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City Council Passes Rules Amendment to Clarify Council Committee Process and Streamline Council Procedures

New rules clarify Council procedures and improve steps for Council committee assignments and reports.
February 03, 2025

Tonight, the Albuquerque City Council passed RA-25-3, a rules amendment sponsored by District 8 City Councilor Dan Champine, designed to streamline Council procedures and clarify existing practices related to committee work.  The amendment, which takes effect immediately upon adoption, addresses several key areas within the Council's Rules of Procedure. The bill passed with a 6-3 vote.

"These changes are about efficiency and clarity," said Councilor Champine. "By updating our rules to reflect our actual practices and clarify existing procedures, we can ensure smoother meetings and more effective decision-making.  Specifically, aligning committee assignments with the second meeting of the month allows the newly elected Council President adequate time to organize committees without the pressure of immediate action at the first meeting."

RA-25-3 makes the following key changes:

Committee Assignments: Formalizes the practice of approving new committee assignments at the second meeting in January, eliminating the need for a recurring rule suspension. This shift away from the first meeting in January provides the newly elected Council President adequate time to finalize assignments and allows for a more organized start to the new year. Previously, the Council would often suspend this rule, requiring a 2/3 vote, which is now avoided.

Committee Recommendations/Reports: Clarifies the process for committee recommendations and reports, specifically addressing scenarios where motions fail. The amendment outlines the necessary steps committees are to take for final recommendations to the full Council.

This ensures Committee recommendations are clearly communicated to the full body.

 RA-25-3 also codifies the existing procedure for handling failed "Do Pass" motions, including the process for reviving bills.

Other Committees Requiring Council Participation: Updates the list of committees requiring Council participation to include the Route 66 Visitor Center Commission (2 members) and the Homeless Coordinating Council (2 members). These members will be appointed by the Council President with full Council approval.

LUHO Deadline: Corrects a discrepancy between the Council Rules of Procedure and the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) regarding the Land Use Hearing Officer’s (LUHO) deadline for submitting findings and recommendations to the City Council. The deadline is now consistently 15 days, aligning with the IDO.

These improvements in the efficiency and transparency of Council operations will improve Committee organization, minimize deliberations, and better facilitate Council recommendations.