El Paso commissioners approve non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to pursue downtown ‘Deck Plaza’ after hours of public comment

The El Paso County Commissioner's Court on April 13 adopted a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City of El Paso and the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation to pursue planning, design and funding steps for the proposed downtown “Deck Plaza,” a 6.5-acre public park proposed to cap six blocks of Interstate 10.

The court vote was 3–2 after more than two hours of public comment and a long debate among commissioners. County Judge Sango, Commissioner Olin and Commissioner Coronado voted in favor; Commissioners Butler and Gin voted no. Commissioner Stout was absent.

The MOU does not commit the county to construction or maintenance funding, county staff said during the discussion; instead it establishes a collaborative framework for planning, fundraising and negotiating future agreements. “This framework does not create a binding obligation to fund, construct, operate, or maintain the project,” Christina Martinez of County Administration told the court. Any future county commitments would require separate approval.

Supporters — including the Downtown Deck Plaza Foundation and local business groups — said the timing is tied to planned reconstruction of I‑10 by the Texas Department of Transportation and that acting now preserves a narrow opportunity to build a cap while TxDOT rebuilds the freeway. “As TxDOT moves forward with I‑10 reconstruction, this is a once‑in‑a‑generation chance to shape that work into new public space,” said Tracy Yellen, president of the Deck Plaza Foundation. Yellen told the court that the foundation has working commitments including $25 million in municipal allocations, $3.15 million in federal community project funding and philanthropic pledges the foundation reports as $35 million toward park features and activation. She said $10 million appropriated by the Texas Legislature is designated for cap design.

Opponents questioned whether the project’s full cost and guarantees about taxpayer exposure are known. Several speakers cited a consultant estimate they said shows a higher total project figure and noted recent rejections of federal and state grant applications. “This is a massive public‑funding risk at a time when families are facing rising property tax bills,” said Gual Lupe Hined, a longtime El Paso resident who urged the court to vote no.

Commissioners pressed for specifics. Some pointed to language in the MOU and the foundation’s public materials when asking whether philanthropic commitments are restricted to amenities rather than structural construction, and whether the county could be asked later to cover maintenance if private fundraising fell short. Yellen said the foundation intends to fund and operate park programming and to raise ongoing maintenance dollars; county staff said the MOU documents that operators’ responsibilities will include ongoing maintenance and that city‑county development agreements would be required before any binding financial commitments.

The court’s approval authorizes the county judge to sign a memorandum of understanding that sets the terms for joint planning and future negotiations. County administration described the MOU as a first step that keeps the county “at the table” so it can influence design priorities including affordable housing goals and access to transit. Supporters argued that projects elsewhere show economic lift: the foundation cited an economic impact study projecting construction and long‑term indirect benefits from development adjacent to the cap.

The court’s action does not, by itself, obligate the county to spend money or issue debt. Any later request to allocate county funds would require a separate vote. The discussion made clear that the county will continue to press for clarity on cost allocation, timeline, and guarantees regarding operation and upkeep before supporting any future funding requests.

What happens next: The MOU sets a pathway for design work, fundraising and formal development agreements. The Deck Plaza Foundation and city representatives said they will continue to pursue federal, state and private funding while beginning cap design work tied to TxDOT’s downtown I‑10 reconstruction schedule. The court’s vote leaves open future votes on any county funding requests that may be proposed later.