El Paso City Council Work Session: October 27, 2025

The El Paso City Council convened on October 27, 2025, for a work session focused on the city's long-term planning and economic development strategies. Key discussions included the update to the Envision El Paso comprehensive plan, specifically the Future Land Use Map (FLUME), the five-year Capital Improvement Plan for grant-funded projects, and the advancement of the International Policy Agenda. The session concluded with executive session deliberations regarding litigation and utility rate cases.

Consent Calendar

• No routine items requiring unanimous approval were detailed in the transcript; the meeting proceeded directly to discussion items.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Representative Nino: Expressed concern regarding the low engagement numbers (175 participants from 11 workshops) for the FLUME process and questioned the tangible results and timelines of the plan compared to the 2012 predecessor. Representative Nino expressed full support for the work but emphasized the need for scientific surveys and collaboration with entities like the Community Foundation to gather more robust data.
• Representative Trejo: Stated that District 3 is landlocked for growth and argued that the council must actively attend community meetings to increase turnout. Representative Trejo expressed full support for the community-centric approach of the FLUME but challenged colleagues to prioritize attendance at outreach events.
• Representative Treho (District 5): Advocated for a more intentional focus on infill development, affordable housing, and ADUs. Representative Treho expressed strong concern that the plan needs to clearly define affordability and combat outward sprawl. Representative Treho suggested partnerships with school district officials (DPIC, Isleta) and the Community Foundation for scientific surveying.

Discussion Items

Envision El Paso Comprehensive Plan Update (Future Land Use Map)

• Casey Schnell (Urban Planning and Design Division) presented the process for updating the Future Land Use Map (FLUME), noting the last plan was adopted in 2012. Schnell explained that FLUME serves as the city's vision and guide for land planning, distinct from specific zoning regulations. The presentation highlighted 11 place types categorized into six groups (Neighborhoods, Centers, Employment, Civic, Natural Spaces) with a goal to increase diversity of land uses and housing options. Schnell noted that 11 workshops were held with 175 participants, and the team is seeking further engagement strategies, including potential surveys and partnerships with institutions like Texas Tech and EPCC.
• Representative Lima: Expressed concern regarding low meeting turnouts and suggested engaging architecture students and the Young Women's Leadership Academy in Isleta to provide input. Representative Lima expressed support for involving academic institutions to create a "hook" for attendance.
• Representative Madonato Rocha: Proposed using the EPCC planning certification alumni and student body for presentations and suggested interactive surveys via newsletters to improve data collection. Representative Madonato Rocha expressed full support for integrating academic and community data sources.
• Representative Chavez: Praised the move toward "place types" but raised a concern that the "character" criteria could lead to subjective decisions rather than objective scoring. Representative Chavez suggested integrating a scoring system and encouraged planners to seek neighborhood expertise with historical context to ensure objectivity.

Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan (Grant-Funded Program)

• Joaquin Rodriguez (Capital Improvement Department) presented the FY2025-2030 five-year plan for grant-funded projects, which includes roadway reconstructions, shared use paths, and traffic management upgrades. Rodriguez noted a total project request of $733 million was submitted to the MPO and that the city maintains a local match ratio of approximately 17% to leverage federal funds. Specific projects highlighted included the Rojas Drive widening ($14M) and the Sean Haggerty Drive extension ($34M).
• Representative Sevilla: Expressed a need for estimated completion dates for projects currently in the design phase to better inform the public and council. Representative Sevilla requested that the team add these dates or a disclaimer regarding federal letting constraints.
• Representative Chavez: Asked for clarification on project prioritization methodologies and how city contribution percentages are determined. Rodriguez explained that prioritization is based on infrastructure age, safety, and connectivity, aligned with MPO scoring criteria.
• Representative Trejo: Inquired about funding for an "East Side Traffic Study" previously directed by council, questioning whether it would count as a prohibited maintenance activity. Rodriguez clarified that federal funds cannot be used for maintenance but suggested a collaborative approach with the county and MPO for the study, as East Side congestion involves cross-border traffic patterns.

International Policy Agenda and MOU Proposal

• Adriana Fulesio (Economic and International Development) provided an update on the International Policy Agenda, highlighting the receipt of the International Economic Development Excellence Award and the formation of the El Paso Ports Task Force (MAT).
• Israel Alvarado presented a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Concanaco Servitur Mexico to facilitate trade and foreign direct investment. The MOU creates a non-binding framework for cooperation with no cost to the city.
• Representative Chavez: Expressed strong opposition to the current direction of the MOU, arguing that the department is working in a "silo" without consulting key local stakeholders (El Paso Chamber of Commerce, Borderplex Alliance, Destination El Paso) or the municipal government of Ciudad Juarez. Representative Chavez argued that the city should ensure all economic development entities are on the same mission and expressed concern that the policy calls for a "joint effort" with Ciudad Juarez, which has not been engaged.
• Representative Lamont: Expressed support for the MOU's intent but deferred the postponement discussion to Representative Chavez.
• Mayor Pro Tem Chavez: Moved to postpone the MOU approval to request broader stakeholder engagement.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to Postpone MOU (Item 4): The Council voted to postpone the approval of the Concanaco Servitur MOU until the December 15th work session. The motion required staff to engage with key stakeholders (Borderplex Alliance, El Paso Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Destination El Paso, Visit El Paso) and the City of Ciudad Juarez to gather input and ensure no siloed efforts. Vote Tally: 6 Aye, 2 Nay (Representatives Lamont and Canales voted Nay).
• Executive Session Results (Item 5):
  • EX1 (William C. Haywood vs. El Paso PD): The Council voted unanimously to deny the defendants' request for settlement authority.
  • EX2 (El Paso Electric / Texas Solar One): The Council voted unanimously to authorize the retention of outside counsel and file an intervention.
  • EX3 (Texas Gas Service Inc. Rate Increase): The Council voted unanimously to engage in settlement negotiations, schedule a public hearing for November 17, 2025, and request that Texas Gas Service attend city council meetings and conduct community meetings if needed.
• Adjournment: The work session was adjourned at 11:34 a.m.