El Paso City Council Regular Meeting - March 18, 2025

The El Paso City Council held a regular meeting on March 18, 2025, from 9:01 a.m. to 12:48 p.m. The agenda included proclamations, consent agenda items, several regular agenda items with debate and votes, updates from the Office of Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, public comment on multiple topics, and unanimous approval of most remaining items. Key decisions involved appointments to the El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board, a directive for a presentation on Robert's Rules of Order, creation of a federal legislative travel fund for council members, and ratification of an airport change order.

Proclamations

• The Mayor issued five proclamations: World Tuberculosis Day (March 24, 2025, recognizing 42 active TB cases and 160 latent infections in 2024), Miss Sun City USA Day (March 15, 2025, inaugural pageant), National Transit Employee Appreciation Day (March 18, 2025, honoring Sun Metro employees), Raiz: Opportunity Knox (recognizing Raiz Federal Credit Union's participation in the PBS show), and Purchasing Month (March 2025).

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent agenda as revised (removing two board appointments for comment only) by a unanimous vote. Included were minutes, resolutions for grants and contracts, board appointments (Matthew K. Behrens, Claudia Lorena Payan Lozano, Sairy Cohen, George Cruz, Valeria Contreras), tax refunds, campaign contribution notation, and other routine items.
• Public comment from Patricia Osman criticized a discretionary fund expense reported over a year late, calling it a "huge red flag."

Discussion Items

• Item 22 - Robert's Rules of Order Training (Trejo/Acevedo): Discussion and action to direct the City Manager and City Attorney to prepare a presentation on motions and amendments within 30 days. Representatives Trejo and Acevedo cited confusion at a prior meeting. The motion passed unanimously after public comment asking for adherence to ethics training.
• Item 23 - EPWU PSB Appointment (Financial Management): Council appointed Lane Gaddy (ranked 1st by the selection committee) after John Hjalmquist withdrew. Representative Limón voted nay; the motion passed 7-2-1.
• Item 24 - EPWU PSB Appointment (General Business Management): Council appointed Charlie Intebi (ranked 1st) unanimously, with multiple council members praising the candidate pool.
• Item 25 - Federal Legislative Travel Fund (Trejo/Acevedo): Discussion on directing the City Manager to arrange federal legislative meetings and establish a dedicated travel fund. Representatives Canales and Limón expressed concerns about cost and alternative funding sources. Public comment argued the fund was unnecessary given the current political climate. The motion passed 5-2, with Canales and Limón voting nay.
• Item 26 - Pet Pantries at Libraries (Canales): Resolution to use $3,500 in District 8 discretionary funds for pet food pantries and microchip scanners at El Paso Public Libraries. Multiple council members expressed support and offered to contribute from their own districts. The motion passed unanimously after public comment praising the initiative.
• Item 27 - Congresswoman Escobar's Office Update: Staff from Representative Veronica Escobar's office presented a mid-year update, including changes in committee assignments (now on Appropriations), impacts of continuing resolutions, and loss of community project funding for FY25. They discussed the budget reconciliation process and urged early engagement for FY26 projects.
• Item 46 - Airport Change Order Ratification (Taxiway Mike): Discussion on a $251,910.40 change order for work already completed in November 2024. Representative Acevedo criticized the lack of prior council approval, stating it was "a slap in the face." Airport officials apologized, citing unfamiliarity with procedures, and committed to future training. The motion passed 7-2-1, with Acevedo voting nay.
• Item 48 - HOME-ARP Allocation Plan Amendment: Council approved amending the 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan to revise the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan, reallocating funds to continue El Paso Helps initiatives and increase affordable housing. It passed unanimously after a brief presentation noting 913 individuals experiencing homelessness and a need for 2,300 additional rental units over three years.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Animal Services: Multiple speakers (Claudia Patricia Contreras, Ronald Como, Karen Washington, Barbara Valencia, Christian Otterberg) raised concerns about stray animals, shelter capacity, lack of follow-up on foster animals, and called for an independent audit. Some praised recent spay/neuter events (over 430 animals).
• Service Dog Policies: Alicia Lopez and Tony Robles from Sun City Service Dogs requested stronger enforcement against fake service animals, citing attacks on legitimate service dogs and public health risks.
• Immigration Enforcement: Dr. China Adamijo urged the city to reconsider its policy of not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement, warning of potential lawsuits.
• LGBTQ Protections: Brisa Regalado asked what the city plans to do to protect the transgender community amid rising anti-LGBTQ legislation.
• Ethics/Misappropriation: Patricia Osman alleged ethics violations and misappropriation of funds in the Community and Human Development Department, urging the council not to approve further funding.

Key Outcomes

• Votes & Decisions:
  • Robert's Rules presentation: approved unanimously.
  • EPWU PSB Financial Management: Lane Gaddy appointed, 7-2-1 (Limón nay).
  • EPWU PSB General Business Management: Charlie Intebi appointed, unanimously.
  • Federal travel fund directive: approved 5-2 (Limón, Canales nay).
  • Pet pantries: approved unanimously.
  • Airport change order ratification: approved 7-2-1 (Acevedo nay).
  • HOME-ARP amendment: approved unanimously.
• Directives: City Manager directed to prepare a presentation on Robert's Rules of Order within 30 days; to coordinate and arrange federal legislative meetings; and to prepare a presentation on a travel fund for state/federal advocacy for FY26 budget workshops.
• Next Steps: Congresswoman Escobar's office will continue community project rollovers due to FY25 funding loss; airport staff will undergo change order procedure training; council members are invited to consider contributing district discretionary funds for library pet pantries.