CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY FOURTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-21-163 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Klarissa J. Peña
RESOLUTION
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Declaring The City Council’s Support Of The Route 66 Centennial Celebration In 2026; Directing The Arts And Culture Services Department To Begin The Planning Process For A Centennial Celebration Event In The City Of Albuquerque (Peña)
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DECLARING THE CITY COUNCIL’S SUPPORT OF THE ROUTE 66 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION IN 2026; DIRECTING THE ARTS AND CULTURE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO BEGIN THE PLANNING PROCESS FOR A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION EVENT IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE.
WHEREAS, the U.S. Congress passed House Bill 66 in July 2018, which established a Route 66 Centennial Planning Commission, and directed that a plan on the preservation needs of Route 66 be prepared; and
WHEREAS, states and cities along the historic Route 66 have also begun planning for celebratory events, through various planning and advisory commissions; and
WHEREAS, Route 66 National Historic Trail, includes all the alignments of U.S. Highway 66 in existence between 1926 and 1985, extending along a route of approximately 2,400 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California; and
WHEREAS, Route 66 runs through the heart of the City of Albuquerque, along Central Avenue, and was a major economic, social and political center of the City from 1939 to 1983; and
WHEREAS, present-day Route 66 along Central Avenue connects locals and visitors to the city’s diverse neighborhoods, each offering unique and authentic Albuquerque experiences, including, the Southwest Mesa, the South Valley, Old Town, Downtown, the University of New Mexico, Nob Hill and the East Gateway; and
WHEREAS, the Historic Route 66 includes a portion of the El Camino Real, the path that led Spanish Colonists through the unfamiliar territory of New Mexico, and connected Spanish, and Native American ancient cultures; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2022 includes an appropriation of funding in the amount of $300,000 to begin a planning process for a Route 66 celebratory event to be held in the City.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
SECTION 1. That the Albuquerque City Council declares its support for the Route 66 Centennial Celebration that will occur in 2026.
SECTION 2. To the extent that additional funding beyond the $300,000 that has already been appropriated is necessary, the Albuquerque City Council directs the Arts and Culture Department to begin planning and securing funding for a Route 66 celebratory event in the City of Albuquerque. The Department shall provide a semi-annual update to the Council on the status of the planning and funding activities.
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