What to expect: councilors expected to vote on city charter, zoning changes

Controversial city charter amendments, zoning changes and legislation to create a commission for the Route 66 Visitors Center — which was built in 2022 but has yet to open — will be debated at the Albuquerque City Council meeting on Monday. 

City charter changes

After postponing them twice, city councilors are expected to vote on four amendments that propose changing the city charter — the topic of much discussion at the council’s last meeting on June 3. 

City Councilors Dan Lewis, Klarissa Peña and Renée Grout had introduced amendments proposing changing the city’s majority rules for voting and the appointment and removal of key officials. If councilors approve the changes, they will be sent to voters in November. 

The proposal to change the city’s voting rules would allow a mayor or city councilor to be elected with at least 40% of the total vote, instead of the current 50%. Dozens of speakers criticized the proposal as “antidemocratic” at the council’s June 3 meeting. 

Another proposed change is to create a committee of mayoral and city council appointees tasked with recommending candidates for city clerk and city attorney. 

Adding to the list is a proposal that would allow the mayor to terminate a fire or police chief at any time, but allow the council — with a two-thirds vote — to terminate their employment after giving notice to the chief and mayor.

The last amendment proposes to create a process for filling vacancies on a three-member conference committee that resolves disputes between the executive and legislative branches. 

At the last meeting, Councilors Tammy Fiebelkorn, Nichole Rogers and Joaquín Baca had introduced a resolution to create a task force to review the charter and make recommendations on the proposed revisions. This resolution was also deferred — a recommendation from Lewis — and will be discussed on Monday. 

Commission for unopened Route 66 Visitors Center

Legislation to establish a Route 66 Visitors Center commission will also be discussed on Monday. 

The construction of the Route 66 Visitors Center — a $13.6 billion taxpayer-funded project — was started in March 2021. While there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening in September 2022, the gates and doors have never opened to visitors. 

Councilor Klarissa Peña, who has been involved in the project for years, is now trying to create a commission comprised of seven voting members, including four members designated by the West Central Community Development Group, to oversee the center.

Zoning changes

Another hot-ticket item on the council’s packed agenda are zoning amendments that could impact neighborhoods or businesses. The proposals to the Integrated Development Ordinance touch on overnight shelters, duplexes, fence height and landscaping requirements. 

Nonprofit journalism like this depends on readers like you. This story is supported by City Desk ABQ, a nonprofit newsroom project of Citizen Media Group supporting news and politics coverage that inspires readers to participate in local democracy. Become a supporter to keep City Desk free and support nonprofit, independent journalists covering politics and policy f0r New Mexico newsrooms.