CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY FIFTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-23-178 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Tammy Fiebelkorn
RESOLUTION
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Suspending Administrative Appeals To Safe Outdoor Space Applications In Response To Court Injunction Restricting Removing Encampments From Public Land (Fiebelkorn)
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WHEREAS, the City is experiencing a housing crises; and
WHEREAS, as one means to address the crises, the City Council amended the Integrated Development Ordinance to authorize "Safe Outdoor Spaces" within the City; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Department thereafter approved several applications for Safe Outdoor Spaces; and
WHEREAS, the Land Use Hearing Officer on multiple occasions reversed the decision of the Planning Department, requiring the applicant to submit additional materials on order to obtain the required permit for a Safe Outdoor Space; and
WHEREAS, as a result of these administrative burdens, several applicants abandoned efforts to develop Safe Outdoor Spaces; and
WHEREAS, only two Safe Outdoor Spaces have been developed within the City, and both are accessible only to individuals with vehicles; and
WHEREAS, the City of Albuquerque has been enjoined from enforcing restrictions on camping, including camping in parks and open space, until it provides sufficient beds for the unhoused population; and
WHEREAS, the City must act urgently to provide more beds as quickly as possible, both to ensure that it provides shelter for the unhoused population and to ensure that it can protect its open space; and
WHEREAS, some unhoused individuals prefer outdoor areas, including Safe Outdoor Spaces, to indoor shelter space, and as a result any effort to expand the number of available beds should include outdoor areas such as Safe Outdoor Spaces; and
WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of the entire City to address the housing crises, and the burden of addressing that crisis should not fall more h...
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