CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY-SIXTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-24-5 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Reneé Grout and Nichole Rogers
RESOLUTION
title Creating A Working Group To Explore Options And Make Recommendations To Reimagine The Motel Voucher Program Within The City, To Be Known As The Hospitality Renewal Initiative Working Group (Grout, Rogers)
body
CREATING A WORKING GROUP TO EXPLORE OPTIONS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO REIMAGINE THE MOTEL VOUCHER PROGRAM WITHIN THE CITY, TO BE KNOWN AS THE HOSPITALITY RENEWAL INITIATIVE WORKING GROUP.
WHEREAS, to address the emergency overnight needs of the residents of the City, the City currently funds a motel voucher program which is administered through various non-profit organizations; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes the importance of providing dignified and effective temporary housing solutions for our community members in crisis; and
WHEREAS, the current motel voucher program presents challenges to agencies, hotel operators, and voucher holders; and
WHEREAS, the Overnight Lodging Ordinance for the City of Albuquerque has not been updated since 2004; and
WHEREAS, a very limited number of hotels throughout the City accept motel vouchers, making it difficult to place a motel voucher holder in a safe and secure motel; and
WHEREAS, some motels throughout the City are blighted and are hotspots for criminal activity; and
WHEREAS, blighted motels within the City cause significant concerns, posing threats to public safety, health, and community well-being; and
WHEREAS, an updated and strengthened motel voucher program has the potential to serve as an effective tool in providing temporary relief and support to individuals and families facing housing challenges due to unsafe or inadequate living conditions; and
WHEREAS, acknowledging the evolving nature of housing issues and the need for a responsive and adaptable strategy, the City is committed to regularly reviewing and enhancing existing programs to meet the changing needs of the community; and
WHEREAS, collaboration among various stakeholders, including local government, law enforcement, hotel partners, social services, and community organizations, is essential to creating a multifaceted approach to address the complexities associated with blighted motels; and
WHEREAS, this complex issue requires partnerships with local businesses, residents, and advocacy groups to create initiatives aimed at reducing the impact of blighted motels on the City while creating a motel voucher system that better serves the utilizers.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
SECTION 1. An eleven-member Hospitality Renewal Initiative Working Group is established.
SECTION 2. The Working Group shall be made up of the following members:
A. One City staff member from the Department of Health, Housing, and Homelessness (HHH);
B. One City staff member from the Planning Department’s Code Enforcement Division;
C. One City staff member from the Albuquerque Community Safety Department (ACS) with knowledge about emergency shelters, especially pertaining to Domestic Violence placements;
D. One City staff member from the Fire Marshal’s ADAPT program;
E. One City staff member from the Albuquerque Police Department
(APD);
F. One City staff member from the City Council Services;
G. One City Staff Member from the Mayor’s Office;
H. Four community members appointed by the Council, two with knowledge about the hotel industry and operations and two with knowledge about the City funded voucher program; and
I. Appropriate community members, including persons with lived
experience, and City staff may be invited to the Working Group meetings as needed as advisory only members.
SECTION 3. This Working Group shall explore:
A. Options for efficient enforcement methods to address the most pressing problems associated with problem motels;
B. Options for collaborative and proactive programs to assist motel operators in providing safe and secure accommodations for guests;
C. Options for the City to reimagine the motel voucher program to best serve individuals and families who need an emergency hotel room for a night or a short extended stay; and
D. Any other relevant and helpful options relating to this issue. This Working Group shall meet bi-weekly until the final recommendations are issued.
SECTION 4. The Working Group shall convene its first meeting within one month after the enactment of this Resolution. The Working Group shall prepare recommendations for improving the City’s motel voucher program and/or legislation that could help address the issue by no later than six months after the enactment of this Resolution. These recommendations shall be made available to all Councilors and the Mayor.
SECTION 5. This Working Group is a fact-finding and recommending body and not a final policy-making body; accordingly, any meetings of this Working Group are not subject to the New Mexico Open Meetings Act.
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