Bond oversight committee reviews 2012 quality-of-life project timeline, balances and possible expansion to 2019/2022 bonds

The El Paso Bond Oversight Advisory Committee on May 2025 received a status update on remaining 2012 Quality of Life bond projects, current balances across project categories and timelines for several trail, park and zoo projects, and asked staff to provide a detailed funding-transfer breakdown for trails that were deprogrammed and reallocated.

Interim Director for Capital Improvements (staff) told the committee that “MPC, budget transfer has already been complete. And you will see that on the table already as showing a 0 balance,” and reported category balances the presentation lists as roughly $13,600,000 for parks, $2.5 million for MCAT, $3.3 million for the zoo and $36,000 for libraries, and said “the balance on the quality of life, we’re down to $17,200,000.”

The update listed project status across design, bidding and construction stages. The committee heard that several trail projects moved from hold status after City Council approved deprogramming, with funds to be transferred to the Montana I‑10 segment, Tierra Del Este segments and the Mountain‑to‑River trails. The interim director said some trail construction is expected to begin in summer 2025 and that winter 2027 is the department’s target to finish remaining projects, while some large items may be completed earlier (for example, Central Pavilion Improvements phase 2 is expected to start construction in early 2026 and take about a year).

Committee members pressed for more detail on the transfers and project dollars. Chair Emma Acosta asked staff to place the transfer detail on the next meeting agenda: “If you can provide us that information at the next meeting,” she said. The interim director agreed to provide the specific transfer amounts at the next meeting.

Committee member Mr. Ilesias asked staff for usage metrics tied to completed facilities, requesting attendance and membership numbers for recently completed projects, including the children’s museum and the downtown library. “I think numbers of attendance would be good, through, like, the children's museum,” he said. Staff agreed to obtain those metrics from the operating departments and provide them to the committee.

On program timelines at the zoo, staff said the Galapagos exhibit is near completion, Komodo dragon exhibits were expected by fall 2025 and the leopard and elephant exhibits by summer 2025. Trailhead construction is tied to El Paso Water’s dam improvements; staff said those trailheads will likely be last and currently estimate completion near the end of 2026, pending El Paso Water schedules.

The committee also discussed a City Council proposal to add 2019 and 2022 bond projects to this committee’s portfolio and to change the committee’s meeting frequency. Roberta Bridal of the City Attorney’s Office told the committee the proposed change would require a council resolution and that the city attorney’s office would draft that document; she said the committee would be provided the resolution after council action. Members asked whether meeting twice a year — the frequency the departments reportedly recommended to council — would be sufficient if the committee’s workload expands to include projects from 2019 and 2022. Chair Acosta voiced concern that adding more projects could make semiannual meetings insufficient and asked staff to evaluate the recommended frequency and bring a recommendation back. The city staff said they will provide a response about meeting frequency after reviewing the workload and the pending resolution.

Procedural notes: the committee approved the March minutes on a motion by Taylor Moreno, seconded by Ryan Woodcraft; the motion carried after members answered “Aye.” The meeting was later adjourned on a motion by Moreno, seconded by Woodcraft.

The committee asked staff to include the following on the next agenda: (1) a detailed list of amounts to be transferred from deprogrammed projects (Donald Dyer Skyline Wayfinding and Westside Community Park) into Montana I‑10, Tierra Del Este and Mountain‑to‑River trail projects; (2) updated project budget tables that reflect processed purchase orders and closed accounts; (3) attendance and membership metrics for recently completed facilities; and (4) the City Council resolution and staff recommendation regarding adding 2019/2022 bonds and any change to meeting frequency.

The meeting was described by members as short; staff said they will return with the requested supporting documents at the next meeting.