City council approves gateway contracts and transit-plan change, defers state homelessness grant vote

Albuquerque City Council on Sept. 3 approved a package of contracts to expand sheltering and housing-navigation services at Gateway facilities, amended city open-space rules to bar feeding and harming animals with a narrow public-health exemption, and adopted a comprehensive-plan change to recognize higher-frequency bus service along Manzano (Manzano/Manal) and parts of Indian School Road. The council deferred action on a separate state-funded homelessness appropriation so staff can supply additional details.

Why it matters: The approvals advance immediate expansions of shelter and navigation services the administration says will move more people from crisis to housing. The transit map change aligns the city’s plan with ABQ Ride’s scheduled frequency increases. The open-space ordinance change responds to enforcement gaps around wildlife and visitor activity. The deferred state award includes strict reporting deadlines and could add tens of millions of operating dollars — councilors sought more time to review conditions.

What the council approved and deferred

- Gateway operations and expansions: By separate votes, the council approved amendments to professional-service agreements to expand sheltering and housing navigation at Gateway locations: EC 4 26 (Chicanos Por La Causa — women’s housing navigation expansion) passed 7–2; EC 4 27 (Community Bridges — men’s housing navigation expansion) passed 7–2; and EC 4 28 (Youth Development Incorporated — young-adult shelter and navigation) passed unanimously. The contracts fund operational services; contract amounts and some line-item budget details were discussed in briefings and are included in the meeting packet. Chicanos Por La Causa, Community Bridges and YDI each made brief presentations describing their experience operating shelters and outreach services.

- R 1 75 (comp-plan amendment for transit): The council approved a plan amendment redesignating segments of Manzano Boulevard, Indian School Road and Rio Grande/Nearby segments from “multimodal corridor” to “major transit corridor,” 7–2. Sponsors and transit staff said the change does not itself rezone property; it aligns the City’s policy map with…