Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in El Paso County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
12 issues in general
Zoning Violation
A popular Central El Paso bookstore was forced to shut its doors to foot traffic after getting hit with a city zoning violation. Local business owners are getting frustrated over strict municipal rules squeezing their shops.
Domestic Violence Awareness
The Women's Commission examined gaps in domestic violence response, law enforcement training, case processing, and support programs like BIPP to improve victim safety and offender accountability in El Paso County.
Water System Rate Increases
The county approved a 6% water rate increase and 5% sewer rate increase for customers of the East Montana Water System, effective November 1, 2026, to cover operational costs.
Bond Projects Public Dashboard
County staff rolled out a new public dashboard to keep residents updated on timelines and progress for voter-approved bond projects.
Montana Vista Transmission Line Concerns
Residents expressed concern over notices received from El Paso Electric regarding high-voltage transmission lines impacting landowners.
Ethics Commission Appointment
El Paso is dragging its feet on releasing police lawsuit records, even after the state Attorney General told them to hand them over. It’s a bad look that makes you wonder what exactly the city is trying to keep under wraps regarding officer conduct.
Holiday Designation
El Paso is swapping César Chávez Day for a new 'Community & Labor Heritage Day' on the city calendar. It’s a move to broaden the focus of the holiday to cover a wider range of local labor history and community milestones.
Public Health Oversight
El Paso’s health officials are struggling to get ICE to share data on illnesses inside local detention centers. This lack of transparency makes it way harder for our doctors to stop potential outbreaks before they spread to the rest of the community.
Anti-litter Campaign
El Paso just launched the 'Beautify Our City' campaign to tackle litter and illegal dumping, which means cleaner streets and likely tougher enforcement for violators. If you're tired of trash blowing around your neighborhood, this is definitely a welcome change.
Demographic Trends
El Paso is shrinking faster than any other city in Texas, and that’s a big deal for our local budget and city services. With fewer people paying into the system, we might see cuts to the projects and amenities we rely on every day.
Facility Lease
El Paso City Council just handed over the old Bowling Branch facility to a local nonprofit. They'll be running the show from now on, bringing a bunch of brand-new community programs right to your neighborhood.
Public Health Policy
El Paso’s recent measles scare showed that federal agencies and local hospitals aren't talking to each other well enough. This communication gap delayed our response, putting the whole community at risk longer than we should have been.