June 26 ANNUAL MEETING
North Valley Coalition
JUNE 2025 ANNUAL MEETING UPDATE
Our annual meeting is this Thursday, June 26 at Los Griegos Health Center, 1231 Candelaria NW. There will be a meet and greet from 5:30 – 6 (treats to be provided). The actual meeting starts at 6. City Councilor Joaquin Baca, District 2, will discuss a few items we have given him. Karen Dunning, MRGCD Director, will also speak in response to a few items. If you have questions, please submit them to nvc...@gmail.com. We also hope to have a short presentation on Candelaria Nature Preserve. We plan to elect a board of 10 at-large representatives and it is important to have a quorum to do that. Please come if you are a board member, a new association member, and we will need some people willing to volunteer for the at-large positions. .All interested public members are invited. Attached is a membership form. Voluntary dues are $10 for an individual and $25 for an association. If you appreciate what we do, please consider completing a form and submitting dues. We have an email list of almost 600 people who, I assume, are interested in North Valley issues.
As President, I will speak with several important updates. The process for both items #1 and #2 shows a disinterest in public input by our City officials.
1. Ordinance O-24-69. This ordinance, passed by City Council on January 6, 2025 with no public hearings, has the effect of eliminating the rights of individuals and neighborhood associations to appeal land use approvals. It allows City Council to amend the IDO with no public process. It also upzones to areas along some main street corridors, removes height limits, reduces on site parking requirements. Losing appellants must pay costs of $1,000 to an applicant (O-25-73). We are one of three parties to appeal the ordinances approved by City Council. Donations to the legal fund will be accepted at the meeting and more information about the case will be provided. Attached is a short update and possible ways to donate money.
2. A Comprehensive Plan amendment is being proposed to change Menaul Blvd (west of Louisiana) and a short stretch of Rio Grande Blvd. from a multi-modal corridor to a major transit corridor. People have worked diligently over the years to create walkable corridors on Menaul, west of I-25, and 4th Street. This has the potential to undo that progress and isn’t necessary to accomplish the suggested transit increases. Attached is the letter we wrote requesting a deferral for public input or opposition. The case will be heard at the Environmental Planning Commission on June 26 via zoom (https://www.cabq.gov/planning/boards-commissions/environmental-planning-commission/epc-agendas-reports-minutes).
3. Other miscellaneous issues we have been involved with, including QuikTrip.
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