Municue

Case File 26-0538

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A Resolution authorizing the City Manager or designee to submit to the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA), a grant application for the City of El Paso's Police Department project identified as "Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority- Senate Bill 224 Catalytic Converter Grant FY27" to provide financial assistance to the City of El Paso. Requesting $693,334.00 of Grant Funding with a 20% Cash Match of $138,666.00. The grant period will be from September 1, 2026-August 31, 2027.

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The City of El Paso Police Department is applying for a Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority grant to address catalytic converter theft under Senate Bill 224. Catalytic converter thefts are a growing crime affecting residents' vehicle safety and property across the city.
6 eventsFirst seen Apr 28, 2026Last activity Apr 28, 2026File #: 26-0538
Topics
grant
public_safety
budget

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Attorney

Obtain certified minutes reconciling conflicting catalytic converter grant vote records

Why now: The record for the same motion appears once as "Fail" and once as "Carried: 5 to 3" on April 28, 2026, and separate tallies show failures at 4-5, 2-5, 2-6 and 3-5 with an amendment carried 8-0.

What to do: Order the certified April 28, 2026 minutes and the clerk's vote tallies for this item, because the published record labels the identical Canales/Limón motion to deny as both failed and as carried 5 to 3, and shows ten separate motions plus an amendment on one grant resolution. Ask the City Attorney's office which tally is the operative record before relying on the approval for any grant award or match contract.

Act before: After the certified minutes are produced

Source: City Council — Apr 28, 2026 →
Journalist

Ask why four denial motions preceded catalytic converter grant approval

Why now: Minutes note the item was taken with items 64 and 67 with comment from Purchasing Director Claudia Garcia, City Attorney Karla Nieman and Sr. Asst. City Attorney Eric Gutierrez, and Representative Canales requested an abstract of his statements be attached; Canales and Limón moved to deny at least four times before approval carried.

What to do: Request the abstract of Representative Canales's statements that he asked be attached to the April 28 minutes, plus the minutes for items 64 and 67 that were taken up together with this grant item. Four separate motions to deny the police grant application failed before a Chávez/Fierro motion approved it — the record shows the objection but never explains it, and the presence of the Purchasing Director and two attorneys at the microphone suggests a procurement dispute the resolution text does not mention.

Act before: After the requested records are produced

Source: City Council — Apr 28, 2026 →
Lobbyist

Press five council members holding catalytic converter grant majority

Why now: Mayor Johnson broke a 4-5 tie by voting nay to defeat a denial motion, and Chávez, Maldonado-Rocha, Niño and Fierro voted against every denial motion on April 28, 2026, on a request for $693,334 in grant funding with a 20% cash match of $138,666 for a period beginning September 1, 2026.

What to do: The durable majority protecting this police grant application is Chávez, Maldonado-Rocha, Niño, Fierro and Mayor Johnson, with Boyar Trejo joining on later votes and Limón shifting between abstention and opposition; direct any advocacy on the required local cash match to that bloc rather than to staff. The application window closes when the grant period opens on September 1, 2026, so the appropriation conversation is effectively over after that date.

Act before: September 1, 2026, when the grant period begins

Source: City Council — Apr 28, 2026 →

Timeline

Hearing
Pass

A motion was made by Representative Niño, seconded by Representative Boyar Trejo, to Amend the item. The motion carried by the following vote:

Hearing
Pass

A motion was made by Representative Chávez, seconded by Representative Fierro, to Approve the item. The motion carried by the following vote:

Hearing
Fail

A motion was made by Representative Canales, seconded by Representative Limón, to Denied the item. The motion failed by the following vote:

Vote
Carried: 5 to 3

A Resolution authorizing the City Manager or designee to submit to the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA), a grant application for the City of El Paso's Police Department project identified as "Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority- Senate Bill 224 Catalytic Converter Grant FY27" to provide financial assistance to the City of El Paso. Requesting $693,334.00 of Grant Funding with a 20% Cash Match of $138,666.00. The grant period will be from September 1, 2026-August 31, 2027.

Vote: 5 for, 3 against

approve resolutions for items 23 and 67 and direct City Manager to omit any reference to 'Flock' on grant applications, only reference LPR camera technology

11th and final motion. Also approves item 67 (file 26-0539). Motion made by Mayor Pro Tempore Chávez.

Hearing
Fail

A motion was made by Representative Canales, seconded by Representative Limón, to Denied the item. The motion failed by the following vote:

Hearing
Fail

A motion was made by Representative Canales, seconded by Representative Limón, to Denied the item. The motion failed by the following vote: