El Paso council approves parks master plan contract, McCray shared‑use path and several grants and contracts

The El Paso City Council on Aug. 5 approved a slate of procurement awards, grants and professional agreements aimed at transportation, parks, and city capital projects.

Key approvals included a $577,300 contract with Half Associates to develop a 10‑year Parks and Recreation Master Plan (12–14 month term), and a $3,129,157.09 construction award to Martinez Brothers Contractors LLC for the McCray Shared‑Use Path (Phase 1 and 2) that will build a 12–14 foot multi‑use trail from Montwood Drive to Montana Avenue with landscaping, ADA ramps and pedestrian crossings. The McCray award passed 5–1, with Representative Limon recorded as voting no; the other items passed by unanimous vote unless noted.

Other council action the same day included:

- Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) filings: Council authorized the director of aviation to file subzone and boundary modification requests to expand FTZ No. 68 to include parcels at Montana Avenue, Camino Del Rey Drive and Pelicano Drive (items 4–6 on the consent agenda). Council approved the FTZ items unanimously.

- Parks master plan: The council authorized the city manager to sign a professional‑services agreement with Half Associates to complete a comprehensive inventory, community outreach and recommendations for parks, recreation centers and related assets. The consultant’s scope calls for a public engagement plan, conditions assessments of roughly 100 parks, and a forward‑looking implementation strategy.

- McCray shared‑use path (Phase 1 & 2): The construction contract to Martinez Brothers is federally funded through Transportation Alternatives (80/20 split). Staff reported six bids and recommended awarding the contract to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder. The council approved the award 5–1; councilors said the project has been in planning for several years and that the connection is a priority for neighborhoods and schools along McCray.

- Grants and funding: The council accepted the FY2024 FEMA SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant in the amount of $2,545,200.13 with a required city cash match of $1,710,929.32 (total program value ~$4,256,129.45) to add 21 entry‑level firefighter positions to staff a new fire station. The council also accepted a Texas Parks & Wildlife Local Park grant for $1,500,000 (matched with $1,500,000 local funds) to support Phase 2 development of the Eastside Regional Park; the match will come from prior capital funds identified in the CIP.

- Professional services and engineering: Council approved a task‑order civil engineering pool that included six firms (AECOM, CEA Engineering Group, Consor, GRV Integrated Engineering, Hewitt Zollar, and Moreno Cardenas). The city said 16 proposals were received and three of the selected firms have local headquarters.

- Appointments and administrative items: Council reappointed two part‑time associate municipal court judges to four‑year terms (Aug. 9, 2025–Aug. 9, 2029). The council also approved a budget transfer to establish project funding for the Cedar Grove Subdivision improvements using investment interest funds.

Votes at a glance

- FTZ subzone and boundary modifications (items 4–6): approved unanimously (motion by Representative Acevedo, seconded by Representative Nino). - McCray Shared‑Use Path construction award (item 39): approved 5–1 (no: Representative Limon); motion by Representative Maldonado Rocha, second by Representative Canales. - Parks and Recreation Master Plan contract with Half Associates (item 40): approved unanimously; motion by Representative Nino. - FEMA SAFER grant acceptance (item 42): approved unanimously; motion by Alternate Mayor Pro Tem Fierro. - Texas Parks & Wildlife Local Parks grant for Eastside Regional Park (item 43): approved unanimously. - Civil engineering professional services pool (item 44): approved unanimously. - Cedar Grove budget transfer (item 45): approved unanimously.

Council members and staff said the projects will progress to the contract‑execution and procurement phases; staff noted federal and state funding deadlines for several items and said project schedules will follow standard contracting processes and grant requirements.

Ending note: The approvals add several pieces of capacity and planning capability to the city’s portfolio: a citywide parks plan that will shape investments for the next decade, a new multimodal trail along McCray, additional firefighter staffing supported by federal grant funds, and state grant funds to advance a major neighborhood park.