I don't know. What do you want, Sierra? Just tell me what you want. All right. Good morning everyone and welcome to uh the city council meeting today. We are about ready to to get started here as soon as we get a couple members of city council. Well, again, good morning everyone in El Paso and good morning, city council. Miss Prime, we're ready to go to work. Yes, sir. Good morning. This is a meeting of the El Paso City Council for Tuesday, April 29th, 2025. Mayor Johnson is present and presiding in council chambers along with Mayor Prom Chavez, Representative Maldonado Rocha, Representative Boyer Trejo, Representative Nino, alternate Mayor Prom Fiero, and Representative Lemon. Representative Aso will be joining virtually in a few minutes. It is 9:02 a.m. Will everyone please silence their electronic devices so as not to disturb the meeting and rise for the invocation delivered by El Paso Police Chaplain Joe Marada. and good morning. If you'd like to receive the invocation, let us bow our heads together this morning. Lord, today we ask that you give knowledge and understanding to our elected and appointed officials, these men and women who represent the people of El Paso. Guide them in their decision-making process today. May they be able to truly understand the needs that are presented and be given the wisdom to create the best possible outcomes for the greatest good for our city and region. Bless all our community organizations whether they be governmental, public, private, and all the volunteers who work to better the lives of the people in our community. Bless all of the men and women in the armed services as well as all of those in our law enforcement community and first responders. Bless and keep their families. In your name we ask. Amen. Amen. Thank you, Chaplain Mayor. And this morning to lead us in the pledge of allegiance, we have the El Paso Fire Department honor guard and the El Paso Fire Department pipes and drums. Okay, let me go bring them in. Thank you, sir, for welcoming them in. There's good right here. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] left right guard. Preset. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. God bless America. Order. Right. Forward march. right right? [Applause] Chief, what a treat. Thank you. You're welcome, sir. Uh, I want to thank mayor, city council giving us opportunity to bring out our honor guard, our pipes and drums, and our firefighters to recognize international firefighters day. It's a day that's observed every May 4th. And on this day, we want to pause and recognize the bravery, sacrifice, and commitment of firefighters across the world who serve their communities with sacrifice, bravery, and commitment. Um, firefighters are more than first responders. They're protectors of life, defenders of hope, and symbols of courage. Every time the alarm rings, they willingly run towards the emergency, the fire, the uh disaster when others are running to safety. So, um we just want to recognize them. We also want to recognize those who've made the ultimate sacrifice, those who gave their lives so others can live. And um we honor their memory and their families as far as who they left behind. So, let us continue to support our firefighters to honor them and to recognize the critical role they play in keeping our world safe. Let us be inspired by their example, to be brave when it's easier to be afraid, to act when it's easier to stay still, and to care for others with the same fierce commitment. Thank you again. I appreciate your time. Yeah. Thank you, Chief. And again, as as we honor the the firefighters day, which will be on May 4th, um I just want to read again some of what you said already, Chief. But in order to honor firefighters for their service internationally, remember firefighters who lost their lives during service, and to commemorate firefighters killed in the September 11th attacks. It was established after a proposal by a female Australian firefighter JJ Edmonson uh was made on January 4th, 1999 following the deaths of five firefighters uh fighting a bush fire in Australia on December 2nd, 1998. So on behalf of the the city of El Paso and everyone here, we cannot thank you guys enough for what you do on a daily basis, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. you're the ones running into harm's way and and we cannot thank you guys enough for for what you do for the city of El Paso. So, thank you guys and congratulations on International Firefighters Day. Thank you. And Chief, can we get a photo with you guys? For the record, Representative Canales joined the meeting at 9:09 a.m. I think it's actually That's unsett. Don't worry, I'll be fine. If I fall, I take some time off. No. So stable. So sturdy. So now you want to position the firefighter seat. Yeah. Thanks so much. Absolutely. My hair right there. Hey Laura, do you think we could get the flags in the back on both sides? Just two and two, please. Thank you. I trust you. Sorry. And then gentlemen in the front, can I get you all to just take a little step back for me, please? All right. And then everybody suck it in. There we go. All right. Looking good. Uh, gentlemen, right here, can you two come this way for me? You two right in the front. There you go. and insert next to him a little bit this way. Perfect. We're looking good. We're fixing a flag, but we're almost there. Good. All right. Ready? Big smiles. One, two, three. Couple more. All right. Ready? You're gonna do 19 more. Thank you. Of course. Anybody else? Thank [Music] [Applause] you. Amazing. All right, Mr. Brian, that brings us to our first proclamation. Yes, sir. That brings us to the mayor's proclamations. The first proclamation this morning is National Travel and Tourism Week. All right. Represent Fiero. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. What an honor it is to read this proclamation today. I don't see Oh, there comes Mr. Garcia and his group. As they're walking up, I'll start. Mayor, thank you. Proclamation City of El Paso. Whereas National Travel and Tourism Week is observed annually in May to celebrate the significant contributions of the US travel and tourist industry to our nation's economy, our culture and our communities. Whereas the city of El Paso proudly recognizes the power of travel tourism to enrich our the lives of our residents and strengthen our local community. And whereas in the year 2024, El Paso is welcoming destination for approximately 3.8 million visitors drawn to our unique blend of culture, history, national beauty, and warm hospitality. Whereas these travelers made it substantial economic impact, contributing to an estimate estimated 2.26 26 billion to our El Paso economy, supporting local businesses and creating employment opportunities for our citizens. And whereas the travel and touris industry is a significant employer in our city, providing approximately 15,000 jobs for our residents in El Paso. Whereas El Paso hospitality sector demonstrated strength appeal achieving to a hotel occupancy rate of 70% in 2024 reflecting the desiraability of our city a place to visit a place to stay. And whereas by supporting and promoting travel and tourism we invest in the future of prosperity and the vibrancy of our city. Now therefore, be it proclaimed by the honorable Mayor Bernard Johnson and city council that May 4th through May 10th, 2025 shall be known as National Travel and Tourism Week in El Paso. Thank you, Mayor. [Applause] Good morning and congratulations. Thank you. Good morning, Mayor, members of council, madame city manager, Rep. Fiero, thank you for reading that for us. Good morning. Uh we're kicking off National Travel and Tourism Week. Um and in part of the proclamation, it talked about how important travel, tourism, and hospitality is to our city. Um one of the numbers that's not in there that I want to share with you, it's really exciting is what it it's such a clean industry. And the 2.26 billion dollars that that's B with a B that helps the citizens of El Paso by relieving them of property taxes. And I think that's what's important for us uh and that we're really proud of. Um I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Jose Garcia, president and CEO for Destination El Paso. And I saw the look behind me of the the the two ladies I brought with me. Uh may I introduce the uh ubiquitous uh Brooke Underwood, executive director for Visit El Paso, and of course Valerie Garcia, our director of SEOs for Destination El Paso as well, uh who came with me today. Um $2.26 26 billion direct economic impact. That's a big number. Uh over 15,000 employment makes us about the fourth largest uh employer uh in in terms of industry sectors in the city. Um we talked about hotel occupancy being at 70%. Uh why is that important? Well, the rest of the state of Texas averages about 63% and the United States is about 63% as well. Uh our average daily rate is hovers around $103 per room night. Um and so talking about some of the different other statistics and and these are in the the gifts that we have. I guess they're you don't have them yet. We have them but they're gifts for you. But anyhow, uh you know over 11,400 confirmed room nights that's in sports development. Over 36,000 confirmed room nights that's in meetings and conventions. Um, one of the one of the fun facts I think I'm on a timer, aren't I? Oh, yeah, there it is right there. Uh, one of the fun facts, uh, like I was like like I get excited to talk about hospitality and tour, travel and tourism. Um, is the film and creative industries uh, and in 2024 we had a banner year. Uh there's some really exciting legislation going through uh the state right now where it's going to give even more incentive money, but we had over 9,000 confirmed sleeping nights just with the film and creative industries with over 51 production titles. Uh now they don't call it direct economic impact, they just call it direct impact because they can it's much much easier to measure that. And that was $6.6 million of direct impact. So, um, we are very proud to leave to lead the marketing effort for travel and tourism for the city of El Paso. Uh, we have a great team at Destination El Paso. You have a great team at Destination El Paso. We continue to do the good work. It is a labor of love for us and at the end of the day, we appreciate the support of each and every one of you uh, as we as we do the work for travel and tourism promotion. So, thank you so much uh, for this proclamation and uh, we stand for any questions if you have any. You you want to introduce your team? Let them come up and say hello. They were they were trying to hide back there. I actually wasn't nervous this morning because I didn't have a speaking role, so I was quite happy that he was going to have to shoulder it all. I'm Brooke Underwood. It's been my pleasure to work with Destination El Paso for 17 years, and I am the executive director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau or Visit El Paso. Thanks. Let me get on my tippy toes. Thank you, Jose. I got the bags. Good morning, mayor. Good morning, council. Valerie Garcia with Destination El Paso. Um, I'm proud. I I was here once, came back again. So, cumulative, it's been six years. Wow. Um, who mayor who's not with us is uh Veronica Castro. She's our director of tourism and really, you know, with Brooke and Val help us lead the tourism efforts in terms of the marketing. But I also want to recognize uh Val Garcia. She was the event chairperson for the YW.CA lunchon uh where we served over 2,000 meals. Uh great. Many of you all were there. Great great event. And so uh Val did a great job. Yeah. Represent Fiero. Thank you, Mayor. You know, uh Mr. Garcia, I just want to tell you how popular you are here. I had to arm wrestle the mayor prom to get this proclamation to be able to read it for you. So that that's how important this is. I I lost so I had to trade her something else. You did it. You know, we get the opportunity to visit many many uh facilities and different convention centers throughout Texas and and throughout the country and none of them none of them are as good as what Destination El Paso does for our community here. And thank you to you and your team, Mr. Garcia. Thank you. And we have the we have the mantra of being uh innovative and entrepreneurial uh at every level at Destination El Paso. And and Rep. Fiero, thank you for those those kind words. But uh my expectations as the leader of Destination El Paso is that we approach every single day with innovation and entrepreneurialism. So for the good work of El Paso and and Jose, you and your team, as Represent Fiero said, are doing a phenomenal job. uh your visitor center that you just opened is incredible and your numbers speak for themselves. You know, $2.6 billion in in economic impact. Your hotel occupancies at 70% versus the other benchmarks of 63 is really really good numbers. And I can tell you when everyone comes to visit and they leave our city, you know, they are saying a number of things that El Paso is America's friendliest city. So, thank you for all that you're doing. You're very welcome. And El Paso is America's friendliest city. the citizens of El Paso uh help us do our job and help people come back to El Paso and and experience it over and over. Yeah. Thank you guys. [Applause] I have work to do. I was going to go to work. Awesome. Smile. [Music] All right. Ready. One, two three. Okay, Miss Brian. Next proclamation. The next proclamation is Naella Labikina Rodriguez Day. All right. Represent Rocha. Thank you. I think Naelli's here. Yes, there she is. Real quick before this gets started, I know you're prepping for a fight in a couple in a week, right? In a week. I even get a little I know. Congratulations. We wish you the best of luck. Absolutely. Wish you the best of luck and thank you for coming down. Oh, thank you guys. So, let me read what we have here. Whereas Naelli Labikina Rodriguez, a remarkable El Pasoan athlete, has been a fierce and dedicated competitor in the sport of boxing since the age of eight. And whereas Naelli has achieved national and international recognition, representing her community and demonstrating exceptional skill, resilience, and heart in the boxing ring. And whereas Naelli has earned numerous accolades both in the United States and in Mexico, including being nationally ranked, winning a national title and becoming the 2024 Texas State Golden Gloves Champion. Naelli's ultimate goal is to become an undisputed champion, bringing honor and pride to her city of El Paso through her achievements such as regional champion in 2016, ringside world championship runnerup 2017, ranked number two in the nation youth in the nation youth USA in 2018, Golden Gloves regional champion for three years 2021 to 2023. Texas women champion in 2022, Huarees Chihuahua regional champion in 2023, and many more. Naelli is currently an undefeated professional boxer. And whereas Naelli is relentless by the mayor and council of the city of El Paso that April 29th, 2025 shall be known as Naelli Labikina Day. So, La Campiona, thank you for coming. signed today by the honorable mayor Renard Johnson. Thank you, Naelli. Thank you so much. Good morning. Good morning. Well, good morning everyone. I'm Naelli Rodriguez, known as Lavikina. I'm very honored to be here today to get this recognition. Um, I started boxing at only 8 years old and it was never it's never been easy. uh full of ups and downs and I'm here today fighting professionally, fighting with a lot of honor and pride representing El Paso. I am very thankful for the team behind me, my parents, my dad, and my mom. Um I'm here today because of them. Um I chose boxing because the very first day I stepped into the ring, I instantly grew love and passion for the sport. When I was a young girl, my dad would train my brother and sisters out in the backyard and he built his own ring to build champions. My parents didn't want me boxing. They didn't think I was going to be good. I was too girly, my dad said. But, you know, my dad threw me in the ring with a kid with experience. I had no training. He wanted me to get scared and to quit. And that very day, I showed him that nope, I never knew how to quit. And um after that second round, he did say, "Wow, no, we got a fighter." Two weeks later, he put me in the ring. And um since then, since a young girl, I never knew how to quit. Um I grew up and I was raised to to be a fighter, you know, inside and out of the ring. And because of them, I'm extremely thankful for all the sacrifices and all the time they put into me just so I can follow my dreams. Um, I have a very strong team behind me, my family, my all of my supporters, my fans. Um, I'm in an era where women boxing is rising and um, we even have the world champion Stephanie Han here. So, it's it's so awesome. And, um, and I want to thank um, the promotion WCF, you know, for opening up the doors for me in Mexico. And to my manager, Lao Contradas. um for his guidance in my career and pushing me to succeed. Um and because of that, I am able to fight. Next week, May 9th, in Orlando, Florida, I'm going to fight with MVP Promotions where they're rising and encouraging females, you know, to be up there. And a matter of fact, I'm going to be fighting men's rules three minute round. So, it's such an incredible honor because I get to um display my skills out in the world and representing El Paso and I couldn't be more thankful. Um, and I want to give uh another big shout out always to my family cuz to me my family is my everything and I couldn't be more grateful. Um, I had a lot of ups and downs in this journey. I I fought through many tears, many heartbreaks, many blood, sweat, and tears, literally. And um I'm here today very thankful. And I overcame all those challenges through faith and through my all of my support that I receive. Um and most of all, the passion I have for the sport. I I love the sport so much that I I just want to be the best. I want to be an undisputed world champion. And I do see that in myself. And just thank you very much for this recognition allowing me to be here. It means truly a lot. Wow. Good morning uh to the mayor and everybody in the council. Um I'm very nervous right now. I want to thank you. Uh this recognition means a lot. Uh cuz we never thought she never thought we would be here and to be recognized by El Paso in this way. It's very very very nice. Um I'm used to talking about boxing. So right now I'm a little like nervous but um her dad like she said it's her co his her coach and I'm her strength and conditioning coach. So every time they ask why is she so strong? Why is she this? Well it's me. It's it's a woman. It's a woman, you know. Um, and a a little side note, you know, when we went to Mexico to fight for uh nationals uh to represent Chihuahua, they did ask my husband who who takes care of her strength and conditioning. He's like, "My wife." And they wanted me to to invite me to the Olympic Center. So he was a little bit, you know, hurt that it was me getting invited and not him cuz he's like, "Hey, I was the one who was supposed to get invited." I'm like, "Too bad." You know, it's women's road right now up there. You know, so all of us women were taking advantage of all these great opportunities. It means a lot. It means a lot when um like we're talking to Stephanie right now. There's a few women rising from El Paso representing boxing. It's a man's sport, but like it says, invented by men, perfected by women. I have a shirt. And and not only in boxing, it's in everything. You know, women, we have to go out there and prove ourselves. Um it's in every area. Like right now, they have flag football. Like she said, I wish they had that when I was in high school cuz she didn't get to do flag football. But, you know, she was that kind of girl that every weekend she would be like, "Let's go and find a a tournament, dad, so I can go and give hell to those boys." And she would with her little bow. She would go do the karate tournaments and that was it. So, thank you everybody. Yeah. Thank you guys. Wow. Well, Champ, thank you for for coming out and and I want you to know your city's behind you and your love and passion for this sport comes through. And I've got to tell you, you know, you talked about having a team around you and your your mother and and your father uh are are in your corner. We can tell. And you know, and I think we're going to steal your mother's term. You know, uh it was uh invented by men, perfected by women. So, uh, congratulations and we look forward to you bringing home a win on May the May the 9th. So, congratulations. Thank you so much. For everybody that for everybody that we can watch it on on dozen, right? Yeah. We can watch it on on Done. Yes. Done. Yes. Done. I always pronounce that wrong. Yes. On Don. So, if anybody's interested, that's where you can watch the fight from here. Congratulations. Thank you so much. Nobody commented, but I got a new ladder. I knew it. I saw it. I was hoping you guys would say something about it. Well, I just thought I was like, did they not find the other one? a bentley of of ladders. Very excited about it. Yeah, it looks good. All right. Uh, can we get you guys to come in a little closer on the end for me? Perfect. Awesome. That looks great. All right, big smiles. Ready? One, two, three. Okay, a few more. One two three. One, two, three. One, two, three. Keep those smiles. Okay, now we're going to need one more. [Applause] Okay. Well, then we're gonna have to take another one. One more. All right. Ready? One, two, three. Oh, can we get everyone to do the pose? Yeah. There we go. All right. Ready? The baby too. One, two, three. We're going to do this all again. Ready? One, two, go. One, two, three. Are your hands tired? One, two, three. One, two, three. We're getting the phones all mixed up. That's Thank you so much. Thank you. I think it's a floor that's shaky. We're going to have to cut it. Thank you so much. That man's phone. Oh, perfect. Big one. I got Miss Prime, we're ready. Yes, sir. The next proclamation is El Paso Commission for Women Day. Good morning, Mayor. And so we'll continue with outstanding women in this community and we're honored to have a very large group of women today. So as they approach I'd like to read this proclamation. Whereas the 32nd annual El Paso Commission for Women Hall of Fame recognition was held on March 29th, 2025 to honor remarkable women who have made a significant contribution to our border community. And whereas the El Paso Commission for Women recognizes women for their efforts in business, civic leadership education military professional, public service, science, and healthc care, sports, athletics, volunteerism, and community activism. And whereas since its inception in 1985, the El Paso Commission for Women has continued to honor and acknowledge the impact of women. Whereas the El Paso Commission for Women's purpose is to pursue a positive course of action for achieving equal rights and responsibilities for women and to provide scholarship funds for deserving El Paso women. And whereas El Paso Commission for Women is committed to understanding and respecting the cultural and ethnic diversity of the women in our community and to serve as a model for plurality and inclusiveness and whereas Enz Portillo Dr. Kathy Stout, Melinda Vialobovos, retired Debo Wakefield Lucille Samuel Susan Goodell Kristen Dley, Laura Castle, Rosalie Yanes, and Dr. Abigail Tango join 221 women that now form the El Paso Commission for Women Hall of Fame. Now therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and council of the city of El Paso that Tuesday, April 29th shall be known as El Paso Commission for Women Hall of Fame Honores Day and it's signed by the Honorable Mayor Renard Johnson. Congratulations ladies. Mayor, before we allow Miss our chair, Miss Anna How um among our honores, we also have some of our members who are already members of the Hall of Fame. Uh Dr. Manuela Gomez, who's over here, of course, Miss Anna Harris How, um El Paso Keta Fiero, and Monica Tucker. And so these these ladies have already are already members and the other ladies as Miss How will let us know were honored this year. And so thank you mayor. Wow. Congratulations. One more round of applause. We'll probably say I'd like to say good morning Mr. Mayor, commissioners, and also to the city manager and guest. My name is Anna M. Harris How. I am the chair for the El Paso Commission for Women and I thank you for this recognition. We in we inducted into the El Paso Women's Hall of Fame some of the most phenomenal women of this city on March the 29th, 2025. They have made some tremendous impacts on the El Paso community. On behalf of our members, we want to say thank you for this honor for today. What a wonderful way for them to complete their journey by them being honored here today by you and your commissioners with a proclamation. And I have some of those honores with me today. And I'd like for them to introduce theirelves because they deserve it. Moment Dr. I am uh Kathleen Stout uh Kathy for short. Thank you. Good morning. Don't be afraid. Good morning. I am R. Lucille Samuel, retired veteran, recently retired executive administrative officer for the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. Good morning. Good morning, Mr. Mayor, city council representatives. My name is Susan Goodell and I'm the CEO of El Paso's Fighting Hunger Food Bank. Good morning. Good morning, mayor, city council members. My name is Ros Leon. I work with Sakura Independent School District uh with special education. Thank you. Good morning. Good morning, mayor, city council, city manager, guest. I am Dau Wakefield. Um proud to be now inducted into the Hall of Fame for the women here in El Paso. Um I'm proud to let my light shine. I'm also your El Paso Veteran of the Year. Thank you. [Applause] Good morning, mayor, city council, and guest. I'm Melinda Yalobos, proud principal of the Young Women's Leadership Academy in the Asetta Independent School District. Hi, good morning. Christy Dardy. I'm the CEO of your local mental health authority emergency health network. Good morning. Good morning. I'm Dr. Manuela Gomez. I had the honor of being an inductee last year, so it's a great privilege to pass on this great recognition to the amazing women of El Paso. Thank you for your support. Good morning. These are some of our board members. Hi, I'm Monica Tucker, a proud inductee and board member. Good morning, Nancy Monise in charge of the silent auction for our events. Good morning. And I would be quite remissed for the shoulders that I personally have stood on, one of your own commissioners, the honorable Miss Lily Lemon. She is one of our past chairs. And it's always an honor to introduce her and say that she's a part of us and I look to her for a lot of guidance. Thank you, Mayor. represent Limon, you want to say just thank you very much. Th this is an organization that obviously goes back to 1975. Um, incredible women are now members of this hall of fame. Um, the diversity is just incredible. And as we meet with the judges that select the honores for every year, we're just amazed by the amazing talents. I mean, when you start thinking of people who are providing the food, the nourishment on a daily basis to our most needy community, what a job that is. When you talk about mental health, when you talk about community activism and standing up front, always writing um exposing so many of the ideas. when you think of people in education leaders leaders and I must I must say I it was an incredible pride that I served as principal for the day of the Isleta young women's leadership academy young women scientists that are coming forth in our community when I see our veterans our veterans being a part of this and there are so many categories um community leadership business and every year it's an incredible crop of women that we honor and these are the role models. These are the women in our community that step forth and put the basic needs of our community first. And so I thank you and I thank you for being a part of this organization. Wow. And I just want to say thank you. I've had the pleasure of meeting so many of you and and you are truly truly icons in in this El Paso community and and the work that you do does not go unnoticed and I am so happy and honored that we were able to recognize you today because you deserve it. You deserve this and so much more. But uh on behalf of your city of El Paso, we just want to say thank you and keep up the great work. You are phenomenal leaders in this city and we thank you guys. Take a picture. It's like hurting cats. I got you. Oh, your ring. That's Thank you. I know. We're like, I'm sorry. I hand them back all. It's okay. We figure it out. That's okay. And then I always take like 50 just in case. No. Yeah. Thank you. I appreciate it. Go in there afterwards and take a picture with the ladies. Sure. You want some? I mean, come on. Let's do it. That's like manifestation. You're right. I don't know if we still She's watching. Take a picture. Well, you guys did my work for me. This looks great. You look fantastic. Miss Tucker, can I get you to move just forward for me right here? Perfect. That looks great. And to the lady in the front, can I get you to scoot just a little bit this way for me? Little bit more. Right there. Perfect. All right, everyone can see me, right? Okay, beautiful. Ready, ladies? One two three. Okay, we're going to do a lot more. One, two, three. One, two, three. One two three. One two three. And last one. One, two, three. Thank you all. [Applause] You're welcome. How are you? Miss Briner, next proclamation. Yes, sir. The next proclamation is child abuse prevention month. And the proclamation reads, "Whereas there were 3,992 completed investigations and 1,211 confirmed victims of child abuse and neglect in the El Paso area in fiscal year 2024. And whereas there were 2,126 youth served by DFPS prevention programs in the El Paso area in fiscal year 2024. And whereas child abuse and neglect can be reduced by making sure each family has the support they need to raise their children in a safe, nurturing, and healthy environment. And by informing families about community resources and services available that could help prevent a family crisis or help them overcome one. And whereas preventing child abuse and neglect is a community responsibility and finding solutions is contingent upon involvement among people throughout the community. And whereas our community has taken a proactive approach in the prevention of child abuse with a formation of the coalition of prevention of child abuse that is comprised of over 70 agencies, organizations, schools, daycare centers, and businesses that are involved in preventing child abuse through education and advocacy. Now therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and council of the city of El Paso that the month of April shall be known as Child Abuse Prevention Month, Go Blue Day, signed by our honorable mayor, Bernard Johnson. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning, Mayor Council. Um, thank you for having us here um this morning to talk about Child Abuse Prevention Month. Um it started back in 1987 as a week-long um awareness program and it has grown nationwide to a month-long effort. And so we we take it very serious. Um and it's really about two things. You know, it's about awareness to educate people to educate our community to report abuse or neglect and it's also about educating the community about the resources that we have to help families in crisis. Um, it is all of our responsibility to to protect children. And I'm proud to say that in El Paso, in our area, we have the fewest amount of children in foster care. We do the fewest amount of removals. And it is because of the people in El Paso. Um, El Pasoans value nothing more than family. And so when our families are in crisis, we pull together um to help each other out, hold each other up, and support each other. Um, as the proclamation said, we have 4,000 completed investigations and 1,200 confirmed victims of abuse. And so, child abuse is something that we all have to take serious. We have to let our community know that they need to report and we need to let them know what help is out there. We do have a foster home shortage in El Paso and we know that our community is filled with good, caring people that can step up and help. So, I want to put that charge out there to please call us, get involved, and help us provide care for our children in our community. Um, thank you for the opportunity to spread uh the message today. And I want to introduce you to Lisa Saledo, who is the executive director of CASA, one of our biggest partners and advocates for um representing children. Good morning, Mayor Council. How are you? I'm Lisa Saletto, the director of CASA. Kasa volunteers are ordinary people that make extraordinary differences in the lives of children in foster care. CASA volunteers come from all walks of life. United by a united commitment to giving children a voice. The volunteers get to know a child. They gather information from everyone involved in the case. family members, foster parents, teachers, doctors, therapists, social workers, and then they report to a judge in the 65th District Court to advocate for a child's best interest. They serve as a trusted advocate, helping ensure that the child's needs are met while supporting their time in foster care and their journey toward a stable, loving home, striving for reunification whenever it's safe and possible. As we all know, small moments can have a big impact and we call it the CASA effect. The butterfly effect teaches us that seemingly small actions today can have a big impact tomorrow. In much the same way the dedicated work of a courtappointed special advocate, CASA can transform the life of a child in foster care. I appreciate your time today and in recognizing the agencies that work and collaborate together to help El Paso's abused children in the foster care system. Thank you. Thank you, Lisa. [Applause] Would you all like to introduce? Yeah. You want to introduce your team to us? Good morning. My name is Lori Maldonado. I'm the regional director for child protective investigations with the state. Good morning, Lori. Good morning. My name is Sylvia Pitcher and I uh work with child protective services in the adoption area. Good morning. Good morning. My name is Victoria Colon and I'm the faith-based and community engagement specialist at DFPS. Good morning. Hi. Good morning. My name is Renee Garcia. I'm the coordinator for the Heart Gallery of El Paso. Good morning everyone. My name is Daniela Pagan and I am an advocate supervisor with CASA of El Paso. Good morning everyone. My name is Christine Rook. I'm the chief program officer at CASA of El Paso. Good morning. Vivana Silva, training director. Good morning. Christy Leuga, office administrator, Kasa El Paso. Good morning. Minva Olivarees um supervisor with Kasa of El Paso. Good morning everyone. My name is Shirley Delo. I'm the pre and post adopt coordinator with Kasa of El Paso. Good morning. Good morning everyone. Jackie Hines, CASA advocate supervisor. Good morning. Is that it? Wow. Okay. Well, congratulations to you guys and and thank you for truly doing God's work and and we know that every child deserves a loving home, a safe home, and to not be abused. So, the work that you're doing, uh we we cannot thank you enough for for all that you're doing. And I think there's a a theme going here because this is another strong group of women that have come up to speak at the mic. So, we have had two incredible groups up, but thank you guys so much for for what you're doing for El Paso and the kids. Thank you. [Applause] Yes absolutely. This is like a stair master almost when you think about it. All right. If we could get two rows, please right here in the front. If you're a little shorter, if you'll come to the front for me, please. If you're a little taller, let's get you right behind. Uh to these three women on the end, can I get you guys to come right behind on the other side for me, please? There we go. That looks great. Everybody take a big old step back for me, please. All right, that's good. Perfect. Reps look great in the back. All right, big smiles. Ready? One, two, three. Couple more. Okay, let's hold that pose, please. Big smiles. One, two, three. And one, two, three. Is that it? That's it. Thank you. Never used to only being, right? You're welcome. Congratulations. Okay, Miss Brian, the last one. Yes, sir. The final proclamation is El Paso del Norte Science Week. Uh, Representative Chavez. Thank you, Mayor. We'll give everyone a minute to get to the mic. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning and welcome to city council. The proclamation reads, "Whereas the city of El Paso recognizes that science is the systematic pursuit of knowledge through observation, experimentation, and analysis. It provides evidence-based explanations of natural phenomena and practical solutions that advance our lives from technological advancements to healthc care and environmental sustainability. And whereas fostering a love and understanding of science is the youth is vital to igniting curiosity, promoting innovation, and securing a brighter future for communities. And whereas the second annual El Paso Science Festival taking place April 5th through 6, 2025, a collaboration between the El Paso Community Foundation, UTEP K through2 schools, academic institutions, and various community partners, aims to spark a passion for science and students, encouraging them to explore potential careers in these essential fields. And whereas CNC Artek, a sister festival occurring in Suel Huarees on March 29th through 30th, 2025, unites educators, researchers, and industry leaders to promote scientific and technological engagement across the border region, fostering a shared commitment to STEM education and innovation. And whereas El Paso is honored to announce that renowned astronaut Jose Ernnandez will grace the El Paso Science Festival as a keynote speaker at the El Paso Science Festival on April 6th. And whereas this week marked by a multitude of events and the El Paso de Norte Region Science Week, a bational celebration that is set to transform the community, introducing the wonder of science to young minds. And through these endeavors, we will inspire children to dream big, envision themselves as future scientists, and equip them to explore and shape the world with limitless potential. Now therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and city council of El Paso, urging all residents, educators, and community leaders and businesses to support El Paso de Norte Region Science Week and encourage students, employees, and their families to participate in this unique learning experience. Together, the city of El Paso can ignite a passion for science and technology, empowering the next generation to shape a brighter tomorrow. The week of March 29th to April 5th, 2025 shall be known as El Paso de Norte Region Science Week. In witness whereof, I have herein to set my hand caused by the official mayor Renard Johnson. Congratulations. [Applause] Good morning. Good morning. Good morning, honorable Mayor Johnson and esteemed members of the council. My name is Enrique Gomez. I'm one of the founders and directors of the El Paso Science Festival and thank you for proclaiming March 29 to April 5, 2025 the El Paso de Norte Science Week. Your words and your support give meaning and momentum to what we are building in this community. Let me share with you what momentum looks like. Earlier this month, over 10,000 people, mostly families, all the way from Fort Hancock to Las Cruzes, from Huarees, from Chihuahua, came to El Paso Convention Center, not for a concert, not for a show, but to engage with science. Imagine that. They came to explore, to learn, to in to be inspired and to spark big dreams. They came because we built something meaningful and because in El Paso, college and science must become part of the conversation at the kitchen table. We are changing the narrative. We are transforming El Paso into a place where it is not only acceptable but encouraged for our children to grow imagining themselves as scientists, engineers, doctors, and inventors. That's not very common. A place where science is seen as fun and exciting, not just a hard subject at school. A place where parents talk to their kids about going to college, not as a distant dream, but as a real and exciting possibility. A place where science and technology are not only things we consume, but things we create. The feedback from families has been overwhelmingly positive. They use words like amazing, funny, interactive, accessible friendly wellorganized and empowering. One of one of our volunteers asked a 10-year-old uh boy on his way out, he said, "What do you think?" And shily the small boy looked up and with the brightest smile on his face, he said, "It was the best day of my life." That That's what we're looking for. That's what we want. The festival in Science Week more broadly is not just an event. We see it as a movement. a movement that's re reaching across neighborhoods across generations and across borders. Now we have sincere taken of inuades. Last year we didn't. They saw what we did and they said we're going to do is the same thing and they did and through more than 70 participations uh participating educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and corporations, 70 organizations came together to make it happen. So yes, it is a small team of volunteers students teachers families, and partners from every corner of our community and supported by sponsors who believe that investing in STEM education is investing in El Paso's future. Today, I want to take a moment to recognize the extraordinary leadership team behind this festival. 17 talented and dedicated individuals who collectively gave thousands and thousands of hours of their time, personal time to make this possible. Their passion, commitment, and generosity are the heart of this movement. And here they are. This is our team. Today, I also want to express our deepest gratitude to the key organizations that have stood alongside us in this effort. our financial part parent, the El Paso Community Foundation, our strategic educational partner, the University of Texas at El Paso, and our gold sponsors, Marathon Petroleum and the El Paso Electric Company. Their leadership, generosity, and belief in our mission made it possible to open the doors for thousands of families free of charge and offer them a lifechanging experience. And yet, we know we're only scratching the surface. This is what I This is why I want to take a this moment to thank you and to ask you for more and we welcome an even more active partnership with the city of El Paso. Our platform is your platform too. It is your youth, your families, your future workforce. Help us make this festival a permanent institution in El Paso's cultural and educational landscape. Help us build the infrastructure, secure long-term funding, and expand our reach to every zip code in this city. We have seen what's possible. Now, let's make permanent. And thank you for believing in this vision. Thank you for standing with us and we deeply appreciate your support. Now, I'd like to invite Mr. VJ Smith, head of government and public affairs at Marathon Petroleum to address this honorable assembly, followed by by Mr. Ivan Meurado, government affairs specialist in the El Paso Electric Company. Mr. VJ Smith, just a quick reminder, you have about 30 seconds on the timer. Good morning. Good morning. Okay, good morning, Miss Prime. We'll suspend that to give him an additional minute or two there. Yes, I just have a brief state brief statement. So, good morning, Mayor Johnson, members of council, Manager Mack, City Attorney Neman. Um, we're honored to be a part of this great endeavor. I know we all agree that we need to keep our students on the cutting edge and competitive. This is another mechanism that really keeps us in the fight. So, I'd like to read this brief statement. And on behalf of Marathon, we'd like to thank the mayor and council for recognizing and commending the Ela El Paso Science Festival and Science Week. At Marathon, our goal is to invest in initiatives such as the El Paso Science Fair and Science Week that do a stellar job in helping to prepare our students for professional success by increasing access to highquality resources related to steam and inclusive of vocational, technical, and skilled trades. A key a key element of the El Paso Science Festival's mission is to ignite students interest through hosting exciting and interactive exhibits and programs that spark their interest in science. Also highlighting educational and career opportunities for scientists and engineers. If you if you can see it, you can be it is our our mantra. Now they're moving on to their third year. We believe that the El Paso Science Festival is executing on their mission extremely well. They are simply the best in class for doing this type of work. We'd like to congratulate Mr. Gomez, his entire team, and their board of adviserss for a job well done. And any additional support that the city can provide will be greatly appreciated. And we will stand behind the city in your efforts. Thank you. Thank you, VJ. [Applause] Mayor, council, good morning. My name is Ivan Mor. I'm here representing El Paso Electric. Um, I'd just like to thank Mr. Gomez for the opportunity to be part of this amazing event. Uh, we are proud proud partners and supporters of all these efforts. Um, 10,000 people in a wonderful um, creative uh, exciting environment is something that we want to be part of. 142 uh presenters in areas ranging from robotics to chemistry and I think what's most exciting to us electricity. So obviously we're very excited and proud to be part of this event. Thank you to Mr. Gomez and for his entire team to helping us and for inviting us to be part of this event and thank you council and mayor for recognizing their hard work. Thank you. Thank you guys. [Applause] I'll close. Uh I'm Mike Costa. is an honor to stand here with you all. It has been a privilege to serve on the leadership team for the El Paso Science Festival for two years. It's been such a rewarding experience. Mayor Johnson, I want to thank you for your leadership and your support for the El Paso Science Festival and for recognizing the impact, positive impact and benefits to our community and our region. I want to thank Representative Art Fiero and Representative Rocha for attending the ribbon cutting ceremony. We appreciate that. And I want to thank Representative Lemon for attending the special presentation by our astronaut Jose Hernandez. I want to recognize city manager Dion Mack and Laura Kusa Costa. Uh we appreciate all of Laura's help in preparing for the festival with the city's support. Thank you all so much and we look forward to all your support for next year's El Paso Science Festival. Thank you, Mike. Thank you, Representative Diego. Thank you, Mayor Mike. You always steal my thunder. And Mayor, thank you for allowing myself and Representative Maldonado to read the the proclamation at the ribbon cutting. It was it was a fabulous event. I had so much fun in all the booths and making all kinds of great things. cuz I still have some of them at home that I work on on weekends. Um, but I will tell you what was fascinating, Mayor. It was 10:00. They were about to open the doors. There must have been 200 people in line to get in. It was just people were dying to get in. And congratulations to the entire team um who put it to did all the hard work and putting together. It wouldn't have happened without each and every one of you. And thank you for allowing myself and representative Aldonado to be there at the ribbon cutting. Thank you. [Applause] represent Lemon. Thank you, Mayor Mike and Richard Martinez. Thank you for the invitation to join you on Sunday, April 6, one of the most inspiring afternoons I have ever spent in my life. It was fabulous to see all the children, all the families sitting in chairs and on the floor and all around us as we listen to that incredible, absolutely incredible man, Jose Hernandez, who went from a farm worker picking our crops to being an astronaut. And the journey that he took and the lessons that he gave the people there were inspiring. and he has the perfect lesson plan and the perfect way to follow life. He is just incredibly inspirational. Mr. Gomez, on behalf of District 7, I accept the challenge and I certainly will step up to the plate and would love to be a partner with you for 2026. I I'm very hopeful that we can collaborate. Um but prior to then I would like to ask that you all take time one day a couple of hours and come out and visit the Isleta Young Women's Leadership Academy students that are learning side by side based on experiments provided by NASA and these girls have the notebooks the equipment that our astronauts are using at NASA. It's an incredible facility. So please I invite you to come and visit. We'll certainly extend the invitation through Mike and through Richard so maybe we can collaborate have you all come out during the year but estamoistos ready to work. Thank you very much. Well congratulations again on a successful event and you know I think we forgot to mention how much did this cost for the students to get in or the participants? It was free. We forgot to say that. Yes. So I think that is amazing and you know I'm repeating the words amazing, fun, empowering and what you guys have done not only for El Paso but for the region and bringing all the kids and all the families to see all the exciting exhibits and and for the sponsors that have helped to make this possible and for all the thousands and thousands of hours that were put in to make this uh event so successful. We're at the edge of our seats for next year. So, we congratulate you on a successful science uh uh day and week and month, and we're going to stand behind you guys to make even next year even bigger and better. So, thank you guys so much. [Applause] You left me in the trenches. And now everyone on YouTube knows it, too. I just realized that mic's on. All right. By the way, you see the back of your head on YouTube as well. I know. I was like, "Thank God I did the back of my head." Where's this in the morning? Did you hear the baby joke? I did not. No. I will pay I I will pay closer attention. I'm going to cl Okay, please do. Whoever wants to go. No, you finesse because you can see them. All right, we have some very tall people. So, let's do a nice big Everyone scooch on in for me, please. That looks great. Can I do the other side, please? Perfect. That looks good. Representing it. Can I get you right? Perfect. All right. Ready? Big smile. One, two, three. Couple [Music] more. More. One, two, three. Thank you. Thanks, guys. Thank you so much. You're not abandoning me. Make me feel lovely. Thank you. Okay. Mayor, that concludes the ceremonial items. this morning. Yep. I'm we're ready to go, Miss Bryant. Okay. And for the record, Representative Asdo has joined us virtually. It is 10:18 a.m. And 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 six, delete per Mayor Johnson. Page eight, item 29, move to the forefront of the regular agenda per Representative Boy Trejo. Page 13, item 38, move to the forefront of the regular agenda per human resources. Page 8, item 34 and 35, move to the forefront of the regular agenda per uh myself, Alejandra Chavez. Thank you. Second. Okay, we have a motion in a sec. Yes, mayor. I would like Oops, I was moved off. I would like to pull items 7 8 9 10 11 and 12 for discussion in the regular agenda, please. Okay. 7 8 9 10 11 and 12. Number six was deleted already. So, thank you. Okay. Representative Canales. Thank you, Mayor. And I I'd like to request to delete item 25 to be brought back at a later date. 25. All right. Remove item number 25, Miss Prime, from the delete consent. Yes, sir. All right, we have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion on the consent? Miss Bry. Yes, sir. The motion was made by Mayor Protem Chavez, seconded by Representative Nino, and this is to approve the consent agenda as revised. The revisions are to delete item six, move item 29, 34, 35, 38 to the forefront, delete item 25, and move 7 8 9 10 11 12 to the regular agenda. On that motion, call for the vote. 34 35 30. Miss Prime, did you capture the deletion of item 25? Yes, sir. Okay. Thank you. I I'm sorry. U movement of items 7 8 9 10 11 12 to the regular right and then up to the forefront of the agenda are 34 to the forefront are 29 34 35 38 Thank you. 29 29 The voting session is open. Council Did you representative? No. I'm sorry, sir. No. No. Okay. Thank you. in the voting session. And that motion passes 7 to1. Representative Vasto voting nay. The remainder of council voting I. The motion carries. Mayor, would you like to go to the ones that were moved to the regular or the ones that were moved to the forefront? Let's go to the one uh I believe it's item number 29 to the forefront. Okay, sir. I'll bring up item 29. And item 29 is discussion and action that the city manager or designate be authorized to deprogram the proposed westside community trail to Dyer EP electric corridor skyline to Loma rail trail and trail heads city wayfinding and that the city manager designate be authorized to make necessary budget transfers and execute any and all necessary documents to reprogram the 2012 quality of life funding from the deep program trails for the use of the mountain to river trail Montana to I 10 EP electric corridor and the DeLeste at Ridge Beam Trail. Good morning, Mayor and Council. Good morning. Nandez with the city manager's office. Good morning. Good morning. Um, if it could bring up the presentation that was submitted by C Perfect. Thank you. So, this is to address the deprogramming of trails that were approved in the quality of life 2012 bonds and the repurposing of those deprogrammed uh trails. So we'll provide some project background um a review of the active projects and then request the recommended council action. So these uh trails were identified in the 2012 um quality of life bonds. Um the other action that we didn't write on there is in 2017 there was an addition to the identified trails and that was the addition of mountain to river. In January of 2024, um C brought the um list and also the proposed deprogramming of trails um as we started to finalize the design and also realize that it was cost prohibited. So if you look at um the trails that we have in the northeast, the quality of life did um provide a cost estimate and allocation of 230,000 for each segment. As we worked through the design and with the consultant, our opinion of probable cost was more near 550 to 650,000, which is one of the reasons why we're requesting for the budget transfer because we do have shortfalls on the three uh trails that we are recommending. Additionally, uh this was brought solely to um BOAC for the financial consideration and also the um advice and feedback of the trails to be um deprogrammed. This was not brought uh last year to OSAB. Um really looking at their bond duties um is really to preserve and acquire open space. And then if we were to be specific and look through um their duties, it's to review, advise, propose, recommend action to city council specifically on additions or changes to the open space master plan. Now, the open space master plan does make mention of trails and it's the proposition of looking at different areas where trails may be constructed, but it specifically does not tie back to the 2012 2017 council approved list um for the identified trails. Oh, and I missed a bullet. I'm sorry. Um just recently in um April 15th of this year, council did approve um the construction ward for Tiierra de Estee and bringing up that uh council action because that is one of the trails that we are recommending for the budget transfer. So we wanted to make sure that this budget transfer was cohesive that we had these upcoming projects that were going to be awarded and you could understand the shortfalls. So looking at the projects that we're recommending um today we're requesting on item 30 for the award of mountain to river. And so one thing to note 29 really is dependent upon the outcome of 30 because the money that we are requesting in this budget transfer will supplement the construction cost for mountain to river. Um we have the bids for um Montana to I 10 and we are looking to bring that to council for construction award in uh early June. And then the last one that we awarded was the EST. So these are the um the uh tables that uh BOAC had seen um the updates and really requesting once we received that feedback is that they had seen that Northeast um in addition to Westside Community Park and Wayfinding would be deprogrammed. So looking at the cost and the detail, these are the recommendations to be deprogrammed in addition to having that budget transfer because council is the only body that can uh deprogram or remove these trails from uh the project list. So we have Donald to Dyer, Skyline to Lomar Riale segments A, B, C and D, wayfinding and Westside Community Park. So that total of 1.7 million would go to supplement the shortfall of the Estee Montana um to I 10 paved trails, Montana to river uh paved trail um to complete the construction within those three projects. So the request um of of uh the city from city council today is to deprogram those trails. The funds are budget transferred into the identified projects listed. Any questions? Yes, sir. Thank you, Mayor. Representative uh Treyjo. Thank you. Uh, mayor, I'd like to make a a motion to amend the line items and divide them to consider the proposed deprogramming of Donald to Dyer EP Electric Corridor and Skyline to Lo Marial Trail projects that are in district 4 to be voted on separately from the other projects of the Westside Community Trail and the trail head city wayfinding. Second. And so one thing I'd like to caution council is that 29 and 30 are related. And so the shortfall of the estee uh Montana trails and mountain to river trails is a total of 1.7 million. The skyline and Donald if we were to add that up is 1.3 million. Okay. I I have a question regarding the the u estee trail that we voted on prior to this prior council, right? Uh in in in the agenda, it was shown as 2012 quality of life bond funds that were going to be used. There was no mention of deprogramming uh trails or transferring funds. It was show it showed as 2012 quality of life bonds. So why was this done without prior council approval of these changes? As I made mention, it's still uh 2012 quality of life bond. So it's still funded by that. So the um de est is um awarded and we had already earmarked but we wanted to make sure as the bids came in for Montana and also mountain to river that we had an accurate dollar amount to bring to council and so we did we brought it as a package right but it was in council it was shown as a 2012 quality of life it didn't we didn't have a conversation regarding deprogramming or transferring funds and I feel like that was misleading we approved quality of life trails last session. That's what we approved. There was no mention of the deprogramming or the transferring of funds. And now we're having this conversation. It's backwards. We're we're working backwards here. This should have done been should have been done first. If we would have done that, it would have been peacemilled. And I do understand your point and I hear it loud and clear. We balanced out the projects of the exact shortfall that is needed. So you have the 1.7 in the the four projects that we're asking to deprogram and that is the shortfall that we have. So we packaged it together. Okay. Well, this conversation should have been had first so that we can make the proper vote. Uh we voted prior to knowing this information. I do have additional questions uh regarding the Donald. So I have uh the memo that you gave us when when we did the the briefing on Friday afternoon and I shared this with the council. I don't know how many have been briefed on this. Uh but looking at the the background on the first page regarding the Donald Street, it says that there's an existing sidewalk already that meets the pedestrian needs aimed to serve the community and that this trail would be redundant. And so my question is, when you deemed Donald redundant, was there an on-site evaluation conducted to assess the sidewalk's condition, safety, and accessibility? Those were done during the design. Yes, ma'am. Okay. And when was that done? I would have to I don't want to give the wrong date. I'd have to go back. Was it Has it been a couple years? A year? It's been It's been a a couple years. I would have to go back and Okay. Look at that. Um, also in our conversation or when you were briefing us on on Friday, uh, you mentioned that Donald we we basically have a just a sidewalk, right? It's there's just dirt there in that area. And you mentioned that uh, people really don't want to walk there because there's no it's just dirt. There's no trees. And so my my question with this is on the proposed locations, I took a look at the bids and it does have boulders, trees, shrubs, irrigation, and there's even a single pedestal shade with table and seats. So was that was there ever an option to add those amenities to the Donald Trail? So I'd have to ask was that the mountain to river bid that you looked Yes. So, what you're referencing are amenities for the trail head. So, we do have boulders, um, landscaping and tables at our trail heads. In utilizing the El Paso Electric corridors, those amenities are limited because El Paso Electric needs to um, access their poles if there are ever emergencies. So, those bid items are specific to the trail head. Okay. But, were there any amenities to the Donald Street? Were there going to be any shrubs, greenery, trees, anything like that? Um, I believe maybe a handful of benches and a trash can, but the exact amount of amenities, I'd have to go back and look. Okay. Um, so going back to the conversation of Donald being redundant, it's there's a sidewalk there. If we're adding amenities, if we're adding benches and shrub and and all that, is it really redundant when you're looking at replacing the sidewalk with quality of life? So, the scope of work, so that council is aware, is there's an existing sidewalk and I'm assuming um from the site visit that you just conducted, there are areas that need repair. The scope of work for specific um Donald to Direy is the sidewalk maybe a threefoot buffer and then an additional sidewalk and then with the scarse amenities that I made mention the trash can and also a bench and and so is it redundant work or is it not redundant work if we're adding all these amenities and making it an area of quality of life where people can go walking and have in my opinion that's why I placed it on the memo yes to have two sidewalks next to each other. I feel that is ridiculous. Well, I I didn't want to have the the two sidewalks. That's not what's being done. That's not what's being proposed in the new location. You're actually going to be guttering gut gutting the area and re No, it was an additional sidewalk. Uh, okay. I'm going to go ahead and move on to the skyline. Uh, was there any coordination with text regarding the upcoming US 54 freeway expansion? I not to my knowledge. I don't believe so. No ma'am. Okay. Uh was staff aware that Texot plans to start construction in 2026 there on US 54? The limits I'm not exactly sure. Okay. Was there an awareness that Tex is going to be uh has plans to put a walking and bike trails in their plans? We have generally heard that they do place uh trails and whether that makes it to the bid would be dependent upon how those bids come through. It's been that has happened before with text. Unfortunately, their focus is is moving uh vehicles and so if it becomes cost prohibited those are the first that are removed from bids. Okay. So, when when you mention skyline, you on your on your memo here, it says that there's uh um pedestrian needs. I'm sorry, where is it? Several design conflicts include the lack of safe crossing that would be uh break the continuity of the route. And so, this is where I'm speaking regarding text, but the proposed site, which is Hernandis, I believe, is the the trail on the west side. along text in the back here. Correct. On the same memo, it states that uh you all co coordinated with text dot with the trail under I 10 to make it pedestrian friendly. And so couldn't the same thing take place here in the area that you're saying it breaks continuity? One of the things that that was brought up is to illustrate all the different contact um conflict points that we have and I can if council would like to see I do have a presentation specifically on the northeast because it's a bit difficult um to visualize it. Um but there are s uh conflicts along when we looked at the open space master plan and it one of the things is that it recommends to utilize utility corridors which that is a great concept when you get into designing and keeping that continuity on the easement in the northeast. it really didn't um pan out that way and there are deviations and those are some of the um locations that I made mentioned on the memo. Okay. Uh there was also some information here regarding on the back here where it mentions the wayfinding signage as being an issue as well because of what you just mentioned. No, ma'am. The the wayfinding for one of the recommended projects to be deprogrammed is in conversations with BOAC. There are established trails and it did not seem um the best idea to utilize funding to place signage among already established trails and in lie using that money to develop new trails. Okay. Where are the existing trails? that was to be determined by BOAC. The ex are you are we speaking of the same projects or are we speaking of different projects here? The wayfinding that is one that is to be deprogrammed for 277,000. Mhm. That is specifically signage among established trails. Okay. Let's see what other questions do I have. Um, if I Yes, if you'd like, I could continue with the presentation on the Northeast Trails. Yep. I I actually have a a PowerPoint as well because I' I'd like to make a point of the need for this community if we can go ahead and have our PowerPoint, please. Yes. Yeah, we hit the 10 minutes, but we'll come back. Let me let me ask you this, though, Miss Bryant. Do we need to take the first uh agenda item? does and then then amend it. She has a Yes. the main motion. The main motion and then there's no right now there's no motion pending for the main motion. Okay. So, we need to take the main and then we could take the amended. Yes, sir. Okay. So, we have discussion represent comment as well. Yeah, we do. But for clarification, there's no main motion. There is not a main motion. I move to approve. We can have the discussion there. There we go. We have a motion. Is there a second? There's a motion in a second. And then a point of clarification as well. Uh there was another motion made. Is that a motion for a division of the question or is it an specific amendment to the It's an amendment to the main motion. It's a motion for the division of the questioner to consider the items individually. Okay. So no debate is allowed on that and we're supposed to vote on that immediately. Okay. So we will second. Can we go Can we go ahead and vote that? Okay. for that. Well, so the main motion, let's take the main motion first. We'll go ahead. No, you have to take the motion to the division of the question. For the division of the question. So, we're on her motion now. Yes. Okay. If you would like to take with all the amendments and and Okay. So, we still have discussion on this one. So, mayor division of the question does not allow debate. So, it's an immediate vote. Okay. Requires majority. All right. So there is a motion and a second. Yes. And this is is it this is for the division of the question to take the items separately. Okay. Call for the vote. Okay. On that motion. Yes. It was made by Yes. Representative Bujo, seconded by Representative Lemon. On that motion, call for the vote. Representative Asseo I. Thank you. And the voting session and that motion passes 5 to3. Representatives Chavez Fierro Canal is voting a the remainder of the council voting I. The motion carries. Okay. Now we have discussion. Now you can have discussion on the main motion. Okay. She still has another present. Yeah. So um I bet you want to finish your presentation. Yes. If it could bring up the second presentation, please. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Um so as there was questions asked uh this presentation was created for um the briefings for district 4 um trails um lma uh sky skyline to lma real Donald to dyer. Um and so really looking at that there are some points of conflict where there are drainage canals identified as in one two and three the crossing of loop 375 um property that is owned and private property. So looking at L Mariel these are segments. So as I made mention um the segments the allocated money was 231,000 and we're estimating from the designers cost for that to be doubled. So as you see it does start um along the utility easement but then it does cross at Latas Marcus Yuri and Lom de Plat. Um, additionally, we cannot continue through the easement because of an existing uh, PSB drainage. So, the challenges are to, you know, have a fluid route within this area. In this area, you see the zigzag back and forth. So, if there were to be a bridge constructed so that we wouldn't have to reroute, that would be an additional a million dollars. Um, so we're crossing at the underpass at 54. There are midblock crossings at Round Rock. Uh, mid midblock crossings are not favorable along the street. We prefer at intersections. Um, but you know, as many of you have seen within your uh communities, it's challenging to encourage folks to walk that extra step to the intersection. Um so the reroute for the zigzag is a PSB drainage canal. Um also there was not enough space to incorporate a shared path along uh the bridges at Kenworthy and then um we would have to as I made mention build um over the PSB drainage canal. So there is limited um connectivity. One of the things that the urban trails look is to connect to parks and schools. Um the only school within this vicinity is Charles Middle. Looking at segment C. Um once again the opinion is to be 596,000. This trail um brings them to cross at a busy road uh Fairbanks. We would also need um special permission uh due to the transmission towers and substation. Um so really highlighting the difficulties within that segment. And the last segment um D U crossing under uh Rushing Road, the underpass at Rushing Road. And then additionally, there's not enough rideway on the sidewalks. Um so there are constraints um when we have the striping along Evet Street and then the land to the east is federal land. Um I placed Donald Teddy. Um these are the two segments and you see where we would have to um trek around um the crossing. That's the loop on the green that you see at the bottom um at sorry the crossing would be at Sun Valley Drive to provide that safe crossing. Um so just wanted to show and give an um ana examples of some of the conflicts that we see within this identified trail. And then here's um just the list of trails that um was adopted by the 2012 OAC sorry quality of life bond. My apologies. Okay. Represent Lemon. I think you skipped four. No, she was already I didn't take out the camera. She's going to come back. I see. Thank you. Thank you very much. I I think I just have like two really quick questions and and number one was I'm still trying to understand why the open space advisory um board was not included in discussions and I know you mentioned BOAC and having although really all they do is just listen right there's no action that they can actually take why wasn't it taken to open space as well um given that when we look at their um bond their board duties. They really are looking at open space. So the 5 million um in funding for open space, none of those funds are being utilized for these trails and any of the trail heads have already been acquired. Okay. Just in my mind, I think it's like an overarching area, open space, trails that go kind of hand in hand. The other thing is um as as the reprogramming of the funds um potentially should it uh pass um to mountain to river trail. Is there any discussion here today uh about those trails or this is not included in here for mountain to river? Item 30 30 is specifically reviewing that trail in the scope of work. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Representative Chavez followed by representative Acavto. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I want to mention a little bit more about mountainto river because it's such an important project for district 1. Um, this project, you know, was part of the quality of life bond in 2012. However, it uh has been discussed as far back as 2007. I've had ample discussions with constituents of mine. Um, and it is, you know, it is a dream, you know, made a reality today. Um, hopefully through this next vote. Uh it is a space that is essential not just for the scenery, but it's a place for recreation and connection. It would be spanning from the the the Franklin Mountains all the way until you get to the river. Um a very important project I believe for district 1. It is uh a responsibility for us to safeguard these vital aspects of our community, not only for our residents, but to provide more quality of life amenities for the residents of District 1. And today we have an opportunity uh in reality to embrace this region's natural beauty and to expand its ecoourism sector without disrupting the nature and its development. So um I ask my colleagues and I want to to speak today specifically about protecting this project which is mountain to river again a really important project for district 1 that spans all the way back arguably until 2007. Um I I I know that the project has changed throughout time. You know, we've we've made some changes to it. Nevertheless, it is something that is vital to to District 1 and again to connect both north and south of I 10. Um I I believe that BOAC has already spoken to this um on their January 22nd meeting in terms of you know reallocating some of these funds for the completion of mountainto river project. Um I know that there was a presentation done in 2020 to council and action was taken back then. So this has been again, you know, just to reiterate, a project that has spanned uh has been a part of council for years, has been a part of uh our communication not only with our community, but through organizations such as BOAK and others, and again a vital aspect to the quality of life for district 1. So I would highly uh encourage others to uh you know protect this this expansion and to um support it. Thank you. Thank you representto. Thank you mayor. I um just wanted to ask Evet what um how long did it take for you to kind of realize that some of these projects were not viable, the ones you want to deprogram? When we took it to Boeak in January of 2024, um we saw that there would be a shortfall to complete the entire trails program. Okay. So, and how many years was that between when you you initially started it and then take took it to Boak? I'm not sure I understand the question. I I guess when did you conceive the projects that you wanted to deprogram? What year did you conceive those? And then when and then you took it to Boe in January of 24. So, how much time passed between conceiving the projects and taking them to Boe? Um, I would have to go back and check on when we received the design cost to give you that exact date, but when it was first introduced um that we had a shortfall, I believe was in January of 2024. And the request to deprogram as an option. So I I think the the bigger issue that I have with this item is more of the process that was followed rather than what the work is being moved over to cuz I I totally agree with Representative Chavez where that has been happening for a very long time and that's that's something that does need to happen. But more when I when I think about the process, it it reminds me like, you know, the Northeast continues to get um forgotten a lot and and that's what people feel all the time. So, it makes it really difficult when stuff like this happens. And then I did get a message from my appointee on the open space advisory committee and he said that um I I know you said why it didn't go to open space and I still kind of think that it should have gone to open space and he said the last time that something like this happened the council had postponed and um waited for open space to take it. So I don't know um Rep Boy or Tjo the the next meeting for open space is May 14th. So it's just something to consider. But overall uh I'm not against the project. It's just more of the process which continues to kind of be uh a thing with what I see at the city. And I would say to the process in reading the OSAB duties um that was identified that they truly do look at open space. One of the items that has been brought to OSAB is a Vispa Canyon and that is a trail that also um ties in the issue of open space. Anything else? Representative Oto. That's it. Mayor, thank you. Okay, Representative Fiero. Thank you, Mayor. So, I I'm I'm a little bit confused. Mr. Maybe you can help me here. If we vote in favor of voting on these items separately and we we against all the work that staff has done, all the hours that you've budgeted out to make sure that this was going to be um what was what was what we can afford because that's really what it comes down to is what can the city what can the taxpayers afford without going over budget. So if if we do not vote with your with with staff's recommendation on this in essence what we're saying is that we may have to go to the mountain to river u project and take funding from there deprogram something there to put into the projects that we support today am I correct do I understand that correctly correct so if it's separated um and only I'm assuming that would leave. So, taking out all the the trails in district 4, um wayfinding and the westside community park, that would be approximately 340,000 more or less. That would be budget transferred and that would not make the projects whole. So, we would have to go back and look at potentially descoping, removing um elements within those uh three projects. And so, the this mountain to to river project is really well ahead of its completion. Am I correct on that? This is phase one. So this is um constructing the trail head along I 10, making a safe crossing at borderland. There are railroad tracks there. So this would be both um pedestrian and cyclist friendly. And then we would continue with phase two which is of Canyon. So we we have plenty of of time to to deprogram that and and move the money to the northeast. I mean that that's what I'm hearing is is that that's that would be the only option. Correct. to deprogram some money from the Mountain to River to deprogram all the work that your that staff has done to make sure that we have something that we can afford to not go over budget to to to give to our the citizens of El Paso for the money that they voted on. No, we actually have to make the tough decision if we want a quality project to our community. Peace milling from every single project will not deliver a complete project. as I made sense uh as I made mention the segments 230,000 versus the expected 500,000 there's a shortfall that we cannot cover. So it's the tough burden that council has that I'm recommending to you I can deliver three full projects to our community um or we deliver projects that are not um quality projects. Yeah. And that's what I'm hearing. Thank you for all your work and and thank you, mayor. Thank you, Representative uh Tjo. Thank you, Mayor. Okay, I know I have a I still have quite a bit of questions, but I'll try to keep it within my time frame. Uh going back to the the memo here in the background. It states here and this is a memo from youette that says that in January 2024 these challenges were presented to the bond oversight advisory bo uh boak. It also states that in October 24 this was updated uh to the open space advisory board and in July of 2024 the open space advisory board outlined the land strategy needed to move forward. This is from yours. But yet yesterday we I Miss Max said that you did not meet with Bo uh OSAP or they did not give a recommendation specifically on this item as we had already identified which uh trails would be deprogrammed. So this is incorrect. No, the response, the clarification that she made, um I want to say representative Lemon asked Gilbert Guerrero if we had met. We recently had not met with OSAP to let them know we were taking this to council. These had been identified a year ago. Um and so that's when the deprogramming of these were made mentioned. And Miss Mack, you want to clarify what you said? Correct. So we were asked whether this specific item there was an email um that we received from um the OSAP members regarding this item. This item is paid trails. Um I asked the team to take a look at whether this item needed to go to OSA. I additionally went back and looked at the uh minutes of the meetings and we had a joint meeting between OSAB and also the um BOAC to talk about the Abyspy. So when we start talking about mountain to river, there is a discussion that includes a discussion of the Vistpa canyon. That is not one of the items that we're considering right now. And so that was the conversation that happened, I believe, with OSAB that included some portion of trail. U you'll see that there's a trail that goes through. It's a natural trail. It is not a paved trail. It's a different category of funding. Okay. Well, this is misleading again. I I have a PowerPoint that I'd like to to show, please. There's a there's a couple of videos in there. I don't know if we can play the videos along with the PowerPoint, but if not, we'll just make them as photos. Uh, next slide, please. So, going back to what we're speaking of, in 2012, voters approved the quality of lifeband. Uh, and one of the goals was to enhance connectivity through accessible outdoor trail systems. When voters approved this, they gave the city, and this is this is the verbiage that I'm using from the city, the the they gave the city the opportunity to invest in more connected, accessible outdoor trail system. There's a typo there. redirecting funds that were originally designated for district 4 from the projects in Skyline and Lom Maral and to and the Donald to Dyer EP electric corridor deviates from the original intent for the quality of life in this district. Next site please. So the objective here uh is to ask council to oppose the deprogramming of these two trails uh and request consideration on the project's priorities based on the following long-term viability of the project critical necessary uh critical necessary for safe and accessible community infrastructure and equity ensuring that our residents received the funds that they were promised. Next slide. Viability. So Boak quoted the following as a concern of the skyline in Loma Trail that there's no current pedestrian path along US 54 and there's a lack of crossing that would have broken the continuity of the trail. If you go to the next slide, we can see here where Tex Dot's plans to expand uh the US54 will include sidewalks and shared use paths which includes trails and hiking. And so this would help with this issue that was brought up. uh if you're able to communicate and and connect or collaborate with Texot as you did in the other trail that is on Mountain River. Next slide. So I don't know if there you can see this is the area on the west side where you can see that the trail continues on the other side. And so the lack of of safe crossing pointed out in the challenges for Skyline and Loma Rial have existed in the previous or the proposed new site and the challenges were addressed. I believe you can address the challenges with Skyline as well. Next slide please. also. So, we have a composer soul who will be uh also continuing trails along the new division that they're uh building and I think we're overlooking an opportunity that reflects lack of long-term vision and it undercuts the potential for meaningful lasting impact in Northeast. Next site, please. And then we also have the uh the enhanced Royo infiltration facility that is being uh that is coming up. This is an opportunity for continued connectivity because in the skyline it ends at the desert and this is the beginning of the desert and so this is an opportunity for that continuation of the of the route. Next slide. So, this is this is a picture of the Mountain River Trail. And I I really want to show this because, you know, Alia, I I totally understand you you're you're going to fight for your district and you want your your this face to be completed, but I what I want to share is these are funds that were designated for district 4 and district 4 is in need of these trails. Next slide, please. There's a video. This is Donald. This is the area that that's that was stated that would be redundant to our trails. And you're also seeing pictures of the sidewalk. So it's it's you know as as uh ADO has stated you know it's been it's very frustrating to see things like this taken from our district district from the from the northeast. I know there's challenges but you face challenges in the other projects as well and I believe you can overcome these challenges. So, I'm asking uh that you work through them. There's been a I feel like there's been a lack of effort. These these projects are not just line items on a map. These are people's lives and they're in neighborhoods of underserved communities and it's vital for this community. This is exactly where the 2012 quality of life bond investments should be kept to make the greatest impact to transform this area. So I'm asking my colleagues to please vote against deprogramming these two projects. Mayor, may I just make a clarification? Sure. So the program for um Donald to Dyer and Skyland to Lom Rial in terms of the cost estimate that we have is $3,100,000. So what we had budgeted, we would still have a $1.4 million gap to be able to complete those projects. And so I just want to be clear that we do not have the dollars to complete those segments, you know, as we had have described here. So those would look radically different because we don't have those dollars. So if you go back through that presentation, that's 3.1 million far exceeding the total amount of money we have left in a program, whatever, however council chooses to do that. So just be clear that we can only design to the dollars that are remaining within the bond. There's can can we have the consideration of looking at how we can use those funds that have been designated for district 4 to create the trails along Donald. But from the last estimate that I saw it was like 200 something thousand. and then the additional amount to be to see how we may not be able to complete the full path of the walking area but we can still continue to have the walking trails. There was one last picture that I want did want to show on the presentation. Uh if you can go to the last slide please. So well this is another slide. This is the person who's using the trail and it's an it's a senior. It's an elderly. Uh, go ahead and please go to the last slide. This is the end of Donald. It's being used as a illegal dumping area. Changing it into a walking trail would definitely be used for quality of life. Thank you. Okay. Representative Lemon. Thank you, Mayor Evette. Can you go back to slide on page seven please for it if I sorry of the on your on your your first presentation yes please specifically the northeast or the budget transfer well it's the recommended transfer page okay it that was the first presentation please because I'm trying to understand this. Mhm. Um there's a recommended deprogramming of projects and that comes up to a total of 1 million7. There you go. Yes, ma'am. Right. Correct. Mhm. But then below it, we've got a recommended transfer and the subtotal is the same. So I'm trying to understand Miss Mac what you just said that there's not enough money or sorry if I can walk you through that slide. So the 1.7 you are correct. It's from the recommended deprogramming trails and then the 433,000 that is a transfer from the pop prop one investment interest and so the total shortfall is 2.2 million. Okay. But in order to get that 1,771 for recommended transfer, you're drawing from the deprogrammed projects, correct? Is that correct? Yes. All four are identified. The Let me go back to the top. the projects that you're recommending to be deprogrammed that funding that's enough funding to build these projects. Cor correct and then to No ma'am and then so she's asking when you have the recommended defunding program those are the amount of money that's were included in the budget as she was going through the district 4 you saw the budget and then you saw the probable cost for those projects and so when the team went back out to understand the actual cost for those projects the delta is $1.4 million versus the budget for the first two items ma'am So in order to Okay. And was there a page on that? I'm not sure that I saw that. Is there a slide on that? What you just So Delta, it was the second was on the second presentation. So Okay. I don't have that. I I I don't have that one. I guess my concern or my my thought is with the 1,771,000, what can be done with the original recommended projects? What can be done? What can be completed? Um maybe the I I would have to Okay, you'd have to kind of break it down to look at it. Yes. But should we not have that 1.7, you would not complete the and if you remember on April 15th, there is an already developed trail and it has a gap. So that would provide continuity within that park trail. Um Montana to I 10. um that is near the Pelicano area and that is actually enclosed um within the utilities and it's only crossing streets four times. It's not a continuous taking you through the neighborhood. That was true to keeping to a utility easement and then the first phase of mountain to river as you've heard discussion on that item. But were those three part of the original? Yes. Original quality of life program projects that were listed. We had a listing. Yes. Okay. In 2024 of January, you saw that there was going to be a shortfall. And so then you took these projects and you said, "Okay, we can only do this, but we can't do this over here." Correct. Why in the world would we continue to allow residents to think that they're going to receive a project that was promised and I know it's been several administrations past perhaps that is my deepest concern and I will tell you I I'll share a story with you when this whole thing about water parts was coming about we were scheduled for a swimming pool, a swimming pool at the Leonel Forte park. That was in when it was district 7 and the parks director came back with this splashy idea, this whole park and everything. And I said, "Wow, that's fabulous. We can build it with the money that we have allocated." and he sat quiet for a minute and then he said, "No, actually, but we think we can get it done." Well, that was an excessive cost. Obviously, the needs of the community were not met because a community that had used this community pool for so many years all of a sudden can't use it because it has become extremely expensive for the families to go there. A family could go take their lunch. They would do this in the summertime three, four times a week. They'd pack their dinner and go out there. The first time they went, it was $68 to go into the park to buy a simple refreshment. We lost, our community lost that swimming pool. And so I worry about projects that are promised in one phase and then they get shifted around. And I don't know what it is with Representative DJO, but man, she gets hit every time we have a council meeting. Every time we have a council meeting, there's something new, a new project, a new thing that has changed. I I'm I'm I don't know. I'm perplexed at this point. But my final question is this. Have these recommended projects, has construction begun on any of them? Thank you, mayor. I appreciate it. So, just just to confirm, I bet and good morning. Sorry you've been up here all day. Um, just to confirm, the the the deprogrammed ones will those will get put into the additional or the three programs that have been approved, I guess, for lack of a better word, because of funding. Correct. Is that correct? Okay. Now, one one last question on the funding piece because because I I'm I'm interested. When was the last time that you all created um the the budget for the funding? Was it in January of 2014? The budget was established in 2012. I'm sorry. The budget for the trail heads or the trails that you have here. The cost when was that when was that estimation created? So, um, all the estimates you see, um, was in before 2012, before 2012. And so, you'll see a list in the backup that was developed in 2013. Right. The way that the funding was allocated for these were that we were going to only be issuing um, $600,000 a year, correct? Um, over 10 years. And so staff did not begin a lot of the design work and moving into those until we had sufficient dollars in the bank to be able to move forward. And so you'll see with both our open space as well as our trails, those really kind of got pushed until they had enough money in the bank to be able to make those type of purchases. And that's why you see some of the timing around um some of the design work and really understanding how far these dollars could go. I'm just asking for clarification on the dates because I want to make sure that the costs that we're seeing here today are today's prices and not 2 years or 13 years ago prices. That's what I want to make sure. That's a really great question. Um the 1.7 shortfall um plus the 400. So the 2.2 2 shortfall. Yes, we can say that that is the shortfall because we've actually gone through the bidding phase and bids have been submitted. When were those costs from the contractors for all of those? When were those submitted? I would I would want to say uh from Mountain to River that was at least uh 3 months ago. Okay. Um from the Montana that was probably about two months ago. Okay. Um, so all the preparation that it takes during the procurement process as as you know we're bound by Texas code and it takes about eight months. So we have seen those prices come in from the contractor. That's why I was that's why I just wanted to level set us on where those prices like are they current yes to the current market today. So the second question that I have in regards to that is I with all the additional work that would be needed in the the four uh recommended deprogrammed um projects on those all the additional conflicts that have been built in or that you provided on that uh presentation earlier. Have those conflicts been built in to this cost having to work with El Paso Electric, having to work with the El Paso water, having to uh work with Texot, have th because all of that comes with a cost. Yes. So, this is the city side. Have those costs been included in these projects as well or they haven't been and so we're looking at a at a higher ticket. So, that's a great question. Um, when you saw in the presentation the acronym OPC, that's opinion of probable cost. Correct. So that's working with our designer looking at bids that we've received. That's what we estimate. I won't know the cost until bids come in from the contractors if it will be higher the same or ideally lower, but the trending that we've seen and the cost of construction are rising. So that includes the that just the overall contract, right? not the additional conflicts that were built in or that you've not built in but have been identified the So, sorry about that. Sorry. The one that is um estimated and that I have less confidence in is the cost of the bridge to um cross over the drainage. But all the conflicts and the rerouting and the zigzagging that you saw on the map, right, that has been accounted for in the 3.1 million that Miss Mack made mention of. And that 3.1 million is it's it's not it's on the other slide. It's all northeast. It's all district four. Correct. Okay. Okay. Thank you so much. I currently do not have the money for. Thank you. I appreciate the answers. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Representative Acabetto followed by Representative Chavez. Thank you, Mayor. I Evette, I had a a question. Um, for these bond dollars that you want to move over and deprogram projects, none of these had specific places that they needed to be built in by the bond resolution. Um, I think the description did identify um with mountain to river that was an intent from Tom's to the river. So through the years we've seen many iterations um of taking it through the neighborhood area to now at borderland. Um so that one was more design intent. I would have to check the exact description, but I believe that um lal to to um skyline did have that identified because it's in the name. Additionally, um the Montana because it identified the electrical easement that is located um near Pelicano. Um so there was a general idea because these two he's asking whether these trails were actually listed on the bond as approved and in the ordinance. Oh, so you're describing what council adopted later on, right? We're pulling we're pulling the language from the ordinance. Yeah. I mean I I guess I just want to know if the 1.7 million that is being deprogrammed had to go to District 4. Oh. Um Donald Gyire Skyline Royale. Um that that's my my main question. Did it have to go to the Westside Community Park or was it just a general um bond that could be used anywhere in the city? was that that's that's one question while you look at it. I apologize. I believe um the 6 million was identified as trails, 5 million for open space. So there was identified monies. Okay. So it was open to anywhere in the city. Yes sir. Okay. And then um representative I guess but to clarify um we did have master plans that had been adopted and had been reviewed and so council and the community were aware of what was included in those master plans although they may not have appeared on the ballot as such but again we're we're still pulling a language. Okay. And so the master plans included Donald's to dire um skyline to LA and stuff like that. Yes, sir. Okay. Okay. So, I I understand that the master plan is different than the ordinance and the the language there, but I mean, if that was kind of presented, then, you know, um that that's a little hard for for the community in in district 4. The the other thing was is the de est. I'm back on slide seven. the de esta pave trail and tiara esta pave trail the same project. Yes sir. Okay. So one just has the and the other one doesn't but it's the same thing. Correct. Okay. And then you said $433,000 was transferred from the quality of life proposition one investment interest. So was that a prior action or you're asking for that to be done now? I'm asking that today. Okay. But um so I guess what I'm I'm trying to understand is if you've already started work on this, where did you get funding to start that work? The identified funds from the original budget which is the 465 and 433 or there's another budget. My mistake. Uh, interim director Gilbert Guerrero just informed me we have not issued the notice to proceed. I'm sorry. On our Monday board when we award at council, we move it in specifically to construction because it's been awarded. My apologies on that. So, the notice to proceed has not been issued. So, none of the projects here listed Montana River have started. Correct. Okay. All right. Thank you so much. Yes, sir. And thank you for clarifying that because I think earlier we heard it had started. Ari, thank you. Representative Chavez. Thank you, Mayor. Uh, I'd like to speak um on a few things. The first is um you know, I mean, we're really having this conversation because the quality of life bond was passed in 2012 and now we're in 2025. A long time has passed. cost has increased and so we're trying to figure out how to budget for these um you know initiatives and you know that could be a conversation for a different day because definitely it's been a long long time and and why it's taken this long you know all of us many of us are new at council and so we don't have those answers but going forward you know um there there are other bonds that are still active as well and other projects that are still ongoing some of them which have not started started and so this is definitely something that we need to consider moving forward so that maybe this doesn't occur again in the future uh would be productive. The second thing is um you know we're really talking about which projects are going to be from my understanding of that and please correct me which ones we're going to be completing or which ones what would happen if we don't fund these projects today. Some of them would just not get completed or they would get completed halfway. What would be the the end result here? We would have to go back and evaluate um if the budget transfer is not um approved. we have a shortfall of 2.2 million. Um, so we'd really have to look at the projects, make sure what makes sense to be constructed and delivered with the amount of money that we have. Okay. And so what you're saying is the projects would have to be basically at a standstill. They would not be able to move forward because we wouldn't have the money to complete them. Correct. And what exactly does that mean? I mean because do we have contracts already in place? So with the um there is an alternative for fencing that would probably be the first that would not be awarded and then we would have to work to see what would be removed to see what we could afford. And and my question specifically for district one would be if we don't pass this line item then there's no need to vote on the next line item to award the Martinez brothers the contract for for mountain to river. we would have to come back with a revised scope of work because we could not so we would have to pull that item. We could not afford what was placed out of it. Okay. And um but but that doesn't necessarily mean we would be able to complete any of the other projects either, right? I mean basically all of them would be question would be at questioned, right? Correct. All of them are dependent upon this budget and then what would happen after that? We would have to maybe try to figure out if we could put it into the budget for the next fiscal year or what would what would happen? Miss Mac, could you please clarify? We would not move forward any of these projects. So, all of them would be canceled and then some of them would be halfway completed. Yes. Because some of them have been started. Correct. No, I was sorry. No, that was both mountain to river is already that is scheduled for award for construction and then we are slated to start in about a month because what we would need to do with the contracts. So the est was awarded but we haven't issued the notice to proceed. Okay. So what would happen then? They would be scrapped. It depends on how council asked us to move forward. So we would want to ensure that we're utilizing the remainder of the bond money um in the best way that we possibly can to be able to complete whatever projects you direct us to bring back. Regardless of whether we have bids in place or not, uh we would not go over the amount of dollars that we have available. um within the quality of life bond, we would not be moving any of these projects, you know, forward in any way for any other alternative funding source. So they those projects would just not move forward, right? But then when we say we would come back to the drawing board, let's just call it that. Um we're talking more time, you know, possibly a higher increase in cost to whatever we do move forward with in the future. Um, and you know, I, you know, I understand what you're saying, Representative Tjo. You know, there's been projects in District One that have been promised to my community as well that have never come to fruition that haven't even started because of a lack of funding. I can I can think of one really big one that my constituents have been hoping for, you know, from two representatives ago that I don't even know at this point if it will ever get done, even though there continues to be hope that it will get done. And that worries me because, you know, it's it's, you know, it's either a win for for for some of us or a loss for all of us together because then all of the projects will get scrapped and then nobody wins in our community. And and I don't know how we feel about that, you know, taking a vote today where everyone loses or some of us win. And I'm not trying to to say one is more important than the other because I would never I would never say that district 1 is more important than district 4 or that any other district uh in El Paso for that matter. But you know it's just something for us to consider as we take a vote today. Um I do want to also just mention that even the mountainto- river project um has evolved and has like uh Avet mentioned has taken different iterations and I know that it hasn't been um exactly as as we had initially imagined it to be and we've had those conversations and we continue to have a conversation about a Vispa Canyon which is a whole other um you know project alto together and and definitely in in conversations with my constituent uence. I know that they have also expressed to me that you know the project isn't exactly as they initially thought it would be but yet we have you know you know done what we could basically so um I just want you know to speak to my fellow council members and say you know what are we going to decide today? Are we going to um go back to the drawing board because that's on the table right now from what I understand or are we going to move forward and complete one of these projects and and you know basically give a give a result to our community and saying this is what we've done with the quality of of life bond from 2012. This is what we've come or are we going to fall short of that? I think that's the question that we have before us today. Um, again, you know, very few cities have a mountain range running through their heart like El Paso does. The Mountain to River Trail is is an expression of that and and of course it's it's in my district and I'm not trying to dissuade anybody from from not protecting their district. Of course, Representative, my my utmost respect for you, you know, um, but it it's a difficult decision we have before us today. So, thank you. Thank you, Avette. Thank you, Miss Mac. Thank you. And Miss Prime, I'm going to suspend the rules to allow Representative TJO to comment one more time. Yes, sir. Thank you, Mayor. It it is this is this is a really tough thing. Um and really what it comes down to is what this process it's the process. This is what we're looking at is the process of moving ahead before council has approved, transferring funds, deprogramming, and moving forward with other projects prior to that. This that's why we're in this mess right now. I want to clarify that because I misspoke. So, we are following the process. We're asking for the budget transfer and none of the three identified have started. So I do apologize for that misrepresentation on the project status for the de. So what I'm speaking of is the the procurement process. So you you've gone into a procurement process. We've already approved the the deest last week. It was stated that it was quality of life bond. It was not stated that it would be transferring of funds or deprogramming from another district. those things were not shared and so the process is off- which is causing us to be in this issue and you know I I I I appreciate the fact that you've given me an opportunity to talk again mayor because uh you know we're falling short we're falling short the funds are short it is something that we have to consider and you know to what uh representative uh Chavez said is you know do we want to complete a project or do we want to have incomplete projects and my question is do we want to have a little of something in every place or do we want to have one completed project in one place. I think it's important. Equality, equity for the different districts is very important. We don't have anything in in district 4 and that's very important. And so I know this is a really difficult difficult decision for everyone. I I'm wondering if there's if we can postpone this so that we can really take a look at the funding through the different districts and see what can be done so that there's it's equitable for everyone in the different districts. What's being proposed here I believe is is it's been done very rapidly. The process is off and we really got need to slow down so we can make good decisions with this. Represent Nino. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you too, Miss Magnet. I know this is a very difficult conversation that we're all having, but that's what we're elected to do, right? To advocate for our districts. I know that the de trail has been an important conversation and topic in district 5 and I did recently share it with the community that we just approved a contract because that's what we did right. So I'm very grateful for that. I know that you know I agree with you know what mayor prom Chavez was saying it's a challenge but um looking at the entire picture and the budgets and us trying to bring out bud budgets that happened in 2012 are no longer feasible. Um, and I just wanted to thank you for all your hard work that has gone into this and um, and again, that's what we are elected to do and to advocate for our districts. So, thank you. Thank you, sir. Represent Theo. And thank you, mayor. You know, the the mayor prom and I'm sorry to give you a compliment publicly, but the mayor prom could not have said it better. I mean, this is we're this is not about uh voting for all or nothing. This is about us being fiscally responsible to the to the voters and constituents of El Paso as a whole. Yes, we're all elected for our districts, but we hold we we have a responsibility to the community as a whole. staff has put together a a recommendation stretching the dollars as much as they can and and I would be I hope we don't consider postponing this because the dollars aren't going to get larger. the dollars are just going to shrink the more we wait the more and if we're not willing to to make the hard decisions and take the money away from the mountain to river or another project this is going you know we we need to move forward we need to complete as much as we can and stay within budget and with all due respect represent um I hope that this council will will move forward with uh staff's recommendation and complete this projects thank you Mrs. Brian, let's take public comment. Yes, mayor. This afternoon, we have seven members of the public that signed up to speak. The first person is Josie Aila, followed by Rick Bonard, Sharon Miles Bonard, Joe Garib, Arvis Jones, Lisa Enriquez, and Iris Gamboa. Good afternoon, Miss Aila. You have three minutes. Hello. Good morning. My name is Jocelyn Aila, but I go by Josie. I'm a lifelong District 4 resident and this is my first time ever giving public comment because I feel really passionate about this. As a northeast native, I can't begin to tell you the countless times I felt my district was underserved. And that's why I'm here today. Growing up, I live surrounded by empty lots and undeveloped land. To get to the nearest park, I had to cross a stretch of desert. Oftent times me and my friends wouldn't reach the park and would end up playing in that desert filled with trash, twigs, and broken glass bottles. In retrospect, that wasn't just poor city planning. It was unjust. Now, as an adult with baby nieces and nephews growing up near Donald Street, I don't want them to resort to playing in unsafe, neglected spaces. These areas have real potential and the proposed trails could transform them into something safe and beautiful. The move to deprogram these trails feels like it's happening without any community input. Specifically from Northeast El Paso, I feel blindsided, which only reinforces a long-standing feeling that my district is undermined. Council members, I urge that you do not deprogram Donald to Dire Street and Skyline to Lom Mariel Trails. Please put yourself in the shoes of District 4 families. If there are challenges to the construction of the trails, I encourage council member, city employees, and developers to work together to address those challenges. I encourage problem solving, not giving up, which is what this feels like. The argument for deprogramming these trails is because it has infrastructure challenges and insufficient funding. And it sounds to me that that is exactly why we need it. We shouldn't deprogram the whole project. We should ask ourselves what can be done with the funds that we have available. What can be done to give Northeast El Paso its fair share of quality of life? We have been asking for proper infrastructure attention to the Northeast. And now that voters approved it in 13 years ago and had the opportunity to get it, we're defunding it and moving it elsewhere. Does that sound fair to you? I wholeheartedly agree that these trails can tremendously benefit any district. That is its purpose, quality of life. The issue here is that the money was originally earmarked for the Northeast. We got our hopes up and without our input, they deemed it inconvenient, started talking to biders and property owners elsewhere and moving forward to taking it away from from us without council even voting on it first. It's not a winome or we all lose scenario. It's about spreading equality evenly across all sides of town. District 4 residents deserve to live in a community they can take pride in. Right now you have the opportunity to help make that reality and ask yourselves what can be done with what we have available. Thank you. Thank you. The next speaker is Rick Bonard. File followed by Sharon Miles Bonard, Joe Gibby, Arvis Jones, Lee Enriquez, Iris Gamboa. Good morning, Dr. Bernard. You have three minutes. Yes. Good morning, Mayor and Council. Asked Representative Leone, is it possible to put up my presentation? I'm not sure. Um I could ask the office. Um Okay. Well, anyways, uh a lot of the issues, we need the Elmo, please. Yeah. A lot of time you're talking about today, hang on real quick. I don't want you to lose your time here. Okay. So, we can get your Thank you. There we go. Do you have it, Dr. The presentation? It was sent to your office. I know it was, but I don't have it here with me. Do you have it there? I don't have it. Not on. We have pictures on the Elmo that's displaying on the screen. Unfortunately, we're going to have to go with what we got with the time. Yes. Okay. Okay. Go ahead, Dr. Okay. So, so you know, you you're facing some very realistic things and I will also tell you these are not new problems. These budgets and stuff came to BOAK in 2021, not four years ago. We knew this was an issue and that's why we started to try to realign these projects at BOAK with what was in the budget and what would be feasible. It's not happening in 2024. And in fact, there are resolutions that came out of both and OSAB that have supported several things to try to realign this and do a better job. Also, as you brought up, Miss Tjo, the the issues that are there are real. And also, the issue is what will you actually get for your dollars? Are you going to get a beautiful path with nice trees and shrubs along it? No, that's not what you're going to get. maybe an improved sidewalk, which is what you might want, but at the end of the day, those utility corridor projects were actually first described in the open space master plan, and they followed something called the blue bonnet trail. That was what the model was. And if you're familiar with that, that's nothing like what's being proposed here today. So, the dollars that you're getting and the dollars that you're using are not going to produce, I think, the quality that you're after. And that's what you need to focus on is how much are we going to get, where are we going to put it, and what's it going to be like. And another thing that I can address to you, I've got good news for you, okay? On the mountain to river trail, the purchase of the Abyspy, that should be from 10% storm water money. You don't need to use quality of life funds for that. That was proposed again five years ago as a storm water project. You don't need to do suspend your dollars. So look, whatever money you were going to reprogram from one of those, put it on one of your trails in Northeast. That's fine. We've got money that we can use to do the mountain to river. Also, the project of mount to river that's being proposed, no one supports. There's no meeting I've ever gone to or been at where they said, "Oh yeah, let's put this along borderland. Let's build more sidewalks. There's a better way to do mountainto river with the money that we've got. We need to get across the river with a bridge and it's highly affordable and that's the project you should be building and that's what I'm encouraging you to do and you have the money to do it. But to say that this no one knew about this is false and to say that OSAB or BoAC never saw this is false. We all knew about this, we all tried to reorganize this. And if you want to go back to the drawing board, it's never too late to back away from a bad plan. Thank you. The next speaker is Dr. Sharon Bonart. Thank you. Um I thank you very much for giving me your time right now. Um I thank staff for all the work they've done on their um presentation today, but I do recommend that uh they go back to the drawing board and also do a little bit of research. Excuse me. I'd like May I have that, please? Let's show it to them. Okay. Well, get it out of the way. Excuse me. You can tell that we're married and I don't know how to focus that. Okay. Uh honey, if you don't mind, I'll read it to you. OAP, uh I say Open Space Advisory Board. Oh, you want me to read the quality of life bond? Okay. This is what the ordinance. Now, remember that there was not an actual ordinance that came out of the bond itself. The ordinance that is often referred to is 017849 and it says trails/open space trails and trail head improvements including Palisades's Billy Rogers Aoyo trail head trail head parking areas open space and land acquisition and this wouldn't have been in the bond uh had not Charlie Walk who was the then the u president of not president he was the chair of OSAB Um, and what I'm hearing and what I'm seeing is a lot of the trail money is being used for what most cities would call street projects. When you build a sidewalk, isn't that a street project? Uh, curbs for a trail, more like a street project. Uh, striping for a trail, more like a street project. Uh also the open space advisory board on July 14th, 2021 made this recommendation made a motion that said OSAB recommends that the mountain to river trail follows focuses on natural spa surface route aligned through a vispa canyon a royo the open space acquired by the PSB and coordinated with the PSB MO etc. So this is this was recommended by open space back in 2021, but this trail this project has been on the boards since 2007. That's 15 years ago. It predates the Q12. So, I appreciate you giving me your time today and I hope that uh we all benefit from what's going on here today and that God bless our staff and for them to come to our meetings and all the meetings and spend the time that they must spend to do their research so that they can inform us to be good advisor to you all. Thank you. Thank you. The next speaker is Joe Gibb. Representative Lemon has a comment. Thank you, Mayor Dr. and Dr. Bonart. And I don't see Thank you very much. Um I apologize. I did have the presentation, but I just didn't pass it over to the right phone. But do want to thank you for being here and especially on your birthday, Dr. Richard Bonard, for spending time with us today on on a special day that you have. Thank you very much for happy birthday. Happy birthday. Good morning, Mr. Gariv. Your microphone is ready. Joe Garbe. Yes, sir. You have three minutes. This is Joe Garbe. All right. So, I am the chair of the open space advisory board and I have to tell you first off, I am extremely disappointed that this issue was not brought before OSAB before it came to city council. Uh I know it's been said that they don't believe the city doesn't believe that this is an OSAB issue. I can tell you in December I had a presentation before city council and we talked about greenways and trail heads and how OSAB would be part of that process and I do believe what we're talking about here are definitely greenways and trail heads and so again extremely disappointed that this was not brought before OAP. I do believe it should go before OAP before any decision is made on it. Uh secondly, there are basically two mountainto- river trails and I think we have two because there's a and uh the city attempted to appease the group that wanted a mountain to river trail by using the sidewalk that was built by text when they did uh 375. That is not the mountainto river trail that we ever envisioned or we ever wanted. And so putting way signs there and a trail head there is not really what we want. What we want is the natural surface trail that'll go through a vista canyon and then cross somewhere over in that area. That is the mountain to river trail. So you know I know we have money right now allocated for a trail head that's going to be I believe at vessel the north end there. I don't know that we want that trail head. I mean, we'll always take more trail heads, but it's not what we wanted. I'm not sure the fund should be used for something that is not fitting the need of what the community was asking for at the time. And so, I'm not sure we want to go that that way with the funds. And I'd also like to say that, you know, I'm not happy that we're taking money away from some of the trails in other districts down in district 4. I am appointed to district 4. I think I'd like to have a say at OSAP about where the fund should go away from district 4 before something comes forward like this. Trails are important to everybody. And I want the Mountain to River Trail on the west side, but I want trails in northeast El Paso also. Everybody needs this access. And it's important that we make these greenways for people in their neighborhoods to get to open spaces and to get to parks. And therefore, I I would ask that you not do the vote to de decommission these other projects right now. Let us talk about it at OAP and come up with some recommendations and go forward with that and I reiterate Mr. River Trail that's being proposed the one we want. Thank you mayor. If I if I may comment. Um I just wanted to clarify that the um actions moving forward for Avisa Canyon is not to utilize the 10% storm water fee. it would be via a joint use memorandum. So there would not be a transaction of funds. So I just wanted to clarify that. Um, secondly, I appreciate the feedback um, and the intent of wanting to start from the drawing board, but council, if you would please bear in mind that going back to the drawing board does mean design, does mean additional changes, does mean increased in costs and the delays as made mentioned will decrease the amount of money that we do have for construction. Thank you. Make those two clarifications. Thank you. Thank Thank you, M. The next speaker is Arvis Jones. I'm so No, you're f you're fine. Thank you. Followed by Lisa Enriquez and Iris Gamboa. Good afternoon. You have three minutes. Hello, Mayor Johnson, Representative Troyer Tjo, and city representatives. My name is Zarvis Jones and I am a Northeast resident. As a senior older person, one who walks 7,000 to 10,000 steps a day, and one who likes to hike, I was disappointed to hear yesterday that you may be considering defunding and redirecting funds slated for the Skyline to Lomar Rial Trail and the Donald to Dyer um El Paso electric quarter. Reallocations of funds from Northeast El Paso has occurred more than once, and this is disturbing. This has not been discussed with the Northeast residents. We know that um we know that connected trails increase walking, biking, skateboarding and so on and outdoor activities. These activities contri contribute to better health outcomes and reduces chronic diseases. We know this. As we get older, our muscles weaken and it becomes harder to stay mobile. Walking is one of the best ways to maintain our strength and independence. To many older adults becoming sediment being sedimentary in their homes, trails provide a simple solution. They give us a chance to stay active, stay social, and stay healthy. Not just that, but our kids also will participate on these trails. They provide a place to thrive. The trail and quarter will join various northeast communities together. Those those walking in safe and connected trails are essential for all community members, including lower income and un underserved areas. Everyone should have the same access to trails as any other part of town. According to the CDC, communities with connected trails increase physical activity among its residents. It fosters safer and more accessible environments by encouraging more people to encourage to engage in active transportations. Therefore, I urge you to honor the commitment made to our northeast community by fully funding the walking trail projects included in the approved quality of life bond. Yes, there are many hurdles that we have to overcome, but we have overcome them in communities and why not ours. These trails are were approved by voters with the understanding that they would enhance community health, safety, and connectivity. Defunding them now just to support other community projects in other parts of town is unfair to us and makes me sad. It's it undermines the public trust. Residents supported this project because we believe in building a city where people of all ages can walk safely and live healthier lives. Walking trails aren't extras. We need them in our neighborhoods just like everyone else. Again, they support physical health, mental wellness, and even economic development through increased neighborhood appeals. I have seen trails in other parts of town. They have trees, they have shrubs, they have lights, and many other amenities. Why can't we? City Council, please don't walk away from what you promised. I respectfully ask that you preserve the funding and move forward with the projects as voted upon and approved by the people of El Paso. Thank you. Thank you. The next speaker is Lisa Enriquez, followed by Iris Gamboa. Good morning. You have three minutes. Good morning. Good morning. Uh, Mayor Cynthia, council members, my name is Lisa Enriquez and I'm speaking today as a resident of the Northeast El Paso and a person living with low vision. As a president of WeHike, a community organization committed to promoting safety, accessibility, health, and uh, quality life through outdoor engagement. Um, I hereby res I'm here to respectfully urge you to preserve the designated district funds for their intended purpose, to serve Northeast. The Northeast has long been underserved when it comes to infrastructure that supports safe, active mobility. Our community faces daily challenges. Sidewalks that end abruptly, crossings that are unsafe, and the public spaces that remain inaccessible. These barriers are not just inconveniences. They're a matter of dignity, opportunity, and safety for all, especially for individuals like me who live with disabilities. When we talk about quality of life, it must include the ability to move safely and freely through our neighborhoods. Whether walking, biking, running, it must include the vision of community where people of all abilities, background, and ages feel welcome and connected. The funding represents a rare and vital opportunity to invest in the kind of infrastructure that promotes not just movement, but hope, health, and equity. As someone living with low vision, I understand firsthand the challenges that come with navigating spaces that aren't designed for everyone. This is personal. It's not just about access. It's about belonging. That's one of the reasons I launched WeHike, to create safe, inclusive outdoor spaces where people of all abilities can move freely, explore, and connect with their community. Reallocating funds away from the Northeast would be devastating step backwards, further depending deepening the disparities in a community that has waited too long for basic improvements. WeHike is committed to helping these opportunities become a reality. We are new. We are a 501c. We are a charity and we are ready to work handinhand with the city as we already are and as we are already working with text dot on funds and grants for pedestrian safety in the northeast and around El Paso to keep mobility to bring mobility and make it safer and encouraged and celebrated. I respectfully ask that your honor uh that you honor the original intent of these funds and stand with the people of the northeast in building a safer, stronger, and more inclusive community. Thank you for your time and your consideration. Thank you. The final speaker is Iris Gamboa. Good morning. You have three minutes. Hi, good afternoon. Uh my name is Iris Gamboa and I am here as a concerned citizen and active board member of Wehike to speak on the urgent need to keep district 4 designated funds in the Northeast exactly where they are needed. As a long lifelong resident of the Northeast and a member of the community with active children who attend schools in the Northeast, I'm here to emphasize on the critical importance of pedestrian safety in our neighborhoods. Our children walk and bike to school, play in the parks, and navigate our streets daily. Their safety should be a paramount concern for all of us. Increased traffic, speeding vehicles, and lack of adequate pedestrian infrastructure pose significant risk to their well-being. I can personally tell you pedestrian safety is not a luxury. It's a necessity. Our community already suffers from a critical lack of accessible safe spaces for walking, biking, and mobility. Reallocating these 2012 funds away from the Northeast would be detrimental to the progress of our community that our community desperately needs. This is about quality of life for everyone. Young people, seniors, families, people with disabilities. All of us who want to move freely, safely, and confidently in our neighborhoods. We are not asking for luxuries. We're asking for basic access, safe sidewalks, crossing trails, and streets that welcome and include every mobile person regardless of ability. We hike has founded to promote exactly this kind of opportunity to connect people to their environment, improve physical and mental health, and build a stronger, safer, more vibrant community. We are new to this work, but are committed and are standing with the Northeast to move this vision forward, not backward. Please protect these funds for their original purpose, lest invest in making the Northeast a place where people feel safe to walk, run, bike, and drive. Thank you for your time and listening to the people you represent. Thank you so much, Mayor. That concludes public comment on this item. Okay, Miss Bryan, can you clear us up where we're at on where we're voting on? Council would since they voted to since they voted to take each each item individually, we would need motions to take the items for each of the items that you would like to vote separately on. Okay. So, yes. Okay. So, Representative Roachcha, thank you, Mayor. I appreciate it. And and just a quick question from staff on this on the quality of life bond. Iette, just for clarification because I want to make sure that there's a there's there's everything's cleared up. I I'm reading the verbiage on the quality of life bond and on the resolution of uh 017849 and it didn't make any reference to any part of El Paso or the city of El Paso other than Billy Rogers and I think it was Billy Rogers or the Royo. Those were the only two that were mentioned within the quality of life bond back in 2012. Is that correct? Yes, ma'am. Okay. And so then the identification of these of these all these projects came about via the open space advisory board. It was um or was it the bond oversight? It was um BOAK OSAB um two different organizations that are affiliated with biking looking at our old biking and trails master plan. So there were a couple of resources that helped develop these trails. So just to understand all of the projects were priced out for cost. Is that correct? Yes ma'am. Okay. So it's not that money was originally divvied up and and said okay we're these are the projects moving forward. These are the projects that are taking a back seat. If I'm understanding the way that the process that that I'm reading that's the correct way. Each each project was priced out by cost. Is that correct? Yes. Okay. And then as you move forward where you guys were realizing that the projects were not feasible for these four items and you wanted to redirect these funds with this action. Is that correct? Correct. Okay. I just had to put everything straight in my head. So thank you. I just wanted to make sure that um that we level set ourselves also on what the ordinance or what the resolution was saying originally in that quality of life bond back in 2012 because it's been a long time and I wasn't here back then and you know it's it's been a while. I know I voted on it but I just wanted to kind of um make sure that I understood and level set. Thank you. Thank you. Represent Canelis. You're good. Okay. Representative uh Trey. Okay. So, I' I'd like to make a mo motion to postpone the two uh projects in district 4 to see what can be done with the available funds, what can be done with the funds that are designated. And I understand they weren't designated through the quality of life bond, but they are through the master plan. And so there what can be done with district 4 funds. And then there's also an opportunity to collaborate with text dot. Uh there is an area in text dot from Kenworthy to Mcomes that is included already in uh trails and height and uh a trail. So that would reduce there's an opportunity to reduce the cost there if uh text dot is including that in the cost. So this is the motion that I'm that I'm asking for is to postpone the two uh trails in northeast to get more information to see what can be done with the available funds. Okay. So there's a motion on the table to postpone and this is rep representative. Is this to postpone for a certain number of weeks or is it to postpone indefinitely? To postpone to see what can be done. I don't know how much time would be needed to see from from city uh staff to figure out how much what can be done with the funds that are uh currently designated for district 4. I I would uh place that back to city staff to give give me an idea of what how much time is needed. So in in looking at this, it wouldn't be specifically looking at what would happen to Skyline and Laral. It would be the entire trail program. So gosh, I think if we could have a month, I hate to say that, but it we're going to have to reevaluate the entire program because nothing will be funded at this point. Okay. So we could give it a month for four weeks. Four weeks. There's a motion to and this is to postpone the entire item. Correct. Correct. Is there a second? All right. Hearing none on that, that motion dies. Represent Limo. I I think this is like like pulling a band-aid off and so I think we just need to rip it off. I think we need to vote on the the proposed action that is being presented to us and all we need to do is vote yes or no. pulled the band-aid off. So, I make that motion, mayor. Okay. Don't we already have a motion to second? It does. There is a motion to approve the item as posted and then council voted to take each one separately. Thank Okay. Any other discussion? Okay. So, does everyone know what we're voting on? Okay. So, you want to just take the whole item as originally posted. Correct. Since there are no other pending motions at this point. That's correct. Thank you, sir. So, the motion was made by Representative Canales, seconded by Mayor Prom Chavez, and this is to approve item 29 as posted. On that motion, call for the vote. And don't forget Representative Ato. Yes, sir. Representative Ato. Uh, no. Okay, mayor, we have a tie. Thank you. In the voting session and that motion passes 5 to four. Representatives Chavez, Rocha, Nino, Pierro, I know. And Mayor Johnson, voting I. Representatives as Tjo Leading Nay. The motion does carry. Mayor, what item would you like to go to? Let's go. Can we do call to the public? Yes, sir. Absolutely. That brings us to call to the public. The El Paso City Council is a local government body charged with serving the citizens of El Paso 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 decor 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 afternoon, we have four members of the public that signed up to speak. The first person is Claudia Contra Stiller. She will be followed by Ron Ko, Darnell Johnson III, and Richard Shear. Miss Siller's topic is animal cruelty against cats. Good afternoon, ma'am. You have three minutes. Hello. Good afternoon. Last week was a very hard week for the El Paso city and I want to ask everybody to be very respectful of what happened to in Walmart. This is about the victims, their families, and justice. That's all. If we have comments, we're not the victims. They are the victims. So, I want to thank the authorities that stopped the shooter from killing more people. Some people are even blaming the police of why they were not more aggressive to the shooter. and we all can say a lot of things but nothing is going to bring back the victims. So with respect and everything I want to invite everybody to not make this about a political game starting with that cuz that's what I think is the most important thing in all in our city. Now, I'm going to talk about stuff that that I do know, which is animal cruelty against cats. And I'm here to represent all the cats of El Paso. And I want to thank District 3, uh, Represent Rocha because she hosted a wonderful meeting at the animal services. And it it was very educational for everybody. We were very happy. We learned a lot of things. It was the first time I went to the shelter in the in the back of the building. I learned a lot of stuff. We learned that the police department it's 200 officers short, the animal uh shelter is 300 employees short and they are doing their job but they need more support. Also, I want to talk about the judges. Whenever there's an animal cruelty, it all lands in the judges because they represent justice. There's a lot of things going on like I've been saying. Um, for example, it was on the news that a firefighter uh confessed to the police as per the news reporter of uh killing three five cats and a dog. So, the DA left his case behind and now that what happened is being blamed on another person. The community is blaming another person in that street. There's still animal cruelty going on. There was a cat that was picked up and dumped all the way to Horizon because it had a GPS in that same house. So, the judges need to start doing their job. And since I care so much for cats, uh, I want to say something that happened to me. So, I reported a vet clinic for deceptive trade practice and probably animal cruelty, too. The judge rescued himself one year after the case was uh and then I had to just like signed accepting anything. So the judges need to step up their game. Thank you. The next speaker is Ron Ko. Mr. Ko's topic is exercising his constitutional rights for rescue of 1983 animal services. Good afternoon sir. You have three minutes. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. So gentlemen, ladies, I sent you all an email with four pictures in it. One picture was a confirmation from a person who applied for the director's position. This person was highly qualified, was a shelter director at the time for a city in Texas. I met this gentleman in Sacramento because they asked us to speak at the city council in Sacramento. He was asked to go discuss his great success with his shelter. I was there to discuss our failures. That picture is confirmation that the city of El Paso got his application. There was one other person that was highly qualified for the position. Neither one of them were contacted. When I brought this up in our meeting, I was told I was wrong and that nobody that was qualified applied. You have in your hands proof that somebody else applied. The other thing I sent was a copy of the description of the requirements to be a shelter director. I'd like to know how a seasoned firefighter got the training and ability to become a shelter director. The other one I sent you was about another great shel rescue quitting. When are you going to learn how many rescues do you have to lose before somebody wakes up and goes, "We got a problem." Remember the first shelter meeting for rescues filled the front office. Standing room only. The last shelter meeting I I went to with rescues had 14 people in it. Is this acceptable? We're not moving strays. Why are we not moving strays? We had a record in 2019 of a,020 strays adopted in El Paso. We haven't gotten anywhere near that. Why? The community is not happy. Why is the community not happy? Because they're not doing their job. It's time we get a qualified person to do what an unqualified person is doing. It's time we make the necessary changes before any more people get hurt. I we've been lucky. Los Cusus, San Antonio, LA, they're all a member of a group. the group of of cities that have had dog maulings that killed people. And here we sit ignoring the problem, allowing the strays to run free. You've been warned. You've warned. Is somebody got to die in this city before we do something? This isn't funny. This isn't a joke. People's lives. Thank you, Mr. Ko. Thank you. The next speaker is Darnell Johnson III. His topic is homelessness. Good afternoon, sir. You have three minutes. Good afternoon, Mayor City Council. Uh my name is Priy Firstclass Johnson. I came here today to talk about homelessness, not just in El Paso, but in the US in general. This is a topic that I feel as though most struggle with because they just don't know how to fix the problem. What you have to understand about homelessness is that all of them don't want the exact same thing. For the most part, homeless come in four categories. Homeless that want to be something alive, homeless that want to stay homeless, homeless that are terrorists, and then homeless that don't want to be alive. If they want to be something in life, then the right thing to do is to build them apartments that have the basic necessities they need to thrive, such as water, heat, AC, furniture, microwave, Wi-Fi, etc. And they can stay there for as long as they want. And it should be free. Why should it be free? because there's a chance that they just got unlucky. A lot of homeless are screw-ups and honestly brought it on theirel, but some of them just got unlucky and it's not their fault their parents didn't do their job correctly and they should be compensated for it. If they want to stay homeless, then the right thing to do is to give them give their opportunity to someone that's maybe at the border who is not a criminal that would take the opportunity. Since the ones at the border want the United States and the ones in the US want to be homeless, then trade one for the other, if that makes sense. And not only that, you don't have to be here to be homeless. You can be homeless at the border. That's honestly the same thing. As for homeless that are terrorists, it's pretty self-explanatory. The right thing to do will be jail. And as for the last category, homeless that don't want to be anything in life, don't want to be alive and or are not cut off for society, the right thing to do would either be jail or put them to sleep. Why? Because they're not going anywhere in life anyway. And that space that could be used for more doctors. The one exception to all of this would be homeless that may live in their cars. Why? Because this isn't the kind of homeless that the public is referring to when they bring up the problem. And it's not as much of a safety risk for kids who have to walk in the street and risk getting hit by a car because they can't use the sidewalk. So therefore, they should be exempt. How should this be done exactly? It should not be done by law enforcement. Why? Because they're not trained for these kind of situations. So therefore, it's not going to be done correctly and it's going to be a mess. The army, however, who are trained for these kinds of situations and have a lot more discipline than law enforcement will be a lot more successful. After the army has cleaned the streets thoroughly, now you bring in law enforcement to reinforce the no homelessness policy and to make sure this is fair. This should be something that's voted for by the voted for by the public to ensure the safety of the army and increase the chance of it being a success. Thank you. Thank you. And the final speaker is Richard Shear. Mr. Shear's topic is city council has oversight responsibility of El Paso Water. Good afternoon, Mr. Shear. Your microphone has been unmuted and you're ready to speak. Good afternoon, city council members and Mr. Mayor. Miss Leone, nice to see you on city council again. I have filed a complaint against EP Water with the Texas Public Comm Utility Commission. The next day, I received a reply stating uh that that the TU TU has no regulatory authority over EP water, that the proper regulator is El Paso city council and the mayor. I am here to ask you that you do your job as regulator. I will be happy to sit down with each of you, share what I submitted to the PUC and what my experience was with EP water over the past five months. I suggest that each of you through your monthly constituent meetings and emails ask for their experiences dealing with excuse me EP water. Both businesses and residents should be targeted as I have received complaints from both. Briefly, EP Waters problems fall into two categories. First, EP Water employees advise customers on what to do and company procedures. The EP computer is programmed differently, resulting in actions that are contrary to what customers were told. The second category is lack of communication on progress in solving the issue. Example, I went to the website to view my bill. A banner at the top said I had been placed on a payment plan. No one contacted me about a payment plan. I did not agree to a payment plan and I was not informed on the amount that I was supposed to pay. There was a total disconnect between EP Water and me. This resulted in EP Water shutting off the water to my residents. Why should you care about this? El Paso has spent a lot of time and money promoting El Paso as a friendly and welcoming community. If word gets out that the water utility has gone rogue and is hard to deal with, prospective businesses and retirees will run as fast as they can to other communities. All the time and effort to promote El Paso will have been wasted. Thank you for your time. Thank you, mayor. That concludes call to the public this afternoon. Okay, let's reconvene the Okay, there were three other items that were moved to the forefront. It was 34, 35, and 38. Would you like to go in that order? Let's Let's do that. 34, 35, and 38. Thank you. Item 34 is an introduction and public hearing of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of city of El Paso, Texas water and sewer revenue refunding bonds in an aggregate amount not to exceed $339,400,000 to refund certain previously issued obligations to the city. Good afternoon, city council mayor, CFO for El Paso water. So the next two items are on behalf of El Paso Water and these items are critical for El Paso Water and the community as they are the the funding mechanism that the utility uses to fund our infrastructure. So the first item is on the ordinance. The total ordinance is for $339.6 million and it consists of two items. the extendable commercial paper program and also an economic refunding. We'll cover first the extendable commercial paper. So a year ago, city council approved the creation of the extendable commercial paper program and this is for the water and sewer utility. So very successful. The total amount is uh 300 million. That's uh the limit that we have and this is how we fund our CIP projects. And uh one of the requirements of the program is a 30-year program is that once a year we have to come before city council to get a parameters authorization for 12 months. What the parameters authorization is pretty much the utility has to meet the requirements set on the parameters. So, I'll I'll go ahead and and continue with the presentation. I just want to make sure uh everyone agrees that the utility bonds and this is for El Paso Water Utilities. The ECP program, the extendable commercial program is fun is funded strictly by the revenues from the utility. They're not funded by any tax tax rate rates. Uh is strictly funded by El Paso Water. Now over the next five years, the utility has great needs on the infrastructure improvements on the water and sewer is about $3 billion. Out of that $3 billion, about 700 million is funded by the rates that we charge our customers. The rest has to be financed. How do we finance our CIP? Is we we look at different options. We can issue bonds. we can raise their fees and and uh raise and fund more of it with our with with those rates but it would come to it's not affordable for our customers. So the extendable commercial paper what it does it it uh if we don't borrow we don't pay any fees and once we borrow is a minimum fee of uh onetenth of 1% for the dealer portion and also the interest that we're paying about 3% when we do need to borrow. So that's that's how we use it. We only borrow when we need. Now some of the projects since uh we started last year that we have used uh the extendo commercial paper is the for herby uh water reclamation plant in the northeast manhole rehabilitation. This is citywide about 6.3 million and there's some other projects that we we have used it very successful uh for the utility. Now our fiscal year starts on March 1st and these are some of the projects that we multi-year projects that the utility approved funding with the extendable commercial paper which is the Bamante plant and this is the biggest uh expense for the utility history. the the project uh entails rehabilitation and expansion of the Bamante plant that serves all the wastewater and treats all the wastewater on the east side of El Paso. And uh the funding approved it was $398 million in extendable commercial paper. These are multi-year projects. The advanced water purification facility, now known as Pure Water Center, is $152 million. And this is uh advanced treatment, first in the world uh for for this type of treatment. And it's going to create an additional 10 million 10 million gallons a day of uh water that will be uh serving our customers. There's also some other projects as the uh Senate bill three which is uh is a requirement by the state that we need to have backup power generation uh available are our water water infrastructures especially for wells and plants and the fronta force main rehabilitation 23 million. Now the parameters that are being requested under the extendable commercial paper is for the author authorization to issue water and sewer revenue refunding bonds and also the delegation of the pricing officers to president CEO vice president and CFO and these are the recommended parameters. So the interest cannot exceed 5.9%. And the uh par amount or the principal 302.3 million. The final maturity has to be within 30 years uh ending on December 31st, 206 and the delegation expires after 12 months. So this is the parameters on the extendable commercial paper for this ordinance. If we were to issue the full 300 million, it would be we would be getting proceeds of 302.3 million. We use 300 million to repay those outstanding notes and the rest the $2.3 million would be used for issuance cost. Issuance cost consist of two two things. the underwriters which are the the financial institutions that sell our our bonds and the rest would be bond bond council financial advisor uh rating agencies and there's other uh documentation or services that are needed to issue bonds. So this concludes the first portion of the parameters authorization under the first water and sewer. Uh is there any questions from city council? Yep. Represent canales. Council, there isn't a motion yet per debate. I just made the motion to approve. You'd like to second it. So, we'll continue. So, one second. Hang on. I'm sorry. Uh, okay. Thank you. We have a motion and a second represents, you have discussion on this one. Okay. Representative Fiero. Thank you, mayor. Just a quick question. Is the repayment part of a consumer's water bill? The as far as the the extendable commercial paper, right? So the extendable commercial paper as we borrow that is it is included on the rates for the our rate payers is part of the the financing. So you have three components. Uh what is in our budget is your operating, your debt service and your capital. So the extendable commercial paper would be on the financing side. That's the that's what when we create our rates, that's what we're funding. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Any other discussion on this item? All right. Hearing none, Miss Brian, call for the vote. Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Canales, seconded by Representative Asdo to adopt the ordinance. There's no public comment on that motion. Call for the vote. Representative Aso. I thank you. And the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. That brings us to item 35. And this is a introduction and public hearing of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of city paso, Texas municipal drainage utility system revenue refunding bonds in an aggregate amount not to exceed $73.6 million to refund certain previously issued obligations of the city. So the the same program we have also for the stormwater utility. So city council approved this in 2023 and the capacity on this one is $60 million. same parameters, same requirements by the program that we have to do a every 12 months we have to come to city council and get this approved for authorization. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Representative Leon. So I have a question. Yes. When the rates to taxpayers come about increases, who makes that decision? Is it the public uh public service board or water utilities? Who makes that decision? The public service board is the the the one that approves our rates or fees. So on the on the water and sewer, you have rates. On the storm water, you have a storm water fee. The public service board approves it. Okay. So that's the body that makes that decision. And it's and council has no say in that. That's correct. Thank you. You're welcome. So there's a motion and it represent Canales. Thank you, mayor. Just to clarify, that's not uh those are not costs being borne by taxpayers. Correct. Because this is not a tax rate. Rate payers who are Yeah. paying fees for service. There's a for the storm water is a monthly fee. uh is based on on the size of uh the the purpose uh area for either residential or commercial. Okay. Represent Lemon. My apologies. Wrong term. Same people. Correct. That's correct. Thank you. Okay, we have a motion in a second. Is there any further discussion, Miss Prime? Yes, sir. There was a motion made by Mayor Pro Tim Chavez, seconded by Representative Nino, and this is to adopt the ordinance on item 35. There's no public comment on that motion. Call for the vote. Representative Aso, I thank you. in the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. Thank you, city council and mayor on behalf of El Paso Water. Thank you. I believe we're on 38 now, Miss Brian. Yes, sir. That brings us to item number 38. Okay. And this is discussion in action to accept the actural audit reports of the El Paso City Employees Pension Trust Fund as of September 1st, 2022. Valuation in El Paso Fireman and Policeman's Pension Fund as of January 1st, 2024. valuation to be presented by foster and foster actuaries and consultants. Good afternoon. Good afternoon, mayor and councel. She she read the line item. So, I just want to take the opportunity just to introduce you to Mr. Paul. Was it Bower Ber? What he said? Um from Foster and Foster and he's going to present the report to you today. Thank you. Just use or it might be these here. One of these. Well, I'll just push buttons until something happens. Um, thank you, uh, mayor and council for having us. Um, I am Paul Bcker. I will wait until this is pulled up for me. Um, but I am Paul Bacher. I'm representing Foster and Foster. We were retained by the council to perform an actuarial audit of your pension plans. What does that mean? You're familiar with audits from a financial perspective. what an actuarial audit is is uh doing. This is the report. There's a presentation. It's it's up on the It's up on the board. That's the report though. I'm saying there's a presentation. I'll just talk. It It's number two in the backup. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. So anyway, an actual audit is is similar to a financial audit where someone independent is coming in to review what your actuaries are preparing. Um, under Texas state law, you are required to do this every 5 years. So that was why we were retained. We looked at your three plans, which I'll show you here. Thank you very much. Um, let's see. They're working. Sure. I'm just trying to be patient. Trying to Okay. Thank you. So, we are retained to uh look at your three plans. So, the employees retirement trust that was evaluation as of September 1, 2022. That was the most recent vow that was included in the proposal. Um that was prepared by Buck Global, excuse me. Um the other two police and and firemen's pension plans were both as of January 1, 2024. Um those were prepared by Rudd and Wisdom. Um as part of our There we go. Um as part of our audit, just to give you a sense of what that audit entails, we're really reviewing everything involved in those actuarial evaluations. We're reviewing member data. We're removing rem reviewing assumptions, methods, um how the reports are prepared, whether they're clear and according to standards. But the biggest point is that that first um bullet, the the level one audit requires that we fully replicate the liabilities as well. So, not only are we reviewing the data, but we're programming our systems with your provisions and trying to come up with a determine whether the the liabilities communicated are reasonable. Um, we're happy to report on the next page, we found no major deficiencies with any of the three reports very you can feel very comfortable that what you've been relying on are solid information. Um, did we um review everything? Yes, we did. We found the contributions, the assumptions, everything to be within standards. Nothing really of concern there. Did we not make recommendations? No, we did. We uh as part of any audit, you want to make sure you've recommended something just to justify your existence if nothing else. So, we've made recommendations, but nothing that should really overly concern you all. I'll just walk you through what we found in each of those areas and uh then I can take any questions. In terms of member data, we're looking at it from two perspectives. First, did the actuaries get the data they needed to value the benefits provided? Um which we found to be true. Also, did they use that data then properly, which we found to be there were no data issues. Um, assets, the same kind of thing. Did the assets that were used make use of the asset smoothie methods properly? Were they consistent with audited assets and other statements? They were no concerns from an asset perspective. Really, the the key the the largest chunk of any audit is the liabilities because there's so much involved with that. And when it comes to considering the liabilities, we're looking at three liabilities. One's something called a present value of future benefits. That's really the estimate of all the benefits we expect to be paid for all the members that are currently in the plan. So that's sort of your your entire pie. There's something within that called an actuarial acred liability, which is the portion of that for service people have earned to date. And then there's something called a normal cost, which is sort of bridging the two over time. The normal cost is this year's cost for the the service that people are earning. Okay? And so we have various thresholds that we're trying to reach when we're replicating those liabilities. 2% for that PVB, 5% for the other two liabilities. We're happy to report that we came nowhere close to those thresholds. We are well below those thresholds. I'll I'll show you on the next page, but it's very small. The the key is um everything was I think a one and a half% and below. most of them were below half a percent. So, we came within very tightly with their liabilities. We have no reason to think that there's any significant issues with what they've prepared. And so, you can have confidence when you're making decisions on those reports that the liabilities you're being shown are reasonable. Okay. Could could I come up with a different dollar number? Yes. But it's not going to be materially different from your perspective. When we look at assumptions, we're trying to make sure that the assumptions that are used in developing those liabilities are reasonable and consistent with best practices. Um, we did make a few recommendations in this area. A couple, the first couple there in regards to mortality tables, which I will not bore you with the details, but it is something your actuaries have seen and have commented on, are aware of our comments. Um the la the the third bullet there um in regards to the police and fire plan, we noted that your actuary has been communicating a a preference of theirs to lower their interest rate assumption down to 7 and 12%. We'd actually agree with that and concur with their conclusions. Um not saying that you all have to do that. You certainly can make that decision. We just ask you to consider what they're recommending and if you decide not to to lower that assumption, maybe put something in writing on what your basis is for that and and how that might change over time just so it's documented for for future councils. Um we also re made a recommendation on the employees plan that that payroll growth assumption that's used um for various purposes just be considered in the next experience study. Just another thing they can add to their list of things to review. Okay. So again nothing overly material there. Um when it comes to methods then it's a matter of did they take the actuial methods and apply them properly. Um most notably in in determining the amortization period for the unfunded liability. Was that done properly? Found no issues there. We think the contributions and the liabilities that have been developed are reasonable and you should have no concerns in relying on them. When it comes to reporting then did the reports themselves um follow actuarial standards. So as actuaries we are a self-reporting group. We oversee ourselves. There's no regulatory board overseeing us. So we develop our own standards of practice and then um publish those so that everybody can be con using a consistent basis. Um we found that the the reports are are generally acceptable with within those standards. We did note for the police and fire plans that there is a standard of practice 51 that's dealing with risk that I think a lot of firms are being a little more um direct in in providing a a section within the report listing out those risks. Um I I leave it to Rod and Wilson to consider that and and determine if they need to make any changes. Um as far as that is really the long and short of it. Like I said, we we feel very comfortable with what you're looking at. I think you all should feel comfortable making decisions based on them. Happy to take any questions you might have. Thank you. Represent Canalis. Thank you, Mayor. Uh uh Mr. Bcker, is that correct? Yes, sir. Okay. Um and I I I sit on the uh board of trustees of the of the uh employee pension fund. Okay. And so my question will focus there. Um there's only the one recommendation uh key recommendation that made this presentation at least to review the payroll growth assumption. Um and looking at the report it's it's essentially it it says the payroll growth assumption is at 2.5%. That doesn't seem to be in line with recent experience. Is that the assumption is low? Have we seen it's high actually? It's high. Okay. So I think it was two and a half. I think actual experience we might have shown that report. I apologize. I haven't looked at it in a while, but I think the the actual experience was closer to maybe 1.75 2%. So, a little lower. Is it going to wildly change your numbers if you had had lowered that assumption? Not really, but it was just something for them to consider as part of the next experience. Yeah. I mean, payroll growth, you would see corresponding changes in in both revenues and liabilities, right? And so well the the payroll growth is largely just used in how you're advertising your unfunded liabilities just in that specific part of the the amortization. So it's it's not going to change your liabilities. It's just it could impact though your contribution calculation. Yeah. Yes sir. Um okay. Uh probably not a large impact on the funding status. It's nothing that that we would say you have a anything to be concerned about at this point. So very small concern and uh you know overall no large findings. Absolutely. Okay. Thank you. Very good. We need a motion to approve this one. Second. We have a motion and a second. Is there any further discussion on this item? All right. Hearing none. Miss Prime call for the vote. Thank you. Yes sir. The motion was made by alternate mayor pro seconded by representative Lemon. And this is to accept the report. On that motion, call for the vote. Representative Aso. I. Thank you. And the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. Thank you so much. And it's always good to get a clean audit like that. So, thank you. Uh Mrs. Prime, let's take items number seven, 8, 9, 10, and 11 from the consent. Yes, sir. Items 7 through 12 were moved to the regular agenda and they are board appointments to the tax increment reinvestment zone number five by Mayor Johnson. Move to approve. Mayor, I'd like to Yes, I pressed the button asking to speak, but it didn't work that way. Yes, I did want to speak on items 7 through 12 and I do have questions about it and I'm not sure who could respond to my question. Um, it seems to me and what little I could find that there are 15 me members to the tiers five. Is that correct? 15. Who can help me? Oh no. Um, never mind. Um, uh, Karina Brazala, economic and international development. We uh administer the tax increment reinvestment zones and including the board for TUR 5. Can you tell me as far as the city uh representation who are the present members on the board? Certainly. So the TUR 5 board is a board of nine members all appointed by the mayor. Um there are currently two members on the board. We have one in holdover. We have two vacancies and well now it's up to um five vacancies. Who's on the board? So it would be Suzanne Dip and Gilbert Escaro are the only two members in good standing at this point. And and the rest are vacants. Okay. So they're Oh, they're all vacancies. So we had board expirations uh in the middle of March and their 30-day holdover period expired a few weeks ago. So, currently all of those spots are vacant. Um, yeah. No, go ahead. Who's uh who who's terms expired? Um, we had expirations for the two reappoints that are on today's schedule. So, both um Zuluaga and Carol Zulaga and Arlene Carol and they are both eligible for reappoint. Okay. Um we had three expirations from Elliot Berg, George Slim Jr. and Justin Underwood. They served out their second term. So they're not eligible for reappointment. Okay. I got Elliot and Justin Underwood. Who was the third? George Salim. Oh, okay. Okay. So they're not eligible for reappoints. Is that what it is? Correct. Served consecutive given the fact that there's nine. One, two three. And there were only seven on the board. Correct. Were there two vacancies that were never filled? Correct. So, we had had two vacancies coming into Mayor Johnson's term. Okay. Um, as I looked at this and looked at the the proposed um appointments, something that really struck me was the fact that all of these appointments reside in either district 1 or district 8. Is there a requirement for that? The requirement for the TUR 5 board, there are general interest preferences. Um, but you do need to either reside, own property or represent a property owner within the tax increment zone reside and that's under state law. So under chapter 11, yes. So you need to be a resident of the zone. You need to own property in the zone or represent a property owner within the zone. And the tourist district is rather large. Um we don't have anybody from Seagundo bario. The Seagundo bario is not within the turf. Not within the tur but the downtown area is correct. And we have a lot of housing in the downtown area. It's a smaller footprint. So it's it's closer to what the DMD is. I don't have backup on here, but I could pull it up. That's my concern. Yeah, it my concern is that we continue and you know I think that my conspiracy continues and and I'm just really concerned that given the opportunity to have representation from all the people from people in our community that we continue to see the same people appointed over and over and over again and that's my concern. Um, I had wanted and I have voiced that that I really wanted to vote on these individually. Um, and so with my apologies to Arlene Carol that would if I had been allowed to do that, I certainly had planned to vote in her support because she is a reappoint. But given that my opportunity was denied again, um, I will be voting no on all of these appointments. Thank you. So, um, since these are my appointments and I think it's ironic that every mayor before me has had the opportunity to appoint people to their boards. And now that I show up, I get met with resistance on appointing people to to boards. And I just want to be clear on on a few things. Again, these are mayor appointments. And everyone on that board behind me there for decades has had the opportunity to to appoint people to boards. the people that I'm appointing to these boards are great El Pasoans that want to do good work for El Paso. And I want to clear up a few other things. Um, you know, there there's mis news out there, fake news out there. So, with regards to number eight, Johnny Escalante, he did donate to my campaign $2,500. There's been reports that number 11, Edward Hton, is Ted Hton. That is as false as it can be. and that person has given me zero money. And the number 12, which is Steve Ortega, has given me $2,500. So, these are people that are volunteering of their time and their resources to help to move our community forward, and it's a shame that none of the other mayors have been met with this type of resistance to appoint people to to boards. Representative Chavez. Thank you, Mayor. Um I would just like to speak to the fact that you know Representative Lemon I I don't know what conspiracy you're referring to but I just think that we need to be mindful of our words when we're on the dis people are watching and um you know I just think it's it's not fitting to use that terminology unless there's actual reason for it and I'm very doubtful that there's any reason for mentioning that. Um, I also do want to mention that um, Cinco Hton is also on one of my board appointments and I'm very grateful for the fact that he's stepping in and serving my district and my community in his capacity. Thank you, Represent. Thank you. Well maybe conspiracy causes some unrest, some concern, but this speaks nothing more than a board that will support the deck park. That's exactly what it is. It's a board that will make those decisions. And if you really look at it, that has been perhaps a plan. And so I stand firm in that. I am totally against it. And when I see people like this, contributors, um, and people that live specifically in two districts, I have concerns with it that we don't have the voice of the people, the real people, the downto-earth people, the people that don't have the funding to be able to fund campaigns or make contributions to others the people that are the residents of this community. So that's my response. Thank you. Thank you. And and again, the word conspiracy is a strong word. And I want to thank the the voters of El Paso for electing me into into this office and the overwhelming supporters that I've had that uh helped to to raise the funds to to get me here. And again, I think it's shameful that every other mayor before me has not been met with this resistance. So, I don't know what it is that I'm being met with. I I can't figure it out. So, conspiracy and all the other things that have been alleged that are simply not true. These are great El Pasoans that want to do great work for this community and I stand behind each and every one of them. So, is there any other discussion? All right, Miss Prime, call for the vote. Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Basedto, seconded by alternate mayor promp. And this is to approve items 7 through 12. Uh, Mr. Pole, we we actually have a hand here. I'm sorry, represented. I apologize for that. I didn't see the hand. No, sorry, Mayor. I was having trouble on my end. Um, but I just really wanted to speak to Michelle Esparsa on here. Um, I I think she is really the embodiment of what we I want to do on council and I think other similar people want to do on council is bring El Paso back to El Paso. And she went to Ohio State. She came back and she is a really really outstanding lawyer and really a great story that we should be celebrating. So, I I really wanted to put that out there, Mayor. Thank you. Thank you, Representative. Okay, Miss Brian, please call for the vote. Yes, sir. With that, the voting session is open. Representative Aso. I thank you. And the voting session and that motion passes 7 to1. Representative Lemon voting nay. The remainder of council voting I. The motion carries. Okay. Okay, Miss Brian, let's move to regular agenda item number is it 21? 21. Yes, sir. Item 21 is discussion and action to authorize the expenditure of district 2 discretionary funds in an amount not to exceed $1,200 to provide food for a public event during a Mother's Day celebration at Memorial Senior Center on May 9th, 2025. This is Representative Asto's item. Um, this is for our our senior center, Memorial Senior Center. Uh, we did this last year and really look forward to doing it again. So, I move to approve. Second. So, we have a motion and a second on item 21. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none, Miss Bryan. Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Aso, seconded by Mayor Prom Chavez, and this is to approve item 21. On that motion, call for the vote. Representative Vaso. Hi. Thank you. And the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. Okay. Item 22. Item 22 is discussion. Representative Lima. Okay. I'm sorry, but um yeah, thank you. It's almost 1:00. Is there any chance that we will be able to break? I I think being at a meeting for long time and I think we've got about 12 or 14 more items to go through. It really would be nice if we could have a standard break time um that everybody understood and everybody knew it. Personally, I'm old and I need a break. [Music] I'm sorry. I mean, so um I I mean um if you've already read it, we we could continue and then ask for maybe a 45m minute break or something like that. 1 hour something. We just need a break. I'm sorry. We need a break every time. Let's get through this one then we'll we'll entertain the the motion for a recess. Yes, sir. Item 22 is discussion and action on a resolution authorizing the expenditure of district 6 discretionary funds and an amount not to exceed $6,400 towards the cost of equipment, rental, movie license permits, fees, staff time, and other related items necessary to support movies in the park, a series of movie nights in District 6, and declares that this expenditure serves a municipal purpose of providing recreational, cultural activities to the residents and visitors of the city of El Paso and benefits the community and instills community pride. This is alternate mayor prot's item. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh this is an investment that we make into the district from our community discretionary funds. It's um something that's we used last summer. It was a big success. We I think we did two of them last summer. We added two more this year. One to go all the way to um October so we can partner with Marty Robbins um thanks uh Halloween event. So they'll go inside, do their their event, and then come outside to moving the parks for a great Halloween cartoon. I'd appreciate support and motion to second. Thank you. All right, represent Canalis. I didn't see you on the flight there, but Go ahead. Just a point of information, will Repier be inviting us? I'm sorry, there's a height limit. I'll I'll do my best to meet it. Okay, we have a motion and a second to approve item number 22. Is there any further discussion hearing? None. Miss Bryan. Yes, sir. The motion was made by alternate mayor promos, seconded by representative Lemon to approve item 22. On that motion, call for the vote. Representative Asabo. I. Thank you. And the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. Okay. So, uh, Representative Lemon, you wanted to Mayor Mayor. Mayor. Mayor, I'd like to make a motion that we recess for one hour to return at Well, let's return at 2:00 on the dot. 1 hour and 5 minutes. There's a motion and a second to resess a city council meeting. All in favor? I. Anyone opposed? I I think that was a an I on Representative Aso's part. Um, that motion passes unanimously and the city council is in Mises at 12:55 p.m. and will reconvene at 2 o'clock. Thank My pleasure. Okay, Mr. Prime, we're ready to call this back to order. Council, is there a motion to reconvene? So moved. Second. There's a motion and a second to reconvene the regular city council meeting. All in favor? I. Anyone opposed? And the meeting is back in session at 2:01 p.m. Okay, Miss P. I believe we're on item number 23. Yes, sir. That is uh Rep. Federal's item. May we go to the first reading of ordinances in the meantime? Let's do it. Okay, we'll go to items 26 through 28. This is a first reading of ordinances. Mayor, represent Lemon, the introduction of first reading of ordinances on our agenda. Okay. Items 26 through 28. Is there there's a motion and a second. Any discussion on these items? Hearing none. Miss Fry, please call for the vote. Yes, sir. There's a motion made by Representative Lemon, seconded by Representative Canales, and this is to approve the first reading of ordinances, items 26 to 28. On that motion, call for the [Music] vote. Representative ADO, you're on mute, sir. Hi. Thank you. And the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. Representatives Boyer Trejo and Fiero not present. Would you like to go to item? Let's take um item. Let's go back to item number 20 23. Yes, sir. Item 23 is discussion and action to amend the resolution scheduling standing council meetings and work sessions in accordance with the El Paso municipal charter. This item was placed by representatives Fiero and Maldonado Rocha. Okay. Represent Fedo. Thank you, mayor. Let me take that off. Mayor, u today is a prime example of why I hope council will consider some of these um recommendations. Um it is um these changes and suggestions to and um or for scheduled meetings is just really to add some structure to the meetings. You know, these are simple changes that will allow for structure um at our meetings that will allow for um a a constituent, a taxpayer can come in and and know that from 10:00 a.m. from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. We'll do ceremonial and I'll go through some of the suggestions right now, but but at at 10:00 we could do public comment and they wouldn't the constituent wouldn't have to be sitting here right now at 2:04 waiting to speak on item 25. You know, a couple other things that it'll do. It will um allow us to schedule a a a a set lunch, you know, from 12:30 to 1:30. we were supposed to do the wave from 12:30 to 1:30. Um we were we'd have a scheduled lunch. We it it'll also allow us the opportunity to um move some of the agenda items up. For example, when we're talking about um first readings, we can move them right after public comment. And so we don't have um directors and we don't have people who driving in from other parts of the city to sit here and wait and wait for us to address those items. And you know, we're sitting here with a lot of people we we hold accountable uh for day-to-day work and they're they're sitting here waiting not doing not being able to do their job because waiting for us to get to their agenda item. And just a couple of of points, you know, if if we just look at what we have as of today, we spent um an hour and a half on ceremonial. We spent um agenda item number 30, 34, and 35 took us 4 hours to do. And we have again we have all these department heads and and people who need to do be here to answer our questions sitting here waiting to to be the answers to be addressed. So if I if you'll allow me, mayor, I'd like to make a couple recommendations. Um I think one of the things we need to do is um the agenda summaries we move to once a week and staff who will continue to provide us briefings and the agenda summaries are really we come into Monday already being briefed already um having the opportunity to ask our questions and so what we're really going through is we're we're doing you're reading item 1 through 10 council items and then Miss Prime tells us yes and then we'll move on to number 11 and and it's really just a conversation between us and Miss Prime and so this this we already had the opportunity to be briefed you know um regular meetings I think that u again if we do from 9 to 10:00 a.m. ceremonial at 10:00 a.m. public hearing, public comment. At that point, my recommendation would be that we allow or we ask the citizens um to have up to two minutes to be able to discuss any other agenda item they're here for. So, um if they're here for five agenda items, they'll get two minutes each per agenda item. Uh the other recommendation would be and and our just so represent federal I just want to make sure they can do that in the beginning starting around 10. Okay. At 10 o'clock we when we call call the public we you're also if they if miss um Miss Prime calls my name I go up there and Mr. Prime will say uh Art wants to speak on XYZ public comment but also he signed up for agenda item 1 10 and 11 and that we get the exact two minutes to speak during that item. Mr. prime at that time will say art you your uh your first two minutes are up will you please proceed to item number five you don't have to be that polite but and then um we can um consent uh cons agenda introductions regular meetings u so it really what this is going to do is add a structure not only for us um save the department heads and and and people here that are staff uh from having to sit here and listen to us all Okay. They can go back to their offices and and and do work. Um like like like we're going to call and demand where they are and they're having to stay here late. Um let me see what else we have. Again, 12:30. We we recess from 12:30 to 1:30. [Music] Um I'm trying to think of what else. But again, mayor, these are some of the the items I think that we need to um consider and address just so we can add some structure. We we as council members understand what the schedule looks like. And sir, just to read into the record, you're discussing also item 24, which reads discussion and action amending the rules of order to set the time for ceremonial items, agenda items, and citizen participation. Yes. I'm sorry. I thought we had 23 on resolutions uh scheduling standing work sessions. Standing work sessions. Okay. So, can we take the two together, Miss Bry, at this point? Okay. Can we take them separate? Separate. Okay. You can discuss them together and vote separately on them if you want. Let's do that. Okay. Okay. Uh on the standing work sessions, we implement um oh it's implementing the 10-minute rule. We continue with the 10-minute rule speaking only twice on per item. Um obtaining the floor from through rules of order and then that's this is does not include the regular meetings just the work session. Right. Yes. And I'm sorry I walked in late. So So Representative Fedra, the two minute the the twice speaking twice and 10-minute rule only applies to regular council meetings. I think your proposal is that you also adopt that for work session to the work session. So that would be item 23. And then I believe that the other item on item 23 was to get rid of agenda review. Well, yeah. And I I put put them all together and I'm sorry. I know. And I think it's item 23 would be two things. Not requiring agenda review during work session and then imposing the same limitation to speak to twice 10 minutes each. Yes. And the agenda review was again just to reiterate was we already have been briefed by staff. So on Mondays we're just really going through as quickly as possible and we're not really addressing any issues. The is those questions and those concerns can be asked on Tuesday during our regular agenda. Okay. So I would entertain a motion on 23 first. I I make a motion to approve. Is there and then we'll have some discuss. Yeah, that we're if there's a resolution in the back. Yes. But what what resolution is going to change to say that we're the agenda review will will not be on Mondays. We do it we do our work session but not agenda review. We're um we're only allowed to speak twice 10 minutes during work session. Okay. Let's let's discuss. Yeah, let's do discussion. Representative Rocha. Thank you, mayor. Thank you, Rep Pharaoh. So, we'll stick to the work session piece. Um, you know, as we were discussing this, part of it is that, um, during the work session, we have the department heads come and they give you the presentation and then we do the almost the same thing during council the next day. And Representative Rocher, do you want a second item? Yes, I thought I had she did. Okay. Okay. I didn't hear. Sorry, we didn't hear you. Yeah, but I just Perfect. She Miss Prime heard me, correct, Miss Prime? Yes, ma'am. Okay, thank you. There we go. And so, um, that was part of the reasons to to try to streamline the process of the work session as best as we can. So part of that is to um to implement the the 10-minute limit twice during the work session and then also eliminate the review of the agenda because typically we've all been briefed for the most part I believe on almost everything I believe. No, not everything. Nope. But we're briefed on Tuesdays with the presentation during the backup sometimes. Well, whenever we want. Yeah. Whenever we want it, it's there. Yeah. The the briefing is available to us. And so, we're trying to to streamline the work session meetings to just literally be that work session and and be as quick and and as as quick and as as um I guess for us, what's what's the word I'm looking for? Joe, we talked about it. I'm sorry. Efficient. Efficient. Thank you, Mayor. Efficient. Yes. As we possibly can. So that was the purpose of the work session piece. So okay, thank you. All right, Representative Canales. Thank you, Mayor. Um I I do have some questions. Again, uh I heard a motion to approve the resolution. The resolution does talk about it. You know, I'm looking at the red line. It does eliminate the uh the agenda review meeting. It doesn't make a change to the uh 10-minute speaking rule. And so that would require an amendment. An amendment. um you know that's not in the resolution that got posted. We would we would make that amendment in the rules of order item because the resolution regarding the rules for setting agendas is not about the rules of order. So I I agree that's just the two items are are somewhat intermixed. Yeah. But I think that for purposes of clarity we will come back with a scrubbed version of it. I wouldn't I would recommend that council not get overly caught up on which document it's going to go on. We will bring it back with whatever revisions you all make on the appropriate document. They Yes, they are just posted as two separate items. Yes, that's correct. And so I want to make sure that the action happens on the right item. And this that was discussed as part of it was discussed during the during the motion. And so um you know I think if is this just to clarify just a motion to approve the resolution as it appears on the agenda. Correct. Okay. And so that's only uh the elimination of the agenda review meeting. Okay. Uh that's all the clarification I need. Okay. Thank you, Mayor. Representative uh Chavez. Thank you, mayor. I just [Music] um since we're referring to the red line and I'm just going to speak on item 23 and not 24 because I have something else completely separate for item 24. So just on item 23 um I I did have some questions and I'm thankful that um city attorney Miss Neman was at my office yesterday to discuss this. In terms of the red line there there is a component whether it's important or not. I'm still going to make a point to to point it out. Um on the fourth line where it says whereas on June 16, 2023, the city council adopted a resolution to allow one starting one standing Monday city council work session. That date is not June 16th. It's actually June 20th. Um and and then after that, there was another work session meeting on March 25th, 2024. That's not referenced in this resolution. And I just want to go on record saying that there was a work session on March 25th, 2024 that um changed the work sessions in accordance to the El Paso Municipal Charter and the resolution allowed for two work sessions per month. So the one on June June 20th, 2023 went to one um work session a month and then the one on March 25th, 2024 went back to two work sessions a month. And what we're trying to do today is it is my understanding is to go back to the one session a month. So there's it's just not um stated as as as it occurred. Um, but with that said, um, I just want to say that I do support this item and I do agree that we should promote a streamlined and efficient process for city staff who are currently attending both Monday and Tuesday council meetings when we have the opportunity to return their Monday time and ensure that all of our questions are addressed in a transparent and accountable manner during the regular council meetings held on Tuesdays. And um again, I thank Miss Neman for her clarifications at my office yesterday. And um I just want to make sure that those those dates are in line um according to what was uh previously done. And um we also spoke briefly, Miss Neman, yesterday about you know just trying I know that things occur last minute but if we could just try to um upload backup you know with anticipation so that we all have ample time to review those backup items. Thank you. Okay, Representative Acabetto. Thank you mayor. And so, um, just to get clarification, Miss Neman, the the motion is to get rid of agenda review for item 23, right? That's going to be the first thing we vote on. Yes. Right. The the recommendation is to just strike agenda review from the standing work sessions. And I just would like to clarify the work sessions would still take place like every other council meeting twice a month, not once a month. Okay. So, um the limiting to 10 minutes at work session is for item 24. Just correct. Point of clarification, that's that's not what the resolution reads. Correct. But we're not making it's every other Monday, which is twice a month. Every other Monday is twice a month. So that resolution establishes the number of meetings that take place per the charter which is twice a month. Correct? Yeah. So we are not recommending that you go down to one work session because traditionally executive session happens at a work session. So we would be down to one work session and we would only have one opportunity to come to council to do executive session. Okay. I mean I it's remaining as is. Yeah. Represent you still got the floor so go ahead. No thank you. I mean, I I personally liked it better when we had one work session instead of to a month. I I thought it was um better better time served when we did that, but I know that's not at stake right now, I guess. But I I just want to be very clear that for the first thing that we're going to vote on, it's to get rid of agenda review, which I'm supportive of. I think that that makes a lot of sense. So, I I just wanted to make sure that that was what we were voting on next. Thank you. Okay. Representative Fier. You know what, Mayor? Okay. Representative uh Lemon, I'm a little bit confused. I personally liked it better when we met every week because it gave us an opportunity to not have extensive meetings as we are. But be it what it may Miss Smack, agenda summaries are the same as briefs. Staff briefs in the in older times, staffing briefings, correct, where staff would come in and brief us. Yeah. As you recall, um, in the old days before we were trying to send out these reviews in advance, council would get the agenda on the Thursday that it was posted to the public. So, we're sending out the agenda briefings at least a week in advance of the meeting. Um staff are trying to in advance of even that um posting go ahead and schedule briefings on items that we know we need to be on your calendar for in advance. I think some of you have been really good about if there's a question, you just call the person whose name is listed um on those summaries and you've been requesting, you know, briefings in advance or additional information. And so we would continue to do that and if we need to um be more descriptive in the briefings, we definitely would do that. So we we're making no changes to ensuring that staff is available to you to ensure that you're prepped for any meetings that we have now. Okay. So agenda summaries uh we'd get every week as needed. So, the agenda summary. So, you should be receiving um on a week before the meeting. Um a packet that has a summary a summary of all the items that are on the agenda. It also has a contact information for the staff person who's responsible for that. We try to get that out on Friday or Monday, the week before the meeting. Okay. So, but yeah, it could happen most any time, right? It does. Okay. And I would probably agree with that. My concern is um that maybe some of us would not get the briefings and the consequence of that could be of pulling an item from the agenda and how how it's going to be so important for staff to understand, you know, make sure that we communicate with one another to set up those appointments. Um I'm uh always open to meeting with staff, but that would just be one thing. I don't want to I don't want to surprise here at the last minute. So that takes care of that. And then agenda review. Um are you saying do away with agenda review? Correct. During the work session I I'm not I'm not sure I agree with that, but anyway, doesn't matter what I agree with or don't agree with. Um, I'm concerned because that gives it um it it really gives us the opportunity to see the person, talk to the person, give the presentation. If I've already been briefed on it, that's fine. But it also gives us an opportunity to maybe share something new, something else that's come up, but I guess if it's going to go down as a another vote, that's fine. I can I can deal with it. Thank you. All right. Represent Canales and council, I'll ask you to please refrain from side conversations. Thank you, mayor. Um, yeah, I think I just wanted to clarify. I think this is corrected. Miss Neman, you can correct me if I'm wrong. The reason why that the 2024 uh meeting is not in this resolution is because this is a red line. This resolution is a red line of the resolution that was adopted on that day. Correct. So, it doesn't have the language referencing the meeting that was where this was adopted. Um, and this is just an amendment to the existing resolution. It's not a new resolution. Can can I can I mayor can I please walk through this because I think that the council's reading and then not following. Yes. So the backup is an existing resolution. And if you look at the whereas statements, the very first whereas statement says, "Per our charter approved by the voters in November of 2015, we were required to have regular council meetings in council chambers no less than once every other week." So that's a charter amendment. That's when we went to having meetings every other week as opposed to weekly. Then the second whereas specifically says that the charter also allows for special meetings and informal work sessions that are called by the mayor or majority of the council. Starting in December of 2015, the council then established the regularly scheduled meetings and also resolved to call standing Monday city council work sessions. That was done by this resolution, a previous version, not this actual resolution. And I'm just giving you a legislative history by reading the warehouses. Then in June of 2023, the council adopted the resolution to allow for the standing council meetings, work session, and agenda view meetings per month. So we moved to just one standing work session. The resolution that is now currently being redlined reestablished having work sessions two work sessions per month which is what we're operating now. The only provision that we are recommending be changed and that's what this red line is is to do away with agenda review on Monday work sessions. You will still have two work sessions per month. The only thing that this document changes is you get rid of agenda review. That's the only thing this document is intended to do. That is the only motion that you should consider for item 23. Okay. Yeah, I I understand that. I I was simply act responding to Representative Chavis's question about why the 2024 meeting was not included in the whereas clauses. It's actually that last one that says whereas city council desires to return to two work session and agenda review meetings twice per month. that that was the result of that 2024 meeting. It's actually labeled HQ24, meaning that this is a resolution from 2024, and then it's getting redlined. So, that's that's the only reason why it doesn't appear is because it was the meeting where this was adopted. Um and then I I didn't mention in my first comment I guess lost the true meaning of the debate but uh I you know I felt I have felt for a long time that the agenda review meeting is uh largely useless. We spend a lot of uh time not just the council but the staff who has to sit in the audience and wait for their item to be called. The council typically asks no questions either because we don't have questions or because we've already had extensive opportunity for briefing uh in advance. We now receive, as Miss Max said, we we now receive the agenda uh much further in advance than we used to. We understand what agenda items are coming up and I think there's ample time for us to get briefed before uh you know 24 hours uh before the regular council meeting. So, um, I I agree with this change and thank you to the authors for proposing it. Thank you, Representative Tjo. Thank you, Mayor. I don't know if this is the time to ask since we're looking at reviewing of agendas and all that, would it be possible? So, for example, I'm looking at the calendar here. Today's the 29th. The agenda came out on the 21st and then we have the final draft on Thursday the 24th. Correct. Yes. And so if there's a change on the 24th, we basically have one or two days to try to meet to get the the the uh get briefed on on these items which I feel is very short. Would it be possible to move that to a further uh one week further in advance so that we can have enough time to be briefed on items that are changed? Okay, I'm sorry. I'm I'm clear. Okay, the the draft agenda comes out on Monday. The final agenda comes out on Thursday. This is the week prior to the meeting. we have Monday. Uh so literally if for example this past week it came out on the 21st the the final agenda came out on the 24th this past Thursday. If there's an an item that's added changed on the final agenda then we basically just have one day to be briefed on that. And as you all know our schedules are very very tight and so there's really not a whole lot of time to find the time. So generally between the time that we're publishing with you to the final drafted agenda, we may reorder because of the presentation, but we're not adding additional items um between the time I meet with my team tomorrow. So I will see the draft agenda tomorrow and then if I have comments for them in terms of what's posted, they get all that to us. We get that to you and we can probably get that out on the Friday before. But you should not you may see reordering, but you should not see any new items between the time that you get that briefing to the time that you see a council member item. There there are no items added from the from the Monday to the Thursday city council items. So I wouldn't be able to brief you on those. Okay. It's it just it feels really tight for me. Can is it a possibility that we move it up a further further up a week? So instead of last week, we go a week further. it would not be accurate for us because we're we're pulling you know purchasing items that we know are in the queue um you know in those trying to get those things on the agenda quicker what we can do and what we're working on right now and is if we know that items um you need to be briefed on are coming up we're already getting on your calendar for those and so you'll have my team I know things are coming up you know late May we're already you know getting on your calendars to be able to brief you team knows when those hefty items are going to be coming um the other thing we can do is um probably get this out to you. We can try for Friday. So, you'll have that entire if you can look at that on Friday. If there's items that you want to be briefed on, you have that entire next week plus a day. Okay. That would be helpful. Okay. We'll do our best to do Friday, ma'am. Okay. Representative Fier. Thank you, Mayor. And again, I apologize about the combining both items, but my question regards to the agenda is even before we know or our office knows that there's going to be an agenda item, we're getting calls from staff to get on our calendar to be briefed. And that's the first comment out of their mouth is there's an item coming up on XYZ day. We need to get on your calendar to brief you. Um, number one. Then my second question was going to be in regards to purchasing by changing those dates that would affect purchasing work also. Yes. So for purchasing items, you know, you you typically see those um they're still under the cone of silence and so we offer you a briefing when those items become public and so we wouldn't be able to change, you know, that quick briefing for you. That would still have to be, you know, on that Thursday or Friday. But there isn't a huge amount in that area. I think the key items teams are able to get into your calendar for an advance so you can feel comfortable with that before we come forward. Okay. All right. Is there any more discussion on item number 23? Okay. Hearing none and seeing none on with represent Mrs. Prime would you call for the vote? Yes sir. And so the motion was made by alternate mayor Proen Fiero, seconded by Representative Maldonado Rocha, and this is to amend the resolution to strike out the words that say reviewing the agenda prior to the Tuesday regular city council meeting. So that would be to eliminate agenda review meetings on that works on that motion. Call for the vote. Representative Ato I. Thank you. And the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. We're now now on item number 24. And this is discussion and action amending the rules of order to set this time for ceremonial items, agenda items, and citizen participation. Okay. Representative U. Chavez. Thank you, Mayor. And um I'd like to thank uh Representative Fedra and Representative Rocha for adding the backup uh the correct backup of to this agenda item yesterday. I know I had a question regarding of which rules of order we were amending and we had adopted some new ones on January 7th, 2024. So, it is my understanding that we are amending those. But when I went back to compare the the rules of orders, my team and I, you know, uh we went back, we read them. The rules of order from December 12th, 2023 through resolution number 23-1616 with the rules of order for the El Paso City Council adopted by this body on January 7th, 2025 through resolution number 25-39. We identified a discrepancy in section 12 obtaining the floor language that allowed for our common practice of limiting debate to 10 minutes at a time without the permission of a a majority of council which was included in the rules of order effective December 12th, 2023 and was omitted from the rules of order we are currently operating under. The current version instead allows for unlimited time for each representative to have the floor. To ensure that our body is operating under proper rules and not solely based on practice and in keeping with the spirit of streamlined efficiency, I am proposing an amendment to our rules of order specifically to section 12 obtaining the floor to revert to the language from 2023 in order to reimplement the 10-minute time limit at a time. I move to amend our city council rules of order section 12 obtaining the floor from quote every person desiring to speak excuse me shall address the presiding officer and when recognized by the presiding officer shall address only the question under consideration. There will not be a time limit to the time allowed for each representative to have the floor and the presiding officer has discretion to end discussion on an item or to give the floor to another representative. And end quote. So change that to quote. Every person desiring to speak shall address the presiding officer and when recognized by the presiding officer shall address only the item under consideration. Members of council shall refrain from side conversations during discussion of items under consideration for regular city council meetings and during work sessions. In the debate, each member of council has the right to speak twice on the same item on the same day, but cannot make a second speech on the same item as long as any member who has not spoken on that question desires the floor. No one can speak longer than 10 minutes at a time without permission of a majority of council. The city clerk will keep time and will notify the mayor if a representative reaches the allotted time. The rules of debate shall also apply in executive session. End quote. Um I I have added work sessions to this 10-minute allocation of time. Um unless someone would like to modify this any further, but uh that is basically just following the language that was in our rules of order from December 12th, 2023. Second. Okay. So we have a motion and a second. Uh discussion represent Canelis. No, I have discussion on the main motion. Okay. So we need to take the main one first. The amendment. Okay. You have mo you have questions on the main one. Okay. Uh representative um yours on the main too. Okay. Represent Ferrell, yours on the main represent Lemon. So, this is a lot of information, but um it's hard to follow. Do we have it in writing? Can we have some kind of a bullet 1 2 3 4 or something? It summary. It's posted as part of the backup to this item. But it's not what the proposal is, and I'll give it to you very simply, is you are the the proposed amendment that Representative Chavez just read into the record would reinstitute the council speaking twice for 10 minutes each at agenda review, work session, and an executive session. She just read like the literal verbiage that that's what it is. All right. So then it's um it's to incorporate speaking twice on an item for 10 minutes for 10 minutes each. Okay. Thank you. Representative Asavetto, you want to talk on the amendment or the main. I I guess kind of both. Okay. You go ahead. Um, I I think overall what I'm okay with the the two 10-minute things, but I I do have a little bit of pause on the work session, having the two 10-minute rule. Um, we ran into a few issues last year with with this when we had work sessions because we ended up having actual work sessions with um a lot of of comments. And so I thought it was okay to have the unlimited for the Monday sessions and then for a Tuesday it made more sense um to have the two 10-minute speaking roles just cuz there's so many items and usually our work session does not have too many items at at play. So, I just kind of wanted to say that and then um I guess if I if if I talk about this, can I can I talk another two times or is this is it two times per amendment or regular item? So, I'm just trying to understand what to say right now. Yeah. So, it would be two times per item for up to 10 minutes per the amendment and the regular. So, I'm talking about this item right now specifically. Can I can I do another? Yeah, you can come back again and I can suspend but only one more time, right? Yes. Okay. Well, let me let me say a little bit more. Um Okay. The 9 to 10 ceremonial thing makes sense to me as well. Um it's kind of happening that way. And a little history on that. What we did last year, we we we were taking almost two hours to do the proclamations. And so there were some members of the public that were complaining about that and we used to go and take pictures outside and now we take the pictures at the dis. So it's made it a lot more streamlined and we also have limited the the time limit for the whole group to speak to 6 minutes. So I feel like that has worked out well. Uh the the recess for lunch I I think can work. Um maybe it's not a necessarily a set time from 12:30 to 1:30 cuz there might be a public um call to the public, I'm sorry, call to the public that might last more than the 30 minutes. Usually they don't, but sometimes we do get um quite a bit of people. So I think that would just be something that the mayor would have discretion on to say, "Okay, well we're going to go from 12:45 to 1:45 or something." But what I do have a lot of heartburn about is doing the public comment just all at once. Uh I think that when the state passed the law in 2019 repres you you want to talk about that portion on the main motion. Okay. Yeah. We're on the amendment part of it. That that's why I was asking that's why I was asking. Yeah. I'll bring you back on there two times just in case. Okay. Bring me back then. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Any more discussion on the Yeah, Mayor, I do now have comment on the amendment. Okay. Yeah, I have a question. Okay. All right. Let's do it. Representative Canales. Thank you, Mayor. Um, this is as proposed the departure from Robert's rules which allows two two periods of 10 minutes to speak on each motion. So, for example, I I envision a situation where you have an amendment and then you have an amendment to the amendment. If if you speak on each of those, then you can't speak on the main motion anymore. If it's only two times per item, there could be eight different motions that come up during that during the hearing of that item. And once you speak on two of them, then you can't speak anymore. I don't think makes sense. Robert's rules specifically discusses the limit per motion. So, there is a speaking a time limit and a and a number of times that you're allowed to speak, but it's it applies per motion instead of per item. I I think it would be prudent for us to stick to that. in Robert's rules of order. Um I personally I again it would be a modification from Robert's rules. I would be happy if we landed uh potentially at you know maybe you can speak one time for 10 minutes on any any motion other than the main motion. Um just to limit our meeting time uh you know I I but I don't think that we should limit to two times per item in general because some items can have a lot of motions. Okay, that's just my opinion here. Um, I'm happy to hear others opinions and I I'll I'll make an amendment to the amendment if it uh if it comes to that. Thank you. All right. Representative Tjo. Thank you, Mayor. Uh, Representative Chavez, could you read the amendment one more time, please? Yes. And and I did not write this amendment. I I did def I just took it from the December 12, 2023 rules of order. So, this is what was previously written and adopted by council uh in 2023. And so, it states, "Every person desiring to speak shall address the presiding officer and when recognized by the presiding officer shall address only the item under consideration. Members of council shall refrain from side conversations during discussion of items under consideration. For regular city council meetings in the debate, each member of council has the right to speak twice on the same item on the same day, but cannot make a second speech on the same item as long as any member who has not spoken on that question desires the floor. No one can speak longer than 10 minutes at a time without permission of a majority of council. The city clerk will keep time and will notify the mayor if a representative reaches the allotted time. The rules of debate shall also apply in executive session. Now, previously it had stated during work sessions or special meetings, there will not be a limit to the time allowed for each representative to have the floor and the presiding officer has discretion to end discussion on an item or to give the floor to another representative. If we so choose, the amendment would be for regular city council meetings and work sessions to apply the two 10-minute rule. um that would be different than what was adopted on December 12th, 2023, but the language is from from the rules of order from then. Okay. Okay. Represent trail. Uh thank you. So it says as long as as long as not something regarding another council member has not spoken and so you have you can speak two two times on the same item as long as everyone has had the opportunity to speak basically. Okay. Thank you. Just want to clarify. All right. This thing is lit up like a Christmas tree here. So, anyone else want to speak on the amendment? I have a question. Okay. Represent Nino. So, just Thank you, Mayor. Just for clarification, kind of what uh Representative Ganales was saying. Representative uh Mayor Promp, you said no one could speak twice in the same item, correct? So, therefore, if there is a motion and we are still on the same item, we and we already spoke twice, we wouldn't be able to speak again. Is that what I'm understanding? It says twice on the same item on the same day. Um, yeah, I guess if it's an item, but if there's an amendment to the item, I don't know if if you could what Representative Canalis was just talking about, if you could speak on the amendment to that item, if that if the amendment is an item in and of itself to the item. I know that's a lot of items in one sentence, but I think council um maybe Miss Neman could help us on this. Excuse me. You can say no, they can't. Uh each member of council has a right to speak twice on a debatable motion. On a debatable motion. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Representative F. Oh, I'm sorry. When you done, represent Nino. Yeah, we I think we'll figure it out. represent Pierro. No, Mayor, I was just going to this isn't count as one of mine. This is assistance to my my my deskmate here, but um I was going to just bring up the fact that what the wording was on the bill from 2019, so it didn't matter. Okay, somebody fixed it. Represental. Mayor, I'd like to offer a secondary amendment. Okay. Uh so I move uh to replace that the the portion of the language beginning four regular city council meetings. Uh Miss Prian, I'll send this to you as well. Uh to read four regular city council meetings in the debate. Each member of council has the right to speak twice on the same main motion but cannot make a second speech on the same main motion as long as any member who has not spoken on that question desires the floor. And then adds a sentence. Each member of council has the right to speak once on any other motion that can be debated. Uh, no member can speak longer than 10 minutes at a time without permission of a majority of council. The city clerk will keep time and notify the mayor if a representative reaches the allotted time. The rules of the the rules of debate shall also apply in executive session. Okay, that's your motion. That's the motion. And again, to put that in plain terms, you can speak twice on the main motion. Any other motion that's debatable? Uh, you can speak once, you get another 10 minutes. Okay. Second. Okay. So, we have a motion and a second. Is there discussion on this amended? Amended. Representative Chavez. Thank you, Mayor. Representative Canales. Did the first sentence read for regular city council meetings and work sessions or we just going to do regular city council meetings? That's a good catch. What I read was for regular city council meetings. I was also just modifying the 2023 language. Um I believe I'm making this secondary amendment and then your we'll we'll vote on your primary amendment next. Uh, I think that cascades like we'll we'll then vote on Okay. your amendment which has the new language. Okay. Am I correct, Miss Brian? Is that how that will work? Yeah. So, I I my oversight. I should have just included it, but I think we'll capture it with your amendment anyway. Okay. Okay. Is there any discussion on the uh motion and second by Representative Canal, seconded by Representative Acaveto? Any more discussion on the amended amendment? And this is on the secondary amendment. Correct. And Miss Bryan, can you read the the Okay. The secondary amendment was made by Representative Canales, seconded by Representative Asdo, and it's it says for regular city council meetings. In the debate, each member of council has the right to speak twice on the same main motion, but cannot make a second speech on the same main motion as long as any member who has not spoken on that question desires the floor. Each member of council has a right to speak once on any other motion that can be debated. No member can speak longer than 10 minutes at a time without permission of a majority of council. The city clerk will keep time and will notify the mayor if a representative reaches the allotted time. The rules of debate should also apply in executive session. So the only question I have where it says no member can speak more than 10 minutes without the majority of counsel. Is that what that said? No member can speak longer than 10 minutes at a time without permission of a majority of counsel. That's what's currently in rules. Okay. And no, what's currently is was in the 2023 version. It says cannot speak a make a second speech on the same item as long as any member who has not spoken on that question desires the floor. That's retained in this as well. It's that's two sentences earlier. So that's retained in this as well. That's just two two sentences earlier. But it says but but your amendment says that no member can speak longer than 10 minutes at a time without the permission of a majority. Correct. That's sorry. that comes from the 2023 revision of the rules order. So if they want to speak longer than 10 minutes, the majority of council would need to make approve that. Okay. To suspend the rules in order to allow to allow them to speak more than 10 minutes at a time. Okay. All right. Any more discussion on this item? All right. Hearing none, call for the vote on this one. Okay. And this is on the secondary amendment on call for the vote. Representative Ato I. And the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. Okay, let's take the next one. The next one is a primary amendment made by Mayor Pro Tim Chavez, seconded by Representative ADO. Is there discussion on this one? Okay. Representative Brocha. I actually have it on the main. Okay. So, you're Okay, I'm going Okay Representative uh Canales. Thank you. you. And just to just to uh again, it was my oversight to not include that language in what I sent to Miss Prime. I think in order to rec do a little bit of reconciling of the of the amendment that's on the on the table now, and it's essentially just to apply the secondary amendment that we just passed to the work session as well. Is that correct, Mayor Proen? Yes, Representative Canned. And and just to be clear also to include that first paragraph that was also in the language from the rules of order which starts with every person desiring to speak shall address. So that first paragraph and then apply what you just mentioned to work sessions or special meetings as well. Yes. And I didn't include any of that in my second amendment because I left it exactly the same as it was. Okay. So as as proposed in your amendment uh during work sessions or does your but yours his has the executive session in it, right? Yes, it does. read. So, the other one is for work sessions or special meetings. And in the language from uh December 12th, 2023, it says agenda review meetings, but since we just um removed agenda reviews, we're going to remove that language from this as well. Correct. Okay. Mayor, I I have a question. Yeah. Go ahead. Represent. Um wait, so this this amendment also has special meetings. So, when we have budget workshops, we're only going to be able to talk twice cuz that's not how we've done it. And there's a lot to talk about during the budget. Yeah. Can you speak? Yeah. I think I think my original amendment just mentioned work sessions and did not mention special meetings. Okay. It's because you just said special meeting so kind of threw me off. Oh, yeah. I apologize, Representative. Yeah. I was referring to the language originally under the December 12 23, but uh in my original amendment that I gave Miss Prime, it only said work sessions. Thank you. Represent, you you good or you have more? Yeah. Yeah. Sorry, that was it. Sorry for jumping in. Okay. All right. Any more discussion on this item? All right. Hearing none, seeing none, Miss Prime, please call for this vote. Yes, sir. And so this was a primary amendment made by Mayor Prom Chavez, seconded by Representative ADO. And this is to include in section 12, the first the first paragraph, and it'll say members of council shall refrain from side conversations during discussion of items under consideration. The second paragraph will also incorporate for regular city council meeting and during work sessions. and then it'll incorporate the secondary amendment made by representative Ganales. And then on the third paragraph, uh it'll just say during special meetings, there will not be a time limit, correct? Allowed by representatives to have the floor and the presiding officer has a discretion to end discussion on an item or to give the floor to another representative. Okay. On that amendment, call for the vote. Representative Asabto, I I didn't second this one, but um I'll I'll say yes. Oh, I'm sorry. It was It was Representative Fiero, I think. Yeah, it was rep it was Mayor Prom Chavez and Representative Fiero. I'm sorry I misstated that on this primary amendment. Representative Aso, I thank you. And the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. All right. Now we're back at the main. Yes, sir. Okay. Now there's discussion. Representative Fiero. An hour and I know where I'm at. Thank you, Mayor. Again, thank you all for very much for your patience on this item. This the changes proposed today simply allow for structure. you know, the opportunity for constituents to have their voices heard, share their concerns, share their support, but also share in knowing what time they're going to be able to address council and count the agenda items. This is this items will also address um all the staff that's here and still here after more than two hours when we started this meeting. And this allows them to plan their day. This will allow us to plan our day. This will give um a set time schedule and we can have a break uh from 12:30 to 1:30. This will also allow us to to look at items like um 9:00 roll call ceremonial items, 10:00 public comment and allow the the public to speak on agenda items at that time. Um at at that time they'll be able to the um recommendation is to speak um two minutes for public comment and two minutes per item. Um at uh at at that point we'll also move have the opportunity to move up the consent agenda to move up introductions, move up um just move items up to that where those people don't have to sit here all day and then bring the other items that are more important to the council items and then um be able to just have more structure in in a way for not only us to plan but also for the citizens and staff the plan. Thank you, Mayor. Representative Rocha. Thank you, Mayor. I appreciate it. And thank you, uh, Representative Fiero, for including me in this. I I uh coming from from a lot of structure. I I can say that the meetings, they've been very they've they've moved along. However, there are some that have a lot of opportunity. And I think that these rules allow for for the public to have a certain time that they will come in, say their their piece as to what whatever item they need to to um address, and then it also saves the time from staff to be required to be here and wait until it's your time to be called. So, I think there's a it's a two-sided win on this side. Well, actually three. If you include that we're going to be more efficient when it comes to setting some rules and boundaries as to start times and end times, it really allows the the flow of the of the meeting to go as as best as we can possibly plan. And we're not the only city that has implemented these changes uh when it comes to city council meetings. And so I know um in the backup you'll be able to see some of the other cities that are in there and what's implemented in those city council meetings as well. But it's very important to understand that we're we're trying to account for the staff. We're trying to account for the public who takes the time to come down here on their own time to be able to do that and not have to wait here. uh just speaking to I think it was two weeks ago we were here until after 5 and I know that there were several individuals that missed flights and there were several individuals that missed work because they were trying to stay here u waiting for their turn to speak. So, I think this is a good opportunity for us to get on the right side of trying to be able to create a set time frame for the public and give them their opportunity to speak without really taking all of their day. Thank you. Thank you, Representative Asavto. Thank you, Mayor. Uh so I as somebody that loves processes and procedures and structure I I think there's some good here. The the I was mentioning earlier you know the 9 to 10 ceremonial and um kind of set the anecdotal stuff of how we made that better last year cuz that was taking about 2 hours and then the the recess for lunch um makes sense. But I I do worry about just lumping public comment together starting at 10:00 in the morning. I really appreciate public comment and a lot of that um feedback that I get. I I like that it's paired with each individual item as we're taking it. Like for example, on this item, I believe we have one person signed up, at least from what I've seen, to talk about this item. And now what would happen is we would just kind of lump it all together and it could last an hour or two. Um, and then we are just kind of saying, "Oh, okay. Well, remember when they came to public comment and now it's 2:00 and it's 4 hours later." I I think it really lessens the impact that public comment can have on decisions whether we vote yes or no on something, right? So that that worries me and I feel that we can do a better job. Uh, I know that a few weeks ago, um, somebody had to leave and wasn't able to speak because of almost missing her flight, but at the same time, I think we we have better communication to say, you know what, let's move this item and this item because people are here. I I think it could still work in that way. And I feel that the public is entitled to come and speak on every single item. And now that we're just going to lump them together, I I think the impact is going to be lessened. So, I I don't support that part of it and I'm not sure what the motion is if it's all inclusive, but um I guess Miss Prank you could let me know about that. Would it just be all for one? It was included as one as one. Okay. Yes, sir. And and to Representative Malonado Rocha's point, this is the best practice across other Texas cities that they take they hear from the public at the beginning of the meeting. Yeah, I mean I I I'm not sure. I've heard a lot about best practices that that um the city of El Paso looks at and I'm I'm not sure that that's always the the best thing to do um cuz I don't think it works well for our community and I feel like it's going to limit some people, but I'll leave that out there. Okay. Representative Fier. Yes. Thank you, mayor. And all due respect to representative um you know we also have to take in account mayor that some people have been here for more than 6 hours and you know how many of them have to left because they wanted to speak and aren't going to be able to speak on items that follow this. So, by moving it to the front, I think we do a courtesy um to our constituents by allowing them to be able to plan their day and be here at 10:00, make their comment. I I think that it it's important for us to listen um just like Dr. was saying, but also it it we need to work with not only not only with staff and in our own schedules, but also with the constituents and so they can come at 10:00, give their their thoughts, give their their concerns, um their support, and then go on to to their their work day also. Thank you, Mayor. All right. Uh represent Lemon [Music] in in looking at the at the two meetings which really are two city council meetings. The one on Monday and the one on Tuesday. Is that correct? Monday's meeting is a council meeting even though it's titled city council work session. Is that correct? I mean we follow the rules. We follow. What is your question again, ma'am? The council meeting on Monday and the council meeting on Tuesday are literally literally two city council meetings. Right. Under the charter, our regular council meetings are on Tuesday. Council established work sessions as a different type of meeting. So you could establish per the charter the council can call work sessions at your discretion. So you all established work sessions on Mondays right before the regular council meeting which is every Tuesday. So there's a distinction but I understand what you're saying it's a council meeting right? Yes ma'am. So so technically we could look at it that it is in essence even though it's called something different we really end up having two se uh city council meetings. We follow pretty much the same the same guidelines. You know, we have we were a body. It's run by the mayor. Um we have an agenda, but technically we tend to have presentations um on Monday more than anything else. We do the presentations and then we adjourn and we go into executive session and that's when we may take some of our other issues. So with that in mind, I want to share with you that I think that that we can count two times when a resident a taxpayer person comes into city council meetings and actually leaves out that door and they're happy. And those two times are when someone comes to do the pledge of allegiance because they're happy, the family's happy, they're very proud. And the second time is when someone receives a PL proclamation. You can count on it, mayor. They're going to leave happy. Um the women from the Hall of Fame, we hosted a little reception for them upstairs. They were there till 11:15 this morning. They were just as happy as could be. And so if we are going to have, and I'm not sure how this would work, if this is an amendment, but if we're going to be having a city council meeting on Tuesday and a city council work session on Monday, could we have a formalized pledge of allegiance? And could we have, say, five proclamations on that day and five the following day? because right now we're limited to five and it's really hard and and I I sure would like to see a lot of people happy in our community than not happy with us and so I don't know the process for doing that. Um Miss Prime if that should calls for another amendment to the amendment or what would be the process or if you would accept that as a friendly amendment to your motion. So I believe that that representative Leon is making a an amendment to this amendment. She's making another amendment to the main motion. To the main motion. To the main motion. Okay. So that's her motion. Yes. Okay. To include this this the proclamation the pledge of allegiance of proclamation to our council meeting on Monday and council meeting on Tuesday. Okay, that is the motion. Is there a second? Second. There's a second by Representative Nino. Discussion. Representative Canales. Thank you, Mayor. Um, I I know I have it in front of me, so I apologize for asking. Miss Pride, you're the parliamentarian. You may know. Do we have I'll scroll quickly as well. Do we do we currently define the process for uh the number of proclamations in the rules of order? No, sir. That is up to the mayor. The mayor is ahead of all ceremonial items. So, this amendment would be adding that process into the council's rules of order. Correct. Okay. And that that's up to the mayor. He's the head of ceremonial items and and maybe we don't need an amendment. Mayor, if that's under your Yeah. Yeah. I think what happens though is um if we were to add another day to the proclamations, I think we would be limiting limiting the amount of participants that are here to celebrate with the individuals or the groups that are receiving a proclamation because on a Monday, we are going through agenda review and just the work session. And then on the city council meeting day, everyone's here for public comment. And so the the room is a lot more full. So we would be making that type of decision. And I think the way we're proposing it now is that we can get started with our ceremonial items without calling our meeting to order on the city council day. But we don't have agenda review anymore. Not yet. or we or we won't have agenda review possibly and we have to we have to um I mean a pledge of allegiance rather than randomly calling on someone it it would be that's what I was saying that it would be nicer to have someone come and do it and then perhaps you know maybe four and four proclamations I don't know there's eight of us here mayor you're 10 you're nine I don't know um that that would give that would spread it out And mayor, there may be time where someone doesn't want to have a proclamation or someone and then just say you're limited to one proclamation per week. Yeah. Whenever we do something like that. And again, I I I I think in order to have efficient meetings and and to move along, I mean, we're we're today I know that some of the representatives have uh some meetings this afternoon. We may or may not get there, but when we start adding more and more to to um the agendas, I think this is going only going to start dragging out longer and longer. Um I think my office is pretty much at capacity with what what we're taking on now. So I would I would say that we are are good at where we're at, but we can always come back and add more during the regular city council days if we see one that we need to to add to it. But um I think the proclamations are are good where we're at. But we'll we've got this amendment. So more discussion I'm I'm wide open. Okay. Represent Nino. No, mayor. And I would say your office has been great at you know being able to accommodate all of us to be able to do proclamations even offsite and you've also invited us to to read on that. So I'm grateful for this conversation and also grateful for your office. Thank you so much. Thank you representative U Tjo. Thank you mayor. uh with with the uh what what Lily is saying and I understand mayor what you're saying regarding the proclamations but I think uh if we can still have the the pledge of allegiance or you know invite the the the the community to come and do the pledge of allegiance the proclamations can be uh something that you can do when you're able to right not I'm not saying do proclamations on Monday because I'm understanding what you're saying but still be able to do the the pledge of allegiance I think at at at the very least. Thank you. I'm good with that. Representative Leman, I just wanted to remind us that yesterday we left at an all-time early time and perhaps it would have been a good day to have proclamations there as well. I think that right now the next time for a proclamation is not until maybe late June, possibly July. I submitted a request for a proclamation for someone who won a Grammy award. It's not coming until May. I mean long long time after the award was received. Understood. And we've get so how this works in the mayor's office, we get a ton of proclamation requests and we could be here uh for the entire week uh citing proclamations. But I I think this is good discussion. I am okay with another pledge of allegiance. I think that that's fair. But remember the staff in my office has to do the proclamations. So, um, is there any more discussion on uh, Representative Ato? Thank you, mayor. I I think, um, I I could see some some good with the pledge of allegiance and I think that could be up to your discretion. I'm not sure we need to vote on it, but I I did want to offer another amendment. And I'm sorry. Um I I do want to have um one um the the structure of the 9 to 10 ceremonial. So I I move to make our our regular council meetings to have ceremonial from 9 to 10 in the morning recess for lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 and leave public comment as as is. Okay. So Representative Asetto has made another motion. Is there a second on his motion? Mayor, a point of order. I again, no respect, no disrespect to Rep. AO. I don't think that's a motion that's in order at the moment. It's not. It can only be an amendment to the amendment. A secondary. Sorry about that. We have to take the second the the the amendment. Oh, cuz cuz Miss Leone had an amendment. I'm sorry. Yeah, we got to take that one first. She But she didn't get a second, right? She did. She did. Oh, okay. Okay. So, maybe can I come back and say that one right now, mayor, after we vote on this one? Sure. Okay. Representative Trey. Thank you, Mayor. So, we have a first and a second to your amendment to have uh ceremonial and proclamation. No, it's it's a proclamation. So, we what what are we voting on for this amendment? I could do a motion to withdraw to withdraw. Motion to withdraw. Can I withdraw my motion? You can withdraw your second, sir. Withdraw. Would could we do the amendment where it's uh ceremonial services for to include ceremonial services for Monday's sessions? No, but that's up to you. That was the motion that I made. So, I would just the ceremonial the pledge of allegiance. You said you were fine. I'm okay with that. Yeah, we can add that. Okay. Does that need a motion? We could do We do pledge allegiance. The council already does pledge of allegiance on on during the work session. Mayor Johnson can just give us the name of the person that would lead us in the pledge and we can post it on the agenda. Okay. Okay. So, let me make sure I understand where we're at. So, the motion was made by Representative Lemon to add the additional proclamations on the Monday before the the Monday work session. However, she does not have a second and right now, Representative Nino withdrew his second. That's correct. Okay. I just to it's point of order. Mayor, I'm so sorry. We all own the motion now. You can't withdraw a second once there's been debate. Well, let let me go to the parliamentarian. Wait, we're going to it's I mean, we got the El Paso city Robert rules of order now. It's it's out of control. So, get us back on track, Miss Bryant. Well, like Representative Canal, if you've already restated the motion, once you restate it, they can't it can't be withdrawn. Okay. Well, there can be a motion to once he presents Once he presents it, then it can't be withdrawn. Once who presents it, I'm sorry. Once the the presiding officer presents it to the council, restates it to the council. Okay, let's vote on it then. Is that what we're doing? Yes. Okay, let's do that. So, this motion is from Representative Lemon, seconded by Representative Nino, and this is to amend the rules of order to add the ceremonial items to Monday's work session, and those would be proclamations and recognitions. Call for the vote. On that motion, call for the vote. Representative Ato, no. Thank you. And the voting session and that motion fails 2 to six. Representatives Lemon Canales voting I. The remainder of council voting nay. The motion fails. So we're back on the main motion. Okay, we're on the main motion now. We're I think we've had the discussion on this one. Repos wants to make an amendment. All right. Go ahead. Representative Ato. Thank you, mayor. Sorry. So, I I move to um make the ceremonial on regular council meetings from 9:00 to 10:00 in the morning. Uh recess for lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 and leave public comment as is. That's your motion. Yes. Okay. Not here in a second, Miss Prime. This motion fails. That's correct. There it dies for lack of a second. Okay. Now, we have the main motion. We have some discussion still. I mean, we we now you know why the 10-minute rule is in there. So, let's uh let's do some some more talking. Representative Chavez, thank you, Mayor. And because there's been so much discussion on public comment, is there um a way for us to make it very clear for the public exactly what changes we are making to public comment? And the only reason why I want to be very clear about this is is because there's been some um issues with public comment in other cities that have led to lawsuits and we don't want that to happen in the city of El Paso, of course. And so I just want to be very clear on what we're changing so that everybody knows what we're going to be voting on. So who can make that clear for me? We'll have um u Mrs. Prime read that before we vote on it. Um you want to hear that? Oh, I want Yeah, I want to know what the changes are going to be to public comment specifically. The change to public comment would be the time and the and the limit. Okay. Can you hear that for me, please? Thank you. The the public comment will be taken at 10:00 and this would be for agenda items and non-aggenda items. Okay. So, agenda items and call to the public would begin at 10:00. Okay. Each member wishing to speak will have two minutes per item or topic. Okay. So, if they want to talk on five different agenda items, they're going to get 10 minutes. They're going to That's correct. Two minutes per agenda item and another two minutes for non-aggenda items. And another two minutes on call to the public per non-aggenda item. Okay. And call to the public right now currently is 3 minutes. It's currently 3 minutes. So, we're reducing the time for call to the public by 1 minute. Is that correct? That's correct. That's the motion. That's the motion, right? I know. Just to be clear on what we're voting on and so everybody knows what we're doing. So, call to the public is being reduced from three minutes to two minutes. That's correct. Everyone gets to speak at the beginning of our meeting at 10:00 a.m. Yes. And they're going to speak um 2 minutes per item that they've signed up for with the exclusion. Let me just make a a clarification here. This would not include public hearings. Now, the items that are posted as public hearings, those public hearings need to take place when those when that item is considered. Okay? Okay. So, it doesn't include the items, the ordinances that are public hearings. Okay. And um let's just say we have an item that comes up and the city does a a presentation on it and there are people in the audience that have a little bit uh more knowledge on this item. Could we make an exception to call them up to speak on that item? Mayor, what was your question again? If we have an item on the agenda that the city does a presentation on and there there's an organization within uh you know that's here present that could speak on that item um and we need clarification on something for that item before we take a vote. Could we call them up to the microphone? So you would be wanting the public to see the presentation? No, no, no. So staff gives presentations regularly on items, right? Many times organizations that are affiliated with that specific item are are it at city hall present during those meetings and many times they get up and answer questions for us regarding that presentation or whatever we're going to take a vote on in case we would like for them to comment on that presentation that city staff just did. I mean we we've had this even just last council meeting. Um could they come up to the microphone and speak on that item if you make an exception? Sure. Okay. That's what I wanted to do just just for clarity. And I think I think at that time if you wanted to share your your 10 minutes with that person that you're inviting to speak, you could do that. Okay. Thank you, Miss Prine, for the clarity. Thank you. That's all. Representative Canales. Thank you, Mayor. Sorry in advance. I'd like to offer an amendment here as well. um to keeping all all other things equal to uh amend the uh main motion to reflect a 3minut speaking time instead of two minutes to maintain the current amount of time that each uh member of the public has to speak. Uh again, I agree with with everything else. I think this we're we're uh allowing sorry by moving the the comments to the beginning of the meeting. We're making it predictable. uh people don't have to wait for hours and hours. Uh I think at the moment we exclude a lot of working people from being able to comment on items and and this will make it predictable for them. Uh but I don't think that we should be reducing the amount of time that people have to speak. So u restated one more time the amendment is to keep all things equal uh in the main motion but to amend the speaking time from two minutes to three minutes. Okay. There's a motion and a second. Uh represent Lumon. Do you have discussion on this one? I see you lit him. Mayor, I sorry. Thank you, mayor. Before we vote and we move out of this item. Um, I have two other questions, but I'm not sure if they're pertinent to this area or not. And one is how motions are made during the council meeting specifically. Uh, do we push the button or do we blurt out? It's been happening. It's been happening both ways. We We'll discuss it. We can only be discussing the amendment. Yeah. Okay. So, but will it come up? Okay. We're only discussing the amendment. Yeah. All right. Okay. There there's a motion in a second to um for the public to have three minutes at the beginning from 10 to 11. Is that right? Okay. So the amendment was made by Representative Gonales, seconded by Representative Lemon, and this is to amend the main motion so that the public has three minutes to speak on each item and during call to the public. And I just want to remind council that, you know, the these are uh meetings for the people and and and I agree with that 100%. But there have been individuals that have signed up for every item and has spoke for over an hour during the city council meeting. That's a lot more time than you've spoken. So, if someone's going to come in here and sign up for three minutes on every agenda item, you can do the math and see how long they'll be speaking, but call for the vote. Yes, sir. On that amendment, call for the vote. Representative Ato. Thank you. And the voting session and that motion passes 7 to1. Representative Maldonado Rocha voting nay. The remainder of council voting I. That motion carries. Okay. So many so many amendments. Okay. So let's go back to the main one now. Okay. So the main motion was made by representative put it back to an move to reconsider the amendment. Thank you. There's a motion made by representative Canal. Seconded by representative Gorcha. This is to reconsider the previous amendment to change the time for public comment from two to three. Two minutes to three minutes on agenda and during call to the public. Okay. You ready? Yes. Okay. On that motion, call for the vote. I'm ready now. Call for the vote. Oh my gosh. Thank you, M. Representative Aso. Hi. And the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. Okay. Okay. Back on the main motion. Back on the main. Can we repeat the main motion? All the amendments. All right. Representative uh Lemon. So now I have questions. So now I have questions, but we've already voted on the motion. Correct. On 24 disregard, you can speak about anything on the main motion. Two things. Number one is motions. And so my question I I guess mayor is what is the procedure that you wish for us to follow? And that is if we want to make a motion, do we push this button and receive acknowledgement by you or do we yell out the motion? And the way it's been working is it's been going both ways. Sometimes some will show up here on the switch and then others will just say, "I make a motion." What would you prefer? I would prefer you just say, "I make a motion." You just what? Just say, "I make a motion." Just yell it out. Okay. Mayor, if I if I could help. Traditionally under the rules, you could ask for a motion immediately after Mr. Pine reads the item into the record because what I noticed happening is you all start talking correct about what? There's no motion to deny. Exactly. Motion to approve, motion to delay, motion to table. You all just start talking. So, I would recommend that the habit is Miss Prime reads the motion into the record, the item, and then the mayor makes, "May I have a motion?" I would. There's a second, and then the debate happens on that motion, right? And then when you all the debate, whatever, then you start making your amendments. Yeah. Because Representative Lemon, it's been going both ways. But I would prefer this method. Well, the only thing that's changing here is the fact that you're stating that you're asking for a motion, but my question is, do we push the button to be acknowledged by you or do we simply yell out the motion? So, after Miss Prime reads the the the um the item number, I will ask for a motion. Okay. And then and then what do we do? You can say I make the motion. We don't punch the button. Motion to approve. Okay, I make a motion to and then when I ask for discussion, I'll see you here. All right. Okay, that's fair. Now that I know about that, um I have another question. It's the moving of items in the agenda. So, because I think that the order has been a little bit confusing. For example, I asked an item to be moved to the forefront at the last meeting because we had someone that had to catch a plane and then other things came up and she left because she had to catch her flight. Um, and along with that, if we move items to the forefront, do they come before or after the a the consent agenda? So the consent agenda is right there and we've moved things up over here. Do these things go before the consent or after consent? We've been taking them right after consent, right? That you move them to the forefront of the regular portion of the agenda. You don't move them before consent. They're just moved up in in the order when the regular agenda items are taken. Okay. But that's what we did today. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Thank you. But we won't. But in but in this case ma'am she would have had the opportunity to speak immediately because you would have been able to speak on all the items. So everybody is at 10 o'clock and so nobody has to wait for those items for the future. Correct. Yes ma'am. Good point. Thank you. Thank you mayor. Represent Rocha. I'm sorry. Uh Treyjo tjo. Thank you mayor. I want to clarify with what uh representative is saying and what you just said. Mayor, we motion after you ask, "Do we have a motion?" Because it's typically just a motion before you even say anything. So, do we wait till you So, Miss Prime's going to read the item number and I'm going to say, "Do we have a motion?" Okay. So, it's and then you say it, then we'll get a second, then we'll have discussion. Thank you. Represent Canalis. Thank you, Mayor. Um, Robert's rules actually say very clearly when the motion should happen and it depends on which motion it is. So, some of them require you to hold the floor and some of them can be made quote as an interruption, meaning without holding the floor. And it's very clear which ones are allowed to be made with interruption and which ones are not in in Robert's rules. I don't think our rules say anything. There's no deviation in our rules of order from those standards Robert's rules. And so, I think that's ideally what we should follow. And there is a um part of the Roberts part of the council's rules include a Robert's rules cheat sheet. Yes, they do. It's as an exhibit A and that that's exactly what represent speaking about three hours or however many hours in training on Robert's rules here and from what I recall from that training and from all the professional boards that I've been on, we can do it a number of ways when you're taking a a motion. So, uh, the preferred way is the way that, um, Miss Neman had recommended. After she reads it, I will entertain a motion and a second, then we'll have discussion. The difficulty is if you have two people who say simultaneously yell out a motion, then it's it's up to the it's up to the chair, it's up to you, mayor, then to decide which motion, and then that's an appealable decision, right? uh you know we you you can appeal the decision of the chair and you that can go through that or we can do the alternative is that you can just call on somebody to make the motion and then they get to make the motion. Yeah. Um or we can go to the the Christmas tree lights here and then I'll call on someone and then they can make the motion. That that's what Robert's rules of order. But we I mean we we haven't been following Robert's rules of order to the to the tea for quite some time here. So I think and and it it's been working and and and you know not to get down to the you know how the how the soup is made here. I I think if we can all agree that once she reads it I will ask for a motion and then that person can make the motion. Will that person being anyone in that moment? Yes. Okay. Again, I I just I I live in fear of a day when one person makes a motion to approve and one person makes a motion to deny at the same time. We'll we'll we'll cross that when we get there, but okay. I appreciate it. Yeah. Okay. Uh Representative, did we lose him? I don't see him on screen. We do have public comment. Okay. All right. I don't see you anymore. Did you have a thumb up or anything? Okay. No. No. Okay, we have public comment on this one. Yes, we have Amber Pettis. And Miss Pettis has been here since this morning at nine o'clock. Good afternoon, Miss Pettis. Thank you. Thank you for hanging in there with us. Sure. Sure. Sure. Uh good afternoon. Um I'm really here just to speak on Well, first of all, uh the interesting part of this, right, is I signed up and I didn't know what I was going to say. Uh because I didn't really know what this was about. And so when I I wanted to sit down and listen to the discussion and to kind of understand what was happening that way I could make an informed comment uh and I've sat had a chance to sit here and uh and listen. Um but part of what we're doing right in this whole like motion uh is uh because I'm still new to Robert's rules of order too. You all are amazing. Uh but what part of what we're doing though is here is taking that ability away from people, right? Because if I hadn't been able to sit here and listen to the entire discussion, I wouldn't have known what I was going to talk about at 10:00 this morning cuz I really didn't. Um and so like I think for me like everything else sounds amazing. I think like taking public comment is super important at the beginning because that way people can leave. Um, but when it comes to the items, I think that it's important to allow people to hear what you all have to say and to really allow yourselves to also advocate for what it is that you're trying to tell the community, hey, this is what we want to do. Because a lot of times, like you can come in and you can have an idea of what council wants, but that's only an idea. Once we sit down and hear you all kind of hash it out, um, we're like, "Oh, okay. That's what they meant." And sometimes uh at least on my part like as I'm sitting listening, I'm actively listening to you, right? So if I had something planned to say and something that you say changes that or you address that, well now I'm going to come up here and I'm going to say something completely different, right? And maybe I'm going to feel completely differently about it. And it's allowing people to critically think through this. And I know like um I have watched and I have been here for quite a few of our city council meetings and this is not the first time. I've been here till 3:00 in the afternoon. Um and I know that there are times where people can kind of abuse that in a way, right? Um, and I the only thing that I urged council to do is to to find a way to mitigate that, to navigate that in a way that doesn't punish people who are coming to really learn and to be able to give you good insight and good thoughts and good comments that are meaningful. Like allow like us to to critically think through this, to listen to you, to see what it is that your logic through it, your emotion through it, your passion through it. And that way we can really understand what's going on so that we don't have these misunderstandings of like like if I had spoken at 10 o'clock this morning I would have been like I'm not sure what you're doing but I hope it's good and I trust you. Um as opposed to the comment that it is here right now. So that's the only thing that I would like for you all to take in consideration. All right. Thank you so much and thank you for staying here with us this long. Of course. Okay, Miss Brian. We're going to take a vote on the on the main one now. Okay. So the motion was made to amend the rules of order and this is to set the time for ceremonial items at 9:00. Set the time for public comment on agenda and non-aggenda items at 10:00 giving each citizen 3 minutes to speak per agenda item and 3 minutes for call to the public and then to set the time for lunch. The lunch break will be from 12:30 to 1:30 followed by uh consent agenda, introduction of ordinances and then the regular agenda. Is that correct? Represent Fiero. Was that correct, sir? Okay. And council, if I may ask that you also set the deadline to sign up to speak to be 9:00 a.m. So set the deadline to sign up to speak so that the that everybody signs up no later than 9:00 a.m. the day of the meeting. Represent. Mayor, what's going to happen? What's going to happen then with mass transit that's scheduled at 10:00? What time will that be now? 2:30 11:30. I think we said 11:30, right, Miss Prime? Yes, ma'am. 11:30. Yeah, that'll that'll take place at 11:30. Thank you. Okay. Represent Brocha. Miss Prime, are you looking for a motion to to add in the the time you are the deadline to sign up to speak would be 9:00 a.m.? Correct. So, is that a motion to add or amend? Yes. So, the motion to amend to add that the latest time to sign up for public comment is 9:00 a.m. the day of city council meetings. Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Okay. There's a motion in a second. Any discussion on this item? Represent canales. Okay. Represent Lemon. I still see you guys on uh represent Nino. Okay. I'm going clear you guys out. All right. Miss Bryan, call for the vote. Yes sir. So the motion was made by Representative Maldonado Rocha, seconded by Representative Lemore, and this is to amend the rules of order to set the deadline for to sign up for public comment to be 9:00 a.m. On that amendment, call for the vote. Representative Aso, no. Thank you. And the voting session and that motion passes 62. Representatives aso and Nino voting nay. Representatives Chavez, Madon Ro, Chao Trejo, Fiero, Lemon, Canales, voting I. The motion carries. All right. Call for the vote on the main one. So the represent Canales. Thank you, mayor. Just very quickly, I just wanted to address uh Miss Pettis's comments because uh I I do see a trade-off here. I mean, there there's definitely a trade-off in that you're maybe reducing uh the public's ability to hear from the council before making a comment. Um and and I understand that. I I do think that the other side of the coin is that you are expanding access to people to be able to have a predictable time when they can come speak. So I I think we can I'm happy to make the change today. I think we can monitor how it goes. Uh maybe we'll see greater participation. If we don't, maybe we can look at at a later adjustment. I do think it's worth an experiment to to change to a set time earlier in the day and and uh hopefully we can you know boost public participation that way. Thank you. Okay, Mrs. Prime call for the vote. Yes, mayor. So, the motion was originally made the main motion was made by alternate mayor proted by representative Rocha to approve the rules of order as revised. On that motion, call for the vote. Representative Basedto, no. Thank you. And the voting session and that motion passes 7 to1. Representative Basedto voting nay. The remainder of council voting I. The motion does carry. Okay, Mr. Brian. Let's move on to the uh number item 25, the annual update. That was deleted, sir. With the consent agenda this morning. Okay. That brings us to item number 30. Okay. Item 30 is discussion and action on the award of solicitation 2025-0086 Mountain to River Trail phase 1 to Martinez Brothers Contractors LLC for an estimated amount of $1,146,3187. The project will consist of the construction of a trail head parking lot, wayfinding signs, a BNSF concrete crossing and related site work including sidewalks, mechanically stabilized earth walls, striping drainage and traffic controls. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Derek Russell with purchasing strategic sourcing department. So this is a competitive sale procurement for the mountain to river trail phase one. Um there were 36 views online. Five proposals were received all from local suppliers. You may make a motion to approve, please. Okay. Second. We already heard the presentation. Okay. There's a motion in a second. We have uh discussion. Uh Representative Tjo. [Music] Uh, I I'd like to let u Mayor Promp Chavez know that I'm voting against this item due to the process by which it was brought forward, not because I oppose the item itself. Thank you, Representative Chavez. Thank you, mayor. And I just I'd like to make a statement for the record. The city of El Paso continues to make progress on a Vistpa Canyon by collaborating with EP Water to facilitate the sale of PSB managed land near the Franklin Mountains to Texas Parks and Wildlife. We recognize and value the community's desire for a natural trail that enhances quality of life for avid hikers and supports future mountain biking opportunities. Protecting open spaces remains a priority as they provide essential places for recreation, connection, and the promotion of ecoourism all while preserving the natural environment and preventing disruptive development. I remain committed to seeing the completion of phase one of the 2020 2012 quality of life bond and to working closely with staff to ensure we continue moving forward on the creation of a natural trail in Avisa Canyon. Thank you. Thank you, Representative Lemon. Gilbert, was the open space advisory group um involved with this discussion? Guerrero, intern director, capital improvements. Yes, they were. They were. They were. Okay. I noticed that Dr. Bonard was here earlier. I know he wanted to speak on this topic, but he may have already left. But is someone else? Okay. Mr. Gaddy by We do have two members of the public signed up to speak. Sure. Okay. Representative um Canales. Okay. And we have public comment on this one. Yes, we do have Mr. Joy Karibby. You have three minutes, sir. Good afternoon. Good afternoon, Mayor and every city council. So, it's important to understand how we got here. The mountainto river trail and the quality of life bond from its inception was a natural paved trail. About 2019 or thereabouts, somebody at the city noticed that Texot had built a paved path from the state park to I 10 and they said, "You know what? Maybe we can use that path as a solution to this mountainto river trail and save some money." So they came to OSAP and they said, "Hey, we've got this great idea. We've got this path from the state park down to I 10. Why don't we use that as the mountainto- river trail?" OSAP said, "Absolutely not. It's supposed to be a natural paved trail." And that should have been the end of this project. It should have died in 2017 2018, but for whatever reason, it stayed on. And city came back and said, "By the way, we've got this project. we'd like to use some money to make this natural pave trail. OSAP has continually said, you know, we like having trail heads, we like trails, this is good, but you can't use the quality of bond money and you can't use the storm water fund to do this. We want that money to go to the natural pave trail and to the trails that were part of the quality of bond life. And so while I love the fact that we're putting another trail head out there and stuff like this, I think we got here for the very wrong reason of somebody tried to solve a problem. It's not solving that problem and yet we are still spending money to do the project. So it's not fixing what it was trying or initially uh developed to fix. I'd also like to talk about that trail head in particular. that trail head at Pestle and Norte again probably 2017 2018 there was a meeting city employees were there lots of the outdoor community was there and lost dog had just happened and it completely killed the street Bessel Norte so we have this overpass and people said you know what we have this overpass that cannot be used anymore let's put a trail head under there we get shade we get protection because now the streets will be closed and we can go from from the north side of Lostto to the south side of Lostto and everybody was this would be great but it is a text dot situation right city went to text dot text dot said no shouldn't do that we're not going to do that again that's when it should have stopped but it didn't stop they said you know what why don't we take that trail head and move it to the north side and yeah again we would love to have a trail head it's always good to have a trail head but when you put that trail head on the north side you're not getting the shade and you're not getting the protection that stopping that overpass or blocking off that overpass was going to provide. So again, we we had a solution. You know, we were going to create a gateway from the north side. Your three minutes are up. All right. Thank you so much. Mr. Bonard, are you still here? He is not. Okay. He's not. All right. Representative Lemon, mayor. So once again, we build these boards and committees and commissions and so I don't want to say it's a waste of time, but it seems to me like this is something that's gone back. He mentioned 2017. I I I I think we may be lacking some open communication somewhere along the line um that we may be losing what we are stating to the community. And so this particular motion once again is the deprogramming of of money from one area to the other. And as a district that had money deprogrammed from us as well to go to a couple of I items here in downtown. It it stings and it hurts and so I I'm just the people speak and we need to listen to them. Thank you, Mayor. Okay. Any more discussion on this particular item? All right. Hearing none. Miss Nunes, we have a motion and a sec. Oh, Representative Canales. Sorry, Mayor. One one last quick question. I mean, I'm just trying to compare the amounts here. Do we are we able to award this today fully funded? Yes, Rep. We are. Okay. So, this no no part of this requires the a transfer that hasn't happened yet. I Nandez. Um, Representative Ganales, what was approved with item 29 will go to fully fund this project. That will fully fund this project. Okay, understood. Thank you. Okay, we do have a motion made by alternate mayor prom. And who second it? Nino. Yes. Thank you, sir. Call for the vote. Voting session is open, sir. Representative aso. Hi. And the item is approved. with Representative Boy Trejo and Representative Lemon voting. Okay, Miss Nunees, we're going to we're going to move item number 36 up. I'm sorry, Mayor. Just see the way that these things are on the agenda. So, we just made a motion. We just approved something on 29 earlier this morning and here it is just an hour or two later. We're already approving an award to a contractor. That's a lot of assumptions here that it's going to pass and that I mean all of this work, you know, I heard today when Representative Hero says, "Oh, staff has done so much work. You know, we're going to lose out on all of this." Well, maybe they're doing work that shouldn't be happening until we get the approval of this motion. It would seem to me that this was approved today and then we would go through the solicitation process. Um it it doesn't make sense to me. Miss Mac, you want to address that? That's what happened. With these particular projects, we would have not known the cost had we not gone through the solicitation process. So we actually got the true cost. We know exactly what the transfer amounts needed to be and those contracts should be awarded after those transfers take place. So there there is there should be that order to it. So that's the normal correct because we we started the solicitation for this particular item back in October. So we wouldn't have known what the true cost and transfer amounts needed to be until we had that that solicitation completed. Okay. But could we have could we have known that this was coming up in October or council could have known that this was coming in up in October and then say now we're going to proceed with a solicitation amount. I mean and I can go back and check certainly could have come, you know, had a conversation during one of our CIP updates to say, you know, our next phase of work is going to be trails. Um I think we often tell you where we are in terms of that work. You know, I don't know if we had a conversation about what the gaps were. I don't I don't remember. So, I would have to go back and check to see what we've done over the last couple of years. I don't know if the team did that work or not, but I can certainly check to see if we did that. We I know we do our CIP updates for you all, the full plan um once a year and then we do the mid uh midyear um update too. That would be great. So, that would be the appropriate time for that. Okay. Thank you, Representative Tjo. Thank you, uh, Mayor. I I thank you uh uh Representative Lemon. This is what I was saying this morning. Uh I'm trying to read my notes and I can't because I have a messy writing. Let's see. Uh the funds So the the funds shouldn't the funds be in place to solicit and award a bid? So these these this was awarded this was solicited and awarded without the funds in place. No no it's not awarded until after the action is taken after the action. Okay. So there's a solicitation uh but the the the award is being done mean the approval is being the possibility the approval actually just went through. Uh when the conversations you know I was talking this morning about the process. So, the conversation should be we're looking at trails, city council. We're looking at trails. There's a lack of funds. We need to look at possibly defunding some trails and looking at re re u reallocating funds to another project. These are our options. And then we come back and make those decisions. And ma based on those decisions now we can look at soliciting for these projects. you can, you know, your staff can figure out how much it's going to cost for these projects, maybe get quotes possibly from the vendors, but to actually solicit and put it out of bid is you're working in advance before even having the information as to whether or not this is going to pass. So, you know, I was saying this morning, it's the process. I think we need to take a take a look at the process and see how this can be more transparent for not only for us as we're making these decisions but also for the community so that they too have the information understood and I would certainly in the future if we go act out for any type of bonds we would certainly I would not recommend 10 years I would not recommend that we have projects that are not at least a 30% design so you have a better sense of the cost I I mean there are a lot of things I think we can talk about with the quality of life in terms of how this has moved forward but I would have to say like the last onethird of those projects came over came in over you know we've had to value engineer you go through that list and we were expecting expansions we've had to make a lot of tough choices on a lot of program and so we we certainly wouldn't do any of it the way that I think we've approached this I do apologize ma'am okay thank you represent thank you mayor first off I think we already passed the main motion And I I don't know that any debate is in order, but if if we're doing it, we're we're we're just asking questions. Um then I mean I I just think no one's going to do the work of estimating a project for us for free. So they'll do it for themselves as part of, you know, potentially winning a city contract, but otherwise we're going to have to pay somebody to do that kind of estimating work. Um so that's that's the trade-off. um you know in this case we don't know the cost of the projects until we receive the the bids in in from you know from a solicitation unless we pay somebody to do it for us. Um, and then I I just wanted to say for for the record, I believe we did receive a briefing last year, probably around that October time frame, maybe September, o October, um, on this project, on the funding gap. And you know, I know that that is little solace to the new members of council who weren't around for that, but I also understand the difficulty in, you know, briefing, uh, new members of council on the thousands of things that staff is working on at any given time. And so, um, I I just wanted to say for the record like this this didn't come out of nowhere. Uh, I know we heard that in the public comment earlier as well. This has been a discussion that's been ongoing for quite a long time and we were briefed last year. Um, Miss Mack, I don't remember if it was before your selection for this position or not, but uh, it is something that the council received. All right. Thank you. Thanks. Uh, Mrs. Nunes, we're going to take item 36 next only because we have a council member that's going to have to leave. Yes, sir. And this is an ordinance amending ordinance number 10739 amending the budget resolution fee schedule to revise the overdue fines for materials charged by the El Paso Public Library to $0 and forgive any outstanding fine balance for overdue materials. Okay. Do we have a motion to approve? Move to approve. Second. All right. We have a motion and a second. Uh discussion. Uh represent Canales. All right. Do you want to hear? Uh yeah, if we can hear the presentation first be great. Hi. Uh, good afternoon everybody. Jack Alino with public libraries it can you bring up the uh, library fine free presentation please. I was going to move to approve but you would have helped us out. I'm going to take us through the presentation and we'll try to answer as many questions as you have as a team. This with me is Amy Camp, our assistant director. Hi. So, what we're here to do today is we want to propose to eliminate library late fees. And there's a lot of good reasons to do that, but as you may know, currently uh we charge about 15 cents per item per day for an overdue material. And that's capped out at $5 per item. And once that's capped out, uh a patron is blocked and can can no longer check out materials. So this might include young people um you know people of low economic resources. We currently have about 1777,000 items that are overdue. Now that can change that can vary on a daily basis due to what's brought back or what goes uh late. And of course over the over the last five years we feel that we average about $25,000 in uh revenue per year from late fees. purpose of eliminating late fees, there's a lot of good ones. Um, first of all, we want to bring back those 40,000 uh patrons that have been blocked. We want to make library services and resources more accessible to our community. We uh this this change would only apply to late fees. It would not apply to to lost or damaged items. And we want uh patrons that are blocked um patrons could still be blocked, but they're they're no longer going to acrue financial penalties for that. The practice has largely been eliminated throughout the country. Many library systems have done that. Um reasons for that is that uh library fees have not overdue fees have not shown to be effective in bringing library materials back to the library. Uh that was from a study from the Colorado State Library who found uh through empirical you know scientific study empirical evidence that um that wasn't the case and also it tended to be um it tended to keep people from visiting the libraries. That was one of the things that was found from that study. Um, libraries have eliminated late fees, have experienced an increase in library usage. That's mostly through um secondary evidence. It's not um scientific, but we are seeing that anecdotally throughout the country. And fines also tend to disproportionately affect financially disadvantaged communities like ours. And that was found through the through the through the Colorado State Library study. There's a lot of libraries in Texas that have eliminated late fees. As you can see, uh most of the larger cities in the state have done so. We want to make sure that we're providing up-to-date library service for our community just as they are in these other cities. But not only are they doing it in Texas, they're doing it across the country. This uh graphic from the from the Urban Libraries Council shows that there's hundreds of library systems across the country that are eliminating late fees and it's a growing trend for the last maybe 10 to 15 years. So this is another anecdotal kind of um evidence that we're seeing across the country from libraries that eliminate late fees from the Dayton Public Library. they saw an increase in library materials brought back and that's we've seen that u various other um libraries across the u across the country that have done so. So they got they got surprising results as you can see. And there's uh the ordinance that you uh we would like you to consider today amending um amending those other ordinances to uh eliminate over overdue fines and also to eliminate the fines that are currently on the books to bring people back to the library. and we'll gladly um uh entertain any questions that you might have. Thank you for the presentation. Represent Canales. Thank you, Mayor. Um I'm very excited about this. I think this opens up the library system to a lot of folks who are currently blocked uh and and who are afraid to go back to the library because they're afraid they'll be confronted about what they owe and that they'll correct. Um I I think this will be very popular. I have heard a few comments uh from folks who for the most part I think they they hadn't read the presentation and they were concerned that the city would be missing out on a large chunk of revenue uh from from library fines. And that's definitely not the case. Again, the presentation shows it's less than $25,000. And I can almost guarantee, I don't know this for sure, but I I can I can say almost for sure that the library expends a good deal more in tracking fines and collecting fines. I was going to mention that. Yeah. Staff time across all of the branches dedicated to that surely exceeds $25,000. Yeah. Yeah. Well, we estimate that it costs about 24,000 to try and collect that $25,000 that we're that we're receiving. So, we're talking about a difference of $1,000. Yeah. very minimal benefit uh you know in terms of revenue from fines and correct uh essentially it's entirely punitive with no real result and so I'm I'm really glad that we're doing this um as this gets implemented maybe looking at the first year is there a way that we're going to be able to track the the changes in terms of or the effects I should say of the change how many uh blocked people are now accessing the library and and whatnot yes definitely we will uh be tracking that um we'll We'll have our technical services crew u implement those um those changes so they can actually track see who's coming back and and what effect that has on our returns if any. Yeah, I think as soon as there's meaningful data, I don't know if that's 6 months or a year, we can leave it up to you, but I'd appreciate a report back on on the effect of this. I I think uh we can expect something very positive. We definitely will for sure. Thank you. Thank you, Representative Lemon. Thank you, Mayor. So, Jack, you may know that the Lemon family of four are avid readers. Um, my husband will be very happy. He's one of the few people I know that can go and check out uh three or four onew week books and return them on time. So, now he's got a little bit of a leeway if necessary. Uh, I think it's a it's really great. I I'm really looking forward to some of the data that comes back. I did have some questions, but I've already relayed them to uh Miss Mack and you're already working on some of the data that I was looking for, but I think this is a great great policy and thank you all for for bringing this forth today. Thank you so much. Thank you, Representative Fier. Thank you, Mayor. My my question was going regards the 25,000 if how much of it was collectible, how much was it costing this the libraries? Thank you for answering uh Representative Canales's question. I I will not um um say this in public. My my daughter's very happy. She can go back to the library now. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Some library staff is very happy too. Represented, you have anything on this one? I can't. No. Okay. Is there any more discussion on this hearing? None. Miss Nunes, will you call for the vote on this one? Yes, of course. We do have a motion made by Representative Canales, seconded by Representative Maldonado Rocha, and this is to approve item 36. And we do not have any public comment. H it disappeared. Uh oh. Oh no. Oh no. Voting session is open. Representative Aso. Hi. Thank you, sir. And the item has been approved unanimously. Y Thank you guys. Thank you guys so much. Yeah. Great job. Thank you guys. We'll get to promoting then. Mr. Mayor, would you like to go back to item 31? Let's do it. Item 31 is discussion and action on solicitation 2025. No, that's 32. It's discussion action on agreement number 2001-017R with Oracle to continue to provide financial and human resources management system software each fiscal year. Motion approved. Second. We have a motion and a second. I would entertain a motion. We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion on this item? Hearing none, Miss N call for the vote. We do have a motion made by alternate mayor prompier, seconded by representative Lemon, and this is to approve item 31. Voting session is open. Voting session is closed and the item has been approved unanimously with representative not present for the vote. Thank you. Let's move to item number 32. Of course. Item 32 is discussion and action on solicitation 2025-000087 on call horizontal construction 2025 to Keystone GC LLC and Amstar Incorporated for an initial term of 2 years, three years and a one-year option. This is for an estimated total aggregate amount of $16 million and it's for city of El Paso infrastructure and right ofways on a task quarter basis. I would entertain a motion to approve. Motion to approve item 32. This is a local home. Second. We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion on this item? All right. Hearing none, Miss Nunes, please call for the vote. Of course. And we do have a motion made by Representative Lemon, seconded by alternate mayor prompo. And this is to approve item 32. Voting session is open. Representative Fiero issues. Thank you, sir. And the item has been approved unanimously with Representative Ato not present for the vote. All right, let's take 33. Item 33 is discussion and action to sign a two-year own call agreement for professional services to perform geotechnical and engineering and materials testing services with Atlas Technical Consultants LLC. Number two is CQC Testing and Engineering LLC. Third one is LEC Engineering Incorporated, DBA Liers. Four is Terracon Consultants Incorporated and the last one, the fifth provider would be WSPUSA Incorporated. I would entertain a motion on this one. Move to approve. Okay, we have a motion and second and we have discussion. Representative Brocha. Hi, how are you? I I brought up a question yesterday about the number of um I guess the companies that submitted for the RFQ. Yes. Total. Do you have that today by any chance? It's six companies that submitted total. Six companies. So five of the companies were the ones that were or I'm sorry I have my glasses right now. Five companies were awarded and one wasn't. Was the other company local or not? Uh they were not. They were not local. On the current list, we have two local companies. The rest of them out of town with the local office. The local companies, I understand, are um CQC and LEC. That's correct. Is that correct? Okay. So, I just have a couple of questions on this more more than anything. Um I understand I I'm trying to understand I know it's a two-year term. Is there enough workload on the geotechnical engineering side that would require five companies to be pretty much um on the hook or be consultants at this time? Yes, pretty much. Other projects that we have, we have a geotechnical uh request for them. Uhhuh. So, we do material testing. Um, so yes, we actually do use them uh every year, every two years, we do use quite a bit of their services. So I I just want to make sure that there's enough uh workload for it and I'm not the engineer, so that's why I'm asking these questions. No, there is. So yeah, I just wanted to be sure. And then the the second con the second question I had you've already answered, which is a two-year term. And then um I you answered the questions on the local firms and then how do you all define local within the city of El Paso? They start off here in the within the city of El Paso. They're established here in El Paso. They're locally owned companies. So, but but I guess my question is is that are they are they considered like a storefront? Can a storefront be considered local? It's just an employee, an office, and a phone versus a company that's been here and has, I don't know, 20% or more of their staff within El Paso. M Miss Cody will address it for you perspective. Thank you. Appreciate it. Good afternoon, Nicole Cody. Thank you. City Manager's office. Um yes ma'am. So we have as defined for local vendors is are those that are going to have their headquarters located here um within the city limits and so we are specific to the city limits uh based on the ordinance that was passed by council and then also um if they have a presence then it's based on the number of employees. What's the number of employees that is there a requirement on that miss Cody? there is a number and I don't want to give you the wrong number so I I can get that to you. Yeah, you can follow up with me. That's fine. Those are the questions that I had for the for the for this particular group. I know there's a project that's coming up that I'll probably have more questions on, but I appreciate the information. Thank you. Thank you, Represental. Thank you, mayor. Uh yeah, and I believe we had a presentation I think our second meeting in January about the local Yeah. What? And it did define it. I I don't remember the number either off the top of my head, but it did define what that number was. Um, just because I like to do it when we approve this kind of on call agreement to clarify for the public. Each of these is for an amount not to exceed $500,000, but they are on a task bytask basis. Right. So, as the services are needed, we'll issue a task order. It doesn't mean that each of these companies is ne necessarily going to be paid $500,000 flat for their services. That is correct. That's their capacity. and we go uh we follow the first one and then the second one, third one. So there's no specific one. We just follow in order of the next in line, right? And again, multiple tasks might happen at the same time. There might be multiple of them engaged at the same time on different projects. Uh it's not like we're paying for a set uh set amount of services and the amount is 500,000. That's correct. Okay. Thank you. Very good. All right. Any more discussion on this item? All right. Hearing none. Seeing none, Miss Nunes, we have a motion made by Representative Nino, seconded by Representative Lemon, or was it Canales? Canales. Representative Canales. Seconded by Representative Lemon to approve. And this is item 33. Voting session is open. And the item has been approved unanimously with representative aso and representative Fiero not present for the vote. Miss Nunes, I believe this brings us to item number 37. Yes, it is sir. Item 37 is discussion and action to submit FY2026 grant application for the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority. And this is from September 1st, 2025 to August 31st, 2026. Requesting grant funding for $2 million23,985 with a cash match of 596,445 and in kind of 1,267,598. Okay. I would entertain a I make the motion to approve item 37. Okay. Second. We have a motion and a second. Chief, how you doing? I'm doing great, sir. Thank you. Good. We'd love to hear from you a little bit on this one. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. So, this item is um a resolution authorizing the city manager to submit the fiscal year 2026 motor vehicle crime prevention authority grant application. Um this the state uh grant funds personnel salaries, French benefits trainings supplies and operating expenses for the uh out of the task force for the police department. Uh the city has received this financial u uh assistance since 1991 every year and the grant period for this one will be September 1st 2025 to August 31st 2026. The amount being requested is 2,23,985 and there is a cash match of $596,445 but this is um officers that we already have assigned um in the in the task force. Very good. Any more discussion for the chief hearing? None. Seeing none, Miss Nunes, call for the vote. Motion made by Representative Lemon, seconded by Representative Boy Trejo to approve item 37. Voting session is open and the item has been approved unanimously with Representative Fiero and Ato not present for the vote. Thank you, mayor. Thank you, councelor. Thank you, Mun. I believe we're on item number 39. Yes, sir. And this is discussion and action on a resolution authorizing the submission of an application to the office of Congressman Tony Gonzalez requesting funds from the community project funding program in the amount of 11,800 with no match required from the city. And this is for the fire station 12 reconstruction project. Okay, I would entertain a motion on this one. Motion to approve. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. We'd love to hear what you got. Sure. Would you like to see the presentation or just a summary? No, let's see it. I'm sorry. Let's see it. Okay. It can you please pull up the presentation? So, for the record, Omar Martinez with strategic and legislative affairs. This is a community project funding submission to the office of Congressman Tony Gonzalez for fire station 12. It's a reconstruction of fire station 12. And so the ask is $1.8 million with no match required from the city. Compared to other fire stations, this would be a direct savings to our local taxpayers if we can get the federal government to pay for this directly. We worked with C to update the cost estimate. This application was also selected last year. Last year we I believe we asked for uh $9.5 million. We essentially adjusted for inflation and updated costs with a construction date of 20 start date of 2027. So we're asking for the amount of money we need to execute this project in full. And so this is part of the function at strategic and legislative affairs. We were created a year ago and what we're combining is the citywide grant support and the federal legislative agenda implementation of it. The community project funding program was previously known as earmarks and I provided in this slide is a history. Essentially from the 1970s to 2011 earmarks were common and because of transparency issues they were stopped for at least 10 years. In 2021 a Democrat-led majority uh rebranded and restarted community project funding. They're the same thing, but with now implemented transparency and accountability measures, in particular, our members of C, I'm sorry, our council me Congress members cannot have a any direct link to the projects. And so there's a um a conflict of interest clearance process that goes with every application. U members of Congress are allowed to select up to 15 projects every year. But unfortunately last year uh I'm sorry for fiscical year 25 applications this year's Congress and 119th Congress decided not to fund those as part of appropriations. So Congressman Gonzalez asked us to resubmit the same project and it was elevated when it comes to priority. So instead of submit developing a brand new project, we wanted to do something that was previously approved by council and resubmit. Uh historically since the incept the restatement of this program, the city has received uh millions of dollars in funding. Uh there was a recent publication in the El Paso Times summarizing this. And so uh this is a history of when Congressman Gonzalez issued out a notice of funding opportunity. On April 8th, they sent us an email asking us to resubmit. They required that we provide updated cost estimates and letters of support and other technical administrative materials that we need to make the application competitive and comply with guidance provided by appropriations committees, the different appropriations committees. In this case, we would submit this project through the housing and urban development. And so, fire station 12 is uh the primary prevention and control emergency response uh facility for northeast El Paso. and uh East Fort Bliss. Earlier today, city council approved a new agreement with a renovated agreement with Fort Bliss to provide uh support fire suppression services. Essentially, fire station 12 would help implement that specific agreement that you all just approved and also uh ex possibly expand the that agreement by providing uh facilities where Fort Bliss can also be trained their personnel can also be trained in and city facilities. Uh yesterday I was asked this question. I apologize but the specific location of the fire station is on the intersection of Dyer and Fred Wilson. This is Fort Bliss owned land that the city of El Paso is looking to uh east a long-term easement. And the scope of work is uh 48 uh month construction period. It essentially includes site preparation, building the actual facility, the ingress and egress on the on the streets, sidewalks, storm sewers, uh utilities. Uh, as you all recently um toured a couple of these fire stations, uh, it'll be pretty much the same and deliverable, but this one is going to be paid for by the federal government if we're successful. Here's just an additional breakdown of the budget. These numbers were provided by CI. And this is what it what the community project funding process would look like. Essentially, we would submit these uh projects to our members of Congress in May. Then there would be this back and forth between city staff and the the staff of Congressman Gonzalez and the selection committees in appropriations on information that they might need. If we're successful, they will uh Congress would consider appropriating these projects as early as September 2025. Congress has never met that deadline. So, we're expecting February of 2026. And then in March 2026, uh, we begin what is called the post enactment funding, which is essentially now that Congress has authorized, now the federal government takes some time to develop a contract, the process. And since we've already managed several HUD contracts, we're familiar with the way it works. And then ideally an agreement with HUD in July or whatever delays happen. So it could be towards the end of 2026. And hopefully we have C their money to begin construction as early as September 2026 or if Congress takes a while to appropriate then as early as 2027. So the action needed today is um authorization to submit the application. The ask is $1.8 $.8 million, no match required from the city, and we would submit all the technical details that the Congress, the Office of Congressman Tony Gonzalez needs to submit this application to appropriations, and then uh should be reawwarded, we would come back to council with an update. Very good. Thank you, Representative Lemon. Omar, by any chance, do you have any um projects or uh concepts in the loop uh for district 7? Yes, ma'am. The next project is actually a next item is a port of entry uh design project which is in district 7 at the east port. Thank you very much. Any more discussion for Omar on this item here? Item 39. All right. Hearing none, seeing none, Miss Nunes, call for the vote. We do have a motion made by Mayor Pro Tim Chavez, seconded by Representative Nino, and this is to approve item 39. Voting session is open. Thank you. And the item has been approved unanimously with Representative Sedo and Fiero not present for the vote. All right, let's take item 40. Omar, you're back on deck. Thank you. Let me just read it into the record. discussion and action authorizing the submission of an application to the office of congressman Veronica Escobar requesting an appropriation from the community project funding program in the amount of $4 million with the federal government contributing $3.2 million and an 800,000 match from the city and this is for the Isleta International Port of Entry Engineering Design Project. Do we have a motion on this one? I'd like to make a motion to provide reporting on the agenda. Okay, second. We have a motion and a second. Omar, you back up. Of course. Thank you very much. Again, for the record, Omar Martinez with Strategic and Legislative Affairs. It is a very similar project except we we work the city of El Paso works in a nonpartisan manner. So now we're asking for uh Congresswoman I'm sorry, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar for their her support in submitting this project. Likewise, this was also submitted last year. Last year was a little bit different. We could have asked without any matching funds. However, there were changes to the um appropriations accounts with Federal Highway Administration. So, this year we have to ask for a match. The $800,000 are being provided by our International Bridges Department under the P3 fund that is that that those matching expenditures were actually approved late last year by city council. They have a $4 million matching fund that they would like to do as part of their capital improvements plan. And so this is where we're drawing this uh match uh request from. And so very similar presentation. This is what strategic and legislative affairs does. We try to fund money uh where we can for priority critical infrastructure projects. This is the same history to be fair um same uh history on on eararks. Likewise, this was selected last year. Unfortunately, Congress did not fund any of these projects and so we have to resubmit. Congresswoman Escobar asked that we resubmit. And um in terms of we have received more historically we have only received community project funding uh awards from Congresswoman Escobar. Only last year did we get a selection from Congressman Tony Gonzalez. It's just we hadn't made previous submissions. This project is uh for the East LA port of entry. It is to design uh to do um conceptual feasibility design documents and essentially to modernize and enlarge the east port of entry. Expansion is necessary should there be a closure of commercial traffic at bridge of the Americas. We expect that the Easta port of entry will absorb the majority of that. And so we are we expect to hear back from GSA sometime in the next two three weeks in writing a determination uh the second we find out what GSA's determination is on commercial traffic at BOA we would inform this body and please know that expanding the Isa port of entry is a major capital improvement project. We're and similar to BOD this is a $500 million capital expenditure. We're at the very early stages and figuring out if that cost estimate is roughly accurate. Again, we're basing it on the cost of upgrading BOD and the these engineering documents would help us narrow down what order and what it would take to make expansions. So, the scope of work we included in the application would be feasibility level, so design documents all the way up to 30%. a benefit cost analysis that would allow us to apply for federal funds and any any discussions and consulting work on permitting, identifying what bridge expansions would be necessary for a presidential permit and what other projects, what other improvements we can do to that area that would not require the presidential permit. And that just is in line with our short-term, medium-term, and long-term plan for expansion of the port and to ensure that commercial traffic continues. Uh, as I stated earlier, the federal uh, cost share is 80%, it is $3.2 million. The city would provide $800,000 from the bides bridges P3 fund. And assuming that we're able to get this funded, we uh, early enough, we can complete this scope of work in 24 months. Our challenge is is federal highway administration and finalizing a contract with the Federal Highway Administration. Similarly to the previous presentation, it's going to be a process we submit in May and then we work with the office of Congresswoman Escobar to go back and forth to um provide the technical details that they need to consider this project in full. If we are selected, then it would be included in the appropriations bill. Congress would have to vote for it and then we begin that process with hopefully an expected start date of September 2026. The requested action again is authorizing staff to submit the application with the matching expenditure. That is the end of the presentation. I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you. Represent Lima Omar. U P3 funds. Um explain those funds. Are those the overtime or no? What is what is a P3 fund? Is we have our bridges uh director Roberto very detailed explain. Okay. Good. Thank you. Good afternoon, director of the international bridges department. Uh P3 funding, it's a program that was created back in 20 approve approved in 2013 if I recall correctly. Uh it's when we added uh 50 cents uh per axle and 50 cents per uh vehicles uh to kind of earmark uh these funds for uh bridge infrastructure projects. as long as as well as um traffic control at the bridges. Very good. And and about how much is collected on a yearly basis approximately from the P3 funds? Um that's probably around 2 million. Okay. And those are set up set aside for infrastructure. Yes. And you can roll them over or infrastructure as well as uh C CVP overtime. Okay. That's what I was looking for. That's so that's how I unders I knew remember remembered it the P3 funds for CBP um overtime are we still using the same amount of money for that overtime or has it diminished over time where are we from when we started in 2013? It varies. Uh we uh pay a close very close look at the hours and the traffic at the bridges. So it depends on on where are the peak hours. um more or less uh right now we are spending about I will say the 120 uh per month for overtime hours 120 hours 120,000 thousand yes approximately per month approximately per month yes and we do have a cap a yearly cap of 1.6 6 million. Have we reached that cap in a year? Uh, not that I recall. We have been very close to it. Uh, but I don't recall reaching the the the max amount. Very good. Um, I'm really looking forward to seeing this completion plus what we discussed, you know, looking at the area coming over and um, certainly looking at beautifification. um because the first thing you see when you cross over is not very nice at all. But I'm hoping that at some point in time we can get to that um to that process for the people that are coming across through that bridge. Yeah, we do have another grant that it's in process. It's a $12 million uh dollar project or $12 million award plus uh almost $3 million match uh it for um uh pedestrian improvements at the at the Isleta port of entry that will be on the southbound side. Uh northern side is GSA property. Uh we cannot really do improvements or we can but we have we will have to donate them. So but we do have that that uh other project in place. Uh we are going through the design right now. Very good. Starting the design. Very good. Thank you, Mr. Timo. Appreciate your your Thank you for the presentation, Omar. As we as we continue and so this is good. Um these are two good things uh from uh Congresswoman Escobar. And and just to remind uh Congressman Gonzalez, we met with his staff earlier this week that uh his district does go into district 7. So, um, he put a bug in his ear to say, "Look out for our district as well." Madam, to your point, the East La port of entry is split right in half. And so, we have worked with both members of Congress to advocate for our East Leaport projects. That's good. And we we acknowledged that there would be no party when we have our discussions. No division of party. That's correct. Just one together. Thank you very much, Omar. Appreciate it. Thank you, Omar, for the presentation. Uh, is there any more discussion on item number 40? All right. Hearing none, seeing none, Miss Nunes, call for the vote. We do have a motion to approve item 40 by Representative Lemon, seconded by Representative Boy Trejo. Voting session is open and the item has been approved unanimously with Representative Ato and Fier not present for the vote. Okay, let's take item number 41. Item 41 is discussion and action in a resolution authorizing the submission of an application to the office of congresswoman Veronica Escobar requesting funds from the community project funding program in the amount of $3 million with no match required for from the city for the innovation factory phase 2 project. Welcome back Omar. Thank you. Motion to approve. We have a second. We have a motion and a second. Omar, you're up. Yes, sir. Again for the record, Omar Martinez with strategic and legislative affairs. Uh the innovation factory phase 2 is our third uh community project funding submission. This again is with the office of congresswoman Veronica Escobar. Last year she uh selected two of the city projects. This one was actually a fill-in. So one of the things we do with the congresswoman is we submit multiple projects and if for example another applicant falls off for one reason or another, we are our backup. Uh we we are the backup. In this case, we were selected because of that. And so this is a $3 million request uh with no match required to the city for the innovation phase 2 uh sorry, innovation factory phase 2 project. And so this is a continuation of the build back better initiative and a $40 million EDA grant that was awarded to this region, the advanced manufacturing district and a lot of that initiative. And so currently the innovation factory is at capacity and we are essentially um looking to expand it. Similar to the other application, this was selected last year. It was unfortunately not funded by Congress and so we are resubmitting at the request of the office of Congresswoman Escobar. And so this we are submitted to the through the HUD account. And again different from the previous presentation when we submit to HUD we don't have to include a match but not every project is eligible for HUD and since every nobody wants to pay a match then you have more submissions there. So we try to vary the accounts through which we submit to be more competitive. the this the scope of work really this project is to replicate exactly what has already been done at the innovation factory and expand it to as far as much and as far as the money will take us and so it's developing additional uh maker spaces. We're thinking maybe six or seven additional spaces. This is where these com with companies that you may be toured are are housed at. And these will be focused on aerospace, advanced manufacturing, early stage companies that are looking to get support from the city of El Paso to expand to commercialize their their products and hopefully outgrow the innovation factory and join the advanced manufacturing district. And so what what you see here included is the floor plan details on phase one of the innovation factory. We would replicate that the way the the factory was designed is uh through modular design. So we can just add additional sections and uh use a lot of the previous work. So we would update cost, materials, equipment and and labor costs to be able to to expend the $3 million. And so the scope of work does include inst uh both equipment purchases, installation, and then facility upgrades and maintenance. So $2.2 million out of the $3 million would be assigned to the maker space itself. And then $800 million would be allocated to expand the infrastructure, especially electricity uh available at the innovation factory so that tenants can make use of the facility. This would be run through the airport as they they currently uh manage the innovation factory and again uh we would submit uh as soon as you all approve and in May the congresswoman would to submit to Congress we'd go back and forth provide additional technical details and we have a lot of specifications that we can share uh to to justify every bit of expenditure then if it's incl if it's approved by Congress it would be included in the appropriations bill and we would have to wait for Congress to vote on this ideally in September, but we're thinking February, March of next year and then the timeline gets extended with hopefully uh and my the earliest would be September 2026, but sep uh January of 2027 is more likely as a start date. And the requested action again is your approval to submit this application, $3 million grant request, no match required for the innovation factory uh phase 2 project. Happy to answer any questions. Very good. represent Lima. Thank you, Omar. Once again, we had an opportunity to tour the airport and we were taken directly to this to the factory. We met with several of the people that are working out there and the projects are just incredible. Um, what a great facility and it just opens it up to more and more projects like this. Um, um, great great idea and great submission and best of luck on it. Thank you very much for presenting. Any more questions or discussion for Omar? Omar, thank you for the presentation. Uh, Miss Nunes, call for the vote. We do have a motion B made by Mayor Prom Chavez, seconded by Representative Lemon, and this is to approve item 41. Voting session is open and the item has been approved unanimously with representatives and fier not present for the vote. Thank you very much. Thank you. All right. Have a good afternoon. All right. And the last item number 42, discussion and action on a resolution to execute loan applications for eligible transportation projects from FY2025 through FY2028 from the Texas Department of Transportation, State Infrastructure Bank, and to submit the applications. Do we have a motion on this one? Move to approve. Second. We have a motion and a second. Wkeim, how you doing? Good evening, Mayor and Council. Wriguez with the capital improvement department. it. Can you bring up the presentation, please? Um, item 42 is a resolution authorizing staff to submit applications to the text. State Infrastructure Bank for essentially the next four years of our MO uh project match obligations. Next slide, please. So, we wanted to start by giving a brief overview of the grant-f funded program. Um I am the director of the grant funded program which resides within the capital improvement department. Our focus is primarily on grant-f funed and federal funded transportation projects um including state funded projects as well. We work closely with Tex. We work uh with discretionary grants and additionally we also support the capital improvement department with uh larger transportation projects like those identified in the community progress bond and the transportation planning and transportation safety portfolio as well. Next slide please. A little bit of our funding history. Uh from 2018 to 2024, we've executed approximately $17.5 million in projects at a cost to the city of only $32.3 million in city match and other local contributions. Historically, our department's efforts have been funded by certificates of obligation, uh 7.7 million in 2017 and 10.9 million in 2018. In 2024, we had exhausted those previous debt issuances and uh pursued a different funding strategy through capital asset sales to fund that local match uh for FY24 and 25 at those funding levels listed on the slide. Um this strategy that we're pushing forward for your uh for your consideration today is an alternative to using that capital asset sales funding. uh the capital asset sales we see as a one-time funding source and not something that is really sustainable into the future. Next slide please. So just very briefly what are SIB loans? Uh SB is the state infrastructure bank. It is a text asset uh revolving loan fund. Essentially these are lowinterest loans for transportation infrastructure projects. The project must be federally eligible. Um, we can pay for construction or reconstruction uh right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, as well as contingencies, local match, and any financial or legal advisory fees, uh, required as part of the project as well. Next slide, please. City of El Paso is not the only uh agency in our area pursuing these loans. Um, the Camino Regional Mobility Authority, El Paso County, uh, City of Horizon, uh, Sakoro and Anthony have also pursued Sib loans for, uh, projects, including, uh, what we're looking at today, which is using SIB loans for local match requirements. Next slide, please. There are a number of benefits to SIB loans. Uh, foremost, it is a fixed low interest rate loan with zero lending costs. We'd also consider a pretty short timeline for funding, 6 to 8 months from the time we apply to uh to text. Uh, additionally, El Paso is a economically disadvantaged county. So, we do receive an interest rate discount because of that. And again, our our primary uh, you know, motivating factor for this is as an alternative to that one-time funding from capital asset sales. Next slide, please. Uh the rate is essentially calculated based on the municipal market index um plus our EDC reduction that's the economically disadvantaged county reduction of 55 basis basis points. Um the rate that we pay we then pay a 10% uh I wouldn't say penalty but it's a 10% above the AAA rate because we are a double A rated uh city. Next slide please. This is an example of what that loan breakdown looks like over different funding periods. Um, this would be specifically for our Sean Hagerty project where the loan amount requested is about 7.36 million. Um, working with Mr. Cortinez and his team, we've identified that a 25-year term is most appropriate. Um, this is again an estimate. The texts folks will calculate the the final rate. Um, but we're looking at a 25-year term at an annual rate of about 3.73%, an annual payment of around 460,000 and total interest over the life of that loan of $4 million. Next slide, please. Uh, real quickly on the timeline, once we apply to Texot, uh, the timeline is about 5 to 7 months. Our city process will then add one to two months to that. Um, essentially, we need to work to complete the applications. Um and a council resolution which is what's before you today is required for application and then a second resolution is required for execution uh of the loan agreement once it's been approved by the transportation commission. Next slide please. This is essentially what projects we have programmed in the grant funded portfolio for uh the next four fiscal years. So we would be pursuing single loan uh agreements for the larger projects and then the smaller group the smaller projects we would be pursuing uh grouped loans. The minimum loan amount from the state infrastructure bank is a million dollar. So you see some of our smaller uh bicycle and pedestrian transportation alternative projects would be grouped together um to be able to hit that minimum um but also to allow us some flexibility. We see a lot more price fluctuation in smaller projects in terms of final construction amounts. So by grouping them we'd be able to have some flexibility in how to apply those funds. The next slide I will pass over to Mr. Cortinez um to go over. Good afternoon mayor council. And so one of the things that wen mentioned is not only a lot of the benefits related to the siblans. This item presentation went to the uh FOAC a little bit earlier this month and we did get their support to bring this item to the full city council. Um so this presentation or this slide came from a a more in-depth presentation on the debt service that we have. U so this slide actually incorporates not only looking at the sibloan impact of the 39 million over the next three years but also factoring in future projections related to the remaining public safety and community progress bonds. And so you see here the projected death service rate projected out to the year 2034. Um again a very very minimal impact. We think the benefits far outweigh sort of the minimal impact of issuing this $39 million of civ loans. Um there are a lot of assumptions. We did a very lengthy presentation, but a lot of assumptions built into this model. Some of the numbers will change again related to property valuations, future interest rates, uh things of that sort. Um but again, just to highlight sort of the impact. I think one of the things that's important as well, you saw this morning the El Paso Water Utility bring forth their extended commercial paper program and those parameters, you'll remember their parameter for the interest rate was 5.9%. that they asked the council for approval for and you'll saw with what Keem presented is under 4%. So again, very very favorable interest rates. It's a a great program not going through the bond market and instead you're going through the text program. Thank you, Robert. Uh next slide, please. I'm happy to answer any questions. Next slide is just the requested action. Um, so we're recommending approval of the use of SIB loans to fund the MO match as an alternative to capital asset sales and approval of the resolution to submit loan applications uh for local match requirements through fiscal year 28 for up to 39.12 million. Very good presentation and very low cost of money. Um, any questions for walking? No amendments to the amendments to the amendments. All righty. Uh quick represent Canales. Thank you, mayor. Um the list of projects uh over the next over the three fiscal years uh are those are the only projects that we would be considering uh using the siblan to to match. I I think our intent would be to continue the strategy past those years. Um the list of projects really encompasses the FY 25 to28 tip as approved by the the MO's transportation policy board. Um we would likely use SIB loans um short of finding another strategy um beyond those years. But since those are the only fiscally constrained programmed projects, that's all we felt appropriate asking for authorization for at this time. Yeah, that makes sense. I guess I mean to say we're constraining our use of the of the SIB loans to projects in the tip at this time for the next three years. Yes. And we've already checked to make sure we understand what the capacity is for the city because we've been you know this is a huge leverage of of federal and state dollars and want to make sure we have a funding source for this. So our thought was that you know we we I think we reached out it's 116 million. I think it's the cap that any one municipality would be able to utilize. So we know we have some capacity built into this and then we work into the budget the the annual payment. Yeah. And I know this is like highly technical for members of the public but this is taking the place of essentially selling capital assets selling off the city's properties which you know we only get the money for that once and then immediately sync it into uh paying paying the the matching uh funds for these federal projects. So I think this is a much better solution. So kudos to you all for the work on it. Great. Thank you. Very good. Representative Chavez. Thank you, mayor, and thank you for this presentation. I know we saw it in FOA and and I really appreciate the work that you put into this. Um I this question is more for the city manager just because she's briefly mentioned this in the past and I think it's a good moment to just speak to you know when we do incur a little bit of debt at the city and and the interest that we have to uh pay you know um to pay off that debt. Um could you just speak a little bit about that? I know that in this case, you know, it's going to be $4 million compared to the $7 million loan, but um you know, I I do support this project, but if you could just speak to that a little bit. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. I think overall we've been just really cognizant of talking about how we find ways to pay cash for, you know, many of the assets and pay go and as you know, we've been working to try to make sure we have grant match opportunities for us. We're very fortunate that we're able to really leverage these type of dollars, you know, from the federal government and state government. Um, this program, I think, is really attractive for us because of the interest rate. And as Robert said, we're saving quite a amount of money, not having to go out for bonds. There's costs associated with some of those pieces. I think many of you have heard me say, you know, stop putting things on a credit card because the cost is 45%. this doesn't, you know, yeah, there is some cases where we're going to be talking about debt for our city, but if we can do it in the best possible way and ensuring that we can get the best rates possible, that's always going to be the strategy that our CFO and our team is looking for for our community while I think at the same time maintaining the needs of our of our community. You know, in terms of all of these projects that that we have in place, I think is important and vital. And we see this as one of our major avenues to be able to to take care of transportation and streets. Exactly. And these are really, you know, a complement to the things the community has asked us to really take care of and focus on. Exactly. And if I recall correctly, I think it's their number one priority, right? Okay. Thank you. Thank you both. Thank you. All right. Miss Nunes, seeing no further discussion, would you call for the vote? Of course. And we do have a motion made by Representative Canales, seconded by Representative Lemon. And this is to approve item 42. Voting session is open and the item has been approved unanimously with representatives and Pier not present for the vote. Does that bring us to the end of the agenda? Motion to adjurnn. We have a a motion and a second. All those in favor? I. Anyone opposed? And the city council meeting for Tuesday, April 29th has been adjourned at 4:50 p.m. And Miss Nunes, just before we leave the DAS here, I just want to make sure the Sun Metro the mass transit meeting was cancelled. Yes, it was, sir. Okay. Just wanted to make sure. All right. Thank you staff and thank you everyone that uh was very patient with us today as we got through a lot of important issues. And I want to thank the ASL uh sign language folks that were here since this morning and and and doing the the the signing for us. But thank everyone, thanks staff and good meeting. Mayor, can I make one quick final announcement? Uh council either in your offices or here at the Dis. I left you uh the ASAC, the animal shelter advisory committee annual report for 2024. That was required to be delivered to you by the end of the month. So we weren't able to present it today. You'll see the committee come back and present it in a future meeting. Uh but we did make sure to get it into your hands as required of us by the end of the month. Thank you.