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City council approves dozens of ordinances, contracts and budget transfers; several zoning and traffic measures adopted
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Summary
At its July 22 meeting the El Paso City Council approved a package of first‑reading ordinances, multiple zoning and traffic ordinances, contract awards, a major roof repair contract, budget transfers and other items. Several items were adopted unanimously; several land‑use items and fee/ordinance changes were introduced for later public hearings.
El Paso City Council on July 22 adopted a series of ordinances, contract awards and budget transfers covering zoning changes, traffic and parking regulations, procurement and capital project adjustments.
The council unanimously approved a multi‑item consent and regular agenda that included: the award of a domestic terrorism consultant contract to Porcina Solutions LLC (Item 16); first readings of ordinances (Items 17–23); adoption of zoning changes at 1071 Country Club Road (Items 24–25) and 525 Lafayette Drive (Item 26); additional zoning adoptions (Items 27–29); dissolution and replacement of the Construction Board of Appeals across multiple codes (Items 30–36); new residential parking and no‑parking ordinances at specified blocks (Items 37–38); a change to a speed limit on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (Item 39); award of a roof repair contract for the EPIA terminal to Aztec Contractors Inc. (Item 40); multiple project budget transfers from completed to over‑budget projects and other transfers (Item 41); a deductive change order to ZTex Construction for traffic signal work (Item 42); and a council authorization to send a letter of support for a proposed state Unified Transportation Program project request (Item 43).
Council also heard and approved two Sun Metro grant items in a special Sun Metro board meeting convened after the council session: acceptance of a Fiscal Year 2024 Low‑No Emission Grants program award for buses and facilities, and acceptance of a FY24 community project funding award for a microtransit pilot; both items included required local matches and passed unanimously.
Notable contract and budget actions
- Award: domestic terrorism consultant — Porcina Solutions LLC (Item 16). The contract, funded via a state Homeland Security grant administered by FEMA, is to support a functional exercise simulating a domestic terrorism threat and enhance intelligence, threat assessment and interagency coordination. The award was approved unanimously after staff explained the grant source and scope.
- Contract award: EPIA Terminal Roof Repairs — Aztec Contractors Inc. (Item 40). Council approved the contract in the amount of $3,321,150.
- Budget transfers: Council approved transfers moving savings from completed bond and arterial projects to ongoing over‑budget projects (Geronimo, Shadow Mountain, Lee Trevino and Sunland Park), set up budget for airport reconstruction (Airport Road), allocated investment interest to the El Paso Zoo South American pavilion and to Central Flat Fields (Item 41). Staff said savings arose where final bids were below estimates and some projects required deeper excavation or heavier pavement sections due to higher traffic counts.
Land‑use and regulatory changes
- First readings (Items 17–23) were approved to set public hearings; those ordinances will return for final vote after advertised public notice and hearings.
- Zoning and condition releases (Items 24–29) were adopted to reclassify multiple parcels across the city as presented in the agenda backup; council recorded no remonstrations during the vote and passed the items unanimously.
- The council adopted ordinances that replace references to the Construction Board of Appeals with an appeals officer across several code chapters (Items 30–36), fulfilling a previously directed reorganization.
Traffic and parking
- Residential parking changes (Item 37) and a separate no‑parking decal zone (Item 38) were adopted for specified blocks; staff said the rules respond to neighborhood requests tied to event parking and safety.
- The posted speed limit on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard was updated to 45 mph from Loma Real Avenue to Gateway South Boulevard (Item 39).
Sun Metro actions
- The Sun Metro board approved acceptance of a FY24 Low‑No Emission Grant (buses and bus facilities) that requires city matching funds as noted in the Sun Metro packet.
- The board also approved acceptance of a FY24 community project funding award to support a microtransit project, with the required cash match.
How council voted
Most roll calls were recorded as unanimous approvals; where staff noted a motion and a second, the clerk called the vote and recorded passage with no recorded negative votes.
What happens next
First‑reading ordinances will return for public hearings and final action. Several projects funded or amended by budget transfers will proceed under staff direction; contracts awarded will move to execution and implementation. The Sun Metro items advance required grant acceptance steps.
Ending note
Council adjourned the regular meeting at approximately 11:32 a.m.; Sun Metro convened a special board meeting immediately afterward and completed its agenda before noon.
