Welcome to El Paso Metro’s week in review. This section is updated every Tuesday night.
City Council Review
- Approved the sixth amendment to the original contract to give John Houser, artist, more time to finish Juan de Oñate statue;
- Various groups have suggested placing the statue on I-10 just north of Trans Mountain Road.
- Approved the downtown Tax Increment Finance District (TIF) #2; Postponed TIF #3 to allow for consultation with EPISD;
- Approved a recommendation to rename Sherman Tiger Eye Park to Jorge Montalvo Park;
- Approved $88 million dollars in bonds requested by the Public Service Board;
- Approved a contract with Patriots for use of the soccer field for one year;
- Deleted motion by Dan Power to sue County to force it to fund the Convention and Tourism Bureau;
- Postponed bike lane approval on Piedras pending a public meeting; Approved inter-local agreement with County for funding of an animal control facility.
Other news
- Anti-tax advocates are said to be shy 2,000 signatures with a few days left before the tax rollback deadline (28,000 and need to reach 30,250);
- EPISD is unhappy with the City’s proposed Tax Increment Finance District proposal;
- Commissioner Carlos Aguilar called for more consultations among the different taxing entities;
- Republican slate rumored to be getting ready to challenge Democrats include Presi Ortega, Joe Wardy and Ruben Guerra;
- Jerome Tilghman announced his candidacy for County Judge. He will challenge Dolores Briones in the primary;
- Congressman Silvestre Reyes announced his reelection bid citing the need for “continuity” in representation in light of the Afghanistan war;
- Al Jefferson has decided to “leave politics to the professional politicians” and asked that all speculation regarding a possible run against Elliot Shapleigh cease.
