El Paso City Council Meeting - March 17, 2026: Proclamations, Public Hearings, and Approval of Climate Action Plan
El Paso City Council Meeting - March 17, 2026
The El Paso City Council met on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 10:02 AM in City Council Chambers, with Mayor Renard Johnson presiding. Present were Representatives Acevedo, Nino, Limon, and Canales; Representatives Chavez, Rocha, Trejo, and Fierro were excused. The meeting featured multiple proclamations, public comments on data centers and climate action, and votes on consent and regular agenda items. The meeting recessed at 12:58 PM and reconvened at 1:03 PM, adjourning at 1:52 PM.
Consent Calendar
- A motion was made to approve the consent agenda with revisions: Item 25 and 26 were postponed two weeks to April 1, 2026 (police department). Items 10 and 11 were pulled to the regular agenda. The consent agenda was approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Meta Data Center Opposition: Over 20 speakers from Amanecer People's Project and other community members expressed strong opposition to the Meta data center deal. Key concerns included water consumption (1.5 million gallons daily), air pollution from a proposed natural gas plant (McLeod facility), insufficient job creation (under 100 permanent jobs), tax abatements (80% property tax for 35 years), lack of transparency in deal-making, and health impacts (asthma, cancer). Speakers urged the council to void the 380 agreement, impose a moratorium on data centers, and redirect subsidies to community needs.
- ICE Detention Center: Veronica Caravajal and others supported Item 24 (investigation into Camp East Montana deaths), calling for accountability and human rights protections. Speakers highlighted three deaths at the facility and the need for independent grand jury review.
- Climate Action Plan: Mary Wells, Jerry Kritaca (Community First Coalition), and others strongly supported Item 35, praising the community engagement process and urging adoption. Some speakers noted the plan should guide future policies, including data center regulation.
- Other: Claudia Contreras Siller raised animal cruelty concerns; Patricia Osman criticized transparency in city deals and parking policies.
Discussion Items
- Item 22: Ordinance for sale of city property (317 Pendale, 1.6 acres) to Martin Armandares for $197,500. Staff confirmed the property was listed and appraised. Council approved unanimously.
- Item 23: Ordinance amending parking regulations to reserve spaces for library and Mexican American Cultural Center vehicles. Representative Limon opposed due to limited downtown public parking. Approved 3-1 (Limon nay).
- Item 24: Resolution calling for a grand jury investigation into ICE detention facility deaths at Camp East Montana. An amendment to direct the city attorney to prepare the resolution for the next meeting was approved unanimously. The main motion passed unanimously.
- Item 27: Chapter 380 incentive agreement for an infill office development (LOI Engineering headquarters) at 8500 N. Gateway Blvd. The 10-year property tax rebate totals $210,293 with a net benefit to the city. Approved unanimously.
- Item 28: TED Fund agreement for Form 375 industrial park (warehouse/manufacturing near Isleta port) with a $2 million grant from El Paso Electric sale proceeds. Approved unanimously.
- Items 29-34: Community Project Funding applications for FY27 (including ITS system, public safety complex, I-10 Deck Plaza, PD equipment, Henderson Clinic, CNG station). Item 31 (Deck Plaza) was amended to specify funding source (TIRZ #5) and passed 3-1 (Limon nay). All other items passed unanimously.
- Item 35: Adoption of the Chihuahuan Desert Climate Action Plan (first for El Paso). Staff highlighted 53 actions across 10 sectors, community engagement (808 support letters, 400+ comments), and ongoing data center policy framework. Council praised thoroughness. An amendment to integrate the future data center policy into the plan failed for lack of a second. The plan was approved unanimously.
- Item 36: Professional services agreement with AECOM for ITS design for downtown ports ($1.42 million, fully federally funded). Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Approved consent agenda with revisions.
- Approved all regular agenda items except where noted: Item 23 (parking) and Item 31 (I-10 Deck Plaza) passed 3-1 (Representative Limon opposing). All other items, including the Climate Action Plan, passed unanimously.
- Directed city attorney to prepare a resolution on Camp East Montana investigation for the next council meeting.
- Data center policy framework to be developed with community input; staff to return with updates.
Meeting Transcript
Well, good morning, everyone, and welcome to City Council Chambers. We're glad to have you here on Saint Patrick's Day. It's good to see all the green in the audience. This morning, to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance and to present the nation's colors, we have the Civil Air Patrol El Paso Composite Squadron. Very nice. Thank you guys. Miss Frank? 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 speak at the podium. The first proclamation is El Paso Commission for Women Hall of Fame Honorees Day. Representative Limon. Actually, oh Ms. Frank. Yes. Is there anyone here to receive the proclamation? Good morning. Allow me to read the proclamation, which reads, whereas the annual El Paso Commission for Women Hall of Fame recognition will be held on March 28, 2026 to honor remarkable women who have made a significant contribution to our border community. And whereas the El Paso Commission for Women recognizes women for their efforts in business, civic leadership, education, military, professional public service, science, health care, sports, athletics, volunteerism, and community activism. And whereas since its inception in nineteen eighty-five, the El Paso Commission for Women has continued to honor and acknowledge the impact of women in El Paso County. And whereas the El Paso Commission for Women's Purpose is to pursue a positive course of action for achieving equal rights and responsibilities for women and to provide scholarship funds for deserving El Paso women. And whereas El Paso Commission for Women is committed to understanding and respecting the cultural and ethnic diversity of the women in our community and to serve as a model for plurality and inclusiveness. And whereas Sheila Anthony Aliana Albodaca, Baby Ruth Boswell, Isela Castanon Williams, Amanda Ekery, Betsy Keller, Candace Prince, Sandra M. Reed, and Lily Limon joined two hundred and thirty-one women that now form the El Paso Commission for Women Hall of Fame. Now therefore be a proclaimed by the Mayor and Council of the City of El Paso that Saturday, March twenty-eighth, twenty twenty-six shall be known as El Paso Commission for Women Hall of Fame Honorees Day, signed by our honorable mayor Renard Johnson. I get excited at this time of the year when it's time to receive the proclamation. But most important, I have to say this. Good morning. Good morning. I'm Isala Gaston Williams, and I'm being honored in the education category. Good morning, I'm Sandra Reed. I'm being honored in the volunteer category. Good morning. Good morning. You're standing in the place of Good morning. Mayor. City Council representatives. I am Debo Wakefield representing all leprechauns and Irish today. However, I'm also standing here for Betty Boswell, I impostuous for um all the service she rendered prior to her death and her service for El Paso. Thank you. And my board member. So thank you, thank you so much for all that you do for this community, and a big congratulations, and very, very well done. Congratulations, guys. Thank you, sir. We're gonna take some pictures, I believe. I forgot it. Well, here are we saying that's a case. Okay, great. I just wanted to tell you because then I know you have faster than you. I mean, it's pronounced, right? Okay, Miss Bryan.
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