Public Meetings - El Paso, Texas

The El Paso City Council met on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Candlelighters of El Paso, followed by four mayoral proclamations honoring the American Legion Eastwood Post 36 (105th anniversary), artist Cesarino Strosa (I Walk Beside You Day), National Black Business Month, and Emma Acosta (LULAC Texas Woman of the Year). The regular council session commenced at 10:04 AM. The consent agenda was approved with three items moved to the regular agenda and one deleted. Major actions included approval of a homestead tax exemption increase, a controversial transition plan for the internal audit function following the retirement of the Chief Internal Auditor, and funding for a new parks master plan. A significant portion of the public comment period was devoted to concerns about animal services, with 26 speakers addressing the council on that topic. The meeting adjourned at 1:50 PM. Consent Calendar - Approved as revised: Minutes of July 21, 22, and March 20, 2025; requests to excuse absent members; numerous resolutions and contracts (aviation, police, solid waste liens, municipal utility districts, city committees, IT services, public health, capital improvements); board appointments (Joseph Iglesias to Bond Overview Committee, Michael Gaglio to Open Space Advisory Board, Stephen Nordberg to Fair Housing Task Force); tax refunds; campaign contribution notations; purchase order increases for solar parking at the airport and security services at police headquarters; and a bid for billiard repair services. - Revisions: Items 4, 5, and 6 (Foreign Trade Zone applications) were moved to the regular agenda at the request of Representative Acevedo. Item 16 (board appointment) was deleted at the request of Representative Fierro. Public Comments & Testimony - Uptown Parking (Items 25-26): Suzanne Dip, founder of the Sunrise Civic Group, expressed concerns about the Uptown Parking Benefit District, stating it could shift parking into the historic Rim Area neighborhood and that residents were not adequately informed. She requested the city listen to citizens during the upcoming public hearing. - Call to the Public (Non-Agenda Items): 26 speakers addressed the council, primarily focusing on animal services. Key positions: - Animal Services Crisis: Over a dozen speakers (including volunteers, rescuers, and concerned citizens) described systemic failures: injured animals (e.g., a seizing dog) left waiting for care, good Samaritans turned away or told to return animals to the streets, high intake numbers (over 20,000 annually), low live release rates (76% in June 2025, below no-kill benchmarks), and a lack of proactive spay/neuter programs. Speakers called for leadership change, an audit, free spay/neuter, and better training for staff. A few speakers expressed appreciation for frontline staff while criticizing management. - Other Topics: Claudia Contreras Siller thanked police and animal services. Michael Clark criticized the parks department’s food truck lottery system and record-keeping. Lisa Turner argued homeowners bear an unfair tax burden and suggested a 10% budget cut, specifically ending overtime payments for border patrol. Elizabeth Crawford spoke against abortion. Later, during Item 38, Lisa Turner criticized the FOAC’s role in the internal audit transition, alleging overreach. - Public comment on ordinances: Typically reserved for public hearings, but Suzanne Dip was allowed to comment on the introduction of parking ordinances. Discussion Items - Items 4-6 (Foreign Trade Zone Expansion): Representative Acevedo requested information on the tax base impact and monthly activity reports. Airport staff affirmed the expansion supports commercial growth and agreed to provide data. Approved unanimously. - Item 37 (Homestead Exemption Increase): City Manager Robert Cortinas presented an ordinance raising the over-65/disabled exemption from $42,500 to $45,000, effective for tax year 2025. The average savings per qualifying homeowner is $342 annually. Approved unanimously. - Item 38 (Internal Audit Transition): Representatives Acevedo and Chavez proposed retaining governance with the Financial Oversight and Advisory Committee (FOAC) while moving administrative operations to the City Manager’s office during the search for a new Chief Internal Auditor. After debate – including an amendment by Rep. Canales to add “at this time” and another to include internal/external search options – the motion passed 6-1 (Rep. Limón dissenting). The council directed the City Manager and City Attorney to present search options. Speakers noted the Weaver report will guide the search. - Item 39 (McRae Shared Path): Capital Improvement staff presented a $3.13 million project to construct a shared-use path from Montwood Drive to Montana Avenue, split into two phases due to federal funding cycles. Rep. Limón expressed disappointment that Phase 2 only covers part of the corridor, leaving a third segment unfinished. Staff confirmed they have submitted requests to complete the path south to I-10 in 2029. Approved 5-1 (Rep. Limón dissenting). - Item 40 (Parks Master Plan): Parks and Recreation staff, with Halff Associates, outlined a 12-14 month process to develop a 10-year master plan for $577,300. Councilmembers emphasized community engagement, needs assessment for underserved areas (especially District 5), and inclusion of amenities for all ages (youth, seniors). Approved unanimously. - Item 41 (Judicial Reappointments): Municipal Court requested reappointment of Associate Judges Jorge Rivas and Cori Harbour-Valdez for a four-year term. Some council members questioned the lack of an open call for applications but supported the reappointments based on positive performance. Approved unanimously. - Item 42 (SAFER Grant): Fire Chief Killings announced a $4.26 million federal grant (with a city match) to hire 21 firefighters for new Station 38, opening early 2026. The grant saves over $2.5 million in staffing costs. Approved unanimously. - Item 43 (Eastside Regional Park Phase II): A $3 million grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife (with $1.5 million city match from 2017 CIP) will fund sports courts, landscaping, and irrigation at the 92.4-acre park in District 5. Approved unanimously. - Item 44 (On-Call Engineering Services): Six firms were selected for two-year civil engineering contracts (each up to $750,000). Rep. Maldonado-Rocha encouraged expanding the Hire El Paso First policy to professional services. Mayor Johnson disclosed a $2,500 campaign contribution from CEA Engineering. Approved unanimously. - Item 45 (Cedar Grove Budget Transfer): A budget transfer of $987,869.25 from investment interest funds to the Cedar Grove Subdivision Improvement project (District 3) was approved unanimously. Key Outcomes - Approved: Homestead exemption increase ($42,500 to $45,000) for over-65 and disabled homeowners. - Approved: Parks and Recreation 10-year master plan contract with Halff Associates ($577,300). - Approved: SAFER grant ($4.256 million) for 21 new firefighter positions. - Approved: Texas Parks and Wildlife grant ($3 million) for Eastside Regional Park Phase II. - Approved: McRae Shared Path construction contract ($3.13 million). - Approved: Reappointment of two municipal court judges. - Approved: Transition plan for internal audit function – no interim chief auditor named; administrative operations to City Manager; City Manager and City Attorney to present search options (internal/external) at a future meeting. - Approved: On-call civil engineering services with six firms. - Approved: Budget transfer for Cedar Grove Subdivision improvements. - Next Steps: A special council meeting is scheduled for August 12, 2025. Public hearings on ordinances (including Uptown Parking Benefit District changes) will be held August 19 and September 3, 2025.

Special City Council Meeting - August 5, 2025: Resolution to Protect Fort Bliss and Airport in District 16\n\nOn August 5, 2025, the El Paso City Council held a special meeting to discuss and unanimously approve a resolution urging the Texas 89th Legislature to keep Fort Bliss and the El Paso International Airport within Congressional District 16. The action opposes a proposed redistricting map that would move these assets into District 23, represented by a San Antonio-based congress member over 550 miles away.\n\n Public Comments & Testimony\n- Ms. Turner spoke in strong support of the resolution, arguing that the redistricting effort violates the Texas Constitution (Article 3) because it occurs outside the required post-census regular legislative session. She characterized the move as an illegal attempt to fix elections and urged the council to prepare to file a lawsuit if the map is adopted.\n\n Discussion Items\n- Representative Josh Acevedo (sponsor) introduced the resolution, calling the proposed map a "power grab" that would remove Fort Bliss and the airport—two vital economic assets—from local representation. He noted that El Paso County passed a similar resolution unanimously the day before.\n- Representative Deanna Maldonado-Rocha testified that she had submitted testimony to the Texas Senate and House committees, emphasizing the airport's strategic binational role for trade, travel, and business.\n- Representative Ivan Niño highlighted that the Council adopted state priorities earlier in the year and that this resolution allows the body to collectively voice its stance on a critical issue affecting the city's economic drivers.\n- Representative Lily Limón framed the redistricting as a "blatant attempt to wipe out the African American vote and the Latino vote" in a minority-majority state.\n- Representative Chris Canales stated the effort is "not about fair representation" but about political control, quoting Donald Trump's morning statement that Texas Republicans are “entitled to five more seats." He argued that regardless of party, El Paso deserves a locally based representative.\n- Representative Cynthia Boyar Trejo expressed full support.\n- Representative Art Fierro recalled that similar resolutions passed four years ago successfully kept Fort Bliss and the airport in District 16, and noted that the current proposal is "mind-boggling" given that precedent.\n- Mayor Renard U. Johnson thanked the sponsors and stated unequivocally that the redistricting is "wrong" and that local representation for the airport and Fort Bliss is essential. He affirmed support for the city's state delegation in Austin.\n- Statistics cited: El Paso International Airport handled $15.4 billion in goods through Foreign Trade Zone 68 in 2024, with $3.7 billion in exports, supporting 2,930 jobs; it averages 55 departures per day and 4 million passengers annually. Fort Bliss has a $4 billion economic impact, directly employing 47,000 and indirectly 84,000 (one in five El Pasoans), with 38,000 active-duty family members, 3,000 soldiers transitioning to civilian life annually, and over 50,000 veterans in the region. A new VA healthcare center is planned on 36 acres at Fort Bliss.\n- Representative Maldonado-Rocha also noted that Congresswoman Escobar has brought hundreds of millions of dollars to Fort Bliss in recent years.\n\n Key Outcomes\n- Vote: The resolution was approved unanimously by all council members present.\n- Next Steps: The resolution will be transmitted to the Texas Legislature. Ms. Turner urged the council to consider legal action if the map is adopted.\n- Meeting adjourned at 11:40 AM.

The meeting of the El Paso Mass Transit Department Board was called to order at 11:41 AM on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, with Chair Johnson presiding and board members Chavez, Acevedo, Maldonado, Rocha, Boyar, Trejo, Niño, Fierro, Limon, and Canales present. The board considered three agenda items, all of which were approved unanimously. Consent Calendar - Item 2: Resolution authorizing the city manager to sign a marketing partner agreement between the City of El Paso and Van Wagner. Approved unanimously without separate discussion. Discussion Items - Item 3: Discussion and action to issue a purchase order for solicitation 2025-0136 for camera systems parts and service to Iris Infrared and Intelligent Sensors & A Incorporated, the sole authorized distributor of IRIS cameras (proprietary onboard camera systems) for a term of three years for an estimated amount described as "two million four hundred and ninety-nine dollars and four hundred and ninety-nine hundred and five hundred and sixty-four dollars" (transcription unclear; likely $2,499,564). Motion by Limon, second by Chavez; approved unanimously (with Fierro present). - Item 4: Discussion and action to authorize issuance of a purchase order for solicitation 2025-0462 for TRPE software and equipment maintenance to TRP Software Group Inc. doing business as Bontas, the sole authorized distributor of Transit Master and Response Master CAD and ADL software, for a term of five years for an estimated amount described as "two million zero sixty-six nine hundred eleven" (likely $2,066,911). Motion by Limon, second by Canales; approved unanimously (with Fierro not present for the vote). Key Outcomes - All three items were approved unanimously by the board. - No public comments were received. - No further actions or discussions were recorded.

On Monday, August 4, 2025, the El Paso City Council held a work session beginning at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers, City Hall, 300 N. Campbell, and virtually. Mayor Renard U. Johnson presided, with Mayor Pro Tem Alejandra Chávez and Representatives Josh Acevedo, Deanna Maldonado-Rocha, Cynthia Boyar Trejo, Ivan Niño, and Lily Limón present. Representative Chris Canales joined at 9:01 AM. The session focused on a presentation and discussion of the procurement process, specifically the Competitive Sealed Proposal (CSP) method, and concluded with an executive session and subsequent actions. Discussion Items - Presentation on Procurement Sourcing Policy and Process (Session 2 – Competitive Sealed Proposal): Claudia Garcia, Director of Purchasing and Strategic Sourcing, and Daniel Garcia, Assistant Director for Capital Improvement Department (CID), presented a detailed overview of the procurement process for design-bid-build construction projects. The presentation covered the CSP methodology, including solicitation preparation, advertising, evaluation, negotiation, and award recommendation. Key points included: - The design phase can take up to 12 months, procurement up to 9 months, contract execution about 2 months, and construction timeline varies. - The CSP process is regulated by state statute; price must be at least 50 points for civil works projects. - The city uses an independent cost estimate; if a bid is significantly lower, a price analysis is conducted. - The city has 85 certified vendors under the Hir El Paso program (tiered certification). The program applies when a certified vendor is within 5 points and 5% of the top-ranked non-certified bidder, allowing award to the local vendor. - Evaluation committees consist of 3-5 members approved by CID directors, with the project manager excluded. The Cone of Silence is enforced throughout. - Reference checks: two attempts via email and phone; if no response, the reference scores zero. Vendors are warned in the solicitation to ensure contacts are responsive. - The city is working on dashboards to track project status and improve transparency. - Council Member Questions and Concerns: - Representative Deanna Maldonado-Rocha inquired about tracking project status (e.g., the Bonham Elementary site) and the gap between design and advertisement. The city manager noted they are working on manual updates and dashboards. - Representative Ivan Niño clarified that design must be completed before procurement begins under the design-bid-build model. - Representative Alejandra Chávez asked about council involvement in approvals and solicitation changes. The city manager explained that approvals tie to funding streams and that clarifications during the Q&A period can extend deadlines. - Representative Chávez also raised concerns about objectivity in evaluating experience and reputation, and suggested adding language like "offerer's experience in El Paso" to evaluation criteria. The city attorney noted they would need to review legal viability. - Representative Josh Acevedo questioned the scoring of past performance, noting that contractors who perform poorly on time or quality can still win if price and schedule scores are high. He advocated for better metrics to root out poor performers. The city manager explained that contractor performance is addressed through separate processes (e.g., damages, disqualification) and that the city is developing a vendor report card. - Representative Cynthia Boyar Trejo asked about small business education and training. The city offers periodic training with the Hispanic Chamber and one-on-one sessions. She also questioned the evaluation of key personnel and health insurance in best-value solicitations; the city noted that incentives like paid vacation are also considered if health insurance is not offered. - Representative Lily Limón recalled the San Jacinto Plaza project disaster where price was 75 points, leading to a de facto low bid. She noted that after that, the CSP policy was rewritten to prevent price from dominating. - Mayor Johnson asked about unrealistic low bids and change orders. The city confirmed that price analysis is done and that change orders are capped at 25% of the contract award (state law). The mayor also noted that the city does not currently throw out the highest and lowest bids. - Representative Acevedo asked about the criteria for the Hir El Paso program (5 points and 5%) and whether the city contacts non-certified local vendors afterward. The city said they are considering that outreach. - Representative Maldonado-Rocha asked about rater discrepancies and conflict of interest. The city reviews evaluator notes and holds debriefings; they have not had to remove an evaluator. The losing bidder can protest. - Representative Chávez echoed concerns about potential bias in evaluation and noted that some vendors fear retaliation. The city manager encouraged vendors to request debriefings and use the protest process. - Representative Trejo asked about best-practice models; the city compares with Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and used a consultant in 2018 to develop the current policy. - Representative Chávez requested data on bid opening timeliness, number of Hir El Paso awards, and trends in program participation. The city said they will provide reports. Key Outcomes - No action taken on the procurement presentation; it was for discussion only. - Executive Session (10:30 AM – 1:05 PM): The council retired to executive session to discuss seven items under Texas Government Code sections 551.071 (consultation with attorney) and 551.087 (economic development negotiations). - Action on EX1: A motion by Mayor Pro Tem Chávez, seconded by Representative Limón, passed unanimously to authorize the city attorney’s office to deny the settlement demand in City of El Paso v. Ricks Cabaret and RCI Holdings, D/B/A Jaguars Gold Club (Cause No. 2024DCV0848) and to take all necessary steps. - No action taken on EX2 through EX7. - The work session adjourned at 1:07 PM.

The El Paso City Council held a special meeting on July 31, 2025, beginning at 9:02 AM and recessing into executive session from 9:04 AM to 9:46 AM. The meeting resumed with presentations on the FY2024-2025 third-quarter financial report, the certified appraisal roll and tax rate calculations, and the FY2025-2026 proposed budget. Council voted to lower the overall tax rate, reduce the use of fund balance, and partially restore funding for vacancies and facility improvements. The meeting adjourned at 11:10 AM. Public Comments & Testimony - Michael Radick spoke in support of a balanced budget and commended the city for matching property valuations more closely to actual values. He suggested considering a vacation tax, promoting local assets (e.g., scenic drive, streetcar, historic districts), and holding the El Paso Chamber of Commerce accountable for a creative promotion plan. He urged careful spending of citizens’ money and encouraged outsiders to spend in the city. Discussion Items - FY2024-2025 3rd Quarter Financial Report (Agenda Item 1): Chief Financial Officer Robert Cortinas reported that overall revenues are up 14% compared to the prior year, with property tax and sales tax collections slightly above projections. The city projects a balanced budget with no deficit but expects to use $4.3 million of fund balance (down from the budgeted $7.2 million). The unrestricted fund balance is projected to be $129.9 million at the start of FY2026, representing 76 days of operating expenses (down from 83 days). City staff noted that 60 days is considered a healthy fund balance. Council members asked about the impact of using fund balance and the city’s past usage; staff confirmed no fund balance was used in the last two fiscal years. - Appraisal Roll and Tax Rate Presentation (Agenda Item 2): The certified appraisal roll from the Central Appraisal District (CAD) was received on July 24, 2025. Total taxable property value is $55.91 billion, a 5.6% increase over the prior year—matching the city’s March estimate with 99.99% accuracy. The average single-family taxable value is $221,191 (up from $209,718). The no-new-revenue tax rate is 72.8 cents per $100 valuation, the voter-approval rate is 76.5 cents, and the certified collection rate is 98.63%. The proposed rate of 76.1 cents is below the voter-approval rate. Staff noted that residential property accounts for $35 billion of the tax base versus $13.5 billion for commercial, highlighting the challenge of shifting the tax burden toward commercial properties. - FY2025-2026 Proposed Budget (Agenda Item 3): The city manager presented a $625.7 million general fund budget (4.3% increase over the prior year). Key drivers: $19 million for workforce (wages, benefits, taxes), $4 million for contractual services, and $3.2 million for operating expenditures. The budget includes $5.4 million in additional tax relief for seniors and disabled (increasing the over-65/disabled exemption from $42,500 to $45,000). Public safety staffing will return to pre-COVID levels (1,169 police officers), and two new fire stations and a health clinic will open. Staff recommended four adjustments using $2.97 million in additional revenue from certified values: (1) reduce the tax rate from 76.1 to 75.9 cents; (2) reduce the use of fund balance from $4 million to $3.25 million; (3) restore $750,000 for vacancies; (4) restore $500,000 for facility improvements. The overall tax rate of 75.9649 cents per $100 would be the lowest in 10 years. The debt service portion decreased from 0.218 to 0.210 cents, reflecting a $300 million reduction in city debt since FY2022. The average residential tax bill would increase by about $83 (from $1,597 to $1,680) due to rising home values, despite the lower rate. Council members discussed the difficulty of achieving a no-new-revenue tax rate given the need to invest in public safety and infrastructure. - Budget Resolution Amendments and Fee Schedule: Council discussed several amendments to the budget resolution, including Article 12 (donations to city council) and Article 31 (transparency and rollover of discretionary funds). After multiple amendments and votes, the council approved language requiring that all special projects, discretionary, and P-card transactions be posted on the city’s website and included on monthly council agendas, and that allocations from the city council’s general fund budget (including outside contracts, salaries, and benefits) roll over from year to year into the district’s discretionary fund. The city manager also presented a summary of fee schedule changes, including increases at the airport, environmental services (residential garbage collection up $0.50/month, commercial proportionate), ambulance fees, software maintenance fees, and Sun Metro commercial transit operator fees ($4.50 per passenger). The zoo camps were restructured to full-day week-long camps (price range $115–$400). The fire department’s ambulance fees were increased to recover inflationary costs. Council requested that the full fee schedule presentation be made available before the August 19 adoption. Key Outcomes - Vote on Executive Session Item EX1 (unanimous): Authorized the mayor, with assistance from outside counsel and in response to HB 762, to negotiate and execute amendments to the city manager and city attorney employment agreements to remove severance terms and develop separate severance agreements. (Representative Maldonado-Rocha not present.) - Vote on Budget Adjustments (unanimous): Approved the four staff recommendations: reduce the tax rate to 75.9649 cents per $100; reduce the use of fund balance to $3.25 million; restore $750,000 for vacancies; restore $500,000 for facility improvements. - Vote on Budget Resolution Article 12 (unanimous): Added “including for city council” to the sentence on donations to clarify that all donations are subject to relevant policies. - Vote on Budget Resolution Article 31 (7-2, with Representative Limon voting nay): Adopted amendments requiring council members to notify the city manager of expenditures, granting the council sole discretion to determine municipal purpose (subject to public purpose criteria), posting all P-card transactions on the city website, and rolling over unspent general fund allocations into district discretionary funds. - Introduction of Tax Ordinance (Agenda Item 4, unanimous): Introduced an ordinance levying the FY2025-2026 tax rate at 0.759649 per $100 of taxable value. Public hearings will be held on August 12 (tax rate) and August 18 (budget), with adoption scheduled for August 19, 2025. - Next Steps: Staff will publish the required notices, update the budget resolution with approved amendments, and prepare the final budget for adoption. Council will consider council budget requests and the fee schedule at a future meeting. Note: The meeting transcript and agenda indicate that the meeting took place on July 31, 2025. No minutes were available for cross-reference.

The meeting was scheduled for July 22, 2025 at 18:45 UTC. However, the agenda, minutes, and transcript provided are empty or unavailable, so no specific discussions, public comments, or decisions can be summarized. Note - No agenda, minutes, or transcript content was supplied for this meeting.

The El Paso Mass Transit Department Board held a special meeting on July 22, 2025, from 11:33 a.m. to 11:37 a.m. Board Chair Johnson presided, with members Chavez, Acevedo, Rocha, Boyartrejo, Niño, Fierro, Limon, and Canales present. The meeting covered two grant resolutions and a consent agenda, all approved unanimously. Consent Calendar - Item 1: Minutes – A motion by Board Member Lee (seconded by Fierro, later corrected to motion by Fierro, seconded by Limon) to approve the minutes passed unanimously. Discussion Items - Item 3: Lower Emission Grant and Bus Facilities Grant – Discussion and action on a resolution authorizing the city manager to sign documents for the Fiscal Year 2024 Lower NOx Emission Grant Program and the Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Program. The combined funding offered is $30,597,000, requiring a total cash match of $5,455,821. The city shall provide local matching funds in the amount of $2,755,221. A motion by Board Member Canales (seconded by Fierro) passed unanimously. - Item 4: Micro Transit Project Funding – Discussion and action on a resolution authorizing the city manager to sign documents for Fiscal Year 2024 Community Project Funding for Sun Metro’s micro transit project. The funding offered is $720,000, requiring a cash match of $180,000. A motion by Board Member Limon (seconded by Canales) passed unanimously. Key Outcomes - All three agenda items (minutes, grant resolution for buses and facilities, and micro transit grant) were approved unanimously by the board. - The meeting adjourned at 11:37 a.m.

No agenda, minutes, or transcript were provided for this meeting. Therefore, no summary can be generated.

This regular city council meeting began with mayor's proclamations recognizing the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Tender Care's five-star excellence day, Big Boy Concessions' 70th anniversary, and the Best Visitor Information Center in Texas Day. Following the proclamations and pledge of allegiance, the council convened to address routine consent agenda items, public hearings on zoning and parking ordinances, budget transfers, and a letter of support for a transportation project. The meeting was adjourned at 11:32 a.m. Consent Calendar - The consent agenda was approved with a revision moving item 16 (domestic terrorism consultant contract) to the regular agenda. - Item 11 – Appointment of Valerie M. Armandadis to the Tax Advisory Committee was noted as a council appointment (not a mayoral appointment); she previously served on the committee. Public Comments & Testimony - Raymond Seda (spoke on item 26): Represented property owners requesting a zoning change from R3 to A2 apartments at 525 Lafayette Drive. He stated the 30-unit apartment complex would act as a buffer between commercial and residential uses and emphasized that apartments are "home sweet home" for families. - Rick McLaughlin (spoke on item 38): Expressed 98% neighborhood support for no-parking signs near the West Side Sports Complex, citing littering and parking congestion. He noted prior ticketing reluctance and urged consistent enforcement. - Betty Stangellini (call to the public): On behalf of the Justice House of Prayer, expressed support for city leadership and requested prayers for the community, including for the end of abortion and human trafficking. - Claudia Contreras Siller (call to the public): Urged support for law enforcement, including better pay for El Paso Police, and advocated for Narcan availability to combat overdoses. She also requested reporting of animal cruelty. - Elizabeth Crawford (call to the public): Argued that human trafficking and abortion are interconnected, stating, "The trafficking industry and the abortion cartel are two sides of the same underworld." - Nasli De La Hoya Flores (call to the public): Thanked the city for increased funding for animal services and urged more community awareness about fostering and volunteering. - Ron Como (call to the public): Asserted that managed intake of stray dogs is illegal under Texas law and criticized delays in completing the West Side animal shelter, calling for immediate action. - Angie Anguelio (submitted statement): Opposed proposed parking meters at Current Place. - Paul Dipp (call to the public): Requested that public meetings be held when requested by stakeholders, emphasizing the cost of mailing notifications ($800 per meeting) and the importance of early collaboration. - Veronica Carvajal (call to the public): Speaking for Sembrando Esperanza, opposed El Paso Electric's proposed rate increase, stating a 31% increase ($161/year) for a small apartment resident and noting that 600 public comments were submitted against the hike. - Sam Silerio (call to the public): As an intervenor, urged continued opposition to El Paso Electric's rate case, citing increased profits under JP Morgan (from $102 million average profit in 2017-2019 to $140 million in 2021-2023) and criticizing low solar compensation (less than $0.02/kWh when selling back to the utility). - Saúl Gonzalez (call to the public): Opposed the rate increase, stating that an extra $20-30/month would mean "less medication, less food on the table" for many families. - Michael Clark (call to the public): Criticized the city's food truck lottery system at parks, arguing it limits entrepreneurial flexibility and customer choice; he advocated for location selection based on demand. - Mary Bardouche (call to the public): Requested that agenda item 19 (parking zoning changes) be postponed to allow a proper presentation to property owners in Kern and Rim areas, citing Texas law requiring stakeholder engagement. - Linda Troncoso (call to the public): A local civil engineer opposed item 19, noting that the Uptown Redevelopment Plan (developed since 2019) would allow a 100% parking reduction based on a study that counted on-street parking in front of homes as excess. She said stakeholder meetings stopped in August 2024 and concerns were not addressed. Discussion Items - Item 16 – Domestic Terrorism Consultant Contract: A $90,000 contract with Porcena Solutions LLC, funded by a FEMA homeland security grant, to conduct a functional exercise simulating a domestic terrorism threat. Four bids were received; none local. The contract was approved. - Item 19 – First Reading of Ordinance on Parking/Zoning Changes: Council approved the first reading (not final) of an ordinance that would allow a 100% parking reduction in certain areas. Council members expressed concerns about stakeholder outreach, with Representative Rocha stating that stakeholders must be included early. Representative Canales outlined extensive outreach to 10+ neighborhood associations and organizations, some providing support letters. The second reading and public hearing are scheduled in approximately one month. - Item 38 – No Parking at Any Time (West Side Sports Complex area): Council approved the ordinance adding no-parking zones with decal requirements at multiple streets. Representative Acevedo inquired about a pending fee-schedule update for residential parking districts; staff said it would be presented in the coming weeks after legal review. The current fee schedule will apply to this ordinance. - Item 41 – Budget Transfers: Approved transfers totaling funds from completed bond projects to ongoing projects (Geronimo, Shadow Mountain, Lee Trevino, Sunland Park), the Airport Road reconstruction, the Zoo's South American Pavilion (additional $175,000 from investment interest), and central ball fields. Staff explained that cost savings on completed streets (e.g., Yarbrough, Lomolinth) came from projects coming under budget; increased costs on others (e.g., Lee Trevino) resulted from needing deeper asphalt excavation due to high traffic damage. - Item 43 – Letter of Support for 2026 Unified Transportation Program: Council authorized a letter supporting the proposed $150 million for SS 320 (Borderland Expressway Phase 3). A council member expressed uncertainty about whether the letter would influence the Transportation Commission but noted the city has financial commitments to the project through other agreements. Key Outcomes - Consent agenda approved with item 16 moved to regular agenda. - All public hearings and first readings of ordinances (items 17-23, 24-25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30-36, 37, 38, 39) were approved unanimously. - Item 16 (domestic terrorism consultant) awarded to Porcena Solutions LLC for $90,000 (approved unanimously). - Item 40 (APIA terminal roof repairs to Aztec Contractors Inc. – $3,321,150) approved unanimously. - Item 41 (budget transfers) approved unanimously. - Item 42 (deductive change order of $453,371.60 to ZTEX Construction for traffic signal improvements) approved unanimously. - Item 43 (letter of support for UTP) approved unanimously. - Meeting adjourned at 11:32 a.m.