2026-09-28 - City Council Work Session

Summary

Built from the official minutes. A video is posted but has no transcript yet, so there is no timing information.

Work session called to order at 9:01 a.m. with Mayor Johnson presiding. Canales arrived at 9:06 and Maldonado-Rocha at 9:54. Adjourned at 12:38 p.m.
Council accepted the results of the Streets and Maintenance Facility Maintenance Audit A2026-08 and the Department of Public Health Cybersecurity Assessment.
In executive session, Council gave its attorneys settlement authority in three El Paso Electric regulatory cases, authorized outside counsel in a federal lawsuit, continued two economic development negotiations and denied a Texas Economic Development Fund application 6-2.

Item 1, Facility Maintenance Audit: Chief Internal Auditor Serrano presented. Mayor Johnson, Chávez and Limón commented, as did Streets and Maintenance Director Randy Garcia, Chief Financial Officer Robert Cortinas and City Manager Mack. Motion by Chávez, seconded by Fierro, to accept the results carried 7-0 (Maldonado-Rocha not present for the vote).
Item 2, Public Health Cybersecurity Assessment: discussed in executive session (9:26 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.). Motion by Alternate Mayor Pro Tempore Chávez, seconded by Fierro, to accept the assessment carried 8-0.

El Paso Electric Regulatory Cases: settlement negotiation authority in Docket 59076 (366 MW natural gas facility; counteroffer reflecting a full hold harmless to ratepayers; 6-2, Acevedo and Canales against), Docket 57501 (100 MW solar and 100 MW battery storage, 8-0) and Docket 57149 (fuel cost reconciliation, 8-0).
Litigation: the City Attorney's Office was authorized 8-0 to hire experts and outside counsel in Carlos Jaile v. City of El Paso et al., 3:24-cv-00221. No action on Josh Dagda v. Laura Prine, Cause No. 2026DCV4089, which names City Clerk Prine.
Economic development: the Economic and International Development Department was told to continue negotiations on two projects (HQ 25-5989 and HQ 27-ECON-1310), 8-0 each. The Texas Economic Development Fund application for HQ 27-ECON-1298 was denied 6-2 (Fierro and Limón against).

Transcript pending.