Well, good morning everyone and welcome to city council. It's good to to feel all the energy in the room. We're going to have a great day. So, good morning to you guys. El Paso, good morning city council. Good morning, Miss Prime. We're ready to go to work. >> Thank you, mayor. Good morning and welcome to the presentation of the mayor's proclamations. This morning we begin with a pledge of allegiance. And to lead us in the pledge, we have students from Isleta Elementary School, Isleta Middle School, and Lancaster Elementary School. At the invitation of City Representative Lily Lemon, we have Damen Martinez, Elena Martinez, and Roxanna Martinez. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [Applause] All right. Wonderful. Ready? One, two, three. [Applause] Miss Bry, our first proclamation. >> Yes, Mayor. This morning we'll begin with a proclamation for David Elcarrasco job court graduation date. >> Okay. Represent Rocha. >> Represent Lemon. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Good morning, mayor. Good morning, city representatives. Good morning uh audience. >> My name is Mr. Arur Aguilar. Uh I am the community liaison for for the David Alcarasco uh JobCore Center. >> You know, we're going to we're going to read something for you real quick. >> Okay. Awesome. >> And then you got nice to meet you though. >> Okay. Thank you, sir. >> This is a proclamation from the city of El Paso, Texas. Whereas the David El Carrasco Job Course Center in El Paso provides free vocational training, academic education, and supportive residential life to low-income youth age 6 to 24. And whereas the center offers programs in culinary arts, facilities, maintenance, HVAC, repair and automotive services, office administration, rehabilit rehabilitation and welding. And whereas the institution was founded in 19770 1970 by our local educator and leader David Livingston Carrasco and renamed in his honor in 1991. The center continues its mission to prepare students for well-paying careers. And whereas David Elcarrasco carried forward his family's longstanding commitment to education and vocational training in El Paso, his grandfather founded a vocational school in the area and his father headed the JobCore before it was renamed in his memory. His vision established a lasting institution dedicated to helping local youth build brighter futures. And whereas the David Elcarrasco Job Course Center, an outstanding vocational and academic education training program for the youth of for the youth of El Paso and its surrounding areas, it's celebrating its 55th year. And whereas during these 55 years, the David Elcarrasco JobCore Center has provided much needed assistance and attention to students by helping them become responsible, employable, and productive citizens. And whereas the city of El Paso commends the 2025 graduating class of the David Elcar Rasco JobCore Center as they celebrate their accomplishments. Now therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and council of the city of El Paso that August 20th shall be known as a David Elcarrasco job corps graduation day signed by the honorable mayor Renard Johnson Iviva David Carrasco. >> Good morning. >> Say again, sir. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, Mr. Mayor. How are you? >> Good. Good. you want to say some words? >> Yes, I do. Yes. >> First and foremost, thank you. Thank you for uh for the invitation, the proclamation. Um I do want to share with everybody uh we do have our our graduation coming up tomorrow. Uh thank you for thank you for for being there. Thank you for honoring us with uh with your with your presence. Um we do have 225 graduates from u from El Paso. out of those it is going to be 178 are from uh from the local El Paso County area. Okay. Out of those uh 66 have already confirmed. Okay. So they will be there tomorrow. Um and who I have with me here today is part of our part of our student uh government association and part of our staff. And I would like for them to introduce themselves so you guys can know more about them and uh what we produce at David Alcarasco. Sure. Thank you. Good morning. >> Good morning, sir. How are you doing today? >> Good. >> Pretty good. I apologize. So, good morning. My name is Job Sunos. I am the student body president here at the David Alcarasco JobCore. I am part of the graduating class for 2025. And I'm pretty excited because I was accepted into their advanced training program over in Utah Clearfield. And I hope to get into the aerospace welding program. >> Wow. Congratulations. >> Yeah. Good morning. My name is Alison Delgado. I am the vice president for a student government association. I am currently doing my second trade which is automotive. My first one was welding and hopefully once I finish I'll be able to get into the military. >> Ah, fantastic. >> Hi, I'm Ria and I am the secretary of SGAA and my trade is auto. And thank you guys. >> Oh, thank you. Good morning. My name is Isaac Hernandez. I am the safety officer of SGAA. I've completed welding. Now I'm in automotive. And once I'm done, I'm planning to go to the Navy. >> Thank you. >> Fantastic. >> Hi, my name is Cheyenne Noli. Um I am from Andover, Kansas, and I came to El Paso and I am on my second trade. My first trade was HVAC and I'm now in facility maintenance. Thank you. >> Good morning, Mayor Johnson. Awesome to be here again this year. Miss Lemon, awesome again. Thank you for those words. I If you notice, we've got some females in hard trades and that's the reason that I brought them. So, they'll everybody the young ladies, the little girls here in the audience knows it can be done. um many of us many of those have completed and will be going on. So my name is Eva Mariscal. I am the student government association advisor and also the um center standards and incentives manager there at the program. Former student since 1983, been there for a while. Um the job core as everybody knows has gone through a little bumpy road. We continue pushing forward and hope to be there again for another year. So again, thank you Mayor Johnson for being there with us whether personal in person or virtually. We welcome your your wise words. So I will go ahead and and our next uh presenter here is Miss Va. She's our executive assistant. She has been uh behind this program as well as the graduation. She's making it an awesome job. So Christie, >> good morning. Good morning. Good morning Mayor. >> Good morning. Uh again, uh as she said, my name is Christy Vayet. I'm the executive assistant at the David Alcrossco JobCore uh campus and um I'm very very proud of all of our students. I do oversee uh all of the events, especially the graduation. Um and I want to thank you for honoring us uh with your commencement speech. Uh we look forward to that and I am happy for our students to receive those words from you. Um, like I said, we're we're very proud of all of our students. They come to us um some with challenges, some with uh not being able to afford college, and we give them that place to grow and and um pave those paths that they need. So, thank you. Thank you to the city uh for everything. >> Wow. Congratulations. Well, congratulations to each and every one of you and my and I'm very excited and honored to be speaking at your commencement ceremony tomorrow and I'm looking forward to that. But, um, 55 years is is a long time and we need you here for another 50 years. So, for what you're doing and just heard some incredible stories from the students, aerospace military automotive and HVAC, I mean, congratulations. you guys are turning out some truly gems for this community and and elsewhere in the country. So, keep doing up keep doing uh the good work and and the city of El Paso is behind you guys. So, congratulations [Applause] Thank you. Thank you so much. All right, let's do two rows. If you're a little shorter, go ahead and identify yourselves. That looks great. And let's Congratulations. Okay, Miss Bryan. >> Yes, sir. And for those of you receiving a proclamation, your group will have up to six minutes collectively at the podium. That brings us to the next proclamation, which is Vietnam Veterans of America. [Applause] And the proclamation reads, "Whereas the Vietnam Veterans of America BVA Texas State Council TSC convention is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, October 3rd through the 4th, 2025 at the Hotel Windam El Paso airport. And whereas the BBA chapter 574 and chapter 844 will host the BBA TSC and all the BBA members throughout the state of Texas. And whereas the Vietnam Veterans of America, Texas State Council offers college scholarships to BVA descendants for a better future for both veterans, families, and the community. And whereas the TSC coordinates over 35 chapters in Texas through outreach, advocacy, and service, the BBA Texas State Council honors a pledge and continues to improve the lives of those who served. And whereas the Vietnam Veterans of America Texas State Council remains dedicated to its mission. Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another. And now therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and council of the city of El Paso that October 3rd through the 4th, 2025 shall be known as Vietnam Veterans of America, Texas State Council Day, signed by our honorable mayor, Bernard Johnson. >> Good morning. >> Morning, mayor. >> Good morning. >> Good to see you guys again. Uh going to be a little just got back from New Orleans from the national convention for the Vietnam veterans. Kind of a sore throat, but I got a spokesman from push country shelf, which is very unusual, okay? Because I'm blown kind of long-winded, but I'm here representing the state of Texas, all 36 chapters within the state of Texas. And uh it's been a fabulous fabulous 50 years of our of our r making for the Vietnam Veterans of America. Uh we know our days are limited and we we want to thank you the city for everything that you've done for us and hope all of you all can join us. On October the 1st to the 4th, we have a a state convention at the Wingdom Hotel and as as we had discussed before and everybody's welcome to come and join us. It's going to be one of the great finales hopefully here in El Paso. Fantastic. It's going to be the best. You've got a a bunch of veterans there with you. They want to introduce themselves. >> Sure. with Steve. I'll >> go ahead. Go ahead. Gil good morning. >> My name is Gil Blancas. I'm vice president of 844 and u we are so excited about this opportunity. U we've been providing the recognition for a number of years and now we've got the recognition. And you know, it's it's been uh we just c celebrate the uh 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, >> which was, you know, the the also the end of the draft. And a lot of you know that many of us, all of us, I think, were drafted and uh for whatever reason, ended up in in Vietnam. So, we're very excited about this and we're very excited about the proclamation that we're about to just we're about to receive. So, thank you very much on our behalf. >> Yeah. Congratulations. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. My name is Connie Pñena. I am a a Marine. I served during Vietnam, but I did not go to Vietnam. I am the treasurer for chapter 574. And uh we hope to see you there uh for our convention. We have a lot of goodies, a lot of treats. So, you have fun. Thank you. >> Hi, I'm I'm Steve Norbrook. I served in Vietnam in Van Rang >> and uh hope that you all can come to the conference because we've got some silent auctions there and there are wonderful gifts that you can get for Christmas early. So, beautiful to see you all there. >> Great. Good morning, mayor. Good morning, uh, council. Thank you for this honor. >> Uh, what can I say? First of all, I'm very proud to have served this beautiful, beautiful big country of ours and I'm very proud to be from El Paso. I served at Tanzaner base. I was in the Air Force and flew all over Vietnam from the north to the south and I thank you for this honor again and I hope to see you there at the state convention in October. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you. >> Good morning. I'm Prince McKenzie and I served two tours of duty in Vietnam and we are here today. But six of my UTP classmates were KIA and one Captain Ron Dawson was missing in action and we remember them. >> Yes, absolutely. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. My name is Cesus San Daval and I'm proud to have served in the US Navy in Vietnam and what they call the Brownwater Navy and that's special because we supported the 9inth Infantry Army Division and we toured nine months out there and I survived. Thank you very much for you. >> Good morning. >> Sure. Good morning council mayor everybody and all the audience. Thank the Lord for all of us being here and our Vietnam veterans that are all here with us today. My name is Terry Ranel. I joined the Associates of the Vietnam veterans and right now I currently serve on a national board Texas AVA president and local chapter and I'm here to service all veterans. Thank you, Colonel Burns and everybody here's who served in in the military. Thank you. >> Thank you. We're done. >> Was that everybody? >> All right. Well, thank you guys. And and let's everyone remember the Vietnam Texas State Council Convention October 1st through the 4th at the Windham Hotel. And I think you guys summarized it best, you know. But first, we want to thank each and every one of you for your service uh to this country. Um all of you that have served and anyone in the audience that has served also and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. You know, we we we thank you. And I think the proclamation says it best. It says never again will one generation of of veterans abandon another. And what I'm going to ask uh my my colleagues here on the dis and everyone in the room is that we stand up and give you guys a round of applause for your service. Thank you. [Applause] Thank you guys. >> Thank you. >> Okay. We got that one. Okay. I want to get in here and get a picture, too. Okay, sounds good. Um, just give her your phone when she's up there and she'll take it for you from a better angle. Did >> you say so? Thank you so much. And the next proclamation is El Paso Surf 2008 girls soccer team. [Applause] Wow. >> Is this yours? >> It's mine. Good morning. >> As you approach, >> Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. >> Give me just a second while everybody gets here. Mayor, one of the first um um events that I was invited to when I was sworn in was to come out on a Saturday and watch these young ladies play against a a team from Phoenix. And I was talking to the parents. The parents are probably some of the most important people on every successful team, as I'm sure the coach will attest. And there was so much pride out there. And they were just incredibly happy with all that had taken place. And so in my mind, I thought, I think they're going to make it all the way to the top. And so it is with great honor that I read this proclamation. says where whereas the El Paso Surf 2008 girls soccer team is comprised of talented high school players from across the borderland united by passion, dedication, and competitive spirit. And whereas the team began their journey with the creation of the EP Select program designed to give local players greater exposure and the opportunity to compete at a higher level. And whereas playing under the name Toritas FC, they made an immediate impact winning the President's Cup in their very first tournament together and performing strongly at the prestigious Surf Club surf. And whereas their growth and ambition led them to join the El Paso Surf Soccer Club, earning the opportunity to compete in the Development Player League, a national platform dedicated to helping players reach their highest potential. And whereas a team recently traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota to compete in the 2025 National Tournament, defeating elite teams from Colorado, California, Florida, and Georgia. and ultimately triumphing over a team from Missouri in the championship match which you remember well. Whereas their undefeated s season and championship victory brought home the title of 2025 DPL national champions filling our community with pride and showcasing the excellence of local athletes on the national le level. And whereas this victory is more than a title. It's proof of what happens when local talent meets the SURF standard. Their mission has always been to provide the best opportunities, the highest level competition, and a clear pathway for players in our community to grow into the athletes and leaders they aspire to be. Now therefore be it proclaimed by the mayor and city council of the city of El Paso that August 19th, 2025 shall be known as El Paso Surf 2008 girls DPL National Champions [Applause] and it's signed by the honorable mayor Renard Johnson. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. Good morning. Uh thank you uh Mayor and Council and Miss Lemon. I don't know if you remember me. Uh my name is Joshua Lasano and I was one of your students back at Chavis. >> So I'm happy to see you and um I guess I turned out all right. >> You turned out all right. Commendable. So, >> I just um I just want to thank everybody here um audience and for our our parents, our staff, our girls for the hard work and and um giving us this um the opportunity, you know, and the and the gift to to bring this this gold home and and be recognized. You know, we did really put El Paso on the map. Um, for someone that travels a lot, um, you know, I I go to a lot of places and and there's people that know El Paso, but they know it very little. And this time around when the girls did what they did, uh, we had a lot of people talking about El Paso. So, uh, I am a very proud El Paso native and and, uh, and I'm very very excited and and happy and proud to to be part of all this. >> Outstanding. Um, Coach Himeme. >> Hello. Good morning. My name is uh, Coach Hime Gonzalez. Uh, I want to say thank you. Thank you for the for this honor and uh, congratulations to the girls again. I can't tell you enough how proud of you. Y'all put the hard work and hard work pays off. Uh, you guys put El Paso on the map and uh, congratulations girls. Thank you. Thank you. Coach, can we have them introduce themselves? >> Yes. We want to start with uh well, we have uh assistant coach uh Brenda Gonzalez. >> She's being shy over there, huh? >> Shy, but they will start from that end. Uh Willie, >> and their schools. >> Say your name. >> Yeah. And your school, please. >> Good morning. >> My name is Good morning. My name is Emily Gonzalez and I go to Eastwood High School. >> Oh, Eastwood. [Applause] Good morning. My name is Gabriella Rodriguez and I go to Riverside High School. >> Um, good morning. My name is Caitlyn Pavlla and I go to Parkland High School. [Applause] >> Hi, good morning. My name is Camila Rivera and I go to Parkland High School. [Applause] >> Good morning. My name is Nicole Kinonas and I go to East Lake High School. >> Good morning. My name is Crystal Gonzalez and I go to East Lake High School. [Applause] Good morning. My name is Renato Perez and I go to Dorado High School. >> Hi, good morning. My name is Teslano and I go to Catstead High School. >> Good morning. My name is Alra Munos and I go to East Lake High School. >> Good morning. My name is Joel Easano and I go to Elorado High School. >> Good morning. My name is Pepnik and I go to Franklin High School. [Applause] >> Good morning. My name is Jasmine Vado and I go to Gaston High School. [Applause] Good morning. My name is Kayn Miller and I go to Parkland High School. >> Good morning. My name is Juliana Robali and I go to Elorado High School. [Applause] >> Good morning. My name is Genesis Hernandez and I go to Elorado High School. Well, good morning to each and every one of you and and who says El Paso can't compete right? >> You know who says? Yeah. Undefeated. You beat out teams from Colorado California Florida and Georgia. And you're from El Paso, Texas. And I know the coaches have told you this, but we know what kind of work you put in to to get to where you're at, to get to this level. We know that it takes a lot of hard work at school with your parents, with the coaching. You guys probably wake up early and and train late. So, we understand what you put into to bring this home to El Paso, but I guarantee you some of these other states know El Paso's name right now. So, thank you guys for getting that done. Congratulations. [Applause] What's up again? >> You beat me to a punch. >> I know, right? as always. and the final proclamation this morning is international overdose awareness day represent >> Rocha. Yes. Thank you so much. Thank you, Miss Prine. I'm going to give everybody an opportunity to to stand up. And this one, I know we just got off of a really beautiful high here. And this is something that's very near and dear to my heart. A lot of people don't know that my first husband passed from an an accidental overdose. Sorry, but um he would have been 53 on Sunday. And there's there's not enough attention on this. And so giving this proclamation is near and dear to me. And thank you for all the work that you guys do to bring awareness to this something that's so important. So I'm going to read it now. I'm going to compose myself. Whereas since its inception in 2001, August 31st has been recognized as International Overdose Awareness Day. And across the globe, communities, government entities, and nonprofit organizations host events to raise awareness and commemorate individuals impacted by overdose. And whereas International Overdose Awareness Day is the world's largest annual campaign to bring an end to overdose, to remember without stigma, those who have been affected, and to acknowledge the ongoing grief carried by families, friends, and communities. This day is an opportunity to educate the public about overdose as one of the most critical public health challenges of our time and to encourage conversations and actions rooted in evidencebased prevention and compassionate drug policy. It is also a time to recognize the deep emotional impact experienced by loved ones whose family members or friends have suffered an overdose. And whereas the city of El Paso joins in the global effort to offer a safe and respectful space for people to honor their loved ones, many for the first time without guilt, shame, or silence. To foster inclusive and non-denominational participation in International Overdose Awareness Day activities, to share accurate information on the realities of both fatal and non-fatal overdose. To affirm the worth, dignity, and humanity of people who currently or formally use substances. To spark meaningful dialogue on overdose prevention, harm reduction, and supportive drug policies. To connect our community to essential services and supports available in our region. To reduce substance related harm through education and compassionate researchinformed approaches. to increase awareness among El Pasoans about the risks associated with overdose and the tools we have to prevent it. Whereas on August 31st, El Pasoans are encouraged to stand with the El Paso Harm Reduction Alliance in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day to uplift those affected, reduce stigma, and affirm that overdose is a preventable public health issue. Now therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and council of the city of El Paso that August 31st, 2025 shall be known as International Overdose Awareness Day, signed by the Honorable Mayor, Renard Johnson. [Applause] >> Good morning. >> Good morning. Thank you, Representative Roachcha. I'm so sorry about your loss. Mayor, council members, and community members, every August 31st, people all over the world gather together to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day. A day that honors the many lives lost to overdose and recognizes the devastating grief of those who are left behind and affirms our commitment to ending these preventable deaths and saving lives. I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Jamie Bailey. I'm a person in long-term recovery. I'm a peer recovery support specialist for Project BA and co-chair and co-founder of the El Paso Harm Reduction Alliance. Overdoses affect everyone and do not discriminate. They touch every community, generation, every background. Here in El Paso, we have lost friends, family members, neighbors, and co-workers. Each number in the statistics represents not only a policy failure, but a name, a story, and a person who was deeply loved. The good news is we can change policy. We know how to help people stay alive, heal, and thrive. This day is not only about remembrance, but about action. It is about raising awareness, reducing stigma, and ensuring that people feel safe asking for help. It is about advocating for access to life-saving and evidence-based harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support so that lives can be saved. We honor the courage of those in recovery, the dedication of first responders, health care providers, and peer support specialists, and the love and persistence of families and friends who refuse to give up hope. On this International Overdose Awareness Day, we recommmit ourselves as a city to compassion, evidence-based solutions, and the belief that every life has value. Together, we can work together towards a future where no life is lost to overdose. Thank you. [Applause] Good morning, council. Good morning. Um, Representative Roachcha, thank you for being vulnerable and for um, sponsoring this proclamation. Um, mayor and members of council, my name is Christopher Bailey. I'm a person in long-term recovery. I'm a project coordinator with Project V the Health Center, a recovery support specialist, and I'm also a harm reductionist. We want to thank you all for issuing this proclamation for International Overdose Awareness Day. It sends a powerful signal to our community that El Paso acknowledges this crisis and values every life. If I might, proclamations must also be paired with action because the reality here is stark. In El Paso County, the overdose death death rate has nearly doubled in just a few years, rising from 11.3 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2018 to more than 21.8 per 100,000 by 2023. Fentil is now implicated in more than half of all of our overdose deaths. These statistics represent our neighbors, our classmates, our co-workers, families, and loved ones. People in every district of this city have buried a loved one because of overdose. Parents are raising grandchildren because their adult children are now gone. The tragedy is that we know what works. Last year, nationwide, in stark contrast, the CDC reported a nearly 27% national decline in overdose deaths, the largest single year drop ever recorded. That progress was not accidental. It was driven by evidence-based harm reduction strategies, nlloxxone distribution, fentanil test strips, peer recovery support, and pathways into treatment. Communities that embrace these tools are saving lives. El Paso has unspent opioid abatement funds. These dollars are meant exactly for this crisis. But without a clear strategy, they risk sitting idle or risk being misspent. While the deaths continue, your predecessors committed to forming a task force of subject matter exports to guide how these funds should be deployed. I am here to ask you to renew and act on that commitment. With your leadership, we can move from proclamation to implementation, from words on paper to lives saved in our streets, our homes, and in our families. Every light we honor at the vigil on August 31st is a reminder that El Paso cannot afford to wait. Every light we honor this week is a life we could have saved. Let us make no more families in El Paso have to mourn in silence. And while we cannot bring back the lives we've lost, together we can make sure there are no more empty chairs at our tables. Thank you, Vivald Paso. El Paso Viva. >> Thank you. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. My name is Joey Montes. I am an outreach coordinator for Recovery Alliance of El Paso. I am also a proud member of the El Paso Harm Reduction Alliance and I want to thank you all for being there and you I'm sorry for your loss of course. Um, thank you all for providing us the support that we need. Um, I've recently been working on a lot of outreach product projects with um, code enforcement, police department, um, agencies that I never thought were going to be out there to help us to understand. But we're all learning together and we're doing our best to better provide the supportive services and our efforts to educate people on uh overdose prevention response and awareness. Thank you. >> Thank you. [Applause] No one else wants to come up here. Thank you. >> Good morning. >> Um, good morning. My name is Christine Zimmerly and I'm a uh speaking as someone in long-term recovery having faced substance use, mental health challenges incarceration. I'm also an overdose survivor and I'm standing here today as a member of the El Paso community on behalf of the El Paso Harm Reduction Alliance. My condolences for your loss. My condolences to anyone who's lost someone to overdose in this community. We've seen the impact. We reach out. People reach out. They get help. They stay alive thanks to access peer connection and education, harm reduction and overdose and prevention efforts are saving lives. We do see the impact. And today I just wanted to invite everyone, friends family neighbors city council, the mayor. I would like to invite you to attend our overdose awareness vigil on Saturday, August 31st at 6:30 p.m. at Houston Park. Please come stand with us to honor lives lost, support those battling, and to affirm that no one in El Paso has to walk this path alone. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. [Applause] >> Good morning. >> Good morning, council. Good morning, Mayor. My name is Jason Aosta. I'm a person in long-term recovery. I just wanted to say that I'm very glad to serve alongside these people to uh put on this event and uh help bring awareness to uh people who are in long-term recovery and people who may be suffering from the loss of people. My condolences, Miss Rocha. Thank you. >> Thank you. And thank you guys for all of the awareness that you do uh bringing this to to light and and there's many of us in this room that have lost someone, you know, friends, family, and co-workers to to an overdose. So, you're you're speaking to a lot of people that this has affected um and you know, every life does matter. You know, I heard that said and and it does it does matter. And I want to also offer my condolences to Representative Roachcha for and putting yourself out there. I mean, um, a lot of us weren't aware of that. So, thank you for sharing that with us. Um, because it it it it means a lot to us. So, thank you for doing that and thank you guys for all that you're doing. Thank you. [Applause] Oh, I guess we have to One, two three. want to distribute. Council, we're going to be in recess till 10:00. Okay, Miss Pry, I think we're ready. >> Yes, Mayor, >> if everyone can please take their seats. The meeting is about to begin. >> I'm moving moving item 68 to the front. >> It's the uh improvement program. Did they pass out a sheet? Item number 68. >> Good morning. This is a meeting of the El Paso City Council for Tuesday, August 19th 2025. Mayor Johnson is present and presiding in council chambers along with mayor prom chavez representative aso representative maldonado rocha representative threo representative nino alternate mayor prom fiero representative lemon and representative canales it is 10:01 a.m. And we begin the meeting with an invocation delivered by El Paso Police Chaplain and Rabbi at Chabal Lubovich, Levi Greenberg. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> I will start off with an act of charity. Giving a dollar into a charity box. Sovereign of the world, look favorably upon the mayor, the members of the city council, and all of us gathered here this morning, and bestow upon us the joy of life, good health, and prosperity. Bless these distinguished individuals who have been chosen to make laws and decisions for the citizens of our city with wisdom and understanding in their noble pursuit of justice and equality. This is not only a civic responsibility but also a holy endeavor. Our tradition teaches of seven universal laws given to mankind by God through Noah, including the instruction to foster a moral society governed by law. These laws also include the importance of serving God alone, respecting God's name, and the prohibitions against murder, theft, adultery, and cruelty against all living creatures. Next week marks the beginning of the Jewish month of El. This month serves as a time for introspection and self-improvement in preparation for the Jewish New Year celebrated on Russash Shana, which is approximately five weeks away. Throughout the month, it is customary to blow a chauffeur, a ram's horn in a specified series of sounds. This simple sound of the chauffeur serves as a spiritual wakeup call to us all. A reminder that our existence on earth is for a divine purpose and goal. It reminds us that the entire world is measured by a giant scale where the sides of good and evil are equally balanced. One good deed, word or thought from a single individual can tip the scales in the right direction and usher in an era of true peace and tranquility for the entire universe. It reminds us of our mission and capacity to make this world a better place by leading lives rich with meaning and guided by a moral compass, a life suffused with acts of charity and caring for others. Almighty God, give us the strength to always remember these truths and live by them. May our city serve as a beacon of light for people of all faiths and walks of life. May El Paso help achieve the goal so powerfully stated in our pledge of allegiance, so that America is truly one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And let us say, amen. Amen. Thank you, Rabbi. >> Miss Bryan. >> Yes, Mayor. That brings us to call to the public and the city, the El Paso City Council is a local government body charged with serving the citizens and the meetings must be focused on the meeting at charge. The city council meetings are public meetings under the Texas Open Meetings Act. Public comment is an accommodation and not a requirement of city council. All persons in attendance are expected to display civility and decorum that is respectful to other persons without the use of insulting, profane, threatening, or abusive language. Public comment will not be used for personal attacks. Nor may any member of the public use this form for political statements or campaigning. Please note that during call to the public, the city council may not deliberate or decide any subject that is not on the agenda. However, council may propose that a topic brought forth be posted on a future agenda. >> Represent Nino. Thank you, mayor. And before we get started, I do want to recognize former city representative Henry Ria for joining us today. Thank you for being here. [Applause] >> Mayor, >> represent Lemon, >> mayor. We also have um former representative Anne Morgan Lily present today. Welcome. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Brian. >> Miss Mayor, this morning we have 11 people that signed up to speak for Call to the Public. We'll begin with Claudia Contra Siller. Her topic is support the police, animal services, and the cats of El Paso. Good morning, ma'am. You have three minutes. >> Good morning. >> Hi. Good morning. I want to start with giving thanks to everybody that took part of yesterday's ceremony where the pet pantries uh were launched and it was very nice to see everybody there. And I want to give thanks uh for our leader that he included the cats just as every awesome leader should do, especially if they love the animals. And I br I brought this plate um because I got it yesterday. I am a cat lady and an animal advocate. I also brought a badge from animal services. It's a cat with an ear clipped uh TNR. It's for trap neater return. And I think it's very awesome because for me it's a dream come true to see a pet pantry in all the libraries. I love I know a lot of people that struggle a lot to feed their fur babies. I'm a CODMA and I want to invite everybody to always report animal cruelty because some victims cannot dial 911 like the dogs and the cats. Also, I want to express that the director of animal services was there and many other leaders, community leaders and nonprofits. And also I want to uh motivate everybody to help the animals in the streets and to always take very seriously whenever someone reports animal cruelty because it takes a lot for someone to report animal cruelty. I've been reporting animal cruelty for a long time. My oldest cat just turned nine and I want to explain the importance of this flag to me. The blue line represents the the line that separates the white from the black like the evil from the from the good. And I think it's very important for us to support more the police department and also I want to give thanks because of the overdose awareness. It's very important to provide naran to the addicted community and also to support the blue. Uh I am a caregiver. Today is my only day off. I chose Tuesdays to be my only day off so I could be here. I deal with a lot of elderly people with Parkinson's and I want to have a police department for them for them in the future. So sometimes family members are not near and their only help is 911. So the red line represents the fire department and the green line either military or border patrol. So I want to express my gratitude to all the law enforcement and to Chief Pas also. Um if I were to be uh almost like if I were to be about to commit suicide and if I saw a police officer running across I 10 to save me, my first words would be thank you officer for running across the freeway to try to help me, not to ask for the badge number. That's my per that's my opinion and I've seen a lot of animals in the I 10 and I have never never tried to save an animal uh on I 10 cuz it's a death sentence. Thank you police officers. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. The next speaker is Chris. Chris followed by Barbara Valencia Ron Ko. >> Good morning. You have four minutes and Miss Bella's topic is at Paso Animal Services. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. Talked to you guys about two weeks ago. Um, one of the things about animal services is uh basically the lack of importance it has within the city, the lack of education and then also the fact that we don't make it a priority. Okay. Like um the ASAC animal welfare committee, right? You guys haven't published the meetings for the past year. Only January is published right now. I just looked on your website just to make sure. If you look at your little dropown menu, only January is posted. So, we're missing February, March, April, May, and June. July. Also, the July report for animal services for last month hasn't been published and it's already what the 19th. So, that's a report. It's a basic basic report. It doesn't give us any great insight. It doesn't give us great information. It's just basic numbers and it hasn't been published. So talking on that um I looked at like like shelters to El Paso Animal Services, right? Same size, scalability. And one thing I found is when we talk about the leadership in these shelters, uh every uh shelter director came in with animal experience. They all had four to five years. They all had their their Kawa certification. Do you guys know what a Kawa certification is? It's um the certified animal welfare administrator and it's like the platinum standard of animal welfare and every director in most of these uh shelters is required to have it within three years to because to have that certification you have to have three years of leadership in an animal full in an animal leadership position and our director hasn't gotten that that and he's been there for 5 years right also most of them require to have their acco CO animal control officer training which is 500 bucks and 20 hours online. Our director hasn't even done that. So our director's been there for 5 years and he hasn't done that. And then I was looking at when you guys originally hired the animal services director the requirements which were a degree which our current director does not have. He does have eight years of professional admin experience but he doesn't have uh well he does have not and not or four years of animal management experience which he didn't have. He has the eight years of professional admin experience license uh he never got his kawa within one year of appointment. That was one of your requirements and he didn't do it. Okay. Uh county they specifically said that you will get that license. You will get your kawa within your first three years. You will get your acco within your first year. So, county animal services is actually being more proactive as to who they're hiring. So, it kind of seems to us that we're working already like at half speed and it's unfair to us, the animal community, to have that person in charge when they're not going to meet any of the requirements. They're not trying to meet the requirements. They're just kind of hanging out. So, I'm hoping that if he resigns that we actually get someone that's qualified, competent, and is trying to do that improvement to get to the standard that we need to help the community. Thank you, Miss Valencia. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is Barbara Valencia. Miss Valencia will be followed by Ko and the topic is animal services. Insanity continues. Good morning, ma'am. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, everybody. I'm Barbara Valencia with Huckleberry Hound Dog Rescue. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. Giving thousands of taxpayer dollars to a consulting firm that is spin-off of the house and best friend shelter program is pure insanity. Shelter Savvy has taken the Best Friend Shelter program and repackaged it under their company name. One look at Shelter Savvy's website and review of her assessment in Denton, Texas shows her direct connection to Haw and Best Friends, the ones that put us in this animal crisis to begin with. Shelter Savvy's shelter sheltering methods consist of limited intake, leave or return the animals back onto the streets, promoting non-existent community programs and resources, and putting the onus onto the community members to do the job of animal services. Sound familiar? It should because that is the h and best friend's way of sheltering. What this consultant calls progressive and data driven is in fact a huge failure. It has failed for the last four and a half years in our city and has been catastrophic for both the animals and the community. We don't need for the shelter to remain limited intake to continue leaving strays on the streets to indiscriminately breed and adding more straying homeless animals to our out of control pet population. For finders of strays to be left holding the bag with no help or resources. for stray and lost animals to be left on the streets to fend for themselves, resulting in suffering and even painful deaths, little to no animal law enforcement. No high volume, lowcost or free spay and neuter programs, and an apartment of the city that is paid for by taxpayers that does things in secrecy and manipulates statistics and data to deceive the public. What is even more insane is the fact that our tax dollars are paying for someone in Atlanta, Georgia to fix the shelter in El Paso, Texas, using a one-sizefits-all flawed and failed shelter program. We have a local group that has over 200 years of experience combined in animal sheltering, animal welfare, and animal rescue. A local group with boots on the ground that knows im intimately the needs of both the animals in our community and our community members. In 2016, this group developed a viable and successful shelter program where intake at the shelter remained open and noa was turned away. And at the same time, their shelter program dramatically increased the live release rates while decreasing youth in Asia. And here's the kicker. It didn't cost the taxpayers one red cent. It was free. Why are we wasting taxpayer money on this continued insanity instead of using the successful group for free? For 4 and a2 years, the shelter continues to do the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result, and the city has been complicit. It's time for all of you to do the job you're elected to and stop the insanity. Thank you. The next speaker is Ron Kuo followed by Nasley Pamela de Laoya, Celinda Ray Cruz, Marisol Sanchez, Luis Netos. Mr. Ko's topic is shelter not up to standards. I don't see Mr. Ko in the queue. We'll move on to Nasley Pamela De Laoya. Her topic is economic development and animal services. Good morning. You have three minutes. >> Good morning, everybody. Um, Mr. Mayor, members of the city council, thank you for opening this forum for us to um, go ahead and tell you what it is that we care about. Uh, for me, the number one thing as somebody who believes that El Paso really can be the number one city in the nation is economic development. Um, so recently we got an advanced manufacturing center. And even though it's more geared toward the defense industry, there are also lots of possibilities. And I think it's a great opportunity to not just have the 17,000 jobs that are estimated um for that center to bring by 2030, but I would say that that could be tripled or even quadrupled. So, one of the things that I've noticed is that we have a lot of warehouses here for uh multinational corporations that already produce into Huades, but we just have the warehouse. So, I don't think it's just possible. I think it's actually plausible for us to start bringing processes over uh from there and some of those companies are BRP, Continental AG, 3M, Ansel, Jable, Robert Bosch, I mean there are countless ones. Um we do have I think everybody here knows the second highest property taxes in the nation. not only uh for a major city, not only would that help offset this, but it would also help with the brain drain problem that we have here in El Paso. So, instead of people leaving, they would decide to stay and maybe take on a job that pays reasonably well or not reasonably well, maybe we can be a little bit more ambitious and say, "Hey, let's start calling these companies, right?" because I don't think that it calling the mayor of Sad Huades and seeing if he wants to let some processes uh come over would be something that would be a viable option. But if we were to actually negotiate with these companies and say, "Hey, we have this educated workforce. I mean, we have the El Paso airport which is connected to how many cities you can get to LA, Mexico City, Walara, um Salt Lake City, Denver, lots of places in a 2-hour period. So the workforce is already here. Um you know we have the demand and now that we have the center I think that we need to be more ambitious and actually um really look into what we want this city to look like which for me it would be the number one city um in job creation. Uh with the rest of my time, I would like to uh thank you for this new program with the pet pantries that helps a lot of people that not only rescue animals, but also um people who might be struggling um or who just say, "Hey, like I'm finding strays. I'll just go ahead and take the stray in and feed it with what they're giving me here instead of taking it directly to the shelter and maybe find somebody on social media that will take the animal. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you. >> Our next speaker is Celinda Ray Cruz. She will be followed by Marisol Sanchez, Luis Netos. Miss Cruz topic is dangerous dog procedures. Good morning. You have three. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Morning everyone. Buenos. >> Morning. >> Um early in the morning on September 6, 2014 in 2024, my friend and her dog were attacked by a dog running loose. This occurred at Boron Park in northeast El Paso. The park is adjacent to Baron Elementary School. After attacking my friend, the dog left and ran from the park. And according to a social media post, Pho, which is the dog's name, was subsequently hit by a car and transported to an animal emergency room for treatment and to be re reunited with his owners. I took my friend to a human emergency room for treatment. I reported the attack to animal services. My friend was treated and referred to her doctor and subsequently had to undergo surgery for a complete rotator cuff tear of her left shoulder. She is still recovering from this attack, the required surgery and the physical therapy. The definition of a dangerous dog in El Paso Ordinance Title 7 animals is a dog that makes an unprovoked attack on a person that causes bodily injury and occurs in a place other than an enclosure in which the dog was being kept. We have made several unsuccessful attempts over the last 11 months to follow up on this incident. The identity of PHTO's owners has been protected by confidentiality. To our knowledge, this dangerous dog may still be living in the El Paso community near an elementary school. I submit to council that this dog pho has been given more protection under the law than I would have been given. His information is protected. Actually, his owner's information is protected. If I had attacked my friend and caused bodily injury, if I were the perpetrator had subsequently been hit by a car, police would have gone to the emergency room where I was being treated and would have arrested me. If I had been treated and released, the emergency room would have given the police the information leading to my arrest, and I could not have hidden behind patient confidentiality. I repeat, pho, a dog, has been given more protection under the law than I, a human, would have been given for an equal offense. El Paso City Code outlines the procedures for handling dangerous dogs. To my knowledge, animal services does not have or has not been given the tools necessary to follow these dangerous dog procedures and hold the human owners accountable. No one wants to see an animal euthanized. These procedures exist to mitigate the risk to public safety and protect the lives of people and animals, including the dangerous dog. This is not an isolated incident. I am seeking remedy from El Paso's government officials for the enforcement of the dangerous dog ordinance. Thank you. The next speaker is Maris Sol Sanchez. Her topic is animal services and she will be followed by Luis Neros. Good morning. You have three minutes. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> My name is Marisol Sanchez and I'm here today to share my recent experience with El Paso Animal Services. Last week I found an injured dog near the Target on Joe Battle. He was weak, injured, and in pain. I did what any responsible resident would do. I brought him to safety, gave him food and water, and called 311. I couldn't do more for the dog, but I asked for help from the people I know, but they couldn't do more either. 311 was my only option. I waited two hours in the heat with this injured dog because the dog didn't want to move anymore. He was exhausted and in pain. Then an animal services officer arrived. Instead of focusing on the emergency at hand, the officer bered me. He accused me of calling animal services too much, threatened that he would stop responding to my address, yelled at me, and told me it was not their job to pick up dogs, even though their website clearly states that animal services is responsible for emergency response and reconnecting lost pets. He he repeated this multiple times. When I talked to his supervisor, she said she needed to hear his side of the story and that citizens shouldn't be picking up strays, but they could pick up neighbor pets. Honestly, a dog that needs help is simply a dog that needs help, no matter what their label is. I want to emphasize this dog had a medical emergency. I followed proper procedure by calling 311. My past calls to animal services were not strays. They were neighbor pets who were safely returned home. My last call was the 1st of January and I remember the dog clearly. I have never called animal services of I've never called animal services with with reports of any of the dogs in the desert. Although they should pick up the dogs in the desert, too. A lost dog is a lost dog everywhere. Yet, I was treated with hostility and made to feel like a burden for doing the right thing. This is not just about me. This reflects a broken system where residents are discouraged from reporting animals in distress, where injured animals risk being left on the street, and where employees are placed under policies that make them lash out at the very community they're supposed to serve. El Paso Animal Services has a$22 million budget, $22 million budget. But if residents are being told it's not their job to respond to animals in need, then what is the money paying for? I urge this council to review animal services policies that prevent officers from helping residents and animals. Hold staff accountable for how they treat the public and animals. Re-evaluate the leadership at the shelter and current shelter plan which is clearly failing both our animals in our community. I should not be afraid of being blacklisted for calling 311 about a dog in distress. No resident should. and shelter policies will not stop me from picking up every animal I come across because I will never keep driving if I see an animal in need. >> Thank you, Miss Sanchez. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is Luis Meadows. Luis Cistos. I don't see Luis Netos coming forward. Elizabeth Crawford. Miss Crawford's topic is abortion and violence in the Border Plex. Good morning, Miss Crawford. Star six, please to unmute your telephone. You have three minutes, please. >> Good morning. Good morning. Thank you. Good morning. Um, I was in Huarez for a few days last week. I met a little girl whose dad was just killed, probably cartel related, senseless murder going on right across our border. The proverbs in God's word speaks of the eyes of the Lord in every place beholding the evil and the good, keeping watch over the evil and the good. But what about the senseless murder going on just across our state border? Los Cruus is ramping up for its multi-million dollar abortion expansion. As we know, many clients in New Mexico are from El Paso. I would like to read some quotes of abortionists and former abortionists regarding the horror of abortion. quote, "I got to where I couldn't stand to look at the little bodies anymore." Dr. Beverly McMillan, former abortionist and founder of an abortion mill in Jackson, Mississippi, who came out of the industry. Several other quotes. Sorrow quite apart from a sense of shame is exhibited in some way by virtually every woman for whom I performed an abortion, and that's 20,000 as of 1995. The fellow is revealed by the fact that most women cry at some point during the experience. The grieving process may last from several days to several years. Another quote, "We know that it's killing, but the state permits killing under certain circumstances. I served for 6 months in Jackson, Mississippi, outside the infamous pink house that has now relocated to Los Cruz, New Mexico. Coleman Boyd, an emergency room surgeon, served day after day after day there outside that abortion center with his beautiful family. They saved countless babies and adopted a number of them. I was texting with Coleman last night and this morning, and I listened to more of his story. He said that when he was in medical school, it was a given they were taught that you treat both mother and baby in the womb as patients. Both are human beings. They're not dogs. They're not giraffes. They're not elephants. They are people created in the very image of God. Coleman said that he went to medical school when he was 20 years old to get rich. That was his goal. But God got a hold of his life when he was in medical school and changed his heart. And now he his the direction of his life has totally changed. They've adopted many of these children. They have 14 children now and have committed their lives to saving babies in the womb. Isaiah 55:7. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy upon him and to our God for he will abundantly pardon. Thank you. Hope you have a good day. Thank you. >> The next speaker is Patricia Osmond followed by Joe Silva. Miss Osman's topic is transparency, first amendment, civil rights of citizens, and undue influence of donors and vendors. >> Officials, good morning. >> Well, good morning again, ladies and gentlemen. I see um my rep has left. >> You know what? I hate coming over here. >> I don't I don't do it because I want to, but I did it this time again. not only because of the budget and some of the stuff on the agenda, but because I got a phone call from a crying citizen of El Paso in Representative Fierro's district who previously contact who I made contact with while Mayor Liser was in office and who Miss Dion Mack tried to rush away from me at that But I have a crying message for me to help her because you all won't the the fact that most of y'all really don't care about the citizens. You really don't. It's evident by the fact that so many people come up here and speak about issues and you don't resolve them year after year, month after month. What you do is you'll take your donated dollars and then funnel contracts back to those don donors. Not helping the citizens. You're basically robbing the poor for the rich. I it it's it's shameful. It's shameful that citizens have to call one another to see if somebody I if if they will help because you all have failed them. It's heartbreaking that message. I I I would put it on, but I don't want to hear it again because she has called me numerous times and and it's all part of the same corruption that I pointed out and reported, which I will do again in all of that situation. I'm going to email to absolutely every one of you all again that I emailed the last city council so that there was no plausible deniability anymore again. and I will keep filing reports then because it's shameful. It's shameful that you really you just sit there let it go over your heads and don't care as long as you get and it's not for the party and throwing back tequila shots that we think. As long as you get that little trip elsewhere with those donated dollars or taxpayer dollars. The next speaker is Joe Silva. Joe Silva, I don't see him coming forward. Mr. Ko, are you in the queue, sir? If so, star six, please to unmute your microphone. Ron Ko. Star six, please to unmute your microphone. I don't see his phone number in the queue. Uh, council, that concludes call to the public. >> Okay. That brings us to the consent agenda in council for this meeting >> per the rules. >> Hello. >> Hello. >> Hello. Excuse me. >> May I have your name, ma'am? >> Hello. >> Your name? >> Okay. I don't have you on call to the public, ma'am. We'll call you at the time your item is taken. Council, per the rules of order, no use of personal cellular devices nor personal communication should take place on the day as well. The meeting is in session. Once you obtain the floor from the mayor, you will have up to 10 minutes for debate and may speak twice per item. Please speak into the microphone. I'm sorry. >> Hello. Uh, please speak into the microphone and refrain from side conversations at the day as well while the meeting is in session. For those of you joining us virtually, please make sure your microphones are muted to reduce any background noise. That brings us to the consent agenda. All matters listed under the consent agenda 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 Proin. >> Thank you, Miss Prime. I make a motion to approve the consent agenda with the following revisions. Page 22, item 68, move to the forefront of the regular agenda after the public hearings per Representative Boyjo. Page 22, item 72, take item at 12 p.m. per Representative Aso. >> Can you repeat those for me? >> Yes. I make a motion to approve the consent agenda with the following revisions. Page 22, item 68, move to the forefront of the regular agenda after the public hearings per representative Boy Trejo. Page 22, item 72, take item at 12 noon per representative aso. >> Okay, we have a a motion. Is there a second to approve? All right, Mr. M we have call to we have some more uh public comment. >> Yes, mayor. We have Miss Osman. She signed up to speak on item number seven. And item number seven is a list of solid waste leans posted with the agenda. So, I've spoken about leans before and I've asked more than one year coming coming in front of city council and I'll do it again that instead of putting leans on properties, perhaps some of our city council members will spend some of their discretionary funds or put together volunteer groups to help some of these senior citizens because there's a lot of these leans in district 2. my district, mind you, they go from $325, which is lean on somebody's home, to $2,800 in district one, Miss Chavis's district. This is something that just a small community project, a little bit out of your discretionary fund, maybe twice a month. What help? buy some water because y'all spend a lot of a lot of money and I'll get to that later on food. But people in our community shouldn't have all these leans on their properties for the for the weeds. Especially as people in the past have spoken and at the community meeting that I had miss with with Asabo again it was brought up there's a lot of senior citizens in this area who are on a fixed budget or don't have the health to go out there and do it. Yes, you could contact Yeah. Y'all could even put together like it was suggested there, adult super uh supervision, juvenile supervision, some of the high schools, any type of volunteer work. If you get interns and you have volunteers in your offices, you could do that to help the community so that the those same citizens and seniors don't have to have loans >> on their properties or these leans, sorry, leans on their properties. There's other ways to handle this instead of further making it harder for the citizens and quite frankly the poorer citizens of our community because if they didn't have $20 to hire the kid in the neighborhood, how are they going to have 300 plus to pay off these veins? It it's just there's there's no care and consideration for the actual citizens of this town. Miss Osman also signed up to speak on item 26 and this is a notation of PECAR transactions. So, the PECART, like I said, I was going to get to uh money on food. Pecard transactions when you go through it, just add it up alone. And I'm I'm sure I was probably lowballing this because I was just picking out clear food. our city council management for meetings with staff. 4,61069 was spent just on deli food feeding you guys. Most people in the offices around downtown have to Uber eats their food or go to Luigi's or or wherever else. They don't get it paid on the taxpayer dime, which is exactly what the Pecard shows is happening. Almost $5,000 mere food for people here in this room. I mean, not back here, but over here. Is that appropriate? Is that is that good for the budget? Is that coming out of your discretionary funds or is that general funds? It's PECARD, right? Either way, this is a whole day of budgets in in money illspent. You're you're you're hitting the little guys all the time, but you have no problem spending the taxpayers money. Most taxpayers can't go order out and get takeout as much as the PE card is showing our council members are getting. Miss Osman also signed up for item 29 on the notice of campaign contributions. So again, this is a whole day of budgets. Y'all are the ones that slam the agenda with so much, a lot of it on the consent agenda to hope y'all could slide it through, which is a little shady tactic, but well, it's reported on campaign finance. Maybe I shouldn't m maybe none of us citizens should be surprised coming from somebody who worked at Enron. But reporting oh near $38,000 in contributions tells me it's not for the past here in August campaign. It's for future campaign. Same person. same person that got nearly $38,000 at least so far just just reporting right now clawed back $70,000 in January into their discretionary fund is asking for $54,000 from the budget for each one of y'all to have $6,000 in travel expenses. So that 70,000 wasn't enough. The campaign money isn't enough. Let's keep hitting the little guy. Let's keep hitting the citizens. The budget. It's about the budget, right? It's about fiscal responsibility and everything on this agenda and these donations. say it's not about the citizens of El Paso because I I I've been in the homes of some of these donors whether that's Sierra Crest one the Roversons they are the Elon Musks of El Paso citizens are waking uh because of what's happening nationwide, but it starts local and it seems as though locally. If anybody here moves further up the line, our nation's going to be even worse off because it's bad right now. And what y'all are showing by this agenda and and all these donations means uh Al Paso's dead because y'all don't care. Those donations prove it. >> Mary, that concludes public comment on the consent agenda. >> All right. Thank you. So, we have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. Is there any further discussion? Sir >> hearing none. Seeing none, Miss Prime call for the vote. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Mayor Prom Chavez, seconded by alternate Mayor Prom Fiero to approve the consent agenda as revised. On that motion, call for the vote. Mayor Prom Chavez. >> I >> thank you. And the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. And council, I failed to call the people that signed up to speak at 10:00 a.m. on agenda items. >> Okay. >> So, if I may do that now. Speaking on item 43, we have Enrique Moren Romero. Enrique Romero. He signed up to speak at 10 on item 43. And item 43 is the resolution to approve the the budget. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, mayor and members of this honorable council. My name is Enrique Romero and I am the grassroots engagement director for the Libre Initiative. First and foremost, I want to thank you for your leadership and acknowledge the positive step you've taken in lowering the city's tax rate. This decision sends an important message to the taxpayers that you recognize the burden families face and are working to provide some relief and it helps the in the efforts of working towards true property tax reform, not just for El Paso, but for Texans across the state. However, we all know the impact of that lowered rate is being eclipsed by the everinccreasing and ludicrous property valuations. While I know this council has addressed that you guys have nothing to do with that, it is still a reality El Paso's face today. For many homeowners, the rise in valuations outpaces the small reduction in the rate. The end result is that hardworking families still see higher tax bills year after year despite this rate adjustment. This puts a strain on families who are already doing the higher dealing with higher cost of living living from groceries to utilities to housing. It also raises concerns about affordability in our community and whether El Paso families will be able to continue building their lives and searching for their version of the American dream here without being priced out of their homes here in El Paso. While contrary to popular belief, Enrique the crazy libra guy is not against progress. It's not it's not against any, you know, interesting thing that might happen to El Paso. The reason why I ray bring these concerns is because once upon a time I used to be a resource navigator for a nonprofit which navigated people to resources that may have had an positive impact in their lives because they were high need families. I used to see the hardships on a daily basis. Those hardships that pasoons go through just to live whether it's food insecurity, affordable health care, or even just paying their bills. Uh I used to see it on a on a daily basis, not just every so often. This is why I care about whenever people are being taxed out or taxes become a burden. Um I especially according to the Census Bureau, a little over 18% or El Paso has a poverty rate of a little bit over between 18 to 18.5% which is higher than the national average. This is why I can't in good conscience sit idally and not raise concern or awareness to these subjects of course that people face on their daily lives. I urge the city council to keep working towards long-term solutions that balance the need for city revenue and financial reality of El Paso. And contrary to popular belief, I would love to work with all of you so we can come together and finally have some true property tax reform, not just for basins, but Texans across the state. Thank you very much for your time. >> Thank you, >> honorable members. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is Richard Deu. Richard Deu. Mr. Deup signed up to speak on items 46 and 47. Item 46 is a public hearing of an ordinance to amend the language regarding the Uptown Parking Benefit District and number 47 is also an ordinance amending title 12 to amend references and languages regarding Uptown Parking Benefit District. Good morning, sir. You have >> Good morning. Clarification. I did sign up to speak on 46 through 50, but uh it's all the same statement anyway, so I won't take any more than three minutes. >> Thank you, Mr. D. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, Mayor, members of council. Uh for the record, Richard Deub, Thunderbird Management Consulting. I am a registered lobbyist with the city. I'll state to you at the outset that all of these items need to be deferred to a later date that allows for ample time to communicate with our entire community and to do so with accurate information on what these proposed changes to the code will actually mean to their neighborhoods. I've attended several of the community meetings during which city staff provided their brief presentations on the uptown downtown plan. The one consistent thread through each of these meetings, the audiences were confused and concerned. We already have a policy regarding ADUs, but in the new proposed code, the city would remove the current requirement for the property owner to reside on the premises. This policy change alone will open the door for out of town developers to acquire residential properties, build ADUs, and maximize rent revenues. If the stated goal is to encourage infill development to build more affordable quote unquote housing to meet the growing demand, this plan won't get us there. It will only serve to increase rent rates, defeating the very purpose of the plan. The proposed change to eliminate on-site parking requirements may make sense in some areas of the community, especially for commercial, retail, and multif family development, but not in residential areas. Our residential surf, excuse me, surface streets are already congested enough without encouraging the elimination of on-site parking to maximize rent rates and encourage non-residents to use quote unquote free parking rather than pay for parking in designated areas. And how will these policies affect the city's plan to modify code related to the historic landmark commission? How will proliferation of ADUs and congested street parking affect the values of homes that have been given historic designations? You only need to look as far as your nearest community park on a busy weekend or when parents are dropping off or picking up their elementary and middle school children from schools each day to see how quickly parking becomes a problem. Imagine that situation on a daily basis, every day, every night. Any revisions to the current code must protect and preserve our legacy neighborhoods across the city. These decisions are not reversible once made and will impact our community for decades to come. Much more work is needed to create code that makes sense for El Paso. Thank you. >> Thank you, Victor. >> Also signed up to speak at chair is Linda Tronoso. Linda Tronoso. She signed up for items 48, 49, and 50. And these are the title 20 amendments. >> Good morning, ma'am. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, Mayor Council. Um, thank you for having me. Uh, Richard stole a little bit of my thunder, but I am here to address the changes in Title 20. Um, specifically, I wanted to point out, and I've had the opportunity to meet with a few of you, that the changes that are proposed under the current changes in definitions and the parking already exist in your code. And a perfect example of that is item 50, where you all are going to take action on a 100% parking reduction right now for a property on Rio Grand. That is a perfect example of the fact that title 20 right now, if somebody wants to put an ADU on the on the property line with a zero lot line set back, you come to the city planning department, you ask for a variance and you go before the zoning board of adjustments. How do I know that? I sat on the zoning board of adjustments for 8 years. We saw those all the time. And what that did is that gave the neighbors the opportunity to know what was going on. Each of those neighbors then could come in and say, "I like my neighbor. I support it." or I have concerns and here's why and the city got to take that input on in the decision by allowing zero plotline setbacks by right you've taken taken that neighbor's opportunity to weigh in away from them another point as we talk about the opportunity for non-owners to own these properties with ADUs it opens it up to outside investment that's definitely one of the things that Richard addressed but we've all seen those signs in the rights of way where they are do you want to sell your home? We pay cash. It's not there are local investors, there are regional investors, there are national investors that want to buy properties all over the place. What does that mean? That means your neighbors properties could turn into rentals. And exactly what Richard was mentioning is spoton. Part of the the documentation that you've been provided shows that there's a shortage in housing of 100,000 units. That's specifically for homes properties. That's where you're looking for some assistance in the financing in the affordability of those properties. By putting an ADU in somebody's backyard, you're not creating an affordable opportunity. If I went to build an ADU right now, I'm going to spend $100 a foot trying to put that in. If that's an 800 foot ADU, that's $80,000. I'm going to charge market rate to make up for what I what it costs me to build that thing. that does not help your affordability problem. So, we're defeating the purpose of what we're trying to achieve in increasing housing, in increasing the value of properties by doing that. And when you add on the idea of putting 100% parking reduction, you're exacerbating the problem. I think I attended several of the public meetings where the neighbors vocally complained in the Rio Grand area, the Montana area, just like in the Mesa and Stanton area about what parking does to the neighborhood, about the congestion, about the traffic, and about the safety. You already have these opportunities in your code to address these issues. There is no need for the adoption of item number 48, 49, and 50. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Linda. Also on speaking on 48, 49 and 50 is Ann Lily. Robert Romero will follow representative Lily. Good morning, ma'am. You have >> good morning representative council. This is my first time on this side because for 10 years I was a city council representative for district one. And how that happened was in 2005 when I was elected, it was the year they went from two years to four years. And we drew straws to see who got the two years. And I did. So I got two years and then I ran again two times. So that's why I got 10 years. And that's unusual, but I'm seeing it from the other side now. And uh I just want to mention that I'm concerned about this title 22 as the two previous speakers have spoken about and that the fact that I was on vacation in August and there was a city meeting and I wasn't able to go. So, a lot of what I have heard is probably just kind of gossip, but fear gossip uh about the parking and about the the units and it it's for downtown. Now, let me explain that I was the city council representative for district 1, which is now eight pretty much and district 8 was Betto Aor and uh Carla. And so now with redistricting, it's changed. But I've really heard from a lot of people in my area when since I've gotten home about this and I'll go back and tell you that in 19 95 Carlos Ramirez was the mayor and people were we my district right then we were down here all the time complaining and begging because they were going to build uh what we thought were inappropriate structures in our in my district and finally Carlos said, "You know, I'm tired of seeing you all and you're tired of being down here. Do something about it." So, we met with city planning for months, probably a year. And we came up with the the city of El Paso project planning that is the area, the Rim University area that has the overlay. They didn't want to be historic, but we have another overlay. So, we worked with it. It was presented to the state of Texas and El Paso and I'm going to give you this won the city of El Paso project planning an award for the rim university neighborhood plan and it beat out Fort Worth and and Houston that had professional planners come in and do this. My point is that if you just allow people to work with the city and take their time and you hear them and you present your plan that it works out for the best for everybody. And this has been so rushed and and I I I ask you please give it a little breathing room, meet with the public and and let us have a chance to explain our our concerns about just what you've heard from Richard Deub and thank you. >> Thank you representative. >> The next speaker is Robert Rometo. Robert Rometo also signed up to speak on 48 49 and 50. He will be followed by Marcy Carri. Good morning. You have three minutes. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, mayor, city council members. Robert Rometo for the record. And I'm here today to speak against items 48, 49, and 50. I'm here to speak against them, not because I'm against development, but because we should be for responsible entitled development. The proposed Title 20 amendments will create additional density with the existing neighborhoods by changing the existing ADU standards and allowing 100% parking reduction for infill development. While I appreciate the intent behind the proposal to encourage growth and affordability, I believe that creating density warrants a traffic impact study on the existing roadway network. Performing a traffic impact study is crucial for several reasons. It can forecast future traffic trips. Um, this is critical for making informed decisions about the project's impact. It will evaluate impacts on roadway network, roadway intersections, roadway segments, access and egress points for emergencies. It will help identify potential is issues such as increased congestion, longer delays at traffic signals, safety concerns for all users, including pedestrians and cyclists. A traffic impact study isn't about identifi isn't just for identifying problems. It's about finding solutions and recommend mitigations for any negative impacts. The core issue of this policy rest on that we can sip on that we can simply wish away the need for parking. Removing the parking requirement for off- streetet for new developments doesn't eliminate the cars. It just simply displaces them onto our existing neighborhoods. A blanket 100% parking reduction without proper review will lead to severe strain on our neighborhood parking. Excuse me. Our residential streets are already at near capacity in many areas with UTIP student parking, graduations, concerts, etc. Introducing new dense developments without dedicated parking will turn a tight situation into an even worse one. Mayor and council members, it's my understanding that the impacts that the traffic will have based on these title 20 amendments have not been looked at. The parking study is missing. The parking study that was completed is missing all the traffic impacts, betting through utility companies, safety studies, walkability studies, bike studies. We are making a decision based on only a parking study. We need a more in-depth study to make these decisions. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is Marcy Caro. >> Miss Caro will be followed by Veronica Carvajal. Good morning, ma'am. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, Mayor Council. My name is Marcy Cario. I am the vice president of the Mission Valley Civic Association and as well as the chair of the Paso Neighborhood Coalition and a dear resident of Mission Valley. Miss Lily Lemon is a representative. I'm here to speak against the ADUs and the parking situation. Currently on my street, I am living in an area where someone has done something similar to this and they have subdivided the house into four rentals. We live on a curve. The we have many many people are coming and going. And honestly, it if we do this and we allow it, it's going to be citywide. It's not just going to affect the uptown downtown area. It's going to affect all of us, especially Mission Valley. We have a lot of infill lots that people can buy cheaply, go ahead and and convert them and we don't know our neighbors. The house that I'm speaking of is exactly that. The gentleman lives in Albuquerque. We cannot get a hold of him. He'll come every once in a blue moon, but we're left with the parties, the trash, the cars, cars being worked on, and it's unfortunate that it's come to this. If the city, you all just give us an opportunity, and what's on the books is great. what we're good thinking of doing isn't going to help us. It's going to make us a city of of renters. As for the parking, I'm seeing the parking. Our streets are really bad, especially in the Mission Valley. We have really bad streets. Adding additional parking to roads. I have one of the widest roads, but when these people are parking, it's very narrow to get that curve. So, please, I wouldn't uh approve this or put this back on. Thank you. >> Thank you. The next speaker on item 48 is Veronica Carvajal. She will be followed by Mary Bardos. Miss Carvajal. Good morning. You have three minutes. >> Good morning, mayor and council. I am Veronica Carvajal. I am here today or talking to you today in my personal capacity. I live in district 2. I oppose the two proposed zoning rule changes related to parking requirements and accessory drawing units because at this point the city has not shown that they will actually achieve the stated purpose of increasing housing units for all pasans within the city limits. These changes are not being accompanied by any of the following. One, they're not being accompanied by a prohibition that they be used for short-term rentals like Airbnbs. Two, they're not being accompanied by an increase in increase investment in public transportation that would reduce the need for vehicles. Three, they're not being accompanied by incentives or requirements for property owners to provide affordable rental housing. Four, they're not accompanied by incentives and assistance for first-time home buyers who want to live in the city but cannot afford both city and county property taxes, so they move to the county. And five, they're not accompanied by an increase in city services. that will alleviate overcrowding such as more frequent trash collection and designated resident only parking and enforcement. These are all issues that have come up in South Central neighborhoods where the city planning commission has authorized quadruplexes and larger units next to single family homes that are already dealing with non-residents parking in their neighborhoods. These include students at the medical school and people who park and then walk over to the Bridge of the Americas. If the city really wants to increase both long ter long long-term rental housing and home ownership for El Paso, it should start with the abandoned homes, commercial buildings, and EPISD schools except for urbison. They're part of the litigation. If the city really wants to increase home ownership, it needs to work with local banks and help pastors access loans to both buy and repair homes in the neighborhood that they love and grew up in. They deserve to build generational wealth with property ownership. I'm guessing that none of you um are renters and that none of you want your children to be lifelong renters. Other El Paso deserve that opportunity inside the city limits. I ask you to vote no on these two changes because without any guard rails, these changes will only encourage gentrification and those who stand to benefit our developers, realtors, and Airbnb hosts and other short-term rental owners. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. The next speaker is Mary Barting. Mary Bartese. She also signed up on 48,49 and 50. She will be followed by Elba Leagan. Good morning. >> Morning. >> Good morning, >> city council members and mayor. Good morning. Uh this is a grave time in El Paso's illustrious history. Sadly, destructive and very permanent agenda items have been pushed before the people's representatives here today in city council. The annih annihilation and elimination of functioning, peaceful, familyoriented life in safe, beautiful neighborhoods is being shoved desperately through the legal system without the people's consent. No vetting, no presentations, no announcements, nothing that reached the public's ears or eyes until this month on August 5th. And even then, only a very few have heard of the zoning phases, with even fewer truly understanding the depths and breadths of the disastrous citywide zoning of private property, neighborhoods, and parking that affect businesses as well as residential life. I am a current place property owner who has lived in El Paso for over 40 years. I know the city and its people very well. We are not Austin or Houston, and we're not Los Angeles. We do not have high density that comes from a strong economy, nor do we have the migration that leads to the need for more housing. In fact, more people have left El Paso in the last 10 years than have arrived. Out of the 550 homes in Kerna, not one of the people I spoke with about these agenda items had ever heard of them. Why? The first phase placed on today's agenda that is citywide and affects the entire population of El Paso was jammed through by a very few individuals. on the chat the chat platform El Paso comments on Reddit. A post read, "Eliminate single family zoning." Chris Canales rep responded to that post with, and I quote, "If I could get that passed right now, I would do it 100%. This isn't exactly that, but it has some similar effects." End quote. This is unacceptable. Chris is my city representative. He is to represent the constituents, the majority of his constituents that even know about this diabolical plan are 100% against it. I respectfully ask Chris to speak for the people he represents and kill these items immediately today. The citizens and stakeholders who are here today to oppose the zoning changes, which is exactly what this is, fully understand the ramifications of these changes because they are intelligent people. Many are involved in the development of this city in one way or another and see clearly the dismal failure of this path if taken. We are all deeply care about our city for ourselves and for future generations and we want to see it thrive. These proposed changes are irreversible and will utterly destroy El Paso by changing its landscape forever. You are elected officials by the citizens of El Paso. You are entrusted with a duty and obligation to represent the people's wishes and directions for how their city functions. With that being said, you must kill these items immediately. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is Elva Vagran. Elva Vagran. She will be followed by Jamie Fiser. Good morning, ma'am. >> Good morning. Good morning, mayor and council. My name is Sabia Gran and my coordinator for the South Garden Association. I pose the ADU, please leave it as it is. The new or ADA ordinance would allow more cars in the neighborhoods and wouldn't allow us to park there. It would be a congestion. Also, the space between the houses is not enough. If a fire occurs, it can go into the neighbor's house. Think about that. The owner is not required to be here. That is not good. Please don't change the ordinance. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is Jamie Fischer. Jamie Fiser. Miss Fischer signed up to speak on item 68 and this is a resolution approving the project recommendations in the NE for the neighborhood improvement program. Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, Mayor Johnson, city council. Miss Mack, Mr. Cavayto. Yeah, I'm here to talk about the NIP, which is money that's already been approved by the voters. Um, the very first item you're going to see when you look at it is a pickle ball court for Mary Francis Keesling Park. And there are also two requests for district 7. So three years ago, we didn't have a single court in El Paso. Uh they had eight courts in Los Cusus and they had eight courts in Rodoso and and five in Carlsbad, but we didn't have any. So the county said, "We'll take a tennis court and we'll convert it into four pickle ball." We were thrilled. We sent everybody down there to play. People who'd call from out of town, they say, "Where do we play?" We say, "Go to Ascarate." But we knew because the concrete was 60 years old. You're already nodding. It's going to crack. And it did. And unfortunately, they tried to fix it in July and it didn't go well. The there's an issue with the paint that was used. The balls are skidding. They're not bouncing. So, what I'm asking for today, the moral of the story is let's spend a little bit more money upfront and use something that will last longer. And the thing I'm asking about is called post tension concrete. And Mr. Canales, you all got one. Yeah. You know, it's in uh Madlin Park has one of these courts. They can last 25 years, whereas a typical court construction would last only 10. And I'm sure that Mr. Cababayto would appreciate not having to fix the cracks every 10 years or so. So, post tension uses steel cables. It's in the concrete. You pour, you let it set a little bit and then you tighten the cables and it makes it very dense, very uh firm. It's not the same thing as rebar. So anyway, that's what we're hoping. If you all do approve, it's not a given. If you do approve these NIPs for these pickle ball courts or whatever courts you build next, can we please use post tension and stop fixing the cracks? So, Mary Francis Park, uh, Mary Francis Keysling Park, uh, 20 years ago, they got a playscape and a couple of grass fields. Nothing since. So, they've been waiting a very long time. Um, that court, if you put one there, it will be the first one on the west side. Right now, we have a 30 minute drive down to Escarate to play there or we got 30 minutes over the mountain to play at Skyline. Thank you for Skyline. But these people have been waiting a long time. And when I talked to them, they not only supported pickle ball, they said, "Can we please put something in this park? It's time." So, I think some other people are going to talk more about the two parks in on the east side. I'm not as familiar with those. We hope you will support these recommendations. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next speaker is Victor Barakas. Victor Barahas also signed up for item 68 and he will be followed by Chelsea Mir and Diana Ramirez. Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning everyone. Uh my name is Victor Barahas. I'm the president of the Central Neighborhood Association and I'm here to ask for your full support for the landscaping at Graanby Park. Although the NIP proposal calls for landscaping and the addition of trees, what we're asking for is a shift in our city's park landscaping strategy to incorporate native and adapted plants alongside native shade trees, creating a pollinator garden. This approach offers significant ecological and economic advantages. This landscape landscaping approach supports local biodiversity and connects the community with its natural environment. This is more sustainable because the plants are adapted to the El Paso heat. They require minimal care once established which decreases the need for frequent lawnmowing and high water use. This frees up park maintenance staff to focus on other community needs, resulting in a more efficient use of resources and taxpayer dollars. These native plants include grasses, wild flowers, and shrubs that provide a crucial habitat and food resources for native wildlife such as birds, bees, and butterflies, which are essential for pollination and pest control. I moved to district 2 a few years back and I saw all the needs around me. I've taken the time and energy advocating for this community. But for those of us that have lived here, we felt for a very long time that our neighborhood has been neglected. Whenever I travel to other sides of town and I see the amenities they have, I do wonder when will our turn be. We've have several school closures. We suffer from constant speeding across the district and this NIP proposal feels like a like an opportunity to increase our quality of life and for the city to invest in our community. Unfortunately, our community faces high rates of health conditions such an and a crucial factor in managing these is having a safe comfortable place to be active. Summer heat in El Paso makes Gran Park unusable during most of the day. The added shade from native trees will make it a genuinely usable space year round, encouraging residents to walk, stretch, and gather in a cooler, safer environment. This initiative is not a costly luxury. It's a smart, practical investment. This means we're not creating a burden on our city's budget. Instead, we're building a park that will be self sustaining, beautiful, and functional for generations. is a one-time investment that will deliver a lifetime of returns for our people, our health, and our community spirit. Again, thank you for your time and our to support this adding trees and investing in a vision of a park full of native pollinator plants. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Next speaker is Chelsea Mir. Chelsea Mir also on item 68, followed by Diana Ramirez, also on item 68. Good morning. You have three minutes. Hi. Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. My name is Chelsea Mir. I just also wanted to speak um in support of the um native plant landscaping in Grand View Park. Um so I'm originally from California. I moved to El Paso about three years ago. Um I originally lived um in district 8. I lived closer to parks um Memorial Park and Mission Hills Park and um I'm a runner. Enjoy being outside and um spent a lot of time in those parks. Um and noticed a lot of families, a lot of runners, a lot of people using those parks. Um and then um in the last year I moved to District 2. Now I live about half a mile away from Grand View Park and I really have made the park a big part of my routine. Um I run by it most mornings and um tend to see um the same people out walking their dogs. I see um people are out playing basketball in the evenings and so people use the park. Um but really late in the evening, very early in the mornings, the park really seems very underutilized compared to other parks that I've lived in around town. I what I've noticed is that it's a lot more barren, a lot more ex overexposed compared to other parks that I've lived in in other parts of town. Um, and I've really loved living near this park. I've lived loved living in this part of town. It's a historical neighborhood. It's felt very welcoming. Um, it's a beautiful open area with a lot of potential. And, um, that's why I'm really enthusiastic about this proposal to invest in native landscaping of the park, to invest in the park as a community resource. Um, I've loved living in this neighborhood. Um, it's been very welcoming to me and, um, I encourage the council to approve this proposal, um, to invest in the park, um, as a make it even more of an anchor for the community life in the Grand View neighborhood. um and to invest in the park as to make this investment for many generations to come. Um thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is Diana Ramirez. She will be followed by Alaii Yanes. >> Good morning. >> That is my son and he's not here. He had a test today so he couldn't make it. So you can scratch him off with Thank Hi. Uh good morning, Mayor and Council. My name is Diana Ramirez. from the vice president of the Central Neighborhood Association. Um, and thank you. Thank you all for considering our project. Thanks to city staff for recommending our project. We're very proud of the process that our neighborhood association undertook to choose this project because we have a youth council on our in as part of our neighborhood association and um our youth council led by our chair Delgado who will speak in a minute. Um we they did a lot of this work. We asked first the we asked this our neighborhood association members what were their top priorities and then we took the top four and we did a survey and the youth council surveyed uh people at Amigo at Delicious at the border burger at the park at the rec center the pickle ball players we just surveyed almost 200 surveys were collected by our youth council and that's how we got to this project. Everybody overwhelmingly ch wanted trees, wanted more shade. So, um, we're we're really proud of our kids for taking this lead and showing their love for the neighborhood and the park. And it's super important now after the closing of Rusk Elementary because until EPISD repurposes the building, it's going to be an eyesore right next to the park. So, I urge this council to work more closely with EPISD leadership to find ways to invest in the core of our city and prevent sprawl that shutters our walkable community schools. Which is why I also support items 48 through 50 with guard rails that favor families over investors. So, this investment is Graan View Park and Central El Paso is a step in that direction and this is going to make our park more attractive to kids and young families. We're proud of the engagement of our youth council and the leadership of representative ADO, district 2 staff and department staff in making this happen. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is Eduardo Talamantes. Mr. Talamantes is also signed up for item 68. He'll be followed by Anna Duyas and Arvis Jones. Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, mayor, representatives. Thank you very much for having me here. I'm here to talk about my NIP project uh proposal. I was uh told that it was not recommended by the NIP and the reason that is I'm bring I'm here is I'm trying to see if I can garner some support from you all. I live on in the Mission Valley. I've been there 46 years and on Roseway Street we have an easement that the city for as long as I've been here has denied owning it. It's always been a struggle to get them to clean it up. I've been after him for years to clean it up. It's deteriorated. It's always been an eyesore, a dumping site. People dump trash, tires, oil. It's been overgrown with trees that have that uh where they they lived I lived a lifetime. They're falling down. And the the sad thing about it is we can get no help as far as improvements. I had Mr. Rietta come down with me when he was our city rep. Three times he came down. We looked at it three times and he made a and I I brought some pictures. I don't know if you brought the pictures here. No. Oh well, here you go. Anyway, when he first looked at it, it was an isore. He was appalled at the situation there. Those trees were falling down. There were holes in it. You could actually live inside the tree. They were so old and so big. There was no water to them. They were getting water from the canal, Franklin Canal. What I proposed was take the trees down because they were dangerous. Plant some native trees, put a land, some mild landscape in there to make it nice. People live right in front of it and they have to see this thing every day. I drive by it every day and it looks horrible. Miss Lemon was there also. She saw it. Anyway, we would like to see some I guess some landscaping that you know I was told it was cost too much for what I wanted. So, we try to tape taper it down. So, for some landscaping at least for now, there was a fence also, excuse me, between the canal and the easement. The fence was all dilapidated. It had no transpency signs because they didn't want people going in on the canal, but there were no gates. The the the all the fencing was torn, hanging down. It was either fix it or get rid of it. Well, nobody wanted to fix it because it cost too much. So, I called the water district because the city said it wasn't theirs. The irrigation water district came down and they spent a lot of time taking that fence down and they were very helpful. Mr. and Ellis went out of his way to make sure we got it all done. He had to do it in phases. Couldn't do it all at one time, which it really was a big help. So, I'm hoping that you all can at least look into this and give me some support in this because I would like to go back to the neighbors and tell them, look, the city can do something for you if you put your minds together and work with them. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And Mr. Palamentes, we did get your pictures, so I will share them with council. We did get the pictures, so I'll share them with council. The next speaker is Anna Dues. I believe she had to leave. We'll move on to Arvis Jones, also on item 68, followed by Marcy Caru. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, mayor and members of city council. My name is Arvis Jones and I'm part of the North Hills Neighborhood Association. I am here to respectfully request your support for an NIP project that would bring much needed amenities to the Chuck Heinrich Park. Chuck Him Park covers 97 acres and is home to the annual falling officers memorial ceremony held each year, which draws families and community members together to honor our heroes. Despite the size and importance of the park, its amenities are limited. Currently, there are only eight park benches in a small park playground area. As a result, families who attend events and spend time at the park often end up sitting on the ground or bringing their own canopies for shade and comfort. The proposed project would be a covered pavilion with six picnic tables, two trash recepticles, and a cornhole game. This is a modest request, but meaningful enhancement that would provide families a designated space to gather, to eat, and enjoy recreational activities. It would also serve as a first step toward creating a more welcoming and functional environment at our park. A portion of the $625,000 that's available through the NIP program for the areas can be allocated to support this project. By doing so, we would be directly improving the quality of life for the Northeast El Paso community in ensuring that Chuck Hinrich Park continues to be a place of pride, remembrance, and enjoyment for all of our residents. Thank you for your time and consideration, and I do hope this is favorably approved. Thank you. >> Thank you. The next speaker is Marcy Cabo also speaking on item 68 along with Debbie Torres, Italo, Dora Wajaka Rivera. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning once again, Mayor and Council. My name is Marcy Cario and I'm speaking on behalf of um uh I'm a member of the Sunfields Neighborhood Association and we had a letter prepared to support Mr. Talamonte, the gentleman before about 8,300 block of Roseway. Our letter reads, "We are in support of Mr. Talamantes's endeavor to clean and beautify this easement which is located at 8300 Roseway. It's parallel to Franklin Canal and the only other neighbor on the other side is one large commercial car lot. Um through the representatives years and years of neglect, we were able to work with Mr. Rivera to help get this beautified. Um we take pride in our community. We would really like the landscaping just to finish off the project. We're not asking to start from the beginning. It's about 75% complete. All we're just asking is to have great landscaping just to finish up the project so our neighbors could have a good place to walk, to have a good place not to have dumping, and just to beautify our neighborhood. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. The next speaker is Debbie Torres, followed by Itel Degado, Dora Wajaka Rivera, Sai Delgado. Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, Mayor and Council. Uh for the record, my name is Debbie Torres. I'm president of the PBLO VJO Neighborhood Association in District 7. I've come to speak uh on item 68 in opposition of the item. Local redistricting is the process of redrawing boundaries of electoral districts for local government bodies like city councils, school boards, or county commissions. El Paso's last redistricting took place after the 2020 census, becoming effective January 1st, 2022. One resulting problem of this redistricting is that the boundaries of some neighborhood associations are overlapping across two districts. This issue has surfaced in regards to the neighborhood improvement funding, otherwise known as the NIP. Case in point, the 2025 NIP allocations because the boundaries of the Ralph T. Cloud neighborhood association overlap between district 3 and district 7. That neighborhood association not only applied for but was awarded NIP funds from both district 3 and district 7. This situation is not an equitable one. The idea of double dipping is all good for Ralph T. cloud, but more importantly, it takes away funding from other neighborhood associations. The logical and fair resolution to this situation would be to require the neighborhood association to submit an NIP to either one district or the other, but not both. Why was this issue never addressed and resolved by neighborhood services? It sullies the entire process. This concludes my remarks. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is Itel Degado. Also item 68 followed by Dora Wajaka Rivera. Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. Our city's youth and young professionals are here and we would like to be counted. We are here despite high school classes, college classes, internships, or even new jobs. We are here because our neighborhood and our city's quality of life needs improvement and we would like to stay in El Paso. We would like our city to be greener, literally and figuratively. And we would like to invest in our future and the future of our family's well-being. Planting trees is the investment our community needs. I want to thank the city of El Paso for moving our grant forward. I want to thank the Central Neighborhood Association for bringing this opportunity to our membership and our community. I along with many other youth spent a lot of time polling our neighbors on which projects they would prefer. I enjoyed speaking with kids, new moms, and elderly neighbors to gather signatures because I also want generational input through conversations. Everyone enjoys the life and the relief that trees bring to a community. Grand View has one of the most beautiful sites in the city, but it lacks greenery and shade. We ask that your vote reflect our future and the request of the future taxpayers of El Paso. We want trees and we need your vote to count and sorry and we need your vote today to provide cool shade and quality of life tomorrow. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is Dora Wajaka Rivera followed by Sit Lai Degado. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. I'm waiting for our neighborhood leadership to come up front with me. >> Thank you. >> And um good morning, mayor and council. I want to introduce our neighborhood leadership first. This is Mr. Luis Mata, our vice president, and Mr. Jose Luis. >> I'm sorry, I just >> Salas, Mr. Jose Luis Salas, our president. And I want to start by just um by letting you know that I am the committee chair for the projects for the legacy projects for the Las Palmas Neighborhood Association. We want to extend our sincere gratitude to the citizens of El Paso who supported the 2022 Community Progress Bond. Because of their vote, $5 million were dedicated to neighborhood improvement projects across our city that will bring meaningful improvements to our neighborhoods. I extend a heartfelt thank you to Las Palmas Neighborhood Association leadership and neighbors for working collectively to ensure the addition of two pickle ball courts. I am grateful to my neighbors for the vote of confidence and trust they placed in me to write and submit the application for this important initiative. The following are key highlights of the application that was submitted. Pickle ball is one of the fastest growing sports in El Paso. It is multi-generational, easy to learn, and far less physical demanding than tennis and other sports. On March 7th, 2024, the Las Palmas Neighborhood Association voted unanimously to approve and submit an NIP application for the development of pickle ball courts at Argo Park. With more than 300,000 residents in East El Paso, access to pickle ball courts remains limited. Argo Park is a 79 is in the 79936 zip code. Sits adjacent to the Las Palmas neighborhood and surrounding industrial areas. It serves several neighborhoods, welcomes visitors from across El Paso and nearby hotels, and has a popular dog park. Argal Park is well positioned to attract a diverse, active community. Most importantly, this community's investment will expand wellness, recreational options for residents of all ages. It aligns with city council strategic priorities and meets the demand for the free use of dedicated pickle ball courts. Together, with your support, we can improve our neighborhood parks and build healthier, more connected neighborhoods. We ask for your vote to approve this project and thank you. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is Slali Delgado. Miss Elgado will be followed by Janet Alipio and that will be the end of the speakers that signed up to at 10:00. >> Good morning. >> Good morning everyone. Um, I would like to start off by thanking the city of El Paso for moving the Central Neighborhood Association's grant uh forward to potentially plant native trees at Grand View Park. So, as a recent out ofstate college graduate, I am so excited to be back home in the El Paso that I grew up in. I'm taking some time to regenerate my being and um take in priority my mental health. So going to Grand View has been uh key this past summer for me uh to reinvolve myself in community and resources. I've gone multiple times to play volleyball with my sister who just spoke earlier. Shout out to her. Um indoors and outdoors. I've brought my dogs to run, walk, and fetch. Um, but that is when I noticed that though I love my park, there is an apparent lack of areas of rest and shade because there are hardly any trees. I actually had to redirect a friend picnic from going to Grand View, which is walking distance for us, and we had to go to Memorial instead for that reason. Um, yeah, because there is not much option to lay a blanket down outside of the direct sun. I am here to advocate for those in the community that choose to make use of our public spaces in a world where our generations are immersed in our digital technologies such as myself. I am very guilty of being in constant uh doom scrolling mode. I would love to instead have a park walking distance from me in which I'd be able to put my screens down, sit under a tree to sketch, draw, um rest with my dog, or have friends over for a girls picnic date. Um, I come here to ask that your vote take into account the wellness of our future so that I not only use the trees now, but that in the future I could be the via that tosses seeds to the pigeons under a brand avenge under a tree. So yeah, thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is Janet Alipio, also on item 68. Good morning, ma'am. Your microphone is ready. You have three minutes. >> Thank you. Hi, I wanted to speak on behalf of the Enchant Hills um neighborhood association. I'm part of the leadership team there. Uh can you um Okay. Uh so, thank you first of all um to the city council for considering our petition to bring a playground to the Enchant Hills Park. Our individual growth and with many families paying over 2,000 a year in property taxes. It is in the city that our largest park reflects the needs of the community providing a safe familyfriendly space where children can play and neighbors can gather. A playground would truly match the investment we all make in this community and would be a tremendous asset for everyone in Enchanted Hill. Just as important, I dare ask that the playground include a shade. As a parent of three children, ages four, eight, and 11, I can't stress enough how unsafe and uncomfortable playrooms are in El Paso. Um, without a shade, without shade, equipment can reach dangerous temperatures, putting children at risk of burns, heat exhaustion, and other heat related illnesses. Shade would ensure families can use the park year round safely and comfortably, including in the evenings before bedtime routines. We greatly appreciate your support and attentive need. A shaded playground would be meaningful improvement for all school families and a lasting reflection as the city's investment in our community. Thank you again. I I really hope you consider giving us a playground. Um hopefully we share it just for the sake of our families here. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> council. That's everyone that signed up to speak at 10:00. Okay, Miss Bryan, you want to convene a mass transit meeting? >> Yes, mayor. Is there a motion to recess? >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second to recess a regular city council meeting. All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? >> The meeting is in recess at 11:40 a.m. >> We need to do the >> I'm sorry, mayor. Um, the city's budget needs to be adopted for the mass transit. So, is there a motion to reconvene? >> Second. There's a motion and a second to reconvene. All in favor? >> I I. >> Anyone opposed? The meeting is back in session at 11:40. >> Good catch, Robert. >> Mayor, would you like to go to the introduction of ordinances? >> Please. >> Okay, we're on page number 13. These are the first reading of ordinances. These are items 36 to 42. >> Motion to move on. >> Second. Okay, there's a motion and a second. Any discussion, Miss Bryan? >> There's a motion made by Representative Lemon, seconded by alternate mayor promp to approve the first reading of ordinances. These are items 36 to 42. On that motion, call for the vote. >> Miss Prime, my computer isn't working. I Mayor Pro Chavez. >> Yeah, my computer isn't working. I >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The voting session is open. >> You got to go in and out sometimes. >> Alternate mayor prot issue. I >> thank you, sir. And the voting session and that motion passes unanimously and it is coming around to assist you all. That brings us to page number 15. And these are the budget items starting with item number 43. And this is discussion and action on a resolution that the proposed budget as amended for the city of El Paso filed by the city manager with city clerk on July 18th, 2025 is hereby approved and adopted by the city council as the annual budget for the fiscal year 2025, 2026, which begins on September 1st, 2025 and ends on August 31st, 2026. >> Good morning, Robert. >> Good morning, mayor and city council. So we have three separate items related to the budget and then we do have the individual item on the mass transit agenda. So item 43 is the approval of the resolution of the budget. Um and so this item again is the overall approval of the budget. We do have the council action incorporated from yesterday. On this particular item though we would ask for a motion from representative Leone on her comment yesterday about the district 7 $6,000 and if the council votes on that we'll make sure that that change is reflected into the budget that will be adopted. >> Okay. Representative Lemon. So, does that come >> You can do that motion now if you like and then that way we can have that incorporated and that'll be reflected as part of the adopted budget. >> Yes. Based on the motion that was made yesterday, I wish to request that the allocation of $6,000 that was appropriated to all council representatives not be placed in the district 7 budget. Um, but it remains in the general fund. We do not want an allocation to travel. Thank you. Okay. Second. >> That's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> We have a motion in a second. >> Any discussion? >> Miss Bryant. >> Yes, Mayor. The motion was made by Representative Lemon, seconded by alternate mayor prompo, and this is to amend the the budget and request that the allocation of $6,000 not be included in District 7's budget for travel. >> On that motion, call for the vote. >> Thank you. and the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. >> Item number 44. >> So we need to go back to 43. So that was an amendment to the to the budget resolution. So um also just for the council's awareness. So as part of the backup that is posted, >> we did make an amendment to the budget resolution items 29 and 30 again related to the use of the travel funds. We made it clear that those funds will be exempted from as part of the rollover. And so that was the one minor change. You'll see that reflected again in the budget resolution that is posted as backup. If council would like, I do have the presentation. Again, it's all of the same information that you all have already seen. Would you guys like to see the presentation? >> Yeah. Okay. >> Represent Canales. >> Thank you, Mayor. I move to approve item 43. >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second. Any discussion on item 43? >> We do have public comment, mayor. >> Okay, let's take public comment. Yes sir. We have Miss Patricia Osman. So the motion yesterday gave no time for any citizens to really come in comment unless they were paying attention. yesterday. Um, I slid under the the door, the rug, whatever you want to call it. Um, I do appreciate that Miss Lemon is refusing those. She was steadfast yesterday, she's steadfast today. Mr. Fiero voted no yesterday along with Miss Lemon. But it appears as though that 6,000 added to this budget, all the freshmen decided to vote for it because they're hoping for a next time, too. But I can't believe that adding $6,000 to a budget is even acceptable. But if you're spending five almost $5,000 every couple of months of taxpayer money for takeout for you all, I understand why you think it is. You have a discretionary fund. Some of y'all have tens of thousands in your discretionary fund to be used for travel. You're already getting taxpayer funds. And to add another $54,000 to that is an insult to every taxpaying citizen and showing you don't you don't care. Somebody campaigned on fiscal responsibility. Y'all got to pass this because there's a lot of things slid in there and you don't care. You don't care about all the senior citizens even though oh a whole buck 50 toss back. That's nothing. That honestly it's a slap in the face. You're taking $4,600 of food supplements, but let's toss a buck 50 at the seniors and disabled. Wow. Really nice. I hope you all understand how you're killing the future of this city. Some of y'all don't care because your your your real estate developers are more in mind than the citizens of this city in the future. >> Say goodbye to your children when they all take off. >> That concludes public comment on this item. Mayor, >> okay. Is there any further discussion on item 43? All right, Miss Brian. Hearing none. Seeing none, please call for the vote. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Ganales, seconded by Representative Maldonado Rocha to approve item 43. On that motion, call for the vote and the voting session. And that motion passes 7 to1. Representative Lemon voting nay. The remainder of council voting I. The motion carries. The next item is number 44. And this is discussion and action to ratify the property tax reflected in the annual budget for FY2025206 for the city of El Paso. >> Okay, Robert. >> And this is just again it's an action that's required by the state and the local government code. It's just ratifying essentially the vote that you all just took. The state does require a separate action to ratify. >> Okay. Is there a motion? >> Motion to second. >> We have a motion and a second. Represent Nino. >> Thank you, Mayor Robert. One super quick question. I was reviewing the budget cover pages for this year and the previous year and one simple question that I had was has the city ever collected 0 in additional property taxes even if we have adopted um no new revenue or any other uh process. >> So the only time that happened was our fiscal year 2021. So it would have been in August of 2020. >> Okay. >> We all are very well aware of what we were going through at the time. we're going through COVID. So, that was the only time that we actually had a decrease in the property tax revenue. Um, and in that year in particular, actually, the city's overall budget decreased by $16 million. So, again, we took a lot of reductions that year to get through unfortunately what we're going through at the time with the COVID impact. >> Thank you for that. I was just trying to get clarification when I saw the budget cover page and uh reviewing the previous year's budgets, I wanted to ensure that, you know, overall we are also proposing or we're essentially adopting the lowest property tax rate in the last 10 years. Correct. Yes, sir. That's correct. >> No, no further questions. Thank you. >> Any further discussion on item number 44? >> All right. Hearing none. Seeing that, Miss Prime call for the vote. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Maldonado Rocha, seconded by Representative Oriojo, and this is to ratify the property tax reflected in the annual budget. On that motion, oh, >> Miss Osman signed up on this one. council in regards to the property tax rate. I'm just going to bring up some little inconsistencies I heard at previous meetings when people were pointing fingers and I'm not going to put, you know, some people have put up decepticons and so forth. And it's not in blogs like some people like to say. It's independent media. Regular news channels really don't matter anymore. But it seems as though the same tactic that our previous mayor De Marggo threw out is what ends up happening. Try to say you're uh not really raising the tax rate because the values will jack up. De Margo flat out told everybody and at CAD to uh raise the property values and they kept getting raised at a much higher rate and it's not market rate but I believe city council does have an interest at CAD. I I if am I mistaken that there's not a a an appointment on the board at CAD from from city council? I don't know if legal could answer that or not, but either way that would then place the city of having an interest. It's not pointing a finger here, pointing a finger there because the tax rate in CAD and what happens at CAD or Central Appraisal District, it is all entwined. Y'all using the same Demargo tactics doesn't mean we still don't have some of the highest taxes in Texas. We do. You're pricing out every senior citizen, every child, every grandchild out of this city all for real estate developers on the backs of those ever growing tax rates so that you could just keep funneling more tax dollars to real estate developers, not necessarily improving the city. Because if you were really truly caring and improving the city, you'd be doing something more for the youth. But the tax rate, you you could pretend, oh, it didn't get higher. But you know what? He maybe y'all forgot in 2008, a bunch of that went down after the housing market crash. We're starting to hit there again. If y'all aren't paying attention to that, Airbnbs, short-term rentals, that market's crashing. A lot of that's going to get dumped. The insurance markets that home actual buyers, residents, not real estate developers cannot get insurance on home homes to get a mortgage is tanking the market. >> Thank you, Miss Osman. Okay, Mr. M, we have a motion and a second on item number 44. >> Yes, sir. Call for the vote, >> please. And the voting session and that motion passes 7 to1. Representative Lemon voting nay. >> Okay, >> that brings us to item 45. Okay. Okay. >> And this is discussion and action on a ordinance living the FY20252026 taxes. >> Robert. >> So again, this is the final action and we do have a specific motion that does need to be read into the record. >> Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, Mayor. I move that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of 0.759649 which is effectively a 4.3% increase in the tax rate. >> There's a motion. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. >> Public comment. >> We have public comment. >> It's the same thing. >> Okay. We have a motion and second. Any discussion on item number 45? >> All right. Hearing none, seeing none, Miss Brian, call for the vote. >> Yes. So, the motion was made by Mayor Prom Chavez, seconded by Representative Monad Rocha, and this is that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of 759649, which is effectively a 4.3% increase in the tax rate. on that motion. Call for the vote and the voting session. And that motion passes 7 to1. Representative Lemon voting nay. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Will council like to recess now for mass transit. Is there a motion? >> Move to recess. Second. >> There's a motion and a second to recess a regular city council meeting. All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? And the meeting is in recess at 11:55 a.m. in order to conduct the Mass Transit Department board meeting. Good morning. This is a special Mass Transit Department board meeting for August 19th, 2025. It is 11:56 a.m. Present in presiding is board chair Johnson. Also present in council chambers are board members Chavez, Rocha Tjo Nino Fiero Lemon and Canales. There is only one item on the agenda. And that's item number two. And this is discussion and action on a resolution that the proposed budget for the mass transit department of the city of El Paso Sun Metro filed by the city manager with the city clerk on July 18th, 2025 is hereby approved and adopted by the board as the annual budget for the fiscal year 2025-2026 which begins on September 1st, 2025 and ends on August 31st, 2026. Motion >> to approve. Second. >> We have a motion and second. Any discussion on this one item? >> Okay. Call for the vote. >> And we do have a motion made by board member Fiero, seconded by board member Canales to approve. Voting session is open. Mr. Chair, >> the voting session has closed and the item has been approved unanimously. >> Is there a motion to convene this meeting? >> Council, you have an item that was moved to noon. I'm not sure if you want to wait three minutes. Is there a motion to adjourn the mass transit? >> Second. >> All those in favor? I. >> Anyone opposed? And the ma the special mass transit board meeting for August the 19th is adjourned at 11:58 a.m. Thank you. >> We can take item numbers. >> Move to reconvene the regular city council meeting. >> Motion in a second. >> There is a there is a an item at noon. So we'll wait. We'll continue with a motion. Okay. >> With items 46 and 47. There's a motion and a second to reconvene the council meeting. All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? The meeting is back in session at 11:58 a.m. >> Okay, we're going to move item number 72 up from page 22 and then we'll take item number 68. >> Yes, sir. Item 72 is discussion and action regarding recruitment options on the search for a chief internal audit. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, Mayor and Council. Mary Wiggins, Chief Human Resources Officer, here for item number 72. All right. So, we're here today to discuss the chief internal auditor recruitment options. This came from two weeks ago. We had council gave us the directive on August 5th to direct the city manager and city attorney to present options on a search for a chief internal auditor to include both internal and external options for y'all to look at. During this presentation, we're going to talk about what those recruitment options are. There's an internal timeline, an external timeline. We have a few advertising sites that we have listed and then our final recommendation. So, for our options for internal um we of course uh we are able to handle the recruitment of our chief internal auditor um with our current human resources staff. We've been you know doing uh many different of the director level recruitments this year including DCMS and we are prepared to take this on. We also if you want to look at external uh we have one firm that we have Robert Half and Associates um we're able to use this uh firm through a cooperative agreement that we have on EP marketplace. If we were um if you were to go with this firm, the cost for that would be 30% of the total um compensation for the first year annual salary for that position. So internal timeline, this is um kind of what it would look like. Um if we were to go internal, you you see the different there's days and weeks. Um those are all not consecutive, which means once one starts, we go straight into the other one. A lot of depends upon scheduling and so forth, but this is an estimate of what it would probably look like. We went the wrong direction. All right. So, the candidate selection process, um, we are recommending that we would contract with Lee Ree. I believe most of you are familiar with Miss Ree outside counsel as a recruitment facil facilitator. um we would advertise the recruitment in many of the industry specific sites for approximately four weeks. Um and we we have I have those um on the presentation but probably about six to eight different sites we've identified so far. Um all applications would be evaluated in accordance with the education and experience that's listed on the job spec. Um so the ones that are qualified that are deemed to have qualified those applications would be submitted to each of you for your consideration and then council members will select your top five applicants to interview. Those top five would then be tallied together by the facilitator and then the total top five would be the ones recommended for interviews. [Music] A recruitment facilitator uh would work with council to develop the interview questions. You want to make sure you have the right questions. The recruitment facilitator would work with council to develop an applicant scoring sheet. The recruitment facilitator will work with council to develop um interview panels um in accordance with our charter. Council will interview the selected candidates would be the top five that you have selected. And then council will score all the qualified applicants using the applicant scoring sheet and submit those to the recruitment facilitator for a final tally. And then council of course would vote on your selection. If you were to go with an external timeline, the timeline for the most part, it it looks the same as the internal timeline, but the difference would be with an external um firm, you're going to be pretty much at at their mercy of when we can schedule different things. There would be because they will be handling more than probably one recruitment. So, we we have to be a little bit flexible with their schedule. These are the sites that we're recommending that we would advertise for our chief internal auditor. Um, they're ones that have been identified that would, you know, we want to make sure that we have a good saturation of the market to make sure that we have a qualified candidates, plenty of qualified candidates to bring forward to you for consideration. And so in summary, our final recommendation, we are of course recommending that the city human resources staff uh be directed to advertise and handle the recruitment of the chief internal auditor position. That we would handle this internally and we recommend that we would um we would have Miss Lee Ree outside counsel be contracted to serve as the recruitment facilitator for this position. >> And I'll take any questions. >> Okay, there's a motion. Motion second. Uh, represent Nino. >> No, I'm sorry. Fiero, >> I'm the taller one, sir. >> Yes. Mayor, um, the question is very simple. We've had the opportunity, us as a as a body to work with um, Miss Re and it's the so far the experience has been professional. It's been I mean, she she's just um I think she does a wonderful job. Mhm. >> My only question would be is does she have experience in fulfilling a role like like you're asking her to do? >> And Miss Wiggins, I know Miss Re is is on the team's call if we need her to. >> Oh, no. I don't want to ask her. I like that. >> We feel Miss Rees is qualified. She she has um she's worked with us before uh very closely um and she's worked with you very closely before. And that's two very important um qualifications uh to be able she's able to guide she worked with us uh closely also on some other different recruitments that we've had. So yeah, I feel that she's qualified to be able to move us forward on this. >> Okay. No, again I I wasn't questioning her credentials. She's a wonderful person. She's done great job u keeping us uh focused and in line and moving forward. I just wanted to make sure that she had experience in in a role like this. So thank you mayor. >> Thank you. Representative Tjo. >> Thank you, Mayor. I I Hi. I I have a couple questions. Um with Robert Half, the 30% uh is is expected on the salary. What would be the salary range for this position? So the salary range what we would what our recommend our recommendation is going to be to you first off is that I am going to this afternoon send out the job specs to each of you for you to look at the job spec and make sure that you're you know in agreement with the qualifications um on there you know we we have whatever the min and the max is and so we have done an um we did a survey we've gone out to see what you know the our comparator cities have for chief internal auditors and so we'll be prepared prepared at that point to recommend in, you know, whenever I send all this out, we'll recommend a salary. We'll usually we do like a $25,000 hiring, you know, kind of range to be able so we have, you know, some play there. And then I'll also send out the recruitment brochure so that you can um see what we're recommending for for how we're going to post the position. But it it's we'll make the recommendation to you, you know, of where we think it would be and then council will agree or make recommendations. >> So what was the previous salary? >> His previous salary I I can't give you the exacts. I believe it was like around 180. I can't give you the exact figures of that. >> Okay. And uh with uh Miss Ree, is there an additional fee for her to help uh recruit? What what are her fees or what is that cost? >> There is a fee. I would have to get exactly what that fee is. We already have Miss RE um on container container retainer. Um so we use her for different things. Not a container. Uh we have her on retainer but I can't speak to the exactly do we know what the >> she's on the call. >> Okay. So mine you're if you could answer that question please. >> Yes. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh I believe the rate uh that I uh charge for my service is $275 an hour. Um and that's been the rate for several years now and we have not raised it. >> Okay. And how many hours do you anticipate this being to hire to help us hire? >> Um, it's it's hard to really uh give you a firm number, but I would say based on the schedule that you have outlined, we are talking about I would say two to three meetings in which I would be involved and it would then be the length of those meetings. Um, and so uh that's what we would uh that's what I would anticipate at this point. Okay. Each meeting is what? An hour. How many hours are we anticipating >> independ rough figure? >> Yeah. I would say I would anticipate that we're talking about um if so last time I assisted you in the interviews uh of your city manager candidates. And so um I was part of the process of handling the interviews of the finalists. And that was a couple of fairly lengthy days. And so um you know that that would be longer uh of an engagement I would say. So I would say we're talking about I mean I'll just give you a ballpark of maybe about 20 hours total of what's involved. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh and then another question. Uh are you are is there a consideration to hire local? Is that a focus as well or are we looking nationally? >> We'll look nationally. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. That's all the questions I have. >> Okay. Repres. >> Thank you, mayor, and thank you for putting this together, Mary. I know you've been working hard on this and you got it to us within the the last two weeks, so I appreciate it. I I think the the process outlined here is is great. Um my preference was to not move forward with um an external search firm. Not a fan of search firms. And overall, I think Miss Ree has been really instrumental with our three employees and she has a lot of institutional knowledge that she brings to the table. So, I think it's it's great to kind of pair your department with her and I think it'll it'll give us an excellent process. One one thing that um I'm thinking about I was not happy with um the city manager process that played out last summer. And one thing that I did not like was that um the mayor unilaterally just had a press conference and said these are the top candidates and they're getting interviewed. >> I I thought that that was wrong. So I wanted to make an amendment. the prior mayor, not Mayor Johnson. Sorry. Um >> I don't remember that. >> I wanted to make an amendment to to the to the current motion and it reads, I move to add a step to the outline hiring process that once city council selects their top five applicants, a special meeting or work session council meeting will take place to collectively select the number of candidates that will move forward to the interview process. >> Second. >> That that works. >> Yeah. And so this just ensures that we will have um a meeting. Okay, here are all the candidates that everybody selected. Here are the top. How many of these do you want to interview? 3 4 5 6 7 8. And we as a body act on that and then we go out and do the interview. So that's the thought behind this. >> Okay. So we have a an amendment to the motion. >> Discussion on the amendment. >> Represent. >> Was there a second? >> Yes. by representative. >> Yeah. I I have a question. >> So, as when we get the the interview the the information, the resumes, we're going to select five each. Right. >> Correct. >> Then that information is going to go to I imagine Lee. >> Correct. >> And she'll disseminate it, put together a list. >> She'll tally that and then we'll take, you know, the top five from your recommendations. So, so then we're going to meet in a special meeting, excuse me, and discuss or reshuffle or revote on what that list is. That's a part I'm a little bit gray on. >> No, that's not the intent. I think that we we could have a discussion on saying, well, maybe we just want to do the top three that people did, or we want to do six because there were some ties here and now we're leaving somebody out because they were ranked one point less and we're not just going automatically with the top five. >> So, I understand that we would take, you know, we'll tally everything and we'll come back and we can just give you like the total scores in in that session. We can show you the total scores. You can look and see who the candidates are and then you you will choose from there. You know, I we all agree that these top three is probably enough or he's saying it could be you want to go even down to a six person, but y'all would decide at that point. You would have to vote on what you know how many you want to interview. I I think it increases transparency and it adds a lot of um feedback from the whole council as we have three employees and we should make sure that this process is going to be fair and everybody's going to have their voice. >> Okay. Any further discussion on the amendment? >> Yes. Point of clarification. Thank you, mayor. So, the applicant screening and recommendation of semi-finalist, that's pretty much what we're talking about, right? So we would review all applications and then each individual council member would score or create their top five and then once we tally all of that up that's when we're going to start having the conversation of our top as a body to make the decision as a body. Correct. >> Correct. >> So the applica applicant screening and recommendations is done by the council not by anyone else. Correct. >> Say that again. >> The applica applicant screening and recommendation of semi-finalists is done by the body by the council. >> Correct. >> Okay. I just want to clarify though that there is a initial step of ensuring that what you see that they've met the minimum qualifications. Okay. >> So we won't be sending you ad applications. We will have done some vetting to make sure that what you see has fits that job description fits all the minimum requirements and then you have an opportunity to make that shorter. >> Right. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. all the qualifications and just um representative TJO to your question it was 187 as the current >> further discussion on this amendment representative Chavez >> thank you mayor um regarding the qualifications you just mentioned Mary will the qualifications be the same as uh I guess in the past or are you going to be making a new list of qualifications how how are you going to decide that it >> it's the job spec that we've used in the past. And so what we did was we've already gone out to our comparator cities to see, you know, what what is everybody else um requiring. Um I believe we're going to add one extra recommendation that you consider, but other than that, it the the job spec was pretty much spot-on um with all the other job specs that we've done comparisons. >> Okay. But that list of qualifications is going to be decided by whomever we decide does the recruiting process. In this case, if we decide to go internally, it would be you for that list of qualifications. >> Well, the qualifications are the ones that are on there now. Um, and I think we're maybe looking at one other certification that we're recommending, but for the but it it would be us, you know, and so even if we went with an external, they're going to take the job spec we have now and and submit it for your consideration as well. >> The motion on the on the floor right now is >> Yeah, the amendment. Yes. I was going to hold this for after this. So we have an amendment on for any more discussion on the amendment. All right. Hearing none. Seeing none, Miss Brian call for the vote for the amendment. >> Yes, sir. And the motion was made by representative aso, seconded by representative Maldonado Roachcha. And this is to add a step to the outline hiring process at one city council selects their top five applicants. A special meeting work session council meeting will take place to collectively select the number of candidates that will move forward to the interview process. On that amendment, call for the vote. Representative Lemon. >> Thank you. In the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. Representative Fedor not present. >> We're back on the main motion. Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, mayor, and thank you, Mary, for this presentation. Um, I I echo the sentiment of Representative Aso. You know, I I do agree that maybe we should do this internally. I I I have full confidence in in your staff and in Miss Ree as well. Um I do feel that this is a very important decision and although we shouldn't rush it, we should definitely do it in a timely manner because it will only increase the trust that we have with our uh community and as well as uh accountability. So this position is extremely important. We hope that it's going to be one that will be for the long term um that you know increases again transparency and trust. So we need to do this in a way that you know we fill this position as quickly as possible without rushing it because it is a very very important position in our city. So thank you for the work Mary >> agree we have very qualified staff that's ready to hit the hit the ground running >> repres Mary. So you're you're thinking this will be I believe 3 to four months. >> Well, so we're we're talking like start from right now to the person sitting in the seat. So there there's so many factors that are in between. So I think the timeline is is a great timeline. It's just, you know, how we fit things in. It's how easily So for example, when I send out the job spec, if we can if we all agree, that goes faster. And so it all just depends on making sure that that we keep that momentum going. um understanding again this is a very important position but I think I think that's reasonable. >> Okay. So and I it's four to six months is what it's I think three or to four months is what I'm ideally hoping for. >> We're being safe there. >> Yeah. And then the holidays might get >> and that's the reason we were thinking that as well. I mean we would love to have it before the holidays but if we go into the holidays that's going to be taken into consideration. You also have to consider if you do choose someone that's not local out of town, they may have to give notice. They may have to sell a house. So, we tried to build all those factors in just in case. >> Okay. >> And then, um, from my understanding, we were going to have some say on the job description. So, I was understanding that the first two weeks when you're setting up meetings with council, we're going over the job description, similar to what we did with the city manager. >> Correct. And I I'll send that out to you this afternoon. you can start looking at it. That and the brochure. >> Yeah. And I think it it adds um a little to what Representative Chavis was saying, you know, is it the same one? Um which is fine, but I think >> having our input on saying maybe include another line here or something include this information will strengthen the overall job description. And then um in terms of interview questions, >> so you won't get the brochure today. you'll get the brochure after you approve the job spec, which makes sense. But we we have one um we have a like a tenative draft that we can show you what it would look like, but it won't be the brochure that's going out until you approve the job spec. >> That makes total sense. And and I think um one other thing that I wanted to ask in terms of how this is um put together in terms of the project milestones on interview questions are those can we also suggest that when we're talking to you in the in the process to say um take into consideration maybe asking these questions just so we could also customize it to >> you know what has happened in the past what we're expecting in the future. That way we also have some customization in that sense from council. already to if you have some interview questions you're already wanting to submit. Absolutely. You know, we can discuss those. I'll take those and I can turn those over to Miss Ring. >> Okay. I appreciate that. Thank you. >> And Mary, everyone will get the same questions across. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. All right. Any further discussion on this one? All right. Before I call for the vote, uh Mary, I think this is good. your your process that you've outlined. Having served on a number of searches, I think this is a good way you outlined it. And I think, you know, when we look at what the former internal auditor was making, if you do the math at 30%, if you were to hire an external firm to do that, that's about 54,000, right? >> Using Miss Re, it's going to be about $7,500. So, >> right, >> I think this is a good process. So, Miss Prime, call for the vote. Mayor, we do have public comments. Okay, >> we have Miss Osman signed up to speak. >> Okay, >> good afternoon. I think Mr. Aedo, Fiero, and Canales should have expected me to be here for this. The rest of you might not know the history, but um I had reported to Mr. Calderon, our former city auditor. Corrupt practices that were going on within purchasing community human development and those practices continued for quite some time. He also was investigating city council members because a citizen had brought up PECARD issues and that led to a lawsuit. Mr. Cadarun, the last time I was in here, I spoke to him and on that audit because we were talking about all the audits that his department was supposed to move forward was community and human development. And specifically he had stated his department was set up to audit exactly the issue and the corruption and I have documented proof and it is on public record that there was corruption within this community and human development department. >> It's on purchasing. >> This is on the recruitment of the auditor. >> Yes. Okay. All of that is on public record. The chief auditor was going to look into all of that. And then suddenly he's pushed out before it's supposed to get audited. And we know he's pushed out. I'm not the only citizen that's brought it up in public that he was pushed out. And no different than when I came and I spoke to shut down the process Mayor Leiser was going to do with the city manager. You are correct. I nobody liked the process because it was going to be internal. Why? because all it was going to lead to is a continuation of the status quo of corruption within our city to keep it local because our inter internal hiring has not been the best. You are not bringing us the best people. That's why it needs to be external so that that person is completely impartial and is not influenced by any director, any city manager, any city attorney like the lawsuits the last one had to deal with or any city council pressure. It needs to be external. And that 50 some odd thousand is less than the travel expenses you all just voted yourself to make sure our tax dollars are well managed and looked after because right now too much is sliding under the rug. Y'all are getting through and rubber stamping stuff that should not be contracts to your own employees. But then again, we did have a mayor before that did a contract to himself. You've reached three minutes. Represent >> Canales. Thank you, mayor. I think it's just important to clarify for the record what's being proposed today is a nationwide external search being conducted by our internal human resources staff. Uh what Mayor Liser had proposed previously was a search only encompassing internal candidates and so very different uh situations between the two and I think it's important to state that for the record. Thank you, mayor. >> Thank you for clarifying that. Okay, we have a motion second. Any further discussion on item 72? >> All right. Hearing none, Miss Bryan call for the vote. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Lemon, seconded by alternate mayor prompo. And this is to direct the city human resources staff to advertise and handle the recruitment of the chief internal auditor position and that leave ree outside council be contracted to serve as a recruitment facilitator for this position. And to add a step to the outlined hiring process at one city council selects her top five applicants. A special meeting of work session council meeting will take place to collectively select the number of candidates that will move forward to the interview process. on that motion. Call for the vote and the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> Okay, Miss Brian, I I hate to move things around. We're going to take number 68 now. >> Yes, sir. >> And then I'm going to take 48, 49, and 50 because there's members of the public that have been here for quite some time. >> Yes, sir. So item number 68 is discussion and action on a resolution approving the project recommendations at say fourth in exhibit A of the resolution for the neighborhood improvement program NIP funded under the 2022 community progress bond. >> Good afternoon. Nicole Rodriguez, director of community human development. >> Uh today's presentation is providing a summary of funding recommendations for the neighborhood improvement program under the community progress fund. So, the neighborhood improvement program offers city uh city recognized neighborhood associations the chance to request small-cale permanent improvements on city-owned rideway. Examples of some NIP projects that we funded in the past include benches, playground amenities, and walking trails. And they're all intended to improve the quality of life within their neighborhoods. I want to take a moment to really highlight the the work of all of the departments involved needing to pull all of the recommendations together. Uh the community human development department is the facilitator of the neighborhood improvement program. Uh we work directly with our neighborhood associations in providing type you know any type of technical assistance or the recognition of a neighborhood association. uh but in order to provide these recommendations today it requires three separate departments and working with them in order to ensure that we provide quality projects. Um so we have the parks and recreation department and they make the feasibility determination on projects in city parks and trails. We have our streets and maintenance department and they make feasibility determinations on projects within city streets, medians and curbs. And then our capital improvement department which they determine the financial and design feasibility. After the approval of the recommendations, capital improvement takes over the process in the actual implementation. So, just to go over the neighborhood improvement program timeline, we started this process in 2022 after the voters approved Proposition B, which included the funding for the neighborhood improvement program. There was $5 million allocated. We will be exhausting those $5 million with the recommendations set forth today. Following the voter approval, we spent a significant time in redesigning the NIP process. it. We did this within feedback from previous funding rounds and then input from our neighborhood associations. In spring of 2024, we launched the revamp application process and introduced the new NIP product catalog to help standardize the request and improve the project clarity. Once applications were submitted, multiple departments, including our department parks streets and maintenance, and CI conducted feasibility site visits at each of the proposed locations to assess the project viability. And today, we're here with the recommendation of the council approval phase. Project design will begin in 2026 with con uh construction completion anticipated in 2029. So, just to go over the numbers again, $5 million was approved by the community progress bond. We divided th those dollars uh amongst all eight representative districts, giving a total allocation of 625,000 for each representative district. We received 72 applications with 11.5 million worth of project requests. We were able to score 43 of the feasible applications and today we bring uh bring forth 28 project recommendations. I also want to highlight something uh in partnership with our um capital improvement department. Historically, we would have set aside 25% of our NIP funding um for the engineering and design to support the project implementation. There was $1.4 $4 million in cost savings from completed NIP projects under the 2012 quality of life bond projects. These unspent quality of life NIP funds will help us cover engineering and design for the current round. And so this allowed us to have the complete entire $5 million for implementation and didn't have to take any money for design. uh we're going to combine the two to to deliver the $5 million. And so I get into the award recommendations by district. This is uh referred to as exhibit A within the resolution. And so the NIP award recommendations for district one. There's a total project uh number of projects is seven. District two four projects. District three, four projects. District four, three projects. District five, two projects. District six, one project. District 7, four projects. And district 8, three projects. So our next steps would we would contact all of the neighborhood associations following the approval. Then CD will immediately begin working on design and the implementation leading us to an anticipated construction completion date of 2029. And with that, I'd take any questions. >> Is there a motion to approve? >> So move. >> Second. >> All right. Represent Nino. >> Thank you, mayor, and thank you, Nicole, and city manager and all the team for work on working on this. Uh, NIP has been something that I've been following up ever since the voters did approve the 5 million in 2022. And I know that some of the challenges in district 5 were the fact that there wasn't a lot of active neighborhood associations. So when I knew that there was going to be $625,000 in each district, I wanted to ensure that we were able to uh keep that funding within the district. And I'm very grateful. I want to give a a great thank you to Miss Lucy Pingo who's here today. She's a president of the Upper East Side uh association in district 5 which I you know I had a lot of communication with her and helped establish a neighborhood association. Also Elmer F just left but he's the president of the Dabaya states neighborhood association also in district 5 that were created weeks before the deadline to submit for the NIP project just cuz again I wanted to ensure that the funding remained within the district. And I just wanted to thank you and and and thank the staff because I know how important um this is for the neighborhood associations in my district. You know, they've been advocating for a lot of things and I think themselves as someone who uh has, you know, those roots within the neighborhood, um it was important for them to have that input. So, I'm very excited to support this item and I'm looking forward to you, you know, empowering our neighborhood associations even further. >> Thank you, Representative >> Representative Rocha. Thank you, mayor, and thank you, Nicole, for u meeting with me last week and kind of walking through this. Uh I've been in touch with almost all neighborhood associations, I believe, um except for one. However, I know we have Are they still here? Is Julie Udia still here from Ralph Cloud? She was here earlier. And I know that this is something that each of the associations have been um wanting. They've been looking forward to. I appreciate and one thing that I didn't hear was the new scoring process. >> Yes. >> That you have that in my opinion makes it equitable for being able to determine the projects. Um was were the was that scoring provided to the associations in your conversations >> the individual scores like that how they >> yeah how they fared? >> No. Um they can request or do an open records. >> Yeah, we can we can talk about it as well. it it's just more uh to try to make it as fair because I think there was some belief to some degree that that one association was favored over another or you know so forth. But um that presentation really helped me understand the holistic approach. And so I want to thank you and your team and all the other departments that came together. One to do the feasibility studies because out of doing that out of all the ones the projects that were submitted is uh is a it's a big effort and a big lift. So thank you for doing that. I know that there were some associations in my district that were up disappointed, not really upset, but disappointed that their submissions didn't come to fruition. But that doesn't stop there. You know, I know that um this particular program is definitely something that we're looking forward to in bringing that quality of life feel to four of the locations within within District 3. So, thank you, Nicole, to you and your team and to all the other departments that helped out in not only doing the feasibility studies, but having those conversations with the associations and, you know, coming to to the the submissions and what we hope to adopt today. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Represental. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, yes, very happy with the improvement of the process. I've seen several rounds of NIP now and I think this is the the fairest process that we've ever uh put forward. So, thank you for making those changes. Um I know you mentioned the varying numbers of projects by district. I I think it's important to clarify. Can you run through very quickly the the total estimated cost in each district because those are those are equivalent. >> So while the >> regardless of the number of projects, >> correct? So while there are varying uh differences in how many projects a district is getting, each district will receive the same amount of funding. So the the total investment within each district is 625,000. >> Thank you. And then um I think just a message to the applicants in my district, there were many. Um so the ones who who unfortunately are not the recommended projects um who I anticipate the council will approve today. Uh I I think it's important to note that we I I and I think the departments also uh are remain committed to trying to find ways to uh improve what they submitted and and get those projects ready in a different way. Um I think they're all valuable projects for the communities. Um, unfortunately it's a limited amount of funds and we we had to go through this process to to select but uh I want folks to understand we we remain committed to helping them make those a reality into the future. So thank you. >> Yes. Thank you >> represent Tjo. >> Thank you mayor Nicole. Thank you for uh and your department and all the other departments for putting this and bringing this forth and helping uh create change in quality of life in El Paso. So, I want to thank all the neighborhood associations that participated in this and and took the time to submit the applications. Uh, I want to thank you for caring about our community, for advocating, for helping create positive change within the Northeast with your voice. And I also want to congratulate all those who were awarded. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Nicole. Representative Fier. >> Thank you, Mayor. Thank you so much for all your team's time investment uh in District 6. Uh I I have to share with everybody. Nicole spent a lot of time um holding our hand, helping us fill out the application, helping us uh choose some of the items that that the the park needed. And so we have a very very happy uh neighborhood association. Hopefully in the near future we'll have more neighborhood associations. But but this is uh great and thank you for you and all your team for everything you did for us. >> Thank you sir. >> Represent. >> Thank you mayor and Nicole. I just echo everything that my colleagues are saying and I know that NIP has been difficult. There's there's a lot of emotions that go into NIP >> and with 11.5 million worth of requests but $5 million in the bank, it makes it difficult to even move forward. >> Yeah, absolutely. And and I think it also is a great exercise for our neighborhood associations to really come together and submit something for consideration that they want to see within the area that they live. And I think that's why I love NIP so much. And I know that there's also the the thing of oh well the criteria didn't work. Let's improve it and you went and did that. And um I I think there was still going to be emotions no matter what happened in terms of process. But I I was pleased with the process overall. Um when it comes down to my district, we had 11 submissions. Three of them were not feasible and then there was eight that were scored, right? And so can you explain a little bit on what not feasible means? >> Um so the eligibility criteria requires that the first off it needs to be submitted by a neighborhood association. So, if somebody submitted an application, they're given the opportunity to form the neighborhood association in advance of today's meeting. So, provided that they uh form, then they're eligible. But without a recognized neighborhood association, that's considered not feasible. It also needs to be on a city uh owned right ofway. And then budget is also in consideration. So, if there was a capital intensive project that exceeded the $625,000 per district allotment, we didn't consider that feasible as well. >> Okay. Thank you for that clarification. And as I was looking through the four projects that were selected for being awarded in my district, I was having some conversations with some of these neighborhood associations. And for example, we we discussed in my office how Valverde and Bario Lincoln Park had both said they wanted security cameras and security cameras is not really a feasible thing. And I kind of wanted you to explain why they're not feasible. >> Yes. It's in consultation with the parks department that their recommendation is that is provided that a a recreation center or staff is attached to the certain location that allows better management of cameras. And so the security cameras always work best when there's staff or somebody able to to monitor them. At a park where there staff is not necessarily assigned um you know to man the park 8 to 5 it makes it very difficult to actually it makes it less feasible. So the recommendation was uh to provide security cameras at uh recreation centers over parks. Okay, thank you for that clarification. And so as I'm seeing um as a central neighborhood association, they received the the most money out of all the projects. And um I talked to Bar Lincoln Park as well. And Bar Lincoln Park um agreed that it was okay to not move forward with their project. their their biggest thing was this was the third thing on their list having benches and their their focus is really more on solar lights and security cameras and we're going to work through that a little bit more. So, um I also talked to the central neighborhood association and we had good conversations. as they were here earlier for public comment and I explained the situation that happened with the Mountain Side Neighborhood Association where um I I think with some the application could have been a little strengthened. There was a key piece that was left out by the neighborhood association and that was the contributions that Judy Arian has had in that area and she she was a trailblazer for open space played a huge role in making casting range a national monument and this this would be a big project that would help um this neighborhood honor her legacy and unfortunately that was left out and so put us in this position that we're in here today. And so through my conversations with um Bio Lincoln Park Central Neighborhood Association, I I did want to make a floor amendment to this. Okay. >> Um you know, the I wouldn't have done this without consulting the neighborhood associations that were awarded um so they know that this is happening. They were happy um to kind of figure something else out and um at least Bio Lincoln Park um you know, we'll work on on something else. And then Central Neighborhood Association said, you know, we're we have a whole plan. We we're happy to do this. Um, you know, kind of share it around. And so, um, what I I want to do here is the other thing that I wanted to consider is that my district is in three parts. It's the Northeast, Central, and South Central. And the Northeast, as my colleague um that I get to share with the Northeast with, um, she hears it. Representative Boyjo, you know, the Northeast never gets anything. And as I was looking at that and having the Northeast omit it from any any project, that gave me um some heartburn. And so because of all those reasons, I I want to move to amend exhibit A with the following changes. One, Central Neighborhood Association Granview Park reduce the total project budget from 439,000 to 395,000. Two, Bario Lincoln Neighborhood Association Lincoln Park omit the proposed project in the amount of $33,000. Three, Mountain Site Neighborhood Association, Stony Hill Drive, add a new project consisting of a walking trail with striping along the street side beginning at Alabama and extending to Stony Hill Drive with a project estimate of $77,000. >> All right, we have an amendment on the floor. Is there a second? >> Second. Okay. And I sent you the language, Miss Pride. >> We have an amendment. We had a second, Miss Prime. Any discussion on You want We got to read this one back though. It was >> And I'll forward it to to council so you can see it. There's only three, correct? Three >> three changes. >> Yeah. So, it's it's um >> taking away money from one project and then defunding one project and then taking that collective and adding it to one of the projects that wasn't on the list that did not make it forward on the list but was considered. >> So, I have to amend exhibit A with the following changes. Number one, Central Appraisal Association, Grand View Park. Reduce a total project budget from 439,000 to $395,000. Number two, Bario Lincoln Neighborhood Association Lincoln Park omit the proposed project in the amount of $33,000. And number three, Mountainside Neighborhood Association, Stony Hill Drive at a new project consisting of a walking trail trail with striping along the street site beginning at Alabama and extending to Stony Hill Drive with a project estimate of $77,000. >> Okay. Is there discussion on this amendment? >> Represent Canales. >> Thank you, Mayor. Just to clarify, is the the the project that's being added, was that an originally submitted project by a neighborhood association that was not selected? >> Correct. >> Okay. So, that's already priced out. Staff has already done the work for estimation >> has been completed. Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. Any more discussion on this amendment? All right. Mr. Bryan, call for this vote. >> Yes, sir. And so the motion was made by Representative Aso, seconded by Mayor Prom Chavez, and this is to amend the resolution on item 68 as previously read into the record. On that motion, call for the vote >> and the vote not present. >> All right, back on the main motion. Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, Mary, and thank you, Nicole, for this presentation. Um, I also want to reiterate a lot of what my colleagues have said. This is a much anticipated uh process that uh was one of the very first things that I learned about when I came into office in January. There are currently 20 uh neighborhood associations in District 1. 12 of them submitted applications. Nine of them advanced to the scoring process and seven have been selected. And the reason why I specifically have been waiting so much for the results of this is uh because this is where I want to spend some of my discretionary funds. I spent um quite a bit of money earlier this year in quality of life and uh safety things that I did around the district which I'm very uh happy to provide for my constituents. And here again is going to be an opportunity for me to hopefully, you know, partner with parks and wreck, streets and maintenance, um, and others at the city so that we can definitely make a bigger investment into District 1. So, I'm I'm, you know, uh, aware of the fact that things cost more money now than they did in 2022 when the when the bond was passed, but, uh, I do think that there has been a lot of work put into this. And this is, you know, a great overall result, you know, in terms of trying to get the the biggest bang for our buck type of thing. And trying to distribute that, I know took a lot of work. again, you know, being able to fund seven projects, you know, not all of them in their entirety, I understand, but, you know, still trying to distribute those funds around the district, I know, was challenging, and so I appreciate the work that you've put into it, and I look forward to seeing these come to fruition. Do we have a timeline more or less when you think these will be completed? >> Uh, Evette says 2029. >> 20 estimated >> 2029. >> Yes. >> Yes. Okay. Well, >> okay. >> I'm sure I'm sure it will be in phases and you know in different in different for different reasons depending on the the the scope of work. So, thank you once again, Nicole. >> Represent Lemon. >> Thank you. I I just looked over to to the mayor and said 2029 right before I'm done. That'll be the end of my my term. Nicole, thank you very much. I think that this is really a a a fabulous project. Um, I am very pleased with the the amenities that are coming to District 7. It's it's a shame that so many of the pickle ball uh enthusiasts have already left the building, but they were all here and really commenting on on the limited number of pickle ball courts in our city. So, we will end up having two at Argle Park and then two at the Ralph Cloud um park as well. And I know that there was one person here today and I can really I can tell you that I empathize. And so, Mr. Damontes. I'm not sure if he's even still here, but um I we have limited limited uh discretionary money, but I know exactly the area that he's talking about, and I will be working with him and the community. Um I will begin pretty soon uh um undertaking a master gardener course for the year and that's going to be one of my focuses that we can do something out in that area. So he's the one that came forward today and certainly will be looking to see how we can um kind of close a little bit of gap that he's been working on for so many years. So Nicole, thank you for all the work that you all have done and the leadership that you've undertaken and all the different groups. Really appreciate your work. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Nicole, um hearing from our youth earlier about the quality of life. >> I've been to join their neighborhood association. >> Yeah. Yeah. Uh, so the neighborhood improvement program is something that's good for all of El Paso. And to hear pickle ball courts, ping pong tables, chess tables, landscaping, solar lights, cameras, it goes on and on and it goes across uh the city of El Paso and the amounts as Representative Canales mentioned are pretty much even through each district. So congratulations on getting this done, but we have to vote on it. >> I just have one uh represent >> I'm sorry, mayor. I just have a question because when I was looking at the different um sheets and and then it was even reiterated right now why it it's hard for me to imagine how a bench is a at a cost of $11,000. So, uh, and I can have Evette explain further if I don't do this justice. >> And I can understand that you're going to have to put, you know, concrete or something, >> irrigation modifications and and other considerations. So each each park dependent on the site conditions would require uh different assessments >> and and and yeah I bet if you can add anything else to it. I think $11,000 for one park bench seems like a bit high. >> Good morning mayor and council. Um I edand the city manager's office. Um, one of the things with being a public entity, we need to make sure that all the contractors adhere to the bacon Davis wages. And so, not only the material, but also the cost for labor does increase more than if a builder was to put one in a park during their land development. So, that does um attribute to some of the cost increases. something >> perhaps something we would need to work on. There's got to be a way. There's got to be a better way because the city can't continue to pay exorbitant prices for commodities or for things. You would think we would get a better price, not a higher price, but we'll talk about it at another time. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Representative Fier. >> Yeah. Thank you, mayor. On that project u on the park bench, isn't it three benches? >> Which project are we talking about? >> 33,000. >> Okay. >> Come here. They got my question answer. I I got my question answer. Thank you. >> All right. We're good. Uh Miss Bryan, call for the vote. >> We have >> Oh, we have public comment. Sure. >> Yes. We have Jose Luis Salas. >> Thank you. Teresa Celig followed by Sylvia Carion, Fred Evans, Patricia Osman, Terresa Cel. No, let's carry on. Are we still in the morning? No. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> Silia Kim with the pres president of the Mission Valley Civic Association and I come to request my NIP project was for shades covering the children's playground at Capistrano Park located in the Isleta district. We requested these shades for the playground along with shades for bleacher baseball bleachers back in 2020. through a CDBG grant. Our project was awarded, but the representative at the time was district 6 did not approve our project since they she lost the area to redistricting. After a long battle with city staff, um our request for the shades for the bleachers was completed in 2023, but not the playground that that was left out. We applied for the NIP uh in January of 2025. The city accepted our original signatures which was 144 signatures that we used from the 2020 bomb uh project. Our request of the playground shade was not accepted for this for this year. If you look at the projects awarded for all the districts, many requested landscaping, exercise equipment, solar lighting, security cameras, pickle ball courts, and other activities that did not include shade. We are requesting protection. We are requesting protection for the from the sun for the children that go to the playground. But sometimes they can't play because it's too hot. I also noted that the Ralph Dcloud Neighborhood Association was awarded two projects, one in district three and one in district 7. On page six of this presentation, they show a $1.4 4 million savings from the completed NIP projects out of the 2012 bond. I spoke with Miss Nicole Rodriguez about the money. She's um stated that it was for engineering or something like that cost. Um design we already know what a shade cost should be look like. I think this money could be used to try and help me with capistrano. This is the last round of the NIPs for 20 from the 2012 bond. We will not be able to apply for a playground shade again. All of these projects from every district is still pending approval from this council. And I pray that you please consider the playground in Capistrano Park. You know, we're not going to get another chance. There is a,ion400,000 and whether it's design cost or whatever it cost I think we can >> what? >> Sorry, we have a hot mic. I apologize for that. >> I get 10 seconds more. >> No, it's okay. No, but really, you know, the kids really need the shade. They have the trees out there and everything, but it doesn't have a shade. Thank you. >> Thank you. The next speaker is Fred Evans, followed by Patricia Osman. Lucia Pingo. >> Good afternoon. Afternoon. I'm Fred Evans. I'm the president of the Five Points Development Association. We're the second oldest neighborhood association in El Paso. For 39 years, nearly 40 years, we've been advocating for businesses and residents in the Five Points area. Five Points area is a large area. It runs from Cotton Street on the west all the way to US 54 on the east from the freeway all the way up to the railroad tracks and takes the curve with the railroad tracks and goes up to where Persing becomes Dire Street on the to the gate the Persian gate. It's a large area in that in that entire area. We have the Merry Webb Park and the Leona Washington Recreation Center down on Missouri Street uh close to the freeway. There's nothing else. There are three little parks that are on Waco Street, ironically, and they're all within about five blocks of each other. They're small neighborhood parks. Austin Park, probably most people know it's a triangle where Waco and Montana meet. Uh it's a nice little park. I've walked it. Uh when I was a little boy, we went through church ice cream socials and things there. I have fond memories of it, but there's nothing in it. I mean, there are trees there, but there are no benches, there are no tables, there's no equipment, there's nothing there. So, what we requested was two covered tables and two benches so that people could sit there and and enjoy that park. It needs more work. It needs a tree replaced and some lighting. And I've spoken to parks about looking at that. We're uh grateful for being selected to get this far in the process and we certainly hope that the council will approve this expenditure uh because we we have nothing in the other parks either and it's something I think is a needed amenity. I have to say that I share Representative Leone's uh surprise at the cost because we asked for two each. We got one each. We're grateful for that. But the cost for a covered table and a bench is $103,000. And I'm a little surprised, but um if if we qualified again, I'm happy. We appre we appreciate being selected. I would also like to recognize Tracy Carter, one of our members who uh spearheaded this project. got out and got the signatures, met with the parks people, did a tremendous job with this. She wasn't able to be here today and I agreed to speak for her. So again, once again, thank you for the opportunity and we would ask for your vote. >> Thank you. >> Thank Thank you, Fred. >> Next speaker is Patricia Osmond followed by Lucia Pingo and Nadia Antoan. >> Really quick, if I could ask by district rep Mr. If you could clarify um the walking path on Alabama that's basically on magnetic, right? And it's going to go from like Fred Wilson. Alabama is on Fred Wilson. >> No, it's on it's on Stony Hill. >> So, okay. Off of Alabama. From Alabama all the way to the top of Stony Hill. >> Stony Hill is exactly where? right before Alabama turns into magnetic. >> Okay. I thought Morning Side was a little further where you had your uh fall festival, but I must be mistaken cuz I know there's no walking path on magnetic and it really does need it. So, I was somewhat appreciated if that was the case, but it's not. So, that's fine. Um but like another speaker had had pointed out, there is an issue with um neighborhood services in regards to how the associations are put together, how they're managed and so forth. It took me a very long time to actually take over the association in my area because for over four years nobody could get a hold of the previous person that had control of it. Our repo couldn't do it for me. It took a lot of wrangling for me to finally be able to get that guy to commit to stepping down cuz he was not answering calls. wasn't doing anything for over four years so that I could but I wasn't able to do it in time to apply for any of these projects. So I hope our area does get something later on. Although there's a park which is Newman Park has no representation whatsoever and I've been I had spoken to see if that could be part of our area since I but up against that and I butt up against my points as well. Um, just so you know, I I do I do appreciate some of the work at Graan View, but you should know that there's a video out there that has over 112,500 views of a lost hidden skate park built right behind what the old Dairy Queen was and nobody really services it other than like the Roller Derby girls. It's, you know, some of us, they're in the area that kind of into skating. um that actually brings people to to the city and that that is like I said it's a very well-known video out there in a very know well populated community and the skater community and I'm saying like roller skating not just skateboarding or what have you uh just as much as pickle ball is. So if you could do something for that area that would be great. Thank you. >> The next speaker is Lucia Oingo, followed by Nadia Antoan. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon, mayor, city council, city manager. Everybody, my name is Lucia Pinko and I'm the president of the Upper East Neighborhood Association. I'm here to ask today to ask your approval for my NIP request application ending in 5170. It's for the minor park. Um, if you could all please approve that. The reason I'm asking is because when I got the email from neighborhood services, they said it was recommended but didn't really say it was going to be approved. So, I'm here to ask for your approval. We are a new community in the far east. All our parks there don't have anything. We have maybe a playground, but we're lacking so many things, the trees and just everything because it's a new community. So that's why I'm asking to see my request was for a basketball court at Miners Park. You know, back in 1960 something they were the Southwestern University and all the streets around there are uh the names of the basketball players, Willie Cer, Togo Riley, all of them. So when we when I came across the miners park, it doesn't even have a basketball court. So, and everybody, all of the neighbors around there were saying it's called Miners Park, but there's not even a basketball court for the kids to play. And all our parks in that area, I'm in charge of like 15 parks. So, if I could just get this one with uh Elisa basketball court and and the other items that I'm requesting, I would really appreciate it. And um also on the trees um if they could put trees that actually give shade. A lot of the trees are just ornamental. So we need a lot of trees that actually will give shade 10 years from now. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The final speaker is Nadia Antoan. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. Um good afternoon council members. I have to read off because I get nervous. But uh my name is Nadia Antoine. I'm the co-chair for the Franklin Neighborhood Association and serve on the neighborhood coalition board representative uh representing the Northwest area. I understand this was the last year for the NIP. And that's why the budget was 600,000 versus the 100,000 that has been in past years. So it sounds like it's a lot of money, but really it's only this year that it's been a lot of money. Previously, we've been begging for $100,000 per district. Just want to reiterate that. In all these years, neighborhood associations met with city staff, multiple departments, including parks, streets, and neighborhood services to discuss possible projects. We spend time meeting with our associations, collecting signatures, begging for pedley amounts of of dollars. Today, I want to introduce the El Paso improvement plan. Sorry, I get nervous. um where it's not only the citizens that fund improvements, but those who owe it to the citizens to have a quality of life that their customers and El Paso citizens deserve. We need to require that builders and developers put put in and put into their plans to have equipped parks safety features instead of requiring for us to beg to beg for after the fact. I invite you to look at the catalog that that was provided to us. The costs are ridiculous. Thank you for pointing that out, Miss Leone. They are above and beyond. I assume the city has to use approved vendors where builders are not so um but builders are not confined to those those vendors. While I congratulate Enchanted Hills in our district 1 um for the $300,000 that they just received for the park for equipping their parks, they are a brand new development and that should have been required of the developer. There's no reason that we come in after the fact and now put in equipment into the park that should have been part of the requirements of the developer. Um, sorry. Um, I understand that there may be new requirements of the new developments, but it's so frustrating that this always comes after the fact. Always too little, too late. El Paso, I still don't know or believe that sufficient requirements have been determined on the new developments. Let's use those city department reps and citizens from neighborhood associations to help determine what is truly needed of new development so that the burden is taken off of us in the future and can be addressed when when the development comes into place. Maybe we need to require all those developers who have benefited off the backs of citizens to fund the parks they they should have developed in the first place. We can increase fees or consider other options. But what has been done so far has failed us. Let's start the El Paso improvement plan and demand better of the builders and developers that make money off the backs of El Paso citizens and often sadly fund your campaigns and require you to vote against the citizens you are supposed to serve. So, I hope this will be considered and that we put the burden back on the developers who are making money off these these areas. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mayor. That concludes public comment on this >> represent Nino. >> Thank you, mayor. And I think this is I don't know if this is a question or request. I know that when I got briefed I also asked about the cost you know in 2020 since the projects are essentially could be completed in 2029. I asked if there was inflation or any costs that were taken into account when it we were going to be executing these projects. But if there's a way to look into the smaller scale projects that could essentially be done at a much quicker process to have some cost savings and and you know if there is any cost savings looking into further uh collaboration with those neighborhoods associations to see if they could be additional amenities that could be added to those parks. I think that would be appreciated. Um just cuz like I said I know that you know we don't know what anything is going to cost by 2029. Even $5 million when this was approved, we could have possibly done a lot other projects, but I just want to take that into if you guys could take that into account in consideration. >> Yes. And everything listed is a project estimate. The money the 625,000 the investment will remain 625,000. So if a project comes in under budget, we'll use it for additional amenities. Um so the investment amount 625,000 will remain in your all's district and in the districts and the project site locations that are included. We include the project estimates as a basis to get to the 625,000 investment. So I hope that clarifies that. >> Thank you for that. >> Thank you. All right, Miss Bryan call for the vote. >> Yes, mayor. The motion was made by Representative Lemon, seconded by alternate mayor prompor to approve the resolution as revised. On that motion, call for the vote in the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> All right, Miss Brian, I know I said we're going to take items 48, 49, and 50, but I'm feeling energy here that we need a fivem minute break because they've been sitting for 4 hours. So, if we have five minutes, we're going to come back and move these to the top. >> We need a motion to >> recess. There's a motion and a second to recess for 5 minutes. All in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? The meeting is in recess at 10:09 p.m. Council, if you'll please return to the day as the meeting can reconvene. We need two more members to form a quorum. I see Representative Rocha approaching the deas. Will I need one more? >> I see Mayor Prom Chavez. >> All right, Miss Brian. >> Council, is there a motion to reconvene? >> Second. There's a motion and a second to reconvene the council meeting. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? The meeting is back in session at 1:22 p.m. We are on page number 16. Mayor, you said items 48, 49, and 50. >> Yes. >> Since they're related, I'll read them into the record. Item 48 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending and replacing in its entirety the following provisions of the El Paso City Code. Title 20, zoning, chapter 10, supplemental use regulations, section 035, accessory dwelling unit, ADU to update requirements for accessory dwelling units. Item 49 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending and replacing in its entirety the following provisions of Paso City Code title 20 zoning chapter 20.02 02 general provisions and definitions. Article 2 definitions and item 50 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title 20 zoning chapter 14 off streetet parking loading and storage standards. Article one vehicular parking section 50 parking requirements and standards and section 70 parking reductions to remove off streetet parking requirements for development located in c certain areas of the city. >> Good morning, Alex. Well, sorry. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Uh, Alex Huffman with Urban Planning and Design for the Record. Okay. >> Uh, I'm joined today by my colleague Danielle Lassado who will also be giving a portion of this presentation. >> Okay. >> So, these items that are before you today are part of a overarching housing strategy uh for the city. And these strategies come out of approved and adopted master plans. And we have two that were adopted by city council in 2022 and 2023 being the Alama corridor plan and then the downtown uptown and surrounding neighborhoods master plan. And the goal here today and what this starts is the implementation process of those approved master plans. The overarching strategies as part of those master plans really focuses on housing. And so the amendments that are presented today and that will follow in future phases really focus on increasing housing production with the following outcomes being our goal. First is to address housing affordability. Second is housing choice. Third is to reduce and remove barriers to development. And then fourth to reinvest in priority areas. The actions before council today do not solve these problems. It is one of many solutions that are being proposed to help address these things. So the overarching reason that we're looking at these things is first is uh to look at um the amount of money that is needed to support construction costs. uh rents are a reflection of construction costs and so we need to make sure that we help support projects that work that pencil. Second is that we need to look at housing affordability uh specifically by increasing housing supply and so uh off street parking requirements and accessory dwelling units again are two ways that we can help to increase housing supply in our city and third is uh to address the the market demand. Uh so we looked at uh as part of the downtown uptown plan uh what type of uh residential development and then the uses that come alongside of that is possible over the next several years and it identified the opportunity to capture 10,000 housing units, the majority of which will be located uh south of Interstate 10, but it's looking at the entire master plan area. So the way that we're proposing to address this is by looking at the code amendments that are before us today. Again, these are targeted. They're they're infill. um we're not necessarily looking at making changes uh to increase housing supply citywide and like we mentioned that as part of these changes this is just the first phase of multiple phases to help bring forward some additional items that will help address housing related issues. So to take a step back and give a little bit of context as to why we're talking about housing is first to talk a little bit about how uh there's a significant need for low-income housing and housing in general throughout our city. So, this is an article that recently just came out uh where it identified that the housing authority has a weight list currently of a 100,000 people uh needing affordable housing. Second is that we recently received as part of our comprehensive plan our housing needs assessment and the box that's highlighted at the bottom identifies the city's existing housing shortage. So, right now we're short about 18,000 units in the city, the majority of which are rental units. Uh to give a little bit of context to these numbers, we need to triple our production of housing for the next 12 years to catch up just to the baseline. And so there's a significant housing shortage. This housing shortage then is reflected by housing affordability. And this is uh the red line being represented the the percent of income uh that is eaten up by housing costs. And we can see that even though there's this perception that El Paso is an affordable market, we've been teetering that line of housing affordability where after the pandemic, it has accelerated and is significantly above that line where people right now are spending on a median uh basis 45% of their income when we include things like property taxes, interest, and then of course their payment. So how do we get there? How do we look at ways to produce additional housing units? There's really two different approaches that we propose. Uh the first of which is to legalize much of what is existing. And so when we say that, what we mean is that we're going to propose a series of quick fixes like the ones before council today that help to loosen existing requirements to help facilitate more growth, more development, more housing. And then secondarily, a longer term goal is looking at things like creating new tools. And so that could be in the form of uh density bonus programs. It could be in the form of uh new zoning districts that facilitate development that currently is not permitted in the city. But again, we're really focused on that first, which is legalize much of what is existing because this is the lowest common denominator. This is how we can get there in the most incremental way possible. And so this is the proposed phasing of the project. Again, we're only here today discussing phase one, which is definitions, off- streetet parking requirements, and accessory dwelling units. But for full transparency, these are other items that we're going to be looking at to otherwise support this housing goal that we have for for the city and for our residents. So the reason that we're really focused on this areas is today uh for the parking requirements is because again this is where we have adopted master plans. Uh so the areas in blue are representing where we have approved master plans on the books. The area in green is our older areas of the city which were developed prior to the city having uh zoning regulations. And so when we talk about how do we create flexibility and why we're focusing on these areas, the reason that we focus on these areas is because what is on the ground today does not match our code in terms of the requirements. It has never met the requirements of the code because it was developed prior to us having zoning. And so really what we're trying to do is to focus and create new tools to create flexibility where there currently is very little uh for staff to do anything administratively. So the first uh change that we're proposing is the off- streetet parking requirements. And so the reason that off- streetet parking requirements are an important part of this conversation is because with any particular parcel or land, there is a series of trade-offs. And that's because our parking requirements are based on the square footage of buildings or in the case of residential, uh it's the number of units. And there gets to a point where uh a building can't be any larger because of what ends up getting capped out with the amount of space that's required for offshoot parking requirements. We also have landscape requirements. And so you get to a point again where you can't do anything else with existing property without looking at parking requirements. And so how this plays out is uh in this slide we can see that with something as simple as a forplex, our code currently requires two spaces per unit. So we would have to have eight parking spaces per per our ordinance. And as we start to delegate more and more space for off- streetet parking, we can see that the land area that is required increases at the same time that density is decreasing. And so within the context of our study area again for the downtown, uptown, and surrounding neighborhoods master plan, a particular parcel of land would have to be 8,600 ft in order to accommodate enough off- streetet parking to support something like a quadplex. we can see that only 26% of all parcels within our study area uh could actually support that amount of space. The trade-off there is going to be that absent looking at something like parking requirements, what is there today will be there uh until there's some other type of flexibility granted to these properties that what's there is going to be locked in perpetuity unless we make modifications. to talk about an example very specifically. Uh we can see that um this is a development application that was before city council. This was the no senior project. Again making that connection to that need for additional affordable housing units. This particular project called for 133 units and that's what the left part of the slide shows. Parking occupied about 25% of the site. Now because of opposition to the request that uh was looking at reducing the parking requirements, the number of units dropped from 133 down to 80. So a net loss of 53 housing units at the same time that parking area increased uh to 50% of the site. And in this instance, this is a is a clear example of how our parking requirements end up reducing the number of housing units that are possible on a on a given site. So, the reason that we're talking about eliminating parking minimums again is because the downtown plan that was adopted by uh city council looked at the opportunity to increase housing within the study area uh with by 10,000 housing units. And again, the majority of those are located within the core, again, south of Interstate 10. And so, what that does is that it allows for space that would otherwise be reserved for off- streetet parking to instead be used for housing units. So, the change that we're proposing uh primarily affects the areas that are going to be north of Interstate 10 today. Um there is no requirement for offshoot street parking uh south of the of the highway and downtown. And so to make that recommendation, what we started was looking at how much parking currently exists within the study area. So there's right now about 14,000 parking spaces, the majority of which are on street. We have additional um private lots and then off- streetet parking that's part of commercial development with a total of about 27,000 parking spaces. Um the typical street within our study area is about 70 ft and per our city code they are required to provide on street parking. And so to help support the recommendation what was done was that we did a parking occupancy study between October 2023 and February 2024. And for context, we did the study back then um because this was um part of a a recommendation that was going to city council last year and we analyzed this area between Rim um Kansas north to Baltimore and then west to Mesa. And the reason that we analyzed this particular corridor is because the original boundary included all of these streets. Uh since that time, we have since moved the boundary further west, but that is why those particular streets were were analyzed. Uh we did take into account that we wanted to make sure we're getting all the parking calculations when UT was in session recognizing that they're a major driver or those students are a major driver of parking demand. And so what did we find? Again looking at average daily utilization rates uh we found that for the most part occupancy is at or below 30%. There were a few uh exceptions to that. One of which was Cincinnati at about 70%. Uh and then Boston and Kirby were which were just a tad above 30%. The red line across the top is what we call a target occupancy rate. Uh so that means that uh there's one space available at all times. And so what we see here in this graphic is that on a typical day averaged across all hours of the day, we can find at least one parking space on all of the streets where uh we are propo where we were proposing to reduce the parking requirements. So what happens if the market assessment that had identified all this development um what happens if there is no change to the off- streetet parking requirements? So this area in purple here is the amount of space that off- streetet parking would consume with 10,000 housing units, 145,000 ft of retail and 290,000 ft of office be 54 city blocks of nothing but surface parking. So, with that, I'm going to hand it off to Danielle Casada, who's going to be covering accessory dwelling units. >> Good afternoon, Mayor and Council Daniel Casada for urban planning and design for the record. >> Um, so we're going to start the conversation about accessory dwelling units with the images that you see right now on the screen. Uh these are existing conditions in our urban core in the older neighborhoods as my colleague mentioned when uh or prior to the zoning restrictions that currently don't allow the accessory dwelling units as you see them in the images uh right up against the rear or side property lines. And in our proposed amendments, what we're trying to do is make it easier for the con conversion of existing accessory structures that find themselves in these conditions and for the rest of the city to also embrace this type of neighborhood character. So this is a list of the overview. I'm sorry. This is the overview of the proposed changes. Um I think it'll be easier for me to walk you through the illustrations in the next slide. I will mention though that there's five proposed changes and one the last one is just a clarification. So as we see the proposed amendments we're making first for ADUs to be allowed in all residential districts that means that not only in single family residential lots but also in multifamily. So, for example, a property that has a fiveplex or a sixplex and has additional land to provide an additional unit because the ADU allows one more unit uh under these proposed amendments would be allowed by right. Uh to accompany this amendment, we're also proposing that the owner occupancy requirement be removed. Understanding that in said uh multifamily properties, it's very likely the owner does not reside. So, these are accompanying proposed amendments. The next amendment we're proposing is to the minimum lot requirement for the ADU. There's already a base zoning minimum lot requirement. And so all we're proposing is that we stick to that. So whatever the base zoning minimum lot requirement is, that's going to be the same one for the ADU. The next is bedrooms. Currently, there is a cap on bedrooms for ADUs to just one. We're proposing to create more flexibility for property owners to decide along with their designers how many bedrooms they could fit in accordance with the existing cap sizes to the ADUs as well as to the fire safety requirements that come along with the building permitting process. So in other words, we're not going to dictate we're going to allow flexibilities for homeowners to have that option. And then the the other or the last, excuse me, um amendment we're proposing is to the rear and side setbacks to be reduced to zero. Um important to note though is that currently the rear lot setback can already be allowed to be zero in properties that abut an alley. What we're doing is extending that flexibility to the rest of the city as ADUs are allowed in the entire city. Currently the sideyard line would be the proposed amendment that would apply as a new amendment and that being allowed to be reduced to zero. Now important to note is again what is not changing and specifically speaking to these setback flexibility that we are proposing is our building code requirements which say that for any zero lot construction there has to be a 2hour fire rated wall provided. This is important because we have heard concerns precisely for fire safety but also for privacy in a 2-hour fire rated wall. No openings are allowed. That means no windows. So if a property owner decides to develop an ADU on the side and rear property zero lot lines, those two walls would automatically have to be 2hour fire rated and have no windows. What's important about that as well is that bedrooms must have an operable window to meet the fire egress requirement. And the size of said windows has to be a net opening of five square ft. So, we're talking about a sizable window in each bedroom, which now we learn if somebody decides to take on the option of building to the zero lot line at the rear and sidey yards, those two walls can't have any windows. So, only two walls of this proposed scenario could have windows or bedrooms. The other important part of the code that is not changing that is in conjunction to our proposed amendments is the cap in the size. That is not changing. It is remaining at 800 square ft for any ADUs that are proposed on lots that are 8,000 square ft or smaller. However, if there's a lot that is over 8,000 square ft and they choose to develop an ADU, they can go up to,200 square ft. Now, under all our code restrictions, um not only our proposed amendments, but our existing building codes, we anticipate that it is these 1,200 ft² ADU units that would take advantage of increasing the number of bedrooms from one to potentially two as they have the space for it. The other important thing that is not changing and it's important for understanding of the amendments is the height. Currently, our code caps the height of an accessory dwelling unit to the height of the primary structure. Uh, this is important because the primary structure is capped again with the base zoning. All our residential uh zoning districts cap single family dwellings to 35 ft. So, the tallest two-story home you will ever see is 35 feet tall as capped by our zoning. And if somebody were to, for example, develop on their existing detached garage a second story ADU, that would be capped at whatever the height of the primary structure is. So it would never be able to be taller than 35 ft. Last, we're going to move to an overview of the proposed definition amendment. So this is a combination of amending existing definitions to provide clarity um but also creating new definitions to support not only these proposed amendments, this first batch, these first three uh but also to set the groundwork for subsequent code amendments that will be introduced to support the housing strategy as my colleague mentioned. These include having very clear definitions, for example, for what constitutes a large, medium, or small apartment. And to conclude the presentation, I'll go over the stakeholder um engagement summary that was undertaken uh along with this first batch. So, you could see a list of all the neighborhood associations that were engaged. This includes those that were directly impacted by the proposed amendments. um and some were neighboring. Um engagement began in the summer of 2024 and went on up until um till yesterday, as a matter of fact. Uh and you could see that a couple were actually engaged more than once. Important to note is um as a result of the engagement, the boundary for the proposed parking amendment was actually shifted to uh what you currently see today in the exhibit that's being proposed. Um this is a list of the organizations that were engaged as part of the process again starting in the summer of 2024. Um some engaged a couple of times as well going on until um today. And then additional meetings that were scheduled um after the first reading of this item on July 22nd. Uh you could see that we had meetings with the Sunrise Civic Group, three of them, with Friends of Sunset Heights. We had our second meeting with GEAR and we had our town hall meeting on August 14th. Uh we were also uh available for questions and answers at yesterday evening's neighborhood coalition meeting. So in total, we had over 25 public meetings. Um there were four separate public notices that were given out. Um, we had a robust plan for social media outreach, understanding that not everyone has the capacity to attend meetings, but at least we wanted to socialize the proposed amendments. Um, as of uh last Thursday when this presentation was posted, we had over 35 34,000 total views and over 20,000 individual accounts that were reached um with uh 1,700 a little over 1,700 interactions that went along with those. Um, so it's a little bit more than 5% of interaction and in terms of marketing that could deem a very successful marketing campaign. Um, and then in conclusion, we have our letters of support. Um, these are also attached to your backup. I'm sure you've had a chance uh to read those. We are missing one. In total, we have 18. We did have an additional letter of support come earlier this week and we did not have an opportunity to post it with the presentation uh last Thursday. and we have received three letters of opposition um but they are uh specifically to the ADUs. So in conclusion just to recap um we're right now at phase one of the targeted code amendments um as part of the implementation plan of the uptown downtown and surrounding neighborhoods plan and Alama corridor plan um with the three amendments before you. uh but we would like to move forward with phase two and phase three uh to address the different components of our housing strategy moving forward. Um again before you is the requested council action um one to uh no longer require off streetet parking for properties and letting owners decide how much they want to provide for their development. Uh to update section 20.10.035 035 to encourage the development or conversion of existing structures to accessory dwelling units. Uh and to amend our definitions chapter um to create alignment with subsequent code amendments we'll be bringing forward and updates. And with that I'll open it up for any questions. >> Representative Canales. Mayor, I don't I don't know if the council wanted to take the public comment first or >> uh let's I would entertain a motion first and then we'll do discussion to approve. >> Okay. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay, there's a motion and a second. Um represent Gonzalez, do you want to you're still on or you want? >> Yeah, it's up to the council if we I don't know if we want to take the comment. >> We have public comment. And Miss Prime, are we taking 48, 49, and 50? >> Yes, sir. They're all related. >> Okay. Let's um let's hear public comment first. >> Yes, sir. >> First person is Robert Palasios, >> followed by Martina Lori, Sylvia Carion, Mustafa Rafael, Edgar Lopez. Good morning. Good afternoon. >> Right. Good afternoon, mayor and members of council. >> Good afternoon. Uh my name is Robert Palasios. I am the founder of Baso Development, a local development firm. I have been responsible for several completed and ongoing projects within this target area. And I am also uh the owner of the popular department store building here downtown. We're currently in the pre-development phase uh of converting that building into 120 apartments, retail space, and underground parking. I am here today to encourage you to adopt the proposed amendments to the parking ordinance and to uh the ADU uh ordinance as well. There are several reasons why this is a very critical step that we take uh for our community, for our fiscal health, and for the long-term um wellness of the community. I'll start with the parking. These parking requirements at the moment are imposing a significant fiscal cost on the city of El Paso. It's estimated that a surface parking lot is producing 80 to 90% less tax revenue than a fully occupied building. And a parking garage is producing up to 50% 60% less revenue than a building uh that may be occupied by something such as uh apartments, residential or retail space. This is of course having a detrimental effect on the tax revenue coming into the city. And another way in which this is impacting the fiscal health of of El Paso is that it is pushing development out to the fringes where it is easier to meet these parking requirements. Thus forcing the city to pay for new infrastructure and to maintain infrastructure that may have been built by the developer. It is also making it very difficult to build in the central area of El Paso. I myself have had to go through multiple uh parking reduction processes. This is time consuming. It's uncertain. It adds delays to projects and in some cases can just make these projects impossible or cause a developer to decide not to move forward. Um, and it uh so I'd also like to very briefly touch on the ADU require or the ADU change. Uh, this would allow the creation of more affordable housing and it would allow more density in our central neighborhoods allowing more people to share the cost of maintaining those infra that infrastructure. I'd like to acknowledge that there are very well-intended people on both sides of the issue. Uh but it's important to note that this these proposed changes do not eliminate parking. Developers can still provide it. They do not change zoning to allow for more density in single family areas. Um, but it is very important that we adopt these resolutions uh for the reasons I've outlined, the fiscal health of the city, uh, and as well as looking at the brain drain issue that continues in El Paso. Uh, our best and brightest often leave for communities where these types of, uh, these types of ordinances have already been adopted. And so in conclusion, I'd like to say I strongly encourage you to vote in favor of these proposed resolutions, eliminate the parking requirements, and allow for ADU construction. >> Thank you. Next speaker is Martina Lori followed by sorry Martina Lori followed by Sylvia Carion Mustafa Rafi Edgar Lopez Paul Dip Joseph de Rabio Good afternoon >> good afternoon >> good afternoon uh my name is Martina Laurai I'm an architect my focus is residential work. I am I live on Stanton Street. I live the urban dream. So, I just want to say that our ordinance, the way it stands, provides for ADUs. It addresses all the issues of affordable housing options, multigener generational living. It supports homeowners financially. all the issues that you're looking to achieve through these changes on on the ADU ordinance. What is most dangerous is lifting the owner occupied requirement as well as the singlebedroom restriction. And I'll tell you why. If you res if you uh refer to the IRS, which is the the which is the international residential code, um it will allow a living space for 70 square ft. And if you do the multiplication, you could easily do three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a kitchen, a living space, meet all those requirements under 500 square ft. It could be occupied with three persons per bedroom. That's up to nine people per property. I think that that is not that is not a good uh restriction to lift. I want to uh refer to the way Dallas and Austin has handled their ADU ordinance. First and foremost, one of the things that I find so interesting about Dallas that we missed in El Paso this entire process lacked the transparency. They state in their ordinance that regulations and community input drive community input drive the development of ADU policies, reflecting a continuous conversation on how to balance neighborhood integrity with the necessity for additional housing options. Through public discussion and input, the city is exploring adjustments to regulations potentially allowing ADUs and addressing the needs of a growing population. It is so important for us to have affordable housing. This is not the issue. The issue is by removing owner required occupancy, it invites equity investors to come in and corporatize our neighborhoods and um and that is a very dangerous thing. I would I would encourage you to vote no on this. It needs a lot of work. It needs a ton of work. We need to have more neighborhood um input. It should not be a blanket ruling and it should exclude the apartments and existing multi-ousing such as quadruplex sixlexes. That should be an entirely different minutes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next speaker is Sylvia Cario. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon again. Silia with the Mission Valley Civic Association. I'm not an architect. I'm not an engineer. I'm not anything like that. But did you all see the backup? Um the stakeholders meetings um was all downtown. Chias, Familia, Unidas, Kur Place, Rimro, Rio Grand, Southside, everything is central. Everything was central. Okay. this presentation and they give you all the me uh all the meetings uh organizations, five points, District 2, American Institute of Architects, American Association of Retired Persons, Developer Focus Groups, Greater El Paso Realtors. Oh my god, even them. Okay. And then additional meetings, Sunrise Civic Association or Group, Friends of Sunset Heights, everything is downtown. Everything's downtown. What about the valley? What about Alama corridor? What about the Far East? What about Northeast? Did they have any plans to bring us this situation to us and let us see if we approve something like this? You're about to vote on a zoning change that affects the entire city. And they only went to the downtown people. That's not fair. That's not That's not the way to do things. Letters of support. Oh my goodness. Opportunity center for the homeless in downtown. Institute of Architects, Real Grand Neighborhood Association downtown, RIM area downtown. Individuals in support um Moagenegra Robert Palasios, Charlie, Johnny Scalante, Carlos Gayar, Scott. All these are either developers or architects that that want this kind of business. They want this kind of business to come down here. And if you vote on it, you just voted more money into their pockets. But what about the valley? What about us down there and the Far East and the Northeast? What about us people? Please don't vote on this. Please don't vote on this. you you need to let these people that have all the brains about all this engineering and all this stuff to rethink and involve us in all of their work. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Speaker is Mustafa Rafa. Mustafa Rafaeli followed by Edgar Lopez, Paul Dip, Joseph Dabio, Mike Hudson, Renee Leon, Paul Karak, Caralo, Michael Clark, Pedro Sandoval, Fred Evans, Patricia Osman, Dante A Costa, Ray Baka. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon, Mustafa. >> My name is Mustafa. I have commercial businesses in this corridor. I have residential and I have multif family. And I'm here to tell you that what is being proposed to you to vote on today, even though I agree with the staff work that they've done, the data that was collected regarding parking was incorrect and whatever company they've used to collect that data was not done properly. So, we have issues in that parking on the streets from 7:00 a.m. to about 2:33 p.m. So, the data that they showed you and they told you it's only 27% occupied and what have you, that data was collected based on the total amount of cars divided over these hours from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Because I asked the question twice two days ago and I got the same answer. Oh, we shut them off at 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. we shut them off to get them recharged. But that's not the point. The point is during those hours from 7:00 a.m. 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. to to 2 p.m. you can't even roll your trash can out. There's not a place for you to park. So the numbers they got are wrong. And I would hate for you to make a decision based on wrong numbers. I mean, in this day and age with the technology that we have available, how do we still come up and say, "This is the average. This is what it is." You can't average parking. So, how do what do you tell the tenants of that neighborhood? Don't come to park between 7:00 a.m. and 3 p.m. I'm going to rent you this apartment after 3 p.m. or your family can move in after 3 p.m. to to do the I mean, there's there's a need for more studies to get this thing done properly. The blanket thing is amazing to me. I'm going to give you a quick example. We p purchased property in northeast El Paso, 25 acres or so. We wanted to develop to put uh RV parking and storage facility as well as employ about 6 to8 employees. We spend money on developing plans, engineered plans. We submit the plans. We get back that we have to have 3/4 of an acre of landscaping. And on top of it, 800 or so shrubs and trees. What we proposed was beautiful rock walls, beautiful trees, uh beautiful entry. I'm totally into indigenous plants and what needs to be planted in this area. And I was told, "No, sir. It's it's an impossibility. And even if you take it to council, it's going to be rejected. This is the zoning. We blanketed the zoning before any of you were in council anyway or mayor around when this this got passed. So the idea of doing a blanket code is absolutely detrimental to development proper devel I mean so we decided to eat it on the northeast project plat the land and sell it spent money on uh architecture plans and engineering and and that got wasted and then we lost jobs. So please do not vote on this until you have full proper data collected and then have more discussions. A lot of us here have the intelligence and the ability to understand in extreme details what is being proposed and when we ask for those details we're not they're not given to us. So thank you. That's all I have to say. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is Edgar Lopez. >> Edgar Lopez will be followed by Paul Dip. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon, mayor and city council. Uh my name is Edgar Lopez. Um I'm a resident um business owner, a property owner, and a developer of this area. Uh and not only that, but as a design professional, I've been seeing them firsthand how is difficult for developers, for owners to develop infield uh projects because so many obsolate and dated ordinances. many cities, many progressive cities, they are rethinking the parking requirements and not only for the core of the city but for the whole city. Um, just to give you an idea, a parking stall cost between 20,000 to $60,000 and that cost goes directly to the tenant. Uh, what are the benefits? It will allow allow more units to be on the same lot. This automatically reduce rents. Uh allows cities to grow more compact and sustainable and also control of sprawl. Uh this will encourage uh transportation choices like walking, biking or using public transportation. uh it make economic sense since we'll allow to reactivate all buildings or or help the flexibility to use mixeduse buildings misdevelopment miss uh use development buildings but the most important thing I think it will provide equality not everybody use cars nobody and everybody drive cars especially new generations elderly or students uh removing requirements. I think it will make our city more affordable, more sustainable and provide equality in field developments also help the underuse of land instead of expanding outwards. It help also to use the existing infrastructure. It will save million not adding new lines of sewer lines, utility lines, streets, uh schools, parks, etc. Infield living in the core will reduce traffic and commuting time. Infield allow allow smaller more diverse housing types including ADUs. Uh create compact walkable neighborhoods. Why? Well, in field makes the most of what we already have. Uh also it's not nothing new. is is it's already happened in many other cities with us. Our city needs to evolve. We cannot stay with the same ordinances that we've been having for many years. That's why we love old neighborhoods because they they give you the sense of place, the sense of community. Many of those ne old neighborhoods they already they already built because of previous ordinances. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The next speaker is Paul Dip followed by Joseph Dabio. Mike Hudson, Renee Leon. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> Afternoon, mayor. Good afternoon, uh, Representative Canales and city council. The foundation of these proposals regarding preparation, communication, and transparency, and decency are fundamentally flawed, defy the basis of fact, and common sense, and out of touch with most of our citizens. Most importantly, your constituents have not been respected or recognized or heard. Over the last month, we have learned that through three community meetings, it's undeniable that the wide ADU proposal impacts our entire community and was never presented outside the target area. You have emitted 90% of the population through this oversight. These proposals also exclude internal and external development principles including economic analysis of construction and site cost, marketing studies, utility infrastructure feasibility, traffic density and environmental impact and changes in more recent in nature including the master plan of did not include the trolley, bike lanes, access to traffic patterns and and the crime which has surged in the area. This is done due to avoid the voices of opposition. El Pasoans are concerned and their biggest investment their home and the inherent rights of ownership. Our intent to engage the process for the most part has been ignored. We understand that some of you are promoting progressive planning and sprawl. This position is not accepted and clearly rejected by most of our community. We are not willing to invite out of town or in town developers to commercialize our homes, maximize homing units, convert our neighborhoods, and create inter commercial enterprise all for their financial benefit. These actions will increase property taxes, decrease property values, and compromise public safety. the opportunity for firsttime home ownership will go away. You are considering eliminating some of the most fundamental rights of owners, the right to choose lots, safety, and concern with their neighborhoods who have a voice and want to express their opinions regarding this uh ADU. The misinformation and presentation of this information appearing to those that are unaware have been endorsed is simply not accurate. 95. We have a petition with 95 I'm sorry 650 signatures. We have 95% of 125 people that have asked for a no on this. Please encourage you to vote no and vote with vote with courage and vote your conscience. Thank you. >> Next speaker is Joseph Dabio followed by M Mike Hudson. >> Good afternoon. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon, Mayor Council. Um, I came to El Paso July 21st of 2020, and one of the things that I've really grown to love about this community is the fact that there is room in this community. I came from LA and Orange County that has adapted adopted the ADU program and the zero parking programs and I for one can tell you that they do not work. So do you understand do you know why the ADU was originally implemented? It was for the family, the elder generation that was having issues that uh the the generation that could not really afford to live on their own. So, they adopted the ADU so the families could build a dwelling unit in the back for mom and pa. And that mom pa could actually help the family raise the children while the two income earners would go out and earn a living. The grandparents would stay in the ADU and help raise the family. It was never intended as an investment vehicle. It was never intended for that purpose. So, can you imagine what's going to happen in this city is that they take the non-ownero occupied requirement out of it. It's going to create an investment storm in this community, which will bring a lot of money here. However, it's also going to drive housing prices through the roof. What are you going to do? How are you going to deal with that? So now the affordability argument goes away because now the the people that would want to buy a property are going to be pushed out of the market because prices are going to be too high in addition to all the off- streetet parking. Where are they going to park? Where do you expect all these cars from these ADUs to park? And in reference to the corridor going down Mesa to Executive and then up Montana, the zero parking requirement. Could you imagine as an developer coming in and building a 100 unit, 200 unit, 300 unit apartment complex and not having parking requirement? Do you know what that's going to do to the city? It puts a lot of money in the vest's pocket or in developers pocket because that money, the cost to develop is so extensive for parking lots that they're going to save that money and push all that parking onto the street. And what do you get? Traffic impact people. You get ble because people don't want to come downtown because they have nowhere to park. People aren't going to rent those apartments because they don't work. So I ask you to vote no on this and let's not do it. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Next speaker is Mike Hudson. Mike Hudson followed by Renee Leon, Paul Kalpo, Michael Clark. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon, Mayor, City Council. Um my name is Mike Hudson. I'm here on behalf of Miguel Fernandez. A point of clarification. I understood that there was a letter sent by Steve Ortega indicating that uh Mr. Fernandez would speak today in support of items 48 through 50. In case anyone hasn't seen the follow-up correction email, um Mr. Fernandez is explicitly in opposition items 48 through 50. In fact, he submitted a change.org petition with several hundred signatures opposing to the ordinance changes in question. Um our objection hinges on essentially three main points. One is the insufficient opportunity for feedback. As the lady pointed out earlier, the outreach was very much centered on the central areas. It hasn't gone citywide. Four newspaper notices. I don't know what the subscription rate is for the El Paso Times. I'm sure it's not great. A total view count of 34,000. I don't know if that includes multiple views in a city of 700,000. That doesn't sound to me to be proper outreach. With that, it seems like the process is being rushed through. It's falling cuz I'm tall. Uh there's been confusing wording that I've seen on the red line. So this is the um red line attached in the supplemental materials showing the changes that are being made here. This is the current ordinance on the ADUs and the highlighted sections here are what is actually being changed and they're not showing up as marked on here. So for example, the uh homeowner requirement is not even shown on the red line is being struck. It's not showing that for example the currently the ordinance shows ADUs must resemble the principal unit in scale and character that is being removed and that is not being shown on here as being removed. Um I want to know what the reason for that is. Similarly on the drawing here on the accessory dwelling units what's not changing the height requirement that is not being changed but the red line shows that for uh attached accessory dwelling units the height of the ADU not exceeding the height of the principal unit that is being deleted. What is the reason for that? Is that because you can have a one-story house and have a two-story ADU? Is that the intent? If not, why is it being deleted from here? And this gets to the unintended consequences of these changes. You know, the no homeowner requirement will incentivize investors scooping up property, lack of oversight. I've seen a Reddit post, Mr. Canales, that you intend to put forward an amendment to remove that deletion. That would be good. I still think that doesn't address the uh maximum room requirement being removed. That's going to encourage slum housing, packing as many people as you can in there. Worst case scenario, you're going to have somebody build essentially a de facto frat house in the rim Kern Place area, pack them in, they walk to Kern, the parking situation is going to be insane. Again, on behalf of Mr. Fernandez, we request a no vote or at the very least a postponement. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next speaker is Renee Lean, [Applause] followed by Paul Carvalo, Michael Clark, Pedro Sandoval. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon, Mayor and Council. Uh Renee Leon with El Paso Water. Uh I just want to express our thoughts and concerns on the policy as a utility that will be impacted by this proposal. Uh first we want to go on record that we are in support of policies that support infill development and bring people into the city center. Uh I want to dispel any concerns that the utility was opposed to this policy. I know there were some comments at a town hall meeting that kind of led staff to believe we're in that position. Uh but we are in support of policies like this. Uh we just wanted to make sure as a utility our three concerns are addressed and that's access to our infrastructure. If a dwelling unit was built over one of our lines or some of our infrastructure, we want to make sure that the policy allows us to access that infrastructure. Uh the second concern is inclusion in the process. Uh we want a seat at the table whenever permits are being evaluated and permits are being issued uh so that we can know what development is coming. And third, we wanted to make sure we have the ability to ensure that the system has capacity to serve these incoming dwelling units. Uh in older parts of town where we have built out infrastructure, the standard at the time required smaller diameter lines. So we just want to make sure that as these permit applications come in, we can look at it and say yes, uh there is sufficient capacity in the system to serve these new dwelling units. Uh we met with city staff yesterday and we feel comfortable that they're going to include in the policy and the process ways to address these concerns. Um so again, we feel very comfortable with that and we just want to reiterate that we are supportive of these policies uh with these accommodations for our concerns. >> So Renee, the current policies, does it allow you access to your your utility easement? Uh current policy does uh but we're concerned with the ability to now build new ADUs over previously unbuildable land, we might have lines that stray outside of an easement into these private properties. And we want to make sure property owners are aware of the possibility that should there be a break, we need to access that line, and that could cause considerable damage to what's on top of that. >> Okay. Um but staff has assured us that we will have a way to do that in the policy. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Next speaker is Paul Carvalho followed by Michael Clark, Pedro Sandoval, Fred Evans, Patricia Osman, Dante Aosta. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. Uh mayor and council. I'm going to keep it brief. The big thing that's hit me today is that the gentleman pointed out that this is a quick fix. And a quick fix never works, especially when you start impacting the historical aspect of what El Paso is. The proposed change to zoning code is morally and physically flawed. The issue is the fairness to those people who have lived in their neighborhoods for years, perhaps generations, saving and struggling to maintain their properties and take pride in them as well. Neighborhoods perhaps humble but proud will not stand any chance of survival if there is no requirement for the owner to live be a resident of the property. El Paso real estate is relatively inexpensive compared to other major cities. That being said, properties will be bought up for cheap by out of town investors who will exploit this proposed zoning change in the interest of profit only. The owners will have no concern for the community or property itself as long as a profit is being made. By allowing accessory dwelling units to be constructed on properties not owned by the residents, you will create which has been echoed before a slum. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Next speaker is Michael Clark. Mr. Clark will be followed by Pedro Sandival, Fred Evans. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. Before I start again, I know a lot of people's been notified about this, but how about the homeowners? The homeowners specifically absentee homeowners as well. Have they been notified about this? They're the ones building these properties. I mean, they are the ones owning the homes. They should have been notified as well. Also, if you have a 4unit apartment or um multif family unit and you add one of these ADUs, it could be considered financially it's going to be commercial. So, now you're pricing other people out the market if they want a potential 4unit home as well. So, hope hopefully we understand that. Um, but I I do want to be clear, I'm against these proposed changes to ADUs. I may be open to them only as a last resort, but the first priority must be shown to the citizens that this council can conduct business properly. Um time and time again we've seen the same pattern. Citizens are for are the ones forced to make sacrifices and adjustments while developers haven't even spent the dime that erodess public trust. The way this proposal is written, it benefits investors more than actual homeowners. By removing this requirement for homeowners to live on the property, you are essentially converting both the primary residents and the ADUs into rental units. That means no homestead exemption on the property which drives up the property taxes and ultimately raises the rents. It it wouldn't even matter what we're doing right now because rents are going to go up automatically. You cannot put parameters around it. I don't think you guys understand how many investors you have in your city, but you have a lot you have a lot of investors. Um, also additionally, I would say even more concerning is the idea that having no minimum size requirement that is a dangerous and irresponsible way to to approach this. We need to protect the people, not pack them into units that could end up looking like something out of New York City where they, you know, they have what's called micro units barely meeting livable standards. I challenge the people pushing this proposal. When was the last time you lived in a small apartment or inside an ADU yourself? If you're not willing to live in one, why should you expect working families in El Paso, too? I don't see this happening for just single family residents. This is going to be family members wanting to live into these. and and I just I just, you know, I'm passionate about it because I've seen landlords and what they do out here in El Paso. I I don't support it. I'm a landlord myself and I I would I would never do something like this. So, I would also say this is not just about affordability. It's about standards, accountability, and trust. The city should be uh pressuring developers to build responsibly before putting the burden back on the residents. Show us that they can enforce that you guys can enforce existing codes, improve the permitting process, and manage growth fairly. Only then we should be even talking about reshaping neighborhoods with sweeping changes like this. Councils, don't let this become a shortcut for developers and investors while leaving homeowners and families to deal with the long-term consequences. Protect the people who actually live here. Protect the standards of our neighborhoods. And above all, protect the trust between the city and the citizens. And like I said with six seconds left, I I hope you guys vote against this. I really do. Thank you. >> Next speaker is Pedro Sandra, followed by Fred Evans, Patricia Osman, Dante A Costa, Ray Baka. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon, mayor. >> Good afternoon, >> council members. My name is Per Noal. I'm a lifelong resident of El Paso. I am retired and I am here today to as a public uh as a private citizen to speak in opposition to this uh proposal change to title 20 of the zoning code. Why fix it if it ain't broke? So, the saying goes, why are we here today talking about changing the zoning code? There's no need for this. Right now, if a homeowner wants to convert the his garage into a living space, he gets a contractor to draw up plans. The plants are then approved by city engineering and then he proceeds to build. There's nothing wrong with the system. This past Thursday, I attended the unveiling of this agenda item. I stated uh my petition then just as I am now. Several others subject to this uh change as you already heard some of them. As a matter of fact, I don't believe anyone spoke in favor of this uh change. This zoning change is being promoted as a solution to the serious lack of uh housing throughout the city. I was surprised to hear this since there hasn't been anything um on the news about the city working on a plan to solve the housing problem. I mean, this would be headline news. At the meeting on Thursday, there were several good points brought brought up in opposition. I question the motive and the urgency behind this change. I see this process not as a solution to housing but as gratification process. The areas identified are depressed areas already overcrowded. Now we want to cram more people into these same areas. Why? The streets and the infrastructure cannot handle any more traffic. I question who really benefits from this zone change. it it is not uh the citizens that is intended for. In conclusion, I ask this legislative body to vote no on this bad policy. Why the urgency? Who stands to benefit the most from this zone change? Certainly not the population that it was intended for. All El Pasoans deserve to be treated equally and with respect. Thank you for your time. >> Next speaker is Fred Evans. >> Fred Evans. Followed by Patricia Osman, Dante A Costa, Ray Baka, Jerry Curta. >> Good afternoon. Again, I'm Fred Evans. I'm not representing the Five Points Development Association. I'm representing myself as an owner of a property that is is in the target zone and another one that's right on the border across the street from the target zone and other property that will be directly affected by this. You know, the proposal today, as everybody's already pointed out, and I can only re reiterate what a lot of people have said, it's flawed from the beginning. It's flawed from the beginning because there was really no outreach to the community. You've heard people complain that about that, particularly people from the valley. Nobody knows this happens. this is happening and that's patently unfair to the community that that this is passed without a good airing. You would think that something that is going to drastic has the potential to drastically change the character of the neighborhoods in the entire city would have much more publicity than this. This is the kind of thing you would expect to be as somebody else said headline news. You know, it's also based on a future house uh housing of short possible housing of shortage in the community. I want to know where the people are coming from. Last year, the total growth was 1.2% 2% in the county. The death rate is rising, the birth rate is dropping, and more people left than people moved in. We could be fast approaching a zero growth or a negative growth. I I have to ask myself, is that really really the case? But even if you if you grant that that this could happen, what we're talking about, this solution is to turn neighborhoods into rabbit hutches. It's destroying the very character of civil single family traditional homes throughout the community. It's turning neighborhoods, changing neighborhoods by redefining streets as parking lots as opposed to air ways to move traffic and people. But perhaps the most egregious part of this proposal is the change of the right by law. Under the current code, ADUs are possible all over the city. They're under restrictions that make it obvious this is supposed to be a subsidiary dwelling. It's supposed to be smaller. It's supposed to be one bedroom. It's smaller than the than the other size. Further, it protects neighbors from waking up some morning and find a new structure right on their property line, right outside their bedroom window. Because now, if somebody wants to do that, they have to if they want a variance from the setback requirements, their notices, their meetings, there's a chance for that property owner to object, everybody has to be notified within 300 ft. And there's a possibility that that will be defeated and the right thing will be done for the neighborhood. Now, they have no right by law. the people that have the right by law under this proposal will the people that are making that change and the neighbors that have lived there for 20 30 40 years will find the character of their neighborhood drastically changed without any recourse at all. So when you couple that with the eliminate the elimination of setbacks, the part loss of parking requirements and particularly the loss of on-site ownership, then you open the door for foreign investment. I mean foreigners from the country, foreigners from the city of El Paso that will swoop in like they did before the 2008 debacle. When you see your graph, the prices went up and they went down. that was fueled by investors from California who when they with the when the the bubble burst in 2008 lost their investments and we're looking to do the same thing. Vote no against this these these is Patricia Osman. >> Miss Osman will be followed by Dante A Costa Raka Jerry Certika and Nadia Antoan. >> That was very well said by Mr. Evans. But um in followup on some of this, all all I see with with these three is um a real estate developer giveaway by the presentation and some of what I heard at my uh from my representative community meeting is gaslighting, misleading, and quite frankly smells like mida if some of you understand what that But the zero setbacks, you know what that means? Zero sunlight for your neighbors. You you why you know no windows? Fire hazard. Fire trap. Hey, can't get out that one window? I guess you're going to burn to death. That's fine with you guys, right? Uh in central area, it's always flooding. You know why? Because we have no drainage. There's no street sewage. No, no, no place that Penny Wise can hide. And so all our homes get flooded. Streets get flooded. People get trapped in their cars. But y'all are fine with that. Add more people. Dense it up. And yes, I have on here creating slums. No different than the ones in Suario and Chihuahua and everything that y'all are trying to buy out and demolish. Y'all are gonna want to create that all around El Paso so that in 20 years, 30 years, same thing, right? Slums all around El Paso. But all because donors got got to submit to that ever loving real estate developers here in town in Sunset residents get ticketed actual residents people that are renting get tickets for parking in their own area. And you think people are going to want I know people who had to move out of Sunset Heights because of that and that's what you're going to create all around the city to look low housing. Yeah. Home. They have a list. Is Mr. Popular going to give them a housing voucher so that those rents are much lower? I seriously doubt that. In the cas they're grandfathered in. You're not you. There's no solution here. All you're doing is a giveaway to the developers just like y'all did previously, city council, some of you with a fees to real estate developers because you don't care about the city. You don't care about anything else other than not that tequila shot your party, but when that taking that trip minutes Dante Costa followed by Ray Baka. >> Good afternoon. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. Good afternoon, mayor and members of the city council, uh, city manager Mack and, uh, staff. I want to thank you all for putting this together and, uh, all your hard work on this. I want to make it clear, I'm speaking specifically and solely on my uh, on my own behalf and on my own time. And like I said, you know, I know a lot of hard work goes into these proposals. Uh, a lot of you uh some of you know my my background. I've been dealing with uh and working on ad ADU issues for over a decade. Uh I can speak with some authority on the pros and the cons and I'm not opposed to ADUs. As a as a matter of fact, I've had uh ADU in my in a prior life. However, it was done the right way. it was done uh with a lot of transparency and under the current regulations and the rules. Um but I will say this um even though I'm supportive overall, there are a lot of concerns I have with the way this particular uh um motion was put together here. Um I think that the process is flawed. I think the notice uh that people have referenced is of of of serious concern. I don't think the media uh any none of you would have gotten elected if you had those media hits. None of you. Uh certainly not the mayor with all respect. I mean, citywide that those were numbers are are laughable. There's 9,000 daily um uh distribution of the El Paso Times, unfortunately for for Ganet, I believe, still owns them. The staff mentions a robust outreach. I'll take issue with that. Uh I have talked to many people around the community and they've never heard of this. I only heard about it because my representative Chavez put it on neighborhood app. If I hadn't read neighborhood app, I would never have seen it. And that was just last Thursday and I popped over to the meeting and spoke at that. I'm very concerned having uh served on a water agency that the utilities um have some concerns. Uh what was not addressed by the utility was obviously uh capacity. Uh but we haven't talked about the sewer. We haven't talked about electrical capacity. On and on and on uh of these other issues, particularly with air conditioning loads and everything else. Non-owner occupied, it's a non-starter. If you ask me, I can tell you from experience that that will turn into a nightmare for this community. I think at the very minimum, we should be looking at a 2-year minimum moratorum after the ADU is built and maybe an appeals process. I'd like to see more like 5 years. Uh parking, forget about it. uh this off- streetet parking is is going to be even bigger. And last but not least, um the the height issues. I think 30 35 ft if it's attached, that's also a significant consideration. And uh this is already allowed here and state law is going to make it even easier coming September 1st. So I think we need additional outreach, focus on infill, and remember this is permanent. >> This is permanent and it's citywide. I'm available for anybody who wants >> Ray Baka followed by Jerry Kika. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon, mayor and council members. My name is Ray Baka, lifelong El Pasoan and about a 45 year practitioner in real estate, real estate development, real estate management. You name it, I've done it. I'm here to speak against these these amendments. I can't say that I can say anything new or different than some of the people who've been up here. They've they've all expressed it very well. I particularly like the rabbit hutch analogy because I think that's where we're headed. I think that to allow these additional units to be added to single family residents with no specific control over the number of people and without the owner occupant requirement, we're asking for trouble. It's a slippery slope. Plus, I don't think it's going to address the problem you think it's going to address. It's not going to produce a 100,000 units in the next 10 years. It may produce a few hundred, maybe a few thousand, but it will create a few hundred and a few thousand problems in those neighborhoods that don't need to be created. So, I think it was shortsighted and as has been said, it was not well publicized. I happened to stumble on it and went to a meeting last Thursday that was standing room only and there is one person with tepid acceptance of it. There must have been 80 people there and 79 would have spoken against it if there had been time to to allow everybody to speak. So I think as we've seen here today, there is just not a good feeling about this going forward. And hopefully council members will say, "Well, maybe we're rushing into this. Maybe staff thought they had a solution that isn't the perfect solution, and we should step back and look for other options." There's plenty of opportunities in infill. There's plenty of opportunities in new developments. There's all kinds of ways that you can increase the demand for housing that does not involve potentially destroying neighborhoods. You know, one of the things that's been talked about a lot is is off- streetet parking. I grew up in a household with four brothers and sisters. We never had more than two cars and then only later when my dad could afford a second car. Nowadays, it looks like every 16-year-old has a car. There's a a family down the street from me. very nice neighborhood down the street and I think they've got four kids because they got six cars in a twocar uh uh driveway. So, they're already parking on the street. Can you imagine if one or two of their neighbors had these additional units and had another two, four, six, eight people? It would create havoc as has been described. So, this is not a good rule. I don't know what the rush is. It's not going to solve your housing problem. Certainly not in the foreseeable future. So hopefully you'll listen to the people who are here telling you let's take a step back. Let's shove this to the side and let's find some other way to get where we want to go. And with that I say thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next speaker is Jerry Kika. Jerry Kurta will be followed by Nadia Anttoan and Suzanne Dip. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. Uh honorable mayor and council. My name is Jerry Kurtika and I'm here representing the community first coalition whose mission is to empower our diverse community to bring about improvements in social, economic, ecological and political consideration conditions. The coalition consists of about 20 organizations uh each of which has a role in this broader mission but are independent on their own. You may know some of them like Sierra Club, League of Women Voters, Border Network for Human Rights, Usticia Frontissa, Elpo, El Paso, and many others. I'm here to speak to this Title 20 zoning changes affecting the ADUs and the parking regulations. The coalition has been very concerned about affordable housing and city policies that in the past have seemed careless of maintaining it for legacy residents of our downtown uptown neighborhoods. And I'm speaking specifically of Durango in this case. So, we're pleased with this effort that the city is trying to increase affordable housing options and would like to support it as long as it does not support displace legacy residents or make traffic congestion in older neighborhoods excessive or inconvenient for the elderly and disabled living there. For this reason, we recommend the city to consider some simple changes to the current actions as stated in these resolutions. First, do not extend the on-site parking waiver to commercial properties. There will be enough added congestion with just the ADA ADU waiver for on-site parking, and these are older neighborhoods already congested enough. Second, can you do something to limit the number of ADU units that will convert to Airbnbs? That completely defeats the purpose of additional housing. I would ask that when you propose adoption of this these these motions that you make a motion for city staff to come back to the council in six months with recommendations for policy that will prevent displacement and promote affordable housing. Require staff to come back within six months with a plan for improved mass transit options within the area affected by the removal of on-site parking requirements. and third require city staff to come back within a year to report on the effects of parking and ADU changes particularly on affordability and the type of ownership of new construction. Thank you very much for your consideration of this. Before the next speaker, it just needs to check something really quick on the podium. We've lost the audio in teams, so they need to fix it. Good afternoon. You have three minutes. Thank you. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. Um I I brought my service support person. Um so um in in regards to the ADUs, I wanted to point out that El Paso had a 4% increase in population from 20 2020 till now. Why are we entertaining this? Where is the need? Recently, we found out that Austin and Dallas do not allow for ADUs for nonomer nonhome homeowner occupied um buildings. So, we have a greater need in El Paso than Austin or Dallas. I don't see that. Um last night, we were presented with information about this from Danielle and she explained that that the city has been spending has spent three years um pursuing this. She came to us about a year a year year ago to the neighborhood coalition and we had told her this is not a good idea. None of this sounds good. So not only has has employees spent time on this city uh city taxes have been been put on this and also um we've we've uh hired some cons consultants I understand and upward bound of 500 500,000 to support this when it was obvious from our meeting a year ago that the citizens do not support this. So, who's listening to us? It seems that we lack a citizens advisory board, but there's definitely a builders and developers advisory board that is that the city is working with. I I don't understand that. You guys are supposed to represent us. Another concern is somebody like my son who will at some point be looking to buy a house. he's going to have to go against um REITs, which are real estate investment uh trusts like Black Rockck, who are, you know, they're huge companies and they're looking for places like El Paso that would allow for some some sort of development like this because then they can build as much as they want. And so he's gonna have to go after th and fight against those guys and try to see if he can buy a house and and um while they're while they're doing their um their sorry while they're um trying to make money and he's just trying to buy a house. So it doesn't make sense. Um you're just encouraging a sea of renters. You know what happens when people don't have ownership? They don't care anymore. They don't they don't clean after after themselves. Crime goes up. Um, and the simplest American dream of home ownership is out the window. You'll now have renters who with no security of a house of pay of a house payment, they are at the mercy of corporations that will surely raise their rents as often as possible. They become disengaged and maybe that's what you want. Finally, the lack of parking requirements is a great concern. You have builders already chomping at the bit to build without accounting accounting for parking like you heard um earlier in their plans. they will use this as an allowance to say they don't need to account for the parking in their buildings as well. If the ADUs don't have to, then they don't have to. Making our streets look trashy. Um, drive by any apartment uh heavy street and you'll see that it looks it looks messy. It looks it looks ugly and um and you look you drive by a regular single family dwelling house uh streets and they look nice. We don't want that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> The final speaker is Suzanne Dick. Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. Thank you, Mayor Johnson, Council representatives, city manager Mack. We appreciate your time over the last weeks and your earnest effort to understand the issues. While there's great value in considering different viewpoints, I believe we can all agree on the importance of safety. Safety comes in many forms. We are told that the city plan commission unanimously approved these amendments to title 20 back in the summer of 2024. In the height of travel season, it is easy for a lay person not to know what is transpiring, especially without any notification. But as the videos circulated after the fact, it was apparent that the material was not thoroughly reviewed. It was noted at the CPC that since there was no opposition, it should be approved. ETO salivity to council under any circumstances. We must do our homework. And boy, haven't we. While the Sunrise Civic Group has requested for a year now to have a presentation on this plan, it wasn't until 3 weeks ago that the request was honored. There was a lot of material to digest. plenty of red lines and ordinance changes. It was only less than a week ago that we discovered in our deep dive that the ADU item was citywide and not just restricted to the downtown uptown footprint boundary. Wasn't that news to everyone? So, yes, your single family neighborhood will now be a multif family one should this plan be approved. There's more that figures into value than simply square footage. design. Good design plays a key role. If the expansion of assessed value is what this initiative is about, the modeling has issues. Adus adjacent to neighboring property will reduce the value of a home much like a budding to an apartment or a commercial property. Value is tied to peace and privacy. In many instances, there was a parking study done in my neighborhood measuring just how many cars can be loaded onto our historic streets as if that was a desirable feature. The support material states the downtown uptown study area measured addresses typical streets with a 70 foot ride ofway and perfect for parked cars on both sides. In fact, it notes that the street can even have a 60 foot right away. Yet, what happens when most of our neighborhood streets are 29 feet wide or even 40 ft? Those scenarios make it very difficult for residents to even get out of one's driveway when a car is parked on the opposite side of the street. Fire, ambulance, police, and sanitation are an impossibility when cars are flanked on both sides. With few sidewalks in our established neighborhood under this scenario, everyone is now forced to walk in the middle of the street and between cars. We understand the unbearable perils because we are already living it nine months out of the year with the UTB students. >> Thank you, Miss Dip. You've reached the three minutes. >> Wow. Thank you. Thank you. >> That concludes public comment on >> All right. Thank you, Representative Canales. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I wrote an opinion piece about this issue that got published this week. I'm going to start by reading that as quickly as I can since I I don't think I'll top my own words. And mayor, I'll have a couple of amendments to make at the end of my at the end of my comments. Uh, Miss Bryan, I'll enter a copy of my oped into the meeting record as well as a separate article, El Paso considers easing restrictions on casitas to expand housing choices published in El Paso Matters this morning. and also a transcript of my comments today and I'll provide you copies of all of them. Um it's titled opinion El Paso must reform zoning to tackle housing crisis and urban sprawl. Outdated parking mandates and limits on housing options are driving up costs and holding El Paso back. We can either modernize the zoning code or watch affordability slip away. And it reads uh El Paso is at a crossroads in how our city grows. We can either choose to make thoughtful changes to keep our neighborhood strong, or we can continue sprawling outward and watch the core of our city hollow out. An immediate important step we can take is updating our zoning code to eliminate outdated parking mandates in certain areas and to allow more flexible housing options like accessory dwelling units, more commonly known here as casitas. The city council will consider adopting these changes in our meeting on Tuesday, August 19th. The urgency of this could not be clearer. El Paso faces a deficit of 18,000 housing units. On top of that, more than 100,000 people sit on the wait list for the housing authority. These aren't just statistics. They represent thousands of families, seniors, and young people who cannot find a place to live in their own community. The scale of the crisis makes it irresponsible to keep outdated rules on the books that drive up costs and make it harder to build housing. The first proposed reform would eliminate minimum off- streetet parking requirements in the neighborhoods immediately surrounding downtown, contained entirely within my district. Right now, our zoning code mandates that every construction, whether it's a new apartment building, a restaurant, or even a small shop, must provide a set number of parking spaces. These rules were written in an era when there was ample space and housing was readily available and affordable. But we now found find ourselves in a very different context. Parking spaces are expensive to build. And when the law forces developers to include them even when they are not needed, these costs get passed on to tenants and customers or make it so that entire types of development are aren't financially feasible. Ultimately, parking mandates built pa build pavement that often goes unused. By easing them in the urban core, we can lower housing costs and let businesses and housing grow in a way that fits neighborhood context. This change doesn't ban off- streetet parking. It just leaves the decision in the hands of property owners. If they or their tenants need parking spaces, then they can build enough to meet that need. The market drives the decision, not city regulations tying people's hands. The other proposed reform would legalize accessory dwelling units, which you may alternatively know as casitas, granny flats, in-law suites, uh backyard cottages, or simply ADUs, uh on all residential lots across the city, and make it even make it easier to build them. Casitas offer families new options, whether it's space for an aging parent, a returning adult child, or a renter needing housing close to school or work whose income can help the household pay the mortgage. They are a modest, practical way to add housing units without changing the character of a neighborhood. In fact, ADUs used to be very common in El Paso before zoning rules made them far more difficult to build, which is evidenced by just how many of them there are in our older neighborhoods. Restoring this option can help us meet today's housing needs in a way that is relatively non-invasive and distributed instead of building giant apartment buildings that concentrate people in vehicles in one area. The strongest argument for these reforms is this. The alternative is more sprawl. And sprawl is like a slow leak in our city's resources and cohesiveness. It pulls residents, businesses, and ultimately tax dollars to the edges of El Paso, leaving fewer resources for streets, services, and infrastructure in neighborhoods at the core of the city. The larger the city grows geographically, the more new infrastructure we as a community will have to fund and maintain with our property tax bills, electric bills, gas bills, and water bills. And affordability will continue to erode. We have to do something to address this or we will get hollowed out. Other Texas cities have already recognized this reality and and acted. In 2023, Austin eliminated nearly all parking minimums. Earlier this year, Dallas followed with a city council vote to reduce or eliminate mandates citywide. San Antonio and Houston have both rolled back requirements in their urban cores, giving more flexibility. Nationwide, more than 50 cities have done the same, including Berkeley, Minneapolis, Raleigh, San Jose, and Buffalo to name a few. The imperative is clear. Cities that want to remain competitive, affordable, and livable are leaving these outdated rules behind. Of course, these reforms won't solve our issues overnight. They are, however, a necessary step that will make it easier and cheaper to build new homes, create more choice for families, and help us grow inward instead of sprawling outward. I've heard some fear that these proposed changes will completely transform existing neighborhoods. But these kinds of policies policy shifts haven't led to that kind of rapid radical change when they've been implemented elsewhere. Instead, giving property owners more flexibility creates a smarter growth pattern for the long term, something we desperately need. We have to get serious about addressing a housing crisis that already exists and making El Paso more affordable and resilient rather than more expensive and stretched thin. We can either plan for the future or we can let sprawl drain the life from the city's core and frankly the hard-earned money from the pockets of El Pasoans. These reforms both on parking mandates and ADUs are a practical start in the right direction. So I wanted to begin with that that oped that I wrote because it lays out in very direct terms the the choice in front of us today. Uh but I I also want to speak more plainly here in in the chamber today about why this matters so much and and why uh these reforms are in my opinion the right step for El Paso. I I'll start by noting particularly for those who are not yet on the council then that this proposal was first considered for approval by the city council on August 27th, 2024. It was postponed uh on request until September 10th, 2024 and then it was postponed indefinitely on that day when many of the same people asking us to postpone today said that they needed more time to evaluate. So, it's been nearly a year since then. Um I also want to note that for the next city council meeting, I'm introducing an item directing the city to bring forward a robust set of anti-displacement policies to pair with these changes. Um, it's also time for us to revisit regulation of short-term rentals, uh, which I've supported unreservedly, but which the previous council unfortunately punted on uh, more than a year ago. Uh, the the proposals in front of us, they they obviously don't solve every problem, but they matter because they give people options. Uh parking mandates are technical, but they've had really real consequences for our community. Uh by by forcing parking spaces, whether they're needed or not, we've made projects much more expensive and we've slowed the pace of investment in housing units that we desperately need. Uh and to be clear, this isn't a ban on off- streetet parking. Uh existing parking isn't going away. property owners will simply decide what's right, what makes sense for their land and for their tenants moving forward. Um, ADUs are just as important. The housing deficit in El Paso won't be solved by only building large complexes or or sprawling subdivisions. We need the small incremental solutions, too. Uh, ADUs, CASTA, they let families stay together. They help the homeowners pay their mortgages. They create affordable options in existing neighborhoods without dramatic changes to their character. Um, I've heard some concerns about overcrowding and parking difficulty and those fears are understandable, but the evidence from other cities is clear. These reforms just don't unravel neighborhoods in that way. Um, on on the contrary, they help hold them together by by slowing housing price spikes that can force longtime residents out of their homes. Uh, as I said in the op-ed, the the real threat isn't a casita in someone's backyard. It's the the longer term threat of urban sprawl. Every time we stretch the city outward, uh, we stretch our services thinner. More pipes, more roads, more power lines that we have to maintain while older neighborhoods go underfunded. Uh, that's the hollowing out that I described and it's the future that we risk if if we fail to take action today. Uh many cities have gone as far as eliminating single family zoning entirely. We are not proposing that here. Uh what's in front of us is is instead I think a balanced approach that compromises maximum impact for sensibility and patience. Uh I've also heard the concern about eliminating the owner occupancy requirement for ADUs and I plan to make an amendment in a moment to retain that requirement in in single family residential zoning districts. Uh, at the end of the day, for me, this is about choosing our future direction. Are we a city that that clings to outdated regulations while affordability erodess, or are we a city that takes smart evidence-based steps to give people options for their own properties and to build for the future? Uh, eliminating parking mandates in the urban core and easing regulations on ADUs are not radical actions. We've seen them all over the country and they're prudent and necessary and I think overdue. Uh so I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this. We we need to grow smarter and not just continue to grow wider. Uh we need to give our residents flexibility and and options on their own properties and we need to show that El Paso can tackle our housing costs not with denial or delay but with concrete action. Um, that said, mayor, I have a couple of amendments to make that I think will address some of the concerns from the public and and help shape the conversation. Uh, I'm nearing the end of my time. Can I can I do that now? >> You want? Sure. Let's do it. >> Uh, so first, uh, I'd like to propose an amendment uh, that the following language be added to the ordinance. This is an addition of a section C. I will send this to you, Miss Prime. >> Yes. To let me know which ordinance, which item number. >> Uh, this is for item 48. >> 48. Thank you, sir. >> You should have it in your inbox. Uh this is again to propose that the following language be added to the ordinance. It's creating a uh section C in addition to the sections A and B. And it reads in single family districts. The property owner must occupy either the principal unit or the accessory dwelling as their permanent residence. Subsection one, the property owner shall at no time receive rent for the owner occupied unit. And subsection two, owner occupancy means a property owner as reflected in title records uh makes his or her legal residence at the site as evidenced by voter registration, vehicle registration or similar means. >> Okay, Miss Brown, can when you get that, can you read that back to us, please? >> Yes, sir. I I just forwarded it to all of council. >> Okay. >> Is there a second? >> Um they might want to read it. >> So, we have a an amendment. Can you read that for the public though? >> Yes. that the following language be added to the ordinance on item 48. And that is to add a se subsection C that says in a single family district, the property owner must occupy either the principal unit or the accessory dwelling as their permanent residence. Number one, the property owner shall at no time receive rent for the owner occupied unit. And number two, owner occupancy means a property owner, comma, as reflected in title records, comma, makes his or her legal residence at the site, comma, as evidenced by voter registration comma vehicle registration, comma, or similar means. >> Okay, there's an amendment. Is there a second? >> Second for discussion. >> Okay, there's a amendment. There's a second to the amendment. Is there discussion on this item of the amendment? Representative Fier. >> Thank you, mayor. So, Representative, you're in your amendment, you're saying these casitas, these you cannot charge rent on them. >> No, the only on the owner occupied unit. So, it's that a unit the owner has to reside at the property >> and they can't charge rent for the unit that they occupy >> that they occupy. Okay, understand. Thank you, >> represent. basically because they live there, they wouldn't need to charge rent. >> Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, you know, I would like I have a lot of things to say, but specifically on the amendment, I would like to say that uh anything related to ADU would uh impact my uh district significantly because of uh the people that live everywhere in district 1, but most importantly in the valley. I don't think that those people have been um engaged in this conversation and they haven't had the opportunity to speak to this. Uh I heard Representative Canales said right now that these um changes give people options. Well, I just don't agree that those are the options my constituents want. So, I will not be uh supporting this amendment. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Any other discussion on the amendment? >> Mr. Bryan, call for the vote. >> Yes, Mayor. The motion was made by Representative Canal, seconded by Representative Lemon, and this is to amend item 48 as read into the record. On that motion, call for the vote. Mayor Prom Chavez, >> my computer's not working again. Nay, >> thank you. And the voting session and that motion fails 3 to five. Representatives Chavez, Rocha Tjo Nino Viet. The motion fails. >> Represent Canelis. >> Thank you, mayor. And I have a second amendment to propose and this is that the proposed boundary is amended to remove overlap. Uh sorry, I apologize. This is for item number 50, uh the uh the parking regulations. Uh the amendment reads that the proposed boundary is amended to remove overlap with the neighborhood conservancy overlay NCO along Stanton Street between ri between Rim Road and Boston Avenue. Um, again, this was a request from the uh folks in the Rim neighborhood. >> Okay. Is there a second to this amendment? >> Second. >> Okay. Represent can, have you sent that to Miss Prime, that amendment? >> Uh, I apologize. I have it here to send to her. Now, >> Miss Brian, when you get that, would you read that for the public? Yes, sir. And this is the amendment to the ordinance on item 50 that reads to include the words that the proposed boundary is amended to remove overlap with the neighborhood conservancy conserv consery overlay NCO along Stanton Street between Rimro and Boston Avenue and I'll forward that to council as well. Is there any discussion on this amendment? >> I have a point of clarific. And this is just specifically for the item 48. >> This is for 50 >> for item 50. Okay. No, for the >> uh this is for the parking minimums only. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any further discussion? Mr. Bryan, call for the vote. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by representative Canales, seconded by alternate mayor prompo and this is to amend the ordinance on item 50. And once again it says to include the words that the proposed boundary is amended to remove overlap with a neighborhood conserancy overlay in CO along Stanton Street between between Rimro and Boston Avenue. On that motion, call for the vote. in the voting session. And that motion passes 5 to three. Representatives Abedo Nino Fiero Lemon Canales voting I. The motion carries. >> Okay, we're back on the main motion. Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um, I have a few questions. I don't know who's answering questions on these items. >> Staff >> and and council, there is one more person that wanted to speak >> that signed up on to speak on this item. Okay. She submitted a statement, but she wanted to speak. >> Let's do it. >> Okay. Miss Schneider. Susie Snider. for now. Yeah. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. I'm Susie Schneider. I did sign up to speak. Somehow my name got left off. Um, mayor, city council. I live in the Rim area neighborhood. I'm not going to really say anything new, but this is a very personal reflection. I'm a single woman. I was an English teacher, worked with EPISD. My home, built in 1919, is 1,000 square ft. Prior to buying my home, I lived in rentals for about 14 years. I've lived in my home for 40 years. It's not an exaggeration to say I love my neighborhood and my home. Being single, it's been very important to me to know my neighbors. I lived next door to a rental. Very nice people have rented there, but they constantly change. However, at least I met the owner and I can call her when there's an issue. She does live in El Paso. I'm very concerned about allowing non-residents, including corporations, to buy properties in our residential areas of El Paso because they don't have a stake or a heart in that community. I've seen what happens when homes are um rented by off-site owners. During CO, there were 30 people in one house in an Airbnb very nearby. I'm not opposed to existing small ADUs with current regulation limiting their size to one bedroom and the owner on site, but these changes have the potential to destroy the neighborhood I've been blessed to live in all these years. We neighbors have each other's keys. We look after each other. I went to the ER one night in March. neighbors took me to the hospital. They stayed until 2:30 in the morning. They brought me home. This is what a stable neighborhood can look like. Now, just now, Mr. Canales made light of opposing single family dwelling um zoning as if he he really was that really wasn't true. But he has stated publicly he'd like to see it done away with. I just want to end and this is a sincere question. Why do you find it so distasteful to have single family zoning? Thank you very much. >> Thank you, [Applause] >> Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, Mayor. And I have a lot of questions. Um, I want to start by saying that, you know, I I love being on council. I love working with city staff. Um but at the end of the day, we have to ask the hard questions. And so, you know, um with all due respect to the work that you've conducted and the many meetings we've had together, um the first question is, do we have to pass this bill today to comply with state law? >> No. No, ma'am, we do not. There was a bill that was considered that was not passed in this past legislature. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, from your presentation, you talked about some studies that were done in 2023 and 24, and I think Representative Canales just spoke a little bit about this. Um, you were not directed by this council to bring this item to the agenda today. Correct. >> Not by this current council, by the previous council member. >> Correct. >> Why are we, you know, we've been in office since January. Why are we voting on it today? Why? Why today? >> So this is part of an overall implementation plan. So in conjunction with this, we're also working on our comprehensive plan. And so this is just a move towards implementation. So we have studies that get completed that have implementation strategies as part of the process of bringing the community's vision to fruition. This is the strategy to get us there. Looking at uh our zoning ordinance. >> Okay. I I have I have a concern about different stakeholders including constituents that uh were not brought into the conversation earlier. Um that concerns me greatly for for my constituency especially when it comes to ADUs and how it will affect them which I recently stated. But there are others um planning and inspections. They deal a lot with resoning. This is about resoning. Why haven't they been part of the conversation? So they have been part of the conversation. The >> well not not in the meetings that I was a part of. So that that's what I'm going that's that's what I want to know. Why haven't I heard from planning and inspections the people that will be basically implementing this? >> So um when we develop the ordinance amendments we do work with a vast u you know variety of stakeholders both internal and external. So when we worked to develop these ordinances, they provided their feedback because like you mentioned, they do do the implementation. Um I cannot speak to why they were were not at certain specific meetings, but I can assure you that they were a key stakeholder in developing these recommendations and vetting them because at the end of the day, they are the permit issuing authority. And so they were brought into those conversations and were definitely at the table >> and and that's why it concerns me only because I feel like certain people have been excluded, including my constituents, right, which is the my my first and foremost concern. um El Paso Water. You know, I sent out an email to those 20 neighborhood associations I had and I got a response from someone and I'm not trying to to to name someone specifically, you know, addressing some similar concerns. Uh Rene, we just heard from Renee from El Paso Water, and I think, you know, that's great. but he's up here today telling us, you know, these uh basically carveouts or stipulations that he would like included. And you know, it just makes me wonder, why is Renee talking to the council today about stipulations he wants included? Like, shouldn't these conversations have already happened? Shouldn't those stipulations have already been considered a part of, you know, uh everything that you've put in the backup? All of those things make a lot of noise. You know, it just there's there's something here that we've missed the mark on. Um, and I don't know if it was the process, but it looks to me like we're rushing into something that could equal us implementing bad policy. And that concerns me greatly. I am, you know, for the record in favor of infill. I understand everything that Representative Canales just mentioned about, you know, not forcing our utilities and and other other expenses on the outskirts. I agree with that. I just don't understand why it has to be in this way uh today. Um and I I'm I'm very very worried about that, especially because that was not a direction that we gave or that I gave. And I'm speaking right now for myself. I also have a concern that in the backup there is very little opposition listed. I mean, I couldn't even be shock I I couldn't even shop at Sam's this weekend without getting stopped like five times, people telling me don't vote for Title 20. I mean, I've been getting text messages, phone calls, um my emails bombarded, you know. So, I I think it's a little bit misleading to say, you know, there's three letters of opposition, but I mean, I don't know about all of you, but I I mean, I've have a ton of opposition. And it it would be presumptuous of me to say, you know, we know better than you. Like, we hear you, but you just don't know. We know. I I I again, I respect the work that you've done. I I think I I agree with the effort in terms of trying to do infill. Um this doesn't look or feel right to me. I don't disagree with maybe coming back after we implement the state laws or whatever we have to do and start bringing more people into the conversation, engaging the public in the right way. Uh us helping you with that. But um unfortunately I cannot support any of this today. And and um I I I also I want to say because I think this is important for the public that thinks developers are the only people supporting this. It's not right. I mean I've had also calls from developers that do not support this because they haven't been brought into the conversation. Not not not all of them. Okay? And I'm not speaking for everybody, but many of them if not they wouldn't have reached out to me, right? So if they're reaching out to me, that's also another red flag. Uh I would welcome the conversation at a further date, but unfortunately today I can't support it. Thank you. >> Thank you. And >> and I say that with all respect to the work that you've done. >> Absolutely. No, thank you. And I just want to clarify that on the letters of support and the opposition that we received, it was just the letters of support and opposition that staff received. So, we're aware that there were other emails that were being sent and we just weren't privy to those. And so, I just want to clarify that >> and I appreciate that, Alex, but when people that don't come to this meeting just see what's posted online, they maybe think that that's the whole story and it's not quite there. Um, I would also like to point out that of th of of those neighborhood associations that you did engage with, I think from from from what my discussion with you, if you cross reference those to the letters of support, there's only three from the ones that you visited that are supporting it. So, that's also something else that's just not sitting well with me right now. Um, and I I again, I appreciate your efforts. I respect Representative Canales in his capacity and I understand that he's representing his district and and trying the best for that. I just don't think this is right for my constituency at this time. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Representative Representative um Lemon. >> Thank you, mayor. It It's really interesting and I try to really capture um I don't know if you've noticed if anybody noticed this, but when anyone is speaking, 90% of my attention is on the speaker. It isn't on anything else here that's on the dis. And I always try to kind of keep track of what is it that's being presented here. And I can tell you that one of the biggest things I heard today is who is listening to us and who is presenting to us. Um there were numerous people that stated that they were not involved, they were not included, yet it encompasses the whole city in some aspects and that's a real concern for me. I heard, you know, I listened to this um resident who questioned the numbers on the parking study and and questioned it in a way that I really think like, wow, well, yeah, he's looking at something, you know, it's different from what we were presented with. I heard very clearly from constituents say this is a flawed process. And then I was really caught up because then it really made sense. Prior to being on council ADU, I had no idea what it was. A casita, I know what that is. And the whole concept of a casita is completely different from an ADU. And as such, I think that the language is very um very different for the community. I also heard from numerous people that called um that they had requested for meetings and I know it's been a long process. I mean it came up in August 27th of 24. It was you know sent away and sent away in September and now it comes back as we come on board. When I was having some of the uh presentation, I was led to believe that there was a bill that had been passed that we had to implement on September 1. But I think that that is maybe not fully correct or in this case I I'm um the number of emails and phone calls went way beyond what I could capture. way beyond what I could copy that I could say I could bring to this meeting today. But I can tell you that today I heard from 16 people that said no and only two people that said yes. And as um a frequent watcher of Shark Tank, I'm out. I won't support it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Represent represent Nino. >> Thank you, Mayor. And thank you, Alex, and Miss Casala as well for all your hard work in this. Um, when I was first briefed um by these recommendations on staff, my immediate question was, "Where is District 5 in this conversation? H how would these changes impact my constituents positively or negatively? Um, I'm not a developer. I I I I wouldn't know the challenges that they have whenever it comes to, you know, reaching affordability." And that was really my question of um how does affordability fit within this policy for district 5? And same as some of my colleagues over the past few days I've heard numerous residents who have reached out to me asking me questions and some of the questions I couldn't even answer. Right. And even I know last night they had a neighborhood coalition meeting and I think that caused panic among some of the neighborhood associations at least in my district where they shared hey why weren't we notified about this? why didn't we get information? What does this mean? And I know some of the policy is in a very specific boundary, but some of them are also going to be citywide. Um, and I just wasn't unsure of how many districts really did have input. And I think if we're going to be making a decision of this magnitude, I strongly believe that we need to take a step back and look at it holistically. As a city-wide issue, and to me that means involving additional voices, our districts, our utilities before moving forward with the vote. Um, I'm asking possibly if we could, you know, I'm always open to the conversation, but overall, I did receive a lot of my constituents just reaching out, responding with panic because they weren't involved in the process. Um, and that's kind of where I stand at it as well. Uh, I would love to entertain a motion to postpone the item essentially maybe for 3 months, four months to look at it more holistically and be able to get more of the outreach that I feel that is needed prior to making that decision. >> Second. >> Was that a motion? >> Yes. >> Was it three months, four months? >> Can I have it in the number of weeks? >> Number of weeks. >> Yes. Just because our calendar is >> 16 weeks. >> 16 weeks. Thank you. >> Delete it. >> Just delete it. Right. >> So, >> mayor, >> can we entertain the idea of deleting it to give us time to develop whatever plans council would like us to develop? >> Yes. >> I think we're we're talking about different outreach or something. I I just don't want to limit the team to a few weeks if that's going to be entertained by council. >> I'll like I'll make a motion to delete >> delete the >> There's a motion. There's a to delete the item. Is there a second? >> Second >> motion. Any discussion on the deletion of this item? >> Represent. >> And the motion on the floor is to delete. >> Thank you, mayor. So, I know the motion is to delete, but you're saying that um you're recommending a deletion so we could give you more direction on how to proceed with this. Are you asking for that direction now or you're going to go out and talk to us about this to have more input? >> Yeah, we'll do that offline with you all. >> Okay. Okay. Any other discussion on this item? >> Deletion. >> Deletion. >> And Representative Mino, is this to delete 48, 49, and 50? >> Yes. Correct. >> Thank you, Representative Brocha on the deletion. on on the deletion. I'll keep my place in line here for the main motion, but uh deleting the item today, >> does it improve the situation >> later on? What's what's >> so the I guess the question is what's once we delete it, what's going to happen later? One, I think we need to have the discussion whether council wants us to bring this forward. Two, we need to talk about what we see that outreach model looking like to give staff some opportunity for those discussions and uh uh those discussions to be in place. I think it also gives us an opportunity to make sure that we are making sure everyone is well educated on the changes that were made on the state level. So, this is not being confused with um those pieces as well. I just would like to make sure that from a timing perspective, we can give the staff the opportunity to lay that out, to have everybody on the same page about what those strategies look like. Um, and make sure that we are all, you know, in alignment with that. And I just think four weeks or six weeks doesn't necessarily give us the time to be able to do that and have the discussions with you all. >> Representative Chavez, >> thank you, Mayor. But in regards to the deletion, I mean, my opinion is that staff thought that it was ready today for us to see it through and take a vote. So, what would essentially change? Are we going to go back to the drawing board and change the whole thing or are we going to bring it back as is? I am only commenting as if council chooses to look at any type of postponement that we don't put a time frame to that. That gives me the opportunity to develop those plans. >> Yeah. If council chooses to move forward on it, >> you know, that's a that's a different vote. >> Yeah. So my my my >> the motion is to delete. Is that correct? >> You're right. So my my comment is >> about the deletion, >> you know, I I just think that this is very messy. >> Yeah, I support that. >> So I think Yeah. Again, the motion is to delete it. And what Miss Mack is talking about is a separate issue. We're talking about deleting items number 48, 49, and 50. Representative Trey. >> So deleting this opens it to having conversations in the future to see if this is still a possibility. So that's it does. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I have a question represent Nino. Thank you, Miss Mac. And would you need direction in order to bring it back or what would be the process essentially if it was to be brought back? >> Then that would give me the flexibility to decide when it comes back. >> Okay. >> And in what format. >> Okay. Okay. Again, right now we're discussing deleting the items. Any more discussion on the deletion of this item? Okay. Hearing none, Miss Ryan. Seeing none, call for the deletion vote. >> Yes, sir. And the motion was made by Representative Nino, seconded by Representative Lemon. And this is to delete items 48, 49, and 50. On that motion, call for the vote. >> End the voting session. And that motion passes 5 to three. Representatives Trejo Theor Lemon voting I. The motion does carry. Okay. So, the item's deleted. Okay. >> We don't need to go back to the main motion anymore, do we, Miss Bryant? >> No, sir. >> Okay. >> No, sir. >> All right. So, I know this was a a tough item to to cover, and I want to thank staff again for the hard work that they did, but I certainly want to thank the the public for the civil discourse that was displayed here today in in the council chambers. I also want you to know, the public to know that we heard you and u your city council acted and we all can agree that uh densifying our city core can help with our housing concerns, but we have to figure out how to how to get there. But this community belongs to all of us and not just some of us. So again, we can work together to improve our community now and for generations to come. And I again, I want to thank everyone that took the time to come here to council chambers today to give us your concerns because I do want you to know we certainly heard you guys and the item was deleted. So, thank you guys for coming. >> Okay, Mr. F, we're going to go back to item number 46. >> Yes, sir. And number 47 is related. if you'd like to consider those together. >> Yes, please. >> Okay. Item 46 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title 12 vehicles in traffic section 12.58.010 definitions to amend references and language regarding the uptown parking benefit district advisory committee. Item 47 is also a public hearing on an ordinance amending title 12 vehicles and traffic section 12.88.230 230 schedule parking benefit districts to amend references and language regarding the uptown parking benefit district advisory committee in its entirety. Repres represent Canales >> move to approve. >> There's a there's a motion in a second. Any discussion on items 40 6 and 47. >> We do have public >> represent Canales. >> Thank you, mayor. Uh I just want to thank staff. I think this has been a long time coming. Uh the Uptown Parking Benefit District uh had some challenges over the past few years. Uh it's continued to acrue funds through the the parking meter revenue uh particularly from the Cincinnati area. And so uh I think making sure that we have the ability to have a board in place to recommend the use of those funds and uh to uh expand the boundary so that the funds can be used in a way that benefits the residents. I think in particular through uh looking at at the use for code enforcement overtime uh to enforce parking. It'll it'll make a big difference. And so, uh, I hope that we make the changes and and that, uh, mayor, hopefully you can, uh, be, uh, prudent in making appointments to that board quickly so that we can we can get it going. Again, the funds have been building up and, uh, it'll be good to, uh, to spend them. Thank you. >> You got it. All right. So, we have a motion and a second by Representative Lemon. Is there any further discussion? >> There's public comment, maybe. >> Miss represent Lamont, did you second this one? I did. >> Oh, sorry. Represent. All right. Hearing no, Miss Prime call for the >> There is public comment. Mayor, Miss Dip on item 47. >> Let's do it. >> Good afternoon. >> Reading is much. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon again. Let me get my >> And soon we'll be saying good evening. >> I know. >> Dinner time. The concept of boundaries or pervasive reality for all El Pasoans can save serve dual encounter purposes. Confinement or the ignition of possibilities. The Rim University neighborhood residents defined their boundaries in 2001 in the pursuit of protecting its threatened existence with the city's first and only neighborhood conservation overlay, a framework carved into title 20 of our zoning codes. The city encourages other neighborhoods to pursue an NCO. Yet, it is a difficult task. We still remain the only one. But why should a neighborhood pursue such a heavy custodial partnership with the city if the partnership is less than trustworthy? We embrace our history that dates back to 1888 as the third ward of our city and one described at the time with deplorable housing and unsanitary conditions and as the dirtiest place in town. Yet our ancestral residents dare to aim big and over time we and all of our in all of El Paso enjoy some of the broadest architectural styles that exemplify the American tradition. While we host visitors from around the world to take in El Paso's most unique vista, we proudly serve as home to our university student population, a diversity of every socioeconomic category, and a predominantly Hispanic and 15% black populations. Yet, keeping the neighborhood together is constant work made even more difficult when our city government can't respect the hard work of its citizenry. When the downtown and uptown plan was taking shape, the neighborhood requested with a large voice to be emitted from the plan. We had worked long and hard for our NCO and have enough at of a time trying to keep afloat with so many forces on all fronts that have that having our overlay overlaid upon with this master plan would have diluted our protection. You will find on page five of the ordinance approved DU plusu plan that the boundary excludes the rim area neighborhood. Yet, we surprisingly discovered a year ago that 21 blocks of our western front were taken from our neighborhood regardless of this agreement. After that discovery and a request for an ordinance correction, our boundaries still have not been restored. That is called a border dispute. A simple and minuscule map placed within the title 20 agenda today had a redrawn map that is still not our official boundary. Regarding this agenda 47, unbeknownst to us, until two weeks ago, another boundary had consumed us and we are told it is for our benefit. We have requested the removal of this overreach today. We encourage staffers to do the respectful task and present to this neighborhood their intention. And if there are benefits to be agreed upon, then the city will look like heroes. A win-win. We cannot protect our neighborhood when our boundaries are not respected, when the hard work is not respected. Please provide the opportunity to understand this agenda and to collaborate. Thank you. >> Thank you, Represental. >> Thank you, Mayor. Um uh I just wanted to make it clear we we have a letter on record from the Rim Area Neighborhood Association, not the same as the Sunrise Civic Group. It reads as follows. Regarding the potential expansion of the ex the existing parking benefit district, we have an interest in seeing that the rim area neighborhood be included within the parking benefit district. Our understanding is that this will enable increased enforcement and patrolling and allow for potential neighborhood improvements. Specifically, our understanding is that this does not allow for the installation of parking meters within the Rana NCO boundaries. However, we understand that outside of our NCO boundaries and within the non-residential areas, the installation of parking meters is possible. Um, I just want to be clear for the council too. There's no contemplated addition of parking meters at the moment. This is uh talking about using the existing revenue from the parking meters on uh Cincinnati and that in the Cincinnati area um and expanding the boundaries of where those funds can be spent. And so that parking meter revenue is captured within this uptown parking benefit district. This was created before my time on the council. Maybe 2020. >> 2018. >> 2018. Okay. Well before my time on the council. 2018. Um it predates the uptown downtown plan. It has nothing to do with that plan. Um this was a way to add additional security and patrolling to that area. Uh right now the boundaries exist really only around uh Cincinnati and kind of the entertainment uses. So the money can only be spent within that boundary. The the proposal here is to expand the neighborhoods so that the funds can be expended for the additional patrolling up into the neighborhoods as well so that it benefits the residents of the area, not just the the commercial area. Um so that's what's being proposed here. Um the the Rim area neighborhood and the Kern Place Association uh are both in favor of this. I understand Sunrise Civic Group has reservations. Um, it's it's hard to know what to do when you have overlapping organizations and one is in favor and one is opposed. Um, but I I really only see upside here. There was a rumor going around that this would mean parking meters being installed outside of everybody's houses. That is absolutely not the case. This is a way to use the revenue uh that has been stored up. this this board has been dormant for the last few years and so the revenue has continued to build with no recommendations from the board in order to spend it. Um Mr. Do you have the the number of uh the amount of funds that are currently in the >> Good afternoon mayor. >> Good afternoon. >> Uh Paul Stress of International Bridges. Uh the balance right now is over 400,000. >> So that that funding is just sitting. uh code enforcement. Again, we of course we'll seek a recommendation from a newly appointed board, but the the idea is that code enforcement uh can use that for some overtime to fund uh nighttime patrolling of the areas for parking and I think that would be to the great benefit of the of the neighborhoods >> and some increased uh equipment also for them also uh modern technology. >> Yes. in order to make that parking enforcement >> easier. >> Okay. >> So, uh, council, that's that's kind of the state of affairs. Um, for what it's worth, for the history, uh, mayor, former mayor Liser, uh, didn't like this type of overlay. He wanted money into the general fund, I think, and so he refused to make appointments to the board, which is why it has been dormant and why it all the terms expired and he didn't reappoint people. Uh so the now the fund has just racked up this significant balance which in a way has a silver lining in that there are now available funds to do some bigger things that benefit the neighborhood and we want to expand that boundary so that as I said the benefit goes to the residents and not just the commercial area. >> Okay represent Lemon. >> Thank you Mayor Paul. >> Yes ma'am. So, so there's a a pocket of revenue there and is the idea to expand the boundary for what purpose is it? To spend the money within that boundary >> because you just talked about equipment and you talked about overtime that have nothing to do with the area. So, so the boundary, so on item item 46 is is bringing back the board the advisory committee. Okay. >> Um having quarterly meetings and having reducing the requirement to five. Uh because in the past when the board was active, >> the requirements was 5 to 9, but they had trouble meeting their quorum sometimes. So, um, the directive that we got from council from your May 12th work session that looked at boards and commissions and trying to standardize them, that's what item 46 does. It also asked for 25% of the meter revenue to go back to bridges so that we can cover our costs for maintenance, repairs, the connectivity, which is the uh credit card fees that go through. Um but the the two big benefits of expanding the boundary because that was also one of the directives was to expand the boundary on the May 12th meeting is that residents that live in that neighborhood that's directly affected by the uptown parking benefit district they can serve on that board and have a voice and then those revenues can go into the overtime enforcement. So what we did in the past uh most of that money went to overtime PD. sometimes seven or eight officers on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays when there was a lot of uh issues going on in that entertainment district. Some of the bars are no longer there. So the issues have kind of died and quieted and also that happened during co >> so 46 >> is simply um to revive the board or to and that's because when we did all the discussion on the various boards correct >> but 47 then >> expanding the boundaries >> expanding the boundaries okay and and then we've had two different neighborhood associations s um one speaking on behalf and one speaking against. Is that correct, Representative Canales? >> There the two neighborhood associations in the area are in favor and there is a civic group a civic association as well that is opposed >> and the civic association oversees >> they want to be removed which oversees the whole or is an overlap over the whole. >> Yes, >> civic associations are over like neighborhood associations. >> Uh they typically have larger boundaries, >> right? And they're bigger. So they would encompass more space. Okay. All right. I think I can understand. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. Any further discussions on item number 4647? >> Mr. Ryan, call for the vote. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by representative Canal, seconded by alternate mayor promp. And this is to adopt the ordinances on items 46 and 47. Mayor >> represent Lemon. >> I'm sorry. No worries. I'm sorry. Um, may we vote on these separately, please? >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> Let's separate them. Let's take number 46 first, Miss Bryant. >> Yes, sir. So, this will be this vote will be on item 46 only. Call for the vote. Voting session is open. End the voting session. >> And that motion passes unanimously. >> That brings us to the vote on item 47. >> Yes. >> Is there a motion? >> Motion approved. >> Second. Any discussion on 47? Call for the vote. >> Yes, sir. This motion was made by alternate mayor protier, seconded by representative Gonales to adopt the ordinance on item 47. On that motion, call for the vote. >> Now it's open. Council having computer problems. It's >> user error. Huh? >> And the voting session and that motion passes 6 to2. Representative Strejo Lemon voting A. The remainder of council voting I. The motion does carry. >> Okay, let's take item number 51. >> Yes, sir. Item number 51 is a public hearing of an ordinance granting a special permit to allow for a professional office use in 100% parking reduction at 509 Rio Grand Avenue. >> Is there a motion to approve? Move to approve. >> Second. >> All right. Any discussion on item 51? >> Mr. B Ryan. Call for the vote. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Ganales, seconded by alternate mayor prom, and this is to adopt the ordinance on item 51. There's no public comment on that motion. Call for the vote and the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> Okay, let's take 52. >> Item 52 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending ordinance number 019580 vacating a 1.061 061 acre portion of Randolph Street and Blacker Avenue rights of way to include the entirety of the intersection of Randolph Street and Blanchard Avenue located within the Alexander edition. >> Is there a motion on this? >> Move to approve. >> Second. >> All right. Any discussion on item 52, Miss Bry? >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Canales, seconded by alternate mayor Proen Fiero, and this is to adopt the ordinance on item 52. There's no public comment on that motion. Call for the vote. >> Representative Lemon. >> Okay. >> Oh, okay. I got you. >> The voting session is open. >> Oh, sorry. >> And the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. Representative Oello not present. Items 53 to 58 are all related to the clean up of the boards and commissions. I'm not sure if council would like to consider. >> You won't take them together, but represent Lemon. >> Yes. I'd like to make a motion that we take 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 all together. They're all >> reference to the language. >> Yes. >> Never mind. That's all I need. >> All right. There's a motion and a second. Any discussion on items 51 through 58? >> 53. >> 53. >> And I'll read them into the record. Item 53 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title 2, chapter 2.40, Department of Museums and Cultural Affairs, to remove references and languages regarding the Museums and Cultural Affairs Board. Item 54 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title 2, chapter 2.08, City Plan Commission, to add section 2.08.160, 08.160 climate and sustainability in order to modify the purview of city plan commission to include climate and sustainable development. Item 55 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title 2 to amend chapter 2.22 open space advisory board and replace with chapter 2.22 reserved to remove references and language regarding the open space advisory board in its entirety. Item 56 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title 2 to remove chapter 2.72 committee on border relations to remove references and language regarding the committee on border relations in its entirety. Item 57 is an ordinance amending title 2 chapter 2.20 boards of parks and recreation to remove reference and language regarding the parks and recreation advisory board in chapter 2.20. And item 58 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title 7. Chapter 7.28 28 animal shelter advisory committee to remove references and language regarding the animal shelter advisory committee in its entirety. >> Okay, we have a motion second. Representative Canales. >> Thank you, mayor. Just to clarify for anyone in the public who's watching and interested in uh board title 2 stuff. Um, these are uh changes that the council directed back in May to standardize the uh bylaws and uh the reporting structures for all of the boards and commissions. And so this is just the action to effectuate those changes that we directed back in May. >> Thank you, mayor. >> And that's why we're taking them all together. It's just each item is for one of the specific boards. >> Okay. Thank you. Any further discussion on items 51 through 58? >> It's 53 to 58. 53 to 58. >> I'm losing it. >> I didn't catch the second on this one. >> All right. Hearing none, Mr. Prime. Call for the vote. >> I'm not sure who made the second. Who seconded the motion? >> I sure I did. >> Thank you. Thank you, sir. >> Yeah, I was going to say Representative Boy. Thank you. So the motion was made by representative Lemon, seconded by Representative Boyer Trejo, and this is to adopt the ordinances on items 53 to 58. On that motion, call for the vote and the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> Okay, let's take 59 not present. Item 59 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending ordinance number 018746 title two chapter 2.06 procedures for placing matters on the agenda of city council. Section 2.06.020 timely submission to amend the deadlines to timely submit agenda items and give the city clerk authority to establish revised deadlines as necessary to conform with state law. To amend the deadlines for the submission of the summary explanation and backup materials. To amend the deadline to timely submit a copy of proposed legal documents to city council and to amend the deadlines by which city council representatives may place matters relating to reporting, appointments, presentations or request action and change the term legislative review committees to informal work sessions >> to approve. >> Second. >> There's a motion and second. This is your item, Miss Bryan. >> Yes, sir. And this is just uh to conform with the recently uh passed legislation. We will now be posting the city council agenda on Wednesdays instead of Thursdays and we'll be posting the work session on Tuesdays instead of Thursdays. So that moves council's deadline from Wednesday at noon to Tuesday at noon. >> Okay. Representative Tjo >> for Okay. Any discussion on this item? >> Miss Bryan call for the vote? >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by representative Lemon, seconded by Representative Nino, and this is to adopt the ordinance on item 59. I'm sorry, it was representative. Sorry, council. Okay. Representative Lemon make the motion seconded by alternate mayor prot. On that motion, call for the vote and the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> Okay, let's take number 60. >> Item 60 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title five, chapter 5.03, amplified sound permit, article 1, general provision section 5.03.010, compliance required to add exception for food service establishments and restaurant. Section 5.03.020 to add definition of food service establishment and restaurant. Item 61 is also related and item 62. Would you like me to read those into the record? >> Sure. >> Item 61 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title 9 chapter 9.40 noise section 9.40.010 definitions to add definitions for decibel readings using the C weighted system food establishment and restaurant section 9.4.020 applicability to clarify an exception for delivery of supplies to establishments. Section 9.4.030 030 to clarify the maximum sound level for A and C readings and the time frame for enforcement for restaurants. Item 62 is a public hearing of an ordinance amending title 9 health and safety chapter 92 section 9.12.007 of the El Paso City Code to perform the following in accordance with House Bill 2844 of the Texas 89th Legislative Session amending section 9.12.007 to add a separate provision. Yeah. >> Yes. >> Mayor. Um, and I just a question. These are all related or these are all in sync because of the bills that were passed in the in the legislature and will become effective on September 1st. >> Yes, ma'am. Steve Alvarado. >> Hang. Hang on, Steve, real quick. Let me get a motion for all three. >> Well, so >> yes, I move to I motion to vote for all three, 60, 61, and 62 together. represent Lemon again. Steve Yes, thank you. Steve Alvarado, code enforcement director for the record. Good afternoon, mayor and city council. Yes, these are all related. They're required by recent Senate Bill 10008 and also House Bill 2844, which requires us to align to the state laws that were passed effective September 1st of 2025. >> Steve, do you mind uh giving us a presentation? >> Yes. um itable presentation. Thank you. So, uh this is an update regarding Senate Bill 108, House Bill 2844 and the required ordinance amendments associated with those new laws. Um it impacts our chapter 5.03 amplified sound permit, also 9.12 food and food handling establishments, and chapter 9.40 of our noise ordinance. So, it'll require us to make amendments uh to align with the new state laws that were passed. Senate Bill 108, amplified sound permit amendments. Uh it exempts certain establishments, those establishments are restaurants and food establishments from requiring an outdoor sound permit. Um establishes a sound application days and hours, which is Sunday through Thursday up until 10 p.m. for restaurants and food establish establishments. Friday, Saturday until 11 pm for food stabs and restaurants as well. Uh sound not to exceed 70 DBAs which is currently aligns with our current code uh with the city of El Paso and 75 DBC for restaurants and food establishments. Uh provides definitions which clarifies food service establishments and amends definition for restaurants as well. 9.40 40 zero amendments. DBC means a measurement of unit of sound in decb which will be aligned to 75 dbc's maximum. So uh they cannot exceed that for a food establishment and restaurant. This does not apply to the bars. It will still require um them to align with the 70 and we're also making an amendment to align the 75 DBCs for the bars as well. uh properties defined as restaurants to be amended to align with the state requirements again at 75 DBC 70 dBA is the last one um remarks 9.12 so this align with house bill 2844 um it regulates the fees charged to mobile food vendors effective September 1st 2025 what we did find out was that although this is effective September 1st 2025 there's a grace period which will actually take place till give us until July 1st of 2026. Um this puts the inspections permitting all in the state's hands. The state health department takes it away from the city. Um and speaking with and I brought food safety manager Anthony Morales he could provide further insight on this. Speaking with the state, they are not ready to implement this. They don't have the capacity to inspect um statewide. Correct me if I'm wrong, Anthony. I believe they have 22 inspectors for the entire state >> of Texas. Um, but it also allows us the capacity to turn it back over to the local health department, which would be us, the food safety department, uh, to continue with the inspections. We need to align our uh, fees with the state, and we they haven't set those yet. So, they may go up, they may go down. We're not sure where that's going to lie uh, once they've done their evaluation and set those fees. Uh, one thing I must add to section state bill 108. Um, it doesn't allow us to have the restaurants and food establishments with the commercial cooking um, facilities inside those restaurants. Doesn't allow us to have a local alcohol license. So, we can't double dip the state. They'll still have to get the state one. There'll still be some reviews with the planning part and an inspection, but we cannot charge a state uh, alcohol I'm sorry, a local alcohol license. With that, I open it up to any questions that council may have. >> Sure. Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Steve, for the presentation. You know, this was my uh industry for over 20 years. I have a lot of colleagues, so I did reach out to a few of them. Are these um things that we're adopting today less stringent or more stringent than what we had uh currently? So the 70dba aligns with what we currently have. The 75 dBC seems to be a little bit more stringent which is why we're going to align the uh bars as well with to that. Um so we're going to align that with that. Um there's certain things it just takes away from us. Uh certain licenses, certain permitting fees, um not requiring them an outdoor sound application permit. It exempts them, but it does also give the hours of operation Sunday through Thursday till 10:00 p.m. Friday, Saturday till 11:00 p.m. for these establishments. >> And when did we implement those things, the sound ones specifically? >> The sound amendments were done in December of 2024. There was a total of 18 amendments adopted at that time by that former city council. Um, some of these align uh we we adopted the 70 DBA, for example, back in December of 2024. This aligns with the the current uh regulations, state law. >> So, the one that we're scaling back is specifically for outdoor sound. Is that right? >> Outdoor sound for bars, I'm sorry, restaurants and food establishments. Bars would still be required to get an outdoor sound application permit. >> Yeah. So, in in in a way, would you say there was a little bit of an overreach at the city level that now the state is asking us to scale back on? >> I think they took an overall look of what we did. Uh they were participated. they being a Texas restaurant association in our RHI process, they had a lot of input and I think they took back a lot what we discussed and took it to the state and adopted these uh amendments. >> Yeah. Thank Thank you, Steve. I I think it's important to note that sometimes, you know, um although we'd like to keep control at a municipal level, the state, you know, um comes in and and corrects us in some way. I don't I know that the Texas Restaurant Association is in favor of these diff of these changes because uh they sent a letter of support and I did I was in communication with the president of the local chapter. Um and I appreciate this. So we'll keep an eye on it for sure. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you represent Canalis. >> Thank you Mary G. >> Thank you mayor. Yeah I was going to point out the same and that's that we did receive a letter of support and it was uh classified with item 48 I think. So, just council, if you're just be aware in your email, you have uh under the comments for item 48 a letter from Texas Restaurant Association that I think was supposed to be for this item um that is supportive. >> Okay. Very good. Representative Fier. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh first question is for Steve. Can you give me the definition of a food vendor, food establishment versus a bar? I know it changed a little bit during CO. Did it revert back to what it was precoid or is it still at that? >> You know what? I would have to get back to you. I don't know what it was precoid. Uh, Representative Fiero. >> Well, what is it now? I'm sorry. >> Sure. Let give me a minute. >> All right. Thank you. Well, while Steve's doing that, Miss Mack, I have a quick question for you. um through the the the mayor of course, but could we have a presentation on from permitting and from um code enforcement on how bars are now applying for um sound to comply with the sound ordinances? We've gotten a lot of phone calls in our office about uh having to jump through hoops and having to bring the owner of the property sign in blood or something. Yeah, I don't remember the details but could we in the future have a presentation on that please? >> Thank you. >> Very good. >> Okay, I'm ready. Uh representative, thank you. So definition of a food service establishment means any place where food is prepared and intended or for individual portion service and includes the site at which individual portions are provided. The term includes any such place regardless of whether consumption is on or off the premise and regardless of whether there is a charge for the food. The term does not include private homes where food is prepared or served in individual family consumption. >> Steve, I'm sorry. I I meant more. So, a bar is 51% alcohol sales. >> Is that is that correct? >> I believe that is correct. >> And so, a a restaurant would have to be or food establishment would have to be 51% or above in food sales. >> Well, you know what? You can get back to us. Would you meet? >> I'll do a little bit more research. >> Thank you. >> So, thank you, >> Representative. Thank you, mayor. I I guess it's it's been a long day, so I'm going to ask a lot of what Rep. Chavez said because I didn't fully grasp everything that you were saying. >> Sure. >> So, the state has passed this and we're implementing this for restaurants definition TBD. Maybe someone could tell us what happens with it because there's an expert on council. And then um so now we're at 70 dBA and 75 dbc. And so you're going to apply the same thing to the bars. >> That is correct. The 70 dBA is already applicable to bars, restaurants, food establishments, etc. The 75 DBC is applicable to restaurants and food establishments per state law. And we're going to align that with our local ordinance with the state law. And that's in these items here that align the bars with this. >> Yes. I'm sorry. >> So, so by voting for this, it aligns the bars, too. It is part of the backup and >> that's how you're doing it with this authority. So, you're asking us to change it for the bars and for the restaurants. >> That is correct. Yes. >> Okay. And then um I I guess overall um I'm wondering how this whole thing that was passed in December by the prior council is going. I I think it's been now about 8 months since that that passed and I don't really know what's going on. And I I want to know how that implementation is going cuz I'm also hearing a lot of stuff in the community that isn't the the best in terms of implementation. And it's very selective as well. There's um a bar that was getting the readings at point A and they did some construction to the bar to not get those readings anymore and added a wall as soon as they added the wall. They moved point A inside the wall so they could get higher readings. So I I don't think this has been a very fair implementation of how this sound ordinance is kind of going and I have a lot of concerns about it and I want to know with data >> to understand where we're at now if you need I don't think we have enough of a posting here to do an amendment and direct you to that or if you need us to put something on the agenda to maybe get that from you or if this is sufficient for Miss Mack to come back at a later meeting based on what Rep. Fiero also said earlier. >> We're going to do it more comprehensive so you can look at the application process, what it really meant for the businesses. I know most of you weren't sitting when we adopted those. So we give you some ideas of what we did before, how that's going, what the reading numbers have looked like, and how many contacts they've made. >> Okay. So you don't need any direction from us. You'll you'll just do it on your own. Okay. I appreciate that. I I think that is um that is crucial. And as we're kind of moving on this, I don't know how I totally feel about also tying the bars specifically to this just cuz I don't know what's been happening with the bars other than anecdotal things that I'm hearing in the community and it is not the best. And then overall, I I voted against it in December just cuz I think there's a lot of issues with downtown being included. I think that that is a really glaring example for me. And then I don't think that that consultant did a great job. They we were we were arguing more about the decibel number over and over and they just kept giving us circles around that and saying, "Oh, we can't really give you a number." And I guess we're getting a number now with this officially, right? But >> I I want to be making decisions that are data informed. So, thank you. So, uh, as far as going back to where they're taking the readings, it has to be from the property line public right away. So, if they're going on inside, depending where the walls at, I I I couldn't tell you on that particular situation. So, >> yeah. And and it was like an alley. >> Mhm. >> And then they built the wall >> to not let the >> the property behind get any sound. And as soon as they built the wall, they went inside the property and put it next to the wall. That way, they could get the inside. And there's pictures of it. It's crazy. I'll I'll share them with you. >> Thank you. Appreciate that. Representative Tjo. >> Thank you, Mayor. I I have a question on these are state ordinances and so how how is this going to affect our affect our our businesses here at a local level or the restaurants and the food trucks? Has that uh in in that ordinance, has it been shared? You mentioned there's what 22 22 uh inspectors or code enforcement right in the state. >> So how would that affect the city or basically any city in Texas at this point? >> So as far as the mobile food vendors, it'll stay the same until they they come out with the exact ordinance. It takes effect September 1st. So our fees have to align with them. We're waiting for those fees to come out so they could align with the state uh requirements. Uh but it is it is a law that takes effect September 1st. We will still continue to do operations as normal for food uh mobile food vendors until um we work this out. Like I said, it allows the state to put it back into our our hands. It'll probably be some type of memorandum of understanding or in a local agreement, something along that line where we have a contract with the state. >> So >> So yeah. No, I was speaking about restaurants and mobile mobile I guess food trucks in general, just small business in general. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, mayor. Okay, so just a point of clarification, even if you're a restaurant and your sales, your alcohol sales are above 51%, you have to apply for a different type of license. So, you would still be considered a bar, if that makes sense. There's different um >> there's different types of licenses. So, I mean, you could just apply for a bar if you know you're only going to be selling alcohol, but even if you're a restaurant, because in many cases sometimes that happens, right? Restaurants can sell more alcohol than food. Uh where's Robert? He's not here any longer. But the way the way the state knows that is because you when you pay your Oh, there you are, Robert. When you pay your sales tax every month, you have to pay your liquor tax as well. and the state knows exactly how much you're reporting in terms of your food sales and your liquor sales. It's broken down. So, if you start reporting more liquor sales than food sales, then the the TABC will know that you have to change the type of license that you have. And Steve can bring more information to that and that is done on the 20th of every month. >> You sound like a pro. >> Thank you. >> All right, Miss Bry, I know we have public comment on this one. >> Yes, sir. We have Michael Clark that signed up to speak on item 60. >> Okay. >> Okay. All right. Any further discussion on this item? >> All right. Miss Prime, call for the vote. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Ojo, seconded by Representative Lemon, and this is to adopt the ordinances on items 61, 60, 61, and 62. So 60-62. On that motion, call for the vote. in the voting session. And that motion passes 7 to1. Representative ADO voting nay. The remainder of council voting I. The mo motion does carry. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> And council, please refrain from side conversations while the meeting is in session. That brings us to item 63. This m let's take number 63. >> Thank you. And this is discussion and action to direct the city manager and city attorney to draft and engage into a memorandum of understanding between the city of El Paso, El Paso Community Foundation and United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF USA in order to complete the process for the city of El Paso to be designated a child-friendly city under UNICEF's Child Friendly Cities Initiative. And this item was submitted by Representative Ato. >> Representative Ato I move to approve. >> Second. Okay. You want to add some discussion or anything? Go ahead. >> Um, so I just wanted to say briefly that El Paso has been selected to move forward in exploring a partnership with UNICEF USA through the UNICEF Child Friendly Cities Initiative. So, it's a big deal. It's been a long time coming and I'm excited that we're here today. Um, this work is going to be supported by a partnership between the city of El Paso and the El Paso Community Foundation. CFCI is a locally led multi-year effort to prioritize the needs of children and young people, elevate youth voice and local governance, and implement a communitydriven action plan to advance well-being for children and families. UNICEF USA supports participating local partners by providing tools, guidance, and frameworks as cities work to develop and implement a local action plan. The next steps in the process are to review and finalize a memorandum of understanding. A formal partnership launch is anticipated in November pending completion of this process. So hopefully our lawyers and their lawyers can figure this out in the next few months so we could officially launch this in November. Um, Eric with El Paso Community Foundation was here earlier and had to leave, but it's been a it's been a great pleasure working with the community foundation and Baranos and the city to make all of this work and get us to where we're at today. >> Fantastic. There was a motion. Any further discussion on this item, Miss Bryan, call for the vote? >> The motion was made by Representative Ato, seconded by Representative Boratjo. This is to approve item 63. On that motion, call for the vote and the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. Alternate mayor prot. >> Okay, let's take 64. Item 64 is discussion and action on a presentation made by city staff regarding the city's current plan for implementing goal three of our strategic plan to promote the visual image of El Paso for maintenance of medians and other areas specifically addressing overgrowth of weeds and vegetation. The presentation should include the city's exist existing schedule and priority list for weed abatement, number of crews currently assigned to address these issues and their geographic coverage, estimated timelines for completion citywide, adjustments to staffing, equipment or contracts that could accelerate cleanup and plans for communication with the public regarding process and expected completion dates. The presentation shall be presented to council within two weeks of this item's approval. This item was submitted by representatives Chavez and Maldonado Roach. >> Representative Chavez, is there a motion? >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Okay. Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, Mayor. >> Hi, Nick. How are you? Miss Miss Mack, I just want to be clear that the way I wrote this, I'm wondering if it's okay to direct the city staff to do this presentation or do I have to amend that to direct you so that you could direct the staff? >> It should be an email. >> Okay. So, I guess >> I'm going to make an amendment discussion and action on a presentation made uh to direct the city manager to regarding to make a presentation. Please, Miss Prine, >> would you read that back, Miss Prank? >> So, the amendment is to uh strike out. Well, it's to insert the words to direct the city manager to return with a presentation. Is that okay? >> Yes. >> Okay. to direct the city manager to return with a presentation made by city staff and so on. >> Okay. >> Yes, >> there's a uh is there a second to the amendment? >> Second. >> All right. Any discussion on the amendment, >> represent Lemon? >> Mayor, I think that um that's going to put us right after the Labor Day weekend, isn't it, Miss Mac? I I think if you're looking at this, you're looking at the third. Is it possible we could extend it a little bit further than just two weeks? Possibility >> right mid. >> He's ready right now. >> Go, Nicholas. Go. >> You set the schedule. I'll meet the deadline. >> Okay. Can Can we vote on the amendment before I make comments on the motion? >> Sure. Is there any other discussion on the amendment? >> All right. Miss Brian call for that vote. >> Yes, sir. And so the amendment was made by Mayor Prom Chavez, seconded by Representative Aso, and this is to insert the words to direct the city manager to return with a presentation on that motion. Call for the vote. >> And the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. >> Okay, we're back on the main motion. >> Thank you, mayor. Okay. Hi, Mick. I'm glad we clarified that. I tried reaching out to you yesterday. Um in anticipation of today. Uh I just want to make sure that you know that I think that you're doing great work. I've taken a tour of the landfill. I was very impressed by that tour. Um this item was brought to the agenda because I have received numerous calls, emails, texts regarding weeds in El Paso. And I have witnessed them. We've all seen them. I understand it's raining. Um, and I understand that we have, you know, a lot of lane miles to to cover in terms of wheat abatement, but I still think we owe our constituency an explanation and a plan of action. >> Yes. >> Uh, these are words that my constituents have used. You know, um, it's embarrassing. Other council members have taken care of this a lot quicker. We feel like no one cares for our city. Many times I've said that when people leave their homes, they want to s they want to see a city that reflects the pride they feel as El Paso. And when we're seeing weeds and not just small weeds, right? Many times they're very big weeds, almost look like bushes, you know. Um this is a concern. It's also a concern to me because I have witnessed crews trying to clean a certain area of weeds and I see them struggling because, you know, they're on my daily commute to work and so I see them struggling and they're barely making their way up the streets very slowly because it's so dense. The weeds are so dense that it's hard for them to to to take them out. >> And so I I'm assuming that this is taking them twice as long as it would usually. Um I I just I feel that we uh need um to promote the visual image of El Paso. Make sure that we are looking like we are proactive and not reactive to the rain. You know, let let's let's demonstrate to the public that we have a plan. We're going to tackle this and we're going to change it around. Um that's what I'm hoping. Uh I don't know if if you have all the tools and teams necessary to tackle this headon, but that's what I would like to know. I would like to know what you know part of the plan if you have what you need and how long it's going to take you to get there. >> Okay. >> And and how we can support you in that process. >> Okay. Thank you >> represent Rocha. >> Thank you mayor and thank you Rep. Chavez. Um so Nick, thank you so much. Um you know I think the the intention of this is not to say hey we don't think that you're doing a good job or you know anything like that. I know you have a plan. I think it just benefits all of us to make it um public to what that plan currently is because knowing you, you already have a plan of action for this. And so that's why uh in talking over with Rep. Chavez, we knew that you would be well prepared for this already. And so we knew that two weeks would would be sufficient. Now, I also know that the weeds came because there was several days of rain. Makes it very difficult to anticipate when that's going to stop. And so, it's it's uh definitely different than what we've had in the last two years, per se. But, um, one thing that I will say is that I was driving down Pebble Hills and I saw the crews working over the weekend. So, I'm very grateful for what you've already done and what you continue to do, you and your staff and the contractors as well. So, thank you, Nick, for being out there and being visible in the community. I just think it's super important to just make sure that we share whatever plan of action you already have with the public so that they can anticipate when their area of town will be weed-free, overgrown, bushfree. And similar to what Rep. Chav has experienced also. We've just had constituents that that either call, email, or you run into them and there's always two things that they want fixed right away. Weeds and the streets. And so, so with that said, I know you can help us with at least one. >> So, thank you, Nick, and thank you, Miss Mack, for um for your help in this. >> Represent Pierro. >> Thank you, Mayor. Mayor I mean Nicholas I see them the crews up and down Mountwood um Pebble Hills and and they're they're they're tremendous. I mean they're doing work that I know Representative Lemon would not want to do. It's 110 degrees and they're out there pulling weeds and and doing a a great job of it. I I I have such respect for these individuals. Well, and for you. But um but besides money, what what what is is is that are you going to come back and tell us we need money? Oh, well, Nicholas, for the record, >> it's no. >> Okay, >> we will do these. I'll let y'all I'll let y'all go for a minute. >> Okay, you directed me. This is not the presentation. >> We will send you a email, give you some updates on what's going on. Um, ultimately, we just passed a budget. We going to work within our budget. >> Right. N. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Okay. Yes, ma'am. >> Just District C. >> Represent. Thank you, mayor, and thank you to my colleagues, Representative Chavez and Maldonab, for putting this item forward. I know that we all have been challenged with this conversation amongst our constituents. Um, I don't know if it's an amendment that I would have to make, but one thing that I also would like to ask Miss Mack is if she could in this presentation include the double frontage homes uh, aspect of it just cuz I think when it comes to the conversation of education, I know in the budget process, I had made a council budget request in regards of doing outreach and educational outreach for the double frontage homes that at least it's something that I face in my district. uh you know have more of the challenges in the wheats within the double frontage homes than some of the medians. I know that some of the medians do need a lot of work too, but um I think I would appreciate that as well cuz I know that that's part also of uh streets of maintenance with ESD with uh involving clean El Paso of the process whenever it comes to the city getting involved in cleaning those double frontage homes too. >> Yeah, the language says medians and other spec other areas of overgrowth. So we can we can cover that. We'll bring Steve with. >> Perfect. Thank you, ma'am. >> Representative Chel. >> Thank you, mayor. I just I just wanted to give some ideas on, you know, I did a little bit of research and seeing what other cities are doing, and I think it's important that maybe we do something where there's a marketing campaign during the the spring season, maybe starting in May through October, uh, keeping El Paso clean. You know, there used to be that uh that uh uh slogan, don't mess with Texas. And so maybe we can do something regarding this time when there's weeds, right? Just to remember to keep El Paso clean, do marketing, send out texts, send out email, uh mailers, things like that just to remind people to be mindful of their their areas. I know we're talking about meetings and stuff like that, but you know, it's an it's an overall community issue. It's not only within the city areas, but it's also our neighbors. And so, you know, I'm thinking maybe we can do something with that and wanted to bring that as an idea. Thank you. >> Any other comments for Nick? Nick, I guess you got the message. It's it's weeds and you know and you know the community is is we've all on this dice have gotten complaints about the weeds and you know you know one of the things was mentioned to me is we had a monsoon season last year and it didn't look like this. So whatever you guys can do to help us we'd appreciate it. All right, Miss Prying, we had a motion and a second. Call for the vote. >> Motion was made by Mayor Prom Chavez, seconded by Representative Maldonado Rocha to approve the action as revised. On that motion, call for the vote and that the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. >> And Miss Prime, did we vote on the amended part of that? Yes, sir. >> Okay. And the main motion? >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Just making sure. I'm getting delirious at this point. Uh item number 65. >> Item 65 is discussion and action on the request that the director of purchasing and strategic sourcing be authorized to issue purchase orders for solicitation 2025-0521, parking meters maintenance to Civic Smart Parking Technologies, Inc., the sole source provider for Liberty NextG single space meters space parts spare parts and maintenance for a term of three years an estimated amount of $450,000. >> Mayor like to make a motion um to approve item 65. This is a sole source item. >> Okay, there's a motion and a second. Any discussion on item 65? Miss Brian call for the vote. >> Mr. The motion was made by Representative Lemon and I heard Representative Maldonado Rocha >> Tjo to approve item 65 on that motion. Call for the vote. in the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> Okay, let's take 66. Item 66 is discussion and action on the award of solicitation 2025-0340 Pebble Hills Reconstruction and Resurfacing Improvements to ZTEX Construction Inc. for a total estimated amount of 7,657,74010. The project will consist of reconstruction and resurfacing of Pebble Hills Boulevard resurfacing limits and include three sections. Yarbo Drive to Lee Tino Drive, Oddrier Street to Loop 375, Rich Beam Boulevard to John Hay Street, and reconstruction limits will include Satagosa Road to Rich Beam Boulevard. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> There's a motion. >> There's a motion and a second. Representative Brocha. >> Thank you, Mayor. And I just want to say thank you all for for bringing this today. It's it actually popped up on Next Door yesterday and so um this is something that continues to be on the at the community meetings. They want updates on it and so we'll be reaching out as to start dates and everything else. But thank you so much for for bringing this and fulfilling the you know the contract and being able to uh to get it going. I know a lot of people have lost tires, transmissions, suspensions, rims, all that stuff. Especially from the corridor of Yarro to Luchino due to those dips, but thank you all again for for the hard work again just Pebble Hills all the way. So, thank you so much, >> Represent. >> Thank you, mayor. And same, thank you so much for all your hard work in this. I know my constituents have constantly visited the conversation of when is purple hills going to be done. Um, so same as Rep. Roachchan and also I'm sure Rep. Pierro since it does go into three, five, and six, I think, uh, the community is going to be super grateful and excited to see this project come to a completion. So, thank you guys again. >> All right, represent Fier. >> Yes. Uh, thank you for doing uh, district 6 first. Thank you. >> All right. Any further discussion? >> Thank you, mayor. Hearing none, Miss Prime, call for the vote. >> Yes, the motion was made by Representative Nino, seconded by Representative Lemon to award the solicitation on item 66. On that motion, call for the vote. The voting session is open. >> Was a second by Representative Fedra. We'll note that in the record. and the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. >> All right. Can we take item number 67? >> Yes, sir. Item 67 is discussion and action on a resolution authorizing the city manager or designate to sign an agreement for professional services between city of El Paso and Garber LLC for a project known as civil engineering services for the El Paso International Airport Terminal Ramp Pavement Reconstruction for an amount not to exceed $2,386,100 to approve. >> Okay, there's a there's a motion in a second. Any discussion on this item 67? Mr. Prime, call for the vote. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Lemon, seconded by Representative Boyer Trejo. Council, >> wait, give me one second. Representative Roch. >> Thank you, Mayor. I'm sorry I I didn't move fast enough. I just Shane, thank you so much for being here. I appreciate it. I know that this is probably one of the ones that we spoke about last week. However, we didn't you didn't disclose any information as to the um the the company. How many bids were received on this one? >> Four, I believe. for were they were any of them? Um, so these this particular company has been vetted. They're they can do airport work. They're good to go. >> Yes, ma'am. They have extensive experience. >> And do they are they in El Paso or is this the Arkansas firm? >> Their their main company is Arkansas. They have a Texas office and a Colorado office and those are the people that we work with. >> Okay. With the Texas office and they're located where, Shane, please. >> Dallas. >> Dallas. Okay. All right. Thank you, Shane. Appreciate it. >> Okay. Repeto. >> Thank you, Mayor. And is this the project that their traffic control people have reached out to council about? Is this different? >> No, sir. >> Okay. I was looking at the map and it kind of looked a little similar with the yellow, but I just wanted to make sure >> the Yeah, the map that's in the the backup is the terminal ramp. So, it's the concrete that's right around the terminal building that the airplanes park on at the jet bridges. Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, Mayor. Hi, Shane. How are you? >> Good. How are you? >> Good. Um, of those four people that bid on this, were any of them local? >> I don't have that information. Okay. We can get that from >> If you could get back to me on that. And also, I would like to know if any of those local firms have done this type of work in the past so that they would be qualified to do it. >> Okay. Yes, ma'am. >> Could you get back to me on that? >> Yes. Yes, sir. >> Thank you. >> All right, Miss Bryant, call for the vote. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Lemon, seconded by Representative Warjo. This is to approve the resolution on item 67. On that motion, call for the vote in the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> 669. >> Item 69 is discussion and action on the results of round nine of the hotel occupancy tax audit. Is there a motion on 69? Motion >> approved. >> Second. >> Discussion on 69. >> All right. We want to see the presentation if you don't mind. >> Okay. Liz Dela with internal audit. Okay. For item 69, it is round nine of the hotel occupy tax audit results. The objective of the audit was to ensure that 20 hotels are complying with the city's local hotel occupancy tax requirements. The scope was January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2024, which included a sample of 20 hotels. The 20 hotels audited owed the city an additional 1,417. I mean 1,417289 in addition additional hot tax. So our recommendation was that the office of the controller should collect the amount owed to the city and the conclusion. The audit of the 20 hotels identified additional hot tax owed to the city of El Paso for disallowed tax exemptions. And that's it. Any questions? Rep. >> Represent Lemon. >> Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Liz. Do the hotels receive a bill or do they how does this work out? Like, do they receive a bill? you owe us this much on a monthly basis, yearly basis or do we only find out about this when there is an audit? >> Okay. So, they pay their normal um hotel taxes and then when we do the audits, this is additional hot tax that they owe. At the end of the audit, we provide all of the billing details to the office of the controller and then they start their collection efforts. In past history, a hotel that owed this tax and then they were contacted by the controller, do they pay the amount required, the amount that they were that they hadn't paid or does it build up? >> Um, historically they do. There there are some hotels that don't pay, but I'll let Margarita answer that. Good afternoon mayor and council Margarita Marin CFO. So we do work with the hotels and we have like a year labs where we try to get payments with from them and if after the year they don't get any payments um we we send them to our outsource legal office and then they work with them to collect the the amounts >> during that year. Oh, here comes Robert. >> No, she answered it. I was just going to have her give you the status on these 20. So, out of these 20, 15 of them have already paid. >> There's four that are currently going through a reit. So, they're um basically asked for second review. And then there's one currently that we're working with this hotel. They're on a payment plan. So, they're paying um installment payments over about a year time frame, >> but 15 out of the 20 have paid their amounts owed identified in this round. And Robert, um, is that common for past audits? >> Yes. >> That they will come in really quickly and pay those amounts. >> That's correct. It's very rare that we've seen a hotel that hasn't or won't pay that amount. >> So, do um do you see the same hotels? >> That I don't know. >> Or or you know, are they different? I'm wondering if the possibility, oh well, we won't pay now until we have to pay later and we'll use it for something else. >> I'm I'm just curious about that if that would work. >> Yeah. So, they can talk about their their process. So they do 20 a year and so there's I believe 100 hotels. So it's over a 5year time period. So they do 20 each year. So it may not be until year five that they're come back around and do that hotel a second time. If a hotel or uh if they want to build in let's say they want to uh build a a second, third, fourth, fifth hotel and it's from the same development group perhaps, let's call it that. but they consistently don't pay their tax um billing. Is that held against them whenever like um agreements, 3day agreements or incentives? Does that fall into play into in any shape or form? >> We don't typically provide incentives to hotels. I mean, the only ones I could think of and Karina's here, I say this wrong. I believe the only ones that we've done are in the downtown area. So, I don't believe that that would be an issue as far as any type of permitting issue. I don't know that that would be flagged if there's back taxes, but I mean, I think the the takeaway from this story, and I know it's been in the media quite a bit, so all the community meets that we've been doing it, I think this is a good thing. It's helping us identify hotels that are not in compliance with their uh payments of the hotel occupancy tax. We have processes in place. Uh we're required to follow certain uh procedures and so we work very closely with hotels. As I mentioned, 15 out of the 20 identified have paid for going through that second review. And then the one is currently in a repayment status >> for the last year. And I don't know if you can recall, is there anyone still pending that hasn't paid that you can think of? One >> for the round nine is the one that Robert just mentioned. They're still making payments, but they making progress on it. >> So making payments from the previous year, >> right? For the round nine audit that they did. >> Okay, I see. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you very much. Good information. >> Represent Nino. Thank you, mayor, and thank you, Liz, for all your hard work on this. I know that you all gave us a presentation during FOA, and now it's coming to council. I know that one of the questions that I had done during FOAC was we hire an outside legal firm to help us retrieve these funds and they have separate fees that they charge these hotels, so we still get 100% of the fees that is owed to the city. Correct. >> Yes. >> Yes. Okay. Um, no, this is great. I think that's great to know. um for the benefit of the public, you know, to understand that process. And also, I remember in the presentation, we talked something about some of these hotels had claimed tax exemptions due to certain uh individuals that were not getting charged the tax. And then through the audit, that's what was identified. Not all of them, but some of the audits identified that there was uh they weren't supposed to claim exemptions. So, that's why we're retrieving some of these funds. Correct. >> Yes. So, some of the common deficiencies are like under reporting gross revenue, overstating uh exe exemptions, um unreported fees, but it's mainly the invalid uh exemptions. >> Yeah. Noel, thank you so much for all your hard work and also Miss Margarita for all your hard work and working to ensuring that the city of El Paso does receive the funds that we should be getting. And again, thank you for all your hard work. >> Representative Brcha. Thank you, mayor, and thank you, Liz. I really appreciate it. Just a couple of questions for for the public. Uh, is there any place that we would be able to find out who owes what on, let's say, the website or anywhere else outside of the audit plan, >> like the balance due for each hotel? >> Yeah. Do you know if that exists? >> That I'm not aware of. No. >> Okay. And then um I just want for for clarification because I think there's a perception that the city doesn't collect but what can you walk us through the process of what happens when their occupancy tax isn't paid right you identify that the hotel isn't hasn't paid it. What's what's the process look like? >> There's Margarita. She's coming it. Thank you, Margarita. >> You're welcome. So, when we discover that they have a liability to the city, we send a letter. We get in communication with them and we work through a payment plan. If by the year term they haven't pay us, then we remit them to our outside legal council and they work with them. If they don't pay us, then they work to close the hotel. It has that hasn't happened yet, but um the outside legal firm is the one that get us the payment back to the city. >> Thank you, Margarita. >> Did that answer your question? >> Yes. So, I just want to make sure that that everyone knows that there is legal action that's taken at the end at the end of this, you know, with some considerations for the the company to be able to make payment and plans are available and then, you know, once all of that is exhausted, then it's moved to um to legal action. >> Yes, ma'am. And we also charge penalties and interest to them. And so we my office works on calling them and try to work with the hotels to make sure that we get these collections in place. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Yes ma'am. >> Represent Chavez. >> Thank you. >> Well, they switched on the year. >> Miss Marin, um during our FOAC meeting, I believe that it was discussed that there was one hotel that did end up closing because they didn't pay their hotel occupancy tax. Is that correct? I think there was one, right? >> There was one that we had the court judgment on. >> We gave the hotel one last opportunity. Unfortunately, they did come and pay that amount that Okay. >> evening, >> but we did have the court judgment from the outside attorneys that actually had the order to shut down the hotel. >> Okay. I I I wanted to to clarify that, I guess. >> That's right. It was not shut down. >> It was not shut down, but it Okay. But they did end up paying in the end. Okay. Thank you for the clarification. >> Repres. >> Thank you, mayor. And and overall, as we were kind of talking through this, you're you've been doing this for 9 years and you use a sample of about 20 every year and it it's a little complex, right? Where it's simple where you send this over to the controllers's office. The controllers's office says, "Okay, we're going to go collect." And then the comproller takes it from there. in terms of what happens then some people will pay and they're like sorry here here it is I I need to pay this off or some people ask for a payment plan or some dispute it and then it ends up in the city attorney's office right >> when they dispute I believe they go back to the internal audit to see if they can do the reit and that's the case with the four hotels that they're working on right now but um no they don't work with our city attorney's office that's when we send it to the outsourced legal firm that we that we contracted with. >> Okay. And then from I I think what's been really helpful for me has been getting the the report that Robert gave us in in May. And I know that at FOAC we kind of discussed how we could get that in a better way. So the whole council knows what's happening cuz for some reason, you know, the the media has been picking up on this in the last two months and it's it's been in the news a lot. And I think if everybody has more information um from a transparency standard, I think we'll know where we're at and and the information you provided Robert was really really great a great table. It's just like this is round two, this is round nine, the year, and this is the status on it. So, um, before we finalize this item, I did want to offer an amendment to just kind of help the public understand this a little bit more. So, I move to direct the city manager to provide qu quarterly status updates on a regular city council meeting agenda on delinquent hotel occupancy tax. And I and I envisioned this as being a consent item. PE the council could pull it if they want to look at it back. >> One of the board notation only type items on the general quarterly basis >> and that way the the public has access. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> All right. Any discussion on this amendment? >> All right. Call for the vote. Miss Ryan. >> Yes, mayor. The motion was made by representative Seedo, seconded by Mayor Prom Chavez, and this is to amend the action to direct the city manager to provide quarterly status updates on a regular city council meeting agenda on delinquent hotel occupancy tax. on that amendment. Call for the vote. Voting session is open. >> And the voting session and that amendment passes unanimously. >> Okay. Representative Ato, you good? Okay. Represent Ganales. >> Thank you, Mary. Yeah. Also, just for clarity, the hotels self-remit, correct? We're we're not sending them a bill. They they based on their gross receipts, they submit or they remit their their occupancy tax to us. >> Yes, sir. Miguel Bontil with the internal audit office. Uh yes, the hotels uh self submit they self-report their hot uh tax that they uh submit to the to the city. We have a contractor that actually uh does the billing and does the deposits to the city. So yeah, they do self submit. So what we do is we do a checkup on them. It's a true up. Make sure what they reported was correct. And that's where we discover these additional funds. And when they when they remit, do they also uh include their gross receipts? >> I believe so. I'm not too sure how they uh what information they provide to the city. I know they provide it to the office of the controller, but Right. >> Yeah, they do provide uh some information. >> Okay. But when we audit, we're comparing against their gross receipts to make sure that their >> uh their financial statements, everything they report as far as uh income collections. Yes. >> Okay. Yeah. Again, I don't totally understand how this has become the issue that it has. It's it's frankly not the city's fault when on the first go someone doesn't voluntarily pay, you know, pay what they're supposed to pay. It's the the act of the audit and catching them and now making sure that there's accountability that they pay what they owe. That that is the accountability process in action. And so >> um I appreciate that the you conducted the audit and um you know it's unfortunate that there were some uh hotels that weren't remitting their their tax properly and it's good that we now know that because of an excellent audit and and we understand uh and we're able to collect. So, thank you. >> And something to add, uh, sometimes hotels overpay their taxes and that, you know, we identify that as well through the audits and sometimes the city has to, uh, write a check to refund them their overpayment of taxes. So, that happens as well. >> Yeah, I would imagine just based on the quantity of transactions that they're maybe some of them are are doing their best to estimate without actually looking receipt by receipt through their uh through their sales. So, thank you. Yep. >> And good job because that's the function of internal audit to find things like that. So >> yes sir, >> good job. Miss Prime call for the vote. >> Mayor, we have public comment from Mr. Michael Clark on this item >> and Patricia Osman, but I believe she left. >> Good afternoon, Mr. Clark. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. Um, I just want to add to what I believe district 2 rep said. Transparency is the biggest thing with this. Um, I understand what Mr. Canales is saying that, hey, this might not be a big issue right now because I don't know how it blew up. But you got to understand everything's accountability. He's very systematic. So, I get it in a system. Yeah, they reported it. They got caught because now they're doing the actual internal investigation. I mean, the auditing process. So, this this is second part of it. But ultimately at the end of the day, everything we've done, everything you guys have spoken about today has been about transparency. So we cannot just um act as if that's not a big deal. That's a very big deal how out here in El Paso specifically, very big deal. And I'm pretty sure it's uh citywide, nationwide, but here specifically, I'm telling you, we we can't just frown upon everything being um I would say just just not a not an issue. It is an issue. It's a problem and if if that's the attitude we're going to have, you're going to continue to have constituents like myself coming up here expressing this. So, I just want to make sure I speak about that. Make sure that it is transparent. Everybody is understanding what's going on. 1.4 million missing. That's a lot of money. As well as only 20o hotels are complying to this internal investigation or whatever this audit process is. I don't understand why so many rounds. I'm kind of confused about that process as well. But um I mean the 1.4 million is nothing to sneeze at. So that's that's where I'm leaving at. But I appreciate time. Thank you. >> Repres Thank you, mayor. And I Liz, I wanted to give you some space to kind of explain why we're doing round nines. It's January 1st of every year to December 30. Like if you could just give that just for clarification for the public. >> So the rounds are by year. Um this is our ninth year doing this audit. Um every round is uh a round of 20 hotels. So that that's what the rounds mean. >> So round >> so round nine was what dates exactly? >> Okay. Round nine let me go back to the report. Round nine was January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2024 and it was 48 months. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay, Miss Ryan. Call for the vote. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by representative Nino, seconded by Representative Aedo, and this is to accept the results as amended on item 69. On that motion, call for the vote. >> Bless you. >> Did I make the motion? >> And the voting session >> and that motion passes unanimously. >> Okay, let's take item 70. Item 70 is discussion and action on the results of the parks and recreation department park usage permit audit A2025-01. >> Is there a motion on item 70? >> Is there was a mo who second? Okay. Any discussion hearing? None. Call for the vote. Sir, the motion was made by representative Nino, seconded by representative >> representative. Thank you. >> Representative Mayor Prom Chavez made the motion seconded by representative or this is to accept the results on item number 70. on that motion. We have Mr. Clark that signed up to speak. >> Good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. for this specific item. I don't know if I didn't look at the actual agenda packet, so I don't know if this is actually in reference to the lottery system. Can anybody let me know if that's that's this something totally different? Okay. All right. Let me go ahead and I'll I'll speak anyway. um on these on the park situation. I I believe they should be in a free market where opportunities are available to everyone equally. That is the only way to ensure fairness and competitive uh competition with this park. I would also add with this um I'm I'm I needed to see the packet, but I believe if this is what I think it is, someone needs to actually go in and verify that the audit is done correctly, as well as speaking with the actual district rep or whoever oversees the parks and recreation. Um I have a lot of issues with it, so I definitely hope someone reaches out to me. So, no, I appreciate the time to talk on this. >> You got it. Thank you. >> Call for the vote, Miss Bryant. Yes, sir. And the voting session is open. Council and the voting session and that motion passes unanimously. >> Let's take item 71. >> And the final item is 71. And this is discussion and action on a resolution that the city manager or designate be authorized to effectuate the listed budget transfer to number one transfer project savings to Mission Valley Regional Command Center locker bathrooms renovation to complete the project. Number two to transfer project savings to Westside Medians illumination and landscaping improvements project and number three to set up a budget from investment interest for trail head parking areas ridge. Is there mo mayor like to make a motion to approve item 71 please? >> Okay. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Representative Vero, did you second? Okay. >> Any any discussion? Yes. M represent? >> Yes, Mayor. I'm I'm really happy to see this. Um the Mission Valley Regional Command Center has been without um the renovations or the services needed for their locker and bathrooms for a very, very long time. So, I'm thankful that this is going to be done. Um, I guess it's as a result of some project savings um that it's moved to cover that thing, but they're going to be very happy when it's done. Thank you, Sash. >> Very good. Represent Basto. >> Thank you, mayor. I just um I'm obviously supportive of this, but when I was first looking at this item, it says all districts, and it's not all districts, and we could specify which districts it is. I think it'll be a little bit more clear cuz this looks like district 1, district 7. >> Usually how is it is it posted uh all districts for the for the BTS? Uh so this one will be >> Gilberg C for improvements is district 1 7 and 8. >> Okay. Just the the clarity on that makes it a little bit easier to understand what we're voting on. >> Thank you. Okay. Mayor, if I could just >> Isn't this coming from the 2019 public safety bond? And doesn't that include all districts? >> The money. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> The item uh number one is coming from the public safety bond. >> Okay. Representative Chavez. >> Thank you, Mayor. Uh I want to take a moment to thank Gilbert for being very proactive reaching out to me, giving me uh a whole briefing on this item. I appreciate it. and um for sticking it out till the very last item in today's very long meeting. Thanks for still being here. >> And I'd just like to recognize for a moment my daughter who came to join me after school. Thank you, Pabina, for joining us. >> Thank you to the staff. Thank you. >> All right, Miss Prime, just pausing and making sure there's no amendments to the amendments to the amendments. To the amendments. Oh, wait, wait. We're in the this side of the motion. >> Call for the vote, Miss Fry. >> Yes, sir. The motion was made by Representative Lemon, and I heard Representative Oette second that on item 71. On that motion, call for the vote and the voting session. And that motion passes unanimously. >> May I make a motion that we extremely long? >> Yep. There's a motion and a second. >> There's a motion and a second to adjourn the regular city council meeting. All in favor? >> Anyone opposed? to be represented today.