City Council passes Enhanced Service and Safety Zone ordinance
Clerk’s action summary ↗Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗ Meeting details
The short version
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The City Council passed the "Enhanced Service and Safety Zone" ordinance on a split vote.
It passed 6-3 after some proposed changes were adopted and others failed. Councilors Baca, Bassan, Champine, Grout, Lewis and Peña voted yes; Councilors Fiebelkorn, Rogers and Telles voted no.
What it means for youThe ordinance's title says it aims to bring better city services and safety in these zones.
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The mayor's veto of cooling rules for rental housing stands after an override attempt failed.
The vetoed ordinance would have set cooling system performance requirements in the city's housing code. The override vote was 5-4: Councilors Bassan, Champine, Grout, Lewis and Peña voted for it; Councilors Baca, Fiebelkorn, Rogers and Telles voted against.
What it means for youThe cooling requirements do not take effect.
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The City Council put off a change to the police oversight law until May 18.
The change would clarify the civilian police oversight agency's power to investigate police department staff. Councilors adopted one change to it 8-0, with Councilor Baca excused, then put it off.
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About 36 acres on San Pedro Drive were declared blighted and added to the Near Heights redevelopment area.
It passed 7-0. Councilor Baca was excused and Councilor Grout recused.
What it means for youThe land along San Pedro Drive now falls inside the Near Heights redevelopment area's boundary.
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The City Council adopted the 2026 plan for federal housing and homelessness grants.
The plan covers community development, home investment, emergency shelter and workforce housing money, and funds the Department of Health, Housing & Homelessness. It passed 9-0 with one change; the record gives no dollar amounts.
What it means for youThe plan sets how federal housing aid is spent in the city.
What’s next
- The change to the police oversight law comes back May 18.
- A change to the rules for reports, plans and drawings prepared by City Council staff comes back May 18.
Everything on the agenda (23 items)
Decided by vote 18
Approved the recommended contract award for mental health and support services for the Albuquerque Police Department. The record gives no vendor or amount.
For you: Police staff and possibly residents served by these services.
Approved the city's request for a state Trails+ grant for the West Old Town Rail Trail. The record gives no amount.
For you: People who walk or bike near West Old Town.
Approved a ground lease between the city and the Operating Engineers Local 953 apprenticeship training trust fund. The record gives no location, term or rent.
Confirmed the mayor's picks: Jessie Hunt back to the Balloon Museum Board of Trustees, Dede Feldman to the Indicators Progress Commission, and Daniel C. Martinez to the ABQ Volunteers Advisory Board.
A change to city code on reports, plans, technical documents and drawings prepared by the City Council Services Department, sponsored by Councilor Grout, was put off to May 18.
Councilor Fiebelkorn withdrew a proposal to require the mayor's office to share board and commission applications with the councilor of the applicant's district.
Directs the city to update all maps, information and documents to show that the city owns the Montaño Bridge. Sponsored by Councilor Baca.
For you: People who use the Montaño Bridge.
Moves money from Albuquerque Fire Rescue's fire fund to pay for a bunk room addition at Fire Station 11. The record gives no amount.
For you: Firefighters at Fire Station 11 and the area it serves.
Sets the city's 2026 priorities for its infrastructure capital improvements plan. The record does not list the projects.
For you: Residents who use city roads, buildings and facilities.
Approved notice of the Aviation Department's application to the U.S. Department of Transportation's BUILD grant program. The record gives no project or amount.
Rejected the indirect overhead charge for the capital program in the budget year ending June 2027. Councilors Bassan and Peña voted yes; Councilors Baca, Champine, Fiebelkorn, Grout, Lewis, Rogers and Telles voted no.
Approved, with one change, a contract award for on-call planning services for the City Council. The record gives no vendor or amount.
Creates "Enhanced Service and Safety Zones." Its title says they are meant to bring better city services and safety. Sponsored by Councilor Baca. Some proposed changes were adopted and others failed; the record does not describe them.
For you: Residents and businesses in the zones, which the record does not name.
Would clarify the civilian police oversight agency's power to investigate police department staff. Sponsored by Councilors Grout, Fiebelkorn and Rogers. One change was adopted, then the item was put off to May 18.
For you: Residents who file complaints about police, and police staff.
Declares about 36 acres on San Pedro Drive blighted, adds them to the Near Heights redevelopment area, and makes a matching minor change to that area's plan.
For you: Property owners and neighbors along San Pedro Drive.
Adopts the 2026 plan for community development, home investment, emergency shelter and workforce housing money, and funds the Department of Health, Housing & Homelessness with 2026 federal housing money. One change was adopted. The record gives no amounts.
For you: Low-income residents and people who are homeless.
Accepts an amended Community Energy Efficiency Development block grant and puts the money in the General Services Department's budget for the 2026 budget year. The record gives no amount.
An attempt to override the mayor's veto of cooling system performance requirements in the housing code failed. Councilors Bassan, Champine, Grout, Lewis and Peña voted to override; Councilors Baca, Fiebelkorn, Rogers and Telles voted no.
For you: Renters and landlords.
Reports, presentations and discussion 5
Accepted an insurance and benefits survey as information.
Accepted the revenue and expense report for the second quarter of the 2026 budget year as information.
Accepted the police oversight board's annual review of its policies and procedures as information.
Accepted a presentation of the city's audit for the 2025 budget year as information. The record gives no findings.
The mayor's veto of budget changes for some funds and programs in the 2026 budget year stands. The City Council took no vote.
What the record doesn’t say
- Where the Enhanced Service and Safety Zones are and what the ordinance changes.
- What the proposed changes to the safety zone ordinance said.
- What happened to two agenda items missing from the clerk's summary: a property swap involving 2117 Osuna Rd NE and 6600 Zuni Rd SE, and a new affordable housing project.
- Dollar amounts for the contracts, grants and funding moves approved.
- How many people spoke during public comment and what they said.
- Why Councilor Grout recused from the San Pedro Drive vote.
Meeting details
- Meeting
- Regular meeting, 5 p.m.–9:28 p.m.
- Where
- Vincent E. Griego Chambers, One Civic Plaza NW, City of Albuquerque Government Center
- Presiding
- Council President Klarissa J. Peña
- Attendance
- All nine councilors present at roll call; Councilor Baca was excused for some later votes
- Written from
- From the clerk’s action summary.
Written by AI from the official record and checked by code against it: every dollar figure, vote, number, date and member’s name must appear in the record’s own words, or the summary is held. Not reviewed by a person. Residents are not named. How these are made · All Albuquerque meetings