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El Paso Water reports stormwater fund balance; board seeks clarity on MLK property ownership and repayment plan
Summary
El Paso Water presented fourth-quarter fiscal data for the 10% stormwater fund and board members pressed for clearer information on outstanding MLK property payments and final ownership.
El Paso Water presented the fourth-quarter fiscal report for the 10% stormwater (drainage) fund and answered questions about remaining payments on the MLK open-space property.
Jonathan Pershall, real estate manager at El Paso Water, told the Open Space Advisory Panel the fund balance as of Dec. 1, 2024, was $3,423,547. He said the 10% utility-fee allocation for the quarter was $955,921 and interest earnings were $39,607. Pershall reported total fourth-quarter expenses of $1,027,799, which included a $27,799 payment on a 2012 bond and a $1,000,000 payment labeled “MLK open space payment.” He said the 10% utility-fee revenue balance as of Feb. 28, 2025, was $3,391,277.
The panel asked for more detail about the MLK property. Dr. Bonar, an advisory-panel member, asked who will own the property once the outstanding payments are made. Pershall said ownership remains under discussion but later clarified that "the property is currently owned by EP Water, and we're currently making payments on it." When asked about the remaining debt, Pershall gave figures: "Currently, we're at, 7,000,000 on that. However, there's gonna be a payment of, 3,000,000 that would take place and then the other 2 of 2,000,000." Panel members pressed for additional legal and timeline detail; Pershall offered to provide a fuller briefing at a future meeting.
Panel members requested a closed-session option to discuss MLK’s status with legal counsel; the chair said staff could consult legal and noted the item could return as an agenda update at the next meeting. Board members emphasized interest in a clear timeline and the mechanism by which the property is being paid for, saying they wanted the city or relevant staff (City / EP Water / PSP) to clarify whether the city or another entity will own the site following final payment.
The presentation prompted board direction to schedule a fuller update on MLK at the next meeting and to ask El Paso Water and city staff to provide the underlying ownership and payment documents so the panel can review the legal and fiscal path forward.
Looking ahead, Pershall and the chair agreed to return detailed ownership and payment information at a future briefing so the panel can track whether the outstanding payments, the referenced attorney-general guidance and any interagency transfers affect public ownership or stewardship responsibilities.
