County Commission backs bonds for Uptown Connect affordable apartments
Clerk’s action summary ↗Agenda ↗Meeting page ↗ Meeting details
The short version
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The County Commission backed three affordable apartment projects
It approved up to $23,800,000 in bonds for Uptown Connect, which has 198 apartments, 176 of them income-restricted. It also took first steps toward property tax breaks for Parkside, a 66-unit project (passed 4-0, Chair Barboa away), and Casa Marabella, a 90-unit project.
What it means for youAt Uptown Connect, the restricted units are for households earning 30% to 80% of the area median income.
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The County Commission accepted grants to replace the old generators at the jail
It accepted $2,172,978.94 from the state homeland security and emergency management department and $715,969.65 from the state finance department, which covers the 25% local match. Rules were set aside so this could pass at its first reading, and it passed unanimously.
What it means for youThe money pays to replace old emergency generators at the Metropolitan Detention Center.
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The County Commission introduced year-end changes to the county budget
The changes add $234,325,443 in revenue and $239,398,866 in spending for the budget year that ends in June 2027. They include $51,390,780 in prior commitments from the General Fund.
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The County Commission introduced, and changed, its 2027 list of projects to ask the state to fund
Amendments added $4,000,000 for sheriff's technology and crime prevention equipment, road work on Neat Lane ($1,911,500) and Quiet Lane ($115,500), $1,000,000 for International District housing, the Mesa del Sol project and the Hann Arroyo project. The amended list passed unanimously.
What it means for youThe final list comes back for a vote on Oct. 14.
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The County Commission passed a package of items in one vote, without discussion
The package included $20,650 to buy existing artwork, two zoning changes, cleanup of nuisances on four properties in District 2, and board appointments.
What it means for youNeighbors of the two rezoned sites and the four cleanup sites are affected.
What people said
- 14 people spoke in public comment.
What’s next
- The final 2027 list of projects to ask the state to fund comes back for a vote at the Oct. 14 meeting.
- The Alleyway Cookbook proclamation was put off to the Oct. 14 meeting at 5:00 p.m.
- Nuisance cleanup on a 5-acre Pajarito Mesa property was put off to Dec. 8.
- Next meetings, both on Wednesday, Oct. 14 in the Ken Sanchez Commission Chambers: a zoning meeting at 3:00 p.m. and an administrative meeting at 5:00 p.m.
Everything on the agenda (17 items)
Decided by vote 10
The commission set aside its rules so it could amend the capital project list when it was introduced, and so it could pass the jail generator grants at their first reading.
This proclamation was put off to Oct. 14.
This item was pulled from the group vote and then approved on its own. It lets the county enter a property of about 2.50 acres on Pajarito Mesa and remove nuisances.
For you: Pajarito Mesa residents
Cleanup on a property of about 5 acres on Pajarito Mesa was put off to Dec. 8.
For you: Pajarito Mesa residents
After a public hearing, the commission approved issuing up to $23,800,000 in housing revenue bonds to build Uptown Connect, which has 198 apartments. Of those, 176 will be income- and rent-restricted for households earning 30% to 80% of the area median income. Commissioner Olivas sponsored it.
For you: Renters with low to moderate incomes
States the county's intent, if certain conditions are met, to approve a property tax exemption for a 66-unit, fully affordable workforce apartment project in Northeast Albuquerque. It serves households earning 80% to 100% of the area median income. Commissioner Benson sponsored it.
For you: Workforce renters in Northeast Albuquerque
States the county's intent, if certain conditions are met, to approve a property tax exemption for a 90-unit, fully affordable project of apartments and townhomes in Northwest Albuquerque. It serves households earning about 80% to 120% of the area median income.
For you: Renters in Northwest Albuquerque
Accepts $2,172,978.94 from the state homeland security and emergency management department and $715,969.65 from the state finance department, the 25% match, to replace old generators at the Metropolitan Detention Center. It also lets the county manager approve spending over $300,000.00 for the project.
Introduces changes for the budget year that ends in June 2027: $234,325,443 in revenue and $239,398,866 in spending, based on balances as of June 30, 2026. This includes $51,390,780 in prior General Fund commitments and $188,008,086 in other funds.
For you: County taxpayers
Introduced with amendments: $4,000,000 for sheriff's technology in place of fleet vehicles; road and storm drain work on Neat Lane ($1,911,500), Quiet Lane ($115,500) and Wildwood Road ($129,500); $1,000,000 for International District housing; the Mesa del Sol project as the fourth countywide priority; and the Hann Arroyo project.
For you: Residents near the listed road, drainage and housing projects
Passed together without discussion 6
The commission appointed or reappointed members to the Addiction Treatment Advisory Board, the Behavioral Health Advisory Board, the Code of Conduct Board, the Economic Development Community Advisory Board, the Keep BernCo Beautiful Advisory Board and the Youth Sports Commission.
The county will buy existing artworks from nine artists for a total of $20,650. The art was picked by the Bernalillo County Arts Board and is paid for from the county's 1.5% for Art budget.
For you: People who visit county public art
Rezones a property on West Frontage Rd NW in District 1 from A-1 to a district the record calls SD-WC-CLI.
For you: Neighbors of the site
Rezones a property on Central Ave SW in District 2 from M-1 to a district the record calls SD-WC-CLI.
For you: Neighbors of the site
Lets the county enter four properties and remove nuisances: one in the Mervosh Addition, one on Isleta Blvd SW and two on Larkin Rd SW.
For you: Neighbors of these properties
Lets the county manager sign amendments, follow-on agreements and change orders to the on-call civil infrastructure construction price agreements. The record gives no dollar amount.
Reports, presentations and discussion 1
The commission presented proclamations for National Suicide Prevention Month and for a local couple, plus an acknowledgment of My World, My Lens.
What the record doesn’t say
- The record does not say who presided, since Chair Barboa attended remotely, or what time the meeting ended.
- The record does not say what the 14 public speakers talked about.
- The record does not say where Uptown Connect will be built or how much the Parkside and Casa Marabella tax breaks are worth.
- The record does not say what the SD-WC-CLI zoning allows or what is planned for the two rezoned sites.
- The record does not say what nuisances will be removed or what the cleanups will cost.
- The record does not say when the budget changes come back for a final vote.
- The record gives no dollar amount for the on-call construction price agreement changes.
Meeting details
- Meeting
- Administrative meeting (regular), 5:00 p.m.
- Where
- Ken Sanchez Commission Chambers
- Attendance
- All five commissioners attended. Chair Barboa took part remotely.
- 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 Bernalillo County meetings