>>COUN. PEÑA: WELCOME, EVERYONE. TODAY IS APRIL 6, 2026. THE 8th MEETING OF THE 27th COUNTAL WILL COME TO ORDER. ALL COUNCILORS ARE PRESENT. COUNCILOR ROGERS WILL BE JOINING US SHORTLY. WE'LL GO INTO A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND THE PLEDGE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES, TONIGHT'S MOMENT OF SILENCE IS GOING TO BE IN HONOR OF A FORMER DISTRICT COALITION PRESIDENT MR. BOB FASS. HE WORE A LOT OF HATS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND WORKED CLOSELY WITH ME WHEN I BECAME A COUNCILOR. HE WAS ADIMATE ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE PARK THAT HE LIVES BY. PLEASE, THANK YOU. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT. >>COUN. PEÑA: COUNCILOR CHAMPINE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. CIVIC PLAZA PARKING PASSES ARE PROVIDED FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. YOU CAN OBTAIN A PASS FROM THE COUNSELF STAFF AT THE CHAMBER ENTRANCE. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, AND THE MEDIA HAVE THE ABILITY VIEW THIS IN PERSON AND LIVE STREAMS THREW GOVTV COMCAST CHANNEL 16. THE GOVTV WEBSITE. YOUTUBE AND ZOOM WEBINAR. LIVE STREAMS CAN BE ACCESSED FROM MOST SMART PHONES TABLETS AND COMPUTERS. THIS MEETING IS CLOSED CAPTIONS AND YOU MAY ENABLE THE SERVICES AT THIS TIME. THE VIDEO RECORDING OF THIS AND ALL PAST COUNCILAL MEETING WERIRE IF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NEED ASSISTANCE FINDING THE VIDEOS ONLINE. PLEASE CALL 505-768-3100 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY 8:00 A.M. TO 5:00. THE COUNCIL WILL TAKE A BREAK AT 7:00 P.M. IF NEEDED. WE WANT TONIGHT'S PROCEEDING TO BE AS CIVIL AND RESPECTFULADS -- AS POSSIBLE. NO PERSONAL ATTACKS OR SNAPPING OR OUTBURSTS. THE PRESIDENT WILL PROVIDE ONE WARNING. UPON A SECOND OR CONTINUED DISRUPTION THAT INDIVIDUAL WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE THE CHAMBERS. IF NECESSARY, SECURITY WILL BE ASKED TO ESCORT THAT PERSON OUT OF THE CHAMBERS. SUCH REMOVAL WILL BE EFFECTIVE. IF CONTINUED DISRUPTIONS OCCUR THE PRESIDENT MAY RECESS THE MEETING IN ORDER TO RESTORE ORDER AND IF NECESSARY CLEAR THE CHAMBER OF PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THE DISTURBANCE. THIS MEETING WILL GO SMOOTHER IF WE'RE RESPECTFUL OF ONE ANOTHER. AT THIS TIME WE HAVE QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD FROM THE ADMINISTRATION. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR LEWIS. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. I KNOW THIS ISN'T A BUDGET HEARING. SINCE THE ADMINISTRATION SENT THE BUDGET DOWN AND DID A PRESS RELEASE AND INTRODUCED THE ADMINISTRATION'S BUDGET. I JUST HAD A FEW COMMENTS AND SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU ALL ABOUT IT. JUST SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT IT IN THE PAPER. OBVIOUSLY WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WORK ON THE BUDGET. MR. WHELAN, YOU'RE REPRESENTING THE ADMINISTRATION? >> COUNCILOR LEWIS, YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: IS THE CFO HERE? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR LEWIS, SHE'S NOT. >>COUN. LEWIS: NO PROBLEM. WE'LL KEEP HER BUSY IN THE NEXT MONTH. MR. WHELAN, WHAT WE READ IN THE PRESS AND WHAT YOU CHARACTERIZED IN THE BUDGET YOU SENT TO US THIS LAST WEEK, YOU TALK ABOUT A $35 MILLION -- AND REALLY HOW IT WAS REPORTED IS THAT THE BUDGET -- THERE WAS A CUT. WE'RE SPENDING LESS THAN WE WERE THE YEAR BEFORE AND YET YOU ALSO HAVE A $2.7 MILLION -- I'M SORRY, 2.7% INCREASE. WE'RE SHOWING PROJECTED INCREASE OF 2.7%. ESTIMATE THAT AT $25 MILLION IN NEW REVENUES THIS YEAR OVER LAST YEAR. IF YOU'RE SAVING ABOUT $35 MILLION OR NOT SPENDING ANOTHER $35 MILLION OVER LAST YEAR WHICH IS HOW THIS IS CHARACTERIZED, AS I LOOK THROUGH THE BUDGET AND YOUR PROPOSAL, WHEN I HEAR THAT I WOULD WANT TO SEE REALLY WHAT WOULD BE ABOUT A $50-60 MILLION REDUCTION IN REVENUE. THAT REVENU WOULD BE REDUCED BY THAT AMOUNT OR WE HAVE $60 MILLION THAT GO TO THE FUND RESERVE. THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT WHAT IT IS. IN FACT, IF WE HAVE A 2.7% INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR, AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME AND ALSO AN INCREASE TO OUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET, SO IT LOOKS LIKE THAT -- IT IS WE HAVE MORE MONEY THAN WE DID LAST YEAR. AND WE'RE REALLY JUST MOVING SOME MONEY AROUND. QUESTIONS FOR YOU, WHEN YOU SAY $35 MILLION IN NET SAVINGS, HOW MUCH OF THAT IS ACTUAL CUT VERSUS MOVING MONEY BETWEEN FUNDS? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR LEWIS, I'D HAVE TO LOOK THROUGH THOSE NUMBERS AND GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU. >>COUN. LEWIS: OKAY. MY -- IT'S NOT ALL ACTUAL SPENDING REDUCTIONS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL BUDGET THERE'S NO SPENDING REDUCTION. WE'RE SPENDING MORE THAN WE DID LAST YEAR. WE HAVE MORE REVENUE THAN LAST YEAR AND WE'RE SPENDING MORE THAN WE DID LAST YEAR. WOULD YOU QUO KNOW -- OF THE $35 MILLION MUCH COMES FROM THE GENERAL FUND? >> COUNCILOR PEÑA, COUNCILOR LEWIS, I'LL HAVE TO GET THAT ANSWER PRU. -- >>COUN. LEWIS: I GUESS I WOULD SAY IS THE CORE OPERATING BUDGET THE GENERAL FUND -- IS IT BEING REDUCED BY $35 MILLION? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR LEWIS, WE DO HAVE OUR DIRECTOR. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR LEWIS YES. WE DID HAVE GENERAL FUND REDUCTIONS FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. >>COUN. LEWIS: THERE'S MORE IN THE GENERAL FUND THAN THERE WAS LAST YEAR. THE TOTAL AMOUNT IS MORE IN THE GENERAL FUND THAN THERE WAS LAST YEAR. >> WE CAN GO IN DETAIL -- >>COUN. LEWIS: I'LL GO OVER SOME OF THE DETAILS. I'M SURE WE'LL GO OVER THIS IN THE BUDGET HEARINGS. I EXPECT THESE ARE SOME VERY VERY GENERAL QUESTIONS THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER OFF THE TOP OF OUR HEADS. IF WE'RE SAVING $35 MILLION, WHY WOULD THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES BE GOING UP? THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES AREN'T BEING REDUCED, THEY'RE GOING UP. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR LEWIS, WE DID TAKE CUTS TO THE GENERAL FUND FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. THERE WERE. >>COUN. LEWIS: IT'S NOT WHAT I'M SEEING. I COMBESZ . >>COUN. LEWIS: I GUESS WE'LL DIVE INTO THAT. JUST TO BE CLEAR THE $35 MILLION IN NET SAVINGS IS NOT ALL CUTS. IT INCLUDES REALLOCATIONS, CHANGES ACROSS OTHER FUNDS WHICH IS WHY THE CORE FUNDING IN THE GENERAL FUND CAN STILL INCREASE. ALL THAT TO SAY IS THAT WE HAVE PROJECTED REVENUES OF ANOTHER $25 MILLION MORE THAN LAST YEAR. AND WHEN I LOOK AT THIS BUDGET, THERE IS NO REDUCTION IN SPENDING WHATSOEVER. WE'RE SPENDING MORE THAN WE WERE LAST YEAR. NOW, THERE'S SOME -- WHAT LOOKS TO BE SOME SHIFTING OF WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS REVENUE IN THE AIRPORT OR TRANSIT -- REALLY NOT REVENUE, OR COUNT AGAINST IT. THERE'S A LOT OF SHIFTING. I'M GOING TO SAY TOO THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT I THINK ARE GOING THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT WHEN WE PUT IN THE MEDIA AND PUT OUT THERE IN THE PAPER REPORTS ON THIS THAT WE'RE CUTTING BACK AND SPENDING $35 MILLION LESS, THAT'S ACTUALLY JUST NOT THE CASE. SO, AS WE'RE PRESENTING THIS BUDGET, CERTAINLY AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT AND THE REASON WHY I'M BRINGING IT UPRIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE MEDIA AND THERE'S STORIES WRITTEN ABOUT IT. THE STORY IS THAT THERE ARE CUTS TO THE BUDGET. BUT THERE'S REALLY NOT. WE'RE SPENDING MORE THAN LAST QUEER. WE WE HAVE MORE REVENUES THAN LAST YEAR. I ASK BEFORE WE REALLY DIVE INTO OUR BUDGET HEARINGS, WE REALLY NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS BUDGET, YOU LOOK AT THE REVENUES AND SPENDING, THERE SHOULD BE ABOUT A $60 MILLION FUND BALANCE IF IT GOES LIKE THIS. OR WE JUST NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT THIS BUDGET ACTUALLY IS. IT'S OKAY. IF ALL THIS IS WHAT IT IS IS THAT THE MAYOR, ADMINISTRATION IS REDUCING SOME BUDGET AND SOME DEPARTMENTS AND INCREASING IT LIKE TO THE TUNE OF HHH, TO THE TUNE OF $40 MILLION AND SOMEHOW FUNDING AVIATION $40 MILLION THAT'S NOT THERE BUT IT WAS BUDGETED LAST YEAR BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO COUNT IT THIS YEAR, WE CANNOT SAY THAT WE'RE SPENDING LESS THAN WE WERE LAST YEAR. WE SOMEHOW MADE SOME SPENDING REDUCTIONS. I CAN TELL YOU'RE NOT READY TO ANSWER ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS TONIGHT WHICH IS FIND. I WOULD EXPECT THE CLARIFICATION AND ANSWER TO THOSE AND A TRUTHFUL COMMUNICATION TO THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY ABOUT WHAT A PROPOSED BUDGET FROM THE MAYOR ACTUALLY DOES. AND WE TAKE THAT BUDGET AND WE LOOK AT IT AND GO OKAY, $50 MILLION TO HHH, WHEN THE MAYOR HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO SHOW IT FOR IT OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, WHEN WE LOOK AT GATEWAY AND THIS COUNCIL HAS TO DECIDE WHETHER WE WANT TO POUR MILLIONS AND MILLIONS MORE DOLLARS INTO GATEWAY, EVEN THOUGH YOU SHOW LITTLEERALLY ZERO RESULTS FROM THAT PROGRAM. AND PROGRAM AFTER PROGRAM AFTER PROGRAM. I HOPE OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS WOULD BE CENTERED AROUND SOME REAL SPECIFICS AND SOME REAL TRUTH TO WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED. AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO GET STARTED ON THAT. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: COUNCILOR GROUT. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. MY QUESTIONS ARE FOR CAO, BUT SINCE SHE'S NOT HERE, YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE QUESTIONS MR. WHELAN. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WE WERE HIRING AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR PUBLIC SAFETY UNTIL JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. MY QUESTION IS, WAS THIS POSITION ADVERTISED? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT, I DO BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE BEEN ADVERTISED. I'M NOT 100% SURE. >>COUN. GROUT: OKAY. YOU'RE NOT SURE. OKAY. WHAT WILL BE THE ROLE OF THIS POSITION? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT, THIS POSITION WILL OVERSEE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE CONTINUITY AND MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE ALWAYS PROVIDE FROM OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT SO THEY CAN BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THAT. >>COUN. GROUT: WHY DO THE CHIEF AND ACS DIRECTOR NEED ANOTHER PERSON TO OVERSEE THEM? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT, WE'RE JUST MOVING DEPARTMENTS. THEY WERE ALREADY MOVE -- OVERSEEN BY THE CAO OR EXECUTIVE STAFF MEMBER. NOW WE HAVE THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR POSITION. DEPUTY CAO POSITION. THAT IS BEING USED TO FOCUS ON PUBLIC SAFETY. IT'S JUST A SHIFTING OF DEPARTMENTS. >>COUN. GROUT: OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I HAVE JUST A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS FOR MS. SANDOVAL WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING. MS. SANDOVAL, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET INFORMATION ON THE SCHEDULE OF OPIOID FUNDING DISTRIBUTION. COUNCIL MADE POLICY DECISIONS BASED ON THE SENTIMENT -- SES FROM 2022-2038. PAGE 15 OF THE RESOLUTION SHOWS THAT SCHEDULE. COUNCIL NEEDS CLARIFICATION ABOUT THE ACTUAL PAYMENTS TO THE CITY. FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON REVENUE. THE SETTLEMENT DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULED IN R-25-128 SHOWS WE HAVE RECEIVED ABOUT $33 MILLION FROM 22-26. THE CITY'S OPIOID DASHBOARD SHOWS $40 MILLION IN ACTUAL REVENUE TO DATE. THE DFS SUMMARY YOU SENT ME SHOWS $38 MILLION IN THE REVENUE TO DATE. THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT PORTAL HAS ACTUAL PAYMENTS TO THE CITY BUT DFS STATED THAT IT DOES NOT WANT TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE PORTAL, CITING INTERNAL CONTROL PURPOSES. THE POINT OF THAT REQUEST WAS ABOUT OBTAINING INFORMATION THAT HELPS COUNCIL MAKE DECISIONS, NOT AS MUCH ABOUT ACCESS TO THE PORTAL. YOU SENT US A SPREADSHEET THIS AFTERNOON, BUT COUNCIL STAFF CAN ACCESS THE CITY FINANCIAL INFORMATION ALREADY. WE NEED A FURTHER BREAKDOWN. OUTSIDE COUNCIL STAFF, OR OUTSIDE COUNSEL, INFORMATION SHOWING THE PORTAL AS EACH PAYMENT THAT HAS BEEN MADE TO THE CITY WITH DATES AND AMOUNTS. THE OUTSIDE COUNSEL INFORMATION ALSO SHOWED A SECTION CALLED PROJECTED ALLOCATION AMOUNT AND THE CITY CAN CLICK ON THAT TO DOWNLOAD PROJECTED ALLOCATIONS. MY QUESTIONS ARE, CAN YOU PROVIDE COUNCIL ALL PAYMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE AND PROJECTIONS ABOUT FUTURE PAYMENTS FROM THE PORTAL? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT YES. I GAVE YOU A SUMMARY LEVEL, BUT I CAN PROVIDE DETAIL FOR EVERY SINGLE YEAR. THEY'VE BEEN AUDITED THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 25. THE INFORMATION FOR 26 IS CURRENT. >>COUN. GROUT: OKAY. MY SECOND QUESTION IS WILL YOU NOTIFY COUNCIL OF ANY NEW PAYMENTS AND CHANGES TO THE SETTLEMENT DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE WITHIN FIVE BUSINESS DAYS OF THE CHANGE? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT YES. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. THAT'S WHAT WE NEEDED. THANK YOU. >> SURE. >>COUN. GROUT: THAT'S IT. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: COUNCILOR BASSAN. >>COUN. BASSAN: MR. VICE PRESIDENT, MR. WHELAN, ARE YOU ABLE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE CITY CLERK AND CITY ATTORNEY? IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THOSE POSTINGS CLOSED ON MARCH 31st. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR BASSAN, WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF LOOKING AT INTERVIEWS AND APPLICATIONS AS WE DO FOR ALL POSITIONS. WE WANTED TO CLARIFY SOMETHING TO COUNCILOR GROUT. THE POSITION WAS NOT ADVERTISED. IT'S AN UNCLASSIFIED POSITION. IT'S NOT REQUIREMENT TO GO THROUGH THE HIRING PROCESS. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. >>COUN. BASSAN: MR. WHELAN, COMING BACK TO THIS QUESTION, DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG THE INTERVIEW PROCESS WILL TAKE AND WHAT WE SHOULD EXPECT FOR A TIMELINE? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR BASSAN, WE'RE WORKING AS QUICKLY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. JUST DEPENDS ON THE CANDIDATES WE HAVE. WE SHOULD GET THAT DONE SHORTLY. >>COUN. BASSAN: THANK YOU. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: MADAM PRESIDENT, I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTION AND ANSWERS. WE CAN MOVE TO PROCLAMATIONS. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'LL GET MYSELF IN ORDER NOW. TONIGHT'S PROCLAMATION IS RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF APRIL SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH. I HAVE A COUPLE PEOPLE HERE TO ACCEPT THE PROCLAMATION. ISRAEL MORALES WITH THE OUTREACH COMMUNITY EDUCATION DIRECTOR FOR THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER OF CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. AND I HAVE JENN A CLINICAL SPECIALIST FROM THE UNIT. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THANK YOU. WHEREAS SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS WIDESPREAD AND PREVENTIBLE PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM IN NEW MEXICO. WHEREAS APRIL, 2026 MARKS THE OFFICIAL 25th ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH. AND IT'S PREVENTIBLE IN OUR SOCIETY IT AFFECTS 99% OF US. IF YOU ARE NOT A SURVIVOR YOU MOST LIKELY KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS. ONE IN THREE WOMEN AND ONE IN FOUR MEN HAVE EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE INVOLVING PHYSICAL CONTACT DURING LIVETIMES. AND ONE IN EIGHT FEMALE RAPE VICTIMS REPORT THEIR ASSAULT OCCURRED BEFORE THE AGES OF 10 YEARS OLD. AND ONE IN FOUR MALE VICTIMS REPORT IT HAPPENED BEFORE THE ANAL OF 10. IN IN 20 BY ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT SEX CRIMES UNIT. AND THE STATISTICS DO NOT REPRESENT THE TRUE EVIDENCE AND PREVALENCE FOR MULTIPLE REASONS INCLUDING NOT ALL VICTIMS REPORT THE CRIME TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND WHEREAS FOR 53 YEARS THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER OF THE CENTRAL NEW MEXICO HAS PROVIDED SERVICES TO SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS AND IN 2025 ASSISTED 1,336 SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS WITH THE YOUNGEST SURVIVOR BEING 10 MONTHS OLD AND THE OLDEST BEING 81 YEARS OLD. WHEREAS PER RAPE, THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER OF NEW MEXICO, THIS YEARS THEME, 25 YEARS STRONGER LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING FORWARD. IS BOTH A REFLECTION AND RALLY CRY HONORING THE VOICES THAT PAVE HAD WAY WHILE CONTINUING THE WORK TO PREVENT HARM AND SUPPORT HEALING AND BUILDING A SAFER COMMUNITY. BE IT PROCLAIMED, THE CITY COUNCIL PROCLAIMS IT THE MONTH OF APRIL, 2026, SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS IN SOLIDARITY OF ALL SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND ASSAULT. USUALLY WHEN WE DO PROCLAMATIONS WE CLAP AT THE EFFORT AND WHAT WE'RE ACKNOWLEDGING. [ APPLAUSE ]. MADAM PRESIDENT, I APOLOGIZE, BEFORE OUR VERY NICE AUDIENCE DID THAT, THESE PEOPLE DO SO MUCH WORK. THEY WORK WITH PUBLIC SAFETY AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND AFR AND AFD. IT'S HARD TO CLAP FOR SUCH -- YOU CLAP FOR THEIR WORK. BECAUSE IT'S EVEN HARD TO READ WHEN YOU READ THE YOUNGEST NOT ONLY THE YOUNGEST BUT THE OLDEST, SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. READING THAT AND SEEING THOSE NUMBERS, I COULDN'T DO IT. I'D BE IN JAIL. I'D BE IN JAIL FOR ACTING UPON SEEING STUFF LIKE THAT. I COMMEND YOU. I REALLY DO. >> WE FEEL THE SAME. BUT LUCKILY TRAINING HAS TAUGHT US MORE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THERE'S LOT OF WORK TO DO. THIS REALLY HELPS. IT LETS PEOPLE KNOW THERE'S STILL FIGHTING GOING ON AND THERE'S STILL MORE ACTION TO TAKE. THANK YOU. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THANK YOU. PLEASE COME UP AND SAY HI. I HAVE THE PROCLAMATION FOR YOU. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: MADAM PRESIDENT. COUNCILOR GROUT HAS A PROCLAMATION. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. MR. VICE PRESIDENT. OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS RECOGNIZING THE NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH AND ALD AWARENESS. TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION WE HAVE CARINA LUERO. NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS COORDINATOR FOR NEW MEXICO DONATE FOR LIFE. AND WE HAVE SEVERAL DONORS THAT HAVE -- RECIPIENTS THAT ARE HERE. WE HAVE LUCY REEYES, ANIME GURLE. DANIEL AND DEBORA DALVRERA. CRYSTAL AND KEN GREIGO AND ANNETTE CHAVEZ. I ASKED COUNCILOR LEWIS TO JOIN ME WITH THIS PROCLAMATION. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU ALL. IT'S ALWAYS A PRIVILEGE TO DO THIS PROCLAMATION EVERY YEAR. AND TO RECOGNIZE AWARENESS AND HIGHLIGHT THE STORIES. IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THE OTHER NIGHT MANY OF YOUR STORIES AT CIVIC PLAZA WHEN WE LIT UP CITY HALL BLUE AND GREEN. IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE COLORS ON CITY HALL, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS FOR. JUST TO HEAR THE STORIES AND TO BE ABLE TO RAISE AWARENESS AND TO BE ABLE TO HELP. ONE OF THE THINGS IS ALL OF US -- GOD GIVES US THIS AMAZING ABILITY TO HELP AND WE ALL HAVE A NEED. EVERY ONE OF US HAS A NEED. AND ALL OF THIS HAVE THIS ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO HELP THOSE IN NEED. THANK YOU ALL. WHEREAS, BY BECOMING A BONE MARROW ORGAN OR TISSUE DONOR, ONE INDIVIDUAL CAN SAVE THE LIVES OF AT LEAST EIGHT PEOPLE AND HEAL HUNDREDS MORE. WHEREAS ACROSS THE NATION THOUSANDS OF LIVES COULD BE SAVED BY A BONE MARROW ORGAN EYE OR TISSUE DONORS AND THEIR SELFLESS DECISION TO SAY YES TO DONATION. RIGHT HERE IN NEW MEXICO 400 PEOPLE ARE AWAITING A LIFE SAVING TRANSPLANT. WHEREAS ANOTHER PERSON IS -- ON AVERAGE 13 PEOPLE DIE EACH DAY WAITING IN THE UNITED STATES. >>COUN. GROUT: WHEREAS ALD IS A RARE GENETIC DISORDER THAT CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS NEUROLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS IF NOT DETECTED EARLY. IT IS ONE OF OVER 65 DISEASES THAT CAN BE TREATED WITH DONATED STEM CELLS FROM BONE MARROW. THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE IS EDUCATE AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO REGISTER AS A BONE MARROW, ORGAN, EYE OR TISSUE DONOR AT THE REGISTRY AT NMDP.ORG. EOR REGISTERME.ORG. OR AT THE LOCAL MVD AND LEARN MORE AT DONATELIFE.NET. BE IT PROCLAIMED THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE DECLARES SAVING AND HEALING LIVES THROUGH DONATION IS OF SUCH IMMEDIATE IMPORTANCE IT IS HEREBY DECLARING APRIL AS NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH AND ENCOURAGES ALL RESIDENTS TO REGISTER AND HELP SAVE LIVES. [ APPLAUSE ]. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. TODAY WE HONOR THE INCREDIBLE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS WHO SHARE COMPASSION AND COMMITMENT TO MAKE ORGAN DONATION POSSIBLE AND WITH NEW MEXICO DONOR SERVICES THE TEAM FOR CARRYING THIS MISSION FORWARD ACROSS THE STATE AND TO OUR GREAT AMBASSADORS WHO SHARE THEIR STORIES TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO SAY YES. THANK YOU. TODAY WE ALSO HAVE ANNA MARIE GURULE WHO WANTS TO SHARE WORDS. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M ANNA MARIE DURAN. I APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCES AND RECOGNIZE THE EXTRAORDINARY IMPACT OF ORGAN DONATION ON INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. THY YEARS AGO I WAS LIVING AN ACTIVE LIFE. UNAWARE MY HEALTH WAS STEADILY DECLINING. I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A LIVER DISEASE THAT AFFECTS HISPANICS. HOWEVER HISPANICS ARE 15% OF REGISTERED DONORS. MY MOTHER, BROTHER, AND THREE WEEKS AGO AND LOST MY SISTER TO LIVER DISEASE. MY LIVER WAS FAILING AND A TRANSPLANT WAS MY ONLY HOPE. I WAS TOTALLY UNAWARE OF FAMILY HISTORY. WAITING FOR AN ORGAN IS A PROFOUND AND FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. EACH DAY BRINGS HOPE WHILE EACH NIGHT BRINGS DOUBT. BEING REMINDED YOUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED. ON JUNE 6, 2027 I RECEIVED A CALL THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING. ONE INDIVIDUAL CHOSE TO BECOME AN ORGAN DONOR. I WAS GIVEN THE GIFT OF MORE TIME AND MORE DAYS WITH MY FAMILY, MORE MEMORIES, AND MORE LIFE. TODAY MANY NEW MEXICANS ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE SAME OPPORTUNITY. UNFORTUNATELY, ONLY KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS ARE DONE IN NEW MEXICO. ANY OTHER TRANSPLANT HAS TO BE DONE OUTSIDE OF NEW MEXICO. ONE DECISION MADE IN ADVANCE OR COMMUNICATED THROUGH THE FAMILY HAS THE POWER TO SAVE LIVES AND TRANSFORM FAMILIES. ORGAN DONATION IS NOT ABOUT DEATH. IT'S ABOUT LIFE, RESPONSIBILITY, AND SECOND CHANCES. IF MY JOURNEY ENCOURAGES EVEN ONE PERSON TO REFLECT ON THEIR HEALTH OR CONSIDER ORGAN DONATION, THEN THAT MOMENT HAS MEANINGFUL PURPOSE. ESPECIALLY TO HISPANICS WHO ARE UNAWARE OF LIVER DISEASE THAT HAS BEEN IN OUR DNA FOR GENERATIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, CONSIDERATION, AND COMMITMENT TO THE WELL BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. I AM A LIVER RESIPVENT. WE HAVE ANOTHER LIVER, KIDNEY, HEART, CRYSTAL IS A HEART, ANOTHER KIDNEY. I HAVE A DONOR FAMILY WHO DONATED FOUR ORGANS. WE HAVE VALERIE WHO DONATED A KIDNEY. >>COUN. GROUT: VERY COOL. >> WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. I HAVE A NEW APPRECIATION FOR DONORS. MY GRANDSON WILL NEED A TRANSPLANT ONE DAY, HOPEFULLY NOT FOR A WHILE. BUT THROUGH THAT, WE NEED -- WE HAVE EVERYTHING IN ORDER EXCEPT WE NEED A DONOR. STEM CELL DONOR. YOU HAVE TO BE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18-35. IT'S VERY SIMPLE. IT'S A CHEEK SWAB. SO IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY THAT WOULD CONSIDER DOING THAT, IT WOULD BE -- YOU WOULD BE A HERO TO SOMEBODY. YOU WOULD BE LISTED INTO THE REGISTRY, THE NATIONAL REGISTRY. YOU MIGHT HELP SOMEBODY IN ALBUQUERQUE. YOU MIGHT SOMEBODY IN A DIFFERENT STATE. I THINK THE OPPORTUNITY TO -- I'M TOO OLD TO DO THAT. I AM NOT TOO OLD TO BE A DONOR FOR AN ORGAN. SO, I HAVE REGISTERED. I HAVE THAT NEW APPRECIATION FOR WHAT IT CAN BE AND LIKE YOU SAID IT CAN SAVE A LIFE. I CAN'T TAKE IT WITH ME. MIGHT AS WELL SHARE IT. I WANT TO COMMEND COUNCILOR LEWIS. 25 YEARS AGO, HE GAVE A KIDNEY FOR HIS BROTHER. AND THEY'RE BOTH HERE. LIVING STRONG AND HEALTHY LIVES. I JUST -- THIS LITTLE GRILL DOWN HERE, CRYSTAL, SHE HAS A HEART BECAUSE SOMEBODY WAS SELFLESS IN THEIR SADDEST DAY. BUT THAT SADNESS TURNED INTO LIFE FOR SOMEBODY AND THROUGH THAT SADNESS THAT FAMILY BROUGHT LIFE AND LOVE AND HAPPINESS TO YOUR FAMILY. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP. GOD BLESS YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]. >>COUN. LEWIS: REAL QUICK. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING THAT NOW KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS ARE DONE IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. YOU MENTIONED THAT THOSE ARE THE ONLY TRANSPLANTS THAT THERE'S SURGERIES AND THOSE TRANSPLANTS ARE DONE HERE IN OUR STATE. I DO FIND IT -- I THINK A GOOD NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO SEE OUR CITY OR STATE DO LIVER TRANSPLANTS. THAT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE. IF THERE'S INSIGHT OR ANYTHING YOU SEE AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT AS A CITY COUNCIL, CITY, WE CAN DO TO CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT TO REALLY BE ABLE TO PUSH THAT FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT TYPE OF EXPERTISE AND TECHNOLOGY AND ABILITY FOR OUR STATE TO PERFORM THOSE KIND OF SURGERIES, I'D LOVE TO BE A PART OF HELPING. DID YOU HAVE INSIGHT? >> [ INAUDIBLE ]. >>COUN. LEWIS: CERTAINLY BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE GREAT EFFORT AND WORTH OR WHILE TO WORK ON TOGETHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: I THINK THEY'RE READY TO SHAKE HANDS. I WORK AT UNM HOSPITAL. I ECHO THE SAME THING. IT'S A MATTER OF SURGEONS AND TECHNOLOGY. WE CAN CALL FOR THAT AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PUSH OUR COUNTY PARTNERS AT UNM HOSPITAL TO HELP US GET THERE. THE COUNTY OWNS THE HOSPITAL. YOU SHOULD PUSH THEM ON THAT THERE. [ APPLAUSE ]. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: WE'LL MOVE TO COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. TONIGHT, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT FORM FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE FOLKS AT AFR AND THE UMMING -- AMAZING WORK THEY'RE DOING. CAPTAIN DANIEL FINCH, NICK GALLAGHER, JOSH C IRKS S MATEO MARTINEZ. JESSIE DAVIS. EDDY ARVIZO, NATHENIEL GOOD AND JOHN PEW. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHY WE'RE THANKFUL FOR THEM TODAY. ALBUQUERQUE FIRE RESCUE IS ACHIEVING SOMETHING TRULY REMARKABLE. OVER THE COURSE OF EIGHT WEEKS TRAINING STAFF SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED LIVE FIRE SUPPRESSION REFRESHER TRAINING FOR ALL OF THE AFR SWORN PERSONNEL. MORE THAN 700 FIREFIGHTERS. TWICE A DAY, TRAINING STAFF TOOK SWORN PERSONNEL THROUGH AFR'S -- WITH LIVE FIRE CONDITIONS TO PRACTICE VICTIM RESCUE OR MAYDAY OPERATIONS IN THE REALITY BASED TRAINING ENVIRONMENT. THIS MARKS A HISTORIC FIRST FOR AFR. IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN THE DEPARTMENT'S HISTORY THAT ALL FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN REFRESHED ON LIVE FIRE OPERATIONS IN A SAFE CONTROLLED TRAINING ENVIRONMENT. DURING THE SAME PERIOD TRAINING STAFF ALSO INSTRUCTED THE 150th CADET CLASS MADE UP OF OVER 40 CADETS THROUGH EMT BASIC CERTIFICATION COURSE AND THE FIRST ADVANCED EMT COURSE. THANKS TO THE PATIENCE AND EXPERTISE OF THE TRAINING DIVISION THE RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. 100% FOR EMT BASIC STUDENTS AND 81% OF THE ADVANCED EMT STUDENTS PASSED. ALL OF THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED WHILE TRAINING STAFF SIMULTANEOUSLY MAINTAINED THEIR OWN MONTHLY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS AND STEPPED UP TO FILL OPERATIONAL VACANCIES IN THE FIELD. THESE ARE LONG DEMANDING DAYS AND THE DEDICATION REQUIRED TO PULL THIS OFF CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. AFR'S TRAINING DIVISION REPRESENTS SOME OF THE MOST CUTTING EDGE HIGH QUALITY FIRE SERVICE TRAINING IN THE COUNTRY. THEIR COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE IS A TESTAMENT TO HOW DEEPLY THEY CARE ABOUT PREPARING FFR'S FIREFIGHTERS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC AND BRING EACH OTHER HOME SAFELY. PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING THE OUTSTANDING MEN AND WOMEN OF AFR'S TRAINING DIVISION. [ APPLAUSE ]. I BELIEVE CHIEF JARAMILLO HAS A COUPLE WORDS TO SAY. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING OUR STAFF. AND I WILL BE BRIEF. IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT GOES INTO IT BEHIND THE SCENES. IT WAS VERY LONG DAYS FOR THEM. THEY WERE IN A 145 STRUCTURE FIRES ESSENTIALLY. SOMETHING THAT IS NOT DONE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. YOU GET YOUR CADET TRAINING AND THEN YOU RELY ON GETTING THAT TRAINING IN THE FIELD. WHAT THEY DID WAS NOT REALLY HUMANLY POSSIBLE BUT SOMEHOW THEY MADE IT. AND THEY'RE ALL SMILING BACK HERE. [ APPLAUSE ]. AND THE LAST THING I'D LIKE TO ADD IS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON THIS TYPE OF LIVE FIRE TRAININGS, WE'VE NOTICED OUR NUMBERS OF RESCUES GOING UP. BOTH HUMAN AND ANIMAL HAVE BEEN GOING UP THIS -- PROBABLY TRENDING FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS SINCE WE STARTED ADVANCED FIRE OPERATIONS. IT'S THE WORK DRIVEN BY THE STAFF WHO ASK US TO DO THIS STUFF. THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THEM. AND WE WOULD LIKE TO TOUCH ON THE EMS TRAINING WE'D LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, AS THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR AFR I CANNOT OVER STATE WHAT A HEROIC EFFORT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED BY THE EMS STAFF. OVER THE LAST YEAR COMPLETING THE TWO EMT CLASSES IN EIGHT WEEKS. THEY'RE NOT ONLY EXCELLENTLY TRAINED IN FIRE FIGHTING, BUT ALSO THEY HOLD A MEDICAL LICENSE. 80% OF CALLS ARE MEDICAL IN NATURE. AND WE TRULY HAVE ONE OF THE BUSIEST BUT ALSO THE BEST EMS AGENCIES IN THE COUNTRY. AND THAT IS IN LARGE PART DUE TO THE TRAINING BUT ALSO COMPASSION. I'M SO PROUD OF THE THEY WAY TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS AND LOVE OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. LAST YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER OUR EMS TRAINING STAFF CONDUCTED ENTRY LEVEL EMT BASIC CLASS SPECIFICALLY TAILORED FOR AFR APPLICANTS COMING INTO THE DEPARTMENT WHO ARE NO MEDICAL EXPERIENCE. THIS CLASS NOT ONLY CONVINCED CADETS TO TAKE A NATIONAL CERTIFICATION LICENSE AND IT GIVES THEM TO GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER AND GET IN SHAPE FOR THE UPCOMING RIGOROUS FIRE SUPPRESSION TRAINING THEY'RE FACING IN A COUPLE MONTHS. BY CONDUCTING IN-HOUSE EMT BASIC CLASS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF UNM WE NOTICED EIGHT WEEKS TOGETHER THAT WE GAVE THESE CADETS LEARNING THE -- GETTING LICENSE IMPROVED RETENTION AND GRADUATION RATES. THAT WAS ONE YEAR OF SUCCESS. WE DECIDED THAT WAS TOO EASY, WE SO ADDED AN INTERMEDIATE CLASS. THIS IS NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE. IN CONJUNCTION WITH UNM ACADEMY THIS CLASS WAS FOR APPLICANTS WHO COME INTO THE DEPARTMENT WHO HOLD A LICENSE. WE'RE BRINGING UP THE LEVEL OF LICENSURE. THE FACT THEY CAN PULL THIS OFF IN EIGHT WEEKS WHICH IS HALF OF WHAT IT USUALLY TAKES WITH PASS RATES WELL ABOVE NATIONAL AVERAGE IS TRULY NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE. I THINK IT IS A TRUE TESTAMENT TO THE DEDICATION OF THE DEPARTMENT AND OUR STAFF AND HOW MUCH THEY ARE WILLING TO TAKE CARE OF CITIZENS FOR THE CITY. WITH THE GRADUATION OF THIS CLASS, WE NOW HAVE MORE FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO 911 CALLS IN ADVANCED CAPACITY, TREATING PAIN, NAUSEA, AND HAVE ADVANCED SKILLS. IT'S A WONDERFUL TESTAMENT TO THE THINGS THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO. [ APPLAUSE ]. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. BEFORE YOU GO, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. WE REALLY NEED HEROES IN THIS COMMUNITY. THAT'S YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE YOU. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: MADAM PRESIDENT, I HOPE WE KEEP THE APPLAUSE GOING. THE NEXT PRESENTATION IS THE CITY ECONOMIST. WE NEED TO MAKE HER FEEL WELCOME TOO. MS. CHRISTINE WARNER WHO IS GOING TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE CANNABIS AND GROSS VOTES TAX. GROSS VOTES TAX. GROSS RECEIPTS TAX. >> MR. VICE CHAIRMAN, YOU MADE A FUNNY. I APPRECIATE THAT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, I HAVE THE GRT AND CANNABIS REVENUE UPDATE. NOT SURE IT WARRANTS THE SAME APPLAUSE. BASED ON THE -- REVENUE GREW 3.7%. WHICH DID HAVE GROWTH DOWNWARD TO 4.6% FOR THE YEAR. ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT, EDUCATION, FINANCE AND INSURANCE, INFORMATION AND PROFESSIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC SERVICES ALL DID WELL THIS MONTH. POSITIVE GAINS OVER THIS TIME LAST YEAR. HEALTH CARE, MANAGEMENT OF COMPANIES, TRANSPORTATION, ALL DECLINED SOMEWHAT IN JANUARY. AND WHILE RETAIL TRADE DID INCREASE 3.7%, WHOLESALE TRADE DECLINED ABOUT 14%. CONSTRUCTION GREW A MODEST 1% OVER THIS TIME LAST YEAR. WE CAN MOVE TO THE CANNABIS REPORT. CANNABIS HAD BEEN DOING BETTER THESE PAST FEW MONTHS. THIS TIME IT DID DECLINE 7.3%. THAT BROUGHT OUR CUMULATIVE GROWTH TO A NEGATIVE 3% FOR THE YEAR. THAT REALLY SUMS UP THE REPORT. I CAN STAND FOR QUESTIONS. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF THE INCREASE WE'RE PROJECTING FOR THE NEXT BUDGET YEAR? >> REPEAT THE QUESTION, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. >>COUN. LEWIS: THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE WE'RE PROJECTING IN REVENUES. >> FOR FY27? >>COUN. LEWIS: THAT RIGHT. >> YOU'RE LOOKING AT TOTAL GENERAL FUND REVENUE. I DON'T DO THE WHOLE BUDGET. I HAVE A HYPERFOCUS. TOTAL GENERAL FUND REVENUE FOR FY27 WAS PROJECTED TO GROW 2.5% OR $21.7 MILLION. >>COUN. LEWIS: OKAY. THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET ARE WE AT 2.7 OR 2.5? >> ON PAGE 25, IT SHOWS 2.7, BUT THAT WOULD BE ALL REVENUE NOT JUST THE GRT. >>COUN. LEWIS: RIGHT. ANOTHER .2% AND OTHER REVENUES THAT COME FROM ENTERPRISES AND THINGS LIKE THAT? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, THE TOTAL GRT IS PROJECTED TO GROW 1.9% IN FY27. FOR A TOTAL OF $11.5 MILLION. >>COUN. LEWIS: SO THERE'S GROWTH IN OTHER REVENUES. BUT OVERALL THE MAYOR'S PROJECT BUDGET IS BUILT ON THIS. BOTTOM LINE IS WE'RE SHOWING A GOOD $25 MILLION IN INCREASED REVENUE, YEAR OVER YEAR. DOES THAT SOUND ABOUT RIGHT? IT'S ALL RIGHT. >> THAT'S IN THE BALL PARK, YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: I APPRECIATE THE NUMBERS. AND APPRECIATE YOU DOING THE REPORT EACH MONTH. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT AGAIN THAT THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET SHOWS AN INCREASE IN REVENUE, YEAR OVER YEAR, AND SPENDING EVERY BIT OF IT EXCEPT FOR A PORTION THAT GOES TO THE FUND BALANCE. WHICH I APPRECIATE. I WANT TO SAY TOO THERE'S SOME GOOD THINGS. I LIKE THE DIRECTION, MR. WHELAN AND YOUR TEAM, AND THE TIME YOU PUT INTO THIS. I LIKE THE DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING ON IT. YOU'RE RIGHTSIZING SOME THINGS. THERE'S PROGRAM SAVINGS AND SOME OTHER ADJUSTMENTS. THOSE ARE ALL GOOD THINGS. YOU CANNOT SAY THAT THIS IS A PROPOSED BUDGET THAT REDUCES SPENDING OR CUTS ANYTHING, REDUCES ANYTHING. IT'S BUDGET THAT SHOWS INCREASED REB NEW TO THE TUNE OF $20 MILLION. AND A PROPOSAL THAT SPENDS EVERY PENNY OF IT. IT ALLOCATES EVERY PENNY OF IT. SO, AS WE GO THROUGH -- THAT'S IMPORTANT. IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT NUMBER BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE 3% NEXT MONTH. WE'RE IN THE BUDGET, IT MIGHT BE 3.5%. AND THERE'S SOME -- I THINK LOOKING AT PROGRAM SAVINGS AND OTHER AREAS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO SHOW AS REVENUE AND SPENDING, JUST ELIMINATE IT. YOU DID THAT WITH PROGRAM SAVINGS. IT RIGHTSIZES THE BUDGET. IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND IT. AND HELPS US UNDERSTAND WHAT'S THERE AND NOT THERE. IF THERE'S SOME OF THE MEDIA WATCHING RIGHT NOW, THE PAPER, NEWS REPORT, THAT REPORTED ON THE FACT THAT THE MAYOR SENT A BUDGET TO US THAT CUTS BACK ON SPENDING. IT JUST DOESN'T. IT DOESN'T DO ANY OF THAT. IT SPENDS MORE. WE HAVE MORE REVENUE AND IT SPENDS MORE THAN WE DID LAST YEAR. THAT'S JUST THE FACT OF IT. IF THERE ARE CUTS, THERE ARE CUTS TO CERTAIN POSITIONS THAT WEREN'T THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. OR SOME DEPARTMENTS. AND MASSIVE AMOUNTS GIVING TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS. IT REFLECTS THE MAYOR'S PRIORITIES. AGAIN, NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT IS SOMEHOW SAYING IT'S A REDUCTION IN SPENDING. IT'S JUST NOT. THANK YOU. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. JUST HAVE A XR -- COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. THE STATE HOLD HARMLESS WAS HIGH AGAIN. IN THE STATE YOU PUT BEFORE THE PHASE OUT. WHEN IS THE PHASE OUT? WHEN IS THAT DATE? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR ROGERS, DO YOU MEAN WHEN DID THE PHASE OUT BEGIN? >>COUN. ROGERS: I'M JUST ASKING ABOUT YOUR NOTE, IT SAYS BEFORE THE PHASE OUT, WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT? >> I THINK WHAT I MEAN IN HERE IS THAT WHEN I PUT THIS REPORT TOGETHER, I'M LOOKING AT TOTAL GROSS RECEIPTS FOR BOTH FOOD HOLD HARMLESS AND MEDICAL HOLD HARMLESS. WE'RE LOOKING AT TOTAL GROSS VOTES. THE ACTUAL REVENUES IS PHASED OUT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M EXPLAINING THIS CORRECTLY. I WANT TO KNOW HOW MUCH GROSS VOTES RELATED TO THE MEDICAL HOLD HARMALIZE -- HARMLESS IS RECEIVING. >>COUN. ROGERS: FOR THE PUBLIC WATCHING. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE MEDICAL HOLD HARMLESS IS? >> IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I LOOKED AT IT. CERTAIN MEDICAL SERVICES AND GOODS ARE NOT SUBJECT TO GRT. AND THE CITY'S MUNICIPALITIES LOST OUT ON REVENUE WHEN THAT HAPPENED. WE WERE GIVEN PHASED OUT -- WE WERE GIVEN HOLD HARMLESS TO REPLACE THE LOST GRT. THAT WHAT THAT IS REFERRING TO. PLEASE DON'T ASK ME TO LIST THE EXACT -- I CAN COME BACK TO YOU WITH THAT LATER. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. MY NEXT QUESTION IS DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT AMOUNTS TO AS FAR AS FUNDING TO THE CITY ON THIS REPORT? WHEN IT SAYS IT'S 135% INCREASE, WHAT IS THAT IN DOLLARS REIMBURSED BACK TO THE CITY FOR MEDICAL? >> I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. ARE YOU WANTING TOTAL? MR. PRESIDENT, WHAT ANNUALLY WE MIGHT BE LOSING FROM THAT? OR WHAT THIS PARTICULAR INCREASE MEANT? >>COUN. ROGERS: YEAH, THANK YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. I'M INTERESTED BECAUSE THIS IS SPECIFICALLY PAID FOR PUBLIC SAFETY THINGS. I'M JUST WANDERING HOW MUCH REVENUE IS ACTUALLY GENERATING FOR OUR CITY. ON THE MEDICAL HOLD HARMLESS. BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH OF A BIG DIFFERENCE. HOW MUCH MONEY DOES THAT AMOUNT TO FOR OUR BUDGET? >> INCREASINGLY LESS, MR. PRESIDENT, BECAUSE SO MUCH OF IT IS PHASED OUT. I CAN CHECK QUICKLY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO -- CAN I GET BACK TO YOU? >>COUN. ROGERS: SURE. ESPECIALLY FOR WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT FOR OUR DONORS AND WHAT FUNDING COMES IN, WE'RE NOT IN CHARGE OF THAT IN THE CITY AS FAR AS HOLDING OUR HOSPITALS ACCOUNTABLE. I'M INTERESTED IN HOW MUCH IS COMING TO THE CITY IN DOLLARS AND WHERE WE'RE PUTTING THOSE DOLLARS. THANK YOU. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: COUNCILOR TELLES. >>COUN. TELLES: THANK YOU, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION TO COUNCILOR ROGERS'S POINT. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BASELINE ONCE THESE ARE PHASED OUT? >> MR. PRESIDENT, I'M GOING TO FIND A QUICK SPREADSHEET AND HOPEFULLY I'LL BE ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. >>COUN. TELLES: DON'T PLAY THE JEOPARDY MUSIC. >> MR. PRESIDENT, I MAY NEED TO HAVE YOU RESTATE YOUR QUESTION. JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, IF WE WEREN'T PHASING THE REVENUE OUT, FOOD HOLD HARMLESS AND MEDICAL HOLD HARMLESS WOULD TOTAL ABOUT $66.6 MILLION. BUT BECAUSE OF THE HOLD HARMLESS -- BECAUSE OF THE PHASE OUT, THAT NUMBER FOR FY27 IS REDUCED TO JUST UNDER $14 MILLION. THAT'S THE TOTAL IMPACT OF WHAT THESE PHASE OUT HAS BEEN LIKE SINCE 2016 WHEN IT BEGAN. I APOLOGIZE. I'M NOT SURE I ANSWERED YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION. >>COUN. TELLES: MR. VICE PRESIDENT, I JUST WONDERED HOW MUCH OF THE CURRENT GROWTH IS INFLUENCED BY THE HOLD HARMLESS DISTRIBUTION. AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BASELINE WHEN THEY'RE PHASED OUT? >> MR. PRESIDENT, I'M SORRY. MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR TELLES, WE LOSE ABOUT A LITTLE OVER 2% OF REVENUE EACH YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PHASE OUT. WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTION, I MEAN WE LOSE ABOUT $4 MILLION EVERY YEAR. THAT'S THE DECLINING CONTRIBUTION. IS THAT GETTING AT YOUR QUESTION? >>COUN. TELLES: YEAH. THANK YOU. MR. VICE PRESIDENT, ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION. THE CUMULATIVE GROWTH IS DECLINING MONTH TO MONTH. WHAT'S YOUR CONFIDENCE LEVEL OF HITTING THE PROJECTION BY THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR? >> COUNCILOR TELLES, ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE GRT GROWTH? >>COUN. TELLES: YEAH. CUMULATIVE GROWTH IS AT 4.6. >> CORRECT. THE EXPECTED GROWTH WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FY36 BUDGET IS EXPECTED GROWTH OF 3.8% OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. WE'RE OUTPACING THAT RIGHT NOW. >>COUN. TELLES: WE'RE SEEING A CONSISTENT DECLINE MONTH TO MONTH? >> MADAM -- COUNCILOR TELLES, THAT'S CORRECT. HOWEVER, WE'VE SEEN INSTANCES OF INCREASED. 5.5%, 4.9%, IT LOOKS LIKE. IT IS HOVERING UP AND ABOVE AND BELOW THE ACTUAL PROJECTION WE'RE EXPECTING. I WILL SAY THAT THE AVERAGE GROWTH AT THIS POINT WHEN YOU DON'T COUNT THE REALLY BIG FIRST MONTH BECAUSE OF THE DISTRIBUTION, IT'S AROUND 3.3% GROWTH. YOU'RE RIGHT. IF THAT WERE TO CONTINUE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR, WE WOULD PROBABLY NOT SUSTAIN THIS 4.6%. WE'LL BE LUCKY TO GET THAT 3.8% EXPECTING. >>COUN. TELLES: OKAY. RIGHT NOW WE'RE CONFIDENT WE'LL HIT 3.3, MAYBE? THANK YOU. I'M SORRY, ONE MORE QUESTION, MR. VICE PRESIDENT. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT SECTORS ARE THE MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR SUSTAINED GROWTH RIGHT NOW? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR TELLES, HEALTH CARE IS THE ACTUAL LARGEST SECTOR. IT CONTRIBUTES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT. IT'S BEEN GROWING STRONG. PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, A LITTLE BIT SMALLER BUT IT'S A HIGH-WAGE SECTOR. AND IT'S BEEN DOING VERY WELL OVER THE PAST MANY MONTHS. IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT CUMULATIVE GROWTH, PROFESSIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC. I THINK THOSE ARE THE BIG STANDOUTS. RETAIL, USUALLY IS A BIG CONTRIBUTOR. IT LAGGED FOR A WHILE. OVER THE RECENT MONTHS IT PICKED UP A BIT. >>COUN. TELLES: FOR THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND GROSS RECEIPTS TAX, ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT PYRAMIDING? >> YES, THAT'S A CONCERN. CERTAINLY AT THE STATE. IT IMPACTS US. >>COUN. TELLES: THANK YOU. >>COUN. ROGERS: FY27 IS GOING TO BE $14 MILLION? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR ROGERS, I NEED YOU -- >>COUN. ROGERS: THE NUMBERS YOU GAVE COUNCILOR TELLES FOR MEDICAL HOLD HARMLESS, YOU SAID FY26 WAS $66.7 MILLION. AND FY27 IS $14 MILLION? >> OH, GOOD HEAVENS NO. >>COUN. ROGERS: HELP ME UNDERSTAND. >> I WAS GIVING YOU THE $66 MILLION IS WHAT WE WOULD HAVE RECEIVED IF WE WEREN'T EXPERIENCING THE PHASE OUT. FOR FY27 I'M EXPECTING ABOUT $10.7 MILLION IN FOOD HOLD HARMLESS. AND ABOUT $3.3 MILLION IN MEDICAL HOLD HARMLESS. WHEN YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE PHASE OUT. >>COUN. ROGERS: FOR FY27? >> CORRECT. >>COUN. ROGERS: FOR FY26 WHAT WAS IT? >> THE ESTIMATE WAS ABOUT $14 MILLION IN FOOD HOLD HARMLESS, AND 4.3 IN MEDICAL HOLD HARMLESS. MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS JUST GOING INTO GENERAL FUND. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU. I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THAT. I'M JUST TRYING TO CALCULATE WHAT THE PERCENTAGE OF OUR GENERAL FUND THAT IS. SO THAT MAKES SENSE. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT. THANK YOU. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: MADAM PRESIDENT, I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE. I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 16th JOURNAL. THERE'S A MOTION, AND A SECOND BY COUNCILOR GROUT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT, WE'RE ON TO COMMUNICATIONS AND INTRODUCTIONS. ARE THERE ANY CHANGES TO THE LETTER OF INTRODUCTION? COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: MADAM PRESIDENT, I MOVE THE RULES BE SUSPENDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PLACING R-14 ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA FOR ACTION. IT'S THE THIRD UPDATE TO ATTACHMENT ONE OF R-20-47 APPROPRIATING TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE TAX FUNDS TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF CUTLER AVENUE COMPLETE STREETS PROJECT TO INCLUDE THE SAN PEDRO COMPLETE STREETS PROJECT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND BY COUNCILOR ROGERS. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THIS WILL REQUIRE TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF THE BODY. ANY QUESTIONS ? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND? PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE LETTER OF INTRODUCTION. THERE'S A MOTION, AND A SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT CHAMPINE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED NO. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY, I WOULD SAY. AND WE'RE NOW ON TO REPORTS OF COMMITTEE. THERE ARE NONE. DEFERRALS AND WITH DRAWLS. COUNCILORS, ANY DEFERRALS OR WITHDRAWALS AT THIS TIME? SEEING NONE. WE'RE NOW ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. ANY CHANGES TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? COUNCILOR GROUT. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I PULL ITEM A, EC-19 OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA. IT'S TRANSMITTING THE MID-YEAR UPDATE ON FISCAL YEAR 2026 OBJECTIVES. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. COUNCILOR CHAMPINE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: MADAM PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO PULL EC-40. THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO EC-25-518. RECOMMENDATION IN RESTOPS TO O-25 AMENDING THE ORDINANCE TO STREAMLINE AFFORDABLE AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. I'D LIKE TO PULL OFF EC-42 OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA. IT'S AWARD OF VIOLENCE AND THEIR PUTTIC AND TRAUMA SERVICES. >>COUN. PEÑA: FOR THE INDIVIDUALS ON TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA BEING APPOINTED TO SERVE ON A BOARD OR POSITION, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE. I MOVE PROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT CHAMPINE. ALL THOSE IN FAVORER SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED, SAME MOTION. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILOR GROUT, EC-19. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. EC-19 IS THE QUARTERLY OBJECTIVE MID-YEAR UPDATE. I'M NOT SURE WHO CAN ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE. ARE THE SOBERING, RESPITE, AND MENS AND WOMEN'S NAVIGATION CENTERS ACCEPTING THE MAX MISDEMEANOR NUMBER OF CLIENTS? THESE ARE FOR OBJECTIVES 2, 4, 6, 7 AND 8. >> COUNCILOR GROUT, WE HAVE OUR HHH REPRESENTATIVE. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT, I THINK THAT COVERS 2, 3, 6 7 8. YES, CURRENTLY ALL OF THEM ARE OPERATIONAL AND RECEIVING CLIENTS TO THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY THEY CAN OR ARE ABLE TO. >>COUN. GROUT: THEY DO HAVE MAX MAXIMUM OF CLIENTS? >> THEY'RE NOT FULL. BUT THEY'RE RECEIVING THE MOST THEY CAN. >>COUN. GROUT: OBJECTIVE TWO WAS CONVERT 200 HOTEL ROOMS INTO RENTAL UNITS. NOW JUNIPER FLATS WILL NOT BE PURCHASED, HOW IS THE ADMINISTRATION PLANNING TO ACCOMPLISH THAT? >>COUN. GROUT: IN REGARDS TO . >> LOCATED AT 25 HOTEL CIRCLE, UNFORTUNATELY, WE UNABLE TO PURCHASE THE APARTMENT COMPLEX BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A TURNKEY APARTMENT FACILITY WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. UPON DOING ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE, WE DID IDENTIFY THERE WERE ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED AND NEEDED TO BE IDENTIFIED. ONCE WE IDENTIFIED THAT AND HAD A COST ESTIMATE IN REGARDS TO THAT WE PRESENTED AN OFFER TO THE OWNER AT THE LOWER PRICE AND THEY REFUSED IT. THEREFORE THAT WAS NOT COMPLETED. WITH THIS, WE DID PIVOT TO IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVES THAT WERE AVAILABLE IN THE MARKETPLACE. ALTHOUGH THE CITY IDENTIFIED A FEW OTHER POTENTIAL PROPERTIES THAT COULD ADDRESS THE GOAL, IDENTIFY OBJECTIVE TEN. THE CITY COULD NOT PERFORM THE NECESSARY DUE DILIGENCE AND ISSUE A GRT BOND IN ACCORDANCE IN ACQUISITION WITH THE NEW PROPERTY THE MONEY WAS APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT. AS THE DEADLINE IT'S JUNE 30, 2026. SHOULD FUTURE STATE FUNDING BECOME AVAILABLE, THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE OPTIONS. WE'RE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE STATE IN REGARDS TO WHAT OPPORTUNITIES MIGHT BE THERE AND WHAT FUNDING THERE FOR THE PROJECT. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS TO CONVERT ANY HOTEL ROOMS? >> UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE A VIABLE PROJECT. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. HHH REPORTED ON OBJECTIVE 19 ABOUT THE VOUCHER DASH BOARD BUT IT DIDN'T IDENTIFY THE PLAN HOW IT WOULD TIE IT TO OTHERDASH BP BOARDS. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT, YES, NOT ALL OF THE DASHBOARDS WERE FUNDED BY ONE ENTITY. THE STATE AND THEIR PARTNERSHIP WITH FUNDING CREATED ONE DASHBOARD. WE'RE WORKING ONE WITH THE VOUCHER TRACKING DASHBOARD AND THE OPIOID FUNDING. WE'RE LOOKING AT THE INTEGRATION TO CHAIN AND REACH THIS OBJECTIVE. THAT IS THE FOCUS MOVING FORWARD THAT WE HAVE THE DIFFERENT PLATFORMS. WE ARE REPORTING ON DATA. WE'VE BUILT AND MADE ACCOMPLISHMENTS BUT WE HAVE WORK TO DO WITH THE INTEGRATIONS. >>COUN. GROUT: YOU STILL NEED TO INTEGRATE THESE DASHBOARDS? >> CORRECT. >>COUN. GROUT: DO YOU THINK YOU CAN GET THAT ACCOMPLISHED? >> I BELIEVE WITHIN THIS YEAR'S TIME YES. WE STILL HAVE TO IDENTIFY THE FUNDING NECESSARY FOR THE INTEGRATION. WE'RE LOOKING AT IT. >>COUN. GROUT: EOI WASN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE UNDER THE ADDICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM BECAUSE FEDERAL FUNDING WAS ELIMINATED. HOW IS THIS PROGRAM DIFFERENT FROM THE LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM SOME OR IS IT A DUPLICATE PROGRAM? >>COUN. GROUT: OBJECTIVE FIVE. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT, I AM SORRY. I CAN'T ANSWER THAT FOR OEI AS FAR AS THE ADDICTION PREVENTION REPORT. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, WE HAVE CINDY FROM THE OEM DEPARTMENT. >> HELLO, MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT. CAN YOU REPEAT THAT QUESTION? >>COUN. GROUT: OBJECTIVE FIVE, UNDER ECONOMIC VITALITY SAYS OEI WASN'T ABLE TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE UNDER ITS ADDICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM BECAUSE FEDERAL FUNDING WAS ELIMINATED. THE QUESTIONS ARE, HOW IS THIS PROGRAM DIFFERENT FROM THE LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM? OR WAS THIS A DUPLICATE PROGRAM? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT, THAT PROGRAM, BY MY UNDERSTANDING, PREDATED MY COMING INTO THIS ROLE AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR. THERE WAS A COLLECTIVE COLLABORATION OF SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS THAT REPORTED IT. CURRENTLY SINCE THAT ARPA FUNDING CEASED, THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL REPORT CREATED FOR FY25. >>COUN. GROUT: OKAY. THANK YOU. WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE FOLLOW UP ON THAT LATER. THANK YOU. MY FINAL SET OF QUESTIONS ARE OBJECTIVE 12, UNDER THE GOVERNMENTAL EFFECTIVENESS GOAL CALLED FOR A REPORT USE OF TYLER TECH SOFTWARE FOR MORE EFFICIENT HEARINGS WITH THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. HOWEVER, THE CITY CLERK REPORTED THAT THE SOFTWARE WAS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE OFFICE'S PROCESSES AND WILL NO LONGER BE USED. HI, MR. WATSON. I HAVE FOUR QUESTIONS FOR YOU. >> I HOPE I HAVE FOUR ANSWERS. >>COUN. GROUT: I HOPIA DO TOO. HOW MUCH DID WE PAY IF THE SOFTWARE? >> IT WAS APPROXIMATELY, I WANT TO SAY AROUND $100,000 FOR THE 1 MONTHS WE -- 18 MONTHS WE USED IT. >>COUN. GROUT: IS IT STILL IN USE FOR OTHER USE IN THE CITY? >> THE TYLER PROGRAM IS BEING USED BY PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. THERE WAS -- THE $100,000 WAS FOR THE CASE MANAGEMENT HEARING COMPONENT. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. IS IT FUNCTIONING WELL IN THOSE AREAS? >> I WOULD DEFER TO PLANNING ON THAT, BUT TO ME MY KNOWLEDGE IT IS. >> WE CAN HAVE OUR PLANNING DIRECT ANSWER ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIRECTOR COME DOWN. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT YES. THE ABQ PLAN, WHICH IS THE REBRANDED VERSION OF TYLER TECHNOLOGY IS WORKING VERY WELL WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE HAVE LEARNED TO MODIFY IT AS WE GO ALONG. WE CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS. IT IS MUCH BETTER THAN THE PROGRAM WE HAVE BEFORE. AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO IDENTIFY MORE AND MORE EFFICIENCIES. ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE INTRODUCED, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH TYLER THAT WE COULDN'T WAS THE EXPRESS PERMITTING PROGRAM. FOR SOLAR RESIDENTIAL REROOFS AND A FEW OTHER ITEMS, WE'VE APPROVED PERMITS FOR OVER $20 MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS DOING THAT. THOSE ARE ISSUED THE SAME DAY. IT'S WORKING VERY, VERY WELL FOR THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. THE CORE COMPETENCY FOR THE DEPARTMENT IS LAND USE AND PLANNING. >>COUN. GROUT: I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR THAT. WE WAITED A LONG TIME FOR IT TO GET READY. HOW ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT? HOW IS IT WORKING IN YOUR DEPARTMENT? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT, WE ARE CURRENTLY HAVING IT IN FULL EFFECT FOR THE CONSUMER HEALTH PROTECTION DEVECTION. PART OF THE DEPARTMENT. IT'S WORKING VERY WELL FOR THEM. WE'RE HAVING SOME CHALLENGES INTEGRATING IT INTO THE AIR QUALITY PROGRAM THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH NOW. BUT FOR CONSUMER HEALTH IT'S WORKING AS EXPECTED. >>COUN. GROUT: WILL YOU BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THOSE ISSUES AND GET IT WORKING PROPERLY? >> WE HAVE AN ANALYST LOOKING AT THAT QUESTION AS WE SPEAK. >>COUN. GROUT: VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. MY FINAL QUESTION, MR. WATSON, WHY ISN'T IT WORKING WELL IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE? >> THERE WERE A NUMBER OF ISSUES WITH, I THINK, THE ASSUMPTIONS IN THE SOFTWARE REGARDING THE NUMBER OF APPEALS WE RECEIVED. I THINK THE SOFTWARE ASSUMES MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE APPEALING. AND ALSO THAT MORE PARTIES WOULD HAVE ATTORNEYS. WE TEND TO DEAL WITH PROSE -- PRO SE PARTIES. WE ALSO -- WE WERE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME DOING DATA ENTRY AND DIDN'T HAVE CLEAR RESOLUTIONS TO THAT. THAT WAS A REAL CHALLENGE. THE OTHER ISSUE WE HAD IS A LOT OF OUR HEARINGS ARE HEARD BY BOARDS. WE STAFFED THE LABOR BOARD, PERSONNEL BOARD, BOARD OF ETHICS AND THE SOFTWARE IS BUILT FOR JUDGES AND HEARING OFFICERS. THE WASN'T A WORKABLE WAY FOR US TO BUILD INTEGRATION FOR THOSE TYPE OF HEARINGS. THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT HEARINGS OUR OFFICE HOLDS. THE FINAL ISSUE I'LL HIGHLIGHT IS I THINK THE SOFTWARE SERVICE THINKS THERE'S MORE APPEALS IN THE COURSE OF PERMITS TO OUR OFFICE. THE REALITY IS PLANNING AND EHD ISSUE TONS OF PERMITS THAT ARE NEVER APPEALED. WE HAD PLANNED ON HAVING AN INTEGRATION PLANNING EHD WHERE THEY'RE SERVING THE APPEAL PROCESS. WE JUST DON'T NEED TO APPEAL THAT MANY HEARINGS. WHEN DECIDING WHETHER TO COME BEFORE YOU AND ASK FOR MONEY TO CONTINUE IT, WHEN I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT DIDN'T MEET THE DEPARTMENT'S NEEDS, I DECIDED NOT TO. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. WITH THAT, I WOULD MOVE RECEIPT BE NOTED. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU. I JUST HAD A QUESTION FOR THE ADMINISTRATION. I KNOW WE'RE AT BUDGET TIME AGAIN. I'LL BRING IT UP AGAIN. AND AGAIN. AND AGAIN. IN OUR BUDGET HEARING AS WELL. I HAVE TO SAY IT AGAIN HERE. FOR THE OBJECTIVES. WHAT METRIC GOES WITH EACH OF THE OBJECTIVES TO TELL ME THAT YOU'RE MEETING THEM. A NARRATIVE IS NICE. AGAIN, READING THROUGH IT AGAIN. BUT WE NEED METRICS THAT GO WITH EACH OF THESE OBJECTIVES SO OVER TIME I CAN SEE IF WE'RE MEETING THEM. I SAID THATALIST TIME BEFORE WE STARTED THIS. HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION OR WORK IN OUR MID-YEAR UPDATE ABOUT TYING IN METRICS TO EACH OF THE OBJECTIVES SO I CAN PLOT THAT ON THING AND SEE OVER TIME IF WE'RE MEETING THOSE OBJECTIVES? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR ROGERS, WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS TO TRY AND GET INFORMATION. WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK AT TRYING TO GET METRICS FOR SOME OF OUR GOALS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WOULD TAKE THAT AS A NO. I DON'T SEE IT REFLECTED IN THIS UPDATE. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR ROGERS, THESE ARE THE METRICS WE HAVE NOW. BASED ON GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. >>COUN. ROGERS: MADAM PRESIDENT, I WOULD ARGUE THERE'S NOT ONE METRIC ON THE SHEET. I SEE OBJECTIVE STATEMENTS. I FOR APD, MEET THE GOALS THAT THE PUBLIC SHARES RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTAINING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, CONDUCT A MINIMUM OF TEN RECRUITMENT EVENTS ANNUALLY SPECIFICALLY TARGETING AND LOCATED IN UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES IN ORDER TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY IN THE DEPARTMENT. REPORT ON STEPS TAKEN TO ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVE WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF FY26. IN THE DRAFT RESPONSE I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE WE'VE HELD NINE OUT OF TEN EVENTS OR FIVE OUT OF TEN EVENTS. SAME FOR METRO SECURITY. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE METRICS TIED TO EVERY SINGLE OBJECTIVE BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT I CANNOT SEE THE CITY IS MOVING FORWARD IN ANY POSITIVE WAYS. I KNOW WE ARE. THAT'S NOT A DISRESPECT TO THE AMAZING PEOPLE DOING WORK IN OUR DEPARTMENTS. I KNOW THEY ARE. I JUST WANT TO SEE IT AND BE ABLE TO POINT TO IT. ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE ARE OBJECTIVES TIED TO OUR BUDGET ALSO. AS WE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET ON COUNCIL, I'D LIKE TO SEE SPECIFIC METRICS FOR EACH OF THE OBJECTIVES SO I KNOW WHICH WAY WE'RE MOVING. IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION OR NOT. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. >>COUN. PEÑA: DIRECTOR, ANYTHING TO ADD? >> OUR BUDGET STAFF IS LOOKING AT GOING TO THE OBJECTIVES. ERR -- WE'RE TRYING TO TACH MEASURABLE OUTCOMES. WE'RE WORKING SO THAT THE MAJORITY, IF NOT ALL, THE OBJECTIVES WILL HAVE SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY HAVE MEASURABLE OUTCOMES TO SEE IF THEY'RE ACTUALLY ACHIEVED OR NOT. >>COUN. ROGERS: I'M EXCITED OUR TEAM IS TAKING THAT ON. I'LL ALSO SAY IT'S HARD TO DO THAT WITHOUT THE PEOPLE DOING THE WORK. IF WE DON'T INVOLVE THE DEPARTMENTS AND I'M SURE OUR TEAM IS TALKING A LOT BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM, BUT IF FAMILIAR -- IT WOULD BE HARD TO GO TO THE METRICS WE'VE IDENTIFIED FOR THEM. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR ROGERS, WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO THEIR DEPARTMENTS. WE'RE TALKING TO THEM TO WORK THROUGH THIS PARTICULAR PROCESS. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR ROGERS. THERE WAS A MOTION FOR A RECEIPT BE NOTED BY COUNCILOR GROUT. THERE WAS A SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED, SAME MOTION. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'RE NOW ON TO VICE PRESIDENT CHAMPINE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. EC-40. FOLLOW UP TO -- RECOMMENDATION IN RESPONSE TO 25-95. FOR AFFORDABLE AND TRANSITIONING HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. I SIMPLY HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR A SIMPLE CLARIFICATION. IN OUR ANALYSIS, IT WAS NOTED IN HERE THAT THE ANTICIPATION OF THE RECEIPT OF MORE FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROM STATE CAPITAL OUT LAY WORKFORCE AND HOUSING TRUST FUNDS AND LOCAL FUNDSER HHH PROPOSES A PORTION OF THE OUTLAY OF THE FUNDS AWARDED TO BE ALLOCATED TO THE ADMINISTRATION COSTS, AGAIN, KNOWN AS IDOH, IN THE PAST NO PORTION OF THE FUNDINGS SOURCES FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE HAS BEEN PUT TOWARD ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. IT DOES NOTE THOUGH THAT THE HHH IS WORKING WITH CITY LEGAL TO EVALUATE THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH ALLOCATING ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS TO THE FUNDING. IT BROUGHT OPQUESTION OF IF WE'RE -- IF THE HHH IS TALKING WITH LEGAL, I'M CURIOUS WHERE DOES THAT SIT? HOW IS THAT PROCESS GOING? DO WE HAVE A STATUS OF THAT EVALUATION? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, WE HAVE GILBERT RAMIREZ HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, IN REGARDS TO YOUR QUESTION I DON'T HAVE THE LEGAL UPDATE. I CAN GIVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE CAUSE. THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION RECEIVES FEDERAL GRANTS IN WHICH THERE'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONALITY THAT IS ALLOWED FOR THING THE STAFF THAT EXECUTES THE CONTRACTS. ONE THING WE IDENTIFIED WHEN WE GET APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE STATE, THAT SATE OFFSET IS NOT INCLUDED THEREFOREWEAR PULLING STAFF FROM DEDICATED JOBS TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW THEM TO EXECUTE THIS TYPE OF WORK. JUST IN PREPARATION, ONE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES WE'RE ASKING AROUND IS LOOK AT -- STANDARD 15% OR LOWER, DEPENDING ON THE AGREEMENT AMOUNT, IF THERE'S AN APPROPRIATION FOR A MILLION, ALLOW FOR STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION, AND WORK THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AND CONTRACTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE. IT'S NOT OFFICIAL. BUT I KNOW THE CONTEXT AS TO WHY THAT'S PUT IN AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE. WE SEE IT WITH THE CIT APPROPRIATIONS WE GET FROM THE STATE. MUCH OF THE WORK IS ADDED ON TO THE STAFF AT VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE EXECUTING THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO PUSH IT TO NONPROFITS AND OTHERS. THERE'S NO ADMINISTRATIVE ALLOWANCE FOR ANY OF THAT FUNDING THEREFORE IT'S ADDITIONAL WORK ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND STAFF THAT HAVE TO DO THAT. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: UNDERSTANDABLE. THERE'S NO UPDATE FROM LEGAL OF OPINION ON THIS IF IT'S ALLOWABLE OR NOT? EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT DONE AND WE DON'T DO IT AND IT'S BURDEN SMM TO THE ADMINISTRATION. >> NO, I DON'T HAVE THAT UPDATE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: PERFECT. >>COUN. PEÑA: COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS MAKE ME THINK OF OTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. THIS QUESTION -- THIS IS SPECIFICALLY TIED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ALL -- JUST READING THE TITLE. WOULD THIS BE APPLIED TO THE CITY'S PROJECTS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WE GOT CAPITAL DOLLARS. SAY THIS FUNDING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FUNDING FROM THE STATE FOR JUNIPER FLATS. WOULD WE CHARGING OURSELVES FOR THAT AS WELL? ON HOUSING PROJECTS. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR ROGERS, I THINK THE LEGAL OPINION WOULD LOOK AT THAT TO SEE IF IT'S ALLOWABLE. WE TYPICALLY EXECUTE THE AWARD AND MOVE FORWARD AND OUR STAFF INTERNALLY ASSUMES THE COST INNECESSARY. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS TO SEE IF IT'S ALLOWABLE WEAN VEAN APPROPRIATION OF THE GRANT. WE CAN APPROPRIATE A PORTION FOR THE OFFSET OF THE ADMINISTRATION. I DON'T HAVE THE LEGAL OPINION ON WHETHER THAT'S ALLOWABLE. THIS IS FOR STRAIGHT, DIRECT APPROPRIATIONS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WANT TO CAUTION WE DON'T DO ANYTHING THAT DRIVES UP THE COST. LIKE HARD STOP. ON ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO DRIVE UP THE HOUSING PRICES. ANYTHING TO BUILD HOUSING, IF IT ADDS COST TO THAT, I'M OF THE OPINION THE CITY SHOULD BE ABSORBING THE COST FOR THE COMMUNITY. ESPECIALLY IN A HOUSING CRISIS WE'RE IN. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE IN A TOUGH BUDGET SITUATION. CLEARLY. WE'RE TRYING TO RAISE GRT AND DO ALL THESE THINGS TO MAKE UP FOR BUDGET SHORTFALL. I JUST WANT TO CAUTION US IN DOING THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE THE COST OF BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING HIGHER. I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS LEGAL OPINION WHEN IT COMES. IT DOESN'T ALWAYS GET TO ALL OF THE COUNCILORS. I WANT TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD THAT I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT. THANK YOU. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. COUNCILOR CHAMPINE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: I MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. >>COUN. PEÑA: I'M SORRY. THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL BY COUNCILOR BACA AND COUNCILOR CHAMPINE. -- COUNCILOR GROUT. COUNCILOR BACA HAD A QUESTION. >>COUN. BACA: I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANTED THE FOLKS TO KNOW THIS IS PART OF O-95. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF. WE PUT LOT OF TIME INTO THIS TO MAKE SURE IT'S DOING WITH THE PROCUREMENT CODE AND GETTING MONEY OUT QUICKLY AND WITHOUT FEES. IF FOLKS RECALL, THIS IS ACTUALLY HELD BACK FOR TWO MONTHS AGO. BECAUSE WE SPENT MORE TIME WORKING ON THIS. JUST TO PUT SOME FOLKS AT EASE. IF FOLKS NEEDED THAT. KUDOS TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND JENNIFER BRADLEY ON OUR TEAM FOR WORKING ON THIS SO MUCH. THANK YOU. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES, MA'AM. >>COUN. PEÑA: MOTION AND SECOND FOR APPROVAL. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED, SAME MOTION. THAT PASSES. COUNCILOR CHAMPINE. EC-42. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: RECOMMENDATION OF AWARD FOR THERAPEUTIC AND TRAUMA SERVICES. I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION. THE RENEWAL TERM DATE FOR THREE AND FOUR YEARS SEEM TO BE DUPLICATIVE. AND CERTAIN WHEREAS REFERENCES, EVICTION AND LANDLORD INCENTIVE PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT IN LINE WITH THERAPEUTIC SERVICES. IS THERE AN EXPLANATION FOR THE LANDLORD INCENTIVE PROGRAMS BEING A PART OF VIOLENCE INTERVENTION? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, WE HAVE OUR DIRECTOR OF ALBUQUERQUE COMMUNITY SAFETY HERE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR. MADAM PRESIDENT, JUST READING IT AND I'M NEEDING CLARIFICATION ON WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM. >> I'LL HAVE JEFFREY NAVIGATE THE LANGUAGE ON THAT. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT. THE LOGIC BEHIND THAT IS THIS IS THE THERAPEUTIC SERVICES ARE THE BACKBONE OF WHAT WAS PROCURED THERE. AND SOMETIMES IN IDENTIFICATION AND SUPPORT TO THE -- ESPECIALLY THE YOUTH CAUGHT UP IN CYCLES OF VIOLENCE, THERE'S SOME IDENTIFICATION OF OTHER NEEDS. HOUSEHOLD STABILITY. EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WE LEAVE THAT OPEN FOR THOSE WRAPAROUND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. SOMETIMES WE DO THEM. BUT THE THERAPEUTIC SERVICES ARE THE PRIME FOCUS OF THE PROCUREMENT. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: OKAY. THANK YOU. THE SECOND QUESTION I HAD GOES INTO THE CLINICAL THERAPIST POSITION IS VACANT. IS THERE A TIMELINE AS FAR AS WHEN THAT'S GOING TO BE FILLED? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, I BELIEVE THAT IS ACTUALLY FILLED. NOW THEY HAVE SOMEBODY IDENTIFIED. IT'S JUST A POINT OF DRAFTING THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. I WILL GET WITH THEM AND WE CAN GET A CONFIRMED ANSWER TO THAT. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: OKAY. PERFECT. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION, AND A SECOND BY COUNCILOR ROGERS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. NO, SAME MOTION. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'RE NOW ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. COUNCILOR LEWIS. >>COUN. LEWIS: MADAM PRESIDENT, THERE WILL BE A FINANCE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEET ONG MONDAY APE . >>COUN. BASSAN: MADAM PRESIDENT, THERE WILL BE A LAND USE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15th IN THE VINCENT E. GRIEGO CHAMBERS, BASEMENT LEVEL OF THE ALBUQUERQUE GOVERNMENT CENTER. THIS WILL BE A HYBRID MEETING. >>COUN. PEÑA: COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THERE WILL BE A LOCAL GOVERNMENT COORDINATING COMMISSION MEET ONG THURSDAY, APRIL 16th AT 5:00 P.M. AT APS. IN THE JOHN MILLNY COMMUNITY BOARD ROOM OF THE ALICE AND BRUCE KING COMPLEX. AND THIS WILL BE A HYBRID MEETING. >>COUN. PEÑA: THAT CONCLUDES ANNOUNCEMENTS. WE'RE NOW ON TO FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS. COUNCILOR GROUT. . >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. O-18 IS BY REQUEST. IT'S AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE NEW MEXICO GROSS RECEIPTS TAX REFUNDING REVENUE BONDS SERIES 2026A. IN THE MAXIMUM PRINCIPLE AMOUNT OF $38 MILLION. TO REFINANCE THE COST OF THE CITY'S OUTSTANDING GROSS RECEIPTS TAX BONDS AND OUTSTANDING GROSS RECEIPTS IMPROVEMENT REVENUE BONDS, AND BY PAYING EXPENSES THERETO PROVIDING PAYMENT FOR THE SERIES 2026 BONDS FROM STATE SHARED GROSS RECEIPTS TAX REVENUES. PROVIDING FOR THE COLLECTION OF STATE-SHARED GROSS RECEIPTS TAX REVENUES. APPROVING THE DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO MAKE CERTAIN DETERMINATIONS REGARDING THE SALE OF THE SERIES 2026 BONDS PURSUANT TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL PUBLIC SECURITIES ACT. PROVIDING FOR THE TERMS AND DETAILS CONCERNING THE SERIES 2026 BONDS. PROVIDING THE DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THE SERIES 2026 BONDS. RATIFYING ACTION PREVIOUSLY TAKEN. AND REPEALING ALL ACTIONS INCONSISTENT WITH THIS ORDINANCE. AUTHORIZING THE TAKING OF OTHER ACTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SERIES 2026A BONDS. I MOVE A DO PASS. >>COUN. PEÑA: MOTION, AND SECOND FROM COUNCILOR CHAMPINE. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A FLOOR SUBSTITUTE. COUNCILOR GROUT. >>COUN. GROUT: YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE A FLOOR SUBSTITUTE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE. >>COUN. PEÑA: MOTION FOR FLOOR SUBSTITUTE. THERE'S A SECOND BY COUNCILOR BASSAN. COUNCILOR GROUT. >>COUN. GROUT: CAN I ASK STAFF TO GO OVER THIS? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS, THE FLOOR SUBSTITUTE IS TO UPDATE TWO DEFINED TERMS THAT WEREN'T COMPLETED. THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS INTRODUCED AND IT'S IN THE PACKET, IT'S 99% THE SAME THING. THE DEFINITION FOR ESCROW AGENT AND AGREEMENT WHICH ARE DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE REFUNDING NEEDED TO BE REVISED. THAT'S THE SOLE EDIT TO THE DOCUMENT. >>COUN. GROUT: TYPICALLY, WHEN YOU INTRODUCE THE DOCUMENTS WE HAVE IT UPDATED RIGHT BEFORE WE DO PASS THEM, CORRECT SOME. >> YES, THAT'S CORRECT. THERE'S ONGOING REVIEW OF THE DISCUSSION DOCUMENTS BY ALL PROFESSIONALS AND MULTIPLE PARTIES. IT'S VERY COMMON THAT HAPPENS. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO READ A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THIS BILL IS. THIS BILL PROPOSES TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE GROSS RECEIPTS TAX REVENUE BOND, SERIES 2026A IN THE PRINCIPLE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $38 MILLION. THE PURPOSE OF THE BOND IS TO REFUND THE CITY'S OUTSTANDING GROSS VOTES TAX IMPROVEMENT REVENUE BOND SERIES 2015A AND SERIES 2016A AND PAY RELATED ISSUANCE EXPENSES. IN THE FISCAL ANALYSIS, MAXIMUM COST WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $38 MILLION. SAVING THE CITY APPROXIMATELY $300,000 A YEAR. >>COUN. PEÑA: OKAY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILORS? STAFF? ADMINISTRATION? CITY ATTORNEY? SEEING NONE. THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR FLOOR SUBSTITUTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED, SAME MOTION. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'RE NOW BACK ON THE BILL AS SUBSTITUTED. COUNCILOR GROUT. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WITH THAT, WE'RE ON THE FINAL BILL AS SUBSTITUTED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED, SAME MOTION. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. COUNCILOR GROUT. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. O-19 IS ALSO BY REQUEST. IT'S APPROVING A PROJECT INVOLVING MANTIS SPACE INCORPORATED PURSUANT TO THE LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT AND CITY ORDINANCE FLOOR SUB O4-10. THE CITY IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION FOR THAT ACT TO SUPPORT THE LEASE, CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF A FACILITY TO SUPPORT ADVANCED OPTICS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND LIMITED SCALE SATELLITE COMPONENTS MANUFACTURING FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ON-DEMAND POWER IN SPACE TO BE LOCATED IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PROJECT PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROJECT. MAKING CERTAIN DETERMINATIONS AND FINDINGS RELATED TO THE PROJECT INCLUDING THE APPROPRIATIONS OF FUNDS. RATIFYING CERTAIN ACTIONS TAKEN PREVIOUSLY AND REPEALING ALL ACTIONS INCONSISTENT WITH THIS ORDINANCE. I MOVE A DO PASS. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND BY COUNCILOR BASSAN FOR DO PASS OF O-19. >>COUN. GROUT: MADAM PRESIDENT, I HAVE A FLOOR AMENDMENT. FLOOR AMENDMENT A, OR ONE. WE NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE A DOLLAR AMOUNT. AMEND PAGE TWO, LINE 11 AS FOLLOWS. THE STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND $500,000 ARE TO BE CITY FUNDS. THIS AMENDMENT CORRECTS AN ERROR IN THE WHEREAS CLAUSE OF THE AMOUNT FUNDS THAT WILL BE DISBURSED TO THE COMPANY. I MOVE A DO PASS. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE BY COUNCILOR BASSAN. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED, SAME MOTION. MOTION CARRIES. COUNCILOR GROUT. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. DIRECTOR GRUNER, WOULD YOU TAKE IT FROM HERE? TELL US ABOUT THIS PROJECT. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SAY THIS IN A WHILE, BUT I'M SUPER STOKED ABOUT THIS PROJECT. PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE ARTIMUS MISSION WE'VE BEEN WATCHING. I TEASE THE C-SUITE OF THE COMPANY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PUT A BUNCH OF GAS STATIONS INTO THE ORBIT. IT'S MORE NUANCES THAN THAT. WHAT MANTIS DOES IS THEY PUT INTO ORBIT FUELLING STATIONS AND THEY SHOOT LASERS AT SPACE VEHICLES TO FUEL THEM UP TO LOAD BATTERIES SO THE VEHICLES CAN DO WHATEVER IT IS THEY NEED TO DO. THERE'S THREE CONSIDERATIONS WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. FIRST OF ALL, FOR A COMMERCIAL SPACE ACTIVITIES. THERE'S A LOT OF JUNK FLOATING IN ORBIT, WHICH MAKES THE ABILITY FOR US, FOR HUMANITY, TO BENEFIT FROM SPACE VERY DIFFICULT. AND A LOT OF THAT JUNK HAS TO DO WITH THE LARGE WINGS TO COLLECT SOLAR ENERGY TO FUEL LARGE BATTERIES. WHAT MANTIS -- WHAT THE VALUE PROPOSITION OF MANTIS IS WE CAN DEPLOY INTERSPACE INTO ORBIT SMALLER SPACE VEHICLES WHICH LARGER PAYLOADS -- BECAUSE THEY CAN BE RECHARGED BY THE KIND OF TECHNOLOGY THAT MANTIS IS PUTTING INTO ORBIT. SUPER COOL PROJECT. I WILL SAY MANTIS IS BASED IN ATLANTA GEORGIA. THEY ENGAGED IN A NATIONAL SEARCH TO FIND A HOME FOR THEIR MANUFACTURING. THEY WERE SO IMPRESSED BY OUR PARTNERS AT AREA, SO IMPRESSED BY OUR PARTNERS AT THE STATE AND BY THE TEAM AT THE CITY THAT WITHIN 26 DAYS THEY MADE THE DECISION NOT ONLY TO LOCATE THEIR MANUFACTURING TO NEW MEXICO, TO ALBUQUERQUE, BUT TO BRING THEIR HEADQUARTERS, WHICH IS A HUGE WIN FOR US. THIS PROJECT PROMISES TO HIRE 186 NEW STAFF. WITH AN AVERAGE SALARY OF 180 GRAND. I WILL TELL YOU THIS COMPANY HAS ALREADY BEEN TO THE STATE'S J-TIP BOARD. JOB TRAINING INCENTIVE BOARD. J-TIP HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 50 YEARS. THESE ARE THE HIGHEST SALARIES EVER TO HAVE BEEN PRESENTED IN 50 YEARS TO THE J-TIP BOARD. AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE COMPANY FOR THEIR INVESTMENT INTO THE CITY AND STATE AND INTO OUR COMMUNITY. MADAM PRESIDENT, I DO HAVE WITH ME A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE COMPANY AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. AT YOUR PLEASURE, BOTH OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOME WORDS. >>COUN. PEÑA: THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL DIRECTOR. AS LONG AS YOU DO THE SHOOTING SOUND ONE MORE TIME. THEY CAN COME UP. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M JEREMY SHEER. CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR MANTIS SPACE. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TO TALK ABOUT MANTIS SPACE AND WHAT WE'RE BRINGING TO ALBUQUERQUE. LIKE MAX ILLUSTRATED, I'LL STOP SHORT OF THE LASER SOUNDS, WE'RE BUILDING SPACE INFRASTRUCTURE. SPACECRAFT COMPONENTS THAT ALLOW SAFE TRANSITION OF POWER FROM OUR SATELLITES TO SPACE SATELLITES. AND IT ALLOWS THEM TO HAVE MORE OPERATING CAPABILITY AND UNLOCKS NEW MISSIONS LIKE DATA CENTERS IN SPACE. WHAT MATTERS MOST IS NOT SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE DO BUT WHERE WE CHOSE TO DO IT. WE CHOSE TO DO IT IN ALBUQUERQUE AND PLACE OUR HEADQUARTERS HERE. IT'S REALLY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE BRINGING TO THE LOCATION AS WELL. WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING AND WHAT WE'RE DELIVERING ON IS HIGH WAGES AND HIGH TECH JOBS IN ALBUQUERQUE. LIKE MAX MENTIONED, AVERAGE SALARIES ON THE ORDER OF $180,000 IN COMPENSATION PER YEAR. THESE ARE HIGHLY ADVANCED TECHNICAL DEGREES. HIGHLY CAPABLE INDIVIDUALS. WE'RE SOURCING THAT TALENT IN ALBUQUERQUE. WE'RE RECRUITING TALENT TO ALBUQUERQUE. AND WE INTEND TO RETAIN THEM AND COMPETE WITH INDUSTRY WITH OUR HEADQUARTERS HERE. LIKE HE MENTIONED, THERE WAS A NATIONAL SEARCH. WE STARTED WITH TEN LOCALOCATIO. WE NARROWED IT DOWN TO FOUR. ALBUQUERQUE, ATLANTA, AUSTIN AND LA. WE ULTIMATELY CHOSE ALBUQUERQUE BECAUSE OF STRONG ECOSYSTEM AND PARTNERSHIPS. I AM SPEAKING TO THE TECHNICAL TALENT. INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE RESIDENTS HERE DUE TO RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN ALBUQUERQUE. JUST AS IMPORTANT, THERE IS AN ECOSYSTEM OF SUPPLY CHAIN VENDORS AND OTHER INDUSTRY COLLABORATORS WE CAN PARTNER WITH IN PRODUCING OUR SOLUTIONS. WHAT THAT ALLOWS US TO DO IS ALLOWS US TO STAY OVER THE LONG TERM. SECOND, THE PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AFFORDED HERE. WE'VE HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS LIKE STEM AND ALBUQUERQUE'S REGIONAL ECONOMIC ALLIANCE AREA. THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND MANY OR THES HELPED US EXPLORE WHAT IT WOULD BE TO BUILD OUR COMPANY HERE AND WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT LOOK LIKE. AND ALSO THERE ARE INCENTIVES. SO, ECONOMIC INCENTIVES SUCH AS LEDA AND JOB TRAINING LIKE JOB TRAINING INCENTIVE PROGRAM ALLOW US TO NOT ONLY HIRE TALENT FASTER BUT TRAIN THEM TO MAINTAIN THEIR PROFICIENCY AND GROW. AND ALSO TO SCALE UP OUR INFRASTRUCTURE MORE EXPEDIENTLY TO COMPETE WITH OTHER TECH INDUSTRY ORGANIZATIONS. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT SOME OF OUR GOALS ARE ASPIRATIONAL. BUT MANY OF THESE ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY. PRESENTLY, WE HAVE 14 NEW MEXICO EMPLOYEES. WE'RE CONTINUING TO GROW AND ADDING ABOUT ONE TO TWO INDIVIDUALS PER MONTH. ALSO, WE HAVE OUR HEADQUARTERS FACILITY UNDER CONTRACT -- UNDER LEASE FOR SEVEN-YEAR PROCEDURED THIS IS LONG-TERM COMMITMENT. WE'RE PLANNING TO INVEST $7 MILLION IN INVESTMENTS TO MAKE IT A STATE OF THE ART RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY FACILITY. WE'RE EXPECTING TO GROW UP TO 200 HIGHLY SKILLED NEW MEXICAN JOBS IN THE NEXT SEVEN TO TEN YEARS. I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE THAT THIS IS A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT. ALBUQUERQUE STOOD OUT TO US FOR THE PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS AND THE WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER WITH US. WE'RE GLAD TO BE GROWING OUR FUTURE HERE. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, I'M BETH WALLDRUM, NEW MEXICO STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPER'S DREAM PROJECT. THEY REACHED OUT. WE HAD A BUILDING READY FOR THEM. WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HAVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE. WE CLOSED THIS DEAL IN 26 DAYS. $2.5 MILLION COMMITMENT FROM THE STATE. WE HOPE THAT YOU SUPPORT AN ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION FROM THE CITY. AND ONE THING THAT I WOULD LOVE TO MENTION IS THAT NOT ONLY ARE THEY THE HIGHEST WAGE LEDA AND J-TIP RECIPIENT, THEY OFFER 100% PAID HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS, DENTAL, VISION, FOR NOT ONLY THEIR EMPLOYEES BUT EMPLOYEE FAMILIES. THEY OFFER 16 WEEKS PARENTAL LEAVE AS WELL. AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN REACHING OUT TO US AND INTRODUCING US TO NEW COMPANIES WITHIN THEIR ECOSYSTEM. AND TELLING THOSE COMPANIES THAT YOU NEED TO BE HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE. THERE'S LOT OF GREAT THINGS GOING ON. THEY HAVE BEEN A GREAT PARTNER TO WORK WITH. AND I HOPE YOU CONSIDER THIS. THANK YOU. >>COUN. PEÑA: COUNCILOR LEWIS. >>COUN. LEWIS: MADAM PRESIDENT, THANK YOU. DIRECTOR, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THIS. THE LEDA FUNDS ARE PASSED THROUGH FROM THE STATE THAT COME THROUGH. WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CLAWBACK PROVISIONS THAT ARE IN -- TYPICALLY ALL LEDA PROCESSES LIKE THIS. HOW DO THEY APPLY SPECIFICALLY TO THE -- I IMAGINE THERE'S SOME HIRING MILESTONES RELATED TO THE CLAWBACKS. CAN YOU DESCRIBE THOSE FOR US? WE DON'T NEED DESCRIPTIONS OF LASERS. >> I WAS WONDERING HOW MY CHOOM, CHOOM, CHOOM WAS TRANSCRIBES. I DIDN'T LOOK UP TO IT. MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS, AS WITH ANY PROJECT, BOTH THE REIMBURSEMENTS OF THE LEDA FUNDS, BOTH THE STATE AND CITY LEDA FUNDS ARE TIED TO PERFORMANCE MEASURES. WHEN A COMPANY IN THIS CASE HAS HIRED CERTAIN KIND OF HIRING MILESTONES, THEY'RE ELIGIBLE TO REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES THEY HAVE ALREADY INCURRED IN LAND BUILDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE. THE CLAWBACKS WORK IN REVERSE OF THAT. THERE IS A CURING PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS. ESSENTIALLY, FOR EVERY YEAR THAT THIS COMPANY IS IN ALBUQUERQUE FOR THE TENURE THAT THE PPA CONTRACT IS IS THE GOVERNING DOCUMENT, THIS COMPANY HAS COMMITTED TO HIRE CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE AND MAKE CERTAIN LEVELS OF INVESTMENT. THE HIRING METRICS PERCENTAGES TO THE CITY ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. THE INVESTMENT THAT THE COMPANY MADE IS ONCE A YEAR THROUGH AN ANNUAL REPORT. AND IF THOSE TWO METRICS ARE NOT ACHIEVED BY THE COMPANY, THEN THERE IS THE ABILITY FOR THE STATE AND CITY TO CLAWBACK AN APPROPRIATE PERCENTAGE OF THE LEDA MONIES THAT WERE DISBURSED TO THE COMPANY. >>COUN. LEWIS: WHEN WOULD BE THE FIRST DISBURSEMENT? DOES THAT START THE CLOCK NOW? >> YEAH, THE LINE IN THE CONCRETE IS ALWAYS THE COUNCIL VOTE. ESSENTIALLY, THE PASSING OF THE ORDINANCE. AS OF -- IN A WORLD ACCORDING TO MAX, AS OF THIS EVENING, THE COMPANY IS ON THE CLOCK TO ACHIEVE WHAT THEY NEED TO ACHIEVE. THE FIRST LEDA DISBURSEMENT FROM THE CITY HAS TO DO WITH AN ADDITIONAL 25 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES. THE SECOND DISBURSEMENT IS TRIGGERED BY A RETENTION OF THOSE 25 AND AN ADDITIONAL 50 EMPLOYEES. AND THE CLAWBACKS WORK IN REVERSE OF THAT IF THOSE MILESTONES ARE NOT REACHED. >>COUN. LEWIS: THE FIRST MILESTONE AND DISBURSEMENT IS A YEAR FROM NOW? >> CORRECT. >>COUN. LEWIS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR LEWIS. COUNCILOR GROUT. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. >>COUN. PEÑA: I'M SORRY. >>COUN. ROGERS: JUST ONE MORE QUESTION. SOME OF THE THINGS I ASKED ABOUT IN MY DISTRICT AND CAME FROM MY CONSTITUENTS AROUND WATER USAGE. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT? >> COUNCILOR ROGERS, WITH ANY PROJECT THAT WE BRING TO YOU, WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY THREE INTAKE MEETINGS FOR ANY OF THE PROJECTS. THE FIRST INTAKE MEETING IS ALWAYS WITH OUR UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES BECAUSE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A PIPELINE OF CORRECTLY TRAINED PEOPLE TO ALLOW THE COMPANY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THE SECOND MEETING ALWAYS HAS TO DO WITH THE INCENTIVES AND TAX ECOSYSTEM IN WHICH THE COMPANY IS ENTERING INTO. ESPECIALLY A COMPANY NOT BORN AND RAISED IN NEW MEXICO. THE THIRD MEETING IS WITH UTILITIES. PNM, WATER AUTHORITY, GAS, IF NECESSARY. I DON'T HAVE THE SPECIFIC WATER USAGE FRONT OF ME. I WILL SAY IT WAS UNREMARKABLE. BOTH THE AMOUNT OF POWER AND AMOUNT OF WATER AND WASTEWATER IS IN LINE WHAT IS NORMAL FOR THE KIND OF ZONING WHERE THE COMPANY IS GOING TO BE LOCATED. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. WHAT IS THE RANGE WE NEED TO BE IN? MAYBE THE COMPANY CAN TALK TO THAT? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR ROGERS, WE BELIEVE OUR FACILITY WILL HAVE WATER USAGE CONSISTENT WITH AN OFFICE BUILDING WITH THE SAME HEAD COUNT OF STAFF. WE ARE NOT AN EXCEPTIONAL WATER CONSUMER. THAT'S NOT THE NATURE OF THE RESEARCH WE DO. WE DO OPTICAL EXPERIMENTATION. SORT OF LIKE A CLEAN ROOM LABORATORY SETTING WITH SCIENTISTS WORKING WITH MEASURING EQUIPMENT AND OPTICS AND LASERS TO GATHER DATA. THE WATER USAGE IS STRICTLY WHAT WOULD BE NORMAL FOR A NORMAL BUSINESS DOING OFFICE WORK. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, THE SAME AS AN OFFICE BUILDING? OKAY. >> FOR WATER CONSUMPTION. >>COUN. ROGERS: OKAY. THAT'S SOMETHING I'LL ME REALLY INTERESTED IN. I THINK WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT MORE AS A COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE DESERT. AND WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF WATER. I WISH WE COULD HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS WHEN WE DID CANNABIS. THAT'S ANOTHER CAN OF WORMS. SOMETHING WE'LL ME -- BE WATCHING. THANK YOU. >>COUN. GROUT: MR. GRUNER, THANK YOU FOR AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION. I'M THRILLED THIS COMPANY HAS KOEZEN -- CHOSEN ALBUQUERQUE AND NEW MEXICO TO HEADQUARTER YOUR OPERATION. COUNCILOR LEWIS ASKED THE QUESTIONS I WAS GOING TO ASK. JUST FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT LEDA FUNDS DO AND ALL OF THE THINGS. IF THE COMPANY FAILS SHORT OF JOB CREATION BUT CONTINUES OPERATING, WHAT MECHANISM ENSURES THE CITY IS MADE WHOLE? >> ANY -- MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT, ANY LEDA PROJECT THAT AVAILS ITSELF WITH LEDA FUNDS, WHETHER THEY'RE STATE, COUNTY OR CITY IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE ROBUST SECURITY IN THE FORM OF -- THERE'S A NUMBER OF VEHICLES. A LETTER OF CREDIT. SURETY BOND. WE LOVE BEING IN FIRST PLACE ON A BUILDING. BUT WE USUALLY DON'T GET THAT BECAUSE THE BANKS ARE IN FIRST PLACE. THERE HAS BEEN FOR THE PAST DECADE A SECURITY COLLATERALIZATION VEHICLE THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEYS DISBURSED TO THE COMPANY. IN CASE OF A CLAWBACK OR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF A COMPANY, THERE ARE SOME TRUE ASSETS THAT THE CITY AND THE STATE OR THE COUNTY CAN CLAWBACK. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU FOR THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK THE INFORMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT. WITH THAT, MADAM PRESIDENT, I URGE EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT. I THINK THIS IS GREAT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT TO ALBUQUERQUE. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND ON O-19 AS AMENDED. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED, SAME MOTION. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, IF I MAY. THE COMPANY HAS LAPEL PINS FOR ALL OF THE COUNCILORS. I REALLY THINK WE WANT THEM. THEY'RE COOL. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'RE NOW ON TO APPEALS. WE'RE NOW ON TO APPEALS. AC-02 IS SOLIZ APPLICANT APPEALS THE ZONING HEARING EXAMINER'S DECISION TO DENY VARIANCE OF THREE FEET TO INSTALL A SIX-FOOT PERIMETER STEEL FENCE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 237 WYOMING NORTHEAST. AND WE HAVE OUR LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE HERE TO EXPLAIN THE APPEAL. >> COUNCILORS, THIS APPEAL CONCERNS VARIANCE OF THREE FEET TO ALLOW A SIX-FOOT TALL STEEL FENCE AT THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 237 WYOMING BOULEVARD. 87123. ZONED M-XM. A SMALL CORRECTION, THIS IS IN DISTRICT SIX, NOT SEVEN. THE ISSUE IS WHETHER THE DENIAL SHOULD BE UPHELD. THE ZHE DENIED THE VARIANCE FINDING DUE TO NO SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE APPLICANT APPEALED THE ZHE, CITING THE PROPERTY HAS GONE THROUGH VANDALISM RESULTING IN LOST BUSINESS. THE APPLICANT EMPHASIZES THE A SIX-FOOT FENCE IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENSURE THE BUSINESS WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE WITHOUT FUTURE DISRUPTION. THE LUHO RECOMMENDED DENY THE APPEAL AND UPHOLD TO DENY THE VARIANCE. BECAUSE THE ZHE FOUND THE APPLICANT FAILED TO SATISFY. AND THE APPELLANT HAD NOT MET THE BURDEN. THE APPLICANT FAILED TO SHOW THE ZHE ERRED, AND FAILED TO GO TO THE HEARING BEFORE THE LUHO. I'LL STAND FOR QUESTIONING. >>COUN. PEÑA: COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THIS IS IN DISTRICT SIX, AGAIN. A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. JUST GOING TO TALK THROUGH THIS OUT LOUD. OUR NEW RULE FOR IDO CHANGES WE MADE FOR WALLS GOES INTO EFFECT APRIL 20th. THIS APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED PRIOR TO THAT. IF WE DEFERRED, ARE THERE ANY CHANGES? I'M ASKING OUR LEGAL TEAM. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR ROGERS, AS IN THE SPECIFIC SECTION WHICH I BELIEVE WAS AMENDED BY THE MOST RECENT IDO, THOSE DEALT WITH NON-RESIDENTIAL WALLS AND FENCE HEIGHTS OF NON-RESIDENTIAL AREAS. THERE'S SPECIFIC LANGUAGE THAT TALKS ABOUT THE SUBJECT PROPERTY RECEIVING 10% OF SUPPORT BY THOSE FOLKS WHO WILL BE LIVING WITHIN A NON-RESIDENTIAL AREA OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY THAT, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, MUST BE ON THE SAME SIDE AS THE STREET IN QUESTION. THIS PROPERTY WOULD NOT FALL INTO THAT. IT'S ZONED FOR M-XM. AND ALL THE BORDER IS ON WYOMING, WHICH IS ALL ZONED M-XM. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, JUST TO JUMP INTO A BIT MORE CONTEXT. THE VERSION OF THE IDO THAT IS APPLIED TO AN APPLICATION IS WHATEVER IN EFFECT AT THE TIME THE APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED. SO THE VERSION IN EFFECT AT THE END OF 2025 IS WHAT APPLIES TO THIS APPLICATION. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE APPLICANT COULD REAPPLY UNDER THE NEW RULES? OR WOULD THEY NEED A VARIANCE? >> COUNCILOR PEÑA, COUNCILOR ROGERS, THEY WOULD STILL NEED TO APPLY FOR A VARIANCE. THE NEW RULES WOULD NOT AFFECT WHAT REQUIREMENTS THEY NEED UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND WYOMING AND CENTRAL RECENTLY. THIS IS WHERE I LIVE AS WELL. I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD NEED EXTRA SECURITY. THIS IS A LOT FOR ME. I'M GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME. >>COUN. PEÑA: OKAY. I THINK WE NEED A MOTION. YOU CAN ASK FOR A FULL HEARING. COUNCILOR TELLES HAS A QUESTION WHILE YOU'RE THINKING. >>COUN. TELLES: FOR LEGAL TEAM. THIS IS THE SAME FIVE-PRONG TEST THAT WE OVERRULED IN THE PAST LUHO CASE? CORRECT? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR TELLES YES. THIS IS THE SAME VARIANCE TEST UNDER IDO14-16-6603A. FIVE DIFFERENT CRITERIA. THE FIRST ONE BEING SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES. AND FOUR MORE ELEMENTS THEREAFTER. >>COUN. TELLES: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. JUST TO CLARIFY, WE'VE ALREADY SET PRECEDENT WE CAN OVERRULE THE LUHO ON THIS FIVE-PRONG MATTER. >> COUNCILOR PEÑA, COUNCILOR TELLES YES. THE COUNCIL HAS THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS. THEY CAN ACCEPT THE LUHO RECOMMENDATION AND FINDING, ACCEPT THE LUHO RECOMMENDATION AND ADOPT DIFFERENT FINDING, OR REJECT THE LUHO RECOMMENDATION. >>COUN. TELLES: THANK YOU. >>COUN. PEÑA: COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR A FULL HEARING. >>COUN. PEÑA: I THINK THE MOTION WOULD BE TO REJECT THE LUHO RECOMMENDATION? >> COUNCILOR PEÑA, THAT'S CORRECT. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'D LIKE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATION TO REJECT THE LUHO FINDING TO HAVE A FULL HEARING. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND BY COUNCILOR GROUT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED NO. THAT'S A 7-2. THAT MOTION PASSES. NOW, WE'RE -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO ON TO THIS. WE'RE GOOALITY -- WE HAVE A BREAK. AND WE'LL CONVENE AT 7:30. >>COUN. PEÑA: WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE. WE ARE NOW -- IF YOU CAN TAKE YOUR SEAT, THANK YOU. WE'RE NOW ON GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. THE OTHER COUNCILORS SHOULD BE ARRIING SHORTLY. THANK YOU. WE'RE BACK IN SESSION. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN PROVIDE LIVE PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE COUNCIL IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY IF THEY HAVE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PER THE INSTRUCTIONS PUBLISHED ON THE AGENDA AND OUR WEBSITE FRIDAY. HERE ARE SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT GROUND RULES. EACH PARTICIPANT HAS ONE MINUTE TO PRESENT, COMMENTS ARE TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE COUNCILORS ONLY THROUGH THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT. ANY DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT WILL RESULT IN REMOVAL FROM THE MEETING. THERE IS A ONE-MINUTE TIME LIMIT. THE BELL WILL RING TO INDICT YOUR TIME IS UP. AS A REMINDER, ARTICLE ONE, GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED ON QUASI-JUDICIAL MATTERS. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR COMMENT ANYTHING RELATED TO QUASI-JUDICIAL MATTERS, CITY STREET RENAMING PROCESSES AND THE LUHO APPEAL WE HEARD. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RULE MAY RESULT IN YOUR COMMENT BEING CUT OFF. PLEASE TAKE THIS TIME NOW TO EDIT YOUR COMMENTS. PLEASE CALL THE FIRST SPEAKER. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. FIRST SPEAKER IS COUNTY CLERK FOLLOWED BY KRISTEN FOLLOWED BY JUSTIN. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING. I AM HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH DEPUTY CLERK BACA. AS THE ENTITY THAT ADMINISTERS ELECTIONS FOR THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, WHICH YOU ALL KNOW, BUT NOT EVERYBODY HERE MAY KNOW, BERNALILLO COUNTY DOES ADMINISTER THE ELECTIONS FOR THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE, WE STAND HERE BEFORE YOU IN SUPPORT OF RANK CHOICED VOTING. WE FEEL LIKE IT'S THE RIGHT TIME TO IMPLEMENT THIS IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE. IF YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO ANY OF THE NEWS LATELY, YOU'LL KNOW THAT RUNOFFS ARE EXPENSIVE. DURING THE 2025 REGULAR LOCAL ELECTION, ADMINISTERING THE RUNOFF FOR THE MAYOR RACE AND TWO CITY COUNCIL, WHICH YOU'RE PAYING SOMEWHAT ATTENTION TO, IT DID COST THE CITY ABOUT $1.8 MILLION. AND IN ANY GIVEN RUNOFF, YOU'RE LOOKING AT A BILL OF ABOUT $500,000 MINIMUM. MAY I CONTINUE? I PROMISE I WON'T TAKE TOO LONG. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THAT'S NOT A NUMBER WE CAME UP WITH WILLY-NILLY. I PROMISE YOU. WE'RE VERY PRUDENT. WE ACCOUNT FOR EVERY DOLLAR, EVERY ELECTION. NOW, THE PRIMARY COST FOR THOSE ELECTIONS STAFFING. EVERY POLLING LOCATION THAT WE STAFF THAT WE HAVE OPEN DURING ELECTION DAY AND EARLY VOTING, ALL OF THOSE FOLKS NEED TO GET PAID. AND AS WE KNOW, AS WAGES CONTINUE TO GO UP AS THEY SHOULD, AS MINIMUM WAGE GOES UP, OUR COST IN TURN GOES UP. FOR SITE SETUP, BALLOT PRODUCTION, VOTING EQUIPMENT, MOREMANIDATES FROM THE STATE. WE HAVE VOTING THAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED. AND MANDATED BY THE STATE. WE ALSO HAVE OPEN PRIMARIES. WE HAVE AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION THROUGH THE MVD. THESE ARE MANDATES WE HAVE FROM THE STATE THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE. ELECTIONS ARE GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE WHETHER THEY'RE LOCAL ELECTIONS OR REGULAR -- >>COUN. CHAMPINE: MADAM PRESIDENT. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE INTERRUPTION. MA'AM, YOU'VE BEEN WAY LONGER THAN ONE MINUTE. TO FAIRNESS TO ALL THE OTHER PUBLIC THAT HAVE WRITTEN TWO MINUTES AND PUT THEM DOWN TO ONE MINUTE, THIS PUBLIC SPEAKER HAS GONE WAY OVER THE MINUTE. YOU GIVE HER THE LEEWAY TO SPEAK OVER, AND SHE HAS ABUSED IT. IN FAIRNESS FOR THE OTHER PEOPLE. >>COUN. PEÑA: JUST FINISH WITH YOUR COMMENT. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. TO CLOSE, WE HAVE A GREAT WORKING WITHIN WITH THE CITY CLERK. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THAT RELATIONSHIP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>COUN. PEÑA: NO APPLAUSE. >> KRISTEN FOLLOWED BY JUSTIN FOLLOWED BY FRANCESCO. >> MIGHT I HAVE THE OVERHEAD? THIS IS AN ADMINISTRATION OF RANK CHOICE VOTING USING LEGO. I KNOW IT'S SMALL. THE HANDS RANKING THEIR FAVORITE LEGO BELONG TO A 5-YEAR-OLD. THAT'S RIGHT -- SOME OF YOUR COUNCILORS HAVE US BELIEVE RANK CHOICE IS TOO DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. SANTA FE USES RANK CHOICE VOTING SO DOES LAS CRUCES. THIS CITY COUNCIL ALSO USES RANK CHOICE TO DECIDE THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP. THE COUNCILORS WHO OPPOSE THIS ASK, I ASK, HOW IS IT THAT RANK CHOICE VOTING WORKS FOR YOU BUT IT DOESN'T WORK FOR US? IF YOU CAN UNDERSTAND IT, WHY IS IT TOO COMPLICATED FOR US? DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELVES MORE INTELLIGENT THAN PEOPLE WHO ELECKED YOU? SURELY, YOU DON'T CONSIDER THEM LESS CAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING THAN A 5-YEAR-OLD. THANK YOU. >> JUSTIN FOLLOWED BY FRANCESCO FOLLOWED BY JOE. >> I'LL PLEASE USE THE OVERHEAD. GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR HEARING EVERYONE TONIGHT. TALKING ABOUT INSTANT RUNOFF OR RANK CHOICE VOTING. I APPRECIATE HEARING FROM THE COUNTY CLERK. A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA TIME BECAUSE OF THE WORK SHE DOES IS RELEVANT TO THIS. THE COUNTY COULD HANDLE THIS AS THEY ADMINISTER ELECTIONS. I WANT TO START WITH TALKING ABOUT THE CURRENT RUNOFF SYSTEM AND THE IDEA THAT HAVING TWO CANDIDATES GIVES US A MAJORITY. THIS IS WHAT WE'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF TIMES. DISTRICT ONE AND DRIEKT FIVE BACK IN 2017. HOWEVER, I WANT TO ASK IF A GENERAL ELECTION HAS 10,000 VOTERS AND THE RUNOFF HAS LOWER TURNOUT, IS THAT A MAJORITY? OR HAVE WE CHANGED THAT BY REMOVING A BUNCH OF VOTERS? HERE'S THE LAST EIGHT ELECTIONS WHERE THE EVENTUAL WINNER DID NOT REACH 50% OF THE VOTERS. I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER RANK CHOICE. >> FRANCESCO FOLLOWED BY JOE FOLLOWED BY GRACE. >> CAN I PLEASE GET THE OVERHEAD? YOU DON'T GET TO TAKE THE MORAL HIGH GROUND ON ALLEGED CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONTACT THAT HAPPENED 60 YEARS AGO IN VIOLATION OF THE OATH OF OFFICE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONTACT HERE AND NOW. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A BADGE WITH A GUN GETS BOARD AND PUT USE SPREAD EAGLE AND EXPOSES YOUR PRESTS AND GETS YOUR FINGERS IN YOUR PANTIES TELLS YOU IF YOU ARE NICE HE WON'T ARREST YOU. WHY NO -- THREE-DAY TIME OUT AND HIDING THE SEXUAL CONTACT. NOT A SINGLE ONE OF YOUR SAID A WORD ABOUT IT. BREAKING EVERY RULE SO THE SAME BAD COP NEVER STEPS FOOT IN FRONT OF A JUDGE IN A MATTER OF MAYOR KELLER'S ILLEGAL WALL. COWARDS. >> JOE FOLLOWED BY GRACE FOLLOWED BY LISA. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT COUNCILORS. I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF REPRESENTATION AND IN PARTICULAR JUST BRINGING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN IN OUR POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT. I THINK INSTANT RUNOFF AND RANK CHOICE ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A MODEL FOR HELPING PEOPLE LISTEN TO EACH OTHER AND PAY ATTENTION TO EACH OTHER. FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, ONE IS IT CUTS DOWN ON NEGATIVECOME PAINING. INSTANT RUNOFF ELECTIONS INCENTIVIZE CANDIDATES TO SEEK SUPPORT AND CONSEBSES AND LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM AND LISTEN TO FELLOW CANDIDATES WHICH IS IMPORTANT. ANOTHER THING IT DOES IS ENCOURAGES CANDIDATES TO BUILD COALITIONS AND NOT TRY TO ATTACK EACH OTHER AND ATTACK COMMUNITIES. I THINK THAT'S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN THIS OVERALL ENVIRONMENT. I THINK AS NEW MEXICANS WE SEE DIVERSITY AND CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY IN FAIRNESS AS OUR STRENGTH. I THINK INSTANT RUNOFF BRINGS THAT TO THE TABLE. WHEN CANDIDATE NEED BROUGHT SUPPORT, EXTREME POSITIONSES BECOME A LIABILITY. FOR THAT REASON, I ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO PAST THE RANK CHOICE VOTING. >> GRACE FOLLOWED BY LISA FOLLOWED BY CHRISTIAN. >> COUNCILORS, I'M GRACE. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE. I'M TRANSGENDER. I'M PROUD. I TRANSITIONED FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY. FIVE YEARS TODAY I DECIDED LIVING MY LIFE WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN CONTINUING TO PUT A FACADE. I BEGAN MY TRANSITION, A PROCESS THAT WOULD LEAD ME TO THE LANDS OF ENCHANTMENT DUE TO KEN PAXTEN LEGAL GENOCIDE AGAINST TRANSPEOPLE IN TEXAS. HE DECLARED AFFIRMING THE IDENTITY OF TRANS KIDS WAS CHILD ABUSE. AND INVESTIGATED THE FAMILIES OF TRANS KIDS IN THE STATE. MY CLINIC WAS TARGETED BY HIM AND HAD TO CLOSE. THE WALLS WERE CLOSING IN. MY FAMILY AND I MOVED TO ALBUQUERQUE IN JULY, 2023. WE CHOSE ALBUQUERQUE BECAUSE OF ITS SHIELD LAWS PROTECTING PEOPLE LIKE ME. BUT NOW WITH THE CONSTANT ATTACKS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THE WALLS ARE CLOSING AGAIN. FIVE YEARS AFTER MY TRANSITION I WORRY FOR MY SAFETY AND FEAR ABOUT THE DAY THAT ICE WILL TARGET ON ME. PLEASE DO MORE TO PROTECT YOUR TRANS CONSTITUENTS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. THANK YOU. >> LISA FOLLOWED BY CHRISTIAN FOLLOWED BY DEBBIE. >> CITY COUNCILORS, I'M LISA. D3. I RISE TODAY TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THE CONTINUAL PRACTICE OF SWEEPING HUMANS BECAUSE IT'S NOT WORKING. IT IS MORE COSTLY, IT'S MORE COSTLY TO INCARCERATE. PROPUBLICA DID AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT ON THIS. WE DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH SHELTERS, WE AGREE ON THAT. 3,000 PEOPLE PROBABLY DOUBLE THAT ARE ON THE STREETS OR LIVE ING THEIR VEHICLES RIGHT NOW. WHAT MORAL DEFICITS DO WE HAVE IN OUR HUMANITY THAT WE WOULD KNOWINGLY SIT IN POSITIONS OF POWER OR WITH PRIVILEGE WITH THE AUTHORITY TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING OF 3,000 HUMAN BEINGS WE CHOOSE TO PUT OUR ENERGY AND THOUGHT TO PRESENT A BLOATED CITY BUDGET THAT CUTS TRANSIT. OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE SOME SUPPORT IN THE CITY. RANK CHOICE VOTING, WE THINK MIGHT HELP US WITH THAT. AS I LEAVE, THOSE OF YOU IN THE ROOM THAT SUPPORT RANK CHOICE VOTING, JUST RAISE YOUR HAND REAL QUICK. >> CHRISTIAN, FOLLOWED BY DEBBIE, FOLLOWED BY PAUL. >> I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF RANK CHOICE VOTING. RANK CHOICE ALLOWS FOR MORE BROAD VARIETY OF IDEALS TO BE PROPOSED TO THE CITIZENS AND CANDIDATES. RESULTS IN LESS EXTREME IDEOLOGIES PROPOSED AND A CHEAPER ELECTION IN THE END. IN MINNESOTA, WE SAW AS ELECTIONS WENT FROM ATTACKING REMARKS TO ELECTIONS WHERE EVERYBODY WAS AGREEING BEING VERY RESPECTFUL. I HOPE THAT TYPE OF ELECTIONS, WHICH I NOT SEEN IN MY LIFETIME TO COME BACK. I HOPE THAT IN DOING SO WE CAN FIND A SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE FIGHT FOR THE VOTE OF EVERYONE RATHER THAN THOSE THEY FEEL IS EASIEST TO INSTIG AT AND ALIENATING THOSE WE FIND DIFFERENT. OUR CURRENT SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR A -- FOR PARTIES TO ATTACK THOSE BASED ON DIFFERENT, YET NOT ACTUALLY DOING ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HOPE THIS RANK CHOICE VOTING, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONLY A SMALL LEVEL WILL IMPROVE THE SYSTEM. >> DEBBIE FOLLOWED BY PAUL FOLLOWED BY ALTHEA. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS. I'M HERE TO VOICE OPPOSITION TO THE IDEA OF RANK CHOICE VOTING. IT'S NOT GOING TO SAVE US MONEY. WE JUST HEARD THE COUNTY CLERK GO ON AND ON ABOUT THE EXPENSES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN RUNOFF ELECTIONS. THAT'S NOT GOING AWAY. RANK CHOICE VOTING, THE PROPOSAL IN IT, CALLS FOR EDUCATION FOR VOTERS SO WE CAN ME TAUGHT HOW TO VOTE. WE KNOW HOW TO VOTE. WE VOTED FOR COUNCIL PRESIDENT IN HIGH SCHOOL AND PROM QUEEN. ONE PERSON ONE VOTE. IT'S A SIMPLE PROCESS AND IT WORKS. IN ADDITION TO THE COST OF EDUCATING ALL OF US AND THE COUNTY EMPLOYEES, WHAT ABOUT THE MACHINES, THE TABULATORS THE COUNTY CLERK USES TO HELP US VOTE? DO WE HAVE TO BUY NEW MACHINES? DO TAXPAYERS HAVE TO BEAR THAT COST TO BUY NEW SOFTWARE? WE HAVE TO TRAIN THE EMPLOYEES. THAT WILL LEAD TO A DELAY IN RESULTS. THAT'S A CERTAINTY. THANK YOU. >> PAUL FOLLOWED BY ALTHEA FOLLOWED BY JESSICA. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILORS. I'M PRESIDENT OF THE RIO GRANDE FOUNDATION. I URGE YOU TO OPPOSE RANK CHOICE VOTING. INSTEAD, WE SHOULD CONSIDER ELIMINATING THE RUNOFF ADOPTED A FEW YEARS BACK TO SAVE MONEY. RANK CHOICE VOTING IS CONFUSING FOR VOTERS. NOT ALL OF THEM ARE ATTENDING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. THEY DON'T ALL HAVE THEIR TOP FIVE CANDIDATES OR SIX CANDIDATES LISTED OUT. AND THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO NECESSARILY DO THE RESEARCH FOR THAT. IT'S HARDER FOR ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS BECAUSE SPECIAL ELECTION EQUIPMENT IS NECESSARY TO SCAN BALLOTS AND TABULATE VOTES IN OUR ELECTIONS. RCV ELECTIONS REQUIRE MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF TABILATION AND RELYING ON COMPUTERS FOR TABILATION. THERE'S NO WAY TO KERN FIRM ACCESS OF COMPUTERS INVOLVED. IN CALIFORNIA DATA ENTRY ERROR WENT UNDETECTED AND A WRONG WINNER WAS CERTIFIED IN AN ELECTION. >> ALTHEA FOLLOWED BY JESSICA FOLLOWED BY MAUREEN. >> COUNCILOR PEÑA, I HAVE DIFFERENT REMARKS PLANNED. I WOULD LIKE TO WAX POETIC ABOUT THE FUTURE BECAUSE I THINK WE LIVE IN A CITY THAT IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD. AND WHEN I SAY MOVE FORWARD, I MEAN RANK CHOICE VOTING, BUT I MEAN OUR BUS SYSTEM. THIS PROPOSED BUDGET WOULD CUT 52 POSITIONS IN TRANSIT. THESE ARE 52 POSITIONS WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT ABQ RIDE FORWARD'S RECOVERY NET,WORK WHICH IS A THREE TO FIVE YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TO RECOVER OUR NETWORK FROM WHAT IT WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC. AND THEY'RE TAKING THREE TO FIVE YEARS AND 16 UNIQUE PHASES OVER THOSE THREE TO FIVE YEARS TO IMPLEMENT A NEW BUS NETWORK. THIS ISN'T EVEN THE BUS NETWORK THAT ADVOCATES ASK FOR. WE ASKED FOR A BUDGET POSITIVE BUS NETWORK THAT WOULD ACTUALLY GIVE US MORE SERVICE. I DON'T DRIVE BUT MY HUSBAND SPENT $4.20 ON GAS. WE NEED TRANSIT IN THIS CITY. THIS BUDGET IS NOT OKAY. >> JESSICA FOLLOWED BY MOREEN FOLLOWED BY JANET. MOREEN FOLLOWED BY JANET FOLLOWED BY ANAMI. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT RANK CHOICE VOTING. RCV WOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT TO HELP ALBUQUERQUE RUN ELECTIONS. TODAY NOBODY GETS A MAJORITY, YOU HOLD A SECOND ELECTION. RANK CHOICE VOTING ACHIEVES THE SAME RESULT IN ONE STEP. WITHOUT THE COST AND EFFORT WITH A RUNOFF. RCV WOULD MEAN MORE VOTERS MAKE FINAL DECISIONS BECAUSE TURNOUT IS HIGHER IN THE FIRST ELECTION THAN IN THE SECOND ONE. STRAIGHT FORWARD FOR VOTERS. THEY CAN RANK CANDIDATES IF THEY WANT. OR THEY CAN VOTE AS NOW AND PICK ONE. IT'S A MODEST COMMON SENSE UPDATE AND SAVES MONEY AND KEEPS MORE VOTERS INVOLVED. I HOPE YOU'LL SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU. >> JANET FOLLOWED BY ANAMI FOLLOWED BY SARAH. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. TONIGHT I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT ARE GOING WELL IN ALBUQUERQUE. YESTERDAY MORNING, ON MY WAY TO CHURCH, I SAW A CITY BUS GOING EAST ON MENAUL AT 8:30 A.M. THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR BUS DRIVERS, OUR SOLID WASTE, PUBLIC SAFETY, WHO WORK HOLIDAYS SO THE REST OF US CAN DO WHATEVER WE WANT TO DO WITH OUR FAMILIES. DISTRICT SEVEN ON SATURDAY WE COMMEMORATED THE FALL OF BATAAN AND THE DEATH MARCH AND THE YOUNG BRAVE SOLDIERS IN 1942. APRIL 18th, I INVITE YOU TO BE AT THE EARNY PYLE LIBRARY. WE REMEMBER THE LIFE OF HIM WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION AS A WHAT ARE CORRESPONDENT. WE HAVE A POP UP AT THE TAYLOR RANCH LIBRARY. PARKS AND RECREATION WE HAVE A TREE PLANTED FOR JERRY GREIGO. OUR SPEAKER SERIES IS GOING WELL. AND IN CONCLUSION THANK YOU TO GARRET WHO HAS THE REMARKABLE JOB OF MANAGING HUNDREDS OF US. THANK YOU. >> ANAMI FOLLOWED BY SARAH FOLLOWED BY JACOB. >> HI, Y'ALL. FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS THERE'S BEEN AN EFFORT TO GET FOLKS LIVING ON THE STREET OFF THE STREET AND INTO THE SHELTERS. I HAVE COLLECTED A NUMBER OF STATEMENTS FROM UNSHELTERED FOLKS. IN THAT TIME, AND PART OF THAT HAS BEEN ASKING THEM WHY THEY CHOOSE NOT TO GO TO THE SHELTERS. IN 70% OF THE RESPONSES, THEY LISTED LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY STRUCTURE BUILT INTO THE SHELTER SYSTEM. IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT AND YOU'RE LIVING AT A SHELTER, YOU HAVE TO TELL THE SHELTER STAFF WHO MIGHT BE THE SUBJECT OF THE COMPLAINT AND IT IS HANDLED ENTIRELY INTERNALLY. THE OFFICE OF CONSUMMER PROTECTION SHOULD BE UTILIZED TO HANDLE THOSE COMPLAINTS IN THE FUTURE. I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. BYE. >> SARAH FOLLOWED BY JACOB FOLLOWED BY TAD. >> FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO SAY I'M A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER THAT TAUGHT CIVICS AND U.S. HISTORY IN THE PAST. I SUCCESSFULLY USED RANK CHOICE VOTING IN MY CLASSROOM. ALSO STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL USE RANK CHOICE VOTING TO PICK ELECTIONS. I THINK MOST PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND. I THINK IT'S FAIRLY EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND EXPLAIN. SECOND RANK CHOICE VOTING DOES HELP INCENTIVIZE KANSASED -- INCENTIVIZE CANDIDATES TO TREAT EACH OTHER WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. THE REPUBLICAN OFFICE IN ALBUQUERQUE WAS SET ON FIRE. DEMOCRATS WERE SHOT BY SOLOMON PENA. ON BOTH SIDES, THE INCIVILITY IS HARMFUL. WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MOVE IT FORWARD AND MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR PEOPLE. AND THIRD, RANK CHOICE VOTING DOES NOT HAVE A PARTY PREFERENCE. THAT'S A MYTH. >> JACOB FOLLOWED BY TAD FOLLOWED BY LEX. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M A PROUD RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO AND CHAIR OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF BERNALILLO COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP. AT A TIME WHEN TRUST IN GOVERNMENT IS LOW, DECISIONS LIKE THIS MATTER. RANK CHOICE VOTING IS ON YOUR AGENDA. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT IT. THIS ISN'T ABOUT PARTISANSHIP. YOU HEARD IT CHANGES HOW CAMPAIGNS WORK AND GIVES TOO MUCH INFLUENCE TO SMALLER GROUPS. IT REALLY ASKS US TO TALK TO MORE PEOPLE. THAT'S NOT A WEAKNESS, THAT'S DEMOCRACY. WE DON'T HAVE TO GUESS HOW IT WORKS. AND THE INTERNAL PART OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WE ALREADY USE RANK CHOICE VOTING. WE SEE STRONGER PARTICIPATION, AND LEADERSHIP THAT ACTUALLY REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. AS A HISPANIC VOTER, I WANT TO BE CLEAR, OUR COMMUNITIES ARE NOT CONFUSED. WE ARE NOT INCAPABLE. AND WE'RE READY TO ENGAGE FULLY FOR DEMOCRACY. THANK YOU, ALL. >> TAD FOLLOWED BY LEX FOLLOWED BY BRICK. >> CAN I GET THE OVERHEAD? OKAY. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS TAD. THIS FLAG IS 51 STATE OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. HIGHLAND STUDENTS -- MEXICAN FLAG. LET'S GO TO 66 AND EUBANK. [ INAUDIBLE ]. >>COUN. PEÑA: CAN YOU DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO ME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> I'M SORRY. >>COUN. PEÑA: DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS THROUGH ME. >> EXCUSE ME. MY TIME. >>COUN. PEÑA: THEY WILL GIVE YOU SOME SECONDS BACK. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NOW, THANK YOU. NOW HMM. I LOST TRACK OF WHERE I WAS. ANYWAY. THAT'S IT. >> LEX FOLLOWED BY BRICK FOLLOWED BY SUSAN. >> OVERHEAD, PLEASE. MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'VE ALREADY BROUGHT TO YOU A STORY ABOUT THE FAMILY ADVOCACY CENTER. THAT'S A PRIVATE BUILDING, BUT WHERE PUBLIC ENTITIES ARE HELD. THERE'S A LOTUS MANAGEMENT COMPANY THAT WORKS THERE. ALSO WITH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE. THEY CAN PROTECT THE POLICE BY TRESPASSING US FROM THAT BUILDING. THIS IS AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT. [ INAUDIBLE VIDEO PLAYING ]. >> THEY'RE SHOVING -- TRYING TO PREVENT ME FROM GOING DOWN A PUBLIC HALLWAY. BETTER GET A BIGGER BROOM IF YOU'RE GOING TO SWEEP ME. [ INAUDIBLE ]. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> BRICK FOLLOWED BY SUSAN FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN. >> I'M GOING TO NEED THE OVERHEAD AS WELL. THANK YOU, SIR. MADAM PRESIDEN -- [ -- DID YOU SIGN AN OATH WHEN YOU SIGNED UP TO BECOME A POLICE OFFICER? [ INAUDIBLE ]. DID YOU SIGN AN OATH WHEN YOU SIGNED UP TO BE A POLICE OFFICER IN ALBUQUERQUE? DID YOU SIGN AN OATH WHEN YOU SIGNED UP TO BE A POLICE OFFICER IN ALBUQUERQUE? [ INAUDIBLE ]. DID YOU SIGN AN OATH WHEN YOU SIGNED UP TO BE A POLICE OFFICER IN ALBUQUERQUE? [ INAUDIBLE ]. DID YOU SIGN AN OATH WHEN YOU SIGNED UP TO BE A POLICE OFFICER IN ALBUQUERQUE? [ INAUDIBLE ]? DID YOU SIGN AN OATH WHEN YOU SIGNED UP TO BE A POLICE OFFICER IN ALBUQUERQUE? >>? >> YOU GET THE POINT? HE'S GOT A SIGN. THEY NEED TO SIGN. SIGN THE FUCKIN OATH. >> SUSAN FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN WHO I SEE IS IN ZOOM. WE'LL COME TO YOU, BENJAMIN. SUSAN FOLLOWED BY JAMES FOLLOWED BY ADEO. JAMES FOLLOWED BY ADEO FOLLOWED BY ELANOR ON ZOOM. >> GOOD EVENING, Y'ALL. I'M STILL JAMES FREEMAN. I CAN'T STAY TOO LATE. I'M GOING TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF R-26-11. IT'S AN HONOR TO AS A LIVED EXPERIENCE MEMBER OF THE HOUSING TASK FORCE. I ATTENDED EVERY MEETING SINCE THAT GROUP WAS CREATED. I BELIEVE MY FEEDBACK HAS BEEN RECEIVED CONSTRUCTIVELY. THE CITY STAFF ASSOCIATED WITH THE TASK FORCE HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY CHARLEY JENNIFER ABBEY FLOORA TOM RICK. EVERYONE IS PHENOMENAL. EXTENDING THE TIMELINE FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE OBJECTIVES MAKES SENSE. IF I MAY MAKE ONE SUGGESTION, I SUGGEST ADDING AT LEAST ONE MORE LIVED EXPERIENCE MEMBER. MY LIVED EXPERIENCE IS DATED. IT'S BEEN A DECADE SINCE I WAS HOMELESS OR LIVING ON A HOUSING VOUCHER IN ALBUQUERQUE. I SUGGEST ADDING TIFFANY LEDGER. I THINK SHE WOULD DO A FANTASTIC JOB. THANK YOU. >> ADEO FOLLOWED BY ELANOR FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH. >> WHEN I WAS YOUNG I HAD A TWIST. FOR PUNCHING BABIES WITH ME FIST. AND THEN I THOUGHT I WOULD ENLIST AN IMMIGRATION CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT. OH, TO LAROO, THEY'RE HUNTING FOR IMMIGRANTS JUST ABOVE YOU WITH DRONES AND PHONES AND CAMERAS AND ALBUQUERQUE HAS NO CLUE. SHOT SPOTTER RECORDS ALL DAY AND ALL DARK, AND WHEN THERE'S A FIRE OR GUN SHOT IT SLURPS UP WATER AND FIRES OR GAS AND IT'S ALWAYS EXACTLY 50% CORRECT. TO LAROO, A CURSE UPON THE WHITE AND BLUE THAT TOOK THE IMMIGRANTS WITH A PARAMILITARY. SOME OF OUR COUNCILORS HAVE BEEN A BIT NAUGHTY. THEY SLEEP ON THE BUS LIKE A VAGRANT SO HAUGHTY. AND THE ONLY CRIME IS BED IS THIS WIDE TO FIT THEM IN THE UBER LYFT LOBBY. DO NOT DEFUND TRANSIT. RANK CHOICE VOTING ROCKS. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. >> ELANOR FOLLOWED BY ELIZABETH FOLLOWED BY SARAH. YOU'RE MUTED, ELANAOR. >> O-10 WAS INTRODUCES ON FEBRUARY -- BUT IT WAS NEVER HEARD. IT HAS ALSO NOT BEEN REVIEWED IN ANY COMMITTEE SINCE THEN. THIS MAY NOT BE ALLOWED, IT'S NOT GOOD GOVERNANCE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME AN ORDINANCE MODIFYING THE IDO HAS BYPASSED THE ESTABLISHED UPDATE PROCESS AND VOIDED COMMITTEE REVIEW. THAT LIMITS TRANSPARENCY AND SHUTS DOWN MEANINGFUL PUBLIC INPUT. THERE'S BEEN NO URGENCY TO JUSTIFY THIS. THIS IS THE 4th COUNCIL MEETING SINCE INTRODUCTION. CONSTANTLY CHANGING THE IDO OUTSIDE NORMAL PROCESS MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND CURRENT REGULATIONS. IT ALSO CREATES UNCERTAINTY FOR DEVELOPERS WHO MAY BE FORCED TO REVISE PROJECTS AS RULES SHIFT. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN SENT TO COMMITTEE? ARE DECISIONS BEING MADE WITHOUT FULLY CONSIDERING PUBLIC INPUT? THIS PROCESS UNDERMINES TRUST. I URGE YOU TO FOLLOW ESTABLISHED IDO UPDATE PROCEDURES AND ALLOW PROPER REVIEW. >> ELIZ BTH FOLLOWED BY SARAH FOLLOWED BY NICOLE. >> HELLO. I AM AN APS EMPLOYEE. I AM A FULL-TIME COLLEGE STUDENT. I'M IN A PUBLIC SPEAKING CLASS. I'M ACTUALLY GETTING EXTRA CREDIT JUST FOR SPEAKING HERE TODAY. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE AND WHAT IT TOOK TO ORGANIZE THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> SARAH FOLLOWED BY NICOLE FOLLOWED BY MARSLEN. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILORS. TEMPERATURES ARE CLIMBING NOW WITH RECORD-BREAKING HEAT. PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN HOUSING UNITS WITH INSTINT COOLING UNITS ARE SEEKING RELIEF FROM THIS HEAT. THE CALL TO 311 DIRECTSTUSE THE CITY WEBSITE FOR THIS INFORMATION. THE WEBSITE DIFFERENTIATES FAMILIES FROM UNHOUSED AS THOUGH HUMAN BEINGS HAVE VARYING COOLING NEEDS. THIS INDICATES POOLS, SPLASH PADS AND LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE AVAILABLE ONLY TO FAMILIES. THE UNHOUSED SECTION LISTS ONLY FOUR OF THE CITY'S 18 PUBLIC LIBRARIES AS WELCOMING COOLING SPACES ALONG WITH FIVE-NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. ONE OF THEM IS DOWNTOWN WITH THE OTHER FOUR LOCATED IN THE SOUTHEAST AREA. AND THREE OF THOSE ARE NONOPERATIONAL FOR THE NEED. AMERICAN INDIAN CENTER WAS SHUTTERED AND DEMOLISHED. AND IT'S ONLY SERVING FOR TWO HOURS. COMPASSION SERVICES CENTER WAS IMPACTED BY A FIRE LAST WEEK. THIS LEAVES VERY FEW SPACES TO COOL THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE UNHOUSED IN ALBUQUERQUE. PLEASE UPDATE THE WEBSITE AND DEFINE WHAT FAMILIES ARE. OPEN PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND PUBLIC SPACES CITYWIDE SO EVERYONE HAS A PLACE TO BE WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE. AND PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH LIFE-SAVING SUPPORT AND UNDO THE HARMFUL LEGISLATION. DON'T TURN MDC INTO A COOLING CENTER. THANK YOU. >> NICOLE FOLLOWED BY MARSLEN FOLLOWED BY LAYLA. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS, I WANT TO USE MY TIME TONIGHT TO APPRECIATE THE STAFF MEMBERS OF THE ALBUQUERQUE-BERNALILLO COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY. THEY DO INCREDIBLE WORK FOR ALL OF US IN THE CITY AND THE WHOLE COUNTY. THEY STAFF 19 BRANCHES. AND SERVE PATRONS WHO VISITED THE LIBRARY 1.6 MILLION TIMES. THEIR HARD WORK ALLOWS ME TO BE LAZY BECAUSE I CAN PICK UP ALL THE BOOKS AND DVDS I WANT FROM THE ENTIRE LIBRARY SYSTEM AT HIGH HOME BRANCH LIBRARY. THE LIBRARY STAFF PUTS THE WHOLE WORLD AT MY FINGERTIPS AND THEY DO THAT FOR EVERYONE, RICH OR POOR. ALBUQUERQUE SHOULD BE EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM ESPECIALLY DEDICATED HARDWORKING STAFF. THANK YOU. >> MARSLEN FOLLOWED BY LAYLA FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN. >> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY DON'T DEFUND PUBLIC TRANSIT. THAT'S INSANE. IT'S INSANELY CLASSIST. IT DESTROYS AN ENTIRE WAY GETTING AROUND AND GETTING TO WORK AND SEEING PEOPLE. FOR A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE, THIS IS INSANE. DO NOT DEFUND THIS. THERE ARE VERY IMPORTANT JOBS. ADDITIONALLY, I WANT TO MENTION ON THE CONVERSATION OF SWEEPS, THE SERVICE AND SAFETY ZONES THAT COUNCILOR BACA HAS BEEN TALKING OF PRODUCING. REMINISCENT OF HIS LAST ATTEMPT TO BAN PEOPLE FROM BEING ON SIDE PAP -- SIDEWALKS. I THINK THESE ARE INSANE MEASURES. I THINK IT'S BASED ON HIDING THE HOMELESS. I THINK THEY'RE BASED IN TRYING TO PRETTY UP THE STREET FOR THE CENTENNIAL. I THINK IT'S DISGUSTING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PASS MORE AND MORE AND WE JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS ENFORCEMENT FIRST IS NEVER GOING TO WORK. YOU CAN'T HIDE PEOPLE FOREVER. >> LAYLA FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT. I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT INSTANT RUNOFF VOTING. EARLIER COMMENTERS SAID OUR VOTING MACHINES AREN'T RUNNING. BUT OUR ELECTION OFFICIALS CONFIRMED THEY'RE CAPABLE OF HANDLING RANK CHOICE BALLOTS. OUR MACHINES ARE THE SAME ALL AROUND THE STATE AND WE HAVE OTHER PLACES IN THE STATE THAT ALREADY DO RANK CHOICE VOTING. MR. GUESSING SUGGESTED THAT VOTERS DON'T WANT TO RESEARCH ALL THE CANDIDATES. AND THAT I THINK THAT'S RIDICULOUS. WE KNOW THAT ALBUQUERQUE VOTERS ALREADY SHOW UP VERY INFORMED ESPECIALLY WITH LOCAL RACES WHERE CHOICES MATTER DEEPLY. HIS FEAR MONGERINGS ABOUT TABILATION ERRORS ARE UNTRUE. OUR MODERN VOTING SYSTEMS ARE TESTED AND AUDITED AND USED SUCCESSFULLY IN THE OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE STATE. YOUR CONCERNS SHOULDN'T HOLD US BACK FROM FORMS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY. INSTANTRUNOFF ALLOWS US TO VOTE -- >> BENJAMIN. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT COUNCILORS. I APOLOGIZE NOT BEING THERE IN PERSON TONIGHT. I AM CALLING TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT RANK CHOICE VOTING IN ALBUQUERQUE. I WANT TO BRING TWO DIFFERENT REALITIES THAT YOU COULD BE LIVING IN. ONE OF THEM, YOU START IN A REALITY WHERE YOU HAVE RANK CHOICE VOTING AND YOUR COUNCIL IS DEBATING IMPOSING PASS THE POLL SYSTEM. YOU TELL YOUR FRIEND I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THIS PERSON. YOUR FRIEND SAYS DON'T DO THAT YOU'LL SPOIL YOUR VOTE. AND YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HOW THE SYSTEM IS GAINED IN ORDER TO VOTE SO THAT ONE OF THE PRIMARY CANDIDATES GETS ELECTED. IN THE OTHER REALITY, YOUR COUNCILOR IS DEBATING WHETHER TO USE RANK CHOICE VOTING AND IN THIS SICK REALITY YOU CAN VOTE WHO YOU WANT TO WITHOUT WORRIEDING ABOUT HOW THE SYSTEM IS GAINED. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. WE ARE NOW ON TO APPROVALS. THERE ARE NONE. NEXT, FINAL ACTIONS. COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, R-14. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: R-14 IS THIRD UPDATE TO UP TACHMENT ONE OF APPROPRIATING THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE TAX FUNDS TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THE CUTLER AVENUE COMPLETE STREETS PROJECT TO INCLUDE THE SAN PEDRO COMPLETE STREETS PROJECT. I MOVE DO PASS. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION, AND SECOND BY COUNCILOR ROGERS. WE HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, DID YOU WANT TO OPEN? >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THIS IS JUST AN EXPANSION OF A PROJECT THAT MY PREDECESSOR, COUNCILOR GIBSON FUNDED ON CUTLER. THAT'S NEARING COMPLETION. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FUNDS REMAINING. A BUDGET THAT DID NOT GET EATEN UP. I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT MONEY TO A SECOND PROJECT. SAN PEDRO REVITALIZATION. WE'RE EXPANDING THAT SCOPE TO ALLOW THE SECOND PROJECT TO REUSE THE REMAINDER OF THE FUNDS. >>COUN. PEÑA: OKAY. WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. ALTHEA FOLLOWED BY ADEO FOLLOWED BY GRACE. >> I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL. THE SAN PEDRO SMITHS, MY 3-YEAR-OLD CALLS IT THE BIG SMITH'S. WE GO THERE A LOT. I HAVE TO WALK WITH CHILDREN THERE A LOT. I ALSO CAN TELL YOU THAT I HAD TO CROSS THE STREET ON SAN PEDRO TO GET FROM ONE SIDE OF THE BUS TO THE OTHER. WHEN I'M TRAINING AMBUS -- AMBASSADORS. THAT'S THE SCARIEST PART. THAT'S WHERE THE BUSES ARE GOING TO MEET. WE HAVE TO CROSS THE STREET THERE. AND IF THAT IS THE SCARIEST PART OF DOING THIS KIND OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, I THINK WE CAN DO A VERY GOOD JOB AND MAKE IT SAFER TO CROSS THE STREET. I REALLY APPLAUD YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. TO FIND MONEY SOMEWHERE AND PUT IT TO GOOD USE. THANK YOU. >> ADEO, FOLLOWED BY GRACE, FOLLOWED BY TAD. >> GOOD EVENING, Y'ALL. I WAS LIKE SAN PEDRO. I LIKE WHEN WE GET TO USE MONEY FOR GOOD THINGS. AND I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. HAVE A GOOD ONE. >> GRACE FOLLOWED BY TAD FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN ON ZOOM. >> COUNCILORS, I COME BEFORE YOU AS SOMEONE WHO DRIVES ON THAT STRETCH OF SAN PEDRO. I'M IN SUPPORT OF THE SAN PEDRO COMPLETE STREETS PROJECT. I CAN TELL YOU WITH FULL CERTAINTY THIS PROJECT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TURN THAT STRETCH INTO ONE OF THE MOST PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY STRETCHES OF ROAD IN THE ENTIRE CITY. WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO LOOK OUT FOR ALL OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE NOT IN CARS. IF WE'RE GOING TO CUT TRANSIT, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS, THERE'S NO NEED TO CUT PUBLIC TRANSIT WHEN WE'RE NOT LOSING ANY REVENUE, WE NEED TO INVEST IN MAKING OUR STREETS MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY. I APPLAUD COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I URGE YOU TO VOTE YES. THANK YOU. >> TAD FOLLOWED BY BENJAMIN. >> CAN I HAVE MY MINUTE BACK? THANK YOU. NOW, ANYONE OF YOU BEEN AROUND REMEMBER THAT 2014, MAYBE DAN LEWIS ONLY, ANYWAY WHEN 300 PEOPLE SIGNED UP, WE SPOKE TWO MINUTES EACH. THEN IDIOT SANCHEZ CUT TO 30 PEOPLE. LIMITS. LIMIT PEOPLE TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. SO, TWO MINUTES. NOW, WHAT ARE THEY DOING? THIS COUNCIL, THEY'RE MESSING WITH IF IT'S A MINUTE, LEAVE IT TWO MINUTES. SIMPLE AS THAT. YOU WANT TO CUT OTHER AGENDA, THAT'S FINE. >> BENJAMIN ON ZOOM. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS. I WOULD LIKE TO URGE YOUR SUPPORT ON THE COMPLETE STREETS PROJECTS IN ALL OF YOUR FORMS WHEN THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COST MORE MONEY THAN ALREADY APPROPRIATED. IT IS A LITTLE BIT RIDICULOUS THAT WE CAN ASSUME THAT PEOPLE IN CARS NEED TO BE SAFE BUT WE CAN'T ASSUME THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE RIDING A BIKE OR WALKING NEED TO BE SAFE. THOSE PEOPLE NEED TO BE SAFE AS WELL. I STARTED THINKING ABOUT THIS MORE AS I'VE BEEN BIKING AROUND ALBUQUERQUE RECENTLY. AND A LOT OF OUR BIKE LANES, EVEN THE ONES I CONSIDER GOOD BIKE LANES FOR OUR CITY, I WOULD NOT WANT TO WALK ON THEM. THEY'RE UNSAFE. I WOULD AVOID THEM IF I WASN'T TRYING TO ACTIVELY GET SOMEWHERE. IF YOU VOTE AGAINST THIS AND YOU DON'T EXPLAIN WHY, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASSUME THAT YOU WANT PEOPLE WHO ARE WALKING AND BICYCLING TO DIE. THANK YOU. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT CONCLUDES COMMENT. >>COUN. PEÑA: I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NOISE WAS. WAS THAT SOMEONE TRYING TO GET IN? I DON'T SEE ANY QUESTIONS BY COUNCILORS. COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN TO CLOSE. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND BY COUNCILOR ROGERS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. FOE SAME MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'RE NOW ON TO O-3. THIS IS COUNCILOR ROGERS, COUNCILOR BACA, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, COUNCILOR BASSAN. WHO WANTS TO LEAD THE CHARGE? >>COUN. BACA: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. O-3, COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE AMENDING CHAPTEDER TWO, ARTICLE 11, REVISING -- NEW SECTION INDIRECT CHARGES TO CAPITAL FUNDS ESTABLISHING IDOH CALCULATION. AND ALIGNING ELIGIBLE FOR CAPITAL DELIVERY STANDARDS. I MOVE DO PASS. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND BY COUNCILOR ROGERS FOR A DO PASS OF O-3. ARE THERE ANY COUNCILORS HAVING ANY QUESTIONS? I KNOW WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. THEY'RE GONE? OKAY. OKAY. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE THE AMENDMENTS FIRST. WE HAVE FOUR AMENDMENTS. LABELED A THROUGH D. WE'LL START WITH FLOOR AMENDMENT A. COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN AND COUNCILOR TELLES. THIS WILL BE NUMBER ONE. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'LL MOVE FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. ON PAGE SIX, BEGINNING ONLINE SEVEN, AMEND SECTION F3 AS FOLLOWS. ON THE SCREEN, NO ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE INDIRECT OR OVERHEAD COST INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LABOR RECOVERY SUPERVISORY OR COORDINATION OUTSIDE OF THE CALCULATED CIP IDOH RATE WITH THE APPLICABLE BOND CYCLE SHALL BE CHARGED TRANSFERRED OR APPLIED THROUGH THE COUNCIL APPROVED GO BOND OR ACTIVITIES IN ALL COSTS CHARGED SHALL BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO AND CONSISTENT WITH THE SCOPE OF THE CAPITAL PROJECT. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THIS IS JUST A CLARIFICATION. I'VE BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTED. I MET WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY'RE CALCULATING THE IDOH ON THE VARIOUS PROJECTS. I GOT NO ANSWERS. I SENT IN VERY SPECIFIC REQUESTS. I DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE. IT'S JUST BEEN VERY CHALLENGING FOR SOMEBODY THAT WANTS TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING BEFORE THEY VOTE ON IT TO GET ANSWERS. WHAT I'VE DETERMINED IS THAT THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO DOES NOT ALLOW US TO CHARGE -- TO TAKE IDOH OUT OF STATE GRANTS. THAT IS IN THE STATE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. AND WHAT WE SEEM TO BE DOING BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE IDO IS CHANGING THE NAME OF IT TO CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FEE AND STILL TAKING IDOH OUT OF STATE GRANTS. I'M HAPPY TO BE CORRECTED, BUT I ASKED THIS QUESTION MANY, MANY TIMES. I'VE GOTTEN NO ANSWERS. THIS IS JUST TO CLARIFY THAT IF THERE'S A STATE CAPITAL DOLLAR THAT COMES TO ONE OF OUR PROJECTS, WE WILL NOT BE PAYING ANYTHING ADDITIONAL FOR THAT PROJECT. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. DO ANY COUNCILORS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'D LIKE TO GIVE THE ADMINISTRATION AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO THIS. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, WE DO HAVE A -- WE CALCULATE INDIRECT OVERHEAD. WE HAVE MS. TURNER FROM MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. WE CAN GO THROUGH THE AMENDMENTS AND WE CAN SPEAK ON THE BILL. >>COUN. PEÑA: YOU GOT THAT, RIGHT? IT WAS ON THE AMENDMENT, NOT THE ENTIRE BILL. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, WHICH QUESTION DID YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER? >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: I DIDN'T HAVE A QUESTION. I WANT THIS AMENDMENT TO PASS BECAUSE I ASKED MY QUESTIONS AND I'VE GOT NO ANSWERS. >>COUN. PEÑA: I HAD THE QUESTION. I WAS JUST ASKING ABOUT THE AMENDMENT AND YOUR POSITION ON THE AMENDMENT AND WHY YOU THINK IT'S GOOD OR NOT GOOD. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, THE IDOH THAT WE WERE PROPOSING IS 5%. I HAVE A SUPPORT OF HOW THAT'S CALCULATED. IT'S ACTUALLY MORE THAN 5%. THAT WOULD BE APPLIED TO FISCAL YEAR 27. I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE THAT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. THAT REALLY WASN'T THE QUESTION. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, WE DON'T SUPPORT THIS BILL OR THIS AMENDMENT BECAUSE SOME CHARGES HAVE TO BE CHARGED BECAUSE WE USE STAFF TO MONITOR THE GRANTS THAT AREN'T PAID FOR BY THE GRANT. I DO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE COUNCILOR IS COMING FROM, BUT I CAN'T SAY WE WOULD SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. >>COUN. PEÑA: OKAY. I THINK IT DOESN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION. IF THIS AMENDMENT IS SAYING THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO DOES NOT ALLOW FOR US TO MAKE THOSE CHARGES AND WE'RE MAKING THOSE CHARGES, HOW DO WE JUSTIFY CHARGING THE CAPITAL FROM THE CITY? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, WE HAVE DIRECTOR TURNER TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, WHEN THE CITY RECEIVES STATE CAPITAL OUTLAY, IN ORDER FOR US TO SPEND IT, WE HAVE TO SEEK WHAT'S CALLED A NOTICE OF OBLIGATION FROM THE STATE. WHICH IS BASED ON A QUOTE OR PROPOSAL FROM A CONTRACTOR THAT ITEMIZES EVERYTHING WE'RE GOING TO BE CHARGED. SO, NO, WE DO NOT SEEK TO CHARGE AGAINST CAPITAL OUTLAY IN PERMISSIBLE EXPENSES FROM CAPITAL PROJECTS BECAUSE WE WOULD -- IT'S ILLEGAL. SECOND WE WOULD NEVER GET THOSE FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE THAT WE HAVE TO SUBMIT THROUGH AN N.O.O. PROCESS. >>COUN. PEÑA: A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION FOR ME WOULD BE, I KNOW DOING THE PROJECTS WITH THE VISITOR CENTER, I KNOW WE ARE GETTING CRITICIZED BY THE COST OF THE PROJECT KEPT ESCALATING. IT KEPT GOING SOME OF THE COSTS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH IT. HOW DO WE DETERMINE, AND MAYBE THIS IS FOR MR. WHELAN, HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHAT THAT INDIRECT COST IS? I KNOW INDIRECT COSTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH PROJECTS BECAUSE THERE'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE COST ASSOCIATED WITH ANY OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE TO CARRY OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE SO CUMBERSOME BECAUSE OF WHO IS ACTUALLY GOING TO THE STATE AND ASKING FOR THE MONEY AND TO THE COUNTY AND WHO IS PUTTING IT TOGETHER AND WHO IS DOING THE GRANTS. I KNOW THERE'S ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. I WAS ASKING OUR STAFF HOW DO WE MAKE THAT DETERMINATION? I KNOW SOME CITIES -- I WAS TOLD THEY DON'T CHARGE ANY INDIRECT. I KNOW SOME ENTITIES HAVE 50% INDIRECT, WHICH IS OUTRAGEOUS. HAVE WE ESTABLISHED AN INDIRECT AND LOOK AT THE COMPARABLE CITIES AND WHAT THE AVERAGE IS? I KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF QUESTIONS THAT WE WENT FROM A 2.4 TO ALL OF A SUDDEN TO 12%. AND BACK DOWN. I THINK AS COUNCILORS IT OPENS UP QUESTIONS FOR US. I KNOW THEY'RE NECESSARY. I JUST WONDER WHAT IS THAT AMOUNT. WHAT DO YOU DO TO GET TO THAT AMOUNT? OR WE DO NOTHING AND MAYBE AS A BODY WE SHOULD DO A POLICY THAT SETS WHAT THAT STANDARD IS? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, THE WAY IT'S CALCULATED IS TAKING THE MOST RECENTLY CLOSED YEAR FOR THIS CASE IT WOULD BE FISCAL YEAR 25 AND ALL CAPITAL FUNDS THAT WERE EXPENDED. AND TAKING THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST, WHICH IS MOSTLY STAFF TIME, THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESS OF THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS. WHICH CAN INCLUDE PROJECT MANAGERS. IT CAN INCLUDE FISCAL STAFF. THEY'RE ALL REQUIREMENTS TO KEEP US INCOMPLIANCE WITH ANY OF THOSE CAPITAL FUNDS WE RECEIVE. AND TAKING A PERCENTAGE. >>COUN. PEÑA: CORRECT. MY QUESTION WOULD BE HAVE WE EVER STUDIED WHAT AN INDIRECT COST SHOULD BE OTHER THAN THIS FLOATING NUMBER? >> WELL, MADAM PRESIDENT, I WENT BACK ALL THE WAY TO 2018 AND LOOKED AT ALL OUTSTANDING ACTIVE BONDS. WE WEREN'T EVEN RECOVERING SOME OF THE COST BECAUSE THE PERCENTAGE WAS BELOW 2%. THAT DOESN'T REPRESENT THE COST THAT ACTUALLY TOOK TO MANAGE THOSE FUNDS. IRS GUIDELINES ALLOW UP TO 5% FOR TAX-EXEMPT BONDS. THE STANDARD I WAS GOING AGAINST WAS THE 5%. IF IT WAS ABOVE 5%, IN THE PAST YEAR, IT WAS TO COMPENSATE FOR THOSE OUTSTANDING BONDS THAT HAD BEEN SO MUCH LOWER THAN EVEN 2%. WE WEREN'T RECOVERING THOSE AMOUNTS. >>COUN. PEÑA: BUT THE FEDERAL GUIDELINES SAY 5%? >> YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I DON'T KNOW. OUR STAFF, I THINK YOU'RE ASKING SOME QUESTIONS TO MUNICIPALITIES JUST TO FIND OUT. MR. MOTSCO, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS, THIS IS -- WE'RE TALKING ON THE SAME PAGE. THIS IS FOR OUR GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS THAT ARE TAX-PAYER APPROVED AS AN ELECTION EVERY YEAR THAT WE HAVE VERY STRICT USAGE FOR. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT POTENTIALLY RISKING OUR TAX-EXEMPT STATUS WHEN IT COMES TO THE BONDS BECAUSE THE PROJECTS WOULD BECOME MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE. MR. MEREHEAD, OUR BOND ATTORNEY, IS HERE. HE HAS MUCH MORE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE 5% GUIDELINE FROM THE IRS. AND HE'S OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS ALSO. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. CAN YOU COME DOWN AND ANSWER THIS QUESTION? WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET AT IS I KNOW INDIRECT COSTS ARE SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED BECAUSE OF THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S DONE OUTSIDE OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, RIGHT? ADMINISTERING AND MANAGING. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA -- FIRST YOUR EXPERTISE. I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO WHAT I'M SAYING? SECOND, DO YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF AN AVERAGE IS MUNICIPALITIES CHARGE FOR INDIRECT? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, WHAT HAS BEEN SAID IS CORRECT. THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SETS 5% OF EACH BOND PROCEEDS, EACH BOND ISSUANCE, 5% CAN BE USED FOR WORKING CAPITAL WHICH WILL BE INCLUSIVE OF INDIRECT OVERHEAD. AT THAT POINT YOU'RE LOOKING AT THINGS DIRECTLY TIED TO THE PROJECT. IT IS NOT A POOL OF 5% OF THE PROCEEDS TO BE USED FOR ANY KIND OF OPERATIONS OR MAINTENANCE OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. IT NEEDS TO BE OVERHEAD COST THAT TIE TO THE SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY VOTERS. YOU'RE LOOKING AT NOT ONLY FROM THE STATE LAW SIDE YOU HAVE GO BONDS APPROVED FOR THE NINE OR 11 QUESTIONS. YOU LOOK AT THE SCOPE OF THAT. THAT WOULD BE OKAY WITH THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE FROM THE FEDERAL SIDE. THEN YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT AND SAY WHAT CAN WE APPLY TO INDIRECT OVERHEAD FROM STAFF WHO IS PROVIDING CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT OR ACCOUNTING OR LEGAL SERVICES OR WHATEVER THAT TIES TO THAT SPECIFIC PROJECT. IT CAN GO UP TO 5%. IF YOU HAD SOMETHING ISSUED IN 2023 FOR $100 MILLION, YOU HAVE $5 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE WOULD BE OKAY IF YOU CAN ESTABLISH THAT IT IS TIED TO INDIRECT COSTS OR WORKING CAPITAL FOR THOSE APPROVED PROJECTS. NOW, IS THERE A STANDARD NUMBER? NO. IT DEPENDS -- I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE 5% OR LESS. EACH PROJECT HAS DIFFERENT FACTORS GOING INTO IT. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WHAT WE CARE ABOUT FROM THE BOND SIDE IS WHAT DOES THE IRS SAY ABOUT THIS. THE RISK IS LOSE TAX-EXEMPT FINANCING WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT SETBACK. THE IRS IS SAYING 5% IS FINE. WITHIN 0 TO 5% IT'S FOR THE GOVERNING BODY TO SAY OKAY, THIS IS HOW WE DEFEND AND SUPPORT WE TIED ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS TO THE PROJECTS AND THEY FALL WITHIN THAT 5% THAT THE IRS HAS SAID. AGAIN, THE IMPORTANT THING IS YOU FALL UNDER THE 5% FOR THE BOND SERIES OVER THE LIFE OF THE POND. HOW YOU CALCULATE THAT 5%, THE IMPORTANT THING IS SHOULD THE IRS EVER AUDIT THE CITY, YOU CAN SUBSTANTIATE HOW YOU ALLOCATE THE MONEY. TO DO THAT, YOU'RE SHOWING THE PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS, THE PARTICULAR DEPARTMENTS, WORKED ON THE PROJECTS AND GOT PAID X. AND IT IS WITHIN THAT 5%. NOW, WHAT THE CITY DECIDES TO DO FROM THE 0 TO 5 IS A POLICY DECISION BY THIS GOVERNING BODY AND ADMINISTRATION. FUNDAMENTALLY, 5% IS A HARD CAP FOR THAT BOND CYCLE. AGAIN, THE IMPORTANCE OF TRYING THE PARTICULAR INDIRECT OVERHEAD TO THE TAX-EXEMPT BOND PROJECTS. >>COUN. PEÑA: I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWER. I JUST WANT TO ADD ONE OTHER QUESTION TO THAT. AS PART OF A PROJECT THAT'S FUNDED BY CITY, COUNTY, STATE, FEDS, DOES THAT 5% GO AS A TOTAL OR DOES THAT GET BROKEN DOWN AS TO THE AMENDMENT SHE HAS ON THIS FLOOR RIGHT NOW? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT OR WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS THE MONEY THAT'S PRODUCED BY THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS. SO, IF YOU HAVE A POOL OF STATE MONEY, CITY AVAILABLE FUNDS, AND GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROCEEDS, YOU'RE LOOKING AT 5% OF THOSE GO BOND PROCEEDS. IT DOESN'T GO 5% OF THE ENTIRETY OF THE MONEY COMING INTO THE PROJECT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU SO MUCH. COUNCILOR CHAMPINE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. WHILE YOU'RE UP HERE, SIR. JUST A QUICK CLARIFICATION SO I CAN UNDERSTAND. THE IRS SAYS 5% IS THE CAP. THE CEILING OF IT. BUT AS WE'RE AT 2.4 OR 2.7 IS PRESENTED, IS IT A RISK TOLERANCE TO SAY 5% WE'RE OPENING OURSELVES UP TO IF WE GET AUDITED TO JUSTIFICATION AND THERE'S A HIGH RISK IN THAT JUSTIFICATION, WHEREAS THREE TO FOUR IS MORE YELLOW? TWO TO THREE IT GREEN WHERE WE KNOW WE CAN JUSTIFY THAT, IF AN AUDIT DOES COME? >> COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, I WOULD SAY THE IRS SAID 5% IS SAFE HARBOR. I WOULDN'T DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THREE TO FIVE IF YOU CAN SUPPORT IT. ONCE YOU GET OVER FIVE YOU'RE IN THE PRESUMPTION YOU'RE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SAFE HARBOR. IT'S EASIER TO JUSTIFY 2.5% THAN FIVE. BUT IF YOU CAN DO THAT, THE IRS IS SAYING YOU CAN DO THAT. YOU HAVE SAFE HARBOR. ON THE ONE HAND IT'S EASIER TO ESTABLISH 2.5% TO 3%. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE 5% IF YOU DO THAT IS ILLEGAL OR IN VIOLATION OF THE IRS. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. YOU DO HAVE THE PRACTICAL PROBLEM THAT THE BAR IS RAISED AND IT'S HARDER TO SUBSTANTIATE 5% THAN 3%. SDMRCH . >>COUN. CHAMPINE: IT IS A RISK TOLERANCE? >> YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: MORE OF A POLICY DECISION? >> YES. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. COUNCILOR TELLES, THEN COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. TELLES: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. MR. MEREHEAD, CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FEDERAL BOND AND GO BOND AND HOW THAT APPLIES WITH THE 5%? >> YES, MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR TELLES. LOOKING AT IT -- I'M HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE WHOLE BOND PROGRAM. JUST YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION, THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS ARE ONE OF THE FORMS OF FINANCE AND CAPITAL PROJECTS THE CITY HAS. YOU CAN DO THAT IN A WAY THAT YOU BORROW MORE EXPENSIVELY AND THE IRS DOESN'T CARE ABOUT IT. YOU HAVE THE GO BONDS USE IT FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS. MUNICIPALITIES HAVE THE BENEFIT THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS SAYING YOU CAN BORROW FOR A LOWER INTEREST RATE, BUT WHEN YOU DO THE IRS HAS A CONCERN YOU'RE NOT ABUSING THAT OR MISUSING IT. IT'S JUST THE GO BOND PROGRAM. THE FEDERAL PART IS BECAUSE YOU'RE BORROWING TAX-EXEMPT AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CARES. THEY'RE NOT DIFFERENT THINGS. THAT THE CAPITAL PROJECT. THE TAX-EXEMPT PART IS THE MECHANISM TO FINANCE THOSE AT A LOWER COST. BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THINKS IT'S PROVIDING A SUBSIDY TO YOU, THEY HAVE A BOOKLET FULL OF RULES, INCLUDING DON'T SPEND MORE THAN 5% ON SALARIES AND OPERATION BECAUSE IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO TO BRICK AND MORTAR. >>COUN. PEÑA: COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANT TO, REAL QUICK, BACK UP FOR FOLKS. FOLKS ARE SAYING WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE -- I'M GETTING EMAILS, LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING? I'M GOING TO PROVIDE CONTEXT FOR FOLKS WATCHING. AND ASK MY QUESTION. FIRST OF ALL IDOH IS INDIRECT OVERHEAD, WHICH YOU HEARD. JUST THINK ABOUT BUILDING A HOUSE. AND YOU HAVE COST TO BUILD THE HOUSE. YOU HAVE LUMBER, CONCRETE, LABOR, THOSE ARE DIRECT COSTS FOR THE HOUSE. PERMITTING OFFICE, INSPECTOR, ACCOUNTANTS, PROJECT MANAGERS, THOSE ARE INDIRECT COSTS. WE COULDN'T BUILD THE HOUSE WITHOUT THOSE FOLKS MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE THINGS WE NEED. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. AND FOR MYSELF, WANTING TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO FIX THIS IS BECAUSE I WATCH OUR ACCOUNTS FOR DISTRICT SIX. THIS IS THE BOND MONEY EACH COUNCILOR GETS TO SPEND IN THEIR DISTRICT. THE ADMINISTRATION DECIDED TO CHARGE INDIRECT COSTS AT 8%. YOU'RE HEARING CHRIS MEREHEAD SAY 5% IS THE CAP FROM THE IRS. AT ONE TIME IT WAS 12% AT ONE TIME. IT CAUSED SOME OF MY COUNCIL ACCOUNTS TO GO IN THE RED BECAUSE I WASN'T EXPECTING THESE CHARGES TO HIT MY ACCOUNT. I WASN'T EXPECTING OR PLANNING FOR THEM. I ASKED VERY SPECIFICALLY JUST LIKE MY OTHER COLLEAGUES HOW DO YOU CALCULATE THIS SO WE CAN PLAN. THIS IS JUST ABOUT PLANNING FOR MY DISTRICT WITH MY SPECIFIC SET ASIDES FOR THE GO BOND PROCESS. LET ME FINISH. SO, THOSE ACCOUNTS GOING IN THE RED CAUSED ME TO WORK WITH THE BUDGET TEAM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. I FOUND THINGS BEING CHARGED FROM PROJECTS YEARS AGO. BEFORE WHERE WAS EVEN A COUNCILOR. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS DOES THE IRS DICTATE THE TIME FRAME IN WHICH IDOH CAN BE CHARGED? >> A COUPLE THINGS, MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR ROGERS. GETTING IN THE WEEDS A LITTLE BIT. THE 5% IS THE CAP. LET'S TAKE A SINGLE BOND ISSUE. $100 MILLION. YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE $5 MILLION WITH INDIRECT OVERHEAD. THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE LIFE OF THE BOND. THERE IS A SCENARIO WHERE YOU HAVE 8% IN ONE YEAR. 2% IN YEAR TWO. BUT AS A WHOLE, THAT IS UNDER 5%. AGAIN, WE'RE IN THE WEEDS. I'M NOT DISAGREEING WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. THERE'S A CALCULATION WHERE YOU CAN BE ABOVE FIVE IN ONE YEAR, AS LONG AS OVER THE LIFE OF THE BOND YOU'RE UNDER THE 5%. THE SECOND QUESTION YOU RAISED IS VERY POSSIBLE. THE IRS IS LOOKING AT CHANGING THAT. IN TERMS OF SAYING THE REIMBURSEMENT NEEDS TO BE TIED TO THE TIME OF ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS. UNDER THE CURRENT RULES YOU CAN LOOK AT IT OVER THE LIFE OF THE BOND AND LOOK AT THE END OF LIFE AND GO BACK AND SAY, HERE'S WHAT WE'VE DONE. PROPOSED RULES CHANGE THAT TO SAY WE HAVE A TEMPORAL THAT IT IS ALLOCATED IN THOSE YEARS YOU'RE LOOKING TO BE APPROPRIATIONS. IN THE WEEDS OF THE REGULATIONS, WHICH ARE DIFFICULT, BUT I DO AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, GENERALLY. >>COUN. ROGERS: I THINK THAT'S THE ISSUE. AS COUNCILORS WE CANNOT PREDICT BECAUSE IT CONTINUALLY CHANGES. IT DOESN'T ALLOW US TO PLAN. AND I THINK THE OTHER QUESTION IS TIED TO BUDGET. I KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE BUDGET WEEDS. THIS DIRECTLY AFFECTS THIS CONVERSATION. WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING. OUR COMMITTEE SUBWAS PUBLISHED ON MARCH 16th. WE RECEIVE THE BUDGET WHERE YOU PLAN AT 5%. KNOWING THIS IS ON THE AGENDA AT WHAT WE WERE WANTING TO BASELINE IT AT. WHY DID THE ADMINISTRATION THEN USE 5% FOR THE BUDGET WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT OUR INTENTIONS REALLY ARE? >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR ROGERS -- THE WAY THE LEGISLATION WAS WORDED IS THAT THE BASELINE IS 2.75% AND IF WE CAN JUSTIFY THAT AMOUNT, WHICH I CAN, THAT'S WHY WE BASED THE 27 BUDGET WITH 5%. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: >>COUN. ROGERS: HOW DID YOU JUSTIFY THAT? SEVERAL OF US ASKED OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BE TRANSPARENT OF HOW YOU CALCULATE THAT. I NEVER RECEIVED THAT. >> I HAVE IT. I'M HAPPY TO SHARE IT ANY TIME. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. >>COUN. PEÑA: COUNCILOR TELLES. >>COUN. TELLES: JUST WANTED TO CALL POINT OF ORDER TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DEBATING THE AMENDMENT AND NOT THE BILL. >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILORS, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN TO CLOSE. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I APPRECIATED THAT DEBATE ON THE BILL. BUT I WANT TO BRING US BACK TO WHAT MY AMENDMENT SAYS, WHICH IS VERY CLEARLY NOT AT ALL ABOUT WHAT THE CALCULATED IDOH RATE SHOULD BE OR WHAT IT SHOULD INCLUDE OR HOW IT SHOULD BE PRESENTED. MY AMENDMENT, WHICH WAS ON THE SCREEN, HAPPY TO GET IT BACK ON THE SCREEN SINCE WE'VE GONE SO FAR AFIELD, SIMPLY STATES NO ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE COST OR FEES CAN BE CHARGED OUTSIDE OF THE CALCULATED CIPIDOH, WHATEVER THAT IS FROM THIS PILL I DID NOT WRITE, MY AMENDMENT SAYS NO ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS CAN BE CHARGED. IT CLARIFIES THAT IS FOR GO BOND AND FOR STATE CAPITAL OUTLAY. THAT IS ALL THE AMENDMENT BEFORE US DOES. I WOULD URGE YOUR SUPPORT ON THAT CLARIFICATION BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE HEARD THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD OTHER KINDS OF FEES, BUT I'M LOOKING AT A PROJECT DETAIL PAGE RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF ME THAT CLEARLY STATES WE'RE CHARGING 5% MANAGEMENT FEES FOR ONE OF MY CAPITAL OUTLAY PROJECTS FROM THE STATE. I THINK THE MANAGEMENT FEE SOUNDS A LOT LIKE AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE. ALL I'M CLARIFYING IS THAT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED. THAT'S INENTIRETY BEFORE US. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: WITH THAT, THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND ON FLOOR AMENDMENT A, THAT NOW BECAME FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY YES. OPPOSED NO. THAT PASSES, 8-1. NEXT IS FLOOR AMENDMENT B. IT WILL BECOME FLOOR AMENDMENT TWO. COUNCILOR GROUT. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. FLOOR AMENDMENT TWO, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE. ON PAGE SIX, AFTER LINE THREE INSERT THE FOLLOWING. SECTION FIVE, FISCAL YEAR IDOH BUDGET ADJUSTMENT REQUIREMENT. WITHIN 14 DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ORDINANCE, THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL SUBMIT AN EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION THAT PROVIDES THE REVISION TO THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET, CONSISTENT WITH THE BASELINE CAPITAL PROGRAM AND INDIRECT OVERHEAD ESTABLISHED HEREIN. THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL IDENTIFY THE RESULTING GENERAL FUND DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 PROPOSED IDOH REVENUE ASSUMPTIONS AND THE REVISED PROJECTIONS BASED ON THE BASELINE RATE ESTABLISHED HEREIN. THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL PROPOSE ADJUSTMENTS TO EXPENDITURES OR IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES AS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE FISCAL YEAR 2027 PROPOSED GENERAL FUND BALANCE AS PROPOSED, AS PROPOSED IS IMPORTANT, AND SHALL NOT INCREASE THE IDOH ABOVE THE BASELINE RATE ESTABLISHED IN THIS ORDINANCE WITHOUT CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL. I OFFER THAT AS AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND BY VICE PRESIDENT FOR FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? COUNCILOR BASSAN, FOLLOWED BY COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. BASSAN: MADAM PRESIDENT, I HATE IDOH. I HAVE HATED IT SINCE DAY ONE. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME NEED FOR IT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE ENDED UP WITH A LAST-MINUTE 12% INCREASE LAST YEAR THAT CAUGHT US ALL OFF-GUARD. NOT OKAY WITH IT. THAT'S WHY I AGREED TO CO-SPONSOR THIS BILL. I WILL SAY, FULL DISCLOSURE, I HAD MEETINGS WITH DONA SANDOVAL AND SHE EXPLAINED HER METRIC OF HOW SHE LANDED ON 5%. I WAS A LITTLE PREOCCUPIED WITH SOME OTHER THINGS GOING ON WHEN THIS IS IN COMMITTEE. IT'S CURRENTLY AT 2.75%. I DID SAY I THINK 5% SEEMS REASONABLE AS LONG AS IT'S NOT 8%, OR 12% OR 40%. OR WHATEVER ELSE MIGHT NOT GET US IN THE NIGHT. I DON'T SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT. I KNOW WE DID HAVE THIS OUT THERE WELL IN ADVANCE. HOWEVER, I THINK THERE WAS, AT LEAST FROM MY EXPERIENCE, SOME EFFORTS TO COMMUNICATE THE DESIRE FOR 5%. I THINK IT'S A COMPROMISE. AGAIN, I HATE IDOH. I'M GOING TO OFFER AN AMENDMENT IN A WHILE TO CHANGE IT TO 5%. WE HEAR ALL THE TIME THE BUDGET IS IN THE COUNCIL'S HANDS. THE MAYOR GAVE US THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, WHETHER YOU WANT TO SAY IT'S BECAUSE HE DIDN'T LISTEN TO OUR PROPOSED LEGISLATION OR NOT, WHATEVER FINGERS WE WANT TO POINT, THE FACT IS HE HAVE THE BUDGET. IT'S AT 5%. FOR US TO THROW IT BACK ON THE MAYOR NOW, HOW DO WE SAY THAT'S OUR BUDGET NOW? I'M NOT OKAY WITH THAT. IT'S ON US TO FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION AND MY SOLUTION WILL BE TO OFFER 5%. >>COUN. PEÑA: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE BILL -- AGAIN I DIDN'T WRITE THIS BILL, BUT IT CLEARLY STATES ON PAGE THREE THAT IT WILL BE 2.75 UNLESS AN ALTERNATIVE RATE IS JUSTIFIED PURSUANT TO THE CRITERIA ESTABLISHED IN THIS SECTION. AND IT GOES ON TO SAY THAT IF THE ADMINISTRATION DETERMINES AN ALTERNATIVE IDOH RATE IS NECESSARY, THE CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, TREASURY AND DMDCIP SLAL CALCULATE INPROPOSED RATE USING THE CRITERIA ESTABLISHED IN THIS SECTION. SO, I DON'T READ THE BILL BEFORE US AS SAYING IT IS 2.75 AND WILL REMAIN THAT WAY. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM, I DON'T THINK, WITH IT BEING 5% EITHER. ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS A CALCULATION AND NOT JUST A, HEY, WE THINK IT SHOULD BE THIS. AND I SENT SPECIFIC REQUEST FOR CALCULATION AND THE LIST OF JOBS BEING PAID FOR WITH THIS. I GOT NOTHING. SO, I QUESTION THE NEED FOR THIS PROPOSAL, NOT BECAUSE I DON'T SUPPORT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT BECAUSE ALL THE ADMINISTRATION HAS TO DO IS COME FORWARD WITH AN ACTUAL CALCULATION. AND I'M PLEASED TO HEAR THEY SHARED ONE WITH COUNCILOR BASSAN, BUT I'D LIKE THEM TO SHARE IT WITH ME. I THINK WE CAN GET TO A NUMBER WE ALL AGREE TO IF SOMEBODY SHARES THEIR MATH. THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR. I WON'T BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT. BUT I UNDERSTAND WHERE IT'S COMING FROM. THE FRUSTRATION IS REAL. I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S GOT TO BE A CALCULATION THAT'S BEEN DONE AND IT SHOULD BE SHARED WITH CITY COUNCIL IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I THINK I AGREE. WHEN WE LOOKED BACK AT THE IDOH NUMBER, ALL THE WAY BACK TO FY15, WE NEVER THOUGHT ANY MORE THAN 2%. WE DID RESEARCH TO LOOK BACK. I ALSO AGREE WITH COUNCILOR BASSAN THAT THE BUDGET IS WITH US NOW. IF WE WANT TO MAKE THESE ADJUSTMENTS, WE SHOULD DO THAT ON COUNCIL AND NOT KICK IT BACK TO THE MAYOR BECAUSE IT'S UP TO US. I WOULD NEVER WANT TO DEFER MY POWER BACK TO THE MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATION WHEN THEY'VE DONE THEIR WORK AND NOW IT'S TIME FOR US TO DO THE WORK. I WOULD LOVE TO HELP THE COW CHAIR IN THAT AND PUT MYSELF WHERE MY MOUTH IS AND HELP AS WELL. >>COUN. PEÑA: OKAY. BEFORE WE GOES TO CLOSE, I'LL MAKE COMMENTS. I THINK WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE. I THINK WE GOT SHOCKED WITH THAT 12%. KNOWING WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE PROJECTS DONE AND WE HAVE TO GO BACK THE NEXT DAY FOR MORE OUTLAY OR WHATEVER IT IS. I DO -- I THINK 5% IS REASONABLE. I'LL SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT, BUT -- BUT I THINK WE'RE ALL JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE CLARITY AND KNOW THE NUMBERS. COUNCILOR GROUT TO CLOSE. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. I WANT TO SAY THE REASON COUNCILOR ROGERS HAD MENTIONED THIS, THIS ORDINANCE HAD COME BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATION TO ALL OF US SOMETIME AGO BEFORE THE BUDGET WAS SENT TO US. THEY KNEW IT WAS THERE. I HAVEN'T TALK TO COUNCILORS ABOUT WHAT -- I HAVEN'T TALKED TO ANYBODY, SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS STANDS. BUT -- I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS IS GOING TO GO TONIGHT. AGAIN, WORKING -- YES, WE CAN FIND THE MONEY AND WE'LL FIND IT IF IT CHANGES. WE'LL FIND THE DIFFERENCE. BUT YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE THE DIFFERENCE WE COME UP WITH. THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO FIND THE EXTRA SAVINGS THEY MAY NEED IN ORDER TO DO THAT. IT IS WITH US. THAT'S FIND. WE'LL FIND IT, IF WE NEED TO. THAT'S ALL. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: WITH THAT, THERE'S A MOTION, AND SECOND BY COUNCILOR ROGERS FOR FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND -- SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED NO. THAT MOTION FAILS, 4-5. NOW WE'RE ON FLOOR AMENDMENT C. LABELED FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR. COUNCILOR BACA. >>COUN. BACA: MADAM PRESIDENT, THIS IS JUST A TECHNICAL FIX. SECTION 18-21, THAT'S ALL. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION. THERE'S NO QUESTIONS? >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THERE ARE THREE CHANGES ON THIS. 18-21 THREE TIMES IN THREE DIFFERENT POSITIONS. DO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S SPECIFIC IN WHAT WE'RE SAYING. >>COUN. BACA: I'LL LOOK TO THE STAFF. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR BACA, WE JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THIS IS AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE, NOT FOUR. >>COUN. PEÑA: DID I SAY FOUR? I'M SORRY. THIS IS FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED, SAME MOTION. PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, I DIDN'T SEE EVERYONE'S HAND. >>COUN. PEÑA: I KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. WE'RE NOW ON FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS LABELED D. COUNCILOR TELLES. >>COUN. TELLES: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. FLOOR AMENDMENT -- FOUR? THREE? FOUR? PAGE FIVE, BEGINNING, LINE TEN AMEND SECTION D AS FOLLOWS. IDOH RATES. THE OFFICE OF THE INTERNAL AUDIT SHALL CONDUCT AN ANNUAL AUDIT OF IDOH PRACTICES TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SECTION INCLUDING THE REVIEW OF CALCULATION OF IDOH RATE AND COST TO THE CRITERIA REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED. AND WHETHER COSTS CHARNELS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE SCOPE OF CAPITAL PROJECTS AND SHALL REPORTS TO THE COUNCIL. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: SECOND. >>COUN. PEÑA: MOTION, AND SECOND BY COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. TELLES: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. THIS AUDIT REQUIREMENT GIVES US THE VERIFICATION WE NEED. THIS REQUIREMENT WILL ALLOW US TO GET THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WAS CHARGED, WHY WAS IT CHARGED AND TO WHAT PROJECT, WE CAN HAVE THAT DATA WE'RE ALL ASKING FOR. THAT WHAT THIS DOES. IT TIES OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES TO THE BUDGET SO WE CAN HAVE THAT DATA AND MAKE SURE IT IS NOT GOING OVER THOSE REQUIREMENTS. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: ANY QUESTIONS? I SEE THE ADMINISTRATION HAS THEIR HANDS UP. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. WE SHOULD FOCUS ON HOW WE WORK TOGETHER WITH COUNCIL. WE DID SEND DOWN THE BUDGET WITH HIGHER PERCENTAGE. WE SUPPORT REPORTING AND CALCULATING. THIS BILL SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED SINCE IT WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN. IT WAS CHANGED AT THE END BY THE COMMITTEE TO 2.75%. WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS. WE NEED TO. BUT OUR BUDGET WAS BUILT ON A 5%. THAT'S THE BUDGET WE'VE PROPOSED AND SENT DOWN. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THIS? >> WE SUPPORT CALCULATING AND REPORTING THOSE THINGS. THAT'S WHAT THIS IS. THEY'RE GOING TO CALCULATE AND REPORT IT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. YOU DIDN'T ADD THAT. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR BASSAN. >>COUN. BASSAN: MADAM PRESIDENT, I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT I KNOW THE OFFICE OF INTERNAL AUDIT COMES WITH THEIR PLAN WITH WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO AUDIT. IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS, I THINK WE NEED TO ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE TO LOOK AT ANY KIND OF INCREASE IN THE BUDGET FOR INTERNAL AUDIT IF THEY'RE GOING TO NEED IT IN ORDER TO REVIEW. IF THEY JUST GO TO ADMIN AND HAVE YOU ALL DO THE LEGWORK AND GIVE IT BACK WITHOUT CHARGING US INDIRECT OVERHEAD, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR BASSAN. COUNCILOR TELLES TO CLOSE. >>COUN. TELLES: THIS IS BUSINESS. EVERY CPA, EVERY CFC, EVERY CDFM, EVERY FINANCIAL GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTANT, FISCAL WHO UNDERSTANDS FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES KNOW EFFECTIVE INTERNAL CONTROLS ARE GOOD FOR BUSINESS AND GOVERNANCE. THAT IS WHAT THIS IS. THIS IS JUST ENSURING WE'RE TRACKING OUR DATA. THIS IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TREADWAY FRAMEWORK OF INTERNAL CONTROLS. AND IT -- WE COULD REQUEST THIS TYPE OF TEST WORK EVERY YEAR IF WE WANTED TO, DIRECTLY WITH THE STATE AUDITOR, WHICH IF WE DON'T PASS THIS, THEN I WOULD DO THAT ANYWAY. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. THANK YOU. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER FOUR. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY YES. OPPOSED, SAME MOTION. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR LEWIS. NOW, WE'RE ON FLOOR AMENDMENT LABELED E. IT'S ON YOUR iPAD. IF YOU CAN DISPLAY IT, IT'S COUNCILOR BASSAN'S. >>COUN. BASSAN: I MOVE FLOOR AMENDMENT FIVE. ON PAGE THREE, AMEND LINE 20. RATE OF 5%. AND 5% AGAIN. UNLESS AN ALTERNATIVE RATE IS JUSTIFIED PURSUANT TO AND IT CONTINUES ON AS EXPLAINED EARLIER. THIS WILL BE MY SOLUTION TO TRY TO FIND BALANCE SO WE CAN END UP MOVING FORWARD WITH THE MODERATE IDOH WITHOUT IT BEING TOO EXTREME ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION, IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR FLOOR AMENDMENT E. NOW LABELED FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE. THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. COUNCILOR BASSAN TO CLOSE. >>COUN. BASSAN: I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER FIVE, RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY YES. OPPOSED? MOTION FAILS, 7-2. NOW WE'RE ON TO FLOOR AMENDMENT F. AND THIS IS NUMBER SIX. >>COUN. BASSAN: YES. MADAM PRESIDENT, ALTHOUGH I THINK PERHAPS THE ONE IN THE iPAD SAYS A DIFFERENT COUNCILOR IS THE SPONSOR. ON PAGE -- I'D LIKE TO MOVE FLOOR AMENDMENT SIX. ON PAGE THREE, LINE 32, SECTION C4 WILL BE AMENDED AS FOLLOWS. STRIKE BEGINNING OF 2026, FY26IDOH SHALL WE RECALCULATED WITHIN 60 DAYS AND REPLACE IT WITH BEGINNING WITH THE 2027 BOND CYCLE, THE RATE OF IDOH SHALL BE CALCULATED BY JANUARY 31st OF THE YEAR FOLLOWING EVERY BOND ELECTION. THE CALCULATED RATE SHALL APPLY TO THE TWO-YEAR BOND CYCLE. THE RATE SHALL BE CALCULATED BASED ON THE CRITERIA BELOW RELATED TO COST OF ADMINISTRATION OF THE CAPITAL PROGRAM. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION FOR FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX. IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. >>COUN. BASSAN: THIS AMENDMENT REMOVES REQUIREMENT FOR THE IDOH RECALCULATION TO TAKE PLACE THIS FISCAL YEAR. AND THE RECALCULATION TO TAKE PLACE JANUARY 31st, 2028. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ANY COMMENT? COUNCILOR TELLES. >>COUN. TELLES: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION. JUST FOR THIS YEAR. RIGHT? >>COUN. BASSAN: MADAM PRESIDENT, FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, SO WE HAVE THE BALANCED BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO US. IT WILL BE RECALCULATED WHEN IT COMES TO THE NEXT BOND CYCLE. >>COUN. TELLES: THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. I NEEDED TO HEAR THAT. >>COUN. PEÑA: COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'LL JUST SAY I HAVE 13 OR 14 PROJECTS MOVING THEIR WAY SLOWLY THROUGH DMD. I'D LIKE TO NOT PAY A 2012 -- WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS THIS YEAR AS WELL. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS. I THINK EVERYONE UP HERE PROBABLY HAS THAT MANY PROJECTS AND WE'RE BEING PENALIZED FOR BRINGING IN MONEY FOR PROJECTS FOR THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO TAKE CAPITAL DOLLARS AND MAKE THEM INTO OPERATING DOLLARS. I JUST FIND THAT DISTURBING AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO WAIT ANOTHER YEAR. >>COUN. PEÑA: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >>COUN. BASSAN: I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER SIX. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY YES. OPPOSED NO. THAT FAILS ON A 5-4. NOW, WE'RE BACK ON THE BILL. AND AS AMENDED SIX TIMES. AND WE HAVE ONE PERSON SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. WE HAVE BARBARA TO SPEAK. >> FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T MET ME, I WAS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE GO BOND PROGRAM FOR SOMETHING OVER 11 YEARS. AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO SHORTEN MY REMARKS HERE BASED ON WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING. FIRST OF ALL, IDOH IS JUST GOVERNMENT SPEAK FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. AND IN THE CASE OF CIT, THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ARE DERIVED FROM THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROCEEDS. AND THE TAX-EXEMPT BOND PROCEEDS. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY MAY ONLY BE SPENT TO SUPPORT THE CAPITAL PROGRAM. THEY MAY NOT BE SPENT ON ANY OPERATING MAINTENANCE OR OTHER NON-BOND RELATED COSTS. I'VE BEEN HEARING TALK ABOUT CIP I DORKS H AND THE OP . >>COUN. CHAMPINE: MADAM PRESIDENT. >> THERE'S A MISUNDERSTANDING. CIP-IDOH IS NOT REVENUE TO THE OPERATING BUDGET. IT IS GO BOND MONEY THAT IS SEQUESTERED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PAYING FOR THOSE OPERATING COSTS. THE CIP DIVISION ENCOMPASSES, AS AN EXAMPLE, ENCOMPASSES ALL OF THOSE -- THEY HAVE PEOPLE WHO PROCURE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. THEY HAVE CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. THE CIP DIVISION BECOMES CIP-IDOH. THERE'S A LAWYER SOMEWHERE WHO SPENDS PART OF HIS DAY LOOKING AT CIP CONTRACTS. THAT WOULD BE JUSTIFIED BOND PROCEEDS ACTIVITY. IT'S REALLY VERY IMPORTANT. IT'S ONLY TANGENTIALLY RELATED TO THE OPERATING BUDGET BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, CIP COMES OUT OF THE OPERATING BUDGET AND IS PAID FOR BY BOND PROCEEDS. THAT'S REALLY VERY IMPORTANT AND GOES TO THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING THE CALCULATION. IT'S EXACTLY RIGHT THAT UNTIL 2018, IT NEVER WENT OVER 2%. YOU HAD $180 MILLION GO BOND PROGRAM LAST TIME. IF YOU HAVE $3 MILLION OF COST, YOU HAVE 1.7%. YOU DIVIDE THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST BY THE AMOUNT OF THE BOND PROGRAM. TO CALCULATE THE ANSWER. IF YOU HAVE $4 MILLION IT'S 2.2%. IF YOU HAVE $5 MILLION IT'S 2.8%. IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. A LOT OF TALK ABOUT 5% IS REASONABLE. MAYBE, MAYBE THAT'S WHAT THE CALCULATION ADDS UP TO. BUT THE BILL DEFINES THAT CRITERIA. I CAN'T IMAGINE IT WOULD BE OVER 2% THESE DAYS. I'M SURPRISED THAT 5% IS JUST SORT OF BEING CONSIDERED AS REASONABLE. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANKS FOR THE TIME. >>COUN. PEÑA: WE'RE ON THE BILL AS AMENDED SIX TIMES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT, COUNCILOR BACA, COUNCILOR ROGERS, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE AND COUNCILOR BASSAN TO CLOSE. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I HAVE QUESTIONS. YEAH. I WAS TOLD IN AN EMAIL LAST WEEK AFTER MY MEETING WHERE I GOT NO INFORMATION THAT THERE ARE 51 POSITIONS THAT ARE FUNDED THROUGH CIP-IDOH. I ASK FOR A LIST OF WHAT THOSE POSITIONS WERE. I GOT NO RESPONSE. MR. WHELAN, CAN YOU TELL ME WHY I DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE AND HOW I WOULD GO ABOUT GETTING THAT LIST I ASKED FOR? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, WE DO HAVE THAT LIST. I KNOW DONNA SANDOVALS WITH THE POSITIONS. THEY'RE IN OUR DMD DIVISION. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: I UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY MAINLY ARE. I ASKED FOR A SPECIFIC LIST OF EACH POSITION AND WHERE IT WAS HOUSED. AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT. I KNOW YOU HAVE IT. I CERTAINLY HOPE YOU HAVE IT. I'M ASKING HOW I GET IT. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, DONNA SANDOVAL. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, I APOLOGIZE. I HAVE PREPPED A MEMO. I HAD ALL THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU. I STILL DO. I CAN PROVIDE IT. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: IT'S A LITTLE LATE. I'M GOING TO BE VOTING ON THIS BILL IN FIVE MINUTES. I REACHED OUT TO YOU AND YOUR BOSS WEEKS AGO. I TRIED TO SET UP A MEETING. I REMINDED YOUR BOSS I NEEDED MEETING. WE HAD A MEETING. I SENT YOU FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS. I DIDN'T GET ANYTHING. SO, I DO WANT THAT INFORMATION, BUT I JUST WANT IT KNOWN THAT MIGHT HAVE CHANGED MY POSITION ON THIS BILL HAD I GOT ANY INFORMATION I ASKED FOR. A COUPLE OTHER QUESTIONS. CAN SOMEBODY EXPLAIN TO ME AND TO THE PUBLIC THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CIP RECOVERY, IDOH, AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FEES? >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, JENNIFER TURNER, DIRECTOR OF DMD, WILL BE ANSWERING. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, CAN YOU REPEAT THE -- I JUST WANT TO GET EACH OF THE BUCKETS. >> CIP RECOVERY, POSITIONS PAID OUT OF CIP RECOVERY. IDOH, AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FEE. >> THE IDOH IS THE OVERHEAD INCLUDING WHAT'S IN FISCAL AND THE FOLKS THAT MATCH UP THE SCOPE OF EACH PROJECT AND PROPOSED EXPENDITURES AND CAPITAL FUNDING GUIDELINES. IT TIES TO ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, INVOICES. IT FILLS IN THE GUTS OF THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM. RECONCILING TRANSACTIONINGING AND WORKING ON THE 60-PAGE FSR THAT A LOT OF YOU HAVE BEEN READING AND TRACKING YOUR SET ASIDE. IT COULD INCLUDE LEGAL. LEGAL SPENDS A LOT OF TIME WITH CONTRACTS. THE IDOH SUPPORTS THOSE POSITIONS THAT ARE OTHERWISE IN THE GENERAL FUND POSITIONS. CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT, IT DEPENDS ON THE EXACT BILL THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO. SOMETIMES WE GET BILLS FROM ARCHITECS THAT SAY CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT. THAT WILL BE THEM SHOWING UP TO THE JOB SITE AND DOING -- MAKING SURE THE CONTRACTORS ARE BUILDING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE BUILDING. IT COULD BE LINE ITEMS FROM THE GENERAL CONTRACTORS MANAGING THE PROJECT. IT COULD BE DMD PROJECT MANAGERS MANAGING A PROJECT. IT REALLY DEPENDS ON CONTEXT. IN REGARDS TO CAPITAL RECOVERED POSITIONS, THOSE ARE POSITIONS THAT ARE TIED DIRECTLY TO PROJECTS. IF WE HAD CAPITAL TO BUILD A PUMP STATION OR DRAINAGE POND, YOU HAVE STORM POSITIONS THAT WILL BE BILLED OUT OF THE PROJECT MONEY. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU. THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT SOME OF THESE POSITIONS ARE BILLING DIRECTLY THEIR HOURS TO A PROJECT. WHEREAS OTHER POSITIONS ARE HAVING AN ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD CALCULATION. I AM UNCLEAR ON WHICH POSITIONS ARE WHICH BECAUSE I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANY INFORMATION ON THAT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THEY'RE THE SAME POSITIONS BASED ON COMMENTS I'VE GOTTEN. I SEE LOT OF HEAD SHAKING NOW. IT'S A LITTLE TOO LATE TO BE SHAKING YOUR HEAD. I ASKED THESE QUESTIONS TIME AND TIME AGAIN. ONE OF THE EXAMPLES THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME WAS THAT STAFF THAT WORKED DIRECTLY ON CAPITAL PROJECTS EXCEED $6 MILLION, THEY'RE WORKING DIRECTLY ON A CAPITAL PROJECT THEY GET IT OUT OF CIP RECOVERY, THEY SHOULD NOT BE COVERED BY IDOH. AM I MISUNDERSTANDING THAT, DIRECTOR? >> COUNCILOR PEÑA, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, I THINK I'M GOING TO LET DONNA -- I THINK DFA IS RESPONDING WITH THAT INFORMATION. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, THEY'RE NOT THE SAME POSITIONS. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: OKAY. >> WHEN YOU SEND ME THE LIST OF THE OTHER POSITIONS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEND ME A LIST OF THE CAPITAL POSITIONS AS WELL AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME? >> NO, THEY'RE NOT. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: GREAT. I HAVE SO MANY OTHER QUESTIONS. I'LL GO THROUGH A COUPLE OTHER ONES. THIS IS FOR THE -- I DON'T KNOW. PERHAPS MR. WHELAN. WHY IS CIP CALLED CIP INSTEAD OF CID? CAPITAL IMPLEMENTATION DIVISION. YOU'RE DEFINING IT IN THIS LEGISLATION AS CIP. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, CIP STANDS FOR CONSTRUCTION IN PROCESS. WE'VE USED THAT ACRONYM FOR MANY YEARS. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: I KNOW WHAT IT STANDS FOR. IN THE BUDGET -- OR IN THE BILL IT SAYS UNDER DEFINITIONS, CIP IS CAPITAL IMPLEMENTATION DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, IS THAT THE LEGISLATION PROPOSED BY THE COUNCIL? OKAY. I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY USED THAT. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: MR. MOTSCO? CAN YOU ANSWER THAT ONE. >> >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, I WILL ADMATE -- ADMIT I'M IN MY 22nd YEAR AT THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AND IT PREDATES ME. IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE CIP DIVISION OF THE FAS OR THE DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT SINCE 2003. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: I'LL STOP. I HAVE TO SAY, I HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH IDOH IN GENERAL IN A GOVERNMENT SITUATION. I RAN A SMALL BUSINESS. WE HAD OVERHEAD THAT WE CHARGED OUT TO OUR CLIENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAD TO PAY FOR 1/100 OF THE ATTORNEY I USED AND AN ACCOUNTANT I USED. IN A BUSINESS SETTING THAT MAKES SENSE. IN A GOVERNMENT SETTING, I BELIEVE EVERY PERSON IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE BASE BUDGET THIS COUNCIL APPROVES AND THEY SHOULD BE PAID. THEY'RE DOING A JOB. IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE GOING TO SAY, OH, WE DIDN'T COLLECT ENOUGH IDOH, SO YOU AREN'T GOING TO GET PAID TODAY. THAT IS JUST MOVE -- IT'S A SHELL GAME. AND IT'S A SHELL GAME SPECIFICALLY TO TAKE CAPITAL DOLLARS, WHICH ARE QUITE EASIER TO GET, AND TURN THEM INTO OPERATING DOLLARS. WE SAW THAT LAST YEAR, BUT WE MOVED FROM A LOWER AMOUNT THAT I DID NOT QUESTION TO A 12% AMOUNT, WHICH I VERY, VERY MUCH DO QUESTION. AND IT WAS SPECIFICALLY EVEN ADMITTED ON THE DAIS THAT WE WERE SHORT. WE NEEDED SOME MONEY. I JUST HAVE A PHILOSOPHICAL PROBLEM WITH THE WHOLE CONCEPT. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THIS BILL. I THINK IT'S AS GOOD AS WE CAN GET, GIVEN THE LACK OF INFORMATION PROVIDED. I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD BE WORKING TOGETHER MORE, ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON A TIMELY BASIS MORE, AND JUST SHOW YOUR WORK SO THIS BODY CAN FEEL SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT IN THE NUMBERS THAT YOU ARE IMPOSING ON OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS IN PARTICULAR. THANK YOU. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCILOR BACA, COUNCILOR ROGERS, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, COUNCILOR BASSAN TO CLOSE. THIS IS O-3 AS AMENDED SIX TIMES. >>COUN. ROGERS: WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF O-3 AS AMENDED SIX TIMES, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY YES. OPPOSED NO. THAT PASSES ON AN 8-1. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW, WE ARE ON O-10. AMENDING SECTION 14-6-6-4U5 IN THE DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE TO DEFINE CRITERIA FOR AWARDING APPEAL COSTS. WE HAVE MR. VICTOR HALL TO EXPLAIN. WE DO HAVE AN AMENDMENT. AS HE IS MAKING HIS WAY TO THE SEAT, I MAKE A MOTION FOR DO PASS. THERE'S A SECOND BY COUNCILOR GROUT. WE HAVE A FLOOR AMENDMENT. FLOOR AMENDMENT A, IN YOUR iPAD, AND IF SOMEONE CAN INDULGE ME AND READ IT. I DON'T THINK I CAN FIND IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE WOULD BE AMENDING SECTION 14-1-6-64U5 OF THE INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE TO DEFINE COSTS. AMEND AS FOLLOWS, SECTION ONE, SECTION 14, OF THE INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE IS HEREBY AMENDED AS FOLLOWS. AND THIS IS JUST A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT THAT AMENDS THE TITLE OF THE ORDINANCE TO CORRECTLY REFLECT THE SECTION BEING AMENDED BY THIS ORDINANCE. I MOVE DO PASS. SECOND BY COUNCILOR GROUT. ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY YES. OPPOSED NO. MOTION CARRIES. NOW, WE'RE BACK ON THE BILL. IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? >> YES, MADAM PRESIDENT. FIRST UP IS FRANCESCO FOLLOWED BY LISA FOLLOWED BY ELANOR ON ZOOM. >> OVERHEAD, PLEASE. APD SAID AN ILLEGAL TALL WALLS THE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE WRONGFUL DEATH OF MARRIED FATHER OF THREE KOAT NEWS DIRECTOR BOB WIGANS. IT COST ALBUQUERQUE AROUND $300,000 FOR FAIL TO ENFORCE CITY POLICIES AND THE WALL AND FENCES IDO ORDINANCE WHICH LOST A LARGE CINDER BLOCK WALL BLOCKING A CLEAR VIEW OF THE INTERSECTION. MAYOR KELLER AND CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY PASSING THE UNPOPULAR CITYWIDE TALL WALL IDO UPDATE AT MIDNIGHT WITHOUT PROPER NOTICE THAT YOU ARE BEING SUED FOR IS A BAD WAY TO GOVERN. AND MUST BE REPEALED. WITH SANCTIONS. SHAME. >> LISA FOLLOWED BY ELANORA. >> I'M SORRY, I GOT LOST ON WHERE WE. WHICH ONE ARE WE ON? >>COUN. PEÑA: O-10. >> THANK YOU. I APOLOGIZE. IT WAS SUCH A LONG TIME ON 26-3. I WANT TO TELL YOU ALL THAT I AM IN AN DISASSOCIATED STATE RIGHT NOW. I AM REALLY -- YOU GUYS ARE AGREEING. THIS IS LIKE NOT HOW IT'S BEEN. I'M REALLY EXCITE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THE FEELING OF COOPERATION AND FOCUSING ON AN ISSUE REGARDLESS OF PARTISANSHIP IS KIND OF WHAT WE NEED. AND WE'RE LIKE, I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M AGREEING WITH LEWIS. PENA, THESE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS. THAT'S WHY I'M -- LIKE, YES, EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE SAYING -- SO HOW CAN WE GET MORE OF THIS? WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE. WE HAVE A LONG YEAR TO GO. QUITE FRANKLY, WE HAVE WEAK LEADERSHIP IN OUR EXECUTIVE BRANCH. AS CITIZENS YOU GUYS ARE WHO WE NEED TO TALK TO. THIS APPEAL PROCESS -- LIKE, IT'S SORT OF THE SAME THING. HOW CAN WE GET TOGETHER AS COUNCIL AND CITY? WE'RE NOT GOING TO AGREE ON STUFF, BUT HOW CAN WE AS COMMUNITY WORK ON THINGS SO WE CAN GET THIS FLAVOR OF COOPERATION FOR EVERYTHING? >> ELANOR. >> I URGE YOUR TO VOTE AGAINST O-10. THIS IS POORLY WRITTEN LEGISLATION. ALL FIVE NEW CRITERIA ARE SUBJECTIVE. FOR INSTANCE, THE OBJECTIVE REASONABLENESS OF FENCES IS ASSERTED BY THE PARTIES. MERITLESS CLAIMS, THE PARTY SUPPOSING THE VARIANCE IS ASKING THE ZHE TO FOLLOW THE IDO. HOW CAN THEIR CLAIM BE MERITLESS. THIS IS ON OPINION, SO IT'S SUBJECTIVE BY NATURE. WHY SHOULD THE ZONING BE AGAINST THE APPELLANT IF THE APPELLANT IS NOT THE PARTY REQUESTING THE VARIANCE. THE PARTY REQUESTING THE VARIANCE ASK ASKING PERMISSION TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE IDO. WHY IS THE PARTY OPPOSING THE VARIANCE BEING PUNISHED IF THEY LOSE THE APPEAL AND NOT THE PARTY REQUESTING THE VARIANCE? WHY PENALIZE THOSE WHO WANT THE IDO FOLLOWED? IF THE IDO IS GOING TO BE AMENDED, YOU SHOULD REMOVE THE AWARDING OF ANY FEES WHICH ONLY AFLY THE APPELLANT. >> THIS IS BILL ADJUSTS THE LUHO APPEAL STRUCTURE IN THREE PRINCIPLE WAYS. FIRST OF WHICH, IT CLARIFIES LANGUAGE THEREIN THAT THESE LUHO APPEAL STRUCTURES ARE TO DO WITH COST AND FEES. IN SEVERAL INSTANCES AND FEES WAS NOT IN THE CURRENT LANGUAGE OF THE BILL THAT HAS BEEN INSERTED BY THIS. SECONDLY, THIS PILL PRESENTS SEVERAL DIFFERENT FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED BY LUHO MAKING THE FINDING OF REASONABLENESS OF COST AND FEES UP TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS. THOSE FIVE FACTORS INCLUDE CONDUCT OF PARTIES, OBJECTIVE REASONABLENESS AND CLAIMS OF DEFENSES ASSERTED. EXTENT TO WHICH AWARD COST AND FEES WOULD DEFER MERITLESS CLAIMS IN THE FUTURE. AND FINALLY, THIS BILL WOULD AMEND THE LUHO APPEAL STRUCTURE BY CLARIFYING THAT A COST AND FEES EXEMPTION MAY BE GRANTED PROVIDED THE REVIEW OF THE CRITERIA LISTED BELOW THE SECTION IS CONDUCTED ADMINISTRATIVELY AND COMPILED ADMINISTRATIVELY BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO BE REVIEWED BY THE LUHO. >>COUN. PEÑA: ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILORS? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF O-10 SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED NO. MOTION CARRIES. THAT'S ON A 5-4. WE'RE ON O-13. COUNCILOR ROGERS, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, COUNCILOR TELLES. >>COUN. ROGERS: O-3 IS -- I'M SORRY. I'M IN THE WRONG PLACE. ADOPTING A RANKED CHOICE VOTING SYSTEM. REPEALING AND REPLACING ARTICLE TWO, SECTIONS SEVEN AND EIGHT, AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO DEVELOP EDUCATION MATERIALS. I MOVE DO PASS. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND BY COUNCILOR TELLES. WE WILL MOVE -- DID YOU WANT TO OPEN ON THE BILL? >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANT TO START WITH A PROBLEM STATEMENT OF WHY WE'RE DOING THIS AS COUNCILORS. I THINK WE'VE HEARD FROM PUBLIC COMMENTERS AND FOLKS ON THIS TOPIC FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, AND I KNOW BEFORE THAT WITH COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN AS WELL, I THINK THE POINT IS THAT I HEAR FROM MANY VOTERS THAT THE ELECTIONS FEEL LIKE THEY'RE CHOOSING FROM THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS. I HEAR THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. AND BEING A CANDIDATE THAT HAD TO GO THROUGH A RUNOFF, AS I KNOCKED DOORS FOR MY RUNOFF, I WAS SHOCKED HOW MANY PEOPLE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THEY HAD TO VOTE AGAIN. I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO EDUCATION FOR VOTERS REGARDLESS OF WHAT SYSTEM WE CHOOSE. EDUCATING VOTERS IS IMPORTANT, REGARDLESS. RANK CHOICE VOTING ENSURE THE WINNERS HAVE MAJORITY OF SUPPORT. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE RUNOFF AND WE SHOWED STATS THAT SHOWED IN A RUNOFF IT'S NOT A MAJORITY VOTE FOR SEVERAL YEARS BACK. RANK CHOICE VOTING GIVES CANDIDATES AN ORDER OF THEIR PREFERENCE. YOU CAN PUT YOUR PREFERENCE. IN THE LAST MAYORAL RACE I WOULD LIKE TO RANK MY CANDIDATES BASED ON ORDER OF PREFERENCE. JUST TO SPEAK TO A COUPLE OF THOSE COMMENTERS THAT SAID WE WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW EQUIPMENT AND BALLOT BOXES AND MACHINES, THAT IS NOT TRUE. WE CHECKED LISTS -- THANK YOU TO THE COUNTY CLERK FOR SPEAKING IN SUPPORT. WE DEFINITELY MET WITH HER FIRST AND CHECKED ALL OF THOSE THINGS. WE HAVE SANTA FE AND LAS CRUCES ALREADY ON A RANKED CHOICE VOTING RUNOFF PROCESS. AND OUR VOTING MACHINES CAN EASILY ADAPT TO THAT VERY QUICKLY. THE OTHER POINT I LEARNED IN MY RESEARCH ABOUT THIS WAS THAT A RUNOFF ELECTION ALSO DOES NOT ALLOW FOLKS THAT ARE DEPLOYED ON ACTIVE DUTY THE CHANCE TO VOTE IN A RUNOFF ELECTION. IT SERIOUSLY SHRINKS THE AMOUNT OF TIME. AND WE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM THE FOLKS WHO ADMINISTER ELECTIONS THAT THEY SEE A MAJOR DROPOFF, NOT JUST REGULAR VOTERS, BUT VOTERS IN ARMED FORCES. WHICH MEANS TO ME THEY SHOULD HAVE MORE TIME TO DO THE VOTE. IF WE DID INSTANT RUNOFF, WE WON'T NEED RUNOFF. THEY CAN PUT IT IN THE ORDER OF PREFERENCES. AND WE CAN HONOR THOSE. THE OTHER COMMENT I HEARD ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT HELPS OTHER CANDIDATES VERSUS OTHER CANDIDATE. I WATCHED THE SANTA FE BALLOT WHEN THEY WERE GOING THROUGH COUNTING THE LAST LECTION. IT WAS FASCINATING TO WATCH. YOU SHOULD WATCH IT. IT'S TRANSPARENT. YOU CAN WATCH IT ON YOUTUBE AS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE ROUNDS. THE FIRST ROUND, IF YOU DON'T GET 50% OF THE VOTE, YOU THE PRESS IS CONTINUED. I DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO GO TO THE BALLOT BOX NOW OR WATCH WHERE THEY'RE WATCHING ALL THE BALLOTS. THIS ALLOWS TRANSPARENCY FOR YOU TO SEE EXACTLY HOW THE BALLOTS ARE BEING TABULATED AND COUNTED. FOR ME, THAT TYPE OF TRANSPARENCY IS ABSOLUTELY -- I LOVED WATCHING THAT PROCESS. YOU CAN STILL GO WATCH IT. BECAUSE IT'S THERE. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO POINT OUT IS CITY COUNCIL USES RANK CHOICE VOTING. WHEN WE VOTE ON OUR CPOA DIRECTOR, YOU STAFF GIVES US A BALLOT AND WE WRITE ONE, TWO, THREE. WE USE RANK CHOICE VOTING. I ARGUE IF IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR US ON CITY COUNCIL TO USE IT WHEN WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS, WHY WOULDN'T IT BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE VOTERS OF OUR CITY TO USE THAT PROCESS AS WELL? I CAN CONTINUE AND GO ON AND ON BECAUSE YOU KNOW I'M FOR IT AND I HELP SPONSOR IT, BUT IN THE INTEREST OURSELF TIME, I'LL STOP THERE. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. >>COUN. PEÑA: WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. >>-- >>COUN. CHAMPINE: MADAM PRESIDENT. I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DO THIS NOW. IT BEING 9:30, AND WE'RE GOING THROUGH 47 PUBLIC COMMENTS BEFORE WE GET TO THE DEBATE OF IT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND TEND THE MEETING TO MIDNIGHT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO EXTEND THE MEETING TO MIDNIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED NO? >>COUN. PEÑA: RAISE YOUR HAND AGAIN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF EXTENDING THE MEETING UNTIL MIDNIGHT RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY YES. OPPOSED NO. 6-3. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS CESAR FOLLOWED BY JAMES FOLLOWED BY MOLLY. >> ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS. I'M A VOTER IN DISTRICT TWO. I'M ALSO THE SENIOR ORGANIZER WITH COMMON CAUSE NEW MEXICO. TODAY'S A BIG DAY. FOR ME AS AN ORGANIZER DEDICATED TO DEMOCRACY REFORM, TODAY'S VOTE WILL DAKITATE HOW I SPEND THE NEXT FEW YEARS OF MY LIFE. IDEALLY, I WANT TO SPEND THAT TIME EDUCATING VOTERS ABOUT RANK CHOICE VOTING AND IMPLEMENTING A SYSTEM THAT SAVES TAXPAYER DOLLARS. IF THE VOTE DOESN'T GO OUR WAY, WE'LL STILL BEING ORGANIZING. RIGHT NOW, THE STATUS QUO WHICH INCLUDES THE POLITICAL CONSULTANTS TELLING YOU HOW TO VOTE ON THIS ISSUE BENEFIT FROM THE FACT THAT NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THAT IS CHANGING. OVER THE LAST YEAR WE'VE BUILT RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE ACROSS ALBUQUERQUE WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT OUR CITY AND THAT LIST IS GROWING. THE QUESTION BECOMES CAN WE FIND 200, 500 OR MORE VOTERS THAT ARE FRUSTRATED AND WANT THEIR TAXPAYER DOLLARS -- CAN WE FIND VOTERS WHO WANT MORE COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP AND MORE EFFICIENT USE OF OUR TAX PAPER DOLLARS? I BELIEVE THE ANSWER IS YES. EITHER WAY, THE WORK CONTINUES. I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO VOTE YES. THANK YOU. >> JAMES FOLLOWED BY MOLLY FOLLOWED BY BRENDA. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS. I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF ALBUQUERQUE. I'M A PROUD SUPPORTER OF RANK CHOICE VOTING. THE REASON RANK CHOICE VOTING, SPECIFICALLY RUNOFF ELECTION COSTS US $1.8 MILLION. MONEYY THAT COULD HAVE GONE TOWARD HOUSING, PUBLIC TRANSIT AND MORE. RANK CHOICE VOTING IS A STRONG WAY TO ENSURE THAT THE MAJORITY WINNER CAN WIN WITHOUT THE EXTRA COSTS THAT ARE BURDENED ON OUR CITY. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT CONSIDERING ALL THE TALKS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW OF OUR CURRENT BUDGET SHORTFALL. AT A TIME WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE ARE LOSING FAITH IN OUR GOVERNMENT AND IN OUR INSTITUTIONS, I BELIEVE WE CAN HAVE LOCAL ELECTIONS IN WHICH PEOPLE CAN TRUST ONE ANOTHER IN WHICH CANDIDATES CAN WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE THE REAL ISSUES THAT OUR YTIS FACING. I BELIEVE IT STARTS LOCALLY RIGHT HERE WITH RANK CHOICE VOTING. NOW, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MATTERS TO ME AND FOR SO MANY OTHERS IN THE CITY. THAT'S WHY I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT RANK CHOICE VOTING. THANK YOU. >> MOLLY FOLLOWED BY BRENDA FOLLOWED BY CILA. >> GOOD EVENING, I'M HERE AS A CITIZEN FROM DISTRICT NINE. THE DISCUSSION AROUND RANK CHOICE VOTING HAS GOTTEN UGLY WITH WELL FINANCED ELITES DISSEMINATING DISINFORMATION TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS ACROSS THE CITY. YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW MUCH RCV WOULD SAVE THE CITY. YOU TALK ABOUT SAVING CITY DOLLARS TONIGHT. YOU KNOW INSTANT RUNOFF WOULD SAVE THE HEADACHE OF ADDITIONAL CAMPAIGNING. IT ENSURES A WINNER IS SELECTED ON ELECTION DAY AND PEOPLE WOULDN'T HAVE TO SHIFT SCHEDULES TO PARTICIPATE IN A SECOND ELECTION. UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW THAT'S HOW THE POLITICAL MACHINE WANTS THINGS TO RUN HERE IN OUR CITY. THEY WANT TO MAKE AND SPEND MORE MONEY AND ALLOW MINORITY OF VOTERS TO CHOOSE WINNERS. A POLL FOUND NEARLY 60% OF ALBUQUERQUE VOTERS WANT RCV. VOTERS ARE READY FOR INSTANT RUNOFF. THEY'RE NOT AS DUMB AS YOU CLAIMED PUBLICLY. STAND WITH THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS AND VOTE YES ON RANK CHOICE VOTING. >> BRENDA FOLLOWED BY CILA FOLLOWED BY KRISTEN. >> [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]. [ SPEAKING SPANISH ]. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, I'M A RESIDENT AND FUTURE VOTER IN THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT. I WANT TO SHARE SOMETHING BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AS PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. IN RECENT YEARS I HAVE SEEN HOW THE ELECTIONS GOTTEN MORE EXPENSIVE AND NEGATIVE. THE LAST ELECTION COST A FORTUNE. I THINK THAT MONEY COULD BE SPENT ON THINGS WE USE, STREETS, PARKS AND SERVICES FOR FAMILIES. THAT'S WHY I'M INTERESTED IN RANK CHOICE VOTEING. IT'S A PRACTUAL CAY TO CHOSE A WINNER. IT MAKES CAMPAIGNS MORE POSITIVE BECAUSE CANDIDATES HAVE TO SEEK BROADER SUPPORT, NOT JUST ATTACK EACH OTHER. I WANT LEADERS WHO LISTEN TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND WORK RESPONSIBLY. THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT TO ME. >> CILA FOLLOWED BY KRISTEN FOLLOWED BY TERRY. >> GOOD EVENING, I'M A DISTRICT TWO VOTER. I'M HERE TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH VOTERS. VOTERS WHO DON'T WANT POLITICAL ELITES, CAMPAIGN MANAGER TELLING US HOW TO RUN ELECTIONS. CAMPAIGN MANAGERS MAKE MORE MONEY IN RUNOFF WHETHER IT'S PRIVATELY OR PUBLICLY FUNDED BY TAXPAYERS. IN A MOMENT WHERE ALBUQUERQUE IS $35 MILLION BEHIND IN THE BUDGET WE NEED TO STOP WASTING MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN ELECTIONS. WE ARE THE ONES WHO CARRY THE BURDEN. THE SAME PEOPLE WHO CLAIM RCV BRINGS DARK MONEY INTO POLITICS BEGGED FOR CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS. THIS BILL IS SUPPORTED BY YOUR VOTERS, YOUR CAMPAIGN MANAGER'S OPINION SHOULDN'T MATTER. THIS BILL IS A SOLID SOLUTION TO ALL THE PROBLEMS. VETERANS ALSO SUPPORT THIS BILL AND WE HOPE YOU VOTE YES. >> KRISTEN FOLLOWED BY TERRY FOLLOWED BY JUSTIN. >> HI. FOUR MONTHS AGO, ALBUQUERQUE SPENT $1.8 MILLION ON YET ANOTHER RUNOFF ELECTION. IN THE LAST NINE YEARS WE'VE HAD A RUNOFF ELECTION EVERY TWO YEARS. FIVE RUNOFFS, RANK CHOICE VOTING SAVES MORE MONEY AND IS MORE FAIR. IT PREVENTS VOTERS FROM BEING DISENFRANCHISED. CONTRARY TO OBJECTION, SELECTING ONLY A FIRST CHOICE IS COMPLETELY VALID UNDER RCV. IT'S EQUIVALENT TO NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE RUNOFF. IT'S A CONSCIOUS DECISION AND NOT AN ACCIDENT. RANK CHOICE VOTING IS NON-PARTISAN. NOVEMBER 2025 ROSWELL ELECTED A DEMOCRAT MAYOR. RCV PRESERVED PLURALITY WHILE REMOVING -- ROSWELL WOULD HAVE GREATLY BENEFITTED FROM RCV. INCUMBENTS ARE ELECTED AT SIMILAR RATES. NATIONALLY ONLY 6% OF ELECTIONS UNDER RCV HAVE A -- [ LOUD BEEPING ]. >> TERRY FOLLOWED BY JUSTIN FOLLOWED BY ROSALINDA. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT. I'M A DISTRICT NINE VOTER AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR AT NM VOTERS. A NON-PARTISAN VOTER ENGAGEMENT GROUP. I WANT TO SHARE HISTORY OF HOW WE GOT HERE. IN 2019, A GROUP OF CONCERNED VOTERS BROUGHT THIS POLICY TO THEIR COUNCILORS IN DISTRICTS TWO, FOUR AND SIX. WHICH LED TO THE INTRODUCTION OF RCV BILL THEN. DESPITE DOZENS OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC VOICING SUPPORT, COUNCIL VOTED AGAINST IT. IN 2024 COUNCILOR LEWIS AND COUNCILOR PEÑA INTRODUCED A BILL TO ESTABLISH PLURALITY ELECTIONS WHERE MOST VOTES WIN. COUNCILOR PEÑA, I RECALL YOU POINTING OUT OUR CURRENT RUNOFF SYSTEM WAS INEFFECTIVE AND DISCRIMINATORY. I AGREE. I THINK COUNCILOR ROGERS, COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN, AND COUNCILOR BACA FOR BACKING AN AMENDMENT TO INTRODUCE RCV AS A SOLUTION TO OUR TRADITIONAL RUNOFF AND THE DOZENS OF PUBLIC COMMENTERS AT THAT TIME WHO SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF RCV. HERE WE ARE AGAIN, THROUGH THE END OF 2025 UP UNTIL TODAY VOTERS HAVE BEEN VOICING THEIR DESIRE FOR RCV. >> JUSTIN FOLLOWED BY ROSALINDA FOLLOWED BY JOE. >> CAN I USE THE OVERHEAD AGAIN? JUST BRINGING BACK MY LITTLE STATISTICS. TO MAKE THE POINT THAT SIX OF THE LAST SEVEN RUNOFF ELECTION THE CANDIDATE WHO EVENTUALLY WON DID NOT GET A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES CAST IN THE GENERAL ELECTION. THE AMOUNT THEY GOT WAS LESS THAN 50% OF THE NUMBER. IN FACT, THEY GOT FEWER VOTES THAN THEY DID IN THE GENERAL. THEY WENT DOWN, BUT WON THE ELECTION. I THINK WE ASK FOR BETTER WAY. INSTANT RUNOFF IS A GREAT WAY TO HAVE THE SAME TURNOUT AS THE GENERAL. EVERYBODY EXCEPT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T FILL OUT THE BALLOT COMPLETELY. I LIKE TO SAY IT'S NOT THAT COMPLICATED. ALL WE'RE ASKING IS WHEN TWO CANDIDATES -- LEADER HAS MAJORITY, WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE, IT COULD BE ONE CANDIDATE OR FOUR OTHERS, WE'RE ASKING THOSE FOLKS WHO DO YOU WANT OUT OF THE TWO AND WHOEVER IS AHEAD ON THE BALLOTS IS GOING TO END UP WINNING. AS SOMEONE ELSE SAID, YOU DON'T HAVE TO FILL OUT THE WHOLE BALLOT. YOU CAN FILL OUT YOUR NUMBER ONE CHOICE AND THE PERSON YOU THINK THE FRONT-RUNNER IS THERE. >> ROSALINDA FOLLOWED BY JOE FOLLOWED BY GRACE. JOE FOLLOWED BY GRACE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINA. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. RUNOFF ELECTION COST CLOSE TO $5 MILLION OVER THE LAST DECADE. I GUESS I THINK OF THAT IS MONEY WE COULD FUND OUR SOLID WASTE WORKERS WHO NEED A RAISE. WE COULD FUND HOUSING VOUCHERS. WE COULD FUND BASIC COMMUNITY SERVICES LIKE KEEPING OUR TEENS ON A GOOD PATH AND HAVING OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS COMMUNITY CENTERS. ANY TIME THERE'S A CHANCE TO REALLY TAKE OUR MONEY AND USE IT WISELY AND RESPONSIBLE, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD DO. I THINK ANY HARDWORKING RESIDENT OF ALBUQUERQUE FEELS THAT WAY. I'LL CLOSE BY SAYING I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY MYSTERY HERE. INSTANT RUNOFF ARE A STRAIGHTFORWARD AND SIMPLE SYSTEM TO GET BEHIND. I THINK THIS COUNCIL SHOULD PASS IT. THANK YOU. >> GRACE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINA FOLLOWED BY MARTIN. >> COUNCILORS, I COME FOR YOU AS A POLITICAL CONSULTANT THAT SUPPORTS RANK CHOICE VOTING, ALSO COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS INSTANT RUNOFF. THE DATA IS CLEAR, ZERO PERCENT OF INCUMBENTS HAVE LOST AFTER ADOPTING RANKCHOICE VOTING. WE'VE WASTED $4.6 MILLION OVER THE SIX PAST RUNOFF. AND IN A BUDGET CRISIS SUCH AS OURS EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS. LET'S TELL THE TRUTH IF WE'RE GOING TO WARN ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF INSTANT RUNOFF. THEY DISCOURAGE TOXIC SCORCHED EARTH STRATEGIES AND ENCOURAGE COALITION BUILDING, CIVIL CAMPAIGNING AND BROADER VOTER ENGAGEMENT. UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF MY PEERS HAVE CHOSEN TO PEDAL FALSE NARRATIVES TO PROTECT A BROKEN SYSTEM THAT MAKES THEM RICHER. INSTANT RUNOFF SAVES MONEY, STRENGTHEN ELECTION AND FOCUSES ON THE PEOPLE. AS A POLITICAL CONSULTANT I AM ANOT THREATENED. I'M NOT AFRAID OF MISSING OUT AN A PAYCHECK BECAUSE RUNOFF ARE IMPLEMENTED. [ LOUD BEEPING ]. >> CHRISTINA FOLLOWED BY MARTIN, FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL. >> HELLO, MADAM PRESIDENT. I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE. DISTRICT FIVE. I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. AND I BELIEVE RANK CHOICE VOTING IS EFFICIENT, FAIR AND EASY. THE $1.8 MILLION TAXPAYER DOLLAR, PLUS TIME AND RESOURCES SPENT ON THE RUNOFF COULD HAVE BEEN USED FOR OUR CITY AND MANY MORE POSITIVE WAYS. INSTANT RUNOFF WILL SOLVE THIS. PLEASE PASS RANK CHOICE ORDINANCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF ALBUQUERQUE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. >> MARTIN FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM. >> I'VE BEEN SITTING DOWN FOR A LONG TIME. MADAM PRESIDENT, CITY COUNCILORS, I LIVE AND VOTE IN DISTRICT FIVE. AS YOU'VE HEARD RANK CHOICE VOTING HAS MANY BENEFITS LIKE ELIMINATING EXPENSIVE RUNOFF AND INCREASING VOTER TURNOUT. BUT AS IT STANDS NOW, I SOMETIMES HAVE TO VOTE TWICE ANYWAY. GENERAL ELECTION AND RUNOFF WEEKS LATER. I END UP SELECTING MY SECOND CHOICE. I DON'T SEE MUCH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND AN INSTANT RUNOFF. SAME CHOICES IN ONE PLACE. IT'S WORKING IN SANTA FE, LAS CRUCES AND HERE IN THE CITY COUNCIL. PLEASE PASS RANK CHOICE VOTING FOR ALBUQUERQUE. THANK YOU. >> MICHAEL FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM FOLLOWED BY ALTHEA. WILLIAM FOLLOWED BY ALTHEA FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, REST OF COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK. I'LL BE VERY BRIEF. I WANT TO MAKE THREE DIFFERENT POINTS. FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE NOT DISENFRANCHISE OUR VETERANS IN ALBUQUERQUE WHO LIVE OVERSEAS AND CANNOT VOTE IN THE SECTION -- SECOND ELECTION. THAT'S HIGHLY UNFAIR TO ME. AS SOMEONE POINTED OUT ALREADY, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT RANK CHOICE VOTING FAVORS THE INCUMBENT OR NON-INCUMBENT. THE DATA SHOWS THE INCOMDANTS ARE ELECTED AT THE SAME RATE IN RANK CHOICE AND GENERAL ELECTION. THE THIRD POINT IS I SPENT TIME IN NORTHERN MAINE. THEY HAVE RANK CHOICE VOTING. I'M DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT YOU THINK THE CITIZENS OF ALBUQUERQUE ARE UNABLE TO DO RANK CHOICE VOTING WHERE THE CITIZENS OF NORTHERN MAINE ARE ABLE TO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ALTHEA FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH FOLLOWED BY DENISE. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, TEN REASONS FOR RANK CHOICE VOTING RANKED. RANKING IS HARD. TWO BENEFITS FROM -- SANTA FE AND LAS CRUCES WHERE IT'S A SUCCESS. CANDIDATES ACROSS CAMPAIGNING ALWAYS ADORABLE. SIX, SPREADING THE RESOURCES. I KNOW YOU ALREADY VOTED FOR JUNE ONCE. DID YOU VOTE TWICE? DID YOU VOTE THIS WEEK. WE'RE GOING TO NEED YOU TO VOTE AGAIN. NUMBER FOUR, I WOULD VOTE FOR JANE DOE, BUT JOHN DOE RAISED MORE DOUGH. NUMBER THREE, I'M TIRED OF ATTACK ADS. IMAGINE SERVING OVERSEAS BUT YOUR VOTE DOESN'T COUNT BECAUSE THERE ISN'T ENOUGH TIME TO GET YOUR BALLOT BACK. NUMBER ONE, I THINK CAN THINK OF 1.8 MILLION OTHER WAYS TO SPEND $1.8 MILLION. >> JOSEPH FOLLOWED BY DENISE FOLLOWED BY SILLLEN. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILORS. I'M GOING TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO RANK CHOICE VOTING. I'LL BUCK THE TREND OF THE FOLKS THAT SEEM TO BE BEHIND ME. I THINK IT IS WRONG. I DON'T THINK IT GIVES VOICE TO AS MANY VOTERS AS YOU THINK. AND ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED IS THAT BALLOTS BEING EXHAUSTED. THE PROCESS IT'S DESCRIBED IF A PERSON DOESN'T SUBMIT ENOUGH VOTES AS IT GOES THROUGH THE MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF ELIMINATION, THAT BALLOT IS EXHAUSTED. THEREFORE THAT PERSON'S VOIT DON'T COUNT. IF YOU TALK ABOUT DISENFRANCHISEMENT, TELL PEOPLE THEIR VOTES DON'T COUNT AND THEY WON'T SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> DENISE FOLLOWED BY STARLEN FOLLOWED BY JACOB. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, I AM HERE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION OF RANK CHOICE VOTING. AT THE TIME WHEN INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS ARE IN QUESTION, I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE. I DON'T WANT ANYBODY CHANGING MY VOTE BEHIND THE SCENES. I WANT MY VOTE TO COUNT FOR WHO I WANT IT TO BE. THANK YOU. >> STARLEN FOLLOWED BY JACOB FOLLOWED BY JAMES. >> GOOD EVENING. I AM A RESIDENT OF LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CENTRAL NEW MEXICO. I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF RANK CHOICE VOTING. THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SUPPORT ELECTORAL SYSTEMS THAT STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY, EXPAND VOTER PARTICIPATION, AND ENSURE ELECTION OUTCOMES REFLECT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS. WE BELIEVE RANK CHOICE VOTING CAN STRENGTHEN ELECTIONS. IT ENCOURAGES GREATER VOTER PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT BY ALLOWING VOTERS TO EXPRESS THEIR FULL PREFERENCES. IT REDUCES SPOILER EFFECT, ALLOWING VOTERS TO SUPPORT THE CANDIDATES THEY TRULY PREFER WITHOUT FEAR THAT THEIR VOTE WILL BE WASTED. AND IT ENCOURAGES MORE CANDIDATES TO RUN WHILE PROMOTING MORE CONSTRUCTIVE CAMPAIGN THAT APPEAL TO A BROADER RANGE OF VOTERS. THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS REMAINS COMMITTED [ LOUD BEEP ]. >> JAMES FOLLOWED BY JOHN, FOLLOWED BY KARINA. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO RESIDE IN AUSTRALIA FROM 197 # -- 1979 TO THE MID19990s. THEY IMPLEMENTED RANK CHOICE VOTING IN 1918. THEY MANAGED FOR HALF A CENTURY WITHOUT COMPUTERS AND WITHOUT VOTING MACHINES TO BE A FIRST-WORLD AND PROMINENT DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY. USING THE SYSTEM THEY CALL PREF PREJUDICIAL VOTING. THEY ARE PROSPEROUS AND MODERN DEMOCRACY. THEIR COEFFICIENT OF INCOME INEQUALITY PLACES THEM BETWEEN SWITZERLAND AND PORTUGAL. THE UNITED STATES SITS BETWEEN NEW BEGA THEY DON'T HAVE POST ELECTION INSURECTION. THEY'RE NOT A GLOBAL MILITARY POWER. BUT THEIR DEMOCRACY HAS ALLOWED THEM TO DELIVER HEALTH INSURANCE. [ LOUD BEEP ]. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT. MY NAME IS JOHN. I'M A RESIDENT OF CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR. I'M HERE REPRESENTING CONSERVATION VOTERS NEW MEXICO AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS ALL ACROSS ALBUQUERQUE IN EVERY DISTRICT. RANK CHOICE IS A WINNER FOR ALBUQUERQUE. CHIEF AMONG THOSE IS HOW MUCH TIME AND MONEY IT WILL SAVE US. -- OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS SHOULD FUND OUR SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, COMMUNITIES. NOT RUNOFF ELECTIONS WHEN THERE'S A BETTER ALTERNATIVE. RUNNING TWO ELECTIONS, WHEN ONE WOULD SUFFICE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. IT WOULD SAVE MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS. WITH THE INSTANT RANK CHOICE WE CAN PUT THE MONEY BACK INTO COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS. IT'S SIMPLE AND NOT CONFUSING. IT'S THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO. THANK YOU. >> CARINA FOLLOWED BY SHANNON FOLLOWED BY DANIEL. SHANNON FOLLOWED BY DANIEL FOLLOWED BY MERCEDES. >> GOOD EVENING, I'M SHANNON. AND I AM HERE TO URGE YOU TO ADOPT RANK CHOICE VOTING. THE REASON RUNOFF COST TAXPAYERS UNNECESSARILY. THAT'S MONEY THAT COULD GO TO ROADS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, AND TRANSIT AS WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT. I'M ASKING FOR YOU TO SUPPORT RANK CHOICE SO WE CAN BUILD BROADER SUPPORT. AS A DISTRICT FOUR VOTER IT'S IMPORTANT WE HAVE THE LEADERSHIP AND COALITION BUILDING THAT ALLOWS FOR NON-PARTISAN SOLUTIONS. IT ALIGNS WITH ALBUQUERQUE'S INDEPENDENT SPIRIT. WE WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT ALBUQUERQUE IS THE BEST IT BE. CANDIDATES THAT APPEAL NOT JUST TO THE BASE BUT TO A BROADER CROSS SECTION OF ALBUQUERQUE. WE NEED MORE LISTENING AND COLLABORATION AND FEWER INCENTIVES FOR DIVISIVE CAMPAIGNING. RANK CHOICE IS NOT WHO CHANGING WHO WINS. IT'S ABOUT STRENGTHENING VOTING FOR ALBUQUERQUE. >> MERCEDES, FOLLOWED BY JOSEPH FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I AM A DISTRICT THREE VOTER. I'M LOOKING FOR LEADERS THAT PRIORITIZE COLLABORATION, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS. THE RECENT RUNOFF COST TAXPAYERS $1.8 MILLION AND RCV IS AN EFFICIENT WAY TO ENSURE A MAJORITY WINNER WITHOUT ADDITIONAL COSTS. AS A YOUNG LATINA I CAN TELL YOU IN MY COMMUNITY PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED AND THOUGHTFUL VOTERS. I'M CERTAIN THAT THEY WOULD WELCOME THE CHANCE TO RANK CANDIDATES IN A SINGLE ELECTION RATHER THAN HAVING TO RETURN TO THE BALLOT BOX. I CARE ABOUT SEEING POSITIVE AND PRACTICAL CHANGES IN OUR LOCAL ELECTIONS. I ALSO CARE ABOUT POSITIVE CAMPAIGNING AND LESS DIVISION IN OUR LOCAL ELECTION. RCV ENCOURAGES CANDIDATES TO BUILD BROADER SUPPORT AND CONNECT WITH VOTERS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MATTERS TO ME AND IT WILL INFLUENCE HOW I WILL VOTE IN THE FUTURE. >> JOSEPH FOLLOWED BY CATHERINE FOLLOWED BY GERALD. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS, I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT TWO. GIVEN THE CONCERNING BUDGETARY ISSUES THAT THE CITY IS FACING, LONG-TERM COST SAVINGS OF INSTANT RUNOFF MAKES PERFECT SENSE. RUNOFF ELECTIONS ARE NOT WASTEFUL, BUT FOR A FAMILY EXHAUSTING. THE NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING, WASTED HOURS, COMPOUNDING ANXIETY, THEY'RE ALL SOMETHING WE HAVE A CHANCE TO LEAVE BEHIND TODAY. SOME SAY WITH INSTANT RUNOFF IT'S A CONTUSING SYSTEM. WHEN SANTA FE ADOPTED IT IN 2018, 96% OF VOTERS CORRECTLY RANKED FOUR CANDIDATES. A SIGNIFICANT MAJORITY REPORTED THE SYSTEM IS UNDERSTANDABLE. I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE RESPECT THE CAPABILITIES OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS JUST AS SANTA FE AND LAS CRUCES DID. PLEASE VOTE YES ON AMENDED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> I'M CATHERINE. I OPPOSE RANK CHOICE VOTING BECAUSE I'M A TRADITIONAL PERSON. IT'S HOW I WAS RAISED. BUT, AS A PERSON WHO VOLUNTEERED AT THE POLLS FOR THE LAST EIGHT ELECTIONS, AS A POLL WATCHER AND CHALLENGER, I CAN TELL YOU PEOPLE WALK INTO THE POLLS AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO DO IT THE WAY WE DO IT. THEY ARE UNINFORMED. THIS EDUCATION PROCESS IS GOING TO BE VERY GOOD. AND LENGTHY. AND PEOPLE STILL WILL NOT KNOW HOW TO DO IT WHEN THEY WALK IN THE DOOR. AND EACH CLERK IS GOING TO HAVE TO TELL THEM EXACTLY HOW TO DO IT. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EDUCATE THEM. AND EVEN -- I THINK TOO THAT WHEN I VOTE MY VOTE I WANT TO MAKE SURE [ LOUD BEEP ]. >> GERALD FOLLOWED BY ADEO FOLLOWED BY KELLY. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, I'LL KEEP IT SIMPLE. RANK CHOICE VOTING IS GOING TO HAVE UNNECESSARY LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY TO A SIMPLE PROCESS. WE ALL KNOW ONE VOTE, ONE PERSON. IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT A LOT TOUGHER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> ADEO FOLLOWED BY KELLY, FOLLOWED BY RALPH. >>COUN. PEÑA: BEFORE YOU START, IT WAS YOU I SHOULD HAVE GIVEN THE WARNING TOO. >> RANK CHOICE VOTING ENCOURAGES MODERATION. IT ENCOURAGES CIVILITY. AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ABOUT IT. SO, ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE, ONE ELECTION. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO AGREE ON THESE THINGS. AND UPSETTING THAT PEOPLE THINK THEIR VOTE IS BEING DILUTED WHEN THEY CHOOSE TO RANK ADDITIONAL PEOPLE. ALSO, IN NEW YORK CITY, IT WORKED OUT REALLY GREAT BECAUSE IT HELPED BUILD INCREDIBLE ALLIANCES THAT PUT THAT CITY FAR AHEAD. >> KELLY FOLLOWED BY RALPH FOLLOWED BY KIMBERLEY. RALPH FOLLOWED BY KIMBERLEY FOLLOWED BY DAVID. KIMBERLEY FOLLOWED BY DAVID FOLLOWED BY MAHER. >> GIVE ME ONE SECOND. GOOD EVENING. I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO RANK CHOICE VOTING. MY CONCERN IS NOT ABOUT POLITICAL PARTIES OR CANDIDATES BUT KEEPING OUR ELECTIONS SIFRMAL, TRANSPARENT AND EASY FOR EVERY VOTER TO UNDERSTAND. OUR CURRENT SYSTEM IS CLEAR. -PERSON WITH THE MOST VOTES WINS. EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS IT. RESULTS COME BACK QUICKLY AND VOTERS KNOW THEIR BALLOT COUNTED. JUST THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELS. RANK CHOICE VOTING CHANGES THAT INTO A MULTIROUND COUNTING SYSTEM WHERE BALLOTS CAN BE THROWN OUT IF THE VOTERS CANDIDATES ARE ELIMINATED. THE MEANS SOME OF THE VOTES DO NOT COUNT. IT ALSO COSTS MORE TO IMPLEMENT AND REQUIRES NEW VOTER EDUCATION AND DELAYS IT FOR DAYS OR WEEKS. I DON'T THINK OUR CITY NEEDS COMPLICATED AND EXPENSIVE WAYS TO VOTE WHEN YOUR CURRENT SYSTEM WORKS AND IS EASY FOR VOTERS TO UNDERSTAND AND TRUST. ELECTIONS SHOULD BE SIMPLE, TRANSPARENTS AND EASY TO TRUST. WITH ONLY 25 TO 30% OF ALBUQUERQUE SHOWING UP -- [ LOUD BEEP ]. >> DAVID FOLLOWED BY MARA FOLLOWED BY MEGAN ON ZOOM. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, CITY COUNCIL, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. IT'S BEEN MANY, MANY YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. I REMEMBER WHEN THEY SAID COME TO THE VINCENT E. GRIEGO CHAMBERS. IT'S AN ISSUE THAT IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT AS A NATIVE AMERICAN AND AS A FIRST NATIONS, I AM IN OPPOSITION OF THIS BECAUSE IF IT DOESN'T WORK IN THE TRIBE, IT WILL NOT WORK IN GOVERNMENT NOW. I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS DEAD HORSE HAS BEEN DRUG BEFORE THIS COUNCIL MANY TIMES. AND I THINK AFTER THIS TIME WE SHOULD TAKE UNDER GREAT CONSIDERATION THAT TODAY WE SHOULD PUT AN END TO THIS COMING TO THIS COUNCIL YEAR AFTER YEAR. I BELIEVE YOUR TIME IS VERY, VERY EXTRAORDINARY AND THERE ARE PROJECTS AND THINGS THAT NEED TO BE WEIGHED UPON. THAT IS LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC TELL YOU THIS IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. I HAVE ONE GREAT THING TO SAY. THIS IS NOT SANTA FE. THIS IS NOT LAS CRUCES. THIS IS NOT MAINE. THIS IS NOT ANYWHERE. THIS IS ALBUQUERQUE. I ENTRUST THAT YOU WILL STAND STRONG TO VOTE AGAINST THIS TODAY BECAUSE I KNOW EACH [ LOUD BEEP ]. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT, AND CITY COUNCIL, I AM HERE TO OPPOSE RANK CHOICE VOTING. I ATTENDED A MEETING IN SANTA FE SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, A QUALIFIED SPEAKER PRESENTED A LESSON IN RANK CHOICE VOTING. EVEN THOUGH THE MATERIAL WAS WELL PRESENTED, I CANNOT REALLY EXPLAIN IT ALL TO YOU NOW. I KNOW COUNCILOR ROGERS GAVE A VERY NICE EXPLANATION BUT I THINK JUST THE FACT THAT WE NEED FURTHER AND MORE EXPLANATION SHOULD TELL YOU SOMETHING CAN YOU ALL EXPLAIN IT TO OTHERS AND HOW THIS VOTE IS CALCULATED? IT'S USING MATH AND STATISTICS IN A VERY STRANGE WAY TO COMPLICATE VOTING AND CAN LEAD TO VOTER CONFUSION, A LACK OF VOTER CONFIDENCE AND THE RESULTING FINAL WINNER NOT [ LOUD BEEP ]. >> MEGAN FOLLOWED BY ELEN FOLLOWED BY REGINA. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I SUPPORT RANK CHOICE VOTING. I URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR RANK CHOICE VOTING. MOST PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND -- I THINK PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND PUTTING CANDIDATES IN ORDER OF HOW MUCH THEY LIKE THEM. ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE TOLD IF YOU ONLY LIKE ONE PERSON YOU CAN ONLY PUT ONE PERSON. I DON'T THINK IF YOU WENT UP TO EVERY PERSON IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AND ASKED THEM FOR THREE DOLLARS SINCE THE RUNOFF LAST YEAR COST $3 PER PERSON, IF YOU ASK FOR $3 AND EXPLAINED TO THEM I'M TAKING YOUR $3 TO MAKE YOU VOTE TWICE, AND YOU TOLD THEM AFTER THAT, BY THE WAY, PEOPLE WHO ARE ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE MILITARY DON'T GET TO VOTE SO YOU'RE PAYING EXTRA TO NOT LET PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY VOTE, I DON'T THINK THAT FLIES. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE RANK CHOICE VOTING. THANK YOU. >> RANK CHOICE VOTING IS A SIMPLE CHANGE THAT MAKE OUR DEMOCRACY MORE FAIR AND CIVIL AND MORE REPRESENTATIVE. I'M INSULTED THAT THE IDEA OF ALBUQUERQUE VOTERS AREN'T SMART ENOUGH TO USE RANK CHOICE VOTING. HOW HARD IS IT TO ANSWER WHO IS YOUR FIRST CHOICE AND SECOND CHOICE AND SO ON. WE ALREADY MAKE MORE COMPLICATED DECISIONS EVERY DAY. IN THE PAST I HAVE NOT VOTED FOR MY TRUE FIRST CHOICE BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE A CANDIDATE ACCEPTABLE TO ME WOULD QUALIFY FOR THE RUNOFF. RANK CHOICE VOTING FIXES THAT. I CAN RNG THE CANDIDATE I LIKE BEST WITHOUT WORRYING I AM WASTING MY VOTE OR ACCIDENTLY HELPING ELECT THE PERSON I LIKE LEAST. THE SYSTEM ENCOURAGES POSITIVE CAMPAIGNING. BECAUSE CANDIDATES NEED NOT ONLY APPEAL TO BASE BUT SECOND AND THIRD SUPPORT FOR OTHER VOTERS. IT OPENS THE -- GENUINELY MAJORITY BACKING. >> REGINA FOLLOWED BY MARSLEN FOLLOWED BY DAVID. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS. I'M A CONSTITUENT OF COUNCILOR ROGERS. THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS THAT UNITES AS AMERICANS REQUIRE WE PARTICIPATE IN VOTING AND DEMAND FAIR AND ACCESSIBLE VOTING PROCESSES. SIMPLIFYING VOTING BY ADOPTING THE RANK CHOICE VOTING PROCESS WILL INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION AND DECREASE EXPENSES DRAMATICALLY. I'M RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING YOU PASS RANK CHOICE VOTING. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR ALBUQUERQUE. >> MARSLEN, FOLLOWED BY DAVID, FOLLOWED BY HANNAH. >> I JUST WANT THE COUNCILORS TO -- AND THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WHO STAYED UNTIL 10:00 P.M. ON A MONDAY, PUTTING ALL THE THINGS ASIDE IN THEIR LIVES TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS THING. THIS MATTERS TO PEOPLE. THIS IS IMPORTANT. THIS BRINGS DEMOCRACY TO US. IT MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER. IT'S A SIMPLE THOUGHT TO RANK CHOICE. FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT WANT ONE CHOICE, YOU CAN PUT IN ONE CHOICE. IT SAVES US MONEY. IT FEELS LIKE A NO-BRAINER. I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE SOME COUNCILORS ARE WORRIED WHEN WE ADOPT THIS SYSTEM THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE IT. WHO KNOWS? I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS. THIS IS CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT. IT JUST MAKES SENSE. IT MAKES SENSE. >> DAVID FOLLOWED BY HANNAH FOLLOWED BY MONET. DAVID. WE'RE NOT HEARING YOUR AUDIO. I'LL TRY TO COME BACK TO YOU. WE'LL GO TO HANNAH FOLLOWED BY MONET FOLLOWED BY PAUL. >> GOOD EVENING. I AM A VOTER IN DISTRICT SIX. I LIVED IN ALBUQUERQUE FOR ALMOST 24 YEARS. AND IF THERE'S ONE THING I KNOW ABOUT ALBUQUERQUE, IT'S THAT WE LOVE TO BELIEVE WE ARE LEADERS IN THE STATE. HOWEVER, SANTA FE AND LAS CRUCES ARE LEADING THE STATE BY HAVING RANK CHOICE VOTING. WE NEED TO CATCH UP. AND WE NEED TO REASSERT OUR LEADERSHIP AND BEGIN TO LEAD THE COUNTRY AS A MEDIUM-SIZED CITY WITH RANK CHOICE VOTING. THAT'S HOW I FEEL. I HOPE THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THIS BILL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MONET FOLLOWED BY PAUL FOLLOWED BY DIANE. >> GOOD EVENING, MADAM PRESIDENT COUNCILORS. WE MADE IT. WE'RE ALMOST THERE. JUST HAVE TO HOLD ON. I'M THE POLITICAL DIRECTOR OF OLE. OUR MEMBERS WHO ARE WORKING PEOPLE CALL FOR A VOTING SYSTEM THAT SERVES US. RANK CHOICE VOTING. THE CURRENT RETURNOFF SYSTEM DOES NOT SERVE WORKING FAMILIES. LAST YEAR'S ELECTIONS FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE AND THREE IS PROJECTED TO COST ALBUQUERQUE TAXPAYERS $1.6 MILLION. THESE FUNDS COULD BE BETTER USED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, STREET REPAIRS, PARK IMPROVEMENT AND YOUTH SERVICES. AS A CITY WE SHOULD NOT ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO UNNECESSARY RUNOFF ELECTIONS WHEN A BETTER SYSTEM EXISTS. RUNOFF ELECTION NOT ONLY WASTE MONEY BUT REDUCE VOTER PARTICIPATION. IN THE 2025 MAYORAL TURNOUT WAS 5,191 VOTES LOWER THAN THE GENERAL ELECTION. WE URGE DO PASS ON THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. >> PAUL FOLLOWED BY DIANE FOLLOWED BY THERESA. >> PRESIDENT, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M A VOTER IN DISTRICT TWO. EVERY CITY COUNCIL AND MAYORAL ELECTION RESULTED IN A RUNOFF ELECTION. IT'S COSTING CITY TAXPAYERS MONEY. MOST RECENTLY $1.8 MILLION. THIS IS A RIDICULOUS WASTE OF TAXPAYER FUND. -- IT COULD GO TOWARD AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TRANSIT. AS A POLL WORKER IN THE 2025 CITY ELECTION I SAW REDUCTION IN VOTER FRAUD FIRSTHAND. VOTER TURNOUT -- WITH RANK CHOICE VOTING MY CHOICES COUNT ALL THE WAY TO THE FINAL TALLY WHICH IS THE HALLMARK OF DEMOCRACY. THE FEAR RANK CHOICE VOTING IS TOO COMPLICATED IS FALSE. EVERY DAY PEOPLE MAKE RANKED CHOICES IN PREFERENCES OF WHAT TO MAKE FOR DINNER OR WHAT TO WEAR TO WORK. DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY IN ALBUQUERQUE. VOTE YES FOR RANK CHOICE VOTING. THANK YOU. >> DIANE FOLLOWED BY THERESA FOLLOWED BY DAVID. >> YES, MADAM PRESIDENT. COUNCILORS. I WANT TO BRING UP A POINT THAT HASN'T BEEN BROUGHT UP BY ANYBODY ELSE SPEAKING ABOUT THIS. IT'S ABOUT TAKING AWAY PARTISANSHIP. WHEN YOU HAVE RANK CHOICE VOTING, YOU DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR PARTY PRESSURING YOU ON WHO TO VOTE FOR. YOU JUST PICK WHO YOU LIKE AND YOU RANK THEM. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE UP FOR ELECTION NEXT YEAR. TWO DEMOCRATS, AND TWO REPUBLICAN. I'M A VOTER IN DISTRICT EIGHT. AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I'M NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO VOTE FOR WHOEVER I'M PRESSURED FOR. AND I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT. ON TOP OF THAT, I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE IN THE MILITARY AND AS SOMEBODY WHO IS EXTREMELY PATRIOTIC, THIS IS DISENFRANCHISING THEM. >> THERESA FOLLOWED BY DAVID. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILORS. I'M HERE TODAY IN SUPPORT OF RANK CHOICE VOTING. AS A CANDIDATE IN DISTRICT THREE CITY COUNCIL RACE THAT WENT INTO THE RUNOFF I EXPERIENCED THE CHALLENGES OF THE ELECTION SYSTEM. IF WE HAD RANK CHOICE VOTING, THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. IT WOULD NOT HAVE GONE TO COSTLY RUNOFFS THAT COST THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. THOSE ARE THINGS THAT COULD HAVE GONE TO SUPPORT CITY EMPLOYEES WITH WAGE INCREASE THEY DESERVE AND ADDRESS REAL NEEDS IN DISTRICT THREE LIKE DIRT ROADS UNMAINTAINED AND SIDE PAP -- IT SAVES TAXPAYER DOLLARS TOO OFTEN CAMPAIGNS RELY ON DRIRTY TACTICS. EXCUSING POOR BEHAVIOR AS JUST POLITICS. THAT DOES NOT EXCUSE A SURVIVOR STORY TO GET VOTES. COME PAIN CONSULTANTS SHOULD NOT LIMIT THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY. RANK CHOICE VOTING ENCOURAGES COALITION BUILDING AND MORE TRANSPARENT PROCESS. I URGE YOUR TO SUPPORT RANK CHOICE VOTING AND IT'S ABOUT GIVING MORE MEANINGFUL VOTER ENGAGEMENT ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT THREE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> DAVID. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILORS. I'M URGING YOU TO VOTE NO ON RANK CHOICE VOTING. I'D LIKE TO ECHO WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER ABOUT BALLOT EXHAUSTION. LET'S SAY THERE'S FIVE CANDIDATES, AND OF THOSE TWO CANDIDATES THEY'RE ELIMINATED THE FIRST AND SECOND ROUND, THOSE CHOICES WILL NOT ME CONSIDERED FOR LATER ROUNDS OF TABILATION. THIS BALLOT EXHAUSTION LEADS TO CANDIDATES BEING ELECTED WHO WERE NOT THE FIRST CHOICE. THEREFORE, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE WINNING CANDIDATE WILL FALL SHORT OF AN ACTUAL MAJORITY ELIMINATING THE INFLUENCE OF MANY VOTERS. IN OTHER WORDS, THE CANDIDATE THAT DOES NOT RECEIVE MAJORITY OF VOTES COULD STILL WIN. I ALSO HAVE QUESTIONS AND SPECULATION ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF TRANSPARENCY. AND ALSO WITH RUNOFF, THE WINNER HAS A CLEAR MANDATE, WHICH I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE WITH RANK CHOICE VOTING. I URGE YOU TO VOTE NO. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. >>COUN. PEÑA: OKAY. ARE YOU SURE, MR. WILLIAMS? YES OR NO? GOT YOU ON THE RECORD. WE'RE NOW OPEN TO COUNCILORS. COUNCILOR LEWIS. >>COUN. LEWIS: MADAM PRESIDENT, THANK YOU. I WONDER IF MR. MARQUEZ WITH COMMON CAUSE, WOULD YOU MIND IF I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH YOU? JUST FOR THE PURPOSE OF HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT IT. I APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMENTERS HERE TONIGHT. AND EVERYBODY SHARING BOTH SIDES OF THIS. IT'S INTERESTING AND FASCINATING JUST READING AND STUDYING WAYS TO MAKE OUR ELECTIONS BETTER. CERTAINLY APPRECIATE NO MATTER WHAT YOU BELIEVE ON THIS, YOUR WILLINGNESS TO COME AND SHARE IT AND FIGHT FOR SOMETHING YOU BELIEVE IN. I JUST ASK YOU, MR. MARQUEZ BECAUSE YOU REPRESENT COMMON CAUSE AND YOU ACTUALLY SUPPORT RANK CHOICE VOTING. YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A GOOD WHILE? I MENTION ELCENTRO AND OLE WERE MENTIONED TONIGHT. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN ALBUQUERQUE DID NOT HAVE ANY BENCHMARK AS FAR AS -- IT WAS A MAJORITY VOTE. ALBUQUERQUE HAD A MAJORITY VOTE. IF THERE WERE TEN PEOPLE RUNNING AND YOU RECEIVED THE MOST VOTES, IT WAS THE MOST VOTES, THEN YOU WERE ELECTED. PLURALITY VOTING. MANY PEOPLE SUPPORTED CHANGE IN THAT TO A STANDARD OF 40%. AND PRETTY RECENTLY CHANGING THAT TO 50%. YOU ALL SUPPORTED THAT, CORRECT? TAKING IT OVER 50%? >> OVER 50%, YES. >>COUN. LEWIS: COMMON CAUSE WAS ACTIVE IN ENSURING YOU HAD A MAJORITY VOTE. AND YOU ALL DID THAT, AND IT'S BEEN MENTIONED TONIGHT AND OTHERS, THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE MAJORITY VOTE THAT LED TO A LOT OF OUR RUNOFF ELECTIONS. WE DIDN'T HAVE RUNOFF ELECTION WHEN THERE WAS PLURALITY VOTE. WE DIDN'T HAVE AS MANY WHEN THERE WAS 40%. BUT WE HAD THE CURRENT STATE THAT WE'RE IN IS BECAUSE OF THE 50% THAT YOU ALL ADVOCATED FOR. SO, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE YOU AT THE TIME WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE $1.8 MILLION THAT WE'RE SPENDING NOW ON RUNOFF ELECTIONS. SOMETHING YOU GUYS WERE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT, KNOWING THAT IT WOULD LEAD TO RUNOFF ELECTIONS WHERE WE SPEND LOT OF MONEY. >> WELL, I ONLY HAVE BEEN IN NEW MEXICO FOR A YEAR. >>COUN. LEWIS: THAT'S FAIR. I KNOW OTHERS IN YOUR ORGANIZATION THAT WERE PRETTY ADAMANTLY FIGHTING ABOUT IT. SOME HERE TONIGHT. ALSO, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO -- I THINK YOU ALL FOUGHT FOR THAT BECAUSE YOU WANTED -- YOU PUT THE STANDARD UP OF WE NEED TO HAVE NOT A PLURALITY BUT A MAJORITY. WE WANT PEOPLE TO GET ELECTED THAT HAVE OVER 50% OF THE VOTE. THERE WASN'T A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THE $1.8 MILLION OR SPENDING MORE MONEY. BUT THERE ALSO WAS A CONCERN ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING ELECTED WITH A MAJORITY VOTE. AND NOW, WITH RANK CHOICE VOTING, THERE ARE MANY SCENARIOS OF A RANK CHOICE VOTE THAT COULD LEAD, THAT WOULD LEAD, TO A PLURALITY OF SOMEONE WHO GETS ELECTED WITHOUT HAVING THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN THAT ELECTION. DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? >> YOU'RE SAYING WITH RANK CHOICE VOTING? >>COUN. LEWIS: WITH RANK CHOICE VOTING BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT BALLOTS ARE EXHAUSTED, LET'S SAY YOU HAVE 10,000 PEOPLE THAT VOTE, 3,000 OF THOSE ARE EXHAUSTED BY THE TIME YOU GET TO THE THIRD OR FOURTH CHOICE THAT ACTUALLY WINS IT. NOW YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT WINS THAT DID NOT GET THE MAJORITY OF ALL THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE ELECTION. YOU AGREE WITH THAT? >> I DO NOT. CAN I EXPLAIN FIRST OF ALL WHAT AN EXHAUSTED BALLOT IS. >>COUN. LEWIS: SURE. >> WITH RANK CHOICE VOTING, YOU RANK FIVE CANDIDATES. LET'S SAY IT'S FIVE. SOMEBODY WHO REALLY LIKES THREE CANDIDATES BUT YOU KNOW WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS EXTREME, THEY DON'T WANT THAT ANYBODY ELSE, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO RANK AS MANY AS THEY WANT. WE OBVIOUSLY RECOMMEND AS MANY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE VOICE. IN THE CASE SOMEBODY DOES NOT RANK ALL THE CANDIDATES, WHAT DOES HAPPEN IS THAT, LET'S SAY, THAT PERSON'S CANDIDATES ALL GOT ELIMINATED RIGHT? THAT IS WHAT AN EXHAUSTED BALLOT IS. BUT THAT IS BY DESIGN. THE PERSON IS CONSCIOUSLY MAKING A CHOICE TO NOT RANK ANY MORE PERSONS. THAT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF SOMEBODY JUST SKIPPING A RACE. SOMETIMES YOU SEE A RACE, SOMETIMES ONLY ONE PERSON SO IT DOESN'T MATTER. IF THERE'S TWO CANDIDATES AND YOU CHOOSE NOT TO VOTE IN THAT ELECTION, THAT IS THE SAME AS AN EXHAUSTED BALLOT. DOES THAT MEAN YOUR WHOLE BALLOT GETS THROWN OUT? OF COURSE NOT. IT MEANS YOU INTENTIONALLY CHOSE TO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THAT ELECTION IN THAT TABILATION PROCESS. LIKE I SAID, WE RECOMMEND PEOPLE TO RANK AS MANY AS YOU'RE ALLOWED BECAUSE THAT MEANS YOUR CHOICES END UP DROPPING OUT, THEN YOU STILL HAVE A SAY. BUT AN EXHAUSTED BALLOT IS A FEATURE. I KNOW THE OPPOSITION IS TRYING TO SOUND LIKE IT'S A BUG AND THEY TRY TO USE THE WORD THAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND. THERE'S NOTHING INTRINSICALLY WRONG WITH AN EXHAUSTED BALLOT BECAUSE THE PERSON IS CHOOSING ON THEIR OWN TO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THAT. BACK TO THE MAJORITY PART. IT IS EMBEDDED IN THE SYSTEM THAT YOU HAVE TO WIN WITH THE MAJORITY. WITH RANK CHOICE VOTING, YOU GO INTO INTO RUNOFF UNTIL THERE'S TWO CANDIDATES LEFT. SO, AT THAT POINT, IT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAVE IN TWO-PERSON ELECTION. ONE OF THEM GETS MAJORITY. TECHNICALLY, SOMEBODY CAN SPLIT IT. THAT WOULD NOT BE ANY DIFFERENT WITH THE CURRENT SYSTEM. >>COUN. LEWIS: AGAIN, I HAVE READ MANY SCENARIOS WHERE IT'S -- I THINK YOU DESCRIBE IT RIGHT THERE TOO. AT A CERTAIN POINT IN THE BALLOTING, AT A CERTAIN POINT, THERE ARE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NO LONGER A FACTOR IN WHO GETS ELECTED. IN MANY SCENARIOS, AND I STUDIED ON EVERY BIT OF IT, AND MANY SCENARIOS, THE PERSON WHO IS ELECTED WOULD NOT BE THE MAJORITY ELECTED. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME. THAT'S ACTUALLY -- BY THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE ENTIRE ELECTION. IN THE SAME WE HAVE A GENERAL ELECTION AND RUNOFF LIKE YOU SUPPORTED THE RUNOFFS FROM BEFORE. JUST WHAT YOU DESCRIBED RIGHT THERE, DO YOU THINK SOME PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING IT? >> NO. I THINK IT CAN BE EASILY EXPLAINED. ALSO, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE VOTERS THEMSELVES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH. THIS IS MORE PART OF THE TRAINING THAT THE FOLKS ADMINISTERING THE ELECTION -- IT MIGHT BE MORE USEFUL TO THEM. I THINK I WANT TO EDUCATE ON WHAT AN AN EXHAUSTED BALLOT IS. THERE'S MISINFORMATION AND THEY'RE TRYING TO USE IT AS A BAD WORD TO DEFER VOTERS FROM SUPPORTING IT. >>COUN. LEWIS: I'M CERTAINLY NOT TRYING TO SPREAD MISINFORMATION. I WANT TO UNDERSTAND IT. I'LL BE REAL HONEST, THERE'S THINGS IT'S TAKEN ME A WHILE TO UNDERSTAND IT. BEFORE I UNDERSTOOD IT, YOU PROBABLY -- I'M NOT SURE YOU'D CALL ME DUMB, MAYBE YOU WOULD. THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN IN NOVEMBER HAD AN ARTICLE, AND YOU WERE QUOTED IN THIS, COMMON CAUSE WAS, BUT THE TITLE IS NEARLY EIGHT YEARS LATER, RANK CHOICE VOTING STILL CAUSING CONFUSION AMONG THE ELECTORATE. IN THAT ARTICLE, IT'S PRETTY EXTENSIVE ARTICLE, I THINK THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN DID A GOOD JOB OF RESEARCH AND INTERVIEWED A TON OF PEOPLE. GOT LOT OF DATA. THEY FOUND AFTER EIGHT YEARS IN SANTA FE PEOPLE IN SANTA FE WERE STILL CONFUSED. SO, TONIGHT YOU HEARD PEOPLE THAT OPPOSED OR MAKE ACCUSATION THAT IF YOU OPPOSE RANK CHOICE VOTING THEN YOU'RE CALLING PEOPLE DUMB. I'M NOT CALLING THEM DUMB OR CONFUSED. I'M CERTAINLY NOT CALLING THEM CONFUSED, BUT THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICAN IS CALLING PEOPLE CONFUSED AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF VOTING USING RANK CHOICE VOTING IN SANTA FE. THEY INTERVIEWED PERSON AFTER PERSON AND CANDIDATES THAT SAID THEY'RE CONFUSED. AND YOU ALL WERE QUOTED IN THAT. MOLLY SWANK WAS QUOTED IN THAT. I HAPPENED TO READ THIS TONIGHT AS YOU WERE SPEAKING. AND SAID THAT COMMON CAUSE IS GOING TO SPEND A GOOD DEAL OF TIME OVER THE NEXT YEAR EDUCATING -- ACKNOWLEDGING REALLY, PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IT. THERE'S STILL SOME CONFUSION IN SANTA FE. SO, THAT'S THE REASON WHY AS AN ORGANIZATION WE'RE GOING TO DO MORE EDUCATION. I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU NEED TO DO EDUCATION ABOUT RANK CHOICE VOTING IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS SO EASILY UNDERSTOOD? EVEN TO THE POINT WHERE YOU ALL HAVE A CAMPAIGN THAT YOU DESCRIBE IN THIS ARTICLE THAT RELATES RANK CHOICE VOTING AND CHOICES THAT WE HAVE TO FOOD CHOICES IN NEW MEXICO. YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN IT IN A WAY THAT EVERYDAY PEOPLE ORDER FOOD. ALL OF US ORDER FOOD WHETHER IT'S GREEN CHILE OR RED CHILE. WHY GO THROUGH ALL THAT TROUBLE? WHY SPEND SO MUCH MONEY TO TRY TO REALLY EXPLAIN IT IF IT'S NOT COMPLICATED IN THE FIRST PLACE? >> SURE. YOU KNOW, I WOULD DEFINITELY AGREE THAT THINGS LIKE RANK CHOICE VOTING OR INSTANT RUNOFF ARE CONFUSING IN THE SENSE THAT ANYTHING IS CONFUSING WHEN YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT IT. WHEN YOU TALK TO YOUR EVERYDAY FOLK ON THE STREET WHO HAVE SO MANY THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT LIKE THE ECONOMY, EDUCATION AND ALL THESE THINGS, THEY'RE NOT SUPER POLITICALLY INVOLVED. THEY DON'T KNOW THE TERMS THAT ARE MORE IN USE IN ACADEMIC CIRCLES OR POLITICAL CIRCLES. WHEN YOU TELL THEM RANK CHOICE VOTING, INSTANT RUNOFF, THEY GO WHAT IS THAT? RIGHT? BUT THEY UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT. THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS. AND IN MY EXPERIENCE, I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT RANK CHOICE VOTING IN OPEN PRIMARIES FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. YOU KNOW, 99% OF THE TIME MOST PEOPLE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING THIS IS SOMETHING I DO. AND THIS IS WHY I DO EDUCATION WITH LEGO. PIZZA TACOS BEER. EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING. BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING YOU ALREADY DO. IF I ASKED YOU TO RANK YOUR TOP FIVE ARTISTS OR SONGS, WE SEE ALL THESE THINGS ALL THE TIME. WE JUST HAVEN'T CONNECTED THE TWO RANK CHOICE VOTING WITH SOMETHING YOU DO. THAT IS THE WORK THAT I'VE BEEN DOING. THAT'S IS THE WORK LOT OF OUR COALITION MEMBERS ARE DOING. I DEFINITELY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE DOES NEED TO BE MORE CONVERSATIONS AND EDUCATIONS. BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO DO IT. I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND TIME AND ENERGY EDUCATING VOTERS THAT THERE'S EVEN A RUNOFF ELECTION, THEN YOU MIGHT AS WELL SPEND THAT TIME AND ENERGY EDUCATING VOTERS ON RANK CHOICE VOTING ITSELF. IN MY EXPERIENCE, ONCE PEOPLE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, ONCE PEOPLE EXPERIENCE OH, HEY, MAYBE MY FIRST CHOICE DIDN'T WIN BUT MY SECOND ONE DID AND THEY GET A FEELING OF MY VOICE STILL MATTERS, THAT'S SUCH A POWERFUL FEELING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SPREAD OVER THE CITY AND OVER THE STATE. >>COUN. LEWIS: I DON'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF. I APPRECIATE YOU EXPLAINING THAT. I'M ASKING THAT TO YOU. I DON'T MEAN TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. ALSO, I WANTED TO EXPLAIN MY OPPOSITION. I WANTED TO YOU TO HEAR AN EXPLANATION, NOT JUST HEARING ME VOTE NO, BUT HAVE THE EXPLANATION I HAVE TO IT. IT'S NOT SOME OF THE STEREOTYPES AND THE THINGS YOU MIGHT THINK OF ME. IN FACT, RANK CHOICE VOTING HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 150 YEARS. IT'S NOT A NEW THING. IT'S NOT THE LATEST AND GREATEST THING THAT WE'RE ALL EDUCATED. I FIND IT INTERESTING IT'S AROUND FOR 150 YEARS AND WE STILL HAVE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON IT. THERE'S A HANDFUL OF CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND A FEW IN NEW MEXICO THAT USE IT. AND WHY THERE WOULDN'T BE MORE AFTER 150 YEARS. THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOU. COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. MR. MARQUEZ, JUST STAY UP HERE. I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. I APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU DO. I THINK YOU ARE CUTOFF. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE YOUR ANSWER ON WHY WE NEED TO DO EDUCATION FOR INSTANT RUNOFF. >> I THINK RIGHT NOW PEOPLE ARE SO BUSY AND PREOCCUPIED WITH ALL OF THE THINGS HAPPENING IN THE COUNTRY. WE'RE SEEING OUR DEMOCRACY BE TORN APART. OUR COUNTRY IS DIVIDED. THEMY ECONOMY SUCKS. WE'RE AT WAR WITH SO MANY COUNTRIES. PEOPLE RIGHT NOW DON'T HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO THINK ABOUT SOME OF THESE SOLUTIONS. THEY HAVE A MILLION THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT. I'M MEXICAN-AMERICAN. I WAS BORN IN CHICAGO. I WAS RAISED IN JALISCO. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO GO TO SCHOOL AND ACHIEVE MY AMERICAN DREAM. SO, I HAVE THEUBLE -- ABILITY TO SEP BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT COULD BE APPLIED TO SOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS? AND PEOPLE MUCH SMARTER THAN ME CAME UP WITH SOLUTIONS LIKE OPEN PRIMARIES, RANK CHOICE VOTING, APPLYING INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONS. ALL OF THESE THINGS. I BECAME OBSESSED WITH OPEN PRIMARIES AND RANK CHOICE VOTING. IT'S WHAT ALASKA HAS. AND I'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT THE LAST FOUR YEARS. I SEE IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY THIS IS SOMETHING -- I'M SURE SO MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES. LIKE I SAID THAT'S BECAUSE THEY HAVE A MILLION OTHER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT. RIGHT NOW WHAT I SEE IS THESE CONCEPTS ARE MAINLY IN POLITICAL CIRCLES, ACADEMIC CIRCLES. WHEN I GO TO THE CONFERENCES, THE ONLY LATINO PEOPLE I SEE ARE THE ONES SERVING FOOD AND CLEANING UP AFTER FOLKS WHO ARE MOSTLY WHITE. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING WHITE PEOPLE IN THE SPACE, BUT WE NEED TO BROADEN THE COALITION. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I THINK THIS THING IS COMING. I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF PEOPLE FINDING OUT. IT'S A MATTER OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ORGANIZING AND TALKING TO EACH OTHER AND HAVING EVENTS AND RANKING PIZZA AND TACOS AND ALL THE THINGS WE LIKE. BEFORE THEY FIND OUT THIS IS THE REAL SOLUTION WHERE WE SOLVE REAL PROBLEMS. I THINK THAT DAY IS COMING BECAUSE WE FEEL THE PROBLEM. PEOPLE I THINK JUST HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN OPENING UP TO THE SOLUTION. I HOPE THAT THE FOLKS HERE IN THIS ROOM WOULD HELP COMMON CAUSE AND COALITION MEMBERS SPREAD THE WORD. AND I THINK ONCE PEOPLE SEE THAT THEY WILL REMEMBER VOTES LIKE THIS. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO COMPLETE YOUR THOUGHT. MADAM PRESIDENT, I THINK MR. MARQUEZ IS RIGHT. THIS IS COMING. IT'S ALL AROUND US. I WILL CORRECT SOMEONE WHO SPOKE EARLIER THAT THIS IS PROPOSED YEAR AFTER YEAR. IT HASN'T. IT'S BEEN PROPOSED EVERY TWO YEARS BECAUSE I'VE BUN DONE IT. THIS IS MY THIRD ONE. THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE A NEW COUNCIL EVERY TWO YEARS. IT WILL COME EVENTUALLY. AND THE FOLKS IN THIS ROOM DOING THEIR ORGANIZING WILL BE THE ONES THAT BRING THAT TO OUR COMMUNITY. I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DECIDED AS A COMMUNITY WE WANT SOMEBODY THAT GETS 50% OF THE VOTE. WE DO NOT WANT SOMEBODY THAT IS DOWN AT 30% TO BE ABLE TO BE THE MAYOR OR COUNCILOR. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S SOMEONE THAT HAS THAT SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY. AND THE RUNOFF SYSTEM IS EXPENSIVE. IS IT BETTER THAN HAVING A PERSON THAT GOT 28% OF THE VOTE BEING MAYOR? YES. BUT IS THERE ANOTHER OPTION THAT IS EVEN BETTER? THERE IS. INSTANT RUNOFF ARE THE NEXT STEP TO MAKING SURE OUR VOTING SYSTEM IS FAIR AND OPEN, BUT ALSO FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE. I'VE BEEN LISTENING A LOT TO THE ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE. IN THE LAST MAYORAL ELECTION I HAD TWO VOTES. I DID. I VOTED FOR THE MAYOR. AND THEN I WENT BACK A MONTH LATER AND I VOTED FOR THE MAYOR AGAIN. I COULD HAVE CHANGED MY VOTE. BUT I DID HAVE TWO OPPORTUNITIES TO VOTE. I'M NOT SURE THAT ONE PERSON ONE VOTE THING MAKES SENSE GIVEN THAT I VOTED TWICE IN ONE ELECTION. SO, WE ALSO HEARD LOT ABOUT EXHAUSTED BALLOTS. I APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS ABOUT EXHAUSTED BALLOTS, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CONCERNS ABOUT EXHAUSTED VOTERS? OVER 5,000 VOTERS IN THE LAST MAYORAL ELECTION WERE EXHAUSTED AND DIDN'T GO BACK. SO, I'M A LITTLE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT LEVEL OF DROPOFF THAN I AM ABOUT SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T USE THEIR COMPLETE RANKING. I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT TWO OTHER THINGS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN DISCUSSED TONIGHT. ONE IS THE CONCERN THAT I'VE HEARD FROM QUITE A FEW PEOPLE AROUND THE USE OF OUR SCHOOLS AS VOTING LOCATIONS. IT IS A LITTLE -- I'M NOT A PARENT. BUT MY FRIENDS WHO ARE PARENTS SAY IT'S A LITTLE UNNERVING TO HAVE PEOPLE IN THEIR KIDS SCHOOL DURING THE DAY. SCHOOL IS STILL GOING ON. WE'RE SETTING UP A SYSTEM WHERE RUNOFFS HAVE A SECOND DAY OF A BUNCH OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH SCHOOLS WHEN THE KIDS ARE AT SCHOOL. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT AND CONSIDERING. I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT TONIGHT. I JUST WANT TO RAISE THAT ISSUE. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THAT THERE'S SOME KIND OF CONCERNED THERE'S GOING TO BE DELAYED RESULTS. I GUARANTEE YOU THAT ANY RESULT THAT IS SLIGHTLY DELAYED BECAUSE THERE'S A COUNTING PROCESS WILL STILL COME OUT MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY DAYS EARLIER THAN A RUNOFF, WHICH DOESN'T HAPPEN FOR AN ENTIRE MONTH AND THEN THERE'S VOTING AND ACCOUNTING. I DON'T BELIEVE DELAYED RESULTS IS ISSUE. WE HEARD WHY WE HAVE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. I THINK MR. MARQUEZ DID GREAT JOB OF EXPLAINING THAT TO US. JUST REMIND US, WE DO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT RUN PUP OFF. WE RUN ADS AND TELL PEOPLE ABOUT RUNOFFS. THIS BODY HAS DIRECTED THE ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE EDUCATION ON OUR NEW TRAFFIC CODE THAT SAYS, HEY, IF THERE'S A FLASHING LIGHT AND A CROSSWALK YOU SHOULD STOP AT IT. I THINK MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT. WE'RE STILL DOING THAT EDUCATION. WE'RE STILL REMINDING PEOPLE OF THE WAY TO ACT. AND SO, I JUST DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH US SPENDING A LITTLE TIME TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON INSTANT RUNOFF. HONK. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. >>COUN. BACA: THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, THAT STAYED HERE LATE. I KNOW I VOTE CONSISTENTLY AGAINST STAYING LATE. THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY COME CAME OUT, REGARDLESS OF FOR OR AGAINST. I ALSO -- WE'RE TALKING ABOUT VOTING. THAT'S FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY. IT'S NOT A SMALL THING. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT. I DID SPEND THE PAST WEEK TALKING TO CONSTITUENTS. LOOKING AT EMAILS. RESPONDING WHEN I COULD. SHORT OF TONIGHT, THE -- IT WAS ACTUALLILY PRETTY EVENLY SPLIT. I DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY IT WAS GOING TO GO. WE HAD CONSTITUENTS FOR AND AGAINST. I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN IMPORTANT TOPIC. OFTENTIMES I FIND MYSELF TRYING TO PUT MYSELF IN THE PLACE OF ONE GROUP IN ONE PLACE PASSIONATE ABOUT SOMETHING. SOMETIMES WE END UP WITH THE TOPIC OR ISSUE THAT'S FOR BOTH SIDES EQUALLY PASSIONATE AND BELIEVE IN THAT ISSUE. I WANT TO GET THAT OUT. NOW, AS I TRY TO GET THROUGH THIS AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT MANY TIMES AND PEOPLE HEARD MY VOICE MY OPINIONS. ONE ISSUE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS TRYING TO BE FIXED. THERE'S DEFINITELY A QUESTION OF COST. I CAN SEE THAT. I DON'T KNOW THAT COST SHOULD BE THE BASIS FOR HOW WE DO OUR ELECTIONS SORE THE SOLE BASIS. BECAUSE IT IS SO IMPORTANT. THAT SHOULDN'T BE THE ONLY ONE. WE TALK ABOUT NUMBERS. WE HAD 134 TURNOUT IN THE FIRST ROUND, 128,000 IN THE SECOND ROUND. THAT'S A DROPOFF OF LESS THAN 4%. THAT COMBINES WHEN YOU COMBINED 134 WITH 128 THAT'S A WHOLE LOT OF VOTERS. THAT'S TWO DIFFERENT ELECTIONS. EACH PERSON VOTED ONCE. NOT MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN ONE ELECTION. SAME THING. WHAT IS THE ISSUE WE'RE SOLVING? I LIKE AT MY COLLEAGUES AND IT'S MAJORITY WOMEN. THAT HAPPENED WITHOUT RANK CHOICE VOTING. SAME THING WITH THE STATE LEGISLATURE. MAJORITY WOMEN THESE DAYS. IF YOU ADD PEOPLE OF COLOR, ACROSS THE BOARD, WE HAVE THAT WITHIN NEW MEXICO. ONE THING I'M VERY PROUD OF. I LOOK AT OUR OWN ELECTIONS. MY OWN, CITY COUNCIL IS MY THIRD ELECTION. THEY'VE ALL BEEN CIVIL. THREE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT. WE DIDN'T GO TO A RUNOFF. ONLY ONE OF THE FOUR COUNCIL ELECTIONS WENT TO A RUNOFF AT THAT TIME. SAYING IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A RUNOFF IS ACTUALLY NOT TRUE. WE KNOW THAT. I DO WANT TO SAY OUR COUNTY CLERK BROUGHT UP AN IMPORTANT POINT I HADN'T HEARD IN REGARDS TO MILITARY PERSONNEL. THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME AS A VETERAN. I KNOW WHAT'S THAT LIKE. I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THIS IS A SOLUTION FOR THAT. MAYBE THERE'S OTHER SOLUTIONS. IT'S CERTAINLY A STATEWIDE ISSUE. WE ONLY DO RANK CHOICE VOTING IN TWO CITIES. THAT DEFINITELY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AT THE STATE LEVEL. AND IT DESERVES MORE ATTENTION. ALL THAT SAID, I OFTEN JOKE. I SAY I WON'T EVEN PLAY FANTASY FOOTBALL BECAUSE I ONLY CHEER DETROIT LIONS. I SAY THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING, I'M VOTING FOR SOMEBODY BASED ON VALUES AND WHAT I BELIEVE THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT FITS WHAT I LIKE TO SEE DONE. I'M VOTING FOR THAT PERSON. I'M CHOOSING THAT SECOND OR THIRD CHOICE. I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE LIKE THIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. YOU PICK YOUR PERSON AND GO WITH THAT. IN THIS CASE, OUR SYSTEM HAS 50-PLUS. I THINK THAT'S THE GOOD WAY TO DO IT. I THINK SOMETIMES THAT LEADS TO RUNOFF. NOT ALWAYS. WITH THAT, WHILE I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE, I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS SOMETHING COMING IN THE FUTURE. I DON'T SUPPORT THIS BASED ON WHAT I'VE SEEN AND WHAT THE DATA SHOWS AND ALL MY CONVERSATIONS WITH EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. >>COUN. PEÑA: COUNCILOR TELLES TO CLOSE. >>COUN. TELLES: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, EVERYONE. I WAS GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT EVERYBODY ALREADY SPOKE ABOUT. ABOUT THE COST AND THE EFFICIENCIES AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS. I WANT TO -- I CHANGED MY POSITION A LITTLE BIT. ONE THING I WANT TO SAY IS THIS, DUDM VERSUS ARNET, USE COURT OF APPEALS FOR NINTH CIRCUIT UPHELD THAT RANK CHOICE VOTING IS CONSTITUTIONALLY VALID BECAUSE IT TREATS ALL BALLOTS EQUALLY. MINNESOTA VOTERS ALLIANCE VERSUS CITY OF MIN YAP -- MINI APILOUS THE STATE SUPREME COURT AFFIRMED RANK CHOICE VOTING AS CONSISTENT WITH CONSTITUTIONAL VOTING PRINCIPLES. MAINE SUPERIOR COURT REJECTED CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES TO THE RANK CHOICE VOTING SYSTEM. RANK CHOICE VOTING HAS BEEN UPHELD IN MODERN CONTEXT. THE LEGAL STANDARD UNDER THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES UNDER REYNOLDS VERSUS SIMS THE PRINCIPLE REQUIRES EQUAL WEIGHTING OF EACH VOTER BALLOT EQUAL TREATMENT OF VOTERS IN THE ELCTORAL PROCESS. AND ELECTIONS AVOID SEQUENTIAL TABUILATIONS. IT DOES UPHOLD ONE PERSON AND ONE VOTE. IT SATISFIES CONSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE IT IS A SINGLE BALLOT PER VOTER, EACH VOTER CASTS ONE BALLOT. IT UPHOLDS THE STANDARD BECAUSE OF EQUAL TREATMENT. ALL BALLOTS ARE TABULATED UNDER THE SAME RULE. RANKINGS DO NOT CREATE EXTRA VOTES. A BALLOT COUNT FOR ONE CANDIDATE AT A TIME. EQUIVALENT OF A RUNOFF. COURTS RECOGNIZE THAT RANK CHOICE VOTING IS AN INSTANT RUNOFF AND THEY'RE CONSTITUTIONALLY VALID. THIS IS AN INSTANT RUNOFF AND IT'S CONSTITUTIONALLY VALID. THE CLAIM HERE THAT RANK CHOICE SOMEHOW VIOLATES CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS FOR OUR ONE PERSON ONE VOTE IS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE LAW. FEDERAL STATE COURTS HAVE CONSISTENTLY UPHELD RANK CHOICE VOTING SYSTEMS FINDING IT TREATS EACH VOTER EQUALLY. THE METHOD IS CONSISTENTLY PERMISSIBLE LOGICALLY SOUND, MATHEMATICALLY PRINCIPLED AND ACCORDINGLY ADOPTED RANK CHOICE VOTING IS LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE AND CONSISTENT WITH ESTABLISHED CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLES. IT IS VERY, VERY CLEAR THAT EVEN OUR CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES SUPPORTS RANK CHOICE VOTING ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IT DOES NOT DISENFRANCHISE VOTERS. IF ANYTHING, IT BETTER REFLECTS HOW VOTERS THINK ALLOWING THEM TO SUPPORT THE FIRST CHOICE WITHOUT WASTING THE BALLOT IF THE CANDIDATE FALLS SHORT. WHAT I WANT TO ADD THAT I THINK IS CRITICAL IS -- I SAID THIS A LOT. YOU ALL KNOW THIS. I'M A FRAUD EXAMINER. I APPROACH ELECTIONS IN THE SAME WAY I APPROACH ANY SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE WHERE THERE ARE RISKS AND HOW WE CAN REDUCE THOSE. I INVESTIGATE FRAUD FOR A LIVING AND I ALSO INVESTIGATE HOW TO REDUCE FRAUD FOR A LIVING. I CAN SAY THIS VERY CLEARLY. THE NARRATIVE THAT RANK CHOICE VOTING SOMEHOW WEAKENS ELECTION INTEGRITY IS JUST NOT SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE. OUR SYSTEM IS ALREADY SECURE. RONG -- RANK CHOICE BUILDS ON THAT STRENGTH. WE HAVE THE STRONGEST ELECTION PROTECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY. AND WHAT RANK CHOICE DOES IS BUILDS ON THOSE. IT REDUCES NEED FOR SECOND ELECTION WHERE FEWER PEOPLE PARTICIPATE AND ENSURES A WINNER REFLECTS BROADER MORE COMPLETE EXPRESSION OF VOTER INTENT. IT'S NOT A VULNERABILITY. THIS IS A SAFEGUARD. I GROUND MYSELF DECISIONS, EVERY ONE OF MY DECISIONS, IS GROUNDED ON GOOD GOVERNANCE AND INTERNAL CONTROLS THAT ARE INTEGRATED INTO A FRAMEWORK. BECAUSE STRONG SYSTEMS DON'T IGNORE RISK. THEY IDENTIFY IT AND THEY DESIGN PROCESSES TO REDUCE IT. THAT IS HOW I MAKE ALL OF MY DECISIONS. THAT IS WHAT RANKED CHOICE VOTING DOES. OUR CURRENT RUNOFF SYSTEM CARRIES KNOWN RISKS. LOWER TURNOUT, VOTER FATIGUE, HIGHER COSTS. THIS RANK CHOICE VOTING IS SIMPLY A BETTER CONTROL DESIGN. AND IF WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH THE THINGS THAT WE DO WITH BETTER CONTROL DESIGN, SUCH AS OUR BUDGET SYSTEM, THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE, THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE. WE'RE CAPTURING VOTER PREFERENCES IN ONE ELECTION. IT FUNCTIONS AS AN INSTANT RUNOFF. IT ENSURES WINNERS REFLECT BROADER COMMUNITY SUPPORT. THESE ARE NOT THEORIES. THIS IS RISK MITIGATION AND SUPPORTS VOTER INTEGRITY AND ELECTION INTEGRITY. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND REAL BUDGET CONSTRAINTS, WHY SHOULD WE CONTINUE TO FUND A SYSTEM THAT WE ALREADY KNOW IS LESS EFFICIENT, LESS REPRESENTATIVE AND MORE COSTLY? THIS IS ABOUT ALIGNING OUR ELECTION SYSTEM WITH THE SAME PRINCIPLES THAT WE EXPECT EVERYWHERE ELSE. ACCOUNTABILITY TRANSPARENCY AND OUTCOMES THAT REFLECT THE FULL COMMUNITY. THIS STRENGTHENS ELECTION INTEGRITY. I BELIEVE WITH MY HEART OF HEARTS THAT INTEGRATED CONTROLS PROVIDE A WIDELY ACCEPTED MODEL FOR EVALUATING GOVERNANCE AROUND SYSTEMS. THIS FALLS UNDER FIVE COMPONENTS. RANK CHOICE VOTING SUPPORTS RISK ASSESSMENT, SUPPORTS CONTROL, SUPPORTS MONITORING, IT SUPPORTS A STRONG CONTROL ENVIRONMENT. FROM A GOVERNING PERSPECTIVE, ASIDE FROM ALL OF THE OTHER POSITIVE ARGUMENTS WE'VE HEARD ABILITY SAVING MONEY, MAKING SURE VOICES ARE HEARD, FROM A GOVERNANCE, FROM INTERNAL CONTROL PERSPECTIVE, IT REPRESENTS A PROCESS IMPROVEMENT. THAT ADDRESSES KNOWN WEAKNESSES. IT ALIGNS WITH CORE PRINCIPLES THAT I GET TIRED TO GO TEACH OTHER GOVERNMENTS AND CITIES AND COUNTIES AND STATES ABOUT REDUCING RISK, IMPROVING REPRESENTATIVES, SUPPORTING TRANSPARENT AUDIBLE OUTCOMES. I JUST PRESENTED AT THE ASSOCIATION OF CERTIFIED FRAUD EXAMINERS ANNUAL GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GROUNDING YOUR DECISIONS IN INTERNAL CONTROL FRAMEWORK. AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT PROTECTS THE CONTROL ENVIRONMENT. IT PROVIDES LEGITIMACY AND TRUST IN OUR ELECTIONS THROUGH CONTROL ENVIRONMENT. IT ADDRESSES STRUCTURAL ELECTION RISKS THROUGH A RISK ASSESSMENT. IT PROVIDES A PROCESS DESIGN AND SAFEGUARDS WITH REAL CONTROL ACTIVITY. IT PROVIDES VOTER CLARITY WITH INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION. AND IT ALSO ENSURES AUDITABILITY AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT THROUGH THE MONITORING ACTIVITIES. THIS IS REALLY, IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS BEING A VOTE AND DECISION, PURELY MADE ON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENT PROCESSES, AND NOT PARTISAN POLITICS AND IDEOLOGY, THIS IS ONE OF THE SITUATIONS THAT ACTUALLY HAS PROVEN GOVERNMENT CONTROL THROUGH AN INTEGRATED CONTROL FRAMEWORK. AND THAT IS WHY I THINK YOU SUPPORT IT. BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST IDEOLOGY. THIS IS SUPPORTED FACTUALLY GROUNDED EVIDENCE-BASED MATHEMATICICALLY SOUND PROCESS THAT SAVES MONEY AND SAVES TIME. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU, COUNCILOR TELLES. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR A DO PASS OF O-13. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED, SAME MOTION. MOTION FAILS. WE'RE NOW ON TO -- WE'RE NOW ON TO R-12, ADJUSTING FISCAL YEAR 2026 APPROPRIATIONS. I'M SORRY. R-11. COUNCILOR GROUT AND COUNCILOR ROGERS R-11. AMENDING R-24-109 TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR DIRECTIVES RELATED TO THE CITY'S HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. R-11 IS AMENDING R-25-101 TO EXTEND DEADLINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF DIRECTIVES RELATED TO THE CITY'S HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM. I MOVE DO PASS. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION, AND A SECOND BY COUNCILOR GROUT, FOR DO PASS OF R-11. WE HAVE SOME AMENDMENTS. AND WE HAVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. WE'LL PASS THE AMENDMENTS AND GET TO YOUR QUESTIONS. WE HAVE FLOOR AMENDMENT A. IT'S IN YOUR iPADS. I'M SORRY. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. WE PREVIOUSLY PASSED R-24-109. I WANT TO COMMEND THE DEPARTMENT. I KNOW THEY PROBABLY LEFT BY NOW. BUT THEY HAVE DONE LOT OF GREAT WORK. OUR MOTEL VOUCHERS AND ACTUALLY ALL OF OUR VOUCHER PROGRAMS. BUT THERE'S STILL WORK LEFT TO BE DONE. WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE ASK IN THAT PARTICULAR RESOLUTION. SO, WE'RE ADDING SOME TIME TO THAT RESOLUTION. WE DO HAVE SOME AMENDMENTS AS WELL. >>COUN. PEÑA: OKAY. HERE'S WHERE THE CONFUSION LIES COUNCILOR ROGERS. WE HAVE TWO FLOOR AMENDMENT As. THE ONE WE PASSED OUT IS THE CURRENT ONE? >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT YES. THE ONE THAT CAME OUT IS THE ONE WE NEED. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO MOVE AMENDMENT ONE OR A IN YOUR PACKET. THIS IS TO -- FIRST ON PAGE ONE, CHANGE RESOLUTION TITLE. AMENDING R-24-109. WE NEED TO AMEND THAT TITLE TO ADDING A DIRECTIVE TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO INTEGRATE DATA ACROSS HOUSING, HOMELESS AND RELATED SERVICE DASHBOARDS. ALSO, BEGINNING ON PAGE TWO, IN CONVERSATIONS WE HAD WITH SOME OF THE COMMUNITY GROUPS DOING THIS WORK, WE FOUND WE NEEDED TO MAKE SOME SPECIFICATIONS UNDER THE SECTION FOR THE COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM. AND BEGINNING ON PAGE TWO, LINE 17, WE'RE JUST ADDING THE HHH WILL AGOGATE OUTPUTS FROM ALL CONTRACTS TO POST THEM ON THE HOUSING VOUCHER DASHBOARD AND HHH WILL DEVELOP OUTPUTS FOR ANY HOUSING VOUCHER CONTRACT THAT DOES NOT CURRENTLY INCLUDE OUTPUT. WE'LL REVIEW EXISTING OUTPUTS AND REVISE ANY UPDATES FOR FY27. AND THE NEXT ONE IS ADDING SECTION TWO AND RENUMBERING THE SUBSEQUENT SECTIONS. AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS WE REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY OUTCOMES SO WE CAN SHOW A RETURN OF INVESTMENT ON ALL OF THE HOUSING VOUCHERS THAT WE HAVE. AND THE IDEA THAT OUR PROVIDERS ARE ALREADY TURNING IN DATA TO OUR DEPARTMENTS. AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING THE DEPARTMENT IS TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING WITH THOSE REPORTS BY ROLLING UP ALL OF THOSE OUTCOMES INTO A DASHBOARD SO WE CAN ACCURATELY SEE THAT WE SPENT THIS MONEY ON VOUCHERS AND THIS IS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE HOUSED AND WE CAN SEE THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT. THE CLARIFIES THE PROGRESS OF THE WORKING GROUP AND ADDS A DIRECTIVE TO TALK ABOUT INTEGRATION OF ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT DASHBOARDS WE HAVE. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION, AND A SECOND -- >> MADAM PRESIDENT. BEFORE WE PROCEED, THERE'S A -- IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMENDMENT IT SAYS IMPLEMENTATION OF THREE DIRECTIVES, WE'RE GOING TO STRIKE THAT NUMBER THREE BECAUSE IT WAS COPY AND PASTED. I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION. ON PAGE ONE. IT SAYS THE DEADLINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THREE -- THREE WILL BE STRICKEN. >>COUN. PEÑA: ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT, COUNCILOR ROGERS SOME. >>COUN. ROGERS: YES. THANK YOU FOR THE CATCH. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR FLOOR AMENDMENT. ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED, SAME MOTION. MOTION CARRIES. NOW, WE HAVE FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO. I DO NOT HAVE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THEY'RE BEING DISTRIBUTED. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THE NEXT ONE, BASED ON THE PUBLIC COMMENTER ABOUT ADDING ANOTHER PERSON WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE USING HOUSING VOUCHERS, WE WOULD AT THAT AS WELL SINCE WE HAD TO MAKE THIS OTHER CHANGE AND TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT WE HEARD IN PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION, AND SECOND FOR FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO. LET THE RECORD REFLECT THAT COUNCILOR GROUT'S NAME SHOULD BE ON THIS AMENDMENT AS WELL. YOU GOT THAT? OKAY. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR FLOOR AMENDMENT NUMBER TWO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY YES AND RAISE YOUR HAND. OPPOSED, SAME MOTION. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'RE BACK ON THE BILL. COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. BECAUSE WE CHANGED THE TITLE, WE'LL HAVE TO MOVE FOR DEFERRAL, PER OUR RULES. I POTION FOR -- MOTION FOR DEFERRAL. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND A -- >>COUN. GROUT: CAN I SAY SOME STUFF? >>COUN. PEÑA: SURE. THERE'S MOTION AND SECOND FOR DEFERRAL. >>COUN. GROUT: I WANTED TO SAY I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO SAY. DR. VERPLOEGH RAN WITH THIS. SHE RAN WITH THIS AND SHE WENT THROUGH ALL THE BULLET POINTS. WITH -- I'M VERY HAPPY FOR THAT. SHE RAN WITH THEM. THE DEPARTMENT TOOK THE RESOLUTION IN THE SPIRIT IT WAS INTENDED AND TOOK IT AS A ROAD MAP TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM. SO FAR THIS WORKING GROUP HAS REVIEWED POLICY FOR ALL HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAMS, TYPES, PROGRAM TYPES, EXCEPT FOR THE PROJECT-BASED VOUCHERS WHICH YOU'RE STILL WORKING ON. AND YOU'RE WORKING ON A NEW MOTEL VOUCHER POLICY TOO. YOU'VE IMPLEMENTED PHASE ONE OF A VOUCHER PROGRAM DASHBOARD WHICH IS UPDATED MANUALLY. YOU'VE BEGUN REVISING THE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS TO REDUCE THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS FOR PROVIDERS. THAT HAS BEEN A BIG DEAL. WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE SMALL AND DEPEND ON THAT MONEY TO COME IN IN A TIMELY MANNER. YOU GUYS HAVE MADE THOSE CHANGES. AND THEY'RE SEEING IT. AND WE'RE SEEING IT. I WANT TO THANK YOU. YOU STARTED EXECUTED VOUCHER CONTRACTS WITHIN 30 DAYS OF ALLOCATION. THAT'S A BIG DEAL. THANK YOU. WE WANT YOU TO CONTINUE DOING THIS GOOD WORK AND THE NEXT STEPS INCLUDE DEVELOPING OUTCOME GOALS FOR ALL THE VOUCHER TYPES. IMPLEMENTING PHASE TWO OF THE VOUCHER PROGRAM DASH BOARD SO IT'S AUTOMATED TO PULL THE DATA. AND REVIEW THE COORDINATED ENTRY SYSTEM WAITLIST DATA AND EVALUATE ALTERNATIVE PRIORITIZATION METHODS AND THE INTAKE AND REFERRAL PROCESS. YOU'RE DOING GREAT WORK. YOU GUYS HAVE ALL COME TOGETHER. YOU'VE TAKEN US SERIOUSLY. I THANK YOU FOR THAT. I KNOW COUNCILOR ROGERS DOES TOO. THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO DO. DIRECTOR, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK TO TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT. AND LIKE COUNCILOR ROGERS SAID, WE'LL NEED TO DEFER THIS AND VOTE IT ON NEXT MEETING. THANK YOU. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR GROUT, COUNCILOR ROGERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. I AGREE. MY TEAM HAS KEPT ME UP TO DATE THE ENTIRE TIME. EXCELLENT WORK HAS BEEN MADE. I THINK WE'RE AT THE CUSP OF MOVING TO PHASE TWO. EVERY YOU HIGHLIGHTED IN REGARD OF WHAT IS NEXT TO COME. WE APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION ON THIS AND THE AMENDMENT TO ADD LIVED EXPERIENCE. I HEARD JAMES SAY THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE TASK FORCE TO HAVE THAT. I KNOW THERE'S A DEFERRAL, BUT WHEN THERE'S A VOTE WE'LL GO FORWARD. >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. I'LL FOLLOW UP THAT I'VE BEEN ON A LOT OF THESE MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH THE GROUP. AND IT HAS REALLY BEEN NICE ON MY SIDE TO HEAR FROM PROVIDERS, FROM PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE AND THE COLLABORATION. IT HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD WORKING GROUP. MANY OF THE PROVIDERS HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME PERSONALLY. AND SAID THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TOGETHER AND MAKING IT HAPPEN. SO, I'M GLAD THAT WE'VE DONE IT TOGETHER. AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT. AND I THINK EVERYBODY HAS LEARNED A LOT. I DO APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR TAKING US SERIOUSLY. BECAUSE THE OUTCOME IS TO GET THESE PEOPLE HELP. AND TO MOVE THEM INTO STABLE HOUSING AND TREATMENT IF NECESSARY. AND MANY TIMES THAT IS THE CASE. AND THAT IS MY GOAL IS TO GET THEM TREATMENT, HELP, WHERE THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELF. FOR MOST PART. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. THAT WAS THE CLOSE. >> MADAM PRESIDENT. IF I CAN CLARIFY, WE'RE DEFERRING FOR TWO WEEKS? >>COUN. PEÑA: YES. THAT WILL BE THE 20th. THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR DEFERRAL TO APRIL 20th MEETING. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY YES. OPPOSED NO. MOTION CARRIES. WE'RE ON R-12. COUNCILOR CHAMPINE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. R-26-12 ADJUSTING FISCAL YEAR 2026, OPERATING CERTAIN PROGRAMS. MOTION FOR DO PASS. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S MOTION AND SECOND FOR DO PASS. COUNCILOR CHAMPINE TO OPEN. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: YES, MA'AM. THIS ADDRESSES THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 OPERATING APPROPRIATIONS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF 280,000 TO THE BANDS OF ENCHANTMENT MUSIC. SUPPORTED FROM THE TRANSFER FROM THE LODGERS TAX TO GENERAL FUND AND ALLOCATED TO THE COUNCIL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR PROGRAM-RELATED EXPENDITURES. IT'S INTEND ENDED TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF OF THE BANDS OF ENCHANTMENT SERIES AND PROMOTES ARTS, CULTURE AND TOURISM IN ALBUQUERQUE. THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAD PUT IN FOR AT THE REGULAR BUDGET SESSION AND SOME MONEY HAD TO BE MANEUVERED TO ACCOMMODATE OTHER PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY FOR OTHER COUNCILORS. THIS IS JUST MAKING THIS WHOLE AGAIN AND USING IT FROM HAD LODGERS TAX OF GOING TOWARD PROMOTING THINGS THAT BRING IN MORE VISITORS TO THE CITY. >>COUN. PEÑA: ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST GOT TWO TEXTS. LET ME SAY THAT I THINK THAT -- I DON'T WANT FOLKS TO BE CONFUSED AND THINK THIS IS COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ALL NIGHT THAT WE DON'T HAVE LOT OF MONEY AND WE'RE REDUCING OUR OVERALL BUDGET. THIS IS FROM THE LODGERS TAX. THAT LODGERS TAX DOES HAVE TO BE SPENT ON TOURISM-RELATED EXPENSES. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY AND MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING WITH THE SPONSOR THIS IS LODGERS TAX AND THERE ARE LIMITS TO WHAT THAT LODGERS TAX CAN BE USED FOR AND IT HAS TO BE TOURISM RELATED. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THAT'S CORRECT. THE USE OF LODGERS ALIGNS WITH PROMOTING TOURISM AND CULTURE ACTIVITIES. IT IS NOT BEING TAKEN FROM GENERAL FUND. NO. >>COUN. PEÑA: COUNCILOR BASSAN. >>COUN. BASSAN: MADAM PRESIDENT, HAVE WE TAKEN FUNDS -- DIDN'T WE ALREADY DO THIS LAST YEAR? OR IS THIS THE FIRST TIME AROUND? >> YES, IT WAS IN THE FY26 APPROVED BUDGET. >>COUN. BASSAN: HOW MUCH MONEY DID WE GIVE TO BANDS OF ENCHANTMENT? I KNOW WE DID IT ONCE. AND WE HAD TO MOVE THINGS AROUND BECAUSE IT'S A COMPROMISE. WHICH IS APPRECIATED. WHERE ARE WE AT WITH TOTAL FUNDS OF ENCHANTMENT. WHETHER IT'S GENERAL FUND OR LODGERS TAX? >> MADAM CHAIR, COUNCILOR BASSAN, I BELIEVE THE TOTAL IS $580,000. >>COUN. BASSAN: OKAY. THE LAST TIME WE DID THE LODGERS TAX FUNDING, WAS THERE A COMMITMENT TO DO IT A SECOND TIME? >> I'M SORRY. WAS IT WRITTEN INTO THE BUDGET BILL THAT WE FIND -- >>COUN. BASSAN: MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST FEEL LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD SAID WAS GOING TO HAPPEN BACK THEN AND WE DID IT AND NOW WE'RE DOING IT AGAIN. I'M WONDERING IF ALL OPTIONS HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY EXHAUSTED TO FIND FUNDING FOR THEM OR AT WHAT POINT ARE WE GOING TO NOT CONTINUE FUNDING THIS LARGE SPONSORSHIP OR AT LEAST A DIFFERENT AMOUNT? >>COUN. CHAMPINE: MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR BASSAN, YES, THIS FUNDING WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED IN THE BUDGET. AND IT WAS ADJUSTED TO ACCOMMODATE FOR OTHER NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WITH THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD COME IN AND MAKE IT WHOLE AT CLEANUP. AS WE KNOW HOW CLEANUP WENT, THAT WAS NOT MADE WHOLE. NOW WE GO BACK AND FOUND OTHER WAYS TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOAL WE HAD TALKED ABOUT IN THE PREVIOUSLY AT THE BEGINNING BUDGET CYCLE FOR 2026. NO 2025. 26. THANK YOU. I GO BACK TO THE FACT THIS BEING TAKEN FROM THE LODGERS TAX COINCIDES WITH AND ALIGNS WITH THE PURPOSE OF THE PURPOSE OF THE LODGERS TAX. IT'S NOT DEPLETING IT. AFTER TALKING WITH THE FINANCE TEAM, IT WILL FULLY SUPPORT THIS APPROPRIATION. >>COUN. BASSAN: MADAM PRESIDENT, IF I CAN ASK ANOTHER QUESTION? SO, DID WE NOT MAKE IT WHOLE THE FIRST TIME WE PULLED FROM LODGERS TAX? >>COUN. CHAMPINE: NO. IT WAS NOT. >>COUN. BASSAN: I -- DID WE MAKE IT WHOLE? I HEARD NO AND YES. WHAT DID WE MISS? >> MADAM CHAIR, COUNCILOR BASSAN, I'LL DEFER TO THE SPONSOR. THE ORIGINAL AMENDMENT DURING THE BUDGET WAS ORIGINALLY ABOUT $700,000. IT WAS REDUCED WHEN THE -- $800,000. MY CORRECTION. IT WAS REDUCED AND COUNCILORS WERE GOING BACK AND FORTH OVER DECIDES OTHER COSTS. >>COUN. BASSAN: RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. >>COUN. PEÑA: COUNCILOR BACA. >>COUN. BACA: I'M A FAN OF BANDS OF ENCHANTMENT. I THINK THEY DO QUITE A BIT INTEREST THE CITY. ESPECIALLY PROMOTING IT. IT'S DEFINITELY A GOOD USE OF LODGER TAX FUND. I DO ALSO WAN TO POINT OUT OUR LODGERS TAX LAST YEAR WAS DOWN BECAUSE OF -- DURING BALLOON FIESTA WE KNOW IT'S DOWN. IT'S COMPROMISED OF HOTELS AND AIR B&Bs. THE MAJORITY OF AIR B&B DO NOT REGISTER OR PAY INTO LODGER'S TAX. IT WOULD BE EASIER TO PASS THIS IF WE COLLECT THE LODGERS TAX WE SHOULD BE COLLECTING. I PUT IT ON OUR GROUP TO FIX IT AT SOME POINT. THAT SAID, I DO SUPPORT THIS. WITH THAT, THANK YOU. >>COUN. PEÑA: COUNCILOR ROGERS. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I'M READING THROUGH LODGERS TAX ORDINANCE. IT'S VERY SPECIFIC. ADVERTISING ALBUQUERQUE TO VISITORS. I DON'T KNOW THAT BANDS OF ENCHANTMENT -- OKAY. I'VE BEEN THERE. I DIDN'T SEE LOT OF TOURISTS COMING TO THE CONCERT. IT'S NOT A CONVENTION. OPERATING TOURISM RELATED FACILITIES. NOT IN A FACILITY. IT'S OUTSIDE. PAYING DEBT ON TOURIST RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE. BUILDING OR IMPROVING TOURIST RELATED FACILITIES. TOURISM MARKETING CAMPAIGNS. CONVENTION RECRUITMENT. VISITOR ADVERTISING. I ALSO JUST SAID THIS DURING THE BUDGET SEASON, WE HAVE VERY SPECIFIC PROCUREMENT RULES AROUND COMPETING FOR MONEY OVER $100,000 AT THE CITY. I ASKED THE ADMINISTRATION AND THIS BODY TO HELP ME FIND CASE MANAGEMENT FOR SENIORS. $200,000. I CAN'T GET THAT. BUT WE CAN GIVE ALMOST $800,000 TO A COMPANY TO THROW A PARTY. FOR ME, IT'S HARD TO DO THAT WHEN I DON'T HAVE WHAT I NEED FOR SENIORS IN MY DISTRICT. I LOVE BANDS OF ENCHANTMENT. IT'S GREAT PARTY. I WENT LAST YEAR. AWESOME. ESPECIALLY IN THE CONSTRAINTS OF OUR BUDGET, TO BE PRIORITIZING THIS OVER SENIORS. I KNOW I CAN'T USE LODGERS TAX FOR MY SENIORS. APPLES TO APPLES. IT'S JUST HARD TO SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHEN WE HAVE -- ESPECIALLY IN MY DISTRICT, WE HAVE SUCH DIFFERENT NEEDS AND MORE PRIORITIES OF NEED THAN A PARTY. THANK YOU. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. COUNCILOR TELLES AND THEN COUNCILOR FIEBELKORN AND WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER. >>COUN. TELLES: MADAM PRESIDENT. OUT OF ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, I'M GOING TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THIS VOTE DUE TO POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST. >>COUN. PEÑA: I THINK YOU HAVE TO EXIT. >>COUN. FIEBELKORN: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY I WAS THE ONE THAT WENT TO COUNCILOR CHAMPINE DURING THE LAST BUDGET PROCESS AND ASKED IF HE WOULD BE ABLE TO BRING HIS 560 DOWN TO 280 TO FUND SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE ALL THOUGHT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT. LIKE HE DID ON SEVERAL BUDGET ITEMS, HE SAID SURE. IF YOU'LL HELP ME GET IT WHOLE LATER. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. HE DID GIVE UP 280. IT DPID DID GO TO SOMETHING THE BODY FELT WAS IMPORTANT AND TIMELY AT THAT POINT. THIS IS JUST HIM COMING BACK TO TRY TO FIX THE HOLE THAT I ASKED HIM TO MAKE. THANK YOU. >>COUN. PEÑA: OKAY. WE'LL GO TO OUR ONE AND ONLY PUBLIC SPEAKER ON THIS. BEFORE WE DO THAT, I JUST WANT TO SAY WE DIDN'T MAKE OUR EMPLOYEES WHOLE. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. LISA TO SPEAK. >> MADAM PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, I GUESS I'M ECHOING WHAT ROGERS IS SAYING. HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE -- I'M SORRY. MADAM PRESIDENT, HOW COULD WE COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ENTERTAINMENT THAT HAPPENS AND THE GATHERING AND THE COMMUNITY THAT'S TOGETHER AND ALL THAT IMPORTANT STUFF AND HOW DO WE WEIGH THAT WITH WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR MONEY FOR THESE SORT OF THINGS AND WE HAVE THIS SORT OF -- THAT'S MAYBE A FUN THING TO DO. AS AN ACTIVIST, HOW DO I GO BACK TO PEOPLE SAYING WE DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR BASIC NEED STUFF, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS THING. THE CITY PUT TAXPAYER MONEY INTO FUN STUFF BUT THESE THINGS THAT ARE LIKE CRUCIAL LIFE SAVING, LIKE A HOUSING VOUCHER OR FOOD OR THOSE KIND OF THINGS, HOW DO WE WEIGH THAT? I GUESS THAT'S GOOD COMMUNITY. HOW DO WE JUSTIFY? >>COUN. PEÑA: ADMINISTRATION. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT. I JUST WANT TO NOTE THIS IS COMING FROM THE LODGERS TAX, WHICH DOES HAVE A FUND BALANCE BUT IT HAS BEEN GOING DOWN. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER NEEDS THE CITY HAS COMING UP IN THE FUTURE. LIKE THE ROUTE 66 CENTENNIAL, IT'S NEWSED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. AT THE BASEBALL PARK AND OTHER FACILITIES. THERE'S SOME MONEY IN THE FUND BALANCE, BUT THERE ARE OTHER NEEDS IN THE CITY. LODGERS TAX WAS DOWN LAST YEAR. IT DIDN'T BUILD BACK UP. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILORS? >>COUN. GROUT: THANK YOU. SO FAR THIS YEAR, BANDS OF ENCHANTMENT HAS RECEIVED $580,000 IN LODGERS TAX. IT IS NON-RECURRING. THERE'S ALSO A PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR $27 FUND BALANCE OF$1.3 MILLION. BANDS OF ENCHANTMENT DOES GREAT THINGS. THEY'RE ON TELEVISION. THEY'RE ON PBS. THEY BRING DIFFERENT -- THEY'RE A GOOD THING FOR ALBUQUERQUE. SO, IT'S A GOOD MARKETING. IT'S VERY GOOD. LODGERS TAX CAN ONLY BE SPENT ON CERTAIN THINGS. THE GOAL IS TO GET THEM -- THIS NEXT YEAR, COUNCILOR CHAMPINE, I'LL LET YOU SPEAK WHAT THEIR FUTURE HOLDS. THEY'RE DOING SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS. THEY'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE BIGGER ACTS COMING TO TOWN. WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE THEM A BOOST. WE NEED MORE TOURISM IN ALBUQUERQUE. THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY THERE. >>COUN. PEÑA: THIS YEAR THEY RECEIVED 580 THIS YEAR WILL BE 280? SO THE ADDITIONAL IS WHAT? >> MADAM CHAIR, 860. >>COUN. PEÑA: OKAY. COUNCILOR CHAMPINE TO CLOSE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. >>COUN. BASSAN: I SEEM TO RECALL WE MADE THEM WHOLE WITH THE LAST THING THAT WE DID WITH LODGERS TAX. IS THAT TRUE OR IS IT NOT? I HEAR YES AND KIND OF NO AND MOVING AND MORE. AND AGAIN AND NOT NOT QUITE. DID WE MAKE THAT COMMITMENT WHOLE OR NOT? THAT'S WHAT I COMMITTED TO. I ALSO COMMITTED TO NOT SPONSORING THEM AT SUCH A MASSIVE AMOUNT AGAIN MOVING FORWARD. I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON MY COMMITMENT, BUT I NEED TO KNOW IF THAT HAPPENED OR NOT. WITHOUT ANY DOUBT. PLEASE. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: MADAM PRESIDENT, COUNCILOR BASSAN, NO WE DID NOT MAKE THEM WHOLE. THE ORIGINAL INTENT WAS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY. IT WAS TAKEN AWAY. THE AMOUNT WAS TAKEN AWAY AND REDISTRIBUTED. IT WAS NOT MADE WHOLE. NO. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, NO. IT WAS NOT. >>COUN. CHAMPINE: DURING THE BUDGET TIME AND WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH COMING UP AND WHAT WE DEAL WITH THE LAST BUDGET, OBVIOUSLY ALL THE DOLLARS AND CENTS WORK. THEY'RE ALL NEEDED. FOR SENIOR AFFAIRS AND TRANSIT. ONE OF THE THINGS THIS DOES, A LOT OF PEOPLE ATTENDED WHAT WAS REFERRED TO THE PARTY IN THE STREET. IT'S MUCH MORE THAN THAT. IT'S A TV SHOW. IT'S BEEN GOING INTO IT SIXTH SEASON THAT DOES PROMOTE ALBUQUERQUE. IT NOT ONLY JUST BRINGS LOCALS TO THE STREET WHERE 6500 PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO SEE A REVITALIZED DOWNTOWN, BUT THEY ALSO SEE A TELEVISION SERIES THAT BRINGS IN PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE MONTH AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. NOT JUST DURING THE ACTUAL FILMING BUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO SEE OUR TOWN AND SEE THE MUSIC PLACE THAT IT IS. AND EVERYTHING THAT IT HAS TO INVOLVE. PART OF THE SHOW DOES EMPHASIZE DIFFERENT PLACES WITHIN THE CITY. TO PROMOTE THE CITY ITSELF. BEING THAT, THAT'S WHAT THE ALIGNMENT WITH THE TOURISM AND CULTURAL SERVICE IS. IT'S NOT JUST ONE SHOW OUTSIDE. IT'S THE KIMO THEATER. IT'S PROMOTIONS OF BANDS THAT COME HERE AND PLAY AND PROMOTE PEOPLE TO COME HERE AND SEE OUR CITY. IT'S SHOWN ON PBS AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ON PBS. YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S A DIFFICULT DECISION OF HOW YOU BALANCE IT. I HAD A RECENT CONVERSATION WITH SOMEBODY THAT WORKED WITH US IN A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE AND SAID IT'S A DIFFICULT BALLET WITH WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO WITH COMMITMENTS OF BASIC SERVICES AND PROMOTE TOURISM. ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS AND I TOLD THEM, I DON'T AGREE WITH THE TRAIL TRAIL BUT I UNDERSTAND THE BALANCE OF THE RAIL TRAIL. HOW DO YOU SAY NO TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHILE YOU'RE NOT DOING THE BASIC SERVICES THAT WE NEED. IT IS A BALLET OF BOTH. THE NEEDS AND THE WANTS AND DESIRES OF THE CITY. THIS IS MAKING THEM WHOLE TO -- UNFORTUNATELY, TO GET THEM PASSED FROM BEHIND THE 8-BALL. FIVE SEASONS OF WORKING WITH VISIT ALBUQUERQUE AND NEW MEXICO TRUE AND WORKING WITHIN THE STATE, THEY WERE PLAYING BEHIND THE 8-BALL AND TRYING TO CATCH UP ALL THE TIME. MY GOAL WAS TO GET THEM AHEAD OF THE GAME. THEY START LOOKING FOR TALENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF THE FISCAL YEAR. BY APPROPRIATING FUNDS AT THE BEGINNING OF LAST YEAR, IT ALLOWED THEM TO FIND BANDS OF HIGHER CALIBER BASED ON -- MOST OF OUR TOURS ARE A YEAR OUT. THAT'S HOW THEY PLAN THEM, INSTEAD OF GIVING THEM THREE MONTHS, IT WAS SETTING THEM TO BE ABLE TO SUCCEED. SUCCEED IN PROMOTING THE CITY, SUCCEED IN BRINGING IN PEOPLE TO SEE THIS PLACE. THEY HAVE -- AND THEY FREE UP SOME TIME FOR THEM TO START DEVELOPING A PRIVATE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP TO DEVELOP INTO A MUSIC FESTIVAL. THAT'S WHERE THEY TALKED WITH THE STATE ON SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND GETTING THE ATTENTION FROM THE STATE TO GIVE MORE MONEY. IT'S NOT MY GOAL TO GET THEM FUNDED FOREVER. MY GOAL IS TO GET THEM ON A BASE TO GET THEM IN THAT PRIVE-PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP AND BRING IN PEOPLE A WEEK BEFORE THE BALLOON FIESTA STARTS. PEOPLE COME FOR THE MUSIC FESTIVAL AND STAY FOR THE BALLOON FIESTA AND STAY IN OUR CITY. PROMOTE LODGERS, PROMOTE BUSINESSES. THIS IS JUST MAKING THEM WHOLE TO HAVE THAT FOOTING TO KEEP GOING AND KEEP PROMOTING OUR CITY. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR A DO PASS OF R-12. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY YES. OPPOSED NO. THAT MOTION PASSES ON A 7-2. 6-2. WE'RE NOW ON P1. >>COUN. BACA: ADOPTING PROPOSITION TO BE SENT TO VOTERS TO REQUIRE CONFIRMATION OF ALBUQUERQUE COMMUNITY SAFETY AND DESIGNATING ACS CHIEF. I MOVE DO PASS. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND BY COUNCILOR ROGERS FOR DO PASS OF P-1. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? WOULD YOU LIKE TO OPEN, COUNCILOR BACA? >>COUN. BACA: HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO THIS QUICKLY. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BILL, BUT IT IS 11:24. I DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR AN EXTENSION. THIS IS TO BRING ARK CS ON PAR WITH OR OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS. THAT THIRD LEG OF THE STOOL. THERE'S MANY REASONS FOR THAT. HAVE IT ON PAR. THIS WOULD OPEN UP THE ACS TO OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING BEYOND WHERE IT IS. ALSO, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND I WON'T GO THROUGH THIS THE WAY I PLANNED. THIS IS THE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT PRIORITY. THIS BREAKS DOWN WHAT ACS HAS BEEN DOING THE PAST YEAR. FANTASTIC HEAT MAPS WHICH LEAD TO LOT OF QUESTIONS WHEN I LOOK THROUGH THEM. I WILL BE SENDING THIS TO MY CONSTITUENTS TO SEE. HOPEFULLY OTHERS WILL DO THE SAME. THERE'S A LOT TO DIG INTO. I SPEND A LOT MORE TIME ON THIS IF IT WASN'T SO LATE TONIGHT. WITH THAT, I URGE EVERYBODY'S SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILORS? ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? >> MADAM CHAIR, WE DID HAVE TAD, BUT I THINK HE HAS LEFT FOR THE EVENING. >>COUN. PEÑA: THANK YOU. COUNCILOR BACA, ROGERS, TO CLOSE. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR DO PASS OF P-1. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY YES. OPPOSED NO. >>COUN. PEÑA: THAT PASSES ON A 7-2. WE'RE NOW ON BACA AND ROGERS. R-5. >>COUN. ROGERS: THIS IS THE ACCOMPAIES RELUTION TO SUBMIT THE PROPOSITION TO THE VOTERS IN THE EX LECTION CONCERNING THE AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION FOUR OF THE ALBUQUERQUE CITY CHARTER. PROVIDING THE FORM OF THE QUESTION AND DESIGNATION CLAUSE FOR SUCH QUESTION ON THE BALLOT. I MOVE FOR DO PASS. >>COUN. PEÑA: THERE'S A MOTION AND SECOND FOR DO PASS OF R-5. COUNCILOR ROGERS, COUNCILOR BACA OPEN. >>COUN. ROGERS: THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. THIS IS JUST THE ACOMPANYING RESOLUTION THAT GOES WITH THE PROPOSITION. WE URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILORS? SEEING NONE. COUNCILOR BACA TO CLOSE. >>COUN. BACA: URGE YOUR SUPPORT. >>COUN. PEÑA: COUNCILOR GROUT IS ASKING IF THIS HAS TO HAVE TWO HEARINGS. >> THIS IS THE SECOND HEARING. THE FIRST HEARING WAS THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING WE HAD. >>COUN. PEÑA: OKAY. OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF R-5, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY YES. OPPOSED, SAME MOTION. MOTION PASSES, 7-2. MAN. WE DID IT. IT'S NOT MIDNIGHT. WE'RE NOW ON TO OTHER BUSINESS. THERE'S NONE. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS ADJOURNED.