El Paso Downtown Development Corporation Meeting - September 3, 2025
El Paso Downtown Development Corporation Meeting
Date: September 3, 2025
Time: Convened at 1:35 p.m. (agenda listed 9:05 a.m. – discrepancy noted)
Location: Council Chambers, City Hall, 300 N. Campbell (and virtually)
Presiding: Board Chair Johnson
Directors Present: Chavez, Acevedo, Madonna, De Rocha, Gorilla, Trejo, Nino, Limon, Canales. Director Fierro was not present for the first vote but later participated.
The meeting addressed two agenda items: approval of prior meeting minutes and a resolution to accept a five-year capital improvement plan (CIP) for the ballpark, with a $1.0 million appropriation for fiscal year 2026.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of December 17, 2024 Meeting Minutes (Item 1): Motion by Director Nino, seconded by Director Chavez. The minutes initially passed unanimously. A motion to reconsider was made and seconded, then the minutes were re-approved unanimously. All directors present voted in favor; Director Fierro was absent.
Discussion Items
- 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan for the Ballpark and FY2026 Appropriation (Item 2):
- Gilbert Guerrero, Capital Improvement Department, presented the plan. The ballpark (Southwest University Park) is city-owned, leased to MountainStar Sports Group (MSSG) until 2043. The city is responsible for capital repairs; MSSG handles operations and routine maintenance. To date, 50 capital projects have been completed. The proposed FY2026 CIP totals $1.1 million (requested appropriation $1.0 million), funded from ballpark debt service fund surplus revenues. The five-year forecast (FY2026–2030) is $7.5 million, including a 15% contingency. FY2026 projects include turf management equipment, irrigation valves, door access control systems, HVAC for the control room, concession equipment, and a forklift replacement.
- Council Discussion:
- Representative Canales stressed the city’s obligation to maintain the asset regardless of past opinions on the ballpark. He questioned the forklift purchase; staff confirmed it is a capitalized asset that reached end of useful life and will be disposed of through city property control.
- Representative Limon, who opposed the original stadium, asked about parking revenue and city suite usage. The city receives $1 per parking fee (rates have risen). The contract can be renegotiated. Staff will share suite usage data.
- Representative Fierro asked about due diligence; staff noted some items (e.g., furniture) have been rejected in the past because they still had useful life. She confirmed the $1.0 million comes from restricted ballpark revenue, not the general fund.
- Representative Trejo asked about repurposing old turf for city parks; staff will explore.
- Robert Cortinas, City Manager, clarified that only FY2026 $1.0 million is being approved; the $7.5 million is a forecast. Future years may require additional funding sources.
Key Outcomes
- Vote on Item 2 (Resolution to accept the 5-year CIP and approve FY2026 appropriation):
- Initial motion by Director Acevedo, seconded by Director Fierro. Passed unanimously.
- A motion to reconsider (to allow a photograph) was made and seconded; passed unanimously.
- The item was brought back for a second vote. Motion to approve, seconded. Vote: 7 in favor, 1 opposed (Representative Limon voted nay). The resolution carried.
- Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 2:07 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
The city council meeting all in favor? Aye. Anyone opposed? And the council meeting is in recess at 1.35 p.m. Would you like to convene the downtown development council? Thank you. Good afternoon. This is a meeting of the downtown development corporation. For Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025. It is 1.35 p.m. Board Chair Johnson is present and presiding along with board directors. Chavez Acevedo Madonna de Rocha, Gorilla Trejo, Nino, Limon, and Canales. That brings us to the first item on the agenda, and this is the approval of the December 17th, 2024, meeting minutes. All right, I'd entertain a motion to approve the minutes. So move. Second. Ms. Ryan called for the vote. Yes, sir. There was a motion made by Board Director Nino, seconded by Board Director Chavez. To approve the minutes on that motion, call for the vote. And the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. Board Director Fierro not present. That brings us to item number two. I'm sorry, Council. I need a motion to reconsider. I didn't get your vote. Yeah. Chair. Second. There's a motion and a second to reconsider item one. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? We're back on item one on the minutes. Is there a motion to approve? Motion to approve. Second. There's a motion and a second to approve the minutes. On that motion. Call for the vote. Representative Boya Careco. Hi. Thank you. And the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. All right, let's take item number two. Item two is discussion and action on a resolution to accept the five-year capital improvement plan for the ballpark and approve fiscal year 2026 appropriation and an estimated amount of one million dollars to be funded from ballpark debt service fund surplus revenues.
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