(A) The City of Albuquerque shall contribute up to $1 million from its General Obligation Bond Program in order to provide landscaping at the Big-I and along portions of Interstate Highway 25 and Interstate Highway 40. Expenditure of these funds shall be contingent upon contributions and grants from private, state or federal funds in an amount equal to the total cost of the Landscaping Plan as developed by the New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department, or the total cost as estimated by the Big-I Pride Task Force (defined below). Appropriations of these funds shall be made according to the City's appropriations procedure. Once the funds have been accumulated and the Landscaping Plan implemented, the City of Albuquerque desires to maintain the landscaping at the Big-I and along portions of Interstate Highway 25 and Interstate Highway 40 in an amount not to exceed $300,000 per fiscal year which would result in City expenditures of 4.5 million over the next 15 years.
(B) A Big-I Pride Task Force is hereby created to identify funds for and develop and implement a landscaping plan for the Big-I interchange of Interstate Highways 25 and 40 and for other locations on I-25 and I-40 in Albuquerque. The Big-I Pride Task Force shall be comprised of 11 members appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council from a list of nominees provided by the City Council. The Big-I Pride Task Force membership shall include representatives from the following organizations: one member from the Albuquerque Economic Forum, one member from Albuquerque Economic Development, one member from the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, one member from the Hispano Chamber of Commerce, two members from the Albuquerque City Council, two members who are elected officials from local, state or federal governments other than the City of Albuquerque, two members from community advocacy organizations, and the Mayor of Albuquerque. The Big-I Pride Task Force shall determine its own organization and meeting rules, with the exception that every Big-I Pride Task Force meeting shall be open to the public. The Big-I Pride Task Force shall be staffed by volunteers and by Council Services.
(C) The Big-I Pride Task Force shall review existing landscaping at the Big-I to identify any plants that should be preserved and integrated into the new Landscaping Plan.
(D) The Big-I Pride Task Force shall assist with the effort to secure private, federal, state and local funds for landscaping the Big-I and any other locations on Interstate Highway 25 and 40.
(E) The Big-I Pride Task Force shall assist the City in the effort to identify private, federal, state and local funds to maintain proposed landscaping at the Big-I and any other locations on Interstate Highway 25 and 40.
(F) The Big-I Pride Task Force shall encourage volunteers to participate in planting and other activities to carry out landscaping plans.
(Res. 72-2000, approved 6-27-00)