Microphone just like that.

I was expecting you to buy it in the series.

Okay, we'll now continue with the mayor's proclamations.

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

We'll have timers on the monitors and chambers so you can see how much time you have left.

This is a proclamation from the city of El Paso.

Whereas aphasia is an acquired communication disorder that affects a person's ability to speak, understand spoken language, read and write, while intelligence remains intact.

And whereas aphasia most commonly occurs as a result of a stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, or other neurological condition affecting more than two million Americans and countless individuals and families throughout our community.

And whereas individuals living with aphasia often experience barriers to communication that may impact social participation, access to health care, employment opportunities, and overall quality of life.

And whereas the El Paso Aphasia Center is dedicated to providing education, advocacy, support, and evidence-based services to individuals living with aphasia and their families, empowering them to reconnect with their communities and live meaningful and fulfilling lives.

And whereas aphasia awareness month serves as an opportunity to recognize the resilience and achievements of individuals living with aphasia, honor their families, caregivers, and health care providers, and highlight the importance of communication accessibility for all.

And whereas the City of El Paso encourages all residents to learn about aphasia, foster communication friendly environment, support individuals and families affected by aphasia, and recognize their valuable contributions to our community.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and council of the city of El Paso that the month of June 2026 shall be known as aphasia awareness month and is signed by the honorable mayor, Renard Johnson.

Good morning.

Hi, good morning.

I am a 10-year-old fiber.

I have aphasia.

I am a respiratory Providence Hospital.

I took forward to free aphasia friends all the time.

Thank you for.

Good morning.

First, I would like to thank you, Mayor Johnson and the city council for inviting the El Paso Aphasia Connection Center to be here today and recognizing aphasia awareness month in the community.

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States experiences a stroke.

Every four minutes, someone dies from a stroke.

Of those who survive, 30% who have had a stroke will develop aphasia, which is a communication disorder that affects their ability to speak, read, write, and understand language.

Here in El Paso, an estimated 20,000 of your constituents live with the daily challenges of aphasia.

Many are no longer able to work, live independently, or advocate for themselves in the ways that they once could.

Today I stand before you not only as a speech language pathologist and the founder of the El Paso Aphasia Connection Center, but as someone privileged to witness the resilience, the determination, and the courage of these individuals living with aphasia every day.

Rather than focus on the statistics, I would like to share a few of the stories of these aphasia warriors.

The story of a young special education teacher here in the El Paso community and father of four who was working towards his master's degree at UTEP when at 38 years old suffered a stroke, he was unable to eat, walk, or speak, and had to relearn the most basic aspects of life alongside his one-year-old daughter.

Another, a UTEP theater and dance professor who experienced a stroke during the COVID pandemic, despite losing her ability to communicate, as she once had, she went on to author a book of poetry and now leads an aphasia friendly dance class at UTEP every summer.

And then there, the respiratory therapist at Providence Memorial Hospital and mother of three young boys who could not say a single word after her stroke.

Today she stood before you and your counsel and shared her story in her own voice.

These are not stories of loss, these are stories of perseverance, adaptation, and recovery.

For the past six years, the Al Paso Aphasia Connection Center has provided group speech therapy and support services to uninsured and underinsured individuals throughout the Greater El Paso region.

Even for those with insurance therapy caps often limit access to long-term therapy.

Our reach extends far beyond the city limits.

We proudly serve individuals in our sister city in Ciudad Valez, Anthony, New Mexico, Chaparral, and Las Cruces, just to name a few.

Thank you, Miss Limon, for coordinating this proclamation, and thank you, Mayor Johnson, and the members of City Council for your time, your support, and for helping shine a light on Aphasia awareness.

Thank you.

This is a condition that affects many families in our community.

Thank you.

So, how do we get a hold of you if someone wants to to find your organization?

We have a website, and we're also very active on our Facebook website, our Facebook page on the Al Paso Aphasia Connection Center.

There we go.

And are there any events or anything that you guys do throughout the year?

Yes, actually, our UTEP uh former UTEP professor is going to be hosting a a um empowered steps dance class.

This is our fourth event, um, June eighteenth every Thursday at UTEP from five to about six thirty, and we'll have a recital like we've had in the past.

Very good.

So June eighteenth, uh, five to six thirty.

Yes.

Very good.

And again, thank you guys for bringing awareness to this and congratulations on this month.

Thank you.

Miss Fry.

Yes, sir.

The next proclamation is Northeast Rotary Club United for Good.

Represent Trajo.

Thank you, Mayor.

We can have the Northeast Rotary Club come up, please.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Okay.

Whereas the Northeast Rotary Club of El Paso, Texas was founded in 1959 and has proudly served the community through volunteer service, charitable giving, leadership, and fellowship.

And whereas guided by the Rotary Model Service Above Self, the club has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to supporting youth, assisting local nonprofit organizations, honoring veterans, and improving the quality of life throughout El Paso community.

And whereas, under the leadership of President Jeremiah Haggerty, and this year's theme, United for Good, the club continues to bring together community leaders and volunteers dedicated to making a positive and lasting impact.

And whereas the dedicated board of directors and club members generously contribute their time, talents, and leadership, advancing the club's mission of community service, goodwill, and peace while fostering meaningful partnerships throughout the region.

And whereas the support of the rotary's international global mission to eradicate polio worldwide, members of the Northeast Rotary Club participate in weekly Feed the Pig tradition, collecting donations every Friday that contribute to the ongoing fight against polio and protect and help protect against future generations from the preventable disease.

And whereas the club supports education through scholarships, school supplies, and participation in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program, helping develop future leaders in our community.

And whereas through the annual Gulf Classic Tournaments, Flags for Heroes program, and other fundraising effort, the club provides support for charitable educational and community initiatives that support local students, families, veterans, and nonprofit organizations.

And whereas the club members further demonstrate their dedication through projects such as Wreaths Across America, the numerous service initiatives that reflect the values and leadership service and civic responsibility.

And whereas the Northeast Rotary Club continues to exemplify the spirit of volunteerism and community engagement, leaving a lasting legacy of service throughout the city of El Paso.

Now, therefore, it be a proclaimed by the mayor and city council of the City of El Paso that June 9th, 2026 is hereby recognized as a Northeast Rotary Good United for Good Day, signed by the Honorable Mayor Johnson.

The Mayor, City Council, City Trail, thank you very much for the proclamation.

My name is Jimmy Malver.

I have 27 years of the Northeast Rotary Club.

But we happen to have a gentleman in our club who has 61 years of perfect attendance.

So please give a round of applause to Sherman Barnett, Father Davidson Dealership.

61 years, 61 years he has not missed the Rotary Club.

And that's an amazing, amazing feat.

And that's the dedication that most of us Rotarians do.

We do so much in the community.

I am very proud that I was a member back when the Northeast Rotary Foundation was found in the year 2000.

Since that time, we have given over a million dollars back to the community for nonprofit organization.

We give so much to our time and valuable resources to raise money for our community.

I am so proud to be a Northeast Rotarian.

Rotarians are wonderful all over the world.

We do so many projects here in the city and all over the world.

We are one of the oldest nonprofit organizations in the world.

I tell people there are more rotary clubs in the country than the NATO countries.

Even a third world country even has rotary club because they know the impact that rotary does all over the world.

I am so proud to be represented by these people in red shirts.

We were red because of the fact that when we went to Afghanistan, Fort Bliss says we need to support the military.

So every Friday we were red to represent the military who's out there fighting for the freedom we enjoy every day.

I'm a proud veteran, and so are a lot of love people.

So we want to take this opportunity to thank you very much.

And again, this is Jeremiah Haggard, he's our current president.

And our incoming president is Richard Dryden.

Again, thank you all very much for what you all do in our city.

Thank you for representing us.

And think about Rotary.

You're all always invited to Rotary.

There are Rotary all over El Paso.

They meet Monday through Friday, so visit the Rotary Club.

Mayor, thank you very much.

You and I have known each other a long time, and God bless you all.

Thank you very much.

Representative Canales.

Thank you, Mayor.

One quick thing to say, and this is for Jimmy.

I know Jimmy through uh you might you might not remember me, but through uh my involvement with Vitalent, the local blood bank, and I wanted to recognize Jimmy's special accomplishments.

Can you tell us about your blood donation?

Yes, I am very, very proud.

Uh as most of you may or may not know, I used to work for a company called El Paso Natural Gas, which is that big blue flame building.

I happen to be working with them for 31 and a half years and six months for retirement.

Back then, El Paso Natural Gas were actually the biggest donor of blood.

I am proud to say that I've got 20 given 21 gallons of blood to the United Blood Service.

And it's one of those situations.

We're all here to support the community.

My mom and dad, because I am a Japanese, I came here after World War II when there was a lot of animosity towards Japanese people.

Everybody picked on me and spit on me because I didn't speak any English when I came to the United States.

One day I came home and I told my mother, don't speak to me in Japanese because I was going to be a full blood American.

And since that time, which is going back to 1953 when I came to the United States, I do not speak any Japanese at all because I am a proud American and I love the flag.

Thank you very much.

I think it was true a couple years ago.

I can't imagine anyone's caught him.

I believe Jimmy is the El Pasoan who's donated the most blood ever.

So that's incredible.

It's an incredible accomplishment.

Thank you, Jimmy.

Thank you guys again.

Good to see you, my friends.

And thank you for all that you do supporting our youth, honoring our veterans, and improving the quality of life of this community.

Uh, couple questions, Jimmy.

Um tell us a little bit more about Feed the Pig.

Excuse me.

Is it Feed the Pig?

Is that what it's called?

Tell us what that is.

Feed the pig.

Oh, feed the pig.

Feed the pig.

I'm old and I can't hear.

Uh, feed the pig.

As most of you may or may not know, some 40 years ago, president of the Rotary International came and looked at the world map and saw that there was podio all over the world.

Even in the United States, we had podio.

And so he challenged all the Rotarians to start giving money to Polio Plus.

And we're trying to eradicate podio.

So our club actually, three years ago, when I was a district polio plus chairman for the whole district, we decided that we were going to bring a pig to our meeting.

And every week we donate five or ten dollars to pig to donate that money on October twenty seventh, every year, which is podio month.

We donate all that money to Polio International.

And so it's a wonderful opportunity to eradicate podio.

And currently we are only in two countries all over the world.

We have eradicated polio, and that's the challenge that all the terrors have done for all these years.

And I'm proud to say that we were already Polio Plus pin, which means we donate every year to Polio Plus charity.

Thank you very much for asking, we're not.

Yeah, my pleasure.

And then the last question is, you have a golf tournament coming up.

We we have a golf tournament we just got finished with.

That's one of the reasons why we we continue to raise money for the club so that we're able to give forty-five thousand dollars every year.

And so we're proud that we we just completed our golf tournament about a couple of weeks ago, and so it was a wonderful, wonderful golf tournament, and we ask you to come and join us every year because we have the golf tournament every year.

And I'm proud to say that we also do the flags for heroes on Diana Street right there by Old Glory Memorial.

We pull up a hundred flags.

It's a beautiful, beautiful site, and usually you see that every year on major holiday, fourth of July coming up, you'll see a hundred flags on Diana Street right there by Old Glory Memorial.

And I'm proud to say I was one of five people that actually started that project.

And that's why I love the flag for what it says for the freedom that we all enjoy and love.

Thank you very much.

Thank you guys.

Congratulations.

And the next proclamation is responsible fatherhood month.

Ms.

Bryan?

And the Proclamation reads, whereas everyone deserves a chance to reach one's full potential, and we have a moral and economic duty to support our children and to promote positive outcomes for youth through early intervention, quality education, and family support programs.

And whereas fathers, whether biological, a father figure, foster or adoptive, deserve our honor and gratitude.

And whereas the celebration of Father's Day is a time to honor fathers and thank them for their love and support and the vital potential role they play in helping their children grow and set goals for their future.

And whereas good fathering and co-parenting during infancy, childhood, and adolescence contributes to emotional security and has overwhelming positive psychological and economic benefits for children, families, communities, and other sectors.

And whereas children are less likely to face poverty, infant mortality, and abuse, and or neglect when there is an involved father in their lives.

And whereas a devoted father makes a powerful difference helping build strong families and more stable communities.

And whereas when families are supported, children are more likely to succeed and communities benefit.

This can also reduce the need for additional support services, allowing public resources to continue investing in opportunity education and safer neighborhoods for everyone.

And whereas throughout our state, we aim to promote positive fathering and co-parenting, to showcase providers of fatherhood resources and services, and to increase public awareness of the crucial role of fathers.

Now, therefore, be a proclaim by the mayor and council of the city of El Paso that June twenty twenty six shall be known as responsible fatherhood month, signed by the honorable mayor Renard Johnson.

Good morning.

It's needed within the community to be successful in everything.

So before I continue, I want to thank each and every one of you, Mayor, of course, and the city council for allowing us to bring this proclamation and not only bring it within the city, but provide resources within our community.

We have a couple of pastors that would like to speak on behalf of this matter.

First one coming up is Pastor JT.

Mr.

City Council.

This is my son Amin.

He is my adoptive son, so adopted him in July of 2021.

I have two daughters of our own, and then the Lord brought us a son.

And so fatherhood is such an important role.

We know I before I became a pastor, I was a school counselor at Silcoro District at El Dorado High School.

I was a personal social counselor, so I did dealt with all the students who had drug, alcohol, true and sea, gang violence, and the majority of the population of the students that I tried to mentor in court and coach and ensure they would graduate came from fatherless homes.

So this is a big issue, and so I want to thank the city council for understanding the importance of the role that fathers play in not just the homes, but in society.

So I wanted to go ahead and say that the Federal Census Bureau, 72 million fathers uh in the United States according to the Federal uh Census Bureau one out of four children uh live with an absent father I'm also not a child anymore but I had uh I'm one of those statistics.

I leave you with um some things uh in research that I found very very important presence be present be actively engaged uh protection uh create a safe environment for your kids provision provide physical don't just you know anyone can be uh uh anyone can uh produce a child but not everyone can be a father uh principles uh moral compass you know right and wrong and the last one purpose uh pointing children to God and to responsible uh activities and I I'm like what do I call all these peas and living in El Paso Papa priorities are very important.

Thank you so much.

Good morning mayor uh good morning counsel thank you for your time I just want to speak from experience when I was born my dad wasn't present due to being incarcerated and so by the age of one two he finally came out uh my grandma raised me my father wasn't there present but when he gave his life to Christ as me as an adult he became present in my life and when he was in present I was headed on the wrong way wrong ways just like he was that I ended up being incarcerated but because he was present in his in my adult lives made an impact that that seed of faith planted in me that now I became a pastor my father passed away he went on to be the Lord but his presence made more of effect on my adult than his absence and because of that now we break that generation pattern that now I become a father not only to two stepdaughters but to two kids on my own and I became a father in the faith to so and so a father being present is so important because not only fixed your life but it affects the community as well no I'm gonna take another 20 minutes but go ahead no respect.

Congratulations you guys on on this month of Fatherhood month but I've got to tell you uh this has been the greatest gift that I've ever received of of being a father uh to my two young daughters and my relationship with my father has has transformed my life um in so many ways you know the times that he showed me compassion uh the times that he listened to me when I needed an ear to talk to also the the tough love that he showed me when I was wrong so um I also think we should recognize the the many fathers that are serving in the U.S.

military and for every father uh that commits to family and service so congratulations on this month and well deserved congrats and I do want to finalize this and I we want to pray for everything all of your objectives every project that you guys have we as pastors and faith leaders in the community are committed so whenever you need to call upon someone we are everybody here represents a district where you guys are so let's get to get together together and like like I mentioned to you earlier faith and government has to be balanced and working hand in hand for the success of our community.

So we love you guys and we pray over you.

Thank you thank you And the next proclamation is rebuilding together, she builds day.

Representative Limon.

Oh, okay, Representative Canalis.

Thank you, Mayor.

Good morning, Mr.

Mayor.

Good morning.

There we go.

He's ready.

Improving the lives of low-income homeowners, seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities through critical home repairs, accessibility modifications, and safety improvements that allow residents to remain in their homes with dignity and independence.

And whereas the organization has transformed several thousands of homes throughout the city of El Paso through the installation of wheelchair ramps, grab bars, ADA compliant bathrooms, lighting improvements, weatherization, plumbing and electrical safety repairs, and other essential modifications provided free of charge with the support of volunteers, contractors, donors, community partners, and CDBG support.

And whereas rebuilding together El Paso has mobilized thousands of volunteers from local businesses, educational institutions, civic groups, and community organizations, strengthening neighborhoods while fostering a spirit of compassion, civic engagement, and community service throughout the city.

Strengthen neighborhoods and improve quality of life for families, seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities throughout our community.

That June 9th, 2026 shall be known as Rebuilding Together El Paso Day, signed by our Honorable Mayor Renard Johnson.

Good morning.

Thank you very much.

I think I'm allowed to speak now.

Yes, you're all set.

Mr.

Mayor, City Council members, thank you very much for this honor of the proclamation.

It means a lot to us.

We might be just with a few of us here, but I can assure you that we got at least 600 people behind us who are involved in all the projects which we are doing.

We I would like to thank you as well for the continued support with CDBG grants.

This is a very important aspect, and I will explain why.

Since we started in 1991, we have helped about 1500 homeowners with repairs in their home.

We have developed uh we have tripled our output the last decade or so.

We reach out to more than 100 homeowners per year.

Um we have developed a very effective full prevention program where we really verify the effectiveness of it.

Uh we have taken away a lot of hazards for safety and health in the homes of the uh community.

Um we uh work with volunteers.

We involve uh some 600 volunteers per year in projects, and several of you attend these projects.

Yeah, we are very thankful for that.

We help shelters, yeah.

We reach out to community uh to increase the impact.

Uh we um have uh helped uh shelters uh for women uh who flee domestic violence.

We have uh helped the food bank, we have are at this moment helping candle lighters.

Um we have uh we have empowered almost 300 women in our program She Builds, yeah, where we train them to handle emergencies at home and uh and take care of maintenance of their home with repairs.

Um, even was mentioned uh she builds and drills.

Next week we got a workshop for uh Girl Scouts where we train these young young ladies also in taking care of the home and taking care of emergencies when something would happen.

Um we uh are even in the training of of these women on in the Seabuilds program, bringing bringing them into homes.

The ladies of uh the junior league have installed grab bars in uh in homes.

Um and the late latest initiative as was mentioned is the veterans homecoming uh collaboration.

This sounds like a lot, but CDBG grants have been the foundation of this.

Without CDBG, we get CDBG grants at least what I could retrieve back since 2008, but maybe maybe longer ago.

So this is extremely important.

Is the foundation of our activity, and only then we can uh reach out with more initiatives to help the community.

So thank you very much, City Council, uh, Mrs.

Ligon.

Yeah, we know your support, and uh uh thank you very much for the continuation of this report.

You got it.

Representative Lemon.

Thank you, thank you, Mayor.

Roger, um, we've had an opportunity to work with you for a long, long time during my first term on council.

You have done an incredible job of encouraging volunteers, but more important, you are building volunteers, and the She Builds program is a fabulous project that is going to be taking place.

I have been so supportive of this that we are setting up a group of women uh from our district, six women that we will sponsor to be part of the project, and I will be number seven.

I will pay my own way, but I want you to know that the seven of us will be kicking off the project.

I think it's in September, and we'll be spending every other weekend with you learning the techniques and learning how to be self-sufficient, so that then we can become volunteers with you.

So thank you for that great opportunity and for building your volunteer base.

Congratulations, Roger.

Thank you.

Roger and to the team, thank you guys for what you're doing for improving the lives of our low-income and our uh communities with disabilities through home repair and all that you do.

And a big big congratulations, you said it to the volunteer base.

There's an army completely behind you that we don't see, so make sure you congratulate them and tell them we we said thank you.

And uh we are super proud of what you're doing for for El Paso, and we look forward to working with you for many, many more years.

So, congratulations on the rebuilding together El Paso Day.

Congratulations.

Yes, and the final proclamation is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS Awareness Month.

Representative Chavez.

Thank you, Mayor.

Good morning.

Whereas amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive and terminal neurodegenerative disease that affects mobility, speech, and ultimately the ability to breathe.

And whereas ALS impacts thousands of individuals and families across the United States, creating significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges for those living with the disease and those who care for them.

And whereas individuals living with ALS face extraordinary obstacles with courage, dignity, and determination, while caregivers, family members, healthcare professionals, and researchers provide essential support and care.

And whereas ALS Awareness Month provides an opportunity to educate the public about the realities of this devastating disease, promote understanding and compassion, and encourage support for ongoing research aimed at improving treatments and finding a cure.

And whereas the City of El Paso recognizes the importance of raising awareness of ALS and honoring the strength and resilience of all those affected by the disease.

Whereas the city of El Paso joins communities across the nation in recognizing ALS Awareness Month and reaffirming its commitment to supporting individuals, families, caregivers, and advocates impacted by ALS.

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and council of the City of El Paso that the month of May 2026 is hereby designated as ALS Awareness Month in the City of El Paso.

Congratulations.

Good morning, everyone.

Thank you, Major Johnson and the City Council for giving this time to talk about ALS.

ALS is also known as luger disease.

This is a neurodegenerative and fatal disease, meaning that it's gonna progress, it has no cure and ends with the patients' debt.

This disease affects like the neurons, the cells that connect the brain and the muscle, which leads to weakness and eventually paralysis.

The patients will lose the ability to move, to talk, to walk, to eat, and even to breathe.

But this disease not only affects the patients physically but also affects both the patients and the families emotionally and economically.

Because of these, I would like to thank everybody involved, like in bringing awareness to this complex disease.

Raising awareness for ALS is gonna help to promote early diagnosis, increase access to high quality of care, and also to support and advancing research for better treatment and also eventually to cure.

Thank you, Major Johnson, and also the city council for bringing awareness and for also supporting the ALS patients.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Good morning, Mayor and City Council.

This is different for me.

So for those of you who know me, I'm Antoinette Hunt.

I'm the veteran County Service Officer.

But today I'm representing a good friend of mine, Robert Casada, a veteran, and he is currently in Houston receiving treatment for ALS, and he asked me to read a statement into the record.

Good morning, Mayor, members of City Council, distinguished guests, veterans, families, and members of the community.

It is truly our honor.

I moved my thing.

It's truly an honor to stand before you today and accept this proclamation, recognizing ALS Awareness Month on behalf of the ALS community, the veteran community, and many families whose lives have been touched by this disease.

I want to sincerely thank El Paso City Council for taking this important and courageous step.

This proclamation is more than a declaration, it is a statement that the City of El Paso recognizes the challenges faced by those living with ALS and is committed to bringing greater awareness to a disease that continues to affect thousands of Americans, especially our nation's veterans.

I want to thank the veteran community for its never-ending support.

Veterans have always understood the meaning of service and sacrifice.

Time and again, they have stepped forward to support their brothers and sisters in need, and the ALS community has benefited greatly from their that commitment.

Today I would like to honor a true El Paso hero, a gentleman I will identify only as Isaac.

Isaac was a proud Navy veteran, a devoted husband, a loving brother, and the proud father of two boys.

He was also the person who first made me truly aware of ALS and the devastating impact it can have on an individual in a family.

Isaac had every reason to give up.

ALS is a relentless disease, it slowly takes away a person's physical abilities.

Yet every day Isaac chose to fight.

He fought because he wanted more time with these children.

He fought because he loved his family.

He fought because every day he spent with those he cared about was worth the struggle.

Many of the veterans in this room will remember gathering at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery to render Isaac his final honors.

While we mourn the loss of a fellow veteran, we also witness the strength of a community that refuses to leave anyone behind.

Since that day, great strides have been made in the fight against ALS.

Patients living with ALS are increasingly taking a comprehensive approach to treatment.

They are seeking mental health support, peer support, nutritional guidance, and holistic therapies and partnerships with their physicians.

Physical therapists and occupational therapists are helping patients maintain strength, independence, and functionally longer than ever before.

Adaptive technologies are allowing people with ALS to continue, I'm almost done.

Communicating and traveling and remaining active participants in their families and communities.

At the same time, society has come to recognize an unfortunate reality, veterans are among those hardest hit by this disease.

Although veterans make up only a small percentage of our population, they are disproportionately affected by ALS.

The fact alone should compel all of us to take action.

That's why today's proclamation is so important.

Al Paso City Council has taken a bold step in bringing ALS to the public eye.

Awareness is a first step towards change, but awareness alone is not enough.

Now it is up to all of us, the community, health care providers, veteran organizations, caregivers, and local leaders to continue the initiative that the council has started.

We must work together to ensure individuals living with ALS have access to specialized care, adaptive equipment, caregiver support, mental health resources, and the services they need to live with dignity and hope.

My hope is that years from now, people will look back and remember Al Paso chose to lead, that when confronted with the disease it seemed impossible to defeat, this community refused to look away.

That our city stood beside veterans, families, caregivers, and patients, and demanded better care, greater awareness, and more resources.

And perhaps one day when ALS is finally defeated, Al Paso will be remembered as one of the places where that victory began.

To the city council, thank you for your leadership and vision.

To our veterans, thank you for your continued service and support.

To the families and individuals living with ALS, we stand with you.

And to Isaac, whose courage continues to inspire us all.

Thank you for showing us what it means to fight with dignity, strength, and love.

Way me, may we honor your legacy by continuing the fight until ALS is no more.

Thank you.

God bless the city of El Paso and God bless our veterans and their families.

Representative Chavez.

Thank you, Mayor.

And I want to recognize Robert.

He's a constituent of mine, and unfortunately, like Tony mentioned, he's unable to be with us today because he is receiving treatment for ALS.

And as well as Dr.

Narvaez Correa, who's uh in the back, thank you for the work that you're providing to the community at Texas Tech.

We appreciate you being here today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And thank you guys for what you do.

And most people are diagnosed with this as we know between the ages of 40 and 70.

And it doesn't, you know, this disease attacks, it doesn't matter, matter your race, your background, or anything.

It it will attack their everybody.

So today we're honoring those that we lost, support those currently battling disease, the disease, and work together for a future that will hopefully end this disease.

So thank you guys for all that you've done and all the awareness that you bring to the community.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

Ms.

Prime.

Good morning.

This is a meeting of the El Paso City Council for Tuesday, June 9, 2026.

Mayor Johnson is present and presiding in Council Chambers along with Mayor Protem Chavez, Representative Acevedo, Representative Maldonado Rocha, Representative Boyatrejo, Representative Nino, Alternate Mayor Pro Tem Fierro, Representative Limon, and Representative Canales.

It is 10 01 a.m.

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 once again, thank you for the opportunity to come before the council and pray for this council and our city.

That being said, I invite all present to pray in their tradition as I will pray in mine.

Heavenly Father, we come before you today mindful of the weight carried by those entrusted with public service.

In seasons of prosperity, leadership is challenging enough.

But in times of financial strain, uncertainty, and difficult decisions, the burden grows even heavier.

We ask for wisdom for this council, for our mayor, the city staff, and all who serve this community.

Grant them clarity of mind and steadiness of heart as they wrestle with budgets, taxes, priorities, and the real human consequences attached to every decision.

Remind all of us that behind every line item is a family trying to make ends meet.

A small business trying to survive, a neighborhood that just hopes to feel safe, citizens who simply want to believe that their concerns matter.

Guard this chamber against pride, division, and the temptation to seek victory over one another instead of solutions for the people of El Paso.

Give these leaders the courage to speak honestly, the humility to listen carefully, and the integrity to place service above personal interest or political gain.

Help us to remember that leadership is not measured by power retained, but by lives strengthened.

And for all who are gathered here today, Father, grant patience, civility, and a shared commitment to the common good.

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

Thank you, Pastor.

Thank you very much.

Miss Prime.

Yes, Mayor, we do have a quorum.

Okay.

Good morning, everyone.

And in council, before we proceed uh with public comment period, item 37 has generated a significant amount of public interest.

So to ensure that all interested speakers have an opportunity to be heard, and that the council can adequately consider the item.

As the chair presiding over the meeting, I am going to ask that after the approval of the consent agenda that item 37 be heard first.

At this time, I'm going to entertain a motion to move item 37 after the consent agenda and to suspend the rules of order to combine those individuals signed up to speak at 10 a.m.

regarding item 37 with the speakers registered to speak when the item has been discussed discussed.

So is there a motion?

So move Mayor.

Alright, there's a motion and a second.

Ms.

Prime.

There's a motion and a second.

And this is to suspend the rules of order to combine the speakers that signed up at 10 a.m.

with those speakers that signed up to speak when the item is discussed.

And subsequently, this also will move agenda item 37 immediately after the consent agenda.

All in favor?

Anyone opposed?

And the motion carries.

Yes, Mayor.

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

Members of the public may not use this public forum for political statements or campaigning.

And please refrain from clapping or other reactions that may interrupt the flow of the meeting.

Maintaining a professional environment requires refraining from cheering, clapping, or other actions that may disrupt proceedings.

And mayor the fire marshal has informed me that we're at capacity, so they're not allowing anyone else in the chambers.

I will ask that those that have not signed up to speak.

I will invite them to move to the overflow room so they can allow those folks that did sign up to speak to be in the council chambers.

We'll begin with comment on agenda items for those that signed up to speak at 10 a.m.

but not for item 37 yet.

So right now we have uh Miss Patricia, not Patricia, Miss Alma Estrada, she signed up to speak on item 22.

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

Alma Estrada, she signed up to speak item 22.

I don't speak.

I don't believe she's she's in the queue.

We'll need you to mute your microphones if you're in teams, please, to reduce any background noise.

I don't see Ms.

Alma Estrada.

We'll move on to David Milke.

He signed up to speak on item 34 at 10 a.m.

34, David.

Okay.

Then we'll call you up for item 37, sir.

Michael Clark, he signed up to speak on item 35 at 10 a.m.

Michael Clark.

If you're in the queue, star six, please.

Michael Clark.

I don't see him in the queue.

Michael Clark.

Wait a minute.

I do see him.

Mr.

Clark star six, please.

Go ahead, sir.

Your microphone is ready.

You signed up to speak on item 35, which is a council item authorizing the city manager to collect hotel occupancy taxes on short-term rentals.

Go ahead, Mr.

Clark.

You have three minutes.

My only issue with this item is items to address 100% for Airbnb.

And understand that that's the idea for four-term rentals, of course, with the hot tax code.

Um, we do process because I believe we wouldn't talk to hotels about paying their hotel tax.

Um that hot text.

And um I'm just I'm just having an issue and a hard time understanding how we're good at boarding past that course here.

Um I mean, I spoke last year on this issue on my directory.

I understand that every four years that comes around um when it comes to the tax, and again, I'd really believe that a whole table would create a standard for this instead of just putting out another deal.

So we already pay high property taxes and you're looking for a way to um, you know, uh offset the cost overall when it comes to homeownership.

So again, um my name is Michael Clark.

I'm just a homeowner.

Um I'm done short term level myself.

Um I've stopped doing at this code because it is expensive and adding a hot text would just make it really um more difficult to talk about everything else that involves running this uh short-term level business um but I appreciate the time to speak on this thank you thank you the next speaker is Cassandra Castroita Cassandra Castruita she signed up to speak on item 36 Cassandra Castruita I don't see her coming forward uh we'll move to Elizabeth Terrazas Elizabeth Terrasa signed up to speak on item 39 Elizabeth Terrazas or Steven Posinger Stefan Posinger signed up to speak on item 39 or Chelsea Ivaldi Elizabeth Terrazas Stefan Posinger or Chelsea Ivaldi they signed up to speak on item 39 at 10 a.m.

I don't see those folks coming forward so that'll bring us to the consent agenda I'm sorry that'll bring 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 of the city council meetings are public meetings under the Texas open meetings act public comment is an accommodation and not a requirement of city council all persons in attendance are expected to display civility and decorum that is respectful to other persons without the use of insulting profane threatening or abusive language public comment will not be used for personal attacks nor may any member of the public use forum 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 this morning for call to the public we have 11 members of the public we'll begin with Claudia Contreras Siller Claudia Contreras Siller.

I don't see her Donna Donnie Maris Claudia Contreras or Donnie Maris we'll move to Elizabeth Crawford Ms.

Crawford's topic is LGBT Pride Month and the Rainbow Miss Crawford Miss Prime I believe we have we have Miss Claudia Contreras.

Miss Claudia Contreras's topic is clause against animal cruelty good morning hello good morning everybody um I always speak about animal cruelty I'm gonna need the projector right now I'm gonna show a picture of a cat that was shot with a baby gun uh there's no blood or anything it's just like the cat and also the X-rays this is very common in our society.

Miss Brian can we get the overhead and I want to see the hang on real quick I want to thank animal services because they show up in minutes within the first 311 call he had a fracture leg.

So I am extremely thankful with animal services with a police department animal services left some notes with a Texas penal code 42 where it explains that harming an animal it's a felony and also it's a fine and etc you guys can Google it as I was looking for my stuff yesterday I came out.

I ran across with the state of Texas versus Christopher Nathan Torres.

This person is the one that ate the cat.

It's explained that he stabbed it, ate it at 1 p.m.

behind the junction.

The judge only gave him probation.

So isn't that fair for the police department and for everybody that's reporting animal cruelty to come across this horrible scenes and not receive justice?

Here it explains absolutely everything intentionally, knowingly and recklessly, he ate a cat.

So I wanna thank immensely, Mayor Johnson and Ms.

Mack because they uh said, well, it was discussed that Animal Services is going to receive one point four 1.5 million more for next year.

And I am very thankful with that, and I I applaud you and everything because you guys are taking care of our animals.

And also I want to request that with that money, uh team of TNR, it's hired that is that can go to the streets that can fix the cats and that can make presents because the presence of animal services saves animals.

And I will also please give more money to the animal cruelty unit.

They see all this horrible stuff that doesn't come out in the news.

Also, I never plan my speeches, but like everything is changing.

Uh the pigeons are being killed.

Please do more for them.

Uh, I back up the second chance wildlife and animal rescue corp.

Thank you so much.

God bless you, everybody.

Thank you.

I'm gonna I'm gonna ask everyone to please maintain decorum that includes refraining from clapping or any outbursts that disturb the meeting.

I'm gonna read the names of the persons that signed up to speak for call to the public in case they're in the overflow room so they can make their way into chambers.

If anyone has not signed up to speak, I would invite you to exit chambers, go to the overflow room so we can allow those members that did sign up to speak room to come into chambers.

Donna, Donnie Matis, William Cobb, Marco Sanchez, Jonathan Davis, Victoria Quinola, Lisa Turner, Jimmy Melbourne, and Aida Torres.

If you're in the overflow room, please make your room your way to chambers.

We'll continue with Miss Crawford.

She's on the phone.

Ms.

Crawford, go ahead, ma'am.

You have three minutes.

Please.

Good morning.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Um, I would like to speak briefly about pride months and um the use of the rainbow as a symbol for pride month.

Um the rainbow is a symbol that comes out of God's word.

The rainbow is God's creation.

We see the beauty of the rainbow in creation.

Um after rainfall, and you're a beautiful rainbow.

He did not have so um after God judged the world with a worldwide flood and saved only Noah and his family on the ark after they exited the ark, God put a rainbow in the sky as a sign of his covenant to never again destroy the earth with a worldwide flood.

That was thousands of years ago, and he has kept and will keep that covenant.

It's beautiful in looking at those scriptures that God said it's a reminder to himself.

Not that he really needs the reminder, but yet in his mercy, he put that as a reminder that he would not pour out his wrath upon this world again in that way by a floodwater.

Um, while the earth stands, that is his mercy.

We're told in 2 Peter that he will never destroy the earth again by a worldwide flood, but the day is coming when he will destroy the earth with fire, and so we know that every day God looks upon this earth and he sees people who sin against his holiness and against his righteousness.

In mercy, he has held back his judgment because we're in an age of grief when people are invited to come to him by faith in Christ.

We're warned and promised in First Corinthians that the Apostle Paul wrote: Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?

Do not be deceived, neither fornicated, nor idolaters, nor adulters, nor homosexual, no Satanite, Memphis, they're covetous, no drunkard, no revisor, no extortioner, will inherit the kingdom of God.

And such were some of you that you were washed, you were that you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

The sign of the rainbow is refine of God's mercy that he has held back judgment to give us time to come to him and represent so that when judgment does eventually fall worldwide by fire upon the third.

Well, with us who have come to Christ for salvation and forgiveness will be faith from that judgment.

That is the meaning of the rainbow.

Thank you.

Hope you have a good day.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next speaker is William Cobb.

And I'll again call the next group of speakers.

William Cobb, Marco Sanchez, Jonathan Davis.

Mr.

Cobb's topic is city events blocking access to our property.

Good morning.

You have three minutes.

Good morning.

Good morning.

My name is Father Bill Cobb.

I've been the rector of the Church of St.

Clement for 20 years.

The Church of St.

Clement was founded in 1870.

It's the oldest Protestant church in El Paso, and it was the first church for 500 miles in any direction.

The first Protestant church.

We also have a school that was founded in 1958.

I'm not here to speak on matters of faith.

I'm uh here to talk about a very practical problem.

Our church is literally a five-minute walk straight down Campbell Street.

We have a large congregation averaging 600 worshippers on a weekend.

We're open seven days a week, pretty much 365 days a year.

We have a staff of 30 employees, not including the school.

We have a problem with city-sponsored events that make our property completely inaccessible several times a year.

A little over a year ago, I met with a group of about 10 city administrators and police department personnel at the one-stop shop to discuss the problem.

They spent a good hour with me and I felt very listened to.

However, the problem continues, um, I was told there was nothing we could do because various groups get permits for the events, and they simply approve them as applied for, uh, regardless of consequences.

When I asked why the roots were approved when they were when they caused problems, there was no answer.

In particular, there are two major events and several smaller ones.

Uh the Michelope Ultra El Paso Marathon, and don't get me wrong, I'm not against marathons.

We have many parishioners who are involved in them, but it has a route that forms a box around our church on a Sunday morning, so that our parishioners must cross it to attend church services.

We've been told that the police will let our prisoners through to the church, but I personally found that not to always be true.

I've been blocked from coming to my own church for a mass on a Sunday morning.

Um here's a picture of the route for this year.

IT the elmo, please.

Flip it over.

Okay, so we can't get to church without crossing this.

Um, when it alleviates, they do let us through.

Okay, so one other thing is the pride parade.

Um, it goes right down Campbell, takes the right on Montana, or vice versa.

And the problem is is that we literally can't get to our church.

We had to cancel a major funeral two years ago, and this year on June 27th, we have an ordination at exactly that hour.

Thank you, sir.

Um, I'm I've I've gotten nowhere with the city.

Um, we're blocked.

Yeah, I I know I'm pleased to leave.

Refrain and let the speakers finish speaking.

Thank you, sir.

I just want to say, you know, it's a very practical issue.

We can't get to our own church on a Sunday morning or on a Saturday when one of these events is going on, and I would appreciate some help.

Thank you, sir.

The next speaker is Marco Sanchez.

Followed by Jonathan Davis, Victoria Quinola, Patricia Osman, Lisa Turner, Jimmy Melbourne, Alda, Aida Torres.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning, Mayor Johnson and Council.

Uh, my name is Marco Sanchez.

I'm a high school student from District 4, and I'm here to ask a very simple question.

When did public safety start meaning public surveillance?

Flock safety automated license plate readers capture every car, every plate, every movement, along with other vehicle identifying data, like car color scheme, etc.

etc.

And thousands of scans per minute.

They say it's for crime prevention, right?

And that is how these kinds of things start off.

But if that's true, why does the company keep 30 days of vehicle movement data on its cloud servers?

And that's similar to BYD or Tencent in China powering their social credit system.

That's how they started earlier on.

Because nothing says trust, like a private corporation holding a map where every El Pastoin drives, right?

Let's talk numbers.

So Flock systems nationwide have logged billions of plate reads.

Yet false flag rates remain high.

Misreads, mismatch plates, um, accidents, etc.

In one of thousands of incidents in Toledo County, Brandon Upchurch was mauled by a police dog and spent time in jail as an innocent man after a flock camera misread his license plate for a stolen vehicle.

After that, he sued Toledo County for a lot of money, but that's beside the point.

That's not safety.

Frankly, that's roulette.

And data sharing.

Flock boasts partnerships with over 2,000 law enforcement agencies.

So when you drive to Las Cruces, your plate might ping in Phoenix or Dallas.

Who needs borders when your car already has a tracking number?

Now I'm not saying the system is evil, I'm saying it's opaque.

We don't know who in the county or sheriff's office has access, what audit logs exist, and what supervised access in quotation marks from Flox Safety website actually means or looks like.

The city may own this data, but it's still on Flox servers.

If our city is responsible with the data, it doesn't mean Flock is.

Flock can be attacked by um cyber attacks, hackers exist, corrupt cops exist, and our data is too precious to be risked in such an irresponsible fashion.

Then obviously civil liberties matter.

The Fourth Amendment wasn't written with cloud storage in mind, but the point still stands.

This is an invasion of our privacy, powered by the very data center we're trying to stop when we're regarding item number 308.

No, um art uh item 380.

Messed up the name.

So you shouldn't need a lawyer to drive to the grocery store without being logged or tracked.

That's my bottom line.

Because if we don't start asking these questions now, we'll be asking them later.

And we'll be explaining to our officer why our car was seen somewhere.

It was never actually there.

Thank you very much for your time.

Thank you.

Please, I again ask the audience to please refrain from clapping.

We have so we have multiple close to 200 people today, so we need to get everybody their appropriate time, and we need to move uh this the list of speakers efficiently.

The next speaker is Jonathan Davis.

Mr.

Davis' topic is municipal tree inventory.

He will be followed by Victoria Quinola.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Yes, sir.

Good morning, Mayor.

Uh city members.

I'm here to address the city so they can invest in a comprehensive tree, uh municipal tree inventory.

Um over the past few months, I've had the pleasure to spend time with the city, the parks and uh rec's department, streets and maintenance.

I've also gone out of my way to visit Phoenix, Vegas, Denver, uh, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington, just to see how they conduct and um just to see how they manage their trees over there.

Um I chose those cities specifically because they have the closest climates to our highs and lows.

Although uh being in a Chihuahua desert, we're drastically different than them.

And being in a high desert environment like ours, trees are not merely ornamental, they're critical pieces of public infrastructure.

And just as we catalog our road, water lines, and street lights to manage them effectively, we must catalog our urban forest.

And currently, I believe that we manage our trees reactively rather than proactively.

And the only way to truly do that is by having data-driven models such as the tree inventory.

A tree inventory will allow us to track species, size, and the health of every tree on city property.

This has multiple tangible benefits, such as physical responsibility and resource allocation, public safety and risk mitigation, and it also allows us to target our climate resilience goals.

One of the most important things that I don't believe that we're aware of is because I don't, I'm not sure that we have an integrated integrated pest management.

There's two pests that are sweeping from east to west and west to east.

Majority of our city trees are ash, and they are going to decimate every single tree unless we implement a proactive management program to protect them.

Furthermore, having an up-to-date urban tree inventory is a prerequisite for many federal and state environmental grants.

So by investing in this inventory today, it allows us to open the door to federal funding from the Texas AM Forest Service and the USDA to aid in our long-term sustainability goals.

Ultimately, we cannot effectively manage what we do not measure.

So I asked the city council to explore funding in that area.

And thank you for your time.

Thank you.

She will be followed by Patricia Osman, Lisa Turner, Jemmy Malver, Aida Torres.

Good morning, you have three.

Greetings, Mayor and Council members.

My name is Victoria.

I am a resident of El Paso, proud veteran and chapter leader for a nonprofit called the WestNA Price Foundation, representing the El Paso area.

I am representing both our farmers and local consumers.

There is a glaring corporate-led double standard in El Paso's food economy.

We citizens can buy highly processed junk food, chemical additives, alcohol, or corporate tobacco, but an independent Texas farmer cannot easily sell fresh raw milk directly to a willing consumer at a farmer's market.

They are treated like a criminal.

The peer reviewed medical data is clearly evident.

The massive Gabriela study analyzed over 8,000 children and proved that raw farm milk results in a staggering 41% reduction in childhood asthma and a 50% reduction in hay fever.

The landmark pasture study tracked infants over three 37,000 patient weeks, finding a 30% reduction in respiratory infections.

High heat industrial pasteurization can cook away protective elements, which raw milk provides.

The corporate food supply is riddled with tracking failures.

The pathogens we are told to fear, Listeria, Salmonella, and E.

coli are consistently found inside heavily regulated government approved corporate food brands.

Federal inspection stamps completely failed to track listeria when it contaminated millions of pounds of premium boarshead deli meats.

They failed to screen bulk inputs when General Mills shipped Salmonella contaminated gold metal flower nationwide.

Corporate processing fails to guarantee safety by hiding pathogens under an unknown source label.

Restricting local distribution fails to protect El Pasoans from illness and deprives us of economic choice.

This is about fundamental rights.

Independent farmers have the absolute right to choose how and where they sell their property.

We have an inherent right to bodily autonomy, the right to put whatever we want into our own bodies.

Every producer under this ordinance holds a Texas DSHS grade A license and passes strict quarterly testing.

You have the direct power to fix this here and now.

At the city level, you can use your home rule authority to authorize temperature-controlled municipal drop sites on city land, lower predatory health department zoning fees for small farms, and protect pre-ordered delivery booths at municipal farmers' markets.

Regionally, you can partner with Horizon City, Socorro, and San Ilisario to build a unified tri-county agricultural trade pact and joint food hubs at the state level.

You can formally add raw dairy decriminalization to the El Paso state legislative agenda.

Pass a formal, formal, pass a formal municipal resolution for food freedom and mobilize our local legislative delegation to fight for us in Austin.

Let's trust our farmers.

Let's trust our consumers.

Let's bring trust back to the people.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Patricia Osman.

Miss Osman signed up to speak on First Amendment.

Taxpayer lawsuits.

Ms.

Osman, star six to unmute your telephone.

Go ahead, ma'am.

You have three minutes.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Okay.

I do want to verify because uh city clerk's office called me uh last after the last city council meeting to let me know that uh I was not being able to be heard clearly, although I did verify with others, both in chambers and elsewhere that I could be heard.

I just want to make sure that that is clear.

So in regards to that first amendment, I want to make sure that uh everybody on the dias, our city attorney and city manager are fully aware that our first amendment supersedes any municipal code, any state code.

Okay, let me go ahead and read this to you.

Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise their own or are bridging the freedom of speech or the press or the right of the people to uh the right of the people peaceably to sender in the petition, if you petition the government for a regrowth and grievances.

Excuse me, you can look that up anyway, which most of y'all should have.

If you're gonna be in government, you should know that federal government supersedes local government.

And I say this because our mayor decided to ask Ms.

Clark to um to remind everybody as far as decorum.

That decorum is the rules on everybody on the diet.

First amendment is what regulates the people.

Okay, understand the difference.

If I wanted to cut, if I wanted to insult, that is First Amendment protected speech, which you all seem to be unaware of.

If you are afraid of insults, do not be in politics, get out.

Otherwise, yes, you are opening yourself up to a lawsuit.

Now, this is the thing.

Most of y'all seem to think that just because you're getting donations from whoever in later paper play that you can do whatever, and the citizens have no say, and that is not the case.

We are still currently in a democracy, which means the only reason anybody should pay attention to what you say is because we put you there.

Okay, we gave you our trust, but respect is only, understand the difference.

Now, this is the thing is that you all are constantly disrespecting the public, constantly, especially the mayor.

Everybody here, I hope you actually pay attention and listen to them.

Otherwise, thank you, Miss Osman.

You've reached the three minutes.

The next speaker is Lisa Turner.

Lisa Turner.

I'll ask the public to please refrain from clapping or other reactions that may interrupt the meeting.

Is Ms.

Turner here?

We'll move to, I believe Jimmy Malver spoke during the proclamation.

So Aida Torres.

Aida Torres.

Lisa Turner or Aida Torres.

I don't see them coming forward.

Mayor that concludes call to the public.

We'll now go to the consent agenda.

All matters listed under the consent agenda will be considered by city council to be routine and will be enacted by one motion unless separate discussion is requested by council members.

Prior to the vote, members of the audience may ask questions regarding items on the consent agenda.

When the vote has been taken, if an item has not been called out for separate discussion, the item has been approved.

Council may, however, reconsider any item at any time during the meeting.

Mayor Potem.

Thank you, Ms.

Prime.

I make a motion to approve the consent agenda with the following revisions, and there's several of them, so I'm gonna go over them slowly.

Page eight, item 26, postpone two weeks per Sun Metro, page nine, item 28, postpone two weeks per planning and inspections, page nine, item 29, postpone two weeks per the applicant, page 10, item 31, postpone two weeks per planning and inspections, page 10, item 32, postpone two weeks per planning and inspections, page 10, item 33, postpone two weeks per planning and inspections, page 11, item 35, revise per city attorney's office, and add representative Chris Canales as co-sponsor, and that revision is to the section and to strike out 156.0013B and replace one five six point zero zero one B.

Page 11, item 38, postpone two weeks per purchasing and strategic sourcing, page 12, item 40, postpone two weeks per internal audit, page 12, item 41, postpone two weeks per internal audit, page 13, item 42, postpone two weeks per internal audit, page 13, item 43, postpone two weeks per capital improvement department, page 13, item 44, postpone two weeks per capital improvement department, page 13, item 45, postpone two weeks per capital improvement department, page 13, item 46, postpone two weeks per capital improvement department, page 14, item 47, postpone two weeks per capital improvement department, page 14, item 48, postpone two weeks per capital improvement department, page 14, item 49, postpone two weeks per capital improvement department, page 15, item 50.

Postpone two weeks per capital improvement department, page 15, item 51.

Postpone two weeks per capital improvement department, and lastly, page 15, item 52.

Postpone two weeks per capital improvement department.

Okay.

We have a motion.

Is there a second?

Representative Lemon.

Thank you, Mayor.

I wish to pull item number three to the regular agenda or to postpone.

I did not receive a briefing on this item.

So you would you like to postpone it?

I would like to postpone it if it's possible.

Ms.

Brian?

For two weeks, ma'am.

Is that sufficient?

Yes.

Postpone item three for two weeks.

Motion.

Okay.

So there's a motion in the second with those revisions.

Yes, Mayor.

We do have public comment from Ms.

Osman on item number nine on the solid wastelings.

Ms.

Osman star six, please to unmute your telephone.

Go ahead, Ms.

Osman.

This is for item nine on the solid waste leans.

You have three minutes.

Can you hear me?

Yes, ma'am.

Okay.

So anytime this comes up, I'm gonna bring it up because it's shameful.

That uh representative me, along with other members on the diet, will ask for volunteers in El Paso to go and clean city property.

But you can't get a group of volunteers in your own districts to help residents with cleanup.

You would rather go ahead and find them, put liens on.

We've got properties several in district two that run from $344 to two over $2,000 that the city is charging them to clean up, whether it's trash debris or so forth.

And this is a thing.

If you can do it so that the taxpayers are already paying to have certain services done, but you want taxpayers to also then volunteer their time to do those jobs that you have employees supposed to be doing, and then turn around and make taxpayers have a lien on their property because you cannot put together volunteers to help your own residents, but you have no problem putting liens on their property for weeds and clash and trash cleanup.

It's just it's disrespectful, it's disingenuous how you want to put that little program together, you're truly not helping the residents of your community, but you are taking advantage of volunteers because you're going to like suffer those tax dollars that are used for that cleanup because of the volunteer hours to what uh contracts for your buddies that are giving you donations, gotta put that money elsewhere that you're saving, but you're not putting it toward helping the residents in your own districts.

It is thankful every time I see these liens come up that none of y'all have put together a volunteer program to help the residents in your own area, and you'd rather put me.

Have your little people, and some of these don't even have an address on them.

So some of the some of the documents are fully documented.

It's shameful.

So yes, let's look at everything out of the taxpayers, and then still ask the taxpayers to go ahead and volunteer for other programs to help clean the city, which are taxpayers' dollars, are supposed to actually be paying to do.

But yeah, let's go ahead and stick these residents again.

It's shameful.

So Mr.

Nino, why don't you do that?

Thank you, Ms.

Hosman.

You reached the three minute limit.

Thank you, ma'am.

Mayor, that concludes public comment on the consent agenda.

Okay.

We have a motion in the second with the revisions.

Please call for the vote.

Yes, a motion was made and read into the record by Mayor Potem Chavez, seconded by Representative Boyatrejo, and this is to approve the consent agenda as revised.

On that motion, call for the vote.

Representative Limon.

Thank you, ma'am.

We'll get IT to assist you.

And the voting session.

And that motion passes unanimously.

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

Once you obtain the floor from the mayor, you will have up to ten minutes for debate and may speak twice per debatable motion.

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

For those of you joining us virtually, please make sure to mute your background your microphones to reduce any background noise for the public.

Please maintain a professional environment which requires refraining from clapping, cheering, or actions that may disrupt the meeting.

Okay.

Alright, now we we will now take up item number 37 in the following order.

I will first allow the item sponsors an opportunity to speak per the rules of order, allotted time of 10 minutes each.

Immediately thereafter, I will ask that outside council come forward to present.

Once she finishes, the council members will have the opportunity to ask her any questions they may have.

I will not entertain motions while the council asks her questions.

After council is done asking her questions, we will move to public comment.

Is there a motion to approve item 37?

Move to approve.

And there and there's a second.

And before I call on the sponsors, I just want to say uh El Paso has never been afraid to tackle difficult issues, and today is no different.

I want to personally thank everyone uh for being here today, and I ask that we approach this discussion with respect, knowing that we all want the best for what is our the best for our city and the people we serve.

So with that said, I will turn this over to Representative Alsevedo.

Mayor, will you please let me uh read the item into the record?

Oh, I'm sorry.

Yes, ma'am.

Item 37 is discussion and action to direct the city manager and city attorney to initiate negotiations to terminate the chapter 380 economic development program agreement and any related incentive agreements with worldwide LLC and Meta Platforms Inc.

in light of significant public concern regarding utility affordability, water resources, environmental impacts, infrastructure burdens, transparency concerns, questions regarding contractual enforceability and governmental immunity, and the equity adequacy of projected public benefits associated with the project.

This item was placed by representatives Alcevedo and Limon.

Okay, and we have a motion and a second representative Acevedo.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, so we have been doing a lot of work to get here, and this wasn't something that when I wanted to put this on the agenda that I took lightly.

I know that there is a lot that goes into this, and what we are seeing here is giving staff direction toward negotiating termination of the contract with Meta in good faith.

I've heard some argue that terminating this agreement would be bad for our city's economic development and bad for business.

I think our focus on economic development is not where it should be.

Where are the jobs for our use of NEPCC graduates?

We aren't going in that direction by any means, and constructing a hyperscale data center is not the answer, nor is it going to bring jobs to the masses as promised at this point.

A few hundred jobs, and maybe if they um are in El Paso, then great, but they might be bringing other people.

The promise isn't really there.

I've also heard concerns that the city will face a lawsuit with penalties reaching a billion dollars and beyond.

This has been a lot of fear mongering that we've kind of heard, and we have not really done an expiration, a full expiration.

We had outside council brief us um about two months ago, but we need to have a lot of questions answered.

Well, Meta plans on investing a billion dollars, they have not come near that investment to date.

What is true is that I've heard from El Pasoans, and that is we won't have a city without water resources.

My constituents have told me time and time again that our natural resources are far greater to them and their families in a data center that will employ a negligible amount of people while sucking our resources dry and harming our community.

The city has real interest in recognizing public health and the safety of the people that we represent, the people that live here.

This is a big reason that we need to look into this to amend the incentive agreement at the very least, if the council doesn't agree to go in this direction to terminate to protect public health.

And what we have seen is that this contract was approved in December of 2023.

Meta broke ground in October of 2025.

In February, this council directed the city manager to go out and do community meetings to look at future frameworks for data centers.

What we know now from those meetings is that people were resoundingly asking to council the 380 agreement and asking us not to do more 380 agreements in the future.

And that's something that staff has been working really hard on, and I really appreciate that they've done that.

What we also heard in March of 2026 is the expansion of this data center to be 10 times bigger at the very least than what was initially projected in December of 2023.

And what's important there is that this project has drastically changed from the council that approved this back in December of 2023, and now the concerns for people are even bigger.

What we also had was community meetings at the end of March and April for months.

I've had meetings, um, I have three meetings a month for my district, and people have been telling me canceled Meta, we're concerned about data centers over and over and over, even when the topic at hand wasn't what we were discussing.

I've had a lot of internal meetings as well.

El Paso Electric, El Paso Water, City Staff, Meta.

And I want to tell you a little bit about what happened with Meta.

And Meta sent out something to the council this morning, really just repeating a lot of what has been said.

It's a three or four-page letter from Ana Martinez, their director of policy, and I think Ana Martinez is someone I went to high school with.

She was a year younger.

Really great person.

Um works for Meta though, and on this topic, we agree to disagree.

You know, haven't seen her since high school.

But um, you know, that meeting with Meta really enraged me, and I was really upset after that.

And that's the day that I started really considering putting this on the agenda, which was May 11th, about a month ago.

In that meeting, Meta refused to hold meetings with all of you with my constituents, with people in El Paso.

They cited security concerns.

We're not going in that direction.

They have a public contract with the city of El Paso and they don't want to face the public.

That is not good business on their side.

Oh, well, people already don't like Meta.

And at the same time, you throw in the data center, it makes it a lot worse.

And so that is unacceptable.

That's a huge slap in the face to El Paso, and I will not stand for that.

Since building a data center, since building a data center in um 2018 in Fort Worth, there's been a lot of talk, there's gonna be a lot of investment, there's gonna be a lot of money that we're bringing through taxes and the school district.

And I have heard repeatedly in different meetings that I've had that we're gonna get tens of millions, hundreds of millions for infrastructure needs, for streets, for recreation centers, senior centers.

We're really gonna get those investments.

That's a lie.

They have given Fort Worth $5.4 million since 2018.

Eight years.

That's not even a million a year.

And they are a giant corporation, billions and billions of dollars, according to them.

Meta was proud to have donated $500,000 to our school districts, not to each school district, to nine school districts, so they could divide that.

So really, they just keep slapping us in the face, and I think that's bad for El Paso.

And, you know, at the same time, what we have heard over and over in my office, and many of my constituents, I mean, the the ages go from 20 years old, 18 years old, 15 years old, all the way to like 80, 85, 90 years old.

That's where I am hearing all of these concerns.

And you know, I will also tell you that what I have heard internally is like it's just the activists, it's not the activists, it's people defending their community, it's the people that I represent, the people that put me in this seat, the people that I answer to, the people that I connect with all the time that I make myself extra accessible to make sure that I'm out there answering those tough questions, going through tough conversations, and there are a ton, whether we're talking about weeds or infrastructure projects or even meta, there are very difficult conversations, and we need to be out there in the community, so I do that.

And the concerns have been higher utility costs, they are going to pay for these horrible gas-generated um electricity that is just so bad, and they're doing that because what they wanted to use isn't available until 2031.

We shouldn't be using that technology in 2026 to power this.

They want to be connected to the grid, and we saw in April, I believe it was April 1st, that we couldn't get a clear answer from El Paso Electric saying yes or no.

There, that the ratepayers are going to pay for this eventually.

And Meta does want to be connected to the grid.

So that's really important to say.

There's a ton of water consumption issues, electricity consumption, noise pollution, and what has been demanded by the people is to cancel the meta tax breaks, um, have mandatory local hiring, which they can't really guarantee.

They're gonna have those little lines that they're going to say, like, yeah, we're gonna hire local, this is gonna be great for jobs in December of 2023.

Slide seven of the presentation that the council at the time saw said that they were gonna use renewable energy.

That never made it into the contract, and now we're here, right?

Oh, well, we need to use gas-generated power.

Okay, so we've seen them break those promises, we've been we've seen them be disingenuous, and now we're here, and we also want to have increased transparency for any economic development agreements.

And what I also want to tell you is that this is an incoming public health crisis that we're facing, and this is not being dramatic, this is being truthful.

In the 380 agreement, it says that no policy enacted after the contract date can be applied unless it is found to be um necessary to the public health and safety of residents.

That's in the 380 agreement.

At the very least, we need to explore that.

We know that the residents in proximity to data centers around the country have experiences both physical, have experience both physical and mental health symptoms, and you know, we're gonna hear from Meta saying, Oh, you're we're gonna recycle water, we're gonna go do charity work, we're gonna help the colonials, all of that.

But we've seen the stories across the country, and that has not been the reality on paper.

It's not translating into reality, and the air pollution is gonna impact the physical and mental well-being of residents, including our school learning environments, and it's not just the people that are gonna live around that area, it's going to impact this city.

And so I I really want to tell you that this is a huge concern that the community has heard.

We need to have this conversation as a council.

You know, there might be people that are mad, there might be people that are out there saying this is gonna bankrupt the city, but at the very least, we might not have a city, and that is important to acknowledge.

Our water in the desert is really, really important.

I mean, desert water doesn't really go well, right?

And so we need to make sure that we have water for us to have an actual city where we can actually have conversations like we're having up here today.

And overall, I just also want to tell you that another slap in the face that needs to be mentioned is back in March when they announced that this was gonna go 10 times bigger.

We had the borderplex alliance say that the people that oppose this um we need to do a call to arms and they are a virus.

I told Meta about that, and Meta said they didn't know about the call to arms, they had heard about the virus, but you know, again, Meta doesn't want to meet with you, and that is wrong.

And so I really urge my colleagues to take this into consideration and vote for this because we the people are asking for this.

Thank you.

Representative, representative LeVa.

Thank you, Mayor.

In um, this has been an extremely hot topic.

Something that we have been dealing with, and I agree to co-sign with this item because that's what the community asked me to do over and over at every community meeting, whether it be after Mass, whether it be at a supermarket, wherever it is.

As we stand today, I personally would have preferred to hear from the public first rather than we speaking on behalf of this.

And so I am going to just be able to ask some questions when the time comes.

I believe that promises have been made, but promises have not necessarily been met.

And as a result, we need to look out for the future of this community.

And talking to a constituent who was bringing this up, she looked around and there was another lady, a grandmother with her grandchild.

And we said, what will this child grow up in our community?

Just this week, we had the announcement that uh Hut Smith County is in a critical position with no water.

That's just right down the street from us.

That is very close.

And the issue of the water, the extensive use of energy are certainly problems that we all need to look at.

I have some questions that I would prefer to address when the attorney is present, and I would prefer to give up my time at this point in time for the next phase or the call to the public.

Okay, that's fair.

Thank you.

All right, at this moment, I would like to have our outside counsel Sandy Gomez come up and give her presentation.

Ms.

Gomez presented to council back in April of 13th in executive session.

Good morning, Sandy.

Good morning, y'all.

Thank you for having me.

Um we have a presentation.

Thank you.

Let's see.

Make sure this works.

What I want to do is go through basically the project so that everyone is clear about what you're talking about when considering the motion to take action on contracts.

So I'm gonna go over the three agreements that you currently have with Worldwide, and then do a small assessment of potential causes of action and risks.

Then I'll open it up to questions for the council.

For everyone's understanding, there are three contracts that the city of El Paso has entered into with worldwide.

You had a purchase and sale agreement for the sale of approximately a thousand acres to the company.

You have a chapter 312 tax abatement agreement for a term of 10 years with an 80% abatement, and you have an additional chapter 380 agreement, also known as an economic development agreement for 15 years beyond that, with an 80% property tax reimbursement.

There is a general requirement that the project be completed seven years from commencement.

Keyboard.

The construction commenced in April of 2025 with all the permitting also done in 2025.

Vertical construction is expected in April of 2026.

I believe that has commenced, but staff can confirm that for you.

million improvement construction um expenditures and improvements um and so that has to be completed within seven years under the agreement those all the elements of the agreements are being closely monitored by staff at this time in each of the agreements there are provisions regarding the ability to terminate I'm gonna go through those very briefly for you so you understand what is in your contracts the purchase and sale agreement which is for the sale of the land um provides that if they fail to start the development that that's considered a breach and if they breach that the city may elect to repurchase the property um or recover a liquidated damages clause um there is no termination for convenience provision in the agreement the 312 agreement um also has the requirement that they have 800 million in construction for phase one 50 full-time jobs um in addition it has requirements that they use um that they have those jobs and that they also fulfill requirements related to the construction benchmarks that they not default on any of their taxes that they not utilize any undocumented workers um and that they comply with all the other reporting and compliance components in the contract those are the bases on which you can terminate the agreement for cause again there is no termination for convenience provision in the agreement the 380 agreement mirrors those requirements um and the terminations so if the company does not meet the investment the employment or the construction benchmarks or the reporting related to those if they are in a tax default or other bankruptcy related foreclosure type activity that could be a default as well and if the company utilizes undocumented workers it could create a default again there's no termination for convenience only termination for cause as outlined in the agreement so what does that mean for the council if they wanted to um terminate the agreement for any of the bases you said today it does present a potential litigation risk and we're not we have discussed that in closed session all those risks that it could be but to outline it in a general sense if in any litigation if that you got into the a party on the other side could bring a breach of contract claim against the city and the potential damages related to that are general damages that are common in any contract dispute.

For the land it could be your cost repurchase which is an $8.5 million dollar fee there's potential actual damages so loss of the incentive consequential damages which are unknown at this point but if they had financing or other types of agreements that were tied to the abatement and the loss of that resulted in additional losses potentially could be a claim you have potential exposure for tort damages as well which is outside of contracts and the attorneys fees associated with fighting these.

So if y'all have any questions any questions for Ms.

Gomez representing Lima thank you mayor good morning.

Good morning you went over the three documents for the same is it common to have to enter into a contract and not have a termination clause for convenience it's not uncommon it's what it's not uncommon.

It's not uncommon no and the city does business by having that clause in it in other words, if the city wanted to protect itself, wouldn't it have a clause uh for termination for com convenience?

Termination for convenience clauses generally are have some additional payment associated with them.

So if I write a contract and I say I'm gonna terminate you for convenience, so I'm gonna terminate you six months early, for example.

There is usually an associated payout related to that.

Um it is rare to see a what I like to call a get out of jail free type clause that just says I can counsel for any reason or no reason, because that really calls into question the general consideration for the contract, and I'd be curious to determine in other 380 agreements whether we have in the past had a clause for termination for convenience.

I'm just curious.

That's something that we will need to certainly ask our city attorney whether that exists in other 380 agreements.

We can look into that view.

Good morning, Representative Nemo.

Good morning.

So our 380 agreements don't have termination for convenience because they are performance contracts.

The the bargain for agreement was if you build X, Y or Z or if you bring X, Y or Z to our community, then the city will give you an abatement.

Otherwise, there is no payment or incentive afforded to the other party.

Unlike your traditional contract for goods or services, that is not a 380 agreement is not that type of agreement that I'll buy a car for you for X amount.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Um, when you read this, you indicated that the contract calls for 50 full-time jobs.

Yes.

Is there a specification in there as to the type of jobs, the salary associated with those jobs, the length of time?

I do not think there was a specific requirement.

I'm looking at my agreement.

Please maintain decorum or you will be escorted out of the chambers if you're disrupting the leave.

The it requires that they have at least 50 full-time jobs for all of the phases combined, um, and that they must commence those jobs within four years of the completion date of the phase of the project.

That's the totality of the requirements of this provision.

Okay, so it could really it could be any kind of a job.

It could be an hourly wage job, correct?

Because there's nothing in the contract that specifically specifies the salary of the 50 employees that Meta is planning to bring.

Is that correct?

Based on the county minimum, yeah.

That's yeah.

So all of the jobs, Ms.

Limon are based on a minimum county wage based on the year that the agreement that the grant is provided.

So remember, under our 380 agreements, there's a period of time in which the company will be building the facility, and then once the the building is complete and operating, after that first year, they have an opportunity to come in and provide the city with a grant application.

And at that time, our economic development department then takes the grant application and compares it against the requirements of the contract.

And then once that happens, if they meet those benchmarks, then they're afforded the rebate or the abatement.

If they don't meet those benchmarks, then those numbers are decreased based on whether or not um they provided the number of jobs that they committed, but the job number is tied to a minimum county wage.

What is the minimum county wage?

It's an hourly hourly rate, correct?

1899 as of this year, ma'am.

$18.99 for 50 full-time employees.

Full-time employees, yes.

I would imagine that be either well, 40 hours a week is probably what would be considered 50.

Now, is there any indicator that these 50 full-time jobs are including management?

No.

Or is management at a different level?

It the definition of full-time job in the contract does not lay out that it's a specific level of job.

It requires full time, and it requires exactly what the city attorney pointed out.

Okay.

So potentially we could have Meta bring in top level from their company.

Yes, absolutely.

And they would be the ones running the company, and the 50 hourly employees would simply be doing maybe other kinds of work, which could be most anything.

Clerical custodial, engineering, landscaping.

It could be any, it could be, it does not specify the type of job.

Okay, and it doesn't the minimum then would be 189 for it.

Can you please explain to me, because I did an interview, and former mayor Margot indicated that this contract was bringing millions and millions and millions of dollars to our community, and that this would offset the would help our tax base.

Can you break down those numbers and give us like a sequence of the years as to how much money or projected money we are expected to earn?

That is when and when I guess that is not contained in the agreement.

What the agreement requires is that phase one requires $800 million of investment, and then each subsequent phase will have I probably comparable to that.

So that is what the agreements are about, is really about the property improvements, and that's the value that they're looking at.

Investing $800 million.

So I'm so then my question is: when does a city the taxpayers see revenue coming back to the city?

Miss Limon, if I could just clarify, Ms.

Gomez's scope in regards to this presentation is to the actual 380 agreement and the 312 and the contract of sale.

Questions regarding projections should be deferred to staff.

So she won't be able to answer the questions regarding what the city would be.

I just thought that that given that we have this meeting today, I thought that that information would be readily available.

And that's me that it's not readily available.

That's okay.

It is available.

I understand.

I understand.

So at some point in time, my apologies if I asked you, but at some point in time I will get a response to that question.

Is that correct?

And I and I would just add that the way the projects work in these types of economic development is as soon as improvements begin, that then impacts the property value of the area.

So even if the abatement is not done, all the construction will add to what your assessed value of the property will be on each given year.

Okay.

So Miss Representative, so that we can hear the conversation.

I would ask the audience to refrain so we can have the decorum and give Representative Lamon her time that she needs.

Okay, thank you.

I I understand.

And I guess I'll go back just to the contract.

I'll ask you a question.

When this contract was signed, did the city give up sovereign immunity?

No.

We did not.

I wouldn't say that the city gave up.

There is let me give you a high level view.

Contracts in general have two types of immunity under law in the state of Texas legislature has waived the jurisdiction and then immunity for contracts in the state of Texas in some situations, and it has limited some of the damages in some situations.

Agreements such as these have been found by the courts to sometimes fall out of any of those protections and be treated just as a corporate contract.

So you would not have your full immunities that you might have on a different kind of contract.

That's a very high-level explanation of a very complicated legal immunity question.

I am concerned about that.

That is that something that we normally would see in a contract that if you're a business, a corporation, a city, a city, that you would waive sovereign immunity.

It is it is not a proactive waiver.

Waiver is controlled by the legislature and what they put in and whether or not they waive or not waive for local governments, and then the courts have interpreted certain types of contracts within the context of that legislative power.

So cities don't really have the authority one way or the other to waive immunity in a contract.

It's really dependent on the state law and the interpretations of that law.

So in none of these three documents will we see that?

That there's been a waiver of sovereign immunity.

No, there was no, there was not an express waiver of the Mayor.

Thank you, Representative Lamont.

Any other questions for Miss Gomez?

Representative Canales.

Thank you, Mayor.

Just very quickly, is this agreement, does it stand out in any way as totally as out of the ordinary for a chapter 380 agreement by our city or by any city?

It has terms that are typical for standard terms.

Um in fact it's a quite detailed 380.

Um, but it it is a these are the standard provisions.

You're looking you almost consistently across the board, and as is required under the tax abatement statute.

So remember there's a statute that governs what must be in the tax abatement agreement, and yours checks every one of those boxes, and it is by statute focused on the level of improvement and jobs.

Those are the two primary requirements that the state legislature has for local tax abatements, and y'all's follow it to a team, um, for in in this type of agreement, um, like this one, for example, has performance minimums.

Uh, is that a typical feature of a chapter 380 agreement that the beneficiary of that uh is held to performance minimum?

Yes, yes.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Representative, thank you, Mary.

One other question, Mr.

Gomez.

Can this agreement contract?

Can there be a discussion on portions of this contract between the city and Meta to look at particular sections specifically the issue of the 50 full-time jobs?

Is there a way that there can be a conversation agreement between the city and meta to look at that specifically?

Is a city open to communication to have the ability to renegotiate?

There's no legal prohibition on you approaching any of your contract partners.

I'll say as a matter of law, there's no obligation on the part of the other party to your contract to actually enter into any amendments, but you are absolutely able to talk to any of your vendors.

And that's good.

I know there's been an attempt to have some uh public meetings that has been denied, but it's good to understand that as the city, and certainly something that we can request that we go back and we renegotiate particular areas.

That would be a big win today if we don't get to the final resolution.

So I'm hoping that we can come to that.

And I and I would again I would crouch it in that you absolutely can open up conversations with any of your economic partners.

They have no legal obligation to to make any changes.

Thank you, Ms.

Gomez.

Thank you, Representative Brocha.

Thank you, Mayor, and thank you for for coming down and and uh giving our the presentation.

It's not often that we get what we heard in executive out in open session.

So I'm very grateful to you for coming down and doing that.

When you heard the executive, when you provided that that space to us in April, were every single one of us present that you remember Ms.

Gomez?

I believe everyone was present, but I would have to confirm that with my notes.

Thank you.

Just just to be sure.

I believe everyone was.

And and then secondly.

Well, no, I've taken that back.

I don't believe the mayor, I don't think was physically present.

That's correct.

That's correct.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Thank you.

So then outside of that, this 380 agreement, and and thank you for again for coming and explaining it.

It's a standard agreement that we provide with all our other vendors.

As far as your basis of it is the basics of your 380 agreement.

And it looks like the basics.

They change depending on projects, meaning phases, scope, timeline.

Those terms will change in all of your 380s.

But otherwise, it's a fairly standard 380 agreement with some supplement.

I think they're probably supplemental items asking for electricity and water agreements that were associated with it, but otherwise it's it's a fairly boilerplate agreement matching a project of this complexity.

Thank you.

And and I I hate to ask this, but only because we didn't have this at the beginning.

But would you qualify your experience in this please?

I'm sorry, I no, that's okay.

I didn't introduce myself.

Yeah, I am I am Sandy Gomez.

I'm a partner in the law firm of Hush Blackwell, where I specialize in public law.

Um I am a particularly work on city and local government contracts and infrastructure projects, economic development and procurement and governance.

Um I also serve currently as chair of the government law section of the state bar.

So this is what I do every day, all day.

Um, and data centers are obviously a very important issue across the state.

Um so I've had the pleasure of working with a number of different types of entities on addressing these types of agreements and the related policy issues that cities and counties and economic development organizations have had to deal with.

Thank you for that.

Thank you, Mayor.

All right.

Representative Fiero.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um welcome.

Thank you for being here again.

You were here a couple of months ago, yes, and you um briefed us.

Yes, it was very detailed.

Is there anything different from what you just showed us on the slides than what you showed us in executive?

Um they are there was a little bit more detail on some litigation strategy discussions that I think are attorney client privilege and really should be maintained in closed session.

No, I mean I don't disagree.

I just wanted to remind.

Otherwise, otherwise they're the same.

I just wanted the public to know that this is the same presentation they got that we were all present two months ago when we we got the presentation.

Thank you, Ms.

Gomez.

You're welcome.

Representative Chavez.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Ms.

Gomez, and thank you to everyone who's present in chambers today.

Ms.

Gomez, you said that there were three agreements, is that correct?

The first was the the sale of the purchase and sale, yes, ma'am.

Okay, so uh Meta owns the land that they're developing?

Correct.

Okay.

Um is there anything in the contract, either the 312 or the 380 or any of the contracts that you described?

Is there any language in those contracts that states that the development will only move forward because of the agreements?

They made there are representations, yes, that the development was based on receiving the various economic development agreements.

Okay, so if the agreement were terminated or canceled, would that legally prevent the project from moving forward?

No, no.

Those are representations that are necessary for satisfaction of the tax abatement statutes.

Um tax abatements are meant to be an incentive to get a project to come somewhere.

Um so they it's like a contingency that if I didn't get it, I'm gonna go to Louisiana and build it.

Okay.

So I'm gonna ask in a different way.

If I may.

Representative, we can't hear you on your mic.

Oh, let the mic.

Okay, or maybe IT can.

Can we get IT to turn that up, please?

Thank you.

I'm gonna ask it in a slightly different manner, Ms.

Gomez.

There are a lot of environmental concerns that we all share as a community, and rightly so.

If the if the contract that's currently in place were terminated or cancelled, would that prevent the development from moving forward?

No.

So the development would continue from your perspective?

If world it would be up to worldwide to decide if they would continue.

But there's nothing in the agreement that was a permissive clause, meaning that if you don't get these, you cannot build here.

That is not what these agreements are.

And Meta owns the land that they're developing.

Correct.

So it is a private property development now.

Yes.

So they are subject to the same controls as any other building within your city limits.

So I'm gonna say it in a different way now, if I may.

If the contract were canceled or terminated and the development were to continue, the concerns that we are experiencing as a community would not go away.

Correct.

The project the project continues.

I would like to know the estimate from your slide of the financial exposure the city could potentially have, please.

I will go with the conservative.

Is your potential exposure?

Is that is that estimate conservative?

Potentially conservative, yes.

Okay, so I'm just gonna say it in a different way now, Miss Gomez, and I still have some time.

We've already established that if the can if the uh contract were terminated or cancelled, the likelihood of the development moving forward is high.

Is that correct?

Uh based on what I know about where they are in their construction, I would think yes, they would continue with the project.

The project would continue, the concerns would continue.

The project would continue.

Thank you.

The concerns the community currently has would continue to exist then as well.

And the financial exposure, a conservative number that you've given us, is $800 million.

I think that's an accurate reflection.

I understand, but we we have we have to understand what we're facing.

We have to understand what we're facing.

Ms.

Mack, could you please um tell us what the city's uh annual budget is?

The annual general fund budget is 655 million.

Okay, and the and the exposure is 800 million conservative.

I would potentially, yes.

I don't care what cost.

I I just I want everybody to understand that this is a very um difficult position we find ourselves in because of what we just laid out.

Um, I'm not here, I'm not here.

Um, we'll add back your time, representative.

Thank you, Mayor.

I I'm not here to defend data centers or to defend any one company or to defend any past decision.

I just want to understand the facts before us before we come to a decision, and I want to be clear on on what we're facing so that everybody is understanding what we're facing.

I think this is um a really bad situation financially, potentially for the city, and I'm worried about the environmental impacts as well.

Thank you.

Thank you, representative.

And again, we're gonna.

We're going to.

And again, we're gonna make sure everyone has an opportunity to speak, but please allow the presenter and the council and the and the folks speaking the time to speak, but we will let everyone speak.

Representative Limon.

Thank you, Mayor.

Ms.

Gomez, I I just opened up the two uh documents.

Representative, can we please turn up the mic for Representative Lamont?

Or else speak up.

I just had a chance to open up again the two documents.

I'm looking at item number 13.

On let's look at the three, either the three eighty agreement or the tax abatement agreement.

And I don't know.

Can you see that?

Okay.

So you're looking at Article 13?

Yes, ma'am.

Yes.

And so as I read it, it says the parties are entering into this agreement in reliance upon its enforceability.

Consequently, the city unconditionally, and it re I can't even pronounce the word.

Waives all claims of sovereign and governmental immunity, the city, which it may have.

Which it may have.

But here it's given it up.

The the but let me I I and and I and we don't need to go any further.

Because I don't want to take up any more time.

It clearly states in these contracts.

And as I read it, I'm not an attorney, I'm not an engineer, I'm not an expert in any of that.

But as a public citizen, when I read that, this is what it tells me.

The city gave up sovereign immunity, and that's it.

It is representative Nino.

Thank you, Mayor.

And thank you, Ms.

Gomez, for being here and sharing this presentation.

Um, you know, in my current role, I'm not here to defend Meta or data centers.

I'm here to defend the city of El Paso, the taxpayers, the community.

I have the fiduciary responsibility to ensure that we continue to provide essential services, everything from police department, fire department, libraries, parks, potholes, public health.

And um it's extremely important for us to make an informed and responsible, legally sound and fully understandable um decision that we need to be aware of how it could impact the community.

You know, it could impact it in many ways, regardless if we cancel it or not, it could impact our community.

And I also want to thank all the members of the community who are here who are for or against this item.

I'm grateful that you are getting engaged and sharing your concerns with us.

Um and a lot of the concerns that we're hearing are valid.

Um our residents truly deserve clear answers and transparency to the many questions that they've been asking over the last months, and even over the last month, City Council has taken a number of actions related to data centers.

You know, we approved a climate action plan that included um environmental components and policy related uh recommendations for data centers.

We amended our state legislative agenda to advocate at the state level for additional protections for communities like ours.

We also provided direction regarding future policy considerations uh to stop the recruitment or incentivizing data centers coming to our region.

And as I mentioned, at the same time, there's a lot of questions that members of the community continuously have asked, and I truly believe that the public deserves answers.

Um I know that I've uh shared a lot of questions with with Ms.

Mack and Ms.

Newman over the last few months of different concerns that I've heard from District 5 residents, everything from what is a chapter 380 agreement, um, how is a chapter 380 agreement approved?

Uh what was the public input process, even to you know approve these agreements that took place in December 2023 when the majority of us weren't part of this body, right?

And I mean, I I've I've met with so many different groups, you know, from community members to uh those who are present here today to um even this past week.

I probably spoke to about 100 district five residents of them asking what it what does this item mean?

And I think it's also important for the community to know.

I, you know, I know it's been an important conversation even in our community meetings, but as a body, this is this specific item is the first time that we're discussing it as an item because we're not allowed to discuss the specific item without you know public posting and it being a public meeting.

And you know, again, my role is not to defend Meta, and I feel like I've constantly have had to um clarify information of what's in the 3D agreement that the city approved in at.

Um, I know that I mentioned what is the public input process to agreeing approving a contract, and I know Miss Mac has a timeline of all the posted public notices, the public post-it meetings that um were posted and allowed members of the public to you know be a part of in 2023, and um including you know, I've heard different things of individuals sharing that there was no environmental considerations taken into place.

Um Ms.

Mack, I don't know if you could possibly um briefly share with us how many public postings or public meetings um came into to that.

Okay, and um so I think it's always always you know important to clarify those all those answers for members of our community.

And I'm grateful that we're having this conversation that you're presenting this con uh presentation.

I know that um all the body, the entire council knew that we were gonna be reviewing the draft policy recommendations on June 23rd, and on part of that draft policy recommendations, you were gonna be doing your presentation of what the legal analysis was for the 380 agreement.

And I'm grateful that you were able to come sooner to you know address that because we all knew and we've all been briefed and we've all sat with you and have we've asked hundreds of different questions, including how is it that we got to the cost that was shared.

You know, many of my district five residents have also shared, you know, if the city arrived.

How how did the city arrive to the potential cost estimate estimates associated with litigation and damages, but overall they want to know who would pay for it, right?

And we're currently in a conversation and of discussing our budgets, we're in our in conversations of um discussing our collective bargaining agreements with police and fire, and um we're all trying to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

You know, I made a motion during our budget to review expenditures that were over 250 million dollars to ensure that we are being good stewards of taxpayer dollars because I think we all want what's best for our community, and we all care deeply for our community.

Um, now I know that this item talks about you know initiating a conversation or initiating doesn't say initiate conversation, it says initiate termination, right?

Um my question is and and I know the question was asked in regards of even if there was a the agreement was to be terminated, the project still continues.

Um it's private land, privately funded.

The city of O Paso does not have a contract agreement, meaning we didn't hire a developer or a contractor to build the facility itself.

Correct.

And um, you know, and I've I've again I've met with so many different people from the community that have brought up so many of these concerns, and um I've also heard that they've breached the contract, and I don't know if you could clarify if the city has identified any material breach default or failure to comply with either the 380 agreements or the tax abatement agreement that would legally justify termination at this time.

At this time, I have no information with regards to that.

Okay, and and I'm asking these questions uh so that the public understands that, you know, I I always do my research.

I always read a lot of different articles.

I know Project Amaneced has shared a lot of articles with me as well and Zembrane Esperanza.

And um another question I have, would directing negotiations to terminate agreements after substantial reliance and active construction, potentially increased litigation exposure to the city.

Could you repeat that?

Yeah, would directing negotiations to terminate agreements after substantial reliance and active construction potentially increased litigation exposure to the city.

And what I mean by that is say that there's a conversation with Meta, and they say no, we don't want to negotiate a termination, and you know, this doesn't stop the project.

So my question is what's next, right?

And if the city decides to end up having a conversation or even terminating the contract, there's exposure even further to the city.

That's correct.

Um yeah, it's it's a very difficult decision, and um again, we haven't had this conversation of this specific item.

This is the first time we're having this conversation.

And um, I'll ask one more time if there's any guarantee or certainty that pursuing a negotiation, or you know, even to pursue negotiations, I I imagine we're gonna have to hire outside council expert witnesses um to initiate those conversations.

Is that correct, Miss Niemann?

And I know that you know there was some statements that were shared about millions of dollars in litigation, but those are just the litigation meaning the the the initial cost, we don't know what potential damages or anything could potentially be.

That's correct.

Okay.

Um, now when it comes to us navigating the conversation of you know essential services for the city, um if the city were unsuccessful in litigation, could taxpayers be responsible for both the city's legal costs and damages by the company?

Yes, attorneys' fees would be on, could be a potential cost related to litigation.

Okay.

Um, water property.

Now, in regards to city operations, um I think I also would like to know what it means, right, for the city's ability to continue funding core priorities such as public safety, streets, parks, infrastructure.

I mean, there's a lot of priorities that members of our community want, right?

Including water.

Including water, 100%.

We'll give you some more time, right?

And um, and I'm sharing this to with members of the community because it is important, it's important to protect our resources.

It's it's important to protect our water.

It's it's um we also have to understand every aspect of what we could potentially get to, right?

Any potential legal dispute that the city faces, whether it be this or a breach with the contractor or anything else, you have legal fee risks, so what it's gonna cost to pay your lawyers and potentially the other side's lawyers, and then you have damages risks.

And my understanding, and some of those things have certain insurance coverages, but general contract disputes do not.

And my understanding of your budget is that it would be your general revenue fund that would uh eventually pay out all of those amounts.

And say that we were to have the you know the the one billion dollar estimate that was shared, or even $500 million or whatever cost, um Ms.

Mack, where where would we get that money from or where would it come from?

Again, again, we we need to allow the speakers to conduct the meeting.

Thank you, Ms.

Miss Ms.

Mack.

Sir, we don't have to form ask that we go to recess.

I understand.

Thank you.

So just to answer the question, we're currently going through budget right now.

We know that the um dollars that are in our general fund are funded through property tax and primarily sales tax.

Our reserve would be the only place we could go for the legal fees.

We have no source of resource for any type of payout beyond that.

We would have to have a further conversation about how cities would look at that settlement of that debt.

Other cities have had to take out debt to settle long-term legal battles on behalf of the city, so those would be considerations that the city would have to take under consideration.

And to your question, representative, um, the public postings, we had 18 public postings between 1020 23 and 12.523.

Thank you.

Thank you, ma'am.

I would add on to that that two twelve agreements in particular have a statutory posting requirement that's beyond your regular three-day business posting.

So there was most likely a number of public hearings related to the 212 agreement, because they're statutorily required.

And even you know, we have the chapter 380 agreement and we have the chapter 312, and the company itself has multiple agreements in place as well, like the county and whatnot, right?

And again, I think it's important for the community to know that if the body was to decide to move forward with any action, it doesn't mean that the project stops.

And I think that's where the challenge is, right?

Where um we want to we want to continue advocating for our community, and then also um I'll come back.

Okay, thank you.

Representative uh Trejo.

Thank you, Mayor.

Hello.

So going back to the uh the discussion regarding the financial exposure for Meta, the minimal exposure being approximately 800 million, and the city's annual budget being at 655 million.

Ms.

Mack, does um the city or or uh is the Carla, does the city have a budget to go into litigation for this type of magnitude of litigation?

The city designates um about three hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year for litigation in general, which is traditionally um used up as a result of the collective bargaining agreement with the police department.

The numbers that we are looking at right now in terms of what the potential exposure to just pay for outside council would far exceed any allocated amount amount on a yearly basis.

So if we don't have the funds for that, where would the funds come from?

So we could we can continue to have this discussion in open session without going into executive, please allow them to to get their questions answered.

Go ahead, representative.

Okay, what would possibly be the cost of litigation?

I can't give you an estimated amount.

Um we we would definitely hire outside counsel, and it would require um a hefty team of lawyers and expert experts to help with that case.

So I I can't give you an estimate, and it'll likely involve many years of litigation.

Uh it would likely be in the millions of dollars.

Okay.

Thank you.

So, you know, in this again, going back to the 800 million potential minimal exposure for Meta, the budget, the city's budget of 655 million, and not having the funds.

How could this possibly affect our residents or taxpayers?

Council would have to make decisions about the operations and how we would be able to fund this possibly, as you know right now.

As I said, we're going through budget.

Um, it would, as someone in the audience say, impact jobs, impact other areas of operations depending on the cost, and how long the city would be in litigation over this.

Okay.

And then one last question.

This is I'm sure you all don't have an answer to this, but could there be uh potential ribbon effects beyond the city of El Paso or our city, but actually affecting other businesses that Meta is doing business with, and what would that look like?

You want me to answer that?

Um, it could potentially impact other businesses.

We don't know the makeup of their business or their financing, but I think there's two things to consider.

One is yes, would it have a ripple effect to other contracts that Meta's entered into?

And two, there could be a potential impact if it did slow or delay or even stop the program on potential other businesses that are ancillary to the project, it could have an impact on them.

Okay, potentially.

Thank you all.

Thank you, Mayor.

Ms.

Gomez, thank you for the presentation.

And Ms.

Prime, let's hear from the members of the public who signed up to speak on item 37.

So would you please call the speakers?

Yes, sir.

And so in order to reduce everyone's wait time, I'm gonna be calling everyone up in a group of five.

And if you can please line up here by the podium in groups of five, this will help us get through the line quicker to reduce your wait time because we have a hundred and eighty-three people signed up to speak.

At three minutes, at three minutes each, it's hours and hours of public comment.

The council does want to hear from each of you.

So please be respectful, refrain from clapping, cheering, or other actions that disrupt the speaker at the podium.

Please respect be respectful of their time so they have their time to speak and so everyone can hear their comments.

The first set of speakers is Jonathan Zayan, Megan Jemerson, Claudia Contreras Sailor, Patricia Valdez Harrison, and Montoya.

If we can please have those lined up, we'll begin with Mr.

Jonathan Zayan.

You have three minutes, sir.

Good morning.

In the U.S.

Army, they told us that complacency kills.

What that means is when we go downrange the first day, we have our guns, we're looking everywhere.

We're so concerned about this environment that we are on edge.

But what happens is when you do the same patrol routes every day for months, you no longer care.

It becomes normal to you.

So now you're just strolling in the park.

And when your head is down, that's it.

That's when you get got.

Come on.

The reality is this whatever legal fees you're afraid of, we're gonna get back by the 80% in tax abatement that we so generously gave.

When we destroy this contract, yes, I understand that Meta doesn't magically go away, but we do not have to incentivize them for the privilege of ruining our city.

So anyone here, regardless if you're for or pro data center or temporary jobs as our construction workers are.

Understand that that company paying you does not need to be incentivized to ruin our city.

Mayor Johnson, I would like to say, I actually voted for you, and I'm still in full support of you, and I believe in what you can accomplish before your term ends.

I say that because I'm disheartened by the comments you made this weekend.

You advised our city council to vote against Agenda 37.

Your reasoning wasn't because, oh, the contract is great.

Your reasoning was a subjective concept of reputation.

You said it will hurt our reputation.

And guess what?

I actually agree.

It's gonna hurt the bad reputation that we have, and it's gonna redefine our city as a city that stands up for itself, stands up for its resources, and is not afraid to admit when they make a mistake.

This is a learning opportunity for us if we correct it.

And Mayor Johnson, once again, you also said that this is gonna stop companies from coming here in the future.

Once again, I actually agree with you.

But the thing is, it's gonna create a filter system.

We're gonna stop companies that want to come here and take advantage of us.

This is a good thing, and this is what we need.

So I ask that everyone here, whether you're for or against, this is about taking away the incentives that were wrongfully given to Meta.

So, what I'm gonna ask Mayor Johnson, if you are the tiebreaker today, I ask that you consider your reputation as a servant of the public, and you do what we have been asking you for months and take the steps to canceling this contract.

One more thing, and I do want to clarify this for everyone.

There's not going to be a happy ending for us.

There's the guaranteed bad path of not canceling.

Then there's a very rough road of canceling.

But any small chance we have for a happy ending comes through canceling this agreement and trusting our city manager and trusting our legal team to negotiate this contract, find out.

Let's stop asking what if, what if?

Let's find out.

That's what we're gonna do today.

I trust everyone here to make the right decision.

My name is Jonathan Zayan, and I thank you for your time.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Megan Gilmerton, followed by Claudia Contreras Sailor, Patricia Valdez Harrison, Anne Montoya, Diana Ramirez, David Delgado, Josh Berris.

Good morning, Miss Jimerson.

Good morning, everybody.

I am an educator here in Al Paso, Texas.

And throughout my 10 years here being a teacher, I have always advocated for my young students.

I have tried to instill in them the value of doing what's right even when it's hard.

Every day before they leave our classroom, I tell them the same three rules.

Make smart choices, do what's right, and stand up for yourself and others.

And I'm bringing this up because today I'm asking you all to stand up for them and for the entire next generation of Alpasuans because it's what's right, even though it's hard.

The decisions the council has made and the decisions you're going to continue to make are bigger than this room.

They are bigger than the contract, and they're even bigger than Meta.

Our kids, my students, they deserve to live in a city that has drinkable water, breathable air, whether that they can actually go outside and play in.

They deserve the same El Paso pride that we grew up in, and they deserve adults who are going to stand up for them.

The message that's put out is we need to honor the contract, and there is rhetoric and there is fear, that's everybody has discussed.

And as businessmen and business women, I understand the concern and the fear that you guys have of breaking the contract.

However, I'm asking you to choose humanity today.

We should be fearing the environmental impact.

This is an emergency and this is urgent.

In the many years when we finally see these benefits from Meta, however many years far along the line, the desert will have nothing left for its people who are choosing a bad business deal over humanity.

The environment is already begging for help.

It's our next generation of Al Paso that I have poured so much time into, needs a fighting chance.

Today we all have a chance not to become rich and not to close any deficits, but the chance to be an outlier and do what's right for our children, for our people, and for our desert.

And even though it's hard, we know that this is a bad deal.

And no data center is going to be worth our desert.

Thank you guys.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Hello, good morning.

I want to start with a prayer because we do need uh God's backup in this matter.

Our Father in heaven, Allah be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us the day this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our daughters, and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver deliver us from evil.

For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.

In Jesus' name.

So I my prayer is that we take the correct decision today, that we find the loopholes for the for us to sue them, not vice versa.

Data centers are not allowed to use the China components according to the National Defense Act from 2024.

Also, they require city permits to operate.

As we could see, she was full, you know, legal uh clause out.

She was saying 80 800 million and this and that.

Of course, they're gonna protect what they need to protect because it's money.

And also, I'm sure a judge can have common sense and not leave us without money, like hello, like if they're judges, it's because they have a brain.

Uh also we cannot drink data, and also I'm not here to uh attack any locals, but I do want to ask why Veronica Escobar is not pushing this agenda.

If she has a quicker access to our president, how come she's very quiet?

Okay, we bother her in.

How come she's very quiet?

She has a full access to the president.

I've seen her work very hard with a lot of passion, fearless.

How come is she so quiet right now?

I grew up in Juarez, I grew up in Mexico, Mexicans.

We are very brave.

My accent is very thick because I did grow up in Mexico.

She says she's uh Latina or whatever.

Why is she why is she not fighting for El Paso if we put her in that position?

God bless you, everybody.

Thank you.

Patricia Valdez Harrison, followed by Anne Montoya, Diana Ramirez, David Delgado, Josh Perez, Aiden Martinez, Fernando Ruiz, Michelle Brennan.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Um my husband and I are proud, El Paso-born-raised citizens.

Early on, we decided we wanted the same for our two boys.

We were fortunate enough to own a home in the northeast of El Paso.

While our decision was originally based on my husband's commute for work, we quickly fell in love with the northeast of a town.

We have a beautiful view of the mountain, live half a mile from the trails that we use this to this day.

My family hasn't just talked about environmental responsibility, we have made sacrifices to live by it.

So when I tell you that Meta's data center concerns me deeply, understand that it's not anti-progress thinking.

This is a resident who is now asking a reasonable question.

Why are the rest of us sacrificing why a trillion dollar corporation gets sweetheart deal to pollute our land, pool our resources, and misappropriate our hard-earned money?

El Paso is already amongst the worst city in the nation for ozone and smog.

This is not a talking point.

This is documented fact.

Now to find out that El Paso Electric is building a dedicated natural gas power plant of 813 generations to power facility.

State environmental filings show that this plant is permitted to admit 47 more tons of particulate matter directly into our community.

Many El Pasuans already suffer from respiratory related illnesses such as asthma.

My youngest son and I both experience these conditions and are currently receiving ongoing treatment.

I ask, will Meta or the city council pay for the additional treatment we will need living three miles from the facility?

There is no more precious research in El Paso than water.

Every resident, every farmer, every school and hospital operate under the awareness of the water here is precious.

This is most evident in the city's initiation of the purple pipe program.

But now El Paso Water has approved a supply agreement for Meta's data center to permit usage of up to 1.5 million gallons per day.

Meta claims it will replenish twice as much of water it is used, but has offered no concrete plan of how that will actually happen.

Promises without plans are not water policy in our desert.

Finally, Meta could receive up to 550 million in public subsidies money that could fund schools, infrastructure, and real local job creations.

We find ourselves in a situation where a deal was made without adequate community community input, and the public is now being told to exit is too costly.

This is not how a government that answers to its residents should operate.

I implore you to do what you have elected to do and look out for the citizens of El Paso.

Otherwise, when given the opportunity, we will vote you out.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Anne Monzoya, followed by Diana Ramirez, David Delgado, Josh Perez, Aiden Martinez, Fernando Ruiz, Michelle Brennan, Veronica Carabajal.

Good afternoon.

I was gonna comment about taxes and money, but that won't matter because if you allow Meta to go ahead, we won't need any money because we will not have any water.

It's a very emotional subject.

When the contract was signed, did everyone who sign it know and fully understand what was happening in Santa Teresa with their Jupiter project, but more recently the Fall Bliss Data Center.

Where is the environmental impact study?

What is El Paso and New Mexico?

We get our water from the same source.

This is not unlimited.

When it's gone, it's gone.

How long will it last?

A few decades.

I'm sorry.

Can you guarantee the people of El Paso that you will protect them first?

Every single one of you.

Put the people of El Paso first.

Are you prepared to prepare to say no to Meta when the aquifer is running dry because it will?

How can you safeguard the city when there is an entity that won't even allow an inspection without months of notice and an NDA?

Does this sound like a business you can trust?

It is foolish not to heed what is already happening around the country.

We know better now.

In the words of Maya Angelou, when we know better, we do better.

I recently heard that cancelling the contract would be for the convenience of the city.

Water's not a convenience, it's a basic human need that right now is under direct threat more than ever.

Without water, we have nothing.

I am not a bleeding heart liberal.

This is not politics.

This is corporate wealth versus citizens' health.

The young people of this city are looking for leaders to stand firm and protect their future.

There will be no future without water.

What don't you understand?

Where I come from, water falls from the sky in this city.

It's under the ground.

Nobody knows how much water we've got left.

You cannot, you've got to find a loophole.

We cannot let them continue.

I'm not unrealistic.

If Meta cannot be stopped, then you must put in place the strongest of restrictions.

Limit the growth and environmental impact as much as possible.

Do not put money and meta before the people of El Paso.

You have the power to prevent a tragedy.

It will be a tragedy.

There will be nothing left of El Paso.

Nothing.

Can you not see it?

Because I can, and as you can tell, I'm not even from here.

But my family is here.

Thank you, Miss Montoya.

My family is the next speaker.

The next speaker is.

Diana Ramirez.

The next speaker, Diana Ramirez.

Good afternoon.

Council, Diana Ramirez.

Mayor Johnston, you recently quoted, you recently said the question before us is not whether we can go back to 2023, we cannot.

That premise is false and politically hypocritical.

The real question before us is not whether all of you should point the finger at your predecessors, it's whether you'll have the courage to correct course.

Your legacy will be forever tied to this vote.

And whether you sided with big business interest or the conservation of water and the survivability of local farmers, families, future generations, and the conservation and stewardship of our scarce desert resource, clean water.

Most of you voted to stop future builds because you'd know this is wrong, and because it hurts our community in the long run, and you aren't alone.

Leaders across the nation, governors, mayors, and community leaders are breaking contracts and stopping future builds because they recognize how horrible this is for resources and the people they represent.

The problem set is very simple.

Do you want to do nothing?

Lose out on millions in tax breaks.

We hand it away, see energy prices increase and devastate our water resources, which will incur millions more out of our own pockets to fix beta creation, or pay a potentially lower fee now for breaking the contract.

This isn't hard.

It just takes political courage.

So whose side will you side who whose side are you with today?

Are you whose side are you on?

The people of El Paso or one of the wealthiest corporations in history?

So we can remember come reelection.

Thank you.

The next speaker is David Delgado.

He will be followed by Josh Perez, Aiden Martinez, Fernando Ruiz, Veronica Carvajal, Eri Treviso, Ricardo Rivero, Samuel Alba, Eugenio Mesta.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Hi.

My name is David.

I'm born and raised in El Paso.

I came out here.

I felt the need to join my community to express my support for item 37.

I have a few comments that I'm going to direct to you, the mayor.

With respect, I've been deeply disappointed by the recent statements that you've made, in which you claim to be concerned about the city, its reputation, and its responsibility, using fear tactics, unsubstantiated numbers to discourage the cancellation, all while making no mention of the actual consequences, the extraction of our precious resources, and the thousands of metric tons of additional pollution dumped into our air quality that's already among the worst in the region.

We've heard the PR talking points and the cherry picked statistics, including your claim, and I quote that El Paso sits on an endless supply of water, and that the closed loop system only recycles its own supply.

These are false statements, and I think I speak for the many of us in this room that we are tired of being misled, lied to, manipulated, and we're tired of watching our leaders dismiss our concerns while protecting the financial interests of a select few and their rich friends.

All at the expense of our health and well-being.

The contract was signed without the knowledge, like real knowledge or the input of the residents who are going to be directly affected by the consequences, and that alone should disqualify it.

For that reason, I support item 37, and I ask that you vote yes if you really care about the city the way you claim to.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Aiden Martinez, followed by Fernando Ruiz, Veronica Carvajal, Eri Treviso, Ricardo Rivera, Samuel Alba, Diana, Valenzuela, Eugenio, Mesta.

Go ahead, sir.

Good afternoon.

Thank you.

Six years ago, I was driving home from Oregon when I saw a cloud forming in the distance.

When I got home later and turned on the news, I found out that I was about to live through the worst wildfall in or in Oregon history.

Nobody prepares you for what it's like to go through natural disaster, the prioritization you have to go in your head every day of what you're gonna take and what you're gonna leave behind.

Worrying whether or not you're gonna wake up and your livelihood's gonna be burned to dust.

But it's important for me to start with that because that's why I'm here today.

My name is Aiden Martinez.

I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas.

I was salutatorial of El Dorado High School.

I left for 10 years, lived in Connecticut, Colorado, California, and Oregon, and I came back for years ago because I wanted to make an impact.

There are three things I need you to consider in voting in support of this effort.

First and foremost, why do they need this big of a data center?

Has anyone had an ad follow you on the internet here?

For six years I worked for Google, and I sold Fortune 500 companies solutions that ads followed you on the internet.

They built up data on who you were so that they can predict what you were gonna do, how often you're gonna do it, and push you to buy their products and services.

That's what these data centers are for.

I rounded up my time at Google as the global crisis response program manager, where I was responsible for knowing all the natural and non-natural disasters that were happening around the world, their severity, what Google's priorities were in the region, and how I could spend the least amount of money to make your friends' job easier in negotiating contracts.

So this is no this is not unfamiliar to me.

The next thing I need you all to consider is why are all these tech companies moving from California to Texas?

It's not good, it's not because we're good for business, it's because we're bad for labor.

Every employee that moved, every employee that moved from San Francisco to Austin, Texas in 2020 got a 40% pay cut.

And that was if they got to remain full-time employees.

Because the reason that Google chose to put their office in Austin was so that they could hire the same jobs as contractors.

Worse pay, worse protections, easier to get rid of you if you disagree with them.

Last but not least, look no further than Albuquerque as our future.

Google made a promise to build a data center there as long as uh Albuquerque held up the bargain of infrastructure and educational investments.

The 2008 financial bubble popped, and New Mexico was left with the bill because Google canceled the data center.

Now, I say all this because I didn't want to speak up.

I like to stay private, I'm tired of all the politics.

But I do want to urge you, right?

There's contractors in this room that in the near term are going to be affected because this contract being canceled.

They're just as important as the folks who are here with the long-term water concerns.

Both of them need to be heard, but this contract does need to be canceled.

We don't need to look that far for a natural disaster.

Look at Corpus Christi.

That's exactly what happens when industry gets water rights over people, and they're two months away from running out of water, and they're right next to the ocean.

We're at the bottom of the Rio Grande.

So again, cancel this.

It's not worth it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Veronica Carvajal.

She will be followed by Eddie Treviso, Ricardo Ribero, Samuel Alva, Eugenio Mesta, Joshua Smith, Joshua Jures, Alejandro Ruiz, Marco Sanchez, Vanessa Sotelo.

Good afternoon, Veronica.

Hello, come.

Mayor, Council, and Veronica Carvajal.

I'm an organizer with Sembrando Esperanza Coalition.

Please vote yes on item 37.

Um, as some of you know, I was an attorney at Texas Real Grande Legal Aid for nearly 20 years, and I dealt with a lot of contracts, most of them predatory, terrible, because the opponents thought they could take advantage of my clients.

And I approached each opponent the same way.

I would ask them, do you want to do this the easy way or the hard way?

Today's vote is about asking Meta if they want to end this 380 agreement the easy way.

And Meta cannot respond to this request with the lawsuit.

You're only asking that your attorney, our attorney, speak to their attorney about ending this agreement.

There is no legal cause of action for having a conversation over an existing contract.

I was a very successful lawyer.

The vast majority of my cases did not get resolved in court.

They got resolved the easier way.

Why?

Because when I showed up with my clients, we showed up to not only negotiate, we showed up prepared to go to trial.

We were not there to play.

And I'm asking you that our city attorney act the same way.

Because you're right, Mayor.

You're right, Mayor.

This we cannot go back to December of 2023, but neither can Meta.

Meta can no longer hide behind the non-disclosure agreements or the ignorance of the public.

We now know that meta data centers make people's water undrinkable.

They increase the price of electricity and water, they increase temperatures around them by up to 16 degrees.

They cause air pollution and flooding and unbearable noise.

They use dirty energy that requires water and transmission lines that can lead to childhood leukemia.

That their CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, knows the very risk of this business, and even said to Forge magazine.

If we end up misspending a couple hundred billion dollars, that's gonna be very unfortunate.

But it's not detrimental, the way it will be when we don't have any water.

We know that Meta's product AI is terrible for humanity, and even the Pope agrees.

AI causes children to hurt themselves.

It discriminates, it steals from artists, it kills innocent civilians at war, it destroys our critical thinking skills, and on and on.

We also know that juries do not like Meta.

So we have nothing to fear.

Years from now, years from now, we will be talking about the AI data center industry, the way that we talk about other industries that exploited our health and our environment with the complicity of elected officials.

These industries include lead, oil and gas, asbestos, tobacco, opioids.

Today, we are asking that you please choose to be on the right side of history.

We know more than we did back then.

Please give us back the power that we have as a community.

Please go back and tell Meta.

We know that your lies can now be verified.

We cannot cower in the corner.

Please be courageous.

Our future depends on your leadership today.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Eddie Treviso.

Followed by Ricardo Rivero, Samuel Alba, Ufeño Mesta, Joshua Smith, Joshua Jews, Alejandro Ruiz.

Good afternoon.

Hello.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, City Council, for these three minutes.

Um today I stand up here by myself, but I want you guys to picture 500 IBW members on my left, 500 to my right, 500 behind me.

We're a thousand strong right now.

Um, they could be here, they would, but they're out working.

It's important to them.

But they're out there building the infrastructure of the future.

They're out there making sure you get to a home that has a working air conditioner.

They're out there answering customer phone calls, restoring power, maintaining our electrical system, and keeping this community running.

Today I speak on behalf of them.

People think item 37 is gonna hurt Meta.

It's not gonna hurt Meta.

She said it, they're a billion dollar company, trillion, whatever.

You're hurting the working class.

That's who you're hurting.

The young men and women who are still waiting for their opportunity, the young worker who is looking for that first good-paying job, the young parent who wants to buy a home, the young family trying to move into the middle class.

Those are the people I worry about, those are the people who will you're sending the message if El Pasos close to business.

That's who you're sending the message to.

You're killing opportunities, you're killing careers, you're killing jobs, you're killing dreams.

How do I know this?

Because I've walked in their shoes 27 years ago, 27 years, temporary 27 job, 27-year job.

I was one of those young workers looking for an opportunity.

I got my start yearning during another technology boom, the rise of the internet.

At that time, there was concerns, there was opposition, there was challenges, but we worked through them.

We adapted, we came together.

And because we did, thousands of working people have built successful middle class jobs.

I know we can do the same here because uh there's a tremendous influx of work because of these data centers coming.

Unions are more popular than ever.

Our sister local 583 has nearly doubled in size.

They're running advertisements to recruit workers for the first time in decades because there's so much work available.

IBW local 960, my local, we're seeing that growth as well.

My own work group has doubled.

Um, it has helped us recruit new members.

In fact, just four weeks ago, we organized a new group of five workers to our union, and I'm proud to say four of them were females.

That may not sound like much to people, but in our industry, that's a big deal.

That's a huge deal.

We are the international brotherhood of electrical workers, but with all this growth, we might reconsider being the brotherhood and sisterhood of electrical workers.

You're seeing more and more women at these job sites.

This has been great for our community.

IBW 960.

Right now, we boast the highest amount of women in our local in the whole district.

I mean, that's how much growth there has been.

Um, I truly believe the city of El Paso can work through the challenges.

Uh projects like these are just it's something we need to come together.

We're all opasuans, we're not against each other.

I don't have enemies here, I have friends.

And believe me, Meta, if we do things right, meta will not become a burden, it will be an economic anchor for us.

So I respect what we ask you.

Don't kill middle class jobs.

And we also knock on doors, and we also vote, and we met with city council.

Thank you.

And I'd back up.

Ricardo Rivero.

Ricardo Rivero.

Good afternoon.

Please maintain decorum to avoid disrupting the meeting and allow the speakers their time.

Go ahead, Mr.

Rivero.

Good afternoon, City Council members and mayor.

My name is Ricky Rivero, and I'm here to represent my labor union, IBW 960, in support of bringing data centers to El Peso.

Not long ago, I was one of many El Pasoans who had to leave home to find opportunity.

I spent years applying for jobs here, trying to build a career in telecommunications, but I couldn't find the opportunity I needed to support my future family.

Eventually I left for Midland, Texas.

I worked away from my wife, away from my family, away from the city.

I wanted to call home because that's where the jobs were.

My story is not uncommon.

Thirteen days ago, El Paso Matters reported on the number of people who leave El Paso in search for better opportunity and higher paying careers.

That article resonated with me, because I lived it.

While working in Midland, people from small towns would ask me, why are you here?

We have to leave our towns because we don't have opportunities.

Why would someone have to leave a large city such as El Paso?

At the time I didn't have a good answer.

The reason I was eventually able to come home was because I gained the telecommunications experience I needed while working in Midland.

In September, I was hired by El Paso Electric.

During my interview process, it was made clear that the growth occurring in our region, including demand created by projects like data centers, was creating opportunities, expanding the need for telecommunications and utility workers.

That growth gave me the chance to come home.

Today my wife and I are expecting our first child.

For the first time in my career, I feel like I can build a future in El Paso instead of somewhere else.

I understand concerns about water use, power demand, and environmental impacts.

These concerns are important and deserve responsible planning and oversight.

But I also think we need to consider about the human impact of turning away investment.

For every person like me who was able to come home, there are others still searching for opportunity.

There are young people graduating from our schools who will soon have to decide whether they can build a life here or whether they need to leave.

It is whether El Paso will be a city where our children can build careers, buy homes, raise families, and stay close to the people they love.

I was fortunate enough to come home.

I hope future generations of El Pasuans will not have to leave in the first place.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes, electrical workers, think of your children.

In every arms race in history, there had been victims.

In this detrimental AI arms race, El Paso, it's water, it's air.

We are the newest victims.

We did not anticipate the quiet application of utility for the McLeod gas facility.

When it was presented in El Paso Times in 2024, it was presented with a whole different set of expectations that it would be powered by renewable.

In fact, Callie Tombin, the CEO of El Paso Electric, made it sound like they were required to do it.

She said that in 2024.

Then the tune changed.

With this urgency, the arms race, our protections are put to the side.

In 2025, at a rate hearing, then an EP electric uh rep set that it would likely be done by renewables from required to likely.

Then at a conference in Las Cruces, uh Kelly Tomlin said it doesn't look like renewables can power this.

So rep Chavez, you talked about the exposure of the litigation of $800 million.

Let's talk about the exposure of this McLeod gas facility.

98 tons of carbon monoxide poisoning, uh, 68 tons of nitric oxide poisoning, carbon monoxide binds, hemoglobin in your blood, preventing oxygen from reaching your vital organs.

Your brain and your lungs began to suffocate without those oxygen cells.

The thing about carbon monoxide though is you can't see it, you can't hear it, you can't smell it.

Early symptoms seem like just the flu, the same with nitric oxide uh 68 tons.

Okay, it seems like the flu at first, but then because it has low water permeability, it can enter without a strong detention, uh detection, and it can give you long-term lung failure.

Okay, um, within a mile of a SARCO, okay, it was found that half of the children in the 1970s were found to have four times the the safe lead limit, uh arsenic, cadmium exposure.

These are all poisons that are going to be infiltring our air.

And you we are one of the worst polluted cities in America.

Uh the dust storms, it doesn't matter if you're in Lower Valley, Upper West Side, what happens in El Paso is going to affect every one of us.

My sister has airless download syndrome, uh, immune uh comorbidities.

Uh, we cannot afford to have these impacts.

Okay.

Uh Al Paso is already in a non-attainment area for the uh environmental protection agency and an industrial project that exceeds EPA standards in a non-attainment zone is highly vulnerable to litigation.

So if we do the right thing, they will also face litigation.

Uh operating in a non-attainment zone triggers stricter regulatory scrutiny under the non-attainment new source review, making legal action, including civil fines, a very real threat.

Under section 304 of the Clean Air Act, private citizens, advocacy groups, and affected communities are explicitly granted the authority to sue alleged polluters in federal court.

There is regulatory enforcement that can go all the way to the Department of Justice.

There are permit challenges.

This is the fight we must do.

This is what it means to be El Paso strong.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Ukraine Omesta.

Mr.

Mesta will be followed by Alejandro Ruiz, Marco Sanchez, Joshua Smith, Joshua Drews, Vanessa Sotelo, Hannah Marshall, Courtney Barraza, Angel Uyoa, Donnie Maris.

Go ahead.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon, maybe in counsel.

My name is Eugenio Mesta, and I'm an architect with a small business owner.

I don't have anything to do with the project.

I just want to clarify that I don't have a contract, I'm not building anything, I don't get a dollar from this project.

However, I came here 41 years ago.

And after many tribulations and working hard, I developed my own business.

Four years ago, I did decided to become a developer and started developing a project.

Which, by the record, there is no uh way of canceling for convenience.

What I'd like to do is to remind what my or tell what my father told me many years ago.

A contract is as good as the two people that sign them.

And so I have a contract right now, 380 agreement with the city of El Paso.

Is it gonna be canceled for convenience?

The reason why this project was viable financially was because of this 380 agreement.

So, let's not talk about my project, but other projects and other developers and other companies that might come here and want to develop and grow in El Paso and provide the jobs for all these contractors.

Why would they go and try for a 380 agreement if it can always be cancelled for convenience?

So I strongly believe that the ripple effect of voting for this uh item number 37, the ripple effect would be enormous, more so than what anybody in this room can really think of.

We have to um be aware that the economics of El Paso is not as strong as many people might think, and we depend a lot of uh job growth to bring in companies from out of town and investing in this country in the city.

That's the case for me, and that's been the case uh for many of my colleagues and friends.

So I would really want you to consider that going, voting yes for this would have a ripple effect that many of us will suffer for years to come.

So please vote against this, and um thank you for your time.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Alejandro Ruiz, followed by Marco Sanchez, Vanessa Sotelo, Hannah Marshall, Courtney Barraza, Angel Uyua, Donnie Marez, Jesse Romero.

Good afternoon.

Hello, my name is Alejandro, and I stand before you to simply demand one thing.

Break the 380 meta deal.

El Paso City Council does not function as an independent body representing the El Paso citizen.

Instead, it operates as a managing committee for the local elites, specifically the faction organized under the borderplex alliance.

The Chapter 380 agreement, which grants Meta 80% property tax rebate for 30 frickin' 35 freaking years, and sells the regional scarce water to private corporations, is a classic example of capital accumulation by disposition.

Public resources, water, energy, tax revenue are transferred to private hands, initiated by an unelected body borderplex alliance, and rubber stamped by political representatives who are financially dependent on the same body's leadership.

What is this dependence look like?

Renard Johnson loves Woody Hunt, 20,000, $50,000 from a conservative pack, protect and serve taxes.

Another 50k from Paul Foster.

Boo Art Fiero loves Woody Hunt too.

$5,000.

Tens of thousands of dollars in the previous cycles.

Boo.

Chris Canales, a huge disappointment.

Class Trader has received money from Woody and Gail Hunt.

Boo.

Mr.

Drew, ask you to please be respectful.

Alejandra Chavez also loves Woody Hunt from my district.

Alejandro, the personal attacks, but go ahead.

Okay.

It's okay.

Let me finish.

Let me finish.

Go ahead.

We'll give you the time.

The 380 agreement is simply a mechanism to transfer tax revenue, which belongs to us, into the pockets of meta shareholders.

The most violent act of this deal is the sale of water.

In a desert region facing climate collapse, the oligarchy has decided that water is a commodity to be sold to a data center for profit rather than the human right to be preserved for the people.

They are trading the city's long-term survival for short-term construction contracts, which benefit Job.

Jesus Christ.

Stop being lazy.

Break the contract first, figure it out later.

Sorry, my words hurt your feelings.

Alejandra, Ivan and Chris, vote to pass this or lose your job.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Marco Sanchez, followed by Courtney Barraza, Vanessa Sotelo, Hannah Marshall, Angel Oyoa, Donnie Maris, Jesse Romero, David Garcia, Viviana Maldonado.

Good morning, or well, good afternoon.

Good afternoon, Council, Mayor Johnson.

If I could please have all of y'all's attention, I do see a couple of you are looking down.

I would really appreciate District 3.

Alejandro, Mrs.

Chavez.

There we go.

Thank you very much.

So in January 2026, one broken water pipe left a hundred and thirty-eight thousand Al Pasuans with no water.

And an additional couple hundred thousand with this as their drinking water.

I bring this as a sample that I've kept in my garage because I wanted to attend the EP water meeting.

This will be our tap water if we do not stop meta.

In fact, actually, we'd be lucky if this was our tap water because maybe we don't have any tab water.

So, how about noise?

And I'm not here to just speak rhetoric.

I have facts from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Low frequency sound waves travel around five miles.

They can penetrate walls, air, especially our very thin, dusty air, and they don't dissipate easily.

And they're proven to cause serious health conditions like migraines, hypertension, increased chance of dementia, etc.

etc.

This is very serious and not something to be taken lightly.

If a company can afford to be threatening our city's existence like this, I don't think it's uh a judgment of bad business to be attempting to close this contract with them.

As Mr.

Eugenio said, I don't know if he's still in the crowd.

Um there is a chance that this will damage the city's reputation with other companies.

And as a young person and a member of Gen Z, I don't think I've publicly said my age, so I'll mention I am a sophomore.

Um I'm I'm not on voting yet, but this is our future.

What is more important to our city council?

Another meta agreement with Google or Anthropic or more of my generation staying here instead of going with brain drain and leaving to another city because this one is uninhabitable.

And our city doesn't need to look like a Pixar movie to be uninhabitable with dust bowls everywhere, right?

If what I define as uninhabitable is a city that I know sold us out.

If our city can no longer prioritize people over money, it's not a city I want to live in.

So, I understand the risk with breaking the 380 agreement, and as much as I can, I've also looked into it myself.

But no city has ever been destroyed for going bankrupt.

Cities have been destroyed for running out of water.

So please think about this when you vote later today.

This item 37 is extremely important for our future, my future, and your children's future.

Thank you very much for your time.

Thank you.

She will be followed by Angel Uyoa, Donnie Marez, Jesse Romero, David Garcia, Viviana Maldonado, Angelica Rosales, Saul Gonzalez, Jud Burgess, Brenda Vienna.

Go ahead, Ms.

Don't forget.

Good afternoon.

Mayor, I have to start by saying I know you want future businesses to know we honor our commitments and obligations.

However, future businesses that want to come to El Paso need to understand you will not come here and harm our community, our resources, or our people.

That is exactly what asking Meta to cancel the 380 agreement is gonna show everyone.

Not that we run, not that we don't want business here, but that our people matter, our community matters, and you will not take our resources and threaten our future.

Do you think an 80-year-old woman on a fixed income can afford a thousand dollar electric bill?

That's happening.

But you're worried about taxes.

Our taxes going up, but a thousand dollars and people balancing medication and their utilities is not fair.

This came with my water bill this month.

How can we conserve water as a community during the summer?

If we have to conserve water, what makes you think anyone can sustain a data center that uses it 24-7?

We are already one of the most polluted cities.

Taking the risk of canceling the meta contract is worth it.

Not one of you sitting up there should be thinking that it's a good idea to keep it going.

If you really love this city like you say you do, you will vote in favor of Agenda 37 today.

There is absolutely no reason to keep them in our city.

Everybody knows what's happening in cities with data centers.

We're a desert city and cannot sustain it.

Who's going to pay for the gas plant that has to support this data center?

Are util our utility bills going up again?

Can you guarantee us that they won't?

And even if you can, what does it matter if the risks to our health are significant enough?

Can you guarantee our water won't be brown or we won't lose water pressure?

You can't.

This is not fear mongering.

These are things that are happening in cities in Georgia and Virginia with data centers.

Imagine having a diesel truck running in your family room all day.

That is what a new gas plant being built to support this data center will be like.

It will lower all of our quality of lives and make us all sick.

My son goes to school two to three miles away from this data center.

The noise is not okay.

He has ADHD, he's neurodivergent.

This is happening to livestock where they're not, the livestock are having stillbirths in areas with data centers because of the noise.

What is it gonna do to our learning children?

I beg you for my children and the future of this city.

Vote yes on a 37 today.

You're not gonna look like cowards.

You're not you guys.

You're gonna look like someone who stood up for your city and what is right and say you're not coming here and destroying our city.

Thank you, guys.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Angel Uyor.

Good afternoon.

Hello, good afternoon.

So Angel Yua with District 8 in favor of item 37 to cut the 380 deal with Meta.

Um I want to mention a few items here pertaining to Mayor Johnson's comment that terminating the agreement would quote harm El Paso's reputation as a place where businesses, employers, and investors can trust that agreements approve the public agreement will be honored.

Uh this quote is literally saying the quiet part out loud that only promises to developers are prioritized in the city, and the constituents come last to all of that.

And I want to point back to the No Newman Six campaign in 2021, where we worked with community groups in Chaparral to file a suit against El Paso Electric when they filed to add the Newman 6 generator to the existing site in Northeast El Paso.

One of the concessions agreed upon by El Paso Electric in the settlement was to shut down trains three, four, and five.

And this never happened.

And there has also been no oversight from the city from any of you to make this happen.

So those promises are out the door.

The promises are only to developers.

In addition, El Paso Electric agreed on a four-year moratorium of all new natural gas projects when that settlement was finalized in 2021, and literally not even less than one year after that moratorium period ended.

Was the McLeod plant proposed for Meta?

The public officials and developers in this city are literally fiending for every opportunity to waste our money, to deplete our resources, to poison our environment, and have the community carry the burden of all of that.

It's very frustrating to have a city council that took no accountability for approving this agreement and letting this project get this far until it was called out by the community.

We need city council webs who are intuitive and insightful enough to know when an agreement is not going to play out for the greater good of the community.

And if you couldn't do that from the start for your constituents, your name should not have been on that ballot.

Running for city council is not a joke.

We have a lot on the line.

Our future children's health are on the lines, our health are on the lines, your families and your health are on the line.

You live in the city too.

At this point, let Meta sue us.

The cost would be easier for us to carry than what not only is El Paso going to be faced with, but also Juarez if we see the data center through.

Break the deal.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Good morning.

Thank you first of all to Joshua Cervedo District 2, Liliamon District 7, even though the data center is to be built in district 4 with Cynthia Trejo.

As Gomez mentioned this morning, yes, the 380 is the same across the country, but the devastation is also the same across the country.

I am not an enemy to progress.

Meta searches for profit at the expense of local land.

Pitches such as money and the closed water loop system mentioned by Mr.

Johnson saying that we are going to be using the water once and recycling it forever.

In a laboratory that might be reached, but El Paso is not a laboratory.

It is our land, a landmass that is alive and thrives even as a desert.

As AI grows and it will, its water demand will exponentially grow as well.

We face radiation, energy consumption, heat waves, water, um requirements, vegetation death, local wild, animal scarcity, and water contamination will grow without a doubt.

The closed water loop theory used to convince El Paso in 2023 will be just that a theory.

Meta gave El Paso the sales pitch, not the science pitch.

Destruction will be the future if we say yes.

All while Meta hides fact-based usage behind complex contracts and secret NDAs.

Meta, Meta's goal is to use the drinking water of more than 877 El Paso humans.

The consequence of this data center are extreme health and environmental hazards for years to come.

This is not profit, this is destruction.

Meta asks El Paso to sacrifice the lifeblood of our land, which is water for its trillion dollar company to drain our reservoirs so that we can create generated pictures of a dancing cat.

Meta wants us to believe that they will use our water as a liquid heatsink on chemical chemically treated water and return it to our dried up river without a consequence.

District 4 mentioned a financial ripple effect earlier today.

Water cost has increased in the past 11 years, electrical cost has increased.

A data center in Utah produces thermal energy equal to that of an atomic bomb.

Oregon, Georgia, Washington are states that are ready to report fact-based water contamination due to data centers both between 2022 and 2026.

That's four years' time, four years, just four years.

Representative Escobar asked MADA to meet with us, and they have declined time and time again.

There is a reason why cities have canceled data centers.

Mayor Johnson, who we, the people elected, has the power to break a contract, break a tie vote, or veto the city council actions, should they choose to disregard it, please.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Jesse Romero.

Excuse me.

Hi, I need the screen, please.

Oh, IT we need the Elmo, please for Mr.

Romero.

Is it on?

There it is.

Yes, sir.

If you can please uh place it face up.

There you go.

This part right there.

And I read you, you all have copies of this.

It says the tax code for Texas.

It's not developed by the city, not the count, not the city, not the county, but the state.

This is what we go by for our city taxes and revenues.

It says section 3.12 312.007.

Except that the duration of an abatement period may not exceed 10 years.

So abatement period cannot go beyond 10 years.

Y'all did 35 years.

It's the code.

I'm not an attorney.

It took me a couple of hours, but I figured out what's going on.

Come on, guys.

Okay.

The other part, the good part is we've got construction workers out there, they're working hard, which is good.

We need that.

Now, why does MEDA need water?

Okay, cooling.

You know what they're doing?

They're making a swamp cooler into a modified cooling system.

That's what they're using.

A glorified swamp cooler.

UNC has that.

They use, you know, water.

It's very good, it's very productive, and it's cheap.

The only reason MADA is using it is because cost effective.

They could use HVAC like we have here.

They could.

But they're not doing it.

They're going with the water.

Can they delete?

Can they stop using the water?

Yes, they can.

Well, they think you can still negotiate the contract because it's not in the goodwill of MEDA to say, you know what?

Well, we're getting a lot of problems.

Well, you guys just made it all the time.

Facebook, all those all those apps that use, if you're using them, you're using beta.

You're using it.

Okay, every day.

And yet we're complaining about them.

They bring a job to El Paso.

Am I gonna teach my son?

Hey, you know what?

That contract, you can cancel it.

Like it's okay.

You can cancel your contract anytime you want to.

No, you need to change the contract or modify it to fit your needs.

What's good for them and what's good for us?

Change the water.

Go HVAC.

Yeah, those computers are very hot, but you don't have to use water.

You can use HVAC.

It's very common.

You can still negotiate the contract.

It's all about goodwill for Meta, and you can do it.

And I'm sure they know that, but they're not willing to, but they can.

Thank you, Jesse Domero.

Have a good day.

Thank you.

David Garcia.

Good afternoon.

Mayor, members of the city council, thank you.

My name is Dr.

David Garcia, and I'm the president of Chaparral Community Coalition for Health and Environment.

My wife and I live right where Northeast El Paso meets New Mexico Desert.

I love the environment.

I keep small desert stones in my pocket as a reminder of the fragile beauty.

We are charged to protect.

We are charged to protect.

Some people will speak on the grid strain and the brownouts, noise, and other calamities, but I'm here to talk about human survival or water.

We live in an arid desert for Northeast El Paso residents and the community at Chaparral.

Water is life.

Yet this agreement with Meta Data Center starts at a 100,000 gallons and climbs to a staggering 1.5 million gallons of fresh, fresh groundwater every single day.

Combined with the El Paso Electric, the proposed Fort Bliss data center, we are facing an unprecedented drain on the shared water aquifer.

The core question is this: are we approaching absolute water limits?

And do we know?

Northeast El Paso on Martin Luther King and Chaparral and the Lotero side are vulnerable communities.

When a massive corporation gossips millions of gallons, it leaves our families and our schools completely exposed.

Progress should never come at the at the expense of human survival.

This deal was passed under a cloak of darkness by a previous administration, and there was made.

Sorry to say, if a contract threatens the very survival of people, it is a bad deal.

Our data centers should never be more important than anything else in the world.

I favor this item 37 because it's the right thing to do.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Saul Gonzalez.

Good afternoon.

Hi, good afternoon, Mayor and City Council.

My name is Ol Gonzalez, and I'm an organizer with Semrana Esperanza and a resident of District 3.

I am here to strong support of item 37.

And I want to begin by thanking Representative Joshua Sevedo and Representative Lily Limon for placing this item on the agenda.

I also want to say thank you to this uh state representative Mary Gonzalez for supporting the cancellation of the 380 agreement.

I have provided all copies of her letter.

Some of you have um argued that Meta will grow our tax base and help reduce the burden on residents, but how many times have we heard that before?

How many times have we uh been told that big projects and big big um investment will lower our utility bills?

But everything keeps going up.

Meta, it's not a solution to affordability.

Meta is a threat to affordability.

We do not need to become the next Corpus Christi or Georgia and wait until we don't have any water until or until we have water contamination or a crisis before you take any action.

Let me be clear: item 37 does not cancel the 380 agreement today.

A vote yes does not put the city at risk.

It simply directs city staff to begin negotiations with META to terminate this agreement.

We expect all of you to vote yes on item 37.

Back in 2023, the city, the county, and El Paso Water entered into a terrible deal.

Now we need all three entities to work together to get META out of our region.

The city attorney was part of this process in 2023.

The agreement failed to include the protections our community deserve it.

Now the least that she can do, and the county attorney and El Paso water attorney is to work together to find our way out of this contract.

I understand this is difficult, but difficult does not mean impossible.

Can we cancel the 3D agreement?

Yes, we can.

If the city council the agreements, how much would we have to pay?

It was estimated close to a billion dollars, but I seriously questioned that number, especially when it comes from the same people who helped us who help get us into this deal.

Back in 2023, the tax incentive had a value of 73 million dollars in property taxes in the course of 25 years.

This information comes from a presentation from the economic development department.

Today is the beginning of the end for Meta.

Please vote yes on item 37.

Be brave, do your job, and listen to the people.

I also want to acknowledge in the audience we have workers from Meta.

Thank you for coming.

Your concerns matter, but we cannot support any projects at the expense of our water and our health.

However, I will call this a victory.

This is the closest type of communications or interactions that the community has had with META.

Once again, vote yes on item 37.

I expect every one of you to vote yes, especially Mr.

Fierro.

Okay, so you've reached the three minutes.

Viviana Maldonado, followed by Angelica Rosales.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon, my name is Viviana Maldonado.

I grew up here in El Paso.

34 years later, I've traveled enough to speak about how beautiful and special this place is and the potential here.

But over the years, I've seen the city mishandle many issues, such as this data center deal.

Fresh water is a precious resource that our city doesn't get much of.

And as we reach record-breaking heat and drought, it's hard to fathom how the elites of El Paso have sold out to Meta on this bad deal where El Paso gets practically nothing.

They have offered the resources we have for Meta to pillage and pollute our water and air.

They'll extract what little resources we have, manage to supply our citizens all while all while hiking rates and making the constituents foot the bill.

On the status center deal, I would ask you to consider your legacy, your choices, what you're complicit with, and the actions you took while you were in office.

This affects the community.

History will not be kind to you, and we will vote you out.

Al Paso needs sustainable solutions revolving around clean energy production.

The future generations of El Pasoans deserve to have clean water and air.

Your legacy is on the line, and I ask you to think about what you will be remembered for.

I ask you to vote yes on item 37 and break the deal with Meta.

Thank you guys so much.

Thank you.

Angelica Rosales.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon, mayor and council.

My name is Angelica Rosales, and I'm a project director with Sunt Construction.

I work for a company that is building data centers throughout Arizona and Texas.

And based on the comments that I've heard today, I can tell you that several people have never stepped foot in a data center, let alone built one.

We have I would like to acknowledge all the union workers that took time off of their day today to come and speak before council, and I thank you.

I had the honor of sitting next to Travis Pennison, who's explained to me that he was able to come back home because he had an opportunity to come home and build here in El Paso.

Representative Lily Limon to your comments about wages.

I'll give you more time.

Okay.

Thank you.

Remember, everyone gets an opportunity to speak.

Thank you.

And I I am happy to say I'm a proud woman in construction and have spent time out in the field.

Thank you.

Recently, the Texas Tribune ran an article on Hill County.

When they tried to enforce a moratorium on data centers, and they were sued for $100 million.

And that kind that project was not yet even under construction.

So I want you all to think about the legal ramifications and the financial ramifications that'll be incurred when you have a project that is under currently under construction.

You're not from here.

I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas.

We'll give you I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas.

My father is a civil contractor.

Built many roads and highways in El Paso, Texas.

We had a family-owned business here for over 60 years.

I am a proud El Pasoan.

Thank you.

Lastly, I just want to encourage again council to stand firm on this.

We have a legal and binding contract in place.

And representative or former EPISD trustee Acevedo, I I would think that EPISD with their $52 million budget shortfall would love to have the $55 million that YISD is about to get from this deal.

Mayor and Council, thank you very much for your leadership.

Thank you.

There's a motion to break to lunch.

Is there a second?

Second.

There's a motion and a second to recess a city council meeting.

Let's break.

Yes.

All in favor?

Aye.

I'll do I'll take a roll call.

Mayor Pro Time Travis?

Ms.

Brian, I'm sorry, I didn't hear the motion.

The motion is to recess the city council meeting for one hour to break for lunch.

Mayor Pro Tem Chavez?

Thank you.

Acevedo?

No.

Rocha?

Yes.

Trejo?

Nino?

Piero?

Limon?

No, it's a terrible time to stop.

Ridiculous.

Canales?

Ms.

Brian, can I ask how how many line I represent?

Representative Canales.

Yeah, the floor.

Go ahead.

Thank you.

Can I ask how much time we have left in speakers signed up?

Quite a few.

We're on 35 of one.

I believe there were nine hours of speakers signed up, correct?

That's correct.

Okay.

Aye.

Thank you.

And the motion carries the city council meeting is in re-sess at 1259 PM and we'll reconvene in one hour.

All right.

La forma de la comunidad en la palabra de la mayor parte de los últimos días de la forma de la comunidad en la descripción de la forma de la relación en la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la comunidad en la comunidad en la mayor parte de la forma de la comunidad en la comunidad en la descripción de la forma de la escena de la última forma de la mayor parte de la comunidad en la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la comunidad en la comunidad de la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la mayor parte de la forma de la forma de la forma de permitión, los problemas de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la forma de la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la palabra de la forma de la forma de la relación en la forma de los que están en la mayor parte de la comunidad en la relación en la forma de la forma de la forma de la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la comunidad, los que están en la cama, los permitios de la comunidad en la comunidad de la comunidad de la comunidad, los problemas de la forma de la forma de la comunidad, los que se permiten los informes de la forma de la palabra de la mayor parte de la forma de la mayor parte de la relación, en la mayor parte de la parte de la parte de la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la comunidad, los dos en el partido de la relación en el partido de la forma de la forma de la comunidad, los dos en la mayor parte de la mayor parte de la comunidad de la comunidad.

You guys ready?

Okay.

Okay, good afternoon, Miss Prime.

We're ready.

Yes, sir.

Is there a motion to reconvene?

Is there a motion?

Is there a second?

Okay, motion.

Second.

There's a motion and a second to reconvene the city council meeting.

All in favor?

Aye.

Anyone opposed?

The meeting is back in session at 2 04 p.m.

We're on item 37, and we continue with public.

And Ms.

Prime, give me one second.

I again I want to thank everyone for taking the time to be here today and leaving work and school and other things to be here.

And I know how passionate this subject is, but when there is a speaker speaking, I ask again to allow the speaker to speak without interruption so we can get through.

We still have about a hundred and fifty speakers ahead of us signed up, so please allow the meeting to continue.

Miss Bryan.

Thank you, Mayor.

The next group of speakers is Judd Burgess, Mary Woodruff, Meteorka Lynch, David Milke, Margaret Gannon, Derek Hyde, Cynthia Krause, Bianca Marino, Liz Gonzalez.

If I've called your name, please line up to speak.

Go ahead, Mr.

Burgess.

You have three minutes.

There's a lot of ways this can be done.

So when you start telling us, like, oh, this is the only way it's going to happen, you know they're going to find us a billion dollars, and we're gonna have to take it straight out of our yearly budget like it's gonna be a one-time deal, and that we're gonna be bankrupt instantly.

That's patronizing.

That's condescending, and I resent that.

So anyway, uh it seems to me that that we have the we were able to fight this, and I don't see that happening up here.

I believe that all of this was done behind closed doors.

These contracts were obviously written to protect Meta and not all passwords.

And and uh if you look at some of the things that happened already, from what I've heard, there are the contracts have been signed to protect their interest because the legal department gave them the license to avoid virtually all data center oversight with only one highly controlled inspection per year.

There also releases meta from responsibility for their decisions and operational practices by requiring the inspectors to sign non-disclosure agreements.

These are city-signed contracts that are that were basically favoring Meta, not ours.

So we vote you into your positions, we pay your salaries and we inform you as to what are our needs are so that you can represent us.

And so I think we're we're at a point here where this is your come to Jesus moment, and all of you up here, you're you've got a choice to make it's gonna be a salvation, or the opposite.

It's gonna be your salvation, it's gonna be the salvation of our city, or it's gonna be the opposite.

So I really would petition you to think about that.

Think about our future, think about I've got my daughter and her uh partner up there.

I mean, to me, this is why I love El Paso, because we have our children, we need to support them.

We need to do everything on their behalf, not on behalf of a trillion-dollar business like Meta.

Uh so anyway, thank you for listening.

Goodbye.

Thank you, Mary Woodruff.

Followed by Natyorka Lynch, David Milk, Margaret Gannon, Derek Hype.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Thank you for having us.

My name is Mary Woodrow from Los Access de la Bui and Friends.

Today, you will hear or have heard medical, environmental, legal, and economic arguments to end the 380 agreement.

Those are very important issues.

However, my request is very simple.

I respectfully and humbly ask that you vote unanimously on item 37.

Why?

Because in 2023, El Pasoans did not shake hands on this contract.

They were denied a vote, and they were denied their voice in this contract.

Whether one opposes or supports this contract, the people in El Paso deserved the opportunity to be heard.

And today you have the opportunity to correct this.

Please do not deny us our voice again.

I am here representing nine neighborhoods that span across your districts.

And I also have 1,200, nearly 1,200 signed public comments against this meta center.

They are residents who care deeply about the future of our community, but they are also your constituents.

And today they are asking for one thing, and that is to move forward with this process.

Whatever it is.

Number one, do not um approve that that uh power plant that El Paso utilities is seeking.

And number two, um, tell water the water utility not to sign on on that contract.

We are El Paso.

We should have a voice, and you all should represent us.

Anyhow, further um today, I ask you not to fear um and not to worry about um anything having to do with optics about breaking the contract or do not fear of how much it's gonna cost the city to get out of this.

Today it's not about fear, it is about courage and um transparency and public trust.

Um, and about trusting the people, you were elected, elected to serve, and um stand behind us, stand behind the thank you, ma'am.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Here are the next speaker is Naturka Lynch, followed by David Mill, Margaret Gannon, Derek Hyde, Cynthia Krause, Bianca Marino, Leez Gonzalez, Joshua Dagda.

You can give those to the clerk.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

Hi, good afternoon, guys.

Thank you so much for allowing me to speak in front of you, and thank you for your time.

Um, so my name is Natiorka Lynch.

I am a military wife of uh 22 years.

My husband's active duty military still, and I also have three children in our community.

I am a very proud resident of the city of El Paso, and we chose El Paso.

My husband will be retiring next February first, Lord willing.

And uh we chose to stay here in El Paso because of the future that the city provides for our children and our families.

Um, when I did see the meta center was coming to this town, I was very excited actually.

I was very looking forward to the change and the economic progress that it will bring to our city, and I was especially excited about the green energies and renewable electricities that they said they would use to power the project.

Um, but that has absolutely not come to fruition.

Um, the McCloud uh generation facility will destroy our air.

I think every single one of you who breathe here in this world should care about this.

You should think about what it does in the long-term effects to our children and to our families.

We are the stewards of this earth.

We are here to make a better world for our lives for our children and their future.

By create by making this 813-generated gas-powered electric facility, it will be bringing so much carbon monoxide to our air, even just at the minimum capacity to power 7,600 cars.

I'm sorry, it will equal 7,600 cars worth of pollutants that will go into our air.

In the city of El Paso, the children's asthma rate is 17%.

The adult asthma rate is 8%.

I know you guys are considering about the cost of canceling this project.

But what is the cost that is going to be regarding health care costs in the long term?

What is this going to cost our lives and our families?

Think about if people like me, would we want to stick around and be part of this community when we can't even breathe?

That our children's lives are a risk.

You will lose generations of people who will want to move away.

You also will have to worry about uh the loss of revenue from how many ozone days will now be added to our calendar.

We are number 16th in the country of the most polluted cities.

Imagine now how many ozone days, but we will not be able to go out.

We will not be able to have a good time and spend money on our beautiful city.

We will be stuck indoors.

So I plead to you to think about not just the moment, not just now, but the long term of what this is truly going to cost you.

You're worried about the cancellation of something now.

But what is this really going to cost us in the long term?

I applaud you for taking the time to give us time to talk, and I beg you to look.

If you want to keep it, keep it, but make it green.

Make it something that we can be proud of.

Make it something that's going to help the future generations and not destroy it.

I beg you to turn off the lights on McLeod and find a way to make it change.

Thank you.

Thank you, David.

Neil.

Data centers.

That's a real funny name.

They might as well call them don't worry about its centers.

They don't want to say exactly what data they are controlling, and they sure don't want to disclose the damage they will cause.

Perhaps that's why Meta loves this agreement.

We will have zero right to investigate these surveillance centers.

Our water and electricity are the lifeblood of our city.

Whoever signed and agreed to this literally put all El Pasuans in danger.

It took a tiny bit of money over our right to fresh water and energy security.

They give away an 80% tax break and nine million dollars in grants for infrastructure to Meta, a billion, possibly trillion dollar company that didn't need the money in the first place.

This is absolute theft of our tax dollars.

It's a shame how Schlitterbahn Amusement Park couldn't get a tax break, but our surveillance center that is going to obliterate our water supply at 2.5 million gallons a day gets an 80% tax break.

I sure would love an 80% drop in our property taxes, but I guess that's only a gift.

Billion-dollar companies like Mediget.

This agreement will dry this city up and destroy our home values.

Everyone will have to move out of here.

Look, our lives depend on it because they will.

This is as wicked as selling the amount of air we can breathe.

This agreement might as well have been written by Meta and obviously had zero pushback by anybody who actually cares for El Paso.

Our mayor stated canceling this agreement would be only for the convenience of the city.

Convenience.

Mr.

Mayor, our water and electricity are not our convenience.

They are the lifeline of our city itself.

They are necessary for our very survival.

So what are we supposed to do when the water runs out, Mr.

Mayor?

You ultimately think clean drinking water and energy or something our city doesn't deserve.

Our city doesn't want this.

If this meeting was rightfully on a Saturday, our whole city would be here to confront you.

They would tell you to love the people of El Paso and protect us.

Put our water and energy ahead of any entity that wants to steal it and cause shortages.

Stop this 380 agreement, do it because our water and energy are non-negotiable and an absolute necessity.

They're not something we throw away to the highest bidder, or in this case, a worthless life-sucking surveillance center that will need replacing every five years.

If breaking the agreement causes a lawsuit to bring it on, that's what good lawyers are for.

The way this agreement was written, our city would have an outstanding chance of winning a case in court.

This is a predatory agreement, and any judge or jury could easily see that.

It was a blatant one-sided giveaway of our city's lifeline, our water and our energy.

If this 380 agreement isn't stopped, I propose there'd be an investigation into the people that are signing away El Paso's lifeline.

Ultimately, you do not have the right to keep this agreement when our city didn't even get a chance to turn it down.

May God deliver us from this evil in Jesus' name.

The next speaker is Margaret Gannon.

Followed by Cynthia Krauss, Bianca Marino, Joshua Dagda, Derek Heid, Liz Gonzalez, Andrea Dominguez, Jose Lopez, Jose Marino, Eric Patris, Aida Garcia.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

My name's Maggie.

I'm a resident of district two and a small business owner in District 3.

I was fortunate enough to take off time from my day job, right?

You know, small business owner and a corporate employee.

A lot of El Pasoans work really hard, and we don't have a lot of money.

We don't have a lot of resources.

And most of us don't get time off to come and sit and talk to you about our opinions.

You have meetings during the day.

You don't have meetings after hours when we can come talk to you.

So you don't actually know our opinion unless you're out in the world seeking it.

So maybe consider like some evening hours.

Anyway, I usually I'm here to demand that you vote in favor of item 37.

Usually I'd start with an emotional appeal focused on how I want to make sure my nephews have safe air to breathe and clean water to drink.

But the actions and inactions of this council have led me to believe that you care more about money than the health of working class people that live here.

Instead, I'm going to demand you or remind you and everyone else here that the uh people of El Paso are the ones who gave you power, and we have made it abundantly clear through city-held community meetings.

Our water, air quality, and absence of noise pollution is more important than any of the consequences of breaking the 380 you can think to threaten us with.

This agreement was not made in good faith.

Meta came to the table through a shell company and lied about how much money the project would cost.

We how much water they would pollute and how much gas they would burn to turn into electricity.

The project's current scale is much greater than they initially presented.

This deal was made in bad faith.

The way things stand, El Pasoans are paying for a billion dollar company with our health and our money.

I never get tax breaks as a small business owner.

Why should Meta?

Why?

Why should they be able to expand the energy use and water consumption endlessly?

Why is there no pushback?

Oh, we're gonna go from 8 billion to 10 billion.

Okay, fine, let's go for it.

Like, why aren't you pushing back against these things?

Earlier today, I heard you speak with legal counsel, and what I learned was that y'all are focused on what you can't do.

Well, what the hell can you do?

Have you explored policy to limit emissions?

Have you explored policy to limit emissions or tie the amount of water an entity is allowed to consume to the public benefit they bring?

Think outside the box.

If you're anti-data center, like you say, if you're pro-elpasoan, if you're pro-public health, what can you do to protect us now that we're in this situation?

We're here now.

I don't care about what happened before.

We're here now.

You're you have the power.

You have the power we gave you.

Represent us.

Break the agreement, protect El Paso.

If you choose not to represent the will of the people and vote in favor of item 37, we are committed to removing you from power and replacing you with people who care.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Cynthia Krause.

Cynthia Krause.

A reminder to please maintain decorum.

Refrain from clapping, cheering, or other actions that may disrupt the meeting.

Go ahead, Ms.

Krause.

Um, that was just a sound of um a meta center at midnight, the noise, pollution.

Mayor City Council, my name is Cynthia Krauss.

I'm a grandmother of eight children and the president of the Vista del Norte Estates neighborhood association.

I am also a member of the Guardians of the Desert.

I was raised in Northeast El Paso and lived here for most of my life.

I briefly lived in Riodoso during COVID until I lost my home and business to the floods.

So I decided to come back to El Paso and bought a home in 2025 that I absolutely fell in love with.

My home has great views of the Franklin Mountains on the west and the Waco Mountains on the east.

And until recently, you could hear the coyotes calling and see the Milky Way in the dark skies.

It was my retirement dream come true.

However, that dream quickly turned into my biggest nightmare.

You see, my home is located approximately 1.4 miles from the monstrosity called the Meta Data Center that was signed off in December of 2023 by a few individuals.

So you might ask why I was not informed of such when I bought my home two years later.

No discussion by anyone whatsoever, not a word of such in the contract.

Clearly, somebody should have known that this parcel of land was slated for a data center.

But that's another gripe at another time.

The residents of Vista del Norte community are pissed off, and we're rightfully so.

We want to know why we were not informed, and more importantly, not included in the decisions.

Our homes are major investments and they are our solitude.

Nobody wants to live in close proximity to a data center because they know how methetic they are.

Our new beautiful community will quickly be ridden with toxic pollutants and brackish water.

And if this is not true, then show us the facts.

If I would have known then what I know now, I would have never invested my future in this city, one that doesn't represent its residents.

It was the absolute worst decision ever made by five county commissioners, nine city council members, including the mayor, and seven members of the public service board, and of course John Borella.

They operated behind a shield of tokenism and basically dictated the fate of a million people in our area and surrounding communities like Chaparral and Juarez.

Due to these impacts, I'm now feel compelled to sell my home and relocate to a community that prioritizes natural resources and the well-being of its residents over corporate interests.

My health and the future of my grandchildren is worth whatever the cost to break this still.

Residents of El Paso and surrounding communities should not have to worry if they will wake up without water today or completely without it in 10 to 20 years.

The Northeast just recently announced a campaign to reimagine the Northeast.

Yes, thank you.

The next speaker is Bianca Marino.

Good afternoon.

Hi, my name is Bianca Marino.

I'm a mental health therapist and a resident of District 8.

And I'm here to urge you to vote yes on item 37.

I moved back to El Paso because I love my hometown.

I wanted to be closer to my family, and I want to start a family of my own.

If this data center is built, that may no longer be an option for me.

How can I raise children without clean water, without clean air?

How will I feed them if I, a taxpayer, am expected to pay for the rising utility costs that it's going to cause?

How can my children sleep with bright lights and loud noise running 24-7?

This project would push me to leave the city for somewhere where our environment and the future of our children is a priority.

We've already seen the destruction data centers cause and the degradation of the quality of life for people who live near them.

And the proposed benefits so far are nothing but hypotheticals and empty promises made by Meta with nothing to back them up.

How many jobs have we already lost to AI just in the last couple of years?

It is not a fair trade-off.

As El Pasoans and as Americans, we are tired of being lied to and taken advantage of by mega corporations.

You know we do not want this data center in our community.

You know you can get rid of it.

And we know we will vote out every single one of you who might choose to throw us under the bus for a profit.

Will you bend the knee to a trillion-dollar company's endless greed, or will you stand with the people you represent and protect life in this beloved desert city?

Thank you.

Josh will I dagger good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

My name is Josh Dak, though, and I live in District 4.

A few years ago, I had honestly given up on the dream of owning a home.

Like many millennials, I watched prices rise year after year.

And I thought it would never happen for me.

Then in 2021, my fiancee and I finally got our chance.

We bought our home, we put down roots, we started building a future here in our hometown.

When we bought that house, we thought we were investing in a neighborhood, a community.

We didn't think we were buying a front row seat to an industrial complex.

Now we're being told that a massive data center and a gas plant could be built just a short distance from where we live.

And I have to ask if this project is such a great deal.

Why are the people who have to live right next to it the ones that are having to sacrifice everything?

The residents of District 4 are being asked to accept more noise, more traffic, more pollution.

And the risk that the biggest investment of our lives or home could lose value.

Because let's be honest, if you were looking to buy a house, would you choose the one that is right next to a gas plant and the data center?

This isn't about technology.

This isn't about Meta.

It's about whether the people who are already live here matter.

I am asking that you vote in favor of item 37, stand with the residents who trusted the city enough to build their lives here.

Stand with the families who will live with consequences of this decision long after the headlines are gone.

And if you you choose not to listen, many of us will remember in November when it's time to vote.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Andrea Dominguez.

Good afternoon.

Hello.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Alright.

Good afternoon.

My name is Andrea Dominguez.

I recently moved back to El Paso because I love this city.

I love my community and I want to see it thrive.

I want my son to have a future here.

And I want to have a future here.

I'm here to tell you what countless others have already done.

To tell you that this data center brings nothing good to this community.

It brings environmental destruction, pollution, a future water crisis, and increased utility costs for the residents of El Paso.

They tried to sell us on the vision by promising high-paying jobs.

I remember this.

And I'm here to tell you that that's not the reality.

We've already heard a bit about that.

As someone who has worked in technology for over a decade and understands how data centers work, they're not big job creators.

Permanent data center jobs are limited and increasingly automated.

For those few on-site jobs, there are basically no guarantees that meta will hire locally.

Most tech companies operate.

The reality is they're mega corporation.

Everyone said it, but I have to say it again.

They do not need tax breaks.

City Council, please vote yes on item 37.

We will be watching, as everyone's been saying, we'll remember come election time, whether it's this year or in the future, we'll still remember.

And in fact, if if you guys um vote, we will remember as well, and you have your community's backing through what could be, you know, potentially messy few years.

Um, I wanted to add also that uh I think it's interesting that everyone's really harping on the cost of litigation, but I I I remember when the arena stuff was happening.

The city had no qualms about spending millions of dollars on that.

And let's be real, this is way more important than the arena ever was.

So if if we're gonna misspend money, I mean it sounds like we don't have good options, right?

If we're not gonna have good options, let's try to do what's right for the people that live here that want to live here for the long term and that don't want to leave um their hometown.

So um a lot of other thoughts.

I only have 44 seconds left.

But I do want to point out something that I've observed, um, that pretty much everyone who's speaking out on behalf of item 37 seems to be here of their own accord.

We're sacrificing our time.

I definitely had to make uh a lot of changes to my day to make it work.

Um, and I from what I've seen so far, the people that are pro uh data center are getting paid to be here.

I don't know.

No, but I just want to make I mean there's conflict of interest, right?

Let's make sure we give her her time to speak.

Um so just keep that in mind like who's actually sacrificing because they care versus who is just here to you know beyond company uh time.

So, anyways, thank you.

Thank you, Jose Lopez.

The next group of speakers will be Aida Garcia, Taylor Morrill, Ana Puentes, and Helica Rodriguez.

Go ahead, Mr.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon, city council and mayor.

I am an undergraduate student at Utah.

I just completed my first academic year.

Uh I'm already uncertain about paying for health and car insurance.

My mom and I have to keep worrying about cutting our spending because we're barely making enough to pay rent at the end of the month and then still worry about groceries and gas.

I don't think I'm alone and feeling this way.

I think that real passuins are losing our economic freedom.

We gave you our say as a representatives to defend and improve this freedom.

But historically, some of your statements, choices, and lack of transparency doesn't reflect that, such as the deal in December of 2023, when it was blindly decided to cut taxes, not for us constituents that are that contribute to this city and are a part of it, but for a multinational trillion dollar corporation that, as you should know by now, is a parasite to people and community.

The worst part, some of you are telling us with a sad face that can't fix it.

You're gonna have to live with it now, or that we don't know.

We will not take that for an answer.

We're disenfranchised, we don't believe you.

Mayor, we don't want the political statement from you.

And take action.

Protect the 99% of people, not the one percent who manipulates working people against their own interest.

See through the empty threats, empty inhumane threats of the borderplex alliance.

Let democracy speak and hold you accountable.

Approve item 37, pressure city attorney to negotiate a fair deal for the common folk of El Paso.

That is no data centers.

Thank you.

Thank you.