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.

Yet when reading the story further, I realize there is a lot more than just the president's words to be angry about.

A piece of the contention with NIH funding, National Institutes of Health.

The NIH National Institute of Health over the years has been involved in experimentation.

Experimentation of grafting scalps of abortive babies onto mice and wrap.

It's mentioned right on the NIH website.

What kind of barbarism is this?

In China, the government practices organ harvesting of the wheat or Northern China, a group that we know identifies primarily as Muslims and the Chinese harvest their organ.

It's gruesome.

It's so sad.

Are we any better than the God is the creator of this world, the creator of animals, the creator of mankind in his image.

We are told that before God's throne, the Lamb of God, Jesus is worshiped with these words.

You are worthy, oh Lord, to receive glory and honor and power.

For you have created all this and your bodies of these little ones created.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Cinda Koffa.

Ms.

Cotham's topic is DEC Plaza.

Good morning, ma'am.

You have three minutes.

Good morning.

This is my first time.

Uh, so I'm a little nervous of you all just to bear with me.

Okay.

Um let's see.

Let me give my notes here.

Okay, good morning, council.

My name is Cinda Cottham, and I've lived here in El Paso for over 65 years.

And to tell you I love El Paso.

Okay.

But um, what I want to say is that I am very disappointed in the way the council has been pushing for the new deck plaza.

I hear that it's going to cost 412 million dollars.

You all know that the cost is only going to go up higher as the as the time goes on for this deck plaza.

I just wonder who's gonna burden the who's gonna take the burden of the uh cost, and I think it's gonna be the taxpayers.

Um I also heard that the city of El Paso has already given one million dollars to the project, and even the El Paso County has given a million dollars.

I'm not sure.

Uh I'm new at all this stuff, okay?

So I'm not even sure why the county is giving a million dollars to the City Deck project.

So I'm sure you'd know, but I don't, and I would like to know the answer.

Um I'm sorry, I'm nervous.

I feel that the council doesn't have the best interest for the taxpayers of El Paso.

Like I said, I love El Paso, but all that money should be used to maintain the roads and to keeping our citizens safe.

All the loose dogs in our neighborhood, um in the neighborhood where some of the seniors like myself are afraid to go to the parks because they're out there and we're afraid I have to go without it with some kind of protection.

Um there are roads in need of repair all over the city.

Uh several neighborhoods, uh, roads are horrible condition.

Um the speed bumps are needed so much in our neighborhood because to keep the people, pedestrians, safe as long as well as the other cars.

So I really, if the council really had the best interest in the people, would you should have asked us to vote whether we even wanted the deck in the first place?

I think that it should still be uh taken to the vote to the citizens.

Thank you so much.

Council that concludes call to the public.

That brings us to the consent agenda.

All matters listed under the consent agenda will be considered by city council to be routine and will be enacted by one motion unless separate discussion is requested by council members.

Prior to the vote, members of the audience may ask questions regarding items on the consent agenda.

When the vote has been taken, if an item has not been called out for separate discussion, the item has been approved.

Council may, however, reconsider any item at any time during the meeting.

Mayor Pro Tem.

Thank you, Ms.

Prime.

Is there a motion to accept the consent agenda?

Second.

There's a first and a second, Miss Prime.

Yes, ma'am.

The motion was made by alternate mayor pro tempiero, seconded by representative Boyer Trejo, and this is to approve the consent agenda, which includes the request to excuse Mayor Renard Johnson from this meeting.

On that motion, call for the vote.

Representative Limo.

Thank you.

Representative Canales.

Aye.

Thank you.

Representative Acevedo.

Aye.

Thank you.

Representative Rota.

Aye.

Thank you.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

That brings us to page three to the introduction of ordinances.

These are items three to six.

Ms.

Prime, there's a first and a second.

Thank you.

The motion was made by Representative Limon, seconded by alternate mayor pro tempiero to approve the introduction of ordinances.

These are items three to six on that motion.

Call for the vote.

Representative Gonales.

Representative Ganales.

I think he said aye, Ms.

Prank.

Perhaps aye.

Thank you, sir.

In the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

That brings us to item number seven.

Item number seven is a public hearing of an ordinance living FY2025-2026 taxes.

This is a public hearing and it's open at 10, 11 a.m.

Good morning.

Before we get to the speakers that are signed up, just a few comments.

So one um the item is a public hearing again as Ms.

Prime mentioned.

This is again a follow-up to the introduction of the tax rate that you all took action on on July the 31st.

We did the publication that's required in both the El Paso Times and the audio.

We're not required to do that, but we actually did it in English and Spanish, publishing the notice of this meeting that we're having today.

Um it's also posted on the city's website.

We've been posted it on City TV.

Um there is a website.

It's posted in the backup of the presentation that I have.

Texas.gov slash property taxes.

On that website, you can go on there, choose El Paso County.

You can type in your address, and you can see all of the information for all the different tax entities, including the city of El Paso.

Um, so with that, I believe we have a couple of speakers that have signed up to speak on the item.

That is correct.

The first person is no, I was just thinking, Robert, but oh yes, ma'am.

Please go ahead, Miss Prank, thank you.

The first speaker is Minerva Torres Shelton.

Ms.

Shelton star six, please to unmute your telephone.

And while she's doing that, Representative Ganales hand is up.

Hello, can you hear me?

Yes, ma'am.

Mayor Burger.

Good morning.

Ms.

Shelton, just one moment, please.

Representative Gonales, I'm sorry, you were saying something.

Yes, ma'am.

I'm going to ask if the four of the speakers speak if uh we can view the presentation.

It's a few slides long.

Okay.

Yes.

Thank you, Robert.

Ms.

Shelton, we'll come back to you.

We're gonna hear the presentation first.

It'll just be a minute.

If we could see the presentation, Robert, thank you.

Okay, so as I mentioned, this is a follow-up to the action that the council took on July the 31st to actually introduce the tax rate at the time the council took action to introduce the tax rate of 0.759649.

Uh this slide or these slides are essentially a recap of what was published in the public hearing notice that was published in again the Opuzzle Times and the Yel Diario.

This shows the proposed tax rate, the no new revenue and the voter approval tax rate.

The slide shows again the total tax rate compared to the prior year.

So just for clarification, it's tax year 2024 and 2025, but it's fiscal year 25 and fiscal year 2026 is the comparison.

Uh you'll see the decrease there in the overall tax rate, the increase in again the average homestead taxable value, which we've presented several times, approximately um from 200 to 9,000 to 221,000 again.

And then the overall again total tax levy, which you'll see this number, the 4.52% is what's reflected in the actual public hearing for the budget as well.

This is the website that I was mentioning.

So if you go to this website, Texas.gov slash property taxes, again, if you select El Paso County, you can type in your address, it'll actually bring up all information for all of the tax entities.

Not just the city, it'll show you the city, the county, the school district, community college, and UMC, and it'll show you when their public hearings are going to be.

So again, if you may have missed that information, all of that is available on this website.

And just there's no vote on this, no actual um action being requested today.

The only thing that we do need to make sure that we're going to mention is that the proposed tax rate will be voted on by the city council on August the 19th at 9 o'clock here in Council Chambers.

So if anybody wishes to come and speak at that time, they'll be able to do so as well during that meeting.

Thank you, Robert.

Any questions from council?

Okay.

Representative Acevedo.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Um, Robert, as we're looking at this presentation, I just had one quick question.

I know we've had a lot of conversations on this, and next week we take the formal vote on this.

I appreciate how you put the the proposed tax rate, the no-nee revenue, the voter approval tax rate, and kind of showing what the differences are and then what the changes for each of the tax rates that you're showing here on slide number four.

I just wanted to um be crystal clear on the record.

We don't decide the values of homes, right?

And if you could explain that a little bit.

No, the city council has no say on the values of homes.

If you could no, that is done by the central appraisal district.

The city council sets the tax rate and adopts the budget.

Okay, so the only thing we do is we accept the tax rate and then we adopt the budget that is set forth every single year.

Yes.

We don't get into the values of anything.

No, the appraisal district is the one that provides the values.

The city council says the tax rate, which ultimately sets the tax levy on the again the property tax revenue that we'll collect.

Okay.

Yes.

Thank you.

Representative uh Rocha.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Thank you, Robert, for the presentation.

I think this is the one we saw last week.

Similar, right?

It was very similar.

Yes, this is yes.

So same information.

Yeah, same information.

Um, just to confirm, there's two questions that I have, and one is to reiterate a question that Rep Limon had uh last week.

In the budget, is there any money that's allocated for the deck park at this time?

No, there is not.

Okay.

Just want to make that crystal clear.

And then secondly, I know that um on here it says the no new revenue tax rate.

That would be a decrease from what the revenue tax rate was or currently is for this fiscal year.

Is that correct?

Correct.

So on slide four, we're showing that the tax rate is currently 76.1 cents, and the no new revenue tax rate would go down to 72.8.

Correct.

Is that right?

And so the proposed tax rate is coming down off of the 76.1 cents to 75.9.

Is that right?

Correct.

Okay.

Thank you, Mr.

Crutinas.

I appreciate it.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Thank you, rep.

Uh, one last question, Robert, just to be crystal clear.

Who governs the central appraisal district?

The state of Texas.

So council does not have any governance over the central appraisal district.

No.

Okay.

Thank you for that.

And thank you for the presentation.

Any other questions?

Comments?

Thank you.

Okay, well, go ahead and proceed with public comment at this time.

Ms.

Minerva Torres Shelton Star 6, please to unmute your telephone.

Ms.

Shelton Star 6, please.

Good morning.

You have three minutes.

Good morning.

Can you hear me okay?

Yes, ma'am.

Okay.

Good morning, City Council representative and mayor.

My name is Minerva Torres Shelton.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

I really wanted to be there in person, but had a family matter which required me to travel out of El Paso.

I am here speaking as a very concerned taxpayer.

Before I address the tax increase itself, I want to share some perspective from my time serving on the appraisal review board for two years.

I can't count the number of homeowners who came before us saying I'm here because I can't afford the property taxes.

And you know what CAD represented would tell them?

We have nothing to do with taxes.

That's city council and that's county commissioners.

Go talk to them.

They are also proud to point to their protest letter that states the same.

They are not responsible for the tax rate.

But now I see the game being played at the taxpayers' expense.

You say you have maintained the tax rate.

And CAD says they've only raised the market value.

The truth is you are pointing the finger at each other.

And taxpayers are literally paying the price.

Based on next year CAD values, in 20 in two 20 2026, property owners are looking at an additional 336 on the average home in El Paso.

181 from the County of El Paso and 72 from the UNC hospital.

And you cannot keep asking taxpayers to shoulder more and more without considering the financial strain this puts on working families, retirees, and homeowners on fixed incomes.

Many are already struggling with mortgage rates and rising costs in every area of life.

If you consider voting on this tax increase, don't think of it as a number on a piece of paper.

It's groceries, medicine, and utility bills for El Paso.

And we need fiscal responsibility, not just bigger budgets.

And I want to remind you about the deck plaza project, how it's still being considered.

While I understand the vision behind it, I believe now is the time to focus on solutions for the challenges we are facing.

I am asking you to prioritize fiscal responsibility.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Anna Reza.

Ms.

Reza Star 6, please to unmute your telephone.

Anna Reza.

Star 6, please.

Ms.

Reza Star 6, please.

Good morning.

We can hear you now, ma'am.

You'll have three minutes.

Hi, good morning, Mayor and City Council members.

My name is Anna Resha.

I'm in District 7.

I'm a local activist and also work for the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande.

This morning, I just want to address our budget, which is a moral document.

It affects the livelihood of all our community members.

We all know what's happening in our federal government.

It's been hard to keep up with this, what's going on in our own city as we see migrants, not criminals, uh being arrested in the courts.

Um our families living in fear as a traffic stop can lead to being deported or being held in a jail in a detention center.

And as we build a detention center at four doors.

We are under attack all of all sides.

So our budget should reflect this attack.

Help us prioritize supporting our community.

We all know that this cool and deadly budget our federal government has.

Um and we all know what's in it, and we know what's going to happen to our community, which is a working class community.

Oh, that's right.

So we need to stand up.

What's going to happen is we're going to get a lot of uh resources are going to be lacking, and people are going to go to nonprofits and churches.

Um, and they're gonna need food, they're gonna need services.

So please stop the reckless spending, support our social services, in your mind, think of the most vulnerable in our city.

Please protect us as our federal government has especially attacked the poor and the people of color, and as we know, that makes up a lot of our community.

So think of this budget as a more budget, and don't forget what's happening in our federal government.

We need your protection so we can stand up this fascist government that we're having.

Please, you know the truth.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

And this is a a public hearing.

If there are anyone else present that would like to speak on the ordinance living, the taxes, please come forward.

Mayor Po Tim, I don't see anyone else coming forward.

This concludes public comment.

Thank you, Ms.

Prime.

I do have some comment from uh council.

Uh Representative Maldonado Rocha.

Thank you so much, Mayor Pro Tem.

And I think that Ms.

Shelton had some very good points.

One of the things is is that you know, we talk about EP Central Appraisal District, we talk about our tax rate, and really it's the market value that determines the market value of your home, right?

And so the market value is determined by the buyers and sellers within the El Paso County.

No, I'm seeing no.

I'm seeing a shake.

Um so the central appraisal district is the one that, and maybe Mr.

Cortines, you can answer these questions for me, just briefly, sir.

The market value is determined by the market or how the market works here in El Paso based on the buying and selling of homes.

So Kat has the process that they followed, and I believe that Ms.

Kilgore is better qualified to answer these questions than I am, but you know, she was here a few months ago.

We had them come in and do the presentation on how they do their mass appraisals.

Right.

But it is supposed to be based on the market value.

Right.

And I think they go hand in hand.

And I think that's the piece where instead of pointing the fingers, it is they do go hand in hand.

So whatever the central appraisal district deems the market value of your home, you have the opportunity to go and protest taxes.

And then at that point, that market value, based on whatever the tax rates are between the five entities determine your property taxes.

So I think it's it's important.

Yes, you know, we need to not point the finger back and forth to each other.

We do go hand in hand when it comes to whatever the market value is that's determined by the central appraisal district and state law, because they also have requirements that that do they do have to meet on their side and then apply those percentages or amounts to your property tax based on your home valuation.

I do agree that we do we need to stop the finger pointing back and forth because they do go hand in hand.

So that's just a statement that I wanted to make.

Thank you, Rip Mr.

Cortines.

Thank you, Rep Maldonado Rocha.

Any other comment from council?

Okay.

Is there a motion to close public hearings?

And again, just to remind I'll say one more time.

So August 19th, the city council will take action on the tax rate here in City Council.

Meeting will start at nine o'clock.

Proclamations the actual meeting will start at 10 a.m.

August the 19th.

And I just want to make sure that Rep Canalis doesn't have any comments at this time.

None for me, thank you.

Okay.

Good.

Okay, do I have a motion to close public hearing?

So moved.

Second.

Thank you.

I think there's a first and a second, Ms.

Prime.

Yes, sir.

Yes, ma'am.

There's a motion and a second to close a public hearing.

All in favor?

Anyone opposed?

And the public hearing is closed at 1027 a.m.

And again, as Mr.

Cortina said, the adoption of the tax rate and the budget will take place next Tuesday, August 19th.

Council convenes at nine o'clock and the business meeting starts at 10.

That brings us to the final item on the agenda, and this is discussion and action to direct the city manager and city attorney to amend the parks ordinance to allow for parking at Lincoln Park during cultural events and to include provisions that require event organizers to be financially responsible for any and all damage, repair, and necessary maintenance as a result of these events.

And this item was placed by Representative Acevedo.

Thank you.

Do I have a motion for item number eight?

I move to approve.

Second.

Okay.

Uh any comments.

Uh representative Fierro.

Forgot my name tag.

Um thank you, Mayor Pro Tim.

I have some questions for the park director or superintendent.

Yeah, Mr.

Caballero, please.

Presentation.

Okay.

I think we're asking for the presentation first, Mr.

Caballero.

IT, can you bring up the presentation, please?

So this is my my presentation for the item.

It's in the backup.

Okay.

Point of order.

Would you like to do the presentation?

Yes, please.

Representative Pasevedon.

Yes.

Well, okay, Representative Fierro, we will get back to you after the presentation if that's okay.

Thank you.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you, maybe.

Please go ahead, Mr.

Represent Acevedo.

Um I just kind of wanted to preface this presentation with this has been something that my office has been working on since I got into office about a year and a half ago.

There's been a lot of different things that have happened at Lincoln Park, and there's a lot of good things or some bad things.

And as we're having these conversations, I want to take you through this timeline and the proposal that we have today.

We could go to the next slide.

So the municipal code 13.24.090.

This was adopted in July of 2012, prohibiting any person from driving on or writing.

Sorry, this is weird.

Driving or writing in or on any motor vehicle in any city park or trail.

Next slide, please.

And so the municipal code um further explained here that no person should be driving on their riding in or on any motor vehicle, four-wheeler, altering vehicle, motorcycle, go-kart, dirt bike, or any other similar motorized vehicle device except for a motorized wheelchair in any city park or trail, except licensed vehicles may drive or travel on streets that are graded or surface for vehicle vehicular travel and or sufficient width for use of the vehicle.

So this is something that um the council at the time had passed, just kind of addressing a lot of different things that were probably happening at at the parks.

Um, for example, like Memorial Park has an issue with ATVs just kind of riding through the park all the time, and it creates a lot of havoc.

And so um we could go to the next slide.

With Lincoln Park, this has become uh uh something that we want to balance the the cultural aspect that Lincoln Park brings to the table, you know.

Um a lot of what Lincoln Park does uh is is very similar to what Chicano Park does in San Diego, um, where San Diego has a lot of cultural events and there's the the Chicano Park aspect of it.

Um and this is kind of our Chicano Park.

It's not officially called Chicano Park yet, but it is is something that the community really values.

So um how can we balance our city assets with our cultural events that are happening at Lincoln Park?

Some of these uh cultural events include low lowrider events that are done by different organizations throughout the year.

We have Cesat Chavez Day, we have Lincoln Park Day, which is coming up in September, Cinco de Mayo, Dia de los Muertos and Dia de la Virge de Guadalupe.

So these are our big cultural events that bring a lot of people together at this park.

Next slide, please.

So over the last year um or a little bit more than a year, I've had different meetings in my office with with event organizers.

May 13th, we we met with the Lincoln Park Conservation Committee.

Um at that at that time we were kind of discussing how Lincoln Park was gonna look um for Lincoln Park Day, and then May 15th, I took a meeting with Charles Bianuel to discuss the Rockabilly riot.

The Rockabilly Riot specifically had take had had their first event in 2023.

It did not go well at all, but the organizer came to me and said they wanted to do things right, and we had those meetings um and they had a very successful event at the end of 2024.

Um again, August 14th met with the Lincoln Park Conservation Committee in anticipation for Lincoln Park Day, and then August 29th with Charles Bianol to discuss the Rockabilly riot, and um they had their event in November very successfully.

At the beginning of the year of 2025, we met with the Lincoln Park Conservation Committee.

We were catching up on things.

Um and then March 17th, we met with the Barrio Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association, which was created earlier this year um to talk about events and parking on the grass.

At the time, staff had kind of told me, you know, this has become an issue with parking on the grass, and we don't want to move forward with this any longer.

And so that kind of started a lot of different events um and meetings that we kind of talked about and helped us reach where we're at today.

June 11th, um, met with Charles Vino to discuss his rockabilly riot that he's bringing back to Lincoln Park in November, and then June 16th, we um met with Lincoln Park Conservation Committee to discuss parking on the grass.

The next slide, please.

And so this is a timeline of meetings with our our staff.

June 5th, we of last year we met to discuss upcoming Lincoln Park events.

August 29th of last year, we met with the staff about Lincoln Park Day and making sure that everything was gonna go well for for that event.

March 11th of this year, we met with Richard Bristol, Pablo Caballero to discuss parking on the grass.

We were looking at the the different events that had come to Lincoln Park, and some did a great job, some did not do a good job.

March 19th, we had another meeting to continue discussing the same thing.

March 28th, we had a meeting at Lincoln Park with Joe Cardosa, Richard Bristol, Pablo Caballero, Arthur Alvarado, and other city staff as we were discussing the Cinco de Mayo event that was coming up, and then on July 24th, we had another meeting with Bristol and Caballero.

August 1st, we had a meeting with Joe Gaines on Lincoln Park event permitting.

So a lot of these discussions have all been very similar.

How do we how do we balance the the culture and the cultural events that are happening at Lincoln Park with maintaining city assets?

On August 8th, we also had a meeting with um which was just this Friday.

Um we had a meeting at the at Lincoln Park with neighbors and businesses.

Um during that meeting, some of the businesses had said, you know, um the May event that happened at Lincoln Park really put their businesses at risk because they they closed off access to their to their businesses, and that was something that the event organizer went and did on their own.

They moved barriers that they should have not moved, and then at that point the street didn't give them access to businesses like old sheepdog.

And so um I I told them that I thought that this was a good way of bringing accountability to the events and helping staff have more power during the process of permitting events at Lincoln Park.

Um so in summary, the the things that have come up after we've talked to uh staff, event organizers, input from the city manager, input from our city attorney.

We thought that these were good process-driven solutions that we could implement here to to further um having these events and balancing that with um our city assets.

So we want to make sure that we're being open and encouraging towards our park events, um, maintaining park assets, creating a uniform process and platform for residents to hold events, um, have more community buy-in for major events, uh make sure that that process is intact, and then we don't want to impact access to surrounding businesses.

So we want to balance our our businesses that are in this area with the events that are happening at the park.

And um, slide eight, the next slide, please.

Um, so these are kind of the highlights of what is proposed here.

We want to allow the vehicles to park on the grass at Lincoln Park during cultural events, which I would define as you know, anything that is low rider, the Cesar Chavez de los muertos, um, as I explained earlier.

We want to create a formalized process that works for all individuals and groups who want to park their vehicles on the grass, notifying them that they are going to be liable if they decide that they want to park on the grass, that they're liable for the costs associated with any damage to the park, the grass trees, or irrigation system, the pre-inspection, adding a pre-inspection and a post-inspection of the park with event organizers.

For example, the event that happened in May, they um they owe the city $500 because they did not clean up after themselves.

And so bringing accountability through that um when they come back, for example, I I kind of see this happening where if next year they want to come back and do a Cinco the Mayo event, we could say, well, you still owe us this money, so we can't give you this permit until this is cleared out.

And then um also adding that we want to make sure that the staff is guiding organizers to help separate the vehicles from irrigation assets on the day of the event.

And so next slide, the proposed action is um the discussion and action to direct the city manager and city attorney to amend the parks ordinance to allow for parking at Lincoln Park during cultural events and to include provisions that require event organizers to be financially responsible for any and all damage repair and necessary maintenance as a result of these events, and so what this would do is we would give them the the city manager and the city attorney direction on creating amendment for this ordinance itself.

Um I'm at 10 minutes, okay.

All right, well, I'll answer more in a bit.

Thank you, Representative Acevedo.

Representative Fierro.

Thank you, Mayor Potem.

Um Mr.

Caballero.

Good morning, everyone.

Thank you, sir.

Um, how would this ordinance well the selective or ordinance?

How would it affect other parks?

Could I now have people who requesting this to a park on Marty Robbins, the Beast Memorial Park?

What would this do?

Yes, sir.

That that's a possibility.

If it did approved today, that means that any other group can reach out to your uh office and ask for the same thing.

I um I I drove by um an event not too long ago, four or five, six weeks ago, and there was cars parked in the street, and I know that representative um um Acevedo said that it it hurt some of the businesses.

Um is there only one way to go in and out of the that's to um reach those businesses?

Does I don't know if you would know that answer or who would know that answer.

There is there's other routes.

I don't have an answer for that, sir.

Okay.

So we I'd like to look at I'd like somebody um Mr.

Cortinas, if somebody could find that answer for me.

Um the other thing is at that event there was cars parked in the street.

The event was being held on the grass.

Um the the jumping balloons, the the whatever the and the people were held on the grass.

Yes, sir.

The vehicles weren't on there.

To me, that seemed just again passing by that seemed like a the safest opportunity for everybody, not only for the turf, not only for the the pedest the people who are visiting.

Um it's unfortunate that the uh Representative Maldonado said that somebody left and owe us 500 and we haven't collected yet since May.

That reminds me a lot of the a form uh a presidential person candidate who still owns the city $500,000 and we still haven't collected on that.

So I I I think there needs to be more um we need to look into this.

Staff needs to look into this more before we we attempt to to move forward on this.

You know, our office receives calls over and over and over again about um the the turf and and how we need to spend more money and we need this to be more effective.

And this is nothing to do with parks and rec because you've given me the solution to this many, many times.

We just overuse it.

There's so little um grass space and and flat ground and and park space that we use it over and over again.

And if we really wanted to save it, we would rotate it, but we don't have enough enough green space.

So this to me, we're now we're eliminating more green space because we're parking vehicles on there and hurting the grass and problems possibly hurting the the sprinklers, etc.

Um maintaining the grass.

I wrote some notes down, Mr.

Guardiano.

You know, somebody had mentioned to me that that there had been vehicles had been allowed to park on the grass in the past.

Is that true?

Yes.

Uh not allowed, but the the events were organized in the park.

And why wasn't PD enforcing the Muni Code um and and bringing to our attention that it can't pass um, I don't have an answer for that, sir.

Uh uh I was um this is my first event as a parks director, and I'm just doing my job enforcing the ordinances.

And Mr.

Grano, at these events are are they required to have police present for security?

Yes, security for every event for more than 100 people and and with traffic control and close closures of the streets, they they are required.

Would this not be selective?

Uh I mean again, we we're to we talk about the taxpayers' assets and and the um the parks belonging to the people and we we have people complaining about how much their their taxes are going up.

Now we're selectively choosing different organizations that can be allowed to use a park differently or or actually to manipulate um a municipal code.

Is in my um this is probably for legal.

Excuse me.

Hi, Joseph Flood is from the city attorney's office um for the record.

In response to your initial question, representative, this particular posted item was not for every possible park in the city.

It was solely and exclusively for the use of Lincoln Park for those cultural events.

And then why why isn't it for every park in the city?

Because that was the original request.

My understanding is that there are specific cultural events that take place at that specific location.

I'm not sure if those um events take place at other parks across the city, but the ones that was brought to our attention was specific to that particular locale.

So citizens or members of this council could ask for exemptions from their parks.

Uh the specific item posted is for an ordinance amendment so that cultural events can be held at Lincoln Park, and there would be an ordinance amendment included for those particular cultural events at that specific location.

So I could ask for an ordinance amendment for the parks in my district if I'm having cultural events.

It's possible that you could.

Yes, but that's not what's on the posted item for today.

But I could.

You could in the future.

Thank you.

Um yeah, I I just I have um I have concerns about what we're gonna do to the to the grass space, why we're not using the streets more.

Um I I I think this these are great events that happen at Lincoln Park.

I hope they continue.

I hope they get bigger and better.

Um but I just really think we need to focus on the green space um for our community and and make sure that we're we're respecting it and taking care of it.

Thank you, uh Mayor Pro Tem.

Thank you, Representative Fedro.

Representative Maldonada Rocha.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

And and thank you for the presentation, um, Repa Savedo.

I just have a couple of of comments, and so I know that uh Rep Fierra, I can understand what you know concerns you have.

However, taking part in Lincoln Park Day specifically for almost 20 years, I believe is what it's taken.

Um, and I think I've been going to every single one, Hector.

But um I I just want to say that that's something that's been happening now for the last 20 years.

And and we have in in this beautiful city of ours, where down at Lincoln Park in the community, is known as the Corazon, the del Paso.

It's very del Chuco, yes, ma'am, thank you, Rep Lemon, but it's very similar to what takes place in uh Chicano Park in uh San Diego.

And so there's a there's a definite connection between Chicano Park and Lincoln Park, where we have people and resources that come from Chicano Park to Lincoln Park in order to take part in Lincoln Park Day specifically in September.

And so while I understand the concern with the with the use of grass, I I think Lincoln Park is actually pretty unique when it comes to the communities and the organizations that want to use uh the park in this way.

There is one thing that that I did speak with with Hector about and and his group uh prior to this, and it's something that I'll add to it.

And so um it I know there's not necessarily um is there a motion that I'd be able to add or an amendment that I'd be able to add to it, and it's just to protect the grass, the sustainability of it, and it's just to put like a double-layered cardboard box underneath the motor pan and the transmission pans.

That that's the amendment that I would like to add, right?

Um the reason for that is we you know the other thing is is that these events do not take place over a course of one week or one month.

It is literally a few hours on those those given days.

So we want to do our part to make sure that we're being environmentally responsible and saying, okay, you put the cardboard box under any of although every lowrider owner here in town will say that their card does not leak.

I know that there are some that do, and so we want to be sure that we do protect those fluids from getting into the grass that make it difficult to grow at a later time to make sure that we add that piece to it.

Did you have something to say to that, E.G.?

I do.

Uh good morning, Council Miguel Nazareth's assistant director.

Um just a request to move from double layer of cardboard to three quarter inch sheets of plywood.

Um that would help sustain both the drip capture and support um turf conditions going forward.

We can we can look at that.

It makes it a little difficult.

Um I know cardboard's kind of easier.

If we want to do four layers of cardboard, maybe that's just a little easier, so we're not putting additional strain on to the uh the people that one the organizer and two the participants, but we can definitely take a look at adding that piece to it.

It's just trying to um create the same environment that we have at Chicano Park, which is the the sister brother park to Lincoln Park here in town to be able to create that that continuity between the cultures that we share.

And Lincoln Park is from what I know the center point of the multicultural races and people that are here within the city of El Paso, and that's where they gather for these cultural events of all kinds, not just necessarily the lowriders.

So those are you know the pieces, and I hope that I've I've answered some of the questions that Rep Fiero had.

But um it is important, I understand that it can lead to possible questions later on to make a changes for your own parks within your within your district.

However, this particular park, even though it's not in my district, I take part in it, and from what I know it's very unique to events like Lincoln Park Day, Rockabilly Riots, Cesar Chavez Day, and those events are very constrained for the pieces of parking that do uh that are allowed within the park without encroaching within the actual neighborhoods.

And so that's something that we want it to thrive and make it very similar to what they experience or what the experience is at Chicano Park in San Diego.

So thank you, Mayor Protep.

Thank you, Representative Maldonado Rocha.

Did you want to offer an amendment to the items?

Well, do I need to make the amendment to it, Ms.

Pine?

Yes, if you would like it to be part of the council's action, yes, ma'am.

Let me send it to you.

Um my computer just died.

Hold on.

While we wait.

Yes, right ahead.

Sorry.

I'll uh move on to Representative Limon.

Why don't we second on the amendment?

Well, she hasn't proposed it yet.

So we don't have an amendment.

We don't have an amendment yet.

I have it.

I have it.

I do have a motion to amend and add uh the environmental protection measures.

And I'll add this, I'll send this to you, Ms.

Prine.

All vehicles of any type parked on the grass or trails must have an EG is.

Can I do like three layers or four layers?

Would that be equivalent?

It's just for a few hours every Sunday, or on those Sundays.

Not to work a hardship on the organizers, but four would be better than two at this point.

Okay.

Again, not just to capture the drip, but actually to attenuate some of the uh compaction from the weight of the vehicles.

Hector, are you okay with that?

No.

Two?

Two.

Are you good with the two layers that we talked about?

We don't object to the layers of the cardboard or something like that.

Okay.

Right, sorry.

Okay.

Point of order.

Okay, Representative Margaret.

I don't know if we can engage the public at this point.

No, no, sorry.

That was my right now.

Yes, sorry.

Thank you.

So I I do have the the um all vehicles of any type parked on the grass or trails must have four layered cardboard.

Four layered cardboard placed under both the motor oil pan and the transmission pan.

This measure is required to prevent leakage of fluids, such as oil or transmission fluid from contaminating the soil and irrigation system.

And I'll send this to you, Ms.

Pine.

Council.

Okay.

We have a motion.

Do we have a second?

Or do we need that read back to us?

Yes, can we read it one more?

Can we okay?

Ms.

Prime, can you let me send it to her?

Thank you, Ms.

Prine.

Oops.

Just sent it to you, Ms.

Prine.

Okay, and this is where would you like these this verbiage insert it, ma'am?

On based on the motion that's on the this would be to the proposed um.

Do you want this this added at the end of the the Yes ma'am?

At the end.

And this is to require all vehicles of any type parked on the grass or trails, must have four layered cardboard placed under both the motor oil plan and the transmission pen.

This measure is required to prevent leakage of fluids such as oil or transmission fluid from contaminating the soil and irrigation system.

We have a motion.

Do we have a second?

Second.

Okay, do we have discussion on the amended motion?

Representative Fierro.

So two questions.

One is we're not requiring the tires to be on any type of okay.

And the second question is why aren't we taking staff's recommendation on using the plywood?

Um they're the experts versus us who I don't think we are the experts.

And now legals here.

Hi, Joseph Foot is from Legal.

Thank you very much.

So just a suggestion for on your amendment to the motion if you would allow me a commentary.

It might be helpful to just um include the part about environmental protections necessary, and then staff will come back after they've had a chance to consider operationally what it works for their uh department, and that would be part of what is brought to council, assuming it passes.

That way it's not all in the pardon the pun weeds at this point.

Um and we would just go from there.

If you would thank you so much.

Thank you, Joseph.

So, Representative Rota, would you like to restate your amendment to to just say to include environmental protection measures?

Okay.

Thank you, Ms.

Pryne.

Could you read it back?

So the motion would be would be an amendment to just add at the end of the motion that's on the floor to include environmental protection measures.

So that the motion reads to direct the city manager and city attorney to amend the parks ordinance to allow for parking at Lincoln Park during cultural events and to include provisions that require event organizers to be financially responsible for any and all damage repair and necessary maintenance as a result of these events to include environmental protection measures.

Thank you, Ms.

Prime.

Do I have any other discussion on this motion to amend?

Okay.

Representative Pierre to the uh to the motion that we come up with some sort of uh mechanism on how to collect the fees, the outstanding fees of organizations that use the park.

Unless people don't think that's important to collect the fees, but okay, that's my motion.

Okay.

How would the motion be came to you?

Wait, we direct staff to come up with a mechanism.

Oh, here's legal.

Thank you.

Yes, just thank you if you could help out with yes.

So I believe that the posted language references uh financial responsibility.

So that would include what you're referencing.

Okay, and and we don't that's not in the ordinance right now, the municipal ordinance, financial responsibility.

I'm not aware that that one is in the book.

Okay, so books that this be directed to come up with a mechanism how to collect.

Yes.

That would be part of the ordinance amendment.

Thank you, Mayor Pluto.

Thank you.

Thank you, Representative Fierro.

Representative Mina, you have the floor.

And financially responsible can mean many things, and staff will work on that, including if there's a deposit or something that would be required in order to protect our assets, correct?

Yes, sir.

Okay.

Ms.

Burn, would you be able to repeat the motion one more time?

I think I might have a minor amendment to it.

So right now the motion on the floor is to direct the city manager and city attorney to amend the parks ordinance to allow for parking at Lincoln Park during cultural events and to include provisions that require event organizers to be financially responsible for any and all damage repair and necessary maintenance as a result of these events.

Representative Rota is to include environmental protection measures.

That's the amendment on the floor at this time.

I don't have an amendment.

Thank you.

Okay, we have a motion and a second on the amendment to the item number.

Is there any further discussion?

Representative Canales or any others?

No, I have my hand raised before the main motion.

Okay, we'll come back to you for the main motion then.

Yes, and IT, could we increase the volume from Representative Canales?

It's a little difficult for us to hear him.

Thank you.

So can we call for the vote, Ms.

Prime, for the amendment to the motion?

And so the amendment was made by Representative Rota, seconded by Representative Acevedo, and this is to add this verbiage at the end of the motion to include environmental protection measures.

On that amendment, call for the vote.

Representative Carnales.

Aye.

Thank you.

In the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

Thank you, Ms.

Prime.

Okay.

Do we have any discussion now on the main motion to the item number?

Representative Limon, we're back to you.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

I think it's really important to remember that we are talking about Lincoln Park.

So I think that uh when you want to have events at the beast or Marty Robbins, I think that would be a really good opportunity for further discussion of other uh activities that could come forth.

Um Lincoln Park Day has been held for 21 years.

Twenty-one years.

And the let me go back very quickly here because the municipal code was adopted in July of 2012.

That means that for 13 years we have operated, or Lincoln Park Conservation Committee has operated under the same guidance under Tracy Novak during all that time.

I too have been a participant at this great event.

It's held at Lincoln Park with an average estimated attendance of 5,000 to 6,000 people.

This is probably one of the biggest, if not the biggest cultural event in the city of El Paso.

In 21 years, I can tell you that there have been no incidents of damage to the park, to include any breaking of sprinkler heads or grass.

Additionally, there have been no incidents of violence or disruptive behavior.

Strong security is always present.

The only complaint that they have ever received has been that trash may have been left behind, but the committee does a thorough sweep of the park to address that issue.

The event is held at Lincoln Park, and this year will include the Mossee grounds as well.

It's a really interesting process, and fortunately, I've had the opportunity to be there.

The cars start lining up at four o'clock in the morning, and the procession begins at 7.

That means parking the cars on the grass at 7 a.m.

And it's a slow process to ensure that all vehicles are parked properly and stay clear of sprinkler heads.

It is not a mad dash rush of cars just randomly parking in the park.

In the early years, I believe it was Hector three or five years, the very beginning, 21 years ago, park personnel would identify the sprinkler heads with red flags.

And that stopped about three years after they were doing that, because a committee could identify just about every sprinkler head in the park.

Once the cars are parked, they stay in place until the end of the event, which starts around five o'clock.

And there again, it's a slow process, very methodical, very safe, very secure to exit.

And then it's a very neat and orderly process.

Thanks to their efforts, it still stands today.

While the initial park fee cost was $35 21 years ago, the current permit is around $1,600.

And all proceeds from the event are used to support over 50 murals, which serve as a prominent backdrops for commercials, tourism campaigns, political campaigns, and other promotions.

And it is known as Chicano Park, and it's also El Corazon del Chuco.

With approximately 300 lowriders featured at the event, many of the participants come from out of town.

And the Hyatt Hotel across from Bassett is the event hotel, which goes to show the event is a tourism driver.

The event is listed on the Mitcha, Meta, and UTIP calendars every year.

And they do a great job.

After 21 years of doing this, the Lincoln Conservation Committee knows how to do it right.

So in my mind right now, I thought 300 plywood pieces.

The amount of time that they're on the grass is limited, very limited.

When you think about this damage that could come to the grass, Lincoln Park is one of the greenest green areas, and it's been able to sustain these vehicles for 21 years.

Yes, it's not in my district, but I have been an active participant of the organization and the event for many years.

And it it grows and grows and has a potential.

Actually, it is one of the most highly attended events for a one-day event in the city of El Paso.

I think that many times it doesn't get credit.

Maybe it's because it's not geared to the general public.

It's lowriders, it's comunidad, it's people in our community coming together for a great, great event.

So I hope that if this does measure does go through, that you will use the knowledge and the expertise that the Lincoln Conservation Park Committee brings forth after 21 years of operation in our parks.

Thank you.

Thank you, Representative Limon.

Representative Canales.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Can you all hear me a little better now?

Yes.

Yes, much better.

Okay.

Um yeah, just very quickly, uh Mr.

Caballero.

Folks who uh use the park for a special event, they're required to obtain a uh park use permit.

Is that correct?

That's correct, sir.

As part of that permitting process, we require them to purchase uh liability insurance that names the city as as additional insured, right?

Right.

Is the the condition of the turf uh a damage that could be covered by that uh liability insurance just to ensure that you know when we say we're we're looking for uh some sort of process to ensure that they are uh notified that they're liable for the damages, is that something that could be covered by that liability insurance?

I don't have a response for that, sir.

I don't know.

So I can make that to you.

I think that would be uh a tidy way of taking care of the issue.

Uh I I think if if uh they're already responsible for damages and insured against damages uh that if we can clarify with uh in in what we require in our insurance policy, uh that that they would be required to have that coverage as part of the insurance that might take care of the issue.

Um so that uh again we're able to mitigate any problem that arises, but uh they're you know they're not on the hook for something uh above and beyond what they would be able to cover financially can include that in the insurance.

Yes, I came on up here.

Um again, just that floaters from the city attorney's office.

We will assist staff in reviewing the existing insurance requirements.

Um in conjunction with drafting any red lines, we'll see what other um financial responsibility um tools are available uh that could assist.

We're not sure if the grass is covered, but for the the fact of the matter is is the current city code does not allow, specifically does not allow uh for people to park on the grass.

So regardless, there in order for this to continue, there needs to be an ordinance amendment if that's what council wishes.

Yes, I understand, and I'm broadly supportive of changing the the ordinance to allow for this.

It's a practice that as you heard from others has been in place for quite a long time.

Um again, I think if there's concern, I'm hearing some concern about potential uh environmental degradation or damage to the grass and the ability to grow there.

I think if if that's one good avenue to explore if we're able to include that in the required insurance coverage.

I don't know if there's someone there out there who insures events that covers grass, but we can find out, I think.

Uh it would be a tidy way to do it.

Uh again, I'm broadly supportive of the change, I think.

Uh they they put on excellent events, they've done this in practice for quite a long time.

Um, and you know, it's multiple organizations who ultimately use Lincoln Park.

So we're I think we should celebrate those uh those large events that they bring to El Paso.

Uh we just need to figure out the way to do it so that the park is protected.

Sounds good.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That's all, Mayor Pretend.

Thank you.

Thank you, Representative Canada.

Representative uh Pierre.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Um, you know, my comments for the record were not about cultural events.

My comments were about the park, about the turf, and it's turned into a cultural event debate versus a part and rec um Muni Court uh debate.

And I don't know where legal was and all that you only come up when I I'm talking.

But yeah, um, there she comes.

Yeah, so um so I wanted to bring that observation up.

Um, I do have a question for Ms.

Cortinez, and I think maybe you can follow up.

There's nobody here from PD, I noticed, but in 21 years, Representative Lamont said there has been no damage to the park.

Can you follow up with all of us in regards to that?

And in 21 years, there's been no violence reported to PD at the park for this vent.

Um please, if you could just share it with all of us.

And that's it.

Thank you, Mayor Putin.

Thank you, Representative Fierro.

Representative Acevedo.

Thank you, Mayor Proton.

And I ran out of time and there was still a little bit more that I I wanted to kind of explain, and I think there would have been um easier understanding of where we were.

Um so apologize for not looking at my time.

And I think what um representative Limon was saying is in the 21 years that Lincoln Park Day has happened and any events that Hector and his group have done.

Um so I just wanted to that was that was what you were saying, right?

I that's what I understood.

Okay.

Um because there so the the thing here is today is April, I mean August 12th, and next week um we have a a council meeting.

So what is behind the action today is for staff to come back with the first reading of this ordinance change if this passes on the September 2nd or third meeting, I forget which one we're having because of the Labor Day holiday.

And then the second reading would be on September 16th.

Lincoln Park Day is September 21st.

So this item would bring us just in time to have this in place by the time Lincoln Park Day occurs.

And overall, I think that as I I walked you through the timeline of events, there's been a lot of band-aids that we've been kind of running out of at this point to figure out how we proceed with things at Lincoln Park.

So I really wanted to bring a holistic approach to the table that way we empower our staff to have more tools in their chests to handle these events in a better way, and then also have our event organizers still have the access to the park to have a great event.

And I think this is a good middle ground that allows us to do that.

And part of the action today, um, you know, as we were consulting with our our legal counsel was that we needed to have this amendment change in order for staff to have these tools, and and that's why there's that direction on the table today.

The other thing that I wanted to bring up is there are some of these things, like I I had mentioned that um staff should guide organizers to help separate vehicles from irrigation assets on the day of the event.

That falls in the operational part of it.

I think the intent is to do that right, but maybe that's not necessarily going to end up in the final ordinance.

And I I think the the staff will have their ways of doing these operational things, and we kind of delineate that.

And as we were looking through um some of these things, like you know, you have Hector's group here today, they always have excellent events.

There's been others that have not had excellent events, like the one I I mentioned in May.

So, how can we bring accountability to the table to those people?

And and so we were looking at insurance um going after their insurance are are legal, said that they're gonna look at that as an option, maybe um a bond or line of credit, all of those things are on the table, and they will be part of the red line once the city manager and the city attorney have that direction.

That red line will be available to us once we have the first reading, the second reading, and we'll have the details of what that ordinance is.

Um I I think that we kind of cover all the basis for our staff to come kind of come in, do the pre- and post inspection, which is really important.

Something on the businesses that are there, they are in a dead end.

And when there's organizers that move their their boundaries like they did in May, that's why they were locked in because there's only one road to access those businesses, old sheepdogs specifically, and the art galleries that are kind of popping up there, um, restaurants.

So they that that is a little damaging to them.

And I know that when I was talking to these business owners on Friday at this community meeting that happened at the park, they they were very for these events.

They just don't want to have their businesses blocked, and I completely understand that.

So overall, what's on the table today?

I think has everybody very happy on all ends from our businesses that are in the area, our residents, our um organizers that are in there, yeah, balancing with the needs of our um staff, and then guided with our our legal counsel.

So I'm hoping that everybody will support this measure today.

Thank you.

Thank you, Representative Acevedo.

Is there any further comment from council?

Um from the parks and rec department.

Any other further comment from you?

Okay, I know we have public comment on this item, Miss Prank.

Thank you.

We have Mr.

Hector Gonzalez signed up to speak.

He will be followed by Gabriel Gaitan.

Good morning, Mayor Potem, Council.

First, uh, I'd like to thank uh Representative Acevedo for moving forward with this after several meetings and and all these issues that have come up.

And I really want to thank him for for trying to find a solution.

We're here to work with the city, as we have for 21 years.

21 years we've been doing the Lincoln Park Day event.

No incidents, no damage, no nothing that can be brought forward to show that that the parking of the vehicles was any cause.

Uh I know Representative Fierro had some questions about the uh the park and the the turf.

Uh we've never had any issues with the turf, we've never had an incident.

Uh I feel that uh Representative Rocha's idea of maybe an environmental barrier or something underneath the vehicles.

It would be logistically hard to handle, but I think some of the ideas of plywood and that is just not feasible.

Uh if you've ever laid a sheet of plywood on your front grass for a couple of hours on a summer day, when you pull it up, now you're gonna have several hundred sheets of plywood that are being removed, and you're gonna have dead spots.

And the uh some things are not feasible.

I think I think we can work with the parks department to find a solution, uh, an environmental barrier, uh plastic sheeting, uh cardboard, something.

We'll we'll figure out something that is more feasible.

Uh that that didn't sound correct.

And then some of the the I the idea that uh that environmental barrier would uh would protect from compaction.

Uh the motor, the transmission never touched the surface of the grass, so it's compaction is not uh is not what we're here to protect.

That's not that's not the problem.

Uh another question was that uh why was the park granted the permission to have the vehicles on the grass?

We go back to 2005.

John Cook was sitting right there.

We weren't even here, we were in the old city hall.

We came before council.

We've done this already several times to get the vote to get the permission to the exemption to the rules.

Uh in 2005, we started the Lincoln Park Day.

Uh the municipal code wasn't brought in until 2012.

So we ran the we ran the the event for nine years before there was even this uh code.

Uh then the code came in, but we were kind of grandfathered.

The parks directors were just granting us continued permission year after year.

So we we continue to do that, and uh we want again want to thank uh representative Acevedo for uh moving forward and trying to find solutions.

He's representing our district.

Uh Ms.

Lily Limon, uh Representative Limon has been a great partner of our organization and and helps us with uh working with you all.

And uh we're here to find a solution, and we hope that this uh uh ordinance uh change and these amendments will will be passed by you all.

Thank you very much.

The next speaker is Gabriel Gaitan.

Good morning.

You have three minutes.

Good morning, Mayor Pro Tem and City Council members.

I paint stories on concrete.

My name is Gabriel Gaetan.

I'm an artist from El Paso, born and raised, and for 58 years, I've dedicated my work to celebrating our cities, Mexican American, and Chicano Heritage.

I'm also a member of the Lincoln Park Conservation Committee.

For the past 20 years at Lincoln Park with the tremendous help of Lincoln Park Conservation Committee and Land Pride Car Club members.

We have painted 14 murals, large car, large-scale murals on the freeway columns.

These murals are just they're not just decoration.

They're visual stories.

They honor our ancestors, our traditions, our struggles, and our pride in a community.

They have turned a once empty concrete space into a living, breathing cultural landmark.

This year's event brings together two pillars of our culture, our art and our law rider community.

The lawwriter is more than a car.

It's a rolling art, a statement of identity, creativity, and craftsmanship.

When you bring traditions, art, law riders together, you create an atmosphere where our culture is not just remembered, but it's alive.

Thanks to Joshua Fedo and Lili Limon for supporting our efforts.

With the leadership of Hector Gonzalez, Lincoln Park Day is one of the few premier events in El Paso where people of all ages, families, backgrounds, and neighborhoods come together to share.

In the dance, cars and murals.

Supporting this event, excuse me.

This event this means preserving our stories and passing them on forward to the generations.

Future generations.

On September 21st, we invite you and the entire city to join us, not only to see the art, but to feel the pride of what it represents.

Thank you.

One more note.

There's been discussion of uh changing Lincoln Park to Chicano Park to complement the San Diego Chicano Park in California.

We have been sister cities and working together.

Gracias.

Thank you.

Mayor Pro Tem that concludes public comment on this item.

Thank you, Ms.

Prime.

And uh I'd like to thank our speakers today and council for your active engagement on this uh agenda item.

Um I'd like to to just uh say that I have a dear friend of mine that I grew up with.

She's um an influencer and very well positioned in the fashion industry.

She no longer lives in El Paso.

We did grow up and were best friends growing up, and she recently came back to El Paso to visit, and I just wanted to read her social media post.

She said, Lincoln Park, I must have passed over these murals over a thousand times, and yesterday was the first time I walked around.

And then she went on to say, you know, El Paso's guide could be better, basically, in in a few other words.

But um, she wanted to highlight this beautiful uh gem in our city, and and I think um today we are we are bringing light into other events that are occurring there aside from the beautiful murals that are placed there.

And so um I I thank you once again for for this uh engagement in this item and uh let's call for the vote, Ms.

Prime.

Thank you.

Yes, ma'am.

The motion was made by Representative Acevedo, seconded by Representative Limon, and this is to approve the motion as revised.

I'll read it one more time to direct the city manager and city attorney to amend the parks ordinance to allow for parking at Lincoln Park during cultural events and to include provisions that require event organizers to be financially responsible for any and all damage, repair, and necessary maintenance as a result of these events to include environmental protection measures on that motion.

Call for the vote, representative canales.

Aye.

Thank you.

And the voting session, and that motion passes unanimously.

Council that brings us to the end of the day.

Thank you, Miss Prime.

I have motion to have a second to adjourn.

Okay.

There's a motion and a second to adjourn the regular city council meeting.

All in favor, aye.

Anyone opposed?

And the regular city council meeting for Tuesday, August 12, 2025 is adjourned at 1123 a.m.

Thank you, Mayor Partem Chavez for presiding.

Thank you, Ms.

Prine, and thank you to all the city staff.

Have a good day.