CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY FOURTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-21-208 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Diane G. Gibson
RESOLUTION
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Encouraging The City Of Albuquerque To Complete The Funding For The Renovation Of Los Altos Park, Adding A Facility To House A Security Patrol Vehicle To The Scope Of The Park Renovation, Prohibiting The Sale Of Alcohol At Los Altos Park Except During Certain Special Events, Removing Los Altos Park From The List Of City Parks Where Public Alcohol Consumption Is Permitted, Funding A Feasibility Study And Design Analysis Report To Construct A Foot Path Around The Perimeter Of Los Altos Golf Course (Gibson)
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ENCOURAGING THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE TO COMPLETE THE FUNDING FOR THE RENOVATION OF LOS ALTOS PARK, ADDING A FACILITY TO HOUSE A SECURITY PATROL VEHICLE TO THE SCOPE OF THE PARK RENOVATION, PROHIBITING THE SALE OF ALCOHOL AT LOS ALTOS PARK EXCEPT DURING CERTAIN SPECIAL EVENTS, REMOVING LOS ALTOS PARK FROM THE LIST OF CITY PARKS WHERE PUBLIC ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IS PERMITTED FUNDING A FEASIBILITY STUDY AND DESING ANALYSIS REPORT TO CONSTRUCT A FOOT PATH AROUND THE PERMITER OF LOS ALTOS GOLF COURSE.
WHEREAS, the City of Albuquerque, through a joint effort of the Administration, the City Council, and members of the New Mexico Legislature, has undertaken, a renaissance project to rebuild and update Los Altos Park, the City’s most visited recreation facility. The Los Altos Park and Golf Course Complex is the City’s largest multi-use sports recreational facility, serving residents throughout the City and Central New Mexico as a location for swimming, softball, skateboarding, tennis, horseshoes, gardening education, golf, a playground for physically disabled children and even exercising the family dog; and
WHEREAS, the project is the largest park project since the development of Balloon Fiesta Park, and includes the rebuilding of the Los Altos indoor pool, which has been completed, and the construction of new tournament quality softball fields and bleachers, which are underway. Further improvements include improving the park area lighting, and rebuilding the dog park. The project will add to the park’s repertoire of recreation, featuring a nationally competitive pump track, a pedestrian promenade, additional horseshoe pits, a walking trail and elements recently added by the Administration including splash pads, wading pools, and a tournament building; and
WHEREAS, with the features recently added by the Administration, the estimated total cost of the project (including the swimming pool) is just over $30,415,000 of which nearly $24,000,000 or 80% has been secured from City and State sources; and
WHEREAS, the Park has experienced its share of security issues and a goal of the project is to construct the facilities to support a security presence and to manage the Park in a manner that provides safe and quality experience for users; and
WHEREAS, towards this goal the City Council has appropriated funding for on-site security positions at the park. Though further steps are necessary including providing carts for the security personal to patrol the park, a location to house those carts and ensuring regulations are in place to deter unsafe activity; and
WHEREAS, the park is part of a larger facility that spans both the City’s Northeast and Southeast Heights offering rest and recreation to the residents of both these City quadrants; and
WHEREAS, the larger facility includes the City’s storied, Los Altos Municipal Golf Course with its green fairways back-dropped by views of the Sandia Mountains, tall trees, water holes surrounded by tall bushes, and Daniel Webster Park, which is a multi-acre playground for physically disabled children designed in the theme of a map tour of Albuquerque; and
WHEREAS, the Administration and the City Councilor for City Council District 6 recently completed a footpath on the South Perimeter of Los Altos Golf Course. Extending this foot path around the perimeter of the entire park would provide a 3-mile hike along green meadows and groves of trees for walkers, joggers, runners, and residents walking dogs, all activities that improve heart health, lower diabetes risk, build immune systems, and relieve stress.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
Section 1. The Administration of the City of Albuquerque and the City Council are encouraged to work with the City’s delegation to the New Mexico Legislature and the State’s Congressional Delegation to identify and appropriate revenue to complete the remaining 20% of the funding for the renovation of Los Altos Park.
Section 2. The scope of the Los Altos Park renovations is expanded to include an indoor storage structure for a security cart or mobile vehicle, with an appropriate electrical outlet for recharging the vehicle. The structure shall be part of, or located within 50 feet of, the central security and community room building that will be constructed as part of the Los Altos Renovations Project.
Section 3. Section 6-5-2 of the Albuquerque Code of Resolutions is amended as follows:
Ҥ 6-5-2 PUBLIC AREAS WHERE DRINKING ALCOHOL IS PERMITTED.
(A) For the purposes of the provisions contained in the Criminal Code relating to drinking in public, the consumption of alcohol liquors ("alcoholic beverages"), as that term is defined in Section 13-2-2 ROA 1994, is prohibited in all City parks except for the following public park and recreation areas designated as those where the consumption of alcoholic beverages is permitted:
(1) U.S.S. Bullhead Park, but only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.;
(2) Balloon Fiesta Park;
(3) Isotopes Park;
(4) New Mexico Veterans Memorial;
(5) Los Altos Golf Course;
(6) Arroyo del Oso Golf Course;
(7) Ladera Golf Course;
(8) Puerto del Sol Golf Course;
(9) Jerry Cline Recreation and Tennis Center;
(10) Poblanos Field Open Space;
(11) Barelas Railroad Ballfields;
(12) Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park (no consumption of alcoholic beverages will be allowed during school hours);
(13) Carolina Canyon Open Space;
(14) Elena Gallegos Open Space (reservation only); and
(15) Open Space Visitors Center.
(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection '(A)' above, alcoholic beverages may be sold, served or consumed at any park, open space, or other city recreation location, including but not limited to Civic Plaza or any park hosting Summerfest, during special events if specifically permitted pursuant to the terms of any special event permit, park use agreement, or other valid permit issued by the City and only when associated with a special dispenser permit approved through the State of New Mexico’s Regulation and Licensing Department and City’s liquor hearing officer, subject to the restrictions set forth in § 13-2-6 ROA. Alcoholic beverages may be sold, served or consumed at such other municipal facilities, except for Los Altos Park, where the city in the future obtains governmental liquor licenses, only in accordance with the laws applicable to governmental liquor licenses, the terms of any lease agreements between the city and its tenants or facility users and such others reasonable rules, regulations, and policies regarding said facilities as the city may adopt from time to time.
i. Notwithstanding the above, the City Parks Department may approve special event permits, park use agreements, or other permits authorizing alcohol service at Los Altos Park only in association with sporting events or public celebrations.
(C) All other developed public parks and recreation areas not designated in division (A) above will be posted as not permitting the
drinking of alcoholic beverages.
Section 4. The Administration is directed to conduct a study to assess the feasibility and prepare a design analysis report to extend the foot-path along the south perimeter of Los Altos Golf Course to the whole perimeter of the Course. Twenty thousand dollars is reserved in City Council Set Aside funds for the study from District 7 Council Set Aside and from District 6 Council Set Aside funds.
SECTION 5. COMPILATION. Section 3 of this resolution shall amend, be incorporated in and made part of the City of Albuquerque Code of Resolutions.
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