Council adjourns

After years of tense debate and legal strife, the City Council voted on a staffing policy for Albuquerque Fire Rescue Monday night.

The resolution revisits the controversial decision by AFR leadership to split paramedics between fire trucks and ambulances. Under this policy, paramedics on ambulances were reduced from one to two to place a paramedic on every firetruck.

The local union largely protested this change, calling it unsafe and burdensome.

However, not all firefighters agreed. Many others sided with Fire Chief Jaramillo, saying that the move freed up paramedics to save lives rather than drive rescue vehicles.

Despite pushback from the local union, this policy was tested at several fire stations around Albuquerque.

In response to this change, the City Council passed a resolution to reverse this decision. This triggered a legal battle over the separation of powers between the City Council, Mayor’s Office and the union.

This latest resolution seeks to put an end to the debate, at least where it concerns the council, by restoring authority to the fire chief.

“This is the winding down of a lot of drama,” said sponsor Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn.

Despite this latest resolution, the union and the administration are still in an ongoing lawsuit over staffing.

“The amended resolution passed tonight supports the operational model that has strengthened AFR’s reliability and performance,” said Chief Jaramillo in a statement Monday night. “It affirms my authority to make staffing decisions, improves operational flexibility, memorializes safe staffing levels and maintains the high level of service the public expects from AFR. My commitment remains unchanged: delivering timely, high-quality emergency response to every member of our community.”

The Albuquerque City Council unanimously voted to create an African American Advisory Board Monday night.

The legislation was sponsored by City Councilor Nichole Rogers, the first Black person to hold a seat on the council.

The African American Advisory Board will advise the City Council and Mayor’s Office on policy to help the Black community, including in areas of civic engagement, health outcomes and cultural events.

The board will also advise leadership about the disproportionate violence committed against Black people and how to address it through city departments and policy.

The board will have 15 voting members. The majority of the members of which must be appointed by local Black-led organizations and businesses.

However, several Black community members expressed concern about the organizations and said that they did not meaningfully represent the African American community in Albuquerque.

“Who are you, Councilor Rogers, to determine who is Black-serving and who is Black enough to be on this list?” said public commenter Ahdohny Routheni.

Rogers conceded that her legislation is not perfect but said that the council “needs to start somewhere.”

Rogers said she would be open to amending the ordinance later to address concerns.

The council has left the dais and entered into executive session to discuss ongoing litigation.

Due to transparency laws, there are few opportunities for the full council to talk away from the public eye. Whenever the council enters executive session, it has met one of those exemptions.

For example, tonight the council is speaking with its lawyers. To ensure attorney-client privilege, that meeting is held privately.

The council has adjourned for a 30-minute dinner break and will return at 7:25 p.m.

General public comment is up next.

The Albuquerque City Council will convene tonight for its fourth meeting of the year at 5 p.m.

The council will discuss legislation that reignites a fight between Albuquerque Fire Rescue’s administration and the local firefighter’s union over staffing.

Tonight the council will revisit a yearslong controversy over a decision to split paramedics between fire trucks and ambulances.

Union officials have said the legislation will reverse that decision and make staffing safer, while the administration said that the move is inefficient and violates the fire chief's authority over her department.

Still, regardless of the outcome, the union and the administration are in an ongoing lawsuit about staffing and bargaining.

The council will also consider legislation to create an African American Advisory Board to guide the Mayor's Office and City Council in issues involving Black people.

The Advisory Board will give recommendations on policy to help with civic engagement, health outcomes and cultural events. The board will also advise leadership about the disproportionate amount of violence against Black people and how the city can address it.

The complete meeting agenda is posted online and can be accessed here.