El Paso City Council Meeting Summary - January 6, 2026
El Paso City Council Meeting Summary - January 6, 2026
The El Paso City Council convened on January 6, 2026, at 10:02 A.M. in the City Chambers, presided over by Mayor Renard Johnson. The meeting began with a pledge of allegiance, the Mayor's proclamations recognizing Lady Rumble Day, Esteen Davis Day, and Lone Star Emmy Award winners, followed by public comments covering recreational facilities, animal services, and local governance. The Council then proceeded to approve various agenda items, including the renaming of a sports complex, technology initiatives for K-12 education, park construction, lighting enhancements, and zoning changes, concluding with executive session deliberations on utility rate applications.
Consent Calendar
- The Council unanimously approved the Consent Agenda, with a revision by Mayor Pro Tem Chavez to move Item 26 (El Paso Computes program) to the regular agenda for discussion.
- First reading of ordinances (Items 10-18) was approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jamie Fisher: Expressed full support for Agenda Item 27 (East Side Regional Park Phase 2), highlighting the project's 10 pickleball courts as a vital resource for community health and social interaction for military families and residents.
- Public Speakers on Animal Services: Expressd strong concern and opposition regarding El Paso Animal Services. Speakers Ron Comwell, Karen Washington, and Darlene Drincoin alleged misreporting of stray animal data, lack of adherence to city ordinances regarding microchipping, and the unnecessary deployment of multiple trucks with catch poles for a single dog, describing the handling as inhumane and a waste of resources. They called for immediate accountability and staff retraining.
- Denise Rodriguez: Expressed urgent concern regarding public safety and called for a position change requiring all bars and clubs to close no later than 12:00 A.M. and mandatory breathalyzer tests before exit to reduce drunk driving fatalities.
- Jesse Romero: Expressed enthusiasm for the recent Winterfest at San Jacinto Plaza and advocated for the expansion of the plaza and improved utilization of existing parking structures to boost tourism and community access.
- Eduardo Chavez: Expressed concern over water billing costs and potential mismanagement of the water department's budget, specifically questioning the necessity of high expenditures on airport fencing and standby generators, and raised fears regarding water quality in Bell City.
- Elizabeth Crawford: Expressed moral and religious opposition to abortion, drawing parallels between Herod's actions in the Bible and modern abortion practices, and cited the work of Alveda King.
Discussion Items
- Renaming East Side Sports Complex: Representative Nino proposed renaming the ESI Sports Complex to the Richard A. Castro East Side Sports Complex. Speaker Don Olivas and multiple council members expressed deep appreciation for Castro's decades of mentorship, financial support for youth sports, and educational initiatives, stating he is a "hidden jewel" deserving of permanent recognition. Dr. Castro delivered an emotional speech thanking the community for the honor.
- El Paso Computes Program: Dr. Clifton Tannabe (UTEP) and staff presented the "El Paso Computes" initiative, a program funded by ARPA grants to build computational competencies and AI knowledge among K-12 teachers and students. The project aims to impact 20,000 underserved students. Speakers expressed strong support for the program's focus on equipping educators with AI tools and its potential to future-proof the local workforce.
- East Side Regional Park Phase 2 (Item 27): Capital Improvements staff presented the project to add 650,000 square feet of amenities, including 10 pickleball courts. Representative Nino expressed full support for the project as the fulfillment of a nearly 20-year promise to District 5, praising the collaboration that increased the court count from four to ten to accommodate regional tournaments.
- Sun City Lights Program (Item 20): Capital Improvements and Urban Design presented an ordinance amendment to exempt specific public art projects (Alebrijes and light-accented shade structures) from standard outdoor lighting codes. Representatives expressed support for the project's "placemaking" goals and the durability of the fiberglass concrete art installations.
- Zoning Amendment (Item 21): A public hearing was held to rezone a property at 1991 South Kleinfeld from a single-family apartment district to a commercial district to accommodate a new commercial daycare. Council supported the change with conditions, including a landscape buffer and restrictions on amplified music, to protect the adjacent residential neighborhood.
- Utility Executive Sessions: The Council reviewed utility rate applications. Mayor Pro Tem Chavez expressed a specific position to delete the motion regarding El Paso Electric Company's rate change (EX2), stating no action was discussed. However, the Council moved forward with a position to hire outside counsel to intervene in the El Paso Electric Company's application to amend its Certificate of Convenience and Necessity for a 365-megawatt natural gas facility (EX3).
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous Approval of Consent Agenda with one item moved to regular discussion.
- Unanimous Approval to rename the ESI Sports Complex to the Richard A. Castro East Side Sports Complex in honor of his contributions to youth mentorship.
- Unanimous Approval of the resolution for the El Paso Computes program (moved to discussion).
- Unanimous Approval of the award of solicitation 2025-0545 to Grayson Engineering and Construction Inc. for the East Side Regional Park Phase 2 project, valued at $11,707,607, to be constructed this spring.
- Unanimous Approval of the district discretionary fund expenditure of up to $2,000 (Item 22) and $5,000 (Item 23) for District 4 programs.
- Unanimous Approval of the district discretionary fund expenditure of up to $5,000 for District 8 programs (Item 25).
- Unanimous Approval of the ordinance amendment for the Sun City Lights Program to permit custom lighting for public art projects.
- Unanimous Approval of the zoning change for 1991 South Kleinfeld to allow a commercial daycare, subject to specific buffer and usage conditions.
- Executive Session Actions: The motion for EX2 (El Paso Electric rate change application) was deleted without discussion. A motion to hire outside counsel for EX3 (El Paso Electric certificate of convenience and necessity amendment) was passed unanimously.
- Meeting Adjourned at 12:57 P.M.
Meeting Transcript
To see a a full room today, and I hope everyone has had a great holiday season, and it uh is a great start to the twenty-sixth new year. Miss Pry. Good morning everyone, and welcome to the presentation of the mayor's proclamations. We begin this morning with a pledge of allegiance with students from the Alicia R. Chacon International School and Isleta Middle School and Eastwork Knowles International School at the invitation of City Representative Lily Nimon. We have Alexa Salinas, Luis Diego Salinas, and Ariana Chavez. Hi, good morning. And to the Republic for which it stands. No. You guys please be seated. Well, as we bring this uh first city council meeting to an order, I just want to reflect on last year and let everyone know not to forget what happened in the past. So this actually marks one year for us that are sitting on this dais, six of us that we were sworn into office. So it's been a really really good year for for us, and we have a wonderful year ahead of us. So congratulations to all the city council members uh that were sworn in today, a year ago, and it's been a great year, and I'm looking forward to a wonderful twenty twenty-six with you guys. So congratulations. Okay, Miss Frying. Yes, Mayor, that brings us to the mayor's proclamations. For those of you receiving a proclamation this morning, your group will have up to four minutes collectively to come to the podium and receive the proclamation. The first proclamation is Lady Rumble Day. We're gonna read something first. Oh, good, as we see all the accolades and all the excitement that you've brought to El Paso. I'm gonna read the proclamation and then we'll we'll hear from you. Proclamation say El Paso, Texas, whereas Lady Rumble Basketball Proud 501 C3 nonprofit organization based in El Paso empowers young female athletes through competitive basketball mentorship and academic support, ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to pursue excellence by removing financial barriers. And whereas Lady Rumble has risen to national prominence, winning the twenty twenty-five AAU World Championship and the twenty twenty-five West Coast National Championship, and is consistently ranked among the top youth basketball teams in Texas and the nation, establishing El Paso as a rising force on the national stage. And whereas Lady Rumble continues to push boundaries for El Paso Athletics by striving to become the first team from El Paso to qualify for Nike Junior EYB L, the nation's most prestigious youth basketball circuit, an achievement that would place El Paso basketball family on the map and open doors for other local athletes. Signed the Honorable Mayor Renard Johnson. And over the past two years, our results speak for themselves. We have won 11 regional championships, one international tournament, and this past summer we dominated this national stage, capturing two national titles, the AAU World Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee, and West Coast National Champion in Las Vegas. Wow. I just wanted to end with the continued success of our program is made possible by community support and donations, which are vital to removing financial barriers and allowing us to continue developing confidence, discipline young women who excel on the court in the classroom and in life. We invite the community to follow our journey on social media as we continue representing El Paso on the national stage. Thank you, Mayor Johnson and Council, for recognizing these athletes and for supporting programs that invest in the future of our youth. Thank you. Now, coach, do we have enough time for them to introduce themselves? Yes, yes. Sure. Do you want one by one? Sure. Go ahead, Charlotte. Remember, one side can tell them. Okay. Good morning. My name is Sherlot Zudon. I'm from the East Side and I'm in sixth grade. Good morning. My name is Alina Navarrete. I'm from the Upper Valley and I'm in sixth grade. Good morning. I'm Eva Salcito. I'm from the East Side and I'm in sixth grade.
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