El Paso City Council to discuss I-10 Deck Plaza funding, grocery affordability plan

The city of El Paso is once again on the hunt for money to fund the ambitious Downtown I-10 Deck Plaza project.
During its meeting Tuesday, April 15, the El Paso City Council will hear a report from City Manager Dionne Mack on potential federal, state and local funding sources for the design and construction of the Deck Plaza.
The search for funding comes as the city lost out on two potential grants that the City Council agreed to spend $750,000 to apply for.
Additionally, the City Council will "request a formally adopted position statement from the (Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone) #5 board about potential boundary expansion and the use of TIRZ #5 funds for Deck Plaza design and/or construction activities," according to documents accompanying Tuesday's agenda.
While city leaders have insisted that the Deck Plaza will not be put on the back of El Paso taxpayers, it's unclear how the city — already more than $30 million short of what's needed to address city roads — will come up with the hundreds of millions of dollars that will be required for the project.
"The Deck Plaza is expected to require a combination of local, state and federal resources for design, construction and operations," the agenda document stated. "The ratios of funding will be significantly impacted by the current timeline for I-10 Downtown reconstruction, which is expected to begin in 2026."
The City Council will also hear a plan to increase the threshold for placing budget transfers, contracts, bids, requests for proposals or qualifications on the City Council agenda.
In 2004, the City Council approved placing such items on the regular agenda if the funds involved topped $500,000 —under the latest proposal, that number would be increased to $1.5 million.
"About 54% of purchasing items fall under this threshold," a document attached to the agenda item states, "if this threshold increase is approved, it will save staff time when attending City Council meetings."
The move comes after the City Council rejected a plan to extend bond oversight. Approval of the item would mean over half of city purchasing items are never included on a City Council agenda and therefore more difficult for the public to view.
The City Council will also hear a plan from West-Central city Rep. Josh Acevedo to make discount pricing at El Paso grocery stores accessible to all customers.
Acevedo's item calls for the city manager and city attorney to draft and present an ordinance within 120 days to require retail grocery stores "to offer fair access to discount pricing to all consumers, regardless of their access to or familiarity with digital technology."
The proposal would require grocery stores in El Paso that offer digital coupons or discounts online, via text message or through digital applications to make such discounts available to all customers in the form of physical coupons.
"My office has spoken to community members who maintain that a digital divide negatively impacts a significant portion of El Paso residents with regard to food discounts and access to healthy food options," Acevedo wrote in the agenda document.
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso City Council to mull Deck Plaza funds, grocery prices

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