And it is domestic violence awareness month. >> Representative Rocha. >> Thank you, Mayor. I know they are in the back. They are coming up. And I know they'll probably talk stats and tell you how many people are affected by domestic violence. Um, and and I know that you all just are coming off a a symposium um that you all had. Was it last week? Last week. And one of the uh Dr. Richardson has been part of my life for I'd say let's say I'm 53. So almost the last 30 years and she had her granddaughter was Jennifer Anne >> and Jennifer Anne was a victim of domestic violence unfortunately a fatal victim of domestic violence a few years ago. And so this hits near and dear to me every year that it comes. But uh but I just love the work that you all do. And with that, this is so welld deserving. So let me read this. Whereas domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior that includes physical, emotional psychological sexual and financial abuse. And it affects people of all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds. And whereas across the United States, more than one in three women and nearly one in four men report experiencing intimate partner violence in their lifetime. And countless children are exposed to this violence, bearing lifelong impacts on their health and well-being. And whereas domestic violence is not a private matter, but a public health and safety crisis, contributing to cycles of trauma homelessness poverty and intergenerational harm that affect entire communities. And whereas in El Paso and the surrounding region, the Center against Sexual and Family Violence, also known as CASVY, has served as a beacon of hope for more than 45 years, providing life-saving services, including emergency shelter, crisis hotlines, counseling, legal advocacy, transitional living programs, prevention education, and community outreach. And whereas October is observed nationally as domestic violence awareness month, a time to remember those whose lives were taken by domestic violence, honor the courage of survivors, celebrate their resilience, and recommmit ourselves to ending abuse in all its forms. And whereas CASBY's theme, you're a survivor, recognizes that every individual who has experienced domestic violence has endured unimaginable challenges yet possess extraordinary strength. And whereas the theme underscores that survival is not just about living through abuse, but about reclaiming power, dignity, and hope, and reminds the community that healing is possible when survivors are met with compassion, resources, and support. And whereas domestic violence awareness month is also an opportunity to educate the public, challenge harmful stereotypes, and dismantle the stigma and silence that too often surround abuse. Ensuring that survivors voices are heard, believed, and valued. And whereas preventing domestic violence requires the commitment of the entire community from schools, businesses, and healthc care providers to faith organizations, law enforcement, and government agencies working together to create safe homes and safe futures. Now therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and council of the city of El Paso that the month of October 2025 shall be known as domestic violence awareness month signed by the honorable Renard Johnson. [Applause] >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> It's a great honor to be here with you um mayor and and all the representatives of all the different districts. My name is Sandra Nearcia. I'm the executive director for the Center against Sexual and Family Violence. Um, as you know, domestic violence isn't a private issue. Unfortunately, it's a community issue that affects all our different areas. Um, the Center and Family Violence provides services to El Paso, Hudsmith, and Culverson County. Um, I would like to highlight that we are the largest um, domestic violence and sexual assault program on the US Mexico border um, and provide just as many numbers as our counterparts in Austin and San Antonio. And unfortunately, that's not something that we're proud of. But the idea of the impact when you're comparing those larger cities to ours, sometimes we think it's not happening here or it's not as impactful here, it's not an issue in our community. And so while our community is extremely giving um and supportive as mentioned before um it's really I think what makes the biggest difference in the work that we do because we know we are supported not only by individuals in the community in different senses of the way um we're here to also support those individuals who are suffering through domestic violence. We want to make sure that these survivors as we go through our theme of you're a survivor that they know that they're not defined by the in by the the acts that they've endured, but more of the strength that it's taking for them to heal and move forward in their lives, ensuring that they are able to live a life free of violence. This past year, the Center Against Sexual Violence um provided over 3,000 individuals in our community with services. It's something that I often joke about that I'd like to be unemployed at some point. Um, but unfortunately there's still a lot of work to do in our community. And so I think the way we've all been socialized and just kind of how we've grown up and how we've seen domestic violence in our communities feeds into the the the act continuing as you see it generationally, as you see um within family households um and leading up to to the rest of the family. This the proclamation sends a power powerful message to everyone not only that you're not alone but that help is here and more importantly that you're a survivor and that there is hope for you um and that there are a life free of violence. This month as you know is domestic violence awareness month and there's several activities that we've partaken at the beginning of the month and we'll continue to partake as the month continues. um to highlight too is we do have El Paso Giving Day coming up on October 16th um where individuals in the community can support the center um and we do have a matching opportunity to be able to to leverage some additional funds. Um, one of our biggest bread and butters is we've started this movie night where we um, screen a movie night. And so it'll be on um, October 21st. And so the idea is a time to just bring people together in a setting that most of us are comfortable in, which is a movie theater. Um, it is themed. Um, it has a domestic violence undertone. Like there is a reason for everything that we do. Um, so we engage in a little bit of conversation of just kind of tools, red flags, things that you can do and see um, and how you can help individuals. And so if anything, if I leave you with anything, is as we move through our lives, as we interject with different individuals and have different touch points with different individuals, is that we all are aware when something's not right. Um, you can see it, you don't know sometimes what to do with it. It's sometimes very uncomfortable. The biggest messages that I can tell you is one that you remember that we're here to serve our community 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 360 days a year, 65 days a year, but is that you believe them. If someone's come to you and shared that they've experienced some sort of violence, please remember the amount of courage that it's taken for that individual to come to you and to be able to admit that because oftent times you might be the only one that they've admitted it to. Again, I'd like to thank you for the opportunity not only to be here, um, but also for the the staff members that were able to join me. Miss Yazm is our director of client services. So, anything client service related, uh, shelter non-residential um, she's the one that's making the world go round really in that facility. And then Miss Kristen is part of our admin team also ensuring that, you know, we're reminding our P's and Q's and making sure that we're submitting everything we need to submit to make sure that we're always in compliance. And again, thank you again for the time. It's really been a pleasure to be here with you this morning, [Applause] >> Representative Roachcha. >> Thank you, Mayor. And I think something that she for she left out is what's the cost for your services? >> So the cost for our services it varies. So it shelter you're looking at we keep it pretty low. probably about 150 a shelter night. And so what we call a shelter night is that includes sheltering, food, um, and case management. >> Um, again, we do house anywhere between 750 to 850 clients in our emergency shelter every year, and those are unduplicated numbers. The majority of those are children. So, one of the things we've also come to terms with is we're also your largest um, shelter that houses children in El Paso. Our non-residentidential though people tend to think of the shelter and not our non-residential facility for whatever oddball reason. That building actually will provide anywhere actually this past year it provided a little over 3200 clients with services with the majority of those being adults >> and and I'm trying to say that a lot of your services are free. >> Oh, absolutely. >> You have a lot of free services that services are free. >> Yeah. All the services are free. And so anybody that sees themselves struggling at any point in in their life, in their community, with your kids, friends, with anybody, >> this is an this is an organization that's willing to >> open up their doors and offer everything that they have. So, thank you so much for the incredible work that you all do. >> No, thank you. >> Yeah. And I I just want to add my thanks, too. And you know, the numbers are staggering. One in three women, one in four men report experiencing uh partner violence in their lifetime. And I know you guys started in 1977 with only a hotline and now look at all the different programs that you have today, which is incredible. >> So, um let me ask you, what is the hotline number? If someone needed to get in contact, how do they contact you guys? >> Absolutely. It's on uh 915-5937300. And again, if it's for domestic violence, if for sexual assaults, that's a number that anyone can call. Friends, family, it is called a hotline. So sometimes people are like, well, it's not an emergency. It's just an information line that you can get um resources for friends and family and yourself if needed. >> Very good. And thank you guys again for all that you've done for the community. >> No, thank you. >> And congratulations. >> Thank you. A little bit. All right. One two three. And the next proclamation is Tom Lee celebration. Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, Mayor. And while I wait from everyone representing the Tomley Institute to come to the podium, I just want to mention that um if you haven't been to the Tom Lee Institute, I highly recommend you go. There are a lot of great pieces from someone native to El Paso. Um and a lot of just rich history that's a part of that uh museum. I absolutely love his work and I have actually three pieces of his on loan or in my office. So in case you haven't stopped by the office of district 1, everyone is welcome to come see those those Tom Lee pieces there. So this is the proclamation. Whereas Tom Lee, a native El Pasoan, chose to live and work in El Paso even though he could have lived anywhere in the world. And whereas this year marks an extraordinary milestone of the Tom Lee Institute, an El Paso nonprofit offering the community Tom Lee celebration with the theme, the Tom Lee Trail across Texas and New Mexico, which is exploring the legacy of a great American artist. First artist named Trail in Texas. First embedded World War II artist correspondent for Life magazine in honor of the United States 250th anniversary. A new traveling exhibit pays tribute to the resilience, sacrifice, and enduring strength of the human spirit across four theaters of World War II. Whereas the Tomley Institute collaborates with other nonprofit organizations and cultural entities in the community to offer engaging and educational activities that showcase the region's quality of life. Overall, 20 events will be held with El Paso serving as the capital of the Tom Lee Trail. And whereas there are events scheduled at 14 El Paso sites, including the Emergence Health Network Veteran One-Stop Center, where Tom Lee's World War II paintings created on the front lines of four different theaters of war will be presented in chronological order as part of a never-before-seen traveling exhibition. Brushstrokes from the front lines of World War II. Emergence will also host iconic El Paso artist Joey Lee Cabaral who will lead an art session inviting veterans and active duty service members to explore expressive painting techniques. These are just a few of many exciting experiences that celebrate the region's rich history, art, and culture. And whereas Tom Lee Celebration offers a series of unique events centered in El Paso designed to attract tourists and inspire El Paso citizens. The Tom Lee Trail, officially designated by the te Texas legislature in 2017, has brought visitors worldwide to El Paso events. In addition, El Paso is the hub of the bational trail that spans Texas, New Mexico, and the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and council of the city of El Paso that the month of October 2025 shall be known as Tom Lee Celebration Month, signed by the Honorable Mayor Renard Johnson. Congratulations. [Applause] >> Good morning. Thank you, Mayor Johnson and um Representative Chavez. >> Did you? >> Yeah. Good morning. >> Yeah. And so we're delighted to be here and very honored uh to be recognized um for the work that we do. We have uh as uh Representative Chavez said uh many many free events in El Paso. We nobody pays for any of the events that we do. And we also have 11 different free curricula that are embedded in public schools throughout El Paso. Uh we're aiming to get them in all 250 schools in region 19 to begin to introduce students to the art and writings of Tom Lee. And that's important because they don't get a lot of local history in the school curriculum and they don't really learn to love El Paso. And one of the comments that we get uh on our tours, both adult and student tours, is that uh they didn't realize all that El Paso had to offer. And so they fall in love with El Paso in the same way Tom Lee loved El Paso. And we're so privileged to have an artist and worldclass writer right here who, as U. Representative Chavez said, could have lived anywhere in the world, but chose El Paso. And so we also want to welcome Adair Margot who's the founder of the Tom Lee Institute since 2009. And it was really her her determination and inspiration and uh her um the impact that Tom Lee had on her life when she was writing his oral history in particular that motivated her to realize that his legacy needed to be preserved and that's one of the important things that we do at uh the Tomley Institute. So thank you so much for what you're doing here in honoring us. Thank you. >> You're very welcome. Do you want to introduce the the folks who are with you? >> Uh yes, absolutely. These are the team that make it happen. We have uh Desiree Hanlin, uh Abraham Pardo, who uh is our marketing person, Lily Mitten, and Corey Navaro, who's our office administrator, and of course, Adair Marggo, who's our founder. So, thank you. >> Very good. And congratulations. >> Okay. Thank you. So, most most may not know this and and Tom Lee, and I've seen a lot of his wonderful work uh throughout my lifetime, but most may not know that Tom Lee was also a mayor >> of the great city of El Paso. And um >> his father, his father, senior, his father was a mayor of El Paso from 1915 to 1917. And um his father also uh Ponchovilla put out a bounty after his father for a thousand pesos in gold. He wanted the mayor dead or alive back then. So >> yes, >> a lot of great history in the Tomlin family and the artwork is incredible and impeccable. So again, thank you guys for all that you're doing and congratulations on this day and your celebration for the the 14 uh uh the month and and all the events that you have scheduled. Congratulations. Thank you so much. >> Yes. Appreciate it. >> Mayor Oh, >> Representative Chavez, we got time. >> Just just in honor of Tom Lee, um I'd like to just say one of my favorites favorite quotes from his writings is the best day is the day coming with the work to do with the eyes wide open and the heart grateful. I love that quote by Tom Lee. Thank you. [Applause] And the next proclamation is American Red Cross. Sound the alarm. >> Represto. >> Thank you, mayor. And uh I know there's people from the Red Cross here, but we've been doing some great work together this year. We had a a great blood drive in July, and now you're having another great event. And of course, you had to pick my district and I'm really excited about that. So, I will read this proclamation and then you could say a few words. Thank you. Proclamation City of El Paso, Texas. Whereas this October 18th, we celebrate the American Red Cross's National Sound the Alarm in El Paso, Texas. A campaign that works to prevent and save lives from home fires. And whereas home fires claim seven lives every day, but having working smoking alarms can cut the risk of death by half. And whereas American Red Cross volunteers and community partners will install free smoke alarms, create escape plans, and share fire safety information with families in Norththeast El Paso. And whereas advancing this noble mission, the volunteers and supporters who now give back through the West Texas chapter remain unwavering in their commitment to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of today's emergencies. And whereas volunteers will install new smoke alarms and raise awareness of home fire safety helping fight people's biggest threat, home fires. We hereby recognize this October 18th in honor of their remarkable service. And we ask everyone to join in their commitment to home fire safety. Now therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and council of the city of El Paso that October 18th shall be known as National Sound the Alarm Day. Signed, the Honorable Mayor Renard Johnson. Thank you. Thank you. >> Good morning. >> My name is Anna Paka and I'm the executive director for the West Texas chapter of the American Red Cross and I'm honored and so happy to be in front of you today. Um we, as Representative ADO mentioned, will be having a major event on Saturday, October 18th, and would like to invite all of you, any community members, volunteers, anyone who's interested in coming out and making our community safer. We are installing the goal is to install in over 125 homes this Saturday. Uh we will we are anticipating over a hundred volunteers coming out and supporting us that day. So we're really excited for the work that we do and in all honesty that work would not be able to be done without several of the volunteers who stand behind me today. um and really appreciate all their support that they provide us as an organization and the work that we're able to do and continue to deliver mission here in El Paso. I'd like to introduce my board chair, Nicole Ruiz, >> who has been pivotal in supporting our organization in this community. >> Thank you, Anna. Good morning, everyone. Thank you, Representative Vasavo, for the proclamation. Um, as Anna said, this year I'm honored to be the chair of the American Red Cross, uh, West Texas chapter. Um, thank you for recognizing the incredible work that the Red Cross does. I don't think they get recognized enough, especially our volunteers who often deploy when disaster strikes. Uh, the Red Cross does so much work behind the scenes to include um, hosting blood drives. Um, and as Anna said, this weekend our volunteers will be out in the community. uh this time in the northeast saving lives uh by installing uh free smoke detectors. And so again, thank you so much for helping us sound the alarm and and recognizing uh National Sound the Alarm Day. >> Very good. >> And that is it. I hope anybody who would like to join us can come join us. These these are events that we want to do throughout our community as the year goes forward. So my hope is to do it in every single one of your districts as we move forward. So you'll be hearing from us. >> Thank you so much. >> Where where's the event happening? >> At what time in >> Thank you. Uh so the event is going to be Saturday. Our rally point is um the Almighty Shriners will be hosting us. So that's at 6331 Alabama and we'll be out there from 7:30 to 400 p.m. on Saturday. So please stop by if any just to say hi. >> Very good. And Anna, do you want to introduce the rest of your team? >> Definitely. Let me introduce um my volunteers. But first, let me introduce my staff member, Paul Ferris, and then my um volunteers, Richard. Richard, I'm sorry, I don't know your name. >> Rosen. >> Rosen. Thank you. I knew it started with an R. >> Uh Francine, Karen Hamilton, Anita Alonzo, and Charlie Weaver, who has, by the way, broken record in our chapter. He has deployed to near almost 20 deployments. So he his last appointment was obviously in the Kurville floods. So again, our volunteers are absolutely fantastic and we're so grateful for them. >> Wow. [Applause] >> Well, thank you guys again for all that you do and and um and I got one. What where does the West Texas chapter cover? What you >> Great question. So we cover El Paso County, Hudsmith, and Coberson counties. And we also offer support to Breidio, Jeff Davis, and Brewster counties as well. >> Very good. And you said these smoke detectors are free. >> All smoke alarms are um at no cost to any resident who would like to get them installed. Also, if you have any residents or know of anyone who may need support after a home fire, you can get a smoke alarm request done at 1800 Red Cross. So just by calling the 1-800 red cross number, you'll be able to get a smoke alarm, but also it should you need support from a home fire, that's the number to call as well. >> Very good. And thank you guys for what you're doing. Representative Trey, >> thank you mayor. So you're going to be in Northeast. >> Yes, we are. >> Where where exactly in Northeast will you be? >> We'll be around we'll be targeting the neighborhoods around the Almida Shriners around the Alabama area. >> Okay. So that's in district two. Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Thank you >> again. Thank you guys and congratulations. Thank you. [Applause] And the final proclamation is ESD and the community day. All right, Representative Fiero. >> Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. Thank you. So, Mayor, just on a personal as everyone's walking up, um I am very fortunate that my father uh's first position with the city of El Paso was with environmental services. >> Wow. >> Now, I wasn't called that then, but but still, it's Thank you all so very very much. And if anybody who visits my street, if you're here, please not raise your hand. And nobody wants to know how I run out there to throw my pull my trash can out last minute. Thank you. So may uh before we start, Mayor, may I ask um Armando Mando Avenos to raise his hand there? Thank you, sir. And then Chris Rodriguez, is he? Oh, he's not here. Okay. All right. All right. All right, Mayor, thank you again for letting me read this proclamation. Now, whereas the Environmental Services Department plays an essential role in preserving the safety, beauty of our city through its daily operations. And whereas through our dedication, hard work, environmental services employees help maintain clean neighborhoods and protect the quality of life that makes El Paso proud and a thriving community. Whereas El Pas whereas beyond their duties, the envir environmental service department continually seeks to build meaningful relationships with residents, reminding us that the city's work is not only about service, but it's also about people. And whereas one example of this connection is a story of young Gel, he's I think I'm boring him, and his mother, Mrs. Kyon, El Paso residents who developed a special bond with her neighbor uh neighborhood sanitation crew. Gel's admiration for environmental services team turned his weekly trash collection into daily moments of joy. Whereas Arando Mando Avados took the time to connect with Gel and share moments of kindness that left lasting impressions. And whereas stories about Hayel Gael reminds us that environmental services is more than a department. It's a team of compassionate individuals who serve with heart, respect the people they serve. And whereas the city of El Paso wishes to express its gratitude for mant environmental services department for its dedication, commitment, and contribution to our community. Now therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and council that October 14, 2025 be known as community bonding through my environmental services day. Sign our honorable mayor Bernard Johnson. [Applause] >> Good morning. >> My name is Suzi Maguchi. I'm the assistant director for environmental services. Thank you, Representative Fiero, for this recognition. as like he mentioned this all started between Mr. Mando Avalos and Gel right um but as he mentioned also on his proclamation there's a whole team behind this gentleman right here which provide exceptional services through environmental services so I would like to have each one before Mr. Mando and then everybody else introduce themselves but again thank you sir for this recognition. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. I want to thank God first and uh all you all you mayor all of you thank you for noticing us and uh it's just been with uh it just been amazing and it's just a beautiful thing that where God bounded us and to show the world to show all El Paso there is love there is a connection that we could be with one another happy, peaceful, and there's love here in El Paso. So, I want to just continue and thank you very much. [Applause] [Music] Yamaguchi and um Mando for all they do for my kid. You can see that a small gesture goes a long way and if everybody here in El Paso would do that, we would be a great community and they're a great example of it. So, I just want to thank you for inviting us and them for all their hard work. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. [Laughter] >> Good morning, Mayor Jensen. >> Good morning. Uh my name is uh Joel Hernandez Kambia. I represent the air quality program from this beautiful city. We are committed to monitoring and enforcing the air quality rules from the state and federal uh um laws and we appreciate all your support. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Edward Cruz. with the sweeper division. >> Elisa Shaw, represent medium. >> Nice to meet you. >> Good morning. My name is Amanda Hernandez and I work for the fleet department. >> Good morning. I'm Natalia Noriega. I represent the engineering uh department. >> Good morning. Hello, my name is Juan Garcia and I'm a lead out at the Greater El Paso landfill. >> Good morning. I vloss team. >> Good morning. I'm Patricia Olivera. I I represent CCS, which stands for collection city citizens collection services. >> Good morning. >> Hi, good morning. Um, I'm April Footus and I'm with Beautifification. >> Good morning. My name is Aaron Kintana and I'm a part of the outreach program. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. My name is Jan Barber and I represent finance. >> Good morning. My name is Michael Amador and I represent the anti-graffiti program maintaining the city friendliness. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. Good morning. My name is Roberto Diaz. I represent the customer service department. >> Good morning. My name is Josh Fidontes and I'm with the containers division. >> And again, thank you mayor representative for all this recognition. As you can see, each person here represents one small portion of our department. But thank you. >> Yeah, representative Roachcha. I I just want to say that that more more importantly than anything, you all are the face of the city. >> When people come and they see you out working and they see you at the citizen collection station or the landfill or taking care of our medians or everything that you're doing with removing graffiti, it's just everything that you all do. You all represent a lot of pride for me for helping to keep the city so beautiful. And I see that a lot and I know we're going through a tough time right now with weeds. I get it. But other than that, I mean, honestly, it is it is thanks to you and all of your teams that help to keep El Paso so beautiful. So, thank you for everything that you do. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Represent. Thank you, mayor. And I want to echo what my colleague here has said. I'm extremely grateful for all the work that you all do. Um, and also for partnering up with our offices to do community cleanups. I know the proclamation is ESD and the community day and you guys showed up and delivered and we're extremely grateful for all the work that you all do every day for our community. So, thank you guys. >> Thank you. >> Repres represent Lewan. >> Thank you, mayor. And and and actually this department also has a success story. So, Jesus, where did you start when you started working at environmental services? Oh man. Um, y'all make me all choke up. >> No, don't choke. >> Um, I started as a labor back in I've been with the department 23 years. >> Wow. >> So, I started as a temp through a temp agency and then uh got my CDL license through the department. I have promoted seven times within the department. Um, but I started in the back of the truck when there was no blue or gray containers. Everything in the back of the truck. That's how I started and promoted um with it. But yeah, fortunately now I'm the assistant director and proud to be part of this team here. >> I am very very proud of what you have done because you have inspired others to do the same. Um truly this is an incredible department thanks to your leadership and Nick. Um you guys are the frontline people out there and it comes the corason from you. Thank you very much. You're welcome. represent Fiero. >> Thank you, Mayor. Just one last thing. You all are just an example, a small example of this entire big community we have with city employees, but I'm so proud to be here in front of you with you um and and just acknowledging your daily work and thank you very very much. You make our jobs so much easier. And um mayor, I can't let um Guyell leave without telling him he's a constituent in my district, so I need to take him a t-shirt. >> Oh, there you go. Thank you all. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, Jesus and and team and and Nick and and everyone that's there and um again, they've said everything, so there's not much left to say, but thank you. And I had the opportunity to to go out with you guys early one morning and >> and I can't tell you the the amount of work that your team puts in. It's incredible. And if anyone ever wants to see how hard these individuals work for your city of El Paso, volunteer, go out there with them one morning and and you'll see how hard they're working. But thank you for keeping our city clean. Thank you for all that you do. Uh for all El Pasoans, I mean, so on behalf of the the city of El Paso, we want to say thank you guys for all that you're doing. And Gel stole the show already today. He was blowing kisses and he was working the crowd. So, it's no wonder why he's famous and everything. So, and he knows he is, which is good. But, Jesus, thank you to the entire team and congratulations. >> Appreciate it, mayor. Thank you. Thank you. >> Come on. Thank you so much for being here. Okay, Miss Ryan. >> Yes, sir. Good morning. This is a meeting of the El Paso City Council for Tuesday, October 14th, 2025. Mayor Johnson is present and presiding in council chambers along with Mayor Pomp Chavez, Representative Asdo, Representative Maldonado Rocha, Representative Boyjo, Representative Nino, Representative Lemon, and Representative Canales. It is 10:13 a.m. Will everyone please silence your electronic devices so as not to disturb the meeting and rise for the invocation and this morning it is delivered by El Paso Police Chaplain Joe Marada. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> If you would like to receive the invocation this morning, let us bow our heads and call on our creator and maker for guidance and assistance today. Lord God, we take the time this morning before conducting the business of the city of El Paso to ask for your guidance in all of these days this day's proceedings. Let your blessings be upon the work that is done in these chambers. We thank you for these men and women who have taken upon themselves to serve the people of El Paso as elected officials. Help each of them to find solutions to difficult problems to ensure that all voices are heard and respected and to make the most of limited resources. God grant them all wisdom and insight to be able to bring about amicable resolutions to be able to see the heart of the issues and to understand the true needs of the people in this hour. Let our community be a community of love and respect, respectful relationships as has been demonstrated this morning between Mando and Gael. Thank you for your guidance, assistance, and mercies upon all of us. Let your blessings be upon the city of El Paso and its residents and our surrounding region. As always, bless and protect our first responders and their loved ones. In your mighty name we ask. Amen. Thank you, Chaplain. >> Okay, Miss Bryan, call to uh public comment. >> Yes, sir. For the record, alternate mayor prom join the meeting at 10:14 a.m. That brings us to public comment on agenda items. This morning, we did receive a few signups. However, they prefer to speak at the time the items are heard. So, that'll bring us to call to the public. >> Okay. And the El Paso City Council is a local government body charged with serving all of 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 is an accommodation and not a requirement of city council. All persons in attendance are expected to display civility and decorum that is respectful to other persons without the use of insulting, profane, threatening, or abusive language. Public comment will not be used for personal attacks, nor may any member of the public use this forum for political statements or campaigning. Please note that during call to the public, the city council may not deliberate or decide any subject that is not on the agenda. However, council may propose that a topic brought forth be posted on a future agenda. This morning, we have 11 citizens that signed up to speak. The first person is Frank Leoff. Mr. Leo's topic is Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He will be followed by Elizabeth Crawford. >> Good morning. You have three minutes. >> Good morning. >> Thank you. Good morning. Good morning, mayor representatives. >> My name is Frank Leal. And for months now, uh we have seen this administration wreck havoc across major cities targeting diverse populations. Their activity escalates every day. We've seen disturbing reports of ICE detaining people, sometimes without due process, sometimes using excessive force and creating fear. It would be naive to assume that this administration will not eventually target El Paso in the same way. We are the ultimate example of what this administration fears. That's tolerance. That's multi multi multiculturalism and community despite borders. We cannot be complacent in this victimization and abuse of power upon our own people. Already there are reports of inhumane and barbaric treatment within what could only be described as concentration camps. Regardless of the immigration status debate, if targeted, El Paso will be disproportionately affected. Our Mexican-American population is 81% of the city. Will our children have to carry documentation to go to school? Will our elderly be apprehended simply for speaking Spanish in public? Will our local businesses suffer because people are scared to leave their homes? Our constitution guarantees due process protection from unreasonable seizure. Yet, when federal agencies operate in ways that disregard this, we have the right to to fight responsibly and act. Cities like Chicago, Denver, Boston, and the entire state of California have passed ordinances such as requiring judicial warrants, blocking the use of city property for immigration enforcement, and demanding transparency about who is being detained and why, as well as banning the use of face coverings by ICE agents. We have the opportunity here to be preemptive. I implore our local government to take a similar action. My question today is what protections exist here in El Paso. What is in place to ensure that members of our community are safe from unlawful detention? Thank you so much. Thank you. >> Thank you. The next speaker is Elizabeth Crawford. Miss Crawford's topic is abortion, freedom, or captivity. Good morning, Miss Crawford. You have three minutes. Thank you. Good morning. Thank you. Many El Paso have been standing outside the Planned Parenthood these 40 days as well as getting involved in a protest against the building of a massive abortion site in Los Cruuses. A group of El Pasoans have been tirelessly speaking up. Abortion, is it freedom or is it captivity? We are commanded in Proverbs 24, "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. If you forbare to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain, if you say, "Behold, we knew it not." Does not he that ponder the heart consider it? And he that keeps your soul, does not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his works? I've had some time recently in New Jersey, and I had the enormous privilege of meeting Alexander, the then 19, now 21-year-old who was held by Hamas for over one and a half years, an Israeli American. I was thrilled to meet him after months and months of praying for him, the kid who was the hostage, as we called him. I got to hug him and tell him that we had been praying and so thankful that he's still alive. A big part of that ceremony was a legislator from New Jersey who has been absolutely relentless in trying to shut down pro-life efforts in the state of New Jersey. This legislator also of Jewish ethnicity had me in shock as he started quoting Bible verses of that ceremony from the Tanakh passage of what we would call u Genesis in our Bible, the account of Joseph. I was very surprised. I had assumed he was atheist or agnostic. So I wrote to him to say I just don't understand if Joseph really lived and he did. So did Moses. God spared Moses from infanticide. So did King David. David wrote about God forming him in the womb and praise God. How wonderful are your works. So did Jeremiah. God spoke to Jeremiah. Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you and before you came forth, I sanctified you. The sad irony is that here we were in Pennly, New Jersey, celebrating the release of John from Hamas. And one town over Anglewood is the abortion mill. the one of the largest on the east coast. Infants captive in the womb, unable to escape their brutal demise at the hands of those that call themselves doctors. Abortion is it freedom or captivity? If you're the baby, it's captivity to destruction. Proverbs 24. If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. If you forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain, if you say, "Behold, we knew it not." Does not he that ponder the heart consider it? And he that keeps your soul, does not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his works? Words from the Holy Bible, Proverbs 24. Thank you. >> Thank you. The next speaker is Claudia Contra Siller. Miss Siller's topic is war against animal cruelty. Good morning, ma'am. You have three minutes. >> Hello. Good morning. >> Good morning. >> I appreciate you all very much. So animal cruelty uh it's something that everybody needs to take part of like to report. Everybody can be the eyes and the boys for the boysless. So some people go to animal services and get dogs for dog fights. They just have to present an ID and the dog is theirs. They go pick up the dogs, use them at for for bait. So, something very bad happened to me. The worst thing you can that a cat lady can go through. My black cat was just stolen from my cat colony. And I'm very worried. What are they going to do? The person that I think did it, it's banned from animal services. I saw her two times go with a lot of carriers and go to the cats that were for adoption. and she picked up seven cats one time and seven cats another time. I don't know what she's doing to the cats and I'm very scared on what is she doing to my cat. She was there the other Sunday, Monday the cat was missing. I already reported with animal services with animal cruelty unit. I am very thankful for the animal cruelty unit and I hope he my cat is alive. He is a friendly black cat and he this person was there one day, my cat was gone the next day and I really want like higher forces to help the animal cruelty unit to go to the bottom of this on what is she doing to the cats and why is she banned from getting more animals. I want to thank you all for giving more money to the police department and the animal cruelty unit needs a secretary. it needs to become bigger and there's a lot of stuff going on. I was after this case for a week and they're very loaded with work. Also, I know that that you guys are taking into consideration what the community has to say about the new director. I see that you guys are looking for a business degree. Please remove that because we do have people that are very qualified to take over the director position. There are creative people and I don't know if he wants to be a director, but I think Sergeant Cerna is perfect for the position. He's very creative and he he was posted in FitFam for being inside of a hot car to demonstrate how how hot it gets. So, I would pick someone from the animal cruelty unit to be the director. So, the people that are going to get those dogs for dog fights and the cats for bait or witchcraft can know a police officer is in charge. And please take into consideration and for the cat people, please speak up. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is Brenda Garvajal. Brenda Carvaja. I don't see her coming forward. The next speaker is Ron Ko. Mr. Ko's topic is exercising his constitutional rights to the rescue 1983 animal services. Good morning. So, you have three minutes. >> Good morning, M. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Morning. >> Well, we finally have an opening. Now, the question is, what are we going to do about it? I have issues with some of the people that are being put in place to qualify our next director. We've got a group that has done nothing but been cheerleaders for our previous one. And uh and being a part of that group for a while, I can tell you and you can look there's been nothing done. There's been no attempt to protect the community. There's been no attempt to commit protect their pets or the strays of El Paso. I would strongly suggest that this group gets taken out of the the mix as far as trying to figure out who our next director should be. Um, I'm happy to see that you're talking to the community. I hope that even though I'm not appreciated that much, I would be included in that group because I think I've been at it for a while. Um, one of the things that we need to discuss is rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and dog attacks. Let's discuss dog attacks for a second. Mr. Leone, how many critical dog attacks have you seen, heard of since you've been back? And how many did you see prior when you were in before? Yeah, you got to think about it, right? Yeah. didn't have to think about the first question though, right? We have a problem. The problem is is we don't follow rules and regulations. I sent you all the procedures to change the policy on how the shelter runs, the the sheltering plan. That has not been done since the no kill plan in 2015. I strongly suggest that we stop screwing around and put it back in place so we can get back to doing business and we can start protecting the community, their pets, and the strays. When you stop and consider that as far as policy and procedures, the committee I was talking about supposed to follow Robert's rules, but I was told at a meeting with the mayor kind of okay policies and procedures here. We discussed the one about the changing plans that was not done. So again, we didn't follow it. We don't follow Title 7. We don't follow the state of Texas laws when it comes to El Paso Animal Services. We do not follow anything but what it takes to protect certain people. Enough folks. Let's get back to protecting our community. We need to get this oneperson plan of handling it out and the people that we voted in to represent us actually representing us on this problem. That's you all. We elected you to do this. It's time. >> The next speaker is Nasley Pamela De Laoya. >> Her topic is economic development, animal services, and community unity. >> Good morning, ma'am. You have three minutes. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. So, I want to talk about u primarily community unity and the things that El Pasoans can unite around. Um it's my hope that by mentioning uh these things we can continue to unite around things that matter to the vast majority of us um or really to all of us. Um so for the most part I think that we tend to get along as people as El Pasoans um wherever we are on the rainbow of the um political ideology wherever we come from. So that's something that I'm very proud of. Um, but with regard to economic development, I just want to talk about encouraging people here in El Paso who have entrepreneurial ideas, um, who want to launch startup companies to go ahead and launch the businesses here. Um, maybe there's something that we can do to advocate for, uh, local wealthy individuals to invest in these businesses. um whether it's through the universities or the high schools um or even people that are older that are thinking of launching their business. Um and then also we don't have that many co-working spaces anymore it seems. Um so if we could somehow encourage people to build more that would be great. Um, but with regard to animal services, um, I would like for there to be more events so that people can interact with dogs and cats, um, and continue to help socializing animals and also to continue to create awareness of the importance of adopting versus, um, going through breeders and for us to market El Paso as a pet friendly city. Um, I think that a lot of people can agree on the importance of pets and how much of a difference they make um for individuals. And it would be wonderful for us to say, "Hey, like people in Austin, you know, Mr. Mayor, when you go visit Austin, when you go visit um all these other places, like El Paso is um a pet friendly city. We just invested, you know, this much more in animal services and that's important to our community." and you know just talking about how we have a very diverse population and we are a border community but all of these things unite us and it's important for us to continue to work on things that we agree on uh versus things that are divisive. Um and that's actually all I have to say. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is Wanda Helguson. Miss Helguson's topic is the ground lease at the El Paso International Airport. She will be followed by Patricia Osmond. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning again, Mr. Mayor, council members. My name is Wanda Helguson and I'm the executive director of Border Rack. We're a nonprofit organization that serves to coordinate emergency health care and disaster preparedness amongst our healthcare providers. While we're daily behind the scenes, I feel certain that the hospitals and the EMS agencies would attest to our contributions in the regional coordination of time-sensitive emergency healthcare events and our commitment to the community, the emergency health care system, and disaster preparedness. In August of 2012, the council approved the sub lease at the airport of a hanger owned by TJW Aviation. It was noted for the storage of hospital and emergency medical supplies along with disaster response equipment assets that could assist the airport in the event of a catastrophic incident such as a plane crash. In July of 2023, we were notified of a need to demonstrate an aeronautical use of the hanger. We submitted a plan to the city that reflected guidance provided by the airport. After six months with no response, we received a notice of default. We resubmitted the plan and waited an additional eight months with no response. No return phone calls, emails, or even communication regarding certified letters. It seems our attempt to cure the default was ignored almost as if a predetermined outcome was sought. The termination of the ground lease came to council on June 24th, consent agenda, and we were notified of the termination July 9th. The city received an FAA determination letter August 7th. We remained unclear as to the exact question posed to the FAA as a later conversation confirmed areas of our earlier intent were not conveyed to them. An eviction notice was filed September 24th. We received that notice October 1st. We appeared before the JP judge on October 9th. The judge denied the eviction, indicating that the city's termination of the lease was improper. We remain committed to working with the city to resolve any issues and move forward with what has always been a very colleial working relationship. I appreciate your time. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is Patricia Osmond. I don't see Miss Osman in chambers or in the queue. We'll move on to Ian Valdez. >> Hello. >> Oh, Miss Osmond. >> Hello, Miss Osman. Are you in the queue? Miss Osmond, >> hello. >> Yes. Can you hear me? >> Yes. Miss Osman's topic is transparency, rights of citizens, and undue influence and ethics violations, municipal code violations allowed by city paid people. Go ahead, Miss Osman. You have three minutes. Really quick, I do want to verify since there was an issue right there that all of my uh signs up sign up today is by phone. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Uh I'm sure city clerk's office should have that corrected. Thank you. Uh the reason that I am speaking I'm bringing this up during call to the public is because I doubt it will ever come in front of city council. But a brief history is article two of the ethics code city council whether it be commissions, council members, officers or people on a commission. Once you are placed on a commission by the documentation that you sign, you cannot speak adversely against the city. That is just the paperwork people sign and people have been silenced by being on those commissions and committees. But I bring that up because we have a system that failed at the city government are putting even more red tape in front of regular citizens of El Paso, stripping our rights away by being able to hold our leadership and departments and our taxes held to account in the fact that if your area has a neighborhood association, city repres representatives, city departments will say to anybody who calls in that they have to contact their neighborhood association. Basically stripping away the rights of that citizen even if they are not a member of a neighborhood association. Now with that back that history there is this particular neighborhood association president who happens to be getting favors committing a violation a a MUN code violation that has been brought up for a couple of years now. Still nothing done. Brought up to code compliance director. Still nothing done. I called 311. They said it was a PD issue reporting it to PD. They tell me because the officer showed up yesterday that is not a PD issue. So there's also issue with 311. But the fact that this neighborhood association president is getting special favor. Nothing is being done after even verifying that there is no way within city that they could even receive a permit for putting planners on the roadway causing a hazard. That is special favor for why? So that they don't inform the residents of everything that in the city because >> Thank you ma'am. You have reached the three minutes. The next speaker is Ian Valdez. Mr. Alles's topic is climate action plan. He will be followed by Arnurto Ernandez. Good morning, sir. You have three minutes. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, mayor, members of council, and city managers. My name is Ian Valdes, and I'm a fellow with the Chihuahuan Desert Climate Collaborative. So, we've been working on a region's first ever climate action plan for the last few months, and I am here in my personal capacity to speak on why you should support the CAP. So over the weekend, I spoke with a few young ladies from the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation. We talked about how similar both of our respective advocacy efforts are. We both table advance asking El Pasoans to subscribe to our newsletters and to sign letters of support. We both receive mostly positive but sometimes negative feedback from the community. We even talked about potentially having a space in the deck park full of native trees and plants. And while we both know that our respective projects are ambitious and have the potential to change El Paso for the better, they will require substantial investment to implement. And I'm I'm not here to advocate for their project. They got their own people to do that. So I'm here to talk about the one that I'm part of. I've been involved in climate advocacy for years now. from direct lobbying of elected officials to leading green efforts at UTEP and founding organizations and now this climate fellowship. I am proud of the work I have done because I believe each and every one of us has a moral obligation to give the next generation a fair start. A fair start to afford a quality education, to buy a home, a fair start with less debt, less inflation, and yes, a cleaner, healthier planet. Whether it's floods in central Texas or extreme heat waves here in El Paso, the effects of climate change have proven to be deadly and are felt by everyone, regardless of race, age, religion, ethnicity, or political ideology. Shouldn't we all work together then to find solutions to the problem? As the fellowship enters its final stages, we have had discussions on how the CAP will be funded. Like many projects, the goal is to secure external funding in the shape of federal grants, state grants, and generous philanthropists to offset any burden on local taxpayers. And I want to be abundantly clear. I personally believe that this council should be as fiscally responsible as as fiscally responsible as possible and always look for opportunities to lower taxes and not raise them. In an ideal world, we would have a deck plaza and animal shelters and new hospitals and renovated buildings and parks. But the reality is that we cannot afford to do all that. So, as our city representatives, I rhetorically ask you, why did you become a public servant? Is it not to help people and improve their lives through decision-m as you grapple with how to prioritize the cap and other initiatives that come before you? I'll leave you with a quote from utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham that says, quote, "The greatest happiness for the greatest number is the foundation of morals and legislation." Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. The next speaker is Arnul Fernandez. I don't believe he's in chambers. We'll move on to Luis Ree. Luis Ree, if you're in the Q star six. Luis Reese, if you're in the Q, Star 6. Good morning. You have three minutes. Mr. Reese's topic is no kings protest this weekend. Go ahead, Mr. Dice. We can hear you. You have 3 minutes. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh thank you for your time and uh allowing me to speak today. So there is a no kings protest this weekend in El Paso with thousands taking a place around the country. The potential for violence is incredibly high given the boiling hot tensions after the public assassination of Charlie Kirk. Tyler Robinson, the man who the FBI took into custody for the crime of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, was radicalized by the same rhetoric exped Antifa aligned groups, as well as a local local elected officials, past and present. Over the past two weeks, there has been an uptick in activity in both Portland and Chicago as elements of the radical right are working to escalate tensions with the radical left, who is incapable of helping themselves, took the bait and even stabbed one right-wing instigator. Overall, there was 28 arrests in both cities over this past week. Online, there is chatter of right-wing and undercover ICE playing the role of Antifa agitator. But I do not believe this to be the case as right-wing agitation will be overt, not covert. It is my informed analysis, having tracked Antifa in El Paso and around the country for six years now, I can tell you that they are getting more and more desperate, as evidenced by attacks on ice facil in facilities in Chicago and here in Texas. If history has taught me something, it's that people on the left will pretend to be right-wing in order to radicalize people and push them to violence. It was just six years ago that a man named Thomas Bartram pretended to be a right-wing terrorist here in El Paso collaborating with local immigrant shelter Kasa Carmelita on a hoax to cause fear. Earlier this year, Bartram was shot having an after having an armed confrontation with police. Socialist Democrats, Indivisible 915 and Gasa Carmalita are all groups that are linked to Antifa operating in El Paso headed by Bato Or former Congressperson Bado and Congresswoman Veresco Veronica Escobar. Please issue a statement encouraging people to protest nonviolently but to be aware that there is heightened risk associated with protesting with Antifa aligned groups. Please make the public aware of the tactics used by Antifa link groups as they have already been used in El Paso to make a staging ground. However, that plan was thwarted. I have personally witnessed these groups put thousands of lives at risk in Los Angeles during the No Kings protest and the leadup where scores of Antifa linked agitators work tirelessly to create civil war conditions. Once again, they failed, but this time they are more determined than ever. I have already informed ICE and DHS and FBI. >> Thank you, Mr. Ree. Thank you, sir. You've reached the three minute limit. >> Council, that concludes call to the public. >> Okay, Miss Brian, let's move to the consent agenda. >> Yes, sir. Council, just a reminder, per the rules of order, no use of personal cellular devices should take place on the day as when the meeting is in session. Once you obtain the floor from the mayor, you will have up to 10 minutes for each to debate each motion and may speak twice per item. Please speak into the microphone and refrain from side conversations at the day when the meeting is in session. For those of you joining us virtually, please mute your microphones to reduce any background noise and the YouTube live streaming has been restored. That brings us to the consent agenda. All matters listed under the consent agenda will be considered by city council to be routine and will be enacted by one motion unless separate discussion is requested by council members. Prior to the vote, members of the audience may ask questions regarding items on the consent agenda. When the vote has been taken if an item has not been called out for separate discussion, the item has been approved. Council may however reconsider any item at any time during the meeting. Mayor Pro Tim. Thank you, Miss Prine. I make a motion to approve the consent agenda with the following revisions. Page four, item nine, move to the regular agenda per Mayor Promp Alejandra Chavez. Page five, item 11, revised per city clerk's office. >> And that revision is to note that Miss Baron's appointment is an initial appointment and not a reappoint. >> Yes. And uh page 11, item 34, take to the item at 11:00 a.m. Per Mayor Johnson. >> Second. Page 11, item 34. Take the item at 11:00 a.m. Per Mayor Johnson. >> All right. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda with the a second? All right, Miss Prime. Call for the vote please. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Mayor Prom Chavez, seconded by alternate Mayor Pro Tim Fiero to approve the consent agenda as revised. On that motion, call for the vote. Representative Nino. >> Hi. >> Thank you. And the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. We now turn to page number six. And this is items This is for items 15 and 16, the introduction of ordinances. Mayor make a motion that we move on the introduction of the first reading of these ordinances. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> Second. >> And Miss Bryan, I understand we have um comment on item 15. >> That's correct, sir. We have Miss Osman that signed up to speak on item 15. This is the introduction of an ordinance changing the zoning south of Artcraft. Go ahead, Miss Osman. You have three minutes. The reason I'd like to speak to this is in the backup material I want to point out for not only city council but all citizens of El Paso that it there's a line in there in regards to stakeholders and it shows that neighborhood association was notified. Everybody needs to be aware the scam that is going on in regards to using neighborhood association. Whereas the city sends out one letter to meet their we notify the community, one letter to the neighborhood association president and that is all that is used. If that neighborhood association president does not notify the the residents within their area does nothing, doesn't even open up that letter, then nobody is really notified. That agenda item just gets rubber snapped and this agenda item is showing that that is a huge issue and it's something that needs to be rescended from city policy on one letter to neighborhood association citizens. All citizens need to be notified. not meeting a requirement by sending out one letter to an association neighborhood president can meet that qualification. this agenda item and any agenda item that is on for vote is highly suspect because the city is using that practice to push it through and get it rubber stamped so that you can say there's no opposition. community was notified when in fact only one letter was sent out to a neighborhood association president in that area. That that is an appalling practice and it's stripping away the rights of everyday taxpayers in our community to be properly notified by using neighborhood associations in that manner. Anyway, um I think any of the agenda items that are brought up with that stakeholder notice to associations should be invalidated. >> Thank you for that. That's all that I have to say on this agenda item. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right, Miss Frank. Call for the vote, please. >> Yes, sir. Motion was made by Representative Lemon, seconded by Representative Maldonado Roachcha to approve the first reading of ordinances. On that motion, call for the vote. And the voting session and the motion passes unanimously. >> All right, Miss Brian, I think we're going to take agenda item number nine. Is that right? >> Yes, sir. Item number nine was moved to the regular agenda >> and this is a resolution that the city manager be authorized to sign an agreement for for professional services between the city of El Paso and WSPUSA Inc. a New York USA foreign for-profit incorporation authorized transact business in Texas for a project known as architect and engineering services for the Sunland Park shared use path project and an amount not to exceed $799,6215. >> Is there a motion? >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> All right. Uh, Representative Canales. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, yeah, super happy to see this one here. Hin I think uh again not to overly pat myself on the back. I I came up with the idea for this one years ago. 2018 maybe was the first time uh it was brought up and it was the first time I um was working as a staffer and was uh attending no meetings and there was a first it was my first experience of a call for projects and I did very little of the work. I had the early idea and staff packaged a really excellent submission uh for this and you know years later got an you know their their hard work paid off through an award of the funds for this project and so I'm super happy to see it uh you know it's it's one of the only things that I can trace way back to before my time on the council that I uh you know pitch something and and I'm seeing it come to fruition. So thank you all for the hard work on it. really happy to see this. And um again, there's a a whole network of hike and bike, walking and bike paths, uh shared use paths that we hope to tie this into, um further up Shadow Mountain and some other projects that uh we're packaging for submission at the moment. Right. So, >> uh really happy. Thank you. And hope I have council support today. >> Okay. >> There's a presentation if council wants to see it, >> please. Can you bring up the presentation for item nine, please? Thank you. Next slide. So, item nine is award of the professional engineering uh professional services contract to WSP for the Sunland Park Drive uh shared use path. This extends from Mesa to Cadis in District 8. The total amount of the contract $799,6215. Uh this is a federally funded project. Uh the funding comes from the congestion mitigation and air quality uh offsystem funds. Next slide. The scope of work is essentially a shared use path from Mesa to Kadis. Um that would be built partially above an existing storm water drain u that follows that same alignment. Um more details on the scope of work would involve project management surveying everything that you see listed there but essentially a full turnkey design uh from concept to construction drawings ready to bid uh for these funds which are programmed to let in FY27. Next slide please. This is a map of the project location. Um you see here it'll run adjacent to the southbound lanes of Sunland Park from Mesa to Kadis. Next slide. Here are some images of the existing conditions. Um, you can see even to the casual observer, it's pretty obvious that there's going to have to be some pretty intense storm water uh redesign and coordination with that storm water structure enabled in order to install the shared use path. Um, there's very little sidewalk and very little space to install any sort of meaningful path in that area. Next slide. Uh, this is some more existing conditions. Again, you see the storm water uh channel there and the residences nearby and the intersection there of Kadis uh and the termination of the project. We'll also be including some intersection improvements so that folks using the path can safely get across uh to the park that's in that area as well. Next slide, please. So, quick summary, eight firms submitted bids, all with local offices here in El Paso. WSPUSA Incorporated was ranked as the highest qualified firm. We are recommending award to WSP in the amount of $799,6215. >> Happy to take any questions. >> Okay. Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Hakeim, for the presentation. I know you briefed me in my office. I did have a chance to review the backup. I know there's a lot of backup. There's like about 93 pages of it. So, I do have some questions in addition to what we talked about in my office and I do agree with Representative Canales that this area, excuse me, needs improvement. I I my district is right next to it. So, I travel this street frequently. Um the backup actually says that the the loan is from TexOT and right now you said it's a federal loan. Is the backup not correct? >> So, the loans that we're getting are for our local match requirement. Um that's where the required match for the project will come from. Right now the federal funding identified for this project is about $5.5 million. So the remainder of that would come from the loan from the text state infrastructure bank. >> So it's coming from Tex or federal? >> The federal funds come from Federal Highway Administration and then our local match will come from a loan that we received from the uh state infrastructure bank. >> Okay. Um there is uh the award says in the backup that it's $799,000 with with the change that you just uh mentioned, but um there is some contingency. There's some additional funds being allocated $100,000. Where do those come from? >> So that's typical of our awards for professional services. We include an additional $50,000 for uh reimburseables and additional capacity for $50,000 for additional services. um that's not necessarily part of the scope of work. It's not guaranteed to the consultants. It's to give us some wiggle room to not have to come back to council to increase the award. Um the city engineer has the authority then to add uh additional geotechnical services, additional design services, additional surveying if we see the need for that throughout the course of the design of the project. >> And so uh that money would come from where? From what fund? >> That'll also come from the Sib loan. Okay. >> More local local responsibility for the project. >> So, is it typical um for it to be like a lump sum like that or should it be like a percentage of the product? Because I think items uh 7, 8, and 9 all have that same allocation 100,000, but they're not all the same amount of dollars in terms of the the project itself. So, is it typical to just put like a lump sum amount next to it versus a percentage of the project? >> It is typical. We usually do the the 50 additional reimburseables and 50 additional services. >> Okay. So that's just the way it's always done for professional services. Yes. Or for these types of loans. >> Um for professional services. The the loan is completely separate to this. Um council approved >> staff to apply for the loans uh back in April, I believe. um we're in the process of submitting those applications and then if the loan is approved we'll come back with u a separate resolution to execute the loan >> and the reason I ask is because it's about 12 1.5% of the loan uh amount so it seems a little bit high we we usually do like a 10% up to a 10% change order so that's that's the percentage looked a little high to me in terms of the dollar amount for the for the actual project I'd like to talk a little bit about um the the firm WSP, how many uh firms submitted? I think the backup said nine. Is that correct? >> I believe so. Yes. >> And how many um are local that submitted? >> All firms who submitted do have a local office here in El Paso, including WSP. >> And the reason why I asked that is, do you know how many employees WSP has in El Paso? >> And the local office, I'm not sure. We'd have to follow up with you on that >> because on page 43 of the backup there's $12,000 a little over that allocated for travel for this project. Do you know why they need over $12,000 of travel funds? >> Um, typically we see consultants traveling in uh because this project includes different disciplines, not just roadway design um but civil engineering and the NEPA process. We typically see consultants bringing in a lot of their out of town team for those uh specialty services like the stormwater design and the the NEPA public hearing. That's a requirement of the federal process. >> Yeah. And I just I I want to point out because I think it's it's something that I've affirmed in in many council meetings um about supporting local businesses and the fact that you know when we do support local businesses the money stays in our community. And to me, this sounds like, you know, someone could have an local office, maybe with one or two people here, but they're they don't really reside in our community. So, they're not really a fabric of El Paso. Um, I I don't know the team at WSP, but I'm assuming that they're going to be contracting people from other cities. And so, basically, our dollars go to other places. You know, that money gets reinvested in other cities and not El Paso. Um, and that's just something that I would like to point out that there is over $12,000 including $5,300 in airfare, I'm assuming, for people that they will need to bring in to do this this work specifically here. Um, the RFQ was put in February, is that right? Was advertised in February, >> I believe. So, >> and we're awarding it now in October. Is that typical? This eight-month span between advertising a project and awarding it. >> It is typical. We spend a lot of time especially on more complex processes uh projects sorry um coordinating and working on the fee with the consultants. Um the text dot process also adds time to that because text dot has to u review our solicitations um when they go out and review um as we develop the scope of work as well. >> You said to the casual observer right now um there was going to be a lot of improvements to the storm water drainage. Uh was that in the scope of work as well, like specifically everything that they were going to have to do? >> Uh the second bullet point on the RFQ did state that we wanted uh that the scope of work would include storm water improvements. Um we try to not be too specific on what we feel internally the solution is. At the end of the day, we're hiring a consultant that we expect to help us develop that solution. >> Okay. So um basically um from what I just understood sometimes what you present in an RFQ for scope of work has interpretations that should be done by the consultant not necessarily conveyed directly from the city to uh as part of the bidding process. So one of the evaluation criteria is the we expect the consultants to put into their SOQ their their understanding of the project and the challenges and the issues and how they will address them. Um so we put out what the scope of work needs to do. At the end of the day, we want someone who can design a shared use path from Mesa to Kadis, right? We have an expectation that the consultants will do some investigation, do some fieldwork, look at aerial drawings, and come up with what they think the solution should be and how they're going to address all the issues that would be involved in developing that solution. >> Okay. I'm just wondering if the scope of work is not precise, Huin, and this is, you know, a question I think that the community would like to know as well. If the scope of work is not precise and there's room for interpretations and we don't have a budget because I don't think a budget is part of the the RFQ is it you don't have like a budget that you post on on that you're trying for people to stay within a reason. >> We don't we don't typically post that in the RFQ because then we get consultants who develop an expectation of what their fee should be based solely on that and not based on the actual level of effort required for the design >> and and I'm just providing feedback. I think if the scope of work is not precise and there's room for interpretations in it and there's no budget that's also tied to a certain bid then it's difficult for people to I I guess it's not a a a legal level playing field because people might say I want to add this to the project I want to add that I'm leaving it to this interpretation I'm going to do this and then maybe in the process someone goes way over budget or way under budget I don't know it just seems like >> I think an important important uh thing to really note here with professional services we're issuing a request for qualifications not a request for proposals. So we are legally required to evaluate consulting uh firms based on their qualifications. Are they qualified to answer the engineering questions that we need them to answer? We're not requesting proposals. We're not asking them to come up with a design with their statement of qualifications. Right? We want them to be able to identify what that solution might entail and what they need to do to get to that solution, but we're not asking for that solution at that time. >> And I understand that, but like on page 56 of this item, you know, there's there's a big design here in place and and there's others, right, that are part of this backup. So, I'm just looking at it and thinking um I mean obviously they they went into great detail about it and it looks like it's going to be a good project. Like I mentioned earlier, I do think this project is very much needed in the community. Um, and I think it's going to add a lot of value to the residents that live in that area, especially those that are trying to get to the park. Um, I I I think it's a great project. I'm just wondering um the the process that it took to get here. So, I know that you are doing based on qualifications, but they also added a lot of um, you know, um, details to the project itself that probably at the end of the day added a lot of value when the raiders were looking at it. Does that make sense? >> It makes sense at at the end of the day. The the second uh criteria from our RFQ is the project the proposers project understanding coordination required site observations and evaluation expected conflicts and approach to address these issues and that's worth 30% or 30 points on their evaluation. So ultimately it's up to the proposers, the consulting firms to present, you know, their their statement of qualifications in a way that's going to get them the highest points on that. Um >> okay. >> Um but what I do what I did learn today is that there's always room for interpretation, right? Because the city is not necessarily giving them the specific. >> We're not going to feed them what we think the solution should be. At the end of the day, it's it's up to them to come up with that. Um, >> okay. Got it. Thank you, Hain. I appreciate your time. >> Represent Roto, >> thank you, Mayor. Um, Hain, and and thank you so much. I I have a couple of questions. Originally, when this and and first before I do that, let me preface it by saying I know that the community needs this. I know that Rep. Canales has been fighting for this for a long time. I have no doubt and I have nothing to to say about the actual project itself. It's about the proposal and the way the contract was awarded. That's u the question those are the questions that I have. So in regards to the proposal, the proposal went out as a simple sidewalk project, shared use path. Um my understanding is that a few of the firms said it did not include storm drainage work. They found out it had storm drainage work during the scope of work when it was awarded and the backup was uploaded on Thursday. So can you tell me if it included that storm drainage work? And the reason I say that is because when the proposers put their bids in or their proposals in, my understanding is that they did not include it because of the fact that it did not include storm drainage work in the original proposal. >> So on page three of the RFQ that was advertised, the key project objectives uh selected consultant is expected to achieve design services for the following project scope. Bullet point number one, shared use path running along Sunland Park Drive from Kadis to Mesa Street. Bullet point number two, storm water improvements. >> Okay, so that was included in the proposal. >> Yes, ma'am. Absolutely. >> Okay, I just wanted to make sure. So, thank you for that. The second thing also, um, this should include, does WSP have a project manager in El Paso? >> My understanding is they do have project management staff in El Paso. So, you know, I have I have some trouble when you say that we've included travel in the actual award. If this was awarded to a local company and it's a simple, from what I'm understanding, based off of the conversation, a simple storm drain and shared use path project, where would the travel requirements or that allocation come into play? Typically we see travel from the cons the part of the consulting team that has to come in for the NEPA public hearing. All of our projects require a public hearing under the National Environmental Protection Act. Um that's typically when we see the out of town team come in um because quite frankly that talent doesn't really exist in El Paso. Even our larger local firms are using teams from out of town to uh provide those services. >> Okay, perfect. I I don't to be clear, travel is reimbursed on a uh cost basis. So whatever the actual cost of travel is, that's what we reimburse. We don't just give them a blank check for travel. So um if at the end of the day they don't end up bringing anyone in or we don't end up having to have that public hearing because of things like a categorical exclusion, um we wouldn't have to spend that travel money. A >> and it's not necessarily that you're giving them a blank check. there's allocations on the on the backup. So, I'm aware of that. But, you know, it's not just airfare, it's meals, it's everything else that's included in that. And my question would be, why isn't the company paying for that? And why does why does the city of El Paso have to have it included as part of the award? Would you happen to know that? >> It's it's typical of our contracts. Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Is that standard policy or is that standard um to to exclusively just to the city of El Paso? Is that standard across all municipalities? Because I >> I wouldn't have an answer to that. We'd have to get on purchasing to see if that's typical of other municipalities, but it I know it's something that we've done typically. >> Okay. All right. Thank you so much, Wy. I appreciate it. >> Represent Canelis. >> Thank you, Mayor. Comment on mostly unrelated to the contract. I didn't mention earlier actually that the genesis of this is that there is no sidewalk >> along that entire stretch uh along what is El Paso's number one most traveled uh arterial street. And so um initially I think it was you who I was working with. I found I found the original emails back from early 2020 actually. >> Uh later than I thought, but um we we first discussed the possibility of uh using the ADA on demand program to fill this as a sidewalk gap. And obviously given the storm water needs and and the fact that it uh has to coexist with the existing stormwater canal, it became a much bigger project. obviously exceeded the budget of what was available for the the ADA on demand. It was a much larger project and so it ended up getting packaged into into this. Um but it is a very very uh obvious and large uh gap in our sidewalk network there and it's you know connecting two very highly trafficked commercial corridors and so um again uh very important I think that the project is able to proceed um you know we're uh receiving federal funding and we have some timelines that we have to follow as well. So um in in my review of this, it it looks like uh a fairly standard uh professional services contract. Um I understand some of the newer members of council haven't seen too many of these professional services contracts, but um this is mostly standard. Um again, I I've worked as a consultant in related field here. Um, and I as as far as I can tell, it is very standard for the hiring agency or or entity to pay reimburseables for travel. I mean, that's that's like a pretty standard thing across consulting contracts. And so, um, I'm very comfortable with it. I really hope to have the support again today. Thank you, Mayor. >> Representative Chaveis. >> Thank you, Mayor Quin. Just uh to reiterate real quick, storm water um improvements is different than covering a channel, is it not? >> No, ma'am. Storm water improvements would would cover all of that. U it's a pretty general term for anything related to storm water, any construction related to storm water. So, it's like a blanket statement to say, you know, do this design. Um, whatever we need to do to the pipes, to the inlets, to whatever it is that's existing there, we're going to cover the channel that's also labeled as a shared use path because that's the way it was it was um presented, right, as a shared use path. >> The So, you know, I read the scope of work to Representative Roachcha. The second bullet point was storm water improvements. Um, in our understanding as folks who who do this work, if you see storm water improvements, you should understand that you're going to have to investigate what that's going to be, what that means for this project. >> Okay, that's that clarifies it. Um, again, just to reiterate, you know, supporting local is is something important to me. I know that it can't always be done, and I'm not saying that it's not beneficial to our community to bring in people from other places. I don't want to be mi misunderstood but I do uh believe that leaving our dollars within the city limits is important and beneficial to all of us at the end of the day as well. Thank you >> represent Basto. >> Thank you mayor and uh since a lot of this is storm water El Paso Waters engaged on this as well. Yes, we've engaged El Paso Water. Improvements to this channel are included in their storm water master plan. Um not currently funded. Um so we're going to be working with them to see if there's a way for them to contribute to the project. Um if not, we have worked with um our folks at Texot to ensure that the storm water improvements required for the channel would be covered with our federal funding. >> Okay. Can you give me the the funding again because I got a little confused. I know you said that we had a loan at the state level and then the other one was federal, but then the whole thing is like $700 something thousand. So, what is the breakdown between the loan and then the actual grant? >> So, the the total project right now we've secured um and this was approved by council recently in an advanced funding agreement with Tex um around 5.5 million in federal funds. our required local share of that 5.5 million is about I believe $480,000. We're currently working with the MO to try and allocate more money, more federal funds to this project. Um because our cost estimate right now is about $ 8.5 million um for the entire project. >> Okay. >> What was approved by council in April for the SIB loan, I believe, was a 1.1 $1 million loan to cover our local match responsibilities and our local contribution. So contribution is anything above and beyond the match. Um at that time we expected that to be about 1.1 million. I think that's going to be higher. Um but you'll see that when we come back to actually execute that loan agreement. >> Okay. That that puts it a little bit more in perspective. I I also think it's a great project and I could see the heartburn that my colleagues are having with the pdiums that are included the travel and stuff like that. So, I wanted to ask you, we've worked with WSP in the past, right? >> I have not personally worked with them um at the city in the past. They do a lot of work right now for the Metropolitan Planning Organization. We have worked with WSP's predecessors. So, WSP didn't, you know, come in to El Paso as a as a new company. they um have purchased I believe it's called Wood Environmental um a company that's that's existed in El Paso for many years uh under different names. >> Okay. So, it was an acquisition and I'm looking at the WSP website and I mean it's a pretty big firm and when I'm looking at exhibit B, which is the fee schedule for this project, I I think this makes sense for somebody that has an LLC that is a one person, twoerson show where they need this as part of the contract. But when you have such a big firm like this, I I could understand the heartburn that comes with, okay, we're also going to do your predium. Doesn't the company do it on their own and we don't have to include these $12,000 to go toward that? >> So the the fee proposal is what the company thinks it costs them to provide these services, right? We we are not able to we can negotiate the fee proposal but we cannot select a consulting firm on the basis of cost. So, we couldn't tell WSP, you know, if you don't take out your uh PDM and travel, we're gonna go to another firm and and and then if they don't take it out, then we go back to WSP. We can't do that. We can't legally do that, right? So, they've provided what they feel is their cost of providing these services. We think they're fair and reasonable and we through the evaluation process, they're the highest highest qualified firm. So, our recommendation to you all is to move forward with that. The end of the day, it's up to council. If the travel and and meals are a dealbreaker for you, then um you know, you can all vote this down and we'll go on to the next highest qualified firm and uh negotiate a new fee with them. Could be higher, could be lower. We don't know. We'd have to go through that process. >> And and so I guess from everything that you just said about this fee schedule, there's nothing that we can do to say, okay, yes, approve this, but then take out the fee schedule exhibit B from this contract. I I don't think that could happen now because those negotiations are done. The contract is in front of you. Um if you're doing that, it's essentially you're rejecting the contract. >> Okay. So, it's it's all or nothing is what you're saying. >> We could go back and see if they would remove it. Um but we'd have to come they'd have to agree to it. We can't just unilaterally tell them don't include that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Represent Rocha. >> I just have one more question. So, in regards to this, it sounds like it's more of a drainage focus project than a shared use path. >> It's both. Uh, essentially within the existing right ofway, there's not enough space to do our traditional shared use path, right? Where we would just put a 5ft buffer, 12t path, landscaping on both sides. >> That space doesn't exist. >> Um, so we need a creative solution to be able to accommodate that space. um the solution that we're most likely going to move forward with is covering the channel in its entirety. There were some other ideas thrown around about a cantalvered path that would sort of hover over the channel. Um but at the end of the day in coordination with El Paso water and just our understanding of the engineering principles behind this uh covering the channel makes the most sense. >> Okay, thank you Hen. And then what is the the total projected budget at this time for the full project? >> Right now the total projected budget is 8.5 million. That's all in design services internal costs um both federal and and local match. >> Okay. Thank you so much King. Just one quick question. How many biders were there on this project? >> I believe it was nine. >> And did any of the other eight or nine protests this one the award? >> No, there was no protest. >> There was no protest. Okay. All right. Um any further discussion on item number nine? >> All right. Call for the vote. Miss Bryan. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Canal, seconded by Representative Lemon, and this is to approve the resolution on item number nine. On that motion, call for the vote and the voting session. And that motion passes 7 to1. Representative Madonado Rocha voting nay. The remainder of council voting I. The motion carries. >> All right. Thank you. Let's take item number 34, Miss Pry. >> Yes, sir. We now turn to page 11. Item number 34 is discussion and action on a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign an interlocal agreement between the city of El Paso and the University of Texas at El Paso to include the city of El Paso as a co-licant in the build back better regional challenge grant awarded by the US economic development administration to jointly implement the award of scope of work and to jointly administer $10 million in federal funds. >> Is there a motion? Motion approved. >> Second. >> All right. Omar. >> Good morning, Mayor Council. Omar Martinez with strategic and legislative affairs. We also have with us uh members from UTEP staff. We have Dr. Itani. We have Dr. Misner and Dr. Lynn who are uh managing portions of this project. And I believe we also have Dr. Sher Welsh via teams. She is a aerospace UT aerospace director. And so as as Miss Brent said it, um this this action is uh requesting staff is requesting council to approve a resolution authorizing this partnership between the city and UTEP. And I want to emphasize the term partnership. We will be managing all of these funds, all of the scope of work and all of this program together. >> You want to go through the presentation, Omar? >> Up to you. >> Yeah, please. >> Of course. So the Built Back Better uh regional challenge uh started in 2021 where a coalition of agencies including UTEP, the city, the county, Workforce Solutions, Borderlex, the Rear Grand Council of Governments, and other including private sector partners got together and formed the West Texas Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing Coalition. From this, this coalition applied to the US Economic Development Administration Build Back Better Regional Challenge. This region was one of 21 selected applicants out of a pool of 529 applications. And ultimately uh this region received $40 million to create um a program and infrastructure for aerospace and defense uh manufacturing. And the the intent was to create a space that is the advanced manufacturing district and programming for small and medium manufacturers that would help them enter uh the national supply chains and compete in this industry. Ultimately the city of El Paso received $25 million to build the advanced manufacturing district that is at the airport. It is 250 acres and um UTAP received $15 million uh in for programming, supplier readiness and technical assistance to help the manufacturers that would be able to qualify for this contract. Ultimately, this award is uh combined a joint award. The city and UT were both awarded. So we we uh the I apolog So as this program continued this program started in 2023 uh UTEP and the city of El Paso have been working on this from the very beginning and recently UTP and city staff re reviewed the visibility of jointly managing $10 million in federal funds. This is from UTP's portion of the grant. We connected with UTB and asked them what this process would look like and they gave us all the forms and exactly what we needed to make such a such a transaction happen. And the intent of this was to increase our partnership with UTEP to sustain the program beyond the grant period. The grant is expected to end in May of 2027. A little bit of history on agreements. The city in city council in 2023 approved a match for UTEP's portion of this grant. it was $1,875,000 and the county in August 2023 ultimately also approved a match of $1,875,000 to for UTP's portion of the grant. Now, the partnership that's that city staff and UTP are proposing is to jointly manage the $10 million out of the $15 million award. In this we would jointly develop all of the progress reports and manage subcontracts with uh associated with this program. So we would work on all documents together and submit them to EDA and and essentially uh draft the the technical services that we would need to provide to uh medium small and mediumsiz manufacturers. Also as part of this program the city and UT would jointly work to uh to meet the grant metrics. These include 500 jobs um created in aerospace and defense industries and also an increase of 20% in revenues from small and medium manufacturers that are participating in the innovation network. The innovation network today is a group of more than 120 small and medium manufacturers that currently receive services for as part of this initiative. The last task is to uh work with up to 150 manufacturers to get them to reach certain certification levels, industry certification levels to be able to compete for aerospace and defense contract. The term we will use for these certifications is level three and level six. In summary, level three is everything you need to prepare for contracts. And level six is when you are already contracting in defense and aerospace and you are uh maybe a subcontractor to a large company like Loheed Martin or already uh have already secured department of defense contracts. It's also important to note that UTEP has already made progress towards these grant metrics. So ultimately the US Economic Development Administration needs to appro approve whatever budget allocation we we we propose. Uh the budget would be spent over a 19-month period and city staff is proposing that $500,000 of this be spent for grant administration internally to the city and then the remainder of the funds be allocated in the breakdown that you see on the screen for the actual programming for the task two the job creation and business development portion and task three the uh industry certifications portion. Like other uh grant funded programs, we like to add a contingency line item that gives us flexibility with the budget. The match requirements will continue to be the same. Uh EDA would cont the federal government would contribute $10 million. The city of El Paso to date is still responsible for $982,000 and a little bit over that as part of that interlocal agreement that we signed with UTEP and inind contributions equivalent to $338,000. Usually the inind is paid for by city staff. So we have our teams at economic development and at the airport that are already contributing to this project. Uh, El Paso County is also also has uh contributed needs to contribute uh $1,847,000 to the project and we have city staff has connected with El Paso County on this and we're we're expecting that uh this uh integral agreement with between the county and UT will continue and we that we can continue using it and the project in itself what you can expect in the coming months is if council approves this interlocal agreement today we would come back to to the EDA and submit our partnership documents after discussing them detail with UTEP. Uh assuming that the federal um shutdown ends sometime soon then we can move forward uh with this timeline. If the federal shutdown continues then we can expect a couple of weeks of delay. We would begin the project in November and then in December we would engage city staff would engage with regional manufacturers and also uh bring back a a more detailed plan to city council for your review and and so today we're are requesting this resolution um your approval to enter into this partnership with UT. We want to take the time to thank uh our UT partners. They have been with us since the very beginning. It's a great opportunity for us to continue working in this space and it is also an opportunity for UT students to to essentially enter into jobs once they graduate from the university. That is the end of the presentation. I'm happy to answer any questions. >> And you know what, Omar, before we get to the council questions or comments, maybe we can hear from our partners at UTP. >> Sure. >> On the importance of this. >> I think we have Dr. Welsh available through Teams. Okay. Dr. Welsh, if you'll unmute. >> Yes, absolutely. Can you hear me? Okay. Yes. >> Great. I have a little bit of a head cult. So, if you see me turning off the mic, it's because I don't want to cough in your ears here. Um, well, the original intent of the grant, uh, right, was for UTEP to launch this program and then partner on the community engagement and economic development pieces. That way we focus on sharing our expertise in advanced manufacturing and aerospace um with the entrepreneurs building new business in El Paso which we're very excited about and we believe the grant will perform better if the partners play to their strengths and our strength is technical expertise. Um this doesn't mean we're not capable of doing other things of course but we're choosing together as partners with the city. we're choosing to focus on what we each do best and we believe that will be the most beneficial for the community. So, this proposed agreement um voted on today includes those changes that kind of crystallizes and clarifies um you know the original intent of the grant. So, we're just really excited about moving forward with the city on this. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Welsh. All right, Representative uh Vieierro. >> Thank you, Mayor Dr. Welsh. Um welcome even if it's um virtually, but I wanted to um tell you how disappointed I was in your introduction right now. You didn't say one space pun. >> I know. I'm sorry. I just let you down. >> Thank you, Dr. Welsh. I just wanted to make sure there's silence here. So, I I got scared for a moment. Dr. Let me say my my ending comment will be live long and prosper. >> Oh, there we go. We have to do the spock signal. Yes, there we go. Dr. W, my my question was going to be um could UTEP do this this grant without the city or could the and what the city was going to bring to the table? But Omar and you have just so eloquently um put it together and and this is just an example how we're stronger together. I know that the mayor often talks about this is an industry that's going to make our economic u area even stronger or much stronger. So thank you Dr. Wells for your partnership. Omar, thank you for putting this together and our friends in the back from from UTEP. Thank you for being here today. >> Representative uh Rocha Thank you, Mayor. Miss Prime, has there been written a motion to approve? >> Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Okay. Um, Omar, thank you so much for the presentation and Dr. Welsh, thank you so much for for the commitment and the partnership and really the the trust that you're putting within the city of El Paso. I say that because I know that there's been some um some comments that have not been so so nice and believe that, you know, um that this isn't something that is going to be prosperous to use the live long and prosper. But I do believe that this partnership is is something that we are going to be able to maximize on our strengths on both sides. I'm very excited about the advanced manufacturing district because it's in district three and so so I'm very excited about that and I really look forward to seeing all the wonderful wins that um that this group and this team is going to is going to accomplish. So, thank you. >> Thank you so much. And as Omar said, we've already uh the city and the county have been so welcoming since I came on board. So, we're all already pretty tight. Uh, lots of coffee meetings and lots of lunches and I so appreciate that partnership. So, this is just a natural progression of us continuing to strengthen our partnership. So, thank you so much for the comments. >> Represent. >> Thank you, Mayor. And I just wanted to thank you for always giving us a great presentation, putting this together. I think this is really exciting to continue building upon this this partnership. I think it's really important for our city. Aerospace is something that we need to continue to really push forward and and really champion through throughout our city, especially for hopefully bringing people back to El Paso. That's that's a big deal. I think there are a lot of people that want to be here, but they don't have the jobs to come back to, right? And so I think this chips away toward that goal that at least I have, I know other people on council have to make sure that we're creating something like this in this sector and other sectors for people to be in El Paso. And I also see um Mr. Fred Borggo in the the back of the room. I kind of wanted to bring you up and see if you could give us some of your thoughts and your wisdom as one of my favorite neighborhood association presidents. >> Is this on the item? Yes. >> Okay. Perfect. >> Good afternoon. >> Good morning, Fred. >> City Council. >> Thank you, Representative. Um, this is exciting news for our advanced manufacturing. I've been in it for my whole lifetime. I do defense work a little bit, not much. Uh, but I just wanted to let you guys know that you're partnering with UTP and it's important also to partner with community college and it's important to partner especially with our high schools in the vocational because this is high-tech. One of the problems we have right now, we don't have programmers. I've worked with the Texas Workforce Commission for about eight months and they couldn't find programmers for my shop. Okay. And we need that. It's important. So instead of just top down, we also got to make it bottom up. Okay. Um, community college, they need to help us with advanced programming. Again, this is really high-tech stuff. You guys need to come to my shop and see some of my high-tech equipment that I have. And uh, we don't get 100% out of it because we don't have the programming. we don't have the knowledge to really pull it out where this advanced uh manufacturing is required. Now, another thing that's missing in our manufacturing region that we've lost over the years is heat treating for the metals that are provided uh that are needed for this type of work. Aerospace, we don't have any here. We have to send it out. So, logistics come into play. Also, costs go into play. Another one that we don't have that's super super important is electroplating and that's for uh chromate passivation anodizing hard chrome that that aerospace industry needs. So as you move along and uh work on this keep that in mind and I think we can get back to manufacturing and make El Paso really shine. Thank you. >> Thank you Fred. Thank Thank you, Fred. And and I think that that's a lot of really great information that we could, you know, take that feedback and see how we could continue to improve on this and make this bigger. Uh because it I feel like it's getting bigger with more time that passes and that's a great thing. So, thank you, Mayor. >> Yep. Representative Tjo. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> This is this is great news. I uh wanted to say congratulations and thank you for taking the lead to the city. Uh and of course, you know, we have great community partners with UTIP. I I have a couple of questions on slide seven. So here we have the uh the tasks and the goals. Task two, 500 jobs created in aerospace. within what time frame would that be? >> So the remaining scope of work will be executed within 18 or 19 months. We are currently evaluating where UTIP's progress is. And I want to reiterate, UTIP has made a lot of progress towards meeting these metrics, but so that we can have uh a better sense of how we're going to create those 500 jobs or they might have already been created and maybe we haven't captured them through surveys. So a lot of the work that our economic development team will do, Karina Brazgala and uh Jesse Cordova who are here have been as part of this program from the very beginning. So credit goes to them actually. >> Absolutely. >> They're going to be doing a lot of the surveying work necessary to check what we have missed, capture it, and then continue developing the programming that will get us to that 500 jobs. But our goal is to exceed that and create a pipeline that will continue beyond the grant period which expires in May of 2027. >> Very good. And so that my other question was on the 20% increase in revenues. That's also something that you're you're looking at. >> That is correct. >> See where we're at. >> That would be captured through the same survey mechanisms. So you ask companies back in 2022 before the start of this initiative, what were your revenues like? What were your contracts like? And then now in 2025, 26, 27, how have they grown? And how has the advanced manufacturing initiative in El Paso helped you get there? >> Very good. Okay. Thank you. >> Sure. Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Omar, for the presentation. Thank you to UTEP, uh, for being a part of this and and collaborating. I want you to talk about the administration of this project, the program administration, because I know we have a lot of talented people here in the city and that are ready to to roll with this. So, who are they? >> Sure. Thanks. So, the city is really excited to to come up with this initiative. There are three departments that are working in this from the very beginning. First, we have uh the El Paso International Airport who are actually building the infrastructure and you heard from Shane Brooks yesterday. She's the one in charge of making sure that the 250 acres are ready for these companies that are interested in El Paso to bring their production here. We also have economic development which has been there from the very beginning. As I mentioned, Karina and Jessica Cordova and other other team members at economic development, they're going to be doing the actual programming side of it. So, they're going to be the ones that do the business retention and expansion. They go to the companies, they perform the surveys, they coordinate from the technical services side, the consultants to the actual businesses and visit them dayto-day like boots on the ground. And then you have strategic and legislative affairs and the office of the controller, we will make sure that this uh this funding is managed uh properly. So with so much visibility in this initiative, we want to make sure that if there is an any medium or like the EDA, the federal government itself, they should have no questions over how the money is being spent. And we want to keep everything open records request quality. So to put it more into perspective, we know exactly how many reports we have to submit to EDA. There's four of them. We know how many reimbursement requests we have to submit. There's 19 of them. and we know all about finance reports, audits, compliance, contract management, hiring, procurement. That's what we're going to be focusing on. Does that answer the question in full? Did you want more detail? >> No, no, that answers it perfectly. Omar, you know, we have full faith in in all of those departments that you just mentioned and I know it's going to be a great collaboration between us and UTP. Thank you so much. >> One last comment. U also will retain project management staff. Again, we're going to be working at this together every step of the way. they will see every single expenditure and we will coordinate and expenditures from the very beginning. >> Thanks for that clarification. Thank you >> representative Nino. >> Thank you mayor and thank you Amar for also working on this and bring this forward. This is a perfect example as to whenever we all sit down collaborate and work together as a community. We can make a lot happen right. Um I loved visiting the innovation lab with the airport and just getting to know even the current companies that essentially could possibly be part also of the advanced manufacturing district. When is that happening? Do we have a timeline yet of when that's going to be completed? >> The advanced manufacturing district like the actual construction. >> So the best answer for that is that the c the project is has currently mobilized for construction and they're currently undergoing the design build process. It would be up to Nandez or Shane Burks to give you a more specific timeline, but the grant requirements are are the same. We should be we have this completed by 2027. >> Great. Yeah, I know earlier this year we approved that contract. So, I'm looking forward to future conversations and thank you for all the work that went into this as well. I know that in conversations with the advanced manufacturing district, we had mentioned I think it was like 3,000 jobs. Correct. Is is that is that correct, Matt? >> Yeah, it's about 3,000 jobs. So, seeing uh slide seven of 500 jobs, it just overall with this grant um overall really shows that you know in the partnership we're creating for the jobs and skill development for our community. So, thank you for all the work and also for UT for being here. Thank you. represent Canales. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I'll be super brief in saying um very grateful for the continued partnership with UTEP and uh very happy that the city was in uh great position because of the hard work you all have done to step in uh to to pick up the additional work on the grant. And so, uh, you know, kudos to yourself, to economic development, to the airport, to the entire team, uh, for building that capacity over these years to to be able to step in, uh, as as we've needed to. And, uh, to Dr. Welsh, uh, peace and long life. >> Thank you so much, >> Representative Rocha. One last thing and and I think the thanks go across the board, but thank you to the previous council for really starting and pushing the project and believing in it and you know the staff that went into to the whole process behind it. Just really trying to push forward. Without them, I don't think we'd be here today. And this partnership proves that all things can can happen when you put some collaboration together. So I do want to thank the previous council for for their trust in the project to be able to provide um you know the funding that originally started this. So thanks. All right, Omar, before we call for the vote on this one, you know, this is a testament to this community, too, that uh we're making an investment in aerospace and and our university is has been a tremendous partner uh with the city and and I had an opportunity to talk to uh Dr. Wilson yesterday about this partnership and we both reinforced our commitments to to working on this uh together. But, you know, everything they're doing at the university with with the advanced manufacturing aerospace center and we have our advanced manufacturing district here, you we've got to know that, you know, we're becoming the city that if you want to go to space, you're going to have to come through El Paso. So, this is exciting times for not only u the city and and in our university uh partner, but for the whole region. So, uh, we'll continue to to be committed to this and again, we want to thank our partners at the University of Texas at at El Paso. And I don't have any jokes or any any Star Wars things, but the only thing I can say is go miners and we'll call for the vote. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by alternate mayor pro Tim Fiero, seconded by Representative Lemon, and this is to approve the resolution on item 34. On that motion, call for the vote. in the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> Thank you, >> Mayor. Would you like to recess for Mass Transit at this time? >> Yes, please. >> Is there a motion? >> So, move. >> There's a motion and a second to recess the regular city council meeting. All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? And the meeting is in recess at 11:44 a.m. in order to conduct the Mass Transit Department board meeting. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> This is a meeting of the El Paso Mass Transit Department board for Tuesday, October 14, 2025. It is 11:44 a.m. Present in presiding is board chair Johnson and also present in council chambers are board members Chavez ADO Rocha Boy Tjo Nino Fiero Lemon and Canales. Mr. Mayor, we only have the minutes on the consent agenda and we do not have anybody signed up for public comment. >> Okay. Is there a motion to approve? >> Second. >> All right. There's a motion in a second to approve the mass transit consent agenda. >> Give me one second. All matters listed under the consent agenda, including those >> do a trick. >> Yes. Will be considered by mass transit department board to be routine and will be enacted by one motion unless separate discussion is requested by board 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. The Mass Transit Department board meeting board may however reconsider any item at any time during the meeting. And again, this is for item one, the the the minutes. And who made the motion? >> Board member Fiero, seconded by board member Lemon. >> Okay, let's call for the vote. Voting session is open. Mr. Mr. Mayor. Thank you, sir. And the item has been approved unanimously. >> All right. Let's take item number three. Item number three is discussion and action on the resolution that the director of purchasing and strategic sourcing is authorized to modifi to notify Francisco Coral doing business as Eagle janitorial service company that the city is terminating contract number 2023-0673 janitorial services mass transit rebid and this is for convenience due to an overestimation of service hours in the original contract scope of work and that the termin mination shall be effective as of November 3rd, 2025. >> Okay. To approve. >> Okay. There there's a motion and a second that represent Chavez. >> Thank you, mayor. Um and I know that we're going to be cancelling this contract and awarding another one. And I wanted um the presentation or Anthony to come speak to to the reason for that. And I don't know if you want to do it on this item or the approval of the next contract. if you could just go o over the the reasoning behind cancelling this contract and approving the next one please. >> Good morning. >> Thank you. >> So Anthony de Kaiser the director of Sun Metro. Um so the question is I think the question is why are we doing this particular canceling this one and adding the next contract. So for this it the question um kind of reminds me of when Claudia was asking you were asking Claudia the question when she was presenting the contract um presentation a few weeks ago about um um why contracts are amended sometimes and Claudia was saying that hey you have to the contracts but the department generally knows the reason why. So there's often two perspectives of why that and so they wrote in here the overestimatement service hours and so for this particular contract is unique like all contracts are why they have to be um amended. Um so so for this one if you go back to um 2022 when we looked at this contract the janitorial contract is specifically tied to um wrership and so it was during co but we had to project it out. So we had to project it out. So we had to look at we think ridership is coming back. So we looked at 2017 when when ridership was higher because we had to say this contract has to cover that time, right? The time projected out three-year contract plus um two years options, right? And so we had to projected so would cover all that. But it didn't cover that because it it would have if it would have went back. In fact, the whole industry thought the time would the ridership would have came back. meaning we had janitorial contracts that covered what need to be cleaned up with the wrership going back. Um and so the whole industry thought that ridership would come back but when it didn't we had to give it another year to to check right and so when it didn't then we had to amend. So there you go when a particular answer why we amend. So this is an example of why we would amend because we we needed to based upon the conditions. So sometimes we have to amend when the conditions call for that. Um so we did but we also have other regulations like FTA and FTA says that we have to have um uh where is it at fair and fair and open competition. So we have to have fair and open competition. So we had a um a audit in 2020 2023. So we had an audit in 2023 and the FTA said, "Hey, you have to do fair and open competition." So after we amended one time and it said and FTA, we know FTA says you have to do that after we amended twice actually and we know the wrership's not going up as fast as we thought. Now we have other rules that we have to abide by FTA fair and open competition. The first time we had a bid, we had four biders, right? Right. And since the numbers were so high, we only had biders come in from out of town, right? Because they could only that's who could handle the capacity. But once we knew that ridership wasn't going up as fast as we thought and we amended it twice, right, to the conditions, right, instead of doing a whole new contract, this time we want to do a new contract because we know it's the right thing to do and FTA is saying do fair and open competition. So now we're doing doing that based upon the conditions and the requirement by FTA says we must do that and we know that because the audit in 2023. So now now we have another audit coming up in 2026. So we know we have to do this right. So then the question comes I believe that you are inquiring ma'am does this contract make it so we have to pay more. Well, in fact, we do have to pay more because the new contract says facilities by hours 21 when the old the older contract was 1875, right? So, there is is some increase to this, but it doesn't really matter because we have to do this by the FTA regulation. So, we're going to have to end this contract and start another one, right? And so, but there is good news to this because I know that we want to bring dollars back to the community, right? So there's a when we have four bids before but now we have 11 that supports the fair and open competition but it also allowed because the number of hours went down also allowed local companies to be able to bid because now they can handle the capacity. So we we made a good news story in two two ways. The first one was we following the FTA regulations because we have to open the contract. The second way is we made it so that local local businesses could compete in this. One because we had to and two because the conditions changed. So we're amending because the conditions changed. One to open it fair in competition. Two it helped the the local vendors be able to bid and actually one of the local bid um one local businesses actually won the competition. And the other good news is they actually pay a dollar more than the other company did. So now we're bringing in more dollars to local community and local people are getting paid more. So >> did that answer your question? >> Thank you Anthony. That's great. And thank you TClaudia. I I really think the work you're doing is great. I I had originally just wanted to know why you were canceling a contract, bidding it out, and going to pay more money for it. But that explains it perfectly and I appreciate the work that all of you are doing. Thank you so much. >> Thank all right. So, there's a motion in the second on item number three. >> And I do have a motion made by board member Lemon. And who seconded? >> Thank you. >> Seconded by board member Chavez. >> Hold on. Is there any further discussion on this item? >> Okay. Call for the vote. >> Voting session is open. Miss Thank you, sir. >> And the item has been approved unanimously. >> All right, let's take item number four. Item number four is discussion and action on the award of solicitation 2025 00089R transit fixed route service LUAC project amistad doing business as project Amistad for an initial term of 3 years for an estimated amount of 16,83,540. The award also includes a two-year option for an estimated amount of 11,375760 and the total contract time is for 5 years for a total estimated amount of 27,459300. This contract will allow Sun Metro to provide reliable and consistent transportation options for residents. >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> All right. Represent canales. >> Thank you, mayor. um projectistad has provided I think in my opinion wonderful service uh in in their previous contract and so um I'm enthusiastically support uh this this new award to to project Damistad to continue to operate routes uh for Sun Metro and they they do a great job of boosting the the connectivity within the the transit network and um so just wanted to say very happy with the the service that they continue to provide us. Um, and if no one if if anyone on the council hasn't had the opportunity to check out Project Amistad's entire transportation operation, they don't just do work for us. They're doing all kinds of excellent uh other transportation uh helping community organizations and uh their own clients. So, uh please take the opportunity to go out and ride some of their vehicles. They they do a great job. >> Very good. >> Is there any further discussion on item number four? Okay, call for the vote. >> And we do have a motion made by board member Lemon, seconded by board member Canales. And this is to approve item number four. Voting session is open. Voting session has been closed and the item has been approved unanimously. >> Okay, let's take item number five. >> Item number five is discussion and action on the award of solicitation 2025-0571 Bus Shelter Cleaning to Ace Government Cleaning LLC for an initial term of 3 years for an estimated amount of 2,9891,8655. The award also includes a two-year option for an estimated amount of 1,98770. The total contract time is for five years for an estimator estimated amount of 4,969,425. This contract will provide regular and ondemand cleaning services for bus shelters and stops through the city throughout the city. Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any discussion on item number five? Okay, call for the vote. >> And I do have a motion made by board member uh Fiero, seconded by board member Lemon. And this is to approve item number five. Voting session is open. Voting session has been closed and the item has been approved unanimously. >> Okay, let's take number six. Item number six is discussion and action on the award of solicitation 2025-0593 janitorial services sunmetro to ACE Government Services LLC for an initial term of 3 years for an estimated amount of 4,17,948. This also this award also includes a 2-year option for an estimated amount of 2,678 632. The total contract time is for 5 years for an estimated amount total estimated amount of 6,696,580. This contract will provide for daily janitorial services, Sun Metro Transit Centers, Park Right Lot, Anthony Parking Lot and Transit Terminal, Sun Metro Transit Centers, Park Right Lot, Anthony Parking Lot, and Transit Terminal. >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> All right, there's a motion and a second by Representative Tjo. Any discussion on item number six? All right, call for the vote. >> And we do have a motion made by board member Lemon, seconded by board member Buard Trejo. And this is to approve item number six. Voting session is open. Voting session has closed and the item has been approved unanimously. >> Okay. >> Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> Represent Limo. >> Mayor U. While staff is still here, I did want to comment, mayor, that every time that they've got items coming up on the agenda, Mr. Deaiser, thank you very much for visiting with our office and all of you for really making us aware of what's going on and how things are happening. So, thank you. It makes it makes life so much easier when we get here to vote. Appreciate it. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you guys. Is there a motion to adjourn the >> So, move second. >> All those in favor? Anyone opposed? And the meeting for Mass Transit Department board meeting for October 14th has been adjourned at 11:59 a.m. >> Thank you. >> Is there a motion to reconvene? >> So move. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second to reconvene the regular city council meeting. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? >> Meeting is back in session at 11:59 a.m. >> Let's take item number 17, Miss Fry. >> Yes, sir. We're on page number seven. Item number 17 is a public hearing of an ordinance releasing all conditions placed on the property by ordinance number 4928 at 5662 North Mesa Street. >> Represent Rocha. >> Thank you, Mayor. I appreciate >> You want to make a motion? >> Yes. Motion to approve. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Um, in speaking with uh the the Flume or the future land use map uh group team, small team but mighty of Casey Chanel and Alex Hoffman last week, I did make a commitment to them that it's important for us to show the presentation on anything having to affect or that's going to affect the flume. Um it's a it's a very it's a very community approached process and so I just want to make sure that the community is aware of what's being pre proposed at this time and things like um item 17 where it is in line with with that uh designation I believe is important. So if you could just go through the presentation for me I'd appreciate it. >> Yes. >> Thank you sir. Well, I guess good afternoon mayor and council Lamora with planning inspections. >> So, addit 17 is a uh a condition release request, excuse me, for property at 5662 Normes Mesa. Uh so, here's aerial uh it's already existing. Uh this actually across the west side uh animal uh center. Uh the zoning current zoning is C1. Uh just to remind this is a condition release request. This is not resing the property. Everything staying as is except the conditions. Uh so the future language map design this this area as G4 suburban walkable. So it's mostly for uh mixeduse development where we want to have uh um uh homes businesses surrounded for people to have access to them. This is the conceptual plan. Again, this is existing. Uh right now the the applicant is actually proposing some work on it. Uh they had some issues with the conditions imposed in the previous resoning. That happened actually I don't remember exactly when it happened. Uh back in the 70s. Uh so they requested to remove those conditions. Uh here on the screen um and it's a lot of text. This is back in the 70s. Those conditions were uh imposed on the property. The property included actually more than this subject property. It was actually kind of uh all the way to Messa Hills uh somewhere around this property all going north to Messa Hills and then from Messa obviously going back um like uh half a mile I believe. So the the conditions imposed back then was that they wanted to or the city wanted to uh limit the housing uh to 700 apartment units and and this was 74 47 47 sorry uh acres on property that's zone AO or that was the request and right now it is zone AO um and that they didn't want to have more than 22 apartment units per acre. uh that buildings needed to be uh 50 feet away from the property line along North Mesa Street. Uh but signage was permitted uh to have to be within those 50 ft. In addition, they wanted uh 250 ft of the subject property uh zone C1 that they will allow like canopies uh no closer than 30 ft to the property line on Messa. Uh the next condition imposed for and it's actually applicable to to this property to this zoning. Uh the C1 uh they wanted that before the any uh certificates of occupancy or building premise were issued for construction they wanted that the the property owners to uh landscape 15t of the property uh fronting me street. Uh, and then there's some kind of um exception there for the 250 uh feet uh close and actually those 250 ft closer portion of the property closer to Messa Hills. Um they they said, "Okay, you you can do that, but you will you will allow you to have driveways and and aisles for the parking." Okay, sorry about that. And that's the uh condition three. uh in addition to the O which this is not part of it there were some something similar and then condition four imposed back then was that permits uh require before the permit require that a detailed sav plan be approved by the city plan commission of the city of El Paso. Uh so staff review this conditions um well before I go to the next picture uh this we review these conditions uh some of them are not applicable for example there's some condition apply only for the AO zone portion which this is one so that doesn't apply uh landscaping we already have landscaping requirements as part of the city code uh for any new development um the detail site plan back Then again this was resone in the 70s. Back then it was a lot of of of land that was being resoneed. Uh it is understood obviously the city wanted to protect the view uh the development. How much impact was there? Uh this was probably the outskirts of the city back then and so we we understand those conditions were imposed probably to uh to check on those things. But right now obviously the reality is the cities is bigger than that. So a lot of these conditions don't no longer applicable. We already have requirements that kind of match those and for example a DTO site plan we don't believe it. It's something that we need to check for especially when it's an existing uh structure there and it's just a portion of the property that was resone back then. So this is the the existing property. Uh it's already a medical clinic. uh surrounding property includes more more clinics uh uh businesses and then obviously that we have homes uh to the east side technically northeast which is going up the hill uh which is uh really far away from from this property. So the applicant did notify the Mesa Hills and Mesa Hill neighborhood associations. the condition release request. Uh when we started this, they started this application, we notify as required property owners 200 ft and we have not received any support or uh opposition to this request from the public at this time. So with this staff did uh recommend approval the same as the city plan commission recommending approval for the condition release request and it concludes the presentation. Representative Canales. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, yeah, this, uh, to me is an easy one to support. The Deep Pasquali family there runs a an opthalmology practice and a med spa, uh, on Mesa. They've, they've kept their property in excellent condition. They have very attractive landscaping out front, um, which again was required by condition, but is now required by code anyway. Uh, they go above and beyond what's what's required by the code. Um and so I think it makes perfect sense to remove these the outdated conditions um on their property. So happy to support it. >> Y great. >> Okay. Any further discussion on item number 17. >> All right. Hearing none. See none. Miss Prime. >> Yes. The motion was made by Representative Maldonado Rocha seconded by Representative Ojo. And this is to adopt the ordinance on item number 17. There is no public comment on that motion. Call for the vote in the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> Fantastic. Let's take item number 18, Miss Bry. >> Yes, sir. Item 18 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title 20 zoning by amending article 2 definitions section 20.02.464 464 HUD code manufactured home manufactured home in order to comply with the updated zoning notification requirements in accordance with Senate Bill 1341 of the Texas 89th legislative session. >> Represent Brocha. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Mayor, point of order. >> Oh, sorry. >> Uh items 18, 19, and 20 are related presented together. Can we read those all in and take them together? >> Thank you, Rep. Canales. That's what I was going to say. Thank you. >> Okay. Item 19 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title 20 zoning section 20.10.270 home occupation uses subsection 20.10.270B4 to include no impact home businesses as an exception to home occupation licensing requirements. And item 20 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title 20 zoning section 20.04.460. 460 protest procedure and article 7 public hearings section 20.04.520 notice in order to comply with the updated zoning notification requirements in accordance with House Bill 24 of the Texas A9 legislative session. >> Okay. Represent Rocha. >> I' I'd like to see the presentation. And I know it's the same presentation for each public hearing except different pieces, but because it's very relevant to what took place um very recently with the with the ADUs, I I think it's beneficial for all of us to hear those updates from the state side. >> Thanks, Kevin. >> You're welcome. Good afternoon, mayor and city council. Kevin Smith with planning inspections. So, I'll be presenting the items 18, 19, and 20, which are three different code amendments, and all these are to comply with state law. So, as part of the 89th legislative session, um these bills were approved by the state and all municipal municip all applicable municipalities um are to adhere to these um these requirements. So, again, what I'll be going over are these three um three bills and the related changes on how they impact our city code. So the first one is HP 2464 and this basically places limits on on a city's ability to regulate certain home occupation uses. Our code generally had this in um in it already but we just added a line to clarify this. And what we what the state means by um no impact home occupations and this is uh the state requirements is uh businesses that do not generate on street parking uh that they have no operations visible from the street and it does not substantially increase the noise in the area. And again this is for home occupation uses only. for Senate Bill 1341. This is solely to align our city definition of HUD code manufactured home with the state. So the state modified their definition to comply with the federal requirements and so they the state aligned it with the federal government and we're aligning it with both the two definitions for the um um for the HUD code manufactured home. And the final amendment relates to uh public notice and this is only impacting if the changes create more residential development. So I want you to keep in mind as as go over this this slide here. So if the changes create more residential development um a comp a comprehensive plan amendment would only require newspaper notice and publication on the city's web website. If there is a proposed zoning change and that zoning change has the effect of allowing more residential development than the existing zoning, then a 60% opposition requirement is necessary and only a simple majority vote of council is required to prove the change. So that is one change where um often you'll you hear about the 211 where is if enough um oppose it within 200 feet that requires a super majority of council. If this change here if a zoning change has the effect of increasing more housing again it increases the opposition and it only requires a simple majority of city council to approve the change. Um the opposition supermajority requirement re remains the same for the zoning changes that do not have the effect of allowing more residential. So that that is not being touched. Okay. So the change that I I brought up there under the second bullet point that is only if the effect has more residential housing. The third one just reiterates that the the remainder of the opposition requirement is still applicable and still there for uh for the city. and in terms of how we follow and um um and keep you know uh keep uh keep the code keep following the code. And then finally the the last change there is if the change allows more residential development no legal challenges are allowed after 60 days after the approval. Um, and those are the amendments and that this one is probably the most substantial out of the three. But again, out of these ones here, these are just simple amendments to the code to comply with the state. And so again, staff recommends approval. This was presented the city plan commission. They did recommend approval of this as well. And with that, I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. >> Uh, Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Kevin. Hi, Phillip. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon, ma'am. How are you today? Good, good. Thank you. So, what was the threshold? >> Oh, >> good afternoon. >> How you guys doing today, >> Phil? Go ahead. >> So, just to clarify something that Miss Roshan said at the beginning before um Kevin did his presentation, this is not about the ADUs. So, the ones that we pro um we've been briefed we've briefed you on several times and we may come back and brief you again um before um we bring it to city council which actually is going to be on city council agenda in the next couple of weeks. So, those are two SB15 and SB840. Those are not related to ADUs. They're just related to housing options that the state you know passed. Um and those bills took effect September 4. So nothing about ADUs will be coming to you. So I just want to make sure that we are clear on that. Those two bills we've briefed each and every one of you. Um if you need extra briefing, we can come back and do it again. City uh city plan commission approved that last last week. Uh we're behind the eight ball now. We just need to amend these codes and move on with it. >> Thank you, Philip. >> Travis, >> thank you. Mayor Kevin, what was the threshold uh previously? The 60% opposition and then the 60 days after approval, what was it previously? >> 20%. Uh previously, and that's is still like again for items that do not have the effect of increasing housing, it is still 20% threshold. So within 200 feet, um if the area of opposition is greater than 20%, then it requires a super majority of counsel. But as this bill um as we reviewed it, if that opposition is 60% that they can still oppose that that proposal, but it only requires a majority, a simple majority of city council. >> Okay. But it's still a big difference right from 20 to 60%. >> Correct. Correct. But again, that is only if the effect has an increase of uh increasing housing. And then for the other one, um ma'am, I'll actually defer to legal. I'm I'm not aware of the legal challenges. Um Russell >> Russell Abelin, assistant city attorney. There wasn't anything like that previously. Um that's this is something new. If the um if the reasonzoning has the effect of create creating housing or the code amendment, then it's presumed to be legal um after 60 days. There wasn't anything like that prior. >> Okay. Thank you, >> Representell. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, Russell, just to clarify, it's not if it creates any housing, correct? It's if it creates housing above and beyond what was allowed by the previous zoning district. >> It it isn't very I don't think it's that specific. Um, I'll have to go back, but um I think I think you're probably right, though. Um, it's um if it has the effect of increasing housing, I think is the language. >> Okay. I think it's if it's if it increases the amount of housing that's permissible on the property. >> Okay. >> Not the re not the actual conditions, just the the permissible amount of housing units from one zoning district to the other. I think just to clarify, I just don't want the public to think like if it adds one more housing unit that's necessarily going to trigger this. Um, I think it's if it if it's one more housing unit than what the previous zoning district allowed, >> right? Right. Yeah. I think it would have to be something like, you know, changing from um a type of zoning district that wouldn't allow any housing to moving to something that would allow housing. Um it it it isn't um you know there's not a lot of uh resources out yet on the interpretation of some of these but I I think it would have to be pretty clearcut that the the reasonzoning or the the code amendment has you know a real impact on increasing h um increasing housing not nominal not um you know an argument that you know I'm creating a shopping center here and that's going to draw and housing kind of amendment. >> Got it. Thank you. >> Okay. Any further questions or discussions on item 18 through 20? >> All right. Miss Prime. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Maldonado Rocha, seconded by Representative Voyer Trejo. And this is to adopt the ordinances on items 18, 19, and 20. There's no public comment on that motion. Call for the vote in the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> Very good. Let's take item number 21. >> Item 21 is discussion and action on a resolution that District 7 representative Leyle Lemon be appointed as a city's representative to the Texas Municipal League Board of Directors effective upon city council approval. >> Second. >> Motion to approve. >> Motion to approve by represent Nino. >> Second. Thank you. There's a motion in a second by Representative Canales. >> Thank you. >> To appoint Representative Lemon to the TML board. >> Yes, sir. On that motion, call for the vote. >> End the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> You're very welcome. Congrat. Let's take item number 21. >> 22. 22. 22 is discussion and action on a resolution that the El Paso City Council hereby nominates Jackie York as a candidate for the El Paso Appraisal District Board of Directors for a term of office beginning January 1st, 2026 and ending December 31st, 2029. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> All right. Motion and second. Any discussion on item 22? All right, Miss Bryan. Call for the vote. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by representative Maldonado Rocha and it was seconded by representative Nino and this is to approve the resolution on item 22. On that motion, call for the vote. Voting session is open. Council, no side conversations, please. The voting session is open and the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. >> Okay, let's take item number 23. Item 23 is discussion and action on a resolution to authorize the expenditure of District 2 discretionary funds in an amount not to exceed $2,000 to support two fall festival events as well as a Halloween trunk or treat in District 2 for the purchase of food, beverages, event activities, candy promotional materials and prizes and serves the municipal purpose of cultivating community pride. promotes cultural enrichment, encourages community use of parks, recreation, and city services, and enhancing the overall quality of life for El Paso residents, families, and neighborhood associations. This is Representative Ato's item. >> Okay. Is there a motion to approve? >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> All right. Repres. >> Thank you, mayor. uh you know the community in District 2 throughout District 2 really values the fall festivals, movies at the park uh type of events and um these have been happening before I was elected into this office and I continued the tradition. So this is basically what we're we're doing um Northeast Central. So just hope that everybody will support this. Okay. Thank you. >> Miss Bry, I believe we have public comment on this one. >> Yes, sir. Miss Patricia Osman signed up to speak on item 23. Miss Osman, star six, please to unmute your microphone. >> Good afternoon. You have three minutes. >> Yes. The reason Well, I've got a question. Uh, the trunker tree is going to be held where? >> Hello. >> In in the northeast. >> Oh, but where in the northeast? The northeast is large swath of land. >> It's with one of the neighborhood associations in the northeast. >> Uh is that going to be the the same one with the fall festival sunrise? >> It's on the other side of the highway >> at last. >> It's on the other side of the highway. >> Okay. So, is that going to be the one with uh Gilda at Wayne Thornton? Your office doesn't seem to have any information on that. Uh and then I understand so I did work both of your fall festivals last year. So, it's not that I'm not in support of this. I just wanted some more clarification since as to the location on the trunk or treat was not uh available. And also, can I ask uh the $2,000 for that, is that coming from the $4,000 that you're getting in a grant from Marathon Petroleum or is that aside from that? Miss Osman, you still have a minute 30 seconds if you want to go ahead and ask all your questions, please. >> Okay. Well, so that was the last question I have on 23 is whether that $2,000 is part of the $4,000 that my representative is receiving from Marathon Petroleum or is that separate? Is there going to be $6,000 for the fall festivals and the trunk or treat or is there $2,000 and uh $2,000 and 2,000 of that those funds are coming from $4,000 that he's receiving from Marathon Petroleum. I would like clarification on whether it's $6,000 for this entire event, these events, or if it's $2,000. Those are my questions. If uh my representative can answer, >> I'll get it on the next item. >> Well, I would prefer that answer to be on this item. I intend on speaking on the next item as well. That's why I would like clarification on that on this item. Thank you. [Music] >> Okay, Miss Bryan, call for the vote on item number 23, please. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Aso, seconded by Mayor Proim Chavez to approve the resolution on item 23. On that motion, call for the vote and the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> Okay, let's take item 24. Item 24 is discussion and action on a resolution that the city of El Paso City Council authorizes the acceptance of a grant from Marathon Petroleum Company LP in the amount of $4,000 with no additional match required from the city to support the city of El Paso District 2 fall festival events. >> Okay. Is there a motion to approve? >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> All right. Represent Seto. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh so this is a grant that we're receiving from Marathon. This happened last year as well. And the the purpose of item 23, which was a prior item, is to make sure that we will be okay in case some things come up. We learned a lot from doing the events last year that there were some last minute things that were were coming up. So that's why we put there that we don't want to exceed $2,000, but we're hopeful that most of this will be covered through the marathon grant. And if there's any other little things that might come up with with these events, then we could use some of the $2,000. That's why it says not to exceed. >> Okay. Any f we have public comment on this item, M. >> And there's also backup on each of those items, mayor. Sorry. >> Yes, sir. We have Miss Osman. Miss Osman, star six, please. Go ahead, ma'am. You have three minutes. >> Okay. In regards to any grants that my district representative is taking from Merit Frost Patrol, I spoke about the refinery and it is not just Marathon. There is Freeport Macaran who actually owns the property Marathon Petroleum State Park. Mayor Saw Petroleum in 2023, the last time I spoke, to educate that city council in regards to their property, had an explosion in Galveastston. In June, the Marathon Petroleum had an explosion in their Texas city plant. here locally. We they have had excessive relief and it appears as though this grant looks like my representative trying to cover up bad PR for Marathon Petroleum. Residents in the area have been speaking about everything that's going on with the refinery. Environmental groups have. And instead our representative is taking money to clean up their bad craft so that they're advertised at these fall festivals. As you look the good that we've done in the community, don't look at the excessive release of pollutants into your community. It is a known fact that areas around the refinery have higher rates of cancer. Employees at the refineries have to take metal blood work every year after they re they hit a certain limit they are retired out. Citizens don't get that. And it's it's incredible that my representative would take money to help cover up and clean up the bad PR in the community in this way in fall festivals so that petroleum marathon petroleum looks good at all these fall festivals. I had a problem I've had a problem with it before and I will still have a problem with it. And just so that y'all don't are aware, there are over 10 spheres. One of those spheres goes off, it takes out a square mile. One goes off, it triggers the next. The safe zone is Blackie Chester Park. So you are covering up a place that could almost eliminate a good quarter of El Paso with your let's cover up their bad PR for in this grant and that is shameful. >> Thank you. >> Okay, Miss Prime call for the vote on item number 24. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Aso, seconded by Mayor Pro Tim Chavez, and this is to approve the resolution on item 24. on that motion. Call for the vote in the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> Okay, Miss Ryan, it's 12:30. >> Mayor, I'd like to make a motion that we break for lunch till 1:45. >> Second. No. What's 12:40? >> What? What's the motion? >> That we go to lunch till 1:45. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. >> There's a motion and a second to recess the city council meeting until 1:45. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? And the city council meeting is in recess at 12:30 p.m. And we'll reconvene at 1:45 p.m. an hour. That's an hour. You say 1:45. Okay, Miss Fry, I think we're ready to go. >> Yes, sir. Council, is there a motion to reconvene? >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second to reconvene the council meeting. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? >> And the meeting is back in session at 1:45 p.m. >> I believe we're going to pick up on item number 25 on page eight. >> Yes, sir. Item 25 is a presentation and discussion by the new crossf functional team providing an update on 311 operations and approach for future improvements. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> Hello. >> Good afternoon, mayor and council. >> Um today we're going to hit a presentation on 311 and some of the efficiencies they've been making over there. And so if we if we think back, you know, we we've done the 311 app little over a year now. We're tying it in with this new uh team that I will introduce today. And so if I can pull the presentation up. There we go. So what we're going to cover today, we're going to cover the f the team first and foremost, how we redesigned that customer relations manager role, and that was critical to what we feel like is going to make it for a better customer experience for for our residents. The key context will be the 311 headcounts and their volumes of calls that they're making. We'll give a snapshot of the 311 app as well as what's the planned improvements are coming in the future. Our team, we have Justina Setsu. She's our customer relations manager chair. She's new. She's part of the what I'm going to be talking about here early in the presentation. We got Hector Santiago. He's fire battalion chief. Uh Roman Sanchez from our chief information officer. Carolyn Patrick Patrick our chief information officer will be presenting Ernesto Area Areola is also on the team looking for the uh security portion of the IT participal our chief data administrator Denise Pulvida Jasmine Flores and Julie Baldwin Mos who unfortunately can't be here today her and Roman are out but we'll have somebody else speak in their place the executive sponsors for this this project was uh our city manager Miss Mack So when we looked at the team, redesigning that customer management role was our first step. So we had our employee who had been over 311. She had been there for some time. She retired earlier this year. And so we we we took a stop at that point and we identified our insights. So our approach was what do we need in that position? what is is it truly meeting the needs of the system of the council and of the public at large. So we conducted staff and stakeholder interviews. We analyzed the gaps between the original job spec and the day-to-day duties. The key insights that we were we were finding was the strong we wanted to have a stronger focus on resident experience. We wanted to elevate our inner department. So we wanted our departments to talk together. Wanted to make sure that they were working together. So 311 is that entry point. That's where people call in and they voice their concerns. At that point, it's entered into the system, but it's up to the user departments to go out and make sure those problems are corrected or those updates are made. And so, that's what we wanted to make sure that we had that that interdep department collaboration going back all the way back to the customer relations manager. So, make sure they were connected. We want to be able to use that 311 data. We have a we collect a lot of data and so we want to what's the best way to use it? What's our strate strategic approach to using that data? So we also took a look at our technology and workflow improvements to reduce the administrative burden. With that we reshaped the role which is we updated that job spec. We focused on our resident experience. We had that clear liaison role laid out so that it would be known with the departments who was going to be in charge of what. We used a strategic use of data for service improvements and technology and workflow modernization. As we talked about the recruitment aligned to a new role. So we attracted numerous candidates. We interviewed several candidates. Um, and we were lucky to find our new customer relations manager, Miss Justina Setsu. I'm going to let her take it from here, but she brings a lot of experience to the city. She's from the private sector. She's got over 20 years experience in telemarketing and and I'll let her speak to it, but thank you. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. Again, my name is Justina Setsu. Super excited and blessed to have joined the team. Um I have about 20 years experience in the contact center industry and different roles as client services, operations, marketing and sales. Uh opened up my business at one time. So I'm very much involved with the community engagement. Uh and I understand the importance at every level. uh things that I like to do. You know, throughout the career, I've learned how important it is to think of process improvements, uh innovative ideas, um contributing to the continued success of the city and leadership and my commitment to work with everybody uh to ensure that we provide uh stronger commitment, better customer service. Okay, on this next slide, uh we will show the current 311 team. We have 45 associates that handle the um uh the general calls for the city and the non-emergency, the non-p police calls. So, it's 45 agents. We have four lead operators. We have four supervisors and one call center manager. We're open every day of the year from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. with the exception of Fridays and Saturdays where we're open till 2:00 a.m. Uh in addition to that, we have you can see the call volumes on a monthly basis for the year 2025 and they're broken down by each level. You'll notice that there's T311 and there's general city. The only difference there is if a constituent dials 311 directly, that's that second row that you see there. That's the call volume. And if you see general city, that means the constituent is dialing the 212000 city hall number that's on the website, but they're all calling for the same reasons. Um, in addition to that, one of the KPIs we have in our contract is service level. So, the associates in the in the contract, they must answer 85% of the calls within 20 seconds. So very good news is that we have been meeting the contractual agreements for 2025 for all 11 contractual um KPIs that are set. Do we have any questions so far? >> Represent Fiero. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um that's exciting to hear that very positive that you have to answer a certain percentage within so much time and that you're meeting the the matrix. The issue that I have in in my office and I can't speak for other people is wrong information uh no information telling people issues are resolved or no followup are though is that part of the overview also >> so the overview will only um I'm going to have Caroline she's going to go over the IT and technology that's coming up to improve 311 in addition to that I have from the portal we're going to show the top categories and reasons that they're calling it overall for El Paso and by district. So at this time we don't have those specifics but I can share with you that during my onboarding I have a two months in the role. So I'm meeting every department learning a little bit about are we handling your calls? How are we working together? There's definitely an opportunity for us to improve. That's part of my role u to answer your question where we can go ahead and make sure that we're answering the right questions. do we have the most updated information um to make sure that we're providing that and also the IT uh side of it the platform for example animal services there with pet point that's a separate platform uh comparing to 311 with code enforcement um and fire non-emergency and general questions. So there's a there's room for opportunity the IT side to make sure that we're gathering the right information and making sure that the associates have the right scripts, the most dated updated information to answer those questions. >> That's why we're bringing this forward, sir. We've heard you talk about this issue and really talk about how important it is for us. We know that your brand is pranking new, but also wanted you to know that we're continuing this process um that we're thinking about it from a strategic um perspective in terms of not just one department. And so you'll see, you know, code enforcement here, our technology teams really getting to the root of what we see as some of those major concerns. And so we're really here just to let you know that we are launching those pieces. And what you'll see at the end is what our next steps will be to ensure that we can start to deliver to you those statistics that are really going to be meaningful in terms of helping you to understand whether we're doing a better job than we have been in some of these areas. And a lot of this is driven by those type of concerns. And we thought about that as we were interviewing for this position. Thank you, Mr. >> I think this is the first time we've had somebody with the background that she's bringing to really understand that customer service piece and be able to call and follow up to understand the quality um that we're getting it from people and so that wasn't something I think we were doing consistently before. >> So, thank you, Miss Mac. And that's great because that will make our jobs much more easier. So, I'm hearing from you that you're going to follow up with us. >> Absolutely. >> And and we're going to address the issues that our concerns and that we're having in our offices. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Very good. October 14th. Thank Thank you. >> After lunch, um I'm gonna let Caroline, she's gonna go over the next slide, the 311 application. I'll be back to talk about the topic. >> We got a few more questions for you. >> Yes, absolutely. >> Yes. Thank you, Mayor. And and very nice meeting you. I appreciate you taking on the task to um to really try to streamline the process and make it very clear and transparent. Just a quick couple of questions since you me mentioned that the service level is 8520. Is that what you're currently operating at? >> Yes, we're exceeding the expectation right now. >> You're exceeding the Well, I imagine. Okay. And and was that previously not being met >> for the entire year? It has been met. Prior to that, I believe a quarter the second quarter of 2024 is where I believe they did not meet it, but other than that, it's been a continuous um meeting of of that goal >> at the 22nd. Okay. And then um do you measure like as far as this this is contractual work, right? So there's 45 contractors that are that are handling the 311 calls, >> correct? 365 days a year for the most part right? >> And and then just another question, um when they call in to 311, what's is there a transfer rate that's associated to that? Do they transfer to a different department beside giving them a a certain number or you know let's say that it's an animal services and we have to get you over to this or is it just you drop and then >> so you have to answer all the calls to your question. >> We answer all the calls. However, some departments depending on the reason that they're calling absolutely there may have to be there will be a transfer. Not all of them. Some of them they'll be able to provide the information just depending on the department and the scripts. Okay. >> So we open up the service request. >> Mhm. >> And from then it gets routed to the department if they need to follow up and take action or did we already provide resolution. So there's a combination. But that's something I can definitely provide in the future to get the transfer rate by department. We can do that and and find out what are the reasons, right? What's what's the cause? >> I because I want to see what that what that looks like, right? I want to be able to quantify it and then use that as a baseline going forward to say this is really what it's going to this is what it's at. Is there an education component that could be given to that to that associate to be able to minimize the transfers or the length of time that it takes to resolve their issue? >> I agree. No one likes to be transferred to different departments to be transferred to different >> department. We want to help improve that. Absolutely. >> Thank you. And then the last question. So you mentioned that you're meeting all your contract contractual obligations right now. Yes. Outside of the service level. What other efficiency components are associated with that? >> Great question. We have 11 of them. So we have information captured. Do you want me to tell you the goal or just the category? >> Well, you can do both. Sure. Give me the goal and then >> Sure. >> And the the category. >> So information captured is 99%. That's making sure that the associate's entering all the right information into the CRM, whether it's the 311 admin app or if it's Pet Point. Okay. >> Again, we're on two different platforms, >> right? Service level 85% within 20 seconds. Those are the calls that must be answered. The abandoned call rate is at 8% or less. Voice calls processed, they have to be processed within four hours of the call that came in originally. The average handle time 90 seconds. Feedback complaints less than 1%. Coding error rate less than 5%. Call quality 95%. Calls transferred less than 5% of the calls. >> There it is. Okay. First call resolution 70%. and the customer service satisfaction survey that they get is 90% or higher. >> Miss Mac, is that something you can provide us that data? >> Absolutely. We'll send that out to you. >> Okay. >> Thank you, and I appreciate it. I think it's important for us to know what they're being measured upon. Yes. And the fact that they're actually meeting on all 11 categories is is really superb. I I think, you know, speaking from from your experience, it's very hard to meet those those um these numbers >> on very consistently. I imagine they're meeting them consistently if they're not if they're still getting paid. >> Correct. Is that correct? >> They are. I think that >> I'm going to be very transparent. I think there's an area of opportunity where I would like to do audit level from our side versus from who we're outsourcing to. >> They're the ones scoring quality assurance and everything themselves. Okay. Okay. So, I'd like to add another level of quality assurance audits to make sure that we're aligned and we're calibrating >> internal. That would be internal. >> No, with a city of El Paso. Yes. With data Mark out that we're outsourcing. >> Understood. Thank you so much and welcome again to the city. >> Thank you. And I'll be back in a few moments. We'll have Caroline. >> Hang on. Representative Travis, did you want to go now or later? >> Sure, I can go now. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thank you, Mayor. Hi. How are you? >> Hi. Good. >> Welcome to city hall and to the city. Um so I um I just want to echo what my uh colleagues have been saying here. If you see the the chart on on slide 10, you know, district one infrastructure hands down is the number one concern through the chime and survey through what I'm looking at right now in your presentation. But um I know that you will be meeting with us and I appreciate that because honestly, you know, we do have a lot of concerns regarding 311. I think they've done a great job in in trying to make a lot of improvements to it. But just a couple of things that we've observed is number one um things not getting reported to the appropriate department. So, it's happened to me in the past where um I I was tracking something that one of my constituents reported and I realized it was, you know, getting allocated to the wrong department and I picked up the phone, called 311 myself and said, "Could you please change it so that the right department knows about this concern that's being um you know, reported?" And they they literally told me that they had no ability to do that. So they said at this point it's best if you just pick up the phone and call the department yourself and report this because we don't have an ability to make any changes internally. So I don't know if that's something that could be corrected. >> Uh >> absolutely. Thank you so much for bringing that >> without them. Yes. And then another thing is you know like really a duplication of efforts. So sometimes things are reported through the 311 system and yet you know we have to wait that 10day window or whatever the magic number is before we know nothing's being done about it and then we have to internally report it through our process here and we've done that many times because things are not getting um basically resolved or um you know I don't know looked at for whatever reason. So, those are just two things immediately right now that I would um want to flag for you and then going forward, you know, we can really um look into other things that have been of concern. But, uh you know, district one is definitely up there. I think >> uh district 8 is just a little bit higher and then district so district 8 one and two have the number the highest volumes I guess of of totals things reported according to your chart. So, we're busy. >> Oh, yes. Yes. and we're we're going to go. I think they're looking for the slide. We haven't gotten there, but I'm going to come back on that. Yes, >> we're we're busy and we're thankful for for you uh being a part of the team. >> Yes. Thank you so much. Thank you. And I'll get back to you with that information. >> We're not going to let you get away yet. >> Sorry, Jasmine. >> We still Yes. Just a just a second. >> We have some more questions. Not yet. >> Um represent N we got more questions. Represent Nino, he has a question for you. >> Yes. So, >> can I ask if there if um we we're still going to go through the presentation? Um might answer some questions. >> I think they have a question for her right now, but let's see. >> Do do you want to hold it? >> Let's get the presentation and then Yeah. >> Okay. I did have a question, but I'm good. I'm good. >> Afterwards, you want to refer to slide 10. >> Me, too. >> This is the one. >> Next slide, please. I want to ask you one second. >> All right. Good afternoon. Carolyn Patrick with um City IT. So um I'm going to speak a little bit about the EP 311 application which you all are familiar with. Um just um some reminders um for anyone who might be viewing this for the first time. We launched the newest version of the EP311 application in March of 2024. The citizen app, it's a web application, allows for both anonymous and registered user submissions. Uh we encourage people to register. Um that facilitates stronger communication uh two-way communication between the city and um the person submitting the request, but there is the option to submit anonymously. Um there is an admin app which was mentioned and that is for the use of the 311 call center departments, district representatives and your aids to be able to submit uh service requests on behalf of your constituents. The application allows for 24 by7 online submission. It provides in the back end in the admin application dashboards which give you all the ability to see details for your district as to um volume, types of service request, status, type of information pertaining to your district that is available to you through the admin application. The dashboards that are provided in the app. Um the application automatically routes to service uh provider departments to work order systems and of course it is ADA compliant. I want to mention some enhancements that we have in the queue. So we are working on easier admin dashboard access for those of you that may be f familiar with it now or requires a different login. We're looking to change that up to make it simpler for you to access your dashboards. Um, additionally, we are improving the handling of duplicates and we're adding a function that will allow a person to follow a request. If someone has already reported an issue in the neighborhood, if you go into the application and um you're notified someone has already reported, you can simply um say I want to follow this and get all the same updates that are given to the original requester. The last one I think is really important to mention because I think it ties at least in part to a couple of the concerns that I've heard and that is um we're adding functionality to allow for reassigning requests. So a request may come in especially if it's submitted online and um the department at times that may require actually a rerouting to another department. Today the system doesn't support that and we have identified that as a top priority enhancement to add to the system so that when there is a need to hand the request off to another department another program the system is going to allow for that. Um in addition I would like to mention that the El Paso 911 ecosystem is incorporating AI to enhance communications analysis and operations efficiency. Um some of the AI support currently in place is real time language translation and transcription of emergency and non-emergency calls. Spanish translation um Spanish translation bot enabling accurate and timely support for monolingual telecommunications. automated call summarization and insights thereby uh enhancing response quality data analysis across systems and quality assurance reviews for 301 specifically the application of AI is in a pilot testing phase. This is uh going on currently after normal 311 business hours. So, it's happening after 11:00 until the next morning when the um um call center reopens and this has been going on since September 7th. This is a test phase and the target is to reach 5,000 calls being handled by the AI agent with a high success rate. So this is where we also will be able to identify collectively what is the accuracy of the information being returned. So this will help in that area. Um and it'll help us to identify collectively where can we make improvements in the routing of these requests. The test call counts as of today is at 4,265. So the target of 5,000 is expected to be hit in about two weeks. So, these tools are not replacing personnel, but rather strengthening decision-making, quality assurance, and public safety outcomes. Um, I'm going to turn it over back to Justina unless you have questions for me at this time or if you'd like to hold them. >> We didn't want to interrupt, sir, but I knew she had the answer to that question. >> No worries. We'll hold the questions. Okay. Okay. Okay, so these uh stats that you see are for March to September and those are the top categories. These are the top reasons that the constituents are calling 311 excluding animal services. Again, they're in a different platform. So, this is off of your 311 admin portal that I believe you have access to. So, overall overgrown weeds, um that's number one. 7,000 service requests from March to September. Second is potholes. Third, noise comp complaints. Fourth, junk vehicles and street light illumination. The next slide, which I think that's going to be the most interesting one that you want to look at, right? That's broken down by your district. So, those are the top reasons by district. And we also broke it down even further. So, you can see the overgrown weeds by code, environmental services, or parks. And we do have representation in case you have questions specifically um from code enforcement and environmental services. So I don't know if that triggers any. >> Yes, represent Nino. >> Hi Justina. Welcome to team O Paso again. Question for you. I'm trying to understand the difference between the app and the call center. I have I log on to the admin access oftent times and kind of see how the whole system works. And I do notice that sometimes the input says, you know, caller said XYZ. Is the call center entering the information into the 311 app or how does that system work? I'm trying to understand. >> So I know there was an app 311 prior, an actual app right now, I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, team. You can go to the website and you click on 311 app and that's where you're going to enter your name and email address. You're going to enter the request based on the category. uh say for example it's pot hole then you're going to enter that information and automatically if you provide an email address if it's not anonymous because you can do anonymous as well it will create a service request and that goes automatically to the department depending on what the constituent entered one way that the constituents can get a hold of us >> but what about when someone calls 311 the agent who's receiving that phone call do they input it into that same website >> correct it's on the 311 app they enter the name, the phone number. If they want to be anonymous, we can't enter their email address, but they enter all the informations. They click down there. We have drop downs of the category. It creates a service request and it automatically depending on that it will be routed to that appropriate department to take action. Great if needed. So, yes, >> I was trying to get that clear picture. >> About 25% sir, are just going directly through the app at this point. So, we are 25%. Yes, we are tracking that as well. So, they're not going through an agent. >> Okay, great. No, this is great information and I know Miss uh Caroline Patrick mentioned about the duplicates. That was something that I was also going to mention in regards of ensuring that when a constituent, you know, they could live in the same neighborhood, same street, they could submit the same request. And often times a constituent or the member of the public would receive, oh, your case is closed because it's a duplicate, but they might not understand what that means. And often times they reach out to our offices, right? Um asking, hey, what happened? Why was my case closed? So I think really looking into how we combine all those systems to inform the community of what's happening or if you know someone else submitted XYZ so that everyone is in the know is going to be extremely helpful. But um I'll probably have further questions but thank you so much and I know this is a big priority for us. Um I I will say a big portion of our job is you know having that outreach with our constituents and oftentimes them reaching out for for uh help in regards of these requests. So thank you for and welcome to the team open. >> Thank you so much. Now you have somebody to contact if you have any of those situation please um so I can help you. Any other questions? No. Okay. I'm going to have Denise next. Okay. Good afternoon mayor and counselor Denisea with the communitydriven innovation team. Okay. So what's next guys? I know you have a lot of really great questions and I think it's really important to understand the team's journey through all of this. It's we what we did is we took a really holistic approach on understanding not only the needs of our community and some of their pain points going through all of this but bringing everybody together to understand their needs but also do the next steps are like going into the customer view review process and the council request I'm sorry council council request process and then going into understanding the SR and tying it all together. So really like setting up the Legos, right, is what we like to say. It's like we're aligning everything together. It's all going to come. So that slide that uh Caroline showed is really going to show you part of our journey. And so behind that, you you don't see all of it, right? But all the work that went behind it, all the months of work that we're having these conversations with the community, understanding their needs. But next up for you, right, the discovery phase. So we're still at we're at the end of the discovery phase where the team has taken a look at all the functional and technical reviews of the app and the processes. Um yesterday we had our first meeting with uh district 2 and the team, right? So we're going to start to journey map with each one of you. So please be on the lookout for meetings coming from our awesome Jasmine Flores. She'll be she'll be reaching out to your team and what we're going to be doing during that time is really understanding showing you the operational mapping of how everything works. Making sure that hey do some of these pain points that you're seeing on how the process works does that align to some of the things that you're seeing you're having difficulty with? Right? Like you Chavez you talked about the rerouting right? So now that hopefully that will answer along with the team but understanding some of those concerns with you and then which is going to lead us to unpacking the data. So after we meet with every one of you, we're going to unpack all the data, create some of those themes and really create a need um have a needs assessment um developed for you understanding some of these areas that really need improvement so that we can design together. Which takes us into ideiation and you guys are all going to be a part of this along with the community and understanding like some of these improvements some of these solutions co-designing some of these prototypes which takes us to delivery right we're going to pilot and scale making sure that we are looking at the timeliness the the clarity the process improvement I know some of the questions that we got from the D2 yes team yesterday was how does this work help me understand it right and so even somebody said if I could just have a cheat sheet to like look at the two differences Right? Things like that is what we're going to take a look at as proposed solutions along with you and really um pilot again refine and iterate to help you know produce this awesome platform to work together with our community. >> Very good. Representative Pto. >> Thank you, Mayor. And thank you for the shout out. My >> you guys are next. >> My my staff really enjoyed the the meeting yesterday. So, we've been talking about it throughout this morning, how they were kind of suggest suggesting things to you and they just really appreciated that. I think it was a long time coming for them. As I'm kind of looking through the 311 aspect of things, and this could be for anybody. I'm just going to throw out things that I was writing down throughout the presentation but this this was one of the first things that got thrown in my face when I got to the city almost two years ago. And the council at the time was very very very um into you know doing 311 and realizing that it didn't work. And it was the very unanimous vote that happened to make sure that we could get 311 going. We were also having leadership changes and you know the city manager's office, we didn't have a permanent city manager and so it took a little longer to get on the on working through this strategic plan. And I was noticing on one of the slides, I believe on slide 8, it says that the EP311 application launched in March of 2024, >> but from my understanding, it launched this year in March, didn't it? So it's 2025. >> Yes. I'm sorry. You 2025. So I think that's um actually a point to emphasize. Technically, this application has been live for only seven months, and already we've seen an improvement in the receipt and processing of the SRS under the new system. The old system was very problematic. >> Yeah. And and I don't disagree with that. And and something that constituents have kind of shared with me on this is, okay, great. where we hated the past 311, but this one is not the best interface, right? And I and when I think about something like 311 and what I've seen in other cities such as San Antonio where they have an application that kind of combines the features of Next Door and they get status updates. They say, you know, you submitted this on X day, it's in progress right now. Um, it's been two days. here's a whole followup and and I think where we need to improve is how can we make this more userfriendly and more efficient right because the the web app I feel is past its time and if people are able to have an app that is going to make their life easier then that's going to be better for all of us and and one of the other things that was also kind of coming up was the feedback that people get when they submit stuff on 311 they're getting an email that is very code ccentric almost seems like HTML code where there there's like greater than less than symbols on there and saying oh yeah here's the progress and people are like what do I do with this I don't know what this is right and so that I think would be resolved if we had an app the other thing that has come to mind on this is we have very um limited access as to where things are we have you know things are in progress or they're completed but we don't know what's happening and and I think that's one of the biggest frustrations that my office has where we're trying to understand where things are and then we go ask and it would be oh well it's in progress or it's not completed and I'm like okay well well thanks for for stating the obvious but can you give me more information on where things are also don't understand what the point of duplicating efforts is with Monday and 311 If we are submitting something through Monday, why do we have to submit something to to 311 as well? I think that's the number one frustration in the world. And I think the answer is we need an SR number and that's that's the whole answer. But I don't efficiency wise and doing double the work when we have so many things to do in our offices. It doesn't make sense. And so if you want to speak to any of that. >> Okay. So I will start with um the feedback we're hearing today is exactly the type of feedback that we need um so that we know where to focus our efforts on. Um just for your awareness, our in-house team developed the current application and we were under a very very tight line uh timeline to get that completed. We have a list of enhancements already in Q. this feedback um the frustration that you hear from your constituents is the feedback that it needs to hear. So we need to establish a communication path with you all to receive that feedback so that we know um to address the concerns in the app. Um I'll say that as far as that goes. Mobile app it also is in quue for development. I didn't mention that but that also is um on our horizon. >> Okay. And and I guess what what is the mobile app going to look like, right? Are are we going to uh have a vendor come in? cuz I appreciate when city departments are, you know, not just your department, and I've said this before, I said it during budget >> where you're trying to do what you can with the resources that you have because things are expensive, but when this is such a present issue and people are stopping us or at least stopping me in the streets or at the grocery store, whatever, to say 311 sucks and I don't know what to do about it, I I think it would be great to pair that with getting somebody from the outside that can actually get the app moving and make it very engaging for people. >> Um that is a fair comment and actually is um a major factor is we are deciding right now what path we're going to take for that mobile app development. Um sustainability is critical. So absolutely valid point. >> Okay. And and I think that as we're kind of seeing what this super city app is doing, I don't think that's a solution either. I don't think that's that's been a very productive thing from things that I've seen and what I've heard. It's it's not the most helpful thing in the world. So, I'm like, how can we crack this code to finally make this work? Because I think when I got on council, it was like, okay, it sucks. And then now the conversation is it's it's better, but there's still a lot of things that we need to know what what's happening. And if I could get an answer, more of a can we move away from having to do 311 and Monday.com? Can we just do one thing because we're wasting our time doing those two things and then we're still not getting answers, right? So that is um what Denise was speaking to and meeting with all of the council members to solicit that feedback and they will be leading those efforts. >> Good. >> Thank you. >> Yes. So part of that that first journey right is really doing the customer experience journey. So some of the things that you talked about right now is understanding some of the things that you have questions on or the reason what's the difference between you know the team was talking about it yesterday and they were like what's the difference between submitting a CR versus an SR what is the difference between all of them right and so understanding like um you know having a cheat sheet havingformational like sessions with you guys what are the things that you want to understand and how the process works one of the questions that came up for example is you know um if it goes to codes when does it at what point do you decide that it goes to ESD or vice versa right So it's really understanding some of those things that you have questions on, gathering insights from all of you and then that's where the unpacking the data comes together. So when we unpack the data is bringing you guys back in to say like this is what we heard. Okay, now let's start designing together, right? And so that's when you start building those prototypes. So these next meetings that we're going to have with you and your team are going to be very important to help zone in on some of those questions. Well, well, and and I appreciate the cheat the cheat sheet comment, but at the same time, I think the only reason you need an SR is to get a confirmation number, but for what? The confirmation number should just be a Monday issue. And then the constituent knows that it got resolved, right? And and I think that one of the things that we saw debut what 15, 20 years ago now, it was this pizza tracker where you started ordering pizza online, right? And you did the pizza tracker. So, where are we with this once this is submitted where I can go into whatever application, whether it's going to be Monday or this backend application that's forthcoming on 311, so I could see where things are and I'm not asking people all the time and I'm getting the same answer of it's in progress. Well, duh. >> I think we'll have an opportunity, sir. I I want to make sure I think the team is trying not to solve individual issues, but make sure that we've spoken to all of you. And so when we come back with our summary, it is a collective summary and then it's prioritized based on the things that you say are most important. So I think that's their hesitation to say that's an issue because I just asked the question because I still don't get it and so I'm like trying to understand that tracking. So we're going to try our best to get these um next sessions with you all within the next two weeks. You know, once we go through each one of those phasing of steps, you're going to get a summary to understand what we're moving forward on and you'll understand from the collective body what those numbers and and things are. We have heard these things from multiple folks going into this. I did share this with staff as they were launching, but we really want to make sure that it it we are capturing the voice of the folks who are working on this at every level within the organization to make it better >> and I appreciate that the collective issues there, but that and I'm trying to be collective here because I don't think anybody appreciates doing double work to do one and 311 and go write the same thing on Monday like doesn't make any sense. That's not efficiency, right? And so I I'll leave it there and I appreciate what you're doing. >> Representative Chavez, >> I'll if I may I'll finish with saying that we're looking at a solution that will sit on top of this. So whatever the back end looks like, it will ultimately be transparent to you with one entry point. >> Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, Mayor. And uh I appreciate you giving us the opportunity to give you our feedback. So I won't go into details on specifics. I'll wait till we meet one-on-one. But what I do want to say is that this is really a great opportunity to empower our community, right? Because there are many people out there that want to make our city better for whatever reason that is, whether it be a junk vehicle or street light. Um, it's all it's happened to all of us as we're driving to work where we see a street light. I mean, I have the power of maybe sending a team's message or, you know, making a phone call and saying, you know, the street light needs uh attention. But what we want is to empower the community to do the same thing. We don't want the community to feel like they have to come necessarily through us to get anything done at the city. And so I just think that this is a great opportunity uh to just iron out the cir the the kink, sorry. Um and then figure out what the best path forward is to make sure that our community feels heard and that we can respond in a timely manner to whatever those concerns are. >> Understood and completely agree. We want um residents to feel comfortable and confident in the system. Absolutely. I would love to see the numbers for the online submissions to go through the roof. Um because that's a good indicator that we're moving in the right direction. >> Thank you and I look forward to that conversation. Thank you >> representative Nino. >> Thank you, Mayor and Miss Patrick and Miss Mack and the entire team. I'm also looking forward to future conversations. I know that part of my lean sigma project that I started with Denise like 3 four years ago, I don't even remember was part of the CR process, 311 process of just obtaining the data. And I think what I'm looking forward to is the data that's going to get, you know, put together here. I know that we're going to start working on our strategic plan by district, by the city. The data that's going to get obtained. We'll be able to work on the program based budgeting to really ensure that we know where is it that we want to prioritize in regards of, you know, every district might be facing different challenges. Like right now, it's showing that there's overgrown weeds over 7,000 requests, right? So, we know that that's a priority for the community. So I think it's going to be extremely important you know to collaborate with all of us and ensure that um and I'm looking forward to that but um overall the data that's going to be obtained from this so that we can make better uh you know fiscal responsible decisions moving forward. So thank you for that. >> Thank you guys. Any further questions on this? I know we have uh someone signed up for public comment on this. >> Yes, mayor. We have Miss Osman that signed up to speak on this item. Miss Osman, star six, please. Good afternoon. You have three minutes. Miss Osman, go ahead. You have three minutes. >> Okay. In regards to 311, there are far more issues than what are even being brought up. the PowerPoint presentation. It It is a nice talking point, double speak, gaslighting of the taxpayer space in El Paso because quite frankly, personal experience. I call 311 September 18th. They tell me they they file one report. I call back. I'm like, "Are you sure that's where it is?" They tell me I also needed to contact uh El Paso PD non-emergency. I did that. Spoke to officer Yamas, sent him photographic proof of the issue. You've got a resident that has irrigation lines running off the curb on pavement on city right away going to planners for big old trash cans. It is impeding the bike lane causing a hazard. It's impeding the parking lane also. But I get a call. I and I also then because I'm told contact PD. I then forwarded that email and spoke to Lieutenant Shields from PAR on October 3rd. I called back yesterday, October 13th to 311 to get a status. They're saying in progress. Four days shy of a month. It's still in progress. Okay. citizens are getting diverted if you call because I also called one stop. I think a 311 said one stop on another issue in regards to whether that individual can have a permit for personal property on the private rideway or on the public rideway. They cannot. But at one stop the person there with planning inspection gives me a direct number to streets and maintenance of 915212 0118 for streets and maintenance and departments are forwarding their calls to 311. It didn't pick up at streets and maintenance. It picked up at 311. And so I spoke to Sio yesterday trying to explain the entire situation. just trying to refer me again to non-emergency PD. Three months ago, it was changed any parking issue, boom, PD to code compliance. Apparently, 311 is clueless. It is not solving any issue. It is causing a more red tape and unaccountability to our tax dollars. You're making sure citizens have zero accountability for the use of our tax dollars by another lift dial. >> Thank you, Miss Osman. You've reached the three minutes. >> All right. Thank you guys. Thank you for the presentation. It was very good and we look forward to continuing to work on this and getting it better. >> Thank you for your time. >> You got all right, Miss Brown. Let's take item number 26. >> Yes, sir. Item 26 is discussion and action on the award of solicitation 2025-0324 Westside Medians Roadway Lighting and Landscape Improvements to Jordan Foster Construction LLC for a total estimated amount of 9,297,781.75. This project will consist of new arterial lighting and medium landscape improvements at Executive Center Boulevard from Bisano Drive to I 10, Sunlock Park Drive from Donapan Drive to Messa Street, Shadow Mountain Drive from Messa Street to Thunderbbert Drive, Westwind Drive from Thunderbird Drive to Red Road, and Red Road from Mononttoya Road to I 10. >> Okay. Is there a motion to approve? >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> All right. I know there's a presentation. Would you guys like to see the presentation? Council. >> District one, District 8. >> You guys Okay. >> Okay. Can we see the presentation, please? If I can bring up the presentation, please. Good afternoon, council, mayor, council. My name is Danny Garcia from C. So for the westside medium improvement project, this once again as you're aware you this lies within district 1 and 8 and as mentioned the construction or the award is further than 9.2 million. This is the funding source is a 2019 certificate of obligations. Just a brief scope. These are landscaping improve median and landscaping median improvements with lighting um all along the three quarters where I'll show in the following slides. The base bit one or the first uh quarter is between executive center boulevard from Bisano Drive to I 10. The second which is base two consists of Southern Park Drive from Donafan Drive to Messa Street. Base three. The other intersection is Shadow Mountain Drive from Messa Street to Thunderbird Drive. base bid for Westwind Drive from Thunderbird Drive to Red Road and the last bid five Red Road from Mononttoya Road to I 10. This was precared through a competitive seal proposal solicitation advertised from March 18, 2025 through March 25th, 2025. There were six firms submitted bids. All local vendors recommendation is to award to Jordan Foster for the $9.2 million contract um start early 2026 and early 2027. All right, Representative Canales. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I have a question that might be difficult off the top of your head. Uh, this is funded with 2019 COS. Yes, sir. >> Do you know how much out is outstanding on that 2019 CIP? >> I wouldn't know. >> I had a feeling I bet she I think she's coming up in a minute. Robert >> or Robert. >> Good see him both jump into action. >> Can you clarify what you mean by outstanding? Do you mean what we have not spent or what we've not issued? >> Um it kind of both. Uh I guess what yeah how how much have we issued or how much have we not yet issued and then um of what is already sold. So in the 2019 CIP there's still 25.9 million roughly that was never issued as far as certificates of obligations. Those projects have never been funded. We've not issued those cos. >> Okay. Um and do we have any uh sold but unspent proceeds from 2019? >> So that's the unissued amount. So um that overall 2019 CIP was 112.1 million roughly. of that there's still 25.9 million that the city did not issue. >> But that's unissued, unsold. >> Correct. Unissued. >> Okay. And we have no additional uh issued any proceeds from issued uh cos from 2019 that are unspent. >> He's asking about >> we do we've not fully spent we've not fully spent the 2019. That's why we're using uh >> these projects moving forward. We have not fully spent the 2019 bonds that we've already issued. >> Okay. Um >> yeah, and I don't have the exact expendure. I mean, if you give me a few minutes, I'll pull it up, but we've not fully spent the 2019 of what we issued. >> Okay. >> Evet's coming. >> Yeah, I come up. >> So, uh I for the record, um for 2019, um 128, sorry, 112 million was the budget. We've had 68.9 million for expenses and we currently have roughly 10 million that is encumbered and so 32 million is the remaining balance and not all of it has been obligated to debt. >> Got it. Okay. Thank you >> representative Lima. >> Thank you. Thank you, Evette. Before you leave, um on this uh certificates of obligation um item, was the money designated specifically to some areas or are the areas being developed throughout the life of the cos? >> No, these were um Oh, these were identified with the certificates of obligation. So the bond issuance for 2019 is streets facilities and maintenance and these are the most traveled arterials that were identified when this uh CO was uh issued. >> Okay. >> There was specific projects listed ma'am so we can give you all the projects that were listed and what those funding levels were. I think that's the more detailed question that you're asking. >> That would be good. You know, I often hear of different streets in my district that are the most traveled arterials, the most dangerous arterials. Yet, when we get down to some projects, somehow they don't rise to the top. At at your convenience, may I have that list, please? I really would like to see that and see if maybe there will be something for district 7. Thank you. [Music] >> Okay, Miss Brian, we have a public comment on this item. >> Yes, sir. We have Miss Osman signed up to speak. Miss Osman, star six, please. Thank you, ma'am. You have three minutes. I've spoken in regards to contracts to Jordan Foster in the past. And as per our one of our westside representatives, this is a prime example of why contracts also should not be enforced local because it's too easy for local people to get their fingers in the pie of our tax dollars. And I say this because I do have evidence of such that Mr. Foster Construction or sorry that it's Hunt but Jordan Foster Construction the former employer employee is employed with the city of El Paso in departments dealing with these contracts. If I lived in Chicago, I'd say and I was a mobster. I'd say I've got a guy on the inside. That's what's been going on for years in regards to some of these contracts. I'm just pointing out I do have evidence of that employee with city of El Paso and with Jordan Foster. And I I really question, is there some sort of timeline that the city HR has in regards to making sure that employees from these contractors, these city vendors don't pop from their construction companies into city employee in the same in departments handling these contracts? Is is there some sort of timeline? I mean, I have signed NDAs. I have signed non-compete contracts. I can't understand how the city is allowing this because this is more transfer wealth from the poor to the elite in El Paso per city tax dollars in these contracts. again, one of his employees, former employees with the and the employee with the city of El Paso. Something has always been fishy with the level of contracts that go to Jordan Foster here locally and through a lot of these local contractors. That is one reason why they should be formed out. Less likely for somebody's finger to be in the pie or getting a morida. That's all I have to say on this, but I will go ahead and post the proof I have in public so all citizens are aware of what has been going on. >> Thank you. >> All right, Miss Frying, would you call for the vote? >> Yes, sir. And the motion was made by representative Canales, seconded by Mayor Prom Chavez to approve or to award the solicitation on item 26. On that motion, call for the vote in the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. Representative Voyer Trejo not present. >> I believe that takes us to item number 27. >> Yes, sir. Item 27 is discussion and action on a resolution that the city manager be authorized to sign a chapter 380 economic development program agreement between the city of El Paso and RFD Buer, Inc. to further the municipal purpose of promoting economic development in the city in support of a development located at 12120 Esther Lama Drive. >> Motion approved. >> Second. >> Motion. Motion and a second. I believe everyone on council has seen this presentation. If you'd like to see it again, we can. >> Represent canales. >> Yeah, I'd like to see the present. >> Okay. If it could bring that up, I would appreciate it. >> Mayor, council, good afternoon. Bill Allen with economic and international development. Um, so this is a discussion and action about possible 380 agreement between the city and RFD Bowfort. As far as policy alignment on this project, uh it checks the boxes that we need. It is in the target industry or one of our target industries, defense and aerospace. Um after the incentive value, there is a net benefit to the city and we recommend moving forward with the 380. So, a little bit about RFD Bowfort. Um headquartered in the UK. Uh they have locations in El Paso right now. um Sharon central Ohio. They also have one in Virginia that does engineering services. Estimated annual revenue about $14 million. They're currently located on 11201 Armor Drive, but they are expanding due to uh additional product lines that they're going to bring on. And they also want to turn El Paso into the city, our center of excellence. We're expecting some further expansion uh in addition to what we're talking about today. So, their new site location will be 12120 Estster Lama in District 6. And their products right now are primarily um packs um used by the Army, special forces and Navy Seals. They're moving into more technology. So, one of the projects that they have coming up is uh flight suits for F-35 pilots, and their intention is to move also forward and get into some inflatables um that can assist the Navy and the Marines. The description on the project, they are planning on investing a little over $3 million $3,27,000. They will create 70 new jobs. They will retain their 140 existing jobs. Uh all the salaries are above the median county wage at approximately $40,000. Our suggestion uh as far as incentives are concerned uh property taxes 10 years at 70% which would be about $95,000. In addition, we will have permit fee rebate of $10,000 and 1% sales tax uh rebate on materials of 5,432. In addition, we're looking at providing them with a training grant uh all up allin 151,073 and incentives locally. Uh as far as the net community tax benefit, this is after um all the incentives uh to the city. uh $84,000 and in total to all taxing entities 332,486. Uh we have the county is also working on participating in this as well. We recommend moving forward with the 380 and I will stand for any questions. >> All right. Any questions on item number 27? >> Thank you, Mayor. >> All right. Hearing none, Miss Prime, please call for the vote. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by alternate mayor prompto, seconded by representative Nino and this is to approve the resolution on item 27. On that motion, call for the vote >> in the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. Representative Berjo not present. >> Okay, let's take item number 28, please. Item 28 is discussion and action on a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign on behalf of the city of El Paso an interlocal agreement between the city of El Paso and the El Paso Downtown Management District to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of each party in its provision of services to preserve, maintain, and enhance the economic health and vitality of the downtown El Paso area. >> Is there a motion? >> Move to approve. >> Okay. >> All right. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. Would we like the presentation? Sure. >> Absolutely. Karina Brazgala, economic and international development. Um on behalf of you know the agreement is primarily managed by economic development. Um but there are a number of departments that partner with the downtown management district both as detailed in the agreement and then just in general in support of downtown and our initiatives. Go briefly through the presentation. So first this is an interlocal it is a governmenttogoment services contract. Just a reminder for everyone online and to city council, this is always supplemental to municipal services. So there is not a situation in which we are not providing baseline city services to the downtown. Um we are partnering with the downtown management district to increase that presence really up our level of service. Uh downtown is in many ways the gateway to El Paso is one of the first places that businesses, visitors, tourists. Um it is the location of a huge amount of public private partnership and uh public investment in. So we want to make sure that we're taking full advantage of that and showing uh our assets off to their full potential. This is the latest version of an interlocal agreement. There have been various ones for different services over time uh dating back to 2011. Those were combined and re restated in 2020. Uh that agreement has expired and so we are here today to look at a 5-year renewal for the period running 2025 to 2030. Here are the areas of partnership. Um many of these are at uh no cost or there's kind of mutual inind services to provide for them. the three areas where the city does provide funding to the DMD um and the DMD chips in as well. Uh sanitation services, special event permitting and the grant program all of which I'll go through. So for sanitation services um the good news I'll highlight the chart on the side of the graph which is that in the it is an unscientific survey but the DMD runs an annual survey of stakeholders so visitors uh business owners property owners downtown and in general we rank very highly on cleanliness and that is something we're very proud of. Um sometimes when you visit other you know cities downtowns you'll see a lot of kind of litter cigarette butts gum that kind of thing. We do not get that feedback on our downtown and we're very proud of that. And so the objective here is that the DMD helps provide supplemental sanitation services. Um so Nikki is traveling, but he would ask me to remind you all that he does have a crew out here. They do uh they still do, you know, drive the truck around. Um check on it. Everybody's aware of the graffiti hotspots, the DMD crew as well. And so checking on those kinds of things. And so the city is, you know, responsible for maintaining that regular uh baseline level of service. and the DMD uh does a little bit of that above and beyond uh in terms of sharing that cost of service delivery. So the modification here from the previous is that we are reducing our participation in group B services to cover the full amount in group A. Um the costs to provide these services have gone up year-over-year. Cost of labor, equipment, etc. And so this is the capacity um that we can afford at this time. And so there we've written this in a way that allows us to look at increases in uh additional group B services if there are funding sources identified. Group A services so it's daily um you know multiple times a day trash can abatement illegal dumping graffiti power washing uh maintenance of public assets and then postevent cleanup with uh some notice. So you you know with request if we're holding city events like Winterfest, like the LS Winterfest, like Chalk the Block, um any of those other ones, uh we can choose to use the DMD for that event cleanup to assist with those ESD services. Here's the planned, if I go back, uh this is the year-over-year for years one through five. Um in historically, the source of funding has been the environmental fee. Uh this is something as we move forward we will have to work with city council to fit into the budget. Group B services. It's not clicking. Uh these are additional uh checks. Uh litter abatement quiet sidewalk power washing. Again these are things that are more uh close to property line. Um things that kind of might be a private owner responsibility in some parts of town. And so just kind of really making sure that those storefronts look their best. Um these are areas that the DMD and the city have again historically in past agreements split 5050. At this point no city contribution is proposed. Um if funding is identified we do have the option under the agreement to participate special event permitting. This is uh paid for out of the tax increment reinvestment zone number five. So the TUR 5 uh board did review this request and the grant uh increase and do recommend approval and I have that noted on a later slide. So the DMD does administer the permitting program for special events. So if you are holding a special event downtown within that boundary, you go to the DMD. Um they still partner with police, fire, streets, and maintenance, city staff still gets a chance to review. It's still the same process. Um but in the interest of some of those events, which are our longest running events and some of our largest and well attended events, having that consolidated and focused uh permitting program is really helpful for anything happening on public rightway. The DMD also does an excellent job reaching out to downtown stakeholders, making them aware when an event is going on. And I think in particular, you know, notifying business owners of ways that they might be able to get involved in that event and see it as a positive thing and not, you know, just access to my business is closed. Um, this is increasing from 650 permit to 750 permit to account for the additional time cost in administering that program. Um, and we think that's reasonable. I've got to put the clicker down. That's not working. Okay. Wayfind wayfinding kiosks and street banner content management. So on those light poles you see those DTE the various ones. Um and then theformational kiosks. Those are maintained and managed by the downtown management district. Um in exchange we wave those uh right-of-way rental fees. And so they handle all of those. Bike rack accessibility. Similar thing here. These are in public rightway. Uh we do not require special privilege fees and uh the city supports in you know there's been times during construction projects when we've needed to remove or relocate these. We partner with the DMD on identifying new locations and making sure that those bike racks are active. The grant program, this is also funded out of tax increment reinvestment zone number five funding. Uh this is increasing from a 100,000 annual to 150,000. That's our recommendation. Uh the increase in that funding allocation is to help one increase the cap per program to 30,000. Um right now it is at 25,000 depending on where you are in downtown. The downtown management district has already increased their cap. So if you're in the DMD boundary but not in the TUR boundary, you have different amounts. Um we'd like to make that consistent across the board. All of these program caps are have to be matched by investment from the property owner. So, these are grants that require, you know, some skin in the game from the property owner. Um, and they can be stacked over time if you have performed successfully. Um, so we'd like to increase that cap. And then we are also recommending contributing to two additional programs that the DMD has authorized. The residential conversion utility upgrade. Uh, this is to assist with those utility conversion costs when you are looking at putting residential development into some of these buildings downtown. And then the pedestrian corridor improvement program. This pairs nicely with changes that city council has approved um to our planning and zoning codes to allow right of uh rightaway cafes, sidewalk cafes um and also can be used for alleyway improvements. So, and then these are just more areas of partnership. So, business recruitment, retention, and expansion. Um Joe Gutenrath who is here, but we have bi-weekly meetings. We really focus on, you know, who who's developing things, uh, stuff that he might have heard through his board, things that might have come my way through the department, um, across the board, just making sure that we know who's developing downtown, what might be coming online, um, and really working on that. And we also get a lot of leads through that facade grant program. But general principles here, focusing on that partnership and then also outlining this on public outreach and marketing. Um, again, the DMD is a supportive partner uh with economic development, with Visit El Paso, with the strategic communications office, making sure that we're promoting those downtown events, providing those outreach, um, and using the downtown marketing plan. If you're marketing downtown, we're in the kind of same business there, making sure that people want to come to El Paso, visit El Paso, and spend money here. And so, we're happy to continue partnering on that as well. There's the recommendation in action. So, staff is recommending approval of the proposed resolution which would authorize the mayor to sign an interlocal agreement between city of El Paso and the downtown management district for a 5-year term with a one-year extension option. >> Very good. Uh, Representative Canales. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I'm very happy to see this coming forward. Uh obviously, uh you know, downtown is right in the heart of my district, but also um I I hear nothing but uh the highest praise for the DMD across all their services, but I think in particular in sanitation. Um you know, downtown is exceptionally clean and it's because of the additional, you know, supplemental assistance that that the DMD provides to the city. Uh and people complement it all the time. And so I was very happy to see that the we were able to come to an agreement on uh the sanitation services and and retaining the the escalator there um on on the annual annual cost. Uh I think it's a very important investment that we make and uh to be honest I I doubt nothing against our own ESD I just doubt that we could provide the service as efficiently as they do. They're very focused within the area. Um and so I'm I'm very happy that that remained. Um just to for uh again I got asked by a couple of people from the public um is is there anything else that is materially changing in terms of the uh the items addressed in the agreement? >> No, we have not added programmatically. >> Yeah, we have not added any new programs. There have been slight modifications to language across the board, right, to update kind of things like our liability clauses, um general language to match city code. Um but no, the material changes are going to be in gear sanitation services program uh increases in the special event permitting and in that facade grant participation. >> And I think uh I kind of meant the question the other the other way as well. People were more concerned that uh we would somehow lose some of the programmatic uh aspects of this and that is not happening either. Correct. We are continuing uh by and large the the partnership uh in its current form uh evolving some of the things slightly but uh otherwise it's essentially a continuation of uh the relationship between the city and the DMD that's been so successful over the years. >> Yes, that's correct. >> Okay. Yeah, very happy to arrive here. Um, I know it's, you know, the nature of these agreements that they're not perfect for, uh, either party, but, uh, I hope that, uh, Joe is in the audience and and the the city staff as well that everybody's, uh, generally satisfied where this has landed. And I think it's a it's really a a gem of a relationship for the the quality of downtown. So, um, you know, I'm very happy to serve as a non- voting exopicio member on on the DMD board as well. No, no conflict, but, um, it's it's, uh, something that really adds a lot of value for >> downtown businesses, downtown residents, downtown uh, you know, visitors, everybody who experiences downtown El Paso. I think their experience is better for for this relationship. So, I'm I'm glad that it's continuing and hopefully goes uh from strength to strength with the new agreement. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you for the hard work, Karina, as well on uh all the time spent getting this into the form that it is today and to you as well, Joe. Thank you both. >> Very good. Representative Fiero, >> thank you, Mayor, Miss Mack, thank you and Karina for coming together and putting together a very fair um contract for the next 5 years. It's a it's more than a contract. In my opinion, it's a partnership. And when you walk downtown, you don't see trash cans that are full. You you see people walking around smiling, um making ourselves and our visitors feel welcome. So, thank you for all the hard work that you you put into this. Um Karina, what what is the difference between this contract and the previous five-year contract? >> I'll go through them again just to make sure >> just from a no from a dollar point. Um, so it would overall I'd have to do the per year. So you're looking at an adjustment and some of this is um I'll note that the special event fees are only paid out for events that are actually done and permitted. So that varies a little bit year to year. Um, but we have been looking at that consistently. And so you're looking at an increase of maybe 65,000 on the TUR 5 side and then year-over-year. Um there was recently an amendment to the sanitation services and so that's increasing slightly. >> Well, just the term slightly. I mean none of the our other contracts are are increasing slightly. So thank you for for all the work you put into this and making a true partnership. Thank you. >> And I do have that up so that you all can see. Right. We're starting at today at 310 and then that goes up >> 51,000 >> to about 50,000 over the course of the contract. >> Great. Thank you. >> Very good, Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Karina. And I just wanted to mention also that I recently had an event downtown and it was uh really easy to work with the DMD and they did a great job in helping us navigate our very first event here downtown. So, um I I think this partnership just makes sense and uh they're very uh valuable to uh keeping our streets clean downtown and uh making sure that you know when people cross the border or visit our city, you know, this is this is something that they definitely stop and see. So, we thank you for their partnership. Thanks for for this presentation, too. >> And without uh represent, >> one final comment. I'll be quick. Uh, Robert and Miss Mack, I apologize. Hold on to your seats for a moment. Uh, I'll want to prime the council too for potentially a conversation to have, not now, over the next several months um about downtown parking meter revenue. Uh, for a long time, downtown parking meter revenue was dedicated toward paying off the plaza theater debt. >> Is this on this agenda item? >> It's uh it's it's potentially about funding for the DMD agreement. Um, as Karina mentioned in the presentation, as we we realize those those cost escalations yeartoear, especially on the sanitation, we will need to find some sort of sustainable revenue source to >> to continue to cover the the costs here. Again, it's nothing uh massive. It's not a huge uh escalation year to year. Uh but some sustainable source of revenue for it uh you know, dedicated to the purpose would be nice. And I think potentially downtown parking meter revenue might make sense for that. So again, not something we have to discuss today, but uh just wanted to prime people for the conversation that we might have over the next several months. >> Thank you, mayor. >> All right, without further ado, the star of the hour, Joe. >> Good afternoon, mayor, council, city manager, city staff. Uh great to be here today. I'm Joe Goodrath, executive director of the downtown management district. I want to get my thank yous out to everybody. Uh Karina and her team, all the city departments that weighed in on this. Um all of you up here, whether you reached out regarding this item or answer the phone anytime I call or call me throughout the year, I really appreciate your openness and willingness. It really just reiterates the fact that I know downtown's in your district, but downtown belongs to all El Pasoans. And so we are open to any input and ideas that you all have throughout the year on how we can make this a place that's accessible and welcoming to all. Um, Representative Fier, you mentioned on the agenda item with UTAP and the city, I think you got into a question about could one party do this on their own without the other. And I would say when creating the downtown environment we have, I think that it's true that neither one of us, the city or the DMD, could make this downtown as nice as it is on our own. And so coming together on an agreement like this really puts puts funds to good use uh has the very efficient and effective delivery of services and sets a quality of standard that we can all be proud of. And so hopefully piggybacking on the 311 call hopefully it leads to less 311 calls uh less complaints and issues. And uh I I'd be remiss if I didn't also thank my team who is the other side of this agreement who is out there day in and day out uh working with the city and on behalf of the city keeping the streets clean, working with constituents, addressing all issues. Uh we even added uh cleaning up after horses to the uh to the work requirements this year, but we do so with a smile because we when people come downtown, they are smiling. They're enjoying the environment. So again, I want to thank you all again, city staff for putting this together. I think it's a good agreement. And then lastly, just to follow up, um this I think this sets a very high standard for service delivery services that we want to provide and the city wants to provide. And we are always open to kicking around new ideas to be innovative on things we can do to create keep creating a place where all El Paso feel welcome downtown. Thank you. >> Thank you, Joe. And now that you brought up the horses, well, maybe we'll go to elephants next. Bring elephants out down. Um, very good presentation, guys. Thank you very much. Um, also you mentioned it takes a team to do this and we we really know that. And Joe, thank you guys for all that you do at the DMV and Karina, thank you guys for all the great work. Also want to give a shout out to our our our public safety, our police department downtown and everyone our our greeters from u destination El Paso. Everyone that's downtown has really really done a a a very good job of raising the image of of of downtown and it's super super clean. We hear that over and over and over and over. So that's a testament to you and your team. So congratulations. Keep up the good work. And Miss Bryan, I think we have a vote to to call. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by representative Ganales, seconded by alternate mayor prompo to approve the resolution on item 28. On that motion, call for the vote. And the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. Representative Orio present. >> Very good. Thank you. Congratulations, guys. Uh Miss P. Item number 29. Item 29 is discussion and action on a resolution approving the allocation of funds from the Texas Economic Development Incentive Program in an estimated amount of $100,000 to the Streets and Maintenance Department for the implementation of the Northwestern Drive traffic safety improvements project. >> Is there a motion to approve? Represent Chavez. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Okay. Karina, >> welcome. >> You've got me for the next couple of these. Okay. Uh Karina Bregali again for the record. This is, as Miss Prime just read into the record, uh, the Northwestern Drive traffic safety implementation. Um, so I'll go through some background on this one and the next one. Uh, this is posted in the backup for anyone interested, but very briefly, the Texas Economic Development Incentive Program, we use TED for short, so the TED program was approved by city council on January 20th of 2021. This was following intervention and successful action by our magnificent legal team um, on the intervention on the sale of El Paso Electric. And so this fund was negotiated as part of that intervention. Um and it is exclusively out of the sale revenue. So this is not something that was local taxpayer or local rateayer funded. It is $80 million over a period of 15 years and administered by the city. Uh New Mexico received their own allocation for their own economic development purposes. That is each of those uh it's about 5.3 million per year and it runs calendar year. So December payments uh January reporting. So we've received about 26 and a half million to date and I do have the budgets on the next slides. The approved program uh policy outlines the process. So we the department uh economic development department of the city is responsible for administering the program. We receive applications either through those requests for information. So anytime we are assessing a master incentive under the chapter 380 policy, it is also looked at for compliance with TED and the possibility of using those funds and all of those potential applications are reported to the El Paso Electric Board annually. We have also opened it up for direct submission. So we have an application that outlines the eligibility. It can be submitted under the policy that's been approved. The economic development department then proceeds with review. Uh so one policy compliance and then also an economic impact analysis for benefits to the El Paso Electric West Texas service region area. Uh that's we've got six months to do that review. We turn those around much quicker and then present the approved projects to city council. So city council will only ever see projects that both comply with the policy and have a net benefit to the service region. Council is under no obligation to approve any requests, but we do require an approved or a denied on record for those requests. So, and then I will highlight uh the funding request before you today is under the infrastructure assistance category. And so, this is assistance for public infrastructure improvements. So, it needs to be something that will be accepted into the city's inventory. Has to have a public benefit. Um, and these are infrastructure projects that benefit companies committed to creating net new jobs or making new capital investments within the service area. And you'll see there's the entire EPE service area. Um, on the side of the screen, we are of course again talking about the Texas side. So, it does stretch from uh El Paso all the way out to Van Horn. Here's a quick checklist of what the eligibility. So, you're looking at project type and location. So public infrastructure cannot be used for private land unless you are going to turn that over to a public entity. The projects must be essential for the location or expansion of businesses u that are again located within that service area. The goal of this is to have that economic development that economic growth for both the city and for EPE. And then any projects that are requested that are outside of the city of El Paso limits must secure a 100% funding match from the location where the project occurs. This project is within city limits. that's not necessary, but we wanted to outline that for anyone watching. Here's an outline of commitments. So, this is not a full, you know, revenue and uh income statement. Um, but we've gotten two 26.6 um in direct income. Of course, there's interest and uh other kinds of things on that. So, the fund balance is a little bit higher. And then I have highlighted here just these are approved commitments to the TED fund. Um so under the target industry and investment assistance uh 8 million paid out to notes live commitments in the advanced manufacturing district which went to council um national center for defense machining and manufacturing fervit and then infrastructure assistance which has been our most heavily utilized category. So, Schneider Electric received a grant for EV charging infrastructure, um 12.5 combined across the meta project and various other related agreements for the reconstruction of Stan Roberts, which is well underway if you've been out there and seen the dirt. Um the international border crossing study uh with the El Paso MO and then those two bottom ones are the requests that are on the agenda today. So, items 29 and 30. This request is for a uh we're looking at Northwestern Drive between Northern Past and Trade Center. Uh looking at specifically the Schneider Electric uh campus. They've gotten a number of buildings underway. They uh city council most recently approved A380 for an expansion project. I think they're up to about five buildings uh over this area. They run two or three shifts depending on the building and so they have a lot of their employees crossing the area. Um there was uh very unfortunately a pedestrian fatality and so at the request of the company we looked into this uh economic development but in partnership with streets and maintenance um with the vision zero team at CD as well. And so really one of the items that we cited is as this campus expands, as they continue to invest in the region, that safety of their employees of that crossing of that campus is one of the items that uh local, you know, plant management but also their national board uh really have cited multiple times I believe to to ourselves to their representatives um about what an impact that has on them considering continued investment in El Paso. And so a little bit of background um we do have several active agreements with Schneider Electric. So running back to 2014. So just noting here that the infrastructure investment has always been a paired part of those uh 380 agreements. So incentives um in the 2022 agreement uh we did the city reimbursed 600,000 for the hawk system which is the flash flashing crossings um the EV charging infrastructure and then um at this latest 2024 behind the scenes we have done 140,000 in vision zero funding to fund this traffic study. Um the amount on the request today is to fund the implementation of those identified improvements. Um and then in addition, Randy Garcia and his team have done a fantastic job of some of those in-house uh study and installations. So checking for warrants for traffic um for stop signs, that sort of thing. There are a number of ways that we can go out and do improvements, which you all know cuz you contract, you know, when we get constituent requests, we go through streets and maintenance and they oftentimes can do a lot of things inhouse. So just highlighting that we've been working on this for quite a while with the company. So again, this is the implementation of this study. Um, it's really it's an overwidth issue because you have industrial parks, you have those uh truck trailers coming through, you need those wide lanes, but then that does cause a pedestrian conflict. So really looking at that roadway design implementation to help manage the speeds on the roads, better utilize existing pavement and improve that quality for all modes um you know across all vehicle types and of course pedestrians, bicyclists, whoever else might be happening. In summary, the economic development department has reviewed this request. It does comply with the policy for this type of project. So it's in a public rightway. Um it's essential for the location or expansion of a business. It supports our key industries and meets the investment in jobs eligibility. Um, and then no local match required on this. Any questions? >> Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Karina. Um, I think you really um got into the details there and so there's not much else to say except I do want to thank u city manager Dion Mack for taking a ride along with me last week. We visited this area specifically during that ride along and I think it's very evident that this entire area is growing significantly in district 1. Not too far from there is the the building of Amazon and that is kind of forcing traffic towards northern pass because Pel Norte is so congested at this time because of that and and also the expansion of artcraft and other reasons. So, you know, without getting into to too many details, this is just a much needed uh investment in that area, especially with the sixth building of Schneider coming along and like you mentioned, unfortunately, the pedestrian incident that happened not too long ago. Um, we just want to make sure that we are are being proactive in terms of implementing these traffic calming measures and keeping our community safe. So, I appreciate all the work that you've done. I know that you have been working on it for a very long time. I want to thank Quaqain who's in the back as well. I know he was in a few meetings as we were going through um the process of of putting this together. So, thank you to all the city staff and thank you to council for supporting this item. >> Okay. Uh Miss Prime, I think we have public comment on this item. >> Yes, sir. We have Miss Osman that signed up for item 29. Miss Osman, star six, please. >> Go ahead. Ma'am, you have three minutes. >> So, there are two items. Well, dealing with TED funds. And the thing about the TED funds is when EP Electric was sold, unlike the rest of Texas, El Paso had been protected at one point until it was sold. These funds are basically to compensate the residents in this area for the future rate hikes. They they don't want to put it that way, but it's for the future rate that will occur, we will have to pay. And anytime these TED funds are used, they're not always these items aren't always brought into the agenda for the benefit of the community. For example, uh Karina mentioned the San Roberts reconstruction and meta. That's $12.5 million of TED funds, citizen citizen use funds. going to met a meta project that is only going to hike our electric bills even higher. Every community across the country has already proven that that has data centers in their communities. This particular one, Snyder Electric, got $75,000 of TED funds previously. It's it's as if we're specifically catering to a few. This traffic study, there is a person who was hit in a fatality in Miss Lemon's area or maybe maybe it's lower valley. I I believe Miss uh Lumin Car's uh Lower Valley. She is correct. Traffic studies need to be done in her area. Why aren't these funds used to help that area? It's it's mindboggling that things come out of capital improvement that really don't benefit the citizens as a whole, but just a few using funds that rateayers will eventually have to make up the difference for that $80 million. y'all are just doing out willy-nilly. Either way, that that is all I have to say in regards to the TED funds and in this project. I would I would have hoped traffic study would have been done in Miss Lean's area versus more money over to Snider because people are getting hit all across town. There's fatalities all across town. >> Thank you, Miss Osman. >> All right, Miss Pryan, I believe that is the end of the public discussion. Please call for the vote on number 29. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Mayor Prom Chavez, seconded by alternate mayor prom to approve item 29. On that motion, call for the vote and the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. Representative Boyer Trejo not present. >> All right, Miss Brian, let's take item number 30, please. >> Item 30 is discussion and action on a resolution approving the allocation of funds from the Texas Economic Development Incentive Program in an estimated amount of $5 million to the international bridges department for the Isleta Saragoa port of entry feasibility study project. >> Karina, >> hello. >> Trey, I'd like to make a motion to approve this item. We've already had a presentation >> through um Roberto Tinero yesterday. Um >> nice to see an item on district 7 in this agenda change. Thank you very much. >> You got it. There's a motion. Is there a second? >> X. >> Okay, Karina, >> go through it. Um Karina Prescol again for the record. And as Representative Lemon pointed out, uh this is an item that was previewed at yesterday's presentation by Roberto Tina with the International Bridges Department. Uh East Zergosa is one of the region's largest ports of entry. It is certainly absolutely critical to investment and economic development and economic growth on the city side. Um so we're very excited to bring this forward. uh Roberto uh strategic and legislative affairs, the international business section, a lot of folks have been working across the board on the implementation of our international affairs agenda, many other initiatives. Uh this is an exciting investment in the ports. So I'll go through I'll skip quickly through the same TED fund background. So the creation of the fund, the process, um highlight a slightly different section of the infrastructure assistance. So it is also infrastructure assistance within that service area where such an investment will have a direct impact on employment and investment opportunities in the future. Um I do not think that there is a larger place where we could have an impact on opportunity in the future than uh the port that carries 80% of the Texas side of our regional trade. So looking at the p the infrastructure assistance the same criteria here. So public infrastructure including ports and roads um jobs and investment impact. So essential for expansion of businesses developing those opportunities and that local match requirement. Um again no local match required but in this case as you saw in the CIP we have substantial city investment in this bridge and many others. There's that highlighting that commitment again. And so with the approval of the traffic calming implementation and today's um that would carry us to just a little bit over our income to date. So the funding request is for the port expansion feasibility study. It's focusing on the expansion of the Isleta port of entry to add additional commercial lanes. So it includes project development, conceptual design, benefit cost analysis, traffic reporting, um GHG and technical documents relating to the approval and submission of presidential permits. Uh in general supports our expansion planning and operations of the city's international bridges really helping um with a lot of those concerns that have come up about the BOD commercial closure. This is one of our largest commercial traffic ports. Increasing capacity here. This is the preferred option for much of our industrial and commercial traffic. And so we'd like to make sure that we are also being responsive, building upon improvements and investments we've already made at Islleta Zerugosa um to continue to you know serve that need. And so looking at really mitigating those impacts to supply chain access, making sure that Eastleta remains competitive with other ports and continues to attract foreign and domestic investment. Um, and then looking at uh this request can be stacked and so we're leveraging three a $3 million FY community project funding appropriation from Congresswoman Escobar's office um to use for phase two. So this will stack and get us all the way hopefully through design. So again this is East Letta Zerosa. I don't think I need to tell this to council but vital gateway for trade and crossber movements um in the eastern side of the El Paso region. key economic driver um supporting 83.4 billion dollars of international trade. Um we saw over 1.3 million cargo trucks, almost 7 million personal vehicles and 2 and a.5 million pedestrians last year. And uh this allocation has been uh if if folks have been paying attention, this has been on our commitments list in various forms. uh it was previously committed the full 5 million as match for the raise uh application. That program was uh not funded and so we did not receive that grant and so the funds are completely re available to recommit. We'd like to recommit them to the same project, move this forward um and make ourselves competitive for future federal funding opportunities. Highlighting, you all saw this a lot yesterday on the CIP, but again highlighting that this builds upon recent and ongoing expansion projects. We have a history of investment and this only goes back a couple of years. We couldn't fit it all on a slide. Um I was running the risk of making the font way too small, but I mean just decades of investment and really ramping that up, expanding city facilities, looking at commercial facilities projects, um route expansion and that sort of thing. So highlighting again for compliance with the TED fund, but also you know the benefits here. Um we have done a admittedly not formal survey. um the international affairs and the business division have been talking to businesses that travel through BOD about what their business plans are so that we can help develop those needs. Um 70% of the businesses we've spoken to to date uh plan to use their goa as their uh main port of operations. And so looking at items that they would like, you know, requesting changes for schedules, adding um additional lanes, adding additional time periods, making sure that they're able to access during peak periods. And so all of these really indicate what we've already been working on and what we uh the city has already planned to do, investing in that commercial uh expansion and making sure that Eastleta can handle that increased capacity. And then just a note here, in addition to the, you know, hardline infrastructure investment, there's been a coordinated strategy across the city to develop responses to BOD to federal challenges. Um, making sure So, first, if you are not on our tariff tracker mailing list, please sign up. Uh, we issue weekly updates on Wednesdays about the current status of tariffs, of other things affecting international trade, and linking you to resources um for businesses who might be interested in using some of those. So ways to mitigate that impact on your business, where we're at, what uh options are available to you. Um we are also in the midst of the B national planning for the comprehensive economic development strategy which has been signed on to by Cuades. Um we have a combined project list on that. Uh there's also a number of workshops hosted by economic development um by legislative affairs bridges. So focusing on tariffs, business resources for folks looking to expand, relocate or just, you know, continue to bolster their businesses on the US side. Um, we've also recently, as of this month, launched the El Paso Ports Project Task Force. Um, and we are working business outreach with site visits, surveys, um, talking to industry groups on both sides of the border. So of course the El Paso MO, the chambers, that sort of thing, but also chambers on the Mexican side, including Konanakaco index and the associistas. So and then of course uh Isleta was one of the top items on the federal legislative agenda. So advoc advocacy for those funding pathways for grants opportunities and for bational coordination. So in short it does comply with the policy and I will take any questions. >> Representative Nino. >> Thank you mayor and thank you Karina for this presentation. One quick question on slide number eight. It says supports 83.4 4 billion dollars of six or 60% of regional international trade >> and then slide number 11 says you know the economic opportunity of business needs 70% of businesses plan to use Saragoa when BODA closes so what number would do we foresee in seeing what slide number eight says 60% of the regional international crate currently versus that 70% of businesses that says that plan to use Saragoa >> and I'd say some of that depends on capacity which we're desperately trying to increase but I will also for got anything he's got the data he's closely tracking this constantly >> good afternoon mayor city council Roberto Tina international bridges department um so uh right now it's about um 80% of trade crossing through uh El Paso uh excluding New Mexico so if uh we are expecting if uh border closers as we We have been uh informed um there is going to be probably about 85% of the current traffic bridge of the Americas will move to the Isla bridge. So we still don't know don't don't have the final numbers uh because again there are other alternatives that at the end the logistics company can use that will be Santa Teresa or Marcelino Serna but based on proximity we really believe that most of those cargo traffic currently using Bridge of the Americas are going to shift to Isla. No, this is great information overall because I definitely think that, you know, this is the opportunity for the city to see the economic impact, even revenue generators, right, for the city as a whole. So, I'm glad that we're having this conversation, looking forward to what the feasibility is, the study is going to show in regards of us preparing for the future of what it means for us. Thank you. No questions. >> Any further questions, Miss Prior? I know we have u someone signed up for public comment. >> Yes, sir. We have Miss Osman that signed up to speak for item 30. Miss Osman, star six, please. Go ahead, ma'am. You have three minutes. >> In regards to the feasibility study, uh, was a previous allotments for feasibility study only on the bridge of the Americas and never done for Easta. >> I I think that would be a cutting question. The funds previously committed to this project were for the Isleta port of entry and have been. The BOD is not a city- managed port of entry. >> Okay. And from what I if I'm tracking this correctly, I believe the federal government under the Trump administration has canceled everything with BOD and all funding. >> Am I correct on that? >> Miss Houseman, go ahead and ask your questions, ma'am. with the time allotted. >> Okay. Um, now it says leverage 3 million appropriations via our congressperson, Miss Esco. But that's not guaranteed fun, especially in our climate because quite frankly, we should all understand it is not guaranteed the Trump administration will ever be out of office and everything they are putting into place now and everything that they are cutting will continue. A no uh an election down the road is not guaranteed. I >> I applaud your all's optimism in thinking that it would be, >> but this is the thing is that those $3 million in funds, they're not guaranteed. Correct? Because I I believe phys feasibility studies had already been done. Why why wasn't it done previously that we're asking for another five million out of TED funds? >> Thank you. >> I believe she's done, Miss Pry. >> So, yes, >> let's call for the vote on item number 30. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Lemon, seconded by Representative Nino to approve the resolution on item 30. On that motion, call for the vote. >> And the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. Representative Boyco not present. >> All right. Very good. Let's take item number 31, please. >> Item 31 is discussion and action on a resolution that the city reviews and approves the issuance of unlimited tax bond series 2025 by Pelstea Municipal Utility District number four with the acknowledgement that the issuance of such bonds does not constitute debt issuance by the city of Al Paso. >> Okay. Is there a motion on this one? >> Second. All right. Robert, >> good afternoon, mayor and city council. So this is an item that's just periodically throughout the year. So we have several municip municipal utility districts that were created back in 2002. Uh this particular one number four was actually created in March of 2003. Um these are all voter approved bonds. There was an election back in 2014 that the voters in this area approved up to $30 million to be used for water, wastewater, and drainage facilities. Um up until this point, they've issued about $10 million of that amount. Um, so there's still about $18.7 million roughly for them to issue going forward if they need to. Basically, all they're doing is they're uh reimbursing a developer that's invested and spent the money on the water and waste water draining facilities um the improvements for this particular area. So now they need to actually go out and issue the bonds to be able to reimburse that developer for these costs. So again, as it's stated on the agenda, these are not city bonds. These are um obligations of the municipality district. However, since they are in the city's ETJ and they did require the city's consent when they were created, um their bonds when they're going to issue require not only their board of director's approval, the TE TCQ approval, but also city council's approval as well. So again, this is not city's debt, but it does require the council's approval. >> Okay. Any discussion on this item number 31? Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, Mayor. Robert, how much money is it for? >> It is 1.4 million. Okay. Over what period of time do we know? >> Um so basically all they're doing is they're reimbursing the developer his cost and so um as I mentioned they've issued about 10 million out of the 30 million that was approved by the voters. Um so this added another 1.4 million that they've spent. So total about 11.4 11.5 million total but again it was 30 million up to 30 million that the voters approved back in 2014. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> All right. Any further discussion? Miss Bryan. I don't see any public comment on item 31. You're correct, mayor. >> Okay. Can would you call for the vote, please? >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Lemon, seconded by Representative Canales to approve the resolution on item 31. On that motion, call for the vote. Then the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. Representatives Botjo and Fiero not present. >> Very good. Let's take item number 32. Item 32 is discussion and action to accept the results of the on call services agreement audit report A2024-08. >> Is there a motion to accept this audit? >> So move. >> Okay. Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. Liz Delo with the internal audit department. So this report was presented and accepted by FOA at the September 7 September 11th meeting. The objectives of the audit were to determine if on call contracting process determine how the on call contracting process is administered, how CI determines when to use on call contracting, determine if C has controls in place to monitor compliance, and determine if accounts payable transactions for on call services are processed according to city policy. >> And what and just what meeting was this accepted in? >> September 11th. >> Okay. Okay. So the scope of the audit included reviewing active on call agreements for professional services awarded to 18 consultants, conducting interviews, reviewing policies and procedures, analyzing a sample of invoices for on call professional services, and conducting a review of the CD's monitoring processes. The report contained a total of four findings. Finding number one, we identified that CD's internal procedures for the selection of professional services needed to be updated. Procedures did not have an effective date. They reference former job titles, contained web links that were no longer active, and did not reflect current practices in place unique to the selection of on call consultants. So, it just recommended that C should update their procedures to include an effective date, contain current job titles and working web links, and that procedures reflect current practices in place unique to the selection of on call consultants. In response, management indicated how they updated their procedures to include updating job titles, adding an effective date, updating procedures for the selection of alcohol consultants, outlining the process for department and indeepness checks, updating documented processes for monitoring task orders, and developing a schedule to identify phases included within each contract. For finding two, a review of the files of 18 on call consultants selected for review identified the following. 18 consultant files did not contain evidence of a department check. 12 consultant files did not contain evidence of verification of indeepness to the city and three consultants did not submit all required certificates of insurance. So it just recommended that C should ensure that department checks, city indeepness verifications and insurance policy requirements are conducted and documented in the on call agreement consultant files. Management responded that checks were not consistently saved in the appropriate files. To strengthen the procedure, staff will reference SAM.gov gov and seamless docs form and guideline to properly save documentation. For finding number three, we conducted a review of nine invoices paid by CD and identified that four out of the nine invoices reviewed were not paid within 30 calendar days. So, we just recommended that C should ensure that invoices are paid within 30 days of receiving the invoice. management responded that within our process we ask that all vendors submit invoices to pay application at el paso texas.gov of staff has been assigned to critically evaluate the application status log and this change of assignment to the CIPS has resulted in invoices paid within 30 days of receipt. Finding number four, additional review of the nine invoices identified that three out of the nine invoices did not contain documentation to confirm tasks were completed by the established deadlines. Two out of the nine invoices could not be matched to the consultant's fee proposal hourly rates and one out of the nine invoices did not contain the total project budget amount build to date and percentage of completion which is required by the on call agreement. So we just recommended that C should ensure that documentation supports tasks were completed by the established deadlines, invoices match the consultants fee proposal, hourly rates or notate the cause of variance and that invoices include details required by the on call services agreement. management responded by citing two sections of the on call agreements and indicated that procedures identified to address the required documentation training will be provided to remind staff of policy that is in place. So in conclusion, C met the audit objectives in the following areas. Establishing and documenting procedures for selecting all call service providers. Establishing proper internal controls to monitor compliance. They did not meet the audit objectives in the areas of ensuring procedures reflect current practices in place, processing accounts payable transactions for on call services in accordance with city policy and on call agreements and ensuring department checks. Oops, let me go back. Sorry. Insuring department checks and depness verifications and insurance confirmations are conducted and documented for all on call consultants. So, our requested action is that council accept the results of the on call agreement services audit. >> Very good. Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, mayor. Thank you, Liz, for the presentation. Like, um, Liz mentioned, we did uh review this audit thoroughly, I think, on September the 11th and we accepted it on FOAC at that that time. Um, I know that we gave you a lot of feedback and we gave staff a lot of feedback. And because of this audit and other feedback we've received from the community, we are going to be having a professional services forum for our community to give us feedback and and try to improve the process and and try to make us better partners with um the community in general. Um, we don't have the date of that yet, but we will be communicating again publicly on social media and otherwise to make sure that people feel um heard. Uh, I don't know. Um, I I know we gave you a lot of feedback at that time and I don't know if I want to go through it all again, Liz, but it is on record and probably for people to review again if needed. So, thank you >> represent Lemon. >> Thank you, Mayor Liz. Just a couple of of questions. Has this department been audited before that you have recollection of? Not that I can recol recollect. No. >> Okay. I was concerned because there were quite a few findings here. Um and so I was just wondering if this is something that had uh been audited um recently or not. But it looks like we're on the right path now. >> Yes. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. Any additional questions for Liz? >> Miss Pry, I believe we have public comment on this item. >> Yes, sir. Miss Osmond signed up to speak. Miss Osman, go ahead. Ma'am, you have three minutes. >> You know, there are a lot of issues with COD. Uh I pointed out a couple in regards to the TED fund. Uh our auditor has clearly highlighted some which show that not just the column the this is a red flag for all contracts going through capital improvement. I will I will highlight one specifically that I put forth in front of the last city council that went through C which was Garina's project on the Union Depot amphitheater. I had to pull foyer request documents from Union Depot, plat mapaps and so forth to show that the plan C had put out as far as where they were going to build. They didn't even have the right away and own the property. Union Deep or Union Pacific already had part of that property earmarked and funds earmarked to cut into their their actual rightway. There's a lot of issues within capital improvement and a lot of citizen tax dollars that are being mismanaged. This is a great highlight. Some of those TED funds are also a highlight to that. More than just this audit for capital improvement needs to be done. Missing one is correct because there is a huge issue if they are putting a $180 million ask on an agenda to a city council to city council for a vote that day. Yet they didn't even have the full rightway for a feasibility study to get to get that 180 million released for that bond money until I produced all the documents and gave it and everything was shut down on that project. never to be heard of again. There's a lot of issues with capital improvement. Like I said, this item and this failure of a audit is a red flag. It is canary in the cold of what is going on in capital improvement and other departments that are handing rolling out our tax dollars. So, I agree with Miss Lamont that this is a good start, but it it can't be just a little handpicked. We are in a day and age where AI can actually evaluate and keep track of absolutely all this without an auditor having to just cherrypick a sample. I discussed this with Karon before. It is possible. I discussed it with the person that y'all recognized of accounting that came in that other day. >> Thank you, Miss Osman. >> Liz, thank you for the audit report. Miss Prime, uh, on number 32, call for the vote. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Madon Rocha, seconded by Representative Lemon to accept the results on item 32. On that motion, call for the vote. in the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. Representative Voyer Trejo not present. >> Okay, let's take item number 33, please. >> Item 33 is discussion and action to accept the results of the vehicle allowance and take-home cars project P 2025-02. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. My name is Miguel Bontiel with the Internal Audit Department. We'll be discussing the vehicle allowance and takehome project cars project. Uh this project was accepted by the financial oversight now committee at the September 11th uh 2025 meeting. So I just want to begin with stating that this uh review serves as a continuation of the original vehicle allowance program analysis uh memorandum uh dated July 8th 2024. Uh the purpose of the original memo was to provide management with analysis of the vehicle allowance program and to identify opportunities for policy updates. A policy update was recommended in order to uh address certain job positions receiving an allowance not specifically covered by the policy. Let me advance the slide. Okay. The objectives the objectives of the objectives of this review uh were to review vehicle allowance payments for compliance with city policy. Determine if city employees who received the vehicle allowance are not assigned a take-home car. Make sure they're not getting two benefits of that. uh review policies for the use and assignment of take-home cars and determine if the usage of take-home cars is monitored. The scope the scope was fiscal years 2024 and 2025 which included reviewing city policies and procedures, reviewing vehicle allowance recipients as of January 11th, 2025. Interviewing fire department management and reviewing fire man uh the fire department due to the high number of vehicle allowance recipients and assigned tape cars for that department. So, we identified one observation. There we go. So, on March 13, 2025, the city of El Paso updated the vehicle allowance program policy to include municipal court judges, fire department personnel, and additional employees authorized and approved by to participate in the program uh which will be paid the amount designated by the city manager or her designy. Um, and also we identified that there's no citywide program for monitoring the use of take-home cars. Currently, uh, city departments manage their own fleet. As you're aware, several departments within the city have a fleet of vehicles and some, uh, departments allow their their staff to take, uh, cars home, you know, in case they need to respond after hours or on the weekend. Um, so that's why departments issue have takehome cars. Okay. The recommendation uh we're recommending that city management should decide if a citywide policy should be created for departments to adhere to or to continue allowing each department to self-manage their fleet. That was our recommendation. Uh here's the management response from the human resources department. So the human resources department is creating a take-home uh vehicle policy to clearly outline the rules and regulations regarding assignment, use and accountability of city vehicles. Uh this policy aims to ensure consistency, promote fairness and provide clear guidance to both employees and supervisors about expectations and responsibilities. Additionally, a process will be established in conjunction with the policy. Uh through the policy and process, uh each city department will have the the authority to manage the assignment of fleet vehicles in accordance with city policy. Uh this approach will ensure consistency and fairness across the city while allowing departments the flexibility to address their specific operational needs. Uh the HR department anticipates uh completing the take-home policy by November 15th uh 2025. In conclusion, uh based on what of this review, uh an updated vehicle allowance program policy was implemented on March 13th, 2025. And as we just stated, there's an existing but undocumented process for issuing take-home cars. And that's the end of >> All right. Very good. Is there a motion to approve? >> Approve. Mayor. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> Any further discussions for Miguel on item number 33? Representative Chavez. >> Mayor, thank you. Could Mary Wiggins come up and just tell us what she's uh worked on since. I think it would be helpful for everyone to know. Thank you, Mary. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. Mary Wiggins, chief human resources officer. So, um we are putting together a policy. So, uh, like, uh, Miguel said, we are going to allow each of the departments to be able to determine what their take-home fleet is, but it's based upon operational needs. They know, you know, what they need to have operationally. So, they're going to handle the assignment of vehicles. We are putting together a policy that's going to outline different items, um, such as the usage. So, for example, you know, if it's take-home that, you know, you need to go straight home and straight to work and there's no stopping, it's going to reference different things. If there was an accident, um, how you, you know, who you would notify, um, there's a taxation benefit for having a take-home vehicle. So, it's just all the general practices that go with having a take-home vehicle. So, we want to make sure we're outlining, they understand um, what they need to do. Um, another example is like whenever they're at home, uh, making sure that they're placing their car in a place that's safe, you know, and and different items like that. So, we we propose that we'll have that probably ready around November 15th. >> Very good. Any questions for Mary? >> Thank you, Mary. >> All right, Miss Bryant. Uh, hearing no other questions on item 33. Would you call for the vote? >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Lemon, seconded by Representative Canales, and this is to accept the results on item 33. On that motion, call for the vote >> in the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. Representative Borjo not present. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Miguel. All right, Miss Brian. Let's take item number 35. >> Yes, sir. Item 35 is discussion and action to authorize the mayor on behalf of the city of El Paso to sign a resolution as part of the city council approve an application to the office of the governor Texas Military Preparedness Commission for the Defense Economic Adjustment Assistant Grant DG for expansion of the K Bailey Hutchinson desalination plant. Motion >> approved. >> Second. >> Good afternoon, Renee. >> Good afternoon. >> How you doing? >> Good. >> Good. You're the last one up. >> Yes, sir. I only have a short 50 slide presentation and >> Perfect. And that's it. >> You actually have nine minutes. >> Uh this is very straightforward. Uh I've briefed all of council on this. Uh El Paso Water is applying for $4 million through the state's DAG program for expansion of our K Bailey Hutchinson desalination plant. Uh the expansion will take the plan from a current capacity of 27.5 million to a capacity of 33.5 million. It's a 6 million gallon a day per uh sorry 6 million gallon a day capacity expansion. The benefits are both to the city of El Paso and to the and to Fort Bliss. Uh and this will be uh contributed to through El Paso water funds, not city funds, not through anything through the general fund. Here's a quick breakdown of costs. Uh again, we're applying for $4 million for a $10.5 million project. Uh we have already received $2.6 million from the federal government. Uh we are seeking 4 million from the state and El Paso Water will contribute 3.8 million. So the requested action today is just to authorize the mayor to sign a resolution authorizing us to go forward with the application. >> Very good. Any questions for Renee on this particular item number 35? represent Chavez. >> I just want to thank Renee because I know he's been sitting here a long part of the day and so thank you for your patience, Renee. We appreciate it. >> All right, Representative Nino. >> Renee, and I know that you briefed me on this as well and um I'm just excited to see what the future of the K. Bailey Hudson dislation plan where it's going into the future because I know we have the largest inland dillination plan in the world. Um so looking forward to to the future extensions. Thank Yes, it's a it's a crown jewel of our plant. Uh we get international visitors, we get visitors from across the country, and of course it supplies water to El Paso and it supplies water to Fort Bliss. So, anything we can do to grow it, we're happy to do. >> Thank you. >> All right. Before we call for the vote, just want to thank staff and city council. It was a long day, but we got through it and I appreciate it. And Miss Brian, call for the vote. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by alternate mayor prompo, seconded by representative Lemon. And this is to approve item 35. On that motion, call for the vote in the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. Representative Boyer Trejo not present. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. There's a motion to adjourn. Is there >> There's a motion and a second to adjurnn the regular city council meeting. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? >> Opposed. The regular city council meeting for Tuesday, October 14th, 2025 is adjourned at 3:54 p.m. Thank you, council. >> I I've got it down to the science. >> Thank you, Miss Frank. >> Thank you, Mr. Frank.