Public Meetings - El Paso, Texas

The El Paso Mass Transit Department Board met on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 10:05 AM. Chair Mr. Johnson presided, with board members Ms. Chavez, Ms. Rocha, Ms. Strejo, Ms. Limon, Mr. Acevedo, Mr. Nino, Mr. Fierro, and Mr. Canales present. The meeting covered approval of prior minutes and a contract award for electric vehicle charging stations. Consent Calendar - Approval of Minutes: The board approved the minutes of the previous meeting by unanimous consent. A motion was made by board member Limon and seconded by board member Chavez, and the vote passed unanimously. Discussion Items - Solicitation 2024-0514 – Sun Metro Electric Paratransit Vehicle Charging Station: The board considered awarding a contract to Triple A General Contractors LLC in the amount of $2 million. The project includes reconfiguring the Sun Metro Lyft facility parking lot at 5081 Fred Wilson Avenue to accommodate 25 dual level-two electric vehicle chargers and 45 electric vehicles, with associated excavation, electrical and communication upgrades, pavement repair, restriping, and installation of bollards, panel boards, transformers, and IT infrastructure. Board members asked about the district location (noted as potentially Districts 2, 3, and 4) and clarified it is in District 3. A motion was made by Mr. Canales and seconded by Ms. Trejo. Key Outcomes - Contract Award: The motion to award the solicitation to Triple A General Contractors LLC for $2 million passed unanimously. - Adjournment: The meeting adjourned after the regular agenda, with a motion by Mr. Canales and unanimous approval.

The El Paso City Council held a work session on Monday, March 3, 2025, from 9:18 a.m. to 1:21 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, with public participation available virtually. Mayor Renard U. Johnson presided, with Mayor Pro Tem Alejandra Chávez and Council Representatives Josh Acevedo, Deanna Maldonado-Rocha, Cynthia Boyar Trejo, Ivan Niño, Art Fierro, Lily Limón, and Chris Canales present. The session included three presentations and discussions, an executive session, and unanimous votes on related actions. Discussion Items - Federal Legislative Agenda for the 119th U.S. Congress: Omar Martinez, Strategic and Legislative Affairs, presented the city's first comprehensive federal legislative agenda. The presentation highlighted the city's monitoring of over $505 million in federal funding across more than 160 grants, and over $100 million in newly awarded grant funds not yet secured by agreements. Staff introduced a Rapid Response Program to track executive orders, litigation, and funding changes, including the recent DOGE cost-efficiency initiative. The agenda prioritizes critical infrastructure, public safety, veterans' services, and protection of community programs. Councilmembers praised the effort, with Representative Trejo noting it was the first such federal agenda in at least 15 years. Representative Canales suggested a “Days in Washington” event, but action was deferred as it was not on the agenda. - Small Business Assistance Division 2024 Annual Report: Mirella Tamayo presented the Economic and International Development (ED) division's annual report. Key statistics included: 84% of El Paso businesses (approximately 13,500) employ under 20 workers; the city has administered nearly $40 million in federal funding, including $25 million in initial ARPA small business grants; and the Bio Paso Rewards program, seeded with a $200,000 city investment, is expected to generate a $4.8 million economic impact. The division launched a women's accelerator with Pioneers 21, established a revolving loan fund with Borderplex Community Capital, and received an IEDC gold award. The city's BOSS (Business One-Stop Shop) network now includes over 25 Entrepreneur Support Organizations. - El Paso Electric Smart Meter Project 2024 Annual Report: Representatives from El Paso Electric (Simon Mejoral, Grisel Ramirez, Jacob Reyes) presented the customer education plan. Deployment is 84% complete systemwide and 95% complete within El Paso city limits, running one month ahead of schedule and 3% under budget. 55% of customers have adopted the customer portal, and only 173 customers (0.06%) have opted out. The education campaign generated 56.9 million impressions, exceeding targets by 285%. Councilmembers asked about opt-out fees, outage notifications, and accessibility for non-app users; EPE confirmed a surcharge for opt-outs, automatic outage alerts via “last gasp” technology, and phone support through 915-543-XXXX (number not fully specified in transcript). Public Comments & Testimony Public speakers on the Small Business Annual Report expressed strong support for the BOSS program: - Mayra Maldonado (Hunt Institute, UTEP) – Supported the initiative, noting data collection from 550 businesses since July 2023. - Elizabeth Terrazas (Better Business Bureau) – Highlighted Bio Paso Rewards, with 900 users and 2,500 participating businesses. - Alma Aranda (Workforce Solutions Borderplex) – Emphasized workforce gaps and talent retention; noted 90% of employers are small businesses and 67% of workers are in the lowest two wage quartiles. - Chester Frame (SCORE) – Reported local SCORE services delivered to 506 clients last fiscal year and 557 in the current year to date. - Laura Butler (Pioneers 21) – Described the $20,000 NLC grant that funded the women's accelerator program. - Dante Acosta (U.S. Small Business Administration) – Stated the SBA could not sign the MOU but remains available to assist. - Hector Villegas (Borderplex Community Capital) – Voiced strong support and partnership for the BOSS program. Executive Session Actions After open session, Council retired to executive session at 10:47 a.m. and returned at 1:15 p.m. They took the following actions: - EX1 (Mark Avalos v. City of El Paso): Authorized the city attorney to engage in settlement negotiations and mediation. Motion passed unanimously. - EX2 (City of El Paso v. Ricks Cabaret et al.): Authorized hiring outside counsel and necessary experts. Motion passed unanimously. - EX3 (Military Resiliency Services Tariff): No action taken. - EX4 (Time-Varying Rate Pilot Program): Authorized settlement negotiations. Motion passed unanimously. - EX5 (COVID-19 Schedule Update): Authorized settlement negotiations. Motion passed unanimously. - EX6 (Sun Metro fire preservation of evidence): Authorized retention of outside counsel and experts. Motion passed unanimously. - EX7 (West El Paso economic development opportunity): No action taken. Councilmembers Acevedo, Maldonado-Rocha, Limón, Niño, and Mayor Johnson disclosed receiving campaign contributions from the El Paso Electric Employee PAC prior to votes on items EX3-EX5. Key Outcomes - Approved the Federal Fiscal Year 2025 Legislative Agenda for the 119th Congress (motion by Limón, second by Fierro, unanimous vote). - Received and discussed the Small Business Assistance Division 2024 Annual Report; no formal action required. - Received and discussed the El Paso Electric Smart Meter Customer Education Plan 2024 Annual Report; no formal action required. - Approved four executive session motions related to litigation and utility matters as detailed above. Meeting adjourned at 1:21 p.m.

The El Paso Mass Transit Department Board held a special meeting on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 10:05 AM in Council Chambers, presided by Board Chair Mr. Johnson. The sole agenda item was a resolution to authorize the city manager to take necessary actions in response to the February 11, 2025 fire at the Sun Metro Transit Operations Center (TOC), including contracting and purchasing without further board action. After a presentation by Sun Metro Director Anthony DeKaiser and public comments, the board voted unanimously to approve the resolution. The meeting adjourned at 10:22 AM. Consent Calendar - No consent items were presented. Public Comments & Testimony - Ms. Janet Flores urged the board to cooperate with victims' attorneys and third-party experts on the investigation. She criticized the city for providing vague answers and demanded a transparent investigation that prioritizes victims' dignity. She asked for details on who is conducting the investigation and their qualifications. - Ms. Jasmine Flores echoed concerns, asking how the city ensures transparency and cooperation with victims, families, and attorneys. She questioned the bias of an internal investigation and demanded that any findings of negligence be fully disclosed and that accountability be ensured. Discussion Items - Presentation by Anthony DeKaiser, Sun Metro Director: - The February 11 fire affected the east side of the maintenance bay; five employees were hospitalized, and one employee, Ruben Abotto, succumbed to injuries. The fire remains under investigation by multiple entities (fire marshal, cause and origin investigators, structural evaluators). - The east side of the maintenance building will be demolished; timing depends on completion of investigations and structural stability assessment. The intent is to rebuild and resume full maintenance operations at the TOC. - Following the incident, Sun Metro operated on a modified Sunday/holiday schedule for eight days. As of February 24, they restored service to 92% of routes (48 of 52) with reduced frequency. Full service with original frequency is expected to be announced on Thursday, February 27. - Temporary maintenance operations have been established at the Union Depot (7 bays) and 4 bays remain at the TOC for Brio maintenance. Full operational status at Union Depot is expected within the week. - LIFT service (paratransit) was not significantly impacted; vehicles were fueled at the LIFT facility on the day of the fire (slower pumping but all LIFT vehicles departed on time). On-time performance for LIFT is currently at 90%. - Board Member Rocha asked about LIFT service impacts. Director DeKaiser confirmed minimal impact and detailed fueling operations. - Board Member Limon expressed condolences and trust in the city manager to lead a transparent process, noting that communication is key to addressing community concerns. Key Outcomes - Motion to approve the resolution (moved by Mr. Canales, seconded by Mr. Fierro) passed unanimously. The resolution authorizes the city manager to take all necessary steps for emergency response and recovery, including contracting and purchasing without further board action, under Texas Local Government Code exceptions. - No additional directives or referrals were made beyond the resolution approval. - The board adjourned the special meeting at 10:22 AM and reconvened the regular city council meeting.

The El Paso City Council convened on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers and virtually. The meeting included proclamations, a consent agenda, several regular agenda items, and public comments. Key actions included approval of a contentious Operation Stone Garden grant, advancement of the Union Plaza property sale process, and adoption of multiple resolutions and contracts. The meeting recessed from 10:05 AM to 10:22 AM for a mass transit board meeting and reconvened after a lunch recess from 12:58 PM to 2:17 PM, adjourning at 2:41 PM. Proclamations and Recognitions - National Girls and Women in Sports Day – Recognized by Mayor and Council with UTEP athletic representatives. - UTEP x El Paso Electric – National Engineers Week – Celebrated with UTEP, TxDOT, and El Paso Electric engineers. - Sergeant Dan Webb Day – Honored retired Army First Sergeant Dan Webb for his community service, civil rights advocacy, and veterans’ work. - Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month – Proclamation read by Representative Rocha; speakers from the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence highlighted events and resources. - A moment of silence was observed for Sun Metro employee Ruben Ibada, who died from injuries sustained in the Sun Metro fire. Consent Calendar - The consent agenda was approved as revised: Item 3 (Operation Stone Garden grant) moved to the regular agenda; Item 26 (Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority board appointments) deleted per Mayor Johnson; Item 42 (Modesto Gomez Flat Fields project) revised to reflect District 2; Item 43 (automotive fuel award) deleted per Purchasing. - Approved items included approval of minutes, board appointments (Casey Mangan, Marco Covarrubias, Edward Houghton V, Michael Bester, Taylor Moreno, Melisa Guevara, Gabriel Gonzalez), tax refunds, notation of discretionary expenditures, and a purchase order for microchips (Pethealth Services, increase to $328,125). - Public comment was heard on Items 14 (school flasher signals) and 15 (Downtown Bicycle Improvements) from Lisa Turner, who expressed concerns about traffic and pedestrian safety and urged representation for fixed-income residents on the Public Service Board. Public Comments & Testimony - Item 14/15: Lisa Turner criticized traffic signal timing, reported ambulance delays, and opposed the bicycle project due to safety concerns. She also urged council to avoid using city P-cards at Walmart and SAMS Club and called for council members to stand up against discrimination. - Operation Stone Garden (Item 3): Several speakers commented. Lisa Turner argued that participating in the grant could erode community trust in police. Others supported the grant as a deterrent for drug trafficking and border security. - Union Plaza Properties (Item 27): Nine speakers addressed the sale process. Supporters like Carmen Rodriguez, Senator Jose Rodriguez, and David Dorado Romo emphasized historic preservation, community input, affordable housing, and restrictive covenants. Joe Gudenrath (Downtown Management District) urged removing requirements to spur private sector creativity. Preservation Texas offered assistance with historic designations. Critics like Veronica Carvajal and Lisa Turner voiced concerns about displacement and lack of transparency. - Workforce Initiatives (Item 28): Adrian Martinez shared his experience of being blocked from city jobs due to narrow qualification standards, urging adoption of “or equivalent combination” language. Lisa Turner argued the city’s $15.75 minimum wage is not a living wage and called for paid maternity leave and better benefits. - Call to the Public: Nine speakers addressed animal cruelty, chickens per household, dangerous dogs, drainage repairs, contractor misconduct, and teen dating violence awareness. Discussion Items - Operation Stone Garden Grant (Item 3): The Police Department requested authorization to submit a $1,558,815 grant application for border security operations (no cash match). Representative Canales offered an amendment to terminate participation if Senate Bill 4 takes effect, citing risks of immigration enforcement mandates. The amendment failed (3-5: Trejo, Limon, Canales in favor; Chavez, Acevedo, Rocha, Niño, Fierro opposed). The main motion passed 5-3 (Chavez, Rocha, Trejo, Niño, Fierro aye; Acevedo, Limon, Canales nay). The Police Chief assured council that the department does not enforce immigration laws and will follow legal guidance. - Union Plaza Properties Sale Process (Item 27): Staff presented a request for qualifications (RFQ) for adaptive reuse of 17 city-owned properties in the Duranguito/Union Plaza area. The RFQ requires an adaptive reuse plan, preservation of six National Register-eligible buildings, and sale at fair market value. Community vision emphasizes cultural heritage, local businesses, and pedestrian access. The motion to approve the RFQ passed unanimously. - Workforce Focus Initiatives (Item 28): Presentation by Chief Human Resources Officer Mary Wiggins covered recruitment, retention, compensation, and benefits. Highlights: minimum wage increased to $15.75/hour (52% increase since 2021), 900 positions reclassified post-COVID, 73 interns in 2024, 97 Bridge Fellow participants, and no healthcare cost increases to employees since 2019. Next steps include review of PM and executive pay scales, compression issues, and workers’ compensation rates. No action taken; presentation only. - Other Regular Agenda Items: - Item 39: Award of maintenance contract for passenger boarding bridges and baggage inspection system to Daifuku Services America Corp. ($13.86 million over 10 years) – approved unanimously. - Item 40: Architectural and engineering services for Pebble Hills Police Regional Command Center ($531,092) – approved unanimously. - Item 41: Sole source defibrillator equipment and maintenance from Zoll Medical Corp. ($1,815,220 over 3 years) – approved unanimously. - Item 42: Architectural and engineering services for Modesto Gomez Central Flat Fields ($890,015) – approved unanimously. - Item 44: Civil engineering services for Rojas Drive resurfacing/reconstruction ($445,900) – approved unanimously. - Item 45: Interlocal agreement with El Paso County to update Chapter 380 economic incentive policies (city’s share not to exceed $25,000) – approved unanimously. - Item 46: Adoption of the 2025 Public Art Plan – approved unanimously. - Item 47: Resolution authorizing the mayor to execute certificates for single-family mortgage revenue bonds (approx. $24 million in loans + $1 million down payment assistance) – approved unanimously. - Item 48: Budget transfers, including $77,008 for solar lights at Memorial Park (NIP Round 5) – approved unanimously. Representative Nino clarified the lights are 11,000 lumens street lights, not pedestrian, and have Historic Commission approval. Key Outcomes - Operation Stone Garden: Grant application approved (5-3) after amendment to terminate if SB4 takes effect failed. - Union Plaza RFQ: Approved unanimously; RFQ to be released mid-March with responses due in fall 2025. - First Readings of Ordinances (Items 29-38): Approved unanimously; Item 33 (zoning change at 523 Giles Road) postponed to March 18, 2025. - Workforce Presentation: No action taken; discussion only. - All other regular agenda items (39-48): Approved unanimously. - Public comments: Council directed staff to review concerns raised, including animal services operations, drainage repairs, and contractor enforcement.