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.