Council authorizes $4M Meta grant application to fund lights, water upgrades and Safe Routes projects

City staff received council authorization to submit an application to Meta’s Futures for Everyone fund requesting up to $4,000,000 with no city match required for an El Paso Climate Action Implementation Program.

Fernando Verjano (strategic and legislative affairs) told council the modular proposal includes three components: up to $2,000,000 for installation of approximately 235 solar lights around the city (about 30 per district), $1,000,000 to upgrade park irrigation systems with Water Smart technology, and $1,000,000 for quick‑build Vision Zero and Safe Routes to School improvements near identified schools. He said Meta’s opportunity is open to county entities and local nonprofits and that awards in prior years have ranged widely; the city’s request was scaled to $4,000,000 based on historical award sizes and to allow scaling if less award is received.

Councilmembers requested clearer detail on site selection, equitable distribution between school districts (El Paso ISD and Ysleta ISD), and community engagement during application and implementation. Staff said the application would include tentative site lists and that they would coordinate with CID, parks and district offices. Public commenters raised environmental‑justice and transparency concerns related to the broader Meta data‑center project; staff named ChangeX as a third‑party partner in the selection process and said more information about the award committee will be provided as it becomes available. The motion to authorize submission passed unanimously.