Emergency Ordinances & Notices

EMERGENCY ORDINANCES

ORDINANCE NO. 019497

AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE EXTENDING EMERGENCY
ORDINANCE NO. 019333 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ASSIGN
PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES TO ASSIST IN ADDRESSING THE
HUMANITARIAN AND PUBLIC SAFETY CRISIS RESULTING FROM A MASS
MIGRATION THROUGH EL PASO

WHEREAS, on May 23, 2022, the Mayor and City Council of the City of El Paso (the “City”) passed an Emergency Ordinance No. 019333 “Authorizing the City Manager to Assign Personnel and Resources to Assist in Addressing the Humanitarian and Public Safety Crisis Resulting from a Mass Migration through the City of El Paso”; and

WHEREAS, thousands of migrants from Latin America gathered at or near the U.S.- Mexico border in hopes that President Biden would ease immigration restrictions that will make it easier to enter the United States; and

WHEREAS, the Biden administration ended the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023 ending all use of Title 42 as a mechanism to control the border; and

WHEREAS, on the eve of the expiration of Title 42, there were an estimated 152,000 migrants in northern Mexico with approximately 60,000 in the State of Chihuahua, and 35,000 in Ciudad Juarez according to U.S. federal statistical records; and

WHEREAS, the Southwest had 162,317 land border encounters in the month of March, 2023; and

WHEREAS, the El Paso sector of CBP had 39,512 land border encounters in the month of March, 2023 and a total of 265,037 encounters for federal fiscal year 2023; and

WHEREAS, when the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (“CBP”) Central Processing Center is over capacity and the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) space is unavailable, that is when the potential for street releases arises; and

WHEREAS, CBP has released many migrants onto downtown streets leaving many migrants without shelter; and

WHEREAS, in the month of April 2023, approximately 1,750 migrants have been released into the community weekly; and

WHEREAS, in response to the street releases, the El Paso City-County Office of Emergency Management (“OEM”) reallocated twenty-nine COVID-19 Operations staff to assist as migrant shelter surge staff, and on May 17, 2022, this staff began orientation training at Casa del Refugiado, the NGO’s largest hospitality site; and

WHEREAS, OEM has created a job specification, for general disaster operations to include humanitarian relief duties to hire and assign staff to assist with NGO capacity with over 40 staff currently assigned; and

WHEREAS, beginning in late August 2022, the El Paso sector experienced a surge of over 2,000 migrants presenting themselves daily to CBP, primarily made up of unsponsored single adults from Venezuela, resulting in over 1,000 street releases by CBP; and

WHEREAS, in the Fall of 2022, the City expended significant resources to create and staff a Welcome Center to assist with transportation assistance, providing long-distance charter services and over 39,000 meals to over 19,300 migrants through October 20, 2022; and

WHEREAS, due to this high volume, the number of refugees and asylum seekers released to the NGO and the City’s Migrant Welcome Center, was over 1,000 on a daily basis; and

WHEREAS, on September 7, 2022, the City and OEM stood up a migrant Welcome Center to assist with transportation assistance providing services and meals to over 19,300 migrants through October 20, 2022, and

WHEREAS, the release of mass groups of people without access to potable water, food, or shelter exposes the migrants and El Paso residents to the origination and spread of potential and actual disease; and

WHEREAS, in response to the number of migrants arriving at the border, on January 5, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security created a humanitarian parole program for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua similar to the program already available to Venezuelans; and

WHEREAS, on January 8, 2023, President Biden visited the border to assess the situation in part because the number of migrants has gained the attention of the media and national leadership; and

WHEREAS, there are significant public safety and security concerns related to the wave of migration, including but not limited to the risk to injury or loss of life with migrants in El Paso streets with little or no resources on days that reach hot or cold temperatures and the inherent risks that come with increased demand on local shelters; and

WHEREAS, on March 12, 2023, border officials barricaded and closed down the Paso del Norte bridge due to a breach of public safety involving hundreds of migrants present on the bridge due to rumors about the relaxation of immigration restrictions circulated on social media sites; and

WHEREAS, for these reasons, the City is faced with the imminent threat of widespread injury or loss of life resulting from a surge in transient migrants traveling to the region; and

WHEREAS, there is the potential for loss of property for both residents and migrants due to those who would take financial advantage of this wave of migrants; and

WHEREAS, the Director of Aviation has the authority, as granted by the El Paso City Council, to manage the day-to-day operation of EPIA and to ensure that those operations are conducted in compliance with the rules and regulations regarding airports under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 22 of the Texas Transportation Code, and Title 14 of the El Paso City Code, as well as federal, state, and local health and safety regulations to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all occupants and travelers making use of EPIA facilities; and

WHEREAS, EPIA in recent past, became saturated with migrants awaiting air travel and could need to take measures to preserve the health and safety of its customers, employees and the public, as well as measures to secure its facilities as the demand for air travel increases exponentially; and

WHEREAS, the City of El Paso is home to 4 international ports of entry between Texas and Mexico; and

WHEREAS, based on mass migration events in the recent past, the City anticipates significant delays at the international ports-of-entry to include trade; and

WHEREAS, the encampment of large groups of migrants on City rights of way, parks and other City property has led to street closure and cessation of the streetcar service; and

WHEREAS, in awaiting the due support of the federal government, the City finds that the expenditure of public funds for staff to coordinate resources and supplies, serve as shelter surge staff and transport migrants released in the City of El Paso accomplishes a valid public purpose of protecting public infrastructure, and protecting the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of El Paso; and

WHEREAS, in order to protect the health of persons in the municipality, the City Council wishes to continue to assist the local NGO with surge staff, coordination of resources and supplies, and transportation in light of the continued high number of community releases; and

WHEREAS, OEM and the City have and will continue to prepare and evaluate the need for mass emergency sheltering thanks to the expiration of Title 42 and other regional migration surges that may impact the El Paso region; and

WHEREAS, the El Paso City Charter Section 3.10, allows for the adoption of one or more emergency ordinances to meet a public emergency affecting life, health, property, or the public peace; and

WHEREAS, Section 121.003 of the Texas Health & Safety Code states that a municipality may enforce any law that is reasonably necessary to protect public health; and

WHEREAS, Section 122.006 of the Texas Health & Safety Code provides home-rule municipalities express authority to adopt rules to protect the health of persons in the municipality, including quarantine rules to protect the residents against communicable disease; and

WHEREAS, this Ordinance shall remain in effect until otherwise terminated, re-enacted, superseded by a conflicting ordinance, El Paso Local Health Authority Ordinance, state or federal law, or repealed automatically as of the 31^st day following the date on which it was adopted unless re-enacted pursuant to City Charter Section 3.10.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL PASO:

That the Emergency Ordinance No. 019333 passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of El Paso on May 23, 2022 is hereby re-enacted and shall continue for thirty (30) days unless re-enacted in accordance with City Charter Section 3.10 or until terminated by City Council, whichever is sooner.
This ordinance is adopted as an emergency measure with the unanimous vote of the City Council Representatives present and the consent of the Mayor and pursuant to City Charter Section 3.10.

PASSED AND ADOPTED, this 22 day of May, 2023.

THE CITY OF EL PASO, TEXAS
Oscar Leeser
Mayor

ATTEST:
Laura D. Prine
City Clerk

APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Karla M. Nieman
City Attorney

APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
Mario M. D’Agostino
Deputy City Manager
Public Health & Safety

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ORDINANCE NO. 019498
AN EMERGENCY ORDINANCE
EXTENDING EMERGENCY ORDINANCE NO. 019485 DUE TO A
HUMANITARIAN, SECURITY, AND ECONOMIC CRISIS
RESULTING FROM A MASS MIGRATION THROUGH EL PASO

WHEREAS, on May 8, 2023 the El Paso City Council of passed Emergency Ordinance No. 019485 “Due to a Humanitarian, Security, and Economic Crisis Resulting from a Mass Migration through the City of El Paso (the “City”); and

WHEREAS, for federal fiscal year 2023, Southwest encounters were at 1,055,320 of which 419,147 were Title 42; and

WHEREAS, the El Paso sector of CBP had 39,512 land border encounters in the month of March, 2023; and

WHEREAS, thousands of migrants from Latin America have gathered at or near the U.S.- Mexico border awaiting processing after Title 42, which is a COVID-19 era mechanism, ended along with the expiration of the Public Health Emergency for COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, Secretary Mayorkas of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has commented that he expected a surge in migration after Title 42 ends; and

WHEREAS, prior to the expiration of Title 42, there were an estimated 152,000 migrants in northern Mexico with approximately 60,9000 in the State of Chihuahua, and 35,000 in Ciudad Juarez according to U.S. federal statistical records; and

WHEREAS, DHS has created an immigration benefit through which migrants from certain nations can request asylum and be paroled into the country; and

WHEREAS, upon the migrants’ arrival into the United States, they are held by CBP who processes, sets for hearing and then releases migrants onto El Paso streets with little to no resources; and

WHEREAS, the number of migrants in need of shelter exceeds the shelter space available through local, state, and federal partnerships; and

WHEREAS, the City lacks an extensive transportation infrastructure to facilitate the movement of migrants out of the region further increasing demand on shelters; and

WHEREAS, state and federal infrastructure and support is critical to support local efforts to effectively and safely care for mass groups of migrants entering the City; and

WHEREAS, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has surged its personnel and resources along the southern border to increase processing capacity to ensure a humane environment for those being processed; and

WHEREAS, the primary challenge for the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) assisting in the effort is that the NGO’s do not have the volunteer base to sustain or increase current capacity at their current hospitality sites; and

WHEREAS, the Office of Emergency Management has created a job specification, for general disaster operations to include humanitarian relief duties to hire and assign staff to assist with migrant operations; and

WHEREAS, the number of migrants released into the community continues to grow; and has been as high as 1,700 in a single day; and

WHEREAS, the volume of migrants at the border and released into the United States has gained the attention of international and national media; and

WHEREAS, there are significant public safety and security concerns related to the wave of migration, including but not limited to the risk to injury or loss of life with migrants in El Paso streets with little or no resources on days that reach extremely high or freezing low temperatures and the inherent risks that come with increased demand on local shelters; and

WHEREAS, donations to the migrants from the public are best received at the assisting NGOs and shelters in lieu of delivery to spaces where migrants gather; and

WHEREAS, additional shelter space is being prepared for the thousands of migrants released into the community; and

WHEREAS, camping in public spaces is prohibited under Section 48.05 of the Texas Penal Code; and

WHEREAS, the City is faced with the imminent threat of widespread injury or loss of life resulting from a surge in transient migrants traveling to the region; and

WHEREAS, there is potential for loss of property for both residents and migrants due to those who would take advantage of this wave of migrants; and

WHEREAS, in recent months, the El Paso International Airport became saturated with migrants awaiting air travel and shelter, and the City of El Paso may need to take measures to preserve the health and safety of its customers, employees and the public, as well as measures to secure, clean and comply with all related legal requirements regarding its facilities as the demand for air travel can increase exponentially; and

WHEREAS, the City of El Paso is home to 4 of the 28 international ports of entry between Texas and Mexico; and

WHEREAS, based on mass migration events in the recent past including protests and closures of the international bridges, the City has experienced several significant delays at the international ports-of-entry to include trade delays, which is concerning, as 161,439 cargo trucks pass across the Bridge of the Americas alone annually; and

WHEREAS, the City of El Paso has determined that extraordinary measures must be taken to protect all people in and coming through the City; and

WHEREAS, City Charter Section 3.10 allows for the City Council to adopt an emergency ordinance to meet a public emergency affecting life, health, property or the public peace; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to City Charter Section 3.10, every emergency ordinance shall stand repealed automatically as of the 31^st day following the date on which it was adopted, but may be re-enacted to continue a Disaster Declaration; and

WHEREAS, the condition necessitating the declaration of a state of disaster continues to exist.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF EL PASO, TEXAS:

That an emergency exists as described in clear and specific terms in the recitals above, which are incorporated herein.
That the state of disaster proclaimed for the City of El Paso by the Mayor on May 8, 2023 and extended by unanimous vote of City Council shall continue for thirty (30) days unless re-enacted in accordance with City Charter Section 3.10 or until terminated by order of the City Council, whichever is sooner.
This ordinance is adopted as an emergency measure with the unanimous vote of the City Council Representatives present and the consent of the Mayor and pursuant to City Charter Section 3.10 and is effective upon adoption.

PASSED AND ADOPTED, this 22 day of May, 2023.

THE CITY OF EL PASO, TEXAS
Oscar Leeser
Mayor

ATTEST:
Laura D. Prine
City Clerk

APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Karla M. Nieman
City Attorney

APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
Mario M. D’Agostino
Deputy City Manager
Public Health & Safety

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NOTICES

NOTICE OF ADOPTION

Notice is hereby given that, during a regular meeting of the City Council held on May 23, 2023, the Mayor has approved and the City Council has passed the following Ordinances:

ORDINANCE 019499 An Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to sign a Purchase and Sale Agreement, a Deed, and any other documents necessary to convey to Casas Genesis, LLC, approximately 0.1303 acres of land legally described as a Lot 3, Block 5, Mesquite Trails #2, an addition to the City of El Paso, El Paso County, Texas.

ORDINANCE 019500 An Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to sign a Purchase and Sale Agreement, a Deed, and any other documents necessary to convey to Phillip & Henry, LLC., approximately 0.222 acres of land legally described as Lot 52-A, Block 14, Shearman Unit Four Replat A, City of El Paso, El Paso County, Texas.

ORDINANCE 019501 An Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to sign a Purchase and Sale Agreement, a Deed, and any other documents necessary to convey to Rene Alejandro Saenz and Cynthia Ann Saenz, approximately 0.147 acres of land legally described as Tract 25-C and Tract 25-B-1, Block 17, Upper Valley Surveys in El Paso County, Texas.

ORDINANCE 019502 An Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to sign a Purchase and Sale Agreement, a Deed, and any other documents necessary to convey to Punta de Agua, LLC., approximately 0.1628 acres of land, legally described as Lot 2, Less NE portion of Block 4, Pecan Grove Subdivision, an addition to City of El Paso, El Paso County, Texas.

ORDINANCE 019503 An Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to sign a Purchase and Sale Agreement, a Deed, and any other documents necessary to convey to Casas Genesis, LLC., approximately 0.12 acres of land legally described as Lot 1, Block 22, Paseos del Sol Unit Two Amending Plat, City of El Paso, El Paso County, Texas.

ORDINANCE 019504 An Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to sign a Purchase and Sale Agreement, a Deed, and any other documents necessary to convey to Marco Maldonado, approximately 0.025 acres of land legally described as a Lot 25, Block 3, Colonia Miramonte Addition Unit One, City of El Paso, El Paso County, Texas.

ORDINANCE 019505 An Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to sign a Purchase and Sale Agreement, a Deed, and any other documents necessary to convey to Terry Taylor and Susan K. Taylor, approximately 49.156 acres of land legally described as within Section 28, Township 15 South, Range 5 West, New Mexico Principal Meridian, Sierra County, New Mexico.

ORDINANCE 019506 An Ordinance vacating a 0.081 acre portion of Oregon Street right-of-way, located within Alexander Addition, City of El Paso, El Paso County, Texas.
Subject Property: Oregon Street
Applicant: University of Texas at El Paso, SURW22-00010

ORDINANCE 019507 An Ordinance, amend Title 12, Chapter 12.88 (Schedules), Section 12.88.150 (Schedule XIV - Speed limits), to amend Paragraph E (Thirty miles per hour) by adding item 5 Desert Pass St. from S. Resler Dr. to a point 300 feet past Desert Trail Dr.; the penalty being provided in Chapter 12.84 of the El Paso City Code.

ORDINANCE 019508 An Ordinance amending Title 12 (Vehicles and Traffic), Chapter 12.88 (Schedules), Section 12.88.150 (Schedule XIV-Speed Limits), to amend Paragraph G (forty miles per hour), and to amend Paragraph F (thirty-five miles per hour) by adding 107. Socorro Drive (FM 258) between a point 400 feet southeast of Southside Road and the southeast city limits; the penalty being provided in Chapter 12.84 of the El Paso City Code.

Laura D. Prine, City Clerk

NOTICE OF INTRODUCTION

Pursuant to Section 3.9A of the El Paso City Charter, the following Ordinances were properly introduced at a Regular Council Meeting on May 23, 2023:

An Ordinance amending Title 20 (Zoning), Chapter 20.02 (General Provisions and Definitions), Article II (Definitions); Title 20 (Zoning), Chapter 20.16 (Screening and Fencing), 20.16.030 (Permitted Walls), Subsection B; Title 20 (Zoning), Appendix A (Table of Permissible Uses), Table 4.00 (Office & Research Services); Title 20 (Zoning), Appendix A (Table of Permissible Uses), Table 5.00 (Manufacturing, Processing & Assembling); Title 20 (Zoning), Appendix A (Table of Permissible Uses), Table 11.00 (Recreation, Amusement & Entertainment); Title 20 (Zoning), Appendix C (Table of Parking Requirements and Standards), Table 4.00 (Office & Research Services); Title 20 (Zoning), Appendix C (Table of Parking Requirements and Standards) of the El Paso City Code to establish definitions for uses; clarify requirements; update the table of permissible uses; update the table of parking requirements and standards.
An Ordinance changing the zoning of a portion of Tracts 10E and 11D, Section 36, Block 80, Township 2, Texas and Pacific Railway Surveys and a portion of Lot 1, Block 1, Pars Commercial Village, 11248 and 11254 Montana Avenue and 3667 George Dieter Drive, City of El Paso, El Paso County, Texas from R-F (Ranch and Farm) and C-1 (Commercial) to C-3 (Commercial) and from C-4/c (Commercial/conditions) to C-3/c (Commercial/conditions), and imposing conditions. The penalty is as provided for in Chapter 20.24 of the El Paso City Code.
The proposed rezoning meets the intent of the Future Land Use designation for the property and is in accordance with Plan El Paso, the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
Subject Property: 11248 and 11254 Montana Avenue and 3667 George Dieter Drive
Applicant: Abdolkarim Saadatkhah - PZRZ22-00044
An Ordinance changing the zoning of all Lots 8 thru 10, the Northern 20.73 feet of Lot 7, the Eastern 8.15 feet of Lots 11 thru 13, the East 8.15 feet of the Northern 20.73 feet of Lot 14, and Northern 98.73 of the Alley, Block 199, Campbell’s Addition, 222 S. Campbell Street, City of El Paso, El Paso County, Texas from C-4 (Commercial) to C-5 (Commercial). The penalty is as provided for in Chapter 20.24 of the El Paso City Code.
The proposed rezoning meets the intent of the Future Land Use designation for the property and is in accordance with Plan El Paso, the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
Subject Property: 222 S. Campbell Street
Applicant: City of El Paso - PZRZ23-00001

PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 20, 2023 FOR ITEMS 1 TO 3

An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of El Paso, Texas, amending Ordinance No. 018749 concerning Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number Ten, City of El Paso, Texas, established pursuant to Chapter 311 of the Texas Tax Code, by reducing the boundaries of Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Number Ten, City of El Paso, Texas.
An Ordinance vacating a 53-square-foot public utility easement, located within Lot 3, Block 10, Rio Valley Subdivision Replat A, City of El Paso, El Paso County, Texas.
Subject Property: 6524 Ta Suil Pl.
Applicant: El Paso Accent Homes, LLC, SUET22-00007

PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 6, 2023 FOR ITEMS 4 TO 5

Laura D. Prine, City Clerk