question. >> Yes. deadline. >> It does. >> It's because one is when is called to the public. Miss Prime, we're ready to call the meeting to order. >> Yes, ma'am. Good morning. This is a meeting of the El Paso City Council for Tuesday, April 14th 2026. Mayor Prom Chavez is present and presiding in council chambers along with representative Alonado Rocha, Representative Nino, Alternate Mayor Prom Fero, Representative Lemon, Representative Canales, Representative Boy Treco. 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 thank you for the opportunity to come and pray for this council and for the community. It's always a highlight of my calendar. That being said, please join me in your faith tradition as I pray in my own. Gracious God, we pause for just a moment in the middle of a busy agenda to remember why we're here. This room holds decisions that don't just live on paper. They shape neighborhoods. They shape families and futures. And so we ask for something simple but also not easy. We ask for wisdom. The kind that listens more than it speaks. The kind that looks past headlines and looks into real lives. Lord, in a border community like ours, we we feel everything a little more closely. We feel the strain when resources seem tight. Water, energy, even opportunity. We feel the weight of decisions that ripple across communities on both sides of a line drawn on a map. And we feel the human side of it all. men, women, and children navigating uncertainty, hoping for safety, dignity, and a chance to build something better. So today, we ask for clarity in the middle of complexity, courage in the face of competing pressures, and above all, a spirit of of servant leadership. remind us that leadership isn't about winning arguments. It's about serving people. Not just the loudest voices, but also the quiet ones. Not just today's needs, but tomorrow's consequences. Give these leaders steady hands and open hearts. Help them to steward what has been entrusted to them wisely, fairly, and with compassion. And for all of us, Lord, keep us mindful that we share more than borders. We share responsibility. And we ask all of this in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Thank you. That brings us to public comment on agenda items for those people that signed up to speak at 10:00 a.m. The first person is Carlos Science. He signed up to speak on item number 14 on the consent agenda. Carlos science >> and item 14 is the solicitation of public health accreditation consultant to ascendant healthcare advisors. >> Good morning ladies and gentlemen. I'm here basically for the YMCA >> and the wellbeing. >> No, Mr. SC are you the Carlos signs that signed up to speak about the solicitation on the agenda item 14? >> Uh yes. I guess it's the health also. >> It's the this is this is the time to speak regarding the solicitation of public health accreditation consultant. >> Yes, it's combined >> it it's just for this item right now. >> Yes, ma'am. The health issue. Is that what I'm looking at? >> Yes. >> The quality of life, the health issues in the northeast combined with the closure of what? The YW.C.A. >> Okay. So >> the YM >> this item >> this item sir is number 14 and it's a solicitation. >> Yeah. The contract well >> I'm led to believe this is the contract for the wellbeing of El Paso. Is that correct or am I wrong uh service public health welfare? So this is also part of the contract if we can have these people also look at uh what's going on in Northeast and not let us out by that keeping us out because this also uh referring to the YMC and the public health and the well-being of our elderly, our kids and uh in general the quality of life for the whole Northeast from Five Points all the way to Chapperel that's tens of thousands of elderly kids, moms, dads That's the whole nine yards. Okay. So, I I strongly suggest to this company in the contract to take a hard look in the northeast area for us. And basically, that's all I have to say at this. I have another one that I need to talk into which consists of the YMCA again. Thank you very much for listening to me. >> The next speaker is Joe Goodenrath. Mr. Goodra signed up to speak on item 23 and item 23 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title 12 vehicles in traffic. Do >> you want me to address 32 as well? >> And he also signed up to speak on item 32 which is a memorandum of understanding with the city of El Paso and the downtown deck plaza foundation. >> Good morning Mayor Prom, city council, city staff. Again, Joe Gutenreth with the I'm the executive director of the downtown management district as well as a member of the Deck Plaza Foundation Board. Pulling double duty today in terms of items 23 and 32. First 23 regarding the creation of the electronically operated parking control systems section of city code and the means for issuing parking citations by mail. The DMD views our parking and rideway spaces as resources meant to support the operation and usage of our downtown. To accommodate the variety of needs and users, professional strategies and effective management practices must be put into place. I want to thank Steve Alvarado and Paul Stresso for supporting and pursuing these objectives. That said, as a parking system, we we always must realize that as we change one aspect, we should recognize that there will be impacts throughout the system and always work to maintain a balance within the system to support enhance and enhance system usage. For example, we have people who park illegally in alleys. It's a it's a problem within the downtown. Most likely, these are part-time employees or servers in our restaurants and food and beverage venues, residents or visitors. While we pursue enhanced enforcement of this violation, the parking system must also anticipate and accommodate where these parkers will go and attempt to balance our system. In short, we must enhance enforcement uh but also enhance the accommodation so that we don't discourage users from coming downtown at all. I look forward to working with Steven Paul to support our parking users, maximize the usage of resources, and maintain a balanced system that provides accommodation options and opportunities for the variety of users downtown. Lastly, as we work to improve the professional management of our systems, I must also ask that parking revenues be removed from the general fund and maintain for parking uh enhancements and the overall areas within within and around where we collect parking revenues. Second, with my last minute item 32 regarding theou between the city, the county, and the deck plaza foundation. First, I stand by in front of you inspired by the vision and cooperation by the city, the county, and the private sector surrounding the pursuit of this once in a generation opportunity for our community. This community has seen too many opportunities passed by because we could not work together for a common cause. Our governments are constantly being challenged by various pressures and externalities that impact budgets, burden our community, and threaten our quality of life. The answer to these challenges will not be solved without taking actions that will improve our long-term trajectory. We have seen the impact of deck parks across the country. These projects have proven to reconnect communities, drive infill development, and provide amazing community spaces for entire community to enjoy. We can achieve those benefits and enjoy them for years to come. I encourage you to support theou and help us implement that project. Thank you very much. Also speaking regarding item 32, theou is Leila Mayorga, Leila Mayorga followed by Himea Guerrero and followed by Joshua Ruiz. Good morning. You have three minutes. Good morning, council. My name is Laya Mayorga and I'm a resident of district 5 as well as a student at UTEP. I'm here today to respectfully ask for your guys' support in approving theou between the city of El Paso, El Paso County, and the downtown Deck Plaza Foundation. This agreement brings together public partners at every level along with private philanthropy to make this project financially possible and sustainable for long term. Tex DOT will move forward with the reconstruction of I 10 in downtown El Paso with or without this project. And this is a once- in a generation opportunity to reclaim over 6 acres of space and turn it into something that serves our community instead of dividing it. Beyond that, this project makes strong economic sense. The deck plaza is expected to generate nearly $1 billion in economic activity, bring over a million new visitors to downtown each year, and support long-term job creation. It will also encourage new housing and business development, which expands our tax base and helps reduce the burden on residential taxpayers. On a personal level, this means a lot to me. I have many family members who visit from a smaller border town called Del Rio, Texas, and I wanted to be able to show them where I grew up and feel proud of the city I call home. I want them to see a downtown that is vibrant, welcoming, and full of life. Lastly, I'm also the older sister of two younger siblings. One of them is nine and seven. And I often think about the kind of experiences I want them to have. I want a place where I can take them on the weekends to be active, spend time outdoors, enjoy being kids instead of staying inside the house with their tablet screens with nothing to do. This project is about investing in the future of El Paso, strengthening our economy, improving quality of life, and creating a space that bring brings our community together. I understand that I'm young, but I do understand how money works, that things cost money, that things can be expensive, but I do know the meaning of a dollar, and how much work that this will take to do. But I really appreciate your guys' consideration with the decision, and I appreciate your time and leadership. Thank you. The next speaker is Himea Guerrero. >> Himea Guerrero will be followed by Joshua Ruiz, Carlos Science, Ricardo Mora, and Manny Rodriguez. Good morning. >> Good morning. Good morning, Mayor Prom and Council. My name is Hima Guerrero. I am a resident of the Far East and I am here in strong support of item 32. Today, I want to talk not just about connection, but about having a place at the table. Because right now, for many people across El Paso, especially young people, it can feel like we're not always included in shaping the future of our own city. And what we're missing isn't talent or ambition. It's a clear shared vision for where we're going and how we're going to get there. Projects like the Deck Plaza are about more than infrastructure. They're about deciding who gets to be a part of that future. They're about creating a space where people from every part of the city feel like they belong. It's about being represented and like they have a stake in what's being built. I also want to recognize the level of collaboration behind this project. It's not easy to bring together the city, county, state, and federal partners and private philanthropy, but that kind of coordination is exactly what real progress requires. It shows that we are capable of thinking bigger and working together towards a shared goal. And I understand that with any project of this scale, there are valid concerns about cost and responsibility. But I don't believe that physical responsibility and forwardinking investment are opposites. We can and should do both. We can manage a healthy, responsible budget while still investing in projects that generate long-term economic growth, attract opportunity, and improve quality of life for our residents. In fact, that's exactly how we build a stronger, more sustainable city. Because when downtown thrives, the entire city benefits. It creates economic activities, supports local businesses, and gives people, especially young professionals, a reason to stay and build their lives here. It's also about connection in a very real physical way. For decades, IT 10 has divided our neighborhoods. This is a chance to do something different, to create a space that brings people together instead of reinforcing that divide. This is a once in a generation opportunity, not just to build infrastructure, but to define what kind of community we want to be. I urge you to support this agreement and help move El Paso forward together. Thank you so much for your time and for your leadership. The next speaker is Joshua Ruiz. Joshua Ruiz, if you're in the queue, star six, please to unmute your telephone. Joshua Ruiz star six to unmute your telephone. >> I don't see that phone number in the queue. Oh, there there he is. Go ahead, Mr. Ree. You have three minutes. You're back on mute. Star six, please, to unmute your telephone. Joshua Ree. Okay, go ahead. You have three minutes. You're back on mute. I think his call dropped. I'll come back to him. Uh we'll move on with Carlos Science. He also signed up to speak on item 32, the memorandum of understanding with a deck plaza. >> He will be followed by Nadia onto one. >> Go ahead. This is item 32. Yes, ma'am. >> Let's start again with the YMCA service. >> Sir, this is this is item 32. This is the deck plaza item. Please limit your comments just to that item at this time. >> Okay, here we go. Deck plaza. >> And can you please speak into the microphone so we can hear you? >> Thank you. >> The deck plaza. City of El Paso has spent $75,000 on the deck plaza. $1 million on a bond supposed to be that us the taxpayers are going to be paying for which again I go back again the city of El Paso or us taxpayers do not really want. If you guys are going to do something we'll put it up to a vote on the deck plaza. Let the city decide because this all this money that's being given to the deck plaza out of general funds without asking us is in my view very improper. No matter what the pol politics might be and everything else. you should be more concerned in reference to what our community in the northeast and other communities around El Paso and wasting this money on the deck plaza is no good. And a lot of us disagree, a lot of us as taxpayers disagree on the deck plaza. So if you guys are going to waste any more money or propose any more money, put it to the vote to the citizens of El Paso, not make decisions for us because it's our money. And this connects to again back again to the YW.CA. CA. >> Okay. All is connects to our communities, our city, our people. So, please put it to a vote. Let the citizens of El Paso decide, not you guys, the citizens of El Paso. The Commissioner Court made a decision yesterday and I'm led to believe you guys have the final decision on spending millions of dollars again when our budget is very low. But again, I go back. YMCA needs help from you guys. the northeast from Five Points all the way to Chapparel. That's the only thing we have other than the parks and recreation that the swimming pools are all closed because of repairs and everything else. But more than anything, more than anything, our elderly people like the YMCA because it has a warm pool for our therapy. Okay? Because we cannot be jumping around young kids, young folks jumping out lower being happy and us trying to swim and we can't. That's the bottom line. Plus, it provides us with the warm pool, the sauna for our bodies, for arthritis, for our medical issues, and they're closing it down. And you guys are investing 75,000, $1 million to the deck plaza. Come on, people. You guys can do a lot better, a lot better than what you guys are designing. I don't know who's pulling your buttons, but you got no reason to invest so much money on this puppy. It's a pipe dream because at the end, you're also going to ask us a 5050 for the entrepreneurs that want to invest and us taxpayers going to pay another 50% into it. So, did you ask us do we want this? >> Thank you, Mr. Signs. You've reached the three minutes. >> Thank you. And I'll respectfully ask the audience I'll respectfully ask the audience to refrain from clapping or disrupting the meeting so we can all hear what the speaker is saying and to maintain decorum in the chambers. The next speaker is Nadia Antoan. Nadia Antoan star six please to unmute your telephone. Nadia Antoan star six please to unmute your telephone. I don't see that phone number in the queue. The next speaker is Ricardo Mora. Mr. Mora will be followed by Manny Rodriguez. >> Good morning. You have three minutes. >> Hi. Good morning. Good morning. Uh, Mayor Proam and city council, my name is Ricardo Mora, president and CEO of the El Paso Chamber. I'm here today in support of item number 32, the approval of a nonbinding memorandum of understanding related to the I 10 downtown deck plaza. From the structural and governance standpoint, thisou is prudent and necessary step forward. It establishes a coordinated framework between the city of El Paso, El Paso County, and the downtown Deck Plaza Foundation for the planning, design, and funding and potential operation of the project. It also ensures alignment with text downtown reconstruction timeline, which is critical. The opportunity to incorporate structural future proofing elements must occur during text construction window. Without this step, the ability to advance the project in the future becomes significantly more limited. Importantly, this agreement is non-binding. It does not commit the city to fund, construct, or operate the project. It is only a memorandum of understanding. Any future obligations will require separate agreements and formal approval by this body. From the perspective of the El Paso Chamber of Commerce, this project directly aligns with our mission. The chamber unites government, community leaders, and community advocates to champion innovation in our community to have sustainable prosperity all across the El Paso region. So, we believe in this. This will strengthen our business environment, position El Paso for long-term growth. This is not simply an infrastructure project. It is an economic development project for our community. Investments in connectivity, public space, and downtown revitalization have a measurable impact on business activity. They increase foot traffic, support small businesses, attract private investment, and enhance our ability to recruit and retain more talent in our community. As our region continues to grow and compete for new industries and workforce, quality of place matters. Projects like this help define how we compete, not just regionally, but nationally. The structure outlined in this memorandum of understanding reflects a disciplined approach to advancing that opportunity. The project is phased. A long-term operations are structured and a nonprofit-led model. In summary, item number 32 does not finalize the project. It creates a structured conditional pathway to elevate the advance and its responsibility while preserving a time-sensitive opportunity tied to the I 10 reconstruction. For these reasons and in alignment with our mission to advance economic growth in our region, I respectfully encourage you to support item number 32. Thank you. >> The next speaker is Manny Rodriguez. Manny Rodriguez. >> He will be followed by Joshua Ruiz. >> Good morning. >> Hi. Good morning, uh, Mayor Protemp and Council. My name is Manny Rodriguez, government affairs manager with the El Paso Chamber. I'm also here in support of item 32 and would like to use my time this morning to highlight several key technical elements of the memorandum of understanding. First, this is explicitly a um first, this is explicitly a non-binding agreement. It does not obligate the city to fund or deliver the project. All future phases will require separate agreements and formal approval by city council. Second, the focus of this agreement is on future proofing uh infrastructure. This includes structural elements uh such as support columns, widened walls, and life safety accommodations that must be incorporated during Tex Dot's I10 reconstruction. If these elements are not included now, the ability to develop a deck plaza in the future becomes significantly more challenging and costly as well. Third, theou establishes a nonprofitled operating model. The downtown deck plaza foundation is responsible for private fundraising and long-term operations. Uh and the city retains oversight and flexibility including the ability to adjust the operator model if necessary as well. Fourth, the agreement includes clear financial safeguards phased and subject to approval. Progression beyond early phases is contingent on secured funding from state or federal sources and demonstrated financial capacity. Finally, timing is critical to remain aligned with Tex's construction schedule. Funding agreements related to future proofing must be executed within the required time frame. This memorandum of understanding positions the city to meet those deadlines while maintaining full control over future decisions. In short, item 32 establishes a framework, not a final commitment, one that protects public resources while preserving a significant infrastructure opportunity. We respectfully encourage encourage you to support this item. Thank you for your consideration this morning and for your time. >> The next speaker is Joshua Ruiz. Joshua Ruiz, star six, please to unmute your telephone. Hello. >> Good morning. You have three minutes. >> Hi. Good morning. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes, sir. >> Hello. Good morning. Good morning. Um uh I'm a resour representative uh representative boy. Um and I just wanted to take this moment for uh um it's funny to say that um this is a moment for leadership. It's about think it's about thinking beyond today and asking what we want our city to look like in five or 10 years even 15 years. The Deck Plaza is more than a park. It's an investment. Okay? It's an investment in our future with nearly $1 billion dollar in projected econ econ economic activity. If we want to stay competitive and continue attracting investment to El Paso, we need to step up and move projects like this forward. Tried Warren Park in Dallas is a perfect example of what's possible. It's be it's became uh a catalyst for a new development, investment, and energy in the heart of the city. Let's attract more investment into our downtown. Let's fill and renovate those empty buildings. I respectfully ask you and city council to vote yes on item 32. Thank you. >> The next speaker is Nadia Antoan. Nadia Antto1 star six please to unmute your telephone. Good morning. You'll have three minutes. >> Good morning. I I'm just calling in to um voice my opposition to the guest plaza. I understand this is more of a um a discussion point between the entities that are involved. And while I understand that you might go forward anyway, I just want you to understand the perception of the public of the general public of how frustrating it is when we don't feel heard and how um how insulting that is to the rest of us. I understand that you have your supporters, your campaign contributors, but we are the citizens of El Paso City and we when we speak, we want to be heard as well. Of course, that sometimes has to be in waiting and and when it's time to vote, but it's just very insulting when most of us here that don't have any benefit to this um don't want it and still is getting pushed down our throat. I want you to understand how corrupt it seems to us listening to this pro project and how it comes off as how ugly it is because it doesn't seem like a sincere true progressive um uh project. It just seems to be something you're forced to take on because of the campaign contributors that you have that you are adhering to and that you have to pay back. And so I just want you to understand how um displeased we are citizens and how frustrated we feel and how we are probably not very supportive of you anymore when we keep hearing you support a project that none of us are interested in. It's something that seems to be just a a big money money uh to it doesn't seem to have an end. And I want to point out to all of those that are in favor and listening and supporting that there's no parking for this structure. This structure has no parking. What is it going to take to have parking for the structure? It's going to take even more money and likely eminent domain, which means even more expensive um areas around there that we'd have to take on and pay for. And so that's an additional expense. It's not even part of the assessment as of right now. So how do you have an event space with no parking available? Already downtown has no parking. Now you want to have an event space with no parking. Don't don't tell us lies. We see it and we're sick of it and it feels like it's very corrupt. Thank you. That brings us to call to the public. The El Paso City Council is a local government body charged with serving the citizens and the meetings must be focused on the meeting at charge. The city council meetings are public meetings under the Texas Open Meetings Act. Public comment on items not on the agenda is an accommodation and not a requirement of city council. All persons in attendance are expected to display civility and decorum that is respectful to other persons without the use of insulting profane threatening or abusive language. Public comment will not be used for personal attacks against a person or group's character or integrity. Nor may any member of the public use this form for political statements or campaigning. Please note that during call to the public, the city council may not deliberate or decide any subject that is not on the agenda. However, council may propose that a topic brought forth be posted on a future agenda. And per the rules of order, 60 minutes will be allotted for call to the public. This morning, we have more than 20 people signed up to speak. So, each person will be getting two and a half minutes to share their comments. They can monitor their time on on this TV screens in chambers. It'll start at 2 and 1/2 minutes. When you have 30 seconds left, it'll turn to yellow. When you have five seconds left, it'll turn red. At this time, please give us your closing comment. The first speaker is Elizabeth Crawford. Miss Crawford's topic is Earth Day, the color greed, and the international abortion agenda. Miss Crawford, star six, please unmute your telephone. Good morning. You have two and a half minutes. Good afternoon. Thank you. Good morning. Um, I'd like to speak about abortion, Earth Day, and world population. April 22nd has been designated as Earth Day. One of the major concerns being targeted by Earth Day activists is the concern of overpopulation. People concerned that our world population will throttle past eight far beyond 8 billion. People have been sounding the alarm. In fact, this is the reason why the abortion lobby uses the color green. To put it bluntly, kill the babies, save the planet. Are we indeed headed to an apocalypse of devastation because of overpopulation that we must destroy babies in the womb to rectify this situation? Is this true? I've actually heard this rationale given over and over again by guys bringing their girlfriends to the abortion center. Our world is over urbanized for sure. The cities of our world are overpop populated. But over urbanization does not equate with overpopulation of our planet. Actually, a number of nations of late have sounded the alarm that their birth rates are so low their economies will be unsustainable in a decade or two because not enough young men and women are having babies. Warned in holy scripture of the tribulation, a time of fire that the world has never before seen, characterized by war, famine, disease, earthquakes. Altogether, it seems about half of the world's population will die by the accounts of scripture. We're also told in God's word that the attention of the whole world will be focused on one tiny piece, one tiny nation, piece of land, the nation of Israel. Recently read online the foulmouth comments of someone who is writing out of hatred for the conservative right, but was commenting that it's absolutely incredible how things are coming to pass as predicted in the Bible. Indeed, history is not randomly unfolding. It's all coming together for the coming of the one who is the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. Instead of rallying for abortion to save the planet, wisdom cries out to us to flee to the cross, to save our souls, to flee to the savior and fall upon his mercy, not for the temporal but for the eternal. Thank you. Hope you have a good day. Thank you. >> Thank you. The next speaker is Claudia Contra. Miss Siller's topic is clause against cruelty. She will be followed by Ron. Good morning. >> Hello. Good morning. So this month uh we're fighting animal cruelty. That's why I'm wearing a orange ribbon. Animal service has been fighting animal cruelty this month very hard. They have been doing a lot of events. CL against cruelty is the theme of this month. I took b I have this sign I borrowed. It says 10,300 plus kittens have been entered the shelter. Please help us save them. save the kittens ep.com. And this is why I'm here, the kittens, because um we have a lot of dog lovers, a lot of dog advocates, but like the people that we love the cats, we need to be more vocal. And I am very thankful with animal services that they did the media kickoff about the media, I'm sorry, the animal cruelty um theme. And also I want to give thanks to the news and everybody that reported those events and those are the kind of events we need to push for our animals. A lot of animal cruelties happening. So a week ago I deal with three three liter of kittens. Two were dead, one died on me, one I had to put to sleep and two were sick, three made it. So we need to really push and be their voice. Also, it's cadence season. They did a kitten shower. They explain about the TNR and we as independent can do a lot. I am independent and I have TNR a lot a lot of cats and I really really appreciate what what animal services is doing. They give us a bag. Uh please get a light orange light this month. And also, since I'm already talking about animal cruelty, I want to say that people are killing our pigeons. They're selling them to get shot. And it's not the right thing to do. 1,200 pigeons every two weeks. It's a disgrace. And I want to send a message to the people that are doing business with our pigeons as in rasa vermal. Get a real job. Don't be getting our birds to be shot for pig food or for your crazy stuff. And also I want to say I love the police department and I back the blue 100%. A shout out to the animal cruelty unit and be their boys and I'm going to mention it again. Clause against cruelty. Thank you. Fit from wild cat offense. Check the popins. We're in the building. Thank you >> Miss Prime. >> Miss Crime. Oh Miss Lemon. I'd like to make a motion to dispense with the rules and allow the public the full three minutes that they are allowed at this meeting and every meeting. >> There's a motion and a second to suspend the rules of order. I'll take a roll call on that motion. Mayor Potmi, >> Representative I, >> Alonado Rocha, >> I trejo lemon >> I can. >> And that motion passes unanimously. So each speaker will have three minutes to address council. The next speaker is Ron Ko. Mr. Ko's topic is exercising his constitutional rights to the rescue 1983 animal services. He will be followed by Selena Serrano. It will elmo it is coming. I have to ask for >> here, sir. >> Mr. Ko, if you can give us anything you'd like to share on the ALO in advance, it would help us. >> Okay. I'm sorry. >> No worries. Thank you, sir. >> Am I fired? I go home. >> No, you still have three minutes. I'm sorry. I'll move it down. >> Oh, okay. >> Okay. Morning. Another Tuesday. Okay. This is what I've got in there is the state of Texas, its health and safety codes and regulations. It's very important because we are violating the law. Um, something that's very important on this thing is compatible and equal to or more stringent than. So, anything that we put in our title 7 has to be more stringent than or equal to. Uh the definition of stray because it's been misused for the last three years according to the health and safety code is stray means roaming in no physical restraint beyond the premises of the animals owners or keepers. That means any loose dog or cat running down the street is a stray, not an owned dog like we've been hearing for the last three years. Now you go down to number two. Each stray dog be declared a public nuisance. Number three, each unrestrained or stray dog to be detained and impounded by the local rabies control authority or the officers of the designate designate whatever that is state law. We have been violating state law since 2020. We are allowing strays to run loose unvaccinated unaltered making more strays and more disease. The other problem I have is if you remember the sign I had last week, our intake numbers show that we were just over half the intake that we had in 2019. How are we over full? How did we not have room for any more strays? Stop and think about that for a minute. 26,000 plus strays were picked up in 2019. We have an average in four years of 15,500 because we were full. I don't know about you guys, but I'm tired of hearing lies. It's time for truth. This is a picture of when we kicked the best friends uh embedded program out of our shelter. I just want to make note that one of our ASAC members is supporting Best Friends, but we all know ASAC is always supporting Best Friends. It needs to stop. Best Friends is what's caused this danger. The woman who sold our city out so that they didn't have to work so hard is the reason why we're in the position we're in now. You're breaking the law. I read it to you. You could see it. I'm not making this up. I am not lying. I did not lie and say our shelter was too full to pick up strays. The people at the shelter did. What are you going to do about it? They lied to the taxpayers. We pay for that. >> The next speaker is Selena Serrano. Miss Srano's topic is northeast community state neighbor Chaparal, New Mexico. She will be followed by Leo Aros. Good morning. My name is Delina. I am from Chopra, New Mexico. I am a sole provider of three kids. I am uh currently a junior at New Mexico State University. I'm studying civil engineering technology and I'm also recovering from three um uh multiple back surgeries due to a B9 tumor. And so I'm here today because I am wanting to just share that we are very concerned for the Northeast. I know you've been hearing this a few times today. Um, but I wanted to bring awareness about the potential closure in the Northeast YMCA of El Paso. Um, due to the lease agreement between the city and the Northeast of U, I'm sorry, the YMCA of El Paso. The YMCA, I just want to give you some background. It serves a a diverse community, including all ages, adults, seniors, and even those experiencing homelessness. Okay. So the commu the northeast community will lose a vital resource if the YMCA closes as it offers community services, free tax preparation, swimming lessons, music lessons, fitness training, job opportunities and much more that is needed in the area. Some of these programs will relocate and summer is coming up and not everyone can afford um you know going to Camp Cohen or the splash pad in Young. you know, a lot of people don't really like that with the splash pad. And so, um, I just wanted to bring to your attention because, um, the YMCA's once you become a member, you're you're you can access any YMCA in the nation. Okay? And so, the others are thriving. We're not sure why the um uh well, particularly the Northeast one is having so many issues. So, we're asking to reconsider um your decision with the lease. uh because we have many people here that are in support. Uh we have Regina here. Regina is legally blind. She uh has donated over uh $50,000 to uh the YMCA in the Northeast for the 40 years that she has been a member. And uh she has um also um offered to pay to bring other people here. Um since a lot of people are not able to bring themselves, I started online petition and so I have over 170 signatures. I have people that promo um promoted um to have this um petition um shared. Also um Mr. Science also has my um the one for the one in person. We're just asking um to help us because there's a lot going on in the northeast. A lot of kids, families that need more. When you're in the summer, if you have a pool at home, great for you. But there's u people in Northeast that are not going to have access to anything because there's three pools there and they're about to be all closed. Please help the Northeast. We need it. Thank you. >> Have a great day. Hello uh city council. Thank you for having me here. >> Sorry. Sorry. You're Leo Aros. >> Yes. Okay. >> Correct. >> You have three minutes. >> My name is Leo Aros and I'm here today as an advocate for my community. Some of you may know who I am. The purpose of my remarks is to bring attention to a critical issue that will directly harm the residents of District 4. As you all know, the YMCA announced that it will close its doors in the northeast of El Paso. Decision came as a shock not only to the community, but the entire city. After hearing the news, I took it upon myself to look beyond the headlines and seek the truth. I spoke directly with YMCA CEO Hild. Jill to request transparency and answers. During that conversation, asked several question, but three out uh stood the most. First, what is the real reason behind closing the facility that has served our community for over 60 years? Second, who is responsible for maintaining the building and how were the past funds from membership and donations managed uh to upkeep since it's their responsibility. Third, what would it take to keep the YMCA open and operating for years to come? Here's what I was told directly from the CEO. There were ongoing negotiations between the YMCA and the city of El Paso. This has not never been uh said until I discovered the truth. The initial proposal, the city required the YMCA to pay market rent value, unacceptable, >> which was not financially feasible for the organization. A second proposal reduce the rent but requiring the building again uh to be fixed on their own which is unrealistic and it's a burden. Regarding the maintenance, the CEO stated that she has only been in the position for several months and could not provide a clear answer to what happened to those funds and why the building was not properly fixed. Most importantly, she stated approximately $300,000 is needed to bring the building up to safety code. But once again, the building is grandfathered in. So I don't know where these numbers are coming from. Okay, let me fast forward cuz the time is running out. The question here is, as city council members, are you willing to work with us, the community, to keep this facility open? We need to work as a team. Don't let this be another loss. Let it be an example of what can happen when leadership listens to the voters and act. You guys have some funds that you guys can spend. District 4, Miss Tjo, you have about $80,000. I believe you can use some of that money for the community. As you can see, the community is here. And you saw the cholin earlier today. They go to that Y. So act and keep it open. Continue the lease for $1. Stop trying to make money off a nonprofit organization. Thank you. >> Thank you. The next speaker is Carlos Science. >> The next speaker is Carlos Science followed by Julia Curtain, Wesley Lawrence, Ivan Rosales, Jessica Kell. >> Carlos Science. All right, I'm back again, folks. Sorry, I'm not a politician. So, with all respect, I'm not trying to insult anybody, okay? So, don't take it personal. The fact of the matter, just my friend, nobody was telling you it's all true. Now, we go back YMCA lease it for a dollar. You guys were making the city, not you guys personally, okay? Wasn't really making any money off of it to begin with. And then, which was a dollar. So you guys or somebody can rent it for a dollar again, which will bring the initial cost down and be able to for the CEO or whatever to be able to uh rent it and and not close it. That what it boils down to. And if the building needs repairs, like my friend just said, you guys have money. You can pump some money into this building to bring it back into par so we can use it and we don't have all this stuff going on. Okay. So, I really appreciate it because in retrospect, I'm going back to the duck br the duck plaza. It's a pipe dream, brothers. It is a real pipe dream. You're hoping for this, you're hoping for that. >> Science, this is for things not on the agenda. >> Okay. Well, anyway, the money you guys can spend is for the Northeast. This applies again people all of us thousands of couples thousands of elders again from where five points all the way to chaparel that's a lot of us it's a lot of us elderlys it's a lot of us young folks and we really need your support okay so in part yeah they're connected the deck plaza and the YMCA moneywise millions deck plaza YMCA let's say a couple of mill, maybe five. They can rent it for a dollar for another 10 years, another 30 years. You didn't have the money before and now you can keep our community happy and viable. The well-being, the quality of life. Remember, you guys push quality of life. Let's step up to it for all of us elderlys to pblo. That's what we need from you guys. The other part on the egg plaza, don't vote for it. It's no good. It's a pipe dream. A lot of investors, a lot of people that are the reason I'm saying it because I heard him. They told me, "Carlos, why don't you vote for it?" And I said, "No, cuz I go for the people. I don't go for the business stuff." Okay? That in that time it was 425 million. That was 3 years ago. So, what's being put on the news is not real at all. Just just think about all how the materials cost of living has gone up. You think it's going to stay at 400 something? No, it's going to go over more than a half a billion dollars. And then the maintenance on it and the tax that we're going to have to pay for it. Not logical. Ask the people vote. Ask the ask the people to vote on this item. >> Three minutes, >> please. >> The next speaker is Julia Curtain. Miss Curtain, star six, please to unmute your telephone. Good morning. You have three minutes. >> Good morning and hello uh Mayor Port, city council members. My name is Julia Curten and I am a concerned resident of District 2, Northeast El Paso. I'm a mom. I am here on this call today to talk about the Bowling Family YMCA closure. So tragic. It is critical. I voice my strong support for the proposed solution. The solution allowing a new nonprofit to take over operations of the YMCA facility. This is a unique opportunity. It does a few great things. Number one, it addresses the city's fiscal concern. Two, listens and honors the needs of the community. three, addresses our lack of aquatic facilities in a tangible way, and four, partners with the city and creatively addresses equity concerns for the Northeast here in the city of El Paso. This nonprofit has committed to assuming all renovation costs, retaining staff, and public access, and relieving the city's substantial financial burden. The city reps talk about partnering. This is partnering the impact on seniors and families. For our senior population, this facility is literally a lifeline. I recently visited the facility following up on a community concern for 10:00 a.m. The parking lot was surprisingly full. I only got a spot because someone left. I walked into Bowling Family YMCA and the buzz and hub of old friends talking and being healthy was off the chain. I thought this can never go away. This is urgent. My daughter is a competitive swimmer. We are proud veteran sea devils. There is a lot that is embraced in that name. It changed our lives. It gave my daughter a healthy competitive outlet and swim friends. The smile on her face still brings me joy. I myself joined a triathlon team of swim moms. Me a mighty muharez. No way. But I have been training and swimming wherever we could for almost a year. It changed my health. It literally and physically changed my heart for the better. I even joined a coalition. Advocates for quality urban aquatics northeast El Paso Aqua. The word is coming. In closing, the Northeast community has lost Tobin, has lost Grand View, has lost the W.CA. And with veteran schools still under construction, we cannot lose the bowling family YMCA. Our families and youth deserve healthy hearts. They do not deserve another heartbreaking outcome. This proposal has overwhelming community support. I urge you to listen and honor the community. Reach an agreement. This facility must >> Thank you, ma'am. You've reached the three minutes. >> Thank you, Miss Curtain. Representative Taho. >> Thank you, Mayor Proip. I would I would like to suspend the the rules of order to be able to address the public and I make a motion to to address to to suspend the rules of order >> to address >> you you can address the public. >> Yes. As long as you do not deliberate or decide any subject right on that is not on the you cannot deliberate with the public or decide anything on correct a topic not on the >> agenda. Second >> thank you for >> representative. >> What is your question sir? >> No there is there is no permission to deliberate on the subject matter. address the issue if it's not a posted agenda item. >> So, the reason that call to the public is call to the public exists to allow members of the public to address the council on items that are not listed on the agenda. Under the Texas Open Meetings Act, in order for the council to deliberate, you need to have an item posted that allows the council to deliberate. I don't under I don't know what Representative Boyjo is is wanting to do. I believe that you're just seemingly wanting to make a statement. However, this is not a moment for deliberation. The public has not been given any opportunity to know that this is going to be discussed by the council >> special meeting. >> Representative Nino. >> Thank you, Mayor Po. So as long as Repjo makes a comment or statement, but the council members don't deliberate or have any feedback, that's where the deliberation aspect takes place. >> Well, it's a little bit more nuanced than that because you all are present in a quorum, right? So the deliberation happens because there's conversation happening from one member of council. Um, ma'am, I would I would recommend that you keep your statements very brief and that the council move on to another item. Would you like me to call for a vote? >> Is that there any further discussion? Okay, call it for a vote. Thank you, Miss P. >> Mayor Prom Chavez, >> Representative. >> Hi, >> Maldonado Rocha. >> Hi, Bujo. >> Hi, >> Nino. >> Hi, >> Pierro. >> If um Miss Neman saying it's appropriate and legal, I >> Lemon I can. And the motion passes unanimously. >> But she leaves herself open for discussion with the public. >> Go ahead. >> Thank you. I'll keep you brief. I just want to let everyone here who's here to speak on the why. I you know it's it's so important that you're here and I appreciate you all being here. Uh we are engaging in in in exploring opportunities for the Y and I just want to say thank you all for being here today. Thank you. >> Okay. The next speaker is Wesley Lawrence. Mr. Lawrence, star six, please to unmute your telephone. Wesley Lawrence, star six, please. Good morning. You have three minutes. >> Hello. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Perfect. Good morning, members of council and Mayor Pro Tim Chavez. I just want to thank for allowing the public to speak on such an important item uh that is impacting members of the Northeast community. Uh, since the announcement of the closure of the YMCA, my son has been off the hook. As many of you know, I'm a resident of District 4 and a community advocate specifically for the northeast of El Paso. Um, and I know that we have a great deal that is being presented um to members of council uh to save the YMCA. I want to thank Sarah and Robert Austerland for bringing their family to the forefront and doing everything they can to save the YMCA in northeast El Paso. uh even being willing to take over the massive amount of debt it would take to fix up the YMCA uh but also to make sure that it runs as a nonprofit um so that members of the community can continue to get this important resource for um not only for seniors uh but for young people as well. I want to give just a brief story about how I came to know uh the benefits of the YMCA. Uh and it was when I was involved in Boy Scouts back in my younger days. Uh it's where I got my fleemer badge. is where I teach many young people uh how to swim and how to earn their swimmer badge. Um that is a resource that without the YMCA we would not be able to have. Um to the seniors who have reached out to me, just know that this solution is going to be great for our community. It's going to allow you to continue to have a safe space in the Northeast to exercise, to socialize, uh and to really just build community. Uh I'm really excited for other opportunities that possibly can be made. I mean, I'd love to see the YMCA really turn into a community hub focused on addressing the needs that face our community. Um, things such as housing security, food insecurity, and yes, even animal welfare um needs as well, bringing a pet pantry into the YMCA, uh, or even being able to allow people to, um, you know, foster animals out of the YMCA here in the Northeast. Those are issues that many of us are worried about. When we talk about inequality, you know, for some weird reason, all the bad things continue to happen here in the Northeast. Um, and that's why many of us are always concerned with being treated like the redheaded stepchild of the city. I think that, um, at the YMCA is successfully saved, that this will really put a good um, light on the Northeast, really shining to see what the possibilities can be with this. You know, it really moved me that this family was willing to put everything on the line to fight for our seniors, to fight for our young people. You know, people like to criticize the Northeast as being an unsafe area, and I want to set the record once again that the Northeast is the safest side of El Paso. Full stop. Period. Um, continue the YMCA will allow youth to find a place where they don't have to worry about gang violence, where they don't have to worry about truency. um it'll bring them a safe space for them and their families to continue um to survive here in the next three minutes everyone for what you're doing. >> Thank you. The next speaker is Ivon Rosales. >> Ivan Rosales will be followed by Jessica Kell. Good morning. >> Good morning. My name is Ivan Rosales and I am here as a Northeast resident, a veteran Sea Devil Swim parent and a leader for Aqua Coalition, advocates for quality urban aquatics. When Veterans Pool closed last summer, Northeast El Paso was left without a public facility, forcing families, seniors, and teams to travel across the city. This wasn't just inconvenient. It highlighted how neglected our community is regarding fair access to aquatic resources, impacting everyone from children learning how to swim, adults seeking exercises, and seniors needing therapeutic recreation. That's why we formed Aqua Coalition to unite our voices and advocate for a Northeast auditorium. The Northeast is home to more than a 100,000 residents and continues to grow with thousands of new homes being built. Yet, we are expected to rely on one aging pool while other parts of the city have multiple qualic facilities and auditoriums. That disparity disparity is deeply disappointing. Our primary goal has been to secure inclusion in the city's 10-year master plan for a niatorum in the northeast. To achieve this, we have worked with various city departments and continue to collaborate with representative threo. Despite our efforts, we were informed that the city intends to prioritize maintaining existing facilities while an editorium for the northeast is viewed as a long-term aspiration dependent on future funding and demand. This decision is another devastating blow for our community since Veterans Pool is already considered renovated, leaving the Northeast excluded once again. And now, while Veterans Pool remains closed to Northeast YMCA, the last accessible pool in our area is also closing. So I ask you today, how many closures, how many setbacks, and how many lost opportunities must the Northeast endure before real action is taken? This is a viable There is a viable and immediate solution. A Northeast family is stepping forward with a nonprofit partnership to keep the YMCA facility open. Preserving jobs, maintaining essential programs, keeping silver sneakers, funding renovations through private investment, not city dollars. This is not a risk. It is a lifetime, a lifeline. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for fairness, for equity, for a chance to protect access to safe swimming health therapy opportunity for seniors, children, families, student athletes who have already lost so much. The decision before you is more than administrative. It is symbolic. It will tell the northeast whether it is seen value. Thank you, Miss Ros. >> Thank you. The next speaker is Jessica Kell. Miss Cal, star six, please to unmute your telephone. >> Jessica Kell. >> Go ahead, ma'am. You have three minutes. >> Go ahead, Miss Kell. We're unable to hear you, Miss Kelly. Your microphone is ready. >> You're back on mute, ma'am. Star six, please to unmute your telephone. Star six, please. I'll come back to Miss Kell, I think. Go ahead, Miss Kell. Your microphone is ready. >> Okay. Hello. Uh good morning. My name is Jessica Kell and I am uh calling in on behalf of the support for nonprofit uh or agreement for the YMCA and uh to address mayor mayor and city council members. My name is Jesse Pel as I said and I am a resident of of district 4. I'm here today to voice my strong support for the proposal allowing a new nonprofit to take over the operations of the YMCA facility. We are proposing uh or the proposal is presented a new uh unique opportunity that addresses the city's fiscal concerns while honoring the needs of our community, especially our city senior citizens. This profit has committed to assuming all renovation costs, retaining current staff, maintaining public access, and the impact on our seniors and families. For our senior population, this facility is more than just a gym. It is the center for wellness and social support. Losing the space would be devastating blow to their health and quality of life. As mentioned before, quality of life is uh greatly advocate and this would be a chance to make that known in the northeast. Um community urgency. The northeast community has already faced significant loss of aquatic and recreational spaces. several pools around the northeast to include Toba and Gran View and the YMCA in on Sahara and Veteran School and um which is now still under construction or renovation. Um we simply cannot afford to have another facility taken away from our community. This proposal has overwhelming community support. Um we have been coming together as a community to collecting signatures. I urge you to please uh reach an agreement that reflects the the clear needs of our constituents and ensures this facility remains um a corn corner cornerstone stone of our um northeast. Thank you for your time and service to our city. And I uh greatly urge you to um come up with a solution, come up with a plan. Our community needs this. um we can afford not afford to lose another another aquatic facility in a community center for our seniors and and families. Thank you. The next speaker is John Kamacho followed by Lola Rosales, Miguel Melendez, Rick Alvarado, Mike Becker, Esparansa Aila, John Kamacho, I don't see John Kamacho, Lola Rosales. >> Yes, good morning everybody. Uh we are here for the same the problem from the YMCA. uh like u I'm the voice of all my this group of people senior citizens members of the YMCA and we are asking for your support. We are asking for your help. We need that for most of us to go to the gym is our lifeline. We're going there to to exercise, to have therapies, to have emotional support. That means a lot for us, for all of us. So, we need it and it's not fair to go and exercise in another community if we have one here at Northeast. So, we are asking if you can help us to keep the YMCA okay. So, make something else, another recreation center for us because we need it. We need that. But in the northeast, please we can we can be able to drive to very far far distance. It's too far for us. Most of the us we are seniors. We we not driving long distances. Our cars there's not so good. And you know the cost of living is too high. Gas the gas is too high. So we need something in our community of northeast. Please help us like a voting member. I'm asking you for for your help. Thank you. >> John Kamacho. John Kamacho. >> Morning. You have three minutes. >> Morning. Mayor Prom City Council. Uh I'm here on a different reason. Uh, I like to advocate more or less for the high school students who need to train to be swimming. My son is a coach at one of the six high schools that's in northeast and central who relied on utilizing the facilities at the Y in order to train. If you live on the east side of the town at west side, beautiful aquatic centers, but it's been a burden on the high school students to keep any kind of a swim team going. You don't have the participation that much in Northeast for swimming. Could be a lot better. But I've already heard this a number of times where people are telling me that it's too much of a hassle to go to the west side, the east side, to go somewhere to learn to to swim. The why has been that little point where they have learn been able to do their training and to have some kind of a swim team going. I'm also a member of that why. I utilize the facilities all the time. I've been through therapy with my shoulders with problems and the exercise equipment there is exactly what I had in therapy. So, I'm able to continue on to keep my health going. Thank you. >> Next speaker is Rick Alvarado. Rick Alvarado, followed by Mike Becker. >> Uh good morning. Uh just came again to talk about the why and uh really thank all the people that came. They've articulated very well about why the Northeast YMCA needs to stay open. So, I'm just going to say a couple of things about the Y. You guys know it's been out there for 60 years or more. And and uh I myself was been a member for about 28 plus years. My kids have gone there. Now, my grandkids are going there. But uh the most important thing is I mean look at the the people you're trying to affect. So, you really need to take it into consideration that uh if you were to go to the Y, right? Every morning between Monday and Friday in the morning, you would see all these young ladies working out and then afterwards they stay for for their social life. They mingle and they stay and they have fun. So you're trying to take that away from them. Second of all, if you go on a Saturday, you see the buzz of all so many kids and parents as they're participating participating in sports. You have a gentleman by the name of Jerry that does the taxes for free for people that starts in January and ends in April. And that you should see the amount of people that go through there. So what you all are trying to do is is not right. It's almost criminal to be honest with you. I call it criminal. And I know it's something that there's funds for everything. The why it would not take that much money to renovate. I know that, you know, there's contractors that would be willing to negotiate and help you guys almost free to help stay keep the northeast open. So, I urge you guys to look in your hearts and remember all the Y members that go through through the Y doors, all of them have a story and their stories matter. So, please keep the Y open as it should be. Thank you. The next speaker is Mike Baker. >> Good morning, sir. You have three minutes. >> Good morning, council. I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you. Um, there's not a whole lot I can say right now that hasn't already been said. I just would like the support of the council and especially the northeast representative that we voted for to go to bat for us. I've been a member I've been in El Paso for 60 years and I remember when I was 10 years old playing baseball where the parking lot is at the YMCA right now. Okay, you see all these people here and here, but what you don't see is the children and the rest of their families that go to that facility and what the YMCA does for those children, developing them after school programs, summer programs, what have you. Okay, I was asked to speak about the high school swimmers. It was already it was already brought up. So, I do urge, you know, that we keep the YMCA open. I was not aware of why they were closing it. I asked the question 20 times, but then it was brought to me brought to my attention today that the dollar a year has gone away and they want to they want to charge rent for market value. That's completely ridiculous. Okay? And if that's true, it's disappointing that that came as a decision. But please, I want like like Richard said, I know a lot of these people. I've been talking on their behalf for years because I've been going there since my kids were born and they're in their 30s now. Okay? But please look into your heart and reconsider and help keep the YMCA open. Thank you very much. The next speaker is Esparansa Aila. Miss Aila will address the council in Spanish. You can follow along using the QR code on the monitors that gives you access to the live interpretation. Must Amen. I classes yogan. Why? forcas. The next speaker is Miguel Melendez. Miguel Melendez. >> Is Miguel Melendez here? I don't see him coming forward. We'll move on to Bruno Vasquez. Bruno Vasquez. >> Mr. Vasquez. topic is architecture week in El Paso. >> Good morning, uh, Mayor Protemporary Council members and fellow El Pasoans. My name is Bruno Vasquez. I am a local architect working in private practice in El Paso. Earlier this year, I was appointed to serve in the American Institute of Architects Public Awareness Committee. And this is a national level role focused on strengthening public understanding of architecture and the vital role that architects play in shaping communities. However, I don't think that I can talk about much about architecture today other than what you've seen so far. The power of buildings and what they represent. But I'm going to take time to talk about one event that our organization has going on this week. Um uh it's called architecture week. This is a national level initiative and this year El Paso is showing up in a big way. A few days ago, my colleagues and I were honored to meet with Major Johnson who issued a proclamation celebrating a series of events that began yesterday. Um we're kicking off things with uh bringing architecture to our schools. Authors of children's literature on architecture, urbanism, and design are reading their own books via remote meeting during the week. Yesterday, I was present at Jose Damian Elementary in Canot ISD. And it was really heartwarming to see a group of first graders connected with other kids from all over the country uh while they were listening to Nina Laden reading her book, Roberto, the Insect Architect. Really fun. Um on Saturday we are heading to Lanu uh designed by the internationally acclaimed firms NOA in collaboration with local firm uh Exo for a conceptual design workshop from 9 to noon. Children will engage their imagination and discover firsthand the fundamentals of how buildings take shape. Emphasis on fun. And then on April 19, we are closing architecture week with our annual 5K run and fun walk. Participants will run or walk alongside some of El Paso's most iconic buildings, including El Paso High School, the Lady on the Hill, designed by Henry Trust. Each year we celebrate a feature building in all our race materials. Last year was Lanu. This year is the MAC. Our medals, our t-shirts, our logos, everything is related to to these buildings. Architecture is everywhere around us. In the buildings where we gather, the schools where our children learn, the streets where we run. These events are our way of inviting El Pasoans, especially our kids, to look up, to see architecture, and to feel proud of it because the buildings of a city are they are their biography. and El Paso has a very strong story to tell. Thank you. >> The next speaker is Marcy Chavez. Miss Chavez's topic is Montana Vista Water Phase 2 project. Marcy Chavez Eddie Chavez. Mr. Chavez's topic is El Paso water and sewer for Montana Vista. Good morning, sir. You have three minutes. >> Good morning. I didn't know these people from Northeast were going to come. I was born and raised there in the YMCA. My kids were born and raised there. It was just a little pothole when I remember when we were kids, it was a place to get away from school. But I hope good luck to them. But now I'm on another project. and with God put me out there in Montana Vista when I'm trying to I finally we had a nice meeting with the city uh water department the night uh last Thursday we had a good turnout unfortunately the people that went didn't really understand what they were afraid to answer questions and I hope we have another one but at least now we know we got attention that people out there need the service and I'm trying to get find out why if they got 23 28 million dollars back in 2023. This was when Tony Gonzalez was in Congress and they've been three years and they've done very little to help these people. At least put some water uh those overhead tanks out there or something to help these people. Some of them don't even have any water. They need somebody to talk to them. Well, I hate to be the I got a lot of things. I got a lot of hats and places where I have to be, but I I try to do the best I can. But hopefully here in Northeast that I heard about uh I went with a neighborhood association for 12 years. I mean, I'm sorry, four years in 2010 uh with um Gilda Wilson. We did the two skate parks out there in Northeast. I don't know if because the same thing the kids didn't have nowhere to go. We finally got the money together and it's just um things are so we lost our bowling alley. Kids didn't have to nowhere to uh go and communicate together and now that these people are trying to get the YMCA back together again. We have to continue the uh the um I guess the juveniles from getting away and not finding anywhere to where where to go. But we got a good city representative and I know she's trying. She got a whole handful. I know. But she's doing good. Cynthia, thank you. You're doing good. Better than when we had Sleepy Joe. Anyways, Joe's a good friend of mine. He'll take it. All right. But anyways, thank you so much for all you do. Okay. and whatever I can do. Thank you. God bless you. >> The next speaker also regarding Montana Vista water phase 2 project is Marcy Chavez. >> She will be followed by Erin Morga. Good morning. >> Morning. Good morning and God bless everybody. Um I'm here to speak about the you know the Montana Vista phase 2 and even though that I don't reside over there but I'm pretty common with everything that goes on in this within the city uh I went to their meeting uh on past week last week and they were asking people to fill out this documents to see they qualified for free. Now, I'm paying $8,700 according to what they're going to be charged for the pipelines. And I asked the individuals from the water department, how do they expect this areas, these people that we can't even afford anymore buying groceries, paying utilities because they keep going up every year, twice a year sometimes. And I'm a witness to that because I have my bills and I live by myself and I'm never home and I pay 300 in the water, 400, 600 in the electric. Uh now I even had to pay $300 in gas. So you tell me how is it that you're not exploiting the people of El Paso? And I say exploiting because every scam that is out there is not who you are, it's who you know. And we all know the there's a lot of people now that are awake and they're they're they're watching you all spending money in this beautiful highway I 10 with decorations. We are dying of hunger here. And why isn't it that you're not taking uh care of the community? And that is my point. I suggest that you read Proverbs 15-31 and maybe you can understand. I was going to read it but I don't have the time. So anyways, I will continue. I hope that this project doesn't have anything to do with the AI databases because we all know about them or not everybody but there's a lot of uh ignorance in regards to that and they're using our water. It is within the county to provide water. It's within the county to provide for the pipes because we already paid taxes over taxes over taxes. So why these people being charged $8,700? They don't understand that nothing's for free. Eventually there's consequences for the word free. Who has to pay them? We do. The hardworking people. And I've been working all my life and until as old as I am, I'm still working. And so with the smart meters, who gave you authority to change all the water meters, you know, to smart meters? Just like the electric, same thing. This is not right. You all are just doing your whatever you want. You don't ask the community if it's okay. You don't ask, you don't even tell them the consequences that it will bring eventually. >> Preach the time. >> Thank you. God bless. speaker is Aaron Morga followed by Albert Ria, Renee Fiero, Julie Alvarado, Mary Woodruff, Elisa Yamas. >> Mr. Morgas's topic is city approved projects that contribute to air pollution and lower standards of living. >> Good morning, city council. I almost didn't make it to today's meeting because like hundreds of thousands of my fellow passens, we have to work and often times we can't come to these things to speak on issues. But uh that doesn't mean that we don't care about these things. You know, um we elected you all to protect our interests and to defend the public good. And I honestly don't believe that that's the case with what I'm about to speak on. Um I just thought it would be important to take some time off work today to to uh to come ask you a simple question really. And I'll preface that by by pointing out the fact that we live in the border next to Huades who uh has hundreds of factories, dozens of cement plants, asphalt plants. They have quaries. Uh they don't regulate the emissions on their cars, and on top of that, they're burning trash and rubber every couple times a month, coating the the horizon on in in black haze, really. So we're already living in a very polluted environment regardless of what we do here. On top of that, we have cement cor we have cement plants, we have asphalt plants, we have quaries, we have our warehouses with semiis, uh we have the gas refinery, and then on top of that the dust, the heat. So basically my question is when you walk out on any given day and take a deep breath into your lungs, does it feel good? I mean, I work outside every day and I'm blessed that I don't have asthma. I don't have respiratory issues, thank God. Uh I have friends that do and they suffer with that. But when I come home from work, my lungs hurt. Uh I blow my nose, it's brown, it's gray, and that's just on any given day here. And um it's just strange to me that we're talking about closing YMCA's and and removing funding from that, yet we're trying to bring in corporations who are going to build a gas plant that's going to pollute more than all the cars in the tri-state area combined. Uh I don't see how that makes sense. And uh it just doesn't it doesn't make sense to me. I don't understand if you guys maybe I don't know if the mayor I know he's not here. Do you guys have a dome over your homes that I don't know is the air like do we not breathe the same air? How are we bringing in corporations that are going to invest billions of dollars to take our water to take our to pollute our air and to increase our energy bills and the fact that I know that Mayor Johnson takes millions of dollars from uh hundreds of thousands of dollars from millionaires and billionaires. So I understand that. But all of you um I really don't understand. I mean, do you not have children, grandchildren? We breathe the same air. Drive down um the highway and look at the horizon. I mean, that's that's all I have to say. Thank you. >> The next speaker is Albert Ria. Albert Ria, Renee Fiero, Mr. Fiero's topic is economic development. He will be followed by Mary Woodruff. >> May I begin? >> Yes, you have three minutes. >> Uh good morning, council. Um so I have not been paid, offered anything, or promised anything in exchange uh for my comments today. Um they're in regard to economic development. um partially to some of the major projects that are being discussed including the deck park and the data centers and I'll try to tie it into other things um happening or not happening in the city. Um, and so to begin I, you know, I I have a son and so I often tell him that, you know, having ideas is a good thing, but not all ideas are good ideas. And and even sometimes when you have a good idea, there are reasons not to do it. And so obviously with these projects, there's also supposed to be pros and cons. And too often we don't get when the city it seems like wants to do something, we hear about all the pros. Anything good, we hear about it over and over and over again, but we don't get the cons. We don't learn what are the potential consequences. What are the likely consequences? What can we expect at the end? And not just um what what are the good things do we get right now? Um so Mr. Goodenrath, Joe Goodenrath was up here to talk about the deck park and he started um his uh comments by talking about issued about parking downtown and how he think it would be a good idea to use all the revenue generated from the parking meters and to keep it for downtown so it doesn't go to the general fund. And that's like, well, of course you do. And isn't that how where these projects always end up where we end up? Well, we've got to do something for downtown. We've got to do something for downtown. And it's like, you know, what about the rest of the community? What about the other parts of the city? Everybody pays what's supposed to be a fl fair fair flat tax rate or whatever until, you know, you want to build a nice building where the city could actually get a lot of significant tax revenue. Then they cut the tax rates in half and and they give them rebates. And so these people are not even paying their fair share of taxes. They're getting tax breaks. And that's and that's that would lift the burden off of homeowners if you fully tax some of these buildings that you that that you give tax breaks for economic development reasons, but the city doesn't see the benefit at the end. The business does and they do great and the city and the residents don't get the benefits. And so, um, with regard to the tech, the debt park, I do, um, think the city should invest in green spaces and stuff, there's there's needs for green spaces all over the city and the $400 million price tag or whatever for the debt park could build lots of parks all over the city and plants. >> Thank you, Mr. You've reached three minutes. The next speaker is Julie Alvarado. Julie Alvarado. Her topic is break the 380 tax agreement. She will be followed by Mary Woodruff. Good morning, Mayor Prom and mayors of city c members of city council. My name is Julia Alvarado and I am a member of the northeast district 2. I am here today to speak in opposition of the meta data center, specifically to implore the mayor and council to vote to break the chapter 380 tax agreement. The changes that were announced to the magnitude and scope of this project should automatically render this agreement null and void. This terrible agreement is an insult to every citizen of El Paso and it is the result of our elected officials choosing the recommendations of those who stood to profit the most overdoing their due diligence to fully understand the impact of the data center on our community and our environment. Though only a few of you were on council at that time, you are all here now in this moment and in this position. Your actions at this time, right now, must honor the generations that came before and safeguard the generations to come. As city councils, as city council, your duty is to act in the best interest of the citizens of El Paso, not Meta and not the Border Plex Alliance. How you choose to act will have farreaching consequences. So, we, the people of El Paso, are calling on you, our elected officials, to break the 380 tax agreement with Meta to protect our natural resources and fight for the future of El Paso. Thank you. >> The next speaker is Mary Woodruff. She will be followed by Elisa Yamas. Miss Woodruff's topic is El Paso Electric Meadow Power Plant. >> That's a hard uh act to follow. Uh good morning. My name is Mary Woodruff. Uh I am with um Zbrando Sparansas, but I am also here uh as a taxpayer and a constituent. By the way, thank you for allowing me to speak uh and also for your support um uh to this community and your service. I urge you not to approve Alpa El Paso Electric app application. Um, this application is to build a natural gas power plant. This is not a neutral decision. Power plants like this are tied to higher rates of respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. And it's all, let's be clear, this facility is being not being built for the people. It's being built for to serve the meta data center. Other communities, including the state of Maine, are drawing heartlines and pausing and rejecting these projects because they understand the long-term cost to public health and to natural resources and the in infrastructure. El Paso should not uh be less protective of its residents. You cannot promote quality of life while approving projects that degrade it. >> That's right. >> Uh that is a contradiction and the public sees that. Um do not be swayed by million-doll proposals or once in a-lifetime opportunities uh that build on uncertain economic promises. Once uh they they're approved. Uh the impact are real. They're immediate, but most of all, they're irreversible. El Paso does not need a a deck plaza. It could have uh achieve its goals for quality of life and green um walking paths, whatever. It could be a achieved without destroying or or inconveniencing the traffic and uh displacing people uh by expanding the I 10. Um and this is not in opposition to growth or anti-growth. This is in response um to leadership. Leadership that protects health, values community decisionmaking. Um priorit uh prioritizes sustainability and honors uh campaign commitments that were made to this community. If the council truly stands for quality of life, then prove it. choose people over projects. >> That's right. >> Health over promises and the future of El Paso over short-term deals or whatever. Um once again, I thank you for your support and I've seen the the changes that my um um city council person is making uh to improve our our community. And once again, I thank you for your service and and commitment to this community. Vote no to these pro three projects. Um they're they're not in our benefit. They're not help. Thank you. >> The next speaker is Elisa Yamas. Miss Yamas's topic is also the Meta Data Center. She will be followed by Vanessa Almada. >> Hello. Good. Well, good morning or good afternoon. I don't know what time it is. Um my name is Alisa Yamas. have been a resident of the city for 10 years. Thank you for letting me come and talk to you. I'm extremely concerned about the amount of water that will be used by the Northeast Data Center. The city of El Paso currently uses between 110 to 160 million gallons of water per day. And the data center is expected to use 1.5 million gallons of water per day. If these figures are correct, that means that the data center will be consuming approximately 1% of our total daily water usage. That calculation was derived by dividing 1.5 million by 150 mill 150 million which is equal to 01 which is equal to 1%. In July of 2016, the El Paso Public Service Board made a very wise decision by developing a plan to import water via pipeline from Dell City by the years 2040 to 2050 in order to ensure El Paso has enough water for the future. El Paso is projected to spend up to $890 million to buy 70,000 acres, if they have haven't done it already, of land in Dell City, which is 130 mi away from here. If we are planning to import water from another city to save our own city from a future drought, then why are we inviting a business to El Paso that will use so much water for only 50 jobs? This makes no sense. I think we should break the 380 contract. We should have a moratorum on future data centers and we should also ask the public service board to break their agreement with a data center. I would like to remind the city councilman that Texas and New Mexico have been wrestling over water for the past decade in a lawsuit that went all the way to the Supreme Court and was finally settled in 2025. This lawsuit is evidence that we have already experienced water shortages in this area. I also ask that you pay attention to what is going on in Corpus Christi. Corpus has less than half the amount of people of El Paso if you only count the city limits of both cities. Corpus Christi has two times more the amount of rainfall than El Paso does. Yet Corpus is in danger of not meeting their water obligations by July of 2027. Corpus Christi is showing us that if we are not careful with our most valuable resource, we can go down to dangerous levels, dangerous water levels. Uh, also please pay attention and study other cities that have had negative consequences with data centers before we proceed further. Thank you. I would like to ask the city council a question. Are we really in a position to allow a business to use 1% of our total daily water usage if we are planning to import water from Dell City 14 years from now? Thank you so much. I appreciate you. >> The next speaker is Vanessa Almada. Vanessa Almada. I don't see her coming forward. Uh the next group of speakers signed up with Amanel People's Project and per the rules of order they have they will um select a representative to speak on their behalf and Mr. Miguel Escto will be speaking on the behalf of Amaner People's Project and he will have six minutes to speak per the rules of order. Hello, city council. Uh, my name is Miguel. I've been a member of Amanoser for many years. I've been community organizing for seven years straight. And I can say that the data center crisis is the single most controversial issue, the most widely felt, deeply felt issue that we have seen and it's very unified. We do not want these data centers. We don't want the meta metadata center specifically. Behind me is our members of Amaned, organizers with Amaned. I would like to pass the mic to them if that's okay with you all. Uh they're going to speak a little bit, but here I want you to remember that we at Aman, we are organized. We are relentless and we're not going to take excuses. The metadata center has to stop. You have to break the deal. >> So, I'll pass it over to some of my colleagues and we'll try to be in time. Thanks. >> Hi everyone. You've seen me before. My name is Harry White. I'm a northeast representative under Mr. ADO. But as you heard from many of the folks here, the Northeast goes from um Mr. uh area farther north, we're all one community. And all the folks that spoke about keeping the Y open, the meta data center would cause more damage to our community than closing the Y. I stand with them, but I stand with all uh folks who live in the northeast. We need to break the 380 deal. Thank you. Hello, city council. My name is Alejandra Ree from District 1. I care deeply about my city's future and our children's future. My mother, retired elementary school teacher, taught me the importance of our youth and the life we create for them in the future. I'm concerned about the environmental financial costing carried by the people from their monthly bills and ultim ultimately my local government's inability to represent the people's interest. Break the deal with Meta. Good morning. My name is Jay and I live out in Clint on the far east side. I'm a community organizer focusing on helping El Paso and communities all across the state protect themselves from imminent domain and different forms of industrial expansion. Over the past few months, I've talked to hundreds of El Paso and it has been beautiful to see so many different people from all walks of life coming together to oppose the meta project. My parents live here. I'm raising my daughter here and we want to stay here. El Paso means everything to us and we have to protect our resources at all costs. A future framework does nothing to oppose Meta. Break the deal. Good morning. My name is Ariana Gonzalez Aiker. I'm a born and raised El Paso and from District 3. I'm here to express opposition to data centers in our city right now and for the future. break the contract with META and stop telling us it cannot be done while they continue to amend the terms of that contract to accommodate their needs, such as building a power plant, lying about returning water to the city, and using evaporative cooling rather than solar power. Urge the public service board to do the right thing for our community. Do not stand with these people who called us a virus just because we're protecting our home. It's not enough to tell us that you are against the data centers. We need each of you to do more. It is your responsibility at this moment. You can choose to stand with the people who elected you and who you vowed to serve or you could become just another thing that we have to overcome. Thank you. >> Um and just to see if they're still on the call, is America Theo still on? if if she can unmute. >> Miss Mr. Escto, you were supposed to be the the spokesperson for everyone since you're in a group of 10 or more. >> Yeah. Ju just to to summarize. Okay. Yeah, go for it. >> I'm still here. Okay. Hello everyone. U my name is Amedica. I am a resident of district 8. I know for all of you guys representatives, it's probably not easy to sit there for hours listening to all of us talk. So, thank you for being present. But I want you to do more of that. So, I am a mother. Um, and I'm also a resident of District 8, if I didn't say that. And my motivation can be linked back to Dr. Seuss's story, the Lorax, which is a story about growth without limits, about decisions made for profit, and about what happens when no one speaks up in time. I don't want El Paso to be the Lorax. Don't fall for what they're telling you. You know, you can do better for this community. Um, I'm against the data center. I don't want them to get their tax money. They made billions of dollars in revenue in 2025. So stop the contract and break it. Thank you. >> And there are a lot of other um amount of members that are on the call right now that are not able to speak because of this rule, but we really want to impress upon you all that there are thousands of us. Um, our campaign has sent your offices over 4,000 emails explaining this that we are against the meta data center specifically. We're not going to take an excuse. This has to be broken. This is a unjust contract and we have attended all the city all the city organized meetings. We have organized community meetings of our own. We held a town hall in March with over 400 people that attended. We're not going to stop. I want you to remember that as you leave today. We are relentless. We're not going to stop until you do the right thing. Thank you, council. That concludes our call to the public and for the going forward. Uh no use of personal cellular devices nor personal communication should take place on the day while the meeting is in session. Once you obtain the floor from the mayor prom, you will have up to 10 minutes for debate and may speak twice per debatable motion. Please speak into the microphone and refrain from side conversations at the de while the meeting is in session. For those of you joining virtually, please make sure your microphones are muted to reduce any background noise. That brings us to the consent agenda. All matters listed under the consent agenda, including those on the addition to the agenda, will be considered by city council to be routine and will be enacted by one motion unless separate discussion is requested by council members. Prior to the vote, members of the audience may ask questions regarding items on the consent agenda. When the vote has been taken, if an item has not been called out for separate discussion, the item has been approved. Council may, however, reconsider any item at any time during the meeting. >> Thank you, Mr. P. I make a motion to approve the consent agenda with the following revisions. Page five, item 11, delete for representative Berjo. Thank you. Uh we have a motion and a second and no discussion. Miss Prime, please call for the vote for the consent agenda. >> The motion was made by alternate mayor PM Fiero, seconded by Representative Lemon to approve the consent agenda as revised. On that motion, call for the vote. Voting session is open. Representative Thjo. Thank you. We'll get someone to assist you in the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. That brings us to page number eight to the first reading of ordinances. These are items 15 to 19. >> I make a motion to move on the first reading of the ordinances. Okay, Miss Prime, we have a motion and a second. No discussion. Can you please call for the vote? >> Yes. The motion was made by Representative Lemon, seconded by Representative Nino to approve the first reading of ordinances, items 15 to 19. On that motion, call for the vote and the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. That brings us to page number nine. Items 20 and 21 are related. Mayor Pro10, would you like to take those together? >> Yes, please. >> Thank you. Item 20 is a public hearing of an ordinance authorizing the conveyance of real property owned by the city of El Paso to MEP Electric Contracting Inc. for the purchase price of $22,000. The property described as lot 11 block E Santa Fe edition. In addition to the city of El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, item 21 is the conveyance of real property also to MEP Electric Contracting Inc. for the purchase price of $22,000 for the property described as lot 10 block E Santa Fe edition in addition to the city of El Paso, El Paso County, Texas. >> Representative Canales. >> Thank you. Um I just uh before we we make a decision, I wanted to first uh move to approve. second. >> And then before we vote, uh I just wanted to say, uh I appreciate the the flexibility of the proposed purchasers here. I know we postponed this two weeks ago. The neighborhood had a few questions. Um and and they requested a little bit of time to have their questions answered. That has now happened. Um so I'm I'm happy to proceed with this. Uh but I I just wanted to thank the uh the proposed buyer, MEP Electric, for their patience. And that's all. Thank you, >> Miss Prime. We have a motion and a second. No further discussion. Can you please call for the vote? >> Yes. A motion was made by Representative Canales, seconded by alternate mayor Poten Fiero to adopt items the ordinances on items 20 and 21. There's no public comment on that motion. Call for the vote. in the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. That brings us to item number 22. And this is a public hearing of an ordinance authorizing the conveyance of real property owned by the city of El Paso to Victor Ugo Duran Sedo and Maric Cruz Moreno Sanchez for the purchase price of $39,228 for the property described as lots 14 and 15 block three map of Hughes subdivision out of block 2 Alamemeda acres and in addition to the city of El Paso, El Paso County, Texas. Move to approve. >> Miss Prime, we have a motion and a second and no discussion from council. Can we please call for the vote? >> Yes. The motion was made by Representative ADO, seconded by Representative Maldonado Rocha to adopt the ordinance on item 22. There's no public comment on that motion. Call for the vote in the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> Mary Lou. Thank you. >> Item 23 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title 12 vehicles in traffic to add chapter 12.57 electronically operated parking control systems to add definitions imposition and amount of civil penalty enforcement and procedures administrative adjudication hearing. Affirmative defenses, appeal and enforcement of judgment. >> Hi, Steve. Do we have a presentation for this item? >> Yes, Mayor Prom. And good afternoon, I believe. >> Good afternoon, >> Steve Alvarado. For the record, code enforcement director, item 23. If it can pull up the presentation, please. >> Thank you. I don't get it situated here. There we go. Thank you. Thank you, good afternoon, mayor and council. Steve Alvarado again. Uh item 23 is title 12 ordinance amendment. What we are trying to affectuate here is add section 12.57 to this uh ordinance. A little bit of background. So the community concerns that we've heard from our community and this is over the two-year period with the social city assessment, a third party that did the overall venue safety, public safety. Uh these were some of the concerns that were brought up. We also had a meeting a couple weeks ago here downtown with the Social City Alliance continuing th those meetings as well. Um lack of enforcement of residential parking permit was one of the major concerns that we heard. Um many vehicles were exceeding the time limits at these parking meters which then impacts the businesses because there's no turnover really coming and going to you know people to come and have dinner or spend money downtown or wherever they may be uptown and um you know Cincinnati district as well. Uh many vehicles are parked in the crosswalks blocking accessible access ramps uh vehicles loading zones which prohibits deliveries and another major concern we heard was vehicles parking in sidewalks and bike lanes impeding the flow of pedestrian cyclists and vehicular traffic. Some of the challenges that we face currently and that we're looking to overcome these is uh if the meter hours are extended from the normal hours to 8 to 6 p.m. we're going to need additional enforcement or any type of enforcement mechanisms. This will help with those those enforcement moving forward in the future. Currently, Caldwell Street behind the uh stadium operates a 24/7 meter zone and in Uptown meters are from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. Um what we encounter sometimes patrons become irate um argumentative when they're receiving a ticket at night. So officer safety is is our utmost concern for this ordinance amendment as well. Currently, we have 1,669 parking meters throughout the city, which service 1,974 parking spaces, 1974 parking spaces. So, that's a broad area, big area to cover with minimal parking enforcement uh officers on in the street. But this technology will help us once we do get to that point. the development team and I would like to acknowledge my development team. It was a collaboration between municipal court director Kas also Paul Stress International Bridges um who are here with me today. Thanks. Thanks team. So we're adding section electronically operated parking control systems. The primary focus of this is future integration of technology that will streamline our parking enforcement abilities. Um it'll allow us to do more with the current capacity that we have. Um, we're hoping to increase the parking available spaces as people start moving to, you know, comply with the time limits on parking meters or wherever it may be. So, what does title 12 amendments 12.57 actually do? Uh, it creates a civil penalty which is sent by mail. Um, so in the future once we get technology, we will have the ability to walk down the street with a handheld scanner, scan a license plate to see if it's paid. It'll do it automatically in real time. Right now, we actually have to go to a separate app. It takes us a few minutes to confirm that the vehicle is paid a meter or not paid a meter and then issue a parking ticket. It's very time consuming. It's not very productive. So, we're looking to overcome those things. Uh it outlines the requirements of notice of violation, uh vehicle type, license plate, uh the violation, most importantly, time and date, etc. And also identifies who the vehicle owner is. Um, what it does currently amend right now with our our paper tickets that we're issuing right now, you have 14 days to appeal or contest a violation. If you feel it's not right, you got 14 days. Since these will be mailed electronically, we're allowing 21 days, an extra week because we have to take into account mail will get there 2, three, 4 days, whatever that may take. It allows the person that extra timeline to appeal or contest a citation. And they'll still be appealed through our municipal court process as well. There'll be a first level review once we get to that where yeah citation's valid and then they'll to send out the actual citation. So these are some of the parking technologies that are out there. Um we're looking at um obtaining in the future. Um we are changing out the meters over the next two years and that'll probably start in late summer of 2026, but I'll let Paul give you an update individually. He'll brief everybody. Um, and we're changing all the parking meters to multisspace meters and electronically um updated parking meters with with solar panels so it'll charge as well. Um, we're looking at real-time digital handheld ticket writers like I mentioned earlier that'll communicate with the back end of the parking meters. Yeah, this parking this vehicle paid the space so it doesn't get a ticket at that point. We're also looking at uh adding license plate recognition which will recognize the license plate to see if it has paid meter space. That's all it does. Um timestamp technology for to time limit violations. So currently in downtown some meters are two hours, some are four, some are six. Uh many cars stay there well past the 2-hour limit. Um so if we're driving down the street, we have a license plate reader. It'll time stamp the vehicle that's there. Say at 10:00 a.m. I'm walking down the street. It's 2our limit. we're there at 1:00, which is three hours later. I have the handheld to tell me that vehicle has bypassed the time. Therefore, it'll issue a ticket. So, it it's integrating technology to to make work more efficiency and, you know, with the staff that we have, staffing levels that we have. We'll also integrate scoff recognition for vehicles that have outstanding parking violations that haven't been paid over over 30, 60 days, uh, which will help us to, you know, collect on some of those outdated citations. also a fixed camera technology to monitor hotspots, parking zones, loading zones, things along that, delivery zones, um things things along that line. And it's important to note that we will be one of the first cities in Texas. Um there's two other cities that currently have it. Houston is developing it, but we'll be at the forefront forefront of this uh initiative of change. So with that, I open it up to any questions council or mayor may have. >> Thank you, Steve. Representative Rocha. Thank you, Mayor Prom. Thank you, Steve. And thank you to International Bridges and the Municipal Court for being able to bring this. Uh I can share I guess I will that that I did get a tour of the bridge the bridges um just a few weeks ago and so I saw the technology. Um I I'm really excited about it. The one question I have because in the past parking downtown it's a little unclear of where to park for which meter. So, will striping and all of that be taken care of as well once all and that's just a question in addition to the meters. Meters are a great idea. I I understand the the safety component to it and the ease. I just want to know if the striping is going to take part as well. >> Yeah, I'll let Paul um >> Okay. Thanks. >> answer that one. >> Good afternoon. Good afternoon, council. Yes, we're working in partnership with streets and maintenance to make sure that all the striping and signage uh will be updated once we install some new meters. >> Thank you. I really appreciate it. Thank you so much, >> Representative Canales. >> Thank you. Um yeah, I think this is a very long time coming. I'm glad that you know it's taken a lot of work from you all. So I I appreciate all the work across the various departments. Um, you know, my constituents have been asking for uh all the meters are within district 8. Uh, and so my my constituents have been asking for improved uh parking meters enforcement um and just parking experience in general for for quite some time. And so I think this is a great step toward addressing a lot of those concerns that have come up. Um, it's not exactly this. So stop stop stop me Miss Neman if we're a little bit off but can you describe just a little bit some of the new parking meter technology that's being rolled out at the same time as as these changes >> coinciding >> I'll have Paul come up and sorry he's more versed at it than I am >> uh because we have some excellent new meters about to be installed. So, the technology we're looking at adding is uh right now people they can pay by credit card coin or or using the app. They'll be able to use those uh methods still, but they'll be able to tap with Apple Pay or Samsung Pay >> or a card or Google Pay, right? Or their watch. So, uh this technology is going to make it a lot easier. The screens are larger. Uh the bilingual aspect right now the screen is very small. It's hard hard to read for a lot of people especially when the sun's shining. So the screens will be a lot larger. They'll be able to see uh the bilingual um aspect. They'll be have a full screen. So you know for our bilingual community um the meters will communicate. Uh Steve's working on some technology once he gets new handhelds that technology will communicate. So, and when people use the app now, only some of our meters place time on the meter with the app, 100% of our our new meters will do that when you pay with the app. So, for enforcement or or the person that's paying, they'll be assured that their payment, you know, went through besides besides the receipt they get on the app. >> Uh, and we also have some of the kiosk style meters coming in, >> right? So, we're looking at multi multi-pace meters, too, which means we'll clean up the streetscape. We won't have all those poles. So, uh the multi-pace will look at areas uh where we have like 10 or less meters and we'll put in multi-pace. Some blocks might require two. Just depends on how busy we're looking at hotspots uh based on activity. >> Okay. Yeah. Excellent. I think uh it's an investment in technology that like I said uh has been a long time coming and and I'm really glad that uh we're finally making the change. Uh I think I'll have a lot of happy constituents as well. So thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you Mayor Pa. >> Thank you Steve for the presentation. I don't believe there's any further discussion. Miss Prime um could you please call for the vote? >> Yes. The motion was made by alternate mayor prompo, seconded by representative boyjo to adopt the ordinance on item 23. On that motion, call for the vote and the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. Representative Odo not present. >> Miss Prime, before we move on to the next item, I'd like to recognize former representative Joe Molina who's in the audience today. Thank you for joining us. Welcome, Representative Molina. We now move to item 24 and this is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title 12 vehicles in traffic speed limits 45 miles per hour to delete item 14 Mcome Street from Dyer Street to Dollart Drive and to add item 40 Mcome Street from Dyer Street to a 3.70 miles north of Dyer Street and to delete item five Mcome Street from Dollart Drive to its terminus at FM3255 and to add item 10 Mcome Street from a 3.70 miles north of Dyer Street to Stan Roberts Senior Road. >> Second. >> Welcome. Hi. Welcome. >> Hello. >> Could we see the presentation, please? >> Of course. >> Thank you. >> All right. Hello, everyone, council. My name is Joshua LMA. I'm a planner with streets and maintenance. This presentation is going to be pretty brief. Um and it's um a speed uh speed zone reduction on uh Mcome Street. So next slide please. All right. So we received this request from Text. Um they conducted a strip map and speed zone study which is basically an inventory of all assets along the street and of course speed. Um and what they got from that data is to extend the 45 mile per hour zone into the new residential areas. And of course we have to codify this. So that's why we're here today to codify it. All right. So the top of the top map is the existing conditions and the bottom is the recommended. So I guess the main takeaway is to focus on the yellow portion. It's to extend into the new newer residential area. Oh, and of course it's in district 4. All right. The next four slides, including this one, are action items. So this slide is to uh delete the existing 45 mileph um speed area and this is to um correct or delete uh an error in the ordinance. And this is to add the new um extended 45 mile per hour zone. And then this is to um add or amend the or shorten the 55 mile per hour zone. And I believe this concludes the presentation. >> Thank you, Joshua. Representative Djo. >> Thank you, Mayor Pro Tim. Thank you, Joshua. This is uh this is very good for our community. Uh you know, our office uh requested the traffic study because there's a lot of speeding in that area. Are there any other safety measures that are being considered to reduce speeds beyond the the reduced speed limit? >> Um Randy Good morning, Council Randy Garcia. Streets and Maintenance. Right now, uh we do have an HSIP project along with text that's still pending. I think we're getting uh notice of that this week if it'll be approved. Um uh besides that, we don't have anything pending. We are working with your office and of course any other requests you have, you can send uh send to us and we can evaluate through the city manager. >> Okay. I think Miss Mack, this might be a good project for the vision zero. I know Texot also has their road to zero uh to look at additional measures to reduce speed bike, you know, bike lanes or something because that is a very concerning area. I live in the area, I can tell you that the speed goes up to maybe 90 miles an hour at some times and so something something to consider for the future. Yes, as soon as we get the word back from Texat um about the HSIP project that we did submit in conjunction with them um if they receive funding for it and if it was approved at the state level, we'll be more than happy to share that with you and if we need to look further into the conditions that will be more than happy to do that for you. >> Okay. Thank you, Randy. Thank you, >> Representative Canales. >> I think that was a mistake. Thanks. >> That was a mistake. >> I didn't mean to push the button. >> Okay. Thank you, Randy. Thank you, Joshua. Uh, Miss Prime, there's no further discussion from council. Can you please call for the vote? >> Yes. A motion was made by Representative Oatjo, seconded by Representative Canales to adopt the ordinance on item 24. There's no public comment on that motion. Call for the vote in the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> Let's take item 25. 25 and this is a introduction and public hearing of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of city of El Paso, Texas general obligation bonds in one or more series in an aggregate amount not to exceed 71,40,000 living a continuing direct annual ad valorum tax for the payment of such bonds and resolving other matters which are necessary to affectuate such issuance. >> Miss >> Hi Robert, welcome. Good. Good afternoon, Miss Pine. If you can actually read the other two items as well. I have one presentation for the three items, but we will need separate action on each of the three items. >> Yes. Item 26 is an introduction and public hearing of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of city of El Paso, Texas general obligation refunding bonds series 2026 in one or more series in an aggregate amount not to exceed $435 million. $435.3 million for debt service savings levy and continuing direct advalorum tax for the payment of such bonds and resolving other matters which are necessary to effectuate such issuance. Item 27 is discussion and action on a resolution authorizing the redemption of certain outstanding obligations of the city, directing authorized city officials to effectuate the redemption of such obligations and resolving other matters incident and related thereto and providing an effective date. >> Can we get a motion just on item 25? >> Correct. On each of the three items. We'll take an we'll take a motion for item 25 right for the time being. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Good afternoon again, Mayor Prom City Council, Robert Cortinez, City Manager's Office. So, this presentation will cover all three items. And so, as was written into the record, we have three separate actions that will be requested. one will be the issuance of new debt for capital projects in the community progress bond which is approved by the voters back in 2022. We have a refunding um as well and then the third item will be a defeasence and so essentially what we'll be doing with that item is paying off some bonds early. So these three items a lot of work goes into these bond transactions and so it takes a whole team to to do this. the city manager, myself, our deputy CFO, city attorney's office plays a critical role, but we also have other partners as well. So, we have with us today from Hilltop Securities, Maria Erbina, who's um very, very helpful. She's a key part of putting these transactions together, we have our bond council, Mr. Paul Braden, and we also have from Jeff, who will be the lead on the underwriter syndicate, Pedro Ramos, who's here with us today as well. And so, pretty large transaction. we have 500 riders uh selected for this particular transaction. So just a couple of um opening statements before we get into the actual presentation and um the actual transaction. So we've talked a lot about the debt management and how the city has been very proactive in addressing our debt. One, we want to make sure that one we're minimizing the impact on our taxpayers. We know that's extremely important. Um but secondly, we also want to make sure that we have the funds necessary to be able to invest in the capital projects to deliver the services to our community. And so along with that comes the important role of how we're managing our debt to ensure that we're doing everything we can to keep those costs down. And a part of that will be through the credit rating, which we'll talk a little bit about here in just a few slides. So, you're going to hear a presentation a little bit later today from Miss Maren and our external auditor who will cover the FY2025 external audit results. And so, with that um comes again not only how we're managing city's debt, but how we're managing city finances in general, right? And so, it's very very important one that we're building credibility not only with the city council or continue to build credibility, but also with the community and then finally with all of our investors and stakeholders. And so those investors are relying upon the information that's provided and produced in all of those financial reports. One, for accuracy, and then two, that we're following all of the GAP accounting principles. And then finally, um that we're we have strong internal controls and that we're following all of city policies and procedures. So I don't want to share all of the good news too soon, jump ahead of them. But again, very very successful results with what we've been able to accomplish for the last two years on those external audits and with this presentation in particular and how we manage the city's debt. So this slide, I've shown this slide a few times going back to last June, July, um just because it really speaks to again the city being proactive and how we're managing the city's debt. You'll see over the last five years we've managed to bring that down the principal amount to be very clear by $300 million in the last five years. So going from a total of 1.6 billion down to just over 1.3 billion again in the last five years. And we've been able to do this through one the annual word payments on those bonds. But then also through other um available tools as well as including one the refundings that we've been able to take advantage of which you'll hear in just a minute. and then a couple of defeasences as well. So, paying bonds off early. Um, if you were to add in the interest associated with these bonds as well, that's another $200 million. So, a total of almost $500 million of debt reduction in the last five years. We do have debt limitations set forth in our debt management policy. And so, you will see on here the maximum currently allowed and the actual for all three of these. You will see that we are well below those debt limits. Uh we've continued to show improvement in these all three of these over the last several years. Uh the bottom one there shows that the debt management policy allows for a debt excuse me a debt rate of 40 cents per $100 of valuation and we are currently at just over 21 cents. So well below almost half of the amount allowed for that debt management policy. I spoke a little bit about the importance of the bond ratings and um again that really speaks to essentially the investor's risk. really um wants to highlight and show that one they can invest in the city and not have any risk of the city defaulting on those bonds. You will see the city's current ranking ratings. We are currently at double A with S&P and pitch double A+ with CO and we will be going through the updated bond rating process here in the next few weeks as part of this upcoming transaction. Currently, the existing status of our current bonds, the public safety bond and the community progress bond, again, both approved by the voters. The state infrastructure bank loans was approved by city council last year. Um, so overall remaining amount of debt to be issued over the next several years, just under 434 or 494 million. And I'll go through this because one of the last couple of slides that we want to show you all is what that impact and what the future is will look like in addition to what we have planned with this upcoming transaction. Um, additionally, you will see a presentation here in just a couple of items on this current agenda from the capital improvement department that will give you the quarterly update on all the capital projects and where we are with the status of those. So, as I mentioned, you're going to see that information from them, but we have a couple of slides that show the current status of both the public safety and the community progress bond. Uh, the current expenses as of February 28th and the remaining amount to be spent. This is public safety. This is the community progress bond. And then moving into the actual items. So item 25 is the first item that you will be taking action on. This item is a new money issuance. So this will be the second issuance for the community progress bond. Uh those bonds were approved by the voters back on November 8th of 2022. Uh we did do the publication as required in the El Paso Times back on April 3rd. um as well as posted on the city's website in our public hearing section on the city's website to again notify the public of this item today. And so what we are recommending to issue and what you all will be approving is again $70 million for capital projects um including 52.9 million for Proposition A which is the street projects, 14 million for Proposition B which is the park projects and then Proposition C the remaining amount of 3.1 million for the econom climate projects. Included in the ordinance that you all be approving is again these parameters. So these are the uh specifics that the pricing officers which would be the city manager and myself would need to meet in order to move forward with this transaction. Again item 25 is just for this uh new money for the community progress bond. So total aggregate principal amount not to exceed 71.14 which is the uh amount for the capital projects and the issuance cost. True interest cost rate not to exceed 5.25% 25% which as I briefed you all last week again building in a little bit of flexibility on that interest rate just again some market volatility we hopefully will not see rates that high but again we want to make sure that we have some flexibility again we plan not to go to market until probably late May early June the maximum maturity date is December 31st of 2015 and then finally we do have or requesting to have up to 365 days to move forward with the transaction That being said, again, that provides some flexibility, but we anticipate, as I mentioned, to actually go out and price these bonds in late May, early June. Again, so that we know exactly what our debt service will be for the upcoming fiscal year as we begin budget discussions. And then same thing for the refunding, which I will cover here in just the next few slides. So, moving on to the refunding ordinance. So, item 26, again, just included a little bit of information just for the public's sake on what is a a refunding or a refinancing. Um, essentially what ends up happening is when the city issues bonds is we build in call dates. And so, typically 10 years from the date of the issuance and then that allows the city to go out and actually do a refunding or refinancing at that um when that particular bond becomes callable. So, the city does this for debt service savings. So if interest rates are favorable, we can go out and take those bonds, sell them back and issue new bonds at lower interest rate, which again generates debt service savings for the city. So in our debt management policy, we do have a minimum threshold that we need to meet on that net present value savings. For a current refunding, we currently have it listed as 2%. You will see on the parameters though, we actually have it at 3%. And so we want to make sure that we're going out and doing transaction. There's a lot of time and effort that goes into these transactions. We want to ensure that we're again generating a worthwhile net present value on any particular refunding that we may do. So this particular refunding um as I mentioned to you all when we did the briefings last week currently on the slide shows what we estimated as of about two weeks ago or so. The market has changed dramatically in the last couple of months. We all are well aware of what's going on currently with the war in Iran. it has had an impact on the municipal markets. Uh we've seen things calm down a little bit, but still um not where they were a few months ago. And so I'll go through the parameters here on the next slide, but as of right now, we're looking at essentially refunding about $227.8 million of bonds with that all in uh true interest cost rate of about 3.6%. And that would generate about $13 million of debt service savings. a very large pretty significant refunding that will be taking place here when we price these bonds. Um the last four refundings that we've done um don't even add up to this amount. And so we did refunding last year much smaller but generated about $3 million of savings. So again this one right now estimated to save about 13 million or that net present value savings of about 5.38%. Um, so as I mentioned, we started working on this in January. That savings amount was much larger in February. I won't say what it was out loud, but it was much larger than what we are showing here today. However, that being said, included in the parameters that we have, again, the pricing officer, the city manager, myself, um, you'll see that second bullet point, the aggregate original principal amount of the bonds will not exceed that 435.35 million. That's the total amount of bonds that are callable. that if everything was aligned perfectly, we could go out and refund all those bonds to generate more savings. However, unfortunately, right now, some of those maturities are not generating savings. And so, um, as I showed you on the previous slide is what we're kind of estimating right now. But again, things could change. Hopefully, things will change in the next several weeks and we'll be able to actually go out and refund more. However, you'll see again in the ordinance in the premise what you are approving is that 435 million. Again, we need to meet at least 3% savings. As I mentioned, the true interest cost rate on these refundings will be 5%. One of the things we always point out is that second bullet from the bottom is that we maintain the original maturity date of December 31st, 2042. We do not extend the life of the bonds from the original maturity date when we do a refunding. And then finally, the last point there again that I mentioned for the new money issuance up to 365 days to move forward with the transaction. But again, as I mentioned, right now, our tenative timeline, which I'll show you here at the very end, is probably late May, early June. That way, the refunding will be done, the new issuance will be done, and we'll know exactly what our debt service rate needs to be as we begin budget discussions for the FY2027 budget. The third item, item number 27, is a redemption of bonds. So, this is a defeasence. Um, essentially what we're doing here is an early payoff. So, again, we've done a few of these in the last couple of years. It's a very small payoff, but it's a very powerful and impactful one on our existing debt. And so with this particular item right now, this is the 2014 general obligation refunding bonds that we will be paying off. Um, currently there's about 1.8 million owed total principal and interest. And so with this transaction, what we are requesting is to take 1.4 million from our debt service reserves. We will defease these bonds. We'll transfer those funds to the paying agent. And with that transaction, no will uh those bonds will no longer be obligations of the city and we'll end up saving over $427,000 of interest by paying them off early. And so this particular item is a resolution again that you all be approving that aggregate principal amount of 1.375. Again, very small issuance cost of just um around 35,000. Again, you're approving the transfer to computer share trust who will be the paying agent and registar. Once that deposit is done and that transaction is made, again those bonds will be considered to fees and no longer obligations of the city. And then the last couple of slides here, again going back to how I started, we do still have, as I mentioned, just under 494 million of bonds to be issued between the public safety committee progress and the state infrastructure bank loans, which is the city match for the no projects. Um, and so looking into the future again, we have projections on how much we're going to need to issue in the future years. Again, uh, all depending upon the timing of the projects. And so again, we work very closely with the capital improvement department. You'll see FY27 going all the way out through 2033 will be the final year in which we plan to issue bonds for those two bond projects. And then we like to show you what the impact will be on the overall debt service rate. And to be very clear to show you all what the impact will be not only from the the bonds that we are looking to issue and refund with this transaction, but this model includes the issuance for all of the remaining debt that we have approved by the voters and by the city council with those with those state infrastructure bank loans. So very encouraging. I know a lot of discussion takes place every time we do community meetings and we go out and we talk to the public about the city's debt and what is the city doing. And so again, I started with what we've been doing. That $300 million reduction in debt principle is significant almost 20% reduction 20% reduction in the last five years. And so what this shows is that as we look to the next essentially next three budget years looking at 2027, 28 and 29 is essentially even with issuing this debt being able to keep our debt service tax rate flat. Very very minimal increases. You'll see, you know, two tents or 4 tents in one year, but again, essentially flat, just around 21 cents over the next three fiscal years. You'll see as we move to the year 2030, a little bit of an increase of about a penny and a half. However, there are future refunding opportunities. We will continue to monitor just like we have been doing potential opportunities to do any other defeasences or any other opportunities to be able to bring those costs down into the future. Uh, one of the things that I I'll highlight as well because this goes all the way out through 2037, which seems like it's an eternity away, but it's actually not. It's, you know, a little more than 10 years away. It's not that far. And we can put it on one slide now, and it's not super tiny. So, you can actually see it. And so, in 2032 to 2033, you'll see a pretty large reduction in the debt service rate. So we have about $16 million of debt service that will be reduced in that given year. And then you'll see another large reduction from 2034 into 2035 as we start to pay off more bonds. And so again really couple of strategies. So one is how do we get through issuing the remaining bonds that the voters have approved without increasing the debt service rate. Then two, looking out into the future and again building up that capacity for again the future and the investment that we're going to need in our capital projects. My last slide here is just to provide you a very high level schedule of events. So you all will be approving these items today. We have bond rating uh meetings scheduled for April 23rd or 24th. We'll get those scheduled. We are tentatively, as I mentioned, scheduled to price bonds later in the month of May, probably pushing back to later in May or early June. And then after that, several weeks later, we'll actually close on those bonds and then actually receive the proceeds. And so with that, I will be happy to answer any questions. And as I mentioned, yes, we do need uh action on each items individually. >> Thank you, Robert. Uh Representative Canales, >> thank you. Um yes, slide 22 is great. Shows out into the future. Um I I want to look the other direction a little bit at the past. Um I I think it's important in showing the impact of these types of refund the savings uh from refundings uh the type of impact that this has on debt uh debt service tax rate over time. So looking back the other direction, I don't know if we can bring up the slide uh number 22. If we can go back to the slideshow, it's in slide 22. You can see that >> slight increase from 21 to 23 and then a decrease after that. But I'll remind the public that the debt service tax rate in fiscal year 2020 was 30 cents. Um, and so we've seen reduction pretty much year on year since then. 28 cents in 2021, 29 cents in 22, 28 cents in 23, 26 cents in 24, 23 cents in 25 down to this much lower kind of shelf, right? We see some slight increase as these issuances come up over the next couple of years. um but nothing close to the 30 cents that we were at just 6 years ago. Um, and so it's a testament to the work that's been uh done by you and your team, Robert, and and Miss Mack, but also to uh councils before us and and you know, maybe pat ourselves on the back a little bit for some decisions we've made in in uh reducing that outstanding uh outstanding obligation and uh making decisions like these refundings uh like some of the defecances that that have really reduced that that debt service tax rate over time. So again, kudos to you and to the whole team. Um, you know, we we get to approve or not approve, but you all do a lot of the work, all of the work crunching the numbers, making making all of this uh possible for us. So, appreciate it very much. Thank you, >> Representative Fiero. >> Thank you, Mr. Cortinez. Um, first and foremost, 20% reduction in debts. Amazing. You know, congratulations to you and your team. That's a it's great work and you made um you make us look all taller, darker, and more handsome. Thank you. Um I have a question for you in regards to item 25. I I I got an email with some with some concern about this, but this is the voters approved these dollars to be to be spent to be utilized by the city. Is that Am I correct? >> Yes, it's correct. >> So, this is not just some random $71 million you that you're throwing on to to fix the budget or make it look better. >> No, as I mentioned, these are community progress bonds again approved by the voters back on November 8th of 2022. And so, that's a good question. So, I'll take just a second here to to elaborate a little bit. So, a lot of members in the community may think that once they approve those bonds, so for example, that 2022 community progress bond that we move forward or the city moves forward with issuing all of those bonds at all at once. And that is not the case. Our capital improvement department does a fantastic job, but there's no way just from a capacity issue that they could spend that money down in two or three years and get all those projects done. It's just not because of them, but just in general with capacity of vendors and just getting the work done. So, we issue those bonds as we need those proceeds, the cash to keep those projects moving. And so, um, you're going to hear an update from, as I mentioned, them on the status of those projects and where we are. And we've issued 46 million for those projects already. This will be another 70 million again just to keep those projects moving. And then we continue to review that every, you know, month. Basically, we're meeting just to keep track of the cash flow, see how we're doing, do we need to revise estimate for what we're planning for next year? And so that's really the approach that we take is we're only issuing debt as we need it, right? We don't want to issue debt and start paying debt service on it unless we actually need the money to keep those projects moving. >> Thank you for that explanation. There was some confusion, you know, a couple emails I got that that that's not what we were doing. So thank you for explaining that. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Representative Nino. >> Thank you, Mayor Prom. And uh Repro, still the question that I was going to ask. you know, this is voter approved and I think overall there's been a lot of need all across the city and you know, the borders gave us that opportunity to really move forward with key projects that are needed all across the entire city. But I also want to congratulate you on, you know, being strategic and having that 20% reduction of debt in the last 5 years. I think that's huge when it comes to the debt service rate, specifically when we're, you know, talking into the budget process, how the tax rate is made in different portions from the property tax and the actual debt service rate. So, thank you for all the work that that you do with that. Um, I I I think it's also key and important to highlight, you know, on how you mentioned that when it comes to Can you explain a little bit what refund uh refunding means? I know that I talked about that a little bit in the FOAC. >> Yeah. So, essentially what it is is the city builds in these things called a call date anytime we issue debt. And so that call date is the opportunity at which we can take those bonds and actually go out and do a refunding. So, um if you own a home and interest rate market is favorable, which right now we know it isn't, but when it is, you can let's say you have a 5% interest rate on your on your mortgage and interest rates, let's say, go down to 3%. which they were not that long ago. You can take that mortgage, you can refund it, essentially pay it off and you take out a new mortgage at that lower interest rate and your monthly payment comes down. No different than what the city does is we take these bonds, we'll go out, we'll sell them, reissue new bonds at a lower borrowing cost and brings down our overall debt service rate. So, pretty simple, but obviously we have to wait when those bonds become callable. We can't just do a refunding at any given time. They have to be callable. Um there was a time when that was a little bit different, but that's for another day. Um but that's essentially what what the refunding is. It's essentially that just the refinancing, getting a lower borrowing cost and bringing down that debt debt service amount. >> Yeah. And I always ask that question because I'm sure individuals get confused when the word refunding gets used, but I know that's our terminology, but it's refinancing. You know, I'm also grateful that um you look at the different avenues of, you know, when it's a refunded obligation, we must produce a present value debt service of savings of at least 3%. But here, you're sharing with us that it's producing uh 5.38%. Which is a huge accomplishment. And again, it's not easy to say that, you know, when you are making these strategic moves, uh you're producing millions of dollars of savings to the taxpayer. and we're very grateful for you for coming up with that strategy. Um, even on item number 27 when it comes to the redemption of the Altoning bonds on that one specifically, I know that I talked to you about it and even paying off that specific balance producing half a million nearly half a million dollars of savings is going to help the taxpayer in the long run. So really grateful for all the work that you're doing and the entire team when it comes to these conversations and uh looking positive to to the future of really you know being strategic. Thank you. Thank you. >> Representative Aso. >> Thank you Mayor Prom. Um Robert, great job. Really enjoyed looking at the presentation with you last week. There's there's a lot here. I wanted to focus on slide seven and I don't know if we could bring that up. I just wanted to overall get your comments again on this. I know you went through it in the presentation but just are you happy with the maximum and the actual here? >> Yes. Yes. All of those metrics are extremely positive right now with where we are at. Um so basically just kind of a measure to see where you rank and so um we look at total debt to our tax base or taxable value amount. We look at the percentage of debt compared to our operating budget and then finally the the debt rate. So the debt rate that 40 cents was changed in 2018 I believe maybe early 2019 but I believe 2018. So the city council at the time approved going up to that 40 cents because we were in the process of looking at the public safety bond. And so at that time again working with our municipal advisor we were projecting at that point in time to get to close to that 40 cent amount. This is public safety. So this is before a community progress bond or anything else that we've done since then. We were looking at that time projected to get close to that 40 cents. And as you saw on that last slide, not only getting through the public safety bonds, but also looking at the community progress bonds right now, we're only projected to hit around 23 cents. So we have made significant strides in again minimizing the impact. And so you get to see in here the numbers piece and the C gets to show you all the pretty pictures of what is being constructed. And I think that that's the piece that we have to keep reminding the public, right? It's yes, we're we're aware that we're issuing debt, but we're bringing those borrowing costs down. We're saving money through the refunding or refinancing. And then on top of that, what are you getting? And so, you get to seeing here the projects that are being delivered to the community. So, some pretty significant projects, not only in the community progress, but the public safety as well with you all recently approving that public safety complex project, which will be again the largest capital project that the city has done, over $200 million. And so, Um, again, it's all of us working together. I bet Hernandez and this capital improvement department and Margarita and I, we work very very closely because we want to make sure that we're all on the same page and that we're all aware of timing of projects, amount of cash that they're going to need again so that we can keep our model as as fresh as possible. >> That that sounds like a big deal. And I I mean, thinking in 2018 that you're going to go to 40 cents and now eight years later, you're thinking you're going to hit 23. That's something to celebrate. So, congratulations on that. I'm really glad that they got you a new computer because maybe you wouldn't have been able to do that for us. Um, but um I I think that this is a good sign of where we're at overall. I kind of wanted to ask what you would feel comfortable with in terms of what our bonding capacity is. Maybe not the maximum, but just a dollar amount in terms of where you would feel comfortable going into everything you presented up to 2037. Well, that's probably a discussion for another day. But what I what I will say is I'll go back to that slide towards the end. is that as we look to as we look to issue out the remaining bonds that have been approved by the voters and the small amount for the state infrastructure bank loans that we have almost half a billion dollars is a lot of debt to still to issue. >> So $494 million roughly to still issue over the next few years. That being said you'll see in FY27 and 28. So as we look to the next couple of years, pretty large issuance is planned right now around 136 and then 130 million and then after 2028 it starts to taper off a little bit. The annual issuance amounts that we'll need to do will start to come down. So again really the strategy is how how can we go about one minimizing the impact over the next several years as we're issuing the remaining amounts but then two how are we building future capacity? We talked a little bit about that and so as we look what is that what is that number what will we feel comfortable about I think that that's probably part of a larger discussion as we look to future capital improvement projects which we all know eventually is going to come to the time to start to have that discussion whatever that's going to look like we're in the process right now of our parks master plan being done and so we'll see what comes about from that the comprehensive plan a lot of discussion about housing a lot of different areas we know have been discussed recently And so our job is to ensure that we're in a position financially where we can have those discussions. And this slide really speaks to well a few slides, but this slide really speaks to we're going to be able to issue out that remaining debt with minimal impact on the tax rate going forward by issuing that debt. And then not that far off into the future, we do have a lot of debt that'll be retired that will create that future capacity that we can begin to have those discussions. The city has issued a lot of debt. I think we all know that. We don't we don't shy away from it. The city has issued a lot of debt since 2012 between not only the 2012 quality of life but also the 2012 street projects and then we did three different capital improvement plans of various cos. So a lot of cos were issued between 2017 and 2021 which I will say the city has not issued certificates of obligation since 2021. So it's been five years already. No COS, no plan to issue CEOs. You all recently approved essentially deprogram some projects that were going to be funded by COS. Um, so I'm giving you a long-winded answer. I I know. >> No, I appreciate it. This is >> But it's but it's it's really just about one managing our current debt that we have to get through sort of and then we can start to have those discussions about what that would do as far as impacting the debt rate into the future. >> Okay. Thank you so much, >> Representative Rocha. Thanks. Thank you, Robert. Thank you, Mayor Proim. Sorry about that. Two questions for you. Um, well, and a statement. I'm I'm very happy to see the media here today because we talked about the congratulations on the bond rating. You almost kind of glossed over it and um I read it in the S&P last week that it was shared of El Paso's bond rating. So just it's an amazing feat to be able to be rated as high as we are for municipality I believe. Um in just reading that that statement that they shared two um is there any oversight on these bonds or what is I should say what is the oversight on the bonds Robert? >> Oh my goodness. So, just for the public in a short brief because I I want to make sure that the public's aware that there is oversight of these bonds, right? And so, I I don't want you to go into specifics, but just to make sure that that we understand that there is oversight and and you're doing your due diligence um that's required by law and and in addition just making yourselves make sure that that you are in compliance. So, first we have excellent attorneys, not only in our city attorney's office, but we also have obviously our bond council, Mr. Braden, who will put a lot of time and effort into the remaining steps. There's going to be a lot that goes into actually making this deal happen. Um, attorney general approvals, there's a lot of things that are going to be required. Um, but one of the things that we've really implemented over the last over years is within our debt management policy, we incorporated a whole new section related to the post issuance compliancy. And so every year around the March, April time frame, we sit down and we go through all of our bonds. We look at the spend down. We're making sure that we're in compliance with the IRS arbitrage and the yield restrictions. So we do that continuously. We're always monitoring our bonds. So, a lot of compliance goes into one IRS, but then also city policies as well, right? So, we have our own our own city policies that we're managing as well with the debt management policy. Um, ensuring that those projects are with allowed within the anytime we do maybe a transfer, ensuring that those projects are within the the bond covenants that they're allowed. Um, so there's quite a bit of compliance that goes into each of the bond issuances. >> Thank you, Robert. And then just a a final question. um what exactly I guess is there a place that the public would be able to go online and find out uh this information that you share today? >> So, Miss Mack being a former librarian and Miss Norman Martinez, a current li we have a wealth of information on I refer to the OTC website as a library of financial reports and documents that anybody can access free of charge. Um, if you go to the city of El Paso website, office of the controller, there's any and every report that you would ever want to see. We have our annual comprehensive financial report, our interim statements, our single audits, we have our ARPA reporting that's required. All of those documents can be found there. And not just for the current year, we have prior years and prior periods as well. >> Thank you, Robert. I really appreciate it. And congrats on the bond rating. >> Thank you, >> Representative TCO. Thank you, Mayor Proip. Hi, Robert. Um, quick question, just one question. When you're looking at refinancing these bonds at a lower interest rate, are you extending the terms? >> We never extend the maturity that I have it on the slide there. The city never extends the maturity of those of those bonds. >> Okay. Very good. Thank you, Robert. Thank you for the presentation. It's it's great. And actually, um, I think my community asks me, if we voted for these bonds and these projects, why don't they get done sooner, right? So could you talk to us a little bit about how you work closely with capital improvements? How you come to decide which projects move forward, which ones need to wait? Is it dependent on the cost of those projects or the capacity or what other things come into that decision-making process? >> I'll let them master some of it. I think you all have been on council now for a little while. So you know that purchasing process is not always the most quickest, but it's it it's like that for a reason, right? We want to always make sure that we're giving everybody a fair opportunity to submit bids. Um different factors impact different projects, whether it's um acquiring land, so site locations can slow down a project, size, scope, there are a lot of different factors that it can impact different projects. Um, our job is to just have a good understanding from the engineers's role of or their perspective of are do they have the cash they need to keep the projects moving. We never want to go into negative cash and that again that's a whole another discussion, but we always want to make sure that we're keeping things flowing. And so we sit down and and it's good for them as well because they have to explain it's accountants and engineers having to talk. So, it's good because we get to see from the engineering perspective, but then they get to hear from our perspective of, okay, well, this is why we're asking you these questions. We know you have to go through design and we know that that takes x amount of time. We know you have to go through all of the pre-construction and all of the different depending upon the type of procurement can impact the speed of a project. And so all of those things again, it really just helps them to have a good understanding of the timing and the actual cash flow, which helps us again in turn make sure that we've got good information to share to you all as we're updating that tax model. >> So if you're issuing these bonds, it's because you're ready to move on these projects. >> Yes. And so for example, the community progress bond, as of about two weeks ago, there was $18 million left of bonds we had already issued. That will probably be gone by the end of August. And so as we start this new fiscal year, we need to make sure that we have bond proceeds in place so that we keep those projects moving >> and it's really an investment in our community that's voter approved. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you, Robert, for the information. I I congratulate you as well for the work well done. >> Miss Prime, I don't think there's any further discussion. I think we can call the vote for item 25. >> Yes, ma'am. A motion was made by Representative Lemon, seconded by Representative Canales to adopt the ordinance on item 25. There's no public comment on that motion. Call for the vote and the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. Move to approve item 26. May I call for the vote on item 26? Miss Prime, do you want to read it into the record once more? >> Yes. Item 26 is a introduction and public hearing of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of state of El Paso, Texas general obligation refunding bonds series 2026 in one or more series in an aggregate aggregate amount not to exceed 435,355,000 for debt service savings living a continuing direct ad annual ad valorum tax for the payment of such bonds and resolving other matters which are necessary to affectuate such issuance. With that, the motion was made by Representative Lemon, seconded by Representative Nino to adopt the ordinance on item 26. On that motion, call for the vote and the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. Okay. Council and make a motion to approve item 27. There is a motion made by representative Lemon, seconded by Representative Orejo, and this is to approve the resolution on item 27. And this is discussion and action of resolution authorizing the redemption of certain outstanding obligations of the city, directing authorized city officials to effectuate the redemption of such obligations and resolving other matters incident and related thereto and providing an effective date. >> Miss P, we have a motion and a second. Can you please call for the vote? >> Yes, ma'am. On that motion, call for the vote. End the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> I make a motion that we recess for lunch for 1 hour, please. >> There's a motion and a second to recess the city council meeting for 1 hour. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? And the city council meeting is in recess at 12:55 p.m. for 1 hour. >> Returning at 1:55, Miss Price. >> Correct, sir. Thank you, Miss Prime. Sorry. I don't know. Yeah. Sorry. Happy to have them here. this What can I start? You want to take your laptop? Thank you. as our community prepares for Miss Prime, do we have quorum? >> Yes, you do. >> Do we go ahead and get started then? Yes, ma'am. Is there a motion to reconvene? >> So moved. >> There's a motion and a second to reconvene the city council meeting. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? The meeting is back in session at 1:59 p.m. >> Thank you, Miss Pine. I know we're on item 28, but I would like to take item 30 at this time. >> Yes, ma'am. Item 30 is presentation and discussion on a report by Forvis Mazers LLP on the financial and grant audit of the city of El Paso. Good afternoon, Margarita. >> Did you hear me? Well, Margarita Marin, deputy CFO controller. Um, it can you please bring the presentation? Thank you. This is a presentation of the external results of the audit. We actually presented to FOA on Thursday. Um but again right here Margarita Marine Rachel Orby presenting again. The agenda for today is going to be the year and close out presented by me and then Rachel will step in and do the presentation on the auditor uh the audit result. To help you understand the results of this audit, I think it's important to step back a little bit and understand the processes that we have in place and how we get there to the results that we have. Um, obtaining no audit findings is not something that it goes easily is actually a lot of effort and it's a process that lasts six months within the in during the audit. So I want to take you back to say a year ago when we first finished the audit for FY24. What were those steps that we do in order to get to where we are today? So some of the things that we do and this is a high level overview, right? But I just wanted to provide some context for the auditor presentation um in order for her to to make sense why we're where we are. So we start with policy review and that's how we tighten those internal controls for the city. We have several financial policies in place. So we always assessing for best practices, making sure that the policies really articulate with what we do in practice and making sure that we don't leave any gaps um you know for any opportunity for any fraud, waste or abuse. We're also reviewing Gatsby standards that become um that become adopted during the year that we're in. So we take trainings, we are you we make sure that we do the right implementation at the right time and we work directly with the auditors to make sure that whatever accounting the standards we implementing we're doing the right thing. We're also uh taking trainings and training other departments. We're doing the month close, making sure that those transactions that be need to be recorded in that particular month are recorded and then bank reconciliations take place and along those uh processes, we're also doing process improvement. And what this is is we really make sure that we can automate to minimize the risk of human error. So we're constantly looking to see what's there that we can improve. For instance, last year we did an auto um we integrated our bank reconciliation with the system and that was really good because it brought up so many efficiencies and then reduce the risk of any human error within the bank reconciliation process. This year we're working on another process for debt. How we tracked and report debt to also minimize the human error. Um we're also doing this reviews for par. We're also doing um desk reviews for travel and our grants division is constantly assessing for allowable expenditures um expenses happening within the performance period and every time we're really looking at full compliance not only with the bond covenants but bone compliance with the granting agencies bone compliance with the IRS rules with our internal policies with Gazby standards So then around the middle of the year we actually have a multi-EP department effort we get with office of management and budget and also with um purchasing department to make sure that we're preparing for the end of the year that we're closing the purchase orders that uh there's no more budget transfers in place because guess what at the end of the year all those transactions that took place in the fiscal year have to be recorded in the fiscal year that that that they happen and in the respective fund and the respective accounting stream. So all these processes while we do all these processes and day-to-day accounting um there's something so important underlying and underneath all of that and it's our internal controls. So our internal controls have to be really really in place not only through throughout the policies but the way that the departments follow these policies and the way that they execute their operations. So segregation of duties super important internal control that we have to have in place dual authorizations. There is not a scent that leaves the city without dual authorization reconciliation checks and balance inventory count. Um and all of this has to happen before the end of the year because when it comes September one and the auditors walk in the external auditors they're testing all those balances that were reported in the balance sheet and also in the net position statement and they really want to verify that those balances exist. So one of the things that they do and just so you know when we present the balance to them let's say in the bank they don't take it for granted they go and they reach out directly to the banks and they verify hey does the city of El Paso really has this balance so they confirm with other entities that those balances exist. Um some of the amounts that we report are are also the result of us working with actuaries doing these calculations for pension op um and making sure that we are where we need to be with these balances in according to gasp standards. So when we start the audit we have a full agenda. So we have weekly meetings with the auditors. We make sure that there's deadlines internally that we achieve for review because there is always a review process in place. Again, we get audited throughout the year by many agencies. Well, including our internal audit, but also state agencies, granting agencies, IRS can come. Um, so we're constantly being audited. So, we're always prepared with what we need to present. Um the first ones to do the audit is the grants division and they do what we call the single audit and that audit really is reviewing those grants awards and expenditures that we have during the current year and making sure that they comply with every grant requirement that we have and also making sure that the allowable cost is good that they uh were incurred within the performance period. So they're constantly going through that and preparing the schedule of expenditures and federal awards. After they're done, then we start the financial audit. And as we start the financial audit and all these balances are being tested, we're also working on the annual comprehensive financial report. So what this give us is no financial audit findings during 2025. And with 2025 we completed 10 consecutive years with zero audit findings. And what this is is a testament of a strong financial governance and confidence that we can provide to our stakeholders at any level that our numbers are correct, our processes are in place and we have good internal controls. So what you see here in this slide is four pillars is a scorecard and these four pillars are so important for a municipality like ours to really make sure that we're doing the things right. So if you look at the audit opinion, we start with the strong audit opinion and that's what we received this year. We have an independent audit opinion that our financial statements are presented fairly. And I tell you that we do so many things to make sure that everything are that everything is right. But without the independence assurance, nothing that we do will be worth it like for the outsiders, right? because we need that independent assurance to have people to build the credibility to know that it's not only an internal report that we prepare but somebody else is attesting that is correct. So the the audi opinion very strong you all can rely on those numbers to make decisions on behalf of our community. Our bond holders can rely on those numbers to to buy our bonds. Then you go to the internal controls and in this sense our internal controls are strong. The auditors didn't identify any material weaknesses. They didn't identify any significant deficiencies and that means that we have good compliance levels and we have good oversight here is where tone at the top is so important right our city manager our CFO uh DCMS the FAC the internal audit all of us working together to maintain those internal controls that there is no overrides in those controls so very strong within the city of El Paso and then you go and you have an audio opinion that is clean and you have a control environment that remains effective but how does that translate into the numbers that we present is the city of El Paso stable financially so when we look at our reserves the liquidity and the budget discipline that we have all of those things support the stability you heard uh this morning Robert's presentation when he was talking about the reduction in debt debt management is a big thing because we cannot fund those capital projects without debt. So that's something that we can say we're not going to do, we have to do it, but we can what we can do best is really be responsible in the management of that debt and at all times reducing the burden in our in our constituents right with the with the tax rate. So that was that his presentation allude to that $500 million reduction in debt and maintaining the tax rate at that level is not something that that is easy. And then you have all that together and now it's like how do we look out there? What do they think of us? Right? So this supports long-term credibility. You heard it through their bond ratings. The bond ratings that we have um we have strong audit results. The market can trust us. people can trust these numbers. You all can trust these numbers. Okay. So here in this slide, this is the reports that we actually issued. Um the first one is the annual comprehensive financial report and this report gets submitted to the municipal securities rulemaking board through the electronic municipal market access. This is one of the uh compliance requirements that we have. So when you were asking this morning, hey, what is the level of compliance on those bonds? What's the oversight? This is part of the oversight. The continuing disclosures, we have to submit this annually. Not only that, but there's a list of continuing disclosures that we have to comply with for the life of the bond. And if something happens like let's say um we change the trustee something as simple as that we have 10 days to report to the municipal rulemaking board and say there is a change. Um so there's continuously oversight on all this. Then this year we have the new Senate bill 1851. And with this one we were mandated to submit the aurer to file the aer with our city clerk um within 180 days which we did in order for us to be able to continue and issue a tax rate that is above the non- new revenue rate. And lastly, we submitted to the government finance officer association for the 2025 certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting. Uh we're not many municipalities submit to the GFOA, but this is a great achievement for the city because it also attests that our financial statements are in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Then we have the single audit get submitted to the federal audit clearing house. And then something that we don't have to do but we choose to do is the popular annual financial reporting. That's our commitment to our community. That's transparency because we know that not everybody understands finance. So we have to put it in in simple terms that anyone can understand what what was happening with the finances here in in the city. How we're managing the money that came in and how it was spent on behalf of the community. And we're actually working on a Spanish version of this. Hopefully, it will get released this week. So, yeah, more to come. All these reports are located in the city's website, the controllers's office. So, the bottom line, we have a decade with no audit findings. And if you look through the full decade, we have s have survived, our processes have survived, changes in management, the COVID, multiple employees coming and doing those transactions, um changes in Gatsby standards, human error, and yet we're here with a clean opinion. We're here with a strong um governance, and we're here with another year with zero audit findings. So that technically say that these processes are deeply embedded in in our institutional culture. So I'm going to leave you with that thought and I'm going to pass it to Rachel for her a presentation. >> Thank you Margarita. Hi Rachel. >> Hi. Good afternoon Mayor Pro Tim City Council. Nice to see several of you again this afternoon. Uh, as Margarita mentioned, we were here earlier, uh, last week, met with the FOAC to go over these great results. And so, um, I'm just going to get right into it. And so, this afternoon, we're going to talk about the audit scope. So, what the city of El Paso has engaged our firm to complete for you all. We'll talk about the results. Um, it's not an accounting and auditing presentation if we don't talk about Gazsby. So, that's the governmental accounting standards board. that is the standard setting body that you have to follow as a governmental entity. Uh Margarita touched on this, but they have been very busy over the last several years issuing accounting pronouncements that your team has to go and analyze and determine the magnitude that it will impact the city. So we'll talk a lot about that and then happy to round it out with any questions that you all may have. Okay. So here on the screen, this is a list of all of the deliverables that our firm has provided to the city. And as Margarita mentioned, it is a very uh lengthy process. So uh the city's fiscal year end is August 31st. And so we have been over the last six months actively working together uh to accomplish these goals. So we did issue uh opinions on the city's annual comprehensive financial report. So that is the financial statements for the city as a whole. Uh since the city does spend and receive a million dollars in federal and state funding on an annual basis, you are required by law to have a separate compliance audit which is known as the single audit in accordance with the uniform guidance and the Texas grant management standards. Uh the city also has uh PFC's that they receive out at the airport and so that also is subject to a separate audit and then as she mentioned there are various agreed upon procedures whether it's through the TCEQ or other things that we do for the city as well. Um and then she kind of stole my thunder but I just do want to reiterate and hit on the fact that the city did receive clean unmodified opinions. And so as you can see here on the screen, you actually received several opinions from us. So in your annual comprehensive financial report, so that is the thick 200page book. Um, and I I don't want to downplay and I said this with the FOA, I don't want to downplay the work that our that you all hire our firm to do, but you received three pages from us in that book. And so that is our opinion. And so what that means is that that thick book that's in front of you or that you've all seen, uh, your city staff actually put that all together. So they compile that. And so across, uh, Texas, we work with several clients. And I would say only 5% of our clients actually produce and compile and put this document together. So again, it is a a true testament to the city's commitment and OTC to being financial stewards and really owning their commitment to excellence in financial reporting. Uh two other a couple of other opinions. So we gave you a clean opinion on your internal controls over financial reporting. So Margarita talked a lot about this. You know, you don't just be in compliance by luck or by being in the right place at the right time. It's really having strong internal controls in place to be able to receive a clean opinion. And then along those same lines, the city did receive clean opinions on your compliance with your federal and state grants as well as being in uh as well as internal controls over compliance. So again, uh this is the highest level of assurance that uh any governmental entity can achieve and the city did achieve that for fiscal year 2025. Uh and then kind of staying along those same lines with the city's federal and state funding. Uh the city had six major federal and state award programs that were required to be tested during this fiscal year. Uh they're here on the screen and I'll quickly go over these. So the CDBG, so the community block the community development block grant program uh was required to be tested. the federal transit cluster, so the grants that Sun Metro receives, uh the airport improvement program, highway planning and construction. So those were the four federal programs that were subject to audit. And then uh there were two state grants that met the threshold to be audited this year. So the motor vehicle crime prevention authority, formerly the ABTPA program, and then the uh Texas anti-gang program. And then again, uh, no significant deficiencies and no material weaknesses were identified, uh, with these grants. And then one thing that I I wanted to touch on because I don't know that I covered this last year, and I think it's very very important for everybody to hear is that the city did meet the designation to be a low-risk audit. And in fact, you have for for for many years. And that is a a very important distinction um in in our world is being a low-risk audit. And so when you've got uh these financial statements and these reports that are published on your website, published in the federal audit clearing house, being a low-risk audit is something that every entity should strive to achieve. Uh and you have done that for numerous years. And then um going on with some more strengths and accomplishments here. And so, uh, Margarita hit on this, but the city does, um, submit their annual comprehensive financial report to GFOA, so the government finance officers association. And the city has received this prestigious award for 27 consecutive years. And so that just shows the city's longstanding commitment to uh, financial reporting and excellence. Um, and then she also hit on the paffer. So that's the popular annual financial report and I think that is amazing that the city is working on a Spanish version of this report and in fact you've received this award for four consecutive years and then when you kind of think about all this together so the city's budget award your annual comprehensive uh act for award the popular annual financial award GFOA actually has a program that's called the triple crown and so the city is actually only one of 27 cities across the state of Texas that have been named a triple crown award winner. And so again, that just again goes back to OTC and all the departments understanding that this is an very important part of the city and showing that their commitment to being forefront and leaders in this industry. And then last but not least, Margarita hit on this, but um you know the numbers and the interim reports that you all receive throughout the fiscal year. You know, as part of our audit, we come in, we do a lot of work. We probably spend I don't know a number in the thousands of hours working on the city's audit and we did not identify any audit adjustments. So all of the records and the data that we received did not result in us going back to city staff and saying hey there was an error in this number. And so I think that is just again uh back to the strong internal controls that are in place here. And then I'll quickly touch on this. So with every audit there are risks that we go into as the auditor where we design our audit approach and we have to walk through what we believe are risks uh to the city's financials as well as any governmental organization. And so management override of controls is a presumed risk in every audit engagement. And so for us what we want to do is make sure okay what can we do to get comfortable with with this risk? And so we heavily look at the estimates that the city has and make sure that they're properly recorded. We look at reports from actuaries. We perform a significant amount of journal entry testing. Margarita mentioned that um every entry in the city has dual signatures. We can attest to that. Throughout our process, we review a lot of journal entries and we make sure that there's proper segregation of duties. That one person is not the same person preparing an entry. that is someone who's approving and posting in the system. Uh we'll also look as part of that for any significant or unusual entries. And then something else that I think is important um is that you know we don't want to be complacent. We want to make sure that we're keeping everybody on their toes being able to provide a fresh perspective. And so every year is part of the audit. you know, OTC and the departments kind of know what we're going to ask for, but we also incorporate an element of unpredictability in the audit to ensure that um there's not something that they can anticipate so that it provides a a fresh perspective on an annual basis. And then I've hit on this a lot, but the the the city does receive and spend a lot of grant funding. It is a very important uh area of focus for um the audit team. And so we do a lot of testing around grants, making sure that they're properly recorded at your end, making sure that if the city did expend funding, do we have proper revenue recorded? Things of that nature. And and again, just making sure that if grants were there last year, did they wind down? Should they be there? So really just making sure the grants as a whole are complete and accurate. Okay. I'm not going to read all of this to you. Um, just know that the city does have significant estimates. Um, and that as part of our process, we do look at your estimates. And again, it goes with looking at actuary reports, looking at historical data, and making sure that things are complete and accurate with respect to estimates. And then again along those same lines, every set of significant estimates contains probably 10 plus pages of additional detail and notes in the city's annual comprehensive financial report. So um and I guess before I move on to that in the annual comprehensive financial report and I failed to me mention this at FOA and I want to mention it now is that the management's discussion and analysis so that is about 10 to 15 pages in the 200 plus page book. It is a great area to go for anybody that um wants to learn more about what was going on in the city during fiscal year 25. It talks a lot about significant fluctuations year-over-year. And it's just a really good high-level snapshot um and very well written by city staff. And then I mentioned it's not an accounting and auditing presentation if we don't talk about governmental accounting standards board. So the gazsby uh there's two standards in this fiscal year 26. So, we're already almost halfway or more than halfway through the fiscal year 26. And so, there's two standards, Gazsby 103 that will be applicable for 83126. Um, I can attest that your city staff are getting a lot of training on this because our firm did a webinar uh yesterday morning and I know that they all attended and I know GFOA also did a webinar subsequent to that. they attended. And so this is a standard that is going to change a little bit of financial reporting. We don't know for certain 100% yet what the impact is going to be, but I know that they are working behind the scenes to quickly get up to speed and ensure that everything uh is properly addressed and we'll be working with the team in the coming weeks on this standard. Gazsby 104. Um again, this is also applicable for fiscal year 26. I know that the team has received a lot of training on this as well. We don't foresee that this is going to have a significant impact. This is really just a footnote uh disclosure in the financial statements. So again, no significant impact uh to the city. And then last but not least, Gazsby statement number 105. This is not applicable till fiscal year 27. And this is just really uh clarifying when a subsequent event should be disclosed again in the notes to the financial statements. So again, not a standard that is going to be adding new liabilities or or new numbers to the financial statements. It's more so u footnote disclosure only. And then I just wanted to hit on this really quick and really brief. So um it is no surprise that our industry uh the governmental public sector space is continuously changing. We have a lot of uh regulatory changes and headwinds facing us. And so staffing short our firm pulled a number of of uh entities across the country and there were five areas that they identified where their clients um and their team members want more training, more just information on. And so addressing staffing shortages and just their overall impacts is one area that um I know people are interested in and wanting to learn more on. enhancing financial reporting capabilities. We've heard there's so many uh third parties that rely on your financial statements. City staff do a great job with this cyber security. You know, I know you all have training that you have to go through on an annual basis. So, this is your reminder, you know, to get that done and just continue to prioritize that. Um, and so before I kind of answer any questions that anybody has, I do just want to say that this is a year round process. You know, we we're done with the audit and we're already about to start planning for next year's audit. And I do, you know, I've talked a lot about OTC and I can't say enough great things, but it truly is a citywide effort. Every department has a role to play in this. And so, you know, we received full cooperation from city staff and that allows us to be able to meet these deadlines and be able to to be in compliance with Senate Bill 1851 and all of the other uh regulatory agencies that rely on the city's financials. So, with that, and I hope Margarita comes back up because she may have to answer some questions. We're both happy to answer any questions that anyone has at this time. >> Thank you, Rachel, and thank you, Margarita. Representative Nino. >> Thank you, Mayor Prom, and thank you, Rachel, Margarita, Miss Mack, and Robert Cinez for all of the great work that has taken into account into making this reality. I think what's key here is, you know, for the public to understand that this is an external audit. This is not an internal audit, right? And um you kind of touch into how, you know, the law states that we are required to do such a audit, a single audit when we receive over a million dollars in grants from the state and the federal government. Um, Margarita, last at FOAG, you mentioned that staff reviews over 180 different funding strings that are tracked by the office of the controller and that no transaction within the city is not not ever reviewed by a minimum of two individuals. Can you touch a little bit about that? I think that that that's key to, you know, celebrating that this is a big deal to be a lowrisk audit. I know that was a quote that Rachel shared last week and I think that that we need to celebrate that even further. >> Absolutely. So I know everybody is very familiar with the general fund and the operating funds of the enterprises when it comes to budget season. But we actually do have about 180 different funds between enterprise funds that are nonoperating to special revenue funds where we book the grants, capital project funds where we have to track separately the proceeds from the bonds and then we also are custodials of other entities because along coordinating this audit we do have to coordinate with component units the pension office, the MO, CRMA, the water utilities all of those uh entities this flow into our financial statement. So when we look at each of these funds, different accounting rules apply to them and we have to make sure that we are following the correct basis of accounting. If it's acrual basis or modify acral basis that there is a source document that can back up every single number that you're going to see in that balance sheet, the financial statement. So yes, to your point, it is um um very hard work that we put in to review these numbers, these balances annually. Actually, monthly workpapers are being prepared quarterly for financial statements, but monthly everybody's checking on on these numbers. >> Yeah. Now, I'm very grateful for your staff and everyone that takes part of this me too and ensuring that you know this is being fiscally responsible and ensuring that we protect the taxpayer overall. Um it's a reflection of our strong governance, disciplined financial management and continued focus for fiscal responsibility. In the state of Texas, there's over 1,200 municipalities, right? And to be one of the 27 that have received a Triple Crown award is again a big deal. Um, Margarita, I know that there's been a couple of recent media statements about, you know, when it comes to financial reporting. Um, can you share where members of the public can have access to all of these internal external reports, audit findings, and everything that's required for us to file um, and also publish for the public to review? >> Yes. So office of the controller publishes the actford the annual comprehensive financial report the paffer the single audit not only for this current year but for the prior years within those reports specifically within the aer you'll see the audio opinion which is what the external auditor assurance that the numbers are in compliance with generally accepted accounting standards also for investors they do have access through the electronic municipal market access all aers all bond issuance are in that platform and everybody is public access it's free to the public >> so yeah thank you for that I think it's key and important to share that I know you shared it your presentation but I just wanted to share that one more time and I'm very grateful that you've made it a gold standard for the city for the last 10 years to really you know have this excellence not just for the last 10 years but it's also it goes back to the 27 years of really having these you know excellent audit findings so thank Thank you for all your hard work. Rachel, thank you for joining us again and I have no further questions. >> Representative Canales. >> Yeah, thank you both. I already made a lot of my comments uh at the FOAC meeting last week, but what was I'll steal jokes from myself. Another triple crown. It feels like it's getting routine at this point. Um, no, we're very grateful for um the work that you do for us uh and also the incredible work of uh the office of the controller and everybody else in the city who has to work on this audit. Like you said, it was uh probably thousands of work hours um and probably many several thousand more work hours on the city side. So, um, thank you to everybody in all of the departments, um, in all of the component units as well, uh, who who put in the time to, uh, conduct the audit, to be audited. Both of them take work. Um, so, thank you, >> Representative Rocha. >> Thank you, Mayor Prom, Margarita, Rachel. Thank you all so much. You know, you touched on it a little bit, and just like Rep. Canales, I I did share a lot of my comments. uh last week at the FOAC meeting, but it it bears to repeat itself. Congratulations. So, for for members of the public um that may not have that financial acumen, a triple crown would be the equivalent of a Super Bowl. I I don't know. I'm just making sure I understand. I mean, it is it is it is really that big of a deal. >> Correct. Okay. So I just want to make sure that I that you know we all understand how um exclusive this group is right and and that there are those financial guidelines that are in place and Margarita that your office goes above and beyond what the minimal requirements are to be able to make this external audit just move that much smoother throughout the process. And like you mentioned, Rachel, it's a six-month audit. So, here we are right on the end of, you know, producing the the last fiscal year and you're already getting into the next audit. >> So, you know, I just I just bear to mention that again because it is quite a feat to be able to sit here and say a Triple Crown winner yet again. And how many years is that? The triple crown came about four years ago when we submitted the puffer for review because we always not always but for the past 30 years we have the budget book and for the past 27 years we have the aerford. So adding the puffer is what it triggered the triple crown for the city. >> It's pretty amazing. So for the last 27 years if you could repeat that again matt. >> So the last 27 years for the aer 30 years for the budget book and four years for the puffford. >> Thank you. I I think that that just bears a lot of repetition and a lot of congratulations to you and your team and to Rachel. Thank you. Um it it just we're we're very proud of the work that you all have done. Thank you. >> Thank you, Margarita. And thank you, Rachel, for for all the work that you've done for the city of El Paso. Um it really takes a team and so many times uh you know Representative Canal said it he's he's getting kind of used to hearing this every year. So but you know we really shouldn't take things for granted because sometimes we just think things are the way they are because it's easy to be that way. But we need to recognize that year after year it's it's something that's earned and it's merited by an entire team behind this. Um, I want to point out to make sure people know that this year we also hired a director for risk management, which is only going to add towards being more financial uh, transparent and fiscally responsible to our community. We also have a new auditor that's going to join a wonderful team um, that's already in place here at the city. So, it really just takes a lot of different departments, a lot of different people to make this happen year after year. And I just want to make sure that we're not taking it for granted, that we hear you, we see you, and that we know that there's a lot of work that goes behind this. You know, I I wasn't really aware of all of these awards and what they meant. So, I I mean, I must confess that I went online to to look them up to see exactly what they're about and and they're a very big deal. It's a very big deal. So, let's make sure that we talk about this in a positive way and that we um that we we tell people we're in this position because of the people that work in the city and because we care deeply about being fiscally responsible and um making sure that we're making the best use of our taxpayer dollars. So, thank you to all of you, to Robert this morning, and to everyone else involved with this. We appreciate it. >> Thank you. Miss Prime, we I don't believe we have further discussion. >> No. And we don't have a vote. Uh >> there's no action on this item. >> No action on this item. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> If we may return to item 28. >> Yes, please. Thank you. Item 28 is discussion and action to approve a resolution that the city council declares the expenditure of district 2 discretionary funds in an amount not to exceed $2,500 for costs related to the holding of the annual pride event in the city hall parking lot along with destination El Paso and El Paso Sun City Pride on June 27th, 2026. And this was posted by Representative Vasa. >> Move to approve. Second. I don't believe we have any discussion on this item. Okay. So, um, Miss Prime, we have a motion and a second. Could you please call for the vote? >> Yes. A motion was made by Representative Vaso, seconded by Representative Ganales to approve the resolution on item 28. On that motion, call for the vote. and the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. Mayor Prom, may we take the item on the addition to the agenda that is also along the same lines? >> Yes, Miss Frank. >> Thank you. And this is on the addition to the agenda. And this is discussion and action on a resolution authorizing the expenditure of district 7 discretionary funds in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for costs related to the annual di no lios event held on Saturday, April 25th, 2026 at Babo Royale Park, which serves a municipal purpose of fostering community and encouraging literacy within the city of El Paso's children population. And this is Representative Lemona. Miss Prime, we have a motion and a second and no discussion on this item. Please call for the vote. >> Yes, thank you. The motion was made by Representative Lemon, seconded by alternate mayor prom, and this is to approve the resolution on the addition to the agenda. On that motion, call for the vote and the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> Okay, Miss P, I think we're on item 29. >> Yes, ma'am. Item 29 is presentation and discussion by the capital improvement department on the capital improvement plan CIP midyear update for active programmed and completed capital projects for FY2026 to include quality of life, public safety and community progress bonds and capital programs. Thank you. Hello, Evette. >> Good afternoon, Mayor Prom and Council. I bet Nandez with the city manager's office. So, you've heard um about all the finances with Robert and Margarita and the good work that they've done. This presentation will really show the phases of each of the projects and how they're related to each of the funding categories. a future presentation I do want to bring um a presentation to FOAC and really talk about the draw down of the remaining projects that we have identified with each of the funding sources. So this will be the overview and really to bring home to uh Robert's point of how we're working together and we're obligating debt as needed to pay for the projects. Um, this I will go over community progress, why we're asking for that, why you approved the 71 million. Um, do you guys see it? Okay. Because it looks Yeah. Okay. Um, so going over um this is for midyear. So um up to April of um sorry up to February of Feb of fiscal year 2026 the midyear results uh looking at some of the accomplishments and as I made mention going over the voter approved quality of life public safety bond community progress bond and then highlight some of the projects remaining within the uh capital plans which are the certificates of obligation And so looking at the encumbrances, um we are on track to encumber a h 100red million. So the incumbrances are the purchase orders that C puts forth for consultants, contractors. It's the money that we earmark for each of the prog projects. Um this is a good indicator once you've earmarked uh the monies that they will be spent on the projects. for our expenditures um 47 million up to February. Um once again this is online. We generally our benchmark like to spend a h 100red million um in our projects and that really is the investment into our community. So from fiscal year 18 we've spent over 970 million in projects. So looking at what we've spent for this midyear almost about 50 million. If you take about half of that, it's our labor costs. So we have about 24 million in labor costs. And what that means is the jobs that are created by the construction projects. So the superintendent, their laborers, their field workers, their electricians out on these projects, that is how we calculate uh the labor costs and the monies here in El Paso. Um so for fiscal year of 2026 2551 jobs um over 57,000 from September 21st to present day. And here's a look at direct and induced of 78 million. Looking at the accomplishments, uh really focusing on the public safety bond. Um we will have a ribbon cutting here soon for the central fire uh station. With all of the fire stations that have been renovated, we've completed over 40%. Um I promise you that number would be higher, but we need to make sure that we're working with Chief Killings that we don't impact our response times. Um council just approved uh the GMP for the public uh safety complex. we start design and we're looking to start all the earth work um in early 2027. Um the joint police and fire headquarters that is under a Seymar contract and they've already completed 30% design and they will also be starting to break ground and and move earth in early 2027. Um all abilities, you guys just approved the testing for the geotech lab. Really excited. We're going to start construction here winter of this year. Uh that's community progress bond. In addition, we've moved up all of the reconstruction and resurfacing projects that were identified within the community progress bond. And so Pebble Hills will be finished this winter. Uh Vista del Sol phase one will be finished this summer. And so that is also to to go into why the 71 million uh Robert shared that there's about$ 18 million left. You're going to see an influx of monies that we're spending as the reconstruction projects are going to be taking place. So one of the things that you see when a bond is rolled out there's an eb and flow. The first part is design which is usually only about a small percentage of the total project cost. And once those come to fruition in procurement and construction, that's where you see the uptick in how we're spending down our money. Um, we've completed 14 projects this fiscal year. Um, to include canopies at Arho, Carlos Bombach, um, also uh, one of the NIP projects, East Cave, uh, finished a couple of traffic signals and also uh, Sun Metro Pathways and charging stations. from fiscal year 15. You could see we've completed 625 projects. It could you please play the midyear video. So, as Robert says, he gets to talk about the monies. I get the fun stuff of pictures and videos. So, it will be good once once we get it uploaded. Um it you're right. I don't see it either. So we could send that to council at a later time. Let's go just go ahead and go on. It's it's a great video. So we'll make sure to share that uh with mayor and council. My apologies. Um this next slide that they're bringing up is a snapshot of um all the funds. And so what we really want to show here is that as as uh Robert had made mention in bond issuance um obligating the debt, we only have uh the public safety bond and community progress bond left to obligate that debt. And so that's where the coordination becomes of what is their schedule, what is our draw down of those monies and how we obligate that in a timely manner as he was making mention for the call dates. Next slide. So here I want to go into at a very general level of the phases project phases. So the quality of life bond we have completed uh 235 projects um with 16 million remaining. Next slide. And so those projects are the central uh flat fields that uh was recently introduced to being constructed at Modesto Gomez. Uh we're finishing out some of the uh zoo projects, the endangered species, South American pavilion. And then projects in bidding. We're working on an agreement with El Paso Electric for Montana I 10. And uh we're also going to be replacing the roof from the Asia Forest uh skylight. This was an AA concern and so we added that to uh the quality of life. Uh finishing off this spring and summer are the Bear Ridge trail head uh the mountain to river trail system and also the Komodo Dragon. Next slide. A public safety bond. As I made mention, we've completed 40% of the fire station renovations. So that's 17 uh projects complete and we've kicked off 16 projects in design. Next slide. And so you'll see here um the larger projects that we have are the public safety complex over 200 million um currently designing um five fire stations and we're looking um to start construction on our regional command centers um with the northeast being the first one. Next slide. We have three projects um in bidding. As I made mention, once we finish construction, we bring um another set into bidding and we start releasing others for design. Um so we will be starting these three projects um here by summer of this year. And then projects that are scheduled to be completed summer of this year, most notably is the brand new logistics station, central fire station here off of Campbell. And then we have four um fire stations within the various districts. Next slide. Community progress bond. Uh we've completed 10 projects. Um we have 10 in pre-esign and 21 in design. So really excited of getting those out of design into bidding and starting construction. Next slide. So pre-esign um these are the the various stages that we made mention on the NIPs we have quick builds those are the ones that can be completed with selecting um the amenities through EP market or by board um and then the projects that we have in design require uh consultants to work on those scopes of work. The projects in design, the larger ones are the extensions. We have Airway, Montwood, and Wrestler. Montwood and Wrestler breaking ground later this year. Next slide. And then projects in bidding. Um the majority of these are the NIP phase 6. Um looking to have uh quick starts and finish on these projects. Um working through by board and also EP market. Next slide. Um, additionally, we have the Coronado Hills. I believe that just currently uh was completed. Uh, we've finished some of the traffic signals. These are um the second round of signals that was in Proposition B of community progress. Um, and then we will finish, as I made mentioned, phase one Vista del Sol. Um, that's an $8 million project here this summer. Next slide. and then resurfacing. Um we will come back to council with a comprehensive overview of just uh streets and resurfacing, but this is a significant portion of the community progress bond. About 75% of that 272 million is tied into resurfacing. So I want to give a quick overview. Next slide. So looking at fiscal year 2023, um we have a currently a catch up contract. So that's going to be managed by CI while streets and maintenance continues on the new two-year rollouts that was just approved by city council. Um so we're currently working on Pratt, Lombardi, and we've uh finished 12 projects um residential projects for the fiscal year 23. Next slide. Um for fiscal year 24 we have uh 27 programmed. And so what program means in in this context is the approved streets that council has voted on. So every two years streets and maintenance will bring a listing of of streets within each of your districts. Once they're approved, they then are classified as programmed. And we currently have three projects that are active. And we've completed uh 14 projects with uh 1.5 million in expenditures. Next slide. For fiscal year 25, we have 16 programmed. We've completed five. Um we've spent 1 million of the 3.5 and uh looking to complete these here shortly. Um we're looking at uh end of this year's summer. Next slide. um for fiscal year 26 that has just uh recently been approved are the 17 uh programmed residential and also 16 residential. So we've received the schedules from the contractors. Um, and so we are looking to schedule those out and turn turn those around hopefully before we come out with our our next roll out. As uh Randy Garcia, director of streets and maintenance, had has made mentioned before to council. This year, we have three active contracts. We've never had so many active contracts uh working uh consecutively on all our resurfacing. So, we're really looking to uh get through this round um sooner than we have since fiscal year 23. And I believe that oh now the capital plans these are the certificates of obligation which council has has asked about. Um so in 2017 uh 71 million was identified. We've completed uh 62 there are 10 in construction and we have a few in design and bidding. Next slide. Um so projects in design uh working with Karina and her group on the co-enite readiness. This is money identified for the uh parking lot um project bidding. This will be an item here later in council is the approval of Cedar Grove. This is in partnership with El Paso Water and some of the poor soil conditions we have out in that subdivision and we currently have uh 10 projects in construction. Um some of the delays for these 2017 cos have been um the scheduling and working with Texot and uh Federal Highway Administration in getting those advanced funding agreements. Uh Donafan was a lengthy uh delay in working with BNSF. Um but we are scheduled to finish these um at the end of this year. Next slide. 2018 uh 69 million was identified. We've completed uh 29 projects with a remainder of 5 million for this uh funding source. Next slide. Um these are uh federally funded projects. Um, so when I take this to FOAC, you will see the the difference and how the SIB loans and what council has approved um, in how we are uh, paying for these projects and providing that match really leveraging uh, 20% of the city um, and getting 80% federal funding. Next slide. 2019 we completed uh, 16 projects. Um, we have six in design. Next slide. These are the Sun City lights uh one still in design projects in um bidding and also um the traffic management center. This was a this is a fivephase project um very significant project that will help upgrade our signalization, move forward towards automation, more of a smart look at how we manage our traffic. And then the last one that was identified in the CO really excited to finish out the last of the lighting, landscape, and median improvements out on the west side. Next slide. 2020, we've completed uh 38 projects and we have one remaining within this funding source. Next slide. And this is the last of the Sun City lights that we will be finishing this summer. I believe that completes my presentation. Thank you, Evette. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, Representative Tjo. >> Thank you, Mayor Proip. I have a a quick question on the on the bond. So, we have one from 2012, another one from 2017. Are these 10-year bonds or and how how is that still going on? >> Correct. So, we have um the voter approved 2012 quality of life. We have the 2019 uh for public safety and we have the 2022 of community progress. They are 10-year bonds. If you'll remember when I asked for the GMP for the public safety bond, we have that programmed out until 2029. And so, the intent is to finish that and also uh working with streets and maintenance on finishing 2022 in 10 years. uh in in the 2017 >> when they were issued. >> Oh, CFO Cortina has just let me know that was the year that the voters approved, but not necessarily when the bonds were issued. >> Okay. When were the bonds issued? >> For the 2012 >> for which bonds >> for the 2012 quality? >> Multiple years. So, we we did issuances starting in 2013, 2016, and I'd have to get you the breakdown, but we did we've done multiple issuances for the quality of life bonds. So, the the oldest is >> I think the last one we did was in 2023, but I can get you the breakdown of >> Okay. >> all these. >> Thank you, Robert. >> Representative Aso. >> Thank you, Mayor Prom. Thanks for this event. This is really compre comprehensive like always. I had a few questions particularly on slide 17 on the projects that are happening at the zoo. I realized that the last item on today's agenda, item number 34, is going to um get into some additions for the zoo on four different projects. But I was looking at those amounts and they're a little different than the amounts that you included in this slide. So I kind of wanted to understand what happened there because even without the additional funding that's requested today in item 34, they're still a little off. >> Yes, sir. So um what we are asking for in item 34 is the use of investment interest. So once we have the bonds, they do acrue interest. We wanted to make sure that the original list that was identified in 2012 that was completed first and with this investment interest we are adding new projects that fall within the umbrella and the restrictions of your bond issuance. So that's why the numbers um are larger because we have investment interest. >> Okay. just >> and that's also sorry if I can also add um that's why you also see asterisks uh within each of the totals because there have been budget transfers all approved by council and also funding sources such as federal highway um administration. >> Okay, just um so phase two on the South American Pavilion improvements on the the last presentation for today and I'm not trying to get ahead. It says that we have 2.1 million and here it says 1.6 million. >> Correct. So the 1.6 was originally identified within the quality of life bond ordinance and this 2.1 is now the investment interest >> cuz then >> so when you're accounting for those two that's how you add that. >> Okay. Just cuz on the last um item of the day it says the current is 2.1. We're adding we're you're asking at 200 and then it'll be a total 2.3 and then this is 1.6. So that's where it kind of threw me off and I was a little confused. >> Let me double check. Yeah. One of the things that we've seen historically since we've started this, there is >> when we ask council to approve a construction contract, we talk about project construction. Then when we talk about the entire project, we talk about the project total. So there are uh nuances in since the bulk of it is construction cost. Um a lot of times what gets advertised is the construction cost. So I'll make that distinction if we were talking about project budget versus construction budget. >> Okay. That that that'll make it a little bit more clear. I I just was concerned that even with the action that hopefully the council approves later today that this might still be a little bit different on this. So, I wanted to double check cuz for example on the Asia Force Skylight, it's 691 and it matches 691 on the on the last item. So, that's where I got a little confused. And then I noticed on slide 28, um, Barcelona is on hold. And I know this has been a very difficult project. So I kind of wanted to understand what this means when we're seeing it on hold. >> Right. So there there are other projects in here that are on hold and it's because we are waiting for uh El Paso water. So there's some utility work that we're coordinating as Mayor Prom understands like Love Road has had that whole designation because we've been coordinating with the utilities. >> So it's uh because that's been for a while. So that continues to be an issue and we're waiting on El Paso Water so we could get a completion. Okay. I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Representative Rocha. Thank you, Mayor Prom. Thank you, Evette, for for the uh for the presentation. It really helps to be able to see it on on one document versus trying to reach out to you and get them so separately. So, thank you for bearing with me. Uh the one question I have is that is the capital improvements dashboard updated with this? Would you happen to know? >> Yes, actually the the Monday board feed the Monday feeds into this. Um so >> the main reason for using monday.com is that it is instantaneous. So >> uh staff is required to provide updates the 15th of each month. Okay. um we still need to control them into getting that good data in so we could report out to council. Um but yes, these two documents uh should should uh match up match up. So So what I'm understanding is by the 15th of every month, end of business, let's say, uh also, you know, warranting that it's not a weekend or holiday, then it it should typically be updated by the 16th of that morning. Yes. >> Is that correct? Okay. we're working on because I've heard that from council and we're we really do want to get better is to make it consistent. So we have a big reminder for the PMs, you know, fill in every every month, but there's also other columns. So at times maybe they update two of the three, we need to get them to hit all cylinders and update all three. >> Yeah. And we'll continue to to reach out on Monday. I just wanted, you know, for ease of not having to bombard you with those with those requests to say, can we just go to the dashboard and be able to answer those constituent requests? >> Yes, we can continually work on that to refresh up to date because I know constituents want to know where the pro the progress and Oh, yes. Providing you the information helps you. >> Yes, absolutely. Especially because they're all bond related or right uh money that that goes in and is required. So, thank you, Evette. I appreciate it. Representative Nino. >> Thank you, Mayor Proim, and also thank you, Ivet, for all your work to you and the entire team. Um, I was happy to hear that you're working on another presentation to bring back to FOAC to kind of uh identify the different projects that are still in the queue for the different bonds. Um, I know it's something that I had asked Miss uh Mac. So, very grateful for you working on that and looking forward to it. I just wanted to make that comment. One thing that you will see just give you guys a little preview is um so not on this slide but if you notice on the construction it totals up the the entire sum of each of the projects. It doesn't say what's remaining. So FOAC will show on the project level how much has been sent and how much is remaining. >> It is focused more on phases. If I may ask, whenever that presentation comes forward, maybe we could also identify the projects that were already completed within those bonds and kind of naming the project. I think that would also be helpful for us to understand what expenditures were already done for each individual project. I think it will help us better understand of where those expenditures would went. >> Okay, Miss Mac, I might need a little bit more than one month to work on that. >> Sorry. I mean if you if you look just at quality of life alone that's 234 projects that have been completed right but I I understand you want to see the the full uh gambit of the money spent but >> yeah I I think it'll be helpful >> and we may have to do it in two so what I asked um I bet to do is I heard from a few of you >> about the dollars that we had deprogrammed >> and being very clear about what that looks like and so our point for that presentation was one give you the big picture but give you an opportunity to have a complement to this that shows you mainly the dollars, okay? >> Where the dollars went, whether if we moved something, if we've added something to it and we were actually thinking about doing that quarterly. So maybe as a FOA, you can help me to understand >> each one of those financial presentations might be slightly different. Okay. >> To just give um the public more information about where the dollars are going and how we're managing those. >> Okay. No. Yeah. I'll go based on >> she will present next month. >> I will present next month. grateful for all your work. I'm sorry. Thank you. >> Thank you, Evette. Uh I also have just a couple of questions. The first one is on slide four. Um I'll come back to you representative. I didn't see your your light up there, but so it says amount contracted and it says for fiscal year 2026 and the amount is less than the previous years you have there. So could you kind of just describe what that means? >> Yes, this is from se September to February. So if you notice the other uh column is graded out. Um once we get to the end of fiscal year, we should be benchmarking at that 100 million. >> At the 100 million. Okay. I think that's good to point out. When you talk about the remaining balances for the cos, is that um already identified on on what it's going to be spent or is or do we have any idea what what's going to come of that money >> for the cos? Yes, they they are all earmarked and they're all they're all um identified to each project. >> Okay. And this is just a general question and I think the conversation today has been so productive because we've we've heard from the CFO, we've heard uh about from Mar Margarita regarding the audit. um findings and it's it's like putting together a puzzle, right, with different pieces to it. So many times constituents say, you know, why does it take so long to get projects done, right? And we've already experienced it on council where we've had to deprogram some things because we just didn't have the funding to complete those projects where we previously thought we might have. Um and and then we have to go back to the community and say, well, we won't be able to do this, but we are doing that. And sometimes those conversations can be difficult. So, kind of just walk us through um how how you decide to to to put a project forward or hold off on it for whatever reason. Um I know I asked Robert this earlier from a financial standpoint and then if you could just kind of tell us from capital improvements point of view how that process works. And I think from a financial standpoint as well is that um one of the questions was asked earlier or he clarified that when we have a $413 million bond for like uh public safety, not all of it is issued, right? So also waiting and and making sure that we have that cash and that capacity so that we could also do the projects. So from a financial standpoint, we work with him to make sure we keep those cents down. we're not back up at the 40 cents that we had originally thought and we're strategic about how we obligate the debt. Right? So that's the first thing. Um the next thing is I think part of it and I'm really hap I can't think of the adjective because I do want to say grateful that city council did identify the use and the approval of siblans. One of the things that has been difficult in the past for the grant federal program is that we didn't have an identified funding source to um actually have the match for those projects. And so that was very difficult. And you'll see now some of the federal projects because we wait on approvals from text dot from uh from the federal highway association. Some of those cos are tied to federal projects. So, one of the things in having that funding source will allow us to schedule projects um more in line with the federal government and how they're approving those funding sources. Um so, those are the two kind of like on on um uh the funding source on the programming is just really making sure that one with public safety that we're working with both Chief Vacillas and Chief Killings and we're identifying when the projects can be designed. I think for public safety that has been the biggest delay is that we could not get into all the regional command centers because then where would you staff you know um so being strategic with the uses uh with community progress um we noticed that it did take um our local contractors they're not used to having these types of contracts so it did take a ramping up from them understanding great this is how many streets we can do we even added to a contract so you'll see those numbers begin to ramp up because there was a bit of a delay and a learning curve. I moved forward all the reconstruction projects. I had those starting out in later years, but I had capacity on the 46 million and so we moved all of those up. So there's different strategies that we're doing to ensure that we have a timely finish on these two bonds. >> Yes. And I think what I heard you say is it also doesn't depend solely on us. There are other people um like text. about El Paso water you mentioned earlier and others that influence the decisions on how we move projects forward. >> Yes. One of the things I I will be very transparent at Boak we had reported that the reconstruction of Hondo Pass was going to start this summer. We had worked with El Paso Water. That's where we were going and they've had issues on some of their design and their financial capacities. So that has been pushed out. So yeah, it has been uh having that collaborative spirit with other partners and also our user groups. >> And I think it's good to say that neither us on council nor nor you u nor anyone really controls every part of the decision. >> Correct. But as much as we can control our our motto is to get out good quality projects to our community. >> Sure. Yes. And and we thank you for that. Thank you, Representative Tjo. >> Thank you. I I did have one more question in regards to what you're bringing to FOAC. You know, it would be great, Miss Mack, if we can as a full counsel get that information. We may have questions as well from, you know, from the full council and as you look at this quarterly also. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. Robert >> just to follow up to the question representative tho asked. So the quad of life last issuance was in January of 2020. So from 2014 was the first and 2020 was the last one. >> Thank you Robert and thank you. I don't think we have any further discussion from council and Miss Prine. I don't think this item is is for a vote. >> Correct. No action. >> It's there's no action on this item. >> Okay. Thank you. Can we take item 31? >> Yes. Item 31 is discussion and action to approve a resolution that the city council approves the list of projects and planning activities for the 2022 community progress bond proposition seek funds. >> Hi. >> Hi Fernando. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon Mayor Prom Council. This is a presentation um kind of complements what Mr. Hernandez was talking to you all about with the community progress bond. So we're going to look into for your discussion and action on community progress bond proposition C in this case which um it's $5.2 million of the community progress bond to focus on climate energy and sustainability projects. What we're bringing to you all today is in alignment with the recently approved climate action plan. Obviously consistent with the bomb pro proposition language and it brings operational savings to city operations. The three types of projects that we're proposing today, all of those bring operational savings to the city on top of improving resilience and safety for the community. And those are solar lights, solar photo voltakes or solar panels for electricity generation and green infrastructure or storm water catchment projects. The first one, the solar lights. We propose we're proposing to you all for your discussion and consideration the installation of solar lights for our streets, our parks, and the future safety complex bond uh for police and fire. And you can see here that the the estimated savings of these of these um solar lights are um are more than the estimated cost for those lights. Uh 2.6 almost million dollars in savings versus 2.3 of the cost for those lights. Here you can see a breakdown. I'm sorry it's a little bit small, but we wanted to include all the districts. you see the the breakdown by district and location for the roadweight projects of the solar lights um of the solar lights. You'll see that there is around 15 16 lights per per district and and those are the the selected roadways that we've based on service requests, council request and technical considerations with our conversations with streets and maintenance. And here even smaller breakdown, sorry for that. Uh again by district and you'll see the selected parks um that we've considered for installation of solar lights. And on those you'll have basketball courts, you have trails, playgrounds depending on the different parks at locations. We work with with parks to determine what would be the best location for those solar lights to improve the usage of those parks, but also the safety. very important as well. And now going to the solar panel, solar photovoltaics for the installation of 500 kilowatts at the police and department safety complex. And that would bring um considerable operating savings in the life cycle of the systems. And we we understand it's going to be a very energyintens facility with 247 operations. And we thought that this was a great location to to take advantage of the sun of of El Paso. And finally, green infrastructure. Um what we're trying to accomplish in collaboration with parks, it's to capture water from our parks and our streets to to mitigate nuisance flooding and also um save costs with irrigation. The picture that you see here in this slide is hidden um hidden park and all that vegetation that you see on that nice picture um that's free of irrigation. So that's an example of the types of projects we want to do capturing water to irrigate our plants. And as a summary of what we're proposing here to you all with proposition C for your consideration is the is the highle um breakdown of all those projects based on the $5.2 million that were approved in November 2022 by the voters. So you can see all the the different costs for the street lights, park lights, the solar panels, and the I I forgot to mention, we're also considering 30 lights for the safety complex. So that again being a 247 police and fire um um facility, we we think it's going to benefit from the increased resilience and the and the decreased cost in electricity. And that's all that we had for you all for your discussion and and consideration. >> Thank you, Fernando. Representative Canales. >> Yeah, again this is I think very important uh deployment of the funds that were approved by the voters for these types of of projects. Um obviously the one of the larger uh undertakings was the development of the climate action plan but uh these kinds of direct projects into the community are also very important. Um I know you said uh locations were guided by both uh requests and also technical considerations. Um was any of this part of the process discussed as part of the uh public engagement on the climate action plan or is this a separate consideration from >> No, those are different considerations and requests that we received um from from residents and from you all. The technical considerations for the most part in many of these locations we don't have good access to the grid. So, um, considering classic grid connected lights would would make these these projects almost impossible to implement. >> Yeah, I want to make make that distinction for the public. Um, the projects here are chosen uh because they're potentially not good candidates for uh traditional connected lights. Is that that is that what makes sense? Yeah. in many cases. >> Um, uh, I think if you don't see your particular street or your particular park here, it doesn't mean that you're not able to get a light. It just means you're potentially not the best candidate to get a solar light through this program, but there are other options. So, I just want to make sure that's clear for somebody who's watching. >> And also, we have limited funds. So, >> of course. Yes. >> Yes. Uh, thank you for the immense work on this. It's a lot of uh a lot of lights and uh a lot of projects to get out into the public. So, thank you. >> Yeah. And I want to highlight the collaboration with um with parks and streets on on on this work. >> The more collaborative work, the better. Thanks, >> Representative Nino. >> Thank you, Mayor Promp and Fernano. I am extremely grateful for all the work that has taken into consideration of all of these different um you know projects all across the district and really balancing you know equity amongst all of our districts. I um also want to thank Miss Mack and the entire team from parks and wreck and streets. You know um when it comes to district 5, I I'm very I've been looking forward to this presentation. And I know that I met with you last week, but I wanted to touch base on one of the roadway projects in district 5, Edgeir Boulevard. Um I had made a budget request last year because this specific, you know, area is in front of Elorado High School. Um that school has existed for nearly 25 years. And I've met with um some of the students and the principles and oftent times they've shared that you know there's absolutely no street lights in in that corridor and some of the students use a cell phone to cross the street at night after practice after some sort of activity that they have. the user cell phone to light up the the cross paths, you know, and I know that I had made a request and and I'm very grateful for staff, Miss M Miss Hernandez. Uh they had come up with a design and and also gave me cost estimates uh for us to essentially look at how is it that we could put lights in this specific corridor and it was going to be about a million dollars for us to put lights in front of Elorado High School. And um I know that I've shared a lot of concerns of safety for the students in the area, but I'm very grateful that you all took in consideration the service request and also the requests from the council members because now essentially we're only going to be spending about 15% of those that $1 million initial cost that it could have cost us, right? Um, and overall, you know, I I've I've it's it's important for the community to know that even just this one specific street could have cost us a million dollars. But, you know, us getting this voter approved funding, us working with the climate action plan, us collaborating with parks and streets and maintenance and our climate and sustainability department. We're going to be able to put lights, solar lights in front of this school in this major corridor that has brought a lot of different community concerns for district 5 and the students in this area. Um, it's a very important project for me and for my district and for the students of that school. Uh, I graduated from that school and again I I remember how dark it was when I was in high school. So, I'm very very very very grateful for staff that really worked on making that one request that I made last year in the budget request. You all navigated a way to make that budget request a reality and I'm very grateful for all the work that has taken in place to make it a reality. I know the students are going to be extremely excited and I know there's a lot of other uh safety measures that are going to be taken into account in in that area and I know that's not what the conversation is about, but again, Miss Mack, I am extremely grateful for for you and the staff and uh I really wanted to highlight that specific street and I'm also looking forward to the additional, you know, lighting that will go up in different parks because it's going to increase, you know, more participation at those parks. I know. Um I'm going to use an example that Rep.