Work Session 11/9/2026

The City of El Paso City Council work session on November 9, 2026, included procurement and funding discussions alongside several major planning and program updates. Council unanimously adopted the 2026–2036 Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The plan identifies park and facility priorities, including replacement or redevelopment of Grandview and Nations Tobin pools and upgrades to other facilities, but adoption did not allocate funding or authorize specific contracts. Staff described annual budgets, potential bonds, grants, and public-private partnerships as possible funding sources; council members and residents emphasized Northeast aquatic access and other deferred park needs. The HUD CAPER reported approximately $3.1 million in expenditures across entitlement programs, including about $1.4 million in CDBG expenditures. The Business One-Stop Shop reported ARPA-funded small-business support and announced plans to issue a marketing RFP to increase local-business visibility; no award was made.

Council also approved the city’s nomination to compete to host the Department of Defense’s proposed Next Great American Base, initially by a 6–1 vote and then, after reconsideration, by a 4–2 vote. Staff stated that the nomination itself creates no further city commitment and that infrastructure investments would require later council approval; utility costs, land, funding, and other obligations remain unresolved. In the audit-plan discussion, staff disclosed proposed audit-management software costs of $45,000 for licenses plus $45,000 for implementation, with recurring annual costs of $45,000; the audit plan was approved unanimously, but the transcript does not record a separate purchase approval. The plan also calls for an independent audit of council P-card and travel expenses. No vendor contract awards or bid approvals were identified.