CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY FIFTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. F/S P-23-1 ENACTMENT NO. ________________
SPONSORED BY: Louie Sanchez and Renee Grout
CHARTER AMENDMENT PROPOSAL
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F/S Adopting A Proposition To Be Sent To The Voters At The 2023 Regular Local Election, Proposing To Amend The Albuquerque City Charter To Adopt A Council-Manager Form Of Government (Sanchez and Grout)
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WHEREAS, The City of Albuquerque currently operates as a Mayor-Council form of government; and
WHEREAS, The City has operated under such a form of government since 1974, when the City Charter was amended to move away from the Commission-Manager form to the current Mayor-Council form; and
WHEREAS, The current Mayor-Council form of government establishes two separate branches of government with delineated roles wherein an elected nine-member City Council is vested with the legislative authority of the City to enact all laws and policies conducive to the welfare of the City, and an elected Mayor controls and directs the executive branch of the City which is responsible for the most high-functioning executive tasks of the City all the way down to the most routine; and
WHEREAS, the staggering of terms amongst the nine-member Council establishes an opportunity for continuity within government while at the same time allowing the electorate to guide the direction of the City through their vote; and
WHEREAS, the current strong-mayor form of government does not offer the same level of continuity for the executive branch because processes, functions, approaches, knowledge and skills amongst appointed city administrators, who serve at the pleasure of the Mayor, are subject to wholesale change with each election - which can directly affect the services that most directly impact City residents; and
WHEREAS, Each new Mayor holds complete discretion to appoint new leadership to oversee critical city services; and
WHEREAS, Conversely, in t...
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