El Paso council directs staff to seek community agreement with Meta Platforms and adds enforcement, meetings and potential investment fund

El Paso City Council on June 23 directed the city manager and city attorney to coordinate drafting a community agreement with Meta Platforms Inc. that would address environmental protections, utility infrastructure improvements, workforce development, and community accountability measures.

Representative Tjo, who sponsored the item, told council the effort is not intended to reopen prior incentives but to create a community-centered process. "This item is not to amend any existing agreement and it is a completely independent agreement," Tjo said, describing roundtable discussions that would include utilities, labor and resident representatives.

Council adopted several amendments before approving the motion. One amendment asks staff to request that Meta hold eight community meetings across council districts within 120 days to solicit public feedback; another directs staff to engage Meta about a possible community investment fund to support long-term public-benefit projects. A separate amendment, which passed 7–1, directs that the proposed community agreement be structured as a legally enforceable document under Texas law with measurable performance standards, monitoring and remedies for noncompliance.

During public comment and council discussion, residents and several council members urged measurable and enforceable commitments from Meta. Tara Mitchell, speaking during public comment, read a letter from Anna Martinez of Meta that the city had received, which states Meta’s commitments include legally binding agreements with local governments, an investment of more than $10 billion, 300 operational jobs and a program to restore 200% of water consumed by the data center. Mitchell said the community remains skeptical of promises without clear enforcement and pointed to past instances she described as “empty promises.”

City staff and representatives said the 45-day timeline in the motion directs staff to return with a draft agreement for council consideration, not a final, negotiated contract. City legal staff clarified that while the city can request community meetings of a private company, it cannot compel them; the motion therefore asks Meta to engage in additional public outreach and negotiation.

The council emphasized the item’s purpose: to give the community a stronger, organized voice in discussions with Meta. Representative Chavez said the measure is an opportunity to seek benefits and accountability: "We asked them to come to the table in a bigger way for our community and to show good faith," he said. Representative Lemon warned against creating false hope but voted in favor.

What happens next: staff will proceed with roundtable planning and return to council within 45 days with a draft framework for a community agreement, and a separate staff report will explore the feasibility, structure and administration of a possible community investment fund for council consideration.