CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY SIXTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-24-3 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Tammy Fiebelkorn, Nichole L. Rogers
RESOLUTION
title Directing The Administration To Create A Program For The Disposal Of Human Feces On Properties In The City Of Albuquerque (Fiebelkorn, Rogers)
body
DIRECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO CREATE A PROGRAM FOR THE DISPOSAL OF HUMAN FECES ON PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE.
WHEREAS, City Ordinance section 9-10-1-3 defines “infectious waste” as: “Solid waste that carries a probable risk of transmitting disease to humans, including but not limited to:” human pathological wastes, human and body fluid wastes including blood and blood components, body fluids, and biological wastes; and
WHEREAS, the intricate and interconnected design of the human body necessitates the vital and indispensable function of defecation, serving as a fundamental process for the maintenance of overall health and physiological equilibrium; and
WHEREAS, the 2023 Point in Time Count indicates there are at least 3,842 unhoused individuals in the city, yet the city currently only operates one 24/7 year-round public toilet: a Portland Loo at the Uptown Transit Station; and
WHEREAS, the challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness are compounded by the inherent difficulty in accessing basic human necessities, such as restroom facilities; and
WHEREAS, in the last calendar year, the 311 Community Contact Center has been contacted nearly 400 times to resolve issues involving human feces; and
WHEREAS, current City Policy states that it is a resident or business owner’s responsibility to clean their private property, including sidewalks and alleys, including the removal of human feces when present; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Library of Medicine, enteroviruses, hepatitis A virus, rotaviruses, parvovirus-like viruses, astroviruses, caliciviruses, adenoviruses and coronaviruses may be present in human feces; and
WHEREAS, the New Mexico Department of Health has issued multiple Health Alerts regarding ongoing drug-resistant Shigella infections in the Albuquerque area, mainly affecting the homeless population, that can be transmitted through contact with human feces; and
WHEREAS, the presence of human feces in public spaces poses a significant health and sanitation risk to the community; and
WHEREAS, human feces poses a significant risk to water quality when washed into storm drains or waterways; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management also notes that properly disposing of human feces is important to avoid polluting water sources, minimizing the chances of spreading disease, and maximizing the rate of decomposition; and
WHEREAS, failure to promptly address and rectify this matter may result in public health hazards and damage to the community’s reputation; and
WHEREAS, to protect the public health and general welfare of residents, The City desires to create a program for the disposal of human feces on all properties in the City limits.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
SECTION 1. The City Administration shall develop and administer a program to collect feces that is believed to come from a human, including:
A. Engaging with and supervising a contractor who specializes in removing and disposing of potentially hazardous material;
B. Directing the contractor to clean up human feces, on both public and private property;
C. Coordinating with 311 to create a mechanism through which residents can report human feces and the contractor can then be dispatched to the location; and
D. In conjunction with the contractor, track where human feces is found and the number of instances the contractor cleans up such waste.
SECTION 2. The following appropriation is made from the available fund balance program from Fiscal Year 2024:
GENERAL FUND - 110
Environmental Health Department
Consumer Health $100,000
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