Los Ranchos trustees meet for first time since Mayor Craig's death

Los Ranchos de Albuquerque’s board of trustees is scheduled to tackle several items related to controversial development issues Wednesday during the body’s first meeting since the death of Village Mayor Joe Craig.

Craig, elected in November on a platform opposing high-density development in the village, died May 21.

Wednesday’s meeting is at 6 p.m. at the village offices, 6718 Rio Grande NW. It had been scheduled for last week, but was postponed because of Craig’s death.

There is no action item on the agenda related to selecting Craig’s successor, but Village Administrator John Avila wrote in an email to the Journal that the process for selecting a new mayor may be discussed Wednesday and put on the June meeting agenda for action.

Pending litigation related to the Palindrome, or Village Center, Project will be discussed by the trustees in a closed session prior to the public meeting.

Palindrome Communities of Portland, Oregon, is constructing the development, which consists, in part, of a three-story, 204-unit affordable-living complex on the southeast corner of Fourth and Osuna.

Villagers opposed to high-density development in Los Ranchos have made the Palindrome Project the target of petitions, demonstrations, vocal opposition at village meetings and lawsuits. In addition to Craig, Los Ranchos trustees Frank Reinow and Jennifer Kueffer, campaigning for more open space and less high-density development, were elected in November.

On May 2, District Judge Denise Barela-Shepherd ruled that the process used by the previous Village of Los Ranchos administration to approve the Palindrome development violated the state Open Meetings Act.

Two items on Wednesday’s agenda are directly related to Barela-Shepherd’s ruling. One seeks the board’s approval for the village administration to get a court injunction to stop construction on the Palindrome Project. But the second is a discussion on whether or not to appeal the judge’s ruling.

Also on the agenda is a public hearing regarding an ordinance approved in March 2022 to allow Conservation Development/Pilot Projects, which made higher density projects possible in the village. Conservation Development projects allow cluster-home construction in return for the village receiving a percentage of a property for use as open space.

Regarding Craig’s successor, Trustee Gilbert Benavides told the Journal it is up to the four trustees to select a mayor by majority vote. Village Administrator Avila said the nominating process depends on how trustees decide to proceed.

“Trustees can nominate and maybe we can take nominations from the general public,” Benavides said. “We can choose candidates from among trustees or from the general public.”

He said since there are four trustees, a deadlock in voting is possible. Usually, the mayor is the deciding vote in deadlocks, but there is no mayor in this case.

Benavides said in case of a deadlock, the board may choose to continue to operate with just four trustees and no mayor, or push for a special election.

“I think all of us (trustees) are committed to the village, to making sure the village’s basic needs are met,” he said. “Maybe we can learn to compromise, and that could be a good outcome.”

Benavides said there is no time line mandated for selecting a new mayor.

“There may not be any urgency if we continue to take care of basic services,” he said. “If we do deadlock on important matters, there is an urgency.”

And if the trustees select a new mayor from among their own ranks, Benavides said the board would then be tasked with finding a new trustee.