This is your weekly news roundup, which takes a quick look at some developments in government, politics, education, environment and other topics across El Paso.
Central El Paso Fire Station Opens its Doors for Service
The El Paso Fire Department’s new Central Fire Station opened Thursday in Downtown. The $23 million facility at 201 S. Florence St. was part of the $413 million public safety bond approved by voters in 2019.
The new facility consolidates Fire Stations 1, 9 and 11 as a hub to serve Downtown and South El Paso. Station 1 was demolished to make way for the new facility, while Stations 9 and 11 on Dallas and South Leon streets, respectively, were shut down.
The 28,000-square-foot Central fire station features 10 bays for emergency vehicles, two-story living and sleeping quarters, fitness and training facilities, a food preparation and service area, restrooms with showers, a command center, a decontamination area and personal protective equipment storage.
RELATED: Public safety spending pressures city’s long-term financial outlook
The city has spent about $129 million, or about 30%, of the public safety bond and has about $246 million in bond funds left to issue. About 17 projects have been completed – the majority of which have been for the Fire Department. The Police Department’s Eastside Regional Command Center and HVAC for the Northeast Regional Command Center have been completed as part of the bond, according to a May presentation to the Financial Audit and Oversight Committee.
The city has $90 million in new bond issuances over the next two years, driven primarily by various regional command centers and the 50-acre public safety complex and joint police and fire headquarters on Global Reach Drive that are in the design phase and set to break ground in early 2027.
About 16 projects are in design for various fire stations and police regional command centers and eight are under construction.
Several projects have cost more than initially anticipated. The City Council in January approved about $40 million in budget transfers from accrued interest and savings from the bond to cover the increased cost of several fire station renovations and for the construction of the public safety complex.
Daniel Villegas Settles Lawsuit With City for $8 million
The city of El Paso has agreed to pay $8 million to settle a lawsuit by Daniel Villegas, who served 20 years in prison for a double murder for which he was later acquitted.
Villegas has alleged that El Paso police coerced him into making a false confession when he was 16 to the 1993 slayings of Armando “Mando” Lazzo and Robert “Bobby” England in Northeast El Paso.
Villegas, now 49, was convicted of capital murder in 1995 and sentenced to life in prison. The conviction was overturned in 2013 and Villegas was acquitted in 2018.
He was seeking $20 million in a lawsuit against the city, which a federal judge set for trial last year.
Villegas and the city went to mediation ahead of the trial scheduled for Aug. 31, and reached a settlement. The city didn’t acknowledge any wrongdoing in the settlement agreement.
El Paso ISD Finalizes Layoffs
The El Paso Independent School District has finalized dozens of layoffs approved last month under financial exigency, slashing its budget in preparation for the coming school year.
The EPISD board took multiple unanimous votes Tuesday to finalize terminating the contracts of 37 teachers from multiple grade levels and campuses. The board also voted to rescind a letter of resignation for one employee, but did not indicate why.
The vote is the final step in EPISD’s reduction in force process after the board voted to lay off 55 employees and held hearings for those who contested their termination.
Board President Leah Hanany said the district has been working to save employees’ jobs by moving them to vacant positions within the district, but did not say how many. She also said the board may still need to hold a hearing for other employees before their contracts are terminated.
Immunize El Paso Extends Hours for Back to School Vaccinations
Immunize El Paso will extend its hours at its clinics from Monday, July 13, through Saturday, Aug. 15, to help meet the increase in demand for vaccinations as students prepare to go back to school.
Both Immunize El Paso clinics will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. The Eastside clinic will also be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.
The clinics are located at:
- 1400 George Dieter Drive, No. 225
- 6292 Trowbridge Drive
Texas law requires students attending public and private schools to get a series of vaccines based on their age and grade level. The state offers exemptions for student immunizations for religious and medical reasons.
Information: Immunize El Paso, 915-533-3414 or immunizeelpaso.org
Ascarate Park Meetings on Duck Pond, Future Improvements Continue
El Paso County will continue a series of public information sessions this month to gather community feedback on the future of Ascarate Park, including the park’s duck pond and improvements funded through the 2024 voter-approved capital improvement bond.
The first meeting in the series was held Wednesday. County officials are encouraging residents who were unable to attend to participate in one of the remaining sessions.
The meetings come after Commissioners Court called for additional public engagement before making any decisions about the future of the duck pond. County officials have said no final decision has been made and that community input will help shape future planning efforts.
PODCAST: Big improvements may be coming to Ascarate Park. Here’s what El Paso should know
During the sessions, residents can learn about proposed park improvements, review engineering and environmental assessments of the duck pond, ask questions of county staff and project consultants, and provide feedback.
According to the county, studies have identified concerns with the duck pond,’. Feedback collected throughout the series will be presented to Commissioners Court as planning for the project continues.
Remaining information sessions:
All meetings will be held at Ascarate Park, 6900 Delta Drive.
- 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, Ascarate Park Pavilion
- 9 a.m. Saturday, July 18, duck pond
- 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, Ascarate Park Pavilion
- 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, Ascarate Park Pavilion
- 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, Ascarate Park Pavilion (special Commissioners Court meeting)
Kristina Mena Reappointed to UMC Board
The El Paso County Commissioners Court reappointed public health leader Kristina Mena to the El Paso County Hospital District board of managers, which sets policies and executive salaries for University Medical Center of El Paso and its outpatient facilities.
The position is unpaid. Board members can serve a maximum of three, three-year terms. Mena, the board chair, is serving her third term, which ends March 31, 2029. The commissioners made the selection after interviewing candidates in June.
READ MORE: New UMC CEO leads hospital through bond projects, gets pay raise
Mena is the dean of the El Paso campus of UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. She earned a doctorate in environmental microbiology from the University of Arizona and has a background in water quality health risks. Mena serves on other boards, including the Paso del Norte Health Foundation and the Science Advisory Board for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She previously served eight years on the Public Service Board for El Paso Water.
The post Central fire station opens; city of El Paso settles Daniel Villegas lawsuit appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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