City OKs community forums on future of multipurpose center

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — Working under a tight deadline, City Council representatives voted to host nine community meetings to explain the proposed ordinance that would allow voters to determine what happens with the 2012 Quality of Life bonds.

In a 7-1 vote, with Rep. Art Fierro the sole dissenter, council members also approved an educational campaign that will run simultaneously with the community meetings that will include an estimate of the total cost to taxpayers and a timeline of events from 2012 to present day on the bond’s history.

The proposed ballot measure would ask voters to decide the future of the proposed multipurpose center or Downtown arena as it is often referred to as. This project was originally included in the 2012 Quality of Life bond but has been a source of a controversy since then.

According to the City’s communication director, Laura Cruz-Acosta, the education campaign will cost an estimated $367,000. She said where the funds for and what material will be included in the campaign have yet to be determined, but the primary purpose is to inform voters about the ordinance before they go to the polls.

“It’s important to keep in mind that the City and the council members cannot speak to or campaign in one direction or the other. They cannot ask the community to vote yes or no on the item. We can only provide the information, so the community should be able to make their own decision when it comes to the item on the ballot,” Cruz-Acosta said.

Between Aug. 13 to Sept. 13, representatives will host at least one community meeting in their district along with one hybrid meeting.

Council members still need to approve the final language of the ordinance and what they will be asking constituents to vote on during the November election.

KTSM reached out to Fierro for a statement on his reason for voting “no” on the item. His office has yet to respond.

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