Well, good morning, everyone, and welcome to City Council Chambers.

We are glad to have you here today.

Good morning, City Council.

Good morning, Miss Prime.

We're ready to go.

Yes, sir.

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the presentation of the mayor's proclamations.

We begin this morning with a pledge of allegiance led by Imperial Border Squad Desert Infernal Squad at the invitation of City Representative Diana Maldonado Rocha.

We have Greg Trujillo and Jaime Villalba.

Right there.

All right.

Ready?

That brings us to the proclamations, and the first proclamation is Sun Bowl Association annual Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl Football Game.

All right.

Proclamation for the City of El Paso, Texas.

Whereas the Sumball Association has served as guide to enhancing the lives of the citizens of El Paso for ninety-two years.

And the Tony the Tiger Sombal is known throughout the country as one of hospitality, professionalism, fun, and excitement.

And whereas the annual Tony the Tiger Sanball has grown to be the largest single sporting event in the city, as well as one of the topped entertainment values while showcasing the city on CBS on a national television audience for 57 years.

Continues to showcase the city of El Paso on a national stage with outstanding football teams, their fans, families, and supporters right here in the Sun City.

And whereas the Tony the Tiger Sumball, sponsored by Calog's, Sombal Executive Director Bernie Oliv, the Sombol President Tamara Gladguski, and Board of Directors, and the Sombal Queen and Court work to make this a football game that is embraced by the citizens of El Paso as their own and reserves as a great backdrop to the city.

The people and the culture of El Paso, Texas.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and the council of the city of El Paso, Texas, that the week of December twenty-eighth shall be known as Tony the Tiger Samball Week.

Congratulations signed by the mayor, Renard Johnson.

Good morning.

Good morning, Bernie.

Good morning.

Three main reasons that the Sunbowl exists.

Number one is to give the citizens of El Paso a quality event.

If anybody's ever gone to the Sun Bowl, I think it's a pretty neat event for the city.

Number two, to give El Paso some positive national attention.

And for 57 consecutive years, CBS does not for four hours, does nothing but sing the praises of our city nationwide.

And third of all, most importantly, is the economic impact that the Sombol brings to the city of El Paso and surrounding area.

Up to 25 million dollars in one week that are that our visitors that follow their teams, they come in, they stay in our hotels, they eat at our restaurants, they shop at our stores.

And those are the three main reasons that the Sumble exists for 92 years.

So we're extremely happy again to put this uh put this on.

Uh behind me, it brought some very important people associated with the Sumbow.

Our President Tamara Glakowski, our Queen, Caroline Mann, and our lady in waiting, Janais Milan.

And I'd like for our president to maybe say a couple of words about the matchup that we have and how great a game it's going to be.

Absolutely.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Thank you, Bernie.

We are so excited.

We are going to have a tremendous, tremendous game.

As you all know, we have the Arizona State Sun Devils facing off against the Duke Blue Devils.

Both teams have eight wins.

Arizona State was in the playoffs last year, and Duke pulled up an upset uh win over Virginia to get the ACC championship.

So it's going to be an amazing matchup.

We appreciate City Council's support of this event.

It's huge.

Excuse me.

What differentiates the Sunbowl from other bowls is people are in the stands.

It's to the enthusiasm of El Paso that we showcase each and every year.

So we look forward to seeing you all there.

Very good.

Good morning.

My name is Caroline Mann.

I'm this year's Sun Queen.

I'm so honored to be here this morning.

Thank you so much for having us.

And I just wanted to, on behalf of the Sunbowl Association, and my lady in waiting, Janice, say thank you to the City of El Paso for all they do for the Sunbowl Association.

And we love having it in El Paso.

All right, fantastic.

Hi everyone, my name is Janais, and I just want to thank all you all for um, you know, supporting us endlessly.

And you know, with Caroline leading our court, we are super excited to be a part of the Sumbow Association, and we're excited to see everyone December 31st.

Tony, you got anything to say?

Thank you very much for for this, you know, for this proclamation for this honor.

And I hope to see you all at the game.

Uh like I said, we have tickets for all of you.

Uh I should have brought them, and I forgot them on my desk.

Wow.

But anyway, you're all invited, uh to the game, and I'll make sure you all get your tickets uh for the game.

And uh as hopefully the weather is going to be the way it has been for the last few months.

We've had tremendous weather.

We also have a couple of gifts for you.

If you uh indulge us, we'd like to pass out some things.

Sure, sure.

And Bernie, again, thank you guys for all that you do and and uh putting El Paso on the map and getting us recognized nationally and for the the tremendous amount of economic development that the Sunbowl does create for our region.

But Bernie, I do want you to talk about all the volunteers that it takes to put this event on and and all the people that stand behind you.

I know Wayne Thornton's here and he's behind the camera this time, but tell me about all the volunteers and the great people that work with you.

Yeah, and Wayne is a past president of the Somball Association, but you know, there's only seven full-time employees of the Sombul to put on the 16 events that we put out throughout the year.

We could not survive if we had seven hundred volunteers that help us put all the Sombowl events together.

700 volunteers, free of child, you know, free of pay.

We don't pay them, but they're they all have the same passion for El Paso that we do, and that's why they do it.

They don't do it for us, they don't do it for the Sumbow, they don't do it for anybody, but for the city.

So thank you for for allowing me to recognize the volunteers, 700 of them begin the year.

We got about 400 of them already working the football game.

Uh, right now there's a ton of them, you know, getting the field ready.

That field will be transformed from the UTEP field to the Tony of the Tiger Sun Bowl field is one of the best logos in football.

And all my colleagues at the other bowls, they tell me the same thing.

Boys, you guys killed it with that logo.

Yeah.

Which reminds me a great big thanks to Kellogg's themselves.

You know, without them, we wouldn't be able to be doing this.

I mean, to uh uh Wells Fargo and Norwest and uh uh of course, you know, Brute and uh Vitalis from uh you know, Helen of Troy, and of course Hyundai was our top sponsor for nine years, and now Kellogg's has been going on for six years, and hope we can keep him for longer time.

But even if they don't, they have been a tremendous sponsor, like I said, they love El Paso as well.

So we'll see what happens.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, City Council.

Congratulations, you guys.

Congratulations.

We have some t-shirts and some hats, and they're different sizes.

So we'll hand one out and you all can exchange get the right sizes.

I call the phone with a tiger basis.

And the next proclamation is Desert Inferno Imperial Border Squat Day.

Okay.

Representative Rocha.

Thank you.

They have a dramatic entrance.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning, Representative Rocha.

Thank you.

And since this is our last meeting of the year, I just want to um really thank all of council for all your amazing proclamations this year.

Uh we've attended them, we've celebrated them, all the organizations, everybody that we have out here that supports citizens within the city, within the county, within the region.

So thank you all for having such doing such a great job this year.

But this group right here is uh does really amazing work, and so I want to be able to read this proclamation so that you all understand how impactful this group really is within within our region.

Whereas the Imperial Border Squad, an affiliate of Stormtrooper Ranch and Desert Inferno Squad, an affiliate of the Star Garrison of the Five Hundred and First Legion, bring joy to Star Wars fans of all ages through costuming, community engagement, and cherub charitable appearances.

And whereas the group's commitment to uplifting spirits by sharing their passion for Star Wars with character portrayals and inclusive programming has made them a beloved presence at events throughout the western deserts of Texas.

December 16th, 2025 shall be known as Desert Inferno Imperial Border Squad Day, signed by the Honorable Mayor Renard Johnson.

Good morning, guys.

The floor is yours.

Good morning.

My name's Jaime Villvan behind me are members of the Imperial Border Squad and Bible First.

Um Garrison Legion that you spoke of.

It's a tremendous opportunity to be here.

It's a reward we never thought, dreamed, or imagine.

And when we talk about dreams and imagination, you see behind me.

That's all we think about all days.

What nerdy things, what geeky things we're gonna do, what cool costume someone has.

How did you make this?

How did you make that?

But that's exactly the enthusiasm we take everywhere we go.

By the time we leave here, I I want I hope that you have that you remember us with two words or by two words.

But before I get there, I'm gonna tell you a little bit about us.

What started out with one person, then the second person, then the third person grew into three clubs in El Paso.

It's odd the state of Texas because we've become so big and such a community-driven program, if you will, support group, unspoken of.

We are a charity, we can't accept rewards or donations, so this is all us.

This is time away from work, this is time away from our families, this is financial what we do all for the smiles.

Everything you all experienced this morning, taking pictures is exactly what we look forward to every time we go to the hospitals, make a wish, we visit a terminal kids at home, orphanages, social, uh media, community events, epilepsy walks, Alzheimer's walks.

It's endless what we do here.

And this is the biggest reward we ask for.

When we go to someone's event, the the joke is all we want is a room to change in, a bathroom, hopefully, and water.

So to get this recognition is priceless.

It's something that we never would have dreamed of or imagined.

So I leave it at that.

What started out as three individuals with a dream has turned into a family of over 90.

So we think of Star Wars El Paso and the rest of Texas, when they think of Star Wars El Paso, I hope that you remember family and community, because that's exactly what we are.

Wow.

Fantastic.

On behalf of both of the groups up here, I also wanted to extend a thank you to the entire city council and the mayor, especially to Miss Rocha for bestowing this honor upon us.

Like he said, we didn't expect uh or ever think that this was gonna happen.

We got into this just to get back to the city and to do it maybe in a different way, a little bit fun way, having the cosplay, but it was uh it was a love that we have that we share with the community.

But then we found out we can do some charitable things and bring attention to some important things in the city.

So I wanted to thank not only Jaime, because it was his brainchild that kind of started it, and then he brought me in, and he he was kind enough to let me go crazy with it, and this is kind of the result.

And so I'm very appreciative.

But I also want to thank Eric Dick, uh, Stormtrooper Anch, he's the founder of that.

He trusted us to do something a little different than what everybody else was doing in his his group, and he has let us just kind of write it out, and we really appreciate his support for that.

But also want to thank all members past and present for their time, their contributions for coming in and and and doing all the things they do for the city.

And you know, you have to be a person that's willing to give up your time, and that's not always an easy ask.

So the fact that they're well willing to do that, I'm very appreciative.

And I can't leave out my wife.

I know she's hiding somewhere in here, but I couldn't have done that without her.

She's the one that uh got me the first costume and kind of started us on this path, so it's kind of her fault and uh in a way.

But I just want to thank you and everybody in the city of El Paso for being so kind and accepting of us, and we're hoping to do more with the city and and continue to grow and give back in whatever way we can possibly.

Wow.

Representative um Fiero.

Thank you so much, Mayor.

You know, thank you all for being here and and the joy and the smiles that you bring to this room and to the the our the fellow council members.

I cannot thank you enough.

This is exciting.

I do have a question for representative Maldonado.

Is there a reason you gave me Yoda?

Thank you, Mayor.

Was that Yoda or was that Grogu?

It's a Grogu.

Does that mean it's even smaller?

So it's a double bird.

Thank you.

Represent Rocha.

And not on purpose, by the way, Rhett Fierrow, so sorry, staff.

My gosh.

No, I just wanted to thank you all.

And just really quick, thank you for everything that you do.

I came across this group uh doing the human trafficking walk earlier this year.

And it was amazing to have you all out there and see you out there with the participants and just really engaging with everybody.

Then come to find out everything that you do.

You know, those that are attached to the orphanages and the children's hospitals and make a wish foundation, they all know what you all do for the for those kids in the community.

That includes the parents and all the support that that these um that these children receive.

So I just wanted to thank you.

But I do have to say I've known Greg since gosh for a really long time.

And I we didn't know we didn't know it at the time, but Catherine Longoria, I she's oh, there she is, yes.

She oh Catherine, sorry.

Sorry, Catherine.

Oh, there she is.

Okay.

So um anyways, we were we were at uh a location earlier this week and come to find out that we were talking about the same person.

And I won't go into how we how I didn't know him by his name, but other than that, I'll just say that we've known each other for a long time.

He played baseball with my brother for many, many years, and uh his brother has been a friend of mine.

I would like to thank for many years as well.

So it's good to see you.

It really is great to see you, and we'll be back.

Yeah.

Small world circle.

Yes, absolutely.

So thank you all for everything you do.

I really appreciate it.

And what a treat, Greg and Jaime, you guys have delivered for this community.

Thank you for uplifting El Paso and the entire borderland community and all that you do.

And we feel the passion from each and every one of you.

You know, earlier you were telling me some of the costumes were made with 3D printing and and the hours that it takes to to get to where they're at, and and and we can't thank you guys enough.

And it's amazing that you started with three and it's grown to where it is today.

And you guys are throughout Texas and doing the things that you're doing.

But I would like to, you know, and we will never forget the family and community.

I mean, you said it best, and we won't forget that.

But for those that can speak, maybe they can come by and introduce themselves and those that can't can still introduce the ones in the helmet and then I'll let the others that don't have a helmet on.

Okay.

We have Sonia, she's one of our Jawas here.

She's very enthusiastic, very hyper diaper.

Um we have Reagan, he's one of our five Vaders.

We have uh Zavandra, she is uh Captain Phasma and also a gunner and a um, and then we have Ed Brown, he's our Balin, and also one of our other Vaders.

Um then we have I'll let David Lardy Saval, I'm Captain Han Solo, and I'm just in it for the money.

Morning, everybody, I'm Liz Velez, I cosplay as uh Ray Skywalker.

So yeah, and like we could go on and on.

All these people have costumes here, and we have Aidan, he's also he will never show his face, he's very serious in his character.

I've known him four years now, and I still haven't seen his face.

It's very frustrating.

Um then we have all our friends back here that are also participants, and they don't have their costumes all today, but they came out to support and they took time off work to just come out and hang out with us.

Wow, we're very appreciative of them.

This is our second family, really honestly.

We hang out on our own.

We're gonna have a big party next week for Christmas because we like hanging out with each other despite the fact that we're cosplayers, we still like each other outside of that.

And the one thing I also want to like you said, family community.

The one thing that I I think that's amazing about this group, we have political ideologies from both ends of the spectrums, religious ideologies from both end of the spectrums, but somehow in the middle, none of that matters because it's all about community and family.

And we put all that aside and we come together as a group.

And remember that you have to be a decent person to come out to do this, and that we should just care about each other and not worry about all that other noise.

Absolutely.

Well said.

Thank you guys.

Congratulations.

Oh, yes.

Excellent.

We have trouble.

Yes.

Okay, Miss Prime.

The next proclamation is Jodie Marie Ramo Day.

Mayor, keeping an in conversation of uh family and community, I ask um oh, there they come.

You know, we all have friends, family, neighbors.

Some of them sit on the council with us.

Oh, she's gone.

Um, who are in the restaurant, bar, or tasty room industry.

And but when we look at the industry as itself, there's almost forty thousand people that are employed through the industry.

And millions of millions of dollars are that are directed back to our economy.

So this is a great honor that I get to read this.

Whereas the City of El Paso is proud to recognize individuals and organizations who have demonstrated explicit explanatory leadership, dedication, respect to the residents of our community, and whereas Darden restaurants diamond club status is an honor awarded annually to the general manager across the nation who exhibits strong leadership, top financial performance in the previous fiscal year.

Whereas Judy Marie Remo, General Manager of Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in El Paso, has earned this prestigious award.

Uh, Ruth Chris General Managers in North America to be acknowledged with this award.

Whereas to quote Ruth Chris's president, Judy Marie leads a dedicated team that is passionate about our food, taking care of our guests and their community.

Ultimately making El Paso Ruth Chris a warm and welcome place to work and to dine.

Whereas the Ruth Chris team, which is includes front of the house, back of the house positions, is a reflection of the welcoming culture that defines El Paso, it's hospitality, showcasing the high standards of care, community spirit to our residents and business consistently uphold it.

Now, therefore, be be it proclaimed by the mayor and council of the city of El Paso that December 16th, 2025 shall be known as Judy Marie Remo and Ruth Chris's Day.

Thank you so much.

Well, good morning.

Good morning.

Thank you.

Um I I heard my name, and that's very flattering, but as like any leader would share, um, it's it's not really us, it's all these individuals behind me.

And this is Ruth Chris Team 915.

So I'm really excited to have them support not just me, but also the city.

For those that don't know about us, um, in August 16, 2016, um, Ruth Chris Steakhouse opened their doors.

The red double French door is here at the Fountains of Farah.

Um, our restaurant was established originally in New Orleans, Louisiana, and but we open our doors here in El Paso, Texas.

Our our vision is to be the most beloved steakhouse here.

Um in the state of Texas, we actually have over five locations in the state of Texas of Ruth Chris Steakhouse.

But as our team vision, we wanted people to know who 915 is.

When you think of Texas, um, you know, I'm a little guilty sometimes when you think of Texas, you might think of Dallas, Austin, or Houston.

But some people forget about Team 915 El Paso.

And my team, as well as my vision, is to make sure people know that El Paso is here.

It is an incredible city, it is a growing city, and we want people to know that you can come pass through El Paso or come visit us here at El Paso, the Fountains of Fera.

So I'm super excited that we're here and we're here to stay and we're here to grow.

Uh for those um that have not joined us before, I want you to know that white linens do not do not let it scare you.

We are here to serve you from the Northeast to Horizon to Canatillo.

We want you to um come check us out and hear our sizzling plates.

Um that is our one of our competitive advantages, is to be fine dining that's approachable.

And we thank the community of El Paso who has supported us since 2016.

I know I see some familiar faces in front of me, but also a lot of familiar faces in the community.

And we just want to say thank you on behalf of my executive chef, Adan Delgadillo, my manager Joan, my other manager Fernie.

We just want to say thank you so much for continuing to support us.

We understand that El Paso has an incredible amount of um numbers of options of beautiful, amazing restaurants, and we're just happy to just be one of your selections.

So we appreciate that.

I do want to take the time just to say and introduce to uh my team here.

I do have Nadine, he's part of our private sales coordinator.

Christian is actually one of our servers.

Diana is one of my key employees that also have serve you as well.

And then we have Marlene, who makes all your cocktails, so just ask her.

Umfredo runs all your food.

Matthew, right behind me, also runs your food.

Augustine, if you love the bread pudding or creme brulee, he is your go-to individual.

Um right behind him is Caleb Castillo.

He also prepares all your happy birthday celebration special occasions, and then of course, Fernie here, one of my managers as well as our traveling coach who opened Puerto Rico and Rochester, Minnesota with me, and then Joan Rouan, um, also one of my uh right hand um managers.

So, on behalf of Team El Paso, thank you for continuing to support us, and I look forward to seeing you all tonight at Happy Hour.

Representative Limo.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh Representative Piero always, whenever there is a discussion, will ask me, were you there?

Were you there in the past when things have been signed?

I was there when you opened in twenty sixteen as a city representative.

And it was a fabulous event.

We got to see the uh mayor when he sliced that first state that came out.

It was just a wonderful event.

And so I can tell you that special events in my life, my birthday, our anniversary are always spent at Ruth Chris.

So thank you for the excellent service that you provide to this community.

Thank you.

I appreciate we know your favorite table, by the way.

And the mayor's too.

Oh yes.

Exactly.

Representative Chavez.

Thank you, Mayor.

And I had the pleasure of meeting you just earlier this day this morning.

And of course, I've seen you at the restaurant before, but I just want to congratulate you.

I have a very special place in my heart for people in the hospitality industry.

I know this is an extremely busy month for all of you, so we thank you for taking the time out of making your your bread pudding and everything else this morning, which I know you're probably in a hurry to get back to doing.

Uh but we will be there to enjoy it and congratulations and please give a shout out to everybody that's working in the restaurant.

Awesome.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

Yeah, and and a big congratulations to you guys on the the diamond uh award that you received.

But I do want to talk a little bit about your founder in nineteen sixty-five in New Orleans uh when Ruth uh uh Fortel founded uh Ruth Chris, she was a single mother who mortgaged her home to buy a small steakhouse called Chris Steakhouse.

And after it burned down, she decided she wanted to reopen another restaurant and she renamed the Steakhouse Ruth Chris.

So and now you have over a hundred locations under the Darden umbrella, and for you to have put El Paso on the map like you've done is incredible.

So you are in the top of all the Ruth Chris's in the country.

Of course, sir.

Oh, she's doing it.

Well, we gotta get to number one, okay?

There's some work to be done.

We gotta get to number one, but that is incredible to be number four in the Ruth Chris uh franchises throughout, not only the U.S.

but internationally as well.

So a big congratulations to you guys and remember the follow the sizzle and be the Ruth of your restaurant.

How's that?

There you go.

Congratulations, you guys.

And the final proclamation this morning is La Tapatia 75th year anniversary.

Good morning, everyone.

Representative Limon.

Good morning, Mayor.

So we're going to continue with wonderful food from our city.

This is a proclamation from the City of El Paso.

Whereas La Tapatilla Inc.

first opened its doors on September 20th, 1950, originally as a corn mill, tortilla and tamal factory in Isleta, Texas, by Marcelino and Felipa Galvan.

And whereas in nineteen seventy, the Galvan family sold La Tapatilla to a partnership, which included Gus Wallace, Ted Rallace, and former El Paso Mayor, Ray Salazar.

And whereas in March 1979, local political trailblazer, Alicia Rosencranz Chacon, a lifelong resident of Isleta, purchased La Tapatia in partnership with Edward Álvarez.

And whereas in nineteen ninety-four, Alicia R.

Chacon sold the business to her sister, Esther Rosencranz, who along with her sister Bertha Monseese Weiss preserved the authenticity and warmth that defined La Tapatia over decades.

And whereas in 2020, Lauda M.

Rosencranz, daughter of Esther Rosencranz, inherited the business as well as her mother's spirit and devotion to continuing the success of the family enterprise.

And whereas La Tapatia's signature stone mill ground corn for tortillas and tamales, as well as traditionally prepared ingredients, such as Nixtamal and Stone Mill Ground Chile Colorado, continued to be its distinguished hallmark and source of pride.

And whereas in recognition and gratitude to its employees for their passion devotion and service to traditionally crafted Mexican food products, which are renowned throughout the El Paso community, and where it's in deep appreciation to its individual customers, businesses, and institutions whose loyal patronage has supported and sustained the continued growth of La Tapatilla Inc.

for the last seventy-five years.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and council of the city of El Paso that this will be La Tapatilla 75 year anniversary day, signed by the honorable mayor Bernard Johnson.

Thank you.

It's an honor to be here with our community.

It's um a great privilege to be able to to run the business with my cousin Carla Monti's Vice.

And we we keep the family tradition alive every day.

It's in our heart and our blood, and we love our community, we love what we do, and we're so ever grateful for our loyal uh customers and our heart uh felt thanks and gratitude to our to the heart of our members, the people who work at La Tapatia.

And so we have with us two people who are part of the heart of La Tapatia, who have been there since nineteen eighty-eight.

I think even before then, mileventy uno.

Um familias can't be constead.

Gracias.

Good morning to everyone.

As Laura mentioned, it is a privilege to be here, especially because we're celebrating uh this family-owned business that um has done nothing but bring joy to its community.

Uh we're so thankful to the community that has supported us throughout all of these years.

I think the generations that ran this business before us would be proud because uh not one recipe has been changed.

You know, that true when we think of our business, we think tradition.

That is a word that defines us.

Nothing changes but the year, but our food tastes the same.

And that pride that that we have in the products that we make.

Um really all of our gratitude is to our employees, 26 of whom are represented by Norma and Walter here today.

Um they take such a pride in every little aspect of what they do.

Uh this this they we wish all the employees could have come.

They would have been proud too.

But somebody's gotta be making the tamales right now, especially at this time of year.

And so, you know, I don't know, Norma.

Bueno, yes, yes.

So nobody.

Oh, you soy tengo 37 años I en La Tapatia.

Yo soy la que cocino, casi la mayoría de todos las comidas.

Yes toy muy content.

Walter, Walter.

Buenos días, Walter Guerrero.

La señora Chacón, Yeri.

Gracias.

Mayor, um just a uh a short story.

Um, as a good friend of Alicia Chacon's who originally owned it when she was appointed as the small business administration director by Jimmy Carter.

That's when the the La Tapatilla was sold to Lauda's mother, Esther.

And when Lauda was in college, I remember a conversation.

Um Alicia, Esther, and George McCallman and I were sitting there, and George turned around and looked at Esther and said, When is Laura going to learn the business of La Tapatilla?

She was in college, there were plans, there were things that she was going to do, and how life changes.

And she came forth and is inherited the business.

A longstanding business, a long-standing business.

I thought Ruth Chris, 2016 and going strong, but this is since September 20th of 1950.

And there are stories in the community how Islet students would go to La Tapatilla at lunch and order a tamal and a tortilla, and that was their lunch.

And so so many of the kids, well, adults now amongst us, um, that that share that story.

And so just so that you will know the tamales that we all receive from Destination El Paso are from La Tapatilla.

So that when you eat those, you'll understand.

And that also was a collaboration that started, oh uh back when I was on council and referred them to La Tapatia and said these are literally the best in the valley.

And so there's another story, Mayor, that when um representative Paul Moreno was at the state house, uh that there was a Christmas event, and it was also perfectly organized, that they knew the flight that Southwest Airlines would take in the morning.

They delivered the tamales hot, they were put on the plane, they were taken and delivered to Austin, and Paul Moreno would distribute tamales at the at the Capitol.

So this is their this is their story, and when you think of tortillas, and they don't just make tortillas for the restaurant, they make tortillas for the industry for restaurants, and perhaps you could share a few of them if you can.

I don't know that you can, but if you can.

I I think they would be proud too.

Okay, so then we uh you know we support their success, of course.

Uh and uh we've been uh we've had a long-standing uh agreement with Chicos Tacos, for example.

Uh huh.

So when Walter wakes up every morning at three o'clock to begin the tortilla production with his team, we distribute daily.

Um we have a driver that goes out continuously to Chicos Tacos to give them the product that they need to make their famous roll tacos, which I love, and we have other taquerillas and other businesses in town, and our tortilla is special because ours is made specifically for frying, and so it fries really nice and crispy, and uh that's what that's one of the things that we're known for, apart from our delicious tamales.

Well, now that we're hungry.

Well, what an incredible you know, everyone has a story, but your story is is certainly incredible.

And congratulations to Lara and the entire team on being locally owned for over 75 years.

That is hard to do.

I mean, not many businesses last that long.

And you guys, you mentioned it earlier, you've been a neighborhood favorite for many, many, many years, and you've created so many memories for so many people in the El Paso Borderland region, and we can't thank you enough.

So we're just getting to 75.

There's going to be more success coming out of La Pat La Tapatilla's restaurant, and we're going to continue to grow.

So thank you guys for all that you do for El Paso and for this region, and your story is incredible, but we've got to get to another seventy-five years.

Yes.

All right, congratulations, guys.

Thank you.

And then we'll have a room on the road.

All right.

Council, we have about three minutes until roll call.

No, no, no.

You're fine.

I just wanted to have a question.

Okay, Ms.

Friend, I think we're ready to go.

Yes, Mayor.

Good morning.

This is a meeting of the El Paso City Council for Tuesday, December 16th, 2025.

Mayor Johnson is present and presiding in Council Chambers along with Representative Acevedo, Representative Maldonado Rocha, Representative Oriatrejo, Alternate Mayor Pro Tempiero, Representative Limon, Representative Canales.

It is ten o'clock AM.

Well, everyone please silence our electronic devices so as not to disturb the meeting.

Good morning.

If you would allow me some leeway.

I would ask before I deliver the invocation that those present join me in a moment of silence in remembrance, particularly for those at Brown University, but for all victims of senseless violence around the world.

Let us contemplate peace.

Thank you.

And now those who are of a mind, join me as I pray.

We come together today with grateful hearts for the privilege of serving this community.

As we gather in this season, when many observe holidays of light, hope, and renewal, we pause to honor the rich diversity that shapes our city.

May the spirit of compassion found in these celebrations guide our thoughts and actions.

Grant to these leaders the wisdom to listen deeply, the patience to understand one another, and the courage to choose what is right over what is easy.

Help them embody servant leadership, placing the well-being of neighbors above personal gain, seeking solutions that uplift the most vulnerable, and stewarding resources with integrity.

We ask your blessing on every conversation, every decision, and every moment of deliberation.

May cooperation rise above division, respect, temper disagreement, and a shared commitment to the common good lead the way forward.

Strengthen all who serve, elected officials, staff, and citizens alike, so that together we may build a community marked by justice, safety, and opportunity for all.

Thank you.

That was well done.

Miss Prime.

Yes, Mary.

That brings us to public comment on consent agenda and regular agenda items.

This morning we have Ms.

Turner that signed up to speak on item number 20 of the consent agenda.

And item 20 is the award of solicitation 2026-0060, vehicle washing to Sun City Echo Wash LLC.

Good morning, Miss Turner.

You have three minutes.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Before I get started on this, I'd like to issue a challenge.

If you're somebody from California between here and New York City, I can guarantee you one thing.

The best Mexican food can be found here in El Paso, Texas.

And I can guarantee you that there's not anybody in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, or Houston, they can do a better burrito than this hillbilly from Kentucky.

Now, on to item 20.18% increase.

And I can guarantee you you didn't double the number of police vehicles.

So somebody's got to explain this.

Somebody has to explain this.

So what are we washing?

Nobody here.

Okay.

Can you have somebody get to me and explain to me why?

This has gone up because I know you did buy vehicles for the police department to justify this.

Under local government code, you can provide a factual answer, and you can provide tell them to do something.

So that's my concern.

178.18% increase.

And I know you haven't bought enough vehicles to justify that.

All right, thank you.

Ms.

Turner also signed up for item 38, and this is discussion and action to direct El Paso water utilities to schedule and conduct eight city council district community meetings regarding their proposed budget and rate increase.

Let me point out to you that one.

There is not a single elderly person sitting on that board who lives on a fixed income who can put in that view.

Apparently, PSB doesn't care.

And since you all do the appointing, you don't care.

So I'm going to ask you that you change that.

The next thing I'm going to point out is yes, we need these meetings.

Because let me explain something to you.

I use in the last 14 months.

I never broke two CCF for water.

But I got charged for 5CCF to replace, and I got paid charged for 5 CCF for sewer.

I don't mind paying for what I use, but I object to paying for what I'm not.

I'm not going to pay for something that I'm not using.

And this is what's happening.

This is what's happening with the PSB.

This is outrageous.

They seldom talk to the people.

They seldom listen.

Communication is more than just talking, it is listening.

And they don't listen, they don't care.

And my God, I'm going to see.

You got the water, electric and gas.

Probably going to see 50% increase in our utility costs.

How are people supposed who live on a fixed income supposed to survive?

Okay.

I want you all to think about that.

I want you to think about adding somebody who will represent the disabled, not only disabled community, but the elderly community and those living on a fixed income on the PSB board.

That voice has to be there.

And that is your own responsibility to make it happen.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Turner.

And Ms.

Turner signed up for item 48.

And this is discussion and action on a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a First Amendment to that certain 380 economic development program agreement between the City of El Paso and Mills Plaza properties.

Sorry, I forgot about that one.

You said 48?

Yes, ma'am.

That different 380.

Yes.

Oh, I totally object to any 380 agreement.

You constantly give out our tax dollars, and we get nothing in return.

You turn around and tell us that oh, we're going to charge you X dollars a month just to drive on the roads.

And what it comes down to is what I see is you serve the City Council of El Paso, Texas, does not serve all El Paso citizens.

You serve about 200 people.

They don't need it.

We have multimillionaires who get our tax dollars.

They don't need it.

And then you turn around and charge us extra for things we've already paid for.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Hearner.

Mayor and Council on item number 20.

Uh the increase for the vehicle wash.

We went from a quantity of 500 vehicles to 900 vehicles.

In addition, they did add an option for hand washing for certain specialty vehicles as well.

So from 500 vehicles to 900.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right, Ms.

Brian, believe that brings us to call to the public.

Yes, Mayor.

That brings us to call to the public.

And the El Paso City Council is local government body charge with serving the citizens, and the meetings must be focused on the meeting at charge.

The city council meetings are public meetings under the Texas Open Meetings Act.

Public comment is an accommodation and not a requirement of city council.

All persons in attendance are expected to display civility and decorum that is respectful to other persons without the use of insulting, profane threatening, or abusive language.

Public comment will not be used for personal attacks, nor may any member of the public use this form for political statements or campaigning.

Please note that during call to the public, the city council may not deliberate or decide any subject that is not on the agenda.

However, council may propose that a topic brought forth he posts it on a future agenda.

This morning we have eight members of the public that signed up to speak.

The first person is Elizabeth Crawford.

Ms.

Crawford's topic is Bethlehem and choosing life.

Good morning, Miss Crawford.

Star 6, please.

Ms.

Crawford, star six to unmute your telephone.

Thank you, ma'am.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Three minutes.

Thank you.

Good morning.

In the Hebrew scripture, centuries before the advent of Jesus, the Prophet Micah Penny's words of scripture inspired by the Holy Spirit.

But thou Bethlehem Ephrata, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me.

That is to be ruler in Israel who's going forth has been from of old from everlasting.

In mid-November, our world focused on the International Climate Conference held in Belang, Brazil.

In 2001 to 3, I had the privilege of living and serving in that city of Belang, teaching and goes to Amazon Valley Academy and helping a little with my roommate's ministry to the street children.

The word in Spanish, Navidad in Portuguese is Natal.

Natal is a time when many Brazilian people remember an event that took place centuries ago.

We laugh because it's cute, but in many ways, that lesson is profound.

The incarnation, God with us, the Christ child.

He knows the suffering of mankind.

That is deeply meaningful in a place such as the Lang Brazil where there's unspeakably deep suffering.

Kids often born to parents who don't want them conceived in the wild party atmosphere that permeates much of the culture, throw away kids suffering generation after generation.

In our nation, we also have countless throwaway kids, just a different method.

The majority of people use to throw the throw kids away.

The abortion industry is exploding in New Mexico, and the culture is suffering.

I was in shock the first time I went to Albuquerque, as we know it's a rough, dangerous city.

And New Mexico preys upon young ladies from El Paso, among other ways via abortion pills.

We're very relieved that now Texans, as of December 1st, are being encouraged to file lawsuits against those shipping abortion pills into Texas to see those responsible for the sending of those abortion pills.

We know these are very tough times financially for all of us, and worries about finances drives many couples to abort.

But there's absolutely no reason to do this.

El Paso is full of pro-lifers who would be thrilled, so honored to help couples struggling with unplanned pregnancies and raising their kids.

A beautiful name given to Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us.

For those who know Christ the Savior, he has promised to be with his children and care for them along all the journey of life, the days of rejoicing and the days of hardship.

Emmanuel, God with us.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus.

They shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us.

Thank you.

And I hope you have a very good advent season and thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Gloria Cron.

And for her comment, she will be speaking in Spanish.

If you want to follow along with simultaneous translation, please scan the QR code on the screen.

Yes, good morning.

Good morning, ma'am.

You have to please um I would like to speak to Mayor Johnson.

Please says that is the reason that I'm here.

If you I can wait for his ret, he's returning to the day yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Good morning.

My name is Gloria Canaan.

I am a widow and I live on a fixed income.

This happened in 1996.

My sister Luzca Marillo and I'd the city for a loan for house repairs.

The loan was accepted.

The repairs were made, and the payments begin from that time to this time.

It's been 29 years until a supervisor, Elizabeth Briones, called me.

And she said, um, we the city, we have no way of proving anything.

We don't know if you pay, if you did not pay, how much were you paying?

Do you remember?

She asked me, do you remember how much you were paying?

And I said, ma'am, my sister, Luz was the one that was making the payments.

But she she added, I think that you still owe us the money.

So I'm gonna open another account.

Yeah.

And uh, since you owe us the money, your house has to be assured with an insurance.

So she did, and she demanded the insurance.

From there, we started looking for an insurance, but there was no way here in El Paso that no insurance would insure the tea lock roof.

Nobody.

So she just kept quiet and she opened the account.

And I'm still paying for the roof.

And the house doesn't have a roof.

And that is the reason that I've been asking for help for almost years now.

Um the city, the city introduced me to the manager, the grant manager.

Um Rick, he was the uh the city uh he was supposed to well okay, he asked me for for what what was the problem?

I explained it to him.

He was the grant manager compliance, and he asked me what is the problem, so I explained it.

He took all the information and he said, We are gonna do your roof.

Um, my assistant will be going to your house, and he's gonna tell you to move whatever the instructions were, and he did.

He sees his assistant was in my house four or five times, and he did, and I waited, and I just waited for my turn for more than 20 months, and it was a lie.

A lie.

And then uh another city manager, he also suggested the thank you, ma'am.

You've reached the three minute limit.

Mr.

Johnson, please.

I asked you uh once again, thank you in the name of God.

Please give me one appointment.

I yes, I before, but please, Mr.

Johnson, thank you.

Okay, thank you.

And her topic is Christmas.

She will be followed by Ron Como.

Good morning.

Good morning, Merry Christmas, everybody.

Emmanuel got with us.

Um I'm hosting a painting party, a Christmas painting party to back the blue cats and dogs of the city fighting animal cruelty.

Uh, there's a time for everything, a time to fight animal cruelty and a time to celebrate and honor the people that are doing the hard work.

And I got two confirmations from officers.

Also, animal services is going at 11.

They're taking a kitten, doing a presentation, educational presentation.

They are also taking a backdrop and sunny the mascot from animal services.

I wanna wish a Merry Christmas to everybody, especially the ones that work outside in the weather and during the weather and all law enforcement uh agencies.

Uh I'm very thankful uh to be a part of El Paso.

I really love advocating for the cats.

The reason I'm always here is to either advocate for the cats against animal cruelty or to back the blue.

Those are my two priorities.

Also, I wanna uh thank Ms.

Mac because she hired a perfect uh person for the job that has experience for the director position, and uh I wanna invite her to to the Christmas party to spend time with us and get to know the community.

This painting party is very special.

The community helped me prepare it, uh, because they believe in the mission to pitch the animal cruelty unit number 915 212080.

They're doing an excellent job, just like animal services.

And since I'm I'm an animal advocate, I cannot leave without saying that more animals are being killed.

I sent an email about Fierro Street, four cats were murdered Satur Sunday, and I think a dog, I'm not sure.

The person called me, she was very worried.

Also, everybody knows about the black cat that was stolen from a cat colony.

Uh what I did is I exposed the person that it has been lying, saying she works with animal services is not true.

Saying she's with uh rescue is not true, and um the cat uh I most likely appeared dead, and I wanna read what she has on her Facebook.

Demons don't cry.

I become I became a monster because I didn't want to cry anymore.

I cried until my tears ran out, and and and I dried up inside.

I became one of them a demon.

Okay, a lot of people can think that she's referring to herself, but it's not true.

She posted a cat, just like the one that was killed and stolen, and this is referring to a satanic ritual.

Okay, this is psychological um against me.

So I wanna ask when are the leaders gonna start fighting animal cruelty against cats, please.

Please, thank you.

The next speaker is Ron Como.

His topic is exercising his constitutional rights, the rescue 1983 animal services.

He will be followed by my lead Tariq Mahmoud.

Good morning.

You know, I I I send you a lot of stuff.

I do.

Do you look at it?

Do you read it?

I mean, my God, that's probably a twentieth of what I receive.

It's it's it picks apart Haas.

It picks apart best friends, it picks apart Austin Pets Alive.

Other cities picks apart El Paso.

What are we doing?

Okay, we we've I just learned we've hired a new director.

I hope this one is actually qualified.

I hope this one is not affiliated with Best Friends Austin Pets Live and does not support the Haas Sheltering Plan.

Forty-six thousand four hundred and five less strays were picked up in the first four years of Haas.

Where did they go?

How many of those dogs got killed?

How many times the rescues have to pick up puppies under 10 weeks old half eaten because of strays?

The person that's in charge of the shelter, the people that have been in charge of the shelter for the last five years need to be removed.

They're not qualified.

And I'm speaking, let me just bring this up.

Okay.

You guys did a positive meeting.

This positive meeting.

Did it come up with a fix for your toxic work environment?

We read actual statements.

Why wasn't that brought up and fixed before it got to the point it's at now?

Because the protected one didn't like it.

Okay, so here, let's do this again.

Who in here has done adoptions at the city of El Paso at Animal Services?

Who here has done rescue at the shelter?

How about transport?

How about the first person who was a volunteer that was authorized to work with behavioral dogs?

Who put out more strays across the country?

Animal services, what they put out every month, and what I was transporting out to the group I was dealing with.

And I gave you a solution.

And I guarantee you nothing was done, because nothing's ever done that other people suggest.

But we got a new year coming up.

We'd like to hear from all of you that Haas is gone, best friends is banned, Austin Petzali is banned, and Paula Powell has absolutely nothing to do with the city of El Paso when it comes to animal services.

Thank you, Mr.

Como.

The next speaker is Malik Tariq Mahmoud.

Topic is regarding a press release to condemn the terrorist attack in Australia.

Good morning.

Respected Mir, respected Council members and my beautiful audience.

As salamu alaykum brahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.

Peace and blessings of God be with you all.

I'm Malik Tariq Mahmud, Imam and missionary of Ahmadiyya Muslim community.

And I'm here to present some important words of his holiness Hadrat Mizza Masrour Ahmad, the supreme head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim community, uttered right after the terrorist attack against the innocent innocent members of Jewish community in Australia.

So I start.

Acts of terrorism and hatred are therefore completely contrary to the true teachings of Islam.

As Muslims, our faith requires us to show love, compassion, and grace to the people, people of all faiths and beliefs.

Thank you, God bless you.

Good morning.

As a citizen, I'm gonna come up here and say I was wrong yesterday on that number in regards to the gallons and the percentages.

But this is the thing is that as a citizen and somebody who expects my political representatives to uh also admit when they're wrong, I have no problem doing so.

So I hope y'all can do the same.

Uh and I'm gonna kind of wing some of this because Mr.

Fierro, I mentioned Miss Gloria Carranto yesterday, and I was here when she came before Oscar Leeser in this counts in some of the members of this council before asking for assistance.

I was here when she was shuffled away by Miss Mack when she was a deputy city manager, and she has spoken to who she was mentioning, Rick that she forgets, his name is Rick Thoreau.

He was not the head of the grants.

Rick Thoreau actually went to my house once before, too, because of the scams that happened in the community and human development department.

Okay.

So I think in fact, the the contract, because I did go in uh I I took uh me and Miss Khan had met over a year ago, uh, because she wanted more help.

And people, it it's sad because citizens know that I come here and I don't like to come here.

But it's more often than not when I'm out in public, I get somebody to thank me for speaking out.

And that's sad.

I don't take that as a compliment.

I take that as a sad state of our city affairs.

But she told me her story when we were sitting in a Denny's.

And quite frankly, the city having her sign that other contract, that's not only a breach, but it was illegal.

It was coercion.

Okay?

And I think it's something that Ken Paxson should look into.

Should look into the practices because he is looking into El Paso and the transparency, and that's another thing on top of everything else and the other documents that I have shown.

Because you know what?

Regardless of our city attorney trying not to let people have the foil documents they request.

There are huge issues in our city government.

And quite frankly, we do need to look behind the curtain, and you all are the curtain.

Up here on the dais, you're the curtain.

And everybody behind and what is going on in the back of the house needs to be addressed because there are huge problems within our city.

It is citizens now.

You all need to realize it is not.

Let's do what we used to do.

On a federal level, we are seeing the corruption going on, and I like I tell everybody it starts local.

They didn't get there, but they started locally, and that's where they ended up.

Thank you, Ms.

Osman.

You've reached the three minutes.

The next speaker is Eddie Travis Jr.

He will be followed by Lisa Turner.

Mr.

Chavez's topic is utility rates.

Good morning, sir.

You have three minutes.

Good morning, Mr.

Chavez.

Good morning, City Council.

Good morning.

Yesterday I was at uh the county uh meeting appealing for the people that live out there in far east Montana Vista.

They don't have water or it's like a third war out there.

There's a lady that has she came out on the Texas Tribune where she is taking water out of the uh atmosphere to get water.

That's how desperate those people are.

There was a I was um look go uh uh scrolling through my uh uh Facebook uh Google, and I found that there was a program back in June, I think it was June 8, 2023, for the Montana Vista, it was the name Montana Vista Water and Sewer Development.

It was named Montana Vista, water and sewer development, and this was for the colonials, which is what I'm talking about.

There's people there that I know that have lived there 20 years, don't have water or sewer, which is bad for the environment, also.

No, uh when I talked to uh the commissioner out there at um in the county.

She said that uh they're already on phase two.

Well, I investigated on it, yeah.

Phase one was where they're building uh a development for I think it's like six thousand houses they're gonna make on on South West part of uh Montana Vista, and that's being paid by the developers, so that's nothing to do with the 31 million dollars that it was allocated by the state, and uh Tommy Gonzalez was part of it, and uh everybody seems to be like uh hush hush on there's nothing moving on these poor people that are staying over there.

The people don't want to come out because they none of them don't speak English, and a lot of them got to work during the week, so they don't have time to come way out here to the colony building.

They should make a colony building over there where the the uh the constituents are where they can show up and complain.

But uh I'm the only one talking for all these people because I feel bad for them.

I'm only visiting there because I moved out there because I sold my house, but I'm I'm planning to go back to Northeast.

But I don't know the things I see about here.

I want to go and represent them.

I was gonna run against Joe Molinaro back when he was out, but uh the way the Northeast people treated Sam Morgan and don't appreciate it.

That's what uh knocked me out.

But I'm gonna try to do it again.

I'll come back with you guys.

See how feel being on that side over there with you guys through this porthole that you guys go through.

Thank you.

Merry Christmas.

All right, happy holidays, thank you.

The final speaker is Lisa Turner.

Miss Turner's topic is diverting income from general fund and imposing fees on our pestilence.

Again, good morning.

Good morning, Mayor.

You know, I'm I'm at home laying down, recovering, and uh I see this article in the uh El Paso Matter about Representative Cortinez and you know we're wanting to charge everybody who drives a monthly fee.

And I'm thinking, no, wait a minute.

We give tax dollars to Paul Foster, we give tax dollars to the hunts, we support all the downtown businesses with TURS.

We do all of this, and then you want to turn around and charge the hardworking El Paso who's actually just trying to put food on the table, money to drive on the blasted roads.

Now explain to me.

I wanted somebody please explain to me why a billionaire needs our tax dollars.

They have more than enough money for their own projects, so why do we have to kick our dollars in?

That is money that can solve problems in this city.

Roads, parks, increased pay for your employees, so they're not you know having to work three jobs while working this one.

Why all that money is being captured by the people who don't pay taxes for decades, for decades.

The homeowner in this town has always paid about 75% of the property tax, and businesses 25.

It's time that the burden is equalized, and this is how you do it.

No more 380s.

You want a 380, you want money, then you're gonna have to pay us twice the amount.

And then you can write that.

You make a donation for twice the amount, then you can take it off your taxes.

But we can't afford to subsidize billionaires and multimillionaires in this city anymore.

I mean, you've got to understand it.

I'm sitting here and I'm looking at it, and I says, Well, you know what, Lisa, the City Council of El Paso, Texas has always represented about 200 people in this city and forgot about the hundreds of thousands.

You look at the homeowners, you look at the rest of us, and you reach into our pocket and you take our money, and then you give it to people who've already got money, who can already fund their projects out of their own pocket.

That is what you call capitalism.

What you're doing now is called communism.

Now, if we're a capitalist, then they can fund their own project.

Thank you, Ms.

Turner.

That concludes call to the public.

Council per the rules of order, no use of personal cellular devices, nor personal communication should take place on the dais while the meeting is in session.

Once you obtain the floor from the mayor, you will have up to 10 minutes for debate.

I may speak twice per debatable motion.

Please speak into the microphone and refrain from site conversations at the dais while the meeting is in session.

For those of you joining us virtually, please make sure your microphones are muted to reduce any background noise.

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 been approved, 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.

Thank you, Ms.

Prime.

I make a motion to approve the consent agenda with the following revisions.

Page three, item five, move to the regular agenda for myself, Representative Chavez.

Page four, item 14, delete for representative Canales.

Page five, item 19, move to the regular agenda for representative Acevedo.

Page eight, item 21, delete per real estate division.

And that was item 18.

Move to the regular per representative.

Item 19.

Oh, I'm sorry, 19.

Thank you, ma'am.

Say that again.

Page five, item 19.

Move to the regular agenda for representative Acevedo.

The last one was page eight, item 21, delete per real estate division.

Representative Lima.

I'd like to mayor like to request uh to move to the regular agenda item number six, please.

Because well, okay.

Thank you.

Is there a second on the consent agenda?

All right, I believe we have public comment.

Ms.

Prime?

Yes, Mayor.

We have Ms.

Osman that's signed up to speak on item four.

These are the solace solid waste liens.

I'm gonna try to speak about them.

Uh so y'all approved a program that Mr.

uh representative Nino had placed uh to get volunteers to clean up what city employees are supposed to be clean up.

So you want residents to uh make sure less employee hours, but again, I will implore you to try to do a volunteer program so that residents' homes, some of these people, whether it's elderly, disabled, what have you do a program in your area, set up some volunteers if you're gonna throw some money at saving El Paso City tax dollars by having residents do that, you're gonna kick in $1,500 to them, which uh is far less than what city employees doing that work would receive.

But if you're gonna do that, I would say actually help your constituents, not just make yourself look good, and uh do a volunteer program.

Each of your offices could set something up for constituents in your area so that they don't have to do these liens because there's liens in district two, there's liens in several of these districts around the city, and it's really upsetting that y'all will do a program, make yourselves look good, throw in that $1,500 for the volunteers to save city tax dollars because the that that money is just saving employee hours, but you won't do the same thing so that constituents aren't stuck with these liens.

$350, whatever.

That you're putting to save employee hours, you won't put to help residents avoid these liens.

I find that I don't know, rather interesting, interesting, appalling, one of the two.

But it doesn't make you look good.

It really doesn't.

Throwing out, yeah, that $1,500 from your discretionary fund, which is just donate donated dollars.

But you won't do the same so that constituents don't get these $350 liens and such.

And I'm saying, hey, look, some of those are probably corporate properties, real, you know.

Fine.

But some of those are also people in the area that can't afford it.

Ms.

Brian, I believe uh Ms.

Osman also signed it for item number 23.

Oh, that's okay.

Item 23.

Sorry, I didn't realize it was on the consent.

Item 23 is an introduction.

Okay.

Okay.

Um typically you don't think on introduction.

Yeah.

But if I could just uh Mr.

Acevedo, just so if you're aware, in district two.

Ms.

We're not on that item.

Okay.

We're we're still on the consent agenda.

All right.

Yeah, my fault.

Okay, there's a motion in the second uh with the revisions of moving items number five, number six, and number nineteen.

That's correct, Mayor.

Okay.

Any further discussion?

All right, Ms.

Prime, call for the vote.

Yes, sir.

And it also includes the deletion of item 21 and 14.

Yes.

On that motion, call for the vote.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

Would you like to work through the items that we're moved to regularly?

Yeah, let's go to item number five.

Yes, sir.

Item number five is a resolution that the city manager designee be authorized to take all necessary actions to dissolve the El Paso Public Improvement District number one, Thunder Canyon District.

Good morning, mayor and council.

Margarita Marin, deputy CFO controller.

Representative Chavez.

Can we see the presentation first, please?

Sure.

Thank you.

Okay.

This is a presentation of the public improvement district number one, the Thunder Canyon as we call it.

And I understand why Miss Chavez pulled it from the consent agenda because it is actually a very beautiful story about the community coming together, working in partnership with a nonprofit organization and the city, the local government to preserve this land.

The strategic alignment for this is goal six, set the standard for some governance and fiscal management.

So I'll walk you through through the story of the pit.

So the developer reached out to the Frontera Land Alliance, and in order to preserve this land, and together they reach out to the city wanting to see if there was something that could be done.

So then in 2006, um the the owners of the area they file a petition to for the city council to consider creating a pit under the authority given through the chapter 372 of the local government code.

Then six months after, in January of 2007, the city council um created a resolution to actually create this the district, and then furthermore, in April of 2007, the City Council finally adopted an ordinance to pass this um service and assessment plan to levy the taxes for this for the for the area.

May 2007, um, the city signed a conservation easement with the Frontera Line Alliance to preserve the open space in perpetuity, and then in the same month, in order to acquire the land, the city issue um special assessment revenue bond in the amount of 400,000, and that in conjunction with the donation of some of the residents in the area, they came together to to the acquisition of the land that was donated to the city.

So since then, in 2008, annually the city came back to the city council, did a review and evaluation of the annual the annual assessment to make sure that it was still appropriate to cover the payment of the bond.

During those 12 years, the city uh found that the assessment was appropriate and no changes were made.

Lastly, um in August of 2020, we did the final payment for the bond.

And it was a win situation for everybody because the city got to acquire this land with no expenditures related to the maintenance of the land, and then the owners got to save this beautiful space and preserve it in perpetuity.

So today is more of a formality to legally close this pit because financially we did everything that needed to be done to extinguish the debt.

All payments have been made, there's no funds available anymore.

So financially, this fund actually has been closed since 2020, and today we're just here again as a formality to close it.

And that concludes the presentation.

Any questions?

Okay, Representative Chavez, is there a motion to approve this?

Second.

Okay, Representative Chavez.

Thank you, Mayor.

And I'd like to read a statement into the record.

Thank you, Margarita, for the presentation today.

Thunder Canyon exists today because neighbors in District One chose community over convenience and preservation over development.

Nearly 20 years ago, when this arroyo on the west side of the Franklin Mountains was at risk of being developed, residents came together with a shared goal.

Protect open space and preserve the natural character of their neighborhood for future generations.

Rather than asking the broader city to shoulder the cost, approximately 90 neighboring households voluntarily agreed to tax themselves through the creation of a public improvement district, number one.

That decision allowed the city to purchase the land up front, secure the canyon as open space, and repay the cost over time using assessments paid directly by those residents.

This was a deliberate place-based effort rooted in stewardship and civic responsibility.

Those neighbors understood the value of open space, flood control, wildlife habitat, and quality of life, not just for themselves but for the entire community.

Because of their commitment, Thunder Canyon is protected today and remains a natural area that residents across El Paso can enjoy.

That protection is not temporary.

A conservation easement was established to ensure that the property will be retained forever as open space.

It is a lasting safeguard that reflects the intent of the neighbors who came together to save Thunder Canyon and guarantees that their investment will continue to benefit future generations.

I applaud their efforts because throughout the time that they were making payments, it is my understanding that none of them defaulted on those payments.

So they gave their word to the city that they would commit to preserving Thunder Canyon, and that is exactly what they did.

The neighbors of Upper Hills Neighborhood Association, I commend them for that.

I also want to read into the record a statement from the executive director of Frontera Land Alliance, who was very much involved in this effort, and you can find videos of when this effort initiated on YouTube, which I did myself.

And Janae's statement reads the following.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah, congratulations, everyone.

All right, there's a motion and a second on this item.

Ms.

Bryan item number five.

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by Mayor Proteve Chavez, seconded by Representative Nino to approve item five on that motion.

Call for the vote.

In the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

Okay.

Let's take item number six.

Item six is a resolution that the city manager designee be authorized to sign an overhead electrical easement granting an easement to the El Paso Electric Company to provide electrical power to property owned by the city of El Paso within the municipal limits of the city.

Mayor make a motion to approve this sign.

Okay.

Second.

All right.

Joaquin.

Morning, Mayor Council.

Representative LeMont.

I'm sorry.

I I don't think we Joaquin, thank you.

I don't think we need a uh presentation necessarily.

I just like to know the location.

The exact location.

This is at the city's traffic management center over off of San Paolo.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

All right.

Thank you, Joaquin.

All right, there's a motion in a second to approve item number six.

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by Representative Limon, seconded by Representative Canales to approve the resolution on item six on that motion.

Call for the vote.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

All right, let's take item number 19.

Yes, sir.

Item number 19 is the award of solicitation 2025-0031R real estate appraisal services airport to the following suppliers.

Number one, C B R E Inc.

Number two, Steve R.

Greg, DBA, Greg Risk Management LLC.

Number three, Lowry Property Advisors LLC, and number four, Wilkinson Pandergrass and Associates.

Representative Vassaveno.

Thank you, Mayor.

I was looking at the backup for this item, and I was kind of seeing that there's sorry, I lost my place on the agenda.

I was kind of seeing how there were several companies that were um selected on this.

So has this have have we had appraisal services before and we're re redoing it, or is this the first time that we're actually doing it?

Good morning, Christoph with purchasing and strategic sourcing.

So the city does have other appraisal services with like the real estate division.

Um this is the first one directly just for the airport.

And what was the reasoning for that?

Um I'll go ahead and defer that to the department.

Okay.

Good morning, Debbie.

Leave us with your report.

So it is necessary for us to have a contract at the airport.

We have over 400 leases that we um oversee, and so we need the services uh to reappraise um the land.

And so we do it every 10 years for some of our leases.

For some but not for all.

For most, yes.

Okay, because I I've kind of been hearing it's been a little complicated with some rents going up and communication issues and stuff like that.

So I'm trying to understand if this was holding that up, or how do you feel this is gonna make that work more efficient?

No, so right now we've been using the contract under uh the real estate division and CID.

So we have a process in place right now.

It has delayed a little bit because we have to request permission from those departments to use their contracts, but it's only about two weeks that we've seen a delay.

Okay, and so the two-week delay using the appraisal services that we already have and getting your own is gonna eliminate two weeks, and it's just gonna be easier or well, yes, because now we'll have a contract in place, and so what we'll do is what we'll rotate between the different uh vendors.

And so we'll have them on call.

We'll just request um a quote from them and move forward.

It's just a lot of money when we're kind of already using when we already have services in place, right?

So I'm trying to understand a little bit more, and I'm not getting the clarity that I need.

It's actually the same.

So we have the major contract that we've had, and as you know, we're working through over the next couple of years, looking at our entire inventory of property.

And so, really, the amount of property that we're having going through appraisals is much higher than we would have had historically.

And so I think this is allowing that the real estate division has the capacity it needs on the contracts that it has in place, but also this is allowing us to utilize other companies to be able to make sure that we can do the appraisals to be able to renew the leases, which is a requirement for the airport.

They are still, I mean, if you're looking at the cost of those appraisals, those are comparable, you know, until the contracts that we have.

They are still, I mean, if you're looking at the cost of those appraisals, those are comparable, you know, until the contracts that we have, it just allows for us to have on call more companies that can get this done quicker so that we can move through those leasing processes.

Okay, and then the each appraisal is gonna be eighteen hundred dollars to fifteen thousand dollars.

Is that gonna be based on who you call, or is that just a general thing that all four companies will have?

It's based on the actual property.

Okay.

So it's based on property and then each one will charge you.

Yes.

And then I guess on the when this was listed out on the following suppliers, I think it was just listed out based on the score sheet that was there, and not necessarily in order of who got um first, second, third, and fourth.

Was there reason for that?

No, it's not a good idea.

No.

Yes.

So the the ones that we're awarding, they were all in the same range.

So because it's on a rotating basis and we have um a scale that we're using, uh it doesn't it wouldn't make a difference in the order that we're providing them to you here.

Oh, uh, because of the way you're gonna utilize the services.

Yes, yes, they'll be on a rotating basis.

Um that way it's fair for all of them.

And were the two El Paso ones, Wilkinson and Steve Gregg?

Um part of Bial Paso.

So because for all of our airport solicitations, we include federal uh provisions.

We're not able to cut include higher El Paso first into these uh solicitations.

Okay, so that had nothing to do with Okay.

All right, thank you.

Okay, yeah, I was gonna use there.

Is there a second representative canalis?

Thank you, Mayor.

I think one other important thing to point out, and that's that the uh the contracts that we have through for appraisal services through uh the the real estate division are funded with the general fund, is that correct?

This is airport enterprise funds, and so uh this is theoretically leave capacity on the general fund uh funded contract and and instead utilize airport enterprise funds for the the contract at the airport.

Airport always paid, so it and we always charge back to the appropriate funding code.

So if they have some metro or airport utilize a real estate, we we do that alignment back to the right, but it does use up the capacity on the contract that is at real estate okay.

Um yeah, for that reason I think it's uh it's a good thing for the airport to have its own contract if the capacity is going to be uh fairly high, or if if the the utilization is going to be fairly high, and you're not burdening the other contract.

Thank you.

All right.

Any further discussion on this item?

All right, hearing none, Ms.

Prime, call for the vote.

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by Representative Limon, secondary by alternate mayor pro Champiero to award the solicitation on item 19 on that motion, call for the vote.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

Ms.

Prime, I believe that brings us to the first readings.

Yes, sir.

That brings us to the first reading of ordinances.

These are items 22 to 24.

Is there a motion to mayor make a motion to move um on the reading of the first ordinances?

Is there a second?

All right, and Ms.

Prime, I believe we have public comment on item number 23.

That's correct.

We have Ms.

Osman that signed up to speak on the introduction of an ordinance amending Title 18 building and construction outdoor lighting code of city-owned facilities.

I just want to make sure that uh my representative A Salvedo is aware.

Honestly, this lighting code, hey.

Anybody that's gone to uh San Diego, been to the Hillcrist area, other areas across the U.S.

Little arches, kind of looks cute.

But history for El Paso is we've done this before.

Pass city councils and city government has wasted tax dollars in the same way before.

And proof on how long it really lasts is in District 2.

You could pull it up on Google Maps.

Corner of Travis and Cambridge.

The foundation posts are still there, at least on one side.

Because there used to be one of these arches in that neighborhood as well.

Not everybody knows the history of El Paso as well as I do.

Um but then again, not everybody's family's been here from the foundation of the city.

So it's look.

Hey, it looks cute in current place.

The one in five points.

Especially where it's gonna be put, I think it's a total waste of funds.

And I understand.

Um our city wants to try a turn the what anybody who knows the area actually calls it Bohemian block.

You know.

Joe Vinnies is at Dewey's, you know.

Christina started the whole thing with Joe Vinnies.

But trying to turn that whole area to relieve the issues that Kern Place was having with the Cincinnati area hasn't done good for our area either.

Um highlighting it with that arch and wasted tax dollars.

Honestly, I think our city needs to stop wasting on some of these art projects and really fix other issues.

You know, everybody's complaining about those plot holes, right?

The ones that are messing up people's cars that actually affect their daily lives.

You know, I think uh we already know what a struggle it is for El Pasoans.

I think the presentation y'all had from the Kelly Center showed how El Paso is struggling with poverty more than the percentage across the rest of the state of Texas.

Y'all will still waste funds on these little pet art projects versus actually doing it for the citizens.

Anyway, Travis in Cambridge, look at her husband.

All right, Miss Bryan.

Uh there's a motion and a second on the first reading of ordinance.

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by representative Limon, seconded by representative.

Or no Rota.

No, no.

It was Mayor Pro Tem Chavez.

And this is to introduce on the first meeting of ordinances items 22 to 24 on that motion.

Call for the vote.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

And that moves us to the regular agenda.

And out of respect for a soldier that is here and his family, we're going to take item number 36 next.

Yes, sir.

Item 36 is discussion and action on a resolution to rename Fortaleza Park at 1480 Tierra Fortalesa Avenue and El Paso, Texas, 79938 to Trotter Memorial Park in memory of Sebastian Rowan Trotter and Charlotte Emery Trotter.

Represent Nino.

Thank you, Mayor.

If I could have IT pull the presentation, I tried to put a little PowerPoint.

It's no particular order, but um I want to thank the community of El Paso for coming together, the neighbors of District 5 for you know reaching out to my office, coming together and putting a petition.

Um council, I'm here today to ask for your support on this resolution to rename Fortaleza Park as Trotter Memorial Park.

Sebastian and Charlotte were cherished members of our community.

They were District 5 residents, and their lives continue to touch so many of us.

Both children were part of the City of El Paso's mini soccer leagues.

Sebastian, like so many children across our city, dreamed of one day becoming a professional soccer player.

For him, soccer was more than a game, it was a place of joy, teamwork, and belonging.

Charlotte, though only four years old, had a remarkable spirit.

Her parents have shared so many of her, sorry, her parents have shared that she made it her mission to ensure that everyone around her knew what love was.

She would probably she would proudly say Al is for love and will make a heart shape with her hands.

A simple yet powerful reminder that the kindness and joy she brought into every space.

This item is deeply important because in El Paso we are all family.

Sebastian Sr.

and Stephanie, their parents who are here with us today, have shared so many loving memories of the children with me.

And it was important to ensure that Sebastian and Charlotte's memory and the love that they represented continues to live on, not just in our hearts, but in a place where children play, families gather, and our community is built.

I want to sincerely thank the neighbors and the community members and all of El Paso for coming together who stood alongside with his family, including Mr.

Carl Jackson, who is also here with us today, and his wife, Karen, for their support and exemplifying what it truly means to care for one another.

I want to also thank Sebastian Sr.

for her service and for the strength and grace that he and Stephanie continue to show us.

Renaming this park is more than an act of remembrance.

It's a reflection of who we are as a city.

Once again, the city of El Paso stands together as family, and we remain here to support the Trotter family today and always.

Council, I respectfully ask for your support.

And now I repeat the resolution resolution for the record.

Resolution of the City of O Paso, Texas.

We're asked to commemorate the lives of Sebastian Roman Trotter, Charlotte Emory Trotter and their beloved dogs, Zeus and Allie, whose lives were tragic tragically taken prematurely during the Redoso, New Mexico flash flood on July 8th, 2025.

And whereas Sebastian was an avid Pokemon card collector and huge soccer fanatic.

And whereas Charlotte loved to sing, dance and make jokes and give people makeovers with her playmakeup.

And whereas both children both children and the Trotter family enjoyed many hours at the Fortaleza Park.

And whereas on October 8th, 2025, the Parks and Recreational Advisory Board has heard from the Trotter family and others, and we have recommended to City Council that Fortaleza Park be renamed to memorialize Sebastian and Charlotte.

Now therefore be a resolve by the City Council of the City of El Paso, Texas, that the City Council accepts a recommendation from Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and hereby approves the renaming of Fortaleza Park, located at 14800 Tierra Fortales Avenue, O Paso, Texas, 79938 within the city of El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, as Trotter Memorial Park, in loving memory of Sebastian Roman Trotter, Charlie Charlotte Emory Trotter, and their beloved dogs, Zeus and Allie.

And that one picture that you guys see there, that is actually them playing at this park.

So um motion to approve Mayor.

Second.

There's a motion in a second, and I mean this is incredible.

And and Stephanie and Sebastian, who I met shortly after they returned back from Riyadoso in the rehab center.

And you know, as I told them then, and you know, there's a lot of love for you guys.

And we see you here today and know that this community is behind you and we lift you up in prayer because uh would no parent should have to go through what you guys went through.

And again, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this this rough time.

But we're gonna do something here as a city to acknowledge uh Sebastian and Charlotte that we'll live on uh forever as they are living in our heart.

So with that said, there's a motion in a second.

Any further all right, call for the vote.

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by Representative Nino, seconded by Representative Limon, and this is to approve the resolution on renaming the Park to Trotter Memorial Park on item 36.

On that motion, call for the vote.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

All right, Miss Prime Britain Lee, that brings us to 25.

Okay.

Yes, sir.

Item 25 is a public hearing of an ordinance authorizing the conveyance of real property owned by the city for the purchase price of 152,000 for the property legally described as track 17B to a five-block 12 Islet grant in the city of El Paso, El Paso County, Texas.

And Ms.

Pine, can we take 25 and 26 together?

Yes, sir.

Item 26 is a public hearing of an ordinance authorizing the conveyance of real property owned by the city.

Two Cortes Wholesale Inc.

for the purchase price of 165,000.

Such real property legally described as Alameda and Piedras, PID 21238.

I move to approve both items.

Okay.

There's a motion to take it.

Good morning, Mary Lynn.

Good morning.

You have presentations for us on both 25-26.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

Good morning, Mayor and Council.

Mary Louis Spinoza with the real estate for the record.

This first item, item number 25 is for the purchase or the sale agreement.

I apologize for Van Haslan Court, PID 88532.

As a quick reminder, we brought this to council in December of 2024, where we were awarded a contract for real estate management services in May of 2025.

We vetted this property for surplus, and council heard that reading.

This does comply with the Texas local government code, Section 253.014.

It was marketed and listed via a broker for at least 30 days.58 acres uh zoned residential.

It was listed in June of 2025 at the appraised value of 150,000.

We received two offers, and the highest being 152,000 plus the closing cost.

We are recommending that this property be sold to the highest offer.

Let's take the next one.

Okay.

The next property is on Piedras en Alameda, PID 212380.

Again, this was brought uh 2024.

City Council awarded the contract for real estate management services again in May of 2025.

Council vetted this property for surplus property, and it was listed in accordance with the Texas Local Government Code Section 253.014 and was listed on uh multiple listing services for at least 30 days.

This property is 0.34 acres.

It's a zone commercial appraised at 165,000.

We received one offer for the appraised price plus closing cost, and we are recommending to sell the property to the highest offer.

Okay, there's a motion in the second on items number 25 and 26.

Any further discussion?

Okay, Ms.

Fry.

The motion was made by Representative Canales, seconded by Representative Limone, and this is to adopt the ordinances on items 25 and 26.

There's no public comment on that motion.

Call for the vote.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

Okay, let's take item number 27.

Item 27 is a public hearing of an ordinance granting a special permit to allow for infill development with reduction to average lot width and side yard setback at the property at 911 TACE Street.

Representative.

All right.

Good morning.

Good morning, Mayor and Council.

You want to show you would like to have the presentation.

For the record, Luis Samora, with planning inspections.

Item 27, it's a special permit request for property located at 911 TAS.

Here we have the aerial image image of the property, which is currently a single family home that's proposed to be demolished.

This is south of Paisano Drive and east of uh Campbell.

Existing zoning is A3 apartments.

Here we have the detailed site plan.

Uh this is a special permit uh requesting um it's going through in field development, uh requesting reduction to the size tree setback.

Oh, sorry, confused that one.

Uh requesting the reduction of the average lot width and the side yard setback uh reduction.

So going through in field, there's some requirements that have to be met, which they do, uh, and this side plan uh shows that one of them is having the parking on the back, uh having entrance to the front.

Uh one of them is the architectural style.

So looking more closely into the request.

Uh again, they're uh they're asking for a reduction to the average lot width, uh which is required uh 50 feet.

They have 25 feet, so that's a request.

Uh side are setback, uh, at least on on each side is four feet, the only requesting zero feed on one side.

Here we have the elevation showing uh maximum height of 26 feet and four inches.

Uh and here we have a superimposed uh side plan over the aerial imagery, just kind of showing again the proposed home uh well the existing home is proposed to be demolished, and then a new building is gonna be in place as for proposed apartments.

This is currently what's there right now.

Uh existing development around the properties, single family homes and apartments.

Uh we did send public notice when 200 feet to property owners.

Uh at this time we have not received any requests uh in support opposition.

Um here we have a notice map, so you have an idea who got notified.

We sent 53 notices throughout the neighborhood to property owners.

And with this, the staff and the C P plan Commission recommend approval of the special permit and the detail side development plan.

Very good.

Any further discussion on item number 27?

Okay, Ms.

Pry.

Okay, sir.

The motion was made by Representative Canales, seconded by Representative Limon to adopt the ordinance on item 27.

There's no public comment on that motion.

Call for the vote.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

All right, Miss Frank, can we take items 28 and 29 together?

Uh there are different properties.

29 and 30 are the same property, but 28 is a separate.

Okay.

Let's do number 28.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Item 28 is a public hearing of an ordinance changing the zoning at 7804 and 7808 Boy de Arc Drive in the city of Alpaso, Al Paso County, Texas, from R3 residential to SD special development and approving a detailed site development plan to allow for a medical office.

Representative make a motion to approve this item, Mayor.

Second.

All right.

And you want to see the presentation.

I don't I don't I don't think we need a uh a presentation, Tony.

If I may speak, please.

Yes, absolutely.

Tony, we're getting to the down to the boundary lines.

So the boundary line is the gas line that exists out in that area, correct?

Uh I'm not aware there's a gas line, but there's an easement to meet to the north, northwest.

Right, on both dark.

So there's a separation.

And so we're still maintaining, Kevin.

I think you're in the back.

We still are maintaining the designated area.

We haven't expanded from what was agreed with the hospital from before.

Is that correct?

Good morning, Mayor and City Council Kevin Smith, the plan inspections.

That is correct, ma'am.

They're still within the boundaries that the hospital has for the if you want to call it expansion of the uh for the medical offices in the area, has not gone into the residential um neighborhood as delineated.

Very good.

Do you have any idea how many more properties are left potentially to be bought?

Um we'd have to look at that and we can get back to your office on that.

That would be good.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good point.

There's a motion and a second on item number 28.

Any further discussion.

There is a motion made by Representative Limon, seconded by alternate mayor Pro Tempiero to adopt the ordinance on item 28.

There's no public comment on that motion.

Call for the vote.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

Okay, let's take item number 29, please.

29 and 30 are related, sir.

Would you like to take those together?

All right.

29 and 30.

Is it related?

Would you like to take those together?

Sure.

Representative Nino, would you like to make a motion to approve?

Motion to approve.

Okay.

Second.

Okay.

Can we see the presentation?

There we go.

It's for the record, Luis Zamora with planning and inspections.

So item 29 and 30 are related.

It's a request for rezoning and a special permit for property located at 3550 rich beam.

Such a property is south of Edgmere along Ridge Beam.

Here we have the aerial.

It is currently vacant.

Existing zoning is C1.

The request is to rezone the property from C1 to C2.

It's a commercial zoning district.

And then the other request is a special permit as well to allow the ballroom, which will be only permitted once it gets rezoned to C2.

So the feature land use map designates this area as G4, suburban walkable.

The sector generally stable will benefit from strategic suburban retrofits to supplement the limited house is stock and not missing civic and commercial uses.

Here we have the detail side plan.

So this this detail side plan will be binding per the special permit request.

We have two structures, main buildings, the one on the center or on the left, that's the proposed ballroom, and then the one on the right, that's a proposed shopping center.

So the shopping center will be permitted, it's already permitted by right.

The main thing is the ballroom.

So the request is to resonate up zone to C2 to allow the use via special permit, and then again the special permit to allow the ballroom.

Here we have the elevations, which I'm with a maximum height of 30 feet.

Here we have the side plan superimposed on the aerial imagery.

So have a more or less an idea how it would look like.

Subject surrounding development includes obviously single family homes around the east and south, and then across bridge beam, and then we have some commercial and empty uh property to the north.

The applicant notified Las Tierras uh neighborhood association of this request.

Uh notices were mailed to property owners were in 300 feet, uh letting them know the public hearings for the proposal, the proposed rezoning and special permit.

At this time, the planning division has only received one phone call in opposition.

Here we have the notice map, uh identifying the properties that are notified.

We send 50 notices in total.

Uh staff recommendation and CPC uh recommendation is approval with conditions.

Uh we're uh proposing obviously conditions to kind of offset the intensity being created by the proposed rezoning.

Uh one of them, first one is about a landscaping buffer along residential to protect them and buffer from the development.

Uh second is a details at the bond plan that will be up to the city to review for how they want to develop.

Uh this will be in the future right now.

What we showed on the site plan that's gonna be binding.

That's what they're have to come comply with.

If they want to change it, then the city will review again.

Uh third condition is uh trying to buffer uh uh businesses that are mostly uh their income is mostly from alcohol related sales and including outdoor amplified sound, and then the last one is some uses uh don't we don't seem they don't seem to be appropriate uh given the conditions of the property and the neighborhood that's around it.

And well, that was for the rezoning, and then for the special permit uh staff and C Plan Commission recommend approval.

We have a couple questions, Representative Limon.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Tony.

How much parking is allocated for this property?

How many spaces?

Uh we'll need to check on that one.

Um so right now it is complying with the minimum requirements.

Minimum.

Correct.

Okay.

Um when I was looking at this item, I it seems to me like it's um it's pretty close to a residential area, isn't it?

Yes.

It's a butting onto a residential area.

I um my concern, Tony, is that this would dependent on this ballroom, that the parking could overflow into the neighborhood.

And then we've always seen all these issues that come up afterwards about uh people parking on the streets in front of the homes and things like that.

That was one of my concerns.

The other thing is um only 300 feet is uh notification area is done.

And you you center the notification point from the middle of the property, right?

No, the notification gets them from the uh the property lines.

From the edge of the correct okay.

And um someone uh somewhere else uh yeah, so 300 feet were mailed out.

Um I'm just wondering if there was enough discussion and notification with the neighborhood to understand that there's a ballroom potentially in your backyard.

Um I've got a situation in district seven, and we're we're not supporting something like that.

I'm just afraid that ultimately the neighborhood um whether they didn't read or didn't get the notification that it will come back and say, you know, we don't like it.

So that's just my concern.

Yeah, so so one of the requirements for the applicants before they request a rezoning or special permit is to for them to let the neighborhood associations know.

So then the neighborhood associations obviously can do their outreach part of it.

Uh we do always recommend the applicant to meet with the neighborhood.

Um in regards to the notice, 300 feet.

The city goes beyond by doing 300 feet for the city shutter.

So that's obviously the minimum requirement.

But that's it.

We did receive calls in the of inquiry, but we didn't did not hear anything in negative about it.

One of the things is by its own in district currently, the way it is, the setback it is minimal.

And we understand obviously this is a proposed ballroom.

That's one of the things why they are required to do a detail side development plan so that CD can review how they're laying out the building and the use.

Again, staff is and the C Plan Commission recommend a condition to kind of buffer, at least with landscaping from their neighborhood, from the residential to kind of keep it away.

But again, right now they will meet minimum parking requirements.

Okay.

Tony, the the concept of informing the neighborhood associations.

Where did that come from?

Is that part of your department that established that, or did that come from like Nicole's department?

Where did that come from?

That's part of the city code.

That's a requirement that got uh uh this is obviously what city council approved as part of the zoning ordinance uh since a long time ago.

So that that is an actual requirement.

We ask applicants to let the neighborhood associations know.

I I know that there's going to be a potential rewrite or re-evaluation of neighborhood associations.

Um there are neighborhood associations that meet once a year.

And so sending a notification to uh an organization that meets once a year is potentially not going to be getting the word out to the community.

And so I have a concern with that.

I've already brought it up to Nicole that as we review all of this, that would be something to look at.

Kevin.

Yeah, uh good morning again, Kevin Smith with Planning Inspections.

So one of the things that we do for notification is we have a pre pre-application process that when we meet with the applicant and they're proposing an item too.

Well, we strongly encourage them.

So again, we can only require what the code requires.

So we have a number of different ways we notify.

So one is a notification of the neighborhood associations at the time of submittal that is required to notify them of the proposal.

What we do above that is we strongly encourage them to go actually meet with the neighborhood to explain their project and what they're they're proposing to do, as well as hear the feedback and concerns from the neighborhood.

That is not a code requirement, and we cannot enforce that.

As Luis noted, that we also send the notices to 300 feet.

There's also a sign that's placed in projects like this as well along the right-of-way of uh rich beam that'd be um that'd be that'd be shown there that shows that this is a proposed rezoning and special permit, as well as give the contact information for our department so that we can answer any questions as inquiries, as well as note any opposition or support of a project like this.

Um we work in partnership with the community and human development department as part of this.

Um we we value the input of the neighborhood associations, but I think to your point, um we we do notify send a notification to the neighborhood association or or the applicant does, I should say, um, of these requests.

And um again, we we often do get um feedback from the neighbor associations on on these items.

But um just again, like with many of the city um offerings, we we send the notifications, we encourage and we value the public input, but we're limited as well to any feedback received.

Um if I could just note on the uh proposal IT, can you bring up the presentation please?

Um on this slide here, um the the proposed um ballroom is there in the center, um the larger parcel.

Um if you can see the cursor here, it's this building right here, which these these but these buildings on the exterior there could be um other uses that are allowed in the C2.

So the ballroom would be in the center, so those other uses um would act as a as a buffer as well.

And in terms of the parking, often the uses of the ballroom are are different than those of the um the commercial, so that would also offset.

So one of the uses may be using predominantly the parking lot when a ballroom is in operation, a lot of those uses may be uh closed down for business for the day.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, ma'am.

Representative Nino.

Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Mrs.

Lamon, Representative Lamon.

I also shared some of those concerns, including um in the boundaries of the neighborhood associations.

I know that I have mentioned that there's another neighborhood association uh that has a boundary with this proposal that Yara Bay Estates, were you all able to reach out to them?

I know that they're not within the actual boundary, but they're it's the boundary of the homes on Dietra Berlin are part of that neighborhood association.

Were you guys able to to speak with them?

Yes, we did reach out to the um what is it called?

The President.

The President, Mr.

Flynn.

Chair to make sure that he was aware of it, he said he was aware of it, but he hadn't hadn't heard anything from the from the neighborhood.

No, and I'm grateful for you for doing that because when I was briefed, I did share a lot of different concerns as well with you all.

I know that there is another ballroom about 500 feet or a venue on um Edchemir and RC Poe as well, but this specific space uh was really uh concerned with that near the those homes that are going to be adjacent about in this um establishment, but I'm grateful that you guys reached out to the Tierra Bay Estates Neighborhood Association, which was not part of the original our reach plan, um which was again important for them to get their input to see how they felt as well.

Um but I'm looking forward to further conversations and thank you for for putting this.

Any further questions on the items number 29 or 30?

All right, here none, Miss Prime, call for the vote, please.

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by Representative Mignal, seconded by Representative Maluna de Rocha to adopt the ordinances on items 29 and 30, changing the zoning from C1 commercial to C2 commercial at 3550 Ridge Bean Boulevard and granting a special permit on that motion, call for the vote and the voting session.

And that motion passes 721.

Representative Limone voting nay, the remainder of council voting aye, the motion carries.

All right, and Miss Bryan, I hate to jump around like this, but we're going to take item number 40 next.

Yes, sir.

And this is on page 14.

Item number 40 is discussion and action on agreement number 2022-0400, COP Logic Online Reporting Software with Lexus Nexus, Cop Logic Solutions Incorporated, DBA Lexus Nexus Rig Solutions to continue to provide citizen online reporting system that creates and submits police incident report posted into the existing police department's record management system each fiscal year as governed by city council's approval of the annual city budget.

Representative and a second.

Any discussion on this item for the chief?

All right, hearing none, Ms.

Prime, call for the vote on item 40.

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by all the time.

No, and we have public comment on this one.

Yes.

Yes, we have Ms.

Osmond.

Okay.

Good morning.

You have three minutes.

I guilt tend to rubber stamp contracts.

Because they were already in the system.

I just want to let you know that this particular software really doesn't work.

There's a lot of flaws within it.

And I say that because I've had to call law enforcement several times in regards to an incident with uh an elderly neighbor who's been my neighbor for over 40 years.

We had a great relationship.

But unfortunately, he has dementia now.

And um kids gotten rather violent.

I tried calling in, tried using this.

Nobody knows in trying to report that.

I got bumped around because even online, there you call in, they're like, oh, we'll do it online.

There are not specific the way you try to report online, you don't have every option.

It is a nightmare for a citizen to try to do it online, and then you call in to do the call-in report on non-emergency, and then they're telling you, oh no, that's not something we can take.

I shouldn't have had to call 911 almost five times until unfortunately one off what one officer comes out, they're like, you know what, put another camera here, then put another camera there.

I jumped through all sorts of hoops, but this online system doesn't work.

It's not set up.

Somebody needs to go in through that software program and really look on how the reporting is, because it's a mess.

And if somebody like me who will continue to see what I can do to follow up on something because trying to get help for this gentleman for years and talking to my representatives and every agency I could didn't help to where the last recourse was contacting law enforcement.

If citizens are getting into this system and finding it such a mess as I did, a lot of them are going to give up, which means there's a lot of criminal activity that's not even reported because most people just give up.

You know, when you hit that dial one, you know, for something, this thing's a mess.

So maybe look further into it.

Stop just rubber stamping a lot of these projects.

It might it might be AI might be a little easier.

So that there's not reports.

I don't know if that's the goal.

But either way, I know from my recent experience.

Um there's something definitely wrong with the software.

You all need to look into something else.

And I hope, you know, I mean, granted, we we're already a flock city.

And you know, that alone is gonna probably cause old Paso to have lawsuits like Colorado Springs did with that whole deal and the incident where either way.

AI is not always the best.

Look into the second work.

All right, we have a motion and a second on item number 31.

40 40.

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by alternate mayor pro tempiero, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Chavez to approve the agreement on item 40.

Yep.

On that motion, call for the vote.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

All right, Ms.

Prime, we're back on track.

Item number 31.

Yes, sir.

We're on page number 11.

Item 31 is a public hearing of an ordinance vacating a portion of wrestler drive right away south of Paseo del Norte Road and west of wrestler drive.

Is there a motion to approve this one?

Motion to approve.

Second.

Okay.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Is Mausegovia of Plan inspections?

Would you all like to see a presentation?

Yes.

Again, my name is Ismail Segovian with planning inspections.

This is item number 31.

It's an ordinance for vacation for the wrestler drainage right away.

This is an aerial of the site, so you can get an overall view.

Closer shot right along Wrestler Drive.

So the applicant is requesting to vacate a 0.17-acre portion of right-of-way along Wrestler Drive, and this is to uh accommodate future parking and landscaping for development there.

This is uh the original survey.

This is an updated survey.

This survey is actually showing you that there's some utility easements there.

So the property is still going to be subject to the following conditions.

Vacated right-away shall be subject to the right to to a grant of public utility easement from the abundant property owner to the utility companies that have installations within the vacated right away, and which are further described and identified.

So the blue that you see there are the easements that will remain if uh this is voted to be vacated.

Here's the subject property.

We did send out notice.

Uh it was published in uh Jan uh July 28, 2025 in the El Paso Times, and then it was also mailed out to the property owners within 200 feet of the site same date.

Pro Planning Division has not received any notices in regards to uh the request.

Staff is recommending approval.

This item was also heard at CPC on August 14th, 2025 with unanimous vote of five to zero recommending approval.

Okay.

Any questions on this item?

Representative Chavez?

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh, thank you, Alex, for the presentation.

Um, for the record, I did receive a thousand dollar donation from Brent Harris, um, owner of Plexar.

But I also want to mention that he actually donated this land when TechStot was building Wrestler Street years ago, and since he is developing that land now, that is why he uh would like to acquire that that right of way back so that um he could build it out uniformly and um add a little bit more landscaping or uh parking to that area.

So I appreciate the effort and uh motion to approve it, like I had already said.

Thank you, Mayor.

Representative.

Mayor, I just want to make note that I too received a donation from Mr.

Harris.

Okay.

As did I.

I received a donation from Mr.

Harris as well.

Any further discussion on this item?

All right, Ms.

Pry.

Yes, Mayor.

The motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Chavez, seconded by alternate Mayor Pro Tem Fierro to adopt the ordinance on item 31.

There's no public comment on that motion, call for the vote.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

Okay, let's take item number 32.

Item 32 is a public hearing of an ordinance granting a special privileged license to Comanche EPLC to permit the existing aerial encroachment of a balcony, the surface encroachment of two sets of stairs, and a backflow water preventer and the subsurface encroachment of a basement.

This is at 312 East Oberlin.

Represent Canales move to approve.

There's a motion and a second.

Would you guys like to see the presentation?

I don't think we need to.

I just want a quick comment.

Okay, sure.

Represent Canales.

I just wanted to note this is a it's a beautiful restoration of uh of an old building.

Um there are these very small encroachments, um, but I I think overall it's a very beautiful uh very beautiful job that they've done uh giving new life to this building.

So I want to represent Canales.

Can we see the it's because it is beautiful?

We can see the presentation.

See the photos.

It's gorgeous.

The building's gorgeous.

Sure.

Okay, Armila Martinez with planning and inspections.

So did you okay?

So did you want to just go through the photos or since that's what you all were interested in?

I can go through the presentation.

Whatever is we can spare you the time if you uh if we can just look at the photos, yeah.

Okay.

So this is a special privilege uh for those existing encroachments.

Um this is the aerial photograph of the building.

And this is the current uh photo of the building as it stands now.

It was uh rehabbed.

These are the encroachments of the stairs along the alley.

This is the backflow water preventer.

Uh this is the front, uh schematic view of the front of the building where the encroachment extends out under the sidewalk, the right of way.

And of course, with that staff recommends approval of the special privilege license for the uh surface encroachments of the stairs of the backflow water preventer and the aerial encroachment of the balcony and the subsurface encroachment of the basement.

Very good.

Any questions on this item?

Okay.

Ms.

Prime, hearing no questions, call the vote.

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by Representative Canales, seconded by Representative Limon to adopt the ordinance on item 32.

There's no public comment on that motion.

Call for the vote.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

Okay.

Mistake item number 33.

Item 33 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending the 2025 proposed thoroughfare system to delete the proposed collector extension of 9th Street that runs between La Mesa Street and Vinton Avenue to delete the proposed collector connection between Suncrest Drive and Vin Rambla Drive, and to connect collectors Suncrest Drive and Ben Morea Way to I 10.

Represent Canales, move to approve.

Second.

There is no presentation on this one.

Any questions for Joaquin?

Representative Canales?

Just the quickest note that this this is just clean up.

These are streets that were proposed thoroughfares that were proposed in old plans.

Uh these things changed.

So this is removing a few of those from the uh from the thoroughfare plan.

Correct.

Okay.

For anyone in the public who is interested.

Thank you.

Okay.

Any questions for Joaquin?

All right, Ms.

Bryan, call for the vote, please.

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by Representative Canales, seconded by Representative Limon to adopt the ordinance on item 33.

There is no public comment on that motion.

Call for the vote.

In the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

Council, I'll ask you to please refrain from site conversations while the meeting is in session.

All right.

Let's take item number 34.

Ms.

Bryan?

Yes, sir.

Item 34 is discussion and action on a resolution authorizing the expenditure of district three discretionary funds and an amount not to exceed $5,000 to support current and future programming for youth seniors and athletic activities, initiatives, events, community meetings, and other events in District 3, as they serve the municipal purpose of fostering a positive community atmosphere, promotes cultural enrichment, supports local initiatives, and enhances the overall quality of life for El Paso residents, and that discretionary funds be used for the purchase of items, including but not limited to water refreshment snacks, prizes, recognition or award items for events that may be held at various community locations, including but not limited to District 3 parks, libraries, city facilities, and that the city manager designee be authorized to effectuate any budget transfers.

This is Representative Malonado Rocha's item.

Representative Rocha.

Thank you, Mayor.

Motion to approve.

All right, Representative Rocha.

And I just uh I hope that this when this passes, if this passes, uh this is really used to just support all of the initiatives that are going on within District 3 to create kind of that project to be able to uh to use these expenditures towards those initiatives that that we continue to do and hopefully give Sasha a brief uh breath as far as uh what we're doing within within the uh within the district instead of doing things individually.

So motion to approve with that.

We have a motion and a second, any further discussion on item number 34.

All right, Ms.

Bryan.

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by Representative Maldonado Rocha, seconded by Mayor Pro Tim Chavez to approve the resolution on item 34.

On that motion, call for the vote.

And the voting session, and that motion passes unanimously.

All right, Ms.

Bryan, the stick item number 35.

Item 35 is discussion and action on a resolution to authorize the expenditure of district two discretionary funds and an amount not to exceed $2,500 for the execution promotion and programming of District 2 holiday events, including but not limited to the five points holiday party, as well as for food at senior centers and other holiday events within District 2, as they serve the municipal purpose of enhancing quality of life for El Paso residents and fosters community pride and encourages civic engagement.

This is Representative Acevedo's item.

Representative Acevedo.

Thank you, Mayor.

I think it's pretty self-explanatory.

So I want to move to approve.

Second.

All right.

Any further discussion on this item number 35?

All right, hearing none, Ms.

Prime.

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by Representative Acevedo, seconded by Mayor Potem Chavez to approve the resolution on item 35.

On that motion, call for the vote.

Voting session is open.

Please, no site conversations.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

Okay, Ms.

Brian, let's take item number 37.

Item 37 is discussion in action to approve a resolution that the city council authorizes the expenditure of District 8 discretionary funds in an amount not to exceed $1,900 to be used towards December community events hosted by District 8, including Tamales with Canales and Segundo Barrio Holiday Luncheon.

This is Representative Canales's item.

Move to approve.

Representative Canales.

There's a motion and a second.

Any discussions on Tamales with Canales?

All right.

Hearing that actually one bit of discussion, and that's uh tomorrow, tomorrow evening, uh, four to seven p.m.

at Cafe Mayapan.

Everyone's welcome.

Thank you.

All right.

Hearing no further discussion, Ms.

Bryan, call for the vote on 37.

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by Representative Ganales, seconded by Representative Madronado Rocha to approve the resolution on item 37 on that motion.

Call for the vote.

In the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

Okay, the sick item number 38, Ms.

Bryan.

Yes, sir.

Item 38 is discussion in action to direct El Paso water utilities to schedule and conduct eight city council district community meetings regarding the proposed budget and rate increase.

These meetings should be held between now and January 13, 2026 to ensure adequate public outreach and input prior to budget adoption on January 14, 2026.

The purpose of the meetings is to provide residents with clear information on the proposed budget and any associated rate adjustments.

Offer the public an opportunity for questions and feedback, ensure transparency and community engagement in the budget development process, and that the city manager is directed to coordinate with El Paso Water to finalize meeting dates, locations, and communication plans to ensure broad community awareness.

Representatives Madonado Rocha and Acevedo place this item.

Is there a motion to approve this?

Motion to approve.

Okay.

Representative Rocha.

Thank you, Mayor.

And thank you, John, and thank you to all the El Paso water staff, Renee, everybody that I saw yesterday and today.

We really appreciate it.

I just uh I want to be able, and I I mentioned this yesterday, to be able to provide some type of cadence going forward.

I know with the holidays, it's it can be difficult.

So I want to ask you, John, if it's um reasonable to request the eight meetings.

Do we need to, you know, with the holidays?

Is it is it more reasonable to say we can combine a couple?

Because I I definitely don't want to take away from from that piece of it, but I definitely want to to be realistic when it comes to planning these.

Thank you, Representative Rocha.

This is John Blue with El Paso Water.

Uh so uh before the council uh action or item was placed on the agenda.

The communications committee of the public service board had already determined that we were going to do at least four additional meetings.

Okay.

But we were concerned about the logistics as you pointed out.

So subsequently, I think that we've got the logistics all worked out to uh to go ahead and do eight meetings.

Now there might have to be one of those that's combined district, but uh I I think that we can accommodate the uh the request of of council.

And uh just to to let you know, I have uh Brian Morris here, the chair of the public service board, to to give a few comments if uh you have any more questions for me.

I'd be happy to answer them.

So, John, what what I'm hearing is you can accommodate the the requests.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

I I really appreciate that in the partnership with El Paso Water, Mr.

Balou, uh more than you know.

I I really do hope that uh maybe going next year or into 26 with enough time it's it's put in and into the process.

And I just appreciate everything that you've done.

I attended a couple of PSB meetings already, and I've attended the Tech H2O uh public meeting that you had.

That was absolutely informative, not only to what's happening with the budget, but how to do water conservation and what's happening and what's to come with the uh the new meters that are coming.

So thank you so much for putting that out there.

Very appreciative as a as a member of the public, but also um very informative.

So that's all I had.

Thank you, sir.

Okay.

Brian, do you want to morning, Mayor?

Good morning, council.

Uh, my name is Brian Morris.

I'm the chair of the public service board.

I have the engineering position on the board.

Um we appreciate the the input and the request from the city council to do these eight meetings.

The the board is in full support of that and in directing staff to to accommodate those eight meetings.

Um the board is very, very interested, very, very concerned and involved in the budgeting in the budgeting process.

And the staff is well aware of that.

We would love to have zero rate increases, but it is very expensive to own and maintain and operate uh a water utility service.

Uh there is a lot of discussion about affordability over the last two or three years.

We have introduced the you know, through direction of the board, the staff has come up with some different rate schedules for affordability for low water users.

So there is a lot of work and effort that's done to try to keep the rates low and have dependable water.

And again, uh staff will be happy to to uh take care of these eight these eight meetings before our the January 14th board meeting.

Any any questions?

Okay.

Representative Acevedo.

Thank you, Mayor.

I echo everything my colleague to the left of me has said, and I really appreciate both of you being here for for this item.

I think what the public has been reaching out to our offices is more more information about this rate increase, and we're kind of seeing the trifecta of the utilities right now.

And so I think the public is really concerned about uh affordability and how they can move forward.

I I think there's always some great reasoning.

I don't think you're you're out there just trying to raise things to raise things and and so I appreciate you kind of saying that, but I think having that conversation with the public to get them to understand a little bit more where you're coming from will be really great in the long run.

So I think as my colleagues said, you know, if we could establish this cadence, uh maybe a future council action where this is already being done every single year, and we don't have to put something on the agenda.

It's just part of your calendar so we could look at, you know, you come every quarter you're presenting something, every year you're presenting something to us, and I think this could be something that is also part of it.

So the people are kind of looking at what the public utility is doing with with their budget.

So I I appreciate your your um willingness to help us with this.

And if you need help getting any of the facilities, I'm sure um my colleagues and myself um or most of my colleagues, I don't want to speak for everybody, um, will we be happy to help you with that and we could help get people to the meetings throughout the district, so happy to to work on that together.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

We do appreciate that.

That will be helpful.

I know Renee's already been working with your with your staff.

Uh another comment I like to make is we all are all of our budget budget hearings always at six o'clock in the evening.

The the December 2nd open house at Tech HTO was in the evening.

I know there was always a lot of discussion about meetings during the work day during the work period.

And for as long as I've been on the board for more than six years, the hearings have always been in the evenings to help make it accommodating for the public to be able to come.

That's great to know.

Thank you.

Okay.

Representative canales.

Thank you, Mayor.

Yep, thank you to both of you for uh I guess both the board and the staff uh being willing to accommodate the the request.

Um I have a quick question.

It may be for Miss Nieman.

The language says to direct El Paso water utilities.

Is the council able to direct the water utilities to to do anything?

So historically, the council has directed um all of the utilities to conduct meetings under the charter.

The city has original jurisdiction to set and oversee rates within the jurisdiction of this utility is no different in that sense from the other utilities.

So we're able to direct.

I I noticed like we've all been using the the word request.

Correct.

So the PSB, remember, is composed of the of appointments of this board.

You can direct the PSB to direct the utility to do the meetings, but I mean that's a matter of semantics.

You direct the utilities, gas and electric to hold community meetings, so this is no different.

Okay.

Um I just wanted to be sure.

I I the way I understand it, the council is not able to direct the public service board to take particular actions.

We make the appointments, and then they're an independent board that makes their own decisions.

My reliance is on the city's charter that gives the council the ability to oversee rates for all of the utilities.

The water utility is a utility that is providing water within the jurisdiction of this governing body's authority.

Okay.

Um the uh in that case uh I understand if we're directing them to hold eight meetings, they will be held to eight meetings because that will be the council's direction, so they won't be able to combine any meetings.

Is that is that the case?

No.

That's gonna be representative Rocha and Representative uh Asabetto.

I'm representing Cornell's.

Yeah, the the the combining the meetings would be potentially two district meetings the same night.

Different staff, different people, so that all districts were covered.

Combining just means they would two different districts, maybe maybe the same evening.

Yeah, I understand just the wording says it directs you to conduct eight meetings.

Yeah, we still have eight meetings, yes, sir.

We're gonna have one meeting per district.

One meeting per district, just two at the same location, but two different meetings.

Not don't believe the same location, just the same evening.

So potentially the same evening.

Okay, I see two different locations.

Yes, sir.

Two different meetings.

Combining I thought by combining you meant combining two districts into the same meeting.

No, sir.

Okay.

All right, thank you again.

I'm helping my staff when they Renee that's coordinating this.

Good morning.

Uh Renee Leon, uh Paso Water.

Uh I've already talked to uh Miss Cruz Acosta.

I think we're able to secure locations.

We're able to do two meetings, possibly on the same evening, different locations, different times, or the same time.

We just have to iron that out, but there would be eight in total meeting meetings.

All right.

Thank you very much.

Okay.

Thank you, Mayor.

Representative Chavez.

Thank you, Mayor.

And uh thank you to John, Renee, and Brian for being here today and for um your availability to the council at all times and to the community most importantly.

I do think it's important to just communicate with the community what the expectation should be going forward that the PSB will be voting on this rate increase on the 14th of January and having the opportunity to dialogue and hear back from the community is important, I think, to all of us on council.

Um I I was a little bit uh also concerned, like Representative Canals with the language.

I just wanted to be sure that we weren't setting some sort of precedent that um that hadn't been done before.

Um so I I did have a conversation with uh Miss Neiman earlier this morning because I didn't I wasn't sure if the council had ever specifically directed El Paso water directly, but Miss Neiman, you you just said that there has been precedence on this where the city council directs El Paso water directly.

No, ma'am.

My my reliance on the council's ability to derive any utility within the jurisdiction of the city comes from the city charter.

The City of El Paso is a home rule authority in your charter states that you have the ability to oversee the rates of all utilities, irrespective of how El Paso we created the utility in 1952, 1956.

The charter specifies that this council has the ability to oversee the setting of rates of all utilities.

That is the language that you are relying on to direct El Paso utility to have these meetings in regards to the rate setting.

Okay, perfect.

I think that clarifies it, and I appreciate the input.

And so um thank you once again, El Paso Water for being here for being um just present in our community.

I know that I've had several community meetings with several projects that are going around in my district, so this I hope will be just like one of those that we've had in the past, Renee, but also um right echoing Representative Acevedo's uh point.

Please uh communicate to us as soon as you have those dates available so that we can help you get people to those meetings and and disseminate whatever information you're willing to share.

Thank you so much.

All right, and then uh John and Brian and Renee and everyone from uh El Paso Water, thank you guys for accommodating this request, especially during the the holiday season and uh in a short window like this.

We we appreciate you guys getting that done and certainly doing eight meetings in between now and the date in January is gonna be significant for you and the staff, but thank the staff for us as well for for getting this done.

Thank you guys.

Thank you.

All right, Ms.

Prime, we have a public comment on this item.

Yes, sir.

We have Ms.

Osmond.

Good afternoon, Miss Osman.

Luckily, I didn't sign up for everything.

But um, I hope that no more of those meetings, unless they are on the far east side for that district are at Tech H 20, because the rest of the town.

Some members, I I think Miss Leon might know.

Some people in in this chamber may understand that El Paso, regardless of how friendly and how loving we are to each other, we are still very segregated.

A lot of people, you will find people in the Lower Valley that will not go to the west side unless they're leaving to go to California on vacation.

That is the way the city still is.

Okay.

People in Northeast, they don't go to the Lower Valley.

It is just the way it is.

So to try to drag people from all other parts of town to the far east side.

I mean, my son would offer me dinner so that I would drive him out to the Far East side towards the super target because he hated driving out there.

All right.

And I would do it, hey, spend time with my son.

So I hope these meetings in El Paso Water considers making sure that they are spread across in and very accessible for everybody around town.

But I also hope, because what I heard yesterday in the presentation was rather discouraging.

All right.

We heard a presentation stating that uh wages have raised in El Paso, and so the rates need to raise.

But yet you all also heard a presentation from Kelly Center stating how El Paso has a higher poverty rate than the rest of Texas.

So I don't see those seem somewhat counter to each to one another.

Um I have been to the water company presentations before, went to the one for the with the Army Corps of Engineers, and a lot of times it is poster boards and people are standing there, but they really have no real answers.

And as far as conservation, this is a thing.

Yes, we went to where we I remember back in the day we could water any day we wanted.

Now we're down to three.

And with the data centers, honestly, it's gonna go down to two, down to one.

And soon we're not gonna be able, it's gonna be desert scate no matter what.

A lot of the presentations, it's poster boards.

It's a lot of propaganda, a lot of gaslighting, but no real answers, and that is the problem.

And just like the presentation yesterday.

There was a lot of disingenuous and misinformation in there.

So when you're going to inform the public, make sure that you can answer the questions.

In that you're just not there for PR.

Thank you, Ms.

Osman.

Okay, Ms.

Bryan, uh, we have a motion and second on item number 38.

Could you please call for the vote?

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by Representative Maldonado Rocha, seconded by Representative Acevedo to approve the direction listed on item 38 on that motion.

Call for the vote.

In the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

Okay, let's take item number 39.

Item 39 is discussion and action on the award.

I'm sorry, discussion and action on the request that the director purchasing and strategic sourcing be authorized to issue purchase orders for solicitation 2026-0059 postal services to U.S.

Postal Service for three years for an estimated amount of six hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

The contract will allow the tax office to have a three-year contract to provide the tax bills to residents in a timely manner each year.

There's a motion and a second any discussion on this item number 39.

Ms.

Prime, call for the vote.

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by Representative Lymont, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Chavez to approve item 39 on that motion.

Call for the vote.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

Okay, let's take item number 41.

Item 41 is discussion and action on the award of solicitation 2025-0452 to Traffic Logics Corporation for an initial term of three years, an estimated amount of $972,000.

The contract will allow streets and maintenance to purchase speed cushions to slow traffic down to the 15 to 25 mile per hour range.

Is there a motion to approve?

Okay.

Uh you want to see can we see the presentation, please?

Good morning, media purchasing industry G check sourcing department.

Um the presentation, Mayor, Council, Randy Garcia, Streets and Maintenance Department.

So as you know, these are this is our procurement to buy the speed cushions that we do for our NTMP program, which we do install in all your districts.

Again, alignment with the uh strategic goal to enhance and sustain Alpazos infrastructure.

Of course, the purpose of the procurement is to award to traffic logics.

Here is the terms of the award for the contract with traffic logics going forward.

Well, again, we'll just focus really on what this the purpose of of the equipment is.

It's to really put it down those uh speed cushions and the areas that are requested through the NTP program.

Once we do the traffic studies, we're able to go ahead and effectuate those um changes by going and putting the speed cushions down along with additional signage and striping is needed.

This program has been very successful.

We are looking at it closely now to make any improvements necessary.

We've talked to all of you about um comments and you know questions you had, trying to address those questions with the public with yourselves to make sure that we can be as effective as possible with the program.

Okay.

Representative Chavez.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh technical question, Randy.

Um, how many speed cushions are gonna be purchased?

Did we have a count?

350.

And are those a set or like the the individual.

So for the three we put down, it will be 350.

We do use it for both our maintenance.

So as they wear out, this will also help with our inventory to replace the ones that do break down, and this will help with our uh new requests that do come in.

Okay.

Yeah, just wanted to know if it was a set or not.

Thank you.

Representative.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um Randy or Ms.

Mack, I'm not sure if you all could uh provide currently in the queue.

How many NTP applications do we have?

I believe right now we have 47.

47.

Okay.

So this will essentially help us achieve the the delay.

I know that some of them had been winning for a year or two.

This is gonna help us keep up to to that par.

So yes, right now it is taking up to two years from the date of the application.

Okay.

To the actual installation.

So something we've been doing with the program based budget that we worked on that we talked about is really trying to kind of find out how to allocate our resources to speed up the program.

So we've looked at the traffic studies, how long it takes us to do the traffic studies to get them done, get them analyzed so we can determine the best locations to put those speed cushions.

And really the other resources we use are our street maintenance group.

Our operation staff goes out there and redoes the asphalt to ensure that those mats, those new speed cushions, do stick to the asphalt and they don't pop up right away.

Because we've had those issues in the past.

So that's an improvement that we've made.

So we're really looking this year on how can we get that list done quicker.

How can we not have people waiting a year to get their speed cushions in?

So that is some progress we would like to do to really attack that list and get it shorter.

So the people that are applying, the citizens are applying are not waiting so long.

Great.

Thank you for that clarification, because I know it's been a question that a lot of constituents have shared that once they apply, it takes some time.

Out of the 47 applications, which ones have been warranted about how many numbers?

All those all those are on the list to be installed.

That's the instrument list.

Okay.

I'm not sure right now I don't know the exact number of pending applications.

I didn't.

Perfect.

No, this is great.

I think overall, I know the city has also been doing a lot of PSA and posts about communities and neighbors applying for the N MTP program.

Yes.

Um so I'm looking forward to even further delivering some of those requests for our community.

So thank you for all your work.

You're welcome.

And Randy, quick question.

We've heard up to two years to get some of these the speed cushions in.

Yes, sir.

Someone wouldn't be waiting five years, would they?

Not on the current list, no.

Okay.

All right.

Just want to make sure.

Are you representative Chavez?

Thank you, Mayor.

Um and I would like maybe Randy and ask the city manager um if maybe we could have a presentation or something in work session regarding the process maybe sometime next year.

Um, because I think in my community at least, I think there has been at least a couple of streets that I know that were in the queue for longer than two years, and that might have been for other special reasons, but just kind of to get an overview of this process because I know it's becoming of interest to more and more constituents.

I was just in a neighborhood this weekend with people that are interested in in having speed cushions on their street, just because there's so much speeding, unfortunately occurring everywhere.

So this is becoming something that more and more people are interested in.

So just finding out the process and more details about it.

Thank you.

All right, we have a motion and a second on item number 41.

Any further discussion?

Okay, Miss Bryan.

The motion was made by Representative Granales, seconded by Representative Limon to award the solicitation on item 41 on that motion.

Call for the vote.

In the voting session.

And the motion passes unanimously.

Okay, let's take item number 42.

Item 42 is discussion and action on the award of solicitation 2025-0396.

City White Street resurfacing 2025 to 2027 to ZTEX construction initial term of 730 consecutive calendar days and estimated estimated amount of 17,557,570 dollars.

That project will consist of milling and paving of various asphalt streets throughout the city of El Paso right of way.

Okay, is there a motion to approve this item?

42.

Motion approved.

Second.

Okay.

Can we see the presentation?

Welcome back.

Randy Garcia, streets and maintenance.

This is a presentation to award present um excuse me, solicitation 2025 0396 for resurfacing.

Again, aligning with strategic goal number seven.

And the purpose of the procurement will allow us to effectuate our resurfacing uh program or our resurfacing program.

So this involves billing, paving, and any other concrete structures that are necessary within the right-of-way.

Here you can see the initial term.

It's gonna it's gonna be proposed to be awarded to ZTEX.

Uh the funding source pay go community progress bonds.

Um different various accounts that will come from.

Representative Chavez?

Thank you, Mayor.

I I actually do have a few questions, Randy.

So infrastructure in the Chiman survey um came in as the number one concern for District One.

You know, we've had many, many conversations in my office regarding street resurfacing, even some reconstruction that's needed.

Um so it's no surprise that that um the city is very focused on what streets will be resurfaced and how this process will go about.

This contract is is big, it's for 730 consecutive days, it's 17 and a half million dollars.

Um are there any streets that are already designated to this award, Randy?

So yes, we do have um a group of streets.

I've shared that with the purchasing group.

I think they've shared it with you.

I showed it with some of the individuals on here.

This will go back to our previous 2022 uh contract with ZTEX.

There were some streets that were completed, and those streets will be the ones that they initially work on.

So those streets have already been approved by city council previously.

So there were some streets.

Can you repeat that?

There were some streets previously awarded and approved by council.

Oh they were completed and those streets will be completed.

Okay.

Um when these streets were approved, they weren't part of another contract then.

These are going to be part of this new contract.

They were part of it on another contract.

And then what happened with that?

They did not fin the contractor did not finish those streets.

And what what contractor did not finish those?

It was previously they were assigned to the ZTEX.

And what happened there?

Do we know?

So when we kind of looked at it, um we looked at the means and methods that they were doing.

We looked at the completion rate, they finished um 63%, a little over 63% of the streets that were assigned to them at the time.

Um I'm gonna kind of when we looked at the VPRs, I kind of felt that they were going at a pace that maybe was not what is what we were expecting.

I mean, if you look at the way that we're doing it now and the way that we are working with the resurfacing contractors, we just had one contractor in the current contract finished 100% of everything that was given to them.

And the other contractor we have is right about I think 80 percent and almost done with with their streets.

So I think it's just about working with the contractor.

So the level of work they were just not able to complete the level of work that we expected them to?

It was the speed, but so they started off slow and then they really picked it up at the end.

So I think once we really developed that working relationship with the contractor, that's what's expected of us now, and that's what's expected of my group going forward is to ensure that we are eating up all the capacity of the contract to get the amount of center line miles down that you guys excuse me, the council members would like to see.

So, how is this contract written differently so that doesn't happen again?

So we did change some of the specifications as far as how they're gonna do the milling and paving and the the rework of the other subgrade, and it's ensuring that they have the dedicated force necessary, the workforce necessary to go out and do the streets that we're programming for this contract.

Yeah.

So I mean, streets um is like I just mentioned earlier, and it's it's a big concern for all of our community.

Um and I think that definitely if if there's some way that we're writing the contract that doesn't allow people to complete it for whatever reason, then we we should definitely change those parameters or the that scope of work.

But if a company um you know, maybe they go through some trouble or whatever, that may be the case, you know, specific to that time.

But if a company's um underperforming, then that's also something that we should consider because at the end of the day, the community has an expectation of what streets will be resurfaced and which ones will not.

And I think that you just mentioned that there are other companies that are performing at 100 percent.

And this company performed at 63 percent.

Is that is that right?

Yeah, for the completion rate, yes, ma'am.

Yeah.

And that concerns me only because when we go out to our community and we give them a list of streets that are gonna get done, and then we as a city, you know, give the work to a company, it's because we believe firmly, I hope that that company will be able to provide the services that we're expecting them to provide.

I understand that even if we don't pay them for a hundred percent of the work that they were supposed to do at the end of the day, the community has an expectation that their streets should be resurfaced within a certain amount of time.

Um I I did notice that on the procurement process on experience and reputation, they scored the highest.

If they're performing at 63 percent and not a hundred percent, why did they score the highest on experience and reputation?

Good morning, Claudia with purchasing and strategic sourcing department.

So the committee evaluated the information they submitted in writing.

We also check our records for past performance, and they did have uh uh passing score for those uh those items that they submitted as part of their proposal.

So we've awarded to them.

I did back, I went back and did some research.

We've awarded to them four times in the past.

In the past, um, and I can go through the dates.

We've awarded to them in 2015, then we awarded to them in 2019 in 2022 and 2017.

Um did they perform 100 percent in those other previous contracts?

Do we know?

I would be for do they use our department.

I didn't look at all the um previous contracts.

I looked at the 2022 contract.

Um I did looked at the better performance reports for those contracts as well.

So they were performing well.

So when they're doing the actual work on the ground and they're putting down the asphalt based on the last contract they had with us, their performance is fine.

The speed of what in which they're doing that, we would like them to be faster.

And I think at the end of their contract, when they were going faster, we did notice them starting to meet the demands that was necessary.

So the performance as far as the type of doing the actual work itself, can they do it?

Yes, they were doing it because the vendor performance reports from our previous contract with them indicated so.

Um additionally, it's just really up to us looking forward with these contractors to make sure that the speed at which they do it, we can make sure that they're getting it done.

So who's gonna check on that, Randy?

What's going to be the process for that?

So we have um it's gonna be up to our inspectors, it's gonna be to the the project manager who's in charge of the who oversee the contract.

Um, something we've done differently with this contract as far as oversight is we're partnered with CID to really get their oversight and their um knowledge.

You know, they have a they have tons of institutional knowledge as far as project management and program management, contract administration.

Some of the things that we have a lot newer staff at streets and maintenance.

So we want to make sure we have seasoned individual, talented people within the city helping us oversee this contract.

So we're working with CID to kind of duly oversee the contract.

It actually would be embedded with them.

We have some of our staff working under them to learn how to become stronger and better contract administrators and project managers.

You know, working with another department, you know, within the city, we're all trying to do what's best for the city.

And I think this is a way to look forward on how to attach uh attack this contract to make sure it gets done correctly and fully.

Okay.

I mean, I'm just gonna reiterate some of my concerns here.

Number one, this is a contract for 17 and a half million dollars.

So it's not a small contract.

Number two, um, historically speaking, this company has fulfilled a responsibility, except for the last contract that we gave them, they only did 63 percent of the work that they were um you know done, told to do within the scope of work.

Um, in our procurement process, for some reason they scored the highest in reputation and experience, even though they weren't performing 100 percent of what they were supposed to do.

So I have concerns with those three things.

At the end of the day, I think it's just the community that is expecting again this work to be completed and done.

We've given them our word that it's gonna get done, and then you know, we select a company that can't for whatever reason um complete the project, and that is concerning to me.

And um I don't know.

I I'm gonna you know let other council members weigh in on this.

Thank you.

Representative Nino?

Thank you, Mayor.

Um I'm also interested in seeing the list of the proposed streets that would be completed.

One thing that stood out for me.

Oh, and thank you, Randy, for the presentation and uh purchasing team as well.

Uh one thing that stood out to me is the fiscal year bond community progress bond, proposition 8A, streets and infrastructure focus.

Is this contract covering some of the top 50 arterial roads that are part of the community progress bond?

So this contract will focus on the residential bots or the residential streets, excuse me.

On residential streets, not on the top 50 are the arterial roads.

Okay.

So those won't be covered under this one.

Okay.

So the residential resurfacing part of the 35 million dollars that was part of the community progress bond, that's where we are getting funding from.

Yes, there, and then the pay-go funding as well.

Perfect.

Now, in regards to the previous contract for 2022, only 63 percent of the streets were completed, it it means that we didn't pay them 100 percent of the original contract that they had, correct?

That's correct.

We did not pay them 100 percent of the value of the contract.

Okay.

Yeah, I think overall, you know, even in the budget process we've mentioned that people experience and I'm gonna say it over and over, the government on their way to work and uh at the parks, on their roads, and I think that you know our constituents in our community hold us to a very specific standard.

And I think that if we're you know doing business with any company, they have to be held at that standard.

So I think if this contract moves forward, I really would like to see staff to really follow up on everything that they're asked to do.

Um because again, you know, even the delay, the fact that they weren't only able to complete that 63%, then we leave a void and we don't know how to uh inform our constituents that X project didn't get completed.

So I think definitely, you know, working with staff and program managers to really ensure that the delivery of services are complete is gonna be key.

Um but I have no further questions.

Okay.

Representative Acevedo.

Thank you, Mayor.

And I see that was gonna come up and say some.

Um, good afternoon, Mayor and Council.

You've edited on this with the city manager's office.

Um I kind of wanted to step in on behalf of Randy.

He's uh pretty humble and he won't tell you the way that he's changed the department in over a year.

Um as as you all know, we've had change in leadership that goes to CID, streets and maintenance, so forth.

Um one of the things I do, I love how was outlined that there are certain concerns.

One of the things that I do want to point out is um Claudia Garcia and her procurement department have made sure that we followed the process um that the criteria was well outlined and that the highest ranked offer has been presented today.

So that's one of the things excuse me, I'm still getting over a cold, is to really ensure that the procurement policy was was followed.

Um secondly, one thing that I feel that was kind of missed is that we are paying for services rendered.

So thank you for that question, Representative Nino.

That 60% was completed, but that's what was paid.

One thing that we have failed as a department, and we're coming back in in uh early next year, is to really report on the progress that has been done.

Um specifically looking at community progress bond.

When we first started um this bond, there's a commitment to the community to make sure that we spend down these monies within 10 years.

That is my personal commitment because I've started since day one.

Um and I've challenged, really challenged Randy and his team to say in order for us to make down that spend down rate, you have to be at X million dollars for both residential and for arterial.

Um within the time that I've worked with streets and maintenance and their team, they have doubled that.

So when we started with residential, they were barely hitting a million, they're hitting three million.

So part of it is, yes, as as Randy made mentioned that they're gonna partner with CID.

There is a learning curve.

And one of the things that we have seen that I have seen, and I've challenged them and they've held that challenge, is meeting those benchmarks and those metrics.

So the good thing is we have followed the procurement process.

A second thing is we are training our staff and we're doing cross-training.

But the third thing is we have really identified metrics, and they are meeting those metrics.

So to double the amount that we spent in residential from last fiscal year to yes this fiscal year of where they need to be, I think that is a commitment from myself from streets and maintenance that we are delivering to our community.

So I just wanted to say that because I know Randy's just putting in the burning the midnight oil and not saying um the stuff that they have done, but I'm challenging them, and I see that they have doubled their output.

Um, and so I just wanted to make that known to council and to our community that we are committed to um addressing all the streets that have been identified, and we'll also be bringing to to uh council the next round of streets that have been identified so we can gear up and and get that working as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Representative Acevedo.

Thank you, Mayor, again.

Um, I I think there's been a lot of conversations that we've had about streets and we've gone on for hours.

And I think there's a lot that you're doing that is really great.

And you're you're moving things, you're structuring things, you're putting processes in place.

You're having really great presentations that I really enjoy going through because they're so detailed and leave they leave me with almost no questions by the time you finish presenting.

For for me, I have heartburn about this specific contract and them not doing the work when I look at 63 percent, whether we only just paid 63 percent of the contract because we got 63 percent of the work, people are still not seeing the progress that they want to see in in their neighborhoods.

And and so I I think about um a project that this company did in my district around Cambridge with El Paso Water.

And that was that was a nightmare of a project.

Not the one that El Paso Water took over, but the one that was adjacent to it in the same area.

And so now we're here and we want to award what is probably the most important issue that my district has that I hear about over and over where my streets are not getting paved and I haven't had the street paved in 50 years or whatever.

And I don't have the confidence that we could get them to do all the work, even if we do stellar project management because their speed is not moving where they need to move.

And and so I go back to procurement like I usually do on experience and reputation and how that is kind of being rated.

I mean it it was like a 14.48 uh out of 15, right for this particular one, and then international eagle, which was the second one, was at 13.68.

So they weren't very different in in that sense, but we're still awarding a giant contract with over 17 million dollars to get probably what I consider the most important thing that we're doing at the city, which is streets, and not knowing if they're gonna be able to do a hundred percent just because they just had the prior one and they weren't able to do that.

Right.

And I think that's a a really great uh question, Representative Assado, is really holding them to their benchmarks, right?

Um lessons learned, we did see in 2022-23 contract that it was at 63 percent.

Um really working with the staff, and that's a cross-training that Randy was making mention of upholding those metrics and saying if we're to deliver XYZ uh streets within this time frame that that occurs.

And I think um many of you might have noticed um uh representative Chavez, they were just within your district finishing out some of those projects, Thorne Street uh uh resurfacing.

And one of the things that I think uh Randy and his team have done a good job about is really communicating um to the districts of where they're at with those streets.

So I believe we have like maybe six right now with representative Rocha, and they're providing the updates to let them know hey, we've started these streets and we're also completing these streets.

So having that additive oversight and transparency of where we're at and when we're completing them will help us to determine that we're meeting those metrics.

There's also within our contract the ability to say non-performance and to work with the contractor if they're not delivering, we can re-evaluate if need be and and so when when you say that you want to provide more updates on streets and that's part of your process that you want to come to us and tell us where you're at on things.

What does that look like in your in your mind right now?

What is I would say the the tactics that uh Randy is hit and his team have already utilized and we've discussed so identifying the streets where we're at with each phase, substantial and then completion, and notifying the districts um additionally just providing that oversight from CID in terms of project management.

Um historically, when you look at the dollars that have been invested within our streets, um they've been dealing with the paygo.

That's 10 million.

And so there are changes that need to occur.

Thankfully, the residents of El Paso did pass the community progress bond.

So we have 272 million dollars if you look at the whole progress bond um invested within our streets.

So with that does come changes, comes a different sense of project management and also our report out.

And so that is what I'm saying is our commitment to the community and to council is saying that we have identified these these streets.

This is where we're at.

Are we on time or are we behind?

Are they the ones that did Edgar Park?

Edgar Park.

Edgar Park from Magnetic to the Highway.

We would have to get back to you on that.

Have they sued us before Z Tech filed a motion a temporary straining order on the city when we were attempting to award the resurfacing two years ago, and then they were not successful, and we still awarded it to another contractor.

They they filed in lieu of a protest, they filed the lawsuit at the time of the award.

We still awarded it to another contractor.

But then they've had this one since two for the last two years, no?

Or that was another contractor I was uh that's wrong.

Yeah, this contracts are already expired.

So right now we have two other contractors working um on a resurfacing right now.

But ZXEX is one of them, no?

No, currently we have Allied and International Eagle under the contract.

Allied to do in the residential roads, they're currently in district three, and then um international eagles finishing up on the land right now.

Okay, are there any acts of lawsuits that we have with Z Tux?

No.

Okay, so they've only sued us once.

I I can't tell you that they're phone ever sued us once.

Okay.

They filed a temporary restraining order when we attempted to issue a contract two years ago.

Okay.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Representative.

Thank you, Mayor.

So I'll call, I'll call I'll ask Claudia first.

I know when we talked, and so uh so I'm gonna ask you very similar questions, Claudia.

So when we when they come to you during the bid process, what happens prior, if it's not documented, does not reflect in the rating process, is that correct?

Correct.

Okay.

So I know that the the mayor's item that came forth uh a couple of months ago will probably assist in in answering a lot of these maybe outstanding processes that I I personally don't know, but just through asking, I've become a little bit more familiar with.

So once that consultant is hired, Ms.

Mack, I'm sure this it'll it'll seem a lot cleaner on my eyes.

Um but I just want to make sure that from your perspective, when you get the bid, if it's not documented on anything prior to to previous jobs, then there's no way for you to know that one this contractor didn't finish um you know 30 per 37% of the work, or that they aren't running on time if that's if that's graded, right?

Is that correct?

That is correct.

So one of the tests, the first test that we do in procurement, it is responsiveness responsibility, and that means that we go to a records if a contractor was terminated for default, then they're not responsible, so we're not gonna continue evaluating.

Uh we also go to our vendor performance system uh to check if uh their uh meeting standards based on the scale that uh user departments are evaluating them when performing, and our records didn't indicate any of uh of those things, so that's why we move forward with evaluating their proposal.

Thank you, Claudia.

So then next is Yvette and Randy, and thank you all so much for coming out.

I know these are a lot of questions, so I apologize, but I'm I'm gonna just ask.

Um so when we do the evaluation, and you previously said it's the inspector, right?

That should be doing the inspection.

I understand there should also be a project or construction manager that should be checking in with um on these jobs.

Is that also correct?

That is correct.

So currently we have weekly meetings with our inspectors and with our project managers, including myself.

Um we meet Friday mornings, we go over everything that's going on with the with the contract, with the resurfacing contract specifically.

Uh we do meet with the contractors on a weekly basis to notify them, hey, you're you're working behind, you're not catching up.

Um we have a two-week outlook uh schedule that they we ask that they adhere to, and then if they're not meeting it, we can issue uh deficiency letters to let them know you're falling behind.

You wrap all that into a ball, and then that's what kind of goes into the vendor performance report.

So we're being a little more strict on the amount of documentation that goes with the vendor performance report.

Right.

Um it's just not gonna be like this is what I felt that they did the past few months.

Now I've asked them to document everything.

Okay.

Making sure that every every week that we do our work log and reading it, the two-week outlook schedule is being uh complete, that the schedule that they give us once the contract starts, that we are meeting those dates.

Um and then I've asked them to now when they do the vendor performance report, make sure that they somehow work with purchasing to make sure that some of those documents get attached, or we keep our own files to have that information there.

Thank you, Randy, and I appreciate the explanation.

I know I'm definitely not the expert when it comes to streets or resurfacing or contracting or any of that piece.

I just want to be able to understand that that going forward, we shouldn't see these issues, right?

I know I've been very happy, a lot of the constituents are very happy with the resurfacing that's been happening citywide, not just in district three.

But uh I just want to be sure that this piece has been uh pretty much answered for.

So we should we shouldn't really be seeing any further issues with um with with this particular item that's coming up, right?

Where they're not finishing or there's action and it's documented, I guess is what I should be saying.

If if there is yeah, so if they're not going the pace that we want them to this time, we will document that.

And we will take that to purchasing and any remedies that they have, we will follow those remedies.

And then on the on the other end on the bidding, the bidding process, since it's documented, then that will prevent them from getting a certain amount of points based off of that kind of I guess defect that they have on there.

Right, Gladys.

Okay, thank you.

And then just one last question.

Um with the 63%, because that's kind of sitting in the middle of everything right now.

What happens to that funding?

Does that get repurposed, like moved elsewhere, or what what happens with that funding?

So once the funding has been dedicated uh to the resurfacing contract to these streets, they get put into a project and it stays there.

Okay.

So the funding has never left.

If it's pay-go funding, it stays in the pay goal funding.

Um and we still use it for resurfacing.

It never gets taken out of resurfacing once it gets dedicated to resurfacing.

Does it does it stick to that road that didn't get finished?

Yes.

And it goes out for rebid?

So the when we set up a project, we set up the project with the funding attached to that specific road.

So we have all the roads that were parked that will be attached to this this particular contract.

Or do you have the funding set up?

Perfect.

So it's already there.

Okay.

Thank you so much.

I appreciate it.

Representative Chavez.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Randy, and thank you, Yvette.

Thank you, Claudia.

Randy, was there anything in the scope of work or that was put in the original bid that they received that impacted the pace of the work that they were doing?

Was it anything that it was our responsibility that impacted the pace of work they were performing?

The that we put in I would say no.

I mean, our specifications, the material type really doesn't change a lot.

It's just about the speed, and when you talk about the means and methods, that's the way a company chooses to produce whatever they're producing or construct whatever they construct.

Um we've asked the new contractors really to invest more of their resources into our contracts.

So they might only have one paper and they're saying we can only have this paper working for you X amount of time.

And we will say we want it more than that, or we want two papers working X amount of time a week, and that's how we develop the construction schedule.

Um did we do anything to impact the pace that they were working on?

No, we didn't.

Okay.

That was no basis.

But I think to be clear, ma'am, I think we we've said that I think absolutely that our contract management and contract compliance could have been cleaner.

So not to defend the company, but if we didn't tell them to speed up, then the expectation wouldn't have been there.

I think we've got a real good process right now in terms of how we do that.

And I think Randy said the second half of the contract was better, but I don't know that the communication was the same for the first half.

Okay.

And so we're owning the things that we need to be communicating and documenting to ensure that we get to 100% the timeline that we should be.

Okay.

Ms.

Mack, I know like uh Representative Mardonal Aburcha just mentioned the um consultant for procurement process um that we will be you know um discussing next year.

Shouldn't this type of um performance be part of that VPR in the future?

It's a whole plan that we're doing around contract compliance.

You may recall that in the presentations that Audia did last year, we're really working to strengthen um that area.

We actually have a position in her department that's been making for quite some time that does oversight of contract compliance, and we're trying to fill that.

And then there's a lot of training that we were doing very routinely with the staff to make sure that we have really good contract compliance and consistency across.

But for purposes of this item that we're looking at today, Claudia mentioned it wasn't part of their VPR.

That's why it wasn't considered from what I understood.

So the the documentation that Randy said they were not doing on a weekly basis was not a part of the record that was considered yes, okay.

And so just so that we could maybe consider it in the future for other bids that will be awarded.

And I think their scoring process.

Having Randy along with capital improvement is that that's the bulk of all of our capital.

Okay.

You know, and so you're really gonna see consistency across how we're managing projects, consistency across the contract compliance, all the folks who may be using these same contractors, whether you know because uh Loa King also has street resurfacing and type street projects, then all of it's very consistent across how we talk about that net documentation looks the same.

Okay, and this next question is important to me because uh we've again it's a big contract, 17 and a half million dollars.

Um I completely agree with Avette.

Randy is doing a fantastic job in all of your department, Randy, not only in filling the potholes, but ensuring that everything else is done, including resurfacing.

Um so we commend you for that work.

But um how important it is to approve this contract today?

Is it gonna interrupt resurfacing or do we still have other ongoing contracts?

When does this contract really begin?

We're you know it's December, right?

So I'm assuming it they're not gonna start next week, but can you give us a timeline of what the expectation should be?

Because I think you mentioned there are other contracts that are still ongoing.

Is that correct?

So just uh uh for contract execution, if this item is uh awarded today, it will take uh between four to six weeks to get a contract executed because we're giving time for the contractor to provide the contract documents, uh executed uh signed contract, PMP balance insurance, and then we put the contract together, uh route it to a legal for review and approval so we can finally execute it.

That's when uh streets and maintenance will be able to issue NTP so they can start uh construction.

But is there another ongoing contract right now?

So we have two ongoing contracts.

International Eagles finishing up at Lomaland.

Uh we're requesting a budget transfer to finish funding Lomaland so we can finish the some of the concrete work that's ongoing there.

We have Allied who is working, like I said, in district three.

Um they'll still be going through through March.

They are approximately, I want to say roughly 80% done with that contract.

Um, but at the rate they're going at, they should finish.

We're hoping they'll finish in the in February.

So there'll be there'll come a time here shortly that this would be if approved, our only resurfacing contract going.

Um we do have two of the procurement items uh for resurfacing with purchasing right now.

So that's going through that process and will be uh re brought for award for approval in the near future.

And that's a goal that I have set internally for my department for the reservic group specifically, is to have a minimum of three contractors go or three contracts, not contractors, excuse me, three contracts going at the same time, including the HA5 contracts.

So that would be four methods that are four different contracts we would have working throughout the city of La Paso.

We need to meet the goals that the UVET has set for us as far as the drawdowns of the capital money and ensure we're spending it so we're not wasting it on interest and it's just sitting there.

Um so that is a goal that we have.

Would it delay street resurfacing if we do not approve today?

If we don't have a contractor in three months, yes, we're gonna get behind.

And 17 million, I mean, our goal to hit try to hit 50 center line miles and try to spend as much money as we need to spend to catch up.

We actually jokingly within our group called this contract the catch-up contract, because essentially we have these streets we need to catch up on.

Right?

And I said, you know, catching up, yeah, we're gonna do that.

Catching up and the burgers, the next two ones, and then going to HA5 next, you know.

And then we're but to be fair, but to be fair, Randy, we're kind of also catching up because only sixty-three percent of the previous contract was completed.

And in my opinion, sixty-three percent is I mean, if if all of us at the city were performing at sixty-three percent, I think our output would be very different.

And I don't think that that would be probably acceptable.

Thank you.

Are you wanting to understand what the timeline will look like if council chose not to adopt this contract and if we had to go back out to bid?

Is that the question?

Okay.

So if we receive the scope of work and all the items that uh we need for uh from the user department to start the procurement, um we would be advertising uh late January to be able to uh redo these uh procurement.

Um we advertise 30 days uh then we move forward with the evaluation that may take from uh five to seven weeks that with uh the assumption that we're not gonna get a protest after we send out the ranking.

Uh so it takes about uh 95 days uh with uh a timeline that is perfect, that we don't have any uh any hiccups or anything that is gonna slow down the the process.

So we would be taking these uh back.

Then we have to post the item.

It's it like around 21 days before the item comes to city council after we finished that, so it would be about a hundred days.

Representative.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um Claudia, I wanted to ask you from my understanding on the backup, we only got three bids on this?

We got three proposals for this, correct?

Three proposals.

And I see that we got 23 views.

So is it correct to say that those 23 companies that VITUS were maybe interested and then they decided not to bid on it?

Yes.

It depends.

Um sometimes you get views from subcontractors that are looking after uh prime contractors to provide their services to them.

So yeah, it depends.

Sometimes they're just looking to see what it is and not really interested on on the procurement once they see the scope of work.

Once the process plays itself out and it closes and we're we're finished with the process.

Are you able to reach out to all of these and say, hey, I noticed that you viewed it, but why didn't you bid?

Can you ask that or is that not allowed?

So the current process that we have it is if we get two responses for our solicitations that we go back and sample uh the view list just to check if uh they weren't interested just to ask those questions, so we survey them.

But that's our uh part of our current process.

If we get two responses or less to our solicitations, representative there's only probably around five companies that just confirmed with the vet, and it's probably like subcontractors and others looking at it.

You know, so we know that we don't have a lot of folks within the universe, and we're also competing with Text Dot and others for this type of work.

And so there's there's not like a huge amount that we know we didn't hear from.

Okay.

Which I've kind of had that conversation at some point too with the amount of work we need, and then the contractors uh can do it.

Okay.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

Two more questions and then that's it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Yes, one.

Uh is it possible for for you to expedite the the bidding process since the scope of work is already done, Claudia?

So yes, if they don't have any revisions based on the prior scope of work, um it would expedite it, but just because of uh the current time of the year that we are here, uh but we can expedite um and try to reduce the number of uh of days that we are doing it for.

Uh but again, uh just indicating that if we don't have any protests, if everything goes smoothly or perfectly uh then uh we can try our best to shorten it the time.

Okay, thank you.

And then last one for um for Randy and Free Vet.

And and just I know that that there's already been strides made on the on the um the follow-up and you know, going in and looking to see what work has been done, but isn't the contract doesn't it provide the due date on there?

Or or isn't it when when they go out to bid isn't the date on there that it needs to be done, or is there a date that's on there?

I'm trying to understand.

The contract gives them a deadline in which they need to uh finish all of them, all the quantities available on the contract.

Right.

It's a task order on the contract.

So as we get the streets, we give them to them and we try to get them to complete them as they go forward.

And the task orders do have dates of when they need to finish that specific sequence of the work being uh requested.

So if it's cement work or con or asphalt work, we ask them to finish the next amount of days, and that's where we're running into the problems where our VPRs could have been uh and so then I do have one follow-up on that.

So is it possible to possibly get the streets out first before the bid to get a better price?

When we start thinking about 17 million, and then I know there's one later on in in the agenda this afternoon for Loma Land.

Um, you know, that one's like 1.7, almost 1.7 million.

So is is there a way to possibly get the the streets out first, and then that way maybe the contra you'd be able to get a better price on that?

Is that even a possibility?

We can discuss that with purchasing if we want to add the streets that uh do we have generally what we've done is we've done the new contracts when they get awarded, we get additional streets approved by council to move forward.

Right.

So that's the way we've been doing it.

So we'll look at that model and determine purchasing if it's better for us to get here two weeks before and then later on attach them to the contract, or somehow work that out with with uh council.

Anyway, we can save money, I'm all for it.

So thank you all so much.

Thank you, Yvette, Claudia, Randy, I appreciate it.

Thank you, team, for the presentation.

Okay, representative canalis.

Thank you, Mayor.

Just one question, very quickly.

Is the department confident in working with ZTX moving forward?

Currently um talking to our project managers.

Um, and like I said, it's communicated, so I have the question have to be answered by the vet's group, but yes, I think they know how to do the work.

Um I think getting them up to speed and making sure they understand we're serious about you finishing the entire contract within the contract term limits, I think is is important, and I think that's something that we'll work with CID when we're discussing this contract with them if they do get the contract awarded to them.

Okay.

So in one word.

Yes.

Yes.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Okay.

Any further discussion on item number 42?

All right, hearing that and seeing that, Ms.

Prime, please call for the vote.

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by alternate mayor pro Tempiero, seconded by Representative Malona da Rota to award the solicitation on item 42 on that motion, call for the vote.

In the voting session.

And that motion passes 6 to 2.

Representatives Chavez and Alcevedo voting name.

The remainder of council voting aye.

The motion carries.

All right.

Sure.

That we recess for lunch.

Okay.

There's a motion to recess for lunch.

Is there a second?

Yeah, for one hour.

There's a motion and a second.

Ms.

Prime.

There's a motion and a second to recess the city council meeting for one hour.

All in favor?

Anyone opposed?

And the meeting is in recess at 1257 p.m.

and we'll reconvene in one hour.

I gotta get out of this chair.

At two o'clock.

You missed it.

They needed their help.

Okay, Miss Prime, I believe we're ready.

Is there a motion to reconvene?

Motion to recess.

Second.

There's a motion and a second to reconvene the council meeting.

All in favor?

Anyone opposed?

The meeting is back in session at 204 p.m.

And I believe we're on page 16.

Uh, Ms.

Prime, item number 43.

That's correct.

Item 43 is discussion in action that the city manager is authorized to sign the agreement associated with the award of solicitation 2025-0432R, sign mentor transit operations maintenance building reconstruction to Jordan Foster construction LLC for an initial amount of five thousand dollars for pre-construction services, and that the city engineer is authorized to approve additional pre-construction services in the amount of twenty thousand dollars if the services are necessary for the proper execution of this project.

Is there a motion to approve this item?

Okay.

Do we have any discussion on item number 43?

No, sir.

Thank you, Mayor.

All right, hearing none.

Ms.

Prime, please call for the vote.

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by alternate mayor for Tempiero, seconded by Representative Limo.

This is to approve item 43.

And we do have Ms.

Osman that's signed up to speak.

Okay.

Come on, you're not gonna let a Jordan Foster contract go uh under the radar.

Uh so a couple of questions on this.

I know it's five thousand and then twenty thousand uh for pre-construction, and then I read the what the construction is gonna be.

He was recently handed a contract in regards to Sun Metro.

Why wasn't this amount already included within that contract?

Seems really odd that it would be separated.

Um maybe you could ask him.

I I'm sure you'll be at the same Christmas party, brigand ginger hold.

He's typically there.

Um I know I've I've been there when they hold those Christmas parties this month.

A lot of them, if y'all don't go, you really gotta make it.

Ginger does an excellent job on decorating.

Um, but I'm just curious how it is one of your donors gets another contract, and yet why why wasn't this already included in the construction portion of it?

Why is it separated out?

It seems rather odd.

Some people would be uh say odd, some people would say shady.

It just looks rather strange.

So if uh purchasing could answer that, because purchasing's practices aren't very good.

I know that because I've got uh FOIA documents proving that.

Um I mean, then again.

As you can tell by the Z uh tech contract.

And they're not fixed.

They're long standing.

And uh any time something comes up like this and it's handed, handed to your some of your top five donors.

Citizens need to question.

When there's issues with procurement, when there's shady things going on, which have been for years, well documented.

Some of those even Miss Escobar got to see.

Um everybody needs to question.

Why are council's donors keep getting contracts?

And it doesn't matter if you say, hey, I got this donation.

I got that donation just out of, you know, having to reveal it to the public.

All it reveals is our city government bought off by all Pasos Elite.

That that's that's the only thing it gives out.

So hopefully, because I mean our mayor wanted to approve this regardless of any conversation whatsoever.

Although he has a list on everybody that's signed up.

I think all of you do, on who signed up to speak for items.

So that's kind of weird.

Call for the vote, Ms.

Pry?

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by alternative mayor pro tempieto, seconded by Representative Limon to approve item 43 on that motion, call for the vote.

Representative Limon?

Thank you.

And the voting session, and that motion passes unanimously.

Okay, the sick item number 44.

Item 44 is discussion and action on a resolution that the city manager be authorized to sign an agreement for professional services by and between the City of El Paso and Alvides Associates Inc., a Texas Corporation for a project known as Architect and Engineering Services for Sun Metro Transit Operations Center, TLC reconstruction for an amount not to exceed 1,300,403.50 cents.

Representative Trehall.

Do you want to see the presentation?

Can we see the presentation, please?

Good afternoon, Mayor and Council.

My name is Daniel Garcia from CID, and this is a presentation for the architectural services for the TLC.

Location is 10155 Montana Avenue.

This is located in District 3, and the total budget, as Ms.

Prime says, 1.3 million.

Funding sources on metro recovery operations.

Background on the TOC in May of 2014, the city of also completed construction of the submetro maintenance building located at 10 151 Montana.

Unfortunately, in February of 2025, if our destroyed approximately 37,000 square feet of the facility.

Well, not the damages, but just the location of what was damaged.

The scope of work for the architect in this contract includes uh design services for the reconstruction of the Sun Metro TOC located at 10151 Montana.

Um the basis of design is the reconstruction will replace roughly 30 37,000 gross square feet at the maintenance building and will include the following areas.

God bless you.

And heavy equipment storage spaces.

The original facility was constructed with 30 foot foot above finishes floor, tilt up panels, and included HVAC, fire suppression, and other specialized systems.

Request for qualification advertised April 29th, seven firms submitted proposals, recommendations to awards associates, the agreement for professional service in that amount of 1.3 million.

Representative Trahill.

So this is showing district four, but it's not in District 4.

Thank you, Mayor.

It should be what all districts?

Or district.

Yes.

Okay.

Is there any questions on this particular item?

Number 44?

Thank you.

When it says Alvidrus and Associates, is that the principal David Alvidus?

Okay.

I need to disclose that I did receive a campaign donation from David Alvegas.

Any further discussion on this item?

All right.

Call for the vote, Ms.

Pryne.

Yes, sir.

The motion was made by Representative Boy Atrejo, seconded by Representative Limon, and this is to approve the resolution on item 44.

On that motion, call for the vote.