El Paso City Council Meeting – July 21, 2026: Proclamations, Public Comments, and Crypto Kiosk Regulations
El Paso City Council Meeting – July 21, 2026
The El Paso City Council convened on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 10:07 AM in Council Chambers, presided over by Mayor Renard Johnson. The meeting included four proclamations, public comments on multiple agenda items, consent agenda approval, and discussion on several items including cryptocurrency kiosk regulations and council electronic device usage. The meeting adjourned at 12:21 PM.
Proclamations
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 36th Anniversary – The council recognized July 26, 2026, as the 36th anniversary of the ADA. Community members spoke in support of continued protections, including access to housing, attendant care, and education. Speakers included a resident who shared her personal experience living independently with community supports, a representative of the blind community, and Estela Reyes Lopez from Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe. They urged the council to protect ADA rights against threatened federal cuts.
- Restoring and Beautifying Smeltertown Day – July 21, 2026, was proclaimed in recognition of volunteer efforts led by Willie Cordero and Carlos Romero to restore the Smeltertown Cemetery, including building over 1,000 crosses, achieving a Texas State Historical Marker in 2023, and involving Rotary clubs and community volunteers.
- Life-Saving Actions at Armijo Aquatic Center – The council recognized seven lifeguards and staff (Kenneth Morita, David Montes, Jacob Baxter, Mateo Ramirez, Regina Acosta, Alan Banuelos, and Kalani Kituwa) who performed CPR and used an AED on an unresponsive infant on April 20, 2026, saving the child’s life. They received the American Red Cross Life Saving Award.
- Viva El Paso Month – July 2026 was proclaimed as Viva El Paso Month, celebrating the 49th season of the outdoor musical at McKelligon Canyon Amphitheater. The artistic director noted the show has attracted over one million visitors since 1978.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously with a revision: Item 30 was deleted per the Capital Improvement Department. The motion passed 7-0 (Representative Boyartrejo absent).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 6 (Board Appointment to Animal Shelter Advisory Committee): Pierre Andre Uzaraga spoke in favor of Ron Como for the committee and proposed federal legislation for animal and insect protection.
- Item 20 (Crypto Kiosk Consumer Protections): Liliana Mireles (AARP Texas) and Lisa Turner spoke in support. Mireles cited FBI data: Americans lost over $16 billion to fraud in 2024, and in 2025, 1,200 Texans lost $56.8 million through crypto ATM scams. She called for warnings and a 15-second digital pause. Turner urged a ban, calling crypto kiosks part of a criminal enterprise.
- Item 24 (Cell Phone/Device Prohibition on Dais): Ron Como and Lisa Turner criticized council members for using phones during public comment, stating it showed disrespect. Turner recalled a previous policy where phones were placed in a box.
- Call to the Public (13 speakers): Topics included opposition to abortion, requests for handicap access ramps, high electricity bills (El Paso Electric), affordable child care, support for a local restaurant owner arrested by ICE, opposition to removing the dog pond at Ascarate Park, animal shelter capacity concerns, mental health and disability rights, raw milk testing, alcohol breathalyzer proposals, support for a youth football camp, transparency concerns, data center opposition, and a complaint about PSB releasing private renter information to a third-party insurance agent.
Discussion Items
- Item 15 (Ordinance Introduction): Approved unanimously.
- Item 16 (Property Conveyance): Approved – sale of a surplus lot at Auburn and Delta for $49,000 to Flor Maria Chacon.
- Item 17 (Special Permit for Governmental Use): Approved – repurposing former Bonham Elementary School (7024 Cielo Vista Drive) into a new Regional Command Center. The Cielo Vista Neighborhood Association supported the project.
- Item 18 (Special Privilege License): Approved – allowing existing encroachments (sign, exhaust fans, backflow preventers) at 1125 Texas Avenue for the Wiley Condominium Association. The issue was discovered during a vacation request; the current owners did not build the encroachments.
- Item 19 (Quit Claim Deed): Approved – conveying property to Miguel Gallo.
- Item 24 (Prohibit Cell Phone/Device Use on Dais): Representative Limon moved to approve, but there was no second; the motion died. The council noted that existing rules of order already prohibit such use. Mayor Johnson stated he would enforce the rules.
- Item 20 (Crypto Kiosk Consumer Protections): Approved unanimously. The council directed the city attorney to prepare an ordinance requiring clear, conspicuous bilingual warnings and interactive digital disclosures at all cryptocurrency ATMs in El Paso. The ordinance aims to combat fraud targeting seniors and other vulnerable residents.
- Item 21 (District 8 Discretionary Funds – Segundo Barrio Block Party): Approved – $10,000 for the community block party.
- Item 22 (District 8 Discretionary Funds – Plaza Classic Film Festival): Approved – $1,800 for the filmmakers brunch.
- Item 23 (District A Discretionary Funds – Fire Station 22 Furniture): Approved – $2,000 for outdoor furniture.
- Item 25 (Security Guard Services Contract): Approved – three-year contract to Tricore Security for $1,958,130.
- Item 26 (High Density Mineral Bond Contract): Approved 7-2-1 (Representative Nino voted nay) – $1,556,203 to Anale Construction Inc. for street preservation on 66 miles of roads in District 5 (PCI 80+). Representative Limon expressed concern about lower-PCI streets in other districts.
- Item 27 (Caterpillar Parts and Service): Approved – five-year contract to Wagner Equipment Company for $5,250,000 for landfill equipment maintenance.
- Item 28 (Traffic Management Center Phase 4 & 5): Approved – $5,471,129.26 to Economite Systems.
- Item 29 (Infill Development Incentive – 903 Park Street): Approved – $15,988 incentive package for a new triplex in Segundo Barrio (three residential units). The developer will not live on site; units will be rented and may accept Section 8 vouchers.
- Item 31 (Fire Station #3 Renovation): Approved – $2,765,753.92 to Belize Construction for renovation of the 96-year-old station at 721 East Rio Grande. Work includes exterior improvements, interior upgrades, and a new decontamination room. Construction summer 2026 to summer 2027.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved unanimously with one revision.
- Item 24 (cell phone ban) died for lack of a second; existing rules remain.
- Item 20 (crypto kiosk warnings) passed unanimously; ordinance to be drafted.
- Item 26 (street preservation) passed 7-2-1; Representative Nino voted nay.
- All other discussion items passed unanimously.
- The meeting adjourned at 12:21 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Well, good morning, everyone, and welcome to City Council Chambers. Miss Prime, we are ready to go to work. Yes, sir. Good morning, and welcome to the presentation of the mayor's proclamations. We begin this morning with a Pledge of Allegiance. And to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, we have students from Glen Cove Elementary School. At the invitation of City Representative Deanna Maldonado Rocha, we have Santiago Pedrosa and Natalie Pedrosa. Representative. Thank you, Mayor. Good morning. Come on up, welcome. Whereas on July 26, 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed into law, the Americans with Disability Act, ADA, to ensure civil rights of people with disabilities, promising equal opportunity and public accommodations, employment, transportation, government, and telecommunications. Whereas generations of Americans and El Pasoans with disabilities have improved our communities in countless ways, refusing to accept the world as it is and have worked to continue to tear down the barriers that prohibit people from fully realizing the American dream. These past tireless efforts lead to the enactment of the American with Disabilities Act, one of the most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation in our nation's history. Whereas our family, members, friends, neighbors, colleagues, business, and civil leaders. Since the passing of ADA, persons with disabilities are living fuller lives in the community with increased opportunity and access. Whereas the City of El Paso, Texas affirms the principles of equality and inclusion for people with disabilities as set forth by the state of Texas as embodied in the ADA, the ordinance of the City of El Paso will continue to work with local organizations, constituents to bring forth and promise of hope and freedom to envision by the ADA as law. Whereas the ADA has expanded opportunities for Americans with disabilities by reducing barriers and changing perceptions and increasing full participation in community life. However, the full promise of the ADA will only be reached if we remain committed to continuing our efforts towards its full implement, and whereas numerous organizations in the city of El Paso and throughout the state of Texas with constituents and communities to bring forth the promise of hope and freedom that is envisioned by the passage of the ADA. And whereas the City of El Paso strives to meet ADA compliance by ensuring persons with disabilities have access to community-based services that allow people to lead full and independent lives in our communities of their choosing. Whereas on July 26, 2026, the El Paso community will celebrate the 36th anniversary of Americans with Disability Act with a press conference and community gathering. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the Mayor and Council of the City of El Paso, celebrating and recognizing the progress that has been made and reaffirming the principles of equality inclusion and recommitting our efforts to full ADA compliance. Hi, good morning. Because I live in my own home with um community support. Um just to get dressed and shower and get out the door to come here today. And um allow me to to be here with you today. Um that dream was also realized when I was able to go to school, um go to college and go to work. I've been able to work out in the community as a person that was able to help um with answering phones uh with the natural service uh as well as doing other things in the community and without those supports, um I wouldn't be able to do any of it. And I'm 51 years old, so I've been able to experience life outside of El Paso with traveling and and doing all of these things that we wouldn't be able to do without the ADA in place. But yet um suddenly these things are still threatened like Substance 504, which allows students with disabilities to be able to be in the regular classroom as well as accessible um equipment and excuse me and doctors' offices. Those are the things that our current administration is threatening to take away, and that would not allow for us to live with the freedoms we currently have. So that's my experience, and I really appreciate the fact that you're willing to listen to my story today. Awesome. I represent the blind people of Alpha So, and I very much thank you for the wonderful proclamation. Is anyone else want to come up and introduce themselves? Good morning. Good morning. Sorry. Um good morning, Mayor City Council. We want to thank you all for uh once again um the proclamation for the Americans with Disabilities Act. And as Duran was saying, uh, we're looking forward not only for the commitment of the dream of the ADA, which that was established years ago, but we would also like an active city council that's gonna protect um the ADA and what the ADA means as far as accessibility in different types in different areas of our lives. Right now they're threatening a lot of laws that are um that protect our civil rights, and we would love um if our city council backs people with disabilities here in El Paso when all these um types of uh when all these cuts to these different legislations are happening, um, that you all stand up for us and say we want an accessible PASO. Um we're not willing to go backwards. We're wait we're we're needing to move forward. We need more affordable, accessible, integrated housing for people to live in the community. Uh we need more attending care, we need better wages for our attendance, um, and we need uh especially in education. We need people with disabilities to get good quality education and not um be considered uh invaluable just because uh students have a uh disability. We need we need them to be able to get the adequate education that they need, and we thank you for your continued support.
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