City Council · 9:00 AM · Council Chambers, City Hall, 300 N. Campbell And Virtually
Analysis incorporates data from the official meeting minutes, including vote outcomes, attendance, and public testimony.
Matters
2 contested, 4 unanimous
All Zoning cases · Site-specific scope
Zoning Case File 26-0528
Opposition: Acevedo
Showing all 4 actions. Filter by: , , , .
Obtain signed landscape ordinance to confirm effective date, penalties
Why now: The item repeals Chapter 18.46 in its entirety with the penalty provided in Section 18.46.140, was carried on April 28, 2026 as part of a group vote on items 47-52 with a public hearing set for May 12, 2026, and the supplied record verifies no implementation date.
What to do: Request the signed ordinance and the April 28 agenda packet to determine whether the new chapter contains a savings, transition, or grandfathering clause and when Section 18.46.140 penalties begin applying to projects permitted under the repealed chapter. Without that document you cannot advise clients whether existing approved landscape plans remain compliant or become violations.
Act before: After the signed ordinance is produced
Compare pending site plans against rewritten El Paso landscape rules
Why now: City Council adopted the ordinance deleting Chapter 18.46 (Landscape) in its entirety and adopting a new chapter in its place on May 12, 2026 by a 7-1 vote, and the record shows no verified implementation date.
What to do: Obtain the adopted replacement text of Chapter 18.46 and check every project currently in plan review against it, since the old chapter was deleted in its entirety rather than amended section by section. Ask the development services counter in writing which projects fall under the old chapter and which must be redesigned, because no effective or transition date is verified in the record.
Act before: After the adopted chapter text and its effective date are published
Ask why postponement sponsors voted against their own landscape motion
Why now: Minutes record the postponement motion failing 1 to 7 with motion maker Fierro and seconder Limón both voting against their own motion, followed by adoption 7-1 with only Acevedo opposed, after an 8-0 group vote on April 28, 2026.
What to do: Pull the May 12 audio or verbatim minutes for item 29 and ask Representatives Fierro and Limón why they moved and seconded a postponement and then both voted against it, leaving the motion to fail 1-7 before the same ordinance passed minutes later. Also ask why Representative Acevedo cast the lone no vote on adoption after the item cleared 8-0 on April 28 in a bundled vote with items 47-52.
Act before: After the requested records are produced
Check whether new landscape rules and fines reach private yards
Why now: The May 12, 2026 ordinance deletes Chapter 18.46 (Landscape) in its entirety and replaces it, with the penalty provided in Section 18.46.140 (Violations-penalty), and it passed 7-1 after a public hearing noticed on April 28, 2026.
What to do: Get the replacement text of the landscape chapter and read the violations and penalty section to see whether it applies to existing single-family yards, irrigation, or turf, or only to new commercial and multifamily development. If your property is covered, non-conforming landscaping could carry a fine under the new penalty section rather than the old rules you planted under.
Act before: After the adopted chapter text is published
Vista del Sol Architectural Side Setback Reduction at 3305 Hiawatha Drive (26-0438)
Opposition: Chávez · Acevedo · Maldonado-Rocha
Showing all 2 actions. Filter by: , .
Verify protest-petition supermajority on Vista del Sol zoning case
Context: The item carried 5-3 on 2026-05-12 (Item 27), a margin above simple majority but below the 75% threshold Texas law imposes when a valid landowner protest is on record.
Recommended: Confirm whether a valid written protest under Texas Local Government Code §211.006 was on file before the May 12 vote — if so, adoption required a three-fourths supermajority, and the actual 5-3 result (62.5%) falls short, leaving the ordinance open to a challenge on procedural grounds.
Probe why Vista del Sol zoning vote split 5-3
Context: Item 17 passed 8-0 inside a block motion (items 15-19) on 2026-04-14, but the same case drew a contested 5-3 vote as standalone Item 27 on 2026-05-12, with Chávez, Acevedo, and Maldonado-Rocha voting no.
Recommended: Pull the staff memo or transcript covering the period between the April 14 vote, when this case rode through as part of a no-debate block motion covering items 15-19 and passed 8-0, and the May 12 final vote, when it was pulled out individually and split 5-3 — find out what changed to flip three votes.
Case File 26-0507
Showing all 3 actions. Filter by: , , .
Check notice rules for bundled El Paso land leases
Context: Meeting notes explicitly label items 47-52 as 'voted as group,' with the public hearing held separately on 2026-05-12 before 7-0 adoption.
Recommended: Six of the eight parcels (items 47-52) were voted as a single block rather than individually — if a client's lease terms differ enough from the group's to warrant separate public notice, that bundled vote is a procedural angle worth pulling the individual staff reports to test.
Pull ground lease terms for El Paso industrial site
Context: Council granted SL3 EP Industrial, L.P. eight ground lease resolutions, bundled as items 47-52, passing 8-0 on 2026-04-28 and finally adopted 7-0 on 2026-05-12.
Recommended: El Paso just put eight ground leases with SL3 EP Industrial, L.P. through as one package — request the actual lease documents (rent, term, renewal options) to use as your benchmark before pitching a similar city-land industrial deal.
Ask why one firm got eight El Paso land leases
Context: Items 47-52 passed as one 8-0 vote on 2026-04-28, then the item cleared final adoption 7-0 on 2026-05-12, per the notes on item 52.
Recommended: Eight separate ground lease resolutions for SL3 EP Industrial, L.P. were folded into a single bundled vote instead of eight individual votes — file a records request for the staff report or solicitation history to find out whether any other industrial developer was considered before the city committed eight parcels to one company.
EP Transmountain Residential Commercial Rezoning (26-0573)
Showing all 3 actions. Filter by: , , .
Verify conflict of interest filings for Transmountain zoning vote
Context: Six officials disclosed contributions from applicant Douglas Schwartz, including a named $500 contribution to Acevedo, on Item 22 right before City Council voted 8-0 on 2026-06-23 to adopt PZRZ25-00023.
Recommended: Pull the written disclosure affidavits that Mayor Johnson, Chávez, Acevedo, Niño, Fierro, and Canales were required to file after verbally disclosing campaign contributions from the applicant immediately before the vote. A missing or late filing is a procedural defect that could support a challenge to the ordinance's validity.
Compare Transmountain residential rezoning conditions across two readings
Context: PZRZ25-00023 first passed 05-12-2026, was postponed 06-09-2026, then adopted 8-0 on 06-23-2026 as one of four zoning items council pushed from May/June meetings into this second-reading batch.
Recommended: Request the staff report and final ordinance text for this case rather than relying on the original approval terms — check whether conditions were revised between the first vote and final adoption before you plan around them.
Investigate campaign contributions in Transmountain residential rezoning vote
Context: Mayor Johnson and Representatives Chávez, Acevedo ($500), Niño, Fierro, and Canales verbally disclosed campaign contributions from applicant Douglas Schwartz on Item 22, the same 8-0 vote that adopted PZRZ25-00023 on 2026-06-23.
Recommended: Confirm whether Douglas Schwartz, whose campaign contributions six council members disclosed moments before the vote, is a principal of EP Transmountain Residential LLC, and ask why disclosure alone was treated as sufficient. If the applicant and the contribution recipient's beneficiary are the same person, that's a story the record doesn't spell out.
Zoning Case File 26-0576
Showing all 2 actions. Filter by: , .
Confirm separate roll call on bundled El Paso zoning vote
Context: Minutes note 'Items 23 and 24 taken together' for the 2026-06-23 vote that finally carried this case after it had sat at second reading since 2026-05-12.
Recommended: The June 23 minutes record the final adoption as 'Items 23 and 24 taken together' in one 8-0 vote — pull the certified minutes to confirm each ordinance actually received its own roll call, since a bundled vote can be grounds to challenge the ordinance if a client is affected. Today, July 23, is exactly 30 days after the June 23 adoption date, so any standard 30-day post-adoption challenge window is closing now if it hasn't already.
Investigate why El Paso zoning case took three votes
Context: Timeline shows Second Reading on 2026-05-12, 'Unanimously carried' 8-0 as Item 32 on 2026-06-09, then 'Carried 8-0' as Item 24 on 2026-06-23 with the note 'Items 23 and 24 taken together.'
Recommended: This ordinance hit second reading on May 12 but wasn't finally adopted until June 23 — passing through an extra 'unanimously carried' vote on June 9 first, and then being bundled with a second item (Item 23) for the final 8-0 vote. Request the staff agenda memos for all three dates to find out what caused the repeated returns before this routine zoning file needed three separate council actions to close.
Analysis
Financial Highlights
Contracts & Procurement
Zoning
Development & Land Use
Public Safety
Transportation
Environment
Governance & Oversight
Community Impact
Personnel & Labor
Insights by Role
Contractor
HighHigh significance — major decision, large financial impact, or broad community effectThe five-year, $5,000,000 job order contract for demolition and remediation services (#33) went to three vendors rather than one, and the District 6 Sun City Lights on-call construction program is actively issuing task orders — both signal ongoing subcontracting and bid opportunities beyond this meeting's single award.
Developer
HighHigh significance — major decision, large financial impact, or broad community effectThe Transmountain Road rezoning (#18, file 26-0573) is now approved, clearing the way for the underlying commercial/industrial use, while four related cases near N. Mesa Street, Americas Avenue, and Vista del Sol Drive remain at second reading — meaning the same shift toward commercial/industrial designation is still pending in those corridors.
Journalist
HighHigh significance — major decision, large financial impact, or broad community effectThe most notable procedural story this meeting is the landscape code rewrite (#29, 26-0528): it carried 7-1, but a floor amendment then failed 1-7 with its own maker (Fierro) and seconder (Limón) voting against it — worth asking why they introduced a motion they then opposed.
Resident
HighHigh significance — major decision, large financial impact, or broad community effectSeveral land use actions this meeting touch residential-adjacent areas directly: five rezoning/FLUM cases (#18-22) convert residential or agricultural land to commercial or industrial use, and the Rescue Mission of El Paso Inc. rezoning (#28) and Ysleta-area industrial/railyard conversion (#20) both change what can be built near existing neighborhoods.
Lobbyist
MediumMedium significance — notable action worth trackingFour zoning/FLUM cases (#19, #20, #21, #22) and two code ordinances (#23, #24) are still at second reading, meaning the window to influence the final vote is still open before the next hearing.
Charts & Data
54 items(29 procedural hidden)
(e.g., Approved, Denied, Held)
(e.g., Hearing Closed, Corrected, Referred)
AI-generated summaries. Click to expand for original text.
Teleconference phone number: 1-915-213-4096 Toll free number: 1-833-664-9267 Conference ID: 610-006-92#
Notice is hereby given that a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of El Paso will be conducted on May 12, 2026, at 9:00 A.M. Members of the public may view the meeting via the following me
Attention: The Council will take a lunch break at approximately 12:30 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. unless otherwise decided by the Council.
In compliance with the requirement that the City provide two-way communication for members of the public, members of the public may communicate with Council during public comment, and regarding agenda
At the prompt, please enter Conference ID: 610-006-92# The public may sign up to speak on items on this agenda before the 9:00 AM deadline on the meeting day at the following links: For Call to the Pu
Vista Hills Elementary School at the Invitation of City Representative Lily Limón Alexandra Mendoza
Freeway Lady Keglers International Friendship Bowling Tournament 20th Anniversary of the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation 50th Anniversary - Eastwood's 1976 State Champions Day Police Week (2
Call to the Public will begin at 10:00 a.m. Requests to speak must be received by 9:00 a.m. on the date of the meeting. Sixty minutes in total will be devoted for Call to the Public. This time is rese
#3A resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an Interlocal Agreement with the 34th Judicial District Attorney and El Paso County for reimbursement of up to $150,000 in narcotics testing costs related to the Border Prosecution Unit/Texas Anti-Gang Center, covering September 2025 through August 2027.
#4Authorizes the Mayor to sign an Interlocal Agreement with El Paso County to jointly apply for a 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) totaling $189,848, split evenly between the County and City with no match required.
#5A resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign an Interlocal Agreement among the City, El Paso Police Department, and the 34th Judicial District Attorney for the disposition of forfeited property under Chapter 59 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
#6Resolution amending Schedule C of the FY 2026 Budget Resolution, effective May 12, 2026, to add the 'AVI RFID - Replacement Fee' and remove the 'Tolls Charge, Empty Tractor, without Trailer, 2 or 3 axles - Pre-paid Fee' for the International Bridges Department.
#7Resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign a Landscape Maintenance Agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation, under which the City will maintain landscape improvements TxDOT installs along US 54 between Kenworthy Street and FM 2529 (McCombs Street).
#8Resolution authorizing the City Manager to sign a professional services agreement with Consor North America, Inc. for architect and engineering services on the Sun Valley Street Improvements Project, not to exceed $510,711.24.
#9A resolution amending the adopted FY2026 Schedule C fee schedule to add fees for auditing third-party plan review and inspections on commercial projects.
#10Board appointment of Robert Storch to the Capital Improvements Advisory Committee, nominated by Representative Chris Canales of District 8.
#11Board appointment of Angelica Rodriguez to the City Accessibility Advisory Committee, nominated by Representative Ivan Niño of District 5.
#12Approval of a $9.01 tax refund to Leticia V. Parada for an overpayment made on 2021 property taxes, required because the refund exceeds the state's three-year limit.
#13Notation of campaign contributions received by Arturo R. Alluin, a candidate for District 8, from six individual donors as required under City Code Section 2.92.080.
#14Award of Task Order #19V-1 under a Job Order Contracting and Facilities Construction Contract to Veliz Construction, LLC for the Asia Forest Skylight Roof Replacement project.
#15Request to authorize a change order increasing the Grounds Maintenance - City Facilities contract with Delta Pest Control & Lawn Service dba Delta Unlimited LLC by $29,500, bringing the total not-to-exceed amount to $841,375.00.
#16Award of a five-year scrap tire disposal services contract (Solicitation 2026-0052) to Tres Pesetas LLC, with an initial three-year term and a two-year option, totaling an estimated $576,875.00.
#17The City is awarding Solicitation 2026-0129 for washing heavy-duty vehicles to ChemGiant, LLC., with an initial three-year term and a two-year option, for a total estimated contract value of $271,625.00 for the Streets and Maintenance department.
INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.9 OF THE EL PASO CITY CHARTER: Public comment typically is not taken during the first reading of ordinances. Public comments are invited at the date of
#18An ordinance to rezone a portion of land east of Desert North Boulevard and north of Transmountain Road from R-5/c (Residential/conditions) to C-3/c (Commercial/conditions), with conditions attached.
#19Ordinance rezoning Lots 1 through 10, Block 28, Alexander Addition at 1401 N. Mesa Street from A-3 (Apartment) to C-1 (Commercial) with conditions, at the request of applicant Dirty Freddy, LLC.
#20An ordinance to amend the Future Land Use Map in Plan El Paso for several tracts in the Ysleta Grant area, changing the designation from Agriculture to Industrial and/or Railyards, as requested by the applicant Ben L. Ivey, LTD.
#21Ordinance to rezone several tracts in the Ysleta Grant from A-O/sc (Apartment/Office) to C-4/sc (Commercial) near Americas Ave. and North Loop Dr., requested by Ben L. Ivey, LTD.
#22An ordinance rezoning Tract 17-C-119 near Vista del Sol Dr. and Joe Battle Blvd. from R-3 (Residential) to C-1 (Commercial) with an imposed condition, applied for by Hammeum, LLC.
#23Ordinance amending El Paso City Code Chapter 9.52 (Fire Prevention Code) to add local amendments to the 2021 International Fire Code regarding technical assistance and inspections.
#24Ordinance amending El Paso City Code Title 18 building and construction administrative code to add provisions allowing third party fire plan review and inspection services.
#25An ordinance authorizing the City of El Paso to convey real property (Lot 26, Block 3, Keystone Business Park) to EP Ariah Properties, LLC for a purchase price of $799,129.00.
#26Ordinance authorizing the City of El Paso to convey a parcel of real property in Keystone Business Park to EP Ariah Properties, LLC for $352,531.00.
#27Ordinance granting Special Permit No. PZST25-00013 to allow a side setback reduction for a property at 3305 Hiawatha Dr. requested by Vista del Sol Architectural.
#28Ordinance rezoning property at 210 Lee Street from M-1 (Light Manufacturing) to C-4 (Commercial) at the request of Rescue Mission of El Paso Inc.
#29An ordinance repealing and replacing Chapter 18.46 (Landscape) of Title 18 (Building and Construction) of the El Paso City Code, including updated violation penalties.
#30Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to execute a quitclaim (tax resale) deed conveying a 1.0 acre parcel in the Lower Valley Surveys to Miguel Gallo under Tax Code Section 34.05(h).
#31A resolution authorizing up to $22,400 in District 1 discretionary funds to install solar lights improving visibility at Parkhills Park and Cimarron Park #2, with the City Manager authorized to redirect any remaining funds to other District 1 park projects.
#32Directs the City Manager and City Attorney to present a comprehensive overview of DWI data within 45 days, develop a citywide Anti-DWI Strategy within 90 days, and amend the 90th Session State Legislative Agenda to include anti-DWI advocacy priorities.
#33Award of a job order contract solicitation for demolition and remediation services to three vendors (Border Demolition & Environmental, Tasman Geosciences dba Tasmin, and Alamo Environmental dba Alamo1) for a five-year term with an estimated aggregate value of $5,000,000.
#34Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a five-year lease (with two one-year renewal options) with Carl L. Robinson HEAT Retreat for property at 5509 Will Ruth Ave., at $12,000 per year, totaling $84,000.
#35Awards Task Order #4A-1 under Solicitation 2025-0087 (On-Call Horizontal Construction 2025) to Amstar Inc. for $867,010.80 to begin construction services at Marty Robbins Park under the District 6 Sun City Lights Program.
#36Discussion and action on the re-appointment of Judge Elia Garcia to a substitute associate judicial vacancy, serving as substitute for elected Municipal Court trial judges across various hearings.
#37Discussion and action on the re-appointment of Judge Leonel Nunez as substitute associate judicial officer to fill in for elected Municipal Court trial judges at various hearings.
#38Discussion and action on the re-appointment of Judge Manuel Parra as substitute associate judicial officer to fill in for elected Municipal Court trial judges at various hearings.
The City Council of the City of El Paso may retire into EXECUTIVE SESSION pursuant to Section 3.5A of the El Paso City Charter and the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, Subchapter D, to discuss any
Section 551.071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY Section 551.072 DELIBERATION REGARDING REAL PROPERTY Section 551.073 DELIBERATION REGARDING PROSPECTIVE GIFTS Section 551.074 PERSONNEL MATTERS Section 551.0
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Rollcall
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#29This ordinance repeals and replaces Chapter 18.46 (Landscape) of the El Paso City Code, establishing new landscape regulations and associated violation penalties.
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