ARTICLE IX. [ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION]

   The Council (City Commission) in the interest of the public in general shall protect and preserve environmental features such as water, air and other natural endowments, insure the proper use and development of land, and promote and maintain an aesthetic and humane urban environment. To effect these ends the Council shall take whatever action is necessary and shall enact ordinances and shall establish appropriate Commissions, Boards or Committees with jurisdiction, authority and staff sufficient to effectively administer city policy in this area.

(Adopted at Special Election, June 29, 1971.)

ARTICLE X. MERIT SYSTEM

Section 1. MAINTENANCE OF THE MERIT SYSTEM.

   It is necessary for the optimum functioning of the Mayor-Council form of government that the city maintain a merit system governing the hiring, promotion, discharge and general regulations of employees. The Mayor and Council shall maintain by ordinance, and the Mayor administer, a merit system which shall include as a minimum, reasonable provisions establishing:

   (a)   Classified and unclassified service;

   (b)   Methods of service rating of classified employees;

   (c)   Methods of initial employment, continuation thereof and promotion, recognizing efficiency and ability as the applicable standards;

   (d)   Appropriate grievance and appeal procedures for classified employees; and

   (e)   An active personnel board composed of individuals not employed by the city.

Section 2. INVOLVEMENT IN PERSONNEL MATTERS.

   (a)   Councillors are prohibited from becoming involved in the hiring, promotion, demotion or discharge of any city employee, except those positions for which the Charter requires the advice and consent of the Council and those personnel who are hired by and directly responsible to the Council.

   (b)   Except to the extent necessary for the administration of the merit system, the Mayor is prohibited from becoming involved in the hiring, promotion, demotion, or discharge of any city employee except those personnel hired for unclassified positions directly responsible to the Mayor.

Section 3. DUAL POSITIONS.

   Effective January 1, 1993, employees of the city are prohibited from holding an elective office of the State of New Mexico or any of its political subdivisions, except employees of the city on October 3, 1989, who on that date hold elective office of the State of New Mexico or any of its political subdivisions may thereafter hold and be elected to the same elective office while serving as a city employee.

(Section 3 adopted at Regular Municipal Election, October 3, 1989, as Proposition #8; Article X amended at Regular Municipal Election, October 3, 1989, as part of Proposition #4.)

ARTICLE XI. ORDINANCES

Section 1. STYLE.

   The enacting clause of an ordinance of the City of Albuquerque shall be: "Be It Ordained By the Council, the Governing Body of the City of Albuquerque:".

Section 2. ADOPTION.

   If a majority of a legal quorum of the Councillors present at a Council meeting vote in favor of adopting the ordinance or resolution, it is adopted.