El Paso BOAC reviews 2012 Quality of Life bond projects, seeks budget cleanup and timelines

At a meeting of the Bond Overview Advisory Committee (BOAC), members heard a briefing on the status, balances and next steps for projects funded by the 2012 Quality of Life general obligation bond and pressed staff for clearer timelines and budget adjustments.

The committee was told that of the $473 million authorized in 2012, 222 projects have been completed citywide and nine were completed this year. Gilbert Guerrero, interim director for capital improvements, summarized project phases and said staff could not yet find a statutory or contractual deadline that dictates when certain bond-authorized funds must be spent. "We look for information and we cannot find a date as to when that money has to be spent by," Guerrero said.

Committee members focused several questions on the multipurpose center (MPC), which voters effectively blocked from further debt issuance. A board member asked why a $153,000,000 authorization linked to the MPC still appears on the books. Margarita Marine, deputy chief financial officer and city controller, said City Counciland the public have already directed that no additional debt be issued for that project and that finance staff "should be" adjusting the budget to remove the previously authorized $128,000,000 and account for $34,000,000 in cash that was issued earlier. "We should be back and be adjusting the budget," Marine said.

Staff also walked through design, procurement and construction schedules for trailheads and paved trails. El Paso Water is leading drainage and arroyo work that affects the Palisades trailhead; the $300,000 originally allocated for the Palisades trailhead will be used for the trailhead only, Guerrero said. Several trail and trailhead projects are in procurement and expected to begin construction in spring and summer 2025 once contractors are selected.

Board members requested follow-ups on project closeouts and balances. Members queried why projects marked "complete" still show residual balances (examples cited in the meeting included $72,000 for Valley Creek to Rio Grande and $33,000 for Rio Grande Trail to Country Club). Guerrero and other staff said lingering balances often reflect open purchase orders or invoices still being processed and that staff would provide a detailed table explaining remaining balances and expected closeout timing at the next meeting.

Committee members also praised recently opened projects. Multiple members commented on the Mexican American Cultural Center (MAC) preview and grand opening, noting community pride and that only a small remaining balance (about $9,263) remained for that project.

The group discussed governance and the BOAC sunset. Staff read the enabling language from the BOAC resolution and confirmed the committeeper the resolutionsunsets on Jan. 1, 2028, unless the City Council extends the date. Staff agreed to supply the exact ordinance/resolution text and a project-by-project timeline for remaining work at the next meeting.

Procedural actions at the meeting included approval of the January minutes and a motion to adjourn; both motions carried without recorded opposition. The committee also noted two vacancies in its membership roster and welcomed new members Melissa Guevara (representing District 1) and Taylor Moreno.

The BOAC asked staff to return with: (1) a timeline estimate for each remaining project, (2) a table explaining why completed projects still show balances and the plan for closing those items, and (3) confirmation of the process and schedule to remove or reallocate previously authorized but now-withdrawn MPC debt authorization from the financial statements.

The committee set its next regular meeting for May 21 (quarterly schedule) and adjourned after a unanimous voice vote.