Council candidates talk impact fees at forum

Hopefuls open to reviewing program

Several Albuquerque City Council candidates told a room full of real estate and construction professionals Monday that they are open to lowering the impact fees the city assesses as a way to promote activity amid increasing development costs.

In a forum hosted by the New Mexico chapter of NAIOP, a commercial real estate development association, District 5 council candidate Dan Lewis described impact fees as “anti-growth policies,” while his opponent, incumbent Cynthia Borrego, said the impact fee ordinance — like many on the city’s books — is worth another look.

Several others on the Nov. 2 ballot also expressed a willingness to review the policy.

“As far as I’m concerned, nothing is off the table,” said commercial real estate agent Lori Robertson, one of six candidates running in District 7 to replace Diane Gibson, who is not seeking reelection. “We’ve got to look at everything and we’ve just got to bring some common sense back to all our policies and procedures.”

The city assesses impact fees to cover roads, parks and other infrastructure expenses necessitated by new development. The fees vary based on project type, but generally total between $3,300 and $3,700 for a new single-family home, according to the Planning Department. Certain projects — including affordable housing and those in metropolitan redevelopment areas — are exempt from the fees. The city collected about $3 million in total impact fees in the last fiscal year, according to a Planning Department official.

District 3 incumbent Klarissa Peña, who is running unopposed, said she has analyzed some new developments and found, to her surprise, that impact fees represented just 2% of total construction development costs.

“Even so, I’m still interested in continuing to improve the impact fee system to make sure that it’s fair,” she said.

But some candidates do not support decreasing impact fees, with District 1 incumbent Lan Sena saying they ensure “responsible community development” and have been beneficial in her West Side district. District 7 candidate Tammy Fiebelkorn, meanwhile, said they are necessary to cover the city costs related to the new development.

“Somebody has to pay for that ... and it should not be taxpayers,” said Fiebelkorn, an environmental economist who at one point joked that she was booed the last time she spoke at a NAIOP meeting.

The forum also covered issues like homelessness, unemployment and crime.

Several candidates said they wanted to improve conditions within the Albuquerque Police Department. Borrego said the council has regularly added funding to APD’s budget and she will continue to advocate for more.

Renee Grout, trying to succeed departing District 9 Councilor Don Harris, complained that APD — in the midst of a U.S. Department of Justice-ordered reform effort — has too many officers tied up in internal investigations and “too few investigating criminals.”

Retired APD officer and District 1 candidate Louie Sanchez said the city needs to “change the culture at APD,” and better empower officers.

Lewis said he wants a more active and visible force cracking down on even minor offenses like loitering.

“We should see badges everywhere we go,” he said.

District 9 candidate Rob Grilley said it is a “plain statistical fact” that Albuquerque has too few officers for its size and that adding more is key, but it is just the start.

“We need to build and expand the social services that prevent the crimes and criminals of tomorrow,” he said.