Council approves $2.8 million design-build agreement for Advanced Manufacturing District project

The El Paso City Council unanimously approved a design-build agreement on Wednesday between the city and Jordan Foster Construction LLC for the project described in the agenda as "2024-0272 R Advanced Manufacturing District," in an initial amount of $2,815,127.16.

During public comment, a resident asked whether an added $50,000 line item represented a single contingency or could be used multiple times. Claudia Garcia of the Purchasing and Strategic Sourcing Department said the additional $50,000 is intended "just in case additional work comes up to that amount," clarifying it as contingency authority for unforeseen work up to $50,000.

The contract item prompted questions from council members and a member of the public about campaign contributions and whether contributors may vote on related contracts. The city attorney (identified in the meeting as Miss Nieman) explained council rules and disclosure practice: receipt of campaign contributions does not automatically create a conflict that prohibits voting; council members may disclose contributions before voting but are required to recuse only when a statutory conflict exists (for example, a direct familial relationship to the beneficiary).

Representative Canales moved approval and the motion was seconded; the scribe recorded the motion as passing unanimously.

No amendments to the motion were adopted at the time of the vote. The council did not specify an implementation schedule in the public discussion; the purchasing department will execute the design-build documents and manage contractual tasks under the approved authority.