This is your weekly update, which takes a quick look at the week ahead and some developments that El Paso Matters is following.
Have Your Say on City’s Proposed Amphitheater: The city has scheduled two community meetings on the Union Depot in Downtown as the site for the proposed amphitheater that’s being considered to serve as the multipurpose performing arts and entertainment center approved by voters in 2012. The latest proposal calls for a hybrid venue with an 8,000-seat capacity – half indoors and half outdoors.
The first meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at this link. The second meeting will be a hybrid in-person and virtual meeting on Wednesday, March 6 at the Center for Civic Engagement, 304 Texas Ave., 17 Floor and on this link. Both meetings are from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The City Council on Feb. 13 delayed voting whether to approve the site until after it held public meetings.
City Rep. Henry Rivera Reprimanded: The El Paso City Council on Monday voted to reprimand city Rep. Henry Rivera after an investigation found he allowed someone who doesn’t work for the city access city resources and to supervise and direct the day-to-day duties of a city employee. The letter of reprimand will be issued by Mayor Oscar Leeser. City Reps. Brian Kennedy, Josh Acevedo, Joe Molinar, Art Fierro and Chris Canales voted in favor of the reprimand; with Rivera voting against it. City Rep. Cassandra Hernandez abstained from the vote and Rep. Isabel Salcido was not present.
El Paso Matters Book Club Talks ‘Trash’: Join El Paso Matters this week for a discussion of “Trash,” a novel by El Paso author Sylvia Aguilar-Zeleny. The book, which interweaves the stories of three women with connections to a dump in Ciudad Juárez, is the current El Paso Matters Book Club selection. The moderated discussion with the author is at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29 at the El Paso Public Library Dorris Van Doren Branch, 551 Redd Road. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged.
El Paso County Hosts Community Planning Meetings: The county of El Paso is holding a series of community meetings to discuss its multi-year capital plan, proposed projects under the plan, and alternatives on how to pay for them. The county is considering asking taxpayers for up to $350 million in bonds in November for projects such as improvements to Ascarate Park and a new animal shelter. The county can also use certificates of obligation – debt repaid from property taxes that doesn’t require voter approval – for some projects.
The first meeting is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28 at the Jefferson High School cafeteria, 4700 Alameda Ave. The second meeting is from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29 at the East Montana Middle School library, 3490 N. Ascension Street, and a third meeting is set for 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 2 at the Andress High School library, 5400 Sun Valley Drive. Information: epcounty.com.
Related stories:
El Paso County preparing to ask taxpayers for up to $350 million in November bond election
County again looks to issue debt for capital projects; approves millions in tax notes
County considers $200 million in projects – with and without voter approval
The post This week: City, county seek input on bond projects; El Paso Matters Book Club discussion with ‘Trash’ author appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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