El Paso City Council Meeting – April 1, 2026

The El Paso City Council met on Tuesday, April 1, 2026, from 10:24 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. (with a recess from 12:32 p.m. to 1:35 p.m.). The agenda included proclamations, public hearings on zoning, presentations on border security grants and a proposed natural gas plant, and multiple resolutions. Mayor Reynard Johnson presided.

Proclamations

• Community Development Week: Mayor Johnson noted that federal community development funding fell from $12.8 million in 2001 (about $20 million in today's dollars) to about $6.4 million today. The department partnered with the El Paso Police Department and Heart Initiative for a service project connecting people experiencing homelessness with services.
• Autism Acceptance Month: Representative Rocha read the proclamation. Speakers included representatives from Autism Society of Texas El Paso, Tu Mundo Es Mi Mundo, Angels Mission, Autism Hope El Paso, and Beautiful Minds Mali. Statistics cited: 1 in 3 Americans are affected by autism. Events announced: Autism Awareness Run (April 25, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) and Picnic in the Park (April 11, 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.).
• Child Abuse Prevention Month: Representative Chavez read the proclamation. Victoria Colón (DFPS) and Andrew Cosineda (Child Crisis Center) spoke. Statistics: 3,212 investigations and 1,138 confirmed victims of child abuse in El Paso in FY2025; 2,098 youth served by prevention programs. Go Blue event on April 10 at 10 a.m. and a 5K run/walk on April 19.
• National Public Health Week (April 6–12): Representative Rocha read the proclamation. Dr. O. and staff from the El Paso Department of Public Health spoke. Statistics: 5.4% of Texas adults experienced heart attack or coronary heart disease; 12.7% of Texas adults had diabetes. The department announced the grand opening of the Medicare Centers of America Public Health Clinic on April 2.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1–17 placed on consent. Representative Limon pulled items 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 17 to the regular agenda. The revised consent agenda was approved unanimously.
• Public comment on consent items: Patricia Osman spoke against reappointing Fred Moreau (item 11) and Matthew Rivara (item 15), citing ethical concerns.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Items 28 & 29 (Zoning change & condition release for school site east of Resler Drive): Jennifer Horsley (Cimarron Canyon resident) opposed the rezoning, citing single-point ingress/egress, emergency response delays, incomplete traffic study, and noise violations. Gustavo Mendoza (telephonic) also opposed, noting that conditions removing evergreen buffers would leave the neighborhood unprotected. He stated that the traffic impact analysis shows Level of Service F at the school's exit and that the proposed mitigation (traffic signal) won't be installed until 2032, while the school opens in 2027. Tamina Brighton requested a vertical buffer condition be retained.
• Item 30 (Cesar Chavez Border Highway listening sessions): Jose Landeros (Office of State Representative Bédiez) supported community listening sessions to gather input on renaming. Jose Gaston Barriga criticized city leadership for retroactively stripping the day of the original namesake while ignoring current disrespectful comments from Borderplex Alliance leadership.
• Item 33 (El Paso Electric CCN presentation): Veronica Carvajal (Sembrando Esperanza Coalition) opposed the Meta data center, noting that Meta will need 1,000 megawatts by 2029 and that the proposed Enchanted Rock facility is a bridge plant that ratepayers may inherit. She stated that a low-income ratepayer intervened in the PUCT case but that El Paso Electric challenged his participation. Saul Gonzalez also spoke, asking for public community informative sessions.
• Item 36 (Operation Stone Garden): John Lanahan asked for a pause on the grant until a public audit of Flock data access is conducted and explicit prohibitions on using the partnership for immigration enforcement are added. He cited unauthorized Flock data searches in Virginia, Washington State, and California.
• Call to the Public: Several residents addressed the council on topics including: Borderplex Alliance CEO comments (Jonathan Zayan called for cutting ties), animal services (Ron Como and Claudia Contreras Siller), transparency and undue influence (Patricia Osmon), and abortion (Elizabeth Crawford).

Discussion Items

• Items 3–7 (Homeland Security grants): Chief Killings and other officials presented grant applications totaling over $1 million for police and fire equipment, including bomb suits, body armor, soft barriers, and emergency operations supplies. Representative Canales introduced an amendment to limit alterations to 10% without council consent. After debate, the amendment failed (6-2, with Limon and Canales voting aye). The original motion to approve items 3–7 passed unanimously. Public comment from Patricia Osmon expressed concerns about Flock surveillance and potential misuse of grant funds.
• Item 17 (Sun City Lights – Pueblo Viejo Park): Javier Acosta presented the $666,689 project for decorative lighting, a pavilion inspired by folkloric dresses, landscaping, and a monument sign at 233 N. Zaragoza in District 7. Construction is expected from April to October 2026. Representative Limon moved approval. Sylvia Carrion (Mission Valley Civic Association) expressed reservations about the location but supported the project. The motion passed unanimously.
• Items 22 & 23 (Property conveyances to MEP Electric): Representative Canales requested postponement for two weeks after neighborhood questions about zoning and intended use (duplexes). The items were tabled and later unanimously postponed to the next meeting.
• Item 25 (Artists Market expansion): Ben Fife explained the ordinance amendment to allow the Artists Market to operate beyond Union Plaza, including pop-ups. Approved unanimously.
• Item 26 (Rezoning at 529 Schwabi Street): Luis Samora presented the rezoning from RF to R3A for a proposed single-family home. No opposition. Approved unanimously.
• Item 27 (Rezoning to A2 at Neptune Street): Rezoning four lots to allow multifamily development with a 10-foot landscape buffer condition. No public comments. Approved unanimously.
• Items 28 & 29 (CISD school site rezoning & condition release): Luis Samora clarified that the rezoning only affects a small corner portion (the rest of the site is already residential zoned). A school is a permitted use in both current and proposed zoning. The City Plan Commission recommended approval unanimously. Despite opposition from residents (12 property owners notified; 7 calls, 1 letter, 1 email in opposition), the council approved the ordinance (unanimous). Representative Chavez assured that the city is coordinating with CISD on traffic mitigation (signals, timing, signage) and that a condition of the sale prevents student drop-off within the neighborhood.
• Item 30 (Cesar Chavez listening sessions): After discussion, Representative Limon moved to delete the item, arguing that the state delegation should lead the process using existing community meetings. The motion to delete passed 5-3 (Acevedo, Nino, Canales voting nay). The council agreed to host delegation members at their own community meetings.
• Item 31 (Institutional spokesperson roles): Representative Fierro and Rocha proposed a resolution to establish guidelines for the mayor as the city's spokesperson on high-level issues. Representative Canales pointed out that the existing Code of Conduct already covers many aspects. Carla Neiman indicated she would draft language. After debate, the motion to direct the city manager and city attorney to draft a resolution passed 6-2 (Acevedo and Canales voting nay). Public comment from Patricia Osmon warned against curbing First Amendment rights.
• Item 32 (Chamisal Community Center 5th anniversary): Representative Canales moved to approve up to $10,000 in discretionary funds for an event on April 18, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Approved unanimously. Public comment from Patricia Osmon criticized use of discretionary funds for events rather than infrastructure.
• Item 33 (El Paso Electric presentation on Enchanted Rock CCN): Kelly Tomblin, Jim, and Daniel Báez presented the CCN for the 365 MW modular natural gas plant to serve Meta's data center. Key points: the plant will only serve Meta initially, not connected to the grid; Meta pays all costs ($430 million estimated); a take-or-pay contract with parent guarantee; the facility does not use water and operates under a minor source permit. Council members asked about ratepayer subsidization, bridge period, environmental impacts, and reliability. No vote was taken; it was a presentation only. Public comments opposed the project, citing environmental and financial risks.
• Items 35 & 36 (Operation Stone Garden grants): Chief Killings presented the 16-year recurring grant used for extra-duty patrols along the border highway to combat drug trafficking. The program funds 15 operations per month (3 shifts, 4 officers per shift), totaling 13,800 extra-duty hours. The goal is deterrence; fatalities on the highway have decreased. Representative Canales expressed concerns about formalizing federal-local partnerships and potential fear in the community. The motion to approve passed 5-2 (Canales voting nay, Acevedo and Trejo not present).
• Item 37 (Grand jury independence resolution): Representative Limon and Neiman presented a resolution calling for impartial investigations into deaths at the Fort Bliss immigration facility. An amendment to correct a recital passed unanimously. The resolution passed unanimously (Acevedo, Trejo, Fierro not present).
• Items 38 & 39 (Astral Scale incentives): A small business incentive for an on-orbit servicing company creating 16 jobs. Total incentive: $22,390 ($6,390 lease subsidy from TEDF and $16,000 training grant). Approved unanimously.
• Item 40 (On-call services audit follow-up): Liz Del Oro presented the audit status: most findings implemented or in progress. Issues remain with insurance naming the city as additional insured, delayed invoice payments, and invoice misalignment. The audit was accepted unanimously.
• Item 41 (Drone First Responder grant): The city applied for $4.58 million from Congressman Tony Gonzalez for 12 U.S.-made drone pods with a five-year support program. No city match. Approved unanimously.
• Item 42 (Street resurfacing budget transfers): Two budget transfers: $7 million for FY26–27 residential resurfacing and $22.39 million for top 50 arterial resurfacing from the 2022 community progress bond. Director Randy Garcia confirmed coordination with El Paso Water on timing. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Votes: The amendment to limit grant alterations to 10% (Canales) failed (6-2). Items 3–7, 17, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42 all passed unanimously (with occasional absences). Item 30 was deleted (5-3). Item 31 passed (6-2). Items 22 & 23 postponed for two weeks.
• Statistics cited: Community development funding dropped from $12.8M (2001) to $6.4M; child abuse investigations 3,212; diabetes prevalence 12.7%; traffic LOS F predicted; Operation Stone Garden 13,800 hours of extra duty; audit found 22% of invoices unmatched.
• Directives: City manager and city attorney to draft a resolution on spokesperson roles; state delegation to lead listening sessions on Cesar Chavez renaming; CISD to continue traffic mitigation coordination with neighborhood.
• Upcoming events: Autism Acceptance Run (April 25), Child Abuse Prevention 5K (April 19), National Public Health Week (April 6–12), Chamisal Center anniversary (April 18), and Sun City Lights construction to begin April 2026.