Councilor Harris is proceeding to create a Task Force to look into issues regarding:

• neighborhood associations
• homeowner associations
• City's Office of Neighborhood Coordination

His new approach takes into account issues raised by neighborhood representatives.

The Councilor listened to those concerns and responded by incorporating the following changes:

• selecting a different Task Force chair


• reviewing the Office of Neighborhood Coordination


• broadening the charge of the Task Force


• asking the Task Force to develop whatever legislation may be necessary to address the issues the Task Force identifies.

At the City Council meeting on May 7, 2007, Councilor Harris will introduce a memorandum to the other City Councilors which sets out the intent, make up and goals of the Task Force.

Albuquerque drivers should now all be accustomed to the hands free - not cell free ordinance that makes it illegal to hold a cell phone while driving.

For the first two months, the police were generous and issued warnings instead of citations. Now, the grace period is over. Everyone has had ample time to find an earpiece and learn how the device operates.

Now, drivers will be issued a ticket for:

• $100 for the first offense
• $200 for subsequent offenses

They can either choose to pay the fine or fight the citation in court.

• Read FAQs about the cell phone ordinance

On Monday, Feb. 5, the City Council passed the bill, sponsored by Councilors Ken Sanchez and Isaac “Ike” Benton, making it illegal to use a hand-held cell phone while driving. The ordinance does not take away the option to use a phone while driving. It only requires drivers to use the safer hands-free method to talk, the Councilors said. The Mayor signed the bill February 7 and the law took effect five days publication in the Albuquerque Journal.

ALBUQUERQUE – City Councilor Martin Heinrich (District 6) has introduced legislation to be known as the “Slumlord Accountability” ordinance, amending the Uniform Housing Code. The ordinance, O-07-76, has been deferred to the Finance and Government Operations Committee meeting of April 23. If approved, it will provide for payment of relocation costs to residents and reimbursement of such costs by owners of the property whenever the City of Albuquerque code enforcement team is forced to close a residential unit pursuant to safety provisions of the Housing Code Ordinance.

“If a landlord is aware that there are problems with their property, then they need to be responsible to assure that their tenants are relocated when the City vacates their property,” said Heinrich. The proposed ordinance will put the onus of paying for relocation assistance back on the property owner, not on the City’s taxpayers or the families being forced to move. Heinrich hopes that by providing the threat of relocation payments, this ordinance will provide an incentive to negligent landlords to address code violations and to keep their properties from becoming nuisances in the first place.

"This ordinance is a practical and common sense way to hold property owners accountable and to prevent low-income people from becoming homeless. Relocation payments combined with timely intervention from trained housing specialists will also enable people to identify better, safer and more affordable places to call home,” says Heinrich.

Mark Allison, President of the Albuquerque Affordable Housing Coalition, expresses his support for the ordinance as a broader statement of the value of quality housing in Albuquerque. "The people of Albuquerque deserve safe and decent housing. And neighborhoods deserve to be free of nuisance and eyesore properties,” says Allison.

If approved, the ordinance will take effect five days after its enactment. Once heard by the Finance and Government Operations Committee, it will be sent to the full City Council for final approval.

For more information, please contact City Councilor Martin Heinrich at 768-3100 / TTY 768-2474.

Every week, trash is picked up, parks are mowed, and criminals are put behind bars. These and many other services are provided by the City of Albuquerque, which budgets almost $750 million each year to keep City services running smoothly. Which services are provided, and in what quantities, is decided when the Mayor and the City Council set the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

Each year, that process begins on April 1, when the Mayor sends his budget proposal to the City Council for their review. The City Council will spend the next 60 days discussing the budget and listening to constituent’s comments and ideas before deciding what the City’s FY/08 budget should look like. The goal of the process is to write a budget that ensures that the City is living within its means, provides for its priorities, and move the City closer to achieving its goals.

“The annual budget process is one of the City Council’s most important responsibilities.” said Jon Zaman, City Council policy analyst, “Listening to citizen input and reviewing and revising the City’s programs to meet community needs is a process the Council takes very seriously.”

As always, this year there are a number of opportunities for you to be involved in the City’s budget process. The budget will be discussed at the following public meeting, at which your comments are encouraged:

On April 25 at 5:00 p.m., the City Council will hold a public meeting at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center to hear from administrators and constituents about the proposed budgets for Police, Fire, Family & Community Services, Senior Affairs and Parks and Recreation, among others.

On May 10 at 5:00 p.m., the City Council will hold a public meeting at the Taylor Ranch Community Center to hear from administrators and constituents about the proposed budgets for Environmental Health, Municipal Development, Planning, Transit, Parking and Solid Waste, among others.

Then, on May 17 at 5:00 p.m., the City Council will hold a public meeting in the Vincent E. Griego Chambers in the basement of One Civic Plaza to apply everything they have learned about the budget and make any changes they deem necessary.

Finally, on May 21 during the regular City Council meeting, the Council will make any final changes and vote to adopt the budget.

And, of course, one of the very best ways to make your voice heard is to contact your City Councilor directly. They welcome your input!