Case File 26-0776
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Discussion and action directing the City Manager and City Attorney to negotiate and draft a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) between the City of El Paso and Meta Platforms, Inc. The agreement shall address environmental protections, financial commitments, utility infrastructure improvements, rate payer protection, workforce development initiatives, support for the Advanced Training Center, and community accountability measures, including safeguards related to water and electric utility resources. The agreement should also include “El Paso First” hiring commitments on the additional 300 operational jobs associated with the data center located in Northeast El Paso. Further, direct the City Manager to continue the series of roundtable discussions, facilitated by an independent moderator, with suggested roundtable participants, including the Mayor, the City Attorney, representatives from El Paso Water, El Paso Electric, the El Paso Chamber, GEPAR, Meta Platforms, Inc., a resident representative, and an environmental advocate, to assist in the development of the final Community Benefits Agreement. Staff shall return to City Council within 45 days with a draft agreement for consideration and action. Water Capital Expenditures Fund, build or upgrade localized water recycling and advanced purification infrastructure, and/or repair old infrastructure. Establish a phased timeline to engineer pipeline design and infrastructure connecting to El Paso Water’s brackish groundwater lines or untreated desalination loops. This would guarantee Meta’s long-term water supply security for the data center cooling towers while physically leaving more potable water in the local aquifer for residents. - Futureland: Assist with funding sewer infrastructure for 214 homes located approximately one mile from the data center. Preserving Our Environment - Emissions Reduction Fund, develop and install solar generation and battery storage infrastructure to reduce carbon and localized pollutants. - Nature-Based Air Quality Solutions Fund localized, low-water native xeriscaping and urban forestry initiatives (utilizing native, particulate-filtering desert canopy like Honey Mesquite and Desert Willow) surrounding the campus. To mitigate localized temperature and improve neighborhood air quality. - Funding Local Grid Resilience (Solar + Battery Microgrids) Upgrade old electrical infrastructure or fund local community solar and battery storage microgrids for El Paso’s critical infrastructure (like hospitals or emergency shelters) to ensure that if the local grid faces strain, the community doesn't suffer brownouts. Ratepayer Protection Fund Meta would establish a localized escrow fund or direct subsidy program administered by the City to assist El Paso Electric ratepayers from any indirect monthly bill increases. Localized Workforce and Education Pipeline With the expanded job projection to 300 permanent roles, ensure these are focused on “Hire El Paso First Program”. (The current 380 Agreement requirement is for 50 employees) - Advance Training Center: A workforce development pipeline established in partnership with local school districts, Workforce Solutions and EPCC to create an advanced training center that prepares students and workers for high-demand careers, including fiber optic technicians, utility professionals, engineers, and server technicians.
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Track Meta's Northeast El Paso benefits agreement deadline
Context: Council's June 23 directive sets a 45-day deadline for the City Manager and City Attorney to return a draft CBA.
Recommended: Council directed the City Manager and City Attorney to negotiate a Community Benefits Agreement with Meta covering water/electric infrastructure, ratepayer protection, and workforce development, with a draft due back within 45 days. Request the draft CBA language before it comes back to Council for a vote, since terms on ratepayer protection and workforce commitments will be locked in during staff negotiations, not on the dais.
Bid on Railroad Drive and Sun Valley Street work
Context: The three SIB loans totaling $10.55 million passed June 23 after being postponed from the June 9, 2026 meeting.
Recommended: Council just approved $10.55 million in State Infrastructure Bank loans for Railroad Drive, Sun Valley Street, and Traffic Management Center construction that had been stalled since being postponed from the June 9 meeting. Watch for bid solicitations now that funding has cleared on all three.
Investigate Limón's lone dissent on Northeast El Paso data center
Context: Item 35-Amendment-III carried 7-1 against Limón, the only recorded dissent among five motions on the same item that day.
Recommended: Five sequential motions amended and approved the Meta data center item on June 23 — the first, second, and fourth passed unanimously or without recorded opposition, but the third amendment carried 7-1 with Representative Limón as the sole dissent. Pull the amendment text to find out what changed between the second and third motions that Limón couldn't support.
Lobby city staff during Northeast El Paso data center deal
Context: Council's June 23 directive tasked the City Manager and City Attorney, not Council, with negotiating the CBA and returning a draft within 45 days.
Recommended: The Community Benefits Agreement terms on water/electric infrastructure and ratepayer protection are being negotiated by the City Manager and City Attorney, not Council, over the next 45 days. Reach staff now, before the draft comes back to Council for an up-or-down vote with far less room to shape specifics.
Watch electric rates in Northeast El Paso Meta deal
Applies if: You live in or near Northeast El Paso
Context: Council's June 23 directive lists ratepayer protection as one of four required components of the CBA, with a draft due in 45 days.
Recommended: The agreement being negotiated for Meta's Northeast El Paso data center is supposed to include ratepayer protection, but that language doesn't exist yet — it's due back within 45 days. Check the draft when it returns to see whether your electric and water rates are actually shielded from data-center-driven cost increases.
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A motion was made by Representative Boyar Trejo, seconded by Representative Maldonado-Rocha, to Approved as Revised the item. The motion carried by the following vote:
Discussion and action directing the City Manager and City Attorney to negotiate and draft a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) between the City of El Paso and Meta Platforms, Inc. The agreement shall address environmental protections, financial commitments, utility infrastructure improvements, rate payer protection, workforce development initiatives, support for the Advanced Training Center, and community accountability measures, including safeguards related to water and electric utility resources. The agreement should also include “El Paso First” hiring commitments on the additional 300 operational jobs associated with the data center located in Northeast El Paso. Further, direct the City Manager to continue the series of roundtable discussions, facilitated by an independent moderator, with suggested roundtable participants, including the Mayor, the City Attorney, representatives from El Paso Water, El Paso Electric, the El Paso Chamber, GEPAR, Meta Platforms, Inc., a resident representative, and an environmental advocate, to assist in the development of the final Community Benefits Agreement. Staff shall return to City Council within 45 days with a draft agreement for consideration and action. Water Capital Expenditures Fund, build or upgrade localized water recycling and advanced purification infrastructure, and/or repair old infrastructure. Establish a phased timeline to engineer pipeline design and infrastructure connecting to El Paso Water’s brackish groundwater lines or untreated desalination loops. This would guarantee Meta’s long-term water supply security for the data center cooling towers while physically leaving more potable water in the local aquifer for residents. - Futureland: Assist with funding sewer infrastructure for 214 homes located approximately one mile from the data center. Preserving Our Environment - Emissions Reduction Fund, develop and install solar generation and battery storage infrastructure to reduce carbon and localized pollutants. - Nature-Based Air Quality Solutions Fund localized, low-water native xeriscaping and urban forestry initiatives (utilizing native, particulate-filtering desert canopy like Honey Mesquite and Desert Willow) surrounding the campus. To mitigate localized temperature and improve neighborhood air quality. - Funding Local Grid Resilience (Solar + Battery Microgrids) Upgrade old electrical infrastructure or fund local community solar and battery storage microgrids for El Paso’s critical infrastructure (like hospitals or emergency shelters) to ensure that if the local grid faces strain, the community doesn't suffer brownouts. Ratepayer Protection Fund Meta would establish a localized escrow fund or direct subsidy program administered by the City to assist El Paso Electric ratepayers from any indirect monthly bill increases. Localized Workforce and Education Pipeline With the expanded job projection to 300 permanent roles, ensure these are focused on “Hire El Paso First Program”. (The current 380 Agreement requirement is for 50 employees) - Advance Training Center: A workforce development pipeline established in partnership with local school districts, Workforce Solutions and EPCC to create an advanced training center that prepares students and workers for high-demand careers, including fiber optic technicians, utility professionals, engineers, and server technicians.
Vote: 8 for, 0 against
approve as amended: direct City Manager and City Attorney to coordinate drafting of Community Agreement with Meta Platforms, Inc. addressing environmental protections, utility infrastructure, ratepayer protection, workforce development, 'El Paso First' hiring, Community Investment Fund, eight community meetings, and legally enforceable terms; return within 45 days
Main motion as amended. Written statement from Carmel Heydarian entered into record (neutral position). Representative Acevedo read Meta letter into record. Item text continues beyond page 28.
A motion was made by Representative Acevedo, seconded by Representative Limón, to Amend the item. The motion carried by the following vote:
A motion was made by Representative Chávez, seconded by Representative Maldonado-Rocha, to Amend the item. The motion carried by the following vote: