Good morning.

Good morning, Al Paso.

Buenos días, bienvenidos.

I want to give a warm welcome to everyone who is joining us in Council Chambers this morning.

Thank you for being here.

Miss Prime.

Yes, good morning, and welcome to the presentation of the mayor's proclamations.

This morning we have Mayor Po Tim Alejandra Chavez present and presiding.

We begin with a pledge of allegiance, and this morning to lead us in the pledge, we have students from Coach Wally Hartley PK eight school.

At the invitation of City Representative Diana Maldonado Rocha, we have Paloma White Seeker, Casey Johnson, Harper Wine, Aurora Daniel, Ian Menchen, Darwin Pimentel, Vince Bernal, Valentina Castro, Alia Lyaka, Kayleigh Boo, Isabella Salas, Lux Arenas, Kaylee Queto, and Keanu Curtis.

And you all for freedom.

Thank you guys.

Thank you guys.

That brings us to the mayor's proclamations.

For those of you receiving a proclamation, your group will have up to four minutes collectively to speak at the podium and receive the proclamation.

After you receive the proclamation, you will be invited to take a photo with a council.

The first proclamation is Sexual Awareness Month, 2026.

Representative Rocha.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem Chavez.

If I can have those that are here, I see them in the audience.

I saw them this morning.

There they are.

Here we go.

Thank you for coming to City Hall today.

I'm going to read your proclamation.

Whereas sexual violence affects individuals and families across all communities and backgrounds, causing lasting trauma and significant harm.

Studies indicate that one in three women and one in six men experience some form of sexual violence in their lifetime.

With many cases going unreported, highlighting the urgent need for awareness, prevention, and survivor support.

And whereas the Center against Sexual and Family Violence has served the city of El Paso with comprehensive prevention, advocacy, support, and education for survivors of sexual assault and their families.

Provided sexual assault services to more than one thousand survivors, and responded to over 240 hospital accompaniment calls across area hospitals.

And whereas CASVI's theme, consent is loud, emphasizes the importance of clear communication, mutual respect, affirmative consent, and community accountability in preventing sexual violence.

And whereas educating individuals and communities about consent, healthy relationships, bystander intervention, and equitable treatment, strength and safety, and respect across all settings.

Excuse me, and fostering a culture of accountability and care.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and council of the City of El Paso that the month of April 2026 shall be known as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, 2026, signed by the Honorable Mayor Renard Johnson.

Good morning.

Good morning.

It's truly an honor to be here with you, representatives and mayor pro tem.

My name is Sandra Navarrez Garcia, I'm the executive director to the Center Against Sexual and Family Violence.

And as Ms.

Rocha mentioned, sexual assault affects all individuals and affects our community, it affects our households, family members, just everyone across the board.

And oftentimes it's something that we're really unprepared for.

And so in our true theme, this this particular month of consent is allowed.

We want to be able to emphasize that consent should be clear, it should be active, it should be ongoing, never assumed or implied.

And I think those are really important words because I think oftentimes we believe that you ask once, and that's just the answer for here until the end of time.

But this conversation is very much like our theme is continuous and is ongoing year after year.

These are services that we provide both to individuals in the hospital, in person, on the phone, via chat, however, it is that the individual wants to access the services because we understand that it's difficult to come forward.

You obviously know we're also your local domestic violence program.

And I think that those individuals victimized by domestic violence are more likely to come forward and receive services, whereas our survivors of sexual assault is really more of a challenge.

And so think of you know, God forbid, anyone in this room, today you're living your most normal life.

Tonight something happens, and tomorrow your world has been flipped upside down.

And all you want to do is go back to yesterday.

And so we are there to be able to provide that support to those individuals from the yesterday and for me even going forward.

So oftentimes I think one of the messages we want to make sure that survivors know is that whether you need us today, tomorrow, a year from now, five years from now, that's what the center is here to provide.

Support, direction, options and resources for you to access.

This year, and we'll we'll share one with you is we have every um awareness month, we come up with a calendar of events to heighten and kind of keep that conversation going, and hopefully that conversation continues at home.

And so this year we kicked off the month with Teal Day on the 7th.

Um we do have this really impactful.

I I really love our our theme of what were you wearing?

So this is a um an art piece, if you will, where we'll put we'll pull clothing of survivors that have described what they were wearing when they were victimized.

We pull them and we display them.

And so this year we're working with an artist, um, Michael Fierro, and he has the display at Bassett Center.

And it's where the old New York and company used to be, like in the middle part of Bassett, if you're trying to figure out where it's at.

And so what it has is this description of what that survivor has described happened.

Um, and because he's an artist, he went one step further and created the scenery, like if it happened while camping.

Um, different just kind of sceneries that he kind of created, which I think really um allows for more impact.

And so what I will tell you is that the most difficult thing to look around is just to look around this room.

And so our displays show what you're wearing every single day.

And so I think that that's probably the biggest impact.

People think that it's individuals in certain circumstances at certain places that are victimized, and it's not that way.

Um, it could be any one of us.

And so we invite you to go to that particular um exhibit.

It's there till the 25th.

We also have our classic pickleball spring into action that we're gonna be doing for our fundraiser.

We'd love you all to join us on the 26th of April, and then we have denim day on the 29th, which will also be screening um a movie on the lawn at Traffic Arts Space, and so you're more than welcome to join us there as well.

We do have some individuals from the center that um came with us.

So it's our director of client services, one of our board members, and our associate director of sexual assault services along with our development director.

So it's truly an honor to be here with you this morning.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Does everyone want to introduce themselves that's standing behind you?

Sure.

Hi, good morning.

Thank you so much for the time.

My name is Yasmin Perez.

I'm the director of client services for the center.

Good morning.

Good morning, everyone.

My name is Guadalupe Rubio, and I am the director of development with the center.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Good morning, everyone.

My name is Sarah Silva, and I'm the Associate Director of Sexual Assault Services at the Center.

Good morning.

Good morning, everyone.

I'm Cynthia Ortega and part of the board for CASV.

Good morning.

Thank you all for being here.

Studies show that one in three women and one in six men experience sexual violence with many incidents, as you just mentioned, go going unreported, underscoring the need for community awareness and prevention.

So throughout the month of April, we want to encourage our community, our residents to support survivors, promote education, and engage in prevention and help build a culture rooted in safety, dignity, and respect for all.

Thank you so much for being here.

Thank you for your time.

Representative Rocha.

One quick question.

On the crisis hope line, how does one contact you?

So it's the 5937300, and it's confidential 24 hours a day.

We also have a chat feature that's available.

Thank you.

How do they access the chat?

Is it through that number?

It's through through the website.

The website will pop up and show you that information.

And again, we intake people at all times of the day.

We do have a 24-hour hospital accompaniment team that these lovely young ladies supervise.

And so 24 hours a day right now, we have an advocate on call and just standing by if you know God needed that we need to go to the hospital and accompany someone.

Thank you for that.

I appreciate it.

You're very welcome.

Thank you.

And the next proclamation is Desert Conference of Texas and Gala Day's convocation.

Representative Fierro.

No, Representative Nino, excuse me, sorry.

Yes.

Thank you, Mayor Potem.

If you have the honores, come and join us.

Good morning.

It's an honor to read today's proclamation.

Proclamation for the city of El Paso, Texas.

Whereas in June 1893, the ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine was organized and established under the leadership of John George Jones and the Auxiliary, the Imperial Court Daughters was established in 1910.

And whereas both were established as benefent and charable organizations whose members are dedicated to the principles of fostering civic, economic, and educational development and programs throughout the community.

And we're as the oral temple number nine of the AEO A O N MS and Oral Court number 20, Imperial Court Daughters of El Paso, Texas, will host its annual state Desert Conference of Texas and Gallaudet Convocation on April 16th through the 18th, 2026 at the Winham Hotel.

And whereas the goal of the Desert Conference of Texas and Gallaudet Convocation is to bring membership together to enhance their mission, renew their purpose, further enrich the hosting community through charity, benefits, education, and pay tribute to those who have sacrificed their lives daily for freedom, the military service members.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and the council of the city of El Paso, offering best wishes to the desert of Texas for a successful event, April 16th through the 18th, 2026, shall be known as Desert Conference of Texas and Gala Days Convocation, signed by the Honorable Mayor Renard Johnson.

Thank you.

Good morning, Council, Council members.

We have the our public program beginning Thursday night at 7 p.m.

where the mayor will be our guest speaker.

We'll be giving us scholarships, community donations, and we will salute, we'll give a salute to our military.

So we have a little military program we would get we were going to go to.

Then Friday morning we have a memorial, which is a tribute to our deceased members.

And then Friday night, we have what's called a hospitality dance at the Windham as well.

And then Saturday, we have our deputy's ball as we continue to uh have our meetings.

But then, you know, uh hopefully the city manager can come and tell up tell a little bit about the city while we have over 200 visitors that's going to be here so they can see what El Paso is really all about.

So thank you again for your time.

I have with me uh members of my desert staff, I have uh my desert organizer, uh Michael Hall, my desert higher priest and prophet, Nate Gasson.

I have uh members of the oral court, we have the luscious commanders, Shauna Battle, uh, her first lieutenant, Miss Uh Dorothy Sissy Bird, and Miss Lauren Gasson.

Thank you.

Thank you, and and welcome to uh City Hall.

Thank you.

We uh we are happy that you were will be celebrating uh your Texas Gala and Days convocation, and um we want to congratulate you on your mission of expanding charitable work, promoting education, and honoring our military service.

So thank you.

I'm happy that the the mayor will be your guest speaker, and uh the city manager will also be supporting your efforts.

So thank you so much for your service to our community.

Thank you.

Let me make sure I get this.

How tall do you think they are?

I don't think if I fall, I don't get a pretty sure it was just my phone, but I look like a book.

And the next proclamation is Guardians of the Children, Sun City, Chapter Day.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Welcome.

The proclamation reads Whereas the City of El Paso is committed to protecting the safety, dignity, and well-being of all children, and to raising awareness about the prevention of child abuse in all of its forms.

And whereas April is recognized nationally as Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time dedicated to education, advocacy, and community collaboration to ensure that children grow up in safe, supportive, and nurturing environments.

And whereas Guardians of the Children International established in June 2006, and its Sun City chapter established in June 2015 are dedicated to recognizing and responding to the threat of child abuse while empowering children through education, advocacy, and unwavering support serving the El Paso community with a team of committed volunteers.

And whereas the Sun City Chapter works collaboratively with local organizations and agencies, including Child Protective Services, the El Paso Center Against Sexual and Family Violence, Communities in School, the El Paso Motorcycle Coalition, the District Attorney's Office, Law Enforcement, and other partners to provide education, anti-bullying outreach, and coordinated efforts to prevent child abuse and support victims.

And whereas, through programs such as Little Guardian mentorship program, the organization provides advocacy and emotional support to children involved in the judicial process and continues to support them through critical stages of their development, ensuring long-term stability, encouragement, and empowerment.

And whereas, through its ongoing efforts in education, mentorship, advocacy, and community partnership, guardians of the children, Sun City chapter has made a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable children and families throughout the El Paso community.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and council of the City of El Paso, honoring the organization's unwavering commitment to protecting children, raising awareness, and fostering a safer and more compassionate community for all.

April 14th, 2026 shall be known as Guardians of the Children's Sun City Chapter Day, signed by the Honorable Mayor Renard Johnson.

Congratulations.

Don't let your silence jound up that cry.

This proclamation is a great honor, and we are great very grateful to the City of El Paso and our esteemed council for recognizing our efforts in this very important mission, one that I hope that we all share as a community.

As guardians, we come from all walks of life.

Our chapter, in our chapter alone, we have educators, business owners, and operators, radio celebrity, computer techs, customs and border patrol, mental health professionals, reservists, veterans, employees in corporate America, and homemakers.

The common ground is our love for children and the desire to help them through what is arguably the most difficult time in their lives.

The Guardians of the Children International, as you mentioned, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year in June.

And our own chapter is celebrating its 11th anniversary this June.

In Texas, there are approximately 650,000 reports of child abuse annually.

Approximately 75% of these cases are some forms of neglect.

15% are physical abuse, and 10% are sexual abuse or trafficking.

That's approximately 20,498 children being physically abused, and 13,665 being sexually abused or trafficked annually.

These are all unacceptable numbers.

Any number over zero is unacceptable.

Sadly, these are only the cases that get reported.

It's estimated that only one in every three cases gets reported.

That means of the approximate 52,000 confirmed cases equates to a true number of abused children reaching an excess of 156,000 annually.

Until then, when a child calls, we invite the Apostle community to Barnett Harley Davidson this Saturday at twelve o'clock noon.

We'll be having a child abuse prevention and awareness month event where we will have approximately fourteen community partners serving the Opaso community for families and children who are in crisis.

We'll have food, we'll have fun, we'll have a lot of games and a lot of motorcycles.

So we hope to see you all there.

Thank you so very much.

I'm the founding member of our chapter.

Well, thank you.

For me, uh, all of you are a signal of hope for children in our community and beyond.

Thank you for taking care of the most vulnerable and the voiceless in our community, and for encouraging all of us to speak up for them as well.

Thank you for the work that you're doing.

Thank you so much for being here.

I can go all the way to 10.

Okay, so thank you so much.

And the next proclamation is City of Socoro, 40th anniversary of Incorporation Day.

Okay.

Now Representative Fierro.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem for allowing me to read this proclamation.

Everybody who can come up.

Great.

Welcome.

Oh my we need the native son uh from Socorro to join us up here.

Please come up here.

Yes, Crillous, the executive director and Nami.

Thank you again, Mayor Pro Tem.

Whereas the City of Socorro, Texas is one of the oldest communities in El Paso region with rich history rooted in culture, faith, resilience, and community pride, and was officially incorporated as a municipality on April 5th, 1986, making 40 years of continued growth, governance, and service to its residents.

And through consistent population growth, documented by ongoing cess sentence tracking, has expanded to just under 40,000 residents and continues to grow steadily as El Paso County's second largest uh city, reflecting its enduring appeal as a place to live, work, and raise a family.

Whereas over the past four decades, the city of Socoro has evolved into a vibrant diverse city, committed to preserving its historical legis legacy, while planning their thoughtfully for the future and demonstrating its steadfast commitment to celebrating, promoting, protecting, and preserving its unique cultural heritage through investing along the mission trail.

The achievement of the National Historic Landmark designation for the Rio Vista Farm, whereas the City of Socorro is widely recognized for its welcoming hospitality, well-attended community events, the tremendous civic pride demonstrated by Socorroids who actively celebrate, support, and invest in their city.

On behalf of the City of Socorro, we are honored to recognize and celebrate our fortieth anniversary of Incorporation.

For 40 years, we have grown into a proud and vibrant community grounded in our history, culture, and traditions.

This milestone reflects the strength and dedication of our residents, past and present, who have helped shape our city.

We would also like to thank the City of El Paso for its continued partnership and support as we grow together in the region.

We are proud to commemorate this special occasion with you, and thank you very much.

Thank you, Victor, and all of you for coming and for being here, and congratulations on your 40th anniversary.

We also appreciate your partnership with the City of El Paso, and we look forward to working together closely with you in in this in many projects in the in the future.

Thank you so much for being here.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Excited to read this proclamation.

Proclamation City of El Paso, Texas, whereas for more than half a century, Earth Day launched in 1970, a day intended to raise awareness and appreciation of the Earth's natural environment.

And whereas all people in the El Paso community, regardless of raise, age, income, or gender, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment.

And whereas commemorating Earth Day in the region highlights environmental initiatives related to climate change recycling and waste reduction.

And whereas the City of El Paso Environmental Services Department annually hosts an Earth Day celebration to educate the community about programs promoting sustainability and environmental change.

And whereas a healthy and sustainable environment can be achieved on the community level by encouraging residents to engage in activities such as cleanups to be agents of change for the common good.

And whereas the City of El Paso's environmental services will host its annual Earth Day celebration at 6 p.m.

on April 11th at the City of El Paso Municipal Services Center, 7968 San Paulo Drive, which was this past weekend.

Um therefore be a proclaimed by the mayor and council of the city of El Paso that the city's environmental services department be recognized and commended for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to the community.

April 2026 shall be known as Mission, Save the Earth Month.

Signed the Honorable Reynard Johnson.

Uh Nicolas Ivaro with environmental services.

Uh thank you for the proclamation.

You know, as the United States uh prepares to celebrate their 56th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22nd.

Um this was our 15th year celebrating here with the City of Alpeso, so it was our quince and it's a this past weekend as everybody's calling it behind me.

Um as environmental services, we we don't just pick up trash, recycling, clean the mediums.

We also try to educate as much as possible to recycle, reduce, and reuse and take care of El Paso as much as we can.

If it wasn't for the staff behind me, they're the ones that put everything together.

I I get a lot of the credit, but it's really them that do all the work that make sure we have the vendors, the food trucks, the entertainment, everything that has to do with Earth Day, and they're also the ones that if any of you have taken the recycling class, it's their voices that you hear in the recycling class that are providing all the information that is needed for the residents.

So before I keep going, I want them to come up and introduce themselves.

Hello, I'm Priscilla Caballero, I'm community outreach and educational supervisor.

Good morning, everyone.

My name is Sarah Harris, and I'm an outreach specialist.

Good morning, everyone.

My name is Aaron Quintana, and I'm an outreach specialist.

Good morning, everyone.

My name is Annie Marron, and I am an outreach specialist.

Good morning.

My name is Priscilla Lopez, and I'm an outreach specialist.

Good morning, everyone.

My name is Marisa Lavasquez, and I'm also an outreach specialist.

Good morning, everybody.

My name is Philip, and I'm an outreach specialist.

Morning, everybody.

Uh Jesus Maguchi, Assistant Director.

And then we also have Mundo behind us, but we don't want to break the fourth wall letting them know who who's behind the mask.

So we'll let him know.

He's he's at all their events.

Um in addition, I I want to uh let you know like when we do the community cleanups, these are also the the staff that help and take care of all the community cleanups, organize the roll of uh that show up to the event and help all with all the equipment.

So I'm very grateful for the staff and everything they do because without them none of this would be possible.

So thank you for the proclamation.

Thank you, Nick and team.

Representative Nino.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Temp and Nick and the entire team.

I am extremely grateful for all the work that you all do.

And you know, I know you kind of touch base on the community cleanups, and you know, it's uh all of our responsibility, you know, to come together and really take care of our community.

And I'm very grateful for all the work that you all have done over the years to ensure that you know, not just the regular trash pickup, but also cleaning our streets, our medians, our neighborhoods, and also for collaborating with us um in our community cleanups.

And I'm gonna take this time to also invite members of the community where we'll have a cleanup this Saturday in District 5 on the corner of Monwood and Rich Beam, and we invite members of the public to bring bulk trash.

And again, this is the collaboration with environmental services in celebration of Earth Month, allowing individuals to come and dispose of that bulk trash and really clean up and take care of be have pride of our community.

So again, we're extremely grateful for all the work that each one of you does.

Um I'm I'm a huge fan of the environmental services team, and we're looking forward to you know further collaborations and really taking care of our community.

So thank you for everything that you guys do.

Thank you.

Representative Limon.

Thank you very much.

And what a quinceanera it was.

We skirted the weather a little bit, but it came through.

What a fabulous event.

It was really nice.

I was there for a good part of it, but as I was leaving, people were still arriving, people were coming through.

I think that you guys throw a fabulous party, and it's such a pleasure to always see it.

How environmental services, parking lot, and the park are taken over for some time and the community comes out and enjoys it.

Um you guys are the greeters.

It it's it's great to arrive.

And I know that uh there was some concern because parking was a little bit kind of crazy.

And and someone said, where's Representative Limun gonna park?

And Yamaguchi said, Oh, she'll park wherever she wants.

She can have whatever space she'll find some place to park.

See, we get everything back, we hear everything.

Nick, congratulations.

And it is it is your team is top notch.

I I am very proud of you guys and very appreciative for all the work that you do.

And mundo, what would we do without mundo, verdad?

And even knows how to dance cumbia.

So I love that.

Thank you very much for all the work that you all do.

Thank you.

Appreciate it.

Representative Canales.

Thank you.

So that Mundo would be able to take their place.

Who uh who do we need to give recognition to?

Who wasn't able to be here today?

His name is Victor.

He's uh he's he's always very helpful, he's taking care of everything.

Okay, well, thank you, Victor, for staying.

First, sorry, I'm confused.

Sorry, it's I apologize.

Sorry, there that was the previous I apologize.

Ivan, I apologize.

Hey, thank you to Victor and to I guess and to Mundo for being there with us today.

Thank you all.

Thank you, Nick, and to your entire team for keeping El Paso beautiful and and supporting us as well in our all of our cleanups.

Um I I would like for you to take this opportunity and maybe sh tell the community what to do with those white plastic bags that we get at grocery stores.

So what I let everybody know in every interview I do is bag your trash, um, make sure you bag your trash.

We live in the wind one of the windiest cities in in the country.

If you bag your trash, weigh down those plastic bags as you get at Walmart or target any of the stores.

Just put some trash in there, tie them up and put them in your trash can.

It'll pre it'll reduce a lot of the wind blown waste that we get uh throughout the city.

That goes for anything that goes in your grave and if you beg it, it'll reduce a lot of the wind blown waste that we have throughout the city.

Thank you.

So many of us had no earthly idea what to do with those bags.

So thank you for telling us.

Thank you.

Congratulations once again.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much.

And the city council meeting will begin at ten a.m.

So we have about three minutes.

Yes, ma'am.

Good morning.

This is a meeting of the El Paso City Council for Tuesday, April 14th, 2026.

Mayor Pro Tem Chavez is present and presiding in Council Chambers along with Representative Malonado Rocha, Representative Nino, alternate Mayor Pro Tem Fiero, Representative Limon, Representative Canales, Representative Boy Artrejo.

It is 10 01 AM.

Will everyone please silence their electronic devices so as not to disturb the meeting?

And rise for the invocation delivered by El Paso Police Senior Chaplain, David Mayfield.

Good morning.

And thank you for the opportunity to come and pray for this council and for the community.

It's always a highlight of my calendar.

That being said, please join me in your faith tradition as I pray in my own.

Gracious God.

This room holds decisions that don't just live on paper.

They shape neighborhoods.

They shape families and futures.

And so we ask for something simple, but also not easy.

We ask for wisdom.

The kind that listens more than it speaks.

The kind that looks past headlines and looks into real lives.

Lord, in a border community like ours, we we feel everything a little more closely.

We feel the strain when resources seem tight.

Water, energy, even opportunity.

We feel the weight of decisions that ripple across communities on both sides of a line drawn on a map.

And we feel the human side of it all.

Men, women, and children navigating uncertainty, hoping for safety, dignity, and a chance to build something better.

So today we ask for clarity in the middle of complexity, courage in the face of competing pressures.

And above all, a spirit of observant leadership.

Remind us that leadership isn't about winning arguments.

It's about serving people.

Not just the loudest voices, but also the quiet ones.

Not just today's needs, but tomorrow's consequences.

Give these leaders steady hands and open hearts.

Help them to steward what has been entrusted to them wisely, fairly, and with compassion.

And for all of us, Lord, keep us mindful that we share more than borders.

And we ask all of this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Thank you.

That brings us to public comment on agenda items for those people that signed up to speak at 10 a.m.

The first person is Carlos Sainz.

He signed up to speak on item number 14 on the consent agenda.

An item 14 is the solicitation of public health accreditation consultant to ascendent health care advisors.

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

I'm here pleasing for the YMCA and the well-being of the city.

No, Mr.

Science, are you the Carlos Sainz that signed up to speak about the solicitation on the agenda?

Item 14?

Uh yes, I guess it's the health also.

It's the this is this is the time to speak regarding the solicitation of public health accreditation consultant.

Yes, it's combined.

It's just for this item right now.

Yes, ma'am.

The health issues that's what I'm looking at.

Yes.

The quality of life, the health issues in the Northeast, combined with the closure of what?

The YWCA.

Okay, so the Y and this item.

Yeah, the contract, well, I'm led to believe this is the contract for the well-being of El Paso.

Is that correct?

Or am I wrong?

Uh service public health or welfare.

So this is also part of the contract.

If we can have these people also look at uh what's going on in the Northeast and not let us out by that, keeping us up, because this also uh referring to the YMC and the public health and the well-being of our elderly, our kids, and uh in general, the quality of life for the whole Northeast.

That's tens of thousands of elderly kids, moms, dads, the whole nine yards.

Okay, so I I strongly suggest to this company in the contract to take a hard look in the northeast area for us.

And basically that's all I have to say at this.

I have another one that I need to talk into, which consists of the YMCA again.

Please thank you very much for listening to me.

The next speaker is Joe Gutenreath.

Mr.

Gudrat signed up to speak on item 23.

And item 23 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title 12 vehicles in traffic.

Do you want me to address 32 as well?

And he also signed up to speak on item 32, which is a memorandum of understanding with the City of El Paso and the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation.

Good morning morning, Mayor Pro Tem, City Council, City Staff.

Again, Joe Gudenreth with the I'm the executive director of the Downtown Management District, as well as a member of the Deck Plaza Foundation Board, pulling double duty today in terms of items 23 and 32.

First 23 regarding the creation of the electronically operated parking control systems section of city code and the means for issuing parking citations by mail.

The DMD views our parking and right-of-way spaces as resources meant to support the operation and usage of our downtown to accommodate the variety of needs and users, professional strategies and effective management practices must be put into place.

I want to thank Steve Alvarado and Paul Stresso for supporting and pursuing these objectives.

That said, as a parking system, we we always must realize that as we change one aspect, we should recognize that there will be impacts throughout the system and always work to maintain a balance within the system to support enhance and enhance system usage.

For example, we have people who park illegally in alleys.

While we pursue enhanced enforcement of this violation, the parking system must also anticipate and accommodate where these parkers will go and attempt to balance our system.

In short, we must enhance enforcement but also enhance the accommodation so that we don't discourage users from coming downtown at all.

I look forward to working with Steve and Paul to support our parking users, maximize the usage of resources, and maintain a balanced system that provides accommodation options and opportunities for the variety of users downtown.

Lastly, as we work to improve the professional management of our systems, I must also ask that parking revenues be removed from the general fund and maintained for parking uh enhancements and the overall areas within within and around where we collect parking revenues.

Second, with my last minute item 32 regarding the MOU between the city, the county, and the Deck Plaza Foundation.

First, I stand by in front of you, inspired by the vision and cooperation by the city, the county, and the private sector surrounding the pursuit of this once-in-a-generation opportunity for our community.

This community has seen too many opportunities pass by because we could not work together for a common cause.

Our governments are constantly being challenged by various pressures and externalities that impact budgets, burden our community, and threaten our quality of life.

The answer to these challenges will not be solved without taking actions that will improve our long-term trajectory.

We have seen the impact of deck parks across the country.

These projects have proven to reconnect communities, drive in fill development, and provide amazing community spaces for our entire community to enjoy.

We can achieve those benefits and joy and enjoy them for years to come.

I encourage you to support the MOU and help us implement that project.

Thank you very much.

Also speaking regarding item 32, the MOU is Leila Mayorga.

Leila Mayorga, followed by Jimena Guerrero.

And followed by Joshua Royce.

Good morning.

You have three minutes.

Good morning, Council.

My name is Layla Mayorga, and I'm a resident of District 5, as well as a student at UTEP.

I'm here today to respectfully ask for your guys' support in approving the MOU between the City of El Paso, El Paso County, and the Downtown DAG Plaza Foundation.

This agreement brings together public partners at every level, along with private philanthropy to make this project financially possible and sustainable for long term.

TechSDOT will move forward with the reconstruction of I-10 in downtown El Paso with or without this project.

And this is a once in a generation opportunity to reclaim over six acres of space and turn it into something that serves our community instead of dividing it.

Beyond that, this project makes strong economic sense.

The deck plaza is expected to generate nearly one billion dollars in economic activity, bring over a million new visitors to downtown each year, and support long-term job creation.

It will also encourage a new housing and business development, which expands our tax base and helps reduce the burden on residential taxpayers.

On a personal level, this means a lot to me.

I have many family members who visit from a smaller border town called Del Rio, Texas, and I want to be able to show them where I grew up and feel proud of the city I call home.

I want them to see a downtown that is vibrant, welcoming, and full of life.

Lastly, I'm also the older sister of two younger siblings.

One of them is nine and seven, and I often think about the kind of experiences I want them to have.

I want a place where I can take them on the weekends to be active, spend time outdoors, enjoy being kids, instead of staying inside the house with their tablet screens with nothing to do.

This project is about investing in the future of El Paso, strengthening our economy, improving quality of life, and creating a space that bring up brings our community together.

I understand that I'm young, but I do understand how money works, that things cost money, that things can be expensive, but I do know the meaning of a dollar and how much work that this will take to do, but I really appreciate your guys' consideration with the decision.

And I appreciate your time and leadership.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Jimena Guerrero.

Jimena Guerrero will be followed by Joshua Ruiz, Carlos Sainz, Ricardo Mora, and Manny Rodriguez.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning, Mayor Pro Tem and Council.

My name is Jimena Guerrero.

I am a resident of the Far East, and I am here in strong support of item 32.

Today I want to talk not just about connection, but about having a place at the table.

Because right now, for many people across El Paso, especially young people, it can feel like we're not always included in shaping the future of our own city.

And what we're missing isn't talent or ambition.

It's a clear shared vision for where we're going and how we're going to get there.

Projects like the Deck Plaza are about more than infrastructure.

They're about deciding who gets to be a part of that future.

They're about creating a space where people from every part of the city feel like they belong.

It's about being represented and like they have a stake in what's being built.

I also want to recognize the level of collaboration behind this project.

It's not easy to bring together the city, county, state, and federal partners and private philanthropy.

But that kind of coordination is exactly what real progress requires.

It shows that we are capable of thinking bigger and working together towards a shared goal.

And I understand that with any project of this scale, there are valid concerns about cost and responsibility, but I don't believe that physical responsibility and forward thinking investment are opposites.

We can and should do both.

We can manage a healthy, responsible budget while still investing in projects that generate long-term economic growth, attract opportunity, and improve quality of life for our residents.

In fact, that's exactly how we build a stronger, more sustainable city.

Because when downtown thrives, the entire city benefits.

It creates economic activity, supports local businesses, and gives people, especially young professionals, a reason to stay and build their lives here.

It's also about connection in a very real physical way.

For decades, I-10 has divided our neighborhoods.

This is a chance to do something different, to create a space that brings people together instead of reinforcing that divide.

This is a once in a generation opportunity, not just to build infrastructure, but to define what kind of community we want to be.

I urge you to support this agreement and hope move El Paso forward together.

Thank you so much for your time and for your leadership.

The next speaker is Joshua Ruiz.

Joshua Ruiz, if you're in the queue, star six, please to unmute your telephone.

Joshua Ruiz.

Star 6 to unmute your telephone.

I don't see that phone number in the queue.

Oh, there, there he is.

Go ahead, Mr.

Ruiz.

You have three minutes.

You're back on mute.

Star 6, please, to unmute your telephone.

Joshua Ruiz.

Okay, go ahead.

You have three minutes.

You're back on mute.

It would be his call dropped.

I'll come back to him.

Uh we'll move on with Carlos Sainz.

He also signed up to speak on item 32, the memorandum of understanding with a deck plaza.

He will be followed by Nadia Antoine.

Go ahead.

This is item 32.

Yes ma'am again with YMCA service this is item 32 this is the deck plaza item.

Please limit your comments just to that item at this time.

Here we go deck plaza.

And can you please speak into the microphone so we can hear you plaza city of El Paso has spent 75,000 on a deck plaza.

One million dollars on a bond supposedly that us the taxpayers are going to be paying for which again I go back again the city of El Paso or us taxpayers do not really want.

If you guys are going to do something well put it up to a vote on the Deck Plaza.

Let the city decide because it's all this money that's being given to the deck plaza out of general funds without asking us in my view very improper.

No matter what the politics might be and everything else you should be more concerned in reference to what our community in the Northeast and other communities around El Paso and wasting this money on the DAC Plaza is no good.

And a lot of us disagree a lot of us taxpayers disagree on a on the deck plaza.

So if you guys are going to waste any more money or propose any more money put it to the vote to the citizens of El Paso not make decisions for us because it's our money.

And this connects to again back again to the YWCA.

Okay all this connects to our communities our city our people so please put it to a vote let the citizens of El Paso decide not you guys the citizens of El Paso.

The commissioner court made a decision yesterday and I'm led to believe you guys have the final decision on spending millions of dollars again when our budget is very low.

But again I go back YMCA needs help from you guys the Northeast from five points all the way to Chaparral that's the only thing we have other than the parks and recreation that the swimming pools are all closed because of repairs and everything else but more than anything more than anything our elderly people like the YMCA because it has a warm pool for our therapy okay because we cannot be jumping around young kids young folks jumping out lower being happy and us trying to swim and we can't that's the bottom line plus it provides us with the warm pool the sauna for our bodies for arthritis for our medical issues and they're closing it down and you guys are investing 7500 one million dollars to the deck plaza come on people you guys can do a lot better a lot better than what you guys are deciding.

I don't know who's pulling your buttons but you got no reason to invest so much money on this puppy it's a pipe cream because at the end you're also gonna ask us a 50 50 50 for the entrepreneurs that want to invest and us no taxpayers going to pay another 50% into it so did you ask us do we want this thank you Mr.

Science you've reached the three minutes thank you and I'll respectfully ask the audience I'll respectfully ask the audience to refrain from clapping or disrupting the meeting so we can all hear what the speaker is saying and to maintain decorum in the chambers.

The next speaker is Nadia Antoine Nadia Antoine star six please to unmute your telephone Nadia Antoine star six please to unmute your telephone I don't see that phone number in the queue the next speaker is Ricardo Mora Mr Mora will be followed by Manny Rodriguez.

Good morning you have three minutes hi good morning good morning uh pro tam and city council my name is Ricardo Mora President and CEO of the El Paso chamber I'm here today in support of item number 32 the approval of a non-binding memorandum of understanding related to the I 10 downtown deck plaza from the structural and governance standpoint this MOU is prudent and necessary step forward it establishes a coordinated framework between the city of El Paso El Paso County and the downtown deck plaza foundation for the planning design and funding and potential operation of the project it also ensures alignment with text dot downtown reconstruction timeline which is critical the opportunity to incorporate structural future proofing elements must occur during text dot construction window without this step the ability to advance the project in the future becomes significantly more limited importantly this agreement is nonbinding it does not commit the city to fund construct or operate the project it is only a memorandum of understanding any future obligations will require separate agreements

The opportunity to incorporate structural future proofing elements must occur during Text Dot construction window.

Without this step, the ability to advance the project in the future becomes significantly more limited.

Important, this agreement is non-binding.

It does not commit the city to fund.

Construct or operate the project.

It is only a memorandum of understanding.

Any future obligations will require separate agreements and formal approval by this body.

From the perspective of the El Paso Chamber of Commerce, this project directly aligns with our mission.

The chamber unites government, community leaders, and community advocates to champion innovation in our community to have sustainable prosperity all across the El Paso region.

So we believe in this.

This will strengthen our business environment position El Paso for long-term growth.

This is not simply an infrastructure project, it is an economic development project for our community.

Investments in connectivity, public space, and downtown revitalization have a measurable impact on business activity.

They increase foot traffic, support small businesses, attract private investment, and enhance our ability to recruit and retain more talent in our community.

As our region continues to grow and compete for new industries and workforce, quality of place matters.

Projects like this help define how we compete, not just regionally but nationally.

The structure outlined in this memorandum of understanding reflects a disciplined approach to advancing that opportunity.

The project is faced.

A long-term operations are structured and a nonprofit-led model.

In summary, item number 32 does not finalize the project.

It creates a structured conditional pathway to elevate the advance and its responsibility while preserving a time-sensitive opportunity tied to the I-10 reconstruction.

For these reasons and in alignment with our mission to advance economic growth in our region, I respectfully encourage you to support item number 32.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Manny Rodriguez.

Many Rodriguez.

He will be followed by Joshua Ruiz.

Good morning.

Hi, good morning, uh Mayor Pro Temp and Council.

My name is Manny Rodriguez, government affairs manager with the El Paso Chamber.

I am also here in support of item 32 and would like to use my time this morning to highlight several key technical elements of the memorandum of understanding.

First, this is explicitly a um first.

This is explicitly a non-binding agreement.

It is not obligate the city to fund or deliver the project.

All future phases will require separate agreements and formal approval by city council.

Second, the focus of this agreement is on future proofing uh infrastructure.

This includes structural elements uh such as support columns, widened walls, and life safety accommodations that must be incorporated during Text DOT's I-10 reconstruction.

If these elements are not included now, the ability to develop a deck plaza in the future becomes significantly more challenging and costly as well.

Third, the MOU establishes a nonprofit-led operating model.

The Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation is responsible for private fundraising and long-term operations.

The city retains oversight and flexibility, including the ability to adjust the operator model if necessary as well.

Fourth, the agreement includes clear financial safeguards, phased and subject to approval.

Progression beyond early phases is contingent on secured funding from state or federal sources and demonstrated financial capacity.

Finally, timing is critical.

To remain aligned with Text Dot's construction schedule, funding agreements related to future proofing must be executed within the required time frame.

This memorandum of understanding positions the city to meet those deadlines while maintaining full control over future decisions.

In short, item 32 establishes a framework, not a final commitment, one that protects public resources while preserving a significant infrastructure opportunity.

We respectfully encourage encourage you to support this item.

Thank you for your consideration this morning and for your time.

The next speaker is Joshua Ruiz.

Joshua Ruiz, star six, please to unmute your telephone.

Good morning.

You have three minutes.

Hi, good morning.

Can you hear me?

Yes, sir.

Hello, good morning.

Good morning.

Um representing uh representative.

Um pick this moment for uh this is a moment for leadership.

It's about thinking it's about thinking beyond today and asking what we want our city to look like in five or ten years, even 15 years.

The death plaza is more than the park, it's an investment.

Okay, it's an investment in our future with nearly one billion dollars in projected economic economic activity.

If we want to stay competitive and continue attracting investment to El Paso, we need to step up and move projects like this forward.

Is a perfect example of what's possible.

It's be it became uh a catalyst for new development investment and energy in the heart of the city.

Let's attract more investment into our downtown.

Let's fill and renovate those empty buildings.

I respectfully ask you and city council to vote yes on item 32.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Nadia Antowan.

Nadia Antoine star six, please to unmute your telephone.

Good morning.

You have three minutes.

Good morning.

I'm just going in to um what is my opposition to the death plaza?

I understand this is more of a um a discussion point between the entities that are involved.

And while I understand that you might go for it anyway, I just want you to understand the perception of the public of the general public of how frustrating it is when we don't feel heard, and how um how insulting that is to the rest of us.

I understand that you have your supporters, your campaign contributors, but we are the citizens of El Paso City, and we when we speak, we want to be heard as well.

Of course, that sometimes has to be in waiting and when it's time to vote, but it's just very insulting when most of us here that don't have any benefit to this, um, don't want it and still is getting pushed on our throat.

I want you to understand how corrupt it seems to us listening to this project and how it comes off of how ugly it is because it doesn't seem like a sincere, true progressive um uh uh project.

It just seems to be something you're forced to take on because of the campaign contributors that you have that you are adhering to and that you have to pay back.

And so I just want you to understand how um this please we are citizens and how frustrated we feel, and how we are probably not very supportive of you anymore when we keep hearing you support a project that none of us are interested in.

It's something that seems to be just a big money money uh fit, and it doesn't seem to have an end.

And I want to point out to all of those that are in favor and listening and supporting that there's no parking for this structure.

The structure has no parking.

What is it gonna take to have parking for the structure?

It's gonna take even more money and likely eminent domain, which means even more expensive um areas around there that we can have to take on and pay for.

And so that's an additional expense.

It's not even part of the assessment as of right now.

So, how do you have an event space with no parking available?

Already downtown has no parking.

Now you want to have an event space with no parking.

Don't don't sell us lives.

We see it and we're sick of it.

And it feels like it's very correct.

Thank you.

That brings us to call to the public.

The El Paso City Council is a local government body charged 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 on items not on the agenda 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 against a person or group's character or integrity, 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 be posted on a future agenda.

And per the rules of order, 60 minutes will be allotted for call to the public.

This morning we have more than 20 people signed up to speak.

So each person will be getting two and a half minutes to share their comments.

They can monitor their time on this TV screens in chambers.

It'll start at two and a half minutes.

When you have 30 seconds left, it'll turn to yellow.

When you have five seconds left, it'll turn red at this time.

Please give us your closing comment.

The first speaker is Elizabeth Crawford.

Ms.

Crawford's topic is Earth Day, the color greed, and the international abortion agenda.

Ms.

Crawford, star six, please to unmute your telephone.

Good morning.

You have two and a half minutes.

Good afternoon.

Thank you.

Good morning.

I'd like to speak about abortion Earth Day and World Population, April 22nd, who's been designated as Earth Day.

One of the major concerns being targeted by Earth Day.

Activists is the concern of overpopulation.

People concern that our world population will travel past eight, far beyond eight billion people have been sounding the alarm.

In fact, this is the reason why the abortion lobby uses the color green.

To put it bluntly, kill the baby, save the planet.

RBD tried to do an apocalypse of devastation because of overpopulation that we must destroy David from the womb to rectify the situation.

Is this true?

I've actually heard this rationale given over and over again by guys bringing their girlfriend to the abortion center.

Our world is over urbanized for sure.

The cities of our world are overpopulated.

Over urbanization does not equate an overpopulation of our planet.

Actually, a number of nations of late have found that the alarm that their birth rate are so low, their economy will be unsustainable in a decade or two because not enough young men and women are having babies.

Altogether, it means about half of the world population will die by the accounts of scripture.

We're also called in God's word that the attention of the whole world will be focused on one tiny piece, one tiny nation, the nation of Israel.

Recently read online the foul mouth comments of someone who is writing out of picture for the conservative right, but was commenting that it's absolutely incredible how things are coming to pass as predicted in the Bible.

And the history is not randomly unfolding.

It's all coming together for the coming of the one who is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

Instead of rallying for abortion to save the planet, we'll then cries out to us to flee to the cross to save our soul, to flee to the savor and fall upon his mercy, not for the temporal, but for the eternal.

Thank you.

Hope you have a good day.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Claudia Contreras Siller.

Ms.

Siller's topic is clause against cruelty.

She will be followed by Ron Holy.

Good morning.

Hello, good morning.

So this month uh we're fighting animal cruelty.

That's why I'm wearing a orange ribbon.

Animal Service has been fighting animal cruelty this month very hard.

They have been doing a lot of events.

Clause against cruelty is the theme of this month.

I took bar I have this sign I borrowed.

It says 10,300 plus kittens have been entered.

The shelter, please help us save them.

Save the kittens, EP.com.

And this is why I'm here.

The kittens, because we have a lot of dog lovers, a lot of uh dog advocates, but like the people that we love the cats, we need to be more vocal.

And I am very thankful with animal services that they did the media kickoff about the media.

I'm sorry, the animal cruelty um theme.

And also I want to give thanks to the news and everybody that reported those events, and those are the kind of events we need to push for our animals.

A lot of animal cruelty is happening.

So a week ago, I deal with three three litter of kittens, two were dead, one died on me, one I had to put to sleep, and two were sick, three made it.

So we need to really push and be their voice.

Also, it's kidding season.

They did a kid and shower.

They explain about the TNR, and we as independent can do a lot.

I am independent, and I have TNR, a lot of cats, and I really really appreciate what what Animal Services is doing.

They give us a bag.

Uh, please get a light, uh, orange light this month.

And also, since I'm already talking about animal cruelty, I want to say that people are killing our pigeons.

They're selling them to get shot, and it's not the right thing to do.

1200 pigeons every two weeks.

It's a disgrace.

And I want to send a message to the people that are doing business with our pigeons.

As an a la raza vermal.

Get a real job.

Don't be getting our birds to be shot for pig food or for your crazy stuff.

And also, I want to say I love the police department, and I back the blue 100%.

Uh shout out to the animal cruelty unit and be their voice.

And I'm gonna mention it again.

Clause against cruelty.

Thank you, Fit Fum.

Wildcat orphans, shake the poppins.

We're in the building.

Thank you.

Miss Prime.

Oh, Miss Limon.

I'd like to make a motion to dispense with the rules and allow the public the full three minutes that they are allotted at this meeting and every meeting.

There's a motion and a second to suspend the rules of order.

I'll take a roll call on that motion.

Mayor Potem.

Representative Acevedo.

Aye.

Alonado Rocha.

Aye.

Boyatrejo.

Nino.

Piero.

Limon.

Aye.

And that motion passes unanimously, so each speaker will have three minutes to address council.

The next speaker is Ron Como.

Mr.

Como's topic is exercising his constitutional rights to the rescue 1983 animal services.

He will be followed by Selena Serrano.

IT won't need the elmo.

IT's coming.

I have to be asking if I forget why.

Oh.

Mr.

Colbo, if you can give us anything you'd like to share on the elmo in advance, it would help us.

Okay, I'm sorry.

No worries.

Thank you, sir.

Am I fired?

Can I go home?

No, you still have three minutes.

I'm sorry.

I'll move it down so we'll see.

Okay.

Okay.

Morning.

Another Tuesday.

Okay.

This is what I've got in there is the state of Texas.

It's health and safety codes and regulations.

It's very important because we are violating the law.

Something that's very important on this thing is compatible and equal to or more stringent than.

So anything that we put in our Title VII has to be more stringent than or equal to.

The definition of stray because it's been misused for the last three years, according to the health and safety code is stray means roaming and no physical restraint beyond the premises of the animals' owners or keepers.

That means any loose dog or cat running down the street is a stray, not an owned dog, like we've been hearing for the last three years.

Now you go down to number two.

Each stray dog be declared a public nuisance.

Number three, each unrestrained or stray dog to be detained and impounded by the local rabies control authority or the officers of the designate designee, whatever.

That is state law.

How did we not have room for any more strays?

Stop and think about that for a minute.

Twenty-six thousand plus strays were picked up in 2019.

We have an average in four years of 15,500.

Because we were full.

I am not lying.

I did not lie and say our shelter was too full to pick up strays.

The people at the shelter did.

What are you going to do about it?

They lied to the taxpayer.

We pay for that.

The next speaker is Selina Serrano.

Ms.

Serrano's topic is Northeast Community State Neighbor, Chaparral, New Mexico.

She will be followed by Leo Arcos.

Good morning.

My name is Thelina.

I am from Chapra, New Mexico.

I am a sole provider of three kids.

I am currently a junior at New Mexico State University.

I'm studying civil engineering technology.

And I'm also recovering from three um uh multiple back surgeries due to a benign tumor.

And so I'm here today because I am wanting to just share that we are very concerned for the Northeast.

I know you've been hearing this a few times today, um, but I wanted to bring awareness about the potential closure in the Northeast YMCA of El Paso.

Um, due to the lease agreement between the city and the Northeast of uh I'm sorry, the YMCA of El Paso.

The YMCA, I just want to give some background, it serves a diverse community, including all ages, adults, seniors, and even those experiencing homelessness.

Okay.

So the community the Northeast community will lose a vital resource if the YMCA closes, as it offers community services, pre-tax preparation, swimming lessons, music lessons, fitness training, job opportunities, and much more that is needed in the area.

Some of these programs will relocate, and summer is coming up, and not everyone can afford um, you know, going to Camp Cohen or the splash pad and too young.

You know, a lot of people don't really like that with the splash pad.

And so um, I just wanted to bring to your attention because the YMCAs, once you become a member, you're what you're uh you can access any YMCA in the nation, okay?

And so the others are thriving.

We're not sure why the um uh well to particularly the Northeast one is having so many issues.

So we're asking to reconsider um your decision with the lease uh because we have many people here that are in support.

Um we have Regina here.

Regina is legally blind.

She uh has donated over uh $50,000 to uh the YMCA in the Northeast for the 40 years that she has been a member, and uh she has um also um offered to pay to bring other people here since a lot of people are not able to bring themselves.

I started online petition, and so I have over 170 signatures.

I have people that promote um promoted um to have this um petition um shared.

Also, uh Mr.

Science also has my um the one for the one in person.

We're just asking um to help us because there's a lot going on in the Northeast, a lot of kids, families that need more.

When you're in the summer, if you have a pool at home, great for you, but there's uh people in Northeast that are not gonna have access to anything because there's three pools there and they're about to be all closed.

Please help the Northeast.

We need it.

Thank you.

Have a great day.

Thank you.

Hello, uh City Council, thank you for having me here.

Sorry, sorry.

You're Leo Arcos?

Yes, okay.

Correct.

We have three minutes.

My name is Leo Arcos, and I'm here today as an advocate for my community.

So many of you may know who I am.

The purpose of my remarks is to bring attention to a critical issue that will directly harm the residents of District 4.

As you all know, the YMCA announced that it will close its doors in the northeast of El Paso.

Decision came as a shock not only to the community but the entire city.

After hearing the news, I took it upon myself to look beyond the headlines and seek the truth.

To request transparency and answers during that conversation, asked several questions.

But three out uh stood the most.

First, what is the real reason behind closing the facility that has served our community for over 60 years?

Second, who is responsible for maintaining the building and how were the past funds from membership and donations managed to upkeep since it's their responsibility?

Third, what would it take to keep the YMCA open and operating for the years to come?

Here's what I was told directly from the CEO.

There were ongoing negotiations between the YMCA and the city of El Paso.

This has not never been uh said until I discovered the truth.

The initial proposal of the city required the YMCA to pay market rent value.

Unacceptable.

Which was not financially feasible for the organization.

A second proposal reduced the rent, but requiring the building again to be fixed on their own, which is unrealistic and it's a burden.

Regarding the menu, the CEO said that she has only been in the position for several months and could not provide a clear answer to what happened to those funds and why the building was not properly fixed.

Most importantly, she stated approximately $300,000 is needed to bring the building up to safety code.

But once again, the building is grandfathered in, so I don't know where these numbers are coming from.

Okay.

Let me fast forward because the time is running out.

The question here is as city council members.

Are you willing to work with us, the community to keep this facility open?

We need to work as a team.

Don't let this be another loss.

Let it be an example of what can happen when leadership listens to the voters and act.

You guys have some funds that you guys can spend.

District 4, Mistrejo, you have about $80,000.

I believe you can use some of that money for the community.

As you can see, the community is here.

And you saw the children earlier today, they go to that why.

So act and keep it open.

Continue the lease for one dollar.

Stop trying to make money off a nonprofit organization.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Carlos Science.

The next speaker is Carlos Science, followed by Julia Curtin, Wesley Lawrence, Ivan Rosales, Jessica Kell.

Carlos Science.

I'm back again.

Sorry.

I'm not a politician, so respect with all respect.

I'm not trying to insult anybody, okay?

So don't take it personal.

The fact that just my friend knows telling you, it's all true.

Now we go back, YMCA, lease it for a dollar.

You guys were making the city, not you guys personally, okay?

Wasn't really making any money off of it to begin with.

And then which was a dollar, so you guys or somebody can rent it for a dollar again, which will bring the initial cost down and be able to for the CEO or whatever to be able to uh rent it and not close it.

That's what it boils down to.

And if the building needs repairs, like my friend just said, you guys have money.

You can pump some money into this building to bring it back into par so we can use it and we don't have all this stuff going on.

Okay, so I really appreciate it because in retrospect, I'm going back to the duck bridge, the duck plaza.

It's a pipe cream, brothers.

It is a real pipe cream.

You're hoping for this, you're hoping for that.

This is for things not on the agenda.

Okay, well, anyway, the money you guys can spend is for the Northeast.

This applies again, people, all of us, thousands of couples, thousands of elders again from where?

Five points, all the way to Chaparral.

That's a lot of us.

It's a lot of us elderlies, it's a lot of you young folks.

And we really need your support.

Okay, so in part, yeah, they're connected.

The deck plaza and the YMCA money-wise.

Millions, deck plaza, why am let's say a couple of mil, maybe five.

They can rent it for a dollar for another 10 years, another 30 years.

You didn't have the money before.

And now you can keep our community happy and viable, the well-being, the quality of life.

Remember, you guys push quality of life.

Let's step up to it for all of us elderly, that's what we need from you guys.

The other part on the egg plaza, don't vote for it.

It's no good.

It's a pipe dream.

A lot of investors, a lot of people that are the reason I'm saying it because I heard him.

They told me, Carlos, why don't you vote for it?

And I said, No, because I go for the people, I don't go for the business stuff.

Okay.

That in that time it was 425 million.

That was three years ago.

So what's being put out of the news is not real at all.

Just think about all how the materials cost of living has gone up.

You think it's gonna stay at 400?

No, it's gonna go over more than a half a billion dollars.

And then the maintenance on it and the tax that we're gonna have to pay for it, not logical.

Ask the people.

Vote.

Ask the people to vote on this item.

Please.

The next speaker is Julia Curtin.

Ms.

Curtin star six, please to unmute your telephone.

Good morning.

You have three minutes.

Good morning and hello.

Uh Mayor Cortan, City Council members.

My name is Julia Curtin, and I am a concerned resident of district to Northeast El Paso.

I'm a mom.

I am here on this call today to talk about the bowling family YMCA closure.

So tragic.

It is critical.

I voice my strong support for the proposed solution.

The solution allowing a new nonprofit to take over operation of the YMCA facility.

This is a unique opportunity.

It does a few great things.

Number one, it addresses the city's fiscal concern.

Two, listens and honors the needs of the community.

Three, addresses our lack of aquatic facilities in a tangible way.

And four, partner with the city and creatively addresses equity concerns for the Northeast here in the city of El Paso.

This nonprofit has committed to assuming all renovation costs, retaining staff and public access, and relieving the city substantial financial burden.

The city reps talk about partnering.

This is partnering.

The impact on seniors and families.

For our senior population, this facility is literally a lifeline.

I recently visited the facility following up on a community concern.

For 10 a.m.

the parking lot was surprisingly full.

I only got a spot because someone left.

I walked into building family by MCA and the buzz and hub of all friends talking and being healthy was off the chain.

I thought this can never go away.

This is urgent.

My daughter is a competitive swimmer.

We are pro-Beteran Sea Devils.

There is a lot that is in great.

That means it changed our life.

It gave my daughter a healthy competitive outlet and swim friends.

The smile on her face still brings me joy.

I myself joined a triathlon team of swim moms.

Me a mighty mujeres.

No wave.

But I have been training and swimming wherever we could for almost a year.

It changed my health.

It literally and physically changed my heart for the better.

I even joined a coalition.

Advocates for quality urban aquatics Northeast El Paso.

Aqua.

The word is coming.

Including the Northeast community has lost to be, has lost grandmother, have lost the WCA on Sahela.

And with veteran schools still under construction, we cannot move the Boley family YMCA or families, and you deserve healthy heart.

Breaking outcome.

Reach an agreement.

This facility must be a good idea.

Thank you, ma'am.

You've reached the three minutes.

Thank you, Ms.

Curtin's Representative Tlejo.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Temp.

I would I would like to suspend the rules of order to be able to address the public.

And I make a motion to to address to suspend the rules of order.

To address you can't as long as you do not deliberate or decide any subject on the agenda.

You cannot deliberate with the public or decide anything on the topic not on the agenda.

Second.

Thank you.

Hold on.

Representative Fierra.

Thank you.

What is your question, sir?

No.

There is there's no permission to deliberate on the subject matter.

If it's not a posted agenda item.

So the reason the call to the public is call to the public exists to allow members of the public to address the council on items that are not listed on the agenda.

Under the Texas Open Meetings Act, in order for the council to deliberate, you need to have an item posted that allows the council to deliver.

I believe that you're just seemingly wanting to make a statement.

However, this is not a moment for deliberation.

The public has not been given any opportunity to know that this is going to be discussed by the council.

Representative Nino.

Thank you, Mayor Botem.

So as long as Reprejo makes a comment or statement, but the council members don't deliberate or have any feedback, that's where the deliberation aspect takes place.

It's a little bit more nuanced than that because you all are present in the quorum, right?

So the deliberation happens because there's conversation happening from one member of council.

Um, I would I would recommend that you keep your statements very brief and that the council move on to another item.

Would you like me to call for a vote?

Is that there any further discussion?

Okay, call it for a vote.

Thank you, Ms.

Pray.

Mayor Pro Tem Chavez.

Representative Acevedo?

Aye.

Maldonado Rocha.

Aye.

Nino?

Aye.

Fierro.

If um Ms.

Neiman's saying it's appropriate and legal, aye.

Limo?

Aye.

Canales.

Aye.

And the motion passes unanimously.

But she gives yourself open for discussion with the public.

Go ahead.

Thank you.

I'll keep it brief.

I just want to let everyone here who's here to speak on the why.

You know, it's it's so important that you're here, and I appreciate you all being here.

Uh we are engaging in in in and exploring opportunities for the why.

And I just want to say thank you all for being here today.

Thank you.

Okay, the next speaker is Wesley Lawrence.

Mr.

Lawrence Star 6, please to unmute your telephone.

Wesley Lawrence.

Star six, please.

Good morning.

You have three minutes.

Hello, can you hear me?

Yes.

Good morning, members of council and mayor pro tem Chavez.

I just want to thank for allowing the public to speak on such an important item that is impacting members of the Northeast community.

Since the announcement of the closure of the YMCA, my phone has been off the hook.

As anything more, I'm a resident of District 4 and a community advocate specifically for the Northeast of El Paso.

And I know that we have a great deal that is being presented to members of council to save the YMCA.

I want to thank Sarah and Robert Osterland for bringing their family to the forefront and doing everything they can to save the YMCA in Northeast El Paso.

Either being willing to take over the massive amount of debt it would take to fix up the YMCA, but also to make sure that it runs as a nonprofit so that members of the community can continue to get this important resource for um not only for seniors uh but for young people as well.

I want to give just a brief story about how I came to know uh the benefits of the YMCA.

Uh and it was when I was involved in Boy Scouts back in my underdays.

Uh it's where I got my three mirror badge, it's where I teach many young people uh how to swim and how to earn their swimmer badge.

Um that is a resource that without the YMCA we would not be able to have.

Um have reached out to me, just know that the solution is going to be great for our community.

It's going to allow you to continue to have a safe space in the Northeast to exercise, to socialize, uh, and to really just build community.

Uh I'm really excited for other opportunities that possibly can be made.

I mean, I'd love to see the YMCA really turn into a community hub focused on addressing the needs that face our community.

Um things such as uh housing security, food insecurity, and yes, even animal welfare um needs as well, bringing a pet pantry into the YMCA uh or even being able to allow people to um you know foster animals out of the YMCA here in the Northeast.

Those are issues that many of us are worried about.

When we talk about inequality, you know, for some weird reason all the bad things continue to happen here in the Northeast.

Um, and that's why many of us are always concerned with being treated like the red-headed stepchild of the city.

I think that um at the YMCA is successfully saved, that this will really put a good um light on the Northeast really shining to see what the possibilities can be with this.

You know, it really moved me that the family was willing to put everything on the line to fight for our seniors to fight for our young people.

You know, people like to criticize the Northeast as being an unsafe area, and I want to set the record once again that the Northeast is the safest side of El Paso.

Full stop, period.

Um the YMCA will allow youth to find a place where they don't have to worry about gang violence, or they don't have to worry about truancy.

Um, it'll bring them a safe space for them and their families to continue to survive through the reach the three minutes.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Ivan Rosales.

Ivan Gonzalez will be followed by Jessica Kell.

Good morning.

Good morning.

My name is Ivan Rosales, and I am here as a Northeast resident, a veteran, C Devil swim parent, and a leader for Aqua Coalition.

Advocates for quality urban aquatics.

When veterans pool closed last summer, Northeast El Paso was left without a public facility, forcing families, seniors, and teams to travel across the city.

This wasn't just inconvenient.

It highlighted how neglected our community is regarding fair access to aquatic resources, impacting everyone from children learning how to swim, adults seeking exercises, and seniors needing therapeutic recreation.

That's why we formed Aqua Coalition to unite our voices and advocate for a Northeast auditorium.

The Northeast is home to more than a hundred thousand residents and continues to grow with thousands of new homes being built.

Yet we are expected to rely on one aging pool, while other parts of the city have multiple quality aquatic facilities and auditoriums.

That disparity disparity is deeply disappointing.

Our primary goal has been to secure inclusion in the city's 10-year master plan for an editorium in the Northeast.

To achieve this, we have worked with various city departments and continue to collaborate with Representative Trejo.

Despite our efforts, we were informed that the city intends to prioritize maintaining existing facilities while an editorium for the Northeast is viewed as a long-term aspiration, dependent on future funding and demand.

This decision is another devastating blow for our community.

Since Veterans Pool is already considered renovated, leaving the Northeast excluded once again.

And now, will Veterans Pool remains closed, the Northeast YMCA, the last accessible pool in our area is also closing.

So I ask you today, how many closures, how many setbacks, and how many lost opportunities must the Northeast endure before real action is taken?

This is a viable, there is a viable and immediate solution.

A Northeast family is stepping forward with a nonprofit partnership to keep the YMCA facility open, preserving jobs, maintaining essential programs, keeping silver sneakers, funding renovations through private investment, not city dollars.

This is not a risk, it is a lifetime, a lifeline.

We are not asking for special treatment.

We are asking for fairness, for equity, for a chance to protect access to safe swimming, health therapy, opportunity for seniors, children, families, student athletes who have already lost so much.

The decision before you is more than administrative.

It is symbolic.

It will tell the Northeast whether it is seen.

Value Ms.

Rosalind's worth fighting.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Jessica Kell.

Ms.

Cal Star 6, please to unmute your telephone.

Jessica Kell.

Go ahead, ma'am.

You have three minutes.

Go ahead, Miss Kell.

We're unable to hear you, Miss Kelly your microphone is ready.

You're back on mute, ma'am.

Star 6, please to unmute your telephone.

Star 6, please.

I'll come back to Ms.

Kell, I think.

Go ahead, Miss Kell, your microphone is ready.

Okay.

Hello.

Good morning.

My name is Jessica Kell, and I am calling in on behalf of the support for nonprofit.

And to address mayor and city council members, my name is Jessica Kell, as I said, and I am a resident of District 4.

I'm here today to voice my strong support for the proposal, allowing a new nonprofit to take over the operations of the YMCA facility.

We're purposing uh or the proposal presented a new uh unique opportunity that addresses the city's fiscal concerns for honoring the needs of our community, especially our city senior citizens.

The prophesy has committed to assuming our renovation costs, retaining current staff, containing public access, and the impact on our seniors and families for a senior population.

This facility is more than just the gym.

As mentioned before, quality of life is uh greatly advocate, and this would be a task to make that known in the Northeast.

Um community emergency, the Northeast community has already faced significant loss of aquatic and recreational spaces, several schools around the Northeast, to include Tilburn Granville and the YMCA in Sahara and Veteran School.

And um, which is now still under construction or renovation.

Um we simply cannot afford to have another facility taken away from our community.

This proposal has overwhelming community support.

Um we have them coming together as a community to collect these signatures.

I urge you to please uh reach an agreement that reflects the the clearness of our constituents and ensures this facility remains um a con corner store corn corner store of our um Nathy.

Thank you for your time and service to our city, and I uh greatly urge you to um come up with a solution, come up with the plan.

Our community needs this.

Um we can afford not afford to lose another another aquatic facility in the community center for our seniors and family.

Thank you.

The next speaker is John Camacho, followed by Lola Rosales, Miguel Melendez, Rick Alvarado, Mike Becker, Esperanza Avila, John Camacho.

I don't see John Camacho, Lola Rosales.

Yes.

Good morning, everybody.

Uh we are here for the same.

The problem from the YMCA.

Uh, like uh I'm the voice of all my this group of people, senior citizens, members of the YMCA, and we are asking for your support, we are asking for your help.

We need that.

For most of us, to go to the gym is our lifeline.

We're going there to to exercise, to help therapies, to have emotional support.

That means a lot for us, for all of us.

So we need it.

And it's not fair to go and exercise in another community.

If we have one here at Northeast, so we are asking if you can help us to keep the YMCA okay.

So make something else, another recreation center for us, because we need it.

We need that.

But in the Northeast, please, we can we can be able to drive to very forth far distance.

It's too far for us.

Most of the of us, we are seniors.

We we're not driving long distances.

Our cars, there's not so good.

And you know, the cost of living is too high.

The gas is too high.

So we need something in our community of Northeast.

Please help us, like a voting member.

I'm asking you for out for your help.

Thank you.

John Camacho.

John Camacho.

Morning, you have three minutes.

Morning, uh, Mayor Pro Town, City Council.

Uh I'm here on a different reason.

Uh I like to advocate more or less for the high school students who need to train to be swimming.

My son is a coach at one of the six high schools that's in Northeast and Central, who relied on utilizing the facilities at the Y in order to train.

If you live on the east side of the town, the west side, beautiful aquatic centers.

But it's been a burden on the high school students to keep any kind of a swim team going.

You don't have the participation that much in Northeast for swimming.

It could be a lot better, but I've already heard this a number of times, where people are telling me that it's too much of a hassle to go to the west side, the east side to go somewhere to learn to swim.

The Y has been that little point where they've learned been able to do their training and to have some kind of a swim team going.

I'm also a member of that why.

I utilize the facilities all the time.

I've been through therapy with my shoulders with problems, and the exercise equipment there is exactly what I had in therapy.

So I'm able to continue on to keep my health going.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Ray Calvarado.

Rick Alvarado.

Followed by Mike Becker.

Uh good morning.

Uh just came again to talk about the Y and uh really thank all the people that came, they've articulated very well about why the Northeast YMCA needs to stay open.

So I'm just gonna say a couple of things uh about the Y you guys know it's been out there for sixty years or more, and uh and uh I myself was been a member for about 28 plus years.

My kids have gone there, now my grandkids are going there.

But uh the most important thing is I mean, look at the the people you're trying to affect.

So you really need to take it to consideration that uh if you were to go to the Y right every morning between Monday and Friday in the morning, you would see all these young ladies working out, and then afterwards they stay for so for their social life, they mingle and they stay and they have fun.

So you're trying to take that away from them.

Second of all, if you go on a Saturday, you see the buzz of all so many kids and parents as they're participating participating in sports.

You have a gentleman by the name of Jerry that does the taxes for free for people that starts in January and ends in April, and there you should see the amount of people that go through there.

So what you all are trying to do is not right, it's almost criminal to be honest with you.

I call it criminal, and I know it's something that there's funds for everything.

The why it would not take that much money to renovate.

I know that you know there's contractors that would be willing to negotiate and help you guys almost free to help stay keep the northeast open.

So I urge you guys to look in your hearts, and remember all the Y members that go through through the Y doors, all of them have a story, and their stories matter.

So please keep the Y open as it should be.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Mike Baker.

Good morning, sir.

You have three minutes.

Good morning, council.

I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you.

Um there's not a whole lot I can say right now that hasn't already been said.

I just would like the support of the council and especially the Northeast representative that we voted for to go to bat for us.

I've been a member, I've been in El Paso for 60 years, and I remember when I was ten years old playing baseball where the parking lot is at the YMCA right now.

Okay.

You see all these people here and here, but what you don't see is the children and the rest of their families that go to that facility and what the YMCA does for those children, developing them.

After school programs, summer programs, what have you.

Okay.

I was asked to speak about the high school swimmers.

It was already it was already brought up.

So I do urge, you know, that we keep the YMCA open.

I was not aware of why they were closing it.

I asked the question 20 times, but then it was brought to me brought to my attention today that the dollar a year has gone away.

And they want to they want to charge rent for market value.

That's completely ridiculous.

Okay.

And if that's true, it's disappointing that that came as a decision.

But please, I want like like Richard said, I know a lot of these people.

I've been talking on their behalf for years because I've been going there since my kids were born, and they're in their 30s now.

Okay.

But please look into your heart and reconsider and help keep the YMCA open.

Thank you very much.

The next speaker is Esperanza Avila, Mes Avila will address the council in Spanish.

You can follow along using the QR code on the monitors.

That would give you access to the live interpretation.

Buenos días.

Buenos días, concilio.

My name is Esperanza Ávila.

Estoy aquí apoyando mis compañeros del YMCA porque el YMCA me necesitamos que stay abierto porque es para todas las edades.

Tenemos desde un año, edad de un año hasta 90 años.

Usted sí vaya al YNCA y no ve caras tristes.

Usted ve pura sonrisas.

Y ahí este no hay que nadie se fija de nada.

Y ahí andamos haciendo nuestros ejercicios.

I clases de natación.

Hay guardería.

Zumba también.

Yoga.

No necesitamos.

Ay en el guay.

Agua, ejercicio.

Tenemos ejercicio.

Then we're socialization.

Services communitarios de la y también queremos que nos dejan el guay porque es para la communidad de allí de UAI.

Porque todos las personas de allí vamos allá a hacer nuestros ejercicios y a la alberca.

Yo no había conocido a la persona que nos puede apoyar.

Hasta aquí la conocí, que es la señora Trujillo.

Tejo, no se nos había presentado.

Entonces, eso es lo que a mí me preocupa.

Gracias.

The next speaker is Miguel Valéndez.

Miguel Meléndez.

Is Miguel Meléndez here?

I don't see him coming forward.

We'll move on to Bruno Vázquez.

Bruno Vázquez.

Mr.

Vázquez topic is architecture week in El Paso.

Good morning, uh Mayor Pro Temporary Council members and fellow El Pasoans.

My name is Bruno Vázquez.

I am a local architect working in private practice in El Paso.

Earlier this year, I was appointed to serve in the American Institute of Architects Public Awareness Committee.

And this is a national level role focused on strengthening public understanding of architecture and the vital role that architects play in shaping communities.

However, I don't think that I can talk about much about architecture today other than what you've seen so far.

The power of buildings and what they represent.

This is a national level initiative, and this year old password is showing up in a big way.

A few days ago, my colleagues and I were honored to meet with Major Johnson, who issued a proclamation celebrating a series of events that began yesterday.

Authors of children's literature on architecture, urbanism and design, are reading their own books via remote meeting during the week.

Yesterday I was present at Jose Damiana Elementary in Canutillo ISD, and it was really heartwarming to see a group of first graders connected with other kids from all over the country.

Uh while they were listening to Nina Laden reading her book, Roberto, the insect architect.

Really fun.

On Saturday, we are heading to La Nube, designed by the internationally acclaimed firms nowhere in collaboration with local firm uh Exigo for a conceptual design workshop from 9 to 1.

Children will engage their imagination and discover firsthand the fundamentals of how buildings take shape.

Emphasis on fun.

And then on April 19, we are closing architecture week with our annual 5K run and fun walk.

Participants will run or walk alongside some of El Paso's most iconic buildings, including El Paso High School, the Lady on the Hill, designed by Henry Trost.

Each year we celebrate a feature building in all our raised materials.

Last year was La Nube, this year is the Mac.

Our medals, our t shirts, our logos, everything is related to these buildings.

Architecture is everywhere around us.

In the buildings where we gather, the schools where our children learn, the streets where we run.

These events are our way of inviting El Pasuans, especially our kids, to look up to see architecture and to feel proud of it because the buildings of a city are uh they are their biography, and El Paso has a very strong story to tell.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Marcy Chavez.

Miss Chavez's topic is Montana Vista Water Phase 2 project.

Marcy Chavez.

Eddie Chavez.

Mr.

Chavez's topic is El Paso Water and Sewer for Montana Vista.

Good morning.

So you have three minutes.

Good morning.

I didn't know these people from Northeast were gonna come.

I was born and raised there in the YMCA.

My kids were born and raised there.

It was just a little pothole when I remember when we were kids.

It was a place to get away from school.

But I hope good luck to them.

But now I'm on another project.

I'm with and God put me out there in Montana Vista where I'm trying to uh I finally we had a nice meeting with the city uh water department the night uh last Thursday.

We had a good turnout.

Unfortunately, the people that went didn't really understand what they were afraid to answer questions.

I hope we have another one, but at least now we know we got attention that people out there need the service.

And I'm trying to get find out why if they got 23 28 million dollars back in 2023.

This was when Tony Gonzalo was in Congress, and they've been three years and they've done very little to help these people.

At least put some water uh those overhead tanks out there or something to help these people.

Some of them don't even have any water.

They need somebody to talk to them.

Well, I hate to be there.

I got a lot of things, I got a lot of hats and places where I have to be, but uh I I try to do the best I can.

But hopefully, here Northeast that I heard about uh I was with the Nur Neighborhood Association for 12 years.

I mean, I'm sorry, four years in 2010, uh with um Gilda Wilson.

We did the two skate parks out there in Northeast.

I don't know if because the same thing, the kids didn't have nowhere to go.

We finally got the money together, and it's just uh things are so we lost our ball in Ali.

Kids didn't have to know where to uh go and communicate together, and now that these people are trying to get the YMCA back together again.

We have to continue the uh the um I guess the juveniles from getting away and not finding anywhere to where uh where to go.

But we got a good city representative, and I know she's trying, she got a whole handful.

I know, but she's doing good.

Cynthia, thank you.

You're doing good.

Better than when we had Sleepy Joe, anyways.

Uh Joe's a good friend of mine, he'll take it all right.

But anyways, thank you so much for all you do, okay, and whatever I can do.

Thank you.

God bless you.

The next speaker also regarding Montana Vista Water Phase 2 project is Marcy Chavez.

She will be followed by Aaron Morga.

Good morning.

Morning.

Good morning, and God bless everybody.

Um I'm here to speak about this, you know, the Montana Vista phase two.

And even though that I don't reside over there, but I'm pretty common with everything that goes on in this within the city.

Uh I went to their meeting uh on past week last week, and they were asking people to fill out this documents to see they qualified for free, not non-paying eight thousand seven hundred dollars according to what they're gonna be charged for the pipelines.

And I asked the individuals from the water department, how do they expect this areas, these people that we can't even afford any more buying groceries, paying utilities, because they keep going up every year, twice a year, sometimes.

And I'm a witness to that because I have my bills, and I live by myself, and I'm never home, and I pay 300 in the water, 400, 600 in the electric.

Uh now I even had to pay $300 in gas.

So you tell me how is it that you're not exploiting the people of El Paso?

And I say exploiting because every scam that is out there is not who you are, it's who you know.

And we all know there's a lot of people now that are awake and there's they're they're watching you all misspending money in this beautiful highway item with decorations.

We are dying of hunger here.

And why isn't it that you're not taking uh care of the community?

And that is my point.

I suggest that you read Proverbs 15 to 31, and maybe you can understand.

I was gonna read it, but I don't have the time.

So, anyways, I will continue.

I hope that this project doesn't have anything to do with the AI databases, because we all know about them, or not everybody, but there's a lot of uh ignorance in regards to that, and they're using our water.

It is within the county to provide water, it's the within the county to provide for the pipes, because we already paid taxes over taxes over taxes.

So, why these people being charged eight thousand seven hundred dollars?

They don't understand that nothing's for free.

Eventually, there's consequences for the work free.

Who has to pay them?

We do, the hard working people.

And I've been working all my life, and to this as old as I am, I'm still working.

And so were the smart meters.

Who gave you authority to change all the water meters, you know, to smart meters, just like the electric?

Same thing.

This is not right.

You all are just doing your whatever you want.

You don't ask the community if it's okay, you don't ask, you don't even tell them the consequences that it will bring eventually.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Aaron Morga, followed by Albert Rivera, Janet Fierro, Julie Alvarado, Mary Woodruff, Elisa Yamas.

Mr.

Morgan's topic is city approved projects that contribute to air pollution and lower standards of living.

Good morning, city council.

I almost didn't make it to today's meeting because like hundreds of thousands of my fellow pastors, we have to work, and oftentimes we can't come to these things to speak on issues.

But uh that doesn't mean that we don't care about these things, you know.

Um we elected you all to protect our interests and to defend the public good, and I honestly don't believe that that's the case with what I'm about to speak on.

Um I just thought it would be important to take some time off work today to to uh to come ask you a simple question, really, and I'll preface that by by pointing out the fact that we live in the border next to Juarez, who uh has hundreds of factories, dozens of cement plants, asphalt plants, so they have quarries, uh they don't regulate the emissions on their cars, and on top of that they're burning trash and rubber every couple times a month, coating the the horizon on in black haze, really.

So we're already living in a very polluted environment regardless of what we do here.

On top of that, we have cement quarter, we have cement plants, we have asphalt plants, we have quarries, we have our warehouses with semis, uh we have the gas refinery, and then on top of that, the dust, the heat.

So basically my question is when you walk out on any given day and take a deep breath into your lungs, does it feel good?

I mean I work outside every day, and I'm blessed that I don't have asthma, I don't have respiratory issues, thank God.

Uh I have friends that do, and they suffer with that, but when I come home from work, my lungs hurt.

Uh I blow my nose, it's brown, it's gray, and that's just on any given day here.

And um it's just strange to me that we're talking about closing YMCAs and and removing funding from that, yet we're trying to bring in corporations who are gonna build a gas plant that's gonna pollute more than all the cars in the tri-state area combined.

Uh I don't see how that makes sense.

And it just doesn't, it doesn't make sense to me.

I don't understand if you guys maybe, I don't know if the mayor, I know he's not here.

Do you guys have a dome over your homes that I don't know is the air, like do we not breathe the same air?

How are we bringing in corporations that are gonna invest billions of dollars to take our water to take our to pollute our air and to increase our energy bills and the fact that I know that Mayor Johnson takes millions of dollars from uh hundreds of thousands of dollars from millionaires and billionaires?

So I understand that, but all of you um I really don't understand.

I mean, do you not have children and grandchildren?

We breathe the same air.

Drive down um the highway and look at the horizon.

I mean that's that's all I have to say.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Albert Rivera.

Albert Rivera.

Rene Fierro.

Mr.

Fierro's topic is economic development.

He will be followed by Mary Woodrow.

May I begin?

Yes, you have three minutes.

Uh good morning, council.

Um, so I've not been paid, offered anything or promised anything in exchange uh for my comments today.

Um they're in regard to economic development, um, partially to some of the major projects that are being discussed, including the debt park and the data centers, and I'll try to tie it into other things um happening or not happening in the city.

Um to begin, I'd you know, I I have a son, and so I often tell him that you know having ideas is a good thing, but not all ideas are good ideas, and and even sometimes when you have a good idea, there are reasons not to do it.

And so obviously, with these projects, there's also supposed to be pros and cons.

And too often we don't get when the city it seems like uh wants to do something, we hear about all the pros.

Anything good, we hear about it over and over and over again, but we don't get the cons.

We don't learn what are the potential consequences, what are the likely consequences?

What can we expect at the end, and not just um what what are the good things do we get right now?

Um so Mr.

Gutenrath, Joe Gutenrath was up here to talk about the debt park, and he started um his uh comments by talking about uh issue about parking downtown and how he think it would be a good idea to use all the revenue generated from the parking meters and to keep it for downtown so it doesn't go to the general fund.

And that's like, well, of course you do.

And isn't that how where these projects always end up where we end up?

Well, we've got to do something for downtown, we've got to do something for downtown.

And it's like, you know, what about the rest of the community?

What about the other parts of the city?

Everybody pays what's supposed to be a flair fair flat tax rate or whatever, until you know you want to build a nice building where the city could actually get a lot of significant tax revenue, then they cut the tax rates in half and and they give them rebates.

And so these people are not even paying their fair share of taxes, they're getting tax breaks, and that's and that's that would lift the burden off of homeowners if you fully tax some of these buildings that you that that you give tax breaks for economic development reasons, but the city doesn't see the benefit at the end.

The business does, and they do great, and the city and the residents don't get the benefits.

And so um, with regard to the tech the debt park, I do um think the city should invest in green spaces and stuff.

There's there's needs for green spaces all over the city, and the 400 million dollar price tag or whatever for the debt part could build lots of parks all over the city and plans.

Thank you, Mr.

Fiero.

You've reached three minutes.

The next speaker is Julie Alvarado.

Julie Alvarado.

Her topic is break the 380 tax agreement.

She will be followed by Mary Woodrow.

Good morning, Mayor Pro Tem and Mayors of City County and members of City Council.

My name is Julia Alvarado, and I am a member of the Northeast District 2.

I am here today to speak in opposition of the Meta Data Center, specifically to implore the mayor and council to vote to break the chapter 380 tax agreement.

The changes that were announced to the magnitude and scope of this project should automatically render this agreement null and void.

This terrible agreement is an insult to every citizen of El Paso, and it is the result of our elected officials choosing the recommendations of those who stood to profit the most, overdoing their due diligence to fully understand the impact of the data center on our community and our environment.

Though only a few of you were on council at that time, you are all here now, in this moment and in this position.

Your actions at this time, right now, must honor the generations that came before and safeguard the generations to come.

As city councils, as city council, your duty is to act in the best interest of the citizens of El Paso, not Meta, and not the borderplex alliance.

How you choose to act will have far reaching consequences.

So we, the people of El Paso, are calling on you, our elected officials, to break the 380 tax agreement with Meta to protect our natural resources and fight for the future of El Paso.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Mary Woodrow.

She will be followed by Elisa Yamas.

Ms.

Woodruff's topic is El Paso Electric Meadow Power Plant.

That's a hard uh act to follow.

Good morning.

My name is Mary Woodruff.

I am with Sembrando Esperanzas, but I am also here as a taxpayer and a constituent.

By the way, thank you for allowing me to speak and also for your support to this community and your service.

I urge you not to approve El Paso Electric application.

This application is to build a natural gas power plant.

This is not a neutral decision.

Power plants like this are tied to higher rates of respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and premature death.

And it's all let's be clear.

This facility is being not being built for the people.

It's being built to serve the Meta Data Center.

Other communities, including the state of Maine, are drawing heart lines and pausing and rejecting these projects because they understand the long-term cost to public health and to natural resources and the infrastructure.

El Paso should not be less protective of its residents.

You cannot promote quality of life while approving projects that degrade it.

That's right.

Do not be swayed by million-dollar proposals or once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that build on uncertain economic promises.

Once they're approved, the impact are real, they're immediate, but most of all they're irreversible.

El Paso does not need a deck plaza.

It could uh achieve its goals for quality of life and green um walking paths, whatever.

It could be achieved without destroying or or inconveniencing the traffic and uh displacing people uh by expanding the I 10.

Um this is not in opposition uh to growth or anti-growth.

This is in response to leadership, leadership that protects health, values community decision making, um, prior uh prioritizes sustainability and honors uh campaign commitments that were made to this community.

If the council truly stands for quality of life, then prove it.

Choose people over projects, right?

Health over promises, and the future of El Paso over short-term deals or whatever.

Um again, I thank you for your support, and I've seen the the changes that my um city council person is making uh to improve our our community.

And once again, I thank you for your service and and commitment to this community.

Oh no, to these pro three projects.

Um they're not in our benefit.

They're not going to be able to do that.

Thank you, Mark.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Elisa Yamas.

Ms.

Yamas' topic is also the meta data center.

She will be followed by Vanessa Almana.

Hello, good well, good morning or good afternoon.

I don't know what time it is.

Um my name is Elisa Yamas.

I have been a resident of the city for 10 years.

Thank you for letting me come and talk to you.

I'm extremely concerned about the amount of water that will be used by the Northeast Data Center.

The city of El Paso currently uses between 110 to 160 million gallons of water per day.

And the data center is expected to use 1.5 million gallons of water per day.

If these figures are correct, that means that the data center will be consuming approximately one percent of our total daily water usage.

That calculation was derived by dividing 1.5 million by 150 million, 150 million, which is equal to 0.01, which is equal to 1%.

In July of 2016, the El Paso Public Service Board made a very wise decision by developing a plan to import water via pipeline from Dell City by the years 2040 to 2050 in order to ensure El Paso has enough water for the future.

El Paso is projected to spend up to 890 million dollars to buy 70,000 acres if they have haven't done it already of land in Dell City, which is 130 miles away from here.

If we are planning to import water from another city to save our own city from a future drought, then why are we inviting a business to El Paso that will use so much water for only 50 jobs?

This makes no sense.

Corpus has less than half the amount of people of El Paso.

If you only count the city limits of both cities.

Corpus Christi has two times more the amount of rainfall than El Paso does.

Yet Corpus is in danger of not meeting their water obligations by July of 2027.

Corpus Christi is showing us that if we are not careful with our most valuable resource, we can go down to dangerous levels, dangerous water levels.

Also, please pay attention and study other cities that have had negative consequences with data centers before we proceed further.

Thank you.

If we are planning to import water from Dell City 14 years from now.

Thank you so much.

I appreciate you.

The next speaker is Vanessa Almada.

Vanessa Almada.

I don't see her coming forward.

The next group of speakers signed up with Amanecer People's Project.

And per the rules of order, they have they will select a representative to speak on their behalf, and Mr.

Miguel Escoto will be speaking on the behalf of Amana Ced People's Project, and he will have six minutes to speak per the rules of order.

Hello, City Council.

I've been community organizing for seven years straight, and I can say that the data center crisis is the single most controversial issue, the most widely felt, deeply felt issue that we have seen.

And it's very unified.

We do not want these data centers.

We don't want the meta data center specifically.

Behind me is our members of Amana Ced, organizers with Amana Ced.

I would like to pass the mic to them, if that's okay with you all.

Uh they're gonna speak a little bit.

But here I want you to remember that we at Amana said, we are organized, we are relentless, and we're not gonna take excuses.

The meta data center has to stop.

You have to break the deal.

So I'll pass it over to some of my colleagues, and we'll try to be in time.

Thanks.

Hi, everyone.

You've seen me before.

My name is Harry White.

I'm a Northeast representative under Mr.

Acevedo.

But as you heard from many of the folks here, the Northeast goes from Mr.

area farther north.

We're all one community.

And all the folks that spoke about keeping the Y open, the meta data center would cause more damage to our community than closing the Y.

I stand with them, but I stand with all uh folks who live in the Northeast.

We need to break the 380 deal.

Thank you.

Hello, City Council.

My name is Alejandro Reese from District One.

I care deeply about my city's future and our children's future.

My mother, retired elementary school teacher, taught me the importance of our youth and the life we create for them in the future.

I'm concerned about the environmental financial cost incurred by the people from their monthly bills, and ultimate ultimately my local government's inability to represent the people's interest.

Break the deal with Meta.

Good morning.

My name is Jay, and I live out in Clinton on the far east side.

I'm a community organizer focusing on helping Opasuans and communities all across the state protect themselves from imminent domain and different forms of industrial expansion.

Over the past few months, I've talked to hundreds of opasuans, and it has been beautiful to see so many different people from all walks of life coming together to oppose the Meta project.

My parents live here.

I'm raising my daughter here, and we want to stay here.

Opasum means everything to us, and we have to protect our resources at all costs.

A future framework does nothing to oppose Meta.

Break the deal.

Good morning.

My name is Ariana Gonzalez Iker.

I'm a born and raised El Pasoan from District 3.

I'm here to express opposition to data centers in our city right now and for the future.

Break the contract with Meta and stop telling us it cannot be done while they continue to amend the terms of that contract to accommodate their needs.

Such as building a power plant, lying about returning water to the city and using evaporative cooling rather than solar power.

Urge the public service board to do the right thing for our community.

Do not stand with these people who called us a virus just because we're protecting our home.

It's not enough to tell us that you are against the data centers.

We need each of you to do more.

It is your responsibility.

At this moment, you can choose to stand with the people who elected you and who you vowed to serve, or you could become just another thing that we have to overcome.

Thank you.

Um and just to see if they're still on the call, is America Tirado still on, if if she can unmute.

Ms Mr.

Scotto, you were supposed to be the spokesperson for everyone since you're in a group of ten or more.

Yeah, just to summarize.

Okay.

Yeah, go for it.

I'm still here.

Okay, hello everyone.

Um, my name is America Pirado.

I am a resident of District 8.

I know for all of you guys representatives, it's probably not easy to sit there for hours listening to all of us talk.

So thank you for being present.

But I want you to do more of that.

So I am a mother, um, and I'm also a resident of District 8 if I didn't say that.

And my motivation can be linked back to Doctors is the story, the Lorac, which is a story about growth without limits, about decisions made for profit, and about what happens when no one speaks up in time.

I don't want El Paso to be the Lorac.

Don't fall through what they're telling you.

You know, you can do better for this community.

Um I'm against the data center.

I don't want them to get their tax money.

They made billions of dollars in revenue in 2025.

So stop the contract and break it.

Thank you.

And there are a lot of other um set members that are on the call right now that are not able to speak because of this rule, but we really want to impress upon you all that there are thousands of us.

Um our campaign has sent your offices over 4,000 emails explaining this, that we are against the meta data center specifically.

We're not gonna take an excuse.

This has to be broken.

This is an unjust contract.

And we've attended all the city all the city organized meetings.

We have organized community meetings of our own.

We held a town hall in March with over 400 people that attended.

We're not going to stop.

I want you to remember that as you leave today, we are relentless.

We're not going to stop until you do the right thing.

Thank you.

Council that concludes uh call to the public.

And for the going forward, uh, 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 pro tem, you will have up to 10 minutes for debate and may speak twice per debatable motion.

Please speak into the microphone and refrain from side conversations at the day's while the meeting is in session.

For those of you joining 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, including those on the addition to the 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 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 five, item 11, delete per representative Boyer Trejo.

Thank you.

We have a motion and a second and no discussion.

Ms.

Prime, please call for the vote for the consent agenda.

The motion was made by alternate mayor Protem Fiero, seconded by Representative Limon to approve the consent agenda as revised.

On that motion, call for the vote.

Voting session is open.

Representative Trejo.

Thank you.

We'll get someone to assist you.

And the voting session, and that motion passes unanimously.

That brings us to page number eight to the first reading of ordinances.

These are items 15 to 19.

I make a motion to move on the first reading of the ordinances.

Okay, Miss Prime, we have a motion and a second.

No discussion.

Can you please call for the vote?

Yes, the motion was made by Representative Limon, seconded by Representative Nino to approve the first reading of ordinances.

Items 15 to 19 on that motion, call for the vote.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

That brings us to page number nine.

Items 20 and 21 are related.

Mayor Pro Tem, would you like to take those together?

Yes, please.

Thank you.

Item 20 is a public hearing of an ordinance authorizing the conveyance of real property owned by the City of Al Paso to MEP electric contracting inc for the purchase price of $22,000.

The property described as lot 11 block E, Santa Fe Addition.

In addition to the City of Alpaso, Paso County, Texas.

Item 21 is the conveyance of real property also to MEP electric contracting inc for the purchase price of 22,000 dollars for the property described as lot 10, block E, Santa Fe edition, in addition to the City of Al Paso, El Paso County, Texas.

Representative Canales.

Thank you.

Well, first uh move to approve.

And then before we vote, uh I just wanted to say uh I appreciate the the flexibility of the proposed purchasers here.

I know we postponed this two weeks ago.

The neighborhood had a few questions.

Um and and they requested a little bit of time to have their questions answered.

That has now happened.

Um so I'm I'm happy to proceed with this.

Uh but I I just wanted to thank the uh the proposed buyer MEP Electric for their patience.

And that's all.

Thank you.

Ms.

Prime, we have a motion and a second.

No further discussion.

Can you please call for the vote?

Yes, a motion was made by Representative Canales, seconded by alternate mayor Protenfiero to adopt items the ordinances on items 20 and 21.

There's no public comment on that motion.

Call for the vote.

And the voting session, and that motion passes unanimously.

That brings us to item number 22.

And this is a public hearing of an ordinance authorizing the conveyance of real property owned by the city of El Paso to Victor Hugo Durán Sancedo and Maricruz Moreno Sanchez for the purchase price of 39,228 dollars for the property described as lots 14 and 15, block three, map of Hughes subdivision out of block two, Alameda Acres, and in addition to the City of Al Paso, Paso County, Texas.

Move to approve.

Ms.

Prime, we have a motion and a second and no discussion from council.

Can we please call for the vote?

Yes, the motion was made by Representative Acevedo, seconded by Representative Maldonado Orocha to adopt the ordinance on item 22.

There's no public comment on that motion.

Call for the vote.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

Mary Lou, thank you.

Thank you.

Item 23 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending Title 12 vehicles in traffic to add chapter 12.57, electronically operated parking control systems to add definitions, imposition and amount of civil penalty, enforcement and procedures, administrative adjudication hearing, affirmative defenses, appeal, and enforcement of judgment.

Hi, Steve.

Do we have a presentation for this item?

Yes, Mayor Pro Tem.

Good afternoon, I believe.

Good afternoon.

Steve Alvarado for the record, code enforcement director.

Item 23, if uh IT can pull up the presentation, please.

Thank you.

Don't get it situated here.

There we go.

Thank you.

Thank you, IT.

Uh good afternoon, Mayor and Council, Steve Alvarado again.

Uh item 23 is Title 12 ordinance amendments.

What we are trying to uh effectuate here is add section 12.57 to this uh ordinance.

A little bit of background.

So the community concerns that we've heard from our community, and this is for over the two-year period with the social city assessment, the third party that did the uh overall venue safety, public safety.

Uh, these were some of the concerns that were brought up.

We also had a meeting a couple of weeks ago here downtown with the Social City Alliance continuing though those meetings as well.

Um lack of enforcement of residential parking permit was one of the major concerns that we heard.

Um, exceeding the time limits at these parking meters, which then impacts the businesses because there's no turnover really coming and going to, you know, people to come and have dinner or spend money downtown or wherever they may be, uptown and um, you know, Cincinnati district as well.

Uh many vehicles are parked in the crosswalks, blocking accessible access ramps, uh vehicles loading zones, which prohibits deliveries, and another major concern we heard was vehicles parking in sidewalks and bike lanes impeding the flow of pedestrian, cyclists, and vehicular traffic.

Some of the challenges that we face currently, and that we're looking to overcome these, is uh if the meter hours are extended from the normal hours to 8 to 6 p.m., we're going to need additional enforcement or any type of enforcement mechanisms.

This will help with those those enforcement moving forward in the future.

Currently, Caldwell Street behind the uh stadium operates a 24-7 meter zone, and in uptown meters are from 8 a.m.

to 3 a.m.

Um we encounter sometimes patrons become irate, um argumentative when they're receiving a ticket at night, so officer safety is is our utmost concern for this ordinance amendment as well.

Currently we have 1,669 parking meters throughout the city, which service 1,974 parking spaces, 1974 parking spaces.

So that's a broad area, a big area to cover with minimal parking enforcement uh officers on in the street, but this technology will help us once we do get to that point.

Uh the development team, and I would like to acknowledge my development team.

It was a collaboration between municipal court director Casas, also uh Paul Stresswood International Bridges, um, who are here with me today.

Thanks.

Thanks, team.

So we're adding section electronically operated parking control systems.

The primary focus of this is future integration of technology that will streamline our parking enforcement abilities.

Um it will allow us to do more with the current capacity that we have.

Um we're hoping to increase the parking available spaces as people start moving to you know comply with the time limits on parking meters or wherever it may be.

So what does Title 12 Amendment 12.57 actually do?

Uh it creates a civil penalty which is sent by mail.

Um so in the future, once we get technology, we will have the ability to walk down the street with a handheld scanner, scan a license plate to see if it's paid.

It'll do it automatically in real time.

Right now we actually have to go to a separate app.

It takes us a few minutes to confirm that the vehicle is paid a meter or not paid a meter and then issue a parking ticket.

It's very time consuming.

It's not very productive.

So we're looking to overcome those things.

What it does currently amend right now with our our paper tickets that we're issuing right now.

You have 14 days to appeal or contest a violation.

If you feel it's not right, you've got 14 days.

Since these will be mailed electronically, we're allowing 21 days an extra week because we have to take into account mail get there two, three, four days, whatever that may take.

It allows the person to add extra timeline to appeal or contest the citation.

And they'll still be appealed through the our municipal court process as well.

There will be a first level review once we get to that where yeah, citations valid, and then they'll be send out the actual citation.

So these are some of the parking technologies that are out there.

Um we're looking at uh in the future.

Um we are changing out the meters over the next two years, and that'll probably start in late summer of 2026.

But I'll let Paul give you an update individually.

He'll brief everybody.

Um we're changing all the parking meters to multi-space meters and and electronically updated parking meters with with solar panels, so it'll charge as well.

Um we're looking at real-time digital handheld ticket riders, like I mentioned earlier that'll communicate with the back end of the parking meters.

Yeah, this parking this vehicle paid the space, so it doesn't get a ticket at that point.

We're also looking at uh adding license plate recognition, which will recognize the license plate to see if it has paid the meter space, that's all it does.

Um stamp technology for to time limit violations.

So currently in downtown, some meters are two hours, some are four, some are six.

Uh many cars stay there well past the two hour limit.

Um so if we're driving down the street, we have a license plate reader, it'll tell timestamp the vehicle that's there, say at 10 a.m.

I'm walking down the street, it's two hour limit, we're there at one o'clock, which is three hours later.

I have the handle to tell me that vehicle has bypassed the time, therefore it'll be issue a ticket.

So it's integrating technology to to make us work more efficiently and you know, with the staff that we have, staffing levels that we have.

We'll also integrate Scofflaw recognition for vehicles that have outstanding parking violations that haven't been paid over over 30, 60 days, uh, which will help us to you know collect on some of those outdated uh citations.

Also uh fixed camera technology to monitor hot spots, parking zones, loading zones, things along that delivery zones, um, thing things along that line.

And it's important to note that we will be one of the first cities in Texas.

Um there's two other cities that currently have it.

Houston is developing it, but we'll be at the forefront forefront of this uh initiative of change.

So with that, I open it up to any questions counselor mayor may have.

Thank you, Steve.

Representative Rocha.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Thank you, Steve, and thank you to International Bridges and the municipal court for being able to bring this.

Uh I can share, I guess I will, that I did get a tour of the bridge, the bridges um just a few weeks ago, and so I saw the technology.

Um I I'm really excited about it.

The one question I have, because in the past, parking downtown, it's a little unclear of where to park for which meter.

So will striping and all of that be taken care of as well?

Once all and that's just a question in addition to the meters.

Meters are a great idea.

I I understand the the safety component to it and the ease.

I just want to know if the striping is going to take part as well.

Yeah, I'll let Paul answer that one.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon, council.

Yes, we're working in partnership with streets and maintenance to make sure that all the striping and signage uh will be updated once we install some new meters.

Thank you.

I really appreciate it.

Thank you so much.

Representative Canales.

Thank you.

Um I think this is uh very long time coming.

I'm glad that you know it's taking a lot of work from you all.

So I I appreciate all the work across the various departments.

Um my constituents have been asking for uh all the meters are within district eight, uh, and so my my constituents have been asking for improved uh parking meters, enforcement um, and just parking experience in general for for quite some time.

And so I think this is a great step toward addressing a lot of those concerns that have come up.

Um it's not exactly this, so it's stop stop me, Ms.

Neiman, if we're a little bit off, but can you describe just a little bit some of the new parking meter technology that's being rolled out at the same time as as these changes?

Coinciding with the Paul come up and sure sorry Paul.

He's more versed at it than I am.

Uh because we have some excellent new meters uh about to be installed.

So the technology we're looking at adding is uh right now people they can pay by credit card coin or or using the app.

They'll be able to use those uh methods still, but they'll be able to tap with Apple Pay or Samsung Payne.

Or a card to Google Pay, right?

Or their watch.

So uh this technology is gonna make it a lot easier.

The screens are larger, uh the bilingual aspect right now.

The screen is very small, it's hard hard to read for a lot of people, especially when the sun's shining.

So the screens will be a lot larger.

They'll be able to see uh the bilingual um aspect, they'll be have a full screen, so you know, for our bilingual community.

Um the meters will communicate.

Uh Steve's working on some technology once he gets new handhelds, that technology will communicate.

So, and when people use the app now, only some of our meters place time on the meter with the app.

A hundred percent of our our new meters will do that when you pay with the app.

So for enforcement or or the person that's paying, they'll be assured that their payment, you know, went through.

Besides besides the receipt they get on the app.

Uh and we also have some of the kiosk style meters coming in.

Right.

So we're looking at multi multi-space meters too, which means we'll clean up the streetscape.

We won't have all those polls.

So uh the multi-space to look at areas uh where we have like 10 or less meters and we'll put in multi-space.

Some blocks might require two, just depends on how busy we're looking at hot spots uh based on activity.

Okay, yeah, excellent.

I think uh it's uh an investment in technology that like I said uh has been a long time coming, and and I'm really glad that uh we're finally making the change.

Uh I think I'll have a lot of happy constituents as well.

So thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor Purden.

Thank you, Steve, for the presentation.

I don't believe there's any further discussion, Ms.

Prime.

Um could you please call for the vote?

Yes, the motion was made by alternate mayor pro Tim Piero, seconded by Representative Boyatrejo to adopt the ordinance on item 23 on that motion.

Call for the vote in the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

Representative Acevedo not present.

Ms.

Prime, before we move on to the next item, I'd like to recognize former representative Joe Molinat who's in the audience today.

Thank you for joining us.

Welcome, Representative Molinar.

We now move to item 24, and this is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title 12 vehicles in traffic, speed limits 45 miles per hour to delete item 14 McComb Street from Dyer Street to Dalhart Drive, and to add item 40, McComb Street from Dyer Street to a point 3.70 miles north of Dyer Street, and to delete item 5 McComb Street from Dalhart Drive to its terminus at FM3255 and to add item 10 McComb Street from a point 3.70 miles north of Dyer Street to Stan Roberts Senior Road.

Second Welcome.

Hi.

Welcome.

Hello.

Could we see the presentation, please?

Of course.

Thank you.

All right.

Hello, everyone, council.

My name is Joshua Lermo.

I'm a planner with streets and maintenance.

This presentation is going to be pretty brief.

Um and it's um a speed uh speed zone reduction on uh McComb Street.

So next slide, please.

All right.

So we received this request from Techstot.

Um they conducted a strip map and speed zone study, which is basically an inventory of all assets along the street and of course speed.

Um and it what they got from that data is to extend the 45 mile per hour zone into the new residential areas.

And of course, we have to codify this, so that's why we're here today to codify it.

All right, so the top of the top map is the existing conditions and the bottom is the recommended.

So I guess the main takeaway is to focus on the yellow portion.

It's to extend into the newer residential area.

Oh, and of course it's in District 4.

All right, the next four slides, including this one are action items.

So this slide is to uh delete the existing 45 mile per hour um speed area.

And this is to um correct or delete uh an error in the ordinance.

And this is to add the new um extended 45 mile per hour zone.

And then this is to um add or amend the or shorten the 55 mile per hour zone.

I believe this concludes the presentation.

Thank you, Joshua.

Representative.

Thank you, Mary Pro Temp.

Thank you, Joshua.

This is uh this is very good for our community.

Yeah, you know, our office uh requested the traffic study because there's a lot of speeding in that area.

Are there any other safety measures that are being considered to reduce speeds beyond the the reduced speed limit?

Um good morning, Council Randy Garcia.

Streets and maintenance right now.

Uh we do have an HSIP project uh along with Text Dot that's still pending.

I think we're getting uh notice of that this week if it will be approved.

Um besides that, we don't have anything pending.

We are working with your office, and of course, any other requests you have you can send uh send to us so we can evaluate through the city manager.

Okay.

I I think Ms.

Mack, this might be a good project for the Vision Zero.

I know Techstot also has their road to zero uh to look at additional measures to reduce speed, bike you know, bike lanes or something, because that is a very concerning area.

I live in the area th I I can tell you that the speed goes up to maybe 90 miles an hour at some times.

And so something something to consider for the future.

Yes, as soon as we get the word back from Textat um about the HSIP project that we did submit in conjunction with them if they receive funding for it, and if it was approved at the state level, we'll be more than happy to share that with you.

And if we need to look further into the conditions, I would be more than happy to do that for you.

Okay, thank you, Randy.

Thank you.

Representative Canales.

I think that was a mistake.

Thanks.

That was a mistake.

I did.

Okay.

Didn't mean to push the button.

Okay.

Thank you, Randy.

Thank you, Joshua.

Uh Ms.

Prime, there's no further discussion from council.

Can you please call for the vote?

Yes, the motion was made by Representative Boyatrejo, seconded by Representative Canales to adopt the ordinance on item 24.

There's no public comment on that motion.

Call for the vote.

In the voting session, and that motion passes unanimously.

That's take item 25 25.

And this is a introduction and public hearing of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of City of El Paso, Texas general obligation bonds in one or more series in an aggregate amount not to exceed 71 million 140,000 dollars, leaving a continuing direct annual ad valorem tax for the payment of such bonds, and resolving other the other matters which are necessary to effectuate such issuance.

Hi Robert, welcome.

Good afternoon, Ms.

Pine.

If you can actually read the other two items as well.

I have one presentation for the three items, but we will need separate action on each of the three items.

Yes, item 26 is an introduction and public hearing of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of City of El Paso, Texas general obligation refunding bonds, series 2026 in one or more series in an aggregate amount not to exceed 435 million dollars, three 435.3 million dollars for debt service savings, living and continuing direct ad valorem tax for the payment of such bonds and resolving other matters which are necessary to effectuate such issuance.

Item 27 is discussion and action on a resolution authorizing the redemption of certain outstanding obligations of the city, directing authorized city officials to effectuate the redemption of such obligations and resolving other matters incident and related thereto and providing an effective date.

Can we get a motion just on item 25?

Correct.

Correct on each of the three items.

We'll take an we'll take a motion for item 25, right?

For the time being.

Second.

Thank you.

Okay, good afternoon again.

Mayor Potem City Council, Robert Cortinas, City Manager's Office.

So this presentation will cover all three items.

And so as was written to the record, we have three separate actions that will be requested.

One will be the issuance of new debt for capital projects in the community progress bond, which is approved by the voters back in 2022.

We have a refunding as well, and then the third item will be defeasance.

And so essentially what we'll be doing with that item is paying off some bonds early.

So these three items, a lot of work goes into these uh bond transactions, and so it takes a whole team to do this.

The city manager, myself, our deputy CFO, city attorney's office, plays a critical role.

But we also have other partners as well.

So we have with us today from Helltop Securities, Maria Urbina, who's very, very helpful.

She's a key part of putting these transactions together.

We have our bond counsel, Mr.

Paul Braden, and we also have from Jeffries, who will be the lead on the underwriter syndicate, Pedro Ramos is here with us today as well.

And so pretty large transaction.

We have 500 writers selected for this particular transaction.

So just a couple of opening statements before we get into the actual presentation and the actual transaction.

So we've talked a lot about the debt management and how the city has been very proactive in addressing our debt one.

We want to make sure that one we're minimizing the impact on our taxpayers.

We know that's extremely important.

But secondly, we also want to make sure that we have the funds necessary to be able to invest in the capital projects to deliver the services to our community.

And so along with that comes the important role of how we're managing our debt to ensure that we're doing everything we can to keep those costs down, and a part of that will be through the credit rating, which we'll talk a little bit about here in just a few slides.

So you're going to hear a presentation a little bit later today from Ms.

Marin and our external auditor who will cover the FY2025 external audit results.

And so with that comes again, not only how we're managing city's debt, but how we're managing city finances in general, right?

And so it's very, very important one that we're building credibility not only with the city council or continue to build credibility, but also with the community, and then finally with all of our investors and stakeholders.

And so those investors are relying upon the information that's provided and produced in all of those financial reports, one for accuracy, and then two that we're following all of the gap accounting principles, and then finally that we're we have strong internal controls and that we're following all of city policies and procedures.

So I don't want to share all of the good news too soon, jump ahead of them, but again, very very successful results with what we've been able to accomplish for the last 10 years on those external audits and with this presentation in particular and how we manage the city's debt.

So this slide, I've shown this slide a few times going back to last June, July, just because it really speaks to again the city being proactive and how we're managing the city's debt.

You will see over the last five years, we've managed to bring that down the principal amount to be very clear by $300 million in the last five years.

So going from a total of $1.6 billion down to just over $1.3 billion again in the last five years.

And we've been able to do this through one, the annual work payments on those bonds, but then also through other available tools as well, including one the refundings that we've been able to take advantage of, which you'll hear in just a minute, and then a couple of defeasances as well, so paying bonds off early.

If you were to add in the interest associated with these bonds as well, that's another 200 million dollars, so a total of almost 500 million dollars of debt reduction in the last five years.

We do have debt limitations set forth in our debt management policy, and so you will see on here the maximum currently allowed and the actual for all three of these.

You will see that we are well below those debt limits.

We've continued to show improvement in these all three of these over the last several years.

The bottom one there shows that the debt management policy allows for a debt, excuse me, a debt rate of 40 cents per 100 evaluation, and we are currently at just over 21 cents, so well below almost half of the amount allowed for that debt management policy.

I spoke a little bit about the importance of the bond ratings, and um again that really speaks to essentially the investors' risk.

It really wants to highlight and show that one, they can invest in the city and not have any risk of the city defaulting on those bonds.

You will see the city's current ranking ratings.

We are currently at double A with SP and Fitch, double A plus with Kroll.

And we will be going through the updated bond rating process here in the next few weeks as part of this upcoming transaction.

Currently, the existing status of our current bonds, the public safety bond and the community progress bond again, both approved by the voters.

The state infrastructure bank loans was approved by city council last year.

Um so overall remaining amount of debt to be issued over the next several years, just under 434 or 494 million, and I'll go through this because one of the last couple of slides that we want to show you all is what that impact and what the future issuances will look like, in addition to what we have planned with this upcoming transaction.

Um, additionally, you will see a presentation here, just a couple of items on this current agenda from the capital improvement department that will give you the quarterly update on all of the capital projects and where we are with the status of those.

So, as I mentioned, you're gonna see that information from them, but we have a couple of slides that show the current status of both the public safety and the community progress bond, uh the current expenses as of February 28th, and the remaining amount to be spent.

This is public safety.

This is the community progress bond.

And then moving into the actual item.

So item 25 is the first item that you will be taking action on.

This item is a new money issuance.

So this will be the second issuance for the community progress bond.

Those bonds were approved by the voters back on November 8th of 2022.

We did do the publication as required in the El Paso Times back on April 3rd, as well as posted on the city's website in our public hearing section on the city's website to again notify the public of this item today.

And so what we are recommending to issue and what you all be approving is again $70 million for capital projects, including $52.9 million for proposition A, which is the street projects, $14 million for proposition B, which is the park projects, and then proposition C, the remaining amount of $3.1 million for the economy climate projects.

Included in the ordinance that you all be approving is again these parameters.

So these are the specifics that the pricing officers, which would be the city manager and myself, would need to meet in order to move forward with this transaction.

Again, item 25 is just for this new money for the community progress bond.

So total aggregate principal amount not to exceed $71.14, which is the amount for the capital projects and the issuance cost.

True interest cost rate not to exceed 5.25%, which, as I briefed you all last week, again blowing in a little bit of flexibility on that interest rate.

Just again, some market volatility.

We uh hopefully will not see rates that high, but again, we want to make sure that we have some flexibility.

Again, we plan not to go to market until probably late May, early June.

The maximum maturity date is December 31st of 2051.

And then finally, we do have or requesting to have up to 365 days to move forward with the transaction.

That being said, again, that provides some flexibility, but we anticipate, as I mentioned, to actually go out and price these bonds in late May, early June, again, so that we know exactly what our debt service will be for the upcoming fiscal year as we get in begin budget discussions, and then same thing for the refunding, which I will cover here in just the next few slides.

So moving on to the refunding ordinance, so item 26.

Again, just included a little bit of information just for the public's sake on what is a refunding or a refinancing.

Um essentially, what ends up happening is when the city issues bonds is we build in call dates, and so typically 10 years from the date of the issuance, and then that allows the city to go out and actually do a refunding or refinancing at that when that particular bond becomes callable.

So the city does this for debt service savings.

So if interest rates are favorable, we can go out and take those bonds, sell them back, and issue new bonds at lower interest rate, which again generates debt service savings for the city.

So in our debt management policy, we do have a minimum threshold that we need to meet on that net present value savings for a current refunding.

We currently have it listed as two percent.

You will see on the parameters though, we actually have it at 3%.

So we want to make sure everyone that we're going out and doing transaction.

There's a lot of time and effort that goes into these transactions.

We want to ensure that we're again generating a worthwhile net present value on any particular refunding that we may do.

So this particular refunding, um, as I mentioned to you all when we did the briefings last week.

Currently on the slide shows what we estimated as of about two weeks ago or so.

The market has changed dramatically in the last couple of months.

We all are well aware of what's going on currently with the war in Iran.

It has had an impact on the municipal markets.

We've seen things calm down a little bit, but still not where they were a few months ago.

And so I'll go through the parameters here on the next slide.

But as of right now, we're looking at essentially refunding about 227.8 million dollars of bonds with that all in uh true interest cost rate of about 3.6 percent, and that would generate about $13 million of debt service savings.

A very large, pretty significant refunding that uh will be taking place here when we price these bonds.

Um, the last four refundings that we've done don't even add up to this amount.

And so we did refunding last year, much smaller, but generated about three million dollars of savings.

So, again, this one right now estimated to save about 13 million, or that net present value savings of about 5.38%.

Um, so as I mentioned, we started working on this in January.

That savings amount was much larger in February.

I won't say what it was out loud, but it was much larger than what we are showing here today.

However, that being said, included in the parameters that we have again, the pricing officer, the city manager myself.

Um, you'll see that second bullet point the aggregate original principal amount of the bonds will not exceed that 435.35 million.

That's the total amount of bonds that are callable.

However, unfortunately, right now some of those maturities are not generating savings, and so as I showed you on the previous slide, is what we're kind of estimating right now.

But again, things could change.

Hopefully, things will change in the next several weeks, and we'll be able to actually go out and refund more.

However, you'll see again in the ordinance and the parameters, what you are approving is that $435 million.

Again, we need to meet at least 3% savings, as I mentioned.

The true interest cost rate on these refundings will be 5%.

One of the things we always point out is that second bullet from the bottom is that we maintain the original maturity date of December 31st, 2042.

We do not extend the life of the bonds from the original maturity date when we do our refunding.

And then finally, the last point there again that I mentioned for the new money issuance up to 365 days to move forward with the transaction.

But again, as I mentioned, right now, our tentative timeline, which I'll show you here at the very end, is probably late May, early June.

That way the refunding will be done, the new issuance will be done, and we'll know exactly what our debt service rate needs to be as we begin budget discussions for the FY2027 budget.

The third item, item number 27 is a redemption of bonds.

So this is a defeasance.

Essentially, what we're doing here is an early payoff.

So again, we've done a few of these in the last couple of years.

It's a very small payoff, but it's a very powerful and impactful one on our existing debt.

And so with this particular item right now, this is the 2014 general obligation refunding bonds that we will be paying off.

Currently, there's about 1.8 million owed total principal and interest.

And so with this transaction, what we are requesting is to take 1.4 million from our debt service reserves.

We will defease these bonds, we'll transfer those funds to the paying agent, and with that transaction, no will uh those bonds will no longer be obligations of the city, and we'll end up saving over 427,000 dollars of interest by paying them off early.

And so this particular item is a resolution again that you all be approving that aggregate principal amount of 1.375.

Again, very small issuance costs of just um around 35,000.

Again, you're approving the transfer to computer share trust, who will be the paying agent and registrar.

Once that deposit is done and that transaction is made, again, those bonds will be considered a fees and no longer obligations of the city.

And then the last couple of slides here, again, going back to how I started.

Um we do still have, as I mentioned, just under 494 million of bonds to be issued between the public safety, community progress, and the state infrastructure bank loans, which is the city's match for the MPO projects.

Um looking into the future, again, we have projections on how much we're going to need to issue in the future years.

Again, uh all depending upon the timing of the projects.

And so again, uh we work very closely with the capital improvement department.

You'll see FY27 going all the way out through 2033 will be the final year in which we plan to issue bonds for those two bond projects.

And then we like to show you what the impact will be on the overall debt service rate, and to be very clear to show you all what the impact will be, not only from the the bonds that we are looking to issue and refund with this transaction, but this model includes the issuance for all of the remaining debt that we have approved by the voters and by the city council with those with those street infrastructure bank loans.

So very encouraging.

I know a lot of discussion takes place every time we do community meetings and we go out and we talk to the public about the city's debt and what is the city doing.

And so again, I started with what we've been doing that $300 million reduction in debt principal is significant.

Almost 20% reduction.

20% reduction in the last five years.

And so what this shows is that as we look to the next essentially next three budget years, looking at 2027, 28, and 29, is essentially even with issuing this debt, being able to keep our debt service tax rate flat.

Very, very minimal increases.

Um you'll see you know, two tenths or four-tenths in one year, but again, essentially flat, just around 21 cents over the next three fiscal years.

You'll see as we move to the year 2030, a little bit of an increase of about a penny and a half.

However, there are future refunding opportunities.

We will continue to monitor just like we have been doing potential opportunities to do any other defeasances or any other opportunities to be able to bring those costs down into the future.

Uh, one of the things that I'll highlight as well, because this goes all the way out through 2037, which seems like it's an eternity away, but it's actually not, it's you know a little more than 10 years away.

It's not that far.

And we can put it on one slide now, and it's not super tiny, so you can actually see it.

And so in 2032 to 2033, you'll see a pretty large reduction in the debt service rate.

And then you'll see another large reduction from 2034 into 2035 as we start to pay off more bonds.

And so again, really a couple of strategies.

So one is how do we get through issuing the remaining bonds that the voters have approved without increasing the debt service rate, but then two looking out into the future and again building up that capacity for uh again the future and the investment that we're gonna need in our capital projects.

My last slide here is just to provide you a high very high level schedule of events.

So you all be approving these items today.

We have bond rating uh meetings scheduled for April 23rd or 24th.

We'll get those scheduled.

We are tentatively, as I mentioned, scheduled to price bonds later in the month of May, probably pushing back to uh later in May or early June.

And then after that, several weeks later, we'll actually close on those bonds and then actually receive the proceeds.

And so with that, I will be happy to answer any questions.

And as I mentioned, yes, we do need uh action on each items individually.

Thank you, Robert.

Uh Representative Canales.

Thank you.

Um slide 22 is great, shows out into the future.

Um I I want to look the other direction a little bit at the past.

Um I I think it's important in showing the impact of these types of refund the savings that uh from refundings, uh, the type of impact that this has on debt uh debt service tax rate over time.

So looking back the other direction.

I don't know if we can bring up the slide uh number 22.

If we can go back to the slideshow.

It's in slide 22.

You can see that up.

Slight increase from 21 to 23, and then uh decrease after that.

But I'll remind the public that the debt service tax rate in fiscal year 2020 was 30 cents.

Um we've seen reduction pretty much year on year since then 28 cents in 2021, 29 cents in 22, 28 cents and 23, 26 cents and 24, 23 cents and 25, down to this much lower kind of shelf, right?

We we we see some slight increase as these issuances come up over the next couple of years.

Um but nothing close to the 30 cents that we were at just six years ago.

Um and so uh that's a testament to the work that's been uh done by you and your team, Robert and and Ms.

Mack, but also to uh councils before us and and you know maybe pat ourselves on the back a little bit for some decisions we've made in in uh reducing that outstanding uh outstanding obligation and uh making decisions like these refundings, uh like some of the defeasances that that have really reduced that that service tax rate over time.

So again, kudos to you and to the whole team.

Um we we get to approve or not approve, but you all do a lot of the work, all of the work crunching the numbers, making making all of this uh possible for us.

So uh appreciate it very much.

Thank you.

Okay.

Representative Fierro.

Thank you.

Mr.

Cortinas, uh first and foremost, 20% reduction in debt's amazing.

You know, congratulations to you and your team.

That's uh it's great work, and you made um you make us look all taller, darker, more handsome.

Thank you.

Um I have a question for you in regards to item 25.

I I got an email with some s with some concern about this, but this is the voters approved these dollars to be to be spent, to be utilized by the city.

Is that am I correct?

Yes, it's correct.

So this is not just some random 71 million dollars that you that you're throwing on to to fix the budget or make it look better.

No, as I mentioned, these are community progress bonds again approved by the voters back on November 8th of 2022.

So that's a good question.

So I'll take just a second here to elaborate a little bit.

So a lot of members in the community may think that once they approve those bonds, so for example, that 2022 community progress bond that we move forward or the city moves forward with issuing all of those bonds at all at once.

And that is not the case.

Our capital improvement department does that fantastic job, but there's no way just from a capacity issue that they could spend that money down in two or three years and get all those projects done.

It's just not because of them, but just in general with capacity of vendors and just getting the work done.

So we issue those bonds as we need those proceeds, the cash to keep those projects moving.

And so um you're gonna hear an update from, as I mentioned, that them on the status of those projects and where we are.

Uh we've issued 46 million for those projects already.

This will be another 70 million again just to keep those projects moving.

And then we continue to review that every you know month, basically we're meeting just to keep track of the cash flow, see how we're doing.

Do we need to revise our estimate for what we're planning for next year?

And so that's really the approach that we take is we're only issuing debt as we need it, right?

We don't want to issue debt and start paying debt service on it unless we actually need the money to keep those projects moving.

Thank you for that explanation.

There was some confusion, you know, a couple emails I got that it that's not what we were doing.

So thank you for explaining that.

Thank you, Mayor.

Representative Nina.

Thank you, Mayor Botem.

And uh Fiero still the question that I was going to ask, you know, this is voter approved.

And I think overall there's been a lot of need all across the city, and you know, the voters gave us that opportunity to really move forward with key projects that are needed all across the entire city.

But I also want to congratulate you on you know being strategic and having that 20% reduction of debt in the last five years.

I think that's huge when it comes to the debt service rate, specifically when we're you know talking to the budget process, how the tax rate is made in different portions from that property tax and the actual debt service rate.

So thank you for all the work that that you do with that.

Um I I I think it's also key and important to highlight, you know, on how you mentioned that when it comes to can you explain a little bit what refund uh refunding means.

I know that I talked about that a little bit in the FOAC.

Yeah, so uh essentially what it is is the city builds in these things called a call date any time we issue debt.

And so that call date is the opportunity at which we can take those bonds and actually go out and do a refunding.

So if you own a home, an interest rate market is favorable, which right now we know it isn't.

But when it is, you can let's say you have a five percent interest rate on your on your mortgage, and interest rates that say go down to three percent, which they were not that long ago.

You can take that mortgage, you can refund it, essentially pay it off, and you take out a new mortgage at that lower interest rate, and your monthly payment comes down.

No different than what the city does is we take these bonds, we'll go out, we'll sell them, reissue new bonds at a lower borrowing cost, and brings down our overall debt service rate.

So pretty simple, but obviously we have to wait when those bonds become callable.

We can't just do uh a refunding at any given time, they have to be callable.

Um there was a time when that was a little bit different, but that's for another day.

Um, but that's essentially what what the refunding is.

It's essentially that just a refinancing, getting a lower borrowing cost and bringing down that dirt debt service amount.

Yeah, and I always ask that question because I am sure individuals get confused when the word refunding gets used.

But I know that's our terminology, but it's refinancing.

You know, I'm also grateful that um you look at the different avenues of you know when it's a refunded obligation, we must produce a present value debt service of savings of at least three percent.

But here you're sharing with us that it's producing uh 5.38 percent, which is a huge accomplishment.

And again, it's not easy to say that you know, when you are making these strategic moves, uh, you're producing millions of dollars of savings to the taxpayer, and and we're very grateful for you for coming up with that strategy.

Um even on item number 27 when it comes to the redemption of the outside bonds on that one specifically.

I know that I talked to you about it.

And even paying off that specific balance, producing half a million, almost nearly five half a million dollars of savings is gonna help the taxpayer in the long run.

So we're really grateful for all the work that you're doing and the entire team when it comes to these conversations and uh looking positive to the future of really you know being strategic.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Representative Acevedo.

Thank you, Mayor Proton.

Um Robert, great job.

Really enjoyed looking at the presentation with you last week.

There's there's a lot here.

I wanted to focus on slide seven.

And I don't know if we could bring that up.

I just wanted to overall get your comments again on this.

I know you went through it in the presentation, but just are you happy with the maximum and the actual here?

Yes, actually, yes.

All of those metrics are extremely positive right now with where we are at.

Um so basically that just kind of a measure to see where you rank.

And so um we look at total debt to our tax base or taxable value amount.

We look at the percentage of debt compared to our operating budget, and then finally the the debt rate.

So the debt rate, that 40 cents was changed in 2018, I believe.

Maybe early 2019, but I believe 2018.

So the city council at the time approved going up to that 40 cents because we were in the process of looking at the public safety bond.

And so at that time, again, working with our municipal advisor, we were projecting at that point in time to get to close to that 40 cent amount.

This is public safety.

So this is before community progress bond or anything else that we've done since then.

We were looking at uh that time projected to get close to that 40 cents.

And as you saw in that last slide, not only getting through the public safety bonds, but also looking at the community progress bonds right now.

We're only projected to hit around 23 cents.

So we have made significant strides in again minimizing the impact.

And so I you get to see and hear the numbers piece.

And the CID gets to show you all the pretty pictures of what is being constructed.

And I think that that's the piece that we have to keep reminding the public, right?

It's yes, we're we're aware that we're issuing debt.

But we're bringing those borrowing costs down, we're saving money through the refunding or refinancing, and then on top of that, what are you getting?

And so you'll get to see and hear the projects that are being delivered to the community.

So some pretty significant projects, not only in the community progress, but the public safety as well, with you all recently approving that public safety complex project, which will be again the largest capital project that the city has done over 200 million dollars.

And so again, it's all of us working together.

Umette Hernandez and this capital improvement department and Marguerite and I we work very closely because we want to make sure that we're all on the same page and that we're all aware of timing of projects, amount of cash that they're gonna need again, so that we can keep our model as as fresh as possible.

That that sounds like a big deal.

And I I mean thinking in 2018 that you're gonna go to 40 cents and now eight years later you're thinking you're gonna hit 23.

That's uh something to celebrate.

So congratulations on that.

I'm really glad that they got you a new computer because maybe you wouldn't have been able to do that for us.

Um but um I I think that this is a good sign of where we're at overall.

I kind of wanted to ask what you would feel comfortable with in terms of what our bonding capacity is.

Maybe not the maximum, but just a dollar amount in terms of where you would feel comfortable going into everything you presented up to 2037.

Well, that's probably a discussion for another day, but what uh what I will say is I'll go back to that slide towards the end.

Is that as we look to as we look to issue out the remaining bonds that have been approved by the voters and the small amount for the state infrastructure bank loans that we have, almost half a billion dollars is a lot of debt to still issue.

Um 494 million dollars roughly to still issue over the next few years.

That being said, you'll see an FY27 and 28.

So as we look to the next couple of years, pretty large issuance is planned right now, around 136 and then 130 million, and then after 2028, it starts to taper off a little bit.

The annual issuance amounts that we'll need to do will start to come down.

So again, really the strategy is how how can we go about one minimizing the impact over the next several years as we're issuing the the remaining amounts, but then two, how are we building future capacity?

We talked a little bit about that.

And so as we look, what is that what is that number what will we feel comfortable about?

But I think that that's probably part of a larger discussion as we look to future capital improvement projects, which we all know eventually is gonna come the time to start to have that discussion, whatever that's going to look like.

We're in the process right now of our parks master plan being done, and so we'll see what comes about from that.

The comprehensive plan, a lot of discussion about housing, a lot of different areas we know have been discussed recently.

And so our job is to ensure that we're in a position financially where we can have those discussions.

And this slide really speaks to well, a few slides, but this slide really speaks to we're gonna be able to issue out that remaining debt with minimal impact on the tax rate going forward by issuing that debt.

And then not that far off into the future, we do have a lot of debt that'll be retired that will create that future capacity that we can begin to have those discussions.

The city has issued a lot of debt.

I think we all know that.

We don't we don't shy away from it.

The city has issued a lot of debt since 2012, between not only the 2012 Quad of Life, but also the 2012 street projects, and then we did three different capital improvement plants of various COs.

So a lot of COs were issued between 2017 and 2021, which I will say the city has not issued certificates of obligation since 2021.

So it's been five years already.

No COs, no plan to issue CEOs.

You all recently approved, essentially deprogram some projects that were going to be funded by COs.

Um so I'm giving you a long-winded answer.

I I know.

No, I appreciate it.

This is but it's but it's it's really just about one managing our current debt that we have to get through, sort of, and then we can start to have those discussions about what that would do as far as impacting the debt rate into the future.

Okay.

Thank you so much.

Representative Rocha.

Thanks.

Thank you, Robert.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Sorry about that.

Two questions for you.

Well, what and a statement.

I'm I'm very happy to see the media here today because we talked about the congratulations on the bond rating.

You almost kind of glossed over it.

And I read it in the SP last week that it was shared of El Paso's bond rating.

So just it's an amazing feat to be able to be rated as high as we are from municipality, I believe, in just reading that that statement that they shared.

Two, um, is there any oversight on these bonds?

Or what is I should say, what is the oversight on the bonds, Robert?

Oh my goodness.

So just for the public in a short brief, because I I want to make sure that the public's aware that there is oversight of these bonds, right?

Yes.

And so I I don't want you to go into specifics, but just to make sure that that we understand that there is oversight and and you're doing your due diligence that's required by law, and and in addition, just making yourselves make sure that that you are in compliance.

So first we have excellent attorneys, not only in our city attorney's office, but we also have obviously our bond counsel, uh, Mr.

Braden, who will put a lot of time and effort into the remaining steps.

There's going to be a lot that goes in into actually making this deal happen.

Um attorney general approvals, there's a lot of things that are going to be required.

Um but one of the things that we've really implemented over the last several years is within our debt management policy, we incorporated a whole new section related to the post-issuance compliance.

And so every year, around the March or April time frame, we sit down and we go through all of our bonds.

We look at the spin down, we're making sure that we're in compliance with the IRS arbitrage and the yield restrictions.

So we do that continuously.

We're always monitoring our bonds, and so a lot of compliance goes into one IRS, but then also city policies as well, right?

So we have our own our own city policies that we're managing as well with the debt management policy, um, ensuring that those projects are with allowed within the any time we do uh maybe a transfer, we're ensuring that those projects are within the the bond covenants that they're allowed.

Um so there's quite a bit of compliance that goes into each of the bond issuances.

Thank you, Robert.

And then just a final question.

Um, what exactly I guess is there a place that the public would be able to go online and find out uh this information that you share today?

So, Ms.

Mack, being a former librarian and Miss Norma Martinez are current library.

We have a wealth of information on I refer to the OTC website as a library of financial reports and documents that anybody can access, free of charge.

Um, if you go to the City of El Paso website, Office of the Comptroller, there's any and every report that you would ever want to see.

We have our annual competence of financial report, our interim statements, our single audits, we have our ARPA reporting that's required.

All of those documents can be found there, and not just for the current year, we have prior years and prior periods as well.

Thank you, Robert.

I really appreciate it and congrats on the bond rating.

Thank you.

Representative Treco.

Thank you, Mayor Tip.

Hi, Robert.

Um, quick question, just one question.

When you're looking at refinancing these bonds at a lower interest rate, are you extending the terms?

We never extend the maturity.

And I have it on the slide there.

The city never extends the maturity of those of those bonds.

Okay, very good.

Thank you.

Robert, thank you for the presentation.

It's it's great.

And actually, I think my community asks me if we voted for these bonds and these projects, why don't they get done sooner, right?

So could you talk to us a little bit about how you work closely with capital improvements, how you come to decide which projects move forward, which ones need to wait.

Is it dependent on the cost of those projects or the capacity, or what other things come into that decision making process?

I'll let them matter some of it.

I think you all have been on council now for a little while, so you know that purchasing process is not always the most quickest, but it's it's like that for a reason, right?

We want to always make sure that we're giving everybody a fair opportunity to submit bids.

Um different factors impact different projects, whether it's acquiring the land, so site locations can slow down a project, size, scope.

There are a lot of different factors that it can impact different projects.

Um just have a good understanding from the engineers' role of or their perspective of or do they have the cash they need to keep the projects moving?

We never want to go into negative cash, and that's again that's a whole other discussion, but we always want to make sure that we're keeping things flowing.

And so we sit down and it's good for them as well because they have to explain it's accountants and engineers having to talk.

So it's good because we could see from the engineers' perspective, but then they get to hear from our perspective of okay.

Well, this is why we're asking you these questions.

We know you have to go through design, and we know that that takes X amount of time.

We know you have to go through all of the pre-construction and then all of the different depending upon the type of procurement can impact the speed of a project.

Um so all of those things again, it really just helps them to have a good understanding of the timing and the actual cash flow, which helps us again in turn make sure that we've got good information to share to you all as we're updating that tax model.

So if you're issuing these bonds, it's because you're ready to move on these projects.

Yes, and so for example, the community progress bond, as of about two weeks ago, there was $18 million left of bonds we had already issued.

That will probably be gone by the end of August.

And so as we start this new fiscal year, we need to make sure that we have bond proceeds in place so that we keep those projects moving.

And it's really an investment in our community that's a voter approved.

Absolutely.

Thank you, Robert, for the information.

I I congratulate you as well for the work well done.

Okay.

Ms.

Prime, I don't think there's any further discussion.

I think we can call the vote for item 25.

Yes, ma'am.

The motion was made by Representative Limon, seconded by Representative Gonales to adopt the ordinance on item 25.

There's no public comment on that motion.

Call for the vote.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

Move to approve item 26.

Second.

May I call for the vote on item 26?

Ms.

Prime, do you want to read it into the record once more?

Yes, item 26 is a introduction and public hearing of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of City of El Paso, Texas General Obligation Refunding Bonds Series 2026 and one or more series in an aggregate aggregate amount not to exceed 435 million 355,000 for debt service savings, living a continuing direct ad annual ad valorem tax for the payment of such bonds and resolving other matters which are necessary to effectuate such issuance.

And the voting session.

Second by Representative Boyatrejo, and this is to approve the resolution on item 27.

And this is discussion in action or resolution authorizing the redemption of certain outstanding obligations of the city, directing authorized city officials to effectuate the redemption of such obligations and resolving other matters incident and related thereto and providing an effective date.

Ms.

Prime, we have a motion and a second.

Can you please call for the vote?

Yes, ma'am.

On that motion, call for the vote.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

I make a motion that we recess for lunch for one hour, please.

There's a motion and a second to recess the city council meeting for one hour.

All in favor?

Anyone opposed?

And the city council meeting is in recess at 1255 p.m.

for one hour.

Returning at 155, Ms.

Prime?

Correct, sir.

Okay.

Thank you, Ms.

Prime.

Ms.

Prime, do we have corn?

Yes, you do.

Can we go ahead and get started then?

Yes, ma'am.

Is there a motion to reconvene?

So moved.

There's a motion and a second to reconvene the city council meeting.

All in favor?

Anyone opposed?

The meeting is back in session at 1.59 p.m.

Thank you, Ms.

Prime.

I know we're on item 28, but I would like to take item 30 at this time.

Yes, ma'am.

Item 30 is presentation and discussion on a report by Forbes Masers LLP on the financial and grant audit of the City of Al Paso.

Good afternoon, Margarita.

Did you hear me well?

Margarita Marin, deputy CFO controller.

Um I think can you please bring the presentation?

Thank you.

This is a presentation of the external results of the audit.

We actually presented to FOAC on Thursday.

Um but again, right here, Margarita Marin, Rachel Ornsby presenting again.

The agenda for today is gonna be the year and close out presented by me, and then Rachel will step in and do the presentation on the auditor, uh, the audit result.

To help you understand the results of this audit, I think it's important to step back a little bit and understand the processes that we have in place and how we get there to the results that we have.

Umtaining no audit findings is not something that it goes easily, it's actually a lot of effort, and it's a process that lasts six months within the and during the audit.

So I want to take you back to say a year ago when we first finished the audio for FY24.

What were those steps that we do in order to get to where we are today?

So some of the things that we do, and this is a high level overview, right?

But I just wanted to provide some context for the auditor presentation in order for her to make sense why we're where we are.

So we start with policy review, and that's how we tighten those internal controls for the city.

We have several financial policies in place.

So we always assess for best practices, making sure that the policies really articulate with what we do in practice, and making sure that we don't leave any gaps, you know, for any opportunity for any fraud, waste or abuse.

We're also reviewing gas beef standards that become um that become adopted during the year that we're in, so we take trainings.

We are you we make sure that we do the right implementation at the right time, and we work directly with the auditors to make sure that whatever accounting standards we implement them, we're doing the right thing.

We're also uh taking trainings and training other departments, we're doing the month and close, making sure that those transactions that we need to be recorded in that particular month are recorded, and then bank reconciliations take place.

And along those uh processes, we're also doing process improvement.

And what this is is we really make sure that we can automate to minimize the risk of human error.

So we're constantly looking to see what's there that we can improve.

For instance, last year we did an out of um, we integrated our bank reconciliation with the system, and that was really good because it brought up so many efficiencies and then reduced the risk of any human error within the bank reconciliation process.

This year we're working on another process for debt, how we tracked and report debt to also minimize the human error.

Um we're also doing this reviews for PCAR.

We're also doing um desk reviews for travel, and our grants division is constantly assessing for allowable expenditures, um expenses happening within the performance period, and every time we're really looking at full compliance, not only with the bond covenants, but bone compliance with the granting agencies, bone compliance with the IRS rules, with our internal policies, with gas be standards.

So then around the middle of the year, we actually have a multi-department effort.

We get with Office of Management and Budget, and also with um purchasing department to make sure that we're preparing for the end of the year, that we're closing the purchase orders, that uh there's no more budget transfers in place, because guess what?

At the end of the year, all those transactions that took place in the fiscal year have to be recorded in the physical year that they happen.

And in the respective fund and the respective accounting stream.

So all these processes, while we do all these processes and day-to-day accounting, um, there's something so important underlying and underneath all of that, and it's our internal controls.

So our internal controls have to be really, really in place, not only through throughout the policies, but the way that the departments follow these policies and the way that they execute their operations.

So segregation of duties, super important internal control that we have to have in place, dual authorizations.

There is not a send that leaves the city without dual authorization.

Reconciliation, checks and balance, inventory count, um, and all of this has to happen before the end of the year.

Because when it comes September 1 and the auditors work in, the external auditors, they are testing all those balances that we reporting in the balance sheet and also in the net position statement, and they really want to verify that those balances exist.

So one of the things that they do, and just so you know, when we present the balance to them, let's say in the bank, they don't take it for granted.

They go and they reach out directly to the banks and they verify hey, does the city of El Paso really has this balance?

So they confirm with all the entities that those balances exist.

Some of the amounts that we report are also the result of us working with actuaries, doing these calculations for pension, OPEP, um, and making sure that we are where we need to be with these balances and according to Gasp standards.

So when we start the audit, we have a full agenda.

So we have weekly meetings with the auditors, we make sure that there's deadlines internally that we achieve for review because there is always a review process in place, and again, we get audited throughout the year by many agencies, well, including our internal audit, but also state agencies, granting agencies, IRS can come.

Um we're constantly being audited, so we're always prepared with what we need to present.

Um the first ones to do the audit is the grants division, and they do what we call the single audit, and the audit really is reviewing those grants awards and expenditures that we have during the current year and making sure that they comply with every grant requirement that we have, and also making sure that the allowable cost is good, that they uh were incurred within the performance period, so they're constantly going through that and preparing the schedule of expenditures and federal awards.

After they're done, then we start the financial audit, and as we start the financial audit and all these balances are being tested, we're also working on the annual comprehensive financial report.

So what this give us is no financial audit findings during 2025.

And with 2025, we completed 10 consecutive years with zero audit findings.

And what this is is a testament of a strong financial governance and confidence that we can provide to our stakeholders at any level that our numbers are correct, our processes are in place, and we have good internal controls.

So what you see here in this slide is four pillars, it's a scorecard.

And these four pillars are so important for a municipality like ours to really make sure that we're doing the things right.

So if you look at the audit opinion, we start with the strong audit opinion.

And that's what we received this year.

We have an independent audit opinion that our financial statements are presented fairly.

And I tell you that we do so many things to make sure that everything's that everything is right, but without the independence assurance, nothing that we do will be worth it like for the outsiders, right?

Because we need that independent assurance to have people to build the credibility to know that it's not only an internal report that we prepare, but somebody else is a testing that is correct.

So the audio opinion very strong.

You all can rely on those numbers to make decisions on behalf of our community, our bondholders can rely on those numbers to buy our bonds.

Then you go to the internal controls, and in this sense, our internal controls are strong.

The auditors didn't identify any material weaknesses, they didn't identify any significant deficiencies, and that means that we have good compliance levels and we have good oversight.

Here is where tone at the top is so important, right?

Our city manager, our CFO, uh DCMs, the FOAC, the internal audit, all of us working together to maintain those internal controls, that there is no overrides in those controls.

So very strong within the city of El Paso.

And then you go and you have an audio opinion that is clean, and you have a control environment that remains effective, but how does that translate into the numbers that we present?

Is the city of El Paso stable financially?

So when we look at our reserves, the liquidity and the budget discipline that we have, all of those things support the stability.

You heard uh this morning Robert's presentation when he was talking about the reduction in debt.

Debt management is a big thing because we cannot fund those capital projects without debt.

So that's something that we can say we're not gonna do.

We have to do it, but we can what we can do best is really be responsible in the management of that debt, and at all times reducing the burden in our in our constituents, right?

With the with the tax rate.

So that was that his presentation allude to that 500 million dollars reduction in debt and maintaining the tax rate at that level is not something that that is easy.

And then you have all that together, and now it's like how do we look out there?

What do they think of us, right?

So this supports long-term credibility.

You heard it through their bond ratings, the bond ratings that we have.

Um we have strong audit results, the market can trust us.

People can trust these numbers.

You all can trust these numbers.

Okay.

So here in the slide, this is the reports that we actually issued.

Um the first one is the annual comprehensive financial report, and this report gets submitted to the municipal securities rulemaking board through the electronic municipal market access.

This is one of the uh compliance requirements that we have.

So when you were asking this morning, hey, what is the level of compliance on those bonds?

What's the oversight?

This is part of the oversight.

The continuing disclosures, we have to submit this annually.

Not only that, but there's a list of continuing disclosures that we have to comply with for the life of the bond.

And if something happens, like let's say um we change the trustee.

Something as simple as that.

We have 10 days to report to the municipal rulemaking board and say there is a change.

Um, so there's continuously oversight on all this.

Then this year we have the new Senate Bill 1851.

And with this one, we were mandated to submit the ACFAR to file the ACFR with our city clerk within 180 days, which we did in order for us to be able to continue and issue a tax rate that is above the non-new revenue rate.

And lastly, we submitted to the government finance officer association for the 2025 certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting.

Uh, we're not many municipalities submit to the GFOA, but this is a great achievement for the city because it also attests that our financial statements are in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

Then we have the single audit gets submitted to the federal audit clearing house, and then something that we don't have to do, but we choose to do is the popular annual financial reporting.

That's our commitment to our community, that's transparency.

Because we know that not everybody understands finance, so we have to put it in simple terms that anyone can understand what we're what was happening with the finances here in the city, how we're managing the money that came in and how it was spent on behalf of the community.

And we're actually working on a Spanish version of this.

Hopefully, we'll it will get released this week.

So, yeah, more to come.

All these reports are located in the city's website, the controller's office.

So the bottom line.

Our processes have survived, changes in management, the COVID, multiple employees coming and doing those transactions, um, changes in gas beef standards, human error, and yet we're here with a clean audit opinion, we're here with a strong um governance, and we're here with another year with zero audit findings.

So that technically says that these processes are deeply embedded in our institutional culture.

So I'm gonna leave you with that thought, and I'm gonna pass it to Rachel for her audit presentation.

Thank you, Margarita.

Hi, Rachel.

Hi, good afternoon, Mayor Pro Tem, City Council.

Nice to see several of you again this afternoon.

As Margarita mentioned, we were here earlier last week, met with the FOAC to go over these great results.

And so I'm just gonna get right into it.

And so this afternoon we're gonna talk about the audit scope.

So what the city of El Paso has engaged our firm to complete for you all.

We'll talk about the results.

It's not an accounting and auditing presentation if we don't talk about GASBE, so that's the governmental accounting standards board.

That is the standard setting body that you have to follow as a governmental entity.

Margarita touched on this, but they have been very busy over the last several years issuing accounting pronouncements that your team has to go and analyze and determine the magnitude that it will impact the city.

So we'll talk a lot about that.

And then happy to round it out with any questions that you all may have.

Okay, so here on the screen, this is a list of all of the deliverables that our firm has provided to the city.

And as Margarita mentioned, it is a very uh lengthy process.

So the city's fiscal year end is August 31st.

And so we have been over the last six months actively working together to accomplish these goals.

So we did issue uh opinions on the city's annual comprehensive financial report.

So that is the financial statements for the city as a whole.

Uh, since the city does spend and receive a million dollars in federal and state funding on an annual basis, you are required by law to have a separate compliance audit, which is known as the single audit, in accordance with the uniform guidance and the Texas grant management standards.

Uh the city also has uh PFCs that they receive out at the airport, and so that also is subject to a separate audit.

And then as she mentioned, there are various agreed upon procedures, whether it's through the TCEQ or other things that we do for the city as well.

Um and then she kind of stole my thunder, but I just do want to reiterate and hit on the fact that the city did receive clean, unmodified opinions.

And so, as you can see here on the screen, you actually received several opinions from us.

So in your annual comprehensive financial report, so that is the thick 200-page book.

Um, and I I don't want to downplay, and I said this with the FOAC, I don't want to downplay the work that our that you all hire our firm to do, but you received three pages from us in that book.

And so that is our opinion.

And so what that means is that that thick book that's in front of you or that you've all seen, uh, your city staff actually put that all together.

So they compile that, and so across uh Texas, we work with several clients, and I would say only five percent of our clients actually produce and compile and put this document together.

So again, it is a a true testament to the city's commitment and OTC to being financial stewards and really owning their commitment to excellence and financial reporting.

Uh, two other couple of other opinions.

So we gave you a clean opinion on your internal controls over financial reporting.

So Margarita talked a lot about this.

You know, you don't just be in compliance by luck or by being in the right place at the right time.

It's really having strong internal controls in place to be able to receive a clean opinion.

And then along those same lines, the city did receive clean opinions on your compliance with your federal and state grants, as well as being in uh as well as internal controls over compliance.

So again, uh, this is the highest level of assurance that uh any governmental entity can achieve, and the city did achieve that for fiscal year 2025.

Uh and then kind of staying along those same lines with the city's federal and state funding.

Uh the city had six major federal and state award programs that were required to be tested during this fiscal year.

Uh, they're here on the screen, and I'll quickly go over these.

So the CDBG, so the community blocked the community development block grant program uh was required to be tested, the federal transit cluster, so the grants that Sun Metro receives, uh, the airport improvement program, highway planning and construction.

So those were the four federal programs that were subject to audit.

And then uh there were two state grants that met the threshold to be audited this year.

So the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority, formerly the ABTPA program, and then the uh Texas anti-gang program.

And then again, uh no significant deficiencies and no material weaknesses were identified uh with these grants.

And then one thing that I I wanted to touch on because I don't know that I covered this last year, and I think it's very, very important for everybody to hear is that the city did meet the designation to be a low-risk auditee.

And in fact, you have for for many years, and that is a very important distinction and in our world is being a low-risk auditee.

And so when you've got uh these financial statements and these reports that are published on your website, published in the federal audit clearinghouse, being a low-risk auditee is something that every entity should strive to achieve, uh, and you have done that for numerous years.

And then going on with some more strengths and accomplishments here.

And so Margarita hit on this, but the city does submit their annual comprehensive financial report to GFOA, so the government finance officers association, and the city has received this prestigious award for 27 consecutive years.

And so that just shows the city's longstanding commitment to financial reporting and excellence.

And then she also hit on the PAFER, so that's the popular annual financial report.

And I think that is amazing that the city is working on a Spanish version of this report.

And in fact, you've received this award for four consecutive years.

And then when you kind of think about all this together, so the city's budget award, your annual comprehensive ACK for award, the popular annual financial reward.

GFOA actually has a program that's called the Triple Crown.

And so the city is actually only one of 27 cities across the state of Texas that have been named a triple crown award winner.

And so again, that just again goes back to OTC and all the departments, understanding that this is a very important part of the city and showing that their commitment to being forefront and leaders in this industry.

And then last but not least, Margarita hit on this, but um, you know, the numbers and the interim reports that you all receive throughout the fiscal year, you know, as part of our audit, we come in, we do a lot of work, we probably spend I don't know a number in the thousands of hours working on the city's audit, and we did not identify any audit adjustments.

So all of the records and the data that we received did not result in us going back to city staff and saying, hey, there was an error in this number.

And so I think that is just again back to the strong internal controls that are in place here.

And then I'll quickly touch on this.

So with every audit, there are risks that we go into as the auditor where we design our audit approach and we have to walk through what we believe are risks to the city's financials as well as any governmental organization.

And so management override of controls is a presumed risk in every audit engagement.

And so for us, what we want to do is make sure, okay, what can we do to get comfortable with this risk?

And so we heavily look at the estimates that the city has and make sure that they're properly recorded.

We look at reports from actuaries, we perform a significant amount of journal entry testing.

Margarita mentioned that every entry in the city has dual signatures.

We can attest to that throughout our process, we review a lot of journal entries and we make sure that there's proper segregation of duties that one person is not the same person preparing an entry that is someone who's approving and posting in the system.

We also look as part of that for any significant or unusual entries.

And then something else that I think is important is that you know, we don't want to be complacent.

We want to make sure that we're keeping everybody on their toes, being able to provide a fresh perspective, and so every year is part of the audit, you know, OTC and the departments kind of know what we're gonna ask for, but we also incorporate an element of unpredictability in the audit to ensure that there's not something that they can anticipate so that it provides a fresh perspective on an annual basis.

And then I've hit on this a lot, but the the city does receive and spend a lot of grant funding.

It is a very important uh area of focus for the audit team, and so we do a lot of testing around grants, making sure that they're properly recorded at year end, making sure that if the city did expend funding, do we have proper revenue recorded, things of that nature?

And again, just making sure that if grants were there last year, did they wind down, should they be there?

So really just making sure the grants as a whole are complete and accurate.

Okay, I'm not gonna read all of this to you.

Um, just know that the city does have significant estimates and that as part of our process, we do look at your estimates, and again, it goes with looking at actual reports, looking at historical data, and making sure that things are complete and accurate with respect to estimates.

And then again, along those same lines, every set of significant estimates contains probably 10 plus pages of additional detail and notes in the city's annual comprehensive financial report.

So and I guess before I move on to that, in the annual comprehensive financial report, and I failed to mention mention this at FOAC, and I want to mention it now, is that the management's discussion and analysis.

So that is about 10 to 15 pages in the 200 plus page book.

It is a great area to go for anybody that wants to learn more about what was going on in the city during fiscal year 25.

It talks a lot about significant fluctuations year over year, and it's just a really good high-level snapshot and very well written by city staff.

And then I mentioned it's not an accounting and auditing presentation if we don't talk about governmental accounting standards boards, so the GASBY.

We've heard there's so many uh third parties that rely on your financial statements.

City staff do a great job with this.

Cybersecurity, you know, I know you all have training that you have to go through on an annual basis.

So this is your reminder, you know, to get that done and just continue to prioritize that.

Um so before I kind of answer any questions that anybody has, I do just want to say that this is a year-round process.

You know, we we're done with the audit, and we're already about to start planning for next year's audit.

And I do, you know, I've talked a lot about OTC, and I can't say enough great things, but it truly is a citywide effort.

Every department has a role to play in this, and so you know, we received full cooperation from city staff, and that allows us to be able to meet these deadlines and be able to be in compliance with Senate Bill 1851 and all of the other uh regulatory agencies that rely on the city's financials.

So with that, and I hope Margarita comes back up because she may have to answer some questions.

We're both happy to answer any questions that anyone has at this time.

Thank you, Rachel, and thank you, Margarita.

Uh Representative Nino.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem, and thank you, Rachel, Margarita, Ms.

Mag and Robert Crutinez for all of the great work that has to get into account into making this reality.

I think what's key here is you know for the public to understand that this is an external audit.

This is not an internal audit, right?

And um, you kind of touch into how you know the law states that we are required to do such an audit, a single audit when we receive over a million dollars in grants from the state and the federal government.

Um Margarita last uh at the FOAC, you mentioned that staff reviews over 180 different funding strings that are tracked by the office of the comptroller, and that no transaction within the city is not ever reviewed by a minimum of two individuals.

Can you touch a little bit about that?

I think that that that's key to you know celebrating that this is a big deal to be a low risk audit.

I know that was uh quote that Rachel shared last week, and I think that we need to celebrate that even further.

Absolutely.

So I know everybody is very familiar with the general fund and the operating funds of the enterprises when it comes to budget season, but we actually do have about 180 different funds between enterprise funds that are non-operating, to special revenue funds where we book the grants, capital project funds where we have to track separately the proceeds from the bonds, and then we also are custodians of other entities because along coordinating this audit, we do have to coordinate with component units.

The pension office, the MPO, CRMA, the water utilities, all of those uh entities flow into our financial statement.

So when we look at each of these funds, different accounting rules apply to them.

And we have to make sure that we are following the correct basis of accounting.

If it's accrual basis or modify accrual basis, that there is a source document that can back up every single number that you're gonna see in that balance sheet in the financial statement.

So yes, to your point, it is um very hard work that we put in to review these numbers, these balances annually, actually monthly.

Work papers are being prepared quarterly for financial statements, but monthly everybody's checking on on these numbers.

Yeah, and I'm very grateful for your staff and everyone that takes part of this in ensuring that you know uh this is being fiscally responsible and ensuring that we protect the taxpayer overall.

Um it's a reflection of our strong governance, disciplined financial management, and continued focus for fiscal responsibility.

In the state of Texas, there's over a thousand two hundred municipalities, right?

And to be one of the twenty seven that have received a triple crown award is again a big deal.

Um Margarita, I know that there's been a couple of recent media statements about you know uh when it comes to financial reporting.

Um can you share where members of the public can have access to all of these internal external reports, audit findings, and everything that's required for us to file and also publish for the public to review.

Yes.

So Office of the Controller publishes the AC for the annual comprehensive financial report, the PAFER, the single audit, not only for this current year, but for the prior years within those reports, specifically within the ACFER, you'll see the audio opinion, which is what the external auditor assurance that the numbers are in compliance with generally accepted accounting standards.

Also, for investors, they do have access through the electronic municipal market access.

All ACFs, all bond issuance are in that platform, and everybody is public access, it's free to the public.

So yeah, thank you for that.

I think it's key and important to share that.

I know you shared it to your presentation, but I just wanted to share that one more time.

And I'm very grateful that you've made it a gold standard for the city for the last 10 years to really you know have this excellence, not just for the last 10 years, but it's also it goes back to the 27 years of really having these you know excellent uh audit findings.

So thank you for all your hard work.

Rachel, thank you for joining us again.

And I have no further questions.

Thank you.

Representative Canales.

Yeah, thank you both.

I already made a lot of my comments uh at the FOAC meeting last week, but what was I'll still jokes from myself.

Another triple crown.

It feels like it's getting routine at this point.

Um, we're very grateful for um the work that you do for us uh and also the incredible work of uh the Office of the Controller and everybody else in the city who has to work on this audit.

Like you said, it was uh probably thousands of work hours and probably many several thousand more work hours on the city side.

So thank you to everybody in all of the departments in all of the component units as well uh who put in the time to uh conduct the audit to be audited.

Both of them take work.

Um so thank you.

Representative Rocha.

Thank you, Mayor Pro Tem.

Margarita Rachel, thank you all so much.

You know, you touched on it a little bit, and just like Rep Canalis, I I did share a lot of my comments uh last week at the FOAC meeting, but it it bears to repeat itself.

Congratulations.

So for members of the public um that may not have that financial, a triple crown would be the equivalent of a Super Bowl.

I I don't know, I'm just making sure I understand.

I mean, it is it is it is really that big of a deal.

Correct?

Okay.

So I just want to make sure that I that you know we we all understand how exclusive this group is, right?

And and that there are those financial guidelines that are in place.

And Margarita, that your office goes above and beyond what the minimal requirements are to be able to make this external audit just move that much smoother throughout the process.

And like you mentioned, Rachel, it's a six-month audit.

So here we are, right on the end of you know, producing the the last fiscal year, and you're already getting into the next audit.

So you know, I just I just bear to mention that again because it is quite a feat to be able to sit here and say uh triple crown winner yet again.

And how many years is that?

The triple crown came about four years ago when we submitted the PAFR for review because we always not always, but for the past 30 years, we have the budget book, and for the past 27 years, we have the AC for adding the PAFER is what it triggered the triple crown for the city.

It's pretty amazing.

So for the last 27 years, if you could repeat that again, Margaret.

So the last 27 years for the ACFR, 30 years for the budget book, and for years for the PAFER.

Thank you.

I I think that that just bears a lot of repetition and a lot of congratulations to you and your team and to Rachel.

Thank you.

Um it just we're we're very proud of the work that you all have done.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Margarita, and thank you, Rachel, for for all the work that you've done for the city of El Paso.

Um, it really takes a team, and so many times uh, you know, Representative Canales said it he's he's getting kind of used to hearing this every year.

So, but you know, we really shouldn't take things for granted because sometimes we just think things are the way they are because it's easy to be that way, but we need to recognize that year after year, it's it's something that's earned and it's merited by an entire team behind this.

Um, I want to point out to make sure people know that this year we also hired a director for risk management, which is only going to add towards being more financial uh transparent and fiscally responsible to our community.

We also have a new auditor that's going to join a wonderful team that's already in place here at the city.

So it really just takes a lot of different departments, a lot of different people to make this happen year after year.

And I just want to make sure that we're not taking it for granted that we hear you, we see you, and that we know that there's a lot of work that goes behind this.

You know, I I wasn't really aware of all of these awards and what they meant.

So I I mean I must confess that I went online to to look them up to see exactly what they're about, and and they're a very big deal.

It's a very big deal.

So let's make sure that we talk about this in a positive way, and that we um that we we tell people we're in this position because of the people that work in the city and because we care deeply about being fiscally responsible and um making sure that we're making the best use of our taxpayer dollars.

So thank you to all of you to Robert this morning and to everyone else involved with this.

We appreciate it.

Thank you.

Ms.

Prime, we I don't believe we have further discussion.

No, and we don't have a vote.

Uh there's no action on this item.

No action on this item.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

If we we may return to item 28.

Yes, please.

Thank you.

Item 28 is discussion and action to approve a resolution that the city council declares the expenditure of district two discretionary funds in an amount not to exceed $2,500 for costs related to the holding of the annual pride event in the City Hall parking lot along with destination El Paso and El Paso Sun City Pride on June 27, 2026.

And this was posted by Representative Acevedo.

Move to approve.

Second I don't believe we have any discussion on this item.

Okay.

So um Ms.

Prime, we have a motion and a second.

Could you please call for the vote?

Yes, the motion was made by Representative Acevedo, seconded by Representative Gonales to approve the resolution on item 28 on that motion, call for the vote.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

Mayor Prote, may we take the item on the addition to the agenda that is also along the same lines?

Yes, Ms.

French.

Thank you.

And this is on the addition to the agenda.

And this is discussion and action on a resolution authorizing the expenditure of district seven discretionary funds in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for cost related to the annual Día de los Niños Dia de los Libros event held on Saturday, April 25th, 2026 at Pablo Real Park, which serves a municipal purpose of fostering community and encouraging literacy within the city of El Paso's children population.

And this is representative Limon's item.

Ms.

Prime, we have a motion and a second and no discussion on this item.

Please call for the vote.

Yes, thank you.

The motion was made by Representative Limont, seconded by alternate mayor pro tempiero, and this is to approve the resolution on the addition to the agenda on that motion.

Call for the vote.

And the voting session.