TIMOTHY M. KELLER, MAYOR
CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR/ CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO:
CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
TIMOTHY M. KELLER, MAYOR
SUBJECT:
TITLE
Veto Of O-21-79, Amending The Open Space Trust Fund And Land Administration Ordinance To Authorize The Use Of The Fund For Open Space Acquisitions; Amending A Relevant Cross Reference Within The Open Space Advisory Board Ordinance; And Amending Section 2-12-1, Capital Improvements Program Intent And Scope, To Make Permanent The Two Percent CIP Set Aside For Open Space Acquisitions
BODY
DATE:
JANUARY 2, 2022
The decision to veto a piece of legislation is never something I take lightly, especially as a former legislator at the state level. I know and appreciate how much work goes into getting any legislation passed. In this case, I want to acknowledge the very real problem this ordinance is attempting to remedy. Currently, the open space trust fund is only marginally effective with respect to its ability to meaningfully protect and enhance our city's open space. It is too small to generate meaningful dollars to acquire significant pieces of land. It also lacks a modern equity lens with which to evaluate and make prudent land acquisitions. I would like to thank Don Harris for his efforts to correct problems with the current fund and for championing open space during his tenure on the City Council. Councilor Harris pushed to set aside 2% of our general obligation bond for open space, generating $7,870,000 since 2017. The trust fund generated only a fraction of this amount over the same time period. We need to eliminate the sunset as we work to correct the problems with existing law.
However, this ordinance unfortunately fails to address all these issues and remedy many of these shortcomings, in the long run. Therefore, I am vetoing this ordinance for three reasons. The first is because of the last-minute amendment requiring 75% of the dollars to go to a specific geography. While...
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