El Paso City Council Regular Meeting - August 12, 2025
El Paso City Council Regular Meeting - August 12, 2025
Mayor Pro Tem Chavez presided over the El Paso City Council meeting on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, beginning at 10:00 a.m. The meeting included an invocation by Police Senior Chaplain David Mayfield, a consent agenda, a public hearing on the FY2025-2026 tax rate, and a discussion and action item regarding parking at Lincoln Park during cultural events. Public comment was heard on two topics before the consent agenda and two speakers testified during the tax rate hearing.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda was approved unanimously via motion by Alternate Mayor Pro Tem Fierro, seconded by Representative Boyar Trejo. It included excusing Mayor Renard Johnson from the meeting. Items 3–6 (introduction of ordinances) were also approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Elizabeth Crawford spoke on abortion and research, criticizing NIH funding and referencing experimentation on fetal tissue, urging council to consider ethical implications.
- Cinda Cotham expressed disappointment in the proposed Deck Plaza project, citing its $412 million cost and questioning why residents were not allowed to vote. She argued funds should be used for road repairs, public safety, and loose dog control.
- Minerva Torres Shelton (during the tax rate hearing) opposed the proposed tax increase, noting that her experience on the Appraisal Review Board showed homeowners struggling with taxes. She accused CAD and council of finger-pointing and urged fiscal responsibility, mentioning the Deck Plaza as a distraction from essential needs.
- Anna Reza (also during the tax rate hearing) urged council to consider the budget as a moral document, citing federal attacks on immigrants and the need to support social services for vulnerable communities.
Discussion Items
- Public Hearing on FY2025-2026 Tax Rate: Robert Cortines presented the proposed tax rate of $0.759649 per $100 valuation, a decrease from the current $0.761, but with an increased average homestead value (~$221,000) resulting in a 4.52% levy increase. He clarified that council has no control over property values (set by the Central Appraisal District) and that no funds are allocated to the Deck Plaza in the budget. Final adoption is scheduled for August 19, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Council reaffirmed the distinction between CAD’s role and council’s role.
- Lincoln Park Parking Ordinance Amendment (Item 8): Representative Acevedo proposed amending the parks ordinance to allow vehicles to park on grass at Lincoln Park during cultural events (e.g., Lowrider events, Cesar Chavez Day, Día de los Muertos). The amendment would also require event organizers to be financially responsible for any damage. After presentation, Representative Rocha moved to add an amendment requiring environmental protection measures (e.g., four-layered cardboard under oil/transmission pans to prevent fluid leaks). This amendment passed unanimously. Park staff suggested plywood but council opted for a general environmental measures directive. Representative Fierro raised concerns about impacts on turf, selective application, and collection of outstanding fees. The main motion passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda and ordinances introduced unanimously.
- Public hearing on the tax rate closed; final vote set for August 19, 2025.
- The Lincoln Park parking amendment was approved unanimously, directing the city manager and city attorney to amend the parks ordinance to allow parking at Lincoln Park during cultural events, include financial responsibility for damages, and incorporate environmental protection measures.
- Meeting adjourned at 11:23 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
So please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. And Council, we don't have any proclamations this morning, so we'll remain on pause until 10 o'clock, at which time roll call will begin. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Prime. Mayor Pro Tim. I think we have a quorum and we can start the meeting now. Yes, ma'am. Good morning. This is a meeting of the El Paso City Council for Tuesday, August 12th, 2025. Mayor Pro Tem Chavez is present in presiding along with Representative Acevedo, Representative Malonado Rocha, Representative Boyatrejo, Representative Nino, Representative Canales is joining us virtually. Representative Canales, can you hear us, sir? Yes, I can. Can you hear me? Yes, sir. Thank you. It is 10 o'clock a.m. And we begin the meeting with the invocation delivered by El Paso Police Senior Chaplain, David Mayfield. I'd like to thank the council for once again giving me the opportunity to come and pray for the council and our city. It's always a privilege. And now I invite those present to pray in their tradition as I will pray in mine. As this council comes together, we ask for clarity and thought, humility and heart, and unity in purpose. Bless the city of El Paso, its families, its neighborhoods, and all who labor each day to make it a better place. May the decisions made in this chamber be guided by justice, tempered by mercy, and shaped by the voices of those we serve. Grant strength to those who protect and provide, peace to those who struggle, and inspiration to those who dream. Help us to listen well, speak kindly, and act boldly for the common good. In this time of deliberation, let us remember that true leadership is service and true service is love in action. Amen. Thank you, Chaplin. That brings us to the public comment portion of the meeting. This morning for call to the public. We have two members that signed up to speak. The first person is Elizabeth Crawford. For the record, Representative Limon is also present, and alternate mayor Protenfiero is also approaching the day the dais at 1002 a.m. Ms. Crawford signed up to speak on abortion and research. Good morning, Miss Crawford. You have three minutes. Good morning and thank you. One of my favorite statements in the Word of God is talking false epistles for the Roman. Or in another translation, it's rendered, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar. I love this verse because as we see hypocrisy all around us, and yes, if we're honest even in ourselves, the hypocrisy of man does not affect the truth of God. Let God be true by every man a liar. As we know in the logic of argumentation, there's a category called at hominem argument. At hominem is this person I made statement A. Person A has bad character. Because person I made statement A, statement A must be wrong. At hominem is a logical fallacy. At hominem reasoning might say, look who got enraged. Some crazy issue is it.
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