ABQ Climate Action Plan

The City of Albuquerque's Climate Action Plan has finally been released and here is the link.

The Administration will be hosting Town Hall Meetings throughout the month of August to gain community input into the Climate Action Plan; below is the list of meetings, with the meetings that are in or near District 6 in bold:

Tuesday, August 11 - 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Don Newton Community Center

4900 Kachina NW 87120

Saturday, August 15 - 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Cherry Hills Library

6901 Barstow St NE 87111

Tuesday, August 18 - 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Palo Duro Senior Center

5221 Palo Duro NE 87110

Wednesday, August 19 - 6:30 - 8: 30pm

Cesar Chavez Community Center

7505 Kathryn SE 87108

Tuesday, August 25 - 6:30 - 8:30pm

Bear Canyon Senior Center

4645 Pitt NE 87111

Wednesday, August 26 - 6:30 - 8:30 pm

LOBO A & B in the UNM SUB

University of New Mexico 87131

Thursday, August 27 - 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Los Volcanes Senior Center

6500 Los Volcanes NW 87121

Saturday, August 29 - 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Albuquerque Museum

2000 Mountain Rd. NW 87104

Monday, August 31 - 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Manzano Mesa Center

501 Elizabeth SE 871203

Deferral of Impact Fee Waiver Bills

At the August 3^rd City Council Meeting, City Councilor Rey Garduño moved a deferral of the four Impact Fee reduction bills (O-09-69, O-09-70, O-09-71, and O-09-72). Councilor Garduño cited the memo from Council President Isaac Benton, Councilor Debbie O’Malley, and himself for justification of the deferral.

The Councilors request a rewrite of the Fiscal Impact Analysis for each of these bills which addresses, at a minimum, the following:

• An estimate of the increase in the number of residential building permits that will be issued by the City month by month during the term of the reductions based solely on the proposed reductions in impact fees. This estimate should break out the number of Green Path (100% waiver) building permits and non-Green Path (50% waiver) building permits. The estimate should be at least partially based on the experience of other communities similar in nature to Albuquerque that have reduced impact fees.

• An estimate of the increase in the number of commercial building permits that will be issued by the City month by month during the term of the reductions based solely on the proposed reductions in impact fees. This estimate should break out the number of Green Path (100% waiver) building permits and non-Green Path (50% waiver) building permits. The estimate should be at least partially based on the experience of other communities similar in nature to Albuquerque that have reduced impact fees.

• An estimate of the fiscal impact to the City based on the gross receipt and property tax revenue gains solely from the increased number of residential and commercial permits issued as a result of the proposed reductions versus impact fee revenue lost as a result of the proposed reductions. Please include an estimate of the number of reduced fee permits that must be issued to reach breakeven.

• A table showing impact fee waivers to date and estimated additional impact fee waivers as a result of the proposed impact fee reduction bills.

• A plan, including the estimated amounts required and funding sources, necessary to offset the loss of impact fee revenues as a result of the proposed reductions.

• An estimate of additional administrative costs to operate the reduced fee program.

A Fiscal Impact Analysis was submitted to the City Council along with each of the bills referenced above; however, those analyses contained mathematical errors, were unclear on the potential fiscal impact to the City in terms of lost impact fee revenue, incorrectly assumed that the total number of building permits issued by the City represented the number of building permits that would be generated as a result of the reduction in impact fees, did not provide an estimate of the number of building permits issued as a result of the incentive created by the impact fee reduction, and did not address the potential economic impact to builders and homebuyers.

As the initial Fiscal Impact Analyses were prepared by the Administration, the memo formally requests that the responsible party, in this case the Planning Department, prepare a revised Fiscal Impact Analyses for O-09-69, O-09-70, O-09-71, and O-09-72, as required in F/S R-08-176.

The City Council voted unanimously for a two-week deferral and expects the analyses to be done before the next City Council Meeting on August 17, 2009.

Rock Out

Great Event this Saturday!

from SWOPblogger

SouthWest Organizing Project is sponsoring an event called “Rock Out”, which will be a free all ages event. It's purpose is to entertain and to educate young people on how to get involved in their community and to seek out opportunities that they can apply to their future. Local bands, poetry slam, art showcase, and a B boy/B girl battle will provide entertainment.

There will also be organizations and universities to hand out material and information to young people. Our goal for this event is to celebrate youth, their talents, and skills, while providing them with resources they need to help them become successful adults.

When: Saturday, August 1st
Where: Washington Middle School Park (on the northwest corner of 10th and Park)
Time: 3pm-7pm

Emma at emma@swop.net or 505-353-2941.

Swuppets

from SWOPblogger

"Swuppets" was made by the SWOP Youth Interns. Great tool for teaching folks about government. Who ever did the voice overs did an amazing job! (wink, wink ;)

East Gateway Sector Plan

Dear East Gateway Sector Development Plan Participants:

The first draft of the Plan is now available for your review. Please allow yourself plenty of time to review Plan contents. The Plan has 10 chapters of varying lengths and appendices for background information. Please be sure to read Chapters 1 and 2 which explain the purpose and goals of the Plan and Chapters 5 – 10 which include proposed zone changes for some non-residential properties, transportation and public facilities project proposals.

HOW TO GET THE PLAN

Electronic: http://www.cabq.gov/planning/long-range/eastgatewaysdp.html.

Paper: City of Albuquerque Planning Department, 600 2nd St NW, 3rd floor reception desk or call Paula Donahue to get copies.

HOW TO SEND COMMENTS

Please send comments to Paula Donahue by Friday, August 7, 2009:

pdonahue@cabq.gov or

City of Albuquerque Planning Department

600 2nd Street NW, 3rd floor

Albuquerque, NM 87102.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR…

Public meeting

Manzano Mesa Multi-Generational Center

thursday, August 20, 2009

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 P.M.

If you have questions call Paula Donahue at 924-3932.

from the City of Albuquerque Planning Department