Community Trails Workshop Saturday, March 13

Voting Record; March 1, 2010 City Council Meeting

R-10-29Directing The Administration To Investigate And Take All Necessary And Legal Action, Including The Filing Of A Declaratory Judgment Proceeding To Ascertain The Legality And Enforceability Of The Perlman Memorandum And Administrative Instruction No. 7-46 And To Develop Ordinance Amendments That Preclude Any Practice That Permits Unclassified Employees To Be Compensated For Work Not Performed On Behalf Of The City Of Albuquerque (Winter, Lewis)
Motion: Do Pass
Voted: For
Status: Passed

R-10-39Supporting The Re-Establishment of The Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Commission ("ABCGC") and Approving An Intergovernmental Agreement Between The City and The County of Bernalillo (Benton, Sanchez)
Motion: Do Pass
Voted: For
Status: Passed

R-10-44 Relating To Capital Projects; Creating A Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Project On Rainbow Boulevard and Universe Boulevard Within The Transportation Infrastructure Tax Fund 340; Directing The Administration To Make Lighting, Safety and Street Improvements; Appropriating and Designating Funds In The Transportation Infrastructure Tax Fund 340 (Lewis)
Motion: Referred to Finance and Government Operations Committee
Voted: For
Status: Passed

R-10-48 Directing The Administration Not To Enforce Any of The Provisions of The "Plumbing Fixture Retrofit On Sale Ordinance" Pending City Council Review of That Ordinance (Jones)
Motion: Do Pass as Amended
Voted: For
Status: Passed

To view the Consent Agenda, deferrals, and other Councilors votes, click here.

Councilor Garduño Introduces the Near Heights MRA Plan

from KRQE.com

Councilor proposes business incentive

Updated: Sunday, 28 Feb 2010, 10:44 PM MST
Published : Sunday, 28 Feb 2010, 10:44 PM MST

• Reporter: Crystal Gutierrez
• Councilor proposes business incentive

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - One city councilor says a proposal to waive impact fees for businesses could be the ticket to rebuilding a section of southeast Albuquerque plagued by crime that was once called the war zone.

The reputation has chased some businesses out neighborhoods and left entire shopping malls deserted for years.

The shopping center sits on the edge of the International District, once called the war zone.

The Parkland Shopping Center covers two whole blocks on San Mateo near Kathryn. All 12 stores are empty. Nearby business owners call it an eye soar but City Councilor Rey Garduno calls it a magnet for crime.

“A long, long time ago there was a grocery store that turned into an indoor flea market,” Councilor Garduno said. “There was a deterioration of businesses here because of the bad reputation.”

Come Monday, Garduno will introduce a proposal to councilors that will offer businesses major incentives to forget about the crime and build out there.

“Impact fees will certainly be waved,” Councilor Garduno said.

The impact fees help pay for infrastructure. Councilor Garduno estimates the city could end up covering a tab well over $200,000.

The manager of one store in the area said it might be worth it.

“We get very little walk by traffic, a couple neighborhood people but that is very minimal,” AOH Garden Supply Manager Clifford Grindstaff said.

Grindstaff said more stable businesses would attract more shoppers.

Councilor Garduno also hopes new businesses will deter crime.

“Criminals don't like to be in the midst of activity,” Councilor Garduno said.

However, when day turns to night the international district becomes a magnet for crime. Police are called out for drug busts, prostitution and theft.

In January, police said someone left a man to die in a dumpster right in the heart of the district.

The proposal to wave the impact fees also includes residential construction.

This is just the latest move from councilors to decrease crime in southeast Albuquerque. They already changed the name of the area and there are talks about adding more lighting to streets.