[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,74,86,98],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6182133,"mediaKeyId","5109585-e5fe2101fdaab3ac81c8d2e0ea4b0abb","parentId",5109585,"title","Votes at a glance: key actions from El Paso County Commissioners Court on June 30, 2025","audioSeconds",10892,"startMs",1674000,"endMs",12566000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5109585-e5fe2101fdaab3ac81c8d2e0ea4b0abb&start=1674&end=12566","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5109585-e5fe2101fdaab3ac81c8d2e0ea4b0abb/thumbnail_1674000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6182133/El-Paso-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-key-actions-from-El-Paso-County-Commissioners-Court-on-June-30-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182133-3306996d4ba943c9569e2b8813e105f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770208883&Signature=SuWOPPDZMYfgdSobtt-eOjs3CozqUY-L6AIM3DX3DPbpuYFEB8KN-mi~GAYcP77aDmzz~587-M1gdt2TqGNR6x3w2VC6VVROBrJpJ9ZJQmYSqaz9OTGCRwDcD6w7bj0g3vK4wDtrTXhQWWjl3XLe-Nvo0HGc5Mwr9DhyDB2u2Lta9cfiMWh95kTw3woT0ffyveHaqgiqxLnYk8Ysz-t3z3HEqemriS5QfL616BbcZYz9nDcANLYLVFePV3vMes7z-2mGjXoSEXtFIMyrGJ-CiCnHzbpCjgz0iMLYESNomEfJPP~XE3YVYQ0fk75N1X1YyyumP7CNXfQQbQ5tAy-b1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","El Paso County, TX","date","2025-06-30T23:42:11Z","article","The following is a concise record of formal votes and motions taken by the El Paso County Commissioners Court on June 30, 2025. Where the transcript did not record individual roll‑call votes, tallies are listed as recorded on the meeting record.

- Consent agenda (items 4a–4p): Approved (motion carried). The court approved the consent agenda after one item (P) was pulled for discussion and later taken up separately.

- Resolution — Viva El Paso Month (item 5a): Approved (motion by County Judge Samaniego; second by Commissioner Stout; motion carried). The court adopted a resolution declaring July 2025 as Viva El Paso Month.

- Downtown Deck Park Plaza (item 8b): Approved, 3–2 (motion by Commissioner Coronado; second by Commissioner Stout). The court authorized staff to negotiate a participation agreement for the design phase and to reallocate $1,000,000 from CO 2023 series B contingency to a Deck Park design line item.

- TxDOT Operation Slow Down subaward (Constable Precinct 4) (item 9a / grant award): Approved. The court authorized acceptance of a TxDOT Operation Slow Down grant (contract 20250493) to fund overtime for traffic enforcement ($6,999.76) with a required match covered by salary hours.

- TPWD Recreation Grant extension (San Felipe off‑highway vehicle trails project) (consent item 4P): Approved. The court authorized a one‑year extension through June 30, 2026 for the Texas Parks and Wildlife recreation grant subaward (contract 20250514).

- Reallocation for pool chemicals (item 11a): Approved. The court authorized transfer of $70,000 from a contracted services line to operations to purchase chemicals for county pools (Esgarate, Fabens, Canfield).

- HAVA election security subgrant (item 12a): Approved. The court authorized submission and acceptance of the 2025 HAVA election security subgrant (contract 20250519) in the amount of $52,000 with a required local match of $10,400.

Notes: several items carried extended public discussion but were resolved by motions recorded on the meeting minutes. The Deck Park design commitment includes a requirement that staff return with negotiated agreement terms for court approval prior to any additional county construction funding.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","June 30, 2025 El Paso County Commissioners Court Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal motions and outcomes from the June 30 El Paso County Commissioners Court meeting.","taxTitle","El Paso County, Texas","taxId",2703,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":75,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":76,"_40":77,"_42":78,"_44":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6182138,"County honors employees: EPIC Shining Stars named; local public defender recognized with statewide award",625,3808000,4433000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5109585-e5fe2101fdaab3ac81c8d2e0ea4b0abb&start=3808&end=4433","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5109585-e5fe2101fdaab3ac81c8d2e0ea4b0abb/thumbnail_3808000.jpg","/articles/6182138/El-Paso-County/Texas/County-honors-employees-EPIC-Shining-Stars-named-local-public-defender-recognized-with-statewide-award","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182138-aeffa9e0b905e53e3659aa2162a41525/orig.mp4?Expires=1770208883&Signature=aD1o4KQ5PErZ1NYVRHqziEUn7Wxb3uhq3CkSKO8LzEcBRmCsMi5u3131YToiZQJAajPIX8BGeXYurc08i~YhSNJiLK5jeWlpi1XbAzC159E3NAxdDk6Bb-jcMUQV9K3QEhoBIY2jnuNNuuMdAsqV7EVSXGSk64~rCU9Ag5Kvv3KZTle43YjMC3eB7khd4Ekip9wrcV0LMjyj-LF-cokUSfaqNMzr-WkNMuLX3-d5nyL0vU6JHUsb34hPGt7uAy9bir8a32QBSCb~cad7a-CubHP6YtkeowjRdLlH62fze~-9fN6z9DgklDg0T9nTT~0Ao~bcLWbmUjd468xxPYBa3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","El Paso County commissioners on June 30 recognized four employees with the county’s EPIC Shining Stars awards and heard a presentation honoring Rebecca Spencer Tavitas of the Public Defender’s Office, who received a statewide executive award in pretrial services.

Betsy Keller, chief administrator, presented the EPIC awards—an internal program recognizing employees who demonstrate excellence, professionalism, integrity and creativity. Honorees included: Francisco Triste, road maintenance foreman in Public Works; Adrian (last name not specified in the record), an animal‑welfare officer; Emmanuel (last name not specified), a public safety IT specialist; and Lydia Adias, capital planning project manager. Keller described the employees’ achievements and noted certificates, a portrait and a courthouse flag would accompany the recognition.

In a separate presentation, Joel Bishop of County Administration announced that Rebecca Spencer Tavitas had been recognized by the Texas Association of Pretrial Services for “steadfast commitment to evidence‑based bail advocacy” and for work that reduced unnecessary pretrial detention. Kelly Childress, chief public defender, and members of the public‑defender leadership team praised Tavitas’s long service and devotion to pretrial fairness. Tavitas declined to seek the spotlight but accepted the award and thanked her colleagues.

Why it matters: the presentations highlighted ongoing county efforts to recognize public‑servant performance and to spotlight criminal‑justice reforms at the local level, including efforts to reduce money‑based pretrial detention.

Ending: Commissioners congratulated the honorees and posed for photos; no formal votes were required for the recognitions.","El Paso County presented quarterly EPIC Shining Stars awards to four employees and recognized Rebecca Spencer Tavitas of the Public Defender's Office for a statewide pretrial services award.",{"_32":87,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":88,"_40":89,"_42":90,"_44":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6182143,"Commissioners declare July ‘Viva El Paso Month,’ honor Viva El Paso participants",303,1725000,2028000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5109585-e5fe2101fdaab3ac81c8d2e0ea4b0abb&start=1725&end=2028","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5109585-e5fe2101fdaab3ac81c8d2e0ea4b0abb/thumbnail_1725000.jpg","/articles/6182143/El-Paso-County/Texas/Commissioners-declare-July-Viva-El-Paso-Month-honor-Viva-El-Paso-participants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182143-12f3dba88382aabaf6bbdc017e876b58/orig.mp4?Expires=1770208883&Signature=JaD6PsZmKNa0RGLEIhoZEAzOofLHgJ3Aft4V1-YWD3TDlExNhzeOyd4uw4cusP7kqcFSVba4kX40oXi7k9L8tHzTsYozqgxMxxwCSmBjPu0Ues9EZHXV1OcK8oGzy9vlIXCOS8oiKaDrTVRT55oWMUNWPtzsKQQ1MooFIS8kWFySECyWDM3XSgqS0XT92gaRMoyUjimzfUAHPa2LsrOTPH4~ZZ5mIfeDd-FgUc1AwNFoMoDwPoFDgOu0tPSVPV9tPhRYpcul6unzRAb2o8AwR1lYZ22AOtHPHT6wQ9BM3qgkRr8yonqHsJLJQb15oX7EzCwu61bnZQ~88Vg3dca0Bg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The El Paso County Commissioners Court adopted a resolution on June 30 declaring July as “Viva El Paso Month,” and invited performers and civic leaders to address the court about the cultural and economic role of the long‑running outdoor musical drama.

County officials read a resolution noting Viva El Paso’s decades‑long history at the McKelligan Canyon Amphitheater and the show’s role in telling the borderland’s history and attracting visitors. County Judge Samaniego moved the resolution; Commissioner Stout seconded the motion and the court adopted it by voice vote.

Organizers and performers addressed the court after the vote. Edward Gallardo III, president of Viva El Paso and a cast member, thanked the county and described the show as an educational and tourism asset: “We just want to say thank you so much, to the El Paso County judge commissioners as well for having us here today, but also, being able to celebrate our culture and heritage and also educate our community in who it is that we are.” David Mills, the original executive director involved with Viva El Paso’s first decades, noted the show’s approaching 50th anniversary and said Hector Serrano’s influence remains in the community’s cultural work.

Why it matters: the court framed the resolution as formal recognition of the city‑region’s cultural heritage and its contribution to tourism. Organizers said they hope county support will help the show attract more out‑of‑town visitors and rebuild a wider audience.

Additional context: the resolution names local partners including EPIC Arts, the El Paso Museum and Cultural Affairs Department and the El Paso Community Foundation. Several performers and board members described plans to expand outreach, to seek visitors from outside the region and to preserve elements of Hector Serrano’s original production.

Ending: Commissioners applauded the performers and invited the public to attend Viva El Paso performances in the canyon; the court’s action was recorded as a formal resolution signed in June 2025.","The Commissioners Court adopted a resolution recognizing July as Viva El Paso Month and heard remarks from performers and organizers who described the show’s cultural and tourism value.",{"_32":99,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":100,"_40":101,"_42":102,"_44":45,"_46":103,"_48":104,"_50":105,"_52":106,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":107,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":108,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6182147,"County approves $1 million toward downtown Deck Park design after contentious debate",6561,6005000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5109585-e5fe2101fdaab3ac81c8d2e0ea4b0abb&start=6005&end=12566","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5109585-e5fe2101fdaab3ac81c8d2e0ea4b0abb/thumbnail_6005000.jpg","/articles/6182147/El-Paso-County/Texas/County-approves-1-million-toward-downtown-Deck-Park-design-after-contentious-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6182147-38a0254bcd21ac29f4221364edc7182f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770208883&Signature=aAJAZEITItYhU66DROTHSVnOiiwxp8is~uBO-nfcVzoyqLctAdpT5r9eoG8NXdRnTloOdcUxxs8VGBxZTvFQ1YYvFKZ2-XsmzJKiorn9~vkwm~dhfWJpSna6FZXDTbxsDxxBWpn9ThJuQNZasKCrNV7EKRAqRJF9bp0kh9wsSXpaH-QzUcV342I5XM4hcfOBwBcQbNCjt-qiwlUm9oJBfBIPG3-Ij5YxSyfuzHBRMeJFv9mFyXK6IJRaJQ2YWZofIdLQNsibynDJ7OP-AoW4~Jvno2TT8ntqIji1QD1JcL1NQIJMfADIQQcPzfePI5jTPILdeu9xDRfn3CcQgJ6kjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The El Paso County Commissioners Court voted 3-2 on June 30 to commit $1 million toward the design phase of the proposed downtown Deck Park Plaza and to begin negotiating an agreement with the city and private partners for future participation.

The court’s decision came after more than two hours of presentations and public comment — including multiple speakers who urged the court to reject the county contribution because they said the project would not address urgent needs in outlying neighborhoods. Veronica Carbajal, a climate and civil-rights organizer, told the court: “We oppose any governmental investment in the deck park. Please vote no on item 8B.”

County staff and project backers, including city representatives and members of the Downtown Deck Park Foundation, framed the $1 million as a necessary, time‑sensitive commitment to pay for design and “future‑proofing” work that must be coordinated with Texas Department of Transportation plans for I‑10 reconstruction. Tracy Yellen, speaking for the city’s team, said the city’s approach focuses on the design phase first to produce accurate construction estimates and phasing: “This step‑by‑step approach is what was presented to council earlier this month.”

Why it matters: court staff warned that TxDOT’s highway schedule creates a limited window to include the structural elements that would permit a deck in the future; if those elements are not built when TxDOT does I‑10 work, adding them later would be substantially more expensive and disruptive. Proponents argued the county’s contribution would help secure matching state and federal funds and private commitments already pledged to the project.

What the court approved: the motion (moved by Commissioner Coronado, seconded by Commissioner Stout) authorized staff to negotiate a formal agreement with the city and the Downtown Deck Park Foundation and to reallocate $1,000,000 from the contingency balance of the county’s 2023 series B certificates of obligation to a new Deck Park design line item. Court members were explicit that the $1 million covers the design phase only; any county construction contribution would require a separate future decision.

Opposition and concerns: opponents said the design cost should not be funded now when basic infrastructure and services in unincorporated areas remain unmet. Several speakers and commissioners pressed for guarantees on protections against displacement, for commitments to affordable housing and for transparency on long‑term maintenance costs. One public commenter noted a city estimate of multi‑hundred‑million‑dollar total costs and warned of a large ongoing annual operations bill.

Next steps and contingencies: staff will return with a proposed participation agreement that lays out (at minimum) governance, design and information‑access terms and conditions under which the county would consider further contributions. The city expects to complete a more detailed design and updated cost estimate by fall 2026; the county will reconsider any construction‑phase asks after seeing those updated numbers. The court also directed staff to verify which bond/CO issuances legally permit the reallocation and to confirm timelines tied to TxDOT and any state grant matches.

Sources and speaker attributions: remarks and quotations in this article come from County Judge Samaniego; Commissioners Coronado, Stout, Butler and Olguin; city staff including Tracy Yellen and Joaquin Rodriguez; Downtown Deck Park Foundation representatives; and public commenters including Veronica Carbajal. Statements attributed to the city and foundation reflect presentations recorded in the June 30 court proceedings. The court’s vote was 3 in favor, 2 opposed.

Ending note: County officials said the $1 million commitment is a cautious, early step intended to secure design work and preserve the option of a deck while preserving the court’s ability to decline future construction funding pending further study and negotiated terms.","After hours of public comment and debate, the El Paso County Commissioners Court approved a $1 million contribution to the downtown Deck Park Plaza design phase and directed staff to negotiate a participation agreement with the city and private partners.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: key actions from El Paso County Commissioners Court on June 30, 2025

County honors employees: EPIC Shining Stars named; local public defender recognized with statewide award

Commissioners declare July ‘Viva El Paso Month,’ honor Viva El Paso participants

County approves $1 million toward downtown Deck Park design after contentious debate