOOL THAT HAS COME AND APPROACHED THE CITY. I SUSPECT THEY DID IT BECAUSE THEY WENT TO -- THESE PRIVATE SCHOOLS ALL TALK TO EACH OTHER. TO BE HONEST ABOUT IT, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD VERY MANY WE DIDN'T HAVE A GATING CRITERIA, AS SUCH. I SAY TO THIS HAVING WORKED WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS AS MR. MEREHEAD SAID, CHARTER SCHOOLS AREN'T IN THE SAME STRUCTURE AS SOME OF THESE LONG-TERM PRIVATE FINANCED FACILITIES LIKE THE ACADEMY AND HOPE CHRISTIAN AND SOME OF THE OTHERS. IT REALLY DOESN'T PENCIL OUT FOR THE CHARTER SCHOOLS TO USE THIS PROCESS. THEY SHOULD BE GOING TO THE STATE MORTGAGE FINANCE AUTHORITY AND HAVE THE STATE MORTGAGE AUTHORITY HELP THEM BECAUSE THEY GET BETTER RATES OUT OF THE STATE OR SOMETIMES SOME OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS FINANCE IT. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION STRAIGHT UP, THIS IS THE FIRST ONE WE'VE GOTTEN IN THE FOUR YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE. WE HAVEN'T SEEN MANY FOLKS AVAILING THEMSELVES OF THIS. >>COUN. DAVIS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT FOR THE TIME. I SUSPECT ONCE SOMEONE WILL CRACK THAT EGG SOMEONE ELSE WILL SHOW UP. IT DOESN'T IMPACT THE CITY. IT'S JUST AN INTERESTING PIECE I HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE. CERTAINLY ONE THAT I THINK THERE'S CONVERSATION WITH OTHER INSTITUTIONAL NON-PROFITS ABOUT HELPING THEM BE MORE SUCCESSFUL AND PUT MORE DOLLARS INTO SERVICES OR IMPROVE SITUATIONAL OUTCOMES. THANK YOU MADAM PRESIDENT FOR THE TIME. >>COUN. BORREGO: I AGREE WITH YOU, COUNCILOR DAVIS. I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. COUNCILOR BENTON. >>COUN. BENTON: I GUESS I AM PUZZLED BY THIS. ANY QUALIFYING NON-PROFIT, IN THEORY, COULD APPLY FOR THIS? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR BENTON, THE WAY IT WORKS IF YOU ARE A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED NON-PROFIT 501C3 THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE DOES GIVE YOU THE BENEFIT OF BORROWING ON A TAX-EXEMPT BASIS. IT DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO DO IT DIRECTLY. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THIS HICCUP. THEY COME TO THE CITY OR ANOTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY TO DO IT. REALLY, THE KEY IS BEING A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED 501C3. I WOULD SAY MANY YEARS BEFORE MY TIME THEY HAVE DONE A DEAL THROUGH THE CITY. THEY GO THROUGH THE HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT LOAN COUNCIL NOW. IT'S CLOSER TO THIS WHERE YOU HAVE A RELIGIOUS BACKED ORGANIZATION. IT'S A CONGLOMERATE OF FAITH-BASED GROUPS. IN THE LATE 190 -- 1990 THEY HAVE A SPECIAL IDENTITY OR THEY HAVE AN IDENTITY THAT'S AN EASIER PROCESS LIKE IF IT IS WISCONSIN FINANCE AUTHORITY. SO THEY USE THAT. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, I'M GOING TO GO TO MR. CROW WHO IS FROM HOPE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS. I SAW YOU ON THE LINE. ARE YOU STILL THERE? >> YES, I AM. MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS, I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS OUR SINCERE THANKS AND ESPECIALLY TO MR. MEREHEAD FOR HIS HELP GUIDING US THROUGH THIS PROCESS. IT WAS A SUGGESTION OF OUR BANKS TO PURSUE THIS AVENUE TO SAVE US MONEY ON INTEREST RATES. IT JUST COMES DOWN TO, AS COUNCILOR DAVIS SAID, MONEY WE DON'T HAVE TO FUND RAISE AND TAKE IT OUT OF OUR PARENT AND TUITION PAYER'S POCKET. THE LAND WE'RE DEVELOPING IS ALREADY OWNED BY THE SCHOOL. JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY THANKS AND ALSO TO COUNCILOR BASSAN AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE WORK THEY DID GUIDING THIS THROUGH THIS AND TALKING US THROUGH IT. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, MR. CROW. ANY QUESTIONS? BEFORE WE MOVE ON I WANT TO EXPRESS MY THANKS AND GRATITUDE TO MR. MEREHEAD FOR THE GUIDANCE HE'S GIVEN MYSELF OVER THE YEARS REGARDING BONDS. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. >>COUN. BORREGO: COUNCILOR BASSAN, DO YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING REMARKS? >>COUN. BASSAN: THERE'S SEVERAL MORE THINGS I SEE IN THE SCRIPT THAT WE MAKE SURE THE HEARING IS CLOSED AND I DON'T WANT TO GO FURTHER. >>COUN. BORREGO: I CAN DO THAT. I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU HAD MORE REMARKS. >>COUN. BASSAN: THANK YOU FOR MR. CROW REACHING OUT. WE HAVE A FLOOR SUBSTITUTE THAT NEEDS TO BE MOVED ONCE THE HEARING IS CLOSED. >>COUN. BORREGO: WITH THAT, I DON'T SEE ANYONE ELSE IN THE QUEUE TO MAKE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. I'M GOING TO CLOSE THIS HEARING. COUNCILOR BASSAN, DO YOU WANT TO MOVE THIS ITEM? >>COUN. BASSAN: YES, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE FLOOR SUBSTITUTE IN THE iPADS. AND I ASK MR. MEREHEAD TO POINT OUT THE CHANGES. >>COUN. BORREGO: I'LL SECOND. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BASSAN. THIS IS VERY ACTUALLY VERY SMALL. THERE'S ONE SECTION, IF YOU LOOK AT THE RED LINE WHERE IT DISCUSSES THE PROJECT AND IT DIDN'T SAY REFINANCE. A TEAM OF LAWYERS WORKING ON THIS SO THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT CAUGHT THAT. TWZ REFINANCING AN EXISTING CONSTRUCTION. NOT MONEY FOR A NEW CONSTRUCTION. IT JUST CLARIFIES MAKING IT DOUBLY COVERED IT'S A REFINANCING OF DEBT. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I DON'T SEE ANY. WE'LL MOVE TO MS. ORTEGA FOR THE VOTE ON THE FLOOR SUB. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. BENTON: YES. >>COUN. DAVIS: YES. >>COUN. GIBSON: YES. >>COUN. JONES: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. SENA: YES. >>COUN. BORREGO: YES. >> 8-0 ON THE FLOOR SUB. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILORS. THAT'S THE FLOOR SUBTHAT PASSES ON AN 8-0. WE'LL GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL BILL. COUNCILOR BASSAN. >>COUN. BASSAN: THANK YOU, MR. MEREHEAD FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BASSAN. WE'LL MOVE TO A VOTE. MS. ORTEGA. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. BENTON: YES. >>COUN. DAVIS: YES. >>COUN. GIBSON: YES. >>COUN. JONES: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. SENA: YES. >>COUN. BORREGO: YES. THANK YOU, COUNCILORS. WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE BACK TO ITEM A, WHICH WE DEFERRED EARLIER. IT'S COUNCILOR JONES, O-76. >>COUN. JONES: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. IT'S ADOPTING A UNIFORM ADMINISTRATIVE CODE AND TECHNICAL CODE PRESCRIBING MINIMUM STANDARDS REGULATING THE CONSTRUCTION, ALTERATION, NEWLY REPAIR, AND USE OF OCCUPANCY OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING SERVICES AND INSTALLATIONS. I MOVE A DUE PASS. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. WE HAVE A MOTION, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILOR SENA. >>COUN. JONES: THIS IS MY REQUEST OF THE ADMINISTRATION. I'M SURE THEY HAVE SOMEONE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS SHOULD WE HAVE IT. >>COUN. BORREGO: I'M GOING TO GO TO THE MAYOR'S CONFERENCE ROOM. WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THIS? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, THIS IS PART OF A REWRITE WHEN WE ADOPTED OUR BUILDING CODE SOMETIME AGO THE NEW CODE. ALAN IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. >>COUN. BORREGO: I'LL GO TO MR. CLARK. WHO WOULD LIKE TO -- MR. VARELA. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, THANK YOU. THE AMENDMENT -- THIS BILL, WE MOVED THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE CITY BE THE PARTY THAT CONDUCTS THE ANNUAL ELEVATOR INSPECTIONS. IT IMPOSES THE REQUIREMENT ON THE PROPERTY OWNER TO CONDUCT THOSE. WE WERE LOOKING AT HOW TO MAINTAIN SAFETY AMONG ELEVATORS AND HOW ACTUALLY TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND THE CITY SIMPLY HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE WORKLOAD. THERE ARE CLOSE TO 1800 ELEVATORS NEEDING TO BE INSPECTED ON ANNUAL BASIS. THE CITY HAD TWO ELEVATOR INSPECTOR POSITIONS. IF THE CITY WERE TO TRY TO PROPERLY STAFF AND KEEP UP WITH THE INSPECTIONS WE ESTIMATE THAT WE WOULD NEED TO OFFER PEOPLE $100,000 PER YEAR TO DO ELEVATOR INSPECTOR JOB. THERE'S CERTIFIED ELEVATOR INSPECTORS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH THE SAME CERTIFICATIONS THAT CITY INSPECTORS WENT THROUGH IN THE PAST THAT WORK WITH PRIVATE COMPANIES AND THEY ARE FULLY CAPABLE TO DO INSPECTIONS. THE FIRE CODE DOES REQUIRE THAT THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE CHECK FOR CERTIFICATIONS OF ELEVATOR INSPECTION. THE FIRE MARSHAL WILL STILL BE ABLE TO SEE OR REQUEST THE COPY OF THE ANNUAL ELEVATOR INSPECTION THAT HAS BEEN CONDUCTED BY A PRIVATE ELEVATOR INSPECTOR WHO IS FULLY CERTIFIED AS OPPOSED TO THE CITY HOPING TO GET TO IT. THE CITY CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THE WORKLOAD. WE CONSIDER THAT UNSAFE FOR THE PUBLIC. >>COUN. BORREGO: MR. CLARK, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. NO, THAT SUMS IT UP PRETTY WELL. THERE'S BEEN A PROBLEMATIC PROGRAM. BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES THAT DIRECTOR VARELA INDICATED, IT DOESN'T FIT INTO WHAT WE DO. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO STAFF. IT DOESN'T REALLY CHANGE THE REQUIREMENTS IT MOVES TO THE PROPERTY OWNER AND AWAY FROM THE CITY PLANNING. >>COUN. BORREGO: COUNCILOR JONES. >>COUN. JONES: THANK YOU, I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION. I JUST WANT TO SAY, MR. CLARK, IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE I'VE SEEN YOU. IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR JONES, THANK YOU. >>COUN. BORREGO: I DO HAVE A QUESTION. IT'S WITH HARD TO LIABILITY. CURRENTLY, I'M TRYING TO GET THIS CLEAR IN MY MIND. THE CITY INSPECTS THE ELEVATOR AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SIGNS OFF ON THAT INSPECTION. OR WE HAVE A PERSON DEDICATED IN THE CITY THAT DOES THAT RIGHT? THIS TAKES IT OUT OF THE CITY'S REALM, PUTS IT INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR, YET THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STILL HAS TO CHECK IT. I'M JUST A LITTLE CONFUSED ABOUT THAT. IS THAT THE RIGHT PROCESS? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. THAT IS TO SOME DEGREE THE CORRECT PROCESS. THE FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE CONDUCTS FIRE SAFETY CODE INSPECTIONS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. SOMETIMES EVEN TWICE PER YEAR. THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CHECKS FOR. IT'S A CERTIFIED INSPECTION BEING CONDUCTED ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. >>COUN. BORREGO: OKAY. JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, I GUESS THIS IS A LEGAL QUESTION, I DON'T KNOW IF MR. ROMERO WANTS TO ANSWER THIS. IF THERE'S A FAULTY ELEVATOR AND IT'S BEEN INSPECTED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE CITY HAS ACCEPTED THAT WHO IS LIABLE FOR THAT? IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN WEIGHING ON THE BACK OF MY MIND ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. I'D LIKE TO GET AN ANSWER TO THAT. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, WE CAN ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO ANSWER THAT. >>COUN. BORREGO: MR. AGUILAR, ARE YOU THERE? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, LET ME SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS AND AT THIS POINT I'LL TRY TO GET HIM. KEEP IN MIND, I THINK DIRECTOR VARELA DESCRIBED THE PROCESS BEFORE. WE HAVE CITY INSPECTORS DOING THE INSPECTIONS WE INSPECTED THEM AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CERTIFIED THEM AS PART OF THEIR WORK. WE WERE TOTALLY IN THE LIABILITY CHAIN AS A RESULT. WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING THROUGH THE CHANGE IS A THIRD-PARTY HIRED BY THE OWNERS OF THE BUILDINGS BE THE CERTIFIERS OF THE ELEVATORS SO THEY OPERATE CORRECTLY AND ONLY WHEN AFTER THAT IS DONE WHEN THE CITY FIRE MARSHAL COMES IN TO SEE IF THEY WORK APPROPRIATELY AND PUTS THE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE OWNERS OF THE BUILDING, TO ENSURE THEY'RE WORKING APPROPRIATELY SO THEY'RE PART OF THE LIABILITY AS OPPOSED TO THE CITY TAKING ALL OF THE LIABILITY FOR A BUILDING WE DON'T OWN AND MAINTAIN. THE IDEA IS PUT THE EMPHASIS ON THE OWNERS OF THE BUILDING AND HAVE THE CITY BE THE CERTIFICATION AGENCY TO ENSURE THEY'RE WORKING CORRECTLY. >>COUN. BORREGO: I SEE MR. ROMERO'S HAND SUP. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I JUST WANTED TO ELABORATE MORE. IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS. SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO INSPECT THE SAFETY SYSTEMS WITH THESE BUILDINGS ON AN ANNIAN BASIS. IN ADDITION TO LOOKING FOR THE SAFETY SYSTEMS WE LOOK FOR THE ELEVATOR CERTIFICATE DONE BY THE THIRD PARTY. IT'S REALLY NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE DATE TO DAY OPERATIONS FROM AFR STANDPOINT. I CAN'T SPEAK UPON THE LEGALITY AND LIABILITY WHICH IT SOUNDS LIKE THE MAYOR'S OFFICE HAS THAT UNDER CONTROL IN TERMS OF GETTING AN ANSWER. FROM OUR VIEWPOINT WE'RE GOING TO DO BUSINESS AS USUAL. >> STEVE IS HAVING TECHNOLOGY PROBLEMS. >>COUN. BORREGO: OKAY. IT DOESN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION ABOUT LIABILITY. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, I THINK -- FIRST OF ALL I'M NOT EQUIPPED TO WEIGH IN ON THIS ISSUE WITH ANY AMOUNT OF RELIABILITY. I -- MR. AGUILAR IS ON NOW. >>COUN. BORREGO: THERE HE IS. CAN YOU WEIGH IN ON THE LIABILITY QUESTION? >> THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. I DIDN'T HEAR THE QUESTION. COULD YOU PLEASE REPEAT IT? >>COUN. BORREGO: ABSOLUTELY. IF I'M IN THE ELEVATOR AND I'M IN AN 18-STORY BUILDING, I'M IN A LARGE BUILDING AND THE ELEVATOR IS FAULTY AND SOMEONE GETS HURT WHO IS LIABLE? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, AS A FORMER TRIAL LAWYER THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO I WOULD PURSUE LEGAL CLAIMS AND ACTIONS AGAINST. UNDER THAT HYPOTHETICAL, I WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO SPECIFICALLY ANSWER THAT QUESTION NOW. THERE WOULD BE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO I WOULD BE EXPLORING AFTER A FULL INVESTIGATION. >>COUN. BORREGO: I GUESS MY QUESTION IS DOES IT TAKE THE CITY -- DOES IT REMOVE THE CITY FROM THE LIABILITY IF WE DO THIS? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN WEIGHING IN MY MIND SINCE I HEARD ABOUT THIS BILL. I SHOULD HAVE CONTACTED YOU SOONER. I KNEW YOU OUT OF POCKET. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. FOLKS FROM MY TEAM ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. IF YOU CAN MORE SPECIFICALLY POSE THE QUESTION YOU'RE ASKING NOW AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT. >>COUN. BORREGO: THE QUESTION IS, IF THE INSPECTION IS TAKEN AWAY FROM THE CITY FROM THE BUILDING CODE DEPARTMENT AND IT'S PLACED ON THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELEVATOR -- I GUESS WE CAN'T DETERMINE WHO THE LIABILITY IS GOING TO WEIGH ON? >> NO. I FRANKLY THINK UNDER THAT IT WOULD BE IMPROPER TO ANSWER THAT. I COULD RAISE OTHER QUESTIONS OF LIABILITY. >>COUN. BORREGO: MY QUESTION, MORE SPECIFICALLY, IS IF WE DO THIS DOES IT REMOVE LIABILITY FROM THE CITY? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, MAYBE FOR CITY ATTORNEY ACCESS -- LET ME DESCRIBE THE SITUATION. RIGHT NOW THE CITY UNDER THE CURRENT PROCESS INSPECTS ELEVATORS IN PRIVATE BUILDINGS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CERTIFIES THAT THE INSPECTIONS HAVE BEEN DONE AND DETERMINES THAT THE ELEVATORS ARE WORKING PROPERLY. THE CHANGE WITH THIS ORDINANCE OR CHANGE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS THAT INSPECTION OF ELEVATORS SHOULD BE BORN BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR THEY OWN THE BUILDING AND MAINTAIN OR OWN BUILDING. THE IDEA IS TO HAVE THEM DO THE INSPECTION OF THEIR OWN ELEVATORS AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SERTIFIES THEM AS THEY HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED. COUNCILOR BORREGO'S CONCERN IS IF WE PUSH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR INSPECTING THE ELEVATORS DOES THAT TAKE OUT OF THE LIABILITY CHAIN? I WOULD SAY THAT FROM MY TENURE IN GOVERNMENT IS WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BE COMPLETELY OUT OF THE LIABILITY CHAIN BECAUSE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS CERTIFYING THEM AND THEY'RE PART OF CITY GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, MAINTAINING A BUILDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE BUILDING NOT OWNED BY THE CITY SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROPERTY OWNER AND NOT FOR THE CITY. FOR YEARS WE'VE BEEN DOING IT THAT WAY. WE CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THE WORK OR HIRE GOOD PEOPLE TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A SPECIALIZED AREA. WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE THIS TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. >>COUN. BORREGO: THAT IS THE CRUX OF THE QUESTION. COUNCILOR? COUNCILOR JONES TO CLOSE. >>COUN. JONES: I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. MS. ORTEGA. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. BENTON: YES. >>COUN. DAVIS: YES. >>COUN. GIBSON: YES. >>COUN. JONES: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. SENA: YES. >>COUN. BORREGO: YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. RAEL FOR THE CLARIFICATION. I WAS GOING TO VOTE NO ON THAT. IT ACTUALLY CHANGED MY MIND. COUNCILOR SENA, ITEM E AND ITEM E IS R-229. WOULD YOU LIKE TO PRESENT THIS? >>COUN. SENA: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. R-229 IS DENOUNCING XENOPHOBIA PACIFIC ISLANDER AND CONDEMNING RACIST ACT AND HATE CRIMES TARGETING ASIAN AMERICANS. I MOVE A DUE PASS. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SENA. I'LL SECOND THAT. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILORS? >>COUN. GIBSON: MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE RESPONSE FRR PRESENTING THIS. I THINK THIS IS A GOOD NOTE TO END ON. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR GIBSON. COUNCILOR SENA. >>COUN. SENA: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR GIBSON. I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK THAT ONCE I CAME INTO COUNCIL WE HAD A LOT OF FAST-MOVING ISSUES IN REGARD TO THE PANDEMIC. ONE OF THE FIRST COMMUNITY MEETINGS STEMMED FROM RACIAL ATTACKS AGAINST OUR ASIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY. WE SEE IT TODAY. MANY CASES HAVE RISEN AND THE PANDEMIC IS STILL NOT OVER. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO HAVE RESOLUTIONS LIKE THIS. HOWEVER I'M GRATEFUL TO NOT JUST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR REALLY STEPPING UP TO ADDRESS THIS. I KNOW THAT EVEN BETWEEN OUR ASIAN COMMUNITY AND BLACK COMMUNITY HAS SEEN A HUGE RISE AS WELL AS THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF HATE CRIMES. I WANT TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO THE ADMINISTRATION WHO HELPED ME IN DRAFTING THIS RESOLUTION ALONG WITH OUR COMMUNITY RESPONDING TO LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON. IT'S REALLY SAD AND UNFORTUNATE TO HEAR WE'VE HAD SPECIFIC CASES EVEN IN ALBUQUERQUE. I JUST WANT TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION FOR CITY LEGAL FOR STEPPING UP AND HEARING THE CONCERNS ALONG WITH MANY LEGISLATORS WHO ARE LOOKING AT OTHER RESOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. >>COUN. DAVIS: THANK YOU. I JUST APPRECIATE COUNCILOR SENA BRINGING THIS. I WANT TO SHARE WHEN WE DO GOOD THINGS IN THE CITY I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. THESE THINGS ARE STILL HAPPENING. I HAD A CALL FROM A SMALL BUSINESS IN NOB HILL THE OTHER DAY, ONE THAT I FREQUENT WHO HAS MY CELL PHONE NUMBER BECAUSE IT'S ON THE INTERNET. SHE CALLED ME AND WAS REALLY FEARFUL BECAUSE SHE HAD A PHONE MESSAGE WHO HAD SEEN SOMETHING CRAZY ON A PARTICULAR TELEVISION STATION AND WAS COMING TO SEE HER BECAUSE SHE'S AN ASIAN-OWNED BUSINESS AND DOESN'T SPEAK ENGLISH. AND SHE LOCKED HERSELF AND IN THE BUSINESS AND TURNED HER CUSTOMERS AWAY. THE COMMANDER DID A FABULOUS JOB WHO REALLY STEPPED UP DURING ALL THIS TO CREATE A CONVERSATION WITH THE ASIAN-AMERICAN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. WHEN I SPOKE WITH HIM HE SENT OFFICERS TO RESPOND AND FOLLOWED UP. IT'S THE THING THAT HELPS WITH THE CITY AND PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE STRESSED KNOW THERE'S SOMEONE TO SPEAK TO. APD DID A GOOD JOB ON THIS. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SENA, FOR REMINDING US WE'RE NOT DONE WITH THIS. THIS IS AND THE LANGUAGE ACCESS BILL WILL BE VERY SMALL PIECES OF A LARGER SOLUTION. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS WHEN YOU DO A GOOD JOB. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR DAVIS. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SENA. I THINK ANY HATE CRIMES, WHATEVER FORM, ARE NEVER ACCEPTABLE IN ALBUQUERQUE. UNFORTUNATELY, I TOO HAVE SEEN SOME OF THOSE SITUATIONS. I HAD A SITUATION -- A BUSINESS OWNER IN THE SOUTHEAST HEIGHTS WHO CALLED ME AND I PUT THEM IN TOUCH WITH THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION. WE FILED A POLICE REPORT. IT WAS A BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS AND SOMEONE HAD CALLED AND LEFT THEM A THREATENING MESSAGE ON THEIR ANSWERING MACHINE WHICH WAS VERY DISTURBING. AND I ALSO RECEIVED AN EMAIL IN THE OFFICE REGARDING SOME OF THE WORK WE DID WITH COVID TO PROVIDE LOANS AND ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WERE BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES. THIS IS NEVER ACCEPTABLE IN ALBUQUERQUE. I THINK BY THE COUNCIL AND THE ADMINISTRATION MAKING A STATEMENT THAT WE WILL NOT TOLERATE IT IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM IS TRULY SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE DO. WE DO. COUNCILOR SENA, I COMMEND YOU FOR THIS. WITH THAT, DO YOU HAVE ANY CLOSING REMARKS? >>COUN. SENA: AS COUNCILOR DAVIS STATED, IT'S ONGOING. WE'VE HAD ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT GOT THREATS OVER TIME THAT ARE -- WE'VE SEEN DOCTORS AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THREATENED ON THE STREETS. EVEN EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC I FEARED FOR MY PARENTS ACTUALLY GOING TO GROCERY STORES. NOT NECESSARILY THAT THEY WOULD CATCH COVID RATHER THEY FACE A LOT OF ANTI- ASIAN HATE AND SOME OF THE EGREGIOUS CRIMES WE'RE SEEING AROUND THE NATION. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION AND OUR OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS. THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE ALL BEEN WORKING ON ALONG WITH OUR NEXT PIECE OF LEGISLATION. WHAT WAS IMPORTANT IN PRESENTING THIS TO OUR COMMUNITY, NOT JUST RECOGNIZING WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITHIN OUR OWN COMMUNITY, BUT WE CAN DO AS A COUNCIL AND AS A CITY TO STEP UP ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. BORREGO: COUNCILOR, I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE BEATRICE FROM THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FOR THAT. WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE TO A VOTE. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. BENTON: YES. >>COUN. DAVIS: YES. >>COUN. GIBSON: YES. >>COUN. JONES: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. SENA: YES. >>COUN. BORREGO: YES. WE'LL MOVE TO OUR NEXT ITEM WHICH IS ITEM F. THIS IS SPONSORED BY COUNCILOR SENA, COUNCILOR PEÑA, COUNCILOR BENTON, COUNCILOR DAVIS. R-231. >>COUN. SENA: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. R-231 IS DIRECTING THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE TO PROVIDE LANGUAGE ACCESS TO MAKE INFORMATION AND SERVICES MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL CITY RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF ABILITY OR ENGLISH PROFICIENCY. I MOVE A DUE PASS. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SENA. I HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILOR BENTON. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BENTON. ANY COMMENT? >>COUN. SENA: MADAM PRESIDENT. I ALSO WANTED TO THANK MY CO-SPONSORS. IT'S GREAT TO RECOGNIZE SO MANY DIVERSE LANGUAGES THAT WE SPEAK THROUGHOUT ALBUQUERQUE. I THINK FOR THE FIRST TIME EVEN THROUGH THE PANDEMIC HAVING HAD TOWNHALLS OF SEVEN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES OFTENTIMES WE WOULD DO THAT SIMULTANEOUSLY TO GET INFORMATION OUT. I WANT TO THANK -- THE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT. SHE SERVED AT THE OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE AFFAIRS AND TAKING ON HER SET OF -- THEY HAVE CONTINUED ON. I THINK THAT IN RECOGNIZING ALL OF THE LANGUAGES THAT WE SPEAK AND EVEN RECOGNIZING IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION WHY WE EVEN SAY THE PLEDGE IN SPANISH. I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONVEY INFORMATION ESPECIALLY THAT IT'S A FEDERAL LAW IN PROVIDING INFORMATION IN REAL TIME AND REGARDLESS OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY OR THE LANGUAGES WE SPEAK HAS ALSO BEEN IMPORTANT. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE -- FROM OUR OFFICE FOR WORKING ON THIS RESOLUTION. I THINK WHEN WE FIRST STARTED R-229 ON THE ANTI- ASIAN HATE BILL ONE THING THAT CAME FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS PROVIDING LANGUAGE ACCESS. I KNOW THE LEGISLATURE CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE WITH THAT. HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE THAT PASSED IN THE SESSION. OR, IN THE NEXT SESSION. WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS WE NEED TO HAVE THIS INFORMATION ESPECIALLY IN A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY OR NOT IN LANGUAGES THAT OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS AND UNDERSTANDS. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT ALSO THIS RESOLUTION WILL BE TRANSLATED IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES AND TO BE SENT TO THE COMMUNITIES SO THEY ALSO KNOW THEIR RIGHTS. THAT'S WHAT'S IS IMPORTANT. AGAIN, THANK YOU TO MY CO-SPONSORS FOR KNOWING AND UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR LANGUAGE ACCESS ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES IN STEPPING UP WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS STILL A BIT BEHIND. >>COUN. DAVIS: I DO WANT TO COMMEND COUNCILOR SENA ON THIS ONE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I WORKED -- I STARTED WORKING UNDER THE OLD ADMINISTRATION. THIS COUNCIL ACTUALLY FUNDED THE FIRST TIME $150,000 APPROPRIATION TO BUY EVERY APD OFFICER A CELL PHONE TO ACCESS THE LANGUAGE ACCESS LINE IN THE FIELD. THAT WAS THE VERY FIRST LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN IN THE CITY TO BE DEPLOYED IN THE FIELD. THAT TOOK US MORE THAN TWO AND A HALF YEARS TO GET A PLAN TOGETHER, FUND, AND DEPLOY AND THE CELL PHONES BECAME SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT. IT REALLY HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE TO DO THIS AND MOVE THIS FORWARD. GETTING IT DONE IS HARD. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND SAY IT'S NOT A CRITICISM THAT IT'S NOT THE MAYOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT GOT THIS STARTED. I DO APPRECIATE THE ADMINISTRATION FOR SITTING DOWN AND MAKING IT PRIORITY ACROSS ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS. I THINK THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE LEADERSHIP. COUNCILOR SENA, I APPRECIATE YOU WORKING ON THIS. FULLY EXPECT AND HOPE YOU WILL BE AROUND TO HELP US FINISH THIS PROJECT. WE'RE BARELY GETTING STARTED. THANK YOU FOR THIS. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR DAVIS. ALL OF THE COUNCILORS INVOLVED IN SPONSORING THIS BILL, I HAD A QUESTION AND I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP SOONER, IS IT POSSIBLE TO ADD SOMETHING. ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK ABOUT IS THE HEARING-IMPAIRED AND THE BLIND. BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EQUAL ACCESS, I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN MAKE A FRIENDLY -- MAYBE NOT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT OR CREATE AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD ADD THOSE POPULATIONS AS WELL BECAUSE THIS IS MORE RELATED TO LANGUAGE AND THAT IS LANGUAGE AS WELL. THE BLIND AND PEOPLE WHO CAN'T HEAR. THEY USE BRAILLE AND THEY USE OTHER FORMS. I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN SOMEHOW INCLUDE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT. >>COUN. SENA: MADAM PRESIDENT, IF WE COULD ALSO GO TO OUR OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION I THINK PRIOR TO THIS MEETING WE ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO THE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE COMMUNITY IN HAVING THIS INTERPRETED IN ASL. I KNOW THAT IN TERMS OF FIGURES AND NUMBERS AND EVEN SPECIFICALLY WHAT THIS TIME COULD COVER BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT WOULD INCLUDE ASL. EVEN IN SPEAKING -- >>COUN. BORREGO: I WILL GO TO MR. VALENCIA. IN THE MEANTIME MR. MELENDREZ IS LOOKING AT THE BALL TO SEE IF WE NEED TO CREATE AN AMENDMENT. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. MADAM PRESIDENT, CITY COUNCIL, I CAN TELL YOU THE GOOD NEWS. THE BILL HAS INCLUDED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. ACTUALLY OTHER LANGUAGES IS AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE. THAT MAKES IT VERY INCLUSIVE. LANGUAGE IS PART OF THE -- EVERYTHING IS UNDERSTOOD IN OTHER SETTINGS. PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR IT'S VERY INCLUSIVE. I JUST WANTED TO CELEBRATE THAT. WE HAVE -- JUST TO ANSWER COUNCILOR DAVIS, AT THE OFFICE WE HAVE THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FROM THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION WE CAN ALSO BRING MORE INFORMATION. I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE COMMUNITY WE HAD DONE AFTER AND BEFORE FOR THE LANGUAGE WHEN THE LANGUAGE ACT IS FOR THE EXECUTIVE ORDER WAS GIVEN LAST SEPTEMBER. IN THE LAST YEAR WE HAD OVER 100 PEOPLE WHO HAD TAKEN THE LANGUAGE ACCESS TRAINING. I'M TALKING ABOUT CITY EMPLOYEES. NOT ONLY THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST 11 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WHO HAVE TAKEN ASSISTANCE TO BE ABLE TO COMPLY WITH THE LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN. MANY OF THEM ARE BUILDING AT LEAST EIGHT DIFFERENT LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN DRAFTS. IN THE RIGHT TRACK AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. NEXT YEAR MANY BUDGET WILL INCLUDE THIS KIND OF THING. THANK YOU COUNCILOR SENA FOR BRINGING THIS TO LIGHT AND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY. LET'S MAKE THIS HAPPEN. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, THAT WAS VERY GOOD. GOOD EVENING, MR. -- >> THANK YOU. >>COUN. BORREGO: I KNOW YOU'RE FORMER CITY COUNCIL STAFF. >> NO PROBLEM. IT'S BEEN A LONG MEETING. THIS WORK IS DEFINITELY WORTHWHILE. WHAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT WITHIN THE BILL BECAUSE I THINK COUNCIL PRESIDENT YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE VARIOUS LANGUAGES, THE BILL DOES CITE ON PAGE ONE THE SECOND WHEREAS CLAUSE TALKS ABOUT THE MOST COMMON LANGUAGES IN THE CITY OTHER THAN ENGLISH AND AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE IS IDENTIFIED THERE. AND THERE'S ALSO REFERENCE AT THE BEGINNING AT THE TOP OF PAGE TWO THAT TALKS ABOUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS ORDINANCE THAT THE CITY HAS ON THE BOOKS AND THAT PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION. THERE'S OTHER REFERENCES WITHIN THOSE ITEMS IN ADDITION TO THE OUTREACH THAT COUNCILOR SENA MENTIONED. WE BELIEVE IT'S COVERED. . >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK. WHERE DID WORK WITH THE HEARING-IMPAIRED COMMUNITY EARLIER IN MY CITY COUNCIL CAREER. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS COVERED AND THAT THEY'RE INCLUDED. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR SENA. >>COUN. SENA: I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND APPRECIATE THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION I KNOW SO MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS. WRAUNTED TO I WANT TODAY MAKE SURE FOR THE PUBLIC'S AWARENESS THAT IT ALSO HAS OUR AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT COORDINATOR FOR PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THAT INCLUDES THAT AND UTILIZES ASL AND BRAILLE. AND FOR THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT MAY HAVE DISABILITIES THAT WOULD HINDER THEM FROM ACCESSING ALL OF THE ENTER -- INFORMATION THE CITY PROVIDES. >>COUN. BORREGO: DO YOU WANT TO CLOSE? >>COUN. SENA: I ALSO WANT TO GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MY FELLOW CO-SPONSORS BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME LONG BEFORE I CAME ON THE COUNCIL. EVEN WORKING THE LEGISLATURE TO REALLY GET THIS PASSED. WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE WITHIN OUR STATE TO HAVE SUCH A DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE OUR STRENGTHS. FOR US AS A GOVERNING BODY WE HAVE TO PUSH FORWARD TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES. I DON'T WANT TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME. I WANT TO GIVE THE CO-SPONSORS TIME FOR THE PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND EXTEND GRANTITUDE FOR WORKING WITH THIS WITH ME. COUNCILOR BENTON, COUNCILOR PEÑA, COUNCILOR DAVIS. YOU'RE WELCOME TO COMMENT ON THE CLOSE. >>COUN. PEÑA: I'M PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS LEGISLATION. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SENA. >>COUN. BORREGO: COUNCILOR BENTON, COUNCILOR DAVIS? >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SENA, FOR LEADING US ON THIS. GREAT SEE IT MOVE FORWARD. >>COUN. DAVIS: I'VE SAID ENOUGH. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU. WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE TO MS. ORTEGA TO CLOSE. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. BENTON: YES. >>COUN. DAVIS: YES. >>COUN. GIBSON: YES. >>COUN. JONES: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. SENA: YES. >>COUN. BORREGO: YES. THANK YOU, COUNCILORS. THAT PASSES ON AN 8-0 VOTE. IF YOU'LL GO TO PAGE NINE ON YOUR SCRIPT, COUNCILORS, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO ITEM H. COUNCILOR BENTON AND THAT'S O-86. COUNCILOR BENTON. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. O-86 -- IT'S WITH OPERATIONS AND MEETINGS TO REPEAL SECTIONS. -- I MOVE A DUE PASS. >>COUN. BORREGO: YOU HAVE A SECOND. >>COUN. BENTON: THANK YOU. CHRIS CAN SPEAK TO THIS, IF NECESSARY. IT'S JUST A CLEAN-UP OF A LOT OF ARCHAIC LANGUAGE WE HAD. THIS KIND OF AMBIGUITY GETS BAKED INTO CITY GOVERNMENT SOMETIMES. EVERY NOW AND THEN WE GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAN IT UP. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. I THINK CHRIS CAN SPEAK IF THERE'S ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. >>COUN. BORREGO: DO YOU WANT TO GIVE A QUICK SUMMARY? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, I THINK COUNCILOR BENTON SUMMED IT UP. IT'S REPEALING LANGUAGE THAT'S DUPLICATED ELSEWHERE. IT HAS FALLEN BY THE WAYSIDE WITH RESPECT TO OTHER UPDATES. PROVISIONS IN THIS SECTION HAS BEEN RENDERED OUT OF DATE AND INCORRECT. INSTEAD OF UPDATING THEM AND CONTINUING THEIR DUPLICATE NATURE, THIS REPEALS THEM. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? DON'T ALL SPEAK UP AT ONCE. I KNOW IT'S GETTING LATE. IT DOESN'T APPEAR SO. COUNCILOR BENTON TO CLOSE. >>COUN. BENTON: I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. BENTON: YES. >>COUN. DAVIS: YES. >>COUN. GIBSON: YES. >>COUN. JONES: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. SENA: YES. >>COUN. BORREGO: YES. THANK YOU, COUNCILORS. OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM I. COUNCILOR GIBSON, COUNCILOR DAVIS, COUNCILOR JONES R-220. >>COUN. GIBSON: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. R-234 IS APPROPRIATING FEDERAL FUNDS FOR -- >>COUN. BORREGO: COUNCILOR GIBSON, IT'S R-220. >>COUN. GIBSON: I WENT TO THE WRONG ONE. >>COUN. GIBSON: THANK YOU. THIS IS R-220 CALLING FOR THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF GOVERNMENT TO A STUDY TO BE PRESENTED TO CITY LEADERSHIP IDENTIFYING KEY ASPECTS OF THE STUDY. THE NAME IS IDENTIFYING KEY ASPECTS OF THE STUDY. I MOVE A DUE PASS. >>COUN. JONES: I'LL SECOND THAT. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR JONES, FOR THE SECOND. ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >>COUN. GIBSON: I'D LIKE TO SAY JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. I TALKED WITH THE MAYOR AND HE SEEMED TO BE APPROVING OF THIS. THIS WAS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. THIS IS LOOKING FOR INFORMATION. I THINK IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS REPRESENTATIVES IN CITY GOVERNMENT TO ALWAYS REASSESS WHERE WE SPEND OUR MONEY. AND HOW WE CAN DO THINGS BETTER. THAT STARTS WITH JUST ASKING QUESTIONS. THAT'S ALL WE'RE DOING HERE. GATHERING INFORMATION. I WON'T BE HERE. A LOT OF YOU WILL. IT STARTS THE CONVERSATION. ARE WE SPENDING -- ARE WE SPENDING PUBLIC DOLLARS IN THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN? THAT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION. I THINK IT'S A QUESTION YOU'RE NEVER REALLY DONE ASKING. THIS IS A QUESTION. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR GIBSON. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COUNCILOR BASSAN. >>COUN. BASSAN: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I SPOKE WITH COUNCILOR GIBSON A WHILE BACK ABOUT THIS. I DO HAVE TWO QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS. AND MY REASONING BEHIND MY THOUGHT PROCESS ON WHY I'M HAVING HARD TIME GETTING BEHIND IT. IN THIS STUDY, ARE WE GOING TO EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD ALSO UNIFY THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND APD? >>COUN. GIBSON: THIS DOESN'T TAKE ANY ACTION. ACTUALL -- IS THERE SOMEONE THAT CAN CAN TALK ABOUT ITEM I. >>COUN. BASSAN: I'M WONDERING IF IT'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT UNIFYING THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND APD. >> MADAM CHAIR, COUNCILORS -- >>COUN. BORREGO: ONE AT A TIME. COUNCILOR BASSAN AND COUNCILOR GIBSON. >>COUN. BASSAN: I'M JUST WONDERING IF IN THE STUDY WE'RE GOING TO INCLUDE HAVING A QUALIFIED CONSULTANT EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO UNIFY APD AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS, THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT THAT DEALT WITH THAT. I THINK MS. MORRIS IS BEST SUITED TO TACKLE THAT QUESTION. >>COUN. BORREGO: MS. MORRIS. >> MADAM CHAIR, COUNCILORS, THIS IS AN AMENDMENT FROM COUNCILOR SENA. THAT MOMENT PROSED TO INCLUDE IN THE STUDY THE UNIFICATION OF CITY AND COUNTY SERVICES. THAT INCLUDES ALL ASPECTS OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT. THE STUDY WOULD BE LOOKING AT IT FROM A 30,000 FOOT VIEW. IT WOULDN'T GO INTO GREAT DETAIL ABOUT HOW WE WOULD GO ABOUT INTEGRATING THOSE DEPARTMENTS BUT LOOK AT IT FROM A MORE SCHEMATIC LEVEL. IF THIS STUDY WERE TO RECOMMEND A PARTICULAR FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THE COUNCILORS WANTED TO PURSUE THEN IT WOULD BE FUTURE STUDIES THAT WOULD LOOK INTO GREATER DETAIL ABOUT HOW TO PURSUE WHICHEVER FORM OF GOVERNMENT. >>COUN. BORREGO: COUNCILOR GIBSON, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? >>COUN. GIBSON: NO. >>COUN. BORREGO: I HAVE OTHER COUNCILORS -- >>COUN. BASSAN: I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, IF YOU DON'T MIND. >>COUN. BORREGO: YES, I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO YOU, COUNCILOR BASSAN. BUT COUNCILOR SENA ALSO HAD HER HAND UP. CAN I COME BACK TO YOU? >>COUN. SENA: I THINK COUNCILOR BASSAN HAS THE FLOOR IN TERMS OF LINE OF QUESTIONS. SINCE MY AMENDMENT BROUGHT UP. I THINK NECESSARILY -- NOT NECESSARILY THAT I WANT TO ERADICATE COUNCIL OF COURSE, EVEN THOUGH I'M LEAVING. I THINK THE QUESTION WAS MORESO THAT DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND BEFORE THAT WHEN FOLKS IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES BUT EVEN IN MY DISTRICT WHEN WE -- AND I ALSO BROUGHT THIS UP AT FGO BUT CONSTITUENTS THAT LIVED IN THE COUNTY HAD A REAL 911 SITUATION IN WHICH THERE WAS AN ACTIVE SHOOTER. WHEN HE DIALLED 911 HE GOT TO DISPATCH AND THEY CONVEYED HE'S ACTUALLY IN THE COUNTY. AND FOR HIM HE SAID I DON'T CARE I NEED POLICE PRESENCE AT THIS MOMENT. THERE WAS LOT OF CONFUSION AND EVEN THROUGH OUR GRANTS AND OFTENTIMES THROUGH OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ASK FOLKS WHO ARE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHAT COLOR IS YOUR TRASH CAN IS IT BLUE OR GREEN AND THAT'S HOW WE RESPOND. YOU QUALIFY FOR THE GRANT IS YOUR TRASH CAN BLUE OR GREEN. FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, GREEN TRASH CANS ARE FOR COUNTY AND BLUE ARE FOR THE CITY. FOR ME IN PROPOSE THIS AMENDMENT IT WOULD EVALUATE HOW WE EFFICIENTLY PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY IF THERE ARE TIMES THAT WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF SERVING OUR COMMUNITY IN MERGING SOME OF THE PROGRAMS AND THINKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY. I THINK OUR FIRE RESCUE DOES THIS VERY WELL WHERE WHOMEVER IS CLOSEST. I REALLY DO HOPE THAT WE TAKE AN EVALUATION OF THAT PROCESS AND HOW WE REALLY ARE AT EACH OTHER'S BACK WHEN IT COMES TO FIRE, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO POLICE OR ANY OTHER SERVICES LIKE I STATED IN TERMS OF GRANTS OR EVICTION SERVICES WILL CONTINUE TO POSSIBLY PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES IF WE HAVE A COLLABORATIVE JOINT EFFORT. AS PART OF THAT, I SAW THAT THE STUDY WAS BEING PUT FORWARD. IF IT IS A POSSIBILITY AND MS. MORRIS ALSO STATED IT WOULD BE A 30,000-FOOT VIEW RATHER THAN GETTING INTO THE WEEDS OF THINGS. THAT'S MY VIEW AND DESIRE TO PUT FORWARD THIS AMENDMENT AT FGO. >>COUN. BORREGO: COUNCILOR BASSAN, I NEED TO APOLOGIZE I THOUGHT YOU WERE DONE. THAT'S WHY I WENT TO COUNCILOR SENA. I'M GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU. I GUESS YOU HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS. >>COUN. BASSAN: I'M WONDERING WHO DETERMINES AND WHO IS THE QUALIFIED CONSULTANT? >> WE HAVEN'T CHOSEN A CONSULTANT YET. THERE WAS A CONSULTANT THAT COUNCIL STAFF WORKED WITH TO DO INITIAL WORK IN WORKING OUT WHAT THE RESOLUTION SHOULD BE LOOKING AT AND TO THINK ABOUT. AT THIS POINT, THERE'S NO CONSULTANT CHOSEN. >>COUN. BASSAN: THANK YOU. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS NOT WHO IS IT, WHAT DETERMINES WHAT A QUALIFIED CONSULTANT IS FOR THIS STUDY? >> THAT ONE I CAN ANSWER. MADAM PRESIDENT, WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY WHO HAS EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESEARCH. I BELIEVE THERE IS AT LEAST ONE INDIVIDUAL AT THE -- WHO IS HIGHLY QUALIFIED IN THE REALM OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND IN STUDYING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THAT IS ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WE CONSIDER REACHING OUT TO. COUNCILOR GIBSON MIGHT BE ABLE TO SPEAK IN MORE DEPTH. >>COUN. GIBSON: IT MIGHT TAKE HIM A MINUTE TO GET WITH US. IF I MAY, MADAM PRESIDENT, A LOT OF EXCITING PLACES FOR THIS TO GO. I SEE THAT THEY ALSO HAVE TO SAY THAT I SEE THIS IN THE PROGRESSION. REACH WIDE. DO THE RESEARCH. I THINK THAT THIS IS THE FIRST STEP. THAT'S ALL. AS AMENDED, BECAUSE WE DID AMEND IT CORRECT? IN COMMITTEE. IN THAT CAS -- THAT WAS FGO. IS THAT CORRECT? IT DID GO TO FGO. I DID MISS THAT. I THINK I WATCHED IT ON TV. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BORREGO: I HAVE SOME COMMENTS MYSELF. I'M REVERBERATING. I'M SORRY. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ADDRESS THE QUESTION THAT COUNCILOR BASSAN LEFT ON THE TABLE? >>COUN. BORREGO: YES. >> COUNCIL SERVICES AND CITY DEPARTMENTS ARE WELL-VERSED IN CONTRACTING FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. THAT ACTIVITY WE ENGAGE REGULARLY. WE HAVE CONSULTANT LISTS THAT WE CONTRACT WITH. WE HAVE FLEXIBILITY WITH TINEDING FOLKS TO DO VARIOUS JOBS. WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE WE HAVE WITHIN COUNCIL SERVICES VETTING VARIOUS CONTRACTS FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES, WE THINK WE WOULD BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOMEONE IN ACADEMIA AT UNM OR ELSEWHERE TO DO THIS WORK FOR US. THAT CONTRACTOR HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED YET TO THE EXTENT DO NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN OUR PROCESSES THROUGH PROCUREMENT WHERE WE COULD PUT OUT PUBLIC REQUEST FOR INFORMATION OR INITIAL QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SCOPE OF SERVICES THAT MIGHT BE OFFERED FOR THIS TYPE OF CONTRACT AND EVEN GO THROUGH AN RFP PROCESS TO SELECT THE CONTRACTOR IN THE EVENT WE'RE NOT HAPPY WITH THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE FOLKS IDENTIFIED. THERE'S A NUMBER OF METHODS WE GO THROUGH TO FIND A CONTRACTOR TO FILL THIS SCOPE. THESE TYPES OF STUDIES ARE NOT UNPRECEDENTED. >>COUN. BORREGO: COUNCILOR BASSAN. >>COUN. BASSAN: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. GOING BACK TO THIS, I GET THAT ON ONE HAND WE NEED TO BE EVALUATE AND PROGRESS DOWN A WIDE SCOPE. AND TAKE A 30,000 FOOT VIEW OF WHAT COULD BENEFIT ALBUQUERQUE. REALLY, I'M STRUGGLING WITH EVEN THOUGH IT WAS $35,000 AND NOW WE'RE TALKING $50,000. IN MY WORLD THAT'S A TON OF MONEY, BUT IN THE CITY BUDGET WORLD IT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET TO LOT OF PEOPLE. THERE'S LOT OF THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON THAT ARE NOT A 30,000 FOOT VIEW OR A VERY BIG SCOPE OF POTENTIAL PROGRESSION FOR A STUDY THAT LEADS TO ANOTHER STUDY OF HOW TO STUDY. I CAN'T SUPPORT THAT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE TO ME MY PRIORITIES NEED TO BE LASER FOCUSED ON STUFF THAT CAN REALLY HELP ALBUQUERQUE NOW WHEN I FEEL LIKE WE'RE FAILING AT LOT OF THINGS. >>COUN. BORREGO: COUNCILOR GIBSON, COUNCILOR BENTON. >>COUN. GIBSON: I JUST HAVE TO RESPOND TO THAT. I THINK $50,000 IS STILL REASONABLE NUMBER. FOR WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS. ARE WE -- THEN WE CAN MAKE A DECISION. THIS IS A GOOD FORM OF GOVERNMENT FOR US? THIS IS THE BEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK? AND WHY? ONE THING I HAVE LEARNED AFTER EIGHT YEARS ON COUNCIL IS HOW MUCH THINGS COST. I KNOW EVERYBODY SAYS THAT, BUT IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO RUN A CITY. OVER A BILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET. WOW. THAT SEEMS LIKE QUITE A LOT. $50,000, EVEN IF WE GO FOR $50,000 CONTRACT I THINK THE BENEFIT FROM THIS MIGHT BE CHANGE. IT MIGHT NOT BE. I THINK THAT'S A QUESTION THAT'S IS A WORTHWHILE QUESTION AND ONE WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE ASKING ABOUT. >>COUN. BENTON: THIS STUDY WASN'T MY IDEA. I DO THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE. I AGREE WITH COUNCILOR BASSAN THAT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES AND THINGS THAT ARE NOT WORKING WELL. MAYBE WE COULD JUST ADDRESS THOSE ONE BY ONE. IT DOES MAKE ME WONDER WHETHER -- JUST LOOKING BACK AT THE HISTORY OF OUR CITY. WE HAD A CITY COMMISSION FORM OF GOVERNMENT VERY MUCH LIKE THE COUNTY COMMISSION IS TODAY PRIOR TO 1970 WHEN IT WAS CHANGED TO THE PRESENT FORM OF A MAYOR-COUNCIL FORM OF GOVERNMENT. IN 2000 AND AROUND AT THAT TIME WE HAD A LENGTHY COMMUNITY-WIDE DEBATE AND TWO ELECTIONS AND TWO VOTES OF THE CITY AND COUNTY AS TO WHETHER TO CONSOLIDATE AT THAT TIME. HERE WE ARE 50 YEARS LATER FROM THE FIRST ACTION AND 20-PLUS FROM THE SECOND ONE WHERE THAT WAS VOTED DOWN BUT IT WAS A COMPLEX VOTE THAT WAS DETERMINED FOR US. I'M CONSTANTLY BEING QUESTIONED BY CONSTITUENTS AS TO WHAT'S THE BEST WAY THAT THE SERVICES ARE DELIVERED. WHETHER IT'S POLICE AND FIRE, BUT ALSO SOMETHING LIKE HOUSING. THE COUNTY HAS ITS OWN HOUSING AUTHORITY. AND WE HAVE OUR OWN HOUSING AND WE HAVE A SEPARATE HOUSING HOUSING GROUP THAT SPUN OFF FROM THE CITY. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT MIGHT BE ADDRESSED BY A STUDY LIKE THIS WHERE WE COULD GATHER SOME INFORMATION AND MAYBE HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS BECAUSE IN MY DISCUSSION WITH SOME OF THE COUNY COMMISSIONERS NOW THEY'RE GOING WHY DO WE HAVE TWO HOUSING AUTHORITIES WHEN WE CALL THAT COMMUNITY-WIDE HOUSING CRISIS AND THE SAME THING THOSE DISCUSSIONS AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY DELIVERY. FOR THAT REASON, I THINK IT COULD BE MONEY WELL SPENT. I SHARE SOME OF THE TREPIDATION, COUNCILOR BASSAN. ONE MORE STUDY. WE COULD -- IF WE WERE TO PASS THIS WE COULD FORMULATE THAT CONTRACT GOING FORWARD WITH THE CONSULTANT. WE MIGHT FIND SOME THINGS THAT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE. NOT NECESSARILY TOTAL CONSOLIDATION OF GOVERNMENT. MAYBE JUST BEING MORE AFFECTIVE ALL THE WAY AROUND. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BENTON. I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT -- HAS ANYONE HAD A DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNTY WITH REGARD -- LIKE THE COUNTY MANAGER TO SEE WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ARE REGARDING THIS? I HATE TO THROW MONEY AT A STUDY IF WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE COUNTY IS INTERESTED MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION. THEY JUST MOVED OUT OF CITY HALL AND BOUGHT THEIR OWN BUILDING. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE MOVING FURTHER APART. IDO IS A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE. THE COUNTY CHOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE WITH IDO. WE HAVE OUR OWN CODE AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN CODE THAT THEY FUNCTION UNDER. THE OTHER THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS IT SEEMS LIKE MAYBE SOME OF OUR STAFF AND MAYBE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL CAN DO THIS, BUT SOME OF OUR STAFF COULD DO SOME OF THE RESEARCH. MAYBE DO SOME SURVEYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE POPULATION IS THINKING. I DON'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE THAT IS THE DIRECTION THE POP -- POPULATION WANTS TO GO IN. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE POLICE AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, IT COULDN'T BE FURTHER APART. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE ANY RESEARCH ON? IT SEEMS LIKE SOME OF THE CITY STAFF COULD DO SOME OF THE RESEARCH. MAYBE A SURVEY TO FIND OUT IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS -- DO PEOPLE WANT TO GO IN THIS DIRECTION? I THINK IT DOES MAKE SENSE FROM REGIONAL TRANSIT. I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT A REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY WOULD BE GREAT. THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS. HAS ANYONE TALKED TO THE COUNTY TO SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE EVEN THINKING ABOUT BEFORE WE PUT $50,000 TOWARD THIS? WE HAVE A GROUP THAT THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY BOTH SIT ON. IT'S THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND I FORGET THE NAME OF IT. IT'S THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE THAT WE ALL SIT ON TOGETHER. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING SEE IF MAYBE THAT WOULD BE A PLACE THAT WE CAN EVEN START THE DISCUSSION. THOSE ARE JUST MY TWO CENTS. I REMEMBER WHEN DAVE CAMPBELL IN GOOD GOVERNMENT, IF YOU REMEMBER THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DO. YOU PROBABLY DO COUNCILOR BENTON, AND COUNCILOR JONES. THEY WERE TRYING TO CONSOLIDATE SOME OF THE RESOURCES. I BELIEVE THAT FAILED. IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY THAT WE'RE EVEN -- THAT THEY'RE EVEN INTERESTED IN DOING THIS. IT'S NOT JUST UP TO THE CITY. IT'S LIKE A MARRIAGE. COUNCILOR PEÑA. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I THINK COUNCILOR SENA HAD HER HAND UP BEFORE ME. NO? OKAY. JUST ON THE MINDSET, I KNOW WE PUT IN THE AMENDMENT ABOUT THE CONSOLIDATION BUT I THINK THE ONLY INTENT OF THE LEGISLATION IS TO STUDY DIFFERENT FORMS OF GOVERNMENT. I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A CITY IS HAVING CONCERNS OF STUDIES. I THINK WE NEED TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND TACKLE SOME OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY. I HAD SEVERAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY EARLY ON WHEN I GOT ON COUNCIL. I HAVE TWO HOUSING PROJECTS ONE NEAR TO MY HOUSE AND DOWN THE STREET THAT I HAD CONCERNS ABOUT. I THINK THE CITY LOST THAT AS PART OF THE PROCESS. NOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE LEADERSHIP OR ANYTHING THEY'RE DOING. I REALLY THINK THAT WE COULD BE BETTER SERVED BY HAVING SOMETHING LIKE THE WATER AUTHORITY -- THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BACK AT THE CITY. TO STUDY IT, I JUST THINK WE'RE JUST SPINNING OUR WHEELS. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR PEÑA. COUNCILOR SENA. >>COUN. SENA: I'LL JUST MAKE MY POINT SHORT. I KNOW THAT I WAS THE SPONSOR OF THE AMENDMENT BECAUSE I REALLY WANTED TO CONVEY THE FRUSTRATIONS OF CONSTITUENTS. EVEN THOUGH HE WAS IN THE COUNTY, HE LIVES A FEW BLOCKS FROM ME. OFTENTIMES THAT'S HOW THE CITY IS. I KNOW MANY OF OUR DISTRICTS ALSO HAVE THE UNINCORPORATED COUNTY. FOR THE DISCUSSION, I THINK THAT CERTAINLY IT WOULD BE UP TO OUR POLICE TO REALLY EVALUATE WHETHER MERGING WOULD BE WORTHWHILE. I THINK THERE'S COMPLEXITIES BECAUSE WE'RE IN A CONSENT DECREE. WE CAN'T JOIN ANOTHER POLICE FORCE AND ABSORB THAT WITHOUT FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY. I KNOW WHEN I PROPOSED MY AMENDMENT I DID NOT CONSULT WITH COUNTY COMMISSION. I WOULD BE IN SUPPORT TO HEAR THEIR THOUGHTS ON WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. I ALSO THINK THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED A STUDY TO HAVE A DISCUSSION. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT COUNTY FIRE ALONG WITH FIRE RESCUE THROUGH THIS BELABORED THAT ISSUE BEFORE THEY SAID WE HAVE TO RESPOND. THAT'S PART OF IT. I JUST WANT TODAY MAKE THAT POINT. >>COUN. GIBSON: I'M DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE MINUS THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS ADOPTED, IT WAS A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD APPROACH. ASK QUESTIONS, GET TRUTH. GET AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN AND ASK THE QUESTIONS. WHAT HAVE OTHER CITY GOVERNMENTS OR COUNTY GOVERNMENTS EXPERIENCED ? AND HAS IT CHANGED? WHAT WERE THE PITFALLS. THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS. HOWEVER WITH THE AMENDMENT, THAT DESERVES ITS OWN STUDY. I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT A COMBINATION OF CITY-COUNTY GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH REPETITION. SOMETIMES IT SEEMS COMPETITIVE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. I THINK WE CAN DO SO MUCH TO WORK TOGETHER. THE ORIGINAL DOESN'T ADDRESS THAT AT ALL. WHAT I CAN DO -- WE CAN JUST GO FOR A VOTE. THIS WOULD ALLOW COUNCIL SERVICES TO PUT THIS TOGETHER. IS THERE SOMEBODY WHO CAN HELP ME WIND THIS UP? >>COUN. BORREGO: IS THAT YOUR CLOSE? >>COUN. GIBSON: YES. I THINK WE KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO VOTE. LET'S PUT IT UP FOR A VOTE. THERE'S NOTHING TO SAY THAT THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PUT OFF. YOU KNOW THIS IS MY LAST DAY. IT SEEMS LIKE A STRANGE WAY TO CLOSE. IT IS TRUE. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR GIBSON. WITH THAT, WE'LL MOVE TO A VOTE. WE ONLY HAVE THREE MORE ITEMS WE NEED TO DEAL WITH TONIGHT. MS. ORTEGA. >>COUN. BASSAN: NO. >>COUN. BENTON: YES. >>COUN. DAVIS: YES. >>COUN. GIBSON: YES. >>COUN. JONES: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: NO. >>COUN. SENA: NO. >>COUN. BORREGO: NO. OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM J. WHICH IS R-227. COUNCILOR PEÑA. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. R-227 IS APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO THE CAPITAL IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM FOR THE 2021 GENERAL OBLIGATION PROGRAM. I MOVE A DUE PASS. >>COUN. BORREGO: I'LL SECOND THAT. >>COUN. PEÑA: I LOST THE ANALYSIS. MY LAPTOP IS GOING DEAD. HERE WE GO. THIS RESOLUTION APPROPRIATES THE BOND PROJECTS THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE VOTERS OF ALBUQUERQUE ON NOVEMBER 2, 2021 AS PART OF THE TWO-YEAR BUDGET AND DECADE PLAN PER 2-12-ROA. THE MAYOR IS REQUIRED TO FORMULATE THE PLAN FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. IT MUST BE SUBMITTED ON A BIANNUAL BASIS. IN YOUR PACTS IS A LIST OF PROJECTS. >>COUN. BORREGO: YOU MOVED A DUE PASS. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR GIBSON. >>COUN. GIBSON: I WAS OFFERING A SECOND. >>COUN. BORREGO: I THINK I SECONDED IT ALREADY. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR PEÑA TO CLOSE. >>COUN. PEÑA: I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. BENTON: YES. >>COUN. DAVIS: YES. >>COUN. GIBSON: YES. >>COUN. JONES: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. SENA: YES. >>COUN. BORREGO: YES. THANK YOU, COUNCILORS. THAT'S ITEM J. IT PASSES ON AN 8-0. ITEM K, COUNCILOR BENTON, COUNCILOR DAVIS, COUNCILOR SENA, AND COUNCILOR PEÑA. R-233. I'M NOT SURE WHO WANTS TO PRESENT THIS. COUNCILOR SENA? >>COUN. SENA: THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE -- I WILL MOVE THIS FOR THE SAKE OF CONVERSATION AND THE MEETING. R-233 IS APPROVING THE EQUITY ANALYSIS FOR THE ZERO FARE PILOT BEGINNING ON JANUARY 1, 2022. I MOVE A DUE PASS. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR SENA. IT LOOKED LIKE I HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILOR DAVIS. WHAT I MEANT TO SAY, COUNCILOR SENA, IS YOU SEEM TO BE THE TRANSIT QUEEN. THAT'S WHAT I MEANT WHEN I SAID YOU'RE THE CHOSEN ONE. WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILORS? I DON'T SEE -- COUNCILOR SENA, DO YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP? >>COUN. SENA: THANK YOU. I WILL USE THIS OPPORTUNITY AS MY CLOSING AS WELL AS OTHER COUNCILORS WANT TO SPEAK UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. I KNOW AND I WANT TO RECOGNIZE DIRECTOR HOLCOMB HAVING DONE A LOT OF WORK ON TRANSIT EQUITY. AND RECOGNIZING LOT OF THE WORK THAT COMMUNITY HAS DONE. COUNCILOR DAVIS, COUNCILOR BENTON, AND COUNCILOR PEÑA HAVE CHAMPIONED ZERO FARES FOR QUITE SOME TIME. FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO JUMP ON AND EVALUATE WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN TERMS OF GAP ANALYSIS AND HOW WE CAN PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES AND THANK THE TRANSIT DEPARTMENT FOR THE STUDY AND WORKING WITH THE DMT TO MAKE THOSE EVALUATIONS. ANYPLACE . >>COUN. BORREGO: WITH THAT, I'LL MOVE TO A VOTE. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. BENTON: YES. >>COUN. DAVIS: YES. >>COUN. GIBSON: YES. >>COUN. JONES: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. SENA: YES. >>COUN. BORREGO: YES. THANK YOU, COUNCILORS. FINALLY ON TO OUR LAST ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR TONIGHT. ITEM L. COUNCILOR GIBSON, R-234. >>COUN. GIBSON: THANK YOU. R-234 IS APPROPRIATING FEDERAL FUNDS FOR AN INTELLIGENCE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM TRAFFIC SIGNAL PROJECT ON LOUISIANA BOULEVARD. I MOVE A DUE PASS. THIS IS AN INTERESTING PROGRAM. VERY HIGH NEED LOCATION. I THINK THAT -- DO WE HAVE MR. MANCUSY ON BOARD? HE'S OUR EXPERT TO EXPLAIN THE BILL BETTER THAN I CAN. >>COUN. JONES: IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THAT MOTION. >>COUN. BORREGO: COUNCILOR JONES, THANK YOU. I THINK COUNCILOR SENA HAD HER HAND UP. SORRY FOR THAT. ACTUALLY WE HAVE THREE SECONDS ON THAT. THAT'S GREAT. I'M SORRY, YOU'RECULING FOR -- >> MADAM PRESIDENT, THIS BILL IS SIMPLY THE DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT ASKED US IF WE CAN GET THIS BILL IN. THEY MEANT TO DO THIS PROGRAM IN THE LAST CAPITAL CLEAN UP BILL BUT IT WAS AN OMISSION. THEY NEED TO GET IT IN SO THEY CAN USE IT ON THIS PROJECT THAT WILL BEGIN IN JANUARY. THE PROJECT IS SIMPLY THIS. ON THE LOUISIANA CORRIDOR FROM CENTRAL TO MENAUL WE HAVE AN OLD TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM. WE HAVE THE HOLIDAY AND SATURDAY AFTERNOON PEAK SHOPPING FOR UPTOWN AND THE SPECIAL EVENT GOING ONTO THE GATE. BY UPGRADING TRAFFIC SIGNAL TO ALLOW COMPUTERIZATION PUT IN EFFECT AND LINKED TO THE CENTRAL PROCESSING ROOM FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS AT COPPER AND WYOMING THEY NEED TO UPGRADE THE EQUIPMENT AND THAT'S WHAT THIS WILL DO. THAT ALLOWS THEM TO BETTER MANAGE THE TRAFFIC QUEUES AND REAL-TIME MANAGE THEM AND FLOW MORE EFFICIENTLY. THIS MONEY WILL BE USED TO SUPPLANT AND REPLACE EXISTING CAPITAL -- COUNCIL SET ASIDE MONEY. IN THE CAPITAL SET ASIDE MONEY WILL BE LEFT IN PLACE BECAUSE USUALLY WHEN WE DO THESE PROJECTS ONCE THEY TAKE OUT THE EQUIPMENT THEY FOUND OTHER NEEDS IN IT THEY HAVE TO USE. THEY WILL HAVE OTHER EQUIPMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ONCE THEY GET THE EQUIPMENT THEN THEY CAN LOOK AT POTENTIALLY APPLYING MORE SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT BEYOND ITS WHICH IS THE AUTOMATED SIGNAL. THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO DO FURTHER REAL-TIME TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND MODELING TO MAKE TRAFFIC FLOW MORE EFFICIENT. THANK YOU. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE WILL GO BACK TO THE SPONSOR. COUNCILOR GIBSON. >>COUN. GIBSON: THANK YOU. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. BORREGO: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR GIBSON. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. MS. ORTEGA, THE VOTE. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. >>COUN. BENTON: YES. >>COUN. DAVIS: YES. >>COUN. GIBSON: YES. >>COUN. JONES: YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. >>COUN. SENA: YES. >>COUN. BORREGO: YES. THANK YOU, COUNCILORS. THAT MOTION PASSES ON AN 8-0 VOTE. WITH THAT, I WANT TO WISH ALL THE COUNCILORS A JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON. I WANT TO WISH THE PUBLIC A JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON. WHATEVER YOU PRACTICE, BE IT CHRISTMAS HANUKKAH KWANZAA ANYTHING ELSE, I HOPE WE HAVE A BETTER 2022 AND THIS IS YOUR CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT SIGNING OFF. THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.