Well, good morning, everyone.

We're going to get started with our special meeting.

Ms.

Prime.

Good morning, Mayor, and good morning.

This is a special meeting of the El Paso City Council for Monday, August 18th, 2025.

It is 9.02 a.m.

Mayor Johnson is present and presiding in Council Chambers along with Mayor Pro Tem Chavez, Representative Acevedo, Representative Maldonado Rocha, Representative Boyar Trejo, Representative Nino, Alternate Mayor Pro Tempiero, and Representative Limone.

Mayor, we have a quorum.

Okay, Miss Bryan.

Yes, sir.

That brings us to item one on the agenda, and this is a public hearing and action on the proposed budget as amended for the city of El Paso, followed by the city manager with the city clerk on July 18th, 2025, which begins at September 1st, 2025 and ends on October 31st, 2026.

We have an echo when you're talking.

Do you hear that?

I did not, sir, but I'll let IT know.

Okay.

And it is 9 03 a.m.

And this is a public hearing.

Good morning, Robert.

Mayor here is a minute.

Good morning.

Mayor City Council Robert Sylvia.

This item is the only item on the special council agenda.

So we have a public hearing.

I believe we have one individual signed up to speak on this item.

Um additionally, we have the mass transit.

We're also required to do that public hearing as well.

Um the action that we will be requesting at the end of the special council meeting will be to postpone the vote until tomorrow.

So the state requires that the council take some form of action at the end of the public hearing.

So that action again will be to postpone the vote until tomorrow's adoption of the budget and the tax rate.

Okay.

So I would be happy to go through the presentation, or if you would like to do the public comment.

Again, this is just a public hearing for the public to be able to speak on uh the proposed budget for next year.

All right, but before we take public comment, Representative Chavez.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, and thank you, Robert.

Um, I actually have a motion for the proposed budget.

There is an echo, Ms.

Prime.

Yes, ma'am.

In fact, um try it without the mic.

Go ahead.

Go ahead.

Okay.

Um thank you, Mayor.

And I'm gonna send it to you, Ms.

Prime, and I have a copy for each of my uh council members.

This is um something that I've been in discussion with both uh Robert Corchinas and uh Ms.

Mack about uh for several months, actually.

So uh this is my motion, and I'll go ahead and if you can pass it down so everybody has a copy.

Thank you, Representative Acevedo.

Uh I make a motion to amend the proposed budget to allocate from the city's already established general fund six thousand dollars for each district office.

These funds are to be used exclusively for travel in our official capacity that supports the advancement of the cities of El Paso strategic plan.

Any portion of these allocated funds not used by a council member shall revert to the general fund travel budget at the end of the fiscal year.

This policy aligns with all the city strategic goals and as outlined in the city charter, the mayor and council may act to accomplish any lawful per purpose for the advancement of the interest welfare, health, morals, comfort, safety, and convenience of its city and its inhabitants.

Um when we oh thank you, Representative Boyartejo.

Uh when I uh when I took office in January, Mayor and Council, um one of the first votes that we took was on January the 15th, and that was an approval unanimously for uh six thousand dollars for one single trip uh for El Paso days in Austin.

And uh that showed that we recognize the value of travel when it directly benefits our community.

This allocation of six thousand dollars is not for one single trip, it's for an entire year worth of representation and advocacy for our community.

Like I mentioned just previously, I have been in communication with uh Robert Gortinez and our uh city manager Dion Mack, and uh we will continue having those conversations to identify where us in our official capacity as elected officials can best represent and advocate for our city of El Paso in collaboration with city staff.