City Council confirms Cecily Barker as Albuquerque police chief

The City Council confirmed the mayor's picks for city advisory boards: ABQ Volunteers, Active Transportation, Airport, Affordable Housing, Municipal Golf, Library, Indicators Progress, Lodgers' Tax, Youth, EMS Providers, Cable and Internet, and the city's energy advisory group. It also confirmed one member of the Civilian Police Oversight Advisory Board.

For you: Residents these boards advise on, from bike and walking routes to libraries and the airport.

The City Council approved adding money to the city's contract with the law firm Holland & Hart for outside legal work. The record does not give the amount.

A change to city law about how City Council Services prepares reports, plans and drawings was put off to May 4.

A contract award for on-call planning services for the City Council was put off to May 4.

This gives the city more time to carry out earlier orders on its housing voucher programs. It adds a plan to connect data across housing and homelessness dashboards. It also adds someone who has used a housing voucher to the task force. Sponsored by Councilors Grout and Rogers.

For you: People who use or are waiting for city housing vouchers.

The city accepts a $3,000,000 deal from the New Mexico Finance Authority, including a $300,000 loan, for water storage and delivery at Puerto Del Sol Golf Course. The loan is repaid from tax money the city receives.

For you: Golfers at Puerto Del Sol and city taxpayers.

The city may sell up to $89,610,000 in bonds in three parts: $56,360,000 for general projects, $8,250,000 for storm sewers and $25,000,000 in short-term bonds sold to the state. Voters approved them on Nov. 4, 2025. Property taxes pay them back. A revised version was swapped in first.

For you: Property owners, and residents who use the parks, libraries, streets and transit the bonds pay for.

This lets the city ask for bids to buy $56,360,000 in general bonds and $8,250,000 in storm sewer bonds. A revised version was swapped in first.

An applicant appealed a denial of a 3-foot variance for a 6-foot steel fence in a front yard on Wyoming Boulevard NE. The applicant withdrew the appeal.

For you: Neighbors on that stretch of Wyoming Boulevard NE.

An applicant appealed a denial of a variance for a 5-foot 10-inch steel fence in a front yard on 4th Street NW. The City Council accepted the hearing officer's recommendation and findings. The record does not say what the officer recommended.

For you: Neighbors on that stretch of 4th Street NW.

The City Council confirmed the mayor's reappointments of Dennis F. Armijo Sr. and Dr. Joseph Galewsky to the Joint Air Quality Board.

For you: Residents affected by the area's air quality rules.

The City Council confirmed Raul Bujanda as the city's Executive Director of Public Safety.

For you: All residents served by city public safety departments.

The City Council confirmed Interim Chief Cecily A. Barker as chief of the Albuquerque Police Department.

For you: All Albuquerque residents.

This adds cooling system performance requirements to the city's housing code. Councilor Grout's change passed 5-4. Councilor Fiebelkorn moved to withdraw it, and that failed 4-5. It then passed as changed. The agenda listed Councilor Fiebelkorn as sponsor; the action summary lists Councilors Champine, Bassan and Grout.

For you: Renters and landlords covered by the housing code.

A change to make clear that the police oversight agency can investigate Albuquerque Police Department staff was put off to May 4. Sponsored by Councilors Grout, Fiebelkorn and Rogers.

For you: Residents who file complaints about police.

This extends a two-year FasTrax permitting policy for housing in centers and corridors and for projects in redevelopment areas. A motion by Councilor Champine failed 5-4 first; the record does not say what it was. The City Council also voted 8-1 to run the meeting to 10:40 p.m., with Councilor Baca against.

For you: Builders of housing in those areas, and future residents.

The city accepts outside grant money for the General Services Department, starting in the budget year ending June 2027. The record names the group giving it but does not give the amount or the use.

The City Council accepted a report on the Housing Forward Fund as information.

The City Council accepted the yearly report of the city's energy advisory group as information.

The City Council accepted an update on the police oversight agency's one-year goals as information.

The City Council accepted an update on a training and enforcement plan it asked for earlier as information. The record does not say what the plan covers.