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

MAIN CONFERENCE ROOM, 2^ND FLOOR

February 25, 2019

9:05 AM

The City Council met at the above place and date.  Meeting called to order at 9:41 a.m.  Mayor Margo present and presiding and the following Council Members answered roll call: Peter Svarzbein, Sam Morgan, Isabel Salcido, Claudia Ordaz Perez, Henry Rivera, and Cissy Lizarraga. Alexsandra Annello and Cassandra Hernandez requested to be excused.

AGENDA

1.

TxDOT update on the I-10 Connect Project.

Mr. Robert Bielek, TxDOT District Engineer, presented a PowerPoint presentation (copy on file in the City Clerk’s office) containing an overview of the project, project team, timeline and cost, reason for the project, aesthetic enhancements, major traffic impacts due to closures and a phase-by-phase explanation of the project.

Mayor Margo asked about the closure hours for Phases 3, 4, and 5; Mr. Bielek explained it will require various timeframes and added that the contractor works well with TxDOT regarding closures and keeping three lanes open for the most part.

Representative Rivera asked about the number of murals that would be removed from the Lincoln Center; Mr. Bielek replied that five out of 10 columns with murals would be protected.  He said these would include the Virgen de Guadalupe murals, which would serve as a memorial to the El Calvario Catholic Church.

Ms. Jennifer Wright, TxDOT Public Affairs Officer, introduced the project members and went over the outreach component of the presentation.

Mr. Enrique Roldan, Consor Construction Manager, went over a video drive-through of the areas included in the project; Mr. Rafael Cruz Rodarte, Project Manager with Consor, consultant,  explained the red features on the model of the video presentation.

Representative Svarzbein asked questions on how long the project would take and about coordination among the Border west Expressway, Go-10 and Mesa Park projects.

Mr. Roldan’s response was “three years”. Ms. Wright added that the final configuration on the GO-10 project would be finished by April and the Border west project, would be completed by Fall 2019.

Mr. Bielek added that the Border west project would be finished by the end of July and that the Mesa Park project should be ready by late summer/early fall as a result of good planning by the contractors. He said the overnight closures would be completed by the end of March and explained that overnight closures of Mesa Park are needed for the installation of beams.

After a second video drive-through presentation, Mayor Margo asked what the process was to sign up for text messages related to the I-10 Connect Project.

Ms. Wright explained that the public could visit TxDOT’s website to sign up and explained there are other ways to stay up to date such as Twitter, Facebook, the hotline and email.

Mayor Margo suggested including updates on newsletters and asked if the El Paso Independent School District or schools near projects had been involved or contacted. Ms. Wright replied “yes” and added that they have attended meetings.

Representative Ordaz Perez asked if a presentation had been presented during a District 8 community meeting; Representative Lizarraga confirmed stated it would be good to have TxDOT return since it has been a while.

Representative Ordaz Perez requested that information on the Montwood/Zaragoza project be sent to Districts 5, 6, and 7. Mr. Bielek agreed and mentioned that the information would also be included in the “Weekly Blast” sent out by Mr. Wright.

Representative Salcido asked about the duration of the outreach and the start date. Mr. Bielek responded that outreach began in 2015 and is ongoing.

Representative Rivera asked for the status and completion date for the Montwood/Zaragoza Project. Mr. Bielek responded that it would be completed in 20 months and explained that all demolition had been completed and the construction of the retention areas would begin soon.

Representative Svarzbein mentioned that he had just tried to sign up for text messages but it illustrated “coming soon”.  TxDOT personnel commented it would take about six weeks to launch.

Representative Svarzbein asked for further explanation on the murals scheduled to be removed and asked if there had been any dialogue with the Lincoln Park Conservation Committee.

Mr. Bielek explained they tried keeping the murals however, it would have displaced people; he added that they have been working with the Lincoln Center since 2015 on the amphitheater and murals.  He said a professional photographer was contacted to take high-resolution digital pictures and the photos would always be available.

Representative Svarzbein asked if the people from the Lincoln Park Conservation Committee had been involved in the process; Mr. Bielek said “yes” and added that some members were involved and present in almost all of the meetings.

Representative Svarzbein then asked about smart technology for the use of traffic control.

A consultant from Sundt Construction explained that a system called Smart Zone would be utilized for traffic monitoring.

Mr. Bielek added they are currently looking at different systems that will serve all types of vehicles to include such as buses and trucks.

Representative Rivera asked about the amount of traffic that would be routed to surrounding streets and if any assistance would be provided for any maintenance needs.

Mr. Bielek replied that official detours would try to keep traffic on State roadways and out of City streets.

NO ACTION was taken on this item.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Motion made by Representative Rivera, seconded by Representative Lizarraga, and unanimously carried that the City Council retire into EXECUTIVE SESSION at 10:34 a.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 executive session items posted on the agenda:

ABSENT: Representatives Annello and Hernandez

Motion made by Mayor Pro Tempore Ordaz Perez, seconded by Representative Morgan and unanimously carried to adjourn the Executive Session at 10:58 a.m. and RECONVENE the meeting of the City Council, during which time motions were made.

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

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Representatives Annello and Hernandez

EX1.

Claim of Oscar Acosta; Matter No. 15-1004-660.

Motion made by Mayor Pro Tempore Ordaz Perez, seconded by Representative Rivera, and unanimously carried that the City Attorney’s Office be authorized to DENY the claim of Mr. Oscar Acosta, Matter No. 15-1004-660, in its entirety.

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

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Representatives Annello and Hernandez

EX2.

Superlodge Motel (551.071)

NO ACTION was taken on this item.

EX3.

Economic Incentives for a Customer Service Company located in the City of El Paso (19-1007-2373) (551.087) (551.071)

Motion made by Mayor Pro Tempore Ordaz Perez, seconded by Representative Morgan, and unanimously carried to DELETE this item.

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

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Representatives Annello and Hernandez

EX4.

Property Acquisition for Regional Water Park, Matter no. 18-1004-916 (551.071) ( 551.072)

NO ACTION was taken on this item.

EX5.

In Re: Max Grossman, Relator; Third Court of Appeals; Case #03-19-00001-CV; Matter No. 19-1001-233 (551.071)

NO ACTION was taken on this item.

EX6.

Max Grossman v. Mark Wolfe, Executive Director, Texas Historical Commission; Third Court of Appeals; Case #03-19-00002-CV; Matter No. 19-1001-237 (551.071)

NO ACTION was taken on this item.

EX7.

Max Grossman v. City Clerk Laura D. Prine and Mayor Dee Margo, City Representative Peter Svarzbein, City Representative Michiel R. Noe, City Representative Sam Morgan, City Representative Cassandra Hernandez-Brown, City Representative Henry Rivera, City Representative Claudia Ordaz Perez, and City Representative Cissy Lizarraga; 171st District Court No. 2018DCV2172; Matter No. 18-1019-204 (551.071)

NO ACTION was taken on this item.

EX8.

Ex Parte: City of El Paso; Third Court of Appeals; Travis County, TX #03-17-00566-CV; Matter No. 17-1001-171.002 (551.071)

NO ACTION was taken on this item.

EX9.

Max Grossman v. City of El Paso; 384th District Court; #2017DCV2528; Matter No. 17-1001-171.001 (551.071)

NO ACTION was taken on this item.

ADJOURN

Motion made by Representative Svarzbein, seconded by Representative Morgan and unanimously carried to ADJOURN this meeting at 10:59 a.m.

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

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Representatives Annello and Hernandez

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 APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:

 ____________________________

 Laura D. Prine, City Clerk