City Council elects Councilor Peña president in split vote

Approves the mayor's pick for a group benefits consultant for the Human Resources Department. The record does not name the firm or the cost.

Internal: City employees

Confirmed: Mona Ghattas (Albuquerque Development Commission), David A. Chene (ABQ Volunteers Advisory Board), Amanda Rose Sofio (Transit Advisory Board), Joby Mitchell-Wallace (Older American's Act Advisory Council), Lucy Y. Binnert (Youth Advisory Council), Sarah C. Kelly (Para Transit Advisory Board) and Nancy Tankersley (Greater Albuquerque Recreational Trails Committee). Each one got its own vote, and each passed 9-0.

Approves the Transit Department's updated 2025 public transportation safety plan. Councilor Telles was excused from the vote.

For you: Bus riders

Adds operating grant money to the city's capital program and approves new projects. The record does not list the projects or amounts.

Would sell up to $47,000,000 in bonds backed by gross receipts tax: up to $18,000,000 for the Juniper Flats housing development and up to $29,000,000 to refinance older city bonds from 2015. Put off to Jan. 21.

For you: Taxpayers; future Juniper Flats residents

Would state the City Council's support for a housing affordability amendment to New Mexico's redevelopment code. Put off to Feb. 2.

Approves a state economic development project with Indus Synergies Inc. to finish a business accelerator in Albuquerque, including spending city funds. It was rewritten first (8-0, Councilor Baca excused), then passed. The record does not give the amount or location.

Approves an operating and facility lease with 516 ARTS for 2025 through 2031. The record does not give the terms.

Declares the property at 508 1st St. NW essential for city purposes. The record does not say what the city plans for it.

A request to review the city attorney's conduct and conflict-of-interest compliance in the mayor's lawsuit with the City Council was withdrawn.

Would put a 2025 state law on rental practices into city code, covering screening fees, fee disclosures and late fees, and require landlords to offer a no-fee way to pay. Changed twice (8-1, Councilor Champine against; then 9-0), then put off to Jan. 21 (8-1, Councilor Bassan against). The record does not describe the changes.

For you: Renters and landlords

Would require Albuquerque Fire Rescue, the police department and the Community Safety Department to give quarterly operations reports. Put off to Jan. 21.

For you: Residents who follow public safety

Adds a road project on McMahon Boulevard Northwest, between Kayenta Street and Universe Boulevard, to the city's capital program. A change passed 7-0 with Councilors Grout and Rogers excused. The record does not give the cost.

For you: Drivers on the Northwest side

Approves a redevelopment tax break for the 4th and La Plata apartment project by 4th & La Plata, LLC. The record does not give its size.

For you: Neighbors near 4th Street and La Plata

Adjusts last year's budget to match actual spending and adjusts this year's operating budget. A change by Councilor Rogers failed 1-8. The record does not give amounts.

Approves new projects, adds money and changes the scope of others in the city's capital program. Six changes passed; the third was 8-1, with Councilor Baca against. The record does not list the projects.

Sets a one-time extra payment for city employees, based on the general fund balance at the end of the budget year. Changed once, 9-0. The record does not give the amount.

For you: City employees

Would have changed how councilor expenses are divided. A change by Councilor Grout failed 4-5. The final vote failed 3-6: Councilors Baca, Fiebelkorn and Rogers for; Councilors Bassan, Champine, Grout, Lewis, Peña and Telles against.

States the City Council's support for a proposed state bill on making local planning reviews for new housing more transparent.

For you: People seeking new housing

Would add $662,526.92 to Heading Home to keep 92 households housed. Put off to Jan. 21.

For you: The 92 households in the program

Councilor Peña was elected president over Councilor Baca. Councilors Bassan, Champine, Grout, Lewis and Peña voted for Councilor Peña; Councilors Baca, Fiebelkorn, Rogers and Telles voted for Councilor Baca. Councilor Champine was elected vice-president over Councilor Rogers by the same 5-4 split.

Councilor Grout was elected chair over Councilor Fiebelkorn, by the same 5-4 split as the president vote.

Committee assignments were put off to Jan. 21. The current committees stay in place until then.

Councilor Champine moved to override a veto of changes meant to improve how city budgets are proposed and to strengthen oversight. The override failed 1-8, with only Councilor Champine in favor.

For you: Taxpayers

A quarterly update on the city's Age-Friendly work, accepted as information.

For you: Older residents