			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
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES CITY HALL, 300 N. CAMPBELL
MAIN CONFERENCE ROOM, 2^ND FLOOR
April 23, 2019
9:00 AM
	The City Council met at the above place and date. Meeting was called to order at 9:04 a.m. Mayor Dee Margo present and presiding and the following Council Members answered roll call: Alexsandra Annello, Cassandra Hernandez, Sam Morgan, Isabel Salcido, Henry Rivera and Cissy Lizarraga. Late arrival; Representative Svarzbein at 9:06 a.m. Representative Claudia Ordaz Perez requested to be excused.
	AGENDA
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	1.	Discussion and action regarding distribution of information about the ballot measure for the Northwest property included within Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 12. Ms. Karla Nieman, City Attorney, clarified that this is a Special Council meeting, not an Emergency meeting. Mr. Cary Westin, Economic Development and Tourism Deputy City Manager, clarified certain information including that the discussion being held was to get factual information, which has been vetted through the City Attorney, to the voters. He explained the bond covenant and clarified the City is not currently holding discussions with any developer. Representative Svarzbein asked for more information regarding the regulating plan; Mr. Westin explained the plan does not mean there has to be a residential development in the area. Ms. Elizabeth Triggs, Economic and International Development Deputy Director, explained that the regulating plan was the result of a zoning action, which can be changed through Council action, she said that was the purpose of the two year moratorium approved by Council. Representative Svarzbein asked what kind of actions the city and the Public Service Board have taken in regards to the regulating plan; Ms. Triggs replied that a consultant has been brought on board to do community outreach and take care of the actual plan. Representative Svarzbein asked how much was paid for that service; Ms. Triggs’ response was approximately $200,000.00. Representative Svarzbein asked how many charrettes had been held and how many people were in attendance; Ms. Triggs replied three meetings were held but was not sure about number of people in attendance, she also reiterated that Council could decide to change the zoning. Ms. Laura Cruz-Acosta, Director of Strategic Communications, presented a PowerPoint presentation (copy on file in the City Clerk’s Office). Representative Lizarraga asked if the proposed $25,000 to be spent on advertising expenses mentioned during the presentation would include all distribution options; Ms. Cruz-Acosta replied it would be a combination of the options based on Council’s direction. Representative Lizarraga expressed her confusion as to why the City is so late disseminating this information since early voting already started. Ms. Cruz-Acosta asked Council if and what information to put out there. Representative Rivera mentioned the public’s concern regarding transparency and asked if the City had taken the same measure with the firefighter’s referendum. Ms. Cruz-Acosta replied that she had not been involved in that process. Representative Annello asked how soon the information would go out; Ms. Cruz-Acosta replied this afternoon for social media related content. Representative Annello expressed her concern of funds being wasted since early voting has already begun. Representative Svarzbein questioned the language referencing 1,750 acres being preserved; Ms. Triggs replied this information has been previously provided and added that the area has been preserved since 1989. Ms. Nieman informed Council that information related to preservation can be added to the information if Council so chooses. Representative Svarzbein expressed concern that providing this information this late could be construed as electioneering. Mayor Margo interjected and mentioned that the City is just clarifying and stating facts. Representative Annello was concerned that there is much more information that has been presented and she did not want to teeter on the line by only providing a few bullet points. Representative Svarzbein expressed his issue with timing of this since a lot of people have already voted. Mayor Margo added that the City is just talking about a balanced response. Representative Hernandez thanked the audience for attending the meeting then added she would not be opposed to free advertising options but added she has concerns about the draft language and mentioned her concern with the proposed language and would like to have the language reworded. Representative Annello seconded the concerns with the proposed language. The following members of the public commented: Dr. Rick Bonart Ms. Sylvia Richards Mr. Don Baumgardt Mr. John Hogan Ms. Isabel Carrillo Mr. Fainot Pierre Mr. Scott White Dr. Sharon Miles-Bonart Mr. Stephen Tures Mr. Scott White Mr. Robert C. Baeza Ms. Meghan Curry 1st MOTION Motion made by Alternate Mayor Pro Tempore Morgan, seconded by Representative Rivera, and carried that the City Council retire into EXECUTIVE SESSION at 9:42 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 item. AYES: Representatives Hernandez, Morgan, Salcido, Rivera, and Lizarraga NAYS: Representatives Svarzbein and Annello ABSENT: Representative Ordaz Perez 2^nd MOTION Motion made by Representative Annello, seconded by Representative Rivera, and unanimously carried to adjourn the Executive Session at 10:34 a.m. and RECONVENE the meeting of the City Council during which time motions were made. AYES: Representatives Svarzbein, Annello, Hernandez, Morgan, Salcido, Rivera, and Lizarraga NAYS: None ABSENT: Representative Ordaz Perez 3^rd MOTION Motion made by Representative Hernandez, seconded by Representative Svarzbein, and unanimously carried to SUSPEND THE RULES OF ORDER to allow for additional public comment. 4th MOTION Motion made by Representative Hernandez, seconded by Representative Morgan, and carried that the City distribute information regarding the ballot measure for the Northwest property included within Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone No. 12 through social media, interviews with the media and community presentations without the expenditure of funds and to change the headings on the draft language to read “Voting Against” and “Voting For”. AYES: Representatives Hernandez, Morgan, Salcido, Rivera, and Lizarraga NAYS: Representatives Svarzbein and Annello ABSENT: Representative Ordaz Perez 5^th MOTION Motion made by Representative Annello, seconded by Representative Rivera and carried to revise the third bullet of the draft language by removing the words “including the Lost Dog Trail”. AYES: Representatives Svarzbein, Annello, Hernandez, Morgan, and Rivera NAYS: Representatives Salcido and Lizarraga ABSENT: Representative Ordaz Perez 6^th MOTION Motion made by Representative Annello, seconded by Representative Rivera and carried to revise the third bullet of the draft language to read “Offers an opportunity to develop 750 acres of land as per the Northwest Regulating Plan and enhance existing trails”. AYES: Representatives Svarzbein, Annello, Hernandez, Morgan, Salcido, Rivera, and Lizarraga NAYS: None ABSENT: Representative Ordaz Perez 7^th and FINAL MOTION Motion made by Representative Svarzbein, seconded by Representative Annello to revise the first bullet of the draft language by removing “in addition to more than 1,500 acres already preserved”. AYES: Representatives Svarzbein and Annello NAYS: Representatives Salcido, Hernandez, Lizarraga, Rivera, and Morgan ABSENT: Representative Ordaz Perez THE MOTION FAILED
	ADJOURN Motion made by Representative Annello, seconded by Representative Rivera, and unanimously carried to ADJOURN this meeting at 11:00 a.m. AYES: Representatives Svarzbein, Annello, Hernandez, Morgan, Salcido, Rivera and Lizarraga NAYS: None ABSENT: Representative Ordaz Perez ........................................................................................................................................ APPROVED AS TO CONTENT: ____________________________ Laura D. Prine, City Clerk