City authorizes application for up to $4M from META’s community grants for lighting, water and safe‑routes projects

The El Paso City Council voted unanimously to authorize submission of a grant application to META’s Futures for Everyone Fund requesting up to $4,000,000 with no city match required. Fernando Verjano (Strategic & Legislative Affairs) presented a modular scope: approximately $2,000,000 to install about 235 solar lights across city neighborhoods (roughly 30 per council district), $1,000,000 to upgrade irrigation and water‑smart systems in parks to reduce consumption and lifecycle costs, and $1,000,000 to implement Vision Zero quick‑build projects on safe‑routes to school corridors.

Verjano said the application was scaled to historical META awards and would be reduced if a smaller award is provided. Council members pressed for transparency on selection criteria and for inclusion of Ysleta ISD and other districts in the tentative site list; staff said the proposed sites are tentative and will be revisited before implementation. Representative Acevedo asked how the $4,000,000 request was chosen; staff said historical META awards range from $100,000 to $2.25 million and the city sought an ambitious, modular ask. Public commenters urged caution about community priorities and voiced concerns about local industrial pollution and past community impacts; council directed staff to continue community engagement and to coordinate selection with adopted Climate Action Plan and Safe Routes to School priorities.