City council members are proposing a way to reinvent the way city government works in Albuquerque. They say they want to move the Duke City in the right direction and help Mayor Tim Keller. Some councilors say a city manager would do that. However, his office has a different opinion on this proposal.“There would be a lot more accountability, it would be much more efficient,” City Councilor Renee Grout said. She and Councilor Louie Sanchez are sponsoring a proposal to create this city manager position. Grout says this could benefit Albuquerque in ways it does other metro areas. “It makes for a government that’s more responsive and better balanced between different interests,” Grout said.Councilor Grout says more than 50% of cities in the U.S. have a council-manager form of government. It’s something she says could improve accountability, collaboration, and productivity.She listed examples such as Dallas, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, and local municipalities like Rio Rancho and Las Cruces. “I think this is something the citizens have needed for a long time and deserve,” Councilor Sanchez said.“This proposal would turn back the clock 50 years to the dark ages of city government, and is the opposite direction of where major American cities are heading.”Other Councilors like Pat Davis are undecided on the idea, with Davis telling KOAT “I haven’t made up my mind, but I’m open to the conversation.”“It’s about making the mayor and the mayor more efficient in this world, in our city,” Grout said.If councilors agree on this idea, it will be put on the ballot for the next election where Grout says the people will have the final say.“We want to take it to the voters and let the voters decide and go from there,” Grout said.The council will discuss this proposal this upcoming week. Six of the nine councilors have to approve of the proposal, which would then be sent to Mayor Keller.
City council members are proposing a way to reinvent the way city government works in Albuquerque. They say they want to move the Duke City in the right direction and help Mayor Tim Keller. Some councilors say a city manager would do that. However, his office has a different opinion on this proposal.
“There would be a lot more accountability, it would be much more efficient,” City Councilor Renee Grout said.
She and Councilor Louie Sanchez are sponsoring a proposal to create this city manager position. Grout says this could benefit Albuquerque in ways it does other metro areas.
“It makes for a government that’s more responsive and better balanced between different interests,” Grout said.
Councilor Grout says more than 50% of cities in the U.S. have a council-manager form of government. It’s something she says could improve accountability, collaboration, and productivity.
She listed examples such as Dallas, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, and local municipalities like Rio Rancho and Las Cruces.
“I think this is something the citizens have needed for a long time and deserve,” Councilor Sanchez said.
“This proposal would turn back the clock 50 years to the dark ages of city government, and is the opposite direction of where major American cities are heading.”
Other Councilors like Pat Davis are undecided on the idea, with Davis telling KOAT “I haven’t made up my mind, but I’m open to the conversation.”
“It’s about making the mayor and the mayor more efficient in this world, in our city,” Grout said.
If councilors agree on this idea, it will be put on the ballot for the next election where Grout says the people will have the final say.
“We want to take it to the voters and let the voters decide and go from there,” Grout said.
The council will discuss this proposal this upcoming week. Six of the nine councilors have to approve of the proposal, which would then be sent to Mayor Keller.
