CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY FOURTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. O-21-63 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Isaac Benton
ORDINANCE
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Amending The Scope Of The Greater Albuquerque Bicycling Advisory Committee, § 2-6-15 Of The Code Of Ordinances, To Include Active Transportation Users, And Amending The Title Of The Committee To Be The Greater Albuquerque Active Transportation Committee (Benton)
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AMENDING THE SCOPE OF THE GREATER ALBUQUERUQUE BICYCLING ADVISORY COMMITTEE, § 2-6-15 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, TO INCLUDE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION USERS, AND AMENDING THE TITLE OF THE COMMITTEE TO BE THE GREATER ALBUQUERQUE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF
ALBUQUERQUE:
SECTION 1. Findings and Intent. The City Council hereby finds that:
WHEREAS, the Greater Albuquerque Bicycling Advisory Committee (GABAC) was established by Ordinance 2-6-15 in 1974 to represent and advise the City on safe bicycling facilities on behalf of the on-street cycling community within the Albuquerque area; and
WHEREAS, the Greater Albuquerque Recreational Trails Committee (GARTC) was established by Ordinance 2-6-17 in 1974 to represent and advise the City on the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians along off-street trails; and
WHEREAS, the Americans with Disabilities Act Advisory Council was established by Ordinance 2-6-5 in 2015 to represent and advise the City on the needs of people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the Transit Advisory Board was established by Resolution 2-7-1 in 1993 to advise the City Transit Department on the development and promotion of public transit services; and
WHEREAS, no City board, committee, or commission explicitly considers all of the non-vehicular users of on-street facilities; and
WHEREAS, Active Transportation is defined as any self-propelled, human-powered mode of transportation, such as walking, bicycling, or using mobility devices; and
WHEREAS, the 2015 Bikeways and Trails Facility plan recommended restructuring of GABAC and GARTC in order to consider concerns beyond those of just the bicycling community; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Vision Zero initiative is a commitment to create safer streets for all, regardless of our age or ability, whether we are walking, riding a bicycle, using a mobility device, driving, or taking transit; and
WHEREAS, the City adopted a Complete Streets ordinance in 2015 (F/S O-14-27), and updated the ordinance in 2019 (O-19-64), recommending the formation of an active transportation advisory committee to address issues of safety, public health, the environment, and equity for pedestrians and cyclists using City streets; and
WHEREAS, at the October 2020 GABAC meeting, GABAC passed a resolution calling for the adoption by ordinance of a reorganization of GABAC to address not only the needs of on-street cyclists but those of pedestrians and other non-automotive road users in ways that ensure equitable and safe facilities throughout the Albuquerque area.
SECTION 2. Section §2-6-15 of ROA 1994 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
“§ 2-6-15 CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE’S GREATER ALBUQUERQUE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
(A) Appointment.
(1) The Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Council, shall appoint nine members of an advisory committee to be known as the City of Albuquerque's Greater Albuquerque Active Transportation Committee, (GAATC). The members shall be appointed by the city in the following manner, with one of the members also representing the Environmental Planning Commission:
(a) One member to represent Active Transportation users north of I-40 and east of I-25.
(b) One member to represent Active Transportation users south of I-40 and east of I-25.
(c) One member to represent Active Transportation users north of I-40 and west of I-25.
(d) One member to represent Active Transportation users south of I-40 and west of I-25.
(e) One member to represent older adults (over 60 years of age).
(f) One member to represent youth (under 24 years of age).
(g) One member to represent individuals with a disability.
(h) One member to represent pedestrians and transit users.
(i) One member to represent bicyclists.
(2) Each member shall understand and represent the needs of residents, particularly Active Transportation users.
(3) For the purposes of the GAATC, Active Transportation is defined as any self-propelled, human-powered mode of transportation, such as walking, bicycling, or using mobility devices.
(4) In voting, in the case of a tie, a motion shall be deemed defeated.
(B) Duties, Responsibilities, Powers. The Committee shall:
(1) Advise City departments and other governmental entities, including but not limited to the City Departments of Municipal Development (DMD) and Parks & Recreation, the Environmental Planning Commission (EPC), Bernalillo County, the Mid-Region Council of Governments, and the New Mexico Department of Transportation, concerning plans, projects, and programs in the greater Albuquerque area for bikeways, sidewalks, street crossings, and on-street multi-use trails, including but not limited to the Transportation Improvement Program and the Capital Improvements Program; and
(2) Advise the City on Vision Zero and Complete Streets projects and programs to support equitable, safe, and accessible Active Transportation options; and
(3) Monitor all on-street pedestrian and bicycling facilities and recommended implementation strategies for adopted plans for bikeways, sidewalks, street crossings, and on-street multi-use trails; and
(4) Promote bicycling and other modes of Active Transportation in the greater Albuquerque area for both transportation and recreation; and
(5) Promote safety and safety education for all Active Transportation modes; and
(6) Promote facilities and amenities for bicycling and other modes of Active Transportation in the greater Albuquerque area; and
(7) Except where modified by this section, the provisions §§ 2-6-1-1 <https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/albuquerque/latest/albuquerque_nm/0-0-0-991> et seq. apply to all duties, powers, and procedures of the Committee.
(C) Ratification of Prior Actions and Continuation of Terms of Board Members.
(1) The actions of the Committee established by the previous ordinance are hereby ratified, and the Committee members appointed pursuant to the previous ordinance shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed and confirmed pursuant to §§ 2-6-1-1 <https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/albuquerque/latest/albuquerque_nm/0-0-0-991> et seq. Any current Committee member eligible for re-appointment under the previous constitution of the Committee may be appointed to the like position constituted under this ordinance; the first of such appointments shall count as a second term for such existing Committee member.
(2) The terms of the Committee members shall be for three years except that for the first term after the enactment of this ordinance, the terms shall expire as follows:
(a) Committee member representing Active Transportation users north of I-40 and east of I-25, the term expires April 1, 2022;
(b) Committee member representing Active Transportation users south of I-40 and east of I-25, the term expires April 1, 2022;
(c) Committee member representing Active Transportation users north of I-40 and west of I-25, the term expires April 1, 2023;
(d) Committee member representing Active Transportation users south of I-40 and west of I-25, the term expires April 1, 2023;
(e) Committee member representing older adults, the term expires April 1, 2024;
(f) Committee member representing youth, the term expires April 1, 2024;
(g) Committee member representing individuals with a disability, the term expires April 1, 2023;
(h) Committee member representing pedestrians and transit users, the term expires April 1, 2024;
(i) Committee member representing bicyclists, the term expires April 1, 2022.”
SECTION 3. COMPILATION. Section 2 of this Ordinance shall be incorporated in and made part of the Revised Ordinances of Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1994.
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall take effect five (5) days after publication by title and general summary.
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