City Council

Dee Margo

Peter Svarzbein, District 1

Mayor

Alexsandra Annello, District 2

Cassandra Hernandez, District 3

Sam Morgan, District 4

Tommy Gonzalez

Isabel Salcido, District 5

City Manager

Claudia Ordaz Perez, District 6

Henry Rivera, District 7

Cissy Lizarraga, District 8

CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES

CITY HALL, 300 N. CAMPBELL

COUNCIL CHAMBERS

February 3, 2020

9:05 AM

The City Council met at the above place and date. Meeting was called to order at 9:25 a.m. Mayor Dee Margo present and presiding and the following Council Members answered roll call: Alexsandra Annello, Cassandra Hernandez, Sam Morgan, Isabel Salcido, Claudia Ordaz Perez, Henry Rivera, and Cissy Lizarraga. Late arrival: Peter Svarzbein at 9:31 a.m.

AGENDA

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Discussion and action with the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee to update council on the status of Homelessness, Employment and Marketing / Outreach for the El Paso Veteran and Military community.

Mr. Paul Albright, Military Affairs Liaison, Mr. Lance Lehr, Committee Chairman, and Mr. Bruce Biegel, Vice Chair, presented a PowerPoint Presentation (copy on file in the City Clerk’s Office).

The following members of the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee were introduced:

1. Ms. Andrea Hutchins

2. Ms. Hope Jackson

3. Mr. Reginald Daniel

4. Mr. Larry Dean Sanders

5. Mr. Todd Miller (member elect)

Points of discussion were website updates, length of Bridge Fellows Program, the number of veterans currently employed by the City (840 to date hoping to add 200 more), the use of technology to translate military occupational specialty codes, and extending an invitation to the City’s Annual Veterans Luncheon to Committee members.

Mayor Margo and Representatives Svarzbein, Annello, Morgan, and Lizarraga commented.

The following City staff members commented:

1. Mr. Tommy Gonzalez, City Manager

2. Mr. Cary Westin, Senior Deputy City Manager of Economic Development and Tourism

Motion made by Representative Annello, seconded by Representative Morgan and unanimously carried to ACCEPT the following recommendations:

1. We ask that Council staff to implement following Title 6, CH 657 used by the State to set a goal that 20% of the total number of qualified applicants who will be interviewed for a position will be Veterans that meet the minimum qualifications for the position. This rule will not apply if there are no qualified Veterans for the position.

2. We ask Council to staff on adding the terms “or related experience” and “…degree is preferred” to our city job descriptions.

3. We ask that Council implement the City having a goal of achieving a 15% veteran

workforce by 2025.

4. We ask Council to consider staffing on affiliating City jobs with military occupational

specialty codes.

5. We ask that Council staff and vote (if necessary) to include a new goal inside

the cities current Goal 6 (Set the Standard for Sound Governance and Fiscal

Management) that we integrate a new series 6 goal that specifies that the city

will hire 15% Veterans by 2025.

AYES: Representatives Svarzbein, Annello, Hernandez, Morgan, Salcido, Ordaz Perez, Rivera and Lizarraga

NAYS: None

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Discussion and action that the Mayor of the City of El Paso, Texas be authorized to sign Resolutions of Support, including waiver of permit fees in the amount of $500 each, for Nuestra Senora, located at 405 Montana Ave., El Paso, Texas 79902, and Cortez Plaza, located at 201 Cortez Dr., El Paso, Texas 79905, for 2020 9% Regional Competitive Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) applications.

Ms. Nicole Ferrini, Community and Human Development Director, presented a PowerPoint Presentation (copy on file in the City Clerk’s Office).

Representative Hernandez presented a PowerPoint Presentation (copy on file in the City Clerk’s Office).

Mayor Margo and Representatives Svarzbein, Annello, Hernandez, Morgan, Rivera, and Lizarraga commented.

The following City staff members commented:

1. Mr. Tommy Gonzalez, City Manager

2. Mr. Mark Weber, Interim Community Development Planning Manager

3. Ms. Lupe Martinez, Deputy City Attorney, provided Legal advice

4. Mr. Omar DeLaRosa, Assistant City Attorney

The following members of the public commented:

1. Mr. Bobby Bowling, Tropicana Homes, presented a PowerPoint presentation.

2. Mr. Richard Dayoub, Representative for Tropicana Homes and Investment Builders, Inc., presented a PowerPoint presentation.

3. Mr. Roy Lopez, Investment Builders, Inc.

4. Ms. Carmen Arrieta, El Paso Independent School District

5. Mr. Larry Reyes, El Paso Independent School District

6. Mr. Gerald Cichon, Housing Authority of El Paso, presented a PowerPoint presentation.

7. Mr. Ryan Wilson, Franklin Development

8. Ms. Sarah Anderson, Housing Authority of the City of El Paso

9. Mr. Tory Gunsolley, Houston Housing Authority

10. Mr. Bob Blumenfeld, Housing Authority of the City of El Paso

11. Mr. Barry Palmer

12. Ms. Beatrice Flores, Housing Authority of the City of El Paso

13. Mr. Aubre Franklin, Franklin Development

14. Mr. Art Provenghi, Housing Authority of the City of El Paso

15. Mr. Rafael Nickolas

16. Ms. Patricia Robinson

1^ST MOTION

Motion made by Representative Rivera, seconded by Representative Svarzbein and unanimously carried to SUSPEND the Rules of Order to allow the public additional time to speak.

AYES: Representatives Svarzbein, Annello, Hernandez, Morgan, Salcido, Ordaz Perez, Rivera and Lizarraga

NAYS: None

2^NDMOTION

Motion made by Representative Rivera, seconded by Representative Svarzbein and carried to DELETE the item.

AYES: Representatives Svarzbein, Morgan, Salcido, Ordaz Perez, and Rivera

NAYS: Representatives Annello, Hernandez, and Lizarraga

3^RD AND FINAL MOTION

Motion made by Representative Svarzbein, seconded by Representative Rivera and carried to DIRECT staff to return to Council with Resolutions of support for Nuestra Senora, located at 405 Montana Ave., El Paso, Texas 79902; Cortez Plaza, located at 201 Cortez Dr., El Paso, Texas 79905; Artcraft Palms, located south of Artcraft Road and East of the Rio Grande, El Paso, Texas 79932; and Sunset Vista Seniors, located at 1333 Pullman Dr., El Paso, TX 79936.

AYES: Mayor Margo and Representatives Svarzbein, Morgan, Salcido, and Rivera

NAYS: Representatives Annello, Hernandez, Ordaz Perez, and Lizarraga

Mayor Margo broke the tie by voting “Aye”.

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3. R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, on October 31, 2000, the El Paso City Council adopted the Park

Naming/Changing Guidelines ("Guidelines") to establish criteria and procedure for the naming and renaming of City Parks & Recreation Department facilities; and

WHEREAS, the Guidelines were last updated by City Council on September 17,2019; and

WHEREAS, the City Council desires to amend the Guidelines to allow waiver of any requirements under the policy following event of historical and/or community significance for the City of El Paso.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL PASO:

That the City of El Paso Park Naming/Changing Guidelines be amended in its entirety to read as provided in Exhibit "A" attached to this resolution.

Mr. Joel McKnight, Parks and Recreation Assistant Director, provided a briefing on the item.

Motion made by Mayor Pro Tempore Ordaz Perez, seconded by Representative Annello and unanimously carried to APPROVE the Resolution.

AYES: Representatives Annello, Hernandez, Morgan, Salcido, Ordaz Perez, Rivera and Lizarraga

NAYS: None

NOT PRESENT FOR THE VOTE: Representative Svarzbein

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4. R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, the Park Naming/Changing Guidelines ("Guidelines") authorizes the City Council to grant waivers of any requirement under the Guidelines following events of historical and/or cultural significance for the City of El Paso; and

WHEREAS, City Council finds that the death of U.S. Border Patrol K-9 Agent Bulder in the line of duty on December 2019, will remain an event as historical and/or community significance to the City of El Paso; and

WHEREAS, the City Council desires to authorize the naming of the dog splash park located at the Pavo Real Park after the U.S. Border Patrol K-9 Agent Bulder.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL PASO:

That the City Council considers the death of the U.S. Border Patrol K-9 Agent Bulder ("K- 9 Agent Bulder") in the line of duty an event of historical and community significance, and that the City Council of El Paso grants a waiver of the requirements of the Park Naming/Changing Guidelines and approves the naming of the dog splash park located at the Pavo Real Park after K- 9 Agent Bulder. As of February 4, 2020, the dog splash park located at the Pavo Real Park will be known as the K-9 Bulder Memorial Dog Splash Park.

Mayor Margo stated that Bulder was an agent of the U.S. Border Patrol.

Representative Ordaz Perez provided a briefing on the item.

Chief Tim Sullivan, U.S. Border Patrol Special Operations, thanked Council for the Resolution.

Motion made by Mayor Pro Tempore Ordaz Perez, seconded by Representative Rivera and unanimously carried to APPROVE the Resolution.

AYES: Representatives Annello, Hernandez, Morgan, Salcido, Ordaz Perez, Rivera and Lizarraga

NAYS: None

NOT PRESENT FOR THE VOTE: Representative Svarzbein

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EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion made by Representative Rivera, seconded by Representative Salcido, and unanimously carried that the City Council retire into EXECUTIVE SESSION at 2:03 p.m. pursuant to Section 3.5A of the El Paso City Charter and the Texas Government Code, Sections 551.071 - 551.089 to discuss the following:

Section 551.071 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY

Section 551.087 DELIBERATION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS

AYES: Representatives Svarzbein, Annello, Hernandez, Morgan, Salcido, Rivera, and Lizarraga

NAYS: None

NOT PRESENT FOR THE VOTE: Representative Ordaz Perez

Motion made by Representative Rivera, seconded by Representative Lizarraga, and unanimously carried to adjourn the Executive Session at 2:59 p.m. and RECONVENE the meeting of the City Council.

AYES: Representatives Annello, Hernandez, Salcido, Rivera, and Lizarraga

NAYS: None

NOT PRESENT FOR THE VOTE: Representatives Svarzbein, Morgan, and Ordaz Perez

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EX1.

Public Utility Commission of Texas Docket No. 49849, Joint Report and Application of El Paso Electric Company, Sun Jupiter Holdings LLC, and IIF US Holding 2 LP for Regulatory Approvals under PURA §§ 14.101, 39.262, and 39.915; Matter: 19-1008-126 (551.071) (551.087)

Mr. Jesus Reyes, citizen, commented