City Council sends city attorney and clerk charter change to voters
Clerk’s action summary ↗Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗ Meeting details
The short version
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The City Council voted to put a city charter change about the city attorney and city clerk on the 2026 general election ballot.
The proposal covers how the city attorney and city clerk are appointed and removed, and how independent they are. It passed 6-3: Councilors Baca, Champine, Fiebelkorn, Grout, Lewis and Telles for; Councilors Bassan, Peña and Rogers against.
What it means for youAlbuquerque voters will decide the question at the 2026 general election.
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The City Council passed tighter rules on selling scrap metal, adding copper and brass.
The catalytic converter law is renamed the Sale of Recycled Metals law and now covers copper and brass, with new record-keeping rules and set payment forms. It passed 8-1, with Councilor Lewis against.
What it means for youPeople and businesses that buy or sell copper, brass or catalytic converters face new reporting and payment rules.
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People from outside the city will pay more to dump trash, and everyone must show proof of where they live.
Disposal fees at the city's convenience centers go up for residents and businesses outside city limits. It passed 8-1, with Councilor Lewis against.
What it means for youUsing the city landfill or convenience centers now requires proof of residency.
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The City Council voted down changes to zoning rules for cannabis and nicotine shops.
The changes failed 3-6: Councilors Baca, Bassan and Grout for; Councilors Champine, Fiebelkorn, Lewis, Peña, Rogers and Telles against.
What it means for youCurrent zoning rules for cannabis and nicotine stores stay as they are.
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Votes on a home repair program and a hotel bond were put off to Aug. 17.
A $2,835,000.00 deal with Homewise for homeowner repairs and a bond of up to $40,520,267 for the 135-room Dreamcatcher Sawmill Hotel were both put off by 7-2 votes.
What it means for youHomeowners waiting on the repair program will have to wait at least until the Aug. 17 meeting.
What’s next
- The Homewise home repair agreement, the Dreamcatcher Sawmill Hotel bond and more money for outside lawyers at Modrall Sperling come back Aug. 17.
- A plan tying state construction money to specific projects, and requiring City Council approval of scope changes, comes back Aug. 17.
- Voters will decide the city attorney and city clerk charter change at the 2026 general election; the record gives no date.
Everything on the agenda (22 items)
Decided by vote 20
A change adding money to the city's agreement with the law firm Modrall Sperling was put off to Aug. 17. The record does not give the amount.
An agreement for Homewise, Inc. to run a homeowner repair program with $2,835,000.00 in housing and neighborhood development funds was put off to Aug. 17.
For you: Homeowners hoping for repair help.
The City Council confirmed the mayor's reappointments of Amy M. Kindrick, Sara Yvonne Escobar, Jodie L. Jaramillo and Chearie J. Alipat to the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Commission.
The City Council approved giving up (vacating) a piece of public right-of-way on Edith. The record does not say who asked or why.
For you: People who live or own property near that stretch of Edith.
The mayor withdrew the reappointment of Sonora Rodriguez. The City Council confirmed Catherine E. Mexal to the Housing & Neighborhood Economic Development Committee.
Senator Bill Tallman was reappointed to the Albuquerque Museum Board of Trustees for District 8.
The City Council approved a building agreement for the Encuentro Home Health Aid Training Center, developed by La Plaza De Encuentro Gathering Place. The record does not give the amount.
For you: People seeking home health aide training.
A taxable industrial revenue bond of up to $40,520,267 to build the Dreamcatcher Sawmill Hotel, a Hampton Inn and Home2 Suites with about 135 rooms, was put off to Aug. 17.
For you: People near the planned hotel site.
Approved a social services agreement with New Mexico Veterans Integration Centers paid from opioid settlement funds. The record does not give the amount.
For you: Veterans who use these services.
Increased funding for substance use treatment voucher contracts with Albuquerque Behavioral Health and Engender, Inc. The record does not give the amounts.
For you: People seeking substance use treatment.
Renames the catalytic converter law the Sale of Recycled Metals law, adds copper and brass, updates record-keeping and sets how sellers may be paid. Six changes from Councilor Grout were adopted first.
For you: Scrap buyers and sellers.
Raises disposal fees at convenience centers for residents and businesses outside city limits and requires proof of residency to use the city landfill and convenience centers.
For you: Anyone hauling trash to city drop-off sites, especially people outside city limits.
Changes to zoning rules for cannabis and nicotine stores failed, as did an amendment from Councilor Grout (4-5). The meeting was extended to midnight, 7-2, with Councilors Baca and Rogers against.
For you: Cannabis and nicotine retailers and their neighbors.
Replaces two sections of city law with one Accountability in Government law covering the AGO Committee, the Office of Internal Audit and the Office of the Inspector General. A new version was swapped in and passed the same night.
Amends the city's whistleblower law. Three amendments passed; a fourth from Councilor Telles failed 4-5. The record does not describe the changes.
For you: City employees who report wrongdoing.
Puts a city charter change on the 2026 general election ballot about how the city attorney and city clerk are appointed and removed, and their independence. Three amendments from Councilor Fiebelkorn passed first.
For you: All Albuquerque voters.
Sends voters a change to Article V, Section 4 of the city charter at the next city election. It was set aside, the meeting was extended to 12:30 a.m., then it was taken back up and passed. The record does not say what the change does.
For you: All Albuquerque voters.
Updates the city's capital projects plan by adding grant money and approving new projects. The record does not list projects or amounts.
Would tie state construction money to specific projects and require City Council approval for changes in scope. It was amended, then put off to Aug. 17.
The City Council met in private on a personnel matter tied to the Inspector General's investigation of City Attorney Lauren Keefe. President Peña said only that topic was discussed. No action is recorded.
Reports, presentations and discussion 2
Catholic Charities staff Kara Unale and Laura Fisher-Gallegos described the Move in Mentor Program. City Economist Christine Boerner gave an update on cannabis and gross receipts tax.
For you: Residents interested in housing help and city tax revenue.
The City Council accepted as information the CPOA's report for July through December 2025.
What the record doesn’t say
- What the city attorney and clerk charter change, and the separate Article V, Section 4 change, would actually do.
- The new disposal fee amounts for people outside city limits, and what counts as proof of residency.
- Dollar amounts for the veterans services agreement, the treatment voucher increases and the capital projects changes.
- The record shows no action on a $6,160,000 state water grant for the John St. pump station and Barelas storm drains, though it was on the agenda.
- How many people spoke during public comment, and what they said.
- What the amendments to the scrap metal and whistleblower laws changed.
Meeting details
- Meeting
- Regular meeting, 5:00 p.m.–12:24 a.m.
- Where
- Vincent E. Griego Chambers, One Civic Plaza NW, City of Albuquerque Government Center
- Presiding
- City Council President Klarissa Peña
- Attendance
- All nine councilors present; Councilor Lewis was excused for the last 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