City Council Highlights

Councilor Michael Cadigan Invited to Speak at the American Planning Association's (APA) National Planning Conference

2008-04-24T16:03:45Z

Albuquerque City Councilor Michael Cadigan will be presenting at the APA’s 100th National Planning Conference, April 27- May 1, in Las Vegas NV.

Councilor Cadigan will be speaking on the APA’s Planning New Towns in the Desert panel on April 28th. Designing new towns in a desert climate poses challenges for implementing sustainability principles. Albuquerque’s Volcano Heights Sector Development Plan, which was adopted in 2006, will be used as a case study to demonstrate how desert towns can implement smart growth principles while responding to its natural context.

]]> Councilor Cadigan has been asked to give his perspective as a political decision-maker and as a reformer who steadfastly advocated for smart growth and sustainability in the creation of the Volcano Heights Sector Development Plan.

The five-day conference addresses challenges communities face and issues that concern residents — sustainability, congestion, water supplies, climate change, downtown redevelopment, and others. The conference provides information and resources for planning practitioners, educators, citizens, business leaders and elected officials.

The APA's National Planning Conference attracts more than 5,000 planners and officials and is the world's largest annual planning and public policy conference of its kind.

Visit the conference Web site for more details on the program and speakers: http://www.planning.org/nationalconference/

Concerns from April 7, 2008 City Council Meeting

2008-04-10T19:34:23Z

Today, three City Councilors sent the Albuquerque’s Chief of Police a memorandum containing a series of pointed questions concerning the notification of an internal affairs investigation to an APD Sergeant immediately after he appeared and spoke at the April 7 council meeting. The Sergeant had just finished expressing concerns about the process for voting for the new APOA contract when he was advised that he is being investigated.

]]> Sergeant Paul Heh of the Albuquerque Police Department spoke to the council about concerns he and other senior officers had regarding the Police contract and the process that was followed that led to its approval. As Sergeant Heh prepared to leave the council meeting, he was told that an Internal Affairs Investigation against him had been initiated. “I find that coincidence alarming,” said Councilor Winter. “With all we are hearing from the Department [APD] about intimidation and retaliation, I just hope this is not what the investigation is about. We want to be sure City employees, including police officers feel free to express their concerns before council without retaliation” he said. The council has received numerous calls from employees, many of whom wish to remain anonymous because of that fear. “It is common knowledge that employee morale is at an all time low,” says President Winter. “ APD is experiencing significant internal infighting about the contract that is currently before the Council. Junior officers are pitted against senior officers. This is not good for the Department and it is definitely not good for the citizens of Albuquerque,” stated Councilor Winter.

Also at Monday night’s council meeting transit workers told the council that they had “been fired improperly for union activity and believe that the City is trying to intimidate workers into sticking with their current union rather than joining a new one” (as reported in the Albuquerque Journal). Several speakers opined that the existing transit union is too closely aligned with the current mayor’s administration.

“As we begin the budget process, the Council not only has to make some difficult decisions, but we now have to figure out a way to create a more cohesive government by resolving those issues that are dividing City staff,” said Winter. Councilor Winter pledges to work together with the entire City Council to assure that these issues and concerns are resolved.

LUPZ Meeting Date Change

2008-04-10T19:32:09Z

The LUPZ meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 16th has been rescheduled to Wednesday, April 23rd.

District 5 Spring Meeting

2008-04-03T16:09:16Z

Councilor Cadigan of District 5 will have a Spring Meeting this Thursday, April 3, 2008 at 6:30pm. The meeting will be held at Don Newton-Taylor Ranch Community Center.

Councilor Cadigan welcomes and encourages your participation – bring your questions and concerns.

There will be representatives from the Parks and Recreation Department, the Department of Municipal Development
(infrastructure, traffic engineering, etc.), and the Water Authority on hand to answer questions.

Refreshments will be served.

Please contact Mimi Aledo at 768-3189 with any questions.

District 9 Town Hall Meeting: Economic Potential

2008-03-17T18:35:01Z

Please come to the next District 9 meeting on March 18, 2008 at the Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center. We have invited representatives from Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia National Labs, and the Sandia Tech Park to address issues of:

potential changes or growth that they envision,
economic development for the area and for the City,
issues relating to their role in the national and local economy and the national security.

The Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center is located at 501 Elizabeth SE. The meeting is scheduled for March 18 and will start at 6:30 pm.

]]> This gathering will provide constituents with information about current operations and potential changes at these organizations. We would like interested residents to join us in welcoming representatives from Kirtland Air Force Base, Sandia National Labs, and the Sandia Tech Park, so that we might learn about the impact these organizations have on Albuquerque now and in the future. Please come show your support, and help us spread the word.

Councilor Cadigan on KOB's Eye on New Mexico

2008-02-12T17:23:22Z

Councilor Cadigan discusses the recently adopted Water Conservation Standards for New Construction on KOB's Eye on New Mexico.

Councilor Michael Cadigan appeared on KOB's (Channel 4) Eye on New Mexico on Sunday, February, 10th. You can view the pod cast by clicking on the following link: http://kob.com/article/10106/

The Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority adopted new water conservation standards for new home construction. The bill, sponsored by Albuquerque City Councilor Michael Cadigan passed by a 4-2 vote with Councilor Trudy Jones and Commissioner Tim Cummins opposed.

Cadigan to Speak at National Smart Growth Conference

2008-02-04T23:42:24Z

Albuquerque City Councilor Michael Cadigan will be presenting at the 7th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference, February 7-9, in Washington, DC.

The Local Government Commission, host of the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference, will be flying Councilor Cadigan to Washington, DC. Councilor Cadigan has been asked to speak on his efforts to ensure redevelopment tools such as Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and Tax Increment Development Districts (TIDDs) are not used to create sprawl development on the outer fringes of Albuquerque’s Westside.

]]> This multi-disciplinary event will highlight cutting-edge smart-growth issues and will feature the latest research, implementation tools and strategies, successful case studies, new partners, new projects, and new policies.

The conference will draw a multidisciplinary audience of local elected officials, city and county staff, landscape architects, developers and builders, planners, transportation professionals and traffic engineers, public health professionals, architects, bankers, crime prevention professionals, realtors, urban designers, parks and recreation professionals, environmentalists, advocates for older adults and youth, bicycle and pedestrian advocates, advocates for social equity and affordable housing, labor representatives, and all others committed to building safer, healthier, and more livable communities everywhere.

Visit the conference Web site for more details on the program, speakers, sponsors and cosponsors, special events, and optional tours: http://www.newpartners.org/

LUPZ Meeting Date Change Announcement

2008-02-04T16:52:51Z

The Wednesday, February 13th Land Use Planning & Zoning (LUPZ) meeting date has been rescheduled. The meeting is now scheduled for Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 5:00 pm in the Council Committee Room, 9th floor of One Civic Plaza.

Councilor Cadigan on KOB's Eye on New Mexico

2008-01-31T22:36:26Z

Councilor Cadigan discusses the recently adopted Water Conservation Standards for New Construction on KOB's Eye on New Mexico.

Tune into KOB's (Channel 4) Eye on New Mexico Sunday, February, 10th at 10am.

Gutierrez Canyon Public Open Space to Expand

2008-01-28T19:25:11Z

Over the past year, a coordinated effort has been under way to acquire 420 acres of open space in the East Mountains, and next week, the City of Albuquerque is scheduled to close on the purchase of the land. The effort was led by the Turquoise Trail/Gutierrez Canyon Preservation Coalition and the Trust for Public Land and gained the support of Governor Richardson, Lt. Governor Diane Denish, and numerous State legislators. City Councilors Isaac Benton and Martin Heinrich sponsored legislation to appropriate a portion of the total land acquisition cost, which was supported by Mayor Chavez and the entire City Council.

“The City’s acquisition of these 420 acres, which will more than double the area of the Gutierrez Canyon Open Space in the East Mountains, is a great accomplishment,” said Councilor Heinrich. “We are fortunate to have had the opportunity to participate in the preservation of this open space, and the citizens of the Albuquerque metropolitan area will be the beneficiaries of our expanded open space network,” added Councilor Benton.

]]> Andre Larroque of the Turquoise Trail/Gutierrez Canyon Preservation Coalition thanked the councilors for the role they played in the acquisition. “Councilors Heinrich and Benton stepped up and helped secure critical funding to ensure that this land acquisition could take place. We are grateful for their support, as well as that of Governor Richardson, Lt. Governor Diane Denish, state legislators Sue Wilson Beffort, Kent Cravens, Kathy McCoy and Mimi Stewart, the full City Council, and Mayor Chavez,” said Larroque. “This acquisition means that people will be able to access the Gutierrez Canyon Open Space more easily, and we will now have an opportunity to create a new trailhead, parking areas, and facilities that will educate visitors about the history and ecology of the area.”

The State provided a total of $1.7 million ($1.25 million from legislators and the governor, and $450,000 from the State Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department), and in September 2007, the City Council unanimously approved the use of up to $500,000, in Open Space Acquisition funds to acquire the 420 acres.

Waste Water Ordinance Strengthened by Water Utility Authority Board Approval

2008-01-18T21:52:03Z

City Councilor Michael Cadigan said "Water conservation is easier to accomplish, both financially and practically, in the design and construction of new buildings than it is through the retrofitting of existing buildings. That is why new construction should therefore be held to a higher conservation standard."

The Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority adopted stringent new water conservation standards for new home construction last night. The bill, sponsored by Albuquerque City Councilor Michael Cadigan passed by a 4-2 vote with Councilor Trudy Jones and Commissioner Tim Cummins opposed.

]]> The following are the new water conservation requirements for new construction. New residential construction must be designed to achieve a maximum water use of 180 gallons per household per day. In order to meet 180 gallons per household per day standard:

All toilets must meet the standards of being high-efficiency toilets.
Evaporative coolers must be recirculating and have low voltage thermostats and two-speed blowers
Non-native grasses can not be installed on slopes greater than 5:1, in areas smaller than 10 feet in any dimension where spray irrigation is used.
All new homes under 2500 square feet must use rain barrels to supplement irrigation.
Homes over 2500 feet must have rain collection cisterns.

Also, any new construction of multi-family dwelling units, manufactured home rental community, mobile home parks and condominiums must provide for submetering of each dwelling unit or rental unit for the measurement of the quantity of water consumed by future occupants. This allows apartment dwellers to monitor their water use more carefully.

City's Contract With Redflex Outrages Councilors

2008-01-16T23:47:03Z

City Councilors have learned that the contract negotiated with Redflex to manage the City’s Safe Traffic Operations Program was grossly inconsistent with the Recommendation of Award that the Council approved in 2005.

“While it is not appropriate for the Council to approve a Recommendation of Award and not see the final contract, it is inappropriate when the final contract bears no relationship to the Recommendation of Award Approved by the Council,” stated Council President Winter and Councilor O’Malley in their correspondence to the Mayor requesting records that might explain why such a disparity exists between the Recommendation and the actual Redflex contract.

]]> Council staff requests for communications between the City and Redflex which could explain how the terms of the contract were so drastically different were not produced. Other requests for information were also not produced on the basis that certain information was outside the scope of the charge of the Mayor’s Automated Enforcement Study Group. The council staff member subsequently resigned from the group.

“I have a real problem with some of the changes from the Recommendation of Award we approved and the terms of the final contract,” stated Councilor O’Malley. The final contract with Redflex has no provision for termination before the end of 2009, whereas the Draft Agreement had a provision that the City could terminate the agreement with fifteen days notice (a provision which is not uncommon in many City Contracts). Further, the Draft Agreement stated that Redflex would provide “such statements, records, reports, data and information, as the City may request…” This provision was also excluded from the final contract. “This is absolutely outrageous,” said Councilor Michael Cadigan. “Clearly, Redflex had the upper hand in the negotiations. We need to get to the bottom of this, and fast,” he said.

The Council has requested all information pertinent to contract negotiations and has asked the Mayor in their letter to provide said information prior to the Council being asked to act on the Report presented by the Study Group. “As a new member of the Council, I think it is imperative that Council has access to all documents related to matters about which they are to make decisions,” stated Councilor Trudy Jones.

See attached memo

Minimum Wage Increase

2008-01-08T17:40:47Z

Albuquerque’s minimum wage increased to $7.15 per hour on January 1, 2008. In April 2006, the Albuquerque City Council adopted Ordinance O-06-20, sponsored by Councilor Martin Heinrich, which established new minimum wage requirements for the city. The first increase to $6.75 per hour occurred on January 1, 2007. This marks the second time in two years that Albuquerque’s minimum wage has increased, with one more increase scheduled for January 1, 2009, which will bring the local minimum wage to $7.50 per hour.

]]> Albuquerque's minimum wage stays one step ahead of the wage floor approved by the New Mexico State Legislature, which raised the statewide minimum wage to $6.50 in January 2008 and $7.50 in 2009. It also stays ahead of the federal minimum wage raise, which was raised to $5.85 on July 24, 2007, and is scheduled to rise to $6.55 on July 24, 2008 and $7.25 on July 24, 2009.

A national Economic Policy Institute study at the time of Albuquerque's minimum wage raise estimated that those impacted by the city's minimum wage raise would be 68% adults, 43% women, 42% full-time workers, and 40% the sole bread winner in their family.

Form Based Code Update

2007-12-19T22:38:56Z

Council is requesting a 60-day deferral of the Form Based Code at the Environmental Planning Commission. We will ask the EPC to hear the Code for the first time at their February 21, 2008 meeting.

In the meantime, we are working on scheduling additional informational meetings with the public on the Form Based Code. As soon as dates, times, and locations have been determined, we will post details for all meetings on the Council's Form Based Code website. Please stay tuned.

Debate Continues Concerning TIDDs

2007-12-14T20:57:35Z

Turn in to KOB's (Channel 4) Eye on New Mexico. Councilor Cadigan will debate Commissioner Cummins on the issues of TIDDs. The show will air on Sunday, Dec. 16th at 10am on Channel 4.

Although Cadigan's TIDD Reform bill passed the Council on Dec. 3rd, the Mayor quickly vetoed the bill. On Monday, Dec. 17th, Councilor Cadigan will once again present compelling reasons for TIDD Reform to the Council members in an attempt to override the Mayor's veto.

You are encouraged to come down to the City Council meeting on Monday and voice your opinions on this financing mechanism which impacts our entire city.